Myou-Kontan: I'm sorry :( I'll try to make this chapter longer though
Shinna: Kiss and make up? But they've got nothing to make up for, unless you count the few minor arguments. Just bear with me for a little longer, okay? :)
Chibi Keruri: Thank you n.n I'm glad you're liking the story.
Z.A.G: Haha, yeah, something like that :)
Erika-san: Ouch, wouldn't want that to happen n.n; I'm glad you're enjoying the story though!
moggy201484271612345: n.n I update this story as soon as I can. Thanks for the comment though.
Sango da Taijiya: Thank you :) I'm glad to hear
MirokuLuvr: Thank you :).
Sango fan!: Thanks n.n
Critique 2: But cliffy's are fun! n.n
shadowkirara: I guess I could try making the chapters longer since so many people seem to be telling me that. Thanks for the comment though.
shamansun: Sorry that you think the conversation was a bit confusing; I'll try not to be so confusing next time.
Sozoku: Thank you so much for the comments! I'm glad you're enjoying the story. n.n
moonsiren06: I like making cliff-hangers, though I don't do it too often. Thanks for the comment. Oh, and welcome to the InuSan fandom! :)
AN: Okay, I think that about does it for responding to the reviews. Quite a few this time, ne? Well, enough from me, onto the chapter!
"What?!" Inuyasha nearly yelled, forgetting that the reason he had wanted to get Sango alone was so he wouldn't have to worry about Kagome or Miroku hearing them, "Why the hell would I want that? Why-- keh, stupid girl!"
"Well, with the way you keep pushing me, what am I supposed to think?" Sango replied, crossing her arms, "You're the one who kept trying to get me to say it, even though you already knew that I had said it. So, it sounds like you want me to be jealous over you, Inuyasha."
The hanyou snorted, "That has to be the stupidest damn thing I've heard all day! Don't be getting any ideas, Sango."
"Stupid, huh?" She asked, arching an eyebrow slightly, "Then tell me, Inuyasha, if its so stupid, why haven't you answered me?"
"I did answer you! I said 'why would I want that' and that 'that's the stupidest thing I've heard all day'!" He replied, "Can't you take that hint?"
She smiled and shrugged lightly, "So far the only things I've heard have been ways around answering me. So, it'd be nice if you could answer me with a simple 'yes' or 'no'."
He opened his mouth, but quickly shut it again, as he looked to the side. "I don't have to put up with this shit." He mumbled, before turning to walk away.
However, he didn't get very far, because Sango showed she wasn't about to let this drop so easily. The taijiya went in front of him and put a hand up, stopping him, "You're not getting away from this so easily, Inuyasha.
He frowned, narrowing his eyes and leaning towards her a bit, "And just how do you plan to stop me from leaving?"
"I guess I can't." She replied, pausing for a moment, "But, it's not like you to be afraid of a simple question."
"I'm not afraid!" He said, his voice raising again with slight anger, "Fine, you want an answer? What do you think the answer is? Should I be bragging about having a demon exterminator being jealous because of a stupid kiss; the same exterminator who is supposed to be a great fighter, and yet she hides behind her friends when she's afraid to talk about a certain subject?"
"A simple 'no' would've done," The taijiya said quietly, turning to leave. But, she stopped suddenly and turned to face the hanyou once again, "And, Inuyasha, yes, I do hide if something scares me, or if I just need time to think about something. But that's okay because that's just part of being a human. And at least I can admit that I have faults, just like everyone else. I'm not afraid to be myself, and I'm not always trying to change just so I could be accepted by others."
Inuyasha crossed his arms, looking down at her, "And just what is that supposed to mean? Are you saying I change to make other's happy?"
"Why else would you want to use the Shikon no Tama to become a full-demon?" She asked, looking right back at him; not backing down.
The hanyou narrowed his eyes slightly, "So people like you would just leave me alone."
"People like me?" She asked, as though the statement didn't make any sense, "And just what do you mean by that?"
"People like you." He repeated, "People who think they know everything about me, so they try to talk me out of becoming a full-demon. People who know nothing of what its like to grow up not fitting in anywhere. People who can't just mind their own business and leave me the hell alone!"
About that time, Inuyasha's yelling began to reach the other members of the group. Miroku and Kagome, along with Shippou, looked outside around the same time; each in time to hear Inuyasha's last comment. Kagome looked down to Miroku worriedly, before turning back to Inuyasha and Sango.
But their presence didn't seem to bother Sango much, "I never once tried talking you out of doing that, Inuyasha! And I may not know exactly how your life was while growing up, but don't think that you were the only one with hardships. Try being the only female exterminator in your village; always having to prove that you're cut out for the job, always having to prove that you don't need to be rescued and that you're just as good a fighter as the men!"
"Like that's the same thing." The hanyou mumbled, "Being an exterminator was your choice. If you didn't want it, you could've easily stopped learning the techniques. I didn't have a choice. I can't just stop being a hanyou. You decided to become an exterminator; I didn't decide to be this way. Just do me a favor, and don't say anything anymore, Sango. You don't know anything about how it was for me, so before you try to decide otherwise, just drop it and leave me alone!" He finished, pushing past her to leave.
The taijiya turned slightly to watch him, "You're right, I did decide to become an exterminator. But that doesn't mean there weren't times when I thought about quitting. But before you start lecturing me on decisions, maybe you should learn how to decide between the living and the dead!"
Inuyasha stopped immediately, turning to face the slayer as a low growl emitted from the back of his throat, "What did you just say?"
"You mean with your excellent hearing you didn't hear me?" She replied, mocking surprise, "I said you should learn how to decide between the living and the dead."
Kagome stepped outside then, carefully approaching the two warriors, "Sango-chan... Inuyasha... please don't start fighting. It's been a long day, especially after everything that happened yesterday." She passed Inuyasha, stopping beside Sango as she placed her hand on her friends arm, "Sango-chan, why don't you come inside again? I think it'd be best if you and Inuyasha spend some time apart..."
Sango kept her eyes on Inuyasha for a moment longer. When it seemed like he wasn't going to say anything more, she glanced to Kagome and let the younger girl lead her towards their room.
However, Inuyasha wasn't going let it drop so easily, "I have problems choosing between something like that, huh?" He asked, ignoring the look of warning Kagome gave him, "Then tell me, Sango, what about Kohaku?"
Sango froze, then whipped around to face Inuyasha again, "No. Don't you dare bring him into this, Inuyasha!"
"Why not?" The hanyou sneered, "You brought Kikyou into this. Kikyou's dead; living off of the souls of the dead. And Kohaku's dead; living off of a single jewel shard. You say I can't choose between the living and the dead? I don't see you giving up on Kohaku."
Sango's hands balled into fists and clenched tightly at her sides; it was all she could do not to attack Inuyasha. Without another word, she shook her head and turned to return to her and Kagome's room.
"Going to hide again?" He asked tauntingly, "What's the matter? You can start things, but you can't finish them?"
"Inuyasha, that's enough!" Kagome stated, stamping her foot down, "What Sango-chan said wasn't nice, but you don't have a right to talk about Kohaku-kun either!"
"Stay out of this, Kagome." Inuyasha replied, glancing to the miko. Then, turning his attention back to Sango, he added, "Well aren't you going to answer me, or are you going to run away again?"
Sango stopped walking, but kept her back towards him and remained silent.
When she still refused to reply after a moment, Inuyasha finally shouted, "Damn it, Sango, answer me!"
"What do you want?!" She snapped, turning towards him once again.
"You know what I want." He said, glaring down at her, "I want you to stay and actually finish a conversation with me, instead of running away like you did last night!"
She shook her head slightly, "I don't have to stay here if I don't want to, Inuyasha. And maybe I would want to finish a conversation with you, if you could actually carry a civil conversation."
"Just what's your damn problem?!" He asked, throwing his arms up a bit, "If you're not bombarding me with questions, you're avoiding me. And, if you're not avoiding me, you're starting arguments with me. And you did start this by bringing Kikyou up. What the hell is wrong with you?! This is a lot more than just jea--"
"Don't say anything." She interrupted, holding up a hand before he could finish the word. The last thing she needed right now was Kagome and Miroku finding that out, "Inuyasha, just stop right there. Just... just..." She shook her head again, taking a couple steps back, "Just leave me alone!" With that, the slayer turned and ran out into the rain; just needing to get away for a while.
"Sango-chan!" Kagome called, about to go after her friend. But she was stopped when Inuyasha grabbed her arm.
"Stay here." He all but growled. And, before she could reply, he was gone.
"Should we go after them?" Miroku asked, coming up to stand beside Kagome.
The miko nodded, "I don't know what'll happen if we don't."
But, as they were about to do just that, there was a short burst of flames. When the flames died down, Kirara stood, in her transformed form, blocking their path. The fire-cat looked in the direction that Sango and Inuyasha had gone into, then turned back to the others, making a low, almost grow-like sound.
Shippou hopped up onto Kirara's back, looking at Kagome and Miroku, "Kirara said we should stay here. She doesn't think they'll hurt each other."
"Kirara knows Sango better than the rest of us..." Miroku said, looking to Kagome.
"I guess..." Kagome replied hesitantly. Though she trusted Kirara much like she did the others, Inuyasha and Sango seemed pretty angry with each other... The miko didn't want to see them fighting...
-Meanwhile-
With a short sprint and a leap, Inuyasha landed directly in Sango's path, "And just where are you going?" He asked, folding his arms across his chest.
Sango stopped in front of him and glared up at him, "Nowhere that concerns you! Just leave me alone!"
"No!" He shouted. Then, lowing his voice slightly, he asked, "Just what is your problem?"
The taijiya crossed her arms and continued glaring at him, not answering.
This, however, just seemed to upset him even more, "Answer me!"
"Answer what?" She asked quietly, though her anger was still detectable.
He growled, aggravated about having to repeat himself, "What's your problem? Why are you acting like this?"
"Why? Why?!" She repeated, as if the answer was somehow obvious, "You're why! You just act like nothing ever happened, and you won't answer my questions!"
"What are you talking about?" He asked, becoming annoyed, "Nothing did happen! And I don't know why you would think otherwise"
"Then we have nothing to talk about." She stated, turning to walk away.
He stopped her though, grabbing her shoulders and turning her back towards him, "Don't walk away from me, Sango! Forget me answering your questions, why won't you answer mine? What's wrong with you? This is more than just jealousy."
"I'll answer that once you answer me. You know why I want to know, so why don't you just answer me?" She asked, turning her head to look at him once again.
"Because I don't have to answer you if I don't want to." He replied, keeping hold of her shoulders, "But I want to know why you're acting like this, so answer me!"
The taijiya frowned, then shook her head a little, "No! I'm not answering anything until you answer me, Inuyasha! Did you mean what you said? Would you have let Kagome-chan--"
"No!!" He shouted, finally growing tired of arguing with her.
Sango flinched visible at the sudden yell, but quickly recomposed herself, "No what? I asked you two questions! You can't just say 'no' and expect me to know what you--"
And that was as far as she got. His lips were suddenly on hers, as he pulled her forward and kissed her. And, before her mind even had time to think about what had happened, it was over and he stepped back.
The taijiya stared, wide-eyed, up at him in surprise. She looked down for a moment, as she slowly brought a hand up and touched her fingers to her lips; as though she was trying to decide if it had really happened. Looking back to him, she blinked a few times, trying to shake off the surprise. But the surprise, she found, wouldn't be shaken so easily.
"No..." Inuyasha began in an uncharacteristically small voice, sounding as though he himself was surprised about his own actions, "If I would've had a choice, I wouldn't have let Kagome do that. So, yes, I meant what I said about not wanting it." With that, he released her shoulders, and headed back to where the others were waiting.
Sango stood where she was a moment longer, before looking up and blinking as the rain hit her face, "What... just happened?"
-Elsewhere-
Kagome paced back and fourth impatiently, waiting for her two friends return. Kirara remained in her larger form, just making sure neither of them went after Inuyasha and Sango. Shippou laid, curled up on Kirara's back, using the opportunity to take a short nap. And Miroku looked on silently, though he was also concerned about the whereabouts of their two comrades.
When Inuyasha returned a few minutes later, Kagome instantly began asking him questions, "Inuyasha, where's Sango-chan? Did you find her? Is she okay? You two didn't start fighting again, did you?"
Kirara lifted her head and looked curiously at the hanyou, growling a low warning. While she had made sure he alone had gone after her mistress, she wouldn't forgive him if he had done anything to harm Sango.
"It's okay, Kirara." Inuyasha said, looking at the fire-cat. Then, turning to Kagome, he continued, "Yes I found her, and yes she's okay. What'd you think I was going to do? Jeez..." That was all he said before walking over and sitting down near the door to the room he shared with Miroku.
And, after an additional few minutes, Sango returned; once again soaking wet from the rain. But, despite that, she was... smiling? "Sorry about running off like that." She said quietly, trying to wring the water from her hair.
"Don't worry about it, Sango-chan." Kagome said, smiling slightly since it seemed like they had worked out whatever it was bothering them, "Besides, you're not the only one who should be apologizing." She added, glancing to Inuyasha.
"Keh!" The hanyou spat, wrinkling his nose, "I'm not apologizing about anything."
'Back to normal already.' Sango thought, with a slight smile, "Don't worry, Kagome-chan. He doesn't have to say anything. We both said some things we didn't really mean."
Inuyasha looked to Sango for a moment, before standing up and glancing to the others, "Its getting late. If the rain's stopped tomorrow we'll be back on the trail of Naraku. Better rest up, because I don't want to hear you all complaining about not getting enough sleep." He looked towards Sango once again, then disappeared into his room.
Sango smiled to herself. She had seen it in his eyes when Inuyasha looked at her; a silent 'I'm sorry' and 'thank you'. She unknowingly sighed, before exchanging a quick 'goodnight' with Miroku, and returning to her own room. Kagome, Kirara, and Shippou followed soon after.
After that, the group of shard hunters quickly settled in for the night.
AN: Okay, I have no idea what happened this chapter... n.n;; One minute they're talking, the next they're arguing, then they argue some more, then he kisses her... Hadn't really planned it out that way... Oh well. Hope you liked it though :)