DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters in this story. I won't profit in any way from it. The characters belong to and are owned by Rumiko Takahashi.

CHAPTER 5

Smiling, Kagome went back over to the fire. She checked her clothes. Yes, they were dry. She scooped them off the iron rods and retreated into the small room she'd been in before. Quickly, she re-dressed in the clothes. Sweater, socks, jeans. She was glad that she'd had the sense not to wear that flimsy school uniform she often wore. Jeans had seemed more practical and she was certainly glad for it. When she came back into the main room she found Inu Yasha had filled the pot with snow, putting it to melt over the small fire.

He looked over at her. She was now dressed again and that suited him fine. He was worried though. However, since it looked like they would be able to eat soon he decided to push his worries to the back of his mind, for now. Sniffing the air he smelled the aroma of cooked ramen. He turned his head to look towards the fire. Kagome was carefully stirring the ramen mixture over the fire with chopsticks, breaking up the noodles as they cooked. She tossed in some of the dried vegetable matter and dried fish with it. His stomach growled again, loudly.

Kagome heard the growl of Inu Yasha's belly and knew that he, like her was very hungry. She rummaged through her pack looking for anything that could be used for a bowl. She came upon a plastic bowl that she'd stuffed with needles and thread. Quickly she dumped the contets, rinsed the bowl in snow and poured a portion for herself in the bowl. Inu Yasha could eat out of the pot. Besides, he'd need more than she would, anyhow. "Inu Yasha," she called, "food's ready.".

He turned his head and looked at her. " I know it's ready," he said, " I CAN smell it." Kagome rolled her eyes. 'Well,' she thought to herself, 'so much for continued peace.' Then she smiled. It just wouldn't be Inu Yasha if he wasn't his usual acerbic self. He may seem rude and gruff on the outside but she'd now seen a softer inner person. "Well then," she said, "come and get yours. Here's some chopsticks, you eat out of the pot." Inu Yasha walked over to where the pot was sitting with chopsticks beside it, grumbling under his breath. Kagome ignored him. It would be pointless to react to his behavior if they were going to be cooped up for at least another day and night. She decided to let it roll off her back. If he really got upset he might actually leave. That would get neither of them anywhere.

In silence they ate their meal. Kagome rinsed the bowl and pot with snow after they were finished. She still felt thirsty and wasn't sure why. Inu Yasha filled the pot full of snow and let it melt near the fire. She looked at him questioningly. "You'll need to drink a good deal of water," he said. It's something that happens after you have been cold like you were, for a long time." "Oh," she said, "that explains while I'm still thirsty after the soup. I'm dehydrated then. At least a little."

Inu Yasha did not reply to her statement. He was wondering what on earth they were going to do. Stuck in a cabin together. No Sango or Miroku to bicker with. Not even Shippo to amuse and annoy with his kitsune ways. Inu Yasha was however, quite grateful that they didn't have Miyoga to annoy them. The grandfather flea had opted to stay with Kaede and stay warm. Unknown to Inu Yasha, Kagome was wondering the same thing. What are we going to to? Sit here and stare at each other all night?

As if he could hear her thoughts, Inu Yasha turned towards her. "It's getting late in the day, you need to rest more. We'd better get some sleep." 'Sleep?' her panicked mind said. 'Where?' "How can you know the time, Inu Yasha?" she asked. She was gathering up all the remnants of the meal and storing them in her backpack as she sipped the water he'd melted for her.

Broad shoulders shrugged, " I don't know. I just do. It's evening now. We'd better get what sleep we can. I won't sleep at all tomorrow, you know" It surprised her, his reference yet again to being human on the next night. However, she took it in an encouraging way. He was getting more open about how the night of the new moon affected him. At least with her. Since he didn't share his emotions very freely or openly she'd take every little step as what it was, progress.

*note :Kitsune: shape-changing fox demon, mischievous