Ch 1

Inuyasha again awoke in the corner of Kagome's room, just another day in her time. Now that they had killed Naraku, with much assistance from his older half brother that he would never admit to having needed; it was time to collect, again, the shards. What else could they do when the jewel had broken again? It was just as well, that means Kagome would have to stay with him longer. Long ago he had admitted to himself at least, that he loved her. Kagome had been at school for 'tests' again, he still did not know what the 'tests' were. The Ms H. came into the room saying "Kagome's school is on fire she may still be inside." Inuyasha was already out the window before she got to 'still'.

The next thing he knew he had met Kagome's three friends outside of her school, Hojo was there too, but NO KAGOME. "Hey have any of you seen Kagome out here?" Hojo answered first. "No she is not out yet, they won't let us back inside." Flames and smoke both clouded the school when he heard her call for, not help, but him. A faint "Inuyasha!" hit his sensitive ears. His vision couldn't see into a room due to he distance and the smoke, so he ran. As he reached the school a faint outline of Kagome slowly appeared in one of the rooms. She did not cry but coughed obsessively and his name escaped her mouth every ten seconds. In one effortless leap he reached her window. He grabbed her small arm and pulled her gently to him, closer to fresh air and safety.

Kagome was a little frightened having been pulled against what must have been a brick wall by someone she couldn't see. Then Inuyasha's voice rang through the smoke, it was loud and strong. "Its O.K. Kagome, I'm here now." A small sigh escaped her as the tension wound down. As another fit of coughing gripped her she felt herself being lifted. Not three seconds later they were gliding through the air to her safety. Inuyasha's breathing had now calmed down, now his love was safe, she was with him, that was all he needed now. The two landed right where the smoke veil stopped and, to maintain the hoax that he was human and Inuyasha ran the rest of the way to the awaiting people.

Upon arrival, Kagome's mother, along with four men pushing something that looked like a 'bed' on wheels ran up. "Inuyasha," Kagome's mother said calmly to him "put her down on that white thing so he paramedics can be sure she's O.K." Reluctantly he laid the coughing Kagome on the bed and noticed that her friends and that Hojo running up to them. Hojo was first to speak, "Are you O.K. Kagome?" Inuyasha, knowing that she couldn't answer, spoke for her. "She'll be fine in a bit, mostly just breathing in too much smoke." His eyes left Kagome for a moment to look at the other, his competitor, he glared harshly. Hojo smiled brightly and reached out for his hand, a miniature glint of relief and happiness in his eye. "Thank you for saving Kagome, it's lucky you were here huh?"

Inuyasha, without a sound to Hojo turned to the medic. "She'll be O.K. right, she ain't hurt or nothin'?" The medic smiled, he had done this before, but rarely had he seen someone so young run into a fire. This girl must mean a lot to the strange looking boy with silver hair. "Inhaled some smoke but she'll be fine in a while." By now Kagome had almost quit coughing, her watery eyes on Inuyasha. He removed the "Oxygen Mask" and lifted the young miko. Kagome's mom walked up to the young half youkai holding her oldest child, she did not like him being rude. "Inuyasha" she said in her sweet sing-song voice, "I know you don't intend to leave Hojo's comment, which was very sweet, with no creditable response."

He sighed, thinking of an answer that would fit. "I am always somewhere around Kagome so I don't think about it much. Don't worry Hojo, I'll always be around." Kagome's eyes lit up at the last four words, did he just say always? She looked at the silver haired half youkai, eyes filled with a mixture of love and hope. Hojo, nearly glaring at his revile turned to the 'injured' Kagome. "Are you OK Kagome?" With a sweet smile she nodded. "Yes Hojo I am, thanks Inuyasha. Hey mom, could we have ramen for dinner, after all, Inuyasha should have his favorite food." Her mother just smiled at her.

Before starting home she turned from the people to speak to her daughter "Kagome dear, I forgot to tell you that Grandpa, Sota, and I are going to be leaving later today so it will be just you and Inuyasha tonight. Actually, we will be gone about three days. I would have loved to take you but I did not think you were going to be 'well enough' to." Hojo's eyes went wide with complete and utter shock and confusion. "May I ask you why you are living them alone Ms H?" Inuyasha would have told him it was none of his business but Kagome's mom answered swiftly. "I know very well what they may do, I also know, and trust Inuyasha, he will not hurt Kagome."

Kagome got Inuyasha to put her down and hugged her mother. Still dazed she fell back only to be caught by the one who had put her down. "I just thought you might need a lift." Inuyasha said as he lifted her bridal style against his hard chest and cool hori. She loved being like this, she felt so safe, so worm, it truly was her favorite place to be. Her mother smiled a knowing smile and said loud enough for Inuyasha, but no one else, to hear over the noise "Welcome to the family Inuyasha, I am going to love having you." With that she called to Sota who had been let out of school to see his sister, and walked away. "What did she say?" a weak voiced Kagome asked a grinning Inuyasha. "Keh, you'll see, go to sleep I'll carry ya back" Nodding Kagome laid her head on his broad shoulder and fell instantly into a sound sleep.

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