Chapter Nine

lil-kag0m3: OK, for the pairing, I really and truly have no idea. It was supposed to end up one way when I began, but now things have gone differently, and I don't know what will happen, but I promise as soon as I know, you will know. Thank you for both pushing the little button that makes me happy, and reviewing. Here is your update.

Kalei: I'm glad you liked the chapter; I hope this one is just as good; don't forget to let me know! (though you have yet to not leave a review, and for that I am thankful) OK, as I just told lil-kag0m3, I don't know the pairing, but as soon as I do, you also will find out. Thanks again for the review, here's chapter nine.

iNuQTpIe: Is Shippo being mature a bad thing? After all, it's been three years for him too. Thank you for your review.

stand alone complex: I have to admit, if you thought the last chapter was bland, this one isn't much better, but I promise things will begin to get better. Ya sure, why not come up with new ways of giving me heart attacks, it's all good. Lol, well, thank you for your review; hope to hear from you again.

Inuyashbich: You know what, you are my first death threat, kinda sad hu? Anywho, thank you for the review and I'm glad you got caught up. Thanks for the review, hope to see a review from you again.

Disclaimer: Ok, this would be the same as all the other chapters, so I'm not writing it all out tonight. But, I do say it, no suing me.

AN: YES, I MADE IT 17 YEARS! Yeah, happy b-day to me! And look at me, on fan fic updating, see, I do love you guys. Ok, well, here is chapter nine, please enjoy!

"Kagome…Kagome-chan…" A voice echoed in her mind. The Miko groaned as someone shook her shoulder. "Kagome-chan, Sessho-maru-sama is calling for you." Rin's voice became clear as the woman was pulled from her sleep. The child shook her shoulder again. "Are you awake?"

The Miko's eyes blinked open at the girl's question. "Yes, what does Sessho-maru want?" Kagome asked as she sat up. Rin shook her head as she straightened up.

"I don't know, he just wants you in his chambers now."

The woman made a face at the words. "I see, I'd better not keep him waiting." She got to her feet, smiling slightly at the child, before moving out of the room. The door closed almost silently behind her. Kagome sighed as she walked quickly toward the youkai Lord's wing of the castle.

It hadn't taken the woman long to get the feel of the castle, even with its size. After being here two days, she had figured out the lay of the areas she was allowed to wander. The Miko rubbed her arms against the cold chill of the night. Why did he have to call her in the middle of the night? Hadn't the Inu youkai heard of noon?

Kagome sighed silently as she stilled her hands. She had reached the Lord's chamber. Her hands lowered and she blinked any hint of sleep from her eyes. She forced her lips to turn down in a slight frown as she reached to knock on the door.

"Come in." Sessho-maru's command came before her knuckles reached the surface. The Miko did as told, pushing the large wooden door open, and entering the darkness.

((Across A Land))

They had to be close, but Mayoka was tired. With the ouji's loss of his jewel shards to Kagome, so she could complete the Shikon no Tama, he moved much slower than he used to. Koga could smell both Sessho-maru and Kagome, but he couldn't move as fast as the Inu youkai to catch up.

A soft moan caught Koga's attention. He turned to the child lying next to him in the darkness. She was shivering, and the youkai caught the salty scent of tears. Was she dreaming?

Hokori's head lifted, his blue eyes locking on the girl as she whimpered. "It's alright, I'll take care of her, go back to sleep, Hokori." The ouji's voice was soft, his dark orbs also trained on the human. The Neko nodded slightly, resting his head back on his paws. The youkai trusted Koga, almost as much as Kagome.

Koga turned sideways, carefully stroking the child's bangs off of her forehead. He willed her to relax, his eyes staying locked on her pain filled features. "It's alright now, Mayoka." The ouji whispered. Her head turned into his touch.

"Okaasan…"

"No, your Okaasan isn't here, Mayoka."

"Why…?" Her eyes clenched closed as her heart sped up slightly. She had woken up. Her head lifted slowly, the girl trying to blink away her tears. She smiled slightly at the ouji. "Did I wake you, Koga?"

He shook his head. "I was already awake." He stared at her silently another minute. "Are you alright?"

"What?" The child's eyes locked with his, question in her depths.

"You were crying, and calling for you Okaasan."

"Oh," the girl's head lowered. "Yes, I'm fine." She blinked away the tears that filled her eyes again. It was the first time she had dreamed since Kagome-san had rescued her. The pain of her Okaasan's death was still fresh in her heart.

Mayoka jumped as she was lifted off the ground. Her chocolate orbs lifted to find Koga's face looking down at her again. "You don't have to act so tough, you know." The youkai whispered as he set the girl in his lap.

"But—"

"Go back to sleep, Mayoka. I will protect you. You have nothing to worry about. I will be tough for you." His head lifted, his eyes staring at the land around them. She could only stare open mouthed for a second, before she smiled.

"Thank you, Koga." She whispered, closing her eyes and taking comfort in the youkai's warm, strong embrace.

"Don't give me that look, Hokori." Koga said when Mayoka was asleep again. The Neko youkai stared silently. "She was in pain, what else could I do?" The ouji didn't look at the Neko. Hokori shook his head, a hint of a smile on his lips before lowering his head back to his paws to go back to sleep.

Koga let out a silent sigh as he looked down at Mayoka again. What had gotten into him? Was he going soft? A smile tugged at his lips. Maybe he was, but was that such a bad thing?

((Across A Land))

Her eyes closed tightly as sunlight broke into her sleep. She yawned as she woke fully. Her brown eyes blinked open, her stomach thinking about breakfast already. His hand began to move over her bare stomach. Her head turned to look over her shoulder, a slight glare on her features as his hand reached up to squeeze her breast. "Miroku…" She growled.

"Yes, my dear Sango?" The Houshi asked with a smile.

"Please remove your hand." Sango spoke through clenched teeth.

"But, Sango—"

"I'm going to make breakfast." She cut him off. The Taijiya moved to get up, but Miroku grabbed her wrist. She turned back.

"Stay with me a little longer." His voice had a hint of question to its tone. Her rough frown softened into a smile as she knelt down at his side.

"The sun is already up."

"So?"

"The others will be awake already."

"And?"

"Tonight, alright?" She pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "I'm going to make some breakfast now. Don't stay in bed too late; I'll need some help later." She got dressed as she spoke. The woman wiggled her fingers at him in a wave as she left the hut.

A groan left the man's lips as he closed his eyes again, resting his forearm over his eyes. Sango never wanted to stay in bed with him anymore, and it was only four days after they had first been together. The Houshi wondered if it was something he did.

Another groan left Miroku's lips as he tried to fall back asleep. He would get up in a little while to help the Taijiya.

((Across A Land))

"Just feel the weapons in your hands, relax." Sango called as she stood watching the four children in front of her. Kyouko twirled a staff with a spiked head on both sides. "If you hold it like this," the woman tenderly moved his hands on the wood, "your grip will be much stronger."

"Thank you, Sensei." The thirteen-year old bowed his head slightly as he noted the change.

Sango turned to Hana.

The second to oldest held two scathes in her hands, practicing twirling them and then striking out, with her smooth fingers. There was a look of determination on the twelve-year olds face as she tried to look straight ahead, and not at her hands. A hiss passed the girl's lips as she let the curved weapon twist too far, cutting her palm. The weapon clattered to the ground, blood dying the silver edge.

"Are you alright?" Sango asked, stepping to Hana's side quickly. The girl looked up, trying to smile as she held her injured hand close to her chest.

"Yes, Sensei." Her hand shook as blood dripped down her wrist.

"Here, wear these, they're made of dragon hide, they will protect your hands." Sango wiped the red liquid off of the younger girl's hand as she handed over the gloves. Hana nodded silently as she pulled on the gloves that went halfway up her forearms.

"Thank you." The child tried out the new grip, smiling at the new feel of power as she twirled the blades.

"Better?" The Taijiya smiled back as Hana nodded.

"Sensei, will you please show me again how to hold this before I release it?" Kibou asked, his eyes turned to her. The eight-year old held a scathe in one hand and a chain in his other. Sango tried not to think of how her younger brother, Kohaku, had used the very same weapon. The Taijiya forced a smile again as she helped the young boy.

Once everyone else was correcting their ways, Sango turned to Mitsukai. There was a genuine smile on the five-year olds face as the woman knelt down next to the girl. The child had chosen a bag filled with small boomerangs, ones that almost were too big for her small hands.

"How are you doing, Mitsukai?" Sango asked. The girl beamed as she demonstrated what she had been working on. The Taijiya watched as the boomerang bone cut through the air, weaving around three poles that had been set out, before coming back to the child's hand. Sango had to clench her mouth closed to keep it from falling open in surprise.

The girl was good.

"They called me Kai." The girl whispered, her head lowered slightly, as if she were embarrassed.

"What?" The woman asked.

"My parents used to call me Kai." Mitsukai muttered again. Sango allowed her mouth to relax into a smile.

"Is that what you want to be called then?"

"Yes, please." Mitsukai's voice was still soft.

"Alright then." The Taijiya continued to smile as she got back to her feet. "You're doing well, Kai, keep up the hard work." Sango messed up the child's hair as Mitsukai looked up, a smile on her bright little face.

"Thank you, Sensei." The two continued to smile at each other until a sound reached the Taijiya's ears. Her face instantly became serious as she carefully moved to her Hiraikotsu, lifting it into her right hand.

"Sensei?" Kyouko asked at Sango's sudden change.

"Stay back, all of you." She slowly moved toward the gate to the village.

"Sango." Miroku's voice reached her as he jogged to her side. "You feel it too then."

"Yes, and it seems all too familiar." The Houshi and Taijiya took fighting stances as the youki moved forward, prepared to enter the gate.

AN: Ok, I know that is kind of a cliffy, but I haven't had a whole lot in this fic yet. So here you are. Give me the best Birthday present ever, leave me a review, we all know how……… Thanks, see you all later!

Myst