Arrankor: Yeah, the last one was rather 'fanciful' indeed, XD. It would probably be considered fluff for the most part, but there was moments of significance, for each character in particular, as well as the global relationships of them. Sadly, Kagome may have had the most evident growth. As for Miroku, I think he's starting to find his place more- though you can bet he won't be falling out of the face entirely, if anything, he might even have improved his odds now.

[[I do not own InuYasha.]]

Things were awkward, no not for Inuyasha and Sango, but for Miroku. Inuyasha and Sango were quite happy, Miroku could sense it- at least before that bit of distance left him an opening, now it was as if there was no room any longer. He still talked with Sango, but despite his advances, Sango merely smiled and refused. It felt like pity more than kindness, the way she could accept his words but practically ignore his will.

"Sango, would you by chance be free to go fishing with me today? It's time we reached anyway, and if we can catch some it'll help save on some expenses." Said Miroku.

Sango looked to Miroku. "I was going to go shopping with inuyasha today." She answered with a smile.

Inuyasha shrugged. "Eh it's all right, we will go afterwards." He said with a smile.

"Alright, then sure we can go fishing. Maybe we should bring everyone, the kids might enjoy it." Said Sango, as if she had no concept of Miroku's intentions. He was about to specify but inuyasha interjected beforehand.

"Nah, I think I'll take the kids to visit Kagome and shippo since we have the day free today." He said.

"Oh, okay. Tell Kagome and Shippo that we send our regards, okay?" Said Sango.

Miroku fumed slightly. 'What is this? Inuyasha doesn't even consider me a threat? And Sango, she doesn't give a second thought to him visiting Kagome without her?' He couldn't complain, but at least before he felt like he might make some progress.

Before they left, he caught up with inuyasha while Sango prepared the kids for a trip. "Inuyasha, I need to know. Is something going on?" Asked Miroku seriously.

"Like what?" He asked with confusion.

"Please don't insult my intelligence, something must have happened, Thomas are different, ever since Christmas." He said with annoyance.

"Hmm? Santa claws came through. Otherwise, not really." Said Inuyasha.

"Please don't play childish games with me, I don't want to hear your tales right now." Said Miroku.

"Look, if this is about Sango, then I can't help you. I don't know the answer. I just know Sango has been really easy going lately, like she hasn't a worry in the world. Perhaps you need to try enjoying what time you spend with her, instead of trying to trick her or seduce her, maybe then you won't find it so bothersome that she's enjoying herself too." Said Inuyasha with a growl as he moved on to help Sango get the kids ready.

They left to go fishing a bit later, Sango not even insisting that he at least carry her pole. As a result of that, he did carry her pole. Soon enough they were set up at a stream some ways away from the village. Miroku had been planning on trying to find an answer through Sango, but Inuyasha's answer wandered into his mind again, and he decided to just focus on fishing this time. Soon enough, before he'd really noticed, he and Sango were talking, casually, without the troubling atmosphere he had started to really dislike. He couldn't describe it, but it was ultimately familiar.

Miroku eventually noticed the lack of tension in the air, feeling compelled to capitalize, he decided on a question. "Sango, do you love inuyasha as much as you used to love me?" Miroku asked. He expected am awkward response, some form of doubt it uncertainty.

There was none. "My feelings for Inuyasha are not like ours. With you, I did love you, and live for you even. With inuyasha, it feels more like we live for each other, but at the same time, don't have to try to live up to each other's expectations. I think that is what I love about him most, he doesn't expect me to be a housewife, or a slayer, and likewise, I don't expect him to bring home money, or to solely take care of the children. It's a partnership, one I didn't know I even wanted back when we were together... does that make sense?" She answered, looking over at him with a bit of concern like he might be offended by her honest answer.

Miroku looked at her seriously for a moment before smiling slightly. "I think I do understand that. I think it makes sense in a way." He said, considering the life they lead before. "Do you think if you could have that life with me, you would be as happy?"

"It's hard to say really. I was happy with you usually, but over time I think I ceased being happy, and started acting happy. Maybe the same will happen with inuyasha in time, I can't say, but I do know that at least for now, I'm happy. That much is enough.. for now." She said with a smile.

"Do you ever consider that if I had stayed back before he came, that you may not have stayed to have these feelings?" He asked, but it really was more casual than usual.

"Maybe I would've been too focused on you to see him, but that isn't how it happened." Said Sango with a small frown.

"Does that mean that you are, now, to focused on him to see me?" Asked Miroku.

"...yes, I believe I am." She said truthfully.

"Does that mean that I shouldn't try any more?" He asked looking for the true answer.

"I can't answer that. I know that I don't want to lose him, nor will I risk it for the chance that you can give me the a similar happiness, but to say no or yes is to say that things will our won't last. I don't know that answer, but I do know that I want them to. So for now, I can say that I do want you, but only as a friend. Is that too cruel?" She asked.

"...no, I think it's just cruel enough. To remind me of exactly why I loved you to begin with- because.. well, never mind. It's not important, for now. Just know that I dostill love you, that's enough." He answered.

"For now, right?" Answered Sango with a chuckle.

"Right." He responded with a laugh.

InuYasha sighed- this trip was taking all day with the kids. He was piggy backing them to avoid making them walk, but literally every five minutes they had to stop to use the restroom, or wanted to check something out, or were simply bugging him about how long until they arrived and if they were there yet.

"Remember what I said about liking you guys?! I changed my mind!" He said in annoyance.

The two twins began to give him puppy eyes, when he looked back, and he heard the boy offering sniffles, though he couldn't see him as he was the centered one. "I ain't going to work this time! I ain't taking it back."

Soon he could hear the sounds of a tantrum incoming. "Alright, fine! I do like you guys, but damnit- we'll be there shortly!" HE glanced back to ensure it had ended.

The two twins were grinning again, they won that bout.

"...I really don't like you guys.." He commented, round two began!

After a seventh consecutive loss, four bathroom breaks, nine stops to look at berries or fruits growing outside of their normal landscape- they were finally almost there. It was only then that his hears caught wind of something distressing- there was screaming. He growled, he needed to get in there, but he couldn't leave the children in the woods... No, they wouldn't be able to get through the well to Kagome's era.. Damnit, he'd have to find Kagome or Kaede and have them get them out.. which meant going in with the children. Sango was never going to forgive him for this...

"Damnit!" He cursed once more as he charged forward. "You three hunker down, and try to be quiet- I promise I won't let anything happen to you!" He warned back to the children, whom now grew nervous and apprehensive to speak. 'Great, stuck in a battle with no arms, can't even maneuver well.. I better find Kagome or Kaede quickly.' Thought InuYasha as he moved past the tree line and into view of the village.

He locked onto Kagome's scent, and followed it swiftly- resorting to kicking any armed foes he found. 'These are all humans... I don't smell any blood either.. but they're clearly not here peacefully, everyone's hiding around town.. Damnit, what the hell is going on here?' He thought, as he eliminated two more of the swordsmen. 'They are armored too.. I'd almost peg it as a demon slayer's armor, but it's too thick- they wouldn't be able to outmaneuver a demon.. lucky for me, right now.' He thought as he proceeded, moving quickly into Kaede's hut, where he caught Kagome's scent. He didn't like how he found her though- she was bound, with shippo tugging at the knot. Shippo practically balled when InuYasha entered, thankful for some help presumably. He quickly moved over and tugged the cloth from Kagome's mouth. "Kagome, are you okay?!" He asked.

"InuYasha! I'm fine, really- they're looking for Shippo. I told him to hide, but when I started telling them that he was no threat to anyone- they tied me up! Do you believe that?!" Said Kagome.

"So they ARE Demon slayers.. I don't recognize any of them though, must be some other village.. odd to find them this far out though." He said, considering the notion for a moment. "Anyway, get the kids out of here- take Shippo with you, I'll handle things from here, alright?! Head back for the Slayer's Village, I'll send Kaede there too when I find her." Said InuYasha.

"Why back to the slayer's village?" Asked Kagome. "You don't think they'd hurt the village to find shippo, seriously?"

"They haven't hurt anyone yet, but I ain't takin' any chances. Besides, I need Sango's opinion on this- and I don't want the kids to be around if things do get worse- I knocked out the slayers I could on the way here, so just head straight for the woods- you should be fine." He explained as he knelt down and let the kids off his back. "You three follow Kagome, okay? She'll take you to Sango, I'll catch up later, okay?"

The three whined.

"Promise me, got it?! You follow Kagome, do not wander off on your own!" Said InuYasha, growling at the kids until they agreed.

Kagome sighed, as she picked up shippo and the boy, having to rely on the two girls to be able to keep up, seeing as how they were a bit older than the boy, and we're bigger than Shippo was- though he was devilishly quick when he wanted to be, he was clearly in no mental condition to be on his own right now. "I'll take them back, but if you don't catch up with us, I'm coming back here to get you!" Said Kagome.

"Of course you will, that's why I can't let this drag on that long." Said InuYasha with a confident smirk. "You trip, and suddenly it's my fault for not defeating them sooner." He added almost mockingly.

Kagome was mildly offended at the accusation, but she felt a bit more comfortable with InuYasha playing it off like he was more concerned about Kagome's wrath than the enemies.

"Go now, I'll draw their attention." Said InuYasha as he decided then was the best time to leave- his main focus had to be the villagers, if he started attacking the slayers, he might back them into threatening the villagers... humans were stupid like that, even if it made no real sense that the enemy would care, they'll try anything in fear.

One by one, InuYasha combed the village, freeing or otherwise releasing fellow villagers- all of them recognized him, even the woman whom had ultimately ended his relationship with Kagome.. she was more grateful than he would've liked, he'd have to remember to remove that red stuff from his face later. '...That woman haunts me, I swear...' He thought to himself. He ran on, down another path in the village. Behind him, a small squad arrived, one in more decorated armor. "Another one?! This fox demon appears more challenging than I was lead to believe... I thought finding him would be the hard part, but if we can take out our guards like this, then maybe it bears investigation..."

"Sir! These men are all alive too, he can't be that skilled..." Said another soldier.

"Don't be foolish- he is that skilled precisely because they are still alive- look, half of them never drew their weapons.. he purposely didn't kill them, he just took freed the villagers... I want him found now, spread out and signal if you spot him!" Said the leader. He removed his helmet, showing the appearance of only a single working eye, and three aligned claw marks down the left side of his face. "A child demon doing this.. almost reminds me of the last time." He said as he tossed his helmet away, followed by various plates of armor as he continued on- he learned enough of his opponent in just seeing his work to know that he would need the extra mobility in a fight, and well enough to know that this person wouldn't kill a human, so the extra protection wasn't necessary either.

A puff of red smoke. Another, followed by another, and another- it was exactly as intended- yeah, InuYasha wouldn't be there if he went to the site, but as a few began popping, he began to see his path- it was leading to the center of the village. "That old woman.. he's going to go after her as well, that's a fine place to meet this fox face-to-face..." Said the leader, as he made his way back from whence he came, to the center of the village, where the village's leader was being held. Kaede.

It wasn't too long before InuYasha bounded over a building, halting when he landed as he saw Kaede, and the unarmored slayer beside her, sword drawn out already. "I got further than I expected to.. Kaede is the last one, but.. he was waiting for me.. he let me get the other villagers to keep tabs on my movement.. he's sharp, for a human..' Considered InuYasha.

"You-... you're no fox, I'd recognize that hideous bundle of cloth anywhere... you're InuYasha..." Said the leader, gritting his teeth slightly.

"Heh, seems I'm quite popular these days- then if you heard of me, you probably know you won't win against me, so how about you give me the hag, and I'll be on my way..." Said InuYasha, smirking at the other.

"I am not privileged to your lengthy list of crimes since your childhood, but I can imagine your ruthlessness is quite feared here.. however, not by me- I've waited a long time to see you again.. " Said the leader.

"Look, I don't give a damn who you are or how ever long you've sought me- hand over the hag or I'll start breaking bones." Said InuYasha with a growl, he really didn't like this guy- something about him just made his blood boil.

"Spare me your threats, regardless of whether we find the fox, I'll kill you here today!" Said the leader as he charged forward, picking his sword up with both hands and holding it vertically, twisting it into a horizontal position as he neared InuYasha.

InuYasha was certain that it would be simple enough to dodge, but before the man ever got to him, he felt his head fade for a moment. 'Where.. have I seen this man before?..' He thought, as he realized then that the sword was already in motion- he'd dropped his guard. The blade was practically at his chest when suddenly the man was knocked backwards, a certain scrawny wolf demon infront of InuYasha. "Geez, Kagome didn't tell me you'd gone soft- I would've hurried a bit." Said Koga as he looked back at InuYasha.

"Huh?! Koga?! What're you doing here?" Asked InuYasha, before turning his attention back to the leader whom was already up and moving towards them again. "Enough of this, stay out of it Koga- this guy's mine!" Said InuYasha as he moved forward this time, again his head seemed to fade for a moment. He felt himself scream, but he couldn't put it together- only when his head cleared, and he saw that the leader was several feet away; on his back, blood pooling slightly around him. '..What happened?!..'

The leader sat up a bit, gritting his teeth. "BURN THE VILLAGE WITH THEM IN IT!" He called out, fully prepared to burn with them quite evidently. "Koga, get Kaede out of here!" Ordered InuYasha, though the wolf only agreed because Kagome's instructions had included Kaede. InuYasha was about to head on back with them, already smelling the smoke of the village being burnt. Suddenly the leader was charging at him again. If not for Koga's warning, he would've been struck yet again. 'What the hell is the matter with me?! I know it's been a while, but this is rediculous! I don't need that wolf bastard's help!' He mentally cursed as he ducked the slash of the other, prepared to punch the other in retaliation- he couldn't explain it but as he attacked, he felt an overwhelming pain in his heart, a sadness unlike he'd felt in year. His mixed emotions prevented him from putting his full strength into the blow, only serving to knock the guy back again. '...This smoke.. is poisonous.. I think..' He thought to himself as he realized he was losing power quickly, he reached for Tetsusaiga to dissipate the smoke, but before his hand ever reached it- it fell, as did he.

"Heh, a potent poison, causes intense drowsiness to demons- particularly potent against feral demons who rely on their senses, such as you- brat." Said the leader as he grinned victoriously.. he was still bleeding, he didn't even care.. the one who'd taken his eye was now before him, defenseless, and would soon be ash- he could die now if it was god's will.

Koga was really earning his reward today though, as the leader lifted his sword once again, Koga returned with unapproachable speed, pulling InuYasha from the blade's path, and out of the village. "You're a real piece of work, you know that? Naraku goes down and you just retire or what? Some demon, even for a half breed that's pathetic..." Commented Koga, quite smugly- though he ceased once he realized InuYasha wasn't waking back up, nor fighting him back- it just wasn't as much fun if he didn't argue back. Soon Koga had rejoined Kaede, on the edge of the forest- he didn't even unbind her, or ungag her before returning- thankfully he remembered that part when he arrived with InuYasha.

"Next time, perhaps ye can remove them before hand-" Said Kaede with a grumpy tone.

"Sure, next time, I'll let you speak first, so the mutt here can have at least someone speak well of him at his grave." Commented Koga.

"He doesn't appear wounded really, what could've happened?" Asked Kaede. "Poison perhaps?"

"I bet so, I was starting to feel light headed on the way out- and I was only in it briefly." Said Koga.

"Hm... catch up with Kagome, and assure her that everything is alright, I will rally the remaining villagers and begin the journey shortly- if need be, we will bring InuYasha, if we can not wake him.." Ordered Kaede.

"You know, I'm getting a little sick of being told what to do by humans and mutts alike." Said Koga with an attitude.

"Then don't, but remember that Kagome still much cares for InuYasha- should she return here to find you had abandoned her request, she may not be so forgiving as I am." Said Kaede, sending terror down Koga's spine.

"Just keep your mouth shut, hag- I'm going, just do whatever it is you're going to do so you can catch up- I don't care to listen to Kagome whine about the mutt all night again." He said, as if it were a recent memory.

"And I don't care to listen to your whining about Kagome, so we're even- now get going, or get lost- you're delaying us needlessly." Said Kaede as she made a brief check of InuYasha's condition- while Koga grunted and looked mildly offended and left again.

Kaede looked troubled as she checked on InuYasha, he was sweating profusely, as if he were still in the flames- his body tense, and his expression pained. "..Nay, this is no physical pain.. he must be having a nightmare... He should be fine once he awakens.." She said aloud, as she got back up, and began to recollect the scattered villagers.

InuYasha ended up with a few more red marks on his face, unfortunately he was unconscious- unable to defend himself. Had he known, he might've thanked Kaede for putting an end to it, before he woke to find himself married to a second woman.