Scars

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own InuYasha! He belongs to Rumiko Takahashi! Although, I do own Miya, Riya, Viya, Mio, Nango, Mitsuki, Yorokobashii, Fiore, Shungen, Ibukashii, and the Dragon's Keep (I didn't miss anyone, did I?)! Enjoy!

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Chapter 11: Miroku's Bride? (A.K.A. How it Happened: part 2)
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Grunting, Miroku groggily opened his eyes. Everything was blurry, much like a painting before slowly his eyes started to clear. Miroku found that things were starting to become more defined. He made way to rub his aching head only to find that he was immobilized. Looking down, he noticed that there were ropes tightly binding him to himself. Even though his first instinct of touching the puncture wound in his neck was being denied, Miroku could feel the particular place below his ear was throbbing with aching muscles and was hot and itchy from the poison. He grimaced before looking beside him.

The only ones awake was InuYasha and Shippo where as InuYasha was growling like a lunatic seeing as his bindings were even more so added on then theirs. His wrappings also included his fingers being tucked in tightly, making them unable to move a single 'centimeter' as Kagome would have said. Shippo was frantically trying to reach downwards at his bindings to chew them away. Looking at Sango, Kagome, Mitsuki, and Kirara, Miroku couldn't help but flinch. The poison that the shooters used against potential threats to the village was a concoction among deadly plants, but was made dull to not harm the occupant; but it was particularly a bitch to females…human or youkai.

"InuYasha!" Miroku hissed as he finally noticed the many mumbling and pointing villagers around them, some of them he could vaguely remember from his childhood here.

"Stop growling, you're only making them more agitated!" InuYasha huffed at him and growled silently back,

"That's the point! They attacked us with no purpose!" Miroku sighed as the hanyou continued trying to untie his bonds but with no avail.

"Don't even bother, InuYasha. They probably had one of the highest Buddhist priests here sprinkle holy water over Shippo's, Kirara's, and your own ropes." He watched as the hanyou stilled and instantly slump in defeat at that fact. Demons were useless, no matter how powerful, to holy water – it only mattered how much you used and on what class of demon. InuYasha stiffened before turning to him, eyes narrowed. Miroku regretted being sat beside InuYasha as InuYasha leaned towards him dangerously.

"Hmm…" He said sarcastically. "And I wonder how you know it, Miroku, seems kind of suspicious to me."

If Miroku could, he would have hit InuYasha in the back of his head in a scolding manner and tell him he should rethink his assumptions, but instead settled with his 'look of innocence',

"I have no idea what you're talking about…"

"Keh, stupid monk. We'll find out sooner or later, doesn't matter to me."

And that's what I'm afraid of…

Miroku looked among the village in curiosity; his eyes lightened when seeing that the village had continued to fair well over the years, he could safely say that it had also expanded to that to almost a 'city' when Miroku remembered the picture Kagome had showed them of Tokyo long ago. Huts expanded for miles, you could distantly hear the sounds of bargaining between merchants, children laughing, and animals like chickens or cows above the many murmuring of the villagers that surrounded them.

Miroku looked around idly at the many faces that silently glared at them with suspicion and unease and instantly saw old faces from his childhood. Strange how they don't remember me, I'm practically identical looking from when I was younger. Noticing the guards that littered around them and the advancement of the huts as well as the water system within the village, Miroku couldn't help but think that they certainly came a long way. The murmurs and the shouts that echoed among the crowd every once in a while instantly came to a silence that irked him.

"What the hell's going on?" InuYasha whispered seriously as he and Miroku watched the odd people part into a wide pathway. Miroku squinted his eyes at the upcoming figure,

"I'm…I'm not quite sure – perhaps the village leader?" InuYasha scoffed,

"Village leader, a lower-class demon, or a skinny, back-boneless human lord that's afraid to lift a pinky…either way, we're at their mercy seeing as me and Shippo are basically stuck and the others are knocked out cold still…unless you can magically cut through your ropes and untie me within seconds with all these guards around us."

Miroku nodded in agreement at the hanyou's acquisition.

"Too true." His face brightened. "Hey, maybe they'll wait and listen to us and finally find out that all of this was just a BIG misunderstanding?" InuYasha raised an eyebrow, scowling,

"After knocking us out when we didn't do anything wrong? Fat chance with that!"

Sighing, Miroku looked forward once again. Now that the once distant figure was closer, it appeared to be a woman. A beautiful woman…With men on each of her side, holding out palm branches to keep the sun from scorching her – there were more several guards surrounding her. As she got closer, her features began to sharpen as she kept her eyes drifted to the ground.

"She looks…familiar." He whispered under his breath in confusion and intrigue. InuYasha smirked at him,

"One of the wenches you bedded before we met? How surprise – !"

BAM!

"OUCH! What the FUCKING HELL WAS THAT FOR?" The man glowered down at him,

"No one speaks to Lady Nango in such an ill-manner, hanyou!" InuYasha growled threateningly in return,

"Just you wait you scumbag! When I'm free you'll be first on my 'To Die' list!"

Miroku tuned out the argument that issued between the upset hanyou and the angered soldier. Nango…is that you? He watched, his eyes widening every step she made closer to them. The woman wore an intricate, heavy kimono of soft yellow with decorations of light pink orchids sewn on the cuffs and the end of her kimono. Her hands which were hidden from the long outer-kimono sleeves were laced in front of her. Her skin was pale amazingly, her ears were adorned with beautiful, dangly earrings. With her head bowed in a submissive manner, her hair shined briefly every time the sun's rays managed to peak through the palm trees above her. His breath caught in his throat when he saw her distinct feature above all others…her hair style. Despite all of the years, she kept her hair the same way with two low ponytails on each side underneath her ear before the rest traveled down to her knees. Her heart-shaped bangs framed her smooth forehead with a neat single braid nestled on top of her bangs, cradling her head like a wreath.

Nango…it IS you! But, where is your father? Why are you here and not him?

-

Nango inwardly sighed in exasperation as she headed towards the 'trespassers' as General Ibukashii had called them. If these people are just another group of weary travelers that had been caught unawares, I will have no choice but to have Uncle Shungen demote him to private for his senility…Her right eyebrow twitched ever the slightest in irritation before reaching within her kimono robes and taking out a plain, ordinary fan and started to wave some air at her flushed face. Kami forbid this heat…it's almost suffocating. Taking deeper breaths as she reached her destination, Nango peered curiously at the travelers before her. She was good at reading character and had yet to fail at being right in her assumptions.

Eyes scanning over the group as she lowered her fan slightly while still gently blowing wind at her face, Nango started at the females. She winced as she noticed the harshly raw, red marks of where the poison darts had hit their necks. Poor girls, they're in for a rude awakening. Scanning over the closest girl, she raised her eyebrows intrigued at the state of dress the woman was in. The hakamas were tight around her legs and seemed, a lot rougher than the cotton of the men's pant legs. And her shoes, what were those strings crisscrossing along the top of her foot? As she peered over her once again, she was surprised to find large amounts of spiritual energy within her. Could she possibly be a miko? Eyeing her strange bag of black as well as the quiver of arrows and her bow, Nango moved on.

Obviously a taijiya…The woman wore a pleasant, but simple kimono that at the moment, was hugging her curves just enough to give men a taste of how athletically trained she was. Her hands were covered by a black, skin-tight material that wrapped around her middle finger and she assumed it was her uniform underneath. Her large boomerang lied with the other woman's belongings. When looking at the shivering form near her feet, Nango just about let out a gasp at the most cutest neko-tama she had ever seen. A two-tailed, how adorable!

Looking at the small pair of feet near the neko-tama, Nango found a small girl of thirteen huddled against the miko (As she decided to call the strange-clothed girl). Her long hair was in a neat braid, reaching to her waist. She smiled slightly as she wrinkled her nose as if she was going to sneeze before relaxing back into the position she was in before. Hmm, another miko within the group…and at such a young age!

The sound of gnawing could be heard and Nango turned her attention to the sound. Her eyes lit up in mirth at the small kitsune as he continued to try and reach the nearest knot towards him. She brought her fan to hide her lips that were treacherously quirking into a smile. His fire-red hair stood out brightly against the sun; she swallowed the giggle that threatened to come out when she caught sight of the green bow. How cute! Her left hand that was lying by her side twitched to just go up there and start petting his bushy tail. Her eyes widened in shock at the growl that erupted beside the cute child.

What is a hanyou and a kitsune with a taijiya? And also with two mikos, how is this possible! The man was gorgeous with his gleaming ember eyes that looked so much like gold. His shoulders were broad and his figure lean underneath the furious crimson haori and hakamas. His glistening silver hair had a few shadows of light gray that seemed natural instead from, dare she say it ever aloud, old age. His hair reached to just above his waist. A rosary was around his neck and even with her small spiritual power was able to feel the power radiating off of it, glowing in contrast against his slight demonic aura.

The last figure took her breath away.

The man had an athletic body, much like the taijiya, but not overly so that he was all muscle. He had monk robes that reminded her of Mushin-sama when he was here about a decade and a half ago, except his were different colors from purple and black. His dark, obsidian hair reminded her of a raven in the pitch dark blue of night where it was tied at the nape of his neck where a tiny ponytail resided. On each ear were two sets of golden hoops. Around his right hand was something much like the taijiya had on both of her hands, except a rosary was wrapped around it and there was a cloth covering the inside of his palm. His lightly tanned skin was perfect, showing that he enjoyed the outdoors greatly and his eyes…the intensity of the violet amethyst made her heart quicken.

Her eyebrows furrowed in thought as she watched the emotions course through them like a reader turning pages frequently through a very good book. Confusion…hope…shock…why was he expressing such emotions when first seeing her?

"N-Nango-sama? Is it really you?" Her eyes widened. How…how does he know my name? Have we met before? She winced when one of the soldiers roughly hit him over the head with a club. Miroku yelped. Her eyes switched to the hanyou when he said gruffly,

"You're in pain with that woosy swing? Sango had hit you five times stronger than he just did and you're yelping?" The monk before her turned to him and muttered,

"Shut up, how would you know how it feels, Sango hasn't hit you over the head before." The hanyou grumbled before turning his back to him, pouting like a put-out child that Nango couldn't help but to smile fondly at their tiny bicker. It is very rare…She thought as she looked over the group…to have three spiritual people with a demon exterminator and a youkai and a hanyou…very rare.

"You aren't to speak to Lady Nango unless ordered to, monk!" Nango narrowed her eyes at the guard and said sharply, stepping out of the shade of the palm trees, her servants retreating behind her slightly,

"That is enough, soldier." The man looked at her shocked,

"But milady – !"

She narrowed her eyes at him, her light hazel eyes daring him to go against her wishes. The man uncomfortably looked down and stepped away from the group and back in line with the others,

"Hai, milady."

Closing her fan, she turned to the monk, her features softening,

"Tell me, monk, how is it that you know my name? It seems as if I should know you, yet…I can't place where I've seen you. Does that make sense?" She smiled happily when he nodded,

"I perfectly understand, Lady Nango. As to how I know your name, yes, we've met before." He smiled in reminisce at her; that smile…she unconsciously tilted her head to the side in thought. Where have I seen that smile before?

"It was long ago," Miroku continued as if reciting a report, "When we were both six summers old. It was the beginning of spring and I found you on the outskirts of the village, near the forest, planting seeds." He watched, his smile widening as her mouth slightly gaped, realization dawning in her eyes,

"When I asked what you were planting, you had told me it was a foreign plant that your father had brought back home for you as a gift from the foreign lands. You told me that your father said that if you plant them in the spring, you'd be able to enjoy them then and throughout the summer. You told me it was a rare flower, a rare flower by the name of…"

"The Pink Lilacs." She whispered breathlessly. Miroku closed his eyes, nodding in affirmation.

She promptly dropped her fan,

"M…Miroku-kun?" Miroku grinned and nodded,

"Yes, Nango-sama, my name is Miroku; your childhood friend since we were six." Her hand flew to cover her mouth that hung agape. The hanyou scoffed loudly, causing the renewing excited whispers to halt and stare at him,

"Should have known you had a connection with this stinkin' village. Only you'd come from a place where they use stealth and strategies to keep opponents out. OUCH!"

Nango winced at the second bump that slowly appeared on the hanyou's head.

"CUT IT OUT DAMN YOU!"

She watched as Miroku sighed in tired boredom as the hanyou continued to curse like a sailor and being repeatedly hit on the head before continuing the cycle. She sighed almost identically to Miroku as she continued to fan her face. Pardon my language Kami, but damn this heat!

"Well I'll be…"

"Did she just say Miroku? Is it really Mushin-sama's ward, Miroku?"

"My goodness, it's been about 16 to 17 years since we last saw him."

"I remember him now! He looks exactly like he did when he was little!"

"I wonder why I didn't notice him sooner…"

"I wonder what he's doing with a hanyou and two youkai? Has he been strayed from his Buddhist ways?"

"Nah, it couldn't be! He was such a nice child back then; he wouldn't change that easily of his views."

"Now I remember, I used to see him and Nango-sama talking and playing in the woods where the lilac bushes are now."

Nango let out a calming breath as the murmurs of the villagers began to escalate even higher, causing her mind to buzz with all the racket and the up-rising heat.

"Cut their ropes!" Everyone became silent as Nango directed her order to the nearest soldier. Nodding his head briskly, he went right away to the group and began to cut through the tough ropes bounding each of them.

"Please, follow me." Nango turned to the standing hanyou, kitsune-child, and Miroku as he rubbed his bruised wrists. She eyed the markings sadness and guilt. "We shall continue our discussion at the palace." Miroku nodded after a brief glimpse with InuYasha.

Nango gave a tired sigh as she felt the shadows of the palm trees encircle her once again after she had turned to go back to the large palace that could be seen far away into the village. Ugh…my head hurts…

InuYasha growled unhappily when seeing Kagome, Sango, Mitsui, and Kirara along with their weapons placed on a single wagon before following them. How kind of them my ass! InuYasha glared at the guards that were mumbling under their breath about the situation, but as soon as they heard his inhuman growl, they snapped their mouths shut and stared straight ahead, their bodies stiff and tight. Smirking inwardly, InuYasha kept up to speed with Miroku while at the same time, watching over the girls as their faces gained a flushed glow to their cheeks. Eyebrows furrowing in confusion and light concern, he asked gruffly,

"Hey, Miroku, is it regular for the poison to work this way?" Immediately, Miroku turned to the wagon behind them and after looking over their faces, he nodded as he replied, although concern was also in his voice,

"Yes, InuYasha. The sedatives that are combined together are made so that they would knock out the foe within an instant, it could be quite a while before either one wakes up…" He took on a thoughtful look as his staff beside him continued to jingle merrily, finally back at home, "Although since Lady Kagome has an increase on her powers, she may wake up earlier than the others. Mitsuki has no control over her powers so it'll probably take her about a day before her powers purify the sedative inside her body."

"Kirara and Sango?"

"Kirara is merely wiped out because of her being a female, she'll be up and going within a few hours. Sango though, with no spiritual powers or a demonic aura, she'll be taking a long nap while we're here and make up a course of action."

InuYasha nodded, keeping his hand on his precious Tetsusaiga. No one had ever taken it from him since the day of when he lost control of his blood beast; well…at least no human had gotten close enough to. He was just glad he was able to keep strong enough hold on the demon inside of him until he touched Tetsusaiga. InuYasha inwardly sighed in contemplation, looking up at the sky above him despite of all the noise around him. Even after all of this time, he didn't have any control on his beast, he had a stronger hold on it thanks to Myoga helping him on occasions, but not enough to keep the beast at bay. His only weakness that he had yet to correct was his liability on having Tetsusaiga as a shield.

Damn.

"Hey, Miroku?" Turning his head in acknowledgement, Miroku smiled at Shippo as he clung to his right shoulder,

"Yes, Shippo?" His eyebrow twitched in irritation as Shippo continued,

"How come most of these people are practically praising you? Don't tell me that you lead them on that you were innocent in every way. HEY – !"

Laughing out loud nervously, Miroku clamped his hand over the kitsune's mouth.

"Kids these days," He said at the variety of stares directed at them, causing InuYasha to shift uncomfortably, "They say the darnedest things."

"Weirdoes." InuYasha muttered before straying behind them to walk beside the wagon.

"We have arrived." InuYasha, Miroku, and Shippo looked up in awe at the large palace that shined brightly against the burning sun. They turned their direction to the extremely flushed Nango whom began to furiously fan her face even more so as she said softly,

"Now, let's hurry inside and talk over a cup of tea, hmm?" Miroku looked over her worriedly,

"Nango-sama, are you alright?" Nango smiled at him brightly,

"Nothing to worry about Miroku-kun, it's just wearing a heavy kimono in the heat. And how many times do I have to tell you, Miroku-kun? Call me Nango-chan, we're close friends, right?" Miroku smiled, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly,

"Yes, we are…" Nango nodded once, smiling before beckoning them towards her as she walked up the few steps to the upper plank. InuYasha made Miroku turn to him,

"Monk, you do know that we can't stay here for long as you chitchat with her, we only have such limitless time." Miroku nodded, his eyes hardened with resolve,

"I know that…" He added as he turned to watch Nango's dainty figure disappear into the palace, "But I don't think she does."

-

Nango looked over the two grown men from her raised tea cup as she slowly sipped the calming tea. While Miroku and the little kitsune that she had learned was Shippo were graciously drinking the tea, the hanyou, InuYasha, refused any and every thing. He didn't even sit at the table with them! Instead, he sat against the wall stiffly with his arms crossed, his sword lightly lying against his left shoulder with his eyes closed. The only thing that gave him away that he was listening was that his adorable dog ears were twitching every now and then towards either her or Miroku's voice. Nango peered at the woman that had woken up not too long ago after giving Miroku and the others some rest before her interrogation.

The woman had a beautiful shade of brown doe eyes and her hair was just like Miroku's, a dark black that reached just above her shoulders. What a strange hairstyle…But than again, everything was strange about this girl, except for her excellent manners and respect. She watched as she slowly sipped the tea, closing her eyes briefly in sheer happiness before reopening them. Nango traveled her gaze once again over her.

She had a slim, but curvaceous body that was indecently and yet covered every inch that is was confusing. Her 'jeans' as the woman had called them, said it was a custom at her village and that it was common for woman to wear them since it was easier to do chores and field work with them on. Her t-shirt was form fitting, but slightly baggy from being picked at. Probably because of the heat, although it isn't as hot outside, it's still pretty warm in here.

"So, you are looking for these…shikon kakeras?" The woman named Kagome nodded cheerfully,

"Hai. It is my responsibility to put it back together seeing as it was I that had broken it in the first place. It is my duty to collect the shards and put all of them back to its original form as the Shikon no Tama and if there could not be a pure wish made, I am to protect it as its guardian." InuYasha grumbled haughtily to himself and just enough for Kagome to hear,

"Find that all out after ten years?" Kagome muttered darkly under her breath,

"Osuwari." Looking up from her cup, Nango gasped in surprise to find InuYasha's face slam into the hard, wooden flooring. Setting down her tea, she made a motion to get up and go to his side,

"Oh my goodness! Is he all right?" Kagome quickly motioned for her to sit down, blushing lightly in embarrassment,

"Not to worry, not to worry, Nango-sama! InuYasha has this…horrid habit of slamming his head against the floor no matter where he is. We're still trying to get him to stop, so don't worry yourself over his care." Kagome smiled brightly at the darkly muttering InuYasha as he sat back up, rubbing his forehead indignantly. When Nango sat back down after Miroku calmly reassured her that nothing could crack InuYasha's thick skull (And him feeling the hairs on the back of his neck rise at the glare of death was shot at him from behind him), Kagome raised a hand subconsciously and lightly skimmed the still burning skin of her neck. She winced slightly.

Ouch, what kind of sedatives did they shoot at us?

She was surprised to say the least to wake up at a grand palace instead of an old dungeon where supposedly the bad guys usually took their catch. After whispering about asking what was the number of the semi-truck that had ran her over, Kagome instantly found herself being constantly asked for forgiveness for the rudeness of the people. When looking at the woman for the first time, Kagome couldn't help but to feel slightly envy at the woman's good looks. But that envy quickly was shoved to the side when the woman attempted to help her up before InuYasha came over quickly and helped her sit at the table himself.

After looking her over a few times, Kagome was surprised to find a very small, but still there all the same, trace of spiritual energy inside of her. When asking about it, Nango had told her of her family coming from a decent of mikos, but because of certain events, every generation was gifted with less powers than the ones before hand. Frowning at that, Kagome decided not to dwell on it as Nango started talking once again,

"So, you'll have to leave soon?" InuYasha and Kagome looked at each other briefly before looking at Miroku whom had an uncomfortable look on his face. Shifting as he rubbed the smooth cup, he nodded,

"Yes, Nango-sama – "

"Chan, Miroku, -chan." Smiling at her small interruption, he nodded.

"Nango-chan. There are now only eight shards left to collect and the sooner we keep traveling, the sooner we'll beat Naraku to the jewel shards. We need to get much of the shikon jewel as possible, Naraku has already about more than half of the jewel." Nango paused for a few moments, the worry in her eyes increasing as she sipped calmly,

"And…and you'll fight him?" InuYasha snorted, causing everyone to look at him,

"Eventually, yeah. If we are to get the jewel from that slime ball's hands, we'll need to fight to get the other shard of the jewel back."

Kagome looked at Nango, watching as her worried gaze turned to Miroku for a mere moment before turning back to her half-empty tea cup. Her eyes widened in realization that not even Miroku found out yet. Uh-oh…seems like Miroku had a child-hood sweetheart before he and Mushin-sama left this place. Her gaze landed on the still unconscious Sango, her eyes grew worried even more as she left the teacup's edge to her tightened lips. And Sango and Miroku have a little 'thing' going on, despite how small it is after the five years they've known each other. I discretely remember Sango telling me that Miroku had been giving her these 'strange' looks that made her feel uncomfortable, but not in a bad way at all. She mentally sighed and rolled her eyes at the drama that was unfolding. As if we don't have enough drama already with all our pasts, our mission, that stupid dragon chest, and now a love triangle with Miroku, Sango, and Nango. Miroku, you better know what you're doing because your future depends on it.

"This should be interesting." She whispered breathlessly as she took a small sip.

InuYasha's eyes opened with a snap and looked at Kagome from the corner of his eye. What should be interesting? Looking over at the others while ignoring Shippo eating his crackers, he watched at the slight blush, but worried gaze of the Nango lady after finding out about the final battle; Miroku looked worried at her and if not, a little uncomfortable. He frowned. Oh great, this better not set us back more than this stupid village has already done. Time's ticking.

Miroku-kun…fighting against Naraku? But…but why? What does he have to gain? She looked over his right hand where the cloth and rosary resided. The Kaazana…I know you wish to avenge your family, Miroku-kun, it is understandable…but, but how are you going to be able to live through it? Will I ever see you again, oh, Miroku-kun! I've finally found you after all of these years and now you'll be leaving once again? What if you die? The fact that I knew you were alive before you left the first time made the pain bearable, but…but if you die, I don't know if I could handle it. Biting her lip, she looked up uncomfortably only to look at the miko when she began to talk softly,

"Well, we can't leave yet, Lady Nango seeing as our teammates are out of commission at the moment, but we will stay here for a few more days to recuperate, if that is alright?" She looked at InuYasha and for a few moments, InuYasha stared back at her before 'keh'-ing and looking away. Smiling, she turned to Nango and said as she settled her teacup down, but never lifting her hand from it,

"I know you would be naturally…distressed to find your best friend from childhood about to face his ultimate enemy and it is understandable Lady Nango. If you wish through this time that we are here, you and Miroku can spend some time together before we leave and catch up with each other." She looked between them with guarded eyes, knowing that Nango even though how polite and courteous she was, wouldn't pass up the chance.

Blushing lightly, Nango looked up to find Miroku's gaze piercing into hers. She couldn't help but to feel bare underneath his gaze, causing her to feel her body heat with more at the suggestive thought.

"If, if you do not mind, Miroku-kun…" Miroku smiled charmingly,

"Not at all, Nango-chan." She smiled, blushing lightly at the suffix. "If not, I'd be honored." Kagome smiled as Miroku stood up with Nango and together, they left the guest room where the others watched after them.

After a few moments, InuYasha turned to her when their steps faded away,

"Are you sure this is a wise idea?" Kagome sighed and looked at him somewhat sadly,

"I feel a deep connection between them InuYasha, a deep one. They cared very much for each other when they were younger, but they were torn apart when Miroku's wind tunnel became in affect. But…instead of the bond weakening as Mushin-sama I bet had hoped for, it had only grown stronger over the period of time from not seeing each other." She felt a tug on the bottom of her shirt. Looking down, she saw Shippo looking up at her worriedly,

"But Kagome-okaa-san, what about Sango?"

"Yeah, Kagome." InuYasha looked at her firmly. "Did you consider what could happen to Sango emotionally before you literally set Miroku and Nango up?" Kagome's eyebrow quirked in irritation,

"Of course I took into consideration of her feelings! I'm not stupid! It's just, I'm helping Miroku in a way."

"In what way may I ask?"

Taking a sip from her teacup, Kagome responded quietly,

"I'm trying to help his heart decide whether to keep the girl of his childhood dreams…or to let her go and accept Sango for who she is and for the future before them.Miroku and Nango have a deep friendship that is based solely on attraction, but Miroku and Sango though…theirs is different. They have a deep understanding and trust within the other – they both lost people important to them and could easily comfort each other. Although Nango is nice and all, she doesn't understand Miroku the way Sango does…she's never experienced pain of a lost one before and even if she did, not in a brutal way like Miroku and Sango. So basically, I'm just giving him a nudge down the path he's already carved himself. ALl I'm doing is helping him nake his decision faster."

"So you're saying he's only confused because old feelings are brought back?"

"Bingo."

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Hmm…at least I updated before a FULL month came for lack of update. --;;; I don't have any excuses really, other than the ever poisonous and writers' number one enemy: writer's block and my mind is creating future fics, deleting older fics in which I've lost inspiration or can't continue because I'm at a lost, I am getting into Naruto (I wonder why I never really looked into it before, it totally rocks!) with Kaka/Saku pairings and such and finally…it's been summer vacation and I've become busy with soccer and also became a lazy ass when it comes to buckling down (I'm not being discrete, it's cold hard truth, I accept what I am…).

Anyways, not much in this chapter, but next chapter…LET ROMANCE AND SANGO'S JEALOUSY BLOOM! ;D

Thanks you guys for the reviews!

Reviewers:

thelunarstorm: hope this was alright! More action (And more romance/drama for once) next chapter! ;D

Minako Miharu: Haha, glad you like!

Orlando-Inu-Lover: (Snaps her fingers together) A-ha! I knew it! (Miss Artemis: Pay up, girlie/GoldenStar: (Grumbles as she hands Miss Artemis ten bucks)/Miss Artemis: Oh, yeah baby! Ya can't beat intuition!) Hmm, and yes, our man Sesshomaru is desperately needed some time soon, but when…um…I don't know. (Everyone falls down in disbelief while Miss Artemis laughs nervously) Oh, well! Glad you liked last chapter! Next chapter's going to be better! (Finally, into romance!)

demonpriestess07: Sorry to disappoint ya in the excitement for this chapter, I kind of got lsot on this part of Chapter 11 and so, ya…but don't worry! Next chapter will be better!

marileibis (Anonymous): (Blushes) Stop! You're making me blush:) I'm glad you like it and I sincerely hope you continue reviewing!

sakuragurl101: Hope you like this chapter!

Yuki-kun27: (Sighs) Yes, I know InuYasha probably wouldn't go that far because InuYasha had gone a long way from not caring about Kagome at all to really considering her feelings when it comes to Kikyo (Which I greatly approve of), but I had to make it extreme enough that Kagome would leave and mature in her own time, causing current events to follow into place and be with the plot. ;D Glad you reviewed! Please continue doing so!

Thanks all of you guys for the reviews! They kept me going!

-Miss Artemis

Next chapter: How is Sango going to take things?