Kyraillion: Well, the chapter has been updated and replaced.

Inu-Yasha: Yeah, so re-read it, cause it's totally different!

Miroku: I get to have more fun in this chapter...

Sango: Get your hand off my butt, hentai!

Kyraillion: Uh, now, now! Don't fight! Stop that, Miroku! Uh, so here's the chapter, fully replaced, updated, and hopefully MUCH better. And don't worry, it'll all lead to the same conclusion.

A Lesson Finally Learned

Chapter One:

Kagome listened to the bubbling of a nearby stream. Something was going to happen today. She knew it. She stretched out in the grass, letting the wind tickle her face as she stared up at the treetops, which framed a beautiful clear sky. That was what she loved about this time period. Sure, it had plenty of problems, but there were no noisy machines. The air here was clean and pure. She loved this place, amongst her friends.

She heard small, light steps behind her.

"Whatcha doin? Shippou cheerily inquired.

Sitting up to acknowledge the little fox youkai, she replied. "I'm just taking a moment to enjoy the scenery. Would you like to join me?"

Shippou nodded his head and smiled. "Inu-Yasha, Sango, and Miroku are finishing up making camp for the night. I decided I'd go find you."

"Well, thank you Shippou," she chuckled.

The two of them had a nice conversation about the woods and the stream. They laughed about two squirrels chasing each other around a tree, apparently fighting over nuts. Shippou even showed Kagome his new trick, which he had finally mastered.

Shippou stepped out into a shallow, rocky place in the stream. He waited patiently until the right moment, and then, wham! He pounced, grabbing the salmon with both hands while jumping up and down for joy.

Kagome giggled. Shippou was so cute and innocent. She couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you two laughin' about?"

"Shippou caught a fish!" Kagome explained, all the while still giggling.

"Great! That means supper! Boy am I starved!" Inu-Yasha exclaimed. "Go catch some more, Shippou!"

"Okay," Shippou yelled as he jumped back into the stream, eager to be of service.

"Now wait just a minute!" Kagome looked sternly to Inu-Yasha. "You should help Shippou! It's not fair for him to have to do all of the work!"

Inu-Yasha glared at Kagome. "Fine, I'll help then."

Inu-Yasha tuned to step into the water, but then stopped. Shippou looked up at him triumphantly with a wriggling fish in each hand.

"Eh, Kagome, I don't think there's any need. At the rate he's going. He'll have plenty of fish in no time."

Shippou was already handing Kagome the fresh fish.

"Well then," Kagome smirked, "You can just go gather wood for the fire."

Inu-Yasha started to open his mouth.

"Don't you say it! Just go get the wood!" Kagome warned.

"Hai!" Inu-Yasha scurried off into the woods after firewood.

In next to no time, everyone was setting in front of the fire, full of decadent fish, thanks to Shippou,... oh, and Inu-Yasha too.

Miroku slapped Shippou on the back. "Thanks a lot for the fish, Shippou. You're really quite the fisherman!"

Shippou smiled, pleased with the complement. "Thanks."

Sango helped Kagome to clean up the camp before they all went to sleep for the night. While Sango bent over to stoke the fire with more wood, she felt a hand slap her butt. She almost jumped in her surprise.

"I should have seen that coming," she mumbled to herself. Then, she turned to the monk, "Cant I go one night without you bothering me, hentai?" She glowered at him.

"Eh,...eh,...gomen?" The monk backed down at the site of Sango's raised fist.

Inu-Yasha subconsciously put a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"What's wrong, Inu-Yasha," Kagome asked. "What's with the sudden interest in Sango?"

"Shh," he warned. "Someone's coming." Yes. He was sure of it. He could hear hurried footsteps coming from the direction of the nearest village.

A moment later, the heard a voice shout, "Who's there?"

Kagome looked over to Inu-Yasha.

The man stepped from the bushes and into the firelight.

He bent over, bracing his hands on his knees, gasping for breath.

"What is it?"

"Demons, attacking – the village," he gasped. "I was – running this way for help. Saw – your fire."

"What kind of demons," Miroku implored.

"Terrible. The village – is in flames.

How far are we from this village?

"Three miles," the man whiped sweat from his face. "If you – can you help?"

Inu-Yasha smirked, confidence written all over his face. "Just show me the way!"