Sango gently grooms the nekomata's mane as the small kitsune sleeps on top it's back. The female taijiya brushes in a trance as she thinks about the group's recent encounters. Finally coming to; she softly turns her head resting her chin on top her left shoulder to see how her friends were, and found Kagome and InuYasha napping together, InuYasha carefully stroking the girl's soft raven hair and holding her hand with his open one. She let out a small sigh as she then looked over to the monk who was stirring a fire to cook dinner.
The conflict from earlier was a bizarre occurrence. She had at no time really ever seen the monk show such liberty. She could not perceive the meaning to why he had handled that situation with such anger. "Is something ailing him?" The taijiya thought to herself. She then looked down intently at the long grass, swaying in the wind. The lush of green sparkled with the sun's radiance. "Is he feeling guilty about Kohaku... but he had nothing to do with his death... is it something else?" The taijiya's brows began to curl into her forehead as she continued her long gaze toward the ground in thought. "Maybe something happened when InuYasha and him went outside the hut to talk... possibly something InuYasha said angered him..." The girl placed a finger to her chin and narrowed her eyes. "Then again, Miroku isn't the type to let words go to his head... unless!" She smacked a fist to her open palm as she pondered. "It was a threat against my well being..." The girl's eyes grew large and then almost like a bubble popping in her brain the thought burst in her head causing her to shake it out. She couldn't comprehend it. She looked back up at the sitting monk as he prepared the fire. "Why was he so angry? Was he tired of InuYasha's doubt of Kagome loving him? That of which drove the monk to explode like that?" She thought as she lowered her chin to her collarbone, gently lowering her eyelids so that only a line of white and brown showed beneath her lashes. "I wouldn't blame him, InuYasha self doubt is always thick in the air when Kagome is harmed in any way... Frustration must have been the cause of the out burst..." The girl's eyes shook as the heat building in the back of them rose. InuYasha's heart seemed to split open for that moment as he held the unconscious Kagome. The memory and the scene is what the heat in her eyes were mostly about, but why was her love in so much frustration?
~^.^~
After dinner the group decided to make camp and settle for the night. Miroku sat alone leaning against a tree as InuYasha tucked Kagome into her sleeping bag. Shippou snuggled against the warmth of the body enclosed in the flannel cocoon as the hanyou sat against a bolder near by. Sango was sitting near the fire; stroking the small nekomata's ear as she focused on the fire's dance. Miroku's eyes were closed with his Shakujo rest against his right shoulder; hands clasped in his lap and the tilt of his head forward seemed that the monk had dozed off. Sango stared trying to comprehend what the monk was dealing with. The small nekomata in her arms meowed giving motive for the girl to look down. The neko looked up, tilting her head to the side. "What is it, Kirara?" The taijiya whispered. The neko looked at the monk then back at the girl. Sango smiled at the neko and then looked up at the monk. "Do I-- do I approach him... is he longing for me to join him... or does he just want to be left alone...?" Sango thought as the neko left her lap and ventured over to the sitting monk. "Kirara, wait!" The girl rasped a whisper reaching a hand out to the retreating neko. The neko snuggled against the monk's arm as it purred. Miroku opened his eyes and looked down at the cute neko as it purred and looked at him. "Well, hello Kirara..." The monk said with a smile. "Sorry..." Came a voice from the dark. "Hm?" The monk asked as the girl sat down next to him opening her arms for the small neko to jump into. "Oh... Sango" He said with surprise. They sat in silence before Miroku spoke. "Is something the matter Sango?" He asked not looking at the girl. "Eh? The matter with me?" She asked with surprise giving herself a pointed finger. The monk nodded now looking at her with a smile. "Oh..." The taijiya added. "I'm fine..." She lied as she lost eye contact with the boy next to her. finding a comfortable sight of the fire again. Another awkward silence between them until Sango spoke again. "Miroku?" She asked looking at the ground blushing. "Yes?" He answered looking up at the girl. "Um... is there something wrong... ya'know...?" She said a bit shaken. "Hm? Sango..." He began but was cut off by Sango. "I mean... you seemed so overwhelmed by an emotion when you saw how InuYasha reacted to Kagome's injuries... and..." She said as she turned and looked at the young man next to her. "What exactly happened when you two left the hut? I mean, I understand how InuYasha gets and how he can't always control what he says and I'm afraid he might of said something to upset you and--" Miroku's turn to interrupt. "Sango..." He began, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his chest. "Nothing InuYasha says will harm me... I agree he's a fool in speech but give the guy a break... remembering his past and how he dealt with everything... I don't think speech was that big of a deal." He said jokingly trying to cheer up the girl. Sango dug her face into he shoulder inhaling his manly scent. "Miroku..." She trailed off not being able to finish, she couldn't find the right words. She just sat there not knowing what action to take next. "I'm sorry about my actions earlier..." Miroku began as he made contact with her eyes. Sango looked up in surprise leaving her mouth a smidge open. "InuYasha and Kagome... they..." The monk began, giving the slayer a look of "Relief". Sango's eyes widen as she let out a small squeak of happiness. "You mean..." She asked smiling and still looking up at him. The monk nodded as he gently pushed her head back to his shoulder with his hand on the back of her head. "You have no idea how long I've waited for..." She said into his shoulder. He laughed causing his torso to vibrate against her resting head. She looked up wondering what the cause was. The monk had tears of laughter in his eyes as he held her close. The girl blinked in confusion as she tried to see what the monk's problem was, but the feel of his warmth rendered her motionless. The monk stopped his welcoming chuckle to finally explain himself. "I was angry because InuYasha and Kagome had come so far and so close, and then this break though with their relationship. Then InuYasha began talking about her leaving and that miffed me. I didn't understand why he would want her to leave when they've grown so close..." He continued as Sango nodded in agreement into his shoulder. "Their love is strange, but strong. I don't believe anything could penetrate that... Their love has no bounds... no limits... just the two of them... in love..." The monk poetically spoke looking up to the stars. "I'm glad..." He began as a tear fell from his eye down his cheek, splashing onto the girl's head. "That were... so much like them..."
~^.^~
The next day, the team rose early. The sun twinkled against the rolling hill in the far distance, as birds sung their joyous tune. InuYasha helped Kagome pack her things and help change her bandages. Her side did take a mighty blow. Nothing serious, just discomfort. Kagome slipped on a blue tank top the night before due to the heat from summer drawing near. She decided to leave her uniform shirt in her backpack because the youkai's claws had also torn it. As she placed it in the large yellow bag she then pulled out an ice pack, which she then proceeded to crack; releasing the chemicals to make it cold. "What the heck's that, Kagome?" InuYasha asked pointing at the pack. "A cold pack for my bruise." She answered placing it on her side then wrapping it on with and ace bandage. "There, that atta hold it." She said with a smile. "Ready?" The hanyou asked. "M-hm..." She answered. "Keh." InuYasha said as Kagome waited for him to turn around so she could get on his back, but before she could realize it; he had scooped her up into his arms, slid the yellow back pack's strap through his arm and swung it behind his shoulder. He began to sprint following Kirara and the others. Kagome blushed as the hanyou held her close. She looked up at the hanyou's face, which was facing forward above her watching where he was going. Kagome studied the hanyou's features: His neck which ran long with his Adam's apple under his chin, the strong connections from his jaw to his collar bone and his hair blowing in the wind. Kagome felt like a small child in his large arms as he gracefully ran against the wind.
~^.^~
The sun was in noon sky when the team finally came to a stop. Kirara let out a ferocious roar as she flew to the ground. InuYasha snuck in a kiss on Kagome forehead before setting her down on her feet. She giggled placing a hand over her mouth and blushed. "We're never gonna get to the village if we keep up this pace." The sleepy kitsune announced rubbing his eye with his small fist. "Stop your complaining Shippou... we'll make it..." Sango said leaping off the nekomata. "We should make it before the afternoon sun." The monk declared stomping his staff to the ground to prove a knowledgeable point, which reached no one as he slid off Kirara's back. "Anybody hungry?" Kagome asked taking the yellow bag from InuYasha. "Wadda'ya bring Kagome?" The small Kitsune asked as he leaped into the air in joy. "Some potato chips, ramen, cereal, and some Poky sticks..." She said as she set out the "buffet". "What'sa "Boky Stig" Kagome?" Shippou asked picking up the red box of candy. "A "poky" is candy chocolate." InuYasha said looking at Kagome. The girl nodded and then added. "It's candy I got from Tokyo that's a stick that's dipped in chocolate, it's good Shippou... try it..." Kagome smiled handing one of the sticks from the box to the child. The small kitsune sniffed at the candy and realizing that it smelled good took a bite and declared. "Mmmmm... It is good!" Shippou smiled looking up at Kagome. She then proceeded to hand out a stick for everyone.
After finishing his own poky stick, and four others. The hanyou looked a Kagome as she nibbled, chewed, and swallowed her chocolate treat. "Kagome?" He asked with a smile on his face. "Hm? What is it, InuYasha?" She asked closing the red box and putting it back into her bag. "Um..." The hanyou asked nervously as he poked his two pointing fingers together like a nervous child. "Could you make some ramen..." He said quietly. "Why so unease InuYasha... you know I love to make it for you." The girl said smiling. "Yeah... I know..." He said giving her a small smile.
After the hanyou had finished his meal in the time it takes to blink, they were on the road again. Kagome in InuYasha's arms, while the other ride on the nekomata's back. "There it is!" The monk called pointing toward the village with his Shakujo reached out before him. "Take us down Kirara!" Sango commanded the nekomata. The neko roared landing to the ground a while away from the village's entrance. InuYasha slid to a stop with the miko still secured in his arms, he softly set her down on her own two feet. She brushed her skirt down and fixed the creases. The hanyou handed her her weapon, but kept the yellow bag swung over his back. Kirara transformed back to her small neko form and Sango rested her Hiraikotsu against her back as they began their walk toward the village. "I guess will be a little late getting back to Kaede's hut..." Kagome said to herself. InuYasha over heard and added. "Pft... we'll still get a chance to visit the bath house." As he said this Kagome's eyes lit up and she gave the kind hanyou a big smile. He blushed rubbing the back of his head. "InuYasha?" Miroku asked out of the blue. "Huh?" The hanyou answered. "Look there" The monk commanded pointing again with his staff at the village. A young boy was running toward them panting and stumbled in his run. "Hm?" The hanyou stopped along with the others. "Houshi-sama!" The boy cried. "Hey... it's Haru-kun..." The monk said with a bit of surprise. "You know this brat?" The hanyou said as if addressing the child with respect. "Why-yes... he was my novice..." The monk said plainly. "What, your apprentice?" Sango asked scratching at her brow. "Houshi-sama!" The boy cried as he jumped and hugged the surprised monk. " Well... hello there Haru-kun..." The monk greeted as he patted the child's head. "Miroku... how can this child be your apprentice?" The taijiya asked as she leaned in with a hand covering her mouth and narrowed eyes to the monk. "Well, he's not exactly my appr-" He started. "Houshi-sama, I am ready and willing to begin training again!" The child said with a smile. "Ain't he a bit young, Miroku?" The hanyou questioned with narrow eyes. "What are you guys talking about?" The miko asked with hands on her hips. "Kagome... the child is at least five years old... usually a child to become a holy monk must at least be at more of a mature age..." The taijiya informed her. The girl stood staring at the child. Looking back at the monk then the boy, she then placed a finger to her chin and pondered. The girl jumped looking straight at the monk. "Yeah... hey Miroku this child is to young." She said with an informal finger in the air. The Monk sighed tilting his head and squinting his eyes. They all stared down at the smiling child except for the short kitsune who seemed to be shadowed by the youngster. An eerie silence fell over the bunch until the small boy began to pout and tears formed at the edge of his eyes. "Hm? What's wrong Haru?" Shippou asked looking up. "Houshi-sama's friends don't like Haru-kun." The small child cried. Suddenly the group stands under a purple haze of confusion. "I like you Haru-kun" The kitsune said with a smile. "Same here!" Kagome announced. "He's cute, isn't he?" The taijiya said with a blush and smile. "Keh..." The hanyou added. The boy smiled bouncing with delight. "Jeez..." The monk thought. "I'd swear he would have forgotten me by now..." The child began to tug on the bottom of Miroku's tendai, whimpering. " What is it Haru-kun?" The monk asked putting his hand on top of the child's head. "Atsuka-senpai is glad Houshi-sama has returned..." The boy said sticking his fist into his mouth to chew on. "Oh, is she?" The monk said giving his famous grin and evil chuckle. "Looks like this is gonna be more then a exorcism..." Kagome said to the girl next to her with narrow eyes. "Great..." The taijiya said sarcastically.
~^.^~
"Houshi-sama!" A young girl called from a hut door. "Aw, Atsuka..." The monk sighed smiling. The girl had dark chocolate locks that were tide back by a white ribbon at her shoulders. Her kimono was light pink with a darker pink obi on the back. Her skin was fare and glowing in the sun's raze. "Oh wow, she's like something out of a magazine." Kagome noted getting looks from the entire group of "What the hell is a magazine?" The girl hurried over to the monk wrapping her arms around him a pushing her face into his chest. "Houshi-sama, you have retuned!" She declared. "We'll finally be rid of the horrible youkai that's been terrorizing the village for weeks." She said crying and smiling into his tendai "Happy to be at your service Atsuka..." The monk said with a grin. "Ready your weapon Sango..." Kagome said with narrow eyes. "Right..." The taijiya answered.
"I'm glad you all made it safe, I hope your travel was a good one" A smiling elder man said as he exited the hut. "Houshi-sama... Glad to see you again" The man said as he took the monk's hand in his own. "Good to see you to Hiroshi-sama." The monk said smiling. "I'm guessing you need a place to stay, I'll be happy to have you stay in my own hut, but seeing you brought more people then I expected I'd suggest your party stay in the village inn which is just down the road." He said pointing down the dirt road. "Oh Houshi-sama! Don't leave me." The girl cried still leached onto him pleading. "Perhaps you can stay in our hut while your friends stay in the inn." She said giving Sango a glare. The taijiya was taken back a bit. "What's her problem?" She asked herself. "Yes... the youkai has been in this part of the village recently and I would be more then thankful if I had the wise and noble Miroku-sama watching over my young daughter-- and son." The elder man declared hugging Miroku as well. "I'd be honored." The monk managed to gasp out. A vein protruded from Sango's forehead as she clenched a fist to her side. "I'll show you the inn." Hiroshi-sama said as he led the rest of the group down the road.
Their room was small but held all four of them. On each side of the room were two futons laid on either side of the fire pit. Kagome settled her bag to the floor as she let out a sigh of relief. "The sun's setting already... this mission sure was delayed..." Kagome said, not trying to sound brattish but it came out that way. "Humph! Well if ya dun like'et-" The hanyou began but stopped himself. He looked up to the girl who had ignored him and now kneeled down from exhaustion. "What is it Kagome?" The hanyou asked with a bit of worry. The girl's eyes drooped and she seemed to fall asleep sitting up. "Hey! Kagome!" The aggravated hanyou barked. "Huh?" She said opening her eyes and looking over at the hanyou's sitting state. "InuYasha?" She asked drowsily. "Hm? You okay Kagome?" He asked more worried now at the spike of exhaustion and dehydration in her scent. "I don't know... The moment I got here I felt so--" But before she could finish she passed out falling forward smacking into the hard wooden flooring. "Kagome?" InuYasha called out reaching for his fallen comrade. "Oh no Kagome!" Sango called rushing to her side. InuYasha scooped her up into his arms as patted her cheek to wake her up. "Kagome! Kagome!" He called. He sat back a bit, now resting on his bottom as he cradled the girl. " She needs water." He said calmly but stern in that it was dyer. "Right!" Sango answered as she leapt up and ran outside. Shippou stood aside with worry in his eyes. "Kagome..." He said softly.
Sango returned with Miroku and the elder with a jug of water. She then proceeded to pour a small saki cup of water for Kagome. "Sorry I couldn't find a larger cup..." The elder man apologized. "Quite alright, this is fine..." Sango said as she leaned in to give Kagome a drink. InuYasha put out an arm stopping the girl. "InuYasha?" She said in panic. She looked up at the hanyou, whose eyes were shaded by his bangs. "I'll do it..." He said in a calm stern voice again. Without a word Sango handed him the cup and he carefully held the cup to the young girl's lips and tilting it slightly letting it drain into her mouth, only a little slipping out down her cheek. He lifted up her head to make it easier to swallow. "More..." He said handing Sango the small cup. "InuYasha?" Miroku said which caused the hanyou to look up. "She'll be alright..." He said with concern in his eyes. The hanyou stared up with eyes a wide and an open mouth as if he was going to say something. Miroku returned the look with a stern "calm the fuck down" look, which caused InuYasha to curl back drooping his head to his chest. "InuYasha..." Came a raspy voice from under him. "Kagome!" He said with gladness. "Hm... I must'ov fainted again..." She said opening her eyes and peering over at the hanyou before her. "Heh..." She chuckled then closing her eyes again she tasted the cool remains in her mouth from the water causing her small lips to smack as her tongue scrapped the roof of her mouth. "Here..." Sango said handing InuYasha the cup. "No... I'll do it..." Kagome said touching the cup catching the softness of the hanyou's hand. As soon as she touched it her hand fell again from weakness. InuYasha put his knee under her head lifting her up so he could give her more water. She drank it along with six more cups. Now she rested her head in the hanyou's lap, as the others headed outside to give her and her hanyou some space and also get some details on the terrorizing youkai. "It's been terrorizing our village for weeks... it can take on the form of a cat, human, and it's youkai form. Its eyes glow red and fangs as long as a man's leg." The group stared intently at the elder as they learned of their foe.
InuYasha gazed down at the sleeping girl in his lap. He gently stroked her cheek and brushed her bangs from her face. "Oh... Kagome... how do I keep letting this happen to you...?" His ears twitched as to see the whereabouts of his friends. He picked up the girl putting her into his lap letting her head rest on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her close to his body. He turned his head to rest his cheek on her forehead. "Mm..." He heard the girl against him. "Thank you... InuYasha..." She said as she stirred a bit. "Kagome..." He whispered as he kissed her forehead. "Feel better, please..." He said to himself with worry. She felt wonderful pressed against him like this. Her scent swirled around him making him dizzy with delight. He slipped into a doze, but not realizing that there was no wall behind him leaned against nothing, softly falling against the floor cushioned by his mane. Now Kagome laid a top of her beautiful hanyou as they doze together.
~^.^~
"InuYasha watch out!" Came Miroku's voice from the trees. "Damn it! Where is he?" The hanyou roared whipping his head around. The youkai appeared slamming its scaly stomach into the hanyou, throwing him violently to a trunk. "InuYasha!" The monk called out for his fallen comrade. The snake youkai hissed at the monk as it began to corner him. "I guess will have to resort to my kazaana." The monk stressed beginning to untie the beads from around his wrist. "Incompetent fool!" The youkai snarled. "What?" Miroku questioned halting the ritual. "Naraku warned me of you pestilent monk!" The youkai hissed. "What, Naraku... Damn it!" The monk cursed tying the beads back around his wrist just as the damned poisonous insects came into view from over the trees. "InuYasha! He's allied with Naraku!" Miroku yelled over his shoulder to the hanyou who now was picking himself up off of the ground with his sword pivoted under his hand. "Sounds good..." He said with a gruff. The monk looked confused at the boy as he rose from his fall. "By all means explain, InuYasha!" He called to the hanyou. "Looks to me were just get'n even closer to that bastard Naraku every battle we fight!" He answered the perplexed monk's face. "We're get'n closer to him, that's why he has these youkai spread out trying to stop us... fucking coward... never gets his own hands dirty..." InuYasha smirked. The hanyou stood and making his way to the side of the monk called out to the youkai before him. "Yo!" He barked. The youkai lowered its head from its place some hundred yards from them. "Did he mention anything about me?" The hanyou smirked against its snake eyes resting the sword's fang against his shoulder. Hiss "He forgot to mention you, half-breed! Probably because your not of a threat to me." The snake snickered. "You'll regret saying that, you son of--" Suddenly the snake vanished in a quick crack of the air. "Where the fuck did he go?" The hanyou barked. "Outstanding agility..." Miroku said in astonishment. A bolt of lighting pierced the monk's senses as he turned behind them. Before he could call for his friend, InuYasha had already detected the annoyance. "Iv got you now hanyou!" The youkai screamed slithering toward InuYasha fast. "Your get'n on my last nerves fucker!" The hanyou roared raising his Tetsaiga above his body "Kaze no Kizu!" He roared smacking the ground with his sword in the wake of the youkai. The youkai screamed as its body shredded into bursts of blood and debris. "Stand back InuYasha!" Came Miroku's voice again. The hanyou leaped to the side out of the way. The monk swung an ofuda at the bits and pieces of youkai purifying its remains. Wiping sweat from his brow the monk sighed in relief. "That was easy..." He said with a smile. "Pft!" The hanyou gruffly voiced leaning against his sword. "Should we head back... the women might be getting worried." The monk said brushing dirt off his shoulder. "Eh..." The hanyou rolled his eyes.
Kagome lay spread out on the futon with a blanket on top her resting form. Shippou snuggled against her asleep, until he smelled the approaching comrades. "InuYasha's back!" He declared leaping into the air. "So is Miroku." Sango added turning to the door. The girl desperately wanted to fight, but she new she should stay behind and make sure Kagome was all right. "We're back." The hanyou announced entering the room. He stopped sniffing the air. "Kagome's all better?" He asked knowing that the exhausted spike had indeed left her and now her calm bobs of breath could be heard. His heart relaxed as he walked to her, sitting near her head and gently stroked her forehead with the back of his hand feeling her bangs tickle his palm. Sango leaned into Miroku as she placed a hand to her mouth to cover it. "Your right... Iv never seen InuYasha so affectionate with her... ---maybe..." She begin, but the monk new exactly what she meant even if it bothered him not to see what happens, but he so wanted them to finally be together, but he also didn't want to feel the wrath of the hanyou's rage or Sango's Hiraikotsu. Sango grabbed her weapon and scooped up Shippou as she waved a hand for Kirara to follow them. They shuffled out of the room leaving the two alone.
Soon Kagome awoke full of energy and life. "Oh wow..." She said sitting up. "I feel a new." She said looking at her hands. "Glad to hear it." Came a familiar voice behind her. "Hm?" She said as she turned behind her to see who it was. "InuYasha?" She said with a smile and then turning completely to give him a hug. He embraced her back, full of happiness of her healing. As she pulled away he wrapped an arm around her bringing her into his lap. He starred into her chocolate eyes as he smiled, She tilted her head causing her hair that was resting on her shoulder, gracefully fell tickling her upper arm. "You know why you became so weak when we came here?" The hanyou asked smiling. The girl shook her head signaling him to continue. "The monk said that the youkai attacking the village was feeding off of your aura because you are a miko. But since we vanquished it, you no longer have to worry about it draining you of your powers. We also learned he was an ally of Naraku's, even though he had no jewel shard on him... but we're get'n close, I can feel it" He said lifting her chin with his finger placing his thumb under her lip. She blushed as he leaned in and kissed softly on her lips. "I'm glad... your safe now." He whispered pulling away.