Chapter 5

'Was he really Kagome's boyfriend? What about me? How could she do this to me?' Inuyasha thought to himself. 'This must be how she feels when I'm with Kikyo,' he realized regrettably. 'I'm sorry Kagome,' he told her in his head, glancing down at the tearful girl in his arms.

Kagome just cried into the half demon's chest, clutching in her fists his red haori. She felt his arms around her, soothing her, calming her, but even though she felt protected and safe with Inuyasha, she couldn't help but think about the other boy, Hojo.

'Was he really my boyfriend?' she wondered, 'I wish I could remember.'

After a few seconds, Kagome stopped crying and turned around to face Hojo, still surrounded by Inuyasha's arms.

"I'm sorry Hojo, but I don't remember anything about my life, I barely even remembered my name. So, if you really love me, if we really were going out, I'll remember eventually. Please, try and be patient with me, and I'm sorry that I've caused so much trouble," Kagome said apologetically.

"Oh, don't worry about it Kagome. I was just worried about you. I hope you feel better. Okay, before I go, I have to know who you are and how you know Kagome," Hojo stated, feeling the need to protect Kagome, now more than ever, looking at Inuyasha.

"What makes you think I have to explain myself to you!" the hanyou said, heatedly.

Kagome stepped away from him, glaring, "Why can't you tell him how you know me, obviously he's worried about me!"

"Fine. My name is Inuyasha and we, Kagome and I are friends," he stated, slightly up set that Kagome had made him explain himself to a mortal.

"Where do you know her from? I've never seen you around school."

"Ummm, our parents are friends," he blurted out, thinking quickly.

Kagome looked at Inuyasha, then to Hojo, then back to Inuyasha. Suddenly, she felt the need to be held, her thoughts racing through her head, confusing her even more, so she wrapped her arms around the only one she felt safe with, Inuyasha. A bit taken back by her actions, Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her, and held her.

Kagome, almost at the point where she was crying, again, held the half demon against her, trying to sort out all the thoughts running through her head. She jumped out of her skin and nearly screamed, when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. After a few seconds, to catch her breath, she turned around to see who had disrupted them, only to find one of the police officers looking at her. She looked around and realized that Hojo had left; she was surprised that he hadn't said good-bye or anything.

"Hello, I'm Captain Jim Brass. I'll be taking you to the station and asking you some questions, is that okay?" (Yes, yes that's right I said Jim Brass!)

"Yeah."

Brass walked over to the closest vehicle, and opened the back door. As Kagome climbed in, he noticed her wincing in pain and being overly careful of her stomach.

"Uhh, Miss?"

Kagome looked up questioningly, "Yes?"

"Is there something wrong with your stomach? Are you in pain? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"Oh, it's nothing, just a few scratches. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure? You might want to go to the hospital, get them checked out?" he questioned her further.

"No, no really I'll be fine. My wounds have already been bandaged up, thank you," she said, remembering her manners.

"If they get infected…" he was suddenly cut off by an overly protective half demon.

"She said she was fine!" Inuyasha stepped in, feeling somewhat forgotten, and not knowing what this hospital was or if it was going to hurt her, but if Kagome didn't what to go, it must not be all that great, and he defiantly wasn't going to make her go.

The officer stepped back, surprised that the young man had shown so much aggression.

"Did the man chasing you, do this?"

"Yes, he did," Inuyasha said almost angrily.

The officer looked at the hanyou and nodded, then looked at Kagome, "Would you be able to describe the man to a forensic artist?"

Kagome nodded.

"Okay, well then shall we be off to the station?"

Kagome climbed into the back of the police car; Inuyasha followed her nervously, but refusing to leave her alone, without his protection.

With Miroku and Sango (I wrote this for Delonwethiel, she got mad at me cause I didn't have any Miroku/Sango in it. Enjoy)

When they reached the destroyed exterminator village, they noticed that nothing had changed since their last visit. Sango was the first to climb off Kirara; Miroku was hoping to stay in that position for a few moments longer, but climbed off after Sango. Almost immediately, Sango went to the gravesites of her father and villagers.

Miroku followed.

Sango knelt down beside the graves and prayed, while Miroku stood behind her and gave his blessing. After placing flowers on all of the graves and praying for each, the two of them found the least destroyed hut and went inside. Barely anything was said as the monk and exterminator prepared for night, made dinner, and eventually went to bed, both lost in their own thoughts.

Sango's sleeping bag, which Kagome had given all of them from the future, was set up on the far wall, while Miroku's was set up on the opposite wall, much to his disappointment. The two of them, tired from the days traveling, fell asleep almost instantly.

Just after midnight, Sango woke up with a scream; she could feel her back, wet with perspiration, and her cheeks, damp with tears.

"What's wrong Sango?" a worried voice came from across the small, dark hut.

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing, I'm fine, just a dream, that's all," she said, sounding more like she was trying to convince herself, rather than Miroku.

Once again, Sango was haunted by the nightmare of that fateful night, when Naraku, a despicable demon, took control of her younger brother, Kohaku, and made him kill the other demon slayers, including their father.

'Damn you Naraku! I will kill you and avenge our father and village!' Sango swore mentally, remembering that horrible night vividly.

Sango snapped out of her thoughts when the young monk sat down beside her and gently placed a soothing hand on her shoulder.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, taking an educated guess that she had, once again, dreamt about the death of her father and comrades.

"Oh, it's nothing…really," she replied, not sounding very convincing.

"Are you sure? I'm always here if you want to talk, about anything," the monk said, sounding very concerned and caring.

When Sango looked up at the monk, he could see her tear streaked cheeks. He gently placed a hand under her chin, carefully turning her to face him, while his other hand went to her face, wiping away her tears.

Shocked at the gentleness of the monk, and surprised that he hadn't tried to grope her, she said, "I-It was just another one of those dreams of that night."

Even though she had been vague, Miroku understood what she was talking about, and nodded. He wrapped his arms around her trembling body, engulfing her in a warm, comforting hug. Both hands resting on her lower back, Sango tensed, expecting the monk's hands to drift lower, but when they didn't she relaxed in his arms. She tried to stop the tears from falling, but she couldn't help it. Soon, she was crying uncontrollably buried in the monk's robes.

Before she realized it, she had cried herself to sleep in Miroku's arms; although she'd never admit it, she was deeply in love with the perverted monk.