Ryuuookami 3 / Re-write

A/N: ARGH! I had to write this whole chapter! My stupid floppy ate the original. Grrrrr.... That's ok though, this second version is way better that the first. Hmmm!

'Speech' – "Thoughts"

[Kagura]

Kagura flew south on her feather boat towards the village where her brother, Juuroumaru stayed with his mate, Tenshi. Since her plan with Rin failed Juuroumaru was her only hope now. Kagura still couldn't figure out how the little girl had escaped, she must have had help.....but who? Kagura pushed the issue aside, no use worrying about it now, Juuroumaru's village was coming into view.

[Juuroumaru]

Juuroumaru lay comfortable in his favorite tree, his mate settled in his lap resting after her lesson with Yama. Tenshi of late had been learning Yama's ways, healing, herbs, cooking, fighting, and the like. She had also been helping Juuroumaru with his speech and to get along with the villagers. Life was good for this ex-reincarnate of Naraku. Juuroumaru tilted his head to the right and caught the sent of someone familiar. "Kagura. What does she want?" Juuroumaru opened his eyes and stared into the distance trying to find the intruder. In the distance he could spot her on her feather boat flying towards him. Juuroumaru growled which caused Tenshi to stir from her nap.

'Mmmm. What's the matter, Juuroumaru?' She asked sleepily not bothering to open her eyes.

'It seems Kagura has come for a visit.' Juuroumaru replied never taking his eyes off of the approaching youkai.

'Hmmm?' Tenshi opened her eyes and turned to look where he was looking. 'Oh. I wonder what she wants.'

Juuroumaru growled. 'Now, now Juuroumaru. At least hear her out before you start maiming.'

Juuroumaru huffed and grumbled a bit but held his ground, or branch really, when Kagura landed.

'Yo.'

'What do you want?' Juuroumaru asked.

'I need your help with Naraku. He's taken Kanna and fled.' Kagura replied.

Juuroumaru snorted. 'So? Go get her back.'

Kagura growled. 'I need help! I've tried doing it alone, it's no use. You can defeat Naraku. Will you not help your own sisters?'

Juuroumaru glared at a tree opposite him. 'What makes you think I want anything to do with you? I don't consider you my family.'

Kagura bristled. "How dare he! Were the closet thing to family he has! Does he not wish Naraku dead?"

Tenshi sat quietly on Juuroumaru's lap watching the two. "What if....?" 'Kagura? Do you know where Naraku is?'

Kagura looked slightly surprised as did Juuroumaru when Tenshi spoke up. 'No.' She answered carefully. 'But he shouldn't be to hard to find.'

'If that were true Inuyasha would have found him long ago.' Tenshi remarked.

Juuroumaru smirked. Kagura huffed. 'They don't know Naraku. I know where he would most likely be.'

'And where is that?' Juuroumaru questioned.

Kagura looked about ready to scream. 'Are you going to help me, your older sister, or not?! Don't tell me your afraid of Naraku!'

Juuroumaru snarled and leapt down from his perch, gently setting Tenshi down behind him and stomped over to Kagura who started to back away from him, slight fear in her eyes. Juuroumaru grabbed her by the throat and hoisted her into the air. 'Don't you ever call me a coward! I don't fear that bastard!'

Tenshi walked forward and grabbed his arm. 'Calm down, Juuroumaru. Temper, temper.'

Juuroumaru slowly set Kagura back down on the ground. Kagura glared at him and straightened her kimono.

'Juuroumaru.' Tenshi said slowly and carefully. 'What if Naraku decides to come back here for you?'

Kagura took advantage of this. 'Yes, you don't really think that Naraku will let you go do you? Your such an asset to him.'

Juuroumaru snarled. 'But I don't want to leave here! This is my home! I have a new life, I want nothing to do with Naraku!'

'Then kill him! For that is the only way your going to be free of him!' Kagura yelled back.

Tenshi rubbed her forehead. (sigh)

[Yasha & Co.]

It was afternoon the next day, Sesshoumaru had returned earlier with Jaken & Ah-Un and they were traveling eastward again. Half searching for the jewel shards and half for Akugi's village. Soon they stopped by a stream to rest, get water and have lunch. Sango fetched water, Kagome prepared lunch, Miroku got wood, Inuyasha kept watch, Ah-Un grazed, Sesshoumaru found a quiet place away from everyone, Jaken was assigned baby-sitter duty by Sesshoumaru and Akugi, Shippo, Rin & Kirara played.

While the children engaged in a game of tag, Jaken sat grumbling under a near by tree. 'Why or why does Lord Sesshoumaru-sama make me watch these pests? I could be doing much more important things! (sigh) That brat.' Jaken glared. 'What is it about her that Lord Sesshoumaru likes so much? How can Lord Sesshoumaru, hater of humans, like the brat of a girl. She's not of any use, all she does is play and pick those silly flowers! And she expects Lord Sesshoumaru to like them! Ha! Hm...' Jaken narrowed his eyes thinking. 'Perhaps she's put a spell on him. Yes! Some silly human spell. No. Wait. Lord Sesshoumaru under a spell? That cannot be possible! Lord Sesshoumaru is to strong. Hmm... I wonder what that stupid girl did to him when he was injured. Hmmm... Perhaps she placed her spell on him while he was weakened! And Lord Sesshoumaru simply does not know of it. Yes! That's it! That is what that stupid girl has done! Ha! She thought I would not figure it out!'

(Stupid Jaken, eh?)

Rin sat a few feet away trying to catch her breath from the game of tag and had overheard Jaken's ranting. She sniffed trying to keep back the tears. Is that what Jaken really thought? She knew that he didn't really care for her, but to think that the little imp thought she had placed a spell on her Lord! Absurd! Rin stood up and glanced over to where her friends still played tag, unknowing that she was upset, and walked off a little ways down the stream. She needed to think.

Akugi fell to the ground exhausted, Shippo and Kirara did the same. 'Hey.' Said Shippo looking around suddenly. 'Where's Rin?'

Akugi's head shot up and he to scanned his surroundings but could not see Rin anywhere. Sniffing the air, he couldn't pick up her scent either. (Explain: She's downwind.) 'Uh, oh.' He said standing. 'We've lost Rin!' He looked over to where Jaken was dozing under a tree, Akugi stomped over and kicked the imp awake. 'Hey! Where'd Rin go?'

Jaken glared at him. 'How should I know, baka koinu!'

Akugi growled. 'Baka, imp.' Akugi turned away with a wicked smile on his face. 'Come on Shippo, Kirara! Let's go get Lord Sesshoumaru!'

'Ack! No!' But it was to late, the three had already taken off leaving Jaken behind.

'Lord Sesshoumaru!'

Said youkai cracked one eye open to see Akugi, Shippo & Kirara running towards him. 'We've lost Rin!'

Sesshoumaru opened the other eye. 'Pardon?'

Akugi plopped down beside the taiyoukai. 'We.....lost.....Rin. We were playin tag and then she wasn't there anymore.'

'Where's Jaken?'

'He was snoozing.'

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes and stood up strolling towards where they had been playing, and met a huffing and puffing Jaken half way. 'Tis all lies, my lord!' Jaken cried throwing himself on the ground. 'It's not my fault that stupid human got lost!' Sesshoumaru growled quietly and Jaken's face and body met a near-by tree, Jaken slid to the ground unconscious. Sesshoumaru stopped where they had been playing and sniffed the air, it was faint and downwind but he could make out a human scent that resembled Rin's. He headed in that direction.

'Should we follow him?' Shippo asked. Akugi was about to reply when his stomach growled. 'Nah, let's go eat.' They turned and headed back to the others.

Sesshoumaru found Rin sitting on a small fallen log her back to him, he could also hear her sniffling and smell tears. 'Rin.' Rin jumped a little and turned to see him standing behind her, she quickly wiped away her tears and came over to him pasting a smile on her face. 'Hai, Lord Sesshoumaru?'

'Why are you crying?'

Rin looked down at the ground and nudged it with her toe. 'Does Lord Sesshoumaru think that I put a spell on him to make him like me?'

Sesshoumaru blinked. 'Nani?'

Rin looked up. 'Jaken thinks that Rin put a spell on you to like Rin, cause you hate humans and he doesn't know why you like this ningen.'

'Pay no mind to Jaken, he knows not what he babbles on about. Now come.' Sesshoumaru turned and started walking back to the camp. Rin smiled. "He does like me! Shukun Sesshoumaru is right, baka Jaken doesn't know what he's talking about." Rin scampered after him and when she caught up took hold of his hand. Sesshoumaru allowed this until camp was in sight and then pulled away. Rin sat happily between Akugi and Kagome eating her lunch and didn't pay Jaken any mind the rest of the day.

Japanese:

Ningen: Human – Nani: What? – Shukun: Lord – Baka: Idiot – Hai: Yes – Koinu: Puppy – Taiyoukai: High Demon.