I'm back! I'm so sorry for taking so long! You see, I told you about my trip to Europe, but then my sister went on a week long trip, and she's the only one that knows the password to this computer. Then the electricity went down on the second day of her trip, and the computer went down with it, so I've had three weeks with no computer! Next, I was so busy taking care of my summer reading! Then I started two camps and they take up the whole day! And I just plain couldn't figure out how to start this chapter. This is going to be totally crazy. Just a warning, there will be twists, bloodshed, fear, and a hell of a lot of sarcasm! Enjoy! And I would like to thank NellaFire for giving me my 100th review! And I would like to thank everyone for helping me get there! THANK YOU!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha but who cares! There's a guy at my school that's much hotter! Well, no he's not, but at least he's 3-D!
Nightfall2525- Ok, what happens next is kinda complicated. There are way too many emotions flying around in this story. If I had known I was gonna write this much drama in this story, I wouldn't have started it! And no, Naraku doesn't want Sango. I can't say much more without spoiling the chapter! Just read and you'll find out!
Mistress WaiKiki- Yes, my ideas amaze me, too. I have no clue where I get this stuff. I'm surprised no one has reviewed and told me how upset they were about me supposedly killing off Inu! Well, now it's too late 'cuz that's gonna be taken care of in this chapter. R&R!
youkosangohiei- Well, I must say no one's ever called me "little missy" before. And I'll take the bossiness as a sign that you must really like this story! And it was sorta impossible to update before I left because I updated right before I went to the airport. Sorry! I hope this makes up for it!
blonde- I am definitely not stopping there! I'm gonna have my happy ending, then a sequel! And Naraku is a bastard. And Kagome's not gonna purify the shard. But I do have some good news! And it has nothing to do with car insurance! (I can't drive anyway.) Naraku will not get his way! You may have to wait for the next chapter to find out, though. R&R!
NellaFire- Yeah, he's gonna do it, Sango and Fluffy will be together in the end, and I've been thinking about the Miroku-Shizuka thing for a long time now! I'm trying to get them back in the story, but I need to find a logical way to bring them together! Suggestions? And thanks again for my 100th review!
Sesshomaru is mine- I know what you mean! I read in a couple fics and I was like "WTF?" When I decided to put it in my story, I had to find a way to imagine it myself. Difficult, but doable. And I didn't go to Germany. Just England, Scotland, and France. My family heritage is half German, though! Does that count?
AngelAbove- Thank god! I need some ideas! You can make them as detailed as you want! I think it would be nice to here more reviewer suggestions. I have no clue what the masses like. And sorry I ended it like that! It was actually longer than usual, though. I hope this chapter's better!
annabanana- Sorry, but I don't do lemon. After this story ends, there will be a sequel where they already have a child, but there's not actually gonna be lemon in any of the stories. Sorry!
Katie- Sorry for making you suffer! I've been really busy with everything. And if you liked the emotion, wait 'til you see how much is in this chapter! Hope this makes up for everything!
GothOnTheInside824- Yeah, I ended it there, but here's the rest! Yay! This is probably gonna be another way freaky chapter. It gets pretty intense. Keep reviewing!
RECAP:
"Kagura," Naraku said, "escort our guest outside the grounds."
Kagura nodded. Sesshomaru followed her out of the castle and outside the grounds, beyond the barrier. Kagura disappeared towards the barrier with a short, "Good bye, Sesshomaru," and Sesshomaru started on what was sure to be a long and hard journey. He found Inuyasha's scent within a few minutes.
He didn't want to do this. He had never actually wanted to kill his brother. To him, their relationship was sibling rivalry that got a bit out of control.
This was going to cause a lot of trouble.
Naraku laughed. Sesshomaru's mind must have been very clouded if he had not guessed from the start that this was some sort of trick. It was going to be fun to watch Sesshomaru fall at the hands of the woman he loves. Naraku laughed again.
That damn Naraku! On with the show!
"Sango, are you sure you want to do this?" Kagome asked.
"I'm sorry, Kagome, but I just need to be alone for awhile. I will meet you in Kaede's village in a few weeks. You can find me in my village until then," Sango replied.
Kagome nodded. Sango gave her a hug. She hugged everyone in the group, Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippo, reaching Rin last.
"Are you going to go make up with Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin asked hopefully.
"No, Rin-chan. Sesshomaru and I have realized that we can't be together," Sango said gently, though it wasn't entirely the truth.
"But Sesshomaru-sama and Sango-chan love each other!" Rin argued.
Sango looked down at the girl with sad eyes and a smile plastered on her face. She gave Rin one last hug and mounted Kirara. She took a final look at the group facing her before Kirara took to the skies.
Sesshomaru's blood was boiling. He was close now. Inuyasha's scent was burning in his nostrils. He broke through one last clump of trees and the group of
five stood before him.
'Wait a minute,' Sesshomaru thought. 'Five? There should be six. Where is Sango?' His thoughts were interrupted as an angry shout drifted to his ears.
"What are you doing here!" Inuyasha yelled. He vaguely saw Kagome usher Rin and Shippo into a hiding place in the woods.
"I have come to kill you," Sesshomaru breathed.
"You haven't managed to yet! What makes you think you can now!"
"Silence! I will kill you!" 'For Sango…' he added to himself.
Inuyasha scoffed as he drew Tetsusaiga. Sesshomaru, likewise, drew his sword. The two brothers stood there for a moment. Then, simultaneously, they attacked. There were many flashes of light and clashes of metal. One could not even tell what was happening until Inuyasha flew back with a gash in his chest as long as his arm. Sesshomaru stood with a cut near the end of his mouth. It was slowly dribbling blood.
Kagome was the first to run over to Inuyasha. His eyes were closed and his breathing, shallow and raspy. Miroku too rushed to his friends side after making sure that Sesshomaru was not about to attack.
"Inuyasha!" whispered Kagome as she felt his forehead. He was becoming feverish. "Inuyasha wake up!"
She let out something between a gasp and a scream as something cold and sharp grazed her back. Sesshomaru was holding Tokijin directly between her shoulder blades above her spine.
"Move," he commanded threateningly.
Kagome struggled with herself for a moment. Then Miroku lashed out his staff at the ready, but Sesshomaru kicked him back with a horrible CRUNCH. It sounded as if his nose had broken. He lay on the ground with blood seeping onto the soil below.
"Move," Sesshomaru repeated more menacingly.
Kagome battled within. She would never forgive herself if she let Inuyasha die, but she knew Inuyasha would never forgive her if she died.
"Kagome," Inuyasha choked, "listen to him. Get out of the way…" He shuddered, his eyes still closed.
"No, I wont-" she took a deep breath, "-I won't let you die." The point of the sword moved closer to her skin, and she involuntarily moved forward.
"As touching as this is," Sesshomaru began, "my patience is short and I have other business to attend to. Onna, move or I shall kill you both."
Inuyasha made to force Kagome out of the way, but something flew full-speed at Sesshomaru and he was forced withdraw his weapon to block it. The thing flew back towards the sun and was eclipsed in the light. Next a figure was separating itself from the glow. It was soon realized to be Sango on Kirara.
Sesshomaru turned back to where the stubborn Kagome had been trying to protect Inuyasha. However, his distraction had given her time to draw her weapon, and an arrow was now hovering inches in front of Sesshomaru's face. Meanwhile, Sango had landed a few yards away from the commotion.
"It's over, Sesshomaru," said Kagome.
He looked to either side of him. Sango had dismounted and stood a few yards away. She had Hiraikotsu prepared to strike with her free hand fingering the hilt of her katana; but wait. He could easily win this fight. He was facing two humans and not just humans; women. He privately laughed.
"It is far from over," he said with a hint of amusement all too evident. "I can easily take on two onna ningen… And do you really think that arrow can hurt me?" he added to Kagome.
She looked very indignant and made to remark, but Sango interrupted, "Kagome is not an ordinary human and nor am I. Kagome, show him."
Kagome let her arrow fly. A pink light surrounded it, and Sesshomaru's eyes widened in alarm and even fright. It was too late to react as the arrow pierced him directly in the middle of his armor. Cracks winged their way away from the opening. Piece by piece the shield that encased him fell away until, at last, the
whole thing hit the ground. Blood was spattering from where the arrow was now sticking through his crimson-stained hakama. He raised a clawed hand to the arrow and tried to pull it out. It wouldn't budge. The harder he pulled, the more it seemed to want to stay in. He left it.
"So she is a miko," Sesshomaru said quietly more to himself.
He looked up. Kagome had drawn another arrow and had pointed it directly over his heart with shaking hands. Sango was now walking closer.
"Kagome," she called, "don't let him move."
Kagome nodded over her shoulder and focused all senses on her enemy, trying to steady her trembling bow. Sango was only a few feet away, bending over Miroku. She turned him over so that she could inspect his bleeding nose. It was bent horribly out of its original shape and he looked paler from the amount of blood lost through it.
Sango lifted him into a sitting position. She hoisted him over her shoulder and walked over to Kirara. Sango rested Miroku on Kirara's back, still unconscious. She then moved to Inuyasha, keeping a cold eye on Sesshomaru as she did so. He was following her every move carefully with an expression unreadable to even one as practiced as Sango. She lifted Inuyasha and rested him on Kirara also.
She then strode over to the forest, bent over a plant, and whispered something inaudible to all on the path, including Sesshomaru. She turned back around to very confused looks, some possibly she had gone insane to start talking to bushes, but all was explained as Rin and Shippo clambered out of their hideaway in the shrubbery.
Rin was holding something very tightly in her fist. She looked scared and wouldn't take her eyes off of Sesshomaru. She walked up to Sesshomaru rather bravely for the expression on her face. However, when she reached him, she looked as weary and frightened as could be. She thrust her fist out at him, not looking at his face, and he held both his hands out under her clenched one to receive whatever she was offering him. She dropped it.
It looked like a small stone doll, but, before Sesshomaru had time to examine it, Rin muttered in a quiet voice, "Good bye, Sesshomaru-sama." The second her words had ended, there was a huge POING! A few wisps of smoke cleared and Sesshomaru was struggling to remove his hands from underneath the doll, now bigger than his head. He saw Sango climb onto Kirara a few feet away, and Kagome was stashing her weapon.
"Peel the spell scroll to remove it," Rin said in that same sad voice, still not looking directly at Sesshomaru.
She was then seized around the waist by Kagome and they were both lifted into the air by Shippo, who had transformed into a giant pink bubble. Kirara took off seconds after this. Sesshomaru looked from Rin to Sango until they were out of sight.
Sango searched for where, she knew, the perfect hiding place would be. She spotted it, a wide, curving river with an enormous waterfall at its base, that she was aware, concealed a cave. She looked slightly to the right and saw what remained of her home. She remembered coming to play and train near this waterfall quite often when she was very little. They landed about ten yards up stream of the natural beauty. Kagome landed a few feet away after Shippo had transformed back.
"We need to walk through the water so our scent will disappear and Sesshomaru won't be able to track us," Sango said. "Smells disappear in water," Sango explained to Kagome's confused expression.
"But Sango, where are we going?" Kagome asked as she set Rin on the ground.
"You see that waterfall?" Kagome nodded. "There's a cave behind it that I used to play in. My village is on the other side of those trees." She pointed indirectly.
Kagome gave Sango a look that clearly said, "You're a genius!" They walked through a shallow area near the bank, the water just below their knees. Inuyasha and Miroku were still unconscious, riding Kirara. Shippo and Rin had also boarded the giant neko.
They reached the foot of the waterfall within three minutes. Kagome looked at Sango as though questioning where they were to go next.
"They entrance is on the other side of the water," Sango answered. "Kirara is the only one with the strength to pull all of us through."
"Oh, come on! We could easily walk through this!" Kagome said undoubtedly. She started walking, but drew back when her foot came to rest on nothing.
"I don't think we could swim it, though," Sango said, amused. "The drop is about eight feet deep. Come here…"
They situated themselves to hang around Kirara's neck. Using much of her strength, Kirara pulled them around the cascade of liquid where there was an inlet in the rock. Sango and Kagome both climbed awkwardly out of the water while Shippo and Rin both hopped into the small, rocky shelter. It was wet and mossy, making it difficult to get Inuyasha and Miroku off without slipping and letting them fall to a watery grave. They compensated by having Kagome steady Sango while she unloaded the two men. Once this was managed, Kirara hopped onto the rock and untransformed, and everyone conscious looked at Sango once more.
"This way," she said, turning to her left.
They dragged Inuyasha and Miroku across the moss and reached another gap in the rock. It looked like a small water slide. Small holes about a foot of the way down formed jets where water seeped down the glassy-smooth surface. Sango lowered herself to the entrance.
"I'll go down first," Sango stated. "Send Inuyasha when I tell you it's okay. Then send Miroku. Shippo, Kirara, and Rin, you two will be next, but one at a time, okay?" (They nodded simultaneously) "And Kagome you should come last."
"Sango," Kagome started worriedly, "are you sure this is safe? What if there are yokai in the cave?"
"I'm sure, Kagome. And no yokai would hide anywhere near a taijiya village even if it was destroyed." With that, Sango slid down before Kagome could make anymore objections. There was a splash.
"Sango! Are you alright!"
"I'm fine!" Sango's echoing voice came up through the tunnel. "I forgot to tell you. There's a puddle down here which is why I had to go first. Go ahead and send Inuyasha!"
Kagome did as she was told. She readied him in front of the cavern, took a deep breath, and pushed him down. He almost seemed to float down with the dark surface below him nearly invisible until he himself faded into the darkness. There was a rustle of water, but no splash as had happened with Sango. She seemed to have stopped him before he hit. As soon as Sango gave the okay, Kagome sent Miroku and the same thing happened.
Shippo and Rin went down, followed by Kirara, and finally, Kagome was the only person left in the inlet. She took a deep breath as though about to dive into a pool and let herself go. She fell down the tube closing her eyes as tight as possible. It really did feel like a water slide one might find at an amusement park. At last, she felt two hands grab her legs, and she came to an abrupt halt.
She opened her eyes and saw Sango smiling below her. The water came up to her waist. It wasn't so much a puddle than a small lake in itself. Kagome smiled back and lowered herself into the small pool. They both climbed out to where Inuyasha and Miroku laid. Rin was wringing out her ponytail and Shippo was wringing out his tail. The sight made both women giggle slightly.
"So, where to next? Or is this it?" Kagome asked.
"I assure you, it is much more spectacular than this," Sango said grabbing Miroku and preparing to drag him once more. "Kagome, hand me one of those light sticks you keep."
Kagome grabbed Inuyasha as well and handed Sango a flashlight, and they all followed Sango through a sort of maze. The cave was so extensive that it was amazing that Sango could find her way through the many chambers after all these years.
"It's just up ahead," said Sango after about their eighth right turn.
They came to yet another archway, and Sango went in first. As each entered, she smiled satisfyingly at the astonished looks on everyone's face. They stood in a huge crystal-lined cavern the size of a small cathedral. It glowed with a wonderfully dancing radiance. There were numerous passages along the walls that quickly faded into darkness with no light to illuminate them. There was a hole in the ceiling that seemed to stretch for miles upward that would allow smoke from a fire to escape and also formed a spotlight in the middle of the room.
"This is amazing!" Rin exclaimed, giggling joyfully at the echo her voice made.
"It's beautiful…" Kagome breathed.
Sango let the satisfaction sink in before saying, "Kagome, do you have any bedding in your bag?"
"Yes. I have a few blankets."
Kagome rummaged through her yellow sack and pulled out three blankets with various designs. She handed them to Sango, and Sango laid them out on top of each other near the middle of the cave. She hauled Miroku onto one side and Kagome followed. The two bleeding males now rested just outside the light shining from the sky above.
"So we've got our hiding place, now what?" Kagome questioned.
"Now Shippo and I should get fire wood for tonight and Rin should assist you in taking care of these guys." Sango gestured to Inuyasha and Miroku. "Inuyasha will have to stay here if Sesshomaru is really so determined to kill him. It should be easy while he's injured, but when he heals… Well, we'll see."
"You be careful, too," Kagome said taking Sango by the arm. "And take a flashlight."
Sango took the thing in Kagome's hand and walked out of the cave with Shippo at her heels. Kagome bent over Inuyasha.
"Are they ok?" Rin asked.
"They'll need some bandages, but I think I can fix them," Kagome replied with a smile.
Rin watched her bind Inuyasha's great wound, handing her materials when needed. She sprayed something on a scratch on his face and put a band aid over it. She got a bit squeamish when it came to resetting Miroku's nose. It made a noise possibly louder than when it had broken in the first place. Kagome felt their foreheads.
"They have horrible fevers," Kagome remarked with fright.
She rummaged up some towels from her bag and wet them, placing the burning foreheads of each. Rin looked on with a subtle horrified and shocked glare. Her mouth was poised open as though she was about to say something, though nothing came out. At last, she seemed to find her voice.
"How could Sesshomaru-sama have done this?" Rin asked.
"Has he never let you come along to battles with him?" Kagome said.
"No."
Kagome paused, not wanting to tell the poor girl her views of the taiyokai. "Listen, Rin," she began gently, deciding a change of subject would be best, "we need some, more water. I used too much on the towels. Could you go down to the river and fetch some?"
Rin nodded in a daze. Kagome handed two bottles and another flashlight.
"I'm sure Sango marked the walls. Use them to find your way out."
Rin nodded again and started walking. She took one last glance back and saw Kagome bending over Inuyasha again. She stopped for a moment with her eyes focused forward again.
"I miss Sesshomaru-sama," she muttered before continuing.
Sesshomaru cursed under his breath after abandoning what felt like his thousandth attempt to free himself. It was useless. He had fallen for the trick and, thus, succumbed to the kitsune's magic. He felt like a fool. The burning anger at himself spread throughout his body, and he could feel his claws seeping poison, but he didn't care at the moment. It was the only form of release he had right now.
Suddenly, he felt the weight being lifted. He looked up to see the doll melting on top of his hand. Why hadn't he thought of this sooner? The poison was melting the stone! He quickly urged the poison up the doll towards the spell scroll. It appeared as though cables had sliced through the paper. Blotches of green oozed away from the wire-like cuts leaving everything behind them burned off until the whole thing had disappeared.
He lifted his hands from the mass of melted stone and let the poison run through his fingers a bit longer to clear away the slime. Then he lifted his head to the skies and sniffed. He inhaled Sango's wonderful scent and followed it's direction. It was easy to track since there was little variation in their flight. In about five minutes, he reached a long sweeping river. He sniffed a little more and found the spot where they landed but the scent disappeared from there.
He stared at the point, confused, though his face didn't show it. He looked around and spotted a figure halfway between him and a large waterfall. A closer look made him realize, with a pang of guilt, that it was Rin. At that moment, she too looked up and saw him. Her face held a look of fear and possibly shame.
She didn't know what to do. Should she run? And if so, where to? Back to the cave or in another direction to confuse him? Or should she run up to him and hug him? After all, she missed him so much. She went with her only instinct.
She dropped the bottle and the flashlight on the bank and slowly started walking towards the white-clad yokai. She reached after what seemed hours or days and looked up at his emotionless face. Her eyes watered and she wrapped her fragile arms around his left leg. She barely came above his knee, but nothing could break her grip at that moment. She wept silently into his puffy pants. (A/N: I LOVE THE PUFFY PANTS!)
He bent down to level himself with her, and still she clung on. He gently embraced the sobbing girl and stroked her long brown hair. He felt her crying cease after awhile. She looked up into his golden orbs with a penetrating stare and spoke at last.
"I missed you, Sesshomaru-sama," she whispered.
"I missed you, too, Rin," Sesshomaru replied honestly.
"Did you miss, Sango-chan?" she asked hopefully.
"Of course I did. I love her. That's one reason why I came here."
"Were you going to make up with her?"
Sesshomaru thought of how he should word this to the little girl. Sango clearly hadn't told her what was really happening.
"What I came to do is along those lines."
"She will be so happy! I know she misses you, too! But... Sesshomaru-sama… Why did you attack your brother and the hentai hoshi?"
He looked away for a moment and decided not to answer. He had tried so hard to keep her away from battles and bloodshed, but his attempts had caught up with him at last.
"Where is Sango?"
"She has gone with Shippo-kun to get firewood! I'll help you find her!"
Rin grabbed Sesshomaru's hand and led him through the forest calling Sango's name. Finally, they came to the edge of a clearing on the other side of which Sango and Shippo were bending down in pursuit of a few twigs for kindling.
"Sango-chan! Look who is here!" Rin exclaimed.
Sango looked up smiling, but as soon as she spotted Sesshomaru, her face drained of all color and she looked suddenly hollow. Rin was still beaming and Sango attempted a weak grin.
"Shippo, Rin, I'll meet you two in the hiding place," Sango said as more of an order than a statement.
The two nodded and left the clearing. Sango and Sesshomaru were alone. There was a tense silence that Sango broke.
"Why did you come?"
YES! I FINISHED! This has taken me so long. I would also like to say something. I just found out how to check how many hits I got (kinda sad, I know) and I have way more hits than I do reviews! So if you are reading this story and not reviewing, REVIEW! That is all.
Language Guide:
-sama- title given to lords or people of higher standing
-chan- title used to indicate affection for girls
Onna- woman
Ningen- human
Hakama- shirt
Miko- priestess
Neko- cat
Yokai- demon
Taijiya- demon slayer
Taiyokai- demon lord
Kitsune- fox
Hentai- pervert
Hoshi- monk
-kun- title used to indicate affection for boys