Disclaimer: Why do we have to write these stupid things? I think everyone know by now after like 13 chapters that I DO NOT own Inuyasha. I do know the plot, Shawn, and Harashi. Get it? Got it? Good!
Thanks to my wonderful reviewers! You are oh so appreciated!
InUgAl4EVA – Don't worry about being rude. You at least updated unlike some people. looks at nonreveiwers And here's the update!
Xxrupert-grint-loverxX – I glad to know someone likes my story as much as you do! Sorry it took so long to get this updated!
Ear-Tweak – Glad to know you liked the last chapter. And who is the mystery would-be assassin you ask? You shall see soon. And you're right. Someone definitely wants Shawn out of the way.
On to the story! (By the way, for all of you who were dying to know what Kagome's secret was, you'll find out in this chapter!)
Cousin's ReturnChapter 14: Kagome has a WHAT?
Shawn slowly flickered open her eyes and then closed them again. She buried her face into the softness that had been her pillow for the night; Inuyasha. She was lying beside him, leaning against the side of his chest with her head settled in the crook where shoulder met torso. Shawn breathed deeply, taking in the scent of the half-demon beside her. Then she looked up at his face, expecting to see his bright golden eyes staring down at her. But they were closed.
Shawn arched an eyebrow. Wasn't Inuyasha supposed to have been keeping watch last night? She sighed. Well, no one was dead or gone so it wasn't that big a deal.
Shawn sat up and stretched and looked around. Dappled sunlight shown through the hanging branches of the willow tree. The sun was not quite up, but almost. Shawn smiled mischievously. Nothing like a morning swim to wake you up! She rummaged around in her backpack and pulled out her black two piece. She crossed over and changed behind one of the other trees incase someone (Miroku) was only pretending to be asleep.
Shawn took her things with her and went down next to the water. She set her clothes on a rock and carefully undid the locket around her neck. It shown brightly in the sunlight. She set it on top of her clothes and then proceeded to climb onto a higher rock. She looked down at the dark blue water below. It was so clean, she could almost see to the bottom. Shawn guessed it must have been about thirty feet deep. Maybe more. And she could not see any rocks so… she dove strait in with a perfect swan dive.
The minute she broke the surface she wanted out. The water was freezing! Shawn swam up and took a breath.
"Holy crap!" she cried out. She tried to clutch her arms around herself and stay afloat at the same time, "I don't remember the water being this freaking cold! Holy crap!" she said again.
"Gotta warm up. Gotta warm up," she muttered to herself. She had forgotten to bring a towel down by the water. At this point the only way to warm up was to swim and wait for someone else to wake up so that they could bring a towel out to her.
Slowly Shawn began to make great, steady, even strokes. She circled around the pool and even swam behind the waterfall. She stuck hand under and tried to hold it up against the raging water, but it was immediately pushed under the surface by the force of the fall. Eventually she warmed up enough to stick her head under the water. She dove down and tried to swim to the bottom. This attempt was unsuccessful. About 10 feet under the pressure on her ears hurt so much that she had to go back up. Plus, she was having a harder time holding her breath.
Again Shawn broke the surface. She turned over and floated on her back for a while, thinking about nothing in particular and letting her mind wander. She glanced back to shore. Wasn't somebody up yet? How could everyone be that tired? She sighed and turned back onto her stomach and swam over to the shallow end of the small lake. It was warmer over here and the water was calmer, because of its considerable distance away from the waterfall.
Shawn dove under the water again. She skimmed the bottom of the lake, inches above it, eyes open. She stretched her arms out in front of her as if feeling about. It was a whole different world down here. Tiny fish darted to and fro; Lake Snails crawled across uneven stones; the slightest movement disrupted puddles of mud. Shawn couldn't hold her breath anymore. She swam the five feet back to the surface and took a deep breath of air. Again she looked over at the shore. How long could these people sleep?
0o0o0o0o
Sesshomaru was flying through the air on his two-headed dragon (A/N Does anyone know what it is called? I don't) listening to Jaken go on and on about some trivial matter. Rin was asleep on the dragon's back. Sesshomaru marveled at how she could actually sleep with all Jaken's yammering and the cold air rushing by. Not that he was bothered by the cold, but he knew that the outlook was not good for a human, especially a child, if it got too cold.
"Jaken," said Sesshomaru, without even looking at his servant.
"Yes, my lord?"
replied the frog-like demon.
"Shut up."
Jaken seemed a little startled by this command and he opened his mouth to say something, but he thought better of it and closed his yap.
Sesshomaru continued to watch the ground that was flying by beneath them. Suddenly something below them flashed near a small lake. Sesshomaru did not know what it was. It could have been a reflection coming off the water, but then again…
"Descend," he told the dragon. It roared in consent and slowly began to fly towards the ground.
0o0o0o0o
Shawn was lying on her back in the water again, attempting to send subliminal messages to Kagome.
'Wake up, all ready! Dammit! Bring me a damn towel!' she thought furiously. The water was getting cold again.
All of a sudden Shawn was startled out of her anger by a low roar. She stood up in the four-foot deep water and looked around.
'What the heck was that?' she thought, 'Did I imagine it?'
Shawn looked up and gasped. Something was flying down towards the lake! Something big! The last time Shawn had encountered big flying things she had been kidnapped multiple times.
She looked around frantically and began swimming towards the opposite shore. She wouldn't make it back to the trees in time! Shawn doubted she could even make it out of the water. She settled for hiding among a group of rocks. She was pretty sure that whatever landed would not see her from here, but she would be able to watch its every move.
Then the dragon landed. A man climbed off its back. Shawn covered her mouth to keep from gasping again. He looked so much like Inuyasha! This man, however, was taller and had strange purple marks on his face. Shawn could not see them clearly from the distance. He also bore two swords at his side and (Shawn gaped) he was missing his left arm!
After the man had gotten off the dragon's back a little green person followed him. No wait! Not a person. It was a demon! A little green demon that looked like a frog, carrying a long staff with two wooden heads carved on the top.
"What is it, my lord?" asked the little green demon.
'Lord? Is this guy royalty or something?' thought Shawn.
"I saw something," said the man. There was no emotion in his voice what so ever. He looked around.
"Saw something?" said the little demon, thinking out loud, "What was it, sire?
'Oh great. Just my luck. To be caught by some dragon-riding noble. Was it me he saw?' thought Shawn, trying not to breath too loud. She was sure her pounding hear would give her away.
"I'm not sure. It was a flash of some sort. A flash of metal perhaps," the man said in answer to the smaller demon's question. He walked towards some of the bigger rocks.
Shawn held her breath. Most of those bigger rocks were near her hiding place. She tried to shrink down between the rocks around her.
The man walked to the rock where Shawn had left her clothes. He took the little bundle and began pawing through it.
"There is a human near," he stated
'Crap! He used the word "human". He must be a demon,' thought Shawn. She was debating whether or not to call out for help. Would Inuyasha hear her and wake up?
As the man, or demon, was going through Shawn's clothes something metallic fell and clanked on the ground. It glittered in the dust around it.
'Oh no! My locket!' Shawn's thought screamed.
0o0o0o0o
Sesshomaru glanced down at the fallen object. It was some sort of necklace. He set the rest of the clothes on the ground and picked it up. He turned it over and over in his hand. It was a small silver medallion about the size of a fingerprint with a purple stone in the shape of a heart set in the middle. There was a groove on the side. Sesshomaru wedged his nail into the groove and was about to open it when-
"Don't touch that!" Sesshomaru heard a voice say.
He looked up. There, climbing out between some rocks in the lake, was a human girl. He sniffed the air. Her scent was strong and clear. How come he had not noticed it before? The girl was wet and her short, light brown hair was plastered to her head. She was about 5 foot 3 and she was thin. Her face had a splash of freckles and her eyes were a hazel brown. She was clothed in what looked like black under garments.
Sesshomaru was surprised to say the least. Obviously he did not show it.
0o0o0o0o
Shawn could not believe what she had just done. She had given away her hiding place to a demon she did not know and she was probably going to die for it. All for that locket.
'Well, I've all ready screwed myself. Might as well get my locket back.'
Shawn climbed onto the beach by the lake, "I said don't touch that! Give it back!" she yelled at the demon, walking across the sand.
"Do not attempt to boss Lord Sesshomaru around you-," the green demon was saying.
"Quiet Jacken."
"Yes, my lord."
Sesshomaru turned back to the Shawn, "How dare you address me so, you filthy human?"
"I- what did you just call me?" asked Shawn.
"I asked you a question, human," threatened Sesshomaru.
Shawn growled under her breath and glared at the demon, "I asked you one too."
"You try my patience, filthy girl," said Sesshomaru.
Shawn abandoned all logic, "I just want my damn locket you son of a bitch!" she ran at him and pulled back her hand as if to punch.
Faster than the eye could see, Sesshomaru dropped the locket and shot out his hand to grab the Shawn's neck. He lifted her to his eye level and her feet dangled many inches off the ground.
"Do not try me," Sesshomaru said, narrowing his eyes and closing his hand a little tighter around the struggling girl's throat.
Shawn grabbed Sesshomaru's arm and tried to pull his hand off her neck. She gasped for air. Her vision was getting blurry.
"Let… go…" she choked out. Then a curious thing happened. Shawn's fingers began to hum with blue electricity, just as they had the night before. She would have gasped again, but she could hardly breath.
Sesshomaru's eyes widened a fraction. Shawn would have noticed if she had not been so busy concentrating on the flow of air to her lungs and the blue light around her hands.
Just then they heard a cry, "Shawn!" it bellowed.
Sesshomaru threw Shawn to the ground and stepped back just as Tetsuiga came swinging down between them. Jaken let out a terrified howl and jumped onto the dragon Shawn fell to the ground and landed hard on the dirt and grass. She threw her hands out behind herself to keep from falling onto her head. She felt a stinging on her right palm. She coughed and sputtered on the ground, regaining her breath. She looked at her right hand and saw a shallow cut going from the bottom of her index finger to the heal of her hand. Then she felt strong hands haul her to her feet.
Shawn looked at who was holding her. Inuyasha had his arms wrapped around her shoulders and was holding her bleeding hand in one of his own. Tetsuiga had been sheathed again. Shawn also saw a small girl with black hair standing on the dragon behind Sesshomaru. Shawn had not noticed her before. The girl had a combination of different looks on her face. Surprise, curiosity, and fright. Her arms were wrapped around her own shoulders.
"Ya should have stayed still Sesshomaru. I could have given you matching arms," said Inuyasha sarcastically.
"So you know this girl Inuyasha?" asked the demon, ignoring Inuyasha's prior statement.
"Yeah, I know her. She just so happens to be my girlfriend!" Inuyasha replied indignantly, using a word he had learned from Kagome.
"Lord Sesshomaru, what's going on?" piped up the small girl.
"Nothing that concerns you Rin. Be quiet," said Sesshomaru, turning towards the child.
"Yes milord!" said the little girl with a playful salute. Shawn gaped.
Sesshomaru turned back to Inuyasha and Shawn, "Girlfriend?"
"Do I have to spell it out for ya?" asked Inuyasha exasperated and sarcastic, "My beloved, my one-and-only, my-."
"Mate."
Both Inuyasha were stunned by this word and turned a little pink.
"Not like tha-," Inuyasha was about to say, but he was interrupted by Kagome's voice.
"Inuyasha, what's going on over here?" called Kagome. Then she saw Sesshomaru.
Her face lit up, "Sesshomaru!" she cried. She sprinted towards the demon and embraced him. He bent down and their lips met in a passionate kiss. Behind them Jaken was looking on with disapproval and Rin was making a poor attempt to suppress a fit of giggles.
Shawn stared, mouth open, eyes as wide as dinner plates, "What the-?"
Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara walked up as Kagome and Sesshomaru finished their mouth-sharing.
"Looks like he's back," muttered Sango.
"Do they have to do that in front of everybody?" mumbled Miroku.
"What?" Shippo whispered back, "Jealous 'cause everyone's too scared to kiss you?"
"Shippo! Where do you get such ideas?" asked Miroku with mock astonishment.
Shippo rolled his eyes.
Kagome turned back to Shawn with a small blush staining her cheeks, "Uh Shawn…this is Sesshomaru, my boyfriend."
Shawn's eyes and gaping mouth grew wider.
"Sesshomaru, this is my cousin Shawn."
"YOU HAVE A WHAT? HE'S YOUR WHO?" she screamed in astonishment and slight disgust, "HE JUST TRIED TO FREAKING KILL ME!"
Kagome blushed more, "Um, sorry about that. He has a bit of a prejudice," she rounded on Sesshomaru and had a conversation with him in hushed tones. Shawn noticed he had his hand around Kagome's waist the whole time.
Finally Sesshomaru looked up, "I deeply apologize for the misunderstanding," he inclined his head slightly.
"Misunderstanding's a bit of an understatement, wouldn't ya say?" spat Inuyasha.
Kagome continued to blush. She walked over to Shawn, stood in front of her with hands clasped at chest level, and said, "I am really sorry. I should have told you about him."
"I'll say," Shawn said indignantly. She shrugged off Inuyasha's hold on her and stood squarely in front of Kagome. Her hand was still dripping blood, "Your 'boyfriend' almost took my locket and insulted me and almost suffocated me! Next time your phsyco lover comes for a visit, tell me beforehand so I don't get killed! Is that so much to ask?"
"Chill out Shawn!" yelled Kagome, "I apologized! He apologized! I didn't know he was coming ok? Or I would have told you. Do you really dis-trust me that much?"
Shawn lowered her voice, "You I trust. It's him," she gestured in Sesshomaru's direction, "That I don't!"
"I understand," said Kagome sympathetically, putting her hands on Shawn's shoulders. Shawn looked at the ground and Kagome lowered her voice even further, "He'll only be around for a few days. Maybe not even that long. Until he leaves, just trust me. He's not a bad guy. I know him Shawn. He won't hurt you. Ever," she glanced at Inuyasha, who was standing behind Shawn with his arms crossed, glaring at Sesshomaru and not even paying attention to the conversation going on in front of him.
"Besides," Kagome added, with a grin, "You've got your big strong protector over there. I think you'll be ok."
Shawn looked up and cracked a small smile.
"Can we have breakfast now?" asked Shippo. Everyone rolled their eyes.
"Hold on Shippo," said Kagome. Everyone walked back towards the campsite. Sesshomaru and Kagome walked near the back of the group holding hands.
Inuyasha walked next to Shawn with his arm around her. Miroku walked on Shawn's other side.
"Love that new outfit, by the way," said Miroku nodding towards the bathing suit, "You should wear it more often," his hand, of course, ended up where it shouldn't have been and resounding slap echoed across the meadow and lake.
Authors Note: So how was that chapter after two months of nothing? This is my New Year's present to you! I have been waiting months to write this chapter! I actually got the idea when I was at swim practice this summer and I was swimming underwater and my mind just so happened to wander to this story and this scene sort of just popped into my head! I'm so happy that I actually have it written now! It's been logged in my noggin forever.
Anyway to business! I am still looking for a beta reader. If you want that honor contact me via review button and/or my e-mail which is Also I believe I asked for 5 reviews on my last major author's note. I got three. Come one people! I only want a few! Pretty please with sugar on top! I would prefer to avoid flames though. I know my grammar and spelling suck. Hence why I am asking for a beta reader. So please review and I hope you lied this chapter!
Laters!
DramaQueenABZ