(A/N:Here we go with the sequel to Loyalties Divided! Expect some surprises from the very beginning, and more adventures than before!)

Chapter One- Unexpected Feelings of Love and Understanding

"Easy on the upswing, Sara. You almost caught my tail." Lord Sesshoumaru chuckled lightly, watching his adopted human daughter try to wield the new sword he'd had made for her. He couldn't help but notice how tall the girl had gotten in the three years he'd had her. In that time, they'd only crossed paths with Inuyasha's group twice. Both times, Saraku had insisted on playing with Shippou before the moved on. It had been nearly a year since the last meeting of the two friends, and Sara never once asked to see him. The demon lord wondered if she ever thought much about her friend anymore. "That's enough practice for tonight. You should've been in bed hours ago." He told the girl.

"Can't I stay up a little longer?" She looked up at him, clutching his robe sleeve.

"No." The demon lord replied firmly, picking her up. "How many times must I tell you, bedtime is bedtime?"

"I'm sorry, My Lord." Sara said, curling up in Sesshoumaru's arms.

"It is all right, but you have to learn the rules. We've lived in the palace for six months. You should know them by now." There was a firmness in the demon prince's tone that made his youngest child shudder.

"Yes,My Lord."

"Alright then. Off you go to bed." Sesshoumaru set her down, nudging her lovingly. "Good night, Little One."

"Good night, Lord Sesshoumaru." The little girl skipped off to be bathed for bed.

Sesshoumaru watched after her, before turning, and gliding down the hall silently. How time has flown by! It seems like I just discovered her yesterday. I know in her heart the girl misses that wretched hanyou brother of mine,but she fears to say so in my presence. She doesn't have to say it, for I can see it, every time we pass a spring. Yet,I cannot trust her to go alone. Knowing my brother, he will try to assuage her into staying with him. More over, suppose she did want to stay with them,once she remembers what it feels like? No! I have been right all these months to forbid solitary trips. The demon prince shrugged tiredly, before retiring for the night himself.

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Sesshoumaru wasn't the only one thinking about Saraku that night. His brother's group was back in the place where they'd first found the girl three years ago. The camping grounds where Saraku's parents had been slaughtered were overgrown with grass, and weeds, showing no signs of the past raid. Shippou looked around sadly, as if his friend might appear. The now ten-year-old fox-demon really missed Sara, and it brought back a lot of memories, being there. "Kagome, can I go for a walk?"

Kagome nodded her consent. "Just don't to go too far." She watched him go, knowing that he was thinking of Saraku. She was too. She looked over at Inuyasha, who'd been silent since the camp had come into view. "Inuyasha?"

The hanyou looked up at her. "Hmm?" He'd been kicking at some sticks, trying to make smoother ground for the bedding.

"You miss her too, don't you?" Kagome was guessing, but she could've sworn she'd heard a sigh of regret from him.

"No way! I'm glad she's gone!" Inuyasha exclaimed, before sighing. "Alright. Damn,I hate that you know me so well! Yes,I miss her. The way she wasn't afraid to tell me off. She reminded me of you."

Kagome nodded. "She had a fiery spirit, that's for sure. You're just lucky she didn't have the power over the necklace. She wouldn't have hesitated to use it." The now seventeen year old Kagome giggled.

"Argh! Shut up!" Inuyasha growled. He laid the rolls out on the ground.

"Inuyasha…. There's something I've been wanting to tell you…." Kagome spoke up suddenly.

Inuyasha stopped his muttering, and looked over at her. "You're not planning on returning for good, are you?" He looked really worried.

"Actually, I've decided to stay, after graduation in June." Kagome looked up at him. "I'm staying because I want to stay with you, for the rest of my life."

Inuyasha just dropped his jaw, staring at her. "What? Are you….saying…."

"Yes. I've been trying to tell you for a long time, and now….I know how. Inuyasha, I love you."

The hanyou looked at Kagome, in disbelief. What does she mean, she's been trying to tell me for a long time? All she's ever done is yell at me and "sit" me! "You…..love me?" He repeated.

"Yes, Inuyasha, I love you." Kagome looked at him anxiously. What is so hard about him saying it back to me? Maybe he doesn't love me, and I've wasted my time. But Miroku and Sango were both so certain. Oh Inuyasha! Please say something! Anything!

"Kagome….." Inuyasha had moved to stand before her. "Kagome, I love you too…"

They looked at each other for a long time, in wonder. It felt as if a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Finally, they were forced to look elsewhere, when Shippou returned. Kagome went back to straightening up the camp, and Inuyasha returned to building the fire up. "Did you find anything interesting, Shippou?" Kagome asked nonchalantly.

"Yeah. I found this." The young fox-demon held up a chain with a locket on the end of it.

"Let me see it." Kagome took it from him, and examined it slowly. "Hmm…This looks like it could've been from Saraku's parents' time." She opened it, as Inuyasha came behind her to look as well. "Oh my…that must be her mother and father…"

"There's no way of knowing for sure. They were all gnawed to pieces by the time we got to them." Inuyasha remarked. "They do have the same eyes as she does though."

"Well, we'll keep this safe, and when we see her again, we'll ask her." Kagome decided, as she tucked the precious jewelry into her backpack.

"That's a good idea." Shippou said with a yawn. "Where do you suppose Sango and Miroku went?"

"I'm sure they'll be here soon." Kagome replied, hoping she was right. The two friends in question had gone to find them some food to eat. Inuyasha had protested about that, but in the end, Miroku convinced him it was better if he didn't make too much of an appearance right then.

"We're here now!" The cheerful Monk called out suddenly, as he, Kilala and Sango appeared. "And we come bearing fresh catfish."

"Sounds great!" Shippou said excitedly. "I'll eat just about anything right now though. I'm starving!"

Sango chuckled, patting the kitsune's head. "I share your starvation, my friend. I was ready to eat it raw." She grinned, watching Miroku and Inuyasha argue over how it was too be cooked.

"Fried? No, steamed is better!" Inuyasha insisted, remembering the way Kagome had fixed fish for him once.

"Steamed takes too long right now. We haven't eaten in hours, and you know that some of us have to eat regularly." Miroku protested. "We can steam fish tomorrow, I promise."

"Fine." Inuyasha grumbled, jumping into a tree. "Call me when it's done!"

Kagome and Sango grinned at each other, then laughed. "Those two never quit arguing, do they?" Sango asked, patting her stomach gently.

"No, they don't." Kagome watched her quietly. She remembered the day Sango had discovered she was carrying Miroku's child. She'd been happy, and angry at the same time. Now, it seemed like it was almost natural. "Sango, are you and Miroku going to marry?"

The demon slayer looked up at her in shock. "Are you crazy? No way! Besides we already came to a mutual agreement about this baby."

"You have? Are you keeping it then?" Kagome asked carefully,not wanting pry.

"Of course I am. Miroku's going to stay around to help, but we're not going to do any official marriage or anything. Technically, he's not even allowed to marry."

Kagome nodded thoughtfully, watching the monk and Inuyasha, who were now fighting over the best method of frying. "Can you two wrap it up? There are four other people besides you who need to eat!" She shook her head, as they immediately got to the business of cooking the food now.

"I swear those two are going to give me a migraine tonight." Sango said tiredly. She rubbed her belly gently. She wondered if she would be a good mother to the coming child. It was scary to think that just months ago she'd found out that Miroku had gotten her with child, and now, the time for the birth was nearing, which was why they were heading back to Kaede's village. I don't really know how I feel about this child…I wanted to be a mother to Kohaku after father died, but I never thought I'd mother my own child, let alone one from Miroku. Still, it's really sweet, the way he's taken care of me since. I never thought I'd see that less perverted side of him. Is it possible he really does have feelings for me? Of course he does, or we wouldn't have gotten into this predicament in the first place!

"Here, Sango. I gave you my portion as well as your own. " Miroku handed her a plate.

"But don't you have to eat too?" Sango asked.

"Heh. Don't worry about me. We monks fast all the time. It won't kill me." He smiled at her lovingly. " 'sides, I want my baby boy to be strong."

"Who says it's going to be a boy?" Sango countered, devouring the fish hungrily.

"I do." Miroku smirked, before walking off.

"Men….they always want boys." Sango commented.

"Nevermind him. I'm sure it'll be a girl." Kagome replied with a smile. "But we should get you to bed. "You did plenty of roaming today."

Sango nodded in agreement. "Come, Kilala. We are going to bed." She went to lay down on her bedroll, with that cat-like creature asleep beside her instantly. The demon slayer soon followed the animal's example, and was fast asleep.