Whip: Thank-you for the reviews! I was going to stop the fanfic, to tell the truth because I had no faith in it, but you all changed my mind. I'll do my best while writing this. If any of you have suggestions, please tell me.

Tora: yeah, and she needs all the help she can get!

Whip:-glares at Tora- shuttup

Tora: -grin-

'Tis the Season

Chapter 3:::Alone

Kagome sighed and stared at the back of Inuyasha's head. It had been a long day and no sign of a jewel shard. Not even the tiniest sign. But Inuyasha was like a machine. She imagined his face on the Energizer battery bunny and choked on a laugh. He just kept going and going and going. Never stopping. Her humor evaporated when her stomach rumbled. Oh, was she hungry! Kagome sighed again. Her eyes focused on her feet as she trudged on. She ran into Inuyasha. Startled, she looked up at him.

"What is it?" he demanded. "Why do you keep sighing?"

"I'm hungry," she said. Inuyasha mumbled under his breath. Kagome's stomach rumbled again. Inuyasha's eyes focused on it. Then he looked up into her eyes.

"Fine."

Miroku and Sango audibly sighed in relief. Inuyasha glared at them. Kirara mewed.

-Later-

Kagome stared at Inuyasha as she chewed her food. Sandwiches she had made at home. Inuyasha had brought her bag over as well as Kagome, so she had been able to feed everyone with her era's food.

Inuyasha concerned her. He wasn't eating, just staring off into the distance, which was now dark. Kagome looked up at the sky. The moon was a thin sliver of light in the night sky. She couldn't see many stars tonight. There were too many clouds. Dark and ominous clouds. Kagome's attention turned back to Inuyasha.

His back was to her. She heard him sigh and her eyes narrowed in concern. She crawled away from the fire that the others sat around and stopped next to him. She leaned around and peered into his face. His eyes were focused on nothing in particular. He sighed again.

"Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha's eyes turned to her.

"Inuyasha, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Inuyasha looked back into the darkness. Kagome sighed. She felt like Inuyasha was pushing her away, keeping her at arms length. With a final concerned look at Inuyasha, Kagome returned to the fire.

-Next Day-

Kagome listened gloomily to the pitter patter of rain on the tree top canopy. A few drops made it down through the maze of leaves and branches and landed their wet selves on the travelers. Kagome started having a coughing fit. She was cold and wet and didn't like it. She felt something heavy settle on her shoulders. It was red. She looked at Inuyasha who avoided her gaze, walking on ahead of her. He no longer wore the robe of the fire rat. Kagome did.

With questions swirling in her mind, Kagome clutched the cloth and wrapped it around her. She came up to walk beside Inuyasha.

"Thank-you," she whispered.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Kagome stared up into Inuyasha's gaze.

"You can be so sweet sometimes."

Inuyasha blushed and looked away. Kagome smiled.

"Inuyasha, I have to go home in a few days." Kagome figured she should bring up the subject while Inuyasha was still in his sweet mood. Inuyasha turned a sharpened gaze on Kagome.

"Why?" he demanded.

"It's almost Christmas." Kagome didn't expect Inuyasha to know what that was. And in truth Inuyasha wasn't sure he really knew either. But he wanted to know. He was about to ask her what it was but she had stopped. Inuyasha stopped as well. A few feet behind them Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara all stopped as well, with questions on their faces.

"I sense a jewel shard," Kagome explained. "It's close. Staying in one place."

"Where?" Inuyasha asked urgently. Kagome pointed into the forest.

"In there."

"Get on." Kagome complied, climbing onto Inuyasha's back. With a roar, Kirara changed into big Kirara. Sango automatically climbed on, Shippo on her shoulder. Inuyasha ran into the woods, Miroku running behind him, and Kirara, Sango and Shippo bringing up the rear. Kagome could sense the jewel getting closer as they traveled through the maze of trees. Something strange happened then. It seemed that the jewel shard was a hundred yards away when suddenly it was only ten yards. Inuyasha skidded to a stop where the trees abruptly ended. A little girl sat there, a few yards away. She had black hair with a little of it pulled up into a side pony-tail thing.

She held a shard in her hand and stared at it, fascinated. The rain fell down upon her but she didn't seem to mind. A two-headed dragon with a saddle on its back and muzzled mouths was next to her, its reins in her other hand. The little girl was humming as she inspected the jewel shard.

She finally seemed to notice them and looked at them. She looked frightened now. She jerked to her feet and ran to hide behind the dragon. She peered around it to look at them.

Inuyasha let Kagome climb off him. She stepped forward and the girl emidiatel hid again. Kagome studied the dragon. It sat there idly, taking no notice in Kagome and Inuyasha. It was apparently looking at the girl. Something white caught Kagome's eye. She looked past the dragon and saw an unexpected sight.

"Sessoumaru!" Inuyasha said his half-brother's name with venom and distaste.

"Sessoumaru Sama!" This voice was happy. It was the little girl who ran out from behind the dragon and strait to Sessoumaru. When she reached him she latched herself to his pant leg. She had a smile on her face.

Inuyasha drew the Tetsusaiga and brandished it. Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Inuyasha, you can't fight him!"

"And why not?"

"There's a little girl there!"

Inuyasha grunted and lowered his sword, though not sheathing it. Sessoumaru seemed to be glaring at them.

"Sessoumaru, just give me the jewel shard and there will be no need for you to die." Sessoumaru smirked.

"I will not be the one to die, dear little brother."

"Sessoumaru, you mustn't fight! You promised me!" The little girl stared up at Sessoumaru with puppy eyes. Sessoumaru seemed to sag slightly in compliance. Inuyasha gaped at this very unusual sight.

"Very well, Rin. Let us go."

The girl called Rin grinned and chucked the shard in her hand onto the ground. She walked off with Sessoumaru, the dragon in tow. Inuyasha continued to gape.

"He-he just turned down a fight . . ." Kagome smiled up into his face.

"You should be happy you didn't have to fight for the jewel shard," she pinted out. Then she ran out into the grass and retrieved the jewel shard. When she got it and looked around she nearly had a heart attack. No one was there. No Sessoumaru in the distance, no Inuyasha anywhere near her. Shippo, Sango and Kirara were missing as well. She found herself soon shrouded by a thick fog.

"Inuyasha!?" she called. He voice was absorbed by the fog. "Inuyasha!!" She got no answer. She was alone.

Sessoumaru: Very nice, but I wouldn't have walked away from a fight like that.

Kagome: Uh-huh.

Sessoumaru: I wouldn't have.

Inuyasha: -snort- come on, we all know you're afraid of me. You know I'd beat you.

Sessoumaru: Oh? Would you like to back that statement up with a fight?

Inuyasha: Anytime!

Whip: . . .

Tora: -sigh- Men. Speaking of men, Whip, have any on mind lately?

Whip: I think; Therefore I am single.

Kagome: Nicely said.

Whip: Thank-you

Inu and Sess: -beating each other up-

Whip: Anyone have some leashes?

Kagome: Here. -hands over a collar and leash while holding onto another collar and leash.-

Whip: -raises eyebrows questioningly-

Kagome: They come in handy fairly often.

Kag and Whip: -attack dog demons and put their collars and leashes on.-

Whip: -smile- Oh, Sessoumaru! Come here doggy! -yanks on leash and turns toward audience- Please review!