InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance At Love ❯ A Beautiful Cage. ( Chapter 15 )

Disclaimer: There are some things in this world that will never change no matter how hard and often you pray.... this is one of those things.

~Always know thy surroundings well. You never know when you may need a swift exit.~

-Unknown

Chapter 15: A Beautiful Cage.

"Sesshoumaru-sama"

Sesshoumaru watched as Inuyasha's face started to turn an icky shade of blue, as the hand around his throat grew perceptibly tighter. Through the angry haze in his head he heard the small voice somewhere below him toward his left as he used his newly restored arm to squeeze the life from the hanyou at his fingertips.

Sesshoumaru looked down into the pleading brown eyes of his little ward and had to focus hard on her face. The rage in him was growing, but he had to remember that in truth it was not the hanyou's fault that his miko was gone.

`His miko?' Since when had he started thinking of her as his, he wondered?

He brought his eyes back to a pair that mirrored his own, and had to force himself to loosen his grip on Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru watched as the half-breed's body slid quickly down the tree and hit the ground with a thud, as Inuyasha took a deep gulp and fought to get much needed air into his deprived lungs.

Both pair of golden eyes: one wary and the other guarded, watched as the little girl stepped silently between the two warring brothers.

"He loves her too" said the little girl quietly, "Maybe more then even you do."

Rin stood there with her back to Sesshoumaru and her eyes locked on Inuyasha's. She waited for a moment, as if waiting for her words to sink into their heads, before turning and walking back to her spot near Shippou and Jaken.

Both of them watched her walk away as they shared identical thoughts: Whom was the little girl addressing? They knew she was speaking of Kagome, but whom was she saying loved her more?

"She was talking to you both."

Both heads swiveled to a voice to the Taiyoukai's right as one turned and the other turned and looked up. They stared at the houshi. Purple connected with gold twice before holding onto the Taiyoukai's.

"Its amazing. She's only seen seven summers, yet she speaks with a perception not seen in children," then turning to Inuyasha he added, "Or many adults."

"What the hell that's suppose to mean?" rasped Inuyasha from the ground. It was supposed to be a yell, but because of his abused thyroid glands it came out more like a harsh whisper.

Mirouku reached down a hand to help Sango to her feet. She was still sitting on the ground, though now Inuyasha was the one beside her.

"It means just as I said, Inuyasha. She's an intelligent child. Who I would imagine have seen many things in her young life... things no child so young should have to see or experience. Yet she holds onto her innocence. Remarkable, that." Mirouku sighed as he looked from one inu-youkai to the other. "She sees that you both love Kagome, but who is to say which one of you loves her more then the other. Apparently even she can't tell so she addressed her statement to you both. I guess she feels as we all do; that you should take those feelings you have for her and come together. Not find more reasons to fight."

Sesshoumaru looked down at Inuyasha as he looked back at the Taiyoukai. Sesshoumaru could see all the emotions running across Inuyasha's face before he shut them off from his brother's scrutiny. Anger, wonder, disbelief, fear, uncertainty.... and hope. `Hope?' Sesshoumaru wondered what Inuyasha could have to hope for that had anything to do with him. `And further more, what made them think that they could ever come together?'

Inuyasha stared back at the mask he'd come to know as his brother's face. `There was a time...' He began, but immediately kicked that thought to the side, those days were long gone and they were never coming back. No matter how he might hope.

"Besides, everyone knows neither of you wish to kill the other. Inuyasha's alive after all..."

They watched the monk walk away as he trailed off; his arm still around the taijiya.

`What did he mean by that?' They both wondered as they watched his retreating form as he went over to gather Shippou and Rin and prepared them to leave. Inuyasha decided he would put the question to the monk later... right before he killed him. It would be a fitting end. Sesshoumaru dismissed him, even though he'd formed a small semblance of respect for the lecherous monk, he was still only human. What could he possibly know?

Sesshoumaru gave Inuyasha one last glare before turning around and dismissing the hanyou's presence. He found out from Jaken the area in which Kagome had disappeared from and immediately made his way there.

When he arrived he quickly felt something in the morning breeze. He stood very still as he came to a stop in the very spot the miko had stood in the night before. He narrowed his eyes as he concentrated on the illusive something that was telling him something wasn't right.

The rest of the group had followed the Taiyoukai out of the campsite and now watched as he seemed to stand there staring into the abyss. They saw his eyes narrow slightly, but other then that, there was no sign that the demon lord was even there. They watched as his long silver hair flapped lightly away from his calves in the breeze and waited silently for him to finish whatever it was he was doing.

They hoped that he could at least tell them something... anything that they hadn't already figured out.

"Kagura..."

They all stilled at the whispered word. Not sure if they heard, and not sure if they wanted to believe... or understand exactly what that one word could mean. A name... just a name, they hoped.

Inuyasha, being the reckless and tactless hanyou he was known to his friends as, lived up to his character and spoke.

"Eh? What's that stupid demon has to do with this?"

No one said anything or even acknowledged his question as they kept their eyes glued to the white vision in front of them. They had no idea how the Taiyoukai knew the demon had been here... there was no way he could still smell her scent. With the passage of time and the constant move of the wind there wasn't any possibility a scent could be strong enough to identify... if there was anything left of a scent. But, they could see that the demon lord was sure of what he sensed... however he sensed it.

"She's with Kagura," whispered Sango to no one in particular.

Mirouku gave a cursory glance of his beloved's face. He noticed that she was much paler then usual, but noted her breathing was still light and even. No matter what she was feeling she was not panicking... he was grateful for that.

He thought about asking the Taiyoukai if he was sure, but decided the aristocrat would not find his question welcome. In fact, he figured the inu-youkai would probably consider it rudeness... as if he was questioning his ability. Which, the houshi had to admit, in a way he would have been. So he settled for a different question instead.

"How do you know she was here?"

Sesshoumaru slowly tilted his head back to stare at the sky. He wondered briefly why Kagome would go with the wind demon alone. He thought about the miko she was and the woman he'd grown to know her to be and realized slowly why she had done it. She was protecting them. He sighed silently as he understood this and tried to clamp down hard on his anger. It wasn't easy though, for in her attempt to protect them he was sure she had most likely placed herself in more danger then was necessary. He was even more angry at the fact that said danger was unknown to him.

He brought his head back level and quietly turned to gaze at the people his miko considered important enough to risk her life for. For the first time in a long time he gave them all a thorough casing over as he took in the mismatched group. First his eyes fell on the taijiya who, though female, held great strength and cunning that made her more then a formidable warrior. He was even more amazed since she was also a ningen... though her scent was not unpleasant. Briefly he took in the kitsune and the fire neko. One was resting in the exterminator's arms, while the other perched on the houshi's shoulder. He knew the demon cat was more then adequate as a companion with her ability to trasform into a larger version of herself and while the kitsune was still too young to be of much help, he did prove to be loyal and had the potential to be a great warrior... he was already pretty cunning. `The rat!"

Then his eyes fell on the houshi in his dark robes holding his staff confidently by his side. Sesshoumaru had figured the monk would prove to be useless without the kazaana, but his skill in combat as well as using that staff of his was more then compensation for the loss of the wind tunnel. He hated to admit it, even to himself but he had respect for the monk. Sesshoumaru gazed into the dark purple eyes of the houshi and saw the quiet patience sitting there. The waiting. He had not forgotten the monk had asked him a question and at first he was not going to deem it with a response; after all, he answered to no one. Not even one who had gained his respect, but he realized that there was something they needed to know and decided to answer.

He did not even look at Inuyasha. His mind was still whirling with the words spoken earlier by Rin and the monk.

"As you may have realized I can no longer smell any scent here. Too much time has passed, " he watched the houshi give him a silent nod in agreement. "It was the power. I recognize the power here. Though it is slight, it still lingers."

"You recognize her power?" Mirouku questioned, not sure if he was hearing him right.

"No."

He arched an eyebrow at the demon; silently asking for clarification.

Sesshoumaru sighed heavily as his face grew even more remote. He was not used to explaining himself. His father had been dead a long time. He realized he still didn't like the action.

"The power is not hers, yet it surrounds her always. It is what I believe has been cloaking her from the rest of you since we left the village days ago."

"Cloaking her... from us? Why would she..." Mirouku trailed off as realization of what the Taiyoukai was saying slipped in. "She's been following us... and you and Kagome both knew."

A shocked breath went through the group. No one knew what to address first; the fact that Kagura had been following them for so long.... or that both he and Kagome knew and didn't say anything.

Sesshoumaru figured he might as well tell them the rest.

"Yes, but I think its more that she's been leading us. When we finally stayed on the road back to where we defeated Naraku she stopped... interfering and settled to following."

"I thought she'd stopped after we'd left the village for the last time. I'd figured the village was where she'd wanted us," he said to no one. Mirouku was just voicing aloud what everyone else had thought and assumed as well.

"DAMMIT!!"

Everyone turned in the direction of the angry yell. Inuyasha scowled as he looked back at them. He was angry. Now that he'd made his final choice, it looked like he was about to loose anyway. When his eyes met his brother's he inwardly cringed at the hard look the youkai lord was giving him.

"You will moderate your language half-breed or I will do it for you."

Inuyasha eyed him ruefully but did not take him up on his offer. He turned toward the east; the same direction in which they were now sure Kagome, with Kagura, had gone.

"So, now we know how she got so far in so short a time," he muttered. "Feh!"

"Mmm. Yes, feather..." responded Mirouku.

Suddenly Sesshoumaru turned without a word and began walking east.

All heads looked in his direction.

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GOING, SESSHOUMARU!!"

"Inuyasha. I will remove your tongue," replied the youkai lord quietly. Never stopping in his stride as he walked away from the group. "I will not warn you again. We waste time."

He'd decided that the group was good enough to keep with him, but now it was time to get moving.

Catching the not so subtle hint... they all followed along behind the Taiyoukai. Inuyasha picking up the tail of there group muttering obscenities about arrogant demons that thought they were King of the world in the process.

*~* Naraku's Castle*~*

He watched her quietly as she slept. He'd never imagined someone could sleep during the day, but he knew she'd not slept the night and figured she was making up for lost time. He could see the innocence in the young miko's face as she sighed in her sleep and turned her face in his direction.

He knew he needed her if he was to succeed in getting what it is he wanted... what he rightly deserved! He didn't care for the fact he had to use this castle, but from inside the mirror he no longer had the power to create and hide a castle of his own wherever and whenever he wished. So, he had to make due with this... and this was just as much his as anything he could create.

He heard her sigh once more, and couldn't help wondering what it was she was dreaming about. Whatever it was she was reluctant to leave it. As he watched from his dark corner in the room he'd told Kagura the witch to put her in, he decided to take a peek into her mind and discover her dreams for himself. It was one of the few tricks he could still do.

Naraku, from inside the mirror, shut his eyes and slowly expanded his mind to probe at the sleeping girl. He suppressed an inward sigh at the comfortable feeling he got from the recesses of her mind and stilled himself to go deeper. Just when he got the feeling he was coming to the part of her brain that held her dream, he felt a heavy door slam in his face. He tried to push through it, but the door, or block, would not budge. She was blocking him out of her mind.

When he'd pulled his mind back to himself, he carefully opened his eyes. He watched the young miko frown in her sleep and curl her legs up close to her into the fetal position. He didn't know how she did it, but in her state of unaware she still had the ability to protect herself. Perhaps she was stronger then he suspected. He didn't think about that.

Naraku frowned and felt an immediate anger at the possibility the miko before him might be too strong to fall for his plan. Just the thought made him want to do something mean and ugly to her, but unfortunately in the state he was in, there wasn't much he could do.

He thought about his choices for a moment, but was brought out of his musings when he heard the young female sigh in contentment once more. He saw her lips curve into a slight smile and figured out a way to get the miko back. He'd wake her up! If he couldn't have her dreams, then neither would she. He didn't even think about how petty that sounded, as he grinned to himself.

`Kanna. Go and wake the miko up.'

Kanna heard the familiar voice coming from her mirror and nodded.

"Alright."

She walked forward slowly and moved out of the dark corner heading for the bed against the opposite wall where the sleeping miko was located. When she was next to the bed she stood stock-still right above the miko's head and waited patiently for the miko to wake up. She knew she wouldn't have to wait very long, if the miko was anything like her sister Kagura.

She was right.

Kagome stirred in her sleep. She could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing up and got an uneasy feeling. Soon her body tensed and in the next moment her eyes snapped open. Kagome immediately felt as if someone was watching her, then caught the shadow standing over her.

Kagome slowly raised her eyes and saw the small girl with the vacant expression, but being that she just woke up she didn't really recognize what was happening.

Understanding that, Kagome reacted accordingly; she jumped three feet, clutched her chest and let out a blood-curdling scream.

"AHHHHH! OH MY GOD!!"

Kagome heaved in a huge breath and tried to calm her racing heart. She stared at the pale child as she waited for her heart to normalize.

(Okay, wake up, jump three feet, than clutch chest as you let out blood curdling scream. Yes, good. Check!) Kagome sighed as she mentally noted how well the morning was turning out to be. `What a way to wake up!'

"Kanna?" she breathed when she was able to speak without pressing a palm to her chest.

The little girl stared back at her for a moment before she spoke.

"She is awake."

Kagome watched as the little girl waited for a moment, as if for instructions, then watched her turn silently around and exit the room.

Kagome watched this all quietly as she wondered who the child was talking to. She wondered if the child was really as `touched' in the head as she seemed? When she couldn't come up with a possible answer on her own, Kagome shrugged and got up. She decided that since she couldn't go back to sleep, she might as well get up and get dress.

As she put back on the outfit she had on yesterday; it was all she had with her besides her p.j.s; she wondered whether Kanna had locked the door as she left. Kagome knew she'd been locked in the room last night, but wasn't too sure if the child paid attention enough to remember to lock the door.

After she finished putting on her long denim skirt with the two slits that reached as far up her leg to a little over an inch above her kneecaps on both sides and her pink turtleneck shirt that had no sleeves she put on her white Reebok classics. Kagome pulled her long, wavy dark hair back into a high ponytail atop her head, then using some of the water that was left over from the bucket that was given to her to bathe with last night, she brushed her teeth. Kagome was thankful she had all her cleaning essentials with her, since when she was `kidnapped' she'd been on her way to the heat spring, she had no idea what she'd do if she couldn't clean herself, at least.

Once she was finished with her teeth she moved to the door. She starred at the sliding door for a moment and could feel her palms getting sweaty as she eyed it nervously. She didn't know if she could handle it, if she was stuck in this room, therefore the tower, with only the forest to look at. It wasn't so bad during the day, but the night... Last night hadn't been too bad, since she was really too tired to be scared.

Shaking her head Kagome took a deep breath then shakily put her hand out and tried to slide the door open... and it did. Kagome stared with a stunned look on her face at the corridor in front of her. She didn't think it would open, and when it had she didn't know what to do.

Kagome glanced briefly at her wrist and saw that it was just after one in the afternoon.

Then moving quickly, she stepped passed the door, before some unseen force shut her in the room again. She looked to her right down the hall for a moment, before following the hall and walking down the steps and into the rest of the castle.

*~*Somewhere on the road East*~*

Sesshoumaru flew swiftly through the air on his cloud thing with Rin and Jaken on either side of him. Sometime along the way they'd decided since the situation had changed, that it would be best they moved as demons. Out the corner of his eye he could see the monk and the taijiya on the fire neko's back. With a swift glance at the earth below him he caught a glimpse of red moving quickly through the treetops. `Inuyasha.' He admitted to himself that the hanyou had grown faster, and felt a tiny spurt of proudness but smothered it quickly with a frown. He focused his eyes back to the sky ahead of him.

He wondered how Kagome was fairing and he prayed no one had hurt her. If they had, they would answer to him. He narrowed his eyes at a spot in the distance. He guessed they'd reach their destination in about two hours. He wondered if she'd found out who the wind witch, Kagura, was working with, because he was sure she was not working alone. A person who spent their life following and taking orders from others, would not, just overnight, become a leader to others.

Sesshoumaru was no longer angry with Kagome. He knew why she did it, and a part of him even understood it. He knew she was a passionate person, in more ways then one, and she cared for people deeply. It would not be in her nature to just allow her friends to walk into an unknown danger. He knew she cared. She cared with everything that she was. She loved with everything she was, as she hated with everything she was. Sesshoumaru had been the recipient of that love and he'd been the recipient of that hate as well, he preferred the former to the latter. He also felt sorry for anyone who found themselves on the receiving side of that hate.

He looked down again and caught sight of a familiar red blur and had a spurring thought... he thought, or wondered, what it must feel like to be on the receiving side of the miko if she ever felt betrayed.... he gave a slight shiver at the thought.

He looked ahead once more, as he realized it wouldn't be long, now.

*~*At the Castle*~*

Kagome walked sedately through the halls of the castle. She guessed she should probably call it an `Enchanted' castle, considering she'd been walking for two hours and had yet to run into any part of the castle that was ruined or blocked off for damage. Where were the holes or even the scorched parts? She didn't understand it. She'd exited the tower a long time ago and even the back of the castle, but the front of the castle seemed to be missing because everywhere she'd been had been clean, richly furnished, and whole. She didn't get it, at all. So, she'd begun to think the castle was enchanted in some way. Only thing was; she didn't since any magic in the air, though sometimes she did feel a slight hum in the air.

So, instead of finding answers she found more questions.

She'd found a sitting room, about ten bedrooms, a library, a study, a large dojo, and two dining rooms. Not to mention, a bunch of hallways. Oh, and she'd found an indoor garden, though it needed some serious tending to. There were more weeds and overgrown grass then anything. She'd yet to run into another living soul. Kagome sighed as she kept walking leisurely.

Just then Kagome turned a corner and came to a shocked stop as she sucked in her breath.

In front of her was another hallway lined and lit with eight torch-lights. Four on either side. But, that wasn't what made her stop; what made her stop were the pictures.

She moved further into the hall and came to a stop in front of the first picture on her left. Kagome gave the picture in front of her an assessing look, than turned behind her to look at the one opposite it. She glanced down the hall and confirmed that they all were the same kind of paintings. Portraits.

The women were lined down the right side of the hall and the men on the left. What was interesting was the fact that they were all obviously youkai in their humanoid form.

Kagome took another good look at the male youkai in the portrait on her left. He had long dark brown hair with very light colored streaks in it. Like a pale gold color. His eyes were a dark, stormy blue and his complexion was of a lighter shade; like an olive tone. The kimono he wore was covered in armor similar to those that Sesshoumaru wore. The sash around his waist was dark purple and orange. The clothing was obviously made from the finest material. She wondered who he was.

Kagome wandered further down the hall stopping briefly to take in each portrait on either side of her. There were five of each and for some reason she found the men to be more interesting then the women.

She came to complete stop at the last portrait on the left. It held a painting of two young male youkais. Twins. Both of them had hair of a dark, inky black and long in length. Their complexion was fare. The twin on the left had his hair pulled up in a high ponytail atop his head, while the other wore his in a long plat hanging over his left shoulder to his waist. They both wore a dark kimono with a purple and orange sash. The only difference in them; the only way to tell them apart were their eyes. The one on the left had eyes of a crimson color and the one on the left sported the dark blue gaze as the male in the pc at the front of the hall

Kagome realized that all the youkais in the portraits wore a dark purple and orange sash. She figured they must be the family colors. Question was: What family were they? And what happened to them?

She turned pack to the painting of the twins. There was something familiar about them, but she was sure she'd never met the two youkai before.

What was even more startling was the female youkai opposite the twins. She wore a miko's kimono! A youkai priestess!! She'd never imagined it was possible. She briefly wondered if Mirouku or even Sesshoumaru might have heard of her? Kagome didn't think a female youkai who was also a priestess was very common. So, she figured there that someone had to have heard of her, especially being in such a wealthy family. There must be stories!

She turned back to face the two brothers and stared into the crimson eyes of the one on the left. She didn't feel any response to the young youkai. She didn't know him. Her eyes then shifted to the twin beside him. She did with him as she did with the other and looked into his midnight blue eyes. She felt a tiny twinge in her gut. It was this brother, the one with the long braid; that gave her the funny feeling. But, she was sure she was seeing him for the first time now. `Who were they?'

"So, I see you've found the Takashi Family. Well, at least, each generation's Lord and Lady of the house."

Kagome had jumped slightly at the unexpected sound of the familiar voice coming from behind her. She didn't turn to look at the wind demon though, instead she stayed focused on the portrait in front of her as she tried to figure out where she could possibly know the twin on the right. `Takash?' It didn't ring any bells.

"Hm. The Takashi twins. Handsome weren't they?"

Kagome hadn't heard the other girl move, but glanced at the demon beside her before turning to back to the painting. She answered her question with a question of her own.

"What are their names?"

"Shueran and Shonin."

"Which is which?"

"Shonin is the one on the left."

`Ah, so the one that gives me the queasy feeling is Shueran,' she thought to herself. For some reason it felt much better to have a name to go with the faces.

"Kagura. You said that all these youkai were the head of house in their generation, right" Kagome saw the girl nod out of the corner of her eye and continued, "But these two were twins. Who inherited the title?"

`Hm. Good question miko... you are thinking.' Kagura smiled to herself inwardly.

"Shueran was first born so, he should have been Lord of the Eastern Lands after his father," she gestured to the painting on the wall before the twin's painting.

Kagome figure the male humanoid in the painting she indicated must be the twin's father.

"Should have?"

"Yes."

Kagome arched a brow ath the other girl, but the demon girl just returned her gaze and said nothing more.

Seconds ticked by as they stared one another down quietly. Neither was trying to give on this.

"Kagura."

"Come. We must go now. It is time for supper."

Kagome hadn't realized it, but she'd been standing in that hall with the pictures for over an hour.

They walked in silence as Kagura led her to one of the dining rooms Kagome had found earlier in her wanderings. As they walked Kagome had the sad feeling she knew who'd designed the castle. Satan himself. Who else would build a maze and call it a `home', hm?

When they entered the dining room Kagome's eyes fell on the little girl sitting at the head of the table. Kanna was sitting quietly looking just as vacant as usual.

Her and Kagura sat on either side of the child. Immediately a servant appeared carrying a huge tray covered with bowls of rice, mixed vegetables, water bowls for their hands, and breads.

Kagome ate a few bites before she brought their earlier subject back up.

"Kagura. Why didn't Shueran become Lord of the Eastern Lands?"

Kagura lifted her gaze to Kagome's for a moment before switching her eyes to her sister.

The little kept eating; quietly oblivious.

Kagome watched as the wind demon's eyes fell on the mirror lying on the table beside the pale child's plate. `Huh.' She wondered why Kagura was looking at the glowing mirror? She guessed the girl was deep in thought, and probably wasn't actually looking at the mirror, though it did seem to Kagome that the other girl's eyes had deliberately fell to the mirror.

Kagome was jolted out of her thoughts with the demon's next words.

"He died."

~*~

A/N: Hi all! I would like to do something that I don't usually do... and that's make a recommendation. I usually leave this up to Striking Falcon since she is sooooo good at it, but I've found a Sess/Kag fic that I think is really good and think need more reviews so she keeps writing.

Story: Through Time and Space (don't remember i.d number)

Author: SesshysHime

It has a very powerful Kagome who is also very sad. As well as a very sad Sesshoumaru. But, things get interesting when they come together for answers and comfort.... okay, I suck at summaries!! Just go and read it! Please??? If a lot of people do this for me, I'll give you 2 chapters next time!! (Okay, I suck at bribery as well) Arigato!!!

Fang: You have no shame.

Duchess: What? I thought you liked Meanie?

Fang: Oh, I do! (grins devilishly)

Duchess: LIKE HER STORY, FANG!

Fang: Same difference.

Duchess: (sigh) Pervert...

Fang: What? (blinks innocently)

Duchess: (shakes head sadly) Nothing.

Fang: Would you like to know how much I like her?

Duchess: NO!!

Fang: I could tell you how much Sesshoumaru li-

Duchess: NO!!!

Sesshoumaru: (enters from the living room) I heard my name.

Fang: I was just telling Duchess about her friend and h-

Duchess: (blood draining from face) ITS NOT IMPORTANT!

Sesshoumaru: (raises an eyebrow) Indeed. (turns to Duchess) We have unfinished business.

(with unexpected swiftness he swoops and wraps his arms around Duchess's waist and lifts her off the ground)

Duchesss: AHH! SESSHOU PUT ME DOWN!

Sesshoumarun: No.

(he turns and starts out of the room and up the stairs)

Duchess: Where are you taking me?

(Sesshou leans down and whispers in Duchess's ear)

Duchess: (blushing furiously starts to squirm) No, you're not Sesshou! Let me go!!

Sesshoumaru: No.

Duchess: Fang!! Help me!!

Fang: (catching the menacing look in the Taiyoukai's eyes) Ah... I don't... think I can do that Duchess. I think you're on your own. Sorry (he grins)

Duchess:(from the top of the stairs) Humph! You don't look sorry. I swear to you Fang, if he hurts me, I'm coming after you!!

Fang: Okay, everyone go read Through Time and Space. I have to go now... before she gets back down here! Bye!!