*Disclaimer:* I own nothing. Rumiko Takahashi and viz media own the something that is the subject of this story. So without further ado, go support the original anime and manga, of which I definetely DON'T own.

Japanese terms:

Daiyokai: great demon

Hanyou: Half demon

Houshi: Monk

Inu: Dog

Miko: Priestess

Ningen: Human

Onna: Girl

Ookami: Wolf

Taijiya: Slayer

Yokai:Demon(I use this term to describe demonic auras and if i use it otherwise, it is when i use the term 'lesser yokai' which are the bullcrap weak demons naraku always uses.)

Human & Demon Relations

After night fall had hit and Sesshomaru still hadn't made it to his castle, he decided that he had to go by his faster form of transportation. Usually, he liked traveling on his cloud because it was an even pace, but not slow in any way, however, at this moment in time it just wasn't fast enough.

He had to stop and land before letting his yokai burst out around him and he used it to greatly enhance his speed. Those who saw him would only see a beam of light, he was much more fast that anyone's eyes could make out. However, with this form, he used up more energy as well as put his appearance off kilter.

He was known for his constant pristine look. By the time he made it back, his hair would be windswept and his face would have some color. Going at such speeds for such long periods were rather cold against his face due to the winds. However, he had to make it back before morning and have proper time to clean up.

He couldn't believe he'd forgotten. They always had twenty-five years to prepare. Hopefully the preparations for the entertainment and food were already in progress, or else he would be very unhappy. He had many who worked under him and found it hard to believe that no one reminded him til now.

With his new speed, he found he was quickly coming upon his castle and slowed down to a halt, letting himself walk the rest of the way. He was in no mood to be asked why he was running at such speed. His soldiers would be on standby thinking they were under attack. However, as he found some strange brown stain on his haori, his nose very slightly scrunched in disgust.

He decided he wouldn't waste time with the soldiers or the guards, he'd take the secret entrance straight to his study. So he set a long stride to keep a good pace as he completely avoided the city that stood outside his castle, and rounded to the western wall of the stone gate placed around his keep. His eyes crept along the stone wall til he found what he was looking for.

A crack in the wall, in the shape of a crescent. He stood in front of it before turning around and counting twenty paces. Then he kneeled to the ground and pressed the tip of his finger to a fang, puncturing it just enough to bleed. He smeared his blood against the ground and it revealed that the ground was actually an illusion. There against the ground sat an old, decrepit, ancient-looking, wooden cellar-like door that Sesshomaru pulled open, revealing steps.

He began to descend down said steps til he was low enough to shut the door. Once shut, the illusion would automatically kick back in, so he simply stalked down the long, decrepit tunnel made of stone. There was a terrible draft and it was dark, but his vision was not limited to the light, so he could easily see. He avoided all the cobwebs and decided he would send Jaken to clean this hallway up, maybe put in some torches, maybe Rin could think of someway to liven it up.

They were the only two others than himself, his mother, and Myoga the flea that knew of this secret entrance to the castle, but he used it often. He enjoyed avoiding unnecessary chatter with every single person in his city and castle. It was annoying to say the least, especially when he was less than pleased on his matter of appearance.

So with how often he used the entrance, he felt it could be brightened up a little, after all, it was a part of his castle, linked directly to his study where all his most important things were located. To many it would seem unprotected, but his bloodline were the only ones who could activate the door to open, it was an ancient blood magic that his ancestors knew how to use. Some blood magic still existed, but the most powerful blood magic were the enchantments such as that door, strengthened by the blood of every new generation.

Even if the door appeared to be made of rotting wood, it held as strong as the earth itself and was impenetrable. He had tried to break it down with sheer force before and it would not budge. He finally came to the end of the hall and slid the door open. He stepped inside, putting the door back in place, it was disguised as a bookshelf.

Once he was done with that, he decided first things first, he was out of energy and he felt grimy after traveling so fast. Many times, random insects had died on impact coming into contact with him, yet another reason he didn't like using it for long distances. He went to the door leading to the main hallway and slid it open, looking for anyone. He saw a random servant and called out to her.

"Bring Hazana, immediately." It was a simple order, but the little servant took the time to get onto her knees and press her hands, chest, and nose against the ground.

"Of course, my lord!" She sounded so enthusiastic. He wanted to role his eyes, but refrained, as always. Why must his servants waste time in getting him what he wants with such ludicrous acts?

He knew he had their loyalty by them simply doing as he asked, but no, the little servant stayed in place and he knew she would not remove herself from the spot til he was out of sight. Sometimes, it was just too much. Yes, some people he wanted to grovel to him, but they were the ones who were not loyal to him, those that do not respect him. It was to make a point.

However, he knew his own servants were loyal, or else they wouldn't be his servants. He slid the door of his study shut again and sat down on a cushy pillow on the floor before he picked up some papers and looked at them. It didn't seem good, an unknown faction with seemingly endless hordes of lesser yokai were running rampant in the southern lands, burning, destroying, and killing anything they could get their hands on.

By the looks of these reports, they would enter into the western lands soon. Knowing that Hiragana has dealt with this problem for more than ten years with no help, Sesshomaru knew the old turtle would ask for aid and he would use the hordes of lesser yokai entering the western lands as an advantage to his argument.

No matter how many the old turtle lord managed to kill with his army, the lesser yokai seemed to double in numbers every time. For every lesser yokai killed, two would take their place, the numbers were growing to an all new high. Sesshomaru wondered how bad it truly was, as soon, his own lands would be plagued by it.

However, he had a knack for who was doing it. The problem was, he didn't really have any sound proof of it as of now, so he couldn't bring it up just yet, he would have to wait. However, he knew Naraku seemed to always have hordes of lesser yokai with him, Sesshomaru did not believe it was coincidence, he believed Naraku was behind the attacks in the southern lands. What Sesshomaru didn't understand, was where were all these lesser yokai coming from? It didn't make sense.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" A middle-aged cat demon of sorts opened the sliding door to his study.

"Hazana-." But before he could begin his order, she interrupted him.

"My lord, the other three lords have arrived and have been given the usual rooms. At dinner they ate the finest food and we did the play about the western land's origins as planned. They seemed mostly amused, but insisted on seeing you. I told them you were in an important meeting concerning the shikon phenomenon." She explained and he nodded.

It was good that she gave him a briefing on what happened and he was happy for her little lie. Of course, she had no idea where he was, but she didn't earn her place as the head of the servants quarters by ever wasting his time. She had always felt she had to prove more since she was found near the castle as a kitten and brought in. He could tell her demon-line was weak, her appearance aged quickly, and as a neko, many hated her.

She always did better than anyone else, she wanted to prove that just because she was neko, it didn't mean she was any less than the other servants. She had risen from the lowest to the highest rank you can be for someone of her standing. She now ate the best food and drank good wine, and that is why although neko, he trusted her.

She was smart too, saying he was at a meeting about the shikon phenomenon. The shikon phenomenon was once only when many demons would wreak havoc trying to get the jewel, but since the jewel became jewel shards-. Demons everywhere thought that if they could get a shard, they were the most powerful demon, they would wreak havoc in their lands and challenge the true provincial rulers of their rights to rule.

However, any demon using the shards for power is weak. To be a ruler you must have power of your own, not power from an object. To need outside power made you weak. He got back to the subject at hand.

"Have a bath prepared and food, get a more formal kimono ready to go, I don't want to see anyone during this time." He ordered and Hazana gave a quick nod of her head before shutting his door and heading off.

Sesshomaru sat there waiting for her to return. However, the thought of power had him thinking of his little miko. She was a powerful being, but he couldn't help but wonder if she was okay. The half breed had hurt her, yet he, Sesshomaru, still left. However, he had to attend this meeting, he could not skip it, it has been this way forever, since before he was even born.

Yet, he could feel a nagging in the back of his mind. As he thought of her, he worried for her safety. He was not there, he had no idea if she was safe or not. Even Rin and Jaken, he could sense them. They were marked as his pack and were therefore under his protection. However, his connection with Jaken was mostly cut off, for obvious reasons. With Rin, he kept his connection to her strong, to be sure that she was safe. He would feel if she was being hurt.

However, Kagome was not marked as his pack. He had at a point wanted to simply sexually subdue her and then leave, but he could not stand the thought of her being mistreated or hurt. He was willing to let her become a part of his pack, even her fox. Then she would truly have protection as his brother did not even mark her or any of his pack for that matter. They weren't even really pack, even if the hanyou ran it like one.

Of course, if the little miko was a part of his pack then it might make it easier for him too. He was looking for Naraku to make him pay for all he has done, and he knew that Kagome could sense the shards. Perhaps Kagome could locate the vile hanyou with the use of her powers.

'And she could be our alpha bitch, Rin would be protected.' His beast spoke out, but instead of denying it this time, Sesshomaru slightly nodded his head.

'Your right, but she cannot control her abilities, she must be trained before she can take position as my alpha bitch.' Sesshomaru answered back to his beast. His beast felt exhilarated, never had he thought that the rational Sesshomaru would ever agree with him on this. It gave him hope that if he stuck to his guns, eventually Kagome would indeed be his mate.

'Then we will need to find both someone who is a powerful fighter, but does not hate humans enough to kill her 'on accident', and a miko to train her priestess abilities.' The beast replied. Much to the beast's amusement, his rational side agreed again.

'Yes, we will need both if she is to become stronger, it is not good to only train pnly your body or only your mind. She must train both as we have.' Sesshomaru answered.

'However, we made the offer for only if the half breed hurts her again, what if he doesn't? She will not join us.' His beast felt a little down in that aspect.

'It is only a matter of time before the half breed harms her again and then she will join us.' Sesshomaru replied.

'No, she was hesitant on the subject, because you dislike humans.' The beast replied. Sesshomaru felt annoyed at this.

'You hate humans too.' He replied, but his beast chuckled.

'Rin is human. Even the humans that travel with Kagome do not seem so bad. Most humans are despicable and weak, yet, are there not despicable and weak demons too? I have come to the decision that good and bad, powerful and weak exist on both sides of the spectrum, however, Kagome is far from being a human. Humans cannot hold that amount of power and you know it, stop denying it.' His beast put out, Sesshomaru almost growled aloud with frustration, but as always, refrained.

'If she isn't a human, then what is she?' Sesshomaru questioned, as he was sure his beast would be unknowing.

'Unknown spirits watch and follow her, she imparts courage and bravery to all those who come across her, her aura is massive, she is a vessel of power that surpasses our own, tell me, have you ever heard of a human with such characteristics?' The beast asked and a frown visibly formed on Sesshomaru's lips. For so long, he denied she was anything, but human. He wouldn't listen-. But as he thought about it, he was brought back.

"Do you know why we dislike the human race, Sesshou-chan?" His mother had been speaking to him after she slaughtered several monks for seemingly no reason. He looked at his mother and shrugged, bored as always. Although he was seventy-six years old, his body suited that of a twelve year old and he far surpassed any his age in not only knowledge, but tactic.

"Long ago, humans did not exist. Only gods and demons did. We lived harmoniously with the gods, til one day many demons turned on the mother of the gods, Ro'mida. They wanted her father to rule over the lands instead of her, but they betrayed her. She gave us the earth and water, she gave us the air we breathe within our lungs." His mother explained and Sesshomaru stared at her, waiting for her to finish the story.

"So the all powerful goddess, Ro'mida, ripped away their abilities. All of the traitors and their children, and their children's children would have a disease that would make them age quickly and die. She took away there powers and it is why there is no mortal as strong and capable as a demon. It is why we hate humans, they deserve nothing."

"They are nothing but the descendants of traitor demons and they should all die. That would have been a better punishment, but the goddess wanted them to live with it." She explained and Sesshomaru frowned at her. Being young still, he had made the early decision to never anger the gods. To have your demon blood taken away from you sounded like a horror indeed.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" Hazana slid the door open, startling him from his thoughts. She came in quickly and set a platter of raw meats and seeds atop a small wooden table that was only a foot in height at most.

"A hot bath has been drawn in your private bathing quarters and a suitable kimono for the morning's events has been placed on your bed." The neko informed him.

"Very good, you've done well." He praised her, as she was one of his only servants that didn't bother him more than needed.

"Also, mi'lord, I thought it best to inform you that many of the other children have been picking on your ward, Jaken won't do anything about it and it is not my place to do so." She admitted and he gave a nod that he heard her.

She gave a curt nod of her own, before sliding the door shut, leaving his presence. As soon as she was gone, he could't help himself any longer. He picked his meat up by hand and was quick to devour it, before popping handfuls of seeds into his mouth. After he licked off the leftover blood and seeds that stuck to his fingers, relishing the taste.

After that, it was time to bathe, so he was quick to stand up. Leaving his mess for a servant to clean up, he made his way to the hall. He was happy to see no one, he did not want to be seen in this condition. He was less than perfect at the moment and it wouldn't do for his people to see him in such a state. He hurried off to his room and once, there went into his private bathing chambers.

There was a hot spring outside the city, but there were none within the castle. However, the southern lands castle was known for having several built-in onsen. Such an extravagant thing was not possible in his own castle as it was there. Even so, his parents put every expense into giving him the perfect quarters.

It was a tradition passed down within his family. As soon as your heir was born, the parents would begin the construction of the perfect room for that child. Over time, a collection of items would be left there for the heir to inherit and who would know what you like better than your own parents?

However, he knew that his over the top bathing room was his mother's idea. She had been the one to always constantly complain that there was no built-in onsen. His father on the other hand, had always been rather plain, not to say his mother was in any way gaudy, but she had a good eye for decorating. There was a bathing vessel carved out of the wood of an ancient tree.

It had been one of the ancients, such as the god tree or bokusenou. Humans had tried to chop it down to use it's wood to build, but when their in-superior metals could not hack into it, they had settled to burn it, figuring that it had demonic powers. The tree did hold demonic powers, but it was not any harm to the ignorant humans who so readily murdered an ancient being as he slumbered.

It was his father that bokusenou had entrusted this information with and both his parents had claimed revenge. From what he knew, the tree's spirit had accepted his mother as it's savior and for her reward, she asked for such a silly favor-. She wanted to carve the dead tree into a bathing vessel that would help heal and return strength to those who bathed within it. It now sat in his bathing room, it was a ring of the tree, making it circular as the tree had been so massive. On the outside were intricate carvings depicting inuyokai hunting on the night of the summer solstice, inlaid with silver to ward off spirits who would try to use the tub's power. Sesshomaru let his head shake again.

Although he thought his mother ridiculous for asking for this as a reward, when she could of had so many other things, it had been most beneficial to him. He slowly de-clothed, something he liked to do alone as it was more difficult for him to do alone, but he did not like others dressing or fussing over him. He did not like people looking upon his naked body because his stub of an arm. He hated it and the only person he didn't mind to have looking upon him was his miko.

She did not seem to care about his disability and never had her eyes lingered there. Then again, she was there when it happened. She had seen him lose his arm with her very own eyes and he wondered why he felt it was okay for her to see him. He should feel even more ashamed because she watched him fail.

How could Inuyasha impair him to such a degree when he was in his strongest, most powerful form? His true form. Thinking back, he hadn't expected tessaiga to work for the cocky half breed, and when it did... Perhaps he, himself had been too cocky. There were moments he could have killed Inuyasha, but he couldn't. There had been a time when they were closer, of course, the hanyou was always weak and even then they didn't get along too well.

However the difference was that Inuyasha's sole purpose was finding a way to become a full demon. Sesshomaru had agreed that if Inuyasha found a way, he would be accepted, but then the hanyou decided to do so by obtaining the jewel. Sesshomaru had voiced his dislike for the idea, but Inuyasha had the shikon phenomenon and there was no stopping the idiot.

Sesshomaru had expected to hear his brother wound up dead. He did not expect to hear that his brother was going to betray their bloodline completely by ridding himself of his demon blood. His brother had planned to become human and live out his ningen life with the priestess who protected the jewel. He found humor in that, now it was he, Sesshomaru, who found interest in the shikon miko.

However, Kagome was unlike other priestess's. She did not limit herself to helping humans, she helped all she could. She also did not wish to change the way anyone is, such as the late shikon miko did. Yet, his brother still followed the dead one around, even as the corpse she is.

Sesshomaru wondered if Inuyasha were to ever get the jewel, would he wish to be human or would he wish the dead one to be alive again? Perhaps the half breed would wish that things with his priestess worked out, fifty years ago. As Sesshomaru let himself think of this, as he continued to struggle with the tight knot in his obi, he realized that no matter what, he could not let the hanyou make a wish.

If Inuyasha wished for things to work out fifty years ago, Kagome would never travel back in time, or so he assumed. He was not blind, her being the shikon miko and time traveling definitely proved that she had some sort of destiny to fulfill, but if she didn't, would she never travel back in time? Then they would never meet. Then, if Inuyasha wished for the dead one to be alive again, what would happen to Kagome?

He was already confused as to how the dead one even existed, it was common knowledge among the educated demon class that the same soul cannot exist twice in the same plain of time. So therefore, it made no sense that Kagome could still be alive at the same time as Kikyo if Kagome was truly Kikyo's reincarnation. The whole situation was confusing to him and he didn't really understand how they both existed at the same time now. Perhaps Kagome wasn't really the dead ones reincarnate?

Finally, his patience was used up, he did not have time for this. He took a claw to his obi and decided to just cut the damn thing off. He reminded himself to never knot it this tight ever again, as it was impossible for him to take out know. Mokomoko was of no use for such a task. Once he was relieved of his sash, he shrugged off his haori and settled to just tug his pants off without untying them, it was faster that way. He kicked his boots off with his pants and flexed his toes, they felt terribly sore and he knew he'd have to file down his toe claws again. It hurt against the inside of his boots, though he would never complain about it.

He inched his way over to his intricate tub to see that small blossoms had been placed in the water. It was steamy and finally reaching the perfect temperature at which to bathe in. The water had become a deep purple, not from the flowers, but the magical essence of the tree from which the tub was carved. He carefully slipped in and sat, as around the rim was a pedestal with a sank-in middle so you could comfortably relax your feet. He let out a small sigh of content.

He had once believed that only a good soak in this tub could bring him such relaxation, but his little miko had proved that theory wrong. He would admit that her aura was much more relaxing than the water in this tub could ever be, but he was still happy with the comfort he was currently provided. Then a thought slipped into his head, an idea that surely wasn't a good one.

However, as he poured a mixture of essences in a long, green, tubular flask over his head and onto his hair and left it to work its magic, he allowed himself to entertain the thought. If he could have the miko, with him, in the tub... That was a nice thought indeed. He still wondered what she looked like completely bare, at this point he had yet to see her most private of places. She had been hidden away by provocative, lacy garments.

She was so tempting, but he wanted her to always remember her time with him as her best time. The best time of her life. If she were to regret it, it would not be. However, at this point, he wanted to take her into his pack. She was an ally to be had, that much his beast finally convinced him, she convinced him. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to commence into a sexual relationship with her, he wanted her help in a sense.

Rin would be much more safe if Kagome were to be his alpha bitch. Then again, he could barely resist her. Even if he could not have her all the way, he could not resist touching her, tasting her skin, she was so innocent and sweet and still the idea that every time he succeeded in making her mewl those sweet little sounds of enjoyment, he was dirtying her purity, he relished in the idea of it. Not only that, but knowing that she was more powerful than him. He knew it, his beast knew it, he was not sure if she knew it, but to subdue such a creature was a turn on in itself, he wanted to feel her wrath.

He wanted to fight her, gain her confidence, he wanted with her what was expected of an inuyokai female. He knew that he would not be given that by his little miko, for she was human. Before his beast could even argue, he settled that even if she isn't human, she was raised like one and would not understand their customs. She may think she knows all about demons and is so accepting, but she knew nothing.

She knew a fraction of the common demonic mannerisms of all demons, but many mannerisms were specific to each type of demon. Some were similar or shared the same things with others, but they all had their differences. He was sure that she would be disturbed at some inu mannerisms, but it did not change his mind. There was no doubt, he could never mate her. She could never provide him the things a proper inuyokai mate would, but she would make a wonderful alpha bitch.

Plus, she was only human. His people badly wanted him to take a mate, but he could wait til she died, or grew old. Then it would not be so bad, she couldn't be angry if she wasn't alive.

"Mi'lord." There was a tap on the door and he heard Hazana speaking over the rice cloth door.

"There is only one more hour til the meeting." She said before he heard her walking away and he knew he had to hurry to get dressed. He dipped his head under and quickly washed out the essences he let soak in his hair before he got out and used the force of pushing and pulling his yokai from his body to create friction to dry his body quickly.

Once he was sure Hazana was gone, he stepped into his bedroom to see the stiff-fabric kimono that was customary to wear during the meeting. It was easy to shrug it on, it was just the sash that was a problem, however he quickly solved it. It was not unheard of to wear a haori over the stiff kimono, so he did a quick knot, deciding that when the time came, he'd save some time by just hacking the damn sash off.

He went into his closet and grabbed a white haori with his crest on the back and slipped it on. He sucked in to turn his sash around, effectively hiding the sloppy knot. After that, he got his shoes on and ignored the pain in his toes from his claws scraping against the hard, leathery material. He went to his full sized mirror and grabbed a comb, pulling it quickly through his barely damp hair.

This is how he kept it perfectly straight. The essences cleaned it and made it easy to manage, and combing it when it was barely damp made it so perfect. That was his secret and it wasn't even difficult. If anything, dressing took him the longest and only because his disability. He had no intentions of dawdling once ready, so he left his room and headed straight for the counselors chamber where the meeting would be held.

He went into the room to find he was the first there and he was happy for it. He sat in silence as he waited and wondered what would be spoken of this time. Last time, it had been about the dry season that was effecting everyone, but the northern lands. Keakoe had shared his secret of appeasing the water and earth spirits to guarantee rich soil and a bountiful year. It had worked.

"I see the pup is finally out of his meeting." Came a gruff voice, it was deep, but more rich than baritone.

"Lord Keokoe." Sesshomaru acknowledged with a nod.

"Lord Sesshomaru." Keakoe nodded back before he took a seat, at the northern end of the table. Sesshomaru was already seated at the western seat.

"So, how was your harvest this year?" Keakoe asked, his long brown hair in a coiled braid bobbed as he spoke, his stubbly face expressing his sincerity.

"Fine." Sesshomaru answered. He did not ask the northern lord of his harvest and the northern bear lord knew why. It saddened him to this day, to see Sesshomaru like this. Keakoe had been close to Inutaisho, during the war with the east, the north and west became quick allies. Keakoe could still remember when Sesshomaru was a child, and although he always had an air of indifference around him, he had held love in his heart.

Then, when his mother was banished and soon after, his father died, the spirit within him was crushed. Keakoe was not one to pry, but he was sure that the inu pup closed himself off as a way to protect himself. He lost the two people he cared most for and then he was forced into a position that he was much too young for, he wasn't ready yet.

However, Sesshomaru became a fierce ruler and his people flourished. The young inu lord had thwarted those who sought to control him because they thought him too young and weak. However, the bear was sad to see him this way, because to love was not a weakness. Keakoe was sure if Sesshomaru could find a mate, maybe he could find happiness. The inu lord had surely been on his own for much too long.

"Blessings of Ro'Mida, lord Sesshomaru, lord Keakoe." The next voice that came was deeply baritone and raspy.

"Lord Hirigana." Keakoe said and the old turtle demon with whitening hair, and a receding hairline nodded at the bear demon, whom nodded back.

"Lord Hirigana." Sesshomaru also acknowledged as was customary. Hirigana took a seat, at the southern end of the table. Sesshomaru droned out the chatter between the old turtle demon and the middle-aged bear with his own thoughts.

"Lord Sesshomaru, lord Keakoe, lord Hirigana." The last provincial lord finally entered the room.

"Lord Natsuo." The old turtle demon and bear said at the same time. Sesshomaru's eyes drifted over to the tiger.

"Lord Natsuo." He acknowledged and the newly lord, the young tiger took his seat at the eastern end of the table. This was the tiger demon's first quarter annual meeting to attend. His skin was colored with a golden tan and black stripe markings covered him. His hair fell in voluminous, red curls just past his shoulder blades.

"And the meeting begins." Hirigana stated, the eldest lord being the one to state the beginning and end of the conference between lords.

Human & Demon Relations

When Inuyasha awoke, it was bright. It was already late morning and Inuyasha looked to see Kikyo in his arms.

"Mm, Kikyo, wake up." He gently nuzzled her awake. She had been so upset last night, but now it was morning. He had to get back to his friends and tell them that Kikyo was down with their plan. She was at least willing to let Sango travel with them.

However, until him and Kagome made their connection stronger with the beads of subjugation, he could not commence their plan.

"Inu-... Yasha?" Kikyo yawned as she sat up and blinked at him.

"I have to get going, I'll see you again real soon." He started.

"Do you really have to go already?" She started, her tone becoming morose.

"Well, yeah, Kikyo, I have to tell them that your okay with the plan and we have to get ready." He said as he began pulling away from her embrace.

"Wait, Inuyasha." Kikyo grabbed his wrist and he looked at her.

"Stay with me just a little longer? Please?" She asked him. Inuyasha could see that whatever upset her yesterday, it still saddened her.

His eyes softened as he took her back into his arms.

"I love you, Kikyo." He pronounced and she buried her face against his chest.

"And I love you, Inuyasha." She said against his skin as he nuzzled his face into her hair, taking in her scent. Even if she smelled like clay and ash, he would make himself love that scent, because he loved Kikyo.

Human & Demon Relations

Naraku watched as his undead miko and the hanyou embraced eachother. He felt revulsion climb through him and it angered him beyond belief. Didn't Kikyo want to be with Inuyasha? Why had she not given her agreement to him yet. She needed to become human and pregnant for his plans to work, it was the only way.

It seemed the gods were always against him. Why could things never go as planned? Always, someone showed up and ruined things, but not this time. This time he would make Kikyo bend to his will. He would do whatever it took, because then he would survive no matter what. Kikyo was the key to his immortality, she just didn't know that yet.

It would be simple, after Inuyasha impregnated her, he would kill the hanyou and then she would keep the child at any cost. It would be the last thing she would have left of her precious lover. Then he would make her submit and with her new human body, she could eventually produce him his own children, until he found a proper demoness to mate that is. Kikyo would only bring him hanyou, but he had long dreamt of playing with his little undead priestess.

He wanted to touch her and hurt her, he wanted to make her scream and cry, and most of all, he wanted to spend himself within her and defile her womb with his seed. He had long awaited for the time he could and now that it was nearing, he would not lose his chance.

"Naraku." Kagura opened the sliding bamboo door to the dark room Naraku kept himself in.

"What is it!?" He hissed at her. He was in no mood for this.

He was spending time with his Kanna watching his Kikyo betray him with another man. It was a good thing, because she would need Inuyasha's child within her, but it will make punishing her for it all the more fun for him later.

"Yakujo is on his way to the meeting point." She informed him and Naraku's angry eyes cleared to that of determination.

This plan had yet to begin, but it also had yet to fail. Perhaps everything would go according to his plotting this time around.

"That's enough Kanna, make sure your sister does not sneak off somewhere." Naraku said as he stood. The image of Kikyo and Inuyasha vanished from Kanna's mirror as she lowered it. Naraku left the room quickly to get his baboon pelt and then he was out of here, he had someone to meet.

"Who do you think Yakujo is anyways?" Kagura asked Kanna and the void child looked at her.

"I am not supposed to tell." Kanna began and Kagura turned away disappointingly.

"But he is the eastern lord's general." Kanna added. Kagura looked at the girl in astonishment for a moment. She was betraying Naraku's orders.

"Yeah, does he plan to work with the eastern lands or is he going to try and kill them or what?" Kagura decided maybe Kanna might tell her more, but the young girl shrugged.

"I don't know yet. He hasn't told me." Kanna said before walking past Kagura out of the room. Kagura stood there contemplating what she was told for a moment. What did Naraku want with the eastern land's general?

Human & Demon relations

"So, a few years ago, Hiragana and I started a project." Keakoe, bear of the north started.

"To more officially accept humans under our domain." Keakoe informed them.

"That's sounds stupid!" Natsuo started, but was given a glare by said bear demon.

"Natsuo, you are lord of the east now, perhaps you should start acting like it." The bear growled out. The tiger demon lowered his eyes, he knew better than to anger the Lord of the north. For the past one hundred years there had been no wars between the four great lands of Japan. Their had been lesser wars between the tribes and others who thought they had land right. They were all beneath them, their petty squabbles meant nothing.

"By working with humans, they respect us, pay tribute for protection, it's helped stop the meaningless butchering of both kinds alike. In order to flourish we need to learn to work together." The turtle demon stated. Sesshomaru still said nothing, his mind elsewhere now, his mind slipping away to other thoughts.

"We want to set it as a full provincial law to work out a deal with the humans in our lands. Tribute for protection and to assign a team containing at least one reliable human and a reliable yokai to settle the reported situations that arise between humans and demons." Keakoe said, his voice filled with authority.

"I agree on this matter." The turtle, Hiragana said.

"You are both much more wise than me, if it's what you both think best, so be it." The tiger, Natsuo said, trying to sound more 'lordly', though he was taking it a bit too far.

"What say you, Sesshomaru?" Keakoe asked. Sesshomaru let his eyes flicker up, hearing his name. He could see that their was a vote, three white stones set in the middle of the table between them, set down for their answers.

Their was white to up vote and black to downvote, however he was already outvoted. He did not know what the agreement was for, but he would agree for now, having no decision in the matter either way.

Sesshomaru set his white stone in the middle.

"Then it's settled, we will hold some sort of event so we can agree upon our chosen humans, I think we can all pick a demon capable enough." The turtle said.

"I let my head human choose their own team, even appoint their own demon. They work very well and efficiently than being stuck with someone they don't know." Keakoe added. Sesshomaru almost frowned, but didn't. Did he say human?

"Now on to the next ordeal to settle, Hiragana, you say you've been being attacked?" Keakoe asked, Sesshomaru was finally listening in on the conversation. He wasn't going to be left out for him to have to deal with more lowly, disgusting humans.

"Yes, many lesser yokai have still not receded from the villages in my lands, they blaze a trail of death and fire, making their way to the castle. No matter how many you kill, they still manage to double their numbers." And so Hiragana began to tell them of the unknown assailant who was attacking his lands.

"Now they are beginning to encroach on the western border, it will not be long til they are at the west's door step." The old turtle continued to explain.

Human & Demon Relations

Kagome was standing in front of Kaede's hut, taking in a breath of crisp, fresh air. It was beginning to get cold, the winter would settle in soon. Kagome dreaded the thought of snow as they still had to travel to find the shards. However, this year they would be well prepared. Kagome made sure to bring back snow suits and winter coats for all her friends. Last winter, Miroku had almost lost one of his feet, if it hadn't been for Kagome forcing several layers of socks and a good pair a boots on him, he would be incapable of walking right now.

"Kagome." The voice that called out to her was familiar as she turned to face her returning, hanyou friend.

"Hey, you ready to go?" Kagome asked when Inuyasha got closer. He gave her a nod as they began to walk side by side towards the rest of the village. They had to go get the others and then they would be off. They planned to still collect shards while they practiced using their connection.

Upon entering the village, they were surprised that Miroku wasn't flirting up the local village girls. Instead they found him setting up sutra's around the village's perimeter.

"Whats going on?" Kagome asked, feeling worried for the village's sake. "Did something happen?" She added.

"Hmm? Oh, I figured I should strengthen the sutras I placed a long time ago, it is to ward off sickness through the winter." Miroku explained and a small smile found it's way to Kagome's lips.

"Well, let us know when your ready." Kagome said and he nodded.

"Let's go find Sango." Kagome said.

"Alright, let's go." Inuyasha answered before following his nose. They found the taijiya in the woods.

"Hiraikotsu!" She yelled as they entered her clearing. She took out a good amount of trees with her weapon before it came back to her and she turned to her friends, sensing eyes on her.

"Hey guys." She said and Kagome smiled.

"Hey, we're getting ready to go." Kagome told her and Sango nodded.

"Alright, let me get my things." She said.

"Take your time, Miroku's replacing his sutra's around the village." Kagome explained. At the sound of the monk's name, Sango scowled.

"Alright, but you make sure he stays away from me." Sango said as her demeanor changed to that of an angry three year old and she stomped away towards the village.

"I can't believe how angry she is, what did Miroku do?" Inuyasha asked. He had seen Sango's wrath yesterday, but he couldn't understand why she was so angry.

"They had a misunderstanding." Kagome explained and he gave her a perplexed look.

"So why don't you fix it?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome was known to try to fix everyone's problems and he was surprised Kagome didn't do everything she could to stop their fighting.

"Miroku doesn't want to be forgiven. He saids it's better this way til his curse is eradicated." Kagome explained, causing her hanyou companion to frown. If Miroku was finding his relationship with Sango to be pointless at this point, it meant his death was imminent.

"We have no more time to waste, lets get the others and go. We can't wait around anymore." Inuyasha stated as he raced back to the village. Kagome sighed, they were all worried for their friend, none of them wanted him to die. She was sure that even as angry as Sango was, she wouldn't want Miroku to die either.

Human & Demon Relations

Finally the meeting was over and Sesshomaru was sitting in his study, yet again. He had seen the other lords with their servants to the gates and now they were gone. However, he couldn't leave just yet. He had to look through some more documents because some could be really important.

Such as the one he was looking at right now. It seemed that a human village was being harassed by a clan of badger demons, the badger demons claimed the human's village continues to expand and has expanded into their territory. Sesshomaru withheld a sigh. Once the meeting with the other lords was done, Keakoe and Hiragana joked that Sesshomaru wouldn't bring a human, but told him he must.

Thus, he found out that they wanted to create teams for each provincial land to solve the problems between humans and demons. Perhaps it wasn't that bad of an idea, but who would he choose to be the head of this team? He didn't know that many humans and he would have to trust one a lot for this. He shook his head ever so slightly as he pushed the documents away from him.

He decided to come back at another point to do this, for now, he could not put his full thought into it. He was too worried about Kagome. Ever since he left her, he had a dreadful feeling in the pit of his stomach and decided to trust his instincts. They had never failed him before. He slowly rose from his seated position so he could give orders for while he was away and once he was done with that, he would track his sweet little miko and assure himself that she was just fine.

Human & Demon Relations

The group had spotted a village as they traveled, but the thing that caught their attention was the black smoke the smoldered all the crops. They wondered what could have happened, but as they entered the village, they found nothing but bloodied ground, but not a soul was around.

"What do you think happened here?" Kagome wondered aloud.

"I think a snake demon happened here." Inuyasha answered as he sniffed the air. However, he couldn't understand how such was possible. Snake demons were usually little things and couldn't harm a human in the first place. Both Miroku and Sango looked perplexed as they kept their gaurds up. They too, had never even heard of a snake demon attacking a human, unless to defend itself.

They looked around. This definitely was no defense on the snakes part, it was a slaughter.

"Inuyasha, three jewel shards." Kagome elbowed his rib cage as she spoke and Inuyasha's eyes widened as he looked at her.

"Three? From where?" He asked. Kagome frowned as she looked around before her eyes widened.

"Under us, everyone, move!" She practically screamed as she grabbed up Shippo and hurled herself from the spot. Miroku was quick to grab Sango and she didn't struggle til after they landed, Kirara was quick to follow them.

Inuyasha jumped high into the air and drew tesseiga as he waited for the demon to surface. The ground rumbled before it stopped and the demon never made it's appearance. They grouped back up.

"Its playing with us." Inuyasha spat. However Sango was the first to notice that they were all standing too close to each other if the snake was planning to get them all at once.

"Kagome." Sango whispered and Kagome nodded taking her signal in a different context. She had Shippo quickly climb onto her shoulder as she drew an arrow and notched it against the pull of her bowstring. Sango almost growled with frustration, but it was quickly forgotten because that's when the very ground they stood on began to quake. They all tumbled around, to get away quickly, except Inuyasha, who jumped up to ready his tesseiga yet again for whatever was coming for them.

"Everyone, move!" Inuyasha yelled. The other four jumped quickly from their earlier position just as a massive snake ripped the ground where they had been in a defensive stance only moments ago.

"Wind scar!" Inuyasha hurled his attack downwards as he lost the velocity that came from the force his legs had gained when he'd jumped high into the air before.

The snake however, was quick, and dodged easily before wrapping it's body around Inuyasha.

"Ech!" The noise was pulled from Inuyasha as the snake pulled it's coil around him tight.

"It has three jewel shards, in its tongue." Kagome said as she saw a flicker of the muscle that the shards were embedded into.

"Hiraikotsu!" Sango tried to aim for the demon's tongue but the demon dodged again, creating another coil for Sango.

"Once I devour you humanss and thiss pretty hanyou, I will sshed my sskin and only become more powerful!" The snake hissed as it flicked it's tongue out again.

"What'sss thisss? More jewel sshardsss?" The snake quickly came to face Kagome, it's tongue flickering out close to her face. Shippo shrieked, but Kagome held her bow steady. Miroku was positioning his staff, a moment's breath from running in to try to beat the snake's face from in front of her form, but he didn't make it.

"Shippo, go" Kagome whispered and felt as he listened to her, he jumped off of her and ran towards Kirara who was standing by Miroku, ready to go on the offensive.

Kagome let loose her arrow built up with spiritual energy that had the demon writhing in pain. One of the three jewel shards fell to the ground. Kagome ran forward and slid across the ground, going in to pick it up, but the snake was quicker. Just as Kagome closed her hand around the shard, she felt her back painfully crack. Something giant and as hard as steel had struck her entire back and she couldn't move a muscle.

She couldn't even unclench her fingers, so they would have to pry the shard away from her cold, dead fingers. She could see the edge of her vision fading into black, when she felt a burning sensation go straight through her hand. She would have screamed if she could, but she couldn't even look to see what happened. When she was hit from behind, she landed with her face to the side.

She wondered if she was crying or if there was just too much blood because she felt wet, but warm. Her whole body tingled with immense pain, but since the pain in her hand, she felt a dulling numbness. She was slipping away and she knew it, but she found she didn't mind. Anything to make the pain stop would be nice at this point. It would be better to die then live her life as a cripple, paralyzed forever.

She knew her spine got messed up, whatever hit here destroyed her ability to ever move again. She was over. Kagome's eyes never had the chance to close when they finally dulled out, and the color was lost from her face. The snake demon had watched her die, he even helped her not feel so much pain, he was not so ruthless. He punctured her hand with a fang and his poison would not only melt her insides, it would make her feel numb as it killed her faster.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha could smell her blood, he had vowed to protect her until she didn't need his protection anymore, he couldn't let her get hurt. His grip on tesseiga tightened as he forced his hand upwards with all his strength. Thank god tesseiga was as strong as it was in it's released form, because it was able to cut into the hardened green scales of the snakes convenient, natural body armor, which is what the snake had hit her with.

"Why you!" The snake pulled it's fang from Kagome's hand to face Inuyasha. Kagome collapsed against the ground, unmoving, the snake's venom already working it's deadly toxins into her bloodstream.

"Kagome!" Miroku ran forward as Shippo made it to her first and tried to hold her head in a more comfortable position.

"What did you do to Kagome!?" Inuyasha started as he continued to let tesseiga cut into the snakes skin. The snake had no choice, but to release him, releasing Sango as well, lest tesseiga force it's way through all the way.

"Forget that girl, sshe isss already dead." The snake hissed at him. Inuyasha could indeed hear her heartbeat weakening, it caused this dull feeling in the pit of his stomach, like an emptiness that made him ache throughout. He decided the only way to fill that emptiness was with the blood of this snake demon.

"Black lash wave!" Inuyasha sent out the rush of tornado like beams that sliced through the snake demon like butter. Inuyasha had already known the shards were in the tongue so he collected them before the demon could rejuvenate, causing it to turn to dust.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha ran to the dark haired girls side. Her heart beat had completely faded, she wasn't breathing, she was completely still.

"It's gonna be okay Kagome, your gonna be okay!" Inuyasha said as he grabbed her hand and began to suck the black venom into his mouth, spitting it out by mouthfuls. As soon as he removed as much as he could he stared back down at her.

Her eyes still stared into space with that glassy look, the expression on her face said that her last moments were extremely painful.

"Wake up Kagome! Your so stupid-. You can't just die!" Inuyasha gripped her by the shoulders and began to shake her back and forth before a hand was placed on his shoulder.

"She's gone, Inuyasha." The monk told him. Through his grief and denial he had blocked out the sounds of Shippo's sobbing, Sango's soft whimpers as she wept her own tears.

"She can't be gone-." Inuyasha started, she couldn't be. In a moment she would open her eyes and laugh at them, tell them their so gullible. There was no way she was really dead.

"I think we should bring her body back to her family." Miroku said with a grim expression.

"That's what she would've wanted." Sango choked out.

"No, Inuyasha's right, Kagome's not dead-." Shippo himself was still in denial.

Human & Demon Relations

"Then it is settled?" The leopard demon asked in the cover of the woods. The babboon-clad hanyou sniggered.

"Yes, it is settled, does your lord agree?" Naraku asked and Yakujo nodded.

"He wants to meet you a moon from now to plan better, after the party." The leopard said.

"And you will open the doors at the party?" Naraku questioned.

"The doors of the northern entrance, you should hit the guest rooms first, it is where the lords will be staying, just be sure not to harm my lord." Yakujo explained.

"Yes, yes, I know. Well then, is that it?" Naraku questioned and the leopard nodded.

"Until next time." Yakujo voiced and Naraku nodded his agreement before they both turned their backs to each other and went their separate ways.

Forever Changing

A/N: And that's a wrap on this chapter. Hmm, what will happen now? What is Naraku and Yakujo, the eastern lands general talking about? What will Inuyasha and friends do now that Kagome is dead? How will her family and Sesshomaru take the news? Stay tuned to find out-. Anyways, first off, if you found Sesshomaru eating by hand strange, I wanted to give my argument to back it up. Many sess/kag stories I've read, demons seem to be made out to be more formal than even humans. In my opinion, I believe the customs between humans and demons would differ greatly. So, him eating by hand is simply one of those demonic mannerisms I speak of. It will make more sense as we get further and Kagome begins learning the customs of inuyokai. Alright, so just wanted to say that, yes, I know that scene is kind of strange cause god forbid Sesshomaru eat with his own hand, but in this story, it is simply a demon thing. On a sidenote, I decided to post back to back chapters today. I found out finally that the big move is on saturday so I have to pack last minute things, configure my cat, and of course, stress frantically about the entire process. I didn't know I'd have so little time to get everything figured out sooo-, it may take a little, cause after the move we have to find a place, find jobs, get a normalcy going in our new lives. I'll probably still write, but I don't know when it'll be posted. I definitely will post another chapter before two weeks at most, because I couldn't leave ya hangin' like that. With that said, so you know I didn't suddenly disappear off the face of the planet, look forward to chapter 8 today. Also, I reread this chapter and I'm sure I corrected all grammatical errors, but if you see one, let me know and I will fix it. Okay-Salut.