The Dust – Part One

AN:  Aw man, I didn't want to write this but he made me (and you know who you are *glares at him*). Please go easy on my first tyr (no I actually want you all to be cruel. Please be cruel to me!!!!!!!!!!) Here it goes...

Edited by Jeff and Meredith (even though all they did was A. change my whole story and B. slap me for not finishing. But they deserve credit, too.* Gives Jeff and Meredith evil grin*)

     “I hadn’t been slapped like that in a long time” Miroku thought to himself, issuing a long sigh as he walked away from a fuming Sango. 
     

    "Why does he keep doing that?" Inuyasha thought aloud, voicing the same thoughts as the others. It had been three years since Naraku’s death, and the six friends have been doing much the same thing they’ve always done, helping people. Inuyasha stared intently into the fire, thinking to himself, as he had been doing most nights. Miroku was off to the side, rubbing his face where Sango’s red hand print was left. Shippo and Kirara were off in the wilds, doing their own thing (I’m not suggesting that they are doing anything!! So if you believe that Kirara is a boy don’t flame me!!!). 
    

     The moon was full casting a light glow on the campsite; the trees were swaying slightly with the wind. The stars seemed endless, each one giving off its own distinct glow. Kagome and Sango were enjoying the warm water of the lake a few feet from camp, looking at the stars, and just enjoying the night sky. The moment was ruined as Kagome heard rustling in the bushes. She got ready to scream for Inuyasha when Sango hushed her; grabbing a towel and her boomerang from the packs they left by the shore. When she reached the bush, her eyes widened with surprise, and anger.
    

     "LECHER!!!!" she screamed, slapping Miroku for the second time this night. "Why does he always do this and ruin a perfect evening?" Asking the question to particularly no one, bringing stifled giggles from Kagome. 
  

       The girls returned to camp, fully dressed. The scent of Kagome drew Inuyasha from his contemplations. 
  

       "Where’s Shippo?" Kagome asked
    

     "And Kirara?" added Sango
    

     "Off someplace wasting time, like always." Inuyasha replied with his usual edge of attitude. The two sat down, Kagome taking note of Inuyasha’s normal attitude. She couldn’t help but notice something different in Inuyasha. He had seemed different ever since the battle with Naraku. She began fixing some Ramen, knowing that Inuyasha gets cranky when he’s hungry, and thinking he may feel better with a full stomach. But of course, he couldn’t wait, and kept up comments like "Is it done yet women?" and "I’m hungry, can’t you cook any faster?” She had gotten used to comments like that from him, knowing it’s his own weird way of hiding that he cared. Everyone had gotten so used to each other, that it seemed impossible to imagine life without them all together. 
    

     "What goes through that monks head!?! I mean why does he always do the things he does?" Sango continued to ponder, but was soon brought out of thought by the smell of well cooked Ramen.
    

     "Whose hungry?" asked Kagome cheerfully!
    

     Of course, Inuyasha piped in with, "Here girl, I’m hungry." But Kagome ignored him, filling a bowl for Sango, and the now approaching Miroku.
    

     "Thanks Kagome." Sango said happily, taking the bowl.
    

     "Thank you Kagome." Miroku said, taking a seat, and the offered bowl. Edging away from the glaring Sango.
    

     She then began to hand Inuyasha his bowl but stopped and said, "What do you say?"
    

     He sighed and mumbled, "Thanks Kagome" 
    

     It was strangely quiet around the camp, like everyone had something on their minds, but was too afraid to say it. They were all brought out of their inner thoughts by Inuyasha’s sudden movements. Inuyasha’s ears began to twitch. He stood up, sticking his nose into the air. He motioned for the others to get ready. There was a demon near by. The wind blew a bit harder, and as they looked at the expecting visage on Inuyasha’s face, they knew it was headed straight for them. 
    

     Inuyasha drew Tetsaiga (I think that’s how it’s spelled) and moved closer to Kagome; grasping it in both hands, he activated it. Kagome grabbed her bow, and drew an arrow from her quiver, getting ready. Sango lifted her boomerang, and rested the unusually large weapon, on her back, fully comfortable of its weight. Miroku took his staff in hand, though he lost his wind tunnel with the death of Naraku, he was very formidable with his staff. They prepared to spring, but found no reason. The demon swept passed throwing some sort of strange dust on the whole group and raced away incredibly fast. 
    

     "What was that?" Kagome asked
    

     "Beats me, the thing flew too fast for me to get a good view." Inuyasha responded, trying futilely to wipe the dust off of him.
    

     "Did you get a good view Miroku? Since viewing is all you’re good for." Sango asked sarcastically, trying to get the dust out as well.
    

     Miroku opened his mouth to make a remark, but closed it, thinking it better to avoid another slap. "The demon is not my concern; at the moment, what I’m worried about, is what this dust is" Miroku said, letting the thought hang.
    

     The friends began inspecting each other, Sango taking special care at watching Miroku closely as he "inspected" her. They found nothing wrong, and decided not to worry themselves about it. But the side effects wouldn’t take hold until they were all at rest. Their lives would be drastically altered in the morning. Everything, from the way they talked, to the way they thought; would be altered by morning…