A/N: ok, didn't exactly get 7 reviews, but oh well I guess. I have a few loyal fans out there that do like my story so I'm updating just for them. I'm feeling generous so I'll update tomorrow too. Why? Like I said I'm in a good mood. Oh, and the Sango/Miroku fans out there. This chapters for you. And the Inu/Kag fans? This one's for you too. Ok, I lost track of what chapter this is…someone let me know…and happy March everyone.
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Chapter…uh…whatever number we're on…
They walked into a banquet hall to see an extravagant meal spread out before them. Food was piled high on platters in lavish displays, presenting every type of food imaginable. The long table was filled so that it only left small spaces around the table for them to sit and dine.
"How beautiful!" Kagome exclaimed walking briskly into the room. She looked over the setup commenting on the beauty and intoxicating smells, oblivious to the man seated at the head of the table and the three girls standing around him.
Miroku cleared his throat and Kagome looked up. He motioned to the man with his eyes and smiled at her weakly.
Her head snapped up and she started blushing profusely as she mumbled apologizes and bowing walked back into her group of friends.
"It's ok I'm hungry too" Shippo commented from his place below her.
"Come, please." the man spoke smiling brightly at the group.
They walked forward and he motioned for them to sit, and each person sat on a cushion and waited for him to speak.
"My name is Lord Osami and welcome to my home." he motioned to the three girls beside him as the girl that brought them there filed into the line in front of the others.
"These are my beautiful daughters. The first and eldest, who you met in the marketplace today is Akiyo." she bowed gracefully and looked up straight at Miroku blushing. Kagome heard a slight mumble of something from Sango who was seated beside her.
"This is my second eldest Mitsuko, and as you can tell quite a wonder in the kitchen." There were small whispers of amazement and praise from the group as they looked at the food before them.
"Thank you" she spoke quietly as she bowed.
"Well, the quickest way to a man's heart is through the stomach." Miroku commented smiling at the girl.
"I'll say" Inuyasha mumbled reaching for a fish, only to be stopped by a quick jab to the ribs by Kagome.
The lord smiled at Miroku's comment and agreed then turned back to his daughters, "My younger daughter, Nanako." As the daughter bowed Kagome noticed that the girls must only be a year or two younger than herself and each sister only seemed to be a year or so apart in ages.
As the girl slowly rose she stopped when her eyes hit Inuyasha, she then fully stood up but never took the quizzical look off her face.
"Everyone wonders about the damn ears." Inuyasha muttered to himself crossing his arms.
"And my youngest daughter, Kami" he motioned to a small girl that seemed to be only a few years older than Shippo.
After the introductions and a welcome speech, they turned to the food in front of them and began to eat.
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"That's ridiculous!" Sango giggled setting her cup down and picking up a rice ball.
"I know!" Kagome laughed as she popped cucumber slices in her mouth.
They sat at the table laughing and shoveling food into their mouths. Miroku sat at the end of the table followed by Sango, Kagome, Inuyasha, and Shippo. Miroku kept the two eldest sisters, Akiyo and Mitsuko, who were sitting across from Sango and Kagome, entertained most of the night with his suave words and flirtatious ways. Nanako, the younger, sat across from Inuyasha and Kami, the youngest, sat next to her across from Shippo.
"Why is she still staring at him?" Sango asked herself aloud.
"Huh?" Kagome responded, slurping up her udon noodles.
"She keeps staring at Inuyasha!" Sango whispered as she giggled uncontrollably.
Kagome looked to where Sango was pointing, to see Kami eating silently, yet never removing her eyes from the half-demon.
"Well…" Kagome, turned back to Sango, "it's either the ears or his eating habits."
They leaned forward and looked at Inuyasha. He had food in both hands and puffed out cheeks from a full mouth but just kept shoveling it in, causing bits and crumbs to go flying everywhere.
He suddenly stopped and turned toward the girls blinking innocently, "hrpt?" he asked, a noodle hanging out of the side of his mouth.
Kagome and Sango burst out laughing. Sango laughed so hard she fell backwards and literally rolled on the ground, tears of laughter rolling down her red cheeks.
They continued laughing, talking, eating, and enjoying each others company late into the evening.
"Well ladies, as the night is winding down perhaps you two would join me for a moonlit walk?" Miroku offered to the two eldest daughters who readily accepted.
They stood and walked out the door leaving it open behind them. As they stood Sango stopped laughing; watching them leave as they disappeared from the doorway Sango quietly whispered, "Miroku."
She stood up and walked to the entrance and swayed on the spot and fell into a lean against the doorway.
"I hate that stupid monk." she spoke quietly. She turned around and looked at the dinner party with tears in her eyes.
She looked around at the sadness on her friends faces and confusion on the two remaining sisters. They stood and excused themselves at that moment, wishing to retire to bed as their father had done an hour or so ago.
Sango watched them leave past her, then staggered over to a crying Kirara. "Kirara don't cry. Crying is for people who are weak." she said with bitterness in her tone as she wiped away tears from her cheeks.
"I'm gonna take her to bed" Kagome whispered to Inuyasha, unable to hide the pity in her voice. She helped up Sango who just stared blankly ahead, "come on Shippo." Kagome called.
Shippo stood up quietly and followed Kagome and Sango, his eyes never leaving the floor. He followed the girls, Kirara following on his heels.
"Feh, whatever." Inuyasha spoke to the emptiness around him and stuffed another fish in his mouth.
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"I'm fine Kagome" Sango giggled plopping down onto her futon.
"Are you sure your ok Sango?" Kagome asked, wondering about her friends sudden change in demeanor.
"I'm fine" she persisted, "go Kagome, go enjoy the rest of your night with Inuyasha…" she breathed his name sexily while giggling at Kagome.
"Are you sure your ok?" Kagome asked again, still wondering about her friends odd behavior.
After getting several reassurances from Sango, Kagome went back to the banquet hall looking for Inuyasha.
"How can you STILL be eating!" she cried taking a seat on the cushion next to him.
"Yeah, I'm full but it's SO good." he sighed picking up some shrimp but letting them fall back to the plate. "Uhhh" he groaned holding his bloated stomach, and leaned on the table.
"That's what you get for being selfish." she smiled and started rubbing her hanyou's tummy. "Did you notice how odd Sango's acting tonight?" Kagome asked looking over at the very stuffed half-demon.
"Yeah, she drank too much." he mumbled in a groan.
"What did you…" He shoved a cup under her nose. "Uhhh, it smells like sake." she pulled her face away and grabbed it from him and set it down on the table. "Maybe that's why she was so obvious about Miroku…"
"Feh, that stupid monk, wouldn't know anything…" he interrupted.
Kagome and Inuyasha, finally got up and started walking down the hallway, but stopped when they heard a wild giggling and sad mewing of a cat.
"Oh no" Kagome muttered sliding open the door.
Sango was laughing wildly while dancing to non-existent music, swinging Kirara around.
"Sango! Sango! Sango, give me the cat!" Kagome yelled ducking under Sango's arms and finally grabbing Kirara. "Sango, lay down…Sango…where's Shippo?"
"Kagome?"
Kagome looked around.
"Kagome?" she heard the tiny voice again.
"Shippo?" she walked around the room holding a dizzy neko-demon in her arms.
"Kagome?" came another small whimper from the corner.
Kagome squat down in from of her big yellow backpack and slowly lifted the flap. "Shippo?"
"Kagome!" he cried popping out of the bag.
"Shippo! What are you…"
"I didn't want to be her next dance partner." he winced looking at the now quietly seated Sango with a messy smirk on her face.
"What's wrong with Sango?" he asked quietly, holding on to Kagome, as Kirara mewed as if asking the same question.
"She's feeling…uh…sick" she answered, not sure how to explain the situation to a child. She put Shippo and Kirara to sleep on her bed and sat down next to Sango.
"Feeling calmer?" she asked, trying not to wake the other two.
"Where's Miroku?" Sango asked timidly as tears formed in her eyes.
"He's uh…" she couldn't bring herself to explain that Miroku was still out with those sisters, and had been gone for almost an hour, "he's um…"
"I saw him walk back to our room almost an hour ago." Inuyasha spoke for the first time from his perch in the doorway.
"I need to see him." Sango started climbing out of bed, but Kagome held her down.
"I'm sure he's asleep as you should be…"
"Yeah, I can hear him snoring" Inuyasha commented as his ears twitched.
Sango lay back down and with a final look at Kagome turned to her side and lay still. Kagome waited until she heard her friends breathing even out, and followed a scowling Inuyasha out the door.
"They're all asleep" she whispered quietly, "and thank you for what you did for Sango, but you know I don't approve of you lying," she gave him a playful shove.
"How did you know I was…"
"but that was what she needed to hear. It would break her heart if she knew he was still out there…she acts strong, but no matter how she tries, she can't deny the love she has for him." she walked out onto the porch and looked out.
In the moonlight she could see a large forest to the left of her, hills beyond that and in front of her, and the village and farmland to the right. They stood in the silence looking out over the expanse, in each others arms.
Kagome leaned back against Inuyasha, and his arms wrapped tighter around her torso. She leaned her head to the side and rested it against his chest, she was happy they were no longer fighting, they were in a comfortable content place with one another.
He leaned close to her pulling her back closer to his chest, and taking advantage of the tilt of her head, gently let his lips just graze her neck. He then kissed her neck sweetly, nibbling here and there, as she sighed and moved her head a bit more to allow him further access to her.
She let her hand reach up and touch the side of his neck, pulling him even closer to her. She turned her head and let her fingers fall to the nape of his neck and pulled him close sending his lips crashing to hers.
The kissed passionate as he held her back close to his heart. She pulled away and opened her eyes dreamily, "Miroku."
Inuyasha pulled away a bit and stared at her. "What!" he glared at her.
She looked up at him innocently, and pointed past him, "Miroku."
Miroku was walking with a sister in each arm, laughing loudly with each sister giggling ridiculously and blushing like crazy. As they got closer Kagome spotted, Nanako, the third sister walking out to meet them. They all walked over talking with each other and loudly marched onto the porch.
"Shhhh!" Kagome hissed at them, "Miroku I need to speak with you…MIROKU NOW!" she added with demanding force as she saw it might be difficult to pry him away from the sisters.
Miroku excused himself, thanking Akiyo and Mitsuko for their company, and bade them goodnight, a bit reluctantly, and the two walked into the house still blushing.
Kagome rolled her eyes, as she thought all the blushing and giggling was becoming a bit much. She grabbed Miroku's hand and stomped off leaving a curious sister and a confused half-demon in their wake.
"How could you!" she hissed at him her hands sternly placed on her hips.
"Lady Kagome, I have no idea…"
"Sango has been worried sick, asking for you every five minutes, and being drunk and alone she probably would have liked you by her side instead of with those two sisters!" she finished exasperatedly.
"Sango asked for me?" he questioned almost shocked.
"Duh" she muttered to herself as she crossed her arms and leaned against the house, then realizing she pulled an Inuyasha, stood back up.
His eyes suddenly got big as if he'd missed something, "my dear Sango is intoxicated?" he almost chocked, "please take me to her."
"No. She's asleep." she sighed trying to imagine how her friend would take all this.
"Miroku just go to bed, and if she asks tomorrow, that's where you were all night." she whispered feeling guilty about having to lie to her friend to keep her safe.
Miroku nodded solemnly as if understanding her need to protect Sango. They walked silently back around the corner and she left him at the boys room.
She turned around to walk back outside, and once there, realized Inuyasha was gone. "That's odd" she mumbled stopping at the spot where she had left Inuyasha and Nanako. "Well I'm just going to bed, I'm tired. I'll find him in the morning" she told herself and walked noiselessly back to her room.
She walked into the room, the open door casting a glowing light into the room. She saw Sango sleeping on her side and Shippo and Kirara asleep at the foot of Kagome's bed. She tip toed in and slid into bed, listening to Sango's soft sighs.
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"Kagome…Kagome!"
"Wha..what time is it?" she leaned up sleepily to stare at the shadow in the doorway.
"Probably a little after midnight" Inuyasha answered, "we need to talk."
She got up and walked over to him and she noticed his ears suddenly droop. She looked back at her motionless friends and walked out sliding the door shut behind her.
The door shut and Sango woke up hearing wood hitting wood. She sat up and looked at the room around her trying to focus on one thing. She stood up slowly only to fall to the bed again. She looked around sadly and got up again, leaning against the wall as she walked to the door.
"Where's everyone?" she asked aloud feeling suddenly very alone. "Uhhhh….I miss Miroku" she mumbled sliding the door open and almost tripping as she walked out of it.
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"What is it?" Kagome asked quietly, concerned for her hanyou who seemed to suddenly have dull eyes and lifeless ears. She touched his shoulder tenderly as if asking to be let in.
He looked up at her, a slight look of fear in his eyes. "Ka…Kagome…I …uh…" he stuttered as he stared at the floor avoiding her gaze. "Uh, never mind" he spoke quickly and ran out toward the forest.
She stood there in shocked silence, staring where he had just been, and wondered what on earth could have gone through that baka half-demon's head.
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Sango walked down the hallway, letting her hand slide along the wall for support.
"Lecherous monk…why does he need all those other women? I'll show him…" she mumbled drunkenly stopping at the boys door.
She slid the door open with a loud bang and leaned against the doorframe seductively holding the frame slightly above her, so her arm was slightly above her head, elongating her body and showing every curve.
"Miroku…" she whispered, a hint of lust in her voice.
"Wha..what? Sango? Oh Sango! You've finally come to my bed." he stated excitedly, yet added a yawn as he patted the empty bed space beside him.
She slowly walked in and slid the door closed behind her.
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A/N: Muhahaha….ok I can't leave you all hanging like this so I will update…probably twice tomorrow, I dunno I'm just in the mood for it you know? Oh, and if you want to ask any questions or anything like that just ask I'll do my best to answer them as long as it doesn't spoil the story, and I have the next few chapters written so those will be up soon. Wow, this was a long chapter! Sheesh, yeah the next one won't be as long, but it will bust just as peachy I promise. Now review. Review. Review. Please. Thank you.