DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING

AN: Sorry for the long wait but I had writer's block. Anyways, Enjoy chapter 5 and review please.

Chapter 10: Message

Everyone ran towards the scream. They found a village being attacked by a reincarnation of Naraku's. Inuyasha quickly unsheathed his tetsiaga.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size," Inuyasha said to the demon.

He laughed and went to attack Inuyasha. As the two battled Kagura arrived.

"Yoshimitsu stop that and deliver the message you were supposed to," she commanded.

"Master Naraku says he's found the last shard and now wants yours. He wants to fight you himself in three days by the well," said Yoshimitsu and then headed back with Kagura.

Inuyasha stood fuming.

"The last battle," whispered Kagome.

'The end can't be here already' she thought. Inuyasha turned towards everyone and said, "You heard him. We better head back to the village and prepare." Everyone agreed and headed back to Kaede's village.

They got to the village by night fall. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Kenji and Sango sat together in Kaede's hut discussing the upcoming days. Inuyasha had gone off to look for Kikyo. Miroku silently watched Kagome walk out the hut. Kano went after her after a few minutes. 'How dare he, I'm the one who's supposed to go after her. I'm the one who loves her. Wait… did I just say that' thought Miroku.

Kaede observed Miroku from afar. She saw the way he looked at Kagome when she walked out, and how his expression went from jealousy to wonder. 'I wonder if he's finally realized his love for Kagome' she thought. She had seen how he's changed. She noticed how his groping seemed to minimize and be focused on Kagome. Kagome had changed as well. She didn't seem as heartbroken as she used to be. 'I hope they tell each other soon, before it's too late'.

Miroku walked outside in search of Kagome. 'I must tell her how I feel' he thought determinedly. He saw her sitting by the well with Kano. He quietly crept to a bush by them so he could listen to their conversation. 'Am I too late' he asked himself sadly. His thoughts were interrupted by Kano's voice.

"Kagome I wanted to tell you something while we're alone," said Kano uneasily.

Kagome's attention was instantly on him.

"What is it Kano," she asked. "Kagome… I… well… ever since I saw you I've been taken by your beauty. And after getting to know you better… well… I was wondering if I could court you," he asked shyly.

Kagome was speechless. Someone was finally interested in her. She didn't know what to say. Her heart now belonged to Miroku. She figured it out after the meeting with Yoshimitsu. She wanted him to know but she didn't think he felt anything for her. The kiss, to her the kiss was probably just another one of his perverted habits.

"What do you say Kagome?"

Miroku was on edge.

"Well, umm… I'm flattered but what about the final battle," she answered.

"Kagome I swear to you I'll fight as hard as I can to protect you, and if I make it I want the chance to be with you," said Kano with new found courage.

'He's so passionate about it' thought Kagome.

'Please say no Kagome' thought Miroku. 'Now that I know I love you I wouldn't be able to watch you with him'.

'What should I do' thought Kagome.

"Kano, if we both make it you can court me," she decided.

Kano's face lit up and he hugged her. In the bushes Miroku sat broken hearted. 'How could you Kagome' he thought bitterly. 'It should be me to have that chance not him'. He quickly got up and made his way back to the hut.

'I hope I made the right decision' thought Kagome.

The next few days before the battle were difficult. Everyone trained from sun rise to sun set. Even little Shippo was planning on helping in any way he could. Miroku had distanced himself from Kagome ever since he had overheard her conversation with Kano.

'Why would she love me, my days are coming to an end' he thought sadly. It was the night before the final battle and everyone sat around Kaede's hut. Sango and Kenji were holding each other talking to Kano and Kagome. Shippo as always was curled up in Kagome's lap while she lovingly stroked his hair. Miroku sat by Inuyasha watching Kagome intently. No matter what he did he couldn't stop thinking about her.

"Miroku quit drooling over Kagome," whispered Inuyasha.

Miroku turned to say something but kept his mouth shut.

"Look Miroku, no matter what I won't let Kagome be with any other guy but me," he said possessively.

"Have you not noticed Kano's taken a liking to her," asked Miroku bitterly.

Inuyasha turned to look at Kano and laughed.

"Please Miroku, after loving me she can't possibly even consider that weakling as a possible mate," he answered concededly.

Miroku rolled his eyes and sarcastically said, "Yea because you treated her so wonderfully."

Inuyasha gave him a warning glare.

"Why do you even care who she loves? You have your beloved Kikyo," said Miroku angrily.

Inuyasha laughed again and said, "Yea I do, but Kagome promised to stand by me no matter what and I expect her to keep that promise. Plus, it's always good to have her around in case Kikyo decides to leave me. Then I could still have a piece of her in Kagome."

Miroku was fuming. 'How dare he say such things about Kagome' he thought furiously. Before he could say something lady Kaede called him.

"Miroku may I talk to ye outside?" He nodded and followed her outside.

"Miroku I have seen how ye feels about lady Kagome," said Kaede directly.

Miroku's usual confident personality was dumbfounded.

"Pardon my rudeness lady Kaede but I am not sure what you mean."

"Son, do not think that because of my old age I cannot see."

Miroku didn't know how to react.

"I've seen how ye look at her. I can see that ye loves her very much. The only thing I do not understand is why ye haven't told her."

Miroku still couldn't seem to think of anything to say.

"Are ye afraid," she asked.

"Lady Kaede I am not afraid. I do not want to get my hopes up and I wish to not make lady Kagome uncomfortable with a declaration of love when I could possibly die."

Kaede understood.

"Child, I will not contradict your decision but I will say this. The words left unspoken are the ones you regret the most," with that said she turned around and returned to the hut.

Miroku was left confused. Her words kept flowing back to his memory. 'What if she's right? What if I die tomorrow and she never knows I love her' he thought. He made his way back to the hut with his thoughts going a mile a minute.

Everyone was asleep except for Kagome. She couldn't sleep knowing that that might be the last night she spent with some of her friends. As she laid on her futon she began to silently cry. Her heart ached with the possibility of never seeing her friends after tomorrow. She couldn't bear losing them, especially Miroku. She wanted to tell him she loved him, but she wouldn't stand another rejection. As her sobs continued, she wasn't aware of someone watching her. Miroku made his way to her and soon he was cradling her in his arms.

"Don't cry Kagome. We'll all make it fine tomorrow."

Her sobs seem to calm a bit with his tender words and warmth. She slowly drifted into the dream world in Miroku's protective arms. The last thing she remembered was someone saying I love you.