Disclaimer: don't own inu yasha :'(

After a night in the village, Inu Yasha and Kagome met with Shippou, Miroku and Sango early in the morning. All looked slightly tired and sore eyed, though glad at the prospect of getting their adventure underway. Shippou immediately jumped up onto Kagome's shoulder and began quizzing her about her stay at home.

"How was the test-thingy?" he asked, far more concerned than Inu Yasha was. He looked expectantly at Kagome with his big brown eyes.

"Well..." Kagome said, hanging her head shamefully, "I didn't do so well. I guess I'll just have to live without a study block next year..." Unless they put her back a full grade. College was becoming less and less a realistic choice.

"Don't worry about it," was Miroku's attempt at consolation, with an added pat on the shoulder. His efforts were however somewhat marred by the extended length of time his hand lay on her shoulder, only to be removed by the piercing gaze of Inu Yasha. "So, when did you get back? Didn't expect to have to get up this early in the morning. Bit of shock a shock, a good one of course..."

"Yeah, well, I guess I changed my mind, you know? Just couldn't wait, I mean," Kagome replied uneasily, remembering the previous night.

Her wish that Inu Yasha would just disappear for a few minutes, so she could talk to Kaede had been unfortunately granted. After he had waited for what he thought to be a long enough time for Kaede and Kagome to fall asleep, greatly miscalculating, he had walked off into the night, presumably to seek out Kikyo. Though feeling somewhat heartbroken, Kagome had nonetheless taken advantage of the situation and had gone over to talk to the priestess about the remaining mystery: that very Inu Yasha-like boy from the future.

"It could be a demon...though your time appears to be gifted with a distinct dearth of 't say why though," Kaede had said brokenly. "But I doubt it's Naraku. Not even his reach is that far. An independent demon though. There's a thought," For several moments the old women had stared through the dying embers. Suddenly she had looked up at Kagome and asked her a question, "Do you believe that given the chance Inu Yasha will truly become a full-blooded demon? When you and the group defeat Naraku?"

It had then been Kagome's turn to start absentmindedly into fire. "Well, I guess so. He's pretty determined you know...that is what he wants most, isn't it?" she had finished uncertainly. Surprisingly her eyes had begun to water, but Kagome had told herself crossly that more smoke than it seemed must be coming of the fire.

Kaeda had tilted her head indulgently. "Yes, perhaps," but she hadn't really believed what she said. "Let's get some sleep, shall we. Adventuring tomorrow I suppose?"

Kagome had nodded mutely as she headed back towards her pallet. After several minutes of watching the static red glow on the walls, she had piped up, "Why do you ask though?"

Drearily, the priestess had responded groggily, "Well, the two woman he loved were both mortal..." A long yawn, a slight snore, and the discussion was over.

Kagome was blasted back into the present by a sharp poke in her belly.

"Your tummy's all squishy," Shippou said. Before Kagome was even given a chance to snap a scathing comment back, he inquired further. "We gotta go...Hey, and why are your cheeks all red like that?"

Touching her cheek she realised it was hot with a blush. Blushing further she walked her bicycle quickly over to the rest of her already departing group. Shippou ran on behind her, demanding why she was so angry with him. He really hadn't meant any harm. She slowed down her bike enough to let him hop on.

"Oh sorry, I thought you saw us leave," Miroku apologised, seemingly sincerely.

Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts. Kagome was still wondering how whatever Inu Yasha intended to do with the Shikon jewel was related to the conversation's original topic when Sango broke the silence.

"Kagome, when do you have to get back to your home?" she asked as she peered over her boomerang. "It just might be useful to know how far afield we should risk going. After all, we could always run into trouble."

"What!?" Inu Yasha demanded. "You don't have to go back again, do you? You were just there and even while you were here last time, you were studying. Well?"

"Umm..." Kagome began, "I have a report to hand in soon...The day after tomorrow, to be precise..." Seeing the disgusted looked on his face, she added, "It really has to be done! I will only take a day. I won't even work on it here...just a couple of hours of work at home. Really." It was the end of term. She didn't even want to know how Inu Yasha would react at the end of semester when she had all of her exams...not that it would matter of course, whether or not she took them. Kagome was sure she'd be so far behind by then that not even a one hundred percent score would save her.

"That's okay," Miroku assured her.

They continued in a tense silence for a while after. The fresh air had quickly lost its novelty and now Kagome was back to fretting about life's many problems.

Nothing much happened that day. They never even made it to a village and were forced to camp out that night by a small river. They at ramen, which was for the most of them a meagre supper, but for Inu Yasha a feast. Finally with the full moon, Kagome settled herself into the warm sleeping bag, still wearing her day clothes. That unsettling twinkle in Miroku's eyes had informed her and Sango that changing that night might not have been prudent.

Much to her chagrin, it seemed there were simply too many thoughts pushing for space in her head to let in the possibility of sleep. Long after her compatriots snores had shattered most of the night-time noises, she lay staring at the startingly bright stars overhead. Over the harsh cacophony of snores, she began listening to the river splash down its designated path and when she strained, even the rustling of the forest's trees on the other side of the river.

Too caught up in her distracting sound search outwards, Kagome failed to notice the soft sound of footfalls just outside the firelit circle. Craning her neck to determine whether of not that was a wolf's cry in the distance she finally caught sight of the looming shadow, framed by the dimming firelight. Before she could utter a cry, an unnaturally strong hand gripped around her mouth and pull her away from her friends. Kagome felt the cold metal put against her neck. She couldn't help but think wearily that she had been just about to get to sleep.

Her tiredness, though soon wore off, quickly replace by sheer panic, squirming and twisting in the grip. But the hand was obstructing her airways. She simply didn't have enough air to continue. But Kagome couldn't simply surrender. She had no idea who her assailant could be. If she continued though, she'd probably pass out, and that might be even worse...

Even before she had weighed the possibilities, her decision was made by her with a sharp crack on the head.

She was finally given repose as she sunk painfully into the dark.

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