Chapter 17

Disclaimer: blah blah blah I don't own Inuyasha blah blah blah

AN: Sorry for the wait, but school just started and its been totally hectic. I promise to update as soon as possible on the other chapters.

Another AN: I just realized that in one of the chapters I put that Shippo stayed home with Kaede, and I've been putting him in the most recent chapters. I'm sooo sorry about that;. I've decided to keep hm with the rest of the characters because it's much easier. Sorry for the confusion!

Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

"So, what brings you here? Little brother?"

"Answer this first," he gave a quick glance towards Kagome who was busy playing with her long lost kitty once again, "what are you doing with a cat? And THAT cat specifically."

Sesshomaru merely shrugged and returned his brother's expression with a blank stare, "Rin found it one day when I let her go to a village and was inseparable from it. She brought it home and I let her stay with it. I myself have no attachment to the creature, why are you concerned so, Inuyasha?"

"Feh. It's Kagome's cat."

"How coincidental."

"What are you trying to say! That it's my cat!"

"Well, Inuyasha, you seem to be fond of furry creatures." As he said this he pointed at Shippo with a delicate finger, "Otherwise, why would that fox be here?"

On the other side of the room, the little kitsune looked up and glared at the older dog demon, "I'm not here to be with Inuyasha, he's a jerk. I just wanna stay with Kagome."

Inuyasha raised his fist in the air, "What did you say runt! Say it again!"

"Jerk."

"Now you're gonna get it."

"Jerk."

"You..You..."

"Jerk."

"That's it!"

"SIT!"

Inuyasha was stopped in midair from pouncing onto Shippo, who didn't even glance his way when he heard his yell.

Kagome made her way to where Inuyasha lay after leaving Buyo with Kirara, "Let's behave well Inuyasha. This is not your house, we're guests. Plus, there's serious matters we have to talk about with Sesshomaru."

She helped Inuyasha up and sat on the couch that was facing Sesshomaru.

(A.N. I know there aren't any sofas in the feudal era, but I couldn't very well let them sit on the floor; not after I made it such a fabulous castle...)

Inuyasha started to speak but Kagome halted him with a gentle hand on his arm, "Let me do this."

As much as he hated to relinquish power, he recognized in her eyes that She was the one who was going to handle things.

He bowed his head and held her hand.

Kagome looked at Sesshomaru straight in the eye and began, "Naraku. As you may know is still alive."

"Yes. I knew that such a battle would not be enough to destroy him. If he is to be killed completely we must make a plan and work together. I assume that is why you are here for. At present you cannot defeat Naraku with just your group."

"Yes. We need your help. We need to get Naraku as soon as possible."

"I agree. But we obviously cannot do it ourselves, so I summoned my previous allies to fight with me in this battle. They should be here in two days."

The others smiled in relief and looked around the room. Miroku spoke up, "As for the time being, what shall we do. I suppose we should rest a while so that we are in good shape. Then we should train."

Sesshomaru stood up, "I have rooms prepared for you all. Follow Jaken through that hall, he shall take you there. For now, I take my leave."

He left the room with silent grace as the others watched his departure from the room. The peaceful moment was soon over when he was tackled by Rin crying "Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru," but he still kept on walking.

Jaken smacked his staff against the floor, "Lousy group! Follow me to your quarters and keep up so you don't get lost. I will only come to look for you at the lords' bidding."

He started walking to the entrance of a hallway that seemed as if it was never-ending . The corridor seemed to flow continuously until they reached a stop where the hall parted two ways.

"These are the guest quarters. All of you will be residing here during your stay. The rooms in the last two wings have been reserved for allies coming in to the castle in the coming days. All of you shall sleep in the left wing. GOT it?"

Inuyasha bonked Jaken on the head, "Just keep going toady. We don't wanna spend the rest of the day with you either."

"Insolent half breed."

"Keep walking."

As they neared the first door Jaken stopped, "The three rooms have already been assigned to their recipients. In this room shall sleep Koga of the wolf clan, the fox demon Shippo, and the two-tailed demon cat Kirara. All of you may now step into the room."

Koga shot out a roaring laugh, "WHAT? You mean I get to sleep with the kiddies! You've got to be joking! I'm a grown demon! I don't need to sleep with the todlers!"

"Hey, I'm not a toddler!"

"Yes you are!"

"No!"

"Shut it! All of you," bellowed Jaken, "the arrangements have been made by Lord Sesshomaru and will be upheld. Either get in the room or get out of the castle. It's your choice."

Koga's shoulders fell in defeat. He took up Shippo by the collar of his shirt and picked up Kirara with the other hand. "Come on you two, I guess we'll be bunking together."

Shippo let a smirk cross into his face, "Anything's better than sleeping in the same room as Inuyasha, you see, he snores."

"I do not!"

His yell was barely heard as the door shut in Inuyasha's face. He felt Kagome's hand pull him away from the door, "Come on Inuyasha, there's no point in fighting. Jaken already went ahead with Miroku and Sango. Lets go, I don't want to get lost here."

"Feh."

The two of them walked slowly in the hall for five minutes and could see no sign of Jaken, Sango or Miroku. Just as they were about to turn back Kagome jumped up, "Look. There's a door over there. It might be where the next room is. They're probably waiting for us over there."

"Kagooommmmeeee..."

"Come on. It's not much longer."

They came to the door and looked at each other. Kagome looked a little worried, "Maybe they're waiting for us inside?" Her eyes looked for a sign of assurance in his.

"Feh, of course they are."

Inuyasha stood right in front of the door and reached for the knob. As he grasped it and started to turn it, his hand was smacked painfully away from its surface.

"OWW"

Jaken stood there fuming with contained rage, "I SAID to not go to another room that was not assigned to you!"

Inuyasha nursed his hand against his side, "When exactly did you say that!"

"Insolent pup! Do not question me! Just follow. Your quarters are up ahead."

Kagome looked around, "Where are Miroku and Sango?"

"They are assigned to that room that you were so rudely trying to go into. Now stop asking questions!"

Inuyasha bent down to Kagome's ears and whispered, "Imagine if they had to share a bed, it would be hilarious!"

"I know!"

As they giggled quietly, they arrived to the end of the hall, where a solitary door stood. Jaken reached for the knob and opened the door quietly. The room wasn't anything out of this world. A small table on one end, two windows, one bed, and a few welcoming fruits set on one side of the room, one bed, one bed, one bed, one bed...

"I will take my leave now." said Jaken as he turned towards the door.

"Oh no you don't!" Inuyasha grabbed hm before he could flee and held him up in the air.

"You're going to tell me now why we have to share a bed. Aren't there enough beds in the castle?"

"Lord Sesshomaru has decided that you two shall sleep here. There will be no objections."

"No objections, huh?" Inuyasha narrowed his eyes.

"None. Anyways, why are you so worried about? Are you not mates already?"

At the comment Jaken was let loose and tumbled to the floor. He took this opportunity to disappear behind the door and leave without a trace.

"Mates?.."

Not realizing he had said that out loud, he suddenly noted the smell of tears in the air. Kagome had her back turned to him, but her shoulders shook a little as he got nearer to her.

"Kagome? What's wr..."

"Does the thought of sharing a bed with me disgust you so much?"

What? No!

"What's wrong Kagome?"

"I can sleep on the floor if you don't want me to sleep on the bed."

"Don't be stupid. Why couldn't you sleep on the bed?"

"Because you don't want to share it."

"When did I say that?"

"..."

"Plus there's room for both of us in there. It would be worst if you had to sleep with Miroku, and we know that a certain someone is going through that at the moment."

Kagome seemed to cheer up then, giving him a shy smile. "What are you going to do then?"

Inuyasha turned and kneeled down next to the basket of fruit and bread. "I think I'll eat some of this, we need to get as much out of Sesshomaru as we can."

"Oh come on Inuyasha, it's not that bad being here. At least you're not alone."

"Feh. What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to go change into something more comfortable and take a nap. I'm really all tired out."

"Oh, ok."

Kagome left with her clothes through a door that seemed to lead to a private bathroom. She changed into her pyjamas and stepped out with a yawn. She put her clothes near her bag and went to the bed.

"Are you sure you don't mind sharing a bed?"

"I told you already. NO."

"Okay. I'll see you later Inuyasha. Wake me up if anything's happening okay?"

"Sure."

"Thanks."

Kagome laid down on the thin mattress and was still wide awake after ten minutes.

She shivered.

What if I have another dream? I don't want to go to sleep.

She suddenly felt pressure on the other side of the mattress and looked up to see Inuyasha getting into bed.

She looked at him curiously, "Weren't you going to eat?"

"No."

"I thought you were."

"Shut up. I know that you can't sleep. You're scared of the dreams."

"No, I'm not."

"YES, you are." She felt him lay down fully and one of his arms went around her to wrap her in his hold.

"Don't worry Kagome. I won't let anything happen to you. Now go to sleep."

They both fell into deep slumber quickly, neither noticing the feather in the sky that had returned to the castle.

Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Ok, that's it for this chapter. I think of it mostly as a kind of pause from the actual plot, but it's ok. I wanted to post this up to keep the story balanced, I'll post up more chapter dealing with the actual plot later when I'm not bombarded by school.

Thanks for all the support from: Jenbo, SilverontheRose, Wendy, and orlandoroxmysox

RevieW!