All rights reserved by Rumiko Takahashi

The world around them seemed to shatter. The sky and buildings cracked like impacted glass and crumpled to the ground leaving only Kagome's room.

Inuyasha didn't know what to say. Things were happening way too fast not to mention that somehow most of them are linked to Sesshomaru. 'Okay lets go over this one more time. Ancient scroll shows up that gives Kagome the ability to see Sesshomaru's past, which is strangely unlord-like. Kikyo shows up and starts acting like she did fifty years ago. An army of monsters show up and set fire to the entire northern lands with a leader that's somehow able to take on Kohaku, Miroku, Sango, and Sesshomaru. Then a guardian from my father's old regime appears, says she worked with Sesshomaru, that the attack on the northern lands is somehow his fault, and that I'm supposed to be the Lord of the Western lands. Oh and apparently Sesshomaru has friends who dress weird and can heal people. Yeah, the past few days have been a little weird.'

"Inuyasha?"

"Huh?"

"You look a little distracted."

"Just…thinking."

"…Things really have changed haven't they."

"What?"

"In the last three years I mean."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, you. You've gotten a little more mature since we first met. You think things through more, you don't always jump in to things, and you're certainly dealing with this situation much more calmly than I would have expected."

"…Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, it's just…I feel like we never get to talk anymore. You know, like we used to. Now its just lets go find the jewel shards. I…"

Inuyasha sat there for a long moment. Things had changed. He could remember walking with Kagome up and down the streets of her time wearing a hat and searching out the nearest store that sold ramen. He could remember playing stupid games with her and the rest of the group as they went along with their quest. Now…it seemed like business as usual every day. And Kagome…he had to think about how she felt. Yes, he had learned that lesson a long time ago.

Kagome watched as he took off Tetsusaiga and set it down beside him.

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

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Sesshomaru yawned and stretched his legs. He had received no dreams last night which was in itself the most enjoyable present he'd received in centuries.

Walking out of the small bedroom he was greeted with a smile by his old team medic. "You seem happy."

"Feel better?"

"Quite."

"Good. Then lets go over your equipment before you see your guest."

"My guest?"

"Yes. Very curious lady. Wears a white robe, came in and asked if she could see you when you got up. Didn't even have to tell her you were sleeping."

"…Did she give you a name?"

"Eve."

Sesshomaru sighed. "Just show me the equipment."

Kenshin smiled and led Sesshomaru to his desk which was now covered in a blue cloth. The old medic grabbed the cloth with both hands and pulled it away revealing an assortment of weapons and clothing while loudly exclaiming "TADA!"

Sesshomaru quietly looked at Kenshin. "…"

"…I can tell you're excited. First things first." Kenshin held out a small bag. "Scyth seeds. Take a few of these every day and it should get rid of any pain in your hands and knees."

The demon lord opened the bag and popped a few of the small seeds in his mouth.

"They take a little while to work but you'll feel it when they start to kick in. Next we have your old sword."

Sesshomaru grabbed the katana and examined it. "You fixed it."

"Well, I didn't fix it. But I did find a person who could. You'll find that it still responds to your aura of course. Oh, and I saved your old bag of explosives. I thought you might find them useful."

Sesshomaru placed the sword down and picked up a large coat. "What exactly is this?"

"That is something I have been working on for quite some time. It's water resistant, fire resistant, stab resistant, aura resistant (demonic or otherwise), it has pockets for any hidden weapons you may want to put in there, also I found the man who made your last suit of armor and had him put the same spell on it as the other one, so it will repair itself with the application of your aura, which I might add was very, very, very expensive. Oh, and it's light and warm!"

"…Is that all? Are you sure its not going to make me twenty feet tall when I put it on?"

"You wouldn't be joking if you knew how long it took me to get that thing just the way I wanted it. Oh, and I bought this." Kenshin held up a small bundle of clothes. "I remember you telling me how comfortable these things were."

Sesshomaru grabbed the silk clothes and unfolded them. It was Southern Style Kung Fu attire. He almost smiled as he remembered sailing back from China wearing something that was not too dissimilar to this. But something was different. "Kenshin? Why are all of these black?"

"I wanted to make it similar to the old choice of clothes you wore before you left for the western castle."

Sesshomaru pulled out a long strip of cloth. "…Even the belt?"

"Well, if it bothers you that much you can wait another two hundred years while I get you the same damn thing in a color of your choosing."

"It's fine Kenshin…but did you have to buy the sleeveless top."

"It was less expensive."

"…"

"Do you know how much that damn coat costs?!"

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Eve had always liked children. Something about them seemed so pure and innocent. Perhaps it was the fact that children had not had enough time to develop into the cruel heinous beings that she saw so often in her line of work.

The girl Rin was certainly an example of this. She would continuously pace the room smiling and talking about whatever was on her mind at the moment. The small imp that was constantly at her side seemed to be trying to talk her down most of the time so Eve subtly put him to sleep. Youth need not be restrained.

So as the imp slept, all the while uttering something about Sesshomaru, Eve watched Rin laugh and do her very best to keep entertained in the small space she had been presented with.

Yet from the corner of Eve's eye she could see a boy who was no older than fifteen. He was different…but so familiar. It took Eve a few minutes but she finally figured out who the boy reminded her of.

It was about this time that Eve grew a little impatient. She politely excused herself from the children and found the passage to Kenshin's…storage room.

It was there that the sight of Sesshomaru, fully clad in black, and Kenshin who was apparently trying to convince himself that his sense of style was still hanging by a thread, greeted her.

Eve smiled. "Well, don't you look dapper."

Sesshomaru, who was still examining the clothes he was wearing, didn't even bother to look up. "Kenshin, do you mind giving me and our guest a little time alone?"

Kenshin, on the other hand, did not look at all happy about the intrusion but nodded and left, not forgetting of course to give Eve the evil eye on the way out. "Isn't he the gracious hosts."

"If you're here about the northern lands it was out of my control."

"Oh I know. Raphael told me everything after his…report. You know, it's very difficult to resurrect almost three hundred people, wipe their memory, and return an entire section of a large island to a near pristine state. Not to mention dealing with the native gods. Amaterasu says hi by the way, also she wants to know when you're going to stop wrecking her companion's shrines."

"I will certainly take that into consideration the next time I am trying to stop a evil invading army by myself."

"At least your sense of humor is as sarcastic as ever."

"Why are you here?"

"Always straight to the point. I'm here because you are about to do something very stupid."

"And what would that be?"

"Don't play stupid with me immortal. You are supposed to be doing your job."

"…Well we all have someone to answer to I suppose."

"And who do you answer to Sesshomaru?"

"It's certainly not you."

"…I haven't always agreed with the way you've done your job. At times I've even thought of your actions as evil incarnate. But I did recognize them as a necessary evil. But this, this is completely different. The one true threat to our existence has returned and you are going to completely ignore him all the while going off on some stupid vendetta!"

"Have I ever questioned you?"

"What does that have to do with-"

"Have I ever questioned you?!"

"…No."

"I have always done what was asked of me. I sacrificed my life, my happiness, my very soul to protect people that I have never and will never know. Not because you and your kind asked me to but because I had to. I have thrown away everything because of this and never have I asked for anything in return. But now there is something I must do before my time is done. And if I should die in the process, well…I'm expendable remember."

"Sesshomaru-"

"Do not try and force your will on me you pretentious deity. I am short on time these days."

"I can not in good conscience allow you to do this."

"Then maybe I should ask you. Am I going to walk out of this room or does my story end here? That is what you taught me is it not? That when fate dictates we do something it happens regardless of what we want." Eve could feel the darkness around Sesshomaru slowly enveloping her as he came face to face with her. "Now I'm willing to bet that even though you or any of your companions could easily wipe me from existence I will be able to walk out of this room and you will not even lift a finger to stop me."

"…"

"Fate is truly something to be marveled at, don't you agree."

"I'll be visiting your replacement soon. I'll let him know that one of you will be dying in the next three days."

Sesshomaru sighed and began to walk towards the stairs. "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

"You'll be getting another visitor today, one with lots of scars. She's been tracking you for the past few days. I imagine she'll find you once you know where you're going. How many strange women do you know anyway?"

"Including you? Too many."

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Kenshin was waiting calmly upstairs when Sesshomaru returned. "Where's the girl?"

"She's gone."

"I didn't see her walk by."

"She doesn't do a lot of walking."

"Oh…oooh. Got it."

Sesshomaru looked up to find Rin and Kohaku staring intently at his change in wardrobe. "Rin, wake up Jaken and go untie Ah Un. Kohaku, you go with her.

Rin shook her head and tried to shake off the fact that Sesshomaru no longer looked like a pristine lord of the lands and more like a deadly assassin. And yet, he was still the same person. Within seconds the smile returned to her lips. "Yes, Lord Sesshomaru!"

Kohaku, on the other hand, did not take Sesshomaru's new appearance into stride. One look at the demon lord sent familiar emotions surging through him. In less than a second Kohaku had been reminded of almost every reason why he had never fully trusted Sesshomaru. Yes, he was still the same person.

Jaken…did not wake easily. So much so that Rin and Kohaku finally decided to just drag him out of the hut.

Sesshomaru turned to Kenshin but didn't say a word.

"What ever happened to the old days Sesshomaru?"

"…"

"You know. The days when nothing seemed to matter. When the only thing we ever thought about was getting through the night alive."

"Don't tell me you wish you were back at Dimear?"

"It's weird. They were the worst days of my life and yet it was the only time I truly felt I was doing something important. Hell, I remember how you and Oro would argue, Keys would flirt with anyone for a laugh, and James would just sit there smirking while he played with the explosives. I guess I just try and remember the good times…don't you?"

"…"

"Sesshomaru, I-"

"I remember the pools of blood as they crept down the street. I remember the dragons that came and burned the city every night. I remember the never-ending sounds of dying men and women as they echoed through the city. I remember the stench of death as a constant companion. I remember the fear I felt when I was caged and tortured. And I remember when I stopped caring if the water I drank was stained red with blood.

"Sir, I…I'm sorry. I just-"

"It's okay. You never had to go into the city. You didn't deserve that hell…no one did. Thank you Kenshin. And goodbye."

Kenshin watched as the demon lord turned to walk out of his life forever. But something gripped the old medic in that moment. Something he hadn't felt in a long time. "Wait. I remember sleeping in those ditches with everyone and hoping the loyalists didn't come and slit my throat in the night just like you did. I remember the cold winter in the ash-strewn forest when we were surrounded on all sides. I remember the fires we lit to stay warm even though it was against regulation, I remember the pain and hurt that came every time we saw one of our own die."

"…"

"What I don't remember is a single day where you didn't save my life at least once. Me and the men, we would have followed you anywhere. Not because you had a higher rank or because you had a way with words. But because you were one of us. You knew what it was like to sleep in that ditch with the rest of us. You knew that some orders had to be disobeyed. You cared about us first and what the General thought second. That is why we followed you. It's why I still follow your orders. Even if you are just using me."

For a moment Kenshin saw Sesshomaru's expression soften. Not with some fake smile or sarcastic joke but in his eyes. Maybe this was just one of those things someone like him needed to hear.

"You were important to us. You protected us, not just from death but from the bullshit that we got fed every fucking day. Even when we hated you for it you were still there. You need to remember that you're important to other people too. Hell, those kids out there wouldn't know what the hell to do without you. So if you're not coming back, if you're really not coming back, just remember to tie things up when you leave. Some of us don't get second chances like you do."

"Thank you Kenshin. I…thank you."

"It was an honor serving with you sir."

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Kagome hadn't felt this good in years. Inuyasha and her family had spent the last few hours just being together. He truly cared about her. Not to mention that somewhere deep down they all knew that this would be the last time they would be seeing each other for a long time. So after a tearful goodbye she and Inuyasha were finally walking towards the well.

Inuyasha was wearing one of his rare smirks; it was one she had seen all to many times in their first year together. Seeing it now made Kagome feel just a little bit better. Maybe it was a sign, maybe just maybe she could get through this.

That was why when Inuyasha's smirk dropped into a snarl Kagome began to frantically search for the reason.

What she saw was Syal standing between them and the well house. "Don't worry, she's a friend. Remember when I told you about Syal? Well, this is her."

Inuyasha didn't quite relax but he did stop growling. "What do you want?"

Syal seemed to analyze Inuyasha for a moment before she spoke up. "I need to speak with Kagome."

"…And?"

The wolf demon sighed. "Alone."

Inuyasha felt a reassuring grip on his shoulder. "It's all right. I'll meet you on the other side in a few minutes okay?"

The dog demon cast one last look at the wolf. "Fine, but don't take too long."

"I won't."

Syal tried her best not to meet Inuyasha's eyes as he passed. There was no real reason for this besides a deep-rooted instinct. It was just her way of showing that he was in charge of the situation. And so he passed into the well while casting only one last glance back. "I'm sorry but I had one last thing I had to do before you left."

Kagome sighed. "Great, what is it this time."

Syal pulled out a small green vial. "I need you to decide whether or not you're going to take this with you."

"What is it?"

"Look, I'm just…I'm sorry I have to do this Kagome."

"Is…something wrong?"

"Just know that this is very important and could decide what path your friends will take."

"Syal you're starting to scare me a little, just please tell me what that is."

"…This will bring Kikyo back to life."

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Sesshomaru walked outside to find Jaken drooped over Ah Un's back like cheap baggage while Rin and Kohaku waited patiently for their lord to announce his next destination. 'Thank you Kenshin.' "Let's go."

Rin smiled and began to follow closely behind him as she always did when she wasn't riding Ah Un. "Where are we going now my lord?"

"To a field of my choosing."

Sesshomaru could almost feel the two children exchanging confused glances behind him but neither said a word.

As he walked he began to think again. 'It's funny' he mused. 'In the end all I can hear is his voice. I still remember what you said Kel.'

You're going to have a hard time finding your place in this world Sesshomaru.

'No, I just had to wait for it to find me.'

It's going to be difficult for you, never knowing what you're meant for.

'It always felt like I was drifting.'

You could stop anytime. No one would ever blame you for wanting happiness.

'You taught me better than that. Didn't you.'

You could do great things Sesshomaru. You could be something extraordinary.

'But there was always a fine line wasn't there. One I could never cross.'

You will find yourself dragged in-between worlds.

'Some of them that I will never be able to understand.'

You will soon be capable of choosing between them.

'Even when the choice was impossible to make.'

Which path will you choose Sesshomaru? One of darkness or one of light?

'Sometimes they are both the same.'

But no matter what, always remember that I love you.

'I love you too dad.'

I truly believe that you will change this world Sesshomaru.

'In ways you could never imagine.'

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Author's notes:

I'm off for the week and my best friend/spellchecker/grammar checker is in China so I figured hey, why not dish out a shiny new chapter. Yes it's finally done. Now I can get some rest before the voices in my head start telling me to start on another one.

Anyway, I couldn't just let Kagome's life go according to plan now could I. I mean, what kind of sadistic author would that make me?

P.S.

I may start going back to correct some of the spelling and grammar mistakes I made in the previous chapters. (You know, if get bored enough to do something productive.)

Question:

This one goes out to all you literature nerds out there. (See, I know other stuff too.)

"To be or not to be-that is the question: (insert the rest of the monologue here)"

Can you tell me what Act, Scene, and lines in Hamlet this is from? (God, I can still remember memorizing this speech for English class.)