AN: Well folks, here goes another fic, and getting bolder in my attempts. So, if it sucks major, don't hesitate to tell me to nip it in the bud! Anyway, I hope it doesn't and that it's enjoyable. Suggestions and reviews always welcome as usual! Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: (sighs) I don't own inuyasha

"Come on, quit being lazy and get up!" Inuyasha called to his sleeping comrades. The sun was just beginning to shed light on the gray shapes of the mountains in the distance. "We need supplies, and it's gonna take us all day to reach the next village!" he told them.

"Look who got up on the wrong side of the tree." Shippo grumbled as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Quit your yappin' and hurry up." Inuyasha said, turning his attention to the sunrise in the distance.

"He must be really impatient to get started." Kagome thought as she rolled up her sleeping bag. Usually, Shippo's comment would have earned him a good bonk on the head at least. She wondered to herself if something else was bothering him. With Inuyasha, it was always hard to tell.

"Now Inuyasya, I wouldn't worry too much if I were you." Miroku said. "The day should be pleasantly warm, and since we're traveling so light, the journey shouldn't be overly taxing. Is there any reason why you're so eager to reach the next village by nightfall?" he asked, giving voice to Kagome's question.

"I'm just sick of listening to you all complain about eating fish every night." he said. "Now let's get a move on."

"Kirara and I are ready." Sango said. "Are we sure we have everything?" Everyone checked to make sure everything was in order and set out in the direction of the brightening sky. Kagome quickened a few steps and caught up with Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, is everything alright?" she asked. She looked closely at his face; nothing seemed amiss, he just looked rather determined and pensive as though he was thinking very hard about something. She tried to remember the previous night. What cycle was the moon in? Of course! Tonight was the night of the new moon.

"Are you hoping we can stay in a village tonight since it's the new moon?" she asked after a moment.

"Yeah." Inuyasha said quietly. "It's better if we can keep away from danger tonight. I obviously won't be much use to you if we're attacked." he said, slight disdain edging his voice. "We don't have time for this." he offered, in a rare display of open conversation. "There are only a few jewel shards left, and we have to get to them before Naraku does."

"Don't worry." Kagome said cheerfully. "We will. Just don't worry about that today, ok?"

"Hm." was Inuyasha's only reply, but he turned and looked at Kagome, giving her a hint of a smile. He was really glad that Kagome was with them. She always kept the outlook bright; he wondered sometimes if he could have come so far without her. Deep down, he knew the answer.

The group traveled on and made good time just as Miroku had predicted. The sun was barely sinking when they saw the next village in the distance that evening, a small hamlet at the base of a high hill. A somewhat weathered looking castle sat atop the hill, and Kagome wondered to herself when they saw it if anyone even lived in it. Just as the sun was setting, they entered the village, where everyone seemed to be in a hurry to get indoors for the night. The headman approached them warily.

"What is your business here, strangers?" he asked, regarding them with a narrow gaze.

"I assure you, there is no need to worry my good sir." Miroku told him, stepping to the head of the group. This was, of course, his specialty. "We are but mere travelers, passing through and in need of lodging for the night. Is there anywhere we can stay, if you would be so kind?" he asked politely and humbly."We are also in need of supplies, if you have any to spare. If you could find it in your heart, I am certain I could bless your village to ensure it's future prosperity." he suggested.

The headman stood for a moment in contemplation, then agreed. He lead them to his own home, which was only a little more spacious than those belonging to the rest of the villagers. As they entered, Inuyasha noticed the frightened expressions of the villagers as they hurried inside and shut their doors. Once inside the headman's house, they were greeted with some soup and rice by two small children. The boy seemed to be around eleven, and the girl close to nine. Their mother sat tending the fire.

"Please forgive my husband's unease." she told them after they settled in. "Things have not been going well in our village for some time."

"There's an awful demon that comes out at night and carries people away!" the little girl said, her eyes big. "We hear it at night up at the old castle too!" she told them.

"That's enough, Hana!" her mother scolded, passing the guests a nervous look. "She's very imaginative for her age." she explained anxiously.

The rest of the evening passed in silence, and after they had eaten, the lady of the house showed them the extra room where they would be sleeping. After good nights were said and the family was in bed, Inuyasha sat against the far wall, intending to stand guard through the night. After what he had seen in the village and the little girl's words, he suspected she wasn't far from the truth if at all.

"Are you thinking about what Hana said earlier?" Kagome asked, sliding over next to him and sitting down as well.

Inuyasha nodded reluctantly, when he saw that she wasn't going to let the subject pass. He had hoped everyone would fall asleep and the night would pass in peace, but he thought it best if he stayed up just in case. Not that it would do much good if a demon did attack, the thought to himself.

"You should try and get some sleep." he told Kagome, hoping that she wouldn't want to discuss it any further.

"We're all here to help each other out Inuyasha." she told him. "We've got Sango and Kirara, Miroku's wind tunnel, and I'm not such a bad shot with my bow either." she reminded him. "You don't need to worry; why don't you try and get some sleep too?" she asked.

"You know I don't sleep on nights like this." he told her, turning to look out the window into the black of the night.

Kagome sighed and went back to her sleeping bag. She would be glad when morning was here and they could get their supplies, and things would be back to normal. She wasn't asleep for very long when she awoke to the sounds of clamor outside the hut. She could hear the villagers running by and some calling out something about a demon. She snapped awake and looked around at the others, who were waking up as well.

Once everyone was up, they raced outside to see what was happening. A few of the huts had been destroyed, and a giant flesh eating demon not unlike the one in Jinenji's village rose up from the debris of one of them, holding a small child by the leg with one of its arms. Sango raced for Hiraikotsu, but the demon was quick and raced toward the castle before she could make it back out of the hut. She and Miroku pursued it on Kirara's back while Inuyasha and Kagome followed on foot.

Once there, the flesh eating demon hid inside the abandoned castle, with only the small boy's crying to lead them to where it was. Everyone hurried in the direction of the sound, and soon found it in the castle's shrine room. Sango struck first with Hiraikotsu, but even in the cramped quarters, the beast managed to dodge. Some of the castle came crumbling down with the attack. Kagome looked around for where the demon had gone, and noticed something strange in the corner of the room. There seemed to be a door in one corner of the room, with a large seal covering it.

Suddenly the flesh eating demon wheeled toward Kagome, and she instinctively sent an arrow in it's direction. This attack missed as well, and the arrow stuck fast in the door she had noticed. Everyone's concentration was on the flesh eating demon, however, who burst through the wall and out onto the castle grounds. Kagome shot at it again, taking out part of it's side and freeing the little boy, whom Kirara safely caught. But, Kagome was off balance and the flesh eating demon saw it's chance to strike. It barreled toward her, and she was unable to get her footing enough to flee in time. She cringed, but nothing happened.

She looked up and the flesh eating demon was falling to pieces in front of her. She looked quickly in Sango's direction. Sango had Hiraikotsu poised and ready to strike, but instead of attacking she stood agape. There, standing where the demon had been, was someone else. It was dark, and hard to make out their appearance.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome thought, but no, it couldn't be. Inuyasha was beside her now, staring at the newcomer as well. They moved closer. Even in the dark, they could tell it was a man, and his hair was. . .silver. His eyes glowed red for a moment, then faded. The villagers were approaching now, torches in hand to try and find the missing boy, who was still with Kirara, too frightened to move.

"Who was it?" the man asked, his voice low and somewhat dangerous. "Who was it that freed me?"