As Sesshomaru approached the two female ahead of him he could smell the fear emanating from the slayer and was unsure why she was fearing him. As he took a moment, looked at her and inhaled. In that moment he realized that under her fear was worry and anxiety. She believes this one has brought news of death of her mate. He smiled as he now stood in front of her. He noticed her clothing and the slight embarrassed look she now sported. Shaking his head he spoke. "Do not fear slayer; the monk lives." He watched her look of relief fill her face as her shoulders fell slightly.

"Thank the Kami's." She sighed as her eyes turned to her children. "Is coming home?"

Sesshomaru looked down and shook his head. "He was injured quite severely when he came to the Western Palace." He turned to Kagome. "This one needs an answer today."

"You gave me until-" she began but was interrupted.

"Times have changed!" He yelled at her. "This one needs an answer now!" He saw her take a step back away from him. He heard his beast growl at him inwardly for startling their soon to be intended. Sighing he took a step towards her and grabbed her wrist before pulling her to him. He gently touched her cheek. "This one raced towards this village with fear that you and Rin would be harmed." He paused in speaking but didn't let her go. "This one never put himself in these situations but you and Rin are important to...to me." His voice was incredibly soft as he spoke.

Kagome's eyes were wide as she listened to Sesshomaru and now understood. I'm important. To him! Why? she questioned herself. "Why?" She asked him causing him to cock his head at her. "Why am I important to you Sesshomaru?" She heard his quick intake of breath and his look of utter shock at her question. He also seemed to be even more uptight that usual. Why?

Sesshomaru, seeming to have gathered his thoughts looked down at the tiny female in his arms. Leaning forward until their foreheads touched he spoke. "This Sesshomaru believes you are his intended mate. The one meant to be his, forever. A true mate."

Kagome's eyes widened. When did this happen? She wondered. Now everything makes sense! She closed her eyes and looked away from him. This is why he told me to take control as an alpha female! The sneaky bastard! She smiled and looked up at him. If he wants me that bad; he's gonna work for it. "Ok." She answered. "But I'm not going to give in to anything. You want me as a mate?" Her eyes flashed with a bit of authority. "Then you're going to court me." She smirked as he looked shocked. "I also want access to Inuyasha whenever he's around and I want to be able to visit my friends and family."

"Hnn..." He closed his eyes and smiled. "This one finds these conditions to be acceptable." Now how to tell her that Inuyasha was possibly dead?

A bloodied hand moved across unstable wet ground. Waves pushed the body further inland. Knees hit rocks and tore the meat away from the bones of the knees and legs. Blood flowed freely. Lips parted and whispy air came out from the lungs as the body expelled water from the breathing organs. Coughs and hacks shook the bloodied and battered body. Silvery wet hair fell across the persons face which was adorned with jagged purple stripes on it. Inu hanyou ears twitched at the top of the head as the being took it's first true breaths of air.

Inuyasha. came a soft voice that echoed in his mind. Inuyasha. It repeated his name.

He couldn't quite open his eyes yet, but he remembered drowning. He remembered being scared and cold. The coldness stretched throughout his body and soon it had turned numb. His whole body had hurt and his strength had been gone. He remembered his hand releasing Tenssaiga just as the darkness had fill his eyes. Next he'd felt himself being held and a familiar scent assaulting his nose.

"Mother." He muttered as a single tear ran down his cheek.

"Inuyasha." The voice had said. "Do you remember how I met your father?" He'd shaken his head and just buried his nose into her. "I was outside in my garden when I spotted a man with a silvery mane standing near my blossoming sakura trees. I approached him demanding to know who he was and what he was doing in my garden."

"I was shocked by her audacity." came a deeper voice near him. His ears twitched but he had no strength to move from his mother. Though the scent of sandalwood and cloves filtered into his nose. "I thought; how dare this tiny human woman disturb my rest." A giggle filtered through his ears. "I told her I had permission to be there."

"Yes. Yes you did." A second giggle came. "But I believe you said it more like it was you right to be there to watch such a beautiful maiden walk through a garden of flowers that paled in her beauty."

"Hnn..." was his fathers reply.

"Mom." He whispered as pain began to wrack through his body. Her arms tightened around him.

"Son." His father voice filtered through his pain muddled brain. "You must fight! We brought you into this world and you have fought every day since. I have seen you fight both weak and strong youkai and humans." He touched Inuyasha's head. "I have seen you fight yourself and seen your fights against your brother." Inuyasha began to feel warmth filling his body. "Now I have seen you joining your brother in defending the West! I am proud of you my son! I give you a gift; one that will help you in the long run."

When the warmth stopped abruptly he opened his eyes to slits. He saw both of his parents starring and smiling down at him. "It's time for you to go."

"Go?" He mumbled still disoriented. "Go where?"

His father grabbed his shoulder. "You must wake up!" He snarled.

Next thing he new he was surround by water and swam upwards as fast as he could. The waves were hard to fight against. He knew he swallowed some of the water. His lungs burned. As he burst through the waves out of the water he took a deep breath only for the waves to toss him about until he came to land. As he laid on the cold and wet sandy beach he looked upwards at the sky. It was grey and all he could smell was salt and water. He knew one thing was for certain; he had to get back Sesshomaru and tell him they were in danger.

He suddenly look down at his stomach and grimaced at the wound. It was the size of his fist and knew if Kagome was there she'd be yelling at him for being stupid. Thinking of Kagome made him think of Sango and he felt tears filling his eyes as he remembered Miroku. He had to find the Monks body. He owed him that much. His friend; had he not come with him; would still be alive.

Deep within the walls of the Western Palace deeply colored yet tired eyes opened. Miroku starred at the wooden ceiling above his head. He couldn't move a single muscle. It was from the medicine that the youkai healer kept forcing down his throat. She's worse than Kagome or Sango. His thoughts paused at the mention of his wife. I promise my love, I'll get back to you. Even if it takes me having to fight off a thousand youkai to do so. He suddenly saw the healer come back into the room and groaned as a cup was put in front of his lips once more. His nose was plugged by the the healer which forced his mouth open and the liquid went down his throat. Moments later darkness consumed him and his thoughts vanished once more.

M-Angel: Yay! Our hero returns! Did you really think I'd kill off Inuyasha?