Chapter 26 – You Can Only Hide it For So Long…
Kagome and Micah approached the building, a relatively new structure with a modern glass and steel construction. A large sign out front read "Sugawara Security Technologies"
"We're breaking into this place?" Micah asked.
"Yup," came the short reply.
"What for? This company isn't connected with Information Front, is it?"
"Nope."
"Is this personal? Some vendetta I don't know about?"
"Nope."
"Business related then?"
"Yup."
"Will you cut that out!" he quietly exclaimed.
"Nope," she giggled in reply as he soundlessly sighed in an exaggerated manner. "All right, all right, quit your whining. Sugawara Loki asked me to do some evaluations of his security system."
"Oh I see, a freelance job then?"
"Yup."
Micah glared.
Ignoring his expression Kagome continued. "So, this time we leave no trace we were even here. I want to see how long it takes them to notice something is missing."
"I love it when we don't leave any traces," Micah sighed as he put an arm around her shoulders.
"So do I Micah, so do I," she grinned. "Now, here's what I want you to do…"
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
An hour later when she had removed some documents from Loki's personal safe and deposited them elsewhere, Kagome and Micah were sitting in one of the higher branches of goshinboku; reminiscing and enjoying each others company.
"Well that was fun," Micah sighed, deciding it was time to stop discussing an incident from a year ago when Kagome had talked him into getting his head stuck in a folding chair.
"Uh huh," she smiled, letting that one slide in favor of teasing him about something else. "I was particularly entertained by your breaking into the lunch room vending machine to nick a couple of snacks before we left."
"Yeah, well, I could smell these all the way down the hall," he said, popping another of his plundered soy crisps into his mouth. "It's hard to find some of this stuff in the States. Besides which, I'm hungry."
"You ate just a couple of hours ago!" she said incredulously.
"But not much!" he defended himself. "I could hardly do justice to my appetite with Taisho staring at me as if he was considering how much of my body he could melt with his acid before I actually died. I know that look; I've seen it many a time before."
"Speaking of which," she continued, trying not to laugh at the shivers he'd gotten remembering Sesshoumaru's expression, "Didn't you say you had an idea as to why he's been like that? I thought he actually liked you."
"Usually he does, but Sesshoumaru never reacts kindly to anyone moving in on his territory," he said sagely.
"So he's all ornery because you're staying at his home?" Kagome asked in confusion. "If that's the case then why'd he object to your coming home with me?"
"It's not that I'm in his home, it's that I'm in his home with you."
"Oh very funny, ha ha!" she snorted.
"I'm serious!" Micah defended.
"That can't be right, that'd mean he was actually jealous!"
"Of course he's jealous, that's the whole daggum point!"
"I don't believe you," Kagome said as she folded her arms in a stubborn manner and leaned back against the truck.
"You should. Why else do you think he was all tense tonight?"
"He's always tense!" she argued back.
"Was he like this on the way to get Inuyasha and Kikyou?"
Kagome looked thoughtful. "No. Actually, he was pretty calm. I was the one who freaked out and he had to calm me down."
"You freaked out?" Now it was Micah's turn to look incredulous. "I've never seen you loose it on a mission. What happened?"
"Well they were pretty far away," she explained. "So the only way to get there quick enough was to fly."
"So? Big deal! You do fine in choppers and jets so long as you have a parachute."
Kagome laughed somewhat bitterly at that. "True, but this time there was no chopper, no jet, and no parachute. When I say that we flew, I mean that Sesshoumaru flew the two of us on his cloud thingermajig."
"And you survived!"
Kagome nodded.
"And he survived?"
"Obviously," she smirked.
"Well," he narrowed his yes and stared at her. "You don't look like you're bothered all that much by the memory. I think there's a hidden meaning in that. It's almost as if you, dare I even say it, trust him?" He winked and nudged her with his elbow.
"Oh shut up," she griped. "It was horrible; I made a complete fool of myself. First I was screaming and trying to strangle him, then I was clinging so tightly I was surprised he could even breathe, and then when we did land I threw up in the bushes. Plus, as if that wasn't enough, he picks me up to carry me to a stream where I could wash my face and he… he…" Her face paled. "Oh Kami!"
"What?" Micah asked curiously.
"Oh…CRAP! Ohcrapohcrapohcrapohcrapohcrapohcraaaaaap!" She looked as if she was cornered by a pack of ravening, rabid lions.
"What!"
"I think I agreed to let Sesshoumaru train me!" she gulped.
"Huh?" He asked with a raised brow.
"When I was splashing my face with water to calm down he said, 'You do realize we're going to have to work on that?' And I nodded. I AGREED!" she screeched. "I'm so dead…"
Micah burst out laughing, almost falling backwards out of the tree in his mirth. "Oh man! He got you good! We both know there's no way that was just a casual remark. You've got to hand it to him, he's a wily SOB when he needs to be!"
"My life is over," Kagome groaned.
"Look at it this way," he replied cheerfully. "Technically you only agreed to let him help you get over your fear of heights…although he'll twist your response and his intent into all kinds of torture."
"How could he do that?" she whined piteously. "One minute he's being patient, considerate…heck I'd even say he was downright sweet compared to his normal self. Then two seconds later he's…"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Micah interrupted, making a 't' sign with his hands. "Back the inu-truck up! Did you just say that Sesshoumaru was sweet!"
A look of horror came over her features. "NO!"
"Yes you did!" he said in his hooting laughter.
"Did not! Did not, did not, DID NOT!"
"Did too!" His laughter grew to almost hysterical.
"I'm warning you Micah," she said soberly.
"You think he sweeeeeet!" he mocked. "You want to daaaate him! You want to hooooold him! You want to huuuug him! You want to smoooooch him!"
"I'm serious Micah, you're on thin ice!" she growled.
"Kaggy and Sesshy sittin' in a tree," he sang. "K-I-S-S-I…"
POW!
Kagome punched Micah in the face with such force that not only was he sent sailing out of goshinboku, but the cracking of bones was quite audible as well.
"Why you little!" he snarled, spitting out blood after starting to heal his jaw.
"I told you to shut it!" she snapped back. "Quit talking trash if you don't like the way I react." She was now standing on her branch, balled fists resting on her hips.
"I call it like I see it, sister!" he retorted, wiping blood from his mouth along his sleeve.
"Then you, Micah dear, are in obvious and dire need of glasses."
"You know denial aint just a river in Egypt, Kags."
"You looking for another beating, Micah?" she smirked. "Just keep talking and your search will be over."
An answering grin crept along his bruised face. "You wanna piece a' me?" he said with a phony Italian accent. "You wanna a PIECE a' ME?"
"Oh I'll take more than a piece, Angel Boy," she said, smiling wickedly.
"I'm not scared!" Micah swaggered cockily to stand under her branch. "But whaddya say we make this interesting?"
"Name you terms, Peters," she smirked. This was going to be fun.
A casual observer would worry that they were truly angry with each other; but those who'd worked with the two knew that their verbal sparring was simply a warm up to the physical sparing they loved to indulge in. After all, it was special person who would beat the snot out of you only to take you out for dinner afterwards as if you'd merely played a game of racquetball.
"Strength and healing powers only, none of your miko tricks, and none of my funny business either."
Kagome laughed. "You won't last thirty seconds against me without you little abilities. I'll take you down in no time you big headed, ego inflated, crap for brains blonde in a bottle!"
"Bring it on you thumb-sucking, baby faced, undersized Kikyou wannabe!" he sniggered.
Kagome dove for Micah. As her hands reached his shoulders she tucked herself into a ball, allowing for just the right leverage to throw him across the yard.
Micah, fully expecting this, went into a crouch so that as he went sliding away he was on his feet and ready to retaliate. Using his youkai speed he raced up to her and threw a punch at her left kidney. She dodged, grabbed his neck, and used the momentum of his punch against him, bringing his head down just low enough to elbow him in the back of the neck as she simultaneously kneed his groin.
Even though he was groaning in pain Micah managed to grab her upper arm and throw her into a full body slam against a nearby tree. As he drew her back to repeat the procedure she flung out an arm to kind of embrace the trunk. This time when he shoved her forward she merely sling-shot around the tree to come back behind him. In the blink of an eye Micah was ready and waiting for her, his fist making its way toward her neck.
Despite the quickness of his maneuvers Kagome was able to keep pace with him; a fact that surprised and delighted him. 'Her speed is increased since the change,' he thought, just as she threw her own punch. Her left fist met his right one head on.
She sensed the bones in his arms shatter even as she felt her own do the same.
"OOOOWWWWWW!" they both howled as they leapt away from each other.
"That was mean!...It's your fault!...Is not!...Shut up!...I mean it!...Knock it off!...YOU'RE DEAD!" they shouted at each other in unison, their volume rising with each statement.
Despite the fierce verbal battle, both took a few minutes to heal their arms enough so that they could at least use them again. After all, mending bones, restructuring tendons and muscles, and in Kagome's case getting her shoulder back in its socket, couldn't be done in the blink of an eye.
When both were, for the most part, whole again they shook their hands out and dove for each other once more.
"I'm right about Sesshoumaru you know," Micah called out as he aimed a sweep kick at her ankles. "He IS jealous!"
Flipping away from the attack she replied, "And just what makes you think so?"
"How does he love thee, let me count the ways!" he sniggered before having to quickly dodge another attack aimed for his manhood. "Let's see, he stooped to playing your game by your rules…"
"And had fun doing it too!" she called, bending over backwards to avoid a kick aimed at her jaw. Just because they were having a conversation didn't mean the fighting was going to subside. They carried on with both activities, exchanging blows and retorts with equal measure.
"He let you call the OOF shots when you guys went after Inuyasha and Kikyou!"
"He had to, I knew what to OUCH do!"
"He's been growling and going red-eyed at any male who comes within a ten foot radius of you all SHIT night!"
"He's always UGH ticked off like that!"
"He asked OW you to stay SON OF A in his home!"
"That's only because he thinks OOMPH I can't take care of myself!"
"That.Is.It!" Micah stepped away from the fight and a second later Kagome was hanging upside down in midair, fifteen feet from the ground.
"Hey!" she hollered. "That's against the rules you cheater! You were the one who said no tricks in the first place and here you are messing with gravity! Cheater cheater cheater!" She shook her fist angrily at him.
"Alright Kagome," he said with forced patience. "I'm about to be your friend and take the time to explain things to your stubborn little miko butt."
"You know in Swedish the word friend is synonymous with 'cheating twerp' right?" she snapped.
"Gah! Will you listen to me for just one minute!"
Kagome folded her arms and adopted a stubborn, ramrod-straight posture, albeit an upside down one.
"Good! Now if you would have thought twice about your snippy little retorts then you would have realized you were only strengthening my argument. So he had fun playing your game; Sesshoumaru never has fun! His idea of fun is success. That he could even let himself go and enjoy the chase is a big thing."
"Well I don't think…"
"SHOOSH!" Micah commanded as he made a pincer gesture with his hand. "Now, about rescuing the lovebirds; just because you knew a good way to go about things doesn't mean he didn't. If he'd been flying at top speed he could have retrieved both of them and gotten them back to you in time to save them, if that's what he wanted. Now, he's known you what, a couple of months? Well it took a couple of years before he let Kikyou make any decisions whatsoever, let alone lead a whole mission. He did it because it was important to you."
"Still I…"
"THIRDLY, Sesshoumaru is not typically on edge all the time. He's only going beserk because you're around. Before you came into his life he was always cool and calm. Why do you think Inuyasha calls him Icepick?"
"Uhhh…"
"And FINALLY, you ought to know that you are the only human aside from Rin that he has ever asked to stay in his home."
"He invited my whole family!" Kagome argued, though it was in a much more subdued voice.
"To get you to say yes and stay!" he sighed in exasperation.
Ponderously, almost as if it were a question, Kagome mumbled "only because he thinks I can't take care of myself, he thinks I'm an idiot."
"Sesshoumaru isn't stupid, Kagome," Micah replied, rolling his eyes. "He knows perfectly well you could kick anyone's ass. It just seems that for some reason he's determined to be the one to take care of you."
Micah's comment reminded her of something Sesshoumaru had said to her, 'you could have killed anyone in that school tonight.' Perhaps he did have some faith in her abilities after all?
"I'm so confused," Kagome muttered, shaking her head.
"And so is he, Kagome! It's been centuries since he hasn't had his life in anything but perfectly controlled order. Sure he has Rin now, and that's a big step, but you have to admit that as exuberant as she is their relationship is a lot less complicated."
"Who died and made you Dr. Phil?" she demanded with a hint of laughter. "I'm the psychologist here, not you."
"You know how it is, the cobbler's children go barefoot and all that. Plus, you have rotten self-assessment skills," he smiled.
"I think I liked you better when the only things you talked about were college football and fighting," she said flatly.
"Well then you shouldn't have spent so many hours yakking to me to about your feminine touchy feely crap. It's your own dang fault and now you'll just have to live with it," he chuckled.
Thinking that it was time to change tactics Kagome tried another route to distract him from interrogating her on her feelings for the taiyoukai. "You!" she accused. "You married people, you're like vampires or something; you're always trying to turn everyone else into what you are. Just because you're all committed and in love you think everyone else should be too!"
"You know perfectly well that I'm engaged, not married," he replied dryly.
"Same difference," she pouted. "Hey, speaking of which; why would Sesshoumaru be jealous of you? Doesn't he know you're engaged to Marissa?"
Micah gave her a perfectly schooled look of boyish innocence.
"Michael James Peters you are deliberately stirring him up!" she bellowed.
"So? It's fun! Besides, Miss Pot-Calling-the-Kettle-Black, you are not one to lecture where annoying Sesshoumaru is concerned."
"This is not the time to be pushing his buttons!"
"Actually I think my timing is perfect," he said calmly with an all-knowing expression. "Besides, I'm not the one who kissed him."
"Do not change the subject!" she ordered.
"You did, just a minute ago," he countered.
"My head hurts," she muttered, rubbing her temples.
"Probably because of all the blood draining to it from being upside down the last five minutes or so," he said knowledgably.
"So put me down!"
"Ha! As if I would. Not till you concede my point of view."
"Fine then," she said with a bit of a scary look. "If you won't let me down, then I won't let you up."
A deep rumbling filled the air as Micah felt the earth beneath him begin to tremble.
"What the…? Why is the ground shaking Kagome? Kagome?" he asked warily. When he saw that her eyes were once again white, and he could smell wet forest and feel her powers spike, he knew he was in trouble. He tried to leap into goshinboku for safety but he found he couldn't lift his feet.
The earth around him was beginning to creep up his legs, solidifying into stone and enclosing his muscles in a skin tight embrace so he couldn't move. As the level quickly rose to is chest he called out, "Nice move! Too bad I'm strong enough to break through!"
The rock surrounding his body began to crack until he was distracted by Kagome yelling "Not so fast Micah!"
In another moment the rock was glowing pink.
"Hey!" he cried indignantly. "No OUCH fair!"
"Surrender?" she called back as the rock reached his chin.
"Never!" he shot back and he sent her further up into the air.
"Aaaagh!" she screamed from fifty feet up.
"Aaaagh!" he screamed as the purification in the rock intensified.
Like a pair of two year olds engaged in a battle of wills they pushed each other's limits till Kagome was 150 feet in the air and Micah was beginning to reek of burning flesh.
"Truce?" he shouted out in desperation.
"Fine, let me down!" she screamed, unable to keep the panic in her voice completely at bay.
"Count of three?" His keen sight was able to distinguish the frantic nods up in the sky. "Okay, one, two, three!"
She screamed as she fell and he used his last ounce of strength to break out of the now cool rock and catch her.
"OOOMPH!"
Well, almost catch her.
"Ooow," she groaned from her position on top of him. "That got a little out of hand."
"Ya think" he hissed, feeling her hot skin against his burns. "Gerroff me will ya? These things sting bad enough without you twitching on them," he joked half heartedly.
"Be still and I'll fix them."
Knowing better than to try and fight Kagome off when she wanted to nurse someone he remained on the ground and felt all of his purification burns heal, he couldn't smell the burnt flesh anymore, but the lingering mint of her miko power would hang around him for another few hours. Panting, she fell back against him.
"Hey Kags, I've got an idea," he muttered, sitting up and dragging her with him.
"It'd better be good," she mumbled.
"You can control the elements right?" She nodded stiffly. "So, just cool the water in your body and you'll feel better. You'll be like a human icepack," he grinned.
Taking his advice she focused on the 70 of her body that was water and cooled it. Immediately the pain dulled and she felt as if she could breath easier. "Ahhh, nice one Micah me dear. Now lay down."
"Why?"
"Because I want to lay down and I plan on using your tummy fat as a pillow," she said evenly.
"I DO NOT HAVE FAT ON MY STOMACH!" he protested as fiercely as Miroku protested being called old.
"Whatever squishy, just do what I say," she giggled as she pretended not to hear his mutterings of "ungrateful, mocking little twit."
"Oh man," she whistled in wonder once she had settled down, the back of her head resting on his stomach as they laid in a kind of "T" shape on the ground.
"What?" he asked curiously.
"Sesshoumaru is completely freaked out about something," she replied.
"You can tell from this distance?" he asked amazed.
She only nodded.
After a few minutes where neither spoke, during which Micah wisely held back the questions he was dying to ask, Kagome finally broke the silence.
"Do you think Sesshoumaru is really jealous?" she asked in a small voice.
His reply was to grope her face.
"Hey! What gives?" she laughed, trying to push his hand away.
"Well from my current vantage point I can't see if you're blushing so I'm trying to feel if your face is heating up," he explained.
"O hardy har har," she snorted. "Seriously though…" she added nervously.
"Gee Kags I don't know. Maybe I should pass him a note in math class; 'Dear Sess-chan, are you crushing on Kagome, check yes or no.'"
WHACK!
"OW! Whad is id wid you an violence tonide?" he asked holding his nose. "Is dad why you flibbed oud and almode fwyde me, becaused you're afraid I mide be righ?"
Deciding that she didn't want to waste anymore time with petty arguments she swallowed her pride and fessed up.
"Well it's a scary idea!" she professed. "If he is interested in me I don't think I'll be able to handle him like all the others, he's too smart for that. And quit trying to give me a guilt trip with that phony voice, I didn't hit you that hard."
"Okay," he sniffed as he dropped his hand from his face. "I'll overlook the implied insult because I can't complain that after a mere ten dates with me you hooked Marissa and I up, for which I'm truly grateful for just incase I haven't mentioned it today…" he trailed off wistfully.
"Yes, yes, I know you love her and all but can we get back to me now?" she asked, banging her head against his ribs to get his attention.
"Fine, fine, okay," he sighed. "Truthfully? I don't think you should even consider trying to 'handle' Sesshoumaru, just as he seems to be learning the same thing about you."
"Well then what am I supposed to do with him?"
"For one, I'd say stop snapping at him for every suggestion he makes."
"I can't help it!" she cried. "I still feel like he's trying to boss me around and I can't stand that feeling. I thought I was getting over it a couple of days ago, but since waking up I've found I feel things even more strongly than before. The fear, the doubt, the frustration…"
"I know," he said softly. "But you can still make a decision about how you're going to react to him. Besides, I don't think he is being bossy. I think he's just trying to help. So, you followed his rules as an employee and Taisho Command, and he followed yours in the prank war. Now perhaps you two can try and compromise. Capiche?"
Kagome shifted around, grumbling.
"I'll assume that was you agreeing."
"I don't know if this is a good idea…" she said warily.
"Come on and grow a pair already!" he sighed in exasperation. "I know you're not completely indifferent since you kissed him." She looked like she was about to argue but he cut her off. "I'm not saying you move straight to making out in the coat closets with him, I'm just saying relax, give the guy a chance, and see where he leads you."
"Okay, assuming he's even capable of being interested in me as more than a Gaean Miko," and here it was her turn to keep Micah from interrupting, "I'm still not sure of what I want. I definitely know I don't fancy the idea of a man leading me all the time," she said distastefully.
"It doesn't have to be all the time," he assured her, rubbing her shoulder. "The key word from my advice was compromise. Sometimes you'll need to lead, sometimes he will, but hopefully if you loosen up and give it half a chance you'll both find you can work together most times. I know you feel like he doesn't approve of the way you handle things, but that is just because he's not familiar with it. He'll ease up a bit in time."
He felt Kagome give a big sigh, and nod against his side.
"Now be honest, aside from just getting along and working together, do you think you could ever be with him?"
"I'm not sure," she hedged. "I'm hesitant to spend so much time thinking about something I believe has little chance of happening. There are things I hate about him, like how he's a know-it-all; but then there are things I love about him too, like how he loves Rin.
Speaking of whom, I totally lied to her earlier," she sighed. "I told her I didn't have a song for Sesshoumaru, when really I just didn't want to admit to all of the hours I'd spent picking out the perfect one for him. I believe he can be so close to perfect in some ways, but in others I don't know. It boils down to I'm scared as hell, because I see the potential for it to either work out like a love worthy of a fairy tale, or end in bitterness and hate. If we were to start down that road, and I'm not saying I want to" she quickly added, "there would be no middle ground or easy way out."
"Well that's the way it usually is. You two are extraordinary people, so you'll never have anything ordinary in life. You said how you feel fear and frustration even more strongly now, well what about anticipation and affection? The great the risk the greater the payoff ya know. The question is, do you think it's worth it to take a shot at it? And if Sesshoumaru isn't worth a shot, then who on earth it?" he asked simply.
"Disregarding the fact that that was two questions, I'm beginning to think you've been playing matchmaker all along," she said suspiciously.
"Perhaps I have Kagome," he chuckled. "You're not the only one who gets to do it, and it's time you both found your companions. The struggle you're going to be facing soon won't be such a burden if you face them together."
"I never should have let you borrow my 'Family Relations' textbooks," she joked.
"Funny, Marissa keeps saying it's the best thing I've ever done outside of proposing to her," he laughed. "C'mon, let's head back before he hunts us down and kills me."
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
It was very late. In fact it was so late that is was now early; but Mia Higurashi was still awake. She sat quietly in the room Sesshoumaru had given her for the evening, thinking about her two daughters.
Both Kikyou and Kagome were in very precarious positions. Her eldest was the recent victim of an attack by an old enemy who seemed to have partnered with a new and dangerous threat. Tsubaki, or those under her control, had overcome not only Kikyou but Inuyasha as well – not the easiest task in the world.
True, the pair were now stronger than ever with the new bodies Kagome had given them, but it would take time for a miko to adjust to being in a demon's body no matter how expertly she'd been changed.
Kagome too, was changing, and in a very painful and prolonged way. At times her abilities and spirit seemed limitless, and yet at other times Kagome would seem weakened by her own insecurity over who she was.
Both had heavy burdens to bear, and a monumental battle ahead of them. However, even though Kagome was the more powerful of the two, it was she that Mia worried over more.
Kagome and Kikyou both gave so much of themselves to others, and Mia could not be more proud; but unlike Kikyou, Kagome had yet to learn to take back. Kikyou had accepted Inuyasha into her life as a partner, helpmate, and father to her future children. Kikyou had found her equal, someone whom she could freely serve and be served by without reservation. In just a few hours the two would be bonded together in a way that would only strengthen and deepen throughout their long lives.
Kagome, on the other hand, seemed irrationally determined to travel her road alone. She was the most capable and loving friend anyone could ask for, but she would never let herself be more than that. Kouga was only the latest in a growing line of men whom Kagome would befriend, become very close with, and then suddenly somehow foist off onto another woman. Mia had to hand it to her, Kagome inevitably seemed to always pick the perfect girl as everyone she had been with in the past was now married or engaged. But like Miroku, she worried that Kagome would never do anything else.
Shippou had been a miraculous blessing. He had given Kagome the perfect opportunity to openly give and receive an idealistic love. The two were was close as any mother and child could be, and together they had helped each other to progress. Shippou's magical capability was beyond even what some full grown kitsunes could do, and Kagome had learned how to partner her own ki to work with another besides her birth family's.
However, as wonderful and devoted a son as he was, it could still not take the place of a husband or mate. Kagome needed to find her equal just as Kikyou had. She needed someone strong, someone who grasped what her destiny in life could be, someone who wouldn't be threatened by how powerful she was, someone who was deeply loyal, someone who could both stand up to her stubbornness as well as give in to her instinct, someone who realized that despite her greatness she was still a human at heart and needed to be cared for and looked after, someone who….
There was a brief but loud pounding on the bedroom door before it was flung open.
Mia looked on with questioning eyes as Sesshoumaru strode into the sitting area where she was situated and surreptitiously placed himself in the chair opposite her.
He did not look happy.
His arms were folded across his chest and he was glaring at Mia as if she was somehow the cause of whatever thorn he had stuck in his side.
"My dear Sesshoumaru what a pleasant surprise," she said, her manners unfailing.
The taiyoukai was silent.
"Thank you again for your hospitality towards all of my family tonight."
Still silent.
"And for being so gracious as to allow the ceremonies to take place in your home."
The dog demon seemed to have completely lost his speech capabilities.
Mia was puzzled, until she realized she had only seen Sesshoumaru in this kind of state when he'd been dealing with her youngest.
"What did Kagome do now?" she asked with a knowing smile.
"She snuck out," he growled.
"Snuck out?"
"Through her bathroom window."
Mia wondered if steam would shortly be issuing from his elegantly pointed ears. "Perhaps she merely went for a walk."
"She is up to something she should not be," he retorted petulantly.
"Are you so sure? Besides, I do not think you can quite term the situation as 'sneaking out' when she isn't breaking any rules by leaving," Mia reminded him gently.
"She deliberately deceived me!" he growled again.
"Are you surprised?" she grinned.
Sesshoumaru gave her a cold stare. "One would have thought that given her recent experiences she would choose to remain with suitable companions until all threats had been identified and eliminated."
"I doubt that Kagome would be doing anything too risky on the eve of her sister's wedding," she replied. "And what do you mean by suitable companions? Is she with someone unsuitable?"
Sesshoumaru's gaze suddenly became slightly red and it determinedly fixed itself on the floor. "She has run off with the American."
"Micah?" Mia questioned uncertainly. Sesshoumaru and Micah had worked together for years and years, why would he not call the man by his last name at least? Unless of course…
"Hai, Micah," he snorted derisively.
'Oh kami above, save us all!' Mia inwardly prayed when she realized that the slight protectiveness Sesshoumaru had been displaying seemed to have blossomed into full blown jealousy. 'Then again, this could be the answer to my prayers!'
Secretly she had wondered if one day the taiyoukai and her daughter might form an attachment, but it had always seemed like such an unrealistic fantasy. However, if Sesshoumaru was truly jealous then there might be hope of the two of them going beyond merely thinking of the other as intriguing. But then again, even if Sesshoumaru was interested there was still Kagome to consider…
'One giant, near insurmountable hurtle overcome, one possibly even bigger one to go…' she sighed.
"Well?" Sesshoumaru broke into her thoughts.
"Well what Sesshoumaru?"
He looked incredulous. "Do not you have anything to say for your daughter's behavior? Is there nothing you wish express concerning the inadvisability of her venturing out un-chaperoned while she's injured and in the company of a demon who has quite the reputation for being injurious to the integrity of beautiful women?"
"Sesshoumaru, while your concern is greatly appreciated, I hardly think it necessary. Kagome isn't technically injured, and I am certain that Micah would never hurt her. He has always been quite protective and caring towards her. The two work really well together," she smiled, trying to rub a little salt in his wounds.
"Hn."
"Besides which, trying to stop Kagome from doing something she wished to do is never a good idea. Not only are you unlikely to succeed, but you are more likely to alienate her further in the process," she explained.
"The stubbornness of your younger daughter has not escaped me," he drawled.
"She needs freedom Sesshoumaru. Consider looking at it from the angle of nature. Is the earth contained? Does nature bow down to anyone else? Mankind may try to tame the earth but in the end they never have control. Time and the forces of nature always win out. As a sister to the earth Kagome has the same unconquerable spirit."
"Hn."
"However, as I am sure you have begun to see, she has also inherited the earth's need to nurture. You are unlikely to find Kagome's equal in strength of will, but you'll never find another who can and will give as much and as freely as she."
"Hn."
"And the stubbornness has it's usefulness as well. When others would find a task impossible, Kagome will just focus that much more on finding a way to complete it. It is this quality we have to thank for the fact there is to be a wedding in a few hours."
"Why does this Sesshoumaru feel as though this conversation has been spoken before?"
"It is very similar to the one we had after Kagome's birthday," she reminded him.
"Do you think me incapable of remembering, Mia-san?"
"There is very little I think you incapable of, Sesshoumaru-sama. But I also believe that both your and Kagome's lives would run smoother if you could stop seeing each other as a threat and begin looking at each other as an opportunity."
"And what kind of opportunity are we supposed to find?" he sneered.
"An opportunity to become more than either of you are. If you learn to understand and work with each other, if you can accept each other for who you are and not try to change the other, then there is nothing you will not be able to do after that."
Sesshoumaru studied the woman across from himself. He thought she had some kind of ulterior motive in mind, and he found it a little unsettling. He could not deny the wisdom of her remarks, but it was the unspoken insinuations which he felt were likely to come back to haunt him.
"Please Sesshoumaru-sama, if for no other reason than to humor an aging woman, please do not confront Kagome when she returns. She will most likely know that you knew of her escapade, but tomorrow will be much more peaceful for everyone if you do not react to it."
"I had no intentions of causing an argument," he defended himself quickly. Really, did the woman think him so petty?
"Unfortunately, the intention to cause an argument between you and Kagome is not necessary for the development of one," she smiled.
"I will be busy running the ceremonies, I doubt I shall even have time to speak with your younger daughter."
"Thank you, Sesshoumaru."
"Hn."
As Sesshoumaru made to leave the room he suddenly felt his senses go on high alert. He looked to Mia and saw that she too was uncomfortable.
"Kagome is frightened by something," he growled. "I knew that idiot couldn't take care of her." His anger was rising exponentially, and he was very near going after the pair when Mia stopped him.
"I do not think it is serious, Sesshoumaru. Perhaps we should wait for her to return. This is not the utter terror of a few days ago, I think she is merely spooked," she reasoned. "It's a bit strong, but then with her transformation beginning I believe she'll be a little more easy to pick up on."
"How can you be sure?" he asked angrily. "It feels to me as though she is panicking, her heart rate has increased dramatically as well."
"You can sense that?" she asked in astonishment.
"Hai, I find myself becoming more and more sensitive to your daughter's powers," he explained. Seeing the look of hopeful curiosity he tried to excuse that last remark. "It is most unpleasant," he lied.
"Oh," she answered, her face a falling a little. "Still, she does not need our assistance. Shippou would sound the alarm if she was in any great danger. Those two are linked in a way that even I have yet to figure out."
As if to prove her point Shippou zoomed into the room and made a flying leap for his grandmother's arms. What he had not counted on was Sesshoumaru catching him mid air.
"Whoa, nice catch Sesshoumaru-sama, Micah certainly can't catch me when I'm going that fast," the tiny kit grinned up at the larger inu. Sesshoumaru gave him a sharp glare in return but he seemed unfazed.
"And just what are you doing out of bed young man?" Mia said sternly.
Shippou gulped nervously and disappeared in a puff of purple smoke only to reappear clinging to Sesshoumaru's shoulders while peeking out from behind his head. "Uh, I came to tell you not to worry about Mum," he said with his best innocent expression.
"You see Sesshoumaru-sama? I told you Kagome is fine," she smiled even as the inu demon snatched the kitsune from behind him.
Dangling the kit upside down by his ankle he gave him an even sharper glare. "How is it that you are so certain?"
"Easy!" the kit proclaimed, disappearing again and reappearing this time sitting on the inu's foot while clinging to his calf and looking up at him. "I know exactly what she is doing," he grinned again. Kitsunes love any excuse to grin, it just lies in their nature.
Sesshoumaru snatched him a third time, now holding his up by his ponytail. "And what would that be?"
Another two pops, some more purple smoke and Shippou was on his head. "She and Micah are fighting at the shrine!"
'How does Kagome get this infernal kit to hold still!' the taiyoukai wondered in frustration and he once again grabbed said nuisance. "Why are they fighting?" he demanded, firmly grasping his query in both hands.
"Beats me," Shippou replied, looking thoughtful. "He probably started teasing her, then she teases him back, then she usually hits him, then they make fun of each other some more, then they fight, and Mum wins. She ALWAYS wins," he bragged. "He hasn't won a fight since the night she introduced Micah to Marissa. It's kinda how like she just did to Kouga the other day."
Sesshoumaru's head was spinning with all of the details. "What did she do to Kouga?"
"Mom beat him in a race this week and conned him into taking out this other really pretty ookami right after. She's some northern clan leader's granddaughter or something, her name is Ayame and she did these totally sugoi stunt tricks on her bike! There was this one…"
"Who is Marissa?" the inu interrupted. He had no desire to hear anything else regarding Kouga once he was satisfied the wolf was out of the picture.
"Don't you know anything Sesshoumaru?" Shippou rolled his eyes. "Marissa is Micah's fiancée. They're getting married at Christmas and I get to be the ring-bearer," he announced proudly.
"Nani!" said a startled Sesshoumaru.
"Jeez," the kit sighed. "Mom and Micah had gone out a couple of times, that was couple years ago mind you, and then one night Mum had her friend from school over, that was Marissa. She's a deer youkai, very fast you know, even I can't outrun her. And Mum and Micah got into one of their play fights, and for the first time Mum totally kicked his trash!"
"Language Shippou!" Mia chastened, though inwardly she was desperately trying not to laugh at the expression of dawning understanding on Sesshoumaru's face.
"Sorry Grandma!" he called. "So anyway, Micah was all mopey and Marissa ended up taking him out to cheer him up. Now whenever Mum beats him he always pouts until he sees Marissa 'cause he says she always 'makes it all better.' Ne, Sesshoumaru," there was another puff of smoke and this time Shippou was standing on the taiyoukai's waist while clinging to the front of his shirt and staring intensely into his eyes, their faces a mere inch and half apart. "What do you think she does to make it all better?" he asked, his tail twitching in curiosity behind him.
Mia couldn't hold it in any longer. She burst into a fit of laughter as she watched the shock spread across the taiyoukai's face. He hadn't been prepared for anything he'd heard in the last five minutes. And that last part seemed to catch him off guard for once.
Luckily for the inu his experience with Rin had taught him just how to handle such situations. An instant later he'd snapped out of his surprise and made his move.
"You are going back to bed," he announced as he tucked the kit firmly beneath his arm and strode from the room.
On the way back to the kit's bedroom Sesshoumaru was subjected to yet another round of Shippou's style of hyper conversation.
"Hey Sesshoumaru, can Rin have breakfast with us? We're having toast! It's really fun, we always sing this really funny song about toast, and I get to use spoons to play percussion on the toaster, and Mum and Micah dance around the kitchen. Hey, why don't you have breakfast with us too! And since you're there you can make eggs!"
"What in your limited existence makes you think I would ever do such a thing?" Sesshoumaru found himself asking. There was something about this kit that was disarming, rather like his Rin.
"Cause I think Mum should be eating more than toast, and eggs are her favorite. She's gotten kinda skinny lately, I can feel her ribs when I hug her, but if I tell her she needs to eat more, she teases me, and if Micah does she'll just hit him," he explained.
"And what makes you think she'll listen to me?" the inu snorted. "Perhaps you have not noticed, kitsune, but your mother is not particularly fond of my advice."
"You just have to be sneaky. Just say you're making eggs for Rin, because you want her to have a good breakfast, and while you're at it, make lots of eggs. Eggs are Mum's favorite you know, did I tell you that? She won't be able to resist. She'll do it if you're nice about it, she likes you."
This proclamation actually halted the inu is his steps. Shippou was promptly yanked from his position under Sesshoumaru's arm to being held directly in front of his rapidly heating golden gaze.
"You will explain."
Shippou blinked, then grinned again. Was the taiyoukai really that clueless? How many things was he going to have to explain? And weren't adults supposed to know everything? He sighed, Rin seriously needed to explain some of the facts of life regarding girls to Sesshoumaru, he seemed to be hopeless.
"Well we're connected by this thing that Mum did a couple months after she adopted me right?" Before Sesshoumaru could answer he continued. "So that way, she can always let me know how she's doing, what she's feeling, and likewise she can check up on me. Well I, being the smart kid that I am, because I really am quite smart you know…"
'Kitsunes and their pride,' Sesshoumaru noted briefly before focusing his attention again.
"Well I kind of figured out how to work it so that if I'm around her, and I concentrate, I can usually tell how she's feeling. And let me tell you, whenever she's around you, she feels reeeeeeeally weird." He was grinning again, as if he had just revealed the greatest secret.
"I make your mother feel weird? That is not synonymous with attachment kitsune," Sesshoumaru sighed.
"Sure it is!" he replied in an offended matter. "It means she's doesn't not like you. If she wasn't going to like you, she would definitely know by now, and her stomach wouldn't get fluttery whenever you two stare each other down. I think you should compliment her, girls like that you know."
Sesshoumaru blinked, did this young upstart just have the nerve to give he, the great Sesshoumaru, taiyoukai of the western lands and greatest demon of all Japan, advice about courting women!
"Compliment her about stuff that makes her, her." He lowered his voice in a conspiratorial manner, "that way you'll seem sincere!"
"You are the strangest kit I have ever come across," Sesshoumaru replied as he tucked Shippou back into bed.
"So are you gonna eat breakfast with us?" he asked hopefully.
"Rin may join you if she likes," he answered as he turned to go.
"Yeah but what about you?" the kit asked hopefully.
"We shall see," he replied. Sesshoumaru shut the door behind him, ignoring the grumbling kit's complaint about parents always trying to get out of giving kids a straight answer.
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
Ka was literally glowing with happiness. Miroku had married Inuyasha and Kikyou in a beautiful ceremony, and to the shock of many attendees, Sesshoumaru had given both them the markings of his clan.
In a ritual Kagome had never before witnessed, he used his acid claw to trace them on their faces and then healed the cuts with his jyaki, leaving both with a single stripe on each cheek and a smaller crescent moon. Kikyou's moon was facing the opposite direction as the brothers, "to symbolize the new moon, and the new blood that you bring to our lineage," Sesshoumaru had explained.
Shortly after the couple had left to "complete the process," but not without a request for their hasty return from Sesshoumaru. Honeymoon or no, there was still a very real and present threat against the two, and he wanted his clan where he could watch over them.
At the present moment Kagome was walking around the ballroom, enjoying the site of celebrating guests, as well as the happiness that was swirling in their auras. There were a few disgruntled people, mostly those who did not approve of mikos and demons mixing bloodlines, but they were wise enough to keep their silence.
Aside from the obvious power of Sesshoumaru's and Inuyasha's jyaki, may surprised at the amount of power among the Higurashi family as well.
Kagome's family had been periodically drawing power from her throughout the day. This served the dual purpose of both lessening how dramatically Kagome's power had grown, and also making the family as a whole seem more powerful. It was a perfect camouflage. This plan, coupled with Kagome's decision to wear brown contacts, kept her secret hidden from the prying gossips and enemies which may have been unknown and hidden among their guests.
It was still blatantly obvious that she had a unique and unparalleled aura, but the degree was toned down considerably and she felt free to move about and enjoy the party. There were still a good amount of questioning gazes and outright stares, but I wasn't anything she couldn't deal with.
The sound of laughter drew her attention to the opposite side of the room, and she saw that Shippou was entertaining some of her aunts and cousins with his tricks. Her son had been coddled and cooed over all day, loving every minute of it. In fact, he'd been in an almost uncontainably happy mood since she returned home; it was almost as if he'd gotten away with something, and she had her suspicions it had to do with a certain taiyoukai.
Sesshoumaru had unexpectedly joined them for breakfast, actually cooking for everyone. He'd been pleasant to her, polite to Micah, friendly with Shippou, and didn't make single negative comment when they'd proceeded to turn his kitchen into an impromptu music hall with their toast antics. (AN: If you're interested the lyrics for the toast song are at the end of the chapter.)
Then, later in the morning, he'd caught her on her own. She'd been walking towards her room to start getting ready and looking at her left hand, examining it carefully.
-flashback-
"Are you injured Kagome?" he asked simply.
"No, not really," she sighed. "It's just that I smashed my hand earlier this morning and in my haste to heal it I think a bone became misaligned. I'm going to have to re-break it, and I hate that." She made a face to indicate her disgust.
"Can I be of assistance?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh sure, you'd just love an excuse to be breaking my bones, wouldn't you?" she teased.
"Yes, I am quite brutal in that regard. Have you not been informed as much?"
His face remained impassive but his tone had a certain lilt to it.
"Did you just make a joke Sesshoumaru?" she asked with raised brows. She lifted her hand to his forehead. "Are you feeling okay? No one else has poisoned you have they?"
He took her hand from his forehead, but did not release it. "You are cold," he stated.
"Hai, Micah suggested I keep the water in my body cold so as to ease the pain. It's working rather well." She looked at the hand that he still held.
"I am glad that he has not proved himself completely useless this trip. I had my doubts earlier." His gaze lingered on her had as well. He began to lightly rub her ring finger. "You're scar has faded considerably, and the bone that is misaligned is this one is it not?"
"Yes," she said in a confused tone. 'What in the world is Sesshoumaru doing caressing my hand?' she wondered.
"My offer stands; will you allow me to aid you?" His eyes caught her own in a piercing gaze. Though he was asking about her hand they both knew that a lot more was riding on his offer.
"Oh, I uh, well…" she stammered. "I guess so, just don't try and do som…YOW!"
He'd quickly snapped the bone.
"You twit I wasn't ready!" she hollered, yanking her hand away and dancing around in pain.
"I was trying to save you the agony of anticipation," he said as he caught her arm and took her hand once again. "I will heal it now."
"What?" she asked dumbfounded. "Can you do that?" Her wonderment had caused her to stand still and she stared at him.
"As I was the one to inflict the damage, you must allow me to mend it," he explained. Before she could object he had already finished.
"Oooh," she shivered. "That felt wo…" she stopped herself and looked up at him, "weird. I've never been healed by a demon before." She flexed her hand and examined the finger closely. "It's good as new, kinda tingles still too."
"You see, my demand for perfection is not always a negative thing," he said with a slightly softer tone. "Are you alright now? Or shall I perhaps kiss it better as well. Rin has informed me that that is a necessary step in the healing process regardless of the injury."
"You are joking!" she laughed and she playfully gave him a shove.
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened slightly, but then narrowed in anticipation as he moved to retaliate.
"Uh, gotta go!" Kagome said quickly and she bolted behind her door and shut it. "Thanks you Sesshoumaru!" she called from the other side. The fact that her heart had sped up considerably when he last looked at her was not lost on either of them.
-end flashback-
Thinking of the taiyoukai and they way he'd looked at her this morning brought a small smile to her face. It hadn't been anger, or exasperation in his eyes, it was almost a kind of…interested anticipation. "Hmm, Sesshoumaru," she muttered, "what are you up to?"
In another part of the ballroom a certain inu cocked his head. 'Is she calling me?' he wondered. He politely ended to conversation he was having with a hawk youkai and made his way over to the woman who'd been occupying his thoughts so much. As he approached she turned to face him and smiled. It was a very pretty smile.
"Speak the devil's name and he shall appear," she said. "Though in your case I suspect your only true sin is being devilishly handsome, which fortunately you cannot help."
'She is teasing this Sesshoumaru?' he wondered, not sure if he should be pleased or annoyed. "I have observed that you take delight in making witty, sarcastic remarks," he said simply.
"Of course, sometimes I am my only hope for entertainment, and I can always count on myself to be amusing." Her smile widened into a grin.
The orchestra began a waltz and a sudden impulse took control of Sesshoumaru. He held out his hand in invitation. The gesture reminded Kagome of what had happened on Thursday.
"This isn't some ploy is it?" she asked a bit nervously, glancing at his clawed hand. "You're not being sneaky, making me think one thing while secretly this is some plan to get me up in the air again are you?" She began to wring her hands. "Because I can tell you, I've had enough of being up in the air already today thank you, and I…"
"Kagome," Sesshoumaru interrupted, taking her hands. "I give you my word that I have no plans to do anything other than dance."
"Oh, heh heh, alright then, but no funny business," she warned with mock severity.
"I shall leave all funny business up to you," he replied, taking her hand and leading her to the floor.
As the two began to dance neither could help but be aware of the whisperings around them.
"What a striking pair! Him so fair and she so dark…"
"Who is she? I've never seen her before but I swear I could sense her aura a mile away…"
"How sweet, he is condescending enough to dance with his sister-in-law…"
"I had no idea there was another Higurashi miko on the loose," a fat, aging bear youkai with white hair laughed. "Doesn't look like she minds youkai, think she might go out with me?"
This last comment caused Kagome to giggle and Sesshoumaru to draw her in closer to him. Deciding that he'd heard enough of others' insipid remarks he began his own conversation.
"I would compliment you and say that you are looking well, but I remember from our first evening that such things are not necessary, as you are more than aware of your own appeal," he remarked dryly.
"Aww, Sesshoumaru thinks I'm beautiful," she smiled.
"I will admit however that I was somewhat surprised by your apparel," he said, referring to the formal miko garb she was wearing. It, along with Shippou's clothes, bore the red and gold Higurashi crest; something he'd never seen her wear before.
She looked up at him, searching for signs of disapproval, but seeing only a kind of sincere interest she explained. "They were a gift from mother. She said it was time to let go of what was in the past, and time to cling to what was in the present. Besides, and I'm sure you're not unfamiliar with this, mother is not a person easily refused when she has her mind set on something."
"Hai, especially when she is right." Seeing Kagome stiffen slightly he explained. "I cannot pretend to understand your experience, but as the leader of my own clan I can appreciate your mother's efforts to solidify her own."
"Oh, I see," she replied. "I also agreed because Shippou deserved to recognized socially as one of the family."
"Hn, another thing which will no doubt add to your son's swagger."
"He does swagger, doesn't he?" Kagome smiled warmly. "But you have to admit, it is a very adorable swagger."
"Hn."
Kagome laughed and relaxed her form, going so far as to actually lean on Sesshoumaru's chest. He was rather surprised at her actions, but he would not be the one to tell her to stop.
For the rest of the dance they didn't speak, (except for a brief interlude where she giggled and pointed out the smitten look on Miroku's face as he lead Sango around the floor), merely enjoyed each other company more than either would ever admit to. In fact, when the fast past waltz they were dancing ended and a slower number began, Sesshoumaru did not release her and Kagome did not complain.
Sesshoumaru wanted to say something, but he was not sure of what. He wanted to make a gesture of good faith, to show that he was pleased with the fact that they were not at each others throats. How to do it without being too formal, or more familiar than he was willing at this point, eluded him.
Suddenly a wickedly grinning kitsune caught his eye. "COMPLIMENT HER!" Shippou mouthed in an exaggerated manner.
Sesshoumaru glared at him but he only smiled and turned back to Micah, who he was showing off for now that his aunts had moved on to gossiping with Gin.
"I heard you playing last night," he said softly.
"What?" she asked surprised, and blushing a bit. "I checked, you weren't anywhere near us!" Her tone was accusing.
"I have exceptional hearing," he explained. "I can hear anything that goes on in my home if there isn't any other interfering noise."
"Really?" she asked, amazed. "That's better than even…" she paled. 'If he can hear anything that means he heard me talking to Shippou! And even worse, Micah! What must he have thought!' She gulped and shifted her gaze to the floor.
"Are you alright?" Sesshoumaru asked with a knowing smirk that she missed.
"Fine!" she squeaked.
Recalling that he was supposed to be behaving himself he decided to let the opportunity to tease her go and return to the business of complimenting her. "You have a very unique style. Technically speaking you have some flaws…"
Her head shot up and she looked ready to snap at him.
"But your expressiveness is unmatched," he finished before she could start. "In fact, I found myself so quickly engrossed in your use dynamics, the articulation of your tone, that I was incapable of thinking about anything else."
"Oh!" she gasped. Blushing ten shades of red she could only stutter. "Well, umm, thank you?"
"I hope," he began in a soft, rich tone that was beginning to give her chills whenever she heard it, "that at some point I may hear you play that Beethoven piece you mentioned, The Moonlight Sonota." (AN: Kudos to all you smarties out there who got this right!)
Kagome was not prepared for this. She began looking for an exit route, hoping to just get away from his intense scrutiny, but he only held her closer.
"Have I offended you?" he asked in a deeper voice, reveling in how her heartbeat was once again speeding up.
"What? No! I mean yes! I mean, you weren't supposed to hear that…" she finished lamely.
"Nevertheless, I did." This time she caught his smirk, and began to gather her wits back about her. "What are you going to do about it?" he challenged playfully.
Said challenge was not something Kagome was about to back away from. Getting the butterflies in her stomach under control she fixed her own smirk in place. "Well for starters I'm going to…"
As her voice trailed off she got an unfocused look on her face, which seconds later became one of tightly controlled rage. Her form stiffened and she almost stopped moving completely.
"Kagome what is it?" Sesshoumaru asked quickly.
"I sense it," she ground out.
"What do you sense?" he demanded, his voice still quiet enough to prevent idle eavesdropping.
"The taint."
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
AN: Okay, okay, I know what some of you must be thinking… this is taking forever and there's not nearly enough action (romantic or otherwise) going on right? Well I'm trying. I cut a good eight pages or so out of this chapter because it was just getting ridiculously long as it was(it's 30 pages as it stands now, which is more like three chapter rolled into one, but I'm really trying to move things along), and for the last four chapters I've been promising myself I'd get through the wedding so we could be on our ruddy way but…I CAN'T HELP MYSELF!
Seriously though, I promise that in the next chapter the wedding stuff will be over and done with, Micah will go home, and Sesshoumaru and Kagome will get down to business (but I refuse to say what kind of business).
Hopefully by then my beta will be back as well, which is always good as I know I'm rubbish when it comes to editing.
So yes! On to spoilers for Chapter 27: It's an ill wind that blows…
-"I don't know what it is you think you can do about it," the demon sneered.
"Oh I think you'll be surprised at what I can do," Kagome replied as she walked up and placed her hands on the other's chest. "Now hold still a moment, this is no doubt going to feel very weird."-
"Sesshoumaru was not surprised by the demon's answer; he'd know for some time what it was that Naraku was after. What he wasn't prepared for was Kagome's reaction.-
AND FINALLY… I give you for your viewing pleasure, the lyrics to the greatest song about breakfast food ever written! Salutes song writers/radio personalities Bob and Tom Please keep in mind that as this is sung there are numerous percussion solos (in the forms of wooden spoons beating upon a toaster) played throughout. The verses are sung by one person, and the chorus sung/screamed by another.
all around the country coast to coast,
people always say what do you like most,
I don't wanna brag i don't wanna boast,
I always tell 'em I like toast.
YEAH TOAST
YEAH TOAST
i get up in the mornin' bout six AM,
have a little jelly have a little jam,
take a piece of bread put it in the slot,
push down the lever and the wires gets hot,
i get toast.
YEAH TOAST
YEAH TOAST
now there's no secret to toasting perfection,
there's a dial on the side and you make your selection,
push to the dark or the light and then,
if it pops too soon press down again,
make toast.
YEAH TOAST
YEAH TOAST
when the first caveman drove in from the drags,
didn't know what would go with the bacon and the eggs,
must have been a genius got it in his head,
plug the toaster in the wall,
buy a bag of bread,
make toast.
YEAH TOAST
YEAH TOAST
oui monsieur bonjour coquette,
uh huh croissante vous a ver,
maurice chevalier effeil tower,
oh oui maria bagette bon soir,
FRENCH TOAST
FRENCH TOAST
in chicago around the Bob and Tom show
YEAH TOAST