Disclaimer: I own Inuyasha. *angry mob runs me down* (battered body lying on the ground) Okay......have it your way...I don't





-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kagome sighed as she gazed out the carriage window. Clouds hung heavy in the air and it looked as if it were to rain. *What an unlucky day to go on a quest.* she thought to herself. They had been traveling for nearly an hour now, leaving close to dawn that morning, and she or Inuyasha hasn't said a word. She looked over at him and found him looking out the window on his side,legs crossed and sword resting against his shoulder. She turned to look out her window again and drops of rain began to splatter against her window. It quickened and the rain came down harder. She felt bad for the horses and carriage driver but knew they had been in rain storms before. In the distance she began to see houses lining the roads on the way to the central village. When she got close enough to the houses she saw farmers in raincoats still in the fields, working away so they could buy food for their families. Kagome thought back to the chores she had to do when she stayed at Inuyasha's. She really hadn't minded the work, but she didn't know if she would like to do it everyday. *Maybe I'll start helping the gardener when we get back to the palace.* she thought to herself. Slowly the amount of houses lining the road became thicker and she finally saw the town in the distance. *Stop number one* she thought with her growing anticipation as she sat up straighter, *Miroku.....are you here?*

******************************************************************************

Getting out of the carriage, she was immediately drenched, even though she wore a rain coat. Inuyasha had gotten out of the carriage as well and had walked to her side. His hair and clothes were plastered against him with the rain and Kagome felt her cheeks flare up at the sight of his tight clothing, hugging his muscular body. She shot her glance away and looked at the ground. Then Inuyasha's gruff voice cut through the rain, "Are we just going to stand in the rain the whole time? Besides, your cheeks are red, you might be catching a cold. Let's go inside." Kagome blushed even harder but complied and followed Inuyasha into the pub(bar) in front of them. *He thinks I have a cold? Thank god he doesn't know I was blushing because of him.*

******************************************************************************

Kagome stepped into an environment she had never seen before, but a quick glance at Inuyasha's expression said it was all normal. There were bloody battles going on everywhere, punching and throwing people across the room was seen over and over again. Inuyasha's cold wet hand grabbed her hand and led her to the counter across the room. Weaving through the tables, trailing behind him, she looked into the faces of other occupants. For some reason most had scowls on their faces, *What could be so bad that has everyone so upset?* she wondered. She looked ahead of her to see that they were only a few steps away from the counter, if she had not looked then she would have crashed right into Inuyasha when he stopped. He seemed to know what he was doing so she remained quiet as he sat down on a stool. He turned to look at her, her freezing form standing still behind him. "Are you going to sit down?" he asked as if she was stupid that she had not done this in the first place.

She nodded and sat on the stool next to him, shivering a bit in the cold. He noticed this and called a man to him. "Hey! Bartender! Can I get a blanket for her?" he said pointing to Kagome. "Sure" the man said with a smile. The only smile kagome had seen in the place so far. He bent down under the counter and produced a fleece red blanket. Handing it to kagome, she greedily wrapped it around her. She immediately felt warm again and looked at Inuyasha in time to see him address the bartender again.

"Hey, have you heard of a man named Miroku around here?"

"Can't say I have, no. You should ask Rin, she knows a lot of the people who come here." answered the bartender. He smiled and walked off to serve another man a drink. Inuyasha turned to look at Kagome and sighed. "Great, now we have to find this rin girl, this could take forever in a place like this."

Kagome nodded and slid around in her seat to look at the rest of the room. It was crowded and full of people brawling. Finding one girl in a place like this? That could take forever........


"Hey Rin!"

........or not. Kagome's gaze snapped to a man sitting at a table that had called out. He watched as he spoke again. "Another round for us!"

kagome's gaze shifted to where the man was looking to see a young teen with a tray come bubbling over to his table to set drinks down for him and his friends. then she went skipping off again. Kagome was about to tell Inuyasha what she saw but he was already up and dragging her in the direction that Rin went. *Guess he already knows* she thought as she held the blanket around her shoulders tighter.

They went weaving through the tables to come up behind the girl in the short dress and short apron. Inuyasha's hand reached out and tapped her on her shoulder. She spun around and grinned brightly at them, "What can I do for ya?" she asked sweetly.

Inuyasha cut right to the point, why shouldn't he? "Have you seen a man named Miroku around?"

"Hmmm....Miroku.....was he that perverted priest?"

"Yes!" Kagome practically shouted out. She was so excited, they found him!!

"He just left town a few days ago."

Kagome's bright expression faded to be replaced with a depressed one.

"Do you know what town he was heading for?" asked kagome

"I'm sorry, but I don't. I do know that he left for the south though." (Kagome's palace is north and they headed south for this town)

"Thank you for your help."

Kagome turned and trudged her way to the front of the bar by the doors, Inuyasha following after her. When she reached them, she turned to look up at him.

"What do we do from here?" she asked him.

"I say that we get a room tonight and then leave tomorrow morning if the weather is fair."

"Your right, let's get a room. But where?"

Inuyasha took Kagome's hand once again and led her outside onto the street. Not wanting to get wet he began to run off to the right, Kagome being dragged behind him. About three houses down, he burst through the doors. Inside a man at a desk stood there looking over a large black book. He looked up at them when they entered and smiled at them. "Newlyweds?" he asked innocently.

"Um...N-" began Kagome, but she was cut off by Inuyasha.

"Yeah, we are."

Kagome blushed and suddenly found the ground very interesting.

"Right this way then." the man said as he left his desk and led them down a hallway to the left. They traveled down the hallway for a while until they reached the end and the man unlocked the door. He handed Inuyasha the key and led them inside. It was a fairly large room, nothing like Kagome's at home, but what would you expect. It had one large bed, a dresser, a bathroom, some furniture here and there, etc. The man said, "The Honeymoon Suite" as Kagome stepped inside to gaze around. After both Inuyasha and Kagome were inside the room the man turned and left, softly closing the door behind him.

"Not as big as your room is it?" said Inuyasha into the silence

Kagome wanted to giggle, he had read her mind. She just nodded instead. then blushing furiously, she spoke to him, "Umm....Inuyasha? Why did you say we were newlyweds?"

"The rates are lower."

"Oh....." Kagome felt oddly disappointed, she guessed it made sense though. Inuyasha saw the look on her face.

"And because I can't wait to say it for real."

Kagome smiled brightly up at him and then turned around to look at the bed. She frowned as her mothers words echoed in her mind.

' I don't want you doing any " funny" business....'

"Don't worry, I'll sleep on the floor." came Inuyasha's voice from behind her. She spun around to look at him. Frowning at him she replied, "Don't be stupid Inuyasha, you need a good night's sleep. I'll sleep on the floor."

"That's even more stupid, a princess on the floor? We'll share the bed."

"Kagome blushed a bit but nodded, "I trust you Inuyasha."

So, that night Kagome fell asleep next to the warmth of Inuyasha's body, she had never felt so safe as she did then. They both slept the best they ever had and would be fully prepared for the continued adventure the next morning.

******************************************************************************

A/N: As you can see, I have changed my writing style in this chapter to have more detail. Someone said that I was going through the story to fast and I realized, this is true. So, I will continue with this pace unless enough people say otherwise and want the story to finish faster. Power to the People! (I've always wanted to say that in a fic) See you next chappie!