Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha... though I wish I did. . I bet we all do.

Chapter 9: Play Time

"Wow, she must've been exhausted!" Inuyasha mused, walking into the village with the sleeping girl cradled in his arms. "Well duh! Whadya expect, idiot? She was gone for almost two days prolly without sleep trying to get YOU an anque plant!" his conscience screamed at him. He continued walking towards Kaede's hut when Sango and Miroku came into view. Inuyasha followed their gaze to the slumbering girl in his arms.

They rushed over, demanding to know what was wrong. They saw her laying in his arms and feared the worst, but Inuyasha shushed them. "She's sleeping, you idiots! Apparently she was exhausted from that trip; she almost fell asleep while she was standing" They both sighed and looked thoroughly relieved. Then, the three of them walked back to Kaede's hut.

Kaede wasn't in her hut; "Prolly at one of the other huts doin' an exorcism or something' Inuyasha set Kagome down on the mat, that just a few hours ago, he had occupied and sat down beside her, leaning his back against the wall. He and Kagome were the only ones in the hut for Miroku and Sango spotted Shippou running around with some of the village children and decided to watch them at play.

He looked down at Kagome who was still sleeping peacefully, a smile playing on her soft lips. He leaned down, gently situating stray hair away from her face and planted a loving kiss on her forehead. The young priestess stirred and opened her eyes to find a surprised hanyou starring at her, not a foot from her face.

Inuyasha expected a slap or something like it and flinched slightly. When no sharp pain was felt, he opened his eyes and looked down at her. She just lay there, smiling up at him. He breathed a sigh of relief and a small smile crossed his face as he watched her.

He leaned back up against the wall and closed his eyes. Then, he heard Kagome whisper something and his eyes popped back open. "Uh..." Inuyasha just starred at her dumbly. Kagome laughed and pulled him onto the mat. He landed on his back, and Kagome quickly scrambled over to sit on his pelvis; one legs on each side of him.

Inuyasha chuckled and casually moved his arms to rest beneath his head. He started laughing openly when Kagome placed her hands on his sides and squeezed. He flailed his arms and almost bucked her off of him. The young girl was simply laughing at his predicament, continuing to tickle the hanyou relentlessly.

Finally, he reached up his arms, still laughing uncontrollably and gently took the girl's tiny wrists in his clawed hands. She continued to laugh as much as he had been. She looked down at him and he looked up at her; their very different eyes meeting, focused only on the other. And slowly, Kagome lowered herself onto Inuyasha's chest, now laying fully on top of him, and pressed her cherry lips against his. A pleasurable shock went through both of them, and Kagome gasped.

Inuyasha let go of the girl's hands and pulled her down off of him to lay beside him. She laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around his body. Inuyasha held her close and began stroking Kagome's hair while deeply inhaling her sweet scent, and he slowly drifted off into much needed, peaceful sleep.

It took Kagome quite a bit longer for her to fall asleep. She lay awake, thinking about her encounter with Kouga. "He looked... really sad. I wonder if he's okay. I hope he is; he seems kinda vulnerable now." She moved slightly closer to Inuyasha and gazed out one of the windows. "It's almost night. I wonder where everyone is." As she spoke, she too drifted off to sleep.

Miroku and Sango walked back to Kaede's hut, laughing and talking. They were trying to forget about the little "incident" with Shippou and the other children, and every time they failed and burst out laughing again.

"Aww, poor Shippou!" Sango said quietly as they neared Kaede's hut. There was a hint of amusement in her voice, and Miroku just smiled, the scene replaying in his head.

"Ha ha, you can't catch me!" Shippou yelled as he ran from the human children behind him.

"Yes, we can, Shippou!" All the children were laughing and having a good time until... "Shippou, look out!"

SPLASH! Sango and Miroku couldn't see Shippou anymore, and they heard the children laughing and pointing. They ran to where the children had been pointing and saw Shippou quickly pull himself out of a nearby stream. His fur was soaked and bushy, and he didn't look too happy. Sango and Miroku couldn't help but laugh!

They reached the hut and were just about to go in when Kaede stopped them quietly. Sango and Miroku followed her lead and then heard laughing and peaked into the hut. Kagome was sitting on top of Inuyasha, tickling him. Inuyasha grabbed her hands as Sango drew in a breath.

Kagome was leaning down to kiss Inuyasha!

Their lips touched briefly, and Sango watched as Kagome pulled away slightly. Then Inuyasha pulled the girl down beside him. She pried her eyes from the scene and withdrew her head from the doorway. She just starred at Miroku and Kaede. Miroku looked as stunned as she assumed she looked, while Kaede simply smiled at their surprise.

Kaede lead them away from the hut and finally spoke. "Why are ye so surprised?" Miroku looked at Sango, his surprised face long gone.

"I guess it just caught us off guard." Sango explained, smiling. She was glowing inside. "Oh Kagome! I'm happy for you; I really am." Kaede then led Miroku and Sango to an abandoned hut close by Kaede's.

"We will all sleep here tonight and leave Inuyasha and Kagome in peace. I have to go burn the pit, and I want you to find Shippou. He mustn't disturb the two." Kaede walked out of the spare hut and headed to hers, while Sango went to look for Shippou.

Hahaha, I mean... Aww, poor little cough clumsy cough Shippou. . I'll try and update every other day if I can. I'm a little slow right now, cuz this is about where I stopped. I guess I should've finished the story before I placed it on the site. Stupid me! Never thinks! Well, buh-byes.