bows I am SO sorry everyone for the late posting of this chapter. When I came home from Alaska last week, I had such bad jetlag and lots to read for school that I barely got to type. The next chapter may be a bit late, too. I'll do my best to get it close to Saturday.

Again, sorry!

Disclaimer: ChibiBean does not own nor claim rights to InuYasha or any of its characters. Thank you.

Enjoy.

Answers and Misunderstandings

Azurine slept late, despite her nervousness. She didn't wake until at least noon. When she did, she saw that Sarah and Yuto's mats were fixed meaning that no one had slept in them last night. Apparently the two had never come back from their little spot by the lake last night. All dirty thoughts aside, Azurine was happy for them.

She sighed and sat up. She then noticed Miroku watching her from a few feet away. She looked down at herself and saw that she only had on a tank top with a sheer over-shirt. "You pervert." I wonder what he'll do when I give him my answer.

"You're bleeding," he muttered, scooting over to her.

She looked at her shoulder where a small wound had reopened. She shrugged, not really noticing the pain. "It's all right."

Miroku was persistent, though. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of her shirt and slid it off the injured shoulder.

He was dangerously close and Azurine blushed. "You know," she said, softly. "You really don't need to do this…"

Sarah walked in at that moment, looking for fresh clothes, when she heard Azurine finish her sentence.

"…we can wait until later for this."

"Azurine!" Sarah shouted in disgust.

Both Azurine and Miroku's heads shot up, colliding into one another as they jumped apart.

"It's not what you think!" "I wasn't doing anything!" they yelled at the same time. "Nothing lecherous," Miroku added as an afterthought.

Sarah giggled and soon began to laugh loudly. Azurine and Miroku glanced at each other and blushed.

"Th…that's great, you guys. You two…you thought…that I was mad." She calmed down slightly but continued to giggle. "You guys need to be less guilty looking if nothing was happening. You'll give people the wrong idea." She walked away, still giggling.

Azurine suddenly became aware of the low cut of her tank top. She began to button her shirt, embarrassed.

"Wait," Miroku protested. He tied a crude bandage around her shoulder. "There, that'll do for now."

Azurine smiled. "What would I do without you?"

He grinned back. "You'll never know, for here I am."

She blushed as he finished buttoning her shirt.

He paused a moment. "D…Azurine…I think…I think of you differently than anyone else…"

She put a finger to his lips. "Shh, tomorrow."

He sighed and nodded. Azurine looked at her watch. It's Two o'clock. There's four hours left. Why can't this just be over already?

The sound of hurried footsteps approached but stopped short outside the hut. Sarah called in. "Hey! Is it okay to come in? Nothing indecent going on, right?"

"Shut up, Tanpopo. What do you want?"

She peeked her head in and smiled innocently. "Kagome and I are going to a nearby hot spring. Wanna come with? That is, if you're not too busy." Her smile became mischievous until she had to duck away to avoid and incoming shoe.

Azurine stood and smiled at Miroku. "I'll see you later."

"Hey, I owe you this from last night," he said, getting up. He kissed her on the cheek.

She blushed and ran outside to meet with Sarah, the latter receiving a bonk on the head for her comments.

"So," Sarah asked, "how's Miroku?"

"He's alright. How about Yuto?"

Sarah squeaked and blushed, mumbling.

(Azurine: Typical of our own Chibi.

Chibi: blush)

Azurine stretched and sank into the warm, spring water. Next to her, Kagome stared with an odd look.

"What?" Asked Azurine once she noticed the gaze.

"How do you even stand Miroku? Not to mention, you chose him over Yukito. I just don't get it," Kagome replied, shaking her head.

Azurine shrugged. "Maybe I was just destined to end up with a pervert."

Sarah dangled her feet in the water while sitting on the edge of the spring. "You like him 'cause you think he's cute," she grumbled.

Azurine looked back at her. "Hmm…Yuto?"

Sarah squeaked and hid her face. When Azurine laughed, Sarah splashed water at her.

Kagome suddenly noticed the shards hanging from Azurine's neck. "Hey, Azure? When did you get your shards back? I remember that the spider demon got them at some point, but I lost track of them after the fight."

"Oh, Shippo, found them not to long after the battle. Guess I forgot to mention that. By the way, where is Shippo?"

"He went off with Miroku," answered Kagome. "Miroku said he needed his help with something, apparently." The girl shrugged.

Sarah was about to remove her towel so she could slip in, when she commented, "I have this creepy feeling, like we're being watched."

Azurine hung her head and sighed. "Did you really have to drag Shippo along to help you spy on us, Miroku?"

"I didn't do it!" Shippo yelled. "I promise! He made me do it!"

A bush near by poofed into a cloud of smoke and revealed the young fox and monk.

Azurine's face turned dark as she let out a growl. "Today is NOT the day, Miroku. No more warning. You're going down." Red sparks hissed as they feel on the water's surface.

Azurine wrapped her towel around her and…SLAP

The others flinched as the sharp sound echoed in the surrounding woods.

"I've never actually seen someone hit him that hard," Kagome shuddered.

"He deserved it," Azurine said defensively, turning from the dazed man.

Shippo watched wide-eyed. "You're in big trouble, Miroku," he teased. He then turned to the spring and started to undress. "Oh, boy, that looks like fun." He kicked the last of his clothes off his foot and hopped in, splashing playfully in the water.

Azurine glared at Miroku. "You're in for it, now."

"In for what?" Miroku asked, coming out of his shock.

"Just wait over there while I dress, and NO PEEKING!"

Azurine turned and picked up the package of clothing Kaede had given her. Inside was a long Jade green robe. This robe was typical of the few respectable witches of the time. From the looks of the small pile of sky blue cloth on the ground a few feet away, it appeared that Sarah had already opened and worn hers.

She dressed and marched over to where Miroku stood facing a tree. He turned, cautiously, as he heard her approach.

Azurine walked up so close that they were barely an inch apart. He gulped and looked down at her.

"I'm sorry, Azurine! I couldn't help it…it's who I am…" he stuttered.

"Couldn't you have just held out for one more day? One day, that's all I ask for."

"I'm sorry, I really am! Please forgive me."

She stood on tiptoe to see him better. "I don't know if I should, but…well." She looked into his eyes, trying to hide the longing in them. This is too tempting, she thought.

She leaned in and kissed him lightly. After a moment, she broke the kiss, unable to stand on her toes anymore.

"Does that mean 'yes'?" Miroku asked, stunned.

"No."

He looked down, crestfallen.

"But this," she placed her hand n the back of his neck and pulled him down to her height. "This does." She kissed him again and Miroku held her tightly.

Azurine broke away and put her hands on her hips. "There," she muttered. "Now will you leave us alone?"

He stared dazedly at her, practically gaping, and nods. He walked away as Azurine headed back to the spring. She found Shippo and Sarah in the middle of a water fight while Kagome watched, laughing.

"So," Azurine laughed as well. "We've managed to kill an hour and a half. Only another two and a half left."

Sarah halted her splashing as Azurine removed her robe and slid back in. "What did you do to him?" the young blonde asked, nervously.

"He could get up and walk away, right?" Kagome questioned.

Azurine simply smirked at Sarah.

Sarah's face went pale with shock. "You did NOT!"

Azurine simply raised her eyebrows.

"You wouldn't DARE! No way! No possible way!"

"Uh, I'm out of the loop, here. Did I miss something?" Kagome muttered.

Sarah turned to Kagome, still gawking. "She…she told Miroku…'yes'!" Sarah yelled, stunned.

"You WHAT?" Kagome squeaked.

"Really?" Shippo gasped.

"I've been meaning to, anyway," Azurine mumbled before ducking under the water to escape further questions.

"Poor Yukito…" Kagome mumbled.

"Think about it though. If Miroku and Azurine don't get together, would Yukito even exist? He's…oh god, that's so messed up…her great-great-great-great-etcetera-grandson is in love with her. That's, so…guh!" Sarah cringed in confusion and disgust.

Azurine, who had poked her head out of the water, suddenly coughed and sputtered. "Yukito is WHAT? He never said he was Miroku's ANCESTOR! Oh god! He's…I know my own grandson…time, like, 20. This is not right." She blushed bright red. "I'm going to be sick. We even kissed," she mumbled.

Shippo gave her a mischievous look. "So? What exactly did you two do out there?"

"You can't be serious Shippo?" Azurine asked, incredulously.

"Yeah, Azzy. What'd you do?" Sarah asked, an impish look on her face.

(Chibi: Impish. Heh, don't ask. I was short on synonyms for mischievous and impish looked fun.)

"I just kissed him, okay? Is there something wrong with that?"

Sarah smiled playfully. "O-o-o-h, Azurine…"

Azurine glared for a moment. "Yuto."

Squeak Sarah sank down so that her chin touched the water's surface.

Azurine, pleased with her revenge, laughed at the girl. "You're too cute, Tanpopo."

Sarah pouted up at her. "I don't like you no more," she grumbled.

"Oh, don't give me that. You know I love you," Azurine laughed.

Sarah sat back up. "Tee hee, I know." She giggled as Azurine rubbed her hair.

A bit of time passed. Azurine and Kagome chatted, much too joyously for the occasion. Sarah, whom had drifted off into a light sleep, stirred and reached for her watch, nestled amongst her clothes. The others started when Sarah let out a yell.

"Monkey!" they spotted the animal making off with Sarah's clothes.

Kagome, Shippo and Azurine watched as Sarah ran after it. She was barely managing to keep her towel on, and they could see rocks fly off her feet.

"Will she be okay without shoes? That looks painful," Kagome questioned, concernedly.

Azurine waved carelessly. "Oh, yeah. She's walked around barefoot so much, for so long, she's practically got leather soles growing on her feet. It's the rest of her I'm worried about. There are some real weirdoes out there."

"You mean like Miroku?" Shippo muttered.

Yuto was walking about in the woods. He'd found out earlier about the girls' and their spa trip. He'd also noted Miroku's absence and put two and two together. It hadn't occurred to him that he had no clue where he was going until he found himself completely lost in the woods.

It was then that he heard a rustling up ahead. He readied his sword and positioned himself behind a tree. Peeking out from his hiding spot, he sighed, disappointed. It was just a monkey with some clothes. Wait. Clothes?

He looked again and recognized the sky blue hue of Sarah's robe. He was about to act when he was alerted by another sound. He looked towards the sound curiously, but immediately froze to the spot as Sarah ran in clothed only in a towel.

He feared that Sarah might catch him, but the girl seemed only focused on the monkey and getting her clothes back. He turned quietly and was about to leave when she spoke.

"Come here, you."

He turned back, thinking he had been caught, but watched in wonder as Sarah tried to soothe the skittish animal.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." She knelt beside it and let it smell her hand. She giggled softly as the monkey turned her hand around and examined it. While it was distracted, Sarah slowly pulled her clothes away to her side. Even then she continued to play with the creature. "Aren't you sweet," she crooned.

Yuto had to hold back a laugh. That girl is truly a wonder. She is kind even to the beasts of the forest. Her heart is so pure.

The monkey suddenly froze, sniffed in Yuto's direction, and took off, scurrying.

Sarah sadly watched it run. "Aw, Monkey-chan! He was so cute." She sat a moment before sighing and standing. "Oh, well. Back to the springs." As she stood, the tuck in her towel came loose and the cloth fell down, about her feet. "Oh! Stupid towel," she grumbled.

She attempted to rewrap the towel when she heard a dull thunk behind her.

Yuto, still disoriented from both shock and embarrassment, tried to sneak away. In his confusion, though, hey didn't notice the low tree branch until his head collided with it.

Sarah turned quickly and spotted Yuto dazedly rubbing his forehead. When she caught his eye, he smiled nervously. "Uh, hey Sarah. I can explain…"

"DOWN!" Sarah screamed.

Yuto slammed to the ground

"Down, down, down, down, down! How dare you, Yuto Kigai! You are the biggest creep, EVER!"

As Yuto twitched, Sarah pulled on her underwear, far out of Yuto's sight. She grumbled angrily to herself.

A moment passed in tense silence. "I'm sorry," Yuto said, quietly.

"You'd better be!" she snapped.

"Well, I'm sorry for that, too, but there's something else."

Sarah walked over to where he was lying, tying the sash around her robe. She looked down at him sternly. "What?"

"I had thought…from what I'd seen of you, that…that your beauty came from your soul and radiated from your face. Now I see, I was wrong." He managed to tilt his head back to look at her. "You're beautiful all over: complete body and soul."

Sarah's face exploded with color as Yuto pushed himself off the ground. Sarah knelt down beside him and slapped him sharply across the face. "That was for spying on me. Now," she held out her hand as she spoke. "You may kiss my hand and plead for forgiveness."

Yuto smiled and, grabbing her hand, kissed it gently. He then pulled her forward and kissed her on the lips. When he broke away, he said, "I'm not great at begging. Was that a fair trade of repentance?"

Sarah grabbed her hand away, blushing even more. "It will do." She stood and walked away, stumbling slightly.

"Boy, I really screwed up this time." Yuto stood and turned away, looking for the path he'd previously taken. "She probably won't talk to me, now." It was then that something grabbed him around the waist. "What the…"

"Thanks, Yuto," Sarah whispered. "No one's ever called me beautiful before. Thank you." She let go and ran away towards the springs.

Yuto stared after her, quite confused. "Maybe I didn't do so badly, after all." He then shook his head. "Women confuse me." He took off on the path that looked most familiar, hoping to find camp before nightfall.

"Hey, Sarah. What happened? We heard a scream." Azurine and Kagome looked at the girl worriedly.

"Nothing. Just a monkey." Sarah smiled secretly to herself as she slipped back into the spring.

Well, we're coming to the end of this story. Only about three chapters left. sniffle I have enjoyed this experience. O'course, I have the sequal, an HP fic, and a quizilla story to type for Bean so I can't be too bored.

I'll give you all the info on the sequal on the last chapter. Bai-bai!