Start Time: 3:21 PM, February 9. 2008

Kagome awoke late. She was obviously more tired then she thought she was. Kaede was not in the hut and a kimono was laid out for Kagome, along with everything that went with it. The kimono was beautiful. It was a pale green with sakura blossoms around the bottom and up the edge of the fabric. The sleeves were short and had the same sakura design. It was pretty, to say the least. Kagome changed into the kimono and folded her clothing, stashing it with her other stuff. Kagome grabbed her perfume and sprayed her new kimono.

"Kagome," Kaede said as she entered the hut. "Ye must go. Go collect herbs or something."

"But Kaede... why?" Kagome blinked in confusion as she pulled her hair into a bun, holding it with a hair band, but placing chopsticks in it, to make it look like the chopsticks were holding it up.

"Inuyasha is coming. I do not know if he will smell you or not, so if he does, you need to be gone," Kaede quietly, almost whispering. "And call me Kaede-sensie when others are around, so people think that I am your teacher."

"Ay, Kaede-sensie," Kagome bowed respectfully and grabbed a basket, heading out the door, back first as she was waving to Kaede. As she left, she turned around, and ran straight into a wall of dark blue and purple. Miroku.

"Pardon me," Miroku said, stepping back. "I did not know you were coming out."

Play it cool. Don't be Kagome. "I-I am the one who should apologize. I should have been watch. I'm sorry," Kagome said, and bowed her head respectfully, keeping her head down, looking at their feet. Miroku and Sango's feet were all she saw. Kirara was seen as well. Where was Shippou and Inuyasha?

"Excuse me, but is Kaede in? Last we heard, she was out collecting herbs," Sango spoke.

"Kaede-sensie is in," Kagome replied, her voice a little sweeter then she normally spoke, sounding a tad bit younger. "I am the one collecting herbs."

"Sensie?" Miroku sounded puzzled. "I did not know she took on students."

"Keh, what do we care for her," Kagome's head turned in the sound of the voice. Inuyasha was coming, Shippou on his shoulder. And her backpack on his shoulder. "Kaede can take student is she wants, but we aren't here to discuss that, are we?"

"Be kind, Inuyasha," Sango snapped then turned to Kagome. "Please forgive him. He's not the kindest person around. I'm Sango. This is Miroku, Kirara, Shippou, and Inuyasha."

"G-good day. Nice to meet you all," Kagome stammered, taking a step back. 'I should try out for the drama club back home. I'm good.' Kagome found herself thinking. "but I must get going. I've... I've gotta get the herbs." Kagome kept sending nervous glances in Inuyasha and Shippous direction. Sango noticed this.

"You don't have to worry about them. They aren't evil," Sango said, a tint of worry on her voice.

"Keh, I ain't gonna hurt ya," Inuyasha scoffed and stepped closer.

'No... what if he can smell me? He can't come near. Umm... I know!' Kagome stared at Inuyasha, her eyes wide and fearful. "Stay back, demon!" Kagome sung her basket in a feeble, and she knew, useless attempt to keep Inuyasha back. If he wanted to hurt her or get near, he could do it, she knew this.

"I'm only half-demon!" Inuyasha shot back.

Kagome stepped back yet again. When she spoke, her voice was fearful. "I don't care what you are. You keep away from me! Demons are monsters! All of them!" with that, Kagome turned and ran as fast as she could into Inuyasha Forest, 'fleeing' from Inuayasha. She hoped she was convincing and that they wouldn't follow.

"Come on," Miroku said and stepped into Kaede's hut, not wanting to draw any attention. Sango nodded and followed, along with everyone else.

"What was that I heard?" Kaede asked, looking at the group. "I've never heard her sound so scared before."

"I didn't do anything, Hag!" Inuyasha snapped while Shippou jumped off of Inuyasha's shoulder and over to Kaede.

"She said I was evil!" he wailed. A faint "baby" could be heard muttered from Inuyasha's direction.

"I never said it was something ye did, Inuyasha. I merely asked what happened. I've never seen her like that. I did not know she feared demons. I will have to ask her about that," Kaede murmued. "Now, what brings ye back."

"We can't find the jewel shards without Kagome," Sango started, seeming to choke on Kagome's name, but she continued as strong as she'd started, "so we need you to tell us where to find Kikyou. If you know where she is."

"Ah. Sadly, I do not know the where abouts of my sister. Can Inuyasha not find her?" Kaede turned to said hanyou, who laid his ears back.

"No! I haven't caught a scent at all. The only thing I smell is..." Inuyasha didn't finish but instead got up and swiftly left.

"All he smells is Kagome's blood, on the battle field. We can hear him... whimpering about it at night. He's completely torn apart," Sango sighed sadly. "None of us know what to do."

"There is nothing ye can do. This is the second time he has lost someone to death, and not just any death, but death by Naraku. He will deal with this pain, but this time, unlike last, he has friends to help him through it. Just don't leave him," Kaede said.

Kagome sighed as she bent down to examine the herbs, grabbing ones that looked good. She also grabbed some that she didn't know, hoping Kaede could teach her what each herb was used for. Maybe she could find some herbs that would help cuts. Looking around, Kagome sighed. She knew some of these herbs but most were new to her. Which ones should she get?

"Go away!" A new voice ripped through the air. The voice was of a young girl. She sounded younger then Rin. Kagome stood quickly and ran towards the voice.

A little girl was cornered at the Goshiboku, two wolves cornering her. These wolves weren't Kouga's though. They were... different. Not really wolfish.

"Get away from her!" Kagome screamed, throwing a rock that was at her feet. It hit one wolf square in the side of the head and made it whirl around and growl at her. Kagome braced herself. Kagome looked behind her. A tree was to her back. Perfect. The wolf growled and ran at her, jumping. Kagome's eyes narrowed and she knelled down, closer to the ground and to give herself more leverage. She was going to have to be fast. As the wolf nearer her in air, Kagome valted to the side, rolling when she landed so she didn't break anything. A sicking snap was heard as the wolf ran head first into the tree, snapping its neck.

Kagome had landed on her back when she's finished her roll and the second wolf came charging. Kagome grabbed a big stick that was next to her and as the wolf came down on her, she put it in front of her and the wolf got a mouthful of bark. The wolf struggled to get her and Kagome brought her legs up and planted them on the wolves belly. With as much strength as she could muster, she kicked with both legs, sending the wolf a few ways back.

The wolf shook it's big head and turned from Kagome, back to the little girl. Kagome saw this and climbing onto one of the Goshiboku's giant roots and flung herself off, onto the wolf that jumped at the girl. She slammed into the wolf, one of it's claws cutting her across the face. Both human and wolf rolled in confusion, but Kagome recovered more quickly, as she had been expecting this and she stood, placing herself between the girl and the wolf.

"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" The call came through the forest, and the claws cut through the wolf. Inuyasha stood, the dead wolf at his feet, staring at Kagome. Kagome returned the stare. Inuyasha was the first to break the stare as his eyes turned towards the wolf that Kagome killed. "... you killed one." He said it, but Kagome knew him well enough to know it was a question.

"Y-yes," Kagome nodded, never taking her eyes off of Inuyasha. She had to pretend not to trust him.

"You? All on your own? The person who can't even talk to a half-demon politely, can kill a wolf without hesitation?" Inuyasha growled low in his chest. Kagome knew she'd hurt him. She was acting like those people she hated so much, but she couldn't act like herself, Inuyasha would know it was her. Inuyasha eyed her. "You do realize that you got cut..."

"I know," Kagome whispered, but she knew he would hear. His ears heard everything. "but wolves did not murder my whole villages, demons did." Kagome turned swiftly from him, surprising herself at how hurt she sounded. She was putting all the anguish she felt when he went to see Kikyou into her words. She looked down at the little girl and gave a smile. "It's alright. The wolves are gone now." Kagome got down on her knees and held her hand out to the girl, but the girl seemed to hold no interesting in Kagome's hand. She ran straight past Kagome's hand and flung her small arms around Kagome's neck, cuddling against Kagome and crying. To Inuyasha's amazement, Kagome didn't hesitate at all to wrap her arms around the small child, returning the embarrass.

"Why do you do that?" Inuyasha muttered.

"Do what?" Kagome asked, hoisting the child up as she stood, so she was bracing the little girl on her hip, arms still around her.

"Comfort, hug," Inuyasha shook his head. "Why do you do that gesture."

Kagome shook her head, not bothering to answer. "It's just a human thing." was all she said to his question, turning to go back to the village with the little girl.

"That's the thanks I get for saving you!?" Inuyasha yelled after her.

Kagome stopped walking. She was suppose to be afraid of demons, not rude. "Thank you, Inuyasha-sama I believe the women said that was your name. I do appreciate your help, though I do not act it."

Inuyasha was stunned. Inuyasha-sama­?! What the HELL? No one, at all, ever used that term to him. But he quickly got over his shock to say, "Keh. I'll walk ya to the village. That way you won't have to worry about demons." his eyes flicked to the little girl, then he walked past Kagome, leading the way to the village.

So, her scent was hidden from him, as he would have said something if he recognized her scent. Kagome smiled warmly at his back before following after, hauling the girl with, who had fallen asleep a few minutes ago.

End Time: 1:40 AM, February 10, 2008

Yes, I'm still up and typing, as I can't sleep. My brother and he's best friend are in his room and playing Guitar Hero... loudly. And I have abnormally good hearing, so I can hear the damn notes and their messing up! I fell like marching down there and showing them how it's done! But alas, I'd rather stay up here. Not to mention the neighbors aren't helping either...