Z.A.G: Heh, yeah I read you fic, its looking great so far. I can't wait to see what happens with it. I like fire; its quite intriguing, but I don't think I'd want to light myself on fire n.n;;

purplepeopleeater: Aw... no fair! I want a Kirara plushie, but the only plushie I ever see here is Jaken. Not that I have anything against Jaken, but, you know, Kirara's much cuter. And, yes, of course we got a blush! I can't write a story without having Inuyasha blushing at least once. Well, I can, but I don't :) And I'm so glad everyone seems in character, that's my one worry.

Zackkbum: Hmm... Now that I think about it, Sango does seem more like Kikyou that Kagome. At certain times, at least.

Saiyan God: Thank you so much n.n I'm glad you like the story.

Umi Fox: I had the whole Kirara thing written out before I received your review; but your guesses did inspire me to get another character involved; though it's only a one-chapter thing. Kagome with Miroku? Hmmm... no, I never said that anywhere, but who knows? It might happen :)

Everyone else: Thank you once again for the reviews n.n I love seeing what you all think of the story. And, as always, each review is very much appreciated, even if I don't respond to you individually.

AN: I don't have anything else to say right now, so, onto the story then!

It had taken a while; twenty or so minutes, to be exact, but Miroku had finally talked Kagome in to returning closer to the others. With a heavy sigh, Kagome stood up and followed the monk back.

Shippou had fallen asleep, curled up next to her backpack. And, after nearly becoming lunch for a hungry hawk-demon, the kitsune deserved a nap. But, he wasn't the only one that had fallen asleep. Nope, Sango had drifted off as well; her arms still locked around Inuyasha's waist, and her head still against the back of his shoulder. Kagome felt like screaming when she saw them. In fact, she opened her mouth to yell, when Inuyasha looked up.

"Don't." Was the only thing the hanyou said. It hadn't been a request, or a demand; it had been a statement. And, though it had only been one word, his expression, tone of voice, and the look in his eyes told Kagome everything she needed to know.

Kagome's vision became blurry then. She wanted to cry; not because he had chosen someone other than her... not because he had said some hurtful or uncaring thing... but because she realized something... She realized that he had never seen her in that way. Whenever they had been together and someone stumbled across them, he would get embarrassed; he would stutter excuses and deny it to no end. But here she was, coming across Inuyasha and Sango together, and Inuyasha wasn't the slightest bit embarrassed. If he, someone who never spoke about his feelings, acted as though Sango was just sitting beside him rather than leaning against and hugging him, did that mean he cared about her that much? Was he so at ease with Sango that it didn't matter who saw?

The school-girl nodded slowly, a few tears falling down her cheeks, "Okay... Inuyasha." She said quietly, shakily. She still cared for Inuyasha, nothing would change that, but if this was what he wanted... Wiping her eyes in an attempt to stop crying, she turned and sat beside her backpack, close to where Shippou was sleeping. Without another word, she pulled a book from her bag and opened it, though it was evident that none of the words would get through to her.

Inuyasha nodded silently in thanks, and it wasn't long before the group fell into silence. It was strange, Inuyasha realized... he had thought he would have been embarrassed when Kagome and Miroku saw the way he and Sango were sitting. With the way he had felt when Kirara saw them, he was sure that he would be more embarrassed if his two companions saw them. But, surprisingly enough, when he had saw them looking at him, he didn't care. It didn't matter what they thought. It didn't matter what they did. All that mattered was that he was where he belonged. And, at the moment, he felt that he belonged there, with Sango. The hanyou wasn't too sure why Kirara seeing them had caused him to be more uncomfortable, than when Kagome and Miroku saw. The only reasonable explanation he could think up, was that it was because he wasn't sure how Kirara would react to it. He had had a pretty good idea how Kagome would react when she found out; he could guess that by how she reacted whenever Kikyou was involved in something. And Miroku... Inuyasha wasn't positive on how he would respond, but he knew that the monk wouldn't do anything too drastic. Shippou... the kitsune was too young to understand such things.

But Kirara... no one was closer to Sango than her. So, in a way, Inuyasha had almost feared that the fire-cat would somehow... disapprove of him being with her mistress. But, he hadn't noticed until only a few moments earlier, that Kirara had been pushing them together. She had been bothering him that morning when they had started arguing. She had gotten Sango to come back outside so they could talk that same day. The fire-cat had even gone so far as to make sure the others couldn't follow them once he had gone after Sango when she ran into the rain. Inuyasha smiled to himself, no, he didn't have to worry about Kirara anymore.

Kagome sighed after a few minutes, and replaced the book into her backpack; there was no use in trying to read now. She looked over to Shippou, then suddenly looked up, "Shikon... there's a shard of the Shikon no Tama heading this way!"

Inuyasha frowned and growled slightly, "Don't get too excited..." He muttered, his gaze shifting to the side for a moment. His growl disappearing, he patted Sango's arm, "Sango. Sango, get up."

The taijiya stirred from her slumber, nuzzling the side of her face against Inuyasha's back before taking a deep breath and opening her eyes, "I... fell asleep?"

Inuyasha grinned and nodded, "For awhile." Once Sango had sat up, he reached for his fire-rat coat and put it on once again as he stood up, "Kagome senses a jewel shard... But there's not going to be a fight."

Kagome stared at Inuyasha in confusion. With the way he was talking, it seemed like it was...

Just then, a whirlwind came into view. And only a couple seconds later, it entered the area, stopping beside Kagome.

"Kouga-kun!" Kagome said, her suspicions being confirmed, "What are you doing here?"

Kouga smiled charmingly, "Rumor's about Naraku faking his death reached our territory, I had to make sure my woman was okay." He took her hands in his and leaned closer to her before adding, "So, Kagome, are you okay?"

Kagome laughed slightly and blushed, forgetting about her troubles with Inuyasha for the moment, "I'm fine, Kouga-kun."

"Good to hear." Kouga stated, flashing another of his smiles. His smile faded slightly, as his blue eyes glanced towards Inuyasha suspiciously. Usually the hanyou would be pushing him away, telling him to stay away from Kagome, and all that. But now, instead of standing defensively in front of Kagome, Inuyasha was standing defensively in front of... the slayer? Not that Kouga was complaining, or anything... "Yo, Inu-koro, you seem awfully quiet. Did you finally realize Kagome's better off with me, rather than a dog like you?"

Inuyasha frowned, "Keh! No ones better off with you, yase-ookami! Now why don't you hand over the shards in your legs, so I don't have to cut them open and get them myself."

Sango shook her head slightly, "Inuyasha, I thought you said there wasn't going to be a fight."

"There doesn't have to be, if Kouga decides to give them to us freely." Inuyasha replied, grinning at the wolf.

Kouga smirked and shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry, Inu-koro, I don't have time to play. I have to--"

"Kooouugaaaa!!"

"Wait up!!"

The voices of Ginta and Hakkaku rose up, and a moment later, the two wolves came into view; stumbling and panting along.

Kouga turned to look at the two underlings, "Ginta, Hakkaku, what took you so long?"

The two stopped, each doubling over and resting their hands on their legs, "Kou...ga... not all of us... have Shikon shards." Hakkaku said, trying to catch his breath.

"Well, come on, we need to track down Naraku." The wolf prince said, turning to leave once again.

"Wait, Kouga-kun." Kagome said, putting a hand on his arm, "Wouldn't it be better if you stay with us?" She asked, causing everyone else to look at her in surprise, "We're all looking for Naraku, and if we search together, it will be easier to find him. Besides, it would be safer for you to travel with us, ne?"

Kouga smiled, and once again grasped Kagome's hands in his own, "It's great knowing you worry about me, Kagome. But I can promise you, nothing will happen to me. We'll continue looking for Naraku on our own."

Ginta and Hakkaku let out a collective sigh, each wanting to be able to rest rather than run after Kouga. But, he was the tribe leader, if he wanted them to run, they would run... "Kouga, couldn't we stay with them for at least one day?" Ginta asked.

"Like Kagome-neesan said, wouldn't we have an advantage if we all looked together?" Hakkaku added.

Kouga released his hold on Kagome's hands and turned to the other wolves, "Don't be stupid. I won't let Inuyasha be the one to take all the glory by defeating Naraku. Naraku's the one who had our kin killed, so the one who will kill Naraku will be me." He turned to Kagome once more, giving her a brief wave, "See you later Kagome. Take good care of my woman, Inuyasha, I won't forgive you if anything happens to her." And with that, he disappeared into a whirlwind and was gone.

Hakkaku and Ginta sighed exasperatedly and began running after their leader.

"Kouga!"

"Don't leave us behind!"

Shippou blinked curiously, the voices of the wolves having woke him up, "What was that all about?"

Kagome shook her head slightly, watching the retreating figures of Kouga, Ginta, and Hakkaku, "Kouga-kun was just checking up on us again."

"You mean, checking up on you?" Shippou asked, looking up at the miko.

She sighed, giving a short nod, "I guess you could say that, Shippou-chan. He's always turning things into a competition with Inuyasha though. It would be better if we all worked together to defeat Naraku..."

"It'd be better if he gave us those jewel shards in his legs." Inuyasha muttered, rolling his eyes.

Shippou looked from Kagome, to Inuyasha and jumped up, "Inuyasha, why didn't you defend Kagome? You know Kouga could've taken her away like he did when we first met him!"

The hanyou frowned, getting the urge to hit the kitsune over the head a few times, "Shippou... I don't need to defend Kagome."

"Why not!" Shippou replied, pointing accusingly at Inuyasha, "If you don't, then--"

Inuyasha's self control didn't last too long, and he put an abrupt stop to Shippou's talking, "You're too young to understand!" He said, hitting him.

"Waaaa! Kagome!" The kitsune cried, jumping into Kagome's arms.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome scolded, trying to calm Shippou down, "You don't have to be so violent with Shippou-chan!"

"Keh!" Inuyasha crossed his arms, looking to the side, "He needs to mind his own business!"

Shippou sniffled, and looked up to Kagome with large, green eyes, "Kagome... you're not going to go off with Kouga now, are you?"

Kagome laughed and hugged the kit, "No, of course not, Shippou-chan. My place is here, collecting the Shikon no Tama shards with all of you. Nothing will change that." She let Shippou jump back to the ground, and looked to Sango and Inuyasha, giving them a small, almost apologetic smile, "Nothing at all." While she still had a while to go until she fully got over her feelings for Inuyasha, she knew she should, at least, be happy for her friends.

Sango smiled; glad to see that Kagome wasn't too upset with her. She then looked at Inuyasha, who merely nodded in acknowledgment to Kagome, "Inuyasha, would you have objected to much to Kouga staying with us?" She asked, just curious as to what he would say.

Inuyasha snorted, wrinkling his nose at the thought, "Keh, of course I would! I'd never let that yase-ookami anywhere near us."

"He'd make a great ally, though." The taijiya replied.

"The arrogant wolf always has to fight on his own, he'd only get us all killed!" Inuyasha said.

Shippou grinned mischievously, "Sounds like someone else we know..."

Inuyasha sent a glare in the kitsune's direction, "What's that supposed to mean?!"

Shippou shrugged innocently, "Well, you calling Kouga arrogant... its kind of funny."

"What do you mean?!" The hanyou asked, sounding more than a little annoyed.

The two continued to argue back and forth, until Inuyasha threatened the kitsune, causing Shippou to retreat into the safety of Kagome's arms.

Kagome sighed and shook her head while Shippou continued to shout insults at Inuyasha, knowing full well that Inuyasha wouldn't do anything to him since he was in her arms, "Shippou-chan, be nice. Inuyasha, you too." She said, smiling a little. While some things had changed, it was comforting to see that the majority of things remained the same.

'Those two will never change.' Sango thought, smiling to herself as she watched Shippou and Inuyasha; not that she wanted them to change though. She looked up to the sky and her smile faded slightly. The sun was already getting lower in the sky; the day was almost gone and they hadn't gotten anywhere really. In short, the day had been wasted. 'Well... not really wasted.' She thought with a smile, as she took hold of Inuyasha's hand, "Come on, Inuyasha, leave Shippou alone for a while, okay?"

The hanyou glanced to the taijiya and 'keh-ed', "He's the one who started it." He mumbled, though he didn't say anything more to Shippou.

Shippou gave a triumphant smile, "I win!" Though, at the look Inuyasha shot him, he let out an 'eep' and nuzzled against Kagome.

"It'll be dark in a little bit. We'll stay here for tonight." Inuyasha said, and the others knew it would be pointless to argue with him.

So without another word on that matter, they began to get their things situated for the night stay.

AN: Kouga makes an appearance! A first in my stories, if I remember correctly. You have to feel sorry for Ginta and Hakkaku though n.n Anyways... I know there wasn't too much of Sango in this chapter, but next chapter will make up for it, promise! Not much else to say, so, hope you enjoyed it!