DISCLAIMER: I own nothing (Big surprise huh!)

Sorry it took so long with this one….. I was lazy. So sad I know I will try not to let it happen to often.. Well on with the story…

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Kagome gently shook Kaede awake. Now that she finally made it to the village, she could see if there was anything that she could do about her throbbing face. "Kaede-sama, wake up. I need your help. " She whispered hoping not to wake the others.

Slowly the old miko's one good eye opened. "If ye ventured to wake me you have child. What can I do for ye?" The woman slowly got to her feet and turned to look at Kagome in the meager light of the fire. "Ye goods child! What has happened to you? I need to put something on that bruise you have there. Come with me while I gather what I need. I don't want to disturb the others." With that Kaede walked out side to her work area and asked Kagome what happened.

"Well, it was nothing really. Just me being clumsy. I already told Inuyasha. He seems to be paranoid…." Kagomes voice faded off, as she got lost in thought.

The old miko looked at the young girl. Trying to see if there was any truth behind what she said. Something more happened this night, she was sure of it. Yet, she would not pry. Soon the girl will have to reveal what was going on, she just hoped she would be there to shield Kagome from Inuyasha when the truth came out.

Kaede finished mixing the herbs and told Kagome to sit down so she could apply it. The stuff had a pungent smell but it would heal the wound in a matter of hours. "You are going to want to wash this off as soon as you wake in the morning. It will leave you drained and more susceptible to injury for the next two days. But all traces will be gone. Be careful child. I can not apply this again for the next month or so." With a few more gentle strokes of the green concoction over Kagomes face the old woman tuned to find her bed once again.

"I hate him! He is making me lie to my friends, to all those I hold dear!" All at once her cheek started to tingle and she was quickly becoming to exhausted to think. Kagome silently made her way to her mat and promptly fell into a deep slumber, barely noticing the intensity of pain resonating from her wound.

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Kagome awoke with a start as a concentrated smell of grass, lavender, and some unidentifiable substance that smelled slightly moldy, assailed her senses. She started to sneeze and her eyes began to water. She tried to quickly scan the hut for anyone else, only to find herself alone in the cooling room. "Wow this stuff is potent. I need to get this off!" Kagome exclaimed as she shook with another fit of sneezes.

Walking from the hut Kagome noticed that everyone was gathered around a small girl. She turned at a sudden commotion behind her. "What is that STENCH?" Inuyasha was running from the tree line holding his breath trying not to gag. "Kagome what the hell? You smell worse then pig shit!"

"SIT!" Kagome turned on her heel just as Inuyasha slammed into the ground. "Of all of the things to say to me! I get hurt and you criticize how I smell! You are such an ass!" She storms off to a near by water barrel to wash the worst of the green paste. As Kagome dried her face off, on the hem of her shirt, she realizes that there is no pain. Looking into the reflective surface of the water she gasps at the flawless reflection. 'No bruising at all. I thought he broke my cheek bone!'

Walking over to her circle of friends, she sees the little girl pointing at her and giggling. "You need a bath!" The little girl exclaimed. "Your face is green! I know someone else with a green face but…"the little girl faded off as she looked in the direction of the tree line as though someone was going to hurt her for what she was about to say. Crooking her chubby little finger she beckoned Kagome closer. In a conspiratorial whisper said "your doesn't have warts on it!" Giggling the little girl jumped up and down in glee!

Shippo looked at the little girl like she had grown a second head, "Do you think Kagome is ugly?!?"

"No she is pretty but she has a green face! Who are you?" She asked pointing to Shippo.

"I am Shippo!" he replied puffing out his chest and pointing at himself. "And that is Miroku, Sango, Kagome, and the one glaring at her back is Inuyasha!" Shippo announced pointing everyone out.

"What is your name little one?" Kagome asked.

"Rin-Chan!"

"Where are your mother and father?"

"Dead!" Rin replied with no trace of sorrow.

"Who is taking care of you now?"

Rin looked down at her feet as she traced a pattern in the sand with her shoe, " I was told not to say. Rin always keeps her promises!"

Kagome looked down at the girl and ruffled her hair. "Well I have to get going. I want to take a bath. This stuff is still to strong." She turned to get her things from Kaede's hut.

Inuyasha looked at her retreating form before he called out to her. "Kagome! Where do you think you are going? You are NOT going any where without me!"

Kagome slowly turned around. Her anger apparent in every line of her body. "You are NOT going to watch me take a bath!"

"I will turn around. I am Not going to let you go alone! Take Sango with you then." Inuyasha looked at her, his irritation showing through.

"Look I just want to be alone for a while ok? If that is the way you are going to be I will take my alone time at MY HOME!" Kagome reached the hut and started tossing things into her backpack.

Inuyasha stormed into the hut. "Why can you never listen to me? I don't want you going anywhere! Let alone where I can't protect you!"

"I will be fine! I am just going to the spring. If anything happens you will be able to hear me. Don't tell me you have lost your hearing!" She yelled back as she made her way to the tree line.

"I have smelled Sesshomaru. I don't want him taking you. I will not trade the Tetsusaiga for you! I can't, you know that Kagome." She could hear the defeat in his voice.

She turned around and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I will be fine Inuyasha. Just let me go. Please." Kagome realized how bad this situation really was. If Inuyasha ever found out that she was lying to him about all this who knows if she would ever get a chance to explain. He was like her brother. Even though they argued constantly they never really wanted to hurt each other.

"Go then. I am going to here at the tree line. If you need me just yell I will be listening for you." He sighed as he walked to a nearby tree and jumped high in the concealing braches. Kagome could just about hear him mumbling about stupid bitches and their bull headed ways.