I do not own InuYasha or any of the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi

Running Off

She had chosen to leave the path through the woods, and make her way cross country. The leaves stirred under her feet, dried leaves from the autumn, their red and gold now turned into brown. Moving quietly as she could, but as swiftly as she dared through the trees, the woman burned with the need to flee. Her sleeve caught on a shrub as she moved. Huffing, she pulled it free, and gave a squirrel who barked at her a nasty look.

"I wish I had brought some water," she muttered, and wiped her forehead, but pressed on. "Now where, exactly am I?"

Breaking through the woods into a grassy meadow, now browned with the lateness of the season, she looked up at the sun, trying to get her bearings.

"I just need to get some place where I can sit," she said, looking at the grass. "Maybe if I cut back to the path . . . "

She cut across the meadow. A crow cawed and flew off as she walked through the cured grasses. Nearing the edge where the trees took back over, she turned back and saw no sign of pursuit. Leaning against the trunk of a tree, she rested, and caught her breath for a moment before pushing off and walking at a slower pace through the woods.

Suddenly she heard a loud sound, and then something crashing through the brush. She whirled to get a glimpse of a deer bound off.

"All right girl, get hold of yourself," she muttered, then turned around, where she ran into a solid red-cloaked chest. Gasping, she looked up.

"You shouldn't run off without your bow, woman," InuYasha said.

"Don't scare me like that!" Kagome said, resting her hand over her heart. His eyes were looking down at her stern, but concerned.

"Feh," he said.

For a moment, they just looked at each other. InuYasha lifted up a hand and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. For a moment, she leaned into his touch; then suddenly, her eyes narrowed. "Who's watching our son?"

InuYasha wrapped his arms around her. "I dropped Atae off with Rin when I saw how you stormed off," the hanyou replied. "You were glowing pink. I haven't seen you that upset in a long time. I take it he's been a real handful today."

She let her husband pull her into a gentle embrace, and leaned her cheek against his chest. "You can't imagine. First, he attacks the apple tree by the garden, because the Oni King was using it for a fortress." She looked up at him "Then he knocked down my clean laundry when he ran into the support pole. And then he jumped on the roof and – "

Suddenly, her words were cut off by two warm lips brushing across hers as InuYasha's hand slipped to the back of her head. The kiss deepened and she felt him pull her even closer. Somehow, the tension of the afternoon, drained out of her body, and she felt herself going limp in his arms.

"I'm sorry I took so long getting back from that meeting with Miroku and the headman," he said, resting his forehead on hers. "They just wouldn't shut up."

Kagome looked up. "And then you had to come and rescue me." She reached up and cupped his face.

His lips brushed hers again. "Rather rescue you any day."

"Think Rin would be upset if we didn't hurry back?" she asked, smiling.

His lips nuzzled the side of her neck. "She said he could spend the night if you needed it."

"Maybe I do," Kagome replied. "Or at least until after supper and a long hot bath."

"Got room for two in that tub of yours?" InuYasha's smile promised more than just getting clean.

"Take me home and find out," she said.

Turning around for her, he let her climb on his back and they went home. Somehow, he wasn't really surprised later when she fell asleep in the tub.