"Isn't it beautiful?" Kagome breathed, holding up the complete Shikon no
Tama to the light. She flashed the group a happy smile. "Aren't you guys
happy? It's finally over!"
She was met with slightly annoyed stares from Miroku and Inu-Yasha, while Sango looked amused. Shippo was keeping a carefully neutral expression. "Umm... Something wrong?" Kagome asked hesitantly, as no one volunteered to enlighten her about her transgression.
Inu-Yasha sweatdropped, and poked at her head. "Have you forgotten about one small problem?" He waited for a split second, then continued. "Naraku! He's still out there!"
"Oh. Right!" Kagome sweatdropped at herself. Damn, she hadn't wanted to think about Naraku. She'd gotten used to her goal being the completion of the jewel. How they'd manage to complete that task without defeating Naraku was beyond her; she'd always assumed they'd deal with Naraku before this point.
But she couldn't abandon her friends, even though her part of the task was over. Besides, didn't the jewel need to be purified? Kikyo had been interrupted in the middle of that task; it still needed to be accomplished. Kagome had a feeling she knew precisely who that task would fall to.
If that task was the goal everyone agreed on. Sango would insist on that, and Miroku would probably agree. But Inu-Yasha... She risked a glance at the hanyou, as she tucked the jewel back out of sight. Did Inu-Yasha still want to become a full demon? No one was privy to his private thoughts, even those who knew him well. If he became a yokai, would he still be himself?
"Well, whatever the case, we ought to get back to the village," she forced herself to say cheerfully. "Kaede will be happy to hear the news." She waited as Shippo hopped back up into the basket of her bike, and started wheeling it along. The others exchanged looks, but followed after. Kagome ignored the speculations behind her, and concentrated on the path.
***
They stopped to break for the night, and Inu-Yasha had first watch, as always. Kagome slept uneasily, and envied Shippo, Miroku, and Sango their rest. It was some time before she looked up and noted that Inu-Yasha had disappeared from his perch.
Where had he gone? She sat up quickly and scanned the surrounding area, hoping to catch some glimpse of him, or some clue to where he'd gone. She had no such luck; her eyes weren't made for night spying. She checked to be sure the jewel was still on her, and then quietly got up. She had to find him; she had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something was going to happen. She grabbed her bow and quiver of arrows, then carefully checked the surrounding area.
Bent blades of grass. She'd missed that in her sleepy scan of the scene. She paused, wondering if she should wake the others. Deciding against it, she hurriedly followed the direction Inu-Yasha must have taken.
As she got farther away from camp, she began to detect the evil aura. She couldn't see it, but the feeling was adrift in the air. The farther she traveled, the more tangible it became. Her heart beat faster, and she trembled slightly, wondering what she was about to find. She steadied herself, and slowly approached the center of the aura.
She was met with slightly annoyed stares from Miroku and Inu-Yasha, while Sango looked amused. Shippo was keeping a carefully neutral expression. "Umm... Something wrong?" Kagome asked hesitantly, as no one volunteered to enlighten her about her transgression.
Inu-Yasha sweatdropped, and poked at her head. "Have you forgotten about one small problem?" He waited for a split second, then continued. "Naraku! He's still out there!"
"Oh. Right!" Kagome sweatdropped at herself. Damn, she hadn't wanted to think about Naraku. She'd gotten used to her goal being the completion of the jewel. How they'd manage to complete that task without defeating Naraku was beyond her; she'd always assumed they'd deal with Naraku before this point.
But she couldn't abandon her friends, even though her part of the task was over. Besides, didn't the jewel need to be purified? Kikyo had been interrupted in the middle of that task; it still needed to be accomplished. Kagome had a feeling she knew precisely who that task would fall to.
If that task was the goal everyone agreed on. Sango would insist on that, and Miroku would probably agree. But Inu-Yasha... She risked a glance at the hanyou, as she tucked the jewel back out of sight. Did Inu-Yasha still want to become a full demon? No one was privy to his private thoughts, even those who knew him well. If he became a yokai, would he still be himself?
"Well, whatever the case, we ought to get back to the village," she forced herself to say cheerfully. "Kaede will be happy to hear the news." She waited as Shippo hopped back up into the basket of her bike, and started wheeling it along. The others exchanged looks, but followed after. Kagome ignored the speculations behind her, and concentrated on the path.
***
They stopped to break for the night, and Inu-Yasha had first watch, as always. Kagome slept uneasily, and envied Shippo, Miroku, and Sango their rest. It was some time before she looked up and noted that Inu-Yasha had disappeared from his perch.
Where had he gone? She sat up quickly and scanned the surrounding area, hoping to catch some glimpse of him, or some clue to where he'd gone. She had no such luck; her eyes weren't made for night spying. She checked to be sure the jewel was still on her, and then quietly got up. She had to find him; she had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something was going to happen. She grabbed her bow and quiver of arrows, then carefully checked the surrounding area.
Bent blades of grass. She'd missed that in her sleepy scan of the scene. She paused, wondering if she should wake the others. Deciding against it, she hurriedly followed the direction Inu-Yasha must have taken.
As she got farther away from camp, she began to detect the evil aura. She couldn't see it, but the feeling was adrift in the air. The farther she traveled, the more tangible it became. Her heart beat faster, and she trembled slightly, wondering what she was about to find. She steadied herself, and slowly approached the center of the aura.