Ergh, it's short. Whatever, at least I posted it!! ^^ Yes, I'm finally on the computer again, and will be updating frequently! Yay!

Oh, and note: Me and my friend are making a manga of this story (the complete Until Forever Ends series!) So if you're interested in reading it, it can be found on my deviantart gallery. You can find the link in my profile!!

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"I had so many dreams about you and me,

Happy endings, now I know,

That I'm not your princess,

This ain't a fairytale,

I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet,

Lead her up the stairwell,

This ain't Hollywood,

This is a small town,

I was a dreamer before you went and let me down,

Now it's too late for you and your white horse to come around…"

"White Horse," Taylor Swift

~ Hot Spring Discussions ~

"Are you sure Miroku won't give into his desires and follow us?" Rubi asked as she, Daichia and Sango climbed over mossy rocks on the way to a hot spring. Inuyasha had smelled its mineral water earlier that day, and now the three girls, sore and dirty from travelling, were heading for a nice long bath. Rubi remembered doing this exact thing with Rin for nearly three years. A small smile found its way onto Rubi's face.

"Oh, he wouldn't dare," Sango muttered darkly.

According to the earth demoness and demon slayer, the monk had a history of stalking women in hot springs.

Daichia giggled. "Yeah, because he knows the consequences! Although we do have a new female member of the group…" she trailed off thoughtfully.

Sango let out a "Hmmph!" as the group of three reached the springs.

A central pool with a number of smaller pools surrounding it was the sight that greeted them. From what she could make out with her demonic eyesight, Rubi guessed that there were a number of rocks hidden underwater that would make great places to sit. A layer of steam was rising from the water, adding to the relaxing feel.

"Doesn't this just look heavenly?" Daichia exclaimed, throwing her cloth towel down and starting to untie her light green obi. The other two quickly followed suit, and soon all three females were sitting on rocks in the spring, the water level up to their chests.

"Mmm…" Rubi sighed as she leaned back against the edge of the pool. "I love warm water."

"Hey," Daichia interjected, "What does this feel like to you, since fire youkais can't feel heat?"

"It's true we can't feel burning or any other heat-and-pain related sensations," Rubi murmured, eyes closed, "but this just feels nice… really nice."

Daichia nodded, and all three closed their eyes and sat, soaking up the heat of the water. They had minimal conversations, most about quite trivial things. At least until they all heard a twig snap in the bushes behind them.

Rubi jumped and Daichia took a sniff of the air. "Hmm… can't distinguish who it is… but the scent is definitely human."

"I don't need a scent to know who," Sango said as she stood up and grabbed her towel in one fluid motion. The two demonesses also snatched up their towels, just to be on the safe side.

Sango, towel wrapped around her body securely, walked into the bushes, and returned dragging a very sheepish-looking monk by the ear. He straightened up as best he could, adjusted his robe and gave the three girls an angelic grin, one that Rubi was quite sure the other two had seen many times before.

"Miroku…" a fiery-eyed Sango trailed off.

"Sango, please, I-"

A slap was heard throughout the forest. The demon slayer snatched up her clothes and stalked into the surrounding forest. Miroku tried following.

"Sango, I-"

"NO!" came the yelled reply.

Miroku turned his gaze on Rubi and Daichia.

"Ladies, a little help please?"

Daichia shook her head. "You got yourself into this one."

Miroku shot them one last pleading glance, and then ran off in pursuit of Sango.

Rubi turned to Daichia. "Does this happen often?"

"Yep."

"But why is Sango so mad? Isn't she just being a little over reactive?"

Daichia stared at Rubi for awhile, then replied,

"Let's see if you can figure it out. But I have to say- males can be such idiots."

Rubi smiled grimly. "Yes, almost any woman can relate to that."

The two demonesses dressed and walked back to the camp in silence.

The next day, Daichia approached everybody with the idea of collecting more herbs for meals and healing, since spring was only a fortnight away. Sango immediately agreed, wanting to get as far away from the lechorous monk as possible. Shippo volunteered as well, and small group of three set off, dragging Inuyasha along for the sole purpose of his amazing nose.

Miroku opted to stay behind since he was still nursing his woman-inflicted injuries, and Rubi didn't particularly want to be surrounded by lots of people at the moment. When it was just the two of them sitting in the clearing, Miroku said,

"Can I ask you something?"

Rubi looked at him, and then returned to prodding the fire with one bare finger. "Sure, I guess."

"What do you think Sango thinks of me?"

The fire demoness grinned. "That you're a perverted fool…"

Miroku's face was a sea of worry.

"But…" she continued, "Deep down, I'm quite sure she has feelings for you. Most likely even loves you."

He was shocked. "No, the first was probably the most likely, Rubi-chan. Did you see the way she yelled at me yesterday?"

Rubi closed her eyes and gave a weak smile, one of console and sympathy; because she knew more on this subject then she let on.

"Miroku- there are many types of love. The stereotypical type, the one you hear about in fairytales. And then… when you hate someone so much that you can't even stand it, and… and-" tears came to her eyes, "and one of the reasons you hate them so much is because, even after everything they've done…" Rubi's voice faded to a whisper, "you can't help but love them anyways."

Right then, Miroku understood. "This has happened to you, Rubi… right?"

She nodded. A lone tear slid down her cheek.

"And you still love him… even after everything he's done to you?"

Rubi looked at him with tear-filled violet eyes.

"I… I don't know," she said in a strangled voice, though her face gave the answer for her.

"Even though he is… Sesshomaru, I think even he will come to his senses. He is prejudiced against half-demons, but with a pretty one just devoted to him… all I can say is that he's an absolute idiot."

Rubi laughed darkly. "Pretty? Ha, I wish. But… do you really think… he will?" Her eyes, dull and bare for so long, held just a single spark of hope. Just one… but it was there.

"Yes, Rubi-chan, I think so."

"Hmmph!" She dismissed it with a slight wave of her hand, but as she fell silent, Miroku saw the spark in her eyes light and start a small fire. He had given her one thing- hope.

"But," she said, drying her tears with the sleeve of her travelling outfit, "I think that you should convince Sango to give you a chance. She'll be more willing then you think."

"Rubi?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"Thank you," she replied, giving Miroku the first true smile he had ever seen on her face.

For the next few days, the sun shone more frequently, another sign of the approaching spring. Rubi had cheered up quite a bit for reasons only Miroku seemed to know, and appeared as though she was finally moving on with her life. Daichia and Inuyasha were almost inseparable now, since mating season was coming up in less then two weeks. And something undetectable had passed between Miroku and Sango, something that made them smile slightly whenever one was near the other. The only dark lining on the silver cloud was for Rubi, who was feeling very much like the odd one out. But she still had Miroku's words, and she clung to them like a drowning person to a lifeboat.

The group was travelling steadily to a small demon town, where Inuyasha, Daichia, Rubi and Shippo would stay for a few weeks, while Miroku and Sango travelled onward, and then stayed at a human village close by.

The rhythmic pattern of feet hitting the ground was broken when Inuyasha dropped onto all fours and started sniffing the ground. Daichia stopped walking and kneeled beside him.

"What do you smell, Inuyasha-kun?"

"A scent-" his voice stopped as a surprised look plastered itself on his face. The expression was gone as soon as it came, though, and he resumed talking. "I think I lost it. Maybe me and Miroku should scout ahead, just in case?"

Daichia nodded. "Yes, good idea. We'll all stay here and wait for you."

The inuyoukai nodded, and the two men ran off into the dense forest while the females and Shippo set up a temporary camp.

"Hey, what about staying in this grove of trees? It's not that thick… I think there's a big clearing not that far away, on the other side!" Rubi said, gesturing to a clump of trees beside the path.

"Yeah, sounds good!" Sango agreed, and they made their way towards it.

Inuyasha and Miroku ran ahead though the grove of trees, and out into a spacious clearing. Long, green grass swayed in a gentle breeze.

The two had only walked a few paces when Inuyasha froze, sniffing the air. And both of their heads snapped to the side, fast as lightning, when they heard a rustle in the bushes on the other side of the clearing.

- End