A/N: Okay, since none of my readers got the foreshadowing (LogicalGoth came close), I will give you all a hint. It doesn't have anything to do with what happens in the story, but after it in relation to the storyline. After all, I don't want to leave any "unanswered questions." Anyway, I need to thank the following for reviewing: LogicalGoth, starfire1994, PrincessaSakura220, xxdarienchibaloverxx, nightfalcon222, and The 214th Rabid Fangirl. And thank you to all those who've added this story or myself to your lists.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movie, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.

Her Knight

Ch. 22

The time finally came when Kagome was pronounced healed and Mama allowed her to continue travelling in the Feudal Era with Inuyasha and the others. Relieved to be once more in the past, the young priestess savored the fresh air and slower pace. As a group they left Kaede's village and began their journey in search of shards and clues as to Naraku's whereabouts. The vile half demon had been suspiciously absent the entire length of Kagome's convalescence. Everyone was of the opinion that he was indeed hatching some horrible scheme that would hurt either them or innocent people.

With that in mind, they made their way down the familiar road, having traveled it countless times before. Scenery that Kagome had looked on before passed by and she smiled to herself. There was so little of what she saw here still in her time and she wished there was a way to keep the mountains and trees untouched by man's progression. Knowing it was not to be, the only thing she could do was savor it while she was a part of the Feudal Era.

Sango walked beside her friend, the heavy bone boomerang an unnoticed weight across her shoulders. Steeped in her thoughts about her brother, the demon slayer was caught unawares by Kagome's voice. "So, are you going to tell me what had you blushing weeks ago? If I remember correctly, it had something to do with a monk we all know."

"Not now, Kagome!" she tried hushing her friend. The male in question might have been walking with Inuyasha but there was no reason to think he wasn't listening to them. Miroku was good at hearing things he shouldn't.

"Mou, Sango. All right, when we're alone again. I'm not going to forget." Knowing the miko was right, Sango prepared herself for the inevitable.

"Very well, Kagome. I suppose it's only fair that you hear everything that happened while you were gone from me. If you ask someone else, it's liable to be all out of proportion to the truth." Kirara, nesting in her kitten's arms pretended to be asleep. It wasn't her place to tell what had gone on, not that Kagome would have been able to understand her had she wanted to.

Miroku pretended interest in the rice paddies they were currently passing while he tried to get a bead on the conversation going on behind him. The girls had dropped to whispers and all he could discern was the rise and fall of their voices. "Keh, don't bother, Miroku. Sango's not saying a word. It must be real interesting though if Kagome can't pry it out of her."

The houshi glanced out of the corner of his eye at the half demon. "How often do you really listen to what they're saying?"

"All the time; do you think I want to be surprised by those two? Pack females are an alpha's worst nightmare. They're his sisters, his mother or his mate. No one with any sense leaves their conversations alone if it can be helped. There's no telling what they might plan." Turning towards the girls, he shouted, "Oi, wench, stop lollygagging! We got things to do!"

Places to go, people to see... rang in Kagome's head but she didn't add the sing song onto what Inuyasha shouted at her. "I'm coming! Can't I enjoy the view?" She heard him snort but wasn't surprised when he slowed down to allow her to look around. "It's so beautiful here, you guys."

"Did you miss it, Kagome?" Shippou was sitting on her shoulder, still leery of pressing against her stomach although he wanted to be held.

"I did, but I missed you all even more." Kagome took him into her arms and hugged him. She held him to her as they walked, content to keep the kitsune child close.

"That's cause we're a pack, huh, Kagome?"

"Pack?" Miroku put in unexpectedly. Sango looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"You didn't notice? Miroku, demons are by and large pack oriented. We've become like a family to the youkai members of our group. Kirara sees us as her kittens and Inuyasha views us as part of his pack."

"It never occurred to me to think that way." The monk thought back to what he'd pondered weeks ago about him and Inuyasha being brothers. It made sense when he looked at things that way. "What an odd family we make. When shall we add to our little group, Sango, dear? I'm sure Shippou would love to have little playmates."

Instead of the angry retort he was expecting from Sango, Inuyasha cut in. "Don't even think about it, lecher. There'll be no pups born until Naraku is dead." The girls didn't bother to hide their smirks.

"Of course not, Inuyasha; I wouldn't dream of it, but perhaps you have." Miroku didn't miss the blush gracing the half demon's face. He normally would have commented on the telltale give away but refrained because he knew his friend had never thought to have the opportunity to have a family of his own. Now the half demon not only had a pack, but a mate-to-be too.

"Keh," Inuyasha responded. The monk's disclaimer wasn't worth any other comment. Unfortunately he was also right. Now that he and Kagome were officially betrothed, there had been times the half demon dreamed of what their children might look like. He rather thought he had caught some odd contagion from Higurashi-san. Not that he was about to admit such a thing to the man beside him. Miroku might have let one opportunity to tease him pass but there was no way he would let a second.

Fishing about for something else to kid his friend about, as more of a way to pass the time than anything else, he thought of one thing that he had been wondering about since he had first seen it. "Inuyasha," he began casually, making sure the others were paying attention. "What is it like to wear the male version of the clothes from Kagome's era?"

"Out of all the things we could talk about, you want to know how I felt wearing pants and shirts from Kagome's time?" The group stopped en masse to stare at the houshi. The girls were wondering if he was really curious or if he was just trying to get a rise out of the dog demon. Shippou felt a smile hovering around his face; he was pretty sure Miroku had a kitsune somewhere in his family tree. He liked to make mischief too much for it to be otherwise. Kirara ignored the whole thing, this time closing her eyes for a serious nap.

"I am truly interested. And as I am never going to have the chance to experience her time, I was just wondering. We have a long road ahead, surely that will take up some of the time."

"Keh, fine, monk. I'll tell you. The ones you saw me wear were restrictive. The fabrics were all right, a lot softer than the clothes made in this time but they were too tight."

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha, you should have said something, we would have gotten you a bigger size." It would have been a shame, as the shirts had outlined his toned physique but Kagome didn't want him to be uncomfortable. "We'll get others the next time we go back."

It was interesting to see the look of absolute horror that sprung up onto Inuyasha's face. "That's quite all right. Higurashi-san can go without me. Just the next size up will do."

"What could possibly terrify you about shopping for clothes?" Miroku wanted to know. This inquiry was turning out to be more amusing than he'd expected.

Turning to his comrade-in-arms, the half demon explained. "Remember that market we came across two days from Kaede-babaa's? The market we went to in Kagome's era was about ten times as big." Understanding dawned and all amusement fled.

"I see."

The girls giggled, remembering the time when they'd dragged the guys through the large market on the pretext of getting supplies but in reality to check out all that the merchants had to offer. When they would have commenced teasing their friend and love, an unexpected shift in the air stopped them. Turning their gazes to the north, the large gathering of miasma brought down all their spirits. Preparing themselves for battle, Inuyasha said the one thing on everybody's mind.

"He's here."