A\N: Konbanwa everyone! (Or Ohayo, depending on where you live ) -- Sorry for the late update, but this time it's not my fault. I've been trying to update this thing for more than two days, but the computer and the site seem to be conspiring together against me and I haven't been very successful.
Anyways, for curiosity's sake, cause I can't remember, did I already do reactions to Inuyasha and Kohaku being with Sesshomaru?
Well, doesn't matter, cause I'm doing them again.
-Black Betty - Lol, I know what you mean. I actually enjoy seeing them fight, I don't know why, it's just something I get some sort of sadistic pleasure out of, but my sister doesn't seem to like it much. I finally convinced her to watch the third movie, and I think it completely ruined it for her because she kept going on and on about how Sesshomaru is smarter than that and would just work with Inuyasha and yadda yadda yadda. I didn't agree with her entirely, because maybe Sess is smarter than that, but that doesn't mean he'd give up his pride and work with Inu.
-Wish-full Thinker - Lol, maybe I really should open up a permanent glossary huh? I keep using words and terms and everybody gets all confused... Anyway, Ohaiyo stands for "good morning" and Ohaiyo Gozaimesu is just a more polite term of that. Also, WAFF stands for Warm And Fluffy Feeling. Yeah, I gotta get rid of the fluff somehow somewhen somewhere or it'll drive me nuts. What can I say, I'm not a fluffy person. Ooooh kaaaaaaay that was a weird sentence...
-lunerfox - Well I looked up all those song and I couldn't find a damn one of them. I did however accidentally click on Lifestyles of the rich and famous (that's by them right?) and that one was... interesting. I liked most of it anyway. -- Now, to answer your question-- How do I update with chapters so quickly with school, homework, and everything else? Well, so long as you keep it between us, I'll let you in on a little secret. I don't sleep. Lol, okay, not really, but I don't sleep as much as other people. I normally only go on six or seven hours of sleep, sometimes less. Plus I just get my homework done normally before I actually end up leaving class or right away when I get home (gotta get it outta the way! ) so that does help a little bit. All in all, I find writing chapters to be a bit relaxing, and it's sort of my way to wind down after everything else. I don't really know if that answered your question, but there you go.
-Clouds of the Sky - Lol, well all I need is a reason or an excuse, and I can really start to get on people's nerves. And I'll certainly try not to leave you out! Lol, sorry, I'm trying to think of something witty to say, but the volume was up full on my computer, and it started playing an already really loud song so I think my brain just short circuited.
-wolfygirl13 - Well, I have no idea if this chapter's "Fluffy" or not, but it's not Sess and Inu so that's a nice change. Lol, that's okay, I've got cookies! You can have some if you like!
-Sexy Kat - Lol! I'll try to update soon, but my computers been a real ass lately and it's been hard to get updates up.
-Almandine-Azaleea - Wow. I don't know what to say... Thanks seems like a good place to start though.
-RamblingPhilosopher - Yeah, for some reason it wouldn't let me update either. Lol, anyway, I've updated now, and I think I might just go pass out on the floor for a little while, so if you'll excuse me...
-Inume - Lol, okay, hope you enjoy it!
-Darking Queen - Lol, a goddess? Well I wouldn't go so far as to say that, but... -- WAFF - Warm and Fluffy Feeling.
-xolovexinuyasha - Hm. Okay. Hm. Well, I didn't understand half of what you just said, but I think I get the just of it. About crying when you're in pain, I have to disagree. I actually don't cry when I'm in pain (but I'm a redhead so, maybe that has something to do with it ), my whole mind just sort of disconnects from my body and I don't really feel it (I wasn't aware I'd cracked a bone in my arm except that it felt a little different then normal) but I still think crying is okay. Yeah, this coming from robot girl over here. -- Lol, crying is natural and a good thing in my opinion, I just don't prefer to do it. Everyone has different ways of dealing with pain and sadness, and if that's their way of going about it then that's their way of going about it and that's good for them. Whatever works. Anyway, I'm glad you're excited that I nearly cried (though really it was more of a happy\sad kinda crying and, in the end, I ended up just sort of sitting there smiling like an idiot as usual, even though the end of the story had someone killing someone else) but I'm also a little curious as to why you seem so obsessed with me crying. oO should I be worried?
Alright, People, if your not interested in music or my ranting or anything else, then please just skip ahead down to the story. For the rest of the music lovers here, I thought I'd find out a bit more about other people's taste in music, so here it goes: I want to know the first 15 songs to play on your playlist. Yes, I know this has been done before, but not by me, so just go with it okay? Don't be embarrassed or anything, nobody's listening to you anyway. Lol jj. Okay, the first ten to play on mine are 1. Bad Day - Daniel Powter, 2. Superman (It's not easy) Five For Fighting, 3. Stop Crying Your Heart Out - Oasis, 4. Fukai Mori (Deep Forest) - Do as Infinity, 5. Grip - Every Little Thing, 6. It's My Life - No Doubt 7. No More Words - Ayumi Hamasaki(sp?), 8. Hanging By a Moment - Lifehouse, 9. Don't Go Away - Oasis,
10. Brand New World - V6, 11. Lies - Evanesence, 12. I'm not an Addict - K's Choice, 13. Breathe - Anna Nalick, 14. Broken - Seether/Amy Lee 15. One Day, One Dream - Tackey and Tsubasa 16. Drown - Three Days Grace. Oh wait, I said fifteen didn't I? Oh well, that's a bonus one. Lol, now, if you're still with me after that, I want to know you're tope 5 fav songs. Or, if you don't have favs, just some of the ones you listen to the most. (not in order) -- 1. Blurry - Puddle of Mudd, 2. Grip - Every Little Thing, 3. Iris - The Goo Goo Dolls, 4. Superman (It's not Easy) - Five for Fighting and 5. Sotsugyou Sayonara wa Ashita no Tame ni (Graduation: Farewll is for Tomorrow) - Tackey and Tsubasa.
Well, there you have it. If you're here, you've either ignored the blurb above, or are currently considering participating in it, so have fun either way, and I'll stop ranting now so you can have the chapter.
Everything
Amaya sighed as she waited for the ningen girl to start screaming at her.
She had just been to see Sango and Miroku (who appeared to be doing much, much better) and had now come down to see Kagome, who (with a little aide from Amaya) was also getting a little stronger (though, if she were to lift her shirt even a little ways, Amaya was certain there would still be ribs poking sharply against the flesh and threatening to burst out with every movement of muscle under skin). Kagome knew that Inuyasha was with his brother now, but she seemed less than pleased at the idea.
Sango had been surprisingly understanding about the situation, though the strange little kitsune called Shippo had revealed to her that Sango really didn't know all that much about Sesshomaru other than he had frequently tried to kill Inuyasha.
But now, instead of meeting a full on explosion about all she had learned of Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's comings and goings, Kagome was just looking up at her with deep, thoughtful eyes, the depths of which could not be seen by another's eyes alone. She would have to go inside Kagome's mind if she wished to truly understand exactly what the girl was thinking about, how she felt about this, and the thought was a little less than appealing to her.
She had been in and out of people's minds for the past month or so, and it was really beginning to take it's toll on her. Despite her powers, she still was only a ningen, and could in no way compare to the youkais abilities to go without sleep and rest.
She had a feeling that, should she bother to look into a mirror about now, she would not be able to recognise her own face. She might not look to terribly different, physically, but, when a person's mind is significantly changed, the way that they view the world irreversibly altered, it showed clearly in their eyes-- all one had to do was look. And Amaya's view on the world had definitely been altered. Again. And she was beginning to get tired of it. Though in this case it was altered by unwitting choice, whereas the other time there had been none.
The humans, especially Kagome, had altered her somehow, and she was finding that she was beginning to care again. This plan was no longer some amusing way to pass the time, nor to free herself. She cared about what happened to the ningens, whether Inuyasha (who had grown upon her before she could even begin to try and stop him) would be alright with his brother-- if he would, in the end, try and kill him again. Kohaku... well, she didn't care so much about him, but, because he was Sango's brother, she felt the need to be certain the little brat was kept safe from harm.
The thought that the humans were so far under her skin-- though she had had it before-- still felt like a rather startling revelation-- and not one she was entirely happy with. But she wasn't entirely unhappy with it either. And that realisation was even more startling than the first one.
She shook her head, and focused in on the words pouring from Kagome's mouth that she had yet to hear any of.
'...better him then Kikyo.' Kagome said, as though finishing a sentence, though what she had said before was lost on Amaya as the brown-eyed girl turned toward her, eyes curious 'do you think Sesshomaru will hurt Inuyasha? That he'll protect him?'
Amaya's brow furrowed. 'Have you lost all common sense in your time down here, or do you simply take a great joy in disregarding everything I say and pelting me with foolish questions?' The sorceress asked. 'I have already told you a myriad of times that Sesshomaru will not kill the boy or your hanyou. He has taken them under his care, and a youkai such as that would have enough honour to not try and kill those who sought him out for protection. And as to your other question, I think Sesshomaru is more than able to protect his brother and that little ningen child. He is a powerful demon-- more powerful than Naraku by far. I doubt that even the priestess's powers would be enough to make him falter. Now if that is the only questions you have for me, I would ask you to refrain from speaking. Your voice is distracting and giving me a headache with it's pointless bantering.'
Kagome stared at her and then smiled suddenly, and Amaya eyed her suspiciously. 'Something amuses you?' She asked dryly, not liking that look on the girl at all.
Kagome shook her head. 'No. I'm just... glad. Glad that you're helping us. It means everything to me Amaya.' She said. And she meant it literally. Without Amaya none of this would be possible-- Inuyasha would still be in Kikyo's care (not that Kagome would know that, because Amaya was the one who told her) Miroku would probably be dead, and Sango would never know if Kohaku was alive still or not.
And those people, and then the ones she left back in her own time, meant everything to her. They were her life, her heart and her soul. Without them, there simply was no point in living, and she probably would have died or killed herself long ago-- tearing gashes into her wrists with her teeth if she had to.
And she knew that, whether the sorceress liked it or not, they had convinced her, made her care about them. And she would not abandon them now.
Not when everything they wanted, had worked so hard to get, was so nearly in their grasp.
'It's going to happen soon.' Kagome said. Not a question, but Amaya cocked an eyebrow and stared at her anyway. 'Are you talking to me, or to yourself. Because if you wish to speak to yourself, I'll gladly leave so that you can carry on the conversation in privacy.'
Kagome looked up at her, unphased by her comments. 'The battle. The final battle. It's going to happen soon.'
Amaya stared at her, as though contemplating this fact, then nodded her head. 'Hai. Soon we will battle.'
Kagome stared at her questioningly, but still in a strangely quiet way, her voice strangely accepting, hollow, in a way eerily mirroring that of Kanna's. 'How will you know when?' She asked, as though it really didn't matter, but morbid curiosity had forced her into speaking.
The sorceress stared at her for a moment, then said 'when the preparations are complete. When you-- all of you-- are ready.'
Kagome stared at her, then nodded. 'I am ready.' She said, and Amaya looked into her eyes and knew that, even if her body was still so physically deprived, the girl was not lying. Still she shook her head. 'Not until your body is ready are you ready.' Though being ready in body was far more trivial than being ready in mind. 'And even if you are-- even if all your ningen friends are-- Inuyasha is not. He still needs more time--a week at least I'd say. And when he is ready...' She trailed off, eyes going slightly distant like Kagome's, becoming slightly hollow and empty as well, suiting the mood that had taken over the entire room.
'Then we shall go for battle.' Kagome finished for her, and Amaya looked at her, blank for a moment, before her eyes flickered back to life, hardened in grim determination. 'Then we shall go for everything.' She corrected, her voice low but still managing to slice through the atmosphere like a blade, and the two stared silently at each other as the full truth of their words began to really sink in.
They were going to battle with the most malicious and evil creature to ever walk the earth. It was very possible that none of them would make it out alive-- and those that did, when the smoke finally cleared, if they had not defeated Naraku... those that made it out alive would wish they had not.
It was a grim truth, but a truth nonetheless, and nothing was a better motivation than the truth.
In this case, the truth was all that gave them the mindset to fully understand what they were risking, and what failure meant.
In this case, the truth meant everything.
And everyone.
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE REVIEWERS MENTIONED ABOVE! -- Sorry guys, but it's been a really long day and I am really tired, and I just don't feel like typing out everyone's name. .
CMoC - Just whatever was listed above. -- Like I said, I am really tired right now, and that was typed out a few days ago when I was originally going to update this!