At last I finally decided to post my fan fiction. This is my first fanfic and I doubt very much it will be my last. So, I hope everyone enjoys my story! Oh, by the way (as if you couldn't tell by the story) yes I am a backpacker and was in a backpacking club in high school and still am. Actually I started writing this story when I was out west in Utah. So, most of the places I describe throughout the story were places I actually camped at! I was out there for two weeks!

Disclaimer: InuYasha doesn't belong to me, it belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, I'm just writing for fun!

Ok, enough talk on with the story.

HAPPY TRAILS

Chapter 1

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Kagome recently graduated from high school in Michigan and is awaiting her 18 birthday which is in two weeks. She did exceptionally well in school, and had received scholarships for the college she was planning on attending in the fall. She has two older best friends, Sango and Miroku, who also go to the same college she's planning on attending, both had graduated three years prior to her. Kagome joined a backpacking club in high school and met Sango and Miroku in it. They all liked to go backpacking/sightseeing in their extra time and had lots of other things in common, more so than Kagome's friends that were in her grade. So after Kagome graduated they all decided to go on a two week long hiking trip throughout the Midwestern part of the U.S. Kagome lived with her mother, grandfather, and little brother Souta. Her father died when she was very young and her mother had never remarried. There was something unusual about Kagome's family though, than most other families. Her mother gave her a round pink jewel on a necklace when she turned fifteen and told Kagome it was a sacred family jewel and that it was said to posse's mighty powers centuries ago. The women in the family were suppost to protect it from evil; Kagome's mother told her not to worry because nothing has happened to the family in over 500 years. So Kagome just agreed with her mother and wore it always and never though much of it or the power it was said to posse centuries ago. Aside from that Kagome has a normal life. All she ever did was go to school, study, work a part-time job, and regularly go out with her two older friends. Kagome dated very little in high school, it wasn't that she was shy she just never found anyone interesting. But aside from that it's now in the middle of June, and Kagome had already graduated she's now preparing to leave for a trip with her two best friends. Kagome arrived over at Sango's house at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.

knock, knock- "Hello?"

"Hi Sango, it's me I hope your ready to go, we got a long day ahead of us!"

"Kagome hi!" she opens the door and lets her in

"Hurry up Sango we still gotta go pick up Miroku!"

"That pervert! Can't he drive himself?"

"Come on Sango he didn't mean to grope you last night."

"Yeah right whenever he gets the chance he tries it. He's such a perve, why are we letting him go again?"

"Come on we need a guy to go with us and he's always protecting us anyways, and he's dependable!"

Sango rolls her eyes "Yeah sure, to grope you! Whatever let's go get him."

(At 12:05, at the airport, after picking up Miroku)

"I can't wait, spending a whole 2 weeks alone with you two beautiful ladies all to myself!" –winks- at Sango

"Yeah right Miroku, you wish! Don't even think about being perverted!"

"Stop fighting you two or we're going to miss our flight."

"Announcement: Flight 251 from Detroit, Michigan to Salt Lake City, Utah now boarding."

All three give each other a quick glance then start running. "Gyahh were going to miss out flight!"

Several hours later and many slaps to face they arrive in Utah.

While Miroku is gathering all their baggage, Kagome and Sango are getting keys for their rent-a-car, a Chevy S10 ZR2 4X4, just in case the back roads got a little rough.

"Hurry up Miroku, we need to get going."

"Anything for you my lady Sango."-smile-

Sango turns her head blushing.

"Ok, I got the keys for the truck lets get going you two, and quit being cute it makes me sick." "Kagome shut up, Miroku's just being weird" Sango grabs her bags and runs for the truck. Miroku has the goofiest grin on his face then follows Sango. Kagome drives, listening to Linkin Park the whole way.

"Hey Kagome we're going to the Tetons right?"

"You bet! Don't tell me that you didn't know where we were going?"

Sango looks at Kagome with a disgusted look on her face "He probably only cared about going with two women and not the location."

"My dear you read my mind completely."

Kagome ignores the comment, "I can't wait to get out their without any adult leaders from our old backpacking club, trying to breath down are necks and trying to keep us busy every minute, it's going to be great."

Sango smiles "Yeah especially without forty other kids going and causing trouble all the time!"

Kagome plays with the little charm jewel around her neck that she has to keep with her everywhere, not that she believes it's so important, she wears it more for her mother than anything.

She thinks to herself 'I hope there's some real adventure out their, I need something new in my life.'

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Perched up on a tree branch a young half-demon named InuYasha half-sleeps waiting for anything to stir him. InuYasha is a half-dog demon and half human. Below is InuYasha's companion Shippou (a full fox demon) but still only a child. He plays below the tree quietly trying not to wake the hanyou.

Two years ago InuYasha took in the kitsun pup; he was homeless after his parents were killed by other demons. Shippou was not doing well on his own since he was only a pup. He couldn't hunt well or fend for himself. InuYasha felt bad for him and took him in, (he was so skinny and pathetic looking.) Shippou and InuYasha had a rocky type of relationship; they didn't get along all the time, but it seemed that InuYasha had taken a liking to the little fox. Before Shippou, InuYasha had also been alone since he was very young when his parents died. InuYasha's father was full dog demon and ruled over the western lands over demons, his mother was a human. Both had died defending themselves against other demons. After that InuYasha was not accepted by demons because he was a hanyou and humans didn't even know demons existed, (they thought they were only legend.) Most demons lived in the woods away from people but some mingled in with humans using concealing spells to hide their true form. InuYasha and Shippou both lived in forests and mountains staying away from people. Although people didn't stay away from them. Mostly young couples or older men would occasionally venture up in the mountains, hiking through and enjoying time away from their normal lives in the cities. Enjoying the scenery and camping without any cares, and knowledge of demons living in this world.

InuYasha finally stirs from his half-sleep and peers down at Shippou

"Oi, Shippou stop playing around we gotta get out of here and go get some food! I want fish tonight."

Shippou looks at InuYasha not satisfied "Ahh, we had that four times this week!"

"Keh, shut up! I wanna it, so we're getting it! Let's go!"

Shippou has a pouty look but gives up and follows after InuYasha, who was now flying from tree to tree.

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A few hours later Kagome, Sango, and Miroku arrive at the Tetons. It was already around sunset by now, and they needed to set up camp soon. (They all get out of the truck and put on their backpacks)

Kagome looks at the map, "Ok, according to the map camp should only be ten minutes from here so, let's get going, it's getting late quick."

Miroku follows the two girls, listening to their conversation about college, and where Kagome's going to live once they get back from there little trip. "Yeah Sango I already have my apartment picked out, it takes five minutes for me to ride my bike to the college. I can't wait to move in when we get back." "That's so cool Kagome but who are you going to live with? It's expensive to live by yourself you know." "I know but check it out Sango my scholarships from high school let me rent my own apartment at their expense, all I have to pay is basic utilities and everything extra, so I can actually afford to live by myself."

Sango's amazed 'wow I wish I could have done that.' Then something else occurs to her, she looks over to Miroku "Hey aren't there a lot of animals out here? Like bears and other critters?"

"Of course there is, but don't worry Lady Sango you can stay with me and I'll protect you." he smiles, she looks annoyed

"That's not what I was worried about, I was going to ask if we're hanging our food?"

He's disappointed looking "Oh."

Kagome interrupts "Yes we're going to be hanging our food every night so animals won't attack our tents and eat all our food that would be really bad."

Sango looks happy "Ok sounds go…." Miroku interrupts her "What do you mean by tent(s)?"

"Me, and Sango our staying together, you have your own tent Miroku. We can't all stay together!"

"Oh, that's not fair, I can't stay by myself, I'll get cold I need body heat."

Sango and Kagome look at him at the same time with an evil smirk. "We'll give you an extra blanket then." "Must you both be so cold towards me?"

Kagome stops and looks around at a valley that has a nice pond with big trees surrounding the place, also giving them some cover. "Ok this is the place, it's so beautiful."

They all look around and find a place to set up camp and start putting up their tents. Kagome gathers everyone's food and leaves some ramen cups out of the bag, and then she hangs the rest of the food. Sango starts to boil some water with her camp stove for the ramen cups.

"I really hope I don't get sick of ramen any time soon."

Sango pours the hot water in the cups and answers Kagome "I don't think we'll get sick of them, we have other food, and theirs tons of flavors of ramen anyways."

Miroku looks up with ramen hanging out of his mouth "Yeah, I eat these things all the time and I never get sick of them; I don't think I ever will." "Miroku that's because all you know how to make is ramen, ha ha ha" The two girls continue laughing at Miroku, while he's pouting.

As they finish their noodles they talk about the five mile hike ahead of them tomorrow, and sights there looking forward to visiting.

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A couple miles away are InuYasha and Shippou finishing up their fish.

"Oi, Shippou you do smell that right?"

"What those humans?"

"Good I'm glad your smelling is increasing, but how many are their?"

Shippou looks doubtful "Um, defiantly two but their might be more."

"Theirs three of them and one has a very distinctive smell to them." (Lost in his thoughts) 'A very nice sweet smell that is.' "We should go and have a little look Shippou, let's go."

"Ahh, wait I'm not done with my fish yet!"

"Keh, stay here then, I'll be back soon." He takes off flying through the trees

Shippou is left stunned; the dog boy hardly ever left him alone. But he continues eating anyways.

InuYasha is surprised because he is so attracted to this smell 'I've never sensed this scent before; it's so calming, and even a little arousing. Whoa, where did that come from?'

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"Well I'm done with dinner I'm going to go look around; I'll be back before it gets dark."

Miroku looks at Kagome as she runs off "Ok, be careful."

She follows a little stream going into a big pond until she comes across a small waterfall. She finds a fallen down tree and goes out to the middle of it and sits down and takes off her hiking boots, socks, and rolls up her pant legs. She starts soaking her feet in the freezing ice mountain water but feels very relaxed; she closes her eyes just listening to the sound of rushing water below her.

InuYasha comes toward the sweet smell of which is Kagome and sees a beautiful girl about his age soaking her feet seeming to be enjoying herself very much. He's a little amazed at his discovery and then wonders where her two campaigns are. He notices the other two are a man and a women and that none of them seem to be mates. He sits perched up on a high tree out of view watching her.

Kagome is aware that someone is nearby and watching her, and starts looking around for someone.

"Sango….Miroku….. is that you?"

InuYasha stays very quiet and still, amazed that she has noticed his presence; he had always been able to sneak up on anything without their knowledge. Kagome can't find anything in view so she quickly puts her shoes back on and walks away, back towards camp. InuYasha is not far behind following her back to camp.

"Hey Sango, did you come looking for me? Or was it Miroku?"

Both look at each other then to Kagome

"No, why? Did you sense someone's presence?

"Yeah, but I'm not sure, it could have been an animal."

Miroku looks at Kagome with a quizzical look "That's odd can't you tell whenever someone is there?"

"Usually, I thought there was someone, but it must have been an animal. Oh, well it's getting late anyways I'm going to bed. Maybe I was just tired or something."

Sango looks at her with one raised eyebrow "You're not worried? Well that's good, I guess I'll go to bed too!"

"I'll stay up and watch over the fire for a bit. You two go to bed, G' Night."

"Thanks Miroku, good night." "Yeah, thanks good night!" Sango gives Miroku her sweetest smile and crawls into her tent with Kagome

'God Sango can make my heart skip a beat and she doesn't even know it!' He thinks to himself, then tries to get her sweet smile out of his mind.

'I wonder what Kagome sensed? She's so good at knowing when people are there, I'm doubtful she would be mistaken because of an animal. I guess I'll sleep uneasy tonight.'

……………………………...

InuYasha is currently in a tree a little ways from their camp, 'Well the girl is staying with another chick and what looks like a pervert, hmm I'll have to keep an eye on him and from the looks of it their going to be staying out here for a while.' He watches their camp for a while then notices they're food hanging 'Yum, looks like more of that human food me and Shippou like. Guess I'll take some, they'll never know.' He takes some instant ramen cups from the food bag hanging up in the tree and then leaves returning to Shippou.

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While Kagome is lying down in her tent she thinks to herself. 'I know someone was there I could sense them, it wasn't an animal. I just didn't want to scare Sango or Miroku by telling them someone was there watching me. I'll find out in the morning who it was before we head out on our hike.' That was her last thought when sleep claimed her.

……………………………..

InuYasha returns to his and Shippou's little camp, after being gone around an hour.

"Oi, dog-boy where have you been?"

InuYasha growls at Shippou for the nickname but brushes it off "I told you brat! Here I got you some of that human food you seem to like so much." He throws the ramen cup at Shippou

"Wow, instant ramen! Thanks! Hey you know you like it to, actually I think you like it more than me."

"Keh, whatever!"

"Hey, InuYasha did you find those humans?"

"Yeah where do you think I got the ramen from? It was just two girls and a guy. They all look rather young, and they seem to all just be friends."

Shippou gives a weary glance "That's odd I've never heard of a group of friends so young out here, especially when they're all just friends!"

"Yeah well there here so we better make sure they don't find us, one of the girls can easily notice a presence."

Another surprised look from Shippou "That's strange, she can't notice us can she?"

"I'm not to sure, she looked around but she just couldn't find me."

"Well, that's good, I don't want to be discovered by humans."

"Well Shippou we'll just have to keep track of where they go that's all!"

"Yeah … -Yawn-… ok, I'm going to bed now."

InuYasha looks away "Feh"

Shippou ignores him and falls asleep on a tree branch

Ever since Shippou met InuYasha, the pup had to get used to sleeping up in trees because InuYasha said it was safer than being on the ground, which really did make sense.

InuYasha had seen the necklace Kagome was wearing and ruled right away that it was not a normal jewel she wore. He had heard stories from his mother about a jewel called the (shikon no tama) said to be full of power. The jewel could grant anything to whomever had it, so it could be evil or good depending on who used it and what for. InuYasha had been teased throughout his childhood for only being a hanyou. Some of his enemies told him 'if the shikon no tama was still around you should use it to become a full demon, because right now you'll always be a worthless half-breed.' InuYasha thought, 'Yeah now anyone who dares to challenge me won't say anything ever again because I'll kill them! The only one who doesn't care about what I am is Shippou.' InuYasha let his mind wonder back to the girl he discovered earlier and drifted off to a light slumber.

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Ok, so that's it for the first chapter to my first fanfic ever! What does everyone think? Write me back soon and let me know! I'll be posting a couple times a week. I wonder, will our main characters meet in the next chapter? Ok, seriously let me know about the story! Any thoughts is greatly appreciated, thank you for reading!

Ja -Fran