A/N: So many chapters in one day! It's a miracle!

Playing Nurse

Kagome was exhausted. The urge to get to Naraku as soon as possible had the group up at the crack of dawn and walking until it was literally too dark for the humans to see anything. The flashlight Kagome had brought from home had died days ago, and they were definitely too far away from the well for her to get new supplies. She sighed and trudged along, daydreaming of a hot spring and her luxurious down comforter at home.

"We should take a break," Koga piped up from behind her. "We've been walking awhile."

"Don't tell me you're tired, you're a demon!" Inuyasha turned with his hands tucked into his haori sleeves. "You're pathetic!"

"You're the one who's pathetic," Koga snarled. "There are others besides demons here, dog-breath! Or are ya too stupid to realize by now that humans need to rest more often than we do?"

"Shut up," Inuyasha growled. "We'll rest later! Naraku's waiting, you know!"

"We could use a small break, Inuyasha," Miroku agreed peacefully. "It's been a long, hot day of traveling, and we're not able to endure as much as you."

"Whatever," he huffed, realizing he'd lost. "Just hurry up, got it?"

Ginta and Hakkaku leaned on Kagome for support as they panted for breath. For demons, Kagome thought to herself, these two are almost as weak as humans! Koga peeled them off of her and tossed them onto their posteriors.

"Get off of Kagome, you whelps."

"But we're tired," Ginta whined. Koga glared, silencing further complaints instantly. They scrambled over the riverbank and lounged in the sun, probably eager for a nap. Sango and Miroku took the children to the river to cool down, watching happily as they splashed and swam in the shallows. Sesshomaru stood watch nearby while Jaken, being his usual self, yelled at Rin for splashing him and getting him wet.

"Thank you for getting Inuyasha to stop," Kagome said, looking away from the others and wiping away the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. "I never imagined it would be so hot today, I thought for sure it would rain when the clouds were out this morning."

"It's hard to predict the weather this far south," he agreed. "It changes often."

"I'll say." She dragged her bag off of the road and slumped to her knees in the cool shade of a tree. "Ahh, this is nice."

Koga slid his armor off and Kagome realized with a blush, that Koga was naked beneath his armor. She tried to look away, but his torso was well-defined and beaded with sweat. Koga caught her staring and grinned.

"See somethin' you like?"

"Sh-Shut up!" She looked away, putting her hands over her eyes for emphasis. "Would you put your armor back on please?"

"No way, it's too hot out!" Koga laughed. "And I like it when you blush. It's cute."

"K-Koga!"

"Hey! Stop harassing Kagome, wolf!" Inuyasha stomped over, Kikyo trailing silently behind him as usual. Koga's smile only grew.

"Did you come to enjoy the view as well, Inuyasha?"

"Wh-What? You... what the hell are you talkin' about!?"

Koga howled with laughter, and even Kagome was hiding a smile at Inuyasha's priceless reaction. Kikyo, however, was unaffected by the humorous scene. She looked straight at Kagome with a disapproving frown.

"It would appear this is where we differ, Kagome."

Inuyasha looked over his shoulder at her. "What're you talking about, Kikyo?"

"It seems Kagome has developed a taste for wolf men," she said monotonously. Kagome gasped, her eyes wide as fury bubbled in her blood and she clenched her fists.

"How dare -"

"Yes, and Inuyasha has a thing for pottery," Koga said, interrupting Kagome and flashing Kikyo a charming smile. "What's your point?"

Without warning, Inuyasha lashed out at the wolf, who quickly dodged and flipped backward away from Kagome. Their usual brawl had turned into something more serious; Inuyasha's eyes were filled with murder. Kagome, frightened for Koga, ran forward and in between the two.

"Stop it," she yelled. "This is no time to fight each other!"

"Kagome, look out!" Koga had stopped as soon as she got near him, but Inuyasha charged once again. Kagome opened her mouth to give her usual subjugation command, but Inuyasha was moving too fast and Koga had already jumped ahead of her to shield her from the crazed half-demon. Blood splattered across her chest and face as Inuyasha's clawed hand shot through Koga's chest and out his back.

"NOO!!" Kagome reached out to catch Koga as he fell back, and before Inuyasha could make another strike, Sesshomaru had him by the nape of his kimono, lifting him into the air.

"Enough," the dog demon ordered. "Inuyasha, you are provoked far too easily."

"Get your hands off me, Sesshomaru!"

Sesshomaru tossed him away, moving his hand to his sword. "I will not permit any more fighting. Go cool off, brother, or continue your fight with me. I will be happy to put you in your place."

"Keh! Pathetic wolf had it coming to him." Inuyasha turned back to Kikyo, and suddenly, Kagome could take no more. She pressed her hands against the gaping hole in Koga's chest, nearly vomiting from the copious amounts of blood that seeped between her fingers.

"Pathetic? The only pathetic one here is you, Inuyasha!" Tears streamed down her cheeks, mixing with the blood on her face. "You're so blinded by your loyalty to Kikyo that you can't even blame her for what just happened! She had no right to say those things about me!"

"You're sticking up for him?" Inuyasha's voice was full of disbelief. "All he does is harass you, Kagome! He doesn't deserve you!"

"Even now, you make excuses! Can you even hear me, Inuyasha? Kikyo started it!"

"Maybe she was right," he said finally. "Maybe you have developed a taste for wolves."

Pain shot through her chest and she stared in hurt shock as her best friend and protector turned his back on her and walked away. Her entire body was shaking, but she wasn't sure if it was rage or heartache. Probably both.

"Don't cry... K-Kagome." She looked down in surprise and noticed Koga smiling up at her. A pained sob escaped her lips, and Koga's smile disappeared. "No... I said to stop c-crying, not to... cry louder," he teased.

"Shut up, stupid..." She sniffed. "Are you in pain?"

"Oh, yeah," he said, wincing as he sat up. He placed a hand over the wound. "You would be too... if you had a hole in your chest."

She didn't laugh. "I feel like I do. I'm so sorry, Koga..."

"For what?"

"I never should have run into the fight..."

"This will heal in a c-couple days," he assured her, reaching up to wipe some of his blood off of her face. "Until then, you're just... going to have to be my nurse."

Kagome's tears didn't stop, but she allowed a small smile to grace her lips. "Okay."

Koga refused to lean on Kagome while they traveled, certain that he was too heavy and would only drag her down. He could still walk well enough, but Kagome didn't want to take any chances. That night, after they had all settled down, Koga chose a nice, comfortable patch of grass to lay on while Kagome redressed his wound. When she finished, Koga sighed, taking her hand into his.

"You're a dream come true, Kagome."

"What do you mean?"

"Your cooking is delicious, you're beautiful, you're the smartest woman I know..." He laughed, rubbing his jaw fondly. "Not to mention you throw a mean punch!"

"Well, thank you," Kagome said, blushing. "And I... I want to thank you for before."

"Before?"

"You know, standing up for me when Kikyo..." she sighed. "You didn't have to do that."

"I didn't?"

"Of course you didn't," Kagome said. Koga flashed her his charming grin once more.

"But every man is supposed to fight for the woman he loves," he said. "It's instinct."

Kagome squeezed his hand tightly. "Thank you."

"Your welcome," he replied. His icy blue eyes pinned her to her spot. "One day, I hope that instead of thanking me, you'll say you love me back."

"One day," Kagome said, "I hope I have the courage to say it."

A/N: Based off the theme "4 a.m. Healing others." I'm not really following the times as you can see.... xD! Thanks, please review!!