When Night Falls

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. If you own Inuyasha, pleas tell me. I have $1.27.

Hi Guys! Guess what? Tomorrow's my birthday! Yep! 16 years old, hear I come! School's horrible, especially with all the honors classes i'm taking, so two weeks may become the average wait for a chapter. Hopefully not. I want to finish, 'cause I've got another story to go... but anyway... Oh yeah, a mistake I've made in past chapters. Mistranslation on my part. I've been reffering to the group as the "Inu-taichi", since "tai" means group. But I did some research, and it's "tachi" not "taichi". Sorry bout that. Anyway, reviews!

PenguinChica: Um... did you review twice? Cause I also got a review from "peguinchica44". I'm assuming it's you, since it's so similar. Anyway, thanks, it's always nice when i get new reviewers!

Ninalee-chan: Yes... I gave Inu a bit of a break. I mean, I don't want to look like I hate him... to be completely honest I have more problems with Kagome than him (not that I hate her either...)

Veglma: I know... I was just actin' stupid. Shadow... nope. It's something many cultures have seen as a "fifth element", but I'm not giving any more info than that.

Dark Angel: ...someone's happy! Sorry 'bout the wait, hopefully the next one won't take so long.

Gogglehead Lover: Really now? You see, I was thinkin' people would think just the opposite! Thanks!

xXHyperactive Dork-assXx: Okay. Captain Obvious it is! Sorry bout the wait though...

Crystal Promise: Erm... you do know I'm a guy, right? Thanks for the review!

Okay, anyway, enough of my yappin', here's chapter 16!

Chapter 16: Old Enemies and New Troubles

It would seem that Miroku's suspicions had been correct. As time went by, it became more and more obvious how little Sango remembered after being struck with the rock. She did, however, seem to know that something had gone on between them and put a very uncomfortable distance in between the two of them. His first inclinations had been to approach her and bridge the gap, but in the end decided it best to let her nervousness wear off naturally. A refreshingly cool breeze told Miroku they were approaching the northern ocean, and beyond that… well, the time would come were that was important. On a high note, however, as they passed the limits of Tsuchi's territory, the trees once again grew in thick abundance, providing security and shelter.

They settled down that night with an air of victory, knowing that the four elemental demons were behind them and no longer an issue. The only plight on their minds at the moment was Kagome's limited source of food, which, after dinner, had been depleted to two bags of chips and a couple cups of instant ramen. Not that Inuyasha was complaining.

The others fell asleep almost instantly, but Miroku lay awake, staring up at the stars. His head was bothering him. It would seem that now that they were this close to the source of the power, it's overwhelming aura was so great it was painful to even his weakened senses. Briefly, he debated removing the necklace and discarding it, before deciding that the power they were up against would surely kill him instantly.

He scanned the sleeping bodies of his companions. Kagome was rocking gently as she cradled Shippo in her arms, and Inuyasha had abandoned his tree and was lying spread-eagled on the ground, snoring loudly. He was surprised to see the red skylight flickering off two glowing orbs staring in his direction.

"Why are you awake, Sango?" he asked. After while in which she neither answered or responded in any way, he spoke up again, "I'm not going to run away Sango, I promise you."

"I know," she answered back, though not sounding thoroughly convinced.

For the longest time Miroku watched the light in her eyes, until finally the reflection ceased and did not return as sleep took over her. Miroku leaned back and decided to try and sleep.

For Sesshomaru, the trip was almost painfully uneventful. At one point he had been lucky enough to encounter a horde of fleeing demons, of which he had quickly dispatched, but the lack of any action was beginning to irk him. He had sent Jaken and Rin south with Aun, and the constant quarreling that he had once considered bothersome would have almost been a welcome break in the bleak and silent landscape he now stood upon. Nevertheless, this intruding force proved to be a source of curiosity for him, only looking for a formidable opponent.

Certainly someone stronger than that half-demon excuse for a brother of his.

He rubbed idly at his left shoulder. Though he would not readily admit it, the stub that had once been his arm was prone to aches and pains, at which times he would merely grunt and ignore it.

A sudden whistling pierced the air, and he easily bent backward, just as and arrow streaked directly past the tip of his nose. His head swung to the right in an attempt to find the source, in time to see a woman dressed in white and red step out from the trees, arrow notched and threatening.

"The dead priestess…" he said, void of emotion as usual.

"Hello, Sesshomaru," she responded, equally as cold.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing from you," Kikyo responded, still not lowering her arrow, "but if you plan to get in my way…"

"I want nothing of the sort."

The arrow went down. "That was just a warning shot."

Sesshomaru grunted. He continued on his way, but then heard the woman speak up again.

"Inuyasha and his friends have headed north already."

"Why would I care what that Hanyou does?" growled Sesshomaru, turning slightly.

"You seem to have a thing against him, I thought it might interest you."

"It doesn't," he grunted. His remaining hand traveled down to his sword, "Now, if you do not leave me be, I shall smash that fake body of yours to pieces."

"As you wish."

Once more turning to leave, Sesshomaru continued northward, but the faint smell of graveyard soil constantly reminded him he was not alone.

"Gah!"

Miroku shot awake instantly, breathing heavily. His bangs and robes were plastered to his body by a cold sweat, making the night even more uncomfortably cool than it already was.

With an unstable desperateness he yanked his right hand up, staring at the palm which still tingled in memory of his dream.

"What's wrong, monk?" asked Inuyasha, one last eye cracking open to survey the houshi.

"N-nothing," he stammered, trying to bring some sort of confidence to his voice. "I'm fine Inuyasha, just a dream. Go back to sleep."

"Aren't you a little old to be scared by nightmares?"

"Believe me Inuyasha… to not fear what I just saw… would be to fear nothing at all. Now go to bed."

"Keh, whatever." Waving one arm absently, Inuyasha rolled over, and it was not long before his snoring once more floated through the air.

Miroku shivered as his eyes ventured back down to his hand. The tingling had subsided, but the visions still haunted his mind. Wind… and screaming… someone crying… and then a gut-wrenching sadness like no other. He had felt as though nothing would ever be right again… as though… as though he had inadvertently caused all the world's suffering and now no one would ever be happy, and it was his fault.

It was times like these he wished he'd never been born.

Miroku spent the rest of the night in a state in between consciousness and sleep, hovering on the edge of reality. He couldn't sleep… he didn't want to. He would not risk having that dream again. As a result, his companions had quite a difficult time rousing him that morning.

That all changed, however, when Inuyasha saw it fit to a bucket's worth of icy cold water on his face. Miroku instantly shot up, sputtering and growling obscenities at the amused Hanyou.

After a brief breakfast consisting of much less than any of them would like to eat, camp was packed up and they headed off once more, none in a particularly agreeable mood as their stomachs growled in hunger and their heads spun in lack of sleep.

"Dammit," swore Inuyasha, "we have to get this over with fast or there's no way we'll be able to make it!"

"I know," sighed Kagome, "but there's nothing we can do. If we skip lunch and you control your stomach… we should have enough food to last us two days. That's how long it should take us, right?"

"Yes," nodded Miroku, "But that's not including the return trip. Unless we can find some source of food… well… this might turn out to be a sacrificial mission after all."

"Shut up," growled Inuyasha, "If it comes to that, we'll eat you, you stupid Bouzu. No one will miss ya."

"Inuyasha!" scolded Kagome.

"Houshi-sama's right," spoke up Sango, "even if the food lasts us two days, we surely will not have enough energy to defend ourselves, never mind prevent an apocalypse…"

"We're only half a day's travel away from the ocean, maybe we can fish?" Kagome added hopefully.

"That's considering the fish haven't fled the waters," Sango noted grimly.

"Fish are stupid," chimed Miroku, "Even if they had the intelligence to flee, they surely wouldn't have left their home waters. Their food source is there."

"Well, let's hope you're right," Kagome said, "what would we use as bait though?"

"Do fish eat ramen?" asked Sango.

"Hell no!" Inuyasha yelled, spinning around.

"Osuwari," Kagome said simply. "That might work."

"Well, I guess there's only one way to find out," Miroku said optimistically. "Anyway, there's still the matter of getting across the water. Kirara can't hold us all for such a long trip. Shippo, how long do you think you can hold your balloon form?"

"I don't know," said Shippo, unsurely. "How long do you think I'd have to hold it?"

"I'm not sure… I guess if we cross at the most narrow point…" Miroku began tracing a map in the air with his finger, "I'd plan for perhaps… six hours at the most."

"Wh-wha?" stuttered Shippo. "Six hours? I-I don't think so!"

Miroku sighed. "This is quite a dilemma. Well, we have the rest of the night to think about it. I suggest that once we reach the ocean we stop for the night, then the next morning we cross. That means we'll be on the northern island my noon tomorrow, so we'll have a day and a half, given Kagome's food stores, to find the problem and stop it."

"But then the factor, we still don't know how long we have until the end of the world!" Sango added.

"Yes, that has troubled me," Miroku nodded, offering his scholarly knowledge once more, "and I suspect we do not have long at all. Consider, the first few days after this happened, the changes were rapid, and large. Now, however, the conditions haven't changed much at all for the past two days. I think this means that the final stages have begun."

A cold breeze blew over the land, causing them to shiver.

"Well then," Inuyasha smirked, "let's hurry. At least we don't have to worry about no demons slowing us down."

"Let us hope."

A little to the south Sesshomaru continued his steady pace northward. He paused as a cold breeze swirled around him before directing itself southward once again. His eyes narrowed.

"Inuyasha."

End Chapter 16

Hmm? What is Sesshomaru up to? And what was up with Miroku's dream? I assure you, it is important, don't overllok it.

Please Review, and I shall love you forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever!

(and who wouldn't want that?)