Author's Notes: Thanks to wolfygirl13 for this rhyme suggestion!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or any nursery rhymes.

The Mother Goose Escapades

No. 42

Cats can sleep anywhere

Any table, any chair

Top of piano, window ledge

In the middle, on the edge

Open drawer, empty shoe,

Anybody's lap will do

Fitted in a cardboard box

In the cupboard with your frocks

Anywhere! They don't care!

Cats can sleep anywhere!

"How do they do it?" Kagome wondered crossly, staring at Shippou and Kirara, curled up together underneath a tree despite the dirt and branches and otherwise uncomfortable sleeping arrangements. Kagome was getting better about sleeping outside, but she still found it uncomfortable.

And now it was dark and late and she was tired. And couldn't sleep. So she found herself glaring at the kitsune and the firecat, looking so peaceful and at ease. So rested. Come to think of it, neither one of them ever had a problem sleeping anywhere. Kagome found herself irrationally jealous of both of them.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha called out questioningly.

"Can't sleep!" she called back, anger laced through her words. She heard him leap out of his tree and pad towards her.

"Why not?"

"The ground is not exactly my bed. In which I very recently had a good night's sleep." She turned her glare upon him, causing him to cringe slightly.

"So, why're you looking at them?" he asked, pointing towards Shippou and Kirara.

"Haven't you noticed? Both of 'em can sleep anywhere. It's not fair!" Kagome almost pouted, and Inuyasha found himself trying to keep control and not laugh at her. She was obviously in no mood to be laughed at.

"Ok, here, come with me." He held out his hand and after a confused moment, she reached for it, allowing him to help her to her feet. He pointed to his back and she climbed on, curiousness taking over her initial hesitation. Before she'd barely gotten secure with her nose buried in his mane of hair, he took off, heading back towards the tree he'd been in.

"Inuyasha?" she whispered, not certain she liked where this was going. But he only passed by her sleeping bag to grab a blanket, and then before she quite knew it, he had bounded up his tree. She held on tight, and he suddenly stopped. She looked down at the branch; though it was wider than most, Kagome thought it very small indeed.

"Get on," he muttered, hanging on to the tree and waiting for her to get on the branch. Hesitantly, Kagome did so, clutching the branch so tightly she thought the bark might cut through her palms. Inuyasha slipped in behind her, his back against the trunk, and Kagome found herself with her back resting against Inuyasha's chest. He awkwardly reached around her, trying to cover her with the blanket. She smiled then, and helped him adjust it. Then she sighed happily and leaned against him.

"Not as bad as I'd thought," she muttered, finding the perilous sleeping arrangement not as frightening when she knew he would keep an eye on her.

"Good," he said, before cautiously wrapping his arms around her middle. "Precaution," he found himself explaining, but she only laughed softly.

"Thanks." Nothing more was said, and Kagome listened to Inuyasha's even breathing. She found that, as she focused on that, sleep was coming a little easier, and her eyelids began to drop. She allowed her body, tired from walking all day, to relax, slowly, and then before she knew it she was asleep.

Inuyasha meanwhile, found himself panicking slightly, knowing he would be getting no sleep because Kagome could very easily fall. When he stopped to think about it, this was really a stupid idea.

Although it was kind of neat to hold Kagome as she slept. He grinned to himself. Even acts of stupidity had their perks.

Author's Notes: Hehe, so this is like a semi continuation of the last one, something I don't really do a lot but I just took the idea this time and ran with it. Ok, let's play pretend, where I actually upload this on Friday, or Monday, like when I was planning on it, but I got a little busy...oops. Anyways, I've got good news and bad news. The good news is, I've gotten the rest of them all written out, so updates should be as expected. The bad news is, I've gotten the rest of them all written out, so there are now 42 posted and only 8 left to go. Saddness!