Umm…will I'm sorry cut it this time? No? Well, how about absolute repentance? I'm sooo sorry for the long wait, and those kind reviewers TT this is for you. I tried, I want to have another chapter up soon, and now that school is over, I can work more. I'm sorry it's short…yeah just read and review!

Disclaimer: Umm…tch, of COURSE I own Inuyasha. I also invented the computer, created world peace, and was the first person to set foot on the moon. Inuyasha belongs to Takahashi-sama, and I don't think she'll be handing over the rights anytime soon.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Inuyasha looked out of the hut just in time to see Kagome retreat into the forest. She had come in and left again in such a hurry, she didn't even notice him. Yep, she had just run by without a second glance at him.

Tch, so much for worrying… ah well, it's better without her blubbering anyway. Inuyasha thought to himself as he got up. He looked around the room for a moment before he picked up the sheathed Tetsaiga and walked out.

Shippou was asleep on the roof of the hut, where he had promised to 'keep watch' should an enemy arrive. Yeah, great job he was doing with that. Keep up the good work Shippou! The world needs more diligent warriors like you. He saw that Miroku and Sango had left, and Inuyasha didn't want to think about where they went, or what they were doing. Wherever that perverted monk was, woman -kind should run and run fast, preferably with a swarm of Saimyoushou between him and them.

Inuyasha spared at glance at the forest before he shuddered a bit and clutched his Tetsaiga tighter before putting it back in it's place at his side.

Well now. Kagome is out, probably for a week, Shippou's asleep and Miroku and Sango are who knows where. Nothing for me to do until someone comes back…And with that thought, Inuyasha walked back into the hut for a light nap.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

"Monk, where are we going?" Sango asked irritably as she followed Miroku deep into the forest by the village. She paused briefly to swat a branch away from her face before continuing on.

"You know, you didn't have to follow" Miroku only gave a passing glance back at her before he continued onward into the foliage, not stopping or slowing through the denser part of the forest they were walking through.

Sango sighed as she stepped over a log. "Well I wanted to come! But could you please tell me just what I came along to do? And where are we going? We seem to be following a rather random path."

Miroku didn't answer but instead kept moving forward, and Sango sighed in defeat, deciding she'd find out what they were doing eventually. Then, before she knew it, they had walked into a large clearing in the forest, where a huge tree stood in the middle.

"Monk? What is this?" Sango walked over to the tree, eyeing it and putting her hand on it as she walked around it.

"Well, I used a simple tracking spell. It can trace any path a person has walked within a three day period. It's a bit faint but…"

"But this is where Inuyasha was the other night." Sango finished his sentence, finally knowing what they were here for. "But Monk, if someone could do…that, to Inuyasha, don't you think they'd be smart enough to cover their trail?"

"Yes, I had thought that, but, if I can find anything to find out who did this, than maybe I could understand how Inuyasha feels just a little more. You know, today he yelled at me. I told him that I understood how he felt, and he yelled at me and say that no one could understand how he felt. I don't know why, but it made me feel bad that he had yelled at me like that, and I realized that I was wrong. I didn't know how he felt. So now I want to help him as much as I can, so I can try to understand just a little." Miroku frowned where a place at the foot in the tree was slightly indented.

Sango watched the monk as he carefully inspected the whole area, with a skill Sherlock Holmes would envy. She was amazed as he paid attention to every little detail. She walked around the tree and looked again, this time closer, finally deciding to help Miroku with his search. She paid careful attention to the spot at the indent before walking over to the monk.

"Monk, we've only found evidence of what happened, not who happened, and I doubt we will. Like I said before, this person is obviously smart enough to cover their tracks." Sango watched as Miroku got up and walked over to the tree. He sat down with his back to it, sighing in defeat.

Sango watched as he looked at the ground, staring at something only he could see. She had never seen him quite this upset. "Miroku…I understand you wanting to help a friend, but Inuyasha seems to have gotten over it, you should to. The sooner we forget, the sooner things will go back to…" She was cut off as Miroku lifted his gaze towards her, a small glare directed at her.

"Inuyasha has not gotten over it. He's not as…hot-tempered and he stays quiet for far too long. If anything, he's trying to make it seem like he's gotten over it so that we wont worry"

Sango gave Miroku a startled look. How had he noticed such subtle differences about the hanyou? He had seemed normal to her. And, since when did Miroku acknowledge he was wrong? Then it hit Sango, like a ton of bricks. She gave Miroku a knowing glance. "Say Monk…how long have you been in love with Inuyasha?"

Miroku's gaze snapped back to her, a look of shock on his face, and a slight blush on his cheeks. "Wh-What makes you say…" He gave a small laugh, and looked at the ground, "What gave it away?"

Sango laughed, then sat down next to him. "Well, you notice so much about him, you always watch out for him in battle, you're going through far too much trouble trying to find out who did that to him, and since when have you acknowledged that you were wrong?"

Miroku gave her an annoyed look. "Hey, I resent that last remark. And who are you to talk, you hypocrite? So tell me, when are you going to tell Kagome that you like her?"

Now it was Sango's turn to blush. "That's different" she insisted. "I know Kagome already likes someone in her world. She talks about him all the time. Houjou or something like that." She looked down in embarrassment.

Miroku looked at her sadly. "Well, then you know why I won't tell Inuyasha. There's no way he'd like me, Sango. Yeah, I like him, but I'm content being his friend. If I told him, he'd hate me, I'm sure of it."

Sango looked at Miroku sadly before getting up. She dusted off her dress, then walked to the edge of the clearing. Before she left to go back to the village, she turned and looked at Miroku. "Monk, you're only making yourself sad. I don't think that Inuyasha would hate you if you told him, but it's up to you." And with that, she left.

Miroku looked at where Sango had just been, then got up. He scanned the clearing once more before making his own way back to the village.

TBC…