Hey guys! Sorry, this time I don't have enough time to reply to reviews, but I will in my next update! I promise! I have to go out of town, to PA to see my grandparents, and aunts and uncles. I will be gone for about two weeks....so there will not be any updates, what-so-ever. My grandparents have no computer, and neither does anyone else. So, I'm really sorry, but I will be working hard on all of my stories, so when I get back, I will have an update for you, I promise!

Well, now I have to go pack, I'm really sorry again. This is going to kill me that I can't update.... I'm ify about how this chapter turned out. Everyone, please be honest with what you think about this chapter....I don't think I did Sango and Miroku any justice on this chapter....and If you guys aren't happy with it either, I think I'm going to re-post when I get back.

Well, I have to go now, have a nice rest-of-the-summer break. And (shortpoet) I WANT YOU TO UPDATE ASAP!!! (LOL) Thanks for the heads up about Night Vision. I am working on that now...thanks girl bye!



Silent Screams PG-13 Romance/ Suspense/ Action Adventure

Chapter Seven Emotional Baggage



She stammered.

"M-m-Miroku, are you serious? Or are you just being yourself?" She asked. The expression on his face was serious, and the look in his eyes made her question him. Question whether or not he was being serious, or not. He looked serious enough, to if she had just met him, she would have believed him. She felt her fingers tighten on his as she looked into his dark eyes; so full of something she couldn't identify. Something she never saw in his eyes before.

"As many times as I have asked women that question, I have never been more serious than I am now."

Sango felt her heartbeat quicken. He hadn't said those three words, but she could see it in his eyes. She took a step forward, her eyes never leaving his. She didn't answer him, but he didn't care. She knew what he meant. And right now, that was his goal.

Slowly, she disengaged their fingers, and wrapped her arms around his chest, and she felt his arms wrap around her waist. She rested her head against his chest, hearing his steady heartbeat.



"So that's all?"

It was now sunset, and the day had fallen fast. Sango and Miroku had returned happy and flustered, but refused to say what for. Sango and Kagome passed a silent message to each other, promising to tell each other everything at the hot springs that night. Now, as they all sat around the fire in Kaede's hut, they began to question her about what happened.

Kagome hesitated at the hanyou's question, then nodded.

"Yep, that's all."

"So, this gun thingy you were talkin' bout', what is it exactly?" Inuyasha opened his eyes, and from the corner where he was perched, Kagome saw the fire flicker across his face, lighting it from the shadows in the corner. She unconsciously touched her hand about her breast, on her wound where the bandages were, thinking.

"Well....it's hard to explain. You know how the Tetsaiga and slay a hundred demons?" He nodded and she continued. "Well, a gun is kind of like that. It's this metal weapon that holds metal bullets. When you pull a trigger, the bullets are fired out and into the opponent. Like what happened to me...." She trailed off, her mind flashing back to Bobby when he caught her first intended bullet. The group saw pain flash across her eyes, and she knew that everyone but Sango and Lady Kaede thought it was from her gun wound.

"Feh, they can't beat my Tetsaiga," Inuyasha said, holding the hilt of his sword.

"Well, I think Kagome and I should go take a dip in the hot springs. That good with you, Kagome?" Sango looked at her friend from across the fire, and stood when Kagome nodded. Grabbing two towels, she helped Kagome to stand from her position on the floor.

"We will be back later, Inuyasha." Kagome said, looking over at Inuyasha.

Miroku stood and walked toward the two women. They eyed him wearily.

"You ladies might need protection." He said in mock innocence.

"No." They both said in unison.

"But what if-," He protested.

"We'll be fine."

"Are you-,"

"Yes."

"I can go?"

"NO!"

Kagome winced. She didn't have her strength back, and she didn't have near enough strength to argue, or yell. Miroku saw and he backed off, but not before Inuyasha clobbered him over the head.

"Stupid Monk! Now look what you did!"

Kagome smiled faintly at Inuyasha, and he blushed slightly, looking away, acting miffed. But she knew he wasn't. His arms were across his chest, his hands inside opposite sleeves, his foot on the Monks head.

Sango and Kagome walked out of the hut, and Kagome took a deep breath, her heart racing. Seeing Inuyasha so close to her, made her mind fuzzy and her heart race. Her mind strained to remember something that he said....and she had said. But she couldn't remember. Shrugging she tossed the thought to the back of her mind, when she felt Sango's arm link around her hers

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Sango asked, holding the two towels, as they headed towards the springs.

"Are you?" Kagome shot back, a grin on her face. She playfully poked her friend when she saw her blush.

"Sango! What is it?" "It's Miroku...." "I knew it! Okay spill." Kagome felt herself relax as she and Sango headed towards the hot springs. Being with her best friend, listening to her talk, just made her feel better. It was like they were sisters, and grew up with each other. Sango told her about Miroku, and how they kissed in the little room for the first time. She blushed every time Kagome told her to 'go on,' or 'so?'. Every now and then Sango would have looked away from Kagome's face, like she wasn't telling her something. By the third time, Kagome stopped walking and turned her friend to face her.

"What's wrong?"

"Um...." Truth be told, the taijiya actually looked ashamed, but what for, the miko couldn't guess. "It's just....you know how I said, Miroku kissed me while you were fighting for your life?" Kagome nodded, and then it dawned on her. But Sango kept going, as if she needed to get it off her chest. "Well....my thoughts were all scattered, and after I realized what had happened, I was ashamed. You were in the next room fighting for your life, and I felt like I betrayed you in some way. Not being there with you. But I- ,"

Kagome silenced her friend with a sisterly hug, and Sango pulled back after returning the embrace, her face surprised. "I'm glad you two finally got your feelings out in the open," Kagome said, a smile on her face. "I really am," She added, after Sango's mouth opened the reply.

Ten minutes later, as they sat in the hot springs, Kagome leaned back on a rock, closing her eyes. She knew Sango was going to ask her what really happened, but she couldn't help praying that she would have forgotten.

Nope.

"Kagome....what happened? After I left you, I mean." Sango sounded a little angry that Kagome made her leave, and she opened her eyes. Sango was staring at her from a couple feet away, running her fingers through her long, silky, black tresses.

Kagome sighed. "I'm sorry I made you leave, but you didn't realize what kind of danger you were in."

"We fight demons every day, Kagome. I'm a demon exterminator, how could I not of helped you?"

"Guns. They aren't like anything you have ever even seen or heard of before. The damage they can do is extensive. One bullet, can kill a person." Kagome saw from Sango's expression, that she didn't need to explain to her what a gun was. The fact that one 'bullet' thing, could kill a person, was apparently all she needed.

"And are those what we heard that night?" She asked, her expression slightly puzzled.

Kagome nodded. "Yeah, they are. After you left....one of the attackers, grabbed me from behind. Bobby," her voice cracked slightly, "Was still there....and then, another guy showed up. The one guy that was holding me, threw me down, and the new guy aimed his gun at me....he shot it....and...." The first gunman appeared, a gun in his hand, a cocky smile on his face. He looked Kagome over, his eyes glazed with lust and the need for blood. Bobby shoved her behind him, his eyes hard and cold.

"Don't even think...about touching her...or you wont live to regret it." His voice was dangerous, his gaze unwavering. But before either of them could do anything, she was grabbed from behind, spun around so she was facing the person that took her.

Her scream attracted Bobby, and he turned swiftly, his gaze falling on the person holding Kagome by her hair, pulling her head back to expose her neck. He saw the guy take his gun and placed the barrel on her neck, and he watched in horror as she struggled against the man's grip.

The guy laughed.

'Feisty one isn't she? I can see why she's so important to you.' The guy lowered his own head, so his breath was on her neck. His eyes, however, were watching Bobby, to see his reaction, and he was caught off guard when Kagome rammed her elbow into his chest. His hold broke on her, but not before he shoved her to the floor.

'Kagome!'

Before he could run to her, another guy appeared, seven feet away from them, his eyes glittering madly with the passion for bloodshed, and his gun aimed at Kagome.

Sitting up, she was defenseless, as the gun went off. Next thing she knew, she was on her feet, watching Bobby jump in front of the bullet, heard his moan and watched him fall to the floor. Guns fired again.

"Bobby!! No!!"

She dove to the ground to avoid the string of bullets that seemed to round forever. Slowly, she found the image before her eyes dissolve. Sango was now beside her, one arm around her shoulder. It took a minute to realize she was crying. Tears were streaming down her face. Sango respected her by not saying anything, knowing that Kagome would tell her what was wrong when she could. After about five minutes, Kagome took a deep breath and smiled shakily at her friend.

"Bobby....took a bullet for me." It was all she said for the moment, and she felt Sango remove her arm from her shoulders and her eyes followed her as Sango moved in front of her. "I don't understand...bullet?" Kagome nodded, and wiped her face free of tears, but she could feel more pressing behind her eyes. "You know how Inuyasha jumps in front of attacks if one is coming at me?"

Sango nodded.

"Well, Bobby did that for me. When the guy used his weapon," She summed it up, figuring Sango would understand it better than using her words, "It was aimed at me, to take the bullet. I was supposed to die, not Bobby!" She felt more tears fall down her cheeks, but she furiously brushed them away. Anger flashed in her eyes, mixing with her pain. "They killed him." She heard Sango's sharp intake of breath, but continued as if she heard nothing. Her eyes were fixed on Sango, but it looked like she was looking through her. "They killed him. He jumped in front of the bullet, because of me. It's all my fault. I watched him die. He died when I was with him!"

She fell to her knees hard, but the pain didn't register. A pool of blood underneath him spilled out onto the light colored hard wood floor making her nauseous, but she didn't leave him. She looked at his chest, where the wound was. The bullet cut clean through his chest, damn close to his heart. Too close. She looked at his shirt which was matted with his blood, the fabric stained dark. She reached for his hand; she didn't miss the icy feeling that seemed to transfer from his hand to her heart. Prying it open in excruciating pain and lodging itself in her heart.

"Bobby....c'mon baby open your eyes...say something..." Her voice, soft whispered pleading was picked up by the wind and carelessly thrown away, like it was laughing at her. Her heart skipped a beat as his eyes opened and he moaned in pain. She leaned forward slightly and squeezed his hand gently.

"Hey...baby, you alright?" His voice was weak, his breathing shallow and ragged. He looked up at her his ice blue eyes concerned. She shook her head vigorously.

"I'm fine, but how could you do that? I can't believe you! How could you...just..."She trailed off, tears she was trying desperately to hold in, now streaming down her cheeks, and she didn't bother to wipe them away.

His hand released hers and reached up to touch her cheek. She leaned in to his caress and closed her eyes, willing herself to stop crying.

Her dress was torn, and stained with his blood and hers; hers only because of glass splinters, but she didn't care. She opened her eyes when he moved his hand from her cheek to the back of her neck.

"C'mere," his voice husky, but she heard the wheezing in his lungs. His voice was so gentle, so tender, that she almost broke down again. He was dying and there was nothing she could do about it. His life was slipping from her fingers and she couldn't grasp it.

She leaned forward and her electric blue streaked, ebony hair fell to her side, spilling across his chest, over his wound, but she didn't notice, for he started talking.

"I...just want...you to know..." he paused, taking in a shuddering breath, his eyes clouded with pain for an instant, but then they returned clear, he knew what was happening, knew what he was saying, "..Ai Shiteru, Kagome....don't...forget it." He grinned boyishly up at her, and she felt tears slide down her cheeks, one landing on his cheek and she leaned down, pressing her lips against his.

She wished time would stand still just so she could savor this one last moment of peace for both of them, but knew if she could get that wish, she wouldn't do it. Then he would be in everlasting pain, and she couldn't bare that. He kissed her back just as passionately, and she knew they were both thinking the same thing. She pulled away blinking back tears and smiled faintly at him.

"I love you too, Bobby."

She watched as his eyes closed, his chest lowered with his last breath, felt his hand fall from her neck, and his life slipped between her fingers She shook her head. The feeling that she was there again, was so strong, she could smell the blood. His musky cologne, seemed to engulf her, and the blood on her hands...his blood...his blood on the tips of her hair....she could see it. Dripping into the hot springs, turning the clear water blood red.

She felt her heart beating erratically in her chest, and she felt her wound throb with pain. But she welcomed the pain. She thought it would be a diversion to the scene she had just remembered. But it wasn't. She screamed in half frustration, half sadness, and sunk underwater, holding her self their for a minute. She scrubbed her hands together, and the tips of her hair, trying to get rid of the blood her mind had tricked her with. She felt her chest heave with its need of air, but she didn't want to come back to the surface. Breaking the surface would mean, she would have to come back to reality. She would see those two haunting scenes replay itself in her mind, over and over again. She didn't want to do that. But, fate wouldn't allow it. She felt hands grip her forearms hard and yank her up.

As soon as she broke the surface, she gasped for air. She looked up and saw Sango's brown eyes narrowed in concern and anger. "What were you doing, Kagome?!" Her voice was angry, but Kagome knew she was just worried.

She didn't answer, however. I mean, what could I say?!, she thought. I wish she would have left me down there.... "I'm sorry...." Kagome whispered, looking at her friend. "I loved him Sango. Not like you love Miroku, but...."

Sango blushed furiously. "Hey, I never said I-,"

"Oh stop it. You know you love him. I can see it in your eyes!" She smiled at her friend.

"Promise me, Kagome, that you won't EVER do that again!" Sango's face was serious, and her hands were still on Kagome's forearms. At first Kagome didn't say anything. "Promise me, Kagome! Please, I don't know what I would do If I lost you too." Sango's voice sounded as if she was trying to keep her emotions in check, and Kagome couldn't help but give her friend a hug.

"Promise." Kagome whispered. But something in the back of her mind, still tried to break its way through. What did Inuyasha say to her?

TO BE CONTINUED