The cool morning aroused Kagome first from deep sleep. The sun rose over the horizon and beamed into the room illuminating Inuyasha's pearly mane. Feeling surprisingly rested she turned to see Inuyasha still sound asleep. He has to go back today. To the futile era. She knew it. Twisting her body without disturbing him she slipped a hand under his arm and held him close. He awoke then groggily returned her caress. Kagome decided she can't let him go just yet. They both had made a silent camaraderie from the quest to obtain the Shikon jewel. There were times that her protection meant more to him than what he'd thought. Especially the night they shared, it couldn't have been for nothing. Inuyasha pressed on her shoulders,

"Will you come back with me today?" he murmured with his eyes remaining closed.

"I …. Don't know," she looked down to his chest. This is not what she wanted to say…

"You don't need to worry about not coming back."

She looked back at him to see his expression,

"You will be safe with me." He tugged a strand of her hair.

Safe… she wasn't worried about that at all.

"I trust you Inuyasha."

I just don't trust myself.

With full bellies and bags, they followed down the well one at a time. Once arriving to the futile era, it was sundown. Kagome began climbing the walls of the well when inuyasha appeared and hiked up athletically past her.

"Hey!" Kagome shouted.

Inuyasha smirked reaching her hand and launched her out and into his arms. Few pots and ramen scattered on the field but they both laughed and picked up her things. They began walking back to camp, where Inuyasha had left the group. Kagome felt a little anxious to see them again, the last conversation she had with sango was about her intimacy with Inuyasha. Sango must have assumed things didn't go well after her departure. Kagome shrugged it off, all that matters is that she is here now and with them in this journey.

With the forest to their left, they walked a cobble path around closing in on a small village. The sky shown slivers of light through the sky, saying goodbye one last time.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha slowed pace with his hands together in his cloak. She slowed too turning to him curiously.

"If you are still thinking about things," Inuyasha started calmly, "then i think we should not tell the others until we both have thought things through."

"Yea… I know…" Kagome thought deeply, "You are right, knowing Miroku, he wouldn't let it go once he knows about us." Oh wait… did Sango tell him already? Kagome had a creepy feeling that maybe Sango had betrayed her confidence and told him what happened… Does that mean she betrayed Inuyasha's trust by telling Sango? Kagome felt dizzy for a second and sat on a nearby trunk.

Inuyasha caught up with her,

"But that doesn't mean there is anything different between us okay?"

" oh...kay…" Kagome agreed, not clear on the fact on what that meant. She guessed there was still more things to think about.

The wind surged around them dissipating the last light from the sky. In less than a couple minutes, the temperature turned very crisp and intangible. Kagome was now noticing how extreme the weather has been here lately. Aside from the demonic energy in different parts of the world, the nature is another force to compete with. In this era, all extremes existed.

Arriving at the small shack, Inuyasha informed her that Miroku serviced at the nearby village to exorcise some old folks for shelter they were currently staying. They found Shippo snoozing with Kirara by a small fire. Miroku was missing but Sango was scrubbing wax on the Hiraikotsu.

"Welcome back Kagome," Sango genuinely smiled.

"Good to be back," Kagome smiled back at her. Kagome placed her things in a corner and began to unpack. The doors of the hut rattled and flew open. In came Miroku with a grim expression.

"No need to unpack Kagome," Miroku stated in all seriousness, "There is a storm brewing near and might pass over here tomorrow. We need to leave in an hour or so."

"How come?" Inuyasha got up from his place, "won't we be more vulnerable outside than in here."

"Do you know how much time we have until the storm comes?" Sango asked worriedly.

"Like I said, an hour or so," Miroku began to gather his things from the corner of the hut, "we should leave anything that will burden us."

"Nobody wake up Shippo…" Inuyasha jested to which earned him a punch on his arm by Kagome.

Miroku ignored Inuyasha, "This storm isn't like any other, some travelers have described it has a tightly wounded wind that pierces the ground. It was said that it has lifted sakura's from its roots and were found leagues separate."

"Then are you sure you want to leave this place?" Sango asked.

"I know a friend that lives nearby, she lives in the mountains, it is a different route, it might take us longer but it is better than staying here."

Kagome and Sango made eye contact from the words 'friend' and 'she' were made in the same sentence. Kagome wondered where their relationship lied. Will she and Inuyasha fall in the same predicament? Kagome giggled at the thought of Inuyasha being a ladies man.

Inuyasha nodded in agreeance, "How long until we reach her camp?"

"If I can recall," Miroku paused and looked pensive, "It might be an hour and half journey walking from here if we stick to the route I know."

Sango raised her eyebrows at Kagome.

"Alright, sounds like a plan," Inuyasha peeked outside the hut and his ears perked in calculation.

"Looks like the storm is coming quicker than you might have thought."

"Everyone we must go now." Miroku oddly stepped out and everyone had followed suit. The seriousness had left her with an uneasy feeling. Inuyasha had kept by her side as they marched through the woods towards the mountains.

Half an hour in, they had hiked a mile north of the planes, rounding to an opening in the mountain, it had been split.

"In just a few we will reach her camp," Miroku shouted to everyone over the gusty winds. The trees sung a disturbing song as the branches clashed with one another. The area was vacated from life. It seems the animals had known better than to come out at a time like this. Treading through tricky trails, Kagome's legs grew worn and tired soon. Inuyasha was carrying her things but the weight of Shippo in her arms brought on early soreness.

"We have go to go through there?" Kagome asked skeptically.

"Yes, she lives within the mountains," Miroku stated. Just then the clouds have gathered and started to sprinkle. Everyone picked up pace and followed Miroku down the path in the mountains. As they reached the split, the rain poured mercilessly as they sought refuge. Inuyasha turned and looked back at the storm,

"I have never seen water come down so hard before. I don't sense any demonic aura..."

"I believe that is only the beginning," Miroku said grimly, lightning struck down behind them as if the storm agreed with him. Suddenly the ground shook, everyone stopped and looked around to see what was happening. Sango was the first to spot it. The rocks began falling down from the cliffs that surrounded them. Inuyasha leapt away as one large rock took his place.

"Miroku let's go!" he yelled.

Miroku nodded and began running deeper into the path. Shippo now awake, hung on Kagomes back for dear life. They were all running and dodging rocks when the ground shook again, and harder. Kagome looked back and saw water and rocks had mixed together. At home, they would call this a mudslide. And it was gainning ground fast. Kagomes heart sank to the pit of her stomach. They were trapped.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled back to her, "Let's go!"

Kagome turned to him but spoke too late, "Inuyasha!" three tumbling rocks had fallen one behind the other.

"Sango!" Kagome yelled to see she had been struck in the head by the rocks.

"Nooo!" Miroku shouted, running back to the unconscious body on the ground.

"aaaaaawwwwooooooo," a wolf cry broke through the muffling rain. Kagome turned to see the water had reached her ankles. Kagome shuffled through the flooding path towards Inuyasha and the others. The rocks had crumpled together at the opening behind them allowing them more time to escape the waves of water that'll be coming anytime soon.

"We are almost there," Miroku pointed above him to a small cave above a few hundred feet away. Inuyasha reached Sango and lifted her over his shoulders, he looked back at Kagome with worry.

"Go!" she yelled at him. The sooner he gets Sango safe, they will all have a better chance to get to safety without getting injured badly. With kagomes queue, Inuyasha leapt against each wall and headed towards the cave. Miroku struggled climbing up with his robe but made steady progress. Kagome began climbing away from the path as the water level began rising. He hands slipped with the wet rocks and arms scrapped with the incoming debris.

"Shippo… I am sorry, I am trying."

"Kagome, Inuyasha will come back for us, don't worry." Shippo said optimistically. Kagome looked down to see the muddy water thrashing between the cliffs. She had made it a good two or three feet high. She wondered how much time till the water will reach her. Inuyasha hurry…

"aaaawwoooo," another wolf cry. She thought all the animals had disappeared.

"Shippo! Come to me, Inuyasha will be down for Kagome in a second," Miroku shouted down to her. The ground rumbled again, breaking the rocks free from the opening and unleashing an enormous amount of mud down the path.

"Go shippo!" Kagome attempted to climb a few more inches but Shippo was weighing her down. She was very tired from hiking let alone staying put against the cliffs. Shippo turned into an inflated balloon and drifted away towards Miroku. Successfully, falling on his cloak, Miroku disappeared higher on the cliff. She assumed he reached the cave. Kagome felt the water splash on her legs. Oh no…

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled.

Only a second later the water loosed the grip of her feet and took her down to the rushing pool of water underneath her.