A.N: Once again I must disclaim all the character in this short thingy ma-bob. The whole shebang here belongs to the renowned Takahashi Rumiko and not to me. She made the cake, and I took it, frosting and all to create this. ^^ So read and enjoy. It's a really quick one.

One Night of New Humanity

By: Shinigami Hilde

Sitting alone and gazing at the stars brought back thoughts that I wasn't sure I wanted to think. Dreams of times long since past, when she was alive and we still as one. The black tresses of my hair, usually on all other nights a stunning white, fell over the curve of my shoulder, blown by the slight wind that decided to make itself known and ruffle my red suikan. Red, black and white, the colors she so often wore. The colors that had come to mean everything about her to me. But now those thoughts were slowly fading, as she was supposed to be gone, and a new entity most probably stronger than she ever was, was stepping into the limelight of my life. Filling it with a life giving green shade instead.

I still owed her my life, for what I had caused there was no repentance for me. Her life was now little more than an ember of fiery blue hatred that sparked her colors to mean a bloody death instead of a warm love. I looked at my hands, human hands on this night, the very thing she'd asked me to be, just for her. I'd have done it too-if we had not fallen for Naraku's trap. My fists clench and I lift my eyes back heavenward, where no moon shines and leaves the stars to light the sky.

Now that I think on it, would I have been happy? Would I have been truly happy in this form, just for her? Nothing would have been the same. I would have been useless. Unable to protect anyone, the world would have been lost to me. I'd have been powerless-and weak beyond reason. And I, I would never have been able to meet my Kagome. Kagome, she accepted me as I am from the start. Kagome is warm and affectionate, open with her feelings-where she never was. I was on a string with her, with Kagome I feel relaxed and full of life. Even in this weakened state. I know I can trust Kagome. But can I escape my fate with that woman? Can I change the path of destiny to be with Kagome? I think I'm in love with her… Can I lay my once precious Kikyou to rest at last?

"Inuyasha?"

I look up startled as I hear her voice, and look up the ebon bangs shadowing my eyes. "Nanda?"

"Inuyasha, it would probably be better if you come back to camp. You know it's safer when your human…"

I look at her with a solemn expression and move to stand, not saying a word.

"Inuyasha- you look sad. What's wrong?" She asks me and I falter. Another thing she always seems to care. I look at her and wonder-should I tell her? She looks back at me, question on her features-hardened from traveling with me.

"Kagome I-" I stop there. I can't tell her, not now anyway. Maybe when the quest is finished when Kikyou is laid to rest at last, when I no longer feel responsible for what happened to her. "it's nothing Kagome, let's go back."

She looks oddly at me, but doesn't persist. As we walk, she slips her hand in mine. My eyes widen and I look at her. Her face is down, her bangs covering her eyes at first, but she looks up and smiles a little. "Inuyasha, it's alright. It'll all turn out right in the end you'll see. We're all by your side. I'm-by your side."

She looks away again but I continue to watch her, her words sinking slowly in. She is always by my side, especially when I'm human. Kikyou she was not. Kikyou, my Kikyou is no longer in existence…Kagome is right-it will be alright, as long as Kagome is by my side.

I turn my face back to the stars as we move, the thoughts I hadn't wanted to think fading, and new dreams replacing the ones of a past long since gone. Human for one night and the world still at my fingertips, still stronger than anything…

Kagome and not Kikyou-is the true world.