Hey guys! I'm all early and stuff this week. (posting at 1:30 on Saturday morning.) This Chapter is pretty funny. Our friend, Evee, has a brief cameo in it. WE LOVE YOU EVEE!

Well, I'm not goin gto blab much because my mom may wake up any second and find me here.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: ChibiBean does not own nor claim rights to InuYasha or any of its characters, nor do we own the lyrics by Relient K. Thank you.

Adjoining Rooms and Elevators
"But I can't ask you to give what you already gave." –Relient K.

After helping Azurine from the well, they all puzzled over their predicament. It seemed the well had closed up.

When this finally became clear, Sarah burst into tears. "Wha…what about Yukito! He needs me!" Once Yuto had finally calmed her down, Sarah sniffled out, "We should find a place to stay."

"We're not staying at my house," Azurine stated, firm in her decision. "And we can't go to yours. We'll stay at a hotel."

"But the cost!" Sarah protested.

"Small inherited fortune, remember? Besides, you need to be indoors and relax, where there's nice hot baths in actual bathtubs with adjustable taps." A dreamy look overcame her.

Sarah finally consented.

Azurine didn't much care for hotels since she'd heard that most didn't wash their comforters more than once a month, but she wouldn't tell the others that, especially the easily squeamish Sarah. And that was the thing: Sarah. She was still pretty beaten up and, now very near her due date, Azurine refused to let the girl sleep outside if avoidable.

In the time Sarah had been gone, a Howard Johnson had been built. It was the closest and, Azurine felt, their best bet.

By the time they arrived, Sarah was strong enough to walk, though Yuto kept a firm grip on her shoulders. She used her power to slightly heal the black eye and bloody lip, but not completely. She grinned at Azurine.

"Minor magic I can do, but not a full healing. I can't endanger the baby." The lip looked only as if it had been chewed on, as Sarah did anyway, and the black eye was just slightly visible.

Azurine nodded. "So, one room or two?"

"Well, there's only two beds to a room, so unless you want to share a bed with Miroku…"

"Ugh, no. Two rooms then." She paid and looked out a window as they walked down a hall. "Ooooh! A swimming pool!"

Sarah tugged on her friend's arm. "Do you even have a swim suit?"

"Yes."

"Well, that doesn't surprise me in the least. Rooms first, though," Sarah sighed. All this walking was doing a number on her.

"Aww…"

"They'd gotten adjoining rooms on the third floor. The ride in the elevator went something like this.

Elevator doors: shut

Miroku: How is this little room going to…?

Elevator: whirr, go up

Azurine: See? Like the light bulb.

Miroku and Yuto: cling to handlebars

Sarah and Azurine: laugh

Elevator and doors: ding, open

They stepped into a long hallway. The guys wobbled uneasily after the merrily chattering girls. At the rooms, Sarah paused, key-card poised by the door.

"I'm hungry. I hate these cravings. I want pickles and ice cream with maple syrup."

"Eww. Well," Azurine said. "There's a restaurant downstairs, if you want. I can give you the cash." She handed her some bills.

"Okay. Yuto, you coming?"

"Stairs, please," he said weakly.

"Oh, and make me walk all the way?"

Yuto smiled and scooped her up, kissed her nose and carried her towards the stairwell. She turned back. "You guys coming?"

"Too…tired," Miroku mumbled.

"Looks like we'll be going to bed, then." Azurine laughed, watching the two disappear through the door. "That was too cute." She turned back to the door, unlocked it and stretched as she walked in. "Bed time."

As they walked into the room, Azurine noted her surroundings: one bed, a futon, two bedside tables, a desk, a TV stand/wardrobe, a closet and a large bathroom. All of this she took in within seconds before Miroku scooped her up, just as Yuto had done to Sarah, and kissed Azurine on the nose. Hey, if it works for Yuto…He carried her to the bed and dropped her on it.

Azurine looked up at him, while slipping her pack off, and, after a pause, said, "You get the couch."

"You are so cruel to me," he grumbled. He stared at thefuton a moment, observing the double-seat couch. It was clearly too small for him. "How do I sleep on this?"

Azurine shook her head as she hung her cloak in the closet. "You have to unfold it."

"Oh." He puzzled over that for another long minute. "How do I do that, exactly?"

Azurine rolled her eyes. She made her way over to the futon and unfolded it for him. "There," she said, smoothing out the sheets.

Suddenly, she was tumbling onto the open couch and Miroku's body was pinning her down. He smiled down at her on his hands and knees.

"I could get used to these 'jeans'. They're easier to move in," he joked.

She grabbed a pillow from behind her and began to beat him over the head with it. "Get off, you idiot! You're sleeping in the hallway!" Though she was trying to be serious, she giggled the whole time.

Miroku grabbed the pillow at of her hands and threw it aside. "That hurt. Come to think of it…" He removed her gloves, too.

She laughed and kissed him. This had become dangerous and she knew it. She liked it.

Just then, the door that joined their room to Sarah and Yuto's opened. The two stood there. Yuto seemed not to care much, but Sarah's jaw dropped before twisting into a huge smile.

"Bad time?" she asked.

Miroku was flying across the room as Azurine had thrown him. She yanked her gloves back on and stood up. "Not at all, what's up?"

"Yuto got dizzy with all the stairs and wouldn't take the elevator so we just assumed room service would suffice," Sarah explained, still smiling mischievously.

Azurine nodded as Miroku slowly stood up, rubbing his head, which had hit a corner of the end table.

"Well," he said. "That could have gone better. Bad timing, I guess." Azurine threw another pillow at him and he shut up.

"Who's up for a rousing game of 'truth or dare'? I'm sure Miroku would like to have a crack at that."

From behind Sarah, Yuto slowly shook his head at the others while mouthing 'no' in a horrified and embarrassed way. He had memories of that game he didn't want to recall.

"Uh, no thanks," Azurine and Miroku answered together, sweat dropping. They both remembered how brutal Sarah could be in that game, though Miroku had experienced it more recently than Azurine.

Flashback

It was a warm night in Kaede's village. It had two months since Azurine's coma began. Sarah and Kagome had gotten a game of 'truth or dare' going to lighten the mood. After Sarah had dared InuYasha to kiss Kagome, Miroku to ask Kaede to bear his children, and Kagome to flirt with Miroku, Sarah had made some enemies.

Kagome, who was especially flustered, dared Sarah to go seduce Yuto. Unable to get out of it, Sarah shakily walked outside.

Yuto had been staring into the fire, contemplating his new life. Sarah sat beside him causing him to shake himself out of his thoughts. When he looked at her, he gasped. Sarah was fluttering her eyelids and playing with a button on her shirt. She leaned towards him and whispered in his ear, "Just go along with it. The others dared me to seduce you."

"What am I supposed to do?" he whispered back.

Blushing, Sarah fiddled with his shirt collar. "I don't know. A…a…a kiss I guess."

Yuto leaned in and kissed her, pushing her down to the ground. They heard the others move away from the doorway and whisper excitedly.

Sarah broke the kiss and looked at him. "Good. Now they'll leave us alone."

But Yuto didn't move. He stared down at her longingly. Instead he began to kiss her neck. He slid his hand under her shirt.

Blushing maroon now, Sarah whispered quickly, "What are you doing, Yuto?"

"You know, Sarah," he replied, still kissing her neck. "You shouldn't try to seduce me. I'm not that strong. You know I love you, don't you think I would take advantage of this moment?"

Sarah stared at him unbelievingly. He nibbled at her earlobe and she giggled nervously. "But, Yuto, I don't' think…" He kissed her lips and she sighed.

He began to unbutton her shirt when she sat bolt upright. Yuto was now chest to chest with her, but they were staring at the hut. They both looked at the door flap flutter and a bushy tail rush back inside.

"Oh, my god. Shippo saw us."

They both seemed to regain themselves and split apart. They couldn't look at each other for days.

A nice, hot bath should calm things down, Azurine thought. Then a shower. Nice and clean.

Shutting the door of the bathroom, Azurine could hear Miroku flipping through the channels on the TV in the main room. She grinned and hoped he didn't find the Lifetime channel. Oh, the ideas he could get. She turned the lock, but it didn't click and could still be opened. She sighed and poked her head out.

"Miroku," she warned sweetly. "If you want to live, STAY OUT! Okay?"

"Uh-huh," Miroku mumbled, to mesmerized by the TV to pay attention.

It was mid-autumn. Warm steam rose from the bath along with a sweet scent of freesia. Azurine breathed deeply and sank chin-deep into the warm water before ducking her head completely under.

Azurine was only allowed a few minutes privacy before the door opened revealing a curious Miroku.

Azurine squeaked and chucked a rubber duck at him. "Out!" she yelled loudly. "Out, now!" The duck bounced off his head.

In order to avoid the flying shampoo bottle, soap bar, and wet washcloth, Miroku had to quickly duck out of the door. Azurine had a sinking suspicion that the monk had gotten a good look. She quickly showered and got out.

She came out several minutes later in her gym shorts and a T-shirt. They were so much more comfortable to sleep in.

Miroku ran his fingers through his hair while sitting on the futon. "I knew you wouldn't kill me."

Azurine turned off the television. "Go to bed. It's midnight and…Hey! FMA is on! Who cares if I saw the entire series four times!" She flicked on Cartoon Network and stared at the screen.

Thirty minutes later, Azurine flicked the set off and looked to Miroku. In the half-light coming through the window, Azurine could see that he was sleeping peacefully. She smiled lightly, pushing hair from his face.

"If he wasn't such a perv, I might actually think him innocent, now," she mused. "Eh, whatever."

Azurine could hear snickering. Why could she hear snickering? Why was it so bright? It was so warm; she never wanted to get up. She smiled softly.

"Azure."

Someone was talking to her. Wasn't that nice? She mumbled a faint acknowledgment.

"Azure, wake up."

It sounded like Sarah. Well, better to listen to her than be thrown from her bed as the woman had done many times before. She did what Sarah bid. Bright read numbers read 12:47 PM. Too early.

"What?" Azurine groaned groggily.

Sarah seemed to be struggling with the urge to laugh. "L-look down."

Azurine did so and found strong arms encircling her. Sitting up and looking over, she found that the arms belonged to Miroku. She yelped and shoved him away.

"I told you to sleep on the couch! Not my bed!" she yelled at the barely awakened monk.

"Huh?" he mumbled.

Even at such a close range, Azurine chucked the remote at Miroku, whacking him in the forehead. He was sent to the ground with a thump, a large, red lump forming where the controller had hit.

Sarah couldn't help it and was laughing uncontrollably. A bright red blush flew to Azurine's cheeks; she'd never been this embarrassed before.

After a few moments, Miroku reappeared, leaning on his staff he'd untied from Azurine's pack. "Azure, I meant nothing by it. I just saw, last night, that you were cold. I, being the kind man you know and love, was simply trying to keep you warm." He smiled cheerily.

Azurine shook her head. "My future husband: the pervert with one thousand excuses."

"He didn't find Lifetime, did he?" Sarah asked.

"Thank God, no."

"So," Miroku asked, "who wants breakfast?"

collective face palm

In the hall, a familiar face passed. In fact, there were two.

"Evee!" Sarah exclaimed.

The girl did a double take. "Sarah? Azure? You're both alive!"

All four of the Feudal party gawked at Evee's male companion. It couldn't be.

"Sesshomaru?" Azurine gasped as Sarah mumbled "Sesshie?"

Azurine blinked at Sarah, who shrugged. "I like nicknames."

Indeed, the man looked much like InuYasha's half-brother. He was tall and pale. However, his silver hair was cut short, his ears were not pointed, and he lacked the face markings of the dog-demon. His expression was still cold, but seemed a little softer.

"No," he replied. "I am Renomaru. Sesshomaru is my father's name. I've been told we look alike." He then added in a whisper so that passerby couldn't eavesdrop, "My mother, Rin, was human thus making me a half-demon."

Evee smiled, already knowing this. "So, who are these guys?"

Sarah, pointing, said, "That's Yuto, my husband of three years."

Azurine also pointed. "And that's Miroku, my fiancé, if I don't kill him first."

Miroku waved, sweat dropping. He had a feeling that asking Evee to bear his child would fall under 'kill him first.'

After a few minutes of excited chattering on the girls' behalf, they politely excused themselves. Someone's stomach growled.

"Okay. Breakfast, then the well. We need to make a call if the well doesn't work. We'll try to reach Kagome in Japan."

Breakfast was quiet and subdued. They all wondered what would happen if they couldn't get home. 'Kito would be orphaned, there would be no marriage, and the wind tunnel would eventually swallow Miroku up. Yukito would never be born,meaningthatAzurine may have died several times if not for him. No amazing adventure through the well. Thus Sarah would have never met Yuto and he'd still be in Sade's control.

Sarah did point out that, seeing as they were still all there, they still had some hope.

It seemed as if years had passed before they finally made their way to the well.

Taking a deep breath, Azurine slid in, dreading the outcome. There was a rush of wind and Azurine looked up.

It worked! She was staring up at the expectant face of her friend, Shippo. The kitsune beamed.

Miroku appeared next to her. "Hey, Shippo! Have we kept you waiting long?"

"Not at all," he said as Azurine began to climb up the well, her long cloak hanging from her. Shippo looked at Miroku. "What are you wearing? Why do you have clothes like the girls?"

"Azurine and Sarah call them 'jeans.' They are very comfortable and easy to get around in."

Sarah popped in just as Miroku stated this. "Yes, jeans are nice."

As Azurine tumbled from the well, Yuto appeared and helped Sarah out. Azurine breathed in the air of the past and began to laugh with relief as she lay back on the grass. The laughing stopped when Miroku, um, 'accidentally' fell on top of her.

"Oof! Get off, Miroku!" she snapped, getting up.

Miroku rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was falling."

Sarah and Yuto came out next and rushed home to find their son. Miroku and Azurine took their time with Shippo accompanying them from Azurine's shoulder. The girl removed her right glove and fanned herself. It was much warmer here.

"Azurine," Shippo asked. "Where's your other ring?"

Azurine had worn a Celtic-style ring on her right ring finger for the past three years, but it was now missing.

"I left it at Cain's house in exchange for this." She showed the kitsune the photo album.

"What is it?" Shippo asked.

Azurine opened it. "It belonged to my dad, but as I was growing, my foster families added their own pictures." She flipped through, showing him the snap shots.

"Who's that?" Shippo asked pointing to Azurine's eldest brother.

"My brother, Daniel. He's the one who saved me from the fire that killed them all."

Memories flashed through her mind like a rapid current:

Heat, blindingly bright. A flame leaping across her path; Calm hands setting her outside; a voice telling her he was going back for Tobias, Kadin, and their dad, that everything would be okay, not to worry; a kiss on the cheek; one last hug; alone; loud noises; Danny and Tobias running to the door; almost there; the ceiling collapsing; screams, loud screams; burning fingers.

Toby, Kadin, they had to come out, they just had to. Someone was prying her away; telling her it was too late.

Blackness.

"Daniel was my oldest brother…and I couldn't help him…it was too late. He and Tobias suffocated."

Shippo looked around. "I don't ask this of just anyone," he said softly. He hugged her. "Can I be your little brother?"

Azurine blinked and smiled. "Of course, Ship, you know that." She saw Miroku grinning and stepped on his foot. "Looks like Miroku's got a protective brother to deal with, now, huh?"

Shippo laughed, as did Miroku.

As they reached the village, InuYasha met them. "And where have you been? It took forever to remove that rock from the well! Sarah and Yuto got here fifteen minutes ago!"

Azurine put her hands on her hips and squared her shoulders. "Having fun. Do you have a problem with that, InuYasha?" She was almost his height.

He backed off then grumbled. "Just a little…" There was a long, stubborn pause. "…worried. Not too much. Nothing big."

Azurine beamed, clapping her hands together. "Let's go home."

End Chapter.

Hope you enjoyed! Yes, I named Renomaru. Bean wasn't very inclined to but I thought it was funny to combine Sesshomaru and Rin's names. shrug So sue me, wait, don't. I have no money. Ha ha ha.

Until next time, Bai-bai!