" Come oooooooon, how much longer are we gonna have to walk for this stupid camp site?" Inuyasha complained. " There's plenty of room right here, why do we need to go any further, It's so hooot, damnit" He huffed for what felt like the hundredth time today.

" I swear Inuyasha, you complain more than any old woman i've ever met, It's not much further from here so just hush for a bit okay?" The lines on her face showed signs of frustration.

" All im sayin is it wouldn't have hurt to make the camp site a little closer to the river like I mentioned before", Inuyasha scoffed, kicking a small rock in his way.

The humid summer seemed to really be taking its toll on the Hanyo this year. The nights were too hot, the days were too hot, he always felt sweaty, and slightly winded. He hated it.

The blazing sun was starting to finally set once they arrived at the makeshift campsite. Inuyasha felt exhausted. Without a word said to the others, he leaped into the nearest tree climbing up high enough to be away from everyone.

Miroku and Sango shared the same look they'd been giving each other for the past week and a half now. They could tell something wasn't right with him, but it wasn't really their place to interfere. Kagome stomped her way to a slightly rotted log that had been set close enough to the fire and plopped down onto it. " I swear, i'm getting so tired of him, all he does is complain now" She said, pouting and folding her arms into her chest.

'How ironic', Miroku thought as he scooped the soup he'd been working on, out of the hot pot hanging over the fire.

" Can't we all get along '' Miroku wined, at no one in particular. He tilted his bowl, blowing gently, and humming happily in satisfaction once he tasted his work.

" Now, now Miroku" Sango chided, " You'll end up starting something again if you keep this up," She said mimicking his actions.

The flicker of the fire light on the trees was the only calming presence around them. Inuyasha had finally decided to come down. Not because he wanted to, but because the wafting scent of delicious food hit his nose, and his stomach growled loud enough to be heard below.

He laid on his side picking at his teeth afterward. His tummy was full and the foul mood he had been sporting the past couple of days had subsided for the moment. As an awkward silence persisted after Inuyasha ate, both girls stood up and laid out their beds, crawling into them and drifting off in slumber.

"Thanks for the food,...again" He said to Miroku as he sat back up, crossing his legs underneath him. He looked down at the sleeping form of his friends lying curled up in their bedroll. " listen" he started.

Miroku cut him off by putting a single finger to his lips. He then stood up, and started walking away from the camp. Inuyasha followed behind.

There wasn't too much to worry about with leaving the camp unattended now that there weren't any power hungry demons looking for the shikon jewel.

They walked far enough that Inuyasha could only faintly hear the breathing of the two women. The sun had completely sunk behind the mountain range in the distance by this point. The air was much cooler compared to the nights leading up to this. Inuyasha pulled in a large lungful of air, letting the coolness of the night wash over him completely. Finally, some sort of relief.

"I didn't really have all too much to say, but I figured it would be better to not possibly wake up the girls," Miroku said, turning to face Inuyasha. "I'm not sure if you've noticed it, but you have been acting differently lately" He said looking off into an open field. Small bushes moved with life. "I won't pry, but if you want to talk you know you can always come to me" He said lightly punching Inuyasha's shoulder.

"YEah, yeah" Inuyasha smirked, He hid his hands in his pockets and looked up at the vast night sky. " I appreciate it, I don't even know how, to tell you the truth". A star wooshed across the sky. "It's just.. I don't know, It feels like I can't get comfortable. I've tried everything I can think of but I still just can't seem to feel like normal. It's always so DAMN hot!" He said, starting to lightly pace. " I can't concentrate, I can't think. I can't do anything but complain! I know it's driving all of you crazy, but i can't help it, AND KAGOME ISN'T HELPING! She acts like she knows what's going on with me but she doesn't have a damn clue". His face started to heat up a bit again. " I can't get any relief,.. I'm… I'm sorry, this summer will just be rough i guess". Miroku placed a hand on his shoulder lightly. " no need for apologies, i just want to help. Maybe you just need a bit of space?"

Inuyasha looked down at his feet, thinking about this seriously for a moment. Maybe that was it. Maybe he just needed some time to get himself back together. He smiled back at Miroku, " you may be onto something."

" I'm sure the girls will worry about you. They are always worried about how Shippo is doing, but he left to work on himself too. It would be a bit unfair to not let you do the same. After all, up until this point you've been going and going trying to help find the shards. Maybe what you're feeling is stress."

"...It's worth a try,... I guess" Inuyasha said, lightly scratching his cheek.

"I'll let them know tomorrow morning, but.. Are you sure everyone will be alright without me?" "Inuyasha, pleasssse, you think i can't take care of these lovely ladies?" He said rubbing his chin. Inuyasha winced a bit, somehow it didn't feel like Miroku was talking about the same thing.

They both walked back, nothing else was said as Miroku sat by the embers of the fire adding a couple broken branches to it to bring it back to life. Inuyasha jumped back up to a sturdy limb, and for the first time in weeks fell asleep with relative ease.

Maybe the perv had a point. He hadn't been alone since being sealed to a tree for 50 years. His stomach rolled a bit, causing discomfort for a moment, this was probably nerves for sure, he thought as he drifted into unconsciousness.

The morning felt like it came too quickly as the sound of song birds invaded the fog of sleep. The sun was only just peaking over the vast thick forest from the west. Inuyasha looked down at his friends. People he'd spend years around. Sure, there were moments in that time period when he'd not been around them, but it had always been a short enough period of time that he didn't think anything of it. Somehow this felt like it wasn't going to be like that. It hurt to think that he may be gone for a while. In his heart he knew it was probably a good thing to do for himself though.

He jumped down from his sleeping spot, and immediately felt the sensation he'd been experiencing up until this point. Heat radiated from the center of his stomach to each of his limbs. His breathing became a bit labored, 'What the hell is wrong with me?' he thought as he gathered a couple of nice smelling oils, and a towel Kagome had brought with her from her last trip to her time, and dashed for the pond he knew would be cool enough to quill the heat temporarily. At this point, this was becoming a standard practice for the Hanyo. Hed wake up, go to a body of water, and let it run over him for an unreasonable amount of time. He was almost convinced he'd been part fish demon. 'Heh, thats stupid even for me', he thought as he disrobed, and dove head first into the sweet sweet relieving water.

Inuyasha had never been a big water person, he'd take proper care of himself when it was needed, but he was a demon, and demons did not stink nearly as bad as humans could. After rinsing the lavender smelling oils from his hair, he stepped one foot out onto the soft grass around the pond and gasped.

He was already on fire again. He hadn't even completely left the water and it was almost unbearable all over again. 'Fuck!' he mentally screamed, begrudgingly he pulled the rest of his body out, and dried off, and dressed quickly, wanting to not stay there too long in fear that he wouldn't be able to resist the urge to throw himself back in.

Half way back to the camp, Inuyasha walked with great difficulty. 'This is the fucking WORST' He thought. A moment later, a small animal scurried past him catching him off guard. " WHERE THE HELL'D YOU COME FROM" He screamed, taking several steps back. He clutched his chest in shock. Normally he'd be able to identify any animal near him with his enhanced senses. They had seemed to be failing him more often these days.

He gathered himself, and looked around making sure that embarrassing sight wasn't witnessed. That's one of the last things he needed right now. Embarrassment was always an emotion he could not handle, he'd always been the type to lash out when embarrassed. He'd gotten better through the years, but it was still,... well.. Embarrassing.

By the time he got close enough to the site he could smell the perfectly cooked Fish. Any other time he'd be giddy with excitement to stuff his stomach with as much food as he was allowed to. His stomach lurched at the idea of food though. It had been for a while, but he swallowed the gross feeling in his stomach and would eat anyway to not worry any of the others.

" Oh, Inuyasha! Good morning!" Sango's sing-songy voice brought his attention back to the group. Everyone was up, and packing their supplies like usual.

Kirara groomed herself. In the moment Inuyasha got closer, however her fur furrowed. Her pupils went wide, then to slits. She shook off, and hopped away from everyone. No one seemed to notice this except the recipient. It made Inuyasha's heart quicken. For a moment he felt.. Fear? Why was he feeling this over Kirara? She'd always been nice to him. Just another thing to add to all of the weird occurrences that kept happening to him.

Maybe he should ask some advice from one of the old geezers he knew. Maybe they knew something he didn't.

"Mornin" Inuyasha replied, his teeth already gritting together as a surge of fire ran its course through his body once more.

"It wouldn't kill ya to be nicer, you jerk" Kagome all but screamed at the Hanyo.

"Kagome ple-"

" This aint none of your business!" Inuyasha shreaked back. His voice cracked a bit. His fists clenched, his eyes then started to turn a dark crimson. The heat intensified inside of his body, and he felt like he was about to burst into flames.

" I'm sorry Sango," Inuyasha growled low, "I've got some things going on right now" he said through clenched teeth.

"Oh, its alright Inu-"

" WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?" Kagome screamed. " This pathetic attempt for attention is really starting to piss me off! Do you care about anybody else other than yourself?!" Kagome was livid. " You're a child! A giant man child! All you care about is yourself! You're the worst Inuyasha!" She stomped her foot. She was definitely about to have a fit. Kagome had always been a good friend.

Shed always had a bad temper, but for the most part shed never let it get the best of her like this. Inuyasha was almost positive it must have been close to that "time of the month" Miroku had mentioned about women before. He turned to the retreating form of Kagome and yelled back, " Get that monthly shit taken care of while you're gone would ya!" Miroku coughed audibly, and turned away from the two.

A shoe sped by Inuyashas face, with enough force to blow his hair back a bit as it went by.

Stomping back, and pointing her finger at Inuyashas face. " Fuck. You." She spat at him.

"Fine, yeah, fuck me! That's alright," He said, raising his hands in the air as a sign of resignation.

"Miroku, Sango, I'm leaving for a bit. I'll be alright, I just need to figure some things out for myself. I'd planned to tell ya later when we got back to the Bone-eaters well. I can't handle this right now!" He said pacing around once again. "Kagome, At this point i dont give a damn if you come back or not. Go live your life in your era for all I care. I'M DONE!" Were his last worst to the party as he Jumped up onto a branch, and darted off into the heavy forest to the west.

Kagome and Sango both stood there speechless. Did that,.. Just happen? Miroku Wrapped his arm around his Fiance, whispering in her ear what he and Inuyasha had talked about the night before.

Kagome's face turned red, " So much for being good friends", she yelled, before running off in the direction they all had traveled so many times together. Sango, and Miroku looked at one another. The small family they had had until this point seemed to have all gone there separate ways now. It was just the two of them, .. And the almost unnoticeable bump Sango instinctively cradled tighter once the arguing started.

They had planned to tell everyone after they got back to Kaede's village. Instead they figured they would wait until They saw them again, whenever that was.

They both said a prayer to the gods above that both of their friends found the peace they had been lacking.

Inuyasha lept from branch to branch, at this point he wasn't sure where he was going, he just had to get away. Away from the hurtful words he'd had spewed at him. She was supposed to be his friend. How could she say something so hateful without even acknowledging that he was in pain. It was frustrating, This heat was frustrating, his emotions were frustrating. He felt the unfamiliar white hot sting of tears streaking down his already beat red face.

Passing from tree to tree he felt his claws extend, and retract. Feeling a strong burning intensity in his lungs, Inuyasha began slashing out at anything in his way, whether it be trees, branches, or animals,. .Suddenly he felt a searing pain grab hold of his left ankle lashing him down to the unforgiving ground below. His vision blurred, and he felt his body go limp. Blackness consumed him. 'Finally' He thought as he welcomed the feeling of unconsciousness invading his senses.

"... making me chase after you like this…." The only words Inuyasha could understand as a figure moved into his decreasing field of vision. The sun had started streaking vivid oranges across the sky. 'How has it already gotten this late?' He thought as the silhouette of a large humanoid creature towered over him. 'This is it' was his final thought as he completely embraced the void.