AN: I ask for you patience as there are many factions in this story that still need work and to come together… I will be jumping all over the place until such time as I can get them all together and working together. Before you ask (Kagome/Sesshomaru and pups – Sango/Miroku and Kohaku – InuYasha/Shard and Kikyou – Rin/Shippo and Tadashi – Kimi/Daiki – Naraku/Souru and their plots so yes lots going on not including anything or anyone I may have forgotten)

Also to all my Guest reviewers I ask you again Please Please leave some type of name so if I respond to you you know whom I am address… I get a lot of Guest reviewers so please leave some type of name for me…. Thank you...

Chapter 25

Last Time…

He smirked as ideas formed within his mind. It was time to put his ultimate plan into action. Standing he called his Saimyosho to him, while his smirk grew.

Any who looked upon him would fear what they saw glimmering within the red orbs of the evil hanyou.

Now…

Kagome and Yoshi worked on Kouga together, both trying to save his arm and legs. Sesshomaru stood above them watching the wolf closely. He knew from experience that such severe injuries caused a youkai's inner beast to be too close to the surface.

He was not about to leave his miko near an injured youkai. Rin had been most fortunate when she had approached him those years past. His beast felt no threat from the small quiet child that attempted to offer them aid.

As it were Kagome and Yoshi argued on the best course of action in mending the wolf prince. Yoshi was of mind to put the ookami out of his misery as the damage was too severe. Kagome on the other hand was more than angered, by his healer even suggesting such a thing.

"Sesshomaru, could you please ask someone to bring my bag. I have things in there that can help him."

"You," Sesshomaru ordered one of the ookami males, he didn't bother to know the males name, he was not important. "Go to the gate guards and inform them what it is that the miko needs."

Hakkaku and Ginta looked at each other, before one of them jumped up and ran to do what was requested.

As it was Sesshomaru was not please that his miko was tending to the wolf. Didn't she have enough to concern herself with. He would have to question the miko further as to her relationship with the wolf.

The stench coming from the wolves alone was offensive, let alone the stench of the now lacerated wounds that oozed their own vile poisons.

"Get him back into the water. We need to wash the infected area. I am also going to have someone hold him down after I clean the wounds. I need to cut away the blackened flesh."

"Miko."

"As you know black means dead. The skin and muscles are dying and if I don't cut it away it will get worse, the wounds need to be flushed. I can try to mend some of it, but the infection has been too long in his system. It will take a few days. I don't know how much of my energy I can spare. I haven't really worked with it yet. I know it has grown. I don't want to purify him on accident. He has some of Naraku's brand of poison in the wounds. I recognize it. Kami knows I have seen enough of that foul hanyou's poison." Kagome explained.

She had treated each of her companions, especially Miroku. The poison that is causing the infection was definitely created by Naraku's own brand.

"Hn." Sesshomaru hummed his agreement. Kagome shot him a look, but then noticed that this is the Sesshomaru that he showed the world and not the one he showed to her in private.

"As it is I can't stay much longer. The pressure is building again." Kagome mumbled. She hated the idea of having to leave a friend to someone else's hands, but the pups and Kohaku needed her more.

"Kagome."

"I'm too far away. If I was within the room it would leech away, but out here it is building. As soon as I give instructions, I will go the them." She explained, Sesshomaru understood, but Yoshi and Ginta were giving her confused looks, though Yoshi caught on fast.

"Sister?" Ginta asked. He didn't know what was going on. It was all very confusing and having such a powerful male standing over them, was making him very nervous.

"No worries, Ginta. I will do everything in my power to help Kouga and save his limbs."

It didn't take long before Hakkaku arrived with Kagome's bag and after digging out her first aid kit and giving instructions to Yoshi on the treatment of her friend and covering him with her blank, leaving his arm and legs open to the air for treatment she stood giving one last look to Kouga and the boys, before walking away with Sesshomaru following her. As it was he could feel the pain building within her small frame. He would have taken the lead, but something told him to watch her for collapse.

He hated being correct at times. They had just barely reached the entry way of the gates when Kagome dropped to her knees clutching her chest, her breath coming in pants. Sesshomaru didn't need to be told that he needed to get her to the pups, before she exploded.

Picking her up he ran to his chambers, the barrier around the pups dropped. "Leave." He ordered Mimi whom hurriedly bowed and ran from the room, the guards that were guarding Kohaku and the pups followed suit, none wanted to face their lords wrath.

As soon as Sesshomaru laid Kagome down the pups swarmed her feeling her pain, she sighed in sweet relief as she felt the pressure lift from her.

"Remind me, not to stay away for so long. That hurt." She panted out, trying to catch her breath, that had been stolen from the pain.

"Agreed. As soon as you feel the start of the pressure, it would be wise to stop what you are doing." Sesshomaru agreed as the pups clamored for their positions on their mother.

After assuring that the screen blocking the boy was in place and that the doors were closed, Sesshomaru removed his boots and positioned himself in his usual place behind the miko.

The first thing on Sesshomaru's mind was the ookami. He and his inner beast wanted to know of the relationship between him and her.

"As soon as it is appropriate I suggest you bathe, Kagome." Sesshomaru stated, he hated smelling not only the stench of illness that clung to her, but the Kami awful stench of wolf that now permeated her skin and clothing, it was making his beast rise wanting to claim the female they were wrapped around, he had felt his claws and fangs not only tingle but actually grew a bit in their desire for the little onna.

"Sesshomaru?" Kagome was confused, forgetting for a moment that he had a far superior nose than InuYasha and that he would find her scent in anyway offensive.

"We, meaning both my inner beast and myself find that the stench of the ookami and his illness are offensive." He wasn't about to tell her the rest of it, he didn't even want to fully admit to himself that the miko was theirs, it was just a matter of mating her, she needed to become stronger before then, he was not going to go through what his father went through. He was glad that Kagome not only had her own titles, but the fact that she was a powerful miko was a boon to the West.

Kagome had forgotten, she knew that InuYasha hated the smell of Kouga, so it stood to reason that maybe it was a inu thing and they just didn't like the way the other smelled.

"I will make sure to bathe before bed tonight. After we tend to the pups, I would like to go check on Kouga just to make sure Yoshi doesn't try to 'put him out of his misery.'."

"If I may ask what is your relationship with the ookami."

"When I first met Kouga and he found out that I could see the Shards he kidnapped me, then he decided to claim me as 'his woman'. I am not his woman." She stated forcefully. "He is just as thick headed as InuYasha. Kouga is for the most part harmless. Well since I let into him after I found out that his pack had killed humans for sport. We are friends nothing more. He is so not my type. He never sticks around very long. He pops in and starts a fight with InuYasha and then takes off leaving me to clean up the mess he made with InuYasha."

"Hn." Sesshomaru hummed sending shivers down Kagome's spine and pebbling her flesh. "Why do they call you 'sister'?"

"Oh that, well since Kouga claimed me the boys, Ginta and Hakkaku have made me an honorary pack member. They are both Kouga's beta's. I just wish Kouga would get over the fact that he has an intended."

"Hn."

"I'm really sorry that it seems everyone is showing up on your doorstep, looking for me. I hadn't planned any of this. Sango told me that Kouga was attacked a few days before we were. I think it was shortly after… after. Well anyways he was attacked and his Shards were taken and he was left as you see him. I'm curious to know why his youki didn't step in to help him heal, but then again with Naraku and his brand of poison, it could have prevented it." Kagome rambled, thinking of different things that could have made Kouga to be in the shape that he was in.

S.P.

"Hey Shippo!"

Shippo turned around to see who was yelling at him, only to see Tadashi running towards the disgruntled Kitsune kit. Shippo knew that he had been jealous and that his mother wouldn't approve, but he couldn't help himself, Rin had all but been ignoring him in favor of the new boy in the village. He knew right now Rin was in lessons with Kaede and that was why he was on his own.

"What do you want?" Came Shippo's grumpy reply.

"I was wondering, if you wanted to spar with me?" The boy asked of the kit. He had heard stories of his adventures and knew that maybe the little kit would want to do something other than pick flowers and gossip.

"Why? Didn't you want to be with Rin?" Shippo knew he sounded jealous. He couldn't help himself. He wasn't used to having a boy around that wanted to take his friends away.

"I like Rin and all, but I want to learn how to fight better. As you know our last village was destroyed and I wasn't any help. I don't want that to happen to this village. I like it here and since I know that you had loads of adventures, I figured you would be my best hope of learning things, that and a guy can only take so much of picking flowers and listening to gossip." Tadashi explained and it was all true. He wanted to grow up to be a village protector.

S.P.

"Miroku?" Sango asked driving them both out of their thoughts, they had been sitting in one of the gardens within the palaces walls, both had found this garden to their their liking as it was peaceful with it many trees and worn paths and the many different ponds or streams that flowed through it. Miroku's ever present staff was leaning against his shoulder in a relaxed pose. Sango had her Hiraikotsu leaning against the tree within easy reach, after the last attack everyone was on high alert, not knowing what to expect, not to say that the palace was relaxed since before their arrival.

"Yes Sango." Miroku intoned lazily, letting her know that he was listening. They hadn't talked much since arriving. Sango being more concerned with what was going on with both her brother and Kagome, let alone the many things that had occurred since their arrival here, the fight with Kagura, the capture of Kohaku and the destruction of Kanna, the fight between Kagome and Kikyou. Which he had to admit totally surprised him that their Kagome was able to do such a things on her own.

He himself had been contemplating the significance of Kagome's powers and how much stronger she is and how she was able to hide it from them all especially him. He had been taking it all in and trying his best to figure things out. So far he had gotten no answers to his questions and probably wouldn't get those answers until such a time as he could actually sit and talk to Kagome.

What also surprised him was that Kagome had never said anything to anyone about the Well not working any longer. He understood her reasoning, but it still hurt that she felt that she couldn't confide in any of them. He had managed to discuss a fraction of that with Sango, but she had gone off with wanting to talk about Kohaku and what should be done with him once Kagome released him from the barrier.

"Do you think that we had done wrong by Kagome? I mean not teaching her the things that she needed to know."

"What's done is done we can't change what we did, but we can change the future. We know that she is now permanently here in this time and we can help her with what she needs to know, providing that she allows us. She has shown that she can handle her own and is willing to learn so that is a benefit."

"I guess your right." Sango stated solemnly, she was feeling bad about not wanting to train Kagome. She didn't want the girl to be like the rest of them.

"Worry not Sango~dearest, Kagome is not angry with us. I am sure she understands."

"I know, but things are so different now. InuYasha has been acting worse by day, Kagome has gotten so much stronger, now she also has to deal with Sesshomaru and his pups, plus everything else. How does she do all of it. I can barely wrap my head around everything that is going on."

"Like I said, Kagome is strong and she is different than the rest of us. She had been living two lives prior to her permanent stay here. The Kami themselves have stepped into help her. I wouldn't worry, things will work themselves out, they usually do."

"I feel that something is going to happen soon." Sango stated going off topic. She could feel the tension in the air and she wasn't liking it, but then again being a Slayer in a palace youkai was making her very uncomfortable.

"I feel it as well. I feel that things are going to escalate and blow between Kagome and InuYasha if he doesn't settle down a bit."

"I don't think I want to be there for that." Sango said a smile finally gracing her features. She knew that InuYasha was working on earning himself a 'sit' like no other, but she had to admit that at this point he had earned it in full. His attitude even before all of this was bad and since the death of his oh so precious clay pot he had gotten worse. He seemed to be even more obsessed with find the Shards. She just hoped that he wasn't planning on anything stupid, but then again this was InuYasha she was thinking about.

S.P.

"So Kimi, what are your thoughts on all of this?" Daiki asked, he, himself wasn't liking the fact that some miko was claiming his daughters pups, it was bad enough that she was tending them. How could Sesshomaru allow a miko anywhere near the pups was beyond him, regardless of the fact that she claims to hold no ill will towards their kind, it just seemed wrong on so many levels, though he had witnessed her protecting them as though she were not only their birth mother, but also as inu bitch would.

"It matters not that the miko is tending, once they are weaned the wench will be gone and things will get back to normal. I will not have a human here for any longer than necessary." Kimi stated adamantly. She has hated humans especially the females since her mate had breed one of them forsaking his mating to her, she made sure that she drove that message loud and clear into Sesshomaru's mind.

Though she had to admit that the miko had surprised her and that was something not easily done. They hadn't been able to see the miko or the pups since the incident with the attack, Sesshomaru has been guarding them even more.

"What are your thoughts on the pups claiming her as their mother let alone what we were told about their changes? Do you really believe that the smell more of the miko than my Akemi?"

"It matters not what they scent of. Akemi is their mother. After the miko is gone they will forget her soon enough."

Daiki had his doubts on a lot of this. He had not only seen how the miko acted, but the way Sesshomaru reacted to the miko and the look in his eyes. He didn't think it was going to be as easy as Kimi believed. Though he had to admit that the miko was strong, something that Touga's mistress was not.

He also had to admit that having a miko in times of war could be profitable. He also knew that Sesshomaru held no emotions towards his daughter and that their mating was for political reasons, even if Akemi had been more than pleased that she was mate to one of Sesshomaru's power and status. He knew that his daughter had been enamored with the Western Lord, but then again most females were as well as some male that he had heard.

For a long time even he was concerned that perhaps the young lord preferred male company to that of females, but he was glad that his daughter was picked to be his mate and to provide pups for both the North and the West.

He knew that he would have to meet with Sesshomaru to get all the information all that has occurred for his own records.

Until Next Time…

RANT: to start my weekly rant I would like to say that rin better feel lucky if she survives any of my stories… I am so sick of hearing about rin either being forever 4 years old or after 3 or more years that she is only 4 to 7 years old… Listen People Sesshomaru took the girl in when she was 8/9 years old and after years she would grow up.. and no Sesshomaru would not mate her it would be like Kagome mating Shippo that is just plain gross and putting rin and Shippo together just wouldn't happen as rin would be long dead before he even aged to be old enough to mate hell even InuYasha would be considered young at 150/200 years old… Sesshomaru is 500 and he isn't even mated in the anime… and on top of that if Sesshomaru mated rin he would be in the same position as his father mating a weak ningen female at least Kagome has powers and if trained she is quite powerful and would be a much better match.

Jo: I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I still miss my mom… I find that I still pick up the phone and want to dial her and she has been gone for 4 years…

Guest: With no Name: Please all I ask is please please leave a name of some kind so you know that when I respond you all know whom I am addressing… Now then you are right creating a bow/arrows is very taxing on ones powers… I have different things in mind and while she will use her bow she will also learn other weapons as well. I have given it a lot of thought…. I want to make things believable… I will not be introducing bullets or guns into my story… sorry… don't like guns but I have other things in mind that you might find interesting… in order for any to be able to use power effectively the must have stamina and endurance and I have only touched on all that Kagome will be learning… never fear I have loads of ideas… though some of your ideas have already been in the works you will see them as well…