AN. : Hy everyone. Thank you for reading my story. Well, this is the second chapter. And as you can see it is way longer than the previous ones. I only hope you have the patience to read it ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the characters.

Kagome was lying in the middle of the battlefield, badly wounded. Her body was ravished; she had deep cuts all over her hands, legs and back. Her cloths were torn apart. A deep wound could be seen a few centimeters above her heart, where one of Naraku's many tentacles hit her in an attempt of killing her. Her breath was shallow due to this and she was on the border between life and death. She was lying on her back, right hand clutched around a broken bow and left hand holding a small black jewel. It was the tainted Shikon no Tama, the evil and malice in Narau's heart still lingering in the sacred jewel.

Sango and Miroku were lying somewhere on her left, both gravely wounded by the battle, but still alive. Inuyasha was somewhere on her right, gripping Tessaiga's hilt with his clawed hand. He was lying on his back, his red haori torn apart, his bare chest showing the multitude of gashes. He was no longer breathing. The last blow Naraku had been able to inflict on him, before Kagome had released her miko powers, was fatal. It sent him a few good meters flying, falling to the ground with a thump. Shippou and Kirara were the only ones unharmed, since Kagome asked the neko youkai to take the kitsune away from the battlefield and protect him.

That was the state in which Sesshoumaru found the battlefield. He came because he felt Naraku's aura, but he didn't expect to see this. The first one he saw when he entered the clearing was the young miko herself. She was glowing pink and he could feel her powers growing increasingly in an attempt of healing her. He approached her and he looked curiously at the woman who managed to kill Naraku, wondering how she could be that powerful even on the verge of death.

He saw the tainted jewel in her left hand and had the urge to cut it of and get rid of the Shikon by shattering it again. But to his surprise, the Shikon no Tama started glowing a pinkish light until it turned a bright pink shade. It meant it was pure again in the hands of the dieing girl. He saw her stir in her unconsciousness and he shifted his attention from the jewel to her figure.

She had black long tresses, sprawled around her head on the cold ground, damped with sweat and blood. Her skin was as white as snow, contrasting her locks in a divine way. Her face was small but perfectly carved, with full red lips, slightly parted in need of air. She had a lithe frame, with well shaped curves and long, thin legs. She looked heavenly, even though she was dieing, but to Sesshoumaru she was just a ningen, and a very young one too.

He turned his gaze towards his half brother and unsheathed Tenseiga in wonder if he could bring him back to life. He wasn't content with the idea, but he strongly believed that he didn't deserve to die by Naraku's hands. But to his surprise, the sword didn't pulse to life, neither could he see the soul takers.

Standing still in the middle of the battlefield, Tenseiga unsheathed, he caught the changes in the miko. Her breathing increased, becoming more rapid with each passing second, and her heartbeat became stronger with each intake of air. He could feel her powers gathering inside her, surfacing from time to time, trying to purify the Taiyoukai, but it seemed as if his father's fang was protecting him.

And then, out of nowhere, the faint pinkish shade she was emanating changed into a bright pink due to the increase of her powers, engulfing her entirely. Sesshoumaru came near her, taking care not to step too close so she would not purify him, curiously watching the transformations she went through. As if on cue to his moves, the incredible happened. Drawn by an unseen force, Tessaiga floated to her and upon reaching her fingers, Kagome's eyes snapped open. She touched the sword and it started pulsing to life in her hands. But so did Tenseiga. Sesshoumaru raised his sword and felt the immense amount of power emerge from it, its yellowish aura stretching towards the miko, engulfing her and the demon.

He could feel the two auras melting one into the other, the pink one, which was Kagome's miko aura, coming to his sword and enveloping it. Also, his yellow aura enveloped Tessaiga. The swords absorbed the auras that rimed them and started once again pulsing to life. Tessaiga transformed to its full capacity into Kagome's hands, as light as a feather, her miko powers and Tenseiga's healing ones pouring into it. The sword accepted her as its new owner. Sesshoumaru's fang grew in length, pulsing, its healing powers and the miko's ones pouring through the blade, accepting Sesshoumaru as its master. At that moment, they mingled resulting a bright white light, bonding the two swords together and demon to human.

Within seconds, the bright pure white aura flared around them, touching every wounded creature, healing every gash and cut and regenerating the destroyed clearing into the most wonderful and pure place in the whole Western Lands.

As unexpected as it started, it ended. The aura withdrew and faded, the two fangs returned to their former states and a sense of calmness engulfed both of them. Kagome's eyes locked with Sesshoumaru's, black endless pools, as deep as the moonless night, boring into golden hues, as bright as a sunny day, as if trying to see his very soul.

Trying to understand her, Sesshoumaru held her gaze. Only that Kagome, worn out from all the wounds she suffered and the excessive use of her power and body energy, fell unconscious. The Taiyoukai sensed her weakness and before she could reach the ground he was next to her, catching her in his only arm. The moment his fingers touched her skin, a wave of raw purifying energy rushed towards him, practically implementing itself in his left shoulder, right above his heart. He put Kagome gently on the ground, allowing his arm to grip his now hurting shoulder.

It felt as if quicksilver was traveling through his veins gathering itself in one point, at the junction of his shoulder with his inexistent arm. As the whole amount of energy reached the same point of his body, the pain increased tenfold and Sesshoumaru's eyes closed and he fell on his knees. As the time passed by, so the pain grew in intensity until it reached the point when the great Lord of the Western Lands felt unconscious. The moment this happened a pink barrier surrounded him and Kagome, protecting them from harm's way.

As the first rays of sun made their way towards the earth, Sesshoumaru stirred and opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings. His left shoulder was still hurting but it was only a faint remain of the previous pain. As he sat on the ground, he felt the purifying energy gather in the same spot above his heart and next moment it rushed back towards the still unconscious miko, entering her body through the wound above her heart. Following the wave of raw power leave his body and enter the young girl's with his eyes, he saw that the gash was instantly healed and instead of a scar, a mark appeared on her skin. It was a tiny green droplet entrapped in a pink colored fire.

Curious as to what that could mean, Sesshoumaru took a closer look and saw it was not an ordinary marking. The tiny droplet was shining a deep green and it looked as if it was his own poison glowing on her skin. The pink colored fire was also alive and it seemed to be made of purifying energy, its flames playing on her skin around the droplet as if in the blowing of a gentle wind.

Upon this display of unordinary scenes, the demon lord narrowed his eyes. He raised his hand and gripped his left shoulder brushing his thumb over the spot the energy entered his body. As he was doing this, he felt something on his skin, as if a scar appeared. Only then he tore his eyes from the girl's odd marking and looked at his chest. There, above his heart, lied the same marking Kagome had. Only that his consisted of a small pink droplet entrapped in a deep green colored fire. Just as he was about to return his gaze on the miko, his attention was caught by something else: his long lost arm had been restored by her powers. Unfortunately, he was interrupted from his analyze upon his new arm by a voice:

'Good morning, Lord Sesshoumaru.' a deep masculine voice said.

He turned his head slightly to his right and saw two humans sitting by a fire, looking at him and Kagome. He knew them; they were part of the group that traveled with her and Inuyasha.

'What happened?' was his reply to Miroku's polite greeting.

'You and Kagome fell unconscious two days ago. We have been trying to get to you to see if everything was alright, but it seems that she has somehow developed the ability of putting up a barrier even in her sleep. And that barrier that surrounds you is very powerful. Practically, it didn't allow any of us entering, not Sango, who is only a human and has no powers, not myself, though I have holy powers as Kagome. The barrier rejected us, without doing any harm.'

Upon hearing this new information, Sesshoumaru stood and made his way to the barrier. He was sure he could break it and leave. He was concerned about Rin for letting her for too long alone with that worthless Jaken. Only that, when he tried to break it, the barrier rejected him and stood its ground. There was no way he would get out and leave until Kagome woke up and put the barrier down. He was trapped inside it.

'Lord Sesshoumaru, can you please tell us what happened after Naraku died? We were so badly injured we thought we would surely die. Yet something happened and we are completely healed, our energy restored to its fullest.' Miroku asked.

'You were healed by the miko's powers. She also restored my arm. We fell unconscious because of the amount of energy we spent, she with healing everyone and restoring my arm, I with the process of growing an arm.' the youkai said.

This being said, Sesshoumaru started thinking about the latest events. It seemed that he and the miko were now bonded through their swords and through their new markings. It still felt out of place to know that he and the human shared such a close bond; after all he was the Lord of the Western Lands. And to be in such a close proximity with her would deface his reputation.

'But she is very powerful. True, but she is a human and worse, a miko. She has restored your arm. She must be repaied for it and you know it. I will find a way to pay my debt. Why don't you take her with you at the castle? Maybe she will help you with the little situation you got yourself in with the Kamis. You mean to say we got ourselves in. Although I do not see what we did wrong. Too many fights, too many killings, no mate, no feelings, do any of these sounds familiar?' At this point in his thoughts, Sesshoumaru let a low growl escape his lips. He was pissed off, he knew his demon side was right and he had to make a choice. 'Maybe I should take her with me. She will make a good protector for Rin. So you want to thank her by asking her to be Rin's protector? This is not what I was thinking. You should take her in consideration as a potential mate. This Sesshoumaru does not take a mere ningen miko in consideration as a potential mate.' And he emphasized his decision with another low growl.

As the first rays of the moon made their way through the night, Kagome started stirring and after only moments she opened her eyes. Her black hues blinked a couple of times, trying to accommodate to the new state of the outside world. When she was fully alert of her surroundings she felt the demon lord next to her, patiently sitting close by. 'Way too close if I may add. Fool, he is sitting this close because you have put up a barrier and it didn't allow him to exit until you were conscious too. Although if you ask me, it was a very good idea to do it. I don't know how I did it. And I don't even remember putting it up. How am I going to let it down? …'

Seeing that she has awaken and wanting to leave, Sesshoumaru said:

'Miko, I am in your debt.'

'Huh?'

'Do you remember not that you have restored this Sesshoumaru's arm?'

'I did that? I don't remember. But don't worry, you are not in my debt, after all it was kind of my fault Inuyasha cut it of.'

'True. Miko, it seems that our swords have formed a bond. Do you know how to spare?'

'I don't. I never tried. Inuyasha never taught me how to use a sword. I always used my bow.'

'In order for me to pay my debt, I will teach you how to spare. Is that fair enough for you miko?'

Kagome couldn't say anything. She was speechless. 'Did Sesshoumaru just offer to teach me how to spare? Yes he did. But that means I have to travel with him. So it seems. But I do not see anything wrong in that. He tried to kill me several times. And yet he didn't kill you. And he could've just killed you while you were unconscious. I say you should accept his offer. Besides, you can spend some time with that little girl who travels with him. Rin.'

'Ummm … Sesshoumaru? If I accept your offering, will that mean I have to travel with you and leave my friends behind? Sango and Mirou, Shippou, Kirara and Inuyasha?' As she said his name, Kagome's eyes widened in pain. Memories of the battle came flooding her mind and one in particular brought her so much pain that tears sprang from her bottomless black eyes in an instant. 'Inuyasha. He is dead, isn't he?' she asked in a whisper.

'Yes, he is. This Sesshoumaru has tried to resurrect him but Tenseiga didn't obey.'

'You did what? You tried to bring him back?' Kagome said, all the time gasping for air in an attempt of smoothing her pain. 'But why? I thought you hated him.'

'Even if I did hate him, he didn't deserve to die by Naraku's hands. he answered.

Kagome was gasping uncontrollably now. She couldn't believe he said that.

'Miko, what answer do you give me?'

'I-I-I will accept it.' 'I guess Sango and Miroku will start their own family now. I could ask Sesshoumaru to allow me take Shippou with me so nothing else keeps me here. Inuyasha … how will I be able to move on? I loved you so much! Why did you have to leave me? At least you have found your peace, Inuyasha, or so I hope.'

Sesshoumaru watched her facial expression change from hope to sadness and then to excruciating pain. He could guess that the last one was because of the death of his half-brother but he couldn't see the reason behind the other two emotions.

'Miko, do you plan on lowering your barrier so we could leave?'

'Huh? Ohhh … I am sorry.' In that instant a wave of embarrassment crossed her face and her scent spiked basked in the feeling. 'Umm, Sesshoumaru, do you think you could tell me how to put it down? I don't really know how.'

'Hn. Just touch it and it should go down.' was all he said to her.

Kagome was so thrilled she now had an answer that she abruptly rose from her sitting position. That was not a wise decision seeing that she just awakened from a two days sleep. As soon as she reached a standing position she felt dizziness taking control of her body and she felt herself falling into something hard. Said hard thing was Sesshoumaru's toned chest. Due to the barrier they were entrapped in, the demon was standing just a few inches behind her. Upon her collision with his chest, Sesshoumaru sneaked an arm around her waist to steady her. Their chests were pressed one against the other, Kagome's head being buried in his white haori.

'You move quickly. What happened with "humans are below me" attitude? I do not know what you are talking about. Oh, you are playing dumb, are you not? You are embracing her, you twit. This Sesshoumaru is no twit. And I am not embracing a mere human. I am just helping her to steady herself. She was a fool to stand up that fast. Yeah yeah yeah … you may think what you want. I know the truth. Hn.'

'Is he holding me in his arms? No, this can't be true … he is only stopping me from falling down. How stupid from my behalf to stand up that quickly. And you would've thought I learned my lesson about that during these four years since I started traveling around in this era. Grr … What? He is not only helping you. He is holding you too close. That is an embrace. He moves fast I must admit. What? Stop joking with this. Sesshoumaru will never care for a mere human. And I love Inuyasha. And I will always do. Newsflash Kagome … Inuyasha is dead. He died two days ago. You have to move on and start anew. And Sesshoumaru could help you with that.'

When Kagome decided she could stand by her own, she moved out of his arm, face madly blushing because of the embarrassment. She turned around once again and touched the barrier. As her fingertips brushed it, the barrier disappeared and they were able to move out.

Sango and Miroku were in front of the fire, watching the both of them interact. Upon seeing them embraced a mischievous grin spread on Miroku's face. He looked at Sango to see if she was thinking at the same thing and decided that her sparkling eyes were enough of an answer.

'Miko. We have to leave to find Rin and Jaken.'

At hearing him calling her "miko" again Kagome let out the most feral growl a human could muster. Sesshoumaru smelt her scent spiking with anger and he narrowed his eyes at her. She was quite an amusing person to be around. She could change her mood from one extreme to the other in a snap of your fingers.

'My name is Kagome. Not "miko", nor "wench". KA-GO-ME!' that being said she turned around towards Miroku and Sango and asked:

'Sango, where is Shippou? Did something happen to him?'

'He is well, Kagome. He went with Kirara to the stream to bring water in the camp.'

At her words, Kagome let out a breath she never knew she was holding.

'Sesshoumaru, I want to take my kit with me. I am the only one closest to a mother to him and I will not let him here.' she said, not even turning around to look the demon in his eyes.

'Very well. You may take the kitsune with you.'

At his words, she turned around to look him in the eyes. Her hues were sparkling with happiness and her scent changed again. Another thing that confused the youkai. 'She smells of newly blossomed sakura flowers when she is calm and when she sleeps. Yet when she is angry her scent changes in that of a fiery storm. When she is happy though she smells like magnolia blossoms. How strange. Her scent changes with each emotion. So you've finally noticed? I am glad you decided to put to work that oh so good nose of yours. Shut up.'

'Are you serious?'

'Does it look like this Sesshoumaru is joking? I only speak the truth, miko.'

'Whatever, Sesshoumaru.'

'Oh that infuriating demon. He just keeps calling me "miko". How will he react if I call him "demon"? or better yet "dog demon"? Patience Kagome. He will learn your name in time. And he will use it. Be thankful he does not tell you "wench" like Inuyasha did all the time.' At this point in her thoughts the grief for Inuyasha returned tenfold and she started crying again.

'Miroku-sama, Sango did you by any chance got to burry Inuyasha? I would like to say my goodbyes to him.'

'Of course Kagome-sama. I will take you.' Miroku said all too joyful.

'He definitely has something in his mind. I wonder what. Well have you looked at yourself lately? Your clothes are torn apart. And Miroku is just a hentai. Eeep. I can't believe I didn't notice it before.' Looking at herself she instantly grabbed her torn blouse and tried to cover herself more with it but to no avail. Seeing her embarrassment and her futile attempts, Sesshoumaru took his haori off and hand it to her.

'Miko, cover yourself. It is indecent to walk around in that state of clothing.'

'Thank you.'

Kagome took his haori and immediately pulled it on. The silky material and the intricate design on it captured her attention immediately. And his scent. He smelled like a summer rain in a lush forest. 'Mmmm … he smells so good. He does, indeed. His scent calms me down. I wonder how that can be. Probably –'

'Kagome, I will take you to Inuyasha's tomb.' Sango snapped her out of her thoughts.

'Thank you Sango.'

With that, both girls left the camp and into the forest. They did not have to walk for too long, for the grave was close to them, under an old and huge cherry tree.

'Inuyasha … why did you leave me? I love you Inuyasha. I wanted you to stay with me. I never thought I would see you dieing. I always thought I will die first, you being a half demon and I only a human. I will love you always Inuyasha, but I have to try moving on. I have many years ahead of me. I will never forget you.' With that being said she put her hands on the ground and started concentrating on her powers. When she released them a beautiful single madonna lily came into bud. It fed from her powers until it was one feet high and it blossomed. 'My gift for you, Inuyasha. Rest in peace my love.'

With those last words she started crying, tears falling on the perfect white flower, sprinkling it with pink powder where the droplets touched it. She took one last glance at it and left towards the camp, Sango holding her in her arms, soothing her as best as she could.

When they arrived back, Kagome was still sobbing softly, but upon seeing Shippou, her demeanor changed. She put a half hearted smile on her face and took him in her arms.

'Shippou … I am glad you are unharmed.'

'Kagome, please don't cry.'

'Miko, it is late. Come.'

'Shippou, we are leaving. Sesshoumaru has offered to help me and he allowed me to take you too, so we won't be separated again. Sango and Miroku-sama will want to start a family so we couldn't stay with them anyway. Sango, Miroku-sama I wish you to be happy together. Sayonara.' with that being said, she hugged them both and turned around to face the demon lord.

'Lead the way, Sesshoumaru.' As if that were the exact words he was waiting for, which was probably true, the great Taiyoukai of the West turned around and began his new journey, one that would change his life entirely.

AN. : I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. On sencond thought, I hope you enjoyed it even more than that ;)

Ja ne