A slender finger dipped into the silvery pool of water. The water rippled and then smoothed over to reveal a tall inuyoukai. He was walking alone, his silver hair barely stirring, his gait was so smooth. Those strong handsome features were set in stone and she sighed. Her fingers trailed over those smooth features, not touching the water, but the look in her eyes was that of pure agony and yearning.

She watched him walk, surrounded in silence, and then she frowned as he stopped and looked over his shoulder as if watching something. She looked closely. He was shaking his head and then his lips moved, forming a word. Then her eyes widened as a female ran up to him and he held out his hand expectantly and she grabbed onto it. He pulled her into his side, and spoke something else. Then to the utter astonishment and shock of the silent watcher, the girl scowled and then hit him on the shoulder. He simply leaned forward and licked her cheek. The girl blushed and then turned her back on him and marched forward. He followed her. Suddenly the girl stopped and frowned. She looked around herself and then her eyes lifted and she met Lady InuKimi's gaze directly.

Hand on her heart, Seshoumaru's mother leaned backwards against the tree, the image vanishing. Could it be? It was. Kagome had returned! Silver tears rolled down her cheeks, echoing her relief, her fear of another rejection and her exhaustion. Would Kagome forgive her? She closed her eyes and hoped with her heart that she did. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to survive.

Then, a small smile touched those lips, albeit a sad smile. Her son was coming to see her.

Kagome tried not to groan as her muscles burned with all the walking she was doing. She glanced quickly at Seshoumaru who was walking by her side in silence. She was glad he wasn't holding her hand any more, otherwise her clenched fist would have let him on to the fact that she was hurting. The inuyoukai had taken to holding her hand every chance he could get.

She personally found it adorable and somewhat relieving. A part of her still found it hard to believe that she had found him. She glanced up at him and she held her breath. His profile seemed luminous in the sunlight. He had just stepped into a patch of sunlight which seemed to make him glow. That face was now made up hard planes and angles. Gone was the boyish youth and softness that had been present there before. He was now a man. As her heart ached, a strange sort of fluttering began in her stomach. However, she couldn't tear her gaze away. His eyes were cold and yet would glow with a strange warmth when they fell upon her. His silver hair fluttered in the wind and each strand highlighted individually. She wanted to touch them. Unconsciously, without her knowing, her hand extended to touch the ethereal object of her fascination.

Seshoumaru froze as he felt Kagome touch his hair. She had a determined gleam in her eye as she swirled a strand around her delicate finger and sighed. What was she up to? However, she had loved to play with his hair before in the past, when she had been a babe. However, this felt different. She felt different. She seemed awed and entranced and it made him feel strange. He was the only one who managed to awe her. Other than Inuyasha's ears. She loved to play with those unnatural things. He frowned. He wasn't jealous of the half breed. He wasn't.

But he found himself wanting all her attention on him.

A moan from behind captured Kagome's attention. She walked towards Inuyasha whose face seemed paler than before and his eyes were closed.

Her voice was soft, "How are you feeling, Inuyasha?"

He popped open one eye, muttering gruffly, "Stop talking to me like I'm an invalid, wench."

Kagome frowned, "I thought I told you to stop calling me wench. I have a name." She raised a brow, "And FYI, you are an invalid."

The half demon scowled, "What did you call me, bitch?"

Kagome leaned forward, hands on her hips, "In-Va-Lid. Your hearing going as well?"

Inuyasha snarled at her, "Just you wait till I get better."

Kagome put her hand to her ear, pretending to strain to listen, "I'm sorry. Was that a threat?"

Inuyasha growled, "You bet your ass, it is."

"I would advise you not to threaten Kagome, half breed."

"Why? What are you going to do about it?"

Seshoumaru lifted a brow and then walked towards him. Before he could fully raise his hand, his special poison already dripping from his nails, Kagome, grabbed his arm and steered him away, "Yeah, I don't think so, pal. He's already dying as it is. We don't need you to speed up the process."

Seshoumaru stared down at the determined female, "He threatened you."

She patted his arm, "I provoked him. No need to get huffy every time your brother threatens me." She ignored the word 'half brother' that came from both sides, and continued, smoothly, "Besides, he doesn't mean half of what he says."

Inuyasha bristled, "I do, too."

She waved her hand at him, like one would at a stubborn child who was vying for attention, "Of course, you do, Inuyasha."

There was no talking to this female. Inuyasha stared at her back. She was completely impossible. How did Seshoumaru plan on handling her?

Seshoumaru stared at the hand that was lying so comfortable on his arm and wondered. If it had been anybody else who would have stopped him from castrating his half brother, they would be lying in bits and pieces on the ground right now. He studied the look on Kagome's face. She wasn't scared of him. At all. Did she still love him? Could she still love him?

"You're staring at me."

Those blue eyes were turned in his direction.

"We should simply leave the half breed to die."

That curious look turned into a scowl, and she pushed at his shoulder, "He's your brother and my friend."

"Your friend? He threatens you."

Kagome waved off his shock, "He just talks like that. Right, Inuyasha?"

She looked over her shoulder at Inuyasha. The hanyou was staring at her in shock.

A friend? She thought of him as a friend?

When she raised a brow, scowling, his face turned red and he just muttered a 'keh' and turned away.

Kagome's chuckle had his ears twitching. When he knew it was safe, he watched her form, tucking into that of Seshoumaru's. She was so different from everyone he had ever met. A friend? A small smile touched his lips. He had never had a friend before.

"Where is Inu-mama, Seshou?"

Kagome's question was met with silence.

"Seshou?"

Seshoumaru spoke slowly, "She does not live in the castle any more. She has her own castle now, in the clouds."

"A castle in the clouds?"

Kagome's eyes were wide, "But how is that possible? How does-"

She shut up. Youkai. Of course.

"So, um, how far is it?"

Silence. One beat. Two beats.

"She will sense us when we are near and come greet us."

"Oh." Kagome murmured, "Of course she will."

All this was so new to her, that times it was hard for her mind to grasp onto the unknown, but she would do her best as she soaked in this new information.

A tall man stood at the edge of the forest looking out at the scenery. Something was going on. The forest was disturbed and he wanted to know why. The wind swayed his long pony tail, his brown hair bending him in the forest. Sharp blue eyes studied the terrain and he sniffed the air. A familiar scent wafted towards him and his eyes sharpened. It couldn't be! He stood straight, one hand resting on the bark of the tree.

Could it?

As he whistled, his two companions showed up. Hands on his hips, he barked, "Did you find the traitor?" Hakku looked at his brother before nodding, "He's hiding in a village, nearby. We've caught his scent."

Koga smiled, viciously.

A.N: Next update coming in 2 to 3 days.