Disclaimer - Not mine, never was.

Later that evening, in Sango's village….

Sango was just slipping into the hot springs for a bath when she heard someone come down to the bank. She went out deeper into the water so that her whole body was covered up. She had on a two piece bathing suit that Kagome had given her, but she still thought it did not cover enough. She looked back and shook her head, grinning the whole time. There was only one person who would dare to peek on her while she bathed.

"What are you doing down here, Miroku?" she questioned. The monk only smiled easily and sat on a nearby boulder.

"Can a humble monk not take a walk by the bank of the springs in the evening sun, enjoying the beauty of natures creations?" he asked cheekily.

"A monk, yes." she said with a smile. "You, no." He grinned and shook his head.

"Come now, Sango." he said. "I am nothing but a modest monk."

"Right." she said, "And I'm the reincarnate of Naraku."

"I am in trouble then, am I not?" he asked with a smile. Sango smiled and moved closer towards the bank. She still kept herself covered, but when she got close enough to Miroku, she splashed him with the water and swam back into the center of the spring.

"Yes, I'd say you were in trouble." she smirked. Miroku wiped the water off of his face and smiled evilly at the girl.

"Now, I think you are the one in trouble." he said. He pulled off his robes in one quick movement and jumped into the water after her. Sango, not expecting him to come in after her, quickly swam in the opposite direction and hid behind some boulders. She came out of the water and looked around. Miroku was no where in sight. She looked around the rock and scanned the area for any sign of the monk.

"Where'd he go?" she whispered. She looked out from behind the boulder again, but when she felt a pair of hands grab her waist from behind, she knew where the monk was.

"Looking for me?" he asked. Sango put on a fake frown and turned around.

"Nope." she said.

"I do not believe that." he said, pulling her to him.

"Good. Because I didn't mean it." she whispered. Miroku smiled and kissed her.

"I did not think you did." he muttered. Sango nodded and laid her head on his chest. She felt his hands come to rest on the small of her back. He ran his hand up to where the bathing suit top tied in the back and frowned.

"What's the matter?" Sango asked.

"You've been borrowing Kagome's clothes?" he asked with a grin. Sango blushed and shook her head.

"At least with this, no one got a free show when I bathed." she said. Miroku grinned and shook his head. "I wonder how Inuyasha and Kagome are doing?" she asked after a few minutes. Miroku shrugged his shoulders.

"I do not know." he answered. "Kagome was going home for a few days when we left. She is probably still in the future. As for Inuyasha, there is no telling about him."

"Hmm. Wherever they're at, I hope they're happy." she said, hugging the monk.

"Are you happy, Sango?" he asked her. Sango looked at him and nodded.


"Yes, Miroku." she said softly. "I'm very happy." The monk smiled and held her closer. He was slowing breaking down what was left of her walls. Soon, she would be his forever, and he was going to make sure he didn't screw it up between now and then. Little did either of them realize exactly what their other two friends were doing at the moment, or what their decisions would wind up and cost the whole group of them.

Back at Kouga's Cave

The sun was setting when Kagome and Kouga came out of the cave. Kouga said nothing to her as they walked away from the cave. He could smell defiance and fear on her. She was ready to defend what she thought was right, and he could sense that. Kagome was lost in her own thoughts again. When they were a decent ways from the cave, Kouga stopped her.

"It will be easier to go undetected if I carry you." he said quietly. He did not want her to take it personally or anything, but he could not mask her scent if she stayed fifteen feet away from him.

"Fine." she said, walking over to the wolf and folding her arms. Kouga nodded and gathered her up in his arms, taking off into the evening air. Kagome watched as the colors splayed across the sky slowly began to fade into the night sky. The stars were coming out and the sliver of light that was the moon was in sight. The whipping wind pulled her hair from its tie and it whipped in the wind, trailing out behind them like a black beacon. She closed her eyes and waited for them to land.

Meanwhile, Kouga was trying his best to keep his own temper in check. He had already picked up on the hanyou's scent, as well as the miko's. He looked down to where he held Kagome close to him. He did not want to see her so upset, but she needed to know. And if this was the only way she would believe them, then so be it. He went downwind of where he knew they would be, just incase his scent might trickle down. He set down inside a small clearing and let Kagome go. The girl was a little unsteady at first, but she soon regained her sense of balance. Kouga put his finger to his lips, signaling for her to keep from speaking. Taking her hand, he led her silently through the bushes until he was sure she could hear the voices on the other side of the bushes. He must have been right, because he saw Kagome's face go from unbelieving to angry to hurt to disappointed in about two seconds flat.

"Are you ready?" he whispered. Kagome nodded and he took her up to the top of the cherry tree they were standing by. When he got her up there, he watched as she slowly looked down into the clearing, taking in exactly what she had feared……..

A/N - Okay. How's that one going? Hope you guys enjoyed.

Thank you guys.