Inuyasha eyed Sango with scrutiny. She still had a lot of healing to do but as soon as she was able to leave her bed she protested endlessly. 'She's as bad as I am... She hates being a homebody.' He watched her with piercing eyes she she slowly eased herself beside a fire. Inuyasha was bringing a pot of water to a boil. He watched wordlessly as he sharpened Tessaiga. There was a thin air of disapproval in the way he moved but he kept his thoughts to himself. Sango had her slayer's suit in front of her. It was in grave need of repair after... Sango's head began spinning. Every now and then fragments of the battle hit her like a ton of bricks. Almost another week had passed and it hadn't gotten any easier for either of them.

She could feel Inuyasha's eyes on her, burning a hole straight through to her soul. He wasn't even sharpening his sword anymore, just staring. "Inuyasha." She called out, facing him with a frustrated glare. His eyes narrowed in acknowledgement. "I'm not glass, I'm not going to break. You don't need to keep watching me." He flashed a defiant smirk.

"You can't play hardball with me, Sango. You're tough." He set the mighty sword down and glared at her. "But you're not at 100%. Nowhere near." He could see her clutching her skirt in frustration but she said no more, turning all of her attention to her suit.

It wasn't that he liked agitating her but an angry, fiesty Sango was way better than a dejected Sango. He couldn't bear to see her be fragile; she was the strongest human he'd ever met. Sighing to himself he stood and started towards the forest. "I'm gonna grab mo-" He started as Sango leapt to her feet, flinging kunai across from her with a grunt.

"Show yourself!" Inuyasha was stanced defensively in an instant and in front of Sango. 'What's going on...' He saw her reaching for her bone weapon out of the corning of his eye but he hissed.

"Stop that, you're not ready! Who's there?" "

I don't mean any harm." a familiar voice called out. Sango and Inuyasha shared glances of disbelief as none other than Kagura slipped from behind a tree. Both of them stood stunned. "K-Kagura.." Inuyasha breathed.

"Yo." She seemed riddled with anxiety as she stepped forward, looking around her.

"W-what are you doing here?" Sango questioned. She was beyond shocked to see the wind walker. Kagura flinched.

"I know Naraku battled you a few weeks ago... I had a bad feeling. You two look pretty beat up-" She paused, looking around her. "Are you two the only-"

"Everyone else is gone." Inuyasha answered. She noticed his fists were tight and his knuckles were white. She grimaced.

"So he did it... He was saying he would take you all with him..." She thought aloud. Inuyasha snorted bitterly, taking a tentative seat.

"So he's gone then... He's really gone?" Sango pressed. Kagura's face became very serious as she flashed her fan.

"On the contrary... Lately he's been catching on to my own agendas. He told me if he were to die," Sango swallowed, her face screwing up. "I and all his incarnations would as well."

Sango and Inuyasha baulked. "So if I'm still alive and breathing... So is he, somewhere. Though I'm willing to bet very injured!" Kagura sat, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Although you two don't seem to be in any position to fight anyone. You're a rag tag mess."

They didn't object to Kagura's assessment. Sango seemed to be fiddling with a sewing needle and thinking a lot through. "Say, Kagura... What will you do? You don't want to do what Naraku says but... If he dies, you'll die. And we're trying to kill him." Kagura looked down to her fan, watching it open and close gracefully.

"Damn it all!" Inuyasha cried out, slamming his fist on his knee.

"I plan on living. I don't think he's breathing down my neck for right now... So I'm going to take advantage. Don't worry, if that next battle comes I'm sure I'll be fighting against him with you guys." Kagura answered with a playful shrug. Inuyasha cocked an eyebrow.

"Bu-"

"I'm tired of doing his bidding. I'm not interested in fucking with peoples' lives for no reason. I could be doing other things." She said, coming to a stand. She reached for the feathers in her but halted, tossing a glance at Inuyasha. "Say... Have you seen your brother?" Inuyasha's face contorted in disdain.

"I don't know where that bastard is. I don't care, either." Kagura smiled. "Sure, see ya around." She said as she prepared to hop on her feather.

"Hey, Kagura!" She paused. Inuyasha swallowed, feeling pretty helpless. "We're-We're gonna figure something out... About you." He stuttered. Kagura shuddered.

"Hmm. I'm, I'm sorry." With that apology Kagura was soaring away on her giant feather and out of sight.

Sango's movement caught his attention as she stood, clutching her slayer uniform. "What are you doing?" Inuyasha didn't try to hide the exasperation in his voice. There weren't many ways to tell her she was too weak to be an effective fighter. He eyed her indignantly but she was facing her. "Sango-"

"Inuyasha... He's alive!" She said alive with such anguish that it made his own heart ache. He was rapidly approaching the woman before he knew it.

"Sango-" He pleaded again. He whipped her around but she had already started crying. Her face was red and the tears were falling freely. "Inuyasha, he stole everything! My village, my family, Kohaku, Miroku! Don't you want-"

"Don't you dare say I don't want to defeat him Sango! You know that's not it! But we have to have a plan! We're two people short. Do ya wanna defeat Naraku or follow Kagome and Miroku into the after life?" Sango shoved against him, burying her face in her hands.

"I don't know!" she bawled. Inuyasha glared at her in disbelief.

He pulled the hysterical woman to him in a crushing embrace. "Live Sango. They want us to live. I know it fucking hurts, I know! But killing yourself over it won't help, damn it..." Sango pulled herself as close as she could to his strong chest and just sobbed. It was only the second good sob she'd had since she found out they'd died. Inuyasha sighed, cautiously running a hand over her head as though it might break. "Don't think for a second I don't miss them... I would do anything just to catch a whiff of Kagome's scent- I'm scared too. But we have each other and we're only gonna defeat Naraku if we're together. Okay, Sango?" He didn't immediately hear a reply. He realized her body had gone limp. Sango had cried herself to sleep, right there in Inuyasha arms. He sighed, a small smile on his face. "You cried yourself stupid." he grumbled to himself as he hoisted her bridal style. Without another word, her carried her inside and laid her down on the bed.


Rin hummed cheerily on A-Un's back, stroking the neck of both dragons' necks. Their eyes were nearly shut in pleasure and affection for the young girl who'd shown them nothing but kindness. "Rin." Jacken snapped from below them. Rin tossed a curious look to Sesshomaru's servant.

"Yes, Jaken?" He shot her a disapproving look.

"Quit that annoying humming this instant! I'm sure it annoys Lord Sesshomaru and it does annoy Jaken!" he squawked. Sesshomaru suddenly tossed him an annoyed look, causing him to cower. "Jaken." He stated coldly.

"But-" Before Sesshomaru could engage Jaken any further he could sense they weren't alone.

He paused, just sniffing the air around them. "My lord, what is it!" Sesshomaru turned to his left and waited.

"Show yourself." Rin, Jaken, and even A-Un turned to see who the daiyoukai referred to. Slowly, Kagura appeared from the behind a nearby tree.

"Yo." Jaken sneered, wondering what Kagura could have to do with any of them. Sesshomaru eyed her with as blank a face as ever. He could smell, however, her desperation and that she seemed to be in heat. It was a curious mix of scents and most intoxicating. He turned his head towards his group.

"Jaken, A-Un, take Rin to safety. Jaken frowned at this, walking beside the great dog demon.

"You think this wind walker would harm her!?" Sesshomaru only responded with a glare that communicated not to talk back to him. Quickly, Jaken grabbed A-un's reigns and took the girl to safety.

When they were out of earshot he faced Kagura completely. It had been a while since they encountered each other so he had started to wonder about her. He could tell by the look in her eyes she was set on something. What, he wasn't entirely sure. "Kagura." he stated at first, tensing slightly as she approached him.

"Sesshomaru..." She was purring his name, looking him up and down. "I don't have much longer, you know. Whenever Naraku dies, I die." He looked at her for along moment. 'What does that have to do with me?' He thought that but he did not say it.

"Have you come to tell me about Naraku?" Kagura gave a quick nod, her eyes glittering earnestly.

"I don't want to talk about him." Her voice was trembling. Sesshomaru inhaled.

"You think you have anything to do with me besides Naraku?" Wordlessly, Kagura reached out and stroked Sesshomaru's flawless face. She intertwined her fingers with his silken hair, before cautiously pressing her lips to his. He froze at first, unsure of what was going to happen. Then he enveloped her in perhaps the most passionate thing he'd ever done. He poured his whole being into the kiss, slipping the sleeve of her kimono down. Kagura ripped the pin from her hair and shivered as the waves cascaded down her back. She gave in, feeling herself crumple underneath Sesshomaru...


Jaken eyed the wind demon wearily. She had a smug smile on her face and her hair in a bouncy ponytail instead of a neat bun. She had been following them since she'd run into Sesshomaru hours earlier. 'What's her deal, anyways?' After a moment he marched up to Sesshomaru. "Just how long is she going to follow us, anyways!" he demanded with perhaps too much authority. Sesshomaru looked to her with a ghost of a smile.

"For as long as she likes."