Disclaimer: I love Inuyasha but sadly I don't own him. T_T

One More Night

Chapter 3: Out of the Shadows

Inuyasha and Miroku stood looking in the direction that the girls had gone for quite a while.  It was Miroku who finally broke the silence.

"What do you suppose that was about?"

"Who cares?  Just let them go have their little attitude problem somewhere else.  Doesn't bother me.  OUCH!  What the hell was that for, Monk?!"  Miroku had smacked Inuyasha over the head with his staff.  Inuyasha gave him a glare then turned his back towards Miroku.

"That," Miroku began, "was for having an attitude problem of your own.  And this," Miroku hit him again.

"OUCH!  Damn you, Monk!  You're going to regret that!"  Inuyasha lunged at Miroku who casually sidestepped him, causing Inuyasha to fly face first into the ground.

"That, my friend, was for lying."

Inuyasha looked up at him from his extremely undignified position on the ground.  "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Oh come on now, Inuyasha.  You are telling me you truly don't care about the girls."  Miroku smirked and turned so he could see the expression on Inuyasha's face at the next comment he was about to make.  "You don't care about…Kagome?"

Inuyasha's jaw hit the ground, which wasn't hard since he was still down there.  But in the blink of an eye he was on his feet and in Miroku's face.  He went to yell at him but no words came out.  "I…um…she…and…well…KEH!"  He didn't dare turn his back again for fear that he might get hit once again.

"So you do care!?" Miroku said quite amused at the bumbling sight before him.

"Of course not!!  She's just my jewel detector!  That's the only reason I would, or possibly could care.  OUCH!"  Miroku hit him once again with his staff.  "Miroku," began Inuyasha quite calmly.  "You know, you're really starting to piss me off!"

"No, Inuyasha.  It is you who is making me angry."

"What?!"

"I can't believe that Kagome is just a 'jewel shard detector' to you."

"Keh!  What's there not to believe?!"

"If you continue lying about your feelings you WILL push Kagome away for good."

"I'm not lying!  And I'm not pushing her away!"

"I hope you realize, Inuyasha, that you only have two people convinced that you don't have feelings for Kagome."

"…"

"Those two people are you and Kagome."

"Watch it Monk!  I do not…I repeat, do not…have feelings for Kagome!!!"

"Fine Inuyasha!" Miroku exclaimed completely exasperated.  He threw his hand up in the air and walked towards the hut.  "I give up.  Maybe you'll figure it out before Kagome returns to her era for good."

"Whatever," mumbled Inuyasha.  He took off running in the direction of the Sacred Tree.  He did not feel like putting up with Miroku anymore.  'Who does that Monk think he is, telling me how I feel?  He couldn't be more wrong.  I don't just like Kagome.  I care more for her than anything else…more than anything.  I would die if it meant protecting her.  Miroku doesn't understand half of what I feel about her.' 

Inuyasha arrived at the sacred tree.  He looked at the scar embedded deep in the bark of the tree.  The scar that showed the place where Kikyou had pierced his chest with the arrow and where it had penetrated the tree.  He placed his hand upon the scar.  Suddenly memories flooded into his head.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha said just above a whisper.  "It was you.  You were the one that saved me.  You brought me back from that eternal hell.  I was trapped.  Stuck, sleeping, attached to this tree.  That spell was supposed to last for all of eternity, but you woke me up.  Even after that you continued to save me from…myself.  You didn't use brute strength.  You don't need to.  Your strength comes from your heart.  That heart is what has saved me.  When my mother died I was alone.  Shunned by humans because I'm half demon.  Tormented by demons because I'm half human.  A part of both worlds but belonging to neither.  So I shut out the world.  It didn't want me, so I didn't want any part of it.  However, I trudged on with my life searching for the sacred jewel.  Then my search brought me to Kikyou.  I thought I could be with her.  I thought I loved her.  I thought she love me.  No, she loved what I could have been…a human.  She made the suggestion and I had no doubts.  I knew I could be with her, but of course nothing is that easy.  Our trust was broken on that one day fifty-two years ago.  When you woke me up I had crawled back into my shell.  But slowly, unknowingly you coaxed me out.  You showed me there is good in some people…even myself.  I don't feel so worthless anymore.  You accepted me for who I am…both human and demon.  I began to trust, and even perhaps love again.  Kagome…What have you done to me?  Like…no, I don't like you.  Kagome…I love you.  I really do.  If only I could find the courage to tell you.  I…Love…You,"

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Meanwhile in the Forest

Kagome and Sango walked down the path that cut straight through the forest.  The air was still relatively warm even though the sun had almost completely sunk below the horizon.  The only light they had to guide them was coming from the half full moon over head.  The girls carefully made their way down to the hot spring.

"I can't believe those two!  They're just…just impossible!" shouted Kagome.

"Well…you know what happened between Miroku and I, but what did go on between you and Inuyasha?" questioned Sango.  She watched a wave of emotions fly across her friend's face as Kagome sank deep into her thoughts.  Sango did not want to push her friend to hard to telling her what had happened just yet if she wasn't ready.  So Sango decided to wait a while.

The girls arrived at the hot springs.  They removed their clothes and placed them with their towels near the bank so they could reach them easily but not so close that they would get wet.  Kagome grabbed the bathing supplies and they both submerged themselves into the steamy water.  Sango looked concernedly at her friend.  Kagome now wore a depressed look across her normally cheery face.  Sango could swear she was about to cry. 

'That stupid Inuyasha,' thought Sango.  'I know this is because of something he said.  Why does he do that?  I swear he has foot in mouth disease!' 

"Um…Kagome?"  Sango timidly called out to her friend not wanting to upset her more. 

However, Kagome still didn't respond.  She was too wrapped up in her thoughts.  'He was holding my hand?!  We were so close.  His eyes…his golden eyes…were staring into mine.  He had such a sad sorrowful expression.  Was he sorry for arguing, insulting, and hurting me?  Was that look meant for me or was he simply looking through me?  Was he seeing someone besides me standing in front of him?  Kikyou?  Probably, but…what would have happened if Shippo hadn't come?  Would he…could we…possibly…have…'

"Earth to KAGOME!!!"

Kagome was startled out of her thoughts by Sango's sudden outburst which reminded her that she was not alone.

"Oh!  Sorry Sango!" smiled Kagome with forced enthusiasm. 

"Kagome…are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine!"

Sango gave Kagome a curious stare while Kagome sweat dropped.  Sango decided to change the subject back to the original topic.  "So what did happen between you and Inuyasha?"

"Oh, just the normal.  He called me weak again…so I sat him."

Sango rolled he eyes suppressing a chuckle.  "That's all?"

"Mmm-hmm…"  Kagome purposefully left out the rest of the details.  She didn't want to spill anything in case she was reading too much into his actions.  "So…" Kagome began, once again in her usual cheery voice, "Miroku tried to grope you again?"

"What else?  I knocked him out earlier but he came to and did it again!"

Kagome giggled.  "I think he likes you Sango!"  Kagome ducked narrowly avoiding the smack that she would have received to the on the back of her head from Sango.  "By your reaction I would say you like him too!"  Kagome ducked again.  Sango was completely red from head to toe.  Suddenly Kagome broke out in a fit of giggles.  A few moments later both girls were laughing hysterically.  They were too preoccupied to notice the pair of eyes watching them from a nearby bush.

Out of nowhere a huge, round figure appeared over the girls frightening them out of their laughter.  It was too dark to see what was about to attack them from overhead, but before the girls had time to scream, let alone realize what was happening, the creature dropped from the sky into the water creating a huge wave and almost drowning them both.  The girls made a mad dash for the bank when they surfaced, but before they could reach it a familiar pink-balloon-like-creature popped out of the water.  Kagome's face contorted with anger.

"Shippo!"

"Ta-dah!!!"  Shippo popped back into his original form and squealed with delight.  He was very proud of himself for being able to sneak up on them. 

In the blink of an eye both Kagome and Sango were surrounding him and glaring down at the suddenly nervous kitsune.  Kagome shot a mischievous glance at Sango who responded with a nod.  Shippo looked up a little frightened. 

'Uh-oh…maybe that wasn't such a good idea.'  He sweat dropped.  "Um…Kagome?  Sango?" 

With that the girls placed their hands on his head and dunked him under the water.  A few seconds later the girls released their hold and Shippo came up sputtering.  He looked up and by the look on Kagome and Sango's faces he knew his punishment was not over.  Kagome hit the water with her fists soaking the kitsune more than before.  Sango joined in on the relentless pummeling of poor Shippo, and before long the trio was waged in an all out water war.  It was every girl or kitsune for themselves.  They all forgot their anger and began to laugh one again continuing to splash each other and not caring what attention they drew to themselves. 

"Well…I guess I helped them fell better after all,' gloated Shippo.

There was, however, another figure lurking in the Shadows of the night.  It patiently watched the antics of the three.  It knew they were too distracted at the moment to notice his presence.  Still, he bid his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The splashing subsided, but the laughter continued on.  The shadow demon saw his opening.  He leapt from his hiding place, catching all three off guard.  Sango and Shippo both shrieked in fright, but the word that escaped Kagome's lips was, "INUYASHA!"

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Meanwhile at the Sacred Tree

"INUYASHA!"

"What?!"  Inuyasha was jolted from his thoughts when he heard his name echoing through the forest.  "That was Kagome!  She must be in trouble!" he screamed.  He leapt from the branch he was sitting on and took off as fast as his legs could carry him towards the hot springs. 

'I've got to save her!'  Just then a smell flooded into his nose.  'A demon!  Damnit!  I've got to get there fast!  How did I miss that scent before?!  Oh yeah, I was to preoccupied thinking about Kagome!  Damn wench!  She gets me thinking about her, then she goes and gets herself into trouble, and I'm too busy with my thoughts to realize it and save her!  What am I thinking?  I'm going to save her!  I have to!  I haven't told her what I wanted to yet!' 

"Hang on Kagome!  I'm coming!" screamed Inuyasha.  Then he smelled an all too familiar scent that he both hated and feared…blood…Kagome's blood.

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Yea!!!  My first Cliffy!!!  No lynching or flames let me explain first.  I was too excited about this Chapter to wait for anymore reviews.  I'm not going to make a habit of that, though.  All I want is to know if people are reading my story and if they like it.  Please! I would really appreciate it.  I don't want to write if people don't like my story.  Just tell me what you think, good or bad.  Ok, now about the Cliffy.  While waiting for reviews…AHEM…I was able to get the next two Chapters done.  So if you want to know what happens to Kagome, Sango and Shippo, then review.  I need at least 5 before I will post!  I don't want to beg.  Oh and I didn't get the chance to thank Zephor.  I love you forever!  You were my first reviewer!  Thank you!