Disclaimer I don't own nothing, except an Inuyasha calendar, so HAH!

Answers to reviews:

The-Wind-Dragon-Caller:

I am NOT a lemon writer, but I may come close. It is apparent that you are, since I read your stories. I intend to keep my fanfiction semi-clean, but that is just the type of person I am…

He may be a "platinum blonde", I have heard that term used but silver is much shorter and quicker to write, (not to mention it gives an "unnatural" feel to the description.

Lastly I love that you are enjoying the story and I am honored to be on your favorites list.  and I will update as often as possible as long as I get my homework done and Dad doesn't freak out about my computer time.

Phenomenon:

I'm glad you like the story… I will continue to make it fun, (even if it has Bad timing like the massage ) and the explanation of Kagome's female "supplies" is yet to come… :laughs evilly : chokes : gets a glass of water :

FYI:

Goshinboku: the "god tree" Inuyasha was pinned to… also known as a "time" tree, (1st movie: Love That Transcends Time)

Bouzu: a disgraceful and harsh term for a monk

Kitsune: a fox demon

Hanyou: half-demon

chan: a suffix added to a name meaning "friend"

sama: an honorific suffix added to a name so Houshi-sama is "honored monk"

Sango always calls Miroku Houshi-sama, why? I have no clue. But in Japanese culture adding a suffix means that the person you are addressing is either your friend or your superior, in this case it is friend, showing familiarity.

Once A Month:

Chapter 4

A Blessing in Disguise

The whole group ended up resting in the hot spring for a couple of hours. As afternoon became early evening. Shippo and Kirara returned from playing to find a quiet scene of their companions sleeping in the hot spring. Shippo looks over to Kirara as she transforms to her little self. The two walk over to the edge of the water and lay down, Shippo closes his eyes and Kirara keeps watch.

Kagome wakes up slowly, as though coming through layers of sleep, feeling the warmth all around her, she sighs and snuggles into the source. As she continues to wake up she realizes that she can't move much and she opens her eyes to stare at a strong shoulder and silver locks of the one and only Inuyasha. She looks up to his face, and to her surprise, sees a look of contentment and peace that she had never seen before, even when she saw him pinned to Goshinboku. She suddenly remembered that it was she who had crawled into his embrace and he had accepted it. Kagome felt him stir beneath her and she knew he was coming out of sleep himself, so she simply tried to enjoy the intimate moment and hoped he wouldn't mind, snuggling into him for comfort, and to let him know she cared, she let out a sigh. She was overjoyed that he was allowing her into his heart, and she never wanted to leave…

Inuyasha felt himself being pulled from sleep by movement in his arms and breath on his shoulder, causing tingles to run down his spine. His memory slowly came to him of how he had tried to kiss her and instead she fell asleep in his arms. He again heard her sigh of contentment and opened his eyes to see hers peering up peacefully into his.

Inuyasha thought to himself, it feels so right to have her wake her, she seems to fit not only my body, but my soul perfectly. He placed his chin on her forehead and looked up to see the setting sun. If it weren't for her "period" I wonder if we would have ever gotten to this place.

He felt her sitting up and he pulled her fully into his lap, allowing his hand to drop to the curve of her stomach, and retaking her other hand in his they shared a moment of silence, getting lost in each other's eyes, hearts and souls.

Sango had sensed Kirara's return and looked up to see the fire cat loyally watching from nearby, seeing her master was awake the little cat pranced over to her master. Once within reaching distance she sat and cocked her head, looking at her outfit. Sango giggled, finally getting used to the outfit herself she realized that Kirara had never seen anything like it.

Sango sighed as she thought to herself, Kagome's period has allowed us all to do things we have never done before, I have never spent an entire day just relaxing in a hot spring, nor has anyone else I bet.

She looked over to the couple and smiled, and I know that Inuyasha-sama or Kagome-chan have never been able to share any moments like this. Inuyasha always has to put up his tough act instead of just admitting that he's worried or misses Kagome-chan

Her eyes wandered to the monk, who was leaning against a rock and was sleeping peacefully.

You know he's actually a good guy once you get past the hentai and the leacherous tendancies. Maybe one day when he decides to grow up I will have a chance to know what he is really like. He is probably like Inuyasha-sama with his upfront, and disgraceful behaiviors.

Miroku awoke from his nap to see Sango looking at him, seeming deep in thought, he gave her a winning smile and thought to himself, I hope I can win her heart one day.

He turned in her direction and saw her snap out of her trance, looking at him. He saw in her eyes a hope, which was soon to be smothered and a careful wall was put up, one that was guarding her innocent heart, he realized to himself.

If I wasn't such a lecher as she calls it I wonder if she would open up more… he sighed in frustration and leaned back against the rock, trying to think of a way to win her heart. Luckily we aren't going anywhere until Kagome's bleeding dies down.

As all were deep in thought, or deep in each other's gaze they all heard a very annoyed and bored sigh from a certain little kitsune. Shippo had woken himself up from his nap and was bored to death, watching the sunset he let out a loud, exasperated sigh which brought all eyes on him…

"What? I haven't eaten in ages and there is nothing to do since you all seem to be preoccupied with your soaking-"

"It's ok Shippo-chan, we have been in here long enough wouldn't you agree?"

Kagome looked around to the others and a blushing hanyou. "If you boys want to get another fire started I would like to talk to Sango-chan."

Inuyasha carefully placed Kagome on the rock next to him before getting up and heading out of the water to gather firewood for the dinner. Kagome turned to Sango with a smile as her friend came over to sit next to her.

"I'm glad Kagome-chan."

"What for?"

"That you and Inuyasha are finally showing your feelings, and that he actually has such a gentle side, did you see how gently he put you down?"

"Yeah… and without saying a single word, I hope I didn't hurt his feelings by sending him away for a moment."

"I'm sure he doesn't mind, now what did you want to ask me?"

"Well I still don't have any supplies and I am NOT sending Inuyasha through the well to get them from my mother."

Sango and Kagome giggled, "Wouldn't that be a sight."

"I know I can just see my mom giving him this look while handing him a box of tampons and a bag of pads."

The girls giggled harder, after a moment they recovered, "Ok, now THAT would be funny, I still don't know what those are, but I can imagine the expression."

Sango quelled the rest of her giggles as she looks gratefully to her new found friend. "Ok, here we give you thick underclothing to absorb the blood and you change it out every few hours."

"Sounds like a pain."

"Well its that or sit in the water for the rest of the night."

"Good point, my fingers couldn't get much more pruned."

"Want me to get those for you and you can change?"

"If you wouldn't mind."

"No problem."

Sango waded out of the water, Kirara on her heels she gave Kagome some of her extra clothing, along with a loose kimono, since the underclothing was a might bulky.

"Thank you Sango-chan I owe you one."

"Just promise me that when I have my time we will get to hang out in the hot spring again."

giggle "That all depends on Inuyasha, but I may be able to convince him to hang for a day."

"Of course."

"Luckily the cramps are gone, so now I can eat…"

"Good, I better get started on dinner… when you finish changing just come on over and pull out your sleeping bag. No, No. Don't worry about dinner, my treat tonight."

"Thank you so much Sango-chan."

"Anytime."

Sango helped Kagome out of the water and let her go off into the bushes in order to change, turning to Kirara she smiled, "Now to get to dinner…"

The guys had gone off into the woods and began gathering firewood for the evening flame. Since the sun was nearly set Miroku was stumbling a bit and was having trouble seeing the forest floor beneath him so he stood up and turned towards the hanyou.

Inuyasha of course was having no trouble at all seeing, but one could easily see that his mind was elsewhere, his sensitive ears straining to hear the conversation back at the camp. The only thing he could tell was that the tone was happy, he heard his name mentioned once and some giggling followed, he would have to ask Kagome about that later. His mind still foggy from his interaction with Kagome, his senses still full of her loving scent, it took him a while to realize that the monk had stopped picking up firewood and was just standing there.

"What do you want Bouzu?"

"What?"

"Is there a reason you stopped collecting firewood?"

"My aren't we grumpy tonight."

"Not grumpy just… sigh … ok what do you want?"

"Want? I just can't see where I'm going and was going to let you know I was heading back to camp. Do you have something on your mind?"

"Why do you ask?"

"'Cause usually you aren't so out of it."

"You calling me-"

"No I'm not calling you anything, but its clear you need some space, or thinking time or both so I will be at the camp if you want to talk."

Miroku starts to stumble away, carefully feeling his way with his sandaled feet.

"Wait."

He stops and leans against a nearby trunk, waiting for the hanyou to catch him. Before the hanyou could get all defensive, (and he knew he would), he smiled genuinely and said, "I'm glad you FINALLY realize what a special gift you have."

"Gift?"

"Of course, Kagome-sama is a very special miko, and you are lucky to have her."

"OF COURSE she is mine!" (He cut off blushing and realizing what he just said)

"I know and have always known she was 'yours', but you didn't allow yourself to show it until today."

The hanyou couldn't think of any sarchastic remarks, so he gave a, "Keh."

"One day Inuyasha you will probably claim her as your mate, that day will be a happy one for the both of you."

Inuyasha's mind went for a whirl at the thought of calling Kagome a "mate", a "life-time companion", and a "soul mate". Just the thought sent his heart racing and his mind overwhelmed by everything that was… her.

Not knowing what else to say, the two headed back to camp, Miroku stumbling every once in a while, they set up the fire and came across Sango, setting up fish around what small flames were left from the afternoon kindling.

"Glad you guys could join me, now I can get some help with dinner."

"Where's Kagome?"

"She's changing."

"I can smell her blood again."

"Well, luckily her cramps are gone, but yes, she will be bleeding for a while longer yet."

Inuyasha grumbled as he jumped to the nearest branch. Smelling blood in general always put him on edge, but when it was Kagome's his protective instincts always kicked in, making him want to defend her from whatever it was that was hurting her. But since there was no opponent it made him just want to thrash something, living or not.

Kagome came out of the woods and headed towards the light from the fire, since all had gone dark she felt her way along before reaching the campsite. As she arrived she received a smile from those doing dinner, and a look of concern from the hanyou in the tree. She walked nearer, giving them all a warm smile of welcome as she rolled out her sleeping bag to sit on.

Seeing that Inuyasha was still on edge, she made an effort to lighten the mood, "What's with the long face Inuyasha, periods are just a normal way of the body saying, 'I am a mature adult', its not like it hurts anymore."

At the words "I am a mature adult." Inuyasha nearly fell out of the branch, grabbing quickly to another one nearby he steadied himself before looking down at her wide eyed.

"What? What did I say?"

He couldn't respond, thinking back to the conversation he had just had with the monk, he realized that he wasn't ready to take that step with anyone, even if it was Kagome. Her blood wasn't nearly as strong as before so he jumped down from his perch and sat next to her silently on her sleeping bag, still looking concerned.

Kagome studied his expression, wondering what it was that threw him off kilter so bad. That, along with the fact that he was allowing himself to give up his normal habits to be closer to her, surprised the young miko. It was a pleasant surprise, but a surprise none the less. She looked again into his eyes and saw worry, along with a wall that he was trying to build. Her own look softened, as she worried over his strange mood, I know he is finally opening up, but just as he makes a little progress he puts up another wall for me to break down.

What Kagome didn't realize was that wall was, at this time, in her favor. As he looked into her concerned eyes he suddenly had a fleeting image of them becoming mates and he quickly smothered the thought and put a wall around it. In the future, maybe, but not now, I know I am not ready for it and I don't know if she is yet. So he broke eye contact and looked to their friends, politely, (for once), changing the subject.

"So, what's for dinner."

Kagome gave him a confused look and he gave her one that said, "I'll explain later". Satisfied she looked to Sango expectantly and she told them about the fish they were eating, handing them each a stick with a juicy, roasted fish on the end.

They all ate in silence, and after the meal Sango and Miroku cleaned up, and prepared for sleep. Yawning Kagome looked over to a hanyou who was deep in thought. To break him out of it she looked up to the stars and asked to no one in particular, "I wonder what it's like to sleep in a tree?"

Inuyasha had eaten his dinner, and began wishing he could go up into the nearby tree. He had learned when he was young that a tree was a far safer place than the ground. He was torn between going to the place of safety and protecting his to-be mate. Those words sounded so strange to him, but as he thought about it those words didn't seem to fit anyone else but the miko sitting next to him. As he continued pondering his thoughts were interrupted as she asked the question. His heart skipped a beat as he looked down at the smiling miko.

Seeing that she finally got a response she continued, "I might need my sleeping bag, 'cause I will still be co-"

Inuyasha had scooped both her and her sleeping bag up, and in the same motion launched them into a nearby tree. Kagome giggled with delight from the rush and allowed the hanyou to wrap the sleeping bag around her and hold her in his lap. Sighing contentedly she drifted off to sleep, feeling the warm embrace and a light kiss on her forehead she slipped into the world of dreams.

Inuyasha was overjoyed that Kagome was willing to not only trust him further, but just the fact that she had suggested sleeping with him, (if not directly), caused his heart to soar and touch the stars above. He looked down to find that she had already fallen asleep, trusting him completely, he was thankful that the sleeping bag was cutting off the smell of blood. Sighing, he pulled her close, and placed a light kiss on her forehead before closing his eyes, hoping that his dreams could be half as good and reality.

You like? Sorry, I tried to keep it light but the story ran in its own direction.

Day one complete, but there is more to come…:) grins mischeviously

I promise I will update ASAP & I'm always open for suggestions, (no lemon ok?) R&R