Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha..sigh..
Chapter 2:
"Shippo-chan!" Kagome said as the ball of fox youkai hurled into her arms.
"Kagome, you're back!" He wailed as he huggled her.
"Kagome-chan. How was your break?" Sango asked.
"Just fine."
"Dammit woman! Why'd you run off like that!"
"Why are you being so protective?"
"Kagome-sama we must have a talk." Miroku said seriously which quite frankly scared Kagome to death.
"Nani? What's wrong, everyone?" They all headed into the hut.
"Kagome-chan, you do know now that very few shards remain, ne?"
"Of course I do."
"Well, Naraku is after you and your ability to see the shards. After we had brought down another youkai, right before we killed him, we asked why demons were demanding you."
"How many have come?"
"A lot!" The kitsune chirped.
"Nearly a hundred since you left. Naraku has promised jewel shards to the one who brings you to him."
"Keh! They think that he'd actually give shards to them? Idiots. Plus many are just weaklings. We brought them down in mere minutes, but more and more come day after day, sometimes more than one."
"Is that why you sent me home?" All of her comrades nodded.
"We don't want you hurt." Shippo pouted.
"Thank you Shippo-chan." She glanced up at the hanyou, who turned away from her gaze. She cast her eyes down to the ground. Suddenly, Inuyasha shot up and sniffed the air hastily.
"We have yet another visiter." He sighed as he jolted outside, the rest of them following. "Kagome, you stay here with Shippo."
"But I can help!"
"Kagome-sama, you're the one they're after." She hated being left out of the fighting and her arrows did come in handy every once and while.

"Please stay here, Kagome-chan." Sango grabbed her hand. "We don't want you taken."
"Okay, be careful." Sango nodded and picked up her hiraikotsu.
"How many of you morons must we have to deal with? I'm getting tired of killing you weaklings!" He drew out Tessaiga and jumped to slash the gigantic harpy-like youkai. "Ugly bitch aren't ya?" He said as he cut off one of the feathered limbs. The bird woman screamed and screeched, sending Inuyasha smashing into a boulder. He held his sensitive ears, but the shrieking bled right through to his eardrums.
"Inuyasha! Dammit! Kazaana!!!" He didn't realize a few of Naraku's insects had been sucked in as well and he collapsed to the dirt.
"Oh my god, Houshi-sama!"
"It's alright, only a couple.." He passed out cold. Kagome who had been inside the hut the whole time, watching the horrific scene before her, rushed out to Inuyasha's side.
"Inuyasha, are you alright? Inuyasha?" He was looking at her, his hands still over his ears. 'I can't hear anything.' He pulled his hands from his ears. "Your ears are bleeding!" Inuyasha looked at the blood and realized what she was so concerned about.
"I'm alright." His hearing was coming back gradually.
"Are you sure?"
"Uh-huh. Her freakin' screaming must have messed with my ears."
"I should say, with ears like yours, already sensitive as it is." She took a handkerchief from her pocket and blotted the blood around his ears. "Let's go and get some water to clean you up."
"Huh?"
"Can you hear me? Inuyasha?"
"Uh yeah. It'll be a little while before it gets back to normal."
"Okay." She led him back to the hut. "How's he doing, Sango-chan?"
"Much better; good thing it wasn't that many." She said as she placed a cool cloth on his forehead.
"Arigato, Lady Sango." She blushed and turned around, pretending not to have heard his comment. Suddenly, she felt an ever familiar roaming hand caressing her rear.
"Monk...you are very lucky you are ill right now. When you're well, you're in for a beating." He retracted his hand and smiled. She only glared at him over her shoulder. 'I didn't mind all that much, but still, Miroku!' Inuyasha heard Sango's voice loud and clear, but when she said it her lips didn't move.
"Sango you like it when he touches you?"
"Nani?!" She yelled.
"Owowow!" He grabbed his ears again.
"Inuyasha of course she doesn't. Why would you ask that?"
"She just said it. She said she liked it."
"Inuyasha!" Sango gasped. 'What is going on?'
"I don't know!" Inuyasha yelled.
"What's wrong Inuyasha? All Sango said was that Miroku-sama was in for a beating later, nothing more."
"I guess I'm just hearing things." He shook his head. 'I coulda sworn she said that and her reaction when I said something about it..what is going on?' Kagome only stared confused at the hanyou.
"You don't have a fever or nothing, but maybe you should rest."
"I'm fine! I'm not tired."
"Please." 'I don't want to see you suffer and you look so sleepy.'
"Huh?"
"Please." Inuyasha placed his hand on his forehead, making sure he wasn't feverish. 'It would make me feel a lot better if you went to sleep.'
"Did you say something?"
"N-no."
"Okay, I'll go to sleep." He got up and headed out the door. 'Why must he sleep outside, like a dog.' "NANI?!"
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah and I guess I'll sleep inside tonight."
"You will?"
"Yeah, whatever." 'Arigato, Inuyasha. I feel safer this way, you near me.' Inuyasha sighed and realized something: my hearing is really off!

AN: So how'd you like it? I'll update again soon! Until next chappie! Review please!