Author's Note: None for this chapter. Please read and review, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Chapter: Five
It was an hour before sunrise and Japan in the feudal era began to awaken and start the day. Kagome was already up and about, which was sometimes not ever seen here. She had already gone to a hot spring near by and washed up for the morning. With her hair down this time, she dressed in blue jeans and a decent white tank top. Still having thoughts from the previous night in her mind, she decided to get up early and work off her frustration.
Kagome didn't travel far, it was in view of the campsite but not close enough to wake her friends. She created a target on a strong and large tree trunk, stood back about twenty feet from it and took aim. When she makes five direct hits, she moves back ten feet until she does it again. She kept repeating this as the sun rose from the hills beside her.
Kagome stopped for a bit, feeling strange. 'Why am I practicing like this? I've never done this before.' She just shrugged her shoulders and continued.
Inuyasha woke up, not one to miss a beautiful sunrise, and saw Kagome practicing. Surprised at first, he watched her from his place leaning against the tree trunk and started thinking, 'Wow, she's really getting good at this.' He thought, and then he smirked. Kagome was very strong and he was proud of her.
Miroku and Sango woke up next, followed by Kilala and Shippo.
"Kagome sure is up early." Said a tired Shippo while rubbing his eyes from Kagome's sleeping bag.
Sango only nodded, understanding Kagome was up so early. Sango thought about talking to her again, but as seeing Kagome was busy at the moment, decided to go to a hot spring instead and talk to her later. 'I don't want to bother her, but I'm still worries.'
Sango headed for the hot spring and invited Shippo and Kilala, who agreed with joy.
Miroku stood and went to sit next to Inuyasha while straightening out his robes. They watched Kagome practice for a while till Miroku spoke and set his staff against his shoulder like he always did when he sat down. .
"Lady Kagome is progressing quite well in her archery, don't you think Inuyasha? Asked Miroku smiling his usual calm smile that everyone loves.
"Yeah..." Was all the hanyou murmured, all he could do was stare at her. Miroku noticed this and chuckled lightly.
"I think someone likes what he sees." Miroku teased quietly. Inuyasha caught this and just glared at him, and then went back to watching Kagome again. Miroku grew serious this time, no smiles.
"Inuyasha, what are you thinking right now?"
"Nothing." Replied Inuyasha, trying to get Miroku to stop pressing the matter, if there was any. Hell, he just wanted to be alone.
Miroku had enough of his friend's charades, "Come now Inuyasha, I know you have feelings for Kagome. And don't say it is like a feeling to a friend. It's much deeper than and I'm sure we're both aware of that. " Miroku stated matter-of-factly. He was quite surprised as Inuyasha didn't try to deny it or beat him up.
Inuyasha just continued on watching her, and then his gaze softened.
"What do I do?" Asked Inuyasha to himself in almost a whisper, partly forgetting that Miroku was even there right next to him.
The monk looked at Kagome, who was breaking quite a sweat, and then back at Inuyasha. "I trust you already know the answer to that." He looked back at watching Kagome again until he continued on, "Inuyasha, every heart needs another to heal. Kagome has strived to do that for you many times, did she not?"
Not expecting Inuyasha to say anything he went on, not letting his gaze leave Kagome.
"And yet you do the opposite, sometimes… Now that she has healed your heart it seems, do you not think it's time for you to heal hers." He finished quietly. Inuyasha just kept watching, then turned to Miroku and smiled and nodded in agreement. They sat for a longer while until Inuyasha decided to speak this time.
"You know you've got the same problem I do." He said, indicating Sango. Inuyasha continued while turning his head to look back at Kagome. Now Inuyasha's going to be the advice giver here.
"Do you remember the time when we found that lord guy who knew Sango? He was always with her when they finally reunited because they knew each other before we all met, and even asked her to marry him?" Miroku only stared ahead of him, which meant 'yeah'.
"Every thought and emotion you had and felt, was exactly what Sango felt when you were with all those women all the time we go to a new village or something." He finished. Miroku nodded in agreement and looked ashamed for his foolish actions. But smiled again and looked at Inuyasha.
"I know this, and I'm not proud of it, but it's never too late too make up for things one has done wrong in the past... There comes a time in everyone's life, when everything wrong can be made right." Inuyasha looked at Miroku now as he spoke on.
"And I believe that time for me is now." The monk finished.
They both nodded at each other and knew what to do.
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Naraku was in his castle once again and didn't plan on being their long, for he had visitors coming very soon. With his eyes still closed, he called for the wind sorceress.
"Kagura." He demanded in a low voice.
"Yes Master Naraku?" She said from behind the shoji door. Her shadow being the only thing that let Naraku know she was there.
"Inform Inuyasha that the battle he's been waiting for shall arrive soon enough. Also, bring Kohaku with you. I'm sure Sango should want to 'play' with him before I come..."
"Yes lord Naraku." Answered Kagura and retreated.
Kagura walked the giant halls of the mansion with a serene look on her face. Though if you looked closer, you could see her dark pink eyes blazing, 'Naraku is a walking, talking being. Why can he not do this all himself… Will I ever be free from his damned control of my heart and soul?" She looked out a near window to the rising sun with this time, sad eyes.
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Sango came back dressed in her usual pink and green kimono with Hiraikotsu leaning against the trunk of a tree. Shippo followed while playing tag with Kilala that Kagome showed him how to play a long time ago. She walked to her things and drank from the water bottle Kagome filled for her last night.
At seeing this, Miroku thought it was the perfect chance. Inuyasha nudged him with an elbow to his arm and Miroku nodded. He therefore stood up, dusted his robes and went to her, leaving his staff in Inuyasha's care.
"Good morning Lady Sango." Said Miroku with a light smile. Sango looked back at him and smiled too. "Good morning." She answered as she put the bottle back with her other things. She knelt down, seeming to be looking for something until Miroku got her attention again.
"Um... Can I talk to you Sango? Over there?" He asked as he pointed to the stream nearby where Kagome and Inuyasha were looking at the stars last night, wanting privacy for them both.
"S-sure" She said nervously. 'What could he want to talk about with me?...Does he know?...I wouldn't be surprised. This is it, I have to tell him.' Was her last thought as they reached their destination and stood in front of one another.
Just when Sango opened her mouth to speak, Miroku had beaten her to it, "There's no other way to explain this I suppose, so I'll just say it." He took a deep breath and started.
"I know that I've hurt you numerous times, but you must understand, I never actually loved any of those women. I've just been asking females to bear a son for me because of this curse; I guess you could say old habits die hard. Nevertheless, I'm sorry and I'll never hurt you again..." He sighed and looked at the stream and said calmly, "It's not an easy thing, to escape a past you can't burry...I understand this and know that you're hurting about Kohaku."
He looked in her cheerless eyes and she nodded, unable to find her voice. She looked down and closed her eyes.
"You don't have to worry Sango, I'll do everything in my power to get him back to you...Because I care deeply for you, something I've never felt for anyone else." Miroku closed the distance between them, putting a hand on her shoulder and tilted her chin up with his other hand for her to look at him.
Sango gasped, but kept her composure. She clenched her fists by her sides, anxiety taking over her.
"When the time comes to Battle Naraku again I do not know of what will happen...I really don't know how I would go on living if I ever lost you Sango...So beofer that time comes, I wanted to finally tell you that, I-"
"Oh! I love you so much Miroku!" Exclaimed a joyful Sango as she jumped on him and hugged him tightly.
"- love you?" He murmured, but smiled and hugged her back. He laughed and pulled away to look at her with a stupid grin.
"Now why did you just go and steal my thunder like that? I was really on a role."
She laughed lightly and Miroku thought it was the most beautiful sound in the world. They looked at each other as he leaned in and finally kissed her.
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Kagome ceased her training and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her bear arm, which was also glistened. She slowly lowered her bow and stood straight, then heading for the tree to get the arrows that were pinned into the target, 'Inuyasha, what are your true intensions? I don't want you to transform into a full demon. Will you even remember me and the others?...Inuyasha, who…who do you really see when you look at me?' Kagome sadly raised a hand and placed it on an arrow that was on her target and was about to pull it out.
Inuyasha saw that Kagome was walking to her target thing and decided this was his chance to talk to her. So he stood up and went to her. He still heard the faint noises of Shippo giggling and Kilala mewing as they played the 'never ending' game of tag.
So caught up in her thoughts, Kagome didn't notice Inuyasha come to her. She was tried to pull the arrow out once, but didn't work. She tried harder until someone came behind her and raised his hand on the arrow. Kagome took her hand off it instantly just as Inuyasha had pulled it out and she turned around. She was startled at first, but brushed her bangs and smiled shyly at him. He smiled back and hesitantly gave her back the arrow.
"You're getting much better at your archery, Kagome, you're very good." He said to her and she took it in her small hands.
"T-thank you." She answered him, blushing vaguely and holding the arrow by her side, still unsure of what he was doing here.
They both looked down and then back at each other.
"Inuyasha...I want you to know that...When we fight Naraku again, I'll always be fighting alongside you, like I always have been and…and I will never leave your side." She nearly breathed. Not sure of what to say other than that.
Inuyasha was taken back by this and he felt blissful at the moment.
He smiled at her promise and nodded, "I know Kagome, and I thank you for that."
'I have no right...no right to take him away from Kikyo. He still loves her I know it...If I can't be his love, then I'll just continue being his friend.' He was about to speak again, but she beat him to it.
"Inuyasha, you're my best friend and I care about you a lot. I'll still be by your side forever, just like I promised." She said putting on a tedious smile.
"I-I care about you too Kagome." He said to her quietly.
She smiled and hugged him as tight as she could, fearing it would be her last. He slowly brought his arms around her as well and laid his head on hers and closing his eyes.
She suddenly pulled away and looked up in his amber eyes and spoke again.
"Inuyahsa, no matter how many times we fight, or how we may seem to hate each other sometimes," Inuyasha listened carefully at what she was saying, and smiled at her again to go on.
"We have such a strong friendship, which can never be overcome by anything else." She hugged him again and whispered the last part so low it barely caught his silver ears. "Please…let's not ever lose that."