Disclaimer: We do not own the Inuyasha fandom or any of its characters. Those belong solely to Rumiko Takahashi.

We're merely torturing… I mean playing with them for pure enjoyment. All OCs belong to Tempest and Fury.

XOXOXO:

Hey everyone. I know it's been ages. Sorry. Life has gotten more hectic than ever for me.

The first four scenes {minus the brief flashback} all take place during the same day.

Enjoy the chapter.

~Tempest.

XOXOXO:

Chapter Seven:

XOXOXO:

Jason sat in his truck with the windows down, the music on and a cigarette between his lips. Removing the cigarette he sighed and tossed his dead cell phone in the glove box.

Taking a drag he allowed the smoke to fill his lungs and soothe him, then ashed it into the ash-tray. He glanced at his watch, started his truck and drove down to meet his cousin.

He parked the truck and waited. Jason had arraigned for her first class accommodations, wanting her to have as easy a trip as possible.

After the plane landed on the hot stretch of asphalt, a few moments passed before the passengers began to unload.

Kayla pushed her brown shoulder-length hair out of her face with a sigh. It would be interesting to see her cousins and granpa again. She wondered if they would even get along, since it had been years since they last saw each other.

Shifting her weight from one foot to the next, she adjusted her carry-on bag so it hung on her shoulder, instead of resting on her chest. Using her hand to block the sun's glare, she scanned the airport.

Jason probably hadn't changed much. He was always the same. Brooding during the times he chose to be alone, or semi-carefree around his family.

Her lips tugged into a smirk. She'd bet her hidden stash he had at least a few ladies waiting for him at any given moment, and a line several miles-long of girls just waiting for a chance to catch his interest.

Typical Jason.

Her gaze landed on the pavement of the roadway. Maybe he was late to collect her? After all the plane was half an hour early. She lightly chewed her bottom lip as panic tried to consume her What would she do if he wasn't here yet?

Jason leaned out the window, stuck two fingers in his mouth and blew a loud whistle.

The sudden noise caused Kayla's head to snap to the source of the sound.

Jason waved his hand.

Kayla walked towards the truck, adjusted her jean shorts, then climbed in. She slipped off her strappy heels and flexed her toes.

"Hey, Kay. It's been a while."

"That it has, big cuzzo." Kayla leaned over and wrapped Jason in a brief, tight hug.

A few moments into the drive, Kayla pulled out a cigarette-shaped tube, with a green leafy-filling and a clear paper. She sniffed it, stuck one end of it in her mouth and lit the other end. She inhaled deeply a few times before launching into a coughing fit and then held it out for Jason to grab.

He chuckled, then took the marijuana cigarette from her fingers and puffed on it a couple times.

"You still can't hold your smoke for shit, you lil shit." Jason exhaled then laughed.

"I'm working on it," she sighed, hoping the pot would help soothe her frayed nerves.

Jason took one last puff before handing it back to Kayla and lighting a cigarette.

"Well, try not hittin' it so hard. You're burnin' the hell outta your lungs, kiddo."

"You're one to talk." She stuck her tongue out at him. "How many packs a day you burning through these days?"

"I could make a pack last me four days. Unlike you when you used to chain smoke. I'd give you a pack and you'd come back in a couple hours asking to bum a square. Tisk-tisk, Kayla." He chuckled.

"Girl's gotta have something to keep her busy." She blushed. "Especially one who bores as easily as me, so I turned to smokes." She shrugged.

"Not that though. These'll kill ya."

"How are they gonna kill me, but not you?"

"I never said they won't kill me."

"Leiko is really getting married, huh?"

"Yeah," Jason sighed. "Not that I'm too happy about the reason."

"Why is she getting married?"

"Some dumb-fuck knocked her up," Jason growled.

Her eyes widened. "I'm surprised he got close enough to do so, with you home and all."

"I was stayin' somewhere at the time it happened."

"Ooh, Jase gotta girl now?" She teased.

"Maybe I do." Jason smiled.

"Will wonders never cease?" she teased, then sobered up. "Never thought I'd see the day my big cuzzo settled on one girl." Kayla grinned. "So, why this one?"

"I dunno." Jason sighed and threw his cigarette out the window. "She's just… different I guess. What about you? Any boyfriends I need to know of?"

"Not anymore." Kayla stared out the window, falling silent.

"You wanna tell me what happened?" Jason glanced over at his cousin and licked the inside of his cheek.

"Not much to say, really. My ex was a major dick." She stared at her hands in her lap. "Not that it matters anymore, cause I'm here now."

"He's lucky I wasn't in the states," Jason growled. "If you need anyone to talk to, I'm here for you." He flashed her a warm grin. "After all you're family."

"Thanks. So, how different is it living here?"

"Aside from towering over everybody, the different way of driving and…" his mind flashed back to the night where he'd learned about the well, "interesting circumstances, it's not that bad."

"You've always towered over everyone." She giggled.

"It's different here. I'm like a giant." Jason laughed. "Anyway, I've got you signed up for some classes to take while you're here. I'll be in the same building, so if you need anything, just shoot me a text."

"School, seriously? Ugh," she groaned dramatically.

"Yes, school. The year is almost over and they're easy classes. Don't worry."

"When do I get to meet my soon-to-be cousin-in-law," she asked, attempting to change the subject.

"Your 'cousin-in-law' is damn lucky I haven't blown a hole in his head!"

"Ah, now there's the Jason I've missed." She grinned. "When do I meet the girl who caught big cuzzo's interest?" She stared at him. "Hm… come to think of it, you do look different."

"Different how?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Just… different." She shrugged.

"Probably because it's been a few years since we've last seen each other? Or maybe the fact that I'm not walking around in my fatigues all the time?" He chuckled.

"Well, yeah. But… it's something else." Her fingers snapped. "Your eyes, they have always held an underlying coldness. Now they don't."

"Just because they don't look cold, doesn't mean I've lost my touch," Jason warned. "You remember that guy that always stalked you, yeah? And you remember what happened to him?"

She nodded.

"I'm still that guy." He sent her a quick glance.

"No one can mistake you're still a hard-ass. But, you've changed a bit."

"I guess I'm just getting soft," he chuckled.

"Now that really would be impressive." She giggled, and then sobered.

"I still see the fierce soldier. But, you do seem more… tolerant." She grinned. "I've bordered on rude with my responses and you have yet to call me on it."

"Really? I haven't noticed."

"The old Jason would have."

"Well excuse me, young lady." He raised a brow. "Maybe I should pull off to the side of the road and PT you until you puke?"

"Um, no." She paled. "I'm good. So, where exactly are we going?"

Jason laughed. "Home. Get comfortable, we've still got a forty-five minute drive." He put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it.

"Mind sharing the smokes?"

Jason stared at Kayla for a moment before shaking his head and handing her his pack. "Kay, you're sixteen, you shouldn't be smokin'. Bad kid," he teased.

"Says the man who has smoked since he was how young?" She pulled one out, put it between her lips and lit it, then passed him the pack.

"Now I'm in my twenties. Your argument is invalid, lil shit." He smirked.

"Double standard much?" She stuck out her tongue. "Especially considering you're the one who got me started."

"I'm an adult. I can do what I want." Jason shrugged.

"I'm almost an adult," she fired back, arms crossed under her full breasts, which nearly popped out of her halter top.

"You're sixteen." The steel edge to his voice signaled she'd entered dangerous waters. "Don't get mouthy with me."

"Yes, sir," she sighed.

"That's better." He nodded satisfied. "What'd you do with that nine I sent you?"

"It's in my bag."

"Good. Keep that on you at all times. If you need ammo or some practice, I'll take you somewhere."

"I'm allowed to just carry here? No permits?" Her eyes widened.

"Not once did I say you're allowed to carry here." He smirked. "I just tend to have a way with cops."

"Ah. Gotcha." She grinned and then frowned. "You're not gonna go all 'super parental' on me, are you?" She stared at him.

"You're supposed to be the cool one, cuzzo. The one I can do whatever I want around." She held her breath hoping he wouldn't have changed that much.

"Nah, nothin' like that. Just a couple do's and don'ts here and there. Nothin' major though." Jason took a long draw from his cigarette.

"Hope not," she sighed. "Cause what I really need is a drink, as hard as you can get it." She blinked back unwanted tears. "I just wanna forget a while, ya know?" She blew out a puff of smoke.

Jason licked the inside of his cheek and sighed at the intense sadness and the tremble in his cousin's voice.

"I'll get you a drink, but you gotta promise to tell me what happened, yeah?"

"Okay." She took a deep breath and stared out the window. "But, you gotta get me the drink first. Deal?"

"Yeah, deal."

"Kinda thought you'd pick me up in Rose."

"I would have, but she got into an… accident."

"What kind of accident?" She blinked and faced him. "And who did you kill for it?"

"Oh… I didn't really kill anybody, except all of my former platoon and half of my internal organs." Jason sighed.

"I thought they didn't know you were alive?"

"I only said that to keep you from buggin' me about Umbra." Jason sent her a cold glare.

"I was supposed to retire, but shit went south and with their resources stretched thin, they had to call in the hounds. Long story short: they fucked me, so I returned the favor. I just wasn't as gentle." He laughed.

"Man, you shoulda seen the looks on their faces. It was just-" He slammed his hands on the steering wheel.

"I don't know. But, all of that blood and death just got me so…" he gripped the steering wheel hard enough to turn his knuckles white and the large muscles in his arms showed so clearly they appeared to be chiseled,

"fucking ecstatic!" The last part was a shout. He laughed, narrowly missing a few cars by mere inches.

"Wow, Jase. Watch the other cars, okay?" She smiled bemused. "Nice to hear you still enjoy killing." Kayla leaned her head back against the seat.

Jason kept his booted foot on the gas pedal, forcing the massive truck to constantly gain speed.

"Oh, Kay, I miss it. The sights, sounds, smells and just… everythin' of a warzone. The rounds being discharged right over my head, the sounds of men dying and screamin' for their mothers… I miss everythin' from the recoil on my shoulder, to ridin' around in multi-million dollar vehicles and blowin' any stupid-fuck I see to nothin'."

He took a deep breath and slowed the truck back down to 70 mph and rested his back against his seat.

"But, fuck it. I can't go back anymore. People need me here." He mindlessly rubbed the Marine Corps rank insignia on his arm with a deep sigh.

"Aside from me and Lei, what people? Last I knew you kept to yourself, unless you wanted to get laid." She laughed.

"Well, some things change." he shrugged.

"They don't have to you know," she reminded. "The excitement in your face as you told me, I like that better than then disappointment I see in your eyes right now."

"I can't just up and leave. I've got people to take care of. I won't leave them just so I can go have fun. Besides, the people I need are all here." He smiled and ran a hand through his hair.

She stared at him a long, silent moment. "Who are these people, Jase?"

"There's you, Lei, and gramps. Then there's Kera and her family. And Leiko's got a kid on the way, so I've gotta be the support there. Oh, and Leonidas." Jason smiled at the thought of his Rottweiler and how loyal he'd always been.

"Back up. Kera?" Kayla stared at him. "I assume that's your girl? Why worry about her family?"

"You know how I am. Look after one, look after them all. And yeah," he smirked, "she is."

"Still have Leonidas, huh?" Kayla grinned.

"Of course I still have Leonidas." He glanced at her. You think that I'd just up and leave him?"

"How is the fur-baby?"

"You can see for yourself. He got quite a bit bigger these last couple of years."

"Wait! Didn't you say Lei's getting married? Why can't he take care of her and the baby?"

"Because her boy-toy's got the IQ of goldfish." He scowled, dark and deadly. "All brawn, no brain."

"Why would she marry him?" Kayla scrunched her nose in disgust.

"I don't know what she sees in him," he sighed. "He'd just better pray he doesn't fuck up," Jason growled.

"Let's hope not." Kayla laughed and then turned serious. "At least with us around, Lei and the baby won't end up alone." She sighed and stared out the window falling silent again.

Jason read his cousin's actions like a book with extra-large print.

"You're gonna tell me what's been buggin' ya." He commanded in a tone that brokered no arguments.

"I know for a fact it's not because of your mom and dad. You hated them." He glanced over at her. "And remember I know when you're lyin'."

"Hard drink first, then you'll get all the details." She balled her fist in her lap as moisture filled her eyes before she looked away.

"You'll have to wait till tonight." Jason ran his hand through his hair. "How long ago were you involved with this guy? I haven't heard anythin' about it." He clicked on his blinker and took the exit ramp off the highway. He made a few more turns until he turned down his road.

"About a year and a half. We kept it under the radar."

"We'll talk about this later." Jason pulled into his driveway and turned the engine off. He climbed out, shut his door and waited for Kayla.

"Nice place." Kayla carried her carry-on bag and followed her cousin.

"Thanks. I try my best to keep up with appearances without going overboard." He walked over to the door and unlocked it, then walked in and closed the door behind Kayla.

She stared at the living room and smiled. "Only the best, huh cuzzo?"

"You know it." Jason chuckled, then turned to head up the stairs. "I'll be right back."

Kayla waited at the foot of the stairs and wondered where her cousin's fur-baby was.

Jason peaked around the corner, holding firm to Leonidas' collar. He bent down and whispered in his dog's ear.

"Go up to Kayla, but don't do anything until she turns around. When that happens, jump on her and give her a warm welcome." He smiled.

Leonidas smiled and wagged his tail then slowly walked down the steps, stopping only a few steps behind Kayla.

Kayla turned around and saw the fur-baby in question. Her eyes widened. No shit he got bigger.

Leonidas barked loudly and pounced on the teenager, vigorously licking her face and wagged his tail.

"Hello to you too." She laughed and pet him.

Jason chuckled as he descended the stairs and walked into the kitchen. He pulled out a couple glasses, filled them halfway with ice, and poured the whiskey into the glasses. He handed Kayla hers and grabbed the bottle, then set it down on the coffee table and sat on the couch.

"Now, about your ex?" He sipped on his drink.

"Promise to wait until I finish before you say anything." She took a deep breath to gather her courage and then tossed the whiskey back, relishing how it burn down her throat.

"I'm serious. No interrupting, or I may not be able to get it all out."

"Promise." Jason shrugged and took another drink. He unlaced his boots and lay down on the couch.

She took a deep breath and pressed her back against the couch.

"I was engaged, but his parents didn't approve of me. He promised that he loved me and didn't care what they thought." She gave a bitter laugh. "And like an idiot, I believed him." She shook her head with her mouth pinched.

"A week later he ditched me to marry some rich girl they hand-picked for him." She rolled a joint, lit it, then inhaled a few puffs, ignoring that her broken heart shattered even more as she re-told the events.

"The bastard actually had the gall to expect me to be his mistress." Automatically her palm rubbed against her heart as if to assuage the constant pain there. Misery filled her to the core and she glared at the empty cup, wishing like hell it was full.

She wasn't anything special to her ex. Just another piece of ass. Apparently that was all she'd ever be to any guy who wasn't family.

Eventually, after her heart healed and she slammed it into a solid steel vault, coated in a thick layer of ice around it, she'd have sex again. She refused to give him the satisfaction of denying herself the one thing that all of nature's creatures partook of. But, it would be on her terms and her heart would never get involved again. She'd make damned sure of it.

Kayla took a drag from her joint, slowly blew the smoke out and then leaned back and closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to spill. She'd expected to be all cried out by now, after a couple weeks of endless tears in the privacy of her bedroom, with the curtains drawn to block out the sunlight and shelter her from the world.

"I got so depressed that I lost the baby I didn't even know I was carrying." Her free hand balled into a fist and pressed against her stomach as she remembered the intense searing pain pain that had ripped through her abdomen the morning of her gruesome discovery.

Her chin quivered and she rapidly blinked back the tears trying to fall. Guilt churned in her belly night and day. What kind of parent killed their own child, even inadvertently? She should have gotten out of bed and eaten, or at least slept. Surely something could have been done about the unwanted memories which plagued her every attempt to sleep?

Maybe she didn't deserve to be a parent? It's not like she'd have been a good example for the kid. She'd messed up before, but not of this magnitude. She stared off seeing nothing and her voice was flat, as if trying to pretend she had no emotions.

"After mom and dad died, he continued trying to visit me."

Without warning, she kicked the coffee table and sent it toppling over.

"Can you believe that shit?" she growled, fist punching her thigh.

She shook her head with a deep scowl and mentally berated herself for ever getting involved with the lousy, good-for-nothing jerk in the first place.

"I refused to speak to the bastard, but there was no one left to run interference, ya know?" She shrugged. "Basically, shit just went downhill from there."

For a couple weeks she'd lain curled into a ball, hugging her knees to her chest and begged for death, but it eluded her. Instead, it taunted her by staying just out of reach, denying her the sweet darkness which would end her constant torment.

With a trembling hand, she took a long drag of the joint, letting it work its magical spell on her, taking all her pain and anger away as she drifted into a place where nothing mattered.

"So, now you know." Her eyes glazed over as she welcomed the deep sense of relief that getting high brought her. No pain, no guilt over stupidly killing her child, just the blessed peace of the emptiness she craved every waking hour. She wasn't judged, or ruthlessly hounded by her demons. Here she was just… free.

Jason slowly stood and picked up the whisky bottle. He set the table upright and refilled the glasses. He walked to the other side of the room, downed half of his glass and threw it full force against the wall, where it shattered into tiny fragments.

"Why didn't you tell me about any of this, Kayla?" Jason shouted. "I practically raised you as my own and you didn't even tell me?" His eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I would've flown back to the states and killed this motherfucker for what he's put you through!" His chest rose and fell rapidly. "Just one call, one letter, one word and I would have been at his door with a sawed-off-pump in my hand."

He drove his fist through one of the stone columns next to the fireplace, cutting his hand wide open and possibly breaking a bone or two.

"You didn't have to go through that shit alone. You didn't have to go through it at all!"

He grabbed a cigarette out of his pack with his good hand and lit it on the stove. Normally, he didn't smoke in the house, but he was too furious to care.

"Who the fuck is this guy? I'll have him dead, his family dead, his friends dead, fucking anybody that even associates with him dead!" He drew from his cigarette and stared at his cousin.

She felt the dark anger rolling off him and hugged her trembling body trying to comfort herself. She knew Jason wouldn't hurt her, but his full blown anger scared even the bravest of men. Not a single woman had failed to cower from his temper.

"You know me," she sighed. "I try to clean up my own messes."

A deep growl rose from Jason's chest. The wound he'd sustained bled profusely, leaving a large pool of blood on the oak floor. He smoked his cigarette down to the filter and then lit another one.

"You should have told me a long time ago." He crouched down in front of his cousin and gently held her hand in his. "Honey, I know that shit had to be tough."

He licked the inside of his cheek and bit down slightly on his tongue. "I'm sorry for flying off the hinges like that. I'll do whatever I can to help you. Alright?"

"I never wanted anyone to know," she sobbed, embarrassed by how badly she'd messed up.

Jason sighed and sat down on the couch. He pulled a first-aid kit from underneath his couch and then opened the kit on the table.

"I'm not just anyone." He unscrewed the cap from the medical glue. "I practically raised you. I was more of a father to you than your actual father." He squeezed small drops of the glue into the wound and pressed the skin together so it would stick.

"You're more of a daughter to me than a cousin." He grabbed the bottle of whiskey, took a long swig and finished gluing his wounds shut.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed, her buzz from the drinks killed by the emotional storm of revealing everything. She sat on the couch with her head in her hands as tears flowed.

Jason wrapped an arm around Kayla and hugged her to him. He kissed the top of her head. "It's okay."

"If that bastard shows up around here, I'll kill him." He rubbed her back.

She nodded and hugged him back. "I just want to start fresh, ya know?"

"I saw your rap-sheet from the states. It's been cleared. You've got a clean slate and a chance to start over." He smiled.

"Thanks." She pulled back and wiped her eyes. "Which room is mine?" she asked tiredly.

"Up the stairs, third door on the right. Can't miss it." He kissed her forehead. "Go get some rest. We'll talk after I get home tomorrow."

She nodded and yawned as she made her way to her room, where she crashed as exhaustion from her lack of sleep and jet-lag took their toll with a vengeance.

XOXOXO:

With Kera:

"Hey, Jas. Call me when ya get a chance. It's important." Kera hung up her cell. Only two people had her number. Soru and Jason.

She stared at her bag, packed with her clothes and weapons. She'd tried to get a hold of him the last few days, but he was busy with family stuff. She understood Jason's loyalty to his family and that his responsibilities to them came first. One of many things she admired about him.

Family was very important, but Kera couldn't stay at her parents' house anymore. The argument with her dad from the other day, when he'd overheard her conversation, replayed in her mind.

"Kera, you're not ready to take that step yet." Soru stared at his stubborn daughter, arms crossed over his chest.

"How would you know?" Her hands balled into fists at her sides.

"Sweetie, you've barely known him a month." Soru shoved a hand through his hair.

"I know more about him than most people learn in a lifetime." She raised her chin defiantly.

"You didn't even know about his past."

"Stop bringing his dead son into our arguments!" Her eyes narrowed and her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths as the blood heated in her veins. Anger simmered like lava beneath the surface waiting to explode.

"Stop trying to change the subject, young lady." A muscle ticked beside his jaw as he clenched his teeth. "You're moving too fast."

"No, we're not."

"Don't throw your future away over a guy."

"Jason is my future."

"What happens when you two break up?"

"We won't."

"You don't know that."

"He gave you one of his most prized possessions. Doesn't that tell you anything?"

"He cares about you."

"More than you think."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I know Jason better than anyone else. Same as he knows me. After everything we've been through it's impossible not to."

"Mostly adrenaline-laced situations."

"Adrenaline doesn't make people care about each other."

"Sex does."

"It's more than sex, dad." She huffed. "Why can't you accept that?" She stared at him a long tense moment. "You should be happy for us."

"At least finish school first." He dragged a hand down his face in exasperation.

"I've tried to wait until I graduated. But, you keep undermining every decision I make. I can't take it anymore!" "You're not ready to be on your own."

"I won't be alone. I have Jason."

"You're not ready."

"I'm not, or you're not?"

"I forbid it!"

"In case you've forgotten, dad, I'm not a child anymore. I stopped being a child long before you even sent me here. Legally I'm an adult and I don't need your permission." She grabbed her bag and bolted out the door so she wouldn't be late for school.

Kera shook her head and sighed. Every time she told Soru that she wanted to do something, with or without Jason, Soru blew his stack. She loved her daddy, but he just drove her nuts anymore. It was time to spread her wings. Whether he liked it or not.

She slung her bag over her shoulder and closed her locker with a heavy sigh. Having gone by the bank early that morning to ensure her money was still there, Kera felt confident she could handle whatever happened next. She'd removed her father's name from the account the day she'd turned eighteen, so that wouldn't be a problem either.

Walking would do her some good. Give her a chance to clear her head. Once she found a place, she'd get the door Jason had given her installed on it and buy her parents a new door.

True, she and Jason had discussed her moving in with him at the hospital, but they hadn't even seen each other all week. She sighed and tightened her hand on the handle of her bag and wiped a single tear from her cheek.

Something else had come up too, and it looked like she'd be dealing with it alone. For now, her top priority was to find a place to lay her head. She couldn't take another night in the motel room. People in the rooms around her didn't understand the meaning of common courtesy. She'd barely slept a wink the past couple nights.

She'd saved every penny from the day she started getting paid, so she had plenty of money for whatever she wanted to buy or rent. The idea of renting an apartment briefly entered her mind. She quickly banished it. Apartment complexes were crowded, noisy, and notorious for harboring some harsher elements of humanity. She shivered. No thanks.

Had Jason missed her like she had him? Since their first meeting, they'd never been apart for so long before. She missed waking in his arms and holding him when they fell asleep. And the overall peaceful feeling that just being near him gave her. Jason was her rock.

She loved spending time with him. But, he had enough on his plate already and she didn't want to add to that, or get in the way of his family stuff. She appreciated Jason's kindness. But, she was a big girl and ready to stand on her own two feet.

Besides, he had enough on his plate already. She didn't want to risk ruining what they had by seeming too clingy.

Kera Higurashi was an independent woman and wouldn't allow herself to become a burden to anyone, least of all someone she cared so deeply about.

Pulling out her newspaper, she read the address for the first one she'd circled and walked toward it. A place of her own was just what she needed right now. No father dictating to her and it would give Jason some personal space, which she figured he needed right about now. So, despite how badly she wanted to go see him, she'd stayed away.

Kera reminded herself that she'd see him at his sister's wedding in a couple days. How had she let Leiko rope her into being a bridesmaid anyway? Ah well, not like it would happen again any time soon. Besides, she looked forward to seeing Jason in his dress blues. If the cost was her wearing a dress and heels, so be it.

Reaching the first house she waited for the realtor to show up and then they went inside. Kera listened as the realtor listed off all the nice additions, but focused more on the rooms of the house. This one had a dark, forbidding atmosphere to it and creeped her out. She'd learned long ago to heed those warnings.

With a red pen she crossed it off the list and pointed to the next one. The realtor agreed to meet her over there after a quick call to the office. Kera walked towards it, which was closer to the school. Walking took longer than driving, but she enjoyed the exercise.

The second house was way too big for one person, so she passed on it. She didn't need or want a big place. Just a single bedroom, a nice roomy bathroom, a kitchen with a small pantry and she was good to go. She smiled. Surely a decent one-bedroom house wouldn't be that hard to find.

At the end of the day she settled for buying a one-bedroom house within walking distance of the school, the shrine, and Jason's place. She wrote out a check and handed it to the relator, who promised to have the paperwork, including the deed to her by the next evening. Kera accepted the keys and decided to move in that night.

Kera spent the first half of the evening cleaning the clothes she'd brought with her and some sheets she'd bought earlier that morning, in the stackable washer/dryer combination that came with the house.

Sitting at the table she made a list of the weekly groceries she would need, and added a new mattress and a hide-a-way couch to her list of things to acquire the next day, and then stored her small cache of weapons by the bed.

After the last load of laundry was dried, folded and put away in her small dresser, she made the bed with fresh linens and then fell onto the bed with a long drawn out sigh. It wasn't long before she fell into an exhausted sleep.

XOXOXO:

With Ban/Kag:

"I just don't get it. It's been several days since Kera stormed out." Kagome sighed, picking at the food in front of her.

"Hey." Bankotsu smiled. "Kera can take care of herself." He gently swept some stray hair behind her ear. "Besides, Jason isn't about to let anything happen to her."

"How can you be sure?" She blushed and pushed his hand away.

"You mean besides the words he told me the day I first arrived?" He grinned. "That guy and I are actually a lot alike." He smirked. "Let's just say, I sure don't envy anyone stupid enough to upset or threaten her."

"I guess," Kagome sighed. "But, she can't expect him to be there all the time."

"Your sister can handle herself."

"Why did she leave?" Kagome stared at him like he had all the answers.

"I got the impression this power struggle between her and your dad has gone on longer than just when he got home. And to be honest, I don't think it has so much to deal with Jason either. It's a power struggle, period." He shrugged. "Maybe it's just time for her to run her own life?"

"She's barely turning nineteen." Kagome frowned. "How can she know what she wants already?"

"Some people just know." He smiled. "And something tells me that once her mind is made up there is no changing it."

"Do you really think he'll be good to her?" Kagome picked at the blades of grass near her hip and ripped them apart.

"He's obviously had a lot of girls and… I just don't want Kera to end up getting hurt." Sure Jason had saved their family, but he was a dangerous man, with a fierce temper and made her extremely nervous.

"Just because he's been with a lot of girls, doesn't necessarily mean he will hurt her," Bankotsu informed her matter-of-factly.

"Trust me, Kags. That guy Jason is as crazy for your sister as she is for him," he assured. "Now, no more worrying about Kera. She's a big girl."

He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. "Show me more of this world of yours. I'm sure Ren will be fascinated when I tell him about all the new gadgets."

"No doubt Jakotsu would kill to get his hands on some of the modern make-up and perfumes." She giggled.

"Oh yeah," he chuckled. "I should get something to take back to each of my brothers."

"You really care about them, eh?" She smiled at him.

"They're more than my men, Kagome. They're family." He smiled fondly.

"I never expected you would open up around me." She grinned. "But, I'm glad you are."

"You're not so bad, little miko," he teased, lightly poking the tip of her nose.

"You either." She smiled and squeezed his hand. "I kind of like seeing this side of you," she admitted shyly.

"Oh yeah?" He chuckled. "Just kind of, eh?"

"You know what I mean." She blushed and pushed at his chest. "You're almost like… a normal guy." She froze then ducked her head. "I didn't mean it like that."

"I am a normal guy, most of the time." He chuckled. "But, sometimes the leader has to take the forefront, especially around the guys." He smiled proudly. "They depend on me."

"You're a good leader." She smiled.

"If I was, they wouldn't have died twice." He sighed heavily and sadness briefly flickered in his eyes as shame and regret washed over him.

"Hey." She stopped and cupped his face between her palms, staring into his eyes. "I've seen you. You're good with them and they adore you."

"Adoration isn't enough to be a good leader."

"They respect you and not just because of your strength." She stroked his cheek. "You've shown that you're a good person since you came here. I bet they've seen this side of you too."

"Only Ja has." He smiled. "He's the one real friend I have." Jakotsu was also the only person he felt able to be his true self with. But, Kagome was fast becoming an addiction and he was letting his guard down around her more often.

"You have two now." She smiled.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yup." She grinned.

"Thanks." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

She blushed, but didn't remove his arm. She kind of enjoyed it, especially while they walked towards the arcade. Girls turned their heads to watch them, but Bankotsu either didn't notice, or didn't pay them any mind. She hadn't seen many guys stay focused on the girl they were walking with. It was kind of nice.

Nobody cheered her up the way Bankotsu did and he did it every time she felt the slightest bit bummed. How did he know? It was like he'd crawled into her mind and read her thoughts. Was that even possible? Or was she just that bad at hiding her emotions?

"You're thinking too much," he teased, giving her a quick squeeze to pull her closer to him.

"Am I?" She smiled.

"Absolutely." He tugged her over to the strange looking cart. "What's this?" Child-like innocence shown in his eyes as he eyed the ice cream cart.

"Remember the shake I made you?"

He nodded.

"Well… this is ice cream, like the shake, but not as soft. Also, this comes in a variety of flavors and with an edible cone."

"Which flavors?" His gaze locked to hers.

She grinned and spun to the face the ice cream vendor. "Two cones, each with a scoop of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Please?" She placed the money on the stand and waited.

The vendor smiled and filled her order, than made change. "Thank you, ma'am. Have a nice day."

"We will." Kagome smiled and slipped the change into her pocket than passed Bankotsu one of the cones. "Remember to go slow this time so you don't get brain freeze." She giggled. "Just don't let it melt on you."

She licked her ice cream, savoring the cold, soft treat and sighed in content. There really was nothing better than a sweet ice cream cone with a friend on a hot day.

Bankotsu watched her licking the cold sweet stuff and sighed. That little miko was driving him crazy and she didn't even know it. He pushed thoughts of her licking something else with such unhurried pace aside and focused on his ice cream.

How could they mash strawberries into a cream? Did they use the same blender-thing Kagome had shown him? He stuck out his tongue and lapped at the rare treat. It really did taste like strawberries. Yum. He definitely had to tell the guys about this. They would go nuts.

He sighed and wondered how they were doing without him for the time being. Were they where he had left them? Had they run into Inuyasha's friends yet? He chuckled. That wouldn't go over so well at first.

Pushing the leader's thoughts away, Bankotsu focused on the stolen moment with the miko. She was different than any girl he'd ever met before.

Not near as tough as her twin by any means, he mused. But, strong in her own right. For having been dropped into his time with no prior training, she'd done alright. Even managed to one-up the half-breed with her little 'sit' trick. He grinned.

Bankotsu enjoyed the ice cream almost as much as enjoyed watching the pleasure on Kagome's face as she licked hers. Damn girl was a natural born seductress and didn't even know it. He enjoyed the tinsels of blue color he saw threaded throughout her hair when the sun hit it. Like the waves of water in the river.

He'd noticed the girls and guys looking at them. Tough shit. Today Kagome was with him, period. He smirked. He'd bet there wasn't a guy in this time, minus Jason, who could even think about playing in his arena.

Like Jason, Bankotsu was no slouch when it came to making women feel good either. He knew exactly where to touch and how in order to make them putty in his hands.

He reached the bottom layer of his treat and his eyes widened. What a sweet, yummy flavor. What had Kagome called it? He bit back a moan. Ja would totally kill for a chance to taste this. He eagerly lapped it up and shoved the bottom of the papery cone in his mouth.

"I take it you like chocolate?" She giggled.

"Hell yeah! That was awesome." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her over to place a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you."

"Um, you're welcome." She blushed. "It's not really a big deal. It's just ice cream."

"It's more than that." He lifted her chin, forcing her to lock gazes with him. "You're showing me things I never knew existed. Teaching me about your world." He stroked her cheek. "Sharing your world with me."

"Well, it's not like anyone else could." She blushed as he stroked her cheek and her breath hitched.

"But you are." He smirked well aware of the effects his touches had on her. "You're trying to make this alliance between us work. So, thank you." He chuckled and released her chin.

"You're group is strong." She smiled in admiration at him. "Our groups need each other, even though they won't admit it."

"You know, you're pretty smart." He grinned and started walking down the thing she called a sidewalk again.

"Thanks." She blushed cutely again. "Um, people are staring at us."

"Let them stare." He smirked. "I have a pretty girl with me. It's natural for them to look."

"You really think I'm pretty?" she whispered in shock as if no one had ever told her so before.

"Very." He winked. "Now, show me this game room you keep talking about."

"Arcade," she corrected and then nodded as she directed him towards their destination.

XOXOXO:

By the time they left the arcade night had fallen. The sidewalk wasn't as crowded anymore and the cars had gone down in numbers.

"I usually don't stay out this late." She blushed as his arm went around her shoulders.

"I'll keep you safe." He smirked and pulled her closer to his side.

"Did you have fun?" she stared up at him, though his eyes scanned the area around them.

"Yup." He nodded. "It was a memorable experience."

"I'm glad you liked it."

He stopped and stared into her eyes. "I like spending time with you."

"I like spending time with you too," she whispered. "When I'm around you, I forget my worries and just want to have fun."

"What's the point in living if you can't have fun?" He smirked.

"When I'm in your time, it's all about finding the jewels." The sadness in her voice bothered him.

"That'll change with me around," he promised. "There is a time for work, but there has to be time for fun too."

"You're different than I expected." She smiled.

"Same here, little miko. Same here." He wrapped an arm around her waist and started walking again. "It's kind of nice not having to worry about demons around every corner." He sighed as they walked towards the shrine.

"Life can be peaceful here, or dangerous depending on the area and the people." She rubbed her arms trying to keep the light chill from the night air away.

"Nothing in this time is more dangerous than me and Jason." He smirked and pulled her tighter against his side.

"Some stuff is, but that's a topic for a different day." She smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist. "It was nice spending the afternoon together, just the two of us."

"I enjoyed it too." He kissed the top of her head. "We will have to find a way to do this more often." He winked. "For now, let's get you home to your father."

"I wonder how he handled Inuyasha's fit?" She giggled.

"I'm pretty sure your dad can handle Inuyasha just fine." He smirked. "After all he's the one who trained Kera."

"Do you really think she's okay?"

"Absolutely."

"When do you think she'll come back?"

"When she's ready. Meanwhile, we all have a busy day in a couple days."

"Yeah. I can't believe Jason's sister is getting married."

"People marry young all the time in my era."

"Not in this one, not without their legal guardian's permission anyways."

"What's up with all this 'legal guardian' stuff?" He frowned.

"Laws of the land." She shrugged and reluctantly pulled away from him as they approached the shrine.

"Where have you two been?" The sulking hanyou snarled from his perch in the tree.

"Did you two enjoy your day out?" Soru asked.

"It was fun, daddy." She beamed.

"Good, because after the wedding in a couple days, until your homework is caught up, it'll be the last." He pointed for her to go inside.

She kissed Bankotsu's cheek and mumbled her thanks, then trudged up to her room.

"She's worried about Kera," Bankotsu sighed, ignoring Inuyasha's death glare.

"She needs to focus on her studies." Soru scowled then turned and entered the house.

Bankotsu shook his head and decided that maybe not having parents wasn't so bad after all. He entered the house and plopped onto the couch, kicking his feet up onto the coffee table.

XOXOXO:

The next morning:

Kayla stood at the stove in her black silk panties and one of Jason's hoodies, making breakfast. He'd been gone when she'd woken up, but she knew he'd be hungry when he returned.

Kera had woken early and taken a walk to clear her mind. She walked by and saw Jason's lights on, so she decided to stop in and say hello. She knocked and then entered.

"Hey, Jas. I was-" She stopped and her eyes narrowed at the sight before her. Jason wouldn't cheat on me, so what the hell is this?

"You'd better have a damned good explanation for this," Kera warned, fully entering the kitchen.

"Whadda you mean?" Kayla turned to face the intruder. "Who the hell are you?"

"Why are you prancing around here practically naked? Where is Jason?" Kera demanded.

"Because I can," Kayla fired back. "And hell if I know. He just woke up, kissed me on the cheek and said he'd be back in an hour." She pulled her gun from the front pocket of Jason's hoodie and chambered the round. "Now, who are you?"

Kera quickly disarmed her and tossed the gun behind her, then dove at the woman and they rolled on the floor.

"Don't ever pull a gun on me again, you stupid bitch." She snarled, slapping the woman's face. "What do you mean he kissed you on the cheek?" Kera fought to reign in her fierce temper because she knew what would happen if she didn't.

Seeing the woman was distracted by her thoughts, Kayla forced them both to roll over so she was on top and then drove her fist into the stranger's cheek.

"Exactly what I said, you dumb cunt!" She struck Kera again.

"You're the only cunt here. Put some clothes on." Kera returned the punch. "And stay the hell away from Jason. He's mine." She flipped the woman over her head and then pinned the woman beneath her so she couldn't reverse the hold.

"I'll wear whatever the hell I feel like. It's not like Jason hasn't seen me naked before." Kayla drove her forehead into Kera's, dazing her.

She tucked her legs up in front of her and pushed Kera off, forcing her to smash into the dining room table, breaking it. She stood up and assumed a combat pose similar to Jason's.

"What ya gonna do now that you don't got the drop on me? Huh, bitch?" Kayla smirked.

"How dare you?" Kera screamed, ready to draw blood as she attacked the woman, angered by her snide remarks.

This shit ends here and now. She quickly maneuvered behind the woman and grabbed her in a choke hold, dropping back to clench her thighs around the woman's ribs.

"You've got two seconds to explain who the hell you are and why you're half naked in my boyfriend's kitchen." She dodged the backwards head-butt.

"Talk." She held on like a python, not loosening her hold as she breathed through the intense rage coursing through her veins, sorely tempted to snap the idiotic woman's neck.

"What the hell?" Jason shouted from across the room. "Kera, get off her, right now!" His deep voice and the intensity and anger in his shout formed goose bumps on both of the women's skins.

"She pulled a gun on me." Kera's eyes narrowed at her boyfriend as she kicked the woman away from her in disgust. "Why is she half naked in your kitchen?" She flipped to her feet and then walked towards him.

"Maybe because she doesn't feel like putting clothes on?" Jason glanced around the kitchen. "The hell happened to my table? Why were you two fighting?" Jason stared both of the women down. "Explain," he seethed.

Kayla refused to speak. Last night proved that his temper hadn't changed. Obviously the stranger knew her cousin and wasn't an intruder, so Kayla opted to remain silent as fear rooted her to her spot.

Kera glared at Kayla, noting how the woman remained silent. Of course she's too scared to speak up. Most people would be with a big guy like Jason when he's pissed off. She faced Jason again, refusing to back down.

"What the hell are you doing looking at her naked?" Her fists clenched at her side. "And why is she wearing your shirt?"

Kera spun around and kicked the bag she'd dropped when she'd first arrived. It was that or punch something and she didn't welcome having a hospital visit any time soon.

"I came by to see how you were." Her hands flew to her hips. "And what did I find?" Her nostrils flared.

"I'm the one asking questions," he shouted. The muscles and veins on his neck appeared as if they were about to tear through his skin.

"Why is my shit broken? And why did I find my baby cousin and my girlfriend about to kill each other in my kitchen? Somebody better answer me, real quick." The last sentence gritted through clenched teeth.

"Your cousin?" Kera blinked, then sighed and rubbed her jaw. Way to go, Kera.

"Yeah, my cousin." His arms crossed over his chest as he scowled.

"The hell do you think I've been doing the past few days, besides filing out papers at city hall and running back and forth between places to get her all set up to live here?" He sighed and shook his head and then dropped his arms to his sides.

"Know what? I'm gonna go lay down for a bit." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm too tired and stressed out for this."

"You could have told me you were his cousin." Kera stared at Kayla a long silent moment, then shook her head and stared at Jason. "I'm sorry. I'll replace your stuff."

"No, you won't." He sniffed the air and walked over to the stove and shut it off.

"What happened to your hand?" Kera walked over to him.

"I smashed one of those columns." He pointed over to a gap in the stone on the kitchen counter. "This morning I went to get a replacement."

He sat down and unlaced his boots. He lit a cigarette and supported his head with his good hand while his other fiddled with his Zippo.

"After this cigarette, I'm going to bed. I don't care if it is nine in the morning, I've gotten twelve hours of sleep this week." He exhaled a large cloud of smoke and sighed.

"I'm sorry." Kera walked over and massaged his shoulders. "You have a habit of pushing yourself too hard and haven't answered your phone for three days, so I came over to make sure you were okay." She kissed the top of his head.

"I…" She ducked her head and her hands hung limp at her sides as her anger vanished. "Once I clean this mess, I'll leave so you can rest."

Jason drew on his cigarette again.

"It's fine, babygirl." He turned his head to give her a quick kiss. "I'd like you to stay and cuddle." He smirked.

"Of course." She kissed his jaw, then looked at Kayla and spoke flatly. "If you'd have said you were his cousin, I'd have only disarmed you."

"You could have just said you were his girlfriend," Kayla snapped. What a way to make a first impression. She rubbed her jaw, then stared at the broken table and other stuff. Ugh! Not a good start to living here. She bent down and cleaned up the broken pieces.

Jason put his cigarette out on the stone counter top and grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniels from the freezer.

"I'm gonna go piss and hit the sack. Night." He scratched his stubble and made his way upstairs to his bedroom.

Kera followed her boyfriend. At least he didn't throw me out yet. She felt foolish for letting her jealousy get the best of her. Although… had the roles been reversed, no doubt Jason would have done far more damage, especially to the guy.

She followed Jason to a room about the size of a medium or large living room. It held a double king-sized bed, decorated with red and blue satin, on the far wall, facing an 82 inch plasma TV, hooked up to a computer.

Her toes sank into the fuzzy purple carpet. A closet was beside the TV. The master bathroom was next to the door to enter the room.

An American and a Marine Corp flag each decorated the wall behind the TV. A locked, large military-styled footlocker rested at the foot of the bed.

Kera's breath caught as her gaze drank in the expanse of the room and the decor that spoke volumes about her man. She smiled and walked over to run her hand over the sheets, imagining what they must feel like against his bare skin when he lay in them.

Jason exited the bathroom and then undid his combat boots, setting them by the locker. He stripped his shirt, exposing his strong chest and chiseled abs to her, then shucked his jeans and slid beneath the covers.

Without a word, he tugged her down next to him, wrapped his strong arms around her tiny frame and smiled. They embraced each other. She ran her fingers through his hair. He was out within minutes. Exhaustion claimed her and she quickly followed suit.

XOXOXO:

The next morning they woke and smiled, exchanging a brief kiss on the lips.

"I'm sorry about fighting with Kayla." Kera rubbed his bearded cheek, gazed into his eyes and then took a deep breath.

"I really care about you, so it's important to let you know I feel sad. I'm not blaming you, so please don't think that." Her hand stroked his cheek to reassure him. She placed her free hand against her tummy and inhaled a slow, deep breath, then continued.

"I never expected to find a half naked woman in your house. Let alone wearing one of your shirts and dancing around the kitchen in her panties. I know you would never cheat on me," her voice was full of conviction.

"I'm just a little worried. I don't have as much experience as your other girls…" she whispered and ducked her head.

Jason hooked his forefinger under her chin and raised her head to look into her eyes.

She gazed into his dark brown eyes and her heart fluttered. She slid her hand over his and gave it a light squeeze.

"When she talked about how you kissed her and how you've seen her naked before… I thought she was one of your old girls, because last I knew Kayla hadn't arrived yet." Kera stopped to inhale another deep, calming breath.

"I've never felt such strong jealousy before. It scared me." She swallowed against the tightness in her throat. "I didn't want to kill her, just show her that she couldn't scare me off."

"I don't want to lose you." She held his gaze and allowed the silence to stretch between them for a minute. She took a deep breath, gathering her courage around her like a comforting blanket, then relaxed her lips and slightly parted them as she held his gaze.

Touched by her show of vulnerability, his heart swelled with pride and he caressed her cheek.

"You will never lose me, Kera," he vowed, eyes full of determination. "You're my baby girl and that's all that matters." He gazed into her eyes a long moment and then brushed his lips against hers and felt her lips tremble. He squeezed her hands and then pulled back and kissed her knuckles.

"It's my fault for not telling you she was here." His body tensed as he waited for her tears to fall.

"No one is at fault here. It's just my feelings as they are." She stuck her tongue out playfully. "Next time though, give me some warning before I discover a half naked woman in your house, okay?"

He blinked a few times, shocked by her reaction. Most girls he'd dated before would have teared up and played the victim. Instead, Kera, his Kera, teased him… He smirked.

"I understand you've been really busy lately and I admire your fierce dedication to your family." Kera hugged him and sank into his embrace for a moment, savoring just being in his arms, and then pulled back.

"I missed you." She held her breath waiting for his response. Had she been too bold? What if he saw her as needy? Her heart hammered against her chest and nervous butterflies filled her stomach as she waited for his response.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around, Princess." He pulled his flask out of the night stand drawer and took a sip. "You know what's been going down on my end." He sat up and gave her a quick kiss.

"Thanks for being patient with me." He took another swig before he threw his blanket off, stood, stretched, and walked into the master bathroom, where he began his morning routine.

Kera watched from his bed as Jason moved with a predatory stealth and grace that reminded her of a large tiger as he crossed the floor.

"I don't live with my parents anymore. I didn't want to interfere with your family stuff, so I found my own place." Relief washed through her. "At least daddy can't constantly undermine my decisions anymore." She threw her hands up in the air. "He's driving me crazy!"

Jason spat out the toothpaste.

"Is it a good place?" He turned to face her, eyes narrowed. "I won't have my princess living in some half-assed apartment out in bum-fuck Egypt."

He chuckled at her expression and then returned to brushing his teeth.

The shock melted away and a smile spread her face. "It's a cozy one-bedroom house equipped with all the modern appliances, including a dishwasher I will probably never use, located between here and school." She pushed the sheet off her.

"It has a nice sized fenced-in front and back yard, in case I decide to get a pet. And it beats the motel room I've stayed in the past couple nights. Price wasn't that bad either."

"Actually," she slipped off the bed and stood next to it, "are you willing to install a security system on it for me?" She stared at him as he entered the bedroom. "I need to get a new mattress for the bed and a hide-a-bed couch, ya know, in case Kags needs a place to crash now and then."

"What kind of security are we talking? Just an alarm or do you want motion sensors and stuff?" Jason smacked some aftershave against his face and rubbed it into his skin. He slipped into a pair of dark blue boot-cut jeans and slipped his Marine Corps belt through the loops.

"When do you want me to set it up?" He fastened the belt, laced up his black combat boots and threw on a dark gray tank top.

"Motion sensors too. Just as a precaution. Whenever you can." Kera smiled and padded softly over to him, grabbed him by the front of his jeans and tugged him forward with a saucy grin.

"I love the way you look in jeans and take pride in your service to the corps." She tapped his belt buckle. "It suits you." She traced the outline of his muscled abs and then grinned as she stepped back with a saucy wink.

"And I love the way that no matter what you're wearing, you always look like an angel. An angel that I'd tear from the grace of God and," he pulled her closer to him by the collar of her shirt, "make my little devil." He finished with his devilish smirk and a squeeze of her ass.

"Promises, promises." She kissed his adam's apple. "So, my Sexy beast, feel like making a day of it with me? We could gather supplies and stuff for the FE trip too."

"I'm the one with the truck so I may as well." He smiled and gave Kera a quick kiss. "Is your sister, pretty-boy and the dog gonna come too?"

She gave him a quick kiss and rubbed his smooth cheek. "They can if you'd like. Braid-boy might be able to give us a more accurate idea of what we need to pack for the trip." She draped her arms around his neck. "Do you think Kayla would want to help pick out the hide-a-bed couch?" She blushed. "I'm not much for interior decorating."

"Give them a call. There's enough room in the truck. And uh… you'll have to ask her that," he chuckled.

Kera grinned and turned away from him, then pulled her cell phone out of her bag.

"Hey Kags, yeah I'm okay. Listen, do you, braid-boy and puppy feel like taking a little trip?" She listened a moment. "Be ready in an hour." She hung up the phone, turned around, then draped her arms around Jason's neck.

"It'll give me and Kayla a chance to get to know each other a bit." She stared into his eyes. "She and I started off on the wrong foot."

"Good." He smirked.

She eyed him skeptically. "Not sure how I feel about the stubble yet." She winked to show him she was teasing.

"Personally, I like my stubble." He kissed her again and then made his way downstairs.

She grinned and followed him, carrying her bag. As she descended the stairs, she noticed Kayla sitting on the couch.

"Hi, Kayla. Do you like shopping and interior decorating?"

"Excuse me?" Kayla stared at her cousin's girlfriend and raised an eyebrow.

"Look… I'm sorry about yesterday. If I'd known who you were, we wouldn't have fought." She smiled at her. "You're important to Jason and I'd like for us to try and get along."

Kayla remained silent, and tried to size the woman up.

"I'm pretty new here myself. Still adjusting and stuff." Kera slipped her bag off her shoulder. "Anyways, I've just gotten my own house recently and was wondering if you like interior decorating?"

Kayla blinked. "Why?"

"I need a decent hide-a-bed in case my sister needs a place to crash. So, I was wondering if you would help me pick one out and offer some ideas for the paint jobs and stuff?" She smiled.

"That's if you want to. Figured it'd give us time to talk a bit, let us learn about each other and start fresh."

"I don't see why not. I'll do it for Jase's sake." Kayla shrugged and pulled a joint out from behind her ear and lit it. No doubt the woman would read her the riot act over it. Tough shit. It was Kayla's life, not hers. She took a long drag and held the smoke in for a moment before slowly exhaling.

"How long have you smoked that?" Kera held up her hands. "Not judging. Just curious," she assured with a friendly smile.

"For a very long time," Kayla chuckled. How amusing.

"I won't judge you, Kayla." Kera placed a hand on Jason's cousin's shoulder. "But, if you ever need to talk, I'm a good listener." Kera smiled and gave Kayla's shoulder a friendly squeeze.

"That's actually kinda cool of ya." Kayla blinked. "Most girls would judge immediately."

"I'm in no position to judge others." Kera grinned. "Especially since Jas and I worked for the same company." Her grin instantly melted away.

"Whoa." Kayla blinked a few times. She hadn't expected that. "Seriously? You worked for Umbra?"

"Yeah."

"Jason never talks much about it."

"I don't blame him," Kera mumbled. "Anyways, we're leaving in less than an hour, so whatever you gotta do to get ready." Kera smiled and walked off into the kitchen.

"Sure." Kayla finished her joint. She seems pretty cool… Jase's other girls would have judged and condemned me already… But, is she doing this for Jase or me? Shrugging Kayla walked up to her room and got ready to leave with them. She returned downstairs in minutes.

"Y'all ready to go?" Jason snatched his keys from the counter and twirled them around his index finger.

XOXOXO:

AN: Yo guys, sorry it took so long on this one, but you know how big these chapters are. And along with me being gone, it's difficult to work on it. But, here y'all go. Finally, chapter seven! Thanks for being patient with us and for being awesome people :D

Please, leave us a review and tell us what you think.

We're doing this for you guys after all! Have a great day and thanks for reading c:

-Fury.