"Caterpillar."

"You can't call him that!"

"Yes I can. We have to call him something!"

"But why caterpillar?"

"Just look at his face! They're enormous!"

"But it sounds stupid!"

"You both sound stupid!"

"Inuyasha!"

The hanyou's ears twitched at Kagome's scolding; he folded his arms, grunted, and looked away. How did she expect him to put up with this!? Naraku had the entire jewel and was most likely planning on how he was going to kill them. He could be here at any moment, they should be planning a defense strategy or getting ready to fight! Not sitting on their asses while hordes of screaming children ran around them!

Since when did they become a bunch of damn nannies!?

From the moment they arrived, they'd been swarmed by the group of boys that liked to follow Ronuku around, hoping that their 'tough ass leader, Baka-sama' had returned. Years ago the bushi had rescued them, a group of orphans they'd found in an abandoned village; Ronuku brought them all back to live with Kaede. The kids were disappointed to find that Ronuku wasn't with them, but it didn't take them long to notice and latch onto Sango and her new brood.

"I'm just saying," Domei, the dumber and fatter of the two arguing boys continued, "His eyebrows are freakishly fuzzy, how can we not call him caterpillar?"

"Dumb ass!" Recca, the more aggressive and official leader of the group, snapped, "How do you think Baka-sama's going to react when he finds out we've been calling his son something sissy like Caterpillar? Especially when his daughter has such a cool name!"

"I already told you," Sango chimed in from across Kaede's hut where she and Kagome were holding the infants, "No matter how many times Inuyasha calls her that, her name is not 'Slayer'." The taijiya threw a stern glare at the hanyou.

"You gotta call 'em something!" Inuyasha angrily retorted, "You can't keep waitin' around for Ronuku, it could be months."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome glared at him.

"What?" He barked, "It's true! Who knows when that idiot is coming back? If Naraku decided to go after them then he might not come back at all, Sango needs to-"

"SIT!"

The hanyou yelped as he was thrust towards the ground, breaking a hole through Kaede's floor. Recca and Domei snickered, the noise echoed by the other boys. Inuyasha growled, lifting himself out of the splintered floor and glared at the miko.

"Kagome, what the hell was that f-"

"Sango," Kagome cut Inuyasha off, "Is there anything else you need me to get while I'm gone?"

"No, Kagome," Sango shook her head, a slight frown showing that Inuyasha's words had bothered her, "That won't be necessary, you've already done so much…"

"Don't worry about it," Kagome responded, "I want to make sure we all have enough supplies, we've still got a lot of work ahead of us."

"Aye. Perhaps you could start with my floor," Kaede's voice came from the front of the hut, causing everyone to startle and look towards her. Kohaku and Shippo stood at the elderly priestess' side, having been asked by her to help carry in food and bedding for her overnight guests.

"Don't tell me Inuyasha said something stupid again," Shippo huffed, his bush of a tail twitching angrily. The young kitsune had been more excited than the children upon their group's return; Kagome had been like an adoptive mother to him and he'd been upset when they left him behind months ago to watch after Kaede.

Over the past several hours the fox kit had clung to the miko's side, smarting off to Inuyasha whenever he could. The hanyou's only relief from the child had been when he'd offered to help Kaede gather bedding to show 'how grown up he'd become' or whatever.

The brat was still a brat, no question there.

"Shippo," Kaede said, her voice stern, "Go ahead and set out the bedding. The rest of you, I believe it is time to give Sango and her children some rest. Why don't you gather wood so that this hole can be mended."

"But Shippo gets to stay?" Domei whined, "That's no fair!"

"Oh forget it," Recca huffed, "We'll have time to play with Baka-sama's kids later, let's go fix this floor and then train some more so we can be strong when he gets back!"

The rest of the boys shouted and agreed, and in a flurry they charged out of the hut and into the village.

Kohaku set out the bedding he carried and took his niece from Kagome's arms. The miko stood up and brushed her knees, grabbed her bag and looked up.

"Allright Inuyasha, let's get going."

"You're leaving already?" Shippo dropped the bedding and leapt up to Kagome shoulder, "But you just got here!"

"It's alright, we'll be back soon. I just need to grab a few things from home, we won't be more than a day," She smiled at the kitsune. Shippo grumbled, but accepted her answer, and leapt back to the floor.

"Look for us tomorrow morning," Kagome said, nodding to Kohaku, Sango and Kaede. She turned and headed out the door.

Finally, Inuyasha thought, and followed after. As the two set out on the path towards the well they passed Rin and Futeki sitting outside. The toddler was splashing through a puddle as he chased a butterfly while the young girl tried to call him back away from the mud, her arms full of flowers.

"Oh, Kagome," Rin looked up, momentarily forgetting the chase, "You're leaving now?"

"Yes," The miko answered, "I'll be back tomorrow though. Were you out here picking flowers?"

"Yes, I wanted to thank Lady Kaede for letting us all stay in her house," the little girl said, "The villagers told me where I could find lots of new blossoms."

"That's very sweet of you, I'm sure she'll love them," Kagome smiled. She glanced around a moment before looking back at Rin, "Is Sesshomaru still here?"

"No," Rin shook her head, "He said that he needed to speak with Master Jaken, he'll be back by tonight."

"Keh, that imp's still around?" Inuyasha snorted, not really caring. Honestly, he'd almost forgotten that Jaken existed; besides the shrill voice there wasn't much the short green creature had to offer. Why did Sesshomaru keep him around anyway?

"I see. Well, don't wander too far from the village then," Kagome warned, "Stay close and let Sango or Miroku know where you are."

"We will," Rin nodded, while the muddy half-demon pup gave up his chase and toddled up to sit next to his sister. The two children waved as Kagome and Inuyasha continued on their journey. Along the way they passed Miroku who was returning to the hut with a bundle of firewood and several cloths he had purchased from some of the other villagers. The monk explained he was ensuring that Sango had a good set of clothes for her children. Inuyasha found it odd that he wasn't choosing to spend his time flirting with the village girls, but he didn't say anything.

They finally bade their friend goodbye and reached the edge of the trees. Kagome began chatting about her family and what sort of dinner she should cook for them tonight. The sun's honeyed rays warmed the trees; Inuyasha's ears twitched as he heard the buzzing of insects and birdsong in the air. After so many days spent running through a miasma ridden wasteland, Kaede's village seemed like a warm paradise.

It was wrong.

Everyone seemed to be acting as if everything were normal, lounging around and playing, but Inuyasha couldn't shake the sense of foreboding in his gut. Naraku finally had the jewel, the whole thing, why hadn't he made his move yet? Why was he giving them time to rest and recuperate? With Sango down, four children to hold them back, and two of their fighters missing they were at their weakest. What was he waiting for?

The only conclusion the hanyou came to was that Naraku was planning something, something big. He'd want them all to suffer before he killed them; the peace they'd found in the village was about to be burned into ash. It felt so wrong to rest and enjoy it, even for a second, when at any moment they would be fighting for their lives…

His friends. They were still in danger.

Inuyasha had spent his entire life hated and scorned, the wretched beast that was neither human nor demon. He never belonged anywhere, nobody would ever be able to look past what he was; not even Kikyo had hesitated to turn on him after Naraku had tricked them. He had honestly believed that he would live and die alone, he would never trust another soul.

But his friends…they didn't see him as a monster. They'd trusted him with their safety, they'd stuck by his side and risked their own lives for his sake. Whatever Naraku was planning, he was going to ensure that every one of them suffered painfully before they died.

Inuyasha couldn't let that happen. He wasn't going to allow any of them to die. Not them. Kikyo's death had been unbearable, but if he were to lose anyone else…He couldn't face it…not if he had to lose them. Sango, her infants, Kohaku, Miroku, Ronuku, Kohana, Rin, Futeki…hell, even Sesshomaru. He couldn't let Naraku take any of them; even thinking about the possibility was painful, but even worse would be if…

Inuyasha stopped. His throat grew heavy and his heart seemed to freeze. He felt it before he could even place the horrible thought into words, but if Naraku…if he killed…

"Inuyasha?"

The hanyou inhaled, looking up to see the worried face of the miko who stood in front of him.

Kagome…

The first person who saw him for who he was, not just a half-demon. The girl whose smile was genuine; who openly loved and cared for every living creature and protected them with a terrifying temper that could topple castles. The strongest and kindest girl he'd ever met, Inuyasha knew that he could not go on without her.

"Inuyasha, what's wrong?" Kagome stepped forward, "Look at your hands." She reached for them, her gentle touch a warmth upon his skin, and it was then that the hanyou realized that he'd been clenching his fists so hard that his claws were cutting into his skin, little drops of blood hitting the grass below.

"What's bothering you so much?" The miko asked, "Here, let me get a bandage a-"

Her words were cut off as Inuyasha suddenly reached forward and pulled her close. Kagome's sweet scent enveloped him and he felt her heart beating within her chest. A fierce surge of protectiveness washed over him as his mind conjured images, horrifying pictures of yet another girl lying dead in his arms.

"I won't let him hurt you," he said, his voice a hoarse whisper, "I'm not going to let you die."

"Inuyasha…" Kagome started but then stopped. Quietly, the miko reached her arms around him and returned them embrace. Together the two held each other in silence, a gentle breeze tossing their hair, as the sun made its descent across the sky.

"I…I'm scared," Kagome eventually confessed, "Now that Naraku has the entire jewel he's going to use it against us, and I don't…I don't know if this will be the last time I'll ever them. Mama or Souta or Grampa…" Her small body began to tremble, and Inuyasha held her closer.

"Maybe," He began quietly, the words almost catching in his throat, "Maybe you could stay…In your era, with them." As much as he hated being away from her, Inuyasha knew that Kagome had a family that loved her. They would take care of her, far away where Naraku would never reach her. She would be safe, that was all he needed.

But Kagome shook her head.

"No," tears began to well in her eyes, "When I think about Sango and how small her babies are, or everything we did to rescue Kohaku, or Miroku's wind tunnel, or if Futeki will see his mother again, or-"

"I'll protect them," Inuyasha swore, "I'll protect everyone."

"…That's why I have to stay here," Kagome said, "How can I run away if I know everyone is in danger, and you're pushing yourself to save them all?" She looked Inuyasha straight in the eye, "If you…If you die I'll never forgive myself. I'll do whatever it takes, I'm not going to lose you."

Inuyasha felt his heart skip a beat.

She…she thinks she's going to protect me?

Thinking back to all the times where she'd risked her own life just to come after him, he didn't doubt it.

"Stupid," He mumbled, "As if I'd let myself get killed…"

"Then it's settled," Kagome laughed, smiling as her tear spilled over, "Neither of us is going to die. As long as we stick together, we're going to make it through." Another tear slid down her cheek, and Inuyasha slowly raised his hand intending to brush it away. He paused, finally noticing just how close her face was to his. From the look on her face and the way her cheeks slowly turned pink, Kagome seemed to notice as well.

The two of them stood there in the evening light, hearts beating wild as they became acutely aware of just how warm the other was. The world began to melt away as ever so slowly they leaned closer…

A flock of crows suddenly cried out, screeching danger as they flew through the clearing. Inuyasha leapt away, pushing Kagome behind him as he snarled and flexed his claws and prepared to take down any attacker. More creatures fled through the clearing; rabbits, birds, deer, but eventually they all passed with no predator in sight.

"What…what was that about?" Kagome asked, looking around in confusion.

Inuyasha's ears twitched as he tried in vain to sense what was happening. He relied on all of his canine-like senses, searching through instinct…

"Something," Kagome spoke again, her miko powers sensing it first, "It's very far away but something is...sad and...angry..."

"Come on," Inuyasha said picking up Kagome's things and kneeling down so she could get on his back, "Let's go to your home and get what we need. We might have to come back sooner than we thought…"

Kagome's face fell, but she nodded. Whatever was out there may or may not have to do with Naraku, but this point they couldn't afford to take any chances. As soon as Kagome was secure behind him he took off and raced towards the well.