Chapter 4

"So why would you want someone like Inuyasha? He's rude, conceited, short-tempered,-"

"You, quiet that mouth of yours, or I will!" She whispered, to Shippo. He ducked his head, and nibbled on the warm buns she'd given him for breakfast. "Inuyasha is brave, and protective," she said, dreamily. "And, so handsome," she sighed.

Shippo giggled. "Good luck with getting him away from Kagome, not to mention, Kikyo." Suddenly, her beautiful face contorted in anger.

She banged her fists on her wall, and shook her head, like a 3-year-old in a temper tantrum. "Kikyo! Kikyo! Kikyo! Go to Hell, Kikyo! Argh!" She screamed. Shippo watched in shocked, not knowing what to say, and not expecting that sort of reaction, from this, normally, elegant-type of woman. "If Kikyo should interfere, I will not hesitate to kill her. I only spare this this Kagome, because she looks weak, and easily manipulated." She laughed. "Inuyasha's always having to save her…he's bound to get tired of her. I'm just helping it along."

Inuyasha opened his eyes, to find his own face staring down, worriedly, at him. "Inuyasha, are you alright?" Kagome asked. He sat up, and his head was spinning. He was fully dressed, again, as was she, thankfully. Kagome helped him to stand up, and dusted herself off.

"Well, that didn't go too well," Inuyasha moaned.

"Ya, our minds aren't used to seeing such drastic changes like that. I've heard of people being afraid to change themselves, for fear of not recognizing their own reflection." Kagome looked thoughtful. "I can understand why, now." She returned to her cheery nature, quickly. "Now, breakfast."

They both packed up camp, and moved closer to a stream. Inuyasha rolled up the sleeves of Kagome's uniform, and struck out to catch a fish, swimming just passed his foot. But, it was quicker than he was, in this body. He sighed, missing every fish he went after.

"Kagome, you have to catch the fish. I can't do it, in your body," Inuyasha complained. Kagome put her hands to her hips.

"And, why not?"

"Because, your body is slower than mine," Inuyasha said, matter-of-factly.

Kagome gasped. "Slower!" She crossed her arms over her chest. "What did you expect? I'm not a mighty Hanyou, like you. I'm just a weakling Human, remember?" She stuck her nose into the air.

Inuyasha growled. "Right now, you are a Hanyou. You are in my body. Use it!" He sighed. "Why are you fighting this simple thing?"

Kagome blushed. "I-I don't know how to control your body, Inuyasha. It's still strange to me."

"Well, just try it a few times, until you get used to it. I'll do my best to help."

Kagome surrendered, and stepped into the water. She could feel that it was cold, but it didn't effect Inuyasha's body the same, as it would have hers. She balled her fist, and her eyes scanned the water. Her eyes were sharper, and caught sight of one. Her body almost acted on it's own, instantly. Not ready for the force of the speedy reflex, her arm darted into the water; and, missing the fish, slammed her fist, painfully, into the gravel bottom.

She looked up at Inuyasha, tears in her eyes. "Oh, don't make me cry. Please don't make me cry. Try again." He helped her up. She took a deep breath, and aimed again. Her arm darted out, again, but stopped too soon, and her fingertips barely dipped into the water. She growled in frustration. She drew her arm back up, and tried again. She darted her arm out, but made a scooping motion, and when her hand surfaced, she was clutching a wiggling fish.

"Ah-ha! Caught one!" She raised the fish above her head, victoriously.

Inuyasha smiled, crossing his arms. "Your not a total loss, then."

Continuing on their journey back to Kaede's village, Inuyasha helped hone Kagome's new reflexes. And, in turn, Kagome made an effort to teach Inuyasha to use the bow and arrow. Both were sincerely frustrated by the end of the day.

She watched the magic diamond, intensely. Inuyasha had just broken his second bowstring, and umpteenth arrow, and Kagome gave up. "Yes, someone will be throwing a punch soon, now. Then, they will hate each other forever." She stood, and the diamond fogged over. "Dinner time, and we can call it a night, Hiro. You, too, little one," she said, pointing to Shippo.

"My name is SHIPPO!" He said, in a muffled, yell, but she was already gone.

Kagome walked into the abandoned shrine that her and Inuyasha were to spend the night. She was holding some sort of dead animal by the tail. She held it out to Inuyasha, with a disgusted look on her face. "Please, don't make me do that, again," she said, unenthusiastically.

Inuyasha took the dead animal, and began to prepare it for dinner. "Well, I do it, every night, for you…and, everyone else." He deliberately kept his eyes off of her. He kept his gaze content on the task at hand. Kagome sat next to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Inuyasha. For everything, I mean." She said, softly.

"You're welcome," he replied. He didn't look at her, but he was blushing this time. Kagome smiled.