A/N: Hahahahaha! ((laughs like a crazed woman)) 505 reviews!.!.! Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would get so many reviews (even though I have a grip of chapters). Thanks to all of you. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and that you get as much feeling out of it as I put into it. Ja!

Disclaimer: haha, unless they actually make this into a movie, I don't plan on profiting from my fun in the least.

Previously:

"Why were they after her?" Kaede asked. Miroku shrugged.

"I'm not sure… but… Kagome-sama was marked again by Sesshoumaru…" Kaede gasped. Inside, Sango was lying down, the newborn baby at her side. She had heard every word, and her eyes were glistening with realization.

'So, Kagome… you've made your decision…'

chapter 26: rescue me

After dropping Kagome off with her friends, Sesshoumaru went straight to the first place he could think of in order to get some answers about these mysterious cloaked people. 'Who are they? Where did they come from? What are they? Why were they able to disguise their scents?' All these thoughts and more flowed through the mind of the taiyoukai. Within moments, he reached his destination: Nara's former living quarters. After disposing of his former vassal, Sesshoumaru had appointed someone else to take his place. Now serving as his vassal was a youkai named Sagara Shinji. Sagara was a member of a youkai clan that had been subservient to Sesshoumaru's rule for the past two hundred years, and for several hundred years before that under the rule of Sesshoumaru's father.

"Sagara," Sesshoumaru began, once they were seated. "What do you know about a mysterious group of cloaked travelers? They had covert dealings with Nara."

"Not much," Sagara took a moment to think. "Although while I was looking through Nara Takeshi's old things, I came across a few transaction notes that looked a bit suspicious."

"How so?"

"They were… written in Chinese." Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed.

'So these intruders may have come from the mainland?' the taiyoukai thought to himself. "Tell me, Sagara- were there women present at this place when you arrived?" Sagara Shinji nodded his head.

"Yes, milord."

"And are they present at this moment?"

"Yes. Do you wish to speak with them?" Sesshoumaru stood up, and Sagara scrambled to his feet.

"Where are they?" After bowing to his lord, Sagara turned to the exit.

"Follow me." Sesshoumaru followed his vassal down an outdoor hallway into something like a harem room. Inside were about twenty women- all young and beautiful. "They are at your service. Please inform me if there is anything else you desire." After bowing to Sesshoumaru, Sagara Shinji left the room, closing the doors behind him. The women all looked at Sesshoumaru curiously. They were glad that Sagara was not nearly as vicious toward them as Nara had been, but they had no idea what to make of this beautiful yet indifferent-looking youkai who stood before them.

"Is there a leader among you?" Sesshoumaru asked. He knew that if he mentioned Nara, he would get nothing but chaos in return. The oldest-looking woman- not much older than Kagome- stepped forward. "Who are you?" he asked her.

"My name is Yamamoto Natsuko. How may we be of service to you?" The woman bowed gracefully. Sesshoumaru nodded his head.

"What can you tell me about your captors? Were they hooded men?" The woman's eyes grew wide with the horror of remembrance. Small gasps resounded throughout the room. After getting her wits again, the woman replied.

"Those horrible things… I don't know if they were men, but they had abilities like youkai."

"Go on," Sesshoumaru told her.

"Their cloaks are thick- none of us could see past them. They have an ability to shoot silent sound waves from their arms. That's why many of us were captured." The women nodded and murmured, each recalling a similar experience.

"Is any one of you a miko?" a small girl, about Rin's age stepped forward.

"I was in training," she said shyly. Sesshoumaru held in a scoff.

"Tell me, did you try to purify them?" The girl nodded.

"Yes. We tried many things. My village heard of three cloaked people who came to steal away young women. The head miko erected a protective barrier, but they walked through it like it didn't even exist!" Panic began to show itself in her voice as she remembered what had happened that fateful day. "I tried shooting arrows at them, but they only glanced off of their cloaks. It was almost like armor."

"Did you say barrier?" 'This is bad,' he thought to himself. The girl nodded. "That is all I needed to know." Sesshoumaru turned and left the room, leaving a very confused bunch of women behind him.

"How did you find everything, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Sagara asked, when he saw Sesshoumaru leave the room. Sesshoumaru gave him no answer. Sagara asked another question, but Sesshoumaru was too enveloped in his own thoughts to hear it. While his vassal was still talking, Sesshoumaru took flight. Kagome was in trouble.

After a few hours of running, Inu Yasha finally arrived at his destination. "Kagome!" he shouted, hoping to find her before the 'cloaked bandits' did. He was only greeted by Miroku.

"Kagome-sama is…" Miroku's countenance told Inu Yasha that Kagome had indeed been with them.

"They got to her, did they? The cloaked bandits," Inu Yasha asked Miroku.

"Ah." Inu Yasha breathed in the air.

"Congratulations, Miroku."

"Thanks. It's a boy." Inu Yasha nodded at his friend in approval. However, he seemed too busy sniffing the air to say anything more. Miroku assumed he was trying to trace Kagome's scent.

"Kagome… did anything happen to her?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… did she… look different?" Miroku's expression fell.

"Not at first. But when the cloaked bandits-as you called them- arrived, suddenly she appeared to be transformed."

"I see." 'So, you've done it again, Sesshoumaru.' Inu Yasha began to walk to the field, where earlier that day Kagome had agreed to go with the cloaked bandits. "I'm going to get Kagome. We'll be back."

"Be careful, Inu Yasha. Their power is great. They had resistance to Kagome's reiki, as well as barrier magic and my ofuda. Not only that, but they seem to have the ability to manipulate air."

"Right," Inu Yasha nodded. "See you soon, Miroku." And with that, Inu Yasha began to trace Kagome's hanyou scent.

Only moments after Inu Yasha departed, Sesshoumaru arrived on the scene. Miroku was still standing in the field, and was just about to go back to the hut, when he was greeted with a punch in the face by the taiyoukai. It leveled him.

"Kagome was taken by the cloaked bandits," Miroku informed Sesshoumaru from the ground. Sesshoumaru merely stared at him with narrowed eyes. If looks could kill, this would have done the trick at least fifty times over. Miroku remained on the ground, propped up by his elbows. He was safe. If Sesshoumaru was going to kill him, he already would have done so. A short but low growl escaped from Sesshoumaru- almost so low, that Miroku almost missed it. But in the next second, Sesshoumaru was out of sight.

'It's not just the fact that Kagome was kidnapped. But… what is Inu Yasha doing here?' As he traced Kagome's scent, he also smelled the stronger, fresher scent of his brother. Inu Yasha truly carried the scent of a youkai, now. Within minutes, Sesshoumaru caught sight of Inu Yasha. He closed the distance, and flew next to his brother, who continued to run in leaps and bounds.

"Sesshoumaru!" Inu Yasha growled. "So, you did it again, huh?"

"What's that?" Sesshoumaru asked just to spite Inu Yasha. Of course he knew to what his brother was referring.

"Don't play games with me. You marked her again, didn't you?" Sesshoumaru smirked.

"That's right. It took you so long to come for your woman, Inu Yasha, so I made her mine." At this comment, Inu Yasha turned his body and grabbed Sesshoumaru by the collar. In one swift motion, he slammed Sesshoumaru to the ground and straddled him. Wasting no time, he raised a fist, preparing to punch out his brother. Sesshoumaru however, swiveled to the side and with a rolling motion, swept Inu Yasha off of his knees. Within seconds, it was now the older brother who was on the offensive. "Do you still think you can defeat this Sesshoumaru in battle?"

"Keh," Inu Yasha said, pushing his brother off of him, "I've improved." Sesshoumaru smirked again.

"Hmph, and at the cost of your woman. Tell me brother, does it bother you that while it took you six years to get nowhere with her, she agreed to a temporary mark from this Sesshoumaru after only two weeks?" Inu Yasha's eyes widened, and his heart felt like it had stopped.

"SHUT UP!" Inu Yasha jumped to his feet and faced his brother. "Look, I'm sorry about what happened with Rin- but that doesn't mean that you have the right to steal Kagome!" Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed, and glinted dangerously in the light.

In a brief moment, Sesshoumaru again had his hand on Inu Yasha's throat. This time, however, there was no poison being inflicted. "What right do you have to bring the dead into this fight?" he asked, in a low, controlled voice. Sesshoumaru threw his brother back a few meters. Inu Yasha rubbed his throat, and stood once more.

"We don't have a lot of time- Kagome's in trouble."

"This isn't your affair."

"What's that supposed to mean? Whatever concerns Kagome is my affair," Inu Yasha spat.

"You're late on the news, brother. The kidnappers know Kagome belongs to me, so they're using her as bait to draw me out." Sesshoumaru normally wouldn't have exposed the reason as to why it was his affair, only for the fact that it allowed him to rub it in Inu Yasha's face that he had marked her. Truth be told, he was getting more protective of her by the minute. As Sesshoumaru trailed Kagome's scent, the smell of his blood mixed with hers was beginning to affect him.

"Tch, like I'm gonna believe that," Inu Yasha replied. Inwardly, however, he realized that his brother's reasoning did make sense.

"Don't believe it if you don't want to. However, belief or disbelief in something cannot change the truth." Turning, Sesshoumaru resumed his pursuit along the trail that Kagome's scent had made. Inu Yasha quickly followed suit.

"Kagome isn't your woman, unless she said she's your woman!" Inu Yasha shouted to his brother as he caught up. Sesshoumaru remained silent. "Has… she said it?"

"You would be wise to stay out of this, little brother."

"Whatever." The two youkai brothers quickly traced the scent of Kagome to the lair of the cloaked bandits. Both slowed to a stop, and stared at the entrance. It was a cave. 'This looks a lot like Midoriko's cave,' Inu Yasha remarked to himself. After a moment of silence, Sesshoumaru began to walk slowly, steadily into the mouth of the cave.

Kagome had been placed in the bottom of what looked like a 12 foot deep dirt pit. The walls were too slimy to climb up, and in the cave there seemed to be a kind of barrier that prevented her from using any of the yuketsu incantations. "What's going on?" she called, hoping that one of her captors would come and give her some answers.

"Relax, young one," one of the cloaked figures said, leaning over the entrance to the pit. "You are not our final objective. After you have completed your task, I'm sure you will make a tasty snack for us." The figure clicked in laughter.

"Who are you?" At this question, the figure stood up straight, and left the mouth of the pit, saying nothing in response to their prisoner. Kagome was just about to ask another question, when she smelled it. The scents of Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha were approaching. 'Inu Yasha..? What's he doing here?' she asked herself, worriedly. What if he saw her? What if he smelled her? She wasn't able to perform any kind of yuketsu spell. She heaved a sigh of despair. If he was here, that meant he had tracked her scent. And if he had tracked her scent, well… that meant he knew she had been marked- yet again- by his brother.

"Sesshoumaru has come," one of the figures clicked. They nodded to each other.

"The plan is beginning to come to fruition," the other said.

"But… there is another who comes with Sesshoumaru," the first figure added.

"What's this? Another? Who?"

"It appears that they are brothers."

"Do not worry, a mere hanyou poses no threat to us. That Inu Yasha will be nothing to worry about," the third told them. Kagome's amber eyes widened. It seemed he had done some research into Sesshoumaru's family lineage.

"But… he is no hanyou. Both brothers… are youkai." If Kagome was right, she heard a tinge of fear in his voice. She smiled to herself; she knew that her kidnappers were going to perish very soon.

"What!" the third figure exclaimed. It was hard for Kagome to make out the rest of the conversation, because the rest of it was carried out in clicks and what sounded to her like the Cantonese dialect.

'They're… from the mainland?' Kagome thought to herself. 'I wonder what they want…' She assumed it had something to do with Sesshoumaru's lands. Probably they thought that if they had her, then Sesshoumaru might acquiesce to their demands. 'But… why me? Sesshoumaru…' Kagome realized, at least to a point, that others had become aware of her relationship to the taiyoukai. Not only that, but it also seemed as though Sesshoumaru was acknowledging her importance to him, as well. His coming for her was proof enough. But now, Inu Yasha had come as well. Kagome didn't like it, but… she was almost certain what her decision was going to be.

Her mom had been right. Kagome loved Inu Yasha, but it wasn't the same kind of love as it used to be. She had settled into the feeling, and become complacent- sticking with Inu Yasha only because it was where she was used to being. Kagome wasn't stupid; she was aware that Inu Yasha's personality had softened since he met her. But now, Inu Yasha seemed so well-adjusted to life with everyone. She really believed that he didn't need her so much anymore. At this moment, the young woman believed that Sesshoumaru's need for her companionship was greater than Inu Yasha's need for her to be by his side. Perhaps she could invoke a change in Sesshoumaru like the change she had made in Inu Yasha.

Not only that, but the excitement that was no longer there with Inu Yasha was present with Sesshoumaru- the butterflies that had slowly faded away had now been reborn as she experienced the beginnings of romance with Sesshoumaru. Whether or not this was only because it was a new sensation was beyond Kagome. She also couldn't deny the appeal of breaking through all of the barriers Sesshoumaru put up between himself and everyone else. The excitement at being the one who was able to evoke softness and dare she say it- love- was almost overwhelming. Upon detecting the scent of the brothers, her heart leapt when she thought of the taiyoukai coming to save her, but in the same breath sank when she discovered that Inu Yasha had come, as well. Her decision had been put off long enough. It wouldn't be easy, but… it had to be done, and now was the time.

"This stinks," Inu Yasha commented, putting his arm over his sensitive nose. The fact that he was in his youkai form- which heightened his senses- didn't help matters, either. "How can you stand the smell?" he asked, looking sidelong at his brother. Sesshoumaru merely continued his pace in silence, remembering the stench of Kagome's time. He could ask the same question of his little brother, in terms of the ability to stomach the putrid smells of the future. The cave was lined with torches that burned with an eerie blue light. After a few minutes of walking, they were almost to their destination. Kagome's scent was fresh, and both brothers knew she was nearby.

"So, you've come," came a voice from the darkness.

"…With a friend…" a second voice added. Two figures emerged from the shadow, and stepped into the blue light offered by the torches on the wall. At this comment, Sesshoumaru looked behind him at his brother, and then faced forward once more.

"This one came out of his own volition. Do not connect me to him," Sesshoumaru spoke of Inu Yasha.

"Where's Kagome?" Inu Yasha demanded.

"She's safe… for now. Our brother is guarding her. And if anything happens to us, he will kill her immediately."

"Tch," Inu Yasha growled. He hated situations like this- and they always seemed to happen. He looked at his brother, to see what he was going to do.

"What makes you think that matters to this Sesshoumaru?"

"…wh--at?" one of the figures clicked.

"WHAT!.?" Inu Yasha echoed the enemy, but louder. His eyes widened; he couldn't believe that his arrogant older brother would be so willing to lay Kagome's life on the line. He was snapped out of his shock when, in the next moment, both of the cloaked brothers faced a barrage of whips from Sesshoumaru's hand. Instantly, Inu Yasha ran past the battle to find Kagome.

From the distance, the figure watching over Kagome spotted Inu Yasha's approach. "It seems, young one, that your master Sesshoumaru has forfeited your life. All that remains now is for you to die." Kagome stared up from the bottom of the pit at her hooded kidnapper, who was now crouching at the lip of the hole. He slowly raised his arm and pointed it down at her. "Now, it's time." Kagome began to see a small ripple appear in the air, and make its way toward her. But just before it reached her, the figure was knocked over by none other than Inu Yasha.

"Inu Yasha!" Kagome shouted, glad to see him- and yet worried about her final decision. This scene was beginning to look familiar to her… it was almost like the dream she had the other night.

"Just stay put, Kagome- I'll save you," he told her, his back to her. He had drawn Tetsusaiga, and was preparing to battle the third hooded figure.

"Where else do you think I'm gonna go?" she mumbled under her breath.

"Brat, why are you helping your brother? Our research has shown that you two have never been…"

"Tch," Inu Yasha interrupted his opponent. "This has nothing to do with him. Now prepare yourself to die!"

"Your pathetic sword can't penetrate our cloaks," it hissed. "A hanyou's sword will never match the strength of my youkai body!"

"Hanyou, huh?" Inu Yasha spat. "I'll show you the ability of a taiyoukai!" With that, Inu Yasha struck at the hooded figure with his transformed Tetsusaiga. His training had paid off, and his speed with the sword had nearly doubled. In an instant, the blade ripped through the seemingly-impenetrable cloak, and the hooded figure was halved.

"No…since when was this sword… so… powerful?" the figure clicked as it faded away. The ripped cloak fell into a heap on the ground.

"Keh, serves you right for underestimating my youkai blade," he told the pile of clothes as Tetsusaiga reverted into its docile state. After sheathing his sword, Inu Yasha transformed back into his hanyou form. Tetsusaiga's power had grown parallel to his own. Apparently when Tetsusaiga was laced using the new lanyard, reserves of its natural youki that had previously been restrained were thereby released, powering up the sword in preparation for its new youkai wielder. He kicked the cloak, and a small roach crawled out of the clothes, attempting an escape. Inu Yasha crushed it underneath his heel. Turning, he crouched at the lip of the pit where Kagome was held prisoner.

"Kagome," he said softly, "are you alright?"

"Mm," Kagome told him.

"So… this is what the temporary mark looks like, huh?" Kagome looked up at him with glistening eyes. He seemed so sad, and yet… she could still hear his love for her in his voice.

"Mm." In a brief moment, Inu Yasha had jumped down into the pit, and stood next to Kagome.

"Come on, let's get you out of here." Taking her by the waist, he leapt up out of the pit.

"I don't understand… there used to be a barrier- I couldn't get out," she told him.

"Sesshoumaru probably killed the others- so the barrier fell." Inu Yasha released his hold on her waist, and turned to face her completely. "Listen, Kagome… Sesshoumaru tells me that you've decided to stay with him- permanently. Is- is this true?" Kagome averted her eyes from Inu Yasha's gaze, and looked at the ground beside her.

"I… I've decided to give him a chance." Inu Yasha stared at her for a minute, his amber eyes opened wide with shock.

"A… a chance?" his ears drooped. "Kagome… so…I…"

"I'm sorry, Inu Yasha," Kagome felt hot tears begin to flow down her cheeks. "I never meant for this to happen."

"Is it because of the mark?" Inu Yasha's eyes were wide, and his voice shook with disbelief. Kagome shook her head.

"It's not just that. I think that if I stay with him, I might be able to help him open up. He… needs me."

"I need you, Kagome. Don't you see? You- you're my life," she could see the tears begin to glisten in his amber eyes as well. Not only that, but she could smell his grief. At that moment, Sesshoumaru stepped into the light.

"Kagome, it's time to leave," he told her. Kagome looked at the taiyoukai, and then back at his little brother.

"Shut up! Can't you see we're having a conversation?" Inu Yasha choked out. Sesshoumaru smirked.

"Hm, very well. I will be outside, waiting," and with that, the youkai lord turned and headed for the mouth of the cave.

'There's no doubt Sesshoumaru heard what Kagome just said. He's rubbing it in!' Inu Yasha burned with anger at his cocky older brother. But when he looked at Kagome, all his anger melted away into the feeling of wretchedness and loneliness. He hadn't felt this way for years. When had he?That loneliness and wretchedness was all he felt until he met Kagome, and she changed him. "Kagome," he whispered shakily.

"Inu Yasha, we'll always be friends. And Miroku, Sango, Shippou, Kohaku… they're all around, too,"

"I don't.. I don't want to be just friends. It's… I… I love you, Kagome," he told her. Kagome wiped her eyes- she couldn't see straight with all the tears welling up. As she wiped her own eyes, Inu Yasha also wiped his.

"I'll be around- you'll still see me… will you at least agree to that?" she asked weakly, avoiding commenting on his declaration of love for her. Inu Yasha shook his head.

"How can I bear to see you- when I know who it is that you've chosen?"

"I'm… I'm so sorry, Inu Yasha."

"Will- will you be happy?" Kagome looked at him, the one whom she had loved for so long, and began to sob. "If you're not happy, Kagome, I'll fight for you. If it's something that I can do, I'll do it," he offered. She covered her face with her hands, and shook her head.

"There's been enough fighting," Kagome cried. "I don't want to lose you, Inu Yasha, but I don't want to lose Sesshoumaru, either." Inu Yasha could only stand there and watch the woman he loved cry. It wasn't his place to comfort her now- especially if she was making the choice to be with his brother.

"Ja, Kagome," he said as comforting as possible, "I won't fight. Will you stop crying?" he held a hand out to her, but then rethought his actions, and pulled it back to his side. "I… I won't fight." Kagome continued to cry.

'Why does he have to be so perfect? Why does it have to be this hard?' Kagome thought. While she had considered her decision for so long, she could never have guessed the sheer pain that it was capable of causing.

"Stop crying, Kagome. It's okay. Don't cry." Inu Yasha's voice had a calming effect. He sounded so strong, so sure of himself. And here she was, a total mess. Finally, she stopped sobbing. While her face was now calm, the tears still flowed freely. She wiped them away, and looked at Inu Yasha. He was standing in front of her, looking at her intently. The fuzzy ears that she loved to stroke were drooping, almost flat against his head. His shoulders were slightly slumped, but his face remained soft. "Are you okay, now?" he asked her. It was weird, she would have expected him to embrace her to comfort her. But now it was only his words. He made no attempt to draw her to him.

While he was putting on the strongest exterior possible, his spirit was broken. Why would he attempt to comfort a woman who was not his own? This kind of pain- it was worse than anything his brother or anyone else could have ever caused. Nothing- not even what happened in the past with Naraku and Kikyou- could compare to this. No one was tricked. It was Kagome's choice. She was the first person Inu Yasha completely trusted and loved unconditionally, and look where it got him.

Kagome stepped forward until she was only a few inches away from Inu Yasha. Slowly, she reached up, and took hold of the rosary around his neck. Inu Yasha gasped; he knew what she was going to do. The tears began to flow for both of them, as she lifted the prayer beads over his head, removing the last thing that tied them to each other.

"I'm so sorry, Inu Yasha," she told him as she leaned forward and grabbed his right hand in her left. Gently, she placed the rosary into his hand, and she reached for his other hand, laying it on the beads. "I hope…" she trailed off, dropping her hands from his, "I hope that you can forgive me." Giving Inu Yasha one last look, she turned and ran up the path to the mouth of the cave as quickly as possible, Inu Yasha staring after her in complete disbelief. His hands dropped to his sides, the rosary now in the fist of his right hand. He squeezed the beads, as countless tears formed and fell from his eyes.

"Goodbye…Kagome," he whispered in finality, the knot in his throat growing with each passing second. His stomach churned- he felt as though he was going to be severely ill. When he could no longer hear her footsteps echo through the cavern, the youkai fell to his hands and knees and wept.

A/N: I hope you guys are all happy. This stupid chapter made me cry, and curse you all. It made me not want to write any more, but I know that's impossible to just end the story right there. And, haha, I'll bet you're all surprised (and hopefully not terribly disappointed)that I resolved that all in just one chapter (also what I mean by 'i'm getting lazy')! In any case, Ihope you all liked it as much as the other chapters. Anyway! It's time for reviewer responses! Yay!

Reviewer Responses:

inuyashalover19: Heh, I also wish that I could see this story in actual anime action. I can see it pretty well in my head though, so I guess that'll have to be good enough. Thanks for the compliment!

NicoleP: hahahaha! Merrrry Christmas!.!.! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It took so long to turn out probably because it's a pretty decent length. Your anxiousness is also a great compliment! Thank you!

Hoshiko Shinomori: Yes, I also believe that the mark has a stronger effect on S-dono. This is probably because he's driven by instinct. Kagome is also affected, though, make no mistake about that. She's the one who kissed him first.. I hope your questions were all answered! Thanks for the compliment, and for reviewing!

Beulah Page: haha! Yes, I do like to draw things out, I guess. I think that's why this story ended up so long in the first place. The fact that Shippou had a 'friendly match' with Sesshoumaru probably meant to Inu Yasha that Shippou was beginning to attach himself to his brother. Not only that, but it also probably meant that Shippou was gladly accepting advice from someone other than his own 'sensei,' and in effect, saying to Inu Yasha that Sesshoumaru's techniques were better. Something like that, I figure. So Inu Yasha was angry that his brother is suddenly butting into his life, and taking people away from him. The cloaked bandits, until now, had only gone up against humans and lesser youkai. That's why they seemed to be defeated so easily by Inu-chan and S-dono. I think S-dono didn't want the shikon not because it would control him, but because he has a crazy huge superiority complex, and believes that he's good enough without it. He won't settle for "fake power."

tefi2007: haha! Thanks for looking at my other stuff! I personally liked that story, too... but it doesn't have hardly any reviews! Could you do me a favor and go review on it? Heh, heh... review junkie, here...

Thanks also to my reviewers Golden-Eyed-Girl, Bethany A, EmoChicka, Japanese Jade, zookie78, InuyashaGal, Moon's Rain, hermonine, whimsy, Ryosha (haha, thanks! -blush- I'll bet you say that to all the fanfic writers!), sheenachi, Lady Lenn, Exunamoon, Whit (thank you), Tracy J, duckgirl566 (haha, don't worry... I'll try not to do anything that'll make me have to change the rating of the story)and toxiclollipop (me too, I hate canned veggies. Nasty! Corn on the cob is the best!).

I hope to see your names again! Aba-yo!