Torn between two brothers.

Kagome and Inu Yasha entered camp that night just as the sun began to rise. Neither of them had spoken the entire way back as Kagome was deep in thought.

'We can't keep doing this,' she thought, 'or rather ~I~ can't keep doing this. I barely sleep anymore, and Inu Yasha will put me in the hospital long before we ever make it back to Kaede's village. But how can I be sure the other will behave himself?..hmmmm ' Kagome smiled as she came up with a plan.

Kagome sat next to the fire making breakfast for her and Inu Yasha, Sesshoumaru again declining her offer in the nicest way possible. "All right then" she began as she stood up to address the two men sitting at her feet on either side of her, "new rules! Sesshoumaru, take off your belt." she commanded.

Inu Yasha blinked, "WHAT?!" Sesshoumaru grinned and began untying the sash around his waist. "Kagome, what the hell?" Inu Yasha barked.

"Give it here." Kagome demanded as the demon lord delighted in her commanding tone and handed the belt to her. "Yes this.....should work." she mumbled as she tested the strength of the sash. "Now then, " she continued, "we seem to have some control issues that seriously need to be addressed." Kagome tied one end of the sash tightly around Inu Yasha's wrist, slapping his hand away as he reached for her. "That is exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about." Kagome huffed. Pulling Inu Yasha by the wrist she walked over to where Sesshoumaru had been sitting staring down at him intently. "Stick out your arm." she commanded. Sesshoumaru hesitated eyeing her suspiciously. "Stick out your arm or Inu Yasha and I will be on our way!" she said as she crossed her arms against her chest. Sesshoumaru stuck his his arm as commanded and let Kagome tie it to wrist.

"Now then," she smiled, "if this is broken in any way I will never talk to either of you again. Is that clear?" Both men nodded in agreement tugging at their wrists furiously, testing the strength of their bonds. Kagome was quite please with herself. 'Finally!' she thought. 'That takes care of that.' she dusted her hands together.

"NOW we can head to Kaede's." she commented in very 'pleased with herself' voice. The two dog demons led the way, quickening their pace attempting to leave the other behind, tugging on the sash as they went. Kagome skipped behind them very pleased with herself.

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The next couple of days were uneventful. Every once in a while they would all make camp letting Kagome rest and prepare dinner. Every time the hanyou's body got a little too close to Kagome, Seumarumaru would tug on the sash violently pulling Inu Yasha away. In turn, every time Sesshoumaru would stare at Kagome a little too intently for Inu Yasha's liking he would tug back diverting his gaze. Kagome glowed, it was nice to see them not trying to kill each other. Their body language toward each other had changed over the last few days. You could tell they still disliked each other a great deal, but it was more like two quarreling brothers then enemies sworn to killed one another. Kagome was less....emotional these days. She slept soundly again, and her hips weren't sore from the constant attention. She grinned as she ate her dinner and stared at bound demons. They had been grumbling for a long time now. Back and forth, they would argue over which of them was truly under a spell, and which was only looking out for Kagome's best interest. They had been at it for days and she finally just stopped listening them. 'They're hopeless.' she thought. 'We should reach Kaede's in one day, and then maybe she can tell me what’s going on.'