Disclaimer: Still don't have legal rights to the characters...
Leigh saw them stop several feet in front of the village gates and wait. She knew they were waiting for her and she felt the heat of embarrassment creeping up her neck. Leigh also knew long before she got into ear shot that Inuyasah was complaining about how she was slowing them down and how they should just leave her here at the strange village. She also knew that Kagome retaliated to his rudeness by using her command word and slamming him into the ground, the flash of light and cloud of dust were un-mistakable even if you couldn't here the effect.
Panting slightly she reached the group just as Inuyasha pried himself out of the crushed earth. His face was bright red just like his kimono but he said nothing. Instead he sniffed the air and became restless under the cool exterior he tried to maintain.
"What's with you?" Leigh asked watching Inuyasha's darting eyes.
"Nothing I thought I sensed my…" He briskly cut himself off but everyone else picked up on what he was going to say, except Leigh, "Never mind it's not important. What's with you did you get fat or something? What took you so damn long to catch up?" Inuyasha said defensively.
"Do I look like I got fat?" Leigh asked impatiently holding her arms out and twirling on the spot.
"Not from here." Koga said in a muffed voice.
"Okay well then what's the matter with you, are you broken? Because we don't have time for broken people to slow us down you know, we are on a mission!"
"I am not broken and if you'd just shut up and leave me alone I'd be able to figure this out but your so damn egotistical and self-centered you can't let anyone else think for a bloody minute!" Leigh swore letting her temper get the better of her. The frustration came on so quickly she had no time to stamp it back like she normally did. It had to be from the extreme exhaustion she thought, she'd never snap like that normally.
"Leigh are you sure you're alright?" Sango asked concern illuminated in her dark eyes.
"Yah of course… I dunno." Leigh sighed letting her head hang, "I've never been this lethargic in my life! I've always been really active but now it's like every moment I'm awake the energy is being pulled out of me faster than I can breath."
"Feh, you're probably just not used to being in this era and it's a different form of exercise than your silly soccer sports." Inuyasha grunted heading away from the group towards the village.
"She's right you know." Kagome said catching up with Inuyasha, "She's always been the athlete in the family. She's better than me."
"That's not saying much. You're like a slug." Inuyasha quipped.
"Do you want me to pound you through the earth?" Kagome said giving him a knowing look with a smile in her eyes.
"No, I'd much rather stay here with you. But honestly she's probably just not use to this but she'd better acclimate soon or else I'll make flea bag over there carry her."
"Inuyasha…" Miroku butted in hesitantly, "Did you pick up on Sesshomaru's presence back there?"
"Yah I think so. It was so fleeting I can't be sure, but even still he was in such a rush that I don't think he would have stopped to bother with me today."
"Can you be sure he won't be back?" Kagome asked quietly.
"No but I doubt he'll travel all the way back here to deal with me yet. His castle's pretty far from here and unless he's really determined he won't come back. And let's face it Sesshomaru has never been that ambitious about traveling great distances to fight me. He waits till I get close to him to make a move."
"Okay well then I won't suggest we find a different village." Miroku said cheering up, "Now then shall we discuss our plan of action?"
"I don't think the village with look to kindly on two demons entering their community." Sango said looking at Koga and Inuyasha know that there would be an argument erupting any minute.
"You mean one demon and a mutt." Koga stepped up challengingly but keeping a calm face.
"Okay, so before you two alpha's decide to go at it out here in front of the village gate let's just agree that the two none human males aren't going to be able to come in together." Leigh said quickly trying to diffuse the situation before one of them took the other's head off.
There was a long moment of silence as the two canine demons glared at one another. The tension slowly dissipated as Leigh stepped out of their way. Each took their more relaxed and natural stance.
"Why don't you two stay out here in the trees until night fall then you can sneak in to sleep?" Kagome suggested wincing prematurely expecting an explosion from Inuyasha.
"That's actually not a bad idea!" Sango chimed.
"Don't worry Inuyasha I'll make sure no one touches Kagome. Plus I'll save you food if I have to." Shippo said brightly.
"Why you little!" Inuyasha said running after the little demon.
"Oh come on leave him alone he only meant well!" Miroku said laughing as Shippo hid under his robes.
"Fine but next time I will not be locked out like some bad pet." Inuyasha said stalking off.
"Oh boy is he mad!" Sango sighed looking around the group. Koga still stood amidst them looking pleadingly from Kagome to Leigh.
"Do I have to go with the mutt? I mean he's already resigned himself to not joining the group so that leave only one demon for the villagers to except!" Koga said beseechingly.
"I don't think so! If Inuyasha was man enough to go off then so are you!" Leigh said exasperatedly. All she wanted was a hot bath and a soft pallet to sleep on. Maybe some food if it looked good, she mused.
"Fine geez… what crawled up your skirt!" Koga said following the path Inuyasha had taken.
"NOTHING!" Leigh yelled hurling a stone at Koga's head, which dropped 2 feet from her feet.
"Leigh what has gotten into you!" Concern and exasperation seeping into Kagome's voice.
"Nothing I'm just tired alright can we go already?" Walking forward she lead the way, stumbling over her own feet.
A/N: Okay so I got 2 chapters up in 2 days... not a bad come back haha! I'm actually at work and super bored so it's really useful writing. This way I'm so bored with my actual work the creativity of my stories comes in tidal waves! Plus I still look like I'm doing something important by typing away on my computer haha! Sweet! Well I know this is kind of a boring chapter but it's just an interim for the next part, which hopefully I'll post later today!! Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to review if you are inclines I'd really like it!!