Disclaimer: I don't own any right or materials to Inuyasha or Naruto.

Chapter 5

With a slow pace, they set out. Kagome knew that it was for her. She did miss traveling with her friends, but this was torture. The polite indifference that they showed to her grated on her nerves. At this rate, it would take forever to get there.

She understood they were trying to be considerate, but honestly didn't know how much more she could take. She was trying to remain patient... She took in her surroundings in order to distract herself from the monotonous pace.

Sakura tried to make small talk, while Naruto talked over her. It was really sweet. She couldn't help but like them. She watched their argument unfold, until Sakura had enough and thumped him on the head. Kagome held back the small chuckle that threatened to escape her lips. She didn't want to draw attention to herself.

Their sensei was a different matter. She deliberately tried to ignore him. He was very perceptive. They all seemed genuine, but she didn't want to take the chance. If her story came out, they would either think that she was crazy, or a threat. She was neither, so for now ignorance was her best option.

Her thoughts drifted back to her makeshift home. She hoped that things worked out and that they would know that she'd been there. She hadn't wanted to leave the well either. It wasn't working, but it was the starting point for all that had happened in her life. It was her anchor.

Sneaking a peak at the sensei once more, his hair held her attention. Then the mask, which covered most of his face. Again, she wondered why, as her gaze settled on the headband that was pulled down over one eye. She'd felt the conflicting energies, that concentrated around the scar, when she'd treated him.

So many questions, but she knew better than to ask them. Dropping her gaze, she noticed that Naruto and Sakura both watched her with little smirks on their faces.

It dawned on her that they thought that she was checking him out… Oh, no! NO! This is not happening. Despite her best efforts, the heavy blush still made its way to her cheeks. She knew that he was probably a good looking man, but, she refused to admit it, especially to herself.

She tried to put the matter to rest immediately.

"Look, I know that he is probably a prime catch, but I'm not interested!"

She didn't want to hurt his feelings, hoping to ease the blow, she smiled apologetically at him. "No offense."

Kakashi really wasn't interested in the exchange, but none the less, it pricked his pride. He always got looks and he was accustomed to the curiosity that his mask caused. He was aware of the looks she covertly sent him. If she wasn't interested, why did she always give him that look?

Her eyes told a different story. Each glance held a longing that she hadn't managed to hide. His looks were unique, so she couldn't mistake him for another. But, there was a faraway look in her eyes that belied that thought. Interesting... He could not help the curiosity and intrigue that seemed to take root.

He narrowed his eyes at the realization. He intended to ignore that thought as well as any interest that may have been aroused. He didn't have any inclination of following that path, which led to nothing but pain, aggravation and way too much trouble.

Kagome didn't wait for them to voice their opinions. Instead, she adjusted her old yellow pack.

"Naruto, how long until we reach your village at this pace?" She'd kept her tone even regardless of the color still on her cheeks.

Waiting for a reply, Kagome watched the concentration on his face with a small smile, her earlier discomfort forgotten. The smiled widened when Naruto brought a finger to his lips, deep in concentration.

With a heavy sigh, Sakura decided it was best to answer before Naruto gave himself a headache. Smiling ruefully at Naruto, she looked at Kagome.

"At our present pace, six days."

Kagome frowned.

Sakura barely held back the laugh that tried escape.

Kagome didn't think that she could handle almost of week of this. She was used to Inuyasha pushing her to near exhaustion. She hoped that they would pick up the pace if she asked. She didn't want to complain, but this was nerve racking.

She did her best to ignore Kakashi, but Naruto and Sakura kept getting the wrong impression. She was attracted to the hair that was all. Her heart couldn't take anymore. Thinking about Inuyasha made her sadness return.

Kakashi watched the conversation unfold and noticed that Kagome was restless. Truth be told, he was too. He wanted to get back to the village as soon as possible. He intended to dump over his charge to Ibiki and Yamanaka as soon as he made his report. No that he expected to much really. She was just starting to irritate him.

Kagome appreciated their consideration, but this was too much. She was used to be active and this was torture. She gave them a brittle smile.

"I am used to traveling. This sedate pace is a little impractical. Is there any way that we can move a little faster?"

Naruto beamed. "We sure can. I -"

"Is that so?" Kakashi cut in. He wanted to salvage as much as he could from this situation before things got out of hand. If you gave Naurto an inch, he would not only take a mile, but ten. Trying to rein in his impatience and annoyance, he turned his gaze on the woman that was causing his so much trouble.

Much to his surprise, she held his stare. She didn't hesitate to return his steady gaze as he tried his best to intimidate her without openly doing so. Most would turn away, which left him a little... disquieted. There was something that made him a little uneasy. He didn't think that she was dangerous. He didn't feel any possibility of a threat from her, but that didn't mean he'd lower his guard.

He didn't want to jump to conclusions, but he didn't like or trust the fact that she'd fallen in so well with his team. They were ninja and should not be so quick to trust. Naruto was Naruto and there was nothing he could do about it. His only option was to watch closely to ensure she didn't harm his team or his village.

Kagome held his stare. It wasn't hard to tell that he didn't trust her. That was fine by her. Though she accepted his behavior, she was not going to be intimidated in any way. She'd had enough of that crap with Inuyasha. He would just have to deal with it. She was here, if only for a short while, but she wasn't about to slink around in fear of the big bad ninjas.

Ending the silent battle, Kakashi gave the smiling eye face, one everyone hated.

"We didn't want to tax you, Miss Higurashi." His tone was coaxing and his smile a little too sweet, but she knew the idiot was being sarcastic.

Kagome frowned. So, he wants to be that way, huh. She straightened, to show that she wouldn't cower. A tight smile formed her lips as she thought, bring it. He wanted to intimidate and try to make her uncomfortable, well, she would show him that she could handle it and more.

Without wasting another moment on the aggravating ninja, she turned to Naruto.

"If you were to travel normally, how would you propose to handle my being a burden? I wouldn't want to impede you too much, but I don't want to be a waste of time either."

"No way, Kagome! It will be great! I can carry you, no problem." Naruto was his usual, enthusiastic and loud self. By time he was done, he nearly bouncing off the walls.

Sakura tried to salvage the situation. "Calm down, Naruto! Kagome doesn't want to be tossed around like a sack of potatoes. It is up to Kakashi-sensei, anyway. We prepared to travel this way. If any of the plans were to be altered, it would be his call not ours."

The pinked haired kunoichi turned to Kagome apologetically. "Sorry Kagome, Naruto gets ahead of himself sometimes. The final say comes from Kakashi-sensei."

Sakura wanted to get back as much as Naruto, but for different reasons. She wanted return to the lab and start working on the new poison that they had encountered, to finish breaking down all of the components and start analysis on each one.

Kakashi wanted this mission over with. "Its fine, Sakura. If Miss Higurashi, doesn't mind, it would be in the best interest of all parties." He was irritated and this woman was going to give him a headache.

Kagome was pushing his buttons. It was enough to drive one to madness. He was more intelligent than that, but his nerves were getting frayed. He refused to think any more about the woman in question. Instead he would focus on getting them to the village as quickly as possible, without trying to make it seem like he had issues with this mission.

Naruto couldn't contain himself, smiling widely, he leaned down to let Kagome on his back. "Let's go, Kagome. I can't wait for you to meet everyone. There's -"

"Miss Higurashi, will have a duties as well as everyone else in the village. You can show around after everything has been settled. Ibiki and Yamanaka will have to clear her before she can be allowed to have access to the village, not mention interaction with any of the shinobi."

Undeterred by his gruff attitude, Kagome only smiled. "It's alright, Naruto. I am sure that I will have to meet the head of your village and stuff, so it may be a little while before I get settled." She gave his shoulders a small squeeze to let him know that she appreciated the offer.

The travel through the trees after that was quiet. She understood that they were in each lost in their own thoughts. She felt Naruto's tense posture. Sakura stared ahead, but had not spoken since Kakashi's statement.

Kakashi himself appeared to be unfazed, but she knew what he had inferred to. Kagome was aware that she would interrogated without being interrogated. Her story would be questioned and she wouldn't lie, she knew that there were skilled ninja that would know what was fact and what was false.

She would only allow the necessary individuals there to hear her background. Most would not believe her anyway and those that were skeptical would only hold her in suspicion and regard her as a threat, which she was most definitely not.

Just the thoughts of sharing her past with anyone was tiring. It would be painful and difficult, there were some wounds that just wouldn't heal. With a heavy sigh, Kagome laid her cheek on Naruto's shoulder. The passing scenery went unnoticed as she began to think back to beginning. Slowly, she began to drift to sleep.

Kakashi was slightly behind Naruto on the right, with Sakura in the same position on Naruto's left. No more words were spoken. The atmosphere remained tense until the woman dozed.

They all noticed her slumping figure. It was something that was unexpected and unsettling. Trust was one thing that was hard to come by in this world, and there she was dozing off with unknowns abound.

Just when he thought she was a complete waste, she straightened up. Kakashi still didn't know what to think of someone like her: trusting, naïve, and appeared to have no idea what went on in the world around her. Even Naruto, who was sometimes gullible, was not so senseless.

The story that the Sound ninja gave was still an issue. There were many questions that they had not answered, but it was best to see what Ibiki and Yamanaka found out. He didn't want to take an individual into their village if they were a threat, but she didn't have any chakra. His senses told him that she was more than she appeared to be, but he couldn't detect any threat with his sharingan.

It was a distraction. He could feel her, if that makes sense, but he couldn't figure it out. Her presence was a distraction. She kept drawing his attention and no matter what he tried, he was always drawn back to her presence. The feeling was warmth, he couldn't say why or how, but it was just there.

It pulled at him and was becoming bothersome. He would keep an eye on her, to see what was going on and what was causing this reaction. If she was indeed dangerous, he would not hesitate to remove her from this world.

A few hours later they halted to take a break. Kagome, with her faithful pack, pulled water bottles out when, she realized that they each had their own supplies. It would be a waste to offer water to them. Kakashi wouldn't trust it and Sakura would more than likely take his lead. Naruto may be the only one that would probably accept it, but she didn't want to get him into any more trouble with his sensei.

Finishing offer her water, she searched around and out of habit noticed some of the medical plants that she used were in the area. Like any other day, she took her tools out of her pack and walk to few steps to a small plant hidden under some brush.

As she knelt on the ground, examining the plant, she heard approaching footsteps, but ignored them to focus on the task at hand.

It became the routine, during travel talk was minimal. Kagome could tell that it was difficult for Naruto, but she respected his attempt at heeding Kakashi's warning. He loved his village, she could tell from how he had talked earlier when he'd pleaded with her to help. The sincerity in his eyes when he spoke of those he held dear.

It was during the breaks that Kagome could relax. While the others took a breather, she would look around for the medical herbs in the area.

Sakura was educated with most medical plants, but there were a few plants unknown to her.

Kagome was glad to impart what knowledge she'd gained to the younger girl. She was very attentive and retained knowledge quickly.

It took two days to reach the village with the pace that they had set. Kagome had assured them that she could and would be able to handle the constant moving with only breaks and the continual traveling at night.

They were all exhausted and glad to see the village when it came in sight. The tension was still there, but started to dissipate the closer they got to their destination. They slowed to a walk when the gates came into view.

Kagome adjusted her pack, as Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto greeted the guards. The beginning of another chapter, but the smile that Naruto gave her steadied her resolve that she'd made the right decision.

With a small nod, Kagome followed Team 7 toward Hokage Tower. She felt eyes upon her, but her only concern was that she would be able to make a difference. She would matter here and hopefully someday, she would find her way back to where she belonged.

**Sorry for the long delay in posting but I hope that you like it.