A/N: Okay, in this chapter Sesshomaru's going to be brooding over a few things again (probably things he has brooded over already) but considering how much he obsessed over Tetsusaiga, I don't know if it's really that OOC for him.
Also, I just found out that at 2 min and 3 sec after 1 today (am or pm) the time/date was officially 01/02/03/04/05/06 and it's not gonna be that ever again during our lifetime. How cool is that?
Anyway...
OH! And this story now has 590 reviews! Man, you guys have been busy haven't you?
-Punk Rock Miko2 - Hm, Hm... Lol, guess you'll just have to wait and see, neh?
-xolovexinuyasha - Wow. They don't like you very much down there do they? I've never played Spenseball either, but any sport that combines volleyball with... well, anything, can't be good. Hopefully they'll get outta the volleyball kick soon huh?
-wolfygirl13 - Sounds like it's just about time to send in reinforcements down at the choc. factory, neh? Perhaps you should open the window and see if you can't air out some of the sugar fumes... but no, then they might escape and run all over the city... that would be a scary experience! -- Who is this new character? You'll have to wait and see I guess! -- Man, Chibi-Sesshomaru sure keeps himself busy doesn't he? INUYASHA YOU IDIOT, YOU'RE GONNA GET YOURSELF KILLED! -- Well, at least the candy might help distract Naraku from the mirrors... maybe... Huh. It must be weird to be scared of oneself, neh? -- Rin's an electrician now? Huh, maybe all those sugar fumes really did alter her brain somehow. Lol, I'm not even sure I wanna ask where Shippo is throughout all this. Maybe you already told me though and my mind just blocked it out... Lol, till... well, next chapter I guess!
-Black Betty - Lol, yep, for a little while anyway. But she and Amaya are on a bit of a journey, so could be a while before... well, much of anything happens really ...
-Sexy Kat - Oh, I imagine he was... around. Off with Kohaku probably. Lol, I think I explained it a little bit more as to what he's been doing lately, but not much. I don't think all the characters are going to get together as a group again for a little while. You'll understand what I'm saying when you read the chapter (if you don't already). And yeah, I guess Shippo does have some cute qualities... but he really can be quite the spoiled little brat and I don't much like his voice, so...
-Inume-blue - Lol, so I've finally melted your brains out have I? Or is this something completely unrelated to the story? -- I did send you a PM telling you about posting stories (your email didn't show up) but I don't know if you got it. Hopefully I didn't rant too much and you understood what I was saying. If not, feel free to tell me and I'll see if I can't explain it better.
-Almandine-Azaleea - Well, between those two characters anyway. I think the other's are having a bit more of a relaxed time at the moment... which they more then deserve after everything I put them through, neh?
-cocoke5 - Lol, you're welcome! Glad you're enjoying it!
-Ania24 - Well, no, I don't think it does... hang on, let me check... Nope, it doesn't. That's gonna have to wait for a while I think. I don't know, these chapters are popping up in a rather sporadic order, so I have no real idea...
-RamblingPhilosopher - Well if you say so, the most important judgement on yourself is your own... o.o -- And nope, Amaya ain't backing down without a fight. And now poor Kaede has to deal with her. Yep, Kashikari... Hopefully he'll be an interesting enough character, neh?
-Clouds of the Sky - Oh, sorry! Feel free to tell your teacher that it was my fault!
-Kuroi - Lol! One of your friends? Huh. Well, I can't be sure, but is it Ania24? I don't actually know, but if I remember correctly she started reading a few chapters ago, and she did say that one of her friends told her about this story, so... Lol, still, you're telling people about my story? Cool! And thanks for the ramen! I was starting to feel a little hungry, now that I think about it... Aw crap, now I really am hungry! I gotta go get something to eat... Suppose I should finish posting this though, neh? Man, I get sidetracked way too easily!
-ladyx12 - Lol, well I'm still keeping your Sess/Amaya suggestion in mind, but I can't make any promises about that. It was really never something in the original plot... but then again, there's not a lot of this story that was. Still, I'll see what I can't do, and then see if I can't do it. Still, that sounds like a fairly romantic scene. I'd have to find a way for that sort of situation to take place first though... Since Sesshomaru seems more the type to just stare coldly at a person until they finish talking rather than actually tell them to or try to make them be quiet. -- And I'm from Canada! Or did you want more specific than that?
Well that's about it... I know everyone wants to know what's happening with Kaede and Amaya, but my muses don't feel like telling you just yet apparently, so this is what they've come up with instead... Damn idiots...
Oh, and Wish-full Thinker, sorry, but I think this chapter might be a bit more reflective again...
Understand
Inuyasha and Kagome kept almost entirely to themselves for the next week or so, as did Sango and Miroku.
The kitsune, Shippo, and the fire-cat spent their time getting to know Rin and Kohaku, since the boy was not entirely ready to meet up with his sister just yet.
Sango had been a little disappointed to hear this, but had understood and accepted his reasons and left him alone for the time being.
Sesshomaru had mostly been busy with affairs between other clans and countries-- ones who refused to help, or were all too eager-- to notice them much, but when he actually sat back and took it all in, he was more than slightly startled at how much things had changed.
There had been a point, he was certain, somewhere along the way, where he had been unable to stand humans.
Now he had five of them staying in his castle, and he was working with a ningen witch to plot against Naraku.
Not to mention the fact that he was finally on good terms with his half-breed brother after years of them trying to kill one another, and he had four unexpected youkai in his charge, though three of them were more than capable of caring for themselves.
And the horses were only temporary guests.
Or so he hoped.
Yet they had a tendency to disappear for long hours of the day, and then return near dusk, sometimes with another of their herd accompanying them. By the morning the intruder would be gone again, and the horses would likely be out grazing somewhere.
Sesshomaru let all his "guests" do as they would for the time being, observing by their short run-ins how they were all slowly improving-- having more than just skin dangling from their bones, walking about without help... sometimes even smiling again.
And he would observe them in bemusement, wondering when he had finally started to weaken enough to let creatures like this hang around him.
He supposed the first slip must have been with Jaken, and then it all went downhill from there.
It didn't really matter anymore, they would all be leaving eventually, and for the time being he could live with their presences.
He was actually starting to get used to them, strange though it may seem.
And, when he thought about it, it was rather difficult to go back to imagining life without them.
The constant sounds of Rin and Shippo running around like mad things, of Sango helping Miroku as he stumbled around, and of Kagome as she cheered and praised his younger brother throughout his training.
Or even those subtle and delicate whispers the two couples shared when they thought no one could hear, but that his sharp hearing picked up on anyway.
In fact, it had gotten to the point where silence was a rare thing, and bouts of silence were enough to cause suspicion within the castle.
It was strange, but not entirely unwelcome, looking after and protecting all the unexpected house guests.
It reminded him of when his father had been alive, and there had been a constant amount of noise and movement in the castle as people-- demons and humans alike-- moved in and out.
He had always wondered how his father had been able to stand the constant stream of intruders-- especially the humans and lesser demons-- always moving in and out, causing all kinds of commotion.
Now though...
A slight commotion from the grounds below caught his attention, and Sesshomaru looked down at Kagome and Inuyasha through the window as they had an exchange of some sort.
He watched as Kagome, who had clearly said something mock-taunting to his little brother, let out a sudden shriek as said hanyou growled and charged at her, causing her to whirl about to run, only to be caught a moment later and pinned easily to the ground by Inuyasha, who was looking quite proud of his accomplishment even from this distance.
Sesshomaru felt a small smile tug at his lips at the sight, never having seen his brother in such a carefree or playful mood as he was with the miko and turned his attention back toward his own thoughts.
And it was strange to him, to think that, after all these years, it had taken his brother, five lesser demons, and six humans to finally get him to concede defeat-- to see what his father had seen so long ago in all these creatures.
And, even stranger, he found that he was not disgusted with the thought.
He turned away from the window with a thoughtful expression on his face, and looked down at Tenseiga, which was pulsing faintly against his side.
'Father...' He thought quietly, staring at the sword he had once deemed so useless-- the blade that had set more than one of these chains of event in motion 'I think I finally begin to understand.'
As if in response, the blade let out a larger pulse then normal, and then grew silent, content for the moment with it's master's choice.
Glossary
Kitsune - Fox
Ningen - Human
Youkai - Demon
Hanyou - Half-Demon
Miko - Priestess
SPECIAL THANX TO: Punk Rock Miko2, xolovexinuyasha (down with volleyball! ), wolfygirl13 (hope things start to go a bit better at the factory for ya ), Black Betty, Sexy Kat, Inume-Blue, Almandine-Azaleea, cocoke5, Ania24, RaMbLiNgPhIlOsOpHeR (You like the name thing, right?), Clouds of the Sky, Kuroi and ladyx12
Don't think I have any pocky at the moment, but I'm going out to New York Fries, so you guys can have some virtual ones of those until I get some more!
CMoC - For you - Staind, Hanging by a Moment - Lifehouse, Savin' Me - Nickelback, Fly - Hillary Duff (Proabably done all of these songs to death, but they're what I'm listening to right now, so... )