Chapter 1 –

Kagome –

Kagome stood on her balcony in her new apartment in Kyoto. She stared into the distance, remembering her past. Oh she wished that she someday could meet with the past again. It had been 6 months since they had killed Naraku and purified the jewel. When Kagome completed the jewel she was sent back to her time with the jewel once again inside of her. The first month was hard. She couldn't go back. The well was sealed. She didn't even have the chance to say goodbye. She had spent almost 5 months at a shrine led by some priestesses in Kyoto and Kagome joined them, and they helped her with her grief and helped her with her powers. She hadn't been interested in training her miko powers, but it had been a good distraction. And now she had been living for herself for 3 days, and she was doing fine so far, even though she was lonely. She couldn't help but think of Shippou, Sango, Miroku and… Inu-Yasha… Hell! Even Sesshoumaru! He had been an ally during the last period of their journey. Inu-Yasha and Sesshoumaru had learned to tolerate each other and she herself had, had a few interesting conversations with the youkai lord. She smiled when she remembered them discussing of youkai battle history. He had been impressed with her knowledge. Again she asked herself the same question she had asked for 6 months

'What happened to everyone?'.


2 days later –

Kagome was walking down the streets to look for new items to her new apartment, but she suddenly stopped. On the other side of the street was a new museum that caught her attention, though she didn't know why, but it was as if she was being pulled towards the museum. She gave in to the feeling, payed for entrance and walked in. She froze to the spot. The entire display was about the Feudal era! She slowly went from piece to piece. She then felt a pull again. Slowly she turned around and gasped surprised. There, in a glass monitor were the Tenseiga and the Tetsaiga. She neared the monitor with shaking outstretched hands

'Tetsaiga… Tenseiga… How?' She just starred at the two swords shaking all over. She was shocked. She took a deep breath and turned to leave when she saw a tall man with silverfish hair in the back of the room, not long after she had seen him he turned and saw her, his golden eyes widened. It was the last thing she saw before she passed out.


Sesshoumaru –

He had been sitting in meetings all day, and now he was off to see his collection in his new museum. He had wanted to honor the memory of that era because of her. When the jewel had been completed she vanished with the jewel. The only reason he could think of to explain it was, the jewel had no more purpose in this world and no longer did its protector. He had been furious. His first friend, gone! They had talked a bit on their journey and he had enjoyed it since she was clearly educated and quite intelligent. It had been 505 years since she disappeared. He shook his head

'Why am I thinking of her all of the sudden?'

He went into his museum and saw the manager in the right corner of the room. He went over to him and saw the manager come over towards Sesshoumaru to greet him

"Oh mr. Tashio, it is such an honor to have you here today. Is there anything I can assist you with?" Sesshoumaru growled, but not loud enough for humans to hear. He had been told his assistant had put his swords with the other collections

'How dare that fool touch this Sesshoumaru's swords!'

"There has been a mistake. The two swords were not supposed to be displayed in this museum, but in my own personal in my palace in the mountains" The manager bowed

"Of course. I will collect the swords to you immediately" Sesshoumaru looked in the direction of the swords and froze. There, with her back to the swords, stood Kagome as pale as a ghost. Before he got to move a muscle she had passed out. Sesshoumaru ran quick thru the crowd and kneeled beside her. He looked at her. It was indeed Kagome

'But how?' He collected her in his arms and walked to an office in the back of the museum. When he got in he laid her on the couch. He took a chair and sat next to her with many questions in his head

'Why is she here?' Where has she been? Why is she here now?' his thoughts were stopped when he saw her move and slowly opened her eyes and looked confused around till she looked him in the eyes. She again became pale


Kagome –

She opened her eyes and wondered where she was 'Was it a dream?' she looked around till she found a pair of golden eyes watching her. Again she felt her blood vanish from her head

"Sess… Sesshoumaru?" she asked in disbelief

"Hai" he answered calmly

"Gomen, I don't know why I was so surprised that you would live 500 years more. It is just… I have never met another youkai in my time" his eyes widened

"This is your time?" Kagome nodded. She suddenly realized she had never told him about her being from the future

"Gomen, my family lives on a shrine at the Goshinboku, and on my 15th birthday I was dragged down the Bone Eaters well, which is also on my family ground, by a madam centipede. When I got up from the well I was 500 years back in time with the Shikon no Tama. I am the reincarnation of Priestess Kikiyo" Kagome looked at him. He seemed surprised

"And when the jewel was complete again it marched with my body again and sent me back to my time, without the chance to say goodbye. I tried the well, but it is closed" Kagome got teary again

"How long has it been?" he asked gently. Kagome looked a bit surprised at him

"Six months" First she saw his eyes widened and then he grabbed her hand and pulled her in for a hug. At first she tensed and was surprised beyond belief, but she quickly relaxed in his arms and cried out. Letting all her emotions out. Her loss. Her loneliness. Her grief. She pulled herself out of his embrace when she had no more tears

"Thanks" she whispered

"And gomen again" she bowed

"Do not apologize for grieving. It is still very new for you, and I will tell you what happened, when you are ready" he replied. She smiled sadly and nodded

"What brings you to Kyoto?" he asked. She looked at him and saw curiosity in his eyes

'Is he trying to make conversation?'

"I lived with some priestess for almost 5 months here in Kyoto till they decided I could be on my own again. I have been living in my new apartment for 5 days now. I was trying to find some things for it today, when I saw the museum… I can't really explain it, but something in me wanted to go in, and I did, but then I saw Tetsaiga and Tenseiga…" she stopped. He knew the rest

"If you want to, I need a guide in my museum, and since you are an expert on the Feudal Era, I would like to offer you the job, if you are interested" Kagome looked at him speechless and in shock

'He just… offered me a job?!' She could not grasp how much he had changed. He did not seem like that cold hearted, human hating ice prince with a stick up his… well you know… But… she did need a job, but she did not know if she could work in a museum with so many memories of a time she missed so dearly. It would probably hurt at first, but she could manage if necessary

"I would like to think about it, if it is okay?" she asked trying; she had no idea how this Sesshoumaru would act. He nodded

"I will give you a week to decide" Kagome got to her feet

"Arigatou Lord Sesshoumaru" she bowed and quickly walked out the building, before he could say or ask anything else. She needed air. When she had walked across the room in the museum she could feel pulses from everywhere in the room, as if each object that pulsed demanded her attention, but she kept going, and did not stop till she was home.

Kagome was in a state between awareness and sleep when she heard a voice in her heard

'Your journey is not over yet' Kagome woke immediately, sitting straight up in bed with eyes as big as coffee cups

'How can I still be on a journey, when I cannot return to the Feudal era and the jewel is safe?' she wondered. She sighed and started on her morning routines. She had a museum to visit!


Museum –

The voice's words kept playing itself in her head, and she remembered how her instincts had told her to go to the museum, and she remembered some objects pulse when she was near. Maybe they were clues as to what she was supposed to do. She went to the first object. It was a scroll with a legend on it

'Now, let's see what it says' she got up close and read the title

"The demise of Naraku" she couldn't believe it! Their entire battle was written down exactly as it had happened. A demonslayer, a monk, a nekoyoukai, a foxyoukai, an Inu hanyou, an Inu Taiyoukai and the Shikon priestess. They were all mentioned. Even that it was she who had made the killing blow. But why was this scroll so important? She read the scroll over and over, trying to see what she had missed

"… Naraku was purified by the Shikon priestess's sacred arrow, and nothing was left but the remaining jewel and his sword, and the priestess retrieved the nearly completed tainted jewel and puri… Wait!" she looked a couple of sentences back

"… nothing was left but the remaining jewel and his sword…" she looked up when a thought popped up

'No, he didn't…' But if she knew Naraku well enough as she thought she did, he would have hid a piece of his soul in his sword as a last resort. He never used it, so that could be why! But, why have he not come forth then? And why are these things happening now? She turned around to find yet another clue and scanned the room

'There!' She went to a painting. It was an unknown painter who had painted a Lords study. It seemed big, with a lot of bookcases filled up with scrolls. The walls were of stone and gave the impression of it to be a castle. In the center were a red big chair and in front of it a big oak, beautifully carved desk with scrolls on it. But it was what was hanging on the wall behind the chair that caught her eye

'Naraku's sword' she wondered who's castle it was. She looked to find the description of the painting

"Tashio castle, library"

'Sesshoumaru!' she straightened up. She would have to talk with him. She went over to the manager's office and knocked on the door

"Come in" she walked in and closed the door

"Hello, my name is Kagome Higurashi and I was wondering if Mr. Tashio is here today?" The manager stood and slowly walked over to her

"And what is your business with mr. Tashio?" Kagome was quite surprised by his harsh tone and the glare his was sending. She concentrated on her power and she sensed his youkai aura

"So you are a youkai, ne?" Kagome asked smiling. She saw the manager tense up

"Yeah so what. What is your business with Lord Sesshoumaru?" She was starting to get annoyed

"That is only for Lord Sesshoumaru to know" Kagome replied, trying not to hiss

"Then I cannot help you. So if you would please leave" He gestured for her to leave. Kagome looked at him in disbelief

'Rude much!?'

"Fine, but tell Lord Sesshoumaru that the Shikon priestess is in need of his assistance yet again involving the filthy hanyou. Good day" and with that she left the museum and went home


Sesshoumaru –

He was working on some paperwork when the phone rang

"Yes?" he just said

"Lord Sesshoumaru, I am calling because of a woman asking for you" Sesshoumaru put the paper he had been reading down

"Who?" He had a good idea as to who is was

"She said her name was Kagome Higurashi, and she had a message"

'A message?' He was definitely curious; he had not been able to get her out of his mind since he had seen her

"Proceed"

"I quote: 'Tell Lord Sesshoumaru that the Shikon priestess is in need of his assistance yet again involving the filthy hanyou' end quote" Sesshoumaru leaned back in his chair

'Filthy hanyou? Naraku…'

"Where is she now?" he was confused. They had killed him already, and there were no trace off him when Kagome had been done with him

"She left Milord" Sesshoumaru growled

"Find her then" he ordered impatient

"Yes Milord" and with that he ended the line.


Kagome –

She was meditating when her door bell rang. She got up and opened the door to find Sesshoumaru behind it

"Lord Sesshoumaru? I was not expecting you to show up" she gestured for him to come in

"If what your message meant is true then we have to put a stop to it quickly" Kagome nodded in agreement

"Tea?" she asked. Sesshoumaru nodded and Kagome made some tea. They sat at her table in silence for a while

"Do you remember what I told you of my instincts pulling me to the museum?" Sesshoumaru just nodded again

'Well, he is still not the most talkative person'

"The day after I was awaken by a voice who told me that my journey wasn't finished yet" She saw his surprised face, before he covered it up

"Who was the voice?" he asked

"Well I don't really know, but if I have to guess, I would say Midoriko, but what she said got me thinking about the pull effect I had at the museum. There were objects that had responded to my presence. Even Tetsaiga and Tenseiga pulsed" She saw Sesshoumaru surprised for a second time

"So this morning I went to the museum again and went to some of the pulsing artifacts" she took a breath before continuing

"The first artifact was a scroll with the story of Naraku's demise. At first I did not understand what I was supposed to see, but after I had reread it 5-6 times I saw what I think I was supposed to find" She saw Sesshoumaru narrow his eyes, and he seemed a little annoyed

"And what would that be? I have read it more than 5 or 6 times, and I did not find anything special" Kagome smirked

"Were you looking for anything when you read it?" he just stared at her and she sighed

"What was it that was the only thing left of Naraku after the battle?" She asked deviously, and smiled when she saw Sesshoumaru's eyes widened in realization

"Yes, and then I went to the next artifact, which were a painting of your study with Naraku's sword hanging on the wall, and then it was after that realization I had a little… talk with your manager and left a message, and I guess you know why now" she ended

"I do not have it anymore. It was stolen from this Sesshoumaru under the human's world war 1" she could see the anger in his eyes

"I believe the one who has stolen it may be controlled or possessed by Naraku's spirit, but I don't understand why it is happening now, if it even is… I don't know! This is all too confusing!" Kagome held her hands around her head frustrated

"Were there more artifacts that called for you?" Kagome looked at him again

"Yeah… But after the painting and the… talk with your manager, I just went home… I kind of hoped you would be there, help solving the puzzle" she said smiling sadly. Sesshoumaru looked at her for a moment

"Yes, this Sesshoumaru will help you" Kagome smiled big. It had been a long time since she had done that, and it was good not to feel so alone anymore

"I will close the museum tomorrow, so we can have peace when we look for the artifacts" Kagome nodded in agreement

"Then be there tomorrow at 11" and with that Sesshoumaru got up and walked to the door. Kagome followed behind him

"Goodnight Lord Sesshoumaru" she bowed

"Drop the honorific Kagome" Kagome looked at him and saw a small smile on his lips

"Okay Sesshoumaru" she smiled back. Sesshoumaru bit her goodnight and left.


The day after –

Kagome had awakened early and started on her morning routines. She took a cap to the museum. When Kagome had paid the cap driver she spotted Sesshoumaru standing out front waiting for her

"Hey Sesshoumaru" He only nodded in response

'Well, he definitely is still a man of few words'. They walked inside the museum. Kagome stood still, closed her eyes and breathed in and slowly out. She started walking towards a pull she felt. When she felt she was close, she opened her eyes. Before her stood a beautiful old golden chest

"What is in it?" She asked, seeing Sesshoumaru standing next to her

"I am not sure. I found it under the Goshinboku after your disappearance, and I have not been able to open it" Kagome took a step closer, placing her left hand on the chest, and with a small pink spark the locks opened

"How…" he started

"Instinct" she interrupted. She opened it to find a scroll in it. She carefully took it out and began reading it herself mentally;

'The Prophecy off the Shikon priestess.

The Shikon priestess will be a reincarnation of two priestess of the past, Priestess Midoriko and Priestess Kikiyo. She will be born with the Shikon no Tama in her body and travel back in time to stop the darkness from taking control. She will get companions who will help her, on her journey. When the Shikon priestess destroys the darkness' vessel and complete the jewel, she will go back to her time to continue protecting the Shikon no Tama'

She scrolled down and found another passage;

'The Shikon priestess will once again fight the darkness in disguise for the safety of the jewel and old grudge, but to win this fight she will once again have to find allies and the sword of light'

Kagome looked up from the scroll

'The sword of light?' she did not realize she had said it out loud until Sesshoumaru put a hand on her shoulder, bringing her back to the present

"What does it say?" Kagome hesitated before she spoke. What she had read was a little hard to grasp, and the fact that her life had been decided made her angry

"Apparently it is a prophecy about me" she answered bitterly. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened and took the scroll and read it. Silence… even more silence. He finally looked up from the scroll

"I have never heard of such a sword" he proclaimed

"Well, neither have I, but maybe a thing in here can give us a clue" She closed her eyes again and moved toward another pull. She looked up and saw the same desk as in the painting

"Your desk?" Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru questioning, and he seemed as confused as her. She went behind the robes and looked at the desk. She walked around it and then looked under the desk. She saw a small crescent moon and she pushed it in. Kagome heard something open, so she stood up to see where. She went to the side of the desk and saw a small drawer. In it was a small painting. She took it and looked at it

"It is some kind of castle. I have not seen it before" she said and gave it to Sesshoumaru

"This castle is up in the northern mountains. I have heard monks reside there" Kagome nodded and closed her eyes to think

"The next clue of the where about of the sword will be in that castle. Nothing else is pulsing except for your swords, and it is getting quite annoying" she sighed. A headache was on its way because of them. They kept calling for her

"They are both calling you?" Sesshoumaru asked, looking at her curiously

"Yes, do you think they are trying to tell me something?" He looked over towards the swords

"Maybe… Shall we try?" He gestured for her to follow him. Sesshoumaru opened the glass monitor and handed Tetsaiga to her first. At the same moment she got the sword in her hands, the scenario before her changed and she was once again on a battlefield. She recognized it as the final battle against Naraku. She saw Sango to her left with her boomerang ready. Kagome could not help herself, she ran to Sango and tried to hug her, but Kagome only went through her

'I am just here to observe!' She turned to look at Naraku when he got hit by her sacred arrow. She could see his soul enter the sword on his side before his body disappeared

'So, it was as I thought' She had got confirmation on her theory. The next thing she knew, she was back at the museum with the Tetsaiga in her hands

"Kagome?" She looked at him, trying to get her breath under control. She felt sweaty

'Why I am so exhausted?'

"I am fine; now let me try the Tenseiga" Sesshoumaru kept looking at her, before he hesitantly did as she asked. He took the Tenseiga and laid it in her hands. Again it only took a touch and she was standing in Sesshoumaru's study. She saw a fully grown Kanna take Naraku's sword and as sudden as she had appeared, just as sudden had she disappeared

'I thought she was dead!' But they never killed her; they had just assumed she and Kagura died when Naraku did. She felt her hand grab the Tetsaiga back in the real world and pictures of dead people and youkai's appeared before her in fast flashes. She heard them all scream in pain and for help. Kagome panicked and tried to reach out to help them, but she had her hands full with two swords. Then it all stood still and she stood face to face with the adult Kanna

"He will rise again" Kanna said with her emotionless voice

"Why?" Kagome could not help but ask, she knew why, but she needed conformation

"Revenge and he wants what he believes is rightfully his" Kagome took a step back

"He will not get it from me willingly or without a fight!" Kagome hissed

"And why now of all times? Why not 10 years ago?" Kanna just stood there with blank eyes

"When you came back for good to stay in this era with the full jewel, the sword with Naraku's soul reacted" Kagome shook her head

"He can try and I will just purify his sorry ass again, and this time for good!" Kagome yelled and all went black.


Sesshoumaru –

Kagome was standing in front of him with her hands around the two brother swords. He could see she held unto them tightly, because of her white knuckles. Sweat was pouring down her forehead and her breathing was becoming faster. She then suddenly screamed and collapsed to the floor

"Kagome?" He took her up in his arms and shook her gently

"Kagome?" He tried again. He saw her slowly open her eyes

"What did you see?" He felt her tense, and he saw tears running down her cheeks

"The first thing I witnessed was the final battle against Naraku, confirming my theory on his soul being in his sword" she dried up some of her tears with her sleeve. He could feel her shaking in his arms, and he pulled her closer

"What else?" He saw Kagome took a deep breath before she answered

"I was in your study, and saw Kanna as an adult stealing Naraku's sword" Sesshoumaru looked at her surprised. This he had not seen coming

"I thought she was dead" he hissed. He had believed she had perished when her master did

"Yeah, apparently not, and I had a little chat with her" Sesshoumaru looked down at the exhausted priestess in his arms

"She told me that he wants revenge and what he believes is rightfully his" Sesshoumaru nodded, he had guessed as much

"But why now?" He asked, more to himself. Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru

"When the jewel was completed and I was sent home with the jewel, Naraku's soul reacted in the sword. It reacted because of the jewels presence" He heard her sigh

"I should be careful what I wish for" he heard her whisper

"What did you wish for?" he asked curiously, still holding onto her tightly

"That I would get a chance to meet with the past once again someday, and then I meet you, and Kanna I loose with Naraku's soul in a sword who has been reacting since I came back!" Sesshoumaru chuckled and smiled at small smile at the irony

"Yes, you must indeed be careful what you wish for" He saw her smile back at him

"Well, it was not so bad meeting you again" she replied smiling shyly. He looked at her surprised. He realized he too was glad to have met her again, and he liked the feeling of her in his arms like this. She then stood up and he followed suit

"Well, I need something to drink and to relax. It was not nice pictures Kanna was so friendly to share" Sesshoumaru looked at her, and saw sadness. He followed her out the museum with the swords in his hands

"Will you be able to leave tomorrow night?" He asked Kagome. He wanted to go as quickly as possible, since they had no idea how long the search would take, and he found himself wanting to spend more time with Kagome

"Well, since I will accept your job offer, and that will make you my new boss, then you tell me if I have the time?" He heard her teasing voice and saw her wink at him. Sesshoumaru smirked

"I will pick you up at 7" Kagome nodded. He noticed she was a little pale

"Then, see ya tomorrow Sesshoumaru" she bowed and walked out to the streets. He looked at her till he could no longer see her and went in to close the museum off.