Atropa13: n.n Well, I'm glad you're enjoying the story
ZmajGoddess: Aw, I don't hate you; I just like leaving cliffhangers once in a while.
YojimbosBlade: Thanks n.n And, I was wondering when someone would ask. 'Kagami to Ai' simply means 'Mirrors and Love' Since this storyline is based off of the second movie, and the second movie storyline involved mirrors, I thought it was fitting. That, and I'm terrible when it comes to naming things n.n;;
anime gurl: Yup, that's where I got that from; episode 132. So, yes, you got that right. And, thanks for the advice. I don't use cliffhangers often though.
smbee6: No, no, don't die! n.n; Sometimes I can write a new chapter with no trouble, and sometimes it takes longer. As for my other stories... Well, 'Kakera no Unmei' may be discontinued, because I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do with it. And 'Once the Dust Settles' is simply on hold, until I finish this story up.
purplepeopleeater: Good, I'm not the only one who thinks he'd actually say that. Yay! :) Eh... Sesshoumaru singing love songs? That is wrong on so many levels...
Shadow-flame131: Yes, I have seen that episode. I saw it in raw format though, meaning no subtitles. But, from what Japanese I do understand, and with what was going on, I could tell that he was worried about Sango. Um... I never received an e-mail from you, unless it somehow got deleted, but I'll be sure to add that into the 'Hints' section though! Thanks!
Z.A.G: Heh, yeah, and I'm still going to say it, "all reviews mean the same to me; I appreciate them all". But don't do that, because then you won't be able to read this chapter, right? Anyways, thanks for the nice, long review n.n
Shezel: Thank you so much n.n
moggy201484271612345: Aw, thanks :) Atashi wa baka, ne? n.n;
high-off-life: Hey... you weren't supposed to guess that. I like to take the strange way-- or rather, unexpected way, with things.
L.J.: Whoa, did you like it that much? I'm glad to hear it. Thank you :)
Miss Umi: Those were all good guesses! I hadn't even thought of half of those n.n One of them gives me an idea though... hehehe
To everyone else: Once again, I just want to say thank you for the reviews. It's wonderful knowing that you enjoy this story :)
AN: First off, I'd like to apologize for the long wait on this chapter. It just didn't want to be written. That said, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
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Kirara blinked, her crimson eyes staring at the two warriors curiously. When she had gone after her mistress and Inuyasha, she hadn't expected to see... that!
Sango couldn't help but laugh as she looked towards her pet, "Its just Kirara."
Inuyasha glanced back to Sango, before looking to Kirara, "Kirara..." He cleared his throat in an embarrassed matter, and glanced back to Sango once again, "Does she always have to follow you around?"
"Well, with the way you acted, I think she was just worried, Inuyasha." She replied, laughing once again.
"Hnnn..." The hanyou rubbed a hand over his eyes, trying to shake off the surprise of seeing Kirara. Clearly, he was embarrassed, and he was afraid to think of just how much more embarrassed he would be had it been Kagome or Miroku... "And you say Miroku worries too much..."
Kirara's ears flattened slightly as she sat down, looking as though she were guilty of some horrible crime, "Mew..." She mewed quietly, as her eyes glanced to the side.
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow curiously, looking to Kirara, "What's wrong with her, Sango?"
The taijiya smiled, putting a hand on his shoulder, "I think you hurt her feelings. But..." Her smile faded slightly, as her fingers trailed lightly down his back, "We should go back to Kagome-chan and Houshi-sama... Kagome-chan didn't get to finish taking care of your wounds, I think you should let her finish..."
He glanced over his shoulder at her and nodded shortly, "If you say so." He said quietly. Then, looking down, he added slowly, "But... could you finish for her?"
"Me?" Sango asked, blinking, "I mean, of course I can. If that's what you really want, Inuyasha." She added quickly.
He nodded once again, giving a small smile, "Thank you."
She smiled and gave a short nod as well, before glancing to where her feline companion was still sitting, "I think we need to let Kirara know we're not mad at her though."
The hanyou scoffed, "Keh, she should know we're not mad. But, she shouldn't be sneaking up on us in the first place either."
Kirara looked up, her ears still down, and slowly walked over to the two. "Mew." She mewed softly, before rubbing against Inuyasha's leg and looking up at him.
Inuyasha again cocked an eyebrow at Kirara's actions, "Sango? What... is she doing?"
The taijiya did her best to bite back a laugh as she bent down and picked up the kitten, "What do you think she's doing? She's trying to let you know she's sorry. Ne, Kirara?"
The fire-cat mewed and looked at Inuyasha, before wriggling from mistress' arms and sitting on her shoulder instead. There, she mewed again and licked Sango's cheek.
"There, there, Kirara. Its okay, we're not mad." Sango smiled and looked to Inuyasha again, "Right?"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say." He replied. Then, motioning back towards where the others were waiting, he continued, "Let's go back then. I don't want everyone coming out here."
She nodded and walked beside him, before hooking her arm around his, "You know, you don't need to act so tough all the time."
He glanced to her, before looking to the side, "What do you mean 'act'? I don't act."
"Ah... I'm sorry." She said, smiling. Even though he was looking away from her, she could still detect the slight blush on his face, "I didn't mean anything by it... Inu-chan." She added, just to see what his response would be.
The hanyou stumbled, and probably would have fallen if Sango's arm hadn't been around his own. He looked at her, his expression being one of complete surprise as the blush darkened. Then, he abruptly looked away once again, "K-keh... I hope you don't start calling me that all the time."
"I won't." She replied simply, looking ahead, "I just wanted to see how'd you react."
He finally looked ahead as well, choosing to remain silent. Though, it wasn't long before his curiosity got the better of him, "... And? How did I react?"
"I figured you would brush it off easier than you did. But..." She glanced at him before adding, "You look really cute when you blush." She finished, blushing a little herself.
"If... you say so." Was his only reply. He wasn't used to getting complements, or giving them for that matter. So, he felt somewhat relieved when Sango left it at that.
-Back with the others-
Kagome paced impatiently in front of Miroku, "What is with Inuyasha lately? Him and Sango-chan have both been acting strange lately." She stopped for a moment, looking in the direction Inuyasha and Sango had gone in, "Maybe there is something..." The miko shook her head furiously, "No! No there is not! The stress after everything we've been though has been tough... But, that doesn't mean Inuyasha can act like that!"
"Kagome-sama, I'm sure everything will be explained soon enough." Miroku said, trying to calm Kagome down, though he himself was still a bit shaken from his experience with the temperamental hanyou.
"Even if he does say why he did what he did, he doesn't have a right to threaten you like that, Miroku-sama." She replied, sitting down beside the monk as she crossed her arms, "The minute they get back, its 'Inuyasha, osuwari'!"
"Guah!!"
"Inuyasha!"
Both Miroku and Kagome looked up in surprise to see their two comrades. Inuyasha was, of course, facedown on the ground. And, Sango was kneeling beside him, making sure the 'sitting' hadn't reopened any of his previous wounds. The hanyou had nearly taken her down with him, but, luckily, she had removed her arm from around his only a few seconds before it had happened.
"What the hell did I do?!" Inuyasha asked, irritated, though his voice was muffled slightly.
Kagome laughed nervously, "Inuyasha, sorry, I didn't know you were-- mou, wait a minute! You know what you did. You need to apologize to Miroku-sama!"
"Keh!" Inuyasha replied, pushing himself to a sitting position, "I'm not apologizing to anyone."
"Its the least you can do after threatening him like that!" Kagome stated.
Inuyasha frowned, turning his attention from Kagome, to Miroku, "Well he should learn to keep his hands to himself."
"I assure you, Inuyasha, it won't happen again." Miroku said steadily, watching Inuyasha closely.
The hanyou studied Miroku's face for a moment, "It better not." He said with a low growl accenting his point.
"Inuyasha..." Sango began softly as she placed a hand on his shoulder gently, "There's no need to start anything again, okay?"
At her touch, his growling stopped, though he kept his eyes on the monk. As she finished speaking, though, he glanced at her and gave a short nod.
The taijiya offered him a small smile, then looked to Kagome, "Kagome-chan, could you give me some of those bandages? I'm afraid Inuyasha ran off before you could finish putting them on."
Kagome looked at the two for a moment, hesitating. Just how could they change the subject so easily? And just what had happened out there? However, when she gave Miroku a questioning look, he nodded, so she began looking through her backpack for more bandages, "I'll finish putting them on."
"Kagome-chan--"
"I want Sango to." Inuyasha stated simply, before Sango had a chance to finish what she had wanted to say.
Sango looked at Inuyasha in mild surprise. She hadn't expected him to be so... blunt about it, but at the same time, it made her happy, in a way.
Kagome looked at the hanyou as well, only she had a look of hurt written on her face. She was always the one who tended to Inuyasha's wounds. Well... except for the few times when she was angry with him for seeing Kikyou; then it was Miroku who did it. But Sango now? The miko turned back to her pack and moved aside a couple various items, trying to reach the bandages as she also tried to control the feelings that were rising up inside of her, "I said I would finish it."
"And I said I want Sango to." Inuyasha replied firmly, doing his best to keep his temper in check. Sango's hand on his shoulder was the only thing keeping him from jumping up and grabbing the bandages from Kagome's pack himself.
Kagome's hand closed around a small bundle of bandages, though she kept her gaze on the bag, "Why?"
He took a deep breath, she really wasn't making this any easier... "Because I just do. Now, are you going to let us have the bandages, or are we going to have to go all the way to Kaede-baba's?"
The miko shook her head, and held the bandages to Sango, though she didn't look at her friend, "Here."
Sango took them and looked to Kagome, "Thank you, Kagome-chan."
Kagome stood up silently, still not looking at Inuyasha or Sango, "I'll be over there if anyone needs me." She said quietly, before walking a little ways away and sitting down again. She was sure to stay within eyesight though.
Sango looked to the bandages in her hands and sighed quietly, before beginning to cover the wounds on Inuyasha's back that Kagome had missed earlier.
"She'll be fine, Sango." Inuyasha said, noting the hint of sadness in her sigh, "Don't worry."
The taijiya nodded slowly, "I know..." The last thing she wanted to do, was to hurt her best friend, but it seemed like that had already happened...
"Perhaps you should talk to Kagome-sama, Inuyasha." Miroku suggested, glancing to Kagome, then to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha frowned, "Not when she's in one of those moods. I won't even get one word in before she 'sits' me."
The monk turned his gaze to Sango next, "How about you, Sango?"
Sango shook her head, though her eyes stayed focused on her work, "I'm probably the last person she wants to see right now, Houshi-sama."
Miroku thought for a moment, then stood up, "In that case, I suppose I should give it a try." With that, he made his way over to where Kagome was.
Sango sighed once again, as she finished tending to Inuyasha's wounds, "They hate us." She said quietly, leaning her head against the back of his shoulder, "And they don't even know everything that's going on..."
"It'll be fine, Sango." The hanyou replied quietly, "They don't hate us. I think I just scared Miroku. And Kagome's just upset because..."
"Because she loves you." She said, finishing his statement, "And she thinks you love her in return."
He nodded slightly, "I know."
"Inuyasha?" The taijiya asked slowly, almost hesitantly, "Do you love Kagome-chan?"
"What?" He asked, sounding surprised, as he tried to look at her. But, given the way she was leaning against him, he couldn't really see her, "Sango, what kind of question is that?"
"I don't know..." She replied quietly, her voice shaking a bit.
He was silent for a moment, and then, "No, Sango, I don't." He looked ahead, his voice dropping so no one could overhear him, "There... was a time, I thought I could. But as time went on, I realized that whenever I looked at Kagome, it was like seeing Kikyou again. Because of that, I could never really... care for her. I consider Kagome a friend-- a close friend, but a friend only."
Sango nodded slightly, "I'm sorry, Inuyasha, I didn't mean to question you... I was just..." She shook her head, "I'm sorry... But... who do you see when you look at me?"
"Huh?" Again, her question surprised him, and again, he fell silent for a moment. His voice remaining low, he finally replied, "I see... a great fighter; a person who can fearlessly look any human, demon, or half-demon in the eye and not back down... I see someone who will stop at nothing to protect and help the people close to her..." His voice dropped again, this time to a low whisper, "I see someone who, despite having emotional as well as physical scars, can still look... beautiful." He paused for a moment. His face felt hot, and he knew he was blushing, and he was glad that Sango was behind him so she couldn't see, "I see you... Sango."
"Inuyasha..." She said quietly, feeling the blush rise to her face again. And, after that, she couldn't seem to get anymore words to form. So, instead, she slipped her arms around him; giving him a hug from behind.
He just smiled, and let one of his hands rest atop her own.
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AN: I like Kirara n.n Honestly, it WAS going to be Kagome that snapped the twig, but I changed by mind because (a)- that's what everyone was saying, and I wanted to surprise you all n.n And (b)- I don't want to end this story just yet. Meaning, this story will be ending soon after the others fine out. Yes, I already have the ending written out. Yes, I have a tendency to write later chapters before early ones. Don't ask why. Anyways... until next time! Ja!