Disclaimer: InuYasha and all other related characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi-san. Standard disclaimer applies.

Amanda Trinh – Yeah, I know.

Sister Paige – Why? The translations are after the story only b/c most people know what most of them mean.

Anonymous miss – Thanks! And there's going to be more…

inu-kitsune-youkai – You're welcome!

KenshinLover2004 – Thank you. It's always nice to know your stories are loved. ::sniffle::

Inuyasha4ever9391 – Well, it should be, it has 'humor' as its 2nd genre!

Yusuke brat – Ok, I get it, just please calm down!!

FMA Freak – Yeah, bout that… He scares me too… and I wrote him like that! Oh the horrors!

Bambi32123 – Cute name. Yes, I was getting tired of him anyway. Baka… Not you!!!

nekoinuhanyou – I just did didn't I?

Mad-4-Manga – Yes, they have. I thought that was clear in the 1st chapter… Sorry about the misunderstanding!

Kei-Ookami-.kara.mori – Odd name. What does it mean? Glad you like the story

Chapter 4: The wee minutes before the near heart-attack…

"Kagome…" A slightly distressed hanyou shook the drowsing girl's shoulder again in an attempt to rouse her. "Kagome…"

"Mmh, nani InuYasha, I want some sleep!" She groaned, vainly trying to bat his hand away.

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"Shippou-kun got stuck down a badger demon's hole and he can't get back out!" A little girl from the village squealed. Kaede glanced up from her herb basket, idly counting down the amount of time it would take InuYasha to explain to Kagome what happened.

Sure enough, a streak of colour passed her, which caused her hair and kosode to rustle gently. Smiling wearily, the old miko returned to her chore, calming the frantic girl and asking her to help. The girl was soon smiling and humming, asking her about certain properties and whatnot, having completely forgotten about the kitsune's predicament.

Once the couple reached the forest's edge, where Shippou's yelps was traced back to, the only thing they saw was an abundance of auburn tail sticking out of a rather small badger hole, its owner wriggling about in an attempt to free himself. Both adults had to muffle their giggles while Kagome went over and eased the struggling kit out of his dusty prison.

While he gasped for breath, Kagome carried him back to the village, no longer able to restrain the bout of giggling which overcame her. InuYasha stayed behind momentarily, making sure that the hole was indeed abandoned, and then bounded off after his miko.

Back in the hut; Nightfall::

"Kagome," InuYasha said, hiding his eyes beneath his bangs, "I think we should go back home. Something 'round here doesn't feel right." He explained, sensing her questioning gaze on him.

"Are you all right?" She quizzed, her brow furrowing slightly. At his not, she shrugged and got up, helping Kaede with stowing the dishes in a waterproof basin. "Okay then, though I don't sense anything unusual."

"Keh, just call it instinct, wench." He muttered, rising from his spot none-to-gracefully, waiting for her by the door. "Coming?"

"Yeah, just hang on a second or two." She replied, putting on her outdoor shoes and chasing after the rapidly disappearing dog demon.

Modern Tokyo

InuYasha mentally sighed with relief as he helped Kagome out into the well house. She always managed to see through him when he was lying, but at least she could never argue with his 'instinct.' She could disagree with it, but never say that he was wrong about it. Smirking slightly, he looped his arm around her waist and slid the well house's door open, to be greeted, thankfully, by the black courtyard of the shrine.

"I thought that Okaa-san said she would be here in case we got back," Kagome commented, sounding slightly disheartened. It was, after all, her eighteenth birthday. InuYasha merely smiled at her and squeezed her hip, gently leading her inside.

"I'm sure she left a note or something," He replied, "She probably went on a last-minute errand or something, you know her." He added, whilst rubbing calming circles on her thigh. She leaned into him, nodding slightly, still puzzled over her mother's absence.

"All right, I guess. It's still a bit weird though…" She murmured, opening the shoji-style back door and walking into the kitchen, completely oblivious to the glint in InuYasha's amber orbs, or the gentle rustling of fabric in the living room.

I just realized how short these beginning chapters are. I'm so sorry. At least they get a bit longer as time wears on, right::seems a bit frantic::

Lots of Love,

Harusaki Taisho