"Satoru?"

Kagome's arms wrap around him, but his mind is somewhere else. He feels light. A little off. But mostly, he just feels as though his body is not his own, and he's just going through the motions. How did he get here? When did he get here? There was the mission. That curse user. And Riko... that's right, Riko is dead.

Should he have killed those cult members? Suguru said not to, but maybe he should have, so this doesn't happen again. Or maybe it doesn't matter. Suguru said that too. Killing them won't bring Riko back and their deaths would be pointless.

"Satoru," Kagome calls more sharply this time. She pulls back and grabs his arms, giving him a jolt. His body freezes. He angles his head towards her. "Talk to me." She stares up at him with concern. His eyes drift down, taking in the oversized shirt and shorts. His shirt and shorts. Kagome is drowning in the fabric.

Oh right. It's late. She must have been getting ready for bed.

He opens his mouth. His throat is thick with emotion and the only thing that comes out is a grunt. Satoru shuts his mouth and brushes his knuckles down her cheek. "You're beautiful." There's something oddly endearing about her wearing his clothes before bed.

Kagome blushes and rubs her hands up and down his arms. "Okay, that's a start." She lowers her hands and takes his. "Come on. You have blood all over you. Let's get you cleaned up and then we can talk."

He does?

Satoru glances at his shirt. Right. The fight. "It's mine, but I'm fine now. Learned reverse curse technique, so I healed myself."

Kagome frowns. "You are not fine." She wets her lips and then tugs him along. She leads them down the hall to the bathroom. "Mom and Dad are still in Italy. Not sure when they will be back, but Gramps and Sota left to join them. Not sure when anyone will be back, but it'll probably be awhile since Gramps and Sota highjacked the trip."

"You didn't want to go?"

Kagome flicks on the light and turns on the shower. "No, we had plans, remember?"

Satoru nods, though Kagome isn't looking at him. "The mission took longer than it was supposed to but..." He stops and shrugs out of his jacket and bloody shirt. "It was her last days as being her and we..."

Kagome turns and embraces him. She rubs her hand up and down his back. "It's okay. Not your fault, Toru."

"But It is my fault." He wraps his arms around her and inhales. "Wasn't strong enough. She's dead because I couldn't take care of one curse user." He inhales again, needing more of her scent in his veins. Being here with her centers him. "He's dead. But I should have taken care of him before it got to that point." Should have done a lot of things. Riko's choice was taken from her, and that is what pisses him off. If he had been stronger. If he hadn't let his guard down, then none of this would have happened.

Kagome pulls back. "It's not your fault." She stands on her toes and presses a hand to his forehead. "You nearly died to save her. You did the best you could."

He doesn't feel that way, though. If he had been stronger, then none of this would have happened. He should have been stronger. Should have anticipated one more move against them. Satoru grits his teeth and nods. Dwelling on Riko's death won't help him. It won't change anything.

She's gone.

And Tengen isn't stabilized.

His shoulders droop. "I'll wash off." He unbuttons his pants and raises a brow when Kagome doesn't move. "You staying?" Not that he cares if she does. He has nothing to hide, and they'll be married as soon as they are of age, so it doesn't matter to him all that much. But he promised the old man he wouldn't try anything until they are older.

"Huh?" Kagome blinks and then flushes. "NO! I was just—ow!" She rubs her nose. "You didn't see that!" The door slams behind her.

Satoru chuckles, but it's hollow, and he still doesn't quite feel like himself. The earlier high is wearing off and all he feels is weariness in his bones. He slides off his pants and boxers. The water is hot, but he still feels so out of it. Satoru goes through the motions of washing the blood off and then turns the shower off. He stares at his pile of clothes on the floor. Well, he isn't putting those back on. He spikes a hand through his hair and then wraps a towel around his waist.

"Hey! Do I have any other spare clothes here?" he calls out, walking to Kagome's room.

"Is that a trick question?" The door opens, and she shoves the clothes at him and promptly closes the door. "Come back after you're dressed!" she yells behind the door. Satoru shrugs and does just that. His body is too tired, and his mind is too wired to come up with a funny retort. He dresses quickly right outside the door and then stares at the towel pooled around his feet.

Right. He should do something with the dirty clothes.

"Are you done?" Kagome calls from behind the door.

"Yeah, I'm decent." The door swings open and Kagome takes one look at the towel on the floor and rolls her eyes.

"Some things never change," she sighs, swiping the towel before he can. "Honestly. What am I going to do with you?"

"Stay with me?"

Kagome bites her bottom lip and nods. "Alright, but if everyone suddenly comes back in the morning. It's all on you."

"I can handle the old man." Satoru swipes the towel back and picks up his clothes from the bathroom floor. "They won't be back tomorrow. Wouldn't make sense." He follows her downstairs and deposits the clothes in the hamper while Kagome makes hot chocolate. "It's a bit hot for that?"

"You love this, though." She grabs a can of whipped cream and overflows his mug with it. "You want chocolate sauce?" Kagome pours a generous amount of sauce over the whipped cream.

He leans against the kitchen table and tilts his head. "You aren't bothered by the blood?"

Kagome gives him an exasperated expression. "Satoru, really? I've seen InuYasha with a hole in his stomach. What matters is that you are here... I wouldn't have accepted it if you were gone."

"That sounds ominous, for some reason." He takes the mug and sips the hot chocolate. It burns his tongue, but he keeps drinking anyway. "Would you have cursed my death?"

"I'm not a dark priestess," she replies, sticking her nose in the air. "I would have found a way to bring you to the past and gotten Sesshomaru to bring you back."

Satoru blinks. "You would have carried me?"

"Well, I would have enlisted InuYasha or maybe Suguru." Kagome ducks her head. "You may be taller than me now."

He laughs. "Yah, I think I'm plenty taller than you now." Satoru pushes the mug away and sighs. "I gotta get stronger, Gome-chan. I have to."

"Toru, you know it wasn't your fault."

"It could have been you." His heart hurts. He has to get stronger to protect her and everyone else. "I know you're strong, but that doesn't mean I don't have work to do. Can't let today repeat." He holds out his hands and flexes his fingers. "I can keep infinity going if I master rct. Keep my brain refreshed."

Kagome frowns. "I don't like the idea of you frying your brain and constantly refreshing it." She pushes her bangs back and blows out a breath. "There's also no talking you out of this. I know you." She walks around the table and wraps her arms around him. "You aren't in this alone. You can depend on me."

"I hate it." He buries his nose in her hair. "Hate feeling like I'm powerless. Can't lose you again." He inhales, taking in more of her scent. His body is so much lighter when she is in his arms. "I'll get stronger," he promises. "Strong enough that no one would dare to lay a hand on you."

Kagome hums as she rubs his back. "Do you want to lie down?"

Uh... Satoru's ears burn. The high from earlier is mostly gone now and reality settles on his shoulders. It's just them. Alone. He swallows.

"Satoru?"

"Maybe we should camp out in the living room." He turns his head.

"The living room?"

"Yeah, because... we just should? It's cooler than your room." More importantly, the living room is bigger than Kagome's small bed. Space is what they need. Lots of it. "We could stack the pillows up and make a fort."

Kagome pulls back and stares at him. "Okay, now you're scaring me. What's wrong with my bed?"

"It's tiny."

"So? That never stopped you before."

"Yeah, well, I didn't have these thoughts before," he mumbles. Is it so wrong to wish he was still high from unlocking rct? Because he wishes he didn't feel anything right now. Kagome wets her lips and takes a step back.

"You grew up to be a perv," she teases.

Satoru scoffs. "M' not. Just saying we should put some pillows up because..." he shrugs. "We're going to get married after all."

"Oh, we are?"

"Mhmm. Never been more sure of anything in my life." He wraps his arms around her again and somehow, they manage to waddle their way to the living room. If Suguru were here, he'd tease the hell out of him. "Let's go somewhere tomorrow. Anywhere." He pulls her into his lap as he sits down on the couch.

"You want me to play hooky?"

"For me?"

Kagome huffs as if he is asking her to do the impossible. She practically plays hooky every time she goes to the past, anyway. Satoru rests his forehead against her shoulder.

"Why didn't you get a tutor like Sota?"

"Guess I wanted some semblance of normalcy. I like coming back home and hanging out with my girlfriends." Kagome leans back and looks up at the ceiling. "But finding the last couple of shards is taking longer than I thought it would. At this rate, I'll never be able to go to college."

Satoru frowns. All these years and it never occurred to him what Kagome may want. Not in the material sense, but her aspirations besides putting the jewel back together. "Do you want to go to college, or is it that you think you have to go?"

Kagome shifts until her back is to the armrest, and her legs are resting on his lap. "Haven't thought it about, really. Guess I figured it's what I'm supposed to do, but..."

"You can tell me. I won't judge."

"I'd rather just run the shrine and bless people with charms that will actually protect them."

Satoru blinks. "Can we at least get our own place?"

"You mean when we're married?"

His mouth parts. "Y-yeah, when we get married." Oh, fuck him. He did not just stammer. "Or when I turn eighteen. We could get our own place."

"Did you just stutter?"

"Ugh, are we watching a movie or not?" He reaches for the remote and turns on the TV. "I get to choose this time."

"You chose last time," Kagome points out. "Ooh, I want to watch that."

Satoru rolls his eyes but clicks on the romantic comedy. "Could have picked something cool, like an action movie."

"Yeah, yeah." Kagome stands and waves him off. "I'll be right back with covers."

"And pillows!" he yells. Satoru sits there for a moment with the cheesy music playing over the montage. He gags at the screen. Why is it always a kissing scene in the rain? That can't be... Satoru glances at Kagome, who stands off to the side with covers and pillows in hand, and is completely transfixed by the scene on the TV.

Seriously?

"Hey, come here."

Kagome raises a brow, but walks over to him. She dumps the pillows and the covers on him. "I was coming. Don't have to rush me."

Satoru tosses one cover onto the floor and then reaches for her. "Can I hold you?" Maybe it's the hint of vulnerability seeping through his words, or maybe Kagome is just used to how needy he is. She settles on the couch with her back to him. His hand grips her hip. "Sorry."

"What happened to the sweet boy?" Kagome complains.

"I was never sweet."

"Heh, yeah, you were a real piece of work. That's okay since you're Satoru."

"Your Satoru," he murmurs.

Kagome shifts again but turns so she is facing him. "My Satoru," she agrees. "If you do anything reckless again, I'll kick your butt myself."

He brushes his lips against her forehead. "You're the only one that can."

A/N: Happy Tuesday! Next chapter will be their first date and then we'll do some multiverse shenanigans. We will see Kagome show off her powers more. That will come up during that mission with Yu and Nanami.

Stay safe and healthy! Make sure to get plenty of rest and try to do at least one thing that refills your well every day. Below is a sneak peek/brainstorm for a possible brat tamer fic. If you want to read the full brainstorm, it's on my tumblr. Too long to post in an author's note.

"You constantly push at my buttons because you want attention," she says, pulling out her phone. "I stand by what I said earlier. You are a brat. I'm not here for your amusement."

But everyone is here for his amusement.

Satoru sighs. "What can I do to make this right between us?" If he could, he'd punch himself. Okay, he could punch himself, but he doesn't need Kagome going on about how he has issues. "You want me on my knees again?"

Kagome stops. Her thumb hovers over the phone. "Not good enough," she says.

"I'm good with my tongue," he half jokes.

Kagome glares at him. He takes a step back. "Sorry, I was…" What was he trying to do? "Look, that came—"

"Quiet."

He snaps his mouth closed. Kagome sends a message to someone and continues to ignore him. The longer the seconds tick by, the antsier he gets. He doesn't get ignored. Satoru fidgets. He opens his mouth and then closes it. Kagome told him to be silent.

Why is he even listening to her?

Fuck this.

"Good job, Satoru." Kagome smiles at him and the anger nestled in his throat dissipates. "I'll see you back at campus." The car drives up and Kagome hops in.

Satoru stands there watching the Ijichi drive off with Kagome in the backseat. His chest is light. Much lighter than before.

Good job, Satoru.

Shit.