A/N : Yay..!! It's only a month after the last chapter this time.... Pray for me please... XP

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Chapter 09 ~ The Closer Bond : 1,054 words

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Following Sesshoumaru's lead, Kohaku wasn't sure what was going on inside the silver haired inuyoukai.

'Why did he do that? I mean...he could have let him question me and I wouldn't have minded. And where are we going anyway?'

"Kohaku."

Looking up, Kohaku realized that they stopped at a small stream. He stopped shortly beside the older inuyoukai. "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"The fight and the talk. I will not have you repeat that again." It wasn't a request or question. It was a command.

Kohaku raised his eyebrows. "Sesshoumaru-sama...?"

Eventually Sesshoumaru turned to look at him and Kohaku's heart nearly stopped by the intensity of golden amber eyes.

"I forbid you to sacrifice yourself like that again. You're under my command and my protection. I will not let any harm come to those work under me. This Sesshoumaru will not let it."

Kohaku could feel his heart beat quicken at the not-so-subtle-caring words. 'Damn it... down girl....He only pays attention to his subordinate....nothing more, that's all.

Okay..... about the fight. It was the only thing he could think of at that time. Maybe it wasn't a good idea – trying to do it alone and spending nearly all of his strength at that. Maybe Sesshoumaru was angry about the possibility of losing an inuyoukai under his command. But the way he said it....Kohaku couldn't help but shiver at the commanding tone of the older inuyoukai. At the moment, the younger inu-youkai understood exactly why Sesshoumaru was the heir of the Western Land.

He only could nodded. "Forgive me, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Looking to the emotionless face, Kohaku could feel a flicker of...something...inside those amber eyes.

"Your father was wrong."

"Huh...?" He blinked, too confused and... frightened..to do anything but stare at his eyes.

"You have excellent eyes."

Hearing that, a sudden realization dawned upon the younger inuyoukai.

I....opened my eyes....in front of SESSHOUMARU-SAMA!?/

Sesshoumaru's lips lifted up a bit at the corner.

'Alright.....I must be dreaming now....Sesshoumaru-sama is SMILING..... Hells is freezing by now.'

Patting the shorter inuyoukai on his head as he would do a child, Sesshoumaru finally nodded, his face back to the emotionless face it was. "You did well today. I hope you can keep it up, Kohaku."

There was a hint of pride inside that seemingly emotionless tone, Kohaku realized.

Feeling his lips lifted up for the second time that day, Kohaku nodded. "I will. And thank you. Sesshoumaru-sama."

Nodding in response tothe other's answer, Sesshoumaru turned his back and walked back to the hut. "Good. Let's go."

Kohaku chuckled at the instant indifference the other inuyoukai presented before him. "As you wish...Sesshoumaru-sama."

'Maybe....just maybe....'

'He cares more than I realize....'

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After some apologies from Miroku, Kohaku's reassurement, and Sesshoumaru's indifferent grunts, they all began to talk more openly. Sesshoumaru situated himself, as usual, beside Kohaku, at the corner of the hut when the younger inuyoukai engaged himself in conversation.

"So...what were you doing before you arrived earlier, Kohaku-sama?" Miroku asked again.

"We were patrolling the Western Lands borders. I, Sesshoumaru-sama, Inuyasha-sama, Shi-"

And it was at that time he remembered the small kitsune and his loyal dragon.

'Oh shit!! I forget where they are now! Shippou, Ah-Un!!'

Sesshoumaru seemed to know his thoughts as he stated. "Ah-Un must have returned the kitsune to the castle safely."

Kohaku raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"I know."

Deciding that it wouldn't be worth it to deny it, Kohaku simply accepted. "If you say so..."

Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango whispered to each other.

"It seems that something changed between them."

"Kohaku doesn't normally talk like that...."

"Uh...huh...and Sesshoumaru-san let it...."

Kohaku coughed, aware of what they were talking about. "It's already dark outside. Should we be going back to the castle, Sesshoumaru-sama? Inuyasha-sama?"

Everyone noticed the darkening sky from the opened window. Indeed, it was night time already.

Sango frowned at the realization, "Great....and we still haven't found Naraku...."

Miroku grinned at her impatient frown. "Don't worry, dear Sango. We'll find him soon...." And his hand travelled south....

"HENTAI!!!"

-PLAK!!-

Kohaku, Sesshoumaru, and Inuyasha blinked at Miroku's unconscious form sprawled on the floor before them.

Kohaku raised an eyebrow, kneeling before the fallen figure of the monk. "Sango-san...is he alright?"

Sango shrugged, a blush on her cheeks. "His hand is cursed to.... inappropriately touch any woman we cross paths with. I simply deal with it by slapping him. Don't worry, it wasn't that hard..."

Inuyasha snickered at the exchange. "Damn! Is he really a monk?"

All chuckled, even Kohaku had his lips lifted a bit.

Except one person of course....

"Did you just say Naraku?" Sesshoumaru's serious tone ended the chuckling instantly.

Sango blinked. "Yes, I did."

Inuyasha and Kohaku turned in question to the older inuyoukai. "What does Naraku have to do with anything?"

Sesshoumaru continued to stare at Sango, ignoring the question. "What reason do you have for finding this Naraku?"

Sango's eyes hardened at the question. "He's the hanyou who killed all of those who resided in my village and the one who has cursed Miroku's hand. We have been traveling for months looking for him."

Kohaku frowned as his question remain unanswered by the silent inuyoukai. "Sesshoumaru-sama? If I may ask, who's this Naraku?"

He believed that he heard that name mentioned somewhere in the castle before...

Sesshoumaru turned to him, frowning, not answering his question. "It seems that the monk and the taijiya may have more useful information than we expected. We will go back and discuss this with Father."

Kohaku nodded and turned back to Sango and the now conscious Miroku. "Forgive us, Sango-san, Miroku-san. I'm afraid we will be taking you two along with Kirara to the castle of the Western Lands. I hope you don't mind."

Sango frowned at his sudden request. "You're not....in league with Naraku, are you?"

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "This Sesshoumaru assures you, Naraku is an enemy of the Western Lands and the other lands as well."

Miroku smiled and bowed slightly at the youkai. "Then we feel honored to help with anything we can do. As long as our goals are the same of course."

"Good. Let's go."

Tbc....

A/N : Until next time!! ^___^ - Izky