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Disclaimer:  I do not own any of the Rumiko Takahashi characters named here, nor do I own the rights to Charlie's Angels.  I also do not own Lina Inverse, Xellous or the rights to the Ranma ½ Theme Song.  I own *sniff* nothing.

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"Hello, Sesshomaru."

His brother spoke so quietly that Sesshomaru almost hadn't heard him.  He'd been sitting at a table outside the coffee shop, enjoying the morning breezes and the roar of the ocean.  Koga was with him, nursing a hangover and trying to run surveillance on the couple sitting two tables over.  Kagura and Rin were wading on the shoreline, looking at the broken pieces of shells washed ashore.

"Good morning, Inu-Yasha."  Sesshomaru looked uneasily at his younger brother.  The change in him was remarkable, even when taking in the shorts and bare feet.  His face and body had matured; he was clearly a man now and not a child.  Why had he pictured Inu-Yasha as still being sixteen after all these years?

"Have a seat," Sesshomaru offered.  He introduced Koga as his partner, thankful that at least that he wasn't lying in that respect.  He simply failed to mention what kind of partner Koga was.  "The young girl over there is my daughter, Rin."  He pointed to the shoreline.  "The woman with her who just tripped and fell into the water is her au pair, Miss Kagura."

"The Nanny from Hell," Koga muttered as he stood up.  "I'd better go make sure she isn't drowning.  Pleasure to meet you, Inu-Yasha."  He squeezed Sesshomaru on the shoulder and ran to assist Kagura, who kept losing her footing in the rough surf.

An uneasy silence fell between them after Koga left.  Sesshomaru wondered what, if anything, his brother wanted.  Explanations?  He sincerely hoped not.  Not that he could explain any of this, even if he wanted to.  Of all the places to run into his brother, why did it have to be here?  What had he ever done to deserve this kind of humiliation?

"Um, I've been thinking," Inu-Yasha finally spoke.  "I was, uh, surprised when I ran into you yesterday."  He started playing with a lock of his hair, a nervous habit Sesshomaru remembered he'd had since childhood.  "So I just thought, that we could maybe, you know…talk things over?"

Sesshomaru's eyebrows shot up.  "What would you like to discuss, Inu-Yasha?" he asked in a freezing tone.  He sat back in his chair and waited for the expected verbal blow.  Surely his brother wasn't going to pass up this opportunity?

"Well, what I mean is, I didn't even know you had a daughter, or a, er, a partner or - "

"Or that I felt really comfortable in women's clothes?" Sesshomaru interjected, resisting the overwhelming temptation to put his head in his arms and start sobbing.  He'd lived a decent life.  He'd tried hard to help his fellow man.  He'd adopted a troubled orphan, for crying out loud!  Why was he being humiliated like this?

"So maybe we could, you know, try acting like we're adults or something?"  Inu-Yasha continued, "Because enough years have passed for me to realize that you and I were in a rough situation, and we were both just trying to figure shit out.  We've both changed – a lot" he gulped, looking at Sesshomaru's flower print dress, "since those days.  I guess I'm just saying I still want to be your brother, no matter how you, um, live your life."

Inu-Yasha's statement stunned Sesshomaru.  His brother was asking to be a part of his life?  He wasn't going to make fun of the shoes and matching purse?  He was going to admit they were related?  Reeling from the shock, Sesshomaru gave a rare smile to the brother who had aggravated him so much when he was younger.  "Thank you, Inu-Yasha," he said as he arose from the table unsteadily.  "In fact, why don't you come with me; I'd like Rin to meet her uncle." 

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"I am so glad they left," Lina Inverse said through a mouth full of food.  "That Ms. Fluffy just creeps me out."  She smacked her lips and tossed back the contents of her coffee cup.  "And I swear that Koga guy keeps watching us."

"Mmm, do you think he's interested?" Xellous perked.  "I can see why Ms. Fluffy keeps him around.  He's gorgeous in that rough and tumble kind of way.  I always think of some wild animal when I look at him, like a wolf."  He gave a delighted shiver.

Lina slammed her fist on the table.  "Xellous, we don't have time for this!" she warned him as she shoveled the rest of her breakfast into her mouth.  "We're supposed to be finding out if this Lazy Panda guy has a genuine copy of the Claire Bible!  It's bad enough you have to spend all this time at the different events.  Why do these pageants have to be so over-scheduled?" she grumped.  "Anyway, give up any ideas about Koga.  He's clearly on a short leash with Ms. Gives Me the Willies."

"Are you sure you're not just jealous, Lina?" teased Xellous.  "After all, Ms. Fluffy is very beautiful!  And so well-mannered and ladylike," he simpered.  "I just love listening to that cultured voice!"  He rested his chin in his hand thoughtfully.  "Where do you suppose he gets his hair done?"

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"Will you please stop singing that ridiculous tune?" Miroku begged Sango.

She looked at him in surprise.  "What tune?"

"That 'ya pa pa, ya pa pa' thing.  It's driving me nuts!"

Sango blushed.  "Sorry, it's a bad habit.  I always sing when I'm nervous.  Are you sure you know what you're doing?"  She looked hesitantly at the view outside the Land Rover.  The cliffs hadn't looked this tall from the highway and the narrow winding roads were wrecking her nerves.  Why had she agreed to come here?

Because it's your only time off and you want some memory of Hawaii other than a resort bedroom and an office.  And because Miroku is hot, really, really hot.  "Hey Monk," she asked, "how much further?"

"Monk?" Miroku laughed.  "Why are you calling me that?"

"You're just so darn handy with the ladies, I decided it's all an act.  You're secretly a virgin living a life dedicated to celibacy.  Therefore, you are now known as Monk.  Hey – watch what you're doing!" she yelped as he jerked the steering wheel to avoid a large rock in the road.  "Ya pa pa, ya pa pa, you're gonna get us killed…" Sango started singing.

"Monk."  Miroku shook his head in disbelief.  He gave her a sideways grin.  "You're so right, my lovely Sango.  I have no experience in the matters between men and women whatsoever.  I need a kind-hearted girl such as yourself to, mmm, guide me.  Won't you have some pity and help me out?"  His hand inched towards her thigh.

"Both hands on the wheel, or I start singing The Song That Never Ends," she threatened.

Miroku's hand retreated to safety.  Sango tilted her head at him and gave a small smile before placing her own hand on his knee.  "Why don't you relax and be yourself for awhile?" she asked him.  "You don't always have to try so hard.  I actually enjoy your company, you know."

He looked at her quickly.  "You do?"

She laughed softly.  "Don't sound so surprised.  I'm spending my only free time with you today, aren't I?  I – look out!" she screamed as something crossed into the path of the Land Rover.  Miroku slammed on the brakes, bringing the vehicle into a skid before coming to rest against the side of the cliffs.  A shower of pebbles and dirt flew into the air and rained down upon the pair.

Miroku switched off the ignition and Sango jumped out.  "Did you hit them?" she yelled, looking around the road frantically.  There was no sign of anyone.

"I didn't even see, I was too busy handling the skid," Miroku answered breathlessly.  He clambered from the vehicle and stood next to Sango.  "What was that, anyway?"

Sango looked around in confusion.  "It was…this red-haired girl…and a…panda."

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A/N:  I'm going to go ahead and offer my apologies right now to those of you who will be stuck on the Ranma ½ Theme Song for the rest of the day/week/month.  Catchy, innit?

Thanks for the reviews, I love them! *hugs her computer*  Cyber chocolate to all of you!