A/N: I'm sitting here, in my new apartment, watching from my incredible view as the sun falls and night envelops the city outside. It looks incredibly beautiful and although a lot has happened, I can't help but feel a little peaceful as I watch it. (Hence my somewhat pensive author's note!) Earlier this morning, I felt happy, ready to do my happy dance out the door as my classes started and I found out that Inuyasha was back on adultswim starting on Aug. 25. The afternoon brought bad news for close friends, and it's left me feeling a little shaky. I might not even post this tonight, but because I felt pensive, I guess I felt like writing it here. Sorry to bring you down, if that's what I've done.
On a brighter note, I am happy that Inuyasha's coming back to Adultswim…especially since my very measley internet connection doesn't let me download the eps.
Well, anyway, I'm off to study, hope you guys enjoy this chapter! The next chapter should finally bring them both back together! I promise! Looks at muse evilly.
Thanks: OMG…this is amazing! I broke 100 reviews! rains confetti and streamers and balloons and cookies and all sorts of yummy stuff to all her reviewersYou guys are all sooo wonderful. I can't believe the response I got to my question posted with the last chapter. It was incredible. And the belief in me even after I told you all that I got the flame…you guys are too wonderful for words. Really!
Kagomesjewel: Thank you so much for being so understanding! And thanks for answering my question about San and Kag's conversation. I was afraid that not looking at it objectively was making me blind to its repetitiveness. Thank you so much for your kind review, really. It really makes me feel so special! ^_^
Angel Moon: Howdy! blushes furiously Thanks for the belief in my story. I'm not really offended, cause like I said last chapter, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and a good constructive criticism that points out a story's weakness and flaws is just as useful as one that points out the good points. My ambiguity with the flame was that it wasn't specific enough for me, I guess. But, oh well, Chapter 17's reviews made me feel a whole lot better! I realized how cliché the scene with the guys was after I had written it but it was another one of those scenes I couldn't make myself get rid of. There's another one in this chapter that I'm posting now. blushes some more You're too cute. Thanks!
RinoaOHeartilly: No guilt trip at all. Parts of the chapter I'm posting now were written together with the last chapter, but I decided to separate them. And I actually have an idea with the next chapter (although I haven't started writing it yet!) so there should be another soon. I might not, though, cause my personal life is getting just more and more complicated by the day…but I will try! ^_^ ;
Eartha: I'm sorry about not having enough of the boys in the last chapter. I hope this chapter makes up for it! The interaction between them will be coming in the chapter after the one I'm posting now. Thanks for sticking it out with me!
Twil: Hello, new reviewer! Thanks for taking the time to let me know you're out there! ^___^. I agree, all love conflicts are frustrating and confusing and frustrating…did I say confusing? ;) It will turn out all right in the end…I promise!
Aeyikie: Hi! Yeah, I wonder why Death looks sad, too. I wonder when he'll tell me? ^_~
Moon Fairy: grins Thanks, Moon. You always manage to uplift my spirits. It means a lot to me! ^__________^
Spring Angel: Why, hello there! I'm just glad you ran across it! Oh yeah, and that you're enjoying it, too! Thanks for the opinion on the sango/kag conversation. I'll try to update soon…trails off as muse's crazy laughter prevents her from continuing. Glares murderously at him…eventually, when he stops, she looks back at the computer screen. As I was saying, I will try to update quickly. Thanks for reviewing!
Trinity Kirara: bows, with wild blush on her cheeks Thanks. I am so honored by your review. Really, thanks…a lot. I'll try to not disappoint!
Inuyashafan: So long as it didn't bore you to tears or to hit that "next" button and put you off from my fic, I'm happy. ^_^ Inuyasha and Mirouku are going to find them in the chapter after this one…at least, that's what I keep telling my muse…so far, he's in agreement. I actually considered them walking in on the girls while they were getting a massage, but…it didn't work out schematically. I hope what I did instead is enjoyable nonetheless! ^_~
eX Driver Liz: You used to be something else, didn't you? It changed it on my profile thingy, so I don't know anymore…you're confusing me! falls into a mass of sobs. Muse picks her up off the floor by her collar and shakes her into calmness. Emania sniffs. I'm better now. I'm sorry about the cliffy, I didn't mean for it to be one, it's just that that's where my batteries wore off and my brain went back into first gear. Repetitive actually means something that repeats a lot, essentially, something that's boring because it's nothing new. If you think it was suspenseful, then I guess it couldn't be repetitive. I hadn't actually thought about the two chicks from the beginning. You're right…it could be interesting.
Elventeen: Howdy! Greetings to another new reviewer! gushes incoherently, mumbling something about how happy she is to have new reviewers I'm sure you do have creative genes or you wouldn't even like reading fanfiction. (It's my own personal theory that people who are not creative are those people who prefer to watch the news than cartoons or movies) You just have to find *how* you're creative and develop it. Good writing is a lot about practice. Creativity comes out in the ideas that pop into your head. Anyway, that's my school teacher for the day. Thanks for reviewing and thanks for the compliment! ^___^
Bluefuzzyelf: Thanks so much for reviewing! I'm sorry to keep you waiting for the kag-inu confrontation, but I just had to set it up with this chapter. I hope when I finally write it, it doesn't disappoint. ^_^
Evil Irish Eyes: Evil! ^___^. It's always good to hear from you. Your reviews make me blush and laugh out loud every time. I did sleep, but not as much as I would have liked. I'm sorry to hear about your power. I didn't get affected by the blackout, but I remember after Hurricane Andrew in Miami, we were without electricity for about two weeks. I remember reading by candlelight…I felt very Jane Austen romancetic-ish. But with no ac and no tv, I was about ready to go crazy, so I understand. Mace…hmm…I hadn't thought of that. I just usually give him the happy pill…you know…drug him…heavily. He leaves me alone for a bit after that, but you know, after last time, he hasn't fallen for it in quite the same way. I think I'll have to think of calling the pill something other than a tic tak…maybe a certs? I've ended up taking to the habit of carrying a tape recorder with me so I can just speak the ideas as they come into the tape, not lose them, and not have to write them down. I'll remember about the mace, though…y'know…my muse hasn't told me his name…I wonder why…?
RavenShadow: in fake English accent. I'm getting there, I'm getting there! back to normal voice, ignoring muse who mumbles, 'thank the Goddess' under his breath The chapter after this should put us back with Inu facing off against Kag and then things will really get juicy! Did I say 'thanks for reviewing'? Oh, well…thankyouthankyou!
Disclaimer: Who really belongs to anybody? Carl Jung might say that Inuyasha and co doesn't even belong to the wonderful mind of Rumiko Takahashi who first gave birth to him anymore than we belong to our parents who gave birth to us. He would say that it is the characters who choose the author, and so one might argue (if one were a Jungian) that Inuyasha and co chose Rumiko Takahashi and all of us to tell his story. He would say that Inuyasha's world was part of the collective unconscious and so we could all technically draw upon that fount. Buddha would say that this is all maya…an illusion while Hindis would say it is a dream being dreamt by Vishnu, in any case what does it matter who owns what anyway? Freud would say…well, Freud would say that my infatuation with writing about a character who is half demon says some interesting things about my relationship with my father…but…who cares what Freud would say?
Rating: Well, after the whole lemon petition going around, I figure I should write something here…my fic is definitely PG-13…probably still and a half, considering language. Be warned all ye who enter here!
Chapter 17: Think Twice
"Think twice before you touch my girl / Come around I'll let you feel the burn / Think twice before you touch my girl / Come around come around no more"
-Think Twice, Eve 6
+~+~+~
Inuyasha shook his head impatiently. "I don't know why I even listen to you, you'd think I know better by now."
Mirouku rubbed his cheek where the bright red blotch marked where the woman's hand had come into sharp contact with his flesh. He winced. "I was simply attempting to gain the whereabouts of Lady Kagome…"
"And how would finding Kagome entail you asking that woman to bear you an heir?" Inuyasha asked, walking and attempting to pick up on Kagome's scent. He couldn't smell her around here at all. He withheld a sigh. This place was like a maze.
"It is my duty…" Mirouku began the old spiel.
Inuyasha did sigh then. "Whatever, monk, I've heard it before and I don't believe it any more now than I did then."
If Mirouku had feathers, he would have fluffed them. "What are you insinuating?"
Inuyasha glared at him as he turned another corner. "I'm not insinuating nothing," he argued.
"Then what are you saying?" Mirouku prompted.
Inuyasha shrugged. "Nothing," he said dismissively. "It's none of my business what you feel or don't feel for Sango and how you stupidly continue to get more and more beatings from her without even doing anything worthwhile to earn it."
Mirouku thought about what he did to earn the beatings and couldn't withhold a smile. "I wouldn't say they're not worthwhile," he argued. "And as for Sango, I don't want to rush her…"
Inuyasha scoffed. "Whatever," he mumbled under his breath.
Mirouku started to defend against the tone he heard in his voice but caught himself. "Wait a minute," he said looking around the corner before coming into the hallway. "Are you trying to offer me love advice?"
Inuyasha scoffed again. "No."
"Good," Mirouku intoned. "Because this whole thing with Kagome doesn't necessarily qualify you to offer advice."
Inuyasha glared at him. "Didn't I warn you about dropping it, monk?"
Mirouku didn't fail to notice the lack of threat in Inuyasha's voice as he told him to drop the subject of Kagome. Something told him his friend was finding himself a bit confused and hence more and more willing to speak about the subject. He looked at Inuyasha's frown of concentration and frustration and figured this might not be the best time to press the topic so he filed the realization away for future use. "This place is like a honeycomb," Mirouku mumbled.
Inuyasha started to humph, but stopped, taking Mirouku's arm and using his speed to escape from oncoming workers in the opposite direction.
When he finally stopped, Mirouku didn't know where he was anymore. They could be back at the beginning and he wouldn't know it. All these hallways seemed the same. If Inuyasha didn't stop doing that, they could easily end up searching the same hallways again and again and not even know it. "Great!" Mirouku exclaimed. "Now where are we?"
Inuyasha opened a door directly to their left and looked inside. Upon finding it empty, he started to close it when Mirouku stopped him by holding the door open.
"What?" Inuyasha asked. "Another girl?"
Mirouku looked into the room and smirked. "No, something which might be better in our present situation."
"Oh yeah?" Inuyasha asked, following Mirouku into the room. He looked around him and found the room to be a dressing room of some kind. "And what's that?"
Mirouku opened up one of the closets and his smile brightened.
Inuyasha frowned as he caught the smile. He knew it well, which is why he felt a sense of dread steal over him. He didn't like that look at all.
+~+~+~
Kagome walked up to the esthetician. "Excuse me," she said, drawing the pleasant looking woman's attention from the desk to meet Kagome's eyes.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"My friend is not done yet?" she asked, motioning the room where Sango had entered before her for her facial.
"No," the woman answered. "They're about to finish though…she only has the waxing left."
Kagome's eyes widened. "What?"
The woman looked down at the paper before her. "Yes, waxing—Brazilian, eyebrows, and legs."
Kagome shook her head. "No, I'm sure…" she was cut off by the sound of Sango's surprised yelp. Kagome winced, waiting for the answering thud but when it didn't come, she rushed into the room.
"Stop!" she exclaimed just as the esthetician was making her way to Sango's legs with the hot wax.
The esthetician looked at her in surprise. "Miss, you can't…"
"Kagome?" Sango asked, absently rubbing the reddening mark left by the wax on her eyebrow line.
Kagome exhaled. "Oh, thank the Gods, she only did your eyebrows." She turned to the woman. "There's been a mistake," she told her, trying to smile. "We didn't sign up for the works." Kagome explained. 'That was close,' she thought. If she let the esthetician wax everything that a Brazilian wax entailed, Sango would never speak to her…if she could ever get past the pain. She fought not to cringe at the idea.
"Really?" the esthetician widened her eyes. She looked down at the paper. "Well, it's included."
Kagome shook her head and started to answer.
"It's okay, Kagome," Sango answered. "It can't be much worse than…" she trailed off at the look on Kagome's face.
"Oh, yes it can," Kagome said emphatically as she handed Sango her robe.
Sango raised her eyebrows. "How so?"
Kagome neared her close enough to whisper in her ear as they walked out. "They remove all the hairs on you're…"she trailed off, wondering how to say it. "…nether regions…" she decided. "By using the wax like on your eyebrows."
Sango cringed. "What?" She shook her head disbelievingly. "That's barbaric!"
"That's beauty."
"That's crazy."
Kagome smiled. "I agree…" she put an arm through Sango's arm. "I draw the line firmly at waxing anything the doesn't see the sun."
Sango's eyes were still slightly wide. "Even…"
Kagome nodded. "Like a baby's bottom."
Sango shivered, and let herself be led by Kagome, but didn't comment further, the image enough to keep her silent. Finally, as they entered the next room, Sango spoke.
"You'll never tell Mi…anyone about…"
Kagome smiled and crossed her heart with her fingers. "This is our secret." Kagome was silent for a few moments, and finally spoke. "You know, I almost feel guilty."
Sango looked up. "For what?"
"Well, for leaving Inuyasha and Mirouku with my mom."
Sango smiled at the woman who was leading her feet into a tub of deliciously hot, sudsy water while the tub itself vibrated to ease the ache in her feet from so much walking. She looked back up at Kagome. "I feel no pity, whatsoever."
Kagome laughed. "You're cruel, Lady Sango."
Sango shrugged, then smiled apologetically at the woman who had begun to attend to her nails and had almost cut her because of her movement. "They're probably getting their fill of food and coddling from your mother, probably playing with your brother…"
"Or maybe they went back home?" Kagome added on a question.
Sango caught the intonation in her friend's voice. "Maybe," she said carefully. She watched as Kagome's face fell minimally. "But I doubt it." Sango thought about it, then chuckled. "If it weren't because this was a woman's only spa, I'd say that I was surprised they hadn't shown up here somewhere, trying to sneak a peek at us or listen in on our conversations."
Kagome laughed. "Oh, yeah," she nodded. "Good thing they don't let men in here."
+~+~+~
"I am not wearing that."
Mirouku sighed and glared at Inuyasha. "Well, it's either this," he lifted the white shirt and linen pant uniform, "or this…" he lifted the robe that the women wore.
"How about none?" Inuyasha asked stubbornly.
"Now who's not thinking about the reason why we're here?" Mirouku asked. "If you want to find Kagome, you've got to blend in…disappear. If you don't, they'll know we don't belong here and they'll send people after us to kick us out." Inuyasha opened his mouth to protest, and Mirouku stopped him with an upraised palm. "I know we could probably take them, but I really don't want to fight innocent humans who don't know any better."
Inuyasha scoffed. "I could just use my speed to get us away."
"Look around you, Inuyasha, there isn't that many places to go here, you can't properly search for Kagome if you keep having to use your speed to move from place to place."
Inuyasha looked disgustedly down at the choices. He knew Mirouku was right, but damnit he hated it. Why couldn't he just go and find Kagome? Why did she have to go and do something stupid like come to a place with water where Death could get her? Inuyasha took the uniform from Mirouku and scowled…deeply. 'When I get my hands on Kagome, I'm going to…kiss her?...kill her…give her a piece of my mind.'
Inuyasha had just slipped on the pants and was wondering about the flowy comfortable material when the door to the room opened. He was ready to bolt, but Mirouku put out a hand to stop him.
"We belong here, remember?" he whispered so that only Inuyasha's ears could pick it up.
Inuyasha frowned, but picked up the white button down shirt of the same material and slipped his arms into them.
"Well, hello," came a friendly male voice from the area of the door.
Mirouku looked up as he finished buttoning his shirt and smiled at the two men who had just entered. "Hello," he greeted.
"You must be new," the first, blonde man said. He turned to the taller, black haired man.
The black haired man smiled. "I think we would've noticed them by now if they weren't new," he agreed.
"Yes," Mirouku answered, trying to keep the smile on his face. 'There's something strange about the smile these two are giving us,' he thought. 'Almost predatory…' "We just started today." Mirouku watched as the black haired one stared at Inuyasha's exposed chest and he suddenly knew. These men were looking at them the way he looked at adorable young ladies. 'Holy Buddha,' he thought. He had heard about men like these but he had thought it was more like a story told to scare little boys. He didn't understand. Why wouldn't a man like a woman? What wasn't there to like? Well, he had been taught that for each person on the earth there was a different opinion and different tastes. Who was he to criticize someone because they didn't like girls? He nodded mentally. 'More for me,' he thought. However, when he looked at the blonde man staring at him with that look in his eye, it was only his years of training that allowed him to taper down his instinct to run and keep his face blank. An annoying part of his mind pointed out that this must be how women feel when he looked at them that way, but he managed to taper that voice down, too.
"So how do you like it so far?" the blonde asked.
The black haired one smacked the blonde on the arm. "Don't be rude," he chastised. "We haven't even introduced ourselves."
The blonde looked sorry. "My name's Bobby, this here is Robby," he introduced for the both of them.
'Bobby and Robby?' Mirouku thought. 'Peace and love…peace and love...'
"Pleased to meet you," Mirouku managed. "I'm Mirouku, this is Inuyasha," he introduced for both of them.
"Are you two…good…friends?" Robby asked.
"Friends?" Inuyasha asked. The fact that he had forgotten to do up his shirt seemed to be distracting the black haired one. He wondered if maybe it was improper in this time to be bare from the waist up in front of other people? "What the hell do you care?"
"He's feisty," Robby said, smiling.
"Feisty?" Inuyasha asked. He didn't like the look on that man's face. Inuyasha stepped toward Robby, meaning the act to be intimidating, but it only made the man's smile widen, and not in the return threatening manner.
Robby may not have recognized it as Inuyasha's fight me stance, but Mirouku did. He also recognized Robby's smile. He put a hand out to stop Inuyasha. "Actually," Mirouku started. "We like girls."
"Really?" Robby asked, the smile fading. He sighed. "Oh, well."
"It's too bad," Bobby added, looking one last time at Inuyasha's chest, before meeting his eyes. "He's cute."
Inuyasha's eyes opened wide. "What?" he asked, dangerously.
"So, you two wanna chill till your next appointment?" Robby asked. "We can show you around."
"Actually, we're heading to our next appointment now," Mirouku answered.
Inuyasha stared at him. "We are?"
"Yes, Lady Kagome and her guest, remember?" Mirouku said expressively.
"Oh, yeah," Inuyasha said.
"Kagome Higurashi?" Robby asked.
"You know her?" Inuyasha asked, frowning.
"Sure do, usually I do her massage," he answered.
"Usually?" Mirouku prompted.
"Sure, today Sean and Paul asked to do them."
"Why?" Mirouku asked suspiciously.
Bobby laughed. "Well, cause they're about the only two straight guys who work here and Kagome is young and pretty and has a killer body, and her friend has just as fine a body as she does." He shrugged. "What straight man wouldn't?"
"Yeah, they owe us…big!" Robby added, chuckling.
Mirouku and Inuyasha turned to look at each other. Inuyasha growled, and stormed out the door. Mirouku cursed under his breath and followed him. "We still don't know where they are!" Mirouku called out to Inuyasha. When Inuyasha just continued to walk, Mirouku sighed and followed him.
+~+~+~+
It was quiet…very quiet. Kagome looked at the light shimmering on the surface of the pool and resisted shivering. She closed the robe tighter around her neck and drew in what warmth she could. The pool room was usually kept warm, but she felt cold nonetheless.
Kagome wondered where Sango was. She suddenly didn't want to be there, but she had told Sango she would meet her at the pool since she knew she would finish her massage before Sango finished hers. It had seemed like a good idea for Sango to get the longer deep tissue massage since she'd never had one, and Kagome thought it would be a good opportunity to take a dip and swim a few laps in the pool, but now that she saw the water, she couldn't make herself go in. The memory of that vision was still too clear…too fresh. She had managed to make herself forget by busying herself with other things, but…she was scared. She had never felt anything like it before: the pull of the water as it sucked her deeper no matter how much she tried to pull herself out, the complete feeling of helplessness, the pain in those eyes…
Was he the Death that the old woman said was coming for her? It felt almost as if he were the one controlling everything, the power behind the vision…the source of the magic.
Kagome frowned. She wished desperately she could talk to her friends about this. For some reason, things always sounded less menacing when she heard herself say them aloud. Mirouku's thoughtful contemplation of the situation, the intelligence behind Sango's eyes as she reasoned out a plan of attack, even Inuyasha's impulsive belief that they were unstoppable…all these things made whatever they faced seem…less somehow…more manageable.
But that was the very reason she couldn't speak to them about it. It had been dangerous enough telling Sango what she had, even though she hadn't given her anything she could really work with. She knew she had to be strong and keep what information she had discerned from them so they wouldn't try and help her. If she told them she felt the pull of magic coming from the water, they wouldn't let her near it. And the old miko had been perfectly clear about the status of the situation. Her friends couldn't help and they couldn't prevent. She had to rely on herself.
She looked at the water again and sighed. Kagome was starting to realize that the water was more than just a prop to her demise, more than someplace where she could be as she faced death. It seemed more as if the boy, Death if that was who he was, could control the water somehow. As if it were a conduit into…him.
She knew this, could feel it inside the same way she could feel the jewel fragments, the same way she felt the peace come over her as she purified an arrow or a Shikon Shard. That part of her that was magic knew somehow that the magic was the way to his magic. Kagome herself, however, was confused. What did that mean? Would she never be able to go in the water again?
She very much wished she could speak to Kaede. Kaede would know what to do. She could almost hear Kaede's kind voice in her head as she tried to teach her…what would Kaede say?
Do not run, child. If it is something you cannot escape, it serves no purpose.
She could hear her response to the imagined Kaede. 'I'm afraid, Kaede, that I won't be able to help him, of being lost and not finding my way back.'
Fear is felt when facing the unknown…knowledge kills fear as surely as light kills darkness.
She sighed. She would never be rid of this threat until she faced him. She couldn't run from it because it would just prolong the inevitable and eventually, she would still have to face him. He wouldn't get tired and go away…he would wait patiently for her to answer his call, for her to go into the water. She couldn't defeat him the way they defeated other demons, the old witch had told her as much. The only way to face him and survive was to help him, but to do that, she had to surpass her fear. If she was to help him, she had to know more about him, but she could only think of one way to do that and the mere possibility of being lost in one of those visions again was frightening beyond belief.
She stood, focusing only on the glittering of the light on the surface of the water like small diamonds held up to the light. She could feel the magic humming in it, waiting for her. All she had to do was surrender to it and it would take her to him, it would tell her all she needed to know, it would end the waiting…the fear…
+~+~+~+
Inuyasha stormed into the room, surprising the man with the strength of his entrance.
Mirouku followed him in, almost out of breath. He looked around and saw the two men who appeared to be picking up the room with the two massage tables in the center. The brown haired one paused in closing a jar to look at them.
"If you guys got an appointment here next, we'll be done picking up in a few minutes," the brown haired one spoke pleasantly.
Mirouku looked back at Inuyasha. "She's obviously not here."
Inuyasha sniffed. "Well, she was."
"You're slipping, Inuyasha, if you can't even tell where she's not," Mirouku said stoically.
"Who are you looking for?"
Both Mirouku and Inuyasha turned to stare at the brown haired man who had spoken. Inuyasha could smell Kagome on him. He had touched her. He growled low in his throat. "You must be Paul."
"Yeah, you new?" Paul asked, unaware of the threat.
Rip. Kill. Maim.
"Yeah, we were supposed to meet Kagome and her guest here for their next appointment," Mirouku spoke up, not trusting Inuyasha to speak when he had that look of death riding him.
"Well, Kagome finished a bit ago, and her guest is in with…"
He was interrupted by the opening of a previously un-noticed door behind him. The black haired man entered, a huge grin on his face. "Man, is she hot, Paul, you shoulda seen her relaxing as I…" he trailed off as he noticed they were not alone.
It was Mirouku's turn to narrow his eyes. He wished he could growl as Inuyasha did. "You must be Sean?"
"Yeah," Sean answered, looking at Paul.
"They're new, they're looking for Kagome and Sango," Paul answered.
"Oooh-hoo!" Sean vocalized. "Are you in for a treat, man," he told Mirouku. "They are both so damn hot…they've got curves that go on forever…"
"Kagome's body is so tight it's just a pleasure to…"
Mirouku noticed Inuyasha ready to spring on the nearest man, and seriously considered letting him do it. As a matter of fact, the beads on his hand were itching uncontrollably and he really wished he could loosen them just a little. At the last possible moment, he stopped him.
"Just stop," Mirouku interrupted Paul. "I don't think you want to continue that thought."
"Just one punch…I won't even use my claws…" Inuyasha grated through his teeth.
It was so tempting. 'If I use my windtunnel, they'll be no evidence left behind,' he thought. "Where did they go?" Mirouku asked instead.
Suddenly, Inuyasha's eyes snapped up as if he had been called. He listened intently, but he couldn't hear what he expected to hear…Kagome's voice was conspicuously absent and the other sounds of the busy spa seemed to fade into silence. 'I could've sworn…' he thought. It felt as if Kagome had called out to him. It felt as if she were in trouble…as if he should be with her…but he didn't know where she was and she hadn't called out to him. Water…a lake…He walked up to the first one he could reach. "Where is the lake?"
Paul looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "We don't have a lake on the property."
Inuyasha wrapped Paul's white linen shirt around his fist and pulled him up a few inches off the ground in order to stare at him.
"Um…Inuyasha…" Mirouku tried to calm him, reaching out a hand to still Inuyasha's arm. Still, Inuyasha didn't let the other man go. The brown haired man looked at him pleadingly. They wouldn't call the body of water a lake, they would call it…Mirouku couldn't remember what Mrs. Higurashi had called it. "Water," he told Paul. "A large body of water for swimming."
"You mean the pool?" Sean asked, awestruck.
Inuyasha dropped Paul and turned to Sean. "Yes," Mirouku exclaimed "Pool."
"Where is it?" Inuyasha grated.
Sean pointed. "Two lefts and a right at the end of the hall, 2nd door…" he declared mechanically as if he had said it a million times before.
Inuyasha was off like thunder, but this time, he didn't take Mirouku with him so he was forced to run to catch up.
+~+~
A/N: Okay, so this was longer to make up for the other two shorter chapters. This was again, kinda a filler chapter, but you got some more of Kagome's perspective on the whole Death situation and some more jealous Inu and Mir. I considered putting in the whole scene where Kag and San are getting massaged by the other guys, but I figured I could live without it and although I wrote one, I didn't like it so I took it out. Plus, I felt it was time to get them back together. So…next chapter, Inu faces Kag again and although I could come up with some more fun stuff to have the girls do, it'll probably be the end of the spa sequence.