Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Look Both Ways

Chapter 7

The group traveled slowly across the dense forest. Day turned to night and night back into day several times. Meanwhile, Miroku managed to convince Inuyasha that Shippou was not going to hurt him… at least for now. But the two would occasionally regress and Shippou would give him a foreboding look just to remind Inuyasha of his place in the pack.

"So how long is this trip going to take anyways?" questioned Shippou.

"I'm not exactly sure, I do know its in this direction but for how long depends on many things" replied the demon hunter

"Well, I'm starting to get hungry... and I don't think Kagome wants to walk anymore" Shippou lied "her feet hurt"

Inuyasha's ears perked up when he heard that…

"Kagome, do you need a rest?"

"No, what makes you think that?"

"Shippou said so… didn't you hear it?"

Kagome then looked for the kitsune; he was far ahead talking with Sango, too far in fact for her to hear.

"No" she simply replied

"Keh!" Inuyasha didn't believe her, in one smooth motion, he swept the girl off her feet and placed her to his back. "We will all move faster now, and not have to stop just yet"

Kagome let out a small yelp of surprise when Inuyasha picked her up, this caused the rest of the group to turn around and stare at him in disbelief at the familiar mode of transportation for the pair.

"WHAT!!!" was the hanyou's simple, yet irritated reply to their sudden show of interest.

~*~*~*~*~*~

A little while later the group came upon a small village, just a few households large. The group was shocked at what they saw.

"What happened here?!" Shippou stated in surprise

"It looks as if the village has come under some sort of attack… human or youkai, I don't know." said Miroku.

Inuyasha and Kagome caught up at that moment to hear the monk say something about humans or youkai.

"What was that Miroku?" Kagome questioned.

"The village ahead has been attacked" Sango replied

After a few moments Inuyasha came to a sudden realization. "The area smells more like me and Shippou than the rest of you"

"Wow Inuyasha, you seem to be rediscovering your senses quite quickly now" said Kagome

"What do you mean?"

"Well, nobody else can smell like you can, except Shippou, and since your demon origins are dog, you can even smell better than he can. And earlier, when you said Shippou said something and he was up ahead, only you could hear that."

Inuyasha grinned inwardly at Kagome's revelation… his sense of smell was better than some full blooded fox demon lord.

"Of course" he smirked and proceeded to walk ahead towards the village, with Kagome still riding on his back. The rest of the group quickly followed.

Once they were closer to the village they could see the extent of the damage. The small huts were nearly torn apart through the fury of some youkai seeking destruction. The group could also see some of the villagers trying to piece back their homes before nightfall.

"We have to help them" called Kagome to the rest of the group, "They will certainly not be able to sleep with a roof over their heads if we don't."

"Help them? Why should we do that?" the irritated hanyou mumbled, "We don't always have places to sleep; besides we already have another mission that can't wait."

Kagome just gave him an irritated look and turned back towards the others who agreed with her and her suggestion to help these people.

At this point, some of the village children noticed the strangers headed their way, then turned away running when they saw an angry looking demon walking towards them. The parents stopped their working and looked up at the sound of their children's shouting. The men quickly grabbed whatever they had nearby that resembled a weapon while the women and children went to hide in what was left of the structures.

"Who are you and what are you doing here!" shouted a particularly large villager.

"We are travelers who just so happen to be passing through the area" Miroku responded while walking in front of his friends. The villagers noted his monk attire and calmed down a notch or two. "We noticed you were in trouble?"

"Some youkai came through here, looking for who knows what, tore apart our village and now we don't know what we are going to do for food and shelter tonight. There is no way we are going to get this place repaired, especially if the monsters return!"

Kagome got down from Inuyasha's back and stepped forward. "We can help you get your homes fixed before nightfall if you will let us"

The men starred at her in awe. "You would be willing to help us?"

"Of course"

Suddenly realizing they were talking to some demons as well, their guard returned.

"We don't need help from monsters!" another man shouted

"Then just let them help us in helping you"

Looking over the group once more, and looking back at the village, the men knew they were defeated and badly needed help, and so agreed in order to not let their children sleep in the cold.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sango and Miroku started repairing some of the roofs, while Kagome and Inuyasha went to repair walls of some of the more badly damaged buildings. Shippou on the other hand, went to play with some of the younger children that could only get in the way of helping out. Inuyasha grumbled to himself when he spotted the kitsune having fun, but he quickly turned his attentions back to Kagome who was working hard at trying to help these people.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Evening was quickly approaching, and to the villagers delight, their homes were almost fixed, only minor touch ups remained.

Inuyasha had been watching Kagome work for hours, she was tired, she was hungry, but she never complained… his heart went out to the young woman before him who selflessly sacrificed herself for others. His mind even wondered if he could be more like her… to help without complaint.

"Inuyasha, what are these people going to do for food?"

"Why should I know?"

"They probably lost everything in their fight" Kagome said as she lost herself in thought. Inuyasha noted that she was working more slowly now, and was taking more small breaks.

"Kagome, why don't you rest and let me finish up here."

Kagome turned to the hanyou with a warm smile, "Thank you Inuyasha, but you don't have to, I can keep working"

"Keh, its nothing. You humans are weak and I'll work faster by myself anyways"

"Alright then, you can finish up here and I will get dinner started for the village"

"Hey! I'm not taking over your work so you can just go start something else!"

Kagome just gave him another smile and said "Its ok, I have enough food in my backpack, I think, to prepare everyone one meal." as she turned away.

Inuyasha was dumbfounded, she was willing to give up her own food as well… this girl was amazing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Evening had arrived, and everyone was about to stop working and eat when a crash and a female scream was heard. Kagome and Inuyasha both looked up from where they were and shouted "Sango!!" in unison.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sorry about the short chapter, I wrote this one over a longer period of time in hope of me being able to make it longer… but alas, no success. That's just the way its going to be and don't flame me for it! Anyways, you guys are so great!! I never thought I would be so close to 50 reviews after my last chapter (I'm at 49 currently) (even though SOMEBODY cheated a little) But oh well, its so close and so I will cough up my end of the bargain, so its about 1am right now, and I PROMISE to have another chapter out within the next 24 hours (probably a lot less since I usually write in the mornings). Keep on reviewing and I'll keep writing!!

I'm really really tired right now and so I'm going to go to sleep, but I will write the a/n to the reviews in my next chapter that is coming out really really soon

Type to ya then! :D