Authors Note: Ok, here's part two. Please let me know if I'm portraying the characters ok. I'm pretty new to the show yet, and I want to be as accurate as I can!
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"You're SURE that you sensed a shard out here?"
"Yes Inuyasha! I know there's one around here somewhere. We just have to keep looking."
Kagome sighed as her companion glared at her silently. Things had been a little rough between them lately, and it was beginning to show. For some reason, Inuyasha had begun to close himself off from Kagome and their little band of friends. Tempers had grown short, and for the last few days, it seemed as though it was one fight after another. She had been grateful when she had finally felt a shard nearby, and had asked her friends to stay behind in hopes that she could figure out what was troubling the hanyou.
"If you would just hop on my back," he growled, "we'd be there by now."
Kagome shook her head, glancing briefly at the clouded sky above. "I told you, I'm not sure WHERE the shard is. If I rode on your back, we'd probably fly right past it. You're not exactly easy to steer you know."
The girl watched as, with considerable effort, Inuyasha bit back a retort. Instead, he let out another growl. "Look, let's just find this damn shard and be on our way. I'm getting tired of listening you ramble, wench." When he turned to move, however, he noticed that Kagome was staring ahead. "Now what?"
The girl stood rooted in place, almost as though she were searching for something. "I don't understand. It feels like it should be right in front of us." Her eyes scanned the trees one more time before focusing on Inuyasha. "By the way, Inuyasha, what is your problem? You've been nothing but mean to everyone for the last few days. Sure, things have been a little quiet, but that's no excuse to-"
"To what? All we've been doing is sitting on our asses, cooped up in that damn village! We SHOULD be looking for more shards! If we don't find them first, Naraku will. Excuse me for not wanting that to happen!"
"We've been on the road constantly! I'm sure that pace is fine for you, but the rest of us can't keep this up! Besides, the weather is turning and I for one don't want to be stuck out in a storm just now. This shard feels close, so we'll grab this and then settle in the village till the weather calms down again. Then we'll all go out, together, and find the rest of the shards! Now STOP YELLING!"
The two stood on the trail glaring at each other. Finally, Kagome spun and faced the path again. "Fine. If you don't want to wait for us, then we'll find the shards on our own." With that, the girl started down the trail once more.
"All right, go! I'll be better off without you stupid humans in my way anyway!" Inuyasha spit the words at the girl's back, and then set off into the woods.
The figure in the trees watched, a smile growing on his crooked face. With a silent bound, he leapt into the next tree and followed the retreating figure he'd been sent after.
