A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, I've been really busy with my kids, and between that and writers block, it took a while to get this chapter right. Updates should be more frequent now though. I'm hoping to have ch 8 up in a few more days, just got to edit and refine a bit. Thanks for sticking with me, it means a lot to me. please R&R let me know what you think and if you have any ideas, let me know, I will make sure I give credit for any ideas I use! ^_^
- CHAPTER 7 -
It was about noon when we crossed the river. we decided to set out right away upon finding the village had been trampled by the Boar in its search for us. I rested my head on Inuyasha's shoulder and closed my eyes, thinking about what Kaede said before we left.
"Do you see it Lady Kaede?" I asked quietly, holding out the jewel fragments for her inspection. Inuyasha waited outside the hut while the others gathered supplies for what would be a long journey.
"Aye, Child. The Shikon-no-Tama has changed, although only the aura shows us the difference." She inspected them closely taking care not to touch them. "Beware, Its powers may have changed as well. Until we know how much is different, exercise caution." She gently closed my hand around the shards and said slightly louder. "Inuyasha, you were listening were you not?"
Inuyasha stepped inside the hut and shrugged, "Naturally"
"Ye must take care to not let this new jewel take over. It not only seams more powerful but also exceedingly more evil. This new jewel can't be corrupted further because of its new nature. It seems as if Naraku put some of his own powers into the jewel before it broke. Of course I can only guess but ye still must be cautious."
"You all right" Inuyasha quietly asked me over his shoulder as we got into a small forest. " You seem quiet."
"Just tired" I yawned, hiding a small smile at his concern. I'd noticed he always acted so tough but when it's just the two of us he was usually pretty sweet.
"I smell a hot spring nearby, we can stop there for the night." He slowed down a bit.
I nodded my appreciation. "If I tell you a secret, you won't laugh will you?" I asked in what I hoped was an off-handed sort of way.
"I wont laugh, what's really bothering you?" He stopped and let me down so he could look at me.
"I... I'm really scared, but I don't really know why. I... I think... I think it has something to do with this new jewel." I stared at his feet to hide my embarrassment.
"Hey," He took my chin and made me look into his eyes. " You know I'll protect you right?"
"Hey, Kagome! Inuyasha! Why did you stop? Did you find something?" Shippo bounded towards us and jumped onto my shoulder. "Is everything alright?" he asked.
"Fine, fine. Go tell Sango and Miroku we are going to stop by the hot-springs ahead for the night." Inuyasha shooed him off and looked at me for another second unsuccessfully hiding the troubled look in his eyes before taking my hand and beginning to walk slower then he usually would have.
"I've been thinking..." He started slowly, before being interrupted again by Sango and Miroku landing with Kirara just behind us. He rolled his eyes and whispered "I'll tell you about it later."
Sango looked back and forth between us for a moment before realizing they interrupted something private, Miroku on the other hand either didn't notice anything at all, or just didn't care because he walked up and clapped Inuyasha on the shoulder. "Shall we get a camp setup? The springs are just beyond those trees there." He pointed straight ahead.
Inuyasha looked back at me one last time before following Miroku into the brush.