Chapter X: Ethereal Springs
Kagome glanced ahead to see Sesshoumaru standing stoically up on a tree, and two unknown individuals both on battle stance. Her shocked expression changed drastically to concern for one specific individual who was bleeding all over. She looked human.
"Wait, stop! We don't want any trouble," Kagome called out, hoping they heard her. Naraku turned his head and shot her a look that asked if she wanted to get off his back. The young miko nodded, and automatically the hanyou kneeled down to let Kagome dismount.
"We mean you no harm," Kagome spoke once more taking careful steps towards the mysterious woman and her companion. Sesshoumaru's attention dropped towards Kagome, who was slowly walking towards the unknown strangers. Leaping off the high raven tree branch he had currently been standing on, his eyes glued onto Kagome, as if interested on what she was going to do next.
"Who-who are you?" the wounded human female asked dazedly. Her eyes darted from Kagome to the others.
"I'm Kagome. This is Sesshoumaru, Naraku," Kagome introduced them one by one. Then she uncertainly glanced at Miroku, who had a completely blank yet suspicious looking expression. "And that's Miroku."
"Do not try to move so much," Miroku inquired the fatigued woman, strolling towards them. He looked at the young exterminator in a concerned way. "I can plainly see that you are badly injured."
"You are a woman," the stranger said almost unconsciously towards Kagome. "Then that means you are not on Murasaki's side..." Plainly tired, she dropped to a knee. "I am Sango from the village of Demon Exterminators. This is Kirara," Sango pointed at a now small kitten resting her head on her paws.
"Lazy thing," she murmured and fell forward into a faint. Miroku, truthfully on reflex and not lecherousness, caught the young demon exterminator before she could hit the ground. His eyes half lidded in thought.
"Village of exterminators.. impossible."
"Why?" Kagome asked, keeping a close eye on Miroku.
"The Demon Exterminator's village is more than just a few miles away," Naraku answered for the low ranked monk. "She must have run into many a youkai just to reach this place."
"Perhaps Murasaki had kidnapped her village's men, as well," Sesshoumaru theorized, now sitting on a tree branch. "And she has come all the way here to save them. A noble gesture for such a human," Sesshoumaru admitted pensively.
Kagome walked infront of the kneeled down Miroku. "Miroku, now what? We can't just leave her here like this. But at the same time we can't afford to turn around and head back to the shrine." Her blue eyes filled with dilemma.
The kitten, or Kirara, suddenly was on its paws and was running towards the unconscious Sango. She affectionately rubbed her head against Sango's leg and whimpered. Kagome gently picked up the small kitten. "Kirara, was it? Don't worry, she's going to be fine," Kagome said softly, feeling a bit awkward for trying to comfort a little kitten.
"I'll go," Miroku stated clearly.
Kagome turned to Miroku. "What?"
"I will take this young maiden back to your shrine. If that is all right," Miroku answered devotedly. "You guys can go on ahead."
"Are you sure, Miroku?"
"Positive. I'll just catch up."
Sesshoumaru scoffed from his tree limb. "I trust that you will not try anything disorderly?"
"You have my full word," Miroku grinned audaciously as he hoisted the unconscious girl onto his horse. "I will try to get here as fast as I can. Kirara," Miroku motioned for the kitten, which obediently hopped up onto the horse. "Good bye for now."
"Be careful, Miroku," Kagome said quietly. The humble monk nodded feebly, and went on his way back to the village.
~
Sesshoumaru smirked all-knowingly. "Is it not obvious that he will attempt something rash to that injured human?"
"I have to agree with him on that," Naraku interrupted Kagome from answering. "After what I saw him do to Kiochi, I am not surprised that he would probably try the same thing on the exterminator. Injured, or not."
Kagome opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. She sighed, knowing what they said was probably true. "Uh, let's not waste anymore time and look for Murasaki!"
With that, the uneasy feeling miko walked ahead of them, unbeknownst to her that two pairs of dog demon eyes were on her.
~
"So they separated? Oh, this is more complicated than I thought," the Demoness spying on them sighed dramatically. "Oh well, either manner, I shall have my way of things around here," Murasaki gazed lovingly at a certain individual with golden eyes. 'He looks so much like his late father..'
~
Sango opened her eyes only to see that she was riding on a horse, going directly the opposite of the direction of Murasaki. The horse was galloping at a fast speed. "Monk, let me go!"
"You are badly wounded. It is not the right decision for you to go after Murasaki in that condition," Miroku replied courteously. "Now please, rest while I take you to a nearby shrine."
"Kirara?" Sango looked down at her feline companion, as if saying, 'get me off this horse or bite monk's head off.'
Kirara shook her head, also knowing that Sango was badly injured.
"No!! You don't understand...!!" the young exterminator protested as they rode through the dark forest. "Let me go!"
"I'm afraid I cannot comply."
Frustrated, the demon exterminator drew a dagger from its sheath. "Please don't make me do this."
Miroku looked down at Sango and smiled. "I'm not making you. Kindly put that dagger away, I am not a fan of pointed objects being too close to me."
Sango glared at the monk icily. 'How can he not be threatened at all?! I can just stick this into his gut and kill him instantly.' Her glare suddenly disappeared. 'But what was he doing in the forest with those other people? Could they also be after Murasaki?'
"Yes. We each have our own reasons as to why."
Sango almost dropped her dagger. 'So this guy can read minds. I have to be more alert,' Sango placed the glare back upon her face.
"No, I cannot read minds, if that is what you are thinking," the humble monk answered her thoughts. "Well maybe I can, through your actions and expressions on your face. You're like a book. An easy one to read, at that. You let your emotions show clear on your face."
Sango had shock clearly on her face. 'I'm that predictable..'
Miroku stole a glance of her face and saw shock. 'Must be thinking if she's that predictable.' Then out of the blue, dejection hung over her face. 'Oh, did I make her feel bad?' "Now listen to me while I continuously rant like I'm your mother. If you don't get that wound treated, it will surely infect, young lady. Or worse, you can bleed to death. And what were you doing in that dark forest? Many youkai lurk there, male youkai in fact. They might attack you. Or worse, being a well structured eye pleasing thing you are, they might-" Miroku was silenced as Sango whacked him over the head.
"Hentai," she stated simply. "It doesn't look like only the male youkai are something I have to worry about," she muttered.
"Okay, let's lay off THAT subject. All I'm saying is you can trust those three to destroy Murasaki. Did you know that one of them is Lord Sesshoumaru, a prince from the Western Lands?"
"What?! There is no way," Sango exclaimed, trying to hide her astonishment. "When Kagome introduced that guy, I was too dazed to really take all the information in. Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands?! He hates humans, doesn't he?"
"Well, yes. He's a mystery to all," Miroku half smiled, although extremely relieved that they dropped the 'let me go I have to kill Murasaki subject.'
"Don't think I've forgotten that your leading me away from Murasaki, monk."
"Please, don't worry. Kagome-sama will make sure none of your fellow villagers are hurt."
"You know, for some reason," Sango smiled. "I believe you."
"Just don't worry about it. All will be well in the end."
"Monk."
"Yes, Sango-sama?"
"Get your hands off my butt."
"Oh, I didn't see you there. Please forgive this Unruly Monk."
SLAP.
"PERVERT!! When I said get your hands off my butt, that doesn't mean move your hands up to my breasts!"
WHACK. 'Oh well, that was worth it. She has such soft-'
"I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, HENTAI!!"
With that said, Miroku now lay sprawled on the ground, with many lumps on his head and a handprint across his face. He sighed dreamily. "What a woman. I wonder what she's like in be-"
A boomerang shot out of nowhere and clobbered the poor monk an inch away from oblivion.
~
Kagome, Sesshoumaru, and Naraku all stopped at the same time when a loud shouting and beating sounds were heard.
"Did you hear that? At first glance it would seem as if it was a youkai mating season," Naraku halted from walking. Kagome turned to look at Naraku. "Hmm?"
"But if you would listen more closely, it sounded like 'pervert' and then a slapping sound, then 'I know what you're thinking, hentai.' Then several punch sounds," Naraku added thoughtfully.
"My theory was right, then," Sesshoumaru smirked.
"Five minutes and Miroku's already at it. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it serves him right for pulling something like that on an injured woman," Kagome shook her head slowly. "Well, let's go!"
~
Sesshoumaru nodded and they continued to trek through the forest. His expression hardened. "Hn. That's strange. No one has attacked yet."
"Yeah, that IS pretty weird," Kagome agreed resolutely. "It makes me wonder if Murasaki is watching our every move right now."
"So you felt it, too?" Naraku asked, surprised. His red eyes scanned the forest. "You felt as if someone was watching?"
"Yeah.."
Sesshoumaru commented with silence and observed the surroundings intimately. It was nighttime, nonetheless there weren't any stars, clouds, or a moon at all.
They walked in silence throughout the murky forest, tailing the pull of the Shikon shards. As the forest grew darker and darker, tiny gold and white firefly-like lights started to shine brightly. The further they walked, the more specks of light appeared, grazing the atmosphere like fresh snow.
"Hey-do you guys know what the glowing stuff in the air is?" Kagome asked automatically, trying to grasp one in her hand. Her eyes widened in shock as the light just passed through her hand as if it were a ghost. "Whoa... that's cool."
"They are Pyreflies. Pyreflies are non-existent, they are like translucent sparks from a fire that never go out. Neither are they insects nor organic," Sesshoumaru answered curtly.
"Well, I think they're pretty," Kagome smiled. She held her hand out and closed it on one Pyrefly, pretending she was really holding onto it. An unwilling pout crossed her features when the Pyrefly left her closed hand. Two certain dog demons watched her in interest, noticing how she looked like a child opening a Christmas present, just after seeing the humble Pyreflies.
"I'd catch one for Souta," Kagome stated thoughtfully, "But seeing how I can't even touch them, I'll just take a picture!" Kagome smiled cheerfully as she withdrew her camera, which she has been hiding in the pocket of her gi.
Sesshoumaru frowned. "You brought that ridiculous camera with you?"
"Uhuh," Kagome answered off-handedly as she snapped a few pictures of the Pyreflies. "I told my family I'd take as many pictures of the Sengoku Jidai as I can. I can't tell you how different everything is from here and the future," Kagome paused and looked around uncertainly. "Wait. The pull of the Shikon shards has stopped."
She sprinted past the trees and stopped dead in her tracks.
It took all of Kagome's willpower to hold herself back from sighing in awe as they reached the most beautiful thing the young miko has ever seen.
There was a large spring filled with perfectly translucent water, and Pyreflies seemed to be hovering in it, lighting it up so that she could see the very bottom of the spring that seemed thirty feet deep. The trees were not decomposed around at this point, they seemed more full of life and a surreal color of silver-blue. Kagome just stood there, gaping at the sight before her eyes. "Oh jeez, this has got to be the most beautiful place I've ever seen!"
"You are astounded by a mere spring with glowing non-organic creatures and a few blue trees?" Sesshoumaru asked flatly from behind her.
"What are you talking about? This spring," Kagome said with starry eyes, "Should be one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Just take in its atmosphere, aura, whatever. It's so-" Kagome stopped in mid-sentence when she felt Sesshoumaru's presence fade away. "Sesshoumaru?"
She turned around and saw only Naraku, a bewildered look in his eyes. "He just-disappeared," Naraku stated, his voice half as bewildered as his expression.
"Your silly conversations were starting to bore me," a female voice drawled. Naraku's head snapped to the direction of the voice and saw a woman with violet eyes and long green hair step out of the forest. She herself looked like a part of the forest because of her vine-like green locks. "Welcome to my abode."
"You're Murasaki!" Kagome said, slightly peeved at the fact that the woman definitely WAS a looker. 'And she has twenty or more shards..' Two of them were visible as earrings, ten or more of them had been made into a necklace, and an uncountable amount was decorated onto the demoness's golden obi.
Naraku scoffed. "This is _your_ abode? It is more like you've rented it for the night," he said hotly. "Your aroma here is only recent. And I cannot say much about your scent, either," disgust passed his delicate features. "I smell many male odors on you. Under all that, you smell like hell."
"How dare you insult me that way?!" she seethed, her eyes turning reddish. But just as soon as it has turned red, she blinked and it was violet once again. "If you didn't look so gorgeous, I would've killed you where you stand."
"Like someone like you can kill Naraku," Kagome said, glaring at Murasaki.
She didn't notice Naraku's presence fading away. "And where's Sesshoumaru?! And Kiochi-san?! What have you done with them?!"
The evil demoness didn't answer and backed up into the darkness.
"You coward, show yourself," Kagome looked around, trying to sense the jewel shards. But they had completely vanished. 'Where did she go?'
The next thing she knew, Naraku and Sesshoumaru were standing infront of her, side by side. She looked up questioningly, only to see two pairs violet eyes glaring piercingly at her. Then they were behind her, Sesshoumaru grasping her left arm, and Naraku grasping her right at a death grip. "What are you two doing?! Whatever's wrong with you, snap out of it!"
The two dog demons stood like statues, both looking straight ahead into nowhere. A soft chuckle echoed through the forest. Murasaki walked out of the darkness once again and towards Kagome.
"Priestess," she smiled coldly. "They are under my spell."
"Yeah, I sort of figured that out by now," Kagome rolled her eyes sarcastically.
The demoness waved off the miko's impertinence and flicked her long green hair behind her back. With a smirk, her hand reached out and grasped the bottle of shards tied around her neck by a thin silver chain. Her patience didn't waver when her hand was batted away by strange pink energy. "So the rumors were true. Then instead of forcing you to give me those shards," Murasaki said sickly sweetly, "I'll make a trade with you."
The grips on Kagome's arms loosened and Naraku and Sesshoumaru were standing on either side of Murasaki. "If you give me all of your Shikon shards," Murasaki started, her eyes flickering with amusement. "I will let you have your pick on who you want." She graciously lifted her right hand from her side and pointed at Sesshoumaru. "The handsome taiyoukai prince, Sesshoumaru," her left hand did the same thing as her right hand, except it was pointed at Naraku. "Or the rebellious charming hanyou, Naraku."
'Heh, this is going to be interesting. These boys maybe under my spell, but they are still conscious and can still hear and see every little thing that is happening. I'd like to see the other's reaction when one of them gets picked,' Murasaki mused, watching the priestess try to settle out her dilemma.
Kagome felt anger flaring inside her. She clenched her fists knuckle-white. "Damn you.. How could you treat men like objects? What ARE you?!"
"You will not take up my offer?"
"NEVER!" Kagome spat.
"It's very easy, you know. Just pick who you want more, Naraku or Sesshoumaru."
"Who do I want more?" Kagome's anger changed drastically to fluster. "What kind of question is that?"
Murasaki smirked. "Let me rephrase that to something a human would understand. Who do you love more?"
"L-Love?!" Kagome's shocked expression suddenly turned soft. "Uhh... both."
'So she's a two-timer..' Murasaki's eyes traveled to each dog demon on her side. They had a look of utter surprise and confusion, but Kagome could not see it.
"My love for them is companionably speaking, of course. I mean... they might not be my friend, but I'm THEIR friend, and even though we haven't known each other for a long time, I care about them too much to let one of them go," Kagome said truthfully. She saw the slight confused expression on the demoness's face. "I don't expect someone like you to understand, though. As much experience as you probably had of physical love, you'll never truly understand what love IS!" Kagome's voice grew with each word, so did the miko energy inside her just begging to be let loose.
The shards Murasaki had suddenly glew powerfully tore from her possession. "The shards are reacting to her miko energy..!"
The glowing shards all floated towards Kagome, who herself was covered in bright light. The shards from her bottle broke out and merged with the other shards she had just claimed into what looked like one-fifths of the Shikon Jewel. 'How did... how the heck did it do THAT?!' Her hand reached out and firmly closed over the large jewel shard. 'Oh well, at least I don't have to worry about losing a shard,' she mused.
Finally snapping out of her shock, Kagome pulled an arrow out and aimed at Murasaki. The arrow was also glowing now, simply after she had touched it.
The tables have turned drastically.
Murasaki snarled. 'Damn. She has all of my shards, that miko wench..!' "You two," she seethed, her eyes flaring amber. "Kill her and get me my shards!!"
The dog demons did not respond. Murasaki was about to turn to Sesshoumaru in annoyance, when a hand encircled her neck. "Well what do you know? It seems that you have absolutely no power over us without the Shikon Jewel shards," Sesshoumaru hissed crossly. "Very amusing joke you played on us, lowlife wench."
"We'll send you on a slow ride to oblivion," Naraku added.
Murasaki's amber eyes dwelled onto Sesshoumaru. "Y-You cannot kill me!"
"Oh? Why not?"
"The village priestess, the one that followed the group of men, I have her under my custody," Murasaki rushed, trying to convince the dog youkai.
"I couldn't care less," Sesshoumaru retorted boredly as venom started to materialize in his occupied hand.
Kagome's eyes widened in realization. "Kiochi-san!! Sesshoumaru, no!"
Sesshoumaru stopped the venom from developing in his hand. "Speak, wench." He said through gritted teeth.
"My, I knew you would hesitate for a human," Murasaki smiled tauntingly. "Just like your father. He was a foolish creature, but great at rutting."
Sesshoumaru's grip on her neck tightened. "Never. Speak. Of him. Like that. Again." He said in a deadly quiet voice. Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru worriedly. 'Oh, he looks very mad.' Anger was vibrating from his very being.
"This spring, the Ethereal Spring, is the exact same place your father and that human, Hitomi met. And this is the same place that he left your mother."
Sesshoumaru's eyes started to glow red in anger.
"Look," Kagome called out to Murasaki. "Tell us where Kiochi is, right now. There is nothing left for you to lose, Murasaki."
"And miss the fun of seeing Sesshoumaru-sama get angry? The great Sesshoumaru is known for never-ending patience," Murasaki said, still tauntingly.
"Listen to yourself," Naraku stated, disgusted. "You are in no position to goad about. You are outnumbered, and you no longer possess any of the shards."
"Outnumbered, am I?" Murasaki telepathically called for her helpers. They never came. Murasaki swore silently.
"What's the matter?" a familiar feminine voice asked. Kiochi walked out of the woods, sporting a bleeding wound and her bow and arrows. A smile was playing on her lips. "Without the shards, you are unable to commit powerful magic, therefore, you are unable to keep a strong hold over a vast number of people."
"Kiochi-san!" Kagome cried, relieved. "-Wait, you're bleeding!"
"I am fine, Kagome-san. I have been fighting off Murasaki's men for quite some time now, until they all stopped abruptively at attempting to fight me. It was quite a strange sight to see all those men just drop into a faint. And that's when I sensed your Ki power, Kagome-san, and realized you must have gotten things fixed up."
Kagome smiled sheepishly. "Ah, I guess.."
Sesshoumaru looked up at Murasaki. "We already have what we came for," he said coolly, "Farewell."
With that said, Sesshoumaru unleashed the venom and melted Murasaki's head clear off her shoulders. With a somewhat unsatisfied feeling, he threw her corpse aside, which evaporated away.
"That was a nice show," Kiochi commented.
Sesshoumaru said nothing and turned his back to them to look out to the majestic looking spring, with all of its Pyreflies. Kagome was about to say something to him when Naraku put a hand on her shoulder. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Let him be alone. Those words of Murasaki had obviously caused something in him to stir."
Kagome nodded, and all the three of them left Sesshoumaru, who had already forgotten of their presence because he was deep in thought. Kagome cast one last glance towards him. 'Sesshoumaru..'
~
Miroku sat down with his legs crossed, a serious expression on his face. He watched Sango sleep in her futon. His serious expression turned into open shock when he felt the draft from his hand gradually cease. Carefully, he took off the prayer beads as well as his armlet and let out a high-pitched scream of joy, waking up Sango.
Sango sat up on her futon and glared at Miroku. "Houshi, what are you so happy about?"
"It's GONE, it's GONE!!" he sang joyfully, dancing around the room. "Kagome- sama and her friends did it, they did it!"
"Whoa, whoa, hold on there," Sango interrupted his 'victory' dance, although excitement was welling up inside her, too. "What are you talking about?"
"Look at this," he said in his usual serious voice. He put his right hand right infront of her face.
"Is this some sort of joke?" Sango asked, twitching.
"Oh, yes, I haven't told you. Well, I was cursed by Murasaki with a windtunnel, and it can't go away unless I kill her, and look, it did go away and that must mean that they has killed her!" the gleeful monk explained in one sentence.
Sango grinned happily also. "Then that must mean..."
Miroku nodded. "Your fellow villagers are saved."
Sango unexpectedly threw her arms around Miroku happily. "This is so wonderful! I'm going to see Otou-san and everyone else again! I am so gratefu..." Sango stopped talking and started twitching when Miroku did his own traditional way of showing happiness. "Monk. My butt. Your hands. Equals OBLIVION!!" she yelled violently, beating the poor monk.
~
Kaede was about to open the shoji door to check up on them when several strange sounds were heard.
"Hentai, when will you learn?! Didn't your mother teach you any manners?! PERVERT!!"
The young Miko stiffly turned around and walked away, not wanting know what was going on in there.
~
Gomen nasai, minna, for the inconvenient late update, as well as the lack of fluff. So I hereby promise fluff on the next chapter, which I already have typed down on my computer and is just waiting to be uploaded. I'll put it up when I get ten or more reviews, that I will! ^_^ Sorry I'm being so demanding...
Oh yeah, I got the settings of this chapter from Final Fantasy X, what with its Pyreflies and surreal springs and such.. ~
Yay, got over 100 reviews! I'd like to thank all of those who had so graciously reviewed, thank you for your death threats, praises and whatever else you people had typed down. ^_^ And for that, I grant you the access of looking at Sesshoumaru-sama's beautiful-gorgeous-fluffy-boa-constrictor thingy. I guess I forgot to tell you I kidnapped Sesshoumaru from the episode, 'An Ominous Demon Blade, Tetsusaiga.'
Sesshoumaru: *Looks around like a lost deer* Where am I? I was about pull the Tetsusaiga out from its place and suddenly I am here, in this strange white room-and oh gods, who and why are those lusty looking characters looking at my boa?
RPG: You are in the internet, Sesshoumaru-sama. Those 'lusty' looking characters are the lovely reviewers, just admiring your boa from a safe distance.
(Note: the reviewers were closing in on poor Sesshoumaru-sama with a crazy glint in their eyes)
Sesshoumaru: (bats away the reviewers with a look of horror) You call that a safe distance? And why can I not use my youkai powers? My CLAWS are gone. (gets tackled to the ground by the reviewers) MY GOD. Get these filthy HUMANS off me..!
RPG: Bad reviewers! Get off Sesshoumaru-sama! And stop trying to tear his clothes! ^_^ (Pulls out big rusty bat) Well, while I try to save Sesshoumaru-sama from you reviewers, kindly take this time to read the Review Responses.
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Review Responses:
Dragonruler212: The fifth Harry Potter book's really addictive, isn't it? I stayed in my room for a whole day reading HP and the Order of the Phoenix without blinking, eating, or moving, (except only to turn the page). Okaa- san banned me from reading that book for two days because of that. :p Bleh. Well here's the update and thank you!
Hinoke: AH!! (dodges mallet) I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I have a perfectly good excuse as to why I didn't update soon. Uh.. it's because... one of my radioactive monkeys choked on a grain of sand and was severely injured. His uh, liver failed because of that. See? A perfectly good excuse! (gets whacked over the head by a mallet) but I can see it's not good ENOUGH.
Suki: Sorry for the lack of fast update-ness. My dog ate my homework. My sister has lime disease. My great-great-great-great grandpa died last night. A virus infected my computer. Sesshoumaru and Naraku made me update late. That, plus all of the other lovely lies-err, excuses there are. Thank you for reviewing! I'm extremely flattered your life depends on the quickness of the updates of this story.
Evil Bunny: ^________^ Heh, there you have it, some Sango and Miroku's rather abnormal 'fluff' scenes. I like Sango's character, too. Strong and willing. And I agree with you when you say the laugh always follows dear Miroku-sama around. Poor guy allows himself to be beat up by women. I'd say that Miroku and Sango make the most humorous couple, huh? Well, thank you for reviewing and I hope you liked this chapter.
Ashleigh: Here's more, thank you for reviewing. (I'd say more, but I can't say more because I don't know what to say. Gomen nasai!)
^.^: I'm glad you love my story. I agree with you when you say it needs more fluff, because it does. And it will get more fluff. I can guarantee there's going to be a large slice of that in the next chapter! Here is the update! Thanks for reviewing~!
Shichan: I called Sesshoumaru-sama a hanyou?! Oh crud, oh well. Hopefully I won't make another mistake like that, I might get shish kabobbed by a certain pretty-dog-demon boy. At least I didn't make any other character- offending mistakes like calling Miroku gay. u_u He'd suck me into his kazaana for sure. I'm glad you love my story!
Duke-of-Spades: Here I am, wishing you a late Happy Birthday! Maybe I should sing a birthday song for you, but I don't know how to sing, so I'll just somewhat dedicate this chapter to your birthday. I was thinking of forcing Sesshoumaru-sama and Naraku-sama into singing a song for you with their devastatingly beautiful voices but I don't think that'll happen, seeing as Naraku isn't here and Sesshoumaru is currently trying to pry you as well as the other readers off him.
Fawn the panther: OOOH! These panthers and doggies are so cute! The dogs remind me of Sesshoumaru-sama. Here's the chapter, so I'll just take these little darlings for now. (smiles as she pets one of the dogs) Well, see you later, I'll test out if these guys are really trained or not. Thank you for reviewing!
Faith: I am? Good at what? (looks around stupidly) I wonder what I'm good at... well thank you for reviewing once again, faith-san! Although I don't really have much to say, I'm glad at how many times you've reviewed for this story. ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU!
SurfAngel: ^_^ Flatterer! I DO wish it could be a series on t.v also, but I'm not ashamed nor distraught to say, I don't own a thing, Rumiko Takahashi-sama owns Inuyasha. The only thing I own is my room, my computer, and the plot of this story. Thank you!
~
(Note: I only respond to those who reviewed on the last updated chapter. So I'm sorry if I missed your review and didn't respond.)
I tried to make my responses as long as I can, and sorry if some of it is quite insane, I'm currently very high on sugar, and trying my very best to control my hyperactiveness.
Well, I have to go try to pry off the reviewers who want to sell Sesshoumaru's clothes on EBay and/or add it to their shrine consisting of Sesshoumaru. Don't worry, Sesshoumaru-sama! I'll save you! ^_^ (turns around to go save Sesshoumaru-sama) Oh, I forgot to tell you, REVIEW AFTER THE FAREWELL SIGN!
Sayonara!
Kagome glanced ahead to see Sesshoumaru standing stoically up on a tree, and two unknown individuals both on battle stance. Her shocked expression changed drastically to concern for one specific individual who was bleeding all over. She looked human.
"Wait, stop! We don't want any trouble," Kagome called out, hoping they heard her. Naraku turned his head and shot her a look that asked if she wanted to get off his back. The young miko nodded, and automatically the hanyou kneeled down to let Kagome dismount.
"We mean you no harm," Kagome spoke once more taking careful steps towards the mysterious woman and her companion. Sesshoumaru's attention dropped towards Kagome, who was slowly walking towards the unknown strangers. Leaping off the high raven tree branch he had currently been standing on, his eyes glued onto Kagome, as if interested on what she was going to do next.
"Who-who are you?" the wounded human female asked dazedly. Her eyes darted from Kagome to the others.
"I'm Kagome. This is Sesshoumaru, Naraku," Kagome introduced them one by one. Then she uncertainly glanced at Miroku, who had a completely blank yet suspicious looking expression. "And that's Miroku."
"Do not try to move so much," Miroku inquired the fatigued woman, strolling towards them. He looked at the young exterminator in a concerned way. "I can plainly see that you are badly injured."
"You are a woman," the stranger said almost unconsciously towards Kagome. "Then that means you are not on Murasaki's side..." Plainly tired, she dropped to a knee. "I am Sango from the village of Demon Exterminators. This is Kirara," Sango pointed at a now small kitten resting her head on her paws.
"Lazy thing," she murmured and fell forward into a faint. Miroku, truthfully on reflex and not lecherousness, caught the young demon exterminator before she could hit the ground. His eyes half lidded in thought.
"Village of exterminators.. impossible."
"Why?" Kagome asked, keeping a close eye on Miroku.
"The Demon Exterminator's village is more than just a few miles away," Naraku answered for the low ranked monk. "She must have run into many a youkai just to reach this place."
"Perhaps Murasaki had kidnapped her village's men, as well," Sesshoumaru theorized, now sitting on a tree branch. "And she has come all the way here to save them. A noble gesture for such a human," Sesshoumaru admitted pensively.
Kagome walked infront of the kneeled down Miroku. "Miroku, now what? We can't just leave her here like this. But at the same time we can't afford to turn around and head back to the shrine." Her blue eyes filled with dilemma.
The kitten, or Kirara, suddenly was on its paws and was running towards the unconscious Sango. She affectionately rubbed her head against Sango's leg and whimpered. Kagome gently picked up the small kitten. "Kirara, was it? Don't worry, she's going to be fine," Kagome said softly, feeling a bit awkward for trying to comfort a little kitten.
"I'll go," Miroku stated clearly.
Kagome turned to Miroku. "What?"
"I will take this young maiden back to your shrine. If that is all right," Miroku answered devotedly. "You guys can go on ahead."
"Are you sure, Miroku?"
"Positive. I'll just catch up."
Sesshoumaru scoffed from his tree limb. "I trust that you will not try anything disorderly?"
"You have my full word," Miroku grinned audaciously as he hoisted the unconscious girl onto his horse. "I will try to get here as fast as I can. Kirara," Miroku motioned for the kitten, which obediently hopped up onto the horse. "Good bye for now."
"Be careful, Miroku," Kagome said quietly. The humble monk nodded feebly, and went on his way back to the village.
~
Sesshoumaru smirked all-knowingly. "Is it not obvious that he will attempt something rash to that injured human?"
"I have to agree with him on that," Naraku interrupted Kagome from answering. "After what I saw him do to Kiochi, I am not surprised that he would probably try the same thing on the exterminator. Injured, or not."
Kagome opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. She sighed, knowing what they said was probably true. "Uh, let's not waste anymore time and look for Murasaki!"
With that, the uneasy feeling miko walked ahead of them, unbeknownst to her that two pairs of dog demon eyes were on her.
~
"So they separated? Oh, this is more complicated than I thought," the Demoness spying on them sighed dramatically. "Oh well, either manner, I shall have my way of things around here," Murasaki gazed lovingly at a certain individual with golden eyes. 'He looks so much like his late father..'
~
Sango opened her eyes only to see that she was riding on a horse, going directly the opposite of the direction of Murasaki. The horse was galloping at a fast speed. "Monk, let me go!"
"You are badly wounded. It is not the right decision for you to go after Murasaki in that condition," Miroku replied courteously. "Now please, rest while I take you to a nearby shrine."
"Kirara?" Sango looked down at her feline companion, as if saying, 'get me off this horse or bite monk's head off.'
Kirara shook her head, also knowing that Sango was badly injured.
"No!! You don't understand...!!" the young exterminator protested as they rode through the dark forest. "Let me go!"
"I'm afraid I cannot comply."
Frustrated, the demon exterminator drew a dagger from its sheath. "Please don't make me do this."
Miroku looked down at Sango and smiled. "I'm not making you. Kindly put that dagger away, I am not a fan of pointed objects being too close to me."
Sango glared at the monk icily. 'How can he not be threatened at all?! I can just stick this into his gut and kill him instantly.' Her glare suddenly disappeared. 'But what was he doing in the forest with those other people? Could they also be after Murasaki?'
"Yes. We each have our own reasons as to why."
Sango almost dropped her dagger. 'So this guy can read minds. I have to be more alert,' Sango placed the glare back upon her face.
"No, I cannot read minds, if that is what you are thinking," the humble monk answered her thoughts. "Well maybe I can, through your actions and expressions on your face. You're like a book. An easy one to read, at that. You let your emotions show clear on your face."
Sango had shock clearly on her face. 'I'm that predictable..'
Miroku stole a glance of her face and saw shock. 'Must be thinking if she's that predictable.' Then out of the blue, dejection hung over her face. 'Oh, did I make her feel bad?' "Now listen to me while I continuously rant like I'm your mother. If you don't get that wound treated, it will surely infect, young lady. Or worse, you can bleed to death. And what were you doing in that dark forest? Many youkai lurk there, male youkai in fact. They might attack you. Or worse, being a well structured eye pleasing thing you are, they might-" Miroku was silenced as Sango whacked him over the head.
"Hentai," she stated simply. "It doesn't look like only the male youkai are something I have to worry about," she muttered.
"Okay, let's lay off THAT subject. All I'm saying is you can trust those three to destroy Murasaki. Did you know that one of them is Lord Sesshoumaru, a prince from the Western Lands?"
"What?! There is no way," Sango exclaimed, trying to hide her astonishment. "When Kagome introduced that guy, I was too dazed to really take all the information in. Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands?! He hates humans, doesn't he?"
"Well, yes. He's a mystery to all," Miroku half smiled, although extremely relieved that they dropped the 'let me go I have to kill Murasaki subject.'
"Don't think I've forgotten that your leading me away from Murasaki, monk."
"Please, don't worry. Kagome-sama will make sure none of your fellow villagers are hurt."
"You know, for some reason," Sango smiled. "I believe you."
"Just don't worry about it. All will be well in the end."
"Monk."
"Yes, Sango-sama?"
"Get your hands off my butt."
"Oh, I didn't see you there. Please forgive this Unruly Monk."
SLAP.
"PERVERT!! When I said get your hands off my butt, that doesn't mean move your hands up to my breasts!"
WHACK. 'Oh well, that was worth it. She has such soft-'
"I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, HENTAI!!"
With that said, Miroku now lay sprawled on the ground, with many lumps on his head and a handprint across his face. He sighed dreamily. "What a woman. I wonder what she's like in be-"
A boomerang shot out of nowhere and clobbered the poor monk an inch away from oblivion.
~
Kagome, Sesshoumaru, and Naraku all stopped at the same time when a loud shouting and beating sounds were heard.
"Did you hear that? At first glance it would seem as if it was a youkai mating season," Naraku halted from walking. Kagome turned to look at Naraku. "Hmm?"
"But if you would listen more closely, it sounded like 'pervert' and then a slapping sound, then 'I know what you're thinking, hentai.' Then several punch sounds," Naraku added thoughtfully.
"My theory was right, then," Sesshoumaru smirked.
"Five minutes and Miroku's already at it. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it serves him right for pulling something like that on an injured woman," Kagome shook her head slowly. "Well, let's go!"
~
Sesshoumaru nodded and they continued to trek through the forest. His expression hardened. "Hn. That's strange. No one has attacked yet."
"Yeah, that IS pretty weird," Kagome agreed resolutely. "It makes me wonder if Murasaki is watching our every move right now."
"So you felt it, too?" Naraku asked, surprised. His red eyes scanned the forest. "You felt as if someone was watching?"
"Yeah.."
Sesshoumaru commented with silence and observed the surroundings intimately. It was nighttime, nonetheless there weren't any stars, clouds, or a moon at all.
They walked in silence throughout the murky forest, tailing the pull of the Shikon shards. As the forest grew darker and darker, tiny gold and white firefly-like lights started to shine brightly. The further they walked, the more specks of light appeared, grazing the atmosphere like fresh snow.
"Hey-do you guys know what the glowing stuff in the air is?" Kagome asked automatically, trying to grasp one in her hand. Her eyes widened in shock as the light just passed through her hand as if it were a ghost. "Whoa... that's cool."
"They are Pyreflies. Pyreflies are non-existent, they are like translucent sparks from a fire that never go out. Neither are they insects nor organic," Sesshoumaru answered curtly.
"Well, I think they're pretty," Kagome smiled. She held her hand out and closed it on one Pyrefly, pretending she was really holding onto it. An unwilling pout crossed her features when the Pyrefly left her closed hand. Two certain dog demons watched her in interest, noticing how she looked like a child opening a Christmas present, just after seeing the humble Pyreflies.
"I'd catch one for Souta," Kagome stated thoughtfully, "But seeing how I can't even touch them, I'll just take a picture!" Kagome smiled cheerfully as she withdrew her camera, which she has been hiding in the pocket of her gi.
Sesshoumaru frowned. "You brought that ridiculous camera with you?"
"Uhuh," Kagome answered off-handedly as she snapped a few pictures of the Pyreflies. "I told my family I'd take as many pictures of the Sengoku Jidai as I can. I can't tell you how different everything is from here and the future," Kagome paused and looked around uncertainly. "Wait. The pull of the Shikon shards has stopped."
She sprinted past the trees and stopped dead in her tracks.
It took all of Kagome's willpower to hold herself back from sighing in awe as they reached the most beautiful thing the young miko has ever seen.
There was a large spring filled with perfectly translucent water, and Pyreflies seemed to be hovering in it, lighting it up so that she could see the very bottom of the spring that seemed thirty feet deep. The trees were not decomposed around at this point, they seemed more full of life and a surreal color of silver-blue. Kagome just stood there, gaping at the sight before her eyes. "Oh jeez, this has got to be the most beautiful place I've ever seen!"
"You are astounded by a mere spring with glowing non-organic creatures and a few blue trees?" Sesshoumaru asked flatly from behind her.
"What are you talking about? This spring," Kagome said with starry eyes, "Should be one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Just take in its atmosphere, aura, whatever. It's so-" Kagome stopped in mid-sentence when she felt Sesshoumaru's presence fade away. "Sesshoumaru?"
She turned around and saw only Naraku, a bewildered look in his eyes. "He just-disappeared," Naraku stated, his voice half as bewildered as his expression.
"Your silly conversations were starting to bore me," a female voice drawled. Naraku's head snapped to the direction of the voice and saw a woman with violet eyes and long green hair step out of the forest. She herself looked like a part of the forest because of her vine-like green locks. "Welcome to my abode."
"You're Murasaki!" Kagome said, slightly peeved at the fact that the woman definitely WAS a looker. 'And she has twenty or more shards..' Two of them were visible as earrings, ten or more of them had been made into a necklace, and an uncountable amount was decorated onto the demoness's golden obi.
Naraku scoffed. "This is _your_ abode? It is more like you've rented it for the night," he said hotly. "Your aroma here is only recent. And I cannot say much about your scent, either," disgust passed his delicate features. "I smell many male odors on you. Under all that, you smell like hell."
"How dare you insult me that way?!" she seethed, her eyes turning reddish. But just as soon as it has turned red, she blinked and it was violet once again. "If you didn't look so gorgeous, I would've killed you where you stand."
"Like someone like you can kill Naraku," Kagome said, glaring at Murasaki.
She didn't notice Naraku's presence fading away. "And where's Sesshoumaru?! And Kiochi-san?! What have you done with them?!"
The evil demoness didn't answer and backed up into the darkness.
"You coward, show yourself," Kagome looked around, trying to sense the jewel shards. But they had completely vanished. 'Where did she go?'
The next thing she knew, Naraku and Sesshoumaru were standing infront of her, side by side. She looked up questioningly, only to see two pairs violet eyes glaring piercingly at her. Then they were behind her, Sesshoumaru grasping her left arm, and Naraku grasping her right at a death grip. "What are you two doing?! Whatever's wrong with you, snap out of it!"
The two dog demons stood like statues, both looking straight ahead into nowhere. A soft chuckle echoed through the forest. Murasaki walked out of the darkness once again and towards Kagome.
"Priestess," she smiled coldly. "They are under my spell."
"Yeah, I sort of figured that out by now," Kagome rolled her eyes sarcastically.
The demoness waved off the miko's impertinence and flicked her long green hair behind her back. With a smirk, her hand reached out and grasped the bottle of shards tied around her neck by a thin silver chain. Her patience didn't waver when her hand was batted away by strange pink energy. "So the rumors were true. Then instead of forcing you to give me those shards," Murasaki said sickly sweetly, "I'll make a trade with you."
The grips on Kagome's arms loosened and Naraku and Sesshoumaru were standing on either side of Murasaki. "If you give me all of your Shikon shards," Murasaki started, her eyes flickering with amusement. "I will let you have your pick on who you want." She graciously lifted her right hand from her side and pointed at Sesshoumaru. "The handsome taiyoukai prince, Sesshoumaru," her left hand did the same thing as her right hand, except it was pointed at Naraku. "Or the rebellious charming hanyou, Naraku."
'Heh, this is going to be interesting. These boys maybe under my spell, but they are still conscious and can still hear and see every little thing that is happening. I'd like to see the other's reaction when one of them gets picked,' Murasaki mused, watching the priestess try to settle out her dilemma.
Kagome felt anger flaring inside her. She clenched her fists knuckle-white. "Damn you.. How could you treat men like objects? What ARE you?!"
"You will not take up my offer?"
"NEVER!" Kagome spat.
"It's very easy, you know. Just pick who you want more, Naraku or Sesshoumaru."
"Who do I want more?" Kagome's anger changed drastically to fluster. "What kind of question is that?"
Murasaki smirked. "Let me rephrase that to something a human would understand. Who do you love more?"
"L-Love?!" Kagome's shocked expression suddenly turned soft. "Uhh... both."
'So she's a two-timer..' Murasaki's eyes traveled to each dog demon on her side. They had a look of utter surprise and confusion, but Kagome could not see it.
"My love for them is companionably speaking, of course. I mean... they might not be my friend, but I'm THEIR friend, and even though we haven't known each other for a long time, I care about them too much to let one of them go," Kagome said truthfully. She saw the slight confused expression on the demoness's face. "I don't expect someone like you to understand, though. As much experience as you probably had of physical love, you'll never truly understand what love IS!" Kagome's voice grew with each word, so did the miko energy inside her just begging to be let loose.
The shards Murasaki had suddenly glew powerfully tore from her possession. "The shards are reacting to her miko energy..!"
The glowing shards all floated towards Kagome, who herself was covered in bright light. The shards from her bottle broke out and merged with the other shards she had just claimed into what looked like one-fifths of the Shikon Jewel. 'How did... how the heck did it do THAT?!' Her hand reached out and firmly closed over the large jewel shard. 'Oh well, at least I don't have to worry about losing a shard,' she mused.
Finally snapping out of her shock, Kagome pulled an arrow out and aimed at Murasaki. The arrow was also glowing now, simply after she had touched it.
The tables have turned drastically.
Murasaki snarled. 'Damn. She has all of my shards, that miko wench..!' "You two," she seethed, her eyes flaring amber. "Kill her and get me my shards!!"
The dog demons did not respond. Murasaki was about to turn to Sesshoumaru in annoyance, when a hand encircled her neck. "Well what do you know? It seems that you have absolutely no power over us without the Shikon Jewel shards," Sesshoumaru hissed crossly. "Very amusing joke you played on us, lowlife wench."
"We'll send you on a slow ride to oblivion," Naraku added.
Murasaki's amber eyes dwelled onto Sesshoumaru. "Y-You cannot kill me!"
"Oh? Why not?"
"The village priestess, the one that followed the group of men, I have her under my custody," Murasaki rushed, trying to convince the dog youkai.
"I couldn't care less," Sesshoumaru retorted boredly as venom started to materialize in his occupied hand.
Kagome's eyes widened in realization. "Kiochi-san!! Sesshoumaru, no!"
Sesshoumaru stopped the venom from developing in his hand. "Speak, wench." He said through gritted teeth.
"My, I knew you would hesitate for a human," Murasaki smiled tauntingly. "Just like your father. He was a foolish creature, but great at rutting."
Sesshoumaru's grip on her neck tightened. "Never. Speak. Of him. Like that. Again." He said in a deadly quiet voice. Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru worriedly. 'Oh, he looks very mad.' Anger was vibrating from his very being.
"This spring, the Ethereal Spring, is the exact same place your father and that human, Hitomi met. And this is the same place that he left your mother."
Sesshoumaru's eyes started to glow red in anger.
"Look," Kagome called out to Murasaki. "Tell us where Kiochi is, right now. There is nothing left for you to lose, Murasaki."
"And miss the fun of seeing Sesshoumaru-sama get angry? The great Sesshoumaru is known for never-ending patience," Murasaki said, still tauntingly.
"Listen to yourself," Naraku stated, disgusted. "You are in no position to goad about. You are outnumbered, and you no longer possess any of the shards."
"Outnumbered, am I?" Murasaki telepathically called for her helpers. They never came. Murasaki swore silently.
"What's the matter?" a familiar feminine voice asked. Kiochi walked out of the woods, sporting a bleeding wound and her bow and arrows. A smile was playing on her lips. "Without the shards, you are unable to commit powerful magic, therefore, you are unable to keep a strong hold over a vast number of people."
"Kiochi-san!" Kagome cried, relieved. "-Wait, you're bleeding!"
"I am fine, Kagome-san. I have been fighting off Murasaki's men for quite some time now, until they all stopped abruptively at attempting to fight me. It was quite a strange sight to see all those men just drop into a faint. And that's when I sensed your Ki power, Kagome-san, and realized you must have gotten things fixed up."
Kagome smiled sheepishly. "Ah, I guess.."
Sesshoumaru looked up at Murasaki. "We already have what we came for," he said coolly, "Farewell."
With that said, Sesshoumaru unleashed the venom and melted Murasaki's head clear off her shoulders. With a somewhat unsatisfied feeling, he threw her corpse aside, which evaporated away.
"That was a nice show," Kiochi commented.
Sesshoumaru said nothing and turned his back to them to look out to the majestic looking spring, with all of its Pyreflies. Kagome was about to say something to him when Naraku put a hand on her shoulder. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Let him be alone. Those words of Murasaki had obviously caused something in him to stir."
Kagome nodded, and all the three of them left Sesshoumaru, who had already forgotten of their presence because he was deep in thought. Kagome cast one last glance towards him. 'Sesshoumaru..'
~
Miroku sat down with his legs crossed, a serious expression on his face. He watched Sango sleep in her futon. His serious expression turned into open shock when he felt the draft from his hand gradually cease. Carefully, he took off the prayer beads as well as his armlet and let out a high-pitched scream of joy, waking up Sango.
Sango sat up on her futon and glared at Miroku. "Houshi, what are you so happy about?"
"It's GONE, it's GONE!!" he sang joyfully, dancing around the room. "Kagome- sama and her friends did it, they did it!"
"Whoa, whoa, hold on there," Sango interrupted his 'victory' dance, although excitement was welling up inside her, too. "What are you talking about?"
"Look at this," he said in his usual serious voice. He put his right hand right infront of her face.
"Is this some sort of joke?" Sango asked, twitching.
"Oh, yes, I haven't told you. Well, I was cursed by Murasaki with a windtunnel, and it can't go away unless I kill her, and look, it did go away and that must mean that they has killed her!" the gleeful monk explained in one sentence.
Sango grinned happily also. "Then that must mean..."
Miroku nodded. "Your fellow villagers are saved."
Sango unexpectedly threw her arms around Miroku happily. "This is so wonderful! I'm going to see Otou-san and everyone else again! I am so gratefu..." Sango stopped talking and started twitching when Miroku did his own traditional way of showing happiness. "Monk. My butt. Your hands. Equals OBLIVION!!" she yelled violently, beating the poor monk.
~
Kaede was about to open the shoji door to check up on them when several strange sounds were heard.
"Hentai, when will you learn?! Didn't your mother teach you any manners?! PERVERT!!"
The young Miko stiffly turned around and walked away, not wanting know what was going on in there.
~
Gomen nasai, minna, for the inconvenient late update, as well as the lack of fluff. So I hereby promise fluff on the next chapter, which I already have typed down on my computer and is just waiting to be uploaded. I'll put it up when I get ten or more reviews, that I will! ^_^ Sorry I'm being so demanding...
Oh yeah, I got the settings of this chapter from Final Fantasy X, what with its Pyreflies and surreal springs and such.. ~
Yay, got over 100 reviews! I'd like to thank all of those who had so graciously reviewed, thank you for your death threats, praises and whatever else you people had typed down. ^_^ And for that, I grant you the access of looking at Sesshoumaru-sama's beautiful-gorgeous-fluffy-boa-constrictor thingy. I guess I forgot to tell you I kidnapped Sesshoumaru from the episode, 'An Ominous Demon Blade, Tetsusaiga.'
Sesshoumaru: *Looks around like a lost deer* Where am I? I was about pull the Tetsusaiga out from its place and suddenly I am here, in this strange white room-and oh gods, who and why are those lusty looking characters looking at my boa?
RPG: You are in the internet, Sesshoumaru-sama. Those 'lusty' looking characters are the lovely reviewers, just admiring your boa from a safe distance.
(Note: the reviewers were closing in on poor Sesshoumaru-sama with a crazy glint in their eyes)
Sesshoumaru: (bats away the reviewers with a look of horror) You call that a safe distance? And why can I not use my youkai powers? My CLAWS are gone. (gets tackled to the ground by the reviewers) MY GOD. Get these filthy HUMANS off me..!
RPG: Bad reviewers! Get off Sesshoumaru-sama! And stop trying to tear his clothes! ^_^ (Pulls out big rusty bat) Well, while I try to save Sesshoumaru-sama from you reviewers, kindly take this time to read the Review Responses.
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Review Responses:
Dragonruler212: The fifth Harry Potter book's really addictive, isn't it? I stayed in my room for a whole day reading HP and the Order of the Phoenix without blinking, eating, or moving, (except only to turn the page). Okaa- san banned me from reading that book for two days because of that. :p Bleh. Well here's the update and thank you!
Hinoke: AH!! (dodges mallet) I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I have a perfectly good excuse as to why I didn't update soon. Uh.. it's because... one of my radioactive monkeys choked on a grain of sand and was severely injured. His uh, liver failed because of that. See? A perfectly good excuse! (gets whacked over the head by a mallet) but I can see it's not good ENOUGH.
Suki: Sorry for the lack of fast update-ness. My dog ate my homework. My sister has lime disease. My great-great-great-great grandpa died last night. A virus infected my computer. Sesshoumaru and Naraku made me update late. That, plus all of the other lovely lies-err, excuses there are. Thank you for reviewing! I'm extremely flattered your life depends on the quickness of the updates of this story.
Evil Bunny: ^________^ Heh, there you have it, some Sango and Miroku's rather abnormal 'fluff' scenes. I like Sango's character, too. Strong and willing. And I agree with you when you say the laugh always follows dear Miroku-sama around. Poor guy allows himself to be beat up by women. I'd say that Miroku and Sango make the most humorous couple, huh? Well, thank you for reviewing and I hope you liked this chapter.
Ashleigh: Here's more, thank you for reviewing. (I'd say more, but I can't say more because I don't know what to say. Gomen nasai!)
^.^: I'm glad you love my story. I agree with you when you say it needs more fluff, because it does. And it will get more fluff. I can guarantee there's going to be a large slice of that in the next chapter! Here is the update! Thanks for reviewing~!
Shichan: I called Sesshoumaru-sama a hanyou?! Oh crud, oh well. Hopefully I won't make another mistake like that, I might get shish kabobbed by a certain pretty-dog-demon boy. At least I didn't make any other character- offending mistakes like calling Miroku gay. u_u He'd suck me into his kazaana for sure. I'm glad you love my story!
Duke-of-Spades: Here I am, wishing you a late Happy Birthday! Maybe I should sing a birthday song for you, but I don't know how to sing, so I'll just somewhat dedicate this chapter to your birthday. I was thinking of forcing Sesshoumaru-sama and Naraku-sama into singing a song for you with their devastatingly beautiful voices but I don't think that'll happen, seeing as Naraku isn't here and Sesshoumaru is currently trying to pry you as well as the other readers off him.
Fawn the panther: OOOH! These panthers and doggies are so cute! The dogs remind me of Sesshoumaru-sama. Here's the chapter, so I'll just take these little darlings for now. (smiles as she pets one of the dogs) Well, see you later, I'll test out if these guys are really trained or not. Thank you for reviewing!
Faith: I am? Good at what? (looks around stupidly) I wonder what I'm good at... well thank you for reviewing once again, faith-san! Although I don't really have much to say, I'm glad at how many times you've reviewed for this story. ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU!
SurfAngel: ^_^ Flatterer! I DO wish it could be a series on t.v also, but I'm not ashamed nor distraught to say, I don't own a thing, Rumiko Takahashi-sama owns Inuyasha. The only thing I own is my room, my computer, and the plot of this story. Thank you!
~
(Note: I only respond to those who reviewed on the last updated chapter. So I'm sorry if I missed your review and didn't respond.)
I tried to make my responses as long as I can, and sorry if some of it is quite insane, I'm currently very high on sugar, and trying my very best to control my hyperactiveness.
Well, I have to go try to pry off the reviewers who want to sell Sesshoumaru's clothes on EBay and/or add it to their shrine consisting of Sesshoumaru. Don't worry, Sesshoumaru-sama! I'll save you! ^_^ (turns around to go save Sesshoumaru-sama) Oh, I forgot to tell you, REVIEW AFTER THE FAREWELL SIGN!
Sayonara!