A/N: Hey guys and Gals! I'm back. Sorry I haven't been able to update. Things came up. I have 2 other stories to update besides this today so this chapter may be short. It depends on the ideas I have. Enjoy.

Day 2: Mt Fujihari at Last!

The group had been walking for hours and they were tired and hungry. After Kouga joined the group traveling had gotten a little slower but not much. They were still moving at a fast pace. Kouga was leading the group through a valley. Across from the valley the group could see Mt. Fujihari clearly. Everyone was happy that they were close to the mountain. Over the last few hours no one had talked to each other so they were extremely bored. Miroku was getting annoyed at the silence so he decided to break the ice by being is usual lecherous self.

"HENTAI! IS THAT ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT AT A TIME LIKE THIS?"

"Lady Sango, I was only trying to lighten the mood"

"Lighten the mood my ass. You were being your usual hentai self. And to think I believed that you would behave yourself on this journey. What a fool I am"

Sango and Miroku, who were too busy arguing, were oblivious to the looks Kouga was giving them. The looks giving them meaning he was shocked out of his mind.

"Um, Kagome… Does this always happen?"

Kagome shook her head at the bickering couple.

"Afraid so. If Miroku would admit to Sango that he loves her things still wouldn't change. He would still be a hentai."

"Whatever you say, Kagome. Hey guys! Will you stop bickering like an old married couple so that we can get a move on! If you want to get to the mountain sometime today then listen up and get a move on!"

Miroku just stood there blinking while Sango had the decency to turn away and blush.

"You hear that Lady Sango? Kouga thinks that we argue like a marr…"

THUD

Sango grabbed the unconscious Miroku and dragged him over to Kilala all the while muttering about perverts and their thoughts. After placing the unconscious Miroku none to gently onto Kilala they set off again but this time things were a little less tense. Miroku woke up about half and hour after the incident and almost as quickly was unconscious again.

"Damn lecherous monk. The minute he wakes up the first thing he does is grope me. He deserves every ounce of pain I give him"

"Sango, did it ever occur to you that Miroku gropes you to get your attention? I mean he doesn't grope other woman anymore, he still asks them to bear his child but he no, longer gropes them. Maybe it's his way of trying to show affection towards you."

"How could you say that Kagome? Miroku is a lecherous monk and I do NOT appreciate him groping me every minute of the day."

Kagome smirked at Sango when she saw the Demon slayer was blushing profusely while she was saying it.

"Uh Huh Sango you keep denying that. I can see you blushing."

'W-What are you talking about? I-I'm not blushing."

Kagome giggled before shaking her head and jogged up to walk beside Kouga.

"Hey Kouga. I want to thank you for taking the time to take us to Mt. Fujihari. It means a lot to me."

"You know Kagome, I may not be on friendly terms with Mutt f- InuYasha but we have one thing in common. We both would protect you with our lives. Kagome, please tell me, are you in Love with InuYasha?"

Kagome looked shocked for a second at his question but then her eyes softened as she hung her head.

"Yes Kouga, I am in love with InuYasha. That is why I have to do this. He is always saving me and now it is my turn to save him. I feel like I have to repay him for all the times he saved me you know? I just feel so helpless. sniff I-I am always get-getting in the way and he always has-has to get hurt because I'm too weak to d-defend myself. I don't want him to get hurt anymore."

Kagome had stopped moving and her tears were falling to the ground in a little puddle. Miroku has regained consciousness at the beginning of Kouga's question and both he and Sango held concerned faces for Kagome by the end of Kagome's sentence. They had known that this was hard for her but they realize it went that far. Of course they knew that she had fallen in love with the arrogant half – demon but they never thought it hurt her this much every time he had gotten hurt defending her. They refrained from going to comfort her because they didn't want to impose on the conversation and they also wanted to see how Kouga took the news that she loved InuYasha.

"Kagome…"

Kouga walked over to Kagome and pulled her in a hug. Kagome's eyes widened before she pushed herself into Kouga's chest and started to cry uncontrollably. Her body shaking badly as she continued to cry into Kouga's chest. Finally she stopped shaking and pulled away from Kouga while wiping the tears from her face.

"I-I'm sorry Kouga. I shouldn't have grabbed onto you like that."

"Don't worry about it Kagome. But seriously, you shouldn't get worked up over InuYasha getting hurt."

"But.."

"No buts! I know it must be hard for you to see him get every time he protects you but that's just how he is. Kagome, from the way InuYasha is so protective of you I can tell you right now, he would die to protect you. I know he may act like a jerk; he's the biggest jerk I've ever seen, anyways, he may act like a jerk but it's his way of showing you he cares. Think about things this way. He's a hanyou. Think of how he must have been treated his whole life. Humans are afraid of him; demons despise him for his human blood and try to kill him. All his life he had grown up to keep his emotions locked up inside. His attitude is the result of that. He acts rude to you because he doesn't know how else to act. He protects you the only way he knows how. It's just his way of saying he cares."

Kagome looked down towards the ground before bringing her head back up to meet Kouga's.

"Thank you Kouga. It means a lot to me that you would tell me these things. I would like it if we could still be friends but there will never be any feelings between us."

"I understand Kagome. We need to get going though. I can see a clearing up a head that we can have lunch in. Is that ok with you guys?"

Kouga looked back at the other members of the group who had watched the reaction of Kouga with a look of appreciation on their faces. They were shock out of their own thoughts and nodded to Kouga and set off again.

Fifteen minutes later they arrived at a small clearing that was perfect for resting in. They made a small lunch then continued on their way. They had been traveling for several hours when Kouga pointed to a trail that wound upwards on the mountain out of sight.

"That is the road we have to take. The road leads to a cave halfway up the mountain and in the cave is where we will find the cameograss. I have to warn you though. There is a demon herb master that guards the herb. I don't know much about him except that very few have returned from the mountain with the herbs they are seeking. Many come back empty-handed. If he thinks that your reason for seeking his herbs isn't reasonable enough he won't give them to you."

"I'm determined to get those herbs and no herb master is going to stop me from getting them and saving InuYasha"

Kagome started the trek up the trail with a determined look on her face. The same determined face she had when she wouldn't let them rest earlier. The group sighed and followed Kagome up the trail. Halfway up the mountain is started to become foggy and they could hardly see three feet in front of them. Finally a couple minutes later they aw a cave entrance a little ways above them. When they reached the cave they walked inside cautiously as they didn't know much about the demon protecting the herbs.

"You can come in, I'm not going to hurt you."

Everyone jumped when the voice spoke and they looked around fro the source of the sound. They located the source of the sound about one hundred feet ahead of them in the cave. There was what looked like a little boy sitting there but on closer examination you could tell that is was an older man.

"Please come closer so I can see who I am talking to and tell me the reason you are here."

The group walked forward as the man struck a match. When the cave was illuminated they could see that the man was sitting a small wooden table in the center of the cave. Behind them they could see a small herb patch growing and to the left of them they could see a homemade bed and other odds and ends.

"Excuse me um.."

"You may sit down, and call me Hariji"

The group sat down across from Hariji.

"Now, why are you all here? You must be here for my herbs, I gathered that much but why?"

"Please, we need the herb to – to help our friend. He, he got poisoned while protecting me from a demon and we need the herb as well as other ingredients to create the antidote."

"Hmmmm. I see. What was he poisoned with? I only know of a handful of poisons that would need one of my herbs to create the antidote."

"He – he was…"

Kouga cut off Kagome and answered the man himself.

"The friend they are speaking of was poisoned my Morapaji. We need the herb Cameograss to create the antidote and we also heard that you are the only person to harbor it."

"Indeed I am the only person to harbor such a herb. I can understand why you need the herb. I will give you the herb. I am also guessing that you know very little on Morapaji. Am I correct?"

"Yes

After handing Kagome a few pieces of Cameograss Hariji explained to them about the poison Morapaji.

"Morapaji is a very deadly poison. Not much is known about the poison but this much is known. Morapaji is very deadly it was created many many years ago by a demon lord who whished for more power. He tested the herbs on various creatures. Including humans, demons, and hanyou's. All of them fell to the poison. The lord also made sure that there was an antidote incase a rival lord got a hold of the poison and used it against him. A battle occurred a couple of years later and in the midst of battle he became poisoned with Morapaji. He later died because they were unable to retrieve the specific herbs in time. It was later discovered that Morapaji inflicted pain upon those poisoned with it. This pain was unlike any other. The person was melted from the inside out. I have heard of only one person who has successfully survived being poisoned with Morapaji. Every other person either did not retrieve the herbs in time or it was too late and the poison had melted their insides to a point where they were unable to live any longer."

"Thank you for telling us. Before we go could you tell us in which direction we should go to find the Hashjiri herb and how long it would take to get there?"

"You have to go south for about a day before you come to the trees which harbor the Hashjiri herbs. To find the trees you have to go straight south the moment you reach the base of this mountain. I'm sorry but that's all I can tell you."

"Thank you very much Kind sir, you have helped us enough. We must be on our way our way if we are to make it to the base of the mountain before nightfall. Thank you again for your hospitality, your wisdom, and for supplying us with the herb we needed."

Miroku bowed to Hariji And waited until the others were out of the cave before he left the cave. As they were climbing down the hill Hariji walked to the mouth of the cave.

"I hope they are able to save their friend. Good luck and may the Gods be with you."

The group reached the bottom of the hill just as it turned dark. They decided to make camp in the trees over to the left of the trail. It was decided that Kouga would take watch for the night and the others settled down to sleep. Sango slept beside Kilala and as far away from Miroku as possible. Kagome slept on the other side of the fire. She stared at the fire for a couple of minutes before starting to fall asleep. Her last thoughts before losing consciousness were:

Don't worry InuYasha, we have only three more herbs to get, then we can save you.

So? How was it! I made sure that it was longer since I hadn't updated in a really really long time.  Things are starting to get better but at the same time not. How did Kagome react to finding out Only one person had survived getting poisoned with Morapaji? We find out next chapter. I have no clue when the next chapter is going to be put up. I have yet to write it. I also have to update My other two stories and another chapter of mine and my friends combined story. Yeesh. My friend doesn't let me update mine before she gives me another chapter of hers to update. Lol. I'll try to update my other then I'll try to update this one again. Ja Ne!