�Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.�

--Anonymous--

Nayida led the way, swimming quickly, albeit hesitantly, towards the king�s underwater castle. Kagome sulked as she swam slowly, trailing farther and farther behind Nayida as they got closer and closer to her father�s home.

She sighed in annoyance, the water brushing against the sakura blossom Sesshoumaru had given her, still behind her ear. She was hoping to put this familiar meeting with her otou-san off. Every meeting was the same, from start to finish, and especially when they moved to that discussion. She couldn�t stand visiting the king anymore because of such a topic.

It wasn�t that Kagome didn�t love her father, because she did, but she felt as though the feeling was not mutual, despite what he said. Like Inuyasha, every time her father looked at her, he saw someone else. He saw her.

But she wasn�t her. She was herself, Kagome, also known as Kohana. It was a shame that no one seemed to notice that.

Looking up from her pout, Kagome saw that the castle was much nearer than she realized, and Nayida was far in front of her.

She sighed. Her father might�ve been a baka, but that was no reason to take it out on Nayida. Kagome didn�t actually do anything to upset her friend, but she found it slightly rude to try losing sight of her guide. For that reason (and that reason only), Kagome sped up her pace, only catching up at the entrance of the castle.

At the sight of her, the two guards by the large doors (there was only a need for two members of security, for there weren�t many who trespassed down underwater) attempted to stifle an excited gasp at the reappearance of the beautiful hime of their kingdom. Although Nayida had mentioned to them that their princess had shown up once again, they, like all the others, looked forward to her return and speaking to her again.

�Ah,� cried one guard, �Kohana Hime-sama!�

�So good to see you again, returning safely!� smiled the other merman.

Kagome smiled kindly. Although she detested the visit with her father, her friends and subjects were all pleasant merpeople to be with, and she was quite fond of each of them, including the mermen, despite their atrocious ugliness and bearded chins. �Arigatou,� she laughed calmly, �and how great it is to see the two of you once again.�

�Here to see the ousama, Kohana-sama?� the first guard asked politely, his aquamarine fin flapping close to the sand.

�Hai,� Kagome muttered unhappily, although she gave a smile to the guards so as not to worry them. The meeting with her otou-san was her burden alone.

�Very well,� the second and younger-looking merman nodded. �Kohana-sama--� he bowed his head in casual respect, as was practiced here, �Nayida-chan.� Both Kagome and Nayida themselves bowed their heads in silent and temporary farewells.

The mermen held their underwater spears to the door in unison, preparing to open it with their mastered and harmless magic. Immediately, colorful and shimmering sparkles emerged from the head of the arrowed blade, each engulfing the center of one of the two doors that was the entrance to the inside of the castle walls. The glitter somehow seemed to push the doors back; they were made of fine ivory made by the merpeople, and the water pressure did not make them hard to open.

Kagome, seeing the familiar way of unsealing the entrance, felt not the excitement of the beautiful shimmers, but instead felt the hollowness of her stomach as she dreaded getting closer to her father. A weak and fake smile was plastered on her lips, and she mentally groaned. Barely hearing Nayida�s thanks to the guards, Kagome began swimming her way through the familiar path to her father�s throne room. Her dread was also anxiousness of getting this meeting over and done with, and she couldn�t stay still, so she picked up her speed, leaving Nayida trailing after her.

Nearing the throne room, swimming past beautiful stone corridors and carefully painted artwork, Kagome swallowed the gigantic lump in her throat, biting her bottom lip twice to try to calm herself. Needless to say, it didn�t work.

There were two more guards blocking the pathway to the king�s throne, and although they seemed glad to see Kagome again, they were stricter and gruffer, and they knew the reason of Kagome�s coming here, and, without a word, they allowed her into the room. Nayida understood as well, and she stayed behind, not far from the burly mermen guards.

Kagome hastily shut the smaller double doors behind her, aware of her father�s stare burning into her back. Once the doors were shut, she paused, not wanting to turn now that she was here. Still�

�Kohana.�

Blinking, Kagome slowly turned to face her father, who was sitting atop his throne, his fin floating above the stone of the floor. His gray beard was still long, as was his hair, and he was without his crown, sporting a casual appearance. His fin easily matched her own, as did his sparkling blue eyes. All in all, he looked like a kind merman, and he was, no doubt about it.

All the same, Kagome couldn�t help but give his kind eyes a hard look back. She knew why he called for her. Perhaps he had just made it seem as though he missed her, but whether that was true or not, it was not why he had summoned her. Though, she had to admit that she had missed her father dreadfully, as she saw him little, but she was still unhappy and unready for the conversation that was about to take place.

�Otou-san,� she swam casually towards the throne, immediately sitting on the stone of the floor in front of him, as was only polite in their society.

The king, a smart and strong merman named Ryuu, smiled sadly. �How awkward this is, ne?�

Kagome offered a tiny smile back, although her heart was not all there. He gets straight to the point, doesn't he? �Hai.� The silence hung in the air for many seconds after the short answer, but it was a familiar conversation. Like always, she broke the silence. �You wanted to see me?�

�Hai,� he answered. �I've missed you.�

�Did you?� Kagome muttered loud enough. Their tones were soft and quiet, yet below the surface, they were hard and strict. Kagome disliked these meetings, which Ryuu knew sadly, but he couldn�t help but say what he usually did, although he knew it would all end badly, like usual.

�I did.� He cleared his throat at the tension. �You did not come yesterday, although I�ve heard that you were spotted last night in this lake. Perhaps it was you who did not miss me?�

�I did not say that, Otou-san,� Kagome answered truthfully.

�Hai, but you did not wish to see me.�

�Iie, I didn�t.�

�May I inquire as to why?�

Kagome�s eyes slightly grew harder. �I am not good with confrontation.�

There was a pause in the air. ��I see.� The pause went on longer, but it was soon broken. �Tell me of your friends on land. I assume they are all well?�

Kagome had to refrain from rolling her eyes. How many times she had heard that question! �Hai. Inuyasha is becoming more patient, Sango and Miroku�s relationship continues to hold strong, Shippou�s growing steadily, and Kirara is still as strong as ever. Now that Naraku�s gone, his shards of the Shikon no Tama have scattered all over again, which is troublesome, but our team works well, and the jewel is coming together once again.�

Ryuu nodded, smiling softly. �You have accomplished much.�

�Perhaps.�

�You speak vaguely, though.�

�Gomen nasai.�

Ryuu sighed. The conversation was going nowhere, like expected. So then surely it wouldn�t be too much to ask now?

�Kohana�� Kagome stifled a grown. Here it was: the purpose of every visit she made down to this castle. �How is your mother?�

Kagome looked away, down to the floor. She hated this. He would always ask her, and from there it went downhill. �She�s doing well.�

Ryuu didn�t speak, waiting for more information that he would not get until he asked. �And her family?�

�Fine. They�re fine.� She began brushing her hair with her fingers, a habit of most mermaids. �Souta, my half-brother, grows smarter every day, and yet he is still playful.� She ignored the small pain in her father�s eyes, for he was still not used to the idea of his love with another man. �Jii-san still loves his stories, and he raises our shrine well. Our neko, Buyou, is nearing his last years, but he is still just as cuddly and sweet as ever. They are all doing well.�

�I�m glad,� Ryuu nodded, hesitating to speak his next question. �And of your mother�what is she up to?�

Kagome couldn�t help but glare slightly now. It was not in her nature to act so terribly, but her father frustrated her quickly, and, like every teenager, she couldn�t help it. She sighed. These questions were going to end up a disaster, she knew. �She works now and then, a part-time job. She stays at home mostly, though, and helps at the shrine at times too.�

Ryuu nodded, his eyes sparkling now. Kagome couldn�t help but grow jealous of the attention her father paid to her mother, but not to her. �She is healthy then?�

Kagome growled softly. �Hai,� she said, exasperated and exhausted with such questions.

�And�� Ryuu hesitated the most at this point, �does she ever speak of me?�

Kagome found herself getting up from her seat, swimming to an open window of the castle that showed a beautiful view of the lake waters. �At times.� She didn�t lie. But then again, could he really expect her mother to completely forget the man � merman � she first fell in love with?

There was more silence before Ryuu again spoke. �I do miss her.�

Kagome�s eyes grew softer, for she knew the story of her parents� forced separation. That Bone-Eater�s Well was quite the nuisance, wasn�t it? It wasn�t his fault that things turned out the way they did, but the least he could do was acknowledge her, Kagome. At this frustrating thought, the softness in her eyes grew into anger. The unsettling in her stomach was too much, and the hidden fury inside her began to leak out of her mouth in biting words.

�Do you?� Kagome glared out the window, something Ryuu did not miss. �And why is that?� She finally turned to face her father. �After all, she�s right here.�

�Kohana,� he sighed, �don�t do this--�

�And why not?� she glowered. �I mean, I do resemble her a lot, don�t I?�

�That means nothing--�

�Oh?� She glared harder in her anger. �You told me yourself that I remind you so much of her. I don�t even see why you keep me around. After all, the thought of her only brings you pain.�

�Do not speak to me like that!� Ryuu stood to float above his fin. He had so much to say, and yet he couldn�t find out how he could put it into words; therefore, he found himself stuttering foolish words about respect, which wasn�t even what the fight was about, at least not exactly. �I am your father, and you have no right to speak out and defy me!�

Kagome scoffed. �You may be my father, but you do not treat me as your daughter! I am just here as a living picture of my okaa-san so you do not forget what she looks like.�

�You are wrong,� the king denied. �Hai, you are my daughter, and wo ai ni--�

�Iie! If you love me, it is because you are obligated to as a father, not because there is something you particularly like about me. You only enjoy my presence when I do not speak and I just show up as my mother.�

�Kohana--�

��Kagome�! My name is �Kagome�, not �Kohana�!� She was growing even more frustrated, her cries surely loud enough for Nayida and the guards outside to overhear.

�It is your name as a mermaid.�

�And what of my name as a ningen?�

�You are half-mermaid, and I have a right to call you as such.�

Kagome took a deep breath so as not to raise her voice any higher. �You do not call me �Kagome� because my okaa-san gave me that name.�

Ryuu paused, but he did not fail to answer. �Perhaps.� He spoke softly, quickly growing exhausted of the biting comments. Such softness made Kagome�s eyes soften themselves, although her anger was not diminished. She continued to seethe, despite her heart�s pace slowing back down.

�You admit to it then.�

�I suppose.� He sighed, exasperated. �It would mean much if you would at least understand how I have not forgotten her.�

Kagome turned her head to look back out the window. Their fight was short, like always, but it still lead her heart into unease. She hated how her father would make her feel so guilty when she felt it was he who should have felt it for not loving her as dearly as he should. He merely loved her mother, her dear okaa-san.

�I do understand,� Kagome muttered, �I just wish you could move on.�

Ryuu stared at the back of her head. �As if I could.�

Kagome�s anger began to inflate again, but she tried to keep it under control as best as she could. �She has moved on.� She could practically feel her father�s pain. �I am not saying she has forgotten, but she knows you shall both never see each other again, whether you accept it or not. She lives in the future now, and you live here underwater. The other man she had married and loved is now only in Souta, as that man, Souta�s otou-san, has passed many years ago. She has a son, and you�� She turned to him and looked at him sadly in those identical eyes, �you have a daughter.�

The eye contact was kept for many seconds, the pair of the king�s hurt and guilty orbs held by the hime�s sad and angry ones. Kagome did end up breaking it, however, as she looked back out the window.

�I know you cannot forget, otou-san,� she continued, �but what about me? Am I not good enough for you? You enjoy my resemblance of okaa-san, but you despise how I remind you of her. I no longer know what you wish for.�

She swam back towards the ivory door she came through to enter. She held the handle, preparing to open it, but she did not just yet.

�It was nice speaking to you again, otou-san,� she said half-heartedly. �I pray to Kami-sama that our next meeting shall be different, for the better. This conversation is much too familiar.�

With that, she left the throne room, leaving Ryuu alone again.

Such a quick conversation that was, they both knew; yet it was, indeed, so familiar that it needed less time for every feeling to be thrown into the water. Ryuu, like always, felt the guilt eat away at him, as well as the pain of not seeing his love again, other than his dear Kohana, his lovely Kagome; but he knew these thoughts would soon pass as they always had. Still, every one of these meetings piled the guilt and sadness higher as he hid it in the back of his heart, and he was aware that it would soon collapse.

He did indeed feel terribly guilty. He always wished he could act as the father Kohana � Kagome � deserved. Still, every time he looked at her, he thought of the woman he loved, and he was devastated. Unfortunately, every word his daughter spoke was true, relatively speaking. But he couldn�t help the lack of a bond he had with his daughter, and he didn�t know how to fix it, either.

He shook his head as he swam to the window Kagome had been staring out of in during the past. It had not even been ten whole minutes, even with all those awkward pauses, had it?

He immediately saw his daughter sprint in water, her swimming quick as she rose to the surface again, far off into the lake.

She was probably going to enjoy her time with the air and water, he knew, before her fins disappeared and allowed her happiness on plain, dry land once again. Somehow, he felt it was foreshadowing her final choice, the choice she was going to have to make when the time came.

Inuyasha sighed loudly as he carried a sack of flour over his shoulder to Kaede�s hut. He felt like being lazy today; but, like always, Kaede found something for him to do; and by something, she meant work. It was a good thing, though, that he had demon blood running through his veins, for the bag wasn�t heavy at all as he walked through the village.

Within moments, Inuyasha found himself outside of Kaede�s hut, and he dumped the sack by the door without a care. Well, it wasn�t like the flour was going to break or anything.

�Here, Kaede,� Inuyasha�s dog ears twitched as he heard the familiar voice, �I got rid of those weeds for you.�

�Ah, arigatou, Kagome,� the older miko said in her rough accent, �they shall be good for new potions.�

Inuyasha obviously turned the corner to Kaede�s fields, bringing himself into the conversation, like usual. �Since when do you use you weeds for potions?�

Kaede turned to the hanyou. �Oh, are ye finished unloading those sacks already?� The look he gave her pretty much answered her question, so she answered his. �Weeds grown with herbs collect combinations of their healing powers, creating one of their own. It is only natural to use in potions, ne?�

Inuyasha scoffed. �Whatever, it doesn�t matter to me.�

�You�re the one that asked, Inuyasha,� Kagome pointed out.

�Yeah,� he retorted, �well, I didn�t ask you.�

Kagome rolled her eyes. �No, but you butted into our conversation, baka.�

�Some conversation, talking about weeds.�

�We wouldn�t have talked about it for long if you didn�t show up and ask about it.�

�Then what�re you so testy about? Apparently I didn�t interrupt a very important conversation after all.�

Kagome�s eyes narrowed playfully. She loved these short and pointless banters with Inuyasha, and she knew he did as well. At times their fights were real and insulting, but these were harmless contests of their wits, and they both welcomed these as a chance to get closer, however silly that sounded.

Kagome opened her mouth to retort, but was interrupted. �Inuyasha!� Miroku groaned from a few yards away. He was dragging an extremely large and heavy bag of rice on his shoulder, but he gave up and threw it on the ground to drag it like that.

�What the hell d�ya think you�re doing, Miroku?� Inuyasha stared down at him.

The monk glared as he panted from exhaustion. �What does it look like I am doing? I am dragging these heavy bags all the way across the village because a certain lazy dog decided to carry the smallest and lightest ones instead and leave me with these!�

Kaede gave Inuyasha a look while Kagome ran to help Miroku with the last sack. Inuyasha ignored both. �Who ya calling a lazy dog?� he cried in childish anger.

Miroku shot him a look.

�C�mon, Inuyasha,� Kagome scolded, �you�re part youkai and can easily carry these rice bags, baka!�

Inuyasha scoffed. �Whatever. If Miroku can fight youkai and live through Sango�s beatings, he can carry a couple bags of rice.�

Miroku glared as his head swelled over a tiny Inuyasha, anime style. �There were twenty-five bags, you idiot!�

Shippou had popped up on Kaede�s shoulder during the encounter, Myouga on top of Shippou's shoulder, and their eyes were thin, also anime style, as they stared at the scene before them. �They all look like idiots to me,� Shippou muttered.

�What�d you say, runt?� Inuyasha complained, hearing his comment.

�I was just making an observation!� the kitsune stuck his tongue out at the hanyou.

�Yeah, well shut your--� Inuyasha paused, his fist still clenched and about to beat Shippou�s poor little head in. He sniffed the air, his eyes quickly changing into seriousness and annoyance.

Although everyone noticed, Kagome was the first to ask about it. �What�s wrong, Inuyasha?�

Inuyasha put his fist down and turned to her and Miroku, his silver hair whipping behind his back.

�Sesshoumaru.�

Sesshoumaru sat in the clearing he had led Rin, Jaken, and Ah-Uhn into the night before. He leaned against a sturdy tree, deep in thought as he twirled the blood-red glass lily �Kohana� had given him just hours earlier.

He ignored Rin and Jaken�s game of tag that Jaken obviously despised, and he zoned out, only thinking about one thing, or, should he say, one mermaid�

Kohana�Princess Kohana.

She had kissed him last night, and he couldn�t stop thinking about her warm, soft lips brushing against his face. Hai, the kiss was only a friendly one on his cheek, and he was saddened to know it was only that, but he nevertheless could not help the blush that threatened to adorn his cheeks, nor the thoughts of his affection for the beautiful mermaid.

He again forced himself to come into reality. His affection for her? No, that couldn�t be affection, could it? After all, he had only just spoken to her, hell, he had only just known she existed, let alone her species!

Still, though� He was still stunned by her beauty and perfection, and he found himself unable to stop thinking about her, and Rin�s necklace of Kohana�s star-shaped stone didn�t help any as he spotted it every once in a while.

And then again, he must�ve only be intrigued by the mermaid who he had not known existed outside of his father�s scrolls and his few books. He must�ve been interested because he had never heard of mermaid spottings, and he yearned to learn of creatures that no one else knew much about. So how could he have feelings for a mermaid who he still knew so little about? He had even felt these things once he saw her, so it couldn�t be some infatuation, could it?

No, it couldn�t. At least, that�s what he told himself.

But that didn�t explain how his heart fluttered when she smiled at him, or how he had to fight blushes and smiles a lot more lately. Myouga had said that mermaids could not perform spells to woo him, nor could they harm him, due to popular belief that they could sing their way into a man�s heart, causing him to jump into the sea and drown.

Then what were these peculiar feelings? It didn�t make sense that he felt them, and yet they felt right, but not completely discovered, as though there were parts of these feelings that he had yet to realize or admit. It was as though there were pieces missing, and he had to be patient until he figured out what they were. He had not known Kohana long enough to feel these feelings to the extreme, but it was like he still felt a twinge of what was to come, and he was therefore confused.

He sighed softly as he stared at the mermaid flower, the glass lily Kohana had given him. All morning, he had been unable to part with it, and at Rin�s squeals of delight at the pretty thing, and Jaken�s annoying and never-ending questions about how he came about it, he refused to let it go.

He traced one clawed finger against the smooth petals, his fingerprints somehow not rubbing against the glass and leaving slightly visible streaks of filth, leaving the flower still looking untouched. Perhaps this was some mermaid magic at work?

He hoped it was unbreakable as well. He refused to allow it to come to harm, as it was as precious as �Kohana� herself.

Kohana.

Such a beautiful and breathtaking specimen, indeed.

And at this thought, Sesshoumaru�s heart began to beat quickly again, and in his deep thoughts of the mermaid, he hadn�t realized that he had accidentally let down his guard, releasing his scent as his masking of it broke down ever so slightly.

But it was enough for Inuyasha to sense, and Sesshoumaru sensed his half-brother himself only just before the hanyou and a few members of his party (the taijiya and two-tailed neko-youkai were absent) burst through the trees and grass, causing Rin and Jaken to pause in their chase.

Sesshoumaru, however, continued to stare at his flower, refusing to look away just yet.

Kagome ran after Inuyasha, for in his annoyance at his half-brother, he didn�t wait to get Kagome atop his back, like usual. She didn�t mind much, but she felt her heart�s beating increase.

Sesshoumaru.

The baka, staying here and allowing his scent to appear for Inuyasha to smell! Still, she couldn�t find herself angry with the Taiyoukai, but she was worried for him instead, something that obviously surprised her.

She actually felt guilty, for it was her fault that he was going to get caught here. If she hadn�t spoken with him last night, he might�ve left here. It wasn�t that she was afraid that Sesshoumaru would lose a fight against Inuyasha, for that only happened a few times when he was caught off-guard, and Sesshoumaru was stronger, she had to admit, but she couldn�t help but feel saddened that, if he was found, he wouldn�t come see her tonight, and she would be unable to speak with him civilly again.

She couldn�t deny the fact that she wished to speak with him again. After all, who wouldn�t after they realized he had a softer side to him? Besides, what if Sesshoumaru squealed in this upcoming encounter about where he had been and who he had met last night? Although he didn't know himself that he had met with Kagome, Inuyasha's guard would be up, and that would eventually become a troublesome conflict when Kagome wished to run off. So she was nervous, for she couldn�t run as fast as Inuyasha, and she couldn�t stop him from finding his onii-san.

Then again, perhaps Sesshoumaru planned to be found? Did he have a plan that needed to be taken out so he could swipe Tetsusaiga? But why would he? He was aware that when Inuyasha�s sword was taken away, he could die, and whether he admitted it or not, Kagome knew Sesshoumaru refused to be the cause of Inuyasha�s demise. There were many times he could have killed Inuyasha, as his power was so strong, Inuyasha didn�t stand a chance, although Kagome felt bad admitting it. So why would Sesshoumaru still try to steal the Tetsusaiga?

Little did she know, Sesshoumaru�s whole purpose of being nearby was to steal their otou-san�s sword, but she didn�t need to know that just yet.

Soon, Kagome had caught up to Inuyasha�s running, Miroku next to her with Shippou on his shoulder, Myouga having cowardly stayed with Kaede at the thought of seeing Sesshoumaru again so soon. Kagome panted slightly from the long run, but refused to bend over on her knees to catch her breath; she was still as stubborn as ever, she supposed.

She held back a gasp of nervousness as she saw, from over Inuyasha�s shoulder, Sesshoumaru leaning against a tree in the clearing. Did he not know that they were there?

�Sesshoumaru!� Inuyasha cried, unsheathing Tetsusaiga threateningly, just in case there was a fight. �What the hell are you doing here?�

When Inuyasha took out his sword, he moved his shoulders as he stood in a fighting stance, and Kagome could clearly see Sesshoumaru fully now. She held back a gasp once again as she saw him staring affectionately at the very flower she had given to him last night.

Why was he looking at it like that? Why wasn�t he looking away from it? Why did he allow himself to be absorbed into her flower rather than acknowledge Inuyasha�s threatening growls? She felt her face blush slightly at these questions, however, she was na�ve as to why Sesshoumaru did indeed seem so caught up in her present.

Sesshoumaru soon looked up, no surprise in his eyes, but, rather, annoyance, which everyone noticed, including Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru�s wards.

�Inuyasha,� he muttered softly yet sternly, but everyone heard him clearly, �my purpose for being here is none of your concern.�

Inuyasha scoffed. �To hell it isn�t! You obviously knew I was staying nearby, right?�

�Perhaps,� he said calmly, turning his eyes back to the lily. �It would be hard to miss that vile stench of yours.�

Inuyasha growled audibly. �What do you want? My Tetsusaiga? Well, you ain�t gonna have it!�

When it came down to it, Inuyasha was, ironically, correct about him wanting to steal Tetsusaiga, but there was no way Sesshoumaru would admit that to him now. Kohana had sidetracked him, but that didn�t mean he wouldn�t act on his plan to swipe the sword.

�I am not planning anything against you just yet,� he half-lied, �so you need not feel threatened by me.�

�Bullshit!� Inuyasha cried. �Like I�m supposed to believe that! Now get your ass up and leave! You ain�t welcome here!�

Kagome gulped. Like always, Inuyasha judged things on his own feelings. Okay, she wasn�t giving him enough credit, but at this moment, she wanted Inuyasha to leave his brother alone and allow him to stay for tonight�s rendezvous. If she didn't get her reassurance that Sesshoumaru would be silent about his late-night whereabouts, she would surely be paranoid enough to go crazy!

With this thought, Kagome decided to step in. �Come on, Inuyasha,� she put a hand on his shoulder, �Sesshoumaru�s obviously not going to hurt us, otherwise he would�ve already tried to do so and take the Tetsusaiga.�

Inuyasha, needless to say, wasn�t assured nor comforted that his own side was beginning to turn against him. �Keh,� he scoffed, �he might not be planning anything now, but he�ll come after us, Kagome, and find a way to take Tetsusaiga while he�s here!�

Sesshoumaru would�ve rolled his eyes, if he hadn�t wanted to look away from the flower in his hands. �Listen to your wench, Inuyasha, and dismiss yourself.� He was aware that he wasn�t one to say such things, but he wanted to be left in peace with his thoughts of Kohana. He wanted Inuyasha to leave him alone, as strange as that sounded.

Although she was used to it, Kagome was slightly hurt at being called a wench by Sesshoumaru, who had been so kind to her last night, but she soon remembered that he had not recognized her the night before, so of course he would still act indifferent to Kagome�s presence, however much he enjoyed Kohana�s.

�Coward,� Inuyasha challenged.

�Iie,� Sesshoumaru didn�t look at him, �just annoyed.�

Kagome wanted to leave now. She didn�t want to drive Sesshoumaru away, so far away he would not return to the lake at night. Her eyes met with Miroku, who still stood silent beside her, and she pleaded with her eyes. He seemed to catch on, and he spoke to Inuyasha.

�Come, Inuyasha,� he blinked, �Lord Sesshoumaru is obviously no threat at the moment. It would be a waste of energy and a pointless battle if we remain here.�

Inuyasha growled at the houshi. �Nani, you just want me to walk away?�

Shippou seemed to understand as well. �Duh,� he gave him a look.

�Come on, Inuyasha,� Kagome said softly to her friend, the hanyou she had learned to love over the years. �Let�s go back and help Kaede. We were awfully rude, leaving her like that.�

Inuyasha knew he was losing the argument, but that didn�t stop his anger at Sesshoumaru. �I can�t believe all of you want to run away!� he cried. �Sesshoumaru will come back for us and the Tetsusaiga, and we�ll most likely be unprepared then! We can�t just up and leave now!�

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at his flower, although the glare was meant for Inuyasha. �Go on, hanyou,� he spoke sharply, �I am in no mood to deal with you now. Leave.�

Inuyasha wasn�t about to back out, and Kagome knew it, so she groaned, rolling her eyes, and moved to drastic measures. �Inuyasha�� She waited until he looked at her. �Osuwari!�

Inuyasha let out one cry before his face met the ground, swallowing a handful of dirt. Sesshoumaru didn�t look up, nor did his expression change, but he knew what had happened, and he was therefore amused.

�Come on, Miroku,� Kagome shook her head. �Let�s take him back now.�

Miroku nodded, although he looked annoyed. �The baka made me lug twenty-five heavy bags of rice all morning, and now I have to carry him!� Kagome smiled at his muttering, leaning over to help him carry Inuyasha.

Before she picked him up, however, she stood straight again and turned to Sesshoumaru. �Ja ne, Sesshoumaru,� she said politely, but she was serious. She would see him later, hopefully, tonight at the lake, to be precise.

Sesshoumaru was slightly surprised at the unexpected farewell, but he didn�t look up from the dear flower, nor did he feel obligated to answer.

Kagome smiled her goodbyes to Rin, Jaken, and Ah-Uhn, who had remained silent throughout the encounter, Rin from politeness and Jaken because he had a large piece of cloth stuck in his mouth (Rin had placed it there during their game), and he couldn�t seem to get it out.

At Rin�s wave and giggle, Kagome leaned back down to pick up Inuyasha, but before she and Miroku could touch him, the spell began to wear off, so Kagome repeated her assault. �Osuwari,� she said calmly, and Inuyasha groaned at the sharp impact again.

Kagome and Miroku, and even little Shippou, grabbed tufts of Inuyasha�s Fire Rat clothing, dragging him along the ground.

Kagome sighed as she pulled Inuyasha along, exhausted after a mere five minutes, although Sesshoumaru and his wards were out of sight now.

�Inuyasha, you baka,� she muttered to him, another �osuwari� spell put upon him, as she, Miroku, and Shippou took a break and Inuyasha began to get up again.

Damn, she needed a break.

--TBC--