A/N: Here's the second installment for this Hidden Power this week. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Hey, I don't own Inuyasha. Rumiko-san does, which means she has the fame, fortune, recognition, and millions of fans that read the manga and watch the show. However if I did own Inuyasha, I would have all these things.

Hidden Power: Silver Moon Vampiress

Chapter 11: Resolution

The smell of a hearty stew simmering on a robust fire, filled Kaede's hut, and drew a deep grumble from Kagome's stomach. She stirred the thick gravy, vegetables and rabbit meat, ladling a bit of it for her to taste. Flavor exploded on her tongue, and she savored the tenderness of the meat and vegetables, noting how well they seemed to draw in the seasoning. She stirred it one last time, before replacing the top, and settling back on her haunches. She drew her forearm across her sweaty brow and looked up to find everyone hard at work cleaning the hut, and preparing their makeshift table—courtesy of Sango's remarkable craftsmanship skills—with a table cloth and dishes she brought from her era. Kaede even went through the trouble of picking a colorful arrangement of flowers from her garden, which sat in a clay vase at the center.

Kagome stood, stretching her body from head to toe, before going over to the others to help setup the remaining places at the table. It occurred to her as she was setting down the last bowl and spoon, that they were missing one member of their quarry.

"Has anyone seen Inuyasha?"

"Not since we left the clearing earlier," Miroku said, smoothing a wrinkle in the tablecloth.

"Oh . . . that's odd . . . Anyway, dinner's ready."

Despite her anxiety about Inuyasha's sudden disappearance, Kagome could no longer ignore the pressing demands of her growling stomach. She served herself some of the hearty stew, helping herself to one of the sweet rolls Kaede had baked earlier that day. Though her stomach demanded she eat with fervor, her mind wandered, drawing her away from her place at the table to Inuyasha and his whereabouts.

Her mind returned to the moment they shared in the clearing—eyes locked, body contact made, intensity sharp, tangible. Something had changed between them then, but she wasn't sure if it had been for the better, especially considering his notable absence. He'd been on the verge of divulging something, and from the way he attempted to escape from her, she knew it was important.

Perhaps I drove him away with my persistence—when I reached out to him . . .?

She briefly wondered if she had overstepped her bounds, but shoved the thought aside. He couldn't honestly expect her to simply walk away when his eyes burned with an intensity she didn't recognize—one that filled her with a burning curiosity. It held a sense of urgency that called to her, and made her want to strip away the layers of his guard, and discover what he was too afraid to share. She clung to the hope that one day he would open up to her completely, without any outside factors influencing him, such as poisoning, a severe injury or the press of seemingly imminent death. Those times were novelties that she cherished, yet she couldn't shake the distinct feeling that they were forced, like prying open the petals of a late-blooming flower—to do so would mean the destruction of its beauty.

And that was just it. Part of the beauty, the mystery, the undeniable appeal of Inuyasha was that he was guarded. However, when he let down his guard—not in a moment of weakness, but of his own volition—it was like witnessing the sun rise over the crest of a mountain, making the snow shine like so many crystals; it was natural and potent in its simplistic beauty. Kagome wanted to be the one that he opened up to; she wanted him to trust her enough to do so, like he once trusted Kikyo.

Thoughts of the undead woman—Inuyasha's lover in another life, and one of the sources of his protective guard—brought on a heap of sadness, tinged with resentment.

How can I ever compete with her, when she and Inuyasha share a history deeper and far more meaningful?

Kagome drew her tea cup to her lips, careful not to disturb its contents and took a sip of her green tea. She was vaguely aware of the drone of conversation about her, but lacked the motivation to join in the chatter. Her brow furrowed, and a frown formed on her lips as she set her cup down on the table.

What if he's with Kikyo now . . .?

Her heart broke at this, and suddenly the feast before her seemed unappetizing.

"Excuse me . . ."

She stood, paying no heed to her friends' the perplexed looks. Air; she needed air. The soft breeze was a welcome comfort as she leaned against the side of the hut. She strained to keep her tears at bay, but they came despite her efforts.

Who am I kidding . . .? I'll never be able to replace Kikyo. No matter how close I get to him . . .

The tears came stronger this time, and Kagome buried her face in her hands, fighting the sobs that swelled in her chest. She jumped when a warm hand landed on her shoulder, comfort oozing from the gesture. She brushed away her tears with the backs of her wrists, looking up only when she felt her face no longer held traces of her misery.

"Are you all right, Kagome?" Miroku's hand remained on her shoulder.

Kagome, wanted to lie, she really did, but the anguish assailing her heart would not ease. She needed a friend—some genuine comfort from someone who understood her pain.

"No," she said at last, unconsciously leaning into his touch.

She expected the moment to be ruined by Miroku's penchant for lechery, but he remained ever the supportive, respectable friend, and she was grateful for that. Silence filled the night around them, but both were content with it, soaking in the nighttime sounds, which intrigued the imagination and soothed the soul.

"I'm worried about Inuyasha. I'm afraid I've driven him away somehow . . ."

"Why would you say that?"

Kagome's eyes found the ground, hesitant to voice her concerns, yet at the same time bursting with the need to divulge them.

"He tried to tell me something today—something important, that much I know. But he stopped himself, and quickly withdrew from me. I-I wanted—no demanded—he tell me, but not in a forceful way . . . I mean—I don't know . . . I think I messed things up somehow."

"And how would you know that, Kagome?" Miroku withdrew his hand from her shoulder and used it to lift her chin.

"Because . . . Because he's not here now—and I'm worried, so very worried, that he may not come back . . ." She shook her head as though to clear up the meaning of her words before continuing. "I don't mean in the physical sense . . . I mean he may not come back to me emotionally . . . I'm afraid I may have destroyed what little progress I've made in getting him to trust me, to let down his guard and open up. I-I'm afraid that he's . . ."

Returned to Kikyo . . .

She didn't voice the last as her tears sprang up and a fresh new pain centered in on her heart. She had little time to react as Miroku drew her to him, taking her in a comforting embrace; it was warm and just what she needed in that moment.

"You don't know that," he said as he gently stroked her hair. "Inuyasha's a complicated man, and has endured a great amount of emotional betrayal and pain in the past. I hardly believe that you've destroyed your chances of gaining Inuyasha's trust. Just give him some time then take it from there."

Kagome buried her face deeper into his chest, and he held her close for a while longer before stepping away with an awkward cough.

"I'm pretty sure Inuyasha would lob my head off for hugging you just now, so it's best we keep this between us."

Kagome gave him a watery smile, brushing her remaining tears away. "Thanks, Miroku."

"Yeah, well . . . That's what friends are for, right?" He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, clearly uncomfortable with the situation now that the moment had passed. "Why don't you clean your face in the stream out back, and I'll go and see if I can find Inuyasha?"

Kagome nodded, and headed in the direction of the stream, feeling the weight lift from her heart with each step. She stopped at the water's edge, examining her reflection before dipping her cupped hands in the still surface to gather the cool liquid in her palms.

Miroku's right. Inuyasha will come around; I just have to give him some time.

She splashed the water on her face, dried it with the bottom of her shirt, and surveyed her reflection one last time before returning to Kaede's hut. As soon as she stepped over the threshold, Shippo launched himself at her, clinging to her neck tightly.

"Kagome, are you okay?" His eyes filled with tears. "I was worried about you!"

"We all were," Sango said, joining the two in the doorway.

"I'm fine, really." Kagome forced a smile, if only to ease their worry.

Sango quirked an eyebrow, but refrained from questioning her, much to Kagome's relief. She set Shippo down on the ground and went over to dig in her bag.

"Where's Miroku, Kagome?" Sango asked from the other side of the room.

"Out looking for Inuyasha," she said without turning.

Kagome gave a cry, and pulled out a deck of cards. "Who wants to play Go Fish?"

Matching blank stares met her inquiry.

Forty-minutes and four games later, Miroku had yet to return with Inuyasha, and this had Kagome anxious.

What if something happened to them . . .?

At the completion of game five, Kagome's mind was running in tight circles of needless anxiety. No matter how much she told herself they were fine, her mind came back with a rebuttal that sent her pulse skyrocketing.

"Who's up for game six?" Sango collected the cards from everyone and shuffled them.

Sango had been on winning streak for four games straight, and of course she wanted to continue playing. Shippo yawned, plopping down, a clear indicator he was out. Kaede nodded once; she was in. Kagome was surprised to find that the older woman had a bit of a competitive streak; she smiled despite the knot of worry forming in stomach.

"I guess I'm in too," she said, stretching for a moment. "We're going to need some tea if we're going to continue. I'll be right back."

Kagome grabbed the wooden basin at the door and travelled to the stream where she had washed her face. She filled it to just above halfway, and carried it back, careful not to slosh the contents onto her hands. Just as she was about to round the side of the hut, she heard voices.

Inuyasha . . . Miroku . . . They're back!

She was just about to round the corner and greet them, but paused at the sound of Inuyasha's voice; perhaps it was urgency and despondency with which his words left him that left her frozen there, breath held as she listened.

"With Kagome's new powers I feel completely useless. Her new abilities have put me completely out of the job protecting her."

"You don't know that, Inuyasha. She has yet to master her abilities, and therefore stills need you there by her side."

"Yeah, and what about when she manages to master them?" Inuyasha's voice warmed with anger, making the question both vicious and accusatory.

There was a pause, one that sent Kagome's heart in her throat as she strained to hear the last of his words.

"I . . . I fear that . . ." Inuyasha said quietly, "that once she masters them, she'll no longer need me . . ."

"But you don't know that. Kagome has always been by your side, why would she leave now?"

"I don't know, I don't know! But I do know that with the New Moon only a night away, she'll more than likely be protecting me instead of the other way around."

He paused for a beat, his voice taking on a bit of the despondency that wracked his words earlier in the conversation.

"I'm losing her and there's virtually nothing I can do about it. I-I just wish . . . things could go back to normal . . ."

Kagome leaned against the hut, right palm over her heart, hardly believing what she had just heard. The pain that had abated somewhat after her conversation with Miroku, flared up again, throbbing painfully and incessantly in time with her racing thoughts.

Inuyasha fears me . . . he fears my abilities—just like Kouga . . .

She brought her hand to her mouth as a quiet whimper escaped her, and tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. She dropped the basin of water, and ran; she had to get away from there or her heart would shatter into shards of immeasurable grief. She was blinded by her tears, but knew she was gaining on the location of the well. Home . . . She wanted to go home. Before she knew it, she was over the lip of the well, and crossing eras of time before arriving in her own.

A/N: Whew! Sorry for this late post. I wanted to get this just right, plus it took some time to dredge up ideas for the new direction I've taken this story in. Anyway, in case those of you don't know, I've posted a poll for you guys to vote for the next story I update this week. You have two votes, so make them count! The polls close Tuesday at noon. I'm out!

Silver Moon Vampiress