Kiyomisa: Okay, time for responding to reviewers! *takes deep breath*

Lipana: I'm sorry for misusing Kimi but that's what my dictionary said ^-^'

Kate: There will be more I/K and Ry/U, I promise ^-^

Sasali: Ahhh thank you so much for the piccies! Ayame's a bit cuter than I pictured her, but it works ^-^ and I loooooove suggestions ^_~

Totally-wicked: Eeep! I'll get you I/K fluff as soon as possible! *hides behind Ryoga and Sesshoumaru*

Notaningen: I hope you get to go to a convention too, and yes the chapter was too short, but when it ends it ends and I can't help it ~.~

Kaylana: I'm sorry for the cliffhanger, but I want to know what happens next just as much as you do! *glares at cast* They won't tell me! And thank you soooooo much for putting me on your fav's list! *hugs*

DemonBlade: o^-^o thankie for the comments…I didn't know I could write mystery o.o but I'm happy that I can ^-^

Jaid: I liked the fluff scenes too ^-^ I need to write more on those couples

FlameRaven: I have no idea if something bad is going to happen, the cast won't tell me >.< p> NobodyinParticular: Comments like yours make me write more ^-^

Lynnxlady: I like Ryoga too. Have ever since the video-game before I knew what anime was ^_~

Rusco: Ryoga's sooooo cool! I think his name means something like 'well-fanged', which fits perfectly. Hmm…fangs…oh uh, yeah. I've also been a fan of Ryo/Ukyo since the game ^-^

Mysticnight: Yeay it's humorous! *dances little jig*

Abby-kitty: I have a plot?? Kewl! Tsank-yuu for adding me to your favs list '^^'! *hug*

Kitty Demon: Break up Inu/Kagome!!!???? Never!!!

Kiyomisa: Whew! That's everyone from the last two chappies ^-^ Sorry if stuff like this bores you, but I personally enjoy it so yeah…uki! On with the story (finally!)

* * *

Ranma woke later that evening to find that he had sometime lain down and Akane had somehow snuggled into his arms. Normally, when he was forced into such close proximity with a girl, he'd be extremely nervous and try to get away as soon as possible…

But there was something about the way Akane looked as she continued to sleep peacefully in his arms that made him feel warm and comfortable. "Well, at least she's not injured this time…" he smiled to himself as he brushed some of her bangs out of her eyes.

Akane murmured in her sleep and snuggled a bit closer, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "Eep! Akane, yer nose is cold," Ranma said reproachfully as he shifted slightly, his arm falling asleep under Akane's weight.

"Well if you'd stop moving and let me stay where I was, it'd be warmer," she mumbled, still half-asleep as she put her nose back where it had been.

Ranma blinked in surprise. Normally if Akane had found herself in this position she would've malleted him and screamed hentai for the entire world to hear. Maybe it was the slightly cool spring evening, affecting both of them.

"What time is it?" Akane murmured through a yawn after a bit. Ranma glanced at the window.

"After dark…I wonder where the others are?" he said with a small frown as he noticed that He and Akane were the only ones in the room they had secured for the night.

"Hmm?" Akane lifted her head just enough to glance around the room before putting it back in the crook of his neck. "They probably got some hint of Naraku and chased after it. They'll be back soon. Just as well, it's quieter without them."

"You're right."

They both looked up as the door began to open, and Akane stiffened and started to move away from Ranma. Frowning, he tightened his grip on her. She'd made this bed and now she'd have to lie in it.

"Ahhhh! Hot-spring perfect thing for relaxing," Shampoo's high voice floated in as she and Mousse stepped into the room. Both had wet hair, from which little wisps of steam would rise.

"Mmm…I wouldn't exactly call that 'relaxing', though it was very nice," Mousse teased, poking her lightly in the side, making her squeal and jump to the side.

"Mousse!" She glared at him before looking at Ranma and Akane, cuddled together. She didn't even bat an eye. "Ranma, where everyone?"

Ranma shrugged, deciding to brazen it out. "Dunno. You're the first ones we've seen."

"Hmm, that's odd. It's very late, I'd've thought they'd all be asleep by now," Mousse pondered, brown eyes narrowing slightly.

"And just where were you two?" Akane demanded. Shampoo smiled mischievously and Mousse grinned secretively.

"The hot-springs."

"Airen, Shampoo go to bed now. Get up early, look for clues."

"You're right. Goodnight, Ranma, Akane."

"Night."

"Yeah, good night."

Mousse and Shampoo fell asleep quickly, leaving Ranma and Akane awake.

"Akane, why'd you do that?" Ranma asked quietly.

"Do what?" Akane replied, a little nervously Ranma thought.

"You tried to get away from me as soon as they walked in, why?"

Akane bit her lip uncertainly. "I-I'm not sure. Reflex I guess…"

"Reflex!?" Ranma still managed to keep his voice low.

"Hai, reflex! Haven't you ever noticed that, whenever we get close to each other, and we get along, something happens to ruin it all?"

Ranma frowned. "Well, Mousse n' Ryoga n' Kuno were always pickin' fights with me, and Ucchan, Shampoo, Kodachi n' Kuno were tryin' to glomp me…but, Kodachi n' Kuno aren't here n' Mousse n' Shampoo are happy with each other…"

"But Ukyo still cares about you, and Ryoga's hated you since middle school."

"Yeah but Ucchan's backed off a lot, and Ryoga's been a lot mellower since that first fight. C'mon Akane…couldn't we at least enjoy it while it lasts?"

Akane had always been one of the few people who could resist Ranma's charming, puppy-like baby-blue eyes, but tonight, warm and secure in his arms, she was no exception.

"Hai, we can."

* * *

The first two thoughts Meinu had upon waking were 'soft' and 'warm'. Letting her eyes remained closed for the moment, she stretched and yawned, hoping that what she thought she remembered were just remnants of a dream.

"It's about time you woke up," a surly, nasal voice sneered.

Meinu's eyes shot open and she found herself staring at the toad-like creature that claimed to be Sesshoumaru's vassal. "Where am I?" she inquired, her voice little more than a whisper.

Jaken snorted. "You are in Sesshoumaru-sama's castle of the western lands. You should be grateful, not many are allowed here."

Meinu sat up indignantly, clutching the sheets to her for support. "Grateful!? You kidnapped me!"

"If you hadn't spoken to Sesshoumaru in such a way, he wouldn't have lost his temper and made this mistake." Jaken was glaring loath fully at her, but not even Meinu could be afraid of the little toad.

"Maybe if he hadn't acted so overbearingly arrogant, I wouldn't have said that!"

Jaken looked downright furious. "How dare you! Sesshoumaru-sama is a great youkai-lord! He has no need for stupid little girls and useless bitches like you!"

Both Meinu and Jaken froze as a throat was cleared warningly from the door. The great youkai-lord of the western lands stood there, an intense look of displeasure on his face. His glowing eyes were narrowed down to slits and his eyebrows were drawn in what would have been a wrathful expression if it hadn't been so cold.

"That is enough, Jaken," he whispered like a thunderbolt. Jaken gulped nervously and knelt down, touching his forehead to the floor as he clutched the sword of dual heads close to him as if it would protect him.

"H-hai Sesshoumaru-sama!"

"Leave us, you have other duties to attend to."

The toad's face scrunched up in disgust for the briefest moment before the respectful, scared expression came back and he hurried away. Sesshoumaru watched him carefully until he was out of sight. He turned back to Meinu, who blushed and clutched the silk sheets tighter to her.

"It would be better if you did not goad him," he told her, and Meinu suddenly felt guilty for causing trouble for the handsome youkai before her. Frowning to herself, she forcefully pushed the guilt out of the way. This was no time to relapse into servitude, she reminded herself sternly.

"I said nothing but the truth. You kidnapped me," she accused.

A delicate eyebrow raised in philosophical knowledge. "Really? Is it possible to steal that which is already yours?"

Meinu could feel heat rising to her cheeks as she shivered at the words. "I-I am not yours," she bit out, relying on indignant anger to keep her from backing down completely. The small amount of attention she needed to keep her transformation up wavered, and her ears returned to those of a dog's, the same soft caramel as her hair.

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed at her. In a flash he was before her, holding her chin firmly in his hand. "I disagree, my pet. I claimed you in the forest; such a claim is a vow. And I do not break my vows. "

"What if I do not agree to marry you?" she whispered in the last threads of her defiance.

A long, delicate fingernail traced the curve of her neck. "Then I'm afraid I will have to eliminate you as a traitor to your lord."

Meinu could stand his gaze no longer and she closed her eyes as frightened, helpless tears began to well up and fall. She froze as something warm brushed across her cheeks, wiping away the tears. Her eyes blinked open only to see Sesshoumaru calmly, gently licking the tears from her face. A surprised, frightened and pleading whimper rose from her throat unbidden and Sesshoumaru stopped cleaning her tears to kiss her.

It was not a harsh kiss, but it was not a gentle one either. He was firm and in control, once again claiming her as his, in an entirely to intoxicating way. But Meinu did not melt; she would not give him the satisfaction of seducing her.

Sesshoumaru broke the kiss sooner than he wanted to. "You are free to wander the castle, and my servants are your servants. But should you try to escape, I will have to punish your disobedience."

That said he stood up and left, leaving Meinu with her confused, frightened thoughts.

* * *

Sesshoumaru stood on his balcony in his private quarters, glaring at the autumn sky, which was a warm, clear blue that was distressingly similar to Meinu's eyes.

He snarled to himself, allowing his emotions to surface now that he was alone. It wasn't good. He was beginning to become intrigued with the little dog. He wanted to know what made her resist him so willfully, even when servitude seemed almost ingrained within her.

Sesshoumaru had never lacked for bed-partners, his station and looks had ensured that. But he'd never felt the need to learn about the countless youkai he'd lain with. With Meinu, he wanted her to be his, completely and utterly his, her body mind and soul.

It was a terrifying feeling, and Sesshoumaru did not like it. This is getting dangerous…perhaps I should eliminate her while I still can… but an image of Meinu holding Rin, both smiling contentedly, rose to his mind and he scowled once more. When did I get so…sentimental, he thought bitterly, suddenly sick of the beautiful day outside. He slammed the shutters shut and sat in a grand, purple-velvet chair before his fireplace. But he could not escape the traitorous thoughts there, and he remained brooding in his room for the rest of the day.

* * *

Kouga narrowed his eyes at the castle on the mountain before him. This was where Sesshoumaru had taken that bitch Meinu. He glanced over his shoulder at Ayame, who was looking at him impatiently, arms crossed over her chest.

"So what's your great plan, Kouga?" she inquired sarcastically. Kouga glared at her.

"We go in, get the bitch and leave."

Ayame blinked rapidly at him. "But how?"

"We go in, get the bitch and leave," Kouga repeated impatiently.

Ayame glared at him, green eyes glittering dangerously. "What, you want us to just stride in through the front door? All two of us against who knows how many youkai in that castle, not to mention Sesshoumaru himself?"

"We can take them, they're jus' dogs," Kouga replied stubbornly.

"Baka!" Ayame yelled at him. "There's too many of them for just the two of us! We'd do better going on a reconnaissance, watching them, figuring out their patterns and then kidnapping the girl back!"

Kouga blinked at her. "Okay then."

Ayame faltered. "N-nani?"

"I said okay. We'll do it your way. Somethin' wrong wit' that?"

"Iie, it's just…you've never listened to me before…"

"Well I'm listenin' now. So how do we do this reconnaissance thing?"

Ayame sighed and made him sit down and pay attention to the diagrams she began drawing in the dirt to explain it to him.

* * *

Kiyomisa: Okay, that's not really a cliffhanger, is it? *hides behind Ryoga just in case* Hehehe ^-^' I'll get back to the main group in the next chapter. I'm sorry this is taking so long to get out, but hey, this chappie's longer than the others, yeay ^-^! Umm...yeah…so I'll see ya next chapter!