So, do you guys like the longer chapters?^_^

Merith- Actually, Miroku was still at the campsite. Inu Yasha walked up and dropped Kouga in front of him so technically, he didn't go. But, at the same time, Shippou wasn't sent either; Inu Yasha was. So basically, they both lost, BUT it would be hilarious to see Miroku having a heart attack, not to mention a few million day dreams, so maybe I'll be able to squeeze in another bet.^_~ Or, you know, just make it a dare or something. Lol Note to self: on the way back they need to play a traveling game. Heh, I loved it when they did that in the series.^_^

Hoyin- lol hey there! Aww, you don't like Kouga? You should see the plushies I have of him and Fluffy, they're so cuuutteee!!!=^-^= heh, but yeah, he's ALWAYS jealous because he can never have her. Muahaha, sucks for him! Anyway, yeah, there's a lot more chapters to come so don't worry.^_~ Besides, the climax is going to be somewhere around chapter 20 and that's not even the end, so you probably have another 10-15 chapters left before it's "done".^_^ I'll write others after that too; I just need to think up more ideas. Heh. Hey, do you like "Simple and Clean"?

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters in it. If I did I'd be rich, but I'm not... and if I had lots of money I'd probably spend it on anime anyway so pleeaasseee, don't sue me.^_^ lol

Oh, and as always,

_= thoughts *_* = sound/ italicized "_" = speech

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Memories of the Present

Chapter 16: No Ramen for Breakfast

"Fluffy, Rin wants to know why we left Jaken behind."

"Rin, don't call me Fluffy."

"Why is he always so grumpy?"

Did she even hear me?

"He just is."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Why?"

"Because."

"... oh."

Sesshoumaru strides along, directing An and Un behind him. They had yet to come across another village, as the last one was in ruins. Why in the seven hells did she have to call him Fluffy? Of all of the names, why that one? Granted, his tail was marvelously beautiful and fluffy, but sill. When villagers hear this, they no longer fear him; if they no longer fear the great Lord of the Western lands, they all must die. It is just the way things worked. This, of course, wasn't a problem for Sesshoumaru, hater of human kind. They are scum, fleas on the backbone of his society, and, being a dog demon, he did *not* like fleas. But at the same time, he does not want Rin to have to see such things. It was becoming a bother to find something for her to do while he takes care of things, and Jaken only made things worse.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin sees a village!"

The demon lord looks ahead, temporarily broken out of his thoughts. Of course, no one could tell that anything had changed just by looking at him, but then again, they never could. Almost bemusedly, he raises an eyebrow, "Indeed."

Up ahead of them lay a small, but rather desolate village. It seemed awfully familiar, though the dog demon couldn't quite put his finger on where he had seen it previously. It looked just like any other village, huts, worn buildings, crops, but something wasn't right. Where are the villagers? It was quiet, too quiet.

Stopping An and Un just outside of said village, Sesshoumaru turns. Putting a hand beneath each arm, the demon lord picks Rin up carefully, setting her on the ground and facing her towards the village. "Rin, look carefully. Does this village look familiar?"

"ummm..." She thinks for a moment. As soon as she realizes where they are, her face lights up and she grabs onto Sesshoumaru's leg. "Yes, Rin remembers! This is where that nice old lady that helped Rin! Can we go see her? Pleeaasseee Sesshoumaru-sama?"

So it's true; this IS the village, but we must be miles from where we encountered it. Not to mention that I destroyed that village.

"No Rin, we will move on."

The youkai lord turns and begins to lead his steed in the opposite direction. This smell... what kind of demon can bring back the forgotten?

Grudgingly, Rin turns around and then laughs brightly as she follows her lord, trying to catch the tip of his tail as it bobs behind him.

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Stupid wench, sitting with that wimpy wolf. Well, at least they're going to bed now. Wait, that means, keh, what do I care if he's sleeping next to her? Inu Yasha eyes him suspiciously, Well, if he tries anything I'll kill him He nods, completely satisfied with this answer.

After a while, everyone had dozed off. First Kagome slept, she always did go to sleep first. Weak humans. Next, Miroku went to sleep, and then Sango. Sango had refused to fall asleep before Miroku so that she could protect herself, just in case. Kouga, though reluctantly, fell asleep after Sango. Inu Yasha had been snarling at him for half of the night as he watched Kouga hover over Kagome's sleeping form. He wasn't allowed to watch her, only Inu Yasha could protect her. Well, whatever Kouga had planned, or hadn't really, nothing happened. He gave up and fell asleep knowing that if he didn't, he'd have a vengeful half demon after his hyde in the morning. Of course, that vengeful hanyou was still awake and enjoying his favorite nightly activity, watching Kagome.

Some time during the night she shifted. It was pretty common for her to wake up in the middle of the night, usually to take care of business or she'd come and visit with him, but she almost never tossed in her sleep. The only time he'd seen her do that was if she had been sick or was having... the nightmare.

Being as quiet as hanyouly possible, the dog demon left his perch and landed carefully next to the raven-haired girl. She seemed okay, no sweating, no bad facial expressions, just the tossing. He watched over her for a few more minutes and then turned to the night sky. It must have been around three o'clock her time. He turned to make sure that Kouga was still asleep. He was. Good.

Inu Yasha stood, about to jump up to his branch again, and stopped. Someone was awake. Slowly he crept back to camp, making sure to check on everyone. They were all asleep, but then, where was the whimpering coming from?

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Man, I can't believe I fell asleep while dog-turd keeps watch. If anyone is going to protect Kagome it'll be me. Hm? I look to my left and there she is, sleeping like an angel. Good, I think haughtily, she *should* be sleeping well next to me. She'll need to get used to it.

Out of the corner of my eye I spot him; I don't think he knows that I'm awake. What's he doing? He actually looks kind of worried. I need to make sure he thinks I'm asleep. I can't be caught now. Yeah, there he goes, looking at me. Good, he doesn't know. I wonder what he was staring at in the sky. Oh well, it doesn't concern me. I'm just glad he's leaving.

Wait, why is he turning back? He's looking over all of us again. What's wrong with that stupid... hey, wait, is... is Kagome whimpering? I want to hold her, to comfort her. My mind starts to wonder what she could be dreaming about, but I'm immediately pulled form my thoughts. Inu Yasha has picked her up and is carrying her somewhere?! Damnit, if I move he'll know that I'm awake and then he'll yell, waking Kagome. She needs her sleep, but I can't let him, oh screw it. Even if he didn't yell at me we'd fight and she'd wake up; there's nothing I can do for now, but tomorrow I'll show them both. Tomorrow will be my day.

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As soon as I picked her up she stopped whining. I stop, holding her tenderly, waiting to hear her breathing or for her to wake up and scream at me. Honestly, I prefer the first. Good, she's still asleep. Absently, I rub a tear from her eye as I shift her in my arms. I jump up to my branch and settle her down in front of me. If I leave her be she'll fall. My arms wrap around her slender waist; there'll be no sleep for me tonight.

I watch as she sighs. She shivers slightly so I tighten my hold on her. She snuggles up to me; it's probably just because I'm warm. I wonder if she has any idea what she's doing.

I take in her scent hungrily; it's so beautiful, so pure. She feels so good within my arms, curled against my chest. I love her. There's no denying it; I love her. My eyelids become heavy, but I can't sleep; I'm not tired. My senses swim; how can she do this to me? My hands make small, circular patterns on her stomach and my grip tightens around her. I'm getting drowsy, but why? She just... it just feels so right.

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The stars twinkle above the group like fireflies on a summer night. Morning will be soon arriving, but for now, all lay peacefully, deep in slumber. Some time during the night and into the beginning of the morning things had been moved slightly. Miroku and Sango were a little closer, though neither of them consciously aware of it, and Kouga looked more like a happy kitten than a wolf. The fire had died down leaving nothing but smoldering coals and some ashes; the sticks from cooking the night before completely used up. A slight movement breaks the serenity, but nothing else. There is no noise, so sound, just a gentle motion.

I mus' 'till be 'sleep, the hanyou mumbled inside his own mind. He had just woken up; he always woke before anyone else. He could feel a body in his arms and the gentleness of its warmth trying to lull him back into a deeper slumber. Briefly he had wondered who they were and why they were in the tree with him, but as a gentle scent wafted to his sensitive nose, he knew it was Kagome.

She'd neva le' me hol' her. Sleepily he decided that he was still dreaming. He often dreamt of holding her and, in his dream, the next logical step would be for her to wake up, then he'd kiss her. That was simple enough. After a few more slurred moments went by and she still hadn't woken, he wondered what was different. Maybe he just needed to sleep a little longer.

Gently he lowered his chin onto her shoulder and nuzzled her cheek gently. He buried his face in her hair and nuzzled her ear. Gods she was soft. His eyelids, refusing to stay open, drooped even lower and he inhaled deeply. He had never had a dream seem this real to him, but it didn't bother him any. He could feel her pulse as her blood rushed quickly beneath her pale skin. For a dream, this was too real. He cuddled against her neck and sighed contentedly. Now, if she'd only let him do this in real life. Well, what to do now? He had never really been this close to anyone before; he had certainly never felt this way about anyone before. Even in his sleep he needed her, though his lack of energy muted this somewhat, but he still wanted her. Well, what to do now? Silently he counted off what he had done already. He hadn't seen her; he'd save that for the end. He had smelled her, and gods did she ever smell heavenly. He had felt her in lots of ways, against him, felt her skin, felt her breath as she slept, and had buried his face in her hair. Well, he hadn't tasted her yet; I guess that's a good place to start.

Nodding resolutely, he leaned down and licked her neck, if shyly at first. If I ever did this 'n real life she'd kill me. Smiling, he savored the taste a bit before licking behind her ear. Mmmm, neck was better.

After a short while he decided that he liked her neck the best. It was soft and warm, flowing with life and rhythm. He could hear her heart and feel her pulse from there. He could tell her temperature and smell her scent most clearly from there. And, most importantly, he had access to almost anything from there. Tenderly he grazed a fang over her neck. He made sure not to damage this dream Kagome in any way, but he still applied enough pressure that she'd know he was there. She moaned softly, curling against him a little more. Unbeknownst to him, he was a little more awake now. His consciousness hadn't quite come to yet, but everything else certainly had. Closing his eyes, his lips parted slightly and he kissed her throat. He licked her again, kissed her, and then ran his fang across the expanse of smooth skin over and over again, each time getting slightly bolder. His fangs no longer gently grazed the surface of her skin, but now left a small scratch in its wake; the kisses that had once been chaste and sweet were turning more and more quickly into nips and soft bites. He still licked her, almost as if apologizing for being rougher with her. As he continued, she snuggled more and more closely against him, exposing her neck more with each movement, and practically drawing him towards her. Her hands entwined in his hair and clasped behind his head, pulling it closer and giving him better access to her. He nibbled and licked, stopping only once to breathe in her intoxicating scent. It was stronger now and sent shivers up his spine. This was the most realistic dream he had ever had.

His grip on her waist tightened even more as he drew her towards him. He raised a claw and tentatively brushed aside any stray hairs left in his way. The nibbles became bites and, as his hunger deepened, her moans became louder and more frequent. They weren't loud enough to be heard by the others, but he could hear them, and they encouraged the feelings deep within his soul. He needed her; he wanted her, and whether he knew that or not, his body certainly did. His instincts began to take over and he trembled, each bite bringing them closer together. His teeth now surrounded half of the width of her neck, the bites becoming larger and deeper. If it hurt she gave no indication, and he quickly bit her again. He pulled back, opened his mouth as far as he could and quickly pressed his fangs to her throat. She began to squirm, but he held fast. He could feel himself digging into her tender flesh, almost there.

"Hey dog-turd, let go of my woman!"

Startled the hanyou jumped back, waking the sleeping girl in his arms.

"I... Inu Yasha?" Noticing where she was, she shrieked and clung to him, then looked into his wide, confused eyes and backed off a little. "What am I doing in this tree?"

"Well... I...um... you see, you were sleeping and..."

She sighed and started rubbing her neck, "Look, I really don't want to know right now. Can you just let me down?"

"Kagome, you okay?"

"Hm?" She looked down towards the wolf prince, "Yeah, my neck is just a little sore this morning. I probably just had it at a weird angle last night." She yawned and stretched fully, almost falling out of the tree. When she began to slip, she yelped and Inu Yasha caught her quickly. He pulled her back onto the tree and held her tightly"

"Kagome-sama, are you okay?" Everyone had woken upon hearing her shriek.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She started to try and worm her way out of Inu Yasha's grasp, but he wouldn't let her go. "Inu Yasha, knock it off would you? Let me down!"

"Feh, and get yourself killed, no."

"Come on!" she struggled more, but the more she squirmed, the tighter his hold got. "Inu Yasha, this isn't funny."

"I'm not letting you get yourself killed so stop squirming!"

"Inu Yasha!"

"Kagome, knock it off!"

"Then let me go!"

"No! Calm down first!"

"Let me...," she stopped and swallowed a large lump in her throat. Sango looked to Miroku with an expression of pure bewilderment. Miroku was baffled as well. Only Shippou and Kouga recognized what had happened; Inu Yasha had no idea the implications his actions had formed.

He sat there, in the tree with Kagome, same as before. His arms were still around her waist and her hands were still on them, arms taunt, frozen in an action to escape. The only difference was a slight pressure on the back of Kagome's neck. When the initial shock wore off, she stammered and tried to wiggle again, but he only pressed his fangs down a little more, coming up only to utter one phrase, "No."

She stopped. She wasn't angry anymore, and she wasn't scared. She didn't want to get away, but instead felt kind of... guilty? Kagome turned to look at him over her shoulder. She stared, brown eyes glittering with curiosity and surprise. In return, he simply picked her up and jumped down out of the tree, setting her on her feet gently.

He then walked off to find them something to eat for breakfast leaving two confused humans, two shocked demons, and a curious young miko behind. He didn't want ramen for breakfast.