Hidey-ho there yall. I'm back. *ignores rude groans* Anyways. I dunno how this chapter is gonna turn out. I hope its good, but we'll just have to see where my evil little fingers take me now. Ok? OK! Now on with the story.

Everyone was pretty much-----

Shippo:*Taps me on the shoulder* Hey, you forgot the disclaimer.

Me:Eh...... Shippo what're you doing here?

Shippo: Uhhhh I'm in this story right?

Me:Noooooooo.... your in my new Inuyasha story! Duh! I told you that on the sheet of paper.

Shippo: *looks at paper* Oh...haha yah sorry. *runs away*. KAGOME! INUYASHA TOLD ME THE WRONG WAY AGAIN!

Kagome: SIT BOY!

Inuyasha: @______________________@ OW!

Me: _________ that SUCKS ASS!)

Vash and Meryl had grudgingly woken up Grayfall and Layne a few moments later after the weird encounter with Nixie and Zac next door. Well atleast they had tried to wake up Layne, but she owuldn't get up. The Stampede and Stryfe family curse. Go figure. So in the end Grayfall had ended up carrying Layne downstairs (again). Behind them Vash and Meryl were communticating through the eyes. Vash's dancing merrily and Meryl's rolling but sparkling happily at the same time. Grayfall was finally starting to show his emotions to Layne. WEll, when she was sleeping or incapacitated anyways.

They reached downstairs, Vash and Mery sitting on the couch. Grayfall, not wanting to wake Layne up (she hadn't gotten much sleep lately) sat in a chair, Layne cradled in his lap.After a few glances among the adults Vash started talking.

"Alright heres what going on, tommorow at dawn Layne me your dad and Knives are going to escort Layne to the cave as fast as we can. Then we're gong to guard her while she releases all of the other plants. Sound good."

Grayfall looked at him for a moment, taking everything in.

"Wait a second, what about us?Me...." Grayfall asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. Legato took over at this point.

"You Nixie and Zac are staying here. We don't want to endanger you lives anymore than necessary," he explained trying to be the voice of reason. Grayfalls eyes flashed adamantly at this.

"What? Endanger OUR lives? Thats absurd --"

"That was our decision, we don't want you kids to risk your anymore thatn necessary. Stay here Grayfall, help Wolfwood protect Nixie Zac Meryl and Millie." Legato said. His tone suggested that this was a command not to be disobeyed. But grayfall wasn't done.His eyes were flashing dangerously, and his face had a grim look on.

"Oh realy. You don't want us 'kids' to risk our lives huh?!?! WEll WHAT ABOUT LAYNE! SHE IS OBLIGATED TO GO! YOU THINK I WANT TO CHANCE LOSING HER AGAIN?!?!?" Grayfall screamed. He was aware of everything he was saying. He was also aware that Layne had woken up in his lap.

"Grayfall, Grayfall calm down!"

"NO! THIS IS SO STUPID! YOU THINK YOUR GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE AGAINST MAXIMUS RIGHT? WRONG! LOOK HOW FAST HE GO TO LAYNE AND SHE IS A FAMOUS OUTLAW, MORE WANTED THAN VASH! I'M THE ONE WHOS SEEN ALL THE STUNTS SHE CAN PULL!"

Grayfall was shaking all over in rage, trying to calm himself. He hadn;t had an outbrust like this in quite a while. It was strange though.... why was he reacting so violently to this?

*Because you LOVE Layne, thats why.You've admitted it yourself,and conciously too!* Grayfall subconcious whispered to him. With a jolt he realized that was true. he had admitted it to himself,, if not to a concious Layne. By now he had calmed down.

Layne was looking up at him, blinking in wide eyed surprise.

"You watched me THAT late at night?" she asked incredulously, blushing at the same time. Grayfall smirked at her discomfort.

"Your not the only nocturnal person around here Layne,"

Across the room the others were baffled. Grayfall had been calmed from one of his infamous outbursts in a matter of minutes. It usually took them 3 hours just to get him to stop yelling everytime he talked.

*He must really love Layne. But I still can't let him come, it's too dangerous,* Legato thought.

"Layne you should get to sleep,we're leaving early tommorow morning,"Vash said, picking Layne up from Grayfalls lap and exiting the house. Meryl soon followed. Layne was still quite sleepy, but she did gaze at her family in wonder. She never thought she would have this in her life. All the times she had been pained by grief, sh had imagined something like this. Herself, her mother, her father, and her older sister. Lorienth.

Layne immedeatly sat bolt right up in Vash's arms, nearly causing him to topple over.Soemthing wasn't right, and it was nagging at her mind. Like it had been doing in her sleep. The same feeling she had had in 'Eden'.

"Lorienth, where is Loreinth?!?" Laytne asked in a panicked whisper. Meryl glanced at her daughter sidelong.

"I believe she stayed home, I dunno what she was doing," Meryol said, smiling ominously like there was some huge secret about it. Layne's eyes widened and she hopped out of Vash's arms. Ignoring all pain she shot towards her house like a bullet.

"HEY WEHRE-" Meryl started to yell, but was cut off by Vash who looked very tense.

"Meryl,"

"Yeah Vash,"

"Go get the ohters, and fast. Get everyone you can, quickly,"

"WHy?"

"Just go, hurry up,"

"Ok," Meryl said running towards Millies to comply. Fear had griped her heart now. She could feel that somehting was wrong. Horribly terribly wrong.

CLIFFIE! HAHAH Sorry I shouldn't have done it, but I wanted to have this cliffhanger soooo bad. And my evil little fingers wouldn't let me do ohterwise. Oh well, I'm off to pack. I leave tommorow. Ack. Almot time to start 'school'. Thats gonna be fun. Stupid brothers.Ok I'm gonna go write the next chapter now, so you won't kill me.

CIAO R.K.