Keep the reviews coming! And about A F F . Net, I'll update that version as SOON as I'm done with this one, okay? And only then will I start a new fic.

Chapter 21 Nights before the challenge

Inuyasha was flat on the ground, blood trickling down from the corner of his mouth.

"Shit..."

He spat, painfully pushing himself back up, gripping the tetsusaiga. Pain was coursing through his wounds, but he was determined.

"Damn you Sesshoumaru!"

He yelled, as he swiped at his half brother with all his might, but it struck nothing but air. The tetsusaiga crashed into the ground, sending debris flying in all directions. He suddenly felt an extremely hard and painful blow on his front, getting the wind knocked out of him. Inuyasha staggered back, and coughed, trying to quickly catch his breath. It wasn't quick enough, however, for Sesshoumaru merely muttered the words,

"Foolish halfbreed..."

And stabbed Inuyasha with his sword.

"No...!"

He heard Sango yell, and Inuyasha looked over towards her horrified face, immobilized. He could see tears forming, and falling lightly onto the ground as she called his name.

"Inuyasha!"

He couldn't stay up much longer, and felt the blade rip out of his abdomen, and fell forward, his mind going dark.

"Noooo!"

Inuyasha sat up, panting and sweating. He looked down beside him on the futon, and Saw Sango's beautiful and peaceful, sleeping face. He sighed in relief, closing his eyes and catching his breath. It was only a nightmare; he had been having quite a few lately, every night even. He gently took Sango's arm from his shoulder, and placed it on the futon. He stood up, putting on his red cloak over his white undershirt, and walked over to the door carefully stepping over the others that were in the small hut. He slid the door open silently, and walked outside as he closed the door behind him. The sky was still fairly dark; the sun was nowhere to be seen. He wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve, and sighed deeply, plopping down on the dirt ground as he leaned on the wooden wall of Kaede's hut.

"Hey,"

Inuyasha heard a voice say beside him, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Huh?"

He looked up, seeing Sango.

"Oh, Sango, didn't know you were up..."

He said, looking back down.

"You know I'm a light sleeper. So what're you doing out here?

"I just needed some air."

He sighed, and Sango crouched beside him, trying to read the expression on his face which kept looking away.

"Mind if I join you?"

She asked, and Inuyasha nodded, saying,

"Yeah, I could use your company..."

She smiled, sitting beside him, and resting her head gently on his shoulder. Inuyasha pulled her close, putting an arm around her shoulder.

The group rested in Kaede's village; Inuyasha now had only a few hours left until the challenge of Sesshoumaru took place, and Inuyasha was starting to doubt. What if he wasn't good enough? What if he died again like the last time? Would Sango be able to endure it? He sighed, glancing at Sango. He saw that her eyes were closed, and her light breathing could be heard. He sighed quietly again, leaning his head lightly on hers.

"Is there something wrong?"

She asked opening her eyes.

"You seem really down..."

She said, putting a hand on Inuyasha's cheek, gently making him look her in the eye. Inuyasha looked into her beautiful brown eyes, unable to say what was on his mind. All his worries seemed to disappear however, when he looked at her face. He just stared blankly at her. After a few moments of silence, he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips pulling her into a hug.

"Don't worry; everything's fine when you're near."

He said. Sango smiled, and kissed him on the cheek, hugging back. She lifted her head to look at him, and said,

"Inuyasha, please don't...Um..."

She started, but couldn't finish. Inuyasha knew exactly what she was talking about, and he stated,

"I'm not going to die against Sesshoumaru, Sango."

Sango's worried face smiled slightly.

"I can't die... I love you too much."

He said with a slight smirk, and Sango blushed slightly, giggling a bit. She hugged him again, running her fingers through his long, silvery hair.

"Sango..."

"Hm?"

"Why... Do you love me?"

Inuyasha asked, seemingly out of the blue.

"What kind of question is that?"

"Why do you love a half-breed like me? Don't you find me... Filthy like most others do?"

He asked, and Sango shook her head slightly.

"Honestly, how can you ask a question like that right now? Of course I don't find you filthy... You may be a half-breed of a demon and a human, and I've been trained to kill demons, it doesn't matter. If every demon was a little like you, I'd fall in love with them all."

She said.

"This is touching and all,"

Said a voice, making both Inuyasha and Sango jump. They looked up to see Koga sneering at Inuyasha. Ginta and Hakakku was there, snorting with laughter.

"But get a room!"

He finished. The rest of the group one by one came out of the hut, stretching. Inuyasha cleared his throat, standing the both of them up, blushing furiously.

"Ahem... Uhh... Do you all have to come...? Sango and I can go by ourselves..."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Miroku said, just coming out of the hut with Shippo on his shoulder, Kirara and Kagura behind him.

"Yeah, you better not screw up this time mutt!"

Koga said.

"I won't."

Inuyasha said simply. Sango walked over to Kohaku, and started speaking with her brother. A few minutes later, Kaede herself came outside, and went over to Inuyasha.

"So, I hear that ye will be confronting your brother today."

"Yeah."

He replied.

"We have to go and bring Kagome back."

"I hope that he has not hurt her..."

Kaede said with a slight frown.

"Yeah... Well, we should be heading off now..."

"Yes... Be careful Inuyasha."

She said, and Inuyasha nodded with a smile, saying,

"If you're going to come, then get your butts moving! We've got five miles to go."

He jumped off into the distance, the group scrambling, and following closely behind.