Hey, I'm actually updating the day after my last update! Unbelievable, right? Hahahahaha. Okay, not that funny. Anyway, I hope I can keep this fic going well. :D Okay, well, read on to the actual story! Ohhhhh, wait, and I don't own InuYasha or anything and I'll bet there have been lots of fanfictions like this one, so just know that no copyright infringement is intended. Okay, now you can read on and you can't sue me! *disappointed groans from InuYasha characters and several people who have been reading this so far*

InuYasha, where could you have gone? Kagome leaned as far over to one side of Kirara as she dared. Aloud, she called for her missing friend. "Where are you?!"

The sun had long since set and the night was a dark one. Very soon, Kagome thought, it would be the night of the new moon. Perhaps even tomorrow night. And InuYasha couldn't be alone then or he could be hurt.

Next to Kirara in the forebodingly dark sky was Miroku's close friend, Hachi, in his huge yellow form. Miroku and Shippo rode on his back. Sango was the only one accompanying Kagome on Kirara.

Every few seconds, someone would call for InuYasha, and Kirara would often express that she too missed and worried about the hanyou with a cry of her own. The one calling the most was Kagome, though.

No one had said much to her for a while after what she'd said to InuYasha, for fear that she was still angry. But after a while, the tears dripping down her cheeks and her constant need to blame herself for being an awful friend, the worst ever, totally cruel, had convinced them that it was safe, and they'd all been quick to comfort her and assure her that InuYasha was probably fine. "Just up in some tree sleeping and trying hard to keep from coming to look for us," they all said, or something to that effect.

After a while, Kagome fell silent, lost in thought, while everyone else continued to call for the half-demon.

I just have the worst feeling. Like something really bad is going to come of all this. Why did I have to say all that to InuYasha? It wasn't even necessary. What he did wasn't really so bad. It's hard to believe he'd actually try to kill Kouga. He's just not like that. I wouldn't be surprised if he never wants to speak to me again, though. Who would? And that would be okay, if only I could know he was safe and happy.

"Kagome?"

Kagome's head snapped up, eyes widening slightly in surprise. She'd been so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed the others had all stopped calling to InuYasha as well and were watching her timidly.

"I'm sorry. What is it?"

Sango turned to look at Kagome and spoke gently to her. "Would you mind if we all just camp out for tonight? InuYasha is probably fine. I'm sure he'll turn up sooner or later, and we can always continue looking for him tomorrow, but it's getting late and it won't do any good to look now. It's too dark to see anything."

A single tear slid down Kagome's face. "But... what about the new moon? It's going to be soon, and he won't be safe all alone in these forests. We hardly know what could be lurking around here."

"I know, but… well, I'm sure he can take care of himself. He's a strong fighter who never gives up easily."

Kagome had to smile at that. It was true, InuYasha was strong in more ways than just physically.

"I… guess. Sure, we can stop for tonight."

Sango smiled and Shippo piped up cheerfully. "Don't worry, Kagome. InuYasha may act hot-headed and rude, but really he can't keep away for long without missing you."

"You all, too," Kagome almost whispered. She stared down at the forest. No flash of tell-tale red or disturbance in the trees.

Then… a gleam of silver?

InuYasha?

No, too bright and cold. Like metal. A weapon of some army taking the short way to a battle by cutting through the forest? Possibly. In any case, it was clear to the fifteen-year-old girl that the light wasn't anything that could lead her to InuYasha, and therefore it was of no consequence to her.

"This looks like a good enough place to spend the night," Miroku noted, cutting into Kagome's speculations.

Both Kirara and Hachi drifted toward the ground and landed in a small clearing surrounded on all sides by trees.

Kagome couldn't help but notice that where they had landed was very close to where the light had been. She had to remind herself that it was probably only an army of human soldiers and they most likely wouldn't care to start a fight with a small group of innocent travelers.

Even if they did, everyone could fight them off easily, and just as Sango and the others had said, InuYasha would be back soon and could protect them if need be.

Right, of course he'll be back. He knows we'll all be worried about him and he doesn't like to be away from all of us. I shouldn't worry.

At that time, the young priestess had no notion of how completely wrong she was.

Hey, so I know I'm kind of dragging it on a little unnecessarily long and you all want something to actually happen, but rest assured, I'm getting there. I'll make something more important happen next chapter. :D So. Review. Or. I. Will. Go. Jump. Off. A. Cliff. Aw, just kidding. I wouldn't do that until my stories were all done. :D But seriously, review or else.