Disclaimer: trust me…I checked…I still don't own the magnificent Inu Yasha series…. (sigh)…all in good time…all in good time…(evil grin)

The cold water rushed up to meet the dog Hanyou as he struggled to regain his standing position, "Naraku….You will die!!!" Well…that is what he tried to say…what he actually came out with was a strange sputtering noise that meant nothing.

Needless to say, Naraku's bright red eyes flashed as he snickered, "Inu Yasha…you are in no position to say such horrendous things…"

Inu Yasha couldn't control his growing need to kill this dirty bastard. He brought out his Tetsusaiga one more time and prepared to blast the despicable coward out of the water (pardon the pun) when he felt the water surge again and he fell backwards. Dammit! Why can't I freaking concentrate?! Why am I getting so flustered? He normally wouldn't have been able to touch me like this…

A small voice in the back of his mind-which sounded strangely like his 'heart' piped up quietly, "Well yes…but normally you had Kagome with you."

Inu Yasha bit back a growl, "So…?"

"Well…it seemed as if you were always trying to protect her…a demon becomes stronger when he tries to protect someone. Look at Koga."

"Feh. You almost had me thinking that you were making some sense…then you brought up the damn wolf…"

"Whatever…look we'll discuss this later. Right now you need to concentrate…you wouldn't want to be defeated by Naraku would you…?"

With that the voice became silent and Inu Yasha's world was put sharply back into perspective. Raising his sword one more time Inu Yasha located the, still sneering, Naraku, "Naraku…DIE!"

With that he let forth a tremendous blast of energy from Tetsusaiga. Naraku's face lit up with shock as he barely missed the attack. Inu Yasha caught himself smiling as Naraku began to make his retreat, "That's right Naraku…Run away! It's what you are best at."

At this Naraku laughed, "I'm sure you know all about running Inu Yasha." He put a finger to his chin, as if thinking, "Oh my mistake…it was Kagome who ran away from you…"

He was gone before Inu Yasha could really kill him.

He had won this battle…so why did he feel like everything was lost? He could still feel Naraku's evil grin tormenting him. The worst part was that for once…Naraku was actually right. Inu Yasha gritted his teeth and growled. That was when he smelled it: Kagome was near.

Kagome sat underneath the large tree, wringing out her soaking clothing. She and Koga had been having an all-out 'war' for nearly an hour when suddenly…he had just disappeared. Kagome's first instinct was that maybe he had become invisible again…then she assumed he was playing a trick on her. After twenty minutes of waiting for him to say or do something, she realized he had simply run off.

Perhaps he smelled something dangerous and decided to go investigate…? But why wouldn't he have told me? even Inu yas—no! we aren't thinking of him. I'm going to spend this last day with Koga and be back with Inu Yasha tomorrow…not that He will really care but at least I can see the others…If it doesn't go well then maybe it just means that I have over-extended my stay. Maybe it is time to give up the adventure…who knows?

Sango looked up at the sky, "Miroku…?"

"Yes, my dear Sango?"

"Miroku…I'm worried. It's nightfall again. Inu Yasha has been gone two days, Kagome has been gone close to two weeks…should we start looking for them yet?"

The good looking monk turned to his raven-haired beauty, "Sango my dear, your heart is so pure. You always worry of others before yourself…if you would like to go look for them then I will follow you." Of course I would follow you to the ends of the earth anyway.

Sango smiled in relief, "Thank you Miroku." She regarded the monk, "You know what? I don't think you are as bad as you make it seem…"

Miroku's face lit up a bright shade of red as he hurriedly made preparations for their departure.

Miroku exhaled contentedly. These past few days with his beautiful Sango had made his heart soar. Who would have known that the seemingly quiet demon-exterminator would have flipped his world upside down? He had always been a lech; this was a fact he knew(as did everyone else) but this girl-this woman-had changed all that. Her smiles lit up his day and her tears filled him with an urge to kill anyone who might have caused them…then again…a lot of them were shed because of himself. This was all the more reason for him to do anything to fix it. He would make it all up to her someday. If helping her through the strains that Kagome and Inu Yasha's love feuds incurred then he would be there.

He picked up another bag and set it on the large Kilala's back, "Sango?"

Chocolate colored eyes captured his, "Yes…?"

He shook his head, "A-Are you ready to go?"

As she nodded he brought a hand up to wipe away the tears gathered in her big eyes, "…Sango. Everything will be ok, trust me."

Again she nodded but he wasn't sure if she did believe him. He pulled her into a comforting hug and was surprised when she hugged back. She melted into his embrace and cried silently into his hakama.

Miroku used his pointer finger to gently turn her face upwards. Chocolate met plum as he gazed into her eyes, "Sango"

She blinked once as her lips quivered, "Y-yes?"

He glanced at her lips and then back to her innocent eyes, "Sango I…"

The young woman's eyes searched his face, "You…what?"

Before he could resist the urge he used the hand still connected to her cheek by his finger to cup her face. He was almost taken aback when her hand reached up to grab his own, but instead of pulling away she left it resting on his, almost as if inviting his hand to stay there. He lowered his face slowly leaving room that he could back away quickly if she seemed displeased but finally his face was so close to hers that their breath mingled, "Sango…"

Sango was breathless as she fought to keep her pounding heart from exploding with joy: Miroku was about to kiss her…and he wasn't doing it out of his lecherous instinct! As he whispered her name she felt something moving in the pit of her stomach. She was about to have her first real kiss and it was with the first guy who had ever given her that crazy butterfly-in-the-tummy feeling, "Uh-huh?"

His purple eyes made a searing connection with hers as he stroked her cheek with his thumb, "I think I'm going to…"

Sango couldn't wait any longer, "Miroku. If you don't kiss me now I may never let you get close enough to try again."

That was all the prodding Miroku needed. With no further thought on what he was going to say Miroku leaned in that last three centimeters and kissed her.

The feeling of exhilaration that Sango experienced as Miroku's strong kiss swept her away caused her to let out a satisfied moan. She tilted her head so as to deepen the kiss and felt Miroku's strong hands wrap firmly around her torso. This act was to show that she was his. She couldn't help but reach her arms up to sling them around his neck and pull him closer to her. Her hands snaked their way into his hair and she played with the soft black tendrils.

Breathless, the two stepped back and gulped in air. Neither of them had ever expected to feel so close to each other and yet…that kiss had just solidified what they had always known: the two were meant to be together.

Miroku looked down at Sango. She was beautiful…her hair was slightly mussed and her cheeks were tinted red, but her eyes were bright and joyous and that was what really captured his heart. Looking down into her chocolate eyes he wondered what would happen if she knew what he was going to say before their kiss. He had never told a girl he had fallen in love with her before, Maybe I should let that wait till later…

He caught her expression changing as a star shot overhead, "Oh Miroku…here we are kissing and Kagome is still out there…she could be hurt!"

Miroku silently stored away his feelings so that he could get through this trip and scooped the young woman into his arms, "here. Get onto Kilala's back and then we'll set out."

As he turned to head back into the hut Sango called after him, "Wh-where are you going?"

He smiled mysteriously, "I'll be right there. Don't worry. Just be ready to leave when I get back."

Shippou was roused from his sleep as he heard a rustling coming from Miroku's makeshift bed, "M-Miroku? Is that you?"

The monk smiled downed at the young kitsune and whispered, "Shh…Lady Sango and I are going to go get Kagome and Inu Yasha. We will be back in a few days at most."

"Oh…well ok. I guess I'll stay here with Lady Kaede until you return…don't take too long Miroku because you know what happens when you around Sango for too long."

Shippou was surprised when Miroku's face became wistful, "Yes Shippou…I know."

As Shippou watched Miroku looking for something he felt himself sink into sleep again. He barely even saw the flash of silver and reddish pink as Miroku pulled something from a small box on the ground and stuck it into the sleeve of his hakama. Whatever Miroku was planning…it would have to wait till the morning. Shippou was just too tired to think about what any of this was going to mean for him. The only thing on the young kitsune's mind was the sleep that was currently falling over his tiny shoulders. Have fun but be careful Miroku…and please…do your best to bring back Kagome…

howdy to all! yay for another chappy! sorry it took so long...i've been grounded (whimper) don't kill me...ahehehe

anyway i hope you guys enjoy this chappie and i'll get right on the other two stories and more chappies for this one...sorry if it takes a while though i've got a lot on my plate for this summer...(scratches head)

anyway...tootles!

me