I don(t *cough* own Inuyasha; however. . . I do own Akako. So don(t worry, Inuyasha and Miroku are not in my room, pigging out on Ramen and awaiting my return. . . so don(t even bother lookin! :-D ok. I(m done.

Chapter 6

(Lord Sesshomaru, what are you doing?( Jaken asked, a little scared.

(That is none of your business, Jaken,( Sesshomaru answered.

They were gliding over the forest, Jaken on the back of a demon that was Sesshomaru(s slave. It was the middle of the day, and in Sesshomaru(s pocket was the powdery substance that he had made the day before. It had settled, and was now a bright blue. The green carpet of leaves underneath Sesshomaru reminded him of Kagome(s eyes. (A/N: they are green, right?) As they got closer to the village, Sesshomaru smelled her. (So she is still alive. They weren't(t lying. I wonder what happened at the well, then. I guess it won(t matter soon. . .(

Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo, Sango, Miroku and Akako were walking away from the village into the forest. Kaede had told them of a rumor of a jewel shard to the east, so they had set out as soon as everyone got up and ready. It was unusually quiet and Akako wondered if this was normal. She looked at the faces of Inuyasha and Kagome and noticed that the two of them were avoiding each other(s glances. She could sense a sexual tension between the two, but decided it would be better not to say anything. She was pretty sure there was some between Miroku and Sango, but Sango kept insisting that there was absolutely none at all, so Akako decided to believe her. Miroku seemed like the type of guy that would hit on any girl that came by, as long as they didn(t have a (swollen face.( Sure enough, as they stopped to rest (Kagome had gotten tired, and for once Inuyasha stopped with no complaints) Miroku took Akako to the side.

(Have you been made aware of the hole in my hand?( Miroku questioned.

(Yes, Sango told me of your disheartening plight. I do feel sorry for you. Does it hurt?( Akako replied.

(Not often. However, my hating of Naraku hurts me, and I often fear that I will die before I defeat him, leaving no one behind to continue fighting him,( Miroku answered.

Akako knew what was coming and she was ready. Plus, she had something up her sleeve for their friend Miroku.

(I know this may seem sudden, but I was wondering if you would honor me by bearing my child,( Miroku asked, saying it smoothly, as he had said it hundreds of times before. (Sure, I(d be honored,( Akako answered.

(Really!?! That(s, that(s wonderful! When can we start?!?( Miroku asked excitedly.

(As soon as you get a brain,( Akako replied happily, as she smiled and walked back to Sango.

(So he asked you?( Sango asked.

(Yup,( Akako responded.

(What(d you say?( Sango asked. When Akako told her, Sango burst out laughing, interesting Kagome. When Akako told her too, all three of them started giggling hysterically, while being glared at by Miroku, who knew what they were laughing about.

(Wow, that(s good,( Sango said, (bet that(s never happened to him before.(

That got the three of them talking, and as the group started walking again, the girls went considerably slower, talking on and on about girl things. Inuyasha kept skipping ahead, so that his hears could stop hearing all about womanly problems, and Miroku and Shippo hung back eavesdropping.

(Kagome, what about you and Inuyasha?( Akako asked.

(What about us?( Kagome asked back.

(Well, you both seem to like each other a lot. Are the two of you considering mating or something?( Akako replied.

A blush crept up onto Kagome(s face. She decided to tell her friends the truth. She looked around and made sure Inuyasha was far away and she lowered her voice so that Shippo and Miroku couldn't hear. (I think I may like him, but I(m almost positive he doesn't feel the same way,( Kagome declared.

(I must disagree Kagome,( Sango put in, (the way Inuyasha acts, talks and reacts, shows that he really does care for you. Anyone who has eyes can see it. Kagome smiled at this, but decided that it couldn(t be true. If Inuyasha really did like her, wouldn(t he act kinder towards her? However, he was nice this morning, and he did give her his kimono every now and then. . . and he was always protecting her. Plus, he got jealous whenever Kouga was around. Could he really like her in that way?

Up ahead, Inuyasha was smiling. Kagome had said that she liked him! Yeah, he had heard it. He had dog ears after all. . . Suddenly, Inuyasha(s smile turned to a frown as he smelled his brother.
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