Oh no, I have to change my page style? Anyone have any clue how to make asterisks, less than signs, etc. show up? EDIT: Grrrr I am so mad at right now! Updating is a pain in the butt!!! Please, does anyone have any idea how to make this easier than editing section by section? sighs
AND WE'RE BACK!!! W00t w00t!!! cheering erupts from thebackground Thank you, thank you. Hehehe but seriously, I told you I'd start again eventually. I'm so excited!!! Now, let's see...
Firstly, there's a decision to be made! Alright guys, a few things have happened since I stated that I'd be writing again. Firstly, I found out that the Inu Yasha RPG was out and bought it, which probably had a lot to do with the posting delay. XD Secondly, I've decided that, like my last fic, this one will have one song fic chapter. Why? Well, I was watching Shrek 2 again and realized that the ending song was BEYOND PERFECT for this series, and frankly, my dreams.; Man that song speaks to me… anyway, here's the choice WE get to make :
DECISION: Do you guy want the song chapter to be of the original of the song at the end of Shrek 2, or the Shrek 2 version?
Oh, and starting next chapter we have the horribly amusing, Shippou-involved AMUSEMENT PARK chapters! Yay! does a little dance Those are going to be SO much fun to write!- Hehehe, and hopefully they'll come sooner that way as well.
Chapter: Okay, I just want to point out that I kind of stopped at a bad place before. ; You remember that we had an Inu/Kag chapter, and then a Miroku/Sango/Kirara one before this, right? Well, these last three chapters have occurred on the same day, roughly one after another (first Inu and the light, then Rin and the boys (this chapter), then Miroku and the mouse(last chapter)). I'm writing about non Inu/Kag stuff because there will be a lot about them in the story as a whole, and we still need to check in on the others from time to time, ne? So yeah, if you don't remember the last two chapters, you might want to go read them, just to get a good time frame.
Life: Okay, I have work, college, various art projects, and homework, so the chapter updates will probably be about once a week. I know that's not very often, but considering that this is the first chapter in almost a year, it's not so bad right? XD I am seriously looking forward to some fluff, so let's get started!!!
And, if you're still with the story, thank you soooo much! biiiiiiig thank you huggles I love you guys!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! -
And a big thank you to anyone who sent me a review, be they on this list (which is a bit outdated mind you. XD) or not! I love you guys!!!-
Goku's
Daughter- Well, this chapter should
have a lot of Rin and Sess, but it might have some Inu/Kag. The
reason I'm doing this though, is because there'll be a lot of
Inu/Kag, but I have to mention the others occasionally right? lol
I'm glad the house sounds so awesome though. A lot of people
don't like moving, and it brings them down.; Lol actually, I
just got back from about 5 months in Canada, and am going there for
Christmas. All of my family lives in either Oregon or Washington
mainly, so I'm going up to Victoria to spend X-mas
with my boyfriend and his family.- He stayed at our house last
year, you it's only fair that I go this year, right?
Mustard Yellow Sunshine- Lol but evil animals are so cuutttee!!! giggles I mean, you're all like "Awwww, look'it the cute wittle mooouseee," and then all of a sudden, "SHIT, it bit my crotch! 0.o;" Hehehehe Expect the unexpected right? And no, sorry, no Inu/Kag fluff, but there shall be lots after this chapter, so no worries.
Onikizu (GRiMBoB)- Lol Yeah, that mouse was wily as all hell. Hehehehe grins Mouse of doom.- And as for the "no need to feel pressured" remark...... You're so great! hugs tightly Thank yooouuu!!!
ChristyKay- Alright, first off, I love your taste in music. hehehe. Secondly, I love responses of any length silly! But yeah, I know what you mean about the good/evil placement. I tend to consider Kouga a good guy, same with Sesshoumaru. Kikyo is still about half and half (especially after the second movie), and Naraku's just bad all the way. ; No problem placing him. Lol I think that Sango and Miroku are an incredibly adorable couple too, but I tend to like Inu/Kag a bit more just for the fact that, well, this'll sound corny, but this show is my ideal world, mindset and all. I AM Kagome, mostly (the things about me that are no longer like Kagome I had when I was her age), and Inu Yasha is pretty much my perfect guy, childish attitude, definitely the cockiness, and everything else. - So yeah. blushes Oh, and yeah, I REALLY mind you adding my story to your fav list! rolls eyes and laughs Of course it's fine silly! In fact, it's awesome!- Thank you!!!
Silverwolfangel969- Lol Hi Kitty.- giggles I don't even know if you read this story, but thanks sooo much for your review on The Grass is Always Greener.- I have a cheerleader! ... Wait... should I be afraid? 0.o; Oh well! hugs
ami()- I can only try.
Kira()- Awww, thanks. -
sashlea()- I don't know about always, but thank you soooo much. It really means a lot to me. hugs
code-wyze- Thanks for all of the comments! And don't worry, everything will be explained. I'm no where near the end of the story, and it'll all come out in time. huggles
Eidolon Griffin- You are so sweet! Thank you so much, and I hope to be able to continue to please from now on. huggles you tightly
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters in it. If I did I'd be rich, but I'm not... and if I had lots of money I'd probably spend it on anime anyway so pleeaasseee, don't sue me. lol
Oh, and new this chapter,
:::thoughts::: sound/ italicized/ emote "speech"
Recap:
It seemed that they were indeed awake, and he had missed the show. Sweat dropping, he tuned his gaze from the door to the window once more, and, smiling lightly upon a small, dew-covered web within the frame of his window, made a conclusion that all wished they could make, and hold true, every day of their lives; it was going to be a beautiful day.
If you don't remember the last two chapters, you might want to go read them, as all three of these are connected. You don't have to, but it would give you a good time frame to work with as you read.
Oh, and for those of you who REALLY want an Inu/Kag fluff chapter, there are at LEAST 2-3 non stop fluff hilarity chapters after this one, with Shippou as an added bonus, so never fear, as for now, Rin is here! giggles
Do the Math
Chapter 28: Dealing
"Sesshoumaru-sama!!!" The skittering of tiny feet came to a halt, as Rin skid around the corner of the house, and ran for the front door.
The weather had been getting warmer lately, chilly evenings turning only slightly brisk within the confines of but a few days. Why this sudden change had come, none really knew, but all were thankful; the chill was starting to get a little old. But such beautiful weather, or what would soon become such beautiful weather, could not go to waste, especially in the mind of a certain, chocolate-eyed, energetic little girl, searching for something that seemed just outside her grasp. After maneuvering around another bend, avoiding such obstacles as door frames, furniture, and the like, the tiny blob of white and orange stopped, standing still within the hallway that stretched, seemingly endlessly, between rooms, a slightly bewildered expression ever present on her features. Where was her Sesshoumaru-sama? A sudden bright light caught her attention, visible only at the end of the vast hallway.
:::What was that?::: Walking steadily towards the light, it took Rin no time at all to reach the end of the hallway, surprising the small girl, now confronted only by the tall door now blocking her path. The only unique aspect of said door was a window, high above, where she could not reach, and it was through this window that the light seemed to shine forth, blinding the girl, even as she scanned the room for objects to stand on. Ultimately finding nothing, Rin gave up that search, and opted for the more straight forward approach. Reaching up, she grasped the handle tightly within her small fingers as her tiny heart began to speed up, pulsing and pumping, causing a hint of anxiety to rise within her. Why was she nervous? What was there to be afraid of? It was only a door, and behind it the back yard. She had been there a bunch of times, so then why...
"Oh my God, is everyone okay?! I heard the crash and came running! I'm so sorry! I only left it there for a minute and..."
"There is no need to fret mother." Sesshoumaru's cool voice drifted slowly, seeping through the door before her as if nothing more than a muffled form of the very breeze itself. What had happened? Was anyone hurt? Sesshoumaru had said that everything was okay, but what was that light?
"Oh, Rin!" The door handle was pulled from her grasp, sliding smoothly from her fingers as the door itself slid open to reveal a calm, though minutely surprised, Kagome standing before her. "Were you looking for Sesshoumaru?" At Rin's nod, the older girl smiled down at her. Nodding, Kagome stepped aside, out of the door way, allowing the light that was once held at bay behind her feminine form to rush through, momentarily blinding the small girl as she stood there, exposed to the outside world, not that that had ever bothered her before. "He's out here. Why don't you play outside for now? Inu Yasha and I are going to be in the living room working." Rubbing her eyes in a vague attempt to restore her sight, Rin spotted Sesshoumaru, watching his brother curiously, and took off, leaving but a small "Hai." behind, as to acknowledge Kagome's help.
The faintest humming could be heard, a whisper among the trees, as a small girl sat in the front yard. She was surrounded with paper, each with its own bright markings, creating a life of its own, if only on the flat page that was its world. After another second, a page drifted onto the, already building, pile, gaining altitude as it was perched upon the top. Rin, realizing that she had left something out of her masterpiece, picked up the page once more and, with an intense look of concentration, well, for a child her age anyway, set to work, blazing color becoming ever apparent on the, already colorful, piece. Finally completely satisfied with her work, Rin set the paper aside, allowing it to dry before coming in contact with anything other than the very air itself, and perhaps some small pebbles, unintentionally trapped beneath. That done, she stared studiously at her fingers for but a moment, reflecting on the afternoon past and the time that was still to come. Realizing the mess she had made, of both the front yard and herself, Rin quickly set about cleaning up, tidying the yard before rising happily to her feet and placing a rock over one corner of her picture to keep the cool breeze from carrying it away and claiming it as its own. That accomplished, she began padding her way back into the house, set on cleaning the finger paint from her being before she could upset her lord with her untidiness. Just as she neared the door, however, a voice called out to her from behind, one that seemed much older, though not much wiser, than she herself.
"Hey kid, what's with the paint?" Turning slowly while scanning the vicinity for the source of the sound, Rin's gaze was left to settle upon a rather nondescript group of boys standing, not but a few feet from her, on the sidewalk in front of the house. They all seemed to be in between the ages of seven and ten, or so she assumed. Some of them were taller, some shorter; some had a dopey grin on their face, and some were without, but the one thing they had in common, other than all being boys of course, was that they were all staring directly at her, grinning mockingly, and eyes gleaming with impressionable mischief.
"Yeah, you go'n ta give those ta mommy to put on the wefwigewata?" The small slit that then formed from Rin's, once radiant, smile tightened even more so, as a torrent of memories of her mother came flooding back to her, drowning her small heart with a pain that no one, young or old, should have to live with. How DARE they bring her up! What did they know?! Pain quickly becoming anger and annoyance, Rin turned to look at the boys once more, glaring for all she was worth, and hoping that they'd just leave her alone and go away, although not really expecting much of the sort. If they didn't leave, she didn't know what she'd do, but she certainly wasn't going to stand there and be picked on! Laughing and pointing a finger in her direction, the boys started up once more.
"Awww, the poor baby. Maybe she needs Mommy to clean her up too." Some more chuckling and snickering was heard before another spoke up, words dripping with an odd mixture of malice and pleasure, as he edged closer and closer to the, suddenly startled, girl before him.
"Or maybe WE should help her." A short wave of fear washed over Rin's face before subsiding into stubborn defiance. Yeah, they were older and bigger, but what right did that give them to pick on her? And what's more, how could they ever speak of her mother in such a mocking tone?! She was so kind and caring... They had no idea what they were talking about! Small hands balling into fists, Rin steadied herself, preparing for a battle of words, of honor, and hopefully of glory, when the sound of a closing door assaulted her ears. She didn't need to turn around to know who had come outside, and, even despite her failure to tidy herself before hand, she was all the happier for it. Footsteps, lighter than a feather, passed her, causing the very air to still and, seemingly, life to stop. Pausing just in front of her, still looking at the group of boys, Sesshoumaru spoke, his cool, deadly tone carrying to their ears as if the embodiment of death itself.
"Rin, go cleanse your hands." Stuttering for only an instant, Rin nodded and, turning on her heels, sent her Sesshoumaru-sama a soft "Hai." before heading towards the door once more. Who knew that such a small distance would take so long to traverse! Unfortunately, upon sight of her hero, the boys, still on the sidewalk with the exception of one, had yet to take their fill. Grin spreading, as if a plague, across one boy's face, the others could only watch from the sidelines as their friend, standing upon the grass, now seemingly so far away, began cracking up.
"So, this must be your mother!" Eyes immediately narrowing, Sesshoumaru internally snarled at the insolent heathen who dare insult him. Before another word could be spoken, however, a large jar toppled onto the grass, and a bright splash of color rose to the heavens, only to be pulled down, falling as if angels to their knees, not but an inch before Sesshoumaru's shoes.
Okay, now, they may have been immature, but even the group of boys knew the look of death when they saw it, and right now, they were bathing in it. What in the world was Yoji thinking, knocking over the paint like that? Yeah, the guy looked feminine, and it HAD been funny, but that guy was older, stronger, and obviously dangerous! Sure, normally that'd mean that they could tease him all they wanted and he couldn't do anything about it, but in this case, whoever that guy was, they weren't willing to risk that. He seemed above it all, though what "it all" was, they weren't sure, and frankly, were rather afraid to ask. Each one of them could, standing where they were, see the invisible line now placed between themselves and their, seemingly inane, friend, one placed by ignorance, stupidity, and short-sightedness, and one which they could not cross without severe punishment. Did Yoji see it? Well, obviously not if he was stupid enough to make this guy mad! Seriously, what was he thinking pissing him off even more by...
:::Oh no...::: Heart sinking, Yoji's friends could only sit and watch as the inevitable happened, the adrenalin rushing through their own bodies foretelling what they already knew to be true; he was so screwed.
:::No, he wouldn't; he couldn't...:::
With an unyielding desire for entertainment, Yoji picked up a handful of paint from the, now stained, grass, and, eyeing it carefully, aimed it at the older boy. Letting loose the sticky blob, sodden and full of grass, Yoji could only cringe as he watched the other dodge it, leaving the brilliant pigment to soar through the air and land on the little girl's back. Shock welled up, engulfing his features as he finally understood, as if the paint had been a rock, and had hit him instead, firmly knocking some sense into that thick skull of his. What had he done?! They were SO dead.
That was it; they were SO dead! Another fistful of paint, smaller this time, flew through the air, barely missing the boy on the grass, and falling where the rest of boys had been not a moment before. The sidewalk group had run for their lives, a response well merited as far as Rin was concerned, but that didn't save the one, the meanest boy of them all. At first he had seemed a bit sorry about what he'd done, fear clearly evident upon his features, but then, in an instant, it seemed as though nothing could keep him from standing there, laughing. Oh, he was SO going down!
With a final battle cry, Rin raced over to another jar of paint and picked it up, dipping her hand deeply into the viscous substance, and drawing it out to fire at, who we shall now call, the mean one. After a fierce battle between the two, one which had lasted about ten minutes in total, and had both amused and irritated Sesshoumaru, Rin, dodging another shot of paint previously thrown at her, grinned determinedly and raced by the mean one, dumping the entire jar over his head before running away, giving him a raspberry all of the way back to the door.
"That'll teach you to throw paint at Sesshoumaru-sama!"
Now, even Sesshoumaru had to admit that Rin was quite swift, for a child anyway. She moved with a grace well beyond her years, dodged well, and aimed even better. Sure, she tripped once or twice, even got lucky with a few throws, but it's not like she'd had any formal training, so what more could he expect? Besides, though he'd never admit it, watching her fight one so much older than herself was actually quite entertaining. He might have even gone so far as to say that it almost brought forth a sense of pride and...
"That'll teach you to throw paint at Sesshoumaru-sama!" Wait, back up. She was fighting... for HIM?! Mood souring immediately as the mere concept of that sunk into his consciousness, Sesshoumaru's golden eyes narrowed even further, becoming nothing more than honeyed slits, as he listened to Rin raspberry from behind him. How dare she! He was the one that was supposed to be fighting for HER... erm, the sake of fighting! He was the strong one! This Sesshoumaru need not to be protected! Even the mere thought of it made him sick, and against a mere CHILD no less?! Did she think that he was so weak that he could not take a TEN-year old?! That he needed HER protection?! Anger building, Sesshoumaru did the one thing he could think of to save his dignity, not to mention his sanity.
"Rin, that will be enough. I need not acknowledge one so low as he..." Sesshoumaru turned and, as if an after thought, spoke again, "... and neither should you."
"Keh, you just don't want to battle a kid. What's wrong Sesshoumaru, afraid you'll lose?" Inu Yasha shifted his weight to lean against the front doorframe, cocky smirk as present as ever upon his face.
He and Kagome had been studying in the living room per usual, but had been interrupted by the tumult in the front yard. It had been hard enough to get to work in the first place, as both he and Kagome were a bit preoccupied, thinking, in his case at least, about the events that had taken place out back not too long before. Finally giving up any attempt to study with all of the racket outside, Inu offered to go check it out, and imagine his surprise when he got there, only to find Sesshoumaru being avenged by a small girl. Yeah, sure, he knew that she was just trying to be a good girl, but he also knew exactly how his pompous "brother" would take it. How could he have possibly passed up that opportunity? And come on, had that been perfect timing or what?
"Inu Yasha!" Oh crap. Why was it that every plan had to have a fatal flaw? Turning, albeit somewhat uneasily, to look over his shoulder, Inu couldn't stop the lump that began slowly developing in his throat. It didn't take a genius to know that she'd heard him, luckily for Inu Yasha, and even less of one to tell that she was mad. He didn't care what anyone said; a mad Kagome was scarier than anything Sesshoumaru could throw his way any day, and right then, standing there, waiting for the unavoidable, he had a sinking feeling that he was in for an earful.
:::Looks like they're at it again.::: Sweat dropping, Miroku started his engine once more, the soft purr of the engine begging him onward while the situation at hand begged for some popcorn and a drink.
He had stopped by the Higurashi's shrine on his way to pick up Kirara, a last minute request from the lovely Sango, as she had been quite busy that morning. Miroku knew very good and well that as soon as he was to drop the small girl off, he would be expected to leave, but with all that had been happening, there was nothing he wanted more than to be near Sango, and to help out any way that he could (and he did mean any way ), and had hoped that either Kagome or Inu Yasha would have liked to tag along, and, consequently, increase his chance of being asked inside. Unfortunately, he had forgotten that it was tutoring day, and as the scene before him soon showed, they both seemed to have their hands full with... other matters.
Putting his car into gear and driving off, Miroku's patented grin fell back into place, reacting to the images that his mind's eye so dutifully presented, those of watching Kagome deal with Inu Yasha, and even better, Sango dealing with him.
Oh yeah, this was going to be great.