A/N: Thanks so much for putting up with me and my late updates. I promise to do better in the future.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to it's brilliant creator. Sadly, it's not me.

Chapter 9

Inuyasha P.O.V.

"Ouch, darn it!"

I glanced behind me to see who had hit me. Oh well, I have more important things to deal with than a punk…

"Is that Kagome's bow," I thought when I noticed the bow on the ground. I picked it up and sniffed it. "It's definitely Kagome's."

Had she thrown it at me. I backtracked a little to see if she was in the woods, but she wasn't there. Something wasn't right here, I could tell by the fact that Kagome's blood is mixed up with her scent.

"Inuyasha," a voice called. Was it Kagome? It sounded like her, but I can't see her anywhere.

"Inuyasha…"

Where is she? I took in my surroundings again as I searched for scent once more, but it was obvious that she wasn't on the ground or even in the trees.

"Is Kikyo trying to trick me," I wondered as I leaped to the tree tops and searched the skies as I leaped to different trees. As of now I couldn't see anything that would hint that Kagome was near.

It was nearly night now, the sun barely notable on the horizon as the moon began to rise. If Kagome was near by and in trouble I would need to find her soon. Tonight, of all nights, was the night of the full moon. It was the one time where my demonic powers faded and I became human.

I suddenly saw Kikyo's soul collectors with Kagome in tow. It suddenly clicked that Kikyo had been planning to use Kagome to lure me to her. I inwardly scowled at how underhanded Kikyo had become.

As I got closer I realized that my demonic powers were starting to fade.

"Just a bit longer," I thought, picking up speed while also trying to figure out a way to destroy the soul collectors without hurting Kagome.

In the end, I knew that I was going to have to take the risk in hurting Kagome in order to save her. There wasn't much time and if I hesitated Kikyo would have Kagome and I would lose everything.

"Here goes," I shouted loudly, now gaining the soul collector's attention.

"IRON REVOR SOUL STEALER!"

At the village

Sango P.O.V.

"Sango, it's the end for us," Miroku stated as he rubbed my behind. This earned him another smack in the face.

"Don't talk that way," I chided. "And keep your hands to yourself."

"You weren't saying that last night," Miroku said jokingly. I smacked him again.

"Stop being a pervert and focus," I shouted as I flung my Hirikotsu into the soul collectors.

"You're an idiot," I heard Shippo say to Miroku as the huge boomerang came back to me.

I turned toward Kohaku, who was handling his own mass of demons. "How are you doing Kohaku?"

"As good as I can be under the circumstances," Kohaku replied as I watched him and Kirara fight. "These things are everywhere."

"Where is Kagome?" Shippo asked while using his fox fire. "We could really use her help right now."

"Didn't she return Miroku?" I asked as he used his staff and sutras to take out the demons. His wind tunnel had disappeared thanks to Kikyo's plot.

He nodded. "She went to Kaede's hut to get her bow and arrows, but I believe she should have been back by now."

"You shouldn't have let her go alone," I told him as I attacked again. "She could be in serious trouble for all we know."

"I would hope not," Miroku stated as he continued to purify the soul collectors. "However, she wouldn't have let me go with her if I tried. She would have told me that I should be by your side at all times Sango."

I blushed slightly before turning my scowl into a smirk. "You only say that because you don't want to admit that you want to be by my side at all times."

"I have no trouble admitting my love for you Sango," Miroku replied as I caught the Hirikotsu. I smiled. For a treacherous and perverted monk he could be pretty romantic sometimes.

"Guys, this is no time to be flirting with each other," Shippo shouted from somewhere behind us. "We're in the middle of fighting."

"Oh, let them be Shippo," Kohaku replied as he and Kirara took out more of the demons. "You just keep killing your share of the demons."

"Thanks, Kohaku," I whispered as Miroku turned me around. We kissed quickly, but passionately and then went back to fighting as the demons attacked once again. Still, even a kiss couldn't remove the worry that weighed on my mind. Something just told me that Kagome was in some kind of trouble and without Inuyasha around no one would be able to help her.

"Don't worry Sango," Miroku said before destroying the last of his share of demons. "I'm sure she's fine."

"I hope you're right," I replied once I'd finished with my share. I turned to Shippo and Kohaku. They only had a few demons left so I told them to get out of the way before finishing the demons off with the Hirikotsu.

"Kohaku, Shippo, you two stay here and look after the villagers who's souls weren't taken," I told them.

"What about you sis?" Kohaku asked.

"Miroku and I are going to look for Kagome." I turned to Miroku before asking Kirara to transform. The expression on his face was supportive as always. He was always there, waiting for my commands. I smiled again as he and I got on Kirara's back. Once we took off I glanced back at him.

"Miroku, did I tell you that I loved you today," I asked.

"Until now no," Miroku answered. "But it doesn't matter because I know you love me Sango. You proved it when you didn't give up on life when you thought Kohaku was gone forever."

"I see." I couldn't really say anything else.

"Oh, and Sango."

I glanced back at him once more.

"I love you too."

I smiled and then focused back on the task at hand as we landed at Kaede's hut. Outside everything seemed normal, but inside you could clearly see Kagome's blood on the floor. If Koga's soul hadn't been drained I would have been angry at him for not protecting her.

"It appears that you were right Sango," Miroku stated. "Kagome really is in trouble."

"We have to go out and find her," I replied. "Poor Kagome, I hope that wherever she is that she's safe and out of harms way."

Kagome P.O.V.

I woke up feeling a little lightheaded, but knowing that Kikyo had been the one who'd captured me I quickly sat up anyway.

"Where am I," I wondered as I looked around.

"Hey, you're finally awake."

"Is that…" I turned to find Inuyasha in his human form, watching me curiously.

"Inuyasha?" I asked, not completely sure if he was really here.

"You act like you've never seen me in my human form before," Inuyasha sneered. "And what's with the tears."

I didn't realize that I'd been crying, so I quickly wiped them away. "I guess I'm just happy to see you."

"So much that you're crying?" Inuyasha asked curtly. Why did he always have to be so irritable when he was in human form. Can he not see that I've been worried sick about him.

I wiped away my tears before addressing him. "You jerk. You just left me."

Inuyasha's expression changed and he was suddenly staring at the cave's walls. "I'm sorry. I thought…"

"I know what you thought Inuyasha," I cut in. "I know you wanted to take Kikyo down by yourself…but…well…"

"Well, what Kagome?" Inuyasha asked angrily.

I sighed, not knowing what else to say. "Never mind Inuyasha, just forget I said anything about it."

He scowled, but said nothing more. I took this time to examine myself. The long sleeves of my uniform had be ripped and bandages were now wrapped around both of my arms. I thought back to the soul collectors and how they had bitten into my arms. How they had lifted me into the sky…

"Inuyasha."

He barely turned to look at me. "What is it."

My tone was soft as I spoke. "Thank you for saving me and for tending to my wounds."

He now fully turned to face me. His eyes weren't they're usual gold in his human form, but that same sad look was in them. "You're welcome Kagome."

There was silence again, and while it was very uncomfortable I didn't dare break it. There was a whole lot of things I wanted to tell him. There were unspoken words that I wanted to say, but…I couldn't tell him unless he was willing to open up to me.

"I'm sorry for leaving you."

My heart thudded in my chest. I hadn't expected him to say anything else for a while.

"And, I'm sorry for hurting you."

My mind blanked out, but I quickly regained my composure. "It's…it's okay Inuyasha. I understand now."

"You always were understanding," Inuyasha stated. "It can be pretty annoying sometimes."

I scowled at him. "Thanks a lot."

He chuckled a little. "I could never get why you'd be so understanding toward a half-demon. In a lot of ways it's foolish."

"Are you done Inuyasha," I sneered, my temper getting the better of me.

"But," he continued calmly, "I've finally figured it out."

I'm sure the expression on my face resembled shock because in the next second the half-demon was laughing at me." I tried to ignore it.

"What exactly, did you figure out."

He paused and his laughter quickly subsided. A few moments passed as he thought. He must have been trying to phrase what it was he was thinking. While this was going on, I observed him thoroughly. His eyes were locked on the ground at this particular moment. His body language screamed nervousness and annoyance as he thought.

"Well?" I asked, getting a bit impatient.

He sighed. "That's just who you are."

I blinked in confusion. He kept me waiting for that?

"What do you mean?"

He sighed again. I swear I've never heard him sigh so much in one day. He's beginning to sound like a broken record.

"You're a compassionate person," Inuyasha began. "You're don't judge someone on what they are, but who they are."

I was entirely confused by his change of tone. "I'm not following."

He scowled a bit. "Don't be an idiot Kagome. It doesn't suit you well."

It was my turn to sigh. "Aren't I already an idiot for loving you?"

Silence ensued once again. I waited for Inuyasha to break the silence, but it didn't seem like he was going to say anything else.

"Inuyasha…"

"You should probably get to sleep…"

"No way," I interrupted. "I know you Inuyasha. You'll try to leave while I'm sleeping."

A guilty blush filled his features. "Yeah, so what."

"You're not leaving me," I told him. "Not again."

There was more silence and then in a flash Inuyasha was sitting right next to me.

"Huh? Inu…"

I didn't get to finish my sentence. His now rough lips had made me incapable of uttering another word. I tried to fight him off, but I slowly leaned into his kiss. I loved him, and that emotion was just too hard to fight.

He pulled away from me after a moment, but we weren't apart for long. He wrapped his arms around me and I leaned onto his chest.

"Fine, have it your way Kagome," he whispered into my ear. "I'll never leave you again."

I smiled contently, but I wasn't entirely convinced. "Do you mean it."

"Yes," he replied. "Now sleep."

I reluctantly closed my eyes and let the dark void of nothingness take me.

A/N: The end of this chapter. Sorry it took so long. Anyway, I have a poll up on my profile. I'm asking everyone to vote on which story you want done first. So…if you readers want this one done first/updated more, then please vote on the poll. I need to focus on one story and one story only. Thanks again and please forgive the long wait.