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The White Stars

This story is about Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku and their relationships, though that doesn't mean I'm abandoning Shippo, Kirara or any of the rest of the group. There might be some guest appearances of other characters too. There might be some instances where I spell it Kilala because that's how it sounds and I'm used to spelling it that way, so don't shoot.

This story follows the general storyline of the anime at least for the most part. It isn't AU however it also doesn't directly follow the anime either for example despite the fact that in the anime it is inferred that somehow they finished their whole quest in like a year since Kagome was trying to get into high school at the end. In my fanfiction the ages are approximately – Kagome is 17, Sango is 18, Miroku is 20, Inuyasha is 17 (150+) Shippo is 8. Koga is 17, Sesshomaru 20 (200+), Rin is 10 and Kohaku is 13.

It is also definitely set after they encounter Koharu, Tsubaki and after Sango gets proposed to by the lord. At the very least somewhere in or past season 4. I'm not going to pinpoint exactly 'when' this is taking place and I'm fond of random fluffiness. And that is WHY it's a fanfiction.

This is a hugely revised and changed version of "Is one girl enough" originally written in 2006 which started off as one or two chapters and it snowballed from there. My writing style has changed and I've improved and I know there are things I could fix and improve. I believe it is going to be a fairly different story which is why I'm not posting these on top of the old one. Or at least that's the intention, so I will leave you know so you can read. Helpful criticism and reviews are ALWAYS welcome just no haters please.

Chapter One

The sun dipped towards the horizon. Painting the sky in a mix of golds and pinks as the group finished creating their camp in preparation for nightfall. Smoke curled towards the sky from the fire while fish roasted on sticks which were wedged between the rocks that enclosed and surrounded the blaze. Leaving the rest of her companions, a young woman carried her large yellow backpack towards the hot spring located a short distance away from their camp. Rubbing her arms lightly at the light chill in the air. It was the first hint of the approaching winter. It was early autumn but already there was a noticeable change in the air. Nights were getting colder and the leaves on the trees were beginning to change colour – taking on their rich reds and golds. Soon enough they would begin to fall from their perches and carpet the ground. Thankfully she'd had the foresight to pack warmer clothes the last time she'd gone home so she was somewhat prepared for this situation.

Unfortunately cold and snow never stopped Inuyasha. As always she was thankful for her sleeping bag, though winter would make camping outside uncomfortable. Soon enough they would need to rely on Miroku more often to get them lodging in villages.

Rifling through the bag she collected her bathing supplies and them within easy reach – including her bow and arrows. She then slipped off her shoes and her long white socks, soon followed by the longer green pleated skirt that reached her knees and the familiar white and green sailor shirt. Folding them neatly she put them on top of her bag before shooting a glance over her shoulder before sliding off her bra and underwear to add to the pile.

Stepping down into the heated water with a quiet splash. She let out a soft hum of pleasure as she sank down to her shoulders. This was as close to a bath as she could get here. Relaxing in the warmth. She sat on a smooth rock at the right level as the sapphire blue eyes turned towards the sky which was turning slowly from blue to black, pinpricks of stars beginning to dot the dark surface as night fell. The nights were so different here than back home - there was an encompassing darkness here, and thousands upon thousands would fill the sky in a way that she could never see in her time.

A lot had happened over the last two years, and despite everything she'd somehow gotten into high school despite her frequent absences. Sometimes it was hard juggling school with hunting for the jewel shards. There were also times that she felt she didn't fit in, an anomaly due to her long absences from school with her 'illnesses'. A glint in sapphire eyes that hinted of experiences beyond her years, a maturity gained from spending most of her time in the Feudal era fighting for her life. But she hadn't changed where it mattered. Kagome remained strong with the desire to help and protect, and to forgive and love.

Her friends and family kept her grounded, and she spent what free time she could with them. Kagome wanted to include them in as many aspects of her life as possible. Like introducing them to Inuyasha – which thankfully had cleared up the confusion about Hojo, letting the guy move on too. Even if there were always going to be secrets and things they didn't quite understand about her life. It was nice to forget about saving the world every now and then, to be normal and enjoy the modern conveniences of home.

Kagome wet her hair by submerging herself under the water and swimming back to the side of the hot spring, getting some of the shampoo from the bottle with a soft click. She rubbed it into her fingers before rubbing it through her wavy hair. Nails and fingers massaging her scalp as she continued lathering her hair while absorbed in her thoughts.

Koga on the other hand still seemed a little dense despite her attempts to get through to him that she wasn't interested in him. She liked him sure, Koga was sweet and his attention was flattering but honestly she wasn't in love with him. Kagome had tried numerous times to explain it to him but he was just so quick to run off, and she wasn't entirely unconvinced that he didn't continue with the ruse just to bug Inuyasha. Still perhaps they got along a little bit better? Or was that wishful thinking on her part perhaps…?

Speaking of getting along better – Inuyasha and Sesshomaru seemed to be getting along better than she'd ever imagined. They weren't overtly brotherly by any means but they were no longer actively trying to kill each other. In their first few fights alone Sesshomaru had put his hand through Inuyasha's stomach and wounded him numerous times, while the younger brother had cut off Sesshomaru arm. Not to mention one time Tenseiga had protected Sesshomaru against a potentially fatal blow from the Tetsusaiga's Kaze no Kizu.

Still, it seemed like some of the resentment and bitterness was fading between the siblings. She didn't think their relationship was irreparable, though it would take time considering everything that was between them. But they were making progress, after all they'd managed to co-operate in their last big battle against Naraku before he'd fled using Kohaku and Rin as bait for his escape. Or that was her assumption – the two would never admit to working together amicably, but with Inuyasha she'd learned to read between the lines.

Nevertheless, it seemed Sesshomaru was changing and growing just like Inuyasha. For all of the elder Youkai's original talk of hating his half-brother and hating humans the words no longer rang true. She still had no idea what had prompted the cold regal youkai lord to have such a change of heart as to allow Rin to travel with him but it seemed it had done him good. Inuyasha probably hadn't noticed, but she had. Sesshomaru's interest in Tetsusaiga had diminished once he realised it was the only thing that kept Inuyasha's blood in check. There had even been a few times when Sesshomaru had intervened in a dangerous situation, stopping Inuyasha from gaining greater harm.

She automatically slipped beneath the water to wash out the shampoo, combing her fingers absently through her strands as she floated beneath the surface. Using her feet almost like a board to push away from the rocks. Her actions instinctive and automatic. One arm moving in front of the other as her long legs kicked until she swam to the other side of the hot spring, coming up for a breath then as she treaded water. Swimming alone in a hot spring probably wasn't one of her most brilliant, considering no one was here to notice if the heat got to her but she hadn't been in the hot water for that long.

Sinking back beneath the water Kagome floated beneath the surface, long dark strands drifting around her lazily before she pushed against the rock. She swam back the way she came, towards the other bank, coming back to the surface once she found her footing. Thick inky strands shifting to rest against the silky flushed skin of her breasts and back as she waded further in, ripples fanned outwards from her movements. The water receding to her waist as she approached the edge when she heard the crack of a branch and she froze momentarily until instinct kicked in.

It was unusual for something or someone to get past her friends but not impossible. Her aura flared around her automatically the magenta visible in her surprise and in response to the recognised threat. She flung herself the few feet through the water towards the edge and breath hissed between clenched teeth as stone scraped across soft flesh. Water shifted and crashed against the large rocks from the sudden disturbance as her fingers grasped her bow.

Her fingers were too slick to hold and draw an arrow but she had honed her abilities to fling back attacks using her bow after Tsubaki. She'd also been practicing focusing her energy into creating 'energy arrows' it would be handy considering the frequency she seemed to run out of physical arrows in important battles. It wasn't mastered nor flawless yet but she should be able to manage a few arrows until Inuyasha and the others arrived.

Or so she thought as sapphire eyes came to rest on a familiar figure crouched in a tree dressed in red – not the best colour to blend into the surrounding trees to be honest. Not that Inuyasha's forte had ever been 'sneaking'. Still his presence was unexpected, Miroku was the pervert though it didn't actually seem like Inuyasha was trying to be a peeping tom with the way his back was towards her but his ears were perked and alert – she could tell even from this distance that he was guarding her.

His presence while reassuring made her want to toss her bow at him. Hard. But then she'd have to go look for it later. So instead she restrained herself and put it back on the rock. Spiritual energy dissipating once more at the realisation there was no threat. Hands settling on her hips as she yelled at him, "Inuyasha you jerk! You gave me a heart attack! I almost shot an arrow at you! What are you even doing here?"

The silver-haired hanyou was settled comfortably in the branches of the tree, legs stretched in front of him while his arms were folded into the sleeves of his red fire-rat hitatare. White dog ears twitched at the sound of her voice before lowering mildly against his hair. Even from the distance her voice was too loud. Was it really necessary for her to keep yelling at him all the damn time? He scowled as he looked down at her, "Quit ya yelling, you're hurting my ears Kagome. I don't like it when you bathe alone. Ya might pass out and drown or something stupid like that. Plus you have a habit of getting in trouble or kidnapped when I leave you alone. Despite the fact it's supposed to be safe."

"Hey! I'll have you know I have improved a lot in the last two years! And I haven't been kidnapped in…well…months." Kagome finished somewhat lamely, knowing that there had been at least half a dozen or more times she'd been grabbed by both demons and mortals alike since she'd ventured through the well. Even if you didn't include being grabbed by Mistress Centipede, there was that group of bandits back at the beginning, then later by Koga and the Thunder Brothers. Even Miroku had kidnapped her for a while…

Wow, there was more of them than she'd thought. She was tired just thinking about it. She really didn't have much of a comeback when it came to kidnappings.

Golden eyes blinked and then averted, cheeks colouring once Inuyasha realised once more that she was naked and he'd been getting an eye-full of glistening bare skin. He wasn't like Miroku he reminded himself as he crossed his arms over his chest and gazed upwards towards the stars that carpeted the sky. "Well you'd be pretty useless if ya hadn't improved at all but I'm here whether ya like it or not an' Sango's watchin' the lecherous monk."

His words were blunt but that's just the way Inuyasha was. There was some comfort to be found in the fact that some things didn't change. Still she rolled her eyes and started rifling through the mess she'd made of her belongings, finding the conditioner she popped open the cap and poured some into her hand.

"Yeah well it wasn't like I needed to shoot arrows and use spiritual powers in Tokyo to fight Youkai."

Inuyasha made a noncommittal sound and they lapsed into a comfortable silence as she spread conditioner through the inky locks. Making sure that it was all the way through the strands before she twisted them on top of her head and secured it with a hairclip. Letting it soak in and moisturize her hair as she picked up the lavender scented soap before turning away from the side of the hot springs. Moving a short distance, away with her back towards Inuyasha she began lathering soap over her chest and shoulders before rinsing.

It was comfortable…until she started overthinking it. Which in turn led her to getting self-conscious…and she was fairly certain she was blushing now, she thought with a sigh. He was there to protect her, it wasn't like he was going to see anything. He probably didn't even want to see anything. Oh…great now she was getting depressed at the thought that he didn't even want to spy on her.

Hormones were such a pain. Kagome thought with a soft sigh as bubbles floated in the water around her. Sinking deeper until she was in the water to her chin she blew bubbles idly in the water. Still she couldn't help but be aware of her own nakedness and Inuyasha's nearness, even as she tried to be mature about it. Well they were teenagers after all.

Removing the clip from her hair Kagome sank deeper. The rush of water in her ears as she sank beneath the surface as she did at home in the bathtub, but of course this was a far more spacious 'bathtub'. Inky strands fanned out around her as she floated there within the cushion of heated water, absently threading her fingers through them as she rinsed the conditioner out. Even as she tried to escape the confused and embarrassed din of her own mind by idly counting the seconds, it wasn't what she'd call a success.

A sigh let loose a mass of bubbles back to the surface. She was going to get out soon. Being on pins and needles over Inuyasha's presence wasn't what she'd call relaxing so there was no point in dawdling. Thoughts that were interrupted by a sudden impact beside her caused her to jolt in surprise as bubbles flared around her at the sudden appearance of another body. She only had time to ponder this sudden turn for a few moments before firm arms were wrapping around her and she was being forcibly pulled out of the water.

What was it that she'd said about not being kidnapped for a few months? Had she just jinxed herself? Wait where was Inuyasha? She couldn't see and initially she had clutched at whoever it was that had grabbed her due to the force of their exit. Water splashed around them as they exited the water and came back down still in the water but closer to the bank of the hot spring.

Having breathed in some water at the sudden action, coughing Kagome released the wet fabric to push her hair out of her eyes as she began hitting blindly at the firm chest in front of her, "Hey! What do you think you're doing! Let me go right this instant!"

Moments later she came face-to-face with Inuyasha.

Or rather she only just realised it was Inuyasha that had pulled her bodily from the hot spring. No other words left her, they died away as she caught sight of him properly and Kagome once more lowered her hands to rest on the off-white under-shirt – now almost see through soaked with water – which Inuyasha was wearing, having obviously discarded his red hitatare before jumping into the hot spring to get her. Fingers curled into the fabric as her eyes slid over him silently, he was drenched.

Long silvery-white strands were saturated and the ears on top of his head twitched slightly in response. Water droplets slid along the line of his jaw and trickled down his neck but what caught her attention - were his eyes.

She stared at Inuyasha, the expression on his face was one she had seen only on rare occasions. He looked scared, panicked and almost terrified if she had to try and place the emotions that was reflected back to her in those golden honeyed eyes. He had been worried about her? She wondered almost absently as she released her hold on his shirt and lifted one hand, her fingers sliding through silky strands and across his jawline.

Inuyasha gazed at her silently, so much emotion reflected in his gaze. Inuyasha might usually be rash and brash, it was why when he was like this – so full of honest unrestrained emotion, it was so difficult to look away. She couldn't speak. Couldn't break the atmosphere around them any easier than the last time. It caused her heart beat to speed up for a reason other than fear this time as butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

Kagome felt so secure. So safe within the strong arms that held her bridal style, supporting her both beneath her knees and behind her back. But then Inuyasha had always made her feel safe. So what was it that had caused this sudden reaction? She wondered before her cheeks warmed slightly once she realised the cause. Inuyasha had thought something had happened to her. That she'd passed out or something. She forgot sometimes that people in this Era didn't know how to swim, and that holding their breath under water wouldn't be anything close to normal. So he'd panicked.

It warmed her cheeks and her heart to know that he cared. Leaning forward slightly she rested her forehead against his, "Sorry…I didn't mean to scare you. I'm alright."

They stayed there quietly in each other's arms for what seemed like a long time but was probably only ten minutes. Until the chilly autumn air began to get to them in their water soaked clothing. Or rather bare skin and water soaked clothing. It was around that same point it finally dawned on Kagome that she was being held naked in Inuyasha's arms.

She blushed bright red, bright enough to rival Inuyasha's kimono.

When Inuyasha pulled back from the way they had been pressed together Kagome suddenly started squirming and pressing her hands over his eyes. Having also completely forgotten about her state of undress he tried not to drop her or lose his footing with all her squirming. "What are you doing? Kagome stop movin' or I'm gonna drop ya!"

"I'm naked stupid! Don't look!" she yelled still covering his eyes with her hands. The shifting causing them both to fall back into the water in a tumble of limbs with a loud splash.

Alright so that's chapter one done. It seemed like a good place to stop it to be honest and I had a lot of fun writing it.
I hope that you all enjoy reading it and I look forward to any reviews and opinions~
Be gentle though this is the first fanfiction I have written in years LOL.