Casa sighed. She hated being a sorceress. Yes, she was powerful and not so much sensitivity to her ears if Naraku happened to do that screeching thing again, but with Naraku after her, she felt paranoid. Even Kagome pointed it out. Casa stayed close to Sesshomaru. It was the only person who made her feel very safe.
"Everyone, stop," Sesshomaru declared and every halted in their tracks. Blossom had been walking since her wings tired out, and halted as well. "Demons."
Inuyasha smiled after a sniff of the wind. They were closer as well as Naraku spawns were nearby. And from the smell, there were a few more.
The screech erupted again, and everyone but Kagome and Casa fell to the floor. In the distance, the sound of rubble settling was heard and a few moans of pain. Kagome and Casa were confused, but looked around elsewhere. Naraku had to be nearby, or one of his spawns, but it only meant they were getting closer.
"Casa, my lady," a male said and some huge bull walked out on hind legs before bowing. "Naraku puts you in his highest respects."
A moan was heard next to Casa. Sesshomaru was in real pain. He was even clenching his eyes and covering his ears.
"Are you responsible for this?" Casa demanded angrily. The bull smiled evilly. "Stop it!"
"If I was, your precious mate and husband would kill me for injury him," the bull replied, "and I cannot risk my life just yet."
A painful grunt was heard next to Casa and she was really worried. Would Sesshomaru be all right?
"Now, Lady Casa, I have heard so many wonderful storied about you," the bull told Casa, bowing again, "but I must ask you to come with me. I will subside the spell for your precious husband to follow as well, but if anyone else follows, I must inform you I will take you by force."
"Don't... Do... It," Inuyasha grunted.
"Shut... UP!" Sesshomaru grunted. It gave Casa some relief that those two were all right enough to argue.
"What about Kagome?" Casa asked. Kagome jumped at the call of her name.
"Ka-gom-e?" The bull asked. Casa pointed to Kagome and the bull smiled. "I guess she can come. My brother and I are lacking of company. Female company."
"You touch... her... you are... dead," Inuyasha grunted, forcing his body upright, though he was seriously in pain from the screeches. The bull's eyes flashed red and Inuyasha collapsed to the floor as everyone else winced. The bull must have increased the power of the screech.
"STOP!" Casa exclaimed. She knew Sesshomaru was suffering more. "Just stop it all or I won't go!"
The bull looked intensely at Casa. "Whether I drone out the screech or not, you will come. I could take you there now if I didn't hold you in so high of respects and if you weren't tasty enough to eat."
"I refuse to... allow you to... speak ill of... my... wife, especially like that," Sesshomaru grunted, forcing himself to his feet as well. The bull's eyes flashed again and Sesshomaru winced, but did not fall to the ground like Inuyasha. The bull's eyes flashed again, but Sesshomaru only winced again. "Now, we do not need you to escort my wife and I to Naraku. WE WILL GET THERE ON OUR OWN!"
Sesshomaru's whip slashed the bull in half and the sound dissipated. Sesshomaru fell to the floor only then. Casa kneeled next to him with worry.
"Will you be all right?" Casa asked. Sesshomaru nodded.
"We just need to rest again. And soon, dear," Sesshomaru told her in heavy breaths, "or I just might not make it to Naraku's castle."
Casa nodded and set up a small camp for everyone. Kagome and Casa attended to everyone's needs. Well, within reason... (Inuyasha pulled Kagome into his lap, telling her she could be his nurse in the bushes nearby. She slapped him roughly before getting the ramen ready.)
"Mom," Blossom said after just recently finishing her ramen, "I think Dad wants to talk to you at that lake nearby."
Casa looked at her daughter with shock, but she nodded and headed towards the lake. The smell of water was strong, even for her. Her dress got caught on a few branches, but she just tugged them quickly before returning on her way.
He was looking up into the clouds at the edge of the lake. "Casa," he said softly, "please, come join me."
"You aren't thinking of what I think you're thinking, are you?" Casa asked. Sesshomaru smiled, but did not answer.
"Casa," he said, turning ever so slightly to look at her, "last time we were with Naraku, you died. I could not risk seeing that again, for Naraku might know some sort of way to counter my Tenseiga. I cannot let our children see you die, along with our friends and other family, and I couldn't live if that happened again. Casa, you must not come. We'll make another plan. Just promise me you won't go."
Casa was silent. "Sesshomaru, I must take my revenge. He killed me, as you said. But, well, I understand, but we all are taking risks. For me and our children and family and friends, what if you died? We won't even have the option of the Tenseiga. I'm a better risk, Sesshomaru. You have a land to run, a family to raise and teach and you can use the Tenseiga if something was to go wrong."
Sesshomaru looked out on the lake. "You have a point," he sighed. "But..."
"Sesshomaru, all we can hope for is no casualties. But if we were to have one, I would be the most likely and better choice. It's just life," Casa told him. "But we can take advantage of what life we still have."
"Casa, you know what? You're sweet-talk always works on me," he smiled. "Now, there are bushes over there, and I need to be close to you."
"Later. Tonight, not now. We might get caught," Casa said. "And plus, I'm not in the mood and Inu no Taisho needs my assistance."
Sesshomaru sighed. If only they didn't have kids...
Casa sighed as she tilted her head back in the breeze. Sesshomaru was asleep next to her, tired out completely from that day. Inuyasha had Kagome in his lap, sleeping in the tree. Blossom was in a sleeping bag along with her brother and Casa was the only one awake.
"I wonder what will happen tomorrow? Shall we find Naraku, or just another day of trying to find Naraku?" Casa asked out loud. She sighed and looked out in front of her. Her kids had smiles on their faces as they slept. Inuyasha murmured something in his sleep as Kagome was soundless. Sesshomaru's only noise was the newly developed snore. Casa smiled. A lot had changed over time. Before, Sesshomaru had refused to become her mate. But now they were together. And even their family members had changed. Well, at least Sesshomaru's. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were actually nice to each other. And Casa even knew a lot about Sesshomaru's father just by his random visits throughout their lives. They were all happy now. But then Naraku just had to return and change it all again.
Another breeze blew by, but this time, the leaves rustled faster and harder. Casa looked around to find a blue whirlwind heading their way. Hey, Kouga was coming!
Kouga skidded to a halt and four kids tumbled to the ground. Ayame stumbled slightly, but caught her balance. She snapped at Kouga, but not loud enough to wake up anyone.
"Hey Casa," Kouga whispered. "Thought I smelt your group. Are these the twins?"
Casa smiled. Kouga hadn't been seen for such a long time, she had just thought he had died or been killed. "Yep, it's them."
"Wow, their adorable," Kouga complimented.
"You never call our kids adorable!" Ayame snapped.
"That's because they're twerps!" Kouga snapped back.
Sesshomaru choked on a snore, but just resuming his sleep almost soundlessly. But then his snore started up again.
"Are these your kids?" Casa asked, looking at the little demons running around. Kouga sighed with some grief before nodding. He got whacked for that.
"Kit, Koddy, Anna, Koge! Come here," Kouga ordered. The four kids looked at him, but resumed playing. Kouga sighed. "See, twerps."
"Children!" Ayame ordered. All of them halted and then ran to their mother's feet. "Good kids."
"So, um, Kouga, what brings you here?" Casa asked as Kouga and his family seated themselves on a log.
"Naraku's scent," Kouga told her. "Too strong to be good."
"Yeah, same," Casa responded. "He summoned Sesshomaru and I to his castle, so that's why the scent is so strong."
"Really? And you guys are going?" Kouga asked. "Sounds a little suspicious."
"Yes, but we want to kill Naraku, don't we?" Casa asked.
"I thought you already had," Kouga pointed out.
"He sometimes regenerates, and comes back to life," a voice in the trees yelled. Everyone looked up and Kagome was leaning over Inuyasha's arm, wide-awake. "Hi Kouga."
"Hi Kagome. Need help getting down from there?" Kouga yelled and then was whacked on his arm. "What now, dear?"
"I don't want you carrying her, or even offering to, since you are mated to me. She can get down herself," Ayame snapped.
"You realized how high that is!" Kouga yelled.
"Yes, so? She shouldn't be afraid of heights if she's sleeping in a tree," Ayame told Kouga, crossing her arms. "No means no."
"Kouga, it's all right. I'm not exactly decent up here, so it might be better if I'm just up here with Inuyasha," Kagome yelled down. Casa smiled. Yes, those type of sounds could been heard from up there earlier, along with around the area Casa and Sesshomaru were "residing" in. "Plus, I can communicate just as easily up here as down there."
Kouga sighed but gave up. He knew he wouldn't be allowed in the clan again, by Ayame, if he saw any woman, especially Kagome, unclothed or not decent. And he really recently had been having a great honeymoon (Lasting hundreds of years. Get the picture. Four kids, come on!).
"So, um, will you be joining us on this journey?" Casa asked. Kouga scratched his chin.
"If Ayame will allow it. Our kids do need to learn how to kill and hunt and track enemies down. It could be a good lesson for them," Kouga pointed out. "And Naraku doesn't have the Shikon Jewel anymore, so he isn't that dangerous."
Casa nodded, but a small, sleepy voice next to her startled her to stop her nodding. "He can join us, but now, some people, preferable near deaf demons, are trying to sleep, so cut it out! And Casa, could you be a doll and join me?" Sesshomaru's sleepy voice said. Casa smiled and rolled her eyes, but laid down next to Sesshomaru. "Thank you, honey."
"Um, Sesshomaru, may I first take Casa somewhere?" Kouga asked. Sesshomaru peaked an eye open.
"Where to?" Sesshomaru asked.
"You know, those hundred of years ago, when I asked to take Casa somewhere?" Kouga asked.
"When you were still in love with her?" Sesshomaru asked. Kouga nodded. "Yeah, so?"
"I'd like to take her now. We're close by and, well, it's the perfect time," Kouga said. Both Ayame and Sesshomaru looked at him suspiciously. "Ok, I'm mated, she's mated. Nothing can happen, remember?"
"I trust Casa not to do anything, but not you, Kouga. Casa, you may go if you'd like to, but please try to return quickly. I'm in need of your warmth," Sesshomaru whined slightly. Casa smiled, kissed his lips only slightly and left with Kouga. Ayame watched the two with a twitchy eye. Yes, she was mated to Kouga, but she didn't entirely trust him, even after all the hundred of years together. They disappeared into the shadows of the trees.
"So, Kouga, where is this place?" Casa asked.
"Well, it's beautiful during the day and at dusk, but at night, it's almost magnificent. The moon glints off the water and it's just beautiful," Kouga told Casa. "I just thought you'd like to see it."
A clearing came and Casa gasped. Wow, it was beautiful. It was more a pond than a lake, but it was still marvellous. "Kouga, it's wonderful," Casa gasped.
"May I ask you a question?" Kouga asked.
"One after that one, do you mean?" Casa joked. Kouga cracked a smile, but took Casa's hand.
"If I was to have brought you here before you had mated or married Sesshomaru, would you have fell in love with me?" Kouga asked.
"Love isn't made on where you take someone, or what you give them. It's just formed by time spent together. That might include taking that person places, or buying them gifts, but it's not formed on just that. It's a mutual feelings. It's formed completely randomly. Why, Kouga?" Casa asked.
"Well, I wanted to bring you here so that I could impress you enough to make you love me, or for that matter, make love to me, but you were all upset and everything that night, and, well, I just didn't want to disturb you and upset you," Kouga told Casa, walking closer to the pond.
"Kouga, that is love. Concern and worry and consideration for that person. But more than a friend or relative. Love between two lovers is so much more. I can't describe it," Casa sighed.
"Well, I don't want you to. I just want us to relax here, ok?" Kouga said, falling to the ground and crossing his legs. "Will you join me?"
"Well," Casa stammered. She wanted to go join Sesshomaru again, but she hadn't seen Kouga for centuries. "Sure, why not? But you don't make any moves on me, understood?"
"Of course," Kouga told her. They enjoyed the view together, just talking slightly, with little conversations and topics. But Casa told Kouga she had to return just as the sun peaked it's first rays over the horizon.
"I had fun. It was nice to catch up with you again," Casa smiled, standing up with Kouga.
"Yes, I must concur. But now you ought to join Sesshomaru. I'm sorry I kept you the night. Sesshomaru might suspect something, but insured that nothing happened, ok? I really wish to live to see my children grow up to be as old as yours," Kouga told her.
"Same with your mate. Ayame seems to not trust you. Why is that?" Casa asked, walking back next to Kouga.
"I don't know. She claims me to cheat, but I can't. It's physically impossible for a mated demon to cheat. I really don't understand," Kouga sighed.
"Do you do anything to make her suspect it?" Casa asked.
"Not that I think of. She does get really angry when I talk to my friends," Kouga sighed.
"What's wrong with that? She doesn't think you, well, like both genders?" Casa asked.
"No, no, no. I meant my friends that are female," Kouga told her.
"Oh, well, do you tell her they are just friends? Friends and only friends?" Casa asked. Kouga nodded. "Well, do you show her more affection than your other girl friends?"
"Well, I guess not," Kouga sighed, scratching his head.
"Well, you should. For example, I don't kiss any other guy but Sesshomaru and that is why he trusts me. I don't stay an entire day without him or one of his family members or without a girl with me. He knows me a little too well. You know, we sort of grew up together," Casa told Kouga.
"Oh yeah, he told me once. Well, come on. The sun's almost up," Kouga said, speeding up with Casa. She agreed and sped to Sesshomaru. When they returned, only Ayame was awake, and really ticked when Kouga returned. Casa left him to be alone with Ayame to sort out the argument while she joined Sesshomaru under the blanket. Casa knew she made some progress. Perhaps not on finding Naraku, but on someone's life. And that was an accomplishment for her.