I don't own any aspect of Inuyasha.

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Chapter 7: Sleepiness

"Are you ready to go back now?" Inuyasha asked for the tenth time, sitting on Kagome's bed as she darted to and fro, trying not to forget anything important she might need in the Feudal Era.

"Yeah, yeah," replied the miko, who was hardly paying any attention to Inuyasha's nagging. I know I'm forgetting something...what is it?

The hanyou smiled at Kagome's frustrated expression. She didn't notice, though, and continued pacing and running around the room until she gave up. "Okay, fine, I guess I'm ready," she said, collapsing on the bed next to Inuyasha and leaning back.

When the miko looked back up, Inuyasha was leaning over her and smirking. "What?" she asked.

"You wore yourself out already," he said, his smile widening when she rolled her eyes. "How are you supposed to survive in my era if you're already drained of energy now?"

Kagome playfully swatted at the hanyou as she sat up. He surprised her by catching her hand and keeping it in his, pulling her closer to his body.

The two had had absolutely no time alone in the past hours, which consisted of long explanations for Kagome's mom and grandpa, both of whom were extremely upset in hearing what had happened. They were, of course, very grateful to the hanyou who had sat next to Kagome while she was explaining everything, and also seemed to be less objective than usual when the miko told them that she had decided to return to the Feudal Era that same night. So then they had headed back up to her room to pack.

It was pitch black outside as Inuyasha's golden eyes melted Kagome's chocolate ones. They just sat there for a while, holding hands, until there came a knock on the door. At this, Kagome stood up and walked over to sit at her desk. "Come in," she called.

"Kagome?" Her mother walked into the room, pausing in the doorway. "I made some meals for you to bring to your friends." She handed her daughter the plastic boxes of warm food, and Kagome could smell the delicious aroma wafting towards her.

"Thanks, mom," said Kagome, and her mother started to exit, but turned back.

"Oh, and, I got those pictures printed that you wanted me to," the woman said, pulling an envelope out of her pocket and passing it on to her daughter.

As her mother left the room, Kagome opened the envelope and pulled out the pictures. "Oh, that's what I forgot!" she exclaimed, hopping up from her desk and walking over to her dresser. "My camera!" She opened a drawer and pulled out the silver object and some batteries, and then walked over and put them in her bag.

Inuyasha walked over to the girl and took the pictures from her hands. "These came out of your camera?" He looked puzzled as he examined the photographs.

"Yeah, um...it's kind of hard to explain," she said, watching his expression change as he looked at each of the pictures one by one. When, at last, he came to the last one, he stopped.

"This...this is the picture Miroku took?" he asked, looking up at Kagome.

She tentatively smiled and nodded. Is he upset about it? she wondered, and her question was answered when he returned the smile. "He's one damn good picture-taker," Inuyasha said, looking back at the photo.

They were silent for a moment until Kagome spoke. "So, are you ready to leave now?" she asked, taking the pictures back and putting them into the envelope.

The hanyou nodded as she tucked the envelope into her backpack. I should show these pictures to Miroku, Sango, and Shippo...they'll enjoy it, she thought as she headed out of her room and down the stairs.

After waving goodbye to her family, Kagome and Inuyasha headed out to the well. Looking at the ancient structure, the miko sighed. The last time I came through this I was so upset, she thought as she tossed her huge yellow backpack down into it the abyss.

"What are you sighing for?" Inuyasha asked teasingly.

"The fact that I have to be stuck with you," she answered sarcastically, smiling.

"Oh, really?" asked the hanyou, suddenly smiling malevolently. He wrapped one arm around Kagome's knees and grabbed her shoulders with the other, swinging her up into his arms.

"I'm glad you're stuck with me," he whispered into her ear, and then he jumped down the well and they disappeared together.

The first thing Kagome noticed when they reappeared in the Feudal Era was the light coming from the hundreds of stars shining down on her and Inuyasha. Without even realizing it, she immediately relaxed as she looked at the unpolluted sky. This place really is like a second home to me, thought the miko as Inuyasha helped her out of the well.

As the two began to walk towards the village, Kagome finally began to feel sleepy. It was nearing midnight, by the position of the moon in the black sky, and she had had an extremely tiring day. Inuyasha noticed this as the girl's walking became slower and her feet were dragging on the ground.

"You're tired, aren't you?" the hanyou asked as he stopped walking.

Kagome opened her mouth to answer but a yawn came out instead, so she just nodded. Inuyasha chuckled and picked her up again, swinging her backpack over his shoulder. He began to walk again, but the miko noticed that he wasn't heading towards the village anymore. Instead, he was heading into the trees...towards one tree in particular...

When the pair reached the Sacred Tree, Inuyasha sat down at it's base, leaning up against it, and placed Kagome in his lap. Puzzled, Kagome looked at the hanyou. "If we go back to the hut now, everyone will definitely ask you a billion questions," he explained in a whisper as he put the girl's backpack next to him on a root. "I think it's better if you just sleep. You've had a long day."

Kagome nodded and smiled, snuggling up closer to the hanyou she loved so much. "Thanks, Inuyasha," she murmured as her eyes became very heavy...

Inuyasha smiled and closed his eyes as well.

Within minutes, the two were asleep, wrapped in each other's arms.

"Aww, how sweet..."

Sango?

"Shh, don't wake them."

Miroku?

Kagome woke with a start. It took her a few seconds to remember where she was, and as soon as she did her face turned bright red. She was still on Inuyasha's lap, his arms wrapped around her waist, and Sango and Miroku were standing over them, smirking.

Sighing, Kagome looked at Inuyasha. He hadn't woken up yet, so she placed her hand on his cheek. "Inuyasha," she whispered in his ear, and his eyes jerked open.

He immediately hopped up, dumping Kagome on the ground. "Sorry!" he shouted as he realized what had just happened, and helped the girl up.

"That's okay," replied the miko as she rubbed her still wounded forearm, which she had just landed on. She winced in pain, but Inuyasha's expression made her laugh. He was glaring at Miroku, who, Kagome now realized, had a small silver box in his hand.

The monk's smirk grew even wider as he stared back at the pissed hanyou. "You perverted monk!" shouted Inuyasha. "You were spying on us!"

The hanyou then proceded to chase the monk--again--around the area. Kagome just laughed again and walked over to Sango, who was smiling at her friend. "Did you have a good night?" the demon slayer asked, glancing at Inuyasha.

Kagome nodded. "Inuyasha's being a lot nicer to me now," she said, looking down at the bandages the hanyou had wrapped on her wounds. "I like it." She smiled again and shifted her gaze over to Inuyasha.

Sango had followed Kagome's gaze to her arms, and her eyes narrowed in confusion. "Kagome, what..." she began to ask, but then she looked at the girl's expression and stopped. She looked extremely happy, and the demon slayer didn't want to make her explain anything at the moment.

Kagome watched her love chase around the lecher for a few minutes, laughing and smiling and wishing she could feel like this forever. Maybe...maybe if I stay with Inuyasha I can be happy...she thought.

I'd be happy with him, no matter what...

Okay, so that one was a little bit shorter than usual, but oh well. Hmmm...I've got nothing else to say...