Wowz. This took me a long time. (short story, short chapters)
No, I don't own Inuyasha.
Inuyahsa was awake by the time Kagome sat up, disturbed by the golden shafts of sunlight filtering through the thatched roof. A small glitter behind Inuyahsa's eyes was all that gave away his concealed uneasiness. Shippou sat up, yawning.
"Kagome, I'm hungry…" He whined, crawling into her lap.
"Ok, we'll eat something. Inuyasha, what's wrong?" She asked, noting that Inuyasha was walking around pushing distressed glances through the tattered roof to the sky.
Miroku woke up next, stretching his legs out to relive his cramped muscles and in the process tripping Inuyasha.
"Baka," he muttered, getting to his feet.
"My, a rotten temper today, eh Inuyasha?" Miroku asked, shifting closer to Sango. Inuyasha huffed angrily, swung the tattered cloth of a door to one side and stepped out.
Sango awoke next, sensing the proximity of a certain perverted monk. She caught a glimpse of the cloth settling back into place.
"Come with me, Sango, I'm going to go get some firewood to cook breakfast." Kagome covered with the good old standby.
forest
"Kagome….What's wrong with Inuyasha?" Sango asked quietly, adding another stick to her small heap of dry wood.
"I don't know….He's been like this a lot….And he won't tell me why… I'm starting to be kind of worried…"Kagome said, concentrating hard on picking up another stick. Both girls were too busy speaking in hushed tones and collecting firewood, they did not notice Inuyasha listening to them from the trees.
the hut
Miroku staggered to the wall, and slid down it, stretching his long legs. "Owwww…" He moaned as the cramped tendons stretched painfully.
She's worried about me. Inuyasha was lost in his thoughts as he sat across the shack from Miroku. Miroku grabbed Kagome's pack and fished out some bowls and sets of chopsticks. He raised an eyebrow as Inuyasha continued to think, rather than berate him for 'snooping around Kagome's stuff'. He put down the pack tentatively and shot Inuyasha a single question;
"Inuyasha, what's wrong?" He winced as a tendon in his knee shifted back into place.
Inuyasha set golden eyes cast of stone on him and he knew he had made a mistake. "Nothing! Nothing is wrong with me! Why can't you people leave me alone?" He shouted, getting up angrily. Miroku waved his hands defensively.
"Ok! Ok! Sumimasen! I'll let you be!" He said, cringing. Inuyasha stalked out the door. "Phew." Miroku sighed, wiping one hand across his brow, signaling close escape.
The entire group sat in the tiny shack, eating their breakfast in a tired solemnity. Inuyasha was lost in deep thought…eating his ramen slowly.
"…Inuyasha, are you okay?" Kagome asked, noting that his ramen bowl was near full.
He nodded and put down the bowl. "I'm fine,"
"Wow, Inuyasha, why didn't you eat your ramen?" Shippou asked, investigating the bowl with his sensitive fox nose.
Kagome's head snapped up, and she looked around worriedly.
"Kagome-Chan? What's wrong?" Sango asked.
"I-I think…yes, a shikon no kakera." She said quietly.
"Where?" Inuyasha asked, not looking up.
"…" Kagome scanned the air with her unique sense. "To the East."
"Well," Miroku said nervously. "Then what are we waiting for?" He stood up, obviously confused by the hanyou's odd behavior.
Late that night
The Inu-tachi had found a quiet clearing in the dark forest to rest in, and Inuyasha immediately adopted the nearest tree. He sat in one of the higher branches, watching the extravagant sunset.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome called. "I have some ramen if you want some."
Inuyasha shook his head and disappeared into the foliage.
When the rest of the group had fallen asleep, Inuyasha crept to one of the lower branches. He settled against the inside of the tree and fell into a haggard sleep, borne of sheer exhaustion.
So much to do, so little time. So review, please!
-Cinnamondust