Chapter 1 Kagome Higurashi was annoyed to say the least. She had just come back to the apartment she shared with her friends after a long visit with her mother for the winter holidays. All she wanted was to unpack and settle on the couch with an oversized mug of hot cocoa. The unpacking had gone smoothly. Her mother actually enjoyed doing her daughter’s laundry and sending her back to school with bags stuffed with goodies for her and her friends. So all Kagome had to do was remove things from her duffel bag and put them away. It was the second part of her plan that wasn’t going like she wanted it to. Her hot chocolate was on the stove warming, but the couch was occupied by a large snoring hanyou. The young woman put her hands on her hips and surveyed her friend. His limbs were sprawled every which way and his mouth was open. His silvery white hair looked as it hadn’t been washed, or combed, in days. Plus he smelled like old socks and left over beer. “Inuyasha!” Kagome called, trying to wake him. “Wake up you idiotic dog!” There was no response. The girl narrowed her eyes and reached out towards the fuzzy white dog ears perched atop Inuyasha’s head. Before her she could get within an inch of them, clawed fingers wrapped themselves around her wrist. “Don‘t even try it.” the hanyou murmured. Kagome jerked her arm back, and Inuyasha let her. “Then get up. I don’t want the smell to sink into the upholstery.” Inuyasha sat up and grimaced. He had the mother of all headaches and Kagome was right, he did smell pretty bad. “So you’re back are you? How was Christmas?” “Apparently not as exciting as yours.” Kagome said as she headed towards the kitchen. “Where is everyone?” The hanyou shook his head. “How’m I supposed to know? I ain’t the parent around here.” “Yeah but you need one.” the girl muttered and grabbed her beverage off the stove before it burned. “Did you go home at all?” “Nope. Wasn’t worth it. My bastard of an older brother is starting some new job on Monday so he’s all anybody can talk about. Not that that’s a change.” Kagome chuckled. She had known Inuyasha since she was four years old. They had grown up in the same neighborhood and went to the same school. When the hanyou was thirteen, his mother died of a terminal illness and he was forced to go live with his father and older half brother. Their friendship survived the move and when they discovered that they were going to the same college, they made plans to live together. Inuyasha was gruff and reluctant to show emotion, but Kagome was his favorite person in the world and he would die to protect her. “So I’ve got an idea.” Kagome remarked coming back into the room. “You go take a long shower and I’ll make lunch, brush your hair once it’s clean, and give you the gifts Mama sent.” “Done.” It wasn’t hard to make food for Inuyasha. He was basically addicted to instant noodles and chips. It took her less than ten minutes to get that set out on the coffee table and retrieve the gifts her mother had sent back with her. When she came back into the living room, another of her roommates had arrived. Shippo, the kitsune, had just come in the door and was shaking snow out of his red hair. “Kagome!” he shouted and ran to hug her. “When did you get back?” “Just a little while ago.” Shippo eyed the food and the newly vacated couch. “And you got Inuyasha up. It’s so good to have you home.” Kagome giggled. “Good to be wanted. You wouldn’t know where Miroku is would you?” “Right here, my dear Kagome.” a male voice responded. Both of them turned around and smiled at the dark haired young man coming through the front door. “It’s really coming down out there. I’m glad you arrived before the worst of it set of in.” The girl moved to hug him. “How were your holidays, Miroku?” “Quite enjoyable, thank you. Though it is extraordinarily good to be back.” He slipped his hands lower, heading for one of his favorite parts of Kagome. “Hey you lecher! What have I told you about puttin’ your hands on Kagome?” Inuyasha was done with his shower and standing in the doorway glowering at his friend. “He doesn’t mean anything by it.” Kagome protested. “That’s just how he is. You know that.” “Yeah well…he’d better learn to stop it or I’ll see to it that his hands end up in a jar somewhere.” “Okay okay, that’s enough.” The young woman detangled herself from Miroku’s arms. “There’s food on the table and Mama sent gifts for you all. So in some belated holiday spirit, can’t we all just get along?” “Hear hear.” Miroku chimed in. Shippo grinned at him and bounced over to the couch. “Presents!” he chirped. -o-o-o-o-o-o-o- If there was one thing Sesshomaru Takahashi hated, it was public transportation. He would have taken the family limo to the college where he would be working as a professor, but his father wisely pointed out that the streets would be clogged with students moving back into the dorms after the winter holidays. It seemed that he was not the only one with this idea, because the train was extremely crowded. Sesshomaru had been lucky enough to get a seat, but he was still being jostled and the smell was making him nauseous. He scowled at the older woman who was staring at him with lust in her eyes. The need to kill something was overwhelming. Finally he reached his stop and hurried off. It was a five minute walk from the train station to his apartment. He had moved in weeks ago, but had been at home for the holidays. His parents were extremely proud of him for landing the professor job, and they were especially pleased that he would be teaching at the same college his younger half brother attended. Sesshomaru was not so keen on that part. He was not a fan of his brother, but the college was the most prestigious in the area and would allow him to do the research he needed for the book he was writing on feudal Japan. As if sensing his reluctance to accept their offer, the school was going to pay him more than any one else in the history department which they were making them the head of. All the youkai had asked was that no one alert his brother of his position. With any luck the boy would have no interest in history and their paths would never have to cross. With a grateful sigh, Sesshomaru let himself into the extravagant building and took the elevator up to the penthouse where he lived. Before he could even get to his door, the demon sensed his unwelcome visitor. When he opened the door, he saw the young man. “Do I even want to ask why you are in my home?” Sesshomaru queried. Startling green eyes snapped open. “Well it was either me or Kagura so I believed this to be the best option.” Sesshomaru’s golden eyes narrowed. “Kagura was here.” it wasn’t a question. Now that he was thinking past his irritation, he could smell her foul stench in the hall and coming from the elevator. Yes she had been there, and she had been anticipating something that he would die before he gave her. She had been trying to get him to go out with her for years and it didn’t help that her family was friends with his. Sesshomaru looked back at his friend. At first glance the young man was a human, about 19 years old. But to an accomplished gaze, he was a centuries old fox youkai in disguise and someone Sesshomaru had known for a very long time. “You are thinking very hard.” the kitsune said with a hint of a smile. “Hopefully not about doing something that will land you in prison and shame your family.” At that very moment, Sesshomaru was imagining the demoness’ head on a pike. He would not allow the redhead the satisfaction of knowing that though. “If you insist on being here, you may as well make yourself useful, Kurama.” The so named smiled outright. “That is being done as we speak.” he motioned to the vines that led from him to the rest of the apartment. He cast a sidelong glance at his friend. “You are truly horrible at unpacking. Plants are more skilled at it than you.” Sesshomaru waved that away. “I have never had a need to be good at such mundane tasks. That is why my father has maids.” “Yes, but you no longer live with your father, Sesshomaru.” “Then I shall have you do all my house work since you enjoy being here so much.” Kurama shook his head. “I am afraid that I do have better things to occupy my time.” He closed his eyes and concentrated. Sesshomaru watched as all the plants the redhead had sent out came rushing back to him. Kurama caressed each one as it became one with his youki. Finally he opened his eyes and prepared to leave. “You might consider getting a girlfriend. Then she could move in and take care of you, since you are so bad at taking care of yourself.” Before Sesshomaru could respond, the kitsune was gone. Of course that wasn’t the first time someone had suggested that he needed female companionship. His father made that argument at least once a week. But the youkai had never seriously thought about it. His career was more important. Now here he was, twenty-six years old and the head of the history department at one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Surely that was an accomplishment that merited a break to enjoy himself. The only trouble was, Sesshomaru did not know how to do that exactly. -o-o-o-o-o-o-o- Laughter rang out through the apartment as Kagome, Shippo, Miroku, and Inuyasha told stories about their holidays. The place was as cozy as a four bedroom apartment can be on a January evening, and everyone was in good spirits. Even the hanyou kept his gruffness on an affectionate level. They all sprawled on the couch, limbs tangled and draped over each other as the evening grew into night. Finally Shippo yawned. “I’m for bed.” he said pushing Kagome’s leg and Miroku’s arm out of his way. “I’ve gotta go to main campus and get my schedule for Monday tomorrow.” “What classes are you taking?” Miroku wanted to know. Shippo scratched his head. “I’m still getting my Gen Ed requirements done.” he said. “So like Human Bio and Theories of Religion. What about you?” “Philosophy in the Ancient World, Advanced Calculus, Modern Buddhism.” Miroku rattled off. “Oh and I’m TA’ing your Religion class.” “Sweet!” Shippo cheered. “Easy A for me.” Miroku shook his head. “And what about you, fair Kagome? What classes shall be graced with your presence this semester?” Kagome giggled. “Let’s see. I’ve got Bio 2 and Advanced Fiction Writing. I’m taking that archery class and a pottery class, and Myths and Legends of Feudal Japan.” The room was silent and everyone turned to stare at Inuyasha. He scowled. “Like I care about classes. We all know I’m only here because my father paid for the new library.” He sighed when his friends kept staring. “Fine. I’m signed up for Kayaking, Rowing, Rock Climbing-” “Are you planning to learn anything in your four years here, Inuyasha?” Miroku interrupted. Inuyasha shrugged. “The old man made me sign up for Studies of Weaponry and that history class Kags is in. Probably couldn’t have gotten in on my own, but the school needed new computers and so did I.” That explained the shiny new Dell laptop that sat on the hanyou’s desk. “Any idea why he asked you to sign up for those classes in particular?” Kagome inquired. “He said it would be entertaining. Plus that weapon one did sound kinda cool.”