Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and original characters, everything else belongs to someone else.
Sesshomaru-sama, Sit!
Well Sora figured that her dad was really going to let her have it when she got back to the future. Oh boy would he ever. More like if she got back though Sora thought with a sigh as they kept walking, mostly silent since every time they seemed to talk a fight or a near fight would erupt. It was only due to the chains attaching her father to Sango that had kept him from trying to ring her neck all day and Sora was getting a pounding headache just thinking about it. She wished one of her brothers were here, or cousins or even Shippou for that matter. The adult one, not the small one Sora corrected mentally. But of course she was alone here with no one to really talk to because the stuff she wanted to talk about they couldn't hear. Maybe Triton would visit again soon; at least she'd be able to talk to him for a few minutes before he'd have to go again. Hearing muttering Sora smiled as she recognized Jakken's voice. The toad was trailing behind because he didn't want to be close to the humans though his excuse was that he was protecting his master's back. Scary as it was she'd even take her present Jakken right now for someone to talk to.
"We should be meeting up with Miroku soon, he suppose to be meeting us a few miles ahead." Kagome said, killing the silence. She figured she better let Sesshomaru know ahead of time so that the demon lord could prepare himself. She knew how much Sesshomaru was going to want to kill Miroku on sight and better to let him know rather then surprise him with the monk's sudden appearance.
"Of course." Sesshomaru said, his displeasure obvious in those two words. The stupid monk would be joining the group again, just when he'd begun to hold the hope that the pathetic weakling had been killed which would explain his absence. Obviously that was too much to ask. Plus Jakken was sulking which was also starting to get on his nerves. He'd been complaining about having to come with Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had had to call up a lot of his training in order to restrain himself from killing the toad.
"A friend of Miroku's in a nearby village has been ill so Miroku went to the village to keep him company while he gets better." Kagome said for Sora's benefit.
A thoughtful look on her face Sora remembered her mother commenting that when Miroku was younger he was even more of a flirt and pervert then he was in her own present time. Of course he'd never behaved that way towards her as her father would kill him and she was too young but would he try something now since he didn't know about either?
"You might want to watch out for his hands, Sora." Sango said as though reading her thoughts. "He has a tendency to put them where they shouldn't be."
"So you've told me." Sora said with a smirk. "If Kagome wasn't telling fish tales I know how often you've sent him flying into the dirt for such things. If he tries anything I believe I will follow suit though I'm likely to cause him more damage."
"He will not lay a hand on you." Sesshomaru said firmly and coolly. He might not want her for a daughter but until he was able to change that she was his, the monk would not lay a filth paw on her or he'd die a death more painful then he could imagine.
"My hero." Sora said with a warm smile that was only met with a sharp scowl. Turning her head back to face the road Sora wiped the smile off her face and concentrated on looking aloof and demonish, smiling inside the whole time. Maybe right know he wanted her about as much as a punch in the head but he did care, even if only a bit. Progress. Plus he'd started to match his pace to Sango's instead of dragging her along after him as he'd walked his normal speed. Of course he'd likely slowed his walk so that he wouldn't keep having to pull her along but still, it was an improvement.
Shaking his head at her Sesshomaru wondered at her. She looked so much like him and she didn't fear him at all, he had feared and respected his father when his father had been alive. His father had been a great demon and had deserved those reactions, many compared him to his father but he had a feeling that his daughter would never fear him, she seemed to trust him completely, like Rin. Looking down at Rin Sesshomaru watched her watch Sora as she kept pace at his side. She would get too tired to walk soon but knowing his brother's group they'd likely stop for a while when they met up with the monk to refresh and take a break. Speaking of the monk he was pretty sure he smelled the rat now.
"He's waiting for us." Inuyasha told them and Sesshomaru nodded his agreement of his brother's assessment. Looking over at the slayer Sesshomaru noticed that she looked happy that they would be seeing the monk soon and yet the moron was constantly treating her with disrespect and pervertedly. Were she and the monk mates then, he doubted that the demon slayer could have lasted this long if she were so stupid. Then again perhaps the demon slayer deserved to get stuck with the monk, a fitting hell for her to live in as punishment for all the annoyance she had caused him.
"Wait till he meets you, Sora. Boy is he gonna be surprised." Shippou said from the ground as he walked beside Kagome.
"I'll bet." Sora said with a smirk as she looked up the hill to see a figure perched on a large rock, Miroku waiting for them to arrive. "It's been a while since I've seen him, it'll be interesting to see whether or not he lives up to his reputation."
"Oh you can count on it." Sango said as she rolled her eyes in the monk's direction. There was no doubt in her mind what-so-ever that as soon as the monk caught sight of Sora he'd be all over her like a vulture on a carcass. Not that she cared of course, she'd given up on ever having a relationship with the monk, Miroku just couldn't keep his hands off every woman that crossed his path. She was willing to make exceptions but would never bind herself to a man who had so little self-control.
"I'll go ahead and inform him not to lay his hands on you, Sora." Inuyasha said as he looked back at her. "That way he won't end up dead."
"Thanks." Sora said with a nod and watched her uncle bound away, his feet barely touching the ground as he kicked up dust behind him. Her uncle was always doing things like that for her Sora thought fondly as she followed him with her eyes. He had always been like a second father to her and he and father often joined forces to keep males and anything remotely dangerous from cross her path. Of course they were the same with all the females in their family but they were at their worst when it came to her and her cousin Hotaru. In her cousin's case it was kinda justified as Hotaru was really too sweet and nice for her own good but Sora had always been of the opinion that since she'd managed to survive having four older brothers there was really nothing that could scare her.
"I hope his friend's okay." Kagome said as they reached the half way point of the hill, glad the long walk would soon be over with a break ahead. "Apparently the man was very ill."
"I'm sure he's fine, Kagome." Sango said reassuringly. Kagome was always doing that, worrying about everyone whether she knew them or not. Sometimes Sango couldn't help but think that Kagome was just to sweet and nice for her own good, it was bound to get her into real trouble one of these days if Inuyasha wasn't around.
"Hello down there." Miroku called down to them and could wait to meet this daughter of Sesshomaru's from the future. Not only was she his daughter but a not full demon blooded one at that! And his poor beloved Sango, chained to the demonic bastard. He'd find a way to free her though, even if it meant killing Sesshomaru himself.
"Hello yourself." Kagome called out to him as she waved up at him. "How's your friend doing?" she added as she lifted Shippou into her arms to give him a break, the hill was about to get just a little too steep for her liking and she didn't want to risk him falling. "You might want to carry Rin, Sesshomaru, its about to get really steep."
Raising an eyebrow at her comment Sesshomaru looked down at Rin who looked up at his eagerly. He didn't carry her, she didn't need to be carried and if she did Jakken could do it. But looking back at the toad demon silently covering his back Sesshomaru doubted he could carry the child's weight. He was going to have to carry her. Clenching his jaw Sesshomaru scooped up Rin with his free had and held her against his chest.
"Master." Rin gapped in surprise at the change in position, her master never carried her. Happier then she'd been in a long time Rin wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head down on his chest, snuggling into the embrace.
Shocked by Rin's actions Sesshomaru looked down at Rin as he forced his pace to slow down once again for the sake of the weak slayer. She was behaving like Shippou Sesshomaru realized as he remembered how Kagome had cuddled the fox to her when he'd gotten tired of walking. But why on earth would Rin wish to copy what the fox had done, he was not her parent as the fox obviously viewed Kagome. Though in some way he was Sesshomaru realized with a start. Kagome wasn't the fox demon's mother yet she was essentially acting as one, teaching and taking care of him. He did the same for Rin, but he wasn't her father, she was human, not a demon, but then neither was Sora.
"Kagome, Sango." Miroku said with a wide grin as he hugged Kagome hello then glaring at Sesshomaru the whole time walked over to Sango and gave her a hug as well. "You're well, Sango?" he asked motioning to Sesshomaru with a slight nod of his head in the demon's direction.
"I'm chained to him, enough said." Sango said with a smirk. " And this is Sora." She added motioning with her head in the direction of the girl who was watching them closely, studying them almost.
"A pleasure to meet you, my dear Sora." Miroku said walking over to drop into a bow before grinning up at the gorgeous demon in front of him. She may have inherited some of Sesshomaru's looks but he was sure that unlike Sesshomaru she wasn't a satanic monster. "I am Miroku, the monk."
"Yes, I know." Sora said with a small smile. Miroku looked so much like his son it wasn't even funny really. At least his son didn't eat up anything in a skirt the way his father was currently doing. She'd heard that Sango and Miroku had once been considered a couple in the past but from what she could see they appeared to be only good friends, as it should be. She liked Miroku, she honestly did but he was a womanizing pervert.
"So I'm still around in the future, good to know." Miroku said with a wink. "Looks you have quite a family, Fluffy. Do you suppose more will be popping up anytime-?" Never finishing his sentence as Sora brought her closed fist down upon his head, efficiently shutting him up as he slid to the ground in an unconscious state.
"Father would have down worse if he'd finished that sentence." Sora said in lieu of an apology. She'd done it for the moron's own good, lord only knows what her father would have done to him if he'd finished that line of thought.
"She's right." Inuyasha said with a grin as he looked down at the monk who lay in the dirt with a growing lump on his head. "I guess here is as good a place as any to take a break, we'll rest and head out in a half an hour."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Kagome agreed as she walked over to another rock with Shippou still in her arms. Setting him down on top of the rock Kagome unslugged her backpack and setting it down on the ground began to rifle through it. "Here you guys go." She added pulling out a box of energy bars. Giving one to Shippou Kagome threw bar a bar to Inuyasha, carrying Sango's over to her in case the chain would interfere with her catching it. "Would you like one, Rin, Sora, Sesshomaru-sama?" Kagome added looking over at them.
"No thank you, Aunt Kagome." Sora said shaking her head politely. "I'm not hungry, I think I'll just sit down and rest up."
"May I have one Master?" Rin asked and with a start Sesshomaru realized that he was still holding her with his free hand. Setting her down he took the bar from Kagome and looking it over shot Kagome a look but never the less handed the bar to Rin who opened it and began to munch on it happily. When Kagome offered him one he simply stared at her until she left to sit beside Inuyasha and Shippou on the rock.
"Good huh, kid?" Sango said eating her bar as she looked down at Rin who'd sat down at her Master's side, happily eating her bar. The little girl reminded her of her brother in a lot of ways and Sango was amazed that the girl could seem so content and happy when she belonged to a Master like Sesshomaru. Or did she belong to him Sango wondered as an idea occurred to her. If Rin were to try to leave him would he go after her and if so why? If Sora spoke true then perhaps Sesshomaru only showed emotion towards the girl, he had carried her and that was very un-Sesshomaru behaviour. Who was the real man Sango wondered, never really having bothered to find out.
"Does Sango-chan want to sit down?" Rin asked looking up at her, thinking that the demon slayer looked rather worn out.
"I'm afraid sitting down isn't an option right now, Rin." Sango said with a shrug. Sitting down sounded nice but she couldn't possibly sit down comfortably without Sesshomaru doing the same and that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
"Could Master sit down so that Sango-chan can sit down?" Rin asked her Master, figuring out what Sango meant. Looking up at him pleadingly Rin smiled sweetly as she waited for his answer. "After all, if Sango-chan gets to tired to walk you'll have to carry her, Master. Please, Sesshomaru-sama."
By the Gods what had he done to deserve this Sesshomaru wondered in horror as he stared down at Rin. She wanted him to sit down, on the ground so that the slayer could rest? Carry her, he'd fall on his brother's blade first. But if he didn't want that to happen he was going to have to sit down and how would that look? It would look like he'd gone so soft he was being lead around by Rin, that's how it would look. And if one would pardon the pun she was very close to his pun she was using puppy dog eyes against him. But should he sit or stand. He had no intention of carrying the slayer but neither did he have any wish to look like Rin could dictate his actions, she couldn't after all. "Feh." Sesshomaru said, unaware that he'd just uttered his brother's favourite word. With a dark look in Rin's direction the Great Lord of the West sat down on the ground, yanking on the chain to make Sango do the same.
Surprised Sango sat down too, glad to have the chance to rest her legs. She hadn't thought the demon would actually do as Rin had asked, in fact she'd rather expected the girl to be punished for daring to even ask. Looking at him out of the corner of her eye she smiled slightly at the sight beside her. Sesshomaru sat, straight and tall, his eyes straight ahead as though he were lost in thought or meditating. Rin had sat down beside him and was happily drawing in the dirt with a stick, humming some tune under her breath. Watching her Sango smiled wider then turned her gaze to Sora who was watching the pair too, a smile on her face as well. Who was her mother? Sango wondered for the thousandth time as she tried to figure out what it was about the girl that intrigued her so. It was something about her that reminded Sango of someone, yet for the life of her she couldn't think who. Oh well, it was time to rest and prepare for the walk ahead, hopefully Miroku would be awake by then.
They were just about to leave, Miroku finally awake when the voices met their ears. The voices were coming from the bottom of the hill and it was damn near impossible to ignore them since both of the people appeared to be yelling at the top of their lungs. What confused the group most was the fact that it would appear that the voices had appeared out of nowhere. One minute there had been nothing and then the next Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and Shippou had caught the scent of a dog demon and another creature t the bottom of the hill.
"I swear to the Gods male dog demons are the stupidest things they ever created. As soon as I figure out where the hell we are I'm going to slowly and painfully torture you until you beg me to let you die you stupid, brainless, incompetent, pitiful excuse for a demon!" A female voice called out, the one who smelled like nothing any of them had ever smelled.
"Speak for yourself you-you fish thing. This isn't my fault, it's yours. If you hadn't told me what that word was I never would have been able to send us here." The male dog demon said loudly, his anger obviously. "You can't blame all this on me, Andrea, no way I'm taking all the heat for this one."
"And who's going to give us heat, stupid, we have no idea where we are and I very much doubt we're going to be running into our parents anytime soon." The female said and there came the sound of someone being struck upside the head. "And don't stick your tongue out at me."
"I know those voices." Sora said and moving to the edge of the hill looked down and stared at the two figures at the bottom of the hill, it couldn't be-could it?
"Hey, what have I told you about hitting me in the head." The male growled as he rubbed the spot where she'd whacked him. "You're worse then mom with her sits."
"Sits?" Kagome said looking over at Inuyasha who looked back at her with a startled look on his face. "Did he just say what I think he did?"
"Hey wait a minute, I know those scents." The male said suddenly and whirling around stared up at the top of the hill they'd just landed in front of. "Those people up there smell like my family?"
"Do you think you might have actually done something right for a chance?" Andrea said with a hopeful look as she looked up towards the hill too. As a water demon her sense of smell wasn't great but her mental powers and if she wasn't mistaken Kyou might have actually managed to do something all right for once without screwing it up.
"Sora!" Kyou called out and whooped when he saw a familiar figure running down the hill at amazing speed. With another war whoop he ran towards her, meeting her half way as they flew into each other, rolling part way down the hill as they hugged each other at the familiar face. Rolling her eyes at them but smiling happily Andrea followed him up, hoping that the two would stop with the rolling, otherwise they'd end up at the bottom of the hill in a heap, possibly taking her with them.
"Kyou, what are you doing here?" Sora laughed, not even caring that she was getting dirty as she hung onto her older cousin. Here she'd been wishing that he was here and what did he do, appeared out of nowhere with Andrea in tow. Finally coming to a stop the two cousins got up, arms still wrapped around each other. Even though both had been told that the other was okay they'd both had nagging voices in the back of there heads that hinted that maybe they hadn't been told the complete truth.
"Well you didn't think I was going to risk losing out on finishing our game now did you?" Kyou said with a huge grin as he wiped a smudge of dirt from her face. "Besides, I want another shot at the King of Ugly."
"Sora?" Kagome called out, unsure if they should approach. My God Kagome thought, her eyes going wide as she stared at the dog demon at Sora's side. If his hair was longer and white, with dog-ears instead of at the sides he could pass for Inuyasha in a pinch.
"Holy Mother Mary, Mom, is that you?"
Well that's it for now, lovely cliff-hangers, no? Anyway I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter and that you'll review so that I know that people are still interested in this story. Thanx again and have a great day.