A/N: FYI- No one is supposed to know about Miroku's Wind Tunnel yet, except for Naraku, Kagura and Kanna. Just in case you didn't pick up on it, that is how it is supposed to be. Now, on with the story!

Chapter 12

Night was falling fast and Sango and the group were settling down in camp. Kagome was cooking their dinner for the night, a stew with some rabbit that InuYasha caught, over a roaring fire. Sango was leaning against a tree, writing in a diary that was salvaged from her house before Naraku destroyed it.

InuYasha, however, was pacing up and down through the camp. He was running his fingers through his hair and muttering under his breath.

"InuYasha," Kagome looked up at the hanyou from her stew. "Would you please stop pacing! It is getting me dizzy!"

InuYasha paused and stared at her. "How close are we to Naraku's castle? A day or so?"

Sango glanced at him over the top of her diary. "We should get there tomorrow by nightfall. Why?"

"Damn!" InuYasha resumed his pacing. He was muttering under his breath and frequently looked up at the sky at the setting sun.

Kagome stood up and walked over to InuYasha and grabbed him by the ears to bring his face close to hers. 'It would be so easy to kiss him right now! Unfortunately, I need to find out what is bothering him.'

"What is wrong? Please tell me! I can't help unless you tell me!" Kagome said.

InuYasha scowled. "Do you know what tonight is? Tonight is the new moon! And we are less than a day away from an evil, sadistic, murderer! Now do you understand why I am so upset!"

Sango put aside her diary. "What is the problem with the new moon?" she asked when she saw Kagome's shocked face.

Kagome let go of InuYasha and turned to face Sango. "Every hanyou has a period of . . . weakness . . . where they lose their demon powers and become full humans. InuYasha's period is the night of the new moon. That is why he so worried, because he is going to be vulnerable tonight."

Sango's eyes opened wide. "He becomes human?"

"Keh! Open your eyes a little more, Sango! Just look at me!" InuYasha stopped in front of Sango. His hair was pitch black and his eyes were a dull brown. Also, his dog-ears had moved down and were replaced with human ears.

"And, this makes you vulnerable? Why?" Sango asked, a little confused.

InuYasha rolled his dark brown eyes. "Hanyous are basically rejected and hated by demons and humans both. We are considered abominations. We need to keep our weak periods secret because and enemy would take the opportunity to kill us."

Sango nodded, a light bulb going off in her head. "I see."

InuYasha stomped over to the fire and crossed his arms. Kagome sighed and went over to the fire to serve the stew.

After the stew was done and everyone was settling down to sleep, Kagome went over to InuYasha. He was sitting on the edge of the ring of light produced by the fire, leaning on a tree.

"What are you thinking?" Kagome asked when she sat down next to him.

InuYasha sighed. "I was thinking about Miroku. Why would he betray us like that? I mean, we have known him for all of our lives! When did he turn evil?"

Kagome leaned her head against his shoulder. "I don't know. He did go away to that summer camp when we were like, eight or nine. Maybe the camp did something to his head? I wish he didn't turn on us though. I think he and Sango might have turned out to be more than friends."

"I don't know. I don't think they did anything. They didn't have time." InuYasha laid his cheek on Kagome's head. He snaked his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him.

Kagome snuggled against him and closed her eyes. "Hmm. I guess you're . . . right." Kagome yawned. InuYasha looked down at her.

"Go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow," InuYasha whispered in Kagome's ear.

Kagome smiled and snuggled deeper into his shoulder.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Sango wrapped herself in her blankets and watched Kagome and InuYasha. They seem so content and happy just sitting together. 'They must be in love. Just like Miroku and I could have been.'

Sango sniffed as the familiar sensation of tears pricked at the back of her eyes. She shifted in her makeshift bed so InuYasha and Kagome wouldn't see her if some tears escaped.

Kirara mewed and snuggled up with her owner. In her small cat form, Kirara was quite cute and cuddly.

"Oh Kirara! What am I supposed to do? What if he comes back and asks for forgiveness? I will forgive him, even if he does it a hundred times! I am so in love with him!" Sango confessed everything to her lifetime friend.

Sango jerked awake. She didn't realize that she had cried herself to sleep. Sango rubbed her eyes and focused on the sound that woke he up.

'It sounds like, demons!' Sango sat up and looked around the camp. Kagome and InuYasha were up too.

"InuYasha! Kagome! It sounds like a huge swarm of demons are coming!" Sango whispered as she joined the couple at the other side of the camp. Kagome grabbed her bow and arrows while InuYasha grabbed the hilt of his sword.

Sango grasped the handle of her boomerang and waited. Suddenly, over the tops of the trees, a swarm of large demons descended from the sky.

"Naraku's demon hoard! There must be thousand of demons there! How are we going to kill them all!" Sango gasped. At the front of the demons was the wind sorceress, Kagura.

Sango remembered when she was trapped in Naraku's castle. Kagura was charged with giving her food and water. Sango got to know Kagura well.

'If Kagura's here, does that mean Miroku will be here too? Will he try to kill me again?' Sango stared at the demons descending on the camp.

'It is going to be a long night!'

A/N: I am not very good at keeping promises as you can probably tell. I told you that I was going to get cracking on my chapters! I just got back from visiting relatives today and I am pooped! I did want to get this done though, so people at home (the reviewers) will be able to bite their fingernails in anticipation of my next, action filled chapter of the saga! ::rolls eyes at the dramatic blabbering:: I am going to post this now!