Roo: Holy shout, update time! (Tosses confetti in reader's face)

Kari: (Lights bottle rockets unenthusiastically)

Roo: Yeah, been a while since I updated this little baby, huh?

Kari: Since when do you call your stories "baby"...?

Roo: Ya don't wanna know.

Kari: I'll take your word for it.

Roo: Yeah. I'm, like, the next Confucius!

Kari: I thought FlamezFlyer was...

Roo: Aw, hush up and pimp my ride.

Kari: ... How about not?

Roo: Do the disclaimer or the lawyers will keep on staring at us through the windows.

Lawyers: (Staring at Roo and Kari through MAGICAL WINDOWS) Omgwtflol THEY HAVE FOUND US OUT! CODE RED IN AISLE 5! CALL THE FBI!

Kari: Alright... (Sigh) And she doesn't even pay me for it...

Roo: Oh, stop whining, Kari!

Kari: Your dear little idiot here, a.k.a. Ripper-Roo, is too stupid to own anything more than this story. Everything else belongs to... someone else.

Roo: Yup kthxbai GET READING, MINIONS!

-Le Ciel-

-Chapter 2-

Withering Soul

Over the course of time, the sky had steadily grown overcast and gray. Kagura was used to colorless skies over her head. Of course, she never saw the beauty of that cerulean sky. Once your freedom is taken away, you are no longer human. You're a mindless puppet never to see the light of freedom and hope. You see what the puppet master wants you to see.

-

"We'll stop for the day here," stated Sesshomaru upon reaching a river, looking back to his traveling companions. Jaken was nodding his head up and down, Rin smiled, knowing that she and Jaken would be able to catch fish, and Kagura gave a single, silent nod of approval. Though she wouldn't admit it, she was relieved that they were going to rest for the night.

"Rin, Jaken," began Sesshomaru coolly, "go catch some fish for dinner. I'll find some firewood. And Kagura, do me the favor of watching over Rin."

"Alright," was her only response. She seemed fine with the idea, though. Gracefully, she sat down on a patch of grass by the river. Sesshomaru walked off into the forest, the fuzzy boa on his shoulder swaying back and forth elegantly with every step he took.

Kagura turned her attention back to the toad and the little girl. Rin seemed to be enjoying herself, not caring about her orange kimono and black hair getting wet. Kagura smiled sadly at this, wishing that she had had a childhood. Never would she be able to be as carefree and innocent as Rin. Never would she have such a radiant smile filled with such happiness and joy. She envied her a bit, and wished that she could run into the cold water and embrace her.

Jaken, on the other hand, obviously was not enjoying himself. He was doing his best not to get splashed by Rin as she dived after fish. Unfortunately for him, he was doing a terrible job of staying dry. He was having a great deal of trouble catching the quick and agile fish. Kagura found humor in his antics, yet could not bring herself to laugh.

"Hey Kagura! I caught one!" shouted Rin from the shallows of the river, holding a large, slimy, and squirming trout in her small hands. Her eyes shone with happiness as the fish got water all over her kimono. She waded to the shore to show her prize to Kagura.

"What do you think, Kagura?" the little human girl asked proudly.

"It's quite a large fish. Good job, Rin." Kagura smiled at her; something that she was rarely able to do anymore. She pulled up a basket that Rin had brought along for the fish and Rin gently put the trout in. It was still wriggling around, but it was dying. Kagura stared at it, and thoughts of death ran through her head.

'Once Naraku's through with me, he'll dispose of me, just like any of his other incarnations. The only question is: when is that going to be? I know he has considered killing me off many times before. If we reach Naraku's castle and he finds me working with Sesshomaru, he'll probably dispose of me. I have rebelled many times before, but never have I returned with one of his enemies on my side..." Her pale face was filled with worry when she was brought back to reality by a familiar voice from beside her.

"What's wrong, Kagura?" It was Sesshomaru sitting next to her. He had returned with the firewood. Kagura didn't realize how much time had passed while she was lost in her own thoughts. The basket was filled with fish and Jaken was attempting to light the logs to cook them. Kagura had noticed something odd in Sesshomaru's voice, though. A certain emotion she thought she would never hear coming her direction. Was it... concern?

"It's... nothing," she said cautiously.

"Don't lie to me, Kagura." His golden eyes really were full of concern, surprisingly enough.

"I was just thinking... about what Naraku will do to me once he finds no other use for me."

"I won't let him kill you. I said I'd help you kill him, and I remain a man of my word."

"You shouldn't make promises that you might not be able to keep."

"I decide whether or not I'll be able to stay true to my word. I said I will help you."

Kagura stared off into the still overcast sky, though it seemed that its condition had improved a bit. She let a single tear fall down her cheek, not showing any resistance towards its presence. This was the first time anyone really cared about her enough to help her gain her freedom. "Thank you... This means... a lot to me."

"I have another question for you: what do you plan to do with your freedom once you gain it?"

"I really don't know..." No one had ever asked her that question. She never believed that anyone would. Kagura had never thought about this; she had never believed that she would be free.

"Is it just the thought of not being under another's control that fuels you? The thought of being able to do what you wish and live with no boundaries?"

"I suppose so. Maybe all I want to do is be freed of my puppet strings once and for all..."

"I can understand that; I guess what fuels me on this long, rocky trail called life is escaping my family's shadow. I suppose I just want to run away from everything." Sesshomaru was opening up to her so much... it was almost scary, but he felt calmed when he was sitting with her. She was made to be a tool of destruction without a heart or emotions. Too bad for Naraku; she had both of those traits and more. "We are both running from something that has kept us chained up. I really do want to help you. I am not just in this for myself, even though it may seem that way."

Now, tears were streaming down Kagura's face, but the funny thing was that she was smiling.

"I thank you," she said through the tears that were clouding her red eyes, and placed her pale hand atop Sesshomaru's.

"Lord Sesshomaru, Kagura, the food's ready!" called Rin from the blazing fire. She smiled as she ate her fish in big, hungry bites.

Sesshomaru got up and offered a hand to Kagura, who cautiously accepted it. They walked to the flames, going over the conversation that had occurred in their minds.

End of Chappie 2

Roo: And that's it for this chappie! Yeah, yeah, it's short. So what? I put a lot of thought into this chappie!

Kari: Yes, I am shocked as well.

Roo: Ya know, you're fired.

Kari: WHAT!

Roo: Not really. I just knew I would get a totally groovy response.

Kari: Okay then...

Roo: Kay, get reviewin' before I sick a headless chicken on you.

Kari: Now there's the greatest threat ever, folks.

Roo: Aw, shut up Kari. Alrighty,happy sleeping timefor Roo. (Yawn) So, be one of the awesomely radical people out there over yonder and tell me what you think, kay?