Ok time for some responses…

Anne Asher: Thanks for the clarification, Kirara will be changed to Kilala from here on out ;) And thanks for the suggestions! I'm gonna take 'em and have some serious fun! (snickers evilly)

Kitsune-Tenshi-16: Glad you like it… I will try to update fairly often.

Phenomenon: Don't cry! It's a happy thing. (…and to think, I've never dated before, oh well, my imagination tends to take me far) and no lemons, (my imagination doesn't go THAT far!). By the way, what are you doing with ammonia, some kind of science fair project?

Kagurafuujinnomai: Lovin' your reviews! They make me laugh! Yes this is my first fanfiction, but I've got a few more up my sleeve…

You want more Shippo-chan? I recommend reading my other story, he will be playing a key role! But I think I can work with him a little more it that's what you want.

I'm glad my writing can bring w.a.f.f. to ya! ("huggles" you back) I think you should know that your KID was the 1st fanfiction I ever read, you got me hooked! So some of the credit should go to you!

Disclaimer: I tried, I failed, I have nothing… no wait I have a calendar, so HA! That's all.

Once a Month

Chapter 5

Day 2: An Unexpected Turn of Events

The night faded away into the early morning and Inuyasha woke to see that Shippo had joined them in the night and was sleeping in between both Kagome's and his torso. Since when do I sleep through something like that? He shrugged and looked instead at the miko's peaceful expression. His senses had been dulled by the blood, as well as the closeness that they were now seemingly able to share. He tried to breathe through his mouth because through the night the blood had collected, and although the sleeping bag was doing a good job of blocking it there was enough to make him a little queasy. Not that blood made him queasy in general, but Kagome's blood was driving him up the wall.

He gently nudged her awake and saw her grip tighten on the kitsune in her lap. He smiled to himself, always the loving mother figure. He suddenly thought of what their children would look like, wait! Their children! Where am I getting all this! He gave her a light kiss on the forehead and saw her eyes flitter open as she looked up, only half awake. Her expression showed the love he now knew she felt for him and he felt his heart quicken once again. He knew he wanted, (and probably could), stay like this forever, (preferably without the hairball), but he couldn't take the smell of the blood anymore, so he looked down at her now smiling features and said, more gently than he ever thought possible, "Lets get that blood cleaned up, ok?"

Kagome gave a nod and he tightened his hold on the two and slid out of the tree, careful not to disturb the still sleeping kitsune. Sango and Miroku were just waking up, Miroku gave them a weird smile that received a growl from the hanyou, and a giggle from miko. Sango just looked at Kagome sympathetically, smelling the blood herself she wondered how the hanyou could stand for it, especially since he treated her like a mate, and youkai tended to be very edgy with a bleeding mate. He seemed to handle it well enough so she motioned for him to set her next to him, which he gratefully did.

He turned to leave when he felt a pull at his hand, recognizing the shivers he received he knew it was Kagome's, "Can you please take Shippo?" she pleaded. He only nodded as she carefully transferred the sleeping kitsune into his arms. Surprised at his own actions he walked off into the forest to think and clear his nose from the overpowering smell of Kagome's blood.

Kagome looked sad as she saw Inuyasha walk off, where is he going? I thought he enjoyed that, I know I did. As if reading her thoughts Sango leaned to whisper in her ear, "He isn't leaving you, he will be back. You just need to get the blood smell off, I'm sure is has been driving his sensed mad all night."

Kagome turned to her friend and gave her a grateful smile. Knowing that the taijya was far more educated about youkai than she was, along with being a perceptive person in general, she knew sango was right. She quietly stood, taking the new garments her friend had gotten for her she went off into the woods to change. She came back feeling very refreshed, wondering what a new day would bring.

Inuyasha was reluctant to say the least about leaving Kagome. He knew she was weaker than normal, and her blood could wreak havoc in one way or another, but he knew he needed to clear his head for a moment and work some things out in his own mind. He looked down to the kitsune in his arms and wondered, since when did I become so soft? He laughed to himself since the answer was sitting back at the camp, since I began traveling with such a caring person. He knew he was changing, and even that it was for the better, but he couldn't help but wonder at how easily her presence had an influence on his behaivior. When he had first met her he had been nothing but a mischievous, troublesome hanyou who went around reeking havoc, and supposedly killing mikos. He saw that with a couple of weeks he had cut down on the swearing and was actually learning to open up and trust the companions traveling with him. Since when do I have companions? I was always alone. Again it all came back to Kagome, she seemed to have some sort of magnet that called worthy, (or semi-worthy in the monk's case), and loyal companions that he knew would back him, or any of them up if they were in a bind or needed help. He cleared his mind and took a deep breath of clean, non-blood filled, air.

The motion of the deep breath caused the kitsune to stir, waking him. Shippo opened his eyes, not to see Kagome's borrowed kimono, but Inuyasha's haori, he looked up in surprise to see that Kagome was no where around! Even her blood smell had gone, (except the remnants on both he and Inuyasha) he looked up and saw the hanyou looking down at him with a calm look. He thought about getting all defensive, and smart-mouthed, but thinking it though it probably wasn't Inuyasha's idea to carry him in the first place. He smiled to himself, I'm so glad Kagome is such a good influence on him. I like him much better when he's not being a jerk. So the two walked in silence, each deep in their own thoughts as they shared their first real quiet moment together. Inuyasha came to a small, clear stream and broke the silence. "You want a drink?"

Shippo looked up in surprise at the lack of gruffness, or the absence of some rude name following the question. Not knowing how to respond he just shrugged and said, "No thanks." The hanyou shrugged his own shoulders and set, (not dropped, not tossed, but set) Shippo down on a rock, kneeling down to get a drink for himself. The kit began to wonder how much influence the girl had really had on the hanyou, was it not two weeks ago that he had met the ill-tempered hanyou? He had changed so much, especially in the way he responded to others. Shippo continued to wonder how a girl's period could change someone literally overnight, but it seemed to have worked. Inuyasha was now showing actual compassion and kindness, not only towards Kagome but the members of their little traveling party.

When Inuyasha finished washing his face and getting a drink he stood up and started walking away. To Shippo's surprise he held an arm out for him to sit on. Figuring he may change back into his old self if anybody asked any questions he jumped nimbly onto Inuyasha's shoulder and they headed back towards camp.

Since when do I act nice at everyone? He thought, but his conscience answered back, You know you like it when others return the kindness, he started arguing with the voice, But it makes me look weak! The voice answered back, does Kagome look weak in your eyes? He frowned slightly, No, she is the strongest person I know, maybe not physically, but she's got a heart of gold. The voice answered, and you know that her heart has pulled you through several near death experiences, just because you wanted to see her safe and alive. Inuyasha pondered on that final thought as he and Shippo entered the camp.

Shippo jumped down excitedly from his shoulder and ran over to a now refreshed and clean Kagome, "He was nice to me!" the little kitsune looked eagerly into Kagome's eyes. She looked up and answered with an equally, if not slightly childish voice, "Really now. What did he do that was so nice?" The kitsune was nearly jumping up and down telling Kagome how Inuyasha had carried him and offered him a drink and didn't even insult him! Kagome looked at the kit in amusement and shot a Inuyasha a surprised, but very grateful look.

He looked on the scene in amusement himself as the voice returned. You know, if you were like this all the time I bet you wouldn't get sat so much. He laughed to himself and replied, yeah right, I will get sat no matter what I do. He continued to watch the interaction between the young kit and the girl and thought, you know… she only sits me when she is really angry or pissed at me. Maybe the voice was right. Maybe I wouldn't get sat so much if I just… I don't know, maybe, the voice interrupted, just try it for once you baka. Then the voice was gone and he didn't have any returning argument so he just thought, keh, why not?

Miroku and Sango smiled at the scene before them, seeing Kagome and Inuyasha take on the parent roles for little Shippo. Sango walked over and knelt next to Miroku and he leaned toward her whispering, "you know, those three make an adorable little family,"

Sango nodded in agreement before whispering back, "Its part of a youkai's nature to rebuild a family if they are orphaned, but with this situation it seems special because both Inuyasha and Shippo are rebuilding, meaning Kagome is the main and key piece to their ability to get along." Miroku watched a moment and whispered back, "You got that right."

As Sango and Miroku set up the morning fire and morning meal, Inuyasha, Shippo, and Kagome all sat to the side, enjoying the quiet, and peacefulness that seemed to have settled around the camp. For the first time there was no arguing, no sitting, no battles and no yelling. It was quite a refreshing change for all the members of the traveling party. Even the meal was ate in silence as people enjoyed the extra fish Sango had cooked. It wasn't until after that the silence was broken by Kagome's offer to help clean. Sango nodded, and the girl cleaned up the remnants of the delicious meal. When they were finished Kagome and sango sat back down. After a long silence Shippo piped up excitedly, "So what do we want to do today?"

Inuyasha looked up and sniffed, he smelled the faint odor of blood on Kagome, and the smoke from the smouldering fire, but he also noticed another scent, growing in strength since the early morning hours. He looked over to sango and she looked back inquisitively. He didn't exactly know what the scent was but it was similar to Kagome's right before… oh you have GOT to be KIDDING ME!

Kagome saw Inuyasha's gaze pass to her friend and his expression went from peaceful to terrorized faster than you could say 'bite me'. She looked to her friend and back to Inuyasha and got ready for an argument as she asked, "What's with the look Inuyasha?" His face went a little pale as he bluntly asked, "Sango… uh… is this your time too?" Kagome's eyes went wide in shock as she looked to her friend, who looked fairly surprised herself. "How did you-"

"Your smell has been getting stronger, just like Kagome's did… uh does this mean."

Sango didn't know how her smell could predict her cycle, but she figured she could ask Kagome later, since she already seemed pretty well versed in female anatomy. "Well, I guess we may need to do something today after all…"

Kagome kept looking back and forth between her near-sister and her possible life-time companion. She thought about what they could do to ease the already overwhelmed sensed of the hanyou, and now that she thought about it, the kitsune sitting next to him. Since when does Shippo sit next to Inuyasha? She giggled to herself, since I came along and asked a certain hanyou to be nice for once… wait I didn't even ask. This is getting very weird. She snapped her thoughts back to the situation at hand, what if we went home? I could get supplies and the demons in the group won't have to deal with all the smells anymore… well the blood at least. Kagome stood up and began packing, everyone stopped the staring contest and shifted their eyes to the young miko.

"What? I'm just packing."

"To go were?" Inuyasha gave a look of surprise.

"Home to get some supplies for Sango-chan and I."

"But you can't ride-"

"No, but you can still carry me right?"

"Yeah…"

"So it's either you carry me and we all head back to the well before you have two bleeding women on your hands OR we can stay here and Sango-chan and I can hang in the hot spring for the next week."

The rest of the party members thought about it a moment before making a move, they had all gained something by that day of rest and, despite the blood they were actually getting along and growing closer as a company. Miroku was the first to look up, clearing his throat he got everyone's attention before suggesting, "What if we get Kagome and Sango their 'supplies' and then we come back here and hang out for the next few days." The other group members hadn't thought of the idea, but they agreed that it was a good one, since they all could probably use the rest and relaxation while the women went through their monthly. They spent the next few minutes discussing the pros and cons of coming back to the hot spring, they came to a decision and packed up their gear, having Sango and Miroku ride Kilala, and Kagome and Shippo riding Inuyasha, they headed towards the well…

Oh man I know I'm gonna get it for stopping there but I need sleep, and I want to keep you guys guessing. You can thank Anne Asher for Sango's good timing, we will see what happens as another set of hormones is ready to spike. Can Miroku handle the emotions? And can Inuyasha handle the added hormones? We will see…

:runs away before mob attacks: