Inuyasha was stunned. He hadn't expected this.

"W-Why?" He stuttered.

Kagome remained silent. Then some words quietly escaped her lips. "Please… Inuyasha…"

His eyes were wide with surprise, moving none, focusing on her face, filled with something like sadness. Her eyes pleaded to him. He didn't know what to say. Looking more deeply into her brown eyes, he made his decision.

"Okay…. Well… get on."

Slowly and gently Kagome got onto Inuyasha's back in her usual place, braced her knees carefully against his waist, and wrapped her arms around his neck laying her head on his shoulder. Warmth spread through him, and he could feel her breathing lightly onto his shoulder. Her scent filled his nose, the unique smell of her soft skin. He blushed slightly, her head being so close to his, but Kagome wouldn't know this. Her eyes were closed peacefully. Gently, he held her legs closer to him, making sure that he didn't lose grasp of them. They set off into the warm summer afternoon.

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After Kagome and Inuyasha had left the camp, Sango told Shippo and Miroku that they would be back later. Shippo asked what was going on, and Sango replied that she knew no more than he did.

Miroku moved toward the tent door.

"Where are you going?" asked Sango.

"I think I'll go to the nearest village. You know, to have a look around, see if they need any exorcisms." Miroku stated elusively. But Sango knew what 'going to the village' meant for the monk when he went alone.

Sango smiled brightly, "Oh! That sounds like a fantastic idea. I think I'll come with you. You know, to help." As she said this, Miroku saw something in her eyes. Something that said 'Try your little plan and I'll see to it you never have children'.

Miroku instantly pictured Sango drawing her hidden knife and walking towards him. He swallowed hard. He decided to try the act of a gentlemen and see if that would work, though the odds were against him.

"My dear Sango, don't worry. I'm sure I'll be fine on my own. Do not trouble yourself to help me."

"It's no trouble! Also, we can talk to people to see if they've heard anything about Naraku. I wouldn't mind getting a cup of sake while I'm there either.

Miroku bit his lip. She wasn't going to take no for answer. He decided to use another tactic.

"What about dear Shippo? What about it Shippo, wouldn't you be lonely? Wouldn't you much rather have Sango stay here and play with you?"

"No, I'll be fine all by myself! You guys go on. I'll stay here with Kirara!"

Miroku almost glared at the small kitsune for not helping in his time of need. His silent pleas for help were obviously too quiet for the fox to notice.

"Are you positive?" Miroku asked with his teeth clenched together, sending silent signals, hoping that the fox would realize what he wanted.

"Oh yes, I'm sure. I'll be fine by myself!" Shippo grinned, wanting to seem grown up. Alas, he had yet again missed Miroku's subtle pleas.

"Alright! Let's go then!" Sango said brightly, an almost malicious smile appearing on her face.

Sango was the first one out of the tent. She silently celebrated her triumph. Miroku soon joined her and they headed down the hill toward the village.

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The trip so far had been rather silent, each too involved in their thoughts. Kagome's mind was worried that Inuyasha might be angry with her, if he minded going to his village, she cared for him, and was worried that his village would bring bad memories.

Inuyasha's mind was focused on a similar subject. 'Why does she want to see my old village? All that is left are ruins and bad memories. What does she have planned? She already knows that my mother wasn't buried. They just disposed of her body. Burned it. They didn't give a shit what happened to her. They were happy to see her dead. They thought she was worthless. A woman who married a demon and none the less, had borne a half demon.'

Kagome drifted off into a light doze on Inuyasha's back. She had been too warm and comfortable. Inuyasha let her stay that way. She simply looked too peaceful. Her face was relaxed into a small smile and her breathing was regular. A few strands of her hair had fallen onto her face and were lifted up and down by the breaths she took and exhaled.

The terrain did not vary much. They went through open meadows of green grass, and through pastures with trees, occasionally passing around a village. They did not go through the clusters of huts, for if Inuyasha did, the villagers would think that he had captured the strangely dressed miko.

It was late afternoon when they arrived to the ruins of his old village. The whole trip had been about 40 kilometers (that's about 25 miles to us Americans). It hadn't been a long trip, only about an hour or so. Kagome was still dozing, so Inuyasha nudged her gently to awake her. She didn't stir. Inuyasha nudged her again. Apparently her doze had turned into a sleep. He moved her from his back to where he was holding her in his arms and said, "Common Kagome. We're here."

She smiled in her sleep.

He set her down on the ground.

'Damn!' He thought. 'She's one heavy sleeper.'

Kagome felt something nudging her.

Poke poke poke.

The pokes came in sets of threes. She ignored it and tried to sleep.

Poke poke poke.

"Ughhhh… stop ittttt. Just one more minute…" she mumbled still half asleep. She tried to roll over in her sleep.

Inuyasha was starting to get impatient. He lacked that virtue.

Carefully, Inuyasha set Kagome down on the ground. She was one heavy sleeper. 'What in the hell can I do to get this girl to wake up?! It was her idea anywa-' His thoughts were broken by a sudden idea. He smirked.

Slowly, he moved closer to her face. Closer and closer he got…

Kagome woke with a start. Her face was… wet? Strangely, it was just one spot on her cheek, a strip of wetness. She sat up to observe her surroundings.

The last thing she could remember was riding on Inuyasha's back. Then she remembered having eventually closed her eyes tiredly.

Recently, they had been extra busy on the search for the jewel shards, so they hadn't rested much. Being so comfortable, she had let sleep take her over. Quickly she looked around for Inuyasha, hoping something hadn't happened to him. Kagome let out a sigh of relief as she saw him a bit to the side of her. He was… smirking? And… and his tongue was stuck a little out of his mouth. She felt the wet spot on her face. Then she looked back up at Inuyasha

Feel.

Look.

Feel.

Look.

INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The yell rang throughout the nearby forest and made some birds take off in flight.

"SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Kagome was angry. Surely he could've thought of some other way to wake her up! She crossed her arms and turned her back to the hanyou who was currently in a pit.

All the breath she had left her at the sight before her.

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Sango and Miroku walked down the hill, keeping a somewhat steady conversation. They talked about Kagome and Inuyasha, wondering where in the world they had gotten to.

"What could they possibly be doing," Sango wondered aloud.

"Well," Miroku started slyly, "I know what they could be doing that would cheer Inuyasha up-"

WHAM!! Sango's hiraikotsu collided with Miroku's head. The monk staggered, and almost fell. He put a hand to his head feeling the large lump which had formed. For a few moments he staggered along dizzily.

"Well that's what you get for-"

Her sentence was interrupted by Miroku stumbling along, tripping, then falling on his face. Sango's anger was ebbing away every moment as laughter rose into her voice.

Soon they reached the village with Sango helping Miroku up several times. When they reached the village, Sango dragged Miroku to the line of outside shops selling many items. Apparently the village they were nearby was not all that small. Many people were calling to them to approach their shops. The road was crowded with many, many people.

Sango spotted a weapon shop and hurried off to look at it. There were some katanas that looked quite well made and caught her eye. She wouldn't mind getting a few things repaired, or perhaps just a few new weapons. Technology these days was improving…

Ignoring Miroku, she worked her way through the crowd to the shop.

However, Miroku saw this as his chance and quietly but quickly squeezed through the crowd. Eventually, he blended in, and was lost from sight.

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Shippo sucked on a chocolate Pocky stick that he had gotten out of Kagome's backpack. Kirara was curled up into a little furry ball in a corner of the tent. Shippo was just bored out of his mind. So he decided to try to wake Kirara up.

"Hey Kirara, wanna play?"

The demon cat opened one eye, and closed it again.

"I said, 'do you want to play with me?'"

This time, the cat swiped at Shippo with a claw. Shippo got the message.

Shippo dejectedly felt his face which now had three red lines. No blood came, but it was still there, and stinging. He had forgotten how touchy Kirara could get. And although she was a demon, Kirara was also a cat, and cats did not like to be woken up from their naps.

Slowly and sadly the kitsune walked out of the tent into the forest.

"Well, what should I do first?" Shippo asked to himself aloud.

"I do have my foxfire… but I don't really feel like training…"

He looked himself over. 'Small…' was what first came to his mind. He quickly pushed it away. He could take care of himself no matter what size he was. Then he remembered that he had left his pouch of toys on the night before.

"Well, I might as well go exploring!"

Out came his toy horse. After a puff of smoke, he hopped on. Into the forest he rode, weaving his way through the trees.

Shippo started to get bored after a while, so he decided to start singing a song that Kagome had taught him. But, he modified the words.

"99 Inuyashas on a wall, 99 Inuyashas" He started singing softly to himself.

"Sit one down, into the ground, 98 Inuyashas on a wall!" He laughed at his own playful joke.

Lately Shippo had been feeling a bit pressured by Inuyasha's strength to get training. His whole technique had improved a lot. Occasionally, after Shippo defeated his first demon, Inuyasha would pitch in and give a few pointers, though not at all in a kind way.

Flashback

"What do you think you're doing kid?!" Inuyasha yelled.

"I'm TRAINING!" Shippo snapped back.

"NO NO NO! You're doing it all wrong!"

Inuyasha picked up one of the toys. At first Shippo was about to stop him, but then on a second thought, he let Inuyasha go ahead.

THWAM!

Inuyasha found himself pinned to the ground by a statue with a sealing piece of parchment on it.

"Still think I'm doing it all wrong?" Shippo smirked, then walked off.

"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING RUNT?!" But the fox pretended to not hear him, and smirked evilly at the thought of Inuyasha being stuck there for the rest of the night.

End of Flashback

Shippo had been busy reminiscing over that memory, when his wooden horse stopped. He looked down at the horse, wondering why it had stopped without his command. Then he looked up.

His eyes flew open with fright at the demon in front of him.

End of Chapter

Hope you like it, as always. You get a pocky stick if you review! (I think they're good. Chocolate covered [or other flavors biscuit sticks in a way.)

RisingXXAngel