A/N: Hello everyone! I thought I would make the Thanksgiving holiday a little bit better (for those who celebrate anyways) by uploading a new chapter! I'd also like to return comments to those who have left comments. I will be putting those at the end of the chapter. If you have left a review on a previous chapter asking a question, I will answer that too! I apologize for being late on the game on those, most of the time I update I am at work and not even thinking about it (sorry!). Thanks for all the reviews and I hope you enjoy! saru


8.

Kagome held the pale pink orb that dangled from the end of her necklace tightly in her hand as she glanced over papers upon papers scattered across the floor. Kikyo's sad way of bookkeeping the profits of this place were almost as sad as the state of what was left of Half Moon Hearts. Kagome was trying to find a way to keep the place, if for nothing but a shelter to stay until she figured out a plan. Even after everything she still hoped that Kikyo would show up the way she always did.

It was getting late and her eyelids were growing tired from looking over all the paperwork. By the looks of things, everything had gone to Inuyasha, except for the meager expenses that Kikyo had won them by being "his woman". Kagome shuddered. To think that title had almost fallen to her!

She released the jewel on her necklace, allowing it to fall back into its normal place against her breastbone. The warmth of it against of her skin sent a sense of calmness through her and made memories emerge.

Kagome sat watching her mother brush her short hair with an ivory comb. She hummed a song, her mother's favorite at the time. She stared in awe at the finesse her mother had for getting the comb through her thick hair without one tangle. Finally, her mother turned and smiled.

"Kagome, come sit with me."

Kagome crawled into her mother's lap, staring at the reflection of the two of them in the silver backed mirror. It had been father's wedding gift to mother, or at least that is what her mother always told her. Her mother began combing Kagome's hair, never tugging too hard, her soft fingers lacing into Kagome's black tresses. But even with the elaborate comb and fancy mirror, Kagome remembered the squalor that they lived in after her father passed away. Her mother had given up everything except that mirror and the comb, just so Kagome and Kikyo could have the things they needed.

Kagome twisted in her mother's arms so she could look at her mother's face. The skin was growing gaunt over bones...evidence of skipped meals so her two daughters could eat. At that point in time, Kagome thought her mother looked the most radiant she had ever been.

"What is it Kagome?" She asked softly, tickling her sides.

"Mom, are you feeling sick?" Kagome replied bluntly, her tiny brows furrowed with worry. Her mother chuckled and turned her around again.

"I'm feeling fine. Kagome, I want to give you something." Her mother reached her hands behind her neck, pulling a necklace from its hidden place beneath her kimono. Kagome's eyes widened as the sunlight glinted from the pearl-like gem.

"This is a very special jewel, it's something your father gave me right before he passed away. It came from his great-great grandmother, a miko. She was a very brave woman and fought through hardships, just like you, me, and your sister have. Your father, he wanted me to give this to you when you were older, because he always said there was something special about you. I think you reminded him of himself when he was younger and he was always told he was just like his great-great grandmother. He never backed down from what he believed in and always fought his hardest to protect those who needed protecting."

Her mother placed the gem around her tiny neck, and as Kagome held the jewel, she suddenly felt warm and safe. Kagome kissed her mother on the cheek.

"Thank you, Mama."

Teardrops tapped on the tops of her hands before Kagome realized she was crying. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes, wishing that her mother was still around. If she had been, Kagome wondered if Kikyo would have gotten mixed up with Inuyasha or if her mother would have forbid them to be together. Kagome tugged her knees tight to her chest, propping her head on top of them as she stared at all the paperwork. It was pointless to try and find anything useful among that mess. She heard a slam, and her head quickly jerked towards the shoji screen that led toward the corridor. What had made that noise? She leapt to her feet, double checking to make sure Shippou hadn't woken from the noise before stepping out into the corridor, making her way to the front of the building. She picked up a lantern from where it hung in the hall, letting the small light it did give off guide her.

She heard another clatter—the sound of broken glass—as she drew nearer. Kagome jerked down, peering from around the corner into the room. There were two men, both of which she had seen before. They worked for Inuyasha, probably come to see if there was anything left of value in the place. Kagome gritted her teeth and stood.

"Just exactly what do you think you're doing here? You're on private property and you need to leave." The two of them stopped their banter, raising their heads to look at her.

"You don't own this place ma'am, so I suggest you go back to where you were and stay there." One of the cronies replied, raising an iron bar from its place on the ground into his meaty fists. The other man was leaner, but his eyes glinted red in the lantern light. This was not good. She instantly regretted saying anything, because now the red-eyed man was walking towards her.

"S-stay back!" She yelled, quickly darting into the hall, the lantern falling out of her fingertips and clattering on the floor, the light going out. She heard footsteps behind her and it felt as if her heart were beating in her throat. Kagome didn't want to run to where Shippou slept and put him in danger. If only she had something, something to protect herself with.

A strong hand grabbed her wrist, twisting it and she cried out in pain. She threw her free arm towards the man, staring at his red eyes before a burst of glowing pink light flew from her fingertips. The man, who she could now see was a demon, tore away from her screaming in agony. When he lifted his head again, the entire left side of his face was covered in burns. What the hell had just happened? Kagome didn't wait to find out. She turned and ran.


The carriage stopped in front of the building entitled Half Moon Hearts, but now no red lantern glowed in the light. Sesshoumaru realized it was late, later than any normal person would answer a door at this hour, but still this was something that he needed to do. Stepping out of the carriage, he readjusted the cravat at his throat before walking to the front door. He couldn't see any light inside, but he could hear shuffling about. His knuckles were about to collide with the wood in a knock when he heard a scream and lost his control of force, the wood of the door splintering open.

He saw the girl from earlier sprinting down the hall, her head twisted as if she were looking to see if anyone was following her. Sesshoumaru could see in the darkness two brutish shadows heading in her general direction. Before he knew it, the woman had collided with him, his body reacting by placing his arms around her to cushion the impact.

She looked up, her eyes wide until she realized who was holding her.

"You!" She yelled, pointing a finger at him before realizing his hands were still on her. She slapped them away from her, taking a few steps backward. "You sent these men after me did you? Couldn't keep me alive because it would slander your name?"

"I did not send those men after you. I actually came here to apologize for my behavior earlier today." The words sounded foreign on his tongue, even after they left his mouth. Had that really been the reason he had been compelled to come here in the middle of the night?

"Well do something! They're trashing the place! I tried to tell them to leave and now they're trying to attack me!" She commanded to him, pointing down the hall.

"So this is a frequent thing for you? You've become used to the idea of men attacking you?" Sesshoumaru asked, a hint of sarcasm lacing his words. The woman narrowed her eyes at him, her fists clutching at her sides. Obviously she was not the happiest person right now.

"I won't accept your apology until you take care of those two!" Her voice was shrill as she commanded him before realizing who she was dealing with. "Please. Please get them out of here. I have a young child here and I don't want him to wake to all of this." She glanced at him with pleading eyes, her fingers twisting over each other from her anxiety.

"Very well." Sesshoumaru replied, gently pushing her out of the way as he walked down the hall just when the two men had turned the corner.

"Oi! Who are you? Where'd that bitch go running off to?" The demon of the two cronies asked, the other just stood behind him slapping that metal bar against his hands.

"She is with me now. I am Sesshoumaru, son of Inutaisho and Lord of the Western Lands, and you two are about to regret everything you have ever said to this woman behind me." He threw his arm out facing the two, his hand turned palm up, clawed fingers straight as poison began to emit from his hand.

"If either you would like to live, I suggest you leave now. The poison of my dokkasou is rather potent."

The two thugs began coughing, the human one affected more quickly. The demon tsked, grabbing his companion before elbowing his way through a glass pane where they disappeared into the camouflage of the night.

Sesshoumaru lowered his hand, his attack finished. The woman stood outside coughing, apparently affected by the poison fumes. He approached her, but she waved him away with her hand, signaling that she was alright. When she finally was able to catch her breath again on the dank air of the night, she let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for helping me, Sesshoumaru-sama." She bowed low, showing him her gratitude and respect. "I'm sorry that I spoke harshly earlier. You and I, we weren't really started on the best terms."

"Yes. I have a tendency to be short when I am angry." He replied, inclining his head to her. "I also will have to apologize to you; I have forgotten your name. Will you do me the honor of reintroducing yourself to me? Maybe we can start off on better terms."

She nodded in agreement and pushed her hair behind her shoulders before bowing towards him again. "I'm Kagome, pleasure to meet you."

Sesshoumaru bowed to her. "And I am Sesshoumaru. The pleasure is mine."


Replies to reviews!

LimitedEternity – Thank you for commenting! I saw that you asked how old everyone was on Ch. 6. In my head, all of the characters are older. I see Kagome as being in her early twenties and Kikyo being in mid twenties- early thirties age range. As for Sesshoumaru…age doesn't really matter when you're a demon, but I am dating him around the same age as Kikyo, since they are both considered "older siblings" to their younger counterparts.

sesschanfan – Thank you for your review! It means a lot to me that you appreciate the detail I put in to my fanfic. I normally do a good amount of research in what I write so that I can provide accurate details.

LadyChuChii – You guessed it! ;)