Chapter 2

"Oi, Kagome!"

Slowly, Kagome's eyelids slid open, her fists tightening on the thick comforter holding her in a cocoon. Red filled her vision before her friend crouched down to her eye level.

"You aren't sick, aren't ya?" he asked, placing a clawed hand against her forehead. Gold eyes held hers, firm and steady.

The five year old pouted and shied away from his hand. "Mama thinks I am," she mumbled, pulling up the covers to her nose. "She won't let me go to school."

"School," he spat, scowling. "Who needs 'em? They picked on you yesterday."

"It was only the first day..." She sat up, giving him an upset glare. "Where were you? You said you'd be with me!"

Dog ears flinched down. "I tried!" When Kagome bit her bottom lip, he told her, "I would do anything to stay by your side, Kagome. You know that."

She lowered her head. " People keep giving me weird looks when I talk to you."

His strong jaw set, a sharp canine piercing his bottom lip as he thought of what to say. "Keh. It doesn't matter. I'll make sure of it."

"No!" Kagome cried, stunning the both of them for a second. "I don't want anyone hurt, Inuyasha!"

Growling, Inuyasha opened his mouth to retort but stopped when the bedroom door swung open.

"Kagome," a concerned note tinged her mother's voice. "How are you feeling, dear?"

"Fine, Mama," she replied in a subdued tone, avoiding Inuyasha's gaze as he bore into her. Instead, she focused on her hands in her lap.

"I..." Seiko Higurashi hesitated, walking over to her daughter to sit beside her. Her legs went right through Inuyasha as if he were made up of nothing but air. Kagome felt her heart lurch when she saw his scowl from the corner of her eye. "There's a detective coming this afternoon to see you... honey, did you see anything in the woods yesterday?"

She slowly shook her head, growing relieved that Inuyasha only chose to stand up to lean against the wall across from them.

The worry etched on the old woman's face faded away some, but not completely, as she ran a hand lightly through the child's hair. "Okay. When the detective arrives, he's going to ask some questions. You're not in trouble. Just answer the questions honestly."

"Okay, Mama."

Sighing, Seiko stood up. "Okay, then. I'll be back with breakfast." Placing a gentle kiss on Kagome's forehead, she left.

Kagome's head shot up when Inuyasha slammed the door behind her mother, a tremble racing through her body. With an annoyed huff, he returned to Kagome, sitting where her mother sat prior. "Everyone walks through me like I'm not there," he grumbled to himself, "It's annoying."

"No one can see you," Kagome frowned.

"That's why it's annoying," he crossed his arms, glaring at the ground.

"Inuyasha." Golden eyes glanced at her and she lowered her gaze submissively, "I don't want you to hurt anyone, anymore." He mumbled a grouchy response. "Can't we play like we used to? I miss that."

Shrugging, his gaze slid away from her for a moment before flicking back. "Things change. You're growing up. It would be...odd." Seeing her crestfallen, he leaned in and slid his hands under her arms to pick her up off the bed. "Fine. Whatever my mate wants."

A/N: I'm really surprised how quick you are to jump on this. Hopefully I can keep it entertaining for you all this October.

emeraldsol & YamiBakura1988 & k.a.a-inu : Thank you :)

kittykritik : I don't give out information I barely know myself. Also really sorry about the lack of description in the prologue. It's what usually happens when I start out a new story. I'll fix it up sometime later :)

See ya,

FxA