A/N: Wheeeee!!! After this chapter, we've got only 5 chappies to go! I know, it's ending too soon...but take comfort in the fact that there's a sequel...well, who've we got for the next disclaimer? Ah, Onigumo! Go for it Onigumo! But before we do that, I SAW THE SECOND INUYASHA MOVIE!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! I ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE IT! I've actually seen it twice, and I love it to death...I was so happy...I think it's the best movie in the world!!! Ok, Onigumo, go ahead...
Onigumo: Aki doesn't own Inuyasha. So all of you lawyers please, leave her alone already...
Me: Why do I keep having images of you saying that with a Jamaican accent?
Onigumo: I don't know, but please, can I finish?
Me: Sure!
Onigumo: So everyone, be sure to super-glue your eyes in for yet another, excruciatingly long chapter! You see, Aki was not joking when she said longer chapters...do you believe now?! Do you?! Do you?! Now you will suffer her wrath-
Me: Umm...you're kind of freaking everyone out...go away and play tag with Naraku or something...Anyway, let's answer my reviewers...Dragon Man 180, Yeah, that's what she was doing. I couldn't resist...the part of my brain that put ideas for "Inuyasha Driven Into Insanity" just slipped out, and before I knew it, Mei doing Gai and Lee's pose just got in there. Yeah, the ofuda thing was Sesshy and Lina getting locked in the room together for a week. Yay! I can use it! I'll try to put as much Jaken-bashing opportunities in this chapter. I hope you like it! Angie, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Sorry about the long delay...school is full of homework youkai...they're just out there...waiting...just waiting to attack you. Riku-Of-Darkness, lol you're so dramatic! Just kidding...thank you! Am I really that good? I didn't think I was...or am...Yeah, I know I'm evil...Ch. 39 was 10,575 words exactly...but I'm glad it was worth it. And I'm glad you made it. I don't mind if it lacks detail. I enjoyed writing it very much. I hope you enjoy this hopefully shorter chapter! lil'killer(), Thank you for your nice comments! Ok, I'll work on the Jaken-bashing...and this chapter will be fluffy, but it'll end so it can have Ch. 41 be dedicated more to action. And blood and gore...all that good stuff...And now while I quickly recompose myself from the excitement of seeing the second movie, "Castle Beyond the Looking Glass", I give you Chapter Forty!!!
Chapter Forty: The Ofuda Trap, Hot Springs, and Unwelcome Guests
It had been a while since Mei Lhi, Kagome, and Sango had finished their breakfasts. Mei Lhi sighed as another ridiculous idea for their little 'match maker' game as Kagome called it was brought up.
"So does anyone have a sensible idea?" She asked, rubbing her forehead.
Sango and Kagome sighed in unison.
"Well, we've been making up the ideas...why don't you try to come up with one, Mei-chan?" Kagome suggested.
Mei Lhi looked to the two girls.
"You're kidding, right?"
The miko and taijiya shook their heads.
"Oh alright...but we'll have to borrow the oh-lecherous-one..."
Sango and Kagome looked at her quizzically.
"Where exactly are you going with this?" Sango asked.
"Basically, we just convince Hentai Houshi-I mean, Miroku- to 'accidentally' place a really powerful ofuda on the door of one of the rooms in this place while Hana-chan and Sesshoumaru are in it at the same time..."
Sango and Kagome clasped their hands together, their eyes sparkling.
"Brilliant idea!" Kagome commented.
"Yes, I agree!" Sango said.
"Well...where's the monk?" Mei Lhi asked.
"Don't know..." Sango admitted. "Let's go find him..."
The three got up, and headed back inside, looking for Miroku.
-
Miroku was walking around the castle courtyard, Shippou on his shoulder. His staff jingled with each step he took.
"Shippou, can you keep a secret?" The monk said suddenly.
"Um, sure...I guess...what kind of secret?" Shippou asked.
"Lately, I realize that my thoughts are filled with a certain woman-I'm sorry Shippou, I shouldn't be telling you such things...you're still a child...forget it...I didn't say anything..."
"That woman wouldn't happen to be Sango, would it?"
Miroku sweat dropped.
"W-what gives you that idea...?"
"It's the way your hand is twitching as you talk..."
The houshi laughed nervously.
"I don't know what you're talking about..."
"Houshi-sama!" Sango's voice called.
Miroku turned to face the taijiya, and noticed that Kagome and Mei Lhi were with her.
"H-hai, Sango?" He replied.
"Can we borrow you for a bit?" Mei Lhi asked.
"Umm...alright...Shippou, perhaps you could find Jaken or Inuyasha and spend time with them, ne?"
"Fine..." Shippou grumbled.
The kitsune leapt off Miroku's shoulder and ran off.
"Ok, now you may or may not have noticed, but Hana seems to like Sesshoumaru...a lot. And it looks like Sesshoumaru might like her too. So we need to borrow you for our evil scheme to put them together." Mei Lhi explained.
Miroku nodded.
"Hai, I understand. What is it that I should do?"
"It was Mei-chan's idea that you will 'accidentally' put a very powerful ofuda or sutra on a door of a room that we'll work together to get the two of them alone in. So...do you think you can do that?" Kagome replied.
"It sounds simple enough...perhaps we should go and discuss this plan in further detail, and perhaps I could hear more about Hana-sama's fondness for Sesshoumaru..."
The girls nodded, the four of them returning to their spot under the tree to talk.
-
Hana and Rin had been sleeping for a while now, several hours in fact.
Rin still slept in Hana's arms, the two perfectly resembling a mother and daughter.
Kyo opened the door, holding their dinners on a tray, smiling at the sight, setting the food down on a table, and going to shake them awake.
"Hana-chan, Rin, wake up. I brought your food." He said.
Hana's eyes opened, and she gently woke Rin.
While they ate, Kyo told them something important.
"Hana-chan, Hinoki-sama will want to see you before we leave..." He said.
"How long are we staying?" Hana asked.
"At least two to three days. Hinoki-sama will be telling you and Rin about many things, now that you're both youkai. But that's not why she wants to see you...something about a special rosary that conceals your appearance..."
"I see..."
They finished eating, and Kyo prepared to leave.
"Well...I'm pretty tired...um...my room is two floors up, go all the way down the hall, make a left, and I'm the sixth door on the right. But feel free to ask anyone for directions...I was talking to Megumi -and her room in on my floor, by the way- anyway, she said she'd help you find me if you get lost...Hinoki-sama is also looking out for you. So anyway, give a yell if you need anything...get some more rest...I'm sure you need it..." He said.
With that, he left Hana and Rin alone.
The two went back to sleep, Rin in Hana's arms once more.
-
"In order for us to get them in a room together, we may need Koji's help to point out an equally large room to lock them in. Plus, Jaken is going to have to be kept occupied. I think we could leave that to Shippou, Rin, and Aun." Miroku said, after hearing about the situation.
"Then perhaps we should go look for Sesshoumaru and Hana?" Sango asked.
"Hai, but we'll have to speak to Koji, Shippou, Rin, and Aun."
"Aun is a dragon..." Mei Lhi pointed out.
"But that doesn't mean he won't understand what we're saying."
"True, true..."
"We must first talk with the others, then locate Sesshoumaru and Hana-sama, and you'll use your creative minds to get them in a room together, and finally, I shall place an ofuda on the door to seal them in, which Hana-sama may be able to reverse...so this plan has a small success rate..." The monk continued.
"So what if it doesn't break?" Kagome asked.
"It means she has chosen not to break it, or she has youkai blood and is unable to get close enough to break it. Of course, that's highly unlikely, and she most likely will break the spell on the ofuda."
"Well, even if it doesn't work, it still would've been fun to have planned it all out, right?"
"Yeah." The others agreed.
"Then let's begin...we shall go find Koji, Rin, and all the others..." Miroku said.
The girls had a mischievous gleam in each of their eyes.
"YEAAAAH!" They yelled together triumphantly.
The three of them set off, dragging the monk behind them.
But unknown to all four of them, a figure clad in red had been sitting in the branches of that same tree that the girls and Miroku had sat under discussing their plans. Once the four were out of earshot, Inuyasha fell out of the tree laughing. It had taken nearly all of his will power to not start laughing the moment he had heard about his half-brother and Hana having feelings for one another.
The half-demon was laughing so hard that he didn't even notice when someone snuck up on him.
"...tell me...what is so funny, Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru asked.
Inuyasha paused for a moment, staring at Sesshoumaru, and started laughing again, finally composing himself.
"It's you that's so funny Sesshoumaru!" He said with a smirk.
"Oh? And why...is that?"
"Because...a little bird told me-well, I heard a little bird telling someone else that you're in love with Hana-baba!"
Sesshoumaru's eyebrows narrowed slightly. Inuyasha surveyed his half-brother's reaction, laughing again.
"It's true, isn't it?!"
"...this Sesshoumaru has no idea what it is you speak of, Inuyasha..."
"Liar! You know it's true! You're just to stuck-up to admit anything! Besides, 'The Great Sesshoumaru can't get involved with humans or be overcome with pathetic human emotions.'"
Smack! Bam! Clunk!
The top of Inuyasha's head was incredibly sore, three bumps swelling up.
Sesshoumaru's right hand was still closed into a fist, his left now rubbing his forehead.
Inuyasha observed the two hands.
"Since when did you get a new arm?" The hanyou asked curiously.
"That is none of your concern...neither is anything else that does not concern you..." Sesshoumaru replied flatly, walking away.
-
And so, hours whiled away, the scheming group learned from Sesshoumaru and Koji that Hana, Kyo, and Rin had left that morning for a short trip and would be returning in a few days. So unfortunately, for them, their plan couldn't go into effect just yet. But that didn't stop them from getting Shippou, Aun, and Koji to help their cause.
A day went by, many planning the match-up over in the Western Lands, while Hana and Rin adjusted to their youkai powers in the Northern Lands.
Another day passed, preparations for the plan were just about done, while Hana and Rin were preparing to leave. The two were in the throne room, visiting Hinoki for the last time.
"Here, take these..." Hinoki said, holding out two beaded bracelets.
The two of them took a bracelet, looking to Hinoki wondering what their purpose was.
"These bracelets will conceal your youkai form. You will appear as you did when you first arrived. But if you take the bracelet off, your youkai form will be revealed. I think you're ready to return now...however, if there is something that concerns you in the future, please, do not hesitate to visit and receive counsel."
Hana and Rin nodded, putting the bracelets on, turned to leave the throne room, their youkai forms now concealed.
Kyo waited for them outside the room.
"You ready to go back now?" He asked.
"Hai, we are." Hana replied.
"Alright...then let's get on our way..."
They walked down the long winding corridor, and into the large hall they had entered through when they had first arrived, walking to the doors at the end of the room that led outside.
Upon stepping on the platform, Kyo transformed, Hana and Rin climbing on his back. Once the two were settled, the Ryuuyoukai took off instantly, heading back to the Western Lands.
-
Sesshoumaru's castle came into view, and soon Kyo landed, the sun was starting to sink below the horizon, everyone bathing in the golden light, except for Sesshoumaru, who still remained in his study.
Mei Lhi looked up and excitedly dropped the book she had been reading from Kagome's time.
"Kagome-chan! Sango-chan! Miroku! Koji! Shippou-chan! They're back!" She called.
All of the others looked up as their names were called. They followed the hanyou girl as she ran over to where Hana and Rin stood with Kyo standing next to them.
"Koji...is the room ready?" Sango whispered to the servant.
Koji nodded.
"Shippou, inform Rin of the plan. Then on Mei Lhi's signal, be prepared to keep Jaken occupied..." Miroku muttered from the corner of his mouth to the kitsune on his shoulder.
Shippou looked determined, and nodded in understanding.
"Rin! Come with me! Let's play!" Shippou said excitedly.
Rin smiled and followed the kitsune as he jumped from the monk's shoulder and ran off.
"Miroku-sama, do you have the ofuda?" Kagome asked quietly.
"Hai, it's here in my robes..." He replied.
Hana and Kyo looked at them all suspiciously.
"What's all the whispering about? And not even a 'hello' or 'welcome back'...did someone die or something?" Kyo pondered.
"Kyoshi-kun..." Mei Lhi began, trying to look for a good lie.
She noticed the third circle on his forehead.
"We were talking about how it seems you've gained a rank...and no, no one died...we're just really surprised to see the new youkai marking..." She finished, looking innocent and sounding as honest as possible.
She prayed that he'd fall for it, which he did. Hana fell for it too.
The door slid open, Sesshoumaru stepping outside. He walked toward them, stopping before Hana.
"Hanajima-san...you have returned..." He said.
"Sesshoumaru-sama...I have kept Rin-chan safe...she is off playing with Shippou right now, I believe..." She replied.
The inuyoukai turned to Kyo.
"...this Sesshoumaru received a gift...according to Hinoki of the Ryuu Clan, she informed this Sesshoumaru that my second arm was from you...I thank you, Kaze no ryuu..."
"You're welcome, Sesshoumaru...and as for the two other gifts, you'll get them soon, I'm sure..." Kyo responded.
Everyone other than Kyo, Sesshoumaru, and Hana were confused. They shrugged their shoulders, and went off, springing their plan into action.
-
"Ok, we're going to wait about an hour or so, and then, I'll go into Sesshoumaru's study and say that Hana wants to talk to him. Then Kagome, Sango, you two will tell Hana that Sesshoumaru wants to talk to her. And we'll lead them to the room which you prepared, Koji. And once they're in there alone together, Miroku, you're going to be carrying a big armful of scrolls and books, and Sesshoumaru will have to see you carrying them, and once he's inside, and Hana should be in there already, Koji, you'll shut the door, and Miroku, you'll use the ofuda. Now, Shippou, Rin, you'll have to keep Jaken busy. Go to where Aun is kept and just do what you want...make shish kabobs out of him or something, I don't care. So any questions?" Mei Lhi explained.
All of them shook their heads and nodded in understanding, a determined gleam in each of their eyes. They split up, going to their posts that they had agreed on.
-
One hour later...
Mei Lhi knocked on the door that led to the study.
"...enter..." came Sesshoumaru's reply.
"Hey Sesshoumaru, um, Hana-chan wants to speak with you...but it's like a private conversation I guess so she's requested a room for you two to talk...so um, if you could follow me, I'll take you...I'm sure that you won't mind being pulled away from work for a little bit..." The hanyou girl said.
The taiyoukai nodded, letting Mei Lhi lead the way.
-
"Hana-chan!" Kagome called.
Hana looked up.
"Hai, Kagome-chan?" She asked.
"Sesshoumaru wishes to speak with you." Sango said.
"Oh? Does he?" Hana wondered aloud curiously, raising an eyebrow in a very Sesshoumaru-like way.
"Yeah, and he wants to speak with you in private, so if you'll follow us, we'll show you the room...but let's get there quickly so that way we won't have to keep him waiting..." Kagome replied.
Hana nodded, following the taijiya and young miko.
-
"Jaken-sama!" Rin called.
Jaken ignored the girl.
"Jaken-sama!" Rin said again, sounding somewhat more impatient.
The toad youkai still ignored her.
"JAKEN-SAMA!"
Jaken turned, wincing painfully.
"Hai, Rin, what is it?!" He asked irritably.
"Can you play with me and Shippou?"
"No. Go ask someone else..."
"But Jaken-sama! You know that Sesshoumaru-sama will be mad at you if you're not nice to me!"
Jaken sighed, shouldering the Staff of Heads.
"Fine...but only for Sesshoumaru-sama..."
Shippou and Rin led Jaken to the stable where Aun rested comfortably.
"What game shall we play, Rin?" Shippou asked.
"Hmmm...a new game...how about Toady-Fry?" Rin replied.
"Yeah!"
"Jaken-sama, do you want to play Toady-Fry with us?"
Jaken sighed.
"Fine, Rin, we'll play Toady-Fry..." He said.
"Ok Shippou, you heard him!" Rin exclaimed excitedly.
Shippou had a mischievous gleam in his eyes as blue-green fire gathered in his hand.
"KITSUNE BI!" He yelled.
Only then did the toad youkai just realize what kind of game he had agreed to. The children were going to torture him. With this revelation, he began to run for it.
Shippou's foxfire caught up with him and burned him before he could get very far.
Rin took the Staff of Heads, gave it to Aun who tossed it out of the stable, across the courtyard, and into the koi pond.
Jaken yelled in anguish seeing the staff be so carelessly tossed aside.
"We'll play the next segment of our game...Toady-Fly!" Shippou announced with a grin.
Aun stepped forward, and Shippou attached Jaken to Aun's leg.
"Go for it, Aun!" The kitsune said eagerly.
Aun spread its wings and walked out of the stable, dragging Jaken behind, the toad youkai's head hitting rocks that were in the ground. Aun took flight, making quick, wide, turns. Jaken slammed into trees, tree branches, the castle walls, pretty much anything that was big, solid, and harmful to the toad youkai who was suspended upside down in the air.
When Aun returned, Rin detached Jaken from Aun's leg, Shippou setting up wood for a fire.
"Jaken-sama, we're done playing now...we're going to eat now..." Rin said.
"Aun, the food is you light the fire?" Shippou asked.
Aun nodded its scaly head and opened its mouth wide, a powerful energy coming forth, igniting the wood, and Jaken too.
After that, Jaken fell unconscious.
"Should we help him?" Rin asked.
Aun shook its head.
"Nah! Leave him. Let's poke him with sticks or something..." Shippou answered.
The two children picked up small fallen tree branches, poking the roasted and badly bruised toad youkai mercilessly.
-
Hana reached the room, Kagome and Sango quickly leaving to signal Miroku. The houshi walked forward, carrying an armful of scrolls and books. Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Miroku began walking, but when Sesshoumaru appeared with Mei Lhi, he politely stopped and let the taiyoukai walk ahead.
Mei Lhi showed Sesshoumaru into the room, and closed the door, Miroku stood by the door and then faked that he had tripped, and placed the ofuda on the door.
"Houshi-sama! Are you alright?" Sango asked with perfectly acted concern.
"Hai, I'm fine...but...oh no..." Miroku began, his gaze drifting over to the door.
"What's wrong?" Kagome and Mei Lhi asked.
"I must've accidentally placed an ofuda on that door when I fell! Hana-sama and Sesshoumaru-sama are in there! And that ofuda is one of my most powerful! It works on the entire room, preventing anyone from leaving through the doors or windows." The monk explained.
"So how long are we stuck here, Miroku-sama?" Hana asked from inside, sounding annoyed.
"Most likely a week. It depends...it could be more or less...but the average effect is a week." Miroku replied.
-
Sesshoumaru listened in silence, turning to face the miko.
"What was it that you wished to speak of that was so urgent that you sent for this Sesshoumaru?" He asked.
"Nani?! I was told that you sent for me because you wanted to discuss something important with me!" Hana said, surprised.
Nervous laughing was heard on the other side of the door.
Hana's expression darkened, realizing what had just happened.
"I swear I'll kill you all personally once I'm out of here!" She yelled at them.
Her miko aura sparked as she walked closer to the door. She reached out a hand to touch the door, feeling a painful shock in her fingertips.
'That's strange...' She thought.
Her aura increased around her. She touched the door, an incredibly painful shock running up her arm and into her entire body. The abruptness of the shock threw her backwards several feet.
'I...don't understand...it's rejecting me...I should be immune to its effects!'
She had landed on her back, before Sesshoumaru's feet.
"...Hanajima-san, are you injured?" He asked.
"No...I'm fine, Sesshoumaru-sama..." She answered.
'I should be able to break the ofuda spell...it'd only reject me if I had youkai bl-Damn. That's why...'
She sighed. She really was stuck here for a week and there was nothing she could do about it. Except take revenge on those who had planned it.
-
"That's very strange..." Miroku said.
"What is?" Sango replied.
"The fact that Hana-chan's miko aura grew around her to break the ofuda, but she was repelled." Mei Lhi answered.
"You sensed it too, then Mei Lhi?" Miroku asked.
Mei Lhi nodded.
"Yeah...it was really weird. I could feel her miko energy on the other side of the door, but when she touched it, I don't know if I imagined it or not or maybe got confused since Sesshoumaru's in there too, but I sensed a youki coming from Hana-chan. It was only for a moment, and then it was gone..."
All of them exchanged curious glances.
"I think it's time we gave Kyoshi-kun a visit..." Mei Lhi concluded.
All nodded and they walked away from the room, searching for the Ryuuyoukai.
-
Hana got back on her feet and sighed.
'I can't believe them...they set this up...I don't think I'll ever believe that they could do such a thing...'
'Well guess what? They did!' The little voice answered.
'Oh...you again...what do you want?'
'This is your chance! You wanted a chance to have Sesshoumaru acknowledge you. You became youkai for him. Well now's your chance to for him to fall in love with you!'
'And how exactly, do you suggest I do that?'
'Show him how you really look now, duh!'
'You're sounding very childish...'
'You're acting very childish so you've got no reason to say that.'
'For Kami's sake! Will you go away so I can do things my own way and not by your suggestions?!'
'Fine! But I won't be back! Only if you apologize and be nice to me!'
'Fine. Now please leave so I may continue to live in peace!'
'Alright...I see how it is...'
'Why you-!'
"...Hanajima-san?" Sesshoumaru interrupted.
"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama?" The miko replied.
"...you seem distracted..."
"...I'm thinking...or fighting with myself, rather..."
Hana laughed nervously.
-
Many days went on like that. Hana and Sesshoumaru spent most of it conversing, learning more and more about the other. Together they would pass the time by planning the demises of those who had locked them in the room. Other times, they would sit quietly and think. But on the night of the day before the week was up, the little voice in Hana's head had returned, and was very insistent this time.
'Tell him!'
'How about...no?'
'Do it! Tell him the truth!'
'No!'
'Tell him the truth, damn it! Or are you a coward? Eh, Hana?'
'I am not a coward! I'll show you!'
'Then what're you waiting for? Prove me wrong!'
"Sesshoumaru-sama...there is something I think I should tell you..." Hana said.
Sesshoumaru looked her in the eyes, waiting for her to continue.
"You remember the two gifts left, right?"
The taiyoukai nodded.
Hana's fingers found the beaded bracelet and slowly pulled it off.
"This is the second gift..."
Sesshoumaru's eyebrow rose a little more than usual.
"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama...my request, which I voiced to Hinoki-sama, was to become a full inuyoukai, so that way...I...so I could...be with you..."
"...nani?"
"Sesshoumaru-sama...it's been inside me all this time...I think...when I sought you out, it was when it happened...it was when I...when this feeling started to grow...and then, when you saved my life the first time, it grew even more...but when I decided to protect you...the feeling...it grew too much, it was unbearable...and so...I couldn't bear to see you hurt...I decided your life was far more valuable than my own...but you thought otherwise...and when you revived me...I...must've known for certain then...even though I didn't want to admit it...I...I fell in love with you, Sesshoumaru-sama..."
"...sou ka...this is the real reason...why you saved this Sesshoumaru's life...?"
Hana nodded.
A small smile graced his lips as if he had just come to understand something.
"...Hanajima-san...did you know...that something had always drawn this Sesshoumaru to you? Chichiue seems to be trying to choose something...for this Sesshoumaru...when you were in danger, Tenseiga would awaken..."
Hana's eyes widened.
"...the first time it happened...was when you had asked me to take you to Kikyo...I had drawn the blade, and do you know what this Sesshoumaru saw...?"
Hana shook her head.
"...I saw you, Hanajima-san...
"Me...?"
"...the second time...when you had been killed...Tenseiga called to me, as it had for Rin...Chichiue again made another decision...but it was my decision to follow through with what Chichiue had decided..."
"Sesshoumaru-sama..."
Hana reached out her hand to him, as if trying to touch his face. Sesshoumaru's hand shot out clasped over her own, he stared into her eyes intently, as if hoping to find an answer he had been searching for, lost in her kind eyes.
"...Hanajima-san..."
"H-Hai?"
"...you have changed this Sesshoumaru...never before did this Sesshoumaru feel anything for anyone after Chichiue's death...somehow, it was you, Hanajima-san, you were the one, that had the power to break through this emotionless lie that I become everyday...you were the one that was able to see through it...and it seems, it is you that Chichiue wishes this Sesshoumaru is to become acquainted with...Hanajima-san, deep within, past the layers of suppressed emotion, there is something there that I, Sesshoumaru, cannot ignore...it is a feeling...a feeling for you. And it is there, whether this Sesshoumaru wants it to be or not..."
Hana gasped with surprise.
The arm that Sesshoumaru still held in his hand was now being lightly pulled forward, bringing Hana closer to the inuyoukai.
Sesshoumaru's other hand crept up to her face, and tilted her chin upward. His golden stare locked with her eyes, the starlight from outside illuminating the golden pools, which now held small traces of emotion. He stepped closer to her, she did the same, the two of them closing the small gap between themselves.
They stayed silent for a while, just enjoying reading the other's emotions, gazing deeply into one another's eyes. They leant forward, meeting in the middle, sharing an innocent, yet gentle, first kiss.
When they parted, the taiyoukai said a few words. The words never did truly reach Hana's ears, nor did they truly penetrate her thoughts. It was that final night where the two of them joined and became one, reaching a secret paradise created just for the two of them to share together.
-
Inuyasha sat outside in the Sakura tree, sighing with boredom. Kagome had disappeared with Sango and Mei Lhi, Miroku trailing behind them quite a while ago and hadn't returned. The moonlight caught a glint of gold metal near where his matagama beads were. He glanced down, pulling out the object, seeing the gold locket Kagome had given him a while back.
'I still have this thing?' He wondered.
He opened it, looking at the pictures inside, smirking to himself as he recalled the memory as if it were yesterday. He remembered how it had been the locket that had prevented time from stopping for him, and he remembered Kaguya's mirror and how he had transformed. Eventually, he remembered how Kagome had brought him back to normal. With his free hand, his fingertips lightly brushed across his lips, the memory of the kiss returning. He sighed again and put the locket away, and shoving his fists into the sleeves of his haori, he leant his back against the tree and closed his eyes, falling asleep, his dreams recalling every second of what had gone on at the Castle of Illusions and all the in-between.
-
Miles and miles away in Naraku's castle, Kohaku's clouded eyes suddenly regained their normal sharpness.
"Ane-ue!" He exclaimed suddenly.
His memories had returned, and he shuddered, recalling the day he killed his father and the other taijiya, and the day he nearly killed Sango.
Kagura's eyes glanced in his direction.
"What's the matter, Kohaku?" She asked.
"It's nothing, Kagura..." Kohaku replied.
"Hmph...we'll see..."
A white glowing figure approached the two.
"...Kagura...Naraku wishes to see you..." Kanna said in her usual quiet, emotionless voice.
Kagura eyed her elder sister curiously, but followed without a complaint.
As she followed Kanna down the hall she wondered what Naraku was going to ask her to do now.
'Most likely attack Inuyasha...AGAIN...' She thought with an annoyed expression.
The two reached a large room, Naraku at the very end of it, Kikyo standing a few feet away.
'It's her again...' She grumbled mentally.
"...Kagura..." Naraku said.
Kagura looked up, her eyes meeting his.
"I need the Western Lands...as you know, they are in Sesshoumaru's possession...I leave you to figure out what must be done...do not fail me...this time...I wouldn't like you to end up like Hakudoushi..."
Kagura's eyes narrowed as Naraku smirked. The wind sorceress promptly left.
"Kikyo, make sure she completes the task correctly..."
The undead miko nodded, leaving as well. Now Kanna was the only one in the room, in her arms was Hakudoushi's other half, the baby, also known as Naraku's heart.
"...Kanna...show me where Sesshoumaru is now..."
Kanna's mirror appeared, an image of the taiyoukai with Hana asleep at his side, the two of them against a wall.
Naraku grinned evilly.
"Yet another advantage...Sesshoumaru has a weakness after all..."
Kanna's mirror shook violently, and the image of Sesshoumaru and Hana faded, Hinoki appearing in the mirror.
"Who are you?" Naraku asked.
"I am Hinoki, the Ryuuyoukai spirit of the moon..." Hinoki replied.
"What is it that you want?"
"Why is it that you involve yourself in the affairs of others?"
"I am Naraku...it is my nature..."
"Hm...in that case, the Western Lands will never belong to you, half-breed."
Naraku's eyes narrowed.
"You will regret saying that..."
Naraku's arm lashed out, and broke Kanna's mirror. Kanna didn't flinch at all, but instead, gathered the broken pieces and left.
"I will have the Western Lands...and the Shikon no Tama...and there will be no one to stop me..."
-
Night succumbed to daylight, as the sun rose in an aurora of pastels. Hana's eyes opened a little, her eyes adjusting to the light. Sesshoumaru was at her side, seemingly asleep, Hana sighed and closed her eyes, going back to sleep, cuddling into the taiyoukai's shoulder.
A few minutes passed, and the ofuda fluttered off the door, the effects neutralized.
Several pairs of feet approached the door.
Sesshoumaru's eyes opened, Hana opening her eyes also.
Both their eyebrows narrowed.
-
"Look! The ofuda's on the floor!" Kagome said suddenly.
"Then that must mean..." Sango began.
"That the ofuda's magic has run out, so it doesn't work anymore, right?" Mei Lhi finished.
Miroku nodded.
"So...shall we let them out?" The monk asked.
The girls nodded.
Mei Lhi opened the door a few inches and screamed, promptly shutting the door.
"What's wrong?" Kagome, Sango, and Miroku asked all at once.
Mei Lhi took a few seconds to catch her breath.
"...please, do not go in there..." She said finally.
"Why?" came Inuyasha's voice.
The four of them laughed nervously, turning to face him.
"Umm...just don't go in there!" Mei Lhi replied fiercely.
"Keh!" Inuyasha scoffed, pushing her aside and opening the door half-way.
When the hanyou turned to face forward, he met his half-brother's icy stare, and felt Toukijin at his throat.
"Sesshoumaru, what the hell is your prob-" Inuyasha began angrily, before he took a second to look at the room's surroundings.
The taiyoukai stood an arm's length from him, and to Inuyasha's surprise, was half-dressed. Hana stood behind the demon lord, her head peeking out from behind Sesshoumaru's left shoulder.
Inuyasha spotted the youkai markings on Hana's face, noted Sesshoumaru's and Hana's state of dress, and smirked, two and two coming together.
"Looks like you two were able to keep yourselves busy..." He commented, his smirk growing.
To be certain before he continued, he took a small whiff of the air, the scents confirming his suspicions. But something in Hana's current scent made him want to burst out laughing.
"Has the 'Great Sesshoumaru' noticed it?" Inuyasha taunted, his voice taking a fake royal tone.
Sesshoumaru's eyebrows narrowed.
"...nani...?" He asked in a slightly irritated voice.
"Wow, you're stupider than I thought, Sesshoumaru! Take a good whiff of the air!"
Mei Lhi turned her head slightly out of curiosity, and took a small breath of the air in the room, once her brain recognized the scents, her face became a bright red.
Sesshoumaru seemed to have noticed it as well, for his next words to his half-brother didn't sound too happy.
"Inuyasha...get out......now..."
Inuyasha's smirk grew even more, snickering he left the room, closing the door behind him, his golden stare meeting Mei Lhi's.
"So...looks like you caught on, too..." He said.
Mei Lhi's face flushed more.
"Nii-chan! That was incredibly rude! Sesshoumaru had every right to want to chop your head off!" She snapped at him.
Inuyasha winced.
"How can you be such an insensitive jerk?!"
With that, she pushed him down the stairs, the half-demon ending up landing on Jaken who was halfway up the stairs, got dragged down with Inuyasha, his head hitting each stair as they fell.
-
Kagome, Sango, and Miroku watched the two hanyous in a subdued silence.
"Um...Mei-chan...what's wrong...?" Kagome asked, being sure to pick her words carefully.
"...that's right...you're all ningen...so you can't smell it..." Mei Lhi said to herself, turning to face them. "Sango, Kagome, you'll come with me...I don't want the hentai houshi to get 'excited'. He can go help Inuyasha downstairs..."
The two girls shrugged, following the hanyou girl, as Miroku sighed and tread down the stairs as quietly as possible.
Mei Lhi went into Kagome's room, sitting, and motioning to have the taijiya and miko do so as well.
"Ok, first things first...remember when I said I thought Hana-chan had a youki? I wasn't imagining it. As you may or may not have noticed, Hana-chan has youkai markings like Sesshoumaru's, so she's a full youkai. That explains why she couldn't break the ofuda...and that trip to the north..." Mei Lhi began.
"What's so embarrassing about that?" Sango asked.
"Damn, always straight to the point, Sango-chan..."
"So...?" Kagome asked curiously.
"...Sesshoumaru claimed Hana-chan...and telling by the scents, it was last night..."
Kagome gave her a blank look, Sango looking slightly puzzled. Mei Lhi sweat dropped.
"Oh for Kami's sake! I know you both aren't that stupid! He claimed Hana as his mate!"
Kagome and Sango's jaws hit the floor.
"WHAAAT?!"
The two girls regained their composure, Kagome realizing something.
"But that can't be all...because you got more embarrassed about it when you were talking to Inuyasha..."
"Umm...that's because...Hana is...well...uh..."
"She's what?" The two asked, sounding interested.
"I can't believe you two could ever be such idiots! She's-"
"-Gonna have Sesshoumaru's little whelp!" Inuyasha finished from the doorway.
"Yes, thank you, Nii-chan..."
"Inuyasha! What're you doing in here?!" Kagome exclaimed.
"Well you all were only talking so loud, it doesn't take an idiot to figure it out..."
All three girls cut him a fierce glare, clearly wanting him to leave. Wincing and putting up his hands in defense, Inuyasha left the room quickly, yelling at Miroku downstairs.
-
In a few hours time, all the girls were relaxing in the hot spring, Hana happening to be among them, Shippou and Rin present as well.
"So...Hana-chan...how was your week-long vacation?" Mei Lhi asked innocently.
"...it was fine..." Hana replied after a few moments silence.
"...Hana-sama..." Rin said quietly.
"Hai, Rin-chan?"
"...does this mean that you're my haha-ue now...?"
Kagome, Sango, and Mei Lhi's eyes looked to the miko-youkai suspiciously.
"Yes, a very good question Rin-chan...so Hana-chan...what's the scoop?" Kagome asked.
Hana felt the stares of the three young women, avoiding eye contact with them, staring at her reflection on the water. It was quiet for several minutes.
"...Rin-chan...you will need to ask Sesshoumaru-sama...I myself am not certain of the answer..." She said finally after much thought.
It took nearly a whole hour in the hot spring for answers to be pried from Hana, but the girls succeeded, and finally got Hana to tell them what happened during the entire week (while Shippou and Rin had their ability to hear anything temporarily cut off, of course). However, Hana only agreed if they all swore an oath that they would tell no living soul about it or mention it to anyone.
-
"...and that's it, really..." Hana finished.
She looked around at her audience, each of their mouths wide open. She smiled and laughed at their shocked expressions, and rinsed some foam from her hair and stepped out of the hot spring, wringing her long locks dry, and dressing in some clean clothes.
She left, returning inside, Kagura appearing before her.
"Hmph...I never would've believed it...until I saw it now...you went that far just to be with that cold-hearted bastard? I guess all of us are really desperate for attention nowadays..." The wind sorceress said with a sigh.
Hana's eyebrows narrowed.
Kikyou appeared behind Kagura.
"I believe Naraku told you to do something...not linger with Hana..." The undead miko said without even taking the slightest glance at Hana.
Kagura's head whipped around angrily.
"Yeah, I know, now just leave me alone you creepy bitch..." She snapped.
Kikyou disappeared with her Shinindama-chuu, looking mildly angry. Kagura faced Hana once more, grinning and raising her fan.
Hana saw over Kagura's shoulder that Sesshoumaru approached with Toukijin drawn. Kagura smirked, sensing the taiyoukai's presence.
"If you wish to kill Sesshoumaru-sama...you will have to get past me first..." Hana said upon realizing Kagura's intent.
Kagura's fan whipped out, pointing in Sesshoumaru's direction.
"Fuujin no Mai! (sp?)" She yelled.
The two braced for the attack, but it never came. A few feet away, Kyo was sitting in a chair whistling innocently.
"Kagura...I think you've forgotten something..." He said.
Kagura looked angry and frustrated, turning to the Ryuuyoukai.
"...you may be a wind sorceress...but I am the wind itself...so basically, you have no power as long as I'm here..."
Kagura looked livid, yet defeated all at the same time, and pulling a feather from her hair, she burst through the ceiling and into the sky in a hurry.
Hana stared at the newly created hole irritably.
"Yet another thing that needs fixing..." She muttered.
"What's the matter Hana-chan?" Kyo asked, noticing the miko-youkai's sour mood.
"Nan demo nai..." She replied.
Sesshoumaru put Toukijin away, the sword secure under his obi. He stepped forward towards Hana.
"Daijoubu ka Hanajima-san?" He asked.
Hana nodded.
The door behind Hana flew open as the rest of the girls appeared with their weapons ready to go.
"It's alright...Kagura's gone now...Kyo kindly humiliated her..." Hana said instantly.
Sango lowered Hiraikotsu, Kagome lowered her bow, Mei Lhi sheathing Tetsusage.
"Aw, Kyoshi-kun! You didn't let us have any of the fun! That's so mean!" Mei Lhi whined.
Hana glanced at Mei Lhi.
"...you wouldn't have wanted to be here anyway..." She said.
"Why's that?"
"...Kikyou was here..."
A low growl escaped the hanyou girl's throat, Kagome's eyes widened in shock.
'Kikyou...was here...in Sesshoumaru's castle?' The miko thought incredulously.
"...Sesshoumaru-sama...I will look after things for now...please, you have a great amount of work to catch up on..." Hana said.
Sesshoumaru nodded and turned on his heel. Mei Lhi sighed, straightened her clothes, and walked away as well. Sango, Kagome, and Kirara left shortly after. Kyo turned and walked off as well, leaving Hana alone in the hallway.
The door behind her slid open a crack.
"Hana-Okaa-sama?" A small voice called.
"Hai, Rin-chan?"
"Is it safe now?"
"Hai...it's safe..."
The door opened completely, Rin and Shippou stepping through it, into the bright hallway.
The girl and kitsune nearly leapt onto the miko-youkai embracing her tightly, nearly at tears.
"Hana-Okaa-sama! I was afraid! I heard what you had said, and I was afraid for you and Sesshoumaru-Otou-sama!" Rin cried.
Shippou clung to Hana's leg, burying his face into the material.
Hana patted the two children's heads affectionately.
"I was so scared!" Shippou murmured.
"So was I..." Hana whispered. "...so was I..."
Our Dictionary:
Nan demo nai – It's nothing
Daijoubu ka – Are you alright (the added 'ka' makes it a question)
Ningen – human
Youkai – demon
Taijiya – demon exterminator
Houshi – Monk
Miko – Priestess, shrine maiden
Kitsune – fox
Hentai – pervert, perverted
Kitsune Bi – Shippou's attack, 'Fox Fire' or 'Fox Magic'...
Sou ka – I see
A/N: Ok, I know you're all smart people so if there's words I missed, I'm sure your own minds can figure it out. I apologize for the horrendous delay. This chapter is shorter...I think...anyway...the wonderful action is on its way...I can't believe this fic is almost over...yeesh...Review! I hope you enjoyed this incredibly cheesy chapter! It was hard as hell to write!