There were some things about Kagome that made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Not in a wow, that girl maddened him way (although she did, in fact, madden him that way). But in a "some of the things you do defy all logic and I'm surprised you haven't died" way.

He really, really meant that last part.

Some of the things she did defied all logic and he was surprised she hadn't died yet.

She was always, always wearing her "school uniform," whatever that was. With flimsy fabric and a strange garment that didn't even protect her knees. Her delicate, prone-to-scabbing knees. She wore them when she would pick poisonous herbs with Kaede. To hunt for jewel shards.

To battles where deadly projectiles were flying in every direction.

Including at Kagome's too-soft skin.

Seriously, did she want to get melted into a puddle of goo? Sango sensibly wore her battle armor to battles, and even a mask so that she wouldn't breathe in deadly fumes. Miroku had his Wind Tunnel, so flying projectiles weren't any issue where he was concerned. Even Shippo could transform and get outta the place and call for help if things got too rough.

He had to watch out for multiple people in battle now: himself, Kagome, Kagome, Kagome, Kagome, and Kagome. He never thought he would give his Fire-Rat Robe to anyone else, but that was before Kagome and her "school uniform" came along. Making sure Kagome didn't get disintegrated was his new occupation in life nowadays.

He'd already screamed "KAGOME" at full blast thirty times in the past two days and his throat had long since gone itchy and sore.

Was there no one he could talk to about this?

She...she needed a Fire-Rat Robe from the future! One that would stop anything from piercing her skin.

"You mean Kevlar armor?" Sota asked, pausing in his game of football. "You want to get nee-chan Kevlar armor as a present?"

"Yes!" Inuyasha said, crossing his arms, relieved and a little smug that Kagome's brother understood the point he was trying to make. He didn't know what Kevin armor was, but if it would stop deadly projectiles from piercing Kagome's skin, then he was all for it. "Tell me where I can find it!"

"Do girls like that sort of thing from their boyfriends?" Sota wondered, staring up at the sky, finger tapping on chin. "I think you'd be better off getting her chocolate or expensive jewelry..."

"NO!" he found himself bellowing. Sota needed to understand this. It was important.

He crouched down at the boy's eye level, taking him by the shoulders, fixing him with an intense gaze.

Sota looked away, blushing at whatever he found.

"I...um...listen, Sota, I need a way to protect Kagome, all right? If Kevin armor – "

"Kevlar armor – "

"If Kevin armor will protect Kagome, then...then it's Kevin armor or nothing, okay?"

"O...okay?"

Sota was staring at him, wide-eyed, still with that blush wreathing his face. For a moment, Inuyasha thought this was in fear (he had just randomly bellowed at the kid, after all), but then Kagome's brother tackled him in a hug.

"You're so cool, nii-chan. I'm so glad nee-chan found a boyfriend who cares about her so much."

Sota's voice was muffled into Inuyasha's front, and he was irresistibly reminded of Kagome doing the exact same thing after he had almost burned to death.

If only she knew that the worry she experienced that day was the worry he experienced every day.

Until now.

Kevin armor to the rescue. She wouldn't be scratched by so much as a twig in the not-so-distant future.

He'd do whatever it took to stop screaming his girlfriend's name in that embarrassing high voice.

"I think you can buy Kevlar at some specialty stores, but – nii-chan, where are you going? Nii-chan?"

Inuyasha strode up to Kagome and thrust a badly-wrapped package into her chest.

Kevin armor. It was perfect.

He grinned at her nonplussed face.

"A present? For me?" She pointed to herself just to be as redundant as possible.

He nodded.

Duh. Of course it was for her. Who else would he spend seven hours on, scouring the streets of Tokyo in a tearing hurry? All for Kevin armor?

Kagome's face was all wide and smiley, with those bright, lively eyes, and maybe she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, and –

A pair of lips fluttered over his left cheek, his right cheek, and – he blinked – over his ticklish nose.

His brain short-circuited.

Kagome...was kissing him? Wait, why was she kissing him? Was she –

"Thank you, Inuyasha," she said.

Then she ripped open the present, still beaming, not at all cognizant of the mental breakdown she had just inflicted on him.

There was no such thing as Kevin armor. He should have stayed to listen to Sota properly.

Kagome wore something besides her school uniform for a while, though.

And well, there was still his Fire-Rat Robe if push came to shove.

A/N: Let me know what you think! :)