Kiyomsa: Hello! I'm sorry this took so long to get out ^-^'. This chapter,once again, is mostly fluff. Eh, it's what I'm good at I guess. Thanks so much to everyone who actually came back to read it again when I finally updated ^-^. I was afraid I'd loose a bunch of people if I waited too long.Ideas comments and criticisms are always welcome. Thanks ^-^

* * *

Sesshoumaru ordered his servants to give everyone a room of their own for the night. He listened with passing interest to their plans to find Mousse and Naraku. The group decided to leave the next morning and begin their search. But for tonight, they would rest.

* * *

Ukyo sat in the garden, thinking quietly to herself. She still didn't trust Sesshoumaru, but Meinu seemed to really love him, so she'd have to deal with it. But she was also thinking about something else. She'd kissed Ryoga. True she'd mostly done it to shut him up, but she still kissed him. It had just seemed the reasonable thing to do.

With a sigh Ukyo set her forehead on her knees and faced facts. She was falling for the boy, had been for a long time. There was something about him that made her feel safe, womanly. She felt like a girl around him, unlike Ranma. To Ranma she was still just the childhood friend. She didn't know what she was to Ryoga…they'd professed friendship, but…could they be more?

"Ukyo?" someone called softly. She looked up to see the object of her thoughts. He was looking at her in concern, his deep golden eyes highlighted silver from the moonlight. He'd just had a bath, for his hair was glistening slightly, unkempt and enchanting. Ukyo's heart froze as she realized how handsome he looked like that.

"R-Ryoga," she stuttered. Her cheeks were flaming. The lost-boy sat next to her, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Daijobou?" he murmured quietly.

Ukyo turned her face away and looked at the small pond. "Hai, just… confused…"

"About what?" he leaned a little closer and Ukyo could feel the heat radiating off of him, could smell the soft cinnamon scent of his soap. Her mind went momentarily blank and she answered automatically, "About you."

Ryoga blinked in surprise. "Me?"

Ukyo blushed deeply. "I-I mean…" she sighed in defeat and curled up again. "I don't know what I mean," she mumbled miserably. A warm, strong arm gently encompassed her, drew her close into a warm, muscled body. She shivered, not daring to breathe. Lord how she wanted this, to be held by him, to be treated…like a woman.

Ryoga said nothing but only held her, his thumb lightly stroking her side. After a while Ukyo uncurled and looked up at him, her cheeks stained red, even in the blue moonlight. He too was blushing endearingly, but his eyes were burning with an intense heat that sent a thrill along her spine.

Ukyo wanted to kiss him again. Timidly she raised her head to press her lips against his. Ryoga tensed, but did not pull away. Ukyo pressed closer, and she was rewarded with a low moan and Ryoga pressing shyly back. They lingered a moment longer before pulling away.

Blushing they gazed unsurely into each other's eyes. Then Ukyo grinned teasingly. "I'm impressed, you didn't get a nosebleed," she said mischievously.

Ryoga laughed embarrassedly. "No I didn't," he agreed. His expression became serious as he gazed at her and lifted a hand to lightly brush her cheek. "But I might now…you're so beautiful, Ukyo."

She blushed furiously and looked away. "I'm not…beautiful…"

"Yes you are," Ryoga murmured reverently and he kissed her again, sweetly, under the soft moonlight.

* * *

Akane had just finished changing into her yellow pajamas when there came a knock at her door. She wiped at her eyes tiredly; they'd already made plans for the search, so who could still want to talk?

"Come in," she called out. The door opened and Ranma slipped inside, a small smile on his face.

"Hey," he said quietly.

She smiled back at him. "Hey yourself. What's up?"

He shrugged. "Nothing…just felt like seeing you…" he said, toeing the floor blushingly.

Heat rose to Akane's cheeks and she looked away to cover her pleased embarrassment. "You should probably go to bed…we're getting up early tomorrow."

Ranma stepped closer to her, she could feel the heat from his body and it was making her heart pound. "Couldn't I…stay here?" he asked quietly, almost shyly. Akane looked at him with a frown on her face and she opened her mouth to tell him that they weren't even married yet, but he interrupted her with, "like at the cottage, before Meinu was kidnapped. It was nice…"

Once again the girl's heart melted before him and she smiled just as shyly. "Hai…it was…I suppose you can stay…as long as you don't try anything funny!" she ended sternly, fixing him with a look. Ranma jumped and shook his head emphatically.

"Iie! I swear!"

In only a few moments they were lying on Akane's bed, curled into each other. Ranma could almost feel Akane's heartbeat against his chest, could feel her warm breath tickling his skin. It was very pleasant and he thought of how…cute she looked, with a slight blush and smile. Her hair looked soft and inviting, and with a little trepidation, he raised a hand to stroke it lightly. Akane shifted slightly, her smile widening a little.

"Ranma…" she murmured, already dozing off.

"Nani?" he replied just as quietly.

"Do you think…we could do this more often?"

Ranma couldn't stop the wide grin from spreading across his face. "Sure," he said, and placed a small kiss on the top of her head. Akane giggled sleepily and snuggled into his arms, and the two quickly fell asleep.

* * *

Inu-Yasha was sitting restlessly on the railing of Kagome's balcony, staring pensively into space. He'd been sitting like that for nearly an hour and Kagome was getting worried.

Softly she went up to him and placed a hand on his arm. He sighed and slightly leaned into her, closing his eyes tiredly.

"Inu-Yasha, what's wrong?" she asked in concern.

He gnawed on his lower lip uncertainly for a minute while Kagome waited patiently for him to open up.

"I don't trust this…" he said finally.

"Staying here?" she inquired quietly.

He waved a hand in agitation. "Everything! Everything about Sesshoumaru. After so many years he suddenly changes his mind about my mother? About love? I don't believe it!"

"Maybe he always felt like that…maybe he wasn't allowed to, he convinced everyone, even himself that he felt differently…" Kagome said carefully.

Inu-Yasha sighed and hugged her tightly. Kagome smiled and stroked his long silver hair.

"It's just…this place doesn't smell the way it should," he mumbled after a while.

Kagome blinked in confusion and looked down at the dog demon, who had his eyes closed. "What do you mean?"

"This place smells like…my mom's garden…" Inu-Yasha whispered, the tiniest twinge of pain in his voice. "All of the same flowers and plants, even the same soap. But I can smell Sesshoumaru all over too, and it irritates me."

Kagome hugged him closer. "You'll never forgive him, will you?"

Inu-Yasha snorted. "Feh. Not until he apologizes and not even then."

"I'm sorry," Kagome whispered. "I wish I could give you a happier childhood."

Inu-Yasha pulled away and looked at her thoughtfully. "You don't need to …you've given me a happier present," he told her seriously. Kagome beamed at him and hugged him tightly.

Feeling better and more than slightly embarrassed, Inu-Yasha hugged her back.

* * *

Sango was still feeling restless and Sesshoumaru had informed her that he had a training yard and that she was welcome to use it. Instead of training rigorously though, she opted for doing her katas slowly, in hopes of relaxing; a type of meditation.

She moved gracefully, deliberately, keeping her breathing calm. The air was warm and flowed around her, and with her eyes closed she could almost see the air currents as they swam around her. At last she came to the end of her kata and she stood there, breathing steadily, her boomerang standing proudly next to her.

The exterminator, her senses heightened by her meditation, became aware of attentive eyes on her. She opened her own eyes languidly, burgundy meeting lavender as she gazed calmly at Miroku.

Neither said anything and Sango observed serenely that the lecherous monk was walking towards her. However, his usual easy-going grin was no-where to be seen, his mouth set determinedly. She knew for a certainty what he was going to do, and with a Zen tranquil, she realized she wanted him to do it.

Miroku stopped when he was a hand's breadth away from her, a silent question in his violet eyes. Sango nodded, the barest tilting of her head. A faint hint of his usual smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth before he kissed her. Sango leaned willingly into the kiss and his arms wrapped warmly around her.

It wasn't long before his hand dropped down to lightly caress her bottom. The raven-haired girl didn't slap him, but pinched his own bottom, causing him to break away from the kiss with a startled eep. He stared at her with disbelieving eyes.

Sango merely smirked up at him, feeling the intense satisfaction of revenge implemented.

* * *

"I still can't believe you grabbed those bars so many times," Kouga muttered irritably, dabbing some balm supplied by the aged tanuki onto Ayame's hands.

The wolf-youkai blushed and looked demurely at the floor, saying nothing in her defense.

Kouga snorted and dipped his cloth into the jar, getting more balm. "And you think I'm stupid."

"You are…most of the time," Ayame replied quietly.

Kouga frowned in concern and paused in his ministrations. "Are you feeling okay?"

Ayame blinked in surprise. "Why do you ask?"

"You're not…I mean, you're never this quiet…"

"Oh." She looked away for a moment, then smiled up at him. "I didn't know you cared."

Kouga blinked, caught off guard by her bright smile, his cheeks reddening. "I-I, I don't!" he stuttered desperately, standing up suddenly. "You just can't take care of yourself, that's all."

"That still means you're worried about me," Ayame pointed out.

Kouga's blush deepened and with an indignant growl he stormed from the room. Ayame laughed a little, then sighed. Would the proud idiot ever realize that he only wanted Kagome because she was Inu-Yasha's?

"I doubt it," she muttered to herself and settled down for bed.

* * *

Two figures, one tall and graceful, the other short and dumpy talked quietly in the woods.

"So you'll help then?"

"You promise no harm will come to Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Yes, yes. We'll even get rid of that brat for you; you just have to make sure we can get to her. Once that bothersome little terd is gone, Sesshoumaru will surely praise you for getting rid of his obligation. And just think, you won't have to baby-sit her anymore."

"Yes…yes, I will help you and restore Sesshoumaru to his rightful glory."

The short figure retreated hastily into the woods. Once it was gone the tall one snorted in disgust. "That was too easy."

* * *

Kiyomisa: Ha! I had a bit of plot at the end! Bet you can't guess who the two in the last scene were (yeah right!)I'm sorry, but I have no idea when I'll get the next chapter out *bows head apologetically* I've got too many ideas in my head for other stories, and I have to work on what I'm thinking about. But whenever I get a review for this story, I get the urge to work on it, so if ya review, I'll probably get the next chapter out quicker ^_~