Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters. I am not making any money of this. However, Nekoyasha is mine… all mine.
Chapter 14: Travelling Arrangements
Rin had fallen asleep in Shippo's arms. He wanted to know what was going on in the castle. After that chilling scream they had heard another set of screams. If his demon ears were right, one of them had been Kagome's. He really didn't want to think that he had lost the girl that had become almost like a mother to him. He blocked the tears that threatened to fall. His hopes had fallen when he saw Kagura flee the scene. Luckily Rin was asleep by that time.
He had all his senses on alert. After awhile, a welcome smell greeted his nose. Gently readjusting the sleeping girl, he peeked from their hiding place. His spirits rose as he saw the forms of his friends and Inuyasha's brother.
Gently he woke the little girl.
She blinked the sleep from her eyes. "Is Sesshomaru-sama here yet?" she questioned.
Shippo smiled at her. "He is on his way."
The footsteps came to their shrub and stopped.
"It's alright, kids. You can come out," came the sound of Miroku's voice. Shippo thought that it sounded a little strained.
Shippo gasped at the sight that greeted him. The group was tattered, torn, and bloodied. Sango was carrying Kohaku in her arms; Sesshomaru held an unconscious Nekoyasha; and Kagome was being held by Inuyasha, who looked like he wasn't going to let anyone near her.
Shippo gulped. Looking at Miroku he asked, "Are they dead?"
Miroku shook his head. He managed a small smile. "No, we won, Shippo. Naraku is dead. Plus we have this." He opened his hand. Resting there was an almost completed Shikon jewel. Shippo noticed that it was his right hand. The one that should have had the Air Void in it.
Shippo leaped onto the monk. "You're no longer have a curse?"
"That's right."
Rin had wondered over to her guardian. "Is she alright?"
Sesshomrau peered at her. "She is just sleeping, Rin."
The little girl nodded.
"Might I ask how we are going to get to a place were we can look after the girls and Sango's brother? It is a long way from Kaede's or the Southern Lands," Miroku mentioned.
"Kirara can only hold about four of us." She looked at Miroku and the demon lord. "Sorry."
Miroku smiled at her. "It is okay. I don't mind walking. Shippo is welcomed to ride on my shoulder. It looks like I'll also be the one to carry Kagome's backpack." He leaned down and picked up the monstrous yellow thing.
"Feh. Let the kids and the monk ride with you. I can carry Kagome just fine," Inuyasha retorted. "Besides Sesshomaru and I can keep up with Kirara. The monk can't."
Sango looked slightly worried. "Can you keep Kagome from bouncing around while you run, Inuyasha?"
"Feh. Of course I can. She just fainted. There is no injuries or blood that I can smell," Inuyasha retorted.
Sesshomaru was ignoring their bickering. There was an interesting smell in the air.
How did he find me? The Demon Lord thought.
A few moments later, Sesshomaru's dragon landed in the clearing taking the group by surprise.
Of course the surprise was the carriage attached to the dragon. Jaken peered down from the driver's seat.
"Lord Sesshomaru! I am glad that I found you whole. I wasn't sure how the battle would end, or in what shape the Lady would be in, so I brought the carriage along."
Sesshomaru nodded at his vassal as he made his way over to the door and opened it. He turned to the group.
"Get in. It is large enough for all of us."
Inuyasha cocked his eyebrow as Jaken yelled, "Lord Sesshomaru?"
Inuyasha asked, "Where are we going?"
Sesshomaru stared back at his brother. "Home."
"No," was the reply.
The brothers stared intently at each other. They stayed that way until Miroku cleared his throat.
"Sesshomaru, while Nekoyasha might be comfortable waking up in your home, I'm not sure that the other two would be. Not to mention that the rest of us would be uncomfortable as well. Surely you would not want a miko waking up confused by her surroundings and trying to purify everything. Plus it would not be a good idea for a demon slayer to wake up in the home of a demon." Miroku hoped he sounded convincing.
Sesshomaru could see the monk's reasoning. However, he was not too keen on the idea of staying at the old miko's hut.
Inuyasha could see his brother debating. "Feh. Just drop us off at Kaede's and then you can go on your way."
Sesshomaru noticed that Inuyasha did not say anything about where Nekoyasha would be staying. He nodded.
Sesshomaru entered the carriage first. Rin was quick on his heels. Inuyasha let his friends enter before he did.
That proved to be a mistake as the only space left was on the same side as Sesshomaru. At least his older brother was all the way across the carriage. He had Nekoyasha propped against him with her legs extended on the seat.
Inuyasha sat down beside the girl's feet, just barely touching them. He positioned Kagome in a similar way that Sesshomaru had positioned Nekoyasha. Inuyasha ran his hand through the miko's hair.
Across from him, Miroku leaned against the side of the carriage holding Sango as she cradled her younger brother. Kirara lay on Kohaku's lap. Shippo and Rin sat on that side as well.
The ride home was mostly quiet and uneventful. Shippo introduced Rin to his crayons and they spent most of the ride coloring.
The adults were lost in their own thoughts.
Only once was the quiet interrupted. Kohaku sat up and looked around wildly. His eyes had a vacant stare to them. Sango put her hand out to him. He looked over to where Kagome lay and then passed right back out. Everyone was at a lost.
The carriage landed on the outskirts of the village in Inuyasha's forest.
The weary group exited. Inuyasha emerged first, clutching Kagome to his chest. Sango and Miroku exited next with the monk carrying Kohaku. Shippo and Rin followed after. Sesshomaru was the last to leave. He held the cat close to him.
Jaken looked down from his perch. "Lord Sesshomaru?"
"Leave, Jaken," dismissed the demon lord
"But Lord Sesshomaru… You don't mean to stay with them?" the little toad whined.
The group stopped. Inuyasha bristled at the connotation. The rest group looked at the Demon Lord silently.
Without looking back, Sesshomaru asked, "Are you questioning me, Jaken?"
"Of-of course not, my Lord," Jaken stuttered.
"Good." He shifted the woman in his arms. "She stays. If I am become uncomfortable, I will leave," was his reply. He started walking towards the village.
Jaken was not fond of this, but nodded and guided An and Un into the sky. Some days he just didn't understand his master.
xxxxx
A/N: Hello all! I know that it has been awhile since I updated. I recently found myself with a pretty nasty writer's block (at least where this story was concerned). I just couldn't seem to get into Inuyasha's head.
Nekoyasha: That's because you have been cheating on him with a gunslinger, a priest, I don't know how many immortals and now you have added alchemists to mix? I have to wonder about you sometimes.
Catleana: (Ignoring the feline) But I managed to get around it. I now have a new job. In the world of Retail, which is something I haven't done before. It's… interesting.
To all my reviewers, I love you guys. Reviews make me happy, so please click on the little box and let me know what you think. Thanks!
Henrika – We'll have to wait and see.
Ryguy – Umm… you can't have fluff with unconscious people. Plus the title is "Choices" plural. Don't worry, there will be fluff… eventually.
Arkynox – There was someone who knew the reason for why Neko was sad in Kagome's time… Ummm… I can't tell you, it'll ruin the story if I do.
Depth-orca - :blush: Thanks! I hope that this chapter did not disappoint you.
RavenShadow – Hey! I'm glad you liked it. I know it might have been a little far-fetched but it turned out quite well.