Disclaimer: I am grateful to Rumiko Takahashi for her wonderful characters, for without her work, my story would not exist. I do not claim any ownership nor gain any profit from them.

She is alive

Chapter 1

Heart pumping, adrenaline rushing, exhale, inhale. "fuck". Kagome cursed softly when the metallic scent of blood filled the room as she landed softly on her feet. FUCK. She knew what was next, getting yelled at was never fun, but she always owned up to it, especially when this sort of thing happens rather often lately.

A sword clattered and slid against the wood floor "Fuck Kagome! get your fucking head out of the clouds!" the angry half demon held his sword arm close to his ribs as he tried to slow down the flow of blood coming from the wound on his shoulder.

Rising to meet his angry words she took a deep breath "I'm sorry, nothing personal Inuyasha! Is not like I'm out to get you! You should take it in stride and improve your technique" she made the perfect picture of indignation, hands on her hips and furrowed eyebrows, punctuated with exaggerated huffing.

"What's in your mind this time wench, huh?!" he said getting angrier "that mangy wolf you keep 'round? thought you'd rid of him by now" he froze like a deer in headlights the moment the words left his mouth; Kagome was scary when she was angry and if the shade of red she was turning was an indication, she was very, very angry.

"Contrary to what you think, asshole! you have no say in who I date! You don't have to like it, you are not my keeper!" in spite of the anger she knew she was not being fair, she loved her best friend and he meant well, but one can only take so much meddling before it became overbearing. Her love life, if you could call it that, was sufficiently complicated. Hard as It was to find prospects that were not intimidated by her, an overprotective dog trying to scare them away added to the mix made it all just peachy.

In a more subdued tone, she aimed to placate "if you must know I wasn't exactly thinking. You are a great opponent" she smoothly sneaked in an ego booster in her non-apology "so I can let my instincts take over and luck has it you heal so fast" why not, a cherry on top. And because she was a warrior, go for the kill "you are the only one strong enough to do this with me" pout, watery doe eyes.

A number of emotions passed through his face but quickly settled in his trademark scowl, however, he had been effectively appeased "Whatever bitch" he turned dismissively and started to walk out of the dojo while muttering under his breath "friendly fucking sparing, hell fucking right..."

She smiled gently at his retreating back knowing that he was fine, they were fine; just like their many arguments were just good old sibling squabbles "Love you brother" she said quietly knowing he could hear her just fine.

From down the hallway echoed a distant "keh."

The mood for training was gone and she felt a little deflated as she replaced the swords in their stands, she was however glad she didn't hurt him any worse. It had taken them all a few years to adapt to their new normal. As years went by and her training intensified, slowly and surely she started to get stronger than all of them. Luckily, they were in a good place now, she held back without insulting and Inuyasha didn't stubbornly push on. Good times.

With a renewed smile on her face she walked out of the spacious dojo, The summer rains had not arrived, late spring brought gorgeous weather and it called for a calming stroll through the manicured gardens that surrounded Inuyasha's house. The home was a restored 15th-century masterpiece of Japanese architecture nestled in spacious grounds that made you feel transported to another time. The building that house the living quarters was furnished with modern amenities but maintained the historical details intact. Other buildings housed an old-fashioned bathhouse fed by a natural hot spring, a small shrine, the large dojo she frequently used, a few others she wasn't so familiarized with. When Inuyasha's acquire the state a few years back her first thought was that the place was entirely too big for the single hanyou and the few staff member that made his household, but it was hard not to love the place. When she asked him about it he simply said it was a family thing, effectively shutting her up and her curiosity.