I slowly open my eyes. For a few moments I'm completely disoriented. Yesterday's events slowly bubble into my memory.

I look around to see Miroku, Sango, Kaede and Shippo all sleeping around me. I lift myself up; I'm a little light headed but otherwise fine. Grabbing my bow and arrow, I tip toe out of the small house.

The cool air sends a chill down my spine. But being that this is my first time outside since I've woken up, the air feels refreshing. I look up at the sky, loving how every star in it is visible.

"It must be two or three in the morning," I whisper to myself as I walk over to a nice practice area. Not that I care it's that early. I didn't want to go to sleep but the others practically forced me to.

I pull out my bow and line my arrow up aiming for a nearby tree. I know I need practice. To my surprise, when I let go of the bow it hit the spot with perfect accuracy. After that I try to hit trees farther away. Soon my body goes on auto pilot as my mind begins to wander.

Where is Inuyasha? He must be sleeping in some tree somewhere. But usually he stays close by. I sigh. Sooner or later I'm going to have to ask him about the Kikyou situation. I sure am not looking forward to that conversation.

"So I was out for six months, huh?" I find myself saying out loud. "I wonder what happened when I was asleep. I mean look at Shippo he seem bigger now."

"Maybe you just think that cause he nearly gave you a heart attack," I hear someone say behind me.

I turn around to see Inuyasha.

"What are you doing awake?" He asks accusingly.

"I've been sleeping for the last six months I don't think I can take another hour," I reply defensively.

Inuyasha sighs. "You really shouldn't be outside while everyone's asleep, though," he says and then adds when he looks around at all the trees I attacked, "lets pick up your arrows and then go back inside."

We go over to the trees and slowly start to pull the arrows out. I realize how Inuyasha seems to keep a bit of distance between us.

"Hey Inuyasha," I ask, "what are you doing awake?"

He pauses before answering. "How could I sleep with you blabbering on to yourself."

I blush and turn away. I didn't think I was that loud. Actually, the more I think about it the more I realize that this is probably a cover up. I guess this could be the perfect time to ask him about Kikyou.

Inuyasha walks over to me and hands me the rest of the arrows. He then retreats to the village. I guess I'm supposed to be following but I don't. I just stand there and watch, waiting for him to turn around so I can ask.

Finally he is aware that I'm not behind him. "Kagome?" He calls. I remember. I don't know how it slipped my mind because before I left it was all I could think about. He left me for Kikyou he didn't want to be with me anymore. He told me to leave. Then the well didn't work. That is why I had made the wish but then why is he here and not with Kikyou.

"Inuyasha, what happened with you and Kikyou while I was asleep?" I ask hoping that my voice wouldn't give out.

He sighs not facing me. "I'll tell you later but right now isn't a good time… you and I should sleep."

"Fine go sleep but I'm staying right here," I sit down determined not to move.

"Kagome," Inuyasha growls, "you get up right now."

"Nope I'm not going to, not unless you tell me about Kikyou and you," I smile knowing I'm being childish but still hoping it'll work.

"I told you not right now, later," he mumbles the later part but I hear it. Inuyasha finally walks over and sits beside me.

My heart flutters because of our closeness. I don't want to think about that right now. I want to know if my dream within a dream is true or not.

"Why not? It's a perfect time everyone's asleep. We've got hours to talk about it," I complain.

"No. You've learned so much already and you need time to just sort that out before I give you a whole other story for you to think about," Inuyasha says in a voice that tells me that this conversation is over.

"Fine," I sigh.

"Now let's go," he says getting up.

"You go, I'm staying here. It's not like I'm going to sleep anyway," I say determined not to have him win all the way. He may not be telling me about Kikyou yet but that doesn't mean he can get me to move.

"Why do you have to be so stubborn all the time?" Inuyasha says clearly annoyed.

"I'm not being stubborn, you're being stubborn."

"Just get up."

"No."

"Kagome, get up now."

"No, I'm not going to, OK?"

I guess I have just crossed Inuyasha's line because he goes over and throws me over his shoulder.

"Then I guess I'll have to move you myself," Inuyasha says. I can hear the smile in his voice even if I can't see it.

I hide my happiness that I'm actually touching him and try to act angry. "Inuyasha, let me down," I yell banging my fists on his back.

"Hey, you asked for it," he says.

"Why do you even care that I'm out there anyway?" I ask.

"Cause if demons go and eat you I'm pretty sure the others are going to hold me responsible," Inuyasha says.

I sigh and just let him carry me where ever he is taking me.

"Do you want to go back inside?" He finally asks after ten minutes of walking in silence.

"Nope, I don't want to fall asleep. I can't," I reply stubbornly.

"Fine then you'll just sleep with me," he says just as stubbornly.

My face flushes red. Luckily, Inuyasha can't see it. I start my struggling to get out of his iron grip.

"Whoever said I would want to sleep with you!" I shout twisting and pounding my fists on his back.

"Shut up, Kagome. Do you want everyone else to wake up to," Inuyasha whispers just as we pass the Kaede's little house.

Inuyasha walks up to a nearby tree and adjusts me so that I'm on his back. Then he jumps. It feels like my stomach flies into my throat. I cling to him trying my best not to freak out. I've done this before but it has been six months since I've been on his back while he jumps high distances. We land on a branch and he jumps again to a higher, bigger looking branch. He stops but I'm still holding onto him as hard as I can not wanting to fall.

"You can let go now the trips over," he says.

I slowly let go making sure my feet land perfectly on the branch. Just as I think I have my balance I begin to tilt. Inuyasha grabs my elbow and leads me to the start of the branch so I can rest on the trunk.

I slowly sit down feeling a little shaky.

"Now go to sleep," he commands once he is sitting right beside on the branch.

"Go to sleep!" I exclaim, "If I couldn't sleep in the house how on earth do you think I'll be able to sleep here!" I realize I had been yelling. Inuyasha can be so stupid sometimes. I'm up more than a hundred meters and he's sitting right by me. I don't see how I can sleep in this situation.

Inuyasha seems surprisingly patient. "Please try to sleep. I promise that if you are about to fall or falling I'll save you, now close your eyes."

I sigh and do as he asks. To my surprise I realize how tired I really am. I guess freaking out took all my energy away. Slowly, I drift off to sleep.

Next thing I know I'm falling.