Hey people. I'm really sorry for not updating for so long.
And just to disappoint you. This will be a horribly short chapter, just to
say that I'm still alive.
But now I'm freeeee..... At least I finished the ******g science project.
I still dunno d results, but at least the nightmare's over.
Here's the chappy.
See disclaimer in chapter 5. =P Taihen Sama© All rights reserved 2004
AN: Now. There will be soon some parts where I can avoid lemons. But I can keep them if you like. Mind; not fluff. Lemons, but the rating will stay the same.
Let it be as The People Want.
(If you didn't get the 'hint' you are supposed to tell me. Vote.)
- Chapter Ten-
"Flat."
Kagome was petrified with horror...
The creature leaned forwards, its hot breath like dragon smoke steamed out of its nostrils; but Kagome couldn't move with fear and cold. Something hot and wet touched her arm and the youkai grunted softly. "Ah-Un!" Kagome exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the scaly neck of the youkai in front of her. The reptile grunted and nuzzled her neck, grunting softly. "But what are you doing here?" Kagome exclaimed, looking into the youkais yellow eyes. "Oh, I see..." She frowned. "You got separated from Sesshoumaru. "Don't worry. You're safe with me!" She patted his scaly neck, smiling. The demon rolled his eyes, grunting softly. Surely this languid creature couldn't be serious, she was blanched moments before!
*
As the sun rose, it shone down on a scaly hill coiled around a human girl, and the cold wind tossed the youkais' mane and the girls' hair, chilling them to the bones.
Kagome yawned and stretched her limbs in an attempt to push the sleepiness away. "Ah-Un." She turned to look in the youkais eyes, supporting herself on her elbows. The dragon lifted one of its heads and looked at her questioningly, asking silently what she wanted. Kagome smiled at the youkai and ruffled its mane. "I was wondering," Ah narrowed his eyes, the girls' due to ask him something. "I was wondering if you could take me to Kaede." Said Kagome hopefully. The dragon neighed and cocked his head to one side. "Kaede is a friend of mine," Explained Kagome. "I really need to go see her!" She almost cried. "Please?" Ah rolled his eyes and nudged Uh with his nose, telling him to get up. Uh opened his eyes slowly and yawned, arching his back and getting up.
Ah looked at the beaming girl and snorted, waiting for her to get up on his back. "Thanks Ah-Un!" Said Kagome hugging his neck tightly and climbing up. "Just take me to Inuyasha." She told the dragon, certain that he would know the place Sesshoumaru went to fight his brother all the time.
Kagome closed her eyes, enjoying the wind in her hair, wishing that it just blew away all her troubles; somewhere far, far away...
* * *
"KISAMA!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE LEFT???!!!" Roared Inuyasha shaking Orito by the shoulders. "HOW COULD HAVE YOU LET HER GO OUT THERE ALL ALONE?!" "Young Lor-" "KUSOTARE!" Miroku rushed out of his room at the noise and hurried out into the corridor to see Inuyasha almost strangling a washed-out, dark haired man. "Inuyasha!" Inuyasha dropped his prey and jumped at Miroku. "Onore! Where is Kikyou?"
Miroku sweatdropped. "Inuyasha, why not calm down and tell me what is going on properly?" "Keh! Stupid monk." Inuyasha crossed his hands over his chest and gazed at the wall. Miroku turned to the dazed dragon youkai. "Gomen nasai. So you know where Kagome-sama is?" Orito shook his head slowly. "Forgive me, houshi. She left yesterday evening and headed south, towards Edo." Miroku frowned, nodding slowly and rubbing his chin. "I see... So she went to Kaede." He was snapped out of his thoughts as Inuyasha lifted him off the ground by his collar. "Teme... Where is Kikyou?" Inuyasha growled in his little, puppy growl voice. "I thought I told you to stay!" Miroku hung in the air, rotating slowly. "Kikyou-sama is here," He looked around him. "Somewhere..." Inuyasha dumped him on the floor and hit him on the head, his ears twitching. "MIROKU!!! Daijo-bu chaa?" Shippou jumped up on the monks' head to 'comfort' him; thankfully, Miroku was already used to the sharp pinpricks of the kits small claws on his scalp and shoulders. "Ohaiyo, Shippou-chan." He smiled, getting off the floor and pulling the kitsune pup off his head, placing him on his shoulder.
"Inuyasha," He turned to where the dog hanyou was standing and sighed; he was already gone.
A soft, warm voice attracted his attention. "Houshi, when is Kagome-sama coming back?" Miroku turned to see the dragons weary features lighten with eagerness. "She is coming back. Isn't she?" Orito narrowed his crimson eyes at the monks silence. Miroku looked at the floor and shook his head. "Where she headed, I don't think she is." "Where." Miroku sighed. "I'm sorry. I have my problems to deal with at the moment. Kagome will be safe, don't worry."
He turned and walked away silently, with Shippou fiddling with the rings on his staff.
*
There was a blur of red and white as Kagome opened her eyes slowly. "Kaede-sama?..." She asked drowsily, sitting up and wincing at the pain in her throat. Damn. Is she ever going to get better?
"What happened, Kagome-sama?" Asked Kaede, sitting down and placing an old hand on Kagomes forehead.
Kagome moaned and sat up drowsily. "Kaede-sama?..." Kaede frowned. "Kagome-sama." She said, getting up. "You have a fever, you should go back to your time, they have better doctors there, ne?"
Kagome nodded slowly. "Hai." She got up, her knees shaking and the ground wobbling under her feet. "I'll go." Kaedes brown face crinkled in a cordial smile, "Get better soon, child." Kagome smiled back with an effort, Kaede has become like a mother to her, always encouraging and advising her, guiding her through her life in this era. "Thank you so much for everything Kaede." Kagome hugged the aging miko, her eyes clouding up with tears; she pulled away, blinking them back. "I'll go Kaede-sama. But not back to my time."
Kaedes brown forehead knitted with concern. "Kagome, child this is no time for heroic deeds and suicides!" Kagome shook her head stubbornly. "Sesshoumaru found that the jewel is incomplete." She said, lifting the Shikon on its chain. "I have to go and find the last shard." Kaede lifted the eyebrow above her patch. "Sesshoumaru found that?" "He- hee." Kagome blushed. "It's just that he noticed me hol..." She shook her head. "Never mind, it's a long story." She gulped, rubbing her aching throat. "I decided I shall continue alone, disguised as a boy." Kaede nodded slowly. "Yes, that would be a good idea, but how can you go all alone?"
Kagome pursed her lips. "I decided so." Kaede snorted. "Always stubborn... You cant go alone, without protection." "I don't care about myself. I have to do it." Kaede narrowed her eyes. "Child. You are selfish." Kagomes mouth dropped open. "Wha...?" "You are going because you're hurt. I understand. But YOU have to understand that if your quest fails, it will be somber to all. Do you not understand that if you fail someone who is not supposed to will get his hands on the jewel, someone so loathsome and evil will bring destruction to all!"
Kagome shook her head. "He's dead." Kaede balled her hands into fists. "Child, how can you be so ignorant?! I sense him, Miroku does, Kikyou does, don't you?"
Kagome thought for a moment. "No. I don't think I do. I do feel some kind of unease, but I don't feel Naraku anywhere." Kaede sighed. "But I suppose you're right. I'll ask Ah-Un to come with me. He didn't leave, did he?"
Kaede hung her head. "No, he's still here."
Kagome clapped her hands. "Good. Can I have my bow and arrows? And do you have by any chance a spare haori or something so I can wear it?"
Kaede walked to the door and pulled back the straw mat that served as a door. "No, Kagome sama. I will go find something in the village." With that said, she left.
Kagome sighed deeply. She got up and looked around the house; finally having found what she was looking for, she took the bow and arrows and went outside.
The sun streamed down, making her close her eyes at its brightness. "Morning, Ah-Un! Having fun?" She laughed at the youkai who was running around the field, jumping up to catch an occasional butterfly. Upon seeing the miko, the youkai looked amused and galloped towards her, the ground shaking beneath him. Kagome gulped as the youkai was only a few meters away from her- the youkai stopped breaths away from her face, the wind that came with him sending her hair flying. Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, clutching her bow helplessly.
Ah-Un tugged at her hair playfully, his eyes crinkling with amusement and affection. Kagome giggled as his hot breath tickled her neck and lifted her shoulder. "Ah-Un, you bad boy!" She ruffled his mane, enjoying its silky feel between her fingers.
*
Kagome smoothed the hard material over her chest. "Kaede-sama. Don't you think I should... You know..." She said, patting her chest and blushing slightly. Kaede narrowed her eye, examining the girls chest critically. "No, I don't think we need to do anything about it, Kagome-sama. It looks fine to me." Patting Kagome on her shoulder.
Kagome sweatdropped. "Gee, thanks!" Kaede bowed her head slightly. "You are most welcome."
"There. You make a nice, young man, Kagome-sama." Kaede stated as she gave the string that held Kagomes hair in a ponytail a last tug and stepped back to examine her handiwork. "Now you just have to avoid the lone samurai!" She said earnestly. "You look too appealing for a boy!" Kagome paled at the thought. "Ano... Where is Miroku, Shippou, Inuyasha, everybody?" She asked, finally realizing that she was alone. Kaede bowed her head to one side confusedly. "You mean you didn't meet them?" She asked, "Inuyasha left some three days ago, with Sango following him. Miroku and Kikyou left not long ago either." Kagome blinked a few times. "No. I didn't." "Ah, well. They must've gotten lost on their way." Kagome frowned. "After all, Sesshoumarus castle is not a place they visit that often." Kaede added.
Kagome sighed, "I guess you're right." she picked up the sword and attached it to her obi, then she put on her arrows and bow. She felt dead.
"Ki ots kite, Kagome sama." Kagome nodded, the painful lump in her throat not letting her utter a word. "May the gods be on your side!" said Kaede solemnly. Ah-Un grunted beneath her and juddered impatiently. Kagome pressed his sides with her heels as she was told to do when she was riding a pony.
Kagomes heart soared as the youkai flew steeply into the cool, bright morning air.
"Fare you well!" She shouted back.
Below her, the small hut and the plain became smaller and smaller, and the lone figure standing there- its arm waving and the face turned to the sky- grew so tiny she could no longer see it properly. "This is it." Kagome murmured, her tail swaying behind her back and a fluttering feeling in her stomach. Before her lay the mysterious woods, rippling in the wind like an endless ocean. "Ah-Un, can we please fly closer to the ground?" She asked, clutching at his mane desperately. Ah-Un snorted and flew down, almost vertically; and plunged into the misty, green twilight of the forest beneath them.
As the leaves rushed past her in a blur of greens and blues, she imagined a little hut in the darkest corner of its endless space, where she could peacefully draw and have all the time to herself.
Far off in the distance a flock of birds wheeled up from the trees below and soared into the air, their white wings flashing brightly against the rising sun.
Kagome frowned at the immensity of the forest- and her task- struck her.
She pushed all the thoughts of the wooden house out of her head; it was not time for daydreaming.
*
Rain was falling as Kagome stirred from her sleep.
She was high up on a colossal branch of a tree. The green canopy had kept the worst of it off her. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Kagome got up. She yawned. She stretched. Her breath came in wispy twists of mist. Shivering with cold she got up and stroked the reptiles wet mane. "I trust you all well rested," She whispered to Ah-Un. "And not too wet to fly."
Kagome rummaged through the bento Kaede prepared and the smell of dried fish filled her nose, and although her stomach was rumbling hungrily, her appetite disappeared completely. "Stop being so fussy." She told herself biting a chunk out of the fishes' side and chewing gamely. She knew from what Sango told her that dried fish was both nutritious and filling. She knew that it was unwise to set out on an empty stomach...
But the fish was so unpalatable! Kagome took a sip from the bamboo flask and swallowed the claggy pulp in one go. She grimaced. "That'll do." She said, tossing the half eaten fish far away. It landed with a soft *thud *. The wildfowl darted in all directions, squawking with alarm.
Kagome climbed to her feet and tied the sac to Ah-Uns saddle. The sunlight pierced the thinning clouds, and, shining down through the gaps in the trees, gleamed on the burnished brown scales of the youkai.
Kagome decided she wouldn't be able to stand flying today, so the went walking along the dusty road, three heads, each thinking it's own thoughts.
At about midday, after a long, hot walk, and when the sun was at it's highest, Kagome asked Ah-Un to stop by a river to refresh a little.
Kagome kneeled over the steep, slimy edge and cupped the cold, sweet water with her hands, drinking in as much of the refreshing liquid as possible. She then splashed the water on her face and neck, washing away the thick layer of brown dust. She sighed and looked at her reflection.
There, was one of the people she was the least excited to meet...
* * *
Sesshoumaru opened his eyes slowly. He blinked. Once. Twice.
A face was looking down at him, black hair, and big eyes. "Kagome?..." He asked drowsily. "Oh, Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin was so worried!" Sesshoumaru widened his eyes slightly at the arduous feeling in his shoulder. "Rin." Rin got up from his chest and looked into his eyes with her plenary, brown ones. "Sesshoumaru-sama, where is the nice lady?" She tugged on his hair. "She was with Sesshoumaru-sama, ne?"
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes at the vile stench next to him. He didn't remember the girl so stinky. He sniffed carefully and snapped his eyes open.
It was his hair that stank.
He growled and got up slowly, his arm shaking with the effort. Surely he couldn't have gotten this smelly. He had a shower what... He scratched his head. Last month? No, it wasn't him. Something must've gotten wrong.
Sesshoumaru ran his long, clawed fingers through his silvery hair, only to get tangled in it. 'What the...' He frowned and tugged slightly. No result. He tugged harder.
It got tangled even more. He growled and looked at Rin who was snickering behind a small fist. "Rin. Do it for me." Rin snickered once again and plumped down behind him; she untwisted the long strands and ran her hands through them, finally freeing Sesshoumaru from his own imprisonment.
No matter how many times he tried to defy the fact, he had to admit he felt rather incomplete, having problems with simple tasks like visiting the privy.
He will kill the bastard brother of his as soon as he meets him... Revenge...
"Meep!" Sesshoumaru glared down at the human that dared to interrupt his dream. "Sesshoumaru-sama! Your eyes are red!"
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes inwardly. 'Tell me about it.'
"Rin. Go play." "But Rin can't find Jacken-sama anywhere!" She cried, her falsetto ringing in his ears, making them twitch. "Haoko-sama said Yasunoru-sama cant play with Rin because he went to visit a friend named..." She frowned. "Bad... Boodhat. Bootha.." She sighed. Sesshoumaru remembered. 'Oh. Buddha.'
"Haoko-sama said Orito is too sickly... Hajake-sama wanted to play with Rin, but Haoko told him he wants to drink tea with her." She rubbed her chin grimly. "Rin isn't so sure that Hajake-sama really wanted to...But he went anyway."
Annoyance crossed the Taiyoukais algid features. "What is this Hajake that you speak of?" He asked glacially. "Why is it that I know him not?"
Rin cocked her head to one side, blinking. "Hajake-sama is Orito-samas otou- san; he brought Kagome-sama here."
Sesshoumarus face expressed more than he allowed it in about a hundred or two years. "Huh?..."
"And Kagome-sama was wearing a pretty dress! Here it is!" She cried, running towards the kimono and lifting up its sleeves, decorated with lilies... Strange-shaped lilies...
Sesshoumarus' pallid face turned even paler at the design. He practically jumped up from the floor and dashed to the clothing, snatching it out of the surprised girls hands. He buried his nose in the silk, sniffing frantically. Men, men, men, sex... Phew. He let the heavy material fall to the ground with a rustle. Why would Kagome wear a concubines kimono? He sighed heavily and crossed the room to his balcony.
He watched the garden silently for a while, but then caught a vile stench... His lowlife sibling?
Sesshoumaru growled. Why would he be here?
He headed towards the door, but felt a slight breeze on his chest; he looked down. Great. The human miko is a pervert on top of all. She even undressed him in this state.
With his haori on, he left to investigate the new events.
Sesshoumaru hated when things happened without him knowing about them. It was one of his most hated things.
Well. Apart from his dimwit sibling.
* * *
Kagome landed into the river with a loud splash.
Kouga arched an eyebrow as Kagomes' behind disappeared under the water. "Yo, Kagome." He crouched on the bank, looked into the water and frowned. "What the..." Kagome was nowhere to be seen, only the swirling water, small fish and small pebbles carried by the strong current.
Kouga looked around and spotted her almost instantly. The girl was bobbing up and down on the frothy waters of the river, clinging to a slippery rock, her knuckles white and her eyes wide as she slipped backwards. "Hold on Kagome! I'll save you!" Kouga shouted in what it seemed to him a heroic manner and dived into the river.
He landed on his stomach, which took his breath away for a moment, but then a horrible, frigid sensation shot through his limbs and torso; for a moment he couldn't move- just enough to be swept away by the current.
"Kouga! Help!" Kagomes strength was giving way, but she knew she had to hold on- for if she let go- by doing so she will destine hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives to death...
Kouga surfaced and coughing and spluttering searched for the girl.
"Kouga..." She whimpered, turning her face towards the wolf prince, Kouga cursed his tight skin-skirt as he kicked out against the freezing current. And all the while he saw Kagome staring adoringly at him, as if he were the most important thing in the entire universe.
"Come on! Reach for me!" Kouga yelled- the girl was losing her grip on the slippery rock- and she could be swept away any second. Kouga imagined her little body being torn from the rock and smashed against the rocks behind her.
"I cant! I'm scared!" She whimpered and stretched out one hand; only to draw it away to grab the rock- but she failed...
Kouga collected all his energy and kicked out against the strong current once again, struggling to catch her arm.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and started prying her fingers off the slippery rock- which proved to be a great task indeed.
"Come on, be a good girl." he muttered and transferred her weight on his hip. "Don't worry, I'll get you out of here." he whispered.
"Kouga-kun..." She sighed and Kougas breath caught in his throat. She never used this tone with him. Only with the dog-crap. It's always a pride when someone says your name like that. Kouga puffed out his chest proudly and allowed Kagome to snuggle closer to his body.....
.... Then she twisted around in his grasp and twined her arms around his neck firmly, squeezing out his breath....
"Ackh!!!Kagome! Let go!!!" Kouga tried prising her arms apart, but no avail-
"AHH!!! KOUGA!!! HELP!!!"
"LET GO! Can't breathe..."
Kouga gave up his attempts to prise her arms away and made it for shore, the rocks zooming in closer and closer... His legs tied themselves in knots, his lungs were on fire and his vision was hot and blurry...
Five metres... Two....
Kouga fell on the grass, his body wrenching as he coughed up water from his stomach and lungs alike. Kagome lays by, shaking miserably.
'At least she's safe. She's alive. We're alive.'
"What the hell were you thinking?!" Kouga cried thrusting himself to his feet. "Did you want to get yourself killed?" He cried.
Kagome curled into a shivering ball. "No...no...You just scared me..." She whimpered.
Kouga gulped guiltily and crouched down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Oy, I'm sorry, Kagome." He said softly. "I really didn't mean to scare you or shout at you." He shook her shoulder gently. "Oy. You gotta change outta that, y'know?"
Kagome got up, shooting daggers with her eyes. "I know well enough what I have to do, Kouga-kun." She said slightly acidly and strode towards Ah-Un, who was watching the whole process lazily, and was now nibbling on the grass.
Kagome climbed up shakily onto his back and turned to Kouga. "Jaa matte." With that said she left slowly.
Kouga stared blankly at the human miko. Dressed as a boy, on SESSHOUMARUS steed and RUDE...
Is it really Kagome?...
Kouga balled his hands into fists, 'It's all the mutt-faces' doing. I cant leave her like that!' and he ran after her. Ofcourse, he wasn't as fast as he used to be with the shards, but he still was one of the fastest, so he soon caught up with the girl and walked silently next to her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * Vocabulary:. Kusotare: **** head. Onore: A lot worse than 'teme' (very bad 'you') Kisama- An even worse version of 'onore'. Obi: The sash with which the haori was tied. 'Ki ots kite.' : 'Be careful.' Daijo-bu: Are you ok? Chaa: Shippous accent, he adds it all the time. Jaa matte: See you later.
Hmm... It looks like I'm trying to teach you guys the whole Japanese 'swear vocab'.
* * * *
My dear reviewers...
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antisocial mint: Great? Good. Thanks for reviewing.
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shadadphilaro: I'm sorry to disappoint you; true, true... I don't have any fluff. And that is for several reasons: I don't like fluff much, the story had just started and Kag and Sess don't even realize that this is a Sess/Kag fic. I'm afraid I'll have to break it to them sooner or later. Kukuku. Thanks for the nice words! Don't worry; I'll have some fluff later on. After all, I have to practice.
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Black-Fire Eclipse: Arigotou. yes... Exams. The terror word. My mum doesn't check if I'm studying, doing my homework or whatever. She only finds out when she gets the marks at the end of the term. Sigh. And it'd better be good. Well, as you see I did take my time to update. Sweatdrop. jaa.
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WinterBlossom/Yuki*Sakura: I'm glad you are. Sess/Kag is cool, ne?
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Spork or Foon: 'Chichiwe' or 'chichiue' are both used, dearie. If it makes you feel better, I'll use your version from now on. ^_~ Thanks for telling me though.
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SkyBlueSunShine: Non, ce pas. I guess that you're better at something else if you're not good with languages. Its ok about Japanese. Anytime. By the way. I didn't make it clear then... There *was * disappointment in the 'ice-princes'' voice. I don't know how to explain it to you if you don't get it. Mou. He already got ready to mourn her, he went deep into self-pity. It was too hard to change back. It wasn't because he was disappointed that she was alive, he was disappointed that he has to change back... I don't know how to explain. Perhaps an example; imagine: Your math teacher announced a huge, deadly test. You studied, pored over it, and when it came to the test, he suddenly tells you it was false alarm. I think that describes it perfectly.
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Sesshomarufan17: Grin. Yep. You have seen the part when Jacken first meets Sesshoumaru? There he says: "So beautiful..." There are plenty of other times, too. So I guess it could be true. Sigh. Anywayz, thanks!
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hiei-mate: New is good, innit? thanks for the review. Who knows, maybe Sesshoumaru does have some kind of phobia. After all, the best of us have phobias! * Argh! Physics! *
jaa
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Waizu Yoru Ame Otome: Ah... My little imooto through thick and thin... When I said my little sister I meant my 'bloody' sister. I didn't see your drawings and cant say anything about them. Mou. What are you talking about? (The Sakura part.) I've only seen episode one. -_-'' Don't. Imagine. Moi. As. A. Chibi. Insert best death glare. Little one.
Yes, deep thinker. Ha. Scatterbrain Imooto. =P Well... Treats, hm. Have some cheesecake. I like it. And have some Nirvana peach ice cream. It rocks. Sweatdrop.
Thanks SO much for the picture. I got the email saying about saving the stories. Gomen, I don't think I really get it, so I didn't sign up coz don't know how to. I will as soon as I do. Just to let you know, I'm for it. In... Most cases. My gfs' story got removed... And I'm happy. She only wrote one chapter, yaoi, and got removed. Kukuku. I just DO hope she doesn't find me here! She doesn't know I'm writing here, and told me a few days ago: "I found this Really Cool thingy called FF.net, ah, you're too stooooppiiid to get it!" Dunno what she's writing now... Probably another yaoi. How can girls like that stuff? I mean... Yuck. Do you like it? * Death glare* be honest.
Ah, sorry for not updating for so long.
Ah, well. Jaa.
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deception-3: Goodness. You have not idea how much I laughed when I read your review. No offence but... "What's his name cant die..." Oh my. Yep. Noru-kun is dead. RIP. ha-ha Thanks ha-ha For ha-ha Re... Bwahahahahahaha. Review,
Bwa- Jaa! hahahahaha.....
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ROW: Thanks, I will!
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LadyYume: Lol. I'll try. Here's the update. It's nice to hear something nice from a lady...^_~
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Stacerue: Thanks for the mail. Yes, yes... Hint-hint. Humph! If I wasn't for you, I guess I wouldn't have remembered about my new responsibility as a writer. Sweatdrop. I
Here's the chappy.
See disclaimer in chapter 5. =P Taihen Sama© All rights reserved 2004
AN: Now. There will be soon some parts where I can avoid lemons. But I can keep them if you like. Mind; not fluff. Lemons, but the rating will stay the same.
Let it be as The People Want.
(If you didn't get the 'hint' you are supposed to tell me. Vote.)
- Chapter Ten-
"Flat."
Kagome was petrified with horror...
The creature leaned forwards, its hot breath like dragon smoke steamed out of its nostrils; but Kagome couldn't move with fear and cold. Something hot and wet touched her arm and the youkai grunted softly. "Ah-Un!" Kagome exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the scaly neck of the youkai in front of her. The reptile grunted and nuzzled her neck, grunting softly. "But what are you doing here?" Kagome exclaimed, looking into the youkais yellow eyes. "Oh, I see..." She frowned. "You got separated from Sesshoumaru. "Don't worry. You're safe with me!" She patted his scaly neck, smiling. The demon rolled his eyes, grunting softly. Surely this languid creature couldn't be serious, she was blanched moments before!
*
As the sun rose, it shone down on a scaly hill coiled around a human girl, and the cold wind tossed the youkais' mane and the girls' hair, chilling them to the bones.
Kagome yawned and stretched her limbs in an attempt to push the sleepiness away. "Ah-Un." She turned to look in the youkais eyes, supporting herself on her elbows. The dragon lifted one of its heads and looked at her questioningly, asking silently what she wanted. Kagome smiled at the youkai and ruffled its mane. "I was wondering," Ah narrowed his eyes, the girls' due to ask him something. "I was wondering if you could take me to Kaede." Said Kagome hopefully. The dragon neighed and cocked his head to one side. "Kaede is a friend of mine," Explained Kagome. "I really need to go see her!" She almost cried. "Please?" Ah rolled his eyes and nudged Uh with his nose, telling him to get up. Uh opened his eyes slowly and yawned, arching his back and getting up.
Ah looked at the beaming girl and snorted, waiting for her to get up on his back. "Thanks Ah-Un!" Said Kagome hugging his neck tightly and climbing up. "Just take me to Inuyasha." She told the dragon, certain that he would know the place Sesshoumaru went to fight his brother all the time.
Kagome closed her eyes, enjoying the wind in her hair, wishing that it just blew away all her troubles; somewhere far, far away...
* * *
"KISAMA!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE LEFT???!!!" Roared Inuyasha shaking Orito by the shoulders. "HOW COULD HAVE YOU LET HER GO OUT THERE ALL ALONE?!" "Young Lor-" "KUSOTARE!" Miroku rushed out of his room at the noise and hurried out into the corridor to see Inuyasha almost strangling a washed-out, dark haired man. "Inuyasha!" Inuyasha dropped his prey and jumped at Miroku. "Onore! Where is Kikyou?"
Miroku sweatdropped. "Inuyasha, why not calm down and tell me what is going on properly?" "Keh! Stupid monk." Inuyasha crossed his hands over his chest and gazed at the wall. Miroku turned to the dazed dragon youkai. "Gomen nasai. So you know where Kagome-sama is?" Orito shook his head slowly. "Forgive me, houshi. She left yesterday evening and headed south, towards Edo." Miroku frowned, nodding slowly and rubbing his chin. "I see... So she went to Kaede." He was snapped out of his thoughts as Inuyasha lifted him off the ground by his collar. "Teme... Where is Kikyou?" Inuyasha growled in his little, puppy growl voice. "I thought I told you to stay!" Miroku hung in the air, rotating slowly. "Kikyou-sama is here," He looked around him. "Somewhere..." Inuyasha dumped him on the floor and hit him on the head, his ears twitching. "MIROKU!!! Daijo-bu chaa?" Shippou jumped up on the monks' head to 'comfort' him; thankfully, Miroku was already used to the sharp pinpricks of the kits small claws on his scalp and shoulders. "Ohaiyo, Shippou-chan." He smiled, getting off the floor and pulling the kitsune pup off his head, placing him on his shoulder.
"Inuyasha," He turned to where the dog hanyou was standing and sighed; he was already gone.
A soft, warm voice attracted his attention. "Houshi, when is Kagome-sama coming back?" Miroku turned to see the dragons weary features lighten with eagerness. "She is coming back. Isn't she?" Orito narrowed his crimson eyes at the monks silence. Miroku looked at the floor and shook his head. "Where she headed, I don't think she is." "Where." Miroku sighed. "I'm sorry. I have my problems to deal with at the moment. Kagome will be safe, don't worry."
He turned and walked away silently, with Shippou fiddling with the rings on his staff.
*
There was a blur of red and white as Kagome opened her eyes slowly. "Kaede-sama?..." She asked drowsily, sitting up and wincing at the pain in her throat. Damn. Is she ever going to get better?
"What happened, Kagome-sama?" Asked Kaede, sitting down and placing an old hand on Kagomes forehead.
Kagome moaned and sat up drowsily. "Kaede-sama?..." Kaede frowned. "Kagome-sama." She said, getting up. "You have a fever, you should go back to your time, they have better doctors there, ne?"
Kagome nodded slowly. "Hai." She got up, her knees shaking and the ground wobbling under her feet. "I'll go." Kaedes brown face crinkled in a cordial smile, "Get better soon, child." Kagome smiled back with an effort, Kaede has become like a mother to her, always encouraging and advising her, guiding her through her life in this era. "Thank you so much for everything Kaede." Kagome hugged the aging miko, her eyes clouding up with tears; she pulled away, blinking them back. "I'll go Kaede-sama. But not back to my time."
Kaedes brown forehead knitted with concern. "Kagome, child this is no time for heroic deeds and suicides!" Kagome shook her head stubbornly. "Sesshoumaru found that the jewel is incomplete." She said, lifting the Shikon on its chain. "I have to go and find the last shard." Kaede lifted the eyebrow above her patch. "Sesshoumaru found that?" "He- hee." Kagome blushed. "It's just that he noticed me hol..." She shook her head. "Never mind, it's a long story." She gulped, rubbing her aching throat. "I decided I shall continue alone, disguised as a boy." Kaede nodded slowly. "Yes, that would be a good idea, but how can you go all alone?"
Kagome pursed her lips. "I decided so." Kaede snorted. "Always stubborn... You cant go alone, without protection." "I don't care about myself. I have to do it." Kaede narrowed her eyes. "Child. You are selfish." Kagomes mouth dropped open. "Wha...?" "You are going because you're hurt. I understand. But YOU have to understand that if your quest fails, it will be somber to all. Do you not understand that if you fail someone who is not supposed to will get his hands on the jewel, someone so loathsome and evil will bring destruction to all!"
Kagome shook her head. "He's dead." Kaede balled her hands into fists. "Child, how can you be so ignorant?! I sense him, Miroku does, Kikyou does, don't you?"
Kagome thought for a moment. "No. I don't think I do. I do feel some kind of unease, but I don't feel Naraku anywhere." Kaede sighed. "But I suppose you're right. I'll ask Ah-Un to come with me. He didn't leave, did he?"
Kaede hung her head. "No, he's still here."
Kagome clapped her hands. "Good. Can I have my bow and arrows? And do you have by any chance a spare haori or something so I can wear it?"
Kaede walked to the door and pulled back the straw mat that served as a door. "No, Kagome sama. I will go find something in the village." With that said, she left.
Kagome sighed deeply. She got up and looked around the house; finally having found what she was looking for, she took the bow and arrows and went outside.
The sun streamed down, making her close her eyes at its brightness. "Morning, Ah-Un! Having fun?" She laughed at the youkai who was running around the field, jumping up to catch an occasional butterfly. Upon seeing the miko, the youkai looked amused and galloped towards her, the ground shaking beneath him. Kagome gulped as the youkai was only a few meters away from her- the youkai stopped breaths away from her face, the wind that came with him sending her hair flying. Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, clutching her bow helplessly.
Ah-Un tugged at her hair playfully, his eyes crinkling with amusement and affection. Kagome giggled as his hot breath tickled her neck and lifted her shoulder. "Ah-Un, you bad boy!" She ruffled his mane, enjoying its silky feel between her fingers.
*
Kagome smoothed the hard material over her chest. "Kaede-sama. Don't you think I should... You know..." She said, patting her chest and blushing slightly. Kaede narrowed her eye, examining the girls chest critically. "No, I don't think we need to do anything about it, Kagome-sama. It looks fine to me." Patting Kagome on her shoulder.
Kagome sweatdropped. "Gee, thanks!" Kaede bowed her head slightly. "You are most welcome."
"There. You make a nice, young man, Kagome-sama." Kaede stated as she gave the string that held Kagomes hair in a ponytail a last tug and stepped back to examine her handiwork. "Now you just have to avoid the lone samurai!" She said earnestly. "You look too appealing for a boy!" Kagome paled at the thought. "Ano... Where is Miroku, Shippou, Inuyasha, everybody?" She asked, finally realizing that she was alone. Kaede bowed her head to one side confusedly. "You mean you didn't meet them?" She asked, "Inuyasha left some three days ago, with Sango following him. Miroku and Kikyou left not long ago either." Kagome blinked a few times. "No. I didn't." "Ah, well. They must've gotten lost on their way." Kagome frowned. "After all, Sesshoumarus castle is not a place they visit that often." Kaede added.
Kagome sighed, "I guess you're right." she picked up the sword and attached it to her obi, then she put on her arrows and bow. She felt dead.
"Ki ots kite, Kagome sama." Kagome nodded, the painful lump in her throat not letting her utter a word. "May the gods be on your side!" said Kaede solemnly. Ah-Un grunted beneath her and juddered impatiently. Kagome pressed his sides with her heels as she was told to do when she was riding a pony.
Kagomes heart soared as the youkai flew steeply into the cool, bright morning air.
"Fare you well!" She shouted back.
Below her, the small hut and the plain became smaller and smaller, and the lone figure standing there- its arm waving and the face turned to the sky- grew so tiny she could no longer see it properly. "This is it." Kagome murmured, her tail swaying behind her back and a fluttering feeling in her stomach. Before her lay the mysterious woods, rippling in the wind like an endless ocean. "Ah-Un, can we please fly closer to the ground?" She asked, clutching at his mane desperately. Ah-Un snorted and flew down, almost vertically; and plunged into the misty, green twilight of the forest beneath them.
As the leaves rushed past her in a blur of greens and blues, she imagined a little hut in the darkest corner of its endless space, where she could peacefully draw and have all the time to herself.
Far off in the distance a flock of birds wheeled up from the trees below and soared into the air, their white wings flashing brightly against the rising sun.
Kagome frowned at the immensity of the forest- and her task- struck her.
She pushed all the thoughts of the wooden house out of her head; it was not time for daydreaming.
*
Rain was falling as Kagome stirred from her sleep.
She was high up on a colossal branch of a tree. The green canopy had kept the worst of it off her. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Kagome got up. She yawned. She stretched. Her breath came in wispy twists of mist. Shivering with cold she got up and stroked the reptiles wet mane. "I trust you all well rested," She whispered to Ah-Un. "And not too wet to fly."
Kagome rummaged through the bento Kaede prepared and the smell of dried fish filled her nose, and although her stomach was rumbling hungrily, her appetite disappeared completely. "Stop being so fussy." She told herself biting a chunk out of the fishes' side and chewing gamely. She knew from what Sango told her that dried fish was both nutritious and filling. She knew that it was unwise to set out on an empty stomach...
But the fish was so unpalatable! Kagome took a sip from the bamboo flask and swallowed the claggy pulp in one go. She grimaced. "That'll do." She said, tossing the half eaten fish far away. It landed with a soft *thud *. The wildfowl darted in all directions, squawking with alarm.
Kagome climbed to her feet and tied the sac to Ah-Uns saddle. The sunlight pierced the thinning clouds, and, shining down through the gaps in the trees, gleamed on the burnished brown scales of the youkai.
Kagome decided she wouldn't be able to stand flying today, so the went walking along the dusty road, three heads, each thinking it's own thoughts.
At about midday, after a long, hot walk, and when the sun was at it's highest, Kagome asked Ah-Un to stop by a river to refresh a little.
Kagome kneeled over the steep, slimy edge and cupped the cold, sweet water with her hands, drinking in as much of the refreshing liquid as possible. She then splashed the water on her face and neck, washing away the thick layer of brown dust. She sighed and looked at her reflection.
There, was one of the people she was the least excited to meet...
* * *
Sesshoumaru opened his eyes slowly. He blinked. Once. Twice.
A face was looking down at him, black hair, and big eyes. "Kagome?..." He asked drowsily. "Oh, Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin was so worried!" Sesshoumaru widened his eyes slightly at the arduous feeling in his shoulder. "Rin." Rin got up from his chest and looked into his eyes with her plenary, brown ones. "Sesshoumaru-sama, where is the nice lady?" She tugged on his hair. "She was with Sesshoumaru-sama, ne?"
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes at the vile stench next to him. He didn't remember the girl so stinky. He sniffed carefully and snapped his eyes open.
It was his hair that stank.
He growled and got up slowly, his arm shaking with the effort. Surely he couldn't have gotten this smelly. He had a shower what... He scratched his head. Last month? No, it wasn't him. Something must've gotten wrong.
Sesshoumaru ran his long, clawed fingers through his silvery hair, only to get tangled in it. 'What the...' He frowned and tugged slightly. No result. He tugged harder.
It got tangled even more. He growled and looked at Rin who was snickering behind a small fist. "Rin. Do it for me." Rin snickered once again and plumped down behind him; she untwisted the long strands and ran her hands through them, finally freeing Sesshoumaru from his own imprisonment.
No matter how many times he tried to defy the fact, he had to admit he felt rather incomplete, having problems with simple tasks like visiting the privy.
He will kill the bastard brother of his as soon as he meets him... Revenge...
"Meep!" Sesshoumaru glared down at the human that dared to interrupt his dream. "Sesshoumaru-sama! Your eyes are red!"
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes inwardly. 'Tell me about it.'
"Rin. Go play." "But Rin can't find Jacken-sama anywhere!" She cried, her falsetto ringing in his ears, making them twitch. "Haoko-sama said Yasunoru-sama cant play with Rin because he went to visit a friend named..." She frowned. "Bad... Boodhat. Bootha.." She sighed. Sesshoumaru remembered. 'Oh. Buddha.'
"Haoko-sama said Orito is too sickly... Hajake-sama wanted to play with Rin, but Haoko told him he wants to drink tea with her." She rubbed her chin grimly. "Rin isn't so sure that Hajake-sama really wanted to...But he went anyway."
Annoyance crossed the Taiyoukais algid features. "What is this Hajake that you speak of?" He asked glacially. "Why is it that I know him not?"
Rin cocked her head to one side, blinking. "Hajake-sama is Orito-samas otou- san; he brought Kagome-sama here."
Sesshoumarus face expressed more than he allowed it in about a hundred or two years. "Huh?..."
"And Kagome-sama was wearing a pretty dress! Here it is!" She cried, running towards the kimono and lifting up its sleeves, decorated with lilies... Strange-shaped lilies...
Sesshoumarus' pallid face turned even paler at the design. He practically jumped up from the floor and dashed to the clothing, snatching it out of the surprised girls hands. He buried his nose in the silk, sniffing frantically. Men, men, men, sex... Phew. He let the heavy material fall to the ground with a rustle. Why would Kagome wear a concubines kimono? He sighed heavily and crossed the room to his balcony.
He watched the garden silently for a while, but then caught a vile stench... His lowlife sibling?
Sesshoumaru growled. Why would he be here?
He headed towards the door, but felt a slight breeze on his chest; he looked down. Great. The human miko is a pervert on top of all. She even undressed him in this state.
With his haori on, he left to investigate the new events.
Sesshoumaru hated when things happened without him knowing about them. It was one of his most hated things.
Well. Apart from his dimwit sibling.
* * *
Kagome landed into the river with a loud splash.
Kouga arched an eyebrow as Kagomes' behind disappeared under the water. "Yo, Kagome." He crouched on the bank, looked into the water and frowned. "What the..." Kagome was nowhere to be seen, only the swirling water, small fish and small pebbles carried by the strong current.
Kouga looked around and spotted her almost instantly. The girl was bobbing up and down on the frothy waters of the river, clinging to a slippery rock, her knuckles white and her eyes wide as she slipped backwards. "Hold on Kagome! I'll save you!" Kouga shouted in what it seemed to him a heroic manner and dived into the river.
He landed on his stomach, which took his breath away for a moment, but then a horrible, frigid sensation shot through his limbs and torso; for a moment he couldn't move- just enough to be swept away by the current.
"Kouga! Help!" Kagomes strength was giving way, but she knew she had to hold on- for if she let go- by doing so she will destine hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives to death...
Kouga surfaced and coughing and spluttering searched for the girl.
"Kouga..." She whimpered, turning her face towards the wolf prince, Kouga cursed his tight skin-skirt as he kicked out against the freezing current. And all the while he saw Kagome staring adoringly at him, as if he were the most important thing in the entire universe.
"Come on! Reach for me!" Kouga yelled- the girl was losing her grip on the slippery rock- and she could be swept away any second. Kouga imagined her little body being torn from the rock and smashed against the rocks behind her.
"I cant! I'm scared!" She whimpered and stretched out one hand; only to draw it away to grab the rock- but she failed...
Kouga collected all his energy and kicked out against the strong current once again, struggling to catch her arm.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and started prying her fingers off the slippery rock- which proved to be a great task indeed.
"Come on, be a good girl." he muttered and transferred her weight on his hip. "Don't worry, I'll get you out of here." he whispered.
"Kouga-kun..." She sighed and Kougas breath caught in his throat. She never used this tone with him. Only with the dog-crap. It's always a pride when someone says your name like that. Kouga puffed out his chest proudly and allowed Kagome to snuggle closer to his body.....
.... Then she twisted around in his grasp and twined her arms around his neck firmly, squeezing out his breath....
"Ackh!!!Kagome! Let go!!!" Kouga tried prising her arms apart, but no avail-
"AHH!!! KOUGA!!! HELP!!!"
"LET GO! Can't breathe..."
Kouga gave up his attempts to prise her arms away and made it for shore, the rocks zooming in closer and closer... His legs tied themselves in knots, his lungs were on fire and his vision was hot and blurry...
Five metres... Two....
Kouga fell on the grass, his body wrenching as he coughed up water from his stomach and lungs alike. Kagome lays by, shaking miserably.
'At least she's safe. She's alive. We're alive.'
"What the hell were you thinking?!" Kouga cried thrusting himself to his feet. "Did you want to get yourself killed?" He cried.
Kagome curled into a shivering ball. "No...no...You just scared me..." She whimpered.
Kouga gulped guiltily and crouched down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Oy, I'm sorry, Kagome." He said softly. "I really didn't mean to scare you or shout at you." He shook her shoulder gently. "Oy. You gotta change outta that, y'know?"
Kagome got up, shooting daggers with her eyes. "I know well enough what I have to do, Kouga-kun." She said slightly acidly and strode towards Ah-Un, who was watching the whole process lazily, and was now nibbling on the grass.
Kagome climbed up shakily onto his back and turned to Kouga. "Jaa matte." With that said she left slowly.
Kouga stared blankly at the human miko. Dressed as a boy, on SESSHOUMARUS steed and RUDE...
Is it really Kagome?...
Kouga balled his hands into fists, 'It's all the mutt-faces' doing. I cant leave her like that!' and he ran after her. Ofcourse, he wasn't as fast as he used to be with the shards, but he still was one of the fastest, so he soon caught up with the girl and walked silently next to her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * Vocabulary:. Kusotare: **** head. Onore: A lot worse than 'teme' (very bad 'you') Kisama- An even worse version of 'onore'. Obi: The sash with which the haori was tied. 'Ki ots kite.' : 'Be careful.' Daijo-bu: Are you ok? Chaa: Shippous accent, he adds it all the time. Jaa matte: See you later.
Hmm... It looks like I'm trying to teach you guys the whole Japanese 'swear vocab'.
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My dear reviewers...
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antisocial mint: Great? Good. Thanks for reviewing.
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shadadphilaro: I'm sorry to disappoint you; true, true... I don't have any fluff. And that is for several reasons: I don't like fluff much, the story had just started and Kag and Sess don't even realize that this is a Sess/Kag fic. I'm afraid I'll have to break it to them sooner or later. Kukuku. Thanks for the nice words! Don't worry; I'll have some fluff later on. After all, I have to practice.
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Black-Fire Eclipse: Arigotou. yes... Exams. The terror word. My mum doesn't check if I'm studying, doing my homework or whatever. She only finds out when she gets the marks at the end of the term. Sigh. And it'd better be good. Well, as you see I did take my time to update. Sweatdrop. jaa.
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WinterBlossom/Yuki*Sakura: I'm glad you are. Sess/Kag is cool, ne?
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Spork or Foon: 'Chichiwe' or 'chichiue' are both used, dearie. If it makes you feel better, I'll use your version from now on. ^_~ Thanks for telling me though.
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SkyBlueSunShine: Non, ce pas. I guess that you're better at something else if you're not good with languages. Its ok about Japanese. Anytime. By the way. I didn't make it clear then... There *was * disappointment in the 'ice-princes'' voice. I don't know how to explain it to you if you don't get it. Mou. He already got ready to mourn her, he went deep into self-pity. It was too hard to change back. It wasn't because he was disappointed that she was alive, he was disappointed that he has to change back... I don't know how to explain. Perhaps an example; imagine: Your math teacher announced a huge, deadly test. You studied, pored over it, and when it came to the test, he suddenly tells you it was false alarm. I think that describes it perfectly.
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Sesshomarufan17: Grin. Yep. You have seen the part when Jacken first meets Sesshoumaru? There he says: "So beautiful..." There are plenty of other times, too. So I guess it could be true. Sigh. Anywayz, thanks!
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hiei-mate: New is good, innit? thanks for the review. Who knows, maybe Sesshoumaru does have some kind of phobia. After all, the best of us have phobias! * Argh! Physics! *
jaa
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Waizu Yoru Ame Otome: Ah... My little imooto through thick and thin... When I said my little sister I meant my 'bloody' sister. I didn't see your drawings and cant say anything about them. Mou. What are you talking about? (The Sakura part.) I've only seen episode one. -_-'' Don't. Imagine. Moi. As. A. Chibi. Insert best death glare. Little one.
Yes, deep thinker. Ha. Scatterbrain Imooto. =P Well... Treats, hm. Have some cheesecake. I like it. And have some Nirvana peach ice cream. It rocks. Sweatdrop.
Thanks SO much for the picture. I got the email saying about saving the stories. Gomen, I don't think I really get it, so I didn't sign up coz don't know how to. I will as soon as I do. Just to let you know, I'm for it. In... Most cases. My gfs' story got removed... And I'm happy. She only wrote one chapter, yaoi, and got removed. Kukuku. I just DO hope she doesn't find me here! She doesn't know I'm writing here, and told me a few days ago: "I found this Really Cool thingy called FF.net, ah, you're too stooooppiiid to get it!" Dunno what she's writing now... Probably another yaoi. How can girls like that stuff? I mean... Yuck. Do you like it? * Death glare* be honest.
Ah, sorry for not updating for so long.
Ah, well. Jaa.
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deception-3: Goodness. You have not idea how much I laughed when I read your review. No offence but... "What's his name cant die..." Oh my. Yep. Noru-kun is dead. RIP. ha-ha Thanks ha-ha For ha-ha Re... Bwahahahahahaha. Review,
Bwa- Jaa! hahahahaha.....
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ROW: Thanks, I will!
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LadyYume: Lol. I'll try. Here's the update. It's nice to hear something nice from a lady...^_~
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Stacerue: Thanks for the mail. Yes, yes... Hint-hint. Humph! If I wasn't for you, I guess I wouldn't have remembered about my new responsibility as a writer. Sweatdrop. I