Can you guys say 'hyper'? Lilfrozenfire has been driving me crazy. She has been so hyper lately, it isn't funny. -DW

You're just mad because I got sugar. -LFF

Yeah, yeah. By the way…where is Landraf? -DW

I think Sess is using him for a punching bag. -Kagome

Hey! Sesshoumaru. I need my muse back now. -LFF

* Grumbles as he deposits Landraf in front of Dragon Woman * I was starting to have fun, too. -Sess

Poor you. You can use him later. -LFF

Okay. Jaken!!!!!!!!!! -Sess

Yes, milord? -Jaken

* All of the girls start to giggle and Miroku looks appalled. *

What are you doing wearing my Homecoming dress? Now I have to disinfect it and sterilize it. -LFF

Sorry, Lilfrozenfire, but Rin wanted to play dress-up and it was either that, your outfit for concerts, a pink dress with sakura blossoms on it, or a short skirt. You don't have many dresses. -Shippou

Mean toad thing would have stained your dress for concerts green, the flower dress was too prettyful for meany to use, and Shippou said that the light blue skirt would have made everyone sick. Rin thought so, too. -Rin

* Everyone shivers at the thought of Jaken in a short skirt. * I'm gonna be sick. -LR, Miroku, LFF, Kagome, Sango, and DW at once.

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Disclaimer: I own nobody. Everybody is his or her own being. Actually they are owned by Rumiko Takahashi. -DW

I want Sesshoumaru, Kenshin and Aoshi from Rurouni Kenshin, and Kurama from Yu-Yu Hakashu. My birthday is coming up soon. Hint, hint. -LFF

Here ya go. * shows moldy sandwich. * Happy Birthday. -LR

GROSS!!!!!!!! -LFF

You don't want it? Cool. All the more for me. -LR

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Chapter…Whatever

The rest of the trek to Sesshoumaru's castle went uneventfully. Shippou managed to annoy the demon lord. Just slightly.

"How come you have that fluffy thing on your shoulder? What is it? Is your favorite color white? Because you wear a lot of it. Why do you need the Tetsusaiga? I thought you were one of the most powerful demons alive…" Shippou would have continued to bug an increasingly annoyed Sesshoumaru if a giggling Kagome hadn't intervened.

"Shippou, behave yourself. I'm sure Sesshoumaru doesn't want to answer your questions," Kagome gently reprimanded.

"I'm sorry, Mommy. I'm just being curious."

Sesshoumaru could understand how curiosity could get the better of a being. He himself was plagued with curiosity. "It is alright."

"Does that mean you are going to answer my questions?" Shippou asked brightly.

"No."

They walked a few hours before Sesshoumaru stopped. "We are here."

Kagome and Shippou looked at the castle before them with a gasp. It looked beautiful. It had wall of stone surrounding it and lush green lawns. They looked a little harder and could see what looked like a flower garden in the back surrounding two detached buildings. They walked through the front gates and were immediately greeted by Sesshoumaru's servants.

"Sesshoumaru-sama. Rin is glad you are back. Jaken wouldn't let Rin play dress-up with him. Will you let Rin play dress-up with you?" a little girl asked as she wrapped her chubby arms around Sesshoumaru's legs.

"Maybe later." Rin felt the urge to frown and pout because she knew that 'maybe' was just an adult's way of postponing the inevitable 'No.' "Rin, I would like to introduce you to some people. This is Kagome and her pup, Shippou."

Kagome smiled because she knew what was going through Rin's mind after Sesshoumaru said 'maybe'. "Hello, Rin-chan."

"Rin thinks you is pretty. Will you be Rin's mommy?"

"Rin. What did I tell you?"

"Sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama. It is a pleasure to meet you, Kagome-sama," Rin said politely. Then she said in a not-so-formal way, "I think you are pretty. Will you come play with me?"

"Sure. Come on, Shippou."

Shippou hopped up into Kagome's waiting arms. Sesshoumaru felt a slight pang of jealousy shooting through him before he mercilessly squashed it.

"Come on, Kagome-sama. The garden is very prettyful," Rin said while grabbing Kagome's free hand and dragging her towards the back.

"Just call me 'Kagome', okay?"

"Sure, Kagome."

Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome and her surrogate pup were led towards the western garden by Rin. "Sesshoumaru-sama."

"What is it, Jaken?"

The toad lay down prostrate. "The other lords have all sent messages for you to notify them when you get back. They wish to talk to you about the treaties and…umm…"

"What is it? Do not waste my time with this nonsense."

"Theywanttotalktoyouabouthowit'stimeforyoutotakeamate," he said in one breath.

"Fine. Send out messengers saying that I am home and that I will only stay here for two months before I leave again."

"Of course, milord," Jaken replied belatedly, seeing how Sesshoumaru was already on his way to the garden.

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"Sango…"

"Yes, Miroku?"

"When we find Kagome, will you tell her the good news or can I?"

"I will. You might say it in a way that might make her think bad things."

Miroku pouted. "You're not any fun, my love."

"Oh, well."

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"I can't believe that those two just took off. Why the hell would they just leave?" Inuyasha fumed.

"Who cares as long as I've got you…I mean as long as we have each other." Kikyo continued in a matter-of-fact tone, "There are some jewel shards to the east of here."

Inuyasha picked Kikyo up bridal style and sprinted east.

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Rin was showing Kagome the rose garden she saw before. It looked even better up close. It had a had roses of red, white, yellow, pink, and purple intermixed together and it had a fountain off a dog standing a rocks with the water flowing from between the rocks.

"This is gorgeous."

"My father built it in honor of my mother after they just became mates."

Kagome turned around with a gasp to find Sesshoumaru standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. "If you are tired, I will show you and your pup to your rooms."

"Okay."

Sesshoumaru led Kagome and Shippou back to the castle as Jaken took over watching Rin. Kagome's eyes went wide when she saw the interior of the castle. It was a mixture of Western and Japanese culture. The front doors were solid wood and the rest of the doors in the castle were the regular sliding doors. The entryway had a red oriental rug and the walls had a painting on silk of various subjects, most had three demons, two adults and one boy. The adults, whom Kagome assumed were Sesshoumaru's mother and father, were smiling and watching the little boy in most of them. Kagome caught a glance of demon servants every now and then as they continued through the maze of hallways. 'Good thing there are so many servants,' Kagome thought, 'otherwise I'd be sure to lose my way.'

They finally stopped in front of a door by a painting of just the female demon and the little boy.

"This will be your room. The pup's room is right next to it and they are joined together," Sesshoumaru stated as he opened the doors. It had a western style bed with royal blue, silk bed coverings and pillows. The rug in here was also blue, only it had moons on it. Most of the paintings in this room were of the little boy.

"Who are those demons?" Kagome asked, pointing at the only portrait in the room with all of the demons.

"The female is my mother and the little boy is myself when I was young."

"You were so cute," Kagome giggled.

Sesshoumaru elegantly raised one eyebrow. "Why are you laughing?"

"Because you were so cute back then and now you're really…" Kagome trailed off as she realized she was just about to say 'handsome.' Instead she continued, "stoic. I have a hard time believing that cute little boy is you, that's all."

Sesshoumaru smirked. 'Does she really think that I didn't notice her pause there?'

"What are you smirking about?"

"That is none of your business."

"Yes it is because you are scaring Shippou and myself," she retorted.

"I'll send a servant for you at supper. You can either stay in here or go explore."

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A few hours later, Kagome finally gave up trying to get back to her room and went to find Shippou. She noticed a door slightly open and opened it even more. She almost jumped up and down when she realized it was a library. The whole room had dozens of shelves full of books and scrolls in almost every language possible.

After she found a book that looked interesting and just settled down to read, a servant came in. "Supper is done. Please, follow me," she said bowing. "My name is Sutaasafaia and I will be your servant while you are here." She looked like she was a dog demon. She had blonde hair with blue streaks and really blue eyes that Kagome thought might change color with her mood. She was about three inches taller than Kagome and a little thinner. 'She must workout or fight a lot. Probably both,' Kagome thought as she followed Sutaasafaia to the dining hall.

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Next on 'Corrupted Plans': Supper and training starts.

Why'd you cut it off so soon? -LR

Because my back hurts and I'm lazy. Sesshoumaru. You can have your punching bag back. -LFF

NO!!!!!!!! -LR

Then don't bug me, you little rat or I'll let Shippou and Rin play with you. -LFF

If you don't mind me asking, why does your back hurt? -Kagome

My horse kicked me right by my hip and it's swollen up. AND this Saturday is the State Solo and Ensemble and I have to get up early and actually walk and…God help me. -LFF

You baby. -LR

* Lilfrozenfire kicks Landraf over to where Sesshoumaru is watching Rin and Shippou. * There you go. Do whatever you want with him. Or it. -LFF