AN: well I did it, here's another chappie. I guess u could call this a sort of apology for taking my time in updating.

Ok well, this must be said, again: I don't own any of the Inu-gumi. If I did, I would be rich. And right now there is no evidence of any such a thing happening in the near future.

CHAPTER 7

"I wonder what they're talking about. She looked worried about something........ Um, Kouga? Where are you going?" Sango looked to where the wolf demon got up and started to walk to Inuyasha and Kagome.

He stopped. "I've waited long enough. If she's worried about something I'll comfort her. And if I have to, I'll kick dog turd's ass." 'Anything to see her smile again.' He started walking to the forest again, when he saw them coming back. Inuyasha carried Kagome in his arms. "What the hell did you do to her?!"

"Will you relax, wolf. She's exhausted, so she fell asleep..... in my arms." Inuyasha walked over to Kagome's spot by the fire and set her down on her sleeping bag next to the sleeping cat. "She'll be fine." He covered her body with the blanket and shot Kouga a look. "Don't disturb her, she needs to rest." Inuyasha took a seat at the head of Kagome's sleeping form. Kouga did the same at her feet.

Shippo crawled over to Kagome and slipped into the covers with her, hoping the two larger demons would let him. Kouga noticed and made to grab the kitsune by his tail when Inuyasha growled low in his throat. "He's still a whelp, besides he sleeps with her every night."

A soft whimper brought them out of their silent argument, they lowered their gaze to see the kitsune cuddled up to Kagome's neck. She was breathing heavily and tossed her head from side to side.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha whispered. He placed a hand on her forehead. She calmed down a bit, but kept muttering something that even the demons couldn't hear. Inuyasha leaned closer and tried to put his ear close enough to hear what she was saying.

"Inu......... no....... but why?" Tears started to flow down the sides of her face. "But ............. I thought........... you loved me."

'She's having another nightmare. Damn, sounds like it's about me.' "She's having a nightmare again." He started to sit up but was frozen in place at what she said.....

"Dammit, Kikyo......... don't you get it?" Her eyebrows furrowed as if in frustration. "No......... don't....... Kikyo......... stop it."

Everyone around the fire could see that something was happening to Kagome. Her breathing became shallow and she was tossing her head from side to side again. They
just watched in silence, waiting to see what could possibly happen.

"What's wrong with Kagome?" The small voice came from beside Kagome's head. Inuyasha and Kouga turned to see Shippo awake and his eyes wide. "Is she going to be
ok?"

"Of course she'll be ok, she's Kagome, she's always ok." Kouga stated plainly.

"Inu........yasha?" Both demons turned their heads back to the miko. Her eyes still closed as if she didn't need them to see. Kagome sat up and slowly opened her eyes; they were blank. "Inuyasha, is that you?" She began to search with her hands. "Inu Yasha I can't see you." Her voice became anxious as the realization hit her. "I see something............
but............ I don't see you."

"I'm right in front of you, Kagome." His hand reached up to grasp hers so she felt he was there, but a hand from her other side grabbed it first. Inuyasha growled at Kouga as he held onto her shaking hands.

Kagome let her hands feel who it was that was holding her before she pulled them out of their grasp. "Kouga what the hell are you doing?" She reached over to where she knew Inuyasha would be and grabbed his hand.

Once again everybody's attention was sparked. "Kagome? How did you know it was Kouga, not Inuyasha?" Sango asked from her place across the fire.

"I ....... guess I just know how his hands feel in mine. What I'd like to know is why I see somewhere else in my mind."

"What are you seeing Kagome?" Sango asked, she'd heard of demons having the ability of seeing other places in their minds. She wondered if that was what was happening to her friend.

"I........ I see......." Kagome began to get anxious, "I see......... Alina. She's.......... she's......... Dammit. I see her getting beat up........ by.........." Kagome took a deep breath to calm herself. "Is Shippo awake?" The kitsune crawled onto her lap and she began to run one of her hands through his fluffy tail, the other staying in Inuyasha's grasp. "Shippo, could you help me?"

"Wait a minute, Kagome! Why does Shippo get to help?!" Inuyasha protested.

Kagome turned her head slightly in the direction from which she heard Inuyasha. "Because, Inuyasha. I will need help in taking care of Alina, at least until she gets her strength back. Geez...... do you ever relax?"

"Feh." He pulled his hand back.

She turned back to the bundle on her lap and picked him up. "So what do you say, Shippo?"

"You mean it?" Kagome nodded. Shippo leapt out of her hands and landed on her shoulder, hugging her neck.

'Kami, does she ever have a soft touch. Oh shit, I hope she didn't hear that.' Kouga looked blankly around to see if anyone noticed he was beginning to blush.

"Kouga, you know I can hear you. Can you stop thinking about that? I don't want to hear any more about my 'soft touch'." Kagome said in a bored tone, as if she'd heard it a thousand times before.

It was getting late so they decided it was time to call it a night. Kagome laid back down in her bag with Shippo and Alina at her head, still sleeping. Sango and Miroku slept on opposite sides of the fire. Kouga tried to sleep beside Kagome. Inuyasha noticed right away and stepped in for that spot first.

*****

AN: *ponders* I've noticed something just now… in every chappie there is at least one moment of fluff… coincidence…? I think not.

Anyway… what's up with Kagome's vision? Will Shippo really be able to help Kagome take care of Alina? Well….. You'll just have to see in the next chappie.