Disclaimer: Own Inuyasha? You betcha'!

WhOO!! Only a couple of days and already twelve reviews! ...This rawks.

Thank you to all who had the interest to click the lovely "submit a review" button.  ...I just got home and I'm

pretty wiped, but no there's better exercise than a brain storm. ...I think.

...Anycrap, on with the story!

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Chapter Two: An ominous mission briefing.

"AHHHH HAAAAHAAA!! Saaango-chaaan! Get it out! Get it oooout!!!"

...Shippou sat teary-eyed on the floor of Kaede's hut, whimpering and pleading to Sango. The youkai-hunter looked up and immediately hurried over. ...She bent over the tiny kitsune.

"Hold still, Shippou! I can't do a thing if you keep on squirming... Try not to move it..."

She picked up Shippou's dainty foot as he sat there...sniffling and rubbing tears away from his eyes. She inspected the damage to his little paw. ...An inch long twig protruded out from the tender pad.

She shook her head and sighed. "...Shippou... how many times have I told you not to go and burrow in the oni-berry bushes?!  Even Inuyasha's feet can't take the abuse!" She scolded.

Shippou said nothing. He only continued to cry.

...Sango patted him on the head and whispered soothingly, trying her best to calm him down. ..The little fox youkai began to sniffle. He hiccupped once or twice.  

...Without any warning, Sango wrapped her fingernails around the twig and gave it a good, hard yank.

...

"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! IT HURRRTS! IT HURTS!!!!" He shrieked and wailed at the sudden pain and latched onto his foot, rocking back and forth.

"Shippou!! Calm down!" Sango tried to silence him. She looked around the room frantically. "...Here! Look what I have for the pain!" She held up a glass cup filled with a clear liquid. Shippou kept shrieking but looked up at her, tears flowing freely down his face.

"It's... um... Kaede's special healing tonic!  ...I knew I would need it."  She held out the cup to Shippou.  "...Here... Just dip your foot in..."

His shriek softened to a sob as he obeyed. "...*sniffle*  Feels... good... *sniffle*..."

"Just keep it in for a minute...The pain will disappear." Shippou swished his foot around in the liquid, tears vanishing a second later. "...Hey... It tingles..." He pulled it out and shook it dry, then tested his weight on the invalid leg. He was completely overjoyed to find it pain-free.

"It worked!!"  A giant grin covered his face as he jumped on Sango for a quick squeeze,  jumped around the room for a second,  then ran out the door to continue his mischief-making. "...Stay away from those weeds!!" Sango called loudly after him.

...

"...You work well with kids... Sango." A soft male voice spoke out from behind her. She froze.

Sango turned around to find Miroku standing at the entrance of the doorway. "...Miroku..." She said. Her eyes flashed angrily for a second.  "Don't you sneak up on me like that!"

Miroku said nothing.  "I'm surprised you managed to tame Shippou..." He walked closer to her. "...That kitsune has the most powerful set of lungs I've ever seen."

She glanced down in false modesty. "...It's nothing, really. ...The pain was all in his head... I'm just a good actress..."

...Miroku took a step closer. ...He was unusually quiet... Sango felt his eyes staring at her. She turned an almost unnoticeable shade of pink and looked down to the floor. ...He gave her his patented Miroku Heart-Melting smile™. She glanced up quickly to see his clearly attracting gaze never wavering from her face...

...Miroku...why... Why's he staring at me this way..?! He's never done this before... The usually confident Sango felt timidness washing over her body like a warm flush of water... Her eyes looked away again.

"...Don't be so modest, Sango!  ...Surely, you must know how incredibly talented you are..." He reached out and tilted her chin upward towards him. He took another step closer.

So... Maybe... Miroku-kun likes me..? No...he couldn't...could he..?

"...And kind... ...and strong..." he paused. "...And how beautiful..."

Sango felt the flush rise up from her chest at his honeyed words, eyes growing wide and sparkly. She was completely at loss for words. ...Miroku wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, eyes never moving... he smiled shyly.

"...Sango...I..."

"Miroku..." She lay her head down on his chest.  ...Could this really be happening?  I... think I'm dreaming...   Miroku rested his chin on her head,

~Suddenly~

...*rub rub rub rub*

Sango glanced down to see Miroku's hand groping her butt.

...*sweatdrops*

...

...

**CLOBBER!**

Miroku fell to the floor, stars shining in his eyes and a nice lump forming on his head. ...She held up her solid fist.

His eyes glazed. "...At...least... give me some healing tonic...for my broken heart...."

Sango glared and him and poured the remainder of the liquid in the glass over his head. She scoffed.

"...Healing tonic?! What healing tonic?" ...She tossed the glass onto the floor, next to his head.

"...That was water."

...She stomped out of the room, off to go find Kaede. Miroku lay gasping on the floor.

"...She... could... definitely... bear my child..." His eyelids fluttered and his head sank to the ground.

* * * * * * * *

*THUD*

Kagome's yellow camping bag landed heavily as she tossed it over the side of the well wall and pulled herself up. "Ugnh!"

Inuyasha was waiting for her with arms crossed. "Well...What took you so long?" He noticed the yellow bag just as Kagome was swinging herself over. "...Eh? What's that?" He picked up the bag and sniffed it. ...Kagome stepped up to him, took the heavy bag out of his hands and strapped it to her back. "It's nothing. ...Just a few things I thought you guys might like..."

Inuyasha suddenly looked hopeful. As Kagome was turned around, adjusting the straps to fit her back, he took a sly step behind her and reached out slowly for it's plastic clasp.

...Mmmm...I smell Ramen... He sniffed again, almost drooling... She must've remembered I liked it... He undid the clasp with the greatest of ease.

Kagome's eyes glanced back, then rolled.

"...Osuwari."

Inuyasha smacked to floor.

"BAKA!! What the hell was that for?!" Inuyasha looked absolutely livid. Kagome turned around and gave him an annoyed look. "You are not to touch the food until I cook it. ...And besides... It's for everybody." ...She waited for him to get up, and then began walking towards the hut. He pounced angrily and caught up to her

"Feh! Your cooking sucks anyway..." He gave her the cold shoulder, bitter about the sitting. Kagome looked over at him. She smirked softly, knowing full well what Inuyasha thought of her cooking. A tiny twinge of guilt pinched her when she saw his angry and slightly miffed expression. She reached into her pocket.

"Here," She held out a foil wrapped package at him. "I brought this for you. ...Until dinnertime..." He looked at her, still miffed, but then took the package out of curiosity and sniffed it.

"What is it..?" He said as he unwrapped the foil. Kagome almost laughed at his wide-eyed expression as he sampled a bit of the foreign substance.

"It's called chocolate." she explained. "...That one's white chocolate, though. I like it better than the dark, milk-chocolate kind." ...Inuyasha completely unwrapped the bar, letting the foil fall to the ground, and proceeded to shove it in it's entirety in his mouth.  ...He momentarily closed his eyes as he savored the sweet, warm, melting feeling on his tongue. ...His face was plastered with a dreamy half-smile.

...Kagome observed his changing expression. ...Ohh...How kawaii... He really does look like a puppy when he closes his eyes like that...

Inuyasha gulped the melted mass down, then began to lick his fingers in an effort to clear away any leftover white chocolate.

"...Any good?" Kagome asked him nonchalantly.  Inuyasha stretched his arms behind his head and hid his contentment behind his usual expression.

"...It was okay. ...I forgive you. ...For now."

...Kagome raised an eyebrow. ...Wait a minute... YOU, forgive ME? ...She opened her mouth to say something snarky, but stopped when she saw that the tiny half-smile had returned to his face. She stayed quiet, deciding not to ruin his post-chocolate bliss.

...Kaede's hut soon came into view from the top of a small knoll. Kagome quickened her pace slightly and hurried to the front door. ...The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I get to go home and study. Inuyasha walked ahead of her and opened the door.

"...Kaede-sama! We're here!" Kagome announced as she walked in. The old miko wasn't anywhere in sight.

Inuyasha headed over to the door on the other side of the room. Kagome set down her pack and followed him, assuming she would be in the back.

"Oomph!" A sound came from below them as he walked over. Inuyasha ignored Miroku, so still lay sprawled on the floor. "...Did you hear something?" asked Kagome.

Inuyasha gave an innocent look and stepped backwards...

"Ungh!" It came again.

"...Nope... Not a thing." he said. Kagome shrugged and walked towards the back. Inuyasha followed, making sure to put an extra spring in his step as he walked off the fallen priest and left the room.

...

...Miroku lay covered with footprints... He sniffled...

"...Why... doesn't anyone love me...?

...

(A/N: Haha... I love Miroku...but doesn't he make the cutest victim..?^^ )

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...The sweet smell of incense filled the air as Kagome and Inuyasha walked into Kaede's workshop. The old woman was working laboriously on an unknown potion, hustling back and forth, cutting and distilling herbs and stirring a few boiling pots. Clay bottles and jars were strewn all about the place, even completely covering the surface of one table. ...She appeared to give no notice to the hanyou and Shikon detector who had just walked in.

"...Kaede-baachan..." Kagome spoke up in an attempt to get her attention. She wasn't expecting much of a reaction, judging by the way she stared into her brews. Inuyasha walked over and breezed past her airily... "...It seems your age is catching up with you, Kaede-baba," he casually insulted. He jumped onto a floor cushion and reached for some nearby tea.

Kagome stood around for a few minutes, looking this way and that, when Kaede wiped her hands on her apron and turned around.

"My apologies... This potion needed undistracted supervision." Kaede walked over to where Inuyasha was sitting. "And as for you..." She bent over. Inuyasha looked up at her from his cup with an apathetic eye.

"...That is not tea."

Inuyasha looked at her wide-eyed. *PTTTTPH!!!* He spit out every last drop of the liquid, then tried to hack up his lungs, desperately trying to get rid of whatever he just swallowed.

Kaede gave him a wry look and proceeded to pull up a cushion. Kagome walked over and joined them.

"Kaede-sama... what are all these brews and potions for? Has there been some great need for your healing powers?" She asked curiously. Never before had she seen Kaede work so diligently and as it appeared, for so long.

Kaede waved her hand in the air breezily, waving it off. "...It is nothing. ...Merely amusements and preparations for the New Moon Festival. Firework powder...novelty love potions... new soups and the like..." She reached for a kettle hidden underneath as pile of scrolls and poured herself a cup of real tea.

Her words peaked Kagome's interest. "...A Moon Festival...? What is that?"

Kaede nodded. "...Yes... The New Moon Festival.  It's an annual village festival which takes place on the last new moon of the year. It is always great enjoyment..."

Inuyasha reached for the tea and scoffed. "Feh! ...I always hated those things. Anyone who enjoys such a cheesy display of dancing and festivities deserves to be smacked."

Kagome looked at him scornfully. "...And just why would that be? It is because it happens to fall on your special day..?" Inuyasha growled.

"Shut up."

Kaede sighed and change the subject to the one at hand. "Enough. ...There are more pressing matters." She placed her teacup down. Kagome's thoughts reflected back to Inuyasha's earlier words concerning her new mission and she became quiet, waiting for Kaede to speak.

Her eyes closed in contemplation and she spoke, slowly and solemnly. "...I trust Inuyasha has already told you about the circumstances following the crimes in the neighboring village...ne?"

Kagome nodded, remembering the reason they came. "...Hai."

Kaede continued. "...There is no doubt in my mind these attacks were carried out by a youkai. Too quick and clean they were... Impossible to have been conceived and carried out by human hands. ...You must also take into account the odd nature of these murders. ...There were no skins left on the corpses, no blood." She paused. "...I fear the corrupted influence of the Shikon no Tama is also at work here."

Kagome nodded again, already knowing this information. ...Kaede put down her cup and delved deeper...

"...Earlier this week, villagers claimed to have seen a strange young man roaming throughout the village by day... He wasn't one of their own, and according to a few helpful, watchful eyes, never seemed to be present after twilight. ...Two days after he had arrived, the first man thought to have been murdered disappeared from one of the farms on the northwest side of the village... The other two disappeared the day after, bodies found yesterday. ...This mysterious visitor has yet to be seen again."

Kagome nodded slowly, contemplating. "...Aso... So when we find this boy, we will find our answers then, ne?

Kaede gave a quick nod. "Though... I fear it will not be so simple. This is a youkai. ...Your first meeting will no doubt be an unfriendly one. ...For now, It would be wise to find out who you're dealing with."

Inuyasha crossed his arms and scoffed. "Feh! ...It doesn't matter. Whether this guy's youkai or human, the result'll still be the same! ...Why bother? I could just track him down right now and kick his ass!" His grin widened evilly and he flexed his hands.

...Kagome sweatdropped. Kaede gave him a look. "It isn't wise to let your arrogance run away with you, young one. ...It just might get you killed one day."

Inuyasha looked insulted. "Young one?! ...Listen here, old hag! I'm seventy-five-friggin'..."

"-Urasai!" Kagome gave him an annoyed look, then stood. "Kaede-sama, where's this village?

She gave her tea a long sip. "...About twenty-five miles northeast of here... In a valley by the river Shuitsugo. ...But, I fear the sun is setting now, go in the morning. You have plenty of time to investigate tomorrow."
Kagome looked out the window to see the sky becoming a dusky orange. She nodded, suddenly becoming tired at the sight of the retreating sunlight. " ...Hai." She turned and walked out of the room.

Inuyasha's eyes followed her until she disappeared from view, and then turned to glare at Kaede.

He growled and held out his empty cup. "...TEA."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Moonlight beamed through the tall tree canopies as the small fire flickered and died. Kagome was sleeping restlessly at the base of a tree. The sudden absence of heat and light caused her to stir. She slowly opened her eyes and sat up against the tree, pulling the thin blanket around her close.

...I can't sleep...I wonder why...

Her spine tingled as she sensed Inuyasha's presence. She looked up to see him sleeping on the treetop. His ears twitched at the slightest sound.

...When did he climb up there?  Kagome vaguely remembered falling asleep earlier. ...Inuyasha was nowhere to be found.

She sighed. ...I'm glad. ...Even if he is rude and impossibly stubborn... She looked away.

...He makes me feel... safe.

She stood up and walked a few steps past glowing embers of the fire. Her mind was clouded with a jumble of restless thoughts...

...When was it that my life became so complicated...? She wondered, sighing.  ...You know... Most junior high girls juggle boyfriends, homework, and a few movies. ...Me? Higurashi Kagome?  She turned and stared at the fire's ashes.  ...I hunt down youkai, five-hundred years before I was born.  A cold breeze swept by her. Kagome pulled the blanket tighter around her, like a shawl. ...But...I like it here... I really don't mind, I guess. ...It's just sometimes... Sometimes it feels so surreal...

Inuyasha's ears twitched and he opened his eyes. A sudden breeze brought Kagome's scent closer to his nose. He looked down, to see her standing there, looking at the sky. ...What the hell is she doing now? ...He thought, only slightly irritated. After a moment, he noticed the far away look in her eyes. ...A sudden shift in the clouds caused a moonbeam to illuminate her body. She shivered. Inuyasha softened a bit.

....She's shivering...

A new sensation penetrated Kagome's thoughts. She felt another chill up her spine. ...Only, this one wasn't caused by the wind. She faintly felt the aura of a youkai passing by. ...A strange one. It seemed very far away.

She looked around and closed her eyes, studying the foreign aura. ...That's odd... why does it remind me of someone? Inuyasha just watched her.

...Now she looks troubled. What on earth could possibly be bothering her? The wind blew again. Kagome wrapped the thin blanket even tighter and knelt to the ground with her eyes closed, shivering.

...Looking at her, kneeling on the ground like that, a sudden feeling swept over Inuyasha. ...He couldn't describe it.

...It was as if...

...Inuyasha caught himself in his thoughts. "...What am I thinking? This is stupid." He turned away from Kagome and closed his eyes once more, putting his arms behind his head.

Through his sensitive ears, he heard her stand up, walk over to her the campfire, load a few pieces of firewood, and quickly light it.

Kagome stood in front of the fire, waiting for it to get larger. ...She closed her eyes once more.

No doubt about it.  That was definitely a youkai. ...I wonder if Inuyasha sensed it at well?

She glanced up at him, sleeping in the tree. She shrugged, and warmed by the growing fire, returned to her sleeping spot and closed her eyes...

... No need to worry about it until tomorrow...

She pulled her blanket close to her body, and waited for sleep to take her. Inuyasha lay in the treetops, and fell asleep to the sound of her rhythmic breathing.

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Chapter two is a GO. ...I meant to make this it longer, but then I thought I should save the good stuff for chapter three. ...On the next chapter, Inuyasha and Kagome investigate the case, and Kagome has another run-in with a certain blonde wench. Aren't you just tingling with excitement? Meh...

I've gotten questions regarding the Japanese I use... For all the Jap illiterates:

Hai - Yes

Iie – No (pronounced 'ee-eh')

Baka - stupid, or idiot.

Gomen - Sorry. Gomen-nasai means 'I'm very sorry.'

Daijobu ka- 'Are you alright?'

Urasai- Shut up.

Aso- Is that right? That so?

Baachan and baba= baachan used to address someone, just like 'Chan', 'san', or 'sama'. It means grandmother or female elder. 'Baba' is more disrespectful, meaning something more like... hag or old woman.

Some of the more common words heard in the anime are youkai and hanyou. 'Youkai' means demon. 'Hanyou' means half-demon, for those of you who don't already know.

I think that's all I've used so far... If you find anything else drop a review.

Oh. What the heck, drop a review anyway. ^_~

...Tune in next week. (...or day, or month.. or...)

*wanders away....*