Cheek to cheek, the feel of your warmth on mine, nuzzle me softly.

The flight to Naraku's lair was quiet and cold. Having only flown with Sesshomaru, Kagome began to recognize just how cold it was up in the air. With Sesshomaru's mokomoko-sama and his body wrapped around hers, couple with Haru's warm body, she had never felt cold. Now she shivered atop Ah-Un as the two headed dragon zigzagged in the sky.

The pack demon followed his master who often dipped and turned as he tried to sniff out the trail. Behind her Miroku and Sango followed on Kilala, their ride seeming far smoother and steady than hers.

As a wave of nausea rushed through her, Kagome grabbed on to Ah's neck clenching at his scales. He turned his head as if in question as she leaned over.

Her air sickness was catching up with her quickly.

"Please fly straighter. I don't think I can take much more…" The words were lost as she gave out a yelp. In a sharp change in direction Ah-Un began to dip downwards as he followed Sesshomaru to the ground floor.

Kagome's stomach went flying in her chest as her skin went cold. She held her lips shut strongly as they finally landed. Her head dizzy from the sickness and the excitement made her stumble, nearly falling off her mount.

Ah-Un gave a jump of their back to try and keep her steady as she suddenly realized that she was falling.

Two warm arms caught her and dragged her down slowly so that she was sitting on the ground. Normally she would have been more concerned about the twigs and grass that scraped against her thighs, but right now she was just trying to keep the trees from spinning around her.

Taking deep breaths her heart rate began to slow and her head ceased its spinning. Her stomach still queasy had abated its need to regurgitate allowing her to take in her surroundings.

Kilala with her carriers dropped down behind her, they too staring ahead. A dark cave with vines hanging over the entrance welcomed their sight. The cave seemed ominous, dark and mysterious. This was the kind of cave that tended to house large and dangerous animals in the darkness, like a trap waiting to be sprung. The danger was reflected in the silence of the forest around them. The very birds that often tweeted happily in their nests were absent, leaving only the rustling of leave in the wind as the only sound.

Sesshomaru stared at the cave entrance for a moment, his form overbearing and menacing. His golden eyes seemed to search for something that wasn't there when he turned his head slightly to the right.

"Inuyasha is near." He said in warning. Turning to the right of the cave he stepped slowly over fallen trees and rustling leaves. His footsteps were silent making sight the only sense available to the group to use to follow him.

If the daiyoukai was wary of this place then so would they be.

Sango stepped over to Kagome helping to lift her. Although still weak herself, the taijiya had become strong with resolve to find her missing brother. Worry was etched on her features with a finely sharpened blade as her breathing became shallow.

Together the two women followed the monk who had left his staff with its jingling rings behind with Kilala as a precautionary measure.

As Sesshomaru stepped through some tall grass the scent of death became overwhelming. He had smelt the stench for miles around Naraku's hideout with the underlying scent of miasma laced through it. The hanyou had hidden in this lair recently and it had nearly killed all the wildlife surrounding the area.

However the new stench of death was one he had recognized from before. Humans often carried with them a subtle very earthy and natural scent of death. While such an odor was present there was a far more unnatural and putrid odor of death in the air. Such a scent could only belong to one whom had been dead for too long.

Inuyasha's fresh and feral scent had passed by recently leaving little for the daiyoukai to wonder whom he would find at the end of the path.

When his eyes alighted on the scene before him he stopped waiting for the rest of the group to see what his eyes beheld.

As the taijiya and the monk came into the clearing, the girl gasped and rushed forward towards a boy Sesshomaru had encountered before. He remembered the boy from his time with Rin and recognized the similarities in the taijiya's scent and his. Like before the scent of death fresh and old clung to the child. However unlike his last encounter Sesshomaru could not sense the shard that had kept Kohaku alive.

"Kohaku! I was so worried!" The girl embraced the boy who seemed lost in a daze. His eyes were nearly soulless their gaze affixed on the undead miko, Kikyo who was being cradled by a despondent Inuyasha only a yard away.

Miroku had gone instantly to Sango's side, trying to soothe her from becoming hysterical when Kohaku did not respond to her. Kagome however had made her way to Inuyasha's side taking in his hunched shoulders, his knees stained in the grass. His ears lay flat against his head and he couldn't look more ragged if he tried. He had been heaving in strong deep breaths for some time, evident by the fatigue in his gasps and the trembling in his body with every release and intake.

"Inuyasha." His white felt ear flickered in her direction, but he did not turn or acknowledge her. As Kagome stepped closer so that she was directly behind Inuyasha she could see Kikyo, the priestess who had held Inuyasha's heart in her hand.

She was as she had been since her resurrection, a model of her former and younger self with a slight effervescence due to reincarnation. Now her skin hung pale and limp against her. Dark circles hung under her eyes where there had previously been none. What should be a young woman barely into adulthood looked like a woman past her prime.

Her clothing attire still resembled the miko attire worn in this era, however now it seemed dull and darkened as if time had finally caught up with the rough linen.

What shocked Kagome the most, however, was how her lifeless brow eyes still gazed forward, her body trembling slightly with every movement. She was still alive and had been clinging to life desperately for some time.

As Kagome stepped into view Kikyo's eyes riveted to hers slowly taking in the younger miko with a long gaze. Kagome held her breath as she leaned forward as if beckoned to do so by Kikyo's stare. Inuyasha refused to look at her, preferring to hide his misery behind his bangs, so she couldn't see his feelings. All she noticed was the slight point of his fangs poking out from between his lips as he grit his teeth together.

As soon as she recognized the other priestess was alive, Kagome bent forward her hands outstretched letting her priestess powers flow through her to heal the injuries in Kikyo's body. Internally she struggled as the logical part of her cried out that the injuries were not physical in nature, meaning they could not be easily fixed.

Still the pink glow from her fingers spread and engulfed Kikyo's form slowly encompassing her entire body. She pushed her powers into her healing, begging for her will to be done. Only her powers returned to her fingers without accomplishing her will.

Releasing a breath Kagome looked down on Kikyo with heavy lidded eyes and moisture growing in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I don't…"

"You cannot heal that which is dead." Kikyo's voice broke through Kagome's heart and Kagome realized her words were true. Looking at her fingers she felt once more helpless even with all of Midoriko's knowledge at her disposal. Inside though she could hear Midoriko's voice speaking softly that what she wanted was impossible.

"Inuyasha, I did love you. I am sorry for what I have done." His ears still down, the bangs of his hair hung over his eyes creating shadows on his face. He ground his teeth allowing his fangs to poke out between his lips.

"It was Naraku's fault, he…"

"He could not have made us believe that which was not already in our hearts." Kikyo hand struggled to move extending to Inuyasha's face which he bent forward to meet her. Her fingers slid against his smooth skin her eyes gazing at him longingly.

"I love you too, Kikyo." He whispered and watched as her eyes closed. A second passed and a breath escaped her lips and she breathed in no more. Her body went limp, her hand dropping from Inuyasha's skin.

No one made a sound as Inuyasha clutched to her linen robes his claws making small tears into the fabric. A tear escaped from its trail down his cheek, falling until it splashed against her limp hand.

Kagome was quiet as she watched, feeling as if she was invading on an intimate moment. Somehow she couldn't move as she watched wanting that intense feeling of love for her own person. Suddenly, Inuyasha's hesitation to create a relationship with her made sense. He could not love another until he let go of his previous love.

The sound of whispers caught her ears and she turned slowly, tearing her gaze from Inuyasha to the boy in Sango's arms. His limp body moved, a slow subtle movement that indicated a returning strength. His eyes gazed at his sister before shifting slowly to the figure of Kikyo. He watched her for a moment unable to take his eyes away from his savior.

"Kikyo saved me, with the last of her powers. She purified me." His words were lost in the wind, so gentle and quiet. Sango was taken into sobbing as she held her brother closely not wanting to release him.

Purified? Kagome looked to her hands that began to glow on their own accord. Suddenly a wash of knowledge overtook her as Midoriko interfered again with her input. For moment, Kagome stood there undecided until she finally took a step forward.

Lifting her chin she dropped on to her knees next to Inuyasha who had buried his nose in the crook of Kikyo's neck, inhaling her scent deeply. Kagome placed one hand on Inuyasha. She gave a gentle nudge to awaken him from his mourning. He lifted his eyes to her, filled with tears and she nodded to him.

"Let me purify her, Inuyasha. So she can be reincarnated into a new life." Inuyasha's golden eyes went wide with shock as he clutched the woman in his arms closely. He seemed to battle internally with himself between the satisfaction of burying his love himself and allowing Kagome to purify her.

Deep down Inuyasha trusted Kagome, instinctively. She had never wronged him before and now was not the time to question her. She had truly changed from the girl he had met three years ago, a woman instead of a child, a priestess instead of an acolyte.

Releasing his hold on Kikyo he laid her gently against the floor being careful to mind her head. The gentility of his actions made Kagome pause in her actions. Beneath her flesh she could feel her power pooling forward into her fingertips like a wave from her soul. In pulses the power grew stronger until she stretched out her hands and once more placed them on Kikyo's body. This time however the energy began to engulf Kikyo and disintegrate her body into small particles that floated into the air disappearing.

Kagome could not be sure but at the moment where Kagome purified the last bit of her, she could have sworn the priestess smiled before fully disintegrating in purifying energies. Releasing her breath Kagome felt something wash over her, an essence that felt all at once pure and innocent. The essence seemed happy, making Kagome feel warm.

Then gently the essence left and Kagome could feel the pulls of the otherworld beckoning it forth. She knew it had been Kikyo's soul reaching out to her and thanking her. Smiling to herself Kagome opened her eyes to see Inuyasha slumped over the area where Kikyo had lain just a moment ago. He touched the ground, still feeling the indent of her body upon the land.

"She has ascended Inuyasha. Don't mourn for her. She will be reborn again." Kagome hoped to ease his uncertainty as she gazed at him, but when he looked at her his eyes were frenzied and whatever thoughts he had circling in his head had taken dangerous roots in his mind.

"You are her reincarnation. You are her." Pursing her lips Kagome gazed at Inuyasha with stern features.

"You will see her soul again Inuyasha, but not in me." Kagome did not want to crush his hopes unnecessarily, but she had figured out long ago that she was not Kikyo's reincarnation. When she had given a piece of her soul to Kikyo it had sustained the undead priestess but it had never belonged. Had she truly been Kikyo's reincarnation her soul would have felt more at home in Kikyo's body.

A silence throbbed in the small little forest clearing at the entrance of the cave. Sesshomaru who had been quiet and observant up until that point felt restless. Matters were being attended to too slow for his liking and he had a pack to return to.

"Come Kagome, we must excavate the cave for others." Kagome who had been watching the change of expressions on Inuyasha's face was startled by the sound of Sesshomaru's baritone. His unique timbre was enough to startle her out of her thoughts and remind her of the other activities that needed to be completed.

As Kagome moved towards the entrance of the cave automatically, she stopped to see Sango and Miroku still crowded around Kohaku's weak form. Leaning down over her friend she watched Kohaku's eyes close in rest.

"Sango, you should take him back to Kaede. He needs to rest." Her hand on Sango's shoulder, she felt the taijiya nod slowly rather than saw it from her position behind her. Miroku who kneeled down beside Sango looked up to Kagome and stood to meet her gaze.

"We will take Kilala back to Edo, Kagome. I am sorry we could not be of any more help." Kagome smiled softly at Miroku's torn appearance. His heart wanted to desperately to look after Sango and Kohaku but his duty told him he needed to continue with Kagome and Sesshomaru to explore Naraku's lair. Inuyasha would be of little help to them with his mourning state and appearance.

Sensing his confliction, Kagome nodded at Miroku.

"Make sure Sango and Kohaku get back to Edo safely, will you?" Miroku nodded his eyes dropping to Sango. With gentle hands he urged her to stand and took Kohaku's limp body from her arms. Together they walked to Kilala who mewed appreciatively at Kohaku sniffing him as they carried him past her head.

Kagome watched her friends fly off and sighed as she turned back to Inuyasha. Her eyes wide she looked around quickly wondering where he had run off to. He had been there a moment ago. Starting back towards the spot where he had been in, Kagome felt a strong hand on her shoulder steadily holding her back.

"Let the hanyou alone." He shook his head before walking past her towards the cave entrance. Kagome stayed silent for a moment longer before following him into the darkness.

In the cave the underlying white of Sesshomaru's haori, despite its stained appearance, was bright in the everlasting darkness. The dank and musty smell bore an odor of old water that had lingered too long in a dark cavern.

The cave inlet dropped down into the earth where the earth seemed to grow colder as they descended.

Without the sun shining, Sesshomaru used the poison from his claws to light the way through the cave, his golden eyes able to see further than her human eyes could discern a pathway in the darkness.

Beside him Kagome was quiet, her thoughts plaguing her mind like the darkness. The terrors she had seen replayed themselves sinking deeper into her subconscious. She had never seen so much violence and blood. When Sesshomaru had taken the heart out of that demon she had nightmares for a week. What she had witnessed, what she had felt today, would afflict her for the rest of her life.

A chill swept through her at the thought of the horrors that were awaiting them in Naraku's den. All manner of torture, bodies, and foulness clouded her mind and she had to shake her head as if attempting to break their hold on her thoughts.

So lost in her nightmares, Kagome did not sense Sesshomaru stop and practically ran into him. His golden eyes stared down at her, now an eerie shade of green from the light of his claws. His lips were thinned into a straight line and his body tense.

"What?" Her voice broke and she realized then how much tension had built up from her shoulders into her neck, constricting her airflow and voicing.

"You do not have to go further." He said simply and she realized he had probably sensed her fears. Whether he smelt it or saw the tension in her body, she didn't know and didn't care. However, she was done with being afraid. If she didn't see what was in Naraku's den now her thoughts would only plague her more of what it could have been. No, by this point her curiosity needed to be satiated or her imagination would run wild.

"I need to finish this, Sesshomaru. Don't try and stop me." She wanted to sound stronger than she felt, but her voice sounded weak and uncertain. Cursing herself under her breath for once more showing weakness she stepped forward past Sesshomaru and made to turn as if waiting for him to continue. He watched her only for a moment longer before he was beside her in one stride.

So they continued on until they reached and emptying cavern where candles lay on the ground. Sesshomaru bent to ignite some of the candles with his poison and watched the room begin to illuminate.

Kagome's fears seemed placated then. The room looked rather ordinary, slightly dusty with some mats to sit on and cushions for sleeping. There were a few inlets that were dirty and smelled, but otherwise the room was vacant. As they moved further into the room they noticed a narrow passageway which they both gravitated to without speaking a war. Again they were led to a small den room.

Sesshomaru scented the air, the fresh scent of death hung in the air like a downpour. He scrunched his nose at the stench and looked around. Although the scent of decay and death was fresh there were no bodies, which led Sesshomaru to believe that whatever had died had been cleared out or had disintegrated just as Kagura did. Only the spawn of Naraku was capable of that, leaving no room for remorse in Sesshomaru's mind.

From behind him, Kagome stepped forward into the dimly lit cavern her eyes fixated on something that shone reflecting the small amount of light. She stepped forward and bent around her, her fingers grasping a silver mirror. She refused to look at her own reflection in it and instead cupped it close to her chest.

"This was Kanna's." Kagome whispered.

"The smell in this cave indicated something died recently. It is likely Naraku's spawn perished when he did." Kagome nodded, avoiding Sesshomaru's gaze. As she looked around she took in a breath and was miffed to find the air was so thick it nearly disgusted her. Releasing her breath she calmed her heart.

With Naraku's cave explored there was really nothing else to do except return to bury Onigumo's body and heal the rest of the group.

Yet, while she was here alone with Sesshomaru she felt it better to make use of her time to learn what happened to him while they were parted. It had been bothering her for some time and the closeness she had felt with him before the battle was dissipating. Was it the fact that in some way she had changed due to the events that unfolded or was it being around others that caused their bond to weaken? Whatever it was, Kagome wanted to know where his feelings were on the matter of their relationship. For too long they had held it off and with the jewel glowing in her hand ready to be purified she was afraid she may never get another chance at asking him.

Her fear of being sent back to her time and the well closing forever made her procrastinate in the important task of wishing on the jewel. What was more is she knew now that deep inside Midoriko's spirit yearned to be free and she was delaying her release.

Still she had to be cautious and enjoy these last precious moment, because they could be all she was allowed. Once a wish was made, the fates would choose her path.

"I was so worried when we were separated. You were not well and Naraku was so strong." She sensed him stiffen in the dark cave and knew she had hurt his pride. No matter how she tried to sugar coat it, she had been worried because Sesshomaru was not at his full strength. Admitting that alone would undermine his strength as the alpha, but she couldn't let things hang between them.

In the presence of only each other buried deep in the ground she hoped he would allow her this pass in her words.

"Then you were there in the fight and you were alive. I was relieved. Naraku said you were dead." Her voice was only a whisper now, the words barely making their way out through her lips. Her lashes fluttered as she swallowed her tears. She refused to cry in front of him now when she needed to be strong.

A pregnant silence passed between the two. Right when Kagome was about to reiterate her words, Sesshomaru stepped closer. She paused to look to his eyes that were waiting for her gaze. Looking into his golden orbs now she felt as if there was so much more emotion beneath them than when she first met him. Again she could not determine if that was due to a change in his demeanor or her growing accustomed to his moods to see past the façade he created.

"The wind demoness gave me her blood to drink so that I would be healed of the poison and my injuries." Kagome's eyes widened and she felt a shock go through her body. Somehow she had known Kagura was not all bad and it felt good to know there was hope. Suddenly the feeling that she had died saddened her and she wished that the demoness had managed to live so Kagome could thank her.

"I guess there was some good in her after all." Kagome murmured agreeing with herself.

"Perhaps." Sesshomaru replied softly. In all honesty he wondered how much 'good' was involved in her actions. She had sought to help him for the selfish reason of helping herself be free from Naraku. Sesshomaru had also gotten the impression that she was affectionate for him, which again provided a selfish motive. However, despite all this he would let Kagome think what she wanted. If she wanted to believe in hope against hope then he would not dissuade her.

Tired of the dark cavern Sesshomaru turned disappearing into the main cavern, carefully extinguishing the lights he had set. Kagome followed after him, her mind still swirling with questions.

As they retreated back to the mouth of the cave, Kagome followed a step behind lost in thought. The darkness was chilling her soul and she needed the light before she ventured to relieve herself of her insecurities about the future.

When they reached the light kagome allowed the sun to kiss her face before reaching her hand to grip Sesshomaru's haori. Even during their close interactions she rarely reached out to him in such a manner causing him to stop in surprise. His eyes widened a fraction as he waited for her explanation.

Casting her eyes downward, Kagome began softly, "Sesshomaru, there is something I need to tell you." The secrets that plagued the miko had been evident since he first met her in his sire's tomb. She was an unusual specimen in unusual clothes. His encounter with her as enemies aroused his suspicions but not enough to warrant a full investigation. When he had joined the pack, he had thought the time nigh to unravel her mystery.

However, as he grew closer to the pup, and consequently to her, he became complacent in his trust in her. If she had secrets she hid them well and he deemed her too little of a threat to warrant further investigation. He figured that, one way or another, her secrets would reveal themselves to him and he needed only to wait.

He watched her internal struggle, his patience washing over him like an old friend. He could be patient when it suited him, such as now when there was no immediate threat. Kagome bit her lip impassively and finally he could see the muscles in her jaw tighten as she ground her teeth in resolve. She would become a fountain of answers in a moment, as was her habit.

Finally taking a deep breath Kagome continued, "Remember how I told you that when the jewel is complete I may not have any choice but to leave?" Sesshomaru prided himself on having a nearly perfect memory so the details of the past were not foreign to him. He remembered specifically the encounter she spoke of and the vagueness of her reply then.

"This Sesshomaru remembers." The ease of his voice helped to relax her. Somehow having a monologue to a daiyoukai seemed far more intimidating. Just the fact that he spoke made this feel more of a conversation than a confession. However she would not let her guilt escape her that easily.

"The reason I said that is because I am from the future, 500 years in the future to be exact. The well by Edo helps me go between my time and yours. That's why my clothes and the stuff I have are so odd." He gave a slight nod in understanding, or at least as much as he could muster. Despite the trust he had developed in her words, even this was too outlandish of an idea for him to accept without question.

His surprise must have been evident because she sighed and released her grip on his arm.

"I know this sounds strange, but it's true." She stopped then, catching her breath.

"The only reason I could come to this era was because of the jewel and if the jewel were gone then I may not be able to return." Sesshomaru could smell the tension radiating off of her in waves. She shook as she waited nervously for him to respond. But how does one respond to such news?

What she said made sense in some manner. It would explain her clothes, her unusual quirks, the items she carried, and the reason for such secrecy. He also suddenly understood her concern. She would leave him and the pup to return to the future. He would be left alone with Haru to raise on his own.

"I see." He replied exasperated at the circumstances. Around them the sounds of the forest began to creep towards them. With Naraku gone, the area would once more become inhabited. Even now the distant sounds of birds filled the trees and the weary land creatures began to stake out the area.

"'I see?' That's all you have to say?" Kagome fumed at his insensitivity. Here she had nearly poured her heart out and revealed her deepest secret and that was all he could respond with?

Sesshomaru's eyes snapped to her dangerously, narrowing as he looked down on the small woman before him. He easily towered her and this should have intimidated her, but her anger always made her brave.

"Your 'son' will be cared for. That is all I can guarantee." He turned to leave and felt her hand yanking at his arm and gripping his sleeves.

"What about Shippo and Rin? You can't abandon them just because I'm gone! They will need someone…"

"Cease your whining. Once a being is a part of the pack they cannot be removed unless they leave themselves or commit an offense." He was agitated. That could be the only emotion she could accurately identify at that moment.

"Look I have tried very hard up until now to be understanding of your ways, because this is your time! But in my time, you don't need to be rude to someone just because you're angry. I wanted to tell you this because I wanted you to be prepared. I didn't…" she stopped there for a second as her mouth caught up with her thoughts, "I didn't want you to think I abandoned you on purpose." She had started out strong with conviction, upset that he had been so insensitive to her, but as she realized where her words led she was left with the foreboding feeling that what she spoke of would come to pass.

Indifferently Sesshomaru turned away from her and moved away. He seemed upset, at least as upset as the Taiyoukai ever showed, still Kagome found herself fuming.

"Hey! I need to know that you will take care of Shippo, Rin, and Haru when I'm gone!" Her fists clenched she waited for him to stop and turn, his golden eyes smoldering.

"I thought it was unsure if you would be returned to the future." He replied testily.

"It is, but I need to know just in case. I care about them."

"You doubt this Sesshomaru's instincts to protect his young."

"No." Somehow Kagome felt like she was being trapped in a corner despite the physical distance between them.

"Then you should not be in doubt." He replied bluntly.

"I'm not, but I want to hear you say it." Kagome continued feeling even more cornered in her thoughts. Somehow during their conversation he had stepped so closely that his breath was on her face. The warmth of his body made her anxiety rise.

"What do you want to hear me say, Kagome?" Her breath escaped her at the sound of her name wrapped in the ribbon of silk that was his deep voice. She nearly lost her conviction but then she felt a warmth and electricity travel through her body.

She looked inwardly to find the drop of demonic aura within her own screaming out to the daiyoukai, urging her forward until she was enveloped by him. Sesshomaru's own aura rose as did hers in an eternal dance. Neither being could look away from the other's eyes. Blue met gold, like the rushing waves of the ocean hoping to touch the sun.

Her eyes closed slowly and she found herself leaning inwards, her cheek resting against Sesshomaru's armor. Her hair cushioned her face, but she didn't care. With her aura pressed up against his it felt good. His body stiffened under her touch and he was still, frozen in his position. Then ever so slowly his aura enveloped hers locking her in an eternal embrace. His aura seeped into hers like water hydrating the roots beneath a blooming flower. Digging deeper and deeper, his aura bent to her soul.

Instead of backing away her own soul extended forward and in turn enveloped him causing her breath to release from between her lips, as her lungs found themselves bursting with warmth. She stayed like this for a moment until she felt the distinct feeling of claws in her hair, running through her dark stresses. Then there warmth on top of her head and she knew he was resting his chin there.

Smiling to herself she was snapped from her utopia when she heard the sound of his voice, soft and gentle against the wind.

"Kagome." He whispered and made her shiver.

"Sesshomaru." She whispered back.

"Kagome, this cannot be." He said it and she knew he believed it, but she refused to. Her blunt teeth bent down on her lip so hard the throbbing was not enough to take the pain from her heart.

"It can."

"It is forbidden."

"By who?" She urged, her voice growing stronger.

"We are opposites."

"We are balanced." She whispered back. Then he was pushing her away and the tears began to crawl in her eyes. Turning, her cheeks red with fury she met his gaze and saw the pain hidden beneath his depths even though he produced a strong front.

His eyes were rimmed red and she led to believe it was not out of anger. Himiko's words about a demon's beast echoed in her mind and her eyes widened.

"Why are you fighting this!"

His teeth grit together, making the muscle of his jaw tense. She watched it, struck by the beauty of his angled features and the strength of his muscles.

"You are leaving." He said harshly and his words struck her through the heart. The breath escaped her as she sat their stunned. Remembering to breathe once more she inhaled, but there was a sharp pain in her chest.

"Yes. I am."

The gruff sound he made was the only answer she received. So they stood there at odds, the distance between them feeling like leagues when it was only a few feet. A cold wind swept between them, ushering Sesshomaru's white hair to cover his face and Kagome's black locks to do the same. Faceless they stared at each other and when the wind subsided silence ensued.

You promised.

She is leaving.

Then we will find her. No matter when or where, we will find her. His beast whispered to Sesshomaru urging him forward and Sesshomaru followed its orders, feeling honor bound to do so. He had promised his beast after all and the taste of aura and her soul had left his mouth watering.

His hand reached out, turning to cup her face and force her to meet his gaze. Her blue eyes seemed watered down with sadness and he hated to see the look of despair in her features.

"In this time or the next, this Sesshomaru will find you." Then he bent and pressed his lips to hers while his hand gripped her chin, lifting her head to meet his. The warmth that spread through Kagome confounded her as she melted into his embrace.

As before their auras met and circled each other and then in the next instance they were melting together becoming one. The feeling of completeness fulfilled them and their souls sang sweet songs of joy as hi aura rested within hers and hers within his.

They stayed like that savoring the kiss until a gentle wind blew them apart gently, like a hand whose slight pressure told them it was time to stop.

"You will find me." Kagome responded with a smile and her worries fled like a veil dropping from her eyes.