Author's Note: Something I forgot to mention in the last chapter, Inuyasha knows that he was the one who killed Kikyou. However, he has no idea why he did it, or what else his 'night' side's been up to. Also, the nights when he's human are the only nighttimes when his day side has control.

On with the new chapter! BUZZAP!

()o0o()

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked quietly. She rose from her position on the floor and walked over to him. "Are you okay?"

"Hm?" Inuyasha started out of his trance and stared at her, as if seeing her for the first time. He backed away slowly at first, and then faster, until he unceremoniously scrambled backwards over the pile of wood Shippou had brought in. "Y – you…" He was still staring at Kagome, but suddenly broke his gaze and looked wordlessly at Kaede. She eyed him curiously. "I see ye remember my sister, Inuyasha." Her face softened and she forced a kind smile. "I know it was hard on ye. It was hard on all of us."

"Huh?" Kagome glanced around the room quizzically. Sango shrugged at her, but took Miroku's arm, and, with a nod to Kagome, towed him ungracefully from the room. Kagome turned back to Inuyasha, who was still staring at Kaede. "Inuyasha?" Kagome asked again, prodding him in the arm. "How do you know Kaede's sister?"

"I…" Inuyasha trailed off and looked to Kaede for help. The old woman scrutinized Kagome. "When Kikyou was alive, she and Inuyasha knew each other quite well. In fact, they were –"

"That's enough." Inuyasha said sharply, glaring warningly at Kaede. Kagome was still confused. "They were what?" She asked, looking from one to the other.

"Nothing." Inuyasha answered quickly. A little too quickly. "We weren't…anything." He turned his back on the two females, and instead gazed out the window, at the darkening sky. "I have to go now."

"But why?" Kagome frowned at his back. "I've still got questions. Inuyasha?"

The hanyou didn't answer, but pushed the bamboo mat aside and took off to the trees. Kagome sighed and bent to pick up the bowl Kaede had dropped earlier. "I wonder what that was all about…"

Kaede sat down heavily with her back against the wall and groaned. "Aye, Kikyou…" She mumbled, passing a hand over her eyes. "Ye have left behind much sorrow…"

Kagome rubbed her head. All this was making her head hurt. "Kaede? Is it alright if I go for a walk? I won't be long."

Kaede flapped her arm distractedly in her direction. "Yes child, as ye wish."

Kagome raised her hand to wave, but sighed again and dropped it. "I'll be back soon." She wandered outside, looking around to see where Miroku and Sango had gotten off to. She could hear them a short way down the river, talking quietly. 'I better leave them alone. At least they have each other.' She kicked viciously at a pebble on the road.

For the first time in over a week, Kagome felt a pang of loneliness. She was ages away from her family (500 years, to be exact) with no way of getting home, and no-one to care about her. Miserable, she sat down on a tuft of grass beside the river, and chucked rocks into the near-still water. The ripples warped her reflection in the water, but Kagome splashed the distorted image away with her hand.

'Stupid reflection. What good is it if it can't even keep me from being alone?' A chill wind blew through the trees, carrying away orange-red leaves and dropping them in the water. Kagome frowned. 'Maybe I should go find Inuyasha…even though he's rude and obnoxious, he's still someone.'

She headed to the forest, glancing up at the already-dark sky. 'Where are all the stars, and the moon?' Shrugging it off, she picked her way through the forest. "It sure is cold out here," she murmured, rubbing her arms. Her voice sounded strange against the quiet of the forest.

Kagome hummed quietly to cheer herself up, and quickened her pace to stay warm. She wished Kaede had thought to bring a coat.

It wasn't long before she found herself in a familiar area, that which surrounded the Goshinboku. Once at the giant tree, she noticed the sleeping form of Inuyasha, nestled amongst the roots.

'What's he doing there?' Kagome wondered. 'Normally he'd be up in the branches by now for protection or something…huh?' It was then that she noticed the abnormal colour of his hair. Instead of the usual silvery-white, it was now jet black. What's more, he no longer had his trademark fuzzy ears. Instead, there were human ones, in the usual place for such things. For some unknown reason, Kagome was rather upset by this. On closer inspection, she found that his claws had retracted into very human-like nails.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered quietly, kneeling beside him. "Hey, wake up." She gently touched his arm. At once, his dark chocolate eyes flew open and he stared up at her. "What the hell are you doing here?" He asked roughly, and got to his feet.

"Well, I just –" Kagome faltered. "Um – why do you look so different?"

Inuyasha growled at her. Apparently he hadn't lost that trait. "That's none of your business." He crossed his arms inside his haori and shifted from foot to foot. Then his voice softened. "Because I'm a hanyou, there are times when I loose my youkai powers. Different hair, different eyes, different ears, no claws and no fangs." He frowned up at the moonless sky. "The first night of the new moon is that time."

"I see…" Kagome clasped her hands in front of her. She reached up and tugged lightly on one of his coal-coloured forelocks. "Well, I'm very happy that you trusted me enough to tell me this."

"What?" Inuyasha looked surprised and pushed her off. "Oh. Yeah. Whatever." He settled himself back down on the Goshinboku's roots. "What'd you come here for, anyway?"

Kagome shrugged and scuffed the toe of her shoe in the dirt. "I just wanted someone to talk to, is all."

"What about those other people you were with?"

Kagome made a face. "They have each other. I don't want to ruin their moment."

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "What 'moment'?"

"You know, when people are sort of…" She laced her fingers together. "Like that."

"Oh. I get it." Inuyasha replied, even though he didn't really get it at all. "If you won't leave me alone, you may as well sit down."

"Okay." Kagome perched on a root next to him. She searched his face. "Are you okay? You don't seem too happy. I don't think it's a bad thing you're human for the night." She laughed. "It makes you easier to talk to."

"It's not funny," Inuyasha muttered. "I just have a lot to think about at the moment. So excuse me if I'm not too talkative."

"That's okay. It's just nice to sit for a while, you know?"

"Feh." Was Inuyasha's only reply. He repositioned his grip on his sword but didn't say anything else.

"Listen," Kagome glanced across at him. "I know you're not up to talking too much, but how do you know Kikyou? I was thinking about it before. You were in love with her, weren't you?"

Inuyasha remained silent. Kagome sighed wistfully and rested her chin on her hand. "I thought so." She whispered. "It must have been nice, to have someone care about you like that."

"Nice?" Inuyasha scoffed. "You don't know the half of it."

"I would if you'd just tell me."

"Well I ain't gonna, so quit bothering me about it."

"Alright." Kagome fell silent. "But if you ever want to talk –"

"– Which I won't."

Kagome closed her eyes and fought to remain calm. She was not going to get into another argument with him. "– But if you ever do feel like you need someone to talk to, just come and find me, okay?"

Inuyasha shifted himself round so he was facing her. "You don't have to be here, you know."

"Yeah, I know, but I want to." Kagome smiled at him. "Besides, I'm lonely, and I bet you're lonely, so we can be lonely together."

"Then I think you're missing the point in being lonely."

"I know!" Kagome grinned. "But being lonely with someone else has got to be better than being lonely by yourself, right?"

Inuyasha shrugged and resumed his forest-watching. "I guess."

"See? You're coming along fine!" Kagome patted Inuyasha on the head. "What a good boy!"

"Knock it off." Inuyasha brushed her hand away. He glanced at her. "You're shivering."

"Yeah," Kagome admitted. "It's pretty cold for September. I guess I should have brought warmer clothing."

"Here." Inuyasha slipped his haori off and draped it across her shoulders. "You'd better wear this if you don't want to end up sick."

Kagome smiled gratefully up at him. "Thanks, but won't you need it?"

"No." Inuyasha crossed his arms. "I may only be human right now, but I'm still stronger than you."

"Of course you are." Kagome hid a smile and turned away. 'I can see him shivering. Stupid manly pride.'

"Anyway, I'd better get back." She stood up. "Do you want to come with me?"

Inuyasha looked at her as if she was crazy. "No. No way in hell. Not like this, and not ever. But I may as well walk you to the village." He added hastily, seeing her hurt look. "Just in case you get eaten or something."

Kagome brightened up immediately. "Great! Then let's go!" She linked her arm through his. Just as quickly, Inuyasha unlinked them, but continued to walk beside her. Kagome watched him out the corner of her eye. "Do you miss Kikyou?"

Inuyasha looked up, surprised. His eyes clouded over. "Yeah. I guess I do." He quickened his pace and abruptly changed the subject. "Hurry up; we've got to get you home."

'Home,' Kagome thought wryly. 'I wish.' She stretched and yawned. "I'm sleepy," she complained.

"Well don't fall asleep yet, we've still got a while to go." Inuyasha gave her a push in the back. "If I was a hanyou again, at least I'd be able to get us there quicker."

"Don't worry," Kagome mumbled. "I won't." She stifled another yawn. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and knelt in front of her. "Here," he said softly. "Climb on. You'll just slow me down if you keep going the way you are."

Kagome nodded sleepily and did as she was told, tucking the haori closer around herself. She draped her arms loosely around Inuyasha's neck as he stood up and gripped her thighs. Kagome gave another yawn and rested her cheek against his shoulder as he walked along, careful not to jolt her too much. She rubbed her eyes and snuggled closer to him. "Thank you," she murmured, giving his neck a squeeze.

Inuyasha's cheeks tinted pink, but he nudged her head with his. "Kagome?" He whispered. When she didn't answer, he smiled and continued to walk.

()o0o()

"Who do you think that was?" Miroku asked, dipping his fingertips in the water. "That youkai, back at Kaede's hut?"

"I'm not sure," Sango replied admittedly. "But he seemed to know Kagome and Kaede, so he can't be too bad." She stroked Kirara's fur absently. "And Kaede…I know how she must feel." Her eyes darkened and she turned away slightly from Miroku.

"Hey," the monk rested a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about Kohaku. You'll find him." He squeezed her shoulder. "And I'll be there to help."

"Thank you," Sango ducked her head to hide the beginnings of a blush. "You're not half bad, houshi-sama."

Miroku chuckled. "Of course not, my dear Sango." He waved his staff with a majestic and rather melodramatic flourish. "I am only here to see to your every whim."

Sango rolled her eyes, but then sighed and drew her knees up to her chest. "I just worry about him, that's all. I mean, what if he's been captured, or he's alone, and starving, or worse?" Her eyes glistened with tears. "What if he's been killed?"

Miroku frowned. "Don't think like that," he said sharply. "We must believe in Kohaku's wellbeing, or else there is no hope."

Sango nodded and wiped her eyes. "You're right," she whispered. She smiled shyly and shuffled closer to him. "Thank you." She scowled when she felt a hand make contact. "That wasn't an invitation."

Miroku grinned sheepishly and held his hands up in defence. "I'm sorry Sango, but I just thought perhaps you'd like some cheering up."

Sango clenched her fist. "Not like that, I wouldn't." She drew her arm back and punched him square in the jaw.

Shippou, who was a little way down the river collecting pretty stones, looked up at the smacking sound. "Ouch," he said, wincing. "That one had to hurt."

()o0o()

Inuyasha turned his shoulder to the bamboo flap and pushed it open. Inside, there was only Kaede, who busied herself with tedious activities that no-one ever really needed to do like sweeping. She looked up when he entered, a frown etched on her face.

"Inuyasha," she said slowly. "I thought it be a new moon tonight. What brings ye – oh." The old miko caught sight of Kagome, who was still sleeping. "It was good of ye to bring her here."

"Yeah, well." Inuyasha knelt down and let Kagome slip off his back. "She's asleep, so I figured I may as well carry her, since she wasn't all that great at walking by herself."

Kaede nodded. "Bring her over here." She motioned to a futon in the corner. Inuyasha picked the sleeping girl up and placed her gently on the futon, spreading the blankets over her and tucking the edges in. Kaede watched with an amused look in her eye. "I never knew ye to be so careful with humans, Inuyasha."

"Shut up." Inuyasha stood up. "I only came to bring her back, now I'm leaving."

Kaede shook her head. "Why don't ye stay a while? I bet ye have had naught to eat for a while." She thrust the broom in his direction. "Start cleaning while I get ye some food."

Inuyasha shrugged, but did as he was told and started sweeping. He was never one to pass up an opportunity of free food. Kaede poured some stew that had been simmering over the fire into a large bowl and handed it to Inuyasha. "Eat that, boy. Ye look like ye need fattening up."

Inuyasha grumbled, but grabbed the bowl and started shovelling it into his mouth at an alarming rate. Kaede watched, smiling. "It be getting late, Inuyasha. Ye may stay the night here, if ye wish."

"As if." The hanyou chucked the now empty bowl in Kaede's direction. "I did what I came for, that's all."

"If ye are sure, then. However, I must leave for several hours tonight in order to do the village rounds. I only hoped ye would stay to make sure Kagome be all right." She looked at him out the corner of her eye. "Especially since staying here would give ye protection in ye human form."

Inuyasha growled. "I'm not doing this for you or her, you know." He moved to sit near Kagome, resting his back against the wall. He closed his eyes, but cracked one open when Kaede hadn't moved. "So, hurry up and go already."

Kaede's eyes twinkled with mirth. "Alright then. Stay out of trouble." She brushed past the bamboo mat.

Inuyasha sighed and looked over at Kagome. Feeling eyes upon her, Kagome yawned and sat up sleepily. "What am I doing back here?" She mumbled to herself. Inuyasha's haori, which she was still wearing, slipped off her. "Hm?" She looked up at Inuyasha. "And why are you here?"

Inuyasha crossed his arms. "You fell asleep, so I carried you back. And Kaede's gone out for a bit, so I'm staying here for a little while. Go back to sleep."

Kagome smiled. "Okay." She shuffled around and lay on her back, gazing up at Inuyasha with sleep-muddled eyes. "'Night."

"Goodnight." Inuyasha reached out and patted Kagome's head. She smiled, hugged Inuyasha's haori closer to her, and fell asleep.