"Mama?"

"Yes Hiraku?"

"When will we go visit Shippou and Rin-chan again?"

"Well we are kinda close to Inuyasha's Forest so I guess we could stop by there and see if they're around that area."

"Hooray!" Hiraku exclaimed as he squirmed with excitement in her arms. They were currently traveling over a marshland that would lead them to the Forest of Inuyasha. Seiko had felt somewhat bad for what she did to Sesshomaru those many nights ago. Nearly a month had passed since that frigid yet fiery night at the spring. His ego must have been completely deflated when he realized that there was someone more powerful than him, let alone a female holding the title (of course this was merely a technicality, the two were evenly matched outside of slippery hot springs). With a sigh she increased her speed and after about three hours the two found themselves at the tree where Inuyasha once slept for fifty years. Hiraku hopped out of Seiko's arms and ushered the kitten-like forms of his guardians into his satchel. With a slight yawn she motioned for Hiraku to follow her. They trudged through the thick forest until they came to a village that smelled strongly of Inuyasha and Kagome's group. With a slight yip Hiraku hustled down a hill into the village for he also smelled Shippou and Kilala. Seiko smiled at his enthusiasm and made her way down to the village as well.

"Shippou, Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Kilala, it's me, Hiraku!" the small pup yelled as he neared the center of the village. A couple familiar faces poked through the doorway of a hut and smiled at the young pup running towards them. Everyone piled out of the cabin and into the clearing to receive the welcomes from Hiraku and Seiko.

"Seiko, what are you guys doing here, I thought you were gonna check the Southern Basin?" Kagome asked while the young wolf youkai clung to her leg.

"We were but the heat was so intense this time. It got dangerous for awhile there so I had to get us something a bit more bearable..." She then explained how her call worked when it was sent across the territory and the extreme shift in the weather. "So after the rain came so did the mud, and the cold and we had to get shelter by then. We made it to a forest to sleep and well... of all the people to show up it had to be your brother," Seiko said with a jerk of her head towards Inuyasha. He looked downright shocked.

"What did he do," he said while his hand slowly moved to the hilt of Tetsusaiga.

"Well I was about ye' close from freezing," she pinched her fingers together closely, "since my tail was mussed and no good for warmth. Not to mention I'd lost my kimono a few lands back, so I was in some danger of dying. Well, he came across us and threw me in a hot spring." She paused, smiling amusedly at the shocked expression everyone donned with her words. "I know; I was there. He actually saved someone else's life. One of the few times he's ever cared about anyone's well being I'm sure..."

Inuyasha looked at Seiko with an open jaw. His half brother? Care for someone besides himself or even the young human that traveled with him? Yes, Sesshomaru was truly an enigma to all. Inuyasha's thoughts were interrupted when a familiar and unwelcome scent met his sensitive nose. A mix between pine, rainwater and musk was coming their way with a nasty intent!

"Speaking of my half brother he's coming, and fast! Everyone get ready, he probably means business!" Inuyasha said as he drew Tetsusaiga which transformed instantly into the form of his father's fang upon being unsheathed. With a feral growl everyone was suddenly anxious and on their guard. Inuyasha had his gaze locked on the path he was sure Sesshomaru would come charging through but after a few tense seconds his wariness began to grow. He turned to his cohorts with a raised eyebrow and that's when Sesshomaru struck. He came rushing from the canopy of the trees with Toukijin drawn and prepared for strike. Inuyasha whipped around just in time to block his incoming attack. There was a loud clang of metal on metal and everyone scrambled away from the sparks that flew. Hiraku was wrapped in Seiko's arms as she ran with Yin and Yang away from the battling siblings. Shippou was in Kagome's arms while Sango, Miroku and Kilala headed away as well.

"Are these two always like this," Seiko asked curiously from her safe spot away from the feuding brothers a few minutes into the battle.

"Yes, they never did get on well with each other. I'd say this is going pretty good since Sesshomaru hasn't said-"

"Die, Inuyasha."

"Never mind, everything's back to normal now," Kagome replied with a massive sweatdrop on her left temple.

"Well I can't let this continue. I need to speak with all of you and that includes Inuyasha," Seiko said as she sat Hiraku down by Kagome. Walking towards the two, who were still hacking away, she stood in front of them both yet they seemed to be ignoring her. Inuyasha was cut badly in several places and Sesshomaru wasn't looking his best either. With a roll of her eyes Seiko walked towards the taiyoukai to try calming him down but Inuyasha had different ideas. He was so blinded by rage that he raised his sword and shouted, "Kaze no Kizu!"

Seiko watched as three white slash marks came hurtling towards her. A gasp left her mouth when she opened her eyes, not realizing she had shut them. Everything coming back to her, she found herself lying on the ground several yards from where the attack had hit. Awareness struck her as she searched the plain. There, against a tree, was Sesshomaru, bleeding and unconscious from taking a good portion of the attack into himself. There was a barrage of 'sit's' coming from Kagome and quite a few thuds echoing through the area but it all sounded miles away. Seiko was much more worried about Sesshomaru because he didn't seem to be breathing. She rushed to the fallen taiyoukai, much to the surprise of the others and kneeled beside him to feel for a pulse. There was none. Seiko looked up at his face, expecting to see golden eyes brimming over with intense coldness but saw only the reddish tint of his eyelids. Closing her own eyes, she felt a tear slide down her cheek and an unnoticed prick in her chest but that's when it happened. Her hand began to glow a bright shade of pink and Tenseiga started pulsing madly in its hilt. Seiko opened her watery eyes and found Sesshomaru looking back at her. His gaze held much surprise as Seiko was sitting over him with tears rolling freely down her face and a shocked expression gracing her features. With a smirk he tried to stand but was overwhelmed by the intense pain that ran through his entire body.

"Don't try to sit up yet! You just got hit with one hell of an attack; relax," Seiko urged, gently holding him down by his shoulders. He glanced at one of her hands on him and glared but it was missing its usual callousness and anger. She took her hand away with a slight blush and turned to where Inuyasha had been standing except now there was a crater in the earth about three feet deep. Seiko growled, stood and marched right over to the idiotic hanyou. She jumped into the hole and with a few curses, yells and eventually silence she came back out with a smile on her face, Inuyasha lying in the hole, swirly-eyed and with quite a few lumps on his head. Seiko walked over to Kagome, Sango and Miroku. There were a few whispers, some nods, a wary eye towards the taiyoukai and Inuyasha, then nothing but smiles. Seiko walked away from the group with a grin and straight to Sesshomaru. She knelt down and picked him up with a slight huff before carrying him into the village.

"Wench! Release me! Put me down or die," he was squirming in her grasp but she held firm.

Seiko bent low and whispered for only him to hear. "If you don't cooperate I'll be forced to reveal to the others that there is one who is stronger than you."

Sesshomaru's eyes got slightly bigger and he fell limp and defeated in his "captive's" arms. She smiled and they continued walking until Seiko pushed through a hut door and lay him down on a small futon in the corner. Seiko sat on the opposite side of the room and watched him as he stared back at her. After about ten minutes the door flap opened and Kagome walked in with her big yellow backpack spilled over with herbs and flowers poking out the sides. She sat down in the middle of the room and began rummaging around the fire pit. In a matter of seconds the scent of sulfur hit the air and a blaze was roaring.

"Your magic is quite powerful if you can make fire instantly like that," Seiko said not knowing that Kagome was not of this time.

"Hehe, no, they're called matches, where I'm from people can make fire with them," Kagome replied simply so as not to confuse her feudal audience. Seiko nodded with a touch of confusion and looked back towards Sesshomaru. He was also looking a tad bit baffled but let his indifferent mask fall back in place when he noticed he was being watched. Seiko moved to sit next to Kagome by the fire. They were discussing the purposes of the herbs and plants Kagome had for Sesshomaru's injuries. After about twenty minutes Seiko moved to the taiyoukai who growled at her when she neared him.

"Oh drop the act, I already know you're in pain and you need our help," Seiko said as she plopped down next to him. He turned his head moodily and looked at the wall beside him. Seiko took this as a good sign and spoke again, "Ok, I'm gonna need you to take off your haori..." Sesshomaru remained unresponsive but inside he was smirking. "I'm no fool your Lordship, if you don't do it I will but I shan't be gentle; in fact expect your lovely ensemble to be in shreds when I'm finished," Seiko said with a cheery smile and few clicks of her claws. Sesshomaru inwardly rolled his eyes and began to unbuckle his armor. It fell to the floor with a clang and he slipped off the top half of his kimono to reveal several fresh wounds. Some of the fabric stuck in the gashes and he hinted the tiniest of hisses at the pain. Seiko reached up and was about to help him when he growled at her. Seiko froze with a blank face, she turned and Kagome had stepped out for a moment. Seiko turned back to him and took a fist full of his hair. He bent back against her tugging, glared at her and was about to resist when she hissed into his ear. "If you don't calm down I will be forced to calm you myself! Don't make me resort to violence just to silence you and we both know I can do it," she released his hair and finished pulling away the kimono, a bit harder than she meant which caused him to wince slightly. Sesshomaru stayed silent through the cleansing of his wounds and was just thinking of all the interesting methods he could use to disembowel Seiko with as much pain inflicted as possible. A few minutes later she put the red and soggy rags in the bowl of medicine and set it by his bedside. "Those aren't healing as fast I had hoped but I suppose they'll be better by morning. I'll go fetch you some water," Seiko stood but was stopped by Sesshomaru's hand on her wrist. She turned but was not angry for his hold was gentle and not forceful.

"No, I'm not thirsty," he said with his eyes locked on hers. Seiko could tell he was battling the idea of thanking her and she kneeled back down.

"You're welcome," she pulled the top of his kimono back up over his bandages and she placed the hand on her wrist by his side. With a smile she stood and left the hut all anger from before, gone.

Seiko walked out to the edge of the forest where Kagome and the others were waiting for her. She sat beside Miroku but found that to be a big mistake as the lecherous monk let a creeping hand wander over her bottom. There was a loud smack and he soon donned his usual red hand mark and content smile. Seiko moved over and sat between Inuyasha and Kagome who still seemed angry at one another from earlier.

"Ok, I have some news for you guys," she received interested looks and continued. "While I was in the Southern Basin I came across Lordess Kahori and she gave me some information about these jewel shards you speak of. There had been some bad youkai attacks in the villages over her plains and she came across a mutated form of an old bull oni that had once been her friend. When he tried to kill her she knew something was wrong. Well after she'd fled, the two came together again days later but he was no longer living. He was so far from it she could only distinguish that it was him by his fading scent. She also smelled miasma and something else she described as decaying death... You guys wouldn't happen to know anything about it?"

"Naraku," Inuyasha and Kagome spat out together.

"Naraku? Is he the one that's also collecting shards of the Shikon no Tama?"

"Yes, he's the one that's also responsible for kidnapping Sango's brother, Kohaku, and the death of her whole clan... not to mention my cursed hand," Miroku spoke with a glare at the prayer beads that confined the Kazaana. Sango's eyes grew heavy with sadness and she leaned against Kagome as Kilala mewed quietly in her lap.

"Naraku," Seiko let the name drip off her fangs with a hint of venom. She seemed calm at the news but actually bubbled with fury underneath.

"He wears a white baboon pelt and has a tendency to avoid most battles when he can. He usually sends out a puppet or a "child" that's a part of him. Finding his whereabouts has proved to be quite a task for us," Kagome said as she eyed the hem of her skirt with interest.

"Well at least now I have more to go on then just his smell. If only I'd known our foe was the same sooner..."

"Even though he's hard to find you can't miss him when he does make an appearance," Inuyasha said with a scowl.

There was a heavy silence when Seiko spoke again, "Inuyasha? I'm curious... why don't you get along with your brother?"

"He's a heartless bastard and we're only half brothers, it would serve you well to remember that!"

"Well sorry, guess I struck a nerve... Must've been pretty pissed today if he came all this way just to stir up trouble."

"He seems to always wanna fight. It's usually because of the Tetusaiga but this battle felt different somehow," he said as he held firm to the scabbard of his sword. "It doesn't matter though. We'll never get along; it's practically ingrained in our blood. You could never relate," he spoke icily, standing and walking away from the group to brood on his usual branch high atop a tree.

"And I thought Sesshomaru was moody," Seiko said gazing at the hanyou as he jumped into a nearby pine.

"Speaking of Sesshomaru, I've been wondering why he saved you today," Kagome asked with a pondering finger on her chin.

"Perhaps the taiyoukai isn't as heartless as we've all come to believe," Sango said while she stroked the small fire neko in her lap, "Maybe; just maybe, a heart still beats under that thick sheet of ice he's conjured over time."

Seiko had wondered about that too. Why had Sesshomaru taken the attack into himself instead of just letting Seiko die? There was Rin but there had to be more than that, there just had to be. Perhaps Sango was right; maybe he did still have a heart after all... Seiko was beyond worried though. She had never cried like that before over someone, especially not someone like Sesshomaru. Her thoughts trailed away to the tears that she unwontedly shed but an hour ago.

The others sat around the clearing for several more hours until the sun had fallen and sleep was needed for all. Seiko was just doing a quick once over of the village with Yang while Yin, Shippou, Kilala, and Hiraku slept in Kagome and Sango's hut with Kaede, the elder matriarch of the village. After everything had been considered safe Seiko sent Yang off to go sleep with his brother. The small neko ran off and disappeared in the darkness of the night. Seiko made her way across the small village to the hut where Sesshomaru was resting. She poked her head in and was glad to see he was asleep or at least seemed like he was, as long as he was resting. Seiko took a seat at the edge of the fire that was still fuming in the pit. She stared intently at the dancing flames, so indulged that she didn't notice that Sesshomaru was soon sitting beside her. With a gasp she looked up when she finally realized his presence.

"You scared me, I thought you were asleep."

"I have no time for sleep. I should be leaving for home tonight, Rin is probably worrying over me... even though she has nothing to be concerned about," he said smugly.

"What are you talking about Fluffy? You just died this afternoon! She has plenty to worry about," Seiko huffed at him. He was being so conceited and he didn't even have the right to be; he was just revived from death less then five hours prior. "You're in no condition to be running off, especially at night... I insist you at least wait till morning so you've had time to heal more."

"I have no fear of anything out there so I will do as I please," he said with a glare at her. Seiko turned to him and poked an injury near his stomach. He winced and grabbed her wrist. She only smiled in return.

"Such a tough outer exterior you have there. I wonder what would happen if a parasite decided to nest in the wound." She cocked an eyebrow at him and he released her wrist to stand. She stood as well and was prepared to tie his stubborn ass to the bed if it came to that. Surprisingly though he sat back down on the futon with his arm crossed over his chest and eyes shut from the world. Seiko smirked and took a seat in the dark corner of the room away from the smoldering fire to make sure that's where he stayed.