Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

Inuyasha: age 20 (not including when he was pinned to the tree)

Sango: age 19

Miroku: age 22

Kagome: 18

Souta: age 12

Shippo: age 11

"Means talking"

'Means thinking'

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The smell of fish cooking started drifting through the air. Kagome stood and went in the hut to see if there was anything she could do to help Kaede. Anything it took to get away from Kenta. "Hey, Kaede that sure smells good. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Aye child, would ye tell the others that it is ready?" Kaede asked putting the food onto some dishes.

Kagome nodded then stood and went outside. "it's ready to eat," she said looking at Inuyasha then Shippo and Souta, purposely ignoring Kenta, then she went back in to sit. Miroku and Sango had gone earlier that day to take care of a demon that had been bugging a near by village.

Inuyasha, Souta, and Shippo walked in and sat down in their usual spots and started eating.

Kagome looked at Inuyasha from the corner of her eyes, inhaling his fish. Then a thought came to mind, "Inuyasha, when are we gonna start looking for the jewel shards again?"

"I don't know. Whenever you feel up to it I guess." He answered between bites.

Kagome nodded then saw Kenta walk in and sit down to eat. All the way in she gave him a look so bad that if looks could kill, he'd be dead 9 times over.

Sango and Miroku arrived not long after everyone started eating. "We're back. Why lady Kaede this looks delicious!" Miroku said with a nervous smile. 'Boy you could cut through the air with a knife.' A smile slowly made its way onto his face, as he got an idea. He moved towards Kagome and sat by her.

''pat-pat''

Kagome's eyebrow started to twitch.

""PERVERT""

The room burst out laughing as an angry Kagome rounded on Miroku bringing her hand around with so much force it knocked him out cold. Kaede was even chuckling a bit.

Inuyasha's eyebrow twitched as he fought the urge to knock the monk upside the head too, he was too caught up in his thoughts too notice that Kenta decided to try to act like an angry father.

Kenta got up and went over to Miroku who had mysteriously woken up and started eating his fish. He grabbed Miroku by the front of his robe and punched him square in his nose, blood started trickling down Miroku's face. "Don't you ever touch my daughter again? Do you hear me?!"

The smell of blood shook Inuyasha back into reality. He jumped up and pulled Kenta off Miroku in one quick motion.

"What did you do that for?!" Kagome shouted. "you had no right!"

"He just groped you-" Kenta turned and stood glaring at Kagome.

"That gives you no right to hit him!" Kagome stood up glaring right back.

"I'm your father, I have every right!" Kenta took a step forward.

Inuyasha stepped between Kagome and Kenta, pushing Kagome behind her. "you're not my father, that was lost long ago." Kagome muttered to herself, but Inuyasha still caught it. Kagome stepped around him and walked out the door. He watched after her for a minute wondering what she meant by that.

***

"But why does he have to come with us, Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered fiercely just outside the village. They had decided since Kagome's arm was healling that they would head off in search of the remaining shards. Kenta was still hanging around for some unknown reason and Inuyasha wanted to bring him along. She had successfully avoided him in the village this last week, but it wouldn't be as easy with them all having to stay together. "What if we're in a fight and he decides to turn on us? Or maybe he'll turn on us while we sleep!"

"Because, I don't think we should leave him here by himself. At least with us we can keep an eye on him." Inuyasha said in a loud whisper crossing his arms. Leaving no room for argument.

Kagome 'humphed' in defeat, and looked away.

"What do you have against him anyway?" Inuyasha asked curiosity getting the better of him.

"I just don't trust him." Kagome answered then she turned and walked toward the others.

They'd been walking for a few hours now, Kagome stayed as far from Kenta as she could and ignored him whenever he tlked. She had been in a bad mood ever since they left the village so nobody bothered her as she grumbled about stupid half demons always in charge.

"Kagome?" Shippo asked nervously. When she didn't answer he sighed but decided he'd better not bug her again 'I'd have better chances with Inuyasha at this point.' he jumped on Inuyasha's shoulder, "Hey Inuyasha? When are we gonna stop for the night?"

Inuyasha looked up towards Kagome, 'I wonder if she's ok. She hasn't said anything all day.' Then he looked back at Shippo. "I smell a hot spring ahead a little ways, we'll stop there." Shippo nodded then hopped down and went back to walk with Souta.

They walked a little farther until they were fairly close to the hot spring. They set up camp a little ways off where it wouldn't be too far to walk, but was still far enough away so they wouldn't be spied on by a certain perverted monk. Kagome made enough ramen for everyone but herself. Everyone watched her get up and head towards the hot springs, but they thought nothing of it. That is all of them but Inuyasha, who noticed that she didn't take any of her usual bath supplies.

Once she was beyond sight Inuyasha got up and headed in the same direction. 'Kagome what's wrong with you? You've been quiet for the past week and I'm gonna figure out why.'

AN: so how is the story going? Still good? I hope you guys still like it! And I promised you the meanings of the characters' names so here's a few more

Rin: park

Kagome: basket and"one with pure heart and soul, brave and loyal to ones own people, kind and merciful" (thank you princesskagome88 for finding it for me. )

Inuyasha: dog demon or dog spirit