I'm so excited! Chapter TWENTY! I consider that a huge milestone in a story. I'll make this quick and get on with the real story then!
NellaFire- They'll make up soon. It'll probably happen within the next five chapters or so. I'll try to get Inuyasha and Kagome together. Also, Miroku and Shizuka will be coming back into the story! Possibly in this chapter! I FINALLY FOUND A WAY! It's like 6AM and I'm kinda hyper…
SangoIsAlone- Thank you for reviewing! I believe it was three times… It was kinda fun though! I'll try to start updating faster. Though, I already have late homework, so I'm not sure I can go much faster without failing the eighth grade! But I can try! LOL. This chapter should be even better! Enjoy!
MASTER OF COWS- FLUFF IS MY BEST FRIEND! And I think Rin will be killing demons soon. I just need to get this story on track. In other words, I gotta fix Sesshy and Sango. Don't worry. I've got a plan. I think people will like it. And I think I will have Rin kill Jaken! But that will have to be in the last chapter. Sorry! Enjoy the chapter!
Jingleby- YAY! Call me crazy, but I think it's good when my readers almost die of suspense! Unless they actually die, in which case, I'm losing fans! Just don't die until the story is over! There's probably gonna be a lot more suspense and stuff though… I'm surprised I haven't already been charged! LOL. Enjoy!
Liz- I'm writing as fast as I can! I'm already behind in my schoolwork! ARRRGH! WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT FROM ME? Jk. And I love this pairing, too! It's so much fun to write! They're just sweet! It's giving me cavities just thinking about it! LOL. Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Sesshy or Inu, but I do own some characters in the sequel! And the hot guy from my school is totally flirting with me! I'm so excited!
RECAP:
"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?"
On with the show!
"Let's say Inuyasha was not my only target," said Sesshomaru.
"So you wanted to kill me, too?"
"You know I could never kill you. I lo-"
"Stop! Don't say that!" Sango grabbed her hair and squinted her eyes as though she was suffering an intense migraine. "I can't love you so you should just forget me and leave it alone!"
"There is a way… for you to get your soul back…"
"I don't want you to die."
"There is a way without me dying."
"How? This is a powerful enchantment and not just anything could undo it so easily."
"This." Sesshomaru held out the shard that Naraku had given him.
"How did you get that?" Sango asked urgently.
"I… I got it from a yokai I fought a long time ago. I've been keeping it in my castle until I could find a use for it."
"What would we have to do?"
"I'd need to implant it in the skin just above your heart."
Sango looked down at her chest and thought for a moment. "So the shard would overpower the enchantment…" she said slowly. She decided not to question how he knew this.
"Yes, but I would do nothing without your permission."
She breathed heavily for a few seconds. "I give it to you."
Sesshomaru moved closer to her while she undid part of her kimono. She lowered it just enough for the shard to go in and looked back up at Sesshomaru. He missed looking into her eyes like this. His emotions got the better of him and he closed the space between them. One hand rested on her cheek and the other, under cover of the kiss, was holding the jewel shard over her heart. There was an odd pink glow emitting from the gem under his hand, and it seemed to melt into her skin. They broke apart and Sango clutched at her torso.
"What's happened?" Sesshomaru asked worriedly. "Are you alright?"
"I think… it's working…" Sango gasped.
At that moment, she was lifted into the air and the pink light flowed from her eyes and her mouth giving her entire face an eerie glow. Sesshomaru stepped back, frozen and unable to do anything but stare at the scene before him. As quickly as the light had appeared, it faded away and Sango floated back down to earth. Her legs folded underneath her and she collapsed.
"Sango! Sango, are you ok?" Sesshomaru yelled running to her side.
"I'm fine," she said energetically. "In fact, I don't think I've ever felt better. And now I want to do this."
She dived at him and their lips met. She withdrew as a sudden thought struck her.
"Sesshomaru," she started, her tone completely changed, "Kagome will be able to see the shard. How can I hide it from her?"
"Don't," Sesshomaru stated blankly. "Come with me, back to the castle. You will have nothing to worry about there."
Sango smiled and nodded. Sesshomaru scooped her into his arms and they raced off.
"Come on, Inuyasha…" muttered Kagome.
"He'll be fine," Miroku said as he sipped some water, having just woken up. "Stop worrying."
"How can I not?" she asked hysterically. "I lo-" She cut off realizing what she was about to say. She bent over Inuyasha to hide her blush.
"Yes?" Miroku prompted when Kagome didn't speak.
"I like him and I care about him as a friend," Kagome replied, irritated and emphasizing the last three words with a slight hiss in her voice.
Miroku was about to keep pressing the subject, but Shippo and Rin entered, conversing cheerfully.
"What's going on?" said Kagome, glad of the excuse to change the topic. Then, realizing something, she added, "Where's Sango?"
"She is making up with Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin yelled gleefully.
There was complete silence as her words reverberated throughout the cave. Kagome opened her mouth and made a few grunts as though attempting to remember how to use her vocal chords. Then the words that had been locked inside her seemed to burst free of their cages and out of her mouth.
"He'll-kill-her!" she yelled. "He'll-make-her-tell-where-Inuyasha-is! He'll-"
"No he won't!" Rin argued. "Sesshomaru-sama loves Sango-chan and she loves him!"
"Rin, you don't understand the situation. Sango and Sesshomaru need to stay apart."
There was a clink of metal behind them and everyone looked around. Inuyasha was attempting to lift himself to his feet, leaning heavily on Tetsusaiga. Kagome rushed over to him.
"Inuyasha, lay down. You can't move yet," she urged, putting a hand on his shoulder and trying to ease him down.
"Kagome, I know you want to go after her, too. I'm not gonna let Sesshomaru do anything," he said stubbornly. Miroku promptly smacked him over the head.
"Don't be a fool, Inuyasha," he said as he rolled up his sleeve, preparing for another hit. "You can't save the world, so let someone else help out for a change."
"I suppose you're gonna go, are you?"
"Yes, I am. Kagome can stay here and tend to your wounds." He looked to Kagome, and she nodded.
"I have one problem with that plan. I'm the only one who can sniff out the castle."
"I already have my own plan in mind for that."
There was a pause as Inuyasha carefully examined every inch of the monk's face. "Fine."
"A wise choice my friend." He made to leave the glowing shelter, but Kagome seized his shoulder.
"Do me a favor," she implored with a determined note in her eyes. "Take Rin. That way you won't be killed on first sight."
Miroku nodded and held out the cloth-covered hand disguising his kazanna. The girl took it with some apprehension and allowed herself to be led from the cave. The three left behind stared for a moment before Inuyasha leaned on Tetsusaiga again.
"I'm going for a walk," he muttered.
"Inuyasha you have to let yourself heal before you move around," she said even quieter than he, sensing an approaching argument.
"I've told you my body's different from yours!" he declared forcefully. "How do you know I haven't already healed?"
"Because I changed your bandages half an hour ago!" she bickered, her voice also rising. "You need to lie down!"
"I can go wherever I want!" He rose further.
"YOU NEED TO REST!" Her voice grew to a yell and she also rose.
"I'M FINE!" He rose yet again.
Kagome smacked him on the side of his head. He collapsed immediately.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?" Inuyasha shouted from his place on the ground.
"See! I knew you were hurt!" Kagome said triumphantly.
"I'm well enough to go get some fresh air!" he retorted.
"I wish you hadn't woken up," she mumbled, her voice cracking. She turned away from him, and she could feel her eyes brimming with tears.
"What did you just say?" Inuyasha yelled as he seized her shoulder intending to make her face him, but she slapped his hand away.
"I said I wish you hadn't woken up, you big jerk!" She moved farther away from him as tears started rolling down her cheeks. "You made me worry about you and now all you want to do is argue," she said without thinking in a voice barely above a whisper, but Inuyasha heard it loud and clear.
"You… were worried?" Inuyasha asked, finally lowering his voice.
"Of course I was! But you don't care! You'll just go off and make me worry even more!" Kagome sobbed.
She suddenly felt an arm slip around her shoulders. She knew it was Inuyasha. It felt so right, but she still didn't let her guard down. He sat next her and she felt his gaze on her. She looked away to hide the fact that she had been crying, though it was fairly obvious. He put the hand not resting around her shoulder on her cheek and made her face him. She considered slapping it away again, but thought better of it.
"Kagome…" he breathed, looking directly into her eyes with a purposeful stare. Her heart started to pound whenever he said her name, and this was no exception. "Gomen nasai."
Before Kagome could say or do anything, his lips were pressed against hers. The kiss only lasted a second, and when it was broken Kagome found herself longing for more. Her eyes had widened in surprise and all shades of red were creeping across her face. She looked over to Inuyasha. He was lying down, facing away from her to hide the fact that he was blushing, too.
"Ewwww…" Shippo from the corner.
(A/N: Happy now, NellaFire? LOL.)
"Miroku-sama?" Rin called after nearly half an hour of traveling.
"Yes Rin?" he replied kindly.
"How much longer are we going to have to walk?"
"Our destination is just over the hill."
Rin sighed with relief. Miroku smiled. They finally reached the top of the blind summit (A/N: I love that phrase! BLIND SUMMIT!) and found themselves looking at a very old temple. Rin's mouth formed an O as she gazed at the enormous building.
"It was my great-grandfather's," Miroku explained. "Each generation has added on a bit until we got this old thing." He gestured to the structure before them.
Rin continued to gaze at it for a moment before she laughed and ran down the hill. She opened a sliding door and went inside. Miroku followed her lead at a slightly slower pace. Just inside he saw a figure walking towards him off a side hallway. He smiled brightly. He hugged the figure as she stepped up to greet him.
"I've missed you, Shizuka," (A/N: HA! Who's good? I am! Wow… There are a lot of author's notes in this…) he whispered into her hair.
"Miroku, can we please make this quick? I fear I'm risking my life even leaving the castle. I will surely be killed if Sesshomaru finds out that I helped you get there," she replied nervously.
"Relax," he said, rubbing her tense back. His instinct with women told him to go lower, but it seemed his brain had finally caught up with him, and he kept his hand firmly between her shoulder blades. "We'll just need to find Rin and-"
At that moment, Mushin strode into the corridor dragging Rin by her ponytail. She was putting on a fierce fight as the old drunkard carried her towards the two adults, who had broken apart on sight of the monk and the girl.
"Lousy kids. Always sneaking in here to play some sort of trick!" Mushin muttered to himself, his unfocused eyes not immediately registering his guests.
"Mushin!" Miroku cried. The older monk jumped about a foot into the air. "Drunk again, I see. Let her go. She is with me."
"With you? I thought you didn't have kids? I thought the women always turned you down?"
"What women! Of course I don't have kids! She's not mine!" Miroku said quickly with a nervous glance at Shizuka, whose face was turning bright red from effort of keeping from laughing.
Mushin moved over towards him so that their backs were facing Shizuka and Rin and muttered, "You like her, don't you boy? She seems like a keeper." Miroku inclined his head as slightly as possible and turned back to the two girls
Shizuka had turned an even deeper shade of red for she had heard every word Mushin had said with her sensitive hearing, coupled with Miroku's nod. She could feel her face burning and hastily slid her short hair in front of her blush.
"So what might you be here for then?" Mushin asked as if nothing had just happened.
"I was wondering that myself," Shizuka said.
"This just our meeting place," Miroku stated simply. "Shizuka, we fear that Sango may be in danger. She met with Sesshomaru, but we haven't seen her since. I'll explain more on the way, but I needed you here so we could find the castle."
"How are we going to get there? I'm too tired to travel back, and no offense, but humans are rather slow."
Miroku sweat-dropped and called, "Hachi!"
A plump figure waddled into sight from another side hallway. Shizuka jumped in surprise at this sudden appearance.
"We're going to get there on a badger?" she asked with uncertainty.
"I'm a raccoon-dog!" Hachi shot indignantly before Miroku could say a word.
He opened his mouth to say something more offensive, but Miroku covered his mouth and said with a nervous laugh, "This is my friend Hachi, and yes, we will be traveling with him!"
At those words, the struggling Hachi promptly bit Miroku's finger, which started to bleed.
"I'm not traveling anywhere with that wench!" he declared stubbornly, folding his arms.
"What did you just call me!" Shizuka yelled back, her composure turning instantly from slightly confused to furious. She punched him hard on top of the head.
"Now, now, Shizuka," Miroku said calmingly, though he somewhat ruined the effect when he added, "that's my job." He too smacked Hachi on the head creating a second lump on the still growing one of Shizuka's. "Don't you ever call her that!" he whispered menacingly as a vein popped on his forehead.
"You can hit me as much as you want, but I'm still not doing it!" Hachi proclaimed somewhat obnoxiously.
"Hachi will be taking a walk with me!" Miroku announced. "Won't he?" he said as more of a threat that anything else.
Hachi's look turned to frightened as he said, "Master Miroku, I know that look! If I go with you, you're gonna threaten to suck me up into your wind tunnel!"
"And what if I am?" Miroku pronounced every word with venom.
Hachi trembled for a moment where he stood and quickly and reluctantly said, "Of course I'll take you! It would be my honor!"
A few minutes later, they had set out west with Shizuka guiding Hachi, and Hachi grumbling insults in a low voice. Rin ran around on Hachi's back with apparent joy while Shizuka sat next to Miroku. Her head was slightly resting on his shoulder.
"I still want to know a few things," she said suddenly, lifting her head. "Why did Sango leave in the first place?"
"It's difficult to explain…" Miroku said. He described the incidence with Naraku. Shizuka gazed at him with increasing shock, occasionally gasping.
"But why is a bad thing if she's gone back with him? Doesn't it mean the enchantment's been broken?"
"But that's just it. It can't be broken. Sesshomaru must have done something, or else Sango did not come by free will."
Shizuka gasped again and looked into the distance. "Miroku, what's that up ahead?"
"Oh no… It looks like a pack of yokai and I think I knew who sent them, which means my conclusions were wrong. Sango's return is the doing of Naraku."
Shizuka stood. "We'll have to fight. Fight for our lives and fight for Sango."
She held her head high with a determined look, her hair whipping around her face and not flinching once. Miroku couldn't help admiring her. He stood also.
"I can take the pack. You need to go in and find Naraku's incarnation, Kagura." Shizuka nodded and started walking only to be stopped by Miroku, who grabbed her hand suddenly. "Be careful." He looked her right in the eye and Shizuka was sure that she had to be turning red. "Look out for her dance of blades."
She nodded again and moved to the front of Hachi. Miroku followed suit. When they were within about fifty feet, a figure rose from the depths of the hoard on a giant feather.
"Is that her?" Shizuka asked leaning towards Miroku.
"That's her. Are you sure you want to… Shizuka?"
He looked around and finally found her leaping on different yokai heads to close in on Kagura. He smiled.
"Hachi," he called to thing below him, "lure them to the ground."
"Are you sure that's a good idea, master?" Hachi asked worriedly.
"Do it or you're going into my wind tunnel with them!" he threatened stomping his foot on Hachi's head.
Hachi grumbled as he swirled above and below the yokai, taunting them. He then swerved towards the ground, and most of the infuriated yokai followed. Above, Shizuka reached the woman now clutching a fan in her right hand.
"Are you Kagura?" Shizuka asked bitterly.
"Hai, I am Kagura of the wind. And you are that mischievous demon with a strong infatuation with the houshi."
Shizuka grew angry immediately. She wavered for a moment on the worm whose head she was standing on. It was fiercely trying to bite her leg. At that moment, the other yokai dived at there comrade and Shizuka and she leapt at Kagura.
DONE! Sorry this took awhile. It's been a long couple of weeks for me. And I had a few cases of writer's block. That is an author's worst enemy. I hope you people liked that chapter! I thought it turned out nicely. And I know I had way too much dialogue in the beginning so don't tell me. Next chappie's gonna start with Sango and Sesshy, so the cliffy has a hangover. At least that's how I'm gonna put it. And once again, if you are reading and not reviewing, please review. It's like a quote I heard: "Readers are liked, reviewers are loved." So, PLEASE REVIEW!
Language Guide:
-chan- suffix used to show affection for girls
Yokai- demon
-sama- suffix used to show respect for a lord
Kazanna- wind tunnel
Gomen nasai- I'm very sorry
Hai- yes
Houshi- monk