InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Beneath a Smile ❯ Charms ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha!

Hidden Beneath a Smile

Chapter Nine: Charms

Sitting upon the carpeted ground of his top floor office, he stared out the wall high windows in a trance-like state. Nothing but calm and the sound of rain pelting the world outside permeated the dreary-like atmosphere created for himself. Here in times like these he was almost able to forget the many grievances that plagued him throughout life, it was usually this reason he blew up at those that disturbed his peace time. For once a man came through that door and spoke words for his ears to hear, this atmosphere shattered like glass coming to contact with stone. Everything came back to him in a rush leaving him with nothing but a feeling of emptiness.

He held no remembrances for who he was exactly, and he could not bring himself to believe the personality his boss, his… grandfather claimed for him to hold. Somehow finding the will to believe that he was a cold and heartless killing machine that founded this… endeavor they were fallowing through with. He was gentle, though he tried to command with stern hand and a ruthless grace… it rarely, if ever, worked. He could hear those of whom worked for him and for his 'grandfather' -for some reason that man bearing such a title from his lips sounded wrong-, whispering negativities towards him. Some of which remained confusing to his mind, and other such words causing him to hold a false face in their presence. It was difficult to be so cruel, to… kill without mercy when the time called for it.

Sighing as he moved to lie upon his back, dark brown eyes continuing to watch the outside world through rain blurred windows. He wanted his past back, he wanted to truly remember the type of person he strived to be, the goals he set for himself, the dreams he held in his heart. He wanted all of these precious tangibility's back into his memories once more.

It might not have been so difficult had he not been fifteen when this loss occurred. A whole childhood in the dark, a mother he could not remember; one that died supposedly when he was at the age of eight. A father that was supposedly assassinated for his strong beliefs. A belief that he himself took over; all of it is said to be true. His first memorable birthday, or Christmas, his first friend… all of it was shadowed in a pool of darkness. No matter how much he searched for the light-switch, it seemed as if he would never find it. Not only that, he had lost a year and half to a coma that his heavy injuries had placed him under. Apparently he was tricked, walking into a trap set by the Shikaku brother's and found himself in an exploding house… or so his grandfather says.

Pushing the disconcerting thoughts aside, he lost himself for hours more in the calming effect a stormy night had upon his soul.

"Laying upon the floor when you have a perfectly good chair to sit in again, I see." A withered voice croaked to him from his office's entrance. In pictures he had been shown of this man's earlier years, one would say for him to be tall, with a boyish charm compared to his short stout figure and weathered looks of now. What once had been dusty brown locks died away to a lighten gray, and where there was once a perfect set of teeth that swooned a many women in those days were all but falling from their gums in decay. The man was too stubborn to see a dentist for this problem, but then again that was how his grandfather is.

He did not turn to greet his grandfather and instead remained where he was, eyes glued to the window seeming to be in a trance, as if he did not know of his presence there despite the words that broke through the silence. His serene atmosphere. This, however, was not the case as he deemed the older man a response. "I can find my thoughts better down here, then in that… thing." His words were solemn, claiming in their tones to be of little emotion. It was how he had to be around… them. It was the truth, though the chair may have been of expensive qualities, it had nothing in the ways of comfort and thus any chance he was able he would refuse to use it for it's purposes; besides, you could not see entirely the skies overhead all that clear from that high comfort steeling seat. "Is there a reason for your presence here, grandfather." Again the word seemed so foreign to his tongue, as though it was not meant to pass from his lips for that man. If I had my memories with me now, such feelings as this would not exist in me. He bemoaned the emptiness caused by this word in his heart.

"That is no way to greet your grandfather." The man scolded in light tones. "The Shikaku brother's have been silent as of late, it has me worried." In the next breath he was all business, that little line, those few spoken words in such a tone was the only warmth he could receive from the man. It was in these instances that he could almost believe that he too held little warmth to himself before the accident. Yet, he stuck to the belief created within his heart that he was more like his mother, a caring and gentles soul that stood beside him through anything and everything. That was how it had to be, and the rest of the world that claimed remembrance of him were mistaken.

"And what would you have me do about it?" He queried tonelessly, brown eyes never trailing from their original line of sight. He would be cold towards the elder man, just like what was expected of him least he received another lecture on being too emotional. It was foolishness, the lectures, as even when emotion seeped through his carefully erected façade, it was nothing more then a knife at a dying man's back. Slip of surprise fell into expression before nothing but emptiness glimmered across the still face. It was only a smidgen of what he kept buried deep down within his very heart and soul.

"This is your venture grandson, don't forget that! If you wish it not to fail then I suggest you have them fallowed or something to get an idea, at least, of what they're planning against us." The elder coolly retorted as slow and careful steps brought him to his grandson's side. Dark shadowed eyes narrowed upon a face the spared him naught more then a half-listening ear. "Now get up off this filthy floor and sit in a chair like the class-act male you are and not some beggar off the streets." He added in harsh tones that drew no visible reaction from him. Within he cringed heavily, all of his muscles tensing. Was he truly born to such a family that held not even drop of care for the other that they could not be emotive to the other without consequence? It seemed that way…

"Send two of the seven brothers and then get out of my office grandfather." He growled, ignoring the harshly added words to the elder's remark. "Before you leave to tend to this, be sure to inform them that if they are caught punishment is heavy." Those words were spoken with heavily concealed reluctance. He despised this cruelty he had to exult on those that failed, those that disobeyed, those that disrespected and so on. His grandfather insisted that he would receive no respect of those who worked for him if he did not bare a strong fist upon them. Though he disagreed, he did not head down another path and instead fallowed through with this…

Hearing the door slam shut behind his grandfather caused him to sigh in relief. Emotion filled his face and muscles slackened from their tense stance, he lost himself once more to the trance the rain pulled his willing body into.

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Though the day had started out rather badly, it had proceeded to make itself more enjoyable for her. It was obvious this was unacceptable seeing as how horribly her day had ended. Her brother having visited her brought a smile to her face and she really thought all would go well, it was not to be so. It wasn't so much that Sango gave her the cold shoulder after the incident between them, it would also seem she did not hear the words she had spoken to Miroku.

They had decided to head toward a café to better know one another, it would prove to be a mistake. She herself felt they had been acting in a brotherly/sisterly manner, but it was obvious the other woman did see it that way being she accused them in rather loud tones of sleeping together. Souta had retched up his meal gagging up storm, while the other patrons stared at them with prying eyes hopping for their ears to feast upon the latest gossip even if the subjects were not known to them.

With a hesitant glance around Sango dropped the her accusation, blushing right along with the rest of them. It's more then obvious through the girl's jealous behavior that she had a crush, quite possibly more then that, for her brother and yet he remained blissfully unaware. How was she to make friends with her brother's possible lover if this Sango girl was constantly eying her in fear she planned to take Miroku away from her…?

This however was not the worst of the day, it was merely the beginning in a chain of events.

The rest of meal enveloped into uneasy silence and ended so as well. After paying the meal the four found themselves traveling down the streets of Kyoto. Each person walking extremely uncomfortable with this air transferring for a few moments to those that passed them. They barely noticed the passerby's casting them cautious glance as they gave a wide breath for this group to walk, not one person wanting to be in the presence of such awkwardness. Kagome would have preferred this uneasiness that filled the spaces between them to the tension that Sango replaced it with due to Kagome tumbling them both to ground after tripping over her untied shoe lace. There was reason other then to keep your shoe upon your foot for them to be tied.

Yet, still, more happened.

Only halfway towards home, her brother had been called away to duty. His partner needed him to work on their cases together. She new that being apart of the CIA was quite taxing and took the majority of ones time, but did he have to leave now? When it was just her, the youngest of the three siblings and a woman that was likely imagining all forms of torture to the girl she thought to be stealing Miroku away from her. Just the thought of doing something of the like sent waves of revulsion coursing throughout her entire body nearly sending her careening into a bad case of nausea. The older boy was her brother for goodness sake! Not that Sango knew that, but still… she did, and it wasn't pleasant.

Occasionally she would catch Souta sending her reassuring smiles, but only after sighting some frightening death glares directed her way from none other then Sango, herself. The rest of the walk was completed in silence despite her little brother's attempts at a decent conversation.

Shoving all thoughts of the day to the furthest recesses of her mind, Kagome set a course to her bedroom from the balcony she had been lounging in, playing events over and over again bringing her into this depressed state. Swinging the door shut, her light brown eyes took in the two bags and briefcase she managed to take with her the day Miroku brought them to this place… this safe-haven away from the danger that found them at… home. She missed her home, but more importantly she missed the deceased members of her family to an even greater extent.

A few more steps saw her to the foot of her bed where these bags resided. It was about time she unpacked them, as much as she did want to solidify the fact that she was truly here in this situation… that everything that went on thus far was real. She dragged the suite case forward to her knees and flipped the lid open…

After having seen to the putting away of her clothing, or what little clothes she was able to shove into the suite case, Kagome reached over and grabbed the first bag her had came into contact with. Dumping it's contains with great care upon her beige carpeted floor, reaching into the pile her hand moved forward to fix her jewelry box upright. She never wore much besides the occasional trinket made by her hands, or perhaps something picked up from the local store, something cheep, made of metal and painted to look gold or perhaps silver. She didn't really have anything of great… value… her eyes widened considerably as they caught a familiar chain trying to blend itself into her plush carpet.

A trembling hand moved with a tremendous effort to grasp the silver link chain within its grip, the silver chain shaking with every unsteady movement her hand underwent, bringing it right before her watering eyes. Brown eyes traveled downward to the two dangling charms, two silver people holding hands.

"Daddy!" A joyous voice crowed, and not long after the body of a child flew with impossible speeds toward the figure gradually climbing up the shrine steps; leaping into his arms as they opened welcoming her in his warm embrace. "You're home!" She had been watching from the window near the door for any signs of his presence. Snow danced lightly along breeze as a ballerina might upon an open stage, it was Christmas and this would be the first day in weeks that he has had off from the office. He would actually be able to spend this Christmas with them, and all occupants of this warm home rejoiced in this fact and wished nothing more then too have a wonderful holiday with the man considering he had missed the last one.

Once her toes touched the ground, Kagome had her father's hand with in her much smaller one leading him the rest of the way into the door. The moment the door was open her little voice shouted out to her mother that her father was home, he laughed and brought her up into his arms; carrying her the rest of the way as she giggled along with him. As they came into the living room where the brightly and beautifully decorated tree lay, underneath it were a myriad of nicely wrapped gifts.

It was tradition to open a few gifts before dinner and then rest afterwards, and on Christmas day they would open everything given to them by Santa Clause. The excitement of it all was building in her chest, making her a bit more hyper then usual, now that her father was home they would get to open the first set of gifts! Upon seeing her brother Miroku, she ran towards his much taller form giving him a squeezing hug as she wished him a Merry Christmas. Her aniki returned the hug along with well wishing of his own.

Kagome closed her eyes against the wave of utter sadness that nearly sent her stumbling from her knees as the memory flashed before her eyes, fisting her hand in the material of her shirt of above her steadily beating heart. Right before the next Christmas after the place in time this memory took her father was killed, or at least he disappeared as they have to find his body.

Kagome handed Souta the gift she had made for him in fourth grade class, it was a hand made teddy bear, a mother from one of the students had come in and shown them how to do such a craft. She made one for every member of the family. The five year old boy clamored over to the girl, giving her a sloppy kiss upon her cheek. "Thank you, 'Gome!" He then went back to his place upon their mother's lap. Kagome smiled at him, telling him that he was welcome.

The night was alive with laughter, excitement and warmth, there hugs and kisses as well with kind words. It was a night to remember, one to treasure. Never before had they been closer as a family, what with the daily demands of live taking up all of their time and leaving very little for anything else.

Smaller hands took an equally small gift from her father, light brown eyes looking at it curiously. She knew, from it's size, that it had to be jewelry… the question was, exactly what type. Carefully she tore the gold wrap from the small box shaped gift, folding the beautiful paper a small square to keep. Lifting the lid her eyes widened the contains pulling a small gasp from her throat. Her father sat there grinning up a storm well the rest of the family leaned forward to see such a present that got such a reaction from the little girl. Her hand slowly drew the silver link chain from inside the box, bringing it forward for all curious eyes to gaze upon. She lifted the necklace higher so that she could see better the pendant that hung from the chain.

Two carved into a heart holding hands, it was obvious one was the father and the other the daughter from the size and look of the other. It came quite a shock when she realized that it was pure silver, she had never received something so expensive before, something so grown up. A feeling of pride began to well up in her chest with the knowledge that it was all hers. That no one else her age would own such a spectacular trinket. Catching the pendant with her other hand, she flipped it over to see the back, the words engraved upon it when her father pointed out such a feature.

"Merry Christmas, Kagome… Love, Dad." She read out loud. Hopping up from her seat near Miroku, she stumbled past the gift wrap and cast aside boxes over to her father in order to give him a hug. "Thank you so much daddy, I love it!"

"I knew you would."

Taking the chain over her head, she placed her most valuable gift around her neck, allowing for the chain to fall leaving the pendant to lay upon the middle of her chest. She stood swiftly, using her legs to elevate her off of the ground, she walked over to her bed and switched the radio on before plopping herself down carelessly. Her right hand came to wipe the tears from her eyes before they slid down her cheeks, before coming to grip the pendant in her hand for comfort.

This gift was made by her father's own two hands and nothing she own would ever be so important to her as this. When he was younger his own dad was a jeweler, making some of the most exquisite designs ever seen. She had never expected to receive something so magnificently wonderful from him on the night before Christmas. Having it was like still having some part of her father. It was a comfort to be able to hold it close to her heart, and she had nearly forgotten it was there, that she had taken it with her. It would have been a godsend to have been able to wear it the first days she had to live away from home, to have the comforting thought of her father close at hand… even if he truly was not there.

Soon she drifted off into the music that blared in the background, that had swallowed up her small sniffles and quiet cries.

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Nodding to Miroku, Inuyasha fell into step with him, his eyes staring strait ahead, no speech passing from his lips. It would seem, to him anyways, that the hanyou was having the same difficulties as he himself had on his way to this meeting spot, or more to the point that he had after leaving Kagome and Souta. That was when he noticed it at least, though it could have been from before hand and in that case he was a little on edge. Would his siblings be in danger now? Now that they were seen with him, a known associate of Sesshoumaru, and Sango, his known assassin, would they be safe from enemy hands for long? These thoughts did not sit well with him, and it would seem his partner began to notice seeing the look he tossed to him from the sides of his eyes.

"Let me guess, you had a problem with that broad again?" He questioned loud enough for all in the surrounding area to hear before tossing his head in the general direction of where their current hindrances had caught up with the other and were now trying to deftly trail after them.

Miroku sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately, my friend, she can't lie to save her life and so basically I saw through her schemes this time around." He was then aware of the two separating again, each trailing from the other side of the street. Apparently these problems seemed to think they'd have a better chance at it if they kept apart. What fools they were, the hanyou inwardly scoffed.

Grunting his agreement, Inuyasha answered. "Know what you mean, I've got the same problems."

Gasping scandalized the monk placed a hand upon his heart crying out in over played drama. "Here I thought the girl was a one man woman and here your are telling me you've gotten a taste of her bountiful fruit!" Smacking him upside the head and growling for him to shut it up, the hanyou walked ahead a tad bit. Miroku obviously choosing ignore such words from his temperamental friend said. "Alas it would seem she was even better at playing the game then I myself seeing as she had me falling into her wondrous enchantment, fooling me with her enticing charms. To think that I had believed her when she adamantly refused to have sampled my dog demon partner!"

Slowing his steps a bit, Inuyasha smacked him upside the head once more. "Shut your mouth, that isn't… you know what it isn't!" He cried in vexation. Those line that the monk was feeding him had nothing to do with neither of their normal routines for such an occurrence and it was drilling on his nerves to no end. If he started it one more time, it would not be the intended targets that need to fear the crass of his claws but the man walking beside him.

Placing his hands in front of himself in a placating manner, the monk quickly replied. "I know, I know, we'll just have to speak of you stealing my woman right out from under me later." Those his tone was assuaging his words were most certainly not. They had the hanyou's right eye twitching in barely conceal irritation.

"Tch, lets just get to where we're to suppose to be going already!" He snapped impatiently as they rounded the corner, heading towards the complete opposite direction they were suppose to be traveling in. He was anxious to find himself in the throws of a fight, hopefully one that would be a little more entertaining then his last scuffle. The last being an assassination assignment due to the fact that Sango was at school there was supposedly no one else qualified to handle it. Inuyasha translated these words from Sesshoumaru's mouth as 'this is the newest way I thought of to completely tick you off without being to obvious.' He snorted at the thoughts in his head.

"Impatient, are we." Miroku commented, amusement lacing his words. In truth he was a bit glad that they were nearly close the one of the planned routes to dealing with such trailing scum, and was even more so when the warehouse they were aiming towards came into sight. The only answer he got from the hanyou was a snort. Nonplused, the monk said. "We're here now so quite your complaining."

Clawed hands tossing back the doors as amber eyes whipped to burn Miroku with their most withering glare, the hanyou growled in low tones. "I'm not, nor have I ever been, complaining."

Miroku passed by him to walk inside only to pause after taking only two steps, violet orbs slid to the side in order to glance back at his partner. "Not verbally, no, but your entire body language screams that you are." He then disappeared into the darkness, leaving an angrily sputtering hanyou behind him.

With one last curse at the damned monk, Inuyasha cast one quick glance around. Enough to tell him that their intended targets were watching the from behind the nearest building near the trash cans. Likely as a ploy to hide their scents; fools. Such an act would work on any other nose, but it could never fool an inu's, especially not his. A faint smirk crossed his face as he, himself, ducked into the darkened entrance leaving the door open in case a couple trackers decided to fallow them in.

He dearly hoped they decided to fallow, it'd be no fun if they lost them that easily.

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Dark brown eyes that softened in concern, a gentle smile and long dark locks that fell to his shoulders, pulled back at the nape of neck. This image, these details, she could not get them to leave her mind. Not since she had seen the man, the one she had not gotten the name of, the one that had helped to chase away the sadness that had been consuming her heart from the moment she heard the news of her grandfather. It was maddening to think about as it was placating when his eyes or smile came to mind.

She shook the images from her head, this worried her like nothing else. When she had returned Sesshoumaru had asked where she had been… she didn't lie exactly, she just emitted some of the details of her day. To keep his thought pattern from turning to suspicion of her story she told him of her grandfather's death and immediately felt guilty for using him in such away.

Rin moved to lie upon her side in her bed, hoping that this position would help her to sleep better. It did nothing, and her mind was more alive then ever. She needed to see that man one more time, only to get his name and to quiet his image in her head so that she was able to find herself some sleep.

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Quiet breathing was all that he could hear, and it was nothing that a human could detect with such dulls senses and thus he was not all to worried about it. He sat perched in the rafters while Miroku took to the safer route and stood hidden behind a gated wall, his form hidden by the large stack of boxes that took up the space in front of it.

Inuyasha grinned, his inner demon coming to life with the promise of a hunt underway. He dropped the pebble to ground to alert the monk of their hindrances' presence within the building they decided to use for this… stake out, he guessed one would call it. Though it was nothing like what a cop would perform. Mercy was not an option to those that decided to mess in the affairs of the society, especially when the one messed with was Sesshoumaru. There was a barely even a hand full of men that were foolhardy enough to attempt such a blatant act of suicide.

As Inuyasha tackled his prey in to the ground he could distantly hear the slamming body of another that was not Miroku into a solid wall. His demon in slight control was the cause for the pride he felt in knowing that the monk was able to handle himself well enough to catch his prey instead of being the one caught. It was the whole pack-mate code built into his instinctual habits in his other form that was at fault. Pushing such thoughts down, he brought his claws up to grab a hold of his preys neck, making sure that a few of his claws brushed against the jugular vein. His demon was given satisfaction in the way his prey flinched away from him with the action. He was afraid to die. It was obvious there would be no real trouble in gaining the information he wanted from this buffoon.

"Now your going to tell me everything I want to know, and your going to say it loud enough so that my partner is able to hear it as well." He took a quick glance to asses Miroku situation, and saw that the man almost held a similar position as himself, only that he had his prey slammed up again the metal wall a knife firmly placed that the apex of his neck. One wrong move a river of blood would flow from the man until eventual death hit. "I'm not patient man, nor do I tolerate liars, isn't that right Miroku, I kill them." He called to his partner in crime.

"Actually Inuyasha, I'm not so sure that's true." He replied thoughtfully, his purple gloved hand never wavering in his hold upon the knife he held at the man's neck. "Unless of course you count gutting them in order to string them up by their organs before leaving them to die a death of agony, then by all means, your words ring true." He could feel the man he held into wall shiver with his horrific description. One that was a bold faced lie, being that his hanyou friend would never attempt such because he could not stand the smell of disemboweled human, nor could his ears stand the screaming it would entail.

"See." Inuyasha stated proudly, a grin that nearly sent the man wetting his pants, split his face showing a bit of his fangs. In the dark it mad for one creepy sight, especially if you add in the threat of disembowelment. "Now why were you fallowing us, keep in mind that I can smell a lie a mile away, besides that, I'm actually looking forward to getting a chance at sharpening my claws upon human flesh." Fear clogged his nose, forcing him to snuffle a couple of times in order to clear it. So much of that stench would prove detrimental these human's heath.

Gulping so loud that he was sure Miroku was able to catch the sound with his weaker senses, the man said. "They just wanted to know what you were doing! That's all, I swear it! They thought you were plotting something behind their backs!" Inuyasha sighed in disappointment. He had been looking forward to dragging the information out rather painfully. Oh well, guess you couldn't always have what you wanted.

"There's no doubt to who sent these idiots." When the one he held captive was about to protest to being called such a name -really a fool thing to do with a knife at your throat- Miroku pushed the blade a little more into his skin but not enough to actually draw blood.

Inuyasha nodded, and let up his hold, but only after nearly chocking his prey to death, nails digging painfully into the flesh. When the light haired man got away from his clutches, he began to grasp at his throat into an attempt to ease his sufferings. "Go tell your master, or what ever the hell you call him, that should he try this crap again, not only will both of his messengers be dead… but so will he." The hanyou growled in low tones. "Now run." As those two words spelt from his lips the man took off like a bat out hell, it nearly sent the hanyou to ground in a fit of laughter, but he contained himself. "Hey Miroku, It only takes one to deliver a message, right?"

"Yes Inuyasha." He spoke his agreement.

The darker of the two trackers began to shake heavily, a stronger stench of fear then before surround his body. "No, please, I got a family to take care of and a baby on the way…" He pleaded to his possible killers.

Inuyasha stared at him long and hard before nodding to Miroku to release him of the fate he was going to bestow upon him. "Tch." He scoffed. "Don't think this means I got a soft heart or anything, I just don't want to hear my partner bitching about this latter when things no one else can hear it." So he wasn't completely heartless! Like he wanted to be responsible for killing some kids dad, for the reason they've got to live on the streets cause their father was stupid and got mixed up in something bad. "Get out of here!" He yelled, causing him to scrambled out their just as quickly, if not faster, then the guy that fallowed along within him down the heavy path of moronic stupidity.

Miroku came around and patted his friend on the back, truly proud of him doing the right thing for once. "Such a gentle heart you have there, my friend." He commented tearfully. "I always knew it was in there somewhere!"

Ripping his shoulder away from his partner's touch, the hanyou snorted. "You know nothing monk, I just don't want to listen to belly aching all the way to the damned spider's joint." He informed with his arrogant air once more, trying to save face.

Miroku sighed. "Sure, Inuyasha." He shook his head sadly, fallowing him out the door. "Sure."

"Shut it, monk!"

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A/N: I'm so sorry that this chapter came out so late, but my computer died and I had to get it fixed. It took a while. Guess someone that it would be funny to infect my computer with a virus, it spread to so many files that it took a while to kill the whole bug! But I got and thus am putting this chapter out for you all. I was going to make it longer for the long wait, but decided that it would be better to get a chapter out faster then having it come later then it was and be longer, right? Or would you all have preferred the longer chapter… *shrugs* oh well, too late to do anything about that know since I all ready got it out.

Thanks to-

Lise(offline) - W00t! - Inuyashkougalegolas - Devour thy flame - Trixie-trix - OtakuHanyouGirl - Distance From Here - InuBaby 18 - Fanilia-

Thanks so much for all of your reviews!

Review Answer:

Saiyou The Lover: Thanks you so much for your comments, and also for mentioning the whole misspelled words thing. I do plan on going back and editing all of my mistakes, so far I think I've gotten up to chapter four. It was also really nice of you to say that this story would be the 'one of the best stories you've read so far,' made me feel all nice and warm and fuzzy inside!

NordicaVB: Can't say when, but I can tell you that I do have something really good planned out for it though… Who is the mystery man? I guess it might be kind of obvious… but I wont say for sure if the obvious is fact until couple or more chapters into the story. Sorry for the late update… really things have not been on my side for these last two update *sighs* here is hopping nothing goes wrong this next time!

KeraSango: Glad that you think the kit is cute, that's kind of what I was going for in the story. Considering the rep he has with most people. A Kagura fan too, ne? She should be in this next up coming chapter… or perhaps the next, I know for sure that it will be one of the two.

Really now? Same thing with me… one time when I was five I walked right into the light post in the middle of the pet store and fell right on my behind. Another time it was into the school double doors, the middle school too… I would say the most 'accident prone' in my family would be my sister… or perhaps my mom, not sure which of the two is more 'accident prone' then the other. Thank you, and sorry this one here happens to be a bit late…

Miztikal_Dragon nsi: I agree with you, and I'm glad that you like Koh/Rin stories as well. I though that since most people also like that paring, it might not matter so much that Sess/Kag won. Though I will try my best in writing such a couple correctly… I hope that you approve in the end. Thank you for the comments, and so sorry that this update got her so slowly… but I shall make it up to all by getting the next one out here much quicker!

fire-goddess: Thanks for the nice warm words, and as for the Kag/Inu lemon, I shall keep it in mind.

Kit1002: I'm happy that you like my story so much, gives me a nice feeling! The pairing turning out as it did was a real shocker for me as well, with how things were looking it didn't seem as if it would lean that way… but then that's how the cookie crumbles I guess… I will try my best though to make them an awesome couple for everyone. Happy Birthday!!!! Though I know it's really late, I want to wish you it anyways. Mine was Step. 28. I think that you would be the first Libra besides myself that I've had the pleasures of meeting, even if it's only over the net… hope to hear from you again ~Zonza

Thank you all of my reviewers! Without you guys I don't know were this story would be!!!! Certainly not this far along I tell you ^_^