A/N: And here we are again! So Ch. 20, let's go! Disclaimer will be read by…Itachi!

Itachi: I'm here again. Damn. Anyways, Aki doesn't own Inuyasha, Naruto, Star Wars, (even though there was only one reference to it by somebody) :Glares at Haru: and Memoirs of a Geisha. They all belong to their rightful owners: Takahashi Rumiko, Kishimoto Masashi, George Lucas, and whatever the name of the author of the book Memoirs of a Geisha was, whose name Aki can't remember, but believes is Arthur Golding or something like that. But anyway, it belongs to the rightful people. All Aki owns is this story, her characters, and the plot. Now, for Chapter Twenty…


Chapter Twenty: Picking Up The Pieces of a Broken Heart

He felt someone gently patting his head, and he looked up.

Megumi had come, and she pulled the boy into a close, comforting hold, like a mother would to her child.

"Shhh…there, there, it's alright…" she said soothingly.

She held him until he stopped, finally his tears reducing to choked sobs.

"Would you wish to talk about what happened?" Megumi asked him.

Slowly, Toji nodded, his throat to choked full of sobs to speak.

"I-I pushed her away…" He began.

"Pushed who away, dear?"

"Reika! I pushed her away. I-I didn't mean to, Megumi-san. And…and I'm so sorry for what I did to her…I-I didn't mean any of it…"

"What did you do?"

"She was so angry after Haru had tried to make Sesshoumaru's daughters commit seppuku. I tried to comfort her, and yes, it was fine for a while. But then she started to shout. And she thought that I was trying to exploit her weaknesses, and I said I wasn't. And she asked me to leave. And I did. And now…it hurts Megumi-san. It was my fault. Everything was my fault."

The Earth Ryuu looked surprised. "None of it was your fault. There is no one to blame, my dear. It is all a process of life. There are ups, and there are downs. This is but one of the more painful downs. It is simply one of the ones that will stick with you forever."

Toji remained silent. Megumi studied his face carefully.

"You know, Reika-sama was crying for you. She is hurting just as much as you are…" she said.

The boy looked up, surprised. "Nani? She was crying…?" he asked.

"Hai. It was a while ago. Everyone awoke to the screaming. Her words were the same always, 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, please come back.' It was the worst pain I had to listen to…"

"She said that? I-I didn't know. I have to go to her. I have to tell her that I'm sorry too. Megumi-san, do you know where she is?"

"She is in the West. You may not recognize her at first. She is a geisha, and her name is Haruka. But I must warn you, she will be bid on soon."

Toji was stunned. Reika, a geisha? That wasn't possible. But then again, anything was possible. He nodded, and gently took himself out of Megumi's embrace.

"Arigatou, Megumi-san. I must be going now."

Megumi nodded, and wished him luck. And then he disappeared, a single pure white feather left floating down innocently from the spot he once was.

-

It was the day before the festival and Mameha was holding a recital for the geisha, all of whom were dancing with such elegant grace. Haruka was twirling her fans, Hatsumomo nearby doing the same, very wonderfully hiding her look of disgust that Haruka had gotten the lead dance. When Mameha had said that Haruka, a maiko, would be the lead, and not her, Hatsumomo, a full geisha, had nearly gone ballistic.

'I will destroy you…'

As they danced, Hatsumomo made sure to 'accidentally' knock into Haruka.

"Oh I'm sorry, Haruka-chan! I didn't see you there!" She said in a sickeningly sweet voice, a wicked grin on her face.

Haruka got up from the floor, and picked up her fans once more with a sigh.

"Alright, we'll try again, and please watch where you are going, Hatsumomo. Haruka is trying to practice a very different dance than you, so please try not to run into her." Mameha said in a chastising tone.

Hatsumomo grinned her wicked grin again and nodded. "Of course, Mameha-san, I will try." She said.

Haruka paused in her routine just in time to dodge an attempted disruption from Hatsumomo again.

"Onee-san, perhaps I should practice in another room?" She suggested finally, unable to withstand Hatsumomo's torment much longer.

Mameha nodded, and Haruka went into the room next door. Hatsumomo sighed.

"Oh well…" she muttered, still grinning.

-

Haruka walked to the center of the room and with a quick flick of the wrist, her fans opened. In her head she heard the music she was to dance to, and she began.

She knelt down, bringing her arms in front of her, so her fans were parallel to one another, making a twin horizon. She took a breath, and looked up. Slowly, she spread her arms and stood. Making arced and curved motions always, she moved as if she were painting a picture with the tips of her fans. In her mind, she heard the music take on the fiercer part and at once discarded her fans, twirling and taking quick steps, as if she were being chased.

She didn't even notice when the door slid open minutes beforehand and a small girl stepped inside to watch.

Her furious, yet graceful spins began to slow, and she fell to her knees, as if struck by an arrow from behind, and fell down onto her side. The music slowed and became sad, and slowly she rose so she sat upright, and clutched her hands together at her chest, before slowly extending them outward, as if welcoming an imaginary final blow. Another imaginary arrow hit, and she fell once more. Staying there several seconds, waiting, and then she rose to her feet and bowed to an imaginary audience, only to hear clapping.

Surprised, Haruka looked up and saw Tsukimisou had taken a seat in the room.

"Sugoi, Haruka-sama!" The little girl exclaimed.

Haruka smiled and the Inu child rushed up to her to give her a congratulatory hug around the waist. Haruka knelt to the girl's level and pinched the child's cheeks lightly.

"I'm glad you liked it, Tsuki-chan."

"Can I play with your fans Haruka-sama?"

"Only if you promise to be very, very careful with them. I need them for the festival tomorrow."

"Hai! I promise I'll be extra careful."

Haruka patted the girl's head lightly, and picked up her fans, handing them to the little child.

"Haruka-sama, look at me dance! I'm a geisha too!"

Tsukimisou danced with the fans and imitated what she had seen her idol do. Haruka was amazed with how quickly the child learned. When Tsukimisou had finished dancing, Haruka clapped and grinned.

"How did I do, Haruka-sama? Did I look like a geisha?"

"Hai! And a very cute little geisha you were!"

The Inu child smiled and handed the fans back to the rightful owner.

"Arigatou gozaimasu for letting me borrow those. I had a lot of fun with them." Tsukimisou said, going into a polite bow, which Haruka returned.

"Let's take a walk, Tsuki-chan. Onee-san will be busy with the others for a while. I already know my dance."

Tsukimisou nodded excitedly, happy that she would be able to wander the halls with the geisha.

"Ne, Reika-sama…" The Inu child said quietly, once the two were alone.

"Hai?"

"You said you lost an important person?"

Reika looked at the girl and nodded.

"What's his name? Maybe we could find him better if we called his name."

Reika paused in mid-step and sighed.

"Oh, gomen nasai, I didn't mean to be rude and be so curious." Tsukimisou apologized.

"Iie, it's alright…you don't need to apologize. His name is Toji."

"Then let's go look for Toji-san! I'll get Mei-oba-san to help us! And Kyo-oji-san will want to help too!"

"That's very kind of you. But I'm sure both of them are very busy."

"Iie, of course they're not! Here they come now!"

The Inu child took Reika's hand and dragged her forward.

"Mei-oba-san! Kyo-oji-san!" The girl exclaimed.

"What is it, Tsuki-chan?" Mei Lhi asked.

"I found out who Reika-sama's lost! We're going to find Toji-san!"

"Nani? Toji-san?"

"Hai! He's the one who got lost so we're going to find him! Will you help me find him, Mei-oba-san?"

Reika looked off to the side passively. Kyo studied his cousin and noticed that not only was her face not hidden by her hair, but that she was actually slightly embarrassed. He smiled inwardly.

"Well, I'm in for an adventure. I'm sure will all of us, we'll find him, ne?" Kyo said.

"I wouldn't mind either." Mei Lhi added.

"We'd better hurry before Toji-san gets himself more lost!"

"Hai!"

"Oh! I have an idea! We should send Toji-san an invitation to the festival and a map! So he can find his way here and then he won't be lost anymore and he'll find Reika-sama again too!"

"That's a wonderful idea, Tsuki-chan! We'll have to get started right away. Kyoshi-kun could probably find Toji-san quickly and give him the invitation."

"Hai!"

Reika went into a low bow and thanked the three of them. All three bowed back, Kyo and Tsukimisou leaving to write the invitation. That was when Reika cracked once again, and started to cry.

"Reika-chan…" Mei Lhi began, startled.

"I-I'm sorry…I don't mean to put this burden of my problems on you all…but thank you…so much for everything. There are very few who have shown me such kindness, and I want you to know that I appreciate everything." Reika replied quickly.

"Iie, I should be thanking you. You saved him. You saved Kyoshi-kun without a second thought. There aren't a lot of people who would be willing to help a hanyou…"

Guilt settled into the pit of Reika's stomach like lead. In two months she would have to return, and it would not be for a happy reason. She knew now without a doubt, when that day came, she wouldn't be able to do it. There had to be a way to stop it.

These thoughts brought more tears to the girl's eyes.

"Reika-chan…you really care about Toji-san, don't you?"

Of course the hanyou girl didn't know the real reason why she was crying. She said nothing in response, only to find the hanyou girl pull her into a comforting embrace.

"You will see him again. Don't worry. I'm sure that whatever happened, he forgives you. And at the festival tomorrow, you will see him again…"

'I will stop Fate for you, Mei-chan. It is the only thing I can do to repay your kindness to me.'

-

The last minute invitation was sent out, and Kyo found Toji, actually quite nearby the castle.

"Toji-sama…" Kyo said.

The boy turned in surprise. "Kyo-san…?"

"Hai. I've brought an invitation to the festival at the Western Lands being held tomorrow night."

"An invitation…?"

Kyo handed the boy the hastily scribbled invitation and nodded. "There are geisha currently staying at the castle. Reika is one of them."

Toji's eyes widened. "So Megumi-san spoke the truth…" he muttered. "I will be there. Arigatou, Kyo-san."

Kyo nodded, and vanished with the wind.

Toji walked onward a few paces.

'Please, forgive me…'

Then he too, vanished.

-

Guests arrived and the geisha found themselves very busy pouring tea, conversing, and providing entertainment. In the early afternoon, the geisha retired to prepare for the dancing later in the night and servants took their posts and tended to the guests' needs.

As Hatsumomo powdered her face, she glanced over at Haruka as she painted her lips.

"Hopefully you don't fall tonight…" She said in her sickeningly sweet voice, her usual wicked grin in place.

"And hopefully you don't trip tonight either," Haruka replied impassively. "It would be a shame to let your clumsiness ruin the dance tonight."

Before Hatsumomo could respond with a nasty comment, Mameha had appeared, sensing a fight. She gave Hatsumomo a warning look before retreating to help the other girls with their kimono.

A gong sounded from outside. It was time.

The geisha rose and stood; Haruka remained alone in the room with Mameha.

"Ignore Hatsumomo. She simply torments you because she knows you have more talent than she could ever hope for," Mameha began. "You should know this by now. How much she envies you. She wants the okiya, and those who have the will and power to get it instead of her, she will attempt to destroy. What Hatsumomo fails to realize is that she is simply pushing herself further and further from her goal. Now, this night is for you. Not Hatsumomo."

"Arigatou, Onee-san."

Haruka bowed slightly, and Mameha did the same.

Music played outside and the first dances began. There were more and more dances, until at last it was Haruka's turn. She stood and picked up her fans and walked out onto the stage that had been set up. She flicked her fans open and knelt, her arms extended before her, the edges of the fan once again making the double horizon.

And she waited. (A/N: My music selection is "Kagome to Kikyou")

The music started, and she gazed skyward once more, rising to her feet in grace, and her dance began.

She painted the imaginary picture once again, and did so with such elegance, and as the music heightened, she tossed her fans aside, and she performed and became the epitome of elegance and grace, she became magnificent. Her artistry she wove as she twirled furiously, was beautiful, and then when she fell from her imaginary attacker's first strike, the entire audience withheld a gasping breath of awe. And then she rose to her knees, and received the final strike, and fell again.

The music stopped, and she rose while servants drew a silk curtain across the stage. She could hear the entire audience applauding her. Inwardly, she smiled to herself.

-

Haruka reappeared, now out of her costume, the guests stopped to applaud her. Then she saw Toji. She gasped slightly, and he looked up and stepped towards her. She didn't realize that she was walking towards him too.

"I'm sorry, Toji…I didn't mean to say those things…" She said instantly, bowing her head in shame.

"I'm sorry too…" He replied. "You looked great tonight." He took her hand and placed a soft kiss upon it.

Haruka blushed, although her flushed face was indistinguishable in the lighting of the room, which she was most gracious for. Then out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Haru approaching. She turned to Mameha.

"Why did you invite him?" she asked.

Haru now stood in front of the girl.

"He is your father isn't he?" Mameha replied.

"Iie! He's not my father! My otou-san is dead! This man will never be a father to me!"

Haru was furious. He raised his hand and backhanded her. "This is how you repay me? After I took you in, raised you, clothed you, fed you, and even paid for your schooling? This is what you do to show your respect to me?" he said angrily, now yanking her towards him so that he could look her in the eye.

Mameha's eyes narrowed slightly. "Haru-sama I ask that you desist at once!"

Haru ignored the woman and continued on. "I practically am your father! After you killed your own, who was the one that took you in after no one wanted anything to do with you?" His grip on the girl's wrist tightened.

From the spot he held her arm, a dark aura had formed. Reika could feel Haru's powers overwhelming her entire body, manipulating it so that everything began to die.

"Let me go!" She screamed at him, as air started to refuse to fill her lungs.

Toji reached out and grabbed Haru's arm, a white aura emanating from the boy's palm.

"Let her go." He said angrily, his eyes filled with fire once again.

Haru growled as a sizzling sound was heard, his arm being burned by Toji's power.

"Let her go, before I do the same as you are doing to her with my power." The boy threatened.

"And if I say no?" Haru replied with a smirk.

Toji's response was the sudden bright white light that suddenly filled the room. Haru dropped Reika to the floor, and the light was blinding. When it started to fade, pure white feathers were everywhere, and Toji stood before Haru, pure white wings attached to his back. (A/N: Think Van from "Escaflowne" style)

"By rank of the Kyuu and as Opposing Spirit, Spirit of Life, I command your immediate cease of action." The boy said in a level voice.

(A/N: And thus the reason why Reika could talk is revealed. Toji canceled out Reika's power. But as for the reason why she's been able to talk without him around, no, she hasn't mastered control of her voice. She's actually losing power. Why? Well, for one she was depressed. And well, she's in love.)

"I refuse!" Haru growled, preparing an attack against the boy, releasing the dark aura towards him.

Reika leapt up and placed herself between Toji and Haru, and she took the blast, forcing herself to absorb it.

And then she felt herself starting to fade. She started to fall, Toji catching her. He could sense the aura of life leaving her. Without a second thought, he pressed his lips to hers, undoing all the damage Haru had done.

When he pulled away, Reika stood looking stunned, a deeper flush on her face than before.

"T-Toji, why did…?" She tried to say, only to have the boy embrace her tight.

"Thank Kami-sama it wasn't too late…" He whispered.

The girl was at a loss of what to do. No one had done such things as these to her. She had no idea how to react. Mameha stepped in and gently pulled her away from the boy.

"Your relation to Haruka, is…?" Mameha questioned.

"I am simply her guardian." Toji replied, knowing that if he had said what he had wanted to, Reika would have little to no value when her mizuage was to be bid on.

"Onee-san, he saved me just now. What he did just now, meant nothing. It was the only way for him to counter what Haru had done." The girl added.

"I see…but don't be surprised if this causes some problems when the bids come in tomorrow."

The girl nodded, and politely excused herself from the room.

-

Hatsumomo seemed quite pleased with how the night had gone. She was certain with that display Haruka's mizuage would be nearly worthless. And then the bids came in.

"What's the top price right now? Fifteen Yen? Twenty-five?" She asked tauntingly.

Haruka sat in silence, inside she felt anguished. The night before had made her realize how she felt towards Toji. The feelings she had buried had come forth and they refused to go away.

Then Mameha looked up from the low table and gasped.

"The highest bid is one billion Yen." Mameha said, after she had recovered.

Hatsumomo was furious. "Nani?" She yelled.

"Haruka's mizuage is being sold for the highest amount ever in history! Such a price cannot be matched! Haruka, you inherit the okiya as well. This money should support the okiya for generations, and with you as head geisha, it will live on forever."

"She gets the okiya? After everything I did! I paid for her kimono! I paid for your kimono! I paid for everything in this okiya! I did it!" Hatsumomo screamed.

"Hatsumomo! You did not do everything as you've so assumed! I've paid for everything on my own. You provided little support. Besides, you are getting old, Hatsumomo, Haruka is young."

Hatsumomo overturned tables and screamed, finally storming out of the room.

-

"He is not at his room right now, but he will return. So you'll wait for him." Mameha instructed.

"Hai, arigatou Onee-san. May I ask who got the top bid?"

"I must tell you…the highest bid was actually two billion Yen…Haru-sama bid it. From what I saw yesterday, I declined his bid. The next highest bid is the one I chose."

"You can do that, Onee-san?"

"Hai, I can. Thanks to a law Sesshoumaru-sama placed into action a few years ago in our favor. That is why we are here in the Western Lands in the first place. I, along with many others, are very grateful to Sesshoumaru-sama for allowing the head geisha to select an approvable Danna-sama for our maiko. We are here to repay him for his gratitude."

The girl nodded in understanding, deciding to let her elder sister and teacher continue what she had been saying before she was interrupted.

"As I was saying, I chose the next highest bid. The gentleman who bid it, well, he asked that I did not tell you who he was. But his bid was most unusual, that I think it surpasses two billion Yen. He bid one billion Yen, yes, but he also bid his love for you as well. And that is something that cannot be matched with money. Now, he should be returning soon. I must ensure that Hatsumomo does not decide to destroy anything else while we are here."

Haruka smiled and nodded, bowing a polite farewell that Mameha returned. The woman left, and Reika faced the door and opened it, taking a seat in one of the chairs, waiting for this mystery person to arrive.

-

The night sky was clear, and the moon was bright. The girl stared out the window, and at that moment the door slid open. Turning around, she gasped. She got to her feet and bowed politely.

Toji did the same and smiled. Reika ran to him, and he took her into his arms.

"Why did you bid?" Reika asked.

"I couldn't stand the thought that it would be someone else instead of me." He replied. "Even if there was no bid, I would still be here with you."

"Toji…"

He held her close, then released her, and looked at her and grinned.

"This is…the first time I've seen your face. And it's very beautiful…you shouldn't hide it…"

Reika blushed, and the boy kissed her, and the pair found themselves at last releasing their withheld desires, but when the moment came, when Reika knew that her purity was going to be taken. Fear suddenly got in the way.

"Wait…" She whispered. "I'm scared…I can't anymore…but I must…"

Toji pulled back and took her into his arms. "It's alright to be afraid…" he said, already understanding the cause of the problem.

"What Haru has done to me…I can't forget it…"

"I know. It's alright. If you're not ready yet, I understand. For such things that have happened for so long, memories like those can't be easily forgotten. It takes time to get over it. I'll wait for you."

"But I must! If I don't, Onee-san will be disappointed. So just do what you must. It is what you paid for."

"Mameha can't say when you're ready for something emotionally and physically. It's your choice. I didn't bid so I could help you become a full geisha. I bid because I love you. I want this so that I can be with you, not for my own personal gain. I didn't bid so I could brag about sleeping with a beautiful girl later. I bid so I could not only be with a very beautiful girl, but know that she is the love of my life."

"T-Toji…"

Reika found herself crying, not from sadness, but from happiness. To hear those words, to know that she truly meant something to someone, meant the world. Toji held her tighter and kissed away her tears.

"Will it…will it hurt…?" she asked timidly.

"Maybe a little bit at first…but after that it shouldn't anymore," He replied. Then he looked serious. "I want you to promise me something…"

"Nani?"

"If it hurts too much…tell me, and…I'll stop. I-I don't want to hurt you…"

Reika nodded. "Hai…"

(A/N: Mini-lemon…not very descriptive, very vague. Incredible detail is not necessary, and um…yeah…so don't freak out…)

Gently he laid her down and lowered himself on top of her.

At that moment, Reika was putting her whole trust into him. And as the pain faded away, she felt an overwhelming feeling filling her and at once she felt something indescribable, the sensations that ran through her in this moment were foreign, yet she almost knew them in a way.

She felt complete. There was no other word for it. All her emptiness faded away, and her sadness and pain went along with it. He kissed her once more, and he rolled off her, pulling her into his arms tightly, and at once sleep came and wrapped the two of them in its embrace.

(A/N: I'm going to get shot for this later, aren't I? -.-)

-

The next day was a good day. The festival had been successful, even with the mishap of the night before. This particular day was a day of changes. Reika went to breakfast, her hand in Toji's, and found that during the meal, her book grew heavier and warm. Curious she flipped it open, and noticed that Toji had a similar book, and after reading the new entry into it, she peeked over Toji's shoulder.

"How come yours is more detailed about it?" She asked.

"Well, probably because it's my element." He replied. "Can I see yours?"

She handed it to him, and he flipped both books to the 'Shi' side. He read a few lines in her book and frowned slightly.

"That's a shame. Oh well…" he sighed, and handed her book back.

Reika put her book away and he did the same. Everyone was highly confused, and then Tsukimisou noticed that the red collar that Reika usually had on her inner kimono was now white.

"Reika-sama! You're not a maiko anymore!" She said excitedly.

"Hai! I'm full geisha!"

The Inu child looked to the boy next to her idol. "Then you must be the Toji-san she lost!" She exclaimed triumphantly. "Ne, Reika-sama, we found the right Toji-san, right?"

"Hai, we did. Your Kyo-oji-san did a good job of finding him."

Toji seemed amused. "Since when did you start a search party for me?" he asked.

"Anno…Tsuki-chan started it actually…everyone else kind of just went along with it."

"Ne, Reika-sama! Do you own the okiya now?"

"Since when did you learn so much about geisha?" Hana asked curiously, studying everyone at the table.

"She hasn't shut up about Reika since she got here. I told her what I knew…" Inuyasha admitted.

"And I kind of explained stuff about geisha to her too…" Kagome confessed.

"Well…I kind of told her about the dancing and the fans…" Rin said.

"I um…told her about the kimono and how to tell the difference between a maiko and a full geisha…" Mei Lhi added.

"I told her about the okiya and a few other things…" Kyo said.

"She was curious; I simply read her a few scrolls." Sesshoumaru finally admitted, which earned him a stare.

Everyone was stunned that Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands had told his daughter about the subject that had been occupying the small child's thoughts for the past week. Hana didn't say anything. In fact, no one said anything. Everyone kept shooting glances at one another, as if demanding that someone say something.

"All the guests have departed, but the geisha Mameha-sama is curious as to where Haruka-sama is…" Jaken announced, having just stepped into the room.

For once everyone was glad that the toad was around.

Reika looked up and stood, following the toad.

-

"Onee-san, I will gladly take over the okiya once you retire, but I wish to stay with my Danna-sama."

"Hai…perhaps I should send you a message when I decide to retire?"

The girl nodded.

"Very well. Until then, ne?"

"Hai."

The pair bowed farewell, and the other maiko geisha rushed over to give her a hug, while Hatsumomo stood off to the side.

"Farewell, Hatsumomo. Perhaps in another life we will be friends, instead of rivals."

The girl bowed and walked away, returning to the castle.

-

That day, Sesshoumaru, Hana, Kyo, and Inuyasha all found themselves quite busy. The four of them had a certain matter to address and found that they had to leave at once, leaving behind Toji, Reika, Mei Lhi, Kagome and the children alone at the castle.

Rin, Tsukimisou, and Tsurugi (who was dragged along with his sisters) tagged along with Reika and Toji, while Kagome and Mei Lhi walked around and talked.

Tsurugi found his sisters' obsession with geisha incredibly annoying.

"I'm going to find Mei-oba-san…ja." He said.

Rin and Tsukimisou went into very geisha-like bows and bid him farewell. The boy rolled his eyes and walked off.

Toji smiled and patted the boy's head lightly as he passed. Tsurugi sighed and kept walking, following his nose, and found his aunts on the other side of the castle.

"Mei-oba-san!" The boy whined.

"Hai, Tsu-chan?" The hanyou replied.

"Nee-chan and Aneue are still talking about geisha! It's annoying!"

Mei Lhi smiled and petted the boy on the head. "Now I'm sure they'll get over it in a little while. It's probably just a phase. Just give them some time." She said.

"Hai, Souta was the same. When those Pokémon cards came out, he had a huge collection, but after a while he got tired of it." Kagome agreed.

"Well, I hope they get over it soon. I think they're trying to turn me into a geisha too."

The two women laughed, but suddenly stopped when Kagome gasped and cried out in pain. Mei Lhi was suddenly alert and looked to the miko, whose facial expression was beginning to relax.

"Daijoubu ka, Kagome-chan?"

"Hai, daijoubu…"

"Maybe we should find a place to sit down…?"

"Iie, I'm fine. Let's keep walking."

It had only been another ten minutes or so when Kagome again cried out. (A/N: Are we noticing a pattern here? XD)

The hanyou eased the miko into a sitting position and noticed that her kimono looked rather damp. She raised the fabric to her nose and slapped a hand to her face in exasperation.

"Damn you Nii-chan! You just had to be away didn't you?" She exclaimed to no one in particular.

"Nani? What's going on, Mei-chan?" Kagome asked.

The hanyou didn't answer her. "Tsu-kun I need you to go and get Reika-chan and Toji-san, alright? Tell them it's very important. Bring them both back here, okay? And run over there to them. This is really, really urgent."

"Hai! I'll go as quickly as I can, Mei-oba-san!" The boy exclaimed, taking off.

"What's going on, Mei-chan?" Kagome repeated, her voice sounding more demanding.

"Kagome-chan…your pup's coming."


A/N: There we go! Another chapter done! XD And now I shall be shot for this cliffy, won't I? So I should expect two shot wounds. One for the earlier fluffiness and one from this cliffhanger of doom. Anyways, Ch. 21 will be up as soon as possible. Thank you for reading and please review as always! Ja ne until next time! XD