Kiyomisa: Hey I'm back! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, even if they were pressed on time (Snowgirl and Kaylana ^-^) Yeah…I'm trying to figure out a plot right now…so prepare for filler stuff. (Not like this whole story hasn't been filler but *shrugs*) So yeah!
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"This is really, really weird," Ranma grumbled as he followed the others through the grass. "I can see the grass moving, but I can't see Shampoo, and I can see you guys staring at nothing."
"Well you should be grateful that you can still see the rest of us!" Akane scolded. She was still cross about the fact that a large stick had poked a hole right through the sole of her shoe.
"Merow!" Shampoo said loudly in agreement, just to make Ranma jump.
"Dammit Shampoo don't do that!"
He was rewarded with suppressed chuckling from Mousse and the feel of an invisible tail brushing against his ankles.
Shippo stood up, just barely clearing the grass. "The only scents I can pick up now are Ryoga's and Ukuyo's, do you think they split up?"
Ranma watched the part in the grass saunter over to Shippo and pause.
"Nrrp." She disagreed.
"Most likely the others are flying," Mousse said.
"Ah yes, flying is such a useful thing to be able to do," a snide, female voice drawled. In a swirl of clouds, Kagura, riding her white feather, appeared.
"You!" Mousse snarled. "What are you doing here!?"
"You should be grateful, brat. You've still got a shikon shard in you," Kagura sneered at him.
"Hai hai, Onee-chan is right!" a happy voice said as Jousuiko popped her head up over Kagura's shoulder. Kagura's expression turned dour. "I thought I told you to stay hidden!" she snapped.
Jousuiko blinked in dismay and tears began welling up in her eyes. "G-gomen nasai Onee-chan!!"
"Oh shut up-kuso!!"
Mousse had had enough and had ensnared Kagura with his chain. He jerked he down so she fell heavily on the ground. "You're going to give us some answers!"
"You leave Onee-chan alone!!" the young youkai yelled as water gathered around her in a furious swirl. The gang was washed over with a large wave, but even as a duck, Mousse kept his grip and Kagura couldn't reach any of her feathers to help her.
Unfortunately, the water washed Shippo's ofuda off of Shampoo, who was thrown into Ranma's arms. While Ranma began freaking out, and Akane tried to get the small cat away from her, Kagura got her sibling's attention.
"Jousuiko! The powder!!"
"Oh! Hai!" The blue-haired girl brought out a small pouch and tried to open it. Mousse didn't know what it was, but he wasn't about to let her get away with it. With a warning honk he flew at the girl, still managing to keep the chain around Kagura taught.
"Eeeek!" Jousuiko shrieked and threw the pouch at Mousse in self-defense.
Mousse fell to the ground and Kagura wriggled free of the chain. "Did it work?"
"I think so, Onee-chan," Jousuiko replied warily, not getting close to the duck as he shook his dazed head. When he opened its eyes again, they were a fluorescent green and staring ahead mindlessly.
"Good, it did work. Come 'ere duck."
Mousse flew obediently into her arms and she summoned another large feather.
"Wait!!" Shippo cried out. "Akane!! They're taking Mousse!!"
"Nani!!?" Akane whipped her head around to see the trio disappearing into a swirl of cloud. A loud thunk re-alerted her to Ranma, who in her crazed state had run smack first into a tree.
"Mrrooooowww!" Shampoo yowled in protest as she watched Kagura take Mousse away.
"Shippo, get another ofuda or some hot water. Shampoo you stay right here! We can't fight Naraku without the others! Ranma! Snap out of it!" Akane barked. Shippo quickly complied, turning five acorns into a pot of warm water. Shampoo glared at her with tears in her eyes, even as Shippo changed her back.
"Shampoo no leave airen in hands of bitch!"
"We don't have a choice Shampoo! With that water youkai with them, we don't stand a chance without the others," Akane replied, her voice softening. "We'll get Mousse back, I promise."
"Great, first Meinu, now Mousse," Ranma grumbled, holding a hand to his head.
"If Mousse hurt, Shampoo kill Naraku with own two hands," the amazon swore.
* * *
That evening, Meinu was once again invited to eat with Sesshoumaru and Rin. The young girl chatted incessantly and Meinu listened with a smile. Once, she glanced at Sesshoumaru. He was watching Rin out of the corner of his eyes, even though his expression was disinterested.
"And then, the bird almost landed on my hand, but it flew away!"
"Perhaps I should teach you how to call them to you sometime," Sesshoumaru said quietly. Meinu looked at him sharply. He looked completely serious…but that was nothing new.
Rin stared at him. "Honto ni? Honto, Sesshi-sama?"
The demon lord arched an eyebrow. "If you attend your studies and don't give Jaken too much trouble."
Rin's expression was momentarily disgusted at the mention of Jaken, but she considered the offer and nodded eagerly. "Hai!"
"Very well then. Now I believe it is your bedtime," Sesshoumaru continued, laying his utensils down on his plate.
"Demo-" Rin began when he gave her a pointed look. Rin shut her mouth and grudgingly stood up to bow respectfully to both of them before rushing off.
The calmness Meinu felt around Rin disappeared as she was left alone with the young master. She kept her eyes on her empty plate. He said nothing and the silence became unbearably heavy.
"Gomen, I'm feeling a little tired, I'll go turn in now," Meinu managed to say, standing up to leave.
"You won't be sleeping in that room again," Sesshoumaru said abruptly. Meinu froze and hazarded to look at him.
"D-doushite?"
"You'll be sleeping in mine."
"Nani!?" Her voice became a small squeak of dismay. Then she straightened and tried to look down her nose at him. "I will not!"
The silver-haired youkai smirked and her stomach tightened worriedly. "You don't have a choice in the matter, Meinu. Come," he stood up. "I'll show you the way."
"I'm-not-going!" Meinu replied in an almost panic, trying to back up.
"You can walk there of your own free will, or I can carry you," he retorted, a sliver of impatience slipping through.
Meinu bowed her head and nodded in defeat. Quietly, she followed him, her stomach getting heavier with every step.
When he opened the door to his room, Meinu looked in curiously. The simplicity of the decorations appealed to her, even as she wondered in the richness of it all.
"I've already had your clothes brought here, " he gestured elegantly to a large wardrobe.
"You can change to your nightclothes in this side room," here he smirked as she blushed furiously and fidgeted. With a mumbled, "Arigatou," she grabbed the first nightgown she saw and rushed into the room. Shaking, she changed into it, barely noticing how soft the finely spun silk was.
She stepped out again haltingly, clutching her discarded clothes to her chest to try and hide how sheer the material was. Sesshoumaru was already ready for bed, wearing only a deep red robe that left his chest fairly exposed.
Heat flared in Meinu's cheeks as she continued to stare, unable to draw her eyes away from the pale flesh.
"Aren't you going to lie down? I thought you were tired," he murmured, his voice a low, pleasing rumble.
The heat intensified and she clutched the clothes a little tighter as she forced herself towards the large, comfortable looking bed. Sesshoumaru plucked the clothes from her hands, whispering, "You won't need those."
With a small squeak, Meinu dove for the bed to escape him, and curled up on her side under the covers.
He laughed, low and rich as he lay on the other side. Meinu was having trouble breathing, though she forced herself to take slow breaths, to not panic. When a warm arm snaked around her waist and pulled her back into an even warmer panic, she froze, a tiny panicked sound escaping from her.
"Relax," he breathed against her neck. "You don't need to fear my bed. You aren't my wife, yet."
It was a very very long time before Meinu could even loosen her muscles, let alone sleep. He was so confusing…one minute he was as unfeeling as an icecap, the next, smiling indulgently and warmly at her. As much as she hated to admit it…Meinu enjoyed being there, in his arms. It was warm and comforting…even if he didn't intend it to be.
"Damn you," she muttered fiercely as tears began to trickle down her cheeks.
* * *
Kouga scowled at the castle. Ayame hadn't come back yet, and he was getting anxious. Not for the mission, to his surprise, but for her safety. The woman yelled at him sometimes, but sometimes she smiled at him…and her smiles were as bright as the fires of the sun. No! I love Kagome! he told himself, clenching his teeth. Still…
"I'm going," he said out loud, making up his mind to go after her.
"Going where?" a gruff, familiar voice demanded. Kouga turned to see Inu-Yasha and his friends standing behind him. Damn, he'd been so caught up in his worries about Ayame he hadn't even smelled them coming.
"In there, to get Ayame…and Meinu," he replied with a growl, pointing at the moonlit mansion.
"So that's Sesshoumaru's home," Miroku said, impressed at the size.
"Meinu's in there? Are you sure?" Ryoga demanded.
"Yes I'm sure!"
"Then we're going to," Ukyo said, determination like steel in her countenance.
"Lead the way, Wolf," Sango said, unshouldering her boomerang.
Kouga nodded and slipped into the shadows to lead them towards the prison.
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Kiyomisa: Umm…yeah I know it's not very long, but I'm kinda trying to figure out what happens next -_-'. So I thought I'd better at least put this much up for you guys since you're all so nice to me ^-^.
