Inuyasha stared blankly at the wall of the hut where he and the gang were taking shelter from a storm. He stilled missed Kagome, missed her terribly. He could never let go of the fact that it was him who had just let her die. Shippo crawled into his lap and curled up like a little puppy. Inuyasha was too heartbroken to scold him or push him off, just absently stroked the fur that was fluffing up from his tail. Sango sat in Miroku's arms, still a little shell-shocked.

Everyone in the room was a little sharper around the edges; since Kagome wasn't bringing them food from her era anymore, they had to improvise and cook things for themselves.

The fire crackled as a little rain showered from the smoke-hole in the roof. Sango got up and began to make some gruel, or what passed for gruel. "This stormy night reminds me of the time that we got stuck in that mole demon's cave during a storm much like this one. Remember how Kagome spilled her pack? That was so…funny…" Sango started sniffling as she held back tears, and turned once again to Miroku for comfort.

Of all of them, Sango and Miroku had grown the closest together through this ordeal. He was always there to comfort her, and she was always there to bring warmth back into his life, since everything was kind of colorless after Kagome's death. Miroku shifted then, and laid another log on the fire. "It's cold out; feels like this is a bigger storm than usual." Of the storms that were heralding the coming winter, this one was the worst so far.

Shippo made sounds that almost passed for an answer and let out a little sigh. "I wish Kagome were here." Shippo's thoughts ever since her death had been of only of Kagome. He didn't think of food, or water, or comfort, only Kagome. Shippo's eyes brimmed, and threatened to spill over.

"You...you guys know…that was really funny…when she spilled her pack in that cave, I mean…she had no idea that a rat was in the room until he started rooting through the food…" Inuyasha, who was never one for a lot of words before Kagome's death, astounded the rest of them.

"Yeah…and remember that time when she lost her bike in the river. It sunk straight to the bottom! Inuyasha, I think you were so brave when you got that for her. The river was so high, and it was flowing so fast…you got soaked when you went in…and we spent days drying your kimono out!" As Sango made this remark, the whole group smiled.

Shippo piped up suddenly "Yeah, and remember that time that she fell down the hill, and Inuyasha you were so scared that she was hurt you almost broke your own neck trying to rescue her? That was funny-you were a mud ball!" Miroku broke into laughter.

"Yes, Inuyasha your hair was brown with earth for weeks afterwards."

Despite himself, Inuyasha let out a chuckle. "That damn dirt wouldn't come out! It must've been clay or something…" Inuyasha trailed off as he stared at the person who had just passed through the door, and was now taking off her rain hat.

It was Kikyo. She surveyed every one sitting in the room; they were all alert her presence now. Inuyasha had his hand on the hilt of his blade, Miroku was edging toward his staff. Seeing this, Kikyo raised her hands, palms out.

"Peace. I am, for once, not here to pick a fight."

"Why are you even here at all, then?"

Kikyo shot a glare at Inuyasha, who now had a puzzled look on his face. "Dry your tears, Inuyasha. It is time to move on. Naraku is on the move again, and it is time for us to kill him, once and for all."

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YAY! Ok, here's the continuance. Can't exactly say when the next chapter will be out. I promise before summer though.