Hey! Oh my god, I updated! Isn't that just so awesome! Lol...Yup, if you haven't realized by now, I'm pretty happy. Even though school starts in like, a week...Oh well! I updated, and that's all that matters.

I'm sorry I haven't updated though, as I told you before, I won't be able to update as frequently as I used to before. My sister took over the internet, so now I no longer have it. Oh, what it takes to get my sister out of her room...

Also, this chapter is in a really happy mood, as I am in a happy mood. Lol. So, it might be stupid at some parts, but I can't help that. I haven't let my stupidity off in anything in a long while... XD

Thank you guys so much for all of the wonderful reviews :)

Anyway! Enough of me, I don't even know why you're reading this, just go and read the chapter you waited so long for :D

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Chapter Four: Small Times of Merriment

Kagome sat around in her room, waiting. Waiting for what, she didn't know. A change in the cold lord's mind? Maybe he would let her go? A thought flashed through Kagome's mind, one of Sesshoumaru running into Kagome's room, with tears in his eyes, on his hands and knees, begging for Kagome's forgiveness of him 'killing' her.

Now that put a large grin on her face.

Sure, she knew that it could possibly never happen, but it was sure fun to think of it. Besides, what else did one have to do, cramped in a room like this, with absolutely nothing to do? Nothing, of course, except sit around, and think the most amusing thoughts you could.

She even wondered how Sesshoumaru managed to go through with his everyday life. Sure, it had to be boring! She had been in this room for only a day now, possibly not even a day, and she was bored out of her mind.

Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by a loud crash, possibly a hallway away from Kagome's room. Small, running footsteps were heard running toward her door, but stopped, something was said, and then the running footsteps were heard again. Kagome leant over her bed a little, facing the doorway. What could possibly happen now?

As Kagome leant further in to hear what was going on, she apparently leant a little too far, and she went falling off of her bed, face first. She squeaked, and put her hands out for support, but they caused only for a temporary distraction to gravity, until she finally crashed down, onto the floor. She squeaked once again as she hit the floor, and laid there, in an undignified heap.

As she fell, the door to her room swiftly opened, and in the doorway revealed a small girl, one that would go by the name of Rin. Rin saw Kagome in a heap upon the floor, and tried to hold back the urge to laugh. Why, she just looked so funny!

Kagome's head was squashed against the floor, her legs were sprawled about above her head, her back twisted in an odd way, and her arms flailed out above her head. She just looked so funny!

Rin covered her mouth, trying to suppress the laughter that was trying to erupt within her throat, so all that came out her small giggles. Eventually, those giggles turned into louder giggles, which turned into laughter. When her laughing charade was over, she finally overcame the fact that Kagome could be hurt. So she ran up to the side of the older girl, and gently pushed her shoulder. When Kagome didn't reply, she shook harder.

This caused a small moan to come from the older girl's mouth, and then something along the lines of 'don't wanna wake up' was heard. This confused Rin even more, so she shook Kagome a little rougher. Kagome's eyes finally opened from the squished position she was in, and she looked around, and groaned as she began to sit up. Rin's eyes lit up when she saw that Kagome wasn't hurt, just only a little stunned. She let Kagome collect herself for a minute, and then began to introduce herself a moment later.

"Hi, I'm Rin! You must be Kagome. I heard that my Lord was holding another girl in his castle, and I just had to see who it was! I'm so happy that Kagome is staying here with us, it can get so lonely with only Jaken around to play with!"

Kagome, still confused from her fall, looked up to see a young girl blabbering away about who knows what. This confused her even more. Where had this girl come from? Why was she allowed to see her? Just then, a thought ran through her mind: escape. This girl could be her way to escape, and then she would be able to run away, and find Inuyasha, and then kill the stupid Sesshoumaru that held her prisoner.

Stupid dog.

When she realized that the little girl had stopped talking, she looked over to her. The girl was smiling sweetly, and Kagome couldn't resist the urge but to smile also. Oh, how contagious smiles could be. At that moment, several guards waltzed into the room, as if nothing was the matter. Kagome was becoming even more confused by the second. Did anybody see this talkative little girl that stood in front of her? Maybe they wouldn't mind if she just walked out of the room, either...?

It was worth a shot.

Kagome stood up, and smiled down to the little girl. She was having no problem at all thinking of a plan in her head, even though confusion swam around in all directions in it. And she thought school was hard! Kagome reached her hand out, and offered it to Rin, as she spoke.

"You must be Rin. I'm happy to see somebody like you, it can get really boring in here. Why don't you show me around the castle, Sesshoumaru hasn't let me see much of the castle yet, and it would be nice if you could show me it."

'Slick, Kagome. Real slick. Lying to a 6-year-old. Wonderful.'

Rin, not realizing that Kagome had just basically repeated what she had just told her moments earlier, nodded her head happily. Her Lord wouldn't mind if she showed Kagome around the castle, it would probably doing him more of a favor anyway, he would have to do it sometime.

Only Rin didn't know that Kagome was a prisoner. Oh well, it didn't hurt that she didn't know...

Kagome smiled as the guards growled at Kagome as she walked by. They were given orders not to let the girl out from her room, but if Rin was accompanying her, then what was there to worry about? They didn't realize that it could cost them their jobs, and possibly their lives. Poor guards.

Rin walked by many large doors, explaining what she knew about them to Kagome. The only problem was, Kagome wasn't particularly listening to the small girl. She was more worried about leaving this castle, and running back to her friends. And, what would happen if they all of a sudden crossed paths with Sesshoumaru? She wouldn't dare let him kill her again. She would focus her miko powers in on him, and blast him to dust. She knew she could kill him with her powers, but it was all a matter of concentration. The problem was, you couldn't have concentration around Sesshoumaru. Hell, the Cold Lord could glare ice daggers through you, how in the hell could you concentrate through that?

Kagome snapped out from her thoughts when she realized that she was being dragged past the front gates. The guards there sneered at her, but she only shot her tongue out at them, as if saying 'haha, you can't kill me losers!' Rin pulled her past many, many hallways, where it got so dark down them, you couldn't even see the other side of them, if there even was another side. Who knew how many secrets was held in this castle? Probably so many, not even Sesshoumaru knew existed. But, she was dragging herself through pointless thoughts. She really needed to be thinking of a escape plan.

Kagome was about to actually start taking in her surroundings for future use, but then Rin stopped, in front of two large doors. She let go of Kagome's hand, and pointed up to the large doors.

"These lead to the garden. We can go there if you want, its my favorite place in here!"

Rin jumped in the air, and Kagome beamed back at her. She was amazed at how sweet, and active this girl could be, especially around Sesshoumaru, one would imagine that this girl would be cold and arrogant as he is. But, apparently not his cold demeanor rubs off on everyone, as Rin held her composure high, and stayed as carefree as a young child should be.

'Such a strong heart,' Kagome thought, as she was pulled into the garden with Rin. She could only gasp as she saw the landscape that was in front of her. Large, beautiful trees were placed over large patches of tulips, marigolds, roses, daises, sunflowers...basically every kind of flower you could think of. Ones you wouldn't even think could grow in Japan!

'Probably got them imported...just for Rin...'

As Kagome's eyes were still bugging at the scene in front of her, Rin wasted no time in running up to one of the many flower patches, and jumping in it, covering her up from view. Kagome smiled, seeing just how happy the girl was. She really always was a sucker for cute, young things, and Rin just so happened to fall in that category. It made her remember the times of how she was younger, not a care in the world, just being a child. Oh, how she missed those times.

Rin emerged from the tons of flowers that surrounded her, and called for Kagome to come in with her. Kagome laughed, but made no hesitation in running up to the patch of flowers, and jumping in to meet the small girl. They both laughed in joy, and began chasing each other, and playing a small game of 'tag'. When Kagome started to get wore-out, she slumped down to the ground, a smile still present on her face. Rin ran up to the older girl, and sat down next to her.

"Kagome, are you okay?"

Kagome looked over to the small girl, and saw the trouble written on her face, and only smiled. She nodded her head to the small girl in reassurance.

"Yup, I'm fine. Just a little tired, that's all. I haven't ran around, or played with anyone in a long time. I guess the grown-up in me is starting to kick in."

Kagome smiled as Rin giggled from Kagome's small joke. The small girl was so easy to make laugh. She was so bright, she could bring up anybody's day. It was probably why Sesshoumaru actually let the girl stay with him...

Just as Kagome thought's were ending of Sesshoumaru, Sesshoumaru decided to play scene in the garden. He slowly treaded into the garden, realizing that Kagome was in the flower patch, with Rin. This had angered him. He had given his guards strict orders not to let her leave her quarters. They had better have a good explanation for their doings, or he would have their heads.

Apparently Kagome and Rin hadn't noticed Sesshoumaru in the gardens, until he actually came into plain view of them, standing right in front of the flower bed, with a hint of anger splayed on his face. This made Kagome flinch a little, she hadn't realized that Sesshoumaru had indeed been standing there, but with anger on his emotions? It was hard to come across with Sesshoumaru showing emotion, but it definitely wasn't pleasant that the emotion had to be anger.

"Rin, what are you and this girl doing here. I have given the guards orders not to let the girl free of her room. How is she here?"

Rin's usual smile faded into a frown, and she couldn't find an answer to give to her lord. She just wanted to play with Kagome, and the guards weren't hard to pass, so...she just let Kagome out! She hadn't known that Kagome wasn't allowed out...Rin's heart fell at the thought of disobeying her lord, and tears started to swell at her eyes. She cast her face down, so Kagome or Sesshoumaru wouldn't see her crying.

But, Kagome, knowing the body language and the feeling in the air, knew that Rin was crying. And, it was in her best interest to help comfort her. So, she moved her way over to Rin, and held her silently shaking form. Rin grabbed hold of Kagome's shirt, and sobbed quietly into it.

Sesshoumaru, now confused then ever, watched the scene be played out before him. So, he had made Rin cry, and it was in the wench's best interest to comfort Rin. He watched as Rin started to calm down a bit, and then decided to interfere.

"Rin, go into the castle. Dinner is being served. Go and get yourself something to eat."

Rin, face red and poofy, looked up at her lord, and stood, much to Kagome's dismay, and nodded her head, rubbing the tears free from her eyes. She then ran hurriedly past her lord, very embarrassed, even showing that she would cry in front of him. When Rin was surely inside, Seshoumaru turned to face a very angry looking Kagome, who was standing up, her hands in tight fists. Sesshoumaru almost snorted. She looked amusing when she was angry.

"Sesshoumaru! How could you make that poor girl cry! She looks up to you so much, and you make her cry! How dare you!"

Sesshoumaru's smirk drew down into a frown, and he scrunched his eyebrows together. Did that wench just talk to him like that, again? Oh, now he was getting angry again.

"Wench, you will not tell me how to raise me ward. I will do as I please. if she did not want to stay here, she would tell me so. Now please, go back up to your room, I will be following you. If you try and run, I will drag you there myself."

Kagome became very pissed off by this remark. First he made Rin cry, then he acted like he didn't care! What kind of a lord was that? What she hated, more then anything, was a parent/guardian that had no care for their children. Sesshoumaru was basically Rin's father, so he made no excuse to not treating her right. Oh, how he pissed her off!

Sesshoumaru, realizing that Kagome wasn't moving to go back up to her room, was starting to become annoyed. Would he really have to drag her up there? He would like more then anything to drag the wench up to her room by her hair, pulling it all the more tighter as he went along, but he was compelled at doing it. He just wasn't in the mood to be arguing, or fighting a miko's strong purification powers at the moment.

So the two just stood in their same positions, Kagome, her hands fisted into small balls, and Sesshoumaru, glaring at Kagome as if she were a stain on the earth. The two were not forming to like each other one bit. But, whoever said they were?

After a few moments of Kagome being glared at by Sesshoumaru, she huffed loudly, then stomped by him, giving him an evil look while pushing by him. Sesshoumaru just snorted at her tactics, amused by the angry miko. She was more fun then Jaken was when angry.

Sesshoumaru followed Kagome back up to her quarters, hearing her mumbling and growling incoherent remarks, ones that he did not care to hear for. Guards and servants stopped by to look at the two, the angry miko, her face almost turning purple from all the anger, and Sesshoumaru, calmly following close behind her with a smirk smeared on his face. The guards and servants could only wonder at what caused the two to look like that.

When Kagome finally stepped in front of her door, she stopped abruptly, and turned swiftly around. Sesshoumaru calmly came to a halt also, wondering what the miko 'had in store' for him. But, instead of a physical attack like he expected, she just threw out a verbal attack on him instead.

"Why are you following me! I know the way back to this gosh forsaken room, obviously, so you don't need to be following me! And stop smirking at me like that! Leave me alone!"

Kagome stomped her foot on the ground, trying her damn-nest not to let go, and just whirl a wave of purification energy at him. But, she knew that for some reason it would not kill him automatically, and she would just suffer the results. Her dying again, and being revived. It wouldn't be a nice tale to tell that she got killed and revived two times in the same day, by the one and only Sesshoumaru. She wouldn't even be able to believe it herself.

Sesshoumaru watched Kagome's actions speak, her face turning a nice shade of red, her knuckles turning white from squeezing them so tightly, her legs starting to shake from all the tension. She was just an explosion waiting to happen. So, Sesshoumaru just stood there. He didn't release his smirk from his face, didn't make any noise, just stood there, watching Kagome's every move.

This just pissed Kagome off even more, and she growled loudly, and turned her back on Sesshoumaru. She bow her head, and squeezed her eyes shut. She could feel the energy flowing within her, begging to be released, all on the one person that stood behind her. But, she wouldn't let herself go that easily. She couldn't. If she wanted to get out of this castle, she would have to save her energy, save it all up for that one day that she actually would snap, and just kill him. She smirked. That was going to be a lovely day.

But, for the time being, Kagome just let it go. She opened the door, turned to look at a still standing Sesshoumaru, and sneered at him, slamming the door shut in the process. She sighed, and walked over to her bed. She flopped down on it, and rubbed her temples. Sesshoumaru really wasn't the greatest way to release her tension on. He only made it worse. But, there was one thing that Kagome was now waiting for. Sesshoumaru to leave. She knew that he was still standing outside her door, still smirking at particularly nothing. She just wanted him to leave. Because, just because Kagome had an idea. Something that she realized, that she knew Sesshoumaru didn't.

Her door wasn't locked.

She smirked, and laughed inwardly to herself. She knew that her little charade would have made him forget to lock her door, and put whatever spell he had on it. She knew that later on, he would leave the spot at her door, and guards would replace it. But, she knew that she could overcome these guards. She could leave her room, and run down to the main hallway, past the little amount of guards that posted themselves there, and be out of this place. She chuckled to herself, and put her hands over her eyes.

Oh, Sesshoumaru would be surprised.

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"Guys! Your wasting your time! This isn't going to work, I know my own brother!"

Inuyasha was yelling frantically at his friends to stop making such a stupid plan, but it wouldn't work. They were making such idiotic plans, that even Inuyasha knew they wouldn't work. Or maybe, Inuyasha was being too stubborn to actually listen to his friends, and was just fixing his mind upon just running up in Sesshoumaru's castle, again, and trying to tear down all the guards that flowed out from his castle. Hell, he had already killed a lot of them, why not kill the rest?

Inuyasha pounded his head on his fist as Miroku and Sango were talking over and over about what they were planning. They knew that Inuyasha would just yell insults at them, and make them feel like that plan wouldn't work, so they just paid no mind to the whining hanyou. But, Shippo was starting to become annoyed by the second, and he wanted nothing more then to have Inuyasha just shut up, and leave them all be.

After all, Inuyasha was never right, anyway.

Shippo put his hands over his ears, to try and shut Inuyasha out. It didn't work, so he tried sticking his fingers in his ears. When that didn't work either, he decided to shut Inuyasha up himself. He jumped up from the spot he was sitting, walked slowly up to Inuyasha, who in turn, turned around to confusingly face Shippo, who then in turn bopped Inuyasha on the head with his small fist. It earned a small 'thump' to be heard, and make Sango and Miroku's heads turn to face Inuyasha and Shippo.

Inuyasha, being as stubborn as he is, not only didn't shut up, but he whacked Shippo in the head as well, causing him to fly back a bit, and land on his back. Sango cast Inuyasha a look of pure evil, while Miroku just sighed, and shook his head. Inuyasha shot them both a confused glance, at why they would be mad at him. It was Shippo that started it first, anyway!

Sango turned her attention back toward Miroku, who was still deep in thought. They had no idea how they were going to get Kagome back, this was nothing like Naraku, it was Sesshoumaru. And they had never, not once, underestimated Sesshoumaru. Sango and Miroku both knew that Sesshoumaru had, indeed, spared Inuyasha's life a dozen or more times, but they didn't doubt that he wouldn't this time. Inuyasha, of course, being as arrogant as he is, wouldn't admit that Sesshoumaru really had spared his life a dozen or so times. He just states that his brother 'is a wimp,' or 'all talk,' but Sango and Miroku knew the truth. Even Shippo saw it, that Inuyasha was grateful. Even if Sesshoumaru really did hate him, why would he spare him? That man would always be such a mystery...

But at the time being, Sesshoumaru's composure wasn't what they were worried about. It was more along the lines of: how in the hell were they going to get Kagome back? All of their plans they made were starting to come to a halt, and they kept on changing their minds. They wanted something that didn't involve killing, or a big loud entrance. Possibly to sneak in? But, how?

Sango sighed irritably, and rubbed her temples. This was more tempestuous then Miroku was groping her. Miroku saw her irritation, and sighed along with her. He knew how much Sango hated not being with Kagome, they had grown to be such good friends and all, and it hurt her to see that they were stuck in a predicament, one that they couldn't find their way out of. Maybe they were just overreacting, like Inuyasha said, and they just needed to get over it, and storm the castle, and take her back.

It couldn't be that hard, could it?

They could only sit and wonder, as they tried to figure out what to do. Inuyasha, on the other hand, had finally given in to being quiet, and he now lay down in a tree high above the small group, staring at the sky.

'Kagome...'

Inuyasha squeezed his eyes shut, and growled.

'I swear, Sesshoumaru. Just wait until I come and take her back. Just wait...'

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Yup, there's that chapter! Ya, the group is still stuck on how to take back Kagome, only because I'm not ready for them to storm the castle yet :) Little runny, I know, but hey, its an update. And, as you noticed, this was one of the happier chapters so far, so yup.

Read and Review :)