Chapter 10: That Was Amazing

What no one noticed was a small neko atop the Kurosaki house watching with barely concealed interest; I finally found you.

Once Shippou left Kagome's, he dialed a number from memory. "Kit, there had better be a good reason you are calling this number," came the cold voice of his Alpha and Daiyoukai, Sesshoumaru.

"Yeah, you need to call the others, I have something important you are going to want to hear, Sesshoumaru-sama."

"Hn," was followed by a dial tone. Baka Inu, couldn't he have at least said good-bye? No, because then he wouldn't be him. Self-righteous prick. Shippou rolled his eyes and put his phone away.

Driving to the outskirts of Tokyo, he pulled into a driveway that led through an immense forest.

When he arrived at Sesshoumaru's house, he took in the sight. It looked smaller than the average samurai kyuutei. It had always amazed him that Sesshoumaru never had an over-the-top kyuutei. It was ironically humbling, considering the larger-than-life Daiyoukai. Small enough that you would never suspect a Youkai Ryoushu to live there, yet big enough to house his staff and a small army. Another thing that had caught him by surprise was that Sesshoumaru didn't keep his entire army with him. He had set up villages in strategic areas around the kyuutei. Far enough to be hidden and unsuspecting, yet close enough arrive when needed. He never begrudged his army and staff, for he never called them servants, their families or vacation. He was actually a fair ruler despite his cold demeanor and deadly reputation. It was those that annoyed him, got in his way, challenged him, or that he despised that could be found at the end of his blade never to return and try such transgressions again. Sadly, that was a very long list.

The land surrounding his home was a forest. Acres upon acres of forest could be seen. While he was still the ruling Daiyoukai of the West, most of it had been industrialized, he kept a tenth of the original land to keep him home on. That tenth held more forest and wild life than half the zoos in Japan. He kept the central part of the west as his home. This included his armies' villages. Having lived his life by the most strict of honor codes, his honor would never allow him to force someone, who had been beyond loyal, trustworthy, and just as honorable, from their ancestral homes. While they became small towns, they did their best to keep the air as taint free as possible. No kidding, there was a spot designated for cars so the exhaust would taint the air. Sesshoumaru's personal lands were a haven to all youkai who served under him; a place where they could be who they truly were. It even allowed for all youkai, who reached a youma state, to take their true forms. While he no longer needed his army, they stayed true to their ruling Dai. Even now, they continue to train in the ways of old and new; even if it was only to keep the tradition alive.

On Sesshoumaru's lands, traveling by true form was the way to go. Not many youkai could stand the confines of a car. It was too restricting for being that lived by freedom. That's why, for those who chose to travel the same way as ningen, many hand motorcycles. It was the closest form of ningen travel that was akin to freedom. In fact, Sesshoumaru was one of the very few that even had a car, but that was mostly because of his business. He could never be allowed to appear disheveled.

Having arrived to the kyuutei, by way of his true form, he could tell the others were already there. Going to the front door, he was soon greeted by an annoying voice, "Shippou-sama, Sesshoumaru-sama is already in his study," said Jaken in that squawking and obnoxious voice. With a slight nod in his direction, Shippou quickly made his way to Sesshoumaru's study with a shudder, knowing Jaken would be following closely behind.

Having played one too many a prank in his youth, Shippou had his very own seat, and at the time, it had been facing the darkest scariest corner. It still gave him discomfort to meet in the study. While it had been a many years since he was sent in for punishment, he still remembered being forced to read the most boring scrolls that spoke of absolutely nothing and made no sense what-so-ever. While he had been there many times, such punishments never seemed to deter him in his youthful pranking endeavors. Luckily, as time went on, his seat no longer faced that dreaded corner.

After knocking on the door, he entered without waiting for a reply. Surveying the room, he saw that everyone was waiting. Nodding, he went to his seat, waiting for the questions to begin before they would even let him start his story.

"What is the meaning behind the, Kit?" Spoke Sesshoumaru from behind his desk.

"Yeah, what the hell is so important that you had to drag us away from our busy lives to meet?" The once proud Ookami youkai said.

"Silence, Ookami." Sesshoumaru growled out in annoyance, "Well, Kit?"

Shippou smirked, "I found her."

"I am not in the mood for your games, Kit. Found who," said the stoic Daiyoukai. Apparently, his patience had decided to extend its vacation, yet again.

"Kagome."

With that once name said, the room was silent. So silent, even their breathing could be heard, and for a youkai, it meant a dead silence. The room erupted with questions from everywhere in the room. When they realized that none of them were going to get answers, they quieted down, giving room to continue.

"She's living in a town called Karakura Town. In a small, but decent apartment, by herself. She just moved in there today."

"What is she doing there?" Kouga all but yelled, "What is Kagome-"

"Let me finish you baka. Yelling at me isn't going to get your questions answered. It's going to irritate me, and keep me silent." Shippou glared at the man who tried to claim his mother for three years, then smirked in sadistic satisfaction that he lost her forever, since he had ended up mating 50 years after she was taken from them. With that, he explained everything he learned from the time he saw her in front of the fast food joint to the time he left, including the well, leaving out the little details about Ichigo and his business seeing as it was irrelevant and none of theirs. They wanted to know about Kagome, not Ichigo.

"I see. Well I think it's time we pay her a visit. Don't you think?" Inuyasha spoke up for the first time.

"No," came Shippou's determined voice.

"And why the hell not, you brat," yelled Inuyasha.

"Do you really think that after all this time, she wants to see you? After what you did, she doesn't want anything to do with you." Kouga looked between the two, "What did the bakayaro do to Kagome?"

"Oh you mean you don't know?"

Inuyasha glared at the kit, while a now pale Kikyo tried to pacify her mate, "Keep your mouth shut, you little fucker, or I'll shut it for you."

A voice full of dominance spoke over the tension, "Inuyasha, let the Kit speak, for This One is curious as to what he has to say."

Inuyasha turned his glare to his brother, doing his best to hold back a growl, knowing that it could be seen as a challenge for Alpha.

Shippou laughed, "Oh this is rich. You mean to tell me that no one knows? I had thought it would have gotten out, with how Sango and Miroku were. I know I talked about it quite a bit. I'm surprised no one noticed how we all hated you. I can't say that still I don't; then again, the only time I hate you is when I have to see your ugly mug. The only reason you're here is because it didn't occur to me that Sesshoumaru-sama was going to call you."

"Shippou, that's enough." Inuyasha sounded tired, "It was a long time ago."

"For whom was it a long time ago, Inuyasha? For you and that," he gestured to Kikyo, "Or for Kagome? You forget Bakayaro; she's been here for a little less than a month. Time passed differently for us and her. She didn't have five hundred years to deal with it. She's had a year. And you know Kagome, she can hold a grudge; not to mention, that's not something someone can get over in a year." He felt smug when he saw Inuyasha's eyes widen. Bakayaro, it didn't even occur to him what she was feeling. It never does. It's always about what he wants. Selfish ass whole.

"What is he talking about Otouto," Sesshoumaru spat the word with disgust.

"Nothin'. He ain't talkin' about nothing'." Inuyasha looked down in shame.

When Sesshoumaru raised an eye brow, Shippou decided to enlighten everyone, "About two and a half years after Kagome arrived in the Sengoku Jidai, Inuyasha made a certain proposal to Kagome." All eyes widened around the room, except for Sesshoumaru, of course. "He told her he would mate her in a week's time, telling her he wanted to give her ample time to make what ever preparations she would need. By then, she knew that mating was completely different than marriage. Sango had been teaching her the ways of youkai, as I'm sure that Sesshoumaru-sama had also done when she went with him. He had a household full of youkai and she didn't need to send the wrong message to anyone. That's also why she started dressing appropriately for that era. Well, when the week's time was up, they went into forest to do their thing." I like this era's language better, there are something's you can get away with saying and it'll make things a whole lot easier.

"As they were finished with the first part of the ritual and had just gotten started on the actual mating, the clay one sent her shinidamachuu. Inuyasha just got up, dressed, and ran to her as fast as a bat out of hell. He left Kagome in the forest, alone, unclothed, and scenting of arousal; leaving her there completely defenseless at the mercy of whatever youkai would have been the first to scent her arousal and take her. Her scent without arousal calls countless youkai because of her purity and cleanliness; imagine what it's like with it?" He watched the others' reactions. Kouga looked ready to kill a mutt, Shiori looked horrified, and Ginta and Hakkaku looked just as disgusted as Ayame. Jinenji looked sad, for he never really had the heart to be mean. Jaken looked scandalized. Rin, good sweet Rin, looked like she wanted to cry. Shippou looked at his mate, seeing her ready to shed tears; he tucked her under his arm and put his chin on her head. Rin cried into her mate's chest. Sesshoumaru wasn't shocked to say the least. He had always known Inuyasha had no honor, and Shippou learned quite quickly that he had agreed with his Alpha on that point.

Then there was Inuyasha. Inuyasha, glared at Shippou with hatred. He just shrugged it off, after 500 years, Shippou couldn't bring himself to care about Inuyasha. When he was little, his tiny heart was filled with hatred for the hanyou, but as he grew older, he found a way to deal with it. It was easier to make Inuyasha nonexistent in his heart and mind than acknowledge he was even alive. As far as he was concerned, unless he had to actually deal with said hanyou personally, then he told himself that he didn't exist.

"Didn't you ever wonder why Kagome no longer spoke to Inuyasha like she used to? How the moment he would open his mouth, he was face-planted? She stopped defending him, stopping piggy-backing with him. Ever wonder why we completely ignored everything he had to say and would leave him behind the moment he caught sight of the shinidamachuu? I mean, the moment he scented it, he would take off. When he did, we would pack up our stuff and go find another clearing. She even sealed her way home from him."

"Half-breed. This One must say that he is not surprised. This One always knew you lacked honor, this being brought to light has merely solidified that fact. That is also another reason that you would never be recognized as pack. This One knew you disgraced the blood of our great and terrible Otou-sama and is ashamed that you share his blood." Sesshoumaru rose carefully from his seat, showing his imposing height, "Inuyasha, disgraced son of the former Inu Taishou, leave this house and never return. Take your mate and live with the knowledge that you will never be granted asylum nor will you ever be welcomed upon the land of your ancestors. As Daiyoukai of the West, and head of the House of the Moon, you are banished from the West and the House of the Moon, for the transgressions against the Miko of the West and the House of the Moon."

Everyone watched as Sesshoumaru pulsed in resonance with the land. As both continued to pulse, they saw Inuyasha and Kikyo pulse in timing with their Daiyoukai. A subtle shift in the land told all who lived on and were connected to the West that two of its inhabitants had become unwelcome.

"The fuck! You can't do that you arrogant prick! This land was my Otou-san's too! He left it to both of us! You can't kick me off my birth right! Only he has that power! Not that you care, after all, I'm just a hated half breed! I'm a pain in your ass! You never cared for me, and I was left to fend for myself! And you say you have honor. You prick, you have no fucken honor!" Inuyasha yelled.

Sesshoumaru raised a perfectly shaped, sliver brow and spoke in his emotionless tone, "You are wrong, Inuyasha. I am head of both Houses. When Otou-sama died, he told me that both houses were my responsibility. I was to rule with honor and dignity. He also told me that I was never to be allowed to be near you when you were growing up. Unless anything should happen to your Okaa-san. The morning after Izayoi died, I went to the House of Setsuna to collect you and raise you as Otou-sama would have wanted. They denied me, telling me that you had run off. I told them I was to take responsibility for you so they wouldn't have to. Again they denied me. You were 9 summers old when I went to find you. I searched ten years for you. By the time I found you, you yourself denied me and declined the offer I had given. Or have you forgotten? I will not be responsible for your lack of honor when you yourself refused to come to the land of your ancestors. When you denied me, you denied your birth right. I tried to explain that to you that night centuries ago. When you denied the land, the land denied you. While you may have lived on the West, the West did not see you as a part of its House."

"Fuck the West, it's just a piece of dirt you baka inu!"

"Inuyasha!" Sesshoumaru snarled. Everyone backed away. All knew that an angry Sesshoumaru was a deadly Sesshoumaru. "Don't speak of things you have no knowledge of! The West is alive. All cardinal points are alive. The Lands chose who rules them. The House of the Moon, more importantly the Inu clans, have ruled the West for many generations because the West chose us." Shippou watched as Sesshoumaru took a calming breath, allowing the red to recede from his eyes. "If the Lands do not approve of who rules them, they will not flourish. If you had taken my offer when I had given it you would know this, but since you did not, do not attempt to throw around false accusations and untruths simply to appease yourself. You are a fool without honor and you deserve the woman who is your mate. For she is just as without honor as you."

Kikyo gasped in horror and fell back a step, eyes brimming with tears. "Leave her out of this you bakayaro!"

The West, sensing its mater's anger and dismissal of the hanyou, took matters into its own hands. All watched as the banished couple began to fade slowly, "It seems Inuyasha, that the West no longer wants your presence upon its soil."

Sesshoumaru turned to the others, once again the calm and collected Ryoushu they all knew and respected. "Now, Kit, I believe it is time to pay her a visit. We, youkai, are lucky that we do not require as much sleep as ningen. This…discussion…has taken all night and most of the morning. I think she will be rested enough to accept a visit from old friends, do you not think so?" There was a soft look in his eyes as he spoke of the tiny Miko that had become special to them all.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot, she's going to do an exorcism today! Well, what are you waiting for, an engraved invitation! Let's go! I am not going to miss this because you weren't fast enough!" Shippou hugged Rin tightly and dashed out the window in an attempt to reach his bike as fast as possible.

"The Kit still has not learned patience. Perhaps I will need to reeducate him."

Kouga laughed, "Come on, let's get going. It's been years since we've felt Kagome's miko-ki and this isn't something I want to miss." He looked at the other Ookami and grinned, "Plus, I haven't seen 'my woman' in a really long time, right Shiori." The petite koumori youkai giggled, remembering the stories her mate and his two friends told her of the kind Miko who had set her free from her jii-chan. "Come on, Shiori, I'm sure Kagome would love to see you again." He smiled a charming smile at his mate as the walked the door.

Ginta and Jinenji walked side by side reminiscing about the tiny Miko that had shown them a great kindness.

Hakkaku smiled at Ayame and took hold of his mate's hand leading her as he followed the others.

I had spent the entire morning preparing for the day and gathering my supplies for ritual. Hearing a knock at my door I went to open it.

"Yo," said a rather annoyed looking Ichigo.

"Ichigo, you're just on time! Come on. Shippou should be here anytime now." I ushered him in, "Would you like anything while we wait?"

He shook his head, "No, the old man says hi, by the way. Annoying baka woke me up this morning by jumping through my window. Who the hell does that? True, I kicked him in the face when he got up, but still." He shook his head when he heard me giggle.

Just as I was able to sober myself, I heard an obnoxious knocking at my door and knew it could only be Shippou, who else knew where I lived. I rolled her eyes and went to answer the door after excusing myself.

Opening the door, I was greeted with a sight that I hadn't expected. Standing outside my door, were many of my friends from the past. Speaking loud enough to be heard, but not loud enough to hurt their ears, I called to Ichigo, "Ano, Ichigo, promise me you won't freak out?"

"Eh, why would I freak out?"

I heard him getting up, "No, stay over there. It's a surprise; just promise me you won't freak out." I heard a sigh and a 'yeah, I promise' and smiled. Looking back at the youkai in front of my door I spoke softly, "Come in, you can release your illusions if you'd like. I don't know if the smell will get to you. I was trying to cleanse my apartment, I think I got most of it, but I'm not exactly sure." I opened the door all the way and gestured for them to enter.

One by one they came until I was left with Sesshoumaru standing in front of me. He placed a hand on my cheek, and gave a tiny smile, "Kagome, it has been along time since I have seen you. I have missed you, little one."

I smiled brightly up at him, "I have missed you, too, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Putting his mask back in place he nodded and continued to where the others had gone. I stayed a few extra seconds to catch my breath at seeing them all once again; at seeing him once again. There had been a special place in my heart for the seemingly Daiyoukai after I finally got the chance to know him better. I frowned when I heard two sets of snarling and growled.

Upon entering my living room, I found Shippou standing in front of Ichigo, while the others took up defensive stances and the hanyou and ningen stood against the wall, knowing that they had no right to get involved, "No disrespect when I say this Sesshoumaru-sama, but this is directed to all of you." I glared at everyone, "What in the seven layers of Jigoku are you simpering baka growling at?" I looked at them with my hands on my hips, waiting for an answer.

Sesshoumaru looked at me, "Miko," he growled out, "What is that abomination doing in your home?"

I growled in return, "Youkai, if you are going to speak such ways to me, then get out of my house and take them with you." I pointed at the others.

Grabbing my by the throat, he shoved me against the wall, "You dare give this Sesshoumaru orders, Miko?"

"I do." Thank the Kami-sama that this is one of the perks of being Miko of the West. One is that the West will protect me. Another is that I am allowed to speak to my Alpha in such a way. "If you youkai are going to be baka within my home, then get out! If they will not accept my friends as I have accepted them, then they dishonor the very foundations of our friendship and me. Since they choose to dishonor me, then they forfeit my friendship. For is that not who we became friends?" I asked in a cold tone. "Did I not see past race and species and accept you for who you are and not what you are? If you are going to make excuses, then you are not welcome here." Using the strength of the West, I removed Sesshoumaru's hand from around my neck and flared my aura. "Leave, those that will continue unjust prejudices, for they are not welcome in my home."

I waited for their decisions. The youkai looked away ashamed. I watched as Ichigo looked uncomfortable and confused, but at least he didn't freak out. Sesshoumaru backed away stunned that his own domain would choose to protect me against its master.

The first to speak was a hanyou, "See what you have done, you've gone and made her mad. Kagome-sama welcomes us into her home and this is how you treat her and her guest? Shame on all of you. Sesshoumaru-sama I can understand. But the rest of you?" I giggled at her statement. She walked up to me and smiled, "Kagome-sama, it has been too long." I shamelessly stared at the beautiful women before me trying to figure out where I knew her from. She giggled, "It's Shiori, Kagome-sama."

My mouth dropped, and my brain froze. I heard laughter in the background and snapped out of my shock and glared at them all, "Are you leaving or apologizing, because I haven't seen either." Hearing their mouths snap shut, I waited. With mumbled apologies, my glare turned deadly, "Not to me you baka youkai, to him. That includes you Sesshoumaru-sama. Or does this mean I am no longer a part of your Houses." Seeing his eyes widen then narrow, I held back a smirk. Ah, it feels good to get one up on the arrogant inu, something to truly treasure.

I heard apologies from all of them and smiled. "Good, now what about the rest of you? Shippou didn't tell me much about anything." Looping my arm with Shiori's, I purposely sat next to Ichigo. The others took seats throughout the room.

I watched as Kouga came and sat by Shiori, grabbed her hand, and gave her a peck on the cheek and apologized to her as well. Eyes widening, I choked out, "What the hell!"

Kouga snickered, "Now that's a story. Let's see. It was about 50 or so years, after you left. A koumori hanyou fell out of the sky, battered, bloody and exhausted. My ookami were wary of her and howled for me. Of course I answered their call, and saw a not so pretty sight. I felt that if I didn't help her, I would somehow be dishonoring your memory. So I took her in and did my best to bring her to health. When she was finally able to speak, she told me that she was looking for the village that the Shikon no Tama no Miko lived. When I discovered she was talking about you, I told her than you had vanished from the battlefield after it was over. She seemed rather saddened. It took months for her to calm down. I don't know when or how, but before I knew it, I was in love with the little hanyou. It wasn't easy. Many or both our clans weren't happy. Hers, more so, because they were going to lose the precious barrier maker." He spat the last part in disgust. "I told that it wasn't our problem. They just had to learn to fend for themselves. The world was a tough place and they had to wake up sooner or later." He shrugged the snickered, "However when they found out I was Alpha of the all Ookami, they didn't seem to mind so much that I was going to mate her. After all, the East is run by Ookami. I became Ryoushu not long before we mated. They thought they were going to have a connection to royalty. It felt great to let them in on our traditions seeing as they were going to be my in-laws. I didn't know koumori could get so red." He sighed happily at the memory as Shiori rolled her eyes then giggled.

"Oh, and what happened to Ayame?"

I heard someone clear their throat, "I'm right here." She smiled.

Again, brain function ceased. I felt Ichigo shake me and I turned to him, "Ara? Did you need something?"

He smirked, "I didn't want you to start drooling." I huffed and smacked him on the back of the head. With a surprised 'Oi,' I gestured for her to continue.

She smirked, "Well, there's not much that's changed with me. I mated Hakkaku after getting tired of chasing after Kouga. We mated before they did. Hakkaku was just so adorable. I wouldn't change him for the world." She smiled lovingly at her mate and kissed him.

Ginta laughed, "Well, at least it's only kissing. We try to stay away from them because that usually leads to countless hours of extremely loud mating."

"Oi, not in my house!" I laughed as they pulled apart red, glancing as I felt Ichigo shaking, holding in a laugh.

"Jinenji, is that you?" When I saw a shy nod, I flew out of my seat and tackled the gentle giant. "Awe, you're so cute!" I squealed, "Still maintaining that herb garden of yours?" I laughed at another shy nod and whispered as if talking about a conspiracy, "There are no bugs right?" He shook his head and laughed softly, remembering the first time I helped in his garden. "Good, there better not be, because if there are, you're going to have to save me from the icky little critters when I help you out." I winked as he gasped softly.

Returning to my seat, I waited for the others, "Anyone else going to share?"

Ginta took the stage and laughed gentle, "Not much has changed with us Nee-chan. Other than surviving through the centuries, they are the only ones that mated, well them and Shippou." He sent a sly glance at said Kitsune and I glared like only a mother can.

"Higurashi-Hayashi, Shippou, is there a reason you didn't tell your Okaa-san that you had mated? If I don't hear a good reason, I'm going to let said mat know about yesterday's little meeting." I watched in satisfaction as Shippou paled and I heard not one but two growls. I turned to Sesshoumaru and raised a brow, then looked back at my kit. "Well, I'm waiting, kit."

"Ha, ha, well about that Okaa-san, you see, I was going to surprise you with the news today." When I gave him a look that said I didn't believe him, Ichigo snorted and he continued, "Really, Okaa-san, I swear. Look, see, she's here." He waved frantically at the young ningen in his lap.

I narrowed my eyes, and gasped, "Rin!"

She giggled, "Yes, Kagome-Okaa-sama."

If I hadn't already been sitting down, I would have fallen flat on my butt. I grinned evilly at Sesshoumaru and said, "Pay up, Sesshou. I win."

Everyone looked at me like I had gone insane, "Do not call me that disgraceful nickname, onna." He stood and walked to me. Everyone sat at the edge of their seats as Sesshoumaru, Daiyoukai of the West and House of the Moon, the Killing Perfection, Aristocratic Assassin, sat in between my legs and I got to work on braiding his hair. I sighed happily, "Ah, this is heaven." I gently grabbed the tips of his ears and started massaging them. Had he been neko youkai, he would have purred. Instead, he just leaned into my touch and let his eyes slide shut.

Shippou was the one to break the silence, "Wait what just happened." There were a bunch of dumbstruck nods all around. Even Ichigo, who didn't true know the horror that was Sesshoumaru, nodded.

I grinned, "I made a bet with Sesshou. I told him that you two would end up mated. He, of course, adamantly refused to believe me. The best was that if he lost, I would get to braid his amazingly, gorgeous, silky, silver locks and scratch his ears, when ever I please for the rest of our unnaturally long lives and Get to call him 'appropriate nicknames'. He immediately rejected the idea. I told him I could make kotodama no nenju instead. Suffice to say, he preferred the first idea. With was fine by me. I get to braid his hair anytime I please."

I looked around and could swear that if this was an anime, everyone would have either fallen anime style or sweat dropped. "Okaa-san, you're a little too obsessed with Sesshoumaru-sama's hair. And what if you had lost Okaa-san?"

Sesshoumaru smirked and everyone got chills. "The Miko would have made me kotodama no nenju to place on her." I heard collective gasps go about the room and I rolled my eyes.

"I knew I was going to win, so I had no problem agreeing to the idea."

Rin looked at Sesshoumaru and said in a voice full of false cheer, "Otou-san." I felt his spine stiffen. "Is that why you tried to deny Shippou the right to mate me?"

We all saw Sesshoumaru turn away and pout like a child refusing to answer.

I laughed so hard I fell into Ichigo's lap. "Oh, that's rich! You tried to cheat Sesshou!"

I heard a growl, "Oh don't worry. We are in the privacy of my home. Who is ever going to talk about this to the outside world? Everyone is too scared of you and Ichigo is one who believes in privacy." Everyone looked at me with a look, "What, you can't think me?" When the looked didn't go away I laughed nervously, "Okay, I promise not to say anything."

"What happened to the Miko who respected her Alpha?" He sighed in mock hurt.

I rolled my eyes, "Well, since everyone is gathered, shall I begin?" With collective nods, I looked at Ichigo, "I don't know how this is going to affect you, so stay close to Shippou, okay?"

When he nodded, I stood and walked to the center of the room. I sat on the floor; legs crossed, eyes closed, and began chanting. I felt the others move away to give me space. I felt my aura flare and sent out waves of calm and purity. I cleansed the apartment and searched out the tamashii. I felt him trying to hide himself buried beneath my Sengoku collection. Using my aura, I took hold and brought him in front of us all. I felt my aura take hold of the smallest part of him that held anything that resembled a positive emotion and did the same thing that Akago had once done to me. Instead of possession, I anchored my aura to the good and sent waves of purification outward. When the process was over, I opened my eyes and stood before the tamashii. "How are you feeling?"

He shed tears, "Finally at peace, Miko-sama. May the Kami-sama bless you for helping this tortured soul find peace." He positioned himself to pray and faded from view to travel what I later found out was the Soul Society.

I looked at the others and saw smiles on their faces as they remembered what it felt like to fight by my side. I smiled in return, "Well, I made plenty of food earlier. Why doesn't everyone sit so that I can get the food?"

A/N: Well, there's chapter 10! Here's the biggest that you to ForgottenOncePromised for helping me with the scene where Shippou breaks the news! Here are some cookies! As for people who have been wondering about the pairing, I'm going to start the poll now. So don't forget to cast your votes! Also, don't worry. will add more Byakuya yumminess in the next chapter! Milkshake-sama is still hiding from not getting many reviews, so please, please review! Thank you readers for your comments and messages that have help make this story what it is. I wouldn't mind words of advice or possible suggestions. If I like the suggestions, there's a chance I will put it in. I will give the credit where it's due. So, please review!

+ Bakayaro: Bastard

+ Shinidamachuu: Soul Collector

+ Inu Taishou: Dog General

+ Koumori: Bat

+ Kotodama no Nenju: Beads of Subjugation