-1"M'lady, you sound as you loved him more than a friend. Please do not take offense."

"None taken, and at one time I guess I did, but things changed and the love though still there was more for a friend or sibling than for a lover. He in a way broke my heart, and it broke even further when he died." Kagome said quietly.

Rin looked up into Kagome's sad face I wish I could do something to cheer Kagome up. She looks sad and Lord Sesshomaru had that same look when he talks about Lord Inuyasha lately. They need each other. I wonder if Ana can help me.

Chapter 4

Kagome found herself being directed into a rather large suite next to Lord Sesshomaru's suite. The room had a large futon in a deep red and dark blues. The walls were decorated with sakura blossoms and it had two other doors one leading out into the garden. The other door lead into a private hot spring. A large wardrobe like chest stood on the wall next to the door to the spring. In the corner next to the door going into the garden sat a large full length mirror with a large flat pillow.

"Ana, this is beautiful. I can't imagine why this room is not being used." She gasped.

"Lady Kagome, this was the room of late ladies of Lord Inu Tashio. Lord Sesshomaru's mother used this room and so did Lord Inuyasha's mother Lady Izadio. They, I believe, even still have some of their clothes in the wardrobe." She indicated the dark mahogany piece off to the side.

Kagome stepped over to the wardrobe with a breathe she held opened the door to find it packed with beautiful silk kimono's that had once belong to the noblewoman of the past. Gaping with surprise, "Wow…" the speechless miko manage to stutter. "I've never seen kimono's like these." She gently pulled several out of the wardrobe to get a better look at them.

"Lord Inu Tashio always made sure they had the best in silk and whatever else they deemed to need. He was kind and is well missed. Not that Lord Sesshomaru isn't much different, but the late sir is the one who made this castle very alive. He likes to joke and flirt with many women, though he was very much in love with both his mates." Ana quietly and respectfully replied.

"Which son would you say was most like their father? I have been curious since I met the two." Kagome asked.

"Lady Kagome, that would be hard question to answer. Both have of the young lords take after the father. Each in his own way. I feel that I must leave it at that. I will be back to help you dress and take you the dining hall in a little more than an hour. The Lord asked that you take this time to freshen up." Bowing Ana stepped back out of the shoji screen door. Turning around Ana went to report to the Lord about his guest being placed into the room he had indicated.

Lord Sesshomaru placed Tetssegia on a rack below a picture of his father in his study. Half smiling, the current lord thought about the beautiful miko that was not far away from his current location. Knowing how hard giving up the sword was for the miko, he somewhat had happened to her in the year. Her fiery spirit seemed to have died and he wondered how he could make his miko the spitfire that her past self was known. Tapping his chin he felt Ana approaching in the hall. "Enter".

Ana sighed and slid the shoji door open and closed behind her. "My Lord, the Lady Kagome has been placed in the room you indicated. She was impressed I, of course, 'let it slip' that the room was that of Inuyasha's and you mother's room. She then felt that it was too much. I told her that we need the other rooms for guest that you expecting." winking with mischief.

"Ana, though you divulge too much but I am sure that the miko is a little dense in her innocence that she will not put it all together." He chuckled.

"Yes, My lord" smiling sweetly Ana bowed to Sesshomaru.

"Ana, you will be rewarded…"

Kagome sat down and pulled the robe of the fire rat that had protected Inuyasha for so many years. She had made a habit of pulling it out and just holding it to her nose to smell the fading smell of Inuyasha. Stifling the bent up tears that she had been trying to hold in Kagome laid down on her side and cried her silent tears. Many years of emotion slowly and quietly flowed from the young woman.

The smell of salt hung in the air throughout the palace manor. Sesshomaru sighed she must be really hurt because even though I can smell her tears I do not hear the sobs. I will wait. She needs to heal. So I will not let any one near her so that she can cry with out anyone being nosy. With that last thought the Lord of the manor strode from his room and placed himself at her door as a silent guard warding away all who wanted to question the maiden about her tears.