There had been dividing lines set up in the camp, ever since Miroku had mistakenly tried reaching for Sango, only to incur the demonic wrath of a one ill-groped Kagome. So there she was, wrapped tightly in the robe of the fire rat, Inuyasha's kariginu, and snuggling it closer to her suddenly not-so chilled frame as she made her way back up the hill. She left Inuyasha to brood at the bottom of the second hill, last seeing him enter the forest dazedly. She bit her lip.

Maybe he sensed Kikyo, or something, and went to go – no. No, this isn't like that time. I couldn't feel her, and besides there were no soul collectors.

Kagome steeled herself and trudged to her sleeping bag. She nestled into the slippery feel of polyester and pillowed her head against her bent arm. Just as sleep was about to subdue her, a voice snapped her eyes open and focused her attention.

"So, did it go well?"

Kagome let her eyes shut, a coy smile taking over her lips. She let her upper lip envelope the lower, pulling it back with her teeth.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Sango."

"Oh come on, Kagome-chan," she heard the rustle of cloth and sifting grass. "…tell me, did it work?"

"What, being angry and fighting back? Why Sango, I have to tell you…" Kagome's voice lilted with the voice of chagrin, causing the taijiya to gain a quizzical demeanor. And then the pearly whiteness of a grin peeked through the night. Then came the squeals and peals of hushed laughter again. "You're brilliant! As soon as I got angry and fought back, he just – oh he caved, he caved big time!"

Sango propped herself up on her forearm, smothering her laughter as both she and Kagome kicked their feet in rapid unison. "Ok ok ok, you've got to tell me – everything. What exactly did you say to him?"

"Weeeeell," she looked off sheepishly, then the sly look of conspiring stole her features. "I said that…I hated him."

Sango rocked back, in pure delight. "Oh you did not!"

"I did!" Kagome persisted, nodding her head as she clamped both hands across her mouth. Her eyes creased in utter bemusement.

Sango rolled around, meeting Kagome at her sleeping spot, and together they clasped hands and started silently cramping their muscles with fits of giggles.

"I told you, I told you!" she exclaimed. "This tactic has always worked when Miroku was…was being himself. If he got too close to some of the women in town, boom! He would get the cold shoulder!"

"Oh, your shoulder is a terrible one, Sango-chan," Kagome nodded sagely, frowning in thought. "The effects I've seen it have on him," she shook her head. "I'm surprised he hasn't gotten frostbite!"

"Yeah well, you," Sango poked Kagome in the chest pointedly, staring up at her. "I'm surprised Inuyasha hasn't died in the flames of hell – your fury, it hath none."

The girls continued their jabber and squeals into the moon was well past its zenith and soon the two found themselves exhausted with gossip and girl chat and slept peaceably beside one another.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Feh…women. I don't understand them – one minute, Kagome is cryin' her eyes out, then the next she's laughing like a witch! I just don't get them. They're worse than demons. It'd probably benefit the world if I exterminated them along with all the youkai in my way. Inuyasha grumbled and griped as he found the path back to camp from the woods by his nose.

He sniffed the air, a potent and familiar smell as he passed by the second hill's landing. The hanyou stood in the same place he had earlier that evening, when the moon had just began its cycle across the sky. Now dusk colors swept across it like a painter's brush. To Inuyasha, though, it only looked like some girly design in a concubine's quarters. He pouted his lower lip and crushed his brows into one guilelessly. Not that he'd ever been to a brothel. Nope, not the virtuous half-demon. Inuyasha sniggered at the last thought and made his trek back up the slope. The smell of foreign herbs, like the kind that Kagome had used in her bathing square – the 'ko-ko-nut' scent – filled his nostrils as he plowed up the hill. Finally, he saw where his spot was and stalked over to it. Flopping into it, he crossed his legs and cradled his cheek against the scabbard of the Tetsusaiga, the coolness a welcome touch. He slumped and let his eyes drift closed.

"So,"

Yep, he knew it was just too good to fall asleep tonight, just too good.

"Have you reconciled with Kagome-sama?"

Inuyasha's brow twitched, mouth twirking. "Yeah and what's it to you, monk?"

Miroku shifted in his spot, turning to the side that faced his half-demon friend. Shippo lay curled in the cold spot Miroku now left him in. The pilgrim frowned. "That wasn't very nice. I have a name you know."

Inuyasha let air escape his lips sardonically. "So? Besides, you let Sango call you that."

"Yes, well," he looked at his nails, this way and that, a contemplative frown upon his lips as he dryly sniffed. "She's a different case."

"Feh, aren't they all."

Miroku narrowed his eyes. "Just tell me, have you or have you not made up with Kagome?"

Inuyasha scratched himself behind the ear, looking off in petulant disregard. He thought about what transpired that evening. She had seemed…okay – especially after he had given her his jacket. "Uh…yeah, I guess. I think so? Whatever, what the hell does it matter."

Miroku smirked congenially. "So…did you do what I said to do?"

"You mean from a few days ago?" Inuyasha turned his stare to look at his traveling companion, gaining a wink and waggled brows in return. A very disconcerting sight with the way the monk was laying, head propped up by a fist bent at the elbow, body elongated. "Yeah, yeah," the hanyou waved the lecher away, turning his head away with a disgusted cringe. "I gave her my stupid shirt."

Miroku shot him a questioning glance, taking in the fact that Inuyasha still wore his stiff white kosode. Inuyasha growled and shook his head.

"Not this one, the robe one!"

An image seemed to pass through the hanyou's mind and a fiery tinge of color ran rampant across his cheeks. Miroku's head did a revolving motion, ending in the mocking playfulness of brothers, the look of a knowing smirk.

"Inuyasha, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were flustered." The monk's voice lilted condescendingly. It grated on Inuyasha's nerves, but true to the pervert's words, he was too busy being flustered.

"Wh-what? I, I, uh – no! I'm not, why would you…no!" Inuyasha flipped over on the ground, laying flat on his back and away from the confusing monk. "Shut up and go to sleep!"

Miroku hmphed, self-satisfied, dropping his back so it lay flat on the ground. He stared up at the moon and smiled as his eyes closed of their own accord. A gentle breeze tousled his hair.

Like fine sake, he just needs a little time. Miroku let out a long string of air, placing one hand above the other over his chest. You're welcome, Kagome.