It was a peaceful spring day in the Musahi Country, sun shining over the busy village and the thick forest. Faint sounds of hammers and axes connecting with wood were heard throughout the forest. In a small clearing, a group was carrying an, er….. "conversation"….

"Inuyasha! SIT!"

"Na-"

>WHAM<

"Inuyasha sama! Are you alright?!"

"Arrrrgh!!! Kagome, you stupid wench! What do you think you're doing?!!!"

"Feh, an appropriate punishment for a thieving half-youkai such as yourself!"

"THIEVING?!! Miroku, you scum! You should be one to talk, you houshi!"

"Um, weren't we just having a serious conversation?"

Kagome glared at Inuyasha from her perch on a rock, while Shippou looked on, confused, from Kagome's shoulder. Miroku, staff ready and pointing at Inuyasha, looked at Inuyasha amusedly as he tried uselessly to get up from the ground while spitting dirt and grass from his mouth, adding a few muffled expletives inbetween. Faint cries of concern could be heard from Inuyasha's shoulder, as the flea youkai hopped up and down in a fit of worry.

"Don't you EVER stop?" Kagome said, crossing her arms and glaring at Inuyasha and Miroku.

"It was that scum Miroku that started it! And you didn't have to do THAT!!!" Inuyasha yelled, finally managing to pull himself in a sitting position while keeping a watchful eye on Miroku.

"I know that, but you didn't have to go and encourage him!" Kagome retorted.

"Encourage him? Whaddiya mean, encourage him?"

"Threatening to kill him *again* is usually called encouraging him!"

Miroku grinned. "I do believe, Inuyasha, that Kagome sama is right."

"Shut up!" Inuyasha and Kagome yelled at Miroku before continuing their fight.

"Why are you on the side of a lecher like that anyway?!"

"Who said I was on his side?!"

Shippou was watching the fight with his normal goofy yet somewhat interested expression. He started when he heard a tiny voice on his left shoulder squeak out:

"I wonder if Inuyasha sama and Kagome will ever learn to get along."

Shippou blinked. "Oh, Myouga. When did you get here, the first sign of trouble?"

Myouga tried unsuccessfully to put on an indignant expression (too bad it wasn't working). "Of course not! I was just..... just-"

"Save your breath." the child kitsune answered, still watching the fight.

"What, you jealous?!" Kagome yelled. This, of course, caused the immediate reaction.

"WHAT?! Why would I be jealous of a lecher like him and a WENCH like you?!!!!" Inuyasha exploded. Somewhere, someone face-vaulted.

"Inuyasha sama..... you need to work on your personality." Myouga spoke uneasily, a sweatdrop forming on his tiny flea head.

"Inuyasha really does have a jealous nature, like Kagome said." Shippou said just as uneasily. "At this rate, we'll never get to work on finding the rest of the Shikon no Tama....."

"Well, they were neutral for a while."

"Kagome usually would have stopped it by now..... I think she's in a bad mood, she said something about a 'failed math test' or something....." Shippou trailed off curiously. "Wonder what that is?"

"That lass speaks of strange things from her world.... Hn? Where's Miroku?"

Both youkai looked over to now mysteriously empty spot where Miroku was standing. A gust of wind blew in his place.

"Wonder where he went?" Shippou asked to the sky.

"To the town's women, most likely."

Shippou fidgeted restlessly. "I'm bored. This fight'll never end, unless...." A very devious (yet not lacking his normal goofiness) smile spread across his face.

Not wasting any time, Shippou pulled a leaf out of his pocket.

"Uh, Shippou? What-"

"I'll get them to stop fighting!"

With that said, Shippou placed the leaf on his head and closed his eyes. A puff of smoke and a yelp from Myouga later....

Kagome and Inuyasha were still going at it, getting further and further into each other's faces by the minute. Inuyasha looked like he was about to blow his top (again) when a pink balloon like thing with spindly legs, two huge eyes with the tiny irises going every which way floated down to Inuyasha and Kagome.

"Birooon...." it said.

Inuyasha and Kagome chose to ignore it, although Kagome looked a tiny bit bemused. Of course, after it started chomping on Inuyasha's head, it was somewhat hard to ignore.

"Uh..... Shippou...." Kagome said nervously, a sweatdrop forming on the back of her head.

"Grrrrrrr....." said dog-boy, twitching.

"Chomp chomp chomp" said Shippou.

Inuyasha chose this moment to react.

"What are you DOING, you crappy Kitsune?!!" Inuyasha yelled, embedding his fist in Shippou's head for emphasis.

The....er.... thing (sorry folks, I'm not going through that introduction again) disappeared in a puff of smoke and Shippou appeared, three feet tall and (somewhat) normal.

"I thought you guys would never stop fighting! We're s'poused to be getting the Shikon shards, remember?!"

"Whatever." Inuyasha stomped off, visible steam shooting from his head. Kagome watched him oddly.

"Hey, where did Miroku go?" Kagome asked, looking around.

"WHO GIVES A CRAP?!!!!!!!!" Inuyasha roared, nearly snapping a tree in half.

Kagome, Shippou and Myouga all leaned a bit away from Inuyasha.

"I... Inuyasha sama...." Myouga said weakly. "Maybe it would be better if I rode on Kagome's shoulder today." Myouga thought.

Kagome looked quite bewildered while Shippou stared at Inuyasha's back, mouth agape.

"He's, um... angrier than usual today." Kagome said.

"Yes ...normally he doesn't get this mad over when you two have a fight, Kagome." Myouga spoke slowly.

Kagome looked thoughtful for a moment.

"He's been mad all day. Even for Inuyasha, that's unusual…. Maybe it has something to do with Kikyo....." Kagome thought, concerned.

Shippou shrugged, but otherwise looked unconcerned. "Geez, I wonder what's up his-"

"ARE YOU COMING OR NOT?!!!" the earth shook at that one.

Kagome, Shippou and Myouga scurried to join Inuyasha. ~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun was starting to set over the forest, barely lighting the small campsite set up on the outskirts of a meadow. Kagome was leaning against a rock, looking at the fire despondently. Shippou was sleeping with Myouga on his shoulder, snoring loudly, while Miroku is tinkering with his rosary, but otherwise looking half-asleep. Inuyasha was no where to be seen.

*Inuyasha.....* Kagome thought worriedly, *Where are you?* Kagome fidgeted and looked down at the large Shikon fragment in her hand. *After that fight, he's been avoiding me all day. Most of the time he just ignores me or something, but today..... I'm almost positive he had a sad look on his face! It couldn't be because of the fight, we always have those and that never bothers him. I hope he's okay....*

Kagome cast another worried glance in the forest that did not go unnoticed. Miroku was more or less awake now, and looking at Kagome. He sat up, startling Kagome.

"Oh. Miroku sama, you're awake?"

Miroku looked at Kagome. "Kagome sama.... you unable to sleep?" he spoke slowly.

"Um... yeah." Kagome said, a bit embarrassed.

Miroku cast a glance around the campsite. "Hmm. Inuyasha is not back yet." Miroku looked at Kagome. "Would you sleep better if I went to find him for you?"

Kagome turned red, and looked down at he feet.

*Geez... this guy is reading my mind....*

"Uh... y-yeah."

Miroku smiled. "Alright. I'll be back, Kagome sama!"

Miroku stood up and ran off in the forest, chanting a few exorcisms on the way. Kagome stared after him, smiling.

"Despite his outward appearances, he really is a nice guy. Even though a hentai one." Kagome spoke to herself.

Shippou snorted in his sleep and rolled over, squashing Myouga.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inuyasha sat on the log, eyes open and glowing gold in the darkness of the night, looking like two stars in the black woods.

"Tomorrow's the day…. The day when I decided I would be human…."

Inuyasha and Kikyo were sitting on a field in the sun, tall grass rustling in the wind. Kikyo was sitting straight, arms folded in her lap, while Inuyasha was sprawled on the ground.

"What will happen if you use the Shikon no Tama to make me human?" Inuyasha asked, carefully avoiding Kikyo's gaze.

"You will become human." Kikyo replied, smiling.

"You know what I mean." Inuyasha said gruffly, although turning uncharacteristically red. "What-" Inuyasha spoke, quite embarrassed, "-will happen to you?"

Kikyo looked up at the clear blue sky, her dark eyes piercing and barely readable, but there was definite sadness to them.

"I… will become a normal woman." Kikyo said, closing her eyes. "I will be burdened with the weight of the Shikon no Tama no more."

Inuyasha was silent, staring at Kikyo with an unreadable expression. He sat up on his haunches.

"Do you want to be normal?" Inuyasha asked slowly.

Kikyo opened her eyes and smiled at Inuyasha. "Of course."

"Then I'll become human." Inuyasha declared, coming as close to a smile than he ever had.

"Inuyasha….." Kikyo voiced, her words a mixture of surprise and gratitude.

"Then we'll live together, won't we?"

Kikyo looked startled. She looked at Inuyasha, who was still avoiding her gaze. Kikyo smiled brightly. "We will!"

"How... Could I have been so stupid..." Inuyasha growled, clutching his fists. "That wench..."

Inuyasha started as he heard something crack right beside him. He looked down and saw that he had snapped the log half-way down the middle. Holing up his hand he saw a smear of blood. Heh. It would heal soon enough. Suddenly, a carefree voice called out through the dark and foreboding forest.

"Inuuuyaaaaashaaaa....!"

"Hn?" Inuyasha turned to the sound of the voice, tense and ready to attack. *How had I let my guard down? I should of smelled the intruder long ago…..* Inuyasha sniffed and settled back into his sitting position when he realized whom the voice belonged to. No one was stupid enough to go gallivanting though this forest in the middle of the night.

"Miroku."

"Well, Inuyasha, there you are. You are quite good at hiding."

Inuyasha bristled. "Just what is that supposed to mean, idiot?"

"It means that I had to go through this dark forest filled with evil spirits to find you so Kagome could actually sleep tonight." Miroku said carelessly, swinging himself on a fallen log near Inuyasha.

"Huh? Kagome?" Inuyasha's shoulders fell a bit, and his ears perked up in curiosity.

"Yes, Kagome." Miroku breezed, "The poor girl wasn't getting any sleep at all you know, waiting to see if you were alright. She's quite concerned about you."

"Bah." Inuyasha spat, returning to his normal demeanor, "That foolish girl would be concerned about a fly if it had lost a wing."

"Would she, now?" Miroku asked, grinning. "You know she's not the only one curious about your.... somewhat out of character actions the past few days."

"Whaddiya mean?" Tense again. It didn't take much to set Inuyasha off.

"Oh, I don't know...." Miroku told the sky, fiddling with his rosary. "Blowing up on various occasions, mysteriously disappearing practically every night, long periods of silence- thoughtful silence, at that, and that should most definitely be enough to worry someone who knows you."

Inuyasha glared at Miroku. "And what makes you think anyone knows me....?" he growled.

"Oooh, the plot thickens!" Miroku crowed, leaning back on his perch.

"I never asked you to come here, did I? Why don't you leave now before I take your laughing head off of your body?" Inuyasha growled.

"I already told you why I came here, and I'm not leaving until you come back with me."

"Bah."

Miroku scowled, his happy facade fading visibly. Inuyasha was actually starting to get on his nerves. *A different tactic is in order* Miroku thought darkly.

"Look." He said bluntly.

(Authors Note: You know what this means, readers- it's delinquent blow-up time!)

Inuyasha turned to face Miroku, surprised by the malevolence he heard in the delinquent priest's voice.

"It's the middle of the night, I'm tired, we have a long day tomorrow and Kagome hasn't gotten one wink of sleep in the last four days since we've gone on this blasted trip to find more Shikon fragments. She hasn't gotten any sleep because of you. Now, I know we hate each other, but you could at least do something for her." Miroku stated simply, venom dripping from each word.

Inuyasha said nothing, looking at Miroku, his face stolid. Miroku sighed noisily, then scratched his head and watched as Inuyasha turned to face a tree, arrogance clear in every move.

Miroku stretched. "Please forgive me for that sudden outburst. It has been a long journey. But if you will not come back to camp to help Kagome as a friend, just think of this: If Kagome is tired tomorrow on our way back to the village, it will take longer, she will be put in more danger, and she will not be able to locate Shikon fragments as well as she usually can." Miroku stated, ticking off his fingers.

"What makes you think I care about the Shikon fragments?" Inuyasha spoke, then went rigid. *Crap. Hanging around these fools make my tongue looser,* Inuyasha thought bitterly.

Miroku's mouth was open, gaping at Inuyasha. "Wha-at?" Miroku said, disbelieving, breaking the silence. "Inuyasha, the half-youkai that seeks the Shikon no Tama? Inuyasha, who couldn't give a crap about anyone around him just as long as he either won a fight and maintained his honor or received more power? Who in God's name ARE you?"

Inuyasha clenched his teeth and tried his hardest not to punch the priest's lights out.

"Oh? And what about you, houshi? You're here for the Shikon fragments to help yourself, not anyone else, so I suggest you cut your spiel about worrying about others."

Inuyasha smelled Miroku's discomfort from that comment. He smirked. Good. His jeering attitude was drained away from him when he heard Miroku's next words:

"Does this have anything to do with Kikyo? Is that why you're taking it out on everyone else?"

Inuyasha shook in rage. "Who...told you about Kikyo?"

"Oh, I've heard about it from many sources: Kagome for one, and then Kaede, afterwards leading to a few rumors around the village. You were quite the topic of discussion there for a while."

Inuyasha was angry, to say the least. He stood up and cowered over Miroku, who was trying his hardest to look nonchalant and slowly edge away from the seething half-youkai at the same time.

"Was. I. Now?" Inuyasha put emphasis on every word, cracking his knuckles.

At the campsite, Kagome was just starting to drift off when she heard the sounds of a loud thump and yelling emanating from the forest. Eyeing the shadowy forest wearily, she sighed.

"I guess this means Miroku and Inuyasha talked."

Kagome flopped down on her pillow (Shippou) and fell into a fitful sleep.

Well, I guess this is the end of chapter one. When I first started writing this, I had originally planned much, MUCH more to go after this, but seeing as it seems kind of done now, and I'm such a perfectionist that this fic is starting to piss me off (again) because.... oh, I don't know, pick a reason!, I think I'll be leaving it as is for now. I might have more in store for you later along this storyline, but my (fleeting) attention is now on a new fanfiction.... Thanks again to Krista Perry, who helped me revise the story to where it was more readable.