The Triangle.

"I wish to go back in time, to try and hold you in my arms
to see the world that you see, and to be in your dreams
I wish to go back in time, to try and continue our story
and to never let you slip away from me again."

- Lyrics from a chinese song


The flu that Kagome was harbouring and the winter cold made her so drowsy that she had lost count of the number of times she had to pinch herself in order to keep her eyes open. The fact that she was curled over his back comfortably did not help too. He was warm and her body seemed to meld into his firm lean back nicely, as if her body was proportioned just for him. She pressed her freezing cheek against the arch of his long neck, his hot bare skin was deliciously soothing and comfortable.

As Sesshoumaru journeyed upwards, Kagome could not help but to find the way that their hair looped around each other interesting. Her long black wavy ones were twisted loosely around his long straight silver locks, which shone under the moonlight as they bounced against his chest. It seemed that no matter how they jolted against each other, her curls just would not let loose of his silver hair; and they in return seemed to stay obediently within the grasp of her big curls. It was also weird that she did not feel one bit of fear that she was on his back, it was just like the way Inuyasha had carried her for the past three years.

"Koko?" Sesshoumaru adjusted his grip over her thighs as he landed. Kagome looked around and shook her head. She could not recognize anything familiar and regretted for not being more vigilant about her surroundings.

"Iie," Kagome gave the same answer for the eighteenth time, feeling quite apologetic and at the same time wondering why they could not find their way back, unless they were not falling straight down. She turned her head around and thought that their environment did not seem to change at all. Rocks, cliff walls, pine trees were all around them.

Sesshoumaru let out another disappointed sigh, Kagome was as bad as he had thought in regards to her sense of direction. He did not understand why but it had occured to him that she was rather unskilled in protecting and defending herself in the wild. He mentally cursed himself for not being able to see but quickly decided that it was not practical nor realistic to delve in such pointless thoughts. He would be fine, even though the pains in his body bothered him, but it was not something beyond his threshold of tolerance. But she will freeze to death...

Kagome heard the soft sigh and felt really useless at their current predicament. He had to carry her even though he was injured badly and all she could do was to be 'his eyes'. Kagome highly doubted that he would be lost if he could see and rested her chin dejectedly on his shoulder, aplogizing softly, "gomen ne..."

He closed his eyes and let out another long-held breath. His back was beginning to hurt and the pains were growing in intensity, especially around his eyes. He knew that he could not go on anymore and it was probably futile to do that in the night. They would have to continue when dawn breaks and he would take the much needed break in the meanwhile. Sesshoumaru knelt on his knee and tilted his face a little to her, "it's not your fault. The night is not favourable for your human sight, we shall rest here."

Kagome nodded silently and slipped off his back, sorely missing his bodily heat which was so utterly comfortable. She sat on the snow-covered ground with her legs splayed out, feeling terribly exhausted and depressed. "Sumimasen, I'm really of no help at all."

Sesshoumaru straightened and stretched his back a little, not knowing what to say in reply to her apology. It was true that she had not managed to guide them back to their so-called cave, and he wondered whether they would be able to make it even in the day. He stretched his only hand out to her, "Kagome, you can bring us to somewhere we can rest here, at least."

The weary miko could only oblige as she took his clawed hand and tried to stand up. Her two feet felt as if they were bound with lead and the slippery wet snow could not make it anymore difficult for her. Images of her warm nice bed, thick blankets and soft furry slippers swam into her sight and before she knew it, she tottered and slipped. Almost.

Sesshoumaru felt the grasp on his hand waning and he immediately bent forward, slipping his arm around her waist and pulled her up against his body. Kagome muttered an apology and closed her eyes, her head spun from the near-slip yet heavy with her guilt and exhaustion at the same time, "I think I'm sick." She then wrapped her arms around his neck like a teddy bear, not caring whether she would be killed for her impudence. The taiyoukai was stunned but he merely remained silent and slipped his hand under her butt, lifting her up until she could rest her chin on his shoulder.

"Kagome, could you at least tell me whether there is a tree nearby before you fall asleep?" his voice held that edge of desperation to which it went unnoticed by his sick companion.

"Right in front of me..." her voice trailed off and she leaned her head against the curve of his neck, feeling all too ready to doze off.

Sesshoumaru sighed inwardly and turned around, taking small slow steps until his foot kicked against the base of something hard. "Is it here?"

His reply was met with her grunt, to which he promptly sat down slowly and leaned against the tree, inwardly feeling relieved that they had at least found somesort of a shelter. Anything is better than nothing, he thought to himself wryly. When Kagome did not let go of her arms and remained curled on his lap, Sesshoumaru could not help but to ask, "are you sure we are only allies?"

She adjusted her butt until a more comfortable position was found, "hn... I think so..."

His lips parted slightly at her ambiguous reply and when he heard her heavy, evened-out breathing, he decided that he would have to discover the answer for himself, for somewhere in his mind he knew that Kagome would not tell him the whole truth. He inwardly suspected that he might have harboured feelings for her before he got injured and lost his memory. And he tried hard not to think about how soft her body felt against him, nor how comfortable her weight was.

Afterall, you are such a funny, little interesting creature. He rested his chin on her sweet-smelling head and drifted off to the much-needed sleep.


"Miroku, I miss Kagome," Shippou propped his chin on his two pawed hands as he stared at the pictures he had drawn on the drawing paper that Kagome had brought for him. The houshi opened his eyes from his meditation and peered at the white thick paper. He had to admit that the kitsune-youkai had excellent drawing skills as he looked at the five people he had outlined with strange-looking colored utensils.

"Shippou, it has only been four days. Do not be impatient, Kagome-sama will return to visit us soon as long as she have finished her studies."

Sango took a break from polishing her Hiraikotsu and looked at the dismayed kitsune, "we miss her too. But Kagome-chan needs to spend time with her family ne? I am sure that she will bring you more candies since she'll won't be returning so soon."

Shippou bounced up and crawled onto Miroku's lap anxiously, "nani? Is she not celebrating the New Year with us?" Miroku smiled and tried to reassure him, "I am sure that Kagome-sama will still celebrate the New Year with us. What do you think Sango?"

The taijiya nodded her head and ruffled Kirara's head, "and it's only a month away. So don't think about it so much and time will go by faster than you think."

Shippou folded his arms crossly and sulked, "why can't Inuyasha keep her with us?"

Miroku glanced at Sango, hoping that she would respond, but the taijiya merely shrugged her shoulders and returned to her Hiraikotsu, polishing it studiously.

"It's all Inuyasha's fault," Shippou seethed in anger and wished that he could go into the well and bring Kagome back. She would take care of him, joke with him and she cared for him, almost, like his own mother. Miroku sighed inwardly, it seemed to him that Kagome, Inuyasha and Kikyou would be trapped in this triangle unless something drastic happened.

"Shippou, things... are not as easy as it seems between Inuyasha and Kagome-sama."

"Wakatte ru! Kagome is just too kind and big-hearted," Shippou answered vehemently.

"Hai, demo it is not only that. I believe she knows about all these too, but affairs of the heart are not that easy to manage and unless she wants to remove the knot herself, things will not change between Inuyasha and her," Miroku tried to explain to the best he could.

"Dakara, Inuyasha has to make the decision between Kikyou and Kagome-chan. Demo it seems that he is unwilling to do it," Sango added.

"Naze? Can someone really like two persons at the same time?" Shippou asked curiously.

It was Miroku's turn to shrug his shoulders, "Shippou, you might be too young to understand this. But yes and no, it is possible, and impossible to like more than one person at the same time."

Shippou cocked his head to one side, not understanding what he was trying to say.

The houshi rested his chin on his hand and thought for a while, "you can like more than one person at the same time. Just like how you love your father, mother and your siblings. Demo the feelings we are talking about between Inuyasha and Kagome-sama should only be reserved between two and no one else. Love is not possessive, but unfortunately, it cannot be shared between three people. Inuyasha could still be figuring out whether he prefers Kikyou-sama or Kagome-sama. Or perhaps, he is not even thinking about it at all."

Sango nodded her head and sighed out loud, "poor Kagome-chan, always being neglected when Kikyou arrives. I would personally kill the other party if such a thing happen to me."

Miroku gulped nervously and tried to smile at her, "I'm not like Inuyasha!"

Sango blushed hard at his desperate attempt and turned her face away, "I'm not insinuating anything! Don't you get the wrong idea!"

Shippou could not help but to giggle at Miroku's crestfallen face, "Miroku, are you heart-broken now?"

The houshi winked at the kitsune and pressed his palm against his chest dramatically, "mochiron! There is no one else in my heart other than..."

"Houshi-sama! Where is Inuyasha?" Sango started to search around the house in a frantic bid to stop Miroku from completing the rest of his sentence, to which he grinned at her red-tinged cheeks. He planted Shippou on the wooden floor and got to his feet swiftly, not wanting his beloved to feel embarrassed anymore, "aa, I'll go and look for him now."

Sango nodded her head and turned her back on Miroku, not wanting to let him see the smile she tried so hard to keep within herself. Shippou slumped his shoulders with a bittersweet smile on his face, wondering when Inuyasha and Kagome would behave like Miroku and Sango.


Inuyasha adjusted his straw hat and knelt down beside Kaede as they swept the snow away and placed white crysanthemums on the small cement tomb. Even though they knew that her ashes were no longer inside there, Kaede felt it her responsibility to continue to take care of it, it was afterall her sister's grave.

"Inuyasha, do you still pin for Kikyou-oneesama?" The elderly miko straightened her back as she looked at the stone tablet dry-eyed.
"Why do you always ask me such questions baa-baa?" the hanyou retorted back softly.

She clapped her hands together and bowed once, while Inuyasha remained stiff-backed. Kaede stared at the tablet for a long while before speaking, "or have you made your decision?"

The red-clad hanyou did not reply but merely lowered his face. Kaede sighed and made her last remark as she walked back to her hut slowly, "spare a thought for Kagome too."

Inuyasha closed his eyes, a part of him wished that he had never met Kagome. He knew that he could not return her love for him, and eventually would have to leave her. He owed Kikyou too much, simply too much.

"Inuyasha?"

He knew that Miroku was standing by his side and opened his eyes, "you heard everything."

"Aa," Miroku nodded his head once.

Silence hung between the two grown men as they stood silently before the empty tomb. Miroku knew that Inuyasha was torn between the two women, even though he often teased him and stood on Kagome's side. But he truthfully felt that if he were in Inuyasha's shoes, he would have no better idea on what to do either. All that he could offer, was his silent support. That was all that he could do as his friend.

"Miroku, have I done anything wrong?" Inuyasha finally asked.

Miroku thought hard for a while, "yes and no."

When Inuyasha did not respond, Miroku continued, "if you had made a clean break with Kagome-sama three years ago, things might have been easier to settle. But it is no point wishing that things were different now. If I were you, I would be stuck too. At the very least, you have not given her any empty promises that you cannot fufill."

The hanyou could not help but to smile bitterly at his words.

"Inuyasha, we are outsiders, and will not fully understand what is going on between you and Kagome-sama, nor you and Kikyou-sama. But I hope that you will make a decision soon and let her know. Kagome-sama is a kind-hearted and sensible lady, she will understand."

Inuyasha squeezed his golden eyes shut, "I have already made up my mind a long time ago, when I promised my life to Kikyou. And, Kagome knows."


Kagome saw his familiar hunched back, and someone else was standing beside him, holding his hands tightly. She took a few steps forward, wanting to make sure that it was him. "Inuyasha?" He turned around slowly and she saw his golden eyes, gazing forlornly and sadly back at her. "Sumanai Kagome..." The woman beside him turned her head too, and Kagome's breath hitched at her throat.

"Iie... this can't be true..." Kagome shook her head and took a step back.

Kikyou's firm and low voice travelled through the light mist, "you know that this will eventually happen. Don't you?"

She could not speak, for there was nothing that she could say. The mist thickened, and she ran forward, searching around frantically for him, but all she saw was his empty fire-rat kimono lying on the ground.

Sesshoumaru frowned, he could feel someone trembling against his chest. When it finally registered on his mind that Kagome was sleeping on him, he woke up, and to great alarm that she was crying to herself. He nudged her shoulders and called out her name softly, "Kagome?"

But she did not respond, and he realized that she was crying in her sleep. He dismissed away the thought that she was having a nightmare, because her cries were so soft, as if she was crying alone in her dream. He could not see her, but he could feel her crushed spirit from her heart-broken cries. Sesshoumaru knew that he would have to wake her up soon, he did not like to see her crying like that. It pulled and tugged at his heart, making him feel uncomfortable and awkward, and he hated that feeling.

"Kagome, Kagome," Sesshoumaru shook her shoulders but she still did not respond. His frown deepened a little, wondering whether she was also lost in her own black world, unable to differentiate between dreams and reality. He felt for her damp cheeks and pinched hard, then pulled her away from him and shouted, "Kagome! Okiru!"

It worked. Kagome opened her eyes in shock, from the sudden jerk and the lack of his warmth. A pair of golden eyes were staring at her, almost angrily. Almost, like the way Inuyasha always did. Tears flowed down her face, despite her relieved smile and she reached out her right hand, gently cupping his left cheek. "Yokatta... you did not leave me..."

Sesshoumaru was both unnerved at her intimate gesture and curious at her words. Though he had not known Kagome for long, his common sense told him that it was unlike of her to touch him in such a way, that was almost painful for him to acknowledge. Her touch was light and feathery, leaving tingling sensations on his cheek. A part of his heart yearned for such affection, yet the rest of himself was shying away from it, hoping to get away as far as possible.

Images of a young girl decked in orange checkered-kimono flashed across his mind, and he yearned to pat her head, to smooth down her messy hair, to see her smile again. "Why would I leave you?" he croaked, there was a lump in his throat and he felt as if his heart was choking from the sudden gush of unknown emotions.

His voice shook her out from her trance, and Kagome realized that she was looking at Sesshoumaru, not Inuyasha. Her beloved hanyou had a gruff and coarse voice; but the one she heard was low and smooth. It had all been a dream, even though it felt so real that she almost could not differentiate their eyes. Her eyebrows drooped, the smile left her face and she looked away as her fingers left his cheek.

"Gomen ne, I had a bad dream," her listless voice was toneless.

Sesshoumaru doubted that it was merely a bad dream but did not say anything. He was glad that she had stopped crying and placed his hand on her forehead, it felt a little too warm for his liking. "You are sick."

"Wakaru," was her soft reply as Kagome closed her eyes and leaned her head against his warm chest again, too drained to think nor move any further. She never had such a dream before, but it had seemed so real to her that she believed Inuyasha had gone with Kikyou, to somewhere so faraway that she would never reach him. It stung her heart, and the pain was unbelievably hard that it numbed her mind.

"Can I? Just for a while?"

Sesshoumaru was stunned and stumped. He had no idea what had transpired in her dream, even thought he knew that she needed rest and comfort now. And he could provide it. He thought for a long while to how he should respond.

"Aa," was his final reply as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and buried his fingers into her slightly damp hair.


A/N: Can you tell how much I love Miroku/Sango? Forgive me if this chapter turned out awful, I was listening to this incredibly sad song that reminded me of many things... And yes, I am chinese. )

dakara - and so/therefore
koko - here
sumimasen - Im sorry
nani - what
wakatte ru - I know! (Shippou is frustrated)
demo - but
naze - why
mochiron - of course/certainly
baa-baa - grandma/elderly woman/aunty (rude way of addressing one)
sumanai - sorry (masculine)
okiru - wake up
yokatta - thank goodness (Kagome often uses this to indicate her relief and gladness)
wakaru - i know/i understand