Blood ran in curling ribbons from her fingers, vanishing down the long stream of flowing water. She sank into the river, cringing as the cold water surrounded her, pressed into the shallow wounds on her body. She hoped the bruises would vanish quickly, they were more annoying than painful.

They had flown away from where Inuyasha had found them, had been forced to leave the path to avoid another run in. There was no telling how far from Sesshomaru she was now, how she would even find him. She sighed, dropped deeper into the water, settled with her chin just above the surface. She had a new probably now. Even if, no after she managed to save Sesshomaru how would she be able to help Inuyasha and deal with Kikyo? And on top of that she was no longer on the path Norain, Jiyora and Sayu had placed her on. That meant she would not come across Sesshomaru if he was returning to the castle. How would this work out now?

"Kagome are you okay?" Sango asked softly, hesitating as she approached the bank.

"Yeah, I'll be better in a day or two." Kagome murmured, keeping the worst of her wounds hidden from Sango's eyes.

"You've been really quiet since…"

"Oh… I have a lot of things to think about, and now we have to come up with a way to save Inuyasha as well," She sighed and wished she could sink even further into the water, "I don't even know where to start."

"You should stop worrying. We'll manage, just like we always do."

"Thanks Sango." She flashed a bright, fake smile, hoping Sango would leave her alone. She had a lot to work through her head. She watched the water flow past her, felt it pull at her hair, trying to take her with it. A part of her wanted to go, wanted to five up and flow down the river, but even as she thought of it a stab of guilt and pain pierced her. How could she even think of abandoning Sesshomaru? She would never be happy or at peace without him, would never be able to live with herself if she didn't help him.

"Kagome?" Sango glanced down at her, "Are you listening?"

"Huh?" She glanced up, "Oh, sorry I was thinking. Must have zoned out for a while."

"Just don't stay out here too long. You know how persistent Kikyo is, and with Inuyasha how he is… there's no telling when they may track us down."

"Don't worry. I'll only be a couple of minutes."

"I'll see you back at camp then." Sango murmured as she turned away, "Kagome, you aren't going to take off without us again are you?"

"No Sango, I won't just take off again. I didn't mean to worry you, but I… I had to hurry. I still do, but… after you hear it enough some things make sense."

"Like what?"

"Whatever I'm walking into, hurrying in without knowing what to do or what I'm getting into isn't smart"

"I never thought anyone would be able to convince you of that."

"I'm not stupid, just concerned. I didn't want to put anyone in danger or anything."

"We know that." Sango paused a moment longer, "well I'll let you.. I'll leave you alone for a while."

Kagome turned to watch her go, then dunked herself under the water. She didn't have much time, but she would figure this out.

*

Her eyes opened slowly. She shifted a little, tried to ignore the pain throbbing in her arm. She swallowed and tried to sit up."

"Don't move too much or you'll start bleeding again." His voice was low, tired. He sat a short distance from her, a fire burning between them.

"Inuyasha…"

"Don't start Kikyo." He looked through the flames at her, "I remember all of it, everything you said and made me do."

"Then why remain here? Why have you not run?"

"I don't run away from things." Inuyasha looked away, "Even after all of it, I don't want you to die."

"That is why you are so easily played." Kikyo snapped.

"Why would you do that Kikyo? Why would you trick me like that?"

"You know why."

"You couldn't kill Kagome on your own, so you found a way to make me do it for you." Inuyasha wanted to be angry with her, but couldn't muster the emotion. He felt the small disc below his kimono, the cold metal refusing to hold his warmth. He didn't want Kikyo to know he had Kagome's amulet. It would leave her defenseless against Kikyo's attacks. For now Kagome would be safe while Kikyo was busy trying to find another way around the amulet.

"not everything I said was a lie. The man who resurrected me will allow me to live if I kill the thief."

"So, you're working for someone?"

"My affairs have nothing to do with you?"

"Well you drug me into it didn't you?" Inuyasha asked sharply, "Now I'm involved, so you might as well tell me."

"Kagome is interfering with someone's plan. He wanted me to kill her before she could cause more damage"
"Making deals? Haven't you done enough to her? Didn't you learn from the last time?" Inuyasha jumped to his feet, "Damn it Kikyo, I watched Sesshomaru tear you limb from limb and then rip you into pieces. Do you think I want to see that again? You've already been resurrected twice, you should know better by now. Do you want to be dead again?"

"I am doing what I must to have my life." Kikyo cringed as she moved her left arm. "How are you no longer under my control?"

"I'm stronger than that I guess." He looked down at her, 'You don't even care. All you want is Kagome dead and her soul."

"My soul. The wench stole it from me."

"You died!" He was staring down at her, wondering how he could be angry now when it had seemed so impossible only moments before.

"Yes, I died, I was killed before my time. I have been given the opportunity to live my life as I should have, I will do whatever I must to keep my life."

"You're a fool Kikyo." He shook his head, sat down again, "Kagome will beat you, just like last time. As soon as she gets to Sesshomaru and he finds out you're after her again he won't hesitate to kill you.

"Your brother is probably already dead himself by now. He will be able to do nothing." Kikyo snapped.

For a moment he stared at her, "What?" She only laughed a little. "Damn it Kikyo, tell me what you've gotten yourself into. I can help you."

"Help me? You cannot help me." She turned away from him, "You're older brother is or soon will be dead and beyond her help. I will receive my reward fallowing her death."

"Sesshomaru won't just let someone kill him. He's too stubborn to die and… if he knows Kagome is in danger he won't stop until she's safe. He won't care about anything else, and he won't hesitate to kill anyone in his way."

"He won't have the chance." Kikyo murmured. She did not wait for him to say anything before walking away, and she did not glance back, even for a second before vanishing into the trees.

*

"He won't stop. The priestess won't let him. You know that don't you?" Amio murmured.

"I know better than anyone, I've dealt with Kikyo and Inuyasha for a long time." Kagome responded. She had known that Amio had been nearby since Sango had left. The female dog demon hadn't attempted to conceal her movements, "He usually isn't like that."

"You should not have given up that amulet. The priestess will know and she will come to kill you."

"I can handle her, it's Inuyasha I don't want to hurt." Kagome mumbled, looking down.

"You shouldn't worry so much about the half demon. You should be worried about yourself."

Kagome chuckled a little, "Now you sound like Sesshomaru. He'd kill me if he knew about this."

"Aren't you afraid that Lord Sesshomaru will kill you when you do find him?" Amio asked softly, staring at the ground.

"Sesshomaru wouldn't really kill me. He'd be annoyed that I'm putting myself in danger, but he won't hurt me." Kagome smiled, "Do you know him Amio?"

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Amio paused, "I met him once, when I was young. I went to the castle to see my brother. I was walking in the gates at the exact moment he was walking out. I've never met a more powerful demon, he's… terrifying."

"He's not so bad once you get to know him." She tucked the hairbrush into her backpack, "I was afraid of him the first time I met him. Of course, I'd only seen a few demons, and … well it's a long story." She shrugged.

"Do you have some way to find Lord Sesshomaru?"

"I… no." Kagome sighed, "I knew he was at the end of that path, and now… now I don't know."

"No wonder you've been worried." Amio turned away, "If his lordship is truly as fond of you as many claim I'm sure he will come to find you."

"What if he can't though?" Kagome murmured and started walking, glad that Amio didn't respond to her question.

*

He stood outside of the castle, blinked against the bright light of the coming day that fell across him. He recalled this feeling, the coolness of the early morning air, the wind tugging at him. When had he known this feeling before? Somehow he could find no memory of it, or anything. He should be moving, he had somewhere to be, didn't he?

"yes" Whispered the voice in his head, blocking any thoughts of his own, "there is a girl you have to deal with. You know her face. You know how to find her, and what to do once you accomplish that."

Her face appeared before him. Her small hand moved aside dark hair to reveal soft eyes in her pale face. The corners of her full lips trembled into a slight smile. He was sad to see the mental image go. She was beautiful to look at. Why did he hate her? What had this woman done that he had to kill her, and why could he not remember?

*

"I can't help feeling that this is a bad idea." Sango glanced around almost nervously, "What if Kikyo and Inuyasha are waiting for us?"

"She won't be. Kikyo will be out looking for a way to try to kill me."

"Are you sure Kagome?"

"Yes, and besides, she'll have to find a new way to fight with her hand missing." A pang of guilt cut into her.

"I'm sure she'll be fine. After all Kikyo has been killed and returned twice, loosing a limb will not slow her down for long." Miroku sighed, "However, I must agree with Sango that returning here was probably not the best of ideas."

"This path is the only way I know of to reach Sesshomaru and if I keep going eventually Kikyo will come after me again, and we can help Inuyasha then." Kagome said it with more conviction than she felt. She knew Kikyo would come after her, and that she would send Inuyasha if she was able, but Kagome had no idea how to free Inuyasha if she hadn't managed to last time."

"Do not worry about the half demon, I know that is your concern. He will not be difficult to deal with."

"Thanks Amio, but I don't want Inuyasha to get hurt. Kikyo is the one doing it, not him."

"She's using him because you'll allow him to get close to you, because you do not wish him harm. She will use that to her advantage." Amio murmured, speaking to Kagome as if she were afraid of upsetting the others.

"I know…" Kagome sighed, "But I won't hurt him while he has no control over himself."

"He gave himself over to the woman, it is his own fault."

"You don't know him Amio, Kikyo takes advantage of him, it's not his fault."

*

"Why couldn't he find her? Inuyasha didn't stop running, searching for her scent. Where would he find her? Would he find her at all? He couldn't have killed her, he wouldn't have.

*

"You've failed me priestess."

"It is not my fault. The demon has taught her things she did not know before."

"Which you should have foreseen." Gorimaru glared at her for only a moment, "But I am forgiving. I will mend your wounds, and give you another chance."

"Another chance?"

"My enemy has been vanquished, but I will not be pleased until all that he held dear is destroyed. Only then will I know peace or joy."

"You truly despise him."

"That is none of your concern." Gorimaru turned away, "You will no longer be responsible for the human girl's death. I want you to lead the attack against her companions. I will personally see to the capture of Sesshomaru's castle.

"I want to see her dead myself."

"You will obey me or return to the dead this instant." There was a slow smirk on his sharp face, "I have a better plan."

*

She moved forward slowly, her eyes sweeping the ground in front of her. She could sense something coming closer, something she didn't quite recognize or know why she felt. The morning was silent, lonely. She didn't like this feeling. It had been so long since she had felt helpless that Kagome was having a hard time adjusting to the feeling.

Every few moments she scanned the path ahead of her, the tree line. No one spoke to her, or at all. She glanced up at them, then back to the trees and was instantly frozen.

His silver hair slid across his face, and he watched her with dull empty eyes. She stared at him for a long moment, blinking several times, but still he didn't disappear. For a moment longer he watched her, then turned away and vanished slowly into the trees. A single strand of silver hair was carried to her by the wind. Kagome caught it with a gasp and after only a second ran after him.

The trees became blurs passing her, and she began to wonder if she had been hallucinating. She twisted the silver strand around her finger, knowing it was his, that he had been there. But why would he run from her? Why hadn't he simply come out and talked to her. He probably didn't want an audience, and he had know she would be following.

*

"What should we do?"

"Nothing. It was Sesshomaru, he won't hurt her." Sango whispered, "I guess now all we have to do is figure out how to save Inuyasha."

"I think not."

*

She came skidding to a halt behind him, her breathing labored. He did not turn to her right away, only after she had whispered a name he did not recognize. He watched as she approached him, and was shocked as her arms clasped suddenly around him. There was something achingly familiar about the feel of her body against his. Her intoxicating scent flowed into his nose, into his body, and when she spoke he found her voice as enchanting as her face.

"Sesshomaru, I was so worried about you. I'm so glad you're okay."

He was silent pondering her words, curious about her. Who was Sesshomaru he wondered suddenly, and why had she called him by that name twice? In his mind he knew he hated her, but he could find no anger toward her.

"Sessh, are you okay?" She demanded softly, taking a step back from him, wondering why he was acting so strangely.

"I…am fine." He did not know why he was responding to that name. It was not his, but he had no recollection of ever having a name."

"Oh good." She smiled and looked down, 'I was coming to find you, I know you'll be…"

"I am glad you came." He could use this mistake of hers to lure her into a false secure feeling. Thinking he was this person she cared for this human woman would allow him to get close to her, close enough to kill easily.

She blinked up at him. Glad she had come? Sesshomaru would not be glad. He was angry, annoyed with her every time she placed herself in danger, and coming after him was one of the most dangerous things she had ever done involving him. He would not be glad that she had come for him, he would tell her that she had been wrong to worry about him, wrong to think he would need her help. That was the sort of thing Sesshomaru would have said, not that he was glad she had come after him. "Are you okay? Did something happen that I should know about?"

"Why would you ask that?" There was something strange about these words, they did not feel natural on his tongue, and the look on her face was a little guarded.

"you're acting really weird." She moved toward him, but still kept a short distance between them, uncomfortable for some reason, nervous.

"Don't be stupid." He watched her face change. Her eyes widened and she backed away slightly. "What's wrong?"

She watched him closely. It had to be Sesshomaru. It was almost impossible to duplicate him so exactly, but she had been tricked before. This wasn't like that time though. It had to be Sesshomaru, but there was something wrong with him. Even his eyes weren't right. They were blank, dead in a way they had never been before. The spark that had always been there was not just guarded it was gone. "I… Where have you been? What happened to you?"

Trying to read her was impossible, and he had no answer for her question. The voice continued only to scream "Kill her" in the back of his mind.

"Sesshomaru?" She hovered between moving toward him and running away. He looked away, then turned back, and there was only coldness on his face and a mild curiosity.

"Tell me, who is this Sesshomaru?" He asked softly, wanting to know before he killed her.

"You are…aren't you?"

"No." He moved suddenly, accepting that he would not get an answer.