Running Up That Hill

By: The Hatter Theory

Chapter 7: It's Hard To Reconcile

Disclaimer: Clap your hands three times and make a wish. See? I tried it too, and I still don't own rights to Inu Yasha or Placebo's music. Meh.

And I'm sorry. I truly suck at fight scenes.


Dawn came earlier than she would have liked. Sango was shaking her gently, calling her name. The smell of roasted meat and tea wafted under the covers, and Kagome finally poked her head out, immediately regretting it. The temperature had dropped considerably during the night, and the last thing she wanted to do was leave the little pocket of warmth she'd created.

"Come on Kagome, we need to hurry and eat. They're breaking up camp, and that youkai wants to pack up everything in the akunoya and head out," Sango urged, eyes still bloodshot from sleep.

"M'kay," Kagome mumbled, grabbing the bowl fro the table and eating still wrapped in her blankets. Both wolfed down the rice and meat (completely unaware of what it was, but too hungry to care) and gulped down the hot tea. Breakfast done, the packed their blankets and bedrolls and filed outside, surprised to see the camp almost completely packed.

"Sorry we took so long," Kagome began as the moth youkai ambled over to them.

"Nah, you're fine," Shinzuru assured. "It'll take ten minutes to break this down and get it packed up. Lord Sesshoumaru's over that way, getting the animals some water before you all head out. I'll have one of the men take your belongings that way while you two attend to your, ah, business. Was good to meet you, good luck." His red eye twinkled as he nodded and turned away before either woman could offer her own farewell, and Sango began fuming again at his lack of manners.

"Sango, I have to pee, and I need a lookout," Kagome grumbled. Sango nodded, still muttering about coarse youkai as they walked into the woods. Once satisfied they were far enough from the camp, both stood lookout for the other before they made their way back.

"So, do you think you can attack a spirit?" Sango asked as they searched the sea of faces for Sesshoumaru's distinctive silver hair.

"I don't know. I could try, but I think Tenseiga will have it covered," Kagome admitted. "If it's a spirit, the Tenseiga should be effective against it. Bokusenou told me a little bit about it."

"Some day I want to meet this tree spirit. If there's a benign youkai in existence, it's got to be a tree," Sango giggled. "There's Kirara and Ah Un. Sesshoumaru's talking to Shinzuru," Sango said, pointing at the very obvious heads of the dragons and firecat. Kagome took in Sesshoumaru's stiff posture and Shinzuru's flying hands and angry expression and decided to walk more slowly. By the time she and Sango arrived, Shinzuru had moved off and Sesshoumaru nodded in greeting.

"What was that about?" Kagome asked, glancing at Shinzuru's retreating back.

"He wishes for us to detour and find the spirit. It has killed several of the bandit armies, and he worries."

"I take it you told him no," Kagome guessed.

"Correct."

"Well, let him worry, he's an idiot," Sango snapped, jumping on Kirara's back. Her legs sore, Kagome accepted the inevitable and climbed onto Ah Un's saddle and gripped the saddle horn.

"His concerns are valid, and as his lord I am responsible. But Naraku is priority. It is likely that when we destroy the hanyou, this spirit, if it is such, will vanish," Sesshoumaru explained, and Kagome had a feeling he was directing the toneless comment at Sango, who had insulted the moth youkai. Sango said nothing, but threw a sidelong glance at Kagome. For her part, she was silent and trying not to look at the ground as they took off.

The cold winds numbed her, and after an hour, her own exhaustion and the gray, sunless sky were taking their toll on her and she began to doze lightly in the saddle, her grip never loosening as she leaned further into Ah Un, shifting every once in awhile to keep her seat. Another hour passed and the cold didn't even matter anymore. If she had looked down, she would have seen the world below blurring by; if up, Sango's concerned face.

Just as her dozing was giving way to true sleep, Ah Un jerked, and she brought her head up, glancing blearily at first the dragon, then the daiyoukai.

"What's wrong?" She asked, glancing around.

"Something is near by," Sesshoumaru growled. Kagome cast her senses out, forcing herself into wakefulness as she tried to sense whatever it was. When something brushed against the tendrils of power she searched with, she almost recoiled.

"It's one of Naraku's," She confirmed. "It's coming closer."

They waited in tense silence, and when Sesshoumaru's aura flared, she took it as a silent signal that he had seen whatever was coming their way, and prepared herself. But when the speck gained definition, she almost laughed.

The giant origami crane was definitely a novel mode of transportation, but it wasn't intimidating in the least. Features came into focus and for a moment she wondered if she was looking at a woman. The youkai was beautiful, and it seemed unconcerned as he drifted lazily toward them, completely ignoring Sesshoumaru.

"Ohayou," He called, raising his hand in greeting, his voice giving away his gender.

Sesshoumaru lunged, his claws dripping poison.

The image shredded into pieces of paper as he tore through it. The papers floated away, twirling mockingly as they spun to the earth.

"An illusion. At least we know which one it is," Sango said, her boomerang gripped in her hand. "But where is he?"

"He's on the ground," Sesshoumaru growled again, making a steep dive for the earth below them. Kagome clung to Ah Un's saddle as the double headed dragon followed. For a moment she felt her butt lifting from the seat, and she was afraid she'd lift over the heads in front of them and land first. At the last second they pulled up, coming even with the ground and touching down gently.

"I don't feel anything," Kagome whispered, trying to find that signature energy. But there was nothing in the area except the trees and a lake. She couldn't feel anything, not even the wildlife. The silence felt unnatural, and even Kirara and Ah Un seemed spooked. When Sesshoumaru's head snapped to their left, Kagome focused in the direction he was staring.

"Something-" He began, when a huge splash interrupted him. Beyond the trees was a lake, and Kagome wished she hadn't closed her eyes on their descent.

"What is that?" Sango gasped, her eyes widening in horror.

In the center of the lake a creature was emerging, unfurling and growing all at once from something sitting in the middle.

"A mirror," Sesshoumaru stated calmly.

"Kanna," Kagome breathed, fear gripping her. She vividly remembered being sucked into the mirror, and more than that, remembered Kanna being told to replay the death of Inu Yasha again and again in front of her while she had been chained in Naraku's fortress.

But the giant appearing from the mirror snatched her attention. Despite the clouds obscuring the sun, it glistened and shimmered, as if an internal light shone forth from it. The facets reflected the color of the lake, casting dancing blue light over them.

"It's Kanna!" Kagome cried out, right as the giant's fist came crashing down toward her. Ah Un darted out of the way, showing more speed than she had thought possible for the lumbering beast.

A white blur shot into the air, and a resounding crack echoed in the quiet clearing. Sesshoumaru stood before the giant, eyes watching it tip back. Despite the 'wound' that ran down the length of it's torso, the giant righted itself and began moving towards them once again.

Kagome notched one of her arrows, allowing her power to gather in it. Surely, even if it was Kanna's, the glass demon would fall to her newfound strength. But the arrow flew, a burst of light that reflected off of the crystalline surface of the giant's skin, and lodged itself in the youkai's throat.

Still nothing. Kagome turned, only half aware of the sounds of Sango and Sesshoumaru doing battle. Fantically she searched for any sign of the small child that was Naraku's detachment. Trees blocked her line of vision and she cursed herself for not being able to feel the petite youkai.

A fluttering of white flashed in the corner of her eye, and she looked to the sky, finding a giant paper crane hovering over them, it's smaller passenger almost blending in with the strange craft.

"Sesshoumaru, the sky, Kanna's controlling it!" Kagome shouted, pointing to the paper aircraft. Sango threw her boomerang once again and the bone crunched against the mirror demon, the noise making Kagome cringe, although she refused to take her eyes off of Sesshoumaru's flying at the two youkai floating above them. A snarl tore itself from his throat as the craft lifted higher, just short of his claws.

A ring of light appeared from the sky, and Kagome barely had time to shout the daiyoukai's name before he was slammed into the ground, cuts appearing all over his body. An angry snarl erupted from deep in his throat, making itself heard over the sound of the ground beneath him giving way and breaking as his body was repeatedly pushed down. Blood seemed to fly from his wounds, covering the ground in a macabre pattern of swirls and dots.

"Kagome!" Sango shouted in warning. Too stunned by the sight of the daiyoukai struggling under an invisible force as his skin was littered with long gashes, she didn't see the hand sweeping out at her until it hit, knocking her several feet in the air. She landed several feet from Sesshoumaru, trying to get up even as her ribs screamed in protest. Each inhalation felt painful as she struggled to breathe. She had barely got herself standing once more when she saw the giant hand flying at her, swatting her as she would a fly and sending her hurtling through the air once again.

The water was colder than anything she'd felt in her life, the sensation akin to thousands of tiny needles poking into her skin and deep into her flesh, reaching bone. The lake was dark, the clouds obscuring any light that might guide her to the surface as she fought to orient herself. The wool hakama and kimono felt like they weighed a hundred pounds, and her lungs burned.

Forcing herself to calm, she stilled, trying to determine which way the bubbles of air she released escaped, and once satisfied, began kicking for the surface, black spots beginning to dance in her vision. Her head felt ready to explode as she released the last of the stale air and watched the bubbles precede her to the surface. Despite being so close to the top there was barely any light to give her hope. Once she broke the surface she gasped in air, ribs screaming as she dragged in oxygen, heedless of the pain.

She glanced at the shore and saw Sesshoumaru and Sango breaking the glass demon into parts, one extremity at a time. Already a hand was gone, the glass stump a glittering, dangerously sharp point. Half of it's face was shattered, and a chunk was missing from it's shoulder.

Searching for the paper crane, she found it to be missing, but saw Kanna watching dispassionately. It was her injuries that gave Kagome pause. The little girl reflected the injuries of the glass monstrosity, the scene all the more eerie for the fact that there was no blood, only sharp, jagged lines where parts of her were missing.

"Kanna!" She called, pulling herself onto shore and taking one step at a time, shivering as the wind further chilled her soaked, wet clothing. "Stop this, if you keep attacking you'll die!" Kagome screamed, voice beginning to go hoarse. "Please, don't do this!" Any memory of the girl standing in front of her with that hellish mirror faded, and she saw nothing but a child, another Kagura, being cut down bit by bit.

Tears started as another piece of the youkai was cut off, and Kanna's right arm fell away and shattered as it hit the ground. "Please, Kanna!" Kagome screamed again, tears rolling down her face. The child's empty eyes haunted her, staring at her as the giant battled in the background.

"Sesshoumaru, you're killing her!" Kagome screamed, turning her pleas to the daiyoukai instead. He paused only to level a glare at her, his eyes red and filled with fury. Pushing the youkai away and watching it fall over, he came to the miko and looked as if he was doing his level best not to transform into his true form.

"Kanna, please, we don't want to do this. Don't, don't do this for Naraku. You're free to do as you want!" Kagome begged, falling to her knees, the cold numbing the pain that had been lancing with every breath only moments before, the tremors making her body shiver so violently it was jerking unnoticed as she stared into the empty eye of the pale girl.

"Look out!" Sango shouted in warning, and Kagome ducked as the broken stump came flying at her, the point of glass shining with it's own light.

The giant shattered, and Kagome looked up, unable to close her eyes as the scream of rage and denial tore itself from her throat. Kanna, who looked so like a little doll, a little girl playing dress up, shattered in front of her, the shards glimmering from an inner light, reminding her of the day the jewel was shattered.

A shard flew into her eye, and the force of the sadness that washed over her had her holding her stomach, cradling herself as the message was voiced over the torrent of despair.

'The light will destroy Naraku,' It whispered in Kanna's quiet voice. But the emotion swelling in that whisper was as profound as the apathy the girl had exhibited in life. Sobs wrenched themselves from Kagome's chest, turning into deep, rattling coughs as she tried to breathe.

"Kagome, Kagome!" Sango begged, shaking her friend.

"She, she was alive!" Kagome cried, throwing herself into the demon exterminator's arms. "She was so sad!" The miko bawled, allowing herself to feel for the tiny incarnation that had let herself be destroyed by Naraku's orders.

Sango sighed, rocking her friend and trying to calm the tears. "Why are you crying? She was one of Naraku's creatures."

"She told me, there's a light in the shikon jewel, she said it would destroy Naraku," Kagome choked out in a voice hoarse from the cold and shouting, forcing herself to calm. As the tears stopped, the wheezing began, and her tremors only worsened.

"She must get warm, or she will fall ill," Sesshoumaru intoned as flat as ever. "I will gather wood, get her changed and under blankets," He commanded, turning to the forest. Sango set about her task, as if suddenly realizing her friend was not only soaked but freezing. She went to her pack and pulled out her blankets and rushed to the miko's still bent form.

"Your lips are blue," Sango gasped, trying to force Kagome's stiff limbs out of the heavy kimono. Once it was removed, Sango stifled an anguished cry at the sight of the woman's torso. Distinctive scars wrapped around her upper arms, like ugly bracelets, and another circled just under her breasts, keloidal flesh that looked as if it had been burned by something.

"Kagome, what are these?" Sango demanded, looking at the ridged lines that had until now been hidden from her.

"Don't w-w-want to talk about it," Kagome muttered, shivering violently. Shaking herself, Sango pulled her friend's hakama off, biting her tongue when she saw the same scars wrapping her friend's stomach and thighs. Ignoring etiquette in the name of saving her friend, she removed her underwear as well, then began wrapping the blankets around her. By now Kagome was barely able to move or even think, but her body convulsed spastically as waves of cold wracked her.

Once satisfied that the miko was as warm as she could get until a fire was made, Sango sat behind her friend and tried drying her long hair, shivering as she rung the freezing water from the thick mass. When she had gotten the better part of it out, she let the damp locks fall back to the blankets and wrapped her arms around her friend and began babbling, her worry keeping her from focusing on anything but the woman ion her arms.

"We're going to be okay. It's just cold, we've survived worse," Sango whispered furiously, rocking herself and the miko. "When this is over, you can come live with Miroku and me and Kohaku, and we'll all start families and be happy and someday it'll be like this never happened," She whispered desperately into the damp hair, tears beginning to burn her eyes.

Sesshoumaru came back into the clearing and dropped the dead tree he had been lugging behind him. Within minutes the trunk was cut into pieces and he was arranging branches torn from the main body in a pile. Five minutes later there was a blazing roar as the fire shot to life, consuming the dead branches and leaves he had arranged as kindling and licking along the surface of the bigger logs at the bottom.

"Bring her closer to the fire," He commanded. Kagome was asleep, her body still twitching and convulsing in Sango's arms, and the taijiya found it hard to drag the uncooperative body closer. Finally succeeding, she laid the miko down and went back to the packs, intent on getting both bedrolls beneath the miko. But when she turned, a strange rush of air disturbing her focus, bedrolls and extra blankets in hand, she almost dropped everything.

Kagome was surrounded by a big white fluffy thing, and Sango was dimly aware that it was the strange looking pelt that was always wrapped around the daiyoukai's shoulder. But what was even more stunning was the presence of a very big white dog, watching in shock as it positioned itself around the miko, forming a windbreak.

Walking cautiously to the two of them, she tried to think of anything that could be said. Anything would be better than the oppressive silence as she watched her friend shivering in the blankets.

"Sesshoumaru?" She finally asked. That giant head swung toward her, the red eyes focusing and pinning her beneath it's stare. Gulping, she continued on, her worry outweighing her own fear of the daiyoukai. "If I could get Kagome closer to you, she'd be warm from your fur, and the fire's big enough moving a few feet from it won't matter. Your heat will also be more consistent," Se remarked, trying to break her staring contest with those vivid crimson eyes.

His head dipped, the only answer he was able to give, and the one she had hoped to receive. Pulling her friend closer to the daiyoukai's body, she positioned the miko in the curve of his stomach, making sure she could absorb as much warmth as she could from the giant's flesh and fur. Quickly checking the woman's forehead, she pulled it back quickly, worry lining her face.

"She's feverish. I think she might have been sick before we left, and the winds and the fall in the lake made it worse. You shouldn't be pushing her so hard!" Sango accused hotly, turning an angry eye to the daiyoukai, heedless of his glare. Despite his canine face, Sango could feel the weight of his glare as easily as she could see that he did not appreciate being yelled at by a human.

"She's not like you, or even me. This isn't her life, a few months of training doesn't put her on par with someone used to this. I know that this is important, but you'll kill her before we even reach Naraku at this rate!" The taijiya snapped, tears beginning to mist her eyes.

Sesshoumaru cocked his head in what could only have been called a mocking manner, and whuffed, the expelled air knocking Sango backward. Staring up at him from the ground angrily, she dashed tears from her eyes and stood again, moving to set up her own bedroll, closer to the fire. She'd be damned if she'd sleep anywhere close to the beast.

Once finished and under her blankets, she tried to get in one last shot.

"Someday, all the youkai will be gone and humans will finally be safe," She muttered, eyes glittering angrily.

When an image of a bandit camp flashed in her mind, she turned her back to Sesshoumaru, unsure if he had been responsible for the image or if her own mind had supplied it.


The next morning brought slightly warmer weather and the clouds had broken, allowing the sun to shine down on the small camp. Kagome woke surrounded by something soft and warm. Ignoring the sounds of the world, she shivered and coughed, then snuggled deeper into the fluffy mass, determined to stave of waking for a few more minutes.

"You're awake," A voice said, calling her from the dark recesses of slumber.

"Five more minutes," She mumbled, her hand working itself into the fur beneath it. She didn't remember the pelts forming the floor of the akunoya being so soft and thick.

"I think you might want to stop pulling on his fur, Kagome. He doesn't look very happy," Sango's voice warned. Kagome's eyes shot open, and she blinked several times to clear her vision. Her head pounded unmercifully and for the first few minutes she could only see white.

When her brain began working enough to realize that the white wasn't light, but the fur of an unusually large dog, a daiyoukai to be precise, she jerked away, eyes widening. The events of the previous day came crashing down on her, but none of them explained why she had woken up, cuddled into his side!

"I slept next to you?" She screeched. As his youki flashed angrily, Kagome was blinded long enough for his form to appear in front of her, his eyes staring down his nose imperiously.

"You would be useless to this Sesshoumaru if you were dead," He declared in a deadpan voice before stalking off to the treeline and disappearing into the woods. Kagome watched his stiff form, still shocked by her wake up.

"He originally transformed to serve as s sort of windbreak to keep you from getting worse. I suggested that laying next to him would provide more warmth," Sango apologized.

Blushing, she tried her level best to keep the blankets wrapped around her as she stumbled to her pack, determined to get into some clothing before the daiyoukai came back. "Just tell me you were the one to undress me," She begged as she pulled out fresh underwear and more of the woolen miko garb from her bag.

"I was. There's something I wanted to talk to you about," Sango said, remembering the strange scars on her friends body. "You wouldn't talk about it yesterday, and you were sick so I wasn't going to push it, but what are those," Sango said, gesturing to the miko's pale arms.

"I still don't want to talk about it," Kagome muttered, pulling the clothing on beneath the cover of blankets, trying to retain some of the warmth that had been present before and failing miserably. Muttering to herself angrily she let the blankets drop and tied the kimono closed around her form before tugging on the hakama.

"Too bad, because those look awful, and I don't remember them from before. When did you get them?"

"Naraku," Kagome spat, wanting more than anything to avoid this conversation, or derail it, anything.

"But they're so strange, I mean, what was he-"

Kagome saw the realization dawning in the taijiya's eyes, saw the rage washing over her face as she stilled, then tensed angrily.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Sango demanded quietly, her tone only hinting at the anger she felt boiling up from somewhere deep within. "After everything we've been through, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you've got other people to worry about. I'm fine," Kagome replied, trying to find the right words to placate her friend's sudden rage. "After everything happened with Miroku and Kohaku and the bandits, I didn't want to make it worse," She replied meekly. "You were hurting so much, I couldn't, I didn't-"

"We're supposed to be friends!" Sango roared angrily, her fury cresting and breaking out, angry tears burning down her cheeks. "You're supposed to tell me when things like that happen!" She accused hotly.

"What, when we were half dead and heading for Sesshoumaru? Or after the bandit attack? When was a good time to have a nervous breakdown and tell you what happened?" Kagome snapped back, her own anger rising. "When you were agonizing over Miroku and Kohaku? What point would there be in giving you more reasons to be angry Sango? It happened, and it hurt, but it doesn't matter!" Kagome finished, her words peaking in a shout.

"It doesn't matter? How can you say that?" Sango shrieked, staring at the miko as if she'd lost her mind.

"Because I can't let it matter right now," Kagome bit out, sitting herself next to the fire and staring into the flickering depths. "If I think about it, about everything he did, I'll start crying and never stop. If I allow it to matter, I'll never be able to face him, and it has to be done, before he destroys Japan. I can't let it hurt right now, can't you see?" Kagome asked, not even looking at the other woman. "When he's gone, I'll cry. But I can't until this is over. I won't break before this is over," She finished in a growl.

"The miko is correct," Sesshoumaru said, walking into the camp with a deer slung over his shoulders. He ignored the glares shooting in his direction and flung it to the ground. Kagome was relieved to note that he had already gutted it, and all that needed doing was cutting the meat free of fur and bone.

"You are a heartless bastard!" Sango screeched at the daiyoukai.

"Sango, stop it!" Kagome insisted, standing. Her breath was beginning to come out in wheezing puffs, and she felt the ground beneath her tilting strangely. "Sesshoumaru has done everything he can to help us!"

"A few months ago you would have agreed with me!"

"A few months ago Inu Yasha was alive and everything was different than it is now. We don't have the luxury of feeling sorry for ourselves at the moment," Kagome explained, hoping to diffuse the rage crackling in the camp. She could feel Sesshoumaru's aura spiking dangerously and feared for Sango's safety.

"Is that what you think I'm doing, feeling sorry for myself?" Sango snapped.

"No, Sango, don't twist my words like that. Look, I'm sorry didn't tell you, but you've just been so messed up with Miroku and Kohaku still being trapped that I didn't want to add to it, and I'm sorry. I made a mistake, I should have told you," Kagome lied, knowing that if it hadn't been for the scars, the taijiya would never have known.

"I don't like how you've changed, you're not the same anymore," Sango sighed, deflating.

"I'm never going to leave you. We'll always be friends," Kagome promised. "And from now on, I promise to be one hundred percent honest with you. No more holding back, ever," Kagome swore.

"You were right too, we can't break, or else he'll win," Sango admitted. They gave one another a nod and the noticed the daiyoukai watching impassively. Flushing, they began busying themselves with the deer. Sango speared several long pieces to smoke for the journey and Kagome set about cooking two steaks over the fire, readying a third when she chanced a glance at Sesshoumaru.

"How do you like your meat?" She asked, remembering the untouched bowl of rice and meat in the akunoya.

"I do not require anything."

Taking the dismissal for what it was, she turned back to the fire and watched the venison cook over the open flames. When they looked like they were in danger of burning, she shifted them and began humming.

"What song is that?" Sango asked as she took a seat next to the miko.

"It's a lullaby my mother used to sing to me, something her mom sang to her, that sort of thing," Kagome laughed, blushing.

"Do you miss her?" Sango asked. Kagome took the venison from the fire and handed one stick to Sango and blew on hers to cool it before answering.

"I do, but I don't want Naraku to get to them, you know. I'm scared the jewel can help him get through the well, and even though they know there's danger, they don't really know," Kagome explained. "And I don't think I'd want my mom to see me right now anyway. She'd probably demand to know why Inu Yasha isn't feeding me more or why I haven't been home in months."

"Will you go after Naraku is gone?" The question was spoken in a light tone, but Kagome could feel Sango's stare and knew without looking the taijiya was looking for a promise.

"I'll visit, explain that I have to stay for Shippou. But I'd be as awkward there as I was when I first came here. If I returned I'd be stuck playing shrine maiden at a decent temple if I was lucky, or acting for tourists at my own if I wasn't."

"Sounds pretty grim," Sango sighed in an offhand manner, and Kagome felt a little angry at her friend's sudden ease. Sango wanted her to stay, and she understood that, but the slayer's seeming lack of concern over what was a big issue to her hurt.

"I do miss them though. And hot baths on command," She chuckled. "I still have no idea what I'm going to do here."

"You'll live with me and Miroku and Kohaku," Sango supplied before taking a bite of the deer. Sighing happily, she quickly devoured the steak and tossed the stick into the fire. "I mean, what else would you do, except maybe go to Kaede's?"

"I can't go back there. I love Kaede, but there's too many memories," Kagome admitted. "And no offense, but I'm not sure how comfortable Shippou would be in a village of demon slayers. Not all of them are going to be as understanding as you."

Sango nodded, although she didn't want to think about that 'small' detail. Kagome finished her own food at a much more sedate pace, coughing into her hand every few minutes. When she had finished, Sango put a hand to her forehead and frowned.

"The fever's not totally gone. We should probably wait another day before traveling," She admitted slowly.

"No! We're not stopping because I have a cold. I'll be fine," Kagome insisted.

"You'll only get worse, the cold up there is worse, not to mention the winds adding to it," Sango rebutted.

"We will travel on land for the time being," Sesshoumaru commented, cutting both women off. "Until the miko is better."

"See, a compromise," Kagome said with a smile, noting Sango's frown.

"We must also find you more suitable clothing before we travel above land. A cold front is coming. Your weapon is gone as well."

"Maybe if you fly, you can find a village close by, or another camp, and we can get some supplies there?" Kagome asked, turning the jerky she was trying to make. Sango huffed, going to her pack, and Kagome wondered what had upset the taijiya. She was concerned by her friend's almost bipolar mood swings, but had no idea how to broach the subject with her.

"It is a sound plan. Once the meat is done, we move on."


It was two days before they spotted another camp, and Kagome let out a quiet sigh of relief when, once again, it turned out to be a different band than their captors. Once more she and Sango were given the akunoya of the youkai in charge, and again they heard rumors of the strange youkai on his crane and the spirit.

"I don't like it," Sango said as they bedded down for the night. "Something strange about a spirit working for Naraku. I think it's a youkai like Kanna, they can't sense it's youki. And Naraku's forever regenerating, maybe it's a replacement for all the others," She suggested.

Kagome's fever hadn't worsened, but was still present, and the only thing she wanted was a good night's sleep without waking up to the mass of white fur that had greeted her the past few mornings. She always fell asleep close to the fire and always awoke snuggled into Sesshoumaru's side, and it bothered her more than she cared to admit.

"Maybe he's getting serious, giving that much power to a detachment. After all of the others turning on him, I mean, why else would he create a child like that?" Kagome guessed. "If he had to absorb or kill all of the others, maybe he's just got the two, and wants them to be stronger to keep us away until he makes his wish." She coughed and rubbed her chest, trying to sooth the cold hollowness of it. Suddenly she felt something strange at her foot, and when she looked she saw something slithering in the lamplight.

A shriek pierced the night and Kirara and Ah Un ducked their heads under the tent flaps and lifted the sides up, looking for the threat. Kagome was clutching the blankets to her chest and inhaling as deeply as her sore ribs and ailing lungs would allow.

"Kagome, what is it?" Sango asked, staring at her friend, concerned. She followed the miko's line of sight and almost burst out laughing.

In the flickering shadows of the lantern light, that strange pelt Sesshoumaru always wore was lying at her feet, as if it had always been there and hadn't scared the miko half to death. It also explained why Sesshoumaru had not come rushing in.

"It will keep you warm, the fever is close to breaking," He intoned from outside the akunoya. Sango, unable to hold back any longer, broke into peals of cackling, holding her sides as tears of mirth escape from behind clenched eyelids.

"That's just creepy!" Kagome accused, making sure her voice was more than loud enough for the daiyoukai to hear. "It can move on it's own? They have a subgenre of anime for things like that in my time!"

"Huh?" Sango asked, wiping a tear form her eye as Kagome grabbed the fluff and arranged it on top of the pillow.

"If you move at all in the night, I'll take it as a sign that you're doing something creepy, and I'll purify all of the fur off of you, got it?" Kagome demanded. When nothing happened, she turned and allowed her head to be pillowed by the soft fur. Really, it was comfortable, but for it to move on it's own? Too close to ecchi things from her era.

"What did you mean by anime and subgenre?" Sango asked, face full of questions.

"No," Kagome said, resolutely closing her eyes and bringing an end to the discussion. Seeing that her friend was determined to ignore her questions, she let out one last chuckle and let herself drift off to sleep.


The next morning Kagome awoke wrapped up in a warmth and softness she definitely hadn't felt the night before. Opening her eyes, she gasped and tried to untangle herself from the embrace of the fluffy pelt that had, at some point in the night, wrapped around her. Mortified, she flew from under the blankets and tripped as the pelt itself tried to move from her, sensing her sudden anger.

"I'll kill it!" She shouted, blushing madly.

"Miko, you will refrain from harming it," Sesshoumaru's voice rumbled from outside of the tent. Sango, awakened by Kagome's spastic drama in the tent, was watching, merriment dancing in her eyes as the miko, holding hiraikotsu, lowered it and glared at the entrance to the tent, as if willing her gaze to melt the flaps and hit the daiyoukai waiting outside.

"I told it if it did anything, I'd purify the hair off of it. It broke the deal," Kagome began.

"Kagome, I've seen you with your blankets before, you tend to cuddle anything close by in your sleep. Maybe it was a mutual cuddle?" Sango suggested, ducking her head to hide the smile splitting her face when Kagome's narrowed eyes came to rest on her.

"Sango, I want you to imagine Miroku has a furry thing on him at all times, and you suddenly woke up with it wrapped around you," Kagome muttered as she dropped the giant boomerang back onto Sango's pack.

"I'm not sure how to answer that," Sango choked out between peals of laughter. "How do you feel?" She asked, finally calming down.

"I'm fine," Kagome snapped, grabbing the fluff and stalking to the front of the tent and lifting one of the flaps aside.

"Take this!" She snarled, throwing it at the daiyoukai, who was looking at her as if she'd lost her grip on reality.

"Your fever has broken," He told her.

"Thank you," She muttered, the words dripping with sarcasm. "That means I don't need that-that thing!" With that, she turned smartly on her heel and let the flap close behind her. Sango was still trying to contain her laughter as they changed and packed their things.

Once out of the tent, Kagome refused to look at Sesshoumaru or the pelt wrapped around his shoulder once more. It was only when the youkai in charge of the bandits came forward with a folded coat did she speak, bowing her head and murmuring her thanks.

"Sesshoumaru-sama said you'd been sick, this should keep you warm, might be a bit big though," The youkai (Kagome couldn't determine a more specific species than that) offered. "Good luck on your journey," He told all of them, heading off. Kagome wondered again why the camp leaders always seemed so distant, and shrugged it off and she unfolded the coat and pulled it on. Immediately she felt twice as warm, thanking the padding sewn between the sturdy light blue linen and the silk lining. She tied it closed and pulled herself onto Ah Un's saddle, feeling better than she had in days.

"Are we flying today?" Kagome asked. Sesshoumaru responded by taking to the air, the dragon and firecat following suit.


"The wolf's tribe is not far," Sesshoumaru informed them as they flew along. Kagome stretched lazily, for once almost completely warm. Their last night at a bandit camp had yielded not only a good night's rest, but mufflers for both herself and Sango. Each night it seemed they stopped at a camp, and Kagome had begun to suspect that Sesshoumaru was either trying to be kind, or determined to avoid the sickness that had plagued their first few days of travel. Not that she was going to complain. Anything beat having a giant daiyoukai guarding you while you slept. His breathing alone was enough to keep her awake. She'd hate to think of how hard sleep would be to get if he snored.

"About how far off?" Kagome asked, looking at the world below for signs of the tribe. Seeing nothing but the tops of trees and occasional pond or lake, she tried to cast out her power.

"An hour, maybe less."

Kagome nodded happily, hoping they'd stop and rest for the day. Since she'd gotten well, they'd traveled nonstop for three days, and even though she wasn't doing anything physical, she was still exhausted, and knew Kirara and Ah Un had to be. Even Sango was showing signs of fraying at the edges.

"You missed it last time, I accidentally blasted Kouga into a wall," Kagome told Sango, making conversation.

"Oh kami, really?" The taijiya gasped, laughing from behind her muffler. "Inu Yasha was probably cursing a storm from beyond. He always wanted you to do something like that."

"Well, Kouga promised not to claim me anymore," Kagome offered. Sango kept chuckling, but the sound was almost completely lost as they traversed the distance between themselves and the wolf clan. Not for the first time, Kagome wished she had something to read, anything to distract her from her own thoughts. Communication wasn't easy while flying, the winds often rendering anything they said inaudible.

"You know Ah Un," Kagome whispered. "I don't know how you came to be Sesshoumaru's, but you're a really awesome set of dragons. And I know I haven't said it before, but thank you for carrying me," She whispered. Both heads made a noise from behind their bits, and Kagome took it as an affirmation. She could easily understand why Rin loved them so much. Like Kirara, they seemed to understand what she was saying without issue, and responded no less.

'Another awesome thing about this time I guess,' She thought to herself. 'The pets are bigger, and definitely more awesome.'

It hadn't even been an hour when they spotted the wolf pack through the breaks in the trees. They were running, and Kagome guessed that they might be making for Naraku's fortress, despite what Kouga had told her before.

"Ah Un, let's surprise Kouga," Kagome whispered. There was an affirmative snort as they dove down, startling Sango and Kirara, who only watched as Kagome, who had been terrified of flying on them a week before, laughed gleefully as she plummeted to the earth.

Ah Un pulled up just as they were about to hit the ground and flew forward, parting the clan into two groups as Kagome looked for Kouga. Easily spotting him at the head, she guided Ah Un to circle around him, hiding her smile behind the muffler protecting her face.

"Holy shit!" Kouga shouted, jumping back and eying the dragon. "Kagome?" He demanded. Kagome nodded, then burst into laughter at his pole axed expression, hopping down from the saddle and unwrapping the muffler from around her neck and face.

"Hey Kouga, it's good to see you again," She told him, smiling.

"Little sister!" One voice called as she was tackled by two bodies. Their weight slammed into her, knocking her down. For a minute she couldn't breathe, remembering the press of a bandit's body as he had pushed her face down into the dirt. Kagome felt the panic wash over her before she had a chance to quell it, causing her reiki to rise in defense. Both wolves jumped back, not even offering to hep her up as they stared, first shocked, then contrite.

"Sorry sister, Kouga told us you didn't like being touched anymore, we forgot-" Ginta began.

"But we haven't seen you in so long, we were just so excited-" Hakkaku picked up.

"Both of you shut up!" Kouga snarled, obviously losing patience with the pair. Kagome giggled in spite of herself, finally relaxing.

"Seems some things never change," Sango quipped as she landed. Sesshoumaru remained silent as Kouga, Sango and Kagome exchanged greetings. Once they had finished, Kouga turned to Sesshoumaru and inclined his head, the closest the wolf would ever come to bowing.

"You're heading for Naraku's fortress," Sesshoumaru stated more than asked. Kouga nodded tightly, a muscle in his jaw ticking as he clenched his fists.

"He got most of the northern wolf tribe," Kouga told them in a hushed voice.

"Oh Kouga, Ayame," Kagome began.

"She's safe. She was injured, but we got her and the survivors into the western lands. We're heading for the fortress now."

"And what were you going to do when you got there?" Sesshoumaru inquired, his tone impassive but the words enough to raise the wolf's hackles.

"Find the fucking thing that did it. It's another detachment. Ayame said he can regenerate over and over without even getting winded," Kouga snapped. "I know I'm not an all powerful daiyoukai like you-"

"That is correct, you are not," Sesshoumaru told him, looking over the ookami that were watching them warily.

"Damnit, we all have a stake in this fight, so you can shove your-"

"Guys, calm down. Maybe we should just take some time to think, maybe come up with a plan. We're not that far, are we? A day or two?" Kagome asked, coming in front of Kouga and glancing between him and the daiyoukai.

"It is unnecessary. Most of the wolves are already injured and will be unable to fight."

"And just who are you to go around saying shit like that?" Kouga growled.

Kagome wished desperately that she had two rosaries to subjugate the pair with. Not for the first time did she want to smack the both of them, although it was the first time she had seen them together. Groaning, Kagome shot the wolf youkai an apologetic glance and began searching her mind for anything that might be useful.

"Kouga, most of your men are wounded," Sango affirmed, her eyes scanning the crowd of ookami and finding tired eyes and bandaged wounds that were showing signs of bleeding through the cloth covering them.

"I have to-"

"Then travel with us, but let your clan rest, or they can begin the journey back to the west," Kagome told him gently. "I understand the need to fight, but if you force them along with you, they'll end up dying."

"I can't make them leave me alone!" He snapped. "I tried, and they won't stop following me!"

"Packs stick together," Ginta muttered, the pain from Kouga's words showing clearly in his tone.

"Maybe we should sit down and eat something, talk and figure something out," Kagome offered again. Kouga nodded, his teeth still clenched so tightly she could hear his teeth grinding together, and everyone else started backing away, gathering into small groups and leaving their leader and the two betas with the miko.

"Tell your pack to follow your betas. As their alpha, they must obey you," Sesshoumaru commanded.

"You don't get it, do you?" Hakkaku snapped.

"We're not just going to leave Kouga, he wouldn't leave us!" Ginta finished.

"This is about more than me guys," Kouga sighed. "Everyone's exhausted, they can't keep up, and if that demon is what Ayame said, everyone could die. I won't let that happen. I need you to take them to the west, and meet up with what's left of the northern tribe."

"But what about you?" Ginta insisted.

"I'll be with Kagome. She knocked me out, remember? And I've got the Goraishi, I'll be fine," He insisted. "But I need to know the pack is safe. I need you guys to take care of them for me. Sesshoumaru is right, you're both my seconds, and I don't want to give an order, but I will if I have to."

"The wolf speaks the truth. It is considered an honor to be entrusted with such," Sesshoumaru cut in, shocking Kagome and Kouga both.

"It doesn't feel like it," Hakkaku muttered.

"Honors given during war rarely do," Kagome sighed softly. "But some things have to be done. I promise we'll take care of Kouga," She added warmly.

"Hey, I'm not five years old," He snapped, temper flaring. Kagome chuckled and smiled at them, eyes bright.

Ginta and Hakkaku turned to their alpha and searched his face for several minutes before groaning in unison.

"There's nothing we can do to change your mind?" Ginta asked.

"Nope."

"Guess there's not much choice then." Hakkaku this time.

"Nope."

"Can we at least rest for the day, and camp here tonight?" Kagome surprised everyone.

"No," Sesshoumaru started.

"Oh come on," Kagome whined. "Ah Un and Kirara are both tired and could use a day to get their strength back. Us too. If we run ourselves ragged getting there, what kind of shape will we be in when we face down Naraku?" She demanded, resisting the urge to stamp her foot. Sesshoumaru stared at her, eyes hard, and she refused to break the gaze. She had learned that at times, if she won their little staring contests, he would capitulate.

"We rest for the day and make camp here. Make no mistake, we wake at dawn," He warned. She resisted the urge to do a victory dance, instead allowing herself a grin.

"Thank you."

"I will go hunt." With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving a silently fuming Kouga and chuckling Kagome.

Knowing dinner was on the way, Kagome offered to go gather firewood, but Ginta and Hakkaku fell over themselves offering to do it, and she laughed as they raced deeper into the woods, looking for deadfall.

"You're doing the right thing," She assured Kouga. "At least by making them ago away they'll be safe."

"Right now I'm more interested in how Sesshoumaru got his arm back," Kouga said, casting a speculative glance her way. Kagome blushed hotly, remembering the ordeal she had put Sesshoumaru through.

"Umm, well, it's sort of a long story-"

"I think we got time," Kouga rebutted as Kirara and Ah Un sat, the three of them using the beasts as backrests. Once comfortable, Kagome started in on the story, leaving out who she had been dreaming of, instead leaving part to the youkai's imagination. Ginta and Hakkaku came in midway in the story and built a fire up, eyes glistening with hero worship as they listened to the miko spin her tale.

When she got to the part about healing him, a stag fell in front of her, making her jump up and glare at the daiyoukai that in turn was staring down at her impassively.

"Why do you always do that?" She demanded.

"Do what?"

"Just throw it in front of me like that? It's gross!"

"It is a male's job to hunt, a female's to prepare the meat," He replied flatly, eyes narrowing. Kagome, taken aback by the expression, almost tantamount to shouting for the daiyoukai, backed down, wondering what had caused his displeasure. Mumbling about male chauvinism, she was grateful it had been gutted before being brought back.


"I've never seen those two cry like that," Sango murmured as they were flying the next day, turning back to Kagome, who was seated behind her. Kirara was bearing the extra load easily, refreshed from a day of rest. Ah Un seemed much less enthusiastic about his own burden, the sullen ookami.

"They'll be fine. They're heading west, and besides, the northern tribe can take care of them. I'm sure Ayame's not happy about all of them going off to find the youkai," Kagome replied, imagining the red haired wolf throwing tantrums about not being able to join them.

The cold wind seemed to grow even more cutting as they got closer to Naraku's castle. Sesshoumaru had decided they would stop short and rest the night through before heading in if given the option. Kagome had wondered at the addendum, if given the option. Would Naraku try to attack them? Or would he draw them back into the fortress?

A million possibilities were racing through her head, each more frightening than the last. The tug of the jewel grew more insistent as they approached, and beneath the feel of it there were a sliminess that made nausea roll in her stomach. When her arms tightened around Sango, the taijiya said nothing.

"We're so close," Kagome whispered.

"Soon this will be over, and we'll be free," The taijiya responded, steely determination making her words unforgiving. "Naraku will pay for everything he's done." Kagome ignored the chill the slayer's words inspired and buried her face into her friend's back.

Camp was silent that night. Kouga, determined to prove he was still valuable, demanded that the women stay with Ah Un and Kirara while he went to get wood for the fire as Sesshoumaru hunted. Kagome and Sango were both quiet as they arranged their bedrolls. Both knew it was pointless, because sleeping would be the last thing on their minds. But going through the motions brought a small measure of comfort in it's familiarity, and they snatched what pieces there were to be had. Even Kirara, still in her transformed state, allowed herself to be petted and brushed by her partner while Kagome gently pulled snarls out from Ah Un's mane.

Kouga came back carrying two small trees that looked as if they'd fallen from sickness, and Kagome wondered if it would be safe to cook anything over them as they burned.

"Everything in the area looks like this or worse. Something's killing off the wood."

"The hanyou's blight," Sesshoumaru replied as he came into the circle, empty handed. "There is nothing in this wood to hunt. Everything has fled or is too poisoned for consumption."

"Well, we're less than a mile from the fortress. Maybe his miasma has killed everything?" Sango offered.

"There are no bodies left behind, no bones," Sesshoumaru rebutted.

"So it had the good sense to get away, why is that a problem?" Kagome asked.

"Food has become more scarce the closer we've gotten," Kouga interjected. "We've seen some bodies, but not enough to account for a complete lack of life."

"There is a water source close to hear, it is contaminated," Sesshoumaru responded.

"That explains part of it," Sango sighed, looking at the fire, morose. "If we'd been better fighters, or less sympathetic to Kagura, do you think this would have happened?"

It wasn't an accusation, and Kagome didn't want it to be, and she knew Sango wasn't trying to be cruel. But it hurt all the same. She had been the one to feel badly for Kagura. She had been holding the jewel around her neck. She hadn't reacted to the hand shooting up and ripping the necklace away.

Everything was her fault.

"Taijiya, there is no point in wondering what if. You do nothing but upset the miko with your speculations. Tomorrow Naraku falls, and there will be no need to guess," Sesshoumaru rumbled. For a moment, Sango and Kagome both looked as if they'd been slapped. Kagome because the daiyoukai was being kind, in her defense no less, and Sango because she hadn't realized how her words, thoughtless in retrospect, would hurt her best friend.

"Kagome, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that," Sango started.

"It's alright. Once this is over, it's over, and we start our lives. After tomorrow, we're free," She lied. But the poorly worded musings of the slayer wormed their way into mind and refused to be banished. Even if a hundred years passed, she knew she would wonder if her kindness had been responsible for the jewel being stolen, and more importantly, Inu Yasha's death.

However, when her head hit her pack, growing accustomed to it as a pillow, she surprised herself by promptly passing out, a small blessing she would have thanked the kami for when she woke.


A/N: Okay, so it's late. I totally forgot about my boyo's vacation time. And we had to take full advantage of it. And we did. Also, we've been busy with family, since (being the pagan heathens we are and my mom's recent diagnosis) Halloween has been bigger than normal.

So, as another note, spirits were still considered youkai. I'm trying to keep a line between them in the story, however the kind Bokusenou is straddles that line (as opposed to a person that died and then became a spirit, he was just...a tree spirit to begin with, I suppose).

And as for Sango...erm...Well, I'd like to say that she and Kagome are fine, but they're not. It's just reality, in it's fashion.

And I'm sorry, but I had to write in something funny, or else Dressi (my comedic muse) would have withered and died.