Boy From Down the Street by The Norrington

Strength of Smell

Kagome kicked off her modest high heels with a groan, her forehead against the cool table top of her kitchen table.  She was so, so glad to be home and away from that... that!

"You smell like bugs."  

The childish voice threw her thoughts into park and she looked up tiredly at her resident silver yokai with a snort.  Although she knew it wasn't fair to be irritated with him simply because she had had a rough day, she couldn't help but be a little snippy.  

"What are you doing here still?" she demanded.

He tilted his head, sending bangs into his bright eyes.  His nose twitched, and what could only be distaste flickered across his pale face.  Kagome puffed up, ready to be offended, when her mother plunked a cup of tea and a bowl of miso in front of her.

"Eat up dear!  You look positively exhausted.  Was it awful?"  twittered her mother, tinkering about the kitchen, washing dishes, stirring the miso.

"The worst," groused Kagome, eagerly sipping the hot soup.  "Naraku is a complete tyrant, and not only that but he kept...looking at me and smiling and..."  She trailed off, unsure of how to put what she was feeling into words.  

"Wouldn't that be a good thing?"  her mother asked, confused.

"You'd think so but it was just so...foreboding.  His gaze was...hungry.  Until he noticed I noticed, and then it was strictly professional," she muttered into her soup.

"Hnn."

"Hmm."

Kagome couldn't help but be amused at the similarily between their two answers, and she sighed, closing her eyes tiredly.

She was surpised when she felt barely there tiny claw tips brush her bangs lightly, hesitantly, before pulling away.  She opened her eyes, noting the faintly blushing pup staring her boldly in the eyes.  

His chin lifted and he declared; "Do not worry.  You might smell of bugs, but you smell strong, too."