Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, its story or characters. I've just borrowed them to create this fanfic. Akiko is my original character.

Title: Haven

Chapter: Three - Home

Date: October 31st, 2005

This is a story that was posted on 2002, which I'm editing now and reposting on an attempt at getting back on my writing tracks. Any comments will be highly appreciated. Thank you for reading.

Shihori.

Sesshoumaru was ready to stop Akiko from running away the moment she walked through the barrier, but the serene smile on her face when she looked at him took him totally off guard. So he remained still, observing her walk slowly towards him.

"You've finally woken up child." The blood-eyed woman smiled at Akiko. "I thought you'd never open those strange eyes of yours again."

"You must have been really bored if you decided to come out Dante." Akiko smiled warmly at the devious female spirit still holding on to Sesshoumaru. "I'm sorry. Did I sleep for so long?" She touched her forehead. "Rekai hit me very hard against the floor."

"Rekai?" Dante released the youkai lord and floated closer to Akiko. "Are you okay child?"

"Just feeling a little bit beaten, but I'm fine." She smiled and looked at the silver haired youkai. "Sesshoumaru-sama, what is going on?" She asked with a soft tone as she approached him. "Are they from the South clan?"

"South clan?" Sesshoumaru's eyebrows knitted together and he looked up to Dante who only shrugged. He simply answered with the truth. "No. They aren't."

"Why are you fighting them then? Are they new enemies coming for your father?" Her eyes expressed concern while staring at the half-breed youkai among them.

'What is wrong with her?' Sesshoumaru thought while looking down at her. "No. They're my enemies." He watched her nod as if she understood his words entirely.

"Onee-san!" Kagome ran towards them but froze when Sesshoumaru glared at her. "I'm so glad you're fine!" Tears began to well up in her eyes. "I thought he had killed you by now."

Akiko looked at the girl in strange clothes and frowned. "You're from the future."

Kagome didn't understand her words. "Of course I am silly. What's wrong with you?"

"I don't know you girl, so don't treat me with such familiarity." Akiko never liked being called names or even little inoffensive things like 'silly', and she wasn't about to let a stranger call her such in front of anyone.

Kagome felt as if her head was becoming light out of the sudden. "What are you saying Akiko? You're my sister."

"My sister isn't a high school student and that's the uniform of one." Akiko pointed out as she stepped closer to Sesshoumaru. She whispered, "Who are these strange persons my lord?" When she was only a few centimeters away from him she noticed that his left arm was missing. Her eyes went wide as she brought her hands to her lips. She looked terrified. "What happened to your arm my lord?" She touched her head looking confused. "How long did I sleep?"

"Jaken." Sesshoumaru called the toad youkai who had remained close to the barrier and far from the battleground all the time. "Take Akiko back to her chambers."

"Yes Sesshoumaru-sama!" He ran to them and looked up to Akiko who had just grabbed Sesshoumaru's left sleeve.

"Go Akiko. You must rest." Sesshoumaru spoke in his usual even tone.

"Please come with me Akiko-sama." Jaken spoke up to her. Noticing his master's treatment of her, he added what he considered the proper title to the human.

Akiko frowned at the way he addressed her, but smiled right after. "What are you saying? Since when was I given such high title?"

Jaken was taken by surprise and didn't know what to answer. Fortunately for him, Kagome called out for her. "Akiko! Please come to yourself! I know I said terrible things, but I didn't mean them! Stop your little act!"

Akiko frowned, "I have no idea what you're talking about girl, but I'd suggest you to go back home through the well. You don't belong here."

"Akiko! Listen to me please!" Kagome yelled, "You are my sister and I adore you! I didn't mean all I said! Actually I admire you. Always going for what you want! You're aggressive and always get what you want! Many times I've wished to be as strong as you! You're a successful woman at the age of 24 only. Even if we don't get along I look up to you."

Akiko laughed, "Stop saying nonsense girl! I can't look that old! I'm only 16 and even though your words are flattering, I don't know you and as it stands, you're my enemy if you're Sesshoumaru-sama's enemy." She looked at Sesshoumaru suppressing a smile. "I'll leave you to dispose of your enemies my lord." She bowed her upper body a little. "If you'll excuse me, I shall retire to my chambers as you've requested." She walked past Dante, Jaken at her side. "Come Dante. Don't bother Sesshoumaru-sama any more. You know he doesn't like having you around."

Dante watched her go through the barrier with the toad youkai and then turned her face to Sesshoumaru who was glaring at her intently. She half grinned, "I understand. I shall keep my mouth shut. This will be interesting." Suddenly her human like form shifted to that of a big black dog and ran through the kekkai.

Kagome felt her legs lose strength and she fell t her knees. "Onee-san…" She whispered, tears running down her cheeks.

Sesshoumaru looked at her and smirked, "Hard to believe, you are related to her wench."

Inuyasha ran to cover Kagome from his brother, ready to continue their fight. "What did you do to her bastard? Why are you keeping her with you?"

"I have no obligation to give you any explanations Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru's poker face was on from the moment Akiko left.

"You bastard!" Inuyasha growled, "I'll make you explain yourself no matter what!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled, stopping him from charging towards the youkai lord. Miroku and Sango had helped her to her feet, and she was holding to Sango. "Let's go."

"But Kagome!" Inuyasha seemed confused and angry at the idea of leaving another unfinished battle with his brother, and letting him keep Kagome's sister without a fight.

"There is nothing to do." Miroku explained Kagome's decision. "Akiko-san has forgotten her sister and more so, she is on Sesshoumaru's side. Instead of rescuing her, we'd be the evil ones at her eyes."

"We must retreat for now." Sango supported Miroku's explanation. "We don't know why she's acting so strangely, and it is better to come back when we've fully understood the situation."

"Are you going to leave her at his mercy?" Inuyasha growled, looking in disbelief at the teary eyed girl. "What if he kills her before we can do anything? It's better to have her against her will with us and safe, than with him and in danger!"

Kagome sobbed softly, but forced herself to speak using a low tone. "I had never seen Akiko smile before. Something tells me she trusts him, and I'll have to do the same while she's still in this state. Let's go Inuyasha." She grabbed his arm and looked softly at him. "Let's go."

Inuyasha grunted and sheathed the Tetsaiga. Facing Sesshoumaru he warned him, "If you hurt her, I'll kill you!"

Sesshoumaru smirked, "I'd like to see you try." He watched them walk away, making sure they wouldn't turn around and try to attack when he wasn't paying attention. Once he couldn't smell them anymore, he turned and walked back into the protected area, planning what to do now that the situation had taken such a twist in his favor.

Sesshoumaru slid the door open and he noticed that Akiko was back in the futon asleep. He stepped closer and stared down at her sleeping form, looking peaceful in her dreams. "Dante." His voice echoed in the room, smooth as silk.

Dante, in her dog form stepped out from the shadows from a corner, immediately shifting to her human like form. "What are you planning to do with her?"

"That is none of your business." Sesshoumaru walked towards the doors leading out to the garden and slid them open.

"It is if you're planning to kill her," Dante seemed less amused with the situation now. "For something she doesn't even remember."

"She doesn't or she's just playing fool?" Sesshoumaru asked the demon spirit keeping his eyes on the flower garden.

"Whichever is easier for you to accept pup." Dante smirked, looking at him sideways while standing at the opposite side of the doors. "The real question here is, do you have the guts to kill her whether she does or doesn't remember?"

"Do you really need an answer?" His lips curved in a small grin.

"And you say the humans are the worthless ones..." Dante sneered at him, turning around she walked to the futon. "She is too much for you Sesshoumaru." Her body became semi-transparent as it floated downwards, merging into Akiko's.

Sesshoumaru approached the futon, bringing his right hand forward, which expelled a green acid smoke. "Maybe it is time to end this." He muttered to himself. "Break with that past once and for all." His eyes turned to cold steel as he readied himself to kill the sleeping woman.

When he was about to send her to the afterlife, the door was slid open and Rin stepped in. "Sesshoumaru-sama!" She chirped, "Didn't know you were here."

He lowered his hand and looked at the small human child. "Why are you here Rin?"

Rin walked in holding tray with a pitcher and a cup. "Jaken-san told me to bring Akiko-neesan some water to drink for when she wakes up." She knelt next to the futon and placed it on the small table next to it. "She was very nice that day you left me alone by the creek. She gave me berries and we talked for a while. She also told me that you had to be a very good youkai if you were taking care of me." She smiled back at him. "I'm glad she's here."

Sesshoumaru stared at the two humans for a moment then turned to leave the bedroom. "Come Rin." He called her and the child hurried after him, sliding the door closed.

Kagome was staring at the fire in the middle of their campsite. The wood cracked as the fire continued to consume it. Sango and Miroku were sleeping already, as well as Shippou who was curled up in her sleeping bag. Kirara slept next to Sango as well. The only ones not sleeping were Inuyasha and herself. The young demon was perched up in a branch like usual, looking at her from the tail of his eye.

She felt a knot in her chest form again and suppressed a sob, hugging her legs to her chest. "This is my fault." She whispered to herself. "I should have accepted to leave and then convince her to let me come back."

Inuyasha sighed, tired of watching her blame herself for what had happened. Jumping off the tree branch, he walked to her and sat at her side, crossing his arms over his chest. "It is not your fault." He stated, as if that would make her think otherwise.

"It is." Kagome insisted, "Of all moments to tell her how I felt, I had to choose this place and when she was the angriest. I triggered everything. Maybe she felt so hurt by my words that she blocked herself not wanting to remember me anymore."

"I didn't know someone could just forget their lives." Inuyasha commented, looking down at Kagome.

Kagome nodded, "It is very well known in my time. I noticed the bruise on her forehead. Probably the concussion helped, but many times when someone forgets who they are or at least the most recent part of their lives is because there is an emotional trigger that makes them become blocked to parts of their lives when they were the least happy, and return to the time when they were the happiest."

Inuyasha frowned, processing the information for a while and then snarled. "Are you saying her happiest time was with my brother?"

Kagome shrugged her shoulders lightly. "I have no idea. Up till now, I didn't know she could travel through the well, but she had obviously done so when she was my age. Otherwise, why would she know Sesshoumaru?"

Inuyasha asked, "But she's only what, -6 years older than you?"

"Eight actually…" Kagome muttered, "Eight years older than I."

"That means she came here not so long ago. Then why did she ask that bastard if we were enemies of my father?" Inuyasha recalled her little conversation with Sesshoumaru. He was able to hear thanks to his dog-ears.

"She did?" Kagome looked up to him confused, "Then I have no idea what is going on.

Your father died a lot before you were sealed to the tree right?" She saw him nod making her sigh. "This is so confusing."

Tears welled up in her eyes again making Inuyasha fidget next to her nervously. "We'll figure out what is going on, and then we'll save her from Sesshoumaru." He said trying to encourage her.

Kagome chuckled, wiping her tears. "Save her." She looked at him, her lower lip trembling lightly. "Do you have any idea of when was the last time I saw her smile?" Inuyasha just shrugged. "I can't remember the last time I did, but today although she seemed in pain, she smiled to him!" She exclaimed, starting to get exasperated. "She never smiled for pictures, to people who greeted her warmly, or even when she was a success in Paris with her first clothes collection!"

Inuyasha's right eyebrow arched, not understanding the pictures or the Paris part. He watched her sigh again for the millionth time since they walked away from Sesshoumaru's territory, and leaning over to hide her face against her knees. Feeling the urge to make her feel better, he extended his right arm towards her, but then retrieved it, deciding it was better not to hug her. "We'll reach the well in the afternoon." He muttered, hoping that his words could make her feel better. "You'll go to your time and ask your mother to explain what's going on. She must know if she's her daughter."

Kagome smiled at the last words. "We're sisters by father's side. Akiko is daughter of a famous Greek model and actress." This earned another confused look from the dog demon. "Mama says that father met her in the shrine. She was in Tokyo to work, but the shrine had called her attention being a foreigner so she had gone in. It was what they called, love at first sight, and soon the married, but that type of love doesn't work for some persons. They divorced soon after Akiko was born."

"Divorced?" So far he had understood four of all the words she had said.

Kagome smiled, knowing she was using a lot of words unknown for him. "They broke their marriage. She took Akiko with her, and father married my mother soon after, but they decided to wait to have any children since father wanted to have Akiko with them as well. When she was 7 her mother gave her to dad saying that she was holding her back."

"She abandoned her child?" Inuyasha couldn't conceive such act. "What kind of mother was she?"

"The selfish type. She kept contact with Akiko, but it wasn't the same, mama said. She took Akiko as her own daughter, and soon I was born." She smiled serenely while staring at the flames flicker. "Mama says that Akiko was always protective of me, and more so of Souta when he was born."

Inuyasha tried to give her hopes. "Then maybe your mother knows what happened to her here. You told your mother, so probably she did too."

"I can only hope so." Kagome sighed, "Otherwise, I don't know how we'll find out."

Inuyasha rose to his feet. "You should go rest. It's been a long day." He turned around and went back to his tree branch.

Kagome stood up and looked back at him, smiling. "Thank you Inuyasha, for listening to me. I really needed it."

"Feh!" He crossed his arms over his chest, trying to keep the tough guy pose, and looked away. "I just want to solve this fast so we can continue looking for the Shikon shards."

Kagome smiled at him, knowing in her heart that he was genuinely worried about her making her feel safe. "Good night Inuyasha." She whispered and went to the sleeping bag, carefully slipping in not to wake Shippou. She closed her eyes the moment her head hit the small pillow, and sighed. 'Everything will be alright.'

Akiko opened her eyes slowly, finally waking up from her long slumber. She rolled to her back, staring at the wood ceiling for a while and then smiled. "That was such a nice dream." She whispered to herself, a soft blush on her cheeks. With a sigh, she sat up and noticed a nicely folded kimono at the corner of the large futon.

She crawled out of the quilt and took into her hands the beautiful red silk kimono with white petals design. Under the kimono there was a thick white obi with two decorated combs on it, and a small velvet pouch next to it. "This is so beautiful…" She whispered, -a wide smile spreading on her face.

Stepping out of the futon, she undressed, changing into the new kimono, which was perfect fit. It felt like a caresses over her skin. She opened the pouch and brought out its contents. She smiled and giggled; "So strange…who would put my brush and comb in a pouch instead of leaving it on my dresser?" She looked up to where she remembered her dresser was and frowned. "Where's my dresser?"

Looking around the room she noticed that it was furniture less except for the futon. "Where are my mats and table? And my vase with flowers?"

Dante floated out of her back, feeling her vessel become exalted. "It's so early and you're already having a heart attack child?"

Akiko frowned, "Not funny. Where's everything Dante?"

The youkai spirit shrugged, "Ask the pup."

"Stop calling him pup." She reprimanded her, "You know he hates it."

"Exactly why I do it." Dante eyed the girl sitting at the futon. "That's a beautiful kimono you're wearing."

Akiko's face immediately beamed with happiness. "Isn't it?" She straightened her left sleeve with the right hand. "It must be a present of Taiyoukai-sama for protecting Inu-chan and milady." She sighed, looking sad for a moment. "Who would have thought that Rekai had only been waiting for the right moment to take revenge on the great lord? It would have killed him if his child and woman would have died then." She smiled at Dante. "But I am thankful to you. If you wouldn't have come out and defended me, I'd be dead for now."

Dante sighed, "Sure thing." She waved her hand at her, "Come on, turn around. I'll do your hair since there are no mirrors in this room." Akiko turned around smiling. "Thank you!"

Dante gathered her hair and took the gold comb with red stones embedded at the sides. She began untangling her hair. 'So he kept her brush and comb.' She smirked, 'I understand males less each time I try.'

"I'm so lucky to have you." Akiko said in a cheerful tone, bringing Dante out of her thoughts. "At first you were annoying as hell, and still are from time to time, -well most of the time, but I think I can get used to you. I don't feel lonely anymore. You're the closest I have to a friend." She sighed happily. "I'm so happy here. How long is it that I've been here? Almost a year, right?" Dante didn't reply. "It's been a year since father died. I thought I would never find solace, but I did from the moment Sesshoumaru-sama's mother took me under her wing. Since then this place has been my haven, my home, -the only place where I've felt this blissful."

Dante didn't reply at this, but stared sadly at her. She knew the reason of her happiness was the one demon that wanted her to suffer a slow, painful death. Sighing, she continued to brush her long tresses until they were soft as the silk the young woman was wearing, and then held it to her head in big curls with the gold and jade combs. She finished by brushing Akiko's bangs over her forehead to cover the slowly disappearing bruise. "There you go, more beautiful than any of the Taiyoukai's bitches."

Akiko chuckled, "What are you saying Dante? Until the other day, you were saying I was the ugliest thing on Earth."

"I changed my mind." She shrugged, "Now go get something to eat. You haven't eaten in four days now." Dante floated into her body ending their conversation.

Akiko stood up and looked down at herself. "Wish I could see myself in a mirror." She sighed, "Oh well, that doesn't matter." She went to the door and slid it open, stepping into the hallway. "Strange." She whispered to herself rubbing her arms that were suddenly cold. "Everything is so quiet and dark in the middle of the morning."

"Akiko-sama!" Jaken called out from behind her.

She turned around and smiled, "Again you address me that way. Jaken is your name right? Why is that?"

Jaken stammered, "Ah…no reason in particular." He held a tray with hot food. "I've brought your breakfast. Sesshoumaru-sama ordered me to wake you up and make you eat, but I see that won't be necessary."

"Since when food is brought to my chamber?" Akiko asked confused, but always smiling.

"Ah….I…" Jaken didn't know what to reply. His master had informed him of Akiko's loss of memory but hadn't told him what to say in cases like this.

"Ever since you saved the half breed and his mother." Sesshoumaru walked out from the shadows behind Jaken. "Jaken, take her food to her chamber." He ordered the servant, wishing him out of his sight. Jaken just nodded and entered her room.

"Good morning Sesshoumaru-sama." Akiko smiled warmly at him. "Could you tell me where your father is? I'd like to thank him for this beautiful kimono."

Sesshoumaru's eyes took in Akiko's looks. Despite the paleness of her face caused by the lack of feeding in the last days, she glowed with a childish, somewhat naive happiness. He had remembered her likes in colors and patterns. Anything bright and flowery was her style. "They're gone." He said, not telling her that the kimono was a present from him and not from his father. "He took them to a safer place."

"Safer than the palace?" Akiko blinked, "Can't imagine that." She smiled and shrugged her shoulders lightly. "But I guess this place isn't as safe as I thought. After all Rekai had been here for so long only waiting for the perfect moment." Her eyes drifted to his empty left sleeve, and her eyes showed some sadness. "Sesshoumaru-sama, may I ask-"

"You may not." He answered coldly, knowing what she was about to ask just from the look in her eyes. "Now go feed yourself." He turned around and walked back the way he had come.

Akiko smiled thinking that he was finally showing concern for her. "Hopefully someday," She whispered to herself, "I will be able to take down his shields, and make him change his mind about me."

"Don't dream child." Dante said as she floated out of her body in the dog form. "Now go back inside and eat."

"You must come with me too. He's around and you know he doesn't like you wandering around, so come on." Akiko said in a serious tone, walking towards the open door.

"Who cares?" Dante snarled, "I don't."

"I do." Akiko pointed out, "So please Dante."

"He's not worth it." Dante replied and scratched the back of her hear with her paw, faking itchiness which earned a strange look from Akiko. "I'll go take a piss at the Taiyoukai's chambers garden."

Akiko giggled, "You're so silly. You can't piss."

"Can't kill the habit." Dante seemed to shrug.

Akiko sighed and smiled. "Go ahead, but don't get me in trouble with the young lord." She stepped into the room and slid the door close.

Dante glared at the close door, "The young fucking lord." She snarled and ran down the way Sesshoumaru had left. She remembered well the corridors of the palace. It was a place she couldn't forget. After all, it would have been her palace if the Taiyoukai hadn't set his eyes on Sesshoumaru's mother. 'Like father, like son. They are all brainless idiots when it comes to females.' She thought angrily as she went through the paper door. She shifted to her human like form at the other side.

Sesshoumaru looked up from the scroll on the table in front of him and glared at his unexpected visit. "What the hell are you doing here bitch?"

Dante leaned on the table, bringing her face only a few centimeters away from Sesshoumaru's. "You remember right?" She hissed, "How your heart constricted the moment I entered your body that night. I could have killed you Sesshoumaru, but it was that girl who saved you from a certain death. Not even she would have been able to heal you if I had gone all the way."

Sesshoumaru stared angrily into her bloody eyes, recalling the situation she was referring to.

It was dark, a night without moon, only the starred sky gave some light to the Earth. He watched her run, -the white of his eyes were red; enjoying the way her chest heaved and tears mixed with sweat covered her face, he ran after her. He knew he could catch her any time; she was a human after all. It pleased him to feel her fear. Every pore of his body could feel it.

The moment she stepped out of the forest and into the clearing where the well lied, he pounced on her back, his clawed hand pinning her down by the nape of her neck. "You thought you could escape so easily?" He snarled, "You should have known better."

"Listen to me Sesshoumaru!" Akiko squalled; -her eyes were bloodshot out of so much crying. She held her kodachi under her, which was useless in the position he had her on the ground, and the broken rosary was wrapped around the hilt.

He raised his right hand, ready to use his Dokkasou on her. "This is as far as you'll get away from me."

Right then, Dante in her dog form, rose out of Akiko's back and caught Sesshoumaru's neck with her fangs. He released Akiko from his hold, making futile intents of taking Dante off his neck. He felt Akiko between his legs trying to crawl out from underneath him to escape. He reached for her with is right hand, digging his claws into her upper back's skin. Akiko screamed at the searing pain, angering Dante even more. The dog spirit then disappeared into Sesshoumaru's body, and he fell backwards, lifting his weight off Akiko.

He clutched his chest, heaving for the first time since he begun his hunt. His eyes turned from blue slit orbs back to his normal golden ones, yet glowing with anger. He watched her rise to her feet groggily and hurry towards the well. Grunting at the pain in his chest, he yelled her name with hatred. "Akiko!"

Akiko leaned against the well, gasping for air, her left hand clutched over her heart. Her eyes became wide open as she felt something pierce through her heart. "Dante no!" She screamed, "Don't kill him!"

Dante left his body and ran to Akiko. "Hurry child! Jump in!"

Akiko didn't pay attention to her. Instead her emerald like eyes were set on Sesshoumaru's who was kneeling far from her staring back and catching his breath. "I must heal him. It hurts too much." She whispered, taking two steps away from the well, but Dante shifted to her other form and with full force entered her vessel, making Akiko lose control of her body due to the harshness of the merge.

Sesshoumaru watched how Akiko's body fell backwards into the well, and heard her cursing Dante as she fell, but soon her voice was no longer heard nor could he feel her on his skin anymore.

"I should have killed you then." Dante growled, "I should have let her mourn your death and hate me instead of giving you a chance to kill her." She grinned evilly, "Next time, I'll get into your body and take over that rotten soul of yours. It won't be that difficult. I've already seen it and I know that you won't be able to give me a fight. Let's see how you like having the soul of a female. It will suit you well with those looks of yours."

"There won't be a next time." The youkai lord smirked at Dante. "It is too late for regrets bitch."

"It is not too late to kill you Sesshoumaru." Dante's eyes glowed with anger as she bared her teeth.

"At that time, I wasn't in total control of myself." Sesshoumaru stared at her with leer. "I won't give you that advantage again."

Dante knew he was right, -he had aged and grown stronger, but she wasn't about to admit that there was a down point in her plans. "You destroyed her. You took her smile away! You made her a soulless being ever since that night!" Her body shook with rage. "I won't forgive you for that, and I will definitely kill you if you try to harm her now." She stood straight, getting angrier at his poker face. "I won't allow you to get as close as yesterday or as that damned night. You won't lay a finger on her again!"

"You bark too much bitch." Sesshoumaru muttered, a grin forming on his lips. "She'll control you if I ask her to. How will you stop me from laying a finger on her then?"

Dante glared at him some more, wishing he would just die by self-combustion, and then stepped out of his chamber.

Sesshoumaru watched her disappear through the paper door, and his eyes fell upon the rosary bead next to the table. He had taken it away from Akiko on their way here that night. He knew that without it, she couldn't create a shield, -a shield to protect her from him.