Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time and Again ❯ Change of Heart ( Chapter 8 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Bird Talk: Blah

Cat Talk: Blah

Male Kami/Fate: Blah

Male Kami/fate's apprentice/goddess of the future: Blah

Male Kami/fate's girlfriend/goddess if the present: Blah

Goddess of chaos: BlAh

Goddess of the past: Blah

Change of Heart

AnYtHiNg NeW?

Nothing. I can't find that bastard…

Keep looking. There's gotta be something.

What about the Hikiokosu couple?

I wouldn't call them that just yet…

Still no good, then?

…

ThAt'S a No.

Shut up.

“I'm telling you, mom, I've met homicidal youkai I get along with better than Yusuke,” Kagome complained softly into the phone. “Sesshomaru's tried to kill me almost every time we've met, and I'd STILL rather have him here than that creep!!! Please tell me you're getting back soon?”

“Sorry, honey, but it's hard to find work here,” Kagome's mother said apologetically. “I'm not even sure a year will be enough,” Kagome bit back a groan.

“Well, try to hurry okay? We really miss you,”

“I miss you too, sweetie. Try to get along with Yusuke, okay? He's really not a bad boy, you know…”

`Of course not. Like I said before, he's a youkai.'

“I know, mama. I've got to start getting ready for the girls' sleepover. Bye, and good luck getting a job!!!”

“Bye, Kagome.”

`Click!'

Mrs. Higurashi turned to Atsuko curiously as the younger woman chuckled, finishing off her soda. (Mrs. Higurashi was determined to make sure Atsuko didn't drink on her watch, much to her dear friend's agitation.)

“I told you it would take much longer.” She said smugly as she sat up. “They're too stubborn.” Mrs. Higurashi sighed.

“True… but it's bound to happen. We both know it, Atsuko.” The brunette just shook her head.

“Hey, is Kagome suspicious about the whole Youkai thing yet?” Mrs. Higurashi's mouth twitched as she fought a smile.

“No, apparently, they're both very good at hiding it, though Yusuke is being beaten up quite a bit.” Atsuko's eyebrow kicked up.

“He must be working on something major, then…” Mrs. Higurashi looked surprised.

“He doesn't tell you about his missions?”

“Not if he can help it…” Mrs. Higurashi shook her head.

“Kagome's the same way. She will try and hide how much danger she gets into in the Sengoku from me, but she can't conceal all the wounds she gets.” She said sadly.

“Well, Yusuke will take care of that soon enough.” Atsuko said firmly. “Even when he's pretending to hate her like he does now, he wouldn't really let anything hurt her on his watch.” Mrs. Higurashi smiled.

“True enough…”

(AN; In the 6th manga, Atsuko was at the Dark Tournament with Keiko and Shizuru, so I'm assuming that at least in the manga, she knows about the Makai,)

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“I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Kagome blinked as Yuka burst into her house, jumping around excitedly. “I WON I WON I WON I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“What's she rambling about?” Ayumi asked in irritation. She was sitting on the living room floor, playing Poker with Eri and Sango, and losing horribly. She only had three pieces of candy left, compared to Eri's twenty something and Sango's huge pile. Apparently, the fighter's emotionless mask also doubled as a poker face…

“What makes you think I know?” Kagome asked, watching the girl jump up and down in excitement.

“I won 8 tickets for an all expense paid cruise to Disneyworld!!!” Yuka said proudly, “We get to stay three nights on a luxurious cruise line complete with all you can eat buffet, swimming pool (Meaning cute lifeguards), massages, hot tubs, servants that will answer to your every whim at a moments notice and spacious soundproof rooms that have cable and everything! Then we stay in Disneyworld for a week and head back the same way!!!” The rest of the girls, minus a confused Sango, gasped in excitement. “All of you are going with me, plus Yusuke, too!!!”

“Ooooh!!!” Ayumi squealed, “When is it?!?!?!”

“In a week!!!” Yuka answered. Ayumi's face fell.

“But we'll need much longer to get all our shopping for a trip like that done!!!” She exclaimed. Souta blinked at her in confusion.

“You will?”

“Well, yeah,” Ayumi said like that was a dense question, “We have to buy bathing suits, light summer clothes like shorts, skirts, and cute tops, sandals, regular shoes for when we go on rides since sandals would fall off, bags, towels, makeup, pajamas, stuff to do to entertain ourselves during the cruise…” The boy gaped as the list went on and on.

“I don't think I can go,” Kagome said doubtfully.

“WHAAT?!?!?!” Ayumi screeched, “Kagome are you nuts?!?!?!”

“No, I just think I need to help out Jii-chan here is all,” Kagome said, frowning, “Give my ticket to Hojo,”

“Not a smart idea.” Eri frowned, “After that whole incident in math last Tuesday, It probably wouldn't be very safe for Hojo to be stuck on a boat with Yusuke in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.” All the girls flinched at that.

“Good point…” Kagome muttered.

“If Kagome isn't going, neither am I,” Sango said firmly.

“But Sango-!” Kagome protested.

“Kagome, If you're not around to explain things to me, I'm going to be stuck in an awkward situation.” Sango whispered back. Kagome frowned. She had a good point there…

“Aww, come on!!!” Ayumi pouted, “I won't be any fun without you two!!!”

“Well… we'll see.” Kagome sighed.

“Well, Yusuke will be able to go, won't he?!” Yuka asked.

“Probably. You'll have to ask him…” Kagome said airily, save the evil smirk tugging at her lips.

“What'd you do?” Eri asked dryly.

“Nothing much,” Kagome responded, “By the way, Sango, can you pick the boys up from school tomorrow? I have to work late at the school…”

“But you're not supposed to work Thursdays!!!!” Sango protested.

“Kansen wants me to help him with his classes,” Kagome said evenly. Sango frowned.

“He teaches basic judo, right? What help could you be there?!”

“Ask him,” Kagome said, “I don't have any control over it. Well, I'm getting paid, so I guess I can't complain too much…”

“You're going to work yourself to death, Kagome,” Eri frowned, “Maybe you should ask for a few days off… With as sick as you get, it could be dangerous.” Kagome flinched as Souta coughed innocently.

“I'm fine.” She assured her friend. There was a loud slam from the front door, interrupting the budding conversation. “Yusuke's back,” Kagome said casually.

Said teen came storming into the room, furious eyes locked on Kagome's small frame.

“You're a bitch,” He said, “You know that, right?” Kagome rolled the eyes.

“How'd the date go?” She asked in a sugary sweet voice. Yusuke's teeth ground together.

“Give it back,” He growled.

“Not until I hear how much fun you had tonight!” Kagome said in her overly happy tone. Yusuke scowled darkly.

“She wouldn't let go of my arm the whole time, and wanted to head back to her place so we could be alone.” Yusuke shuttered slightly as Kagome choked back laughed, “now will you give it back?!?!”

“Alright, alright…” Kagome said, pulling the circular mirror out of her pocket and handing it to the boy, “I don't see why you need a dumb mirror so badly, anyways,” Yusuke snatched it from her and stormed off, grumbling about stupid evil schoolgirls.

“What was that about?” Eri asked in confusion. Kagome smiled brightly.

“I stole Yusuke's mirror and made him go on a date with Haruko.” The other girls gaped at her.

“Kagome, you're terrible!!!” Ayumi exclaimed, throwing a pillow at the girl. Haruko was the trampiest girl in school, and one of the many girls who happen to be VERY interested in Yusuke.

Theirs was a private school, so all the boys tended to be polite and sophisticated, Yusuke was the first real `bad boy' any of them had seen, and one of the biggest ones on Japan. This thrilled all of the girls, though the boys, teachers and parent's weren't as happy.

“Why would he go on a date with Haruko to get a mirror back?” Yuka asked in confusion.

“No clue,” Kagome shrugged. “He seemed really serious when he told Souta not to play with it, so I stole it to see how far he was willing to go to get it back. I didn't actually think he'd do it at the time…”

“Weird…” Ayumi said, frowning. She still didn't completely trust Yusuke, considering Kagome's past with her `two timing bad boy' boyfriend. She liked him, yes, and she thought the two could make a cute couple if they'd get over their squabbling, but something was weird about him, something the other two didn't pick up on.

That wasn't surprising, though. Eri was very book smart, and as romantic as Kagome in some cases, but she had very little common sense, and wasn't good at reading into people. Yuka was completely oblivious to most anything that didn't involve gossip, Though Ayumi wouldn't say that to her, since the two of them were closest out of their group of four, much like Kagome had always seemed closest to Eri before she started getting sick.

Still, Ayumi was very street smart, though her grades were no where near as good as Eri's or Kagome's (And Kagome's grades were still pretty good even in her illnesses, save her math grade. Math was never Kagome's strong point, though…) she always got a good feel on a person, and was always able to tell if they were good or bad.

Yusuke, though, had her confused. It was like… she couldn't connect with whatever she usually did. Like it wasn't there. Just like Kagome's had actually gotten more and more powerful every time she saw her, though hers went away recently, too.

“Well, let's not talk about that now!!!” Yuka said with a frown, “This is a slumber party, right?!?! Let's play some slumber party games!!!!!”

“Not Truth or Dare…” Eri moaned. She always came out with the worst on that game.

“We have to play Truth or Dare!!!” Yuka protested, “No slumber party is complete without it!!! Besides, it's tradition.” The four friends had a tradition when it came to slumber parties, dating back to their first one in the 2nd grade. They'd watch two movies, play Truth or Dare, do make overs, (Though they'd gotten better since the first time, which Yuka's mother still had pictures of despite the girls begging for them to be burned,) and drink every carbonated beverage in the house before crashing way past dawn. Everything else was up for grabs, but these traditions always stayed.

“We'll do Truth or Dare later, Yuka,” Kagome said hastily, knowing Sango had no idea what the game involved and not wanting her put in any awkward situations. “What movie should we watch?” after a loud debate, it was settled that the girls would watch Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean (DV; ^_^ Gomen, but I LOVE these movies!!!!!!!!)

“Orlando Bloom is dreamy!” Yuka sighed dramatically. “And he looks really good in Lord of the Rings!!!”

“I think I like him better in Pirates of the Caribbean,” Kagome said, repressing a shutter. Legolas's appearance reminded her far too much of Sesshomaru for her personal comfort.

After the movies, which involved dramatic screams whenever a girl's favorite hottie was on screen, much to the annoyance of Souta, Shippo, Yusuke and Buyou (Who still couldn't see what was so great about Johnny Depp.) Yuka managed to convince the girls to play Truth or Dare. (Kagome had given Sango her fair warning during the captions, bathroom breaks and any parts that didn't show handsome men,)

“You first, Kagome, it's your house,” Yuka said, jumping up and down on her pillow. Already the effects of an entire case of vanilla coke was kicking in (I've really gotta stop putting favorites in here…)

“Alright, Yuka, since you wanted to play so badly… Truth or Dare?” Yuka flinched then considered.

“Truth!!!”

“Chicken,” Ayumi scoffed, dodging the pillow aimed at her from Yuka.

“Who was the last guy you kissed?” Kagome asked in an innocent tone. Yuka's face flamed.

“…Do I really…?”

“Truth's a truth, Yuka!!!” Eri said happily.

“…Joki Takusan,” there was a loud, scandalized scream, “It wasn't my fault!!! I tripped, okay?!?!?!”

“Suuure…” Ayumi said teasingly.

“Arrg…” Yuka groaned, “You're turn, Eri!!!”

“Her turn what?” All five girls turned to find a shirtless Yusuke leaning against the doorframe, wearing only his pajama pants.

“None of your business,” Kagome said, turning away so he wouldn't see her blush.

`Must not stare, must not stare…'

“We're playing Truth or Dare,” Yuka said readily, “Wanna join in?”

“Yuka!!!” Kagome yelled.

“What? It's always more fun if you have at least one guy…”

“No thanks.” Yusuke scoffed, wrinkling his nose.

“What, don't tell me big bad Yusuke's afraid of a Girl's slumber party game?” Ayumi teased.

“I'm not afraid!!!” Yusuke said hotly. Then he thought of something and smirked., “I'll play, but only if you girls will play whatever game I choose next. ALL of you,”

“Deal!!!” Ayumi said before Kagome could protest. The blue eyed girl huffed as Yusuke sat down.

“Eri?” Yuka questioned.

“Truth,” The timid bookworm chose.

“What would a guy have to do for you before you sleep with him before he proposed?” Eri looked mortified.

“Yuka!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Answer the question.” Eri sighed.

“Well… he'd have to prove to me he's someone trustworthy who'd protect me,” Eri finally settled. “Yusuke?”

“Dare,” Yusuke said at once.

“Uumm…” Kagome sat back. Eri was the quietest one of their group, and terrible at thinking up good dares. “I dare you… to kiss Kagome!”

`Crash!'

“WHAAAAT?!?!?!?!” Kagome yelled. The rest of the girls squealed at the unexpected drama.

“Good one, Eri!!!” Yuka praised. Yusuke rolled his eyes.

Before Kagome could protest, he grabbed her arm, kissed her full on the lips, and pushed her back over to her pillow. When Kagome realized what had happened, she was red with fury and embarrassment, only made worst by the laugher of her three so-called friends and her oh-so-loving sister.

“Truth or Dare, Higurashi?” Yusuke said smirking. Kagome glared at him.

“Dare,”

`Do your worst, jerk!!!!' She thought, never taking her eyes off his. Yusuke grinned.

“I dare you to get a real tattoo in a private area.” Kagome froze, and was about to protest when she saw Yusuke's smirk. Closing her mouth and gritting her teeth, Kagome stood.

“Know any good tattoo places?”

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

“I can't believe you did that,” Yuka breathed, looking at Kagome with newfound respect.

Neither could she. Kagome shifted uncomfortably under the weight of her friends stares. Yusuke was the only one not staring at her. His eyes were on the road, which was for the best, since he was the driver.

“It actually didn't hurt that much…”

“Still, Kagome, Tattoos are permanent. And my mom would kill me if I just up and got one!!!”

“Well hopefully she'll never find out,” It was in a private place, as Yusuke instructed. Her inner thigh, to be exact. (The artist was only too happy to put it on, too,) It wasn't a fancy tattoo, either, just a blue crescent moon with a black silhouette of a dog. Still, Kagome knew it would be with her forever.

And the Kamis help Yusuke If Inuyasha ever found out about this…

“Well, It's my turn, right?” She fully intended to get Sango back for giggling the whole time they were in the tattoo parlor. “Sango, Truth or Dare?”

“Dare,” Sango answered after a moment's hesitation. She knew what Kagome was like when she was out for revenge…

“I dare you to refrain from hitting Miroku the next ten times he gropes you,” Sango couldn't have looked more horrified if she'd been told to walk the entire length of Tokyo butt naked.

“Ka-GO-me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” she half yelled, half whined.

“Who's Miroku?” Yusuke asked as he turned to the shrine.

“A friend,” Kagome responded.

“Well, now that we're back I guess it's time for Yusuke's game.” Ayumi said sweetly, (No one caught on until much later that she was the only one not to have gone yet,) “So, Yusuke, What are we playing?” Kagome's stomach dropped at the grin on Yusuke's face.

“Well…”

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

“I win again!!!” The girl all groaned.

“You're cheating!!!” Kagome said through gritted teeth, glaring at Yusuke.

“Got any proof?” He asked. Kagome's eyes narrowed. “I thought not,”

Begrudgingly, Kagome took off her shirt. Yusuke's favored game turned out to be strip poker, which surprised the girls since he was still only wearing his pants. He wasn't even wearing socks!

Still, without losing a single article of clothing, he'd managed to reduce Sango and Kagome to bra and panties, Eri and Yuka to just their panties and Ayumi to her birthday suit.

“I really don't like this form of poker,” Sango hissed to Kagome as Yusuke dealt another hand. Eri and Yuka were hugging pillow to their chests and Ayumi was sitting on the couch, now fully clothed and enjoying watching her friends squirm.

“I'm not exactly a fan of it myself.” Kagome muttered as they started playing again.

“I got two Jacks,” Sango admitted, glaring at Yusuke.

“A pair of eights,” Yuka said unhappily as she laid her cards down.

“I got nothing,” Eri sighed.

“Three of a kind,” Yusuke said, lying down three Queens. All eyes turned to Kagome. She and Yusuke locked glares as Kagome slapped down her cards, a smirk playing at her lips.

“Full House.”

…

“Why you little-!!!” Yusuke glared at Kagome, who looked far too smug for herself. “Fine,” The girls all hooted and squealed in delight as Yusuke's pants came off, and he was left sitting in his boxers.

“Sango, Kagome, if one of you two don't win, I'll kill you!!!” Ayumi squealed. Yusuke smirked.

“Four of a Kind.” Yusuke said, putting down his cards.

“I just have three nines,” Sango admitted, sighing as she discarded her last piece of clothing. (Yuka and Eri were already dressed again and sitting with Ayumi,)

“Pair of sevens,” Kagome said in a sulky voice before removing her bra.

The girls sat anxiously as Kagome and Yusuke entered the final round. Both were unsuccessfully trying to stare the other down.

“Well?” Kagome said, “Aren't you going to show your hand?”

“Nope, you go.”

“Oh, no, after you,”

“Ladies first.”

“I insist,”

“Just show your damn hand!!!” Kagome rolled her eyes and put down her cards.

Three sixes.

There was a tense moment of silence, before Yusuke put his hand face down and stood, making Ayumi and Yuka scream in delight as he lost his boxers as well. Kagome knew her face was on fire, and looked anywhere and everywhere except Yusuke.

But still, she couldn't resist one little peek.

`Wow…'

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

“Know what, Kagome?” Eri said slyly as she girls got ready for bed, “I think Yusuke likes you,” Kagome's blanket dropped on Sango's head.

“What?!?!?!” she exclaimed.

“I'm serious!!!” Eri said, sitting down, “The whole time we were playing strip poker you were the one he was watching.”

“That's because he's a hentai creep who likes to make me feel uncomfortable,” Kagome countered.

`Was he really? I never noticed…'

“Say what you will, Kagome,” Eri said, “But he treats you differently then other girls. He actually pays attention to you. And know what? I think you like him, too,”

“I do not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Kagome said, blushing, “You're crazy if you think I like him even just a little!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Eri just smiled at the fuming girl's protest.

“Whatever you say, Kagome-chan…” Sighing, Kagome cleaned up the dining room of all the pop they drank, hesitating at the scattered cards still sitting innocently on the floor.

Yusuke's hand was exactly where he left it, still face down.

`Wonder what he had…?' Kagome thought. After a quick glance at the other girls, she bent the cards to sneak a peek.

Straight of Aces.

Kagome put the cards back down, and sat down on the ground, stunned.

`Why in the world-?!?!' Kagome thought bewildered. Eri's comment, still fresh in her mind, came forward, and Kagome's face turned bright red.

Hesitantly, Kagome made her way to Yusuke's room, and smiled warmly at what she saw.

Souta and Shippo had been up late playing video games, and had fallen asleep on Yusuke's bed. Yusuke himself was resting against a wall, out cold. Apparently, the punk hadn't had the heart to disturb the sleeping children, and fell asleep in the floor.

After taking in the scene, Kagome left for a moment and returned with a pillow and blanket, giving Yusuke a little more comfort.

`When he's asleep, he looks so… different.' Kagome thought, blushing. She could see a little now that the other girls at school weren't just interested in a bad boy.

Hesitating momentarily, Kagome leaned forwards and gently kissed Yusuke on the cheek before leaving, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

“Uurg. Staying up all night was a bad idea…” Ayumi groaned a few days later, resting her head in her arms, “I thought I was gonna die during that English test today!!!”

It was lunchtime, and all the girls were tired as hell. Not to mention starving on Kagome's part. She'd skipped breakfast that morning and hadn't had much to eat that night at dinner.

“Don't remind me,” Sango winced. Though she was picking up most subjects quickly, the foreign language was a mystery to the girl from the past.

“Could've been worst,” Eri reminded them, smiling with over enthusiastic cheerfulness at the gloomy group.

“Go jump in a lake,” Yuka muttered, closing her eyes, “Kami, I can't wait for Disneyworld!!!” All eyes turned to Kagome as she began to choke on her sandwich.

Spitting it into a napkin, Kagome peeled the bread apart and froze in horror when she found a worm. Screaming, Kagome jumped out of her chair and away from the worm infested sandwich.

Everyone stared at her in bewilderment. Everyone except one. He sat in the corner, and smirked knowingly at her. Eyes narrowing in fury, Kagome marched over to him.

“You… you…” She hissed, unable to come up with something bad enough to call him.

“I'm what?” Yusuke asked, his smirk growing. That's when Kagome snapped. Grabbing some poor, random boy's plate of food, Kagome shoved it right into that infuriating smirk..

The room went deathly silence as Yusuke gaped at Kagome with mashed potatoes and ketchup on his face. Then-

“FOOD FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

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“This is all your fault, you know,” Yusuke growled as he stopped mopping long enough to glare at Kagome.

After the teacher's had stopped the fighting, the other students quickly pointed out Yusuke and Kagome as the culprits who started it, and the pair was made to stay after and clean the whole cafeteria by themselves.

“MY fault?!?! YOU'RE the one who put a worm in my food!!!!!” Kagome said with a shutter. Yusuke was the reason behind her fear of bugs in the first place. When they were children, he'd put a giant spider in her bed, one that was staring at her on her pillow when she woke up.

“Well I didn't think you'd act like that!!!” Yusuke defended himself. Kagome sighed, wondering mildly why it suddenly felt so hot.

“That's because you're a jerk,” She said, a little faintly.

“Yeah, yeah…” Yusuke grouched. He hadn't pulled anything over Kagome since the Tattoo thing, and didn't want her to think he was going soft.

Kagome moaned softly, catching Yusuke's attention.

“Hey, what the Hell's wrong with you?” he asked, noticing she looked paler, “Are you okay?”

“Fine!” Kagome said, trying to shake it off, “I- I'm fiii-” The rest was lost as the girl collapsed to the floor, her mop falling to the ground next to her. Startled, Yusuke rushed over and picked her up.

“Kagome?!?! KAGOME?!?!!?!?!?!?!” A soft moan was his only response. Yusuke flinched. “SHIT!!!!” Gathering her in his arms, Yusuke headed for the Nurse's office. “Damn it, Kagome, if you die, I'll kill you!!!!!!!!!” He snapped, glaring at the unconscious girl.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

“Aww, look how worried he is!!!” Kagome frown in confusion at the excited squeal. “They really do look cute together.”

“Don't you have a job to do?” A male voice said, sounding slightly irritated.

Kagome was in a large elaborate hall, built like a fancy Japanese manor. It reminded Kagome of the Reikai Offices, but something was off…

“You're one to lecture anyone about work,” Another voice said.

“Hey!!!” Curious, Kagome peered inside the room.

There were five people inside, two kitsunes (One male, one female), one wolf, one dragon and a ten-inch tall fairy flitting around. The female kitsune caught sight of Kagome right away, but the others were still fixed on their argument.

“Uuh… Guys?”

“In case you haven't notice,” The male kitsune said, “I've been working my tails off for a while now!!!”

“Why stop now?” the wolf responded, “You're the one who the Kami of Diaper-rash screwed over,”

“Guys?”

“Like your job's so hard,” The dragon scoffed, “It practically controls itself.”

“Does not!!!” The wolf said defensively, “I'll have you know being Kami of the past is a VERY difficult job!!!”

“Guuuuys…?”

“You just have to make sure no one changes hat already was,” The dragon corrected, “And considering the number of time traveling devices in the living realm is down to a mirror, a well and a magic cape, I don't think that's really a problem.”

“GUYS!!!!!!!!” Everyone turned to the kitsune. “I think we have company.” Confused, the other four Kami finally caught sight of Kagome.

…

“Hehe… oops,” The male kitsune said meekly. “Sorry, Kagome, but you're not supposed to be here just yet…” Kagome gasped as she felt herself beginning to fade.

“W-Wait!!!!” She called out fruitlessly.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

“She's coming to!!!” Shippo shouted in relief. Kagome groaned and opened her eyes, “Easy, Kagome, easy!!!!!” Shippo said worriedly as Kagome sat up.

“What…?”

“Are you okay?!?!?!” Sango cut in sharply, “You didn't hit your head, did you? Should you really be sitting up right now?”

“I'm fine,” Kagome said as Shippo began to shove a plate of food in her lap, “What happened?”

“You passed out!!!” Sango said, her tone a mixture of disapproving, worried and guilty, “The nurse said it was a combination of over working and under eating. You should've told us you were strained, Kagome!!!!!!”

“Sorry…” Kagome said, furious with herself for being so weak… “But, who brought me here?” She asked looking around the nurse's office.

“Yusuke!” Shippo answered at once “And he called me and Sango, too,” Kagome was a little startled. Yusuke had helped her?!

“Where is he now?” Kagome asked.

“Back at the shrine,” Sango answered. He left after we got here. Didn't even stop to say anything…” Kagome sighed, then she remembered something.

“The dojo!!!!” She gasped.

“I called in for us today,” Sango said, “AND I took off some time for us to go to that Disney place Yuka keeps rambling about.” Kagome began to protests. “You need a break, Kagome. And so do I, for that matter,” Sango sighed, “As much as both of us may loathe to admit it, we're only human. We need some time to relax a little.”

“Alright,” Kagome sighed, “I just need to take care of some things on the shrine first.” The roof needed work, as did almost all the doors. Not to mention the place needed a new coat of paint, and the old wooden steps into the well house needed to be replaced…

Sango sighed as she realized there would be no reasoning with her sister. The girl was just too stubborn sometimes…

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

“It's nothing serious, Urameshi-san. She just needs a little rest, some water and some food. As far as I can tell, she's just been overworked and underfed. No doubt trying to do too much in one day, knowing Higurashi-san…”

Yusuke scowled slightly at the ceiling of his room, the guilt gnawing away in the pit of his stomach refusing to go away as the nurses words, meant to be reassuring, played again in his head.

`You did that to her,' A nasty voice said in his mind, `You blew off your chores, ad she did them for you, and you're the one who's responsible for her not eating today at lunch. Kagome's right, you really are nothing but a jerk…'

Cursing, Yusuke stood up and paced for a while before sighing and heading downstairs. On his way past the living room, he caught sight of the bags in the corner from the local hardware store.

Inside were nails, hammers and shingles for the roof, which Yusuke remembered Kagome had said something about needing to be fixed, along with quite a few other things on the poor shrine.

Frowning at the bag thoughtfully, Yusuke headed into the storehouse.

“Yo!!!! Jiji!!!!!” Grandpa yelped at the unexpected intrusion. “Is there a ladder anywhere around here?”

“A… ladder?” Grandpa repeated, confused.

“Yeah, where to you keep the ladder?”

“It's out back, against the wall behind the main shrine.” Grandpa answered.

“Thanks!” Yusuke said, taking off back for the house. Grandpa frowned after him, bewildered.

“…What in the world could he need a ladder for…?”

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

“For the millionth time, I'm perfectly fine, guys!!!” Kagome said, waving away the concerns of her siblings and son, “I'm made of stronger stuff then that, you know,”

“Unfortunately,” Sango said dryly, though she smiled at her sister's strength.

“Are you sure you shouldn't eat a little more?” Souta asked. “That food didn't look very filling…”

“If I eat any more, I'll explode!!!” Kagome protested. “Look, I promise not to over extend myself again if you guys promise to stop fussing,”

“Well, someone has to worry about you, Kagome!!!” Shippo protested. Kagome rolled her eyes.

`Bang! Bang! Bang!' All the Higurashis stopped and looked up, to find Yusuke on the roof of the shrine pounding away. It was hot out, so he was shirtless yet again, and had nails in his mouth as he hammered away at the broken down roof. When he saw the gaping group on the ground, he took them out.

“What the Hell are you guys looking at?!?!?!” He yelled down.

“Uhh… What are you doing?” Kagome asked, blinking at him in shock.

“Thought I'd practice a little ballet.” Yusuke said sarcastically. Kagome glared, blushing.

“I mean what's with suddenly pitching in?! You never work around the shrine!!!” Kagome said, crossing her arms. Yusuke shrugged and slid down the ladder.

“You're too heavy.” He said, “I figured that if I didn't start pulling my weight, I'd end up hauling your again,” Kagome blushed and glared at him.

“Baka!!!” She yelled, more than a little annoyed at the insult to her weight. Her anger cooled a little though when she saw how sweaty he was. He must've been working for hours…

Sighing, Kagome looked up at the roof.

“If looks like you're almost done,” She said, “Come inside and I'll fix you something. Then you can finish up.” Kagome smirked. “And if you're really serious about helping out around here, You won't mind helping me with a few more chores tomorrow.”

“Come on, brat, you'd just get in my way,” Yusuke snorted, “Why don't you play at the mall with your friends. You have a trip to shop for, right? I know how you girls get when it comes to vacations,” Kagome rolled her eyes, not buying it.

“Tell you what,” She settled. “I'll leave the doors and steps for you to fix yourself, but we both paint the house.”

“Deal” Yusuke agreed.

“Well?!” Kagome said impatiently as she waited for Yusuke to get inside, “you don't want to be working in the dark, do you?!?!”

Sango and the boys stared after them, speechless.

“I'm not sure what's more shocking,” Sango said faintly. “Yusuke doing work, or Kagome and Yusuke almost getting along,” Shippo grinned.

“Yusuke wanted to help Kagome out after what happened!!!” He stated, “He was just as worried about her as us!!!”

“I wouldn't go that far…” Souta said hesitantly. He really liked Yusuke, but he was still sort of hoping to have Inuyasha as his older brother. Inuyasha was part demon, after all, and really strong. And he had a cool weapon.

Still… Yusuke would make a cool big brother, too.

Bird Talk: Blah

Cat Talk: Blah

Male Kami/Fate: Blah

Male Kami/fate's apprentice/goddess of the future: Blah

Male Kami/fate's girlfriend/goddess if the present: Blah

Goddess of chaos: BlAh

Goddess of the past: Blah

WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT ABOUT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Kagome must've gone off the charts for a minute, and I was too distracted to notice and steer her away. They're stronger then I expected… You'll have you handle everything while I concentrate on these two.

I thought you've been watching them since they were born?!?!

I have been, but I can't tell you strengths they themselves don't know about.

These Hikiokosu seem like more trouble then they're worth.

Actually, they're well worth the trouble, Love. Trust me on that…