InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Beneath a Smile ❯ Questions Never Ending ( Chapter 5 )

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Hidden Beneath a Smile

Chapter Five: Questions Never Ending

Watching the clock tick time away, Inuyasha lay sprawled about the couch located in the office of Rin's as the boredom that gripped him so fully tried to consume him whole. His body completely antsy continued to twitch every so often forcing the hanyou to resort to shaking his leg discretely. Last time Rin saw him doing something so dog like it took her nearly hours to quite her loud incessant laughter. He would not go through it again. Throwing his arm to cover his eyes, he groaned out his displeasure to the other occupant of the room; hopping the noise annoyed her just as much as the wait was doing to himself. "Rin!" He whined. "How much longer is this going to take!"

"Quite you!" She chastised without once lifting her eyes from the screen as they read downwards. "No complaining or I'll quite right now and you can find some other way to get this information." Rin really couldn't blame the hanyou for his constant complaints for the last hour and half, they had been sitting in nearly one spot for three hours with no such luck in their search. About an hour ago she had thought she had found something, but as it turns out it was only an assignment the both of them had completed years ago. Their first, if she went with Inuyasha's word.

"Alright, alright, I wont say another word." He rolled onto his stomach in hopes the movement would help ease the jittery feeling with in his arms and legs. He would need for a good run after all of this staying in one place. "Just hurry it up."

Sighing her exasperation, Rin voiced the question that had been on her mind throughout her entire search. "Why is it you need Miroku's background information? How is that supposed to help… Oh!" She cut off with a gasp.

Inuyasha jumped to his feet while unnecessarily using his demonic speed to transport himself behind the brown haired girl in a matter of two seconds. "What is it? What did you find?" He questioned anxiously as his golden orbs scanned down the computer screen, reading the words as they went making it unneeded for Rin to explain herself. It was Higurashi Miroku's background files, only there was something wrong with it.

The only information that it had for his eyes to see were the normal stuff, things that he already knew about his partner and friend. It was lacking in pieces as well. It was not complete. Other then the name of his father, there was no mention of any other family members. He knew that there was a mother, Inuyasha could distinctly remember the monk speaking of it before, along with the possible mention of siblings. This read of knowledge that any child in front of a computer could get a hold of. He did not understand how Miroku had accomplished this, knowing his brother the way he did there wasn't a snow ball's chance in hell he would only settle with this third-rate intelligence. For one of his brother's main arguments when he wanted to storm the enemy at first strike is that 'knowledge is power.' If he had to hear that one more time….

"I don't understand…" Rin mumbled. "How can this be it?" Her brow was furrowed in a quizzical expression as she gave voice to his own thoughts, and then proceeded to allow her body to fall listlessly back into her chair sight never straying from the computer screen.

"I have know idea." Inuyasha growled in reply. This whole entire situation was trying on the hanyou's nerves and sucking his patients dry. How many twists and turns would present themselves in his path to finding the truth of the situation? Why couldn't the pervert just come clean with him so that he needn't have to be put through all of this trouble to discover that which is hidden from him? He sighed heavily as he ran a clawed hand through his silver mane. "Damnit!" He shouted in vain as it did nothing to lessen the building aggravation within his chest.

"Do you want me to search some more? I might be able to find something else." Rin offered, ignoring his outburst.

Hurried steps brought him to her office's exit; he paused. "Don't bother." He answered shortly. "I'll be at the southern piers if you need me, but say nothing of this to that good for nothing monk. Tch, that's all I need, him figuring out what I'm doing and hindering my search even more then he's already done. Damn stupid pervert." He cursed under his breath as his hand closed around the door handle, but he was unable to open due to the fact that Rin's own hand was pushing flat against the door. Not that he couldn't force it if need be, but he did not want to injure the girl in anyway.

Rin peered in his amber eyes with her own light brown soulful ones, squeezing at his heartstrings with the worry he found clouding their depths. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" She whispered. "I know that you've been their before, but Miroku was always there to watch your back and all times that you've returned you were always so injured…." Her voice trailed off, eyes adverting from his own to the floor as she awaited his response.

"What are you worrying about me for? I can take care of myself, and I certainly don't need the monk's help to do it either." Her grouched, appalled at the mere thought. Like he would every rely his life in the hands of another! No, fools did that. The only person one could rely on is oneself.

"Baka!" She yelled, smacking him upside the head. "What do you mean, why am I worrying for you! Stupid! You're my best friend! Of course I'm gonna worry." She crossed her arms just below her chest, huffing as she turned her eyes from him.

Inuyasha's expression softened for a second before returning to his regular arrogance. "Keh, I'll be just fine, you worry to much." Since there was no longer a small hand barring him from exiting the small room, Inuyasha tossed open the door and ran down the halls; he called over his shoulder. "Remember, don't say a word to Miroku!"

"You better be careful Inuyasha or I'll never forgive you!" Were the last words he heard as he turned a corner, making way for the stair case that led to the door the stood as the exit to outside the warehouse.

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The three Higurashi children sat comfortable upon the couch, Kagome and Souta snuggled together at the end of love seat, while Miroku sat to the side of them. The youngest sibling woke not to long ago, and already having long since been told of their plans now sat and enjoyed the reminiscing of the past adding his own input every once and awhile. It was just nice to sit back and see his sister smile after she had been discretely crying the entire morning after having made him a ramen breakfast. It was nice being with his older brother once more after so long without his presence. The only missing ingredients to this nice family gathering were their parents and Jii-chan… he did not want to think about it and thus decided to speak up in the conversation to distract his thoughts from their absence.

"I remember that." He whispered fondly. "I was so upset, I thought that I was going to be in so much trouble for breaking the window that I nearly left the shrine to hide-out at the park." He confided an admission that he would voice to no other ears besides those present. "I was terrified that I would have to see Mom's and dad's disappointed faces as they scolded me for it. They always warned me what would happen and I just didn't listen." He grinned up at them, his eyes sparkling with the emotion he felt for his little family, he looked down at his hands clasped in his lap "Then you and Kagome told them that it was your fault, that you two were playing base ball and that you," he said glancing at Miroku, "missed catching the ball when Kagome tossed it to you…." He trailed, thinking back on that day.

Kagome moved her one arm that rested at his side and wrapped him in a one armed embrace. "Well we couldn't just let our favorite brother get in trouble, now could we? Beside they were threatening with placing you in military school!" Her nose wrinkled in disgust at the thought. "Like we could ever let you go there!"

Miroku nodded sagely, his now unbound hair swaying slightly with the movement. After a hard game of tickle torture the tie had fallen out, loosening his hairs from their bound state. It was in his attempt to make Kagome smile that roused the youngest and somehow led to this trip through memory lane. "Exactly, how else are we to protect you if you are not where we could see you at all times?" He queried with a raised brow.

Souta wrinkled his brow and stuck out his tongue. "I don't need protection, I can do that just fine myself!" He protested indignantly, crossing his arms and then huffing like a two year-old when all his words brought him was laughter. It would seem these new actions only spurred their initial reaction further. He sighed. "Come on guys this isn't funny, I can too take care of myself!"

"Sure Souta." Kagome agreed, trying to keep the chuckles at bay. "That's why you always let the bullies beat you into a pulp."

"Hey!" He shouted. "I just don't like to hurt people is all, even if they started it."

Violet eyes widened as his eyes fell upon the old grandfather clock set up in the living room, a gasp falling from his lips as laughter died and gave way to horror. "I'm late!" He yelped, jumping from the couch and nearly tripping over his feet with the action. Time flew when one was having fun. It was already six in the evening, and the sun was beginning to set. He did not have much time to make it to where he needed to meet up with his partner for their daily check of the shipments. "I've gotta go Kagome, I'll be back later tonight!" He shouted over his shoulder as he used hurried steps to take him down the hall, collect his trench coat and don it as he quickly made his exit.

Both siblings watched him depart with frowns upon their faces for a good measured amount of time, the silence that descended upon them drove their minds into a melancholy state. As they sat there, eyes upon the spot their brother had vacated, thoughts of a forbidden nature permeated through their minds forcing them to think back upon that day. How long would this last? Would they always need another being with them so that they would not have to fall into depression and tears?

Kagome sat up, though not leaving, from her position upon the loveseat near Souta; she now sat up relatively straight, arms resting upon her knees and head in her hands. Her stomach ached with the pangs of hunger, her eyes slid to her younger brother. He was now curled up on the other side of the couch, face buried in the crock of his arm. He was more then likely trying to stop the torrent of emotion that swept through his little body, trying to stop the tears before they came, before she saw them.

Her heart lurched as her own watery eyes took in the sight before her, she wasn't entirely sure on how to help Souta with his grief. Her mother would've known what to do, she was the one that help them all through her father's disappearance. Is that why this hurts more? She still held hopes that her father wasn't truly dead, while there was no question about her mother and grandfather's demises. She was there, she had barren witness to it all. She had seen there blood, their lifeless bodies sprawled carelessly upon the floor as there eyes stare listlessly to nowhere.

A sob built its way to her throat, but she clenched to the need to release the sound, not wanting her brother to hear. Not wanting him to know that she was upset as well. Taking in a deep breath, Kagome reached over and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and bringing him forward so that his head rested upon her heart. It was how their mother always held them when they were upset to calm them, she only hoped that it worked with Souta. She forced her eyes to stay open even as the air stung at them, threatening to dry them to the core; she only blink when it was absolutely necessary. For some reason or another when ever her eyes were shut, even if just for a second, she saw a flash of the nights events before her minds eye. Only they did not truly fallow with the facts, and tented to stray from the truth to a more horrid fiction of the true situation and it events.

Maybe she should fix them both a meal, their mother would already have something of a nutritional value cooking on the stove or, perhaps, the oven by now. All Kagome had to prepare was ramen. It wasn't a meal like their mother would put before them, but it was all she had to work with. Despite the hunger pains in her stomach, her insides churned at the thought of food.

Pulling back a bit so that she could see her brother's face, she inquired. "Are you hungry Souta?" He shook his head against her chest, before pulling back to stare into her eyes; searching.

Nodding to himself slightly, as if finding what it was he searched for, he said. "I'm going to go in my room and play the playstation, the volume will be up real high… so if you can hear it and if it brothers you say something." With that he pulled himself from her arms, heavy footfalls carrying him away from her and down the hall. She could still hear his steps long after he had disappeared from sight. They would have to work on that. She thought absently.

Her eyes watered more at the thoughts running through her head. He had known that she was going to cry, she knew that he could see the sadness in her eyes like a palpable thing that he could reach out and touch. She felt shame at that fact. He wasn't suppose to know that she was upset, he was suppose to remain blissfully unaware. Instead her little brother was helping her to outlet that sadness through her tears, while he stayed in his room out of sight while playing his games so that he would not hear her sobs.

Now it would be like an unspoken agreement. She would cry alone and he would pretend to be blind to her sadness, while reveling in the comfort she would offer to him for his own tears and broken heart. With a watery smile Kagome stood upon her feet and hastily carried herself to her room, slamming the door behind her while she flung her body on a bed that was her and was not hers. It was strange to be in this room, it felt alien, but at the moment she did not care as freely let the moisture gathering in the corners of her eyes fall.

Down her cheeks the wetness went, soaking the pillow that her face was buried in while that pillow swallowed the scream and cries she let lose. It felt good, it felt exhilarating to do this. All the emotion she had felt, that she had been bottling up burst free in a torrent of strong sobs, shaking shoulders, and an endless amount of tears.

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Snorting at the sliver of moon that hung in the dark cloudless star speckled sky, peering innocently down at him. It was anything but innocent. To the hanyou, it felt as if that blue hunk of rock was taunting him, teasing him that it would soon disappear and he would become vulnerable for a whole night. How he hated days like those, even if they only came once a month.

Hands dug into his pockets as he walked along the edge, one wrong step and it was quite possible he would topple over from striking air, landing himself into the ocean water. The small amount of light provided by the taunting moon allowed for one to see his reflection fallowing after him at the surface of the calm body of water. He himself would not have noticed such since his amber eyed stair strayed not from in front of him. The hanyou wanted to remain alert and not lose himself in the soothing effects of the rippling water. Not that he wasn't already lost within his own thoughts.

He would, no mater what, find the answers he sought; even if he had to threaten the lives of everyone locate at the northern warehouse. Everyone in their society knew of him, even if they had never laid eyes upon him, his reputation of ridding his presence of those that annoyed him spreading far and wide like a wild fire on a windy day. Granted this time around he wasn't likely to carry out his constant threat being that Sesshoumaru was already upset with him for something similar a while back, the patrons there did not have to know this fact.

Kicking a stone ahead of him, Inuyasha's eyes narrowed his scowl growing in intensity; anyone whom saw him would run, or at lest walk in a wide arch around him if they had no other choice but to travel the way he was coming from. Miroku was such an imbecile, couldn't the fool see that it was only causing trouble to keep this secret of his? Couldn't the monk see that he could trust him to help with this problem as well as guard it's existence from other's?

It was this knowledge that hurt most of all, he supposed. The truth that one of his best friends did not trust him enough to welcome him into his plans, into his life outside of the society. Though, he knew, whatever the monk had gotten himself involved in had to deal with 'Him,' whomever this was. No one really knew actually, only that he existed and had hurt and ruined many lives.

Amber orbs gleamed predatorily as he found himself standing in front of the door, a small panel meant for the eyes to see through slide open upon his incessant knocks. Now the fun would begin. "Tell that spider the dog wants to play." He said to the cold browns peering at him. Those eyes reminded him of his brother's, in the way that they were able to conceal emotions from being read within their depths.

They narrowed at his words, not that he expected anything less. "Find a bone to chew on dog, the spider has had enough of your abuse." The female voice spat out like a disgusting taste in her mouth. If they wanted information from Naraku, they had to agree with codenames to keep identities and sources of information secret. He personally felt that it was a bit childish, but if it got him what he wanted, he would play.

Inuyasha clicked his tongue a few times, golden irises sparkling his amusement with her answer. "Now, now is that anyway to speak to a good friend." He rose a brow, unable to keep the amusement from coloring his words thick. "Did he tell you to say this to me? With all of his big and mighty talk I would have thought he harbored no feelings of fear for me." His grin widened as he took up his trademarked arrogant stance. "Or is it you that fears me?"

"I hold no fears for the likes of you dog!" She spat. "You are not welcome here, now leave to the garbage pits of whence you came from." She slammed the eye piece shut with a resounding clank.

The grin fell from his lips as irritation welled up within his chest. He pounded on the door once more. "I have no time deal with your crap, miko witch, and unless you want me to level this place like the last to root out the spider, I suggest you grant me entry!" He shouted through the thick iron door.

A moment latter the door was flung open nearly whacking the side of his arm as he jumped out of the way, hitting the side wall with a echoing slam. His clawed hand reached out to catch the heavy door just as it was making it way to closing once more. His eyes roved up and down the girl-no woman- before him; the spider's mate. A short black leather skirt hugged at her hips over tight black leggings, boots with six inch heals adorning her feet; anchoring her to a taller height. A tight spaghetti strapped shirt that barely covered her mid-drift, over top of a red long sleeved nit shirt; hair left to tumble over her shoulders. Only the miko witch could look a slut and have everything covered. Inuyasha snorted his disgust over her attire.

She grinned at him, a wicked evil grin. "Don't you like it Inuyasha?" She purred. "The spider sure did, do you want to hear about the full extent of his appreciation? I don't think anyone has ever-"

"Shut up! I don't want to hear about yours and his exploits!" He growled. "Just take me to the damn spider so I can get this over with."

Placing her hand upon her hips, she glared down at him. Another feat the miko witch seemed to have down pat, for even with the boots she was still shorter then him, if only by an inch. He couldn't see how she did it. "It would serve you right, you mutt! Talking to me the way that you did." She grumbled. "Shut your yapping and fallow me."

Inuyasha growled lowly under his breath, but otherwise made no comment. He never let his eyes stray to those around the bar, as well as held a tight leash upon his demon side and instincts. Being half they were a bit harder to control and with the stench of fear permeating the air once they recognized his features, his demon side wanted to come out and play with the prey that feared him so. The thought caused a sadistic grin to appear upon his lips causing the stench to heighten a bit. He loved the thought of demons fearing him, a half-bread. Those that would taunt him in his younger years now fell down at his feet paralyzed with fear for him, for the power that he and his brother had a acquired together for themselves. Power in the underworld, in this society of men that lived on the more shady side of life. And wouldn't you know it, they were the good guys.

He stopped his procession forward when the miko witch disappeared behind some doors to tell her mate of his presence there, but even a spiders dull sense would have caught his aura in the vicinity by now. He kept his eyes firmly upon the door, nor mater how much the felling of eyes watching his back itched beneath his skin. To look at them right now with this much fear in the air, his demon side just might claim his mind.

It was not more the a few seconds later that the door opened for him, allowing him entrance. He walked through, ears pinning to his skull when the heavy iron door squeaked shut; someone wasn't oiling their hinges on a regular basis, if at all.

The room was dark with a candle here and there only offering up enough light for human to barely make out what was around him or her. Behind a desk sat his query and next to him with her hands resting upon his shoulders was the miko witch. This was new, the desk didn't exist during his last visit, he sat upon the floor then. Inuyasha hid a grin, perhaps the fool thought it would offer him some sort of protection against his attacks. He scoffed at the mere idea, if he really wanted to he could lung with his claws at the spider and still do him some bodily harm for ticking him off with his words.

"What is it that you want of me dog." The spiders smooth voice questioned, red eyes glowing in the candle light as they studied him. "Surly it wasn't to threaten my establishment or harass Kikyou at the door."

Inuyasha scoffed. "Obviously the miko witch knows how to spin a story." His eyes sparkled merrily as his sight strayed to the dark haired woman standing beside the spider. "I quite distinctly remember her turning me away from the door, or at lest trying to anyways, because of your great fear for me." He moved forward, choosing to lean against the wall oppose to the seat in front of the desk. It was better to have a position that did not leave him vulnerable in the event of an attack.

Discretely shooting his mate a disapproving look, the spider answered. "If I were afraid of you, dog, do you believe that I would allow you to enter this place without trouble?" He clasped his hands atop his desk, waiting expectantly for his answer.

Shrugging the hanyou said. "Couldn't tell you, I just thought you were smart and didn't want to have to go through relocation one more time, but then I could be wrong." Pinning the spider with a glare that broke no argument, he demanded. "Enough with the idle chit-chat, spider, I need a favor of you."

The spider looked on the hanyou's form in amusement, as he stated haughtily. "Of course you do, you always need a favor of mine dog. A favor that usually entails a trial that you cannot accomplish on your own, what is it this time dog?" He inquired, bringing around himself an air of superiority. The hanyou wished nothing more then to swipe at his head. Now would not be the time to do it.

As he answered he couldn't help but wonder how the miko witch could stand in one place with such a rim-rod straight stance and find her legs still awake. If she were a demon he would understand, but she was not more then mere a weak and pathetic human. "Don't get too full of yourself spider, I doubt that you could even accomplish this task that I need of you." Now was time for the goading. The spider would go through hell and back again just to prove him wrong. Inuyasha found it all quite humorous and always used this bit of information as a means to get better results in what he wanted.

"Try me." He drawled out lowly, his red orbs flashing dangerously as a sadists smirk appeared upon those bloodless lips. Those smiles always gave the hanyou chills down his spine, he was just grateful he was able to hide this reaction well enough.

"Alright." He goaded. "It would seem someone stole some files on my partner's background, along with some stuff involving the Sunset Shrine in Hokkaido. I want for you find it and report it to me in a week when I come back to collect it from you." Flexing his claws in the dim lighting, his eyes narrowed threateningly as they rested upon the spider. "If you hold anything back I will personally gut you, fry up your entrails and feed them to the lower demon scum of the underground world."

The spider nodded slowly, but grinned suddenly. "Why aren't you having the monk look this up, isn't this type of thing right up the perverts ally?" He questioned, only to have his grin widen at the slight flinch in the hanyou's face and tensing with in the muscles of the arms crossed over his chest.

"Shut it spider, you know nothing." Inuyasha growled out lowly, threateningly. He did not want to talk of his partner at the moment. Nothing would tick him off more then he was a the moment, unless he were to continue to head down this line of interrogation. Spiders were never intelligent creatures.

"Let me guess, you and the monk had a falling out? Always thought it would happen, personally. Is that why he's not here with you now? Don't think that I didn't notice you were alone." He sneered.

Faster then the eye could see, Inuyasha leapt over the desk grasped his throat in a crushing grip, slamming him up against the wall behind him. Breathing heavily as he reigned his temper under control, he glared heavily at the man he held suspended a few inches from the ground against the wall. The miko witched watched the scene with worried eyes, but other then that made no moves in stopping him. "If I hear about this again, if say another word after I put you down that I do not agree with, or you open your mouth when I return and I will kill you; no regrets." His words were cold harsh, like steel being bared.

The spider nodded his agreement. "How is it we always end up in this position?"

Inuyasha let him drop to the floor and put distance between the two of them so that he would not be temped to repeat his actions. "Because spider you have a knack for opening your mouth and saying something that pisses me off." He replied nonchalantly. "Just make sure you do as your told and we won't have any problems." With those parting words, Inuyasha slammed the door behind him as he made his slow exit. He wasn't in any hurry.

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"Where the hell have you been!" Miroku shouted as soon as the form of the hanyou came into sight. He had been waiting in this spot, the exact dock that they met at for assignments, for hours. At first it had only been two, and decided that it would be better to check on the shipments himself then have Sesshoumaru breathing down his neck for supposedly botching a job. Or worse yet, signing his death warrant by ditching the job entirely. For surely that is what would have happened if he had gone with his first instincts to wait for his late partner. "I've been waiting for you to show up for hours!" He shouted once more as the hanyou got closer.

Inuyasha stopped. "Did you…?" He trailed, voice a tad bit hesitant. He needn't have to finish his sentence as Miroku knew exactly what he spoke of.

"What do you think?" Catechized sarcastically causing the half-demon half-human to raise his brow in slight surprise. He must have really angered the monk, first the curse word and then the sarcasm. Miroku was always calm and composed when dealing with this type of situation. Something was wrong, or at lest what ever it was that the monk was dealing with was really starting to grate upon his nerves.

"No need to get snippy on me." Inuyasha shot back, looking the monk over a moment he said. "I had to see spider for Sess, apparently someone hacked into the office computers and messed with something." He knew what had been messed with, but did not mention it least he make his partner suspicious. Noting the slight pale color to his cheeks, Inuyasha was able to deduce that he did have something to do with the information's disappearing act. "I did try and call you, but your cell kept turning me over to voice mail and you know how I hate to deal with answering machines." He offered, hopping that his lie would not be seen through.

A look of slight guilt drew upon Miroku's features. He had forgotten that he had turned his cell off during his visit with his siblings. "I'm sorry Inuyasha, I must have turned my cell off." He relied absentmindedly. "Tell me that you brought backup with you when you saw the spider." The monk pleaded. "Don't tell me you were foolhardy enough to go into hostile territory alone."

Inuyasha laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head with a clawed hand. "So what if I did?"

Miroku slapped a hand to his face groaning. "You could have been killed and then there would have been nothing Sesshoumaru could have done about it being that you were killed upon hostile territory. A place that is agreed upon by everyone for some foolish reason that it is okay to kill there and not be held accountable." He shouted. "I don't even know how that one passed, nor do I really want to." He grumbled.

Inuyasha crossed his arms defiantly, staring his partner down with inscrutable eyes. "Where were you that you couldn't get my call, monk?" He inquired crossly. Miroku never had his cell turned off, for even he knew that in their line of work a emergency could happen at any time of the day and they would be expected to heed that call. Where was he that he had need to turn the phone off? Was it a place that he could not risk being tracked. Inuyasha shook his head, why would he worry about such a thing? The sooner he found out his partner's secrets, the sooner he would find his answers to all these questions.

"Church." He blinked a couple of times. "That reminds me… are the bodies still at the societies morgue?" He tried to question with an air of indifference, coloring it to his voice, but Inuyasha could sense a myriad of other emotions underlying the tone.

The hanyou softened for that moment. He knew what it was like to lose someone important to you, and whether the monk would admit to it or not, he knew that those two he had the clean up crew pick up were important peoples in his life. "Yeah." He replied faintly. "I gave them strict orders to do nothing with their bodies unless of course you gave the orders for it. You could go down a see them anytime you want." He added. "Though I would do it soon."

Miroku nodded, and then quickly changing the subject not wanting Inuyasha to read more into his curiosity then what he had already done. All his maneuvering had accomplished was to make the hanyou more suspicious as well as to assure himself that the woman and old man were something to him. The only question would be is, what? "I have to pick up Shippo from the kitsune society."

Amber eyes narrowing in concern, Inuyasha questioned. "Why? What happened? Are they picking on him too, their own kind?" Each inquiry came out in a lower growl, until the last was nearly unrecognizable underneath his anger spoken -or more like growled out- words. Even though he would not admit to it, he held a soft spot for the kit. When something or someone managed to find a place there, and that someone or something happened to of been harmed then the aggressor usually found him self exiled from the living world. Miroku claimed it was his heart that felt this, he was more inclined to disagree. To him it was a bad case of chest pains, damn things are so annoying it drove him to kill those that irritated or enraged him during an episode. "Or did the runt not saying anything?" At Miroku's nod, Inuyasha cursed under his breath. "Damn brat and his damn silence!"

"I was going to take him back to your apartment." He tossed out casually, cautious like. He had to tread carefully when it evolved Shippo, and he wasn't entirely certain his friend was going to like this idea. "I thought that perhaps he would do well with a female presence watching over him, and besides that the little boy would make a great playmate."

Eying the monk while shoving his hands into his pockets, he asked. "Do they know about demons?"

Wincing, he replied. "Not to my knowledge." That meant a definite no, and Inuyasha, having made his acquaintances for quite some time knew it too. It was a little disturbing sometimes to realize how much the hanyou knew him, and was able to interpret his moods and just about every movement. To know the exact meaning behind most of his words. It was even more disturbing that he could provide the same type of knowledge about the hanyou himself.

"No." Was his reply.

"Why not, I think that it would be a good idea?" He pushed.

"If they don't know about us, Miroku, then they would freak and likely call the police when they saw Shippo." He pointed out logically, which was a bit startling. "Do you really think the kit needs the sting of rejection on top of the other pains he was forced to suffer in his life." No, more startling was the empathy he seemed to share freely in that moment. Did he even realize that he had done it? The monk assumed not.

"I was planning on having him take on a human form." Miroku stated, and before Inuyasha could protest he added. "Besides if Shippo decides that he does not like it there, we could always take him back. Place him somewhere else." After a long moment of consideration, Inuyasha hesitated a bit before nodding his consent. "Great." Miroku rubbed his hands together in glee. "I shall be on my way then." With that he turned down the opposite way Inuyasha had come in, the hanyou watching as he happily made his way down the empty street in silence.

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Sweat matted her hair to the sides of her head as she tossed in turned with in her bed, the blankets twisting around her body, restricting her movements as if she were chained to the wall. Moans of displeasure made their ways passed her lips along with screams of fright, and mumbled pleas as the night terror took over her mind and warped her thoughts enough for her to believe what she saw actually stood before her; that it was real. The fear that cloaked her, the speeding of her heart, the cries for help, the cries for her parents, they all suggested that this dream was very real for her.

The door to her new room opened slightly to admit a showed figure outlined by the beam of moon light that spilled through her windows. This silhouette watched a moment, wincing visibly as a pitiful whimper started in her throat before making it's leave through her lips. At that sound it found it's legs moving of their own accord to her bedside.

"Mama! Someone help… I can't.. save…." The rest of it were spoken in incoherent words, before she sat up quickly with a startled gasp, making the figure next to her nearly jump out of its skin in fright. It had not been expecting her to do that. Eyes scanning the dark expanse of her room, stopping for a moment upon the shadowy blob. With a heartfelt sigh, she lay herself back down, tears gathering at her eyes. "Miroku." She whispered. "Lay with me like when we were children, when I had a bad nightmare." She pleaded with her shadow companion. "Do what you did then to make it all go away."

She felt the bed shift as he entered it, spooning her back against his stomach and securing his arms around her tightly. "It's alright imotou, I'll make sure nothing harms you." Once those words were spoken, he began to hum lightly the melody their mother would sing for them. This is what he did before, when she was a bit younger. He never sang the words, saying that he could never sound as wonderful as there mother and thus settled on humming the melody that went with it.

"Thank you, aniki." She whispered, and it wasn't long after that that he felt her body shift, her breathing slowing down to one in a deep sleep. She did not wake the rest of the night with another terror, and for that Miroku was glad.

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A/N: Another chapter finished! I'm so happy! If anything needs to be edited I'll check that latter to day, but I stayed up all night writing this so I need some sleep, good night! ^_^

I made some anime music videos, if any of you want to check them out:

http://f2.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/zonza_1/lst?.dir=/My+Docume nts&.view=l

One is Inuyasha and the other is Rurouni Kenshin, both of the songs are by a band called April Sixth, and they are very good. Both are done with my favorite songs by them. If you do listen to it and like the songs you can find out more about them at effects radio.com, click links and then click the letter A on the side panel and it should be under the list of names.

Here's the polls:

Sess/ Rin- 16

Sess/ Kagura- 19

Wow, for awhile there I really thought it was gonna be a Sess/ Rin, but as it turns out, its not. So here are the newest parings for your eyes to feast upon.

Sess/Kagura

Kohaku/Rin

I actually like Rin and Kohaku parings, there so cute! Sess and Rin too, but then there are really good Kagura and Sess out there! Anyways I shall try and do my best to become one of those…. And for those of you whom were looking forward to the Sess/Rin, I will put lost of cute moments with them together -k-

Review Answers:

fire_goddess- *Grins* Thank you so very much!

Tornado Tail- Thank you, I am really touched that you think so… I know how you feel, and I will see what I can do about faster update, but I wouldn't count on it too much considering that it is the school year now.

Lozenge- I'm glad you think so, I put lost of forethought into this fic before posting it. Worry not, for you shan't be disappointed as you can see this fic is now classified as a Sess/Kagura.

Kuramafan58- I am not offended at all, we all have our preferences and your just happens to be more towards the actual story line of the series and I take no offenses in that. I also thank you for your comments on my story, I really appreciate them and if it interests you I do have a one-shot that fallows the story line as well as plan on another fic that goes along with the story line. Though it will not be posted until I'm nearly done with this one… or perhaps my other "Simple Lies."

The Demon Miko Queen- Thank you for the review and comments, I really appreciate them.

Crazydog- ^_^ Thanx a bunches!

Bubblydemon- I hope you don't hurt your thought screaming, though I am touched you think so well of my story. I will try to update faster, but I am not sure on how fast I will be able to do it seeing as that it is the school year and I am rather busy with school work… Yuck! School work sucks!

Angelic Death- thank you for your input and thank you for the review I appreciate it very much!

Angst Queen- I'm glad that you do, I tried my darnedest to make the characters really likeable, that or, in latter chapters, really despicable. I like your name, and I'm gonna make an educated guess that your into angst fics and in that case I'm gonna recommend my sis's fic "No Life Flower," its very angst filled and I'm sure you'll like it. The fic is on fan fiction. net and her screen name is devour thy flame, if you want to check it out that is.

Desires Reign- It makes me happy that you agree with me, and no offense to anyone out there, but most peps make her to defenseless and whiney when she really isn't… though in my fic I made her more towards my own personality -well only slightly- but it makes me happy that you like it.

Canz- Gottcha ^_^

Yay!- Thank you!

Dawn's Light- Wow! I feel so honored, though I hope you didn't lose to much sleep over it, and I thank you for your comments on my story. Who is your friend by the way? Well tell her I said thank you for thinking that my story was worth waking up another just to read it. Tell her she made me feel really good and kind of special by doing that, as well as you too for actually listening and taking the time to read this fic ^_^ Thank you!

Frosty Shake- Thank you so much for the comments, I really appreciate them!

Honey Dew- Thanx for all of the nice things you said about my story, the make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

[ Fan fiction .net Reviews]

inuyashakougalegolas- thankx!

Nab

potchi silverhawk- Really? Thanks… and don't worry about we all tend to skip toward the part that contain the characters we really like sometimes.

Tanuki-sama

Puppy Lover

Angel Hair Pasta- thanks, I'm glad that you thinks so! *grins* I agree with you there, Sess is drool worthy! ^__^

Lily Girl

KeeraSango- Don't worry, Sango's coming up soon, likely in the next chapter. Awe your so sweet! I think that you're the only one on here to wish me a happy birth day and that mean a lot you know ^_^ Thanks for the cake, and don't worry I have… oh and since you seem to be a big fan of Sango, the chapter that she appears in, I'm gonna dedicate it to you… And if you like Sango and Miroku together you might want to check out the vid I made for them, the link for it is up there in the author notes.

Thanks to every one whom reviewed, it really means a lot to me! If I forgot anyone then I am truly sorry and I will be sure to get you in here next time around!

[This chapter has been revised, if you see any mistakes that I may have missed feel free to say so in a review~ Zonza]