Author's Note: Hey guys. SORRY for the delayed update…I've been so incredibly busy lately! Well, in case you haven't figured out my updating policy yet, I try to update once a week…usually on Sunday.  Then again, summer vacation just started so I'll be able to update more often now…hopefully! Sorry for not writing my replies to the reviews I had received for my last chapter. And I'm not going to in this chapter either. I personally feel that in the amount of time it takes to write out responses, I could be typing up the actual chapter. But if you guys want responses then I will give 'em to ya! You guys just have to let me know. And I had a few complaints about Kagome's reactions towards being kidnapped. My answers would be: 1. Cool it people! The plot just started, I know Kagome's personality as well as the next fan…and I'm doing my best! 2. It's my story and I can make her OOC if I want to. So BLAH! *sticks out tongue* On with the story!

Mistaken Identity

Chapter 4

Gone Exploring

            Kagome awoke to the twittering of the birds outside.  But she was so comfortable that she didn't bother to open her eyes.  She smiled happily and snuggled even deeper into the arm tightly wrapped around her waist.  Wait, arm wrapped around her waist?!?! Her eyes bolted open and she quickly turned her head to see a sleeping Inuyasha snoring softly.  Kagome remained frozen, like a deer caught in headlights.  'What am I supposed to do?' she thought to herself frantically. 'I'll have to try and get out of here before he wakes up, but he looks so kawaii when he's asleep! Just like a little kid…' Kagome shook her head, scattering these unwanted thoughts before gently easing away from his arm.  Right when she was almost out and her head was just under the crook of his armpit, Inuyasha suddenly stiffened.  He tightened his grip slightly on poor Kagome's neck in a headlock.

            "But I like wearing the pretty dress Mommy," Inuyasha mumbled dazedly as he shifted positions in his sleep. "It makes me look bootiful."

            Kagome snorted while trying to stifle a shriek of laughter. After regaining her composure, she finished her task of escaping Inuyasha's death grip. Once up, she headed towards the kitchen and was about to start making breakfast when it occurred to her that this was her big chance. What with her kidnapper sleeping, she could easily slip out and make a run for it. She knew that was the smart thing to do. But she also knew that she wanted to make her family worry about her. She wanted to make them squirm. She wanted to have all of their attention, if not only for a little while.

            So, with that thought in mind, Kagome went outside to gather some eggs from her friends, the chickens. They were still sleeping, so Kagome quietly slipped into the chicken coop and crept towards the nearest chicken. Cautiously, she reached out a hand and was just about to grab an egg, when said egg's mother awoke. The chicken blinked beady eyes at Kagome who smiled nervously. "Nice chicken…," Kagome squeaked. The chicken glared heartily at her before throwing back its head and giving a shrill call. "Eeep!" Kagome cried as she bolted out of the chicken coop. The chickens followed angrily, squawking loudly and flapping their wings in a blind rage. Kagome threw herself across the lawn and towards the house, mad chickens close behind. Throwing open the door, she saw Inuyasha lying on the ground and laughing insanely.

            "I see," he wheezed in between each burst of laughter, "that you and those chickens ---laugh--- are really ---snort--- good friends!" he crowed.

            Kagome grumbled something incoherent, "Shut-up," she muttered. Inuyasha only laughed harder.

            "Well, at least I was trying to get us something for breakfast!" she muttered. "Now what are we supposed to eat?" she asked Inuyasha pointedly.

            Inuyasha grinned and tossed her a pack of instant ramen.  "And make it snappy, girl!" he ordered with a smirk. "I don't have all day." Kagome flushed.

"Well at least I don't go cross-dressing in my dreams!" she snickered.

Inuyasha responded with a very heartfelt "Keh" but Kagome detected a very faint blush on his cheeks.

 Grinning to herself, she twirled on her heel, grabbed a pot and began to make the soup. Inuyasha put his feet on the table and watched her. Smells of chicken broth floated around his nose lazily, teasing him. "Are you done yet?" he questioned impatiently.

            "Almost…" Kagome responded as she gave the ramen a final stir. Then she transported it from the pot to a bowl and put two ice cubes in it to cool. Grabbing a spoon, she set the soup on the table and began to eat.

            "What the hell do you think you're doing, bitch?!?!" he roared angrily as he made a lunge for the soup. Kagome squealed and grabbed the soup, running to the opposite side of the table. Inuyasha growled and chased after her. Around and around the table they went until eventually, they both just stopped and glared at each other from opposite ends. Kagome was the one who broke the staring contest by quickly grasping her spoon and shoving the rest of the ramen noodles into her mouth in one huge bite. Inuyasha sputtered before glaring even harder at her. Kagome smiled good naturedly at him and patted her stomach.

            "That was good," she said happily while indicating the empty bowl. After making her statement, she turned and headed outside towards the barn. Inuyasha crossed his arms and sat stubbornly.

            'Who does that girl think she is?" he thought to himself as he eyed the door. 'I should put her in her place!' With that thought in mind, he went out to retrieve her. As he stepped outside he heard someone singing and followed the sound of the voice.

            "I want to change the world! Kaze wo kakenukete, nani mo…." Kagome sang loudly. She had a very pretty voice…except for when she went off-key. Inuyasha stood in the doorway of the barn and watched Kagome. She was feeding the horse. Sango had said his name was Naraku. Inuyasha cleared his throat and Kagome turned her head towards him.

            "Yes?" she asked.

            Inuyasha began to recite the speech he had planned. "Okay, here's the deal. I'm the boss around here. Got it? That means you listen to…me…" he trailed off as he saw that Kagome had wandered over to the chickens again. "ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!?!" he shouted angrily. Kagome shook her head no as she continued to sit with the chickens. Suddenly, she jumped up in excitement.

            "I've got it!" she squealed excitedly. She then did a little happy dance while jabbing her finger at one chicken in particular. "Her name can be Sarah!" Inuyasha sweat dropped.

            "Now you're naming the bloody birds?" he sneered.

            "Yep! The others are named Jenny, Amy, Binny, Maria, Jesse, and Erin," Kagome ticked off while pointing to each individual bird whenever she said their name. Inuyasha snickered before remembering what he had needed to tell her.

            "Now listen!" he began. "I'm the boss here, so that means I make the rules. And those rules are that you listen to me! Now, I'm going to go check out our surroundings, and you are going to go clean the house," he commanded. But Kagome had other ideas.

            "Geez, your sexist!" she complained. "For your information, I'll only clean the house if you do part of it. You're living in it just like I am! And secondly, I happen to like the outdoors! Besides, I've been wanting to go exploring 'round here!" Kagome exclaimed happily. "So when do we leave?"

            Inuyasha blinked. "I'm the one that'll be doing the scouting. You're going to stay here."

            Kagome shook her head. "I thought you said that your ears were real! But obviously they don't work very well, either that or they're just there for show, because as I said earlier: I…am…going…with…you," she spoke slowly and carefully to make sure that he understood each and every word. Inuyasha ground his teeth together before finally giving in.

            "Fine! But you better stay with me and don't get any ideas about trying to escape!" he grumbled. Kagome smiled brightly and took off in a random direction. All Inuyasha could do was follow.

            The two of them went up the hill that the farmhouse was situated on and went back down the other side. When they reached the bottom, Kagome saw a large forest to her left and wide open fields full of flowers to her right. Straight ahead she saw more hills.

            "Let's just keep going forward," Inuyasha decided. Kagome nodded and they walked towards the first hill. They continued going up and down the hills until they had gone over three of them. Up ahead, Kagome and Inuyasha saw the biggest hill yet. It towered over them like a mini mountain. Kagome gawked at it before noticing that Inuyasha was already part way up the hill.

            "HEY! Wait for me!" she cried and ran to catch up with him. Inuyasha looked back to see Kagome struggling to catch up. He shook his head and waited for her to get even with him. Then he crouched down in front of her.

            "Get on my back," he commanded Kagome as she stood panting next to him.

            "What?" she asked cautiously, wanting to make sure she had heard him correctly.

            "You're too slow, at this rate we'll never get anywhere. Get on my back," he repeated. Uncertainly, Kagome clambered onto his back and gripped his shoulders. "Hold on tight!" he grinned slyly as he took off at full speed. Kagome shrieked, first in terror, then in sheer delight.

            "Faster!" she cried happily as they sped up the hill at an alarming rate. Kagome laughed. "It's like flying!" she exclaimed delightedly. Inuyasha smiled. For some reason, he liked making her happy. He liked the way she clung to his back. The way she laughed. The way she smiled. He shook his head, 'No,' he thought to himself. 'I will not like her.' They reached the top of the hill and Inuyasha quickly dropped Kagome, ignoring how much he missed the warmth of her body against his.

            "Wow," he heard Kagome whisper in awe. He looked to see what had caught her attention and when he saw it his eyes bugged. Stretched out in front of them was a huge sparkling lake. A mother duck and her babies were swimming in the middle. Tall grass surrounded the sides except for a tiny path that led down to the water. A turtle's head popped up every now and then. "It's beautiful," Kagome murmured softly. Inuyasha nodded in agreement.

            They began the steep descent to the bottom of the slope: Inuyasha in the lead, choosing the fastest path and Kagome behind him, selecting the safest route. The sun beat down hotly overhead and he could hear Kagome's ragged gasps for breath.

            "We're almost there," he called over his shoulder. But he got no response. Expecting at least a sigh of relief, he stopped and turned. What he saw made his heart skip a beat. Kagome was lying in a crumpled heap on the ground. Her head was face-down and he could see a large bump beginning to form where she had hit her head on a rock.

            "Kagome!" he shouted as he leaped to her side. Lifting her head, he cradled it in his lap, shaking her gently at first but getting rougher by the minute. "Wake up, Kagome! Wake up!" he cried in panicked desperation. But Kagome continued to lie still. Inuyasha gave an anguished yell and cursed the heavens. He picked up the girl and raced back to the farmhouse as fast as he could go.

Author's Note: Bwa ha ha ha ha! Cliffhanger!! Hopefully I'll update faster next time than I did this time. Well, please remember to review! I'm so happy with all of the wonderful comments I've gotten. Thanks minna-san! Until next time!