Falling Tears, Rising Moon

"Oh!" Kagome shrieked. This had a satisfying effect on Inuyasha' sensitive ears. Inuyasha cringed, then gulped.

Kagome began very sweetly, a sign that there was soon to be a very large crater in the ground. "Oh? So, I'm just a weak little human, who can't protect myself, right?"

"Kagome let me explain!" Inuyasha interrupted hastily. "I invited Kikyou into our group so th—"

"You WHAT! You invited HER into our shikon-shard hunt! When we have no need of her abilities! This is outrageous!" Kagome fumed.

"Let me explain! Kagome, you don't understand! Kikyou's better than you at shooting and controlling her miko abilities, and she could help you!" Inuyasha pleaded.

"HELP me! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES KIKYOU TRIED TO KILL ME! AND YET, YOU SIDE WITH HER!"

Inuyasha, frustrated, blinded by Kikyou's 'love', yelled, " Kikyou would never do such a thing! She's sweet and nice! You're just jealous. YOU"RE NOTHING COMPARED TO HER!"

Kagome flushed red, very angry with Inuyasha.

"OH, so that's what you came all the way to say! Kikyou this, Kikyou that! I'm just plain old Kagome, a stupid reflection of Kikyou! Just a recarnation who can't even detect shards! Oh so perfect Kikyou! 'Oh Kikyou, let me help you steal the other half of Kagome's soul for you, because you're soulless, and Kagome's weak!'" She stomped around the clearing, leaving deep footprints in the ground, throwing her hands up into the air to show Inuyasha how frustrated she was with his childish behavior.

"Have you ever thought of me as a friend, even?" She asked, in a strangled whisper.

Inuyasha froze in place, not expecting this question and this sudden mood swing from Kagome.

"Um…well…" He shuffled his feet around, not daring to look up into the eyes of Kagome.

Kagome glared at him, hands on her hips, waiting for his answer. If looks could kill, our friend the hanyou Inuyasha would be dead right now.

Inuyasha looked up meekly. "Uh…well…no…"

Kagome's fury rose to a new level. " NO! IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY! NO! SIT! SIT! SIT!"

Inuyasha smashed into the ground, probably sitting in a 5 feet deep crater.

"Well, well. My little brother subdued by a human wench? Of course, you would not expect more of him, the little filthy half-breed…" A cold voice mused.

Kagome turned around enraged that Sesshoumaru would call her 'wench'. She started to say something when Inuyasha cut her off. "My name is NOT wen—"

"Sesshoumaru! Get outta here!" Inuyasha yelled. "And leave Kagome outta this!" Inuyasha glared at Kagome, telling her to keep out of this fight.

"Hm? You have a soft spot for this human, then. Such a taint to my father's bloodline, you are."

Inuyasha growled. "OUR father! OUR!"

"I will never be willing to share my father with you. You, a filthy half-breed does not deserve to have Inu-Taisho's bloodline in you!" Sesshoumaru said calmly, seemingly disgusted by Inuyasha.

Inuyasha jumped up, seized Tenseiga/Tetusaiga, and brought it down…

…to…

…nothing…

…?…

Sesshoumaru had moved swiftly and silently, and materialized to behind Inuyasha.

"As I remembered, you, a filthy half-breed, have a dead disgraced, miko? And I do remember hearing people of your group call her 'Kikyot'..."

Inuyasha flushed, angered. Then he realized what Sesshoumaru had said. People of my group calling sweet, beloved, Kikyou a 'Kikyot'? Unacceptable! No way!

He turned around to face Kagome, Sango, Miruko, Shippo, and Kirara.

"…Er…" Sango was silent.

"Let's go already…OMFTH" Shippo was racing for the trees, when Miroku grabbed him by the tail, and yanked him back. "Not now, Shippo, let's watch!"

YANK! BONK! Shippo yanked Miroku's staff and hit him on the head with it. Miroku fell and Shippo hopped off his head.

Sango sighed, looking from Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, and Kagome back to Miroku and Shippo. "Oh...dear…" Am I the only one who has common sense here? Oh crap. Kagome, stop whatever you're saying, because Inuyasha's staring at you!…

"And let me guess! Kikyou's so special! Oh so beautiful Kikyou! Just come on in, and come and STEAL Kagome—who is just a stupid shard detector—Kagome's soul!"

She ranted on, unaware of the incredulous stare Inuyasha was giving her, not realizing his anger was rising.

He yelled at her. "WHY YOU—"

PLUNK.

Kagome stared up into the eyes of Sesshoumaru. How beautiful his eyes are…how shiny his hair is giggle…wait, what am I thinking! This is Sesshoumaru here! Cold-blooded killer, remember!

She stuttered. "Um…t-thank you?"

He stared at her wrist, grabbed it, and pulled her toward him…