Disclaimers Notice: Maybe...yes...n-n-no...um...possibly???

Authors Beginning Note: Alo!

Shout it outs!

Animefreak808- No big, hopefully you'll be able to read and review on the weekends though! Thanks for wishing me a great day, the same goes for you!

Rayame325- Yes, Keio did forget about Inuyasha, and I plan to have the two... 'meet'

Shinna- Here's the chapter you've been waiting to read!

Chapter 41

To Go, Or not to Go,

"But Inuyasha! Keade said you have to take it!"

"I ain't taking none of that. I'll probably keel over and die."

"You will not."

"Will so!" Inuyasha's voice rose.

"Will you shut up? Kagome's sleeping, and you know how she is when you wake her up." Shippo warned.

"Sleeping, Sleeping!? It's Not even dinner time yet!" Shippo fidgited a bit.

"Okay runt, what happened?" Inuyasha picked Shippo up by the tail quit aggressively.

"I won't tell you, nah!" He stuck out his tongue.

"Eh? Ey! Et ho o my tug!" (Let go of my tongue) Shippo cried scratching at Inuyasha's hand, which, with a relentless grip, held Shippo's little pink tongue.

"Or what? You'll scream for Kagome to help you?" He said tauntingly, that of course was a bad move. With a snap of energy, Shippo bit down on Inuyasha's hand.

"AH! WHY YOU LITTLE!" Shippo jumped down and ran out of the hut. Just as Inuyasha was about to take chase after his prey...ahem...um...attacker, Keade walked in, her mood in much disarray.

"Inuyasha! Quiet down."

"Jeez, what died and..."

"Enough! Not another word. Now, did you take the medicine?"

"What medicine?"

"Shippo?" Shippo inched into the hut and made a dash for Keade.

"I tried to give it to him, but he wouldn't let me!"

"Inuyasha?"

"The runt didn't even know what he was doin!"

"Yes I did. All I needed was three cups of the pink stuff, and two cups of water."

"Shippo! And you actually tried to make him drink that?" Shippo looked confused. Keade shook her head.

"Never mind. It was three small spoons of the Lilitus herb powder and two cups of water."

" See, I told you so."

"Did not."

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Enough! I do not wish to hear it! Now Inuyasha, drink." Keade handed Inuyasha a new wooden cup filled with the right proportions that was needed.

"Why?" Keade's eyes narrowed.

"If you do not drink it, than I will waken Kagome and have her make you drink it." Inuyasha stood, shocked. Never had he seen Keade so ill tempered.

"Feh." He said wittily, and downed the whole glass. When he was done, he nearly gagged and fell over.

"So what the hell has been happening since I've been gone?"

"Preparations for war Inuyasha. You should know that."

"Well damn, there's a vague answer for ya. Feh." Ill tempered, Inuyasha went outside, but the sight didn't make him feel any better.

"Ah bloody hell!" He yelled as he saw Kouga swaying in the wind, and Hakkaku and Ginta tied to the tree.

"I must say Inuyasha, that is a phrase I have not heard you use often."

"Miroku, what the hell is going on?"

"How do you mean?" Inuyasha looked as if he were going to kill someone in frustration.

"Cool down. Kouga was about to bother Kagome, so we tied him up for a bit." Sango said, before throwing Hiraikotsu, which knocked Kouga down, then freed Hakaku and Ginta (who were sleeping) on its return path.

"Shit. Now what are we going to do with them?"

"Um, set them up in a near by lodge?"

"We have a lodge?" Inuyasha asked lamely.

"Uh, it was built just recently. I'm sure there will be room. It will of course cost a pretty penny."

"Feh." He hoisted Kouga over his back.

"You guys get the other two."

"But...how?"

"You're going to exercise that sudden ominous presence, that's how." Inuyasha sniffed the air and began jogging through the streets and to the pub/lodging area. Kirara carried Hakaku while Miroku was left dragging poor Ginta on the ground.

"Thank you kind sir, for ridding us of the dark presence. Thank you." Said the owner bowing gratefully.

"All in a days work."

"I am truly grateful, if there is anything...anything at all to repay your kindness."

"Well, if you could provide free accomodations for my three sleeping friends here and of course morning breakfast and any other things they may need before they leave, I think that should be enough payment." Miroku looked innocently in a businessman like manner.

"Sir, you ask too much!"

"You did say anything, didn't you?"

"Well I, uh..."

"Sango, Inuyasha?" They both nodded in agreement. The man slumped in defeat.

"Come this way." He beckoned them to a quiet section and two rooms that were closed off by screen doors. Each room provided with a sleeping mat, cover, washing basin, window, and curtains.

"Not our best, but a comfortable room to be in. Your friends may stay here." Inuyasha laid Kouga in the one room, while Kirara and Miroku laid the other two in the larger of the two rooms.

"Is there...anything else?" The man asked, practically chocking on the words.

"No. You are a kind man. I thank you." Miroku said as they walked out. Kirara mewed and hopped on Sango's shoulder, looking for attention, which was happily given.

It was dark outside as they made their way back to Keade's hut, and Inuyasha's silence had not gone unnoticed.

"Inuyasha, I have noticed that you are strangely quiet tonight."

"Not to mention, you have been acting...strange." Sango said.

"What's it to ya?" he grumbled, his hands in the folds of his sleeves.

Miroku looked at Sango who shrugged. Miroku sighed and Kirara mewed, hopping from Sango's shoulder to Inuyasha's.

Supper was a silent affair. All attempts at conversation had been abandoned, or shunned. Kagome was still asleep, every once in a while muttering or turning. Inuyasha's ears kept changing direction and swiveling on his head, listening to the thousands of sounds the once small village, now large, contained.

When everyone's empty bowls had been stacked, they sat there, gazing at the fire.

"So, is any one going to bother telling me what's been going on?" Inuyasha asked in irritation. Sango gave a loud sigh.

"Some of the battalions for our side have been moving out. The first to go out were the spies and scouts. Then the Shield men, Spear men, and certain Demons as well." Sango filled in, being in the one in the better of moods.

"What about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow, the Miko's, Monks, archers, and other special divisions will be sent.Miroku and I will be part of that division." There was extreme tension at this point.

"And the day after?"

"The rest will be divided into two groups, this will be the vast majority of demons left and swordsman. One will leave in the morning, and the other the late afternoon."

"What about the rest?"

"Those who aren't going to fight, are going to stay here, and at other neighboring villages, preparing places for those who are injured, and for messages to get to and from. There will be a force left as well, a small one, but one none the less to guard these villages, just in case." They all fidgeted in their own ways during this moment of silence.

"Keade, are you going to fight, or stay here?" asked Shippo.

"I will stay here, where my skills will be of more use."

"Being as your staying here, Kagome will too, won't she?" asked Shippo. This was one of the forbidden questions that everyone had been avoiding.

"She was offered an apprenticeship with the Priestess Miyako. What she decides, I do not know. However, I believe it best for her sake to remain here. Her healing skills have been improving, and I think they may come in great use."

"But so are her fighting skills."

"So you are saying she should fight?"

"I don't want Kagome to go!" Shippo whined.

"I myself am not sure that she should go. She has improved, yes. And has fought with us many times, but I am not sure she is prepared for war." Miroku said giving his incentive to the matter.

"And what makes us think we are any more prepared than her than? None of us has ever been in war, nor have we been through any more fights than she has."

"But she may get hurt."

"I want Kagome to stay here, so she won't get hurt." Shippo said in a fighting manner.

"Shippo, you do realize that you too will be staying here."

"What! No! I'm fighting too!"

"No. Both you and Lady Kagome will stay here with Keade."

"So it's settled than? Kagome is staying here?"

"Yes." Keade, Miroku, and Shippo said at once.

"So, I don't get a say in the matter?" Everyone froze and looked up at a fuming Kagome.

"That is not..."

"You guys automatically get to decide weather I get to fight or not! That's not fair!"

"Lady Kagome, we just want you to be safe."

"So you all go and fight! I want you guys to be safe too, but you don't see me planning ahead for you to all stay here."

"Lady Kagome, No offense meant of course, but maybe you should go back home..."

"Go home? Go home! What makes you think this isn't just as much my home as well? Why can't I fight to save my home? Why do you get to fight Naraku and I don't? I have just as much to hold against him as all of you! I come from the future if you don't remember..."

"Kagome, will you just listen..."

"No! You listen! DO you know what will happen if Naraku wins? He will get the jewel shards, after all, not much will be stopping him. If he gets the jewel shards, he can wish for rule over the whole earth! If that happens, he will destroy everything! Then I won't even be born! You know why? Because he will ruin the past, and that will completely change the future! I have just as much at stake as any of you! I have just as much right to fight in this war, so don't go deciding what I should and should not do!" Kagome bristled. Everyone avoided her dark look, everyone but Inuyasha. Kagome met his gaze evenly.

"What about you Inuyasha. You're with me right?" There was silence.

"Well, it's not like any of us can stop you." He said, with a mix of anger, and sarcasm, refering to the many times they had tried to make the ever stubborn Kagome stay behind where it was safe. Kagome chocked back tears and cries of anger. He looked away. Kagome looked bitter, frustrated, and as if she were about to cry. She turned around and entered her room, where everyone could hear her packing.

Inuyasha quickly left the hut, not saying a word.

"Kagome, what are you doing?" asked Sango getting up and inspecting what Kagome was getting up to. Many things had not been packed, like her Shampoo, conditioner, nail filer, some of her nicer school outfits she had brought, text books, note books, writing utensils, crayons for Shippo, coloring books for Shippo, and other little things. Some of the noted things that were thrown in her huge yellow bag were flashlights, her swiss army knife, tooth brush, tooth paste, some of her most worn out outfits, hair ties, and other things.

"I'm packing." She rolled up her sleeping bag and stuffed it into her backpack. All in all, most of her stuff was being left behind. She went over the corner and lifted the strap for her quiver; full of arrows she had successfully made previously that week; over her shoulder. She picked up her bow and turned.

"Packing for what?"

"I'm leaving." Sango looked stunned.

"To where?" Kagome stopped at the door, the bamboo between her gingers as she thought it over for a moment.

"I accept Miyako's apprentice ship." Was all she said before leaving.

"Kagome! Wait!" Shippo said scampering after her. Keade's shoulders slumped and she looked at least twice her age. Sango and Miroku looked worn out as they lost themselves in their thoughts.

"Kagome." Kagome stopped and turned. Inuyasha had somehow snuck up behind her without her knowing, not surprisingly.

"Inuyasha, I'm going to fight, there's..."

"Will you shut up?" Kagome looked stunned for a moment.

"Here. This is what took so long." Inuyasha thrust a large traveling bag at her. He nodded and she opened it to see a couple of large parcels. One was tall and thin. Another short and thin. And the last was wrapped in a perfectly square box.

"What..."

"Don't open them right now. Open them after you leave."

"Inuyasha..." She looked as if she were going to cry. Inuyasha stood there awkward like. Kagome set the bag down and hugged him fiercely. A little taken aback, he stood there without doing anything, and then finally hugged her affectionately.

"You better be in one piece once this is done." Kagome said, willing the threatening tears to not slide down from her eyes.

"Or else I'm going to give you the 's' word a thousand times!" They stayed like that for a moment, before, reluctantly, they pulled apart.

"Oh Inuyasha! I-I won't be here when..." She said shocked and ashamed of herself. Inuyasha looked puzzled for a moment before realizing what she had meant.

"Feh. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine for one night." Even he had forgotten for a while that the day of the new moon was coming, and faster than would be liked.

"But..." He shook his head.

"Go. You wanted to do this, so go do this...but..."

"Yes...but what?"

"But come back, okay? Promise me?" Kagome smiled and nodded, knowing how hard it was for Inuyasha to show as much emotion as he was.

"I promise." She turned around and picked up the gifts Inuyasha had given her, before heading off farther into the village to knock at Miyako's door.

Inuyasha stood there stupidly, not knowing what to do.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Shippo asked, making him jump. He of course pretended that he never did such a thing.

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't know it took a genius to figure that one out."

"Grr." Inuyasha turned and walked towards the forest.

"Inuyasha! You are a complete idiot. Why didn't you stop her! She'll get hurt!"

"Like any of us could have stopped her." Shippo shook his head.

"Well than, why don't you follow her?" Inuyasha stopped and began to laugh sardonically. Shippo looked scared for a moment as he backed up a few steps.

"Are you stupid? There are going to be a thousand frigging holy freaks out there in one spot, and you don't think they'll notice me?" Shippo grinned evilly.

"Not if you go disguised." Inuyasha thought it over.

I am going to regret this. I'm beginning to already.

Authors Ending Note: Disguised? Inuyasha? But...as what? And how? And Kagome's accepting Miyako's apprenticeship and fighting in the war? Oh dear, things ar eabout to get out of hand...and really weird.