Angel Expultion7: I wasn't planning on writing anything lemony/limey in this one, but I suppose that might change. I guess that depends on what you consider lime to be. If there is any, it will be at least another three chapters away, and I'll make a note of it at the top. Cool?

Chapter Nine

Sango and Inuyasha reached the well as the sun was high in the sky the next day. He knelt down so the taijiya could stand on her own two feet again.

"I thought only you and Kagome could travel through the well?" Sango questioned the hanyou. "How are you planning on getting me there?"

"I have two ideas, the first one involves you hanging on to this--" He held out a small Shikon-no-kakera.

"Where'd you get that?"

Inuyasha blushed. "I stole it from Kagome's collection before we left, and if you ever tell her I was in her room…" He left the threat hanging in the air.

Sango nodded quickly, "Yes, your secret is safe. If I have a jewel shard I can get through the well?"

"The centipede demon could," he noted. "It's worth a shot, anyway. If not, then I'll try carrying you through it. If Kagome can get ramen through the well, I don't see why we can't get another person through the same way."

Sounded reasonable enough. Sango walked toward the well, grasping the Shikon shard Inuyasha had given her. "Well, let's get going then."

With a deep breath, Sango swung her legs over the edge and jumped down, followed quickly by Inuyasha.

The sensation was virtually indescribable. She was falling, of that much Sango was aware. There was wind, and some light, but otherwise the vortex seem devoid of any matter. As quickly as it formed, the time rip dissipated and left her crouched on the ground of the same well. No, not the same well, she realized. A more damp, dark well than the one she'd entered. Apparently the jewel shard did its job.

"Daijobou?"

"I'm fine," Sango answered her companion. "Just a little disoriented."

"Yeah, you get used to it," he idly responded. "There's a rope ladder to your right," he pointed.

Grasping blindly for the knotted cord, Sango finally found it and pulled herself into a standing position. She clambered up as quickly as she could and headed toward what she guessed was a door to the outside. Inuyasha came up behind her and pushed it open, letting in the bright noon sun. Both shielded their eyes before stepping out into the shrine courtyard.

"So, what now?"

Inuyasha shuffled his feet. "I'm not really sure. I've never done this before."

Groaning, Sango peered at the now embarrassed young hanyou. "No plan, huh? Why am I not surprised?" Hearing no response, she picked up her posture and glanced around the unfamiliar space. "Where is Kagome's house?"

Inuyasha looked up enough to point to the front entrance several feet away. "Over there. Her mother and grandfather are usually at home unless they're in the market."

"Ok. You stay out here and behave yourself and I'll go introduce myself to them. After I tell them why I'm here, I'll come get you and we can begin the negotiations, all right?"

"Hai."

Sango laughed inside at the demure way in which he answered her. This could be a lot of fun, she realized. I'll have to take mental notes to share with Kagome when all of this is over. Taking a last look at Inuyasha, she walked purposefully toward the front door and began rehearsing her words.

* * * * *

"Hello, can I help you?" Higurashi-san took in the rather odd-looking young woman who stood on her doorstep.

"Higurashi-sama, my name is Sango," she replied respectfully, "I have come here as nakodo to arrange a marriage between your daughter Kagome and the hanyou Inuyasha."

"Kagome? Where is she?" The older woman glanced behind the taijiya, looking for a sign of her daughter.

"She is still in our world, perfectly safe," Sango added quickly, seeing the woman's rising distress. "Kagome-chan is one of my dearest friends."

"Please, come in," Higurashi-san finally invited, remembering her manners. "Kagome sent you here to arrange a marriage alone?" That did not sound like her rather liberated little girl.

"We were on an extended stay in the far west," Sango explained as she followed Kagome's mother into the living room, "and we are on a short time schedule. It would have taken another two days for us all to come."

Mrs. Higurashi considered the young woman before her as she poured a cup of tea. "But still, nothing? Not even a note?"

Sango knew this question would come up. "She doesn't know we're here. Inuyasha wanted your approval before he proposed."

"So where is Inuyasha-kun?"

"I asked him to wait outside while I introduced myself. Shall I call him in for negotiations?"

Higurashi-san nodded, concealing her amusement at the situation. The hanyou wanted to marry her daughter? She didn't know what to say to that, but she was willing to hear him out.

Sango returned quickly from outside, leading an unusually quiet half-demon into the living room.

"Higurashi-sama," he bowed to her.

Such formality! Mrs. Higurashi pointed to a seat for the hanyou and poured another cup of tea. "So you want to steal my daughter away, do you?"

His eyes shot up from the teacup before him to study the woman's own expression. "Iie! I never intended to steal her from her family!"

The woman laughed at his panic. "I was joking, Inuyasha-kun. Kagome is a bit young for marriage, ne?"

Even younger for what I have in mind, he blushed, at least by her world's standards.

Sango spared the hanyou further embarrassment, as it was her job to do the middle work anyway. "At what age do young women take husbands here?"

"Mid twenties, usually. A few years earlier sometimes, but almost never in their teens. Kagome is only a few weeks away from sixteen."

Ah, this would make things more difficult, Sango realized. Inuyasha seemed to know about this little problem already. He could have at least warned her. "In our time, women are often betrothed before their first blood, and then formally married when they become women. Sixteen is too early for your approval?"

Higurashi-san looked from Sango to Inuyasha and sighed. She knew this day was going to come ever since she'd first seen THAT look in the hanyou's eyes. "Kagome has always been mature for her age," the woman began, "and I'm not such a fool to think I could stop her if she chose to marry."

"I would not accept her without your approval," Inuyasha spoke up with sincerity.

"I know, Inuyasha-kun. You may be a bit wild, but I know you have a good heart, and you have always protected my Kagome. That's why I am considering giving you my blessing."

A small spark of hope lit in Inuyasha's eyes at her words.

"What are your requirements?" Sango asked the woman.

Before she could speak, Inuyasha sat up straighter and began listing his offerings. "I will soon be a demon of great power, Higurashi-sama. Ruler of the Western Lands. I can bring you anything you want or need --"

"She will finish school," the woman interrupted. "Kagome will finish grade-school and college if she so chooses."

Sango looked to Inuyasha, and he reluctantly nodded.

"Agreed. What else?"

"When she is finished with school, I want her to visit. She is my only daughter and I cannot bear the idea of losing her completely."

"Of course," Sango smiled, "I don't think we could keep Kagome-chan away from her family for too long."

Mrs. Higurashi wracked her brain for any other demands. This was the time to make them, and she wished she'd thought about the options sooner. "I can't think of anything else right now," she finally admitted.

"I will give you anything," Inuyasha started humbly, "if I may have your blessing."

"All I want is for Kagome to be safe, happy, and healthy."

"On my mother's grave, I swear to do everything in my power to make sure that she is."

What more could she ask for? Higurashi-san sat back and closed her eyes. Grandfather would probably have his own two cents to put in, but the old man was a bit eccentric. If this was the life Kagome wanted, who was she to take it away?

"You have my blessing," she answered quietly.

"I-- You--" Inuyasha stuttered, staring at the woman across from him in disbelief. That had gone well. Too well!

"I will send a note with you for Kagome, and if she accepts your proposal then you may take her as your wife." She stood and almost fell backwards when a red blur enveloped her in a warm, exuberant hug.

"Arigato, arigato!"

"You're welcome, Inuyasha-kun," she chuckled. He released her instantly, blushing at the show of emotion. "Oh, there is one other thing --"

"Yes?" Sango watched the smile disappear from Inuyasha's face, replaced with a look of apprehension.

"I would like you to marry here as well. I wouldn't want to miss my only daughter's wedding!"

"Hai, of course." He bowed deeply to Kagome's mother and then turned to Sango. "Is there anything else?"

The taijiya took on a thoughtful expression as she recalled the engagement ceremonies she'd witnessed in her youth. "There's the celebratory toast," she finally answered. "But that's not necessary."

Higurashi-san shook her head, a smile on her face. "You should stay for dinner, and we will toast the arrangement then."

"Inu-no-niichan!" Souta bounded into the room and stood tall before his hero. "You've come to visit! Where's Kagome-neichan? Who are you?" Souta turned suddenly to Sango with a questioning look.

"Souta, don't be rude! This is a friend of Kagome's from the Sengoku Jidai."

"Hello!"

"Ah, Souta-kun," Sango smiled. "Kagome has told me so much about you."

"Probably about what a brat she thinks I am," he grumbled.

Inuyasha snorted a laugh, earning him a glare from Sango.

"Souta," Mrs. Higurashi called her son into the kitchen, "go fetch Jiichan and tell him to bring in a bottle of sake from the storehouse. We're celebrating tonight."

"Hai!"

* * * * *

Kagome didn't know which was more strange: that Inuyasha had left her and Miroku behind without so much as a word of explanation, or that he apparently took Sango with him. She finally decided they were equally weird circumstances and came to sit beside the houshi who was deep in meditation.

When he finally opened his eyes, Miroku glanced at Kagome. "Something wrong?"

"You're sure you don't know where they went?"

Miroku shook his head. "Her note said that they went on an errand for the next two or three days and that we should just relax and enjoy the time off."

"Hm."

"It's late, Kagome-sama. You should really get some sleep."

"Hai," she agreed. "Oyasumi nasai, Miroku."

"Good night, Kagome-sama."

Sleep didn't come. Kagome turned from her left to her right side, then flipped onto her back for the fifteenth time that night. It had to be close to three in the morning, by her estimation. Why couldn't she sleep?

Annoyed with the situation, Kagome rolled off the futon and wrapped herself in a long cloak from her dressing table. A walk around the castle would surely tire her out, she decided.

The halls were dark, damp, and a little eerie at this late hour. She could hear the wooden planks creak as they settled in the cool night air, giving the impression that ghosts were walking about. A breeze howled behind her, chilling her even further. Shivering, Kagome turned down a windowless hallway and leaned up against the firm wall there. A low growl from several feet away caught her attention.

Peering into the dimly lit hallway beyond, she made out a tall form dressed in white, hunched over in apparent pain.

"Sesshoumaru, is that you?"

He jumped a little at the girl's voice, but otherwise ignored her, hoping she'd take the hint and go away. No such luck.

"Daijobou?" She came up beside him and knelt down, putting all thoughts of danger aside.

"It's nothing," he growled at her. "Just go back to bed."

"I can't sleep," she answered him, hesitantly reaching out a hand to touch the inuyoukai's arm. "You're in pain, I can see it."

"It will pass." He spared a sidelong look at the young human woman beside him, wondering why she was being so kind to him after all the attempts he'd made on her and Inuyasha's lives. "Why can't you sleep?"

Kagome shrugged. "I guess I'm wondering where Inuyasha and Sango-chan disappeared to. It's not like Sango to run off without any explanation."

Feeling the sharp pain in his abdomen abate, Sesshoumaru rose to a standing position and looked down at Kagome. "Inuyasha told me he'd be back before the taikanshiki. You shouldn't worry so much."

"Do you still hate him?"

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened at the impertinent being before him. "What is it to you, human?"

Kagome rose, and took a small step back. "You're brothers. I think it's sad that you can't love each other, even at a time like this."

The demon lord actually laughed, though it was filled with mirth. "Not everything in the world is cheerful and light, little girl."

Her eyes narrowing, Kagome placed both hands on her hips and glared up at the demon. "I know that! Still, this is hardly the time to worry about old grudges. What would your father say?"

"You have no right to speak of my father!" he roared at her.

Kagome stood her ground and continued. "I think he'd be very disappointed that his two sons can barely be civil to one another, and only when one of them is near death."

Sesshoumaru turned away from her, focusing his stare into the darkness beyond. He said nothing.

Sighing, Kagome moved to walk back to her room.

"Have you seen the library, human?"

"Eh?" Kagome turned back to Sesshoumaru and found him watching her.

"There are some books about our family that you might find interesting," he went on stoically. "I will show you where to find them."

Kagome smiled, and walked back to him. "Arigato, Sesshoumaru-sama. That would be kind of you."