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: Originally, this chapter and the next were combined, but I'm can't get a certain conversation right so I split it up to give you something to read while I fiddle with this. With any luck, Chapter 15 (which will be fairly short) will be posted in the morning.
-Cel.
Chapter 14
Kaede shook her head slowly as she listened to the sounds of the demon lord stirring.
"You shouldn't be moving so soon," the old woman stated, her worn form suddenly at his side. Ignoring his scowl (really, he is just as bad as his brother), Kaede slowly helped the youkai into a sitting position.
"Since you wouldn't allow me to stitch up your wounds, the clots won't hold through any activity," the miko said even as she examined the bandages around Sesshoumaru's injured stomach.
"Hmm. These will have to be changed," Kaede looked up at the demon, only to jump slightly back at the intensity of the golden eyes that stared back down at her.
My, he is quite a handsome fellow indeed.
Huffing away the stray thought, Kaede placed her hands upon the youkai's muscled chest, only to look up inquisitively at Sesshoumaru as he brushed away her hands.
"I, Sesshoumaru, will see to those who would call themselves my companions," he intoned, each word a powerful command that would have intimidated a lesser miko.
"They are quite fine," Kaede grumbled. "But you are not. Your injuries won't heal…" she stopped suddenly as she realized the youkai wasn't listening. Curiously, she looked at his face and those magnetic eyes that were staring dully ahead.
No. That wasn't quite right. If she didn't know better, Kaede would have sworn that the nefarious youkai was examining his fallen brother out of the corner of his eye.
Biting back a chuckle as she noticed a hint of emotion (it couldn't be concern? The animosity between the brothers was legendary even a half-century before) that furrowed the moon-emblazoned brow, Kaede lowered her head with false humility.
"But you may be correct. You are a full demon lord and will heal a lot faster than your brother," Kaede paused as she stole a look up at the youkai. No, if it is concern, then he hides it well. She waited a moment for him to reply, to ask anything, but Sesshoumaru was silent.
"Inuyasha, on the other hand, took poorly to the burst of miasma. In fact, I'm quite surprised he survived the attack," she continued, leaving the rest unsaid. She watched his face carefully as he processed this information, but the beautiful features never changed.
Sighing, she turned away from the youkai and looked down at her unconscious patient. Her chest ached as she recognized the disappointment that suddenly usurped her heart. For a brief moment there, Kaede had been certain that there was more to the hanyou's older brother than they had originally assumed. That maybe he cared for something other than his own skin. That perhaps something drove him other than a desire to possess a sword he should never have.
Instead, he was like a beautiful doll- cold and lifeless, indifferent to those who held him dear.
"The child," he said abruptly, interrupting the old miko's thoughts with a start. "The child lives?"
Kaede cocked her head with interest as she turned to face Sesshoumaru. The youkai's voice, so even and modulated, sounded even now as if he were disinterested in the little Rin's fate, but the clenched fists at his sides belied his tone.
"Thanks to the efforts of Inuyasha and Kagome, the child is alive and healthy," Kaede said, watching as the fists slowly relaxed and loosened.
Sesshoumaru nodded once as he strode to the exit, his magnificent tail flying gracefully with his movement. Injured or not, the youkai was definitely quite a feast for the eyes.
Unaccountably, he paused at the exit, his face impassive even as he stared straight ahead.
"For your care, I, Sesshoumaru, thank you."
And with those simple words, the youkai lord stalked out of the hut, leaving the old miko alone to her surprise.
* * *
"Hey," the bush spoke suddenly, its leaves shivering as it spoke. "What's your name?"
The girl cocked her head as she considered the plant carefully.
"Rin. Did you know you have a paw?"
The bush chuckled, its branches moving slowly at the girl. "That's because I'm a kitsune."
The little girl raised an eyebrow as she looked at the small bush. Slowly, she walked around the bush slowly, tilting her head this way and that as she looked it over.
"You kind of look like a bush to me."
"That's what you think. Watch!" the bush promised, only to disappear in a puff of smoke.
Rin giggled as a small boy appeared before her, his red hair mussed as he bowed low.
"Told you I wasn't a bush," the kitsune grinned even as he dropped a small leaf inside a pouch.
"You're weird," Rin proclaimed as she examined the boy carefully. "Hey, you are a youkai."
The boy grinned mischievously, his eyes lighting up as he looked the girl over.
"Yeah. You scared?"
Rin shook her head wildly, giggling as nudged the boy. "Why would I be scared? You are weird and silly."
"Am not."
"You are, too. What's your name?"
The kitsune bowed again. "Shippou."
"Who was that man from before? The one Sesshoumaru-sama sent?"
Shippou shook his head as he hopped down off the rock. "That's Miroku. He's a houshi, you know. And Sesshoumaru didn't send him. Sesshoumaru is still sleeping."
Rin frowned as she considered this information. "He's still asleep? But Sesshoumaru-sama never sleeps this much."
Shippou shrugged his shoulders as he gestured for the girl to follow.
"That's just what Kagome told me last night," he said, the wind ruffling his hair as he waited for Rin to catch up.
Rin ran up to Shippou's side, her eyebrows knitted together as she examined the boy carefully. "Can we see him? Make sure he's okay?"
Shippou shook his head as he started walking slowly to one of the huts. "Naaaah. Kaede-baachan won't let us in but I guess we could go ask Kagome. She'd know. She knows everything. And if she doesn't know, she'd find out. She's good at that, you know."
Rin nodded, feeling reassured by Shippou's confident manner. Suddenly, she smiled as she watched the small kitsune bounce and dart away towards one of the crumbling huts.
She cocked her head as she waited, only to feel strangely happy as the boy turned around and waved.
Giggling with a joy that seemed to fill her chest, Rin broke into a sprint as she went to catch up with the child youkai.
* * *
She stood alone, the wind whistling around her until her hair wavered in the breeze.
She lifted her chin defiantly, biting her lip as she willed with all her soul for the strength not to cry.
"Come on!" Inuyasha shouted, his eyes sparkling with happiness for once as he waved at her. "Come on!"
She couldn't help it.
She burst into tears as she ran forward, her arms outstretched as she reached for the young hanyou.
Abruptly, she froze in her steps as she watched the beautiful woman with the dead eyes walk right into Inuyasha's waiting arms.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered, her breath coming harder even as she found herself unable to move from the woman's shadow.
"Inuyasha!" she screamed, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the hanyou nuzzle his face in the beautiful brunette's neck.
The brunette just turned back to Kagome and smiled.
"Kikyou…"
Kikyou nodded, a cruel smile twisting her lips as she looked at Kagome.
"They will never see you," Kikyou started even as she cuddled in closer to the completely oblivious Inuyasha. "Their eyes only look at you to see the remnants of me that lie within. They will never hear you, other than to hear my voice in your words. They search for you in hopes of finding me."
"You lie," Kagome spit out, her hands clenched to her sides as she forced herself to walk forward out of Kikyou's overwhelming shadow.
"Inuyasha!" the young woman screamed, her voice hoarse as she willed him to look at her. To see her. To prove Kikyou wrong.
The dog demon looked up, his golden eyes clouded over with confusion as they settled upon her lithe form.
"Who are you?" he asked warily. "Kikyou?"
"This is not happening. It's not true," Kagome growled as she ignored the tears that insisted on welling up in her eyes as Inuyasha turned away from her and back to the breast of the dead woman.
Kikyou shook her head slowly, the cruelty melting away from her eyes for just a moment as she considered the girl.
"Is it, Kagome? I had this soul first in this world. You walk in my time, in my life, 500 years away from your own. You are the trespasser here, not me. Go back to your own time, Kagome. Go back to a world that will only see the Kagome in this soul, and not the Kikyou hiding. Go back."
"I…" Kagome lifted her hands to her face, wincing as light glittered through her transparent fingers.
"You aren't real here. Go back."
"I am real," Kagome insisted as she now ignored Inuyasha and instead focused completely on the dead woman.
"He doesn't love you."
"That will change."
"It hasn't changed in three years. What makes you think tomorrow will be any different?"
"Because I love him."
Kikyou laughed, the sound harsh yet heartbreaking. "Do you really?"
Kagome closed her eyes as she felt the world begin to melt away.
"I used to."
The older miko placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, the contact at once freezing and comforting.
"Go on. Don't be content being Inuyasha's Kikyou."
"I'm Kagome."
"Then prove it. Be Kagome. Don't settle for less."
The girl stood silently, suddenly alone as she looked around at the world that was drowning in the haze and bright light.
"I am Kagome."
Kagome sat up, pushing the tattered sleeping bag from her body. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she yawned as she looked around the room, only to jump as she saw the two pairs of eyes staring back at her.
"You awake yet, Kagome-chan?"
The young woman felt her lips tug into an impromptu smile as she looked at the two earnest faces that peered so curiously at her.
"Hi, Shippou-chan. You met Rin already?"
The little girl's brown eyes widened as she looked at the kitsune.
"You're right," Rin whispered behind a hand to her partner in crime. "She does know everything."
Shippou grinned cockily.
"Told you so."
"You told her what, Shippou-chan?" Kagome broke in as she peeled the sleeping bag away.
"Told her you'd know how Inuyasha's brother was doing."
Kagome nodded as she pushed herself to her feet, hiding the sudden grimace as she remembered his words to her last night. "Oh, Rin-chan. He's okay. He just needs some sleep right now."
The little girl with the precocious brown eyes just cocked her head doubtfully.
"Promise?"
Kagome kneeled to the ground as she brushed a straggle of black hair away from Rin's pretty face. "I promise," she intoned gravely. "In fact, I'll take you to see him in a little bit, okay? We'll just let him get a little more sleep first because he's not feeling so well."
The little girl exhaled, her shoulders falling forward as if a million tons had been taken off of her.
"Really?"
"I promise," Kagome couldn't help but smile. "But for right now, go outside you two. I got to get cleaned up and dressed first, okay?"
Rin nodded violently, her hand suddenly latched onto Shippou's shoulder as she dragged him outside.
"Okay!"
Kagome giggled as she watched the children leave, her heart suddenly feeling lighter as she realized that although Inuyasha may never see her as anything more than Kikyou's shadow, the children would never see her as anything less than Kagome.
And for one brief moment, that's all that seemed to matter.
Response to reviews:
Monmon: Man, is Rin haaaard to write. :-) Its hard to even attempt to stay in character with a char you aren't really familiar with. As for Sesshoumaru's reaction, *grin* wait until Chap 15.
Kimmy: Poor Jaken indeed. I have the sneaking suspicion that things are gonna get a little worse for our favourite retainer before they get better. :-)
Ranma Inverse: Thanks, cutie! *grin* And no more just pondering! Write! Write! Write! Seriously! You come up with all these totally cool stories anyway, so I can't wait to see what damage you'd do to a *grin* Kagamaru if you tried. :-)
Lady Rissa: I'm glad you like, Ms Humble Reader. :-) Thank you!
Steph: *grin* Chapter you'll probably like will be 15. :-) Well, I hope you'll like it, anyway. As for Sango... *grin* hmm. I don't know. Maybe Jaken-chan will find her for us. *innocent look* And man, I'm glad you think it was funny. I wasn't sure if I could pull it off. :-)
MoonAngel: Thanks so much! Coming from a writer as talented as you, that's way cool. Thanks!
Misao: *grin* *doesn't mind so much if Miroku keeps his hands to himself* *drool* And thank you! I certainly hope you do enjoy the next chapter!
Voldersnort: Your apprehensions lessened yet? ;-) Darn, guess not. Chapter 15! I promise, enlightenment in Chapter 15!
Vernal Equinox: How funny! So I've been visiting your city all along! What a trip. :-) And man, you are such a flatterer! I so hope this next chapter lives up to your expectations.
Brooke: Woo! I don't think Jaken would agree with you, but then, I don't think his opinion means as much as yours, anyway. ;-) Thanks!
Kylara: Thank you *SO* much! I can't tell you how flattered I feel now! *bounces around like Thumper on LSD* As for the Kikyou/Kagome thing, I completely forgot about the smell deal. IY *did* say that, didn't he? But that's cool. Kikyou still hasn't made an appearance in this story (just a case of mistaken identity before) and probably won't. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Chelsea Deanne: Miroku is pure evil, isn't he? :-) As for Sesshoumaru, I suppose in a demon's long life, he sees many strange things... but somehow, I suspect this scenario would probably take the cake. :-)
Sammy-chan: *GRIN* *evil laugh* Danke!
Winter: You have totally made my night. :-) Thank you!
Okay, folks. Keep your eyes peeled for Chapters 15 and 16. In those two, *EVERYTHING* changes. I seriously hope you like where it goes!
Author: Celyia (ladycelyia@aol.com)
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi still owns all. :-)
Dedication: To all those who enjoy the journey.
Note: Originally, this chapter and the next were combined, but I'm can't get a certain conversation right so I split it up to give you something to read while I fiddle with this. With any luck, Chapter 15 (which will be fairly short) will be posted in the morning.
-Cel.
Chapter 14
Kaede shook her head slowly as she listened to the sounds of the demon lord stirring.
"You shouldn't be moving so soon," the old woman stated, her worn form suddenly at his side. Ignoring his scowl (really, he is just as bad as his brother), Kaede slowly helped the youkai into a sitting position.
"Since you wouldn't allow me to stitch up your wounds, the clots won't hold through any activity," the miko said even as she examined the bandages around Sesshoumaru's injured stomach.
"Hmm. These will have to be changed," Kaede looked up at the demon, only to jump slightly back at the intensity of the golden eyes that stared back down at her.
My, he is quite a handsome fellow indeed.
Huffing away the stray thought, Kaede placed her hands upon the youkai's muscled chest, only to look up inquisitively at Sesshoumaru as he brushed away her hands.
"I, Sesshoumaru, will see to those who would call themselves my companions," he intoned, each word a powerful command that would have intimidated a lesser miko.
"They are quite fine," Kaede grumbled. "But you are not. Your injuries won't heal…" she stopped suddenly as she realized the youkai wasn't listening. Curiously, she looked at his face and those magnetic eyes that were staring dully ahead.
No. That wasn't quite right. If she didn't know better, Kaede would have sworn that the nefarious youkai was examining his fallen brother out of the corner of his eye.
Biting back a chuckle as she noticed a hint of emotion (it couldn't be concern? The animosity between the brothers was legendary even a half-century before) that furrowed the moon-emblazoned brow, Kaede lowered her head with false humility.
"But you may be correct. You are a full demon lord and will heal a lot faster than your brother," Kaede paused as she stole a look up at the youkai. No, if it is concern, then he hides it well. She waited a moment for him to reply, to ask anything, but Sesshoumaru was silent.
"Inuyasha, on the other hand, took poorly to the burst of miasma. In fact, I'm quite surprised he survived the attack," she continued, leaving the rest unsaid. She watched his face carefully as he processed this information, but the beautiful features never changed.
Sighing, she turned away from the youkai and looked down at her unconscious patient. Her chest ached as she recognized the disappointment that suddenly usurped her heart. For a brief moment there, Kaede had been certain that there was more to the hanyou's older brother than they had originally assumed. That maybe he cared for something other than his own skin. That perhaps something drove him other than a desire to possess a sword he should never have.
Instead, he was like a beautiful doll- cold and lifeless, indifferent to those who held him dear.
"The child," he said abruptly, interrupting the old miko's thoughts with a start. "The child lives?"
Kaede cocked her head with interest as she turned to face Sesshoumaru. The youkai's voice, so even and modulated, sounded even now as if he were disinterested in the little Rin's fate, but the clenched fists at his sides belied his tone.
"Thanks to the efforts of Inuyasha and Kagome, the child is alive and healthy," Kaede said, watching as the fists slowly relaxed and loosened.
Sesshoumaru nodded once as he strode to the exit, his magnificent tail flying gracefully with his movement. Injured or not, the youkai was definitely quite a feast for the eyes.
Unaccountably, he paused at the exit, his face impassive even as he stared straight ahead.
"For your care, I, Sesshoumaru, thank you."
And with those simple words, the youkai lord stalked out of the hut, leaving the old miko alone to her surprise.
"Hey," the bush spoke suddenly, its leaves shivering as it spoke. "What's your name?"
The girl cocked her head as she considered the plant carefully.
"Rin. Did you know you have a paw?"
The bush chuckled, its branches moving slowly at the girl. "That's because I'm a kitsune."
The little girl raised an eyebrow as she looked at the small bush. Slowly, she walked around the bush slowly, tilting her head this way and that as she looked it over.
"You kind of look like a bush to me."
"That's what you think. Watch!" the bush promised, only to disappear in a puff of smoke.
Rin giggled as a small boy appeared before her, his red hair mussed as he bowed low.
"Told you I wasn't a bush," the kitsune grinned even as he dropped a small leaf inside a pouch.
"You're weird," Rin proclaimed as she examined the boy carefully. "Hey, you are a youkai."
The boy grinned mischievously, his eyes lighting up as he looked the girl over.
"Yeah. You scared?"
Rin shook her head wildly, giggling as nudged the boy. "Why would I be scared? You are weird and silly."
"Am not."
"You are, too. What's your name?"
The kitsune bowed again. "Shippou."
"Who was that man from before? The one Sesshoumaru-sama sent?"
Shippou shook his head as he hopped down off the rock. "That's Miroku. He's a houshi, you know. And Sesshoumaru didn't send him. Sesshoumaru is still sleeping."
Rin frowned as she considered this information. "He's still asleep? But Sesshoumaru-sama never sleeps this much."
Shippou shrugged his shoulders as he gestured for the girl to follow.
"That's just what Kagome told me last night," he said, the wind ruffling his hair as he waited for Rin to catch up.
Rin ran up to Shippou's side, her eyebrows knitted together as she examined the boy carefully. "Can we see him? Make sure he's okay?"
Shippou shook his head as he started walking slowly to one of the huts. "Naaaah. Kaede-baachan won't let us in but I guess we could go ask Kagome. She'd know. She knows everything. And if she doesn't know, she'd find out. She's good at that, you know."
Rin nodded, feeling reassured by Shippou's confident manner. Suddenly, she smiled as she watched the small kitsune bounce and dart away towards one of the crumbling huts.
She cocked her head as she waited, only to feel strangely happy as the boy turned around and waved.
Giggling with a joy that seemed to fill her chest, Rin broke into a sprint as she went to catch up with the child youkai.
She stood alone, the wind whistling around her until her hair wavered in the breeze.
She lifted her chin defiantly, biting her lip as she willed with all her soul for the strength not to cry.
"Come on!" Inuyasha shouted, his eyes sparkling with happiness for once as he waved at her. "Come on!"
She couldn't help it.
She burst into tears as she ran forward, her arms outstretched as she reached for the young hanyou.
Abruptly, she froze in her steps as she watched the beautiful woman with the dead eyes walk right into Inuyasha's waiting arms.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered, her breath coming harder even as she found herself unable to move from the woman's shadow.
"Inuyasha!" she screamed, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the hanyou nuzzle his face in the beautiful brunette's neck.
The brunette just turned back to Kagome and smiled.
"Kikyou…"
Kikyou nodded, a cruel smile twisting her lips as she looked at Kagome.
"They will never see you," Kikyou started even as she cuddled in closer to the completely oblivious Inuyasha. "Their eyes only look at you to see the remnants of me that lie within. They will never hear you, other than to hear my voice in your words. They search for you in hopes of finding me."
"You lie," Kagome spit out, her hands clenched to her sides as she forced herself to walk forward out of Kikyou's overwhelming shadow.
"Inuyasha!" the young woman screamed, her voice hoarse as she willed him to look at her. To see her. To prove Kikyou wrong.
The dog demon looked up, his golden eyes clouded over with confusion as they settled upon her lithe form.
"Who are you?" he asked warily. "Kikyou?"
"This is not happening. It's not true," Kagome growled as she ignored the tears that insisted on welling up in her eyes as Inuyasha turned away from her and back to the breast of the dead woman.
Kikyou shook her head slowly, the cruelty melting away from her eyes for just a moment as she considered the girl.
"Is it, Kagome? I had this soul first in this world. You walk in my time, in my life, 500 years away from your own. You are the trespasser here, not me. Go back to your own time, Kagome. Go back to a world that will only see the Kagome in this soul, and not the Kikyou hiding. Go back."
"I…" Kagome lifted her hands to her face, wincing as light glittered through her transparent fingers.
"You aren't real here. Go back."
"I am real," Kagome insisted as she now ignored Inuyasha and instead focused completely on the dead woman.
"He doesn't love you."
"That will change."
"It hasn't changed in three years. What makes you think tomorrow will be any different?"
"Because I love him."
Kikyou laughed, the sound harsh yet heartbreaking. "Do you really?"
Kagome closed her eyes as she felt the world begin to melt away.
"I used to."
The older miko placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, the contact at once freezing and comforting.
"Go on. Don't be content being Inuyasha's Kikyou."
"I'm Kagome."
"Then prove it. Be Kagome. Don't settle for less."
The girl stood silently, suddenly alone as she looked around at the world that was drowning in the haze and bright light.
"I am Kagome."
Kagome sat up, pushing the tattered sleeping bag from her body. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she yawned as she looked around the room, only to jump as she saw the two pairs of eyes staring back at her.
"You awake yet, Kagome-chan?"
The young woman felt her lips tug into an impromptu smile as she looked at the two earnest faces that peered so curiously at her.
"Hi, Shippou-chan. You met Rin already?"
The little girl's brown eyes widened as she looked at the kitsune.
"You're right," Rin whispered behind a hand to her partner in crime. "She does know everything."
Shippou grinned cockily.
"Told you so."
"You told her what, Shippou-chan?" Kagome broke in as she peeled the sleeping bag away.
"Told her you'd know how Inuyasha's brother was doing."
Kagome nodded as she pushed herself to her feet, hiding the sudden grimace as she remembered his words to her last night. "Oh, Rin-chan. He's okay. He just needs some sleep right now."
The little girl with the precocious brown eyes just cocked her head doubtfully.
"Promise?"
Kagome kneeled to the ground as she brushed a straggle of black hair away from Rin's pretty face. "I promise," she intoned gravely. "In fact, I'll take you to see him in a little bit, okay? We'll just let him get a little more sleep first because he's not feeling so well."
The little girl exhaled, her shoulders falling forward as if a million tons had been taken off of her.
"Really?"
"I promise," Kagome couldn't help but smile. "But for right now, go outside you two. I got to get cleaned up and dressed first, okay?"
Rin nodded violently, her hand suddenly latched onto Shippou's shoulder as she dragged him outside.
"Okay!"
Kagome giggled as she watched the children leave, her heart suddenly feeling lighter as she realized that although Inuyasha may never see her as anything more than Kikyou's shadow, the children would never see her as anything less than Kagome.
And for one brief moment, that's all that seemed to matter.
Response to reviews:
Monmon: Man, is Rin haaaard to write. :-) Its hard to even attempt to stay in character with a char you aren't really familiar with. As for Sesshoumaru's reaction, *grin* wait until Chap 15.
Kimmy: Poor Jaken indeed. I have the sneaking suspicion that things are gonna get a little worse for our favourite retainer before they get better. :-)
Ranma Inverse: Thanks, cutie! *grin* And no more just pondering! Write! Write! Write! Seriously! You come up with all these totally cool stories anyway, so I can't wait to see what damage you'd do to a *grin* Kagamaru if you tried. :-)
Lady Rissa: I'm glad you like, Ms Humble Reader. :-) Thank you!
Steph: *grin* Chapter you'll probably like will be 15. :-) Well, I hope you'll like it, anyway. As for Sango... *grin* hmm. I don't know. Maybe Jaken-chan will find her for us. *innocent look* And man, I'm glad you think it was funny. I wasn't sure if I could pull it off. :-)
MoonAngel: Thanks so much! Coming from a writer as talented as you, that's way cool. Thanks!
Misao: *grin* *doesn't mind so much if Miroku keeps his hands to himself* *drool* And thank you! I certainly hope you do enjoy the next chapter!
Voldersnort: Your apprehensions lessened yet? ;-) Darn, guess not. Chapter 15! I promise, enlightenment in Chapter 15!
Vernal Equinox: How funny! So I've been visiting your city all along! What a trip. :-) And man, you are such a flatterer! I so hope this next chapter lives up to your expectations.
Brooke: Woo! I don't think Jaken would agree with you, but then, I don't think his opinion means as much as yours, anyway. ;-) Thanks!
Kylara: Thank you *SO* much! I can't tell you how flattered I feel now! *bounces around like Thumper on LSD* As for the Kikyou/Kagome thing, I completely forgot about the smell deal. IY *did* say that, didn't he? But that's cool. Kikyou still hasn't made an appearance in this story (just a case of mistaken identity before) and probably won't. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Chelsea Deanne: Miroku is pure evil, isn't he? :-) As for Sesshoumaru, I suppose in a demon's long life, he sees many strange things... but somehow, I suspect this scenario would probably take the cake. :-)
Sammy-chan: *GRIN* *evil laugh* Danke!
Winter: You have totally made my night. :-) Thank you!
Okay, folks. Keep your eyes peeled for Chapters 15 and 16. In those two, *EVERYTHING* changes. I seriously hope you like where it goes!