{Disclaimer: Yeah, you know it by now. I don't own them but I will take them if anyone's willing to give them to me.}
Chapter Nine: Quality Time
Twilight found Sango in an unusual, but not uncomfortable, place. She stood in the middle of the garden, on the western wing of the castle. Sesshoumaru stood behind her, his arms draped around her waist. His chin rested on her head as they watched the moon.
"I've missed this," Sesshoumaru whispered, his lips slightly grazing her ear. Sango sighed and rested the back of her head against his chest.
"So have I."
Sesshoumaru smiled and tightened his grip, making sure not to hurt her.
"Do you want to talk about Kagome and Inuyasha?"
Sesshoumaru shook his head. "Not really. I would rather stand here, and say nothing. I have too much to do in the morning, anyway."
She nodded in agreement, enjoying the feel of his company. Sleep threatened to take over, her lids sliding closed to be jerked open once again. Sesshoumaru smiled down at her, watching her struggle.
*********
Inuyasha stood at the garden entrance, watching them. He smiled, his head tipped to the side in thought. He turned around and walked to the other side of the castle. He had someone to see.
********
Sesshoumaru knew Sango was asleep when her knees buckled under her. Sesshoumaru caught her before she slipped out of his grasp. He hooked his arm under her knees and carried her back to her room. Sesshoumaru lowered her to the futon, pulling the furs over her frame when she shuddered. He walked to the door and looked back before he left. Sango moaned in her sleep. He walked back to her and placed his ear to her lips.
"Sesshoumaru. Stay with me."
Sesshoumaru studied her, his eyes narrowed into slits. He sighed and sat down with his back against the futon, his head resting beside Sango. Her hand reached out and tangled in his hair, sighing in contentment. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, allowing sleep to wash over him.
*********
Inuyasha stood at the door, the moonlight shining on his point of interest. Kagome lay on the futon, asleep. Inuyasha watched her, his fingers tapping anxiously on his shoulder. 'Why can't things be easier between us?' he wondered, his eyes studying her intently. Her hair spread behind her like a wing in flight, and her long eyelashes seemed to shimmer under the moonlight. Inuyasha kneeled down beside her, a finger caressing her cheek. Kagome sighed.
'Why can't I tell you how I feel?' Inuyasha shook his head.
'If Kikyou hadn't been brought back from the dead, maybe things would be different. I owe Kikyou, I have to protect her from Naraku, but I don't love her anymore. I'm not too sure it was love to begin with.' He rested his forehead against the futon, his hair covering his face. '
I don't mean to make you cry, but I can't let you get hurt either. I might not survive tomorrow, but maybe I can at least be happy tonight.'
He climbed onto the futon , lying down behind her. He rested his head on the pillow with her, his nose buried in her hair. Kagome sighed and shifted in her sleep. Inuyasha froze, praying she didn't wake up.
She didn't.
He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and draped an arm around her waist. Kagome turned around and fisted her hands in his haori, her face nestled against his chest. Inuyasha blushed, but pulled her closer to him. A smile crept across her face. Inuyasha returned it and closed his eyes, sleep finally taking over.
********
Morning spied two dog demons stirring out of their slumber. They blinked in confusion, then blushed as they remembered where they spent the night, and that the other occupants in the room were non the wiser. They crept to the doors, trying not to wake the slumbering humans as they left. They closed the doors behind them, and nearly jumped out of their skins when they almost ran into each other. They smiled in secret and walked down the hallway to the Armory. After a few moments they emerged, weapons in hand. They crossed the castle to the center balcony overlooking the field outside. There they awaited the rest of the troops.
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SF: Awwwww…you guys are real sweethearts! {::glomps Inu-chan and Sesshou::}
Sango and Kagome: Aren't they though! {::help SF glomp Inu-chan and Sesshou::}
Inu-chan: Can't…breathe…
Sesshou: I'm going to smell like humans and hanyous all day.
SF: Shut up Sesshou! You know you like the attention.
Sesshou: I'm looking for a different kind of attention.
{All is quiet, then
Sango, Kagome, and SF: Eeeee! {::slaps Sesshou upside the head::} PERVERT!!! I can't believe you pulled a Miroku!
Kagome: How'd you get us all at one time?
Sesshou: I don't know what you're talking about. {::walks away with tail swishing behind him::}
SF: Pervert. The preview and the review responses are below. {::reaches down and straightens out skirt, all the while grumbling about perverted dog toys::}
Chapter Ten: Sneaky Dogs/Full Understanding
"I get it now," she whispered. Sango peeked over her shoulder, reading the paper to see if she could understand too.
"Get what?"
Kagome turned to Sango, a determined look in her eye. "Sango, the scroll wasn't about us. Its about them."
Responses:
Fanfiction:
Bikutoria: The whole Kirara going through the wall thing was purely as surprise move. Nothing like scaring the hell out of the enemy with a big bang. I love DBZ too, and Vegeta's my favorite character. I know, I'm such a sucker for abuse. And you're close for 'so savor the flavor', but that's not it. I'll give you a hint: The movie is really old and it's a comedy.
Flambeau-Willow: Thanks! {::bows::} I thought that a little girl power would rule the day!
PasoLover: Thanks! I'm coming with another update on Wednesday!
Animegirl11: I hated that song too. My brother used to follow me around and sing that to me. Now he's trying to teach my muse. Agg! I would have kept the chains too but with Kagome's powers the way they are, I don't think they'll need them. I decided to post two chapters when I update this story from now on b/c it's completely finished, unlike 'UA' where I still have to finish the last chapter. That last chapter might not be finished until chapter 8 or nine of the last part of the trilogy b/c I have to write a censored chapter for ff. Sucks I swear! Anyway, I have a surprise for you on my bio page this Monday. ^.^
Badgerwolf: I LOVE Vegeta, almost as much as I love Sesshou! I plan on doing a DBZ fic sooner or later, but I never have the time to watch the show.
Del_Kaidin: Ack! I do that every few stories! It's True West. Sorry for the confusion.
Chris: God Bless men like you, you guys make life worth living. Check me out for a second, and don't get mad. I totally understand where you're coming from with this and that's why I won't trip. I will enlighten you to one thing about women: We don't give a damn about how strong you think you are, nor what the danger is. If we love you enough, we'll walk through fire for you. Plus you should never underestimate the underdog. We may get kidnapped, hurt up and damn near destroyed by not listening to you, but we sure won't stand by and let anything happen to you. I know it's only an anime and not real life, but some things we see on tv truly represent real life. Thanks for the review and I'm thrilled that you're enjoying the story, but I just had to tell you that so you could see both sides of the picture. Don't worry, Inu-chan and Sesshou will return to the rescuing business soon.
Sukuri: If he'd be still long enough to get the chains on! {::tries to hog tie Naraku, but he slips away::} That's the THIRD time! Grrrr! Forget this! {::tosses away chains and picks up bow and a silver arrow::} Let's see what happens when I do this!
Mediaminer: