Taking step by step, Miroku took his time getting back to the village. His thoughts centered on the young beauty he held so close.

'Her hair is really as soft as it looks.' A stray thought popped into his head as her hair caressed his arm.

His eyes wandering up and down her body, stopping at the cuts on her cheek. 'There cuts have something to do with her breakdown.'

Since Miroku had met Kagome and Inuyasha, and learned of Inuyasha's love for Kikyou, Kagome had always been strong. Always cheerful, even supporting Inuyasha the time Kikyou was kidnapped.

Yet Miroku could see past her emotional barrier, straight into the breaking heart of a young girl. With him being a monk, he could just about taste the many emotions that poured off of her.

They seemed to leak into his very own soul like tight chains that were slowly wrapping around him, squeezing the life out of him. And the key to the chains lay in the hands of Kagome, who knew nothing of what was happening in front of her own eyes.

Miroku let out something that could be heard as a grunt/groan as Kagome shifted in his arms, unconsciously rubbing her body against his. Not only did she affect his soul; she affected his body. Just a gentle brush against her sent shock waves throughout his being.

And her scent was so...he didn't have the words to describe the way her scent was. Even with his human senses, he could make out her scent upon dozens of others. It was that of a fresh rainfall and the ripened juices of the many fruits that grew in the forest. A few he could discern such as sweet melons, apples, and pears. The others were a mystery to him.

Miroku leaned down close to Kagome, and took in a deep breath, inhaling her scent. A calming sensation settled within him, and that's what he needed to keep his emotions under the surface.

Sango looked up from her meditation as the wind shifted around her. 'Miroku's back.' She thought rising to her feet, swinging Hiraikotsu on her back in the process.

Her long ponytail fluttered behind her as she made her way back to Kaede's hut to see Miroku carrying Kagome. Sango, at first glance, thought Kagome conscious and letting Miroku carry her and her jealously sparked.

Sango had always harbored feelings against Kagome, even though they were like sisters. She couldn't help herself, even if the feeling was small. She was jealous of Kagome, how innocent she was. Never having to have suffered through so much pain.

Never having to feel the disgusting way a sword sliced through flesh, spilling precious life-blood. Never having to watch her own father and comrades die at the very hands of her younger brother.

Sango blinked rapidly feeling tears form in her eyes. She shook her head and took another look at Kagome to see that she was indeed sleeping. She jogged up to Miroku.

"What happened?" Asked the taijiya.

"I do not really know. I found Kagome and she broke down, mumbling something about Inuyasha and Kikyou." The monk replied, stepping into the hut, and laying Kagome down on a mat in a corner.

'Uh oh.' Sango said to herself. 'That means she saw them together...poor Kagome.' Her once jealous thoughts turned into sympathy for the girl as she thought of how Inuyasha was toying with her heart. Having one foot out the door, and the other in. She just didn't understand why Inuyasha couldn't just pick Kagome, a living breathing being that would love him till the end of time, over a dead corpse that only wished to see him burn in hell with her.

Her hand formed a fist, as she grew angry from the thought. Taking a breath, she tried to calm herself, and sat down near Kagome. "Where did these cuts come from?"

"I'm not sure, they look more like claw marks than cuts," Pondered Miroku, who was now leaning against the wall.

"You don't think that Inuyasha..." Sango trailed off.

Miroku's brow drew together and his teeth gritting together. The very thought of Inuyasha hitting Kagome made his blood boil.

Sango watched as Miroku became tense, and saw him shiver. "M-miroku?" She let out a silently gasp when Miroku turned towards her, the look in his eyes sent chills down her spine.

"I am fine Sango." He forced himself to relax, his rage struggling to gain control of his body. His emotions pushing at the thin surface they were trapped under, crying out to be known, but Miroku would die first than let it out, the fear of rejection pushing him into secrecy.

He glanced at Kagome, her lithe form still; the only sign that she was still with the living was the rise and fall of her chest. He felt eyes upon him, and looked up only to lock eyes with warm chocolate brown ones.

Sango could feel Miroku's internal struggle and wondered what he was fighting against. She watched as his eyes went to Kagome, and her jealous flared once again. 'Why is he watching her like that?' Her eyes shifted back to him, and she blinked as he locked eyes with her.

She could lose herself in those beautiful violet depths, but she couldn't. Sango could see something in his eyes yet she was not sure what it was. Feeling very uncomfortable, she broke eye contact and traded for looking at her hands as a silence settled between the two.

"Where is Shippou, and Kaede-baabaa?" Miroku broke the silence.

"They went to a nearby village to help rebuild after a fire that broken out a week ago." Told Sango, as she twiddled her fingers for something to do.

There was that strange silence again; footsteps caught both of their attention as their eyes went to the doorway as Inuyasha entered the hut.

He got glares from two pair of anger eyes.

"What the hell are you looking at?" He snapped, returning their glares.

"What did you do to Kagome?" Sango started, cutting Miroku off before he even got a chance to open his mouth.

"What are you talking about?"

"The cuts on her face!"

Inuyasha blinked, and looked at Kagome who was stirring slightly. His golden eyes stopped at her cheek, seeing the marks he had made. He watched as Kagome sat up, her blue/Grey eyes unfocused as she looked around. They stopped on him as her sense sharpened.

The familiar smell of salt assaulted his nose. "Kagome...Naku na..." He took a few steps towards her, and she only backed up, her back hitting the hut wall.

"Don't come any closer to me Inuyasha!"

"Kagome..."

"Inuyasha, just leave her alone," Came Miroku's calm voice.

"Feh," He took another step towards Kagome. She stood to her feet with a struggle, the pain in her ankle returning full force. She winced at the pain.

She watched as Inuyasha came closer to her, but Sango blocked his way. "You heard Inuyasha! Leave her alone!"

Inuyasha grumbled, but backed away, his eyes locking with Kagome's. He could see sadness in her eyes, and fear. 'She has never feared me...why now?'

A strange cloud settled over the unsuspecting village, as the day changed drastically, the sun that was once shining brightly was now a gray dull circle in the sky. This did not go unnoticed by the group.

"I sense a dark presence has settled." Miroku stood his staff in hand.

Inuyasha's ears twitched. "The villagers are talking." He walked out of the hut, his hand on the hilt of the Tessaiga, ready anything that might happen to be through at him.

The others soon followed.

Standing in the middle of a now deserted road stood a figure. Dressed in all back this person was the clothes tattered and torn in nothing more than rags, but they showed nothing. A dark face was hidden in the mask it wore, only showing a smile.

"You four have trouble amongst thee, ne?" The sound of woman's voice asked. It was rough, and dry sounding, as if it lacked moisture.

"Just who the hell are you!" Inuyasha barked.

The supposed woman cackled and put her hands together and began chanting a spell. "You will sleep now, you will sleep..."

"She putting a spell on us!" Miroku stated the obvious, and fished in his robes for a scroll to protect them, but he was becoming weak as the spell began to take affect.

Inuyasha growled, as he leapt at the figure, only to drop back down to the ground. 'I can't move...' He struggled to stand but did not have the strength as his eyes became heavy and he slipped into blackness.

"Ha ha..." Laughed the figure, its eye glowing in amusement.

E

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Yay! Another chappie down. I would like to thank all of my reviewers! And shame to those who read and do not review.

Anyways, I will update soon. Remember, the more you review the faster I update! So please review!

Ja ne!

Glossary:

Naku na- Don't cry

Ne- A Japanese tag along is used for common questions like isn't it, and phrases like that, that follow after the sentence at the end.