Author's Note: Thank you for all of you who waited so patiently for me to update. I'm afraid I had a couple major sessions of writers block, homework overload, and then times when I was too lazy to work on it during holiday breaks. That, and the fact that I often completed the chapter then threw it out. I'll apologize now for how very long I took me, and assure every one of you that I really haven't abandoned this fic. This chapter will be short, and maybe a little pathetic because I finally gave up on this chapter and decided you guys deserved to finally get something. Even if it was bad. With that said, enjoy!

Chapter 7: Confetti

"Follow me."

Kurama followed after Kagome obediently upstairs to the hallway. Kagome glanced over at him, blushing several times for the rest of the short time to her room. Why her? What ever had she done to diserve this? Not focusing on where she was walking, she to tried unsuccessfully to ignore Kurama's unforgettably strong presence just inches from her.

A worried voice took her out of her trance. "Kagome? This is the end of the hallway."

Glancing up at Kurama and then at her hand placed on the wall (about where the doorknob on her door would have been) and blushed a deep red. This hadn't been the first time she'd done this before: often when she was coming out of the shower, when she was half asleep, she would walk all the way to the end of the hallway before realizing she intended to go somewhere else. But in front of Kurama -or anyone else- was extremely embarrassing.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled, turning back. Time to backtrack. "My room is right this way."

He nodded, and to her great relief didn't laugh. Coming to the correct room with a sign on the outside with big bold letters saying: KAGOME'S ROOM, she stopped. For some reason, a sense of foreboding filled me. Something was telling her not to go into that room. Peaking over at Kurama's confused expression, she sighed and opened the door a crack. When nothing jumped out to attack them, she opened it wider.

Then gasped.

The backpack with all her books fell to the floor. Kurama stood behind her, his expression once more worried. Before he could say anything, however...

"SOOOUTAAAAAA! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MY ROOM?!"

Downstairs, they heard Souta laugh. Kurama gently moved her to the side to see what she was talking about. For one long second he just stared then, with a snap, he shut the door. Silence.

"I'm going to kill that brat." Kagome muttered, but didn't bother to move. She was too shocked. How could Souta pull a practical joke as horrible as this when Kurama was over?

The room was covered in hot pink confetti buried in it. It was the unforgettable sort of pink that burned into your memory forever and would always haunt you, nothing like the tolerable magenta uniform that Kurama had to deal with. It was The stuff was piled to shoulder height

"I would assist you with killing your brother, but I'm already in trouble with your father." Kurama said lightly. Kagome groaned, shaking her head.

"How about you just help me get this stuff out of here?" Kagome suggested, dejected. She opened the door once more and more confetti fell into the hallway. Both of them winced at the awful color, sighing in uunison "Wonderful." Kagome muttered sarcastically.

With that they got to work. Garbage bags piled up higher and higher in the hall way.

An hour later, both of them now braving to wade into the now knee high confetti, Mrs. Higurashi came upstairs.

NNeitherof them heard her come uupstairsuntil they heard her gasp. "Oh, dear... What did Souta do this time?" She asked wearily stepping around the many confetti filled bags scattered out in the hallway. As she was walking she glared at two figures by the door which neither Kagome or Kurama could see from their position. "Ah, here he is... Souta. And Grandfather. What are you both doing here? I thought I told you to come and tell Kagome and Kurama dinner was ready."

"Hehehe... Um. Bye, Mom!" Souta and Grandfather's figure darted down the stairs.

Kagome frowned after them, she hadn't heard either of them nor felt their presence. Was she getting shabby from her few dealings with demons recently? Recalling the demon she had slain just two days ago she threw that option out. "SOUTA! You brat! Get back here so I can beat the living-" Mrs. Higurashi gave her a pointed look and she snapped her jaw shut. "Just another prank..." She paused then asked her mother, "Did you get to father?"

Mrs. Higurashi smiled brightly over at her. "Of course, dear. It was nothing. Now, this is no way for the two of you to be spending your time together!"

Kurama, who had stayed back until then finally spoke up. "It's alright, Mrs. Higurashi. It needs to be done. We'll be right down."

Mrs. Higurashi examined him again with a large grin on her face, "Of course. Now, Kagome! Look at that beautiful, red hair! What shampoo do you use?" She asked, patting his head carefully. Kagome sighed, but waited for Kurama's answer.

"It's my own custom made shampoo." Kurama answered calmly.

Kagome gaped for a moment as her mother admired his hair.

"Custommade, hm? What's in it?" Mrs. Higurashi asked. "It's so shiny and soft." She began to pet his hair.

Kagome groaned as Kurama shifted, slightly uncomfortable. It was InuYasha and his ears all over again.

"Mother, please leave him alone..." Kagome said with a sigh. Slowly she struggled her way over to her mother and Kurama, through the confetti. Kurama held his hand out to help her over. Mrs. Higurashi grinned and backed away from the two of them.

"Well, then. Dinner is getting cold..."

Everyone who was still in the room trudged downstairs to the dinner table. Souta, Grandfather, and Mr. Higurashi were there, waiting for them already. Mr. Higurashi glared at Kurama as soon as they walked in. Kurama politely ignored him as he was showed his seat.

Kagome went right over to Souta as he cowered away from her. She lunged for his throat just as he was about to escape. "YOU. LITTLE. BRAT." She growled at him, "I. SHOULD. KILL. YOU. RIGHT. NOW."

"Sorry, sis! I just thought it would be funny!" He said desperately.

Kagome scowled at him then let him go, "You're doing the rest of the labor work getting my room clean."

Kurama blinked surprised, watching the exchange between the siblings. Leaning over to Mrs. Higurashi he asked softly, "Are they always like that?"

Mrs. Higurashi smiled, "You'll get used to it, I'm sure. After all.. we'll all be spending much more time together! Isn't that right?"

Kurama blushed. She really was being quite insistent "If that's fine with Kagome." He replied back, finally.

Kagome was sitting down next to Kurama just as he finished his little side conversation. "Fine with what?" She asked.

Mrs. Higurashi smiled over at her, "About Kurama coming over more often! And no more doing chores for you two for the rest of tonight!"

Blinking rapidly, she glanced up at Kurama. "Well, this place is rather crazy. I, however wouldn't mind if you came back!" She smiled brightly at him, and despite himself he found himself smiling back.

Mr. Higurashi, who sat on the side, opened his mouth to protest then but quickly closed it again when he saw his wife's furious glare. Instead of refusing as he had planned, Mr. Higurashi spoke instead, "It'll be fine for a while, I suppose." He sounded much like a sulking child.

Kagome grinned over at her father, "Thank you!" She chirped. Then, everyone together, "Let's eat!"

Everyone swallowed their first bite, slowly. Different expressions ranged from everyone's faces. Finally, Kurama spoke.

"It's cold." He turned to Souta and Kagome's Grandfather. "How long were you eavesdropping again?"

Mrs. Higurashi, Souta, and Grandfather all exchanged glances. Mr. Higurashi looked as confused as Kurama and Kagome, but that didn't last long. All at once, they realized. "You were all on this." They said in unison Kagome sighed.

"When will my love life ever be private in this family?" She asked to the gods above, ignoring the rest of the people in the room. Never did she see the pleasantly surprised expression on Kurama's face, or the excited face of the rest of the family -with the exception of Mr. Higurashi who looked sullen.

Souta spoke smugly then, "See! I told you he was her boyfriend!" That was when Kagome realized what she said. Her hand flew to her mouth and a blush once more took over the usual color of her face.

Oh, no... why me?! She moaned, this time in her head. Was she ever going to get a break?

The answer was obvious enough to her: Nope. Never.

That's it for this chapter, everybody! I know: short. I didn't really mean it to turn out quite this way, but.. (-shrugs-) I hope you guys liked it! And Happy New Year! No Yusuke in this, but he'll be in the next chapter! Please review! (I know that wasn't my best, but I was getting really frustrated with that chapter. So I finally gave up and stuck with this. Hope you guys don't mind!)