Surprising News and Land Ho!




~ Your head is spinning out of control, truly messing with your senses, but that doesn't mean anything right now, since you're sleeping. So far, during last night, you have: been attacked by 'revenge', snuggled with 'Dogboy', accused and hurt by your son, made a decision to stay away from 'Dogboy'... You then had a chat with 'revenge' and were feeling much worse... During the game you played, you were insulted, hurt, and kissed by 'Dogboy' whilst you threw your plans out of the window. Sugoi, it has been a jam-packed day for you! That game was the best and worst thing that ever happened to you- or maybe it was meeting 'the band'... Nothing would have happened if you didn't meet 'them'. Still, you wouldn't change a thing, even if you could. One thing should be on your mind when you wake up, and that is how you're going to deal with the spliting headache, turning stomach, and swirling vision. May Kami-sama be with you. You're going to need it! ~

The feather like cloud I seemed to be sleeping on lifted slightly as the warmth that surrounded me vanished. I was still sleeping, but my mind was registering everything. Every sound, every movement, every smell... Inuyasha had left my side, and was moving around like some stalking wild cat or something. He was up to no good, and all I could do was lay back and sleep through it.

A few seconds passed in complete silence as if he had come to a crossroad and had no idea what turn to take... Then he chose the wrong, in my mind, yet right in his, road.

"BOOOOOMMMMMMMmmmm!" he thundered. 'Thundered' was exactly the right way to explain what he did.

I, obviously, was no longer asleep. Sango, Ayame, and Kouga all jumped to life, but poor Miroku was startled out of his mind. Like me, he had found something to clutch and cry out to for saftey. But instead of screaming 'Kyaaa! Hide me!', he was yelling for 'Teddy' while hugging Sango around the waist. Sango didn't like that at all.

"Miroku," she hissed. "Get off of me this instant." When he didn't move, she shoved him away. He didn't budge. She was fed-up with it already. "Houshi! OFF! NOW!"

"I-iie... Teddy, where's Teddy?"

"You're holding Teddy," I muttered, letting go of Inuyasha who had 'coincidentally' been the closest thing to me. "See, you don't need Teddy anymore. Sango's there for you."

Sango glowered at me. "Kagome-chan, I said lose the attitude, not think the impossible."

I understood, only after she looked away sadly. "I... guess I forgot. Arg," I hissed, clutching my forehead. "Anyone got some Advil or Tylenol?"

Everyone shook their heads before Ayame gasped, stopping abruptly. "Ite..." She brought her hands to her head, coughing lightly. "I think I'm going to be sick."

"Go to the bathroom, then," Sango muttered. "I'm glad I didn't have more than half a bottle."

"You're lucky," Kouga stated, sitting in a chair lazily.

"Alcohol is off my list," I mumbled, slipping back into the bed. Migraines are nothing- that was one thing I learned that day. "Sango, if you leave soon, can you talk to Shippo- don't let him come in yet... I don't think I'll live through his questions."

"Sure."

Everyone sat around for awhile before Ayame bolted for the bathroom. "Sea and beer doesn't mix well," she yelped. I groaned. She was right at that.

::::::Silence::::::


...and that was the most pleasurable silence I had ever encountered in my entire life. If my head wasn't spinning, my stomach turning, or my vision out of wack, I could have fallen asleep in a flash. I couldn't though.

"ARG! This dratted dresser is in my WAY!" Ayame screeched in frustration.

"Then climb over it," Sango muttered.

::::::Silence::::::


"You want anything to eat?"

"Iie!" I shouted, clutching my stomach. "Inuyasha, you are going to pay for this," said I, slowly to get my meaning through to him. "Very slowly- just for added torture. Understand?"

"Hai," he snorted. Oh, the nerve!

"You jerk." All I could do was whisper. Ayame had only a few seconds left before I rushed in there.

"Keh, whatever wench."

"WHY YOU!?!" I hissed, trying to lung at him. I wasn't even able to turn around completely before gasping and fallling back to the bed. "I'll get you."

"Let's see you try-"

"Stop," Miroku commanded. He was done with his 'teddy issue' it seemed. "Inuyasha, let her be. She needs rest, and I think Ayame and Kouga would be wise to do the same thing. Inuyasha, Sango, let us take or leave."

I, having my eyes closed, was more susceptible to sound. Someone was getting close- too close for comfort. Without opening my eyes, I reached out for the silver hair I knew would be there.

Inuyasha yelped in surprise, trying to pull back. "Let go! Ite!"

"Inuyasha... arigatou," I muttered before releasing his hair and turning onto my side. "Go get something to eat- and DON'T harm Shippo-chan, okay?"

"Hai," he muttered in confusion.

"Come on, lover boy," Sango called, dragging- from the sound of it- a still stumped Inuyasha. "We need to see Mrs. Sasayaku and get the kids back."

In the next few seconds, the trio had left and Ayame had slid into the bed, stealing the covers. For the next few minutes we fought over them before I got tired of it and went to sit in a chair, grabbing one of the extra blankets from the end of the bed. In no time at all, I was sound asleep, but not before I saw Kouga join Ayame. So sweet... Too bad it wouldn't last- just when I actually managed to get over it. Only one more day- today we would be docking at our 'destination'...

I didn't want to think about it, but when I fell asleep, my mind was filled with dreams- iie, nightmares- of the oncoming heart break. I had a fleeting feeling that I'd be the worst out of the bunch... My nightmares made that belief even stronger. This was one of the times that I truly wished my mind would leave me be...

Life sucks though.

******


Throughout the day, I woke up peridoically for just enough time to see a few changes in the surroundings. The first thing I noticed was the absence of Kouga and Ayame. They had it a lot easier than I, which didn't make me happy, but I wasn't going to do anything in my condition.

One of the million times I woke, my mother had been kind enough to stop by and scold me will smiling. She is strange, that is for certain. She scolded me for the most outragous thing... See, this is the actual scene:

"Kagome, kawaii," she called, seing that I had rose from my sleep. "Daijobu ka?"

"Hai, daijobu," I muttered, sitting as straight as I could. "What do you want?"

"Well... I heard that you were... drunk...."

"And?"

"Any grandchildren soon?"

"Mama!" I screeched in disbelief. I lost my headache for a split second. "I can't believe you'd think something like that! I thought mothers were supposed to keep their daughters way from that kind of stuff. I'm not even married."

"Yet," she added. "Anything happen, though?"

"IIE!" I huffed, tossing my blanket over my head. "I'm going back to sleep, mama."

"I tried..." She stood to leave, then changed her mind. She wasn't going without scolding me. "Don't get drunk and lose your mind to have nothing happen again."

"Na-" was all I got to say before the door was closed.

Yep... My mother had to be the strangest I have ever met. I had always believed all mother's thought alike, but I was wrong. Shippo's mother left him for another man, my mother wanted a grandchild- even if it was before she had a son-in-law-, Ayame's mother wanted her to have the man born under the 'same stars', and Sango's just hoped someone could stand her daughter's beatings. All mothers were different. Mine just happened to make the least sense. I promised to bring a guy home, not to be with child...

I was going to give my mother a piece of my mind. I'd 'talk' to her later, though. My head was spinning again, so I fell asleep.

Sango was next in line to visit, laughing at some inside joke I didn't know.

"Nani?"

"Nothing. Kagome-chan, you changed kind...dramatically last night," she said, smiling.

"You know me- always the dramatizer," I muttered. "Well... You change your mind on that whole 'You'll have no one to lean on,' thing?"

' I guess I didnt really want to be alone... Hmm...'

"Don't worry," she sighed. "I wouldn't have turned my back on you anyway. I'm not that crazy, ne. I'd have a 'kick me' sign on if I did that."

"I could always write 'kiss me,' instead. Miroku would like that."

Sango was quiet for a moment, then shook her head with a light blush on her cheeks. "Arigatou, Kagome-chan. I was a fool for worrying about that. But still... He never kissed anyone before? That just doesn't sound like him."

"... I know," I yawned. "I know."

"Get some more rest," she ordered, standing to leave.

I obeyed without hesitating. I was wasting my day, I knew, but I wasn't getting up until I had to.

The next time I woke up, Miroku was sitting in a chair, grinning.

"Nani, houshi?" I muttered, rubbing my eyes.

"What's with the nickname, Fangirl?" he asked, recieving a half-hearted chuckle from me. "I came to tell you that your mother scolded our dear Dogboy."

"She what!?" I yipped, jumping to my feet. "What did she say?"

"'You got my daughter drunk and she's still as innocent as ever. You're not supposed to leave her drunk and not do anything'," he replied. "She practically yelled at him for not taking advantage of you."

"Because she knows that I won't do anything. Inuyasha also knows that I'll rip him limb from limb if he so much as tried anything," I sighed. "This is not my day... Who heard her?"

"I don't know for sure, but I think it was only our little group."

"Little my ass," I snorted. "We have an army here."

"Are you planning to conquer the world as your next feat?" he implored, shaking his head to keep from laughing.

"Iie," I sighed. "Only to set my base of Opperations in Japan. The government didn't like the idea, though," I cackled. Sighing, I shook my head, but stopped as it blurred my vision. "Oh, this is just GREEAAAAT!"

"You shouldn't have drank that mix," he stated.

"Do you honestly think I don't know that?" I snarled.

"Whoa," he cried, waving his hands in defense. "Calm down before you hurt yourself... I'm guessing you spoke to her earlier."

"My mom?" He nodded. "Yep. She yelled at me for that same thing."

"She's stranger than you are," Miroku chuckled, standing up. "I better go before Sango gets any ideas. She thinks I went to the pool area to check on Shippo and Rin."

"Okay," I yawned. "My headache's subsiding. I should be up soon."

"I'll inform our party of Your Highness's assumption," he laughed.

"Yeah, hahaha. Very funny," I stated dryly. "You'll be the one to drink that horrid mix next time, squire."

"Hai, Your Majesty," said Miroku, bowing. "May a pleasent dream grace your mind."

"Ja, sir houshi," I muttered, snuggling back into the chair. "May your journey be a safe one... and no kissing lady Sango when you're near the rail, understand?"

"Your concern is truly touching."

With that said, he left and I fell asleep for the last time aboard the cruiser.

******


"Kag, wake up," a voice called softly. "Come on, Kag. You're gonna sleep the last day away."

"Hm?" I mumbled, forcing my eyes open.

Inuyasha stood over me, smirking. "Get up."

"Why should I?" I huffed. "I don't think I'll listen to you. Last time I did, you got me drunk and it gave me this awful headache."

"Well, it's gone now, isn't it?" He chuckled, grabbing my arm and pulling me up.

"Hai, but I'm still tired," I muttered, yawning.

"I see that," he said dryly. "You really need to brush your teeth, and it wouldn't hurt to fix your hair."

I punched him once, narrowing my eyes. "I would have done that hours ago if I wasn't feeling so bad."

"Not my fault."

"Like hell it wasn't!" I shouted, pushing him away to search for my brush, only to remember that I wasn't in my room. "Great. Do you have the keys?"

"Nope," he cheered.

"Who are you and what have you done to Inuyasha?"

"I am Inuyasha and I threw the jerk overboard," he stated in all seriousness.

"I see."

"Mrs. Sasayaku should have the keys," he informed me, walking to the door. "Come on."

"Are you sure you want to walk around with me looking like this?" I asked skeptically, pointing to myself.

"I don't look like that, so I don't have any problem. It's you that everyone will think is weird."

"So kind of you."

"I know! Isn't it?" He asked, smiling. "So kind of me. Now, come on. You've wasted half the day already."

"Which is entirely your fault," I commented, leaving the room with him.

"Iie," Inuyasha corrected, "it was Sango's. She wouldn't let me drag you out of bed."

"And I would have decapitated you for doing so, if you had," I muttered, yawning once more. "Then I would have fallen asleep with sugar plums dancing in my head."

"You're so mean."

"So?"

"Just thought you should know if you didn't already."

"Oh..."

We reached the diner to find Sango and Miroku arguing and Ayame talking to her mother. I was more interested in the fight. I figured that I could always get the keys later, or Inuyasha could get them.

"What's wrong?" I asked, sitting across from the quariling couple.

"Oh, you're awake," Sango exclaimed, startled at my arrival.

"Inuyasha pulled me out of bed- quite literally," I stated, turning to Miroku. "What's wrong?"

"I have a report, Your Highness," he stated, standing to his feet and saluting. Sango was at a complete loss, as was everyone else.

"Sir houshi, lady Sango, explain," I ordered. Sango looked at me in disbelief.

"Another one of you 'play acts'?" She inquired, shaking her head. I giggled, nodding. Oh Kami-sama, it is so good to be able to do something like that again.

"We are arguing about what to do tonight," Miroku explained. "See, since we don't know where we'll be arriving, we can't decide on a set evening."

"Well, what have you come up with so far?"

"Miroku thinks that we should see what Sesshomaru has up his sleeve and go with it," Sango stated in disgust. "I, personally, would rather not be caught in another one of his traps. I say we spend the night at the nearest restaurant and go to see a movie or something."

"I say we stay aboard the cruiser and dance the night away," I joked. Both of them lit up like a lightbulb. "I was JOKING, guys. There is no way I am going to stay on this dreadful boat."

Both looked down trodden, but they understood. Then it was back to arguing about the night's activities. Sighing, I left to ask Mrs. Sasayaku for the keys. My mother had them.... 'Good, now I can yell at her,' I thought, and made my way to the captain's cabin.

I didn't even bother to knock before I barged in, glaring murderously at my mother. "I can't believe you!" I shoutted.

"Nani?" she asked sweetly, putting the book she was currently reading down.

"You SCOLDED me for staying innocent, then yelled at Inuyasha! You've lost your mind," I told her, muttering a few choice words under my breath. "You know I'm not like that."

"I know-"

"Plus, isn't Shippo-chan enough for you for right now?" I asked, taking a seat. "I'd think he was enough."

"Well... When I'm around him it is, but... I want another grandchild! A girl," she said, smiling. "Twins would be nice-"

"Well, you'll wait until I'm ready," I hissed. "Mama, don't interfer with me and Inuyasha. Nothing is going to happen anyway."

"And why not?" she implored, her smile lessening in confusion. "I don't see anything wrong. You two seem perfect for each other."

I sat in silence for a moment, wondering what mom knew other than what I told her. If she knew anything about Sesshomaru's plans, I wanted to know... but I doubted he'd tell her. Still, she should know what I meant. After all, I had told her who they truely were.

"Mama... They aren't going to be around us any longer than they have to," I spoke, looking at my hands. "They are famous; they have another life that we can't be in... If something were to happen, you'd either never see me, or I'd be sitting around moping for months on end until he came back. Surely you see that."

"... They'll leave the first chance they get, you mean?" She asked. It was the first time in years that I had seen her smile vanish.

"I'm not positive, but I think that, whether they want to or not, they will," I mumbled. "Mr. Himitsu is most likely waiting for them with their bags packed and ready to go."

"I see... Well, one can always hope, right?" she asked, smiling again. "Kagome, I know you're not the kind of girl to do anything. I was testing him."

"Nani-"

"Here, go get cleaned up," she called, tossing me the key as she went back to reading her book. "We'll be docking in about another... three hours, I think."

I nodded and stood to leave. 'Maybe she actually does have a reason for acting the way she did.'

"Gomen, for yelling earlier," I said, exitting the room. I was definitely up for a shower.

******


"Kag, you in there?" a muffled voice shouted from outside the bathroom door, startling me.

"Hai," I called back. "Who else would be in here?"

"Hurry up," commanded Inuyasha, disregarding my snide comment. "We should be able to see land in a few minutes."

"That's all?" I asked exasperatedly as I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around me. "I thought it was important."

"I think this is. If we don't see land, then we know we're in trouble," he spoke, laughing lightly.

"Hmm, I suppose you're right. I'll be out in a sec," I said, hissing involuntarily as my brush caught a snag. "Ite! Shit, that hurt."

"Watch your language," Inuyasha snapped.

"What, now you're going to scold me for something you always do?" I jeered. "Oops- I mean, 'hai, master. Onegai, forgive me for such foul language'."

"Always the dramatizer."

"But, of course!" I cheered. "Ne, you feel a lot better AFTER a hangover. Especially one like mine." My brush caught yet another tangle. "Itai! Shhhhhoootttt!"

"Nice save."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," I muttered. Putting the brush down, giving up on my disorderly hair for now, I slipped into my clothes, listening to Inuyasha hum to himself. "Chotto, Inuyasha?"

"Hai?"

"You wanted to ask me something," I said, remembering last night... Well, only part of it.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you a few things... One- why did you say there wasn't anything between us?" he asked, completely non-chalant about it. He must have been awfully confident in himself- or just practiced the question in front of a mirror or something.

"Well... After hearing Shippo, I remembered about 'Demonic'," I said, laughing at myself. "I don't know how I forgot about it. But I did... Today's the last day, and... I didn't want to be close- though I don't think I could have changed much in one day."

"And you changed that decision, why?"

"Your eyes... Ne, it's always been your eyes."

"Oh..."

It was quiet for a moment before he started humming again... I recognized the melody. My song! He had memorized it in that short little verse I'd song! Sugoi, he had a great memory- or a really good ear for music.

"Chotto! You're humming my song!"

'Duh!'

"So?" He mumbled. "I like the tune, is that wrong of me?"

"I-iie," I stammered, openning the door, which he had been leaning on. How was I supposed to know that?

He stumbled backwards, right passed me and into the draining tub. "Ahhhh!"

"Oops..."

"You bitch!"(A/N: *sigh* Here we go again! -_-; They'll never learn.)

"I didn't mean it you jerk!" I shot back, glaring.

"Like hell, wench!" He hollared, jumping up angrily.

"It's true, bastard!"

"Whatever, baka!"

I ground my teeth, having nothing to say in return. Inuyasha glared, narrowing his eyes dangerously. I continued to glare back... then sighed, looking away.

"This is going nowhere," I muttered, turning around to retrieve my brush. "Come on, you need your hair brushed, too."

His hand instinctively went to his hair, which had gotten completely drenched. "Oh, this is just splended."

"I'm guessing you don't like your hair brushed," I voiced, sitting in a chair. "Too bad. Now get over here. The sooner we start, the sooner we finish."

"Iie, it's not that," he said. "I just don't know if I should trust you. My hair might be turned blue or some ridiculous colour like that."

"Get over here, Goldilocks," I ordered. "I won't do anything to that precious mane of yours."

He looked skeptical, but complied in the end. His hair was worse than mine, as after a few minutes, I gave up on starting mid-length and began at the bottom to work my way up. A few snags were rewarded with snarls, and an occasional curse.

"I get to brush your hair as payback, ya hear?" grumbled Inuyasha.

"Sure, sure. Whatever," I sighed, pulling my brush back before I snapped it in half. "There is no way this brush will last through your hair anyway."

Amazingly, it did. That could have been a good thing- but I thought of it as more of a curse than anything.

"Alright, my turn!" he cheered.

"Oh no... I'm going to be scalped, aren't I?" I wondered miserably.

"Nah. Just extremely upset after you see how much hair I'm going to cut."

"Eeep!" I screamed, reaching for my hair. "Iie! My hair! Don't, onegai!"

"Chill," he said, chuckling. "I'm not that cruel."

Reluctantly, I let go of my death hold. A few minutes later- without a single hurtful tug- my hair was tangle free.

"Sugoi... Arigatou, Inuyasha," I mumbled, running a hand through my hair.

"Now don't you just feel terrible about what you put me through?"

"Not at all," I cheered, giggling at his disbelieving look. "I was kidding! Of course I am. Gomen, Inuyasha."

He waved it off, mumbling. "We should go check if they've found land, yet."

I nodded and followed him as he left. Time was going by much to fast for me.

******

"Ten minutes left, huh?" I muttered, looking at the approaching shore. "I wonder where we are..."

"No idea," Miroku sighed. "Isn't this going to be interesting. Sango and Inuyasha have their vehicles back in Kyoto..."

"Eh? Why did you bring that up?" I asked.

"No idea," Miroku sighed.

"I'm starting to see a pattern in you talking," I giggled. "Well, where is Sango and Ayame? I haven't seen them since this morning."

"No idea."

"Of course," I grumbled, turning to watch Shippo and Rin swimming.

Rin seemed to be beating Shippo at his own game- a dunking contest. Shippo wasn't easily defeated, though. Kouga had also joined them a while back and had leapt out the first time he was splashed. What a wuss...

Inuyasha was speaking to Mrs. Taijiya about only Kami-sama knows what. My mother had eventually apologized for the scolding us and Mrs. Sasayaku was running around to check on the couples she had matched up on the trip.

I was bored... There was nothing to do. Absolutely nothing at all.

"Kagome-chan!" Sango called, running toward me, smiling. "I know what island that is!" She cheered.

"Honto!?"

"Hai! It's Okinawa," she spoke, turning to look at the island. "This was one of the islands dominated by America in World War II. Their 'Base of Opperations' was set up there."

Miroku and I broke out into laughter, creating a very cross Sango. I couldn't help it!

"It seems you're too late, Your Majesty! America has already used the land as a base of Opperations," Miroku chuckled. "Too bad. Should our fleet turn back and head home?"

"Iie, sir houshi. We shall see to the damage caused by the gaijin forces, first," I giggled.

Turning to Sango, I explained, only to have Sango look at me dryly.

"Haha, very funny. You interrupted my story for you 'play acting'," she muttered, walking away.

"Where you going?" Miroku wondered, leaving to walk with her.

"To find someone who cares," she spat.

"Oh, come on, Sango-chan," I muttered, walking up beside her. "We didn't mean it. What were you going to say?"

"Nothing, really," she sighed.

"Mood swings, huh?" I mumbled. "I wonder what guy's causing it."

***THUD***


"I was only joking," I hissed, rubbing my head which now sported a very large lump- courtesy of Sango.

"Oops," she gasped, sarcastically. "I didn't know. Gomen ne."

"Whatever... How'd you find out about the island?" I asked.

Sango was quiet for a moment, staring at her feet as she continued to walk. After memorizing those oh-so interesting feet of hers, she looked up and smiled. "I called Kohaku and asked him to check out this liner's course," she said. "He called back a few minutes ago and told me that we were bound for Okinawa."

I just stared, wide-eyedly at my friend. Now, why the HELL didn't I think of that? I could have easily called home with my cell... phone...

"Sango-chan," I called, lowering my voice. "Just HOW did you call home?"

"With a phone...?" she spoke, hesitantly. 'No duh!' She quickened her pace, considerably.

"What phone?"

"One that I found...?"

"And where did you find the phone?"

"On this boat...?"

"Where at on this boat?"

"In... a room?"

"That room you speak of... It wouldn't happen to be mine, would it?" I inquired.

"H-hai."

"And the phone? Whose is it?"

"... Ummm.... Yours?"

"That's what I thought," I muttered, placing a thoughtful look on my face. "Did you happen to do that when you retrieved you eye-shadow and shoes?"

"Hai," she said, fearfully.

"Thank Kami-sama!" I shouted, frightening Sango beyond sanity.

"Gomen, gomen, gomen-" she chanted, then stopped. "... Nani?"

"I thought I lost them or something," I explained, massaging my shoulders. "That's a load of my conscience."

"Don't you mean 'shoulders'?" Miroku asked, frowning slightly.

"... Whatever."

(A/N: Anyone who is a really big FF fan would totally see a connection here. I have been playing a LOT of FF8 lately... Laguna is so totally awesome! Squall and Selfie are tied in second on my fave list. ^-^; Anyway, on with the story and sorry for the interruption!)

Sango sighed in exasperation, throwing her hands in the air, before stomping off. "You scared me to death! I thought I was in trouble or something."

"Where's my phone?"

She stopped in midstep, staring ahead as if in some kind of trance.

"...."

"Well?"

::::::Silence::::::


"Sango-chan? What happened to it?"

"... I don't think you want to know," Sango spoke, turning around slowly.

"Why's that?" I implored, narrowing my eyes.

"It might ruin a possibly good day."

"So, tell me. It's not going to be a good day anyway," I muttered. Everyone knew that.

"... Inuyasha kinda... threwitoverboard," she said in a rush. "But don't be mad at him! It wasn't intentional."

"And how, pray tell, can something like that be un-'intentional'?" I asked, ready to seek out and destory the no good, cell phone throwing, pig of a singer. Okay, maybe that wasn't the best description, but right then I didn't care.

"He called Sesshomaru... Miroku, I meant to tell you earlier," Sango voiced, turning her attention to the drummer. "Inuyasha said that Sesshomaru set up a show for you, tonight. He brought all of your equipment and everything's set up. Even on such short notice, all the tickets have been sold. You'll have just enough time to do a warm-up."

"NANI!?" We shouted in unison, staring at Sango as if she had grown another head. "HOW'S THAT POSSIBLE?"

She just shrugged. "Inuyasha asked the same thing, but I'm not the manager, Sesshomaru is. He also said that, since you'll be on the island, you'll be staying there for some time... We have a jet waiting for us for after the concert."

My heart stopped. After we reached land- which was no more than five minutes from now- everything was already set up for us and we had no say in it.

"The boat will be docking shortly," a voice boomed over the intercom. It turned out to be Sango's mother. "Onegai, all passengers, re-inspect your cabins and collect all of you belongings. Any unclaimed materials will be sent to the liner's 'lost and found' in the souvenir shop. Arigato, and we hope that your cruise has been enjoyable. Come again!"

The three of us stood motionless on the top deck, staring blankly at the ocean water.

"This isn't right," I muttered, finding no humor in the fact that Sango had spoke the same words with me. Nothing was going to make me laugh now.

"Okaasan," a voice called as a small, wet hand reached out for mine. Shippo stood with a towel wrapped around him, frowning. "Okaasan, will we be going with them, or your okaasan?"

"My okaasan is you grandmother," I said, ruffling his hair lightly. "And, I do not know for certain. If Rin and my okaasan go with 'Demonic', then I think you can go... But if my okaasan goes home, then you'll go with her."

"Aren't you coming home?" Shippo wondered, sniffling. "You're not leaving me, are you?"

"Iie, iie," I muttered, kneeling beside him. "They are having a concert and okaasan is going to see their preformance. I don't know if Sesshomaru will make an exception and let you in, ne?"

"Oh..."

"I'll be home right after, though."

Shippo looked at his feet for a moment, before looking up with bright eyes. "Wait! If I can't go, then can I go with Mrs. Sasayaku and Rin? Remember? She promised Rin-chan that she'd take her on a 'shopping spree'."

It took me a while, but I remembered. Mrs. Sasayaku had bribed Rin so that she would leave Inuyasha tied to a chair when Sango and Ayame interogated him... So... Rin's time was taken up, but Sesshomaru didn't know... Well, we'd just surprise him with that, now wouldn't we?

"Sure, kawaii."

"Yea!" he squealed in delight, then sprinted away to tell Rin the news... or maybe Mrs. Sasayaku.

"At least he's happy," I mumbled, jealous of my own son. "Ignorance truly is bliss, isn't it?"

"That's both true and false," Miroku spoke, looking over the railing. "Without knowing something, one can be hurt or hurt another. It, however, is the best way to live- not knowing the torment of other people's lives. Knowing another's promblems weaves you into their life, usually unnoticed by either person. Life is never simple."

"Hai," Sango sighed. "Well, we better go get our bags and everything else. Inuyasha packed your stuff earlier, right before he threw your phone overboard."

"Ne, you sound like a manager," I informed Sango, laughing light heartedly.

"I'm not, though. Now, I think we better go and get our stuff."

"Hai," Miroku and I unisoned, walking to our rooms.

One thing was left unsaid... This would be the last day together... and the worst of it all was... 'Together' had been taken from us right before our eyes.

This would be our last day... and the beginning of 'apart'.