I don't own Inuyasha. So there.

Chapter 13

'I wonder where Inuyasha is,' Shippo wondered aloud.

'Somewhere up ahead. We'll find him,' Sango said, trying to sound cheerful. However, with Kagome gone, Inuyasha possibly in trouble and her old friend getting close to Miroku, she wasn't exactly a bundle of joy lately.

'Akako, why do you hit me so hard?' Miroku asked.

Akako tried to hide her slight giggle, but didn't succeed. Sango was getting a little tired with all the flirting going on between the two of them. It was a little annoying.

'Oh Akako, come here. . .'

'Do the two of you get that Kagome could be dead along side Inuyasha? No, you don't, because your too busy flirting!' Sango had kept it inside for a while, so when it came out, it sounded harsher then she meant it to.

'Sango, I'm sorry. You're completely right. My sincerest apologies,' Akako apologized.

Miroku stayed silent on the back of Kirara, looking down at the ground, seemingly lost in thought. Sango kind of felt bad about yelling at him, but not so much.

***

Kagome had been wandering around Sesshomaru's castle for what seemed like forever to her aching body. She had gone down two flights of stairs, wondered up and down countless corridors and even asked a few freighted servants for directions. As she walked down another flight of stairs, she turned to her right and saw another humongous room with a long table in the center. The ceiling was high and there were at least 12 chairs around the table. However, there were only two table settings, each at separate sides of the table, facing each other. The plates, cups and silverware seemed to be made of a mixture of copper, silver and gold. There were silk napkins and a satin table cloth. Kagome was amazed at all that Sesshomaru had. She couldn't help thinking that this had all been put out for her to show off Sesshomaru's wealth. But why would he want to do that?

Kagome cautiously walked into the dining area, and looked around. There was no sign of Sesshomaru, so she thought maybe she was early. She hurriedly sat down, her body silently thanking her for the rest. She closed her eyes, and was about to fall asleep when Sesshomaru walked in.

'What are you doing?' he asked in the same tone he always used.

Kagome looked up and saw him staring at her. She apologized for almost falling asleep, and tried her hardest to look at him respectfully. She only needed to stay alive until Inuyasha arrived. . .

'Stand up,' Sesshomaru said.

Kagome looked at him, sadness in her eyes and did as she was told.

'You will always stand when I walk into a room. I suppose I shall have to beat good manners into you,' Sesshomaru stated as if it were nothing.

Kagome let out an involuntary whimper out at the suggestion of beating. She wasn't sure she could take much more beating. Her body already felt like it was going to fall apart.

Sesshomaru could smell her fear, sadness and pain. It was a delightful smell, when mixed with her normal aroma. He almost let a slight grin out, but decided showing emotion around her would show his weakness to her. As he sat down, Kagome looked at him, wondering if she could sit down yet without him hitting her.

'Yes, you may sit,' Sesshomaru answered her thoughts.

Kagome bowed her head gratefully and sat down quickly. This was going to be a long dinner.

***

'Lady Sango, may we talk?' Miroku asked.

Sango glared at him, but nodded slightly. Miroku started walking away from the camp area and Sango followed him warily.

'What?' Sango asked, sounding again harsher then desired.

'Why are you so touchy lately? You act like my acting towards Akako bothers you,' Miroku responded, trying to keep his voice calming.

'No, you can act however you want. I don't care. You flirt with every other girl, why shouldn't you flirt with my friend?'

Miroku suddenly smiled at her, thinking he figured it out. 'You like me, don't you?'

'What?!? No! Of course not! You're just an annoying, lecherous Monk!' Sango declared angrily.

Miroku just continued smiling. 'That's it, isn't it? You've sort of put up with my flirting with other girls, when it was just a one time thing. But now that I talk with Akako all the time, you've become jealous. That's gotta be it.'

Sango just continued glaring at him. She then started to walk away in a huff, trying to convince herself that what Miroku had said was wrong. However, Miroku wasn't letting her get away that easily. He grabbed her arm gently. 'Sango, please, wait.'
'Why should I? You obviously have me all figured out.'

'Sango, do you know why I took so long to at least try to ask you to bear my child?' Miroku asked, completely serious now.

'No,' Sango said, still angry.

'It's because I actually cared what you said. I was afraid you would say no. So when you acted angry that I hadn't asked you, I thought maybe if I did ask you, you would say yes. I was mistaken, of course. And the reason why I flirt with Akako and not you? Akako means next to nothing to me. If she ends up hating me for doing something, I'll get over it. But I don't think I could go on living if you hated me. I hope the wind tunnel sucks me up before you ever hate me.'

Miroku finished his little speech quieter then he had started. Sango's anger had left her, and she now stared at Miroku in amazement. The fact that he couldn't live just if she hated him? Did this mean. . . could he possibly. . . love her?

***

A/N: Alright, I'm going to leave off here. Next chapter there will be some serious Kikyo bashing though, so all you non-Kikyo haters, look out for those warnings. It won't be that bad, but Kikyo will definitely come out of it a lot worse then she went in. ;-) Ok, I'm gonna post this then write more. Bye!