A/N: This chapter is entirely unbeta-ed, since all of my betas seem to have disappeared into the blue during my time-out. So it’s probably full of mistakes. And more than a bit muddled. Must get myself a new set of betas. Anyone interested?

Chapter 25 – Interrupted

Dear Diary,

Back from the interruption. And, gosh, what an interruption it was! I still feel somewhat shaky. And … bubbly? Hm. I don’t know, the word just popped up in my head. But since my subconscious apparently thinks this the right description, I’ll stay with it. So, I feel bubbly.

Why? Well, look at who the demon was that made Inu Yasha bristle! Yes! It’s him! It’s Sesshomaru, and I don’t know how I keep myself from squealing.

What a surprise! He was the last one I expected to show up when Inu Yasha suddenly jumped up and grabbed Tessaiga! I thought – we all thought – it was either a Naraku-send demon or one of the rampant demons. And when he slowly stepped out of the dark forest …

Deep breath here because, dear diary, what a picture! He was all powerful demon lord, the way he stood there and looked at us! Very impressive.

… well, when we saw who it was, we naturally were suspicious. He hasn’t tried anything – stealing Tessaiga, killing Inu Yasha – for a long time, but you never know with him. And I must admit I too believed the worst for a moment. After all, I just couldn’t see why he would show up!

Gosh, it was a real show! Inu Yasha, of course, was defensive and annoyed, and the rest of us were rather wary as well. And then he dropped the bomb, so to speak. What did he want? You’d never guess! It’s so not him that even I couldn’t help gaping at him as he stood there, cool as a cucumber, and announced he knew where Naraku was and had come to exchange information with us!

Yes, you heard that right. He came – more or less – to help us and to seek help.

Yes, we are still talking of Sesshomaru.

Of course, he didn’t say it. From the way he put it, he was granting us a favour. You know, “I know where he is and you don’t, Inu Yasha.” That style. And yet … and yet …

In the end, it was our voice of reason – Miroku-sama – who took over. He told Inu Yasha to shut up and Sesshomaru to say what he wanted to say. Inu Yasha kept on grumbling so I sat him. Yes, well, it might not have been a good idea, considering that Sesshomaru might attack Inu Yasha, but … he, that is Sesshomaru, stayed totally calm during Inu Yasha’s rant, and his insults were more by the way than as vicious as they’d been before. So I thought it was unfair of Inu Yasha to accuse Sesshomaru of all kinds of evil things and sat him.

Miroku-sama asked Sesshomaru how he knew where Naraku was and why he, Sesshomaru, hadn’t tried to kill him. Sesshomaru answered he couldn’t enter the place, but said Miroku-sama and I could. I was surprised for a moment, but the way he emphasised his words made clear what he meant: that Naraku was hiding himself in a holy place.

Oh, the smile Sesshomaru gave me when I said that! It was as if a tidal wave swept through me, a warm, tingling wave that left me breathless and weak. I swear I’ve never been that close to fainting!

Of course Inu Yasha doubted that Sesshomaru was saying the truth, so I sat him again. Sango-chan didn’t believe it, either. But then Sesshomaru mentioned Kohaku. He said he had seen Sango-chan’s brother at this Mount Hakurei.

That was the one argument that made his story believable beyond doubt. Where Kohaku is Naraku can’t be that far away. And yet, that wasn’t what stopped Inu Yasha and Sango-chan from being suspicious. The one thing that made us all believe in him, believe that he hadn’t come to fight us (and I could see in Miroku-sama’s face and the way Inu Yasha stood that they now believed Sesshomaru) was a) he said Kohaku’s name and b) the way he did. No derision, no belittling adjectives, no contempt or anger; Sesshomaru simply said Kohaku’s name.

Miroku-sama then invited him to come to the fire and sit down, so that we could talk things through. And when Sesshomaru stepped closer, something in the way the light reflected in his eyes reminded me of just who and even more what he is.

And I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Everybody clutched at their weapons, wary of what he might do.

Of course he reacted to it. I could see how his eyes changed. It was an ever so tiny shift in his expressionless face, but I knew he was tensing, expecting to be attacked. And without thinking I just jumped up and babbled something.

Yes, well, I had to stop them, didn’t I?

I had noticed the little girl earlier, and now I asked whether she was hungry. Uh, yeah, pretty silly considering the situation. But it was the first thing that came to my mind.

Everybody stared at me, but luckily she was indeed hungry. Rin’s always hungry, she said. So I got to know her name, too. Hah, I knew her name was something short and with an i! Even if I didn’t remember much else … It was a moment for my ever growing list of embarrassing moments, acting like a total ninny in front of Sesshomaru. Argh.

I didn’t dare look at any of them except Rin-chan and the ramen I prepared for her. Inu Yasha protested – Hey, that’s my ramen! – but I ignored him. And then Shippo decided that the situation was save, and he came to make friends with Rin. I think they were both happy to have another child their age around them to play with. Shippo showed her some of his tricks, and after she had eaten, they went away with that toady Jaken.

I rather pitied Jaken, as little as I like him. He clearly wasn’t up to two small children and their plays. Well, if that isn’t an effective method of demon extermination! Wonder if Sango-chan ever thought about it …

Uh, okay, back to the report. After the children had left, we got down to business. Inu Yasha asked where Naraku was, and Sesshomaru told us what he knew. That Naraku had hidden himself at a mountain in the north called Mount Hakurei, which is a very holy place according to Sango-chan.

Sesshomaru then told us about the sanctuary on the mountain’s top, and that though he once was able to go near it he couldn’t do it any longer because the barrier around the mountain had got so much stronger. Miroku-sama wondered how Naraku managed to get through the barrier if it was so strong. Sesshomaru said that was what he wanted to know. He said we knew more about Naraku and should be able to figure it out.

Inu Yasha grumbled something about Naraku being a hanyou, but Sesshomaru already knew that. (Of course he did. I told him.) Inu Yasha was surprised and asked Sesshomaru how he knew. Sesshomaru looked at me, and for a moment I was scared he’d tell Inu Yasha that I told him. He didn’t, thank kami. That would have opened a can of worms I don’t want to open.

But Sesshomaru said that Naraku had told him during their fight at the castle, and Inu Yasha promptly asked why Sesshomaru had been there. Jaken, who had escaped from the children, answered that Naraku had tried to steal Sesshomaru’s body and power.

Shock! I mean, I knew … no, I didn’t really know what Naraku had wanted from Sesshomaru. When I had asked him, all he said was “Me.” But not what for or why or anything. And to hear that now … urgh. It was a shock. To merely imagine having Naraku look out from behind Sesshomaru’s eyes …

…

…

Sorry for the interruption, dear diary. I found out that writing about Sesshomaru while he’s only some steps away isn’t the best idea. The thought of Naraku inside of Sesshomaru’s body disturbed me so much that I must have given some kind of sound or made some movement or whatever.

Because I suddenly felt him watching me, and when I looked up, he was grinning in a way that was even more disturbing than my thoughts. It was some kind of I-know-something-you-don’t grin, and it made me terribly nervous.

I wondered what he was grinning about and began checking for the reason. You know, like ‘did the knot that held my collar open and now everybody could look down my cleavage’? But I couldn’t find anything, and when I looked around I noticed that Miroku-sama grinned as well, and that Inu Yasha was glaring daggers at Sesshomaru, and that Sango-chan too was smiling. Apparently, the joke was on me. Argh, what did I do??

But nobody told me, they only smiled or grinned, and I decided to leave. No, I wouldn’t be writing in a place where people grinned at me without reason! Or glared, like Inu Yasha. Not when I didn’t know what I had said or done to make them grin or glare.

So, I got up and left. I didn’t know where I went. All I knew was away from them and from the possibility of embarrassing myself further. Damn, but what did I do???

Anyway, after some time stumbling over roots and running into branches I came to a small cliff and found a fallen tree there that made for a good seat. Now I’m even happier that I left. Not only do I have my peace here, but I also have a fantastic view! The treetops roll down the slopes of the valley under my feet, they reach to the horizon where the dark shapes of mountains rise. And the sky is clear and dusted with brightly twinkling stars.

So now I can continue. Hm, where did I stop? Oh, yes. Naraku in Sesshomaru’s body. Gah, nightmare!! Don’t think of it, don’t, don’t!

Uh, okay, and before that? Oh, yes, talking about half-demon Naraku. Yes, Jaken had said that Naraku wanted Sesshomaru’s body, and after the first shock it became to clear to me! Naraku wants to be a full demon, and apparently gathering shikon shards takes too long, so he decided to take over the most powerful demon he knows.

And then Sango-chan suggested that it might have been a trick. Uh …

Of course Jaken exploded on Sesshomaru’s behalf, but Sango-chan snapped back that Naraku was known for tricking us, and that maybe Naraku wasn’t 100 bent on the success of this scheme. Fine if it worked out, but fine too if it didn’t because it would serve as a red herring for us.

Sesshomaru agreed that this was a possibility – and he didn’t like it one bit. He stared at me, but he wasn’t really seeing me, and then suddenly his eyes flashed red. I felt his youki rise and swirl around him. Inu Yasha swore and grabbed Tessaiga, and from the corner of my eyes I saw Sango-chan ready her boomerang. They were getting up to fight Sesshomaru, and I can’t blame them.

He was so scary! His eyes flashed and his markings became more pronounced, and for a moment his features changed. I saw that once before and remember it very well – he was about to transform!

Instinctively, I reached out for my bow, my hands prickling and tingling like they always do when my miko powers rise. I grabbed blindly because I just couldn’t take my eyes off him lest he suddenly moved or something. His gaze focused on me and I was about to shout for Inu Yasha – when Sesshomaru blinked. And when he opened his eyes, they were golden; he was back to normal.

It took some time until my friends realised he wasn’t going to attack us. Inu Yasha didn’t want to put Tessaiga away. But I could see Sesshomaru had himself under control again. There was no danger in his eyes anymore.

It’s a bit frightening that I can read him so easily. That is, no, not exactly “read” him … it’s just that somehow I know what’s going on inside of him. No, that’s not the right way of saying it either. I don’t know what he’s feeling or thinking. It’s just … I don’t know. But sometimes I just know. Does that make sense?

Anyway, we talked about Naraku, what he is (hanyou), who he was (Onigumo) and so on. Sesshomaru asked some questions about him, about his usual form … and I just had to make an ass of myself again. Uh, so embarrassing … and Sesshomaru was sitting there, too! Argh. And he probably knew who I was talking about, and – No, he did know I was talking about him! I mean, he read my diary after all! Argh! No!

It all began with Sango-chan describing Naraku as handsome. Which is totally right, from an objective point of view. Not that I admire him or anything! It’s just … well, yes, he does look good in his human form!

Anyway, Sango-chan said it, and Miroku-sama cast her a sharp look that immediately had her flustered. I could see how uncomfortable she felt for betraying something like this – in front of Miroku-sama, too! – and agreed with her. Uh-uh, shouldn’t have done that! Female solidarity or not.

Inu Yasha, of course, got angry. The way he looked at me! Like I had gone mental for thinking the body handsome! That made me angry, and I yelled at him that Miroku-sama was forever admiring pretty women that are really demonesses in disguise, and if he didn’t mind that, then why did he have a problem with Sango-chan and I admiring Naraku’s body? Inu Yasha didn’t agree, and in my anger my mouth ran away with me. I said that we only thought Naraku handsome, not beautiful – because beautiful was someone else.

Uhh. So embarrassing!

And I really meant it in a totally … well, I mean, Sango-chan and I agreed that Sesshomaru was beautiful and … yes, well. And only when I said it I remembered that I was talking to a guy (who wouldn’t understand if I spelled it out for him, not taking into consideration that he can’t read!). That, and that the personification of male beauty was sitting right opposite.

ARGH! Did I say it was embarrassing when he returned my diary? I was wrong! That time was nothing in comparison to this!

And even though nobody but he and probably Sango-chan know who I was thinking of it is horribly embarrassing. Inu Yasha thought I meant Koga. I denied that quite out of reflex. But that of course didn’t improve the situation. Miroku-sama was curious and Inu Yasha was getting possessive again, and hadn’t it been for Sesshomaru, who knows what else I might have said?

Yes, Sesshomaru saved me by reminding everybody we were talking about Naraku, and I don’t know if I should be thankful or mortified. Because he knew! And the way he was looking at me! With this smile in his eyes that makes my knees turn into jelly and my heart race a mile a minute!

But finally discussion turned back to Naraku. We, or better, Sesshomaru figured out how Naraku managed to get through the barrier to Mount Hakurei, and even though Inu Yasha wasn’t all that convinced it seems plausible. Sesshomaru thought that, with Naraku being a conglomerate of demons, he possesses their individual strengths, and that enabled him to trick the creator of the barrier. Next, we – or better Sesshomaru – decided we would set out tomorrow morning for Mount Hakurei to try to find Naraku.

Did you notice? I didn’t until now, but isn’t it amazing how Sesshomaru took over? Throughout the discussion, all important conclusion and decisions were made by Sesshomaru. Maybe that’s the reason why Inu Yasha kept glaring at him?

Anyway, our discussion ended at this point because Shippo showed up and annoyed Inu Yasha. Inu Yasha hit Shippo. I sat Inu Yasha. It was an ordinary evening after all.

Well, with the little exception of Sesshomaru being there, of course.

He then decided to stay for the night, or better, Rin-chan decided for him by falling asleep. Though he must have wanted to stay as well. I doubt he’d have any qualms about waking Rin-chan or simply packing her onto the back of that dragon-thing and drag her off. But he didn’t. He stayed. He sat there under a tree and watched us. We settled down and tried to act as if it was normal to have him there.

Inu Yasha, of course, didn’t want him to stay. He, Miroku-sama, and Sango-chan had a heated discussion – whispered, of course, thought I still think Sesshomaru heard every single word of it – about whether we could trust him or not. At first, I didn’t listen because I had begun writing, but then Miroku-sama asked me if I trusted Sesshomaru.

I do wonder. Somehow I can’t believe it that my friends were so totally oblivious to the fact that he was standing rather close. A human might not have heard it, but Inu Yasha keeps telling us Sesshomaru’s a demon. We all know his senses are better than Inu Yasha’s, and even Inu Yasha’s sense of hearing is pretty sharp. I wonder whether they wanted Sesshomaru to hear what they were saying.

I don’t know. But I knew – well, not exactly, but I was pretty sure – that he was listening, and I wanted him to hear what I said. Because I do trust him. It’s so very strange to do so, but … after this evening … He was so angry but controlled himself. After seeing this … Yes, I do trust him not to try to harm us. He could have done so easily but didn’t.

Inu Yasha kindly reminded me that I was mad for trusting him and that Sesshomaru had tried to kill him. I kindly reminded Inu Yasha that he had tried to kill me as well. And that more or less ended the matter. Inu Yasha argued we couldn’t trust Sesshomaru and that he hated humans. Miroku-sama agreed that his was why Rin-chan was with him. Nothing of importance was said afterwards, and I resumed writing.

So there. That was my evening. Pretty amazing, wasn’t it? And embarrassing. Uh. What did Sesshomaru think when I said Naraku was handsome?? I can’t believe I said that! In front of everybody! But he smiled at me, so he wasn’t angry, was he? And it was a smile!

Ah, I forgot. Suppressed it, maybe? My spectacular blunder … Uh. Of course that’d be a reason to grin.

And then the way he grinned at me just before I left … But why was he grinning like that? What did I do??

I really want to know. Thinking about it, it can’t have been anything that betrayed my thoughts at that time, or anything that betrayed my thoughts of Sesshomaru at all. Yes, he’d be grinning that way if I did, but neither would have Miroku-sama and Sango-chan been smiling, nor would have Inu Yasha been content with simply glaring at him. So, nothing of that kind.

But what then? Did I make a funny sound? Was my shirt or skirt askew without me noticing it? What was going on???

But maybe Miroku-sama had only been telling a joke, or something like that, and I’m worrying without any reason. But, what if not …?

Gah, I’ve got to stop thinking about it. It drives me crazy!

Crazier, that is. Because I think I left “crazy” behind around the time when Sesshomaru showed up this evening. Or maybe some time during the conversation. I’m definitely past it now. Yes. I am past the state of crazy and have reached the state of … bubbly.

Or maybe it’s only crazy for Sesshomaru.

KYA!

Uh, can’t believe I wrote that. Even less that it’s apparently true. Dear diary, am I making sense? I don’t feel like it. Right now, I feel terribly confused. Bubbly and confused.

I forgot what I told you before. My hands shake. Why are they doing that? I feel tense like a tightly wound spring. I wonder why? Because Sesshomaru’s here? Is he doing that to me? But why now? I didn’t feel that way when we met in the meadow. Why now? Why am I-

…

…

Another interruption. Sorry. The reason for that interruption? The same as before. Sesshomaru suddenly showed up. There I was, not minding anything but my own little world of confusion, when suddenly something white and shining glided onto the tree next to me. I started – I think I jumped three feet into the air – and gaped at him. He looked coolly back with a twinkle in his eyes.

Er … scratch that. Sesshomaru doesn’t twinkle. It was probably a star reflecting in his eyes. Must have been because, Sesshomaru twinkling???

Anyway, he interrupted me again. And now it’s the next morning, I’m lying in my sleeping bag, Shippo cuddled against my back, and try to tell you what happened last night after he came to me. It’s ... a bit hazy.

So, he sat down there next to me on the tree and looked at me, and then began a conversation. Don’t ask me what he said, or what I answered. It was only last night, but for some reason I can’t remember what exactly he said or what exactly I said. It felt unreal, as if in a dream, sitting there, the world at our feet, talking to him.

It still feels unreal. When I woke up I was wondering whether I really did dream it all. But when I looked around I saw him sitting there under the tree nearest to my sleeping bag. Looking at me. With that hint of a smile in his eyes.

Then I remembered that I didn’t dream it. Righty-o, how could I think Inu Yasha’s tantrum was a dream? I don’t dream of Inu Yasha throwing tantrums. No, I dream of …

Kya! I dreamed of him, of Sesshomaru last night. Of course I did, I always do! And he was sitting right next to me! You know what that means? Me dreaming, being in “dream-state” and Sesshomaru not five steps away?

He smelled it. He must have! Uhhh … need a hole again to hide in!

…

Okay, after a short moment of intense embarrassment and wishing-to-disappear-right-now-please-gods-have-mercy I calmed down. Because, it doesn’t really matter if he smelled it or not. I wrote so much about my dreams and their effects on me in my diary that he knew anyway. So, no need to panic.

Dear diary, I hope you notice my new-found calm and maturity? I’m rather proud of myself.

But I still haven’t told you about last night. Last night, when we sat there on the tree and talked. We talked about my home and his and about our families and lives and … everything!

He told me what it is like being a demon lord, and even a little about his parents. I was so curious as to what his mother was like! I know a little about his father – due to him being Inu Yasha’s father as well – but nothing about Sesshomaru’s mother. Except of course that she was a demoness.

I was so surprised when he told me she isn’t dead! I always thought she had to be dead because of, you know, Inu Yasha’s mother. But come to think of it, I don’t know if Inu Yasha’s mother was married to Inu Yasha’s father. Considering she was a human, probably not. Hm, now I’m curious about Inu Yasha’s mother …

Okay, back to Sesshomaru’s mother. He didn’t say that much, only that she’s very much alive, has her own palace, and that he hasn’t seen her for some time. It made me a little sad to hear that. I start missing my mum horribly when I don’t see her for two or three weeks. And Sesshomaru hasn’t seen his mum for decades!

He must have seen what I felt because he told me that it was okay with him. He didn’t miss her. Strange to imagine, but he said that’s something characteristic for demons: family ties are honoured, but not very strong, and demons – especially the stronger ones – can’t be around each other for a long time. It makes them aggressive, Sesshomaru said. They don’t like it.

I wonder why he tolerates Jaken around him, then. Okay, Jaken isn’t a strong demon, but still … On the other hand, he’s Sesshomaru’s servant. That’s probably something different. I didn’t ask him that.

You see, demons do have servants. Not like Jaken. Serving demons, Sesshomaru called them. Lesser demons that are bred to serve higher-ranking demons. Uh, it took me some time to get used to that concept. Sounded a lot like slavery to me.

Granted, there are also servants among the humans in this era. And they are considered of a lesser rank than, let’s say, a merchant. But they aren’t bred to serve! It’s so … odd, kind of creepy, to think about breeding beings of your own species for one purpose or other … Yes, humans do it with animals, but that’s different.

I wonder what kind of servant Myoga was. Of what rank and powers. Must ask Sesshomaru some time. Considering what I know of Myoga, he was probably the court-jester of the old lord of the west: knows a lot, more than he ought to sometimes, but isn’t of much use otherwise. Except for making fun of him.

I also asked Sesshomaru how he met Rin-chan. He was silent for a long time, but eventually told me how she had taken care of him – or tried to - after he got hit with the wind-scar. How he had found her dead some days later and then revived her with Tensaiga.

I couldn’t help crying, really. It’s such a beautiful story! How that little girl managed to slip into his heart. That she was the one who basically showed him Tensaiga’s strength. A human! It’s symbolic, isn’t it? Sesshomaru despised humans, and he despised Tensaiga. And both taught him something about the other.

It’s also rather remarkable that both brothers learned to master their swords more or less at the same time. I wonder if their father is sitting somewhere on a cloud and laughing his head off at them.

Considering both Inu Yasha and Sesshomaru’s temperaments, probably not.

I was also touched that Sesshomaru told me this story. Because it means he trusts me as well. He revealed his weakness to me – it must have cost him a good deal to swallow his pride and admit – to me, no less! – that he was affected by the wind-scar. And that a human girl tried to help him! That he apparently needed help! That he had been weak! And when I think how he had earlier told me that a demon lord can be challenged by every other demon when he shows signs of weakness, this was indeed an act of great trust.

And he trusts me! Me! Of course that made me cry! Which, in turn, utterly confused Sesshomaru. I tried to explain, but in the end gave up, because I don’t think he understood what I wanted to say.

So, to change the topic I asked him why he was now so determined to find and kill Naraku. After all, Naraku had been his ally once. You remember, the time when Sesshomaru showed up with the human arm and the bee-hive that housed the Saimyosho. I nearly fell off the trunk when Sesshomaru told me how Naraku had tricked him.

But that made me wonder even more why now and not before. Sesshomaru looked at me silently, as if he was wondering how to answer. Then he said that the first time Naraku tricked him was his own mistake, but that involving Rin-chan was Naraku’s mistake. And that he would make sure that Naraku never, ever played a trick on him again.

And then, from one second to the other, he was burning with fury again! I could feel it, rolling in waves off his body. His eyes flashed, and he growled and curled his hand into a claw. I froze with fear; I knew this fury wasn’t directed at me, but you try having sitting an absolutely furious demon lord next to you and not be afraid!

He calmed down again very quickly and apologised for scaring me, but before I could say anything the cavalry came to my rescue. Inu Yasha, Sango-chan, Miroku-sama, Shippo-chan, all ready to defend me; Jaken, ready to try to calm down his lord and fight off my friends.

It must have looked kind of comical: they all tense and ready to fight, and Sesshomaru and I sitting there on our tree, totally calm and relaxed.

But it wasn’t comical, not really. My friends relaxed when they saw nothing had happened to me, except, of course, Inu Yasha. He was really mad. He hadn’t liked Sesshomaru staying with us, and now he had come to rescue me and I didn’t need to be rescued. I tried to explain that we had been talking about Naraku, but Inu Yasha didn’t listen.

Jaken didn’t make things any easier. He was squeaking the whole time, at me, at Inu Yasha, threatening us. It took a very cold, harsh “Shut up!” from Sesshomaru until he did shut up.

For some reason that made Inu Yasha only more furious. He yelled at Jaken, at Sesshomaru, at me, at Miroku-sama when he tried to calm Inu Yasha down. I didn’t listen to it all, but the gist of it was that he knew we couldn’t trust Sesshomaru, that he knew Sesshomaru would turn back on us, that I was stupid for trusting Sesshomaru, and that Kikyo would never have been so stupid. At which point I was furious myself and sat him.

I never really appreciated the true beauty of silence before.

When that infernal yelling was finally stopped, Miroku-sama seized the change and asked me what had really happened. They had felt immense youki, and only then had noticed that Sesshomaru had left camp as well.

I told him we had been talking about Naraku, and that thinking about Naraku had made Sesshomaru angry.

Miroku-sama smiled, nodded, and said, with a glance at Inu Yasha slammed into the ground, that he understood that sentiment very well.

Inu Yasha said something, but unfortunately, we couldn’t hear it.

However, apparently Sesshomaru did understand what Inu Yasha had said, and announced he would leave us alone now. With a cold glance at Inu Yasha he added that apparently we needed time to think about our priorities.

Which made Inu Yasha shake with fury, and I sat him again. Just to be on the safe side.

Sesshomaru did leave then, with Jaken in tow. Miroku-sama, Sango-chan, and Shippo-chan stayed, and together we waited for the spell to wear off. What followed wasn’t nice. It included a lot of yelling on Inu Yasha’s part, and a lot of sitting him on my part, with attempts of reasoning on Miroku-sama’s part. Didn’t work, though. The reasoning, that is. Inu Yasha was and remained suspicious of Sesshomaru.

I mean, I do understand him to some extend. This is still Sesshomaru. And Inu Yasha doesn’t have the advantage of having seen the other side of his brother. He only knows the Sesshomaru who despises him, who ridicules him, and who has tried to kill him and me more than once.

I tried to point out that Sesshomaru had really changed since we first met him. That he stopped Inu Yasha when he had transformed; that Sesshomaru didn’t kill him back then. That there was Rin-chan, who clearly adored Sesshomaru. That he didn’t kill Kohaku-kun. That he didn’t kill me when I met him. That he had just given us useful information. And that I had been talking perfectly amiably to Sesshomaru on more than one occasion.

Maybe I shouldn’t have said the last thing, for it set Inu Yasha off again. He raged on about how it was all a ploy and we couldn’t trust Sesshomaru and so on and so forth; and then, in an interesting – and slightly scary turn – he narrowed his eyes at me and growled something about how close Sesshomaru and I had apparently become.

Fortunately, I was too angry to do more than snap back, or else I may have become really guilty and spilled the beans. Because of course Inu Yasha was kind of right. Sesshomaru and I had become rather close. In a somewhat more than friendly way. But Inu Yasha needn’t know that, and I would surely not tell him!

As it was, I told him, “So what? What if we are ‘close’? He’s our ally now, Inu Yasha! And he can be really nice! He isn’t all evil. There’s a lot of good inside of him as well! He’s come to help us! It’s only fair if we give him a chance! So, stop being so aggressive. You can accept Koga-kun’s our ally. Why not Sesshomaru too?”

Inu Yasha started to snarl something, but a voice from behind us interrupted him.

“Kagome can sure see something good in everybody, can’t she?” whispered Shippo-chan – loud enough, of course. He does this on purpose, this stage-whispering, I swear!

“Yes, Kagome-sama has been given a very precious gift.” Miroku-sama at his pious-monk best.

“And if she can see something good in Sesshomaru, he sure can’t be that bad, can he?” Rather brave, Shippo-chan. He’s scared of Sesshomaru!

Miroku-sama and Sango-chan agreed with something like cautious enthusiasm. Inu Yasha sputtered. I’m sure I must have gaped at them. Talk about doing things on purpose. I wonder if they really know what they are doing, or if this is just their way of dealing with Inu Yasha and me.

Anyway, all Inu Yasha then managed was a grumbled “Suspicious ally.”

“Kikyo-sama is a suspicious ally as well,” reminded him Miroku-sama.

To which Inu Yasha, surprisingly, said nothing. He glared at Miroku-sama, at me, and then stalked off.

I slumped back onto the tree trunk with relief. When I looked back up, they were all watching me curiously. I smiled and thanked Miroku-sama. He nodded at me, and then delivered the blow.

“I think you are right, Kagome-sama,” he said. “But, nevertheless, be careful in what you do.”

And with these ominous words, he left. I gaped after him. Did I understand him correctly? Does he know? Or suspect? Or was it only a general warning?

I wasn’t the only one who was stunned by his words. “What was that about?” asked Shippo-chan? He looked at me, I managed to shrug. He looked at Sango-chan. She shrugged. Shippo-chan hopped after Miroku-sama. I suppose to ask him what he meant.

When he was gone, Sango-chan looked at me. The expression in her eyes told me she would ask me something embarrassing.

“Kagome-chan,” she began slowly. Then fidgeted as if she didn’t know what to say next. “Kagome-chan, you … Please, be careful about Sesshomaru, will you?”

I started to repeat my earlier speech, about how he’s our ally now and not dangerous anymore, at least not to us. But she interrupted me.

“That’s not what I meant,” she said, shaking her head. “Kagome-chan, you … you remember the talk we had the other day? About … about a certain kind of demon?”

She looked at me expectantly. At first, I didn’t remember, but then it came back in a rush. Ah, yes. A certain kind of demon. Those powerful, really beautiful demons. I felt my face heat.

Sango-chan nodded. “Yes. So, just be careful, Kagome-chan. Don’t … don’t fall for him, okay? I know how easily that happens, but it wouldn’t … you’d only get hurt. And … and if you think you … you know, talk to me. I … I know what it is like to be in love with such a demon. I might be able to help you. Okay?”

I don’t remember, but I think I managed to nod. Sango-chan smiled and together we walked back to the camp. The rest of the evening passed without incident. So here I am now, writing it all down, feeling rather … at a complete loss. Because … because, just now, when I wrote down Sango-chan’s words it was like … I suddenly realised—

Oh, bother. Can’t write more. Others are up, ready for breakfast and everything and looking expectantly at me scribbling. More soon.