A/N: Hey everyone. Happy easter.
Sorry if I seem a little bit... well exhausted and depressed. It's only because I am. Just found out that I'm actually not supposed to talk to you guys before and after the chapters, and my story can be taken down if I don't stop. Not that I'm going to, but it's just a little threat hanging out there now that I don't much care for. Besides, if they take me down, then they'll have to take down every other story on the site with an A/N anywhere in it, and... well, then they'll be left with nothing now won't they? Plus, I think my whole family is starting to get sick... sore throats and all that shit. I hate sore throats and runny noses-- absolute worst things in the world! After Kikyo and Paris Hilton of course.
Okay, that takes care of the depression part. Now I'm exhausted because I've been running around over the three sites I'm on, updating all my fics like a maniac for the last 4 hours or so, and I only just got to this site... needless to say I'm starting to get a little bit tired, and I don't have a lot of energy right now at all... Hopefully I'll still be able to get through this though.
-Black Betty - Well yeah, maybe I do, but if I didnt give him hell, then I'd never have been able to make this fic, now would I have? Lol, it's fine that you didn't review last chapter though, as I'm sure I explained before, I don't expect people to review every chapter. Just let me know you're out there every once in a while, and I'm happy. Lol, hopefully this chapter will help answer... well, one of your questions. Haven't made it to the well just yet, so that'll remain open, but...
-wolfygirl13 - MIROKU, YOU IDIOT! You know, I don't think Sesshomaru was smart to beat him into a pulp himself. He should have just handed him over to Sango for a little while, that's what he should have done. Guess he just wasn't thinking to clearly, neh? After all, it's not every day he gets asked to bear someone's child, now is it? Lol, apparently though he's not the only one who thought Sesshomaru was a girl. I don't know who, but someone told me that people would see the Sesshomaru wall-scroll they have hanging in their room, look at it for a minute, and then say "she's pretty." Lol, I haven't ever personally mistaken Sesshomaru for a girl (even when I had no idea who he was) but apparently other people have, so maybe he should take that into consideration. -- Lol, so apparently Rin is quite handy to have around, neh? Maybe she was wearing rubber gloves... Now me, personally, I would've just stolen Tenseiga from Sesshomaru and brought them back to life, but maybe Rin's just most sadistic than I am. Or maybe she's just not a masochist like I apparently am (honestly, I must have a death wish to think about stealing Sess's sword!). Lol. Caramel and Cherry juice? Well that's an interesting combination. I don't actually want to know how she came up with that either. Aaaaaaaaaand Miroku's at it again. Well it's good to know things are back to normal down there. Lol, still, I'm glad that you enjoyed all the stuff I had in the last two chapters. Hopefully you'll enjoy the stuff in these two chapters as well (I am thinking about updating twice today ) and... well, my brains starting to short circuit, so I'm really not certain what else to say so... Gomen, but when you respond to about fifty reviews over the course of around ten stories you're updating, your mind really starts to... well, explode.
-Kuroi - lol, well you're welcome to use that idea. I don't mind. It's just one I've had floating around in my head for a while, and I just thought, since he had three swords and gave one to each of his sons, why wouldn't he give at least a dagger to Inu's mother? Considering most women don't use swords back then, a dagger definitely seemed more appropriate.
-Punk Rock Miko2 - Yeah, maybe it is kinda sad. But then again, he can't exactly feel the same sort of grief he would have if he had ever known his father because... well, he didn't. All he knows is that he was an incredibly powerful demon and he died protecting him and his mother and... well, yeah, that's just about it. So maybe that would make things a bit easier for him. But it would also bring up the problem that comes with the fact that he never did known his father, and wishes he had... Or something... Urgh! Lost my train of thought again...
-Lord Makura - Yeah... well, at least he's trying to make things right again.
-Bluer Sky - Lol, yeah they're fairly good. They sing about such weird stuff that most people wouldn't actually sing about, and they make it work. Like their song "aluminium." Unfortunately, I listened to them too much one time, and as a result, I couldn't stand to hear their music again until only recently. I'm starting to get back into them again now. -- Lol, anyway... So you think I made it work? Well that's definitely a good thing. I really don't like adding things into the stories without making them seem plausible (even though I probably have done it more than a few times). And no, I don't actually live in Australia. Lol, I live in Canada-- all the way over in North America. I was just asking because one of the reviewers was asking when Inuyasha would come back on in the review section, but, considering not too many reviewers actually go back and read other people's reviews, I didn't think they'd get much help there, so I thought I'd help them out in the actual chapter. People are more likely to pay attention there. Lol, but then does this mean that you live in australia? Lol, that's cool, although it's a little weird, because, for some reason my pathetically fried mind had decided that any and all authors/readers from here are from America, unless otherwise stated. I don't know why, that's just what comes out, and I didn't feel any inclination to really change it...
-angelwingz21 - Yay!
-Clouds of the Sky - ... OO... uh-oh... this can't be good... gotta take shelter somewhere!... See, this is what sucks about my powers-- I don't think I actually can hurt you. Unless, of course I want to write you to death, but I don't think that'll work... Lol, but at least you've helped me discover my weakness now, I'll give you that. So my powers are updating really fast, my weakness is flattery, and my arch nemesis is Writer's block. Now that we've established that, maybe I can start my own manga or something. We can have a new issue every week instead of every month! Lol, well I guess since you helped me, I ain't gonna... write you to death. Yet. -- Lol, you're actually gonna check out the AMV? Huh. Weird. And here I didn't think anyone was listening. Lol, well let me know what you think about it I guess-- I just thought it was kind of entertaining, considering how serious some of them can be. There's one on there-- the quality is kind of bad-- but it's called "Breaking the Habit" and it's got Inu and Sess in it, and that one's kind of good too. If you want me to stop talking now, just say the word, and I'll just shut up. Maybe. Well, I'll try to, anyway. Won't make any promises though.
-RamblingPhilosopher - Lol, well then you better be careful! I'm glad you like my ideas though... now if I could just figure out how in hell I came up with them, we'd all be fine. Lol, well then, again, the only advice I can offer you is don't get caught! Then he won't have any reason to kick your ass. Lol, you have clones? Do they have bellybuttons like you, or are they like Kagome's clone thingy? -- Eep! Gramps is coming? Better run!
-cocoke5 - Lol, okay! I'm glad y'all liked it!
-Ania24 - Thanks! I really wish I could think of something more original to say, but, as I said, I've been at this for like 5 hours now, and I really have screwed up my mind now so I can't and... yeah...
-sourapple10000 - Lol, well I didn't think you had stopped readin. Everyone's really busy right now because of easter anyway, so I really don't mind. Still, glad you liked the chapter!
-Inume-Blue - Lol, thanks! If you want you can have a virtual copy of it when I'm done with it.
Mind-Speak
Inuyasha frowned as he opened the stable door.
This particular stable he was in wasn't necessarily for horses, but rather some youkai of a... larger variety. Like Ah-Un.
However, since the fire-uma could not be placed in a regular stable without the risk of setting it on fire, this was the only place they could be without problems.
Pausing to give Ah a small scratch behind one of his scaly ears, Inuyasha continued on down to the far end of the stable until he reached the two stalls that had the horses in them.
Immediately the young stallion lifted it's head to eye him suspiciously, his eyes blazing as he gave a small snort. Inuyasha cocked his eyebrow.
'I hope that wasn't a challenge.' He said to the horse. 'Cause I'm really not in the mood to fight you right now.' The horse continued to glare at him, dragging one hoofed foot against the ground that sent small sparks flying off at random directions, and Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Had he ever been this bad he wondered before turned toward the elder of the two-- the mare.
By this time she had lifted her head and was staring at him in a much-less hostile manner than her son.
He could feel the messages passing back and forth between the two of them, though because he had not been expecting it really he hadn't been concentrating and didn't hear a word they said. Nevertheless, he decided to join in on their mental conversation.
'I came to ask you guys for some help.' He said, not entirely certain if it would work. Now that Amaya was gone, any of the mind-talking abilities she had extended to him had very likely faded, if not disappeared entirely. However, judging by the way in which the two dark heads snapped toward him, it had worked.
The female had a slightly puzzled expression (or as puzzled as a horse can have) on her face as she stared at him. 'You have the ability to talk to us like this?' She inquired slowly. Inuyasha gave a small shrug.
'Not really. Amaya used to do this with me all the time. I think she accidentally extended some of her powers to me. I don't think it'll last forever though...'
The male let out a small snort, and muttered something that sounded distinctly like "witchcraft." Or maybe it was "pathetic" it was really hard to tell with mind-speak.
Inuyasha opted to ignore him as the female continued to speak.
'That is very interesting, hanyou.' She said slowly, then twitched her ears back. 'Do you have a name?'
Inuyasha gave a small nod. 'Yeah. Inuyasha.' Was all he said. Despite all the time he had spent doing this with Amaya, it still made him feel slightly insane-- like he was having a conversation with himself inside his head, only this time voices were answering back.
The mare seemed to pause for all of an instant, and then continued. 'Very well, Inuyasha. My name is Kazkaen, and my son Arron.' She said, although Inuyasha already knew this. He wasn't sure how he knew this, just that he did. He supposed it was another thing Amaya had accidentally passed onto him at one time or another. 'You said that you needed help?'
Inuyasha started slightly. He had all but forgotten the reason he had come here.
'Yeah. I need you guys to take me and a friend somewhere.'
Arron snorted.
'You see mother? They've turned us into carriers-- like that two headed dragon. Next thing you know, we'll be hitched up to a cart!'
Kazkaen shot her son a look. Inuyasha crossed his arms but decided that, again, it would be best to ignore the uma. The little stallion was, quite clearly, insane, and very hostile, and was looking for a fight with him. If Sesshomaru had taught him one thing it was not to go into a fight that someone was looking for unless you have a reason to battle that person. Or whatever. Unless, of course, they really find themselves in need of being taught a lesson that you know you can get across quite well.
At this point in time he had no reason to fight with the youkai, and, even if it was to get the uma to understand he had no right to be so hostile, he couldn't garuntee that he wouldn't end up kill or seriously injuring the stallion, and then there would be no way for him and Kagome to get to the well.
So he opted for silence.
The mare turned her eyes back to him and her ears twitched forward again. 'Where is this place you intend to go?' She questioned. Inuyasha frowned. He knew where the bone-eaters well was, he just didn't know how to get there. At least, not from Sesshomaru's castle.
He had never used to come here before-- the exact opposite in fact-- and now that he did come here... well, he had no real idea how to get much of anywhere.
So he just had to hope that they would know.
'It's called to bone-eaters well. It's in Inuyasha forest near the village the old hag Kaede lives in.'
Kazkaen blinked. 'You have a forest named after you?' She questioned. Normally such a thing only happened with great Lords or fabled beings. In her opinion, not very many people would consider a half-breed, even one like him, worthy of such a thing.
Inuyasha stiffened slightly. 'It's a long story.' He said.
Kazkaen gave a small shake of her mane. She could understand that. Still, now she was intruiged. Perhaps she could learn more of this long story if she went with the half-breed. It was always good to know as much about your allies as you did your enemies so you could be certain which really was which.
'Very well then Inuyasha. We shall take you and your friend to your forest. Hopefully you do not intend to do anything too dangerous or attention-drawing while we are there.' She said, her eyes locking with his a moment on the last.
Inuyasha stared at her a moment, then smirked slightly as he turned and began to head toward the stable door. 'Only if you think time-travel is attention-drawing.' He said just as the door slid shut.
A/N: Sorry people, no glossary this chapter. Too tired to do it right now.
SPECIAL THANKS AND LOTS OF CHOCOLATE EGGS AND STUFF FOR: BlAcK bEtTy, WoLfYgIrL13, KuRoI, PuNk RoCk MiKo2, LoRd MaKuRa, BlUeR sKy, aNgElWiNgZ21, ClOuDs Of ThE sKy, RaMbLiNgPhIlOsOpHeR, cOcOkE5, AnIa24, sOuRaPpLe10000, InUmE-bLuE
CMoC - You're a God - Vertical Horizon, Fly - Hilary Duff, Remedy - Cold, We are one tonight - Switchfoot, Blurry - Puddle of Mudd, Hanging By a Moment - Lifehouse, Fukai Mori - Do as Infinity, Grip, Yura Yura and Shape of Love by Every Little Thing, Falling For the First Time,Upside Down, Unfinished - Barenaked Ladies, This is your life - Switchfoot, One Day, One Dream - Tackey and Tsubasa, Accidentally in Love - Counting Crows, Breaking the Habit (AMV) - Linkin Park, My December - Linkin Park ( -- How depressing is this song?), For You - Staind, and Brother my Brother - Blessid Union of Souls.
What can I tell ya, I've been at this for a looooooooong while now... Anyway, gotta go post next chapter...