Note: Eek! So many reviews for ch.8, just way too many. Thank you everyone very much. I luv it when I'm gone for a day and come back to check my mail to see a whole ton of reviews. It just makes by day that much better. Heh, and my dad said nothing good comes from a computer. Boy is he wrong. Okay, here's the next chapter…OOooo I love getting reviews! I hope I get more. Oh and ur really gonna hate me when I tell you I'm gone for the first 2 weeks in august. I'm gone the 1st- 15. So I'm going to really try and put up a lot of chapters so people will be happy….in return. I want reviews to read. I luv reading them!

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Chapter nine- Traveling to the East

It had been 2 and a half weeks since Inuyasha learned of Sesshoumaru's kidnapping of Kagome. And now Shippo had been taken as well. Inuyasha knew that he was warned by his brother not to come or that would mean the death of Kagome, but Inuyasha felt that if he didn't go that could also mean the death. It was also true that 2 and a half weeks ago he didn't know where his brother's castle was, but then again that was what Myoga-Jiji was for. Inuyasha had found the flea and had gotten the information out of him. Before long Inuyasha had Sango and Miroku ready and on the road.

Miroku sighed, "I do hope we get there soon"

Sango nodded "me as well"

Inuyasha growled "feh" he then caught the whiff of his older brother "Sesshoumaru" it was then he spotted the castle. It was still a distance away, but at least they could see it

Sesshoumaru was sitting at his desk when he suddenly caught the faint scent of his brother, causing him to growl "Inuyasha" he walked to his balcony "so he's failed to heed my warnings"

Sesshoumaru knew he wouldn't kill Kagome until he solved her, but he was in no mood to act like he would in front of Inuyasha. He growled "Jaken!"

At that minute the toad came running in "Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Fetch me Kagome, I wish to speak with her" he then added "alone"

It was a few minutes before Kagome finally came in "you wanted to see me Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Sesshoumaru nodded "hai" he walked up to her "tell me do you wish to return to Inuyasha?"

Kagome thought for a minute. Did she? An image of him hugging and kissing Kikyo came into her head. She mentally shook it "no, I'm not ready yet to face him"

"In 4 hours you will have no choice" he said in his simple tone.

Kagome gasped "nani?"

Sesshoumaru walked over to his balcony "it seems my brother has learned where my castle is and is on his way here" he turned his head to Kagome "I'm assuming to try and save you"

Kagome's eyes went wide "how did he figure out I was here?"

"When I took Shippo, he learned of your where abouts," Sesshoumaru explained not so clearly.

Kagome sat down on the couch with a frown on her face "so, what are you going to do?"

Sesshoumaru moved away from the balcony and walked up to her "it all matters if you want to go back to him or I could arrange for us to be taken else where"

"I already said I didn't want to go back yet, didn't I?" she replied.

Sesshoumaru nodded "very well" he then yelled "Jaken!" and the little toad came running in "prepare Ah-Un for departure"

"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama" and Jaken then ran out of the room.

Before an hour had passed, Jaken had everything ready. Kagome gathered Rin and Shippo, grabbed her bag, and headed outside where Sesshoumaru was waiting. The dragon lowered his body and allowed the kids to hop on.

Kagome was a little hesitant about riding a dragon, but she got on anyways. The dragon stood up and took to the skies. Kagome was a bit startled, but soon relaxed. She turned her head to see Sesshoumaru flying in midair, Jaken clinging to his pant leg.

Rin looked at Kagome "Kagome-chan, where are we going?"

Kagome shrugged and looked at Sesshoumaru "Sesshoumaru-sama where are we going?"

Sesshoumaru glanced at her "to the eastern lands"

"The eastern lands?" Kagome echoed "why there?"

He growled, "I have allies there"

The rest of the ride was done in silence and it was night by the time they reached the eastern castle. A servant greeted them and brought them inside while another went to inform the eastern lord of his unexpected guests.

Kagome found that this castle wasn't as pretty as Sesshoumaru's. It wasn't that fancy and there were few servants, that or maybe some were in hiding.

"Sesshoumaru!" bellowed a male voice.

Kagome turned her head to see a tall male, slightly shorter than Sesshoumaru, but taller than Inuyasha. He had the same golden eyes and long silver-white hair that the brothers had. He also seemed less serious then Sesshoumaru, but more mature than Inuyasha. He even had the same crescent moon on his forehead Definitely a youkai with no questions asked.

Sesshoumaru bowed "Edoksu, how are you fairing?"

"I far well, cousin, and you?" he grinned.

Kagome blinked {cousin? I didn't know Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha had other relatives} she thought {guess that means he's a dog youkai as well}.

"I do well" Sesshoumaru replied.

Edoksu, the eastern lord, then noticed the people behind his cousin. He decided to ignore them for the moment and looked at Sesshoumaru "what brings you to my home?"

Sesshoumaru made a low growl "there was… someone I wasn't looking forward to meet"

Edoksu chuckled, "Never thought I could see the day that Sesshoumaru would run from someone he did not like"

Sesshoumaru raised his growl "you'll do wise to keep your mouth shut, cousin"

Edoksu gave a nod, knowing that Sesshoumaru was stronger and a higher rank than him "understood" he glanced at the people behind Sesshoumaru "tell me, cousin, who are they?"

Sesshoumaru glanced behind him, he gestured Rin to come forward "this is Rin" he then gestured for Kagome "and this is Kagome"

Kagome bowed while holding the little kitsune, which didn't go unnoticed by Edoksu. He smelled the air and his eyes went wide {she's human!} he thought and glanced at the child {and she's human as well, so the stories of Sesshoumaru hanging around humans is true} he then smelled the air and noticed the child Kagome held was youkai "who is that?"

Kagome looked down at the small boy in her arms "this is Shippo"

Edoksu rose an eyebrow "where are his parents? I can tell he is a fox demon"

Shippo glared at the eastern lord "I don't have parents anymore, they were killed by the thunder brothers" he then looked up at Kagome and smiled "but Kagome helped me get even and I've been traveling with her ever since"

Edoksu glanced at Kagome and noticed she didn't dress like other humans {strange human, she has no fear in the presence of Sesshoumaru or other demons} he thought {she even looks after one}. He slowly walked closer "I have never met a human like you"

Kagome gave a nervous smile "I'm not from around here"

Sesshoumaru could smell the nervousness radiating off her and he growled causing the eastern lord to back up "that is enough interrogating, Edoksu"

Edoksu gave a nervous nod. He knew it wasn't wise to piss off Sesshoumaru because he would kill even a family member in his anger "so Sesshoumaru, how long do you want to stay?"

"Until the youkai ball" Sesshoumaru informed.

Edoksu nodded "very well, it shall be pleasant to visit with you again Sesshoumaru, you normally come by once every blue moon"

Edoksu had two servants show Sesshoumaru, Kagome, Rin and Shippo to their rooms. Kagome glanced at the paintings on the wall and designs. It didn't take long before the servants stopped. One turned and looked at Sesshoumaru

"Your room, Milord"

Sesshoumaru nodded and the servant left. He wanted to see where the next servant stopped, which was next door.

"Your room, milady"

Kagome smiled and nodded "thank you"

Rin and Shippo latched on to Kagome's leg when the servant started to show them where they would be sleeping.

"Kagome, I want to stay with you!" Shippo whined. He had just gotten Kagome back and wasn't about to lose her in this strange place.

"Me too" Rin whined, she had gotten use to being in the same room with Kagome at night and didn't want to sleep alone now.

The servant stopped and watched the scene with admiration {they seem very attached to the human, especially the kitsune}

Kagome thought for a moment "I suppose you could stay with me"

Sesshoumaru walked up to Kagome and growled, "they should learn to sleep on their own"

Kagome jumped at the sound of his voice and she faced him "they're just little kids, they're in a new place, and they're scared. It won't hurt anything if they stay with me" she explained.

Sesshoumaru again growled before indicating for the kids to get into the room and the servant to leave. Everyone did as told and he then approached Kagome a little closer "you spoil them, if that continues they shall grow up to be unruly"

Kagome raised an eyebrow "kinda like you, Sesshoumaru?"

There was the human girl Sesshoumaru had met that first day he had tricked Inuyasha by using the unmother to learn where his father's tomb was. She wasn't afraid to talk back to him and she wasn't exactly polite.

"You forget our arrangement Kagome, you will heed my orders and called me Sesshoumaru-sama," he reminded.

Kagome nodded "I haven't forgotten" she peered into her room and looked back at the western lord "I believe I have kids to put to bed, good night, Sesshoumaru-sama"

Kagome then walked into the bedroom and shut the door while Sesshoumaru stood out in the hall for a minute {truly a strange human, I'm no where close to figuring her out than before} he thought.

"Sesshoumaru-sama" said a female voice.

Sesshoumaru was pulled from his thoughts to see a servant "what do you want?"

"Edoksu-sama wishes to speak with you if he may"

Sesshoumaru sighed, "Where is he?"

"In his study" she replied and Sesshoumaru left. He knew exactly where every room in the eastern castle since he had come to visit this castle since he was young. It wasn't long before he reached his destination and he opened the door without knocking. This library wasn't as big as his, but it was fair size.

Edoksu looked up from his desk "ah, Sesshoumaru just the demon I wanted to see" he stood up and walked over "I know you probably would like to get some rest after your travels, but I must speak with you"

"Then speak" Sesshoumaru said.

"You know of my son, Ecaro?" the eastern lord question, a nod was his answer "well he has been surveying over the eastern lands and on the boarder of yours. Ecaro has head of a…thing named Naraku-"

Sesshoumaru growled at hearing that name "is that fowl creature up to something?"

Edoksu frowned "it looks to be, Ecaro said he's seen this Naraku creature trying to stir up trouble with some of the low class youkai" he paused for a moment, hesitant if he should go on "you know, Sesshoumaru, if he gets a great number of those youkai to try and attack…they stand a great chance of beating us even if they are dumb low class"

Sesshoumaru sighed. That was not what he wanted to hear. There were many low class youkai compared to high class and if enough low class demons came together they could defeat the higher class. Possibly even Sesshoumaru himself.

Edoksu sat in a near by chair "you can speak more about it with Ecaro tomorrow, that's when he should be home" he then remembered something his son had told him "Ecaro has also told me that your brother, Inuyasha, has been hunting down Naraku with a human taijiya, a human monk, and a human girl who dresses strangely"

Sesshoumaru glared at his cousin "do not mention that retched hanyu's name again"

Edoksu gave a curt nod "as you wish, but tell me, is Kagome that human who dresses strangely?"

Sesshoumaru looked the other way "she is"

This caught the eastern lord's interest "so how did she come upon traveling with you?"

"We stuck a deal," he admitted, he knew he could get past his cousin and he couldn't flat out lie either "Rin was ill and she offered to help"

"What did she want from you?" Edoksu asked, easing into his chair more "money or perhaps sexual pleasure from a taiyoukai?"

Sesshoumaru gave a sharp growl "bit your tongue!" he would never stoop so low as to please a human sexually. Also he was still a virgin, but no one knew that. Everyone thought of him as a gorgeous youkai that went to bed with women, but no woman lived to see the light of day or to mention they had graced his bed. A rather large rumour, but a total lie

Edoksu gave a casual shrug "then what did she want in return for helping Rin?"

"A place to stay" came Sesshoumaru's flat response.

Edoksu hadn't been expecting that answer. What human would talk with Sesshoumaru? Then again, what human would strike a deal with the lord? Edoksu knew well enough that Sesshoumaru despised humans to every amount possible and even killed any that crossed his path. But here was obviously a new Sesshoumaru, this one kept a human child and was letting another one stay at his castle. "Why did she want a place to stay?"

Sesshoumaru had to smirk at that question "it seems my brother has been quite the playboy"

"How so?"

"According to Kagome, he's been neglecting her to spend time with a dead wench who sealed him to a tree 52 years ago" Sesshoumaru explained

Edoksu frowned and shook his head "what a foolish boy, even I can sense she is very different from other humans. She seems like a very nice and caring girl. I know she is human and I have a mate as it is, but if I did not, I would consider taking her"

"Only you would consider taking a human as a mate, cousin" Sesshoumaru pointed out.

Edoksu gave a slight shrug "I am not the only youkai who'd take a human, there are many demons who would take a human as a mate"

Sesshoumaru glared "but few high class youkai" he then turned to leave "I refuse to discuss these issues with you any further, I shall retire for the night" and with that he left the room.

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Oooo, sorry to leave it at this, but well….no, sorry got no good excuses. So uum, here are the translations and I'll have a new chapter up very soon….possibly in a couple days, depending how many reviews I get…hint, hint

Youkai- demon

Jiji- old man

Hai- yes

Nani- what

Kitsune- fox demon

Hanyu- half demon