*A/N* I don't own it please don't sue me! Thank you to all my reviewers! Love you too! Keep it up, it makes my day!

Sesshomaru made his way swiftly through the courtyard gate and into the gardens, he could feel the miko's crumbling hold on her aura as he approached her. She had come to a stop on the bridge over a koi pond on the edge of the estate, he approached her slowly noting the minute tremors that ran through her body. She stood on the small wooden bridge, arms locked, hands gripping the rail as she gazed sightlessly into the water. Sesshomaru could smell her tears, he cursed inwardly, 'It seems this was too effective.' he tensed as another wave of her energy rushed over him, this was very close to spiraling past all possibility of control.

Kagome shuddered as she felt the youki press in on her, she was deep within herself, desperately trying to rebuild her barriers but it was a losing battle, each part she repaired was promptly torn down again by the flood of her still raging emotions. She had set out to show her strength and control and had failed miserably, so deeply had she retreated into her own mind to repair the damage done that she did not recognize the youkai beside her and she did not hear him speak.

"Miko."

Sesshomaru frowned when he got no reaction from her, she remained rigid and shaking, blind and deaf to all around her.

"Miko you must calm yourself."

He reached out with a clawed hand and gripped her shoulder, applying pressure to turn her toward him. Kagome let out a gasp and stumbled back into the opposite rail, she turned her face to his and he recoiled at a burning shock from her aura. 'She cannot see me.' he realized, eyes widening. This was more severe than he thought, at this rate she would lose connection with her senses and her aura would be fully unleashed.

Sesshomaru released the hold on his youki and slipped into light meditation, seeking her essence, he extended his youki to surround and contain the erratic bursts of energy coming from the miko. He could feel her panic and desperation as she clung to the tatters of her control, Sesshomaru also sensed deep shame and self loathing under-lied by the purest essence he had ever encountered in a ningen. Her soul was immense and it was drowning in her turmoil, he had to bring her back under control. Extending his youki out, he called

"Miko."

Nothing.

He could feel her there but she was not responding to his call, Perhaps he was not using the right words. He hesitated.

"Kagome." He said it quietly so as not to drive her further into herself and was rewarded with a slight reduction in holy energy.

"Kagome you must stop this," he said, "you are causing hurt." he counted on her empathetic nature to respond to this and he had the satisfaction of being right yet again.

"Hurt?" Her spiritual response rang like clear bells and the power again diminished.

"You must calm your spirit else it will destroy you." he waited for another reduction in her aura and smoothed the ragged edges with his youki, he began a hypnotic ebb and flow, his aura swirling around hers, lending the stability and certainty ningen tended to lack but youkai possessed in full. He felt her begin to stabilize and breathed a small sigh of relief, they had passed the critical point and could now proceed without concern of a meltdown.

Kagome was on the edge of awareness, slowly the horror and panic subsided, someone was speaking to her but she could not tell who. Her aura was being contained and soothed in a way she'd never experienced before. She felt calm surrounding her as an essence, distinctly male held her solidly, providing support. Slowly Kagome became aware of her surroundings, the sun beating down on her, the wood beneath her clenched hands, the gentle sound of the water beneath her feet. Blinking she felt the youki softly lapping at her mental synapses and then subtly withdrawing.

Her vision came into focus and she was presented with a view of Sesshomaru regarding her intently. Momentarily confused, suddenly she was acutely aware he had been the presence that pulled her back from the brink, he had seen all her flaws and the disarray that was her spirit. Her face was promptly suffused with heat as shame filled her eyes, dropping her gaze from his golden one, Kagome lifted her hands to her cheeks only to find that were wet with tears.

'Dammit.'

A wave of shame threatened to overwhelm her, a sob tore from her throat and she bowed her head.

"Miko."

He spoke softly and paused

"Look at me onna." She couldn't bring herself to look at those eyes that knew her so completely now, all her weaknesses had been laid bare and no doubt reinforced his disdain for ningen. She shook her head, keeping her eyes down.

"Miko you will tell me what caused this shame you hold for yourself." He sounded genuinely puzzled and this struck her as out of the ordinary, she hitched a breath.

"I've managed to behave like a typical ningen haven't I?" a small hollow laugh escaped her, "how pathetic you must think me, so weak I can't even control my emotions." Her shoulders drooped as fresh tears streamed from her eyes.

"Miko look at me." his tone was patient yet booked no room for argument, she tentatively raised her eyes to meet his and was surprised to find a softness there. 'Is that...compassion?' she thought, bewildered.

"All humans are emotional creatures, that cannot be helped." he said. Kagome blinked. "You must use them, focus them, to accomplish your goals you must channel them and not allow them to control you." Kagome was floored, 'What the hell?' Her shock must have shown on her face because he frowned.

"Why are you surprised?" he asked her.

"You hate all humans." she blurted out "where did this come from?" As soon as the words left her mouth she regretted them, his eyes lost some of their softness, he looked away briefly.

"I do not hate all humans." he said flatly, meeting her eyes "I will never understand the ability of ningen to betray loyalties so easily, most will sell out their own offspring if it benefits them."

"Why allow me here then?" she asked.

"You are different, when you traveled with my brother, you displayed unflinching loyalty, courage and compassion." He grasped her hands to still their nervous movement and drew her over to a stone bench, she sat, he released her hands and settled beside her, "I have never known a human to adopt a demon child, that intrigued me from the beginning."

"I have never known a demon to adopt a human child." she replied looking up at him.

"Hn, Rin was...different." he sounded hesitant, she wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. "Tenseiga called for her life and I...indulged."

"Is that what you're doing now? Indulging?" He looked at her with a small frown.

"No Miko, I am ensuring the safety of my house." his tone had hardened and Kagome recoiled as though she'd been slapped.

"Gomen." she said it so quietly he wasn't sure he'd heard right.

"For what are you apologizing Miko?" he asked.

"I cause you nothing but trouble, seems to be what I'm best at," there was a pause in which he saw tears again start to flow, "always has been." The misery in her voice hung heavy in the air. Sesshomaru was at a loss, the miko could not be allowed to sink into despair only to lose control again, he thought back to Rin, what had been done to cheer her when she was sad. Like any male he found himself ill at ease when in the presence of a female's tears, it had been the same with his ward.

He almost let out a sigh of frustration, looking again at the miko he decided surprise and distraction were the best tactics to employ here, he would have to throw her completely off guard. Kagome sat slumped forward with her hands in her lap fumbling with her sleeve cuffs in a nervous habit she wasn't even aware of, she was busy berating herself for being a burden again when she felt Sesshomaru's hands glide over the backs of her own.

Kagome stilled.

She turned to face him her eyes full of questions.

"There is no need for shame miko," his golden eyes searched her face, "neither is there need for tears."

"I am weak why do you allow me to remain?" she looked down at her hands still captured within his grasp.

"I do not surround myself with weaklings onna and no weakling has ever wielded a sentient blade." Kagome's head snapped up

"Wait...what?" Sesshomaru met her eyes confused by her reaction, did she not know?

"You are the wielder of a sentient blade and they do not choose their masters lightly." the absolute bewilderment in the miko's eyes confirmed she had no idea of this trait her sword possessed. 'On the upside she's no longer crying at me.'

"Come Miko," he rose in a fluid movement, guiding her up to stand in front of him "you have research to continue I believe and tomorrow we will speak more about your sword."

"Tomorrow?" the tone of her voice was unsteady.

"You will continue your training with me tomorrow miko, you must connect with your blade if you are to wield it properly." Sesshomaru began to walk toward the manor but was halted by a pressure on his sleeve, looking down he was shocked to find the miko clinging to his haori, her tiny hands clutching the fabric. The expression on her face was at once fierce and fragile.

"Arigatou gozaimasu Sesshomaru." for once he did not take offense to her lack of honorific so stunned was he at her presumption, he pinned her with a trademark blank stare and raised one silver brow.

"Hn"

Kagome realized in a flash what she was doing and released his sleeve as though it had burned her, 'Kami what the hell an I thinking?' her eyes flew to his face expecting him to lash out at her for assaulting his honored person or something equally Sesshomaru-like, her hands covered her mouth.

"Gomen nasai Sesshomaru-sama...I-"

"Don't be a bore Miko." his words splashed over her like cold water, her jaw dropped and a frown contorted her features.

"A bore?" she asked, incredulous.

"Only bores apologize incessantly, don't you have something you should be doing?" He turned his back to her and resumed walking. Kagome spluttered and huffed trying to summon a witty rejoinder but nothing good presented itself. She settled for stomping her foot and following in his wake

"I'll be in the library should you require someone to bore you milord." sarcasm dripped from her voice as she flounced back toward the manor. 'Oh that was great Kagome, real mature.' she shook her head at her own childishness, 'He must really think highly of me now.' Kagome reflected back and realized with a start she had been skillfully manipulated, he had calmed, distracted and angered her in a few moments and to top it off, set her back on track without her even knowing what was happening. She couldn't help but think back to the compassion she saw for those fleeting seconds and wonder if it was real.

Sesshomaru watched her go, there was much about this ningen that did not add up. She was immensely powerful, capable of poise and grace, she possessed the ability to intimidate youkai which in and of itself was remarkable. Perhaps these things could be contributed to her being the Shikon Miko and her origin in the future, likely but Sesshomaru still felt there was something else still concealed.

Considering she had been unaware of the sentience of her own weapon until now, he highly doubted the miko would have the answers to his questions.

Then there was the matter of her scent, she smelled unlike any ningen he had ever encountered, there was no trace of the underlying decay that clung to all humans, even Rin had held that odor. The miko smelled of winter, crisp and clear with a hint of some kind of blossom he couldn't quite place.

Lost in thought he suppressed a growl of annoyance when he was interrupted by a household servant.

"What." he said shortly.

"Your pardon milord, but we have just received word from the traveling party of Lord Suzaku." the servant was accustomed to his lord's moods and spoke clearly and without fear knowing Sesshomaru disliked simpering underlings wasting time.

"Traveling party?" he queried.

"Hai milord, the message said Suzaku-sama has heard of the warrior miko and is coming to meet the mistress of the Shikon no Tama." Sesshomaru didn't bother to stifle his growl this time, how had the southern lord found out about the miko? The dragons perhaps but there was no love lost between the eastern and southern kingdoms, more importantly how did he know of her presence here? He looked down at his vassal coldly,

"When will they arrive?" he growled.

Tomorrow milord, his party is currently at the border of your lands and will reach the manor in the morning."

Sesshomaru turned and strode into the manor, of all the lords to be coming here it had to be Suzaku, the firebird was highly irritating and Sesshomaru kept contact with him to a minimum, only enduring his company at state functions. The taiyoukai growled again as he entered his study.

"Jaken." he barked, the tiny kappa, never far from him, popped his head around the door

"Hai milord?"

"Send for Takeshi, Kenta and Satoshi immediately."

"Of course Sesshomaru-sama." Jaken groveled and shot off down the hall. Sesshomaru waited impatiently, he would be putting his rangers on alert, obviously there was a leak in the manor. He paced the room angry and frustrated, 'Fucking hell I need to kill something.' Stopping in front of the open window he felt his beast stir. He would have to go hunting before the arrival of Suzaku to keep his beast in check while he was here, aware of his generals entering the room he turned to begin the briefing.

Kagome turned her face to the warm wind as it moved her ebony tresses off her shoulders, smiling she began walking through the bright meadow toward the trees.

"Kagome" She stopped abruptly at the voice, listening intently she was met by the sound of the wind stirring the treetops, As she began walking again she was stopped when the voice spoke yet again.

"Kagome, child you must listen to me." the commanding tone caused her to whirl around, this voice was familiar. Then she saw him, the man from the well, she was too shocked to move.

"Who are you?" her voice came out in a cracked whisper, the man advanced on her and his face was pinched with worry.

"Child, you must awaken the power within yourself, only you have the ability to save us all." He came to a stop in front of her and took her in his arms, she felt herself relaxing, resting her head on his chest. "You must tell him of the future, of the end of the youkai." He rested his cheek on the top of her head, "It will be difficult and your road is fraught with peril, but with the right alliance all can be saved." Drawing back from her he cupped her chin in his hand.

"Child of justice, take up your sword" he bent down and again pressed his lips to her brow. There was a flash of light and a bang.

Kagome woke with a start, it took her a moment to get her bearings, she was in the baths in her rooms. Slowly she relaxed, 'What is with these dreams?' she wondered. After her meltdown in the garden, she had returned to her rooms to bathe and evidently fallen asleep in the bath, her fingers and toes were already pruning up, with a resigned sigh she stood and exited the springs. Once Amaya had dressed her, Kagome made her way to the library, she was so preoccupied with her dream she didn't even tease Perrito. The inu took note but said nothing as was his habit.

Upon entering the library she shook herself free of the cobwebs of her dream and fell upon the scrolls like a starving man on a meal. She welcomed the opportunity to lose herself in the research, it kept her from reliving the shame of her actions earlier that morning. Kagome had been reading for a solid week and was starting to worry that perhaps she had already found the right one but had no idea she had it, self doubt permeated her mind and she ruthlessly pushed it down, focusing on the scroll in front of her. 'We'll cross the bridge when we come to it.'

The palanquin came to a halt in the light of the setting sun, a thin elegant hand emerged from the curtains, immediately attend to by a servant. Suzaku, Lord of the South stepped out onto the forest floor, the slender youkai gave a languid stretch as his tent was assembled. He beckoned his general to his side, the hawk responded swiftly, dropping into a bow, saying nothing, the general waited.

"You will be my eyes and ears when we arrive at the house of the moon." Suzaku said, "Something is going on, we must uncover what it is, the dog is entertaining a human and not just any ningen, but the Shikon Miko." The southern lord pondered the message he had received telling him of the current guests in the dog demon's household, the messenger had been a ningen man who when questioned had revealed he had been given the scroll by an unknown woman and paid to deliver it. The ningen had been shaking in fear, being in a taiyoukai's stronghold tended to have that effect on the weak.

A warrior miko was an unsettling prospect for any youkai, the ningen who were skilled in the holy ways tended not to be combat trained. It struck a balance, their immense power was tempered by their lack of military might and further diluted by the separation of males and females. Ningen were such odd creatures, so many rules in place for, what did they call it... ah yes, morals. Suzaku scoffed, such effort wasted on rules and decorum, pleasure was a much more worthy pursuit.

Suzaku watched a hummingbird courtesan enter his tent and smirked. Yes, pleasure was a necessity, one sadly lacking in Lord Sesshomaru's household, the dog lord was so very dull, all cold stares and silences. Perhaps this ningen would liven things up a bit, he did so love teasing and engaging in games to which only he knew the rules, looking over at his entourage he smiled, Sesshomaru would be livid.

He had brought enough courtesans to occupy a score of men, not to mention his palanquin bearers and guards and his general, if he was lucky Sesshomaru would go into apoplexy upon their arrival and Suzaku would have the run of the place. That would never come to pass but he could dream, he would see in the morning what the state of affairs truly was in the house of the moon.

Shippo made his way through the halls of the manor looking for the library, things had been quite subdued after the battle that morning. The healer had come in and whisked Inuyasha off to be tended, they were all under strict orders not to let any of the morning's events slip to Lady Kikyo, Shippo heartily agreed with this. If the blasts of energy Kagome was emitting were any indication, she could take half the manor out, he shuddered to think what would happen if there were a serious confrontation between the two women.

After the departure of Kagome and both Inu brothers, Shippo had been bombarded with questions from the generals, her reaction to Inuyasha left no doubt of the unresolved issues between the two. Since they knew Shippo had traveled with them before, he was not given reprieve from the questioning until he left the dojo entirely.

He really needed to find Kagome and make sure she was alright, although he had wanted to go to her immediately, Shippo was glad the other kitsune had stopped him. As out of control as she was he could have been injured himself by her holy aura, enough time had passed now he figured it was safe enough, her handmaid had told him she had resumed her research.

Entering the library it took Shippo a moment to locate Kagome, at first all he could see were scroll in ridiculously large piles, then he heard her muttering and the sound of parchment rustling.

"Kagome?" she did not answer him, just kept muttering and moving scrolls around. The kitsune moved into the room, making his way gingerly around the haphazard piles to the other side of the desk. Kagome sat holding one particular scroll muttering under her breath, her other hand tugging at her hair, overall Shippo thought she looked rather demented.

"Kagome are you ok?" he asked.

"Shippo I found it!" she exclaimed, "come here and look at this."

"Found what Kagome? Yours or Midoriko's?" she looked up at him surprised.

"Oh that's right, I didn't get a chance to tell you, I found both of those already, here." She reached over to the other side of the desk and handed him two scrolls. "Read those, then I'll show you this one." Shippo unrolled the parchment and scanned the words inside, his brows shot up as he read. Shippo put them down and looked at Kagome

"Now check this one out." Her eyes lit up and her face shone as she handed him the third scroll, the kitsune was relieved to see none of her earlier turmoil, leaning over the parchment he read.

Return Child of Justice, take hold of the hand,
The balance you bring will restore the land.
An alliance of all, in one union shall live,
Survival for all, the gift you shall give.

Shippo frowned and re-read the passage, 'This could be anyone,why is she so excited?' confused he looked at his friend the question hanging in his eyes. "Um, Kagome...am I missing something?"

"Oh Shippo, I'm so sorry!" her hand flew to her mouth, "I didn't even tell you about my dream, you remember I told you about the man at the well in my time?" Shippo nodded, that had been one of the tings she had talked about over their first evening meal with Kohaku.

"Yeah what about him?"

"Well I had a dream today and he told me there are hard times ahead but he called me child of justice! That can't be a coincidence."

"Wait Kagome, slow down, if this really is you what is it telling you to do?" She gave him an exasperated look.

"If I knew that I wouldn't still be here silly, we'd be out trying to complete the thing." She straightened her back out sighing in relief as a few of her vertebrae popped, studying the latest scroll again she said, "I think I'll ask Sesshomaru about it, he might have some insight for us." the kitsune was surprised, she seemed to have lost her fear of the taiyoukai, at least most of it, odd, the night before she had been afraid he would send them away and now she spoke of collaborating with him easily. Something must have happened that morning between them that he had missed.

"Kagome," he said drawing her attention away from the scroll, "are you alright?" his turquoise gaze searched her face and saw a small hesitation there. Kagome looked down at her lap, then back at her friend's earnest expression, frowning she said quietly,

"I almost killed him Shippo." her hands moved like butterflies, small fluttering movements with no discernible purpose, she bit her bottom lip still not looking at him. "I could have killed you if you had come to me, I lost control." she drew a shuddering breath, "If it had been anyone else who approached me I would have fried them, I was utterly lost within myself, he brought me back." The kitsune could hear the fragility and doubt in her voice, she seemed almost ashamed, angered, he frowned

"What did he do to you Kagome? You weren't hurt were you?" his questioning was stopped when she placed a hand on his arm,

"No Shippo, I was not harmed. I was shamefully out of control and so weak I almost died I think, he saved me Shippo." the kit remained silent, he knew she had been dangerously close to losing control but he had not realized how close. "He was kind to me," she said softly "after all the trouble I caused, he was kind to me." She smiled wider as Shippo's brows shot up,

"I know, I know I was surprised too, but he really was."

Their conversation was cut short by the library doors opening, they both looked to see Sesshomaru himself enter, his eyes taking in the general disarray of the scrolls, his gaze settled on the two of them and the scroll the miko was holding. 'She must have found something, I think I'll see how long it takes her to tell me about it.' The taiyoukai was fairly certain he had gained some of the miko's trust that morning, but trust was a fragile thing, better to not push it.

"Miko" he said, "I have come to tell you of an impending visitor." Kagome met his eyes, confused,

"A visitor?"

"Hai Miko, it seems someone has told the southern lord of your presence in my house and he has decided to come and meet the famous Shikon Miko." Sesshomaru's voice was chilled, Kagome frowned,

"How does he know I'm here?" a shiver of apprehension ran down her spine, she had no desire to meet any more youkai lords, one taiyoukai was quite enough for her to deal with.

"That, Miko is something I wonder myself."

"Well what does he want with me?" her face filled with tension lines and the note in her voice elevated slightly, Sesshomaru could smell a sudden wash of fear emanating from her, not overpowering but certainly present.

"I imagine he wants to meet you." he said dryly, the miko's eyes flashed

"Oh thanks so much, I feel enlightened now." she snapped and almost immediately her demeanor changed, the bravado collapsing in on itself, her tiny hands pulling at the edges of her sleeves, her teeth gnawing at her bottom lip. This sudden change disturbed the taiyoukai, recalling the emotional upheaval of the morning he sought to distract her to avoid even a mild repeat.

"What is it you wish to know onna?" Kagome looked up at him,

"I don't know how to act around him." she whispered, blush rising to her cheeks. Sesshomaru was surprised, her confidence was all but non-existent, the earlier events must have shaken her more than he thought.
"Suzaku is a frivolous and shallow lord, pleasure is his primary pursuit in everything he does and says," Sesshomaru's lip curled slightly in distaste, "he is quite loud, flamboyant and considers himself charming, this is not to say he lacks intelligence, simply decorum, the bird is quite cunning and sly, be careful not to underestimate him."

"Bird?" her query was still hesitant, she was slightly shocked Sesshomaru had spoken that much in one go. Sesshomaru suppressed a sigh.

"Hai Suzaku is a firebird and just a volatile as it sounds." The taiyoukai fought the urge to growl in irritation. "Suzaku and myself are not close allies, we interact for necessity only, he rarely comes here and I have never graced his home with my presence." The ability of Sesshomaru to stick his nose in the air without ever moving suddenly struck Kagome as terribly funny and she let slip a small snicker. Sesshomaru turned a bland stare on her.

"What amuses you so miko?" Her face was lit then by a brilliant smile and he found himself wondering if this ningen was entirely sane.

"You didn't even mean to do it but I feel better, you make him sound like a childish clown. When do you expect him to get here?" she replied, her mirth subsiding.

"In the morning, we will delay your training until after his arrival so you may be introduced decently."

Decently huh?" Kagome said, anger creeping into her tone.

"Yes Miko," he paused, giving her a meaningful stare, "...decently, or need I remind you of the reasons for my rules?" The taiyoukai turned on his heel, effectively ending the conversation, as he left the room his sensitive ears picked up a rebellious grumble from the miko.

"Maybe I should meet him with my sword in hand, strike a little respect in him from day one." Sesshomaru almost smirked as he continued down the hall, it was a good sign to hear her spirit return to her demeanor as she would need it and it wouldn't hurt to see the arrogant bird put in his place by a mere ningen, in fact he rather looked forward to it.