Heylo peoples! No individual notes this time…though I promise they will come back in the next chapter. I'd like to thank all of you though, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

When Sango opened her eyes the next morning, the first thing she saw was red. The second was a head of silver hair. Startled, she sat up. Inuyasha was sitting cross-legged on the floor, his arms on the edge of her pallet with his head resting atop them. Inuyasha? Here? But…how? And why?

Wincing, she put a hand up to her head. It was really aching. That only happened when she cried herself to sleep. Why had she been crying? She didn't really remember.

In any case, she had to get out of bed. Judging by the sunlight streaming through the open window, it was already time for breakfast. She glanced at Inuyasha, puzzled. Normally, he would have been up long before this, harrying them all out of bed. Something really strange must have happened last night.

Maybe he was sick? Tentatively, she raised her hand to touch his forehead. That was what her mother had always done to check if someone was sick. Her palm had barely touched his skin when his eyelids shot up, and he had gripped her hand tightly.

'Oh, it's only you.' He grunted. Shaking hair out of his golden eyes, he regarded her silently. 'Are you feeling all right?' he asked in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.

Sango frowned, perplexed. 'What do you mean?'

'Last night, Miroku carried you back here from wherever you had wandered to. And you didn't wake up once with all the talking going on. That's not like you. You're one of the lightest sleepers I know.'

Inwardly, Sango grinned. Inuyasha always called everyone but himself a heavy sleeper. Something like this coming from him…suddenly, last night's events hit her. Her good mood vanished like a pricked bubble.

'What's wrong, Sango?' Inuyasha's grip on her hand tightened. The concern in his eyes deepened, and he placed his other hand on her shoulder.

Inuyasha's strange actions didn't even register in Sango's mind. I told Miroku…

'What did you tell Miroku?'

Sango realized that she had said that aloud. She blinked as she looked at the hanyou. He was still holding her hand. She blushed deep red. 'Inuyasha…' she began.

Confusion flickered across his features, and then was quickly replaced by pure embarrassment. He let go of her hand, and removed his other hand from her shoulder. 'Sorry.' He mumbled, not looking at her.

Sango had to stop a sigh of disappointment. Why had she decided to remind him of his hands on her? Stupid, stupid, stupid.

'What did you tell Miroku?' he was still mumbling, but he wasn't going to give up until he found out.

'Nothing.'

He raised his head, a wry smile playing across his face. 'Yeah right, nothing.'

'It is nothing. At least, nothing of importance to you.' Liar! Her conscience screamed. It concerns him almost as much as it does you!

Tapping his chin thoughtfully, Inuyasha stared at her again. Sango had to look away; that gaze was far too penetrating to bear.

'Of course it is of importance to me. You're an essential member of this group, and if something's getting you down, then I ought to find out what it is.' Sango's head jerked around. 'Because of course your emotions might affect your fighting, and I, I mean we, don't want that.' he added hastily.

It was Sango's turn to stare unblinkingly at the hanyou now. That comment about her fighting sounded a little too rushed to her, as though he had only said it to cover up some other thought, or to keep her from thinking too much about why exactly he wanted to know about her problems.

Her stare affected him in almost the same way as his had affected her. He suddenly seemed to find the beams of the ceiling very interesting.

Her lips quirked upwards in a small smile. He was concerned about her. A warm, happy feeling welled up within her. She could hardly believe how happy that thought made her that he actually cared about her. She had laughed at the girls in her village when they sighed after the young men, believing them to be utter fools. Who would waste her time fantasizing about young men when there were demons out there to be exterminated? Well, she could sympathize with those 'utter fools' now. She seemed to be becoming one herself.

'Now why are you smiling? You're becoming very unpredictable Sango.'

Sango couldn't help it, she laughed aloud. His expression of absolute bewilderment was so adorable that she felt like ruffling his hair like she would a little child's. She didn't understand why exactly she seemed to be becoming quicksilver, but she couldn't bring herself to care.

Throwing back her head, she laughed whole-heartedly. Inuyasha was here; he was concerned about her; and Miroku would support her come what may. All that was left to worry about was Kagome. But she couldn't even make herself care about her. Inuyasha was here, and that was all that mattered.

Tilting his head, Inuyasha considered the slayer. What the heck was wrong with her? Come to think of it, what the heck was wrong with him? Why had he ended up sleeping there?

I put her down, and then, I guess I must have dozed off while I was…watching her. She looked too helpless and innocent to be left alone. And the fact that she said Miroku's name…again…that's something to think about.

He had opened his mouth to ask her about that, when the door slid open, revealing Kagome standing there. Miroku was right behind her, with a helpless look plastered on his face. He raised his hands as if to apologize to him when the miko ran in.

'Inuyasha! Sango! Are you two okay?'

'Sure, why wouldn't we be?' he raised an eyebrow at the Houshi, who shook his head and mouthed something like 'Later'.

Kagome looked curiously at a still laughing Sango. 'What's wrong with her?' she asked slowly.

Sango seemed to calm down; though she still quivered when occasional giggles took her. She waved a hand at Kagome. 'I'm fine Kagome.'

Kagome still looked doubtful, and now Miroku looked like he was wondering exactly how sane Sango still was. Inuyasha could only wonder what he had done to reduce her to this giggly state. He didn't remember Sango ever acting like this before.

He turned around when Kagome pulled at the sleeve of his haori. Was it just his imagination, or was there the tiniest trace of jealousy in her eyes? And why was it that when he looked into her eyes, he didn't feel like he was drowning, and loving every minute of it?

'The villagers have brought us breakfast. Come on, lets go eat before it goes cold.' She glanced at Sango again, looked significantly at Miroku, and then walked out. Inuyasha turned back to look at Sango. She was staring at her hands now, all traces of mirth gone. He could feel Miroku's eyes on his back, weighing and measuring him. That made him feel uncomfortable. It was as though Miroku were judging whether he was worthy of something. Worthy of what?

Kagome popped her head in the door again. 'Come on Inuyasha! Let's leave Miroku and Sango alone!'

Inuyasha growled, too low for anyone to hear. He gripped the edge of Sango's pallet, a bit more tightly than strictly necessary, and hauled himself to his feet. Stealing a glance at the tajiya, he noted that she looked unhappy again, and she wouldn't raise her face to his. He turned when he heard Miroku clear his throat.

'Got something in your throat monk?' he glared. Miroku shut up immediately.

Turning back to Sango, he considered her once more. 'You owe me some answers slayer, and I won't rest till I get them.' He stomped out of the room.

Shaking his head, Miroku walked over to Sango. His heart still ached whenever he looked at her. Pushing the pain away, or trying to, he put on a smile.

'Good morning Sango. I trust you had a good awakening?'

'Why was Inuyasha in here?'

Miroku played with the sleeve of his robe for a while, wondering how to answer that question. The truth was, he didn't know himself. 'He carried you here.'

Sango looked up, her eyes shocked. 'He…what? He was there in the copse when we were talking?'

'No! I carried you to the house, then, seeing as I was so tired, Inuyasha offered to bring you in. I guess he was tired too. He must have fallen asleep the minute he put you down. He was injured after all.'

'Oh. And why did Kagome ask if we were all right? What did you tell her?'

Miroku grinned. 'Well, I said that you twisted your ankle. That was the only reason I could make up for her to believe. I guess she presumed that Inuyasha had to carry you in here, and fell asleep cause he was tired. That is true by the way.'

Sango nodded thoughtfully.

He held out his hand to her. 'Ready to get up and face the day?'

Silently, she put her hand in his. He held it firmly.

'Miroku?'

'Yes?'

'I'm sorry.'

He said nothing, only squeezed her hand tight. His grin remained in place, but his eyes told the real story.

Well here's a worthless chapter. Nothing really happened, did it? I just thought it was time to make Sango and Inuyasha start coming together. And trust Kagome to break up a little moment, ne?

Inuyasha WILL get his answers…I had to leave a little opening for another conversation between the two.

Reviews!