This is my very first Fan fiction. Please, if you have criticism, keep it constructive. I obviously do not own Inu Yasha, that honor belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. This is a Kouga/Kagome fic. Kagome goes through some changes that cause her to evaluate her feelings. Enjoy.

"Inu Yasha, do you think we could stop and rest for awhile? " Kagome asked quietly. She unscrewed the cap from a bottle of water at her side and took a swig. She passed it to the young kitsune riding on her backpack.

Inu Yasha turned around. It was on the tip of his tongue to say no, and then he saw her face. 'It's so pale' he thought. He knew she didn't get much sleep the night before, her tossing and turning had woken him. 'Come to think of it, she hasn't sleep peacefully for awhile now' "Keh. Fine!"

Gratitude flowed over Kagome's face. "Thank you." 'I thought he was going to say no.' Shippo hopped off of Kagome's bag and put the cap back on the bottle. The little demon stretched and sat down. Sango and Miroku stretched out as well. Kagome put down her bag and sat down in the clearing. Inu Yasha reached into her bag and pulled out the ramen.

"Um, Inu Yasha, you do know HOW to make that, don't you?" Miroku asked. Having never seen Inu Yasha cook before, he had every right to be concerned.

"Of course I do! You just…..um, you..."

"You start by giving the package to me" Kagome reached for the Ramen but Inu Yasha stepped away.

"No. I can do it." Inu Yasha futzed with the package for a moment or two. Kagome sighed and got up to take it from him.

"Tell you what, you go gather some wood and start a fire and I'll cook." Inu Yasha was about to refuse. Seeing that, Kagome smiled at him. "Please?"

A short while later Kagome was resting with Shippo on her lap. "I'm full" the fox demon said, rubbing his belly. He sighed contently and nestled further into his adopted mother. Kagome absently started stroking his hair. Her eyes held a far away look, but the furrowing of her brow indicated whatever her thoughts were, they were not pleasant.

Sango, Miroku, and Inu Yasha exchanged glances. "Something on your mind Kagome?"' asked Miroku.

"Mmm?" Kagome blinked and focused in on her friend's face.

"You okay? You look like something's bothering you." Miroku moved across the makeshift camp and took Kagome's hands. "If this humble monk can be of any service..."

"Hentai!" cried Sango as she saw one of his hands leave Kagome's to rest on her thigh. She smacked the monk upside the head, causing him to fall over and jostle Shippo from Kagome's lap.

Shooting a disgusted look at their friend, Sango sat back down next to Kagome. She too had noticed Kagome's lack of sleep. Keeping her eyes on the miko from the future, she directed a question at Inu Yasha. "Can we stay here tonight? We could all use an early night."

Again Inu Yasha wanted to say no, but Kagome did need rest. She was acting strange now but he knew enough to know that she can go from spacey to "SIT!" in 5 seconds flat. He didn't feel like eating dirt so he dropped his head and sighed loudly.

Knowing that was all of the answer she would get from the hanyou, Sango smiled at Kagome. "C'mon, let's get ready for bed" Out of the corner of her eye she saw Miroku stirring and looking like he wanted to comment. She turned towards him and glared, completely missing Kagome's panicked face.

Kagome got out her sleeping bag and readied herself to sleep, putting pajama pants on under her skirt then shimming out of the skirt. She decided to leave her school shirt on and zipped herself into her bag.

Frowning, Sango asked "Aren't you going to take a bath with Shippo and me?"

"No. You go ahead." Came the reply.

All eyes shot to Kagome's in disbelief. Kagome, turning down a bath? Inu Yasha displayed his concern is his typical way. "What's wrong with you wench? You sick or something?"

"No." came the non committal response in a voice that warned not to press the issue if he didn't want to be sat.

As her friends left to bath, meditate, or recheck the safety of the camp, Kagome closed her eyes shut tightly and prayed. 'Please Kami, no dreams tonight. Please just let me sleep.'