Disclaimer:  I did not create Inu-Yasha or Ranma 1/2.  Please don’t sue poor little me.

Sesshoumaru’s Imouto-chan: Part 8

*Two days after Inu-Yasha and Kagome had their late-night discussion, they stand by 
the train platform.  Inu-Yasha wears a pair of loose jeans and his jacket, as well 
his shades, sneakers, and bandana.  Kagome wears a cute baby-blue two-piece. 
Several of the other people on the platform stare covertly at this juxtaposition of 
good girl/bad boy; Kagome and Inu-Yasha ignore them.  With them are Akane, 
Ranma, and, strangely enough, Cologne; the others have already bid the two 
farewell.*

Kagome:  *Hugs Akane*  Ja ne, Akane-chan!  It’s been great!  I’ll miss you!

Akane:  *hugs back*  Hai!  Saiyonara!  Don’t forget to write, if you ever have the time!

Kagome:  Hai!  You too!

Ranma:  *avoiding Inu-Yasha’s gaze*  Uh... It’s been fun...

Inu-Yasha:  *likewise*  Yeah.  *Ranma scuffs a foot awkwardly along the ground*  

Ranma: Feel free to come back sometime...

Inu-Yasha:  *looks up at Ranma*  Actually... Maybe... you’d like to come shard-hunting 
sometime?  I mean, there’s a lot of things to fight...

Ranma: *nods* Yeah, I’d like that...  Maybe I’d even bring Akane, as long as she 
promised to stay out of trouble...

Akane:  *thwacks Ranma*  Baka!  I can take care of myself!  After all, doesn’t Kagome? 
And she doesn’t know martial arts!

Ranma:  *rubs head*  --

Kagome:  *interrupts before Ranma can stick his foot in his mouth*  That’s not a bad 
idea... Come and join us sometime.  Shippou would love to meet you.  *grins*  
I bet he’ll be plaguing me for stories when we get back...

Akane:  Shippou... he’s the kitsune you told me about, isn’t he?  *Kagome nods.  Just 
then, they hear a train whistle in the distance.  Kagome picks up her bags, and 
the little group starts moving apart.  Inu-Yasha starts to lift his own bag, but Cologne 
catches his arm*

Cologne:  Inu-Yasha... I sense you have a great destiny coming.  If you ever need aid, 
come to me, and I shall send my granddaughter to you.  Meanwhile, I shall try 
my best to see what awaits you.

Inu-Yasha:  *snorts* Yeah, sure.   Haven’t you bugged me enough?  *tosses his bag 
over his shoulder and joins Kagome to stand by the edge of the platform.  
Cologne shakes her head in exasperation*

Cologne:  Youngsters.  Ah, well, he’ll grow out of it... he’ll have to, if greatness comes 
to him.  *watches as the train moves off*  Now, time to go research...  We shall 
return to the village.  Shampoo will enjoy seeing her parents again...

*At Kagome’s, in the well-house*

*Inu-Yasha has changed back into his fire rat armor.  His modern clothes are stowed 
inside the Higurashi’s house, just in case he ever returns.  Kagome has her 
trademark backpack slung over her shoulder, and she and Inu-Yasha stand in 
front of the old well.  Her mother and brother face them.*

Souta: Ja ne, ‘Nichan, ‘Neechan!  *Grins & waves at Inu-Yasha, then dashes out*

Mrs. Higurashi:  *laughs at her son* He always misses you when you leave, Kagome-chan.  
You two take care.  *Kagome hugs her mother*

Inu-Yasha: ...  Saiyonara.  *bows politely, then leaps into the well.  Kagome rolls her 
eyes and follows.*

*On the other side*

*Inu-Yasha pops out of the ground, only to find something squawking, green, and 
toad-ish clinging to his head.  Disgustedly, he shakes Jaken off and boots him 
out, cursing at Sesshoumaru’s servant as he flies unwilling through the air.  Then 
Kagome emerges beside him.  Sesshoumaru’s scent saturates the air, but for 
once, Inu-Yasha feels no inclination to bury Kagome’s face into the dirt to protect 
her - he just sighs and hands her his fire rat cloak*

Inu-Yasha: Stay here, woman.  *He leaps out of the well, following Jaken’s trajectory.  
Sesshoumaru stands at the end of it, ignoring the ball of crumpled limbs at his 
feet.*

Sesshoumaru:  Hello, Inu-Yasha.

Inu-Yasha: *in a half-growl* Sesshoumaru.  Why won’t you leave me alone?  

*SPLASH*

Sesshoumaru:  What sort of big brother would leave his little sister all alone?

Inu-chan: *doesn’t even twitch during the change*  One with some respect for 
privacy.  Go away.

Sesshoumaru:  *raises eyebrow at Inu-Yasha’s calm over gender-changing*  I see 
you have accepted the reality of yourself.

Inu-Yasha:  Go away.

Sesshoumaru:  Even if you still insist on being rude.

Inu-Yasha:  Kisama.^ Go away.

^Very rude term for “you.”

Sesshoumaru:  Will you not even make peace with me?

Inu-Yasha: ... *turns around and walks back to the well, then jumps in.  A few minutes 
pass, without him returning, and Sesshoumaru approaches the lip of the well and 
looks in.  No one is there.  Irked at this continuing enigma, Sesshoumaru frowns.  
Finally, he straightens and walks away, picking up Jaken in one hand.  He jumps 
into a tree just out of sight and downwind, although he knows Inu-Yasha will 
still sense him nearby.*

*On the bottom of the well*

Kagome:  *stands there, miffed*  Inu-Yasha!  *Her voice of protest is slightly muffled  
by his cloak.*  Grrrr... (Why does he always do that?  Leave me standing here 
and tell me to “stay”?)  *Starts climbing ivy.  She hears Inu-Yasha’s voice, and 
another voice which she recognizes as Sesshoumaru’s.  She growls again, and 
continues pulling herself upward, fighting gravity and her backpack.  When she 
reaches the halfway point, she looks up - only to see Inu-Yasha come flying back 
down.  He snags her backpack with one hand and drags her off the wall to the 
bottom.*

*on the other side*

Inu-Yasha:  *grumbling*  That... *numerous curses under breath* dog-demon.  Why 
won’t he leave me alone?

Kagome:  *suddenly realizing Inu-Yasha is female again*  Oh.  Sesshoumaru?  *Inu-chan 
nods*

Inu-chan:  We’re staying here for a few hours.

Kagome:  *does a double-take* You mean, we’re actually hanging around here for 
longer than necessary?

Inu-chan:  This is necessary.  And don’t go climbing back up; we’re only staying the 
night.

Kagome:  *gives Inu-Yasha the LOOK*  If we’re staying the night, then there’s plenty 
of time to get sleep in a bed.

Inu-Yasha:  *grumbles some more*  Fine.  We’ll go back to the house.  But... *looks 
down* 

Kagome: *interrupts* I’ll bring you some how water out, first.  *Disappears back into 
the house, then re-emerges with a kettle.  She pours some onto Inu-chan, who 
changes back to male.*

Inu-Yasha:  *sighs*  On the other hand, this isn’t so bad after all... I turn human again 
tonight...

Kagome:  *thinks back dates*  Oh, yeah!  That’s right.  I totally forgot.

Inu-Yasha:  (Wish I could.  Hmph.  I gotta be polite for one more night...)  *Lets 
Kagome drag him into the house*

Mrs. Higurashi: Oh!  You two are back already?

Kagome: Hai, ‘Kaasan!  We, um, didn’t feel like returning tonight.  We’ll go back 
tomorrow morning.

Mrs. Higurashi:  Oh, all right... I’ll go make up the guest room...

Kagome:  *rushes after her*  I’ll help!  *dumps bookbag on floor on the way up*

Inu-Yasha:  *rolls his eyes*  women....

Grandpa:  *coming in*  Oh, it’s you again!  *Starts regaling poor Inu-Yasha with 
ancient legends (most of which Inu-Yasha has seen himself) and trying to 
convince Inu-Yasha to test his new anti-youkai scrolls.*

*upstairs, in the guest room*

Kagome: ‘Kaasan...

Mrs. Higurashi: Hai, Kagome-chan?

Kagome: Inu-Yasha’s got a... problem.  

Mrs. Higurashi: Besides the fact that he’s youkai?

Kagome: Half-youkai.  And that’s the problem.  You see, he’s going to turn human 
tonight.  He’s really sensitive about it, so could you get Souta not to mention it?

Mrs. Higurashi:  Oh, I see.  His other half is human, so he changes back occasionally, is 
that it?  *Kagome nods*  All right, dear, I’ll mention it to your brother.  But you’ll 
have to tell grandpa.  *Kagome sighs, then nods*

*later, that evening*

*Inu-Yasha sits on the couch, watching the TV with a dying curiosity, but too “cool” to 
go and look at it more closely.  Souta, on the other hand, sits near him, trying to 
pretend to watch the TV but really watching Inu-Yasha, waiting to see him turn 
human.  Kagome and her mother are talking with each other in the kitchen, and 
Kagome’s grandfather is banished to the shrine until the next morning.  The 
phone rings, and Kagome’s mother answers it*

Mrs. Higurashi:  Moshi moshi!  Oh, Akane-chan, it’s you!  How are you doing? ... Yes, 
they got back safely.  ...That’s wonderful.  And how is your father doing? ... Oh, 
she’s still here.  What? ... Oh, certainly.  Kagome-chan, Akane-chan wants to 
speak with you...  *hands the phone to her daughter*

Kagome:  *takes the phone*  Hey, Akane-chan!  ...  You would?  But, it’s really very 
messy over there... Are you sure?  ...  Well, you’d better ask Inu-Yasha.  Just a 
second.  *Covers the receiver with one hand and calls Inu-Yasha over, then tells 
him how to use the phone briefly*

Inu-Yasha:  *tentatively putting the phone to his face*  Oi? Hello?

--Akane:  Moshi moshi, Inu-Yasha.--

Inu-Yasha:  *starts a little to hear her voice, but keeps the phone steady*  Eh?  Akane?

--Akane:  Hai.  Inu-Yasha, Ranma and I wanted to come by and join you and Kagome 
in the past for a little while.  Mind if we come along?--

Inu-Yasha:  *shrugs*  Go ahead. 

--Akane:  Arigato!  May I speak with Kagome-chan again?--

Inu-Yasha:  Errr... yeah.  *hands phone back to Kagome, who takes it.  The girls chat 
for a few minutes, then Kagome hangs up*

Kagome:  Well, that settles it.  We’ll go to the train station and pick Akane and Ranma 
up tomorrow morning, then we can all go at once.  If we hold onto them, they 
ought to be able to pass through the well with us.  

Inu-Yasha:  *secretly happy to hear his new friends are coming along, but not showing 
it*  Ok.  *shrugs*

Kagome:  *sits down beside Souta*  Move over, squirt.

Souta:  Awww... *scoots to make room for her.  Then his eyes go all wide, and he 
stares at Inu-Yasha... but doesn’t comment.  Inu-Yasha looks up, and, sure 
enough, his hair is starting to streak black.  He sighs and plops down on the other 
side of Souta*

Inu-Yasha:  What, you’ve never seen a hanyou transform before?

Souta:  *shakes his head*

Inu-Yasha:  Well, don’t stare.  Your eyes will pop out.  *noogies Souta gently*

Kagome:  (Awww... he’s actually pretty good with kids.  Pity he’d never admit it to 
anyone.)  

Mrs. Higurashi:  Inu-Yasha, would you like some tea? *pokes head in, holding tea kettle 
up.*

Inu-Yasha: Yes, thank you.  (“Thank you”? What’s gotten into me?  I hope being in this 
time too long isn’t making me go soft...)  *Mrs. Higurashi pours tea for Inu-Yasha, 
herself, and Kagome.  Souta pours himself a glass of soda.  They sit around the 
TV, no one really watching the noise-box, but no one saying anything, either.*

Kagome:  *Watching Inu-Yasha beside her as she drinks*  (You know, he’s really cute 
in his human form.  He looks so... normal, and with how polite he’s been recently, 
he could almost pass as a regular person.  Sometimes, I wish... but no, he’d 
never go along with that.)

Souta: (Man, is Kagome staring at Inu-Yasha again?  That’s so disgusting... Besides, 
Inu-Yasha is waaaay to cool for my older sister.  Maybe I’ll stick another frog in 
her bed; then Inu-Yasha will know what a wimp she is.  On the other hand, if he 
stops following her around, will he actually come and visit me again?)  *Souta 
weighs the pros and cons of torturing his sibling carefully, then decides to put it 
off for another night or two.*

*The next morning*

*Inu-Yasha absently flips a coin, reclining on the soft and springy bed provided for him.  
The glowing time-keeper beside him reads 5:19 a.m., and his human body yearns 
for a little more sleep.  He curses its weakness.  He’s been awake for at least half 
an hour now, woken by a cat fight out on the street.  Restless, he sits up and 
stretches, then goes over to the window and opens it.  He considers climbing out 
onto the roof, then changes his mind, peering at the steep angle of the roof... (I 
hate this time of month.  I’m so ~fragile~; I can’t do anything!  Kagome just 
doesn’t understand, either... She’s ~used~ to being weak.) *He sighs, then 
abandons his window vantage and strolls over to the mirror on the wall, hanging 
in a spot of light cast from a streetlight.  A young face stares back at him, about 
Kagome’s age, framed by soft, straight ebony hair.  Two dark brown eyes bore into his 
own from over a straight nose and firm, stubborn mouth; a slender neck recedes 
into the folds of red fire-rat armor, draped negligently over a well-defined yet 
perilously slender torso.  The waistband, hidden from view, hugs narrow hips, 
then balloons into a loose pair of rat-armor pants, stopping just above a small 
pair of calloused feet, toes free to dig into the carpet.  Long arms taper into 
likewise small hands, long-nailed and rough palmed, but nonetheless finely boned.  
And not a claw in sight.  Inu-Yasha growls to himself, snatching his hands away 
from his vision and behind him.  He glares one last poisonous, loathing stare at 
the mirror, then prowls back to the window.* (Fragile.  Breakable. ~Human~.  I 
can’t protect Kagome; I can’t even scratch ~myself!~  Pathetic.  &^#%$@!)  
*He sighs, leaning on the window sill, hanging half out, the light breeze playing 
with his hair.*  (I promise, Kagome, I’ll get rid of this weakness one day.  Some 
day.  Then I’ll always be able to protect you.)  *Remembers the time they were 
almost killed by the spider youkai, the very first time Kagome saw him human, 
and shudders.  Then the time with the miniature village, when Kagome was 
almost eaten... Then the time-* *he growls to himself* Iie!  No more.  *He stands 
straight and walks into the hall, towards the indoor outhouse and instant bath, 
then grabs a towel and enters.  He undresses and steps into the tub, then 
tentatively turns a knob.  Water rushes out - COLD water.  She leaps out of the 
tub, shivering, then turns the other knob, too.  Still cold water...* (Oh, yeah.  It 
has heat up first, Kagome said.)  *unfolds towel and drapes it over herself for 
warmth.  She turns around and sees - Her mother.*  

Inu-chan:  O-okaasan?  *She stretches one hand out - and so does the woman in 
the mirror.  No, not her mother.  Herself.  Another mirror.  Inu-chan sighs.*  
(Just great.  I’m my mother’s daughter.  Sesshoumaru would be so proud...)  
*Yet there’s not as much venom in her own voice as Inu-chan would wish... for 
some reason, seeing herself like this feels comforting, as if her mother were still 
watching over her.  As if her family still cared, still supported each other, still 
existed.  She shakes her head, then turns back around.  By now, steam is rising 
from the tub.  She puts aside the towel and steps into the blissfully hot water, 
and he soaks his thoughts away.*

*Several hours later*

Kagome:  Inu-Yasha, hurry up!

Inu-Yasha:  *Youkai again*  Urasai!^ I don’t see you carrying anything!

^Shut up! 

Kagome: Don’t be such a baby!  You can lift more than that!  

Inu-Yasha:  *grumble, grumble*  *The two walk toward the train station, Inu-Yasha 
holding a large bundle of old clothes for a local charity.  Incidentally, this large 
bag also happens to block his view of where he’s going*  Why do we have to take 
this stuff along, anyway?  I thought we were picking up Akane and Ranma.

Kagome:  We are, but the station always has a winter charity going about this time.  
This is just the best time to get rid of all our old clothes.  Ah, here we are!  I’ll 
get the door.  *Opens the door for Inu-Yasha, who somehow manages to fit his 
bundle through.  Kagome then directs him to the drop-off bin, where he dumps 
the whole thing - and happens to bury another donor in the process.  The 
unfortunate fellow digs himself out by the middle of January.*

Inu-Yasha:  The people in this time are so spoiled.  What do you need all those clothes 
for?  

Kagome:  Ahh- We just do!  Now let’s go find Ranma and Akane!  *Takes off before 
Inu-Yasha can question her further.  He sighs and follows.  They reach the right 
platform and wait for a few minutes until the train arrives, then spot their friends 
and wave them over.  The group returns to Kagome’s house.*

Inu-Yasha:  *Pokes Ranma’s large hiking pack*  What’s this?

Ranma: My pack.  I always take it when I go training.  It’s got room for everything I 
need, see?  *Starts taking things out and showing Inu-Yasha*

Inu-Yasha:  Wow.  That’s much better than her pack.  *points at Kagome’s yellow 
backpack*

Kagome:  *miffed* Well, I don’t exactly go out training every day!

Akane:  That’s all right, Kagome.  It’s really just a thing for serious martial artists.  But 
with all the time traveling you do, it might not be a bad idea for you to get one...

Kagome: *sighs* Probably.  But it’s so expensive!  

Ranma: Not if you get it in the right place.  We got these right from the factory in 
Taiwan... 

Akane:  And you only swam there yourself!  The rest of us don’t feel like doing that, baka.

*An hour and much more bickering later, the group is ready to go.  Inu-Yasha wears 
his armor, Akane a pair of pants and a sweater, Kagome a sweater and a skirt, 
and Ranma his usual red and black Chinese outfit.  The four form a chain, with 
Inu-Yasha on one end and Kagome on the other, all holding hands.  They jump 
as one.*

*On the other side*

Inu-Yasha:  Everybody stay down here until I tell you to come up. *growls* A 
not-friend of mine is hanging around.

Ranma: Sure you don’t want help?

Inu-Yasha: No way.  A human like you would get killed.  *Bounds up out of the well*

Kagome:  *sighs* Not again.

Akane: Does he do this often?

Kagome: *waves a hand negligently* All the time!  If he’s not ordering me to stay put, 
he’s just leaving me behind.  *Grabs a vine and starts climbing out*

Ranma:  Hey, wait a sec!  Didn’t Inu-Yasha just say- Akane!  Wait!  *The two girls are 
already ahead of him, almost halfway up.  He jumps up and kicks off against the 
wall, catching up, then climbs the rest of way with the two girls*

*at the top*

Inu-Yasha:  Sesshoumaru, I told you to go away!  *Sesshoumaru does not answer, nor 
even show himself.  Inu-Yasha growls*  I can sense you, and you know it!  Stop 
playing these *bleep*ing games!  *No answer.  Inu-Yasha’s fists clench, and a 
vein pops out on his forehead.*  Sankon Tetsusou!  *His claw attack shreds 
several nearby trees just as Kagome, Akane, and Ranma all poke their heads out 
of the well.  A sigh sounds from behind the trees, then Sesshoumaru steps out 
into the open*

Sesshoumaru:  Very well, Inu-Yasha, if you are going to destroy the landscape.  I did 
think you preferred not to see me.

Kagome:  *Walks up to stand beside Inu-Yasha, hands stubbornly on hips*  Leave him 
alone, Sesshoumaru!  We don’t need you following our every move!

Sesshoumaru: You really should teach your woman better manners, Inu-Yasha.

Ranma:  Oi, Inu-Yasha, who’s this?

Sesshoumaru:  *looks at the new arrivals*  More humans, Inu-Yasha?  Surrounding 
yourself with them will only bring you down.

Kagome: That’s Sesshoumaru, Inu-Yasha’s half brother.  He usually has a toad-like 
sidekick hanging around.  Fun to beat up on.  Wonder where he is?

*Splash*

Inu-chan: *Dripping and glaring at Kagome* You had to ask, didn’t you?  

Kagome: Gomen... *Throws a rock up into the tree above Inu-Yasha.  Some cursing is 
heard.*

Ranma-chan:  So this is the jerk that created Jusenkyo?

Sesshoumaru:  *Looks from Inu-chan to Ranma-chan and back, then shrugs*  I 
suppose you would wish to find another sufferer of the spell.  

Akane:  Why would he do that, anyway?  It really makes no sense...

Kagome: *shrugs* Don’t ask me.  I can’t figure the guy out.

Inu-chan: Because he’s nuts, that’s why.

Ranma-chan:  Anyone sick enough to force a guy through this deserves a Jusenkyou 
dunking himself.

Sesshoumaru: ... It has occurred to me that no one is listening.

Inu-chan:  Ooh, I like that... I like that a lot... Maybe he’d follow us there.  He seems to 
follow me everywhere else...

Sesshoumaru:  *sweatdrops and leaves*

Kagome:  I’m sure we could find a boat around here somewhere, right?

Akane:  Hey... I think he left...  

Kagome: *Shrugs* Oh, well.  Anyway, let’s go to the village, and you can meet the 
others!

Inu-Yasha:  (He’s still here... He’s just playing “hide-and-seek” again.)  Right.  *Leads 
the way to the village.  As they approach the village, a little orange fluff-ball 
rockets towards them and attaches itself to Kagome*

Shippou:  KAGOME!!!  It was so dull without you!  

Kagome:  *Hugs Shippou*  Hey, Shippou!  

Akane:  Awwwww......  Kawaii!!!^  Who’s this, Kagome-chan?

^Cute!!!

Kagome:  Akane-chan, this is Shippou!  Shippou, this is my cousin, Akane, and her 
friend, Ranma.

Shippou:  *studies Akane and Ranma for a second from his vantage point in Kagome’s 
arms, then grins*  Hello!

Akane: *Giggles*  Hello to you, too!  

Ranma:  So, what are you?  *pokes the fluffy tail*

Shippou:  *looks miffed* I’m a kitsune, no da!  *glares at Ranma* You’re just like mean 
Inu-Yasha, aren’t you?

Inu-Yasha:  Oh?  Mean, am I?  *picks Shippou up by the tail and looks him in the eye.  
Shippou nervously sweatdrops*

Shippou:  N-no, of course not!  *Inu-Yasha smirks just as Kagome snatches Shippou 
back from him*

Kagome: Don’t pick on Shippou, Inu-Yasha.  *Inu-Yasha starts to retort, but is 
interrupted by Sango and Miroku arriving*

Miroku:  *spotting Akane*  Ah, the fair Kagome has brought another beauty with her!  
*Takes Akane’s hand and kneels*  Will you have my child?

*BAM*

Akane:  *wipes hands as Miroku flies away*  Don’t tell me, you have a Kuno here, too?

Kagome:  Kuno... Kuno... that’s the Shakespeare impersonator you told me about, 
right?  *shrugs*  Anyway, Miroku’s just a hentai houshi,^ so don’t worry about 
him.  We usually keep him well in line.

^perverted priest

Ranma:  Hentai Houshi?  Isn’t that a contradiction of terms?

Inu-Yasha:  Not for that guy.

Sango:  Oi, Kagome-chan, who are your friends?

Kagome:  This is Ranma, and this is Akane.  They’re from a city near mine.

Miroku:  *walks back into the scene, rubbing his head*  Surely she must be your 
relative, Kagome-san.  

Kagome:  Hai!  How did you know?

Miroku:  You two look a lot alike.  *bows to Akane*  My apologies, Akane-san; I am 
under a terrible curse-

Sango:  *interrupts him*  I’m sure you’ll tell her all about that later.  In the meantime, 
Kaede-sama is anxious to see you.  You were late returning.

Shippou:  I was so worried about you, Kagome!  

Inu-Yasha:  Baka.  I was there.  What could happen?  *noogies Shippou gently, just 
enough to get the kitsune quiet.  Shippou sticks his tongue out at Inu-Yasha, and 
gets a punch in the head in return.*

Kagome:  *Handing Shippou off to Akane*  Inu-Yasha, stop picking on Shippou!

Inu-Yasha:  Hey, he started it!

Shippou: Did not!  You big meanie!

Inu-Yasha: Why, you-

Kagome: *growls* Inu-Yasha... Sit!

*splat*

Inu-Yasha: Hey, what was that for?

Sango:  May we get back to the village now?

Kagome:  *nods* Of course, Sango-chan!  Let’s go! *the group flocks into Kaede’s hut, 
where the old woman looks with surprise at the large group*

Kaede:  You have brought friends, Kagome?

Kagome: Hai, Kaede-sama!  My cousin, Akane, and her friend, Ranma.

Kaede: You two were late getting back; we worried.

Inu-Yasha:  We ran into a little bit of trouble on the way, baba.  Nothing I couldn’t 
handle.

Kagome:  *snort*  Just a big brother that you can’t get rid of.

Inu-Yasha:  Shut up, wench!

Kagome:  What did you call me?

Inu-Yasha:  You heard me!

Kagome:  SIT!

*BAM*

Ranma/Akane:  .... *sweatdrop*

Sango: *Whispers to Akane* They’re like this all the time.  Still, they do care for each 
other...

Akane: Oh.  (Deja vu! But who does that remind me of?)  *shrugs*

Shippou:  Kagome, are we all going shard hunting?  ‘Cause more people might slow us 
down, and I don’t think I can protect so many extra humans...

Kagome:  *picks up Shippou & cuddles him*  Don’t worry; Ranma and Akane will be 
fine.  Ranma’s almost as good as Inu-Yasha is at fighting, and Akane’s a fighter, 
too.  Right, Akane?

Akane: Hai!  *nods*

Shippou: *considers this*  (Akane-san seems nice enough... but I don’t like that 
Ranma... he’s too much like Inu-Yasha.)  I’ll take care of you, Akane!  *grins cutely*

Akane: *Grins back* (He’s so cute!)  Arigato, Shippou-chan!  I’m sure I’ll need it!  
(Might as well humor him...)

Kaede:  Kagome, I have replenished my herbs and bandages, for when the others get 
hurt.  However, I can’t help you if you’re too far away...

Kagome: Hai!  I understand, Kaede-san.  We’ll be careful.  *Kaede nods*

Kaede: *turning to Ranma and Akane*  I shall need to warn you about the youkai. Do 
not wander away from Inu-Yasha and the others, and do not attempt to fight the 
youkai on your own.  Kagome and Inu-Yasha can usually sense danger before it 
approaches, but be always alert anyway.  Do you understand?  *Akane nods, and 
Ranma rolls his eyes but agrees anyway.*  Good.  Do not forget.

Inu-Yasha:  Good.  They’re warned.  Now let’s go, if you’re done, old woman?

Kaede: *sighs* Yes, Inu-Yasha, I am finished.  The villagers have agreed to lend you 
their boats again, too.

Shippou: Oh no!

Kagome: Thank them for us, please, Kaede-san!  Arigato!  *The group leaves*