Unexpected Places

Disclaimer: AH, Ummm……. I DO………….not own Inuyasha, but I would like to thank Rumiko Takahashi for letting my imagination run wild.

*WARNING* This chapter contains torture. Not a lot, but enough to be classified as torture.

Surprises are the mysteries to life Part II

He waited on his immaculate throne for the prize that he had waited a long time for. Planning and preparing for it was not easy for they were Godds. Patience might have been a virtue, but it wasn’t him. He was patient for too long now and it was about damn time he got what he wanted. All he wanted was for something to go right for once.

* * *

The convoy moved along the road with a pristine carriage in the middle surrounded by guards. The demon directed his underlings to wait for his signal to attack. Patiently they waited until the carriage was in range then sprang their ambush.

Whatever power was used was useless against these nullified demons. The carriage doors flew open revealing a beautiful red-headed female and auburn-haired male. Beauty was the essence of their kind for they were Godds. An ethereal glow seemed to surround them even as they were drug away from their transportation, gagged, bound, and blindfolded. Moving them away from the scene of death leaving the scattered remains of what used to be their detail to rot, the band of demons carried their load towards the castle to their master.

* * *

Naraku was to the point of castrating someone because his patience was running very thin. The doors to the Grand Hall swung open as he sat up in excitement. In walked two demons that carried the bundles he had demanded for. The loads fell unceremoniously to their rear ends on the hard, cold marble floor as Naraku approached them. They looked trying to discover their location. It didn’t matter if they figured it out. They weren’t leaving and never would.

The light disoriented them as the blindfolds were released and the two demons left, not before bowing towards their lord. The two Godds gasped in unison at seeing who stood before them.

“It’s nice to see you kneeling before me which is rightful in your positions,” Naraku replied.

“Disgusting,” the woman sneered, “I don’t know how you escaped, but you will be promptly put back into your prison.”

Naraku’s delicate eyebrow lifted, “Oh, I don’t think so. And, you will see to that.”

He didn’t give them time to think. Forcing his hand into the chest of the male, he ripped out his heart watching the beating muscle die just like its master. He proceeded then to devour it. The blood dripped down his face and hands to land on the floor below.

“Ah, the refreshing power of the Earth Godd. Would you like to witness my power?”

She franticly shook her head knowing that he now possessed not only his power of Chaos, but also that of the Earth. Knowing her life would soon end, she accepted her fate with a proud face. Naraku smirked at this. He was going to have fun with her first before he got on to business with his other guest. His cock twitched thinking of the unspent passion that he needed to release; who better than the Goddess of Love. He was going to break her spirit well as he grabbed a handful of her hair.

* * *

Neara awoke to the horrific screams of a female in agony. Her heart went out to the poor woman as the noise abruptly halted, recognizing her death. Noting the darkness of her prison, she realized that she was confined tightly and securely to what felt like a large piece of hardwood. She realized with a sigh of relief that her clothes were still on her person. This eased her mind until she felt a rush of purely evil energy ramming right into her body almost choking her. It heavily permeated the confined air she was in. Purifying what she could helped to relieve the tension on her. The slider on the peep hole moved to rain in some light to blind her until she adjusted. Neara saw the shadow of a face block her light then move again to close the peep hole. The locks in the door slid raucously out of place as the metal door creaked open. The torches on the wall flickered to life as the flame danced sadly seeming to tell her of her fate. This was not going to be a merry encounter. In stepped her kidnapper, but he seemed to be even more powerful than he was last time she saw him. He was grinning happily as one of his minions laid out an array of tools; ones that she knew were going to hurt.

“You seem to be adjusting quite well to my personal pleasure chamber – Miko,” he remarked coldly.

“It seems to be quite sadistic and cozy. I kinda like the tie-her-down-so-there-is-no-way-in-hell-she-can-move shackles and let’s-prop-her-up-uncomfortably board. It adds a nice touch to the place. Where can I get one?” she asked sarcastically.

“Still have the energy to mouth off I see. This will prove to be interesting… at least for me,” he smirked the grin of a devil. Lifting a knife that sparkled in the firelight, he inspected its sharpness finding it adequate, he approached her.

“Now, this is a game called ‘Where am I?’ I love this game because you are going to tell me where the Shikon no Tama is at. I will think about letting you live if you tell me exactly where I can find my jewel within you.”

“I’ve been getting that a lot lately and I still don’t know what the hell you are talking about.” He seemed to contemplate whether she was really feigning ignorance or if the truth was being told.

It had to be truth for the fact that the Council would have erased his existence from any census log or historical record. The only way anyone would have known about him was if they knew about him by word of mouth or was alive to have witnessed his feats. She hadn’t of been born before he left for the sheer fact that his Shikon lay dormant within her body. Her periods of anger were the only way he was able to feel it. Like a beacon in the night, he was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Since she had no clue as to what he referred to, then she sure as hell didn’t know where it was contained inside that supple body of hers. He came to a decision that it didn’t matter if she was enlightened or not, either way he was going to break her before he ripped the precious jewel from her. Eyeing her delicate body he went straight to her wrists slicing both across instead of up and down. He didn’t after all want an instant death. Effectively cutting the tendons, she wouldn’t be able to make her escape efficiently.

“Maybe I should introduce myself. After all I have been most rude to my guest of honor. --- My name is Naraku, Godd of Chaos at your service,” he replied in a darkly sweet voice as he bowed his greetings and acknowledgement to her.

“What do you want with me?” As if she couldn’t be stern enough, she still had the effort and energy to be angry.

He turned smirking her way that caused her to frown and growl, “I want your pain. I want your deepest sorrow. I want your despair and finally I want your sweet death before I tear out my jewel from your delicate flesh.” Sweeping around to face the door he advanced as his baritone voice called out to the guards.

Before leaving, “I hope you sleep well Miko.” His chuckle was deep and depressing. “I want her stripped and make sure to light the fire. We don’t want her dying over night. That would be half the fun.”

* * *

Branches nicked his flesh and tore his clothes as he blindly raced through the forest. He could still see the fear that painted her face that ran through her whole body as she froze making him able to spirit her away in a flash of swirling black cloth that rumpled in the fierce wind that took them both away from him. The devil didn’t see him hiding in the brush. Fear had clouded his mind in a panic, but his more sensible thoughts decided to break through the haze. She needed help, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to save her on his own so his next logical thought was to search for the hanyou; her protector, her friend, his make-shift family member.

Searching for his scent again, Shippo was able to follow his trail that took another direction. Following and tracking the invisible route ended at a stream. Crossing the stream he found the trail did not pick back up again. Returning to the original side, he could not pick it up again so therefore Inuyasha had continued his journey in the stream either up towards the mountains or down to the valley below.

His heart broke to discover that he had no clue as to where the half-inu had gone. There was a 50/50 chance he could get it right, but if he got it wrong then it would delay her rescue even more than it had. He sank to the ground covering his face with his hands and wept. The despair was overpowering to the kit that something so simple could go wrong.

“Mrrrww”

Shippo jerked his head up so fast that a human could have received whip-lash just by looking at him.

“Mmrrrrww”

The young fox kit spotted Neara’s cat; Toka was his name, by the cherry blossom tree.

“Mrrrrww” The feline tilted his head to the side as if asking a question. His actions seemed to ask ‘Why so sad?’ Shippo could have sworn he saw the neko smirk then tilted his head to the sky as if observing something. Shippo looked up in time to see a flash of crimson seem to float to his position. The amber eyes of Inuyasha’s seemed to be slightly concerned then turned to something akin to disappointment.

“What the hell are you doing all the way out here Shippo? And by the way why in Kami’s name ain’t you with Neara? I’m sure she’s worried about you.”

All Shippo could do was weep for joy. He had actually found Inuyasha. Surprisingly enough, the hanyou didn’t venture too far away and thankfully so. He regained his composure and began to blurt out his reasoning for searching him out. Inuyasha raised his eyebrow in a quizzical manner signifying his confusion. He touched the fox’s shoulder and the kit stopped to peer up into his eyes.

“Slow down Shippo. I didn’t catch a damn word you just said. Now, calm down and tell me again.” Shippo took a deep breath and recounted the events of earlier. He saw Inuyasha’s jaw drop and then his face contorted into controlled anger. He seemed to want to physically hurt something.

I should have been there to protect her. How could I have been such an idiot?

Shippo was unaware of Inuyasha’s mental berating of himself. All Shippo knew was that Inuyasha seemed livid and anything could set him off. He decided that it would be a good thing to stay quiet and as far as Inuyasha was concerned it was the best choice the fox could ever make. Neara was in danger and it was up to him to save her since he had left her so vulnerable to attack.

“Shippo, which way did he go after he… captured Neara?” Inuyasha was deathly calm. He was at the point to where anything could make or break him – into a blood lusting lunatic that is.

“To the North,” Shippo replied. Inuyasha turned to study the cardinal direction as his face frowned.

“No one kidnaps Neara and gets away with it – No one.” Inuyasha’s voice sent fearful shivers down the fox’s spine. That was how deadly serious the hanyou was.

Toka’s meow caught Inuyasha’s attention. He turned lifting the feline into his arms as he placed both in his haori when he took flight setting his sight to the North back towards the Northern Mountains.

* * *

She heard the screams carrying themselves on the wind towards her. Her ears swiveled to the direction from which it came. Turning her head, she found that they originated from her birth place. The horrible screams of death caused her to begin running as a reaction. Sprinting like the wind hoping to get there in time, she came across a path of destruction and carnage. Emerging out of the barrier of the forest behind her, she noticed the ground littered with bodies and sprayed with blood; the blood of the innocent and recognizing later, the blood of the young. Looking at fires that sprang up from different and many huts, she continued to walk the path of destruction memorizing the slaughter that lay before her. How could this happen? Didn’t they have warriors who could stop whatever was happening? The stench smelled that of a youkai. Weren’t they stronger than this. Weren’t they considered the most powerful beings on this plane of existence?

Noticing the body of a man that seemed familiar from her youth, she approached him. Looking at him as he struggled to stay alive, he spotted her as she stood above him watching him die. He reached out to her.

“I remember you,” he gasped for breath to continue. She turned to keep going, but he stopped her with two simple words that almost skipped her hearing.

“I know I’m going to die, but that doesn’t keep me from saying what I need to say, but it won’t change the past. I can’t take back what I have said to you so long ago and I can’t make amends. I can regret, and I can feel sorrow at what you had to endure at my hands. I just… want a favor because I believe you can do it. You are strong, stronger than that beast that has rampaged through the village. It’s magic is old and It seems to be out for vengeance.”

She turned her head, “What is your request?” Her voice was harsh, but also gentle in a weird sort of way.

He paused. Turning to look at him, he continued closing his eyes, “Save my daughter. She is the only thing I care about now. Help her see that life is not Hell. That… is my only wish.”

“Very well then,” replied she as Neara turned from the dead man to continue on the same path of death. Feeling the unique power, she raced to confront the abomination. Coming up to the battle field which was the field that separated the village from the city, she saw the royal soldiers attacking the monster. What was odd was the fact that even their basic purification power did not seem to faze the creature. The huge enemy periodically swooped down to grab a handful of soldiers and then proceeded to either devour them or viciously rip and shred them apart with either its massive hands or teeth therefore spewing the victim’s remains onto the unsuspecting army. She couldn’t describe the monster only that it was made up of various parts of youkai and put together with a strange type of magic. This power was old and seemed vengeful. It didn’t attack just to feed on unexpected targets, but there was a method to its madness. This creature was out for extermination. That was evident in how it continued to diminish the army instead of advancing through to demolish the city and the way it destroyed the village thoroughly not wanting to leave anyone alive. As it continued to play and kill its adversary, she advanced unsheathing her katana…

* * *

Neara jerked awake from her sweat drenching nightmare to only peer into the eyes of her tormentor. She was gasping for breath trying to calm her racing heart. Her features turned into a scowl and wasn’t afraid to let out a snarl.

“Watch it there – I see you had a lovely dream. No pun intended.”

“What you consider lovely and what I consider lovely are two different things,” she growled.

“You have a point there, but I think mine’s better,” Naraku smirked, “Actually I’m surprised you were able to stay strong for this long, but you will succumb sooner or later. Hopefully it will be sooner than later. I hate having to wait.”

Neara spat in his face, “Good luck.”

Naraku turned as he wiped his face of her spit. “I see,” he calmly replied stepping towards his table full of toys. The flames of the fire caught his eye. Eyeing his devices, he picked up an iron stake and was determined what he would do next with a smile.

Neara didn’t want to see what he was going to use. It was better if she didn’t know. The thought of knowing what was going to happen next would just make it worse. Ignorance would help her not go mad with despair. Ignorance would help her to not think at all. It was the best she could do to prevent him from feeling…

She gasped and screamed from the red hot searing pain that erupted from her thighs. The instant the pain hit her, her eyes shot open to see him branding her with the red hot iron stake. He moved from cauterizing her healthy flesh to her bound hands. In her palms he proceeded to draw three wavy lines, all parallel with each other, and watched as they scarred for life. No blood flowed for the severe temperature the instrument was at. He paid no attention to the blood still dripping from her wrists. The tell-tale sign that her wounds were healing was the slowing of the life that was persistent on leaving her body. Tears leaked from her eyes as she squeezed them shut.

“If you liked that then you will love this.” He moved away from her body altogether. Neara couldn’t breath. She couldn’t think, she couldn’t do much of anything except lose hope. The light of hope that she had diminished to a mere candle’s brightness. What made it almost burn out was when he pierced her right foot with the damn thing. At least he didn’t kill her, but it still didn’t stop the pain any. As the black curtains fell over her eyes, her last sight was of him exiting her Hell. The damn stake still lodged within her foot.

* * *

Inuyasha followed the directions of Toka who just simply turned his head in the direction they were suppose to be headed in.

“Mrrrww”

The hanyou landed on the ground to peer into the eyes of Neara’s cat. Something went unnoticed between the two that Shippo was unable to guess. Inuyasha nodded then placed both feline and kit on the grass.

Turning to the fox Inuyasha eyed him, “Shippo—I need you to keep safe here for when I return. Up ahead is where they took Neara captive at. More than likely she will be wounded so I will need you to keep calm and stay out of sight. Toka will stay with you to help scout out a safe place for camp. I’ll be back so be good.”

Shippo jumped up and embraced his half-youkai friend. “You be careful yourself and we’ll have things ready for when you get back.”

A sparkle lit the hanyou’s eyes.

Not looking back, Inuyasha proceeded to his destination at a rapid sprint. Alighting in a tree, he was able to scope out the entrance to the castle before his eyes. Jumping out and away from his perch he continued his journey to rescue Neara.

* * *

She steadily fought against the heinous creature and its unrelenting violence. Neara was able to focus the abnormal youkai’s intent on her and therefore move it away from the city. Her enemy seemed to enjoy their battle. Neara hardly thought so. The demon had to die so she could save his daughter and she was still not able to locate her. The screams of the dead still filtered through her mind. As she continued to fight this battle, a slight movement caught her eye. A scent drifted to her nose that was familiar. No it couldn’t be, but what if? Maybe she was hurt and couldn’t move. She saw her enemy catch the direction in which she was looking and turned to see for himself.

“No!” Neara yelled out and raced down to intercept the youkai’s hand. She caught his wrist using the momentum to spin him around and toss him away from his intended target. Her desperation allowed her strength to multiply in order to throw a monster half the size of the palace some 100 yards away. Knowing he would be back and angry she hurried to the girl and was surprised to see the appearance of said girl.

No wonder why he was regretful. His daughter and she were the only two of their kind. He did the same thing her father did some decades ago. He fell in love with the wrong person. Neara picked up the injured girl, “What’s your name?”

“Shiori,” said girl replied thankfully.

“Hang on,” Neara secured the girl in her arms and leapt.

From behind trees crashed as a massive hand shot out to grab them in mid-flight. They were turned to peer into the hate-filled gaze of that damned creature from hell. The ugly thing smirked as it drew its hand back to shoot them clear across the trees. The force of the throw caused them to crash into the ground rather hard dislodging Shiori from her arms as Neara continued to slide towards the front lines of the army. As she struggled to stand a few yards to their front, the creature reared back and tossed something unknown to them from such a distance. Neara jumped up in time to catch the limp body of Shiori. Her eyes were open and lifeless. Blood trickled from her ears, nostrils, and mouth. Neara tensed and clenched her free hand into a fist to think of the horror the small child had to endure at the time of her death. She slowly reached up and closed the lids to her soulless eyes. Pinching the bridge of her nose she fought to keep the voices of the dead at bay. Laying the child’s body to the ground she refused to look at her enemy as she heard his approach. Still not turning her head to even take a glance, she stood fighting to control her emotions.

“Weakling,” the enemy’s whisper drifted to her ears on the wind.

Neara snapped.

* * *

“Not again!” she yelled as she peeled her eyes open to stay as far away from that memory as possible. Dread weighed heavily on her heart. Despair was close behind when she awoke to the same hell she fell unconscious in. She began to shiver from the crisp cold that chilled her to the bones. Her bindings rattled from her actions. Silence pricked her hearing and seemed to calm her before she heard an explosion and the raining of splintered wood down to the ground. The sound shook the structure, but Neara didn’t seem to care. The door to her cell opened letting in a servant with a bucket of steaming water. The hood over the servant masked his face, but she could tell from the voice that he was actually a she. Neara slightly noticed the running guards in the hallway. They seemed in a hurry. That was quite odd. The servant laid down the bucket at her feet.

“Why are the guards in such a hurry?” Neara asked.

“That is none of your concern,” the servant replied as she rinsed out the rag within the bucket and proceeded to wash Neara’s naked body down. With the chill in the room the heat from the cloth felt pretty good.

“Don’t try anything with me Miko. I was sent by his Highness directly to clean you up. I am also a youkai so don’t think you can over power me.”

“Hn” Neara didn’t think she could do much of anything. Another explosion rattled throughout the castle as the servant reached her torso then her chest and finally her arms. The hot water made her hiss with pain when the girl reached her wrist and palms of one arm.

“Hmm,” The girl seemed thoughtful, “Interesting”

“Neara!”

Her heart stopped at her name and whose voice it came from. Pain erupted through her body again when the servant began to clean her other arm.

“Neara! Where are you?!”

It wasn’t her imagination this time and it certainly wasn’t a dream. That was proven from the pain in her whole body.

“I must tell his Highness at once of my… GAH” the servant gagged and choked as Neara’s free hand continued to throttle her finally crushing her windpipe. The girl’s body fell limply to the floor as Neara reached over to break the chain of her other binding. Bending over she was able to pull out the iron stake with much pain watching it clatter to the floor. Without much force her ankle shackles crumbled to pieces and she fell to her hands and knees upon the cold pebble stoned floor. Clumsily she undressed the servant girl and dressed herself in the attire. Time was of the essence before Naraku found out and thank Kami that Inuyasha was proving enough of a distraction. When it came to destroying things he was the man to talk to.

Every guard didn’t bother to notice her. In fact, they went out of the way just to push her aside. Looking through the crack of a door she came upon, Neara found that the room had a balcony leading off it as she saw a flash of crimson go by. There was no doubt that Inuyasha would catch her scent out there. Limping inside, she closed the door and barred it. Stepping out onto the balcony, she discerned Inuyasha’s fire rat haori amongst the battle he was waging inside the wall of the castle.

“Inuyasha!” she called out to him. The hanyou turned to the voice that called his name. Sniffing the air he found Neara above standing on a balcony.

“So this is where you are hiding…. Most intriguing. I have many questions but sadly none stand out in my mind. They are equally important,” Naraku calmly replied to his captive.

With the first sounds of his voice Neara whirled around almost hissing at him. She crouched ready to fight or fly. Naraku stood near the broken down door. Odd how she didn’t hear it burst open. Taking a couple of advanced steps he stopped to eye her critically.

“You are most interesting Miko unlike most of your brethren who share the same power.”

Behind her Inuyasha perched atop the steeped roof of a building waiting.

“Stay away from me or I will find a way to kill you. It makes no difference to me if I die just as long as I take you down with me,” she snarled her promise.

“If that is what you wish then… LET ME BE THE ONE TO KILL YOU MYSELF!” He dashed towards her with lightning speed that she didn’t anticipate.

Neara thought she was going to die. The sword that he ran through her was almost accurate except her final move that missed its deadly mark. He wanted to give her a slow death by aiming for her liver, but instead he impaled her abdomen. With reflexes she clawed him across the face which caused his body to crash against the far wall. Pulling out the katana she succeeded in only spearing him in the left shoulder which imbedded into the partition behind him. That was enough to wound his pride and make her escape all in the same movement. She jumped from the balcony railing into Inuyasha’s embrace as he made their escape.

“Your Highness should we go after them?” One of his loyal guards asked.

“No, we will find her in due time. She is bound to slip up,” Naraku said calmly.

* * *

“I’m glad you came for me. I thought you weren’t going to make it,” she smiled.

Inuyasha glanced at her, “Silly woman. What made you think I wouldn’t?” He held her close not wanting to lose her again. Her eyes slipped closed.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” he said softly.

She shook her head as if to say ‘don’t worry about it.’ “I’m sorry as well.”

Landing softly, deeming it a safe enough distance, he carefully placed her on the ground. Ripping open the fabric to check her wound, her eyes popped open to look at him.

“Neara, your wound looks serious. You need the proper herbs to stop the infection.”

As if on cue, she felt the tell-tale signs of poison begin to burn through her veins. Grabbing his arm, she stopped him from leaving.

“There’s no time. I have to purify the youkai poison on my own, but it will still take some time since I am weak from Naraku’s earlier endeavors. Will you stay with me until then?”

Inuyasha jerked his head into the semblance of a nod.

With his approval she proceeded to close her eyes and work her magic, so to speak. Inuyasha moved off a little to get more comfortable as he took watch over her.

The forest was quiet except for the signs of animal life at the dusk of the day which signified the close of the light only to open to the beginnings of the night. The cycle was never ending. Many nocturnal animals began to awaken as others nestled down for sleep. Nothing dangerous stirred as Inuyasha quietly observed Neara. Looking away briefly to scan his surroundings something about Neara caught his eye. Reverting his sight nothing happened. Watching for a few more proved meaningless until it happened again. Something about her appearance shifted. It seemed to fluctuate, but only minutely; nothing very serious. A flash of silver would revert back to black, but only quick enough for him to catch a glimpse and make his mind wonder if he was hallucinating. Approaching her it seemed that her complexion got better and her eyebrow twitched lightly.

What startled him was when she jerked awake into a sitting position and began to hurriedly leave his proximity.

“Where are you going?” he questioned rather confused. She struggled to stand only to limp a few feet clutch her middle and fall to her hands and knees gasping for breath.

“What are you trying to do?” he asked.

She flinched saying fearfully, “Inuyasha get away from me please. Go now.”

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.” He stood his ground very firmly as he approached her kneeling down.

“Please just go. Hurry. I can’t hold much longer!”

“Not until you give me an answer.” He was firm. Touching her shoulder she never turned his way. She seemed to be weakening.

She wept, “I’m sorry Inuyasha. I really am. It was never meant to come to this.”

The scent of salt stung his nose as the fluctuation appeared around her again, but was consistent. A rapid transformation seemed to happen. It began at the crown of her head as her hair began to bleed into a silver-white. Two triangular ears like his own caught his attention. He jerked his hand back as if burned and scurried a little further away from her. Her weeping turned into a full-blown cry. Shoulders wracked with sobs as tears fell to the ground. He didn’t know what to say. To say that he was shocked was the understatement of his life.

Okay, now were the things to get straight just by observation. Number one—she didn’t actually have black hair, but silvery-white. He could deal with that. Number two—she wasn’t human. That was evident by the triangular ears crowning her head. She smelled the same; that was good. And she fizzled, albeit weakly, with the same power as before. She was the same old Neara, but with the slight appearance difference.

“I’m so, so sorry Inuyasha, but I wasn’t ready to tell you yet,” she sobbed.

Reality sort of hit him at those words that brought him out of his thought. He didn’t see a problem, a shock yes, but no problem that he could find. She was weak and wounded and he didn’t have the energy to be irate with her. Neara had to be taken care of. He circled around to face her, but she still refused to look at him.

“Look at me Neara,” he urged. She still didn’t budge. Her sobs quieted down to sniffles and hiccups.

“Don’t be mad at me. Promise me.”

“I promise,” he soothed. He put his hand underneath her chin to lift her head and the face he saw nearly gave him a stroke.

Neara was the girl in his dreams. She was the one he was searching after, but was cleverly hiding under his nose. No wonder her human appearance could pass as a twin for the real face because they were one in the same. There she was with her five birth marks cupping each cheek signifying her half-youkai lineage. Those hair-line strips, those kind blue eyes, the silver-white hair, the tear tracks that trailed down her face showing her worry. He pulled her close not knowing what to say, but letting his actions speak better for him. In truth he was speechless and it seemed that he did the right thing for she hugged him back burying her face in his shoulder as her body seemed to slump and relax into a content sleep.

********************

A/N: Sorry it took like over half a year to update this, but you know how real life likes the interrupt the writing mojo and imaginative juices. Don't be mad at me because I will not quit until I finish this story and it doesn't matter how long it takes me to finish this. Hopefully it won't take my entire life.

I have a secret and if you decide to get this far in reading my story then you will see this, but I plan on putting up a one-shot. I won't tell you what it's about because you will see in due time. It's halfway done so don't fret. I'm also going to be evil and say that there is another secret, but we will see if I start on it. I have the notes for it, but I haven't started writing it yet. And that is the only hint I will give you. Please review and tell me how you like it. Personally I don't think it's up to par, but depending on your reaction will depend on how much I like this chapter.

Anyway, love, peace,and chicken grease,
IL20