Chapter 3

Kouga's Mistake

"So, what made you decide to come back early, Kagome?" Sango asked, warming her chilled hands over the campfire. They had been traveling all day and the young demon huntress was in the mood for a nice, relaxing conversation with her friend.

"Yeah, I thought you had to go to school." Inuyasha said coolly from his perch atop an old forest tree.

"I don't know. I just missed the fresh air and open sky, I guess." Kagome yawned as she fluffed up her pillow and tucked in the snoozing little fox- demon, attempting to lie down to sleep herself.

Sango nodded her head taking the hint Kagome was tired and wanted rest, saying nothing more. Inuyasha, on the other hand, sniffed the air and dashed off silently, hoping no one noticed.

Unfortunately for him, one happened to take mind to the half-demon's sudden leave. Sighing heavily, Miroku stood from his seated position and made his way towards Sango to inform her of it.

Sango gave a great sigh, similar to the monk's, after hearing this and looked towards the now sleeping young miko, sadness clearly written on her face. Miroku guessed it was because she could never tell her carefree friend the truth of Inuyasha's visits to Kikyo, in fear of breaking the girl's fragile heart.

"I feel really bad for her. I mean, it's hard to see such a good person like Kagome be so blind to where she cannot realize what Inuyasha is doing." Miroku nodded in agreement.

"It is too bad she didn't fall for a nice guy that can actually love her and only her." Sango just rested her hand in her palm, saying nothing as the monk took a seat next to her, "A guy like me perhaps."

"Be serious monk!" The huntress scolded, "I mean, Kagome would be better off with Kouga than you."

Miroku sent her a glare from the corner of his eye, "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, Sango. Surely, you wouldn't accuse me of being-"

"A lecher," she finished for him, "And like hell I wouldn't!"

Mirokulet out a dejected sigh.

Morning

"Miroku where's Inuyasha?" Kagome asked innocently, as she began to pack her things for the tiresome walk ahead of them.

The Monk stiffened, and slightly shrugged his shoulders. "I-I believe he said something about going ahead to see if there were any villages near. Of course, it was early, so I might have heard wrong. B-But I assure you that he's alright."

Kagome let out a depressed sigh, swinging her surprisingly light backpack over her shoulder and standing to face him. "You don't have to lie to me," she said softly walking passed him to catch up with Sango, Shippou, and Kirara, who had already made it to the path leading out of the forest.

Miroku could only stare after her, guilt written clearly written on his face. 'It's not that I wanted to lie, Kagome, it's just-' his thoughts were abruptly cut off when a set of loud, unexpecting screams could be heard in the distance.

Knowing undoubtedly that it was the girls, the monk wasted no time and dashed off in their direction only to be surrounded by black smoke.

"Kagome? Sango? Where are you?"

Nothing.

"Shippou? Kirara?" He began to worry. What if something had happened? Or Naraku was near and up to one of his schemes?

Hundreds of horrible images passed through the monk's head, but stopped abruptly when he heard a faint voice.

"Mi-Miroku. . . help. . ."

The black fog suddenly began to clear and Miroku could see a blurry figure sprawled over the dirt-covered path. Soon realizing that the figure was, without a doubt, Kagome, he quickly made his way toward her.

Kneeling down beside her, he gently lifted her head.

'Unconscious.' Miroku realized as the smoke fully disappeared and the images of Kirara and Shippou could be seen.

Miroku's eyes widened as he scanned the area once more,

'Sango?'

Elsewhere

Kouga smirked triumphantly after realizing that he had not been followed, and took the fragile woman off his shoulder and removed the hair from her face. Of course, his smirk quickly faded and his eyes widened at the unconscious woman that lay in his arms

It was then very obvious to him that he had took the wrong girl. Since this girl resembled nothing of his woman.

"Oops."