Unasareru

Chapter 12

Dedicated to Tiger of the Wind, Aeyikie, and Shadow Wraith, the reviewers who've inspired this story and kept me very happy.

I've been so stressed lately, not because of the story or anything, just stressed in general. I'm sorry if this isn't written to normal low standards... Please hold your rotten vegetables and/or sharp pointy objects until I'm done writing. Also, this chapter gets a little angsty. However, it also has more humor than is normal. Whoo, randomness! Never mind, just go read...

Also sorry it took so long. I was on vacation... boring! *falls asleep*

Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha or any other character, that I do not. Sessha does own Ijin, that she does!

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The youkai's footsteps fell heavy as he walked inside, repeating his question. In his human form, his face twisted into light frown that seemed to stain his dark face. "Where is she?" The old woman gave no answer, but enveloped the boy in a warm embrace. "Ijin, it has been too long." She spoke with no harshness in her voice. He only lifted an eyebrow and laid a hand on her back with awkward expressions.

They looked odd like that, but the old woman would not let him go. She was significantly shorter than he, and he easily passed an uncomfortable look over her shoulder at the others. His gaze falling 'pon Inuyasha, his eyes grew much wider, and both amusement and disgust mixed dangerously in deep dark brown eyes. Inuyasha returned a threatening gaze.

Kagome interrupted, much to Ijin's relief. "Where is who?" she asked, already somewhat knowing the answer. Ijin sighed and Rouba brushed herself off. "My... sister." He hesitated. Kagome's eyes fell. "Oh, sorry. Stupid question." She said, blushing a bit. Ijin shook his head. "'S okay." He assured her.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha pulled at the kimono, trying to straighten it. He growled, attracting attention from the old woman. "Ijin, who is this?" she asked, curiosity dancing in her eyes. "Oh, I know." She said, ignoring Ijin's frantic protests. "Let's go get your 'friend' cleaned up." She winked as she drug Inuyasha out the door. He gave them one last desperate glance before shoed foot was drug out the flap of a door.

Kagome looked nervously around as Ijin began to walk away. The rest followed quietly behind him. He pulled open another 'door' and proceeded to step inside the dark room. With a snap from Ijin, a candle was lit, revealing the occupant. A young girl of about eleven was lying on a bamboo cot with a simply sown blanket on top of her.

Ijin sat on his knees next to the bed, entwining his hand in the little girl's hand gently. She was so pale and thin that it appeared if she was handled to roughly she would snap. Her eyes opened into a squint. "I know that hand." Came her strained and soft voice. It sounded as if she was just remembering how to speak. Ijin winced at the sound of her voice, but smiled, if a bit sadly.

"Hey, kid." He said, voice cracking. The girl smiled weakly, giving a pathetic pull on Ijin's wrist. She gave him a disapproving look. "Where are your wings? Your horn? You're hiding again." She whispered. Ijin shook his head. "I must." He answered in an equally quiet tone. "Who are they?" she asked, her gaze settling on the group. Ijin wasn't sure what they were. "They're..." he began. Kagome decided to finish with a smile. "We're friends."

The girl nodded and smiled, just as the yell came from outside- "NO!!!!!!" Miroku and Sango ran to the door, Sango giving Kagome a pat on her way out. They burst outside- just in time to see the path to the lake, sandwiched between two cliffs, shake, sending pebbles out of the walls. She and Miroku nodded to each other before Sango called Kirara. They flew over the path, surrounded on both sides by cliff. Shippou jumped out of Kagome's pack and followed without a sound.

The lake was in a valley, filled by water that ran down from the mountains. They watched for a moment. They blinked. "ARE YOU TWO JUST GONNA STAND THERE?" Inuyasha demanded. The hanyou was wrestling the old woman, who was trying to pull him out of the kimono. "Now, now young lady, you really need a bath." Rouba said through clenched teeth. "Get 'er off!" the hanyou pleaded.

Sango looked at Miroku.

Miroku looked at Sango.

Shippou snorted.

They all burst into hysterical laughter.

Inuyasha growled. "My, you're unusually strong..." Rouba commented. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were a-" Inuyasha glared at her. "Half." He said, almost reading her mind. They both stopped struggling. Miroku and Sango continued to laugh, until Miroku fell over and slid down the side of a small embankment into the spring. Inuyasha cackled. "Houshi- sama!"

Miroku emerged, soaking wet, but otherwise unscathed. He recovered his staff after tossing his head a little to shake off the water.

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Back in the hut, Kagome, Ijin, Aiko, and Tsuru (in human form) [A/N- I realized that I forgot to write this in, thanks to Shadow Wraith. I fixed it so if you want, go to the previous chapter and read. Really all it says is that Tsuru takes a human form. Why? Because I decided she should have a human form. So there!] all sat in silence around the younger youkai's mat on the floor.

Ijin was fumbling with the jewel shards tucked inside his robe, rather unsure of what he was supposed to do with them. He pulled his hand out of the girl's and inserted the jewel shards in its place, muttering pleas to the heavens. Kagome and Tsuru both watched sadly. They waited. And waited. And waited. And nothing happened. Ijin's hands, which were previously wringing nervously together, then dropped futilely to his sides. The girl remained pale and cold, breath coming slowly.

He growled and stood up, walking briskly out the door. A gruff voice called back at the two remaining. "Watch her, I'll be back." Tsuru shrugged. "Might as well do what he says." Came her new, airy voice, matching her human body much better. "Not like we have anything better to do." Kagome nodded without a word, though looking a bit anxious. "I wonder what's taking the others so long." She thought out loud.

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At the lake, Inuyasha was adjusting the kimono, his hair redone by Rouba, looking even more feminine than before. He moaned out loud, clearly frustrated. "Don't worry, Inuyasha," came the monk's taunting reply. "You look lovely." Sango snorted, hiding her mouth in a hand. If at that moment looks could kill, Miroku would have been six feet under from the glare Inuyasha gave him. Shippou threatened the hanyou. "I'm gonna tell Kagome that you were being mean again!"

He wasn't comfortable leaving Kagome with Ijin. The hanyou still didn't trust him. He ran back as inconspicuously as possible, the others following suit, though not so fast. They had quickly put the path behind them and jogged towards the hut.

Inuyasha tossed open the door and walked briskly back to the room to discover only the three girls. Kagome and Tsuru were talking about something, giggling every so often, and Aiko contributed in an amused voice when she could. They fell silent as Inuyasha stepped through the door, all looking at him. "Something the matter?" Tsuru asked sweetly. Inuyasha scowled. "Feh." The girls all glanced at each other and another giggle- spree erupted.

Sango decided to investigate, and passed Inuyasha on the way to the door. Moments later, her high chuckle reached the boys and Rouba in the main room. All looked a tad sour. Rouba was waiting the return of Ijin. It had become obvious that she saw him as a son, and this was the equivalent of him sneaking out without permission. Shippou was asleep, not in Yume Seijin, evident from the look on his fox face. Miroku was wet, and quickly getting cold. As for Inuyasha, hard as he tried, he couldn't hear what the girls were laughing about. He scowled and returned to picking loose threads off the kimono.

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Well, that's all for now. Tell me if the chapters are getting too short, please. I love your input.

Green Peridot- Good. I'm glad you like it. I'm going to try to diffuse a bit more humor in, rather than chunks here and there.

Sweet Sad Jess- Wow that dress thing stirred up a lot of attention. Good. *laughs maniacally* I know what you mean. I'm an insomniac...

Shadow Wraith- Hmm... now that I think about it... old woman. *laughs* No problem reviewing. Sorry it took so long. Anyway, on to other stuff. I hope I cleared most of that confusion up in this chappie. The phrase was sort of a password to tell Ijin that no one dangerous was inside. No, as stated in this chapter, his little sister wasn't dead. Fixed the Tsuru problem, but... *sobs* I don't know where Shippou is! Stupid Kitty! Stupid! Can't wait for your next chapter. Will you send me an email or something when it comes out? I don't want to miss it.

Aeyikie- Hooray! You've returned! No prob, though I love it when you do review. I can't help it if I'm weird. (Maybe I'm born with it- maybe it's messed up genes.) Oh, what store sells straight jakets? My mom and dad have been looking for one. They say I need it for some "visit". I wonder who I'm visiting... I loved your website. Highly amusing. I'm going to go back and make sure I didn't miss anything in a while...

Sadistic Shadow- Thanks for reviewing! Yes, Inuyasha has been subject to torture simply to satisfy me! Epitome is such a cool word.

Tiger of the Wind1- *grins* I've been complaining about not having enough comedy for a while now... Everybody seems to like it. Except Inu! Gomen, Inu, gomen. I liked doing the Ijin thing, too. That was fun! Whoo! Did I clear up the 'she' thing? His little sister was who he was talking about. I'm starting thirteen. It'll be out soon. Anything for you guys! Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ But he would have us most of all remember

to be enthusiastic over the night.

Not only for the sense of wonder

it alone has to offer but also because it needs our love.

For with sad eyes its delectable creature

look up and beg us dumbly

to ask them to follow.

They are exiles who long for a future

that lies in our power.

---W.H. Auden