A/N: I have learned some wisdom today. Never wear a white shirt to get your hair cut. Especially if you need to get your hair shampooed first. (Those ladies slosh water EVERYWHERE!)

You know, I love seeing all your guy's theories about who is going to die in this story. I'll say this, some are right, and some are wrong. But it seems that the general reviewers have agreed that it will be Inuyasha and Kagome's "baby" that will die, eh? So, you've deduced that have you? Interesting... (Note, this doesn't mean anything however, I love getting your guesses. But note that some things I reveal are meant to throw you off...cuz I'm like that.)

(And I hope you all have seen the manga chapter by now, because ZOMG! Sessy exploded Hell! Looks like Hell couldn't even stand up to his coolness.)


Chapter 32: The Burden of a Lie

The rain continued to pour down in torrents as Sango stood outside the cave, shocked at what she had just heard. I don't want to believe it, but…they are…mates?

Deciding against looking back one last time, and hearing no more voices from the cave, she slid down to sit against the ledge, partially covered from the rain. So this is what they've been hiding…she thought, still trying to process the shock. I knew it was something, but I would have never guessed…this…I thought they were more responsible.

And who knows how long this has been going on…Sango remembered all the lame excuses Kagome and Inuyasha had given to be by themselves, all the times they went back to her world…Going over each and every memory, she felt the realization hit her that they had probably been doing this for a while, and had kept it from everybody for a long time. And they never thought that they could tell us about it…

As if she had kept the secret herself for all this time, she felt the burden of it weigh upon her. What should I do? Should I tell Kagome-chan that I know? Should I tell Houshi-sama and Shippou? Or do I just…How could she just walk up to Kagome, her best friend who was so close and like a sister to her, and tell her that she had spied upon her and Inuyasha during a private moment of theirs and had discovered that they were mates? What would Kagome think of her then?

And as to telling the monk and the others…That was worse than telling Kagome that she knew. It would be betraying her, to tell about this secret that Kagome and Inuyasha clearly wanted to keep to themselves. But if she kept quiet…would it be the right thing?

Sango had heard Miroku talk about how he knew it would be dangerous for Kaogme and Inuyasha just to be in a relationship, with Naraku out to find them. He would almost certainly use it to his advantage…but were they too reckless to continue on as mates? What if something happened, would it be worse that they had done this rather than to remain safe?

I…I don't know…Sango thought. I don't really know…what I should do…

Kirara glanced at her mistress, briefly nuzzling her hand before the exterminator looked back at her. It was far past her time to leave. Sighing, she stood up and jumped back on Kirara, to ride back through the drizzle down to where Miroku and Shippou were waiting. What will I say? she wondered one last time as she dismounted the nekomata, ducking into their temporary shelter once again.

"So, did Inuyasha demand to know why we didn't offer him a feast of ramen?" Miroku asked, his mouth slightly curved into a smirk.

Sango hastily looked away. "They…uh…they weren't hungry."

The kitsune stared. "They weren't hungry? Not even Inuyasha?"

"No," she replied at once, sitting back down while the newly transformed Kirara jumped into her lap. She had hoped that she wasn't acting as suspicious as it seemed to her, but unfortunately, they caught on.

"Sango," Miroku asked, raising an eyebrow. "Did something happen when you went back there?"

She glanced up at the violet eyed monk for only a moment before she decided what course of action she would take. "No…nothing…why?" She wouldn't betray her friend's secret now.

Though she had hoped that would have been the end of it, it seemed like she wasn't off the hook yet. Miroku sat closer to her, the limited space between them making Sango even more nervous. "Are you sure nothing is wrong? You're acting very anxious, Sango."

Quickly, she thought up an excuse. "It's just the rain, Houshi-sama. I want to get out of here before a youkai can come and find us."

After a moment of wondering if that would satisfy him, the monk finally let it go. Sango let out a small, unnoticed sigh of relief. She had made up her mind now. She would not tell Kagome and Inuyasha's secret…nor would she let them know that she had learned of it. She would wait; because she knew the only ones who would reveal the truth would have to be them.


I never really understood the importance of the day in the thunderstorm until much later, after we had already begun our downward spiral into what had been meant to be our doom. Whether or not we would be in great danger hinged on this one factor, this one thing that Naraku needed to happen in order for his plan to be complete.

And by the time we learned what it was, it was far too late to take it back. This thing that he had been waiting so long for, had planned over and over again, would unfortunately happen soon, through the fault of Inuyasha and I being so reckless with our desires. And I did not realize until later that my last chances to stop it before it occurred were running out. But I was a fool and did not recognize when it was our last chance to turn around and quit what we are doing before it all collapsed.

And so, once our beautiful summer was over, and had been over for a while, the time came when I would pay for the mistakes Inuyasha and I made…I would feel the burden of the secret we had kept weighted down upon me…and what a terrible, joyous weight it was…but was hard to bear for so long…when all hope had faded…


The autumn wind rushed through the valley as the travelers continued on. Orange and red leaves scattered through the breeze, the trees beginning to lose their leaves again as the world continued to turn, and the seasons continued their course, unhindered by Naraku and the wrath he was inclined to wreak upon the land. The air had begun to get slightly colder, in preparation for winter. Like what usually happened in the fall through winter, youkai began to settle down for the long season and hibernate, leaving them with a bit of a break once the snow hit.

While Inuyahsa and Kagome walked together, talking softly and sometimes laughing up front, Sango watched them from behind, feeling a slight bit of envy that she could not control. She had kept their secret, but now that she knew what had been going on between them, she couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous. Inuyasha would only have one woman in his life now, and would dedicate himself fully to Kagome, with no doubts.

They seem so carefree, instead of uptight about our mission, Sango mused, a small, sad smile forming on her face. Just happy, to be together…not caring if it's right or wrong…or…

"Sango?"

Miroku's voice brought her back out of her thoughts. "Houshi-sama?" she asked, turning to him.

"Something on your mind?" he asked casually, but there was no way Sango would tell him what she was musing over.

She shook her head. "Oh, it was just nothing…just some random thoughts."

"You know, you've been doing that a lot lately," The monk said, though he said it in a lighthearted tone. "It seems like all you want to do these days in stare off into space and think."

"I've had quite a bit on my mind," she defended herself. "But none of its important…not really."

It seemed like Miroku was determined on finding out what she had been thinking about earlier. "So if it wasn't important, why were you devoting time to thinking about it?"

With an annoyed sigh, she marched ahead of him. "Because I had thought perhaps it was important, up until now."

Thankfully, after she marched off, Miroku knew well enough to leave her alone. Sango tried to pretend to still be angry, but she couldn't help herself, and soon began thinking down those same train of thoughts once more. Why is it that now I am beginning to compare Kagome and Inuyasha to myself and Houshi-sama? I don't want to, but…She glanced back at Kagome, who was smiling at something the hanyou had said, happy. I had thought that with a secret relationship like this, she would always be worried that someone would find out instead of enjoying herself, but she is…

With a sad smile, Sango added, Why can't I be like that?

They were walking along again, crunching dying grass beneath their feet, when suddenly Inuyasha halted, not responding to something Kagome said. He turned, glancing towards the horizon. "I smell Naraku."

Everyone instantly tensed. "Naraku?" asked Kagome in a small voice.

The hanyou sniffed the air again and shook his head. "Damn it, it's just another puppet."

On cue, the youkai pupped instantly appeared from behind the hill, floating up towards them. Everyone grabbed their weapons, Inuyasha's knuckles going white on Tessaiga's hilt. "Bastard," he yelled at the puppet. "What do you want now?"

Naraku's puppet laughed. "Your nose isn't as good as you boast, Inuyasha. I've been following you for three days."

"Keh. Then you're just in time to die!" Inuyasha yelled, unsheathing his sword while jumping towards the puppet, who instantly dodged out of his way. Sword and hanyou landed on the grass, with the puppet behind.

"Inuyasha, aren't you even going to listen to what I'm going to say?" the puppet asked, laughing once more.

"You're not worth listening to!" he yelled back, launching himself at the enemy again. This time, Naraku's puppet fought back as it released tentacles flying in all directions. Inuyasha managed to hack one off, hearing the others struggle with them behind.

"You guys all right?" He asked, turning back around to them. It seemed that Miroku pushed everyone out of the way just as the tentacles came.

"Yeah, we're fine," Kagome called back, gathering her bow.

Hearing the puppet laughing, Inuyasha turned his attentions back to his enemy, growling heavily. "What's so funny?"

"You, Inuyasha," it answered. "You care so much for your friends…I wonder, would you lay down your life to save theirs?" With that, the brown, mud colored tentacles flew, Inuyasha just barely blocking them with his sword.

Panicing, he thought, This one…it's a lot stronger than the rest! Did Naraku send it to test our power?

A pink light flashed through his vision, and Inuyasha saw a pink arrow fly and imbed itself deeply through the baboon pelt of the puppet. Unfortunately, it did not blow the puppet to bits, but instead singed it, and one single tentacle fell to the ground, having been rendered useless. Glancing back at Kagome, Inuyasha saw that she looked ready to shoot another arrow, like nothing was wrong, but he instinctively knew something was up.

Kagome held her bow steady, but she didn't think she had enough strength to send another arrow like that. Ever since we mated, my miko powers have been diminishing…she thought, with a sad smile. I knew this was a possibility before, but I have to admit, it's getting harder and harder to muster the strength to send one arrow these days…

The puppet had noticed her powers were waning. "It seems as if your miko is getting weaker, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha said nothing, but merely growled in reply. Don't think that, Kagome…you're stronger than this…

"I wonder, Inuyasha," the puppet began. "You would throw your life away for your friends, but what would you throw away for the woman you love? Your very soul?" At that moment, the tentacles lashed out, towards Kagome.

She didn't even have time to scream, only time to gasp as she saw them come for her, a red blur in the side of her line of vision… "Kagome!" she heard Inuyasha yell…It happened so fast—she felt herself being pushed to the ground by a stronger force and then a masculine yelp of pain, while blood spattered her face.

Afraid of what she would see, Kagome opened her eyes, to see Inuyasha practically on top of her, having pushed her out of the way. His face was contorted in pain while she saw blood…and the gash made on his back when he tried to protect her… "Inuyasha!" she cried in alarm.

Before the puppet could attack again, Miroku stepped forward, pulling off the rosary from around his cursed hand. "This should have been done earler," he muttered, before yelling, "Kazaana!" Naraku's puppet vanished in an instant, without a single saimyoushou in sight.

All attention turned back to Inuyasha as he groaned when Kagome tried to move him. "Inuyasha!" she gasped again, as he grunted in pain as she tried to help him up.

"I'm all right…Kagome…" he began, but she wouldn't listen.

"No, you're not! You need to be bandaged up!" Kagome said, carefully lifting him so he wouldn't get hurt. "Come on, there's a hut over there, can you make it?"

"Yeah…" he grunted, as they slowly made their way towards the hut.


Soon afterwards, Inuyasha sat in the hut, miraculously better, while Kagome bandaged up his wounds. It seemed that the gash on his back wasn't too deep, but perhaps it had hit a nerve or something, since he seemed to be in quite a bit of pain when she had helped him in to the hut.

Kagome sat behind him, finishing up the last of the bandaging on his back. "There," she said cheerfully. "Feeling better?"

"A little," he muttered, glancing through the holes in the bamboo curtain. "Did everyone leave yet?"

Kagome rolled her eyes, "Yes, Inuyasha, they left as soon as you said you might need a bit of time to recover, and that they should go ahead. What's with you, anyway, you're not one to ever put on a pity party for yourself like that. Are you really hurt?"

"No." Inuyasha turned around, grinning mischievously. "But now we've got all our nosey friends out of the way for the night, with just the two of us…alone, in a nice, cosy, place like this…"

She was unable to do anything but gape. "You…you faked it the whole time!" she accused.

The hanyou shrugged, scooting closer to her. "No, but the idea came when you mentioned something about a hut being nearby."

Kagome glanced away, folding her arms. "I can't believe you…you made me really worried, you know!"

Deciding on another tactic, Inuyasha gave her the round "puppy eyes" that Shippou used quite frequently. "I missed you," he murmured into her ear softly, happy that she stiffened up, showing some type of reaction. "And don't even lie about it, you've missed me, too."

Glaring back at him, she began, "You are the most perverted, disgusting, pig headed—" Inuyasha cut her off when he grabbed her and pulled her into a searing kiss, and as he had expected, she suddenly lost her protests and melted into his embrace, pulling him closer.

When they pulled apart for a second, she gave a small gasp at the lack of contact. Inuyasha grinned at her, mirth twinkling in his eyes as he asked, "So, have you missed me?"

"Maybe a little," she admitted, before being pulled back into a passionate embrace. However, what she had said wasn't exactly the truth—"Maybe some more, or a lot," she continued between gasps. "Or…"

The hanyou pulled away for a moment, looking in her eyes. "Or what?"

"Just kiss me now, Inuyasha," she breathed, with Inuyasha obliging a second later. One thing was pretty clear…they wouldn't be heading back to meet up with their friends until tomorrow, but neither of them cared…they were with each other for now, and that was all that mattered.


Many hours later, the lovers lay in a tangled heap of arms and legs as they slept, unwilling to let go even in slumber. Inuyasha was spooned against Kagome's back, one arm pulling her to his body, his haori covering them slightly. Kagome's breath fluttered a lock of her hair that had fallen in front of her face, the only sounds in the hut were their breaths as the air outside was deathly quiet.

All was peaceful.

But unknown by them, as they lay there in content dreams, two cells merged deep within Kagome's body.