Kagome watched from the branches of a tree, with her cousins nearby. The three would be leaving later that day, but right now they were watching as the five bullies started to pick on Souta once more. It didn't take long for a fight to start, but instead of the five easily defeating Souta, he quickly faught back. by the end, Souta still lost, but the five bullies left with plenty of bruises, cuts, and a few black eyes as well. Once the five left, Souta made his way home, only to stop and lower his head as he saw Kagome, Jacob, and Embry waiting for him.

Kagome smiled as she walked over and gently hugged her little brother, "I'm so proud of you."

"Why?" Souta asked sharply. "I lost."

"Perhaps, but you faught for what you believed in. Besides, those guys will think twice about messing with you. Come on, we wanted to wait for you before leaving."

Souta sighed softly, "Mom is going to be angry that I was in another fight."

Kagome chuckled softly, "she won't know, unless you decide to tell her." As they had been talking, Kagome had slowly healed any cut or bruise Souta had received.

Back at the house, Kagome and her cousins said 'bye' to Sofu before climbing into the van with Shiori and Souta. At the airport every one said 'bye' to each other, though Souta didn't want any of the three to leave. Once on the plane, the three slept as much as they could. AS they left the air-port, kagome ran over and hugged her father. Back with the pack, Kagome was hugged by most of the pack as Sam spoke, saying that nothing had happened while the three were gone.

Kagome returned to school, feeling alone as the Cullens and Bella wouldn't return until that weekend. As the days passed, Kagome happily ran with the pack; her father having seen their wolf forms. Once the Cullens and Bella had returned, Kagome would spend time with Alice and Jasper each week and a few times on weekends. it was nearly two months later, a few days before summer vacation, when the Vampires and Shifters sensed something coming.

Kagome nearly jumed when she suddenly heard Sam's voice, 'Kagome, where are you?'

'At school, for another three boring hours...'

'Find the Cold Ones and leave. Either come here or go to their home, but go now!'

'What's going on!?' Kagome nearly yelled in her mind as she got up and ran out the door, ignoring as the teacher yelled for her to return. Kagome smiled weakly as she saw her friends waiting for her, Alice having had an odd vision.

Alice gently hugged Kagome as Bella asked, "what do we do now?"

Kagmoe replied softly, "I'd rather go to the pack, but I don't want to leave Carlisle or Esme unaware."

Rosalie nodded gently, "alright. Emmett and I will take the cars home and get Esme. On the way to La Push, we'll tell Carlisle what's happened."

The group soon agreed and split up, with Edward carrying Bella and Kagome shifting to her wolf form, once the group was hidden by the trees. As the La Push pack came into sight, Kagome contacted Sam, 'what's going on?'

Sam waited for every one to arrive, except Carlisle, "I don't know what it is, nor how strong. I do know that we will have a better chance if we fight together."

Esme nodded, "yes, I agree, but it would be wise to find out what these creatures want first." Sam nodded gently in agreement, "this is your territory..."

Sam nodded gently, silently thanking the elder woman, "Bell and Serori should go in the house, with Seth and Emily..."

"I'm sorry, but I'd rather be out here," Serori spoke strongly, "with my daughter and my wife."

Sam nodded gently in understanding, "I don't know where they will show themselves, so I'll post some of you at each side of the house. Edward and Embry to the left. Jacob, Emmett, and Rosalie to the right. Esme, Leah, Serori, and Kagome in the backyard. Alice, Jasper, and I will stay in the front yard... Quil, join Embry and Edward." Sam watched as the groups headed to their assigned areas, 'I will say this once! No fighting among yourselves or with the Cold Ones, and don't show the strangers what we can do, unless necessary.'

Once in the backyard, Esme asked curiously, "how did he know our names so easily?"

Kagome smiled innocently, "I helped." Esme nodded with a smile, every one soon falling into silence as they waited.

Nearly two hours later, Kagome sensed the strangers and called out to the pack before Sam could announce their arrival, 'careful, those are demons!'

'Every one to the front! Seth, stay with Emily and Bella!' Once the large group was gather, Sam asked softly, "can you tell how strong..." Sam looked at Kagome as she gasped softly in surprise, "Kagome, what's wrong?"

Kagome shook her head lightly as she looked at a few of the demons, 'it can't be...'

Sam waited for the group of demons to stop several feet away before he spoke strongly, "what is it that you seek here?"

The tallest demon with long white-gray hair spoke, "is he one of yours?" A second demon, who had gray hair with a black mohawk, shook his head gently. "Good, then I can kill him for his insolence."

Kagome quickly moved to stand just a step in front of Sam, followed by her cousins, "if you try to kill Sam, I will fight back." Her instincts telling her to protect her leader, even against ones that remind her of her past family.

The demons smirked as a third demon with red-orange hair spoke from the right side of the tallest demon, "I told you that would get her attention. As protective of her friends as ever."

"You look familiar, but how do I really know you really are who you are?"

Kagome group watched as the tallest revealed a cresent moon on his forehead and stripes on his cheeks. The red-head revealed a sleak, tan fox tail, as the third demon revealed a brown wolf tail as he spoke, "I also gave you that scar on your arm a long time ago. Which, I really am sorry for."

The demons watched curiously as a human walked forward and placed a gentle hand on Kagome's shoulder, "is it really... You really did..." Serori hugged Kagome suddenly, "I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I should have."

Kagome smiled as she returned the hug, "I understand." Once released, Kagome looked at her pack and friends, "every one, I would like you to meet the demon that trained me, Lord Sesshoumaru." Said demon slightling inclined his head. "To his left is Ginta, the one that helped me become what I am." Ginta bowed politely.

Before Kagome could continue, a pair of arms wrapped around her shoulders, "sorry, I just couldn't wait any more."

Kagome happily returned the hug, "and this is my brother, Shippo." Shippo waved lightly, though he kept an arm across Kagome's shoulders. "I still sense three more..." Kagome suddenly looked up, "Kagura, Kanna! Come on down heree!"

Sesshoumaru walked closer as he spoke, "before they do, you need to know about the last of our group. You know him, but he died." Kagome looked sharply at Sesshoumaru, "he was reborn as Kanna and Kohaku's child." Kagome looked up as the feather decended, "something happened and he remembers all that had happened."

Kagome gasped softly as she saw Miroku drop to the ground and take a cautious step forward. 'Why... Why does my chest hurt?'

Leah leaned lightly agains Serori, 'go to him and it will ease.'

Kagome took a nervous step forward as Shippo released her, 'did I...' She looked back at her pack, Sam nodded as Leah smiled gently. Kagome then turned and ran forward until she reached Miroku, who happily caught her in his arms.

Miroku whispered softly, "I missed you and now that I see you... I don't know what to say anymore."

Kagura chuckled, causing Miroku to blush, "tell her what you kept telling the kit for the past 200 years."

Miroku glared half-heartedly at Kagura before he spoke, "she is right... I wanted to tell you before the Final Battle, but the time was never right. I realized that I had started to care for some one, more than I had ever cared for Lady Sango... Kagome, I love you and have for a very long time. It hurt knowing I never told you before I died, and hurt every day I had to wait to tell you."

Kagome wrapped her arms tightly around Miroku's neck, "I... I love you too, Miroku."

Neither noticed as Kagome had unconsciously placed a thick barrier around the two of them. Embry quickly asked, "what is that thing? What happened to Kagome and that other guy?"

Shippo smiled, "those two are finally able to tell each other how they feel." The fox smiled at the group behind him, "who are all of you to Kagome?"

It took a few minutes for Sam to introduce his group; Emily, Seth, and Bella having exited the house, then Esme introduced herself, her children, and Bella.

Ginta walked over, "I'm curious to know why Vampires and Shape-Shifters are standing together."

Bella spoke nervously, "they faught together to protect me a while back..."

Ginta nodded, "so why join together again? Oh! You're Bella, the girlfriend of Edward. A human dating a Vampire. The Volturi aren't very happy, but it pleases demons like us."

Seth asked curiously, "why does it please you?"

"Has Kagome told you of her travels to the past?" Once the group nodded, Shippo continued, "then you know that Kagome had loved a half-demon and called demons her family. After she was gone, we realized how much it meant to us to be considered equals; especially by some one that could kill us."

Kagura chuckled, "except Lord Sesshoumaru. He's at a different level than all of us."

Serori spoke curiously, "so you appreciate seeing humans loving others, besides other humans?"

Ginta nodded gently, "pretty much, and now I know where sister got her compation from."

The group turned as Kagome released her barrier and ran to her father, her hand in Miroku's grasp. The two stopped in front of Serori, "Dad, I'd like you to meet Miroku... My, um, imprintee..." Said monk bowed politely, "Miroku, this is my father, Serori and my step-mother, Leah."

Serori bowed in return, "it would seem that I should thank you, and the others, for keeping my daughter safe. So, yeah... Thank you..."

Kagome chuckled softly before turning to Sam, 'you were right. Sorry for being impatient.'

Sam shook his head lightly, 'all young Shifters hope to find the one they imprint on.' Sam turned toward Miroku in thoughtfulness, 'he seems strong... shall we test him?' The male pack members jumped to attention, while Leah simply shook her head.

Kagome quickly jumped between Miroku and the Shifters, surprising any that wasn't part of La Push. 'What?! You didn't test my father after Leah imprinted on him!'

Most started asking curiously, "what's going on?" or such questions, as Embry started chuckling softly. Kagome glanced around as La Push started laughing, Leah replying softly, 'I'm sorry, but it was too easy to pick on you.'

Kagome glared at the guys half-heartedly, 'you guys are too much.'

Embry walked forward and draped an arm across Kagome's shoulders and gently poked her cheek, "what would you do if you didn't have us to keep you from being too serious?"

Kagome playfully shoved Embry away from her as she released Miroku's hand. Quil laughed as he caught Embry, only to shove him toward Jacob. Kagome laughed softly, "I'd probably be as mellow as Edward."

Bella shook her head, "he isn't all that bad."

Alice and Jasper chuckled as Emmett laughed. Kagome turned toward the demons, "I'm sorry, I got distracted...

Quil smirked as he retorted softly, "I'd say you got distracted."

Kagome blushed deeply from embarassment, Miroku spoke gently, "if they are like this all the time, I'm surprised you didn't give them any Subjugation Beads."

"I thought about it," replied Kagome, "but I'm not leader of this pack."

Kagura suddenly asked, "wasn't the half-breed the leader?"

Shippo began laughing as Miroku replied, "it may have appeared as such, but Lady Kagome was the one that kept us together, and him from being an idiot."

Kagura nodded gently, Kagome suddenly looked at Sesshoumaru, "we'd have more room in the woods, about three miles North East of here." Kagome smiled gently, "he wants to see if I've kept up with my training." She sighed softly as Sesshoumaru dissappeared, "we better hurry before he gets annoyed."

Edward waited for Bella to climb onto his back before he took off running. La Push transformed and took off running, except Leah and Sam, as they allowed their mates to climb onto their backs first. It didn't take long for the group to reach the large clearing that Kagome had mentioned. Miroku sighed, "leave it to Lord Sesshoumaru to test you the first day we find you."

Kagome smiled gently, "just don't let my father or any of the others come to my aid or try to stop the battle. Ginta, Shippo... I'm counting on you as well."

Ginta nodded as Shippo walked over and whispered, "why is it that you seem to show more now? Especially with so many guys around."

Kagome smirked playfully as she placed her hand to her brother's cheek, "do you understand now?"

Shippo unconsiously flinched back from surprise, "how is your body temperature that high, shouldn't you be dead!?"

"Love you too, little brother," Kagome playfully pouted as she walked toward the center as she looked toward the Cullen Family and La Push, "no matter what, don't help me."

The Cullens nodded gently, though Alice and Jasper were very reluctant. Ginta ran over with a wide smile, "wait! You forgot Ninuri."

Kagome smiled as she took hold of the sword's sheath, slipping the straps around her waist and another over her right shoulder, so the sword would sit on her back and come out behind her right shoulder, "I'm sure he's sharp."

Serori shook his head as he called out, "no way! I draw the line at my daughter handling a sword."

Kagome smiled innocently, "how about a whip?"

Miroku murmured under his breath, "sounds fun..."

"Or I could borrow a staff, a boomerange... I doubt a bow would be very useful..." Kagome continued with a light blush, soon turning and walking away, "sorry Dad, but I'm not a little girl anymore." As she stopped, Kagome reached up and grasped the hilt of her sword.

Every one watched as Sesshoumaru pulled a sword free, which the demons murmured softly, "Tokigen." Kagome smirked as she released her own sword, which had a gray-blue blade. The two suddenly ran at each other, sparks flying as the swords clashed together. Leah watched in concern as Shippo held Serori back. Ginta, Miroku, and Kagura stood near the Shifters, as Kanna stood by Alice and Jasper. Most were surprised by how fast Kagome could react with a sword as she dodged and attacked fluidly, almost like a deadly dance. After several minutes, Kagome lost her grip and Ninuri went flying several feet away, where Ginta quickly picked it up. The large group watched as Sesshoumaru put Tokigen back in his sash, and the two continued with their fists or any other part of their body.

Shippo spoke softly in surprise, "Kagome has already lasted twice as long as the last time they sparred, and she seems like she could easily keep going."

Embry nodded in excitement, "of course she can." 'I can't wait to see their faces when she shifts.' Embry's cousins nodded in agreement, each smirking in excitement.

Several of the females and most of La Push yelled out in anger as Kagome was backhanded into a tree, each worred when the Miko didn't move for a moment. Sam quickly called out with his mind, 'Kagome! Don't push yourself like this, transform already if you must, or stop! Your human body can only take so much damage before it's too late to help.'

'I have to keep going...' Kagome replied as she staggered to her feet, only for Sesshoumaru to grab her throat and lift her off the ground, '...alright.'

Serori yelled out in fear, "no! Let her go! Please, stop before you kill her!"

Every one fell into a sudden silence as they heard a loud snarl just before Sesshoumaru threw Kagome toward the center of the clearing. Kagme shifted mid-air, landing on all four before she turned to Sesshoumaru. The demons looked on in surprise as Kagome moved faster, nearly as fast as Sesshoumaru, who was the quickest of the demons. Every one watched as Kagome charged forward, a second snarl released as she attacked. Sesshoumaru dodged for a while until he got behind Kagome and grabbed her tail, which he used to swing her around and into a tree.

As both stood bleeding as they faced each other, Sesshoumaru suddenly turned and walked away, toward the large group. Miroku and Shippo rushed forward as Kagome shifted back to her human form and dropped to her knees from exhaustion. Miroku wrapped an arm around Kagome's waist before helping her to her feet, "I was getting worried when he grabbed your neck, but I think you really surprised him." Kagome nodded weakly before she laid her head against Miroku's shoulder, the three now standing with the large group.

Sesshoumaru suddenly spoke, catching every ones attention, "it would seem you have improved. This Sesshoumaru can't train you any further."

Kagome bowed her head politely, "thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru." 'Yay! No more surprise sparring against the Ice Prince!'

'Ice Prince!?' several voices asked at once.

Kagome smiled innocently as she asked curiously, "how's your back?"

Sesshoumaru replied stoicly, "you need not worry."

'Is he always this emotional?' asked Jacob sarcastically.

Kagome nodded gently, 'yeah, but he does care. He just doesn't know how to show it like every one else.'

Shippo asked curiously, "I still don't understand how Kagome is so hot, but Ginta and his pack aren't."

Kagome coughed softly as Miroku chuckled, making Kagome blush lightly before she replied, "nice phrasing. Only thing I can figure, is that we aren't demons. While Vampires are as cold as the dead, Shape-Shifters are hot like an inferno, to better fight against the Vampires."

"Why are Vampires and Shape-Shifters gathered together anyway?" Ginta asked curiously.

Kagome waved lightly, "the Vampires became my friends before I shifted, and Alice promised we would stay friends. Besides, the Cullens don't feed on humans, only wild animals." The demons nodded gently in understanding.

Nanuri = painted red