Digging through Kagome's book bag, our favorite hanyou threw the poor girl's items this way and that.

"Inuyasha! What are you doing?"

"Where's the ninja food? You promised!" He threw some lacey panties over his head. Kagome's red face appeared inches from his.

"INUYASHA! SIT!" As he hit the floor, Kagome collected the discarded items. Grabbing her bag, she found the noodles immediately and replaced her things neatly within the bag. Inuyasha's growl silenced when Kagome presented the noodles to him.

"Keh! I knew they were in there somewhere!" He turned his back to her. She sighed and began preparing the food. Normally, she would never be so patient with him, but tonight there would be a new moon and she knew Inuyasha was feeling down. Shippo ran in, waving little fistfuls of herbs with Keade behind him.

"Here, Kagome! You can put these on the food for dinner!" He thrust the herbs into her hand. "Thank you, Shippo." Kagome began adding the herbs to the boiling stew she had been preparing for the others. She paused, "Shippo, take these herbs outside. I'm not sure I should add these certain ones to the food." Shippo looked confused, "Why not?" Keade came to the rescue and assured him they wouldn't taste good, but he was already distracted by something.

"How come Inuyasha gets to have ninja food?" Shippo eyed the boiling water and cup of noodles. Kagome patted his head and said, "Tonight is the night of the new moon, remember? So Inuyasha is getting a little treat." Shippo frowned, "But I'm the littlest! I should get a treat too!" Before he could whine on, Inuyasha clunked him on the head.

Just then, Miroku and Sango entered the hut. "As soon as it's light tomorrow, we are heading east," Miroku said as he laid his staff and Sango's boomerang against the wall. They sat down together by the fire. "You two are just in time," Kagome smiled, "The food is almost ready." She stirred the pot and did a quick taste test. Inuyasha watched as Kagome poured the boiling water into the cup of noodles and set it aside. Counting inside his head the seconds until three minutes was up, Inuyasha was too distracted to notice Kouga's approaching scent.

"I sense the jewel!" Kagome said just before Kouga whirled in. He had her hands in his grip instantly. "My dear Kagome, have you been well?" Before she could answer, Inuyasha pushed his way between them and started the normal arguing with Kouga.

Outside, it was getting darker and soon the sun was behind the hills. Kouga's laughter could be heard throughout the entire village as Inuyasha transformed into a normal teenage boy.

"Why don't you just shut up before I make you?" Inuyasha clenched his fists. Kouga only chuckled in return, "Oh yeah, Dog Turd? And just how were you planning on doing-" Inuyasha decked him in the mouth. "That's how," he said, grinning.

"Inuyasha, sit." Kagome said. When she didn't hear the normal cursing and growling, she turned to see the boy rise up painfully with a bloody nose. "Oh! Inuyasha!" Kagome cried, rushing to his side. She had her hankie out in a moment and was wiping away the blood on the boy's face. Inuyasha pushed her away at first but then allowed her to sooth and pamper him when he saw how jealous Kouga looked. He was about to go as far as to return her little pats and pets when Kouga said, "Well, since the mutt ain't fit to protect my Kagome, I guess I ought to stay here for the night."

Amid Inuyasha's rants and protests, Miroku said, "Well, since there is going to be an extra body in here tonight, I will gladly give up my futon and share with Sango."

"Miroku-" Sango started, but was interrupted by Kouga, "No need. I don't sleep as much as humans," he looked at Inuyasha, "Or hanyous."

"Doesn't matter ya wimpy wolf cause you're not stayin here tonight!" Inuyasha's hand went to the hilt of tessaiga. Kouga growled.

"Stop it!" Kagome came between them, "Kouga, I don't know if it's a good idea, but if you want to, you can stay the night here," she said to placate him. Kouga took this to be encouragement and smirked at Inuyasha as he wrapped Kagome in his arms and said, "Thank you, Kagome. I'm glad to see that you still care for me more than that dog turd."

"I appreciate your feelings, Kouga, but-" Kagome was cut off by Inuyasha pushing Kouga away and starting another tiff. She shrugged and turned toward Miroku, Sango, Keade, and Shippo and began to serve up dinner.

A few hours later, Kagome yawned and stretched and laid out her futon. "Keade, are you sure you have to go?"

"Aye, I be the only one in the village who can deliver a baby that's coming out breech," Keade took some supplies and left. (A/N-In case some one out there doesn't know, a baby coming out "breech" means it's coming out feet-first instead of head-first, which is a serious problem.) Sango smoothed out her futon and prepared for bed while Miroku watched her. When she caught him staring, she glared at him and he winked in return, smiling.

Kagome turned to get under her covers and found Kouga there, holding back her blankets for her. "Th-thanks, Kouga…" Kagome said awkwardly. Inuyasha stepped in, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I'm going to sleep with my woman," Kouga said casually.

"SHE AIN'T YOUR WOMAN!" Inuyasha roared. He pushed Kouga out of Kagome's futon and blocked his way from getting back in.

"I thought you said you weren't going to sleep?" Kagome said to Kouga while peeking around Inuyasha.

"Yeah, I better not since dog breath here is a human for the night," Kouga resigned to leaning against the wall, but Inuyasha still stayed between him and Kagome. Miroku and Sango were quietly talking on the other side of the room while Shippo and Kirara slept in the corner. "Good night, you guys!" Kagome said as she lay down and pulled her blankets up to her chin. "Good night, Kagome!" Miroku and Sango answered.

"Good night, Inuyasha," Kagome said softly. He grunted in response. She closed her eyes and eventually drifted off to sleep. Inuyasha sat next to her futon, glaring away at Kouga who didn't even take notice. The hours went by and Inuyasha intended to stay awake the whole night in case Kouga decided to get fresh with Kagome, but his human weaknesses became too much for him and he, too, fell asleep.

A crash of thunder made Kagome's eyes snap open. It was dark in the room, not even close to being morning. A storm outside raged and after another booming thunder, Kagome began to feel a little scared. Squinting in the dark, Kagome made out Inuyasha's form, lying on the floor only inches from her futon. She considered waking him, but decided against it when she thought of how seldom he got to sleep an entire night. A draft from outside made Kagome shiver and a clash of thunder heightened her discomfort. Carefully, Kagome slid the futon to Inuyasha's side. When she was positive she hadn't made him awaken, she slipped her blanket over his side and snuggled against him. In his sleep, Inuyasha instinctively wrapped his arms around the soft girl. Now safely locked away in Inuyasha's arms, Kagome smiled and indulged in the warmth and comfort he provided. "Too bad we can never do this while he's awake…" was Kagome's last thought before giving way to sleep again.

Inuyasha began to wake at the feel of something warm and soft against him, but it felt so good, he held it to him, still dreaming. A thunder crash outside brought him a little more out of his sleep as he wondered if Kagome was scared. Suddenly, it occurred to him the soft warm thing in his arms was Kagome. The heaviness of sleep made his shock less dramatic and he guessed she must have ended up there in her sleep. Maybe it was his drowsiness, or maybe it was his being human, but a slight smile graced his face and he buried his face into her fragrant hair. "Ah, Kagome, you're so nice and warm and soft and…" Inuyasha drifted into sleep.

Kouga opened his eyes wearily. "Uhg, I must have dozed off after all," he thought. His youkai eyes scanned the room and came to a halt on a most disturbing scene. There, on the floor, was that despicable hanyou cuddling with his Kagome! He had her in his arms, her face burrowed into his chest, his hands on her body, her sweet smell all over him, his face buried in her hair. Kouga could feel the warmth coming off their bodies. The wolf stood and tip toed over to where they lay. Their faces were peaceful and somehow, happy. Flames of jealousy licked at his heart. He couldn't stay here any longer. Not while this was going on, anyway. Kouga walked to the entrance of the hut and was about to take off when his foot brushed something on the floor.

"What's this?" Kouga thought. He picked up the little bundle and gave it a sniff. As soon as he did, he coughed and threw the bundle away from him. "What the hell is this doing around here? Doesn't Kagome know these herbs are poisonous to youkai?" Kouga said to himself as he kicked the bundle of herbs that Shippo had forgotten to get rid of out the door. When he was outside, he was about to run away, but a thought struck him. Kouga turned and gingerly picked up the bundle of herbs and crept into the hut. He found where Inuyasha and Kagome lay together and carefully sprinkled the herbs on Inuyasha. Barely able to contain his laughter, Kouga left the hut and ran to find his pack.

Kagome awoke to something wet on her face. She shivered and wiggled closer to Inuyasha, refusing to accept that morning was here. She heard a soft groan in Inuyasha's chest and his hands moved over her body as the wet thing now touched her neck. Sleep completely left Kagome as she realized Inuyasha was licking her. Her eyes snapped open to see his silver hair spilling over them. "He's changed back? It must be morning," Kagome thought as she moved to free herself from his arms. Inuyasha froze and tightened his hold. More sounds came from his throat and now wet kisses covered her cheek.

"What the-? Inuyasha! Wake up!" Kagome pushed against him.

"I am awake," Inuyasha said in a low, velvety tone.

"What?!" Kagome felt her face flush as his hand slid under her shirt. "S-stop! What're you doing?" She slapped his hand away, and he just moved it to her butt. Desperately embarrassed, Kagome's eye's darted around the hut, dreading the looks on her friend's faces. But no one was there. "Inuyasha! Where is Sango? And Miroku? Shippo? Kirara?" Her only answer was a groan and another lick.

"Ew! Stop it!" Kagome fought her way up to where she could see his face. It was flushed, like he had been drinking. His eyes were a little glazed over and he had a dopey smile across his face. She grabbed his ears and forced him to pay attention, "Inuyasha, where did our friends go?" she asked. He closed his eyes and moved his head against her hands, "Mmmmmm…they left…to give us some privacy…mmm..mmmm…that feels good…" As Inuyasha continued moving under her hands, Kagome glowed bright red at the thought of what her friends must have woken up to. What was with Inuyasha? Was this the work of a demon? Her thoughts were interrupted by a sloppy kiss from the hanyou. Kagome froze. His lips traced her cheek and went to her ear, "Kagome, you smell very good," he said. His breath tickled her and she giggled despite her discomfort. Inuyasha seemed to think this meant she was on board with him removing her shirt.

On the other side of the village, Miroku and Sango were gathering supplies for their journey. Shippo and Kirara played on the grass. Suddenly, a scream pierced the air.

"That sounded like Kagome!" Sango said, looking toward Keade's hut. Miroku frowned, "What could have happened? They looked happy enough this morning…" he trailed off suggestively. Sango looked angry, "Come on, Miroku! Maybe they're being attacked by a youkai!" She ran toward the hut with Kirara who began to transform. Shippo and Miroku followed.

Sango burst through the door of the hut to see Kagome, topless, standing against the far wall gasping. Inuyasha was stalking toward Kagome, her shirt in his hands. Miroku arrived on the scene and quickly shoved Shippo away from the hut's entrance. "Shippo, stay outside. This isn't a sight for children," he said. Shippo whined, but obeyed for the time being.