Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, just the video game and the two posters I bought… :o)

Chapter 5: Traipsing in the woods late at night

Kagome glared at her supposed friend. "I'm freezing! How much longer?"

Miroku shrugged. He shivered. It was a mistake to give her my outer robes…He tried to watch her without being too obvious. Then again… She had the outer part of his robes on, with the knot usually to the side now tied hastily around her neck. Since she was smaller than him, she was swallowed up by the layers of cloth, except for her bare arms, which were covered in goose bumps. That look suits her… If things were different… While his robe was heavy, it was no match for the biting wind. He would have gladly given her his inner robes, but that would have meant that he would be the unclothed one around here. Besides, in his current state…

Sesshoumaru turned to the miko. "Must you complain so much?"

"You weren't the one NAKED in a freezing river in the dead of night!"

Miroku would have pointed out that he, too, had ended up in the river, but Sesshoumaru beat him to the punch.

"Humans are such weak creatures…"

"You know, I'm getting tired of hearing that." Kagome stuck her nose in the air and deadpanned, " 'Humans are such weak creatures.' You sound just like Inuyasha."

Miroku froze. Sesshoumaru turned to them, smirked, and walked on. Miroku released his breath. "Do not push him, Lady Kagome…"

"You shut up. I'm not talking to you. And what the HELL were you thinking, making a pact with—with—HIM?"

Sesshoumaru couldn't resist. "Did you not say you were not speaking to the monk? And yet you ask him a question. Make up your mind, human."

"Argh! Stop doing that! I'm the victim here, remember?"

Oh, Kami… Time to stop this before they kill each other… "Lady Kagome does have a point, Lord Sesshoumaru. Are we close?"

"We are there."

The trio stopped in front of a dilapidated wooden hut in the middle of nowhere. Miroku pulled out some sacred seals from the folds of his robes. "Let us go inside."

Sesshoumaru growled. Poison dripped from his claws. "I, Sesshoumaru, refuse to be trapped in there with two humans. You lied, monk."

Kagome sighed. "We did this to Inuyasha to protect him. With the seals, outsiders, including him, won't be able to see the hut." As an afterthought, she commented, "And just because we did it to Inuyasha it doesn't mean you have to like it. Let's just go in and finish this."

Sesshoumaru started. How did she know I'd been thinking that? Witch!  Eyes narrowed, he opened his mouth, but she stopped him with a look. "Don't. Do not say anything." She shook her head and went inside, muttering, "You two are so alike…"

Sesshoumaru stared after her. Who did she think she was… He sniffed the air. "Hurry up, monk. That half-breed is coming."

Miroku nodded and went about his business. Right before he went in, he grabbed some firewood. He went in, closing the door behind him and sealing it.

Inuyasha came into the general area, sniffed the air, and bounded off into the night. Must find them…

© 7/3/03, M.A.R.

Aphiopsyduck: Watched my favorite Inuyasha episode last night… Rin just came in! Yay! And Kouga's as naughty as ever. :-P  Too bad tonight's the last episode on Cartoon Network… :o(

Story-wise, I've finally hit my writing stride—right in the middle of chapter 8. If the style gets to be too different in the upcoming chapters, let me know. :o)

(More or less) Permanent A/N: *sweatdrops…*  Ehehe…  First fanfic… If nothing else, it's a test run, since this will be my first real fanfic posted anywhere. I don' really know where it's going though, so please bear with me. Reviews are welcome, and flames will be used on undead mikos who refuse to leave our heroes alone. :o)