A/N: The review system has finally been fixed... and my life has finally settled down a little. Spring Break is so close... Anyway, I just wanted you all to know I appreciate your patience... You won't have to wait as long for chapter 17, I promise.

Golden Fire
Chapter 16: Realization

Sesshoumaru crossed his arms. "I already have made one deal this month that I do not care for. I am not about to make another one." He appeared contemplative for a moment. "Unless you have something particularly unique to offer." He stretched out his restored arm for emphasis.

Kagura smirked. "I see you've been returned to your previous... potency. I know that you plan to destroy Naraku anyway, why don't you get a little help?" She walked up and stopped only a foot in front of him. "We both get what we want. Naraku dies and I get my freedom."

"Let you live? Never!" yelled Kouga. He moved to attack, but Inuyasha and his wolf clan held him back.

"Shut up, wolf," muttered Inuyasha. "I hate her too, but Naraku is still the ultimate bad guy here."

Turning her eyes up to Sesshoumaru, Kagura smiled seductively. "I always knew you were the one that would help me kill Naraku. Maybe I can give you something else in return, in addition to my assistance in battle." She trailed a finger down the center of his chest.

Sesshoumaru watched for a moment and then said, "You are aware I have a mate."

"So?"

With wide eyes, I looked at Yuki. She was rolling her eyes and I could have sworn I heard her whisper 'slut' under her breath.

Sesshoumaru smirked and I knew he heard Yuki. "I will not dishonor her by sharing a bed with another woman."

"Who said anything about a bed?"

Yuki choked next to me. I looked at her in alarm and then realized she was trying to hold in her laughter. "Oh gods, I need a stiff drink. It would make this that much funnier."

Kagura glared at Yuki. "Why don't you let a real woman satisfy him?"

The Lady of the Western Lands stopped laughing, but didn't stop rolling her eyes. She stood up and brushed away the dirt from her leather jacket. "You know what? I don't want to deal with you right now. Or ever for that matter. You want him? Take him." She turned to me. "I'll catch up later. See you." With that, Yuki walked away into the forest.

Inuyasha snorted. "You know you're gonna pay for that later, right, Sesshoumaru?"

I glared at the hanyou. "What do you mean by that?"

"Feh. Women always make the guys pay for what isn't their fault."

"You're such a jerk!" I yelled.

"And you're just proving me right!" he yelled back.

"You..." I stopped. He had actually made a good comeback. I just frowned at him.

"Both of you, be quiet," Miroku said. He motioned to Kagura. "We still need to talk to our guest."

"No," said Sesshoumaru, "we don't." He glanced at Kouga, who had spent the last ten minutes seething as far from Kagura as possible. His eyes shifted to the rest of the wolf pack, who stood with downcast expressions. Finally, his gaze looked towards the forest where Yuki had disappeared. He stepped past Kagura. "We do not require your assistance in killing Naraku. I believe that a few of my companions want a chance to kill you in battle. And I, for one, do not need any help in battle." He kept his cold, unblinking eyes on her face.

Kagura sneered at him. "This was your one and only chance. If you try to take my life, I will fight you with everything I have."

"I'm sure they look forward to the challenge."

She sauntered up to him. "You lost your chance too."

"I believe I shall survive."

Kagura muttered rude things under her breath and made her usual exit as I watched Sesshoumaru. This was at least the third time I'd seen him be considerate of others. It couldn't all be because of his promise to help us, could it? He seemed to be the same Sesshoumaru, but at the same time, he wasn't.

"Oi! Wench! Are you coming or not?" Inuyasha called.

My head jerked up and the rambling thoughts were pushed out. The others were moving away. I sighed and got up to follow them.

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"Did Sesshoumaru really have to walk so darn fast?" I complained as I rubbed my sore feet.

Sango sighed. "I don't know, but I spent the day wishing Inuyasha was setting the pace. At least he stops when you 'sit' him." She collapsed onto the ground next to me. "Was it just me, or did he seem annoyed? I mean, more annoyed than usual?"

"Which one? Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha? They're both so grouchy."

"I heard that!" called Inuyasha from across the clearing in which we had stopped for the night. He walked off a little ways and jumped into the branches of a nearby tree.

I ignored him and lowered my voice to prevent demon eavesdropping. "Yuki never came back. Maybe that has something to do with it."

"Sesshoumaru did storm off as soon as the rest of us stopped," Sango agreed.

"What're you two ladies talking about, hmm?" Miroku sat down next to Sango, who immediately scooted away from him.

I gave him a cheery smile. "About Sesshoumaru and Yuki."

"Ah, yes. They are a strange pair, aren't they? But I believe they feel for each other more than they let on, but their pride and impetuous ways won't let them admit it." He winked at us. "Sounds like some other people I know."

My smiled disappeared and I glared at him. "That isn't funny." I stood up and walked away, out of the circle of warmth created by the fire.

After a few minutes of walking, I decided I shouldn't stray any further from the camp. If Inuyasha found out, he'd yell and then I'd have to 'sit' him. Then, there would be a fight. I really didn't want to fight with him right then. In fact, I never really wanted to fight with him. But he made me so mad at times!

I sighed and eyed a tree next to me. Grabbing a branch, I climbed up until the leaves concealed me from anyone on the ground. I now knew why Inuyasha liked to spend his time in trees. Not the most comfortable place, but I definitely felt safe.

Twenty minutes passed as I sat in the boughs of the tree. I couldn't think of anything but Inuyasha and how he looked when he was with Kikyo. They really made the perfect pair, and yet I insisted on preventing him from being with her. I had to stop being so selfish. He wasn't mine to take. What I told Shippou was true; Inuyasha would chose who to give his life to. He would give it to Kikyo. And Miroku had the gall to talk about pride separating us? Tears began to roll down my cheeks and I stared up into the top branches. Stars were peeking through the gaps, giving off a cold light.

"Do you think we should get Inuyasha? He could find her quickly with his sense of smell." Miroku's voice broke into my thoughts. I stiffened but then realized they couldn't see me, and, if I was careful, couldn't hear me either.

"No. He'll just get mad at her for going away, especially now that she has the Orb and the jewel," Sango answered. I mentally hit myself. How could I be so careless? I didn't even have a weapon with me.

There was a pause and I could tell that they had stopped walking. "The thing is," said Miroku, "I wasn't really talking about her and Inuyasha being too proud to admit their feelings."

Another pause, and then I heard Sango's short, indignant laugh. "Monk, you surely can't be talking about yourself? Because you're the one person who has never had a problem admitting his feelings."

"I'm not talking about asking women to bear my child, Sango." He sounded slightly annoyed.

"Then what are you talking about, Miroku?" Sango asked. I nearly gasped. She rarely said his name, preferring 'monk' or 'pervert'.

"I'm saying that it's time to my own pride aside. We have the Orb, but that doesn't guarantee our survival. I'd imagine that the seer told Kagome things she didn't want to hear, and that might include our death." He took and deep breath and pushed it all out. "Sango, I love you." Sango gasped, but Miroku just continued. "I just wanted you to know that before we faced death... again. And I wanted you to know that if we live through this, I want to marry you. Only you. And I want you to know that as much as I would like you to bear my child, if I was with you, I wouldn't need a child to fulfill my life. If I was with you, that's all I would need."

There was a third pause and I could imagine Miroku was as tense as I was at that moment. My chest felt cold and I realized it was drenched in tears. I didn't know if they were happy tears or sad tears.

"Oh, Miroku," murmured Sango. I felt my heart wrench apart. She didn't sound elated at all. She sounded depressed. I craned my neck every way, trying to find a gap in the tree's foliage. No such luck.

"I see," answered Miroku in a low tone. I heard grass rustle as he took a few steps away. My mind was screaming in protest.

"I wasn't done. I didn't even start," pleaded Sango. "Miroku, do you have any idea how much agony I go through when you hit on other women? How horrible it is when you grope me and I think that I'm just another girl to you?" There was another rustle of grass. I pressed myself down onto the branch. Yes! I could see them from the chest up, facing each other. Sango had tears on her cheeks. "What I can't figure out, is how you erased all that pain with three words." She smiled at Miroku's shocked expression and hugged him. "I love you too," she whispered.

They pulled apart slightly and immediately came back together in a kiss. I hugged the tree branch in happiness.

Before things got any more serious, Miroku gently pushed Sango away. "Sorry, love," he murmured with a smile, "but I sense a demon aura. I think it's Shippou, and you know how he is with secrets."

Sango arched her eyebrow. "Secrets?"

He gave her a chaste kiss. "I don't think I want to share this good news quite yet. I want you to myself for awhile." His smile faded. "And remember, we still have to live through the battle before we can go through with our marriage."

Sango nodded. "Let's get back then. We'll send Inuyasha to find Kagome if she doesn't arrive by the time dinner is ready."

They left my sight and I let out a long sigh. I was kind of glad they left. I didn't want to see what Miroku was like after a girl actually accepted him. I leaned back on the trunk again. Let Inuyasha find me and yell. I was tired and happy. My friends were together and in love. I knew that seeing Kikyo and Inuyasha together wouldn't even get me depressed at this moment.

I closed my eyes. A breeze played across my face and I shivered. Oh well, I should go back anyway. Maybe I could convince Inuyasha to give me his haori. I was always able to sleep better with it over my shoulders.

Opening my eyes, I yelped. Golden orbs were staring at me. I focused my vision. "Sesshoumaru!"

He was standing on a branch a few feet below mine. "What are you doing out here, wench? You are endangering us all."

"Sorry... sheesh. I'm going back right now." I swung myself down until I reached the forest floor. "Have you found Yuki yet?" I called.

He landed in front of me. "No. The woman hides herself well."

Miroku's words from the fireside came back to my mind. I grinned. Let's shoot for two successes tonight. "She really respects you," I said casually.

"As she should. That is her responsibility as my mate." He paused again and narrowed his eyes. "If you are attempting to play match-maker, you are wasting your time. We have an understanding. I will protect her, honor our union and she will give me an heir." He looked at the crumpled grass nearby and sniffed. I knew he could smell Sango and Miroku, and probably knew exactly what had transpired. "Yama was an arrogant bastard, but he had a point. I need a child to take my place. Yuki knows this. Do not interfere, Kagome."

I blinked. That was the second time he had called me by name. I tilted my head. "Are you so sure about your understanding, Sesshoumaru? You treat Rin decently, you consider your travelling companions' feelings, you protect us, and you call me by name." I smiled at him. "You even stay and have a conversation with me. It's a nice change."

He snarled and slammed me against a tree trunk. His eyes glowed a soft red. "I am not going soft, wench! Stay out of my life, and I won't end yours." With that, he walked away.

I slid down to the ground and rubbed my spine, where a bruise would inevitably appear. "Yup," I muttered to myself, "he definitely loves her."

A/N: We're coming close to the end, so I needed to put the romance part of this fic into higher gear. (After all, this is primarily romance... action/adventure is its secondary genre.) Oh, and don't think I've forgotten about answering the Fluffy mystery.