Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha, everybody would have cute little doggy ears!

A/N: I'm sorry it took me awhile to update. My computer screwed up the format of this chapter, and I didn't realized that until I tried to upload it. Anyways, you guys should be happy about it: It made me fix it, so now the chapter's even better! Yay! -chrickets chirp- Gee, couldja show a little feelling? Ah, nevermind. Anyways, hope you guys enjoy the chapter!

Another A/N: If any of you have any questions about this chapter, or the entire story for that matter, please feel free to IM me (AIM) at darkvampywillow. Enjoy the chapter! Ta!

No Way Out
 Chapter 20 - Feelings?

I woke up the next morning shivering. The blanket was now folded twice over my body, with an extra blanket over that one. I was still freezing, even with the extra layer.

I looked around and saw the others, Lady Kaede, Miroku, Sango, Shippou, and even Inuyasha, watching me with concerned looks on their faces. I groaned and closed my eyes, then opened them again. It felt like my stomach was twisting itself around my insides, trying to tear me apart.

Inuyasha leaned forward and set his palm on my forehead. "She's burning up," he said.

Shippou jumped up and sat down next to me. "What could've caused this, Inuyasha?"

I winced slightly as I sat up, still shivering. I pulled the blanket up to my shoulders and hugged it. "I'm fine, really. I'll be better by the time you guys are ready to leave."

Inuyasha pushed me down gently. "You're sick, Bumi. Rest for awhile, because we're not leaving until you get better."

I frowned and glared up at him. I went to growl, but coughed instead. "Fine. Let me rest."

(Time Break - About 10 days)

Over the last few days I rarely got out of bed. Lady Kaede often came to give me medicines, and Inuyasha rarely left my side, despite my attempts to shoo him out of the hut.

It was night when I woke up again. I looked out the open door when Inuyasha walked inside, and I saw that the new moon would be soon again.

I hadn't turned human yet. At least, not that I knew of. I'd been told by the others that I sometimes slept throughout the entire day. And if it was true, then it was possible that I'd slept through my day as a human.

I looked up at Inuyasha and smiled as I drifted into sleep again.

The next time I woke up, I felt weaker. I reached up and touched the part of my head where my wolf ears would've been. So I was right.

I closed my eyes and removed the cold cloth someone had placed on my forehead. Then I sat up and looked around. Slowly, I stood up and hobbled over to the window, and smiled when I saw the sun rising.

Okay, so I'll have to live through my day as human sick, but I can deal with it. I turned around and saw Inuyasha standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing, Bumi?" He asked.

"Can't a girl watch the sunrise?" I retorted.

"Not while she's sick and should be in bed." He walked over to me and picked me up, carrying me over to the makeshift bed. I'd gotten used to him carrying me. "You should eat something soon."

"I would eat if I didn't have someone hovering over me constantly," I said, pushing against his chest playfully.

Inuyasha blushed slightly. "I didn't know you cared so much, Inuyasha."

"I-I don't!" He stammered. I rolled my eyes as he set me down on the bed. He started pulling the blankets over me, and I grinned at him, almost certain I was proving my point.

He did his cute little pout and finished tucking me in. "Arigato, Inuyasha." I pushed some of my hair behind my now human ear and looked up at Inuyasha. "How long do I have to lie down? I want to do something!" I coughed slightly after, and looked up at Inuyasha pathetically.

"You should stay in here until tomorrow."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why tomorrow? I mean, I know I'm a little weak, but at least I'm not sick anymore!"

"You don't mind going out when you're a human?"

I sat up and the blankets pooled around my waist. "Of course I don't mind. Unlike you, I don't mind being human for a day. It makes me feel... normal. I don't get rejected as easily. I can fit in." I looked away.

I heard Inuyasha sigh. I looked over at him, and smiled slightly. "Arigato, Inuyasha. For staying with me while I was sick."

"Keh. You're welcome."

I smiled again and laid back down. "If I lie down and rest until noon, may I go out?"

"...If you're feeling better, yes," Inuyasha mumbled.

"Really! Arigato, Inuyasha!" I yelled while jumping up to hug him.

He awkwardly hugged me back, and I smiled. I pulled away, then lied down. "You may go now, Inuyasha," I said, making the hand movement of shooing him away. I pulled the blanket up to my neck, and smiled again. "I need to rest!"

He laughed softly and walked out.

(Time Break - About 6 hours)

"Inuyasha!" I yelled.

I looked up and grinned when Inuyasha came running into the room. "What!"

"Is it time yet?"

"Will you quit bugging me?" He growled.

"Hmm... no?" I said, grinning.

Inuyasha growled again. "Fine."

I jumped up and smiled. "Yay! I'm gonna go take a bath real quick, then you can take me around the village, okay?"

"You sure seem better," he said as I walked past him.

I grinned evilly and pushed aside the curtain to the door. "Well, I had incentive to get better. Now, for my bath..." I cut myself off and quickly ran outside and in the direction of the closest hot spring.

(POV Change - An Unknown Person (Oooh, Scary!))

Damn. That poison didn't work as well as I had hoped. The female scoffed. Serves me right for buying it from that pathetic old man. She inspected her fingernails, then held out her hand as she watched the now human girl exit the hut and run towards the hot spring.

She grinned to herself. "I'll only spare you for today, Bumi. I wouldn't want to ruin our birthday, now would I?" She clicked her tongue in happiness as she watched Inuyasha stand in the doorway, watching the retreating Bumi. "Some day Bumi. Some day, I'll bring you so much torment, you'll wonder how much you truly loved me."

Oooh, sounds like an evil cliffy! Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, and I'll try to update as soon as possible! (Can you guys believe that this is the second to last chapter?)

Review Shout-outs!

Ear-Tweak-sama: I've tried making the chapters longer, but it just doesn't seem to work! Besides, they always seem longer in my notebook, BEFORE I type them. Anyways, yea, I kinda noticed that Inuyasha's a little OOC... Sorry 'bout that! I'll definately try to get him back to normal for the sequel.

Anon: It may seem that Kagome has just plain disappeared. Don't worry, she'll come back for the sequel. Hopefully. And there won't be AS much Kagome bashing (I've learned to respect her!), but it'll still be there! Yeah. The whole 'Ayame-being-a-half-sister-thing' was just my imagination going ballastic after thinking: "Hm... How can I get rid of Kouga, but make it interesting?" There'll be more of her in the sequel, too. And, 'Aw!' I think you deserve extra cookies. xP -hands Anon 3 more chocolate chip cookies-

Reina no Taisho: Aw, you really thought that chapter was cute? Thanks! And congrats(?) on the whole moving thing. Where ya moving to, if you don't mind my asking?