The light was bright. It was so bright it was almost too much to look at it, but look at it she did—she stared, enthralled, at what would seem to be a brighter orb of pure, white light than any star that had ever been known, brighter than any sun. There didn't seem to be a shaft of it, or a beam or direction—it just WAS, it existed, it filled the entire expanse with its glory and pride and majesty. Normally, one might wonder what it was, but the thought didn't cross her mind...she was too enthralled, too joyous, too amazed to wonder. She just edged closer, as close as she dared, to be near it, to feel the incredible warmth it radiated, to enjoy the marvelous happy feeling that struck her soul when she glanced at it....

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"Kagome-chan? Wake up."

The voice was softly insistent as she rolled over and pulled the sleeping bag over her head. She had only just gotten to sleep...that bizarre pounding in her head had only just lightened its blows enough for her to close her eyes and rest...she didn't want to leave the warm cocoon...

"Come on, Kagome, you're going to miss breakfast." Sango gently shook her shoulder one more time, persistently, and Kagome sighed, sitting up, resolving to just obey. She yawned, and pushed herself from the sleeping bag, mumbling, "I'm up, I'm up," as she stood. She stretched her hands towards the ceiling and yawned again, closing her eyes and willing the light from outside to stop being so blinding.

"Morning, Sango-chan," she said drowsily, blinking repeatedly against the sunlight. "Sleep well?"

"I did, Kagome-chan, but did you? You look tire—"

"It's nothing," Kagome said hastily. "I just...didn't want to go to sleep last night. You know how it is...I'm just so happy to be back," she invented. "I really did miss you guys."

"Well...all right," Sango said doubtfully. "Everyone's waiting for us at Kaede's before they start eating...so, naturally, Inuyasha's almost finished off the meal." They both laughed at that, and set off together, walking perfectly in-stride without trying to as girlfriends often can. It was another lovely day, as lovely as the days before. Shippo would probably want to go play again—or maybe, Kagome thought, he wouldn't. 'At least, not with me...' She bit her lip guiltily, staring at the puffy clouds overhead. Shippo had kept his promise to her, not saying anything, but Kagome could see that he was worried, and he felt bad about not being honest when Miroku had inquired, good-naturedly, over how the trip had gone.

'I didn't mean to put him in an awkward position...I know how hard it is for him...but I can't let Inuyasha find out...' He'd just get worried, and then testy, because worrying made him testy. They'd be stuck in the village for possibly yet another month, and nothing would get done, which would make him even testier. And that was the last thing Kagome wanted to happen, after causing them to wait, without a shard hunter, for a month and a half's worth of worrying, pain, and recovery.

She was already a nuisance, as Inuyasha took every occasion to tell her. She just wanted to sit back, spot the shards for them, and be inconspicuous. She'd even brought enough Ramen for two months, just so she could make it every night, and more storybooks than even the last time she'd come. It was least she could do to repay them.

A loud crashing sound brought Kagome to her senses. She and Sango came to a dead stop about three feet from the door of Kaede's hut, which was a good thing—about two seconds after they stopped walking, there was another crash, and the door flap flew open as Miroku ran out, followed alarmingly close by Inuyasha, who looked murderous, and was dragging Shippo, who was holding onto his pants leg and apparently had his mind set on stopping the hanyou from killing the houshi.

"Inuyasha! Sit boy," Kagome shouted almost automatically, and watched as Inuyasha plunged face-first into the dirt, Shippo squealed and let go at just the right moment, and Miroku staggered forward and stood behind Kagome and Sango, panting and looking winded.

"Kag—om—e—sama—! Ar—i—ga—tou!" Sango gave him a baffled look as he staggered forward and collapsed into her arms in a very convincing faint. She staggered and struggled to hold him up, looking alarmed until—

SMACK!!!

"YOU HENTAI!!! I SHOULD'VE KNOWN!"

SMACK! CRASH! POP!

The monk got what he deserved after all. Whatever Inuyasha had wanted to punish him for, he had been punished. Kagome turned her attention calmly to the hanyou that was pulling his face from the ground as the subduing spell began to ware off. Inuyasha, of course, appeared nothing short of livid—and the newly-smeared dirt only helped to give him a slightly deranged look.

"MIROKU! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

"I think Sango's got it covered," Kagome said lightly, glancing over at the monk who was still receiving a generous amount of smacking and lecturing. "What's gotten you so angry?" Inuyasha opened his mouth heatedly, as if to reply, but no sound came out. He suddenly looked rather embarrassed, with a fiery blush spreading the length of his face, and he turned away, muttering an abrupt, "Feh."

Kagome blinked, and glanced at Shippo who walked over hesitantly.

"Oh, 'morning, Shippo-chan," she greeted cheerfully as he stood at her feet. "You seem to be the only one not caught in this argument. Want some breakfast?" Shippo opened his mouth, looking eager, but Inuyasha cut him off with a snappish reply.

"You know, none of us have had a chance to eat breakfast yet," he said pointedly, "thanks to a certain over-sleeping wench!"

"Hey, you didn't have to wait on me," Kagome said, putting her hands up in defense.

"Sango made us," Inuyasha muttered sullenly, just as the demon-slayer walked over with a tame, beaten Miroku in tow.

"What was that, Inuyasha?" She asked in a tone that even Inuyasha didn't dare smart off to. He shrugged and walked back towards the hut, still muttering something that probably shouldn't have been said anyway. The others filed in and took their places around the breakfast mat, which was covered with plates of vegetables, fish, fruits, and other various foods. Kagome smiled at the wild herbs Sango put insistently on her plate, remembering how not so long ago she had believed she wouldn't live to see this harvest. She had been right—it was indeed a bountiful one. She ate the food that was on her plate happily...

But, somehow, every time she took a bite, more food kept appearing. She looked up in surprise to so each of her friends was holding a serving of food, watching her, waiting to put it on her plate. Kagome blinked and gave them a sheepish smile. "Erm...guys...I'm not that hungry," she said, pulling her plate away as Sango tried to put another piece of fish on it. "Really," she added as Shippo copied her friend. They all blinked back at her and put the food back, with the exception of Inuyasha, who hadn't been trying to force her to eat, but had been staring at the others as if they were mad, holding a piece of fish.

"So," Kagome said cheerfully, as if the moment before hadn't completely unnerved her, "when're we getting back to the quest? Soon, right?"

"Tomorrow," Inuyasha replied through a mouthful of fish, apparently before the others could stop him. Sango quickly added, "If you feel up to it, Kagome."

"I'm fine," Kagome said brightly. "Can't wait to get back on the open road!" The others blinked at her, and Inuyasha gave her his trademark 'you're mental' stare. She gave them her most charming smile. "I'm gonna go outside for a while. I'll be back later, okay?" Sango and Miroku exchanged quick glances.

"Er, Kagome-chan," Sango said hesitantly, "do you want me to come with you? You know, to keep you company," she added hastily, but Kagome saw the truth behind the question.

They were all still worried about her. All she had to do was convince them she was fine. It would be a synch, as long as she didn't have another episode—or, at least, as long as no one was around to SEE another episode, if something should happen again. That was the last thing she needed—to collapse in front of Inuyasha, or have some kind of fit.

So she would simply do as much alone as they would let her.

"No, Sango, it's okay. I just want some time to myself."

The demon-exterminator fell silent. Miroku sipped his tea.

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Inuyasha stared at the moon and the stars. They shone so brightly against the blackish-blue of the midnight sky that they almost looked like flecks of nothingness that were accidentally showing through. A warm spring wind wafted through the trees, rustling the leaves pleasantly, and making his hair sway and tickle his face. Inuyasha pushed it away absently, staring at the big circle-fraction that had mounted itself in the sky. His amber eyes were focused fixedly on it, but really they stared past, into something no one else could hope to see.

'Well, we'll be off on our adventures again soon,' he thought glumly to himself. It was exactly what he would've wanted a few weeks ago, but now he wasn't so sure. Something was off. Something wasn't right. He could feel a slight drift of unease, of uncertainty, of secrecy, and he didn't like it—most of all, he didn't like the fact that he couldn't put his finger on where it was originating.

Something was about to happen. He could feel it. He didn't know what, but the winds of fate were shifting all around them, and they carried something dangerous with them.

And it wasn't something pretty like cherry blossoms. He was sure of that much.

Suddenly, Inuyasha felt an urge to glance down. Slowly, he turned his head and glimpsed, out of the corner of his eye, a pair of sparkling green pinpricks in the distance. He was being watched. A moment later, though, the pinpricks disappeared as the silent figure scurried off, making only the slightest rustling noise as he made his way back towards the village.

"Shippo," Inuyasha muttered to himself, or perhaps to the stars.

'If you've got something to tell me, why don't you just say it? Are you afraid?'

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Tailz: Ooh, the startling conclusion! Are you interested? Have I captivated your little reader imaginations?

Sanji: You sound like one of those old radio shows.

Tailz: Ooooooh. I've always wanted to do one of those. ::Starry eyes::

Sanji: Whatever, Tailz. Tune in next chapter, everyone! Ja!