Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, Kagome, anchorwomen, the well, Rumiko Takahashi, Japan, feudal Japan, influenza, or the pretty pink tutu I saw in Disneyland. I just own this plot.

Bored with mind-numbing sitcoms, fifteen-year-old Kagome Higurashi switched the T.V. channel to news.

"In other news," the anchorwoman was saying, "there's been a recent outbreak of the flu, otherwise known as influenza. Symptoms, as usual, include vomiting, fever, soreness, and weariness. Anyone feeling intense nausea is advised to stay indoors for two to four days, as this is the peak of contagiousness. Disease typically lasts for three to six days, but anyone still experiencing symptoms after a full seven days is recommended to call their doctor. Throwing up blood is a definite sign of infection, and should therefore be treated with-"

Kagome switched off the television with a sigh. There was nothing on, her brother was out playing with his friends, her kasaan was out of town, and Grandpa was getting groceries at his daughter's request. Suddenly, Kagome shot up off the couch. She had an idea.

She ran to her room, threw on her backpack, and darted out the door. She was going to see Inuyasha.

She jumped down the well and felt herself falling through time. Quite abruptly, she sensed an oncoming nausea and nearly gagged. Choking back what she passed off as motion sickness, she got up onto her feet and dusted herself off.

She looked around the bottom of the well before grabbing the vines that led her up and out of it. Climbing out, Kagome peered around in the bright light and smiled. "I'm back," she whispered to the wind.

"About time," came an arrogant voice from behind her. Kagome whirled around to face none other than the haughty half-demon. Her face lit up. "Inuyasha! I've missed you so much, I-"

She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, breathing heavily.

"Well?" Inuyasha demanded. "Are you gonna tell me, or are you just going to- HEY, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" he broke off as Kagome retched convulsively onto the grass at her feet. Inuyasha gaped at her as if she was insane as the spasmodic heaving of her stomach eased, and finally subsided.

"What did you do that for?" he inquired in a high voice. Kagome slowly rose to her feet to glare at him.

"So you think I had any control over-" she growled, but gasped as she was interrupted by a massive, bone quaking tremor running down her spine. "Oh…. S-so cold…." she quivered, shaking. She lay the back of one shivering hand on her clammy forehead; judging by the heat, she was well over the average temperature for a normal human.

"I'm sick," she announced weakly.

Inuyasha growled in irritation. "Get on my back."

"Where are we going, Inuyasha?" she asked, complying.

"To the old hag's house," he said in a flat voice.

"Kaede?" Kagome sounded grateful. "Oh, Inuyasha, thank you…."

"Whatever." He was already bounding through the trees.

In no time, they had reached a house. Inuyasha stopped, and Kagome stepped off his back. They walked inside, the half-demon bracing a wobbling Kagome.

"Kaede?" Kagome called through the empty house, her voice uncertain.

"Yo, hag!" Inuyasha yelled, much less ceremoniously.

There was no reply.

"Feh, she's not at home then," he said dismissively. He walked outside, addressing a random passerby. "Hey you! Where's Kaede?"

The man blinked, slightly surprised. "She left yesterday to tend to some rash that broke out nearby-"

"How nearby?" Inuyasha interrupted, always the polite one.

"Uh, about ten leagues from here."

"Thanks for the help," Inuyasha replied in a less than grateful voice. "Kagome, come on. " He paused. "Kagome?"

The girl was seated against the wall of Kiede's house, moaning and holding her stomach.

"What's your problem?" He stared at her incredulously.

"My…. Stomach," she groaned.

He scowled at her. "Then get on my back, and we'll track down the old hag!"

She grudgingly rose to one foot, wincing from held back nausea. It took her several seconds to hoist herself onto his back into a stable position, but as she finally did, Inuyasha crouched and jumped. About halfway through his jump, he realized that he didn't feel quite as strong as normal. After landing, he had achieved a distance of about two feet total. Looking about the area, Inuyasha tried to detect some interference.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome gasped. "Your hair!"

He let her drop gently to her feet on the ground and snatched up a lock of his silvery hair, only to find that it wasn't silvery. It was onyx.

(A/N): And so the plot thickens. True, this isn't as funny as I led you to believe. In fact, this is probably my least humorous fic. I'll try to upload more soon, but no promises, as always. Feel free to R&R, flame, or whatever you like. It's highly possible I won't read a single review, though. Ja ne! ^^