Disclaimer—Only own the characters I created....not Inuyasha and the others on which this story is based...

R&R please

From his sleeping spot in front of the door where Sango and Amarra were resting Inuyasha's ears twitched and he opened his eyes just as Amarra left the hut. Before he could ask her where she was going she inquired, "Where is Miroku?"

"Why?"

"Because I cannot sleep knowing you are out here, and the demon slayer in there, listening to my every breath. It's most aggravating."

"Hm. I wonder if you could beat Sesshomaru in the obnoxious award. I was not listening for you, I just happened to hear you. And I doubt if Sango cares what you do."

"Of course she does. She doesn't trust me, she doesn't know me. Neither do you. That's fine...except for I cannot rest knowing I'm being evaluated, and if I don't rest then I won't be very beneficial in battle. So, all of that to ask once more, where is Miroku?"

"You think he trusts you more than us?"

"Probably not. However at least he's making an effort to be nice."

"Not as nice as normal."

"Meaning?"

Inuyasha turned away from her with his standard "Feh." He closed his eyes. She might find out for herself how perverted the monk was. Might...given Inuyasha had already warned Miroku as to why he needed to keep his hands to himself.

Whether Miroku listened or not was not of his concern.

Amarra realized Inuyasha was done "speaking" and set off to find Miroku's hut on her own.

A second later, Inuyasha spoke again. "She's gone" he said into the seemingly empty night.

Sango peaked her head out and then left the hut herself. "I should have known that you realized I was here." She sat down next to Inuyasha and only then did he open his eyes. "Do you think it is a good idea..."

"I think nothing." Inuyasha interrupted Sango. "Except for that I don't care. I warned Miroku, and the girl isn't worthy of a warning...let whatever happens, happen. Humans...will do what they want to do." He closed his eyes once more.

"Humans?"

"That's what they are, aren't they?"

"You say that word with such...disdain, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha didn't answer, but he also didn't move away from her, and Sango ventured speaking again.

"Just because Kagome hurt you does not make her a bad being....human or otherwise. Besides all beings deserved to be judged on their merits. For example, I was trained to hate your kind, but now that I know you, there is no way I could feel nothing but...admiration" Sango found herself blushing, and wondered why. "I would like to think that myself, Miroku, Kagome, and Kikyo at least at one time, have shown you that not all humans are bad. That Shippo has shown you that not all demons look down upon hanyous." Sango watched as Inuyasha stood. "Where are you going?" she asked, exasperated.

"To make sure that damn monk doesn't do anything to bring Sesshomaru here. I don't want to have to waste my time fighting him because the pervert doesn't know when to keep his hands to himself."

Sango watched as Inuyasha walked away from her.

Giving her the answer to her question in the only way he knew how.

Obviously all of them remained important to Inuyasha, even if he said otherwise.

Yes, Inuyasha was definitely one to be admired.

Despite all of his hardships, he managed to persevere to come out stronger than before. Even if he grumbled all the way.

He grew up in a world that shunned him, was living in a world that still did so, yet Sango had never seen him turn his back on someone who needed his help. Perhaps it was Kikyo who awakened that trait in him....perhaps it was Kagome who fostered it within him....but it was a attribute that was pure Inuyasha, of that Sango was sure. And she would be damned before she allowed Inuyasha to bury it within himself again because his life had reached, as what Kagome might term, a rough patch.

Sango realized she couldn't allow that not just for Inuyasha, but for herself.

It was one of, if she let herself admit it, many things about him that she liked

Like she liked the way his hair looked in the moonlight

Or the emotion held inside his lovely golden eyes

Or the passion with which he fought or argued

Or the matter-of-fact way in which he would help someone, so that he or she never felt indebted...

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Miroku turned around...but even in his sleep he realized he was being watched, and his eyes shot open. "Wha...Amarra? Is something wrong?"

"With Sango? No."

"What makes you think I meant with Sango?"

"I saw the way you looked at her today...you can go and check if you want. I left her sleeping soundly though. And the hanyou is keeping guard outside."

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Inuyasha sat down outside, unnoticed.

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"His name is Inuyasha."

Hanyou was the polite term Sesshomaru used for his brother. Therefore, it was good enough for her. So Amarra chose to change the subject and yawned, sitting down against the wall. "I am going to sleep here."

"Well, normally I would be flattered but...."

"Now you are saying odd things." First the hanyou and now the monk. "Why would you be flattered normally? And if you are flattered normally, then why not now?" Amarra reached up and began undoing one of the braids in her hair, not noticing as Miroku's gaze intensified.

"You are Sesshomaru's lover..."

"One of." Amarra began working on the other braid. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Then, do you think it's wise to be in here with me?"

Her hair down now, she shook it out before running her fingers through it. "I am here because I feel most comfortable with you of everyone. And I am sleepy and wish to rest. It is no more than that for me. I am sure that Lord Sesshomaru could care less where I sleep. And if he did, he wouldn't mind me sleeping here judging by how you look at the other woman..."

"There is nothing going on between Sango and myself. I have nothing but the utmost respect for her....what?" Miroku asked as the woman...smiled? "That is the first time your face has shown any emotion" he realized.

"So you are only lovers of those you have no respect for?" she teased. "I hope I never garner such respect."

Miroku chuckled. "You are amusing."

"And you are a tease. As handsome as you are, poor Sango is probably waiting anxiously for you to seduce her, yet you have the gall to respect her too much?"

"Sango has and will have more worthy suitors." Miroku laid down

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Inuyasha deemed everything safe and left his spot

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Amarra watched as Miroku closed his eyes. "Why would you think so low of yourself?" she asked quietly.

And without opening his eyes, he answered "Why would you think your lover doesn't care if you lay your head where another man is?"

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Sesshomaru watched as Rin slept. Though Amarra had said goodbye to her, when Sesshomaru came back without her, Rin spent the next few minutes asking where Amarra was. Until Sesshomaru finally quieted her with a stern "Enough!" and sent her to bed.

Yet, he had stayed with Rin, telling himself that he just wanted his presence to quiet the nerves of the little girl.

However, Rin had fallen asleep awhile ago, and Sesshomaru still had not left. Amarra's room was between his and Rin's. And Sesshomaru was not yet ready to pass it, knowing she was not inside.

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"Because it is a fact." Amarra stretched out and closed her eyes now.

Miroku looked at her, wondering if she truly believed that falsity. Sesshomaru had said he wanted her safe. That was probably more care than he had ever shown any of his lovers. Miroku could understand why as beautiful as she was...his hand was really itching to touch her ...

But that was out of the question, so he decided to end the discussion with a tease.

"Thank you for your earlier compliment"

Amarra opened her eyes with a groan, "It is impossible to sleep anywhere I see..."

"Unless you call everyone handsome?" he smiled.

"Just the ones that deserve it" her eyes shut. "Tease."

"Amusing."

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Seeing Inuyasha heading back, Sango shook her head of her thoughts. She stood and went back into the hut to sleep. She laid down, and closed her eyes as Shippo nuzzled closer to her in his rest. Sango opened her eyes once more, petting the top of Shippos' head absentmindedly...

Wondering if Inuyasha's hair was as soft...

"What are you doing?" she chastised herself.

Miroku had once teased that he did not know why Kagome and Kikyo were so "infatuated with Inuyasha".

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Kikyo ventured as close as her soul collectors would allow her. She did not want Inuyasha to know she was here.

Watching him.

As she did more often than she cared to admit.

There were times when she wanted him to know that she was there. Or rather, when she couldn't stop herself from letting him know.

Even if she lied and told him she just "came upon him". She never just "came upon" Inuyasha.

She always sought him out. Even though it tore her heart out watching him grow closer and closer to that Kagome.

That Kagome who was able to be close to Inuyasha in a way she couldn't...yet wasted most of that time fighting with him over things that were never important.

Kikyo mattered to Inuyasha, and she knew that. But she also was sure that Inuyasha would never be hers...sure that he could never be hers...and that caused her to say and do things that she hoped would stop Inuyasha's kindness towards her.

She did not want Inuyasha's pity...or his kindness...

She wanted Inuyasha's love.

Yet, the only time her body felt warm...the only time she felt truly alive...was when Inuyasha was with her.

So, sometimes, she just found herself calling for him...leading him to her...showing herself to him.

Allowing herself to bask in his presence, even as she knew that the cold emptiness would be back the moment he was gone.

And after awhile of licking the wounds of her broken heart, Kikyo would find herself watching Inuyasha as he slept...as he was now.

Until after a certain number of nights of just watching him, that pull to have him know she was there became to great and one day she would answer the urge.

So the pattern would repeat over and over.

It was a pattern Kikyo thought she needed to break.

Yet, then she would truly have to be without Inuyasha.

And that was a hell she was not ready for.

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At the time, Sango had laughed and agreed that Kikyo's and Kagome's interest in Inuyasha was an oddity.

Yet, even then, Sango realized that Inuyasha definitely held a certain appeal....

Of course, she reminded herself, if an attraction to Miroku was unacceptable, such to Inuyasha was doubly so.

And with that Sango finally closed her eyes for the last time, sleep claiming her almost instantly.

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With a sigh, Kikyo watched as Inuyasha's ears twitched.

And she left...

Just as Inuyasha opened his eyes...sure once more that he was dreaming...that Kikyo couldn't have been there.

He stood, and went into the hut with Sango and Shippo.

Watching Sango as she slept.

For some reason, watching Sango made Inuyasha miss Kikyo and Kagome a bit less right now.