Chapter 1

5:00am

Alarm turns on playing some random station, with a song that has been over played. Sounds muffled. Answer; head under pillow. Lifting what feels to be a 5 million pound head from under the pillow to look at the time. Sees it and groans quiet gruffly. Yelling? Answer; mother. About what? Answer; do I really care this early in the morning? Answer,

"No." head back under the pillow.

Clicking? Doorknob. Walking? Mom hovering over my bed.

"Kagome Higurashi, wake up you have chores to do."

Cold? Blankets? At the other end of the bed…damn.

"Kagome I mean now."

"Fine, I'm going, I'm going."

Door clicks closed. Mom gone. Time

5:02am

This was a normal thing that occurred almost every morning. I would have to wake up earlier then I needed to, to do chores. It sucked but I got use to it, doing it for 17 years of my life kinda helped. I took one good roll falling on my floor, landing gracefully on my face. That by the way takes talent. So crawling over to my door, and then having to stand up to open the door. By the way damn my arms for not being long enough to reach the doorknob. So I retorted to dragging my feet, but that stop as soon as I stubbed my toe on bathroom door corner. Another talented moment by the amazing Kagome Higurashi. So after taking a nice luke warm shower I was a bit more awake. Waking back to her room she but on her underwear and then a pair of jeans and a red tank top. Running down the stairs hair still dripping wet, hitting the middle of her back; she made her way towards the table and grabbed a piece of toast and a glass of apple juice finishing it in under a minuet.

"Wow I never knew I had such a talented sister." Souta, her younger brother said with a hint of sarcasm.

"You know it." She said and playfully gave him a noogie. Walking outside she felt the cool crisp air hit her skin; it was pleasant, cool but warm. Fall was coming meaning she would be leaving to Africa soon. Last year she entered her name into a 'Kids around the world' volunteer group, where you would be able to help villages around the world, by staying with a village or town around the world and help with things such as building homes, schools, water wells and etc. this program goes on for around 3 months. So in the end Kagome was chosen to go. Joining her was also her friend Sango who entered along with her. She and Sango had been best friends since childhood, and it didn't seem to be changing anytime soon.

Kagome went towards the shed and grabbed a broom. Usually this was her grandpa's job but he was on an important business trip that he had to attend. So he would unfortunately have to miss Kagome's departure. Kagome didn't mind though because they already had a little going away party for her, so she was fine with it.

As the morning continued Kagome finished her chorus, such as over feeding her rather plump cat, Bouyo. Man did she love her lazy, fat cat. She walked inside the house once more and snatched her backpack from beside the door. Though she was leaving to Africa and really didn't need to go to school besides the random meetings that were required to go to. Kagome still went. She had always been an over achiever, but really didn't seem the type. When ever she got an almost perfect score on her test or homework she just acted indifferent to it. So she went to school hoping that it will take her mind off having to still wait 6 more days till she left.

School went by pretty fast though Kagome was a little bored not having Sango around. Sango was a girl that if you had a choice of not going somewhere you didn't have to then she wouldn't. That's why her and Sango got together so splendid was because they where almost completely opposite, but don't get Sango wrong or anything she wasn't a yankee or anything. She still went to school everyday, grudgingly might I add, but still went and got good grades. Sango was a fighter and Kagome was a protector is how there friendship was.

The six days of boring meetings and stupid school related stuff was finally over with. It was finally departure day and Kagome didn't get a wink of sleep the night before, to excited about the trip to come. She had been packing all yesterday and the day before that, trying not to over pack, while keeping the essentials. It was a very difficult process, because she knew there wouldn't be electricity so anything she brought that needed it she would have to bring extra batteries. And clothes that she liked but could stand the type of stuff she would be doing there. It was hard. So here Kagome sat face first in her oatmeal, trying to get sleep without drowning. It wasn't going to well. Kagome's mother was tying really hard not to burst out crying, because she really didn't like the idea of her baby girl growing up. Sota on the other hand kept asking her when she was going, and to bring him something cool back, typical little brothers. There was a knock on the door and Sota ran to the door, opening it by the second knock.

"Time!" Sota asked yelling towards the kitchen.

"Fitshfg sacan" Kagome blew bubbles in her oatmeal.

"Kagome lift your head out of the oatmeal its time to go." Sango said entering the kitchen with one huge suitcase.

"11 seconds." Kagome replied to Sota, wiping the oatmeal off her face with a cloth, Sota did a triumphant "boo yeah" to himself as he found out his latest running-as-fast-as-you-can-to-the-door time. "I'm ready Sango lets get going." She said walking over to the door to pick up her own suitcase. Kagome's mom already in the car waiting for them.

"Bye Kagome, talk to you soon" Sota said giving his sister a big hug before she left, while in return she gave him a noogie and told him to be good for mom.

As they walked down the huge stairs that lead to the street from the shrine, hauling there huge ass suitcases, Kagome had a question on her mind.

"Hey Sango, is it just our school that's participating or are there others?"

"I don't know I didn't go to any of the classes. Didn't they say anything about that in the meetings?" Sango asked.

"No they didn't, I wonder." Kagome said stopping behind the car to put there bags in the trunk.

"I guess well just have to see when we get there." Sango replied. "Oh and Kagome."

"Yeah?" Kagome asked looking at her friend as she closed the trunk, swearing that the back of the car looked lower then usual.

"Shot gun!!" Sango laughed running to the front opening the door and sliding in to the front seat.

"Hey no fair I had to close the trunk!" Kagome complained getting into the car.

A couple hours later.

Both Sango and Kagome sat comfortably on the plane which had already taken off, well as comfortable as they could considering, one crying enfant, three snoring people, and one being a hippo demon, what a loud demon by the way. The two girls met up with two other students that were coming one a Fox demon named Shippou, and the other Kirara who was a feline demon. The two were a year younger then Kagome and Sango, but pretty mature. Kagome knew the two from the meetings that she attended at school for the program, this was a very small program in there school considering they were the only ones going. Though they weren't the only ones going, others schools would be attending as well from all over Japan, which was a comforting, thought. Kagome's mother by the way made a huge sobbing scene that almost all of Japan saw, killing Kagome out of embarrassment, after what seem to be hours of trying to peal her mom off of her, they left.

Kagome turned to Sango placing one ear bud in her ear, and holding the other in her hand.

"Hey Sango, I'm going to catch some rest, since I didn't get any last night. Can you wake me up when we get there? Unless I wake up before that is." Kagome asked.

"Yeah sure, I will." Sango replied going back to the magazine she was reading.

"Thanks." Kagome smiled, putting the other ear bud in her ear, and pressing play on her music player.

So alas the long trip began. Well for Kagome alas the catch up sleep began.

"Kagome wake up!" Sango shook her friend rapidly.

"What? Huh? What's happening?" Kagome asked feeling like only a couple of minuets went by.

"Kagome we've landed." Sango said starting to stand up.

…don't you just hate that feeling like you just fell asleep but you wake up and time just flew by.

So taking the ear buds that seemed to have imbedded into her head out, she followed Sango out of the plane. Once they made it though all the check troughs and stops they were outside of the airport. When they first left the safe air-conditioned airport it was like walking into a huge wall of heat. Sweat already started to pour from there pores. Thank all above for H2O.

"Hey Kagome! Over here!" the red headed fox demon waved over to Kirara and himself. Grabbing there luggage that was rolling with behind them, Kagome and Sango caught up with them.

"This cab is going to take us to the village that we were assigned to. He says that the trip is only an hour out of town." Shippou informed the two, while Kirara nodded her head in agreement her short blonde, black low lights bobbed with her. She was a pretty girl a little shorter then Kagome and Sango, and by the looks of it a shy girl. Though she seemed quite comfortable talking with Shippou, whispered something into his ears in youkai tongue. He nodded.

"Kirara says that well have to share the cab because it makes more sense if we stay together then getting lost out here." Shippou smiled.

"That sounds like a great plan, but how are we going to out all our stuff in one trunk." Sango said hinting at the four suitcases and three side bags.

"Uhhh…"

Half of an hour later of puzzle piecing everything into the cab, which ended up with two suitcases in the trunk with two of the bags, one suitcase on the roof of the car, and the last bag on the floor.

"Wow that took a lot of work." Kagome said looking satisfied all finished, wiping the sweat off her forehead, she was boiling this type of heat was completely new to her.

"Jeez why do you girls need so much stuff?" Shippou commented under his breath which ended with three glares. "Uh...time to go." He said rushing into the front seat.

Following Shippou's lead the three girls slide into the backseat, Kirara in the middle and Kagome and Sango on either side of her. Kagome sighed and looked out the window as the driver started up the engine.

She watched the scenery go by from the small town that was considered the city, fly by. It was soon followed by the red/orange rocky and dirt path, the random bush, and or tree that were far in the background. Small hills or mountains in the background the random African mammal came and went. It was a silent ride; the hour seemed forever, until…

"Look ahead the village!" Shippou said excitingly pointing out to the road ahead.

Kagome and Sango squinted, all the saw was more dirt and bushes. Kirara smiled lightly at Shippou more then at the upcoming village. By the way damn demon eyes, and there heightened senses. After another 15 minuets Kagome and Sango were able to see what looked to be a group of trees resting together. Though it looked very small from where they were.

As they got closer to the upcoming village it looked a little more in detail. It was surrounded by trees that only provided little shade. There were small mud huts, with straw roofs, that would barely hold up even against a light breeze. The huts where all circling a big fire pit in the middle of the villages center, there where also a couple of open spaces around the village where bases of other buildings where beginning to be put up. There was also one hut that was bigger then all of the other huts, it seemed to be more sturdy then the other.

The cab pulled up to the trees that started the village. Kagome got out of the car and staggered a bit the heat hit her hard, going from an a/c cab to this heat was a lot to handle.

"Kagome are you alright you don't look so well." Sango turned to her friend seeing her stumble.

"I fine Sango just a bit hot is all." She tried to look as happy as ever, though her eyes were trying to keep focus on the brunette.

Before Sango could ask her if she wanted to sit down, the group spotted a woman who was carrying a water jug over her head, and as soon as the woman saw Kagome walk out of the cab, the water jug dropped to the ground, water sinking into the thirsty dirt, and she ran into the biggest hut. Kagome gave Sango a puzzling look, who in return gave a shrug and started to un pack the cab.

Just after the four pulled everything out of the cab a man walking out with purple robes and black hair walked towards them. Right behind him was a man in baggy jeans and a white wife beater, he had exceptionally long, silver hair. Both men stood in front of the group, the man in purple spoke first.

"Welcome new comers, welcome to my village. My name is Naraku." He said with open arms, but in his eyes held a cold glaze. "And I am the village's mayor."

All four bowed respectfully. Kagome took a glance at his blood red eyes, smirking lustfully at her. She shivered and looked towards the ground.

"I hope I can make your stay as comfortable as possible," he glanced at Kagome for a brief second again. "But I must leave to attend to some business. Sesshomaru if you may." He spun on his heel and left towards the bigger hut.

The man with silver hair looked at the group. He was quite a good looking man, but seemed more of a business man, he also held sharp golden eyes, and from what Kagome could sense he was a dog demon and a hell of a strong one at that. Shippou laughed nervously as the man stood there for awhile not saying anything.

"Well umm." Shippou was cut off.

"As you know my name is Sesshomaru and I am the leader of this foundation." His tongue was sharp and precise, yet his eyes were softer. "You will wake at 5am sharp, bath and be ready for breakfast by 5:30, and then daily plans will be told while you eat. Lunch is at 12 exact and then back to work. When 6 comes it is dinner and quick wash up before bed, which is at 6:30. Any complainants?" at this you could almost see his lips smirk, most likely at how are faces where in utter and complete shock. This was going to be one long three months.

"Umm where will we be sleeping?" Kirara asked in her normal soft voice.

"There are two huts, one holds up to 5-6 people in one. These huts are close to the main construction sites. Now if there are no more unnecessary questions please follow me." He took a quick glance at all of us and his eyes took a little longer glance at Kagome, and it seemed that his nosed sniffed in her direction, his head turning back to the direction they were headed.

'Why the hell does everyone here seem so interested in me?' Kagome thought to her self. Ignoring it, she walked with the others as the volunteer leader, Sesshomaru showed them around the village. Kagome slowly fell behind the group, her head spinning a bit she felt like fainting. She watched the rest of the group follow Sesshomaru, but she stopped to look at some of the huts that were going to be there sleeping corroders. The structures of the huts were a bit more advanced then the other huts that the villagers owned. The huts had glass windows, screen doors, and proper roofing.

"That's not too bad at all." Kagome said taking an interest. "I wonder how the inside is, I bet it cooler in there to." The group tour being completely forgotten.

Opening the screen door, Kagome walked into the dimly lit room. 5 cots were placed in the room all facing each other, white sheets and green mattresses. In front of the beds were big storage boxes, to obviously but all your clothes and such there. The floor was done in wood, comforting but well-used. Kagome made it over to one of the cots furthest in the room she dumped her suitcase on the box in front of the cots. She put the back of her knees on the side of the bed and fell backwards on to the cot.

"Oomph." The cot huffed out.

"What the?" Kagome asked flipping over to face the mattress, well maybe not the mattress.

"Who the hell are you?" a boy flipped over staring straight at Kagome.

Kagome went officially brain dead. Her breath hitched in her throat as she stared dumbly into amber eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. Kagome finally relived the position she had gotten her self into. Here lay a god on his back as he was prompt up by his elbows to hold him in an upward position. While she laid hands on his chest, which was by the way as bare as the day he was born and as her eyes looked to where her hands were she almost lost the drool that was hanging from the corner of her mouth. She looked back up to his face and was surprised to see a smirk on his beautiful face, making her blush automatically. He lifted his one arm towards her face and lightly brushed it near her mouth, where a bit of drool had slipped.

"Your beautiful, and you smell even better." His eyes were tinted red as he leaned his head to her jaw line, giving a petal soft kiss.

The shock that went throw Kagome at that moment was enough to wake her up from her trance. She pulled back slightly from his face, blushing like mad. Something about him spellbound her, she didn't know him at all but she wanted to, maybe it was the way his eyes looked at her or the way her body reacted to his warm skin, or maybe even that smirk that made her weak at the knees.

"Kagome." Her lips moved on there own.

"Huh." Was his smart response, his head leaned to the side, in a confused expression. That's when Kagome noticed a movement above his head.

"You're a hanyou." It wasn't a question but more of a statement. She said looking towards two white dog ears on top of his head.

"You're a miko." He responded slowly lifting his hands to either side of her hips, which she 'epped' at when his nails tickled over her skin.

"Yes and if you don't move your hands right this instance you'll just find out how powerful this miko is." She warned.

He lifted one hand to one of her cheeks and cupped it, but then the smirk faded into a frown. "You're burning up are you ok?"

Kagome shook her head, feeling a bit in a haze. "I'm fine; now tell me your name."

"Inuyasha." He said with a toothy smile that made her lose her train of thought. "Feisty, that's how I like them." He rubbed his one thumb in a circular motion, making her shiver slightly in contentment.

Kagome gave him one of her own smiles, which made him stop dead in any motion, including breathing. "Cocky aren't we." She smiled again as she watched him watch her move her hands up towards his ears, he flinched away at first but then slowly let her pet his appendages. Kagome was in complete fascination as this man named Inuyasha closed his eyes and began to growl, making her chest that was laying on his own vibrate. His arms snaked themselves completely around Kagome and he whispered in such a hush voice that Kagome had to strain her ears to hear it.

"Guess what?"

Kagome looked into his eyes still tinted red. "What?"

"You're my mate."

Now it was Kagome's turn for a smart answer. "Huh."

"Inuyasha what the hell are you doing?" A voice came from the entrance of the hut.

Kagome could here the boy under her groan, which made her snicker lightly. If he was enjoying this as much as she was she knew why he was groaning. But when that thought hit Kagome it seemed that she finally gained her conscious back, and jumped off the cot, a little to fast making her stumble holding on to her head. Though it seemed that the instant she did this her wrist was suddenly pulled lightly. She looked down at the amber eyed boy, his eyes were pleading and concerning, as if saying please don't go. She was confused; her mind was going in over drive; her vision was starting to blur and it was hard to keep her eyes on the pleading amber ones.

'Who is he? Why are we so comfortable together? Why do I feel guilty at the thought of leaving him? Why do I feel like I need him?' then Kagome thought for a second. "Just a sec…Mate!" and with that Kagome's mind shoot down, and everything went black.

But before completely falling out of conscious her ears caught the distant call of her name.

(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)

Kagome groaned lifting her head from the pillow, the cold cloth that seemed to keep her fever down slip from her forehead. She looked around to where she was, the room was plain white with a couple of cabinets with a red cross on them, including three more cots in the room. She sat up, placing her feet on the floor, but before she could stand up someone walked through the mat door. Kagome turned her head over to the new arrival. It was a woman, an elderly woman, who had somewhat of a slouched back.

"So you've awaken that is good to see. But stay down my child you seem to have had heat stroke." Kagome laid back down on the white sheet cot. She watched the old woman walk over to a table, and pick up an object, and then walked over to Kagome.

"Here child drink this, you are dehydrated." Kagome took the bowl that was in the woman's wrinkled old hands. Kagome was surprised at how thirsty she actually was. The old women laughed at how 'dainty' Kagome drank the water.

"You must feel a bit better, eh?" the women asked.

"Yes very much, thank you umm…" Kagome paused; she never learnt the name of the women.

"Keade." She smiled. "But since you've seemed to have restored your health, I will let your friend come talk to you, if you're up to it?" She asked still concerned.

"No I feeling much better I'm pretty sure I can handle Sango's billion questions." Kagome smiled back.

"Alright child, but just while you're here make sure to drink lots of water; Africa's temperatures are very different from Japans. Also sit down if you feel light headed or come see me alright." Kagome nodded, and Keade smiled back, just as she was at the entrance of the door, she faced Kagome. "Oh and Kagome, you better thank Inuyasha he was the one who ran over here with you in his arms. He was really concerned though I doubt he'd ever say." And with that she left.

Kagome's mouth suddenly went slack. 'I totally forgot what I was doing before I came here…did I really do that with a guy I didn't even know? And he's half demon to, not that I don't mind.' Pause. 'Ah Kagome get a hold of your self, it wasn't anything I was delusional and not in my right mind. But still, it felt so natural and right.' Her thoughts were interrupted as a flash of pink and brown was in front of her bed in a second.

"Kagome! I was so worried, I didn't know where you were and then I heard you were in the infirmary hut. God you need to stop worrying me and if it wasn't for Inuyasha who was there you would still be down for the count." Sango said pointing to the white haired man who stood in the room next to seven other people, two that she already knew.

Inuyasha turned his head towards her and his golden eyes flashed a concerned but relived look.

"We're very glad that you have recovered fully and quickly Kagome." The voice was familiar she had heard it once before. A man with short brown hair tied in a low pony tail walked out from Inuyasha, looking only to be 17-18. "Inuyasha was greatly concerned about you; I bet if I didn't come in before you fainted Inuyasha was going to go in hysterics." Suddenly the man was elbowed sharply in the chest by Inuyasha.

"Shut it Miroku, I wouldn't have and you know it." He grunted out and crossed his arms in a defense fashion.

Kagome giggled at his antics. He was childish but yet in away mature. Kagome notice Inuyasha turn his head to the side to hide his slight redness in the cheeks.

"Oh crap, sorry Kagome I need to introduce you to everyone." Sango said standing up from her kneeling position next to the bed. "Alright as you know there is Inuyasha, Kirara, Shippou, and the guy who just got elbowed is Miroku. Then we have Kagura, and Kanna, their sisters by the way." She said pointing to a taller brunette with red eyes, then to a shorter girl with white hair and eyes. "And then as you know Sesshomaru, oh and his Inuyasha's brother."

"Half brother." Sesshomaru stated, Sango shrugged. "Well if were done with this everyone get ready for bed, tomorrow we are starting are work."

"I'll see you tomorrow ok, you get some rest ok." Sango said smiling down at Kagome.

"I will Sango, thank you." Kagome smiled back, giving her friend a pat on the hand.

Everyone nodded and headed out of the room last to leave was Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. "Inuyasha your staying here tonight, since you've so far had the need to take care of her." Inuyasha opened his mouth to protest. "You take care of her got it, and if what you told me was correct then she's the one." He whispered low enough for only Inuyasha to catch, and with that he turned and left the room.

Inuyasha sighed and turned to the girl resting on the bed. She looked at him in a puzzled expression.

"Umm ok so, this is a bit odd isn't it" Kagome laughed nervously.

"Yeah just a little." Inuyasha replied scratching the back of his head.

"Umm Inuyasha?" Kagome asked twiddling her thumbs nervously.

"What is it?" Inuyasha asked in a harsher tone then he meant to.

"Never mind, its nothing." She huffed in frustration. She lied back down her back facing him, she pulled the covers over her shoulders and so that they hit just under her chin. She heard Inuyasha sigh then ruffle around the room for a bit. She heard the dripping of water and felt a cool cloth pressed against her head. She brought one of her hands out from the comfort of the covers and placed her hand on where the cloth was, unintentionally touching his callused hand. A warm sensation ran down her arm all the way to her toes. She gasped slightly his thumb rubbed the back of her hand gently before removing its self from the cloth.

Kagome listen to Inuyasha as he jumped onto one of the other cots that were in the room, and listened till he had settled in. Kagome finally decided to relax, but not fall asleep seeing as she could stop thinking of the hanyou that was only one cot away from her.

"Hey umm Kagome?" Kagome went deathly silent pretending to have fallen asleep.

"Goodnight."

Kagome smiled softly. A few seconds later she thought Inuyasha had given up waiting for a response from her.

"'Night." She whispered, and she could have sworn she heard him relax a bit.


TBC

Gopher