Disclaimer: Yes! I own Inuyasha! Yay! *A mob of angry lawyers and fans swarm after foureyedbookworm* Okay, okay. I admit it! I don't own Inuyasha! Waaah! So sad! Please don't sue me! Sniff, sniff.
Author's Note: Okies, this update was fast, ne? Aren't you all so proud of me? It's a pretty long chapter! Have fun reading! Please review! Responses to last time's reviews are at the end of the chapter! Thank you!
The Course of True Love Ne'er Did Run Smooth…
Chapter 20
"Hello brother," Sesshoumaru said. Inuyasha decided that since the human child did not seem to be frightened by her close proximity to the youkai, he should feel no threat from his brother for now.
He hesitantly returned the greeting, "H-hello, Sesshoumaru. I've come to take Kagome back." He did not say 'home', for home was where Kagome was. The hanyou continued, "I-I guess I should thank you for saving Kagome's life, back in the cave. But why did you do it?" A small measure of suspicion crept back into his voice.
Before Sesshoumaru could answer, Rin ran up to Inuyasha fearlessly and replied in a cheerful voice, "Hi! My name's Rin! You look like Sesshoumaru-sama, but you're not as pretty as him!" All three adults sweat-dropped at Rin's short, frank statement, and stared with their attention fixed upon the small child as she went on chatting to Inuyasha, who had a half-amused, half-bewildered look on his face. "Rin asked Sesshoumaru-sama to save Kagome-chan. Sesshoumaru-sama told Rin that the cave was going to collapse, but Rin didn't want Kagome-chan to get hurt because she's my best friend! Right, Kagome-nee-chan?"
The younger girl smiled sweetly up at the older girl, who responded, "Hai! Rin, you're the best little sister that I ever had!"
"Honto?" Rin asked.
"Really!" Kagome smiled warmly at her. Rin beamed her cute gap-toothed smile as she flung herself at the high school girl and hugged her tightly. After they had finished hugging, Kagome turned to the two brothers, who were standing in an uncomfortable silence as they each guarded their charges.
"Um, you guys, I have a proposal to make. Since Rin and I are good friends, and we don't want either of you to get hurt, can't you two form a temporary truce or something? Like no fighting for at least awhile? Or no negative comments or actions while Rin and I are together? Please?" Kagome and Rin each smiled disarmingly at their respective guardians, melting the dog demons' hearts with their charm. The siblings glanced at each other from the corner of their eyes. Then, as if in unspoken agreement, they both turned toward each other and shook hands.
Inuyasha flashed his brother a peacemaking smile, and asked quietly, "Friends?" Sesshoumaru nodded, and the corners of his mouth tipped upwards into an apprehensive smile. "Friends," He agreed firmly.
While the brothers spent time settling their differences, Kagome had led Rin off to a space farther off, to give them some privacy. Now, seeing that the two dog demons had finished talking, Kagome and Rin walked back hand-in-hand, each carrying a bouquet of wildflowers behind their backs. Rin danced up to Sesshoumaru and presented him with a handful of daisies. She then turned to Kagome and looked at her expectantly.
Kagome blushed a pretty pink, and produced a bouquet of lavender-blue forget-me-nots from behind her back, and thrust them toward a stunned Inuyasha, saying, "Here, I only picked them to keep Rin company, but they're for you…" Rin laughed merrily, while Inuyasha stared, goggled-eyed, at the flowers.
Finally, his expression cleared, and he said softly, his amber eyes shining, "Thank you, Kagome." He chose a single flower and cut it off carefully with his sharp claws. Then, he stepped towards the miko, gently tucked a few loose strands of hair back behind her ear, and placed the flower in her hair, right next to her ear.
Kagome, pleasantly surprised and pleased at his thoughtfulness, whispered, " You're welcome. And thank you, Inuyasha." The dog-hanyou's ears twitched forward to catch every syllable of her voice, and he smiled broadly at her before turning back around to face Rin and Sesshoumaru.
Rin spoke up, "Kagome-chan told me that forget-me-nots stand for tr– "
"Shh!!! Rin-chan!" Kagome interrupted quickly in a flustered voice, "Ah, why don't we just go and see if Sango, Miroku and Shippou are alright?"
Inuyasha turned to Kagome and shook a scolding finger at her, grinning wickedly, "Nh-uh-ah! Kagome, don't try to change the subject! Go ahead, Rin, tell us what forget-me-nots are supposed to stand for!" Rin smiled innocently while Inuyasha advanced towards her.
"Do you really want to know, Inuyasha-kun?" Inuyasha nodded vigorously, while Kagome made frantic shushing gestures behind his back. "Mmm, k, I'll tell you!" Rin beckoned the hanyou closer and down with her hand, then cupped it in front of her mouth and spoke, "Forget-me-nots stand for– " Here her voice dropped down to a whisper that even Sesshoumaru had trouble hearing. But both demons had heard, oh yes, very clearly, and a variety of different emotions flickered across their faces.
Sesshoumaru's face showed surprise, then disbelief, then acceptance, then amusement, and finally approval. On the other hand, Inuyasha's face showed surprise, then joy and excitement, which soon disappeared as he hid his emotions and said, "Feh!" Inside, his heart was hammering loudly against his ribcage, but all he said was, "Come on, woman, we have to go!"
Kagome let confusion show on her features before understanding dawned upon her. Inuyasha did not, would not, let Rin's words affect him. Maybe he didn't really care, or believe…She sighed with resignation and walked towards Inuyasha. As she clambered onto his back, she spoke, "Well, Sesshoumaru, Rin-chan, it's been nice meeting you! Thank you for your hospitality. I hope we'll meet again next time as friends. Ja ne!" Inuyasha gave a brief nod toward his brother, which Sesshoumaru promptly returned.
Rin waved at the pair and called out, "Bye-bye, Kagome-chan! Come back and visit again soon! Bye Inuyasha-kun!" Kagome waved back at them, then watched as the two figures grew smaller and smaller as they flew higher and farther away from the ground. The two flew silently until they reached the invisible barrier, and Inuyasha called out a greeting to Sango, Miroku, and Shippou, who had been pacing anxiously in front of the castle since he'd left.
Shippou jumped up and down excitedly, yelling, "Yay! Kagome-chan's back!" Sango and Miroku smiled in relief. Kagome got off Inuyasha's back and walked towards her friends. Inuyasha reached out a hand to stop her from hitting the barrier, but she passed through it without any trouble. Completely oblivious to her amazing feat, the miko ran up to Sango and hugged her, while the kitsune jumped up onto her shoulder and pranced about excitedly. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, and stared hard at the air, as if trying to figure out why Kagome could pass through the barrier. But he decided not to question Kagome's ability to pass through the shield unhindered, and motioned to the others to stay silent about it. So they whole group greeting her gladly, and together, they headed back towards Kaede's village. Unbeknownst to the travelers, someone had been watching them:
Sesshoumaru turned from the castle window, where he had been watching Inuyasha and Kagome reunite with their companions. He nodded thoughtfully and said to himself in a satisfied tone, "It is just as I thought it would be. The gate only admits those of inuyoukai blood and the soul mates of those of Inutaisho's heritage. So if this Sesshoumaru is not wrong, then that strange miko girl, Kagome, shall be my brother's future mate."
A/N: Hey again! I would like to thank all my reviewers, and the following messages show just a small portion of my appreciation and gratitude towards all my readers! Arigatou!
aBacus: Thanks for reviewing every single chapter! I'm glad you like it! Inu/Kag forever, right? ^_^
Anzu-chan: Hi! I'm glad you agree with me about not making Sesshoumaru fall in love with Rin! Thanks for reviewing! I don't really deserve it!
whatsinaname: Um, sorry to keep you waiting! The Sess/Rin fic is not yet in the making, but maybe if I have time, I'll try one!
chickittychick: Yay! Glad ya liked it! I updated soon, as you wished! Keep it going with your story! Don't disappoint me! And yes, Sesshoumaru and Setsuna are a great couple too! Love the thing about Rin being his 'pup'!
Kin-chan Pandun: Whoa! Calm down! Here's food for the soul! ^_~ Keep reading and reviewing! Thanks!
LilFoxGirl: Hiya! Thanks for the review! Love your story, YMMR, too! Heh, heh, my vocab's not that great, but I try! ^_^ Chapter 21 will be finished soon!
Thunk: Yay! Three reviews all at once! You're too kind… But me luvs reviews!
Yuki: Thank you!!! More chappies just for you!