The night has begun to still when the brothers make their way back down the hill.

Kagome watches them closely. The bonfire has already begun to wane, the previous roar of flames diminished to a dull crackle, but the residual light is still enough to catch the amber orbs of the inuyoukai.

There is a new lightness in Inuyasha's as he sets sight on all his friends. The burden that has always followed him seems to have vanished in only minutes. But Sesshoumaru…

Eyes like refined gold catch hers, and behind the passive façade, she sees only one thing.

Brokenness.