Chapter 45

"Today...is the the day. The night when it all falls. It's the full moon, Inuyasha, when your power is at it's peek. Anything could set you off...and your lust, your love and longing for her will be just the thing. She holds the key to your destruction and you don't even realize it...how amusing..."

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It was so hard now. Everything was harder. Harder to sense if Sanraku was near. Harder to sense any more shards. Harder not to cry. Harder not to break down and collapse into each other's arms like they could when they were away from the other two. It was more frustrating than anything. There was some kind of tension building up between them so that they distanced themselves when they wanted to be together the most. Perhaps it was because they knew nothing good would come of it. They knew what they felt was getting too much to hold back when they were within a mile of each other. Each and every one of them was forced to hide their hearts.

Maybe a nice walk would shake it off. Kagome could only hope as she tumbled to her wobbly feet, shaken from her light daydream those white canine ears had invaded. She cast her weary brown eyes to the dying embers of the weak fire built in the middle of the silent hut. Silent. Deadly silent. That wasn't like the inu tachi group to be so boring.

A sharp slap let out as Kagome clapped her hands together with a forced smile. "Hey! What's everyone so glum about? I'll go get some firewood and then we'll start to have some REAL fun while we still have the chance!" Eyes flickered to her bright features, staring and waiting for another word or two before Sango dared to speak into the silence that had fallen.

"That actually sounds like a good idea! Why do Miroku and I stay back and cook up something to eat. Kaede's out with the villagers so this should give us a good chance to chock up on our cooking skills." The slayer piped up, joining into Kagome desperate attempt to curl lips all around the hut.

Only a few gave in. Miroku and Shippo as they took action to put aside the grey day that dwelled inside of them. Whereas, Inuyasha's fingers tapped wildly over the red fabric that concealed his knee, fighting the urge to jump up and pace the room. His amber eyes substituted for the crave, flitting back and forth across the length of the room. Each word the miko spoke, every step or movement she took, made his heart skip a beat, pound, and made his back as tight as a bowstring.

"She's right! Kagome's back and it looks like she brought the sun with her!" Miroku added with a sly smile as he slipped behind Sango, that same dirty sparkle in his eye. The slayer inched away despite the urge to simply move closer. They all had to fight it now.

Inuyasha froze, his heart hammering furiously against his chest.

'He doesn't know. There's no way he could know what she had said! What the hell is wrong with me? I can't even look at her without losing my breath completely!' He thought, his eyes narrowing at the girl as if it was her fault completely, that she was causing every bit of his silent torture. But his eyes softened in an instant. It was so hard to be mad at her. How could he, when she had done nothing but try to love him, or try to show something that Inuyasha really just couldn't understand.

'What the hell is wrong with me...' His mind repeated, scolding him endlessly for simply feeling something he truly had no control over. His head dropped back to rest against the wall as he stuffed his arms into the large sleeves of his haori. It was a weird feeling that he couldn't understand, much less, control. It was like a large ball of fire in the pit of his stomach, inching down to his loins, and only one thing could ease it. Her.

What did he have to do? He wondered and pondered and glared ahead, searching for the answer somewhere on the miko's body, and he felt pushed to find it before she caught his eyes searching up and down the length of her form. Though, it wasn't long until she was ripped from his sight as she darted out of the hut, leaving the bamboo weaving flapping helplessly behind to sweep away his needs.

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The crisp branches flung themselves out at the miko, try as it would to dampen her peppy mood, nothing scratched the surface. His face kept on that smile, his smile made her smile. Even if he was back in that hut, grumbling endlessly against the wall with a frown, the smiles of times before crawled into her mind.

Her pale hands darted down to snatch fallen sticks, lumps of dried wood, and dead leaves to dump as a pile in her frail arms. She weaved around trees, the sudden dark and denseness of the forest not yet prying it's way into the happy go lucky girl's mind. But what could? What could finally throw a soggy blanket over that ball of sunshine in her smile, her eyes, her feet that helped her prance along the dark forest floor?

A sharp snap rang several times after through the emptiness of the dark forest and several times after that in Kagome's alert ears. A cold sensation rushed through her, from her head to her toes, tingling along it's trail. Her smile dropped dead from her lips, her widened chocolate eyes flitting wildly around the darkness. Her dream shot into mind and fear held grasp over her throat.

She shook wildly, the dry and cracking sticks she had gathered were gripped roughly in her arms, though forgotten as her eyes continued to flit around. Her legs trembled wildly though she was standing still. It was like they were urging her to run, run, run and never look back to see her pursuer.

'It was just a snap. A raccoon. A bear? No. Just a squirrel, right. Why should I be so scared?'

The cold tingling flooded out of her body, her legs slowly steadying as she turned in a short circle to glance around her. Everything was so dark, so eerie. She could barely see two feet in front of her. The air was cold, frigid, almost, with it's icy claws around her neck. She swore she could see her breath in the pitch black ahead of her.

Her weary brown eyes searched ahead of her, weaving around trees that seemed to lurch themselves down to her now. Nothing, nothing. There was nothing there! But she wouldn't rest until she heard complete silence, until she was sure she was alone. So she searched, small, cautious, breathes leaving her throat.

Black, black, black, trees, bush, black, tree, black. Breath. SNAP!

A quick whimper stole from Kagome's throat before she could stop it. It wasn't long before her body began to tremble with the sudden cold of fear and panic. Her eyes swam around, drowning in the darkness. Her lips trembled, her eyes watered, her feet stumbled over nothing but air as her eyes helplessly, hopelessly, searched for a light or a way out of the horror she felt for something she couldn't see.

A sharp, horrified scream pierced the blanket of darkness as stick after stick after leaf and log crashed to the dead grass below. A loud, clear, sob pushed through as Kagome's hands flung out to clasp over her mouth to stifle in the screams. Her knees nearly buckled, the only thing that still kept her standing on shaky legs.

And there the follower stood, eyes narrowed and dark, daring the girl to take another step. Their body was nearly completely concealed in the pitch black of the shady trees. It was hard to make out the features that made up the semi stalker's face, but Kagome could tell. She knew exactly who had been following her, watching her carefully in a whistling silence.

"Kikyou?"

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Yes, I know. Another 'OMG! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ACTUALLY THAT PERSON WITH THE ENDING CLIFFY OF A PERSON SAYING THE OTHER SURPRISE PERSON'S NAME' ending.

Sorry. I know, I know. It's bad. BUT I LOVE YOU PEOPLE! You all are so sweet! I saw your page, little-miss-inu, and I will love you forever because of it...I really will.

Thank you all, you've really been a huge and great inspiration and I hope you liked this chapter and continue to like the remainder of my story. I just can't believe it's nearly over! Well...for me...or, to me...because I'm the one writing it, so I'm sure it seems shorter...cuz I know what's s'posed to happen and whatnot.

Check out my page for some new pics, btw!

Anyway, before I start to ramble...I should go and get on with the next chapter...heh...you'll go crazy for this one. Bring tissues!