Kagome let the paper fall from her fingers. It slowly fell to the floor with a soft scratching noise that seemed to fill the entire room. The young miko found it hard to breath and even harder to decide what emotion to feel first.

It was over. After all this time the fight was over. Should she feel relief that the greatest threat to her very existence was dead? Or should the terrible panic she felt about the jewel being gods know where with gods know who consume her? Her mind seemed to decide on numb until she could sort out what she was feeling.

Kagome blinked a couple of times, her eyes focusing on Sesshomaru's impassive expression. There was the demon Lord of the West, watching her. Slowly, the numbness faded replaced by cold fear. With Naraku dead, Sesshomaru had no reason to continue her training or even to let her live.

Some how, she managed to speak around the dry cottony feeling that had formed in her mouth. "Will you allow Kaori to take me back to Inuyasha?"

The regal Taiyoukai raised and eyebrow at her request. He regarded the strange miko silently for a moment. All the color had drained from her face and she had stopped breathing for a moment. Sesshomaru had wondered if she was going to pass out. "Do you not wish to continue your training?"

"I do, but with Naraku dead, you don't really have any reason to finish it," she commented softly. "Not that it really started."

The girl had a valid point. Sesshomaru was at a loss to explain his reluctance to let her return to his brother so soon. "Your training has already been paid for. Therefore, it is in my interests to see it completed." The skeptical look that crossed the young woman's face prompted him to continue. "Someone or something managed to defeat Naraku, no small task. Who or what it is will not be a simple thing to overcome. Your training is more necessary now than it was before."

Kagome paled again, but managed a small smile. The thought of something able to beat the powerful Naraku with the completed jewel didn't sit well with her. She regarded the demon lord in front of her thoughtfully. "With Naraku dead, are you going to hunt down the current owner of the jewel?"

Sesshomaru studied her face for any hint of what the Miko was thinking. "The new holder of the Sacred Jewel is no concern of mine. Unfortunately, the existence of such a powerful relic poses a threat to my power. It must be destroyed."

Kagome frowned at his noncommittal comment. She was about to call him on it when Jaken walked into the room.

"Dinner is ready milord," The short green imp said as he bowed.

"Thank you, Jaken." Sesshomaru headed out the door to the formal dinning hall with out another word to Kagome about the jewel.

Kagome just shook her head. Whether the brothers wanted to admit it or not, they were more alike than either would admit.

She caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye as she entered the hallway after Sesshomaru. Turning her head fully in the direction of the movement, she thought she saw a woman dressed in several layers of kimonos with silver white hair at the other end of the hall. Kagome blinked and the woman had vanished. An unnaturally cold breeze traveled down the hallway causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end. Not wanting to be left in the creepy hallway alone, she hurried to catch up with the long legged demon lord who seemed unphased by the sudden temperature change.

#

After overseeing the unpacking of Ah-Un, Kaori headed to her assigned room. Apparently Sesshomaru believed in keeping the three girls close together. Her room was across the hall from Kagome's. Next to the Miko's room was Rin's room. She had been slightly surprised that she had been taken to a room in the guest wing and not in the servant's wing. It wouldn't surprise her if she ended up there eventually. Sesshomaru liked his people to know their places. She figured if she pushed him too far, she'd end up sharing a room with the cook, if she was lucky.

Only two items furnished the room, attesting to the haste in which it had been prepared. A futon lay in the center of the room, with a sword stand off to one side, her silk- wrapped gift sitting in front of it. Who ever had prepared the room had guessed at what the bundle had contained. Kaori had suspected much the same thing, but had yet to open it.

It sat ominously on the floor, not three feet from her. It was the final gift from her father; she prayed it wasn't the sword she thought it was. Gingerly she picked it up. The red silk fell from the object with barely a whisper; leaving behind the black lacquered scabbard of the katana she had dreaded seeing. She turned it over, revealing the hand carved lotus flower mid way down the scabbard. All of her sisters knew she would be his successor in the clan, if for no other reason that the rest of them didn't want it. Unfortunately, she had claimed her inheritance too late. The clan that had been so dear to her father was gone.

#

Katakai tapped the side of the smoky quartz scrying bowl thoughtfully with one long claw. The corrosive fire from the tip smoked a bit as it ran down the side of the bowl. The hard crystal was left unmarked.

His brothers were in place. Katoukai was in possession of the southern lord, Kakaosu was in possession of the northern lord and Kakunou was having entirely too much fun tormenting the monk whose body he possessed.

Katakai had secured the loyalty of the eastern lord easily. The demon lord had coveted the western lands for a very long time and a simple offering of the spoils was all it took. He had intended for Kakunou to possess the eastern lord, but the prospect of having him so close to the friends of the Shikon guardian was too much to pass up.

The plan was simple. The southern, northern and eastern lords would declare war on the western lands. The arrogant demon Lord of the West had neglected his duty to the other lords, believing that they would never be foolish enough to come after the formidable demon lord.

He picked up the gourd of spring water sitting next to him and poured some into the bowl. Then things had become a bit more complex. The jewel's guardian had wandered right into his hands. He had tasted the purity of her soul in that brief time she was in the tea house with him. Through her, his brothers could be reborn in their true forms once again.

The sharp claw of his thumb pierced the skin of his index finger allowing two drops of his blood to drip into the water. It swirled briefly before catching the moonlight and shimmering. When it cleared he could see the Shikon guardian sitting at a low table with the Western Lord and a young human girl. Through his blood they were connected, but not enough for him to manipulate her for his purposes. He could feel the demon lord's aura through her though, and he was stronger than he had anticipated. In order for his new plan to work, he must get closer to her.

A wicked grin spread across Katakai's handsome face as he watched one of the servers pour the guardian some tea. Yes, that would do nicely.

#

Sesshomaru let his gaze fall on the empty space at the table, the setting that Kaori should have been at. The servant pouring the tea noticed where he was looking and started to tremble slightly. "Was Kaori informed that the meal was ready?"

The servant seemed to stop in mid movement when the demon lord addressed her. "Yes, milord, but she said she wasn't hungry."

Kagome looked slightly concerned. "Strange, she said she couldn't wait to get back because she was starving. I wonder what happened."

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Simple, she ate before everyone else and refuses to join us in an attempt to anger me."

"Milord, the cook doesn't like any one in the kitchen while cooking. The door was locked until the meal was ready."

Sesshomaru glared at the servant for speaking out of turn.

She bowed deeply in placation. "I apologize, milord."

"I could go see what's wrong," Kagome offered.

Sesshomaru shook his head. "No, I will deal with it after the meal is finished. Kaori is not to be allowed in the kitchen. If she insists on not joining us, she will not eat."

The servant nodded her acknowledgement of the orders.

Kagome paused with the chopsticks half way to her mouth. "Isn't that a bit harsh?"

"This is Lord Sesshomaru's castle. It is not your place to question his rules, human!" Jaken blurted out, causing Rin to giggle at the bug eyed demon.

"Jaken," Sesshomaru said warningly.

"Sorry, milord." The toad- like demon replied meekly. He turned his attention back to his fish.

Rin caught Kagome's attention leaving Sesshomaru to observe and think. The heavily black lacquered table was the same one he and his father had sat around for meals so many years ago. The table had withstood the neglect of ages intact and in good condition. His father had surrounded himself with his only family and trusted friends at meal time. Those same friends were his advisors as well, so conversation usually included politics. Sesshomaru looked around the table at his… what? Family? Friends? Subjects? What were the two human females and the imp to him?

"Do you have someone to protect?" The question echoed through his head as clearly as if his dead father had whispered it in his ear.

Sesshomaru snarled inwardly.

Rin and Kagome looked up at him, startled by the sudden growled "no" that had erupted from the silent demon lord. Two pairs of wide eyes watched as the now angry taiyoukai stormed out of the room.

"I have an insubordinate subject to deal with." He offered as an explanation for his sudden exit.

"Do you think he means Kaori?" Rin asked, a bit worried for her new friend.

"If he does, I hope he calms down before he gets to her," Kagome replied. 'She has been pushing his buttons. Was this the last straw?' She mused silently.

#

Sesshomaru opened the door to Kaori's room. He bit back the scathing remark he was about to make concerning her lack of respect for his orders when he saw her posture.

She was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the futon, her elbows on her knees with her head resting on her hands. Her long dark brown hair fell across her face, obscuring it from view. A sword he recognized as her father's was sitting in front of her.

It was clear to him that she was in some sort of emotional distress. His sensitive nose picked up the salty scent of tears. Perhaps he should have let Kagome take care of it.

"Tell me, Lord Sesshomaru, what do you do when the one thing you were raised to do from the moment you were born vanishes, the one thing that has been your identity for your entire life?" Kaori asked without looking at him.

"You accept what has happened and move on," he replied stoically.

Kaori looked up at him. "That's easy for you to say. Some of us actually have feelings beyond the desire for power."

Sesshomaru's golden eyes narrowed dangerously, daring her to continue her hazardous tirade.

"I don't know what happened between you and your father to cause you to hate him so much, but my father and I were close. It makes me ill to think that I failed him." Kaori was pushing him closer to the edge of his control; she had felt his anger long before he had opened her door.

Sesshomaru moved so quickly the sword sitting on the futon wasn't disturbed a bit when he yanked Kaori off it by the neck and pinned her to the far wall. His had tightened around her throat, cutting off her air supply. He struggled not to let the acid start dripping from his claws. "You are my employee, nothing more. What ever relationship you imagined we had before you left does not exist. Not then, not now. You will treat me with the respect demanded by my position. Do I make myself clear?" He loosened his grip to allow her to speak.

"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru,' was her robotic reply, her tone flat.

He held her them a few moments more searching her odd blue- green eyes for something. She was giving him the same look she had given him so many years ago when he had dismissed her family from his service. He had been weaker then and almost backed down on his resolve to cut any ties to her beyond that of an employee. He didn't need her friendship then, and he didn't need it now.

He released the female demon from his grasp and turned around to leave the room. When he got to the door way he heard the sound of a sword being picked up and the smell of tears again assaulted his sensitive nose. The demon lord paused briefly and glanced back over his shoulder. He knew her well enough to know she wouldn't come

at him with it. Would he stop her if he saw that she was about to impale herself on her own sword? The brief look reveled her sliding down the wall hugging the still sheathed sword to her chest, the emotional pain she felt clearly etched on her face. Over the years he had come to recognize that expression as one of intense mourning. But there was nothing he could do for her.

Kaori continued to stare straight ahead, not seeing anything in front of her the tears silently leaving salty trails on her cheeks. "I want to be alone now, please," she whispered hoarsely.

Sesshomaru blinked, realizing he was still standing in the doorway. Unsure of how to break the uncomfortable silence that had formed; he turned on his heel and headed down the hallway.

"Sesshomaru…" His name drifted down the hallway so softly he wasn't sure if his sensitive ears had actually heard anything. Amber eyes narrowing, he headed back to Kaori's room to see what it was she wanted.

The door to her room was still open allowing him to see her laying on the futon, her eyes closed. If it had been her speaking she had apparently not meant for him to hear it.

"Sesshomaru…" again the barely audible voice called to him, this time from further down the hall, around the corner.

The demon sniffed the air in an attempt to identify the owner of the voice. All his sensitive nose could pick up was dust and faint traces of decay from the areas that still needed repair.

A snarl of irritation escaped his lips. He had believed it was Kaori toying with him as she had when they were children, but unless she had learned new tricks while she was in Europe, this harassment was not her.

Sesshomaru spun around, sensing the presence of someone behind him. The empty hallway greeted him mockingly.

"Sesshomaru" the voice whispered directly in his ear, causing his hair to move ever so slightly with the breath of the speaker.

He growled spinning back around in time to catch a glimpse of layered kimonos trailing around the corner of the hall. A chill wind seemed to follow the cloth around the corner, tugging at the Taiyoukai to chase after it.

Every instinct he had screamed for him to turn and go back in the other direction. Sesshomaru forced those instincts into submission. Nothing had ever frightened him. He was not about to let a breeze and a figment of his imagination, no matter how realistic, to get the better of him.

Turning the corner he watched as the kimonos seemed to vanish up the stairs at the end of the hallway.

Suddenly, Sesshomaru felt an almost irresistible urge to run the other direction. Something was not right. The irrational part of his mind that he kept such tight control of seemed to be getting the better of him. He could have sworn that he had seen a woman from the waist down go up the stairs, the top half missing or somehow invisible.

Shaking his head, he dismissed it as the light playing tricks on his eyes. No one in their right mind would head up those dangerous stairs. To prove this to himself, he headed over to them. The decades of dust remained undisturbed aside from his earlier jaunt up to his mother's private apartments…

"Sesshomaru…" The voice now seemed to come from up the stairs.

"This is foolishness…" the Taiyoukai muttered to himself under his breath. With two graceful leaps he was on the second floor, his eyes scanning the empty hallway for signs of intruders. The only indication anyone had been up here recently were his footprints from earlier.

With another frustrated growl at his own foolishness, he turned to head back down the stairs.

"Sesshomaru…"

He looked over his shoulder as the voice called to him yet again, this time more insistently.

The half body apparition disappeared into his mother's room, the cold draft yet again pulling at him to follow.

Resting his hand on Tokijin's hilt, Sesshomaru followed it into the room. The light from the half moon filtered in through the window, showing only the dust of an abandoned room floating about. There was nothing in this room, just as there had been nothing in it earlier.

Sesshomaru decided to check the room before leaving; the dressing table was just as he remembered leaving it. Turning, he went to make sure nothing was hiding among the numerous kimonos in the other room.

Satisfied, he had been the only person in the rooms as of late, he turned to leave.

His golden eyes widened in shock. Sitting on the ornately carved stool in front of the dressing table was a white haired Taiyoukai female. This female he recognized. No…this wasn't possible…his mind refused to believe his eyes.

Slowly the figure turned to face the stunned demon. "Sesshomaru, my son, you have returned to me."

Sesshomaru stood there, rooted in place as the apparition reached out for him. Helplessly he watched as she touched his face, the skin suddenly feeling unnaturally cold under her caress.

"Mother?" He managed to whisper hoarsely before the world around him violently started to spin. Someplace in the back of his mind he was aware of Tenseiga trying to contact him before everything seemed to go dark.