Disclaimer: NO! I don't own Red Lantern or Inu Yasha!

Red Lantern

Chapter 15: Awaken

Author's Note:

IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!

I am so, so, so, so, so very sorry. I am, truly. I didn't update for MORE than a 'few' months, but I finally have! Thank you all for your support, but I am a bit sad to inform you all that after this story is finished, I will write no more on this penname. My stories here are immature, and I don't like them that much, save for this one. My new penname is Wicked Enough. I've been writing at that penname for almost half a year, mostly Cyborg 009 stuff, but I do have one Inu-Yasha story there (Sleep and Forget). Please read that one! It's really short, and hasn't received much publicity. I am thinking about transferring this story to that account, once I'm done with editing and talking about it with my editor. I will try to update as much as I can! Please accept my apology!

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Author's POV~

"Hitoki-san, Lady Kagome got up and walked a bit today. She seemed a bit stronger, although still frail," Sango announced.

Inu Yasha grinned. "Really? I knew she would. Is she awake?"

"No, I think she's asleep."

Miroku smirked knowingly. "Ah, Inu Yasha… You better go see what she has to say to you!"

Inu Yasha glared at the perverted monk. "Shut up, Miroku!"

Sango slapped him. "Do you always have to be so… lustful?"

Still bright and cheery, he answered, "You bet!"

Sango sighed, sounding extremely exasperated. "You'll always be one of those hormone-driven, sex-crazy fiends, won't you?"

"Sex-crazed? I'm not sex-crazed! Wait… scratch that… I am. Never mind!"

Rolling her eyes, Sango walked away. "I'm going to find Shippo!"

"Does that mean she likes me?"

Inu Yasha, too, got up shaking his head. "You're hopeless. I'm going to talk to Kagome and see how she's doing."

"Don't talk to her that much! She could be tired!" Miroku said, winking.

Walking into the darkened room, Inu Yasha carefully lit a dim lamp.

"Kagome?" he whispered.

Kagome turned, and opened her sleepy eyes. "Inu Yasha? You back?"

"Yeah… Heard you got up today. You feelin' better?"

"A bit." She looked away. "Thank you for doing this."

Inu Yasha blushed a bit. "No way. I was about to come to Japan anyway."

"Really?"

"Yeah. No. Jeez, Kagome, you ask too many questions!"

Kagome laughed, a light, breathy sound. "And you, Inu Yasha, stumble over your thoughts too much!"

Inu Yasha grinned. "Thanks. That boosted my self esteem so much!"

"You're welcome!"

There was a bit of silence. Finally, Kagome started again. "Seriously, Inu Yasha… Why are you doing this? Kaede told me that you always hated your stepmothers. Why not me?"

"Because you're different. You're not meant for my father. You're not meant for anyone to use." 'Even me.'

As if she was reading his mind, Kagome gently asked, "Not even you?"

Inu Yasha turned so red, even Kagome could see it in the blurred light. "No…"

"You don't do this for someone who you just think is different. You must feel something for me. And please don't lie," she added after a moment.

'Now or never.' "Kagome, I-"

"Inu Yasha! They've spotted land!" Miroku said, suddenly bursting into the room.

Inu Yasha wanted to groan. He'd come so close. Who knew when he'd be able to gather up his courage once again?

"Really?" he finally asked. "We're in Niigata already?"

"Yeah! Buddha has answered our prayers for a quick and safe trip!" Miroku noticed Kagome lying on the bed. "Ah… Lady Kagome! How nice it is to see you awake and feeling a bit better!"

He rushed to her side. "I know why you're doing all this now, Inu Yasha!"

Both Kagome and Inu Yasha blushed.

"Shut up," Inu Yasha barked out.

'He didn't disagree?' Kagome thought wondrously. "Thank you. You must be Miroku, the lord monk."

"At your service," Miroku said, flashing a charming smile and bow.

"When are we going on land?" Inu Yasha said, breaking the little conversation.

"Captain said in about a few hours, so we should start packing right now."

"Good. Go find Sango and Shippo and tell them the same. Start packing."

As Miroku left, Kagome started coughing weakly.

"Are you okay?" Inu Yasha asked, concerned.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Don't worry."

Inu Yasha still looked worried, but decided to let it lie. "It'll still be a few hours before we go off the boat… Do you want to sleep until then? I can carry you to shore if you don't awaken."

"Thank you, Inu Yasha… I think I will sleep…" She leaned back to settle into her pillow, and quickly fell asleep.

Inu Yasha sighed. She might look like she was getting better, but it really wasn't true. She still had the sad and hopeless look in her eyes.

When that look was gone, then he would know that she was truly well.

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Author's POV~

"Shippo! Get back here!" Sango yelled. "Don't run ahead!"

The small boy turned from his sprint with a sigh. "Do I have to?"

"YES! Come back here and help me carry all this stuff!" Miroku screamed.

Shippo slowly started back.

"Inu Yasha, thanks for the servants carrying things before, but why did you forget to hire ones for Japan?" Miroku complained as he lugged the heavy packs.

Inu Yasha shrugged. "I thought I'd just hire someone here!"

"Is Lady Kagome still asleep?" Shippo asked, interested at the unconscious girl Inu Yasha was holding.

"Yeah…" Inu Yasha said, looking down at the pale faced woman in his arms.

"Hitoki-san, where are we going from here?" Sango asked.

"To the Niigata Train Station… I think it's…-"

"Oh, I know where it is! My parents took me there once to go to Tokyo!" Shippo suddenly exclaimed.

Inu Yasha raised an eyebrow. "Do you still remember the way, kid?"

"Yeah! Come on, I'll lead the way!" Shippo instantly started running again.

Miroku and Sango sighed. "He can run!" Miroku said, still whining. "He's not carrying hundred pound bags!"

"Hey, I told you guys not to bring too much!" Inu Yasha said haughtily.

"No you didn't!" Miroku muttered under his breath.

"Will you guys come on?" Shippo yelled from a distance.

"Coming, coming!" Sango yelled back. "Come one, you guys! There's probably an afternoon train we can catch to Mt. Fuji!"

"Okay, let's go!"

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Author's POV~

"I hate trains, I hate trains, I hate trains, I hate tr-"

"Shut up, Miroku!" Inu Yasha yelled. After about a few hours of a grown man muttering 'I hate trains,' Inu-Yasha got very, very annoyed.

Miroku glared and pouted. "Oh, beautiful Sango, can't you comfort me in this gloom?"

Sango raised an eyebrow, and continued petting Shippo's hair, as the young boy had fallen asleep. "Yeah right. You wish!"

"20 MINUTES UNTIL MT. FUJI!" the conductor suddenly announced from over-head.

"Finally!" Miroku exploded. "Thank the gods!"

"Miroku, do tell why you hate trains so much," Sango said, staring at the monk

Miroku winced. "Too long a story to tell, but let this explain some of it to you." He lifted his hand and let Sango see the palm of it. On it was a large scar, which was still red.

"Ooo! That looks angry! Did you scratch it or something?"

"No. Do you remember that train that exploded near Tokyo? I was a kid, and foolishly curious, and went to see the remains. I reached down to touch a piece of the wreck, and it pierced my hand. The scar has been here ever since."

"Does it still hurt?" Sango asked, still eyeing the wound.

"Oh, Sango! You really do care for me!"

Sango snorted, and said, "Hey, I just wanted to know if it hurt or not. It doesn't matter whether I care for you or not."

Miroku seemed to droop. "Oh… Yeah, it still hurts. Will you kiss my boo-boo?"

Sango rolled her eyes. "Houshi, if you stopped hitting on me, I'd like you."

"Really?"

"Maybe."

"Really?"

"SHUT UP!" Inu Yasha yelled. "God, you guys are so immature!"

"Me?" Sango asked, pointing to herself.

Inu Yasha gave it a minute of thought. "Wait, no, you're good."

"I thought so."

"Hey! What about me?"

"No comment, Miroku."

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Yup, another boring filler chapter. Oh well! At least I updated, right? Next chapter, "Fuji-san"!

Responses to Reviews:

Sesshomaruwuzhere: Aren't you proud of me? I finally updated! It's a miracle! I'm sorry we haven't been talking lately, but I know we're both busy! Good luck on your schoolwork, and here is the newest chapter for you!

The Nobody: I'm not sure when the real fluff will start (if you can believe it, I can barely remember the plot of this story, since I haven't read it in so long!), but I know there is some in the last chapter! I'm glad you still think I'm a good writer!

AnimeObsessionFantasy: I'm so sorry for not updating, and you are awesome to stick by me! Here is the newest chapter; I hope you don't mind that it's a few months late!

Sunflowerobi: Obi-chan, I am so sorry for not updating, and for not checking up on the Yahoo!Group, but I've been super busy and I really (I can't believe I'm about to say this) hated Inu Yasha for a while. Because of all the bad writers, and because the manga came out so slow. But now I'm good again. Can you do me a favor? Check out my new penname, Wicked Enough, and read my Inu Yasha fic there. You're a great writer, and I would love to know what you think of it!

Lonely Angel of Sadness: I'M SOOOO SORRY! I updated not just a few weeks late, but a few months! You must be mad at me! I love your reviews, and I still laugh when I read them! Thanks so much!

Mango-chan: I LOVE your long reviews! They make me feel good inside! I'm sorry for the short chapter, and I hope you don't mind me updating a few months late. O.o;;; Thanks for sticking around!

Tenchi Chan: I'm glad you like my story, and it was your review that's making me update right now, or at least one of them. You've convinced me to update no matter how many bad writers there are on this site. I'll try to not let it bother me so much!

Ari-Sky: Aren't we all amazed? TW updated! It's like… a miracle!

Kaguara: I thank you a whole lot! Thanks for finding my story and reading it even though it's what, a few months too late? Hope you enjoyed this chapter!