Alone in the woods Kagome called out in vain hoping someone could hear her. She didn't dare move from the clearing because she had no idea which way was out. She looked blindly around, "Inuyasha." She whispered. She knelt down and started to cry; I shouldn't have run off…now no one will find me! The without much hope she wiped her eyes and looked around for the bushes she had crashed through, but just as she suspected, she couldn't find them.

Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango and Shippo finally reached the river bank. Shippo looked at the dented ground, "Was Kagome here?" he asked, hoping she wasn't far away.

Inuyasha sniffed the ground, "Yes she went that way."

"Ok let's go!" said Miroku. He started walking to the trees but Inuyasha stopped him.

"No. It's a new moon tonight and when I lose my powers I can't protect…" He stopped suddenly and turned away to walk and sit on rock at the beach.

"What's wrong with him?" Sango asked Miroku. He just shrugged in reply.

"He's been like this ever since meeting Kikyo, haven't you noticed? Said Shippo. Sango and Miroku looked at Shippo and then at Inuyasha before they went to get sticks for a fire.

Inuyasha got up off the rock and began to walk along the beach. "You'll have to choose, me or her." That's what Kikyo said. He reminded himself. He knew what she meant. She had taken Kagome. It was a simple thing to do. Kagome was so kind hearted that it didn't take much to get her where you wanted her. But, how can I do that? How can I choose? He asked himself. It wasn't going to be easy. He really didn't know if he could do it. "I have to!" he told himself then turned around and began to walk back to the camp.

When they had gathered enough wood for the fire they all sat down around it to gather the heat that came from the leaping flames. Suddenly Miroku spoke, "Sango, you look pretty in the moonlight."

"Why thank you!" replied Sango as she smiled.

Miroku took the smile as a good sign and he reached out his hand. He touched the first butt he found thinking it was Sango's.

"Woah!" cried Inuyasha as he stood up. "Watch where you put your hands!"

Shippo giggled, "See that's what you get when you let your hands roam!" Sango laughed.

"W-well I thought it was San---" Miroku started before he was suddenly cut off by a loud smack. Shippo was just about in tears as he laughed. "Hey what'd you do that for? I said I thought it was yours, but obviously it wasn't!" said Miroku as he rubbed his cheek.

"Well, the thought was bad enough." Replied Sango as she looked into the fire.

Inuyasha felt the change as soon as it got dark. "Here goes nothing." He said to himself. All he could feel was a prickly sensation, but that transgressed into a deeper prick and then finally he felt the changes taking place. His fingernails were no longer long and sharp. He could feel his hair move with a whisper as soon as his dog's ears, which were formerly there, disappeared. His vision also became foggier as though he was looking through misted glass at the world.

"What does it feel like?" Miroku asked when the transformation was done. "Changing every new moon must be a pain, but how different do you?"

"You have no kidding it's a pain!" huffed Inuyasha, "what with not being able to defend myself or…" he trailed off. He looked into the fire, I almost let my feels slip, I wont be doing that again. After a long paused he said "and not being able to defend anyone else."

Miroku and Sango exchanged looks. They had a feeling he was thinking about Kikyo and his one time decision to become human before her demise.

"Do you perhaps mean Kagome?" asked Shippo. "I would be upset if I couldn't defended her!" he said with tears in his eyes.

"Shush Shippo!" said Miroku as he watched Inuyasha look up at the sky with his now violet eyes. "Not now!" he stopped Shippo as again the little Kitsune was about to open his mouth.