Author's Notes: Hello all! So, I almost forgot about this bonus chapter, right? X3 Pfft, haha! XD Don't laugh at me. Anyways, I want to post this quick modern AU story as the new anniversary chapter and maybe force myself to jumpstart Kagome's romance writing adventures. Kagome's romance side stories are completely bonus and fluff chapters. Only her adventures for getting inspiration become part of the filler episodes.

~... The Darlings of University ...~

Chapter 1: Big Brother's High School Crush

With the outdoor temperatures dropping to 10 degrees Celsius in the morning and rising to a mere 16 degrees by peak times, the colorful season of autumn made its presence known in Tokyo, Japan. Kagome Higurashi, young and pretty wife to her grumpy husband, Inuyasha, was impatient to say the least. Inuyasha was an up-and-coming social worker and volunteer policeman for the neighborhood. He had a unique relationship with the couple's roommate and a special one with Kagome. He had his ups and downs with his wife and roommate in the beginning, but things were changing for the better. Especially since Kagome's boss and the mayor of their small town, Lady Kaede, told the young wife a very significant secret. It was getting close to 4:45 PM. Her roommate was late.

Click.

Oh, never mind. Hearing the familiar jingle of keys and the door to the engawa shifting open, Kagome quickly prepared the last bits of dinner and got herself cleaned up. She wasn't really trying to impress her roommate or anything. She was just... interested in a tiny detail about him. It was something she just couldn't overlook or be quiet about anymore. You see, Kagome and Inuyasha wanted to be closer to their families for a year as in Inuyasha wanted to get to know Kagome's family more and Kagome wanted Inuyasha to try to reach out to his more. It was difficult for them at first, but a compromise had been made and one of Inuyasha's relatives had begrudgingly accepted the invitation to stay with them. It was mostly for the couple to keep an eye on his ward, but Kagome now believed that this particular relative was trying to impress someone. When the man came home, he said no greeting and offered no formal response to the smell of food in the house. In fact, no one knew what the man ate. Kagome only knew that the man was forever fashionable and was probably destined to be handsome. He was wearing a proper business suit and overcoat with a leather backpack that promoted a distinctive posture. In short, he was a fancy-ass business student in college.

"Hi, big brother! How was university? Any first day nervousness?" Kagome asked brightly.

Inuyasha looked up from his records on the breakfast table in the nook and reminded her, "His first day was four years ago, Kagome."

Kagome frowned at this, snapping to her husband and trying to maintain her positive vibes, "That doesn't mean he's immune to first day jitters. Aren't you supposed to be looking into trade school right now?"

"I was until you started putting coffee in your tea," Inuyasha said, pointing at her cup and kettle.

Big Brother said nothing of Kagome's blunder and disappeared into the abyss of the house without a word. The young wife hustled over to her tea and coffee setup in a panic before turning to Big Brother to continue her inquiries, "Forget about tha - ! Where'd he go? C'mon, big brother! You weren't nervous at all? Did you meet anybody new?"

Inuyasha sighed then said, "Jeez, just ask him what you really want, Kagome. You already caught him talking to that girl from his third-year class."

"You're as noisy as the rest of those fools," Big Brother said after properly changing from his business suit to more casual attire.

His dry fit was equally as fashionable in Polo Club loungewear and slippers. His body was ridiculous these days. Kagome noticed that Big Brother was thickening up. When they first met, he was a lean, little thing and graduating high school with his future - and possibly someone else - on his mind. Kagome watched Big Brother tie his hair up in a top knot like a samurai before making a new pot of tea for himself in silence. Rude bastard!

This is Sesshomaru, or Big Brother. He's my brother-in-law. He was already a third year by the time I started getting involved with Inuyasha and we weren't exactly close initially. After high school graduation, I married his younger brother, Inuyasha, who's a social worker for orphaned children and children of mixed backgrounds. He helps them find their place in the world. We all live together out of convenience because of their inheritance from their father. Inuyasha was given a private office building that had a beautiful location near a nature park. He used it to start a company as a social worker along with his partner, Jinenji, and the mayor of this small town, Lady Kaede. Sesshomaru was given the trading company for weapons, goods, and other neat stuff. The brothers wanted to buy a home that was closer to their respective companies, but Sesshomaru's mother said it was against their father's will and told them they had to live halfway between the company and the city. I think it was so they would be more well-rounded people, but... honestly, Sesshomaru's the least difficult to live with because his mother is something else! Even though he's a rude prick, I know deep down he's got some good in him.

"Hi, big brother!" a little girl with a hair horn and casual yukata cheered. She had a gift bag in her hands and a bright smile on her face. "I got you a briefcase for the home office. It has us on the tag! Sesshy's happy family! Even Jaken's in it."

Sesshomaru looked quite annoyed that Jaken was front and center of the picture, but he inelegantly harrumphed before taking the bag and closing his eyes to say, "This wasn't necessary."

The little girl hugged Sesshomaru and then asked innocently, "Are you gonna put it in your office?"

That's Rin. Sesshomaru's adopted daughter... sort of. He rescued her from some criminals and had her living with him for a while until Lady Kaede decided to take her in and let her live as a child. She works with Inuyasha, so Rin gets to visit or stay the night if we're not busy. Sesshomaru might seem cold to us, but he'll use that bag Rin gave him and eventually I'll get the truth out of him. See, the thing is Sesshomaru has had a crush on this girl that was in one of his classes and the kendo club. She was the valedictorian. I didn't know anything about her, but Kaede's been telling me some things since she used to be her apprentice. Sango, my best friend, knew more about her since she was a second-year when we met, but she also learned a bit about Sesshomaru's crush through Kaede, too. Sango said she was really popular in and out of school as a student volunteer. This particular girl went to Kobe University for the medical program, and Sesshomaru (despite how bored he got of school the way Inuyasha did) went to cram school to get into the same university for the business program! I only found out about this when I saw that girl hug Sesshomaru and Inuyasha after our graduation ceremony and ran off to speak with someone. When he got accepted, as rumor would have it, he started getting to know the campus buildings, but he always visited the medical building.

Kagome sighed then grumbled with folded arms, "I'll ask later. He's gotta fess up at some point."

"Why does it matter who he's into anyway? It's just some girl, right?" Inuyasha questioned, raising a brow out of interest.

Kagome frustratedly sighed before marching into their shared bedroom and saying over her shoulder, "You're just some boy I decided to date. It's all the same in this family."

Inuyasha sighed, followed his wife, and asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Inuyasha might not get it, but I do. Sesshomaru never follows anyone around himself. Others are usually drawn to him. This girl is different. I wanna know how...

Kagome flopped onto the bed, argued with Inuyasha for a little while, and returned to the kitchen. Undeterred, she slapped her cheeks, rolled up her sleeved, and cheered, "Alright, let's get chopping! Eh?"

"Huh?" Inuyasha questioned, poking his head in the kitchen. Lo and behold, Rin was helping Sesshomaru cook something that smelled heavenly. Inuyasha, unaware that the man knew how to do anything domestic, belted out a solid, "Who are you? What'd you do to my brother?"

To be continued in the next chapter! Chapter 2: What's Big Brother Cooking Up!?

|| ... ... ... ||

Kagome yelled out her frustrations as she ended her newest story and flopped onto her back. Inuyasha walked into the lounging room of the house and saw Kagome whining with her eyes closed and body stretched out. She was writing again. How many stories about Kaede and her mystery beau was she going to scribble? Wasn't the wanted posters enough? And, what's with the sexy content in it? Was there something he was supposed to be doing with her and he just missed the memo or what?

Inuyasha asked inquisitively, "What are you thinking about over there?"

"Something that'll never happen," Kagome replied. She rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands before commenting, "But it was cute."

"I mean, it could happen if it's actually reasonable."

Kagome argued, "No, it couldn't. Not for Sesshomaru anyway. This family is so unromantic! I wonder if the doctor is."

"Huh? What doctor?"

"Kaede's apprentice. She's a doctor now. I hope she gets here soon so I can talk to her. She's holding so much information about Kaede! Please... HURRY OVER HERE, DOCTOR!"

Author's Footnotes: Kagome's a Sess/OC shipper, too? Let's GO! XD I'm kidding. She's my neutral shipper in this story. I'll be nice and let her be a Sess/Rin and Sess/OC shipper, but she's definitely Kaede/OC all the way right now. Regardless... Happy Anniversary, Hell Doctor readers! *pops champagne bottle and pours a glass to toast* I truly do appreciate and love you all for this amazing comeback. It doesn't even feel real. I want to cry sometimes, but you all have encouraged me to keep going with this beloved childhood tale of mine and I'm happy for the support you have given me through comments, messages, favorites, and follows. I hope the new year is amazing for us all, and I hope - HOPE - I can get to Season 3 next year. XD I can't even sometimes!