His breaths came in small bursts as he sat struggling to breathe. Jinenji ran a hand down his face noting he was in his human form. Sweat dripped from his forehead but it was clammy, he didn't feel right.

Looking to Kagome who was still asleep he knew it was still very early. Sumiko, Kuro, and Moroha all slept in a tangled mess of limbs and blankets on their own futon.

Feeling a sharp pain in his head as if he had been struck he brought his hand back to his head breathing out slowly and closing his eyes. Slowly he eased himself back down next to his wife.

Suddenly his body was wracked with a cold feeling that he had never experienced before. Shivering he felt a chill in his bones despite the humidity in the hut.

"You okay?" Kagome asked sleepily.

"I'm not…sure." He replied. "I feel cold but I am sweating. My head hurts." Sitting up Kagome placed her hand to his forehead before feeling his cheeks.

"You have a fever." She frowned feeling his forehead again. "I think you've come down with something."

"Sick? That's new." He stated as Kagome took the blanket off of him. "I need that." Trying to grasp it again she tossed it away.

"You know as well as I do that you can't overheat yourself with a blanket." She said. Standing she lit the brazier for light.

"That was before I knew how cold a fever makes you." Jinenji shivered. Kagome wet a cloth and wrung it out. Kneeling down beside him she wiped his brow gently.

"Don't worry sweetheart. I'll take care of you. Besides, maybe once the day is over you'll feel better tonight." She offered. "And it's only fair since you've taken care of me when I was ill."

"I know you will." He sighed out relenting for a long, unrestful day.

Having been in a fitful doze most of the day he awoke to angry shouting, Kagomes to be exact. Standing quickly he grit against the unsteadiness of his legs and the pain the chills caused him.

"My problem is that your kids an asshole!" She shouted clenching her fists. "He instigated the whole thing and then attacked kids who are smaller than him!"

Rin had gathered the children close where Sesshomaru was as they both watched the situation unfold.

"What is going on?" Jinenji asked calmly.

"I'm looking for Jinenji, the half-breed." The man stated placing his hands across his front.

"I am Jinenji." Staring the man down he watched as he furrowed his brow in confusion before staring back at him. "Why are you here?"

"If what you say is true then I will bring my concern to you. My son, Haru, had a fight with your child. He stated one of the monks children threatened him saying the demon here would attack him." The man said.

"Your son caused injury to my daughter. You have nothing to fear from Sesshomaru. He doesn't attack those weaker than he is…anymore." Jinenji replied. "If it happens again, if your son humiliates and hurts my daughter again then you and I will have words."

"Fine." The man said. "I will make sure he minds himself when it comes to you and yours." Jinenji gave a nod of agreement watching the other walk off.

"That guys gotta lot of nerve coming here." Kagome said loud enough to be heard as he walked away.

"What did he say to you?"

"He came here swinging his 'you know what' around acting like 'the man' demanding he talk to you. When he told me who his kid was that's when I lost my patience. He even tried to provoke Sesshomaru which is why Rin took the kids over to him, to calm him down." She explained.

Rubbing at his aching head he closed his eyes. "No matter where we go, there will always be someone I suppose."

"There's always at least one person that will make your life miserable." Kagome said. "I'm sorry we woke you. Come on. Lets go lie back down sweetie. I'll make you an infusion to help with the fever."

Allowing Kagome to lead him into the hut he was worried about what may happen if the other man returned. If he were feeling better he would have commented on the fact that Rin surrounded Sesshomaru by the little ones to keep him calm.

Currently all he wanted to do was sleep the day away. He felt more tired than he could ever remember as his body ached from the inside out.

Sitting down as Kagome prepared the tea kettle he watched her through the haze of illness. "Thank you."

"No problem husband. It's what I do." She said with a small smile. Lying down Jinenji was eternally grateful for having such a strong wife.