A.N. Okay so this begins with Shippou telling Mirouku everything that basically happened to get to where they are now in the present. Hope it's more enjoyable than confusing lol.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Inuyasha.

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(Tsuki)

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Shi no Kirei

Chapter Eleven

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(Tsuki)

"Kagome was born in a village near what we now know to be Edo to a human woman, and longtime wife of Kirei.

Kirei, was lifetimes old and perhaps restless. After all who wouldn't be if they lived in the same place for that long? So against the wishes of those who bore him, he left the realm that he had once called home and ventured to ours, during that 'once upon a time' before demon extinction.

The story of him and his wife is something he only really spoke about to Kagome. She in turn, although she loved her mother, did not bring her up.

Mortally is a painful thing for those gifted without it.

But Kagome was the happiest thing, beside his marriage, to ever happen to Kirei. She had a lifetime more suitable to his, and she was all that he could wish for in a daughter. After the jail catastrophe, he instated Inuyasha and Kikyou. Inuyasha was known for his strength and Kikyou for her intelligence. They started as guardians, unexpectedly acted as tutors, and soon became her friends.

Perhaps all three of them underestimated Naraku back then. Or maybe they gave themselves too much credit.

Most immortals looked down on youkai. We—or rather they, seeing as I am human in this lifetime—were considered to be a step up from humans in strength, but a step down in competency and civility. So youkai probably had a bit of an inferiority complex.

Before Naraku, none of them ever would have dared to touch an immortal, let alone take one of their lives. But once he accomplished what seemed to be the impossible, it was definitely he, would condemned both races to certain extinction.

Almost a decade or so after Inuyasha and Kikyou, came you and Sango. You both had been married then, as well. I must admit though, you never had a reputation that commanded anything but respect in those days. It was a wonder that Sango even accepted your proposal in this era…

But I digress…Then, you were an equivalent of godparents to the girl. Your role in her life, though, was only that innocent on the surface.

Before you officially became guardians, Naraku had revived a band of executed mercenaries. He had attempted to use them to kidnap Kagome, shortly before your arrival.

Then, Inuyasha and Kikyou had been more than enough to return the seven back to their graves. It is in retrospect, once I had seen the mercenaries in action in various lives, though, that I can see that it had not been strength alone that had defeated them. They had been a group divided in interests. One was infatuated with Inuyasha, another partially in love with Kikyou, another was obsessed with overthrowing the leader—the list of conflicts was endless.

That victory probably fueled Inuyasha's, and perhaps even Kikyou's, egos though. The mercenaries had a reputation also. But Kirei had been wise to bring you two in. You were a well known dual after all. An oracle and notorious demon exterminator. Combined, you were the perfect hunters.

Or at least you thought so. A demon's most important feature is the animal it has extended from. Naraku… is unique. He's not one specific species. As a mix of all the most unscrupulous creatures, even you two stood no chance.

Craft was Naraku's strongest point, and at that point no one knew that you were unable to see into Kagome's future.

So Kirei's foresight ended there. He foolishly believed that Naraku was nothing without that band of seven. You never had anything negative to report about Kagome's future either since you weren't seeing anything. In result, Kirei allowed Kagome to freely traverse, albeit with Inuyasha or other company, to the human village.

I was the first demon she ever saw. Because I myself recalled nothing of my life prior to her finding me, I can tell you nothing now. I assume that I was orphaned since I always am when reincarnated. But that was the state of many youkai kits back then. Demons were pretty oppressed creatures.

Neither revered by humans like immortals, nor tolerated or protected by immortals like humans. Demons simply floated in a middle ground of pure loathing and condemned as beasts.

I considered myself lucky then to be found by that woman who took me in as her own child, when another would have finished me or left me to die.

I found it funny sometimes, how separately the races treated demons as monsters, but when combined in that girl, there was simply compassion.

Inuyasha had been a bit reluctant, out of worry that Kirei would be mad, but he had been nearly as helpful in getting me aid as my mother. Yet apparently his attitude in treating me, was something unconventional for him. Sango would later tell me rumors about how cruel Inuyasha had once been rumored to be, prior to his guardianship and how he was nothing like she expected. If that stubborn immortal learned anything from his time with that girl, it was how to love.

Speaking of love, it was shortly after finding me, that she found my father. I had been a bit older then, and Kirei had entrusted me with Kagome for the day. He was again doing foolish things.

Ironically, in the same place that she had met the man that would become Naraku, she then met her first and only love.

Dressed in royal garbs, father had been resting against a tree, surrounded by the scent of blood. Being the naïve, though compassionate being that she was, mother had rushed to his assistance.

After all how was she to know that none of the blood was his? Even I had yet to differentiate between the smell of human and demon blood.

As Kagome had prodded his form for wounds, she had murmured, in awe, 'I had never thought that I would meet someone more beautiful than my father.'

I probably should have been more alert to know that he was awake the entire time, but again, I was a child then. And of course I am glad that mother did meet my surrogate father—he was someone I truly came to respect, if not feel my own affection for.

But back then, I never would have known any of that, considering how terribly his first meeting went with momma.

'This man does not seem to be injured…Yet this blood looks so fresh.' Abruptly pale magenta coated lids snapped open to reveal cold amber eyes.

'Have you truly not yet realized what I am, child?' He asked with a noticeably twitch of disgust, 'I would have gladly spared you if you and your kit had simply left my person alone. This inundation of chatter, your human reek—it has been intolerable.'

I was half scared out of my mind…But somehow in between what I was feeling I recognized then the court symbol that he adorned.

'A Taiyoukai', I remember thinking with hopelessness. He was either the son of one or directly the ruler of lands. It's hard to tell age when it comes to demons and immortals.

However, Kagome had taken over the situation calmly, "…I believe you are mistaken."

He had narrowed his eyes, that cocky idiot, offended that someone had dared accused him of being fallible.

'All that blood…You would have certainly done away with us if we were past tolerance.' She smiled, 'By now you have sensed the other half of the heritage that composes my blood. No, you would not injure either of us.'

He had laughed then. It had been a cruel sound as he snatched her hand in his clawed hand unmindful of said claws. 'Immortals conduct themselves with such superiority.' He looked at the appendage. 'How can you be so sure that I would not allow myself to rid the world of another useless nuisance? I would even spare your kit just for reasons of allowing him to contact your family.'

I had yelled out some protest and told Kagome to run, but she simply continued to look at him. After a moment she then laid her head on her captured appendage, 'Tell me, who did you kill?'

Something about that had thrown him off guard. He broke contact with her as if he had been burned. 'It is none of your concern. Leave, girl.'

Kagome had stood then, taken me in her arms and I had been hopeful that we would be going.

Yet she lingered.

'May I befriend you?'

Another scoff and he smoothly rose to his feet. 'I will not repeat myself.' As an educated member of royalty, he knew the consequences her assassination would bring. Yet, by the coats of blood that adorned his garbs, I knew what little restraint he had over his bloodlust was ebbing away.

Kagome gave him one last look and left.

It could have gone worse, yes, but his 'if I see you again, I'll kill you' demeanor didn't really make him look like soul-mate material.

Yet when they finally did see each other again, it was without accompaniment. Neither Inuyasha nor I were present. Kagome had run away after hearing word of the passing of a villager she had been fond of. This was almost a year after her initial meeting with him.

Perhaps you remember this, but the five of us had been in search for three days before Kagome had been found by Inuyasha in the Western lands. Kirei had stayed at the house in hopes that she would head there.

But she had been drawn to the western lands. She told me afterwards that she had taken to the forest and drifted there.

Again she found my father, though this time in a position of mourning. She had been drawn to his sadness and said she found him as impassive as ever.

And they simply spoke.

She said their conversation had been on everything and anything, except of course, the main reason why my father and mother had been in that forest to begin with.

During their years of intimacy he would admit that his presence there was caused by the death of an illness struck mentor. In his youth, father had been fond of only a handful of people, Kagome being one of them by their third meeting, so he took loss relatively hard.

I had been incredulous when Kagome came back and said that she had spent three days speaking to father of course, but now, it's more understandable. One thing that guy doesn't know how to deal with, though, is loss. It was that camaraderie that undoubtedly brought the two together.

However both times since he had mother there, he dealt a little easier through it. Kagome was also cleared of her sadness once she returned, so Kirei agreed to let her see father whenever she desired.

I would usually be the one to accompany them, so I know a little more first hand, how they got closer, but it was kind of just like an instant clicking.

They were so opposite each other yet so alike, it was odd to see.

But unfortunately, Naraku found out about that growing bond. The amount of times Kagome went to meet father was too many to go beyond notice.

So he moved to more drastic measures by the time they could be deemed lovers.

During their wedding ceremony in the Western Lands, he massacred all the guards, before he reached you and Sango. It was before the ceremony had begun and you both had wanted to take a quick walk to secure the perimeter as a 'just in case' measure.

That was when the two of you found Naraku making his way through the Western palace. You probably had been caught off guard by the fact that you hadn't seen Kagome's wedding ending in disaster. However, you both had managed to him from reaching Kagome, but it at the cost of both your lives. He suffered injuries that were too great for him to continue on against Kikyou, Inuyasha, and Kirei, but you two perished.

Father was actually the first person to suggest that mother leave the Earthen realm. He wanted to lead his father's army to search and destroy Naraku while you were safe, but it didn't take an oracle to realize that would have ended in his death.

Kagome opposed any oppositional measures because she said that she would not have been able to cope with another death. Besides that, she was terribly against being separated from her husband.

Her marriage was short lived anyway though. Once Naraku was healthy again he slaughtered father's parents and completely devastated the Western Lands.

Father was torn between returning to his homelands and fulfilling his position as heir and staying in Kirei's home. Kirei suggested he at least return to set up a provisional government, as he was his parents' only son. Inuyasha went with Sesshoumaru to do that and when they returned a week later, Sesshoumaru had taken completely ill.

It was not even two weeks after that, that Naraku made his final attack and imprisoned Kagome.

If you don't mind….I'd rather not go into all the details of that…"

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(Tsuki)

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"Oh my fucking God." Inuyasha slammed his cell phone shut. "If it's not one thing it's some other fucking disaster." He tossed the bearer of bad news onto the counter as he fumed.

Kikyou and Kagome sat at the kitchen table in confusion as Inuyasha paced back and forth through the room.

First Kikyou showed up, which wasn't at all a bad thing, until of course, Kagome had to out-of-the-blue recognize the woman as his old flame from back in the day. Then in the midst of breakfast his work phone rang and his asshole boss decided to chew him out.

He looked at both girls abruptly, "Never date your boss. I don't care what people say. It gets weird regardless."

Kikyou laughed a bit, "What wrong now, Inuyasha?"

"Those two assholes from that new morning drama canceled on tomorrow's photo-shoot. I need to find a replacement ASAP, because apparently, it's all my fault." He rolled his eyes sarcastically, "Fucking Jakotsu. That's why I dumped that prick. Living with Sesshoumaru all these years has given me heightened asshole awareness."

Sesshoumaru walked into the room with raised eyebrows and snorted, "Out of curiosity, did you sense that coming."

Inuyasha waved him off and handed him a plate of food, "When do I ever not insult you to your face?"

The dark haired male snorted and poured himself a cup of coffee before grabbing the proffered plate with a nodded 'thank you'. As he did, his gaze fell on Kikyou. He glanced at Inuyasha. "I see you are finally able to go home."

Kikyou murmured a morning greeting, which Sesshoumaru returned before addressing Kagome, "If you are able to dress yourself properly, by all means do so. You will be departing with me when I leave for work. Kouga needs you to come in this afternoon."

Inuyasha grimaced, "You leave her alone with that moron? He gives off pretty fucked up vibes himself."

Kikyou sighed, "You really need to cut down on the cursing, Inuyasha."

Sesshoumaru scoffed, "Impossible."

Inuyasha suddenly stared at Sesshoumaru and said slowly, "You know…you're not that awful looking…" He glanced at Kagome ignoring the look that the dark haired male was now giving him, "And with a little work, princess is very presentable…."

He laughed and grabbed his phone, "Shall we go, Kikyou? You have work soon and I need to be on my way," he winked at her and Kikyou instantly got a sense of what the male was thinking.

She looked at Sesshoumaru and could not help the giggle that escaped her throat. She piled her and Inuyasha's plates together and after clearing them off, she brought them to the sink, "I'll just take care of these, and once you call a cab I'll be all set." She turned around to address Kagome. She was trying to pretend that she had not felt some familiar connection to the girl and that had not spoken to her in a language that she had never learned. "Are you done there, Kagome?"

Kagome had barely touched her food and had been very quiet, since seeing Kikyou. "I—"

Inuyasha answered before the girl could. He looked at Kagome then Kikyou, "She won't be done until she's finished everything on that plate. I won't have her pulling a you and not eat as soon I turn my back." He dialed in the cab company's number.

Kikyou flushed as she washed her dishes, "I did too eat, for your information." Under her breath she murmured, "I just didn't eat much."

Sesshoumaru took a seat at the table with a newspaper and skimmed the headlines before deciding on an article.

After Inuyasha finished calling the cab, he turned his attention to Sesshoumaru again, "Hey, Sess, have you ever thought of doing anything with your hair?"

"As often as you think of doing anything with Kouga."

Inuyasha looked appalled, "You're that boring? I mean I can't even count on my hands how often I mentally experiment with my amazing locks every day. I was thinking of doing something with red—"

Kikyou smiled softly, "Alright, Inuyasha, let's leave Sesshoumaru alone and wait in the living room."

Kagome said a soft good bye to the two and turned her attention back to making attempts to eat her breakfast.

Sesshoumaru placed the newspaper down after a moment and inquired, "What now?"

Kagome looked at the male and smile slightly, "What do you mean?"

Sesshoumaru drawled with a raised brow, "Your lack of appetite does not seem to be a good sign. Besides," he added with a scoff, "you're not known for your silence."

Azure eyes glistened with moisture, "I… I am saddened by something."

Amber eyes rolled heavenward in response, "Saddened?"

Kagome blinked away tears, "I feel as if nothing is correct. Everything is wrong, Sesshoumaru. Yet," she added slowly, "I don't know specifically what it is. I just feel as if my existence has been wronged."

Sesshoumaru suddenly became attentive. "Your existence?"

"And yours," she admittedly softly.

A frown marred the other man's face and he stared at her for a moment. Silence filled the air for a moment before he demanded, "Tell me what you mean."

Kagome ran a hand through her hair, "I do not know."

She stood and gingerly made her way towards him. Sesshoumaru stiffened as she slunk onto his lap and hugged his neck.

What made him uncomfortable, was not the girl he was now forced to cradle in his lap. That was far from it…

What made him uncomfortable was his body's traitorous sense of her belonging there….

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(Tsuki)

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"I think we should head back there for dinner. How 'bout you Kik?"

"Inuyasha, I've been ignoring this subject long enough, but that perhaps isn't the wisest thing to do. Who is that girl?" Her brows knit together, "She clearly knew who I was and I—well I am almost positive that I knew her. Yet that has me confused. I have never met her before today. I would know if I had…"

Inuyasha leaned back in the seat of the taxi. "She's a friend of dad's, so you probably saw her picture back when I lived at home. She's staying with Sess now though, for a bit 'cause of some financial trouble she's in."

Kikyou rubbed her temples, "Something really makes me want to call bullshit on that, Inuyasha."

Said persona raised a brow. He wasn't sure what was more shocking. The fact that Kikyou didn't believe such a well constructed story or that Kikyou uttered a word that by definition was a profanity. He blinked and decided to go with the latter. "Bullshit?"

"Please respect our friendship enough to tell me the truth…"

"Kikyou…what do you want to me so suddenly admit to? That she's actually centuries old and appeared out of thin air?" He looked at her and the girl flushed. Truthfully, even Sesshoumaru didn't even know the story behind where Kagome came from, so how would he? All he knew was that he wanted to drop the subject. He didn't want to be reminded of the fact that they could have shared a romantic history together. That just didn't seem right to him.

And he didn't want it to…

It didn't make sense.

The platinum blonde put an arm around her and squeezed her shoulder, "Now how about dinner?"

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(Tsuki)

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A tall brunette giggled suddenly, "My boys have been getting alone so well lately," her laughs subsided into a grin, "What do I owe that to?"

Two men and one woman were seating on a blanket beneath a formidable tree entitled, the Goshinboku. Remnants of a wholesome picnic were scattered at the foot of the blanket, in homage to their after work unwinding. Sango, the brunette, was between the boys, dressed in a lengthy pastel sundress, leaned against her husband languidly.

"Magic, my love," came a charismatic and appealing voice. He kissed Sango's hand gently.

A redhead snorted in response, "That's not even remotely funny, Mirouku."

Mirouku chuckled, "What good is life if you cannot learn to laugh things off, Shippou?"

"Was I wrong? Are you guys, just trying to put up a friendly front," Sango pouted unhappily.

Shippou gently smacked the back of her head, "Idiot! I like it here. I'm glad that you let me stay with you." He absentmindedly played with the hem of his button up shirt, "Mirouku and I are as close as you think. Maybe even closer," he shrugged.

Sango smiled and planted a kiss on both of their foreheads, "Good. I couldn't ask for more, then."

Mirouku suddenly groaned. "Are we visiting Kohaku-kun today love?"

"Yup," she chirped, "Later after dinner. Rin is on official house arrest as stated by my dear over-protective brother. I thought I might as well give her company."

Shippou laughed, "Those two turned out more perfect than I could ever imagine." Sango raised a confused brow but smiled nonetheless, because it was undeniably true. Kohaku had never really loved a female outside of his family until Rin.

Meeting Rin had just been something perfect from the start.

Two people absolutely meant for each other.

She looked at Mirouku.

Absolutely meant for each other.

It was something mystifying.

But wonderful.

Mirouku ran his fingers through his wife's hair, "Fate is a crazy thing."

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(Tsuki)

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Two figures clothed in black exited a taxi in front of a dark residence. It was three o'clock in the morning and nearly the peek of night. They wanted to capitalize on the growing darkness before the sun rose.

As soon as the out of place toned vehicle was out of sight, the two placed on masks that matched their black turtle necks and dark pants of choice.

One wore a slimming pair of black jeans and the other wore black tights. The tights wearing form, a slimmer, more petite version of the male suddenly ripped her mask off. Raven hair cascaded down.

"This is ridiculous! I must have lost my sanity to have humored you this long, Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha took off his mask, "Kikyouuuu…you promised! I could lose my job if I don't do this!"

Kikyou looked incredulous, "What makes you think that that man will sit back and let you massacre his hair??"

Inuyasha grinned evilly, "The fact that I put enough sleeping pills in his food to knock out a fucking elephant…"

The raven haired girl shook her head, "I get now why Suikotsu worries about me when I'm with you…"

"Feh, of course he worries… He's boring and boring guys are intimidated by the sexy and exciting."

Kikyou smacked him with her mask. "Just get your key out."

Inuyasha blinked, "Shit, Kikyou…"

"My God! Tell me you at least have some legal way of getting into his home."

The male grinned, "That all depends on whether or not Sesshoumaru locks his front doors."

Inuyasha was unofficially disowned by his parents when he 'came out'. So he found something to devote attention to as a way of coping. He had worked his way up with the magazine for years and the job was one of his only passions.

Kikyou sometimes understood his over the top approaches and his strives toward perfection and recognition. His ability to lose himself in his work allowed him to forget the parents he didn't have anymore…the people who were cruel to him….

His work was a reflection of himself.

It was beautiful and it was different.

Kikyou smiled softly, "Okay, then. Get us inside and I'll do the rest."

Inuyasha showed surprise for a moment before he grinned and pulled out a very thin metal screw driver and a pick.

He got to work on the front door and Kikyou pulled out the bleaching dyes that had been tucked into a satchel that hung loosely over her shoulder.

She started mixing different bottles to preoccupy herself as Inuyasha picked the lock of the front door.

Approximately five minutes and twenty five seconds later, they were inside.

Inuyasha and Kikyou closed the door behind themselves and Kikyou followed her male partner in crime upstairs to where Sesshoumaru's room was located.

They were for the most part silent as they opened the door and snuck into the room. Inuyasha looked at Kikyou, "What do you need?"

"Get me three buckets of water and aluminum foil. We can't bring him to the shower, so we'll settle with what we have right here."

Inuyasha nodded and was off.

Kikyou cast a guilty look at the unnaturally sleeping form, "I suppose I should begin with an apology." She sucked in a breath. "Sorry, Sesshoumaru."

She took a bottle from her bag and squeezed it onto his dark locks.

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(Tsuki)

A.N. This was an odd place to end the chappie, but I thought it was a fun place to leave off. Next chapter is filled with some interesting stuff though that makes up for the lag in pace and there is—dare I say it—romance!

Yep next chapter gets weird.

Review! : )