Notes: Thanks for your patience. Work is still keeping me in its iron clutches...

Thanks to all of you for joining, reviewing and reading, I send you a big hug.

To Noname90: Thank you soo much. I have added some more mystery for you. :-) I truly appreciate your continued support. I will soon try to invite more to Kagome's Afternoon tea party club xD. I'm still working on the membership rules and the dresscode ;). I'm glad you enjoy the characters so far.

Now let's continue:

Shiori

The apartment Kagome found herself in was as comfy as she had remembered it to be. Akemi loved light and warm furniture and made sure it was crafted of light colored wood. It always had been a contrast to how the temple or their school had looked.

Akemi was used to live a comfortable life as she always had enough money to gain the things she wanted. She wasn't spoiled though and considering that she came from a family that could afford anything they desired, Kagome had always been glad that her friend had never been aloof or stuck up. Contrary even, Akemi had always been a gentle, compassionate person that valued treasures of the heart more highly than material things.

Kagome had always enjoyed visiting her friend here because she had loved how light the place felt. It held Akemi's warmth but never felt convoluted, heavy, old and somewhat dusty like her home often had felt to her.

Raidon seemed to enjoy the place as well, at least she saw him relax but on the other hand it could be just his mate's presence which caused such feelings. Kagome observed the two of them and enjoyed their interactions. After Akemi had nearly hugged her to death she had made sure to greet Naraku as well before standing next to Raidon again. It were small gestures, like how she reached for his hand or how he would gently place an arm around her shoulder which showed Kagome exactly how much they were in love.

In short, he passed the best friend protection standards.

What still puzzled her about Raidon though, was his completely human behavior. She of course knew that he probably wouldn't have survived if he hadn't found a way to adapt so thoroughly but it did make her question his claim of being Youkai sometimes.

It hit her especially as she observed how he lazily sat on the couch, enjoying something so human as coffee. She had to hold back her snickering twice as she realized that Naraku probably thought the same, if his twitching eye was an indication.

Naraku… he took everything calm and collected but it was probably just a facade, sometimes she wished she would be able to know what he was truly thinking or what kind of plans he tried to achieve. She had realized that he was actually plotting something as he had started to interact with Akemi as well as Raidon in way, she knew was fake friendliness.

Naraku may have been many things but he certainly wasn't friendly. Kagome understood that he tried to gain knowledge but he could have also asked her… no he was trying to gain her friend's and Raidon's trust.

She didn't know what he planned but she would probably need to ask him before anyone would be hurt by it.

Raidon shared with them his story how he became a teacher for science.

„During the centuries I became quite knowledgeable, especially as I was dead set on perfecting my cover. Learning also filled some parts of the gaping hole and loss. I also founded some companies and still hold shares in most of them but I wanted to do something more interesting than business interactions with fake and boring people. I have always loved physics and specialized on that, becoming a teacher in that field, felt quite natural."

Kagome listened intently as he told them about his journeys throughout the countries. He had been searching the world for traces of anything Youkai related.

„At first I tried to locate surviving Youkais, especially in China."

Naraku had to stop him right there. He wasn't afraid of many things but the treaty between Japan and China had been so important that not even he would have dared to mess with it.

Every Youkai knew to stay away from China as the Youkai Lords of both countries had agreed a millennium ago to separate the two realms from each other. The war that had led to that decision had been so vicious that it was murmured it would have nearly destroyed the entire world. His inner voices were arguing with each other that Raidon had either been lying or a complete fool to ever dare setting foot into that land.

„You dared to approach China? The law of separation was the only thing that kept the realms from being at war again and you simply dismissed it?"

He didn't expect Raidon to smile.

„You know Naraku, for all their might, the Lords there died as easily as ours."

Kagome saw how Naraku seemed affected by these simple words. She carefully got closer to him, he seemed to appreciate the gesture and relaxed somewhat but she saw in his eyes that the idea of all of them being gone was still not absolutely registered in his mind.

It felt more like he was in some kind of shock, he had heard that they were extinct but not yet fully realized what that actually meant. That even the strongest Youkais were simply killed and that he had been killed in that war too.

Only slowly it seemed to somewhat sink in, drop by drop. Kagome did feel compassionate towards him, if one lived the entire life with the belief of being superior to everyone else, to be the most smart and evil than it wouldn't be easy to grasp that one would simply die.

Naraku had probably thought that he could outsmart anything and now he had to realize that his idea of playing anyone, manipulate, toy and deceive his opponents was no guarantee for survival.

He probably knew what it meant to face hardship and turmoil himself at least Onigumo would but she could see how he had tried to build this identity of Naraku as Youkai, as master of the game because he never wanted to be a victim of circumstances anymore… only to lose to an enemy he couldn't fight… the Kamis.

They spent a nice afternoon with the other couple and shared more stories. Those varied between somber as they spoke about the looming war and amusing as they spoke about how Raidon had met Akemi at the hospital. He was able to lace the tale with his humor and showed them a brave smile but Kagome realized how terrifying the thought of being found out by a Miko must have been for him.

„After centuries of being able to conceal my identity I must have ended up in the hands of this powerful Miko… I was sure that she would purify me immediately and that I would meet the same end as all of my kin."

At that moment Akemi managed to look so guilty that Naraku as well as Kagome couldn't help but start laughing. Luckily neither of them took it the wrong way but they started laughing as well. Especially as Akemi retold Kagome how she had thought she would never see Raidon again after he was released from the hospital. At that the Youkai softly swept her into an embrace.

„Then two days later he suddenly stood there and asked me out… It had been a terrible day we still worked overtime due to victims of the tsunami, I was dead tired and probably looked like a zombie walking and I didn't want anything to do with him."

Raidon snickered.

„I had been dismissed, twice only at the third time I tried to snatch her away, I finally got a yes."

Kagome agreed, Akemi could really get lost into her work if she goes all healer mode and there was nothing that could get between her and her task.

„Akemi do you only use your abilities to heal?"

Naraku was intrigued as he followed the conversation.

„Yes indeed as we don't have a need for warriors here in this time, we focus on other professions. My mother works as healer as well, so it kind of came naturally for me. The only one choosing the profession as warrior in these time was Kagome."

Naraku stored the information about Kagome away for later and focused on something else that had puzzled him.

„How have you known that you wouldn't hurt Raidon if you use your powers on him?"

Akemi looked softly at Kagome and smiled.

„Your love was the one to figure it out. We theorized that our Reiki was becoming stronger through our emotions and therefore should be able to be controlled with our intentions. We had no proof of course but we theorized that if we don't hate Youkais and they wouldn't fight against us, then the Reiki shouldn't react violently."

Kagome sighed and explained that she only was able to truly prove her theory as she had tried to heal Lord Satoshi the first time.

Naraku seemed as amused as she had been when she had first discovered how similar Youki and Reiki worked even if they were supposed to be polar opposites.

"How curios, so it is only a sign of weakness of the other Mikos and priests that they cannot control what they do?"

"Maybe but it would also be a lifetime of being told that Youkais are evil, that they swear oaths to kill you on sight and that they have more than enough bad experience with your race to solidify such hatred."

Akemi agreed with Kagome's words, even if she had never been to the feudal era she had been able to still experience some of those beliefs in the current priests and Mikos. Only as she had met that small little five year old girl with the brightest heart she had ever known, she had finally been able to hear more neutral opinions.

It had always baffled her how the small girl had been so open minded and fair to all parts of the equation in that puzzle. Not even their teachers had been able to let go of all the hatred that had been taught from one generation to the next.

Kagome of course wanted to know all news about Akemi, everything about what was going on in the hospital and how her life had progressed. Naraku listened intently, curious about the other's work as healer. Some of the technology they had developed over the years was amazing and even if there were great parts which he couldn't understand, he was able to get some clues on the organization of said hospital and how a working day of Akemi looked like. Never knowing when he could make use of newly gained knowledge he waited and learned.

Later Naraku questioned Raidon more on how exactly he lived in the era. It seemed that the Youkai had used his time throughout the centuries to build himself an imperium of different companies. With holding those shares he had mentioned before, the Youkai could live quite comfortably it seemed.

"As I said I preferred to travel in the past and explored different countries in an attempt to find a trace of our species. It was in vain."

Kagome's heart was heavy… it must have been so terrible to live throughout the centuries without anyone to talk about. She wouldn't know if she could live in a world with only Youkais. Not that she would survive there long enough anyway but even having someone like Lady Kaede to talk to did make things easier for her. Raidon had lived through the centuries alone… or mostly alone.

Then the conversation turned to what she had learned in the past and the looming war. Raidon was puzzled by the fact that the Kamis were behind all of it.

"Yet they seemed to have disappeared as well. At least I wasn't able to find any being with magical, demonic or spiritual powers at all."

Kagome was shocked and confused by that fact, had the Kamis left the plain of the living behind after having the potential threat of new born Kamis removed?

Yet the lady of the lake had said that guarding the world had been their purpose and that some of them were fond of the living children… Why would all of them leave then? Maybe they were just hiding? Raidon denied the possibility of them just hiding though.

"I have been really thorough and inventive in my search because I really would have liked to find answers to my questions."

He then told them that they had been hidden away by their parents as children. It was deep inside a cave far beyond any other settlements. They had waited behind sealed doors for months, only as their supplies finally ran low and no one came to pick them up, they had finally dared to come to the surface.

Then they had to overcome their shock and had to come to the realization that everything they had known was gone. Their first action had been to survive and that meant they had learned how to stay hidden away from humans and eventually learn how to conceal their identities.

Raidon had trained secretly to become stronger but hadn't dared to approach anyone about the whereabouts of all the Youkais until he had been an adult. He had always put the safety of his friends and his first.

As he had finally dared to ask questions, no one had known or remembered what had happened. He had thought that only three generations of people could have passed been between the disappearance of their parents and the beginning of his search but there was no knowledge found. No scrolls had been written and no tales told. Every scroll or account he found only dated to the years before the battle.

"I didn't dare to approach any priests or Mikos for fear they would still be able to identify me as Youkai but to everyone else it seemed like we have never even truly existed. Like we have only been an exaggeration of old and scared people."

Naraku was puzzled by that fact as well, while humans tend to forget soon, not all did and not so thorough there should have been some things left…

"What about the flying city of the Inu Youkais, the great caves of the wolves or all the other buildings that weren't crafted by humans, did no one ask where they came from?"

Raidon shook his head before answering.

"As I started my search they were all gone, like they have never existed or in some cases like with the caves they were explained away as natural phenomenon."

"This doesn't sound like a natural phenomenon of forgetting, more like a giant compelling spell."

Kagome had to agree with Naraku's words. This didn't sound right or even possible… how could someone like Nazuna forget Youkais completely? She hated them far too much to ever do so.

After coming to terms with that kind of information, Naraku convinced Raidon to show him the place where his friends and he had survived once. He had learned that they would face a war soon and he wanted to know what was able to protect three children well enough so they would be able to survive.

It nearly was too easy to play the other Youkai but in this strange world he was actually glad to have such an opportunity. He wouldn't have known how to circumvent all obstacles of modern life on his own. They carefully left their mates to talk on their own.

They made a good distance before they were able to leave the city behind.

#

Kagome had tried to stop Naraku from leaving with Raidon, she feared for the Youkai as Naraku was never to be underestimated and Raidon couldn't know what he had to deal with. She was held back by Akemi though. She only shook her head at Kagome.

Only as their two loved ones had left them, she started talking.

"Kagome let them go; they need this time to talk things through on their own. I know for sure that Raidon needed to meet another one of his race, even if he must be one of those evil Youkai you have spoken about."

"You know?"

Akemi snickered and told Kagome that the name "Naraku" kind of gave it away. Kagome couldn't help but join into the laughter. It helped her to let some of her pend up stress go.

Then Akemi asked her how she had come to fall in love with Naraku. She also did something for her that she really appreciated; Akemi put her hands on Kagome's heart and back and allowed her Reiki to flow through her.

Kagome was able to deeply relax and let go of all her worries. She remembered a time when Akemi had done that regularly for her. It was just in the beginning as she had started to visit the temple school.

#

Flashback

"Kagome are you sad?"

Akemi had to smile as the small child looked at her with surprise in those stunning blue eyes. Her eyes were the most expressional ones she had ever encountered. Akemi was glad for it because the child was so closed up and silent that she wouldn't have noticed her pain if not for her eyes.

"I don't know, maybe?"

The older child had heard of the young ones loss and suspected her sadness coming from missing her father.

"Then may I show you something, you would learn it later too…?"

Kagome had been surprised at Akemi's offer but was naturally curious and therefore nodded in agreement. Akemi had been relieved as the other agreed and carefully placed her hands on Kagome's shoulders and allowed her Reiki, her love and care to softly seep into the other child. Kagome felt an amazing amount of relief, at that moment she finally realized how worn down, how heavy she had felt.

There were so many pend up feelings from all of her struggles throughout her first life and Inuyasha's treatment of her. She had been so used to feel stressed that only now she noticed how much weight she just lost.

Akemi let her light flow and noticed the deepening of Kagome's breaths, the relaxing of her tensed shoulders and then the dam broke and the child started crying. Kagome was pulled into a hug and allowed to cry on Akemi's shoulders. All her hurt, all the suffering and pain that had ailed her friends and her just flew out with her tears.

The older girl didn't ask why Kagome cried and she was glad for it. Kagome couldn't speak of it but she did promise that one day when she was ready she would tell the older girl…

End Flashback

#

Maybe it was time to truly speak about everything. Kagome trusted her friend and in the end, she had learned that talking about stuff did clear things up, even if it took time for her to finally realize the truth. She could only hope that this time around she would realize it before everything was lost.

Therefore it happened that she confided into her friend like she once had with her sensei. Like last time she just spoke, not filtering stuff, not putting it into a distinct order to make it easier to understand and not trying to be convincing. The words simply flew out of her like a waterfall.

To say that Akemi was shocked to learn of the old Kagome that had known of nothing and was thrown into feudal era would have been the understatement if there ever was one.

As healer and Miko she knew to just listen and not judge nor interrupt her friend. Akemi could feel how Kagome was nearly flattened by the weight of responsibility she had taken on. She listened to her friend's story, her guilt about changing everything and seemingly making things worse. She listened and never made a sound.

Kagome felt exhausted as she finished her tale. She sat on the couch and put her head into her hands, trying to not nod off right there.

"Oh Kagome, what a story but it explains so much about you… All the things that had been a puzzle, like your strife to succeed with everything you needed to achieve. You have pushed yourself so hard over the years and everyone has wondered why. I guess you told Yuuki some of it?"

Kagome nodded too tired to speak.

Akemi sighed but decided to let her friend rest and prepared them a small snack and some tea. She didn't expect their two mates to appear any time soon and her friend would need to eat something.

As her thoughts wandered to the topic of Naraku again, she sighed deeply. Her friend had such a good heart. Kagome had forgiven the worst Youkai she had ever met his past misdeeds just because he hadn't done them this time around.

She replayed Kagome's words in her mind and came to the realization that her friend was probably even right…

Kagome's arguments were still clearly on her mind.

"Naraku has not done those terrible things yet. He has been a cruel creature even in this life but he had no reason to go all berserk on people because I was able to prevent it. I told him that I would give him what he desires most, if he would agree to a peace treaty and he kept true to his word! It was that what surprised me most; it made me think that he is pragmatic and not just evil. Also I believe that my Reiki is able to calm some of the struggles and hatred that cause the million voices inside him."

Naraku seemed to have found something that was worth his time beyond causing the same pain as he had to go through for others. He had found his mate. It didn't mean that Naraku was trustworthy without a good portion of suspicion; Akemi hoped that Raidon wouldn't be deceived by the Hanyo.

As Akemi came back from the kitchen she found Kagome sleeping. She had to smile before she put everything down on the table. Then she went over to her friend and allowed some more of her Reiki to heal her friend's mind, heart and soul. She felt her relaxing even more and was glad that she could aid her at least some…

Akemi knew that she had a decision to make.

There was a war looming, one that had the potential to change the fate of their world. She had felt that Raidon already made a decision after Naraku's first appearance but she wasn't a fighter…

What would she be able to do?

Then she turned to Kagome and knew she was needed as friend and healer for all those poor souls suffering from multiple struggles. She had always known that her fate wasn't to serve in a hospital for her entire life; she was needed for more difficult tasks.

She was to give hope where everyone else had already lost it…

#

As Naraku and Raidon reached the deepest room in the cave system he could feel the lingering powers of old spells and enchantments. To think that they had sustained centuries was amazing. Yet the power was clearly to be felt.

Within a second he realized that some of them were woven by him and the others were crafted by Kagome. The realization startled him deeply.

What has happened here?

He informed Raidon of his discovery and watched how the other looked aside.

"I haven't told this to anyone else but the other two Youkais, who stayed with me, were called Isami and Akuma. Both weren't older than two at the time we had to hide. I looked after them as I was already ten and my father as the lord of the south had managed to convince Kagome and you to protect me as well."

"Why would I help to protect children?"

"Can't you guess?"

Naraku kept silent, he could guess but he didn't want to think of the implications. Besides how would he have convinced Kagome to allow him naming their son Akuma?

"Does that mean that everything we try to achieve here has already happened and we are fated to fail?"

"No, as far as I remember you neither had the help of me as adult nor did you know about the attack beforehand. The cave and the spells had been a spur of the moment decision from Kagome as backup plan because she had a terrible feeling about the upcoming battle. I will aid you this time. As far as I know something seems to change already and we still have a chance. The only question is if we have to fight now, as you have planned or if we can skip the useless struggle and focus on the coming battle?"

Naraku's eyes bled red. He wasn't happy that the other seemed to have known of his plan to defeat him and use him as one of his puppets. It seemed that he had underestimated Raidon at least to some degree and it angered him.

Raidon merely sighed as the other attacked him.

He had known that it would happen but he still couldn't understand the need to always fight that seemed to ail the past Youkais. He focused on the battle and threw thunder and lightning at his opponent. Both had incredible speed and were able to dodge the other's attacks easily.

The powers which were seeped deeply into the walls made sure that the place was able to remain unharmed by their fight.

Both of them were fighting without holding back. Naraku needed to relieve his pend up frustration with the entire situation he found himself in and Raidon for the first time in his life felt the rush of excitement that was accompanied with a true fight. He indulged himself into his animalistic side.

He had been a dragon like his father but he had always had the powers of his mother and therefore controlled lightning, thunder and the powers of the sky. He also had fire powers but he had never felt as close to them as to his mother's powers. The unearthly beauty had died in that gruesome battle like his father had.

All of them had.

Not this time, this time he would be there and aid them all. He had promised Akuma he would grow strong and fight well when he got the chance. He was dead set on keeping his word even if his two friends had disappeared from the world.

Akuma hadn't made it through the second century… his mate died of old age and the Youkai had disappeared not being able to overcome his loss.

Isami had been killed later after being discovered and accidently being purified by a hysteric Miko. She had only tried to protect her neighbors from a storm and had used her increased strength which led to her discovery.

Raidon had been devastated at the loss of those two and he had nearly lost his sanity at Isami's death but he swore to avenge them all, that one day he would find a way to change fate itself.

Never had he thought to gain the very chance with the appearance of the time travelling Miko. Something triggered in his sub-consciousness though because of some words Akuma had told him before his disappearance…

"My friend whatever happens in the next time; promise me that you will keep fighting. I know that before the end we will get a chance to change everything."

He hadn't understood those words and then his friend had been gone as well but he had made the promise to him and had kept it even after the other's death.

After meeting Naraku for the first time and remembering him from their meeting in his childhood he had known that the time for the change had come.

It was liberating, he didn't mind the pain as he was able to indulge himself into a true fight with an opponent that could hold himself against him. For the first time he hadn't had to hold back but could use all his powers and while Naraku managed to dodge his attacks and could lure him into traps more than once, Raidon realized that he started to gain the other's respect.

Indeed, Naraku was surprised by the other's strength, he had thought that without any true enemies around Raidon would be weak but the Youkai wasn't. Right then he realized that the other had trained as his Kagome had done, to prepare, prepare for facing their enemies and seeking revenge. An emotion he could relate too and he could respect it.

Both were drenched in blood and dirt, both were panting and while Raidon had been pierced by more than one of Naraku's tendrils he had managed to hurt the other as much as he was hurt.

They had the same iron will, the same strength and equal techniques and at the end they had to accept that neither could win. As Naraku sunk to the floor while watching the other pant only two feet away he started laughing.

"And there I thought I would have an easy win…"

Raidon cracked a smile at him.

"Dream on."

It was a sarcastic remark but Naraku heard the other's respect in them and both knew that after today they had found a worthwhile ally.

#

Many things had changed as Kagome prepared for her return to feudal era. Her family was less than happy to let her go again but they knew there was no choice. Naraku and Kagome had explained them parts of the upcoming struggle after returning to the temple. Even with discussing more somber topics it had been joyful days.

Naraku had gifted her beautiful necklace.

It was made of gold and held a pendant of free flying bird with sapphire stones. It was fragile and beautiful and she would wear it beneath her clothes. After letting him put it around her neck she realized that it was also laced with protection charms and some of his youki.

She didn't know where he had gotten it from or how he had managed to gain it but she had decided not to ask. Sometimes it was better to leave both males to their secrets.

For the same reason she hadn't asked either why both Youkais had returned completely beaten up from their vacation. Nor did she question why they seemed in such an unusual good mood. She had realized that some kind of bonding must have occurred between the two males but neither she nor Akemi asked any specifics. Both knew better than to get involved in that business.

The remaining days at the temple had been used to restock and while there was no time to order the same armor for Akemi as Kagome used, the younger woman was surprised to realize that her friend had already gained an acceptable one beforehand.

"I had prepared in case you wouldn't answer and therefore force me to come looking for you!"

Kagome didn't know if she should laugh at the sheer courage and stubbornness of her friend or cry because she realized how much Akemi thought of her as little sister. Family would never be left on their own. She would have gone after Sota too.

The peacefulness of current day japan also allowed both couples to share more closeness. Naraku and Kagome enjoyed their time and she even managed to sneak some more kisses of her love. She appreciated highly that he kept his eyes closed through those occasions respecting her wish of remaining concealed.

Two days before the second full moon Kagome and the other three made their way to the bone eater well. All of them made sure to hold onto Kagome before jumping in. Naraku still had her bead and Akemi and Raidon had been given one as well just in case that holding onto her wouldn't suffice.

Somehow it seemed that all of them were allowed passage. They fell into the blue energy and were again surrounded by all those dead souls. Akemi snuggled into Raidon's embrace as she took in all those poor creatures around her.

Naraku held Kagome closely to him, expecting that strange Youkai to reappear but for whatever reason they remained unbothered this time. Kagome sensed his presence but he seemed to stay away for a reason. She merely accepted it and focused on reaching the other side.

The next time they felt solid ground and looked up they found the blue sky above them. Raidon knew immediately that it had worked. For the first time in his life he felt so many strange energies and powers around him.

His senses were overwhelmed.

He was joyful as he held Akemi closer to his chest especially as he took in the clean air. Akemi's senses were overloaded as well and she shivered feeling all those foreign presences around her.

Kagome carefully placed an arm on her shoulder and her Reiki calmed the other woman. Then she reminded Akemi of hiding her aura and was glad that her friend had learned the technique very quickly during the last days, even though she still had to perfect it. She had also brought a bow and arrows; those had always been her favorite weapons. Akemi had never spent much time to practice but she could handle shooting arrows, at least at wooden plates…

The rest she would have to learn now and quick…

To get out of the well was easy as both demons simply flew them out and then they made their way to Kaede's village. Naraku and Raidon hid their aura well and took on a completely human appearance to not cause any trouble. Kagome bit her cheek inwardly as she realized that there was some sort of competition going on as both Youkais seemed to outdo the other with their camouflage abilities.

Kaede of course suspected something and therefore ushered them all into her hut together with Nazuna after the villagers had greeted them.

Kagome took over the explanation and both of them listened. Kaede even cracked a smile as she was told that Raidon and Akemi would stay to help them. She turned to Akemi.

"So you are the fabled friend of Kagome, the one who is told to be such an excellent healer?"

Akemi took on a really deep shade of red as she threw an angry glare at Kagome. The other just shook with her shoulders and mumbled a "it's true".

"Lady Kaede, thank you for welcoming us to your village while I'm a healer and work hard to aid people I wouldn't say that I'm "excellent"."

The old Miko just chuckled and provided them with tea. She did like Akemi immediately as the other had an open heart it also made her old senses tingle as she realized that even as a healer she had to be as strong as Kagome.

…such beautiful lights, both of them.

"You are very welcome and I believe that soon you will have more work than you could ask for."

Akemi nodded in acknowledgement.

Kaede also agreed on gifting Raidon and Akemi a place to stay which would belong to them. They would need some privacy and at least a few days to get used to the new circumstances and to settle in.

Akemi also agreed to teach Nazuna some of her skills which the girl loved, as she also was drawn to the calm and warm light of Akemi. They talked a bit beneath themselves and the young child was puzzled to learn that the Miko had no hatred against youkais as well.

"I will not allow anyone to deal harm but I won't agree to hate an entire race just because some of them are evil."

Nazuna had slowly come to realize that there were honorable youkais as well. Her hatred had faded away as Rin had stayed with them for a few days and there had been an Inu Youkai to guard her. He had been strict and aloof but always fair and never aggressive against any of the villagers.

Rin had even managed to make him smile once. As she had been collected by Lord Sesshomaru later Nazuna had learnt that there was another powerful daiyoukai that wouldn't senseless kill her village and the girl had realized that Kagome's words were true…

#

Kagome had to leave again. As Kirara found her, the both of them needed to sneak away. She needed to finish her business before either Maikeru returned or her days would force her to take another break.

Naraku needed to leave as well to look after his plans within the shiro.

After agreeing to aid them in the upcoming battle he would use his webs and informants to gain knowledge on their enemy. His human subordinates could of course come and go with the priests as they wanted; they had no powers and were perfect to be smuggled into the enemy's range.

He hadn't wanted to part with Kagome but she had explained that she had to keep her schedule before she could end this and that she would be careful. He knew that if he tried to stop her from whatever stupid plan she would indulge herself in then she would try it anyway.

"Kagome, the clothes and necklace I have given you will allow me to find you if you are in danger, please call for me if you need my help!"

She agreed with him and he was gifted a long deep kiss in parting. It didn't make it easier for him to leave.

As she was finally alone and could trust Raidon as well as Akemi to look after the village and contact Sango as well as proceed with some of their plans, she finally snuck away in the middle of the night.

#

Her next appointment was a tricky one. She needed to be careful not only to survive a powerful opponent but also to say the right things to hopefully prevent the next years of suffering. History records mentioned that the lord of the south was overthrown in an assassination by his advisors and that the lands of the south had been condemned to a century of struggle and deprivation.

She of course took those facts with the needed doubt because she knew that Ryuukotsusei's son wouldn't have been assassinated easily. Also regarding the few words Sesshomaru had spoken in her first life he had to encounter the weak upstart dragon after he had destroyed great parts of his land and became a nuisance.

Kagome had come to the conclusion that after the defeat of his father by the hands of Inu no Taisho, Ryuukotsusei's reputation had suffered and his son paid for it with his subordinates trying to overthrow him.

In an attempt of regaining a hold of his own lands the young lord came to the west to challenge Sesshomaru but wasn't deemed worthy to fight against. In his rage he had destroyed great parts of the lands and people until Sesshomaru had to stop him.

She couldn't be sure how it would be this time around. Sesshomaru was taking his duty much more seriously now and he probably wouldn't allow any disturbance in his realm that would weaken their preparations…

Therefore she had to be quick as she knew that he would approach the west at full moon. Kagome hoped she would be the first to encounter him and maybe make him see some sense. There was no reason to lose a potential powerful ally to Sesshomaru's sword or Naraku trying to devour him.

Kirara could feel the tenseness of her friend. Kagome was stiff on her back and that made flying unnecessarily hard. With a displeased growl she shook the human out of her thoughts. Kagome realized her actions and petted her ears in an apologizing gesture.

They had to stop once in a village because both needed a few hours of sleep. You can't battle a daiyoukai completely exhausted… Yet she was surprised which village exactly she had come by. Deciding there was no harm in trying to help them even earlier than her schedule suggested.

She did offer some aid to the villagers as they seemed to be regularly attacked by some rouge blood sucking bats. There had been children killed. A woman named Shizu offered her shelter for the night and Kagome accepted it gratefully.

While she sat on a soft cushion and sipped at her tea, Kirara had snuggled onto her lab. Carefully she petted the petit ears and relaxed as she felt the cat shift to sleep. Late in the evening they still talked and Kagome watched as the woman managed to bring her little girl Shiori to bed. It seemed that the child was unwilling to sleep though and managed to sneak out of bed and peek into the room more than once.

It seemed that both of them waited for something to happen and sure enough later as sleep finally had caught up with the small one and their conversations were only whispered, they could finally hear a strong breeze outside. Kagome had to smile as she felt the strong Youkai appear and how the face of the woman lit up.

Tsukuyomaru could feel the presence of holy powers close by. He couldn't smell blood or anything but he could hear the blood circling of another being in their house. The blood of holy people had a distinct sound to them. Therefore his survival instincts sprung to life and he wanted to protect his family.

He was on alert as he approached his home, ready to protect his loved ones but what he could feel from his wife was calmness and Shiori was deep asleep, both seemed unharmed. He paused before entering the house still unsure about the best way to handle this situation without harming the ones he loved.

Before he reached a final decision the door opened and Shizu came outside. Looking around her to check if any other villagers could see them and as she wasn't able to sense a threat she went over to him and into his waiting arms. The Youkai appreciated the closeness of his mate.

"Love, your guest is a Miko don't you fear for our fate?"

"No, she is kind and asked for a place to stay. She hasn't threatened Shiori or me. Please come inside and see for yourself."

He relaxed after feeling her calm heartbeat and couldn't detect lies or deception. He entangled his mate into a longing kiss before both entered their small house. Luckily everyone else in the city was asleep as they despised Shizu for giving herself to a Youkai.

Even if he was a silver haired purple eyed, handsome and kind Youkai, in their eyes a demon always meant only one thing: trouble.

Kagome greeted the Youkai respectfully, she felt his concern. Yet, she could only feel relief. She felt so delighted to see the other alive and well. Last time she had been too late and Shiori had lost her father and another interspecies relationship had gone down in an ugly way.

"Good evening Tsukuyomaru-sama, I'm Kagome. I'm sorry for intruding on your home in this way but your wife had been kind enough to offer me a place to rest. I will leave if you wish for it."

"No Lady Kagome I will not throw you out in the middle of the night but I would like to know what your purpose is and what leads you to my home."

Both of them sat long and talked about many things. She told him about her friendship with Lord Satoshi and that she was friendly to a fire cat he was able to see for himself. He did enjoy hearing of her friendship with Inuyasha and her alliance with Sesshomaru.

"You were able to ally yourself to the lord of the west? I can't believe that! Lord Sesshomaru is known far beyond the borders of his lands for disliking humans."

With a sigh Kagome began to explain about the upcoming threat and how even Lord Sesshomaru had come to question his former actions as it had been revealed to them that all alliances between their races were sabotaged by the Kamis themselves.

"This Tsukuyomaru-sama is also the reason why your family and you are in danger. More than normal dislike is at work behind the curtains and I don't want you to suffer like all the others couples I have met."

He didn't believe her at first. It seemed to be his opinion that just bad luck had caused the conflict to increase in his village. Only as Kagome started to recount all the fates of Youkais their spouses and Hanyos in general, his eyes started to slowly widen in understanding.

"I don't think that the great Inu no Taisho would have faced such a fate if not for the interference of the Kamis."

Ok I will go back to writing and hope to show you the next part soon.