Wow… all these reviews … uhh… sorry for not having written anything in over two years. I've been a just a leetle busy.

Long story short: Broken computer; going without for over a year (!) very refreshing, really; Catching Inu Yasha the other night; mentioning to someone, "Oh, hey, I wrote a fanfic about that once… gee… can't remember how I ended the dern thing."

Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorry

Prisoners

Along for the Ride

Chiyo sighed as she boarded the sleek mag lev that would take her right into the heart of Tokyo, desperately wishing that they could be riding Kirara again. The rhythmic undulations of the cat demon skating the sky beneath her had been so… comforting. It was a feeling Chiyo had felt she would never achieve beyond the bonds of her wolf pack.

She opened her eyes and shifted her focus to her companions as they found their seats. Shippo was covertly slipping his hand into Kanta's. Their fingers intertwined momentarily, before Kanta caught Chiyo's eye and shifted away from the kitsune. Chiyo chose not to comment; no need to complicate things any more than they had to be, at least not while Kanta kept a cool head.

"I do hope you're not planning to be too hard on Kouga…" Chiyo's sharp ears picked up the softly spoken comment from Kagome. It was directed to Inu Yasha, who was seated beside her, one row in front of Chiyo. Let's see now, if I remember correctly, from my past life...

Sure enough, within minutes it was a shouting match. Shippo rolled his eyes; Kenjishi sighed heavily; and the other travelers on the mag lev politely found a book, magazine, or the floor intensely interesting.

"I cannot beLIEVE you want to protect that wimpy wolf after he kidnapped you!" the dog demon exploded.

"I'd just like you to stay out of prison, if it's not too much trouble," Kagome shot back angrily. They were now attracting curious glances, which seemed to quell their ire.

Chiyo allowed herself a small smile; it was nice to know some things never changed. Even their argument made her feel nostalgic. She shut her eyes, savoring the familiar feelings.

And speaking of familiar feelings…

Before she knew what had happened, Chiyo had twisted Master Kenjishi's arm to a remarkable angle, his hand still cupped the air in the same position as it had cupped her posterior mere moments ago. Chiyo released him quickly.

"Sorry," she told the aching man, surprised at the sincerity in her own voice, "Force of habit, I guess…"

"Hentai," muttered Shippo

Sota was first to regain his senses, wriggling furiously in Sessho Maru's grasp. The demon's grip did not falter, but he blinked twice, and regarded Sota with a decidedly bemused expression.

"Really, child, what do you expect to accomplish by-"

"Demon BEGONE!" Sota cried, kicking out with all his strength. Sessho Maru received the full force of the blow, and dropped Sota, more from shock than pain. Sota bolted from the room, leaving Sessho Maru staring after him, wondering what exactly to do next.

"Run, boy!" the old man called after him, "Protect the Sacred Jewel!"

Sessho Maru immediately shifted his attention to Kagome's Grandfather. The old man noticed and let out a small squeak of fear, before following after his grandson. Ms. Higurashi moved to stand beside Sessho Maru, staring after her father and son.

"It's just an adjustment for them," she said after a moment, "Kagome's past has caught up to her rather quickly, and I don't think any of us were prepared for it," she explained softly. The short haired woman turned to face the much taller demon, "Deep down I'm sure they know you aren't here for the shikon no tama, but I'm afraid they may need some convincing."

Sessho Maru regarded her imperiously, "I would not have come here if not for a matter of great importance…"

Ms. Higurashi's smile returned, "It sounds like something to be discussed over a meal; why don't you go fetch Sota and Grandpa?"

Sessho Maru arched an eyebrow, "I do not believe that would be a wise idea."

"Believe me, an invitation for food will be the quickest way to win over the men of this house," she turned to head to the kitchen. "I think they're in Kagome's room; I believe that's where she left the jewel shard…"

Sessho Maru watched her retreating form.

"The last shard of the shikon no tama…" Sessho Maru whispered. One clawed hand clenched convulsively. His nostrils flared once, and he followed Kagome's scent to her bedroom.

Grandpa had fallen asleep immediately upon settling himself on Kagome's bed. Sota ignored the loud snores as he paced the floor; just as resolute in his duty to protect the last shard of the shikon jewel as he was clueless in how to accomplish that feat.

Two Days Ago

"Are you sure you wanna leave it here?" Souta's swung his legs back and forth as he sat on the bed, skimming his feet over the carpet.

"Very sure," his sister's mouth had been set in a firm line as she put the little soapstone box into a wax paper bag; which she folded carefully before putting the little parcel into a hemp drawstring bag. She tied the strings in a double knot.

"Oh, yeah, that'll keep the demons out," Sota's voice dripped with sarcasm and Kagome had stuck her tongue out at him.

"I'm just a little nervous," Kagome had explained, tucking the bag between the mattress and the box spring. "I need to make sure that the jewel shard is kept safe."

Sota shifted his position to lay on his stomach, "Who are you protecting the jewel from?" he had barely finished his sentence when the almost unthinkable had occurred to him, "Not Inu Yasha!"

Kagome had taken a long time before answering, "I don't know. Maybe-" He had wanted to press her for further information, but he knew Kagome too well to expect her to be forthcoming; at least, not when it came to Inu Yasha.

Kagome had sat down beside him then, "Sota, I need to be able to think clearly now, I have some pretty important decisions to make. I just can't concentrate with the jewel shard so near. It's a big responsibility, and I need a break from it, that's all."

"So if you're not here, who will be protecting it?"

She had set her hand on his shoulder then. With the utmost sincerity she had told him, "I can think of no one more brave and trustworthy than you, Sota."

Present time.

So that was why he must protect the jewel shard. Why he, Sota Higurashi (sometimes known as Sota Yasha…) must not falter in his charge, why he simply could not-!

The doorknob was turning. Sota gasped. Grandpa continued to snore.

Sessho Maru entered the room with such grace that his feet scarcely seemed to touch the ground. Sota gaped up at him.

"I am charged with telling you," he began, in his cold and emotionless voice, "that-"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" the impulse to flee had finally made the long journey from Sota's brain to his legs, following just behind his overall urge to panic. Sessho Maru watched through heavy lidded eyes as the young boy tore out of the room.

"It is time to eat," he finished for the benefit of the empty room and the sleeping octogenarian. He shrugged elegantly and turned to leave the room when he noticed an obscenely overweight cat by the foot of the bed. His upper lip curled into a sneer. He disliked cats.

The brown and white feline took no notice of him, so intent it was on playing with an errant string hanging down from under the mattress. It's claw caught in the cord and revealed it to be a drawstring attached to a small bag made from some coarse fiber. The Cat flicked it's paw and the bag fell to the floor.

Curious, Sessho Maru knelt down and picked it up.

Kagome seethed silently. It truly seemed as though she and Inu Yasha would never make it over an hour without fighting. Still, she mused, even the fighting is kind of nice, it gives me an excuse to just… be with him. Kagome was extremely grateful that no one else could hear this thought. Is it too much to hope-? Maybe he feels the same way?

Kagome snuck a surreptitious glance at the hanyou. Inu Yasha was slouched forward, with his left hand cupping his face. He chose that moment to exclaim loudly, "Oh, for Kami's sake, when will this RIDE be OVER!"

Kagome turned back to the window, crestfallen, Okay… Maybe not.

More to come, Really. I mean it. Seriously.