This story is taking a lot of brain power, trust me. Not only am I an emotional wreck due to my relationship, but school's about to start back up and I'm about to spaz. Don't forget that it's got it's being done in the same time as my Naruto story. So bear with me and have some patience.

Don't forget to review! 3

Contradiction

Chapter 5

Sesshomaru sat against the tree, gazing off into the distance. He had decided that it was better to stop, rest, and relax as Rin found some down time. Jakken continued to scold the small child even though she had only succumbed to frolicking behind some butterflies.

It was the early morning and Rin had just woken up. It wasn't until she was able to run around and do as she pleased for a short period of time that their travel became productive.

Jakken's nagging was irritating the dog demon to an unavoidable point. He always seemed to notice whenever his master was tired of hearing him yell at the girl who was never doing anything dangerous. He always thought Rin was the one bothering his master when it was the sound of his own voice was what irritated him the most.

Once he had signaled the imp to shut the hell up, he closed his eyes, feeling a breeze upon his cheeks. The sun cascaded down his body; he looked as though he was a fragile doll who wasn't even real. Rin often times gazed at him like he was some kind of God like creature, but for once she was distracted. It wasn't until another he smelled it.

Sesshomaru's eyes flew open.

Could it be? That stench. That disgusting...

A half blood. A half-blooded dog demon. The smell of the mother was so famililar, yet so vague. For some reason, he couldn't recognize the wench with the child in her womb.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin questioned. Even she had paused when she noticed how uncomfortable her master had become. It was sad that she took notice to it before Jakken. At the same cost, the features in Sesshomaru's face looked angrier and tenser than he was known for appearing to be.

To his surprise, it wasn't that strange world travelling woman that his brother was always fussing over. It was someone else. He had wondered how his brother had approached having a mistress to the woman he loved so dearly.

The child wasn't even less of a half demon. It was still mere hanyou. He would always hope that the blood in his brother's veins that was already unworthy would eventually die out, but now it seemed impossible.

Why should he care? He was still the Daiyoukai of his father's estate once he passed. But that still wasn't the point. His animosity for his brother was something that never seemed to have been relinquished. Tainting the glorious name of his father by being born to a human. Now there would be another to claim the famous InuTaisho blood flowing through their veins.

He knew what he had to do to handle this.

Sesshomaru rose silently before heading off into the direction where his nose led him; to his brother and the woman carrying his child. Rin followed obediently while Jakken questioned the sudden change in direction. When his Lord gave him no answer, he took the silence as food for thought.

Everyone seemed to have some kind of problem with one another. Sango and InuYasha wanted nothing to do with the Monk, though InuYasha couldn't show his rage very outwardly like Sango could. Kagome also felt that Miroku's approach was a rather heartless one.

However, InuYasha's avoidance of Sango was only confusing her to the point of her feeling as if she had done something wrong. Was it because she had dared to offer herself to him?

They all packed up and decided to continue the search for the jewel shards despite Sango's pregnancy. It wouldn't be too obvious and there was no way for Naraku to find out, at least not right now. They all decided to keep that truth an unspoken one.

Sango looked at InuYasha as he mounted Kagome on his back. She suddenly felt a tingle of jealousy fire through her body. Even InuYasha smelt the sudden anger from Sango, but chose to ignore it. Why the hell would she be so bothered now?

Kirara transformed and offered her back to the monk, Shippo and the demon slayer. It was sad to say that Sango didn't consider the idea of having to sit with the monk when it came to travelling. As long as he didn't touch her anywhere she didn't need to be touched, she'd be fine.

Kaede waved from the village gates as they took off. InuYasha's speed and Kirara's flying seemed to be a decent way to travel at first until Sango started to think too hard into why InuYasha tried to keep them separate from one another.

Then it crossed her mind.

Kagome.

InuYasha still loved Kagome. Why would he bind himself to her when he loved Kagome more than he could ever love her? That was the truth in her heart and she felt herself ache at the idea.

She wanted to swear, but she didn't. It would have been too obvious. At the same time though, she did have a Kitsune riding with her on the edge of Kirara's head that could still sense her mood swings.

"Sango, are you alright?" Shippo asked before he turned around. "You feel sad. Your baby is sad too." Her eyes widened at the blunt tone of voice he had said it. Even Miroku was shocked at the Kitsune's candid statement. The tears that came to her eyes weren't deniable at this point, but she didn't let them fall.

"I'm fine, Shippo. Sometimes, I just feel sad for no reason," she lied before blinking past the tears. Miroku could tell that obviously that wasn't true. She was hurting in some way.

"Sango..."

"What Monk?" She snapped. InuYasha's ears perked up at the venom Sango had spat at the man. He withheld his urge to interfere; Sango could take care of herself when it came to him.

"I just want you to know, I am here for you."

She rolled her eyes, scoffing to herself. Just the night before, he was trying to exorcise her child. Now he wanted to support her. He sighed at the failed attempt, why would she trust him now after what had happened?

Kagome could tell that Miroku must have said something about his ideas to Sango. She was acting a lot less apologetic than before. It was almost as if they had switched rolls overnight. Kagome could only hope for the best when it came to them.

Suddenly, a mole demon appeared out of the ground. It had seemed harmless enough. Kagome gasped at the appearance of the demon and reached for her weapons, but InuYasha shook his head.

"It won't attack unless we provoke it. Just leave it alone," he noted quickly. Those demons were worthless anyway. Blinded creatures with amazing burrowing and jumping techniques. They were usually harmless unless bothered, and unnecessary fights was the last thing anyone needed.

Sango shook her head at the demon as they overpassed it. The demonslayer saw the animal turning its nose in their direction, frozen in time almost. Quickly burrowing back under the dirt, it disappeared from view.

"Those things are weird!" Shippo exclaimed in a disgusted tone. Miroku smiled at the kitsune's words, almost lightening the mood a little bit. Sango still looked unmoved by how she had been feeling before.

Miroku's eyes wandered down to her body; he was still concerned about Sango, he still loved her more than he had ever loved anyone else. He was just so confused. Her clothes seemed to have been bloodstained again when she had come back to Kaede's.

Was this demon luring her out? Hypnotizing her? Or was she going to find him on purpose, see him on purpose because it was what the child desired?

He hated this situation more than he could voice. Maybe it was because now more than ever, Sango was further away from him or the idea of being with him. They couldn't even be friends; at least was the implication he was receiving. That was all he wanted even if they couldn't be together.

Kagome as well felt in her feelings. She felt mildly distanced from InuYasha. He seemed standoffish and rather quiet ever since Sango's pregnancy came out. Maybe it was because of the fact that she was carrying a demon child?

It seemed like it had personally affected him and his mannerisms. She noticed that he watched out for Sango as well. When she questioned it, he stated only that he was concerned and very protective of Sango due to her state. Even though she hadn't gotten very big, apparently, InuYasha kept her hormones and youki in control enough that Sango wasn't writhing in pain.

She had no reason to doubt InuYasha, but it just didn't feel very true. Kagome wouldn't dare to question him, but she felt like she was being deceived.

InuYasha's own heart was on a string. Lust and love were going head to head and he wasn't sure about what to do. His duty to his child was one thing, but his duty to Kagome was something else. He loved having sex with Sango. It somehow managed to sway his emotional bond with Kagome.

This wasn't looking good…

Kagome gestured up to her friends in flight to let them know they'd be stopping fairly soon. Sango was relieved at the signal. For some reason she was really restless. Her stomach had abruptly became uneasy and she wasn't sure why.

Kirara landed and let them dismount from her. Shippo hopped down, Miroku offered Sango a hand to climb down even though it went ignored. Kagome stretched her legs and her arms just a Kirara transformed back into a miniature kitten.

"Why'd we stop?" Miroku questioned. "We haven't been travelling that long, nor have we covered nearly enough ground."

"I felt the presence of a jewel shard, but it seems that as soon as we touched down, I couldn't feel it anymore," Kagome said in a rather confused tone. "This has been an ongoing thing for a while. I can't stand it."

InuYasha looked towards Sango and saw her preparing her weapons as if she was getting ready to go into battle.

"What the hell do you call yourself doing?" he snapped. Everyone paused except Sango. When she finally did stop, it was only after she realized that the entire group had their eyes on her. The puzzled expressions on their faces weren't diminishing.

"… Getting ready for battle," she stated calmly as if it wasn't anything to pay any mind to.

"But Sango, you have a baby in your belly! You can't really expect to fight and slay demons while you're carrying it!" Shippo said in a cautious tone.

"Shippo is right, Sango. Stress can cause bodily harm to you and your child. You shouldn't be going into battle," Miroku said in a concerned tone. He reached out to gently touch her arm, but she snatched it away rather quickly.

"Really, Miroku? You of all people are concerned about my child? Please, don't try and put on a show for everyone else," she said icily. Miroku's jaw dropped as well as Kagome's. InuYasha's face was beyond excited and was proud of her in her ignoring of the Monk's bullshit.

"Sango!" Kagome scolded.

"No, no. I'm sure we all know that Miroku wants my baby dead," Sango retorted. Shippo gave the monk an appalled look, as did Kirara.

The way it had rolled off Sango's tongue only reminded Miroku of how bad the idea now sounded since he thought about it. It was a selfish idea that he didn't take into consideration completely. He let his selfish desires get in the way of everything. He could tell by the animosity in Sango's voice that she wasn't going to forgive him very easily for it. Miroku couldn't even speak up to defend himself.

"Sango, stop it, please," Kagome pleaded, seeing, the monk's expression sadden from guilt and disappointment. Sango scoffed before shrugging, continuing to set up everything she needed to get ready in case a fight occurred.

"I won't say it again. Put the demon slaying shit away. You aren't going to be participating in any battles," InuYasha spoke up again. He didn't feel any need to speak on anything else except the safety of the woman who was carrying his child.

"I'm sure it won't kill me to fight demons if I don't get hurt," she countered, not stopping the act.

"I'm saying you're not going to put yourself in the position of getting hurt," he said in a sharp tone. Sango turned around before folding her hands across her chest. InuYasha's voice seemed demanding while hers was fairly defiant.

"Says who?"

"Says me."

InuYasha had never been challenged by a female quite abrasively. Kagome had gotten in his face before, but it was usually intimidating on a different level. With Sango, it was almost as if she'd physically fight him if she didn't get her way as Kagome would whine and scorn about it.

"Both of you, calm down, it isn't that-"

At that moment, the ground under them started to rumble. Confused, everyone started to look around. It wasn't until a large portion of the ground under Sango caved in. Yelping, she fell down, only to be grabbed by the wrist by InuYasha.

Everyone was startled at the sudden collapse of the earth. Sango felt a pull on her ankle and resistance from InuYasha's end; something was trying to drag her underground. Everyone yelled her name in surprise and fear, especially at the sight of InuYasha struggling to pull her body back up.

Even though he wasn't the strongest being due to him being a halfblooded demon, he still had the most strength in their travelling entourage. It was surprising and frustrating to him how he seemed incapable of pulling the Demon Exterminator from below the ground level. Finally, he started to feel the sweat on his hands result in Sango literally slipping through his fingers.

"Somebody fucking help me!" InuYasha screamed. Everyone was shocked at InuYasha's struggle and urgency for help. Quickly, Kagome, Miroku, and Shippo all surrounded the gaping hole in the ground and got a hold on the demon slayer, trying to pull her up.

It didn't make sense to the Hanyou. No one seemed capable of pulling Sango up? Angry, he knew what he had to do: Go get rid of whatever has their grips on the woman bearing his child.

Even with all four of them, including Shippo, Sango wasn't making it back above the surface. InuYasha swore under his breath before he stood up, letting go of his release on Sango. Kagome and Miroku struggled alone, trying to hold on to her after that, almost losing the woman in an instant.

"InuYasha, what the hell!?"

"Shut up, I know what the fuck I'm doing!" he snarled impatiently. He drew Tetsaiga from its sheath, the demon tooth transforming into its full form. Raising it above his head, he swung it downward, collapsing the cavern that connected to the hole under them with a yell of "Wind Scar".

When the cavern caved in, the movement at the bottom revealed seemed to look disgusting, like rats squirming in a small area. There was a large amount of mole demons squirming around in the hidden rut under them. Though they could not see, they must have sensed Sango and tried to drag her underground.

InuYasha growled at the gross bunch of maggots and their failed attempt to capture Sango (for whatever reason).He hopped down into demons' pit and started to slice and dice them in a matter of moments. They didn't put up any kind of defensive mechanism although InuYasha didn't give them the opportunity to.

The blind demons seemed to realize they were being slain in large numbers; their attempt to drag Sango down was slowly disappearing and becoming a new mission centered on retreating and saving as many of their numbers as possible from destruction. Shortly after, the Monk and the Miko pulled Sango over the ledge, presenting her to fall out, exhausted from the surprise attack while InuYasha's rampage continued onward.

Even though she was supposed to be centered around Sango, Kagome seemed to have been watching InuYasha attack the beasts. Never had he ever been so hostile and defensive. Or even, dare she say, protective? Kagome felt somewhat unsettled by his reaction.

No matter the situation she had been in, she had never seen him spaz out and attack whomever was endangering her in such a way that he was reacting now. Although she probably shouldn't have seen it as anything, she couldn't help but feel jealous to an extent.

With Sango out of the ground, she was sprawled out, catching her breath, still rather caught off guard about the whole occurrence. It was one of the most unexpected, unanticipated things she had even come in contact with.

InuYasha leaped back up to the surface, sheathing Tetsaiga. He looked rather frustrated, but still satisfied with how he had been handling the situation. Kagome was still trying to dissect him and the situation.

"I thought you said they don't attack unless their provoked first?" Miroku asked in a confused tone, still a little shaken up about the whole thing.

"They don't," InuYasha still reminded him. "Something wasn't right here. I don't know what, but that's not normal for them to just try and snatch someone off the surface world."

Sango's eyes closed, trying to calm herself down and relax. She wasn't stressed, she was more surprised than anything. If anything, she was sending telepathic signals to her unborn child, telling them that they were alright and there was nothing to worry about.

Miroku's hand was on her forehead, making sure that she wasn't sweating too hard. To his surprise, Sango didn't slap his hand away. It wasn't until he dared to place his hand on her stomach that she realized whose hands were on her. Her hands had never moved that fast before.

"How dare you touch me, Monk!" she seethed. "I don't want you anywhere near me or my belly, do you hear me?" Miroku looked at his hand, seeing scratches that were almost like cuts. They weren't bleeding, but they were close to breaking the skin. Some of Sango's fingernails were jagged, but long and distinct. It must have been a mild side effect.

InuYasha's possessive nature withheld the desire to act out and rip Miroku's throat out. He could have sworn he made the point that he wasn't allowed to touch Sango. It was hard for him to resist harming the monk; it would make everything obvious, everything known.

"Sango, I wouldn't hurt you or your baby. You have to understand! It was an offer, not a mission! If I really wanted to harm your child, I would have done it without telling you!" he yelled, tired of being accused of such. Sango's eyes widened at the man's outburst. It wasn't anticipated. "I only thought it may have been a desire. Since you've expressed that that's not what you wanted, of course I wouldn't do it."

The whole group became quiet. There wasn't much to say anymore. InuYasha himself felt like he had been holding back for the most part on how he could have treated the Monk. He didn't trust him now ever since he dared to suggest such a thought. At the same time, Sango had brought the hammer down on him. Hell, Sango had been lashing things out pretty harshly. And now, she was the main person silent.

Her entire distaste for the monk turned into guilt in a matter of moments.

"… I'm sorry, Miroku, I-"

He held up his hand. An apology wasn't what he wanted. He only wanted to make his point clear. By the time she saw how bad he had been feeling about their most previous discussion, the child, even the whole situation, he couldn't help but admit they both had been stupid in regards to their friendship and relationship.

Miroku knew he had this kind of double standard that he didn't seem capable of knocking. Sango gave him many of chances and finally he took and used his last. Now all the tension because of an unborn demon child and they were on the edge of tearing the group apart at this point.

The Monk knew what he had to do for the sake of the group, even if it was only temporary.

"I think it'd be better if I don't travel with the group for a while," he stated softly. Kagome, Sango, and Shippo seemed taken aback by that notion. InuYasha snorted, but found himself rather pleased with the Monk's personal decision. Maybe things would die down a bit in the area of the females. It did surprise him, however, how quickly Sango disagreed.

"No, Miroku you can't!"

"Why, you don't have to!"

Miroku held up his hands in disagreement.

"No, no. I think it'd be better for Sango if I disappear for a few days. I'll be back at Kaede's village. I'll visit a temple or two and do some cleansing for my own spiritual wellbeing. Trust me, it's for the best," he decided.

Sango's entire facial expression changed. Tears even started to spring from her eyes. She felt like a bad person; she had forced Miroku to disband from their group. She had hurt him bad enough, whether it had been intentional or by mistake.

Her hormones were affecting her thoughts and feelings. What was she going to do without Miroku? He wasn't all bad… She was just upset with him. She really shouldn't have mistreated him, he had a point. If he had wanted to hurt her or the baby, he wouldn't have told her, he would have simply did it.

"Miroku, please. Don't go!" Sango actually pleaded. InuYasha's jaw dropped. He felt some kind of ache in his heart; something he had never felt before. He wasn't sure how to react or respond; whatever it had been cut him pretty deep.

Miroku still denied to request to stay. He bowed his head, apologizing for all he had caused in Sango's life before starting to get ready to head back to Kaede. The girls both continued to speak to him, trying to persuade him otherwise, but their words went unheard.

InuYasha found the inner turmoil in his own heart becoming more competent than ever. Why did she want the fucking Monk to stay when he wants to change her for his own selfish desires and expectations? She just told him the night before that she wanted to be InuYasha's and only his. But here she was, begging this other guy not to leave?

He was more pissed than anything else. More angry. The only thing that was for certain was hurt. This was why the hanyou didn't trust people, especially not women and their damned emotions. They don't know what they want, or they want everything, especially what they couldn't have.

Turning his heel, the hanyou started to walk away. Everyone's eyes were drawn away from Miroku to him.

"In-InuYasha...? Where-?"

"Just leave me the fuck alone, okay?" he snapped. It wasn't much longer before he sprinted away, the firerat coat disappearing along the horizon. Kagome sighed at the discord and lack of structure in their group. This wasn't how things were supposed to be...