Two Months to Live by Corisu Li, chapter 21, inu yasha fanfic

This is a sequel to One Month for Romance. It is complete in 27 chapters. It has a few plot twists that will shock you.I'm posting it here with the permission of the author. I found it at http://www.geocities.com/inuyashakarma . Enjoy. Tim Seltzer

Disclaimer: *Screen flashes with "I don't own any Inuyasha characters", then huge banner flies across screen reading: 'Corisu's, Kunoichi's and Aamalie's School of Culinary Arts'. The positions of the names keep changing around because all three want to be first. It finally settles on 'The Otakus' School of Culinary Arts'*

Kunoichi: *huge grin* We're here because we received intelligence that SOMEONE out there BURNED ramen!

Kunoichi: *nods gravely* So we are here to teach her to cook, along with someone else who loves ramen... *wiggles nose and the curtain behind them rises, revealing flameflyingfeline (fffeline from here on) and Inuyasha*

Inuyasha: *sulks. His chef's hat has drooped a little, revealing a twitchy ear* Why am I the only one that you wenches torture?

Corisu Li: *glares* -and Miroku, Kagome, or Shippou would just run. Sooo, that leaves you!

Kunoichi: Oh, for cryin' out loud!!!! *runs over to Inuyasha and dumps a bucket of water on his head*

Kunoichi: It's time for the lesson! First, boil water! *wiggles nose and the water evaporates from the floor and Inuyasha and reappears in the bucket*

Kunoichi: FINE! If you don't want my help, I QUIT! *drops the bucket and dashes off*

Corisu Li: 'Kay... *wiggles nose and two bowls of water appear in front of the 'students'* Get two cups of water and put it in your pot.

Aamalie: Maybe we should have mentioned that you measure with the DEEP part, not the BOTTOM...

Inuyasha: *looks confused, then realizes that he's holding the measuring cup upside down* Ohhhhhhh....THAT'S why...

fffeline: *blush* Oopsies... *turns the cup over and pours the right amount in the pot*

Corisu Li: Finally... -___- Okay, now turn the- wait... nevermind. We'll do it. *tugs Aamalie over to the stove. They set the stove to a decent flame height...which means 'practically no height'*

Inuyasha: Feh. I knew that. I was just seeing if YOU knew! *puts it in the right place*

Corisu Li: Well, since we put the flames really low, let's watch some TV while it boils. But you two have to check it every few minutes, okay?

fffeline: Yup! But I don't think I'll watch TV. I'll read that instead... *points down at Chapter 21*

Chapter 21: Disguises and Shirokin's Arrival

Throughout the entire conversation, Kagome had been alternating between listening intently to Sesshoumaru's story and shielding her mind from Inuyasha. For some reason that she didn't even understand, she didn't want him to know about the baby just yet. He needed his wits about him to keep up appearances in front of Shirokin, and she would feel guilty if she was the reason for any mistake that he might make while his mind was elsewhere.

The quiet in the room was getting uncomfortable. Sesshoumaru sat completely still, his eyes fixed on some point down the hallway. Inuyasha was sitting next to Kagome, trying to give her some sort of sign to let him into her mind while refusing to meet her eye. Maybe if they weren't speaking aloud, they could break the silence (as well as seal the rift the resulting from his flight) in their heads. Miroku and Sango were feeling more and more out of place each second. Judging by the mannerisms of the Taiyoukai that they were to meet, he didn't take kindly to humans, even as slaves. Kirara lay placidly in Sango's lap, looking interestedly at the assembled.

As if drawn by the room's hush, a cheerful voice suddenly sounded from the doorway. "You're all so somber! Care for some sake to lighten those spirits?" Yuya held up the bottle, half a dozen saucers balanced on a tray in her other hand.

At the piercing sound of her voice, everyone jumped save for Sesshoumaru, who just looked at her. He had obviously sensed her long before she'd arrived, hence the way he kept staring down the hall.

"Ano... no, thanks..." Kagome said, not even looking up. Miroku did, however, fancying a sip or two to calm his already frazzled nerves. Catching sight of her, his eyes widened. He had been introduced to her only once, wanting to know the name of his caretaker during his merger.

She grinned. "Yuya, please. Just Yuya. Formalities are wasted on myself. I have heard enough to make up for those that are unspoken. However, when you meet Shirokin, make it a point to be polite, ne?"

Sango shifted uncomforably and said, "I don't think that we should stay. If what Sesshoumaru says is true, then we would be putting ourselves in great danger."

Yuya just smirked. She removed four saucers from her tray, filled them with sake, and placed them in front of Miroku, Sango, and Sesshoumaru, taking the last for herself. "There are ways around that..." she finally replied, taking a sip of the wine and smiling.

Sango stared at the saucer in front of her for a second before asking, "How did you know who wanted sake? What are you?"

Yuya feigned a hurt look. "You mean you can't tell?" She proceeded to explain her species, her history, and her reason for being there, reading the questions before they were asked. She found it difficult, however, to probe the hanyou female's mind, and quit after a minimal effort. For some reason, she was blocking...

During Yuya's story, the brothers paid little attention, knowing the circumstances already. The others listened avidly, Miroku and Sango taking intermittent sips from their saucers.

When she had finished, Kagome posed a question. "What did you mean when you said, 'There are ways around that'? Is there a way that Miroku and Sango can stay, then?"

Yuya looked at her for a while, marvelling again at the efficient shield that she had erected around her mind, then said, "There is a way to do everything... if you have the right allies."

Inuyasha fumed and opened his mouth for the first time since the scene in the entrance hall. "Would you stop being so damn vague and give a straight answer for once? What are you trying to say?!" He was growing tired of the Sage... or maybe it was irritation that was left over from being abandoned in a room without clothing...

Yuya cocked an interested brow at him and opened her mouth to reply, but Sesshoumaru cut her off. "Fetch Rin."

Yuya's eyebrow was now quirked at him, but only for a split second. With a last interested look around the newcomers, she swept from the room.

Sesshoumaru fixed Kagome with his cold golden gaze. "Your services are required," he stated simply, as though this should explain everything.

"You have powerful miko power within you. Cast a guise spell on Rin, giving her a youkai's appearance and scent. In return, you may do the same to your companions and I will grant them admittance to our meeting with Shirokin."

Kagome stared at him for a second, then let a barking laugh escape her lips. "You want me to do you a favor so that my friends can stay? How underhanded of you, Sesshoumaru." Silver met gold as her eyes bored into his. "Why should I do this for you? You've done nothing to help US in the past! I still don't know why Inuyasha isn't acting like he wants to destroy you!"

Sesshoumaru's face didn't change. "There is a very simple reason that you will do so."

Yuya re-entered the room, leading Rin by the hand. Upon seeing the people in the room, the small girl immediately ran to Sesshoumaru and latched onto his sleeve, beaming at him. Everyone else (except Yuya) stared.

Sesshoumaru then did something very unexpected. He let one of his hands fall from his lap to fondly rest on her head. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and astonished. She loved him, true, but he had never treated her as more than an annoying follower.

The Taiyoukai looked up at Kagome once more. Her face was completely unreadable. "You will do this," he said, "because it may mean her life if you do not."

Kagome stared at Sesshoumaru's hand on Rin's head, and he instantly let the appendage drop. She hadn't thought... Her only priority was to do Sesshoumaru no favors, letting him fend for himself as he would do to them. She hadn't taken it into account that there was another reason for his request...

She swallowed, banishing the dryness in the back of her throat. "I'll do it," she whispered.

"I'm worried already," Kunoichi whispered, staring out of a castle window and sighing. Ninsei stood behind her, looking over her shoulder.

"I'm sure that nothing is wrong, Kunoichi-san," he said reassuringly, placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezing gently. She looked up at him and smiled faintly.

"You're probably right," she responded. "I would hate to ruin the mood. Even though it seems as if Sesshoumaru has taken Inuyasha, we have still overcome much. We have defeated Naraku and saved Miroku's life... I even conquered death." This last phrase was an attempt at a joke, but Ninsei didn't smile. Instead, he reached his arms over her shoulders and held her close, her back against his stomach. He rested his chin lightly on the crown of her head before speaking.

"I was very afraid. You should know that. Seeing you lying there..." A lump formed in his throat and he paused. "You are the most important thing to me right now. I have no surviving family, and you are the first person outside of my relatives who showed me true compassion. It's like... it's like my race means nothing to you."

Kunoichi turned around, his arms staying put around her. "It doesn't mean anything, Ninsei-san. I remember quite clearly what I said before... before I died. I told you that 'You are still you'." Her index finger traced the skin of his jawline softly. "And you are the one that I love, no matter what."

The chamber seemed to be charged with emotion as the two looked at each other tenderly for a moment. Ninsei leaned forward, apparently approaching for a kiss, when-

Ninsei and Kunoichi released each other almost immediately and stood an absurd distance apart, their faces flaming red.

"S...s...stop!" The kit gasped, wriggling and trying to escape from the young boy's grasp. Kunoichi, having finally overcome her embarassment since the kids hadn't seemed to notice, stepped over and plucked Shippou from Kohaku's clutches.

It was Kunoichi's turn to roll her eyes. "Yes, I know... hey, tell you what! How about you two hide and Ninsei and I will try to find you, okay?"

Both of the kids' eyes widened. "Sugoi!" Kohaku remarked. "Can we hide anywhere?"

"You have to stay inside the castle," Ninsei said, finally surrendering to the fact that their quest for privacy was completely futile. "We'll count to fifty."

The boys practically disappeared, Kohaku dashing down one corridor and Shippou scurrying down another. Kunoichi sighed. "So... what did I say I was counting to? Fifty? Hmmm... better make it a hundred..." She smiled, but there was no response from Ninsei. "What's wrong?"

Ninsei had returned to the window. If his head had been facing Kunoichi, she would have seen that his eyes were faintly glowing red. "Something is amiss..." he growled softly. "Something is here that shouldn't be..."

"Iie. It is more of a prescence." After recovering from his initial shock, his eyes faded back to their ice blue. "I'm going to investigate." He strode to the door and retrieved his staff from where he had left it, leaned against the wall. Before Kunoichi could protest, he was gone.

She stared for a moment, then called, "Chiaki-chan!" Chiaki immediately entered from the other room, leading Kunoichi to believe that she had been listening in on private conversations. She looked at the servant warily.

Chiaki held up a cloth that smelled of scented oil. "I was doing some polishing, Kunoichi-sama," she explained, as if she had heard her thoughts. "Is there something that you would like for me to do?"

Kunoichi nodded. "In this castle, two boys are hidden... well, one is a small kitsune. I need for you to find them and caution them to stay within the grounds." She picked up her bow and her quiver and slung both over her back.

"Oh, so you're investigating the disturbance that he sensed?" Chiaki immediately clapped her hands over her mouth and pulled them away quickly as the strong scent of the oil bombarded her senses.

Kunoichi stared at her for a second. "Yes..." She walked to the door and spoke over her shoulder. "It would be wise not to eavesdrop. One would think that you are untrustworthy." The young miko vanished down the hall.

The girl grinned. "Rin wants white hair like Sesshoumaru-sama! Oh, and can Rin have silvery eyes like Kagome-chan?"

Kagome smiled gently. This girl was just too cute. "Hai. Of course." She closed her eyes briefly, and a wash of her pink aura covered Rin completely, like a shield of rose petals. A few seconds later, it cleared, and in its place stood a young inuyoukai. Rin's hair was now silvery white and flowed down to rest at her lower back. Her silver eyes were shocking in her young face, making her look a bit wiser. Her human nails were now claws, and reddish marks crawled from the edges of her face to the middle of her cheeks.

Rin shook a bit of hair over her shoulder, looked at it for a moment, then hugged Kagome fiercely. "Rin likes it very much! Thank you!"

Kagome was in awe of her own ability. Rin's disguise was perfect. Even her scent gave nothing away. Sesshoumaru simply nodded his approval, and said, "Now for your friends. Shirokin will arrive soon."

The hanyou miko frowned. 'Well, I didn't really expect praise, did I?' She reasoned. "Sango, you next! Anything specific?"

Sango gave her a dry look. "Whatever..." Her arms were folded, and she looked really disapproving of being changed into a youkai, if only on the outside.

Kagome put her hands on Sango's shoulders and performed the procedure again. Sango's appearance changed to what appeared to be a butterfly youkai, something that no one there had ever seen before. Her hair was deep red, a beautiful crimson color, and it was braided over her right shoulder. Here eyes were the same shade, and a teardrop-shaped marking was on her forehead, constantly changing color. Sango blinked, faltered, then whispered, "Whoa..."

Kagome smiled; she had known that Sango would like it. After another performance, Miroku was also changed. His hair was still black, but much longer, still bound by a tie in a ponytail. His eyes were a bleeding marroon, and maroon markings ran from the outer corners of his eyes to his chin.

Inuyasha looked at her for a second, then attempted to Mind-Talk again. Nothing. Even in her weakened state after expending such power, she still went out of her way to shield her mind! Just what was she hiding?

He began to approach her to demand just that when a dull thud made itself heard, echoing throughout the castle. Jaken scuttled into the room, sweating profusely.

Ninsei had stopped upon leaving the castle, and he stared up at the air above him, hoping that his initial impression was wrong. His gaze only wavered when he heard Kunoichi leave the castle and halt beside him.

"Ninsei-san, what's going on?" Kunoichi, too, had noticed the same thing. Black streaks crossed the sky, forming an interwoven cage shape. "It looks like a-" she started, but Ninsei had taken off before she finished her sentence.

He ran toward the gate that surrounded the castle grounds, but just before he reached it, he stopped abruptly and fixed his eyes on something directly in front of him. Kunoichi ran after him, panting and gasping when she finally caught up. "What...what is it?"

"A trap..." He put a hand out in front of him, palm-first, and met with a glassy-feeling surface. He pressed forward slightly, and a jolt of pain raced up his arm, the black cage becoming momentarily visible in front of them. Ninsei winced, but appeared to be only annoyed, not hurt.

"It looks kind of like a miko barrier," Kunoichi mused. She too, pressed on the cage and she, too, received a jolt from it. Scowling, she stepped back a bit, notched an arrow, and cautioned Ninsei to move aside. When he did, she released it, letting fly at the cage walls.

The arrow stopped before it even reached its destination and clattered to the ground. Kunoichi gasped. "What kind of thing is this?"

Ninsei knew. He had hoped that he was wrong, but he had known all along. "It is an ancient youkai trap, one that can be broken only by the caster. Someone doesn't want us to leave this place."

"I think..." Ninsei swallowed and turned back to the castle. "I think they are preventing us from giving help to the others..."

Corisu Li: -___- You do realize that he doesn't even have any spots? It's a waste of a good dalmation...

Corisu Li: Do NOT tell me that this is the first time that they're checking the water...

*The ceiling is dripping water slowly. A huge puddle of steaming water is on the floor, and the stove is burned black*

Inuyasha: *has retreated from the puddle and is sitting on a counter* The stupid wench tried to grab the pot with her bare hands!

fffeline: *is doing the same, blowing on her scalded fingers* I wouldn't have HAD to grab the pot if you hadn't knocked it over!

fffeline: *fumes* And THEN, you have the nerve to toss my pot across the room! How exactly do you DRY a ceiling, huh?

Corisu Li: And they won't, either. I QUIT! *punches a fist through the screen that still says 'The Otakus' School of Culinary Arts'*

Aamalie: I'm with you! I need a break... and I have to plan my wedding!!! *grins and skips off*

Corisu Li: Of course I can. But that wouldn't be much fun, now would it? *hands them both mops and vanishes*

IMPORTANT NOTE: Well, Microsoft works has royally screwed me over again.. *sigh* I had about two whole pages worth of review responses and now...they're gone. Poof. Simple, huh? And, seeing as how it'd take too long to re-do them, I'm gonna forego doing them this time. *ducks rotten fruit and random furniture* Hey! I'm working on a paper here! However, I now know that I will be updating every SUNDAY! *confetti is thrown*

Two Months to Live by Corisu Li
This is a sequel to One Month of Romance. It is complete in 27 chapters. It has a few plot twists that will shock you.

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Two Months to Live

Chapter Twenty-One: Disguises and Shirokin's Arrival

Chapter 21: Disguises and Shirokin's Arrival