Disclaimer: Still not mine…I don't own the cast of Inuyasha…but Hikari is my own creation…though she still won't admit it…(because the last chapter was so short, I decided to post another one today! enjoy, minna-san!)

OoOoO

"Bring the miko's guest back to her chamber."

"Hai, My lord." He bowed low again, helped Hikari to stand on her feet and led her towards the door.

Hikari looked at Kagome. She was reluctant to leave without knowing if she could be granted a chance to go home or not. Kagome smiled at her with a silent promise that she'd do everything to make the taiyoukai see their way. She must convince him no matter what. Hikari saw her determination through her eyes and gave her a weak smile and nod before following Sai outside of the study and walked towards her chamber.

OoOoO

CHAPTER 20

A fervent wish

Kagome, being the one entrusted to purify the darn shards, after hearing dire information from Ryuuki, was feeling…well, she doesn't know what to feel exactly. She just felt numb.

Their meeting was brief. The southern lord had to go back to his lands as soon as he finished relaying the details of the information he gathered. It wouldn't do good to leave his lands in just the hands of his trusted vassals. There's too much risk.

Kagome stared at Sesshomaru as he contemplated about what Ryuuki had told them before he left to go back to his territory a few moments ago. They were still in the study, trying to think of the other complications this turn of events could result into.

Hearing that some of the dark shards that Ryuuki managed to collect from the lowly youkai that dares to attack his lands, just vanished without a trace, along with those who possess them within his land, makes them feel uneasy. They couldn't find the culprit and no matter how hard they try to track down any shards from the wilderness, they couldn't sense any, not even one.

This is enough to keep them on edge, but there was more to it. Some whisperings and tapping into the right connections lead them to another impediment; the northern lord had somehow been involved in this. That makes the situation more complicated. If one of the four lords get involved, the possibility of a war is likely. But it was all, so far, just speculation and without proof they must stay in stand still.

Sesshomaru, knowing there's nothing left to do for now till they find proof against the northern lord, filed the information within his head so he could tackle another problem at hand. Namely, the old magic of the well and the miko's insistence to leave him, no, erase that, to go home. He clarifies. If there's any time to ask about the secret of the well, it will be now.

"Miko, Tell me about the well." It was a command.

"Eh?" she mumbled quizzically.

"Any knowledge that you might have about the well; its mysterious power and how it works? The origin perhaps of the power that it wields."

"No, I'm sorry. I don't know anything about that." She murmured.

"You are not from Sengoku Jidai and that well is something that leads to your so called home, is it not?"

Kagome was dumbfounded. 'How could he possibly know that? Was he stalking me before?'

Sesshomaru stiffened a bit at the word 'stalking'. He is currently trying to connect to her thoughts but somehow, anything that has to do with her home and the well becomes fuzzy. And if he tries again during her sleep, a barrier will stop him from interfering. Even Sai told him the same thing. Only glimpses of things and words that the miko's guardian couldn't understand were the reason for him to believe that what he already concluded about the well and the mysterious miko is but what the truth.

"That's about right…it's actually a bit hard to explain." She said thoughtfully.

"Try."

She sighed in defeat. "It's the well; it acts as a portal to my home….I live 500 years in to the future." 'More or less, I think.'

He stared at her, watching her troubled expression with an impassive look and then nodded.

Kagome couldn't believe that he would just nod and seem to understand it all. She knew he was intelligent, but could he really fully grasp the idea of her crossing time, just like that?

"That's it?" She asked.

Sesshomaru just shrugged nonchalantly. "You have always been an enigma; you were always different than your surroundings. Your speech pattern, your movements, your weird contraptions, your indecent clothing, and your constant travel to and jumping into the dried well were enough to add up to my conclusions."

"Wait! Wait! You knew I was using the well? How did you know that?...You were stalking me!" She blurted out.

Sesshomaru snorted. "It is only apparent that you frequently jump within the well due to your scent that hangs thickly around that area. It is only a matter of deducing the facts." Lying is beneath him and he was telling the truth, at least part of it. It was not a complete lie but he would never outright admit that he did stalk her.

"How I wish you had 'the twitch'. At least then I'd know if you're lying." She murmured.

Sesshomaru quirked a brow, Kagome stared at his raised brow having some thought if it would actually get stuck like that with just how much he seemed to favor that mannerism. He's starting to get a little predictable. Lately, she could even tell some of his thoughts with just the minimal movements in his expression, no matter how bland it may seem.

"I was also wondering about the well, maybe my ojiichan could tell me something about its history, though…I'm not really sure if whatever he knows is the truth." Kagome said with an uneasy look. She noticed him as he tilted his head slightly and gave her that look. She sighed in defeat. "I promise to tell you if I find out anything about the well from my time. Maybe I could see something from the old archives of the shrine." He just gave her a slight nod in response. 'Yep! I was right. I could interpret some of his movements correctly.'

"And the other onna?" He asked after a while.

"Hikari-chan? She's also from my time…I was hoping if you could let us go home. I must take her with me. She's afraid something bad happened to her brother and I must see my mom.

"How did she end up here in Sengoku Jidai? What was that power outburst that we felt at the clearing where we found her?" He asked, looking at her eyes intently.

"It's" 'no need to lie, it won't work on him.' "because of her brother, I don't know how he did it, but he was the one who sent her back in time." She answered, hoping fervently that he wouldn't dwell into that matter anymore.

He tapped his claws thoughtfully.

"You still owe me your life, miko." Kagome huffed from this but didn't say a word. "You may bring the other onna back to your time but you must come back no matter what. No excuses." He added when he noticed Kagome pouts. "You still have responsibilities to fulfill, both with Rin and the dark shards."

'The arrogance of …' she was fuming inside but she just let it go as her eyes narrowed. She really wanted to go home and spend some time with her family. "Hai, I understand. I'll be back after a few weeks."

"One week."

"What?"

"One week, miko, and you will return."

"What? No! I have lots of things to do back home. My mom's probably worried sick since I've been gone for so long. The least I can do is spend some time with her. Give me at least a couple of weeks." She almost pleaded.

Anything that involves a mother made him uncomfortable lately; especially after his nightmarish memories that'd been plaguing his dreams. "A couple of weeks then, miko, and nothing more, be warned, I do not tolerate tardiness."

Then Kagome pushed her luck.

"I still have to see my family on a somewhat regular basis after this, maybe every other week for a few days perhaps?" She's starting to bargain with Sesshomaru. Something she had never ever imagined would happen…ever.

Sesshomaru just stared at her, his golden eyes narrowed by just a fraction. Kagome held her breath; he was obviously giving it a deep thought as his clawed index finger started tapping on top of his table once more. Then after a while, he stopped and Kagome could have sworn she saw him breath out a sigh.

He gave her a slight nod. "It is negotiable."

"We'll go tomorrow, then?"

"Hn."

OoOoO

After having her late dinner, Kagome walked straight to Hikari's chamber, sending a reluctant Sai to his nightly rest. Sesshomaru has allowed her some semblance of freedom for a while now, letting Sai have the night alone to rest his mind.

Kagome knocked silently, Rin's chamber is just beside Hikari's and she didn't want to disturb the sleeping little girl.

"Hikari-chan? Are you still up?"

She heard a few movements and the door opened. Hikari was already in her sleeping yukata but must have been waiting for her. The girl hugged her and pulled her into her room then asked her questions.

"How was it? Did he say yes? Can we go home?" She asked frantically.

Kagome pulled her down on the western style bed and sat beside her.

"Hai, we can go tomorrow. But I must tell you now Hikari-chan. The well that I use to cross time…it doesn't always work for everyone. So far, the only ones that could use it is me and … Inuyasha." There was a sudden pained look in her eyes.

Hikari felt a bit of her hope plummet down to the ground but she rapidly picked it up. "It's still worth a try. There's nothing else I can do. We must try this soon. I'm really worried about my brother. Maybe we could ask this Inuyasha to help us use the well? What do you- Kagome-chan? What's wrong?"

Kagome felt another stabbing pain in her heart. It's been so long, she tried to stop thinking about him for a while. She even avoided looking at the new Tetsusaiga, until she felt she was ready. The loneliness engulfed her wholly, shaking her to the core. She felt something wet fall down her face and onto her hands on her lap. It was her tears. She didn't even realize she was crying.

"H-He can't help us anymore…H-he died…that night when Sesshomaru found me…and brought me here…he died protecting me…" Her voice was broken along with her heart. The memories, oh Kami, those painful memories that came along with her tears. It was so hard to escape them…If only she could turn back time…If only she could…She couldn't, but somebody else can. Kagome suddenly looked up at Hikari's face with her tear-stricken one.

'Somebody else can…'

Hikari looked into Kagome's eyes as something, a spark of hope, came into her. She sat there silently in front of the miko that she now considers her closest friend, her first true friend she could really have.

Kagome took her hands into hers. This is something that could save her from the misery she was so deep in now.

"You can go back in time, right? Can you please…please send me back to the time before…before Inuyasha d-died…onegai, Hikari-chan. I must go back to save him." She was practically begging it was just a spark of hope. But if she could change something about it, she was willing to do everything. Damn those paradoxes of time, the hell with Fate. She's even willing to face Naraku again if only she could save him. Save Inuyasha. That's all that matters.

Hikari looked at Kagome's pleading eyes now glazed with welling tears. She doesn't want to see her suffer but there's nothing she can do, the disappointment that will soon replace those features will be inevitable. She can't give her false hope that she knew.

"Kagome-chan…I'm sorry but I can't. I don't have that kind of power yet. My brother sent me back to this era. And even if I could finally use my own power…I don't think I'll be allowed to alter that." Her heart clenched at the sight of Kagome.

"T-Then your brother. Can we ask him to do it? Do you think he-"

"No, Kagome-chan. Even if I beg him I know he won't do it. It's against the law that we live by… those who were born with the power to control time must never interfere with death of those around us. We may change some events, but death is something that could affect a whole deal with the future. There are too many risks…we can't…I'm sorry." She can't keep the tears from falling now. She saw how her words shattered Kagome's hope. How the miko in front of her broke, worse than she already was. She knew how it felt, because she once felt the same when she begged her brother to do the same…to save their father and her mother. But she knew now that's not possible. It is beyond their power. It is against their code.

Kagome sagged even further as she slowly put Hikari's hands down then she covered her face with her own. Her shoulders shook from the emotion that was rocking her from within. All hope was shattered, her already broken heart, what was left of it, now destroyed, her soul drowning from misery and sorrow. She can't get mad at her new friend. Can she? At least the reasonable part of her could understand that. But the pain is too much. Her scarred emotions now bleed anew as she wailed. She doesn't care if the whole shiro can hear her. But she can't help from crying out loud. There's just too much pain.

"I-I'm sorry…" Hikari's words were broken, a whisper she hoped the broken miko could hear. She too cried now, sobbing as silently as she could as she hugged her friend. If she could shield her from the hurt, she would. But all she could do now is share her warmth, comfort her within her arms as she stroked her gently, making calming circles at Kagome's shivering back, as she pulled her closer. Let her cry till she could not cry anymore. Just let all the pain be washed out by her tears…same way she did when she was just a child…same way the miko did for her in the onsen while she cried desperately for her brother…

"I'm sorry…"

OoOoO

The wave of misery and the salty scent of tears flowed within the chamber affecting those within the shiro. But it was Sesshomaru who could feel it the worst. It was agitating as his claws dug deeper into his palms.

He kept himself within his chamber, trying to stay where he was even though he knew that he wanted to go to her, protect her, fiercely wanted to save her from whatever pain she is in now. Although he only associates those emotions to his possessiveness towards what he deems as his own. She owes him her life. She's just his ward, nothing more. The stubborn part of him won't allow it to go any further than that.

If only his blood beast shared the same idea.

Because at the moment, his blood beast howled at the misery that's overpowering his resolve. He growled to control its trashing within him. The fact that the reason behind her misery was another male made it even worse. His jealousy was prodding his possessive nature. His blood beast sees her as his. And it was fighting to be set free. But beyond his jealousy, the beast still desired to protect her. Protect her and destroy whatever it is that's making her hurt so much, it was what his blood beast seeked to accomplish. But how could he destroy the past? He heard some of their conversation clearly, even though he was a few chambers away.

His demonic senses could do that without much effort but right now, how he wished he didn't have it. Just so he wouldn't feel such a wrecking of emotions. He felt helpless, and it only made his beast more aggressive. How he yearned he really don't have emotions like the way everyone thinks. If only it was true. No matter how hard he denies it, no matter how hard he tries not to be affected, he can't fight it.

Her tears are like acid to his heart.

Her wails like claws ripping him apart.

Her miseries like fangs gnawing him to pieces.

He waits and waits until the early dawn and everything passes by; her misery subsides, her wailing cries become quiet sobs, though her tears still linger. She fell asleep, he knew. But the broken soul of the miko touches him more than anyone and anything have ever done before.

If only…

OoOoO

He walks silently towards the chamber and entered without knocking. Hikari was startled but didn't say a word. She looked up to face him then to the sleeping girl on her lap. They were still on her bed. She too was crying with the girl's broken heart.

Sesshomaru gently picked Kagome up into his arms. Her crying took most of her strength. She must have felt drained as she continued to sleep. No words were spoken between him and the other girl in the room as he left. Sesshomaru cradled the miko closer as he walked straight into the inner dwelling and into her own chamber, putting her down gently on her futon. He stared at her sleeping face, her closed eyes starting to swell. The wet trails of tears still visible. He wiped it with his thumb, mindful of his claw and tucked behind her ears the lose strands of her hair that stray onto her face. He gently touched her cheeks with the back of his hand and stiffened when she suddenly sighed in her sleep.

He spared a last glance on her form before he finally stepped out of her chamber and into his own sleeping chamber just beside hers. He doesn't intend to sleep, but at the moment, he only wanted to be near the fragile onna as much as possible. For her, he will let the ice that covers his heart crumble…for now.

Until he put them back in place again, sealing him within, come next rise…but for now…

OoOoO

Waaahhh…(sniff, sniff) Thanks for the help, CASEDEPUTY! (sniff, sniff)

OoOoO

MS: Waahhh…(sniff, blow nose, sniff) She finally cries for Inuyasha and it took so many months… (sniff, sniff)

Inu: What the fu-

MS: (grabs soap and put it inside Inuyasha's mouth) such dirty language! Be glad you're still mentioned in this fic you idiotic brat!

Inu: (mouth bubbling with soap and spit it out) you bitch!

Sesshou: Such a waste of space. He's not worth it. To cry for someone like this bastard is unthinkable…(give MS a death glare) and this is another nonsense of describing this one's way of thinking. Do you really believe I will do such a thing?

MS: B-but…B-but…(wails loudly) waahhh…I can't help it…(sniff, sniff) how about you CD-chan? What do you think?

CD: I have tears flowing down my cheeks right now. That last little bit there at the end "her tears like acid to his heart" and so on really hit the nail on the head for the bawling factor. With Kagome begging Hikari like that was tear-flowing inducing. Now I'm gonna go cry myself to sleep! (sorry Sam-chan! Can't help it…) T_T

MS: (transform into chibi mode and glomps CD) thanks CD-chan! I knew I could always count on you…let's go cry ourselves to sleep…(pouted at Sesshou)