The sound of a yell broke through the peaceful blankness of sleep. Kagome's eyelashes lifted as her brain came groggily to consciousness. She shifted, grasping the edge of the blanket and pulled it up under her head, curling her legs in against her stomach.

"10 more minutes, mom." She murmured sleepily. A second yell cleared the fog from her mind as if a fan had suddenly been turned on and she sat up bolt upright, fingers going instantly to the bow that lay on the floor next to her. "Inuyasha!"

The flap that covered Kaede's hut was torn down as Inuyasha burst into it. Kagome screamed as he tripped in his haste landing atop her. She snatched herself back, lips parting to say the 'sit' command but it fell still on her lips at the sight of Inuyasha's flustered, resigned expression.

"Inuyasha! What happened?"

"I've been wounded. This stupid body is dying!" And then he growled.

She frowned quizzically. Wounded? She studied him, unable to pick out blood staining her robes and aside from the distorted expression he wore he seemed fine.

"Inuyasha. What are you talking about? I don't see any blood."

His face turned bright red and he pushed away from her, standing and slid his eyes away, arms folding over his chest. He didn't answer her instead simply searched the hut as if trying to pick out something safe to focus his eyes on.

"Inuyasha, quit being stubborn. Just show me where the wound is so-..." Kagome paused a second and Inuyasha's eyes snapped to her suspicious at her sudden silence. "Inuyasha can you actually show me where it's bleeding. I mean-" crimson touched Kagome's cheeks to. "I mean would it...you know...be proper if you showed it to me."

Inuyasha didn't say anything but his blush deepened ten-fold. Kagome erupted into laughter, clutching her stomach and doubled over. Inuyasha growled then scowled at her.

"Fine! Forget it! I'm leaving!" He turned to go but Kagome reached out a hand to grasp his robes, stopping him.

"No, wait. I'm sorry Inuyasha." She offered a smile. "There. How's that?"

"Feh. You could try a little sympathy!" He said irritably.

This coming from the guy who said he hated sympathy. "Inuyasha, you aren't wounded. You've got your period."

"My what?"

"It's a normal function of the female body. It means..." Kagome searched for a way to explain, trying to remember what her mother had told her. "It means you're a woman. Every month your body releases an egg and when it's not...um...used it gets thrown away. With a bunch of...blood and stuff."

Kagome couldn't quite describe the look on Inuyasha's face. Like he'd just stepped on a slug with his bare feet...except he'd never seen a slug before. Kagome cleared her throat worriedly.

"Here. I think I have-" she tugged her bag over into her lap and shifted through it. She wished Sango were there, the demon exterminator would be better to explain how woman in the feudal era dealt with this and Kagome was surprised to realize that she'd never asked. "Here. Sorry Inuyasha, I only have tampons." She apologized, opening the box.

"What the hell am I suppose to do with those?"

"You put them...up...there." She said haltingly and Inuyasha blanched. "Now pay attention. There are regulars here, and theses are supers. You should use those for the second day cuz that's when it really comes splurting out, so-"

A loud thump cut her off and she turned her head to see Inuyasha sprawled on the floor, unconscious. He...fainted? Kagome sighed, the whisper of material heralding the sound and she turned. Sesshomaru stood framed in the doorway, eyebrow lifted, cold gaze on his half brother.

"Um...do you need one?" That icy gaze turned on her then the demon lord turned and walked away. "Right." And she shifted to wait for Inuyasha to wake up.

"What do you think?" Lace asked as he and Leather faded into view in the tree behind Kaede's hut. Leather's eyes were fixed on Sesshomaru's retreating back and a frown marred his expression.

"The demon lord is going to be a lot of trouble." He glanced downwards. "And I'm having doubts about the accuracy of her friend's words."

"So you think we should break the spell." Lace smiled in an amused manner towards his companion. "And have her traveling around with two handsome men. The demon lord is quite good looking."

Leather growled. "I didn't say that!" He snapped. "But it's doing us no good hiding around her."

"Are you not content enough to be near her, Leather? I am." Lace said softly. "I'd like more but it's better then nothing."

"Lace! What are you plotting?"

He laughed. "Can't keep anything from you, can I?" he inclined his head. "Distract the demon lord, he's our only real threat, and take the Lady."

Leather's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "And who, exactly is going to distract him?"

"You of course."

"No."

"Don't be stubborn, Leather. I won't whisk her away from you. Not yet anyway. She deserves the right to choose between us." Lace said reassuringly.

Leather groaned. "Why do I get stuck with the dirty work?"

"You're better at the rough work. I prefer deception." He laughed. "I do the lying. You get all the other fun sins."

Leather huffed irritably. "Just a fun sort of guy, am I."

And then the pair disappeared from the tree again.