Here is another chapter, I hope you guys enjoy it. It's a little longer than normal, and though it's sad the ending is kind of happy becaus now... well you'll see.


Inu-no-Tashio stood high above a growing village, where Inuyasha's mother had been born. He was almost surprised to see it still standing after Takemaru of Setsuna set fire to her families mansion. Usually such fires aren't put out easily and destroy far too many homes and lives to be rebuilt. But here it was, proving that some small miracles do occur.

Watching it from so far, it brought to him memories that were cherished greatly. They pained him as well but there was that fleeting moment of absolute bliss and so he stepped back into time, into his memories for a moment.

Flash Back

Izayoi rushed along the mountain side, in fear of a giant ogre demon chasing her because she smelt so enticing, or as it said "good". Her lungs began to burn as she continued to climb the steep slope, that demon getting closer every second. She didn't know how much longer she could run. Her fingers and knees bled from having tripped and then gripping onto rocks or jagged sticks to pull herself forward more. Suddenly her footing slipped again but this time before she could pull herself up that demon managed to bite her in the leg.

A shrill scream alerted the demon lord that he needed to rush a little faster in order to possibly save the woman from being killed. He had smelt her fear and heard the ogre demon taunting her as her feet pounded against the ground. And now, there was her blood thick in the air mixed with the putrid smell of poison.

He flew around a corner, stopping short when she gripped a large, dead branch and beat the demon in the face with it. He hissed and released her appendage from his jaws. So she managed to stand, with out looking in front of her and began running again, rather pitifully.

Inu-no-Tashio stood perfectly still; in case she turned to him he didn't wish to startle her. But she never did. Instead Izayoi collided with his bone armor.

Before she could fall back he caught her gently and quickly her eyes flew to what she hit. When she saw only his chest she jerked her head up, frightened brown eyes finding his placid yet slightly concerned golden yellow ones.

The fear seemed to heighten instantaneously, mud being washed by tears of desperation. She was sure now that she was going to die. A youkai behind her and one before her. She'd not live past tonight and she didn't know what to do.

"Leave ogre; I am the Tai youkai of the West, Inu-no-Tashio and this woman is mine to do as I please with." The demon slowed to a stop confused. "It means I rule this domain and you will do as I command. Leave, I shall not repeat myself again."

Izayoi looked to his face in surprise; he spoke so formerly, nothing like this beast behind her. He was so strangely different than any youkai she'd ever seen, he almost looked human but those markings, his eyes, hair and his ears… they were not of a human body type. And he said he was a ruler of this domain, this land. He must be powerful. She'd heard of demon rulers, her father spoke of them with disgust… And this demon's name was familiar; perhaps he'd mentioned Inu-no-Tashio before.

But at the sudden roar behind her, so filled with rage, she wasn't sure if he would survive. She watched as his golden orbs narrowed, a look of disdain came over his features as he used his free hand to create a beam of poisonous light from his finger tip. In one moment, not even a breath, she watched as he used it like a whip to slice the demon in two.

"Aahh!" She jumped closer to him; bumping the armor again as the ogre's dead body almost hit them both.

Sesshoumaru's father looked down at her in surprise, not expecting such a reaction. After a moment of her staring in what seemed to be shock at the demon in halves, covering her mouth and coughing at the rancid scent his innards gave off the dog demon asked, "What is your name human?"

She shook a little in his grasp before answering him, eyes wide with fear. "I-Izayoi…"

He sighed. "As I said earlier, though you humans have terrible memories I have heard, I am Inu-no-Tashio, lord of the Western Lands." He released her and she didn't run, only stepped back a foot or so. "I can accompany you home if you like; your blood is too sweet in its scent, other demons will wish to kill and devour you. I am unsure which order they would come first."

"I-I…" She was still in shock, unable to think clearly.

"Come, Izayoi." He lifted her up effortlessly and walked toward the edge of the high slope they stood upon. She had gasped, not because he picked her up, but because of how her name sounded coming from his mouth. She'd never heard it said so demandingly and yet sincerely before… "Which house?" He asked; ignoring her gasp, thinking it was because he had lifted her into his arms.

"My family lives in the largest home, in the middle." She pointed, and looked to his face again to find him look back down at her quickly.

"Royalty?" He was surprised; her clothes were so torn you'd have guessed her for a peasant… But even torn they weren't silk, not even servants' clothes.

She nodded. "I usually take walks at night because it's refreshing to be alone for a moment, without guards watching your every move. I like seeing some of the young girls in the village, we talk and then I usually go to the stream to help them fish for their meals that they will prepare the next morning."

"Ah." He said quietly and began to leap downward from where they stood.

"Oh Kami!" Izayoi closed her eyes tightly as they descended sixteen yards easily. (Forty-eight feet) The demon lord turned to her, a little surprised at how terrified she sounded. But grinned as she soon dared to look down. "It's… It's almost like you're flying!"

Inu-no-Tashio laughed the sound deep and warm. "I can fly, would you like to see?" For a moment the young woman stared in awe at him and then nodded vigorously but then winced. Her wound began to burn her far worse than before. "Another time." He promised while gazing into her eyes.

She was sure he had bewitched her now, for rather than get aid to her wound she wanted to stay with him. Such strange feelings presented themselves within her belly.

Without a soul knowing he landed in the middle of her mansion deftly to enter her home, he stepped onto the wooden walkway. "Your healer?" He whispered silently.

"Follow this hall to the end, make one left and it is the third door." He smiled; she must have to go there often to know it so well. But he did as was told and simply left her there in front of the door. She almost fell in surprise. "Inu-no-Tashio!" She shouted quietly.

She heard him laugh lightly. "I will return tomorrow evening Izayoi…" She blushed in both embarrassment and anger as he joked with her so easily. Men weren't supposed to do such things with women, were they?

Suddenly the door opened and an elderly woman stepped out. "Child! What happened to ye leg?!"

"I was bitten by an ogre demon." She replied wincing as the sudden attention to it made the blasted thing sting all the more.

"We best use medicinal treatment with haste!" She replied. "And then we shall alert your parents." Izayoi groaned, this was going to be so hard to explain and it would get her in so much trouble. If only that demon lord had taken her away….

The next night

"Izayoi?" She leapt from her bedding at the sound of the Inu youkai's voice so near her ear. When she lifted, his face was not even an inch away from her own and he clapped a hand over her mouth lightly. He tilted his head to the screen where the shadows of four guards were placed. "Speak in hushed tones."

He released her mouth. "What do you think you're doing?!" She hissed lowly.

"I promised to return and so I have." His reply was quiet and he seemed confused.

"I-I can't believe you were serious…" She said; her eyes also filled with bewilderment. "Do you not have a mate to be with at such an hour..?" Her eyes widened with horror suddenly, how could she be so rude? "I-I am sorry, forgive me my Lord, I…" She had bowed her head to him, embarrassed with herself.

But he intervened before she could continue rambling. "I have no mate, she and I were… not as well suited for one another as we first thought and therefore we are no longer together."

"Oh…" She replied, unsure of what to say or think. "I am sorry if you… were hurt…"

His laugh surprised her. "No, it was not painful. It did not bother her either. We had a son so something good came out of it I suppose."

"Oh, how old is your son?" She was so curious, it was interesting. Maybe humans and demons had more in common than previously believed.

End of flash back

The trees rustling in the wind drew him from his musings. That half breed Naraku was moving to the east of him. But as Sesshoumaru said, it was for the living and it was none of his concern; one revived from the dead who had not been wronged by this beast.

The true reason he wouldn't bother to aid Sesshoumaru was because he wanted him to trust the miko more. It was most certainly needed if they were going to love one another. Hopefully Sesshoumaru would realize before she were to elderly to love him that humans are much better companions than demon females. They were far more compassionate and held such intriguing emotions. When you're very old you want something to entertain you and keep you guessing, humans did that so well. And, it really was so easy to fall in love with the right one.

Plus, even though Sesshoumaru would claim he was in no need of a mate and never would be he would realize one day that life is much better spent with someone you can always be with. So, once again, the Inu-youkai hoped he realized soon what this human girl could mean to him.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes as a gust of wind blew unbelievably hard into the cavern. A demons wind. The nerve of that wind witch…. "Sesshoumaru, I've found you and the miko; will you put up a fight?" She asked, allowing her fan to fall. The demonic aura around her rose in a challenging manner. If he did not fight, she would simply slay them both.

"Hn." The demon lord stood silently, there was still great pain but he could kill Kagura or at least teach her to tuck tail and run as she normally did.

"How courageous demon lord, standing before your death." She lifted her fan and the wind began to gather around it.

"Foolish woman," He said quietly, fingers becoming acidic. "I am death." His eyes narrowed as he whip collided with the winds she managed to send toward him and Kagome. The whip broke them and her weapon before slicing along her throat and jaw.

She leapt away and hissed in anger accompanied by tremendous pain from his poison. "You… you've gotten stronger Sesshoumaru." Her eyes scanned his entire demeanor, suddenly realizing that there was great power within him. "How is that possible, he's been lying near death for so long…?" He readied his whip yet again but before he struck many demons swarmed around her, fleeing with her body. "I will return Sesshoumaru!"

The demon watched the sky until she disappeared. He hadn't dare drew Tokigen because if he had it may have reopened some injuries by using a sword to battle. There was a quiet wind that swept the valley below him, none demonic and very welcomed. He still didn't feel well. Commanding the acid in his blood heated him to an uncomfortable height.

Kagura… She had said that he was stronger than the last that they met. He felt no stronger; one tends to notice such things. He turned his head to the tree line, maybe she had gotten weaker.

crack

Something sounded from within the cave; Sesshoumaru turned and found there was a glow within the cavern. Midoriko's essence could be felt directly over and around Kagome's fragile body. But it was in a peaceful manner, the young, strange miko would remain unharmed. "What are you trying to accomplish Midoriko?"

The warmth seemed to acknowledge him and for an instant he saw her rare happy smile within the furthest reaches of his mind. It didn't affect him truly; he only felt a momentary surprise at how joyful she was. But then she returned to her task, no longer watching him. She must be trying to reach Kagome and its true, the easiest way to do that is when one is asleep.

There was nothing else to truly do but sit and wait for the two miko's to speak with one another. And once that was done… Well Sesshoumaru needed to plan that.

In Kagome's sleep

It was black one moment, meant for a restful and regenerative sleep and the next there was this endlessly warm light. Kagome stood in surprise from a grassy slope she now set on. The sun was low but still shining in the sky casting the meadow in a beautiful golden light. When she took a breath, Kagome found the air was clean and crisp, unlike any she had breathed before. It was pure, like the pureness of an untainted miko… But no matter how beautiful this scene was Kagome found that something was a miss and this world felt it just as she did. This world was sad too.

"Kagome?" A voice broke behind her, a female voice. She turned startled.

"You're… you're Midoriko!?" Kagome almost fell back, stunned to be facing the creator of the shikon no tama.

"Yes, I am." She smiled momentarily. "You will need to get stronger miko; Naraku has a powerful scheming plan and a son."

"A son!?" She questioned appalled at the thought of any woman desiring to bed with Naraku. That was just so… disgusting!

"Not as you are imagining I assure you." The woman waved her hand, dismissing Kagome's beginning ideas. "It is a new ability, to create an exact replica of himself and some other being which he would wish to create an heir with. His son's name is Hiso and he is the unseen being that had tried to kill Sesshoumaru, when you intervened, twice."

An angry wind seemed to rise up for a moment in this quiet, peaceful world. But just as it did the wind dispersed, leaving clouds. Was it going to rain? "Twice…? How can I defeat him? You say I should become stronger but… but I'll never be as powerful as Kikyo is! She should…"

"The first time Sesshoumaru was injured, when you found him with your friends, he had battled Hiso and should have died." She sighed. "Do not delude yourself Kagome." Midoriko said quietly. "Kikyo lost most of her power to you. Yes you are her reincarnation, but you are not the same."

"Kikyo knew from birth how to use those abilities deep within her body while you did not. She grew up in an era of demons and strife while you learned to live in an era of endless buildings and the most fearful thing for you would be a mugger in the street. She fell in love with a half demon because they shared something similar, loneliness. You fell in love with that same half demon not because Kikyo is within you but because your kind heart reached for him, to make him happy. You wanted to show him what happiness could be, not intending it to become love but it did, slowly. Kikyo is trained in her miko abilities and you are not. You have a raw power, deep within that is almost endless so long as you fight with your heart…"

"But," Kagome interrupted. "Don't you see, that's why Kikyo's fit! She was trained!"

"No." Midoriko intervened. "Kikyo is no more fit than any other mortal any longer because I just told you what you have that she does not."

Midoriko stepped toward Kagome, cutting down the five feet between them to two. That's when Kagome realized Midoriko towered her by at least two and half, three inches. (By around eight centimeters) "You have a kind and untainted heart. Kikyo's knows betrayal, hate and more fear than you can imagine. You know fear yes, but not the kind she does. You know hate and betrayal, but not as she does. For her it is an endless selfish hate, betrayal and fear. Yours are not selfish."

Tears fell from Kagome's eyes. "But… I… I hate Naraku, I'm terrified of loosing those I love…"

"That is not selfish; you hate Naraku because he hurts those you love. It is not selfish to be terrified of their dieing, you want them to live and be happy."

"Inuyasha…" The tears fell faster. "I can't say he betrayed me because… we never really have admitted… but I... I love him and yet Sesshoumaru…"

Kagome's guilt overpowered her soul, so she cried, something any natural human being would do. "I'll kill him because of it!"

"No Kagome, you will warn him, that is why you had the vision. And you are not betraying him. As you said, it was never admitted between the two of you. Inuyasha has never betrayed you. You have forgiven him for hurting you because he does not know. You are unlike Kikyo, you are pure."

"Kikyo still hasn't forgiven Inuyasha…?" Kagome's eyes widened.

"She doesn't forgive him because he did not see through Naraku's trickery and she does not forgive her self for the same." Midoriko placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder.

"I have little time left to speak to you, but so long as you remain pure I will train you each night you sleep once your training begins in the waking realm." She smiled sadly, those clouds becoming darker. "Sesshoumaru will teach you self defense and even how to use your abilities somewhat." Kagome's eyes began to question but before she could ask, Midoriko answered. "Demons have demonic power and miko's have spiritual power, two different kinds. But that being said, each can still train the other how to use their abilities because your powers come from the same place. Your soul."

"Sesshoumaru… He's willing to do this?" Kagome questioned, almost not believing.

Midoriko laughed for a moment. "Yes, he's not as horrible as you think he is; I promise he has a heart somewhere." Her eyes saddened further. "He will love you… believe that he will and simply let your heart guide you."

Kagome watched the miko before her, something clicking into place suddenly, tightening her heart painfully. "Midoriko…. Did you love Sesshoumaru?" Kagome blushed suddenly. "I'm sorry that was so rude of me!"

"No, no; it's alright." Her eyes saddened further. "It was an unrequited love; Sesshoumaru did not return it though we were great friends."

"I'm sorry…" Kagome began. She knew how it felt to love someone that did not love you.

"Do not apologize for something you do not control. Now leave, so you may either rest further or move to a safer location. Sesshoumaru is being drowned in fever." Kagome stared at her for a moment before nodding.

"Thank you Midoriko." The land began to fade from Kagome's eyes and just as she began to wake, Kagome could swear that it had begun to rain.

Her eyes fell on Sesshoumaru, his were on hers, dilated. Midoriko wasn't kidding; Sesshoumaru had one hell of a fever if he were a little… un-responsive. She didn't think he even noticed her waking up. Even as she approached him, wincing as the wound around her stomach burned, she called out to him. He didn't respond.

This wasn't good at all. Why did his fever get so bad all of a sudden? She must've slept for a while after he told her too… How long did that conversation between Midoriko and her take anyway?

Kagome reached out to him, hesitating a moment before touching his forehead. She ripped her fingers back suddenly; his face was so hot it almost burned her. She touched her hand and winced. As she looked at the appendage her eyes widened. He had burned her!

How though… it was just a fever… Kagome felt nervous suddenly, what would she do to aid this if she couldn't even touch him? She needed help from someone who knew about demons…

Kagome looked outside and in the distance she saw soul collectors swarming a specific area. Her eyes narrowed a little in determination. "Inuyasha…" She needed to get him back here; he could tell her what was going on. And maybe Kikyo could as well if she would help.

"So you will love the demon lord?"

Kikyo's voice rang in Kagome's mind. She had been relieved and seemed… sort of happy that Kagome would love another. Maybe she would help Kagome because she had no reason to fear loosing Inuyasha in her own mind any longer.

"Sesshoumaru… I don't know if you can understand me but I will return. I don't know how to help you and… I need someone who understands demon blood to tell me what's going on with you since you can't tell me…" Her hand ran over haori softly, slowly. She hadn't even noticed she'd done it. "I'll be back soon… I promise."

Her words were soft and whispering. Sesshoumaru heard her but couldn't react. It was as if his body refused to move. He knew what was happening; his blood held a certain amount of venom in it but when calling upon his acid whip due to his injuries too much of it stayed instead of returning to his acidic glands.

Not something to happen commonly, but not unheard of either. His grandfather had died of this, it was slow and painful. Eventually it eats away your insides and brain. Not a way he wanted to die, so he hoped the miko would hurry back.

Hope… He wanted her to help him. Could he have glared at the ground he would have. When had he wanted her near him..? She'd bewitched him… even though she had not intended too. He felt a pull toward her and couldn't understand where the road was leading. He did realize though that he wanted to protect her in some way from Naraku and was uncomfortable with her traveling so far with her injuries. He also did not like the idea of her heart aching upon seeing Kikyo and Inuyasha together… Damned human woman, she was so time consuming.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kikyo listened to Inuyasha's words carefully. He feared for her life if she attacked Naraku in three days as she planned but… she was not alive. A bitter feeling rested in her soul. Couldn't he see that she wasn't alive, that she was dead? Her hands dropped beside her, into fists. "Inuyasha, I am dead. I am not living, so why do you fear for my life if there is none within me?" Her tone… it was so sad.

"Kikyo… but you're among the living, you're here with me… you're alive to me because you feel things, emotionally. You might not feel pain as a mortal does but your soul…" How could he explain this too her? She was so stubborn, like almost all women.

Her fingers found his face, the cold there surprising him momentarily. "Do I feel alive to you?"

"Yes." He answered, pulling her fiercely into his arms. Upon hearing her gasp he continued. "You took a breath Kikyo; you have to be living…"

"I have no heart beat." She said softly.

"You do, your heart and mine are one, just as our life." Her eyes widened, grip tightening upon him. His body warmed hers; she could feel his warmth invading her and her cold taking him. She could feel the thrum of his blood in his body and hear his heart beat. Should she close her eyes, she could confuse it for her own. It was as if he was not only telling her they were one but even showing her.

"Inuyasha…" She shuddered a breath from her clay body. It felt so good to feel alive for a moment. But then out from the foliage, because she hadn't been paying any attention to their surrounding burst a figure before it gasped.

Inuyasha turned, placing himself in front of Kikyo in case of an enemy before relaxing. But he tensed again; she couldn't see them like this without being hurt. "Kagome I…" He began.

"I need your help." She spoke quickly, looking at him pleadingly. Her heat ached so much when seeing them together, she had heard some of what they said but ignored it. It wouldn't be fair to him if he saw her in pain and she had to give up on him, she would. "Sesshoumaru has a fever, so bad it burned my fingers and… I don't know why he's so hot… I thought you would know how I could help him or at least why he's like this."

Kikyo stepped away from Inuyasha and turned around. He wouldn't notice her leave. Her soul collectors wrapped around her body, she began to lift herself into the air.

Something wrapped itself around her hand, something warm. Her eyes turned to find Kagome's small hand around her own. When had the girl dashed past Inuyasha?

"Please Kikyo; I may need your help too… I don't understand…" Kagome's blue eyes melted a little, revealing fear and sadness. That fear pulled Kikyo into Kagome's reality. The sorrow brought her to the same level as the young girl before her, she could understand. A silent message passed between the two, she had made her decision though it was inevitable that she would make any other to begin with. She had given up on Inuyasha. She needed him.

She needed Sesshoumaru.


Now, Kagome's ready to giver herself over to the person she really loves, no matter how much it may hurt to let go of the one you first believed you loved.