Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not owned by me. It is owned by Rumiko Takahashi along with most of the characters, though the plot belongs to me.

Chapter 3:

Destined and Barriers

An evil laugh resonated everywhere. Haunting. Mocking.

A woman drenched in blood lied crumpled on the floor. Her life escaping her as seconds passed. Weakening. Dying.

A child stared with horrorstruck silver eyes. Crying. Hurting.

A young man stood a few paces behind, watching as the child lost her innocence and forced to face the cruelty of the world. Her childhood ripped away from her as she watched the gruesome scene of her mother dying in front of her.

"Be brave, my darling daughter…" were the whispered words of a dying mother whose only concern was the health and safety of her beloved daughter. Her dying breath spent in reassuring her sole heir. "Forgive me…" The words echoed as her outstretched arm went limp and fell on the bloodied ground.

The mocking laughter of the vile monster increased in volume. Echoing around the young three-year-old child whose tears continued to flow. Heart constricting and breath hitching as her pain-filled silver eyes—glazed with tears—stared disbelieving at her mother. The shadow of her childhood calling out for her mother to return, and yet, knowing that she would never be able to hold her again. Gone were her mother's warm smiles. No more warmth to console her. Gone were the arms that embraced her to keep away the nightmares. While her dreams became replaced by a nightmare that would never go away.

The monster moved towards the child, it's real target, with a taunting smile painted on his blackened lips. "And now you…" came his chilling voice, red eyes trained solely on the weeping child.

The young man could only watch as the monster that killed their mother stalked his baby sister. He tried to move—to help her—but his feet refused the command from his brain. He was paralyzed. At a distance, he heard a cry of a God as his Celestial left the realm of the Mortal World. A flash of gold at the horizon informed the eighteen-year-old that he had followed his beloved. Father, he thought in silent farewell. Knowing that though his father wanted to stay and protect them, he was unable to due to his bond with the Celestial, who had sacrificed herself for the safety of the universe they were assigned to protect. But most of all, it was for the safety of their child. This must be done, he thought. His eyes lingered on the child, whose pain was escalating, hoping that she would push through this ordeal. Be strong, my sister.

The child showed no fear or any indication that she was seeing the fast approaching monster, which was determined to end her life. Her dull eyes still solely trained on her mother's limp and bloodied form. Silver eyes stared at nothing as she refused to accept the reality of what she had just witnessed. Mother. Mother. Mother, were the words that repeated over and over and over again in her young mind like a broken record. Her unblinking eyes continued to shed broken tears, why? Why did you go? Why did you desert me? She could not understand why her mother would leave her. Did I do something? Do you not want me anymore? She wondered, sobs of misery joined the haunting laughter of her mother's killer. "Mother, return—" a quiet sob filled with grief, "—to me." I promise to be good. Just please come back. Come back, mother. She wept and begged. Tears after tears after tears cascaded down her cherub cheeks, its flush gone. "Mommy!" she cried out in the night sky with a voice drenched in misery and suffering. Her sorrow echoed throughout the lands, and the wolves of the forest joined her with their howls.

Upon hearing the young voice filled with grief, the fighting came to a halt as everyone looked up at the darkened sky. Those familiar with the voice felt their hearts ached for the child whose innocence left her at that moment.

Thunder boomed and lighting flashed as gallons of water poured down from the sky as the gods and goddesses can do nothing but watch their beloved child suffer. The gallons of water that the clouds spilled were their tears as they wept with their beloved. "NO!" Her skin glowed brilliant silver and a ball of light entered her being. A flash of light covered the land and the mocking laughter disappeared.

The monster's red eyes were wide with shock and his blackened lips were gaped, before he turned into dust, which was blown away by the wind.

A child dropped to the ground. Tired and hurt.

Footsteps and the pattering of rain as it landed on the ground sounded.

Another flash of lightning flashed, and the Celestials and their enemy vanished into thin air like smoke. Leaving behind demons, elves, mages, humans, and those with pure hearts standing in the clearing with peace entering their hearts.

A world came to be.

A young sixteen-year-old opened her blue gray eyes. One pale hand touched her cheeks and felt the wetness that drenched it. She blinked, surprised by the tears that spilled form her eyes. She blinked again and again and again while wiping her cheeks, hoping to stop the silent tears that fell. Mother, she thought, her heart constricted at the thought. I will not let your sacrifice be in vain, she vowed with conviction. Looking at the time, she sighed, "Five a.m." Her muscles protested as she stretched them, "anniversary." Her eyes looked at the calendar and at the circled date. With hopes of clearing her mind of the dream that just plagued her, the young woman walked out of her room. She tightened the robe around her as she walked and headed for the student council room. That room had somehow became one of her sanctuaries during her stay at the Mortal Realm.

It had been a month since they left their realm and entered this unknown yet familiar world. And in the month that they spent at the Academy, she grew a form of attachment to the members of the Student Council. Especially to a certain young girl, whose mask reminds her of her own, and a young man, whose smile and charm called out to her. She could only hope that her brother had adjusted as quickly as her to the people they spent most of their time with. But she understood why he refused to be attached to a certain vice president named Kagura. She held far too much resemblance to one they hold so close to their heart. As it was, she also tried to lessen her interactions with the eighteen-year-old girl.

"Can't sleep?" asked a very familiar voice.

Looking up, Kagome was startled to find that she was already at the sitting room of the Student Council suite. She spared the young half-demon a look before settling on the chair across from him. "Trying to escape a nightmare," she replied. Her tone said that she was not going to tell him anymore. "You?"

"I can't sleep," he admitted. His eyes stared at the mystical being before him in search of an answer. He hoped to help her on whatever it was that plagued her, but he found that he could not when she refused to tell him what it was. It was still baffling him how this Celestial appeared one day and managed to infiltrate every corners and crevices of his mind.

"May I ask why?" her eyes closed, knowing that she would tell him what it was that ailed her if he continued to look at her with those mesmerizing eyes of his.

Inuyasha surveyed Kagome with scrutinizing amber eyes, prodding the girl to share more of her secrets with him. Yet he knew that she would not. In the month that he knew her, he came to understand that the sixteen-year-old before him was wise beyond her years and was very selfless. She worried about everyone and everything and did not share her burden with anyone except with her brother. But he had a feeling that if she could, her brother would not even know of them at all. "Just a bad case of insomnia," he answered, though what was really on his mind was: I was thinking of you the whole night, and all the mysteries that surround you.

Kagome let out an amused giggle.

He looked up, startled.

"You do realize that you are in the presence of a mind reader," her mirthful blue gray eyes met his alarmed golden ones. Seeing the redness on his cheeks caused her to laugh. "Though I thank you for the compliment." She giggled. Her giggles mingled with the twinkling of the bells on her ribbons.

The red on his cheeks darkened. Hoping to hide his flushed cheeks, he bowed his head, so his silver bangs would hide him from her. His reaction only caused her to laugh harder. "You are far too cute." His blush darkened even more, as he seemed to sink lower and lower in his chair. "Though I must say that I am not as mysterious as you may think I am," she added, teasing him by basically telling him how much she had read in his thoughts.

He sank further into his seat, completely embarrassed. When her giggles did not stop, he hoped for a hole to appear and swallow him whole. At least then, he would not have to deal with her teasing. "Is the brat torturing you again, Inuyasha?" came the voice of his savior. He could have sworn he heard the angels sing hallelujah. He cracked an eye open and watched as Sesshomaru glided into the room. An amused look was present in his eyes as he sat next to Inuyasha. With the exception of his sister, Inuyasha was the only one who had been graced with Sesshomaru's lighter side. Though he had absolutely no idea why, he just thanked his lucky stars that he was.

"Without mercy," he answered without any hesitation. And seeing that he had a savior already, he straightened on his seat.

Kagome only laughed at the two of them. "I am guilty as charged," she admitted with much pride when her brother's eyes settled on her.

"At least you admit it this time," commented her brother, his arms languidly settling on the back of the couch.

She stared at him, amused. "I have always been fearless when admitting to teasing."

"Let us not lie," Sesshomaru grinned, winking at Inuyasha to show him that he was purposely getting on Kagome's nerve for his benefit.

Inuyasha held back a chuckle, his head moving from Sesshomaru to Kagome as though he was watching a tennis match. For all he knew, he probably was and the ball was the words they threw at each other. He was the only fortunate one of his friends to witness this side of the Celestials. And he felt lucky that they trust him enough to drop almost all of their walls when he was the only one in the room. "Yeah Kagome. Liars are sinners," he teased, seeing his chance to turn the tables around.

She sent him a glare, though it did not really hold enough anger in it. "You, shut up."

Sesshomaru and Inuyasha looked at each other and grinned. They looked at Kagome with fake shock faces, gasping dramatically, "Did you hear that senpai?" asked Inuyasha, every nuance of his voice coated with false shock.

"Yes, I did," Sesshomaru played along. "I think she just told you to shut up." He glanced at Inuyasha, his lips quirking up.

Inuyasha grinned, his fangs poking out a little, "I think so."

"I cannot believe that those words came out of my little sister's mouth!" Sesshomaru cried out while giving his younger sister a sidelong glance. "I think she has spent too much time in this realm already." He turned to Inuyasha, quirking a brow. "What have you guys been teaching my darling sister?"

While Inuyasha and Sesshomaru rehearsed their dialogue, Kagome watched them with a smile. She knew exactly what they were doing. And it took quite a lot to annoy her. "Oh quit it you two!" she laughed, throwing a pillow at each of them. Thanks nii-chan. Ahe caught the pillow that Inuyasha threw her way.

No problem, part of the job, Sesshomaru answered, throwing back the pillow at his sister, who caught it just before it hit her face. She stuck her tongue out at him. "That is not very ladylike Princess," her brother playfully chided. Same dream again?

Yes, unfortunately. "Humph!" She crossed her arms.

"So the sibling love-hate relationship even affects the purest of beings," stated Inuyasha, sounding like he just found out the answer to life. The smile on his lips lifted some weight from Kagome's shoulders. Her heart lightened at the mere brilliance that his smile brought, overpowering the darkness that plagued her the night before.

The two Celestials locked eyes before looking at Inuyasha with grins on their faces, "you have no idea," they answered with knowing looks.

"But the hate is more on her side," Sesshomaru pointed at his suddenly appalled younger sister with a lazy hand.

Kagome widened her eyes and batted her eyelashes. "Me?"

Beautiful, the thought came floating in Inuyasha's mind.

She grinned, turning at Inuyasha, "why thanks Inuyasha!" Jumping out of her seat and a last wink to the half-demon, she exited the room. The light pink that tinted her cheeks was only seen by her brother, who smirked at seeing her discombobulated, nice save, he taunted.

Be quiet!

His smirk widened.

Inuyasha on the other hand felt his earlier embarrassment return full force.

Sesshomaru glanced at Inuyasha and shrugged, "I tried."

Kagome touched her pounding chest in hopes of calming her fast beating heart, its beat so loud that she was afraid everyone in the mansion could hear it. Not only that, but it was beating so fast like the beatings of the winds of a small hummingbird. Due to her brother's ability, she had a small inkling on why she felt that way around Inuyasha. But Kikyo, she thought, thinking of the young woman who held deep emotions for the half-demon. Though she did not voice it out loud, being a Celestial informed her that Kikyo was in love with Inuyasha. I cannot hurt her. An image of Kikyo glancing at Inuyasha with deep longing flashed before her eyes. Sighing, she leaned against the wall of the hallway not too far from the suite she had just existed. She has been hurt enough. Hearing the familiar footsteps of her brother and Inuyasha, she straightened and pretended that she had not been thinking about anything that involved a certain half-demon and a young priestess. Once her brother and Inuyasha turned the corner, two pairs of blue gray eyes locked with each other.

Kagome, warned Sesshomaru, his eyes drifting at he oblivious half-demon walking slightly ahead of him.

Her eyes turned imploring.

But he might be your…

I know. She turned, breaking their eye contact and hiding the sadness in her eyes from Inuyasha. She did not want him to ask any questions, for she feared that she would not be able to lie to him. All the more reason to let him go, she slowly fell in step with Inuyasha, who remained oblivious to the conversation between the two Celestials. Besides, you are not sure yet.

"But my hunches are usually right," he murmured so low that even Inuyasha's sensitive hearing was not able to pick it up.

Kagome sent him a look that clearly told him to drop the current subject.

He sighed, giving in to her request. Though it did not mean that he liked it. He could never deny her anything, and that was one of his weaknesses. It was a weakness that his sister never failed to use against him. "I'll see you guys at breakfast," she bid them farewell s she headed to her room to change.

He let out another heavy sigh. "What's wrong?" asked Inuyasha, concerned about the two Celestials.

Sesshomaru gave him a sidelong glance and shook his head sadly, "nothing,." He gave him a small tired smile, "just the burdens of an older brother."

Inuyasha quirked a brow, disbelieving. "Sure," he drawled. "Like I'll believe that."

"You will," he paused and looked up at the ceiling, "for now." He gave him a knowing smirk. It was a smirk that was getting under his skin, though he had absolutely no idea why. It was as though there was something that Sesshomaru knew concerning him, and he was refusing to tell him what it was. That was one of the downside of knowing Celestials, because they knew more about you than you know about them. Sometimes it aggravated him that he cannot keep anything form them. And it was especially annoying when Sesshomaru seemed to be getting a form of entertainment about something he knew about them. It was like he was watching a show, and they were the actors. Kagome, on the other hand, did not really rub her powers in their faces except for when it comes to her mind-reading abilities. It was a very dangerous ability! He could not even get any privacy in is own mind, and it was extremely aggravating at times. But he found that he could not really be mad at Kagome over that because somewhere deep within him, he knew that the young Celestial maiden would never really probe their minds. Of course, she doesn't need to, he thought bitterly, she already knows everything.

"Kagome doesn't read your minds every moment of everyday," interrupted Sesshomaru's voice.

Startled, Inuyasha looked up at Sesshomaru across the table with wide amber eyes. Though he told them time and time gain that he did not hold the ability to read minds, he kept contradicting himself whenever he pulled something like what he just did. "What do you mean?" He scooted on the bench when he saw his friends approaching through the corner of his eyes. "Hey," he softly greeted when they were close enough to hear him.

Swallowing his food, Sesshomaru answered, "She has the ability to turn off that power." Inuyasha's jaw dropped. He and his friends had always thought that she had no control over it, and that she just hears everything that goes on in their minds. "She learned how to block thoughts that aren't hers when she was five. And since then, she rarely use that power." He drank some juice, "something about people's privacy," he flippantly added. That was the end of Sesshomaru's dialogue for the whole time that they took to eat their breakfast except when he greeted his sister, who also remained quiet after greeting them. She had a thoughtful look on her the whole time she ate her breakfast. Once finished, she hurried out of the room, "Sorry, but I need to be going!" she called back at them, her pace hastening.

Seeing that Kagome left her things, Miroku immediately got up. "Wait Higurashi-san!" he called out, grabbing a hold of Kagome's slipping hands. To everyone's shock, as soon as Miroku's hand touched Kagome's, he flew backwards and landed ten feet away from his previous spot, unconscious. As Miroku was knocked away from Kagome, a barrier went up around Kagome, which hid them from their view. Static electricity crackled around it before it calmed, though the golden barrier remained around Kagome. Every eye in the dining hall was suddenly trained on the shining barrier, watching as it rose and floated over their heads.

"Who dare touch my child?" boomed an invisible voice as the barrier continued to rise. The voice sent chills running up and down everyone's spines except Sesshomaru, who remained calm and not the lightest bit surprise about what had just taken place. Though he did looked a bit worried. No, he thought, this cannot be happening. His eyes darted at the now floating barrier and at Inuyasha, It cannot activate now, his eyes darted at Inuyasha again, searching and hoping. We are unsure if he is the one… He trailed off.

Silence covered the room, everyone wondering what had just happened and who the voice belonged to. The teachers could not even do anything because they did not really know what happened. And even though it was forbidden to use any form of magic or ability in the dining hall, they could not really punish anyone because none of their students could be capable if erecting such a magnificent barrier with that much brilliance. In fact, no known being was able to make such a barrier with the magical signature within the golden sphere.

"Miroku!" screamed Sango and Kagura, running to the side of the unconscious monk's.

Knowing exactly what she was handling with, Headmistress Kaede snapped out of her trance and headed for the other Celestial. After making sure not to touch the young man, she caught his attention, "Higurashi-san."

Sesshomaru ignored the headmistress and walked away from his table, a worried frown appearing on his face. He stopped right under the golden sphere of protection and muttered something in a language that was so ancient that none of them knew what it was. Even if they understood what it was, they would not even hear it due to how soft he had uttered it. Even those with sensitive hearings did not hear it when they strained their ears.

With gaping mouths and startled and awed eyes trained at the golden sphere of light, they watch as it slowly disappear and revealed an unconscious Kagome flowing in midair on her back. Her eyes were clenched tightly while her raven hair floated around her, and for reasons unknown, a spot on her chest where her heart laid underneath was glowing a brilliant silver. Slowly and gracefully, the unconscious maiden floated down into her brother's awaiting arms. "Follow me," his command was directed at the Student Council and the headmistress. Without checking if they were following him, he left the silenced room in haste.

After sending each other looks of confusion, Kaede and the student council members followed after the older Celestial, but not before Kouga picked up Miroku and carried him on his back. They had to hurry their strides due to Sesshomaru's earlier start and his long and fast pace. With the exception of Inuyasha, this has been the only time that the group had seen the male Celestial looking worried and in the vere of panic. And since none of them wanted to cause Sesshomaru to snap, they followed him silently. Though they still sent him looks. They were even more confused when they got on the elevator and saw that they were heading for the ninth floor—also known as the Forbidden Floor in the mansion. Of course, many had tried to enter the ninth floor, but die to what they assume was magic, every time they pressed the number nine on the elevator, the elevator had always sent them back to the first floor. And so, as they watch Sesshomaru press the ninth floor, they cringed and waited for the magic to react. When nothing happened, they looked at the buttons on the wall in awe as though it had been the first time that they had seen such a thing. Of course, Kikyo had a very different reactin than her friends and headmistress. While they were waiting for the worst, she just stood calmly in her corner and watched them act stupidly. At least I didn't react like this when I was with Kagome-san. Her eyes traveled to where Sesshomaru stood. Kagome-san, please be alright, she prayed, her eyes softening with worry.

Seeing their reactions had not changed and getting annoyed and embarrassed, she snapped, "relax, would you?" She rolled her eyes, annoyance clearly written all over her face. "Honestly," she mumbled with a shake of her head.

Not liking that they were just reprimanded like a misbehaving child in public, they immediately straightened and stopped gawking like mindless idiots. Headmistress Kaede went as far as clearing her throat and wiping invisible lint on her suit like a dignified aristocrat.

Unknown to all of them, their ruckus and embarrassing behaviors were the last thing in Sesshomaru's mind. For his mind was filled with worry and concern about his sister, his blue gray eyes never straying from her wan face while his brow creased with worry. It was not easy to see his sister in such a state. And it brought back many memories that he would rather not remember at all. For they only brought pain and sorrow, which reminded him of the sacrifices that the various members of his family had done in hopes of saving the world he and his sister were currently walking on. Thoughts of those sacrifices brought another sacrifice that was to be made at the forefront of his mind, and his eyes lingered once more on his sister's limp form while his hold on her tightened. I am sorry, he thought. If I could, I would gladly take your place. He lightly kissed her forehead. And yet, I could not, for this was what the fates had given you. And you alone shall be able to do what must be done. As he walked out of the elevator with the rest piling behind him like lost puppies, his mind wandered to a time when he carried a different limp form in his arms. Though unlike his sister, that particular person's face had been bloodied and her clothing had been stained with dirt and blood. As he remembered her dying face, a pain so agonizing gripped his heart as though an invisible hand had taken a hold of his heart and was squeezing it until it bursts. A soft groan from his precious cargo caused him to come back to the present, do not die on me, he begged while his pace quickened. You are the only one I hae left. The thought caused his eyes to glisten with unshed tears, his hold on his sister tightening as though to bind her life to him.

About the same time as Sesshomaru's worried thoughts swirled around him, Inuyasha was also suffering with worry for the angelic being residing in Sesshomaru's arms. Throughout the whole ordeal, his eyes had remained on Kagome's flaccid form. Kagome-san, he worried, worry lines appearing on his forehead. His golden eyes darkening in sadness, please be alright. When he had seen her unconscious form floating down into her brother's waiting arms, his heart had constricted. And a deep need to protect her came over him. Seeing her lifeless body caused him to forget about Miroku, for at that second, only thoughts of her well being filled him. She was the only thing that mattered and no one else. And when his eyes had locked with Sesshomaru, the older Celestial's eyes seemed to have been telling him something. It was as though Sesshomaru was welcoming him into his family, and at the same time giving him permission to continue with something. Though he had no idea what it was. His gaze had been scrutinizing and then turned knowing. Why did I feel like he was calling me brother? He wondered. The way that Sesshomaru had looked at him continued to flash before his mind, followed by an image of the golden barrier breaking and Kagome floating in midair.

"Where are we going?" whispered Ayame, her voice so meek as if she would get yelled at if she spoke any louder. Her eyes darted from one person to another, seeking for an answer to her question. Before anyone could answer her question, the answer was revealed to them all when they walked into a room. It was the room that Kikyo was presented on the day that she had given Kagome a tour.

"Wow…" the girls breathed out, though they wanted to admire the majestic room, Kagome's health was more important. And so, with only one thing focused in their minds, they followed Sesshomaru and watched him as he gently laid down his sister.

Gently and quietly, Sesshomura pulled up the covers and covered Kagome. Kissing her forehead and moving her bangs, Sesshomaru straightened and motioned for them to follow him again. With one last look at Kagome, the others quietly shuffled out of the room and into the sitting room, where they saw Sesshomaru waiting for them with his arms crossed. "Take a seat," he motioned to the couch and loveseats. They quietly followed his orders. Though they could not help but stare at the usually elegant Celestial, for at that moment, the young man looked quite frazzled. And as they continued to observe him, it was not hard to see that the incident had worn him out. His normally poised and confident look was missing, instead his shoulders were sagging and the luster around him seemed to have deemed. In his worried pacing, his eyes landed on the unconscious Miroku, and though he wanted to blame him about what had happened, he found that he could not. He walked towards him with purpose.

Nervous about his sudden approach to the person, who he might blame for his sister's current form, they tensed, ready to protect their friend if the need arose. "Stop it, you guys," said Inuyasha, eyes staring at his friends. "He's trying to help," he explained. They relaxed.

Sesshomaru gave him a small nod and outstretched his right hand towards Miroku. As his hand hovered over Miroku's face, Sesshomaru closed his eyes and chanted something. As he moved his hand away, they watched as Miroku's eyes slowly fluttered open. "W-where am I?" he sat up, a hand touching his head. "Ohh, my head hurts," he groaned, rubbing the aforementioned body part. It was then that he remembered what had happened, and his eyes widened in shock. "What happened back there?" he asked, looking at his friends and headmistress. "One minute I was…and then…" his eyes fell on Sesshomaru along with everyone else's, seeking answers to the person they believed to have them.

Sighing, Sesshomaru muttered a quick, "Hold on a moment. I must deal with my sister first." Before her condition could get any worse.

Inuyasha, Miroku, Kouga, Ayame, Sango, Kagura, Kikyo, and Headmistress Kaede looked after his retreating back. Once he disappeared through the door of his sister's bedroom, they stared at each other and shrugged. They did not know what to do but wait.

When more than fifteen minutes past and still no sign of Sesshomaru returning, everyone in the sitting room could not help but start to wonder what was going on in the other room. And they could not help but feel uneasy about what may be happening to the younger Celestial. Throughout the minutes that they waited, none of them had spoken for fear that they might miss something or distract Sesshomaru. And that was the last thing that they ever want to do. They did not want the guilt of knowing that they were the ones who had caused one of the only remaining Celestials to die.

As they waited, they saw flashes of lights coming from the bedroom followed by moments of extremem silence. They could not even hear Sesshomaru move around the room. Even the air seemed to have stilled. For those minutes, it seemed like the ticking of the clock was the only thing that they could hear.

Tick tock.

Tick tock.

Tick tock.

Aside from the ticking of the clock, Kikyo and Inuyasha had gotten up and were currently helping each other drill a hold on the floor as they paced back and forth. Sango and Ayame had resorted to watching the two paced while sighing every now and then. Miroku shook his knees as he slouched and straightened on his seat over and over again. While Kouga tap the arm of the couch with his fingers. And though Kagura looked like she was not nervous at all on the outside, but on the inside, she was everything but calm. Come on. Come on. Come on. Those were the thoughts that repeated again and again and again in her mind like a chant. And though Headmistress Kaede was getting annoyed by everything that her students were doing, she could not do anything because she was as nervous as they were. The tension and uneasy feeling in the room had been increasing since Sesshomaru had left the room, and it was still escalating. It was not helping that they did not know what was truly going on. And when the double doors opened, all of them stopped what they were doing and stared as a very worn out Sesshomaru walked out of the room. They were so still that it looked like somebody had frozen them in place.

"What's going on?" asked Inuyasha, the first one to break whatever spell had frozen them. He was fidgeting, making it known to Sesshomaru just how worried he was.

The Celestial sighed and shook his head, "Inuya…" He paused as though looking for the right words to say. Locking eyes at Inuyasha, he let out another sigh like what he was about to say was one of the hardest things he had ever said.

Anxious and confused, Inuyasha could only stare at Sesshomaru, waiting for him to say whatever it was. His friends and headmistress were also hanging to every word that Sesshomaru was saying. "Inuyasha, could you…could you come in here?" Please let me be right, begged Sesshomaru. He would not be able to handle it if he lost his sister. And if it were not Inuyasha, then he would do everything in his power to find that person that night.

Although he still did not know what was going, Inuyasha walked towards Sesshomaru and entered Kagome's bedroom with him without question. As soon as the door shut behind them, he turned and looked at Sesshomaru, "what's going on?" he repeated, eyes shining with determination.

If the situation was not so dire, Sesshomaru would have smiled upon seeing the young half-demon in front of him trying to force an answer out of a Celestial. "I just want to try something," he softly explained.

"Oh okay." Inuyasha's followed Sesshomaru as he walked towards the bed. And it was at that time that he saw Kagome, who was emitting a soft silver and gold glow around her. If he had not known better, he would have thought that she was merely sleeping due to the serene look on her face. She was not clenching her eyes shut anymore. Instead, it was relaxed and her long lashes fanned her cheeks. And as he drew closer and closer to the bed, the paleness on her skin seemed to recede, her usual flush returning. When he stood abreast with Sesshomaru, he glanced up at him in question.

Sesshomaru motioned to his sister's hand, "go on…touch her," he softly uttered as though reassuring a young child that if he touched the adorable bunny, it would not bite his fingers.

Inuyasha's eyes darted to Kagome's face and then to her hand and finally back to Sesshomaru, "are you sure?" he breathed out. It was not that he did not want to touch her, but if the reason of why she was in such a state was due to Miroku touching her. Then he did not want to be the one to hinder her chance of healing. Sesshomaru only nodded. Slowly, his hands moved towards Kagome. He did not see it, but the closer his fingers got, the more tense Sesshomaru got, please work, Sesshomaru begged again. It has to be him. He stared at Inuyasha, she already started healing as soon as he walked into the room.

When Inuyasha's fingers were about a centimeter away from Kagome, he found that something was stopping him from continuing, "Wait!" called out Sesshomaru.

Inuyasha's hand froze.

"Just—just sit down by her bedside, okay?" The Celestial requested.

He nodded.

Seeing that Inuyasha was pulling his hand away, Sesshomaru asked for another favor to the confused half-demon, "and hold her hand." That should make it faster, he thought.

Inuyasha's fingers inched slowly towards Kagome's hand. Closer and closer it went while both males stood in silence. One of them was wondering why the Celestial was so well set on having him touch his sister's hand. While the other waited with bated breath as one of his other theory was about to be proven right. Closer. Inuyasha felt static electricity between the small distance that separated his fingers from Kagome's hand. And when his fingers grazed her skin, he pulled his hand back as though it was just burnt.

"What happened?" demanded Sesshomaru upon seeing how fast Inuyasha had pulled his hand back.

"Nothing." He tried again, and this time, it was far less tension-filled. When Inuyasha's hand closed around Kagome's, Sesshomaru breathed a sigh of relief. And he felt his heartbeat slowed to its normal rhythm. Thank you! he exulted, quite happy that his theory was correct. His joy was interrupted when he heard Inuyasha speaking, "uh…Sesshomaru-san? Why is Kagome-san glowing even more?" there was an underlining of nervousness in Inuyasha's voice.

"Relax, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru clapped his shoulder, "and have a seat." He moved to get another blanket, "that is how a Celestial heal," he added upon seeing that Inuyasha was still not reassured. "At least, one of the ways." Inuyasha relaxed and sat on the chair, which he was sure was not there before.

"W-where are you going?" he yawned, suddenly feeling very tired. His head hit the soft mattress and with his hand still tightly wrapped around Kagome's, his eyes fluttered closed, not even hearing Sesshomaru's answer of: "I shall be reassuring the rest outside."

Sesshomaru stood for another moment, watching as Inuyasha's aura mixed with Kagome's in a very intricate embrace, "I shall be looking forward to this union," he whispered with a soft smile. "Welcome, Inuyasha, my long awaited brother." He softly shut the door, and as he entered the sitting room, the elegant Celestial was back, gone was his worn out appearance. The burden on his shoulder lessened.

To say that those remaining in the sitting room were shock when they found how much Sesshomaru's whole appearance changed from being the most worn out guy in the planet to completely back to his old self would be the understatement of the Century. All of them could only stare as the Celestial glided in the room with the glow around him completely back. There even seemed to be a light bounce with his every step. They almost thought that he was happy to see them, and that—most of all—was the most shocking part. Because Sesshomaru never ever want to be in the same room as them, at least, that was what they believed. And no matter how much Kagome had informed them that her brother had already warmed up to them, they still felt like they were in Antarctica when he was in the same room as them. So they really feel bad to those who he hates. Imagine what Kagura was feeling, being the only one who seemed to be on the not-to-be-close-to list that the two Celestials seemed to have. All of them almost fell out of their seats or passed out. They could have sworn that he just smiled at them! Smiled, as in an actual smile like I'm-so-glad-to-see-you smile. It was enough to send anyone into an early cardiac arrest.

Clearly seeing that none of her students were about to talk, Headmistress Kaede cleared her throat and spoke, "is everything alright?" Not that she needed to ask that, for it was clearly obvious that it was.

"Yes." At least he was back to one word replies.

Kouga looked at his friends and glanced back at Sesshomaru, "can I ask what the hell just happened?" His friends did not know either to be glad for Kouga's bravery or be afraid for his stupidity for speaking in such a way to the majestic Sesshomaru.

They almost died on their seat again when Sesshomaru did not do anything to the wolf-demon. He did not even glare at him! Clearly, it was the end of the world and none of them were ready for it. They watched as he glided across the room and gracefully sat down on one of the remaining chairs. As soon as he sat down, he looked at them like a king looking at his subjects in his throne room. "Listen carefully and listen well for I will only say this once," he started, his eyes serious like they always were except when it concerned his sister.

Upon seeing the seriousness in his eyes and tone of voice, the rest of the occupants in the room focused their attention on him like children during story time at the library.

Satisfied that he had everyone's attention, Sesshomaru began his explanation. "Celestials have a protection around them constantly when we descend to this world. It makes us able to deal with the gravity, oxygen level, and the impurities present in this world. In other words, without it, we would not be able to walk amongst you." He sent them pointed looks. "And since Celestials have many enemies, it helps in protecting us. Those who are not Celestials are unable to touch us unless a permission has been granted, which is why Kikyo was able to touch my sister during their tour." At those words, his eyes landed on Kikyo, who looked absolutely shocked that he had answered her question before she was able to voice it. "Today, you have seen what happens when Celestials are touched without their permission." His blue gray eyes darted to Miroku like everyone else's. Miroku shrunk on his seat, embarrassed from all of the attention.

"We know what happened to Miroku," stated Sango, "but what happened to your sister?" The others nodded, wanting to know about what exactly transpired in the Dining Hall.

"Thanks for the concern, guys," mumbled Miroku sarcastically, feeling a bit put-out by their obvious brushed off about him almost dying in the Dining Hall.

Kagura rubbed his back to sooth him.

"My sister?" He paused, gathering his thoughts. "When we are touched by those who live in the mortal world, the protection placed in us since we were within our mother's womb activates. In this case, Kagome was incased within the barrier that our father had placed on her. If it did not, Kagome would have died instantly due to the high presence of impurities that reside in this world."

Everyone in the room gasped. Ayame and the others sans Miroku sent Miroku nasty glares. Though the young Celestial has not been with them long, and not all of them were quite as close to her as Inuyasha and Kikyo, they were still very much concerned about Kagome. It was as though a bond had been created between them, and Kagome became their younger sister within that month that they had known her. Even Miroku seemed to have shrunk further into his seat. Hearing that he had almost been the cause of the death of one of the two remaining Celestials laid heavy on his conscience.

Ignoring their reactions, Sesshomaru continued as though nothing had gone on with his audience. "But since it did, Kagome had merely lost consciousness." They breathed a sigh of relief. "Though once the protection barrier has been activated, we would be extremely vulnerable and cannot remain in this world until a millennium pass unless our destined is nearby." At this, his eyes lingered at Kikyo. It was like he was telling her something. "When our destined is close by, it helps us remain in this world. Their presence terminates anything that the barrier had started. Also, their presence helps us heal and whenever they touch us, the healing process escalates." Throughout his explanation, his eyes never strayed from Kikyo. So, by the end of his statement, Kikyo already knew why Inuyasha was in the room with Kagome. The meaning of his words was not lost on the rest of the females in the room. And those who knew of Kikyo's feelings towards the half-demon looked at her with sympathy. Though the young priestess did not notice, for she was occupied by Sesshomaru's words as they repeated themselves over and over and over again in her mind.

So Inuyasha is destined to be with Kagome, she thought sadly. As she thought about Inuyasha and Kagome, her eyes dimmed. She wanted to abhor the young Celestial, but for the life of her, she could not. Because deep down in her heart, she knew that Inuyasha was meant for somebody else. And if anyone was to be with Inuyasha, why not Kagome, a Celestial and somebody who would not rub it on her face constantly that she, Kikyo, did not have a chance to be with Inuyasha. After all, he was destined to be with such a pure being.

"I would like for each of you to never breathe a word of this to anyone or to Inuyasha. My sister and I shall be the ones to divulge this topic to him." He stood, "that is all." With those words of dismissal, he turned and peaked into the room of her sister. After checking on his sister, he turned back around and left the suite without a word. They assumed that he was going to his room. Either that or he was going to wherever he and his sister went to when they could not find them. Not finding anything else to do, they all quietly left Kagome's suite. Headmistress Kaede left for her office while her students headed for their classes, but not before their eyes landed on the painting of Midoriko.

AN: Please let me know what you guys think. ^.^*