In the morning, I woke up alone in the bed Sesshomaru and I shared. What a surprise, I thought. I got up and let his kimono fall down to my mid thighs. I figured Sesshomaru was probably at another meeting with Hakurai.

When I walked out into the hallway, the castle was quiet. Maybe I could find someone to tell me if there's anything I could eat here, I thought. No one that I'd met really offered to see if I was hungry. To be honest, I hadn't really thought about food for a while.

"You're up early."

I jumped at the voice that I heard suddenly behind me. It was Hakurai. His armor and top apparel had been removed from the night before. The way he stared at me made me nervous. Did I think he was dangerous? No. Of course, I hadn't seen his power like I'd seen Sesshomaru's. And I wasn't even sure that I'd seen the full amount of even that.

The demon chuckled at my reaction. "Do not be so surprised my dear," he said. "You are in my castle, after all."

He had a point. So I smiled. "Good morning, my lord," I greeted, respectively.

"I wonder," he began. "Where is Sesshomaru?"

I shrugged. "I don't know." I paused slightly. "He was gone when I woke up this morning."

The man shook his head in pity. "In my opinion," he said. "A man should never let his woman awaken alone."

"Well, I doubt Sesshomaru really has the time to worry about me," I replied.

Hakurai shook his head again. "But that's the thing," he said. I watched as he began to circle around me, slowly. I watched his eye move up and down, and that's when I became nervous. "Any man who wants to keep his woman within his sights should have or make the time to worry about her."

I said nothing. For some reason, I could also do nothing. He was right. If Sesshomaru says he is nothing without me, then why was I left alone? "Sesshomaru cannot show emotion," I said. "I don't know why, but that's part of the reason, I'd imagine." I didn't know if I was trying to convince Hakurai or myself at this point.

Hakurai wrapped his hands around my waist. He stood uncomfortably close, and I could feel his hands move up slowly, feeling all of my body until he got to my neck. His touch was so gentle. And when he spoke, so was his voice.

"How can you stay with him when he shows no emotion or care for you?" I could feel Hakurai's lips move against my neck as he kissed me. I wondered if he'd ever held another woman like this before taking her into his bed.

I couldn't help but tilt my head back. The gentle sensation of Hakurai's touch on my body was amazing. It was a way that Sesshomaru had never touched me before.

Sesshomaru… "I love him," I said. All this time, I'd been imagining Hakurai as Sesshomaru. I'd been thinking of Sesshomaru's strong arms wrapped around me, his hands roaming my body, and his soft lips along my neck.

"How do you love someone that does not love you back?"

Finally I was able to pull away. It wasn't right, obviously, but nevertheless, I gave Hakurai an answer. "Where I come from, it is hard to fall in love. Girls like men who don't like them back and vise versa all the time. When I came here, and I spent time with Sesshomaru, I could actually see the feelings he has for me. I love him enough that I don't have to hear it from his lips. There are small things he does that let me see it." I smiled wider and wider as I spoke to Hakurai. "It took me until now to realize it, but he does love me back." I took Hakurai by the neck and kissed his cheek. "And you just made me realize it. Thank you, my lord."

"Sesshomaru!" I called throughout the castle, panting as I ran from one hallway to another. "Sesshomaru!"

|| Sesshomaru ||

He followed her voice throughout the castle, chasing after the sound. Was she in trouble? He first saw her run past the opening down a hallway from him. "Sage," he said.

She came back; first looking around the corner to make sure it was indeed Sesshomaru before running toward him. For reasons he was unsure of, she smiled. She looked so happy. He silently marveled at her smile. He hadn't seen her smile like it in a long time, if even at all.

Before he could do anything, her slender body slammed into his. Sage's arms wrapped around him, and she clung to Sesshomaru for what seemed like dear life. For a moment, he didn't do anything. However, his arms somehow found their way around her back. He embraced her and held her close. "Sage," he repeated, growling softly.

Suddenly, he pulled back. Her scent was different, mixed with that of testosterone. "Hakurai," he growled menacingly. "He touched you."

To his surprise, she nodded, but didn't stop smiling. His eyebrows furrowed in anger and confusion. "What is the matter with you?"

Sage took his hands. "He asked me how I could love someone who doesn't love me back." Sesshomaru said nothing, feeling a shock of guilt at this point. Did it really seem like he didn't love her? Didn't care for her? Is that what she thought? "But then I told him that it's those little things you do that show me you really do care." He relaxed a bit. "Every time you show a bit of worry, I know you care. Even if you don't show it directly or say it, Sesshomaru, I know you love me." She embraced him again. "I just want you to know…I love you too."

He wrapped his arms around her back again, feeling the material of his own kimono against her. "No one will ever touch you again," he said in a low tone, and Sesshomaru kissed her.

This was it. Today was the beginning of the end. Sesshomaru had awoken early that morning with Hakurai to gather every warrior the two of them could muster. Other demons and priestesses and monks had also become a part of the battle. It hadn't taken long for Hakurai and Sesshomaru's warriors to get to the palace. They were lining up on a field a few hundred yards from Hakurai's castle.

"I could easily do this myself," Sesshomaru growled to Hakurai, who stood next to him watching the procedure.

"Not without your brother," said Hakurai. His arms were folded across his chest.

Sesshomaru snarled. "I need nothing from that half demon!"

Hakurai just rolled his eyes at Sesshomaru. "We need the help of everyone we can get to defeat Naraku," he said. "The sooner you realize that, the better."

Sesshomaru snarled again, directly at the other demon lord. "Why don't you make a note to stay out of my personal business, Hakurai?" he asked, sarcastically, "and that includes Sagerra."

"You know Sesshomaru," said Hakurai. "If you don't keep an eye on that lover of yours, someone could snatch her up right from under you."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. "She's a human. Who would want her?"

Hakurai chuckled. "Men like me."

|| Sagerra ||

As I got changed into a proper kimono that morning, I looked out the window of the castle and saw Sesshomaru in the distance. By now he was gathering the soldiers that would be lined up on the opposite side of the hill. We'd be moving out at noon. I ran downstairs and out the double doors of the castle as fast as I could, not wanting to make Sesshomaru wait for me.

When I reached the top of the hill, he placed his arm around my waist protectively. "Are you ready to fight?" he asked. "This will be a war like no one has ever seen. You must be willing to kill demons of all kind to handle it."

I nodded. "I know my powers well," I said. "I'm ready." I looked toward him. He was looking out toward the soldiers, priestesses, monks, and demons. I watched them as well, and then I saw something in the distance. It was people, a small group, clambering over the hill on the other side of the field.

"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said plainly.

Indeed, it was Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo. I could see them all walking toward us. They were safe; good. "Sesshomaru – " I began.

"Go."

I smiled and ran down the hill, past all the soldiers that stood in the field, all the way to the other side. Before long, I could see Kagome's smiling face. "Sage!" she called, waving to me.

"Kagome!" I cried happily. "Inuyasha! Sango! You're all here!" I embraced Kagome in a friendly hug. "It's so good to see you guys."

"Inuyasha's been worried about you," Kagome giggled. I smiled and looked at Sesshomaru's brother.

"Hey! I only thought you'd be worried because Sesshomaru's place was practically destroyed!" He said, crossing his arms.

I was confused and, not to mention, worried. "What? The servants are supposed to be there," I said. "And Rin and Jaken."

Kagome frowned. "We thought the two of them were with you. Naraku must have gotten to Sesshomaru's palace."

"Oh, my God," I said. "Rin."

"Sesshomaru!" I screamed, running as fast as I could back up the hill to both he and Hakurai. At the top, I nearly tripped, and Sesshomaru caught my hand and steadied me.

"What is it?" he demanded of me. I tried to catch my breath and speak at the same time.

"Inuyasha…The others…They went by your castle…" I panted and tried to calm down, but I wasn't able to do so.

"Silence," said Sesshomaru. I stopped talking immediately. "Breathe." I breathed. "Now speak."

"They say your castle has been destroyed, Sesshomaru," I said, hoping he'd believe me.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at the others, who had caught up with me. "How do you know this?"

Kagome was the one to answer. "We heard news of the battle and figured you'd need some help. When we went there, everyone was gone. The palace is practically in pieces."

I turned back to him. "Sesshomaru," I said, my voice cracking a little. "What if Naraku has Rin?"

He grasped my shoulders tightly for a moment and thought. "He may not."

"What?"

Sesshomaru turned his eyes to me. "There are hidden passageways underground in the castle. I told Jaken to take Rin there if anything were to happen. They may be safe."

"And if they're not?"

He didn't let go of my shoulders. "Then we can't get them now. The whole point of this war is to surprise Naraku. If we go, he'll be allowed to move his location. We'll have to find him all over again before we can strike."

I shook my head. I'd grown so close to Rin, even missed her during the time we'd been apart. "What do we do?"

"We fight," said Inuyasha, coming up from behind me and putting a hand on my shoulder. "And we end Naraku."

I could feel Sesshomaru's wanting to pull me away from his half-demon brother, but I stood my ground. Inuyasha was a friend, after all. If Sesshomaru couldn't deal with that, then tough shit.

"We leave at noon," I replied to Inuyasha. "And the only way we can do it is if you two work together, just like Menomaru." I looked at both of them, my eyes narrowed. I was ready to smack them both if they didn't comply. However, neither of them said anything.

"She's right, Inuyasha," said Miroku. "Although I think it'll take a bit more than that."

I pulled out of Sesshomaru's grasp. "What do you mean, Miroku?"

He smiled a bit. "I think the two of their blades could use the help of some sacred arrows and element powers."

I looked at Kagome and smiled. She returned it. "Well, we're willing to work together." Then I turned back toward Sesshomaru. "And you?" When he said nothing, I moved a bit closer. "If not for the fight, then for me…" I whispered. "And if not for me… then for Rin."

I could see the frustration in his eyes. His fists clenched and unclenched. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close to speak directly to me. "Stop speaking as if I wouldn't do anything for you."

I smiled and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

|| Sesshomaru ||

"Move out!" Hakurai's voice echoed through the hills to the warriors below. Sesshomaru lifted Sage onto his back, just as Inuyasha did with Kagome. The monk, the demon slayer, and the little fox demon rode alongside them on Kirara.

"Don't get sick this time," Sesshomaru said. He heard Sage laugh on his back, and he couldn't help but give an amused twitch of his lips.

"Don't go any faster than your brother, then," she warned him. Sesshomaru complied and didn't form any secret competition between Inuyasha and himself. So far, things were off to a good start.

Only when the sun had begun to set did everyone stop to rest for the night. The human soldiers couldn't see at night, which means they couldn't navigate like the demons and priestesses could. "We'll split up in the morning," Sesshomaru said to Hakurai. "You can take half West while we continue East." The other lord nodded and went back into his tent.

Everyone had a tent. It was necessary in case it rained. Luckily, the girl Kagome had brought one for Sesshomaru's brother and the others. He himself was going to share one with Sage. He didn't think it'd be too awkward of a thing to do. However, if she did feel that uncomfortable, he didn't really need to sleep anyway.

"Sesshomaru," Sage whispered to him from the opening in the tent. "Aren't you going to sleep at all tonight?" He said nothing, but only looked back at her. Sage's eyes were kind as she opened the front of the tent wider. "Please come rest," she said. "You may be a demon, but that doesn't mean you have to pull an all-nighter. You can sleep."

He only went into the tent when the night grew long and cold. He lay down next to Sage and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Are you afraid?" he asked.

He saw her shake her head slightly in the darkness. "Not really," she replied. "Not yet." Sesshomaru could feel her move a bit closer to him.

Not able to help the instinctive movement, he tightened his grip around her waist, holding her to him. "I'll protect you," he said in a low voice.

"I know you will."