The next chapter of my story is here! And for those of you who thought the story would end, well... it's not gonna! And look! I almost have 300! So please, pretty please REVEIW! I love you guys! I never thought I'd get this kind of response to a story! Enough of that, you don't read this to hear me babble! Enjoy!

This chapter is dedicated to my first reveiwer, Suaru!

20 - The Journey Continues

Sango just sat, her gaze locked on to the ground. She couldn't look at them; not after what she had told them. Without looking she knew that all eyes were on her. Their judgements were the only ones that mattered; they would make her or break her, depending on the outcome.

Kagome looked at her friend, not believeing what she heard. But it was true. It had to be. Her eyes went to the floor, attempting to hide her tears. Everything that had happened up until that point made sense now. How Naraku had known their every move... she had wondered about that before. But Sango was their friend, right? She was only doing what was best for her brother. Put in the same situation, Kagome knew that she would have done the same thing.

Inuyasha stared Sango right in the eye shamelessly, his amber orbs caught in an intense state of thought and concentration. It wasn't getting throught to him. 'How could she...' was all that went through his mind. He wanted to stand and yell. Punch her. Cry. Scream. He wasn't sure exactly what he wanted to do at that very moment, but he knew that nothing would help the pain in his heart that came from Sango's betrayal. Then the faint scent of salt hit his nose, causing his eyes to dart to his side. Kagome's head was down, tears welling in her eyes. 'Wonder what Kagome's thinking...' Then he mentally slapped himself. He knew what she was thinking. She was thinking of her lost little brother. How she would do anything for him. Even betray people she loved. Inuyasha's gaze returned to Sango, who had preoccupied herself with an interesting piece of concrete. 'I remember how it felt when my brother was killed... What I would've done to get him back... Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way...'

The silence was getting to Miroku. His heart was beating fast, Sango's hand clenched in his own. How could this happen? Even though practically the whole world was against them, they still had eachother, right? They would still all be together, right? So many questions and concerns, plus the added pressure of the silence in the room made it almost unberable for Miroku. Finally, he had enough. "So, what are we going to do?" he asked, his voice laced with impatience. "Are we going to sit here and dwell on things we can't change, or are we going to move on? Come on guys!" He stood, looking at Inuaysha and Kagome with bright eyes. "Naraku's dead! Don't you realize? We can live again! Go back, and live!" His words were cut short by a small movement to his side. Sango was shaking her head, a sad smile on her face. He bent, his hands resting on her knees. "What is it, my love?"

"You think that just because Naraku is dead we're safe?"

"Um... Well, yeah," he responded, thouroughly confused.

A small laugh escaped her lips as she started to talk. "Just because their leader is dead doesn't mean that we're out of danger. The Syndicate is still alive and well, and now that we killed their leader, they'll be after us without restraint. They'll want us dead no matter what. All that Naraku's death brought us was a break. We can't go back to normal life. Ever."

The words rang through the teenager's heads, all of them trying to process what was said. "Then isn't that an even better reason to keep moving?" Miroku said, standing up straight. "We have to get moving!" He pulled Sango up from her seat, partially holding her up. The young demon slayer's body weight was almost compleately on him, her body emotionally and physically exhausted. But no one else moved. "Inuyasha? Kagome?"

Kagome stood, her eyes still on the ground. "Sango... I understand why you did what you did." After hearing this, Sango's heart lifted.

'Maybe she'll forgive me... Even if I don't deserve it...'

Then Inuyasha rose, his amber eyes locked on Sango's. "But I don't."

The room was silent. Everyone waited for something to happen, and it was Inuyasha who provided the relief from the constricting silence. "I don't understand why you didn't tell us? Did you think we wouldn't help you? That we wouldn't try to save your brother? What do you take us for?" His voice shook as red started ebbing into the corners of his eyes, aner overcoming his once again.

Sensing the shift in Inuyasha's composure, Kagome put a clawed hand on his shoulder. "Inuyasha..." Her voice calmed his temper, her scent causing his mind to go blank for a moment.

"... I was scared." Sango's voice wavered as she said her next statement. "I thought if you knew, you would abandon me... Disgusted that I would work for that scum... I never wanted to betray you." Tears streamed down her face and dripped lightly to the ground as her fists balled, her nails digging into her palms. "I just thought..."

"No. You didn't think." Inuyasha stated, Sango's eyes darting to him in surprise. "If you would have thought logically about it, you would have told us."

Her expression fell, causing her whole body to slouch. "You're right..." she mummbled finally. "I should have told you..." Her voice was clogged with emotion as tears continued to fall freely down her face. "I'm... I'm so sorry..."

Suddenly a warmth surrounded her, closing her body in a warm embrace. She looked up to see Inuyasha, smiling down at her. "Look cousin, we all care about you. Just don't do it again, and let's move on, eh? I'm starving"

A small giggle escaped her throat, turning into a chuckle, then a laught that quickly filled the cell. Everyone else started laughing as well, the tension in the air evaporating like a puddle on a sunny day.

Once they stopped laughing, they all stood. "Okay! Let's go!" Miroku announced, marching out of the cell. Inuyasha and Sango followed, bright smiles adorning their faces. They stopped when they reached the stair well, realizing that Kagome wasn't following.

"Kagome? What's up?" Inuaysha said, looking back to Kagome. She was helping Kanna up, the woman's body shaking as she stood.

"Where do you think you're all going?" Kanna said quietly as she supported herself on her own feet. "Do you have any plan at all?"

They all looked at Miroku, who was bravely leading them out of the room. Seeing their questioning stares, he looked to the ceiling and whistled, trying to look innocent.

"So you were leading us out of this hell hole to absolutely nowhere?" Inuaysha said, shaking Miroku by the shoulders.

"Aw, come on! I was caught up in the moment!" he said, attempting to defend herself.

"Luckily, I have a plan," Kanna stated as she moved forward. She gave a wary glance to Naraku's corpse, as if not believing the sight was real. Her cole black eyes hardened as she looked at the body, they wheels visibly turning in her head. Then her eyes widened, as if realizing something that she should have caught earlier. "Come. Let's leave this place." They all walked to the stairs, walking up into the light of the room above.

"So are we really going to America?" Kagome squealed as Kanna pulled out four plane tickets from nowhere.

"Yes."

They all grew excited and looked at one another, happiness written all over their faces.

Suddenly Sango looked at Kagome, a shocked expression coming to her face.

"What?" Kagome questioned, sensing the eyes upon her.

Instead of answering, Sango walked up and reached a hand to the top of her head, running her ring finger down the side of one fluffy black ear. Kagome shivered at the touch against her new triangular appendage. It sent shock waves down her body, causing her heart rate to increase. She could only imagine how Inuaysha felt when she rubbed his ears frivously for long periods of time, while she was melting at just a touch. 'I must drive him mad!'

"You have ears!" Sango squealed, hopping up and down. By now Miroku had come over and took her hand, bringing it to his face to examine her new claws.

"How interesting..." He released her hand as he felt Inuyasha's eyes burrowing into his back. "It seems that our dear Kagome has become a half demon... Now how might that have happened" he questioned, a lecherous grin coming to his face.

"Come on, you pervert! You think we did... that... while we were in the Syndicate's base!" yelled Inuyasha furiously, his face reaching new levels of red.

"It could have been a delayed reaction. You know, you both did share a bed room at Kaede's..." With that, he was on the floor, a new bruise added to his growing collection. Sango stood, her fist still in the air as her left eye developed a tick.

"Thanks, Sango," Inuyasha and Kagome said at the same time.

"It's the least I can do," she replied, cracking her knuckles with a satisfied grin on her face.

"Now that that's settled," Kanna said, her tone still the same as every other time she talked"we can move on. The flight leaves in an hour and a half, and you all need to buy some new clothes.

They all looked down at themselves, finding dirty, ripped and bloody cloth hanging limply from their bodies. "Yeah... maybe you're right," Miroku chuckled.

"You're gonna pay for everything?" Kagome said, disbelief in her voice.

"In a way," Kanna said quietly, handing Inuaysha a credit card. "Each of you buy two outfits and some carry on luggage for the trip, plus anything else you think you'll need for the trip itself. Once you get to America, you can get more."

Kagome and Sango's gazes met, evil grins spreading across their faces.

"Um... Inuyasha, I'm sensing a shopping trip from hell in our futures..." Miroku muttered, backing up a few feet from the coniving girls that were starring at the credit card in Inuyasha's hand.

"Damn..." And that's when it all went bad. Kagome and Sango pounced at once, grabbing their respective lover's hand and dragging them toward the large strip mall near the airport.

For the first time in years the thin line of Kanna's mouth arched into a small smile. "It's nice to see that even though they've been through so much, they can still be normal teenagers."

"You boys are going first," Kagome announced as they blazed a trail to the men's section of the large store. "Stay," she told them as she and Sango ripped through the clothing racks, knocking three of them on the grond. Even the store clerks were afraind of the two young women as they viciously grabbed the boys and dragged them to a fitting room. Kagome shoved Inuyasha in one and tossed the clothes into his arms. Before she closed the door, she gave him a large smile, showing off her new fangs. Giving his a wink, she closed him in the stall and waited for him to come out. Poor Miroku wasn't as lucky. Sango literally threw him into the stall after he to a chance at groping her. She threw the clothes she picked out on top of him, slamming the door.

"Don't you think that was a little harsh?" Kagome questioned, trying to hold back her laughter.

"I love him, but I swear he gets on my last nerve," she said as she sat on a small bench near the entry way. The four had the dressing rooms to themselves. Needless to say, when the frantic shoppers entered, everyone else exited. The first to come out was Miroku, wearing a vintage t-shirt and a pair of loose fitting blue jeans. Sango stood, pushing him to the three way mirror. "Not bad, if I do say so myself."

"You're taste is the best my dear," he said, giving her an award winning smile.

Sango smiled and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Well, this is interesting, my love," Miroku commented, resting his hands onto of Sango's.

"You see, this way you can't grope me!" she told him triumphantly.

He looked down, noticing where his hands were in relation to Sango's behind. Try as he might, he just couldn't seem to reach any farther than Sango's hips. A sad look crossed his face, tears forming in his eyes.

"Damn, Miroku! You are such a baby! Just cause you can't grope Sango for two seconds you're gonna cry!" Inuyasha said jokingly as he stepped out of the changing room.

Kagome looked to him, marveling at how well the plain red t-shirt and black jeans fit him. Inuyasha grinned wildly at the entranced stare from Kagome, her ears dropping slightly on her head.

He walked over to her, only inches separating them. Closing the gap between them, her placed a chaste kiss on her lips lightly, distracting her from where his hands were going. "...Payback time..." he growled lightly against her lips.

She gave him a confused glance. 'What's he planning?' she thought heatedly, but then all thought was lost to her as she felt a strange sensation all over her body, centralized t the top of her head. 'Ears...' she remembered numbly, her body going weak as his claws delicately scratched the base of her fluffy canine ears.

"Inu... Inuyasha..." she barely chocked out as the strange feleing passed through her body, making her feel as if she was standing on a cloud. The breath caught in her throat as she tried to say something else, the sensation over taking her body. Her dark amber eyes glazed over, starring blankly at a grinning Inuyasha.

Slowly, he removed his hands, supporting her now limp body with his strong arms. His lips traveled to her sensitive ears, and whispered in them slowly "How's it feel, princess?"

She just whimpered, and his smile broadened. 'That was... so... strange... yet...' Her breath finally slowed as she started to regain her ability to move. She narrowed her deep amber eyes, giving him a dirty look. "That's was a cheap shot..."

"Yeah... Now you know how it feels." He gently helped her stand on her feet, then walked over to Sango and Mrioku near the three way mirror to admire the clothes Kagome picked out for him.

'I'll get him back...' she thought, shaking her head as she tried to clear the fuzziness from her eyes.

An hour later they found themselves in the airport, with their bags sitting on the floor as they waited for their flight to be called. Kagome fiddled with the zipper on her bag with her claws, causing a light scratching sound everytime she moved the little piece of metal. She closed her eyes as she thought over the events of the day.

'Okay... We escaped. I still can't believe it! We're going to live a practically normal life! And me and Inuyasha... Once we get to America...' She looked longingly down at the emerald studded band that sat on her ring finger, running her fingertips carefully along each stone. A small smile lit her face as she got lost in her memories, in all her thoughts of her beloved hanyou.

Inuyasha was getting antsy. 'What's taking so damn long!' he thought impatiently as he checked his watch for the fifth time in the past two minutes. 'Security already was a pain in the ass, and now I have to deal with this waiting! This is so stupid...' His nerves were getting the better of him, his foot continuously tapping the floor to relieve his built-up adrenaline.

'That tapping is driving me nuts...' Sango thought as the constant knock of Inuyasha's shoe to the ground rang through her head. 'Oh well...'

"I am still confused," Miroku said, tired of the silence.

"About Kanna" Inuyasha asked irritably.

"Yeah... Why she would leave so quickly? And how does she know whats waiting for us when we get off the plane?"

flash back -

"You're what?" all four of them said, not believing their ears.

"I'm leaving," Kanna told them again, her tone remaining flat and emotionless.

"But..." Kagome said, her ears slightly flattening to her head.

"Don't worry. Someone will be waiting for you at the airport in America." Kanna almost cracked a smile at this. 'They are in for quite the shock...'

- end flash back

The woman had left without much more than a goodbye, and it left the teens wishing they could've shown their gratitude to ehr better. The thoughts flew form their minds as they heard what they had been waiting to hear for nearly an hour.

"Flight 239 to America, now boarding."

They stood, excitement overcoming every other emotion in their bodies.

"Finally Kagome, we can live again," Inuyasha whispered in a low tone as they walked a couple feet behind Sango and Miroku as they approached the gate.

"I can't wait," she whispered back, grabbing his hand with her free one.

He smiled and gave her hand a squeeze, then boarded the plane to their new lives.

Two women walked into the dark and desolate dungeon of a basement to the Syndicate headquarters. The woman with short black hair and blood red eyes stuck her foot out, kicking the lifeless corpse infront of her. Seeing it didn't move, she withdrew her own sword, slicing the body through the very center of the chest. "Good thing the demon slayer had poor aim," she told her companion. "If she would have hit a couple inches higher, the paln would have been ruined." Suddenly the body evaporated, leaving only a small wooden puppet wrapped in a dark hair. It snapped in two, the demon puppet's job complete.

The second woman with her long silvery hair and cold eyes took out her cell phone. Pushing a singel button, she put the phone to her ear, patiently waiting for the other line to pick up.

"Did it work?" a cold voice asked her from the other end of the phone.

A smile spread across her face as she replied. "Yes, Naraku. They don't suspect a thing..."

To my Friends and Reveiwers -

Suaru - Ahhh! Don't make her angry! She'll kill us! (notice I say 'us'!) Hehe! That corner has become one of my best friends lately... Anyway, thankies! Love and Hugs beta! TTYL!

abnormally cool - Oh! I would never leave you hanging long! And as you can hopefully see by the end of this chapter, the story shall continue! Hehe! Thanks so much! Hope you liked it!

JadeElemental - AHHH! (hides in corner with Martine) Don't hurt me! I could never make her entirely evil... in fact, she really wasn't "evil" to begin with, just tricked! And no worries! After that, none of the fabulous group of four shall be a traitor! Yeah, I just added the Kagome-doggy ears thing in on a whim, but I guarentee, it will become an important factor for a certain part of the story I have planned to come up later... Anyway, you go girl! Nail those guys with the cheerios! Last time they came after me, I hit them all with cheerios and they went away... I think... (looks suspiciously over shoulder) Love and Hugs, my friend! You're constant LONG... LONG... LONG... reviews are so fun! TTYL!

anna marie-the pirate - Hehe! Thanks! Hope you like this chappie!

tangled-wires-of-doom - Well, maybe not dead Naraku... it's not that easy to get rid of him, sadly! But thanks so much!

sapphire-glass - Ah, no need for language like that, my furry friend! Hehe! Anyway, thankies and I'll TTYL! Love and Hugs!

Hanyou Vixen - Yeah... Poor Kohaku! Hehe! Naraku, you bastard! Anyway, I normally think that switching her apperance is kinda strange, but when I think about it, it was kinda necessary for something I plan on happening later. You'll understand soon enough! And it was not thought of on a whim... entirely! But you know me! The whole story is practically a whim! Love and Hugs my friend! TTYL!

demon mind69 - Thanks! So glad I can bring a smile to your face! (smiles)

AngelWing1138 - I'm not done just yet! (winks) Thanks!

OneOnlyKagome - Yes! I couldn't have them mad at Sanog, now could I? Hehe! Sorry I have to stop your happy dance about the evil bastard being dead, but I wanted the story to continue... (sigh) Oh, the thing I write! Anyway, thanks so much!

luvinukagome - Yes, you are adorable! I couldn't think of that many rhymes if my life depended on it! Hehe! TTYL! Love and Hugs!

ranmayuusuke930 - Haven't heard from you in a while! Thought you forgot about me! Anyway, thank you! Finally, someone else loves the cliffies! Yay! (hugs) Kagome's hanyou look honestly came from my whim... maybe I subconciously remembered your description, but I didn't model it in the intentions of looking like yours! Sorry about that! Yeah, I felt bad for Sango, too... But the twist was too good to pass up! Love and Hugs!

Kaji no Miko - Hey, Brittany! Thanks so much! And don't worry about your story! It's great! Besides, it took me a long time to write all these chapters this length! Anyway, I'll see ya later! Love and Hugs! (oh, and did you get the pics I sent you? I'd love to hear what you thought!)

Okay, and that's the end of ch 20! Never thought the story would get this far! But anyway, please REVEIW! I love all of you! Oh, and if you haven't, please take a peak at my new story, Behind Enemy Lines! Thanks! And for those of you who have been asking, I will update my other story, Summer of a Lifetime, soon! Promise! REVEIW! Adios, my bien amigos and amigas!

Ash