Disclaimer: I did not invent Ranma 1/2 or Inu-Yasha.  Both belong to 
Rumiko Takahashi.

Sesshoumaru’s Imouto-chan, part 9

*In the Nekohanten*

*Shampoo scrubs clean another table as she waits for her 
grandmother to return.  In just a few hours, the store will 
open and she will do her usual waitress duties, but for the 
moment, she enjoys the peace and quiet of the empty 
restaurant.  Mousse relaxes in his room, sharpening weapons 
and whatever else he does in his free time, giving Shampoo 
some highly valued free time.  Finishing her cleaning, she sits 
down at the table and closes her eyes, enjoying the silence.*

*Shampoo opens her eyes again, and finds herself in a forest.  Birds 
all around her continue their bold declarations of territory, as if 
they do not even sense her presence.  Confused, the girl treads 
the deer path on which she stands, slipping quietly through the 
forest with the silence natural to a fighter.  But the small 
woodland creatures should still have noticed her... It is as if she 
is not really there.  It occurs to her that she must have fallen 
asleep, to her great annoyance.  With a sigh, the girl starts to 
tell herself to wake up - but then the sound of a familiar voice 
touches her ear*

Akane: Oh, Ranma!  You’re hurt!

Ranma: *sounding faint* Really... It’s nothing... *Shampoo races in 
direction of their voices.  A strange woman speaks*

Woman: We have to get him to Kaede’s house!  It’s his only chance!

Man: *quietly, to the woman only* If he is to have a chance at all, we 
must hurry.  *Shampoo races around a tree to find a group of 
people, including Akane, Kagome, and Inu-Yasha.  They stand 
around someone, hiding him from view.  But then Akane kneels 
by his head, and Shampoo sees it is Ranma.  She cries to him, 
but no one hears her.  Racing to the group, she tries to shove 
the strange man out of her way, only to find she goes entirely 
through him - like a ghost.  Shampoo ignores this feat in favor 
of bending over Ranma in horror: the martial artist suffers 
obviously severe injuries.  Blood covers the ground around him, 
and he clutches convulsively at his ribs.  The others murmur 
about “youkai” as they quickly begin binding his wounds, 
oblivious to the purple-haired woman kneeling over him.  Even 
as Shampoo watches, Ranma lapses into unconsciousness*

Shampoo: *bolting upright and gasping* Airen!  No!  *Her breath 
races in and out, in and out, as she realizes she is no longer 
dreaming, but back in the Cat Café.* Ranma... (Airen is in 
danger!  I must warn him!)  *Then her pulse slows, and her 
head clears.  She shakes it slowly* (No... it was only a dream... 
Great-grandmother would think me a fool, playing puppet to my 
dreams.  But still, I cannot shake the feeling that he is in 
danger. I will consider what to do until Great-grandmother 
returns.)  *Shampoo stands up and heads into the back of the 
restaurant to start the stove, knowing her ancestor may return 
at any minute.  All the while, she struggles with what to do with 
her dream, acknowledging that she cannot ask advise from the 
old woman, but also knowing she will not forget the dream.*

*400 years in the past*

*Seven people, one flea, and one pet stare at the three boats 
available to them.  The villagers not currently in the fields 
watch them with amusement, wondering who will ride with 
whom, and who will get killed in the process.*

Sango: Kirara goes with me, and Miroku doesn’t.

Akane: *suspicious glare at the priest* I’ll ride with Ranma.

Shippou: Who am I going with?

Miroku: I think I should ride with the ladies Akane and Kagome, to 
protect them.

Akane/Kagome: No way!

Inu-Yasha: I can protect Kagome just fine.

Ranma: No way I’m leaving Akane with pervert like you.

Myouga: I say we just draw straws.  Of course, I’m so small, I’ll just 
ride on Kagome’s shoulder...

Ranma: What is that thing, anyway?  *Plucks Myouga off Kagome’s 
shoulder & promptly squishes him*

Kagome: That’s Myouga, the flea.  He’s Inu-Yasha’s adviser. 

Inu-Yasha: Adviser, right.  He always lets me know when there’s 
danger around - he isn’t!

Myouga: Inu-Yasha, I’m hurt!  What do you mean by that?

Shippou:  Weren’t we talking about the boats?

Kagome: *sighs* Okay, why don’t we just get in?  *looks exchanged, 
then a mad rush for the boats, leaving Kagome standing alone 
on shore.*  *Blink blink*

Inu-Yasha: *holding Miroku back with a foot*  Oi, Kagome!  Over 
here!

Kagome: You saved me a spot, Inu-Yasha?

Inu-Yasha: It’s the only spot left, baka.  *Kagome sighs and rolls her 
eyes, then sits down behind him in front of Shippou, who 
already looks a little bit seasick.  Ranma and Akane share a 
boat, and Sango keeps Miroku at boomerang length in her boat, 
with Kirara between them.  The group shoves off from shore and 
lets the current take them downstream.*

*watching from the trees*

Sesshoumaru: And so they hunt.  *keeps pace alongside the river, 
staying hidden*

Jaken: *pantpantpant*  M-m-master *pant* Sesshoumaru... slow 
down... *pantpant*  Why- must you - follow Inu-  Yasha- 
anyway?  

Sesshoumaru:  Do not question me.  *knocks Jaken off of tree 
branch.  The toad-like creature falls to the ground with a thud*

*Jaken’s fall stirs a memory deep in Sess’s mind, of a time long ago, 
very similar to this one.  A much younger Sess follows a young 
boy and his mother as the woman shows her son a safe path 
through the forest.  Jaken, looking very much the same, follows 
young Sess respectfully.*

Jaken:  *digs the butt of his staff into the tree branch*  Young master, 
you should not follow them so often.  It is unhealthy to 
obsess over such trifling humans, especially when they would 
gladly bring you more harm and pain.

Sess: Shut up!  *bounces to the next tree in hopes of losing the green 
guardian, but to no avail - Jaken hops the distance with no 
trouble*  Stop following me, Jaken!  I want to be alone!

Jaken:  Young master, don’t indulge yourself in such childish fits - 
they do not become a mighty youkai like yourself.

Sess: *growls* Go... Away...

Jaken: Regretfully, I cannot.  A humble servant such as myself 
cannot-

Sess: *Whacks Jaken out of the tree*  Leave me alone!  *storms off 
in direction of his home, away from the forest path, where a 
woman and her hanyou son stare aghast at the twitching green 
frog which fell from the trees*

*present*

Sesshoumaru:  *to himself*  This time, I do not intend to become so 
distracted...  *continues to follow the boats*

*on the water*

Kagome:  I think I sense a shard up ahead!

Inu-chan: *already splashed female* Where?  

Kagome: To the east!  On that hill!

Akane: *Calls to Kagome*  What are you two talking about?

Kagome: The Shikon jewel shards! 

Akane: Oh. Is that what that feeling is?

*pause*  *blink*  *blink*

Everyone else:  You can sense them too?

Myouga:  Well, I suppose it would make sense... After all, Akane is 
dear Kagome’s cousin.  Priestess powers often run in families.

Ranma-chan: *also splashed early in the ride*  Heh... Guess that 
makes you ~both~ crazy!

Akane:  Ranma... *veins pop*

Ranma-chan: Just kidding!  Just kidding!  Honest, it was a joke!!! *cowers*

Miroku: *distracting Akane before she can beat up poor Ranma* That 
will certainly make things easier, with two lovely ladies to aid 
our search.

Inu-chan: So we’ll have two people pointing to a hill.  How will that 
help us?

Miroku: *Sighs*  Inu-Yasha, you really should educate yourself.  If 
Akane and Kagome split up, then both head in the direction of 
the jewel, they will meet at the exact spot, rather than sending 
us down a straight line.  Now, I shall go with the lovely Akane 
and Sango, to protect them...

Sango: Not a chance I’m going anywhere alone with you!

Ranma-chan: I’ll protect Akane.  I ~am~ heir to the School of 
Anything-Goes Martial Arts!

Sango: *Sweatdrop*  I think I’d better go with you...

Inu-chan: Actually, Miroku should go with you three, too.  *eyes 
narrow* As unbelievable as it is, he can actually hold his own in 
a fight.

Miroku: *Stunned at Inu-Yasha’s support* Why, thank you, Inu-Yasha!  
I see being a woman has improved your temperament!

Inu-chan: *held in the boat by only Kagome’s grip on her shirt*  I 
take it back!  He sucks!!!

Kagome: *sweatdrop* Settle down, Inu-Yasha.  (Wish I could sit 
him... but then he’d make a hole in our boat...)

*Eventually, Ranma, Akane, Sango, and Miroku moor their boats on 
the side of the river, while Inu-Yasha, Kagome, and a rather 
green Shippou continue on.  When Kagome’s group pass the hill, 
they get out from the boat and head in the direction of the 
shard, leaving a trail of string (from Shippou) to mark their 
path, in case the others should come by later.  They encounter 
nothing on the way, but Akane’s group isn’t quite so lucky...*

*Akane and Ranma-chan lead the way through the forest, dodging 
trees and other obstacles.  Suddenly, Sango, in the rear of the 
group, hears something.  She stops and looks around, but sees 
nothing...  Keeping an extra eye out, she signals Miroku to 
listen.  He nods, also sensing something odd.  Miroku moves to 
walk at Ranma’s shoulder as Sango flanks Akane, hands by their 
weapons.*

Ran-chan:  *instantly alert as she sees her new friends’ actions*  See 
something?

Sango:  *shakes her head* Heard something.  Might be Sesshoumaru, 
might be other youkai.  *Ranma nods.  The group continues on, 
searching for a sign of the shard.  Suddenly, Akane stops*

Akane: Wait- what’s that?

Sango:  *looking around* What’s what, Akane-san?

Akane:  That shiny thing.  *points to something that the others can’t 
see.*  It looks kind of like bird’s nest, only it’s too big.  And it’s 
glowing.

Ran-chan: *cracks knuckles in anticipation*  Think it’s a youkai?

Miroku: Do not be so eager to fight, Ranma-san.  Youkai are 
dangerous.  *Ranma just grins*

Sango: I’ll check it out.  In this tree, Akane-san?  *Akane nods. Sango 
starts climbing.  After a few feet, she, too, sees the nest.  Inside 
are two eggs, unattended.  Definitely youkai.  Sango quickly 
destroys them.* (Eggs... the mother must be around here 
somewhere...)

Ranma-chan: *from below*  Look out!  *Sango turns to see a winged 
youkai descending at her.  She draws out her boomerang and 
deflects the outstretched claws at the last second, dropping to 
the ground.  Ranma passes her, going up, bouncing from tree 
limb to tree limb, Akane slowly climbing up behind.  Sango 
removes Akane from the tree.*

Sango:  Come back down here, Ranma!  *She ignores her.  Sango 
curses and throws her boomerang at the angry fowl.  Ranma, 
meanwhile, dodges the talons and beak, and finally rests on the 
top of the tree, grinning wildly at this challenge*

Miroku: (Is he related to Inu-Yasha?)  *starts climbing the tree behind 
Ranma*  Sango-san, Akane-san, cover us from the ground.

Sango: *hesitates, then, for perhaps the first time in her life, agrees 
with Miroku.*  (He’s right - I have to keep Akane-san out of this 
fight.  She’s obviously not prepared for something like this.)  
*Indeed, Akane has no clue what to do.  Sango keeps the 
youkai too busy to attack Miroku by chucking her boomerang at 
it, while Ran-chan dodges the creature and watches its moves.*

Miroku: *observing Ranma*  (He’s fast... I’ve never seen a human so 
quick before!)

*Ran-chan finally attacks, leaping from the branches as the bird demon 
flies overhead.  She grabs hold of one foot and uses it to drive 
herself into the bird’s stomach, then lets go to avoid being 
caught in its claws.  Miroku reaches the top of the tree and aids 
Ranma’s escape with a jab from his staff.  Ranma looks at him 
with confusion*

Ranma-chan:  He’s different from anything I’ve ever fought before.  Much 
quicker!  (It almost got me! I didn‘t think I could get loose from 
that foot quick enough!)

Miroku:  Youkai are much quicker than the average human.  Still, 
most of them are rather stupid.

Ran-chan: *nods*  I’d noticed that.  I’m gonna get this thing!  *Miroku, 
who was about to offer help, decides to just watch Ran-chan 
instead.  Ran-chan leaps into the air before the youkai passes this 
time, above its head.  She lets gravity power her kick, neatly 
leaving a footprint on the creature’s face.  The youkai, now 
slightly dizzy, descends.  Sango quickly finishes it off with a 
few boomerang blows, much to Ran-chan’s disappointment (she 
wanted to finish her own fight.)  Ran-chan and Miroku climb down.*

Sango: That was well done, Ranma-san.  You’d make a good youkai 
exterminator.  

Ran-chan:  *shrugs nonchalantly* Well, I guess it comes with being the 
best.

Akane: *snorts* You’ll note he has no lack of self-confidence, too!

Ran-chan: And what’s that supposed to mean?

*The fighting continues.  The group has relaxed their guard - a 
mistake.  Suddenly, they find themselves face-to-face with 
Inu-chan and co.  Akane and Kagome stare at each other for 
a minute*

Kagome:  Akane?  But- 

Akane:  We’ve been going in a straight line the whole time...

Kagome: So have we.  So this must be the place we sensed.

Ran-chan: So where’s the shard?

Inu-chan: *snorts* I knew they’d get it wrong.

Kagome: *angry* SIT! 

*SPLAT*

Miroku: Obviously, something is wrong.  *Shippou suddenly stands 
straight, sensing something.  He looks wildly about*

Shippou: D-do you guys feel that?

Kagome: Feel what, Shippou-chan?

Inu-chan: *curses, also sensing the trap* Everybody get down!  
*pulls Kagome down beside her just as something whizzes by 
overhead*

Kagome: *yelps* What was that?!

Inu-chan: *leaping up* Kagome, get out of here!

Kagome: *looks around* Where to?  *The group is surrounded by 
small, humanoid creatures, each with a serpentine tail and a 
pitchfork.  One larger creature stands behind the others, its 
eyes glowing red.  It appears to be a large lizard on two legs.  
In one hand is a giant sword, in the other, a mace.*  There!  
The big one has a shard!

Ranma-chan: Good for it!  But it’s still gonna meet its maker today! 
*cracks her knuckles again*

Inu-chan: *frowning* Ranma-

Miroku: Ranma-san can hold his own, Inu-Yasha.  He defeated a 
youkai before we met up.  *Inu-chan looks surprised, but nods*

Kagome: *yelps* Can we discuss this later?!  *The surrounding 
youkai are closing in.  Inu-chan starts thinking fast*

Inu-chan: (I can’t take them all - I may be faster female, but I’m also 
weaker.  Plus, I have to keep the humans safe.  How can I?) 
Miroku!  Go for the youkai behind us!  Sango, get those that he 
misses!  Ranma, you come with me! (That one with the eyes - 
he’s got to be controlling them all!)  *Miroku immediately steps 
in front of Akane, Kagome, and Shippou, and removes his 
rosary.  The youkai behind Inu-Yasha get sucked into the portal, 
starting a stampede - as all the youkai attack at once.  
However, Miroku’s hand can only suck up those on one side - 
Sango uses her extermination gear to keep the youkai away.  
Akane, knowing she’s outclassed by the demons, employs her 
classic baseball technique, sending the attackers flying in twos 
and threes with her hammer as they approach and never letting 
them close.  Shippou also does his best, using his toy top to 
squash them one at a time.*

*Ran-chan and Inu-chan take to the air, leaping over the masses 
of imps.  As Inu-chan approaches the great lizard, more and 
more imps turn to attacking her.  Ranma, however, knocks 
them off, using her martial arts to free Inu-chan’s path.  Both 
demi-girls know the plan, although Inu-chan hadn’t taken the 
time to explain: as seasoned fighters, covering your partner’s 
back is the most basic concept.  Behind them, Miroku is just 
removing his rosary, their attack taking them so quickly through 
the imps.  The lizard realizes its danger and slices at the two, 
but both dodge; Ranma jumps over and Inu-chan rolls under 
the sword.  Ran-chan instantly starts removing the tailed 
humanoids from the area, keeping them busy as Inu-chan faces 
her opponent.  She doesn’t even hesitate*

Inu-chan: *drawing her sword* Die!  *parries its attack.  She 
leaps easily above the swinging mace as the creature follows up 
his sword attack.  However, the mace does distract her for a 
moment.  She just barely brings the Tetsusaiga back up in time 
to block the next thrust.  The slight stumble throws her off 
balance; the force of the blow sends her rolling in the dirt.  She 
keeps the roll going and spins back to her feet, sword up.  The 
mace descends at her, with alarming alacrity... but she drops 
under its swing and finds herself inside the lizard’s guard.  
With a grin of triumph, she slides her blade neatly through the 
youkai.  It stops, stands still, and stares at her for a moment 
before the red light in its eyes fades, learning the face of the 
victim that wasn’t.  All around, the extremely few remaining 
imps scatter into the forest, no longer bound by the spell.  
Ran-chan grins.*

Ran-chan: Whoops.  Guess we scared them off.

Inu-chan: Feh.  That was easy.  *snorts*  I bet Kagome could have 
handled that one.  *turns to the small group still behind them, 
and calls to Kagome*  Oi, Kagome, where’s the shard?

Kagome: *walks over and plucks it out of a piece of lizard, 
suppressing a small shudder at the carnage.*  Right here.  
*Pockets it with the others*

Akane:  Do you really do this all the time, Kagome-chan???

Kagome: *sighs* Unfortunately, Inu-Yasha has a little obsession with 
killing things.  We have to do it about every day!

Akane: Oh.  Would you like me to teach you some martial arts?

Kagome: Really?  That would help a lot!  Then Inu-Yasha might stop 
bugging me about being useless!

Shippou: Kagome, you’re not useless!  You’re always doing something 
useful!  *growls at Inu-Yasha*  That big meanie just doesn’t 
notice anything besides himself!  *gets hit by Inu-chan*

Ranma: *as Kagome scolds and sits Inu-chan* No way you can teach 
martial arts, Akane!  You’re as dumb as a rock when it comes to 
form!

Akane: Hey!  I know the katas as well as you do!

Ranma:  Like heck you do!  You’ve got no grace!

Akane: So what are you going to do?  Teach Kagome yourself?

Ran-chan: Why not? I’d be a better teacher than you!

Akane: You can’t even hit me, and I’m a martial artist myself!  You 
can’t teach if you can’t even touch!

Ran-chan: Fine!  You teach her!  She can learn how to barrel through 
room full of perverts - which she’ll never see around here!

Akane: Unless she looks at you!  Hentai!

Ran-chan: Uncute!

Akane: BAKA!!! *hammer comes out, and Ranma gets a trip into 
the nearest tree.  Sango and Miroku watch as both couples 
attempt to kill each other, sweatdropping and completely 
clueless on how to stop the fighting.  However, the bickering 
eventually peters out, and the group moves onward to find a 
good camping spot.  Inu-Yasha, male again thanks to some 
quickly heated water, scouts the perimeter as the others set 
up the fire and make dinner.  He returns to the camp and joins 
them.*

Inu-Yasha: *feeling something hop onto his shoulder, looks and sees 
Myouga*  Feh.  And where were you all this time?

Myouga: Why, Inu-Yasha-sama, I was scouting ahead for more 
shards.  By the way, there aren’t any close by.

Inu-Yasha: *snorts & squashes Myouga*  

Myouga: *in a squished voice* Hey, don’t you believe me, 
Inu-Yasha-sama?  I’d never abandon you... *pops himself back into 
regular size, then hops over to the much nicer Sango*

Inu-Yasha: *accepting a bowl of ramen* What are you staring at, 
woman?  *Kagome quickly looks away, not revealing her thoughts*

Kagome: Nothing.  (He acted so different today.  He’s never let 
anyone watch his back before.  I don’t think he’s ever even had 
someone to watch his back before, not like Ranma did... It’s like 
he’s someone else.  No, wait, he’s still the same Inu-Yasha... 
but now he’s got... a friend.  That’s it.  Inu-Yasha’s never 
trusted anyone else like he trusted Ranma today, not even me.  
And he doesn’t even realize it.) 

Akane: *interrupting her thoughts*  Sango-chan, Kagome-chan, I’ll 
show you a few katas after dinner, if you’d like.

Kagome: huh?  Oh, yeah!  That would be great!  *nods excitedly*

Sango: Sounds great.  It’s probably pretty different from the training I 
went through.  *Sango and Akane begin talking about their 
different techniques, as Kagome listens in.  Miroku, Shippou, 
and Myouga also put in a few words occasionally.  Ranma and 
Inu-Yasha, though, have their own conversation.*

Ranma: *having already finished his dinner, he sets aside his dishes* 
You want to spar a little, Inu-Yasha?

Inu-Yasha: *slurps up the last of his ramen*  Yeah.  You’re good, for 
a human.  Better than Miroku.

Ranma:  I’ve been doing this since I was a kid.  Pop’s always trained 
me to be the best.

Inu-Yasha: What sort of training?

Ranma:  Come on.  I’ll show you.  *The two leave the campfire and 
move into a slightly more open area.  Ranma grabs a huge rock 
and ties it his back, then gets Inu-Yasha to do the same.*  In 
the very beginning, Pops actually taught me katas.  When I had 
learned those, we fought for real - for everything.  It sucked, 
‘cause he was always better than me, so I never won.  
Whenever food got scarce, I was the one that starved!  But 
anyway, before all that, I had to know the basics.  This is a 
simple kata... *goes through the steps, slowing himself down 
so that Inu-Yasha could observe well each movement.  
Inu-Yasha assumes the basic stance and copies each move 
perfectly when Ranma finishes.  Although the heavy rock throws 
him a little off balance at first, he quickly compensates*

Inu-Yasha:  *talking as he goes through the moves* My father didn’t 
live long enough to teach me to fight.  When he died, mother 
and I had to move to a human village.  All the other kids hated 
me, because I was a hanyou.  But Mother wouldn’t let me fight 
them.  I didn’t know why until later: I would have killed them.  
After she died, I was on my own.  I knew how to read and write 
and figure, but it was up to me to survive.  Luckily, I was old 
enough to know by then when to pull my punches.  I became 
very good at dodging rocks and shoving dirt up noses.  
But eventually I just left.  Why not? There was nothing there for 
me.  The wild youkai attacked me, of course, but after the first 
few, they were only nuisances.  I had to teach myself how to 
use my fists, so I did.

Ranma:  *silent for a moment, then replies*  I guess maybe Pops 
isn’t so bad after all.  Sure, he threw me into a few pits, got me 
cursed, and all that, but he’s still there... Try this one.  *He 
demonstrates a second kata to Inu-Yasha, who again picks it up 
immediately*  I didn’t really know my mother growing up.  Pops 
practically kidnapped me when I was really young.  Made Mom 
a promise to make me “a man among men.”  He actually swore 
that both of us would commit seppuku if he failed.  So after I 
got cursed, I wasn’t allowed to see her again.  She even came 
to visit me once, and I had to pretend to be a girl the whole time.

Inu-Yasha: *silent for a moment, then changes the subject*  What 
other katas are there?  *Ranma starts explaining several.  
Without knowing quite how, the boys spend well over half the 
night discussing and practicing various katas.  When they 
realize how late it is, they untie the rocks from their backs, both 
weary and ready for sleep.  Miroku (on watch) notices them as 
they come back. He nods a greeting, and the two boys go to bed 
under their companion’s watchful eye.*

*Not too far away*

*Sesshoumaru watches his younger brother head back to camp, as 
silent as the moonlight that shines on his silver hair.  A grumpy 
green lump stands beside him, also quiet.*

Sesshoumaru: (It is well that you should learn to fight, little sister. I 
might not always be behind you as I am now.  And your style 
has always been so pathetic.  Maybe your humans have a little 
use, after all.  The cursed one has already taught you much.)  
*pauses* (But I do wonder what the boulders were for...  Why 
would a human train with such weights???)  *sits down to wait 
out the night*

*400 years in the future, inside the Nekohanten*

Cologne: *in Mandarin* Xiam Pu, pack your bags!  We leave for China 
tonight!

Shampoo: *in the same language* But why, Great-grandmother?

Cologne: I must do some research.  Get Mu Tsu ready, too.

Shampoo: My husband still needs me, great-grandmother.  I must 
wait for him.

Cologne: Don’t argue with me, child.  Now hurry up.  *Shampoo’s face 
wrinkles in rebellion for a minute, then smoothes back in 
seeming submission*

Shampoo: *bows politely* Yes, Great-grandmother.  *The purple-
haired girl disappears upstairs, her feet making no noise on the 
wooden steps*  (Yes, I shall make Mu Tsu ready to leave.  And 
myself, too.  But I won’t leave Ranma.  He is in danger in the 
past, I know it!  I can just feel it!)  *She quickly puts a small 
travel bag together, then finds Mousse and forces him to do the 
same.  Then, grabbing a second bag, she packs yet another 
travel bag - hiding this one.  The other luggage she places 
downstairs in the kitchen, keeping a calm mask over her 
features.*

Cologne: *Watching Shampoo place the bags*  (Her face is too calm.  
She is considering rebelling.  Should I stop her?  No, I will 
not.  I do not need her for my research, and that very devotion 
may finally bring son-in-law to her side.  Besides, I must find 
what truly happened to the youkai.  I feel it will be very 
important to us.)  *Kho Lon resignedly heads into the kitchen to 
finish this day’s work, knowing that tomorrow’s dawn will find 
her descendant’s room empty and her own full of open books 
and burnt out candles*