Chapter 23

It had been weeks since the group had been in Kagome's time. Most of the events of the trip were left forgotten. Now they were mind, body and soul on finding the sacred jewel shards.

"Inuyasha, can we stop?" kagome begged.

"No" was the brief answer.

"But Inuyasha! We're tired!" she wined.

"No one else is complaining." He pointed out.

"Fine then, I'm tired!" Kagome corrected herself.

"Well, you can handle it."

"But Inuyasha! Miroku, Sango, and Rin and Shippou are all riding on Kirara! I'm the only human walking, and I'm tired." She pouted.

"Fine" Inuyasha growled before crouching down, low enough for Kagome to get on his back.

"Oh Inuyasha! I didn't mean it like that. It would be too much weight for you." She said nervously, feeling kind of guilty.

"Kagome, you're a feather! Now get on before Sesshoumaru gets too far ahead." Inuyasha assured hastily.

"If you're sure." She said climbing gently onto his back. When he took off after Sesshoumaru, Kagome leaned her head on Inuyasha's shoulders and whispered "Thank-you Inuyasha"

"Feh." Inuyasha turned a bit red. "Weak human." But Kagome knew it was his way of saying 'you're welcome.'

The group traveled for a few more hours until it started to get dark, they decided it was time to make a camp for the night.

"I'm going for a walk, I think I might go for a bit of stargazing." Sango said once the camp was all set up.

"Would you like some company Sango?" Miroku asked, not a perverted thought in his head…at the moment.

"I would love some company." Sango smiled.

"Then, we shall be back later." Miroku said following Sango.

"Shippou and I are going to go and play near the river. Lord Sesshoumaru will you come with us?" Rin asked politely.

"If you wish it Rin." Sesshoumaru answered plainly.

"Well, dinner shouldn't be ready for a while, so have fun." Kagome waved goodbye to the three. "It looks like it's just you and me Inuyasha." She said cheerfully.

"Yeah." Inuyasha looked grim.

"What's wrong?" She asked, getting up from her spot to sit beside him.

"Do you regret it?" He asked after a few minutes of hard thinking on his part.

"Do I regret what?"

"Coming here, meeting me, being with me?" He gave examples.

"Of course not! Where would you get such an idea?" She asked in shock.

Inuyasha just shrugged and stayed quiet. He was starting to worry Kagome with his behavior.

"Where are these questions really coming from?" Kagome demanded gently.

"No where," He shrugged again. After a moment she turned to look at her beautiful priestess beside him and asked "You're not going to leave me are you?" He knew he shouldn't have listened but it made him uncertain.

"No Inuyasha, I would never leave you." Kagome was started to get very curious, who had planted these thoughts into his head?

Inuyasha knew he would have to tell her what happened, so he spit it out. "Kikyo spoke to me the night that you saw her injured and again last night when we got back from your era."

Kagome tensed, she wished she hadn't asked, she didn't want him to get moody and quiet as he usually did when he spoke of Kikyo. Hopefully this time he wouldn't because he was with her now.

"She keeps saying that you're going to leave as soon as the jewel is finished. She's such a bitch." Inuyasha growled, hoping that if he said it in an angry voice it would cover up his uncertainty.

"Oh Inuyasha!" Kagome cried, embracing the distraught half-demon. "Of course I'm not leaving! Whenever I leave I will always come back. I promise." She comforted.

"I love you Kagome." He whispered before capturing her lips with his own in a sweet loving kiss.

When they separated Kagome mumbled and 'I love you too'. Then she went to go and make sure the dinner was cooking properly.

"Inuyasha, I don't remember you leaving the camp last night. When did you go to see Kikyo?" She asked, obviously not angry, but the question was full of curiosity.

"I didn't leave. When everyone fell asleep she came to the camp. I was surprised that no one woke up." Inuyasha grinned, knowing Kagome wouldn't get mad at him because he was by her side the whole time. "She was pretty loud too. I don't think she knows how to be quiet." He joked.

Kagome giggled a little before her thoughts consumed her. "But why would she come to the camp? Doesn't she normally wait for you to go and see her?" She asked.

"Well, you see… the last time I saw her, the night that you saw her injured," He had been hoping he could have told Kagome in a better way, but he couldn't think of one so he just blurted it out. "I told her that I wanted to be with you and not her."

Kagome's head shot up and she looked into Inuyasha's eyes. "Really?" He just nodded his head. She squealed happily and slammed her lips upon his in another kiss.

With Sango and Miroku

They had found a rather large clearing in the forest where they decided would be a good spot to do some stargazing. They stayed quiet for a while before someone decided to break the silence.

"I'm glad you came Miroku." Sango said softly.

"So am I Sango." Miroku smiled in relief. Over the past few weeks, the couples in the group had been through a lot of stress and unfortunately, they had been taking it out on each other. It was a good thing that both couples had some alone time with each other. Miroku started to wonder what Inuyasha and Kagome were doing.

"Miroku, why are you grinning like a pervert?" Sango demanded.

"No reason dearest Sango. I was just wondering what everyone else is doing." He replied, smiling with charm.

"I don't think I wasn't to know the rest." She sighed shaking her head.

"I was merely wondering if they are relieving the large amount of stress that they had as we are." He defended himself, putting his hands in the air as though trying to prove himself innocent.

"There has been a lot of stress lately, hasn't there?" Sango agreed.

"Certainly. My theory is that in the back of everyone's mind, they are all aware of the battle that we are soon to be facing. Naraku is near and everyone knows it, although no one wished to speak of it." He explained.

"I suppose." Sango said sadly. They were both silent for a bit longer, tension growing stronger and stronger. "Miroku, do you think anyone will die?" She asked, her eyes showing the fear her voice did not.

"No Sango, I do not believe so. We are all strong and we will protect each other. " He comforted.

"But what if someone does?" She cried desperately. Tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Then they will be proud knowing that they saved the one they love, their friends and the world. But death will not take anyone. Inuyasha is the one who gets the most injured during battles and he's to stubborn to die. And although he won't admit it, he's too frightened for Kagome's safety when he's not there. He will stay around. Kagome puts in so much energy into battle, but Inuyasha always gets her out of trouble and out of danger. She is safe. And Kagome makes sure that Shippou is safe at all times." Miroku explained.

"But what about you?" Sango asked.

Miroku sighed sadly. "I would rather die in battle to save the world, and protesting you then because of my curse." He looked sadly at his cursed hand.

"Miroku you can't die! We will kill Naraku and your curse will exist no more!" Sango cried, embracing him tightly, as thought that would keep him with her. "We will fight together. Protect each other, as you said." She said, trying to convince not only Miroku, but herself also.

"Yes, I would like that Sango." He said softly returning the embrace.

The couple stayed in their embrace for what seemed like hours. They broke it when they heard the call for dinner.

"Kagome! We saw a really big frog in the pond! And me and Rin had a competition to see who could catch and I won!" Shippou bragged.

"Well that must have been exiting!" Kagome said, faking excitement.

"But it wasn't fair! I fell over!" Rin complained.

"No you didn't! You stopped to look at the pretty pebble!" Shippou pointed an accusing finger at Rin.

"Now Shippou," Kagome scolded gently. "Don't point fingers, it's not nice."

Shippou dropped his hand back to his sides. "Ok Kagome, But I won fair and square!" He demanded, crossing his arms in the same way that Inuyasha does, which made Kagome giggle.

"Shippou, you are just the cutest thing ever!" she gushed. Shippou just humped and Kagome began looking around for Inuyasha, but she couldn't find him.

"Who are you looking for?" Inuyasha asked from the tree tops above her.

"Actually I was looking for you!" She smiled. "Come down here for a minute." He complied with a sigh.

"Ok, I'm here." He crossed his arms stubbornly as thought that would prove that he didn't want to be there. "What?"

"Look." Kagome pointed to Shippou.

"What? It's only Shippou." Inuyasha didn't understand why she called him down.

"Don't you recognize the way he's standing?" she tried giving him a hint.

"Umm, no. Should I?" Inuyasha questioned, the hint going right over his head.

Kagome sighed, "He's standing the exact same way you are right now." She explained.

"What! No way!" Inuyasha looked down at the way he was standing, then he looked over at Shippou. "Why'd he do that?" he asked stupidly.

"Well, he obviously looks up to you. So he probably wants to be like you too." She explained before calling Sango over.

"So you noticed too?" Sango asked when she got over to where Kagome and Inuyasha were.

"Yeah! Isn't it cute?" Kagome gushed.

"Adorable! Miroku and I were just talking about it. It's so cute how Shippou looks up to Inuyasha enough to start acting like him. Now that I think about it, Shippou probably thinks of Inuyasha as his father figure, and you as his mother figure." Sango said.

"Why would you say that?" Kagome asked curiously.

"Well, he doesn't have any parents. You two have been with him for the longest. He loves you both even thought he would probably never admit it to Inuyasha. And he's acting like a child who wants to be just like his father." Sango explained.

"Oh my gosh! What if you're right? I wouldn't be a good parent! Even if it's just a parent figure!" Kagome began to panic.

"Kagome calm down!" Inuyasha soothed. "It's just what Sango thinks, It might not even be true." When Sango went back to talk to Miroku he added "And you'd be a great parent."

Kagome smiled happily at him. "Thanks Inuyasha. You would too." She said before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

The group talked about strategies of how to defeat Naraku and then went to bed.

All was silent and peaceful until…

SLAP!

"PERVERT!"

"Goodnight Sango, Miroku go back to your corner!"

The next morning Kagome awoke to Shippou and Rin on each side of her, Using her shoulders as pillows. When she looked past the children she saw Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru.

She looked around the camp and noticed Sango and Miroku were cuddling in their sleep.

'I can't believe that I'm up before Inuyasha,' she thought. ' well I might as well start breakfast. As she attempted to get up, Shippou and Rin woke up and went to play a quiet game of hide and seek.

Kagome tried to get up once again but as she started to sit up two sets of arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back down to the ground. Both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were growling softly in their sleep.

"Quite a situation you've gotten yourself into." Sango laughed at her friend.

"When did you get up?" Kagome asked, looking around astonished that she hadn't heard her get up.

"I got up when Shippou and Rin left." She replied absently. When Kagome nodded her head in understanding, Sango changed the subject again. "Would you like some help?"

"Would you be able to get me out without getting your arm ripped off?" kagome joked.

"I think I'll take the risk." Sango grinned. "Imagine switching you and Miroku! He's still asleep. Do you think we could get him over here without waking anyone up? I would love to see their faces when they wake up?"

"Sango! You're horrible!" kagome playfully scolded. She attempted once again to sit up but was again pulled back down. Both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru tried to pull Kagome closer to them but only succeeded in pulling themselves closer to her. It was a very tight fit in between the two men for Kagome.

Sango was nearly in tears she was laughing so hard and it was a wonder why the men still sleeping hadn't woken up.

"Oh shut up and help me!" Kagome snapped.

"Wow kagome, harsh language." Sango joked as she offered her hands to kagome, who grasped them tightly. Sango started to pull but the two men wouldn't let go.

"Now I know how a stuffed animal feels!" kagome sighed. "And this will definitely be embarrassing when these two wake up." Sango gave a sympathetic look before replacing it with another grin.

"Who do you think will be more embarrassed about this?" She asked.

"Inuyasha." Kagome answered instantly.

"Yeah, probably." Sango agreed. "Who do you think will be most angry at the other?"

"Inuyasha" Kagome answered with the same speed as before.

"Who's arms would you rather be in right now?" Sango asked, curious of what her answer would be.

This time Kagome hesitated for only a second before answering "Inuyasha…definitely Inuyasha." She was speaking softly, as though to herself more then Sango.

"Really?" Sango asked.

"Yes, I love Inuyasha. I know I do. But something feels like it's trying to make me love Sesshoumaru instead. I don't know what it is, but I care deeply for both of them."

"Maybe you're falling in love with Sesshoumaru?" Sango guessed. "It wouldn't be too surprising. You're bound to fall for the longing, broken looks. He always looks at you as thought he knows he loves you and he also knows that you're heart belongs to his brother." Sango grasped her chest about where her heart would be, and put her other hand on her forehead, acting as thought she were about to faint from the tragedy.

"Don't be such a drama queen Sango." Kagome laughed. "Now help me out of this before they wake up!" She brought the subject back onto her predicament.

"I suppose I could do that." Sango said scratching her head as thought thinking of whether to help her friend or not. She started bending down to give Kagome her hands once again but she noticed the two demon men were waking up. "Ummm, I think I should go and check on the kids!" She said before rushing away. Even thought she would have loved to see Inuyasha's face when he woke up, she decided that she valued her life more then her sense of humor. Damn Inuyasha and his temper.

'AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"They're awake." Sango said to herself.