The window blinds could only do so much against the rising sun. As the rays of a new day slowly crept up the bed and onto its sleeping occupant, an irritating alarm began going off. Groaning, a slender hand slid out from under the covers and slapped at the offending device, successfully shutting it up. Lucky for the machine, otherwise it would've become fast friends with the wall. The figure moved a little, then another groan was heard as deep blue eyes met with the blinding light of the sun.

"I don't wanna get up!" Kagome groaned. It had been a late night and she had only been in bed for about four hours. But she had a lot to do today so she slowly started to get up and get dressed. Just as she pulled her jeans up and tugged on a baggy t-shirt her door slammed open and in ran a small child, or what looked like a small child.

"Shippo! How many times have I told you to knock?" she glared at the small red head looking up at her smirking.

"What? You used to let me bathe with you so what's wrong?" a devious glint in his emerald eyes told her more than necessary.

Raising a brow, she replied, "Because back then you were a child, now you're a full grown MALE kitsune! Despite you keeping a childlike form sometimes, I know better." She watched him pout as he started to get taller; when he towered over her by a good eight inches, he crossed his arms over his chest.

"You're no fun!" He said with a much deeper voice than before.

"Why? Because I won't let you see me naked anymore?" she asked while brushing her hair in the little mirror hanging on her wall.

"Exactly." Shaking her head, she couldn't help the smile. It had been close to five years since she had returned from the past. The shikon jewel had been destroyed, and with it her need to be in a time that wasn't her own. It had taken some time before she could function again, but she had picked herself up by the bootstraps and started anew. Her mother had moved away with gramps and Souta, since gramps' health had taken a turn for the worse. So they moved out into the countryside to give him more fresh air, and less stress. It worked out great for her, since she had turned the shrine into a sanctuary. It hadn't been long after her return that she had discovered that demons still existed, just not as much in her world as before. She had come across a half demon named Riana, who explained that there were three worlds now, the Makai, the Ningenkai, and the Riekei. She had also explained that a lot of the time half-breeds, such as herself, were ran out of the Makai just for being what they were. Because of that Kagome made the shrine into a sanctuary for such wondering souls. No matter if you were half-demon, full-demon, or a human that knew of demons, you were welcome. The rules were simple, no killing each other, no attacking with intent to kill, and do not bring anyone that would damage the harmony. Kagome had even put up an invisible barrier around the grounds to prevent any being from entering that meant harm. Not long after she had established the shrine, word had made it to the Makai of the miko who offered refuge. Shippo was the first to come looking to see if it was her, and he had been thrilled to learn it was. Though, he was now full grown and no longer saw Kagome as a mother figure. Instead he saw her for the beauty she truly was, and had thrown her off guard when he started flirting with her. Inuyasha had come next, his attitude hadn't changed but Kagome found that he had stopped fawning over Kikyo. She really didn't care now; she had figured out close to a year before the final battle that she loved Inuyasha as a brother.

Shippo now stayed with her full time, and Inuyasha was still the wondering soul he had always been. Granted since Sesshoumaru was still technically the ruler of the demon world, Inuyasha was the exception of half breeds on that side of the barrier. Though rarely did someone stick around for more than a day or two, but there were the regulars that were forbidden back in the Makai so they made a permanent home at the shrine. Shippo chose to stay of his own accord and help, though Riana had nowhere else to go. There were also those that visited on a regular basis, four being a team of detectives from Riekei. Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, and Hiei had shown up about a week after she had established the place and its barrier. Apparently, Koenma had been suspicious of the activity and had sent them to look into it. Finding nothing wrong with what she was doing, she was allowed to continue with the promise that the team would be allowed to check in on everything. So, from then on they showed up at least once a month. Though Hiei, the shorter but in her opinion cuter of the three, took some refuge in the shrine as well. Normally spending two to four nights a week in the branches of the sacred tree, of course she didn't mind.

"So, what do you have in mind for today Kags?" Shippo asked while leaning on the doorframe while she finished brushing and fixing her hair. He might have been a child when he first met the woman, but the instant he saw her again he had felt anything but a child's love for her. Since he had lived the five hundred years in-between her disappearing and seeing her again he had almost forgotten what she looked like, save her eyes. Seeing her for the first time as a full grown male youkai had been a surprise for the both of them. She was ecstatic to see him and he finally saw what Koga had seen, an absolutely gorgeous woman! Both inside and out she exuded joy, purity, compassion, love, and acceptance. He couldn't resist and started flirting with her, which had caused her to go wide eyed and her jaw had hit the floor. Priceless!

"Well, after breakfast I need to do some cleaning on the grounds and then I need to tend to the gardens. What are you planning?" she asked.

"Other than helping my gorgeous hostess, nothing!" he replied with a smirk. Which caused her to chuckle and shake her head. Kagome pushed past him and walked into the kitchen to start breakfast, she had three people to cook for, and that was if Hiei didn't drop in as well. Pulling out some skirt steaks, eggs, potatoes, and bread she started to make steak and eggs with hash browns and toast. Humming while she cooked was nothing new, though when she felt two auras that held some form of irritation she smiled. She knew who they were and put on some coffee, then pulled out a pint of ice cream, a spoon, and a cup for the coffee. No sooner was the coffee done did a black and blue haired woman walk in with a murderous look on her face. Followed shortly after by the short frame of Hiei.

"Good morning Riana." Kagome said, though she knew her friend was anything but a morning person.

"Fuck you Kags!" Riana groaned as she sat down at the table and slammed her head down on the surface. But she looked up again when she felt the warm cup placed next to her hand.

"Yeah, yeah, morning Hiei." And before he could say anything she set the ice cream and a spoon down in front of the other seat. She had learned quickly that Riana needed her caffeine first thing in the morning or else she was not a civil person. Hiei had been a mystery for the good part of six months. He too was grumpy in the mornings, but had made himself clear that he hated coffee. It had taken some time before she discovered his love interest with the sweet confection. Since then she made sure to keep plenty of his favorite ice cream on hand, just for mornings like this.

"Breakfast will be ready shortly." Kagome then turned around to flip the eggs and season the hash browns. Before long Shippo came in and sat down where he could watch Kagome cook, though more watching her hips and ass than anything else. 'Maybe I spent too much time around Miroku when I was a child.' He thought to himself while smirking.

"You don't value your eyes do ya fox?" he heard Riana say and turned to her.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked. Then he saw her eyes cut across the table where he noticed Hiei glaring at him. Raising a brow Shippo smirked again. 'Jealous Hiei?' he asked telepathically so Kagome wouldn't hear him, she was still just as oblivious to her charms as she ever had been. Even when several men found her attractive, under her own roof no less.

'Don't be a fool, just keep your thoughts out of mental earshot of others!' Hiei said. He wouldn't admit to anyone that he found the miko interesting, pretty even, especially not the two foxes. He got enough grief from Kurama about spending so much time at the shrine, now Shippo wanted to say something. Ridiculous!

"Enough with the macho show, I haven't had enough coffee yet to put up with you two!" Riana said as she rubbed her temples, she could also hear their conversation and it was irritating her. It wasn't that she hated that her friend was desired by the two idiots, Kagome deserved all the attention. What was irritating was the fact that they wouldn't even tell her to her face, well, except Shippo but he always went about it like a joke. Kagome didn't take him seriously because of it, and she was absolutely clueless to Hiei's interest. Riana didn't understand why Kagome had such a low opinion of herself, hell, if Riana swung that way she'd make a crack at her! However, Riana was already interested in one particular male.

"Alright, it's ready!" Kagome announced. Breakfast went by with simple chit chat between Riana, Kagome and Shippo. Hiei didn't say much as usual but he was listening to everything.

"After I get done with the dishes do you mind helping me in the gardens Ri?" Kagome asked as she cleared the table and began rinsing the plates to put in the dishwasher.

"Sure." The elemental said.

"I'll start sweeping the steps." Shippo offered, he knew Kagome hated that particular chore. Having over 300 steps leading up to the shrine, it always proved to be an all-day thing.

"I greatly appreciate that Shippo. Will you be sticking around today Hiei?" she asked while still smiling.

"Hn, possibly." He answered. There hadn't been a mission in a while, and he was figuring that Kurama and Yusuke would be dropping by today so he might as well hang around.

"Ok, I'll plan to make a big dinner then. I have a feeling we'll have more by the end of the day." She said as she pulled plenty of stew meat from the freezer to thaw. Since being back in her time she had had a good sense of when company was coming. Even when her mother and the others had been there, she would tell her mom to prepare for company and she had never been wrong. Once she was done Kagome and Riana headed for the gardens while Shippo settled into a long day of sweeping. Hiei perched himself in the Goshenboku, even though he made his presence a normal thing around the shrine, he rarely offered to help. He didn't see the need to, Kagome had enough help from the fox and girl. Though, there had been a time or two when they were either gone or busy and he had stepped in to lend assistance. Why, he wasn't too sure. She reminded him a bit of his sister, but he could honestly say he didn't feel for Kagome like he did for Yukina. Where his sister was innocent in every sense of the word, sometimes naïve, Kagome was no stranger to blood and war. He had seen some of what she had endured while in the Feudal era, having been a child at that time. Some of the conversations he had listened to between Shippo and her had let him in on some of the details as well. Though, there was still much he didn't know, and he refused to invade her memories without permission. Another fact that confused him, normally he wouldn't care if he was permitted inside one's mind. While with her, he cared more than he wanted to admit. So, he decided that either he would wait for her to spill the information or ask her sometime when they were alone. He had contemplated just overlooking it once, but his curiosity of her had won out.

"RIANA!" the scream had broken him out of his thoughts. Turning quickly to see what was wrong, he couldn't help but smirk at the sight. Apparently, Riana had snuck up on Kagome with the garden hose. Now, Kagome was soaked to the bone, chasing the other female around the fenced in section of yard. Sensing another presence under him, Hiei looked down to Shippo watching the show with a non-concealed smile. He knew that the fox was attracted to the female in question, so it came as no surprise when Hiei smelled the hinting of Shippo's arousal. Narrowing his eyes, he looked back to realize that Kagome's t-shirt had been a dark cream color. The perfect color to showcase her dark blue bra. Jealousy was an emotion he was starting to become more accustomed to, especially when it came to the dark haired woman.

"Stop gawking Shippo!" Kagome said as she stomped passed him, unaware of her other admirer a couple of branches above.

"I can't help it Kags, blue is very becoming on you." Came Shippo's sly reply. Earning him a light shock of her power up his spine as she disappeared into the house to change.

"You won't learn will you?" Riana asked as she came up to stand next to the fox. She was now soaked, though her black clothing showed nothing so she was content to air dry. Being half water elemental she could just push the water off of her, but she chose not to. It was a hot day anyway, so it provided her with a cooling agent.

"Who's the one who hosed her in the beginning?" he asked with a mischievous smirk.

"Well, I'm sure the two males present would agree she looked too hot." Riana then walked away to continue her work in the garden. Leaving the two in question to turn their glares from her to the other.

The rest of the day was uneventful. Shippo finished the stairs around the same time that the girls were done with the gardening. They had been able to pick enough tomatoes, green beans, corn, and okra to be frozen for later meals. Hiei hadn't left his place in the tree once, he remained content to just watch. Kagome had just put away the last of the garden tools when she felt the familiar ripple of someone passing through the barrier. Actually, she felt three someone's pass through. Smiling as she locked the shed, she went to meet their guests.

Alright, please review and tell me how you like it and any thoughts! Thanks :D