Sango: Im sorry InuYasha, but you are dead wrong.

InuYasha: No freakin way!

Sango: Bush has totally neglected domestic policy. He is going to suck up all of our funds and put it into a war that everyone knows should not have happened.

InuYasha: Wow, Sango, thats rich. Lets wait for Saddam to just blow us up then. Most of the peope in this time are weak to begin with, at least we have a president who isnt afraid to kick some ass.

Sango: Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction.

InuYasha: Yeah but we had proof that he was trying to make them.

Sango: The reason for war was because of those weapons, he lied to the american people.

InuYasha: He didn't lie, first off. I mean, we would be better off electing Sesshomaru than that half-pint Kerry who can't make up his damn mind.

Sango: Bush's stubborness is going to get us all killed. Its because of him that the United States is hated so much.

InuYasha: Wake up call, Sango, everyone hated the US anyway. Bleeding Liberal.

Sango: Well he is also pro choice and is for the - what is that?

InuYasha: ::turns behind him and follows the strange sound. They find Inuko and Kita laughing their heads off at an animation on the screen. "This Land" which is joking

the heck out of both candidates::

Kita: This is the true state of American politics.

Sango: Maybe its not too late to go home to Japan.

InuYasha: I hope the well still works.

Kotaku: Yay politics.

Sango: Go to your room.

Kotaku: But there is a computer in there too...

Sango: ::walks away silently::

InuYasha: Hey..play that again Inuko.

Kagome: This is tiresome InuYasha ::walks in, pulls out her credit card:: What part of "Dont Max out my credit card on Ramen don't you get?!"

InuYasha: You said I could use it! Don't go taking stuff back!

Kagome: I said you could buy SOME Ramen. Most normal people understand it doesnt mean spend 300 dollars on crappy noddles!

InuYasha: ::looks faint:: Crappy!

Kagome: ::looms over InuYasha, evil shadowy glare::

InuYasha: Umm..Umm..

Kagome: What do you have to say for yourself?

InuYasha: ::looks toward the flickering TV, and with a nervous trembling to his voice:: Thank..you..

Kagome: ::rolls her eyes and walks off::

InuYasha: Wow, it does work...::hears something slam:: Stupid commercial. Im going to go eat some of my Ramen. ::he wanders into the kitchen, fixes some Ramen, and sits down:: Kagome and I just havent been hitting it off lately. We got real close back in my time, but these days she is always so distracted...I..I hope she still loves me..

Inuko: ::wanders in the kitchen and sits down:: You okay?

InuYasha: ::just rolls around the ramen with his chopsticks::

Inuko: Inu-..I mean..dad, are you okay?

InuYasha: Huh, oh...yeah?

Inuko: Whats up?

InuYasha: Your mother's been distracted lately. Something is on her mind,and she's always yelling at me for something..

Inuko: Well spending a couple hundred on Ramen is pretty stupid.

InuYasha: Do you want to sleep outside?

Inuko: ::smirks and leans back in his chair, crossin his feet:: Moms just get like that, especially in a busy household.

InuYasha: Well Im beginning to hate this time. Ive dealt with it for so long, and I still don't like it. People are too busy

with all this junk and they forget who each other are.

Inuko: Only if you let it do that to ya, dad. ::stands up as he hears a crash in the backyard:: Did you hear that?

InuYasha: Its probably your mother.

Inuko: I don't think so.. ::walks outside and sees a tree on fire:: Holy...

InuYasha: ::runs out there:: K..Kagome! Miroku! Sango! Someone get out here!!

Kagome: ::makes her way out:: InuYasha what happened?

InuYasha: I was going to ask you the same thing...

Kagome: I'll call the fire department..

Inuko: ::looks up at the sky:: Couldnt have been lightening...there isnt a cloud in the sky.

Sango: ::follows after Kagome shortly:: Miroku is at work...::sees the tree and stops cold:: Do you feel that?

Kagome: Someone is..here..

Sango: COME OUT! ::walks closer to the tree::

Natsumi: ::well hidden within the fiery tree, disappears::

InuYasha: Its one of BACK HERE YOU COWARD AND FIGHT!

Inuko: You heard him! Come back!!

InuYasha: Fight and flee...these guys are obviously afraid of us.

Inuko: Maybe you shouldnt call the fire department mom, you dont want them getting involved do you?

Kagome: Good point.

Sango: Im going to go get Kita..

Inuko: What possible help could that runt be?

Kagome: ::glares at her son::

Inuko: ::looks off::

Kita: ::is half asleep watching TRL when Sango nudges her::

Kita: Hm..

Sango: The same demons from before, they set our tree on fire..

Kita: What..why would they do that...

Sango: I don't know, but I also know you have strong spiritual powers like Miroku..

Kita: I'll see what I can do ::hops up and walks outside. The tree had stopped burning, and a message was written (in japanese) in the bark

of the trunk of the tree:: Wow...

Kagome: ::examines it:: It reads: "We have not forgotten...We bide our time"

InuYasha: They must be afraid of us!

Kita: ::runs her hands along the writing:: It has to do with the Hinun Mingan, Lee told us about a while ago. Its..its not ready yet. They have to

wait just like we do. I guess once its ready, they are going to get it..

InuYasha: And try to destroy us? I'd like to see them try.

Sango: Since we dont have this item Im trying to understand why exactly they would attack us.

InuYasha: How am I supposed to know? ::walks inside even more frustrated than before::

Inuko: ::follows him:: Well, you got the excitement you wanted...right?

InuYasha: Yay for me.

Kagome: The tree is still smoking..::she takes a step back and holds her nose:: What is that stench?

Kita: ::looks over and sees a few dead squirrels near the tree. A few birds fall from the sky as they fly above.

Inuko: Hold your breath. ::covers his face with his shirt::

Miroku: Poison ::covers his face:: Isn't this your specialty, Sango.

Sango: ::has her arm over her her nose:: I used poison smoke to draw demons out of villages. I don't know where I put my mask..

InuYasha: Figure something out.

Sango: Im trying.

Inuko: ::begins to cough::

Kagome: Everyone in the house and shut all the windows.

Kita: ::gets the door and everyone runs inside. Inuko and Miroku get to shutting the windows while Kagome sits down frustrated.::

Kagome: I have no idea why exactly these people want to make our lives miserable.

InuYasha: Because we exist. I thought you wouldve gotten that through your head with Naraku.

Kagome: Sit.

InuYasha: ::thud::

Kagome: Not now.

Miroku: Even Sesshomaru knows that this is nothing but psychological warfare. They are trying to make us feel helpless. We can't give in to fear at any time. We have to be strong.

InuYasha: You work on staying away from playboy, and then talk to us.

Kagome: S-.

InuYasha: ::squints::

Kagome: Oh forget it.

Inuko: The rains will come soon enough. I saw some clouds forming.

Sango: What if there is a wind? It might blow the poison to the rest of the community. People just got over the recent attacks, they don't need this terrorizing them as well.

InuYasha: Yeah, and because of this stupid society, if we do anything we will end up on front page news and not get a moment's piece.

Inuko: Mom, Dad, I have a question.

Kagome: What is it, Inuko?

Inuko: Can I go over to Jana's house? Just down the block.

InuYasha: Hmm. Let me think about it-NO.

Inuko: Why?

InuYasha: Because Im pissed off at the world. Deal with it.

----------

Natsuko: ::is sitting on a bus, looking at a fashion magazine:: The least they could do is allot me enough money for proper transportation. Rental cars are amazingly overpriced and buses suck. ::she took out the fan from her backpack and ran her fingers along it:: I don't see how we are going to suceed when so many people are getting in on the act. I still think we don't really need the stupid Hinun Mingan, and if I have to go stealing life energy again, Im going to scream. Its so BORING ::she shoves the fan back into her backpack::

Nori: ::slips up from a seat behind her and sits beside Natsuko:: 'Sup.

Natsuko: You going away I hope. Natsumi isn't here, go away.

Nori: You have valuable time before the Hinun Mingan becomes useful. The child, she has the ability to locate it, but also to awaken its true power. However, until that child comes of age you can easily gain power and rise above your sister. I may even help you..

Natsuko: Im sure your drool object Natsumi wouldn't approve.

Nori: I please who I have to please. ::goes back to his seat in the back, and Natsuko buries her face in the magazine again:: Loser.

-------

Lee: ::is at her office. Its rather quiet, and even she takes the time to pull out a magazine and look at it:: I never thought things would be going so slowly. ::she looks outside. There is a company picnic going on, but she closes the blinds on it and sits back down:: Maybe I should go out there and have fun...but I guess Ive never been as much of a "people person" as I could be..

::There is a knock on the door::

Lee: Its open.

Mr. Wright: Ms. Higurashi, I was told to deliver this to you ::hands her a letter and walks out, a smile creeping on to his face::

Lee: I..see. ::she opens the letter carefully and reads::...after hearing of Inuko Higurashi's entry into the competition Sho Electronics is holding, we wish to boost him up to a higher division within the competition. Having a relative of the owner of the company do well in the competiton will help both parties out, and it could do well for increased sales by both parties. With your consent, we will move him up to the adult divison to fight.

Lee: ::sets the letter down, and goes to check her email:: Several copies of the same request. Why do they want to boost Inuko up so much, Sesshomaru has never cared about using such tactics in his negotiations. ::narrows her eyes::

---------

::The sun is beginning to set and Sesshomaru, with a sleeve torn, is running through the streets. Nothing is in front of him or behind him, but he looks paniced. Rin finally shows up, trying to catch him:: Sesshomaru! Sesshomaru!!!!!!!!!!! SESSHOMARU!!! ::she screams, and finally grabs his jacket::

Sesshomaru: ::turns around and flings her from him, and runs to the side of his office building and falls on his knees:: No..eyes..can see...what I have seen...

::You can hear Rin in the background, still shouting his name::

-------

Sango: ::is later seen sitting with her son on her lap. They are watching TV, but Sango turns it off and turns her son to face her:: I want to talk to you.

Kotaku: About what?

Sango: My brother, your uncle...you see. Quite a while ago I was raised in a village of demon slayers. I know you have heard the story about how our enemy Naraku took advantage of us and controlled my younger brother, and let his life hang by a single thread, that thread being a sacred jewel shard. Every day I travelled, I was greatful for the fact that I had aquired new friends in the battle against the enemy, but his suffering lingered in my mind painfully. Being a warrior and protecting people with your strength is what I am about, but now I have you to worry about. I just...

Kotaku: What are you trying to say?

Sango: I just want to say that I love you, Kotaku. I'm worried for you. It may be a lot harder for us to attack our foes when large numbers of people could get easily involved. I will lay down my life for you if I have to, and if something ever happens to me, I want to you to remember what I said today.

Kotaku: ::looks down:: Nothing is going to happen.

Sango: No...probably not but unfortunately I cant state that for sure. You have so many people who care about you, Kotaku, and just as I defended my brother..

Kotaku: ::hugs Sango:: I'll protect you too, I promise.

Sango: I know you will ::shuts her eyes and brings him to her chest::

Kotaku: Now no more down talk. There is a movie I want to watch and you just turned the TV off...::hesitates when something catches his eye, and walks over to the window:: ...wow.

Sango: What is it?

Kotaku: You know..when you stare into the rain outside, it looks like the trees are on fire. The fire is reflected through each of the droplets. It looks unreal.

Sango: ::looks out the window too and concern crosses her face:: They just won't stop...

Kotaku: Looks like something that would happen in Lord of the Rings.

Sango: Except thats not a TV screen.

Kotaku: Its kinda cool

Sango: ::rolls eyes:: Go to your room.