AN: I want to apologize to any that have not heard from me after sending reviews. For some odd reason, I have not been able to see any reviews since Sept 23. Well they finally fixed it on Sept 28.

Question to all my readers and reviewers… I sit here just about everyday and eat ramen. My question to you is, should I have Kagome make ramen one night? I am working on ch 24 and my muse and I want to add the ramen and would like all of your input on this one… just a bit of payback.. as it were… and the choices would be either chicken or beef as those are the only flavors I eat.

Chapter 10

The Sun was just cresting the horizon. The peace of the morning was disturbed by arguing from the other side of camp. Kagome was shaking her head wondering if she should use the beads.

"Silence." Sesshomaru demanded, without having to raise his voice. It just proved how much an alpha male, he truly was, when the others all went silent.

"You will all be traveling with this one's group. You will be on you best behavior, lest the Miko punish you." He stated, giving Kagome a wicked look that made her blush, which didn't go unnoticed by anyone.

He likes you. Kirara teased.

'Hush. We are just friends.' Kagome watched as Sesshomaru walked over to Saito and talked quietly for a moment, before Saito climbed on top of Ah-Un and took to the skies. When Sesshomaru looked back at her, he smirked giving her a knowing look, causing her to smile. If he had his way, he would keep making her smile, it looked good on her face.

Just as she was about to ask, how long it would take to get to their next destination, InuYasha opened his mouth.

"Oi, Sesshomaru, where are we going? I thought we were headed back to the palace."

"As usual, little brother, you are mistaken. This one is bringing the Miko to retrieve her kit." Kagome watched as InuYasha's face paled a bit. She had a feeling that the reunion would prove to be quite interesting, if what Sesshomaru had told her was true, which she had no doubts it was, since he never lied. He didn't have too, when the truth could be so much more amusing.

"Why do we have to go with her, to get some worthless, kit." Kikyou spat too late. She was pinned to the nearest tree, her breath knocked out of her, her arms pinned to her sides, preventing her from clawing the miko. When she looked up, the eyes she was looking into, actually frightened her, more than even Naraku at his worst or even Sesshomaru. Kagome's eyes were glowing with pure rage, as her powers licked the inu female. Kikyou found that she couldn't even scream, with the hold Kagome had on her throat.

"Talking bad about me is one thing, but talking trash about my son, will only get you killed. Do you hear me, youkai. You even think about harming him and I will end you." Kagome's voice was calm, too calm for the rage everyone felt coming from the small female.

Sesshomaru was the only one brave enough to walk up to Kagome, placing his large hand on her arm, that was pinning Kikyou to the tree, not pulling her away, but resting it there to make sure he had her attention. "Kagome, she will not harm your son. Let her go." Sesshomaru spoke softly, looking at Kagome and seeing her powers fade rapidly back into her body, as she released Kikyou, before he turned to the female.

"Listen well, wench, for this one will not say it again. You are to keep your mouth shut. If you have to be disciplined again, this one will take great pleasure in ripping your tongue out. You may be the beta's female, you will never be alpha female and as alpha of this pack and Lord over these lands, you would do well to remember your place. And you little brother are to keep her in line, lest you be punished as well." Sesshomaru watched as his half-brother paled, at the threat of punishment. The last time his brother punished him, he was laid up for a week.

"You and I have much to discuss when time allows." With that said he turned, placing a hand on Kagome's back. He didn't bother watching as his brother's face paled considerably, at the mention of having a talk. InuYasha had a feeling, he knew what it was that Sesshomaru wanted to talk about, and was not looking forward to it. On top of everything else, he knew he had much to answer for.

"Come, it will take days, to reach your kit on foot."

Kagome was so stunned that Sesshomaru said her name, and that he had actually touched her, that she followed behind him with a goofy grin on her face. She never felt Kirara nudge her. Until she heard InuYasha berating his mate, for her behavior.

"Miko." Sesshomaru spoke quietly, gaining said miko's attention. "What is that look on your face?"

"You said my name. You have never said my name before. It just surprised me is all, let alone the fact that you touched me, without trying to kill me."

"Hn." Was his usual reply, making Kagome giggle.

"Did you send Saito~San, to get what I think?"

"Indeed. Have you thought of what you needed."

"Yes." Kagome answered with a smirk on her face, causing her eyes to glitter, with mischief that would make a kitsune proud.

"Kikyou, if you don't learn to keep your mouth shut, you could get us all killed. Is that what you want?" Demanded an irate InuYasha. He was talking lowly, so as not to gain his brother's attention again. Kikyou had been pushing things too far and knew, that his brother was being lenient with them up until now. He didn't want to push either Kagome or his brother much further.

"He should be treating us better than that, Bitch. You are the second son and a prince in both human and youkai society." Spat Kikyou, she refused to be submit to anyone.

"You don't get it, do you. I may be beta, but Sesshomaru is Alpha. What he says goes. He could and would kill all of us. He has the right as alpha. He has stated that and you won't listen. I maybe a prince in both realms, but it means nothing." He spat, swiping his hand out to emphasize his point. "I was born a hanyou and I can't claim rights to either and not being able to have heirs, I can't even attempt to claim anything. I'm lucky with what I have. Sesshomaru could take it all way, since we can't have pups. Don't you see."

"Then you need to stand up to him and make him see reason. Why should he protect her. She isn't even pack. She isn't the alpha female. That should be me, since I am the only female in this pack." Kikyou was pissed, why wouldn't anyone listen to her.

"No you're not, Kikyou. Rin is higher rank than you. She is Sesshomaru's adopted daughter or did you forget that too. Sesshomaru has stated that Kagome is under his protection, that also means that she is to be protected by him and the West, with Kagome under his protection, so is anyone that she claims is hers and that means Shippo. Everyone knows Kagome adopted him and he her. You hurt either of them and you're as good as dead and us along with you. We have been charged by our Alpha and Lord to protect Kagome and Shippo. So shut your yap. He can charge you and us with treason. Kagome is an ally to the West. You can start a war, with your actions and mouth."

"Then that means that you want her." She wasn't listening, hearing only things that were important to her. "You want her, so she can give your heirs."

"Not anymore." He replied looking sullen. The images Kagome showed him, playing again in his mind, making him to want to rush to the bushes.

"What did she show you?" Kikyou demanded. "I have the right to know, I am your mate after all." Kikyou demanded, she wanted ammunition to throw at the wretched girl. She wanted to watch the girl suffered, while she gloated.

"I.. I can't talk about it. Just keep your mouth shut or you'll kill us all." InuYasha said as he walked away. He couldn't talk to Kikyou about what he witnessed. He knew that she would find enjoyment in Kagome's pain and suffering. He had always known that Kikyou hated Kagome more than she hated anyone, he had hoped that once they mated, that she would let go of it. He had chosen her, even if now he regretted it.

Sango and Miroku noticed the sullen look on InuYasha's face, when Kikyou mentioned what Kagome had done. They knew from his reaction to it, with him retching the way he did and then him running off, that it wasn't anything good, or anything that they were anxious to hear.

"Hey Sesshomaru?" Kagome spoke quietly, so the others wouldn't hear, since they were now closer to them than they were before, with Saito and Ah-Un gone.

"Hn."

"I was just thinking."

"You do that a lot, Miko."

"Very funny. But what I was thinking is that, I may need something from you, to make this work more efficiently." Kagome whispered.

"And that would be, what exactly?"

"Just a single strand of your hair, a drop of your blood and your trust."

"Explain."

"Well, the strand of hair and the droplet of blood, would not only make it so that it works for me, but for you, and the trust is that I wouldn't use your hair or blood for something evil, besides your hair is far stronger than simple string."

"Indeed." He reached up plucking a single strand of his long hair from his head, handing it to her. He trusted her and knew she would never do anything evil. She was too kind hearted for something like that. "Do you have a vial?"

Kagome stared at the single strand now sitting in her hand. She couldn't believe that he just handed her, his hair. It showed how much he trusted her and that alone made her heart soar. Gently she wrapped the long strand around her hand, before placing it in one of her pouches at her waist.

Pulling a small vial, like she had use for the Shards, handing it to him. She watch as he poked a finger with the claw of his thumb, letting several droplets fall, before the wound closed. He put the cork stopper on the bottle and handed it to her. She placed the vial with the strand of hair, in one of her pouches. It was the safest place to keep things.

"Thank you." She whispered, knowing that he knew, what this meant to her. She looked up in time to see him give a small nod of his head. "Once placed, only you or I will have the power to remove them." Kagome watched as Sesshomaru nodded, with a pleased look on his face. He knew that he would never remove the item in question, even in death.

They had walked until high sun, with Kagome flitting off to collect herbs and roots and whatever else she was doing. Her smile was infectious as most of the group smiled at her childlike behavior, but with her wearing black and blue and all of her weapons, she looked just as dangerous, as not a sound was heard from her feet as she moved, only the slight rustle of her clothes.

When Kagome's head snapped up, looking into the sky, Sesshomaru looked at her, stretching his senses, he could feel Ah-Un returning, quicker than expected.

"Saito~san and Ah-Un are returning." She said with a smile adorning her child like face, her face mask and hood were lowered, she had been enjoying the breeze that fluttered across her visible skin.

"We rest here then." With that, he found a tree to lean against, as Kagome flitted about making a small fire and digging some of her own supplies from her bag and made a small pot of rice, that she added dried bits of meat and some dried vegetables."

By the time Saito and Ah-Un landed the meal was finished cooking and she was placing some into three bowls.

"I know you don't like human food, but would you like to try some, Sesshomaru?" He was about to decline, but it actually smelled good, so he nodded his head, making Kagome beam with happiness, that she could get him to try her cooking.

After handing Sesshomaru his food, Kagome handed Saito a bowl. He was about to protest, but one look from his lord and he knew he didn't dare. So taking the bowl gratefully, he bowed and sat near Ah-Un.

Grabbing her bowl she sat between the males, and was glad to see their reaction to her cooking.

"Interesting." Sesshomaru stated. It actually tasted good, not like most human foods.

"This is very good, thank you, Miko~sama."

"Thank you." She replied blushing at the compliments.

"Were there any problems acquiring the items?" Sesshomaru inquired.

"No, my lord. They were most gracious to be of service, once I told them whom it was for." Saito said as he stood quickly to get the package for his lord, as he went to hand it to his lord, he was directed to give it to the miko.

Kagome took it and unwrapped the cloth around the wooden box, lifting the lid she was shocked, but very pleased. She took the hair and the small vial that Sesshomaru had given her and placed it within the box, before closing it and placing it in her pack.

After the meal was consumed and she washed the bowls and pot, putting them away, she watched as Sesshomaru stood, understanding that it was time to go again. Everyone fell into their places with a still grumbling Kikyou, whom everyone was ignoring.

"How much time will you need?" Sesshomaru asked, as they had gained a little distance between them and the group following them.

"About three hours. I will need to concentrate, to do this correctly."

"We will stop early this evening, while you bathe, you will have the time you need." He knew her love of bathing and was quite willing to accommodate her in that aspect. Far too few humans bathed often and knowing that Kagome wasn't like the rest pleased him. He hated filth, he himself generally bathed after everyone had gone to sleep.

"Thank you." Kagome said falling back to continue her chat with Saito, as she had plenty of stories to tell him. He was a great listener.

"So Saito~san, what did you want to hear about next?" Kagome asked, surprising Saito.

"Oh! Um, Can you tell me about where you're from and what it's like?"

"That's a big one. Alright, well I was born and raised on a shrine. I lived with my mother, grandfather and my younger brother." Kagome's voice turned sad, making Saito regret asking.

"You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to." Saito said, bowing his head.

"No, it's okay. I don't mind sharing my family. They were great. My grandfather was a bit senile, but a kind man, he past away a long time ago. My mother is probably gone now. My younger brother, has a wife and two children and he has grandchildren that could pass as my siblings."

"What of your father?" Saito asked, curiously.

"My father died when I was still very young. My mother was pregnant with my brother when he died in an accident."

"I am curious, Miko~sama, is everyone in your family, blessed with long lives? Humans don't generally live long."

"No, humans don't live as long as youkai, my grandfather was seventy, when he past, my mom is eighty-three, my brother is sixty-one and could pass as my grandfather. They look like most humans at that age. I'm different. I'm not sure if it is a blessing or a curse." With those words the others listened even more closely.

"When I went home fifty years ago, I had started to train and learn as much as I could. I traveled by the good graces of the temples and shrines. I had to change my identity... who I was, about every ten years. Humans don't like it when you don't age, like they do. I had to hide who I was." She explained.

"I changed my name and place of birth, with there help. I got most of my weapons and clothes as gifts and what I didn't get as gifts, I earned the money for. Living in shrines and monasteries is cheap, so I was able to take what I learned, to earn money. I made different potions that helped heal people, I trained children and their parents would pay me. When I wasn't training, I was learning different things to help others. I learned all about plants and what they can do. I learned how to fight, to protect myself and those I care about."

"You went home? Why not stay to train and learn here?" He asked, curiously.

"I couldn't. My job here was done. The Shikon was made whole and wished upon and it sent me home." She didn't go into detail on anything, just giving enough to sate curiosity.

"You are the Shikon no Miko?" He asked stunned, he had heard stories of the Jewel and was glad that he was far away from it.

"Yes, I told you that yesterday, but it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be." Kagome's voice turned solemn, she really didn't want to talk about that part of her life.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad."

"It's okay. It's not something I like to think about."

"I understand and again my apologizes, Miko~sama." Saito bowed low, feeling guilty for making her so sad.

"Well anyways, what else did you want to know?"

He didn't say anything for a few moments and just watched as she once again bounced off to collect some more plants.

"If I may ask, why do you collect so many plants?" Saito asked as she returned.

"I use plants for lots of things. Making potions for healing. Poultices to help heal wounds faster, antidotes for poisons, burns, to help one sleep. I can also make poisons, and what is called a bomb." Kagome stated as her thoughts drifted to a possible way for others to help in the fight, but she would need help and she would need to run it by Sesshomaru. "I can also make charms and such." Which gave her another idea.

She had so many ideas running through her head, that she lapsed into silence and was so deep into her thoughts, that she hadn't noticed that Sesshomaru stopped and she bumped into him.

"Ow! My nose." Kagome said, rubbing said appendage. Saito had his eyes wide open expecting his lord to berate Kagome, but he did something that blew the minds of everyone. His lord bent down to Kagome's ear and spoke quietly to her, making the little miko turn a brilliant shade of red.

"It would be wise to not get so lost in your thoughts, Kagome." Sesshomaru whispered into her ear, sending his warm breath ghosting over her skin, sending shivers down her spine and causing her to blush. She hadn't been this close to a male other than her brother since she returned home, not wanting to be touched by any male, unless it had to do with training.

When he pulled away from the red faced miko, he had a small smirk on his face. "We will camp here." He stated loud enough for all to hear, as he walked over to a tree and sat down, watching as Kagome pulled herself back together, after his little stunt.

AN: I want to thank everyone for reading and reviewing my story…

I think that I am going to answer your reviews this way, it seems to be a bit easier now that I can see your reviews.

Sci-fi Miko: all is not as it seems… you will learn later what actually happened with the wish.

Ree San: InuYasha has always been selfish… I doubt that he will ever really change. As far as Sesshomaru and Kagome they will find time…

Katelyn: Sango and Miroku are delusional as well. They think that where Kagome was always so forgiving in the past that she would still be the same… Remember they didn't see what InuYasha had so they are still clueless. Kagome needed the training to help her vent her anger and rage… through her training she realized some of those that were actually betrayed by one single act…

Yes, Grandpa died of heart failure at seeing Kagome so broken – It changed them all.

Alexis Night: he will learn sooner or later – later he is too thick headed.

Eath'sChild93: that and much more…

Rlmpcc110511: Saito will be important as you will see.

As far as Kikyou goes… join the club… lol

Sango and Miroku – I have to agree with you. The betrayal runs deeper than they release. They don't know about the rape or the extent of the torture Kagome lived through. They believe that since she was so forgiving that she would forgive them. It isn't that easy this time, too much damage was done with one simple act.

Sesshomaru and Kagome will be getting moments – remember Kagome hasn't been back all that long as of yet.. things will start to pick up in a bit.

Guest: It may be frustrating and I am sorry about that. They are all important to the story. Most of the story is already either written or planned out. Just be patient

Mystic: I am thinking over the transformation you asked about… I do like what you said and will give it much thought.

About Kikyou and her indiscretions – well that will come to light as time goes by. I will also explain how she managed to hide it from not only InuYasha, but Sesshomaru as well. About the rest of Kikyou's thought process… well she isn't firing on all cylinders.

Sorry for the miss understanding about Naraku and the parallel overlaps – that will be made clear later. As I have already written that chapter explaining a few things – I will say it had nothing to do with Naraku.