Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha.

Chapter 14- Two Shards

"Bankotsu, is there something troubling you?"

"I just wonder if this is all worth it. Kagome is going to give the wish from the jewel to Inuyasha. And since he doesn't know that Kagome is going to die in a month, he'll probably bring back Kikyo. Actually, she seemed to think that even if he knew the truth he'd still let her die to bring Kikyo back."

They were both walking side by side through the dark forest. Sankotsu didn't answer for a few moments. When she did they had reached a stream and stopped.

"Kagome promised that wish to Inuyasha when they met. Of course she will not go back on her word. You can't exspect a good person like Kagome to do so. And I know that Kagome feels that Inuyasha loves Kikyo more than her. Which is not true. Inuyasha loves Kagome very much. Kagome fears that if she does in fact tell him the truth that she will find her fear to be true. That Inuyasha really will choose Kikyo and let her die. Another part of her knows that he very might well choose to keep her alive. She doesn't want this. She wants him to bring back Kikyo because she feels that it is her fault Kikyo is dead. She thinks Inuyasha blames her and therefore she blames herself."

"How do you know all of this?"

"I spent time with Kagome. And although, she never told me that is how she feels I know it to be true. When she looked into the lake to See things I could see the way she feels through her eyes. I told you I have special gifts. And that is one of them. I can always tell what a person feels through their eyes."

"Really? Then what do I feel?"

"Right now, you feel that you want to believe me because that explains the way Kagome acted towards you. But you also want it to be a lie. You don't want Kagome to feel the guilt that you now feel."

"Why did it take me all this time to feel the way I do? Why couldn't I feel it when I was killing all those people and youkai? I could have stopped myself."

"You already know the answer to that."

"I wanted the fame and glory of it all. And I liked it. I enjoyed watching those people scream and beg for their lives. Unless I was torturing them then they would beg for death. But still, why do I feel bad about it now? Why am I not the same as I was before?"

"That is a simple. That reason is Kagome. She needed help and now you are here. Our fates are already made we just fulfill them the best way that we can."

"Come on, we should get going."

"You're not a monster. And Kagome doesn't see you as one. That is your past. And that's what she see's it as."

"Did she ever you know...look into my past?"

"No, she did not. Not becasue she's ashamed, but because she believes that person is gone."

"Do you sense any shards Kagome?"

"No." 'But I wish I knew where Bankotsu was. Maybe I was wrong for what I did. Maybe I should have explained more or something.'

"KAGOME!"

"What?"

"Would you please pay attention?"

"Could you please stop being so insensitive?"

"No."

"Then I guess I can't pay attention."

Miroku, Sango, Shippou and Kirara all looked at each other. They all sat down on whatever they could find, whether it be a rock or tree stump and braced themselves for the fight they knew was about come.

"Feh, why do you have to be such a wench?"

"I guess for the same reason that you have to be such a baka!"

Everyone exspected Kagome to start crying and to run away. But she didn't. She held her ground.

Inuyasha seemed lost for words. He opened his mouth and closed it several times before deciding it would be better not to say anything at all for fear of hearing the words he very much dreaded 'sit'.

But Kagome didn't sat anything at all. She just turned around and kept going down the path they had been traveling on. Everyone jumped up and began following. Inuyasha jumped into the trees deciding it would be best to keep some distance form Kagome.

'They all act as if I did nothing wrong. How can they just except me back when I am a monster? Even if most of those people were brought back, I still killed them. And what about Kikyo? It's all my fault she's dead. If I had never felt such strong dislike towards her maybe I wouldn't have did what I did. It wasn't her fault Inuyasha loved her. And it isn't Inuyasha's fault either. You can't help who you love, right?'

"Lady Kagome?"

"Huh, oh, yes Miroku?"

"I was just wondering how it is that Lady Morshio is it? Yes, well, I was wondering how did she find a way to bring you back to this world without you needing souls to keep you here? And as far as I've heard your body is completely human. It seems she brought you back truely to life. Did she mention how?"

"No, she didn't. Of course, that would probably be because I didn't think to ask. I guess I was just glad to be back."

"Of course, I know had I been in your possition it would have been the last thing on my mind.."

Inuyasha listened to the conversation. He could hear his brother's word going through his mind over and over.

"So, you brought this one back? Well, I hope you enjoy your short month."

'What had he meant when he said that? Enjoy your month? Did that mean Kagome only has a month to live? Why wouldn't she tell us abou this?'

Then another thought came to him. And it became clear to him why Kagome had lied.

"Inuyasha, you don't have to act any different towards me. Unless...well, Id understand it if..."

"If what?"

"If you're mad about Kikyo."

"Feh, I told you I'm not so shut up about it."

'She still thinks I'm mad about it. She wants me to bring Kikyo back and let her die so it can make up for what she did to me. Feh, and people think I'm not that smart. I figured all of this out on my own. But now what should I do? Maybe I should tell everyone else? But what would Kagome do then would she leave? I can't take that chance. And that must be part of th ereason Bankotsu left. He didn't like Kagome not telling us. How did I figure this out on my own?'

Sankotsu couldn't help but laugh out loud as she and Bankotsu walked along beside one another. he looked at her with a puzzled expression and waited for her to explain what was so funny to her.

"It seems a certain half-demon doesn't have much faith in himself."

"What?"

"I didn't realize just how much of my power I could use. You see I can read minds. I couldn't read Kagome's because she had her own block up that I'm sure she didn't realize she had. She still has that block and I suspect that has something to do with her miko powers. However, Inuyasha doesn't have such a block. I knew that Inuyasha would need to know the truth about Kagome. But I didn't realize until I tried that I'd be able to help him figure it out on his own. When I meet Miroku I shall have to thank him for his curiosity."

"I still don't think I fully understand..."

"Miroku was very interested in how Lady Morshio managed to bring Kagome back without needing souls. This conversation made it east for me to push the memory of what Sesshomaru said into the front of his mind until he realized what it meant. Then, I helped him realize why Kagome would lie."

"I guess Inuyasha thinks he's some kind of genius?"

"Actually, he's wondering how he figured it out without help. Inuyasha is very intelligent, but he has his friends for a reason. That just proves more about how our destiny's are already written."

"I bet it's going to kill him that he can't tell anyone."

Sankotsu gave another laugh. "I think you are right about that."

Sango couldn't help but glance at Miroku every few seconds.

'What happened between us? Is there anything at all between us or am I just imagining it? Maybe he was just trying to be a good friend? Of that's true then I'm in trouble. I know we've always been close friends, but I can't help but feel something more for him. Do I love him as more than a friend?'

"Hey, Sango maybe you should stop running since we just decided to stop."

Sango stopped as Kagome smiled at her. It was a smile that knew too much.

"Sorry, I was just thinking." Sango was glad that no one but Kagome seemed to realize how consumed she had been.

"Thinking about what?"

"Nothing, important."

"It must have been important if you hadn't even realized we were resting. Actually, I can't help but tell you that I was the one that suggested we stop. And that I did it because I saw how you were looking at a certain someone."

"I, uh, I..."

"Sango you are my best friend and I hope that I am yours. You don't have to tell me anything, but you might feel better if you had another person's outlook."

"It's just. well I don't know how Miroku feels about me. I mean, we had a few, moments, when you guys were all gone. But I don't know if he was just being a good friend."

"Sango it had been obvious for a long time now that you and Miroku are in love with each other. And I say in love, because you don't just love him like I do. As a brother and a friend. You are romantically in love with him. And I can promise that he feels the same way. I know Miroku has strange and innapropriate ways of showing his affection, but he does love you."

Sango smiled, but that faded away when she saw the look on Kagome's face. "What is it?"

"Two shards coming fast!" She yelled out. Inuyasha sniffed the air.

"Damn it! Why does he always have to come running at the worng time?"

A moment later Kouga came and stood in front of Kagome.

(A/N: I am not sure if I mentioned anything in earlier chapters about Kouga and his two shards. I scanned through all the chapters but I didn't see anything sp I'll assume that I didn't. If I did ignore it. Sorry for the inconveniance, I'll get back to the chappie now!)

"What the hell do you want?"

"Hello, my sweet Kagome." Kouga said ignoring Inuyasha.

"Hi, Kouga."

Inuyasha drew Tetsaiga and jumped in front of Kagome.

"I've been waiting for the oppotunity to kill you for a long time now. And since I don't think you;ll be giving your shards up willingly I'll just have to kill you for them."

"You'll be the one to die and then I'll take Kagome for my wife!"

"STOP!" They both stopped and starred in shock as Kagome came to stand back between them.

"Neither of you need to die. However, I do need to ask if you will give me your shards? We need them now." Kagome gave a sweet smile.

'Desperate times call for desperate measures. I have to get all of this taken care of before my month is over. I just have to act like I feel the same about him as he does me.'

"Of course if you need them Kagome I will give them to you." Kagome walked closer to him and knelt down. She put her hands in front of his legs and the first shard came into her hand. She then did the same to the second. She stood up and kissed Kouga on his cheek.

"Thanks for your help. And I have to ask you another favor."

"Anything you want?"

"I need you to go and find Naraku. We need to find the shards and since you are the strongest youkai I know of it would be really nice to have Naraku found."

"Of course. I'll be back soon Kagome!" And before Inuyasha could say anything he was gone. Although not as fast as he had before.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ABOUT!"

"Well, obviously I just did that to get rid of him. I have a feeling that our time is running out. So pick your chin up off of the ground and let's get going!"

Hope you enjoyed that chappie! Please review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!