Wow! It's been almost a year since I updated. Does anyone even remember this story? Oh well. I suppose I've kept people waiting long enough.

Disclaimer: Unless there actually is a well out there that can transport me to feudal Japan where I would proceed to kick Naraku's but and stick the cast of Inuyasha in a cage for the viewing pleasure of audiences everywhere, I feel it is safe to say I don't own Inuyasha.

Chapter 4- Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid

The group increased their pace when they noticed how Inuyasha's disposition had become increasingly worse.

"He never used to be this obvious about his concern for Kagome." Sango whispered conspiratorially to Miroku.

"I believe he is actually starting to admit his feelings for her. At least to himself." Miroku was watching the hanyou with knowing eyes. "I'll wager he claims her in one week," Miroku commented with a lecherous smirk.

"You hentai!" Sango smacked the still smirking lecher in the back of the head.

"So… do you accept the bet?" Miroku asked, rubbing the back of his head.

"What are the stakes?" Sango hated betting on her best friends' love life, but it might be interesting.

"If Kagome is his mate by, let's say by Tuesday of next week, then I get to kiss you without fear of repercussions."

"And if she's not his mate by then?" Sango was a little intrigued.

"Then I'll do whatever you want for a day." Miroku's lecherous smirk was now a full-blown grin.

"Say a week and you have a deal." Sango said after a few moments. Miroku was stunned to silence.

'Did she actually agree,' he thought, "I wonder what she'll have me do if she wins. It can't be that bad.' Miroku smirked and held out his hand. "You have a deal fair Sango." Sango shook his hand and turned her attention toward catching up with Inuyasha. Inuyasha had stopped to sneeze suddenly.

"What's taking you guys so long?" Inuyasha shouted back to them, "Hey, what's the lech smiling about? What were you two talking about anyway?"

"Oh nothing." Miroku sped up his walking. Shippou, unknown to the others, had heard the entire conversation. 'This could get very interesting,' he thought.

Inuyasha grumbled about stupid lechers and secrets while bounding toward the village faster.

About 500 years into the future Kagome paused, after shutting the door, to sneeze. 'Someone must be talking about me,' she continued inside. "I'm home!" Kagome shouted. No one answered. Kagome wandered further into the house. 'That's odd.' Usually her mom would be home by now. "Hello?" she yelled.

Thinking they were probably just out getting groceries, Kagome wandered up to her room. She set her book bag down by her desk and went to open her window. At least it was nice outside. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, Kagome was pissed; everything was normal. 'Why is the weather always nice when I'm angry?' she wondered. 'Oh well, I better get some of my work done while I have peace and quiet.'

Kagome sat down at her desk and pulled out her English book. She started working on her paper and soon lost track of time. When Kagome looked up the sun was setting and the house was still dead silent. Stretching, Kagome decided to go look for her mother.

"Mom? Souta? Grandpa?" Kagome wandered down the stairs and into the kitchen. She glanced around and noticed a piece of paper on the counter. Walking over, she picked it up and read over the note.

Kagome,

Your Grandfather called and asked us to bring over some materials he forgot so Souta and I will be gone for a few days. Enjoy your weekend and get some rest. I will call later tonight. There are leftovers in the refrigerator and the number to reach us is by the phone.

Love,

Mom

Kagome set the note down and went to make herself something to eat. She didn't really feel hungry so she settled on an apple. Kagome went to sit at the table and noticed the Goshinboku out the back door. She sighed, "Why can't I go one day without thinking of that rude, overbearing, pompous, self-righteous, ass?"

"Who you talking to?" Kagome jumped a foot off her seat, dropped her apple, and spun around all in the same movement. "You couldn't have meant me right?" The rude, overbearing, pompous, self-righteous, ass asked as he strutted into the room.

"How long have you been here?" Kagome asked glaring at the dog demon that was currently smirking and standing there as if nothing she did could faze him.

"Long enough to hear you talking to the imaginary people inside your head."

"Shut up, you jerk!" Kagome turned red at being caught talking to herself. "What are you doing here anyway?"

Inuyasha's smirk faded, "I came to bring you back, stupid." Inuyasha walked over and grabbed Kagome's wrist, "Now come on. We still have more shards to find. You do have a responsibility to complete the jewel since you ARE the one who shattered it."

At hearing the "s" word she was reminded of another "s" word she was now dying to use. Snatching her wrist out of his grip, Kagome took a step back. 'I will not cry.' She stood with her head ducked down so her bangs covered her eyes. 'Just because he only thinks of me the same way a person thinks about a metal detector is no reason to be upset.'

Inuyasha was getting worried. He stared at her with wide eyes. 'When did she get so strong?' Inuyasha took a cautious step towards her. "Kagome…"

Inuyasha never got to finish the thought as at that moment Kagome's head shot up, her eyes rooting him to the spot. "How dare you? I gave up good test scores, hanging out with my friends, watching my little brother grow up and get a girlfriend, all to follow you around Feudal Japan like some lost child looking for approval. Now you lecture me on what needs to be done?" Kagome stormed up to him and grabbed his haori pulling him down to eye level, "Listen very carefully. I will go back and finish collecting the damned shards, but if you give me a hard time I will pull off your dog-ears and offer Sesshoumaru an open invitation to torture you any way he wants. Clear?"

Inuyasha nodded stupidly with his jaw slack and eyes as round as they could get without popping out of his skull. 'Did she just curse? What the hell? She's never done that before.' Kagome nodded in satisfaction and released his haori as she went to pick up her dropped apple.

"I'll just be a moment." Kagome smiled brightly and ran to get her backpack. 'Well I certainly got his attention. Maybe I went just a little to far? Nah. He says worse on a daily basis.' Inuyasha was still standing in the spot she had left him when she came back downstairs. "Let's go." Inuyasha and Kagome headed toward the well house and back into the fray of demon battles.

Kikyou stumbled over yet another rock as she entered what appeared to be a clearing. 'Oh hell.' She thought side stepping another rock. They seemed to be purposefully trying to block her path. Only a few more minutes and she should reach Naraku's castle. "This better be worth the effort I'm expending," she muttered darkly.

Naraku was a few yards in front of the undead priestess, hunched over on a tree branch. He eyed her speculatively. 'What could she possibly want? She hates associating with demons.' Unknown to the baboon covered psychopath in the tree, Kikyou had sensed his presence almost immediately.

"Naraku. I need to speak with you and I do not feel like climbing a tree to do so." Kikyou looked directly at the branch he was crouched on.

"Ku ku ku ku. Perceptive as always." He chuckled as he leaped to the ground. The baboon mask, which never moved enough to reveal his eyes, was high enough for Kikyou to recognize the smirk playing over his cold blue lips.

"I require your assistance in a matter involving Inuyasha and the girl he travels with. I wish to end her life as soon as possible. Preferably without stirring up too much attention. I don't want anyone to know what is behind her death. Can you help or am I wasting my time?"

Naraku looked her up and down. He had always appreciated the priestess. She was as cold as he. Being made of clay, her heart no longer beat and all she recognized were a few emotions, which she rarely showed at all. Naraku pondered her question. He knew her reason for wanting the troublesome miko dead. With the girl out of her way, Kikyou would be able to take Inuyasha to hell with her.

He tried to think about this reasonably. Without Kagome only Inuyasha would stand in his way when it came to the sacred jewel. The foolish half-breed would be too heartbroken to fight back. Kikyou would take him to hell with he, leaving only the monk and exterminator to deal with. Without the two leaders, the group would fall apart and he would have a field day picking them off one by one.

"There doesn't seem to be a downside to your request. What is it you require of me?" Naraku calmly waited for Kikyou's plan to be revealed.

"You can change form at will. You tricked Inuyasha and me once before. Use your skills to make Kagome think Inuyasha has betrayed her in the worst possible way. The miko will be so upset she will leave and never return. When she leaves Inuyasha I will be waiting to kill her." 'With her out of the way Inuyasha will be mine.'

"Inuyasha fell for it once. Why would he fall for the same plan again?"

"Inuyasha fell for it, yes. Kagome, on the other hand, has not." Kikyou flashed an icy smile.

"She has heard the story, however. What makes you think she would be fool enough to be taken in by such a risky plan?

"Alright. I see you don't have faith in the plan I have concocted. You come up with one."

"Follow me. I think I have just the thing to break them apart. You will stay the night and we will continue this conversation in the morning. I have matters to attend to before we set the plan in motion." Kikyou followed behind Naraku as he headed toward his castle. She could already smell the putrid mold associated so closely with the rotting dead.

'It's only a matter of time before you are mine Inuyasha. What will you do without your precious copy of the woman you couldn't have in life?'

Kagome entered the village silently and headed toward Kaede's hut. She needed a new bow. She had forgotten her last one at the river after the fight. In her rage she forgot to grab the bow and quiver. 'Oh well.' She sighed, 'I guess there is no time like the present to learn how to make my own bow. How hard can it be?'

It could be and was very hard. She had reached Kaede's hut and walked inside, only to be greeted by her traveling companions. Shippou had leapt on her shoulder as soon as he had caught sight of her. Miroku smiled and greeted her. Sango greeted her then went to get Kaede.

The elderly woman had sat down and patiently explained to Kagome how to make a bow. Sango sat next to Kagome and offered helpful hints. When Kagome had finally finished putting the bow together she had a fine sheen of sweat across her forehead.

"Let's go to the hot springs and bathe." Sango stood and brushed her skirt off.

"Sure." Kagome grabbed her stuff and headed out of the hut without even glancing in Inuyasha's direction. Sango grabbed her stuff as well.

Before following the younger girl out Sango turned toward Miroku, "Follow us and I'll use you as a target for my Hiraikotsu." She turned to Inuyasha who was looking at the door Kagome had just walked through and growling low. "I'll talk to her Inuyasha. Maybe she's just a little anxious to bathe. I'm sure she didn't mean to ignore you." Sango left the hut.

Inuyasha continued growling, 'what the fuck? I couldn't have said something bad enough to deserve being ignored! What the hell did I do? If she thinks for one second I'm just going to let her get away with this behavior she really doesn't know me.' Inuyasha dropped into a seated position and continued to scowl at the door.

Miroku glanced over at Inuyasha while polishing his staff. 'I wonder what happened between him and Kagome. She has never ignored him for this long before, at least not with out good reason. Maybe I should talk to Sango when she gets back. She might know what's going on. Or maybe I should go and make sure the ladies are alright.' The lecherous grin was in place as Miroku stood. "I'm going to go make sure no men happen upon the girls. If you will excuse me." No sooner had Miroku reached the door than Inuyasha was in front of him.

"Who's going to protect them from you lech? Unless you want to be beaten to a bloody pulp by two pissed off girls, I suggest you sit down and wait." Miroku sighed. He didn't get any respect around here. He went back to his position and continued polishing his staff.

"He said WHAT?" Sango was staring disbelievingly at Kagome.

"I know! It's not like I don't know what my responsibilities are. I am just as dedicated to finding the shards as he is. Just because I have to worry about my life back home doesn't mean I forget about the mission."

"Then what did he say?" Sango was shocked at how dense the fanged moron could be. He compared her to Kikyou again and blamed everything on Kagome, then followed her to her time and insulted her there too? What an ass.

"He didn't get to say anything after that. I yelled at him and threatened to pull his ears off." Kagome smiled slightly at the memory of Inuyasha's shocked expression.

"Ouch. You have been ignoring him since then?"

"Yeah. I am just trying to distance myself now. I don't need him complaining more."

"I can't say I blame you." Sango washed her skin and sank further into the spring.

"Hey, Sango? Could you teach me to fight?" Kagome was looking at the exterminator intently.

"Sure. Why do you want to learn all of a sudden?"

"If I know how to fight I won't be such a burden to Inuyasha and he won't be able to complain as much. I'd really like to be able to defend myself and help out at short range instead of having to stand in the distance and shoot arrows." Sango watched Kagome for a minute before nodding her head.

"I can teach you quite a bit. When do you want to start?"

"Tomorrow." Kagome sat up straight. This was going to be fun. She would show Inuyasha. 'Weak? Ha! I'll prove I'm just as capable of fighting as he is.'

The girls stepped out of the spring feeling clean and refreshed. They dried off and dressed quickly before heading back to the hut. They both had smiles on their faces. Sango was thinking about the look on Inuyasha's face when he learned Kagome could kick some serious butt. Kagome was imagining the look on Inuyasha's face when he realized she was more than just a shard detector. She was so going to enjoy this.

AN: Finally my next chapter is done. Thank you to all those who reviewed my last three chapters. I hope this doesn't disappoint any of you. Please keep reviewing. Constructive criticism is always appreciated but no flames please. I don't like being scorched.