Title: Falling Stars
Author: Celyia (ladycelyia@aol.com)
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi still owns all. :-)
Dedication: To all those who enjoy the journey.
Note: I admit it. This chapter is needlessly silly. Okay, stupid really. :-) So just ignore it. I know I plan to. Chapter 14 should be up soon.
-Cel.
Chapter 13
The little girl sat there, alone with the ancient youkai, her lower lip trembling as she listened to the gnarled creature's thoughtless words.
The man frowned, his purple-clad arms folded across his chest, as he watched the village's children stare at the child with the dirty face and wild black hair.
Children shouldn't be forced to sit still on a beautiful day like this, he decided as he stopped dead in his tracks. Children should be running around, playing, enjoying their lives when they can. Even, the man thought as his brown eyes scanned over the small form in the torn kimono, little human girls who tag along after youkai lords.
"Shippou," the man said suddenly, his mouth pulling into a mischievous smile as he turned to the young youkai who stood to his side. Like the other children of the village, Miroku noted with pleasure, Shippou too seemed to be intrigued by the unusual girl.
"Yeah?" the kitsune asked, his wide eyes turned up to look at the houshi with interest.
The man smiled innocently as he inclined his head towards the little girl.
"She looks bored."
The kitsune bounced excitedly, his words coming out in a rush. "But the toad is SUCH a jerk! Maeki and Satsumi already tried to get her to play with them and all, but the toad just bopped them on the head with that ugly staff."
Miroku nodded his head in agreement as he watched his prey continue to scold the child. "Yeah, he hasn't stopped lecturing her all morning."
Smiling widely as he tapped his index finger against his mouth, Miroku stared gamely at the little boy. "What do you think, Shippou, if we show the toad how things are done in our village?"
The kitsune shouted happily as he leapt up on the man's strong shoulder. Tilting his head close to Miroku's mouth, Shippou grinned evilly as he listened to the priest's cunning mind at work.
* * *
"Oh, and then what would this servant do?" the toad youkai sighed wearily as he sat upon the ground. With the thin shaft of the Staff of Heads laid across his lap, Jaken rested his pointed chin in his small hands.
Rin winced as she watched the tears of anguish run down the old youkai's face. Normally, she would have just ignored Jaken's outburst, but today was different.
If it hadn't been for her, Sesshoumaru-sama wouldn't be hurt.
Silently, she passed the handkerchief the demon lord insisted she always keep (for some reason, he didn't like her to use the sleeves of her kimono) to the grieving youkai.
Jaken accepted the dirty white rag and dabbed quite daintily at his eyes.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! Sesshoumaru-sama!" the retainer cried, his rough voice choked up.
The little girl frowned violently, her lower lip trembling as she tried desperately not to cry.
"Oh, great youkai!" a man stepped humbly before them, his dark purple robes flowing about his legs gracefully even as he bowed deeply. "You are Jaken, the loyal retainer of the great Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Rin tilted her head curiously as she watched Jaken puff up with pride.
"I am, lowly human."
The man bowed again.
"I have been sent by the great Sesshoumaru-sama," the priest said. "He bids you to return to him but said for you to leave the child here."
Jaken was up in a flash, nearly bouncing around at the idea that his master needed him.
Rin sniffled, at once ecstatic that the youkai was okay but also devastated that Sesshoumaru-sama didn't wish to see her. He really was upset! Sadly, she looked up at the young priest, her eyes watering with unfamiliar tears as she watched him speak with Jaken.
The priest, in the middle of yet another bow, seemed to notice the little girl's devastation. The full weight of his brown-eyed gaze fell upon the girl for merely a moment, causing the little girl to blush slightly.
She wasn't used to humans looking at her with such kindness in their eyes.
"In fact," the man continued as he seemed to be watching Rin out of the corner of his eye, "Sesshoumaru-sama mentioned that he wanted you to start preparing for an attack and I was to show you what needed to be done."
Her head shot up as she looked at houshi warily. Sesshoumaru-sama would never say something like that! Why, this priest was trying to trick them! The little girl opened her mouth to say that very thing when the strangest thing happened.
The priest winked at her!
"We should do as Sesshoumaru-sama bid…"
"Yes, yes," the youkai muttered enthusiastically, his small, green hands rubbing together.
It didn't make sense.
An uncustomary frown tugged at her lips as Jaken turned a stern glare at the girl.
"Rin, stay here. I must go see to Sesshoumaru-sama."
"But Jaken!" the girl started, only to stop abruptly as she felt a small paw tug on the bottom of her kimono. "Rin will stay here," she finished, her curiosity overwhelming her sense as she watched the small hand that protruded from the ugly bush that had suddenly appeared beside her. Bush? That thing wasn't like any plant she had ever seen before!
Instinctively, she stepped in front of the bush, smiling innocently at the short youkai. But Jaken, who was completely oblivious, only nodded, the Staff of Heads clutched to his chest as if it were a deformed teddy bear. With a curt nod to one another, the two adults hurried off, leaving a somewhat bewildered Rin all alone in the center of the village, with only her thoughts and a strange, pawed bush for company.
* * *
The toad demon looked utterly confused, his wrinkled snout twitching almost painfully even as he crawled out of the freezing water.
"This humble servant doesn't understand…"
Miroku bit back a laugh as he waited until the little creature's back was turned and sprayed a whiff of Kagome-sama's wonderful liquid flower water upon the gnarled youkai.
No. Still didn't help.
The gods (and undoubtedly Kagome) would forgive him his trespass, that Miroku had no doubt as he twisted off the strange soft glass cap (Kagome-sama called the pink tinted stuff plastic) and dumped the entire contents upon the creature's head.
"Hey! What was THAT for, you disgusting human?"
"The great Sesshoumaru-sama desired that you go on a secret mission…" Miroku banished the amusement from his face as he watched the doubt flicker through the youkai's bulging eyes.
"But why did Jaken take a bath for it? I have already taken one this year!"
Miroku tsked sadly as he shook his head. "The sacrifices we must make to please our masters."
The youkai snorted, shrugging his thin shoulders as he sniffed the air. "It is the loyal servant's place to sacrifice for his master. But oh, Sesshoumaru-sama! He kills Jaken to experiment. He tells Jaken to watch the child. He won't let Jaken deal with the humans that run rampant. And he tells Jaken to take a bath twice in one year… And what is that dreadful smell?"
Miroku chuckled as he patted the youkai amiably upon the back.
"You, my friend. You can't think of entering human company without taking one…"
The youkai blanched suddenly, his green face turning strange shades of white and orange almost simultaneously.
"Sesshoumaru-sama wishes his humble servant to deal with… with humans?" he asked, his mouth scowling at the last word as if it were a blasphemous curse.
Almost merrily, Miroku nodded.
"Yes, my friend! In fact, the great Sesshoumaru-sama wants you to do as the humans do, in fact!"
The youkai looked suspiciously at the priest.
"You lie."
Miroku smiled innocently as he pulled a bundle out from behind his back and tossed it at the youkai retainer.
"I'm offended. I am, sir, a monk."
Jaken tilted his head as he quickly examined the contents of the bundle, only to look completely horrified as he pulled the clothing free.
"Monks. They are religious leaders, are they not?"
Miroku nodded slowly, forcing his face to look as devout as possible.
The retainer sighed as he looked at the clothing.
Seizing opportunity, the houshi pounced on it as if he were a tomcat hunting a particularly dense magpie.
"I know this is a great sacrifice… no, no. Turn it around. You don't wear it like that. Oh, good. It fits. Yes, it's a great sacrifice (for us all), but Sesshoumaru-sama insisted that you were the only one he trusted to find out this information…"
The youkai's head perked up, instantly alert as he looked almost dreamily at the monk. Miroku smiled warily, forcing himself to ignore the shivers that ran up his spine.
"Sesshoumaru-sama said that?"
"Yes, my friend."
"Then this humble servant will not disappoint him… hmm… does this make me look fat?" the toad demon asked uncertainly as he turned around in the woman's kimono.
"Yes."
"Oh, good. I would not want to appear attractive to the males of your species."
"I don't think you will have to worry about that."
The toad looked slightly affronted for a moment, but then nodded slowly.
"Are you certain the females of this village are planning a revolt?"
The monk nodded emphatically as he placed a short wig upon the scaly, bald head.
"That's our mission, Jaken-sama, if you choose to accept it. We need to infiltrate the females' headquarters and retrieve all the information Sesshoumaru-sama needs…"
"And me dressing up as a female will help how…?"
"I do not question your master, Jaken-sama. I am surprised you do," the houshi scolded, only to bite away the smile that wanted to curve his lips. "All I know is that a cute human child can go places that a brave youkai retainer cannot."
"Cute human child? Like… like Rin?"
Miroku laughed suddenly, unable to help himself. "Yes, exactly like Rin. Be sure to act like the girl and I'm certain we will gather all the information your master needs."
The youkai sighed fatalistically as he bent down to pluck a dying daisy from the forest floor. Grumbling the entire time, he placed it within the folds of his kimono.
"Let us hurry, houshi. Lead the way to these rebellious human females."
Miroku grinned as he straightened the youkai's black wig. "Yes, Jaken-chan…"
"Jaken-chan?"
"Human child, remember? Oh, and remember, act cute."
Cute? Miroku wondered at his words as he looked down upon the small youkai.
In Jaken's case, that was quite impossible. But he could use that to his favour, Miroku decided as he grinned evilly down at the retainer. Yes, this may work out after all.
Response to reviews:
Monmon: Woo HOO! :-) Thanks! I'm way glad you think so. :-)
Pianita: Oh, YEAH! Inuyasha *is* in this story too. I keep forgetting to use him. *innocent look* Thanks!
Steph: Oooo. Do I have a chapter coming up for you. ;-) Muahaha. I can't wait to see your response to Chap 14.
Sd_Tenshi: Thanks! :-) Sorry about taking so long to update!
Brooke: Shhhhhh! Don't be so perceptive. *GRIN* You'll see what happened!
Chibi Tenshi: I'll try to be slightly more faster than a snail next time. (Yeah, riiiiight. ;-) Yeah, Tamysan's stories are just *wonderful*! I've been checking nearly every day to see if she has updated Demon Lord's Lair yet, but no such luck! *pout* By the bye, consider reading Shun'u's incredible Full Circle fic. That's the one that made me like Sess/Kagome.
Vernal Equinox: *laugh* Thanks! :-) Yeah, Sess is gonna have to redeem himself. Somehow. *tries to look innocent but only manages to look guilty as hell* Oh! As a matter of fact, I *was* in San Jose for a day. Campbell to be specific. My family has a house in Modesto so I go up to San Jose often... perhaps once to twice a month.
Stormlight: Thank you, m'dear! :-)
Natalie: *bounce* Thank you! I'm glad you think so!
Voldersnort: *grin* Hmm.. Kagome and Sesshoumaru? or Kagome and Inuyasha... decisions, decisions, decisions. *tease* Okay, to be somewhat serious and to put your mind at ease- you should have no doubt where its heading with the next chapter. ;-) Feel better?
Ice-Chan: Silly Sesshou! Life would be SO much easier if he just asked instead of assuming.
Winter: Danke! That's such a great compliment! Thank you so much!
Sammy-chan: *grin* Oh, I thought you made perfect sense. He is a pretty bad actor, isn't he? :-)
Capilaria: *bounce* Thank you so much! That's really sweet of you. *innocent look* I think I just may take your advice.
Neurofreez: Oh, no worries. I'm not very clear. I've been writing this at usually about 3-4am so I'm not always coherent. Thanks! Hope you like what's coming up. ;-) I really hope so!
No One: I suspect Sesshoumaru may find out why Kagome does not like to be called that. :-) We still have a good 8 chapters (I think) to go before this is finished, so we've got time to delve into that later. As for the speed, sorry about that! I'll try to do better!
No.99: You are suuuuch a flatterer. And I completely adore you for that. :-) Thank you so much! And I agree! I think I prefer K/Sess fics but I'm still waiting for IY/Ka to have a happy ending in the manga! And don't be quiet! I bounce each time I read your review!
SR Silverhawk: Thanks! :-) I wish I could write longer, but I'd end up taking even more time to update than I already do! *faint* Hope you don't mind too much!
BakaBaka: Exactly! The way I see it, Sesshoumaru has never given a damn about Kagome in the past so although he may have heard her name mentioned, he probably wouldn't pay too much attention to it. Somehow, I think that makes things a bit more fun when it comes to a romance.
Rymsie: Wow. :-) Stuff like that really makes me feel cool. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!! I hope you continue to enjoy this. I'd hate to disappoint! As for good old Romeo and Juliet... perish the thought. Didn't they die in the end? *innocent look* No, no. This story is based roughly off a more successful literary couple. Kudos if you can figure out who! :-) Thanks, Rymsie!
I think you'll like next chapter. Hang in there and try to blank this terrible one from your mind!
Author: Celyia (ladycelyia@aol.com)
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi still owns all. :-)
Dedication: To all those who enjoy the journey.
Note: I admit it. This chapter is needlessly silly. Okay, stupid really. :-) So just ignore it. I know I plan to. Chapter 14 should be up soon.
-Cel.
Chapter 13
The little girl sat there, alone with the ancient youkai, her lower lip trembling as she listened to the gnarled creature's thoughtless words.
The man frowned, his purple-clad arms folded across his chest, as he watched the village's children stare at the child with the dirty face and wild black hair.
Children shouldn't be forced to sit still on a beautiful day like this, he decided as he stopped dead in his tracks. Children should be running around, playing, enjoying their lives when they can. Even, the man thought as his brown eyes scanned over the small form in the torn kimono, little human girls who tag along after youkai lords.
"Shippou," the man said suddenly, his mouth pulling into a mischievous smile as he turned to the young youkai who stood to his side. Like the other children of the village, Miroku noted with pleasure, Shippou too seemed to be intrigued by the unusual girl.
"Yeah?" the kitsune asked, his wide eyes turned up to look at the houshi with interest.
The man smiled innocently as he inclined his head towards the little girl.
"She looks bored."
The kitsune bounced excitedly, his words coming out in a rush. "But the toad is SUCH a jerk! Maeki and Satsumi already tried to get her to play with them and all, but the toad just bopped them on the head with that ugly staff."
Miroku nodded his head in agreement as he watched his prey continue to scold the child. "Yeah, he hasn't stopped lecturing her all morning."
Smiling widely as he tapped his index finger against his mouth, Miroku stared gamely at the little boy. "What do you think, Shippou, if we show the toad how things are done in our village?"
The kitsune shouted happily as he leapt up on the man's strong shoulder. Tilting his head close to Miroku's mouth, Shippou grinned evilly as he listened to the priest's cunning mind at work.
"Oh, and then what would this servant do?" the toad youkai sighed wearily as he sat upon the ground. With the thin shaft of the Staff of Heads laid across his lap, Jaken rested his pointed chin in his small hands.
Rin winced as she watched the tears of anguish run down the old youkai's face. Normally, she would have just ignored Jaken's outburst, but today was different.
If it hadn't been for her, Sesshoumaru-sama wouldn't be hurt.
Silently, she passed the handkerchief the demon lord insisted she always keep (for some reason, he didn't like her to use the sleeves of her kimono) to the grieving youkai.
Jaken accepted the dirty white rag and dabbed quite daintily at his eyes.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! Sesshoumaru-sama!" the retainer cried, his rough voice choked up.
The little girl frowned violently, her lower lip trembling as she tried desperately not to cry.
"Oh, great youkai!" a man stepped humbly before them, his dark purple robes flowing about his legs gracefully even as he bowed deeply. "You are Jaken, the loyal retainer of the great Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Rin tilted her head curiously as she watched Jaken puff up with pride.
"I am, lowly human."
The man bowed again.
"I have been sent by the great Sesshoumaru-sama," the priest said. "He bids you to return to him but said for you to leave the child here."
Jaken was up in a flash, nearly bouncing around at the idea that his master needed him.
Rin sniffled, at once ecstatic that the youkai was okay but also devastated that Sesshoumaru-sama didn't wish to see her. He really was upset! Sadly, she looked up at the young priest, her eyes watering with unfamiliar tears as she watched him speak with Jaken.
The priest, in the middle of yet another bow, seemed to notice the little girl's devastation. The full weight of his brown-eyed gaze fell upon the girl for merely a moment, causing the little girl to blush slightly.
She wasn't used to humans looking at her with such kindness in their eyes.
"In fact," the man continued as he seemed to be watching Rin out of the corner of his eye, "Sesshoumaru-sama mentioned that he wanted you to start preparing for an attack and I was to show you what needed to be done."
Her head shot up as she looked at houshi warily. Sesshoumaru-sama would never say something like that! Why, this priest was trying to trick them! The little girl opened her mouth to say that very thing when the strangest thing happened.
The priest winked at her!
"We should do as Sesshoumaru-sama bid…"
"Yes, yes," the youkai muttered enthusiastically, his small, green hands rubbing together.
It didn't make sense.
An uncustomary frown tugged at her lips as Jaken turned a stern glare at the girl.
"Rin, stay here. I must go see to Sesshoumaru-sama."
"But Jaken!" the girl started, only to stop abruptly as she felt a small paw tug on the bottom of her kimono. "Rin will stay here," she finished, her curiosity overwhelming her sense as she watched the small hand that protruded from the ugly bush that had suddenly appeared beside her. Bush? That thing wasn't like any plant she had ever seen before!
Instinctively, she stepped in front of the bush, smiling innocently at the short youkai. But Jaken, who was completely oblivious, only nodded, the Staff of Heads clutched to his chest as if it were a deformed teddy bear. With a curt nod to one another, the two adults hurried off, leaving a somewhat bewildered Rin all alone in the center of the village, with only her thoughts and a strange, pawed bush for company.
The toad demon looked utterly confused, his wrinkled snout twitching almost painfully even as he crawled out of the freezing water.
"This humble servant doesn't understand…"
Miroku bit back a laugh as he waited until the little creature's back was turned and sprayed a whiff of Kagome-sama's wonderful liquid flower water upon the gnarled youkai.
No. Still didn't help.
The gods (and undoubtedly Kagome) would forgive him his trespass, that Miroku had no doubt as he twisted off the strange soft glass cap (Kagome-sama called the pink tinted stuff plastic) and dumped the entire contents upon the creature's head.
"Hey! What was THAT for, you disgusting human?"
"The great Sesshoumaru-sama desired that you go on a secret mission…" Miroku banished the amusement from his face as he watched the doubt flicker through the youkai's bulging eyes.
"But why did Jaken take a bath for it? I have already taken one this year!"
Miroku tsked sadly as he shook his head. "The sacrifices we must make to please our masters."
The youkai snorted, shrugging his thin shoulders as he sniffed the air. "It is the loyal servant's place to sacrifice for his master. But oh, Sesshoumaru-sama! He kills Jaken to experiment. He tells Jaken to watch the child. He won't let Jaken deal with the humans that run rampant. And he tells Jaken to take a bath twice in one year… And what is that dreadful smell?"
Miroku chuckled as he patted the youkai amiably upon the back.
"You, my friend. You can't think of entering human company without taking one…"
The youkai blanched suddenly, his green face turning strange shades of white and orange almost simultaneously.
"Sesshoumaru-sama wishes his humble servant to deal with… with humans?" he asked, his mouth scowling at the last word as if it were a blasphemous curse.
Almost merrily, Miroku nodded.
"Yes, my friend! In fact, the great Sesshoumaru-sama wants you to do as the humans do, in fact!"
The youkai looked suspiciously at the priest.
"You lie."
Miroku smiled innocently as he pulled a bundle out from behind his back and tossed it at the youkai retainer.
"I'm offended. I am, sir, a monk."
Jaken tilted his head as he quickly examined the contents of the bundle, only to look completely horrified as he pulled the clothing free.
"Monks. They are religious leaders, are they not?"
Miroku nodded slowly, forcing his face to look as devout as possible.
The retainer sighed as he looked at the clothing.
Seizing opportunity, the houshi pounced on it as if he were a tomcat hunting a particularly dense magpie.
"I know this is a great sacrifice… no, no. Turn it around. You don't wear it like that. Oh, good. It fits. Yes, it's a great sacrifice (for us all), but Sesshoumaru-sama insisted that you were the only one he trusted to find out this information…"
The youkai's head perked up, instantly alert as he looked almost dreamily at the monk. Miroku smiled warily, forcing himself to ignore the shivers that ran up his spine.
"Sesshoumaru-sama said that?"
"Yes, my friend."
"Then this humble servant will not disappoint him… hmm… does this make me look fat?" the toad demon asked uncertainly as he turned around in the woman's kimono.
"Yes."
"Oh, good. I would not want to appear attractive to the males of your species."
"I don't think you will have to worry about that."
The toad looked slightly affronted for a moment, but then nodded slowly.
"Are you certain the females of this village are planning a revolt?"
The monk nodded emphatically as he placed a short wig upon the scaly, bald head.
"That's our mission, Jaken-sama, if you choose to accept it. We need to infiltrate the females' headquarters and retrieve all the information Sesshoumaru-sama needs…"
"And me dressing up as a female will help how…?"
"I do not question your master, Jaken-sama. I am surprised you do," the houshi scolded, only to bite away the smile that wanted to curve his lips. "All I know is that a cute human child can go places that a brave youkai retainer cannot."
"Cute human child? Like… like Rin?"
Miroku laughed suddenly, unable to help himself. "Yes, exactly like Rin. Be sure to act like the girl and I'm certain we will gather all the information your master needs."
The youkai sighed fatalistically as he bent down to pluck a dying daisy from the forest floor. Grumbling the entire time, he placed it within the folds of his kimono.
"Let us hurry, houshi. Lead the way to these rebellious human females."
Miroku grinned as he straightened the youkai's black wig. "Yes, Jaken-chan…"
"Jaken-chan?"
"Human child, remember? Oh, and remember, act cute."
Cute? Miroku wondered at his words as he looked down upon the small youkai.
In Jaken's case, that was quite impossible. But he could use that to his favour, Miroku decided as he grinned evilly down at the retainer. Yes, this may work out after all.
Response to reviews:
Monmon: Woo HOO! :-) Thanks! I'm way glad you think so. :-)
Pianita: Oh, YEAH! Inuyasha *is* in this story too. I keep forgetting to use him. *innocent look* Thanks!
Steph: Oooo. Do I have a chapter coming up for you. ;-) Muahaha. I can't wait to see your response to Chap 14.
Sd_Tenshi: Thanks! :-) Sorry about taking so long to update!
Brooke: Shhhhhh! Don't be so perceptive. *GRIN* You'll see what happened!
Chibi Tenshi: I'll try to be slightly more faster than a snail next time. (Yeah, riiiiight. ;-) Yeah, Tamysan's stories are just *wonderful*! I've been checking nearly every day to see if she has updated Demon Lord's Lair yet, but no such luck! *pout* By the bye, consider reading Shun'u's incredible Full Circle fic. That's the one that made me like Sess/Kagome.
Vernal Equinox: *laugh* Thanks! :-) Yeah, Sess is gonna have to redeem himself. Somehow. *tries to look innocent but only manages to look guilty as hell* Oh! As a matter of fact, I *was* in San Jose for a day. Campbell to be specific. My family has a house in Modesto so I go up to San Jose often... perhaps once to twice a month.
Stormlight: Thank you, m'dear! :-)
Natalie: *bounce* Thank you! I'm glad you think so!
Voldersnort: *grin* Hmm.. Kagome and Sesshoumaru? or Kagome and Inuyasha... decisions, decisions, decisions. *tease* Okay, to be somewhat serious and to put your mind at ease- you should have no doubt where its heading with the next chapter. ;-) Feel better?
Ice-Chan: Silly Sesshou! Life would be SO much easier if he just asked instead of assuming.
Winter: Danke! That's such a great compliment! Thank you so much!
Sammy-chan: *grin* Oh, I thought you made perfect sense. He is a pretty bad actor, isn't he? :-)
Capilaria: *bounce* Thank you so much! That's really sweet of you. *innocent look* I think I just may take your advice.
Neurofreez: Oh, no worries. I'm not very clear. I've been writing this at usually about 3-4am so I'm not always coherent. Thanks! Hope you like what's coming up. ;-) I really hope so!
No One: I suspect Sesshoumaru may find out why Kagome does not like to be called that. :-) We still have a good 8 chapters (I think) to go before this is finished, so we've got time to delve into that later. As for the speed, sorry about that! I'll try to do better!
No.99: You are suuuuch a flatterer. And I completely adore you for that. :-) Thank you so much! And I agree! I think I prefer K/Sess fics but I'm still waiting for IY/Ka to have a happy ending in the manga! And don't be quiet! I bounce each time I read your review!
SR Silverhawk: Thanks! :-) I wish I could write longer, but I'd end up taking even more time to update than I already do! *faint* Hope you don't mind too much!
BakaBaka: Exactly! The way I see it, Sesshoumaru has never given a damn about Kagome in the past so although he may have heard her name mentioned, he probably wouldn't pay too much attention to it. Somehow, I think that makes things a bit more fun when it comes to a romance.
Rymsie: Wow. :-) Stuff like that really makes me feel cool. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!! I hope you continue to enjoy this. I'd hate to disappoint! As for good old Romeo and Juliet... perish the thought. Didn't they die in the end? *innocent look* No, no. This story is based roughly off a more successful literary couple. Kudos if you can figure out who! :-) Thanks, Rymsie!
I think you'll like next chapter. Hang in there and try to blank this terrible one from your mind!