Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha or any of the characters from the show. (All hail Rumiko Takahashi)! But I do own Serena!

Once again, I really can't apologize enough for the lateness of this…I know I promised updates MUCH sooner than this, but the last of summer kind of got away from me, and then there was the bustle of starting school again…I'm REALLY sorry, and I hope you'll forgive me...

Chapter 3 – New Moon

I can't believe he really just left like that… Serena stared into the flames of the campfire, her legs drawn up to her chest and her chin resting on top of her knees. Her friends were sitting around it on the other side, so she could watch them talk even though she didn't really care about what they were saying at the moment. She caught mention of her name but turned her head to look at the setting sun when Kagome glanced over at her.

Once she felt her cousin's gaze shift, Serena turned her attention back to the fire. The flames licked at the wood, sparks flying from them, and she suddenly felt like joining them. I feel just like a piece of that kindling…burning, consumed by the fire, by the pain… Serena shook her head a bit. I'm being overdramatic again…I just miss Koga…

Just beyond the fire sat Sango and Miroku, sitting cross-legged and very near to each other. If Serena hadn't known better, she would've said that they were being romantic, but she could hear their voices over the cackle of the blaze. They were hushed whispers, but still heavy with anger. Sango kept glancing over at her and Serena was beginning to suspect that she was the focus of their argument. I didn't think I liked him this much, but when he left it was like something tore a huge hole in me…like my heart had been ripped apart.

A surprising smile graced Serena's lips as she let her eyes wander over to where Shippo and Kirara lay. They were curled together, nuzzled in the warmth of each other's fur, sleeping despite the argument beside them. Why didn't he want me with him? He said it was to keep me safe, but I'm no safer here either…Inu-Yasha's just as determined to get to Naraku as Koga is…maybe more so, because of all that beast has done to them.

Speaking of arguments, Inu-Yasha and Kagome seemed to be fighting as well, although this time Serena knew for certain that it was about her. She kept hearing Kagome say Koga's name and figured that her cousin was yelling at Inu-Yasha for his earlier conduct towards them both. Was he lying? Is he just getting tired of me? We've only been "together" for about three weeks…He doesn't even really know me that well…

Kagome seemed to be really angry at the dog-demon; her hair was flying wildly around her face as she yelled and her chocolate brown eyes almost seemed to be throwing daggers at Inu-Yasha. While Serena stared, her cousin's voice seemed to be getting louder and even angrier. Her throat strained and she had risen to her feet so she could yell downward at Inu-Yasha. I really didn't think I cared about him so deeply…I feel closer to him in just the short time I've known him than I've felt with people I've known for years.

The half-demon had gotten smart and wasn't saying anything to Kagome; he just stared up at her and nodded at her words, a look of near-fear plastered on his face. Serena struggled not to laugh, surprised to see such horror on his face inflicted by her cousin. I'm so comfortable around him and I don't want to lose that…I don't want to lose him…

What drew Serena's attention to the fight more than the volume of her cousin was Inu-Yasha's appearance. Instead of the silver and gold that had captivated her in the forest, she found herself staring at startling black hair and violet eyes. It had been quite a shock when she noticed the changes moments ago, but then she had remembered that Kagome had told her about how the new moon affected Inu-Yasha. I can't believe I feel like this already…I didn't really believe in love at first sight, but maybe life really could happen like those sappy romance movies sometimes…

Looking up into the sky, she saw the first stars of the night beginning to twinkle at her and she let another smile come to the surface. The moon was nowhere to be seen and she knew that was why Inu-Yasha looked so odd. Then her mind fell back into reality. I've only known him for three weeks and I already think I'm falling for him…I can't believe I love Inu-Yasha…Serena flinched as her own thought echoed ominously through her mind. I mean Koga! I meant to think that I can't believe I love Koga…Didn't I?

Serena leapt up from the log she'd been sitting on, breathing heavily. I didn't really just think that, did I? I don't love him, I can't… Her friends looked up from their respective arguments and she almost couldn't bear the way they were looking at her; their eyes were full of concern and worry. But Inu-Yasha's gaze affected her the most, she found herself staring into his eyes and found them just as captivating as when they were gold. I don't love him…Do I?

"Serena, are you all right?" Kagome's voice, loud and booming only moments earlier, now seemed distant, as if Serena's ears were somehow blocked. Kagome started to walk over to her, but she just took a step back, shaking her head. I…this is all just too much…

"I-I-I…I just…I'm going for a walk." And then she turned on her heel and marched into the forest. She thought she could hear Kagome calling after her, but she just ignored it and kept walking.

------------

"What the hell was that about?"

Kagome sighed, sitting back down on her log and ignoring Inu-Yasha's question. Why didn't she answer me? I know she heard me calling after her…Serena looked really upset…She's probably still hurt over Koga leaving…but then why was she staring at Inu-Yasha?

"Are you gonna answer me, wench!" She sighed again, and turned to the dog-demon, a weary look on her face.

"Sit." With that one word, Inu-Yasha fell forwards off his log and plowed face-first into the ground. He stayed there for a moment, groaning loudly before sitting up and glaring at her.

"What the hell was that for!" He half-shouted, not noticing that Sango and Miroku were staring at them and Shippo was rolling on the ground laughing.

Kagome turned to look out at the nighttime forest, taking in the dark beauty of the surroundings.

"Don't call me wench," she said softly, not even bothering to look at him. She heard a loud "Feh," from Inu-Yasha, then the rustling of his clothing as he turned towards the fire, still sitting on the ground.

For what seemed like hours, the group was silent; the only noise Kagome heard was the cackling of the fire. She just studied the dark horizon, watching as the leaves on the trees outlined by the black sky grew fainter and fainter until she could no longer see them. She sighed deeply, then turned as she felt someone sit beside her.

Sango put a hand on her shoulder, and gazed at her with worried eyes.

"Are you all right, Kagome?" Kagome nodded, then looked past Sango's form to find that Miroku had fallen asleep on one of the logs, and that Shippo was snoring sweetly from on top of Miroku's chest.

"Yeah, I'm all right," she replied softly. Sango raised an eyebrow at her in disbelief and Kagome sighed. "I'm fine…I'm just worried about Serena."

Sango nodded and turned to face the slowly dying fire in front of them.

"I'm a bit concerned about her too…"

"Yeah, it just seems like Koga's leaving really messed her up…" Kagome replied, turning to face the fire as well. Sango's eyes widened a bit.

"Ohhh," she said softly. "…Oh, I'm sure she'll get over it soon…I mean, he is bound to come back eventually…" Kagome nodded in agreement.

"You're right, she'll forgive him…I know she will…" Then something dawned on Kagome and she turned to gaze at her friend. "You weren't worried about her and Koga, were you?"

The demon-exterminator blushed, and shook her head, not wanting to answer.

"Sango…" Kagome prodded and the young woman sighed.

"It's nothing…just forget it…please?" Sango pleaded, staring down at her young friend. Kagome wanted to push her friend and make her talk, but decided to let it go because she'd said please.

"Okay…" They both sat in silence for a long time, staring at the fire until only the dying embers remained, glowing faintly. Sango then got up and started to rebuild the fire and Kagome looked around, finally spying Inu-Yasha sitting on the ground, his back against a tree trunk, and his eyes closed. As the fire started back up, the light from the flames flickered across his face, making his ebony locks glow in an almost ethereal way. Kagome felt a smile cross her lips as she gazed at him. He's so beautiful and peaceful when he's sleeping…At least he can't yell at me in his sleep… Her last thought made her feel grouchy, and then she realized that Serena had been gone awhile. She sighed, then stood up and walked over to Inu-Yasha. Fidgeting nervously with her hands for a few moments, she argued with herself over whether or not she should wake him.

But before she could come to a decision, his right eye opened and glanced up at her.

"What'd you want?" He asked harshly and she frowned.

"Serena's been gone awhile…" She started to say slowly.

"So?" Kagome gritted her teeth, resisting the urge to scream in frustration.

"She has been gone awhile and I was thinking that you might want to go look for her."

He stood up with a "Feh" and folded his arms across his chest, glaring down at her.

"And why exactly does it have to be me?" She rolled her eyes at him.

"Because you know the area best…Besides, you need to apologize for your earlier comments to her…" And with that, Kagome turned on her heel and walked back to her log, leaving him with his mouth hanging open.

Carefully only looking at the fire, the sound of another annoyed "Feh" reached her ears, then she heard the rustle of fabric as he walked into the woods.

"I'll find you're damn cousin, you lazy wench!" He shouted angrily over his shoulder.

"Sit boy," she replied with a smile.

SLAM!

"KAGOME!"

--------------------------------------

I REALLY am hoping to have the next update soon, but I won't list a time frame, since I seem unreliable at those…

But I realized that I actually write better during the school year, because I need some way to escape from the pressure and homework…So hopefully I can have more updates than I have been…

The good thing is, I have this story all planned out, all I need to do is write it down…so…

Just keep your fingers crossed for lots of faster updates…And as a last apologetic gesture, have some virtual brownies…