Thanks to: Sesshoumaru Minion, Silver Wolf Pups, Sasia, jaguargoddess, Sayuri-chan 16, Airya, and NoSortOfMuse (Don't worry, the fact that Sesshoumaru can't wield Tetsusaiga can be solved if Sesshoumaru kills Inuyasha and chops his arm off to replace the one that Inuyasha amputated.) Thanks for all your reviews!

Tessadragon


Chapter 7

Kagome laid the campfire when the sun had hardly risen, hurrying to light it and lay out food for breakfast before Miroku, Sango and Shippo had even opened their eyes. Sango was the first to wake up, her nostrils flaring at the scent of smoke and the hiss of boiling water. Kagome didn't look at her as she absently stirred the pot of bubbling water. Her eyes seemed to be seeing something that no one else could.

Poor thing. Sango's heart went out to her friend. Has she even slept at all? She doubted it. Getting dressed quickly, straight into her demon-slayer costume, she packed her belongings ready for travelling, then tried to help in whatever way she could find, but Kagome had covered all the chores. I'd possibly do the same if Miroku went missing like this, Sango acknowledged. As she passed Miroku's bedroll, she nudged the sleeping monk with her foot and he mumbled something along the lines of "my children".

"Pervert," Sango whispered, "Wake up. I think Kagome will want us to get moving quickly."

"Tell Inuyasha to drown himself," Miroku mumbled, refusing to wake up. "The jewel shards can wait until I've woken up." Sango knelt and quickly punched him on the arm. "You idiot!" she hissed in his ear.

Kagome hadn't turned her attentive eyes from the boiling pot to look at Miroku, but her hand stirred the water faster.

Shippo yawned and stretched from his vantage point in the branches. Kagome's head shot up at the sound: Sango knew she was immediately thinking or hoping that everything was back to normal, that Inuyasha would be up in the tree branches like he usually was.

"Morning, Shippo," Kagome said, trying to cover her disappointment.

"We'll find Inuyasha," the fox-child told her earnestly, hopping down and seating himself eagerly in front of the fire, his bushy tail sweeping side to side happily at the prospect of breakfast.

"Forgive me ladies, I'm going to quickly wash my face in the stream," Miroku said cheerily, though they all distinctly heard him say as soon as he was out of sight, "And maybe fall asleep there too."

Sango snorted. "It must've been a dream of women to make him want to keep sleeping."

Miroku heard her and smiled a small sad smile. Yes it was, Sango. But only one woman. Though Buddha shan't ever make me tell you what sort of dream it was!

Kagome dully gazed into the pot of boiling water, stirring it to stop Inuyasha's serious face forming upon its surface, voicing her anxious thoughts. I had such a strange dream last night…I dreamed of Inuyasha being swallowed by darkness.

Her hand faltered long enough to let Inuyasha's face form within the swirling water. Her heart felt like it was crushing itself.

"Sango." Kagome stopped stirring the boiling water. "Can I go for a walk?"

"Of course," Sango said sympathetically, taking over the task of making breakfast.

"Kirara," Kagome called over her shoulder as she began walking. Her bow and arrow were in one hand. The demon fire cat cocked her head at Kagome, then glanced at Sango, who hesitated then nodded, knowing perfectly well what Kagome's heart had chosen to do.

"Kagome," Sango called after the priestess. Kagome halted guiltily, "Yes, Sango?"

"Miroku and I will go after the demon," Sango told her. "We'll kill it. You find Inuyasha and get him to safety, just hide but don't fight. Okay? As long as Inuyasha's young, he can't wield Tetsusaiga."

"Alright," Kagome said relieved. Kirara gave an optimistic mew and transformed to her larger form, her flamey tail whipping against the crisp morning air. Kagome mounted her, slinging her quiver full of arrows onto her shoulder as Kirara kicked off into the air and soared up into the sky. "Thank you, Sango!"

Sango added some herbs to the boiling water as Miroku came back from the stream, water still dripping down his face and sleek black hair. He shook his head, more awake and happy for that. "Where's Kagome?"

"She's decided to go look for Inuyasha," Sango replied, "Get yourself a cup if you want some herbal tea."

"She's lovesick," Miroku said admiringly. "Poor thing, but honestly, why doesn't Inuyasha stop being an idiot and enjoy being in love? Why does he keep denying it? If I had someone tell me that they were in love with me..."

"Well, at the moment he's only old enough to play tag with Shippo," Sango said practically. "Now hurry up if you want the tea. And get my cup too from my pack while you're there? And we know exactly what you'd do if someone told you they were in love with you."

Miroku obeyed. "So we're going after the demon? Do we even know what we're looking for?"

Sango nodded. "There are only two species of demons with the type of magic that can specifically make something else weaker, and only one of them can physically change its victim. A liridake-shure demon. It is pretty fearsome, but as long as we kill it, its magic will end completely."

As Miroku poured the tea into three cups, Sango began rummaging through her pack, retrieving a short sword. Her expression critical, she balanced it in her palm, judging its weight, then finally gave a contented nod and offered it to Shippo. "Shippo, because the demon is very tough, and also because it's fixated on young demons, I'm giving this to you, just in case." Her face was stern, "But leave the fighting to me and Miroku."

Shippo nodded eagerly, his face alight with happiness as he took the weapon and thrust it at the air excitedly. "Oh wow!" he exclaimed.

"You put out anyone's eye and I'll take it right back from you," Sango said. Shippo gulped and held it as though it was as precious as the Shikon Jewel.


"C'mon!" Rin tugged at little Inuyasha's sleeve. "I'm hungry and you shall come with me…we can pick berries near here. Come on!"

The half-demon boy gave her a curious look but didn't get up from his cross-legged sit on the grass.

"Come on!" Rin wheedled.

Inuyasha's mouth formed a stubborn line and he concentrated on scratching a drawing into the dirt with his long nails.

"Oh fine, be hungry," Rin said sadly and went running to find herself breakfast.

"Inuyasha, you probably should find food for yourself," Sesshomaru said from his contemplative state at the edge of the cliff. Young Inuyasha looked up at him then got up and went after Rin, not feeling like arguing.

"He's certainly more trusting, my lord," Jaken ventured.

"Make sure that Rin is safe," Sesshomaru ordered.

"Y-yes milord!" Jaken raced off after Rin and Inuyasha. Inuyasha looked troubled as he trotted after Rin, even nervous. Rin skipped to the stream then waded into the water, holding her orange and yellow-check kimono above the water, then knotted it up at her hips and darted her hands in at the fish swimming past her ankles. She giggled all the while, then called to Inuyasha, "I shan't catch your fish for you, you know!"

Inuyasha approached the water then ignored the prospect of his clothes getting wet and waded in after her. Clumsily he snatched at the fish and almost had one, but then it slapped him in the face with its tail and startled, he let it jump back into the stream…

Rin watched him with a small grin on her face, then young Inuyasha giggled and swiped the water off his face. Rin dared to laugh too, her eyes bright, then Inuyasha threw a handful of water at her. Rin squealed, and by the time Jaken got to the stream, the two kids were soaking wet and rolling on their sides in the stream, their breakfast forgotten.

"You children!" Jaken said, staring astounded at Inuyasha.

"Hey Jaken!" Inuyasha yelled excitedly and threw a handful of water at the imp, who wailed in anger, thrashing his staff at the air, then ran back to Sesshomaru as though Inuyasha was about to unleash the Windscar upon him.


Kagome anxiously stared down at the land rushing below them, searching for a brilliant red. Within the next hour, she saw it, by the river. A small boy and girl, both growing very familiar, were splashing through the river, trying to catch fish. "Is that Rin?" Kagome recognised the girl. She had to rub her eyes in order to believe that she really could see Inuyasha was playing in the river…she'd hardly ever seen Inuyasha laughing and grinning as much as that!

"There, Kirara!" Kagome said excitedly and the demon cat nodded its furry head and dropped to the ground, landing solidly on its four paws just by the river bank. "Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha and Rin halted their fishing game and stared at Kagome as she jumped from Kirara's back.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome wore such a relieved look on her face. "Oh thank goodness you're safe!"

Inuyasha's stare grew more intense and he took a step back, instinctively shielding Rin. "Huh? Who are you?"