…Another chapter! Sadly it isn't as long as the last one, but anyways. The votes were basically even, so here's a little of both…

"Tighten 'hose lines, keep'er steady blokes!"

The sea captain clothed in a blue seaman's jacket, large rubber boots, and, at one time, a hat, but that was long ago swallowed by the seas. Or rather it fell on the green nylon parachute, those huge ones you play with in gym class, acting as the water. The material had been cut into strips so the stage hands could move some parts around as necessary. The parachute had to be bought so they could chop it into pieces and would have been a good part of their budget had Shippou not found an old, unused one that no one wanted.

The stage hands had pulled the strip that the hat landed on and the thing was leisurely taken or rather it 'floated' off stage. To represent water the main part of the parachute was cut in half, taped in some places to the mini stage, and fans were set up blowing under the material making it ripple. The boat was just several pieces of 2x4 nailed together forming an arc that lay on its side. There were two of these laid out and the back and front of the boat extended off stage. The mast was a pole in the center that was actually helping to support the stage. They had improvised. Most of the set was invisible or imaginary.

The captain jumped off the stairs of the top deck, where the helm would be. There was no helm though or at least you couldn't see it for that was behind the curtain. There was just a flight of four stairs. He went over to the struggling men attempting to tie down the suggested mainsail. Suddenly there was a loud boom of thunder, four or so kids jumping up and then down of the hollow stage. One of the sailors tripped backwards and fell over the side of the boat, or rather over the foot high ledge of the 2x4's. He wriggled and squirmed slowly moving himself backwards behind the curtain as if being left behind.

The yell 'man overboard' was lost among the music of the storm. The crew had braved the sea even with this impending weather on the horizon because otherwise their respective families would go hungry. The waters had been fickle recently and very little fish was caught. The men, who usually fished alone, had to combine into teams. Wrecked boats and no money for repairs demanded that all efforts be centered on the newest and most durable ships, as said Shippou who soon became known as the narrator. He played a part, but when he wasn't directly in the scene he filled in the gaps.

The play had progressed easily enough. The beginning had been of a small town wrought with disaster. The cobble streets uneven and there were holes where stones were missing. The thatched roofs were caving in on some cottages and doors with squeaky or rusted hinges. This was all explained courtesy of Shippou. The curtain had opened upon the village children playing in the nearby fields. There were a few wooden trees, basically a flat board that had been painted. The conversation between the four or so children, some kept coming in and out, gave a perspective of the poverty. They played with homemade toys like wooden spinning tops or jump ropes made of tightly weaved grasses. They made paints from flowers and soil grinding them, mixing them with water. Mostly though they played games or told stories.

Then night had fallen and the kids had to return home. This second scene was rather funny because the same actors played the adults as well. Only Shippou remained the same character the entire way through. His name was Nathaniel O'Connell, called Nat for short. The home life wasn't much better than one would expect during America's depression. The air was somber and dull, but it was the children who made the best of it taking everything in stride. They kept laughing, telling jokes and amused themselves. The adults kept busy so as to not notice the despair in which they thrived.

Kagome was surprised at how funny the play actually was. You wouldn't think it would be, but it was. The kids' stories were the best part. One was of the widow Molly McGuire told by little Georgey O'Keefe, who was actually rather rotund for such a time of starvation. She was married to the farmer, Joseph, who left her for a British maid, Mary Sue, like twenty years ago. The woman was still bitter about being jilted. Well, one day Molly was walking out her door with her broom, but the pole was too long and got stuck between the top of the doorway and the floor. Molly pulled on the broom so hard it became wedged there and couldn't be moved.

Molly, confused, kicked the old broom and hurt her foot. She hopped around screeching for a good three minutes. Then she backed up a good ways for a running start from inside her house and rammed it. The broom was free, but poor Molly went straight through the door and into the water well. Molly wasn't heavy, but had big hips, which got stuck at the top of the well. So here was Molly McGuire hanging upside down in the well, her skirt falling down around her thick hips, the petticoat being shown. All the while she was screaming her head off about crocodiles and how one lived at the bottom of her well. Molly still believes, and always said, that she can hear it snapping every now and then. She was one of the only people happy about the famine because now no one would go and feed the darned croc behind her back keeping the creature alive. The widow never draws water from the well, not even now, a good five years later.

These stories about nonsense usually would go round and round the circle of kids until they were called in for supper. Kagome had enjoyed these the most because Shippou was involved. There were two scenes in town; he was involved in one because she soon discovered him to be the local town crier. He had been alerting the townsfolk that the fishermen had come in from the day's work and were beginning to hand out rations. The other was home life and he slept in the healer's hut. The young woman was the nurse for the village and took him in because he was an orphan. His part in that scene was short mainly described by the other kids waving goodbye to him before they went on to their own homes.

In the next scene, Rin had hit the stage once, in church. She was called 'the dove' of the choir. Her voice was rather beautiful in the solo she played. Kagome had noticed Sesshoumaru stiffed at first clasping his hands firmly in his lap, but as his daughter began to sing he relaxed. Rin had given a nervous smile to him when she finished and the expression on Sesshoumaru's face was close to amazement. Obviously he didn't know his daughter was so talented, but then Rin didn't speak much. Sesshoumaru's hands were still fisted in his lap. It was cute that he was nervous for his daughter. Kagome had reached over running her hands over his gently prying his fingers apart and Sesshoumaru let her take his hand. His eyes and attention focused on his daughter as she finished up her one and only scene.

This church scene was abrupt, lasting only a few minutes, and because of the lack of people, Kohaku had subbed in for the preacher. The robes they'd gotten were too short and his ankles were seen beneath, he'd worn shorts, as he walked over to the podium. He gave a short sermon that was weakly attempting to give the attendants courage and hope to last out the famine. Kohaku was obviously a stage hand and stuck in last moment for some reason. His lines were secretly hidden in the bible resting in his hands. He read them nervously, but got through it with little mishap.

The second to last scene was the one they were watching now. Kagome held her breath as a rope was thrown out to the sailor was had thrashed his way back up on the stage beside the boat. He was pulled back up and remained there breathing heavy.

"Land! Starboard side captain!"

"Eas'on the helm, bring'er 'n steady. Steady as'he goes!"

The captain was Kagome's favorite characters other than Shippou. The boy playing him was Irish and so had that accent, a thick one too. The boy, Captain Alexander in the play, was exaggerating his voice, but it made it entertaining just trying to figure out what he was saying some of the time.

The curtain fell for the end of the scene and scuffling was heard behind it as the 'boat' was removed. Shippou popped out on stage again in front of the blue barricade. He grinned jauntily and tilted his head to one side. He scratched his neck, and then he did it again. Shippou gave a look of dismay.

"I think I've gotten fleas."

The crowd laughed including Kagome as she also rolled her eyes.

"Well bet your wonderin' how life goes on from here. The famine lasted years, these kids you see here grew up in and through it. They suffered through drought, shipwrecks, famine, floods, and death. They may be too young to understand it, but that doesn't mean they weren't affected. That's the wile of children; they don't let you see it. Their pain," He looked directly at Kagome, "their hopes, and their dreams all shrouded by the laughter. However, there's still one more question to be answered, which must be answered. What has Ms. Molly McGuire done today? Georgey?"

The curtain opened and there was Molly McGuire, played by Hiyumi Yuki. He wore a grey dress with an apron cinched over top that held the pillow so obviously tucked beneath the dress in place. Yuki was yelling in a high-pitched, fake girly voice flailing his arms. He had bright rouged cheeks and horribly heavy eye shadow that was bright blue. Yuki wore a wig, but some of his natural black hair poked out under the wig's curly/frizzy bangs. Behind him was a crocodile stuffed animal, one that Sesshoumaru recognized came from Rin's large collection of furry creatures. The croc was being pulled by a clear string by one stage hand. They'd laid two strings, each attached to the crocodile's neck, all the way across the stage so that they could pull his back and forth as 'Molly' ran in slow motion.

"It's the crocodile! The croc from the well! It was all true, I knew it, I knew it! Now he's hungry and come for me!" His voice was ear breaking.

The scene ended with Molly tripping over her own high heeled boots. Yuki accidentally lost his wig making a grab for it. The croc was pulled on top of him as the curtain closed again. Shippou smirked from side stage before moving to the center again.

"All is not always as it seems. In a time of unbelievable tragedy, life continued to thrive and the children's joy rarely died. A child is not ignorant for their eyes are easily influenced and see more than what you'd perceive. However, optimism and persistence is the key to overcoming any obstacle."

The crowd clapped politely as Shippou bowed to them.

"If I may, the playwright, Takarashi Rin."

Rin nodded negatively from off stage, but was pushed on stage by Kohaku, one of the stage hands working the set transitions. She blushed when everyone stood and applauded. Rin's brown eyes though alighted on her father figure memorizing the pride in his eyes as well as the small smile slipping on his lips. Rin also looked down and smiled when she saw Kagome jumping and down hooting for all she was worth.

Next the stage hands were pulled up on stage, Kohaku and Gii. Gii was in Kohaku's biology lecture hall and who he was assigned to sit next to. Gii was a tall boy all legs and arms. His hair was short and buzzed. He looked awkward, but was extremely intelligent and would probably be attractive once he grew into his legs.

Yuki, Shippou, and the three others took a bow with Rin in the middle. Kohaku stood on her other side, then Gii. The cheers were ecstatic and it was certainly the perfect way to end the festival. As the parents, etc. left their seats all were speaking of how the drama clubs should hold more student written plays rather than just the old classics like Shakespeare.

Kagome hurried to the side of the stage dragging Sesshoumaru along as she had snagged the cuff of his shirt. Sesshoumaru however slipped from her grasp and proceeded to take his time. Kagome, the excited mother she was acting like, was about to go on ahead when he stopped her.

"Give them time to themselves."

"What?" She looked at him quizzically.

Kagome then saw, or rather heard what he meant. The kids were all huddled behind the stage talking most gleefully amongst themselves while they gathered their belongings. Everything had been shoved in a trunk that probably had originally held the costumes. Kagome tilted her head to one side and fell in line with Sesshoumaru's slow steps.

Kagome yawned and rolled her neck forward. She brought a hand up to massage the sore muscles, they'd become stiff from sitting for the hour long production. However her hand was knocked away and a stronger, larger pair of hands pressed along her flesh. Kagome sighed and leaned back into his touch, knowing it could only be Sesshoumaru. She knew by the softness and tepid warmth of his fingers that had once been entwined along with her own.

Sesshoumaru prodded lightly searching out the soreness Kagome felt. He'd become rather adept at this from experience. Sitting in front of a computer did 'wonders' for one's neck. Usually he'd turn his head to the side too fast getting those shooting hot flashes and his vision blacked for a few seconds. Sesshoumaru found it when she hissed well more like breathed out quickly from between closed teeth. He placed his thumb over it and rotated it in small circles steadily increasing pressure. That was how they were when Shippou, Rin, and Kohaku approached them.

Kohaku nodded to them, but kept on moving when he spotted Sango running towards him, her arms spread out ready for a hug.

"Okaa! Did you like it?" Shippou asked as he hopped from one foot to the other in excitement.

Kagome lifted her head, feeling immensely better, and smiled. She shook her head vigorously ignoring the way her neck protested the action.

"Yes! So much! Did you really write that Rin! It was fantastic!"

Rin blushed. Kagome kneeled down and wrapped her arms around both. Shippou laughed wrapping his arms nearly haphazardly around Kagome's neck while Rin tentatively hugged her around the waist.

"I'm so proud of both of you!" Kagome's voice was overflowing with pride, so she didn't really need to say it.

She pulled back and watched as Rin tugged on Sesshoumaru's pant leg. He looked down at her before patting her head. This was some unspoken signal for Rin wrapped her arms tightly round his knees. How Sesshoumaru didn't topple over escaped Kagome's understanding once again, but then what about Sesshoumaru did she fully comprehend?

Sango walked over, holding hands with Miroku and one arm around her brother's shoulders.

"Hey what do you guys think about celebrating with ice cream?"

The decision was unanimous seeing as how Kagome plus three kids would automatically gain majority. Kagome would never say no to ice creams or any sweets for that matter. Flowers be damned, sugar was the way to her heart.

As they left the park towards their own cars, without anyone's notice Sesshoumaru slipped his palm against Kagome's.

"Kagome, you coming with us?" Sango asked implying Kohaku, Miroku, and her as they had on the way over.

"Nah, I'll get one with Sesshoumaru and Rin!"

Sango shrugged and waved goodbye. Kagome and Sesshoumaru's loosely locked hands did not go unobserved, but she resigned herself to hold her tongue until they got back to Kagome's apartment. A small smile slipped over her lips only widening when she caught Miroku's eye as he slid into the driver's seat.

Rin and Shippou piled into the back seat. Sesshoumaru opened the door for Kagome, his face never changed, but there was a peace, smoothness to the colors in his eyes. She was reminded of the beast from 'Beauty in the Beast' and the song where they said there was something in his eyes that wasn't there before. This thought made her smile.

However this soon broke when Sesshoumaru leaned over to buckle her seat belt for her.

"I'm not a child!"

He smirked. Shippou snickered from the back seat while Rin admonished Sesshoumaru, shockingly.

"Otou-san, Kagome-chan can do it! Time is wasting and ice cream is waiting!"

Kagome smiled when Rin called Sesshoumaru father in a semi-public situation, it was a step in the right direction. The girl was so shy at times with some things and completely not with others. Sesshoumaru lifted both eyebrows at her commanding words. Such a small person and she put such conviction behind her words, he was mildly impressed. Kagome shifted in her seat grabbing behind her for Shippou's feet. She ripped off one of his shoes and tickled the bottoms of his feet as he kicked, laughing all the time, trying to escape her dexterous fingers.

Sesshoumaru closed his door, putting on his seat belt, while looking into the rear view mirror watching the ruckus behind him. There was Kagome's deviously smiling face, the tears in Shippou's eyes from laughing so hard, and Rin who was squirming also trying to avoid Kagome's other hand that had come after her for no reason at all. He breathed in deeply and started the car. The night had been different. Kagome was not the type of woman he ever looked for, but perhaps this wasn't the mistake he'd originally thought dating Kagome would be. Rin's tortured face, laughing so loudly that her mirth filled the space around him brought the frown from his lips that had grown there.

His 'relationships' never worked out because there were too many differences, false personalities, or he got tired of them. With Kagome he seemed to always be off balance, yet stable at the same time. However there was a stronger bond that they shared. They both had known tragedy and had overcome it. Perhaps, this time, he should take Kagome's advice.

One time she'd run into his office on an errand for Bankotsu and he was on edge working on the paperwork for the merger with Hama Corp. She'd taken one look at him and said 'Hey you- relax. Things will settle and fall into place, so just relax and don't force it. It will happen, so let it be within the natural flow of things.' Kagome had then left his office, her folder of research, etc. on one corner of his desk.

Sesshoumaru relaxed back into his seat sending Kagome a glare she felt without even turning around. She resettled back into her set giving him a satisfied smile.

"That's what they get for laughing at me." She said with a mock glare back at Shippou.

Shippou smiled in return fitting his shoe back onto his poor foot.

…Well that's it. I tried to fit some of the play in, but not have it be the whole chapter. Tell me what you think because a lot of it was just spur of the moment. …