Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Chapter Forty Five: Another Traveler

Kagome opened her eyes and looked around the room that she and Inuyasha used. Shippo and Ginsenshi were sleeping soundly on their mats. Now or never she thought. Almost on cue Inuyasha's arms tightened around her. Kagome moved her head to the side, just to make sure he was still asleep. Much to her surprise, she met two amber eyes staring back at her.

"You should be asleep." He mumbled.

Kagome rubbed his ears and listen to his content growl. "I have to go to the bathroom."

Inuyasha chuckled and let go of her. "Don't take to long."

Kagome stood up and walked towards the door leading to the hallway. She paused for a second and turned to look down at Inuyasha. "P-Promise you won't follow me."

Inuyasha snorted, "Why would I follow you to the bathroom."

"Promise you won't follow."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Alright. I promise."

"Thanks." Kagome said quickly before walking into the hall. She had set her yellow backpack out their earlier, so Inuyasha and Shippo wouldn't wonder why she was taking it.

"Kagome?" She spun suddenly on her heel when she heard a voice behind her, but let out a relived sigh when she saw it was only Kohaku.

"Go back to bed." She whispered.

"I know what you're doing."

Kagome froze. "What do you mean."

"I know that you're going off to fight Kikyo."

Kagome took a step towards him. "How did you find out."

"I'm not stupid. I put two and two together."

Kagome looked towards the room that Inuyasha was in. "Y-You won't tell him, will you"

Kohaku shook his head. "I won't get the chance."

"What do you mean."

"I'm going with you."

Kagome almost yelled out no', but she didn't want to wake anyone up. She bit her bottom lip before speaking again. "Why?"

"You're my sisters best friend, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I sat by and let you go off to face danger alone."

"Won't Sango be upset when she find out you're gone."

Kohaku tilted his head to the side. "Won't Inuyasha be upset when he finds out you're gone."

Kagome saw a look in his eyes that she often saw in Sango's. The look hat said, I'm not giving up without a fight'. "Fine." She shrugged. "You can come. But if things get to dangerous, I'm sending you back."

"You can try."

Kagome laughed and tossed her yellow backpack over her shoulder. "Are you ready to leave."

"Yeah, I have some supplies waiting outside."

"Good. Let's go."

With very little talking, the two of the left Sango's house and Kaede's village as quietly as they could. Disappearing in the middle of the night.

Inuyasha opened his eyes and lifted his head up to check on Ginsenshi. He was still sleeping soundly on his little bed, a rare thing in the morning. The sun already lit up the room, but Inuyasha still didn't want to wake up. So he rolled over and reached out to pull Kagome closer to him.

It took him a few seconds to realize that no matter how far he stretched his arm, he couldn't feel her. His eyes snapped open and he saw that Kagome was gone. At first it didn't bug him. Kagome had gotten into the habit of waking up before him. Normally she would be in the main room with Sango, making breakfast.

He pushed himself off the floor and walked out of the room. "Where's Kagome?" he asked as soon as he saw Sango sitting in front of a giant pot.

Sango sat back on her heal and seemed to think about something for a few seconds. "She wasn't with you when you woke up?"

"If she was, then I wouldn't be asking you this, would I!"

Sango looked down into the pot again. "I-I don't know. Maybe she went for a walk."

Inuyasha crouched down in his dog position and stared at the floor. "I guess so." He mumbled, with a hint of sadness in his voice. Sango felt a little guilty. She knew that Kagome had probably gone off to fight with Kikyo and it pained her to see that look on Inuyasha's face.

"Do you want some breakfast?" She asked.

Inuyasha shook his head. "I'll wait for Kagome to get here."

Sango shook her head. "Are you sure you want to do that. Who knows how long her walk could take."

Inuyasha looked up at her. He could tell that she knew something, but before he got a chance to ask, the sound of Ginsenshi's cries hit his ears. He stood up and walked into the bedroom. He picked up Ginsenshi and held him high enough to look him straight in the eyes. "Something wrong?"

The small child stopped crying and stared at his father. Inuyasha smirked, Ginsenshi had never simply stopped crying instantly. At least not around him. He carried him out of the room to where Sango was and set the child on the ground next to him as he took his seat.

Miroku and Shippo were both in the room now too. Ginsenshi sat next to his father and looked around. Sango noticed this. If she didn't know better she would have sworn that he was looking for Kagome.

"Where's Kohaku?" Inuyasha asked as he took a bowl from Sango. He had decided to eat now instead of waiting for Kagome. The food smelt really good.

Sango looked around, as if she was just realizing that he wasn't there. "I don't know."

Miroku gave a fake cough. "Kohaku." He looked directly at Sango. "went on that walk' with Kagome." Kohaku had confided his plans to Miroku a while ago, and just like Sango, He had promised not to tell anyone.

Sango's eyes grew wide. "What!"

"What's the big deal?" Inuyasha asked sarcastically, "It's just a walk, isn't it?"

Sango looked from Inuyasha to Miroku and back again. "Y-Yeah. A walk. I'm sure they'll be back later tonight."

"That's one hell of a walk." Shippo said.

Kagome woke up to the smell of meat cooking. She rubbed her eyes and rolled over, expecting to see Inuyasha. Until she remembered that they had left. As soon as they were well out of Kaede's village, she and Kohaku set up camp and slept the rest of the night.

"I made you some" Kohaku said when he noticed that Kagome had woken.

She pushed herself up and looked over at him. He had all his sleeping gear packed, ready to go. "You didn't have to cook."

He shook his head and handed her a plate full of rabbit meat. Kagome picked at it a little, but didn't eat much. She was feeling really bad about leaving Inuyasha, Ginsenshi, and Shippo behind without a single word.

"Kagome," Kohaku saw the emotionless look on her face. "could I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"W-Why did you want to travel in secret? Why couldn't Inuyasha help you?"

Kagome set the food down, her appetite was now completely gone. "Inuyasha shouldn't have to fight Kikyo."

Sango had told Kohaku about the relationship that Kikyo and Inuyasha once had. He shook his head. "Are you sure that's the reason you didn't want him to come"

"What do you mean?"

"I think you were just scared of how Inuyasha would act around Kikyo. Scared that he would still have feelings for her."

Kagome hugged her knees and thought about it. That thought alone had woken her up in the middle of the night many times before. "Come on. We should get going." She mumbled. She packed up her bedroll and started the trip again, without ever making eye contact with Kohaku.

They stayed silent for a long time, until Kohaku coughed. "I'm sorry Kagome. I didn't mean to make you feel bad."

Kagome smiled, though it seemed a little fake. "It's okay. I'm just feeling bad because Ginsenshi's birthday is in a week, and I might miss it."

Kohaku grabbed her hand. "Then we should hurry." He winked once and started running. Kagome, for the first time all day, gave a genuine laugh.

Sango walked over to the sleeping mat in her bedroom. Miroku was already in it. "What's wrong?" he asked.

She snuggled in beside him. "I'm just worried about Kohaku." She said quietly.

Miroku brought her closer to him and used one hand to rub her back. That had always comforted her in the past. "Not me. I'm kinda happy he went."

"Why?" she seemed a little shocked.

"He can protect Kagome."

Sango nodded. She hadn't been happy about the decision Kagome had made earlier about going alone. But she still wished Inuyasha had gone with her instead. He was much stronger.

When that thought hit her a few tears were able to escape from her eyes. After her entire village was destroyed, she waited so long to see her brother again. She couldn't lose him now.

"Sango. Don't cry." Miroku pleaded. He leaned his head towards her a little and kissed every spot on her face that tears had appeared. Sango closed her eyes and welcomed the feel of Miroku's lips. When he was satisfied that her eyes were once again dry, he lifted his head and looked down at her.

"Sango," he said softly "someone so beautiful shouldn't be so sad."

Sango looked up at Miroku and smiled. She didn't know how he was able to know just the right thing to say, but he did. There must have been a look of need in her eyes that she hadn't been able to conceal, because Miroku smirked and met her lips. Deepening it, and making it more and more passionate.

Sango gasped when she felt Miroku's hand moving under her clothing to cup her breast. "You have cold hands." She laughed.

"Good thing I know how to warm them up."

Sango laughed as his icy cold hands moved along her stomach, back, butt, and to her breast again until they were once again warm. He sat up for a second to pull off his shirt before moving back over her, to kiss along her neck. Sango ran her fingers along Miroku's spine, sending chills throughout his entire body. She had learned on their wedding night that he loved that feeling.

Miroku moved his kisses down her neck and onto her shoulder. His hands moved to untie the kimono she was wearing and pulled it away. He had seen Sango completely naked many times since they had been married, but he never failed to be engulfed by her beauty.

Sango reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him down, closer to her.

Inuyasha paced the room impatiently rocking Ginsenshi in his arms, despite the fact that child had long since fallen asleep. "Why isn't Kagome back yet?" he asked out loud.

"Inuyasha?"

He stopped walking and looked down at Shippo. "Did I wake you up runt?"

Shippo shook his head, even though it was a lie. "When's she getting back?"

Inuyasha tried not to growl at the kit from his frustration. "I don't -" he suddenly cut himself off. One of his ears twitched when he heard Sango's voice You have cold hands'. He made a little face, "Come on Shippo." He started to walk out of the room.

"Where are we going?" Shippo jumped up and followed him.

"Might as well look for Kagome." he mumbled And give those two some privacy he thought.

It was pretty warm that night, so neither Shippo or Inuyasha needed any extra clothing. Not that cold weather bothered demons very much. The two of them walked down random paths through the town sniffing for Kagome. Inuyasha tried not to show it, but he was getting really worried.

"Did Mom say she was going somewhere?" Shippo asked after a long silence.

"Mom? Why is it you call her mom, but you don't call me dad?"

A faint pink appeared on Shippo's cheeks, which Inuyasha noticed, even though it was nighttime. "Did she say anything too you?"

Inuyasha sighed. "No. The last time I talked to her, she was going to the bathroom." He thought back, trying to remember her words. P-Promise you won't follow me.' All of a sudden he stopped walking. "Damn it!"

"What's wrong?" Shippo asked.

"She practically told me!" Inuyasha scolded himself. He wanted to punch something, but he was still holding Ginsenshi, so he settled for kicking the dirt. "And I even promised!"

Kagome stirred the soup as she and Kohaku waited for it to finish cooking. "It's should be ready in a few minutes." She said placing the lid on top of it.

Kohaku smiled and leaned back on his heels. He had learned to enjoy Kagome's cooking since they started off. Of course that was most likely because it was the only food available to him. When Kagome handed him a bowl he greedily ate all of it within minutes and politely asked for seconds.

Kagome reached out to fill his bowl again, but both their heads turned when they heard the snapping of a twig near the camp. "What do you think that was?" she whispered.

"I'll check." Kohaku stood up. He viewed this as a chance to be useful and protect her. He walked closer to the area that the sound came from keeping a tight hand on his sickle. "W-Who's there?" he called out, hopping his voice didn't sound as shaky as he felt.

He managed to stand his ground when a demon jumped down a few feet away from him. "You're the worst protector Kagome has ever had. At least mutt face doesn't show that he was nervous."

"Kouga?" Kagome called from the campsite.

"Yeah." He patted Kohaku on the shoulder once before joining Kagome.

"What are you doing here Kouga."

Kohaku was able to pick up on the slight annoyance in her voice and sat down next to her, just in case something happened.

"I've been following you for a while." Kouga mumbled.

Kagome frowned. "Why?"

"I saw you traveling around with, " he glanced at Kohaku then back to Kagome, "practically no protection. So I've been following you."

"Kouga " Kagome sighed.

"So I figured I should stay with you guys. Offer better protection and get a little food."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "You know that I'm Inuyasha's mate right?"

"Yeah."

"And you know we had a child, right?"

Kouga let out a sigh but nodded just the same.

Kagome smiled and handed him a bowl of soup. "Then you can stay."

::sigh:: I want eight reviews. Until next time love, peace, and rock.

Lots of love DayDreamer62386