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Your support and encouraging reviews has helped a lot! This story has a ways to go so hang and enjoy the ride! This is between a 20-30 chapter story, and I have big plans for it! Sorry it's not as long as I'd hoped but don't worry they will come! And for those who guessed who'd discover them, few of you guessed right!

Disclaimer: InuYasha and any and all characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Akio and the plot are solely mine.

"Love lights more fires than hate can distinguish" -Ella Wheeler-Wilcox

Chapter 12

She ran as fast as she was able to get to her best friend's house. When she read a message sent the night before that morning, and she read who it was from, Kagome immediately dressed and was now on her way to see what the problem was. She hoped it wasn't too serious. A lot of scenarios ran through her head, many different possibilities on what it could be about. But she prayed to the Kami it wasn't what she thought it would be.

Her feet carried her to a small house on the edge of the market square. Carrying the now crumpled message in her hands, she rushed towards the front door and knocked as hard as she could. Her heart raced with her combined adrenaline and exertion from running as fast as she did and her breathing was heavier so she imagined she looked a fright.

A few moments later, a young boy opened the door. She recognized the younger child with the freckles on his nose and cheeks, the timid light brown eyes and the hair in a short ponytail, and face sporting a healthy glow. Being only about 12 years old, Kohaku was almost past her shoulders.

"Ohayo gozimazu, Kohaku-kun." Kagome bowed, her voice trembling from her run. "Is Sango-chan home?"

The boy bowed as well. "Yes, Kagome-san. She's in her room." He pulled the door back so she could walk in.

"Arigatou!" She shouted as she dashed the familiar path to her best fiend's room.

The teenager walked in to see her best friend pacing. Sango looked up, her eyes widened with relief.

"Sango, I got your message." She gestured to the wrinkled paper. "What's wrong? You sounded so frantic, I rushed over here!" In that moment, her legs gave out so she knelt beside the door.

Sango then came to kneel beside her friend, her expression serious, concerned, and full of curiosity and shock. Kagome has never seen her like this before so this must have been important. Sango slid her door shut and suddenly sat up again and walked towards her lone bedroom window. Then she turned around again.

"Kagome, I want to know something and please don't try to deny it." She sucked in a breath, and set her face as one of determination.

"What is it Sango?" She asked nervously, hearing the crack in her voice. She could feel her wild heart pounding so fast. She didn't like the tone of her friend's voice and was afraid of what Sango wanted to know of her.

"Who was the demon I saw you with yesterday?"

Her question came out so suddenly and so blunt it froze Kagome down to the bone. She couldn't even breath. Her eyes became so wide and her heart raced frantically at being found out-by her best friend no less. Her hands clenched at her sides, too afraid to move an inch.

Sango knew her friend was caught off guard and her silent and frozen form told her that she was right. Whenever Kagome was hiding something, it became so quiet and she stood still in her spot. She didn't mean to frighten her, but Sango wanted to know what was going on, and how serious the situation was.

"S-Sango…" Kagome stuttered out, hardly believing what she just heard. Her head shook and her heart unable to stop its rapid beating. "How-How did you-?"

The elder teen knelt beside the petrified Kagome, offering a hand on her shoulder. "Kagome-chan, what I saw yesterday was unbelievable to me but I want to know. I'm concerned about you and the situation you are in."

"But how did…you find out?" Kagome was getting paler and her hands were so tight they became as white as her face.

"Maybe I should tell you what happened…" Sango got comfortable and retold her account of yesterday's events. "I was walking along the path to your house…"

Flashback

She was walking slowly as she admired the scenic route to her friend's house, enjoying some time to herself and away from her father and brother's bonding time. And after so much time catching up on her slayer training after being away for months, all Sango wanted was some quiet time, and possibly invite Kagome along to shop around the market again.

Once she neared the lone house beside the woods infamous for the bountiful number of demons, her sixth sense picked up an aura, one that she recognized before.

"I was sure that was the same aura I felt when me and Kagome came back from out last trip into town." She whispered thoughtfully. As a demon slayer, she had to learn to pick out and pinpoint a demonic aura in the vicinity, and if it was dangerous to the town or not. It was her other sense, one that has saved her and her comrades on more that one account.

So following her instinct, she veered off the path and into the plentiful woods, where the summer sun peeked through the green leaves and animals and demons alike coincided. She stayed as quiet as she could, her ears and eyes on alert. For a human, it was easy to get caught off guard if one didn't have proper training and experience. She had been taught the ways of her family occupation since she was only six years old, so Sango knew how to take care of herself when alone.

Listening carefully outside the natural music, she started to hear voices. One was soft, a female and the other sounded rough. Sango knew she was getting closer so she crept as stealthily as possible while making sure to stay downwind. Her scent could be picked up from a long distance and she could very well be discovered by a demon's nose if she wasn't careful.

When she peeked around a large trunk of a tree, her eyes widened to what she saw. There in a clearing where a stream ran through, she saw her best friend, in front of a demon; one that looked like he was half, since she couldn't sense a full demonic aura from him. Kagome didn't appear frightened as she calmly spoke with him. Her smile was brighter than Sango's ever seen and it brought a million questions to mind.

'Why is she with a demon? Why is she so close to him? What is about this demon that's different from the rest?' Sango watched with interest, deciding not to interrupt if Kagome didn't seem afraid.

Her eyes bugged out and her mouth widened as she saw her female friend walk into his arms, completely relaxed while staring into his eyes. The strange demon-'was he half?' she thought, smiled at her, as he was drawn in by her hands to softly kiss her lips.

Sango, unable to believe her own eyes, turned around in absolute disbelief. Never had she expected to see Kagome in the arms of someone like that- let alone kiss him! When she peeked her head around once more, they drew back, the demons hands running up and down Kagome's back as they talked softly. She giggled and turned away from him but her hand caught her wrist and pulled her back for another gentle kiss. Sango heard her friend giggle in his mouth and pulled back again, her form flush against his.

As soon as she saw her friend's hand rub the demons cheek and turned to climb onto his back, thighs held securely by his hands, they bounded in the direction of her house.

Sango ran away back to the path while she still remained undetected by any demon's nose. She would have to get some answers and a full explanation for what she just witnessed from Kagome tomorrow.

Flashback Ends

"I know what I saw, Kagome. And it doesn't make any sense to me." Then she stopped in thought and whispered, "Is this the secret that you wouldn't tell me right away?"

Kagome closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths and opened them up again. She didn't think she and Inuyasha would ever be discovered; especially during the moment where they were caught kissing and embracing each other. Her face was tinted pink at that memory, only because it felt so right being in his arms and when he was so open with her now.

"Sango, I wanted to but…I didn't know how you would take it, especially since you slay demons for a living." Her fingers, now unclenched began tapping on her lap.

Sango could easily read the stress and fear in her eyes and in her voice. "It's okay, Kagome. I'm not angry at you for keeping this hidden from everyone. I understand that, I'm just puzzled and beyond shock right now. It's dangerous, you know that right?"

Kagome nodded silently. She knew what the risks were all too well, and how it could all end so fast and easily because she wasn't careful and as secretive as she would've liked. But she knew Sango, how good she was at understanding her and keeping her private thoughts from anyone's ears. But InuYasha was a delicate matter and wasn't sure how to bring him up.

"It's very complicated Sango. I only just begun to feel more than friendship towards him and him being so open and trusting of me." Her eyes met Sango's. "He's had a very hard and solitary life because of what he is and I just had to help him. He saved me Sango, and because of that I knew there was hope for him." She took a deep breath. "I've never felt for anyone the way I feel for him, Sango."

The girl was speechless at her friend's confession. Kagome was serious about this guy and it was scaring her that her secret could be exposed if she wasn't on her toes. She had to gain her friend's absolute faith that she wouldn't betray Kagome. "Do you think I could see him?"

Kagome was aghast that Sango would ask such a thing! But would it be such a bad idea? "I don't know Sango, he's very shy and fearful of anyone but me. And I don't know how he would take meeting someone so soon, considering the life he's had."

"I don't doubt you Kagome-chan, but I just want to know who he is; what kind of man he is that could light up your eyes and make you smile so bright."

Kagome lightly giggled, while her face heated up. The tension was slowly easing between them now. But the question was, how would InuYasha react to another human? It was hard to know for sure but maybe it would help them both, now that Sango knew and wouldn't dare to spill something as big and serious as this.

The hanyou knew something was urgent when he saw Kagome run from her house and into town. He followed her, aware of his surroundings yet very in tune with her feelings. She radiated concern, anxiety, dread and curiosity. Whatever it was, his female was in a rush to get to wherever. He saw her clutch something to her bosom and assumed that was what the problem was; and she was heading there.

He landed in a thick branch some away from the house Kagome went into. He picked up the wildflower scent that came from the other female she was with that other time. Knowing when to retreat back to safety and knowing Kagome was in no danger, he leaped away back into the woods, knowing the secret of that house.

After some time, his ears and nose picked up some sound coming his way. He immediately sensed his female's scent…and what was this? It was the wildflower scent as well! What the hell was going on? His body tensed, prepared for a hasty departure. He recognized Kagome's sweet voice but it was mixed with a certain tension, like she was nervous. But he knew that Kagome would never endanger him, she promised him. And he trusted her, but with someone else with her this time, he was puzzled. So he stayed put, if only to see Kagome and what was going on.

Kagome and Sango walked through the trees, the sun glistening on the glossy leaves above them while the stream sounded not too far away.

"Sango, promise me you won't say or even breath a word of this, okay?"

Sango grabbed her friend's shoulder; trying to appease her. "I won't Kagome. What kind of friend would I be if I revealed your biggest secret? I've never done so before and I won't start now."

Kagome was so nervous but she felt the slayer's sincere words and patted the hand on her shoulder. "Thank you Sango."

The two walked quietly to the place where Sango accidentally discovered the secret. Kagome halted her friend, silently pleading her not to move until she called and calmed her hanyou down. She walked into the clearing, knowing InuYasha was in the tree nearby.

"Inuyasha, please come out."

She knew asking him would get him down and in no time, she saw him land a few feet from her, his nose working over time while his eyes narrowed in confusion.

"Kagome, what's going on?"

His body was taut and she knew she had to tread cautiously with this. She rested her hand on his arm, feeling how nervous he was. "Inuyasha please listen to me." She looked back to where Sango was barely hidden from view. "My friend, the one I brought with me, she saw us yesterday as we were saying goodbye."

"What?" He knew the other female was here and it was making him extremely uncomfortable. "You know how I feel about humans, Kagome."

"I know. I know." Her arms encircled his sculpted waist, gaining his focus back. "I'm not trying to make this hard for you. But you must trust me when I say that I would never would put you in harm's way." Her hands then drifted to cup his face, to ease him by rubbing his cheeks. "I know I should've asked you and I'm sorry. I only found out about it this morning."

The combination of her words and soothing motions on his face was getting him to relax but he was still alert to the other presence hidden behind a tree. He gulped down and looked into her eyes; pleading with him to understand and have complete faith in her decision.

His hands gently touched hers and brought them down, holding her frail, silky smooth hands in his larger, rough yet gentle ones. "You know I trust you. I'm just confused about why you brought another human here."

She let a breath, releasing the anxiety and tension from her body. "She saw us and wanted to know why. I explained it to her and she swore that she would never, ever spill our secret. She's not the kind of person to do that."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes. I've known her for years. She's trustworthy and plus now, we have someone who knows about us and would defend us in case there ever was a need to. That makes me feel better that we someone on our side, don't you?"

She had a point. He still wasn't too keen on having another human know about him and his identity, but if it made Kagome feel safer, then who was he to judge? He knew his fear of human contact wouldn't magically disappear over night. He only felt completely safe with Kagome because she knew him better than anyone else ever could. She was worried for him and cared for him as deeply as his mother once did. And Kagome knew the other female well, so if she could put her faith in her keeping this hush-hush, then he might as well learn how to trust another human if Kagome was pleading with him. And maybe it wouldn't hurt, but Kagome's safety and wants came first so he relented.

And when both looked towards her hiding place, Sango stepped out quietly, her breathing calm and her posture relaxed. She didn't know it, neither did the couple, but this small union would help them more than they could ever realize in the future.

And another chapter complete! I thank you for reading it and make sure to tell me what you think about it! I look forward to hearing from you! An update for Unconditional Love will be tomorrow, and a new story by me and co-authored by Say0mi Saki-who wrote "All I Want For Christmas" will be out soon, so look out for that!

Anyway, Happy 2011 everyone! Ja Ne for now!