Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-yasha and company (but I wish I would). However, I do own Kiken, Koishi, Gin, Aliz, Chaz and Mike that may show up in this fic (I use them in most of my fanfics).
Symbols are: "talking", 'thoughts', ¤¤¤new place or time¤¤¤
¤¤¤¤
Chapter 25 To some calm nights is only a dream
It was again one of those nights when you get home late at night. It was dark and the only lights were those bordering the road on the left side. This was one of the few roads in this village that had lights.
Soon Inu-yasha had to turn from that lit road to another one that was dark as hell. What I meant with one of those nights? Simply it was a night when you think that around every corner jumps a freak or a monster.
In this darkness Inu-yasha was getting home trying to keep his eyes in front and not to look around even thought he felt like someone was following him all the time.
Memories from the graveyard came back and he tried to keep them away repeating "there is nothing" all the time under his breath.
Unintentionally he quickened his space when he heard noises from behind. "It's a cat, it's a cat" he repeated when walking faster and faster toward his home that was still too far away for his liking.
Those noises, however, weren't Inu-yasha's imagination. If he would have looked back he would have seen two dark figures now facing each other.
"You" the other one hissed crouching slightly ready to attack anytime.
The one who made the noise by kicking on an empty bottle stood calmly hands folded. "Me. . . "she said calmly. "You have problems with that?"
"You won't get into our way" the first one growled like a tiger. Her eyes gleamed in the dark like those of a cat, but still it didn't frighten the other one.
"You won't get to him as long as I'm alive" Aliz said walking toward the tiger like woman. "I won't let you kill another innocent boy over something so stupid" she continued when walking.
The other one growled and with out any sign jumped at Aliz sharp claws ready to hit her dead.
Aliz was surprised by the attack and jumped away, but still got a scratch on her cheek. She brought her hand on the three bloody lines on her cheek. However she didn't have much more time when the tiger like woman jumped at her again, but this time she had time to draw her sword.
Gleaming eyes widened when the attacked noticed the sword and she had no problem avoid the attack Aliz made toward her.
"Hmph!" Aliz straightened her back staring at the gleaming eyes. "So the rumours of your violent tiger-like fighting weren't a lie I see" she said narrowing her eyes. This was one of those rare nights when she had drunken only one glass of strong alcohol. "Gin."
Gin growled evilly and got on all four. Aliz didn't show any fear, but she was getting worried. This woman before her wasn't an ordinary human and she had only faced ordinary humans.
But if this girl was truly one of those attackers at the graveyard how was she able to make them run back then?
Aliz let those thoughts leave her mind when Gin attacked her again roaring like a huge tiger. Aliz didn't have enough power dodge all Gin's attacks and keep every claw and fang out from reach.
'I truly hope you appreciate this, Inu-yasha" Aliz thought almost chuckling on the thought when she finally was able to push the angry tiger off of her.
"Now die" Gin growled starting her final attack, but she was stopped when she heard a gun shot and dodged the bullet just in time. Now meters away from Aliz she looked at the direction of the shot.
She growled low when she saw Chaz standing with a gun in his hand and aiming at her. "Get lost now" Chaz said firmly. He stood calmly in a short distance aiming right at Gin's head.
In these siblings were so many differences even thought they are so alike. Aliz was the more silent than Chaz, Chaz almost never drunk and Aliz did so all the time, but maybe the most important difference was that Chaz was capable to kill unlike Aliz.
Gin knew that cause this wasn't the first time she had met up with these two and she knew it wasn't the last time when she disappeared into the shadows out of Chaz's range.
"It was about time!" Aliz growled when putting her sword back to it's scabbard. Chaz didn't say anything when he still stared on the place where Gin had been.
¤¤¤New Year¤¤¤
The New Year was cold, but a cloudless night. Inu-yasha was sitting with his friends remembering how before he left home Sesshomaru promised to take Kagome on the roof to see the fireworks.
Kagome could have gone alone, but she liked company more and Sesshomaru who had no money to visit Tokyo decided to spend the New Year with the ghost. Inu-yasha hated it when he felt jealous. His brother was spending the night with Kagome, but he wasn't exactly sure would he dare to spend time with Kagome. He still wasn't sure what to think.
"Were you planning to keep us waiting this long" Sango exclaimed when she stood up seeing Koishi and Kouga coming with bags of drinks.
"Try to carry these bags from the Saloon Bar here on a frozen road!" Kouga growled when they got up on the hill.
Now all of the friends were sitting on top of the hill that was the highest spot in this village. It was also very favoured sliding hill. During New Year there was a lot of people on the hill – especially teens – but no wonder when this was the best place to see the fireworks with out paying of them.
To keep them selves warm they had brought something to sit on, extra clothes in a bag they had and then a lot of tea and coffee. Kikyo had also made with Sango some warm food that was cold already, but they were good anyway.
Koishi sat beside Inu-yasha offering a cup of coffee. "You haven't been talking much lately" he said when his friend took the cup.
"I have been thinking a lot" Inu-yasha explained sipping on the coffee when the first fireworks lightened up the sky. Sango stood up with Kouga shouting and whistling.
Koishi chuckled when looking at Sango and Kouga. Then he turned to loo at Inu-yasha. He ruffed his white hair and said "How many times I need to tell you to leave the thinking to me, eh?!"
"Cut it off!" Inu-yasha shout playfully pushing Koishi on the ground. "You are even worse than Kiken!"
"Me?" Koishi asked when leaning on his elbows on his back. "If I would be worse than her I would be burning up your hair and clothes and make you run naked around these people with a sign around your neck where reads 'free to use'."
Inu-yasha looked long at Koishi. "Wasn't that exactly what Kiken made you do on you 18th birthday?" he asked lifting his other brow.
"Well. . . "Koishi muttered scratching his cheek with one finger just when Miroku jumped up with an aw when a huge green colored firework lit up the sky.
Sango clapped her hands and cheered on when seeing the awesome firework. Even seeing it made Koishi sit up again with an aw.
Kouga didn't get to see the firework and the next ones that flew on the sky when Kikyo pushed the guy down the hill rolling right into a lap of someone's girlfriend.
Inu-yasha and Koishi saw this and laughed when Kouga tried to get away from the jealous boyfriend unharmed. "He deserved it" Kikyo said not explaining for what.
¤¤¤the mansion¤¤¤
"Shut up brat!!" Sesshomaru growled when Shippo climbed on him all the time asking questions about his real mother.
Shippo had learned this fact during the Christmas from the others, but this was actually the only chance he could ask it from Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru was sitting on the frozen roof of his home looking at the fireworks on the sky behind trees. From the roof you could see the hill top and earlier he had told Kagome that Inu-yasha was there.
"It's none of your business" Sesshomaru growled when the kitsune didn't stop.
"Why?" Shippo asked climbing on Sesshomaru's head. "Why won't you talk about it?" he said when on his shoulder. "Why?" he said again when sitting on his lap.
Sesshomaru who had until then kept calm suddenly lifted Shippo up from his tail. "Why?" the little demon said almost with a whisper. That was enough to Sesshomaru and ht trough the kitsune over his shoulder somewhere in the snowy bushes on the garden.
"Sesshomaru!" Kagome exclaimed scowling Inu-yasha's brother. She floated to him looking straight into his eyes. "That was too cruel."
Sesshomaru just looked at her boringly. "Bring him back if that's better" he said with an uncaring voice.
"Hmph!" Kagome straightened her back having her hands on her hips. "So I will!" she said and was soon gone.
Sesshomaru sighed. He looked up at the fireworks on the sky with nothing telling expression.
Suddenly Kagome came back with out Shippo wrapping his arms around Sesshomaru quickly. Sesshomaru noticed how she was shaking of fear. "What?" he asked almost calmly but failed to hide his concern.
"Shippo. . . Strangers. . ." she said fearing to say anything aloud.
Sesshomaru looked at her over his shoulder with a question on his face. Then he stood up and carefully went to the ladder to get down from the roof. It was slippery and so Kagome helped him to maintain his balance.
Finally he got down and then he slowly went toward the entrance of the huge yard. Kagome was all the time behind his back, but she nodded to him to show that he was going to the right direction.
After hearing about the attack at the graveyard months ago he learned that everything in this village wasn't like it looked. Saloon Bar and the area around it was terrible, but the attack just confirmed his suspicions.
Sesshomaru saw a hole in the snow and knew that was the place where Shippo had landed, but the kitsune was nowhere to be seen. Then he noticed footsteps around the hole. Who could have it been? From the way they were around the hole he could tell someone was here for the little demon.
Kagome was looking carefully out from the gate of the yard. Sesshomaru came beside her and in distance he saw three dark figures of which one was holding something animal like in his hand. "Shippo?" he muttered and was answered by Kagome's nod.
"Those guys. . ." she said silently. "Have been around lately. . . Talking about Inu-yasha and about this mansion."
Sesshomaru looked at the ghost and then at the dark figures. He was silent and thoughtful for a long moment, but then suddenly he snapped out from it and run toward the house. The direction where the strangers were going. . . The hill was exactly at that direction!
"They are going there" he suddenly heard a man's voice from behind him. He stopped and turned around.
There was a man standing at the gate. Sesshomaru had seen this man before. He couldn't forget that black and green hair and those yellow eyes.
"They are after Inu-yasha" Chaz said to Sesshomaru who didn't show any feelings on his nothing-telling expression, but he knew the older of the brothers was worried.
¤¤¤at the hill¤¤¤
Inu-yasha laughed heartily even thought of his heavy thoughts. He had decided to have fun on this night and forget the stuff about freeing the ghost for now.
A small group of some college people beside them had shared their radio with them. How it didn't care about this frost they didn't know but at least it was functional.
The reason why Inu-yasha was laughing so hard was when half drunken Koishi and Kouga were dancing some dance that was meant to be tango. Koishi was the man in this dance trying to lift Kouga up couple of times just causing himself to fall on the ground and get Kouga at the top of him. Kouga had between his teeth a plastic fork that was now playing the role of a red rose.
Miroku and Sango had disappeared some time ago and Kikyo had been giggling about their disappearance. She was imply talking about naughty stuff, but Inu-yasha knew she was like that when she was enough drunk.
Inu-yasha wasn't anymore sitting on the blankets their group had, but he had switched places with two flirting guys who had gotten interested of Kikyo. Inu-yasha was talking with a girl that had her boyfriend in Tokyo. Behind them were two college students snuggling.
Inu-yasha had found out that these college students knew Sesshomaru from school. It didn't take much time for them to guess that Inu-yasha was Sesshomaru's little brother.
Inu-yasha's new companion was talking a lot of a girl who had a big crush on Sesshomaru, but didn't have the courage to ask him out. Inu-yasha was more like telling of Sesshomaru's bad side.
When Inu-yasha was having fun with his friends he wasn't aware of two pairs of watching eyes. This wasn't going to be a calm night for him.
¤¤¤¤
A/N: I had just an exam today and before I start to read for my next exam I decided to relax a bit. I was reading on TOG's (Tears of a Ghost) old chapters and then got a little inspiration, but when I was righting I got more and more ideas. . .!
I had lost my grip on this story sometime ago. I just didn't get the inspiration to write it further and so I wrote some of my other stories (and I'm not only talking about fanfics). But now I got the inspiration and I have started to see more clearly how things will go.
We are getting closer the end of this story, but there will be over 30 chapters I think. I can't figure out how could I get all I want in five chapters so it will be over 30
This was now just a special occasion. Next chapter would have appeared on next month if I wouldn't have gotten this inspiration and then wrote this is in about half an hour.
Now thanks to all my great readers!!!
Inuyashachic515: Thanks for your review! About updating sooner. . . I do it always when I have time and inspiration. I just have now a lot of school work and when it's over I work as a babysitter, but I think that in any case I get more time on next month.
Redroses: Big thanks for your review
Lunatic Pandora1: I would have no problem to read Swedish reviews. So if you want you can write them on Swedish The previous chapter was meant to do just what the title told. Prepare the stage
Pori-Chan: Hmm. . . I know the meaning of Koishi even thought I didn't know it when I came up with him. Still it won't be changed and maybe some day I come up with explanation why he's called koishi. Maybe it's cause he's sweater than his older sister looks around
sweetdaeth: I agree with you. Poor Inu-yasha. . . sigh Thanks for the review
That's to all the readers who have reviewed since uploading chapter 24.
I left you with a cliffhanger. . . Didn't I? You must bear with it, but actually this is still just going deeper into the point. I'm still not exactly sure what happens in next chapter so I can't promise anything when I'll write it smirk
Well. . . I go now and study Swedish and ask for you patience when waiting for chapters. I also would be very happy if you would even consider reading my other stories
See ya!
Symbols are: "talking", 'thoughts', ¤¤¤new place or time¤¤¤
¤¤¤¤
Chapter 25 To some calm nights is only a dream
It was again one of those nights when you get home late at night. It was dark and the only lights were those bordering the road on the left side. This was one of the few roads in this village that had lights.
Soon Inu-yasha had to turn from that lit road to another one that was dark as hell. What I meant with one of those nights? Simply it was a night when you think that around every corner jumps a freak or a monster.
In this darkness Inu-yasha was getting home trying to keep his eyes in front and not to look around even thought he felt like someone was following him all the time.
Memories from the graveyard came back and he tried to keep them away repeating "there is nothing" all the time under his breath.
Unintentionally he quickened his space when he heard noises from behind. "It's a cat, it's a cat" he repeated when walking faster and faster toward his home that was still too far away for his liking.
Those noises, however, weren't Inu-yasha's imagination. If he would have looked back he would have seen two dark figures now facing each other.
"You" the other one hissed crouching slightly ready to attack anytime.
The one who made the noise by kicking on an empty bottle stood calmly hands folded. "Me. . . "she said calmly. "You have problems with that?"
"You won't get into our way" the first one growled like a tiger. Her eyes gleamed in the dark like those of a cat, but still it didn't frighten the other one.
"You won't get to him as long as I'm alive" Aliz said walking toward the tiger like woman. "I won't let you kill another innocent boy over something so stupid" she continued when walking.
The other one growled and with out any sign jumped at Aliz sharp claws ready to hit her dead.
Aliz was surprised by the attack and jumped away, but still got a scratch on her cheek. She brought her hand on the three bloody lines on her cheek. However she didn't have much more time when the tiger like woman jumped at her again, but this time she had time to draw her sword.
Gleaming eyes widened when the attacked noticed the sword and she had no problem avoid the attack Aliz made toward her.
"Hmph!" Aliz straightened her back staring at the gleaming eyes. "So the rumours of your violent tiger-like fighting weren't a lie I see" she said narrowing her eyes. This was one of those rare nights when she had drunken only one glass of strong alcohol. "Gin."
Gin growled evilly and got on all four. Aliz didn't show any fear, but she was getting worried. This woman before her wasn't an ordinary human and she had only faced ordinary humans.
But if this girl was truly one of those attackers at the graveyard how was she able to make them run back then?
Aliz let those thoughts leave her mind when Gin attacked her again roaring like a huge tiger. Aliz didn't have enough power dodge all Gin's attacks and keep every claw and fang out from reach.
'I truly hope you appreciate this, Inu-yasha" Aliz thought almost chuckling on the thought when she finally was able to push the angry tiger off of her.
"Now die" Gin growled starting her final attack, but she was stopped when she heard a gun shot and dodged the bullet just in time. Now meters away from Aliz she looked at the direction of the shot.
She growled low when she saw Chaz standing with a gun in his hand and aiming at her. "Get lost now" Chaz said firmly. He stood calmly in a short distance aiming right at Gin's head.
In these siblings were so many differences even thought they are so alike. Aliz was the more silent than Chaz, Chaz almost never drunk and Aliz did so all the time, but maybe the most important difference was that Chaz was capable to kill unlike Aliz.
Gin knew that cause this wasn't the first time she had met up with these two and she knew it wasn't the last time when she disappeared into the shadows out of Chaz's range.
"It was about time!" Aliz growled when putting her sword back to it's scabbard. Chaz didn't say anything when he still stared on the place where Gin had been.
¤¤¤New Year¤¤¤
The New Year was cold, but a cloudless night. Inu-yasha was sitting with his friends remembering how before he left home Sesshomaru promised to take Kagome on the roof to see the fireworks.
Kagome could have gone alone, but she liked company more and Sesshomaru who had no money to visit Tokyo decided to spend the New Year with the ghost. Inu-yasha hated it when he felt jealous. His brother was spending the night with Kagome, but he wasn't exactly sure would he dare to spend time with Kagome. He still wasn't sure what to think.
"Were you planning to keep us waiting this long" Sango exclaimed when she stood up seeing Koishi and Kouga coming with bags of drinks.
"Try to carry these bags from the Saloon Bar here on a frozen road!" Kouga growled when they got up on the hill.
Now all of the friends were sitting on top of the hill that was the highest spot in this village. It was also very favoured sliding hill. During New Year there was a lot of people on the hill – especially teens – but no wonder when this was the best place to see the fireworks with out paying of them.
To keep them selves warm they had brought something to sit on, extra clothes in a bag they had and then a lot of tea and coffee. Kikyo had also made with Sango some warm food that was cold already, but they were good anyway.
Koishi sat beside Inu-yasha offering a cup of coffee. "You haven't been talking much lately" he said when his friend took the cup.
"I have been thinking a lot" Inu-yasha explained sipping on the coffee when the first fireworks lightened up the sky. Sango stood up with Kouga shouting and whistling.
Koishi chuckled when looking at Sango and Kouga. Then he turned to loo at Inu-yasha. He ruffed his white hair and said "How many times I need to tell you to leave the thinking to me, eh?!"
"Cut it off!" Inu-yasha shout playfully pushing Koishi on the ground. "You are even worse than Kiken!"
"Me?" Koishi asked when leaning on his elbows on his back. "If I would be worse than her I would be burning up your hair and clothes and make you run naked around these people with a sign around your neck where reads 'free to use'."
Inu-yasha looked long at Koishi. "Wasn't that exactly what Kiken made you do on you 18th birthday?" he asked lifting his other brow.
"Well. . . "Koishi muttered scratching his cheek with one finger just when Miroku jumped up with an aw when a huge green colored firework lit up the sky.
Sango clapped her hands and cheered on when seeing the awesome firework. Even seeing it made Koishi sit up again with an aw.
Kouga didn't get to see the firework and the next ones that flew on the sky when Kikyo pushed the guy down the hill rolling right into a lap of someone's girlfriend.
Inu-yasha and Koishi saw this and laughed when Kouga tried to get away from the jealous boyfriend unharmed. "He deserved it" Kikyo said not explaining for what.
¤¤¤the mansion¤¤¤
"Shut up brat!!" Sesshomaru growled when Shippo climbed on him all the time asking questions about his real mother.
Shippo had learned this fact during the Christmas from the others, but this was actually the only chance he could ask it from Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru was sitting on the frozen roof of his home looking at the fireworks on the sky behind trees. From the roof you could see the hill top and earlier he had told Kagome that Inu-yasha was there.
"It's none of your business" Sesshomaru growled when the kitsune didn't stop.
"Why?" Shippo asked climbing on Sesshomaru's head. "Why won't you talk about it?" he said when on his shoulder. "Why?" he said again when sitting on his lap.
Sesshomaru who had until then kept calm suddenly lifted Shippo up from his tail. "Why?" the little demon said almost with a whisper. That was enough to Sesshomaru and ht trough the kitsune over his shoulder somewhere in the snowy bushes on the garden.
"Sesshomaru!" Kagome exclaimed scowling Inu-yasha's brother. She floated to him looking straight into his eyes. "That was too cruel."
Sesshomaru just looked at her boringly. "Bring him back if that's better" he said with an uncaring voice.
"Hmph!" Kagome straightened her back having her hands on her hips. "So I will!" she said and was soon gone.
Sesshomaru sighed. He looked up at the fireworks on the sky with nothing telling expression.
Suddenly Kagome came back with out Shippo wrapping his arms around Sesshomaru quickly. Sesshomaru noticed how she was shaking of fear. "What?" he asked almost calmly but failed to hide his concern.
"Shippo. . . Strangers. . ." she said fearing to say anything aloud.
Sesshomaru looked at her over his shoulder with a question on his face. Then he stood up and carefully went to the ladder to get down from the roof. It was slippery and so Kagome helped him to maintain his balance.
Finally he got down and then he slowly went toward the entrance of the huge yard. Kagome was all the time behind his back, but she nodded to him to show that he was going to the right direction.
After hearing about the attack at the graveyard months ago he learned that everything in this village wasn't like it looked. Saloon Bar and the area around it was terrible, but the attack just confirmed his suspicions.
Sesshomaru saw a hole in the snow and knew that was the place where Shippo had landed, but the kitsune was nowhere to be seen. Then he noticed footsteps around the hole. Who could have it been? From the way they were around the hole he could tell someone was here for the little demon.
Kagome was looking carefully out from the gate of the yard. Sesshomaru came beside her and in distance he saw three dark figures of which one was holding something animal like in his hand. "Shippo?" he muttered and was answered by Kagome's nod.
"Those guys. . ." she said silently. "Have been around lately. . . Talking about Inu-yasha and about this mansion."
Sesshomaru looked at the ghost and then at the dark figures. He was silent and thoughtful for a long moment, but then suddenly he snapped out from it and run toward the house. The direction where the strangers were going. . . The hill was exactly at that direction!
"They are going there" he suddenly heard a man's voice from behind him. He stopped and turned around.
There was a man standing at the gate. Sesshomaru had seen this man before. He couldn't forget that black and green hair and those yellow eyes.
"They are after Inu-yasha" Chaz said to Sesshomaru who didn't show any feelings on his nothing-telling expression, but he knew the older of the brothers was worried.
¤¤¤at the hill¤¤¤
Inu-yasha laughed heartily even thought of his heavy thoughts. He had decided to have fun on this night and forget the stuff about freeing the ghost for now.
A small group of some college people beside them had shared their radio with them. How it didn't care about this frost they didn't know but at least it was functional.
The reason why Inu-yasha was laughing so hard was when half drunken Koishi and Kouga were dancing some dance that was meant to be tango. Koishi was the man in this dance trying to lift Kouga up couple of times just causing himself to fall on the ground and get Kouga at the top of him. Kouga had between his teeth a plastic fork that was now playing the role of a red rose.
Miroku and Sango had disappeared some time ago and Kikyo had been giggling about their disappearance. She was imply talking about naughty stuff, but Inu-yasha knew she was like that when she was enough drunk.
Inu-yasha wasn't anymore sitting on the blankets their group had, but he had switched places with two flirting guys who had gotten interested of Kikyo. Inu-yasha was talking with a girl that had her boyfriend in Tokyo. Behind them were two college students snuggling.
Inu-yasha had found out that these college students knew Sesshomaru from school. It didn't take much time for them to guess that Inu-yasha was Sesshomaru's little brother.
Inu-yasha's new companion was talking a lot of a girl who had a big crush on Sesshomaru, but didn't have the courage to ask him out. Inu-yasha was more like telling of Sesshomaru's bad side.
When Inu-yasha was having fun with his friends he wasn't aware of two pairs of watching eyes. This wasn't going to be a calm night for him.
¤¤¤¤
A/N: I had just an exam today and before I start to read for my next exam I decided to relax a bit. I was reading on TOG's (Tears of a Ghost) old chapters and then got a little inspiration, but when I was righting I got more and more ideas. . .!
I had lost my grip on this story sometime ago. I just didn't get the inspiration to write it further and so I wrote some of my other stories (and I'm not only talking about fanfics). But now I got the inspiration and I have started to see more clearly how things will go.
We are getting closer the end of this story, but there will be over 30 chapters I think. I can't figure out how could I get all I want in five chapters so it will be over 30
This was now just a special occasion. Next chapter would have appeared on next month if I wouldn't have gotten this inspiration and then wrote this is in about half an hour.
Now thanks to all my great readers!!!
Inuyashachic515: Thanks for your review! About updating sooner. . . I do it always when I have time and inspiration. I just have now a lot of school work and when it's over I work as a babysitter, but I think that in any case I get more time on next month.
Redroses: Big thanks for your review
Lunatic Pandora1: I would have no problem to read Swedish reviews. So if you want you can write them on Swedish The previous chapter was meant to do just what the title told. Prepare the stage
Pori-Chan: Hmm. . . I know the meaning of Koishi even thought I didn't know it when I came up with him. Still it won't be changed and maybe some day I come up with explanation why he's called koishi. Maybe it's cause he's sweater than his older sister looks around
sweetdaeth: I agree with you. Poor Inu-yasha. . . sigh Thanks for the review
That's to all the readers who have reviewed since uploading chapter 24.
I left you with a cliffhanger. . . Didn't I? You must bear with it, but actually this is still just going deeper into the point. I'm still not exactly sure what happens in next chapter so I can't promise anything when I'll write it smirk
Well. . . I go now and study Swedish and ask for you patience when waiting for chapters. I also would be very happy if you would even consider reading my other stories
See ya!