Chapter One:

Amor of Cloth

Could you have but known that it would burn so swiftly

This raiment of fur

You would not then have set which was such little show of concern

— Robe of the Fire Rat

It was early morning as everyone stood by the Well for their usual goodbyes.

"You going?" InuYasha asked.

"Yeah." Kagome sighed.

"Yer always getting into trouble." The hanyō argued.

"Am not! Besides, my world isn't as dangerous as yours."

"Sure Princess." InuYasha turned his back, he wasn't listening.

"InuYasha—"She growled.

"Kagome-sama, if I may." Miroku interjected, placing an impressive number of ofuda into her hands.

'Seals? But—"

"Don't misunderstand, it is for the sake of your studies that I give these to you." She looked up to see his serene smile.

"Couldn't hurt to take these along."Sango added, tucking various powders, pellets, poisons, and Miroku's charms into Kagome's backpack.

"Kagome!" Shippō cried, stuffing his stock of Ninja Food into the nonexistent spaces.

It wasn't till something settled over her that she realized what InuYasha had given her.

"But, this is your—" Kagome protested.

"Just leave before I change my mind." He crossed his arms, pretending not to care, walking up the path as if he didn't.

"He's only trying to protect you Kagome-chan." Sango whispered.

"I know, but the robe—"

"Best accept his offer before he goes after you." Miroku murmured, pushing her into the darkness.