a/n: I do not own Inuyasha

a/n: I do not own Inuyasha. But a girl can dream, right?

"AHHHHHH!" Sango screamed again, and Kagome and Shippou ran towards Kaede's hut, where Sango's screams were coming from. "Sango! What's wrong!? Why are you screaming like that?" Kagome yelled, bursting through the bamboo "door" and found a wailing Sango on the ground with Kaede trying to comfort her. Shippou jumped from Kagome's shoulder and ran to Kaede's side. "Do you want me to get anything?" Shippou asked.

"Can ye get some of the calming herbs I showed ye yesterday, Shippou?" Kaede asked calmly, trying to get the frantic Sango to rest on the futon for a moment. Shippou nodded and ran out the door, grabbing his little basket from the hook near the door.

"Oh, Kagome!" Sango wailed, tears streamed down her face as she sat on the futon. Kagome walked over to her friend and hugged her. "What's wrong Sango? I'm sure Miroku is freaking out pretty bad right now about why you're screaming. Please tell me what's wrong." Kagome said, putting a comforting hand on Sango's shoulder.

Sango sniffed, and looked to her friend's kind face, struggling to gain composure. "Oh, I'm so silly, aren't I?" Sango laughed feebly, and wiped the tears from her face. Kagome smiled, and said, "No, Just scared out of your mind and worried about you wedding and the future. It's a heavy plate to hold. Now, will you tell me what's got you so upset?"

Sango nodded. "You see, in my village it was tradition for the father of the bride to take off something he had given to his daughter when he hands her off to the groom. But my fa-a-th-e-r-r isn-isn't here!" Sango said, bursting into tears, over come in grief. "Oh Sango." Kagome sighed sadly, hugging her friend again.

"I know how you feel, I also don't have a father anymore. I know that having Inuyasha give you away to Miroku isn't how you may have pictured your wedding, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind following that tradition. Would you like me to ask him for you?" Kagome said, and Sango nodded, her tears finally coming to a stop. "Oh, would you Kagome? Thank you, so much! You're the best friend anyone could ask for!" Sango exclaimed happily, and hugged her fiercely.

Kagome smiled and hugged her friend back. "Are ye alright now, Sango?" Kaede asked, and Sango nodded. Kaede shook her head, smiling and walked outside. "You know, I think it is very fitting that Inuyasha gives me up to Miroku." Sango said, and Kagome looked at her friend questioningly. "How so?" Kagome asked.

Sango shrugged and said, "Well, You and Inuyasha started this group, and you took us all in. In essence, we really all were orphans. Miroku has never said anything about a mother, and his father died, so he traveled alone to destroy Naraku. Then there's Shippou, whose parents were both killed, and then me. My whole village was destroyed, my family dead. Kohaku was alive, but only because of the shikon Fragment and his prolonged life only brought him suffering. Kagome, You and Inuyasha saved us all, that's why I think it is so befitting that Inuyasha gives me to Miroku and that you're my maid-of-honor."

Kagome blushed and hugged Sango. "'Aww, thank you!" Kagome said, and stood up. "Now, let's stop being sad and get excited for your wedding tomorrow!" Kagome exclaimed, and Sango blushed, feeling excitement building up insider her as well.

"Kagome, how do you do that?" Sango laughed, getting up and stretching out her sore legs. "How do I do what? Make people feel better?" Kagome asked, and Sango giggled. "Yes!" Sango exclaimed, and Kagome blushed and shrugged. "Practice, I guess!" She laughed. "Now come on! Let's go to the hot spring and get you ready for the feast tonight!"

Kagome pulled her makeup bag from her backpack Inuyasha must have deposited before Kagome and Shippou had made it to the hut themselves. They started to walk through the bustling village, towards the hot spring. Everyone was busy preparing for the feast tonight and then also the wedding taking place tomorrow.

The walked by the meadow that Sango and Miroku's wedding would take place, and Kagome sighed happily. 'I knew one day that Miroku and Sango would get married!' "Hey, Kagome?" Sango started, and Kagome snapped herself from her daydreaming. "What's up Sango?" "What about you and Inuyasha? Will you be getting married soon as well?" Kagome nearly fell over with surprise and blushed a brilliant crimson that would have matched nicely with Inuyasha's Kimono.

"Wha-what? I doubt me and Inuyasha would ever get married." Kagome stuttered, and looked away, filled with sadness. "How come?" Sango asked, and Kagome looked around, noticing a few villagers still within earshot. "Can we talk about this at the spring?" Kagome whispered, and Sango nodded, and the two friends walked in silence.

"I'm sorry for upsetting you, Kagome." Sango finally said. Kagome smiled sadly, and sighed. "Don't worry about it, it's not your fault. I just don't know what's going to happen now." They finally reached the spring and got undressed. Kagome pulled out the shampoo and conditioner, and they relished in the warmth of the hot spring.

"Now, will you tell me what's up with you and Inuyasha?" Sango asked, curious as to Kagome and Inuyasha's current position. Kagome sighed, but nodded. "Well, the thing is, Inuyasha promised to Kikyou that he would go to hell with her once Naraku was defeated. It was so long ago and I don't know if he's still going to go, since we've been through a lot together. Sango, I love him so much, and I don't want him to die!" Kagome started to sob, and Sango put a hand on her shoulder.

"It'll be ok, Kagome. But, I think if you don't want him to die, you should tell him how you feel. It won't change what will happen if you don't do anything, Kagome." Sango said, hoping that her advice would help Kagome. "You're, you're right. It won't get better if Just sit-" She stopped, listening for an 'oomph' and crash, but was relieved to here none. "Here and do nothing." She finished. Sango laughed, knowing exactly why she had stopped and what she had been listening for.

"Come on, enough about me, and more of getting ready for the celebration tonight!" Kagome said, and she pulled out her makeup bag.

Meanwhile:

(This is after Shippou interrupted Kagome and Inuyasha's conversation.)

Inuyasha quickly ran to put Kagome's bag in Kaede's hut, his ears plastered to his head to keep Sango's screams from deafening him. He quickly dumped the bag right inside by the door and ran out again. He ran quickly, heading to goshinbuko and he sighed in relief when he finally reached its branches. He jumped up the branches until he got to the hole with Kagome's journal. He pulled it out, and jumped up higher in the tree, trying to conceal himself as much as possible.

He breathed in Kagome's scent and sighed, content for the moment. 'I was just about to tell her something important, too. Then Shippou had to go and ruin it.' He sighed and opened the book, smiling at the pictures on the first page. He flipped through the pages, when something caught his eye. He flipped backwards slowly, and found the page that had caught his eye.

"Oh, wow Kagome…" He whispered. It was a picture of him up in the dead tree that overlooked the village. There was so much detail, it was almost as if he was looking at himself in the river. 'How did she have time to draw me without me noticing?' Underneath she had written a passage:

I'm finally finished with my picture of Inuyasha. I couldn't get very close to him because he'd have found out about the diary, and that wouldn't go very well. I was able to get the tree and his figure pretty well, but I'm kinda nervous as to how his face came out. I don't know if I did it enough justice. The only reference I had to go by was my memory. Maybe I'll ask Sango what she thinks, but later, after Naraku is defeated. Wow, I just realized that it's almost dawn. Inuyasha isn't going to be very happy with how tired I'm going to be… Oh well. It was worth it. I wonder what it would be like sleeping up on the tree branch like that…? It might be nice to sleep up there with Inuyasha… What am I saying? I'm blushing just thinking about it! Inuyasha would never go for that. I better sleep, or Inuyasha and I will fight all day tomorrow.

Inuyasha stroked the picture softly, and whispered. "She did this so well, just by memory?" He had wondered why Kagome had been so tired that one-day. He smiled. "So, she wants to sleep on the tree branch with me, huh? That could be interesting." He shook his head, realizing what he was saying, and imagining that the smile on his face was probably very similar to a certain lecher we all know and love…

"How and when did I start to think like him about Kagome?" Inuyasha asked himself. 'That one night after Kagome saved me from Kaguya. I realized how different Kagome and Kikyou really were. I knew I had promised to protect Kikyou, but when did she ever think about me? She wants to kill me now, so we can be in hell together. In her life, she wanted to change me into a human so the shikon no tama would disappear forever, and she could be free. She didn't really love me, did she? But Kagome… Ever since I've met her, she's accepted me with open arms. She never tried to change me, she thinks I'm perfect just the way I am. She even said that when I changed into a demon, she wasn't scared of me, but was scared of losing me. Is it possible? That she… Loves me?' He smiled, and then nodded. 'I think I understand now.'

He flipped through the pages again a few times, but stopped when he came to a page that was all wrinkled up, like it had gotten rained on. Or cried on, and by the looks of it very much. But before he could read any of it, a rock hit him in the face.

"Miroku! What do you want with me, I'm kinda busy!" Inuyasha yelled down, glaring at the blue splotch that hardly showed through the trees. Another rock hurled towards him in response, and he growled, smashing the rock to pieces. He placed the journal back to its hiding place and he jumped to the ground, glaring at Miroku.

"What's wrong with you? Why aren't you talking? And why are you throwing rocks at me?" Inuyasha asked, irritated at the monk. What he smelled next surprised him, badly. "Miroku… Are you, Crying?" Inuyasha asked. Miroku looked away, hiding his face.

"It would appear, that Sango would prefer not to marry me." Miroku said, his voice shaking. Inuyasha's face softened and he scoffed. "As if." Miroku looked up at Inuyasha. "What did you say?" He asked.

Inuyasha sighed. "Isn't it obvious, Miroku? Sango gets angry every time you go after women. She follows you around like a sick puppy, worried about what you're doing and if you're ok. And you always protect her, even at the expense of your life, and then Sango always says that she would die with you. And you're questioning whether or not she wants to marry you?! She's just stressed out about the wedding. Don't worry about it."

Miroku looked up at Inuyasha. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry; I guess I'm stressed out, too. Thank you, Inuyasha." Miroku laughed, and Inuyasha glared at him suspiciously.

"Feh. Whatever. Are you done blubbering now?" Miroku shook his head and started to walk back to the village. "Hey, Miroku. Can I ask you something?" Inuyasha asked, and Miroku turned around. "What can I do for you?"

Inuyasha mustered up all his courage and looked Miroku dead on. "Feh. Never mind." Miroku shrugged and walked back towards the village. "Damn." Inuyasha sighed, and jumped back up into the tree. He pulled the journal out and turned back to the page that smelled like Kagome's tears.

I don't know what to do anymore! I can't come back to the feudal era without running into Inuyasha and Kikyou! I haven't been able to stop crying since I left. He looked at me, and I knew he needed to tell me something, but I didn't want to listen. Everyone was worried about me this morning, but I didn't care. I was about to go back, so I could bring the shards back to Inuyasha. He doesn't need me to find the Jewel shards, because Kikyou can find them too. But, I don't want to not see him anymore! I want to be with him! And then I realized that I really was in love with Inuyasha. It hurts so bad though, knowing that the feelings weren't ever going to be returned. I want Inuyasha, when he looks at me, to see ME not Kikyou! I don't know who he thinks of me as! My mom found me so upset and she helped me to realize that me meeting Inuyasha wasn't a coincidence. One of my purposes in this world is to be with Inuyasha, and I want to be with him more than anything. I'm going to go back to talk with Inuyasha, to ask him if I can stay. Wish me luck!

Inuyasha felt his own tears start to pour out of his eyes. It hurt him horribly to know how much that had hurt Kagome. The whole time he was there by himself, he hadn't wanted anything except to be with Kagome. The whole time he had tried to convince himself that he was supposed to be with Kikyou. But if that was to be his destiny, Kikyou wouldn't be dead, would she?

It was almost noon, and he put the journal back into its spot. He wanted to just think for a little while. He closed his eyes, letting the breeze dry his tears. A familiar smell wafted by his nose, and he saw one of Kikyou's soul collectors fly past. He sighed, knowing what he would have to do.

He jumped from the tree, and ran after the soul collector. They finally stopped in a small clearing, which he recognized to be the place where he had first met Kikyou. He knew that meeting her here would be safe because they were far enough from the village were Kagome couldn't stumble upon them. A figure appeared in the shadows. "Feh. What an appropriate place to meet, huh Kikyou."

A/N: I KNOW! I'M EVIL! But for the record, it pains me to leave it off right there. I'll try to write another chapter tonight, but it tends to take me a while. Oh, and THANK YOU SO MUCH to Anonamys (anon.) and Diamond369 for you're reviews! It really helps when you review cause it makes me want to write faster! And from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for you're reviews! And if you have any suggestions for the story, I would love to hear what you think should happen next! I know, not too much Inu/Kags time in this chapter, but there's plenty more to come! Also, I'm giving out pitchforks to anyone who wants to kill Shippou for ruining the moment between Inuyasha and Kagome last chapter.

Shippou: Gulps I'm going to run away now…

Till next time!

-Silverwolf