Author's Note: Hello everyone…so we meet once again. Yes, I know I suck at updating, but sometimes it's easy for me to forget about this story at times. I happened to stumble across it while cleaning out old files on my computer and figured I'd post a short update since it's been so long. Then, it took me nearly an hour to remember my old password for this site…yeah that was fun. So without further adieu…here's Chapter 12!

Traveling together nowadays was becoming more of a task more so than a delight. It was nothing pleasurable ever since Kagome had ceased to grace them with her presence and everyday it only seemed to get worse. Now with Inuyasha in such a foul mood, trying to reason with him was futile.

Miroku and Sango trailed behind the fuming hanyou in silence, save for the few glances they gave each other to provoke one another to go approach him and ask him what was their next course of action. They had been walking for an hour with no idea as to where they were headed.

Feeling the pressure underneath the demon-slayer's glare, he finally caved in and mustered up some courage. Miroku cleared his throat rather loudly and said, "Inuyasha, could we stop for a moment to sort things out? We seem to be strolling the countryside, which is nice, but where are we going? Do you have any leads?" he asked calmly, despite his uneasiness.

Inuyasha stopped, but never turned to face the two.

Miroku and Sango gazed at each other in question. Sango, finally fed up with his attitude, decided to speak up. "You can't mope about all day, every day, Inuyasha. We are still on a mission despite the fact of what has happened with Kagome. We miss her too, but we can't stop the world because she isn't here!" She proclaimed, hoping to bring him back to his senses.

Miroku decided to add his two cents since Sango had opened up the discussion. What would he ever do without her? "What will you do, Inuyasha? We want to be here to help you, but our time is just as precious as yours, maybe even more so since we aren't blessed with near immortality like you. I'd like to kill Naraku before my fate is sealed and Sango would like to avenge her brother. Is there something you have still worth fighting for?" he asked boldly.

They weren't trying to come down hard on him, they were just trying to understand him more so that they could work around his issues. If he was completely hopeless, then they would just leave him be.

Inuyasha clenched his fists tightly and glared up into the sky. 'Something still worth fighting for, huh? Why am I not as driven as I was before? Don't I still want to avenge the fates of Kikyo and myself? Does it even really matter if I kill Naraku for her or not, she'll still be dead, right? What is she fighting for? What is Kagome fighting for? Or even that bastard Bankotsu, why's he still alive?' he pondered deeply.

"I'm not fighting for anyone right now, just myself. If anyone wants Naraku dead more than you guys, it's me! I'm not going to let a few minor setbacks stray me from my goal, but it's going to take some time for me to handle this with things the way they are now. If you guys want to leave, go ahead, I'm not gonna beg you to stay. Perhaps some time apart will clear our heads." He suggested.

Miroku gasped slightly. "No, Inuyasha! That's not what we meant, we just wanted to make sure we were still on the same page." He clarified. "But I guess you've tried to sway Kagome to return with no avail, correct?"

Inuyasha's silence only answered his question.

Miroku sighed. "Well then, even so we must be ahead on our way. She is still our comrade, just keep that in mind, okay?" he said trying to cheer him up.

Sango nodded her head in agreement. "He's right, we'll see her along in our travels perhaps. But we must keep ourselves focused." She added.

Inuyasha exhaled heavily as he tried to clear his thoughts, which seemed to become more riddled with 'her' as of late. He wanted nothing more than for Naraku to be dead, as well as that well over the expiration date mercenary. Until then, he would just have to keep his raging emotions underway to keep what friends he had left from leaving him as well. He turned to the others with a plastic smile and said, "Let's go find Naraku's trail and get rid of him for once and for all." With a small smirk he thought, 'I'm not going to give up on you, Kagome, you'll see everything clearly, you'll see…'

Seeing that his determination and vigor had finally returned, the two followed their leader without further acquiesce.

The group traveled in silence as they continued strolling the countryside. It wasn't a bad thing, at least it gave the others times alone with their thoughts. Suikotsu was as solemn as ever, only speaking when necessary and Jakotsu, surprisingly, seemed to be daydreaming and remained silent as well. What surprised him the most was the fact that Kagome didn't seem as chipper as usual. Ever since she returned from her bath the night before she seemed to be a little upset, but before he could ask she forced herself to sleep.

Bankotsu kept his eyes fixated on her as she walked a few feet ahead of the group, idly kicking small rocks about in boredom. "Yo, Kagome!" he called out.

Kagome stopped and looked back at the one who called her name. "Yeah." She simply answered.

"What's your deal, you're upset aren't you? What's wrong?" he asked, getting straight to the point.

Kagome shook her head slowly with a small smile. 'Would he be mad if I told him that I saw Inuyasha last night? Probably, he always seems to jump to conclusions without giving me a chance to explain, but…'

'You may think you're on top of the world now, but when you come crashing down back to reality, we'll see who it is you come running back to.'

His words echoed in her thoughts and its cryptic meaning left her feeling ill at ease.

Kagome grunted in frustration as she turned away from Bankotsu and said, "I'm okay! Why wouldn't I be?"

Bankotsu raised a brow. There was something in her tone he didn't like. She was feigning that happy voice of hers. "I don't know, there's something off about you today." He stated.

"Isn't there always something off about her." Jakotsu added with a laugh. He received glares from both Bankotsu and Kagome.

Kagome stretched and yawned. "There's nothing wrong, let's just move along." She suggested as she turned around and kept walking.

Bankotsu shook his head with an exasperated sigh. "What was that about?" he said in confusion. Something happened, but she just wasn't opening up to him. There was something on her mind and if he cared enough he was going to find out.

"We better keep walking before she gets too far ahead of us." Suikotsu suggested.

Bankotsu looked towards them. "Just wait a minute, I'm going to have a talk with her. Wait here!" he said as he ran to catch up to Kagome.

"Don't get too close to her, she'll probably turn into a rabid banshee and snap your head off." Jakotsu joked again, but received a jab in the ribs from Suikotsu. "Ow, hey!"

Suikotsu shook his head. "Don't you ever get enough, Jakotsu?" It was funny to watch hilarity ensue between them, but exhausting at times.

Jakostu sighed. "No, I guess I can't."

After a few moments of silence between them, they heard rustling in the trees. Suikotsu's head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"

"Yeah, must be some local demons or something. Nothing to fear." Jakotsu assured.

Up ahead, Kagome stopped and turned around when she heard Bankotsu following her. She kept her 'happy' smile up despite what she was feeling. "Bankotsu…" she sighed. 'I don't want to even think about it, but what if Inuyasha is right? If this all goes wrong, how will I face him, Miroku and the others,…myself? I'll be the fool, Inuyasha will gloat, and the others will pity me. I can't bear it…' she thought, feeling heart-wrenchingly conflicted.

Bankotsu stabbed Banryuu into the dirt and approached her when he saw her fake smile fall into a sad frown. What was on her mind now? The more they traveled, the more she seemed to think about the future. He was concerned about their fate as well, but he enjoyed living in the moment more than anything. "Kagome, I know you're worried, but for now we just have to stop thinking about stuff like that. Besides, don't you trust me enough to know that I wouldn't hurt you?" he said.

Kagome gazed into his eyes. "Of course I do, but…even though I have all the hopes in the world that we will always be together, I also have to think about the other outcome." She confessed. "The reason I'm thinking about all of this again is…well, Inuyasha came to me last night and he said some pretty hurtful things." She confessed.

Bankotsu now let a scornful frown grace his features at the mention of the hanyou. 'Inuyasha, you bastard! Is he really trying to take Kagome away? The coward is too afraid to face me so he sneaks around to see Kagome behind my back!' he thought angrily.

She turned away from him and embraced herself. "I can't imagine going on without you, Bankotsu. There was a time when I said the same about Inuyasha, but that seemed so long ago. " She laughed sardonically.

Bankotsu was dumfounded. 'So even she has her doubts…like me. I want this life forever, but even I can't be too cocky about all of this. To defeat Naraku, I need to be stronger. Wait…the jewel shards? Since I have them…why not put them to use?' he realized.

Kagome turned around when Bankotsu fell deafly silent. She was surprised to find him looking so solemn. She felt guilty for even bringing it up again and for letting Inuyasha trick her into doubting her decisions. She walked up to him and smiled genuinely. "I was just thinking way too much again, I'm sorry. Either way, I'm happy when we're together, so let's keep it that way. From now on let's promise to think optimistically about the future." She suggested. Every aspect of her life was a burden only because she made it so, she just had to stop worrying.

Bankotsu grasped her hands and held them within his, staring at her in a mysterious fashion. "I ensure you that we will be together, Kagome. I'll use the jewel shards to kill Naraku for once and for all." He declared.

Kagome gasped at his statement. 'The jewel shards, I forgot, we do have a lot of them, but something strange is going on.' She thought. "Bankotsu, you don't need them, you're strong enough on your own." She assured.

"I want believe that too, but there's nothing wrong with having more power." He said seriously.

Kagome shook her head. 'Bankotsu…what's going on?' "Bankotsu, please…" She was interrupted by the sound of the leaves rustling loudly in the trees.

"See! What did I tell you Kagome? He's only after more jewel shards…and he's using you!" a painstakingly familiar voice said.

Kagome gasped loudly and Bankotsu sneered when the hanyou landed not too far from them with a sickening cocky smirk on his face.

Inuyasha glared at the two in disgust. He hated it seeing them together, it even pained him more when he witnessed them embracing and declaring love for each other. "Kagome if you keep helping them find shards, they're bound to revert to their old ways! Their lust for power will never change no matter how much he lies and tells you otherwise!" he yelled.

Bankotsu stepped forward and glared at the hanyou. "Stop trying to confuse her, damn it. I would never lie to her and she knows that. Why don't you stop butting into our business and get a life? Isn't that dead priestess keeping you busy or are you looking for something else to hump? Get out of here before I kill you." he threatened.

"Keh! Fuck you!" he yelled back. He unsheathed his Testusaiga and stood in a battle stance. "You see, Kagome, he's still the same ruthless killer he always was and always will be. Nothing you do can change that so snap out of it and come back with us!" he demanded.

Hearing Inuyasha's words bouncing around in her mind was slowly poisoning her. As always he used his words to weaken, trick, and lie to her. She wasn't going to take it anymore. "Shut up! Just shut the hell up, Inuyasha!" she nearly screamed. "I told you before that I'm going to stick with my choices not matter what you do or say! I'm just so tired of you trying to play with my feelings. I've forgiven you for all the wrong you've done to me and now I just want to be happy. Why won't you just let me be happy?" her eyes teared up as she glared at him.

Inuyasha shook his head. "Happy! You think this is happiness, Kagome? Don't be stupid! You can never be happy with him!"

Bankotsu clenched his fists tightly. "Leave her the hell alone, Inuyasha! Stop trying to torture her!" he intervened.

He laughed. "Torture her with what? The truth? She needs to know that this little fairytale won't have a happy ending, even you know that!" he said, trying to convince the mercenary as well.

"Just leave, Inuyasha! I'm happy, I just want to live my life happily with Bankotsu and if you can't accept that then I'm sorry! You've made your point, but I'm not going with you!" she said firmly.

Inuyasha sneered at her response. He wasn't going to stop until she succumbed to him and realized that she was wrong. "You honestly think you have a life…with him?" he said with disbelief. "He's a walking corpse! Even when I'm with Kikyo I realize that much! Heh! I bet you were even dumb enough to think that you'll be able to settle down and have a family with him, weren't you? Get real and open your eyes!" he yelled.

Unable to endure more any more of the angry hanyou's words Bankotsu finally drew his infamous halberd from the dirt and pointed it directly at Inuyasha. He smirked and said, "You're full of shit half-breed! What do you expect to gain from this? You stalk her every chance you get and when you finally get close to her all you can do is scold and belittle her. You're pathetic!"

Inuyasha sneered angrily. "Oh really? What the hell does that make you?" he retorted.

Bankotsu looked over to Kagome, who seemed extremely withdrawn at the moment with a dejected expression gracing her features. "You still don't get it do you? The reason Kagome left you in the first place is because you refuse to understand her feelings. You're selfish, Inuyasha…it always has to be about you doesn't it? What you want, how you feel, what you desire…never once did you think about her feelings. I'm sick of it!" he declared.

Inuyasha held his sword up, expecting to get a good fight out of the specter mercenary. "Heh, and I'm sick of you trying to play the hero! I bet once she has her guard down you'll show your true colors once again." he paused as he glanced in Kagome's direction. He could tell from her expression that she was fighting back tears. A tinge of guilt passed through him as he finally realized how much emotional pain he was causing her. He too wanted for her to be happy again, but he would rather see the world end than for her happiness to be achieved with someone other than him. "Now let's go you bastard!" he challenged.

It was a sad sight to see. He was never one to back away from a challenge, but he refused to sink down to the hanyou's level. Bankotsu hoisted his Banryuu onto his shoulder and shook his head. "I don't have time to play around. You're in way over your head if you think you can win Kagome back like this. That is what you're after right?" he said, hitting the nail on the head with his last statement.

Inuyasha only glared at him.

The young mercenary smirked. "Well then, when you've finally figured out what you're really fighting for you can come pawing at my door and then we'll play, mutt. Until then, you'd better stay the hell away from Kagome." he threatened, giving Inuyasha a deadly glare.

Inuyasha bit back his words of anger and silently heeded his warning. Watching the two of them leave boiled his blood. Bankotsu was right, he was selfish, but what he didn't know was the lengths he would go through to obtain what he wanted.

It was now dusk, and once again Inuyasha was a no show. Earlier in the day he had said he was going to run ahead to see how far the next village was, but he never returned. It was typical.

The small campfire crackled weakly as it was going to die out soon, but no one cared. Shippo tossed and turned on the ground grumbling something in his sleep. He let out a small grunt of annoyance as he sat up abruptly. "I'm hungry!" he cried out. "Stupid Inuyasha, he lied to us again! I hate him!" he declared.

Miroku put a hand on the small fox demon's head. "Easy Shippo, I'm sure Inuyasha is on his way back, perhaps some demons tied him up…or something." he assured.

"Enough Miroku!" the angry demon slayer yelled.

Miroku looked over to her in surprise. "Sango, what's upsetting you?" he asked. She was sitting on the cool grass with her knees drawn to her chest quietly before her sudden outburst.

Sango averted her eyes to the side while nibbling on her bottom lip in frustration. "This is the final straw! We have to take action now, Miroku, or he'll continue on like this! I can't deal with it!" she exclaimed angrily.

"Yeah, me too!" Shippo cosigned while crossing his little arms across his chest.

Miroku sighed heavily and shook his head. Perhaps they were right. Maybe it was time for him to stop vouching for the hanyou and follow his gut instinct. It would pain him for a moment, but even he with all the patience in the world knew when procrastination was severely setting them back. "Well, I guess…you're right. We'll have to tell him…"

"Tell me what?" Inuyasha asked, jumping out of a nearby tree above them. It was silent for a moment as he looked over all of their faces. They seemed pissed.

When no one would speak up, Sango took the initiative to tell Inuyasha exactly what was on her mind. She stood from the grass and stared at him intently. "This is it, Inuyasha…it's time for us to…" Before she could finish Miroku had moved over to her quickly and clamped a hand over her mouth.

The monk laughed sheepishly. "Heh, despite Sango's angry disposition, what she's trying to say is that it's time for us to decide what our next course of action is…in order to hunt down Naraku." he lied. Sango fidgeted in his grasp trying to protest, but her words were only muffled by his hand.

Inuyasha eyed them strangely. He had a feeling that something else was on their minds but he decided to ignore it for now. "Keh, whatever. Look, I found a village about a half hour away from here. We should arrive a little after nightfall if we get a move on now." he explained.

They all just stared at him in guffaw.

Inuyasha grunted in annoyance. "Well, are we moving or what?"

"Uh, yeah let's head out!" Miroku agreed.

Inuyasha whipped away from them with his platinum hair fluttering in the breeze and began walking towards their destination.

Shippo shuffled after him angrily. "You're a real jerk, Inuyasha! There'd better be some food at this village! You hear me? Hey are you listening to me you big idiot!"

Once Miroku believed the hanyou was out of earshot he finally let Sango go. Just as he expected the demon slayer faced him with a scowl on her face. "Take it easy, Sango. I still have faith in Inuyasha. I know you're tired of waiting around for him, but I know he'll come around for us in the end. He's still hurting and he doesn't know how to cope with his emotions…I don't want to give up on him just yet." he said sincerely. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gazed into her eyes. "Well, will you stay?"

Sango wanted to slap him and scream at him for putting up with Inuyasha's bullshit time and time again, but it warmed her heart to see how patient and caring he was. She sighed and let a small smile grace her once angry face. "What am I going to do with you, Miroku?" she said. She leaned forward and planted a chaste kiss on his lips.

When she pulled away from him her face was flushed. Miroku just stared at her in awe.

Sango lifted her Hiraikotsu onto her back and began walking. "We'd better get a move on if we want to keep up with Inuyasha." she called back to him.

Miroku snapped out of his reverie and gathered his thoughts. He cleared his throat. " Right!" he responded as he followed her in tow. 'Wow, what a woman!'

Author's Note: Hmm, originally I was going to let this story take the route of an action/adventure journey to destroy Naraku, but that's what the anime/manga is for, right? Now I'm tempted to make this more of a romance/love triangle, but I'll see… Sorry for the long wait again!:( Thanks for readng! R&R