Chapter 18 : The Day

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"Why have you returned?"

"Something has happened. He's changed his plans. He plans to come battle you here, in about a week. I do not know if it's true; he doesn't trust me much now."

"Why would he be in such a hurry?"

"That I don't know. I only know what Kanna told me when I arrived. She knows what I've done, but she seems resigned to let me do it without reporting it to Naraku."

Sesshomaru turned around slowly, "It has begun, the preparations must be made."

He paused.

"Will you go back now?"

She sighed quietly, "You know I must. I will keep you informed of what he plans to do next."

"Very well."

She stepped towards him slowly, "I will come back. Do not worry."

She turned to leave, but she paused yet again. Sesshomaru looked back, "Something wrong?"

Kagura's eyes were wide, "Where is Kohaku?"

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"Mmmmmmm"

what is this?

"Mmmmmmm"

Where am I? What's that sound...

"Mmmmmm... Sango..."

"Iiieee!"

Sango leaped off the bed just as Miroku was about to encase her in a fierce embrace.

"What do you think you are doing!"

The monk opened his sleepy eyes slowly, so as to take in the image of the demon slayer who stood a few feet away.

"Sango, do you always jump out of bed when you wake up in the mornings?"

"You were making sounds! And your hands were beginning to roam!"

He smiled and held out his hand to her. "My dear, you know it is this accursed hand that provokes such thoughts. Even then, you can't deny that you were at least a tad pleased by my admiration."

"Admiration my ass." Even as she said this, she reached for his hand. As she grasped it firmly, she pulled him up and out of bed. "Come on you lecher. We need to get ready and eat something. Then we have to get together with the others to discuss what we're going to do."

"Oh Sango, how you torture me so. Do not think that this is your victory though. You escaped last night, but tonight you won't be so lucky."

She blushed as she slapped him hard, "I do the menacing Miroku, remember?"

He smiled happily, "Oh yes, I remember that time. Kagome and Inuyasha were away, and the others stayed at Kaede's while we had some time alone.. I vaguely remember you with your dashing exterminator outfit with a whip, me on the ground..."

"Iiiee! Shut up."

And there laid Miroku, on the floor, by consequence of his beloved's weapon. Yet again.

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Sango opened the door quietly as she stepped out of the room.

I hope I didn't hit him too hard. But he deserved it anyway.

She walked towards the right and started walking, Dammit, why does everything have to look the same here? I don't even know where I'm going!

She walked for what seemed like ages until she reached the beginning of the wing leading to the rest of the rooms for the other guests. Up to now, she still hadn't seen anyone.

"Hello! Is there anyone who can tell me where I can get out of this freaking place!"

As she continued grumbling and cursing the damn castle for being so big, she was suddenly thrown back from the impact of another person colliding with her. Both fell to the floor with a thud.

Sango lifted her head to see a pair of eyes just like hers. She looked at him in a mixture of happiness and surprise, "Kohaku?"

As she tried to get up, he pushed off her and started to run in the other direction. Sango was fast though, to catch his legs, pulling him down again, his body falling again to the floor.

She went over to him and hugged Kohaku, "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

He looked away, "Listen to me Kohaku. You have to tell me what's going on. Are we being attacked by Naraku? Did he send you as a spy? That damn bastard, always thinking he can control anyone."

She looked down with tearful eyes at her younger brother. His eyes still seemed lost; in a daze where Naraku had put him since he the day he died by the arrows. It wrenched her heart to see him so.

He was still looking away, but his body was not as rigid as before.

Sango spoke quietly, "Do you remember who I am Kohaku?"

As she held him, she felt his body start trembling. She hugged him harder and was barely able to hear his reply, "Miss Sango"

Pain jabbed at her heart at the way he addressed her. He didn't remember. It was logical for him not to remember though, even if it wasn't fair. As long as he had the jewel shard embedded into his back, she would remain 'Miss Sango'.

"Yes, you remember. Now tell me, how did you get here?"

"I came with Kagura."

Kagura? "She's here? In the castle?"

"Yes."

"Why? Is Naraku nearby? Or are you gathering information?"

His head shook between her arms, "We aren't here by Naraku's will. She brought me because Naraku said that I should not be left alone."

He started to struggle out of her hold, "Please let go of me Miss Sango."

Her eyes filled with tears but she did as he requested. He now sat in front of her, no longer avoiding her gaze.

"I have said too much. I am not even supposed to be here."

"No kohaku. Please tell me what is going on. I know that deep inside you is still the old you. You can trust me. Please."

" I cannot stay any longer. Kagura has probably realized that I have left the room and she'll not be happy at that."

"What room where you in?"

"I was supposed to stay in the room next to Sesshomaru's private quarters, but I did not want to stay there."

"How were you not caught by Sesshomaru himself, I'm sure he already knows you're here. After all it is his castle."

He was silent for a moment before he spoke again, "He does know I am here, as well as Kagura. She is the one speaking to him right now. I think she is asking him for help.."

"That conniving little wench! She's asking for Sesshomaru's help to aid Naraku! I can't believe it."

Sango stood up quickly and brought Kohaku back to his feet. I have to tell the others!

She felt a small hand pulling her own. She looked down at Kohaku once more.

"Do not worry. You are not in danger. Sesshomaru is not helping Naraku. He is helping Kagura escape the mansion. She wishes to become free from Naraku completely."

A sigh of relief escaped her lips. It was a weird situation still. Sesshomaru helping Kagura for no reason at all? Or could it be that his feelings for her were more than they seemed?

A question suddenly came into her mind, "Do you wish to be free too, Kohaku?"

He didn't answer.

He turned around and walked forward. She didn't stop him

Before he left her sight, though, she heard his voice through the corridor.

"Yes. Sister."

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"Wake up Kagome."

"Nnngghh."

"We have to get up. Otherwise, that stupid wolf and the runt will eat all the food! Not to mention Miroku will probably take whatever's left."

Kagome turned around to face away from him and dived further into the covers.

"But I'm ssslleepppy..."

" I know. But what's more important, sleep or food?"

She turned to lay face down and snuggled into the pillow, "Do you really need to ask, baka?"

He tried to wrench the covers off her, but she seemed to hold them with massive strength, "Don't call me a baka."

She giggled, from under the covers she started to sing, "baka, baka, baka, baka, baka..."

She quickly turned around to look at him again. He looked at her curiously as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Baka."

"Why you.."

"Now, now Inuyasha. You know that I don't mean it. Anyways, if you want to go eat so badly why don't you go without me?"

He stayed silent for a moment, with a slight blush starting to appear on his cheeks.

"I want to go with you."

Kagome reached out her hand to grab one of his dog ears and started to massage it until he fell onto the bed again. His breathing calmed and the other ear seemed to want the same attention.

She smiled, "Are you sure you're still hungry?"

He finally took his chance and took the bed covers off her. He quickly got to his feet with her in his arms. He had that grin of his again.

"Yes. I'm still hungry. You thought that you had me there with my ears, but remember that you've done it before."

She pouted, "I must have done it wrong. It always works on you!"

He kissed her temple gently, "Don't worry, I still had a pretty hard time coming to grips with what was happening. But I still want to go eat. We'll come back to the room later."

"But I haven't even changed yet! I'm still in my pajamas!"

"What does it matter? They're clothes aren't they? You women are so picky about what you wear all the time."

"But your brother will see me in this, and so will Koga! It'll be embarrassing!"

"No it won't. Anyway, if any of them say anything, they'll have to deal with me."

"Will you at least put me down?"

"No. You don't have those things that you put on your feet. Socks. You might get cold."

"Is that really why you won't let me down."

He picked up the pace, "Think what you want wench, but I smell that mangy wolf, and I won't let him stand between the food and us. We'll be there before anyone."

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Too bad Sango was already there.

"Sango? What re you doing her so early? And how in hell did you get here before us?"

Inuyasha stopped to put Kagome down in one of the chairs to then face the demon slayer. "You haven't eaten anything yet, have you?"

Sango chuckled, "No worries Inuyasha, I'm not like you guys. Anyway nothing's been served yet. I think Sesshomaru is waiting for everyone to arrive."

She turned towards Kagome and walked in her direction, she quickly bent down to her ear and whispered, "I need to talk to you. It's about..." She then noticed Inuyasha looking at them weirdly, and remembering that he had excellent hearing she looked back at Kagome and nodded simply.

Understanding what she meant, Kagome nodded back and smiled, "Oh look. Koga and the others are here."

Koga went over to the girls, "Hello my dear Kagome, I hope you slept well. I know that it must have been uncomfortable to sleep in the same room as the mutt."

"Actually... we kinda had to sleep in the same bed..."

"What?"

"Yeah..."

Koga whirled around to face a bored Inuyasha, he walked up to him and lifted his fist in the air, "You better not have defiled even a hair on Kagome's body!"

"And so what? If I did, it wouldn't be any of your damn business."

"So that's it. Now that I think about it, your scent is all over her." His face paled. "How could you do something like that to someone so pure like Kagome!"

"Look wolf..."

"I mean, O my god, how..."

"Can you please shut up?"

"Poor Kagome..."

"I'm getting ready to kill you now Koga."

"You will pay!"

"SILENCE." Sesshomaru entered the room, Jaken following a few steps behind him and Rin clinging to the bottom of his leg. He took the seat at the head of the table and pried Rin off him, "Go sit in your place."

"Yes milord!" She took the seat right next to him and sat up straight. Jaken remained standing next to the sitting Sesshomaru, who seemed to demand that everyone sit with just his eyes.

Everyone sat, including a just arriving Miroku who bowed and apologized by pointing at the black eye he sported.

Sesshomaru scanned the table for everyone, stopping for a second to raise one eyebrow at Kagome's attire, and then went to Jaken.

"Jaken, tell the cook that he can start cooking."

Inuyasha looked feral, "What do you mean 'he can start cooking'? Isn't every thing done already?"

"I thought it would be best for us to discuss some things and then eat the meal."

"Whoever heard of eating breakfast that way you moron!"

"If you do not like it, you may leave. You are guests in this place and you should behave like so."

"Guests my ass."

Kagome yanked on his hair, "Stop it Inuyasha. He's right, we are guests. You probably won't have to wait that long anyways. It is better if we discuss things early rather than later."

Sesshomaru nodded, "Listen to your wench. She seems to have more wits than you've ever had."

Inuyasha and Kagome both grumbled under their breath.

How dare he insult me like that? The bastard, what kind of brother is he?

He called me a wench. That sneaky little...

"The plans have changed."

"What?"

"The battle is coming upon us sooner than expected. We will not have time to reach Naraku's castle. He is coming to fight us here, at the castle grounds."

Everyone started talking at the same time. How had this happened? When? Would there be enough time to fend him off? Wold help come in time?

Inuyasha was the only one who stayed quiet throughout the discussion until he spoke out quietly, "Sesshomaru. How in hell do you know this is all happening. I mean, you've been here all night, how can you possibly know what is happening?"

"I have someone observing Naraku's movements."

Sango conveniently decided that moment that it was a perfect time for having a coughing fit.

Inuyasha continued, narrowing his eyes, "Really? Who?"

Sesshomaru stared back at his brother with an icy stare, then he smiled.

"The food is ready."

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"There's something that he's hiding."

"Oh come on Inuyasha, you know that Sesshomaru has always ben quiet, it doesn't mean he's hiding something."

"He is. I can tell."

The whole group, minus Rin, Sesshomaru, and Jaken were currently sitting together in the room occupied by Kagome and Inuyasha. Kagome had changed bak into her regular school uniform and had taken her seat next to the peeved hanyou after putting her pajamas back in her bag.

Miroku spoke, "At least we know what to expect. Our allies are still coming, since Sesshomaru already told them what was happening, and the castle defenses are being strengthened as we speak."

Next to him Koga stood, "It would be better for all of us to train while we're here. We have no real idea as to when Naraku is coming, and it would be good to know that everyone is capable of defending themselves. Even the runts here." He pointed at Shippo and Kirara.

"Hey we're not runts! We've fought many times!"

"It still would be better to train. We might be separated at any time. It would be nice to know that you could at least hold up a few minutes."

Inuyasha, to the surprise of everyone, actually agreed.

"It's a good idea. We should start right away. Get whatever weapons you need. We're going now."

Sango stood and walked over to Kagome, and turned to Inuyasha, "Give us girls a few minutes, we need to change and gear up. You guys go ahead. It'll only be a few minutes."

He turned to leave, dragging a struggling Miroku by the hair, "Feh. Women."

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AN:

Hello again!

I'm so sorry for not updating in the longest freaking while. ( I know everyone says the same thing. Sorry!)

Balancing this story in between hurricanes, college applications, AP classes, clubs, and senior year has been pretty hard. I don't when I'll be able to post up the next chapter, but I'm hoping to be able to do it soon. Thanks for everyone's support so far! I hoped you guys liked this chapter.

If you guys have any ideas or comments just tell me.

Please Review!