No long speech here, just PLEASE read the bottom after reading the chapter.

Don't own anything... and I mean anything...

This chapter takes place 2 months after chapter 7.

"C'mon Kagome, hurry up! We're trailing on Naraku, and all you can think about is packing your stupid bag! Drop it and let's go!" Inuyasha bellowed as he continued along at a faster pace than the others. Miroku, who was riding Kirara and gaining on Kagome, grabbed her by her arm with her backpack and hauled her up onto the demon cat.

"Thanks Miroku. Where's Shippo?" As if on cue the little kitsune popped up behind Miroku and smiled down on the miko. She smiled back at him and handed him a lollipop to entertain him on the way to the next destination, wherever that was. Kagome turned back around to face ahead and looked up to the sky, wondering what her best friend was doing at the moment. Sango had just disappeared suddenly without a trace or a warning, causing Kagome to worry more than usual about her slayer friend. Her daydreams were abruptly cut short when Kirara made a bee-line for some trees. The reason why soon became apparent when Kagome next felt a horrible pain shoot up her calf. She cried out in pain and looked down to find her leg had been grazed deeply by an arrow. Miroku, sensing Kagome's pain, pulled her off of Kirara when they landed and took the medical kit from Kagome's backpack. As he was dressing the wound, Kirara searched for any sign of danger, circling the others protectively. Inuyasha bounded into the area where he smelled Kagome's blood, worry and anger plastered on his face.

"Kagome! Are you okay?" Wincing slightly, Kagome nodded at him, trying to smile through the pain.

"I'm okay, just a scratch." Miroku finished bandaging the wound and packed the kit back up.

"If everyone's okay for now, it's getting dark. We should stop at a village and rest. Kagome, I think we should get a doctor to look at your leg. It's pretty deep. Did you ever find who did this Inuyasha?"

"I didn't sense any demonic auras in the area. It was probably some bandits around here. This place isn't particularly known for its safety after dark."

"All the more reason for us to find a village." Miroku added. Kagome nodded and pulled herself back onto Kirara, followed by Miroku. Inuyasha huffed, but turned towards the east and started running. As soon as he was out of hearing range, Miroku leaned forward to Kagome.

"Kagome-sama, I need to ask you a question. Do you think- well, that Sango will come back soon? She says she will, but if she gets into trouble, we could never see her again. Can you please talk to Inuyasha about looking for her when we get a little further north?" Kagome sighed and looked at Miroku with sympathetic eyes. She nodded.

"I'll try to talk to him, but you know Inuyasha. Naraku has always been his first priority."

"Hey hurry up back there! We're almost to the village." Said hanyou bellowed out as they cleared the hill. Looking out on the expanse of the village, Kagome could tell they were going to rest well tonight. Many bathhouses surrounded the nearby hot springs, and there were several huge houses, signaling some wealthy families lived there.

After a few more hours and some "exorcisms" courtesy of Miroku, the group was experiencing some welcome R&R. Miroku had turned in early, claiming to the lord of the house that his "spiritual powers needed recharging". The others knew better than to believe him, but also knew better than to call him out on it. It would ruin their cover as well as bring his mood down even more. Lying on his futon, Miroku was in a cold sweat, his head moving from side to side, lost deep in his nightmares.

Mist surrounded Miroku as he desperately fought his way through the darkness. A single light was in his sights, and he planned on reaching it before it went out. Two figures stood in front of the light, casting eerie glows around their silhouettes. Miroku stopped and squinted his eyes to focus on them.

"What's wrong monk? Can't see in this dim light?"

"Naraku! Show yourself!" Miroku bellowed out to the demon. The figure on the left waved his hand, causing more lights to surround them. Miroku gasped as he saw the person accompanying Naraku.

"Sango?! No! It can't be! Why are you with Naraku?" Naraku chuckled at his feeble attempts to catch his beloved's attention.

"Can't you see it in her eyes monk? She takes orders from me now. I have killed her and brought her back in the same way I brought her brother back. If you thought your troubles were over between the slayer siblings and Inuyasha, you'll soon realize they've only just begun. However, if you join me, I'll return your beloved back to the land of the living." Miroku gritted his teeth.

"How dare you Naraku! I will kill you and save her myself! I don't need you to help me!"

"Very well, just know you've made the last choice of your life. Sango, if you would be so kind." Miroku looked on in shock as Sango drew her katana and Hiraikotsu and came at him with everything she had.

"SANGO NO!" Miroku yelled at the top of his lungs into the night air. His door flung open to reveal a distressed miko and frowning hanyou with his sword in his hand.

"Miroku, what's wrong?" Kagome asked him as he wiped the sweat off his brow and the tear caught in his eye in one sweep.

"I'm okay, just a bad dream."

"About Sango again?" Miroku's silent reply and his expression spoke louder than any verbal acknowledgement.

"We'll find her soon. Let's focus on finding Naraku or Kohaku first." Miroku held back a sob before he answered.

"Kagome, I think it's too late to find Sango."

"What're you talking about?"

"I saw Naraku in my dream. I swear I thought I could touch him and I certainly felt his presence in the dream. Sango was with him, and she had the same look in her eyes that Kohaku has. He told me she's dead. And… that she's taking orders from him now." Kagome's eyes began to tear up with each word Miroku harshly said.

"Listen to who you're talking about. It's Naraku who's doing this: He's obviously playing tricks on your mind. He wants you to believe she's dead so you'll give up. You have no physical proof she's dead, so why believe him?" Inuyasha said, making everyone in the room turn a head towards him in confusion mixed with a strange sense of awe. Inuyasha frowned and looked at everyone in confusion.

"What?" Kagome smiled.

"Inuyasha, thanks." Miroku said.

"Well, now that that's taken care of, I'm going to bed. Don't scare me like that again monk, or it's you I'll send to the grave." Kagome lightly hugged Miroku and mouthed a goodnight before running after Inuyasha.

"Hey wait up Inuyasha!"

"What now?" Kagome pushed herself up on her tiptoes and kissed Inuyasha on the cheek, sending the hanyou into a state of confusion, amusement, and utter embarrassment. With a deep blush covering his cheeks, he turned away from the miko.

"Thanks again Inuyasha. You really are a great friend."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just go back to your room so I can get back to bed." Kagome nodded and giggled lightly as she skipped off to her room and shut the door. After seeing that she was in safely, Inuyasha turned back towards his room and smirked to himself.

'I must be doing something right.'

I know, it's been forever, and it probably sucks out the wazoo!!! Please, beat me! Try and saw my arm off with a butter knife! I deserve it! I've had absolutely NO inspiration these past few weeks, and I hate giving people some half-hearted written piece of crap, even though I personally think this can count as one. In all your grace and mercy, if you could review and let me know what you thought, and if you have any suggestions for how you want everyone to meet back up again, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!!