Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha
As Inuyasha chased Kagome down the road, the others weren't far behind.
"Give it back!" demanded Inuyasha as he ran after the youngster.
"You have to catch me first!" she called back. Just as Inuyasha was about to pick her up, she took a sharp turn around a tree. Inuyasha continued to chase her around the tree for several minutes before he came up with a plan. When Kagome couldn't hear the half-demon chasing her anymore, she decided to sit down against the tree.
"Gotcha!" called Inuyasha as he jumped down from a high branch and landed in front of the youngster. "Now give it back!" he demanded. When Kagome realized she couldn't run now, she gently slapped his nose again.
"There ya' go." she said happily. Inuyasha rubbed his nose and sniffed the air.
"How'd you do that?" he asked curiously. Kagome just laughed as the rest of the group approached. When Inuyasha stood and faced them he saw that they started to giggle. "What's so funny?" he asked. Shippo pointed at Kagome, who was mimicking Inuyasha. "Stop it!" Inuyasha demanded to her, but only got the same words from her.
"Seems she likes you." said Miroku with a smile.
"Well I don't like her." said Inuyasha turning his back on the child. He immediately turned around again to her when he smelled tears.
"You don't like me?" asked Kagome starting to cry. Inuyasha felt guilty now for he didn't mean to make her cry.
"Kago-" he tried to speak, but was stopped when the child started to cry and whine.
"Inuyasha?" called Sango angrily.
"I didn't mean it!" he snarled at her.
"Then apologize!" she snarled back. Inuyasha kneeled down next to Kagome and tried to talk to her.
"Kagome, I'm sorry! I like you!" he said. She started to calm down and dried her tears.
"Really?" she asked.
"Uh…" Inuyasha hesitated, but didn't have to answer for Kagome gave him a tight hug around his neck.
--
They waited in Inuyasha's home for Miroku and Shippo to return. When the door finally slid open, the monk and little fox entered. Shippo was carrying a bundle of dark blue robes, and Miroku a scroll. Shippo handed Sango the robes, and she took Kagome into another room to help her get dressed, while Miroku unrolled the scroll and placed it on the floor to reveal a large, old map.
"Kaede, said the House of the Doomed should be here." said the monk pointing to a freshly marked X on the map.
"Good, we'll leave tomorrow." stated Inuyasha. "How long should it take?"
"Kaede said it's normally a three day trip by foot." said Miroku. Just then, Sango stepped back in the room and sat down next to Miroku, followed by Kagome dressed in her new robes.
"Looks better." stated Inuyasha with a smile as she sat down next to Sango.
"Thanks." she replied.
--
That night they all found a comfortable place in Inuyasha's home and tried to sleep for the night. After about an hour, Kagome jumped up from her bed made from her old clothes. She looked around her, as she stood and walked over to Inuyasha who was leaning against the wall, snoring.
"Doggy man?" she said softly as she tugged on his sleeve. When he finally awoke, he glanced around and saw the child staring at him.
"Kagome?" he yawned. "What is it?"
"I had a nightmare." she stated.
"So, I have them all the time." he replied. (Needless to say…this didn't help) "Just try to go back to sleep."
"But, what if a monster comes to get me?" she asked with fear in her voice. 'Doggy man' thought for a moment.
"That ain't gonna happen as long as I'm here okay." he assured her. "Now just try to get some sleep, we've got a lot to do in the morning."
He closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep again. He heard her walk back to her 'bed' and back again. He opened his eyes and watched her as she sat down next him, pulled his arm over her, and was fast asleep again. He sighed and closed his eyes.
Sango, who was watching from across the room, smiled at the site and went back to sleep.
