It was dark outside and the smell of rain was strong in the air. The wind was picking up and Kagome knew it wouldn't be long until the storm struck.
They had found shelter in a cave. It was just big enough for them. A little damp, but a fire made it comfortable. Inuyasha had left to catch something for dinner, Miroku left to collect firewood for the night, and Sango and Kagome were trying to scrape what food they had into a sort of stew.
They had traded for some potatoes and carrots with a village the day before, and ate them for supper that night. But Kagome found an extra one they had missed, and she put it in with their little concoction of one onion, one celery and a fish for a soup. It was turning out all right. They just didn't have a lot of it. So it would have to go around.
Inuyasha, not trusting in a good outcome of their sparse meal, set out to bring back something more to his liking. Kagome smiled, remembering last time, when she had to make dinner with an edible flower they had found. She had mixed it with some herbs. It was very healthy, but it had tasted bitter. Inuyasha had looked at her like she was stupid when she had handed him her herby brew. Her smile grew wider as she remembered the look on his face when he had tasted it. His face had turned purple, then green. It had looked as though he was going to throw up. It was very embarrassing at the time, but now it was funny to remember.
Sango looked at Kagome and noticed the smile.
"What's so funny Kagome?"
Kagome gave a soft laugh and said, "Remember that flower I made into a stew?"
Sango laughed as she remembered it. "Yes! That was awful."
Shippo glanced at Kagome and Sango smiling when he heard what they were talking about. He was standing at the cave entrance, keeping a lookout for Miroku and Inuyasha.
Sango stopped laughing and glanced out of the cave. "Kagome, I hope Inuyasha and Miroku get back before that storm hits."
"Me too." Sango said worriedly.
"Any sign Shippo?" Kagome said, glancing back at him.
"No, but this storm is about ready to hit. Should I go look for them?" asked Shippo, looking worried.
"No, Shippo, the boys can take care of themselves," Sango said.
"Yes," Kagome agreed, "they'll be back any second."
'Please hurry up Inuyasha.'
Inuyasha crouched low, his toes digging into the ground. His breath was light and steady. He heard thunder overhead but did not pay any attention to it. He was focused on his prey. It took three hours to track it. It was a single lone buck eating some grass in a tiny meadow. Everything else had found cover from the coming storm.
This was his only chance. He had to be very careful or they would be eating nothing except what Kagome and Sango came up with. Last time he didn't kill anything, Kagome tried to make something to eat out of a flower they had found. It turned out to be disgusting. At the thought of it, Inuyasha shuddered.
The rain started to fall, lightly at first, and then harder and harder until Inuyasha was drenched.
"It has to be now," Inuyasha thought to himself. The deer lifted his head, starting to feel antsy. He new something was out there. Suddenly Inuyasha lept from his hiding place, running as fast as he could at the deer. The deer didn't have a chance. Inuyasha pounced on it, grabbed its head, and twisted. He heard a satisfying crack. The deer died instantly and fell to the ground.
Inuyasha's heart was beating fast with exhilaration. He was breathing deep, but not labored. No, he was not winded at all. He enjoyed it. He laughed in the rain as he picked up his kill, slinging it effortlessly over his shoulder. Then, sniffing in the direction of the cave, he quickly jogged through the rain as fast as his burden would permit him.
It was now pouring rain and getting harder to see. It was only mid-afternoon, but the clouds were so thick that it looked like night. Inuyasha started to feel a little uncertain about the storm. "Time to get out of this rain," he told himself and quickened his pace.
Miroku walked back up to the cave with an armful of wood. He was getting soaked. So was the wood, for that matter. At last, he came around the last bend in the trail that led to the cave. Miroku relaxed as he turned the corner and heard voices. There, he could see Shippo on watch. "Hey Shippo!" Miroku shouted.
"It's Miroku!" Shippo cried excitedly, jumping up and down. Both Kagome and Sango came running over to Miroku as he entered the cave. Kagome took the wood from him and Sango dragged him off to the fire to get warm.
"Did you see Inuyasha, Miroku?" Kagome asked hopefully as she put the wood down near the fire.
"No, my Lady Kagome, I have not," said Miroku, "but I am certain he shall be here soon."
"Yes your right Miroku. He's probably just around the corner." Kagome said hopefully.
Sango hoped soto for Kagome's sake.
Inuyasha leaped over a to the next tree. His heavy cargo was making him a little clumsy, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground. The rain was pooring steadily. And a harsh wind was blowing from the north. Inuyasha got up from the ground his hair was plastered to his face.
'Damn.' Inuyasha grunted as he replaced the deer on his back. This trip was turning out alot more difficult then he had planed. Kagome's awefull stew might not have been this bad.But then again who wants to tempt fate.
Just then Inuyashanoticed that the rain had slowedto agentle drizzel.
"Good." He sighed. "Maybe Kami does have a little sympathy for halfbreeds."With that Inuyasha pulling all his energy into his feet leaped into a treegoing from tree to tree with the grace monkey.
Inuyasha landed on the ground with a grunt. His shoulders were throbbing from caring the buck for two hours straite. He was near the cave. It was just up a trail to the left of where he was standing.He had been gone since about noon and it was now abouteight o clock. the rain had stopped aboutan hour ago but it left thick mudd that sticked to your feet. The creeks he had passed on the way were over flowing.
'Its a good thingwe are up on higherground.' Thought Inuyasha. 'With this rain there could be flash floods.' Thatthoughtwas not pleasent it reminded Inuyashahow long it had been since he saw them. Withafew leaps he was at the cave entrance. Inuyasha looked inside.He saw Kagome bendingover the pot stirring the contents.She looked tired. He noted.They should all get extra sleep to night.Sango was stirring the fire and Miroku wasleaning over her shoulder talking to her.
Just then he heard a squeal."Inuyasha!Its Inuyasha! Kagome look its Inuyasha!" Shippou pointed jumping up and down.
Everybody jumped at the sound of the kits squeal.Sango's head connecting withMiroku's.
Inuyasha smirked as he walked into the cave. Kagomeran over to him.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome gasped."Your soked through!Put the deer down. You mustbefreazing!" The more Kagomelooked at him the more she was concerned and angry.Angry because of his stubborness to eather stew and angryat herself that she couldn't cook good enough for him. Well she probably could except they didn'thave many ingredients tostartwith.
"Inuyasha your clothes are soked you need toget out of them and let them dry. I have a few blankets you can wrap yourself in. You should not have gone outin that weather.It was perfectly horrid! You don't even know how worried I was..." Kagome stopped. She had been rambling. 'Oh how embarrasing and he's just standing there staring at me!'
'She's so cute whenshe's upset about something.'thought Inuyasha. 'Wonder whats got her all flustered all of a sudden?'
Inuyashabroke into a wide smile. Kagome glowered. "Oh you! stop standing there and go change your clothes your dripping all over the place!"
Inuyasha just kept smiling at her and then stoped. What did she say? Take off my clothes!
"Whats wrong with you! Take off my clothes? What do you take me for wench!?"
"Inuyasha! Oh you! How could you suggest such a thing!" Kagome's faceflushed withembarrasment and rage."Your clothesare soked! Yourgoing to get sick if you don't let them dry out. What's wrong with you anyways gawking and smiling likeyour drunk or something..."
"Oh" Kagome gasped all her anger slipping away."Maybe you have a feavor that would explain why your acting so funny." Kagome now fully concerned reached up to touch his forhead. Inuyashasurprised with her outburst blink acouple times to catch what she just said as he felt a cool hand touch his cheek making his jump.
"Oh its just asI thought. Your a little to warm for your own good.Youneed to change now!"
"wha..." Inuyashastarted to say but was cut off as he was draged toward the fire.
Miroku and Sangojust stood next to each other. Both watched the interplay between the two. Both worried and surprised when Kagome said Inuyaha had a feavor. Sango looked at Miroku. "Well I think you better go relieve Kagome. Inuyasha after his brief laps of shocked will not tollerate Kagome changing his clothes."
"Yes. Your right" Miroku said and went after Kagome.
Sango turned to look for Shippo he was currently dragging the buck over to the fire.
"Here let me help you Shippou."
Later.... It was the middle of the night. Everyone was asleep. The clouds parted and the moon cast a glow in the forest. The wind had softened to a gentle stroke to the cheek. A bright full moon hovered over the world, caressing the mountains with its soft glow. In the forest below, at the base of the mountain, hidden from the touch of the moon, a silent form crept in the shadows.