Someone new for Inu

She planned with Shippou and than went to look for Inuyasha. She cursed when she tripped and opened her wound again.

“You should be lying down,” said Inuyasha jumping down.

“I am fine. I came to tell you I sense a shard in the direction of a town called Cora,” she said pointing.

“Why didn’t ya say so. Let’s go,” he said grabbing her and carrying her back to Kaede’s.

They grabbed her backpack and traveled ahead of the others. She soon yawned and fell asleep on his back. Her soft breath tickled his neck, making him shiver.

“She is so different from Kag,” he mumbled. “She’s a great fighter and she’s beautiful in a different way from Kikyo and Kagome. Damn, I gotta shutup.”

They camped that evening and Sam cooked while they waited for the other’s. She smacked his hand when he tried to sneak some food.

“It isn’t done yet,” she said sweetly.

“Kagome let’s me,” he said.

“I am not Kagome,” she said miffed.

“Ya, your right. She’s a lot sweeter, and funny,” he said, suddenly regretting the words when he saw the anger cross her face.

“Go away,” she said stirring the ramen.

Sam added some vegetables they had brought and sprinkled some seasoning into the ramen. She settled onto the ground and started playing with a ball of her energy. She absently went over all the times when she had been compared to Kagome and sighed. She was always everyone’s favorite she thought.

“What are you doing?” he said startling her.

“Thinking,” she snapped, turning away.

“About what?” he said again.

“Why do you care what I think? You will just end up comparing it to Kag,” she said, turning to serve the ramen.

“Hey this is really good,” he said as he slurped it down.

“Aren’t you gonna say Kag cooks better?” she said defensively.

“No, it’s better than hers,” he said. “Why ya think I would say that?”

“Because everyone does. It’s always Why can’t you be more like Kagome or why can’t you act more like Kagome. I have always been the outsider, even among my own friends,” she said angrily standing. “I’m going for a walk.”

She was quiet over the next few days as they traveled. When anyone ever mentioned Kag she grumbled and would walk away. After several battles where she fought faithfully along side Inuyasha, they were a day away from Cora. She found her way to a hot spring and shed her clothes. She dove into the spring and sighed in ecstasy.

“I am in heaven,” she whispered. “No one here to nag me or talk about Kag.”

She used Kags shampoo and soap to wash away the weeks grime and than closed her eyes. She heard a thump and groaned knowing it was Inuyasha.

“What is it now Inuyasha?” she said cracking an eye open.

“Why did you come here alone? You could get hurt and we wouldn’t know it,” he said.

“For the last time I am not helpless, nor am I weak, nor am I…” she said walking over to poke him in the chest before realizing she was naked. “Oh my gods.”

Her face turned red as she dove back into the water. She hid behind a rock and peaked out. She saw the red staining his cheeks before he too turned around. She saw the dust in his hair and wondered when he bathed last.

“I just came to take a bath. It’s not like I wanted to see you,” he grumbled.

“Ok than come on in. There is plenty of room,” she said swimming back to her spot.

She closed her eyes as she heard him undress and slip into the water. She opened her eyes when he settled beside her scratching his head.

“If you wash your hair it wouldn’t itch,” she said, handing him the shampoo. “Want me to wash it for you?”

Her answer was him dunking his head and turning to her. She slid behind him, her legs settling on both his sides. She gently began to rub the shampoo through his hair and even his ears. She heard him groan and giggled as she scratched his ears.

“Kagome never let’s me near her when she bathes,” he said.

“Than when do you bathe?” she asked as she ran her fingers through his hair.

“I do a quick one when she is sleeping,” he mumbled.

“Well how about this. As long as I am here your welcome to come with me anytime you want. I will even wash your hair for you,” she said. “Ok rinse it.”

He dunked under causing the bubbles to run around them. He surfaced a few feet away and the moonlight shined on him. She watched entranced at how handsome he was, water dripping down his bare chest. Shaking her head she swam over and splashed him before swimming away laughing.

“Oh you want to play huh,” he growled softly chasing her.

Their laughter carried back to the others at camp and Sango smiled. She was happy to hear them doing something other than argue. Sam hid under water as Inuyasha swam around looking for her.

“Got ya,” he said pouncing and carrying her to the surface.

“Ok I give I give,” she shrieked when he started tickling her.

“It’s getting late. We had better go back,” he said suddenly.

“Before the other’s start wondering,” she chuckled.

Careless of her naked body, she walked from the water and grabbed a towel. When she turned drying her hair she saw him staring at her. She tossed him a towel and wrapped one around herself.

“Let’s go Inu,” she said using a nickname.

They walked back in comfortable silence, both knowing it had been exactly what they needed. She dressed in one of Kags nightgowns and settled down on her sleeping bag.

During the night she woke up when he thumped to the ground. She watched as a miko stood at the end of the small clearing and he walked to her. Sam felt that this must be the Kikyo kag had told her about.

“So this is the woman he loves,” she said softly, smiling. “She is very powerful.”

Slowly she stood and walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. He jumped and turned to her, a guilty look on his face.

“So Inu are you going to introduce us?” she said hoping to calm him.

“Kikyo Sam. Sam Kikyo,” he stuttered as he slowly calmed down.

“Nice to meet a fellow miko,” said Sam bowing respectfully. “Now if you will excuse me I will let you two kids talk.”

She hummed softly as she turned and walked away. She yawned as she sat down and stirred the fire. Shippou rolled over in his sleep and snuggled up to her, sighing.

“Cute kid,” she giggled softly, patting his tail. “Sometimes I envy you sis.”

The next morning she woke as the sun rose, shining in her eyes. Stretching she took a bucket to fill with water. She was lugging it back when Inuyasha came back to camp. She smiled knowingly and kneeled to start washing her clothes. Her soft voice drifted to his ears as she sang an old world tune.

“You should buy yourself some clothes when we get to town Sam,” said Sango. “Until than why don’t you borrow one of my kimono’s.”

“All right,” she said accepting a light purple one.

Sango blocked her as she changed into the kimono. Afterwards she put her hair up in a pearl comb and lent her some sandals.

“Purple is your color,” said Sango.

“Your pretty,” said Shippou shyly.

“Why thankyou cutie,” she giggled kissing his cheek.

She kneeled beside the fire and wrung out her own clothes and turned to see Inuyasha staring at her again. She cocked her head and smiled before hanging the clothes on his tree.

“Breakfast is ready,” she said stirring the pot.

“Already? I thought your were just washing clothes,” said Inuyasha suddenly beside her sniffing. “What is it?”

“Something my grandmother showed me before she died,” she said raising a spoonful to his mouth. “Taste.”

“Hey that’s sweet,” he said.

“It’s called sweet porridge. I thought I would make something special this morning,” she said, making him look confused.

“Special? For what?” he said, frowning when she just scooted away.

“There is a festival in Cora. I thought we could stop by and have a little fun,” she said pulling out some of the money she had saved.

“We are here only for the shard,” he grumbled.

“We can do that later. Right now I think we can use a break,” she said. “Even you.”