A World Apart

by Jade the Inujin

Sesshoumaru closed off his heart long ago, but when his beloved returns as an American tomboy, will the sparks fly again? SessxOC Ch41 is up! Sorry about the delay. Edit Project: ch1 thru 9 have been reedited...

25. Special: The Power of a Soul

The first of two special chapters in A World Apart. Think of them as the movies they make for Inuyasha. It is very long, so either read this over a few days or when you have a ton of time on your hands. With that said, I'd better get this started. By the way for the Sogi fans out there – if they exist, no one ever comments on him – sorry, but he's visiting a friend during this whole thing. Just wanted to clear that up first.

I, Jade the Inujin, don't own Inuyasha or its characters. The original people, such as Jade, belong to me.

An A World Apart Special: The Power of A Soul

It was raining. The cold, wet spears threatened to break through the window of Jade's room. She sat there, staring into the sheets of rain. Watching as the once solid ground turned to a mushy mess of mud.

Her roommates had never seen Jade so quiet. The twins said they couldn't read her mind because it was apparently blank. Susan tried lighting energy candles; this turned out to be a bad decision, for the twins were the only beneficiaries. Even though the twins were bouncing all over the bedroom, Jade remained in her hypnotized state.

Susan was getting restless, now. The only sign of life from the tomboy was when she blinked, slowly, every two minutes. "What's WRONG with you? Why aren't you DOING anything? Go play in the rain or something! JUST MOVE!" Jade didn't even twitch. Susan was on the very edge of her sanity. 'What happened to the Jade I remember? I know what will bring her back down to Earth." Susan marched over to the Door and pushed it wide open. Standing in the entryway, she yelled at the top of her lungs, "PRINCE SESS!"

Lord Prince Sesshoumaru was in the middle of his nightly stare at the moon when a high-pitched scream reached his sensitive hearing. He grabbed one of his throbbing ears and shriveled to the ground. Through the painful vibrations, he recognized the voice as one Susan Johnson. 'She had better have a superb reason for piercing my eardrums,' he growled.

"Jaken," Sesshoumaru tried to yell, so he could hear over the shouting, "I'm going to Jade's time! If you need me, you know where I'll be!"

Jaken sat up and went to watch the sleeping Rin, "Yes, My Lord." Of course, he didn't hear the noise, so he had no idea why his lord was going all of a sudden. He started thinking about Jade and sneered, 'Stupid human girl.'

Sesshoumaru charged toward the Door at his top speed in an attempt to drown out the screams. When he got there, he glared down at the teenager with glowing red eyes, "NANI?"

Susan ignored what he had said, but from his body language she came the conclusion that he was ticked off, badly. Sesshoumaru looked as Susan pointed behind her with her shaking thumb and saw Jade sitting by the window. She looked like an empty shell left to look into the abyss. His eyes returned to their normal golden color, and he brushed passed Susan ever so slowly.

The twins looked through his thoughts as the prince made his way over to the window. The ever curious Susan asked what he was thinking. May looked puzzled, and Mark blinked a few times out of confusion. "He's thinking… Jade," they replied, softly.

"What do you mean he's thinking 'Jade'?" Susan asked a tad bit harshly. "Can't you be a little more specific?" The twins shook their heads for a no.

Looking out into the showers, Sesshoumaru glanced to see if Jade was actually watching something, and his guess had been correct; she wasn't. "What are you searching for," he asked finally. She didn't answer. Sesshoumaru sat down across from the hanyou and looked at her. For the first time since he'd met her, Sesshoumaru really looked at her as Jade Carden, not as a reincarnation or another subject.

The twins winked at each other and took each of Susan's hands. "Let's go, Sue. They need to be alone," they whispered as they pulled her out the bedroom door. Susan pulled back at the eighth graders' grip, but it was two against one.

Over the year they had known each other, Sesshoumaru and Jade had learned so much about each other. She had told him things she had been afraid to tell anyone. They were best friends that liked to beat each other. Now his dear friend was far away from him, and he realized, again, how far they really had come. "The rain's coming down pretty hard," he said casually. "It's a good thing we're inside, hm?"

Jade blinked sleepy eyes and looked at him. He held her gaze and smiled his small grin. She blinked again and returned her gaze to the heavy downpour outside.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, "Okay then, if you're going to be that way about it, I'll cut right to the chase."

Jade turned just as the dog grabbed her hand and yanked her out of her chair. "What are you doing? Where are you taking me? SESSHOUMARU?" Jade fumed.

"Somewhere I can wash all that angst off you and get you kicking again," the prince grinned behind him.

Jade looked around the giant tail and saw the front door, wide open."Oh, crap," Jade said to herself as they entered the intense showers. Her two shirts were soaked instantly, and the mud puddles swallowed her feet above her ankles.

Sesshoumaru felt his kimono clinging to his skin, and his silver locks dripped with water into his face. "You still have any angst on you?" he said over the rain, smiling.

Jade looked at him with furry, "Sesshoumaru… I'm going to kill you!"

Sesshoumaru took off with the very angry 17 year old gaining quickly. Then, he saw a huge mud puddle and thought, 'If I fall in there, then she laugh and stop chasing me.' Down he went, into a thick substance face down. Jade slowed down in an attempt to stop, but she dripped over the 6'5" youkai into the muck, flat on her back.

Sesshoumaru pulled his face out of the mud and waited for the bashing. It never came. He turned to face her and let the rain wash his face. What he saw was the last thing he expected and the first he wanted; she was laughing. He joined her in a good belly laugh. "Uh… Jade? Would you mind taking your legs off my back?" Sesshoumaru chuckled finally.

Jade squinted her eyes, and the laughing quieted. She smiled at him, grabbed a hand-full of sludge, and threw it into his face. Sesshoumaru felt the gooey substance fall from his face. He in turn threw a fistful of his own at toward her face. It missed the face but hit the chest. Jade looked at Sesshoumaru, and he looked back. "Oh it's on now," Jade declared.

With that, one of the fiercest mud fights commenced. Back and forth, handfuls of mud filled the air, and the two contestants jumped around the front yard to dodge them. Finally, Sesshoumaru had Jade pinned up against the house. Jade panted to reveal how tired she really was; the youkai prince was also out of breath, but he was looking into her eyes. He couldn't tear himself from those clearly visible sparkles. They seemed to be calling to him. He couldn't hold back anymore. He kissed her. Jade felt his wet lips embrace hers, but she pushed him away. "Stop! Please stop!"

Sesshoumaru was confused, 'What did I do wrong?'

Jade turned around to the wall and let tears mingled with the rain water on her face. 'I can't let him see me like this. I'm showing my weakness, Dad would kill me.'

"Jade," the prince spoke softly, "I'm sorry. I just… I couldn't… help it. Jade, I have to tell you-"

"NO! Don't say it, please! Why are you doing this to me?"

"Doing what?" the bewildered Sesshoumaru asked.

"WHY are you trying to get close to me?" Jade still faced the wall.

'Why are you pushing him away?' a voice within her asked softly.

"Because I love you, Jade! That's right the sky is going to fall! Mount Fuji's going to erupt! The world's doomed all because of four little words!" Sesshoumaru shouted.

"NO!" Jade screamed. "Take it back, please! You don't know what you're doing!"

"I can't lie to you or myself anymore. I'm tired of cursing myself with these lies. If I don't know what doing, then tell me of my ignorance, Jade." He walked up to hold her. She turned around and pushed him back, again.

"Everyone that I ever got close to, or ever let get close to me, in my whole life was taken from me! My grandparents were killed in a drive-by! My parents got divorced, and then they were both murdered! I was separated from my brothers in foster care! Every time I got close to my foster parents, or a friend, I got moved! Don't you see the pattern? Don't you understand?" Jade hesitated, "I DON'T WANT TO LOOSE YOU, TOO!"

Sesshoumaru looked at her face, and though it was covered with water droplets, he could still see her tears fall down her face. He walked up to her and held her, even though she continued to push him. He held her tightly within his arm and tail's embrace, "You'll never loose me. I promise you that."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," said Jade, finally calm.

"I'm not, I really mean it," he said softly in her ear.

Jade buried her face in his shoulder, "I truly felt like I belonged with you, Rin, and even Jaken. I don't want to loose that. I don't…" she sobbed, "…want… to loose another home."

Sesshoumaru squeezed her tighter, "You won't."

Just as she was about to let him through, she heard that choking, shocked sound she wished she didn't recognize. "Um, Sesshoumaru, we have an audience," she said in an annoyed tone.

"What is it, Jaken," Sesshoumaru said without moving Jade, or letting her move for that matter.

Jaken was taken way past aback, 'What is His Lordship doing, holding that wretched female in such a manner?'

"Jaken!" Sesshoumaru was bearing his heart, and his underling was interrupting at the wrong time.

The frog-like thing snapped back to reality, "Lord Sesshoumaru, it's Rin! She's been taken!"

The two love birds broke apart and pelted the frog for answers, "WHO?"

"Kagura and Kohaku," Jaken managed to gasped passed Jade's grip on his collar.

"That Naraku is up to his old tricks." Jade concluded, loosing the amphibian. "Sesshoumaru, you and Jaken head after him; I'll track you when I can."

Sesshoumaru was torn. Should he stay with Jade or go now for Rin? Jade's orders answered his conflict instantly. He nodded, reluctantly, and ran for the Door.

Jade watched the direction he'd taken for a moment, 'Why did you push him away?'

Jade was hearing the voice again, but now she knew its speaker, the other Jade. "Sometimes love has to be denied," she said to herself. "Some people just aren't allowed to love."

Jaken waddled after his lord, "Sesshoumaru-sama!"

Susan watched the little beast squawk after Prince Sess. 'Stupid little frog,' she thought.

Sesshoumaru pushed everything out of his mind, except that Naraku had Rin. 'That monster! How dare he even lay a hand on Rin! I'll rip out his living heart!" With that he pushed the door open and yelled at Jaken to hurry it up. Then, he picked up the toad by the collar and ran in the direction of Naraku's stench.

Jade had a little bit of trouble getting out of the room when Miss G – Miss Gimlee – told her the bed wasn't properly made. After performing many other labors, Jade asked if she could go. Miss G nodded slowly, but Jade didn't even wait for her head to drop before she exited the Door. As her roommates cheered her on, she waved back and said goodbye.

Before Jade had even left, Sesshoumaru had tracked down the spider to a large cave, coming out of the ground. "Jaken, prepare for a fight."

"Yes, My Lord," nodded Jaken nervously.

Upon entering the cave that recked of the enemy youkai, Sesshoumaru was met by Rin's cries of warning, but he wasn't turning back now. "Lord Sesshoumaru, it's a trap! Get out! Hurry!"

Jaken was quickly ensnared by Kohaku's chain, yet Sesshoumaru walked right passed the two girls, scowl and all. "Ah! Lord Sesshoumaru! It's so good to see you. How long has it been?" came Naraku's cocky voice.

"Don't even try to flatter me, fool. You have crossed the line, yet again," Sesshoumaru glared at the shadow before him.

"Now, your highness, it's not nice to stare, you know."

Kagura looked over at the angry prince and longed to touch his face, 'Why must you haunt me, Lord Sesshoumaru? Why do I want you and loathe you at the same time?'

"Well, I guess we should get down to business, eh, Lord Sesshoumaru?" smirked Naraku.

The prince's eyes turned ruby red as he cracked his Whip of Light. Naraku jumped over it and signaled to Kagura. Sesshoumaru, in his crazed state, didn't notice until the last moment that she's was coming for him. Perturbed by the two on one attack, the dog decided to go full throttle on them.

Nine year old Rin kicked and screamed as Kohaku pulled her into a side room to watch. She stopped in shock as the dog transformed before her eyes into the furious beast of the Western legend. The left stump was clearly visible a few feet above the ground since he was forced to crouch inside the cave. "Come and stay still," Kohaku said sternly. He tied her arms above her head to a post. Her eyes never left the fight.

Kohaku stood stiffly behind the post, watching in almost amusement. As the giant dog swatted at Kagura's blades, Rin couldn't help but shed tears. 'It's all my fault. If only I hadn't been so clumsy, Lord Sesshoumaru wouldn't have to struggle against Kagura and Naraku alone.'

Just as Kagura was about to admit defeat, she called up a last resort, "DANCE OF THE DRAGON!" The twister swirled up and drove into the nape of the great dog's neck. The canine god gave a wail, and a bright light blinded all but the two children in the small room.

"LORD SESSHOUMARU!" Rin screamed. The light dissipated to reveal Sesshoumaru, lying limp on the cavern floor. Rin gave a cry of shock and fear, but she was relieved to see that he was breathing.

Naraku strode over to the weakened youkai, "All tired out, huh?" He picked up the fallen warrior's arm and dragged him to the opposite side of the cave from Rin. Kagura assisted him in tying the lord to a thick post, and Naraku draped a rope around his neck as if it were a piece of jewelry.

After Kagura left to stand watch, Rin watched in horror as the prince took one of the worst beat downs of his long life. She buried her face in her sleeve, but she couldn't escape the moans and cries that left the youkai's mouth. She didn't cry though, for she no longer had any tears left to shed. She only struggled to hold back her own screams as her body burn with his pain.

As the wind sorceress took up her post outside the cave, the first of Sesshoumaru's cries reached her. This wasn't right. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Why was Naraku beating him? Then, it dawned on her that her father had used her to bring down the dog. She collapsed outside the cave, unable to find any air. She had brought this on him; it was her fault that Sesshoumaru would fall to her father, and she was to much of a coward to stop it. With each blow and each cry, the wind child felt a stab at her chest. Gripping her shoulders, Kagura wept, "Forgive me, Lord Sesshoumaru... Forgive me!"

"I hope you're satisfied with yourself, oh high and mighty one," mocked Naraku. He stepped back to view his work of frustration. "I mean, you and the girl were mere pawns in the ultimate plan. How does it feel to be used... again?"

Sesshoumaru looked up at the spider youkai and widened his eyes as he saw the bigger picture. "Why you-"

Naraku pulled the leash around Sesshoumaru's neck to prevent his outburst. "Now, now, we don't want to scare the child, do we?" Naraku stepped aside to show his captive that Rin had seen it all. As the lord began to fade into darkness, Naraku whispered to him, "I'll say hi to Jade for you."

Jade was now in sight of the cave. She thought she heard a scream from a child. As her mind flooded with worst case scenarios, her adrenaline was pumping. She charged for the cave, "If he laid a figure on her, I'll kill him!"

At the entrance, she stopped dead in her tracks. The Staff of Heads was lying on the doorstep. "Come in. Come in, Jade. We've been expecting you," came Naraku's snake-like voice. Jade pushed all fear out of her mind and walked down into the underground cave. The different scents flowing in the air told her who was there, even her alias. Then, there before her sat Naraku in his gaudy pelt.

"Where are the others?"

Naraku's baboon head lowered, "Must we begin business so soon? It seems no one ever wants to just talk anymore."

"Answer the question, jerk!" A sigh escape Naraku as he stood and motioned his hands upward. Jade instinctively went for her sword, but the lights merely brightened, revealing her worst fears were confirmed. "NO!" Jade ran over to Sesshoumaru's side and lifted his head. "NO! No, you promised... You promised me I wouldn't lose you!"

Naraku clicked his tongue in false pity, "Poor Jade, didn't even have a final goodbye."

"You... you spider," Jade snarled, still holding the dog's head to her chest, "You know how I feel about spiders, Naraku? I want to crush 'em. Every last one should meet the bottom of my boot!"

Naraku smirked and removed the pelt, "I take it you want me down there as well. Let us see you try." Jade gridded her teeth and charged after him in rage so pure the spider felt a slight sense of awe. He dodged barely, "You and Sesshoumaru are so predictable when you're angry."

"Jade don't! It's a trap," Rin called out. She had to get out of her bonds and quickly. Remembering a technique Jade had shown her, she kicked her leg backward and met Kohaku in his weak spot. He doubled over in pain, and Rin started pulling at her ropes again. It hurt terribly, but she freed herself, grabbed Jaken, and ran for Sesshoumaru. She pulled out Tenseiga and tried to used it on his ropes; then, she remembered it couldn't cut.

While Rin was trying to rescue, everyone else was focused on the fight. Jade made multiple strikes toward Naraku, but he always seemed to dodge them. Kanna had been watching closely, and once she saw what she was looking for, she called out, "Father, now."

Rin turned to see Jade, Dragon's Breath raise above her head, charge Naraku. She gaped as the teen's chest ran straight into his claws. "JADE!"

The tomboy dropped her blade as Naraku rose her into the air. Her jaw wouldn't shut and neither would her eyes. When Rin's scream reached her, Jade spoke as loudly as she could, "Run, Rin... Get as far as you can."

Kagura started after the frightened child, but Naraku said to leave her be. "We have more important things to do. Kanna, the crystal, if you please." Kanna raised a prism shaped crystal in front of her mirror. "Now, Jade," said Naraku, "be a good girl and give me your soul."

Jade felt the loss of Sesshoumaru sinking in. She looked Naraku right in the eye, tears flowing from her eyes, "You want it so bad? TAKE IT!"

Rin ran as fast as she could, dragging Jaken behind her. Then, she realized she still had Tenseiga in her other hand. It started to vibrate, "What? Did you just say something?" Rin listened and realized it was telling her to hold it behind her. She did as she was told, but she never expected what she saw coming up behind her. She broke into the fastest sprint she ever done, "I have to stay alive. I have to!"

"Inuyasha..." a young girl spoke up.

"What is it, now?" complained a puppy boy.

A purple and black clad young man tapped the younger boy on the shoulder, "You know you should really try to be a bit more considerate, my friend. Especially to women."

"I'll remember that when I need it," replied the boy curtly.

"Inuyasha, something's wrong," the girl said again, a bit more worried, as she stopped.

Now the boy – Inuyasha – was concerned, "What's wrong? Are you sick? Talk to me."

"Kagome, are you alright? You look a bit pale," asked an older girl. A small kitten at her heels rubbed up against the younger girl to show her concern.

"I... I'm sensing it again," the younger girl – Kagome – said in a baffled voice.

"Sense what, Kagome?" asked a chipper little boy, with a fluff ball of a tail, from her bike basket.

"That aura, but something is very wrong. She must be in trouble," Kagome gasped.

"Who? Who are you talking about?" asked Inuyasha. His patience level was well exceeded, and he was quite annoyed at this point.

"That girl I told you about," Kagome replied, so she decided to retell her story.

"I was looking for Inuyasha, after we had gotten separated, when I came to a stream. I was thirsty, and so, I scooped up some water into my hand. As I drank, I heard a rustle in the bushes across the brook. Looking back at me was the largest wolf I've ever seen."

"You didn't look it in the eye, did you?" asked Inuyasha.

"Of course I didn't!" The girl retorted, "Anyways, I slowly stood up, but it was threatened none the less. It ran after me through the forest and into a plain before it pounced."

"Your screaming's probably what did it, ya know," Inuyasha interrupted again.

"Am I telling this or are you? You jerk!" Kagome tuned him out, "I could feel its claws sinking into my calves, and THEN I screamed for INUYASHA'S help. I saw a shadow falling from the sky, and I braced for Inuyasha's weight, not saying you're fat or anything."

The dog walked away at the comment, feeling insulted.

"Anyway, the figure was silent as a commando from the movies, or a... really good ninja or slayer. The beast was killed instantly, but I didn't feel any impact. I did feel this aura though, kind of like when I feel Kikyou's around. This one was stronger, and I couldn't ignore it even if I tried.

"I turned around and saw a figure, almost as tall as Sesshoumaru, pulling its hand out of the wolf's back. As they straightened up, they looked at me and told me that they were sorry for taking so long. I looked them over and realized they was a girl! She didn't look Japanese to me, and she was wearing some baggy clothes; they weren't as baggy as Inuyasha's though.

"She leaned over and said that she'd have to pull the claws out slowly so the beast wouldn't twitch to much. It hurt, but I've been through worse. Picking up the dead thing, she told me to have my legs tended to, waved, and walked away."

"Truly, an interesting tale, Lady Kagome," said the older boy. "Perhaps this aura you sensed is part of your untapped powers."

The older girl nodded, "You're right, Lord Monk. Youkai can sense other youkai; I know mykos can sense them too, but why shouldn't they be able to sense others like themselves as well?"

Inuyasha had fallen asleep during the rest of the story, and everyone was trying to ignore the curled up body, drooling in the grass. Kagome wanted his opinion on the topic, so she uttered his word of subjugation, the one word that could bind his soul... "SIT!"

The half dog, half boy felt the a force crush him into the grass around him. Slowly lifting his head, he turned an ugly face to Kagome and barked, "What did I DO now?"

The seventeen year old, amateur myko smiled and asked what he thought about the subject. Inuyasha yelled as he shot up, "I DON'T GIVE A-"

"Shh..." the young monk hushed the half youkai.

Suddenly, Kagome felt a chill come over her. "Everyone, get down!" The rest of the group gave her blank looks. "GET DOWN!" She yelled as she tackled Inuyasha. Just then, a large force of energy hit them.

Inuyasha tried to grab Kagome's wrist, but she was swept away by the wind. "Kagome! KAGOME!"

After several, long minutes, the wind pulled backward, dropping the teenager. "OWWW!" She rubbed her rump, "How many times am I going to fall on my butt?" She then looked around to see if any of the others had been carried with her. As she feared, they had not, but then, she spotted a yellow mound. Curious as ever, Kagome decided to investigate. It was definitely NOT what she expected.

Before her brown eyes, she saw Rin, lying over top an unconscious Jaken. "Rin? Rin? Rin, are you alright?" The last time Kagome had seen the little child had been over a year and a half ago. Rin was getting taller, but that hair was hard to miss. 'Someone needs to teach Sesshoumaru how to use a comb,' she thought.

Suddenly, the little girl jumped up and pulled a sword in front of her. Kagome recognized the blade instantly as the katana Tenseiga. "Rin, it's me, Kagome." She crumpled her brow, "What are you doing with the Tenseiga?"

Rin opened her eyes and let fresh tears stream down her small, adorable face. "Lady... Kagome..." she murmured quietly. The young myko nodded. "Oh, Lady Kagome! It was awful," Rin cried and fell into Kagome's arms.

The teen saw the blood, covering the child's hands and arms. "What happened?" Kagome pushed the girl upright and examined her wrists. She was appalled by the gashes around the small hands. Rin whined out the whole story of Naraku's trap.

"Who's Jade, Rin?" Kagome looked up from dressing the child's wounds. She never heard this name before from the Sesshoumaru party.

Rin apologized, "Forgive me, My Lady. Jade is a girl from your world." Kagome thought back to the girl who'd saved her that past year. Could this Jade and that girl be one and the same? "Lord Sesshoumaru and Lord Jaken think she's half youkai," the child whispered so there was no way the unconscious frog could hear her. Kagome nodded, and concluded that she had been mistaken.

Picking up Jaken, Kagome told Rin to come with her, and Rin obeyed without question. As they walked back the way they'd been carried, Kagome found her bike and threw the sleeping toad in the basket. It had amazingly escaped any damage. They eventually found a few of her companions. Jogging over to them, her smile turned to a frown, "Where is Inuyasha?"

The older teen girl was sitting next to a rather large boomerang, tending to her cat, but at that moment, she turned her head up at the young monk, "Miroku..."

The young man – Miroku – looked back at her, then to Kagome. "When you pushed him, he picked up Shippou just before the three of you disappeared into that marvel."

"WHERE did he go? WHICH direction?" Kagome was very extremely worried, for she had felt all kinds of things in the wave: hatred, agony, grief, fear, and most of all, the aura. When the older of the girls pointed toward a forest. Kagome told Rin to stay with the humans, dropped her bike, with Jaken in it, and took off. "Please be okay. Please be okay."

When she came to the end of the trees, she found a brook with large rocks, reaching up to her hips, all along the banks. She didn't even stop to catch her breath, for not five yards away, she saw Inuyasha's leg, sticking out from behind a boulder. She ran around the rock and got the second biggest shock of her life.

Inuyasha was full human. The biggest had been his comment on her scent when she saw him full human for the first time. Kagome turned him onto his back, "How is this possible? Its the middle of the day, and the new moon was last week!"

The little, fox boy – Shippou – lay well protected beneath him, asleep and breathing deeply. The amateur myko picked him up and gingerly laid him in the grass. She then turned back and checked for a pulse on the now human boy. There was a weak one, but to her horror, it died shortly after her relief came.

Kagome's heart shattered, "NO! You can't give up now! We've come so far..." She thought back to first aid and began CPR. After breathing into his mouth, she counted the number of times her pushed into his chest. Inuyasha gave no response, but Kagome wouldn't accept that. She began again with breathing, followed by chest compressions.

Her mind was so distant that she didn't realize that Kikyou was sitting in a tree behind her, watching. 'Why does she bother to try and cheat death? At last, that hanyou was destroyed. Though it wasn't by my hand, at least it was not Naraku's. I have nothing binding me to this world; I can now rest in peace... No, I can't... can I?' The old myko looked toward the heavens, 'Onigumo...'

Kagome had been at it for thirty minutes now, and still, Inuyasha's heart refused to beat. "I can't... give... up... on you... Inu...yasha..." Kagome said in between chest thrusts, "...I love... you... to much."

Kikyou look down at her reincarnation, and her fraction of a soul fumed. 'LOVE? Is that her motive, or excuse rather, for such passion? You are a fool, Kagome. Inuyasha will no longer haunt my dreams and visions-'

Her thought were interrupted by the very small gasp that escaped the boy's lips. Kagome took her scarf and dipped it in the brook. "Inuyasha, don't speak. It's Kagome; everything's going to be alright now." The weak human was overcome with fatigue; he could not even open his eyes, but he did move his head closer to Kagome's knee. She dabbed the wet, cool cloth over his face and neck. He then fell into a deep sleep.

Kikyou's eyes flashed with anger, "Why? Why did you waste your time to save that brat?"

Kagome turned her neck about sharply to face the dead woman. "You know why, Kikyou. I love him, even if he doesn't return the same to me," she said in a calm, soothing voice. The two looked at each other until Kikyou could no longer look into the pure eyes that burned her own.

Turning away, Kikyou said in a barely audible voice, "I hate you. I hate you so much. All because of how pure your heart is in this life, not your soul, compared to how mine ever was."

Kagome looked down at the sleeping boy and pulled him close to her, "It isn't as pure as you think it is. I envy you so much. Inuyasha's devotion to you makes me so jealous, but you probably knew that already, right?"

Kikyou froze, "What? Inuyasha is... devoted to me?" She turned to see Kagome nod, still looking at Inuyasha. "I thought... he protected me out of pity."

Kagome smiled, "He hasn't killed you because he loves you. You're his biggest reason for killing Naraku. I don't think he pities you at all; it's all love." Kikyou thought about all the times he'd protected her, helped her, and all the times he'd forgiven her. Whenever he kissed her, it had always been so genuine.

'She's right,' thought the dead myko, 'he does love me, but I don't love him... anymore. The only person who cares for him is-' She stopped and looked at the tired girl, 'Kagome cares for him. Why doesn't that stupid dog take a hint, go after her, and leave me alone? That's what haunts me so much; I remember his love.'

Kagome felt tears fall from her eyes, "Even if he never loves me, I will never love anyone else. All I want is to be by his side and see him happy. I just want him to be happy-" She then held the one she loved closely as she cried.

For the first time in ages, Kikyou felt a painful sense of pity. It was so strong it bothered her. "Hey," she spoke up, trying to suppress the emotion, "I heard you say that you felt an aura of a friend of yours." The other nodded, still clinging. "Never tell anyone I did this for you," Kagome heard the woman say. When she turned, she saw Kikyou's soul stealers take her into the sky. "If you DO say anything, it was a returned favor."

Kagome watched her go as Inuyasha awakened. His head injury left him feeling dizzy. He opened his eyes into slits and thought he was dreaming. "Oh, Kagome, you smell just as beautiful as you look." Kagome was even more surprised when he lifted a weak hand to stroke her black hair.

They were both returned to reality when little Shippou squealed, "Just kiss already!"

Inuyasha realized he wasn't dreaming and turned the deepest shade of red humanly possible. Kagome dropped him as she remembered she had to put up a front. She turned to slap her checks in embarrassment. The boy moaned and groaned as a shock of pain shot through his head. Kagome apologized and helped him sit up, but he ended up leaning against the boulder beside him

It was at that moment, seeing his hands, Inuyasha jerked his head around toward the brook. "This... This is impossible," he stammered. "Am I seeing things? Kagome! Tell me I'm seeing things!"

The teen aged girl saw the desperation in his dark eyes and felt helpless. She reached out to him. As her arms wrapped around him, she felt him trembling. 'Inuyasha must feel so helpless and weak,' Kagome thought. 'The way he's trembling can only mean he's scared out of his mind.'

The boy felt like a lamb that was headed into a dragon's cave. He was a weak human. No powers, no durable body, he had nothing to back himself up. That meant he would have to depend on his comrades rather than they on him. Then there was Kagome. Who was going to protect HER? HE had always been her protector and savior, and he loved her. No one could do that for her like he could. "How is this possible? I... I'm..."

"I know," Kagome whispered soothingly, "I know. I'm here, and I've got you. I won't let you go till you tell me."

Part of him wanted to push the girl away and put up his walls again, but most of him longed for her tender, loving embrace. He didn't want her to let go. For a moment, he felt safe from everything.

Shippou walked up slowly and touched Kagome's knee with his tiny hand. "Kagome... I think we should head back to the others."

Kagome opened tired eyes and nodded, "Can you stand?" She didn't let go even after he nodded a yes. Only when the human boy tried to rise did she release her grip.

Miroku looked up from the sleeping teenager to see Shippou emerge from the forest. He stood and looked again. His brightened mood dissipated. Kagome had Inuyasha's arm over her shoulder. He ran over to relieve, or assist, the young myko's heavy burden. "Lady Kagome, what happened?" His now human friend looked as if he were about to pass out.

"I don't know, Miroku, but I think it has something to do with that shock wave," answered the now myko-on-the-job.

Inuyasha fainted on reaching the camp, causing his friends to stumble. Picking him up, Miroku laid the heavy, limp body next to the other teen. "Lady Kagome," asked the monk, "why is Inuyasha human?"

Kagome told Miroku how she'd found the boy and revived him. "Wait a minute," she said as she realized the cat, "what's wrong with Kirara?"

Miroku looked down at the teen slayer, who'd fallen asleep while holding her cat familiar. "Before the wave, as you call it," Miroku replied, "Kirara had transformed, to protect Sango, but when it hit, her eyes flashed and the smaller cat returned."

The myko pondered all the information she'd learned in the past hour. "MIROKU!" Kagome cried in a moment of enlightenment, "The wave! The wave must have sucked up all the youkai power in its path!"

Miroku lifted a questioning eyebrow, "What of Shippou? He's perfectly fine."

Kagome looked down at her original companion, "Inuyasha must have shielded him." She watched the little fox as he looked at his savior.

Rin, who had been tending to Jaken, stood and faced the monk and myko. A tear fell from her eye as she ran over to Kagome. "My Lady," she cried, "what happened to Lord Sesshoumaru?" Kagome had forgotten about the youkai.

Miroku looked at the teenager, "The child said the youkai and another didn't get out before the blast. If he was still bound, then he should still be there."

Rin looked at Kagome with those tear filled eyes, "Please, My Lady, Lord Sesshoumaru... he needs help, and Jade was hurt badly. Please... help us."

Kagome's heart broke for the child. Looking at her friends, she asked, "Where is that cave, Rin?"

Rin's face brightened, "That way!"

Miroku looked, "Lady Kagome, I suggest we go in the morning. That way the others can go."

"Is that alright, Rin?" asked Kagome. Rin nodded, reluctantly. Then, the awake and healthy set up camp. Kagome put Inuyasha in her sleeping bag with Kirara. The other teen aged girl – Sango – offered to sleep with Rin and Shippou. That left Miroku and Kagome by the fire.

"Miroku," Kagome said, timidly, "thanks for being polite and serious today. I don't know what I would have done without your help."

Miroku looked at the girl across from him, "You're welcome." With that said, the two hard workers fell over, asleep.

Sango, Rin, and Shippou rose first and helped the others to awaken. After some energy bars and water for breakfast, which Jaken had to complain about, the party left their camp and set out.

The still human Inuyasha limped a bit at first, but he gradually even out his balance to a normal walk. Miroku stayed near the him, in case he should fall or feel faint again. Kirara, now a normal kitten, walked close to the two older girls. Jaken and Shippou were forced into a buddy system do to their closeness in height, so they walked side-by-side in the back of the line. Rin led the way before Kagome's bicycle, holding the Tenseiga.

Upon reaching their destination, the spiritually sensitive of the group felt a strange yet powerful aura, radiating from the mouth of the cave. Kagome and Miroku looked at each other in concern. Shippou clung to Sango's skirt as they stared at the downward entrance. Rin, on the other hand, couldn't stand by and let fear force her into cowering. She ran forward, calling, "Lord Sesshoumaru! Lord Sesshoumaru, I'm coming!"

The myko gasped at the child's actions and ran after her, "Rin! Wait a minute!" Down the path into the underground cavern, Kagome squinted to try seeing where the little girl had gone. Catching a glimpse of the yellow kimono, she sighed and walk over. "Rin," the teen aged girl of the future said, "don't scare me like that."

Suddenly, a light flashed from behind them. Kagome turned around quickly to find the source. There stood Sango with Kagome's flashlight, eyes wide with surprise. The teen laughed the fear from her chest, "Sango, you scared me. What's up?"

The slayer of youkai didn't look at her. "I thought you might need your magic torch," Sango said in an absent-minded way, "but then, I guess you didn't need this to find him then." The teenager was a bit confused. What was Sango talking about? Turning, Kagome gaped at an interesting sight.

Coming to a small clearing in a forest, Miroku and Sango rested the unconscious lord against a tree. The prince's condition was more than likely do to his injuries. Jaken assisted Kagome and Rin in tending to the his wounds. Inuyasha sat on the opposite end of the clearing, next to Shippou, to keep himself out of trouble.

"Are we just going to SIT in the forest?" asked Inuyasha by mid day. He was replied with ugly looks from Kagome, Sango, and Miroku. The boy crossed his arms and huffed in annoyance. By this time, Rin had curled up next to the lord and was sleeping peacefully. Jaken sat in front of his lord, back to the rest of the group, and kept a close vigil.

Seated with the rest of the group, in the middle so to speak, Kagome couldn't help but stare. There was something that didn't settle right with her. They hadn't found anybody else in the cave. Where was the mysterious Jade? She had heard about her from her talk with Rin the day before, yet Jaken had avoided the subject for some reason.

"What troubles you, Kagome?" asked Sango.

The teenager looked over at their off-and-on allies. "Hey, Sango," Kagome spoke in a whisper, "do you sense anything funny about this whole thing?"

The slayer gave the younger teen a confused look, "Funny?"

Kagome scolded herself for using the 20th century lingo. "Sorry, I meant: Do you feel anything weird about any of this?"

Sango looked down at her feline familiar. In a low voice, she replied, "Kagome, I do feel strange powers at work here. I believe the child and those two..." She stopped herself from saying youkai. "They have some answers to our questions."

"Inuyasha," piped up Shippou, "what's wrong with your brother? I mean, isn't he usually the one looking at you knocked out?"

The once half dog glared at the little fox, "He's NOT my brother! We just share the same father..." The fox boy rolled his eyes at the other's denial. Turning, Shippou made one of his faces toward the reason he stomached Inuyasha. Kagome looked over at them, and saw the pity look. Excusing herself from Sango, she made her way over.

Shippou jumped up onto the amateur myko's shoulder and asked his question again. Inuyasha felt millions of tiny veins swelling all around his head with anger. Ignoring him, Kagome answered, "Well, Rin says that he had a run in with Naraku. I guess he must not have won."

The human boy in front of her must have bit his lip a little to hard. "He got beat up! Just SAY it, Kagome! You don't have to be polite about it!"

Sighing, everyone else looked at the tree where the prince had been sleeping. His eyes shot open at that very moment. "Nice going, Inuyasha," murmured the group.

"My Lord," squawked Jaken in relief, "you've awakened!"

Rin awoke at the sound of the voice. Looking up at the prince, she gasped and cried, clinging to him. "Oh, Lord Sesshoumaru, I was so scared!"

The lord looked down at his little girl, and he pulled her close to him. "I'm so sorry, Rin. I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'm sorry." The other party gaped in shock as a tear fell from The Fearful Prince's eye. He then saw his hand and gaped in his own shock and surprise. Rin realized that he had noticed and slumped her grip to cry.

Kagome walked over, slowly, to the petrified lord. Sitting before him, the young myko opened her first-aid kit and tried to be as sympathetic as possible. "Lord Sesshoumaru," she almost whispered, "Rin and I need to tend to your wounds, so..." She saw his eyes widen at the word 'wounds' and trail off.

The lord looked around, and when he didn't find what he was looking for, he stared at Kagome, "Where is Jade?"

Rin looked up with her tear streaked face, "Naraku... He's got her. He hurt her really bad, Lord Sesshoumaru. I'm scared!" Sesshoumaru had a look of shocked fear in his eyes; it was so pure, Inuyasha felt uncomfortable with Kagome so close to him.

"Lord Sesshoumaru-" Kagome started, but Inuyasha rudely interrupted her.

"Don't call him a LORD! He's still Sesshoumaru, human or not!" Kagome was so tempted to say 'sit', but she settled for her death glare. This forced the boy to sit down and shut up for quite a while.

"Now," said the calmed teen, "may I ask who Jade is? I heard a little bit from Rin, but Jaken wouldn't talk about it. I'd like to know more about her."

Sesshoumaru stroked Rin's hair as the child whimpered. "I broke my promise," he mused. The group was taken aback. What was he talking about? The lord must not have realized that they were listening or that he was talking aloud, for he continued. "She made me promise that she'd never lose me. I broke my promise when I went alone into that cave."

The party was baffled. Jaken squawked at the idea that he'd gone into the underground cave alone when he had been with him. Kagome felt rude in pushing the issue, yet she felt she had to find out who Jade was. "Lord Sesshoumaru," she said, "Who is Jade?"

Rin had fallen asleep in the now human prince's arm. He watched her sleep, wondering what she might be dreaming. As the myko's question rolled around in his mind, he thought about how to describe one of the biggest alterations in his life.

"When I first met her," he began, "I thought she was the most ignorant human girl I'd ever met, but over this past year, my perspective has changed a great deal. I have come to know the person that is Jade Carden. She is a strong, powerful, young hanyou that I have come to... feel... very deeply for. Jade might be the most stubborn woman to ever walk this world, but it is that head strong attitude that makes her the one that I... love."

Everyone noticed the smile on the lord's face as he spoke of the person; it was one of sadness, regret, or deep sorrow. Sango looked over at Miroku. "Lord Monk? I have never heard a youkai speak this way before."

Miroku looked back at her, smiling, "Perhaps, he possesses more of his father's spirit than he thinks. His denial only hurts him more in the end."

"She is always so worried about losing those she loves," Sesshoumaru said, thinking out loud. "She thinks it's all her fault and then closes herself off." Turning to the beautiful, clear, blue sky, he continued his train of thought, "I was so close to freeing her tormented soul, but that damned spider!"

The prince balled his fist with anger, "He set us up in a trap to kill Jade, and he used me. Me! Of all the reasons I loathe Naraku, using me against her, again, tops all! May he be granted an eternity in each hell!"

Inuyasha's mood changed with those two words: Naraku again. What did he mean? Had Naraku done something to his brother in the past other than the Tetsuaiga incident? Now the human boy was paying closer attention.

Kagome felt she had all the information she needed on Jade for this conversation. Another question still burned in her mind, 'Is that to personal? He's already ticked off... No, we have to know what happened.' Mustering up all her courage, Kagome asked, "Lord Sesshoumaru, do you remember what happened yesterday?"

Sesshoumaru looked the girl in the eye, "I saw what occurred just before the blast." Everyone gaped at the prince at this new revelation. He looked away as he spoke in his deep serious voice, "Naraku told Jade to give up her soul to him. Her face was so full of grief... I saw her crying as she screamed at him to take it...

("You want it? TAKE IT! I can't go on living as a human CURSE!"

"Jade... Wait! Jade... don't do it!"

"Have fun in Hades, Naraku!")

"I tried to stopped her, but she couldn't hear me. She wept as her soul was pulled from her. At first, there was a glow that flowed from her entire body. Then... the light exploded in a brilliant blast. The force was so great that I was rendered unconscious again."

Kagome felt tears welling up in her eyes. 'She thought Sesshoumaru was dead, so she... killed herself.' In her mind she thought if the situation had been with Inuyasha and herself, would she do the same thing?

Inuyasha turned around after hearing the news. His brother had changed a lot since their last encounter. Was it for the best? Did he need their help again? Would he be willing to help the only family he had and hated at the same time?

"Now that Naraku has her body, I can not allow him to defile or deface her any longer!" Standing, Sesshoumaru looked at the other party. "We must take our leave."

"What?" The learning myko remembered she hadn't tended to his wounds yet. "Lord Sesshoumaru, I haven't treated you yet, and besides, you can't fight anyone in your condition!"

The girl turned to glare at Inuyasha. The boy's conflict over aiding his sibling was made up. As he blinked at the look in her eyes, he cowered a bit. "S... sure."

The monk and and slayer nodded their approval. Kagome smiled and looked back at the lord. "See," she said, "we can join forces to get Jade back. We might even find a way to get all of the youkai powers back, too."

Sesshoumaru, realizing he didn't have his tail, lifted Rin into his arm. 'At least I can still lift Rin with one arm,' he thought nervously. Still looking at the sleeping child, he replied, "You have my many thanks for helping Rin and Jaken, but it is probably best you are not involved with us."

Inuyasha didn't wait for Kagome to glare at him this time. Standing quickly, the once dog yelled, "God, Sesshoumaru, can't you ever just ACCEPT HELP when it's offered? Kirara and I need our powers back; you need yours back, too, so let's just help each other. ALRIGHT?"

Kagome smiled at Inuyasha's words. Rude, they may be, but they still were compassionate and compromising toward his brother of all people. That closed the conversation. Kagome went on to tending Sesshoumaru's injuries. Inuyasha sat down and wondered what spirit had taken over his body to make him say such things to his big brother. Sango wrapped the little girl in her kimono and placed her near the soon to be fire. Kirara curled up next to Rin. Miroku volunteered Jaken and Shippou to help him look for fire wood.

Back at the underground cave, two figures hid in the poorly lit side room, glaring at each other. The male and female brooded over the past events. "Yet another one of your brilliant plans backfired. Good one, Father," growled the female in the dim light.

The male slid his jaw to the right and countered, "How many times do I have to tell you, you dumb witch? I'm NOT your father." Suddenly, a torch lit the cave up brightly. The two quarrelers silenced, but their presence was already discovered.

"Onigumo? It's the real you, isn't it?" came a voice from the main cave room. The two bit their lips at the voices statement. Who was this? "Calm yourselves," said the figure as they walked into the side room. "It is I, Kikyou." The man glared at the myko. "I'm impressed you survived, but I'm glad you did," she smiled back at the glare. "What do I want? I'm here to check in on you. Just like old times, huh? I'll admit I was a bit worried. Are you alright?"

His cold stare couldn't phase the dead. "Yes, this is Onigumo. The magic from that girl took away my youkai blood, leaving only the heart and body of Naraku. But honestly, what do you really want, witch?"

Kikyou felt hurt by his words, but she didn't let it show. "What happened? Before the blast?" The man turned away, angered by the very sight of her. "Kagura," Kikyou eyed the female, "you haven't changed much. Would you mind telling me what happened?"

The once wind mistress clutched her useless fan in her fist. "Sure, why not. It did backfire after all," she glared at Onigumo, who ignored her. She went on, "Father had set a trap to steal Jade's soul and ultimately seal it, so she couldn't reincarnate again. The plan was to kidnap Sesshoumaru's girl child to lure out the lord and his dumb frog.

"We knew Jade would still be recovering from her last encounter, so she wouldn't be there right away. We were SUPPOSED to weaken Sesshoumaru and put him to sleep with herbs, but Father had other things in mind... He beat Sesshoumaru and strangled him to DEATH!"

Onigumo looked at Kagura's furious glare. "I keep telling you, that wasn't me. Naraku and I have completely different wills..."

"BUT YOU SHARE THE SAME HEART!" Kagura screamed as she wept.

Onigumo, seeing the former wind child was unable to continue, decided to pick up the story, "They then waited for the girl to arrive. When she did, she broke down at the sight of the dead, dog youkai. She then wanted to kill Naraku, which was exactly what he wanted. Kanna was to give a signal when her chest was exposed where the soul rests; then, he was to stab midway through the chest in the spot. That went fine, but..."

"... But none of you expected the soul to explode," finished the myko. There was a strange energy inside the room. She had felt it. It was similar to the emotions inside the wave. Where was it coming from? Looking at Onigumo, she saw a prism around his neck. "What a beautiful piece of jewelery. The way it shines is truly radiant."

Kagura turned at the woman's observation. She stared at the crystal. What turmoil was going on inside it? She knew that is was one thing Naraku definitely wouldn't want Kikyou to know about. Standing, the now human woman declared, "It holds the soul!" Everyone stared at her, but she didn't let it phase her. "When Jade released her soul, and yes she released it, it exploded and started sucking up all the youkai blood into it. Kanna had already started to absorb the soul into the crystal, but it was so enormous that it almost escaped. Kanna's spell finally regained control and pulled it into the crystal, taking all the youkai blood with it."

Kikyou listened intently. "Just like the Jewel of Four Souls," she whispered under her breath, "her emotions are swirling around inside without rest. I wonder what is going on inside."

Onigumo clutched the crystal in his hand. "Which is why I'm never going to take it off," he said, thinking aloud. Kikyou turned to him and slowly walked over. "As long as her soul remains within this prison, I can regain my life, free of Naraku. I'm sick and tired of watching from deep within that monster living off my heart and soul. Now, I don't just control his heart, but his body is mine as well."

Kikyou stopped in front of him. She looked at him. It really was the Onigumo she had hidden away and cared for all those years ago. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling the he was incomplete. 'He can never be the one I cared about without that something.' Kneeling before him, she looked him in the eye.

The man felt different emotions within him as he looked into her gaze: hope, happiness, joy, love, hurt, betrayal, anger, hate. Pushing her back he glared down at her, "Don't look at me with innocent eyes, woman! I may still love you, but your betrayal dug deeper than any one of your arrows ever could!"

Kikyou closed her eyes. Holding back what she thought might be tears, she answered, "I can never expect you to forgive me, nor do I see any chance of change in the future. I'm... sorry. I should not have come." Standing, the myko left with her torch. Pausing at the mouth of the cave, she whispered, "Good-bye, Onigumo."

"Lady Kagome," Miroku spoke up, "we never did investigate the cavern, did we?"

The prince looked up at the statement. "You didn't see the side room?" Sesshoumaru gaped at the confused faces looking back at him. He looked at Rin, "You didn't show them where you were held?"

Rin's eyes widened, "Forgive me, My Lord. I was so worried about you; I forgot."

Sesshoumaru hushed the child kindly, "It's alright, Rin. I understand."

Inuyasha perked up at his brother's compassionate words. "Since when do you pardon mistakes, Sesshoumaru?"

The girl hung her head in embarrassment. Sesshoumaru stroked her hair and smiled at her, making her forget the words. The lord then turned to glared at his little brother, "Since the child has become sensitive to the pain of others, I have learned to be sensitive to her needs, my younger brother. She can feel the pain and heartache of souls close to her own heart and those near her. Voices chronically plague her mind everyday, and you ask me a question about compassion. Think before you speak, Inuyasha."

'Nice going, Inuyasha,' thought the members of his party.

Kagome looked over at the little girl. 'She feels others' pain. The past few days must have been hard for her,' thought the young myko. Remembering the lord's brief conversation with the child, Kagome asked him, "What room were you talking about?"

"There was a room across from where Naraku had bound me," the prince replied. "It was there Kohaku held Rin so she..." The lord's anger rose again, and he couldn't finish his thought. As Sango hung her head in shame at her brother, Kagome nodded. She had gotten the message.

Looking to the sky, Inuyasha stated, "We still have some daylight left. If we go now, we can make it back before dark."

He was met by big eyes, widened with astonishment. "Inu... yasha?" Kagome barely got his name out.

"You want to go OR what?" The once pup yelled, "That was directed at you, dear brother."

Sesshoumaru was still wondering if some ghost or spirit had taken the young man. Though in shock, he nodded to answer his brother's question.

Kagome stood quickly, "Someone has to stay here... with Rin and Kirara."

Sango looked up from her sleeping kitten. "I'll remain here. I wouldn't leave Miroku with a girl of any age.

The monk sighed deeply, "So cruel, Lady Sango. So cold." Sesshoumaru nodded his agreement as he pulled the child closer to him.

"Well then," Kagome said, collecting her bow and quiver, "let's get going."

Rin hugged the lord's knee and whimpered. "Be safe, My Lord. Please, be safe."

The lord stroked her hair,thinking about how all of this was affecting her. Kneeling down, Sesshoumaru grinned slightly, "I will, just for you." Rin watched the myko, monk, fox, frog, and the two siblings walk away will a smile on her face.

Sesshoumaru's mind drifted almost the whole trip. Kagome was worried about him for some reason, but she didn't know why or what for. Little by little, the teenager edged over to him. When she reached his side, the girl looked up at him, wondering what was on his mind. Swallowing a nervous lump in her throat, the young myko tried to not whisper, "Lord Sesshoumaru, you're worried about Jade, aren't you?"

The prince turned his sad glance down toward her. "Still as nosy as usual?" Kagome laughed as her face turned pink. The lord turned his gaze beyond the people walking in front of him, and he stared at the open field beyond. "Jade died for me once because of Naraku. I'm not about to lose her again."

This caught the attention of those who weren't familiar with the prince's background, especially Inuyasha and Kagome. The image of Kikyou flashed before their eyes.

"I was graced with a second chance with her." Sesshoumaru looked at the just barely visible cave entrance, "I can't mess up this time."

Everyone was silent until they reached the cave. Kagome loaded her bow, "Let's do this." The group entered the mouth, guided by Inuyasha with the flashlight. Miroku realized the aura was still just as strong, and reflexively, he went for his prayer beads.

Sesshoumaru, who was heading straight for the side room, turned at the sound of the beads. "Do you still possess the Wind Tunnel?"

The monk stared at the beads in the dim light, "It is a curse, not a power."

Nodding, the prince continued toward the side room. Kagome came up next to him as he stopped. She gaped at what her eyes saw. The others hurried over to see what the two were looking at. Staring back at them, a human Kagura and a man. Kagura was clinging to Kanna's mirror, and an unconscious Kohaku lay beside her.

The monk stared at the man, "It's Onigumo. I sense no youkai power about him." Kagome nodded, for she had sensed this as well. The brothers, however, couldn't care less who he was.

"Onigumo or Naraku, it makes no difference to me," the prince rushed the man and grabbed him by the throat. "He did something with Jade, and he'll pay dearly for that."

The young myko grabbed Sesshoumaru's arm, "Lord Sesshoumaru, let's hear him out first, please. You can't take much stress in this state." She knew his injuries were still unhealed, and he was not used to such a delay in healing. She also had not forgotten that she'd promised Rin that she would help the lord.

Sesshoumaru tried to ignore the swelling pain in his abdomen. "He can still talk with my hand there, can't he?"

Onigumo had been overjoyed with his new body, even if that girl had been the expense. He hadn't thought about how Sesshoumaru might react to his reincarnated girlfriend's "de-souling" though. The lord may have been turned into a human, but his determination and death glare had not been sucked into the crystal with his powers. "Lord Sesshoumaru," said the thief uneasily, "still alive, I see."

The prince snarled at the remark, "No thanks to your youkai self or his children. Where is Jade? I might allow my dear little brother to vent on you a bit if you delay." The captive swallowed nervously.

Sesshoumaru was so focused on Onigumo that he didn't notice Kagura, staring at him in disbelief. Kagome and Miroku were stunned to see a tear fall as she whispered, "He's alive... Alive. I thought... I thought..."

Glaring down at Onigumo, Inuyasha cracked his knuckles. "It would be a pleasure to rough him up for you, big brother."

Kagome stepped beside the boy and smacked him upside the head. Looking at the man, she yelled, "Let's hear what he has to say FIRST! Now, start talking!" The teen really didn't care about Naraku's old self. All she wanted were answers.

Onigumo grabbed the prince's wrist. "If you remove your hand, I might tell you." Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, but he released the hold. The thief rubbed his neck as he began his story.

"When the power wave began to return, Kanna used the last of her strength to pull the soul into the crystal. Right after Naraku was completely sucked from this body, the girl's eyes glowed as the remainder of her soul left her. My arm dropped her, and I saw that I was the only one standing, since I'm not a youkai. The body lay at my feet; when I leaned over to see if she was indeed a shell, I saw her skin had turned a ghostly white. This confirmed the success of Naraku's plan, to that point.

"I picked up the prism, and I put it on. There was nothing for me to do, so I made my way out of the cave. When I reached the mouth, the jewel became heavy, so I returned. That was when I remembered the Kanna was to carry the crystal. I went after the mirror, but that was when Kagura stirred and stopped me from taking it. After taking the mirror herself, she insisted we do something with the shell. I asked her what she wanted to do with it; SHE took it somewhere. I don't know where, but she told me it was safe from any harm, namely Naraku."

"Can you blame me?" The female stately bluntly, "The girl deserved something for all the pain we put her through. I can't even imagine what she's going through now. The least I could do was properly lay her shell to rest." Sesshoumaru looked at her blankly.

Kagome had something she wanted to clear up, but Miroku spoke before she could. "You say this as if Lady Jade were still alive. Why? What became of the crystal you trapped her soul within?"

"I wear it around my-" Onigumo reached for his neck and gasped. "Wh-Where'd it go?"

Kagura shot her gaze to him. "You LOST it? You idiot! What did you do with it?"

Onigumo looked up at her in shock, "I... wait a minute... KIKYOU!"

"I can not leave Onigumo like that," Kikyou spoke to the wind. Looking down at the crystal in her hand, she continued, "Having to depend on this to remain himself, I can not do that to him."

The myko then called her soul stealers and ascended to the sky. From the high heavens she watched Kagura lead the group to where Jade was laid to rest. "Next stop," she said to herself, "Inuyasha's camp."

"How much farther, Kagura?" Onigumo growled. The injured prince and the human boy had forced him to come with them to their unknown destination. The thief also was made to carry the unconscious boy.

Kagura closed her dark eyes and sighed, "I'll say it again, we'll get there when we get there!" She clutched her sister's mirror tighter to hold back the urge to slap him. At least he couldn't run off, for without the mirror, he couldn't leave the cave they'd just left. 'Who's the puppet now, Naraku?' she thought to herself.

It had actually been Inuyasha that insisted on their going to the site. Sesshoumaru had been a little over whelmed at the thought of Jade's soul in the hands of Kikyou. The fact that the woman had tried to seal Jade naturally worried him, but he put on his lord face that hid his anxieties.

Kagome watched him closely. She knew he was in a lot of pain, both emotionally and physically. 'I have to keep an eye on him,' she thought silently, 'for Rin and Jade.' Shippou had fallen asleep in Kagome's basket, and Jaken had also been thrown in just because nobody like him.

Miroku walked beside the bike, watching the two new members closely. He still had some questions, but he decided to reserve them for after they found the shell. There really was no use in rushing things.

Kagura stopped and pointed ahead, "There." Sesshoumaru walked next to her , and his black eyes widened. Kagome, Inuyasha, and Miroku joined the others and stared at the site, as did Onigumo.

"So," Miroku finally spoke, "you laid her to rest in a lake. How unfortunate."

Sesshoumaru walked up to the bank of the large pond. Staring into the water, he imagined Jade at the bottom of the pool, in blissful sleep. A tear fell down his cheek, "I'm sorry, Jade," he slumped to his knees, "I didn't make it in time." Grabbing his face, "I'm so sorry! You died believing a lie! A lie that cut your heart deeply, for that, you must be suffering greatly. Forgive me for allowing it to be him again... Please forgive me!"

Inuyasha saw Kagome walk up to the weeping man. 'I understand,' he thought, 'what it's like like to weep for someone you love. I know how a lie can cause suffering and grief. I know what it feels like to lose a love to a trap set by Naraku, and being used as a pawn in the process, I, too, understand.'

"Lord Sesshoumaru," Kagome whispered. This was to cruel. Yet another heart was shattered and left to find a way to put the pieces back by Naraku. Wiping away her own tears, the young myko sat down beside the grieving warrior. "There really are no words I could say to take away the pain and guilt." Everyone thought the girl had started very poorly, but she was about to surprise them all. She turned and looked directly at the man, "The only way to get past this is through you. Sure people can help you, but the choice is yours and yours alone. What would Jade think if she saw you now? Would she want you to suffer like this? I don't know her very well, but I don't think she would.

"You see, I know someone that's in the same boat as you. It's a day-to-day struggle for him, but he had to make a choice to move forward. He still misses her, but he isn't alone now and neither are you." Sesshoumaru turned to look at her. "You still have little Rin, and that girl has a lot of heart. This is just my opinion, but I think you need to stop carrying your pain by yourself. Let someone help you," she looked down, "even if they're a hypocrite."

Inuyasha felt deeply moved by her words. He also felt a poking feeling in his rib cage. "Say something, fool," Miroku whispered. The boy looked down; he didn't know how to add to Kagome's wonderful words of wisdom. "Just say what you feel in your heart and what you know in your head," urged the monk.

The teen aged boy looked at his half brother. He thought about what he could say; then, it hit him, or poked was more likely it. "It's in you," he said loudly. The entire group looked, even the now awake Shippou. Gulping, he continued, "I mean, the answer is in you. I know I sound stupid," they all nodded to this, "but you can fix this. Yeah, you don't have your powers, but you still have your brain and your... heart. Kagome told me once to follow my heart, and I did. It's your turn now, big brother. You alone have the power to change you. I'll help you, if I can."

Kagome, Miroku, and Shippou fell over in pure shock. "Did Inuyasha just reach across the sibling rift to Lord Sesshoumaru?" asked a stunned Kagura. Onigumo nodded slowly, trying to take it in. "I'll take that as a 'yes', then," she said glaring at the thief.

Sesshoumaru looked back at the water, smiling, "Brother... thank you. May I ask you a question?"

Inuyasha hadn't thought his brother would really ask for his help. "Sure..." he replied a bit worried.

Standing, the black haired Sesshoumaru looked down at his hip, "When you first learned of the Scar of the Wind, what happened to me?"

Miroku knew Inuyasha couldn't remember that far back unless Kikyou or Naraku was involved. Stepping forward, the monk answered for the baffled boy. "When the Wind Scar hit you, Tenseiga protected your life."

Sesshoumaru looked forward blankly, "How? How was that possible?"

Kagome picked up the question. "Every magic blade has a will, a good example would be Toukijin. Your father had Tenseiga made specially for you. He had Toutou-sai give Tenseiga a will strong enough that it could choose if you couldn't."

"Or wouldn't, in your case," Inuyasha added.

The lord pulled Tenseiga from its sheath, "How can that be? An object can't think for itself. Dragon's Breath has a soul within it, but Tenseiga only possesses my father's fang. There had to be something that told Tenseiga to protect me."

At that very moment, when he said those words, Tenseiga shook. "What? Tenseiga, you spoke?" The blade shook again. "Then, I was correct, you are connected to someone. Who?"

No one heard the conversation; all they knew was that Sesshoumaru was looking at his blunt katana. Kagome did see him narrow his eyes in disappointment, yet they widened quickly; then, she watched him throw his katana into the lake. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" she cried.

Inuyasha was the only one who wasn't surprised by the action. "I was wondering when he was going to do that. It was only a matter of time before he got tired of carrying it around," sighed the boy. However, he was shocked to hear what his brother said after throwing it.

"I know I have no right to call upon you, but I believe you to be our only hope." Wind blew from behind the group as all stared at the prince. "You have interceded before through Tenseiga; I know that much to be true, so now, I ask you to do so again and restore Jade to us. I beseech you as I truly am; let no pride sway you, for I know your power. Of my own will, I seceded to your mercy."

With the plea said, the party watched the water as a strange light began to gleam. As the sun began to sink below the horizon, the glow spread quickly across the entire pool. Soon, the water shone with white light. "Sesshoumaru," yelled Onigumo, "what in all the hells did you do?"

The prince looked upon the lake with his old, cold expression as he replied. "I believe you are mistaken. Hell could never claim such a display of wonder."

The water began to ripple and bubble, followed by a beam of light that shot from the center of the pool into the heavens. Kagome had to shield her eyes, as did the others. Finally looking up, she gasped as a figure rose from beneath the surface. "Lord Sesshoumaru," the myko whispered, "is that...?"

The man nodded. "Yes," he replied, "that is Jade Carden." Everyone gaped at the shining woman that levitated high above them. Her long, brown hair flowed as if she were still beneath the water's surface. In her hands, Tenseiga rested gracefully in her embrace with her own blade at her hip. Her eyes remained closed as if she were under a spell of sleep. "Jade..." Sesshoumaru whispered.

The entire group watched in awe, save Onigumo. The thief tapped his foot on the ground with impatience. "Are we going to stare at the shell, so do you actually have a plan?" The prince drop his head in shock. It had been enough just to see her again; he hadn't thought beyond this point. Kagome glared at the thief. Kagura womped him over the head with Kanna's mirror.

Inuyasha thought he saw some thing behind Jade. Squinting his human eyes, he gaped at someone he really didn't want to see right now. Kagome looked around, 'Kikyou... She's here somewhere. And... THAT aura is here, too. Why?' Seeing Inuyasha gaping toward the floating figure, she turned to see Kikyou standing on a cliff behind the young woman.

"Kikyou!" Inuyasha called to his old flame, but she ignored him. The myko's attention was on levitating teen. Her eyes were narrowed with seriousness.

Kagome looked back to the stunned Inuyasha, but she noticed the thief as well; he was boiling over with rage. "Kikyou! Why did you STEAL the crystal from me? Don't you know how IMPORTANT it is?"

The dead woman pulled out the gem and held it before her. 'I won't allow you to live in uncertainties, Onigumo,' Kikyou thought. 'If that means you must return to you sleep within that youkai, so be it.' "I already have enough jewels to deal with," she said aloud. "I don't need to carry this one on my shoulders, too."

Everyone was so focused on the new appearance they didn't notice soul stealers drop Sango, Kirara, and Rin behind the group. The slayer saw Kohaku on Onigumo's back and gasped. She started to move forward, but Rin stopped her before she could run. "No, Lady Sango," she warned, "the spell on him by Naraku is barely remaining. If your conflicting aura touches him, it will break, and he will die."

Sango stared at the child. "How do you know this, Rin?"

The nine year old girl grinned a reply. "I'm learning from Master Sogi how to identify spells and curses. He's my teacher. I want to be strong, so Lord Sesshoumaru can be proud to have me by his side, just like Jade and Lord Jaken."

Sesshoumaru turned at the voice. "Rin?" The child turned to respond, but she stopped at the sight of her friend. As she gaped in horror, Sango looked up. They gasped as the dead myko threw the crystal high into the air. She quickly drew an arrow against her bow string and aimed.

Onigumo realized what she was planning to do. He panicked and cried out, "NO! Don't do it! PLEASE!"

"I'm sorry, Onigumo; I must still be in the habit of looking out for your best interests. I MUST do what is best for you!"

She fired her arrow, and it hit the gem dead center; both froze in midair. The crystal's aura vanquished the arrow, but the power within it was absorbed, breaking the crystal open. A shimmering ball emerged from within the crystal as the prism fell to the water below.

Jade's eyes opened, revealing glowing white sockets. The sphere of light flew before the young woman, yet it did not enter the shell. Instead, it began to revolve about the body.

"Why didn't the soul enter the body?" Kagome asked openly in case anyone had an idea. All stared in confusion, even Kikyou was surprised by the outcome.

Miroku finally stepped forward. His suspicions had been correct, so far. Now was the time for the answers he'd waited to ask for. "Lord Sesshoumaru, did the previous Jade still live within the present Jade?"

"Yes," the prince nodded as he stared at the monk, "she even took over the body at certain times."

The young monk sighed, "That's the problem. When the soul left the present and previous Jades had conflicting wills. Their co-existence was shattered when the soul was ripped form the shell. The soul can not return with the both of them together."

"What the lord monk speaks is almost truth," came a distant, soft voice. The attention again was on the floating shell. She was now slowly falling to the water's surface. Graceful as a dove, her boot touched to water's surface, but the water caved in below the aura surrounding her; as she walked toward shore, the group saw the water cave and rise under her feet.

"The girl made a decision that I could not. I wanted to overpower the enemy long enough to escape with the child and Lord Jaken, ignoring my grief of my lord's death. However, she could not ignore her feelings and she lashed out in vengeance. That is why she suffered so greatly as our soul left us."

Miroku looked at the woman, "In order to be separate as you now are, you must possess a stronger will than the other Jade's. Is that true?"

Her head turned to the monk, "No." Everyone was now confused. "I do not possess a stronger will. I... can no longer suppress power her now. She has a power much stronger than mine."

Onigumo gasped, "That's impossible! You were more youkai than she'll ever be. You had youkai blood, running in your veins, but she was just possessed by one! How could she be more powerful if NARAKU over-powered her so easily?"

Still walking, the woman turned to look at the thief. "Why? Why is such a thing so hard to believe? Jade and I may have different origins, but that girl is more than what the eyes can behold. Her mind was once divided and sealed, but now she has taped into her true power; who knows what will happen now?"

Miroku took in the information as everyone else let it set in. He had one last question, but it was not for his benefit; it was for Sesshoumaru's. Looking at the prince, he said, "You speak to us now, but the present Jade has remained silent. Where is she now?" Sesshoumaru stared at the monk before turning back to Jade.

The woman stopped walking and hung her head. "She... she is trapped in a world of her worst fear. I can allow her conscious to control this body, but she will not know any of you are here; it is not a pleasant sight. Do you desire to see her still?" Everyone looked at Sesshoumaru for an answer. He nodded. Instantly, Jade through her head back and screamed.

Miroku and Inuyasha had to restrain the lord from running to her side. "PLEASE! NO!" Jade crumbled to the water's surface and grasped her head, sword still in her hand. "Please come back!" The lord froze as he realized what was going on.

Inuyasha saw that the placid face from before had twisted with shock and pain. "What's wrong with her, Sesshoumaru? What's going on?"

The prince's face showed the pain he felt for her. He replied, "I once told you I had almost freed her tormented soul. The reason she does not see us is because... she's alone."

Kagome understood as the pieces to this girl she'd been so curious about began came together. "Her biggest fear..." the young myko said as she rose to her knees, "She's afraid of being alone. You said she feared losing those she loves, so she must be trapped in a dimension all alone. With the memory of Lord Sesshoumaru's 'death' still fresh, she's calling for him and Rin, but..."

"They don't answer," Inuyasha finished for the emotional girl. "She thinks... she killed you and Rin, doesn't she?" The prince closed his eyes at the thoughts that flooded his mind. This was to much, for him and her.

The cries stopped sharply as the other Jade resumed control again. Raising on her hands, she said, "Naraku, I hope you are satisfied." Everyone frowned that Naraku was missing the fruits of his labor, even Onigumo.

"Jade," asked Sesshoumaru, "how are you?"

The woman looked up sharply, "I know this voice. It is that of my lord."

The prince walked up to the water's edge, "It is I, Sesshoumaru. I am as a human now."

Jade stood and made her way over to him. Blinking, she realized it was him. "My Lord!" She gasped in shock, "I... I was so worried that you... I am gladdened that I could see your face one last time."

"What?" Sesshoumaru blinked in disbelief, "One last time? Are you..."

Jade stopped before him and the revolving soul moved about the both of them. She marveled at the height difference. "I remember you much taller. I was much smaller then though." She smiled warmly at the memories. "Yes, My Lord, I must go to my true place now."

The prince's heart sank. Placing a hand on his cheek, Jade looked him in the eye, "Do not despair. I may leave this world, but I do not leave you alone. I must admit that I am greatly saddened and jealous. I will miss you, but perhaps, we shall meet again."

He stroked the flowing hair and noticed something in her eyes. "You have a request. What do you desire so badly?"

Jade looked him in the eye. With a great level of nervousness, she answered, "When I was alive, there was something I wanted to do, but my death came sooner than I could have known."

Sesshoumaru held her chin in his hand. "What?" he asked in a gentle whisper.

Jade smiled, "We never... kissed. May I... kiss you before I pass, My Lord?"

Sesshoumaru smiled, scaring everyone that could see his face. "I regret that as well. I will grant you your wish... on one condition."

Miroku buried Shippou in his cloak. As the fox flailed about from the smothering clothes, the monk said, staring at the two, "I only have your innocence's best interests at heart, little one."

Sango was worried what the requirement was. Her hands went straight for Rin's ears, and she squeezed her own eyes shut.

Onigumo snickered, "Sesshoumaru, you dirty dog." Kagura and Inuyasha each rammed a fist into the thief's head.

Kagome tuned out the others as she saw Sesshoumaru caress the woman's face in his hand. "You always addressed me as your lord..."

Jade gasped, "Out of the highest respect, My Lord! I would never mean anything else by it!"

The prince cover her lips with his thumb, "I know." He whispered, "But I also have a wish. I always wanted you to call me by my name. Ask me by my name, Jade."

The woman felt tears in her glowing eyes. As they fell down her cheeks, she smiled and replied, "Would you kiss me, Sesshoumaru?"

"Granted." Kagome never thought of Sesshoumaru as much. As he pulled Jade close for their kiss, the teen thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. 'Inuyasha could learn a thing or two from him,' she thought in a swoon. Kagura turned away as the couple indulged in the moment.

As the two finally separated their lips, Jade stroked his face and looked at him for the last time. Walking backward onto the water, she called softly, "Always remember I love you. But also remember that there are those that deny themselves, and they put others before them." She rose into the sky, and the soul sat in her hands. "Farwell to you all, and may the Master guide your paths."

Sesshoumaru gasped, "Jade! You know the Master?" Confusion once again settled on the party.

"What master are you talking about, Sesshoumaru?" asked Inuyasha.

Miroku dropped the faint Shippou. "Lord Sesshoumaru, who is this master?"

The prince gaped up at the woman, "All this time... You knew? You knew the one that has helped us. You served him and didn't tell me?" Jade smiled, and the soul split. Half entered the body, and the other flew into the sky. The teen gasped as another shock wave was thrust from her body.

This time they were prepared for the impact. Everyone dropped to their stomachs. The teen aged myko looked up slightly as the pressure pushed her downward. Though her eyes were squinted, she saw glowing mist fly toward them. "What's THAT?"

Kagome was heard by Miroku, who was lying over Shippou and Jaken. "Don't you SENSE it, Lady Kagome? It's the youkai power that was absorbed into the crystal!" Five different color mists shot toward them out of the many that spewed from the teenager. A white mist descended onto Sesshoumaru. A red mist met with Inuyasha. Kirara was engulfed with an orange mist. Kagura watched a blue mist swirl around her, and a purple one swallowed Onigumo.

An immediate change was present. The brother's threw their heads back as their hair glowed back to silver. Kirara transformed into her full youkai form. Kagura's eyes flared red once again. Sesshoumaru roared as his tail regrew and curled around him. Inuyasha laughed as his ears and talons returned.

Onigumo, however, screamed in pain as he faded from consciousness. "NO! NO! NO! Curse you, KIKYOU!" His hair flowed in the strong wind, the talons regrew, and his eyes returned to their evil glow. A sinister laugh emitted the mouth, revealing sprouting fangs. Naraku had been reborn.

The forceful winds died slowly, and Jade's body glowed a white light. The prince looked up from the ground, "Jade..." He trailed off as the light diminished, and the teenager fell back to the water. With a huge splash, Sesshoumaru cried, "JADE!" Without thinking, he jumped into the lake.

Rin cried, "Lord Sesshoumaru!" She tried to run, but Sango held her back. Kagome gasped and ran to the bank where the once again youkai had once been.

Naraku looked at his belly. His wind child gaped as it swelled and detached from his body. The purple blob twisted and stretched as it struggled to escape its uterus. "Father," Kagura gasped, "were you carrying another offspring?"

The spider smiled, "No, Kanna has been reborn. Grab Kohaku; let's depart while there is still confusion." He wrapped his void child in his upper cloak, picked her up, and made a quick escape to the skies.

Kagura grabbed the awaking human puppet and summoned her feather to take them skyward, yet she took a look back at the scene. One last look before she lost sight of the lake. 'Lord Sesshoumaru...' the wind child thought in her deepest depths of her heart, 'I will have you, not Naraku. One day, my heart will be mine as yours will be mine.'

A few minutes seemed to pass like hours. The girls' feared the worst, and the young men just watched the surface. Kagome was the first to see the slight ripple break the water's calm. "Look!" The remaining spectators gaped as Sesshoumaru shot from beneath the surface, gasped, and made his way over to the land, with Jade in his tail.

When he reached shore, the prince laid the cold body on the ground. "Come on, Jade; open those beautiful brown eyes. Come on," everyone heard him say as he gasped for air. Kagome knelt before the lord and reached for Jade's wrist.

Miroku had seen her do this before. "Lady Kagome," he asked, approaching them, "what do your skills tell you?"

A ray of hope shown in the myko's eyes. "There's a faint pulse," Kagome announced. "She's alive, but we have to act fast. Her lungs are full of water, no doubt. We have to preform CPR." Sesshoumaru nodded, and the two began the procedure. The rest of the group looked on as they tried to save the young woman's life.

Inuyasha caught sight of Kikyou, flying into the sky. 'Kikyou,' thought the dog boy, 'why did you help us? Why did you betray Onigumo? I have so many questions, but I don't have any answers.'

He returned his focus as Kagome began to panic. "Come on, Jade. Don't... give... up... yet..." the teen said after feeling the weakening pulse. She had started chest compressions again. When there was no change for some time, hope began to dissipate. Miroku closed her eyes and chanted a prayer. Jaken looked away as did the giant cat. Shippou patted Rin on the shoulder as the child cried in the youkai slayer's arms.

Inuyasha twitched his ears as he listened to the failing heart beat; then, it was gone. The dog placed a hand on the school girl's shoulder, "It's over, Kagome."

She felt tears fall down her face, "I... I'm... so... sorry-" She turned and cried on Inuyasha's shoulder.

Sesshoumaru's hand trembled. "Not like this," he whispered. Lifting her by the back, the youkai rested his forehead against her collar bone. He wept, bitterly. "Jade, please don't don't leave me like this... I thought I was strong enough on my own, but I was wrong. I have been incomplete. I know now that you can't just be physically strong; you must be emotionally strong as well. Physically, I am fully developed, yet emotionally, I am still a child, a child that needs a guide. I need you to guide me as I grow. I need you, Jade... Don't leave me now... Jade, come back!"

Perhaps it was the fact that Sesshoumaru was weeping over her or maybe that she was still soaking wet, either way, no one noticed the the streams of water flowing from the teen's mouth. Her neck and head were as such an angle that the water in her lungs – by some miracle – poured out. Out of nowhere, Jade coughed up the remaining water. Shocked faces looked at the gasping girl.

Sesshoumaru jerked his head up, "That's it; that's right, Jade. Don't give up."

Kagome felt Jade's wrist. "There... there's a strong pulse," she stammered. "I don't get it."

Miroku stood, marveling the site, "It's a miracle."

Rin smiled, but she didn't leave the dumbfounded Sango. Inuyasha fell on his rump in disbelief, much to Jaken's liking. Never in all his life had the pup seen anything like this.

Using his tail to support her back, the prince lifted her head so she could breathe easier. Jade's eyes opened in slits. As her vision cleared, Jade saw Sesshoumaru, looking down at her with relief. "Is... is this real?" she asked wearily.

He nodded, "We're all alright. You were..." He searched for words, "... having a bad dream."

The teen trembled from relief and cold as she cried, "I though you... I saw you..."

He hushed her and held her close, "Forget all of that. It was one of Naraku's traps, but you foiled it. Do you want to go home now?" As she nodded, Jade slipped into a slumber.

Kagome felt like hugging someone she was so happy. Unfortunately for Inuyasha, he was sitting behind her. She turned around and glomped him "I just love happy endings," she exclaimed.

Inuyasha fidgeted as Kagome squeezed his chest, "Come on, Kagome. Not in front of Sesshoumaru!"

Kagome sat up and looked at him in an annoyed way, "Oh, shut up and sit." He slammed into the ground before her, twitching.

Miroku leaned over the dumbfounded Sango. She wasn't just stunned by the miracle; her brother had, yet again, slipped through her grasp. The young monk felt badly for her, but a thought came to him that would definitely make her forget about it. "Are you alright, Sango? Perhaps you require air as well."

Leaning in, Miroku puckered up. The smooching sound reached Sango's superb ears. A bright red slayer yelled, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" A loud crack was heard echoing off the lake; so much, it made ripples.

Sesshoumaru, who'd picked up the sleeping girl, stood and stared at Miroku, "You are truly unwise with timing monk."

"Tell me about it," chorused Kagome, Inuyasha, and Shippou.

The monk just sat and nursed his throbbing cheek. "Ahahaha..."

End

An A World Apart Special