The sky was black. Not a star shown – nor did the moon. A chilly breeze nipped at whatever crossed its path, and snow fell gently from the sky.
Somewhere in the woods, six forms sat around a barely burning campfire. The dim flickering of the flames barely illuminated their faces – InuYasha, now a black-haired human (due to the new moon;) Kagome, a Junior-High student from the future; Sango, a demon slayer; Miroku, a lecherous monk; Shippo, and tiny fox demon; and Kirara, a cute neko-youkai.
"It's s-so c-c-cold-d…" complained Shippo, probably for the third time that night. "Why this weather so late in the season?"
InuYasha scoffed, shifting his weight uncomfortably as he sat. "That's the least of our worries – Naraku should be our sole objective, not some abnormal weather."
Kagome vaguely huddled closer to InuYasha, shivering as the cold wind stung at her skin. "Yes…" she began, hesitant to finish what she was going to say. "Especially now that he has more shards than us."
InuYasha grew rigid. "WHAT?!" he snarled, turning sharply to face Kagome as she broke the "news" to him. "How long have you been waiting to tell me this, wench?!!" He rose to his feet, clearly angry.
"I was waiting," started Kagome hissed, and she also came to her feet. "because I knew you would react like this!"
InuYasha smirked and turned his back on his five companions. "You sure expected what you had coming…"
Kagome lost her patience. "Dammit, InuYasha! As if that's anything new! All you care about is stupid Naraku and the stupid Shikon no Tama! And… and… and Kikyo!"
Kagome's eyes were welling up with tears, but she swallowed hard and kept them from falling.
InuYasha turned back to face Kagome, his face pale and downcast. "Kagome…" he started. He then shook his head in sudden irritation. "I'm going for a walk…" he sighed. Setting off at a brisk pace, he added, "Don't follow me." InuYasha disappeared into the trees.
Kagome shrunk to the ground, hugging her knees to her chest. It felt so cold without InuYasha beside her…
It was a while before anyone spoke. "He shouldn't be out walking about so carelessly. Especially in his human form…" Miroku said, his voice weary. "If Naraku discovers his weakness…"
"InuYasha is so reckless," Shippo piped up. "Let him do what he wants, he's the one that' going to pay in the end of it all."
Kagome cringed at the fox-demon's comment. 'Be careful…' Kagome thought to herself, teeth chattering as she breathed. 'Please come back to me… or I shall find you…'