Chapter 19: Returning

Grandma and Grampa saw everyone board the plane, wishing them a safe journey. The all accepted it and got on and into their seats. Sesshomaru and Kaori got their own seats again, but this time Kaori stayed awake throughout the ride. She was talking on and on about all the stuff she did. They were just talking when suddenly the plane jerked and Kaori and Sesshomaru jerked forward, cutting their conversation short.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Please relax. We just had a slight problem we are dealing with now. Relax and stay calm while we deal with it," the pilot said over the PA system. Kaori seemed fine and so did her parents. But a few people weren't relaxing and overreacting. Sesshomaru stayed calm and kept an arm around Kaori. Flight attendants tried to calm down passengers and checked for any injures. Some people had the wind knocked out of them, but no serious problems. The airplane could be felt rising again before the same jerk and declining. It wasn't as shocking or as harsh, but it still startled a few people.

"We seem to having some problems and are going to land in China so we can fix it. Sorry for the delays we will cause," the pilot said. People could be cursing and swearing around the plane for their delays. Sesshomaru was just glad they had no plans.

The plane seemed to be going faster and the pilot was on the PA system again. "The problems haven't lightened up and we are coming closer to the airport. Please brace for a harsh landing and buckle up," the pilot said.

Sesshomaru and Kaori quickly got their seatbelts on and Sesshomaru increased his hold on Kaori. Suddenly, there was a bump and jerked forward again and a lot of screaming. Kaori seemed calm and cool, protected by Sesshomaru. The plane stopped and flight attendants told everyone to hurry to the escapes and exit the plane. Sesshomaru got Kaori's parents and Kaori off of the plane. The flight attendants had left and Sesshomaru was the last off. Or so everyone thought.

He could smell smoke and then crying. He looked around then plane was filling up with smoke, but someone was crying on the plane, stuck. Sesshomaru took a chance and rushed back into the plane to save the innocent soul. He came closer and the crying increased. His sight was getting blurry, but he could still slightly see. He found the person who was stuck. It was a small girl. Her seatbelt wasn't budging and Sesshomaru cut it off and carried the girl to the exit. Just as he exited the plane and was safely on the runway, the plane exploded into flames. The girl was still in Sesshomaru's arms. She wasn't crying as much, but she still was sniffing.

"Where's my mommy?" The girl asked. Sesshomaru looked around. It was complete chaos. Many people had lost people on their rush out of the plane and now were looking for them.

Kaori was looking for Sesshomaru. She had looked behind her when she was on the staircase down and saw him, but once on the ground, she saw him go back inside. In the chaos, she was pushed away from the plane and then she saw it explode. The worst came to mind and she instantly went looking for him. Her parents had stayed close to her to help search, but also so she wasn't alone.

"Have you seen my baby?" A woman was crying out. She saw something silver in the distance and went running towards it. She found him with a small girl in hand. He was heading towards a woman who was calling out for her baby.

"Is this your baby?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Melissa!" The woman cried out. Sesshomaru gave the small girl back to her mother. She was teary and the girl was hugging her mother.

"You're welcomed," he told her.

"You're a saint. A true saint. God bless you soul," the woman cried, holding her daughter. Sesshomaru smirked and turned around, seeing Kaori running towards him.

"Hey, you all right?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Why did you go back in?" Kaori asked. He pointed to the woman and Kaori saw the woman embracing her daughter.

"She was stuck on the plane. Her seatbelt was stuck," Sesshomaru told her.

"Well, you just disappeared and then the plane blew up and I thought you were dead!" Kaori exclaimed.

"I don't die that easily," he told her. "But you've made me soft."

"What do you mean?" Kaori asked. "You wouldn't have gone back for that girl we never met?"

Sesshomaru stopped and looked ahead, away from Kaori.

"You would have, wouldn't you?" Kaori asked.

"I don't now, so be happy," he told her.

"You would have let an innocent soul die?" Kaori asked.

Sesshomaru stopped and turned to look at her.

"Drop it," he told her. He saw her expression and was nearly heartbroken. She couldn't believe he was like that. She was slightly shaking her head and ran off. "Kaori!"

She didn't turn around, just ran away from him. How could he be so heartless? Letting someone die! She ran into the airport and found an empty chair. She sat down and held her head in her hands. She never thought he would be like that. All the times he's gone to out to save her, would that not happen if they hadn't met? Would he still letting innocent souls die in burning huts? She shook her head and sighed. A bowl of soup showed up in her view and she looked up at who held it. Someone who was working at the airport held a tray of soup and smiled at her.

"Were you on that plane that blew up?" She asked.

"Uh, yeah," Kaori answered.

"Free soup for the passengers on that plane. Did you know, that hero who saved that small girl?" She asked.

"Uh, yeah," Kaori said.

"If it wasn't for him, there would be one death on that plane. No one died, shockingly," she said, giving her the soup. "I better keep working."

She left and Kaori looked at her soup. He did save that little girl's life, though. Though he used to be like that, he wasn't this time. He risked his life this time for a complete stranger. She had changed him into a real man. A caring and generous man. Kaori sighed. Why was she dwelling on the past? It was the present and future that mattered. She had some soup and sighed.

"Hey, I saw you bolt out of there pretty fast. Are you all right?" Kaori's mother asked, sitting next to her daughter.

"Yeah, fine," Kaori said, taking a little bit more soup.

"Sesshomaru's worried, you know?" Kaori's mother said.

"He is?" Kaori asked, looking up.

"He cares about you, you know that?" Kaori asked.

"I know. But it's his past I'm worried about. I mean, I know he knows so much about me and my family and past, but I know almost nothing of his," she said.

"Ask him. That's the only way you can find out," Kaori's mother said.

Kaori sighed and finished her soup. "I better go talk to him," Kaori sighed.

"Be careful. It's getting very hectic out there," Kaori's mother warned. Kaori laughed and passed the empty bowl to her mother. She stood and made her way through the crowd. Most people were trying to get inside, so it was difficult to get outside. She stumbled as soon as she got through and a male caught her.

"Watch out," he said.

"Thanks," Kaori said, looking up. He had the bluest eyes she ever saw, but they weren't like Sesshomaru's amber ones.

Little did she know, Sesshomaru was looking for her and found her being helped up by a stranger.

'Did I make her that angry?' Sesshomaru thought. 'Has she gone running for someone else?'

Kaori thanked the stranger and looked around. The chaos seemed to have changed from the runway to the airport. Few people were around and one of the was Sesshomaru. She went running towards him.

"Sorry about that," Kaori said.

"I saw you trip. Are you all right?" He asked.

"Yeah. Some stranger helped me up though," Kaori said, looking back.

He kissed her cheek, feeling really guilty.

"About what I said-" Sesshomaru started.

"The past is the past. It's the present and future that's important," Kaori said.

Sesshomaru felt better and helped Kaori through the chaos at the door. They got in and he saw many people staring at him. The person who offered Kaori the soup came up and shook Sesshomaru's hand.

"With that heroic act in saving that small girl, we are allowing you a private plane home," she said. "I'm owner of this airport and am glad I didn't have any fatalities on my hands."

Sesshomaru nodded and made his way through the crowd of staring passengers. He met up with Kaori's parents who were sitting on chairs. The owner followed.

"How about you follow me to your private plane?" The owner asked.

Kaori's parents were shocked, but Kaori just took their hands and led them to follow them. The owner led them through an employee door and it led to another runway. It held a private plane, ready to take off.

"Please get on as soon as possible. It will take you straight to Japan," the owner said, bowing.

Kaori laughed and they all hurried onto the plane. Inside, it was like a house in a plane. A few beds were nearby and a bottle of wine was on the table with two wine glasses. Kaori looked at the wine and gasped. It was the hottest wine on the market. She poured some in the two glasses and looked for two more, but found none. The plane started ascending and it was a smooth ride that the wine didn't move a bit. Kaori looked over at their parents and they smiled.

"You two have a glass on your own," Kaori's mother said.

Kaori passed a glass to Sesshomaru as he sat down.

"This smells like alcohol," Sesshomaru stated.

"It is. Wine," she said. She took a sip and smiled. This was the best wine ever. Sesshomaru took a sip and sighed.

"It's very good," he told her.

"Let's not have too much," Kaori said, taking another sip. Sesshomaru did the same.

"I agree," he told her, looking at her as he took another sip.

They both finished their wine and both complimented it was good. They placed their glassed on the table and relaxed in the chairs.

"We'll be landing soon, sir," the pilot said. "And madam."

Kaori blushed and waved her hand playfully in front of her, obviously embarrassed. Sesshomaru took her hand.

"When we get to your house, we're leaving," he told her.

"Why so soon?" Kaori asked.

"I just want to return back to the normal sounds and smells I'm used to," he told her. She smiled and nodded and felt the plane descend. Kaori and Sesshomaru got off of the plane and Kaori's parents drove them all home.

Kaori went upstairs to pack. She took her suitcase and was about to take Sesshomaru's with her, but he stopped her.

"I'll go unpack it for you," Kaori told him.

"I'll do it some other time," he told her.

"All right," Kaori said, going upstairs. Once Sesshomaru saw her close the door, he went through the suitcase, getting the rings out. He gave Kaori's father the wedding ring, asking him to hold it until they get married. Kaori's father accepted it and hid it in his pocket. Sesshomaru tucked the box holding the ring into his shirt in time. Kaori opened the door and returned with her backpack in hand.

"Let's go," he told her.

Kaori and him leaped through the well, saying farewell to Kaori's parents. They came through and Sesshomaru leaped with Kaori in hand. The thing was he didn't land anywhere near the well. He started heading westward.

"Sesshomaru, where are we going?" Kaori asked.

"Somewhere. It's still our break," he told her.

"Says who?" Kaori asked.

"Me," he told her.

"Who died and made you boss?" Kaori asked.

"Just be quiet and go along with me, all right?" Sesshomaru asked. Kaori could tell he was being serious and Kaori complied.

"Can I at least not be held like a package?" Kaori asked. Sesshomaru landed and allowed Kaori walk beside him just as long as she was quiet.

Kaori just looked up at Sesshomaru. He was acting odd, changing different directions many times. He seemed to be looking for a path to somewhere. Little did Kaori know that that path led to the most important place of many people's lives and soon to be hers.