Hey all! It took me less than a week to get Chapter Four up… yay! :) Hopefully I'll be able to get Chapter Five up this weekend. No promises though!! Hee hee!
Sadie Joyce Myst Lady: Hi! You made a good point with the crossover section… so it's up to the READERS! Do you want me to move the story over there? Vote time! :) Feel free to e-mail me with your votes. The addy is tayturtles@yahoo.com.
Anyways… I really don't know what the guy fed me, to tell you the truth. It was crispy and dry and noodley, almost.
Nope, not from Japan! From Michigan, actually. I just got stuck on a really weird flight path. I was on my way home from New Zealand (I studied abroad there for four months), and my flights went from NZ to Malaysia, Malaysia to Japan, and Japan to Detroit.
Yeah, I know it's weird that Serena and Darien are being nice to each other, but my theory is that if they got stuck in this strange situation together then maybe they would put aside their differences and just be cordial to each other.
Kagome and Rei do look a lot a like, but I just conveniently ignore that fact in this story. :)
I wish I've seen all the Inuyasha episodes. I've seen a wide array of them, but I'm still working on the rest. Hee hee…
Jabba1: Awwe thanks! I'm trying! Don't worry, I think that as long as you know the basic storyline of Inuyasha you will be able to follow the story. I've seen only a smattering of the episodes myself, so I don't have this in any specific time in the storyline. :)
dizzy: Hey! Glad you like it so far! I'm working on getting the chapters out faster! :)
All right! Yes, I have a smiley face obsession… leave me alone! :) See! I can't stop! It's an addiction! :) Err… going to just get going on this chapter now… It may be a little boring… sorry!
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Darien woke up and sat up straight. He had just had his normal dream where the princess begged him for the silver crystal. She got more and more urgent each night, setting him on edge for the coming day. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and tried to calm his heart down. When he opened his eyes he let them adjust to the dark and then took a look around.
Miroku lay close to Sango, but was not allowed any closer due to the cat demon that slept between them. Shippou was curled up against Kagome's stomach and she slept with a hand on top of the little fox demon. Inuyasha sat in the corner, golden eyes watching him.
"Sorry, did I wake you?" Darien whispered.
"Keh. I don't need to sleep."
Darien nodded. He then turned his attention to the golden haired girl laying near him. Moonlight from the window fell on her face softly and lit up her features. He looked at her, truly looked at her, probably for the first time. Two streams of gold flowed from her. Her complexion was perfect, and he longed to touch it to see if it was as smooth as it looked. And her lips, so rosy, so kissable. He shook his head a bit to rid himself from those thoughts. She was too young, to carefree to be saddled with him and his emotional problems. Not to mention he would have to explain why he would have to leave at a moments notice to go and rescue another girl. For he was Tuxedo Mask, he had no choice but to rescue Sailor Moon, and he liked being her rescuer. No, best for her not to get involved with him, even on the off chance that she wanted to.
He lowered himself back down to his blanket and watched Serena sleep until his own eyelids lowered and he fell back asleep.
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When Darien woke again morning's light was just beginning to creep into the hut. He sat up and once again looked at the sleeping people.
Miroku and Sango still slept side-by-side but sometime during the night Kirara had left, so there was nothing to stop Sango when she rolled over. So she slept curled up next to Miroku, who had his arm draped across her waist. Kagome and Shippou were still in the same position as during the night. Inuyasha was not in sight, presumably gone from the hut. Serena, however, was now facing him, her eyes open. He smiled at her and she smiled back as she pushed herself up and stretched.
"Good morning," he whispered.
"Good morning." She paused for a moment. "So I guess it really wasn't a dream."
"Nope. Uh, want to go for a walk?"
She looked at the sleeping figures and nodded.
They walked the village streets, keeping close to the hut, just taking in the village sights. They circled around and ended up back in the field they had been the night before. Darien stopped walking and forced Serena to stop in front of him. He looked into her eyes.
"Serena, are you sure you want to go with them? You need to know that this isn't a particularly save era, this won't be an easy time while here. There are demons in this era, monsters that can hurt you, kill you even. Are you sure about this?"
Serena looked up at him. "I'm sure, Darien. I just have a feeling that our place is with them."
"All right. But promise me, if we get into a fight, you won't try to help? That you'll stay away and safe?" Serena gave him a confused look. "Hey, if anything happens to you before we get back, then I'll have your parents and three angry friends at my throat." He was grinning, but Serena could see actual fear behind it.
Serena smiled. "I promise to be careful in case of an attack." She smelled the air for a moment. "Breakfast!" With that she took off for the hut.
"Damn! She promised the wrong thing and she knows it!"
With a sigh he too went to the hut. When he entered he found everyone already eating, including Inuyasha. Darien had to stifle a laugh when he saw the fading slap mark on the monk's face. He sat down next to Serena and took the offered food.
"So," Kagome began after she was done eating. "are you two going to come with us or stay here?"
Before either of them could say anything, Inuyasha expressed his opinion.
"No way are they coming with us! They'll just get in the way during a fight!"
"No we won't," Serena said between mouthfuls of food.
The half-demon glared at her. "We don't need defenseless humans around who can't protect themselves."
Serena looked indignant. "Excuse me?! I can very well protect myself, so don't worry about it!"
He did not look convinced, but dropped that argument. Only to raise another. "Well then you'll slow us down if we have to move fast!"
"You don't have to worry about that either," Darien said. "If we have to get somewhere fast then I'll get Serena and I there." He ignored Serena's inquiring gaze pointedly.
"Keh," Inuyasha said as he crossed his arms.
Kagome broke into a smile. "That means you guys can join us!"
That comment received another "Keh" from Inuyasha.
"Where are we going?" Serena asked.
"Starting out Shippou, Miroku and I are going to scout ahead for shard rumors on Kirara. You, Kagome, Darien and Inuyasha will walk until we come back with a more exact direction to go in," Sango explained. Serena nodded to show she understood.
She had understood, except for the strange 'on Kirara' comment. Needless to say she was a little surprised when the cute two-tailed cat transformed into a cat demon big enough for Sango and Miroku to ride comfortably on. She was even more surprised at the fire-cat's ability to fly.
"And I thought I'd seen everything! Get ready for strange things Serena. This is a strange era!"
When they started out, Kagome and Serena automatically fell in stop together. Inuyasha walked ahead, his ears twitching to and fro, listening for trouble. Darien walked alone, halfway between Inuyasha and the girls.
Serena glanced sideways at Kagome and grinned. "So… tell me, what's the story with you and Inuyasha?"
Kagome gasped, not expecting that question. "Err, what makes you think there's something going on?"
"I'm good at knowing these things."
Kagome looked ahead to Inuyasha. He seemed to not be listening to them, but she was not going to take any chances. Instead she leaned and whispered into Serena's ear, "Later. Inuyasha has amazing hearing."
Serena nodded.
"What's with you and Darien?" Kagome volleyed back with a cheshire grin, but Serena just shrugged. "There's nothing there?"
"All that's there is mutual… well, not dislike, but you definitely couldn't call us friends. We've been at each other's throats since the day we met, until we got here. We called a truce, so I guess now we're just staying away from each other."
"How did you guys meet then?"
Serena laughed in remembrance. "I had failed a test, and was so upset that while walking home I crumpled it up and threw it behind me. It landed on Darien's head. Of course he read it, and he called me a stupid Meatball Head, and the rest is history."
Kagome laughed. "So you guys see each other a lot then?"
"Yeah, we both hang out in the arcade that I sent you to. My friends and I like to hang out and talk and eat. Darien's best friend works there."
"The cute blonde?"
"Yup! That's Andrew. He's like a big brother to me."
"Big brother? I wouldn't be having sisterly thoughts towards him!"
"Well, I used to have a crush on him, but I don't anymore."
"So who's the new guy then?"
"Huh?" Serena blushed.
"A-ha! There is a new crush! Tell me about him."
"Well… all I can say is that he is mysterious, and is always there for me. He would never let anyone hurt me. And he's hot!"
The girls giggled. Kagome pressed further, but Serena would not divulge any more information. They ended up gripping about school for awhile. From there they gave each other an overview of what their families and friends were like. Then they talked about favorite TV shows, with Serena catching Kagome up on the shows she had missed while wandering around the Feudal Era. Eventually though a silence settled over them. After five minutes of neither talking, Kagome broached a tender subject.
"Serena?" Kagome asked gently.
"Yeah?"
"I just wanted to apologize for whatever it was that upset you last night."
"What do you mean?" she asked, genuinely confused.
"Well, you seemed almost, sad when you left the hut last night."
"Oh, it really wasn't your fault. It's just, when you said that you trusted your family with such a big secret, I thought… I felt… oh, I don't know!" Serena stammered in frustration.
"So there's a big secret you're keeping from your family, and it's starting to get to you," Kagome stated, rather than asked.
"Yeah," Serena said with a nod. "I feel guilty about it every second of the day, but I figure it's best just to not worry them." Kagome nodded in understanding. "Does your Mom know how much danger you get into over here?"
Kagome laughed nervously. "What makes you think I'm in danger?"
"I'm not stupid Kagome! You fight demons! Inuyasha is a good person, I can tell that, but I can also tell that he's lethal in a fight! I wouldn't want to go up against that kind of power, but that's what you do. Am I right?"
"Yeah. You're right. But I hope you know that you just inflated Inuyasha's already gigantic ego."
"I heard that, bitch!"
"SIT!"
WHAM!
The girls giggled, but Kagome soon got right to the point.
"This big secret of yours doesn't have the ability to hurt you does it?"
"No!" Serena squeaked out nervously.
"Serena!" Kagome stopped and forced the obviously lying girl to look at her. "If something dangerous is going on in your life you have to let someone know!"
Serena gave Kagome a confident smile. "Don't worry about me. My family may not know but some of my friends do. We're in it together and don't let anything happen to each other."
Kagome nodded. "That's how we are. But now you've really got me curious as to what you're involved in!"
Serena gave her an apologetic smile. "If it was just my secret to tell I would. Maybe someday."
The conversation went no further, for they came upon a clearing where Sango, Miroku, Shippou and Kirara waited for them.
"Get yourself into trouble, monk?" Inuyasha asked with a wicked grin.
"No, why do you ask?" Miroku answered back instantly. Everyone rolled their eyes, for he had bumps on his head and fading slap marks on his cheeks. They all knew who had dealt those out, for Sango looked very relieved to see them.
A fire was already blazing, and Kagome started right away in making Ramen. Once it was done and everyone was eating, Kagome asked the key question.
"So, any rumors?"
"Actually, yes. About two days from here there's a rumor of a snake demon that is unusually strong," Miroku answered.
"What do you think? Wandering demon or a minion of Naraku?" Kagome asked.
"Keh. Who knows?" Inuyasha said around a mouthful of Ramen.
"Yes, but we'll find out!" Sango promised.
"Err, who's Naraku?" Serena asked. She and Darien were sitting next to each other and had exchanged a confused glance at the name that brought such bitterness to Kagome's voice.
"It's a long story, but he's a half-demon that we very much want dead." Kagome explained. "Just consider him the ultimate evil."
Serena had to choke back a bitter laugh. They obviously did not know Beryl.
"You okay?" Darien asked.
"Fine," she squeaked out.
"All right, lets go," Inuyasha said, impatient to get on the way. Kagome rolled her eyes but got up anyways and put out the fire.
As they started to get going they fell along the path in pairs. Inuyasha and Kagome took the lead with Shippou on her shoulder. Miroku and Sango came behind with Kirara in Sango's arms. Last of all came Darien and Serena.
"Why aren't you back there with Serena?" Inuyasha asked with an attitude.
Kagome had to bite back a laugh. Normally she walked by Inuyasha, so when she had spent the morning talking to Serena he had gotten a bit jealous. "I want to give her some time with Darien."
"I thought they didn't like each other."
"I knew it! You were listening in!"
"Of course I wasn't wench! You saw them when we first met them, they were yelling at each other like, like…"
"Like you and Kagome normally do."
"SHUT UP MONK!"
Serena and Darien hung back a bit, watching the friends squabble.
"They remind me of you and your friends," Darien said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, you guys just aren't as violent."
Serena had to agree. By the time they were settled down Inuyasha had been sat twice, Miroku hit with Sango's boomerang and Shippou had his head bopped by Inuyasha.
"Uh, Darien… why didn't you have Kagome give a message to someone?"
He shrugged. "No one to give one to, I guess."
"Isn't anyone going to worry about you?"
"Andrew, maybe, but that's about it."
"Oh." She wanted to ask why, but decided it was best not to ask. If he wanted her to know, he would tell her.
They walked in silence, each lost to their own thoughts. So lost in thought were they that neither of them noticed the weasel demon sneaking up on them until it was upon them, literally.