Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or its characters, so suing is sure to be fruitless.
Sango panted as sweat streaked down her face. She held her formidable weapon easily at her back and ready for another toss, but the fallen pig demon did not move again. With a small sigh of relief, the exterminator pulled the release on her mask, allowing her to breathe the fresh air.
Lately, demon attacks had gotten, not only more frequent, but more severe. Just two days ago, Miroku had had to take care of an entire family of small groundhog-like demons, which under normal circumstances were shy creatures. Sango smiled fondly at the thought of the monk. He really wasn't as irritating as she sometimes made him out to be. Then again, maybe the fact that she barely saw him anymore had something to do with the change of view.
Sango took a deep breath before calling Kirara back to her and soon the two were on their way back to Kaede's village. Without the demon cat's aid, defending the local area would have been near impossible. Even Miroku had been forced to go by horseback, something he had seemed unusually loath to do, from village to village to prevent running himself ragged. Sango silently suspected he worried about falling, but she did not bring it up out of respect for his pride.
It was dark by the time they finally returned. Actually, considering how clear the sky was, it was unusually dark, due to the new moon. Sango frowned slightly at the dim outline around the black sphere. Kagome had told her one night as they listened to Inuyasha's grumbling about being human that the outline was caused by light from the earth. Looking at the dark ground beneath her, it was hard for Sango to believe.
She missed her friends. Although she tried to see them everyday, it was hard knowing that they were somewhere where her skills could not help them or that they might be struggling and suffering without her knowledge. Sango hated that impotent feeling.
Sango changed into her kimono quickly before slipping into the hut where both Inuyasha and Kagome lay. Except when she looked inside, only Kagome was still on her cot with Kaede kneeling at her side.
"What's happened?" Sango asked tensely.
Just as Kaede opened her mouth to reply, Inuyasha entered the room from the back. Sango dropped her jaw in surprise before launching herself at him and embracing him.
"Hey," Inuyasha huffed indignantly. Sango grinned and released him. He pushed his long black hair out of his eyes as he flopped down on the floor, propping himself up on one elbow. "I would have to wake up just in time for the new moon," he grumbled.
Sango knelt across the room from him. "What about Kagome?" she asked Kaede.
Kaede smiled softly as she looked down at the girl. "She should be coming around soon." She paused then looked meaningfully at Sango. "Why don't we go get something to eat?"
With a slight hesitation of disappointment, Sango nodded and the two women left Inuyasha alone with the still sleeping Kagome. He stood and walked over to where she was lying. Kagome looked so peaceful with her eyes closed and her mouth just slightly open.
Inuyasha knelt beside her carefully and lifted his hand. He paused a moment before putting his hand on her cheek. Her skin felt soft beneath his callused hand. She stirred slightly at his touch and leaned into his hand, causing a slight blush along his cheeks.
He pulled his hand away and her dark eyes fluttered open as she smiled groggily at him. She stretched as a yawn escaped her mouth.
"We're out," the hanyou said quietly.
"Out?" Kagome looked at him dumbly for a minute then sat up and looked around the room. "How do you know?" she asked after a moment, remembering her first experience in Inuyasha's mind.
He shrugged as he stood up. "It just feels like we are."
Yes, she thought. It does just seem as though we must be back. She looked up at Inuyasha again. "Why are you human then?"
He frowned and turned away from her. "Feh, new moon," he snorted rather disgustedly.
There was silence for a moment before Kagome burst out laughing. The sudden easing of tension, the knowledge that this ordeal was over, and Inuyasha's snorted response were too much for her to keep in any longer.
The look on Inuyasha's face at her outburst, somewhere between confusion and indignation, just made her laugh all the harder. Kagome launched herself still laughing toward him, catching him in a ferocious hug and knocking both of them to the floor.
"Kagome!" Shippo darted into the room followed by Miroku, Sango, and Kaede. Shippo quickly latched himself on to Kagome and began babbling furiously about everything that had happened since she had fallen asleep.
Within five minutes, Inuyasha was grumbling again, Shippo was still talking incessantly, and Miroku had been slapped. Boy, Kagome thought. Things sure get back to normal quickly.
A/N: Hurrah, the end!!! Everyone jump and clap for joy; it took me for frickin' ever. Sorry 'bout that… Let me know what you think. In grand Mockingbird style, the end is less than fantastic but I think it's one of my better ones. Thanks for everyone's support through this story and for your patience.