A1969: yay, chapter two!
Inuyasha: who gave her sugar?
Kagome: -whistling suspiciously-
A1969: anyway –giggles- I'd like to thank everyone who read and reviewed, favorited, story-alerted, this story! Thanks guys! –giggles-
Inuyasha: wait a minute...thank you to whoever gave the authoress sugar!
Kagome: huh, why? –author giggles hysterically-
Inuyasha: sugar crash.

Chapter Two: She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not

XoXoXo

Idiot.

Throughout the whole morning, Sesshoumaru could think of nothing else, except that he was an utter fool. More than a fool, even. Strange, it wasn't every morning that the omniscient Lord of the West felt like an idiot. And it all started last night, when he realized that he missed her…

He was walking ahead of Rin and Jaken, doing everything in his power to drown out their inconsequential bickering. He inwardly sighed, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. Why? he asked himself for what seemed like the umpteenth time that morning. Why did he have to realize that he missed her now, of all times? Why did fate mock him, and make him realize that he…well, that he regretted his decision a year ago?

Fool.

He let out a tiny sigh. Yes, he finally admitted. He missed her. Period.

Ha. The voice in his head was triumphant. It takes you a full year to admit it, eh? Now all you have to do is hope she still feels the same way about you, when you see her again.

See her again…

Strange enough, the thought…pleased him. He frowned slightly to himself. Wait, what was he thinking? These emotions would be his ruin, like what Naraku had said last year, the last time they had fought…

That's not true—Inuyasha protects Kagome, and he's not weak.

-Are you saying that I, Sesshoumaru, should follow the half-breed's example?

No, I am saying that having someone to protect makes you strong, not weak. Remember the time you tried to kill Kagome in your father's grave when you tried to take Tessaiga? Why was it that Inuyasha was able to land a blow on you? How about when you fought Sou'ugna?

Sesshoumaru sighed. Well, yes, having someone to protect certainly made you more…motivated…

He fixed his gaze on the sky. But why, though? Why did he have to realize that he missed her when she was gone? It seemed ironic enough, realizing that he wanted her here…

"My lord?" Jaken's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

He didn't answer, so Jaken ploughed on. "My lord, might I ask where we are going?"

He didn't answer again. Had Jaken noticed that the forest they were in was the forest of Inuyasha? Hn, how very observant of him.

Up ahead, he could see a break in the trees. There was a line of light from the trunks. Several minutes later, they were through the trees and in a familiar clearing in the middle of which was an old well…

He suddenly felt nostalgic.

He could still picture her, sitting at that well, smiling sadly up at him…

"My lord, this is…" Jaken's voice trailed off as he looked up at his lord, whose eyes were unfathomable.

Sesshoumaru stared at the well for a second. Sunlight spilled into the clearing. He could hear the birds chirping incessantly in the trees, he could feel the breeze blowing softly against him. As he stared at the well, he couldn't help but wonder if she would suddenly climb out of it…

"My lord?" Jaken said again. Even Rin was looking at Sesshoumaru with curious eyes. She knew what this place was—she had been here herself, when Helen brought her to the Modern Era so many months ago…

Jaken looked up at his lord with foreboding. Ever since Helen had left, it could not be denied that his lord had appeared, well, listless. If he didn't know any better, the toad would have thought that his lord missed the girl. Jaken didn't think this was the case, but what would his lord want in a place like this?

"My lord?" the imp asked again.

Sesshoumaru turned his attention from the well to Jaken. "Gah!" Jaken gasped, falling to his knees on the ground. "I'm sorry for asking, Lord Sesshoumaru! I knew I shouldn't have pestered you with my questions and—"

"Stay here with Rin," he said coldly as he walked away from them, towards Kaede's village.

"Huh?" Jaken said, blinking. "Lord Sesshoumaru, where are you—!"

Before Jaken could finish his sentence, he was silenced by a pebble that struck him on the forehead.

XoXoXo

"We're setting out today, and I don't want any more delays!" Inuyasha's voice was far too loud, and far too harsh for the early morning.

Kagome groaned as she slowly opened her eyes. She and Shippou were lying beside Kaede's cold fire pit. Sango was already awake, sitting up, her eyes fixed on Inuyasha and Miroku who were both standing next to the doorframe. Kohaku was sitting beside his sister, his hands wrapped around a bowl of noodles.

"Inuyasha, this early?" Kagome complained as she carefully sat up, pushing her blankets off her.

"Kagome, can you sit him, please?" Shippou yawned as he turned over amidst the blankets.

Kagome rubbed her eyes, and looked up at Inuyasha, who was glaring at Miroku. "What's all the fuss about?" the miko asked.

"Inuyasha refuses to listen to reason. Again," Miroku said, rolling his eyes.

"No surprises there," Sango muttered, her eyes fixed on the fuming hanyou.

"We can't go around playing heroes again!" Inuyasha roared. "If there's something funny going on that doesn't involve Naraku, then it's none of our business!" He folded his arms across his chest, as though to prove his point.

"Inuyasha, haven't you noticed?" Miroku said, sighing. "The demonic aura emanating from the moon is getting stronger and stronger. It's peaking tonight—this is something we can't ignore!"

"Keh!" Inuyasha snapped. "Does the demonic aura belong to Naraku? No! Ergo, it's none of our concern!"

Kagome blinked, wondering where he had learned the first word of his last sentence. The miko sighed, and ran her fingers through her hair to get rid of any tangles. She looked up at Inuyasha, ignoring her grumbling stomach.

"Inuyasha, if Miroku says this situation is serious, then we have to intervene!" she said. She stood up, and dared him to question her.

"It's none of our business!" the hanyou snapped, glaring at her. "We still have Naraku to worry about—Naraku and the last jewel shard! We're busy enough as it is!"

"But, Inuyasha, listen to me," Miroku said, his voice resolute. "Last night, I felt the demonic aura, coming from the moon, rise. Tonight, who knows what might happen? This isn't something we can't ignore!"

"Keh!" Inuyasha's protest sounded feeble, as though he was slowly grasping their reason. "It's still none of our business!"

"What if this is something like Kaguya?" Miroku asked. "What then, Inuyasha?"

"They are right, Inuyasha," Kaede said, as she entered the hut. She was carrying a bundle of freshly cut herbs in her arms. She stood in front of the hanyou and gave him the same look that everyone else was giving him. "There have been some mysterious happenings in connection with the high rise of demonic aura emanating from the moon."

Inuyasha glared at her, a signal for the ancient miko to go on. Kaede, however, sat down next to the cold fire pit and began plucking the leaves from her herbs and placing them in a basket. Kagome and the others stared at her, blinking.

"Whaddya mean, old hag?" Inuyasha finally demanded.

Kaede looked up from her leaf plucking. "Have ye not noticed, Inuyasha?" the wizened miko asked, raising one eyebrow.

"Why do you think I'm asking?" Inuyasha snapped.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome reprimanded.

"As of late, there have been no signs of demonic activity for the past three days," the old miko answered, putting down her basket of leaves. "Every time I go out into the fields, there is always a faint stir of demonic aura from the forest of Inuyasha. However, during the last three days, those auras seem to have vanished, as though the demons were hiding themselves..." Her voice trailed off, and she looked intently at Inuyasha, who remained silent, his eyebrow meeting in the middle.

"Listen, Inuyasha," Miroku went on, his tone a little more conciliatory. "If there's a strange aura that's enough to make demons hide themselves, then this might be something much worse than Naraku, don't you agree?"

"It still has nothing to do with us!" Inuyasha snapped, obstinate as always. "Naraku is our first and only priority. Him and the last shard of the Sacred Jewel. When do you think was the last time we ran into the bastard, eh? A whole damn year ago! And why? Because the bastard has no more damn scent and aura!" He glared at them, fuming.

"I should not be surprised by your obstinacy, Inuyasha." A cold voice said. A second later, a draft blew aside the bamboo mat that covered the doorframe to reveal none other than Sesshoumaru. "As they say—only fools disregard reason. But you surprise me all the time, little brother."

"Sesshoumaru?!" Everyone—with the exception of Kaede—shouted, their eyes wide with shock. The effect of Sesshoumaru's appearance was instantaneous. Inuyasha's hand automatically flew to the hilt of Tessaiga, and Miroku's hand went to the beads of his Wind Tunnel. Sango stood up and positioned herself in front of Kohaku, Hiraikotsu held at the ready. Kirara growled angrily, standing in front of Sango in her minute form.

But it was Kagome's reaction that made everyone start with surprise. "What the hell are you doing here?!" she roared, pushing past Inuyasha so she stood in front of Sesshoumaru, who only raised his eyebrows coolly at her.

Sesshoumaru inwardly sighed. He was right—Kagome was still enraged at him for what he did to Helen. "Kagome!" Inuyasha snapped, now drawing his Tessaiga from its sheath. "What are you doing? Get behind me!"

But Kagome ignored him, her blazing eyes fixed on Sesshoumaru. "Wait, it's good that you're here," she said, her voice high with sarcasm. "Inuyasha—lop off his head!"

Inuyasha stared at her, as though she had lost her mind. "What're you waiting for?" the miko snapped, turning her burning glare to him. Inuyasha inwardly cringed—the look in her eyes...it was scarier than Sesshoumaru's!

"Are you hungry or something?" the hanyou mumbled. It seemed that Sesshoumaru had been forgotten in the light of Kagome's wrath.

Kagome's glare intensified, making the hanyou cringe. She ignored him, and turned to Sesshoumaru, who stood there, still looking apathetically at her.

"Cease your foolish talk, miko," Sesshoumaru said, his voice colder than normal. "As if a mere half-breed can lay a finger on I."

"Why you arrogant—!" Inuyasha began.

"My business is not with you, little brother," Sesshoumaru said, his gaze still fixed on the seething Kagome. "But with the miko."

They all stared at each other, even Kaede looked puzzled. Usually, Sesshoumaru having business with Kagome only meant one thing...

"But I don't have any business with you," Kagome snapped. "You might as well leave. Oh, wait, don't go—Inuyasha has to kill you first!"

"I need you to do something for me," the demon lord went, wholly ignoring the ranting priestess.

"No way in hell will I do anything for you!" Kagome snapped. "The only thing I'll do for you is chopping off that bloated head of yours!"

"I need you to bring her back."

"Why would I—wait...bring her back?" Kagome looked at him, blinking. She knew to whom the pronoun referred, as did everyone else in the hut. They all stared at Sesshoumaru as though he were wearing a frilly pink tutu. They were thoroughly flabbergasted.

Kagome was the first one to snap out of it, shaking her head vigorously. "Bring...Helen back?"

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "Who else?"

Kagome blinked again, wondering whether or not she was still asleep. She shook her head for a moment then glared at him. "Who do you think you are?!" the miko roared, her fury peaking. "First you kiss her"—Sesshoumaru stared at her, inwardly surprised; how the hell did she know that?—"then you reject her, leaving her bleeding! And then when she's finally getting better, you send her away! And now, you want me to bring her back?! Over my dead body, you bipolar bastard!"

He stared at her, secretly amused by her ranting. "Yes." He glared at her. "Bring her back." If there was one thing he learned, it was that he could get whatever he wanted when he was being intimidating.

"Over my dead body!"

Okay—maybe the intimidation wouldn't work this time.

He placed a hand on the hilt of his Ryuko. "That can be easily arranged," he said coldly, his eyes frozen blocks of ice. If intimidation didn't work, then threats would.

Inuyasha shoved Kagome aside, and held Tessaiga in front of him, glaring at his elder brother. "You bastard, I'll kill you for threatening Kagome!" he roared.

Okay, if threats were out, reverse psychology was in. He sheathed his sword. "Very well, Inuyasha, miko," he said, turning on his heel and pushing aside the bamboo mat hung over the door. "Refuse. It is not my problem if she dies."

He walked out the door and stepped into the warm sunshine. Several villagers stared at him. They were used to seeing demons in the village, but they had never seen him, and were wary about him. Sesshoumaru had not taken several steps, when Kagome's voice called out, somewhat grudgingly, after him.

"Wait!"

He inwardly smirked. He knew he always got what he wanted.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"So you know something about the ring around the moon?" Miroku asked Sesshoumaru.

They were gathered underneath Goshinboku, in the forest of Inuyasha, the safest place to be in case Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha got into another bout of sibling rivalry. Shippou and Kohaku were playing with Rin at the other side of the clearing with Ah-Un, Kirara and a complaining Jaken to watch over them. Sesshoumaru was leaning idly against the Goshinboku, his arms folded across his chest, his cold eyes fixed on the monk. Kagome and the others were sitting in a half-circle, the opening of their little circle facing the demon lord.

"What do you know about it?" Miroku asked, making his tone more respectful.

"Tonight, the ring around the moon will be complete," he said, his gaze fixed on the clear blue skies above. "And then, she will be free." Her...the woman his mother claimed was far more powerful than he himself. Interesting. "Which is why you will bring her back." He lowered his cold gaze to Kagome, who continued to stare angrily at him.

"Why?" she snapped. "What does Helen have to do with this? And, if you think that I'm bringing her back for you to hurt her again, then you have another thing coming!" She glared at him, as though daring him to contradict her.

"You will bring her back," he said coldly, his tone insouciant.

Kagome stood up, and glared at him. "No," she snapped. "I would never bring her back so you can hurt her again!"

Sesshoumaru only narrowed his eyes at her as a tense silence fell on them all. Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango looked from Kagome to Sesshoumaru, expecting a fight to break out. Their belief that an inevitable physical confrontation was so strong, Inuyasha's hand inched to his Tessaiga. To their surprise, it was Sesshoumaru who broke the silence.

"You will bring her back," he said again. His tone was so cold, they were surprised that the Goshinboku he was leaning against didn't freeze over. "And as to your asinine notion about me harming her..."

"Don't you tell me that you won't!" Kagome snapped. "You've harmed her enough in the past!"

He glared at her. "I will not harm her," he said quietly and went on before Kagome could interrupt. "Unfortunately, Lady Shinsuke and my honorable mother have asked me to protect her."

They stared at him, surprised at that he would candidly admit to protecting someone. "What do you mean?" Miroku asked, raising an eyebrow at him. "According to Kagome, Helen is perfectly fine and perfectly safe in the Modern Era."

"She is not."

Even Kagome looked bewildered. "What do you mean?" she finally asked, albeit grudgingly.

"You ignorant fools," he said.

"What?!" Inuyasha roared, standing up and glaring.

Miroku looked more thoughtful than insulted as he looked at Sesshoumaru with understanding in his eyes. "You mean the ring around the moon?" the monk guessed.

Sesshoumaru gave the most infinitesimal of nods. "Obviously."

"What do you know about it?" Sango asked, her eyes darting to Inuyasha and Kagome, both of whom were still standing up and glaring at the demon lord.

Sesshoumaru stared at Miroku. "Monk, have you heard of a demoness named Sokoro?"

Miroku wrinkled his brow as he dredged up memories. "Sokoro," he muttered to himself. "Sokoro...the name rings a bell, but I can't remember..." He frowned then his eyes widened. "Of course, she was the celestial demoness who was sealed on the moon! But that's as far as I know."

"How pitifully ignorant of you."

Miroku glared at him, and Sesshoumaru went on. "The four cardinal demon lords and ladies of the land combined their power to seal her away," he said nonchalantly. "After half a millennia, the seal would weaken, and she would seek revenge."

"But what does have to do with Helen?" Kagome said grudgingly, still incensed at him.

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at her. Why was he still here explaining anyway? If these fools couldn't figure it out, they were hopeless.

"This Sokoro wants revenge on the offspring of those who sealed her away, doesn't she?" Sango asked thoughtfully.

Sesshoumaru stared at her. Well, not everyone in Inuyasha's group was an idiot, then. "Yes," he said indifferently, as though it did not bother him, which it probably didn't.

"But Helen's safe," Kagome said. "She's not even in Japan anymore!"

Sesshoumaru looked sharply at her. "What do you mean?"

Kagome rolled her eyes contemptuously at him. "After you sent her away," she said through gritted teeth. "She went back to the States, naturally."

"Then make her come back."

"I think I explained to you how far away the States is!" Kagome snapped.

"I do not care."

She glared at him. The jerk! "Well, sorry to say this, Sesshoumaru," Kagome snapped, not sounding sorry at all. "But, in case you're too dense to know—Helen hates your guts!"

Everyone stared at her, and then at Sesshoumaru, who only raised his eyebrows at her. Helen, hate him? As if she had the capability to hate him. It was something that was heinously beyond her abilities.

He raised his eyebrows at Kagome, who only fumed. "What?" the miko snapped. "You don't think she hates your guts?"

"No."

Even Sango fumed. The conceited bastard!

"Well, earth to Sesshoumaru!" Kagome snarled. "After everything you did to her, she hates your guts!"

Before Sesshoumaru could even retort, Miroku interrupted. "I don't get it," he said. "If this Sokoro wants revenge on the offspring of those who sealed her away...wouldn't that mean she'd be after you and Lord Toshimaru as well?"

"Yes," he said, turning his gaze back to the pugnacious Kagome. "Now bring her back."

Kagome glared at him. "Sokoro wouldn't have a chance of finding her in another time," she snapped. "Especially if she's in another country!"

"Do not underestimate Sokoro," he said, much to their surprise. "She will find her."

"Well, if that's the case," Kagome seethed. "Inuyasha and I will protect her." Inuyasha looked as though he wanted to protest, but thought better of it when he saw death screaming from Kagome's brown eyes.

"Incompetent."

"What?!" Inuyasha roared, shaking a fist at his brother.

Kagome glared at him then an idea hit her. "Okay, Sesshoumaru," the miko agreed, nodding. "I'll call her for you, and you can tell her yourself." Everyone looked at Kagome, surprised and astounded. What was the miko playing at?

Sesshoumaru stared, almost warily, at her. He did not like the evil look in her eyes. He had a nasty feeling that she had something in store for him, and that something had to do with Helen. Could Helen actually hate him now? Of course not. The idea was inconceivable.

"However," Kagome went on. "You'll have to wait for tonight, though. It's still night in the States. Meaning she would be asleep."

Sesshoumaru didn't say anything else. He turned his attention to Rin and Jaken, both of whom were in the other side of the clearing. "Rin, Jaken," he called as he straightened up.

"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru!" Jaken screeched, relieved that they were finally leaving. Finally, he was free of the annoying brats!

Sesshoumaru could feel Kagome's smug eyes on him as he turned and left. Despite the fact that he knew the miko was up to no good, he could only think of one thing—he would hear Helen's voice again.

He frowned to himself as he and his group began walking away. What on earth was he thinking?

XoXoXo

It was complete.

Sesshoumaru looked up at the moon warily. The young lord stood at the edge of a cliff that overlooked a valley, his gaze fixed on the moon. The wind rustled gently against him as his eyes took in the silver-hued ring around the moon. With his sharp demonic eyes, he could see the ring glow a soft shade of silver. He narrowed his golden eyes as the demonic aura from the moon piqued.

His mother had been right.

This aura, this demon...it was something else entirely. He frowned as he continued to look up. Suddenly, there was a brief flash of light from the ring, a light that he was certain even humans could see. And then, it faded.

Was that it?

How anti-climactic.

The light from the ring slowly faded, as well as the demonic aura. Sesshoumaru turned on his heel and walked off, towards the forest where Rin and Jaken were waiting for him. She was free, then. Soon, he would see how strong this Sokoro really was.

But first, he had to go see Kagome.

XoXoXo

"It's finally happened," Lady Takeida muttered.

Lady Shinsuke glanced briefly at her friend, and then looked back at the moon. Both dog demonesses were standing at the veranda that faced the garden, their eyes fixed on the sky, at the moon. They had seen it—the ephemeral flash of silver light around the lunar ring that marked her release.

"Where is she now, I wonder?" Lady Shinsuke muttered. Though both demonesses wouldn't admit it, they were worried, almost afraid, even.

Lady Takeida scoffed. "What's important is whether or not she's changed," she said.

Lady Shinsuke raised an eyebrow at her. "I hope her head's not as bloated as it once was," Lady Takeida clarified.

"I see what you mean," her companion muttered. "She certainly wasn't humble during the final battle."

They were both silent for a moment. "Is something bothering you, Shinsuke?" Lady Takeida asked.

"Helen..." Lady Shinsuke said, sighing. "Is she alright? Will she be safe? She is another Era, I know this, and yet...Sokoro can be very persistent. She'll find Helen there...that is, if she doesn't decide to go after Lord Toshimaru and Lord Susanoo first, and save our children for last."

"Helen will be fine," Lady Takeida muttered. "After all, Sesshoumaru will be with her in the Modern Era to protect her. That is, if he doesn't need protecting himself."

"Oh, I don't think it's Sokoro he should be worried about," Lady Shinsuke muttered.

XoXoXo

"It's happened."

Sango glanced at Miroku. Monk and Demon Slayer were standing at the top step that led to Kikyou's shrine. Both of them were looking up at the moon. "Did you see it, Miroku?" Sango asked. "That brief flash of light from the ring..."

"Yes, I saw it," the monk said, nodding. "As it faded, so did the demonic aura."

They were both silent for a moment. "Do you think Inuyasha will finally agree to let us look into this?" Sango mused.

"Maybe, we can't be too certain."

"I think we should ask him," Sango said.

Miroku shook his head. "Let him cool down first," he said.

Sango looked at him, mystified. "Cool down?" she asked. "Inuyasha was more annoyed than enflamed when he left with Sesshoumaru and Kagome earlier."

Miroku raised an eyebrow at her. "Trust me, Sango," Miroku said. "With Inuyasha stuck with Sesshoumaru in Kagome's world, he's bound to come back burning from head to foot."

XoXoXo

"I'm not staying out here with him!" Inuyasha roared.

Kagome sighed, pausing at the threshold of her home, and looked pleadingly at Inuyasha. "You and Sesshoumaru stay out here," she said again, for what seemed like the millionth time in the few minutes they had been in the Modern Era.

"No way!" Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder, at his brother who stood underneath the Goshinboku, his golden eyes looking up at the tree's moonlit leaves. Shadows danced across him as the wind rustled softly in the treetops.

"Inuyasha, you know how excited Grandpa got the last time Sesshoumaru came over," Kagome said, sighing while rolling her eyes. "I don't think it's good for someone of his age to get that much excitement."

"Keh!" Inuyasha snapped. "Fine—Sesshoumaru's staying here, but why do I have to stay with the bastard?"

Kagome rolled her eyes yet again. "Because he's your brother, and because he might go wandering off on his own."

"So what? Let him wander!"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "And risk him revealing what he is?" she snapped. Though, truth be told, Sesshoumaru wasn't stupid enough to let the humans know what he really was.

Inuyasha pouted, knowing that he couldn't budge Kagome and her infallible reasoning. "Fine!" he huffed, turning his back on her. "But you owe me big time, Kagome, mark my words."

"All right," Kagome agreed as she went into the house.

"Hey, sis!" Souta greeted as soon as she slid the door closed behind her.

Kagome smiled at her brother. As she took off her shoes, she became aware of a tantalizing aroma from the kitchen. "Is Mama making steak?" Kagome asked as she placed her shoes neatly on the rack. She straightened up and sniffed appreciatively.

"Yup," Souta said, grinning. "Hey, is Inuyasha with you? He likes steak, doesn't he?"

Kagome nodded. "He's here...but he's outside with Sesshoumaru, though."

Souta's eyes widened. "Really?!" the boy asked, ecstatic. "His elder brother's here?! Can I go talk to him, Kagome? Can I, can I, can I?"

Oh, great, Kagome thought. He's going to hero-worship Sesshoumaru, I'm sure of it!

"Um, I don't know, Souta," Kagome said. Souta automatically looked disappointed. "He's not that fond of children."

"Aw, c'mon, sis!" Souta persisted. "C'mon! I mean, it's not like he's always around here, like Inuyasha. Speaking of which, why is he here anyway?"

"He wants a death wish," Kagome muttered, thinking of Helen's possibly furious reaction the moment she heard Sesshoumaru wanted her back. She could almost imagine it now...

"What on earth does that bipolar bastard want?! What? Come back? Over my dead body! And how dare he ask me to come back, after what he did?! Argh! Yes, tell him I'll come back—to kill him!" These imaginary words were accompanied by mental image of Helen with shark teeth and blazing eyes.

Kagome shook her head. "No, Souta," she said, sighing.

"Inuyasha's with him, isn't he?" Souta pleaded.

"No...unless you want a death wish."

Souta's eyes widened. "Please?"

What is wrong with this kid? Kagome thought. "Fine," the miko said, sighing. "But don't say that I didn't warn you."

"All right!" Without further ado, Souta rushed out the door, slamming it shut with a loud bang behind him.

"My, what was Souta so excited about?" Kagome looked up. Her mother stood at the hallway, her soft eyes wide with surprise and amusement.

A death wish, Kagome thought grimly as she smiled at her mother. "Oh, nothing—Inuyasha's just here, is all." No need to tell her mother about her other unwanted visitor.

"I've never seen him that excited about Inuyasha before," her mother mused, raising an eyebrow at her daughter.

The miko sighed. "Actually...Inuyasha isn't alone," she said. Her mother had no idea about what had happened between Helen and the bipolar bastard, and she preferred it remained that way.

"What do you mean?"

Kagome hesitated. "Well...Sesshoumaru is with him, actually..." Her voice trailed off, and she looked at her mother, trying to assess her reaction.

Her mother's eyebrows rose. "You mean, the young man that Helen...?"

Kagome nodded. "Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise!" her mother said. She clapped both her hands together, and beamed at her only daughter, whose eyebrow twitched involuntarily. A pleasant surprise? Quite the opposite, actually.

"But what is he doing here?" her mother asked, but then her eyes widened in shock, and she clasped her hands to her mouth, as though she were excited. "Oh my...Kagome, is he here about...Helen? He is, isn't he?"

Kagome bit her lower lip. "Yeah, sort of," she mumbled. How her mother could be so sensitive to other people's feelings, she really didn't know.

Mrs. Higurashi nodded. "I'll leave this to you, then," she said.

Thank you! Kagome thought as her mother tottered back towards the kitchen. Mrs. Higurashi stopped on the threshold to the kitchen, her hand resting on the wooden door as she turned to look back at her daughter, a smile on her face.

"Kagome, don't forget to invite him over for dinner, okay?"

Kagome fell down, anime-style. "Er...sure..." Kagome said, blinking. She tried to imagine what a dinner with Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru would be like—messy. Very, very messy. And…bloody. She shuddered, shaking her head vigorously to rid herself of the mental image. Her mother beamed at her and vanished into the kitchen, whistling cheerfully as she did so.

Kagome waited to see if her mother would come back. To her relief, the sounds of cooking grew louder in the kitchen, and the aroma from the food grew stronger. She made her way to the hall, picked up the phone, and hesitated, staring at the black receiver in her hand...

Should she call Helen? At first, she had only agreed to help Sesshoumaru call Helen because she knew that Helen would be furious at him, and that was something she wanted to see. Helen saying harsh words to him only served him right, after all. But then, she realized that—while it was true that Helen would be mad—there was also a possibility that she would be hurt.

The truth was, Kagome herself didn't know if Helen did hate Sesshoumaru's guts. It was possible and, at the same time, quite implausible. Did Helen even have the capacity to hate Sesshoumaru?

Kagome bit her lower lip. She knew that there was a good chance that Helen would indeed be hurt, and she didn't want Helen hurting again, not after all the aches the young woman had been through last year. But...

Sokoro.

Was Sesshoumaru lying about her? But what about the ring around the moon, the now-complete ring around the moon? And the high rise in demonic aura...?

Kagome took a breath and stared at the phone and then, hesitating as though she were holding a bomb, she tentatively called her cousin. She bit her lower lip as the phone started ringing. What would she say to Helen…? Before she could even think of what to say, someone picked up the phone.

"Hey, you've reached the Higurashi residence!" a familiar, and cheery voice said.

"Helen?" Kagome asked uncertainly. "It's me, Ka—"

"Unfortunately for you, we're out, so you know what to do!" Kagome inwardly groaned. A damned answering machine. "Leave a message after the beep!" A second later, a loud and brief beeping was heard. She sighed and placed the receiver back on the cradle. Where was Helen, she wondered. It was still somewhat early for them to be out…

Ah, well. No matter. It wasn't her problem anyway. Besides, she knew that Sesshoumaru would be annoyed with her for not being able to call Helen, and Kagome wanted the bipolar bastard annoyed as much as possible.

Feeling slightly smug, the young miko went outside, sliding the door closed behind her. She looked briefly up at the sky. The moon was full and glowed serenely, its silvery light falling on the shrine grounds, giving everything a hint of silver. The wind—not so pure and fresh compared to the wind in the Feudal Era—blew through the grounds with melancholy.

"Can you turn into a giant dog too, Inuyasha?" Kagome turned her attention to the Goshinboku. Sesshoumaru was leaning stoically against the tree, his eyes closed, his arms folded across his chest. Inuyasha was perched high above the branches of the tree, looking annoyed. Souta was sitting cross-legged on the ground, several meters in front of Sesshoumaru, looking up at the dog demon with…an admiring look?

Okaay…

Kagome made a mental note to talk to Souta later as she made her way towards them. At the sound of her tread, Sesshoumaru opened his eyes and looked at her. His eyes were cold, but expectant.

"Oh, hey sis!" Souta said exuberantly as he stood up. "You won't believe what I just found out! Sesshoumaru can turn into a giant dog at will! Isn't that cool?"

She stared at him, surprised that Sesshoumaru would answer whatever question Souta had thrown at him. In any case, her little brother appeared to be physically fine—mentally, on the other hand…

"Souta, Mama needs help in the kitchen," she announced.

Souta looked up at her, his face falling. "What? Aw, you're lying!" he whined.

"Now," Kagome insisted, then, seeing the pouty and stubborn look on his face, she added, "I think it's about desert…" They were having apple pie—Souta's favourite.

"Really?" the little boy said, brightening. "All right! See ya, Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru!" Without another word, Souta dashed towards the house, leaving a grudging miko, an irritable hanyou, and an expectant demon lord underneath the Sacred Tree.

"Well?" Sesshoumaru demanded, pulling himself away from the tree.

Kagome, he noticed, looked…smug—which couldn't be good. "She's not at home," the miko announced, smiling at him.

He knew it. He easily quelled the annoyance that built within him. "Where is she?"

Kagome shrugged. "I don't know," she said, her tone just slightly taunting. "She's not at home." Then, inspiration hit. "Maybe she's on a date." She didn't bother to mention that it would be far too early in America for a date.

Her words had the effect she wanted. "Date?" the ice lord asked, arching a perfectly-shaped eyebrow at her. He didn't like the sound of that.

Kagome nodded. "Yes, date," she said, sounding smugger than ever. "You know…when you spend time with someone you like."

"Explain." There was just the slightest trace of annoyance in his honey-cold voice.

"What more is there to say?" Kagome asked, folding her arms and smirking at him, amused at his reaction. "She's on a date. Period."

"What particular activities does one indulge in during these…dates?" He suddenly became aware of the familiar jealousy that had lain dormant in him since Helen had left.

She more than liked his reaction—she loved it. He sounded jealous. Ha! Served him right. Kagome grinned as she smiled at him, a smile that Sesshoumaru didn't like in the least. She was going to push his buttons and see what would happen—this should be interesting.

She smiled at him again, that fake and insincere smile. No, it wasn't fake and insincere—it was sadistic. "Oh, you know," Kagome said. "Just spending time together...alone." Sesshoumaru looked as though he wanted to interrupt, but the miko barged on, thoroughly enjoying herself. Even Inuyasha, who liked nothing better than to see Sesshoumaru annoyed, looked down from his perch to watch his omnipotent brother's reaction.

"Alone?" Sesshoumaru asked. With herculean effort, he restrained the green-eyed monster that threatened to take over. Alone? As in...alone, alone? He more than disliked it—he hated it.

"Yes, alone," Kagome said, trying her damndest not to laugh. She knew Sesshoumaru was jealous, although his icy exterior didn't show it. "On dates, you go to places with someone you like or love...alone," she repeated, placing a heavy emphasis on the last word. Then, more inspiration hit. "You know, places like parks, beaches, movie theatres...bedrooms."

WHAT?!

Kagome tried very hard not to laugh at Sesshoumaru's shocked and enraged expression. For a fraction of a second, rage and jealousy appeared on his face, replacing his usually cold mask, but he quickly schooled his expression.

From high above the trees, Inuyasha let out a loud peal of laughter. Sesshoumaru ignored him, and stared at Kagome. Surely, Helen wouldn't dare...? If she did, he was going to kill her. And whoever had the nerve and audacity to lay a finger on her.

He stared at Kagome, his eyes narrowed menacingly. "You," he said in the coldest voice he could muster, a voice that could have easily made all of hell freeze over. "You are implying that...?" Even he couldn't finish that sentence—and he didn't like it.

Kagome rolled her eyes at him. He resisted the urge to gouge them out slowly with his claws and waited impatiently for her to go on. "I can't believe you'd think so little of her," Kagome snapped. "Helen's not that kind of girl."

He knew that.

"Then, where is she?" he demanded coldly.

"I don't know!" Kagome snapped. "No one's at home, they've all gone out—deal with it!"

Sesshoumaru stared at her, his eyes cold. How dare she talk to him in that manner? He pulled himself away from the Sacred Tree and made his way towards the well shrine. Kagome blinked at his retreating figure. Had he given up? How very unlike him.

Then he glanced at her from over his shoulder, without breaking his walk. "You will try again tomorrow," he said imperiously as he vanished into the well shrine, his fluffy pelt trailing behind him.

"What?!" Kagome snapped. "Urgh! Can you believe the nerve of that guy?!"

Inuyasha jumped off his perch and landed silently beside her, quiet as the shadows that fell around them. "Bah, bipolar bastard," he muttered, having just learned the meaning of the adjective.

"You know what?!" Kagome fumed, turning to him, fire in her eyes. "I will try again tomorrow. And when I do get a hold of Helen, I hope she screams at him till his ears bleed!"

XoXoXo

"It sounds funny!" Alicia laughed.

Helen smiled at her friends. They were sitting next to each other on the plane, near the window. Outside the window, serene clouds streaked by as the plane cut through the air. Helen was teaching her two human friends a little Japanese, not that they were making much progress with it, anyway.

"More than funny, it sounds hilarious!" Andrea sniggered. She was sitting on Helen's left, and Alicia on Helen's right. "Is that really how they say 'I love you'?" She giggled.

Helen nodded. She was genuinely enjoying the trip, though she doubted she would be as high-spirited when they landed in Japan. "Well, if you guys are just going to laugh..." she said in a mock-tetchy manner.

"No, no!" the two girls chorused. "Teach us more! C'mon, Hellie!"

"There's a reason why we want to learn it, you know," Alicia said snootily.

Helen stared at them. "Reason?"

Andrea nodded gravely. "Alicia and I are planning to teach that ex-boyfriend of yours a lesson!" she declared. Helen's eyes widened in shock. Ex...boyfriend?

"Oh, yeah," Alicia said, nodding her head in agreement. "We're going to rant at him, Double A style."

"Ex...boyfriend?" Helen asked, her voice lower than a whisper.

"The guy with the complicated name," Alicia muttered. "He's your ex, isn't he?"

Helen blinked. "Se...sshoumaru?" she stuttered. "He was never my...boyfriend at all." She had never told anyone from the Modern Era about what had happened between them—not even her understanding human mother.

"What do you mean?" Andrea demanded. "Did he do the unforgivable and play you?!" She sounded enraged. No guy was going to play her friend and get away with it!

Helen was silent for a moment. "Sort of..."

"Of all the nerve!" Alicia shrieked and, if it weren't for her seatbelt, she would've stood up and stamped her foot. She banged her fists against her armrests and looked righteously enraged. "Why that bastard! I'm going to kill him!"—several people turned in their direction—"And then, I'm going to castrate him! And then..."

"Is everything alright, miss?" Helen looked up to see the flight stewardess looking at them with disapproving eyes.

"Er, yeah," Helen said, nodding. "Everything's fine, my friend's just a little—"

"...and then I'm going to pull out his tongue!" Alicia went on, still fuming.

The stewardess raised an eyebrow as Alicia rambled on. "Our friend's a little crazy," Andrea and Helen said, both sighing.

The stewardess looked alarmed. "Should I call a doctor?"

"...and then, we throw him over a cliff, and then feed him to the dogs!"

Helen clamped Alicia's mouth with her hand, stopping the incessant stream of tortures. "Er, no thanks—that won't be nece—ow!" Alicia bit her hand. She pulled it away and smacked her friend playfully on the shoulder. "Idiot, what was that for?!"

Alicia stuck out her tongue.

"If you girls don't mind, please keep it down," the stewardess said. "You're disturbing the other passengers."

The three girls nodded, and the stewardess left. "I'm still going to kill him," Alicia muttered.

At that moment, Hsia turned in her chair in front of them and grinned at them. She looked happy despite the fact that Robert wasn't with her—her fiancée would be catching up in a day or two. "I can tell you girls are excited," she said, smirking. "You'll have so much fun—you'll get to meet Helen's cousin, Kagome. She'll be so surprised to see you again, Hellie!"

"More than excited!" Alicia and Andrea said.

Helen was silent. She was excited about going back, that was true. But she wasn't excited about the possibility of seeing a certain someone...

"Good morning, this is your captain speaking," a cultured voice said from the intercom. "In a few minutes, we'll be at our destination. I would like to request you to please fasten your seatbelts for landing..."

Helen didn't listen anymore as she strapped her seatbelt. She felt the blood rushing through her veins, and she barely registered her friends talking excitedly and rapidly next to her...

Japan...

She was back.

XoXoXo

"I think he regrets sending her away," Sango said wisely that morning. She and Kagome were in the well clearing. Kagome was sitting on the Bone-Eater's well, and Sango stood in front of her. They were both discussing—and waiting for—Sesshoumaru. "I mean, he is trying to get her back."

Kagome only frowned, looking up at her best friend with frustrated eyes. "It's just like before," she said angrily, digging her nails into the wood of the well in an angry way. "He tried to get her back before, remember? She did come back for him...I wish she didn't—he just hurt her, over and over again. And Helen was stupid enough to let him!"

Sango was silent. She didn't want to make Kagome even angrier than she already was, so she changed the subject. "Is Inuyasha coming with you?"

Kagome sighed, and nodded. "Actually—"

"Here." A second later, a red blur shot out of the trees and landed beside them without a sound. Inuyasha straightened up and said, "I hope Sesshoumaru doesn't come."

"Is that so, little brother?"

Kagome, Inuyasha and Sango all turned their attention to the trees. Sesshoumaru was leaning lazily against a tree, at the edge of the clearing, half-hidden in shadow, his arms folded across his chest.

"Speak of the devil," Inuyasha muttered.

Sesshoumaru ignored him, and turned his gaze to Kagome, who glared at him. "Well, miko?" he said, abandoning his tree. "Do you wish to waste time with Sokoro free?"

Kagome's glare was enough to burn a human alive. He was the one who needed her help, and he was acting like such a...jerk! No matter—if he ever was able to talk to Helen again, she'd eat him alive, the miko was certain. With this little consolation in mind, Kagome swivelled around on her perch and jumped into the well, with Inuyasha following right behind her, leaving Sesshoumaru and Sango alone.

Sango looked at him. "You know," she said as Sesshoumaru made his way to the well. He stopped in front of the well, just across from Sango and looked at her with cold, icy eyes. "None of this would be happening if you just—"

"Do you think it prudent to finish?" Sesshoumaru interjected coldly.

Sango didn't finish, but Sesshoumaru knew what she wanted to say, and it stung him. Before the taijiya could think of anything else, he leapt gracefully into the well and vanished amidst a flash of bright blue light.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Oh my god!" It was the miko—and she was shrieking.

Those were the first words that Sesshoumaru heard when he appeared in the Modern Era. What on earth was Kagome going on about at this time of the morning? Probably something Inuyasha-centered, to which he could care less. He only thing he could think of now was getting a hold of Helen.

"What the hell?!" Inuyasha's voice confirmed the Inuyasha-centered theory.

The daiyoukai leapt gracefully out of the well and landed at the top of the steps, in front of the old sliding doors. He was about to slide the door open, but stopped, frozen, his hand hovering in midair, genuine surprise coursing throughout him as an all too familiar voice and scent reached him...

"Kagome, Inuyasha!"

Helen...

Impossible. It couldn't be her—she was gone, far away. But the voice and scent...

Several moments later, he slid the door open and stepped out.

XoXoXo

"Kagome!"

Helen's voice echoed throughout the empty Shrine grounds the moment the door to the well shrine slid open, and her cousin stepped out, accompanied by none other than a familiar silvered haired hanyou...

"What the hell!" Inuyasha exclaimed, surprise on his face at the sight of the young woman standing underneath the Sacred Tree. Kagome herself couldn't have registered a better expression—she was just as dumbfounded as Inuyasha.

Helen stared at them, hardly daring to believe her eyes. She and the others had arrived a little around nine in the morning. Alicia and Andrea were with her mother, being introduced to Mrs. Higurashi, who looked so surprised at their unexpected arrival, she looked as though she was having a heart attack. After the many greetings, introductions, and questions about the wedding, Helen had politely excused herself and went to the Sacred Tree, just to reminisce about the past year...

But she didn't expect to see two of the subjects of her reminiscing so soon. Were they really real? She blinked, and then their scent hit her.

"Kagome, Inuyasha!" Helen exclaimed and, before Inuyasha could blink, she hurled herself at them, ramming into them and making them stagger back.

"Get off!" Inuyasha roared as Helen wrapped an arm around each of their necks, and drawing them to her.

"It's you! It's you!" Helen chanted. She pulled away from them and took a step back.

Kagome was still staring at her with wide eyes. "Helen!" she said, recovering from her stupor. She hurled herself at her cousin and hugged her, momentarily forgetting about Sesshoumaru. "I can't believe it's you! What are you doing here?"

Helen pulled away from Kagome and they both grinned at each other like children. "You'll find out soon!" she said. "I...well, mom has a surprise for you."

"Your mother's with you?" the miko asked, feeling another wave of pleasure surge through her.

Helen nodded. "Yes, as well as—"

"Hellie!"

Inuyasha, Kagome and Helen turned their attention to two figures heading towards them. Andrea and Alicia were running towards them, their hair bouncing lightly in the breeze.

Kagome glanced at Inuyasha and quickly pulled out a scarf from her pocket. "Quick, cover your ears!" she hissed as she draped the scarf over Inuyasha's head.

"Hey!" the hanyou snapped, but he fastened the scarf around his head, anyway.

"Hellie!" Alicia said as they came to stop underneath the tree, just in front of them.

"We wondered where you went!" Andrea said. A second later, her gaze slid to Kagome and Inuyasha. "Oh!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening.

"Kagome, Inuyasha, these are my friends," Helen said. "Alicia and Andrea—Kagome and Inuyasha, Kagome and Inuyasha—Alicia and Andrea. They don't speak Japanese well."

Kagome smiled at them and switched to English. "Hi!" she said. "I'm—" But before she could finish her sentence, the door to the well shrine slid open...

...and Sesshoumaru stepped out, his eyes meeting Helen's.

Everything seemed to stand still.

Helen was frozen where she stood.

Impossible.

It couldn't be...

He, of all people, couldn't be here...

But he was.

And he was staring at her, his eyes cold.

"Helen." His cold voice snapped everyone out of their trance-like state.

She looked at him, her eyes unfathomable for once. For a second, just a second, she was unexplainably ecstatic...and then she remembered everything he did to her.

Sesshoumaru took a step towards them. He barely noticed the two unfamiliar girls looking at him with open-mouthed astonishment. Inuyasha and Kagome glanced from him, to Helen, tensed and waiting. Waiting for what, they didn't know. They just knew that something was going to happen—they just didn't know what.

"Hellie?" one of the unfamiliar human girls said, looking from Helen to him with uncertainty.

Helen ignored her, her gaze fixed on him, and him alone. That would've been a good thing—if it weren't for the fact that her gaze was cold...colder than his, even. That made him stop in his tracks, just a few meters away from them. Silence fell on them as the wind blew mournfully through the branches and leaves of the Sacred Tree, making the shadows dance across them.

"Hellie, who is that?" the other human girl asked, in a tongue he could not understand, but somehow he suspected she was asking about him, since Helen's eyes narrowed. Why was she looking at him like that? Shouldn't she look exulted to see him?

"Hellie? Who is he?" the same human girl said again, her tone curiously interested.

Helen blinked, as though she had been pulled out of her thoughts, which was indeed the case. She stared at Sesshoumaru, and then she spoke up.

"No one." Without further ado, she turned on her heel and walked off, leaving them all staring after her, blinking.

What just happened?

"Hellie, wait!" the two human girls called out as they ran after her.

There was silence.

"Wow," Inuyasha suddenly said, turning to his brother. "She snubbed you bad."

Kagome glanced at Sesshoumaru, her eyebrows raised in satisfaction. "What did I tell you?" she demanded.

He ignored her. She was right, though—Helen did hate him. The look in her eyes wasn't even one of hate—it was one of loathing. This was..unexpected. He didn't think that she had the capacity to harbour anything but love for him, but he was wrong—she hated him. No, she loathed him...

In the space of the silence that ensued, one resolve became clear to him, one resolve that he would do, even if it did cost him his damned demon pride...

He was going to win her back.

XoXoXo

A1969: I feel ashamed—it's been ages since I last updated. But I'm so sorry—it's just that my busy season's started, and I'm even busier than before.
Inuyasha: keh! I still wish we were rid of you! And I'm still waiting for the damned sugar crash!
Kagome: sit boy!
A1969: anyway, I'm sorry if I'm updating so sloppily. I'll try to be more...punctual, I promise! The keyword being try, okay? Hope you guys review!