Disclaimer: After all this time, I still do not own Inuyasha. SOB!!!

Chapter Twenty: It's a Woman Thing

The little group had made their way back to the village and they had been resting for a few days. A strange feeling overcame Inuyasha. Resting on Kaede's floor he had his arm propping up his head and he looked at Kagome. Sweat started pouring down his face as if he had finished running a marathon. His nose started to twitch with a warm wet scent teasing him. Oh no, don't tell me! The little quivering snout led the rest of Inuyasha's body diagonally to the holder of his trance. Kagome felt small puffs of air blowing on her porcelain neck. She didn't move. What the hell?

A yummy noise sounded from the sniffer behind her. He crawled in front of her. Her eyes grew very large and opened completely. His flesh curtains were closed tightly as he continued on his little journey. She didn't know what to do, so she just silently watched as he tickled her with his breath. She smells so good, so...enticing. I need to know where it's coming from. The sweet aroma got stronger the farther down he went. His nose traveled over her breasts and down her stomach. He ended at the alcove between her thighs. His clawed hands separated the fleshy limbs to get to the culprit of his craziness. Red kissed Kagome's face until she was a tomato.

"INUYASHA!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" screamed the embarrassed girl. His eyes snapped open and met with Kagome's soft cotton white panties. Moisture gathered to the spot that he stared at. A blush crept up the hanyou's face as he threw his body back from surprise. His amber eyes were wide and the pupils dilated into tiny specks. Before she could say anything the explorer shot up and flew out the door. Everyone else in the hut stared at the flushed girl. She looked around the small room and followed Inuyasha's example. Okay, what was that all about? Kagome pondered while she strolled aimlessly through the trees.

"Kagome, ummm...could I talk to you for a second?" Shippo piped up behind the girl. She jumped from the sound of the kitsune's voice and then turned around.

"Oh, Shippo, you startled me. What do you want?" his mother asked.

"Do you know why Inuyasha acted like that?"

"No, what's going on?"

"Well, since I'm a fox and have a better nose than humans I can tell you. Inuyasha smelled that you're in heat." The pink color that had barely left her face came back even stronger.

"You mean Inuyasha can tell when...oh no."

"Kagome, maybe you should go home until you're normal again." She nodded her head up and down.

"Perhaps you're right Shippo, I'm going to go and pack." Kagome marched back to the hut and packed her bag. I have to do something about this; I can't have this happening every month. Her mind whirled with thoughts of what could have happened and what she needed to do to stop it. I don't want Inuyasha showing affection toward me just because I'm in heat! Stupid dog boy! She ended at the well and bounded down into the darkness.

Inuyasha ran all over the forest, bouncing against trees and flipping through the air trying to work out his frustration. Damn woman, stupid scent, why does she always have to smell so damn good! I don't even know if she's interested in me. I didn't take her the other night when I saw her with that strange noisy thing. Why must she always be on my mind! Growling thunderously while punching his fist into a row of trees he screamed out.

"DAMN WOMAN!!!" He could still remember the scent of her, the dampness gathering through her panties. "Why must she affect me like this?"

"Maybe Inuyasha, you have feelings for her?" Miroku's voice made its way to the hanyou's ear. The silver haired boy landed on his feet and plopped down onto his hunches and his amber orbs glared at the monk.

"What do you mean I have feelings for that wench?" Inuyasha questioned with his fangs showing.

"If you can't figure it out, then perhaps I shouldn't tell you," the calm voice filtered through the atrocious mood of the dog boy. The amber daggers glared harder at the tranquil ebony haired monk. Miroku turned and left his friend to be with his thoughts.

"Mom, I need to talk to you about something," Kagome commented to her mother when she entered to house.

"What is it dear? I'm surprised to see you back, I thought you would stay at least another week or so with all of your supplies," her mother thought aloud.

"I need to be able to not be, ummm, in heat while I'm away. It makes the demons go kind of crazy," Kagome explained.

"Well honey, then we'll have to go to the women's clinic," her mom said smiling, "I can understand how it must embarrass you." They arrived at a large brick building after a twenty minute bus ride. The sign outside said Women's Health Clinic. Kagome and her mother opened the double glass doors and walked into a waiting area. The pea green carpet covered the floor and wooden chairs were aligned along the white walls. Kagome sat in one of the wooden chairs while her mother went to talk with the receptionist. She returned to her daughter and took a seat next to her. She could tell Kagome was very nervous so she held out her hand and clasped her daughter's palm with her own.

"Miss Kagome? We are ready for you now," a nurse dressed in white announced. The girl hesitantly put one foot in front of the other leading their way to the lady. She paused in front of the door and looked back at her mother asking her with her eyes to come with her. The mother also walked up to the lady and placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder for comfort and strength. "I am Youki; please follow me into your examining room." They trailed behind Nurse Youki into a cream tiled room with white walls that was brightly lit. Two chairs, a small desk, and a cushioned examination table next to a sink were the only furniture in the room. There were large Q- tips in a clear glass jar with other tools on a cold steel shelve on the other side of the examination table. "Please undress and if you wish put on this paper gown if you feel uncomfortable," Youki explained giving Kagome a light green paper fabric. The nervous girl nodded her head and the nurse left the room. The ebony haired girl undressed completely and wrapped her body in the thin robe. A knock sounded from the other side of the door and another woman entered.

"Hello Kagome, I'm your doctor. My name is Enkigo. Please tell me if you feel any pain or discomfort or if you have any concerns. Please hop up on the examination table and place your feet in the stirrups," the doctor asked politely. Kagome did as she was instructed calmed by the warm words and dancing blue eyes of her doctor. The nurse walked in and began to help the doctor with the examination. It only took them about fifteens to do everything. Kagome stayed silent even when she was in pain because she knew that nothing could be done about it for the instruments were hurting her and they need to use them. "Well Kagome," Doctor Enkigo stated, "You are healthy and I'll prescribe you some birth control. You're mother has explained to me over the phone that you travel a lot. So how about a vaginal ring that'll let you have you're period only four times a year?" The doctor smiled dazzlingly at the girl when Kagome gave her a shocked look.

"That'll be great! Thanks Doctor Enkigo!" The girl was given her rings for about three months and her and her mother left the clinic to go home.

"Are you going to go back on your trip when we get home dear?"

"No mom, I'm going to wait until tomorrow. I'm in a little bit of pain still and very tired."

"Now don't forget, you have to insert your ring the Sunday after your next period starts. They also gave you a timer so it'll tell you when you need to insert or take out the ring for your period." They arrived at home and Kagome climbed the stairs to the bathroom to take a nice, warm shower. After cleaning her body the tired girl collapsed on her bed and fell instantly asleep.