Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha and make no profit whatsoever from writing this story.

AN: This will be a chaptered story. The plot centers around a hopefully pleasant Kagome/Sango AR romance and will last around 4-6 chapters. Enjoy!

Warning: There will be a lemon, eventually.

x x x x

Sango's nerves were on edge as she readied herself for the impending fight. They had located several jewel shards near the village and this time their target was a huge snake youkai. Feeling her fingers twitch she swung the Hiraikotsu easily off her shoulder. The familiar weight helped to ease some of the unaccustomed anxiety she was feeling. A battle was no place for nervous energy.

The beast roared when it spotted the group and it moved to attack Inuyasha, who stood directly in its path. Sweeping into the field in a bout of blind rage its tail lashed out to the right and knocked Kagome off her feet. There was a thump as Kagome's head hit the ground.

Watching her friend fall limply to the side, a feeling of dread washed over her. Reflexively, she reached out as though she could somehow stop her fall by willpower alone.

Hurrying to the spot where Kagome lay, Sango gathered her up, cradling the girl in her arms. She stared numbly at her limp form. Everything in Sango's direct line of vision seemed to moving away from her, as if she were falling down a long tunnel, and the world was suddenly spinning out of control around her. Disoriented, Sango laid Kagome's head gently against her shoulder and closed her eyes. I can't lose her, she thought as her mind reeled with dread. I can't handle losing someone else I care about.

"Is she hurt?" Miroku yelled successfully avoiding the powerful swipe of the snake's tail.

His familiar voice helped to re-focus Sango's attention away from the worry and fear she held for her friend. She shook her head to clear it and leaned down to check Kagome and make certain that she was not badly injured. She was unconscious, but her breathing was regular and she was not bleeding. Sango waved and nodded towards the Monk.

"Kagome," Sango whispered as she shook her gently. Her shoulders and arms felt fragile and thin in her grasp. Sango's gaze slid up to Kagome's face. She inspected her lax features again for signs of illness, fatigue or shock. Her dark lashes seemed only to increase the near-permanent shadows which had formed under the girl's eyes and her cheeks seemed hollower than they should have been. Sango brushed the tips of her fingers down her cheek, following the gentle slope towards her lips. She took in the fullness and color of them and, feeling surprised, she was reminded of how young Kagome really was.

She had never really taken the time to study Kagome's features. Sango now noticed that though her sharp chin and slightly upturned nose were not what you would describe as soft, her long lashes and full lips gave her a gentleness that far surpassed any coldly perfect feature of Kikyo's. Gentle yes, and innocent as well, Sango thought. A sudden and fierce protectiveness gripped her as she held her limp hand in her own.

A movement caught her eye. Kagome's eyelashes fluttered and she groaned. "Ow, my head. It hurts. What happened, Inuyasha?"

"It's Sango," she corrected her in a relieved tone, "Can you remember what happened?"

Kagome looked up at her with frightened eyes. "Is everyone alright? N-no, I can't remember anything that happened. What about Inuyasha, Mirkoku?"

"Whoa, slow down there a bit, Kagome. You're still injured so don't get yourself worked up." Seeing the look of murder on her friends face, she added with a smile, "They're right behind us fighting the snake youkai." Sango gestured over her shoulder.

"Sango, help me up. I need to look for the shards." She struggled to lift herself up with a determined grunt before Sango wrapped an arm around her shoulders, keeping her from moving any further.

"Kagome, you aren't in any shape to—"

"I just need to look, that's all!" she snapped. Sango complied bracing the girl against her shoulder so that she could see what was going on below.

"Directly under the left eye," she said softly, as if talking to herself.

"Under the snake's left eye!" Sango bellowed out, receiving an answering wave from the Miroku.

"Come on, Kagome, the boys can handle things from here." Sango stood up, gently pulling Kagome up with her. "I'm taking you back to the village."

"I'm just fine!" Kagome protested, but her lips twisted into a pained grimace as she tried to put weight on her right side. Sango saw the color draining from her face and quickly helped her lie down again.

"What hurts?" she asked.

"It's my knee … I think."

When she gently probed around the area, Kagome hissed through her teeth and pulled away. "You'll ride on Kirara with me," Sango's told her. "We can't risk you injuring that knee further."

Kagome quietly endured being half-carried to Kirara, but Sango knew each time she dug her nails into her arm that the jostling was not doing her injury any good. Once both women were mounted on the firecat, Kagome wrapped her arms tightly around her waist and slumped forward.

"Does it hurt to ride?"

"No, no, it's better."

As Kirara took flight, the feel of the cool wind across Sango's face was doing wonders to clear her head. Her nerves had been tested today and, considering her slight panic when Kagome had fallen, she was not certain if she'd passed muster. She glanced down at the ground below, trying to distract herself from dwelling on the events of the day. Still, she couldn't help but wonder why she had overreacted when Kagome had been knocked down by the snake youkai. After only a few seconds mulling this over while watching the trees slip beneath the firecat's belly, Sango felt dizzy and was forced to look up again.

"Are you okay back there, Kagome?" In answer, Kagome's hand closed over her own and squeezed it weakly.

"I'm okay," Kagome whispered, "it doesn't hurt much."

Sango's thoughts turned to the Monk and hanyou she'd left behind to fight the snake youkai.

Sango knew that the two of them should have little trouble disposing of the youkai. In fact, they had likely already extracted its jewel shards and were heading towards the village. The snake put up a good fight, but was certainly no match for either of the two. At least, that was the case once Kagome had gained consciousness and pin-pointed the shards location under the snake's nearly impenetrable scaly hide.

After a few minutes, Kagome was still slumped against her, but her hands now lay limply across her lap. For a moment Sango believed the young miko had fallen asleep, until she felt her hand close over her own again in a feeble grip.

"Sango," Kagome whispered weakly.

"Yes?" she looked over her shoulder at her, but all she could see was the top of Kagome's head.

"Are you sure that Inuyasha will be alright?"

Sango shrugged her shoulders and peeked back over her shoulder again. "He always is." Having a personal conversation with Kagome when she couldn't read the expressions on her face was a little disconcerting.

"I wish I could do more, Sango. I mean … besides spotting jewel shards from the sidelines."

"Everyone does their part, Kagome." The words sounded trite to her ears and she wished she could express herself more eloquently.

"I know, but it's just that…" she trailed off, leaning her head back against Sango's shoulder and she assumed the conversation was over.

It had been several minutes since she had last trailed off and Sango has almost forgotten what they'd been discussing.

"Sango." Kagome's soft voice was muffled against her shoulder this time and she could barely hear her. "I wish I were more like you. Teach me how to fight."

This was the last thing she expected from Kagome. "But … why?"

"I'm tired of this! I'm tired of always being the weakest one!"

Sango was silent. "Just agree to do it, okay?" Kagome added, sounding almost irritated.

"No," Sango answered simply.

After a moment of tense silence, she added, "And besides, your injury. You'll be going home until it's better."

It was Kagome's turn to be cryptic. "No."

"And why not?"

"I can't go home injured. My mom would … she would worry too much. I'll give it time to heal before I go home again."

Sango felt a twinge of admiration for Kagome. Her loyalty to her friends and sense of duty was always admirable. "I'll help. It looks as if your knee is twisted. I've seen plenty of injuries in my time and I know a few tricks to help speed recovery."

"Thanks," Kagome muttered and allowed her head to fall against Sango's shoulder once again. She let out a long sigh. After her earlier anxiety and distress this physical contact was comforting. Although the position of Kagome's head against her shoulders was not the most comfortable, the tightly corded muscles between her shoulder blades began to loosen and relax.

Sango had been eager to reach the village before, but when she finally spotted the tiny huts in the distance, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. It was not often that she was able to enjoy a quiet moment or intimacy with someone that she cared deeply for.

AN: Please review. Concrit welcome.