Hola peoples. I just finished moving, well, we're in the new house. Its still messy and full of boxes and stuff. It really sucks. At least now I have internet access. I hope to finish this story soon. I usually don't keep going for that long on a story. I just have to figure out how to end this one…-Akihanah

Notes to the Reviewers-

Tobias- Aww, thanks. Share the love.

CTHSKI- perhaps, except its not over yet

Disclaimer- I own nothing. I'll tell you when I do.

Shippo

Miroku glanced around his group. They all looked rather happy, content even though they were going to continue to face dangers and trials.

Shippo ran ahead, chasing butterflies, dust, and light. Kagome and Sango watched and laughed. Inuyasha simply rolled his eyes and "keh!" Miroku smiled.

He sensed nothing, no evil or youki, so he relaxed a little, and allowed himself to enjoy the journey.

Yukimari watched the group through a layer of ice on the wall of the cave.

That hanyou, and the miko…they destroyed my home, and almost killed me, so many times. They will pay. They will pay.

She eyes the small mouse in front of her. It stared right back, tiny red eyes glistening through the bars of its ice cage.

Their time will come. Work hard.

Shippo yawned widely. He eyed the others gathered around the fire. Kagome and Sango had just returned from bathing, and were talking animatedly. Miroku stared off into space, obviously annoyed that he had been forcibly kept at the campsite while the girls were washing. Inuyasha looked no less happy, as he had been the one forced to carry out the orders. Kirara had curled up in Sango's lap.

Yup, same old, same old.

Darkness had settled on the land. The stars were out, along with enough moon that it was easy to see.

It's very beautiful here. Kagome has said that humans have made her world much less pretty. It's a shame, to destroy all this.

He drew his attention back the people around the fire, his friends.

All of them pairing off, well, it is a good thing that they are happy together. Though, it will take a lot of work for Sango to get that lech Miroku in hand.

"Heh." She'll just whack him with hiraikotsu. That would work. But how will they ever get along with him being like that, and Sango always being mad?

And I still don't know how Kagome has been accepting Inuyasha. If Kikyo were to show up, then Inuyasha would go to her, the baka. Kagome has always forgiven him though, but it hurts her so much. Baka Inuyasha.

I suppose, that just leaves me alone.

Shippo sighed. Whatever.

"Shippo-chan?"

Kagome watched him, looking a little worried.

"Nothing, Kagome. I was just, uh, thinking."

Um, okay, Shippo-chan." Kagome pulled out her sleeping bag, and set it up.

Shippo looked up and noticed that four other sets of eyes watched him. He reddened instantly.

"Ahhhhh, why are you all staring at me?" Shippo asked.

"Thinking, eh? What of?" came Miroku's reply.

"Nothing, really. Wow, I'm tired, I'm going to bed." With that, Shippo curled into a ball on Kagome's sleeping bag and pretended to sleep.

The rest of the group gave him strange looks, but soon started talking again.

I can't let them be worrying about me when they have their hands full trying to keep their loves working.

Soon he drifted to sleep.

"He's asleep." Inuyasha announced.

"I wonder what he's thinking. He looked sad." Sango sighed. It didn't seem fair for all of them to be happy, but for Shippo to be sad. Usually he was the happy one.

Kagome sighed. "I think he may be worried about what will happen to him."

"Ah. Now that you have Inuyasha, Kagome-sama, he is worrying that he will not have a place. It makes sense." Miroku stated.

"Poor Shippo-chan." Sango added.

"Keh."

"Inuyasha, don't you feel sorry for him?" Kagome asked, accompanied by a glare.

Inuyasha sighed. Of course I do. But, will all this babying really help him? Though, I don't want him to feel like I did. No one should have to go through that, especially not Shippo. I want him to be loved, even by me.

"I have an idea. Come on, Kagome."

Kagome got up and followed, somewhat confused.

Inuyasha stopped by her sleeping bag, and pulled off his haori. The kit curled beneath him did not stir. Kagome just watched, still looking rather confused. Inuyasha dropped to the ground, rolled onto his side, and threw the haori over the kit. He then gazed up at Kagome, eyebrows raised.

Kagome understood. She got into her sleeping bag, leaving the open side to Inuyasha unzipped. She let Shippo lay in her arms, while Inuyasha wrapped the haori around all three of them, and held Kagome and Shippo close.

Sango and Miroku watched, and silently gave approval.

Kagome is like a foster mother to him, and Inuyasha may as well be his father figure, kami help us.

Sango was the next to retire, curling under a blanket near the fire. Miroku soon sat next to her, leaning against a rock, and was fats asleep within minutes. The friends slept peacefully through the night.

Shippo woke inside a strong embrace. He sniffed, and recognized the closest scent as Kagome. He opened his eyes, and saw that arms were holding Kagome. He looked up, and saw to his surprise that Inuyasha had Kagome in one arm, but another arm was wrapped around him.

What the….?

I thought they would have kicked me out of the bed, or slept somewhere else. Why are they here with me? Surely they would have wanted to have time for themselves, to be together.

They wanted to include me.

Shippo smiled, and felt the beginnings of tears forming in his eyes.

I am loved.

"Oi, you awake, runt?"

"Inuyasha?"

"Ohayo. What? Don't go all wimpy and pathetic on us."

Shippo tried to stop the tears, but had little success.

Inuyasha leaned forward and rubbed his forehead against Shippo's, then brushed it with his lips, in a rare gesture of affection.

"Now don't wake up Kagome, or I'll hit you." He said gruffly, but Shippo was in too much shock to comprehend.

Kagome giggled and gazed at Inuyasha. "And if I was awake for a while…?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

"Well, I don't get a good morning kiss?"

"You expect too much."

"Maybe I do." Kagome sighed, and stretched out, rolling her back around to get out the kinks.

She started to pull herself up, only to find that Inuyasha had thrown his legs over hers, and was making it hard for her to get up.

"Mou, Inuyasha…"

Inuyasha leaned forward and kissed her. Then he moved his legs, and got up to wake the others.

Kagome laughed, a smile lighting her face.

"Well, Shippo-chan? Will you help me repack the sleeping bag?"

Shippo was still trying to recover from shock, and was unable to do more than sit in deep thought.

Kagome giggled, and lifted him up, holding him up with one hand while she picked up the sleeping bag with the other. Shippo recovered enough at this that he was able to jump down and aid Kagome enough to get everything repacked.

Wow.

Well, there we are. See y'all next update.