"Casa, no..." Sesshomaru said.
"She's gone, Sesshomaru," Miroku told him. Inuyasha kept his arm over his brother in a comforting way.
"NO! I refuse to believe that!" Sesshomaru yelled. "She's not dead!"
"Sesshomaru..." Kagome cried. Sango cried as well. They both became good friends with Casa over the last few days.
"She's just a woman. It's not like she was your mate," Kouga said.
Sesshomaru stayed silent while Inuyasha glared at Kouga. "What makes you think that?" Inuyasha yelled.
"He's right. She wasn't my mate or anything," Sesshomaru remarked, standing up. "Let's just bury her and get this over with."
He put his Tokijin away, turning away. Kagome saw his other sword still sheathed.
"Sesshomaru, you can bring her back to life!" Kagome exclaimed.
"Priestess, don't be foolish believing someone who is dead can be restored to life," Sesshomaru growled.
"Wait, Kagome might have something here. Let's listen," Miroku told Sesshomaru.
"Monk, last time I listened to you, Casa died. I do not want anymore advice from you," Sesshomaru growled, turning to face the group again.
"No, your Tenseiga . You can use it to bring her back!" Kagome exclaimed.
"My Tetsusaiga ?" Sesshomaru asked to no one in particular.
"Yes, you know, your OTHER sword?" Inuyasha sarcastically told Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru pulled his Tenseiga out and slashed the Netherworld imps. He dropped his sword and kneeled down to Casa when he heard her cough.
"Sesshomaru?" Whispered Casa.
"It's all right," Sesshomaru told her.
"No... You didn't need to..." Casa moaned, looking away. "You shouldn't have killed yourself."
"I didn't," he told her.
"He brought you back, Casa," Inuyasha told her, smiling.
She looked up at him and everyone else. "Did you tell him to?" She ordered.
"Well, yeah. We though you wanted that," Kagome told her.
"You..." Casa growled.
"You wanted to die?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Well, no, but this pain is worst," Casa told him, looking directly at him.
"What pain?" Sesshomaru asked.
"In my forehead. I awoke today with a killer headache and it hasn't subsided," she told him.
"Pain? Let me see," Kagome asked. Casa turned to her. "You have a sacred jewel shard in your forehead."
"I do?" Casa asked.
"Yes, let me take it out," Kagome offered, touching Casa's forehead. The shard fell into Kagome's palm, but the night's pain returned.
"Ugh..." Casa said, doubling over in pain. Kouga kneeled down to her and lifted her head up.
"She has poison in her system. The jewel kept most of the pain away," Kouga told Sesshomaru. "She'll die, again, if we don't remove it."
"What can we do? We're no where near Jinenji," Miroku stated.
"Jinenji? Who is this Jinenji?" Sesshomaru asked, pulling Casa closer to him.
"He was someone who gave us a cure for poison one time. But he's far off," Kagome told him.
"Maybe you can remove some poison with your sword?" Inuyasha asked.
"Why do you all think this sword can work wonders?" Sesshomaru asked, picking up the sword slightly.
"Well, Father gave it to protect the one you love," Inuyasha said.
At the mention of Inutaisho, Tenseiga and Tetsaiga both called out. Inuyasha looked down at his sword before looking back up at Sesshomaru.
"What was that about?" Inuyasha asked.
Sesshomaru didn't answer, but picked up Tenseiga while laying Casa back on the floor. He placed the sword on Casa's forehead and it removed all poison. She sighed and Sesshomaru dropped the sword again and kneeled down to her.
"You all right?" Sesshomaru asked. She nodded and he smirked.
"Should we head back to the palace?" Inuyasha asked.
"Sure," Sesshomaru answered, picking Casa up. She argued with Sesshomaru that she could walk on her own, but he didn't listen. He carried her the entire way to the palace. When they reached the palace and entered, Sesshomaru let Casa walk. She was grateful, but wouldn't show it. She walked up to the bedroom and relaxed. She first went to the dresser to brush her hair. Rin skipped into the room while she was and watched. She smiled continuously. Casa smiled back once, but was more focused on her hair. It wasn't staying down, so she would need a bath before that day was over. She put the brush back on the dresser and sat next to Rin on the bed.
"Why are you so happy?" Asked Casa.
"Jaken told me Sesshomaru revived you," Rin told Casa.
"How would he know? He was here with you," Casa asked Rin.
"He overheard Lady Kagome and Master Inuyasha talking excitingly about it," Rin told her, smiling continuously.
"Lady and Master?" Casa asked. "I don't believe those are proper names for them."
"Why not?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Well, they aren't exactly royalty," Casa explained.
"Yes they are. Kagome is Inuyasha's intended mate and Inuyasha is next in line, so it's proper," Sesshomaru told her.
"I'll leave!" Rin exclaimed, skipping out.
Casa shook her head a few times before getting all the facts straight. She knew Inuyasha loved Kagome, but there was the other priestess, Kikyou. They talked about Kikyou when Sango and Inuyasha talked with her. Did he give up on her? He hoped he wouldn't hurt Kagome if he hadn't.
"It's none of our business of Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship," Sesshomaru told her. She smiled and nodded. It was silent for a long while, Casa looking up at Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru down at her. The silence was killing Sesshomaru, so he closed the door and sat next to Casa. He pulled her into an embrace.
"You scared me today," Sesshomaru whispered to her.
"How?" She asked.
"I was afraid I lost you," Sesshomaru told her, pulling her away to look into her eyes.
"Lost me? When I died?" She asked.
"Yes. You mean the world to me," Sesshomaru told her.
"Sesshomaru, you exaggerate. I don't mean that much, do I?" Casa asked.
"Yes... Yes you do. You mean more than I can say," Sesshomaru told her. "I would die if I lost you forever."
She was silent while she thought. Their love was mutual. They looked at each other for a short while.
"I love you," Sesshomaru told her before pulling into a kiss. He pulled away and embraced her again.
"Sesshomaru, you truly do?" Casa asked.
"Yes," he sighed.
They stayed in each other's arms until the sun set. Casa sighed and pulled away to look at him. "I'm really hungry," she told him.
He smiled, nodded and stood up. "I'll let you change. You don't look good in black. I'll call you when supper is ready," he told her and exited. She sighed and went into the closet. It was full with new clothes so she chose a white, silk kimono and some herbs on the dresser and went into the spring. She undressed and lowered herself into the water. It was soothing and warm. She relaxed in it for a while, the warm water easing all worries. She started to wash at a slow pace, knowing there was no rush. She washed her hair with some herbs and rinsed slowly. Realizing that Sesshomaru could be up anytime soon, she washed her body slightly quicker and stepped out of the water. She dried off very quickly and let her hair dry out in the air. She dressed in the kimono she chose and went into the bedroom, wringing her hair out. She brushed it quickly and went to the dining room to see how everyone was. She saw Sango dressing Miroku's wound he got during the battle and Kagome and Inuyasha were chatting. Rin and Shippo were playing with a ball. Casa sat down in a chair and listened to the cheerful atmosphere around her. With Naraku dead, everyone was worry-free. Shippo saw Casa sit down and walked over to Casa, Rin behind him.
"Casa, where's Sesshomaru? You're always around him so we were wondering where he was?" Shippo asked.
"I heard he went into the garden," Rin told Shippo.
"Well, he gave us this ball to play and told us not to bother him until he returned," Shippo told Casa.
"He gave you this ball? How nice," Kagome said, slightly overhearing the conversation.
"Well, he has been going soft recently," Sango said, Miroku wincing slightly because Sango tied the bandage too tightly. "Sorry."
"Well, I don't think so. He's just, well, falling in love," Kagome told everyone. Inuyasha rolled his eyes. First Miroku and Sango, now Casa and Sesshomaru.
Casa was thinking about Sesshomaru. His smile, his eyes, his voice, his touch... Casa sighed slightly and everyone turned to her. Kagome giggled and Inuyasha rolled his eyes again.
"Casa, you all right?" Sango asked, trying to hide her smile.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm all right," Casa answered.
"We all know you like him," Miroku told her, putting a new top on. Sango removed his robe he usually wore by force, so it was ripped everywhere. He needed new clothes so the servants brought him some.
"I do not!" Casa stated, obviously defending herself.
"Do so!" Miroku told her.
"Right, prove it!" Casa told him.
"Show us your shoulder," Inuyasha ordered her.
"Huh? YOU WANT ME TO UNDRESS!" Casa screamed.
Sesshomaru walked in slightly faster than usual to Casa's scream. "What is all the noise about?" He ordered.
"Nothing, Lord Sesshomaru," laughed Rin. She couldn't stop laughing at how funny the group were.
"Maybe you should've kept her dead," Inuyasha told Sesshomaru, standing up.
"Sit back down!" Sesshomaru ordered. "Casa's is distressed and I want to know why."
Inuyasha sat down suddenly. Casa looked puzzling up at him. How did he know how she felt?
"Well, it was just an argument," Miroku told him.
"An argument wouldn't have made Casa yell so loud I could hear it from the garden," stated Sesshomaru coldly.
"It's been solved," Inuyasha told Sesshomaru, standing up again.
"Sit down!" Sesshomaru ordered again. Inuyasha sat back down again.
"Sesshomaru, everything is solved," Casa told him.
Sesshomaru looked down at her to see if she was lying or not. He saw her brown eyes looking up at him. Inuyasha was getting up slowly and quietly while they looked at each other.
"Fine," Sesshomaru said and walked off. Casa jumped to her feet and went after him.
"Wait up!" Casa called after him. He slowed own but didn't stop.
"Go upstairs. Supper isn't ready yet. And tell your friends to mind their own business," Sesshomaru told her, finally stopping and turning slightly to his left. The dining room door slammed shut suddenly and Sesshomaru smirked.
"Sesshomaru, why were you in the garden?" Casa asked, walking towards him. She stood next to him, looking up at him.
"You'll find out soon enough," he told her and walked off.
Casa didn't dare to follow him. She sighed and went upstairs. She stood at the top, looking over the banister. How peaceful it was up there was soothing for her and she sighed. She turned to go into the room and found Kouga next to her. He, too, was looking over the banister.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were here," Casa apologized.
"No worries. I just came. I was upstairs, changing out of that itchy suit. Forgot last night," Kouga told her, smirking. She smiled back. She headed to her room but Kouga stopped her.
"Umm, I was wondering, are you doing anything tonight?" Kouga asked. She turned to him and smiled.
"I don't know yet. Sesshomaru might have something planned," Casa told him.
"Well, if you don't have anything planned, can you meet me downstairs, at the door, after supper? I want to show you something," Kouga said, going downstairs.
Casa smiled and entered her room. It felt cold and dark without Sesshomaru in it. She headed over to the window to look at the stars. They twinkled in the sky, casting a nice scene. Casa saw someone below in the garden, so she watched curiously. She lost interest and looked around the room. It wasn't lively so she left. She felt lonely, so she decided to get talk to Kagome and Sango. Maybe they could bring her spirits up. She heard a high-pitched scream and a slap. She giggled as she reached the floor. A servant exited the room, trying her best not to laugh. She smiled and bowed at Casa before speeding off. Casa sat on the last stair looking around. She heard footsteps heading her way and Jaken appeared. He was being nicer to her than when they first met. While the adults left to fight Naraku, Rin told Jaken how nice Casa was and wasn't out for Sesshomaru's name. Jaken's opinion changed of Casa and he smiled at her when he passed. She smiled back and stayed seated on the stair. A servant exited the kitchen and told Casa supper was ready before speeding off to get Sesshomaru. She nodded and went into the dining room. Kagome was at a far end of the table with Inuyasha while Sango and Miroku were on the other end. Casa seated herself at one of the available chairs. She sighed and heard Kagome growling at Miroku. He smiled while scratching the back of his head. Sango growled at him and whacked him, hard, across the head. Inuyasha comforted Kagome by embracing her with one of his arms. He glared at Miroku throughout the wait. Casa sat, staring at the empty seat across from her. Where was Sesshomaru?
A servant entered and smiled at everyone. The servant saw Casa looking at the empty seat across from her. The smiled faded from the servant's face; she needed to tell Casa Sesshomaru wouldn't be attending the meal that night. The servant eventually got the courage to tell her and Casa just nodded. The servant walked off, feeling really guilty.
Casa sat in her chair, her head in her hands. She needed Sesshomaru that night, and he was off doing who knows what. Kouga entered and sat at the only available seat; in front of Casa. He smiled at her as he sat down. Casa didn't look up at him. His smile faded, seeing Inuyasha was close to HIS Kagome. They started an argument and Casa sneaked off. She found Sesshomaru in he hall. He looked at her cold and expressionless. Casa dropped her head as she walked towards the stairs. He held her arm before she took one step.
"Casa, you should be in the dining room, having supper," Sesshomaru told her.
"I'm not hungry," she whispered very quietly.
"You all right? You've been a little odd ever since the battle," Sesshomaru asked her, lifting her head up. She avoided his hand and tugged her arm out of his grasp.
"I'm fine, ok!" She screamed, and ran up the stairs, the smell of tears hitting Sesshomaru's nose.
Inuyasha and Kouga exited the dining room at that moment. The scent hit their noses as well and wanted to know what was going on and why Casa was crying. Truthfully, Sesshomaru didn't know why she was crying, so ignored their questions. Kouga didn't proceed after Sesshomaru didn't give them an answer after he asked for the fifth time. He look up to the closed door of the master bedroom. He guessed Casa wasn't joining him that night.