A/N: Finals are over and now I wait for the blessed undergraduate degree I am about to receive this week. Very happy to be writing again.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Too insightful was Salen to wait around for some trick to be pulled over the innocent's nose. Luckily, that wolf came out alone on her way from the bathhouse to her own guest bedroom. The sway of her hips, the snap of her eyes, the way that perfume clung to her from bathing with the innocent one as if she were her bosom companion rather than scheming against her… Salen was very good at watching people and surmising their intentions. Ayame reeked of mischief to come.

He only had to wait.

But this cat was rather impatient. He'd have to push her to see her scheme.

Of course, she wouldn't do something so sudden and rash as to hurt Kagome.

Time and patience was the manner of those seeking to vengefully hurt others and the cat demon could smell a woman writhe with scorn and anger a mile away. Women of the court were always up to something. You could tell when their smiles didn't quite reach their eyes, those fake biddies hatching and scheming amongst themselves. This was the first he'd seen of the wolf participating in that age long tradition of courtesans.

As soon as Ayame slid the door open to her lonesome and spacious bedroom, Salen foisted himself upon her, fastening Ayame against the wall with his sharp claws digging into her white fur cape against the wood paneling on either side. His whiskers stood on edge and his narrow green pupils focused on her as he would a fat piece of tuna. "Just what are you up to, wolf princess?" There was a purr in his voice and a bite in his tone. He sounded more gruff dog than frenzied feline.

Ayame's eyes hardened and she bristled under his touch. A fang was revealed in response to his rough treatment. At least she wasn't playing innocent, something she clearly wasn't. "Doing my duty."

"Evasive." At least she wasn't as stupid as he'd thought. "Rather than answering, you should learn to hold your tongue as Sesshomaru did," advised the feline.

"Oh, and he spoke to you often?" Her voice was high pitched and annoying when confronted.

"More than he did you," hissed Salen. "Be wary of your answers, she-wolf."

"Oh, why should I worry? Will you hit me with a hairball?" Ayame pretended to be fearful. She was prodding the wrong feline's whiskers out of place.

His tail swished and picked up a few rocks from the ground just outside her door. That same tail snaked upwards between them. "The smallest answer can lead to the biggest mistake." He dropped the rocks one by one in front of her face. "Be wise. Be tactful." He dropped another one. "And don't let yourself get caught by someone smarter than you." His tail swished against her waist as if trying to remind her that she was in no position to anger him. He had centuries of experience on her. Centuries of battle. Centuries… of spying.

"You trusted him though." Ayame trusted no one and herself, least of all this prissy feline. If she didn't act with her plans fast, there was no doubt that Salen would be on her day in and day out looking for that opening Ayame needed. She wouldn't have an ounce of privacy with Kagome. That left her with two options. Strike fast with the priestess or try to wait it out.

"Not with any of my nine lives would I ever trust a dog." Ayame's brows rose and she wondered briefly if Salen's kind act to Kagome was just a ploy. "Now a wolf," he continued with his hands holding onto her shoulders as his tail flicked back and forth behind him, "I do trust them." Hope rose in her chest. "However, a bitch of any canine race I have absolutely less trust than I would a dog."

"Your views on Kagome-"

"She is neither demon nor bitch." Kagome was an outlier he'd stumbled across. "I've yet to comprehend her." He may not know exactly where he stood with the human, but he was drawn to her as assuredly as Sesshomaru had been. She gave her trust away like candy, expecting the best out of people, and Salen wouldn't mind being one of those people who did perform the best. Call it a passing fancy, but he had a feeling she would bring excitement to his life as Sesshomaru had.

She growled at him. "I'm here for Kagome."

"As what?" She remained silent, taking his advice for once. There was no way she was going to say something and get caught in a trap. Not now when she was so close. "Scram wolf." His claws slid back under his fluffy fingers as he freed her. "Just know this, if you are indeed up to something foul… I will know, Ayame." She shuffled away and hurried off, slamming the sliding door so fast it almost hit his feline nose.

Salen padded away silently and smiled. His eyes glowed in the nightlight like most cats as his tail wandered up to drop something into his hands. "Clumsy assassin." He gave the jewel a once over and his pupils widened considerably. "Now just why do you have this?" He asked no one and nothing.

He knew exactly how she got it and from whom, but what powers lay dormant in this thing? What was it intended for? Something had to activate it to work and only orders given by those of the Taisho family could open it so no doubt an order had been given by Lady Megumi to this wretched necklace. The cat lord had only seen it in action once. He'd been present in the court, waiting on Megumi to attend a meeting with him, when he'd spied out the window the necklace that had taken Rin. He'd watched for bated hours until Sesshomaru had triumphed over the necklace with Rin and Kohakku in tow.

Did Megumi wish to see if Kagome could control the necklace? Or was there a trap placed on it just for her? The latter sounded more likely.

Salen raised his eyes to the moon aloft in the sky as if that was where his long dead acquaintance resided now. "Did you intend for this to happen when you chose the she-wolf to watch after your human?"

No one could ever be sure of Sesshomaru's original thoughts and what he ever intended when it came to others.

This could all be calculated to make Kagome rise to the occasion of rivals within her own circle and learning how brutal court life was… or maybe, just maybe, Sesshomaru had erred once in his life of perfection. Maybe he hadn't expected this outlier to come into play.

Kagome was someone with whom Salen was sure Sesshomaru would allow his guard to fall. After all, after centuries of being a bachelor he'd quite easily tossed it aside to take her on as mate. That already showed Sesshomaru had been far too willing to be rash and rash was not a trait often associated with him.

Everyone had trusted the dog to never fall in love, it wasn't his way.

But Salen didn't trust Sesshomaru as far as he could throw him.

This had never been simply a marriage of convenience to be aligned with the great Shikon Miko. Salen would stake every single one of his nine lives on that.

You'd think one of them would've knocked the other out by now. Or maybe they would've destroyed each other already. But no. They'd spent about half an hour going on with fists flying and insults, as usual.

Inuyasha was still throwing unrelenting punches and Kouga was trying his best to dodge them. The wolf had speed on his side, but he knew if half-demon fist met with wolfy skin, well, Inuyasha could throw a punch well enough to throw Kouga back. That mangy mutt had a fucking iron fist for a hand. "She's fucking alive and you fucking told us she was dead!"

Kouga had barely missed that one! Inuyasha's claws went whizzing right past his head! Any other wolf would've been knocked out by now. At least the conversation was still lax, Inuyasha was repetitive as ever in any argument.

"Not my idea! She was under orders dogturd!" Kouga saw an opening and dropped down, swinging his leg out to knock Inuyasha's feet right out from under him. Furry ears and hot temper went flying to the ground in a heap of curses and clouds of dirt.

Miroku and Sango watched from a safe distance beside Kikyou and Shippo, all four casually sitting under a tree as if this were a daily occurrence. It might as well have been. The messenger had already left upon finding that these group of people were acquainted with his ruler and would come to her aid.

"Who the hell's orders asshole?!" Inuyasha spat out blood from where his chin had hit a rock and hopped back onto his feet. "I thought she was the fucking ruler and could do whatever she wanted!" Kouga hadn't moved. He was tired of fighting. Every moment wasted was a moment his woman needed him.

"Her mate ordered her to!"

Inuyasha drove himself towards Kouga like a bull and managed to cut his arm with his blades. "So you did order her, you asshole!"

"Not me! Sesshomaru!" He was irritated now that his arm was scratched up and bleeding. Really! Did Inuyasha not know how to sit down and talk things out? Kouga was a hot head in general, but being around Kagome had rubbed off a bit on him and he could now understand why she'd been so irritated with Inuyasha in the past. It was like talking to a toddler.

"Feh, I don't believe that shit." Kagome's lessons with diplomacy would've done Inuyasha a fair share better had he taken them instead of learning to squabble like a brat.

"He's the one she married first!"

"Kagome would never-"

"She did!" Kouga's face was marred with a scowl at the thought of it. He really didn't like thinking about Sesshomaru and his Kagome getting close, but past relationships happened and at least it had brought Kagome to him, albeit not under ideal circumstances. "Hate to admit it dog-turd, but she agreed to it on her own terms."

"Why would-"

Kouga held up a hand, hoping Inuyasha wouldn't charge at him again. "Let me talk, mutt-face!" Before Inuyasha could come up with a retort, his wife had come over and touched his arm. Words weren't needed, just a touch and a look that told him to be quiet and listen. At least someone had sense enough to get him to hear Kouga out. "She had to protect you guys. If you're mad at Kagome's methods you can take that up with her. Right now though, I need to get going if she's going up against Sesshomaru's mother in war." He dropped his arms and began to walk past Inuyasha towards an overzealous Shippo who'd already packed his bags while those two had been fighting and was more than eager to get to Kagome.

A clawed hand around his tanned bicep steeled Kouga's stride. "Sesshomaru's mother… what does she intend for Kagome?" Inuyasha didn't have pleasant memories of Megumi. In fact, Megumi sent a wave of nausea over him that he found hard keeping down. This woman… a shiver ran down his spine. There were dark things within his own past that he'd yet told Kagome or even Kikyou about involving the house of the west. He absolutely loathed that woman.

"Death. Like with everyone else who gets in her way," answered Kouga.

"Kagome better have one hell of an argument when I get to her," Inuyasha responded, flexing his claws until his nails shortened. There would be time for him to reflect on those unpleasant memories later. For now, his best friend needed him. Inuyasha promptly started departing from the village and looked back at his lagging friends who'd been watching. "What're you waiting for?"

Miroku raised a brow. "You do remember Kouga wants to marry Kagome don't you?"

Inuyasha turned to face that damned wolf and shook a finger in his face for warning. "We're not through with this." There were times when Inuyasha knew to get going and return to a matter later.

A day had passed and still nothing had transpired between the she-wolf and Kagome. At least nothing to merit worries. In the night Salen had managed to slip into her room undetected and returned that cursed object back to her possession. He knew what the weapon was; now he merely had to watch for the opportune moment to catch her at her plot and prove her true colors to Kagome. Not that he left Kagome alone.

Even now, as she perused Sesshomaru's personal room he was with her. This should have been a moment alone, but he wouldn't do it. Couldn't do it. As much as any cat hated to be indebted to a dog, he owed Sessshomaru.

As her fingers trailed over a very familiar kimono, one exactly like the one her former mate had always worn, Kagome spared a glance to Salen. "How did you two meet?"

No doubt as to whom she was referring to. "We grew up together."

The delight in her eyes was immediate. "Childhood friends?"

"Childhood enemies," he corrected, remembering a time when he and Sesshomaru pulled pranks on each other as rivals at every function there was in the kingdoms. His tail being dipped in ink. Water being poured over his head. The ever returned revenge such as covering Sesshomaru's mokomoko in itching powder.

"Then how did you two…?"

"Now that is a story you should sit down for, m'lady." And sit she did, attentively and with Sesshomaru's obi in her lap.

Dark and bitter was the night on which he snuck about such lovely halls of marble and ivory. An up and coming king to the south and a thief when it pleased him. A most unlikely suspect who had all the riches he could get. All except this. It was a matter of honor that he stole this in of all unlikely places, a banquet. He did not go in as a guest; the invitation to which he promptly refused feeling it was an insult. Instead he went in swathed in black cloth, a powder clinging to his skin to eradicate his own personal stench within this lofty lord's manor. No doubt, the lord himself was with his guests, perusing the many eligible women in attendance for a potential mate.

Salen looked down into the palm of his hands at the precious locket. She'd always worn it. Never taking it off. Once, it had belonged to his sister before she'd died less than a year after an arranged marriage. Many suspected, but no one could pin it on this lord who was looking to marry again after two months had passed since her death. He'd darkened every hall, snuffing every light out as he rushed by it sending the wind swirling behind him. Now would be the optimal time to actually escape.

But not without a little bit of entertainment for his troubles.

It was easy to sneak past maids and butlers all alike and set his well laid plans. Too bad those fireworks would be missed.

He spied out from behind a curtain the brightly lit ballroom and decided: why the gods not? In a moment the feline stood atop the stairwell, on the dark wood railing itself that was polished to gleam and called out below, "Pardon my intrusion for the evening." His voice reverberated everywhere. He'd have one chance to make a mockery of this little show. All eyes rose to him and there were quite a few gasps at the darkly masked intruder. His nails lengthened and he raised it to the rope. "But I just wanted to drop in."

A quick slash and the chandelier went flying. His other hands tossed out smoke bombs littering the room with them as he dove out the nearest window and took off running, all the while being chased by guards. This fiery feline tossed a glance over his shoulder, spying that room at the top of the manor and paused long enough to shoot a fireball of immense proportions up to that roof devouring it in flame. A moment later sizzling fireworks shot out from the roof, shooting across the grass and lighting dried bits on fire, spontaneously flying everywhere.

He'd just made it to the stables when Salen was suddenly tackled to the ground. The guards had him. No way out now, but it was worth it. It was all worth it. They dragged him up within the confines of the stables. Roughly jerking him back and forth. One of them chuckled and grabbed onto a long piece of rope hanging nearby, he tossed it to the men. "Bind him boys. Lord Hanno will be pleased with our catch."

"I think not," growled out a voice. Before the lesser demons could even blink he moved like lightning. The five guards were sent crippled to the ground. Heads rolled, bodies bled, and corpses lay still. "Hnn. Sloppy work, feline."

The cat blinked back in shock. "How did you-"

Sesshomaru stared at the back of Salen where his tail had escaped during the fro with the guards. The dog demon raised his hands over the rope, acid immediately dissolving the knot and freeing the cat.

"You helped me. Why?" His palms were up in wonder.

Sesshomaru shrugged casually, but his eyes never left that golden chain in Salen's hand. He knew. Growing up, he'd known what was in that necklace. The Lady Shihira, Salen's twin sister, was always the nicer of the cat siblings. "It was honorable." With a quick appraisal of the situation he added, "Take my dragon."

"I owe you."

"Hnn."

"May I see the necklace?" The pretty voice drew him back out of his story telling and reminiscing of his past memories and back to the present. She held out her hand as if knowing that he still carried it around on him, which he did. The cat fumbled for a moment and then handed the item to Kagome as if it were even more valuable than the Shikon no Tama. The locket pried open easily under the touch of her fingers, as if its hinges were used to being opened quite often.

In the necklace was an inscription: Family is forever.

"I had it made for her before she was married. Shihira was jittery about the wedding and didn't want to leave, but she understood duty."

"Duty," whispered Kagome. Her eyes looked up unwavering at Salen. That word. It had controlled her life. She understood the need for it, but sometimes she wished to spit upon it. "Sometimes, should duty be forsaken?"

"For what, my lady?"

"For love."

Salen was quiet for a moment and told Kagome what he should have told his sister so long ago had he been a braver demon. "Yes, my lady." If only Shihira had heard that answer, maybe, just maybe she would have lived. It would have taken quite the argument with his father, but if he had known his own father would be dying in the battle against Naraku it really wouldn't have mattered. "As the daughter-in-law of the great Inu no Taishō, I believe it is fitting that you choose love over duty." Kagome nodded her head and for once the great cat wished he could see right into it. "Might I ask, what duty are you willing to give up for him?"

There was no doubt about whom Kagome was thinking of and her cheeks were aflame with the truth of it so easily spotted.

"I promised to fulfill a duty and I shall, but not the way others wish it," she replied. There was one thing Kagome had realized within this court. It was dangerous, too dangerous for Rin. And if she had to think about it, consider living here in all of this splendor for the rest of her life… it wasn't a life she wished to have. At the time she had been willing, but she'd imagined that life being spent with a dog demon who was used to the court and knew he would guide her in every task and day. A constant ever caring guardian beside her. No longer did she wish to stay here. Especially if it meant forcing Kouga to do twice the work he was already doing and making him be confined in those restricting clothes. No, she would do her duty, but not the way they expected.

The way she moved was with assurance as Kagome went to leave him. "My queen?" Salen prodded. He'd never seen a more surer step even one from Sesshomaru was not so strong.

"Yes, your highness of the south?" She addressed him sharply, still unused to the courtesies. Wolves didn't have such unnecessary titles and constant decorum.

He had no substantial proof. Just the locket and he didn't even know if Sesshomaru had planned this far. Did he want Kagome to touch it or was this something unexpected? How the hell was he to repay the debt to a dead dog with so little information? "Be on your guard. With everyone, save for Lord Kouga and Rin. Accept no gifts unless he's approved them." There, that would help. Kouga would recognize what he did. Surely. And that would buy Salen some time to decide on how to advise her until Kouga returned.

"A warning for good reason?"

"A warning with the best intentions."

Kagome handed him back the necklace. "What happened to him, the demon lord that had married your sister?"

"A dog demon rightfully killed him. The claim was that he'd threatened his ward's very presence."

Her back went ramrod straight as she realized just how quickly Salen and Sesshomaru had bonded. "Was it true?"

"My lady, any unknown demon is a possible threat to Rin's life."

Kagome briefly considered the man that she'd been so willing to marry. She'd always known what Sesshomaru was capable of, what he was willing to do... but she recognized what he'd done by killing that lord for Salen. He'd garnered a pawn to protect her out of an obligation. "So your kindness to me, Salen?" She tried using his name informally, hoping that she was not just another piece on the chessboard.

"A debt to be repaid," he answered her, and this time it was the cat that slipped away. He had much more observing to do of a certain she-wolf if he meant to protect this queen. Kagome stared at the spot he'd been standing at and felt the tears gathering in her eyes at the slight. With the obi bunched up in her hands, Kagome sat back on the bed in the room of a friend that she'd thought she'd known so well. And now she saw that even in his death, Sesshomaru was still guiding her. Kagome no longer knew if it was a comfort or an annoyance.

His precautions made perfect sense to her. Suddenly Kagome understood how Sesshomaru had grown up to be so hard with trusting others. This place, this court made people that way.

Yes, court life was most certainly not the life for her.

Dear god she wished Kouga would come back to her and Rin soon. She felt so lonely in this palace and the need for him and his pack was stronger than she'd ever known her heart could long for someone.

Oh, he wasn't too far away from that mangy wolf. Salen was just outside of the hot springs with a feline ear perched catching anything said in the room. He was trying to suppress his own demonic aura, but knew they still felt him from within the bathhouse that night.

Kagome finished plucking each flower out of Rin's unruly hair and began gently brushing those little locks. How that girl got so many tangles in such a short time amazed her. "Okay, now it's time to wash it, Rin," she patted Rin's bottom and the girl jumped, tossing her towel to the side, completely bare assed into the hot spring. Rin then promptly began swimming like a doggy as Kagome had taught her many weeks ago. Kagome slid her towel off and eased into the water. Gorgeous raven hair was bound up in a pair of chopsticks.

Each knot was like a rock in her body. Kagome could swear she'd never been so tensed in her life, but here it was make a false move and be ridiculed. Sometimes she wished for the simple life just camping on the bare ground and hunting jewel shards again.

"You coming, Ayame?" The priestess asked, sparing a glance to the red head who looked down timidly at the pool of steaming water. Ayame had her chance right now with Salen outside. It would be far too late for him to do anything if she handed that necklace to Kagome.

But Rin was in the room.

Despite how much Ayame yearned to get this over and done with she wouldn't allow that child to suffer the sight of what she had planned. The wolf slid out of her towel timidly and allowed a toe to touch the shimmery surface before she too joined. "You look worried about something. Don't worry though, whatever it is will fix itself, I've no doubt," smiled Kagome as Rin swam over to her arms.

The little girl was set to the side to play with her bath toys as Kagome waded over to Ayame. "You need to relax." She reached out and tugged on one of Ayame's fiery ponytails. Without any hesitation, the wolf smacked Kagome's hand. Realizing what she'd done she just bit her lip. "I'm sorry, it's just… that flower is special." Kagome's mouth was a big 'O' though she knew what that flower was from she also knew that Ayame was probably having a harder time than she let on with letting go of Kouga.

The priestess felt guilt within her own heart over that. She couldn't prevent her feelings as much as she could stop the moon from shining full and bright every month.

"I'll set your flower to the side." Kagome gingerly lifted the bloom out of Ayame's hair, watching for the demon and whether or not she didn't want to be touched. She set the flower down on a towel and began to play with Ayame's hair, threading her finger through lovely shades of red. Ayame had almost as many tangles as Rin did. Kagome began brushing it out nicely until it shone straight as silk.

Both women knew what Kagome's actions meant. Grooming one another. This was what pack did. What family did. This was what strengthened their bonds. Ayame could almost cry for the overwhelming love coming from this woman she so badly wanted to get out of the picture.

"You really do look beautiful with your hair down. More mature even. Mama always said a girl's hair could do wonders with age." Ayame graced Kagome with a small smile at the compliment. Maybe a new look was what she needed to attract Kouga. She hadn't exactly ditched the ponytails she'd sported since childhood. Maybe she didn't need to go through with her plan at all. As long as she could steal Kouga than she would be fine with leaving Kagome safely alone. If she could have her perfect life… well, she would allow Kagome the same. And so Ayame was going to try and hold off on pulling that jewel out of the pouch. She would take a note from Sesshomaru's book of lessons in waiting it out until the opportune moment.

"Thank you, Kagome," she murmured. The steam rose up from the water and Ayame allowed it to mask the tears trailing down her cheeks.

"No problem, I've missed playing with someone's hair," chirped the priestess, not knowing that it wasn't the tenderness of grooming that Ayame was thanking her for. It was the unyielding friendship and kindness.

There was silence from two of the most unlikely characters that day. Shippo and Inuyasha.

The first of the two was undoubtedly the easiest to handle. Though a frown had marred Shippo's features most of the trip and silence had been his friend even around Kouga... the wolf demon needed to figure out what led to this.

"What's on your mind, kit?" Kouga tugged on that auburn puffball of hair poking out of his ponytail.

"When you marry Kagome, you aren't going to kick me out, are you?"

The very thought of it had Kouga repulsed. Where the hell would he get that idea? "What put that in your head? You'll be part of our pack just like Rin."

His little pointy ears twitched at that name. "Rin?"

"Yeah, the tykes taken to following round Kagome like a cub and calling her mama."

Shippo's head hung. "Do you think she'll still want me even though she has Rin?"

The wolf demon calmly dragged Shippo to the side of the walking group. Ginta and Hakkaku knew well enough where to lead everyone and he'd let them lead on ahead as they had a man-to-man talk. He knelt down as he would with any of the wolf pups in his tribe so they could be eye to eye. Children, no matter what age or species, needed to be treated with respect when asking questions that dealt with adult issues. Especially when their little hearts looked to be about spilling from their eyes like Shippo's face looked now. "Lookah here Shippo. Kagome's been missing you." He remembered all the fond looks she'd cast at Rin and he would instantly know her thoughts were on this red haired fox that he had gently by the shoulders. Hell, when he'd first confronted her Kagome's immediate tears had been for betraying Shippo. "Why did you think I came back to get you? Only you?"

"To look good." Kouga actually snorted. Okay, Shippo had Kagome's mouth on him.

"I already look good," he laughed, rubbing at the puffy head of hair. "Kagome never wanted to leave you. You're her family Shippo, and if you'll let me, I'd like you to be mine."

The glow and idolatry from his face was enough. Shippo fell into Kouga's arms and bawled into his shoulder, letting Kouga carry him. He'd been holding in those tears for so long without anyone to share them with. "I'd like that, Kouga." He mumbled into the wolf demon's armor. "I'd like that very much." Little paws rubbed at his face to stop the tears. He was so embarrassed, but luckily no one glanced back in their large pack to stare at him.

Kouga cast a look at Inuyasha whose ears had been twitching. Dog-turd was always nosy, but it was nice seeing him pay attention to something. That mutt had been spaced out since Kouga had mentioned Megumi. Although if rumors were true there was good reason for Inuyasha to be. "I got to tell you though, my woman will give old mutt a run for his money now." Shippo snickered and the two walked alongside each other, both happier than they had been for quite some time.

He'd trudged on in silence. It was odd for one usually so mouthy, but ever since Sesshomaru's mother had been mentioned he'd had a permanent scowl on his face and that brow had been bent contemplating only the gods knew what. It wasn't until his body tensed up at the gates of the palace of the west that she finally spoke up while Kouga was addressing the gate keepers just who all was in his entourage. "What did this woman do to you, Inuyasha?"

The half-demon glanced over to his concerned wife's face. He briefly spared a glance at Kouga who was still talking with the palace gate keepers. That wolf and his people in this motley crowd probably all new just why Inuyasha had been so incredibly tense. Of course, being a new lord he would have at least heard a whisper of what had happened. Anything, especially for such scandal within a royal family with such a pedigree as his father the great Inu no Taisho.

Inuyasha took a deep breath and as the gates swung open he held his chin up ready to move forward again. He was ready to help Kagome until the last of his breath was drawn. His ears stood up, as if hearing the memories from his past of that dreadful night. That night when the entirety of his world as he'd known it as a child had completely changed. He'd gone from living in a palace to being ferried out of the house for fear of its mistress. Inuyasha reached over and gripped onto Kikyou's hand. He'd promised to protect her from any danger that threatened her and right now there was no one who could endanger Kikyou more than Megumi. "She murdered my mother."

A/N: To be continued. (^_^) Yeah, Megumi's evil... eviiiiiillllllll. *hiss hiss*