Disclaimer: I don't own them, do you hear me?

Red Lantern

Chapter 14: Tell Me

Author's Note:

I'm so very sorry for not updating. Let's just say that I was sick of Inu Yasha fanfiction. Too many people, too little good writers, not that I'm one of them. Anyway, here is the new chapter! I have decided to update weekly, if you don't mind, usually on Tuesdays! Only a few chapters left of this story! About 3 or 4, I think… Probably 3, though… Tell me if you guys want an epilogue or not. Enjoy the story!

This chapter is dedicated to my friend Jenny (Sesshomaruwuzhere)! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRL!

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Author's POV~

"God, it's too cold out!" Miroku said, rubbing his cold arms.

"Get used to it!" Inu Yasha said. "Come on! Kagome and I are going on the first carriage; you two go on the second. And Miroku… Don't do anything stupid enough that it gets you slapped!"

Miroku made an innocent expression while Sango glared, sighing.

"Houshi, I'm warning you! I have a knife in my bag, and I know where you don't want me to."

Miroku gulped and looked down. "I'm sorry, little buddy!" he whispered.

"Are you guys coming or not?" Inu Yasha yelled.

Sango and Miroku quickly ran up to the second, waiting carriage.

The driver uttered a quick shout, and snapped his whip. The carriages where finally moving!

Finally, they arrived at Shanghai's busy port.

"Load our stuff on the ship," Inu Yasha commanded, carrying Kagome in his arms. "And don't forget that one!"

"Hitoki-san, don't you think you're overacting a bit?" Sango asked, tapping his arm.

"NO! Of course I'm not… Yeah…"

"Inu Yasha, shouldn't we be boarding?" Miroku asked. Surprisingly, he had no visible smack-marks.

"Yeah."

So the four went on the large ship, hoping to arrive in Japan with no troubles.

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Author's POV~

Although there were monstrous waves that shook the ship, the small traveling group did not suffer from seasickness.

However, on one of her patrols, Sango met an unfortunate: a boy, with bright red hair, puking his lunch into the sea.

"Are you okay?" she asked gently, touching his arm.

The boy raised his head. "I hate this place!"

"Why? Are you hurt?"

"I just hate this place, and NO! I'm not hurt! I don't need your help!"

Sango raised an eyebrow at the boy's temper. "What's your name?"

"Shippo." A simple, one-word answer that could have been a lie.

"Konnichiwa, Shippo! I'm Sango. Why are you going back to Japan?"

"I don't want to. I'm from Japan originally, but three years ago my parents sent me to Shanghai to a boarding school. My poppa's a merchant, and my mother goes with him. They were too busy to take care of me." The small boy looked defeated at being left behind by his parents. "Now they're dead, and I'll never see them again. The boarding school is sending me back to Niigata, to an orphanage. I don't want to go!" He looked close to tears.

Sango felt a pang of pity. Without thinking about it, she quickly offered: "Do you want to come with us?"

"Who are you with? For all I know, you could be a child kidnapper that wants to sell me off!" Shippo's eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Sango smiled. "Do l look like someone who does that kind of work?"

Shippo carefully looked over the young woman. "No…" he said slowly.

"I thought so. Would you like to come?"

"Where are you going?"

"On a trip to find something."

"Like an adventure to find treasure?" Shippo asked, eyes glittering with the thought.

"Yep! We have to find the Shikon no Tama. Have you heard of it?"

"My poppa once told me a story about it… It has healing powers, doesn't it?"

"You bet! We need to find it to heal a young lady."

"Who's 'we'?"

"Well, in our groups is Inu Yasha, he's the one who basically tells us what to do and wants the Shikon no Tama, there is Miroku, that lecherous monk, and there is Lay Kagome. She is the one who is really sick. Inu Yasha is looking for the jewel to cure her, you know," Sango explained.

"Why does Inu Yasha want to help Lady Kagome? Is he in love with her?" Shippo asked innocently.

Sango smirked. "You know, Shippo, I think he is, but he won't admit it."

"Okay then. I'll join your group!"

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Author's POV~

"What? This brat is coming with us?" Inu Yasha asked, looking at bit peeved.

"Hitoki-san, Shippo is all alone. Besides, he won't be any trouble, will you Shippo?" Sango said, looking down at the little boy.

Shippo shook his head. "Of course not!"

Inu Yasha glared. "Fine! You can come along, but you better not be any trouble!"

"I won't be, Hitoki-san!"

"Lady Sango, you are the most kind and caring person I have ever seen. I mean, it must take a bit heart to help a poor little orphan like Shippo!" Miroku said, trying, once again, to charm Sango.

Sango blushed. "Thank you, Sir Monk!"

Suddenly, they heard weak coughing coming from Kagome's bedroom.

Inu Yasha jumped, eyes turning to the room. "I better go to her. She's probably going to wake up soon."

He walked into the room.

"I told you he was in love with her!" Sango said when he disappeared.

Miroku nodded. "Now if he only admits it!"

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Author's POV~

"Kagome, you awake?" Inu Yasha asked.

"Yeah… Why is my bed moving?" Kagome asked, her voice soft.

Inu Yasha smiled briefly to himself. "We're on a boat."

"Why?"

"Because we're going to Japan to look for something."

"What?"

"The Shikon no Tama. Have you heard of it?"

"Yeah… It heals people, right?" Kagome said, her eyelids becoming heavy.

"It does. We're going to find it…"

"Okay… I'm tired, Inu Yasha… Wake me up when we're there…"

"Sleep…"

'She sounds a bit stronger… She will get better!'

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Kagome's POV~

The next morning, at least I thought it was the next morning, I felt stronger than I had in days.

I sat up on the bed, thinking. However, most of the thoughts were this: we're on a boat to look for the Shikon no Tama? What for?

All of the sudden, I felt a pang of hunger. I tried to stand up, but my legs felt like jelly.

Finally, I walked out of the room, and came to a large, luxurious sitting room. It was decorated in western style, and warm.

A young woman came out of another room. She was very pretty, with long hair up in a high ponytail.

She couldn't be Inu Yasha's girlfriend… right?

I didn't know why… but I felt jealous. On the inside, I chided myself. What am I jealous for? I don't love Inu Yasha, and besides, I was married! Unhappily, but married all the same.

"Lady Kagome!" the girl called. "You shouldn't be out of bed!"

How did she know my name? Could she be a servant, a maid?

No, her clothes were too rich to place her as a lowborn.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm Sango. Come! Hitoki-san will be overjoyed to learn that you are a bit better!" She signaled to my room.

I followed her. Inu Yasha was worried about me?

I crawled back into bed as she lit the lamp.

"Why are you here?" I asked. My voice sounded suspicious, like an envious wife.

"Don't you know? You are really sick!"

That explained why I was feeling weak.

"Hitoki-san asked us to come along with him to look for the Shikon no Tama, so you'll get better!"

He cared for me that much?

"Whose 'we'?"

"Ah… Well, there's Miroku, another college, Shippo, an orphan, and of course, me."

I yawned, tired once again from my expeditions. "Thank you for telling me all this, Sango. I'd like to sleep now…"

Sango nodded. "Yes, Lady Kagome." She quietly moved out of the room.

When Inu Yasha comes back, I have a few questions to ask him.

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YAY! TW has finally updated! Cheer, everyone, cheer! Next chapter, "Awaken"!

Responses to Reviews:

Sesshomaruwuzhere: Happy birthday! Sorry for not updating for so long… Like I said, I was very pissed off at Inu Yasha fanfiction for some time. Anyway, thank you so much for all the reviews and help… I don't know what I would do without you! You are the best friend a writer could have! (PS, I can soon write more; I'm getting a laptop! I finally saved up enough money!)

Sunflowerobi: The family went broke? Really? I don't remember that. Oh well… No, in my version, the family will stay rich! Thank you for the critics! I can't wish for a better beta! Thank you, thank you!

AnimeObsessionFantasy: GO MIROKU! Thanks for being so supportive! You're totally awesome!

Lonely Angel of Sadness: Every time I read one of your reviews, I laugh! You really make my day, and I want to thank you for that! Hahaha… Just hilarious!

Nghi: WOW! I must say, out of all of my reviews, yours was one of my favorites! A bit of criticism, lots of laughter, stuff about everything! LOVE IT! (I have to admit, the coconut bra thing had me cracking up for about an hour.) Thank you very much!

Dark-coyote: Yes, Miroku the pervert… I LUV HIM! I'll try to work in more fluff and stuff… Thank you for the review and the continuous support!

Mango-chan: VERY long review! Thank you for it! Your review is very funny, and it made me laugh many times! Especially the stickers part! It was hilarious! Thanks for all the support, and for putting me on your favorite's list!

TheNobody: YAY YOU'RE BACK! Lucky, you get DSL! I have modem :(!