1

The Laughing Woman rang the bell, signaling that she needed some assistance with something. Kagome needed the practice conversing with the bathhouse guests, so she offered to go and see what she could do to help. She strolled up to the stall and knocked on the door. "Yes," she asked politely, "Is everything alright in there, Miss Woman?"

"Could you come in here please, dear," she heard the demon ask.

She opened the door and was shocked by what she saw in the stall. Set up in the adjacent left corner of the stall from the door was an entertainment system: television, stereo, 8-track player. A drawer full of comedy movies and DVDs and comic books and entertaining activities were beside it. Laying in front of the Laughing Woman, who was still in the bath, was a cloth. On said cloth was a collection of weird trinkets: odd shaped masks, funny-looking dolls, strange toys that she had never seen before.

The Laughing Woman was smiling her large comical smile at her, and invited her to join her. "I'm sorry," Kagome said, "But it's bathhouse policy that assistants don't join the guests in the ba-"

"Oh," the Woman laughed, "Nuts to "bathhouse policy!" Forget about that for now and join me!" This woman was definitely a strange one.

Kagome hesitated at first, but then decided to see what the Woman wanted. She walked over to the tub, but did not go in. Instead, she knelt in front of the cloth with all the bizarre things on it.

"Please," the Woman motioned with her hands, "Take a look at my toys! I've brought them especially for you to enjoy!"

Kagome picked up one of the strange masks. It was in the shape of Haunter, the ghost Pokemon. She studied it for a second (and had a completely emotionless face) and placed it back down.

"Nothing, huh?" the Laughing Woman sighed. "Try another one!"

She picked up the next mask. It was one of Richard Nixon. The Laughing Woman motioned for her to give it, so she handed it over. The Woman placed the mask on her face, and with a perfect imitation of Mr. Nixon, said, "I am not a crook!" and burst out laughing. Kagome did not join in. She took off the mask, and revealed a new face: one that was not smiling. "What is the matter, dear? Why are you so depressed?"

Kagome did not answer with words. Instead she looked right into the Laughing Woman's big cute eyes and let her own do the talking.

"I understand," the Woman answered, "You were taken away by Yubaba from your boyfriend Inuyasha during a duel against a Chinese boy named Mousse and forced to work here at her bathhouse under the instruction of her senior bathhouse attendant Kitsune."

Kagome stared at the Woman with a totally blank face. "How," she said with a stutter, "did you do that?"

The Woman smiled. "Your eyes did all the talking. It says that a few lines ago, don't ya know!" She laughed, but her face turned serious again. She motioned for Kagome to lean in closer to her. She did. "Can I let you in on a little secret?" Kagome nodded. "That boy, Kitsune," she stopped and looked around. Once she was sure the coast was clear, she continued again. "He's not your ordinary kid." She leaned back and her smile returned. "And as for your boyfriend Inuyasha and the Chinese boy Mousse," she laughed one more heart warming laugh, "They're on their way to rescue you!"

Kagome's heart lifted. "How do you know that?"

"I do a lot of inferring," the Woman answered, "And besides, it's blatantly obvious, don't you think?" She looked towards the television. "So, you wanna watch a funny movie? I've got lots..."

"No," Kagome said, "No thank you, I really must get going." The Laughing Woman nodded as Kagome rose to her feet. Just before she left the stall, she turned around and smiled. "Thank you," she said. Then she left.

"She'll be alright," the Woman said to herself, then flipped the television on to the movie "Airplane!" and leaned back to watch it.

2

"Wait up!" Kouga called as he ran after his alleged sister, chasing her through the forest. She had sprinted quite the distance ahead of him and was heading directly towards Kagura's village. She really was interested in setting her brother back up with his old love. But... He cleared the forest and caught up to Kogarashi, who was standing directly in front of the village entrance with her hands on her hips. "When I say 'wait up,'" he growled angrily, catching his breath, "I mean-"

"Which house is hers?" Her voice was flat. Kouga got the sense that maybe she didn't care much about this reunion after all.

"I'll lead you," he said, not looking at her. They walked into the village, Kouga in the lead, and headed towards Kagura's house. It was still the same average family house with the picket fence. Even with all their new fortunes, they hadn't left their quiet, cozy neighborhood to go live with snobbish rich singers like Elton John. Kouga had to admire this quality in her. He stepped up to the front door and brought his hand up to it to knock, but stopped.

"What?" Kogarashi, who was standing behind him on the path, asked, a little annoyed. "What's wrong?"

Kouga turned around and looked at his sister. "I can't do it," he said. "What if she's moved on and forgotten me?"

"She would only have forgotten you if she didn't love you," Kogarashi said with a sweet smile. "Did she?" Kouga hesitated, and then nodded. "Then, what are you waiting for?"

Kouga knocked on the door.

3

Kagura came into the living room from the kitchen with a tray of refreshments for herself, the kids and their guest, Shampoo. They took their drinks with a "thank you" and began to enjoy them. Kagura had just sat back down on the couch when there was a knock on the door. She groaned. "Who could that be?" she grumbled, getting back up. She walked over to the door and reached for the handle. She grabbed it and turned it slowly. The next few seconds went by like hours.

She did not know what to do. So many opposing emotions had just surfaced out of nowhere. She stared at the stranger at her doorstep, almost not even recognizing him. But she knew that she knew him.

"Who is it Kagura?" Hakudoushi asked. But he got no response, so he leapt up and joined her at the door. He also joined her in staring with disbelief.

Kouga stood at the doorway, blushing uncomfortably. He too did not know what to say.

Kagura started. But "Who?" was all she could say.

"You do know who I am," Kouga whispered, "Right?"

She shook her head. But she knew. Tears immediately formed in the corners of her eyes and she leapt into his arms and hugged him tightly. They stood there like that for quite a long time before they pulled away from each other. "But," Kagura stuttered in between sniffles and gasps of breath, "You're..."

"I know," Kouga said. He turned around and motioned for Kogarashi to join them. "Kagura," he continued, "This is my sister, Kogarashi. She brought me back to life."

Kogarashi joined them. Kagura studied her for a while and decided that this wolf demon was a friend. "Kouga died before his time," his sister smiled, "He was taken away from you unfairly, and so I righted the wrong." She beamed. "And now you two can go on being happy together again." She laughed.

"Umm," Hakudoushi muttered. "What about Sesshoumaru?"

Kogarashi immediately stopped laughing. "Who's Sesshoumaru?" She glanced questioningly at Kagura.

"Well," she began, "After Inuyasha, Juuroumaru, Jakotsu and I came back from killing the ice queen, KooriKisaki, I began to really miss Kouga, and Sesshoumaru was there to help me."

Kouga looked directly into Kagura's eyes. "You mean...?" he stuttered.

She nodded. "I'm sorry, Kouga," she said, tears reforming, "It's more than great to see you alive again, but," she looked away, "I've moved on."

"I understand," Kouga said, choked.

"I'm really sorry," Kagura whispered.

"So am I," Kogarashi said with an angry tone. She turned around and began to walk away. "Let's go, Kouga." She knew that her little brother's heart was ripping in half and this Sesshoumaru person was the one who was doing it. Kouga had been alive for only a short time and was already being tortured. She would not let this happen. Sesshoumaru was an obstacle in Kouga's path to happiness. And that's all she really wanted for him: to be happy. And so, to make that happen, the obstacles would have to be eliminated. By any means necessary...