Here's the second chapter. I know you'll just hate me for this cough, cough but I refuse to be one of those writers that makes a chapter or two, then never looks at it again! So, fear not my fellow Inuyasha lovers….the story WILL have an ending! I promise upon pain of death by Inuyasha's claws, Sessy's poisoned whip, Miroku's wind tunnel, Sango's Boomerang, Shippo's foxfire (in a few more years), Naraku's ugliness, Kikyo's soul collectors…and..er…well…you get the idea. As for the ear rub…..Inuyasha ran away. He said he wanted to keep his ears intact and was petrified at the thought of thousands of girls running after him to pinch them off. Of course I tried to explain to him that we would be as gentle as one can possibly be while rubbing the ears of the cutest little hanyou in the whole wide world, but….alas…it was not to be. But I promise you that the second I find him...he's all yours!

Thank you for your reviews, they were really sweet. They're what really makes you want to finish the story. (It's a lot easier when you know people actually want to read the ending). So bye for now and hope you enjoy chapter 2!

I, KilalaKitten –sob- regret to inform you –sob, sob- that Inuyasha –sob- and Sesshomaru –sob- Miroku –sob- Kouga –sob- and all other hotties associated with Inuyasha –sob, sob, sob- do not belong to me! (Wails incessantly.)

Chapter 2- Protective Tendencies

Kagome's eyes flew open and she sat up, her heart pounding a mile a minute. A dream, she thought. It was only a dream. She exhaled slowly and looked around camp. Sango was sleeping with Kilala lying on the mat beside her. Miroku lay suspiciously close to Sango with his arm stretched out toward her and Inuyasha was sleeping in a sitting position with his back against the far side of a tree. She felt the covers stir at her side and looked down.

"I'mma fox notta squirrel…." Shippo mumbled, curling into an even tighter ball than he already was.

Kagome smiled and tucked him in beside her before lying back down to go to sleep.

"Hey Kagome! You alive?"

Kagome opened her eyes to see Inuyasha standing over her. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "I guess I overslept a little."

"Huh! A little? Do you have any idea what time it is!" he exclaimed. "The only reason I didn't drag ya outa bed earlier is because Miroku here wouldn't let me!"

Miroku smiled at Kagome. "We all need some extra rest every now and then. Inuyasha's just impatient."

Inuyasha clobbered him over the head. "Will you quit your yackin'? I'm starvin' and we need to get a move on!"

Kagome yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Sorry Inuyasha. I don't know why I'm so tired this morning." She got up and rummaged through her bag, coming up with a pack of ramen. She threw it at him. "There. That ought to keep you happy until I get this mat rolled up."

Inuyasha grabbed the ramen and set to preparing it while he watched Kagome roll up her mat and tie it to the bottom of her backpack.

"Why are you in such a hurry anyway?" she asked. "It's not like we have anywhere to go."

"Well," Inuyasha said around noodles, "the sooner we leave –slurp- the sooner –slurp- we can find a jewel shard –slurp-slurp-"

"Yeah right," Kagome snorted. "You just wanted breakfast."

Inuyasha looked offended. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"We all know of your love, Inuyasha," Miroku commented dryly.

"Huh?" he exclaimed.

Miroku smirked. "Yes, your love. The one thing in the whole world you would do anything not to lose. The one thing you'd sacrifice everything just to have. The thing you love more than life itself-"

"Uh…Miroku…" Inuyasha turned pink and darted a glance at Kagome.

"Yes, Inuyasha. I know."

"Y-you do?"

"Of course. It's no secret."

"I-it's not!" he exclaimed, his face flaming red.

"No Inuyasha. I'm sorry to say that we all know of your love for ramen."

Inuyasha fell over (anime style) then immediately jumped back up to yell in Miroku's face. "What do ya mean by goin' on like that! Like you would know anything about it!"

"But of course I do, Inuyasha. You see, it's the same way I feel about my Sango," he said, reaching his hand out to touch her.

SMACK!

"Would you cut it out!" Sango yelled, the permanent imprint of her hand on Miroku's cheek.

"Ah, fair maiden," he went on as if in a daze. "Thou hast honored me with the image of your hand upon my cheek." He touched his cheek lightly with one hand, staring starstruck into space. "I shall never remove my hand from this holy piece of flesh which thou hast touched with your own-"

CRACK!

Sango's boomerang smashed down onto Miroku's head mercilessly, driving his skull into the ground.

"Don't ever touch me again, you pervert!" she screamed at Miroku's unconscious form.

Kagome and Shippo looked bored.

"Huh!" Inuyasha snorted. "That monk needs to learn his lesson."

Kagome nodded in agreement.

"Do you think he ever will?" Shippo pondered allowed.

"Nah!" the three shook their heads in unison.

It had been a long and unsuccessful day for the shard hunting group when Inuyasha finally suggested they make camp for the night. He could tell Kagome was tired and remembering how sluggish she was this morning, he decided to let her get a good nights sleep.

"Whew!" she exclaimed, dropping her pack onto the ground with a thud and plopping down next to it. "What a day!"

"No kidding!" Sango said, sitting down beside her.

Miroku sat next to Sango, who leaned towards Kagome and away from the monk.

"Better not let your guard down," Kagome whispered to her friend.

"Wasn't gonna," was her response.

Kagome stood up and stretched with a yawn. "I'm going to go find some firewood."

"Aren't you tired?" Sango asked her.

"Yup!" she smiled. "But the sooner we get the firewood, the sooner we can all eat and go to bed!" She left to go collect firewood, humming a happy tune softly.

Inuyasha took a quick look around camp to see if his friends were taking any notice of him. Miroku was building a fire pit, while Sango was preoccupied with Shippo and Kilala. Seeing this, Inuyasha slipped away into the woods unnoticed. He walked in the direction Kagome had gone, following her scent in the air. When he came upon her, he jumped into a tree so as not to be seen. He didn't want to talk to her; he simply wanted to watch her. It was one of his favorite things to do. He loved having her close to him. It made him feel like he was her protector. Although he'd never let her know, just watching her carry out simple everyday tasks gave him a sense of pleasure and comfort.

As she leaned over to grab her fifth piece of wood, the other four started sliding out of her grasp. She swiftly reversed her actions to grab hold of the others before they hit the ground but she stumbled and she and the wood ended up in a pile on the ground.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Inuyasha's mouth. She was so cute when she was being a klutz.

"Argh! Stupid piece of wood!"

He chuckled softly when she chucked it at the tree he was in. She glanced up in his direction. He froze. Did she see me? he thought, holding his breath. She seemed to be looking straight at him. He thought for sure he'd been caught, but then she stood and brushed her skirt off. Gathering up the wood she'd dropped, she headed back toward camp. Inuyasha exhaled slowly. That was close! He'd hate to know what she'd do if she found him staring at her.

"Hmph!"

She'd probably call him a stalker and "sit" him a couple hundred times. He decided he'd better hurry and get back to camp before her or she would become suspicious. He jumped from tree to tree in a flash and landed next to her backpack seconds before she walked into camp, struggling with her heavy load. He jumped up and ran to grab it from her.

"Here, let me help you with that before ya hurt yourself," he grabbed some of the wood from her and dropped it on the ground.

"Thanks Inuyasha," she told him, giving him a smile.

"Yeah, whatever! Someone's gotta make sure you don't hurt yourself!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried, beaming at him, "That's got to be one of the nicest things you've said to me!"

"Eh!" he exclaimed, taken off guard. "What are you yackin' about, wench?"

Kagome didn't even answer him. She just smiled and set to making the fire.

"Whatever!" Inuyasha said under his breath and stalked to a large tree at the edge of the clearing. He jumped up into it, feeling his face warm.

Why'd I have to go and say that? he thought. It never ceased to amaze him that no matter how he felt for Kagome, he could never quite do anything nice and let it drop. He always had to open his big mouth and blow any moment they were liable to have. Sighing, he got comfortable against the tree to wait for Kagome to finish making dinner.

So…what do you guys think? I already know what I'm going to do for the next chapter so it should be out within a few days. I really hope you like the story and if you do, why not review? It's sooo so much easier to write the next chapter when you have motivation. If you don't believe me, then write a story for yourself and you'll see what I mean. Anyways….that's it for now. Enjoy!