The water rushed past him.
InuYasha's feet had gone numb, and his butt was starting to go the same way. He was soaked straight through to his underwear, up to his waist, where he sat, holding Tristar's hands, while she searched the river for any sign of Kagome.
He wasn't sure how long this was supposed to last. He felt like he had been sitting there for at least 2 hours. He was pretty sure the moon had moved across the sky, as the shadows had lengthened and deepened. DarkWind remained where he was, standing on the shore, watching, not moving. InuYasha started to think maybe this was some cruel, stupid joke the Kageri was playing on him. Seeing how long he'd sit in cold water.
Only he knew DarkWind wouldn't risk Kagome's well-being that way.
Just when he was trying to wiggle his toes or feet, to try and get some warm blood back to them, he heard Tristar speak, very softly, more a whisper than anything. It was only his hanyou hearing that allowed him to pick up the words over the rushing water.
"I have found her."
Ears pricked, he leaned forward, unintentionally squeezing her hands, "What?! Where?! Where is she?! Is she ok?!"
"She is far...very far..." slowly, her eyes opened, and she looked at him, her eyes unfocused.
InuYasha watched as her eyes slowly focused, as she came back into herself. After a second or two, she started to shiver, and tried to stand up, wobbling.
DarkWind splashed out to aid her, lending a hand to InuYasha - who of course refused it - and they wobbled their way back to the river side on frozen and numb feet.
"Where is she!?" InuYasha demanded, sitting and rubbing his feet, trying to ignore his numb butt, "How far is she? Which direction?"
"She's south. Far south."
"Alright, thanks. I owe you, Tristar. I'll head there as soon as my feet-"
"You can't go there."
InuYasha and DarkWind blinked at her, DarkWind speaking, "Beloved one?"
"What do you mean I can't go there!? Says who?"
In answer, Tristar gently pushed DarkWind aside, and knelt, picking up a stick. She started to draw in the dirt.
DarkWind and InuYasha gathered around her, watching, confused. Tristar seemed to be drawing lines in the dirt, odd shaped, somewhat wavy lines. It took a few moments before InuYasha began to recognise the coastline if Nippon.
"Ah, a map," DarkWind said, nodding, seeing it at the same time.
Tristar drew all down around the south, and back up, making a somewhat rough image of the island. Then she stuck the stick way down toward the lower part of the land.
"Kagome is there."
InuYasha blinked, shocked.
"What!? No, that's impossible! There's no way anyone could get that far in a day!"
"You spoke of some sort of magic, did you not, InuYasha-Warrior?" DarkWind asked lowly.
InuYasha stared at the stick as it jutted from the dirt drawing.
Kagome was there? It would take days to get there, maybe a week, running! There was a lot of rough forest between there and here, no simple roads!
He cursed helplessly, then looked up at Tristar, "Are you sure, Tristar?! Absolutely?! What did you see, what did the river show you?"
"There is a huge palace there. This river splits various times, and ends up as a river that feeds into a huge lake, beside the palace. Water is drawn from that lake, and used in the palace. When the water is used in the palace, it drains out into a smaller stream that then leads back to the river, and eventually makes it way out to the sea. The water that is cast off from the palace has tasted Kagome-Master. She is there, in that palace."
"She's in a palace?" he pushed his bangs back from his forhead, thinking, "The kid said someone in a red and gold wagon said to put her in another one. I guess the guy's a king or a prince or lord or something."
Well...at least he knew she was alive. That was a start.
"Is she...could you...could you sense how she was or anything? Is she ok?"
Tristar shook her head, "I cannot sense that, I am sorry. If Kagome had been in the lake itself, perhaps, I could have sensed her own senses, but such a small amount of water, and mixed in with everyone else's...no. I am most sorry."
He looked away, miserable.
"You said she was attacked?" Tristar asked, quietly.
He turned to her, quickly, "Yes, why? What did you sense? Tristar?"
She smiled softly, "The water from the castle has tasted her blood, but a very small amount. I do not think she has been very badly injured, InuYasha-Warrior. I would imagine a few cuts and scrapes, but nothing else."
He watched her, feeling the tight, panicky feeling in his chest loosen with her words.
She was alive, and she was most likely hardly hurt at all.
Good.
"I have to go," he said to her, "I have to start now, it's the only way-"
"It will take you a very long time, InuYasha-Warrior," Tristar said.
"I don't ca-"
She put her hands out in a calming gesture, "And what if you run all the way down there, only to discover she has been somehow magically returned back here?"
"Then I'll run back!"
"Of course you will," she smiled sweetly, "But there is another way you can go there much faster, and return faster, if needed. Plus, when you find her, how will you return? That is a long way for a human to walk, or for you to carry her, as strong as you are."
He crossed his arms, "So what are you suggesting?"
Tristar motioned to DarkWind.
InuYasha's hackles rose, "No way! I am not letting him phase me anywhere! Forget it!"
"Not even for the safety and quick return of Kagome-Master? InuYasha." Tristar sounded dissapointed.
"And what happens if he decides to just dump me in a river like the last time!?"
Tristar blinked, and turned to look accusingly at DarkWind.
DarkWind shrugged, looking oddly guilty, grinning, "Kagome-Master told me to send him far away, so I did."
"Tsk," she shook her head at him, then turned back to InuYasha.
"DarkWind will not dump you in a river, InuYasha-Warrior, for I will not allow him to do so. He will behave, I assure you of this."
InuYasha grumbled.
"Fine. I have no choice, not really."
DarkWind spoke, "We will return to our place, and eat, and then begin our journey. I will pack us some things to eat."
"Eat? What are you talking about?" InuYasha demanded, "We just go to this palace, get Kagome, and come back? We don't need to eat!"
DarkWind looked apologetic, and spoke hesitantly, "Ahh...I fear we cannot simply go to the palace and back, InuYasha-Warrior."
"And why not!?"
"My powers are fading. Ever since Kagome-Master released me, my powers are not as strong as they used to be. I can no longer fly. And when I phase now, I can only go a certain distance. Any farther, and I fear I may get lost in the...between. I cannot risk you in that manner."
"So how the hell long will this take!?"
"Two days. Maybe more, but it is not likely. I will need a map, for good reference points. But I will get very hungry, as it will take much more energy than it used to."
He spoke firmly to InuYasha, "You must trust me, InuYasha-Warrior. This way is still much faster than any other. We will be there in two or three days at the very most."
InuYasha growled under his breath, but the ex-Kageri was right. Even though it was going to be forever to him, it was still going to be a lot faster than if he ran.
"Alright, don't just stand there, let's go."

Kagome woke up the next morning, and lay in bed, thinking about what had happened the night before. She stared at the ceiling of her opulent room.
Had it all happened the way she thought it had, or had she just been tired, and had blown the whole thing out of proportion? Sometimes she just didn't trust her own instincts.
Why would he have looked at her that way, or touched her like that? Maybe it was just an accident, and as a powerful lord, he wasn't used to actually apologising. Maybe he didn't apologise because the sheer thought that a powerful lord had tried something with her was so outrageous he didn't expect her to even consider it.
Maybe he had been looking at her as if he were evaluating her, or...considering something, but that didn't mean...what she thought it meant. If he was a powerful lord, maybe it was natural to study everyone that closely. After all, he probably had to deal with spies, and traitors and things all the time.
And as for the Shikon, well...he had heard that it could be used to get rid of enemies, and he had been hoping...but when she told him it couldn't be used on humans, he was dissapointed. After all, he hadn't demanded she give it to him.
He...he could have just yanked the Shikon off her neck, if he had wanted it that badly. He had told her he would never take it away from her. So he couldn't be a bad person, could he?
She could hear Yusa in her small room, clearly awake, but she wouldn't come out until she knew Kagome was awake.
Kagome sat up, rubbing her face, and she sighed.
The door swiftly slid open, and Yusa's face smiled out at her, "Good morning!"

Rio joined Kagome for breakfast, and the three girls chatted about what was going on that day.
"We'll go outside the walls!" Rio said, "I love it when we do that! Everything is so different!"
Yusa smiled fondly at the little girl.
"You guys don't go outside the walls very often?" Kagome asked, "I think that would drive me crazy."
Yusa laughed, "The walls are very far away from here, Kagome. We have so much room we can easily walk around, even take rides in wagons. But going outside the walls is a real treat! We get to see new people and new sights!"
"We have picnics and it's so much fun!" Rio exclaimed.
Kagome took a sip of her tea, listening.
"We have so much fun! And father takes me up with him on his horse!"
"Is...is Lord Haruki going to be there too?" Kagome asked, trying to sound non-chalant.
"Oh yes, he always accompanies us."
"Um..Yusa, would...would it be ok if I...stayed here?"
Rio and Yusa looked at Kagome in dismay.
"You can't!" Rio cried, "You have to come, Kagome!"
"Are you well, Kagome?" Yusa asked, "I heard you tossing and turning all night."
"I...no, I...don't feel well," she said, lying, "I'd really rather just stay here. And rest. Or read or something. Is that ok?"
"Well," Yusa said, "I can't see anyone forcing you to go if you don't feel well, Kagome."
"Oh please?" Rio leaned forward, making big eyes at Kagome.
"Rio," Yusa said softly, not really able to chastise the young Lady, "If she doesn't feel well..."
"I'm sorry, Rio, but I wouldn't be any fun. I'd just be lying around, yawning and being so boring..."
"Awwwww."
"You can tell me all about it when you come back, ok?"
"Ok," Rio said, disappointed.
Yusa watched Kagome, worried.

Later that morning, Lady Mai came in, looking concerned, "Rio told me you're not feeling well, Kagome?"
Kagome was feeling sickly, actually, lying on her bed, looking at the ceiling. She was wondering if there was some way she could leave the palace while everyone was gone, and...and...what?
I have no idea where I am. I have no idea how I'd even find my way back, not to mention how long it would take. I have no clothes. What do I do? I really feel uncomfortable here. I wish you were here, InuYasha. I really could use your overprotectiveness now.
She smiled at Mai, and nodded, "Just a little. It's ok."
"And I was so looking forward to going on our little expedition with you today."
"I know, I'm sorry. I just need to rest. I'll just lay here, and rest, and you guys can have all the fun."
Mai knelt beside her, and put a hand on her forhead, "You don't feel warm. Maybe it's just something you ate."
"That's probably it," Kagome smiled weakly. She was starting to feel a little guilty lying to them, but she actually didn't want to see Lord Haruki. Even though she had sort of convinced herself that what she thought had happened last night at first hadn't happened, she still felt a strange, crawly feeling at the thoughts of seeing him again.
"Is there anything you would like before we go?"
"Actually...yes. If I feel better in a while, is it ok if I walk around outside a little? Not just on the balcony there, but outside a little more? Maybe if I could walk around..."
Mai smiled, "I'll ask Lord Haruki, I'm sure he won't mind at all. We'll let the guards know you're a guest here."
"Thanks."

InuYasha wasn't happy. By the time DarkWind had seen to Tristar, had eaten, and had packed some food, the sun was just starting to rise.
"Damnit, come on! You're taking too long!"
"We cannot rush, InuYasha-Warrior," DarkWind said as they made their way slightly outside the village, "I know you are not overly fond of me, but in this, you must trust me. If we rush, we are able to make a mistake that will set us bac-"
"Alright, alright! Just...hurry up as much as you can then!"
DarkWind slipped on the backpack Tristar had given him, full of supplies. The ex-Kageri had studed the map as he ate breakfast, using it as best as possible to look for waypoints. Not having actually been there before, he would use landmarks on the map to focus on; a mountain, a lake, an oddly shaped harbor, things of that nature. He had picked out a small mountain to be his first waypoint, guessing that mountains didn't change or move that much over time, so it was a good bet it was still where it said it was on the map.
"Have you thought of what you will do when we get to this palace, InuYasha-Warrior?"
"What do you mean? I tell them to hand over Kagome, that's what!"
The two men walked side by side to a clearing, one dark, dressed in dark clothing of vest, pants and boots, the other brilliant with silver hair and crimson clothing. They looked like an unlikely pair, which they were. Even as they moved, the ex-Kageri seemed quiet and composed, while the hanyou marched angrilly, eager for action.
"And if they say they do not have her?"
InuYasha made a fist, "I'll level the Godsdamned place until they remember they do!"
"And if they do not?"
InuYasha glowered at DarkWind.
"I know you are angry and upset, but we cannot just go thundering in. It is possible these people did not have ill-intentions for Kagome-Master. Tristar herself said she was apparently being healed."
"So?"
"So...think of Kagome-Master. Do you not think she is likely to be upset or angry if you blow up a portion of a palace in which she is not even in?"
As they walked, InuYasha scowled at the path before them, "Yeah, well...I'm not too concerned about how she feels right now. She can scream at me later, once I find out she's ok."
"Perhaps I should spea-"
"No. Forget it! I'm doing this my way, you're just the horse that gets me there, you got that!?"
DarkWind managed to look somewhat insulted.
"You will need to keep a calm head, InuYasha-Warrior. Do not make enemies of those who are not your enemies. Both you and Kagome-Master have enough real enemies."
InuYasha rolled his eyes, "You sound like Miroku."
"Thank you!" DarkWind beamed.
InuYasha said nothing.
DarkWind stopped in the clearing, and nodded, "This will do."
"Finally."
The ex-Kageri turned, and held his hand out to InuYasha.
The hanyou blinked at him, then backed up a step, "Are you crazy? I ain't holding your hand!"
"InuYasha-Warrior, I have to make physical contact with you. Otherwise I will travel, and you will not."
"Forget it! There's not way I'm-"
Muttering a curse in some unknown language under his breath, DarkWind reached out, clamped a vise-like grip around the hanyou's wrist and phased.
For InuYasha, the entire world seemed to melt and run, as if he were standing in some melting picture. His stomach did flipflops as his brain tried to make sense of what was going on. His highly tuned senses rebelled against the sudden onslaught of sensations.
Everything seemed to snap into place with a violent lurch, and suddenly, they were somewhere else. The trees seemed to have moved, changed places. The river was gone, replaced by a wide flat field, and a mountain seemed to suddenly jump out of the chaos at them. A bird who had been in a nearby tree went sqwaking away angrilly. Grass seemed to have jumped under his feet without his knowing about it.
InuYasha lurched to the side, staggering slightly as his stomach rebelled.
"Give me some warning before you do that!"
"You left me no choice. You seemed to want to argue all day instead of starting. Hmmm. I hit pretty much spot-on. Excellent."
InuYasha had one hand against a tree, leaning on that arm heavily, his other arm wrapped around his middle, fighting to get his stomach under control. Everything lurched.
Damnit. Same as that damned sphere to the castle. Why can't I travel like this without wanting to vomit?
"Are you well, InuYasha-Warrior?"
"I'm...fine...give me a minute."
DarkWind watched the hanyou, concerned. Shippo hadn't had a good time phasing either. And according to Kagome-Master's memories, the hanyou had never travelled well that way. Demons - and hanyou - seemed to have trouble. Perhaps it was their fine senses.
Either way, the hanyou was going to have trouble.

Kagome waited until the palace had gone quiet. She heard the women gathering, getting their things, and slipping out. She heard Rio giggling, laughing, running around. She heard men - she assumed they were soldiers - talking, getting ready.
Then, it all fell quiet.
She waited a little while longer - she didn't want to run into any of them as they were leaving, before she got up.
Looking around her room a little more, she discovered there was nothing she could wear if she wanted to try and leave, other than what she was wearing. The robe was a simple affair, not even down to her ankles, but she wasn't used to running around in a long skirt at all, and she had no idea what she was going to have to try and get through if she did get outside.
And if I did get out,then what? I'm so far from home and I have no way of getting back. They used some sort of magic or something to get me here...I need that to get back, I guess. So I guess I have to just avoid him long enough for him to send me back. I'll just pretend I'm sick all week.
Once she was sure the palace was empty, she slipped outside.
She walked down the hallway, pausing long enough to ask one of the rather intimidating guards there for directions, she slipped outside into a huge garden.
It was lovely there, and Kagome felt herself shedding her tension like water. Just being able to get out and walk meant so much to her. She could clear her head, and try to make sense of what was happenning.
She wore a simple blouse and skirt today, similar to what Sango often wore, although hers was made of silk, and two shades of blue.
She walked until she saw the walls that Lady Mai had been talking about, and her heart sank.
They were massive, and made of heavy stone brick. There was no way she could climb over those. It was too high, and too smooth.
Well, now I guess I really don't have a choice but to wait for Lord Haruki to send me back. I'll just have to avoid him, and stay with the women until he does.
She knelt, looking at a lovely rose bush. The European Rose was a brilliant crimson, and she found herself, again, missing InuYasha very much.
What I would give, right now, to hear him, even if he were yelling at me, or telling me I was stupid. Just to know he was nearby.
She leaned forward, and sniffed the rose, eyes closed.
Sighing, she stood up, and turned.
To find Kenpeki standing there, looking at her.
Kagome's heart stuttered as she backed up. He had approached unnaturally silent. He stood there, just looking at her, and she could see his eyes were a very dark shade of blue, like denim. He didn't say anything, just gazed at her.
Excusing herself, Kagome tried to pass him, to head back to her room, but he stepped to the side, blocking her path.
Frightened, she looked up at him, feeling cold.
"The gem you wear," he said, and his voice was creepily neutral. To Kagome, the man's resemblance to Sesshomaru was downright eerie, save for the coloring.
"Y-yes?"
"Let me see it."
"I...uh...it's not...it can't be used so easily. I mean...it's cursed, you know. It-"
"I said," he said, just as neutral, "Let me see it."
Kagome looked around, hoping to see one of the guards walking in the garden, but there was no one around.
Swallowing, Kagome backed up a step, but reached into her blouse and lifted it out. She held it out, slightly, just for a second, and when he took a step towards her, she shoved it back into her blouse, and crossed her arms over her chest.
He spoke, casually, "You told Lord Haruki that it can only be used against demons, and other 'dark things'. What did you mean by 'dark things'?"
"I...I just meant other demons. You know. Just...demons..."
Kenpeki began to walk towards her, lifting one of his hands, palm up, fingers lightly curled. Unlike Lord Sesshomaru, Kenpeki had no demonic markings on his hands, but his claws were just as long.
Kagome stumbled backwards, trying to get away from him, away from those claws. She half-tripped, falling back against the stone wall.
Kenpeki stepped forward, and brought his claws up, in under Kagome's chin, lightly pressing into the soft flesh of her throat and under her chin. The little points dug in.
Kagome swallowed hard, and went up on tiptoes to try and keep him from piercing her flesh with his claws, eyes wide.
"Why does a young women, little more than a girl, carry this powerful artifact? Who are your 'enemies'?"
Kagome swallowed again, trying to sort out what to say, how to explain.
Kenpeki assumed she wasn't going to answer, and he pressed upward a little harder. Kagome made a soft sound of pain, going right up on tiptoes.
"They were called Shadelings! I don't know where they came from or anything! But they were called Shadelings! And Shadows!"
Kenpeki lowered his hand a small fraction, allowing Kagome to relax a little, ease down onto her feet a small bit.
"And they just arrived? For no reason? And started attacking you? I find this hard to believe."
Kagome said nothing.
Kenpeki spoke, casually, "I could tear out your throat within seconds. No one here would care. Your body would be dumped somewhere. The ladies of this court would be told you left. Lord Haruki would not question me. Why did they arrive?"
"Because..." Kagome swallowed again, "Because there's a war."
"A war?"
"A war between Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, and a demi-god called Keimetsu. They want to take over, destroy everything. The Shadelings were his troops."
Kenpeki seemed to consider her words, then spoke, "You are on the side of Amaterasu?"
"Y-yes, that's right."
He said nothing else for a while, then spoke, "What of the Handmaiden? Does she still walk in her Lady's shadow?"
Kagome blinked, confused, "Izumi? Lady Izumi?"
Kenpeki said nothing.
"Yes, yes she...she's still a Handmaiden. Are you...are you a friend of Izumi?" Kagome asked, hopefully.
Kenpeki was silent, then he lowered his claws. Kagome took a deep breath, and rubbed her throat, feeling the sore spots where his claws had prickled.
"You will remember little of this," he said.
Kagome thought it an odd thing to say, when he reached out, and placed a hand on her head, the heel of his palm on her forhead. Before she could say or do anything, blackness rose up to meet her, and she felt her legs give out. She fell into the darkness.

The next phase, they ended up next to a large lake. It was heavily overgrown, and as they watched, fish popped to the surface, chasing flies.
InuYasha staggered to the side, collapsing to his knees, both arms wrapped tightly around his stomach. His stomach lurched and rolled and leapt up into his throat. InuYasha forced it back, cursing it soundly, refusing to throw up in front of DarkWind.
The ex-Kageri slid his backpack off, and put it on the ground. InuYasha was going to need a few minutes to recover. He took out a waterbag, and placed it on the ground next to the hanyou, for when he was ready. Then he turned, taking stock of his location.
They were making rather good progress, he thought. They had already come farther than InuYasha could have run in a day. They would make three or four more trips like this before he would need to rest and eat. He wasn't sure how InuYasha would take that, but there was no getting around it.
DarkWind looked around again, and found himself missing what he had been.
For so long, he had been so powerful. There had been very little out of his reach. He could do just about anything...except make his own decisions. He had been chained, as it were, beholden to his master. And for most of the time, he did what his masters wanted. He destroyed things. Cities would be levelled, machines of war broken down into matchsticks. He could fly and scout out enemy armies. He could transport entire platoons to and from the battlefield. With DarkWind at his or her side, his masters conquored and defeated all who stood against them.
When he had accepted Kagome as Master, it had suddenly been so different.
Here was a master that wasn't the least bit interested in conquoring or fighting or invading. All she wanted was someone to teach her to use the Shikon. She needed a Kageri, someone who could enter her thoughts, to show her how to use and hold the power of the Shikon. At first, DarkWind had despaired. Why on earth was he given to someone who had no interest in using him to his full potential?
But he had come to discover what a rare gift Kagome was. She was kind. She was friendly. She refused...utterly refused...to treat him as an instrument of war, as a weapon. She insisted he eat, and sleep when he wanted to. She insisted he give his opinion and decision on things. He was asked to contribute to the group.
And he had come to love the group. Miroku-Monk had been so distrustful of him at first...which was good. Kageri could be dangerous. But the monk had come to accept him, not only as an important part of what Kagome was doing, but as a friend!
Kageri did not have friends. They had masters, and master's family, and they looked after them all. But they did not have friends.
His affection for Kagome had become more than just the love of a Kageri for a master. He had started to come to love Kagome, as well. But he loved Tristar as well. They had been together far, far back, before either of them had become Kageri at all. Back at the Spire.
His love for Kagome was the love of a drowning person to the one who saved them. Freed them. And it would never leave. Ever.
But he knew Kagome was destined for InuYasha. And he was not saddened by that. For he loved Tristar.
DarkWind regretted the loss of his powers...but he would never tell Kagome that. For she had given him more. So much more.
Freedom.
"Ok..." InuYasha sounded a little more stable now, and he walked towards DarkWind, wiping his mouth where he had drunk the water, "Let's go again."
"You are certain?"
"Yes, now let's go!"
DarkWind nodded, and picked up his backpack, and reached for the hanyou's wrist again.

Kagome drifted.
She had been dreaming a wonderful dream.
Her and InuYasha had been on the beach. She didn't know if it was in his time or hers, because there was no one else around. The sun was shining, and it was warm, the sand was soft. The water was very blue.
They had sat under an umbrella, on a towel, and Kagome had been wearing a bikini she had bought for this very day.
At first InuYasha had been scandalized, then he had settled down some. It seemed to Kagome she could remember this having happened before, somehow, sometime, but it wasn't important right now.
He had blushed when he looked at her, and she had really liked making him blush.
Now she lay on the blanket, and she had asked him to put some lotion on her back. His hands were so warm, and strong, as he had worked the warm lotion into her skin.
She slowly drifted up, through the layers of sleep.
She lay on her stomach, her left cheek resting on her forearms.
The light in her room was dim - it must be getting dark outside. Her room was warm, and there was a wonderful scent of cherry blossom coming from somewhere. She was comfortable and warm and lazy and sleepy.
The feel of a hand on her shoulder roused her, slightly, warm skin on warm skin.
Still groggy from sleep, she murmured, "InuYasha?"
She stirred, lifting her head from where it rested on her arms, and she looked over her shoulder.
Into Lord Haruki's face.
Blinking, startled, she rolled away slightly, sleep falling away from her like a broken mirror, and as the last traces of sleep left her, she realized two things at the same time:
Lord Haruki was kneeling on her bed, long hair undone, and he was completely naked.
And so was she.