~~~Inuyasha's Pov~~~

What's that scent?

I quickly turned around to see Ana. She stood there, starring at me with her bright blue eyes. I hadn't seen in her in so long, so when she gave me a smile and called out my name my heart skipped a beat. Her sudden voice caught everyone's attention. "Oh I wish a beautiful goddess such as Ana would call out my name like that!" Miroku said. I was about to knock him upside his head when I felt something warm. I looked down to see Ana with her arms around me. Her body was trembling and I could tell that she was shedding tears for me. "I've missed you so much!" she cried, holding on to me. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into my embrace and whispered in her ear. "I've missed you too."

"Damn...its about time you showed up." a deep voice called out. I turned around, still holding Ana in my arms. A bright light formed from a small sanctuary. "Making me wait so long in here!" the voice called out again. It was then when I realized who it was. The voice belonged to Bankotsu, leader of the band of seven. The bright light shot of the sanctuary and I quickly dodged it, picking up Ana in the process. "This place makes even a human like me feel sick! It must be even more trying for a half demon.." he said with a smug look his face. It was then when his gaze left me directly to something in front of me. He was starring at Ana. "What the hell do you think your doing with her ya mutt!" he yelled. Ana backed away from me and looked at Bankotsu. Neither of them said a word to each other. She looked down then walked over to Shintarou, who was crying from his father's death. She wrapped her arms around him and began rubbing his back gently. "It's all going to be okay.." I heard her whisper. "Did you do all this Bankotsu?" I said getting ready for a fight. He merely gave a quick laugh, "don't look at me. I was only told to wait here..nothing more then that." he said.

"Careful around him Inuyasha! Bankotsu's halberd has sacred jewel shards in it!" Kagome called out.

In the corner of my eye I could clearly see Ana glare at Kagome. "Thats right Inuyasha! It got scarred during our little match the other day so I used the jewel sharps to repair it!" he said raising the huge blade, "Now..lets finish this off Inuyasha!" He ran toward me as I took out my testuiga and did the same. "This time im going to cut you to pieces!" I yelled. "I'll be the one doing the damage half demon!" he responded as our blades clashed.

~~~Ana's Pov~~

I watched as the two fought with all of their strength, which seemed to be slightly less then normal.

Inuyasha is weakened because of the barrier...and even though he tries not to show it, Bankotsu is too...

"Miroku find the source that's putting up the barrier!" I said. Inuyasha's and Bankotsu's blades clashed together many times. In fact they clashed so many times that I had started to get a headache. I sighed and rubbed my temples. "Bankotsu has the upper hand." Sango said.

Uh no duh!

For a few moments I had zoned out, watching the two fight. Until suddenly I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. "Miroku must have lifted the barrier!" Kagome said and smiled.

State the obvious why don't you..I swear you are so dumb some times...

"Don't think this will save you Inuyasha. Because as you see I'm feeling much stronger now too, now that the disgusting barrier is finally gone." Bankotsu said. I tilted my head to the side slightly.

When did Bankotsu become so bad. Well okay..so bankotsu's always been bad but it at least through all the badness he had a good heart. Somewhere...in there...deep, deep down. Somewhere...well okay at least he's my bad boy!

"So lets finish this once and for all Inuyasha." he said raising his halberd in the air. Lightning filled the sky and shot out at Bankotsu's blade. I comforted Shintarou's crying and moments later I heard Bankotsu. "Not even I can predict where my lightning will strike!" hey yelled. The lightning shot out at all places from the sky. Knocking Kagome, Shippo, Sango, Miroku and Kirara off their feet. "Lady Ana!" I heard Shintarou cry out. I looked up to see a strike of lightning coming right toward us. I closed my eyed and the lightning that hit, only hit me. When I opened my eyes they were a pale yellow instead of their normal blue.

"Ana!"

I couldn't tell who had yelled my name, but the warmth I felt around me moments later was familiar. "Bankotsu..." I whispered.. "I'm so sorry Ana I didn't want it to hit you." he said, "I can't control it.." I pushed myself out of his arms, "Maybe you can't...but I can." I said as another strike of lightning filled the sky. It aimed right at me and once again struck my body. Bankotsu had stopped the lightning after that last hit I took. Next thing I know I was swept off my feet by Inuyasha. He looked down at me, and I could tell he was worried. "Does it hurt.." he whispered. I shook my head as my eyes slowly started to fade back to their normal blue color. Then he said something I didn't expect, at least not from Inuyasha. "Ana no matter what or when...I will always be there for you. I don't want you hurt ever." he had said. I smiled and blushed slightly. Were my feelings I once had for Inuyasha slowly starting to fade back. I didn't even have a chance to speak before I completely blacked out.

"You could let her go now Inuyasha!" I heard someone yell. I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. "Wh-What happened." I said softly. "Thanks a lot kagome you woke her up!" Inuyasha said. The voice sounded way to close. I looked up and saw Inuyasha starring down at me. He was sitting down and he had me in his arms. I blushed then stood up but then saw Kagome's face. "See she's perfectly fine Inuyasha!" she said, "there was no need for you to keep holding on to her like that!" For some reason her yelling at him like that for helping me made me mad.

"Kagome why don't you just shut up." I said rubbing my temples. "What did you just say Ana?" Kagome asked, looking at me with a confused yet angry expression. "You heard me I said shut it." I said balling my hands into fist, "Don't get mad at him just because he was protecting me!" "Its been almost a day since that fight and he hasn't let you out of his sight..I was beginning to think he was in love with you." she yelled. That's when I couldn't take it. I slapped Kagome so hard a few birds flew out of their trees at the loud noise. My fist became incased in flames and I glared at her with piercing red eyes. "Shut your mouth Kagome!" I said. A small chuckle came from Inuyasha and Kagome turned to him.

"Sit Boy!"

Seconds later Inuyasha plunged into the ground. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I yelled, "don't get upset just because you think someone is getting in the way of your love for Inuyasha!!" "I do not love him and he's a jerk! He could love some stupid priestess for all I care!" she yelled back but then covered her mouth. "Um..excuse me!" I said being held back by Miroku and Inuyasha, who had recently gotten up. I pulled away from their grip and glared at her. "Listen to me Kagome.." I said in a whisper, still glaring at her. "Pull your act together.. Your getting mad at me because Inuyasha is showing kindness toward me and not you..but honestly can you blame him." She looked at me and blinked, obviously she was confused.

Mother help me from slapping sense into this girl...

"If you would use that damn arrow of yours when Inuyasha is fighting instead of waiting until the last moment when he's almost dead then maybe he would show a bit more compassion towards you. Get your damn head out of the clouds alright because you cant just sit there perfectly able to help him and don't...and then on top of that cry afterwards about it!" she said then watched as Kagome ran off crying. "You really hurt her..you should go after her." Sango said.

"Pshh whatever."

I pulled myself into a tree and leaned against the trunk, sitting on a branch. "That was pretty attractive.." Miroku said as Inuyasha knocked him upside the head. "Why don't you get your head out of the clouds!" he yelled. He looked up at me and in his eyes I could tell he was thanking me in a strange way. I just smirked then looked away, letting my hair blow to the side with the night breeze. I tucked the loose strands of hair behind my ear and looked up at the sky.

So if Inuyasha is safe...I wonder what happened to Bankotsu...

It had been an hour since Kagome ran off and now Inuyasha started to panic. "Do you think I should go after her?" He called up at me, since I was still sitting in the tree. "Like I care.." I said looking away. "What's wrong with you Ana?" he asked jumping on the branch next to me. "What makes you think something's wrong?" I responded. "You normally don't act like this..." he whispered. I shifted nervously then looked him in the eyes, "it just made me really mad that she seemed to think you couldn't love someone like me.." I said. "Ana..you know that I-."

"We found her Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha looked down and saw Sango with Kirara and Kagome. Kagome looked up at us but quickly turned away and crossed her arms. I rolled my eyes then looked away, "just go talk to her.." I said. He looked at me for a long time but finally hopped out of the tree and started to talk to Kagome. I sighed then looked back up at night sky, holding the ruby around my neck. "Can't you just give me some sign that your alright Bankotsu.." I whispered to the wind.

~~~Bankotsu's Pov~~~

My head was throbbing and it appeared as if I was in a temple.

"Can't you just give me some sign that your alright Bankotsu."

I jumped then looked around, "Ana?" I said then looked around again. "Ana I'm alright.." I said. I must have looked real crazy because when I turned around to see Kohaku he was starring at me. "Do you need help Bankotsu sir?" he said. "Uh oh uh no?" I said rubbing the back of my neck nervously, "Hey you wouldn't happen to hear any strange voices would you?"

"Maybe he got hit on the head.." Kanna said in her soft voice, appearing out of the wind. "Bankotsu sir...are you sure your okay." Kohaku said. "Yes im fine now could you please just tell me if you two have heard any weird voices whispering to you." I said bending down in front of them. "I think he's a bit off." Kanna said. "I think he's just nuts." Kohahku said as a small bead of sweet dropped from his forehead. "I am right here you know and I am not crazy!" I yelled, my voice seeming to echo through the temple.

~~~Ana's Pov~~~

I sighed, "obviously the wind is no help tonight.." I said softly then jumped out of the tree. I started to walk off but was stopped by a voice. "Ana..where are you going?" Inuyasha said. "With me!" Miroku said with a grin, putting his arm around me before I even had the chance. "Yes im going with Miroku.." I said with a sigh. He turned to me with a surprised look in his face, "really?" "No you perv now back off!" I said then pushed him away. I then stormed off deep, deep, deep into the forest...

I found myself a cozy tree and sat under it and moments later I heard footsteps. "Inuyasha its okay you know..." I said with my eyes closed. "Sorry.." he responded then sat next to me, "what are you doing?" "Im meditating...something I do to make peace with the elements." I said softly, my eyes still closed. "Is that what you were doing back when we used to hangout in front of the palace on a new moon?" he asked. Suddenly my eyes opened. "Inuyasha...why did you stop coming to see me on the new moon..we had made a promise to each other?" I said softly. "I tried to..but your guards kept saying that you were busy and one night you mother came out and told me that you were upset and it was best to leave you be for the time, but you never spoke to me after that.." he said then looked away. "I thought you left me...to go be around Kikyo.." I said shocked. Would my mother really say such a thing? "Ana...I would never do that to you.." he said softly then looked toward me, his marble eyes glistening in the moonlight.

Oh....my....god....

OKAY =^.

sorry you guys about not posting any stuffs recently.... i have been very occupied, *cough* gaia *cough* but still i tried to make this chapter extra long without giving away too many details, and yes the rumors are true

iTruffie and i GRADUATED!!!!

OH YEAH!

Lol okay please review~

And gets your friends to review, You can even get your cousin on your twiced removed uncle's side of the family to review (wait did that make sense?)

lol point blank please review....