DISCLAIMER: I do not in any way own InuYasha or anything that has to do with InuYasha. And if I make any references to any songs, I do not own them either unless otherwise stated.

A/N: Reviews are nice. I enjoy them greatly. Thank you all.

Sorry, but InuYasha is getting OOC. I tried to avoid it, but I guess that is not happening. Again, I'm sorry.

This chapter will bring you closer to the edge of your seat, I hope. Well, I think I have bothered you enough with my babbling.

Happy Reading!

InuYasha stood and walked into Kaede's hut. He saw that Sango was by the fire pit in the middle of the floor, stirring a stew. "Are you happy?" His tone held no emotion and neither did his figure.

The taijiya almost dropped the wooden spoon when she heard the husky voice behind her. She turned so that she was still on the floor able to stir the stew and yet still able to look at her friend. "What do you mean?"

Sango's smile and soft voice made InuYasha want to smile... but he held back the urge. "The wedding." The hanyou tried not to spit on his own words, but had little luck.

Sango's soft features hardened a little when she heard the malice in his voice. "It would seem that you are the one who is not happy, InuYasha." She stopped stirring the stew and took it off of the fire so that it would not burn before the others returned.

She sighed and walked over to her hanyou friend who was still standing by the door. "Come," She pulled him by the hand over to the other side of the small hut. "Let us talk."

InuYasha felt his body grow warm as the soft touch of her hand on his own led him to sit down. After they were sitting, they faced each other and found it hard to look into each other's emotion filled eyes. So, they both gazed at the wooden floor.

Sango was the first to speak. "Is there something bothering you about Miroku and I getting married?" Her voice was soft, yet had a strong even tone.

InuYasha looked up at his friend. Her eyes were still focused on the floor. "Hmph! Why would I care if you want to get hurt?"

Sango looked up and watched as InuYasha crossed his arms over his chest. Her eyes began to tear. 'Does he also believe that Miroku will hurt me again?' Yes, the thought had crossed her mind that the houshi would hurt her again, but she told herself to believe that it was not true. "Do you think he will hurt me?"

Before the hanyou had a chance to answer, Shippo and Kirara come running into the hut. "Lady Kaede and Miroku have returned!" The young fox's voice was loud and piercing, causing InuYasha to pin his ears to his head.

InuYasha saw that Shippo was acting like his normal self, but wondered if he had run in as a warning. 'No, the brat couldn't think of something like that.' With that thought, the hanyou snorted in disappointment.

Sango smiled sweetly at the two youkai that had run in so quickly. "Good, I shall put the stew on to heat up."

:

The evening passed as if the conversation held between Sango and InuYasha never occurred.

It was late. Kaede, Miroku and Shippo were all fast asleep in the small hut. Sango, on the other hand, was wide awake. She was petting Kirara and was lost in her thoughts as she listened to her soft purring.

"Kirara, let's go for a walk." The taijiya's voice was barely audible, yet the youkai jumped off of her mistress' lap and ran other to the door to wait for her to follow.

Once Sango stood and started to walk towards the door, Kirara walked out of the hut and 'meowed'. She sat there and awaited her friend. Once Sango stepped out, Kirara jumped into her arms and began to purr quite loudly once the slayer started to pet her once again.

Sango laughed softly and started to walk towards the forest, unaware of a pair of golden eyes that had been watching ever since the small neko youkai first 'meowed'.

:

InuYasha jumped from his place in the tree he normally slept in and landed right in front of a slightly shocked taijiya. "InuYasha! You scared me." Sango tried her best to keep her voice low. She knew it was late and did not want to wake the others.

"Hmph." InuYasha locked eyes with Sango.

Sango felt a shiver go up her spine and spoke in hushed tones. "Did I wake you? What are you still doing up?" She turned her gaze away from the hanyou before her and looked down at Kirara and started to pet her once again.

"I was awake... but I think that I'm the one who should be asking you what you are doing up?" InuYasha looked her over and felt a warmed and tightening of his chest as he gazed over her features. "Are you planning on going into the forest without your weapon?"

Sango looked up at her friend. There was something different about him and she was not sure if she liked it. "What if I am?" her voice was harsher then before. "I can take care of myself, plus I have Kirara with me." At the mention of her name, the neko 'meowed' yet again.

"Hmph. Fine. Do what you want. Get hurt. See if I care." With that, InuYasha turned and crossed his arms over his chest as he started to walk away slowly.

"What is it with people thinking I'm going to get hurt?! Do you think I'm that weak? That makes twice now that you have mentioned that I will be hurt." Sango's tone softened and she walked over to the hanyou who had stopped, but kept his back to her. She placed a small hand on his shoulder and Kirara jumped out of her arms and landed by her feet. "You are my friend. Please talk to me."

Between her touch and her words, InuYasha found it hard to keep his thoughts straight. He used all his will to not lash out at her for being a stupid onna and also from holding her close so that she would not be hurt again.

"InuYasha, I would like to leave off on our earlier conversation... Do you think that Miroku will hurt me?" Her voice had softened and her hand had moved from his shoulder and now was placed by her side. "I want to know. You are my friend and you thoughts matter to me greatly."

The hanyou frowned and refused to turn towards his friend. "It does not matter what I think. You will marry him either way."

Sango felt hurt. 'Did he really not think that his opinion mattered?' She could feel tears threaten to fall from her sad and guilt ridden eyes. 'Was I not a good enough friend?' The taijiya moved around her friend so that she was now in front of him. "InuYasha... I want you to know that you matter a great deal to me. You are one of my closest friends. You are the one that I feel I can always count on to be there for me when I need you. Just like you were the other night."

InuYasha could not look away from her eyes. they held him in and would not let him go. He had never seem such a look in someone's eyes before. "Sango, a friend is all I will ever be, so don't look at me like that. Only Miroku should see such emotion in your eyes." He placed a clawed hand onto her now wet cheek. "Yes, I do believe that he will hurt you." He placed his forehead against her own while still holding her face. "And I will always be here to comfort you when you need me.

Sango smiled softly. "I feel that I am the only one to see this side of you. It brings me a sense of trust to know this. I'm lucky to have such a friend."

InuYasha smirked, even if her calling him her friend had hurt his chest once again. "I do trust you."

Kirara watched as the two interacted with one another. She knew that her friends were happy, but she knew that they would only be like this for only a little while longer. Then, once again, her mistress will be back with the houshi. She had no problem with the monk, but she just did not like the feelings her mistress had when he was close to her.

With that thought in mind, Kirara walked behind her mistress and pushed up against her leg causing her to loose balance and fall into the hanyou's arms...