A/N: I didn't update yesterday, because I was doing my Christmashot. I hope you all enjoyed that teeny bit of holiday cheer! Anyway, I'll update today, but it is unlikely I'll update tomorrow because…it's Christmas! I'll be having too much fun with my new stuff to worry about you suckers. :P

Anyway, consider this cute chapter a Christmas present to you all, especially you lovely reviewers…

Chapter 10: When Friends Intervene…

The next day, they had stopped for a late lunch, Inuyasha and Kagome still barely speaking to one another. By this time, their friends had noticed their unusual silence, instead of a heated argument. The two barely even looked at each other, and when they did, fierce blushes came across their faces. They had been sitting in silence for sometime, when Miroku could take it no more.

He leaned over and whispered in Sango's ear. "Is it just me, or do those two seem a bit…peculiar today?"

She nodded and whispered back. "They've been like this ever since the day with the water youkai. You don't think...?"

He nodded. "Yes I do. Inuyasha isn't one to act like that easily…"

The said hanyou had picked up on their talk. "Hey! What are you whispering about there?" he yelled.

Miroku grinned, coming up with a story. "Why, nothing but sweet nothings in my dear Sango's ear." He wrapped his arm around her, bringing a blushing youkai exterminator closer to him. "I feel the best way to win a women's heart is to flatter them with compliments, don't you agree, Inuyasha?"

That made him blush slightly. "What are you getting at, monk?"

"Ah, nothing but sharing secrets on the topic of pursuing women over. It is a subject I find very intriguing." At that moment, his hand began to slide downward again—

Sango shoved him off. "Get off me." She muttered, and then said, in a voice that only Miroku could hear, "This isn't working." She looked over at Kagome, who was desperately trying not to look at Inuyasha. "Kagome-chan, will you come walk with me for a moment? I have a few things I'd like to say without the company of Houshi-sama." She glared at her fiancé, but he could see right through her act.

"I shall pine all day until your return, my lovely Sango." He said, a grin on his face.

Sango rolled her eyes. "Whatever." Kagome stood up and followed her as they walked down a hill to sit by the river.

At that moment, Miroku made his move. "Inuyasha, you lucky dog."

The silver haired hanyou stared at him. "What the hell are you talking about?"

The lecherous monk grinned. "You and Kagome-sama."

A blush found Inuyasha's features. "What…what do you mean by me and Kagome?"

Shippou had now picked up on the plan as well. He shook his head. "Inuyasha, you baka. It's obvious to anyone with a brain."

The color left Inuyasha's face. What's obvious? Do they…know already? How can they tell?

Miroku decided to offer some of his advice. "Inuyasha, if you wish Kagome-sama to be yours, you must compliment her and make her feel special. It is something every women wishes for."

The blush came up Inuyasha's face again. "C-compliment her? Wait a minute monk—"

"It would also be smart not to insult her anymore." Shippou agreed. "Girls don't like that."

A vein began popping in Inuyasha's head and he started growling as Miroku continued. "And, you must not mention Kikyou around her, ever. This is one of the most important rules—"

The hanyou exploded. "Shut up! What goes on between Kagome and I is none of your business!"

"Which shows why you haven't gotten very far with her." Miroku said, making the hanyou nearly fall over in shock.

Inuyasha made a fist. "Look monk, I didn't ask for your help!"

"But you obviously need it." He cut in. "You need to let Kagome-sama know how you feel, Inuyasha. Because women like knowing that sort of thing. Words preferably, of course." Shippou nodded in agreement.

"And most importantly, when you two get into a fight, you must give in." The kitsune said.

Miroku continued. "It always works for Sango and I."

"What?" Inuyasha asked. "Are you saying I have to let her win every time!"

"If you want to keep her, then yes. Make her think you're in the wrong, and she'll cool off."

Inuyasha sputtered, "B-b-but…that's not fair!"

"Nothing's ever fair in this game, Inuyasha." Miroku said, Shippou nodding. "After all, they have a right to have everything their way. They are the fairer sex, and without them, our lives would not be worth living." He added in a mutter, "And letting them win is worth a touch of their soft bodies once in a while…"

Inuyasha glared. "Control yourself, monk."

"So, Inuyasha, will you go get her?" Shippou asked.

"Huh?" He asked. "Right now!"

"Of course. The sooner the better." Miroku agreed.

The hanyou didn't know what to say. One minute, he felt like pounding both the monk and the kitsune into the ground, and the next minute, he just wanted to storm off and forget everything they said. But there was one nagging thought in his brain, that told him to go after Kagome and maybe use their advice…but he couldn't do that…not in front of them!

He stood up, his face cross and folding his arms. "Keh. I'm leaving. But not to go get Kagome, got that!" he yelled, marching off.

Shippou shook his head. "He always has to save face."

"Indeed." Miroku agreed.

Meanwhile, Sango had been talking to Kagome. "Kagome-chan, you and Inuyasha have seemed a bit…distant lately."

Kagome blushed. "I don't know what you mean."

Kirara jumped into Sango's lap and she began petting the nekomata. "You don't have to lie Kagome-chan. Everyone knows already."

Kagome's blush deepened. "E-everyone?"

Her friend nodded. "Everyone except Inuyasha."

Kagome let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't mad about everyone knowing…but at least she wasn't humiliated by Inuyasha already knowing. "Good. I don't want him to know…not yet, at least."

"Why not now?" Sango questioned.

"B-because!" she stammered, feeling more embarrassed. "I mean…" Her eyes gazed out over the river. "I don't have any right to feel this way. Inuyasha still loves Kikyou. I'm from another time. I'm just here because I have to help him find shikon shards, that's all."

"Are you sure he still loves Kikyou?" Sango asked.

"Yes." Kagome's face fell as she remembered. "That's why I left in such a hurry a little while ago. It's because I saw him with Kikyou…" That's when Kagome remembered. That's right…Kikyou did say Inuyasha's feelings for me are a danger…why did she say that?

Her friend had grown awfully quiet. "Kagome-chan?" The youkai exterminator asked.

Kagome shook her head. "Nothing Sango-chan. I was just remembering."

Sango leaned back and looked up at the sky. She wanted to tell Kagome that Inuyasha had decided to give up on Kikyou, but she knew that was something that he would have to tell her himself. "Kagome-chan, sometimes you have to forget about the competition and just let him know. Who knows? You might get lucky. That worked with Houshi-sama and I. And even though he still annoys me, I'm happier than I have ever been."

"I know, Sango-chan, but…I can't get over the feeling. That he'll reject me. I'm too afraid to tell him."

Sango smiled as she turned and saw a familiar figure come towards them. "You never know. He may decide to come to you." She stood up, and started walking away, deciding it was time to leave the two alone.

Kagome noticed her sudden departure. "Sango-chan?" she turned, and saw a person she didn't expect to see. "Inuyasha?"

He didn't say anything, he just stared at her, a determined look on his face. She got up and walked over to him. "What are you doing here?"

She noticed that he seemed to have a blush on his face, which looked even more pronounced against the setting sun. "I…er…" He began, trying not to look at her. "I just…wanted to talk." Those few words made him feel more embarrassed than ever.

Kagome picked up on his unusual behavior. "Okay." She shrugged. They started walking towards the forest. "So…what do you want to talk about?"

"Well…" Damnit, I didn't know it would be this hard! The monk said something about compliments… "You um…look nice…I guess."

That shocked Kagome. Did he just…say I look nice? "Inu…yasha?"

He turned away from her, his red face even more pronounced. "Well…you look nicer than yesterday, I suppose."

That was the wrong move. "Are you saying that I looked ugly yesterday?" she demanded.

What now? Let her win… "No! I didn't mean it! I just mean that you look…better."

Is he stupid or what? "Okay, what's up with you? Are you saying I look nice or ugly?"

That got his temper up. He yelled at her, "Look woman, I didn't have this much trouble before!"

"Before what?" she bellowed back. "Before me? When you were with Kikyou?"

He gaped. He knew he was in for it. According to Miroku, he had crossed the line. "I didn't mean that, wench—"

I knew it..."So that's what you're trying to say, huh?" She yelled. "Kikyou's yours, and I'm just your shikon shard collecting wench, is that it?" Tears leaked down from her eyes. "You could have said it in a nicer way you know!"

Seeing her cry was worse than seeing her mad. "That's not what I meant, and you know it! Kagome, just listen to me—"

"No, I won't!" she declared. "You're already making this harder than it's supposed to be! I already know, so I don't want to hear it again. If you want Kikyou so bad, then go to her! Leave me alone!" She started marching away, the tears not stopping as she tried to mask her crying as tears of anger.

Inuyasha tried to go after her. "Oh, for the love of—"

"Sit!" she roared, sending him to the ground. After being thrown into the dirt, Inuyasha heard tears. "I just want to be alone right now, Inuyasha…Don't come after me."

And with that, she ran away, deeper into the forest.

A/N: Oh no! ANGST!

XD, besides the fight, I liked writing this chapter. Miroku is so much fun to write…tee hee.

Anyway, hope you all have a good (respective holiday)! I'll most likely update the day after Christmas, so enjoy those presents of yours!