Disclaimers: I will own the Inu-tachi tomorrow! Woot! It's legal! P Tomorrow! But today they still belong to Takahashi-sensei.

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Three Way Mirror
Chapter Eleven
I'll Just Stare In Wonder
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Previously:

Everyone's attention turned to InuYasha and Kagome. The two shared a long glance, and Kagome announced their decision.

"It's a chance we're willing to take."

-:-

Sesshoumaru paused to check the position of the sun and make sure they were heading in the right direction. According to Taiyo, Kiyoshi was heading east. He didn't like to leave his own territory of the west lands, but he was willing to go to extremes to prove his theory. Now, though, the group was joined by Jaken and Rin, who both rode on Ah-Un. He was glad to know they were all safe, but he could have done without the toad imp's constant muttering about traveling with riffraff.

"Oi, Sesshoumaru!" InuYasha called out, coming to a stop. Sesshoumaru paused and turned around to look at his younger brother, causing everyone following them to likewise halt. "Let's take a break, already. Everyone's getting tired." This caused Sesshoumaru to narrow his eyes in suspicion, but it was Jaken that voiced the question he found forming in his mouth.

"Why you-- you're likely the one that's tired, you pathetic excuse for a youkai!" the little attendant squealed. InuYasha looked about ready to punt the creature off a cliff, and Sesshoumaru found himself not caring in the least. Jaken was developing an awful habit of speaking his mind at the most inopportune moments. The green beast was just about to screech is irritating voice again, but Sesshoumaru beat him to it.

"There is a spring nearby," he said shortly. "It seems everyone is in need of some water."

Jaken was left sputtering out his shellshock as everyone calmly passed him by. Only when Kilalla's tails were out of sight did he blink himself out of his stupor and chase after them, crying for them to wait. He could easily identify Rin's giggle even from a distance.

When he finally caught up with the group, he found Rin and Shippo sitting on a flat boulder, playing a silly clapping game. Sango and Kagome were filling several bottles with water with the intention of saving them for later, and Miroku was promptly slapped when his hand "slipped" and came in contact with Sango's posterior. He nearly fell into the water, but managed to save himself at the last moment. No one could blame Sango for looking disappointed at his averted splash.

InuYasha looked almost too comfortable, kicking back between two large roots of a tree with his hands laced behind his head. Kagome joined him after a moment. Kouga was taking long gulps of water directly from the spring. Once Sango found a spot to relax, Kilalla was in her lap, being stroked leisurely.

Even Sesshoumaru seemed to be enjoying the break, though he stood somberly overlooking the water's rippling surface.

"Where were you and Jaken?" Shippo asked Rin, still playing the clapping game.

"When?" Rin replied with a smile.

"During the big fight with Naraku. Where were you and Jaken? I didn't see or smell you anywhere nearby."

Rin giggled, and fumbled with her hands for a moment. "Actually, Lord Jaken and I got lost. We didn't even know of the fight until it was all done!" The two burst out laughing, the game forgotten. InuYasha cracked one eye open to pin Jaken with a condescending look.

"You got lost?" he asked dryly. Jaken nearly dropped his staff in surprise to being spoken to by a hanyou.

"And I suppose you never get lost?" the imp fizzled. "Why, if I--"

"Jaken," Sesshoumaru said sharply, though not looking at the toad. "You would do well to stay your tongue. I will not tolerate your outbursts any longer. Do you understand?"

Eyes bugging out to an impossible size, Jaken could only stammer out, "Y-y-yes, Lord Sesshoumaru, sir! I-i-it won't ever happen a-again!"

"See to it that it doesn't."

--

"She's near," Riku announced, glancing around and scenting the air. "Very near."

"You said that at least an hour ago," Miroku complained, leaning heavily on his staff. It was already getting dark, and they had been walking almost the entire day. Having Sesshoumaru lead prove to be less... enjoyable... as with InuYasha. The youkai lord spurred them on faster than the younger of the two, and allowed less frequent stops. The water that Sango and Kagome had bottled was already gone, and they would have to find more if they were to eat that night, unless someone wanted to go hunting.

It was also frustrating to have Kouga traveling with them, as well. Whenever he tried to make a pass at Sango, Kouga would growl and call him a lecher, and Sango would give him an icy glare before speeding up to walk by Kagome and InuYasha. The two didn't mind at all. In fact, they seemed almost shy with each other since the marking. Miroku supposed this was to be expected, but he had at least expected them to hold hands or kiss or--

"Let's stop!" Shippo interrupted his thoughts before he could even wonder why Sango kept slowing down to walk beside him instead of within the safety of someone else, or why Kouga seemed nobler now that he'd lost his chance with Kagome. "I wanna go to sleep!" Shippo whined, hopping from InuYasha's shoulder to Kagome's and back.

'At least he isn't devastated because InuYasha is now basically his adoptive father,' Miroku thought to himself, noticing that Sango was again walking alongside him. In noticing this, he nearly missed seeing InuYasha move to swipe at Shippo, and his sleeve move enough to reveal his and Kagome's laced fingers. Sango met his glance, telling him that she had noticed, too, and was happy for them.

"We stop here," Sesshoumaru announced, glaring at Riku and daring him to argue. The shapeshifter boy backed down, slumping against the trunk of a tree.

Jaken reluctantly helped Rin off Ah-Un. It was then Miroku noticed that the imp had been strangely silent since Sesshoumaru had spoken to him. Judging from the look Kouga was giving him, he noticed, too.

Unfortunately for the toad youkai, Kouga decided to "experiment." After he had tethered the dragon-like steed, Kouga approached him. Jaken spun around to glare at him, clutching his Staff of Heads in what the wolf guessed was supposed to be a threatening way. It had no effect.

Without warning, Kouga kicked the youkai in the head, knocking him off his feet. Other than a loud, drawn out "Gehhhhhh!!" there was no reply. Jaken just got back on his feet, looking as if he was going to say something, then abruptly turned tail and shuffled off to find a safe place to sleep. Kouga blinked in astonishment that he wasn't deaf. 'But then again,' he thought, 'I am a full youkai... maybe I could get the monk to kick the little monstrosity around a bit.' This thought was accompanied by a sidelong glance to the monk in question, who was completely oblivious to the action, too preoccupied with watching Sango's ass.

"Kouga, what're you doing?" Kagome sighed, startling the youkai, and causing him to jump.

"Uhh..." he fumbled.

"Better question," InuYasha said in a flat tone. "Why are you following us in the first place?"

Now that was a question he could answer. He assumed what he hoped was a casual stance, and shrugged. "Why else?" he countered. "You find all the good bitches."

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Yes, I'm cutting off here. Keep in mind they're still traveling. And I'm aware I said the Efáyêth stuff would be in this chapter or the next. I promise it will be in the next chapter. I don't know if you'll get to meet Kiyoshi in the next chapter or not.

Eh, we'll burn that bridge when we come to it, right?

Right.

Oh, boy, I've read too much of the Myth Adventures books.....

Ja ne, minna-san.