Hey guys!

Extra long chapter today! Is that a good or a bad thing? Only you can decide!

(But please tell me. I really want to know if this was obnoxiously long or acceptable. Please?)

Anyway, do enjoy!

Chapter 35: Bokusenou

Fourteen days had passed since the night they left the slayer's village. Nothing remarkable had occurred during their venture, but the tension remained either way. Certain rumors had managed to reach their ears, either from other travelers who they met along the way or from not-so-soft-spoken townsfolk from small villages unable to keep the gossip from the odd-looking folks that were just passing through. The Jaakuna was the common name for them; the ebony skinned demons that appeared like humans but were grossly deformed with large black masses. They were mostly seen at night, but some had claimed to see them during the day time. When they arrived, crops turned to ash, and people would go missing or turn against their own family.

"It's a sickness," one old woman had said, "some kind of bug that catches your brain on fire. That's the only thing that makes sense!"

"Don't be stupid," another old man countered, "it's clearly a possession. Some demon is infecting these poor folks and making them do its bidding!"

"And why would a demon attack this know-nothing village, huh? What's it got to gain?"

"Maybe it just likes causing chaos, ever think of that… say, mister, you look mighty strange tag'in along with these folks. With the way you're dressed, aren't you some kind of Lord?"

"Eh, now that you mention it, he does have an odd glow about him…"

They never stuck around the villages long, one to two nights at most. Sometimes inside a welcoming home. Other times on the outskirts. Similar things had occurred when they had traveled with just Inuyasha, and he had always taken it sourly. But, though the others didn't see, Kagome witnessed physical discomfort from Sesshomaru, usually in the manner of tight fists, or a harpooned glint in his eyes, or the twitch of his lips where his fangs waited behind. Without hearing him, she could imagine what words crossed his mind; insolent human trash.

Did he spare his sword for her? She wondered. He ventured so sparingly into human areas, finding them repulsive as if by a fact, excluding Rin, Kagome, and her friends. And given that he detested disrespect as a punishable crime, she amassed his patience to be dwindling to a fine point that he would then use to strike at the pests once he had had enough.

But he maintained control, and on the nights where they would stay in or around the village, they would keep their eyes out for shifting figures amongst the trees and grass. Nothing came of it, but each night, they were prepared. It helped that Sesshomaru's departures occurred every other night now, rather than consecutively.

At times, Kagome noted, it was a strain for him. Other times he appeared almost euphoric, as though he were on a kind of high. As of yet, she hadn't discovered the trigger for the euphoric nights. It would be easier if he were more open with her. Was that asking too much of him, considering they were already stretching the line of how close they could be together? Maybe being closed off was his way of trying to respect her wishes. She wished she knew, though. To be frank, she wished she understood him more.

"How far are we from the ancient forest now, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha asked. If there was one saving grace, it was that Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had managed to find some form of peaceful coexistence. That was a miracle in it of itself.

"A few minutes more, little brother. Then you'll be free to rest as long as you desire."

"Ah, great! I feel like we've been walking for days!"

"Two weeks, in fact," Miroku tossed in with an exhausted huff.

"At least we'll get answers soon," Sango retorted.

That's right. Answers, finally. Kagome thought to herself, as she turned the stone in her pocket around in her hand. There were so many clues, so many connections, but something was missing. The last connection. Hopefully, once Bokusenou told them what he knew, it would all fall into place. What was the stone? Where did it come from? Where did it get its power and what does it do to the people exactly? What's the cure? And what about the woman?! The goddess. Could he confirm that? Could he tell them where to find her? How to beat her? Without her noticing, Kagome had begun to walk faster.

"Hey, Kagome. Where's the fire?"

"Hm? Oh, sorry. Guess I'm just a little excited."

"I am too!" Shippo said with a leap onto Inuyasha's head, "I've never seen a talking tree before!"

"You better not pull my hair again, brat."

"Hehe, no promises!"

"Is this tree demon really as wise as you claim he is, Lord Sesshomaru?"

"Hmph. Of course, he is," Jaken interrupted, "Why, I doubt there is any demon older."

"Older doesn't mean smarter. Just look at you. With all those wrinkles, you may not be oldest but I bet you're giving Old Woody a run for his money," Inuyasha gibed. Jaken, of course, choked on air.

"How dare you, you insolent half-breed! Did your mother never teach you any manners?!"

"You leave my mother out of this, you moldy raisin."

"M-m-m-moldy raisin! I'll show you a moldy raisin!"

"I think it'd be smarter if you kept your ass covered, grandpa. I hear the old have a hard time holding their shit as it is."

"Haha. Nice one Inuyasha."

"Okay, that's enough. Inuyasha, you've had your fun, and you shouldn't encourage him either, Shippo. So, Sesshomaru, is it true? About how smart Bokusenou is?"

"Hn. His roots run deep and far. That which he hears and sees in a single day is enough to compare to what a human would gather in a lifetime."

"Woah, really? That's pretty intense. Does that mean he already knows we're on our way to see him?"

"To him, we've already arrived."

A wall of trees greeted them, hidden before by a stone wall that reached to either side, extending as long as the forest grew, beyond their vision and seeming to run forever. The arched opening was covered in forest-green moss and littered with butterflies and colorful, darting insects whose wings glinted with the light as they fluttered from stone to branches and branches to stone. When the wind touched the trees, the leaves danced and whispered, still vibrant with bright green despite the cold; Kagome wagered that in the coldest winter, this place would continue to be a perpetual state of spring.

"It's beautiful," She whispered, speaking to the trees more than to her friends.

"This way," Sesshomaru commanded, taking the lead again and walking into the forest without hesitation. Can I? Kagome wanted to ask the forest, feeling as though she needed permission.

Don't be ridiculous, Midoriko said with a chuckle, they're only trees.

I know. But still. It feels like I'm intruding…

She and the others followed Sesshomaru on a path that had become overgrown. The light that streamed through the trees was warm, combating the cold and encouraging the animals to spring to life around them. Birds flew overhead, rabbits and pheasants rushed through the grass, and a speckled deep watched them from a distant. It was awe-inspiring, and strange; as though the animals themselves were judging their intentions. Kagome clung close to Sesshomaru, who walked through the forest as though he were accustomed to it all; a frequent visitor with no reason to doubt himself, for he had been welcomed many times before.

"Hey, Sesshomaru. What gives?" Inuyasha bouted, disturbing the silent peace the forest had coated over them, "I thought you said a few more minutes and we'd be at Old Woody, able to rest."

"You lack skill in listening. I specifically said we'd arrive at the ancient woods, not Bokusenou. But you are free to relax, Inuyasha. No dangers exist in this forest."

"But you're not gonna stop, are ya?"

"No."

"So then we can't stop and rest, can we?!"

"No one is forcing you to follow, little brother."

Inuyasha growled. There were times where Sesshomaru would refer to him as "little brother" in such a way that it was more insulting than when he would call him "half-breed". That stupid undertone, where the word "little" would be drawn out, taking it's time to roll off his tongue before he gave a quick pause for emphasis and then finally recognize Inuyasha's sibling status. And it was done so smoothly, so casually and subtlety, that no one else would notice but him; Only Inuyasha. To him, that was the most infuriating part of it all. For if he tried to retaliate, those around him would accuse him of overreacting. So he tucked his hands into his sleeves and followed his friends who followed Sesshomaru.

Comforted by the ambiance in the forest, those who had felt the strain of travel on their heels, except for Inuyasha, were now content to continue on the tranquil, soft path, forgetting the tensions their body had held before. It was not long before an hour past, and then two, in utter silence as admiration for the beauty around them continued to prolong for a greater time than was reasonable. Soon, they heard a voice reach them through the trees.

"Sesshomaru," the voice said, booming and echoing as though it came from the sky and the ground simultaneously. It was thunderous, like the sound of a coming storm, and as orotund as the gusting, raucous wind blundering through a train tunnel. Not daring to say so out loud, Kagome thought it a bit like how she would imagine a Kami's voice would sound in a comedic skit from her time. Enough so, she was tempted to look up into the sky in the expectation that Bokusenou would only be heard, not seen. "It's been a long time. I've been expecting you. And your new acquaintances."

"Who said that?" Shippo asked nervously.

"Think it was Bokusenou?"

"You say you were expecting us, did you? Your omniscience continues to serve you well."

The booming voice laughed, though it's odd voice concealed any merriment if there was any. There were only the passing breaths through vocal cords, expressing an imitation of laughter; no heart; no unique inflection found prominent in true geehaws and chuckles. It bore a sensation of laughter so old, it had forgotten what made laughter special, to begin with. In an odd way, it saddened Kagome. "Omniscient? Hardly. But that which I do know does serve me well. Just as I know what it is you have come to me for."

Kagome was still whirling her head, looking for the source of the noise, and even once cast her gaze into the sky. It was not until she looked back down that she noticed the intense stare that Miroku was giving; straight ahead, eyes wide, and a mouth pressed so tightly into a thin line that a pale halo surrounded his lips through the skin. She followed the gaze, the group, at last, coming to a stop as they stood in front of a large, bigleaf magnolia tree; the largest she had ever seen.

The light-brown bark was accentuated by the rays of sunshine that poured in through its lushes, green leaves that expanded far above them. Upon its trunk was a crevice, encircled by a raised edge in the bark, and a face, the size of a dinner plate, was at its center. Like the rest of the tree, the face was made of bark, but it was a face nonetheless. It's beak nose curved over its thin mouth, rippled with wrinkles that stretched across the entirety of its face, and its small, half-lidded eyes, devoid of color in its irises so they were as black as its pupils, looked straight forward, tired and with little emotion.

It was different from how Sesshomaru's eyes appeared when he was being stoic. Or at least, it was different from Kagome's perspective. When Sesshomaru lacked emotional displays -which was all the time- it was more like slamming into a wall with a silent lurker behind it, filled with secrets. But with this tree, this demon, it was like walking endlessly down a flat road, surrounded by flat land under a grey sky. No secrets, no hidden emotion locked away. Simply barren nothingness. The phrase old beyond feelings crossed her mind, but it did not deter her bewilderment at the situation.

There's a face on that tree.

"Do you? Tell me then."

And Sesshomaru is talking to the tree.

"Wow… it really is a talking tree demon."

"Well, of course, it is, slayer. Did you think Lord Sesshomaru and I were lying to you?"

"I've just never seen anything like this before, so… I guess I did."

"Ack!" Jaken gaped with irritation.

"I must admit, I am surprised as well."

Everyone else sees the face, so I can't be crazy… right?

"You've come seeking information on the being who has come to terrorize you and those around you."

THE TREE IS TALKING! That's it! It's official! This is a talking tree, and the tree is talking!

"Woah. This tree really does know everything!" Shippo shouted excitedly.

"Well, out with it, old man!"

"Shut your mouth, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru said with a stern glare behind his shoulder. Inuyasha's brow twitched, but after a moment of contemplating defiance, Inuyasha relented and returned his hands to his sleeves.

"So you are Inuyasha. At last, we meet."

"You know about me, huh? Can't wait to hear what Sesshomaru has told ya. Let me guess. I'm a bastard half-bread who can't hold his own and doesn't deserve to wield tessaiga. Is that about right?"

"Hardly. I know of you from your father, Toga."

A swift, unison inhale was taken by the original inu-group.

"You knew my old man?"

"Yes. I am surprised Sesshomaru hasn't told you, considering how apparent your kinship has improved."

"Toleration does not equate to improvement, Bokusenou. Either way, I don't see why it matters."

"Told me what?" Inuyasha interjected, wanting to stay on topic, "What didn't Sesshomaru tell me."

"It is simple. The sheaths of tessaiga and tenseiga, as requested by your father, were made from my bark and my wood. Carved from my boughs and crafted with my Jaki infused in the grain. It is what made them as they are today."

There was a moment of awe as Kagome took in that information. In a sense, that meant that, even though he did not know him, this old tree had been protecting Inuyasha. Wow. This tree must really be something.

"Keh. Is that all? Like that matters to me."

"Inuyasha! How could you be so rude," Kagome barked, "Think of all the times you've had to rely on the sheath in the middle of a battle! You should be grateful!"

"Hmph. Come on. You make it sound like I'm constantly having to fall back on it."

"That's because you are." Shippo laughed.

"Want to say that again, brat."

"So, if your wood was used to make the sheaths," Sango redirected, "that must mean you were good friends with the Inu-no-Taisho. Is that correct?"

"Your deduction is keen, slayer. Yes, the dog general and I were good friends."

"How impressive. I'm assuming that's how Lord Sesshomaru knows you as well?"

"Correct again. Your skills of illation are sharp. Continue thus so, and they may be considered a fair reflection of Sesshomaru's own."

"Not to be rude, um… master Bokusenou, but I do not appreciate being compared to Lord Sesshomaru, let alone being told we're similar."

"And yet the further you attempt to distinguish yourself, the more you appear the same. I have little doubt that Sesshomaru shares your sentiments as well."

"Enough small talk. Tell us what you know." Sesshomaru said swiftly, and for once, Kagome thought she saw a hint of rattled understanding cross Sango's face, recognizing, just as Kagome did, that his reaction was a confirmation of what Bokusenou said; Sesshomaru didn't like being compared to her either.

Bokusenou, who Kagome quickly realized understood Sesshomaru as well as she did, if not better, gave another laugh. "Once you've lived over 2000 years, rooted to a single place, small talk becomes a gift. But you are right to maintain on topic. So then, how unfortunate that you've come to me for answers in this regard, Sesshomaru."

"Unfortunate you say? How so?"

"The truth of the matter is I know very little more than what you all already know."

"W-what did that old tree say," Inuyasha said between gritted teeth.

"I think he just said he doesn't know anything," Shippo answered as he crossed his arms.

"Yeah, I got that! But are you telling me we came all this way for nothing?!"

"So much for being omniscient," Sango sighed.

"So you admit to knowing nothing? Has the wise Bokusenou finally met his match?" Kagome couldn't tell if Sesshomaru was trying to make light of the situation, or if he was simply trying to hide his own frustrations. She had to admit, Bokusenou's response had managed to throttle her as well. To say it was unexpected was an understatement. They had pinned so much on this, so much hope, and to discover that they had effectively reached a dead end had thrown her emotionally off balance.

"It appears so. For how far and deep my roots go, or the length that my branches, leaves, and seeds travel, the woman has kept me blind to her."

"There must be something," Kagome whispered, though her whispers did not go unheard. She kept her eyes to the floor, pinching her chin in the same way she had seen Miroku do when he was in deep thought, not noticing that she gained the other's attentions. "Something that we're missing. Hmmm. Maybe," She looked up, surprised momentarily that she was being listened to, but continued on with little pause, "Master Bokusenou-

"Bokusenou is fine, little one. I am no master to anything nor anyone."

"Al-alright. Bokusenou. I was thinking, maybe if we shared what we know, we could figure out something. Maybe a piece that we're missing-

"Come on, Kagome. What's the point? We already tried this back at the slayer's village, and didn't exactly get us very far now did it?"

"But that was before we met Bokusenou, Inuyasha. Maybe he's the one who could see what we're missing."

"I think it's worth try," Shippo said supportively.

"I see no reason why we shouldn't try." Sango also pitched, and Miroku nodded his head.

"Very well. Ask your questions, and I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

Kagome clasped her hands. There's still hope. We just have to think together. She was praying that this was true. All it would take was for her to ask the right questions. What do I ask first?

Go with the basics, Midoriko supplemented Kagome's thoughts, What's something we think to be true, but aren't sure about?

Oh. Of course.

"Okay. So you know about the woman, and you know that she's after us, right?"

"Correct." He responded quickly, though the word was drawn out, as though piqued with interest.

"Alright. We'll… do you happen to know what she is? I mean, we know she's not a demon-

"You already know the answer."

"We… we do?" Kagome stuttered, hoping she had heard wrong.

"So, she is a goddess then," Sesshomaru added, solidifying Bokusenou's answer.

"Yes. The powers this woman carries are ancient and unlike anything you will ever find or hope to achieve. Her capability for destruction is beyond merit, and its energy is finely entwined with the energy of the world, just as other gods and goddesses are."

"If she's so powerful, then how come she doesn't just get on with it make a new Shikon Jewel already? Why does she need Kikyo?!" Inuyasha questioned, beginning to shout near the end.

"Even gods and goddesses have their limitations. She is no different."

"You seem to carry a better understanding about her capabilities than you previously let on, Bokusenou," Sesshomaru said in striking calmness compared to Inuyasha, "What more do you know?"

"Do you truly wish to know, Sesshomaru?"

What does that mean? Kagome asked herself, but not in regards to Bokusenou's question, but rather to the odd, stern glances the two parties shared between each other. It was as though Bokusenou and Sesshomaru were speaking to each other without words, solidifying a secret between them.

"Of course he wants to know! That's the whole point of why we're here! So you can tell us what you know! He wouldn't have asked otherwise!" Inuyasha was angry, and that anger came out in the tone of his voice. Can't ever mention anything about Kikyo without him acting that way. Geez.

"Tell us what you can," Sesshomaru responded, and although it seemed definite enough, Kagome found the wording… strange. Tell us what you can? Not, tell us everything, nor tell us what you know, or anything of the sort. What you can… Did that mean there were things he couldn't tell? Did it have something to do with that look they gave each other? A quick glance to the others told her she was the only one who had caught the odd wording, the conversation moving as smoothly as it did before, but she was certain it meant something. This was Sesshomaru, after all. Everything he did was done with a reason. I want to know what they're hiding.

"Very well. That which I can tell you is that the power she holds and the energy that sustains her are both capable of controlling a demon, regardless of the size or strength."

"Any demon?" Sango asked, baffled.

"Then, is that what happened to Kirara, Shippo, and Inuyasha the first time we met her? And Sesshomaru and Inuyasha again back at the slayer's village?"

"That is correct, monk known as Miroku. Her will upon demons, and half-demons as you have pointed out, is unquestionable, and cannot be defied by oneself. Only with help from another, non-demon, can the enslaved hope to be freed, and even so, that being would need to be powerful enough to do so, or else they would suffer a worse fate."

"A worse fate? Like what?" Shippo inquired with his tail giving a small shake.

"Death."

She felt the tightness string on everyone's back without having to see them. She knew their eyes were on her, and worst of all, she could sense the swirl of Sesshomaru's energy pick up with sharp emotions as he cast his gaze onto her before he regained control. Death, huh?

They were looking at her. He was looking at her. All at once, she imagined she could hear the various thoughts going off in his head. Never again- reckless- had she failed- never thinks things through- Too dangerous for her- she could have- ...My fault. It was too much for her. She wasn't even sure how she knew these were the thoughts in his mind, but somehow she knew they were. She thought of rolling her eyes, to lighten the mood, but that would aggravate him. If she told him not to worry, that she was fine and would continue to be fine, he would scoff at her, call her foolish and the like. If she were to embrace him, tell him that she would be more careful from now on… well, she doubted he would believe her. It would have been a lie anyway. Desperate to pull their gaze away from her, Kagome did the one the thing she could think of.

"How do you know so much about her powers?"

It wasn't enough. Their gazes were still lingering.

"How?"

"Yeah. I mean, I get that your roots and branches run far and all that, but you seem to know a lot. We only found out about her existence a few weeks ago. Did you really learn all this in that short time?"

He gave another chuckle, and, at last, a few eyes drifted away from her; but not his. "No. Hardly. Do you assume she merely began her existence they day you learned of it? This woman has lived on this earth for many years. I cannot say for certain, but it is possible that her time here is greater than mine."

"Woah. That's a really long time. Don't you think so, Miroku?"

"Hmm. Yes, I have to agree, Shippo. But then, if she's been around for that long, does that mean you've known about her all this time, Bokusenou?"

"I have known of her for much of my life, but that duration has still left me blind to who she truly is. Unlike other gods and goddesses that exist amongst this plane, who rarely hide their existence for long, this one has chosen to live her life unbeknownst to the world. The times she has manifested herself are few and far in between, and rarely last a few days."

"A few days? Then that must mean this is the longest she's exposed herself."

"Yes. Never has her presence been felt so strongly for so long."

"Where does she go when she's in hiding," Sango asked next, "Do you know?"

"That information is unknown to me. I know only that she never left this plane."

"She never leaves? What do you mean?"

"Beyond this plane, slayer, there exists others, ones that no demon nor human can ever venture to. They are both wondrous and horrible, magnificent and terrifying. It is where the eternals resides, the gods and goddesses and those in between. While they may exist here for a time, their home is there, and they always return with time. But not this woman."

"Do you know why?"

"I cannot say."

"Keh. Well, that's just great. A bunch nothing information."

"It's more than we had before," Miroku said as he gave a supportive nod to Kagome, "tell me, Bokusenou, if she remains hidden, how do you know she never leaves?"

"For the simple fact that her aura is ever present."

"Ever present?"

"It is true. From the moment I became aware of her existence, I have known that what once had been presumed as a natural sense in the world was, in fact, her. So old and great is her Jaki that it has seeped and become one with the soil. Where ever she has gone, her aura remains. It is the pulse of the unknown in the shadows; the pulling call from the earth when one lingers precariously at a great height; the churning tides that promise frolic before pulling you under; It is the venom that resides in both a snakes bite and a man's voice; it is the moan of adulterers and the wailing of the injured. It is in the natural and the unnatural. It exists nearly everywhere."

Despite the warmth that captivated the forest, a cold chill ran up their spines. What are we facing, Kagome asked herself. Goddess was simply not enough of an explanation.

"Ewhw, I don't like this," Shippo began to cry, "Maybe this is a bad idea. What if she's too strong? What if we can't beat her? Maybe instead of trying to find her, we should be trying to escape."

"And leave Kikyo behind?!" Inuyasha shouted, barring his fist as though ready to strike Shippo but was restraining himself, "Not in a hundred years, you hear me?!"

"Calm down, Inuyasha," Miroku spoke with tranquility before Shippo interjected.

"That's right, Inuyasha. You need to calm down. Besides, why should we risk our lives for your ex-dead-girlfriend, when we don't even know if she was really brought back or not?"

"Alright! That's it-

"Inuyasha, sit!"

He plunged to the floor with a fwamp, face dug deep into the soil and fingers twitching. The revelation that struck Kagome was how she had refrained from using the word of subjugation since the night they had broken up. It wasn't directly a decision she had made on her part; it just seemed like something that was natural to stop. To have it slip from her lips- for reasonable concerns, undoubtedly, but still- to have it slip from her lips, was like saying a foreign word with vile, unspeakable meanings that she knew perfectly well. It was almost shameful that she had resorted to it.

"Ack. What the hell, Kagome?"

"Hmph. That's what you get, you big meanie."

"That's enough from you too, Shippo."

"Huh? But why? We all know it. Why should we be in danger for someone who might not even be alive?!"

"That doesn't matter, Shippo," Kagome said, shaking her head, "even if there's a chance she's alive, we have to try to save her. Think about it this way. If she is alive, and we stopped looking, what would happen to her? Who would save her? She'd be left there, tortured, waiting for us to save her, not knowing that we've already given up. Besides, even if we were to give up, we wouldn't be safe. For one reason or another, the woman is after us. She's not gonna give up just because we start running away."

"But… yeah. I guess you're right…" He kicked a small pebble on the ground, hands in his pocket and head low. She could understand the way he felt. In truth, she supposed he never actually got around to liking Kikyo. In that sense, it was fair to say she hadn't either. To witness those you truly cared for risk everything for someone you didn't fully like… it must be very difficult. Still, Shippo had a good heart, as did she. It wasn't reluctance he felt now, but remorse for what he said.

"Anyway, I know Kikyo is alive," Kagome said assuredly, moving on from the moment, but Shippo lifted his head, eyes wide and surprised.

"You do? How?"

"Well," She stopped. She hadn't thought her words through. Other than when that woman held Kikyo above them, a highly possible ploy, it was Amellis that had confirmed Kikyo's existence. Wait a minute… "Bokusenou?" She started again, and the old tree gave her silent acknowledgment, "do you know anything about a girl named Amellis? She'd have long, white hair and magenta eyes." She's the daughter of the goddess, Kagome wanted to say, but would that be too much?

Bokusenou's eyes squinted, creating more wrinkles across his face. "I do not know this girl-

"Did you say Amellis?" The question came from Inuyasha, who now sat crossed legged on the ground. Any sign of his punishment had faded, and presently, his face carried only the expression of confusion and surprise. It was Miroku who asked the obvious question first.

"Do you know her, Inuyasha?"

"Uh- well, yeah. I met her before. I thought it was a dream though…" he trailed off, his gaze falling to the side and towards the floor. There was a piece of him that would have let the conversation drop right then and there. Amellis. He hadn't told anyone about her, and he himself had tried to push her out of his mind. He had labeled her as a dream figure, a liar, someone who knew nothing about Kikyo and Kagome. And perhaps that was why he had tried to dismiss her; if she wasn't a dream, and wasn't a liar, and knew Kikyo and Kagome, then it stood to reason that what she had said was true. He would have to pick one or lose both.

"When did you meet her?" Sango inquired, breaking Inuyasha's thoughts. That was fine. He'd rather not think about that particular bit that Amellis had told him.

"Not too long ago, I guess. After we saw Kikyo. You know… When I was away."

"What did she tell you?!" Kagome asked, almost too excitedly. She couldn't help herself. The fact that someone else had made contact with Amellis, someone from within her group, someone who could confirm her existence without ever hearing mention of her from Kagome's own lips. It was a gift.

"Hmph. I don't remember."

"Inuyasha!"

"What? I said I don't remember, okay?"

"Could you at least try, Inuyasha?" Miroku pleaded, "Any information at all would help."

"Well, for one thing, she didn't look anything like how Kagome said."

"She didn't? What did she look like?"

"She…" He hesitated, "She… looked like… Kikyo."

"Kikyo?!" The group asked in unison.

"Yeah…"

"I don't understand. Why did she look like Kikyo?" Kagome said.

"I don't know. Something about how she was using Kikyo to get in contact with me, and it changed her appearance or something. Heck, I thought it was just a dream, remember?"

"Well, what else? Did she tell you anything?"

"Like what?"

"Like what?! I don't know! Maybe a clue as to where to find her? You were the one who spoke to her!"

"Yeah, and it sounds like I wasn't the only one!"

"Would you just answer the question?! Why do you have to make everything into a fight?!"

"Woah. Hey! Easy." Miroku yelled, stepping in between Inuyasha and Kagome with arms stretched out, "Now I won't claim to know what is occurring between you two, but it is something that can be dealt with later! We may have a clue now. Let us stay focused on that."

They each grumbled in their own way, but regardless, they both leaned back from their offensive stances, physically accepting Miroku's request.

"Good. Now, Inuyasha, did this Amellis person tell you anything of note? Anything that could help us find her, or perhaps Kikyo?"

"Like, I said. I don't remember her saying anything that could actually help. Heck, the one time she tried, she ended up vanishing before she could she finish."

"But she did try to tell you? How much could she get across?" Kagome pressed. Why hadn't Amellis ever told her anything? Why hadn't she gone to her with this vital information? Information they could use, information that would point them to Kikyo and the goddess. Why?

Did you ever give her a chance to? Or rather, during the times that she exposed herself, risked her own well being in order to protect you during times of trials, was there even time?

There was enough time to tell Inuyasha-

Different circumstances, clearly. As he said, she had to use Kikyo to get in contact with him, and by the word of it, it appears that it wasn't enough to provide enough time either way.

And now we might not ever hear from her again. Is that what you're about to say.

More or less. Either way, the situation is fixed. Inuyasha was the one to receive some of the information. There is no point in toiling over why it was him over you.

"Geez, Kagome. Hop off it will ya? I already said I don't know anything. All she got out was that she heard something. Can ya stop with the interrogation now?"

"What did she hear?" Kagome continued on, ignoring his statement regardless of the slight sting it left. The reasons as to why it hurt were mystifying. For a moment, it was as though nothing had changed, and they were still together, and he was brushing her off as he always did.

"I didn't hear. She got cut off. Disappeared. Whatever. Most I got was it started with wah. But that doesn't say much, and given she was disappearing while she said it, I may have misheard. Are we done now?" He turned his back to them, face resting on his fists.

Great, Kagome thought sarcastically. The only person who even knows about Amellis, and his throwing a childish tantrum.

I've seen you do the same.

What?! No, I don't!

~ • • ~

I don't!

Okay then. Midoriko said dismissively, and if she were in her own body, Kagome imagined she would have been rolling her eyes, and shrugging her shoulders.

Kagome clenched her jaw. Midoriko could be so rude at times, and what made it worse was that she was always there. Even in the moments where she would slink back into silence, compacting her spirit into a single point so that she would take up little space, Kagome could still feel her; still hear her. And Midoriko was not shy with her judgments.

"Hmmm…" Sango hummed, "I wonder what it was. Wah-wah-

"Ooh! I know! Warriors!" Shippo shouted gleefully.

"Or perhaps wind?" Miroku added.

"Water works in that case, too."

"A lot of things work in that case," Kagome said with a huff.

"Another clue that leads to nowhere?" Sesshomaru said as a fact despite it being a question. No reason to answer it. The truth was already there.

"It seems luck has abandoned you."

"Yeah…" Kagome pursed her lips. Another dead end. If this kept going, maybe they would never find her. Maybe their fate was to fail and die in their failure. Afterall, there was only one option left, and who knew if Bokusenou would be able to give them answers. Strike three, and they would be out.

Kagome dug her hand into her pocket and felt the ice of the stone begin to chill her finger. This is it.

"Alright. I guess there's just one last thing to ask," She took a breath as she turned to the old tree, and pulled out the stone in her hand. "Bokusenou, do you have any idea what this is?"

"My eyesight is not what it use to be. Bring it closer."

She did as she was told and walked closer to Bokusenou with her arm fully extended so the stone was a few inches away from his face. The scent of citrus touched her nose, a welcoming and calming smell that made her want to smile. She knew immediately it was Bokusenou's scent, the common fragrance of many magnolia trees, and she deemed the smell appropriate for someone as old and tranquil and he was. The thought of her grandpa then crossed her mind, and, to her surprise, she couldn't remember what her grandpa scent had been like. Was it musty, or mildewy? Dry like dusty antiques, or coated like pollen? Was it citrus? She couldn't remember…

"Hmm," Bokusenou began, "where did you get this?"

"It was… inside Rin…"

"She was the first the woman chose to possess," Sesshomaru added dryly, as though he were reciting a historical fact; a ploy to hide his true emotions, Kagome knew, based on the frigidity that his posture had adopted.

"I see," Bokusenou responded, beholding Rin off the corner of his eye, still resting peacefully on Ah-Un's back, "That explains why the child does not wake then."

"You know what it is then?"

"I do."

"Tell us," Sango pushed in a tone slightly louder than a whisper. There was a stillness brought about by the lack of breathing birthed from anticipation in every member of the group. At last, an answer lingered before them, a shred of hope ready to be unveiled as soon as Bokusenou spoke the words, and they were left unable to speak from the prospect of it. We're ready, was the false promise they said to themselves in one way or another, because the truth was, none of them believed it to be true.

Bokusenou inhaled and shut his eyes. Was that grief that imprinted itself upon his shriveled, wooden face?

"This… Is the stone of Murei; The stone of the spiritless."

As if the words alone were a cause for dread, the first chill of wind they had felt since entering the forest drifted by, and even the animals scurried from its bite. Spiritless. The word cemented itself in Kagome's mind as she stared at the stone. It fit. In fact, she dared to say, no other word would have sufficed. It was cold and bitter; foreboding and lifeless. A perfect name.

"The stone of the spiritless?" Shippo asked after a gulp.

"Yes. The stone of Murei; it is a stone of great and treacherous power. Capable of taking a person's soul and then using their body as a vessel to spread its corruption. It is a virus such as the likes that have never been seen before. This is not new to you, of course. You have already seen its influence and seen how quickly it can spread. A victim's blood has already stained your hand."

Kagome pulled her arm away and looked down. He knew about that night. They had killed a villager. It was their only option. She wished she could block it out of her memory, but it was there, always there behind her lids and when she focused on it… she could already hear the Shinigami's laugh bellowing at her torment. It was never confirmed by her- in those few spurts of dreaming where she would see him leering at her with a grin beneath a wolf skull- but she called the exterior voice the Shinigami's nonetheless. Midoriko, it seemed, never heard it when Kagome did.

Her mouth was clamped up, dry from the memory she tried to pull herself away from. Did he know that the girl had screamed for her final breath? Not the gurgled sound that came from her labored breathing prior, but a scream, her own scream, freed into an agony before expiring. Damnit. Why did he have to mention that night?

"Where did it come from?" Sesshomaru intervened, and whether it was to save her or to simply advance the conversation, she was grateful either way.

"Those who know of the stone have claimed it to have many origins, each dependent on who it is that you speak to."

"Many origins?! Ugh!" Shippo groaned while throwing his head back.

"And what do you say, Bokusenou?"

"Hmph. To put it simply, while those others have chosen to base their opinions on what those before them have said, I hold, for certain, a bit of truth that may steer you in the correct direction."

"You do?" Kagome spoke meekly, her voice still shackled by the memory, but there was that hope again, pulling her out.

Bokusenou shut his eyes once more, this time more deliberately, quickly, and with an absolute sharpness; a nod, Kagome deduced.

"That which I will share will not provide a direct course for you to follow, for my leaves have only skimmed the surrounding area, but you will be closer than you are now."

"Errr. Get on with it already, will ya?!" Inuyasha barked, jumping to his feet and holding a shaking fist out at Bokusenou. This time no one countered or chastised him. They were all feeling the same anxiety that he failed to control, and so, in a sense, they agreed with him, even if they themselves did not care for the outburst.

"Very well," Bokusenou said with a breath, and each one of them leaned forward, none of them consciously intending to do so. As he spoke, the booming of his voice washed over them like a warning blow horn, promising that their journey would bare enormous danger, and there would be no way to escape it. "Beyond your village, hidden beneath the looming shadow of a great volcanic mountain, there exists a forest; a sea of trees with no direct path inward or outward. Within its waves of wood resides a village whose name is long forgotten and it's location a mystery. It was here that the stone was found and brought out into the world. Those who did not escape in time were never seen again, trapped within the forest of trees known as Aokigahara."

"Aokigahara?" Kagome gasped.

"Do you know it, Lady Kagome?"

She nodded. "I've never been there, but I know about it from my time."

"Do you know where it's located? Could you lead us?"

"I… I could…"

"Then it's settled. Our next destination will be Aokigahara."

"What a relief," Sango huffed as she placed a hand on her chest, "I was beginning to worry this would be a dead end."

"Right… a relief…"

"Are you alright, Kagome?"

"Y-yeah… I'm fine." She was fine. All she needed to do was to remind herself that things were not the same here as they were in her time. The forest wasn't the same; its history was still waiting in the future. And that meant, here, in this time, it was known simply as Aokigahara, the sea of trees. Its informal name had yet to be gain, but still… Kagome's heart was pounding. Something about heading there was setting her on edge, and she couldn't shake the title people from her time had given the forest. It's okay. It's fine. None of that has happened yet. It's just a forest. There's nothing creepy about it. She looked at her friends, almost excited now that they knew where to go, and she couldn't help but look away. The informal title was repeating in her head, the steady drip of fright filling the front of her mind. Even knowing the time frame was off, and she was judging on things that hadn't happened yet, she was afraid. She knew this place, knew what it would become, and soon, she and friends would be stepping into it. The suicide forest.

~ • • ~

They decided to stay the night and relax before leaving to Aokigahara, with Bokusenou's blessing, of course. Out of courtesy, they chose to make a camp a short distance away, where they could start a fire without it being close to him. He did not ask it of them, nor were they naive enough to believe he did not know what they were doing, but it felt natural to keep fire away from a 2000-year-old tree. They were close enough, though, that a low-level shout could be heard with ease, and given the style of his voice, it was given that he would not need to do even that much to be heard.

This orientation of their camp, however, lead to a curious practice. It began with Miroku, who was the first to depart from the group to speak to Bokusenou alone. And then it was Sango. Once she returned, an unspoken line had been formed. Nearly everyone wanted to speak to the old tree.

"What did you talk to him about?" Kagome asked Sango when she sat back down beside her. Sango responded with a heavy sigh.

"Aimi and Airi."

"Hm? Why ask about them?"

"They've been acting strange lately. At first, I thought it was just Airi but Aimi is acting strange too. Airi has been so angry, I've never seen her so angry before, and Aimi, well, she's been distant. Refusing to talk and hardly ever smiles now. Not to mention the fact that neither one of them seems to be talking to the other anymore. I… I don't understand what's going on with my children anymore." Sango dropped her head to her palms, hiding the solemn in her face.

"Well, what did Bokusenou say?"

"Pfft. I asked if the woman had anything to do with it, and he said he couldn't be sure, but he knows she was there at my village. Whether she had done anything to my children, though, he had no idea. Only that Sesshomaru was right, and she would be after them. A lot of help that gave me." She had said Sesshomaru's name with a hiss, dropping the honorific; a sign of hatred that unsettled Kagome. No matter how much the two had bumped heads, Sango never skipped saying his title. Kagome didn't want to know how much anger was brewing inside her to make her disrespect him so.

"Do you want to know what I think?"

This perked up Sango, who bopped her head up like a surprised bird. "Yes?" There was a falter. She was hoping and she wasn't sure if that hope would come to fruition or not.

"I think that they're three and- what?- four, five months old?"

"Four, going on to five very soon."

"Exactly."

"... I don't understand."

"They're kids, Sango. They're gonna have their moments. Besides, as excited as they were to come, I'm sure the trip is starting to weigh on them. This may just be their way of expressing their frustrations."

"I suppose so…"

"Unless there's something else?"

"Well… it's just… they've begun to lie to me."

"Hm? What about?" Kagome asked as she cocked her head to the side. Inuyasha had gotten up, at last making his way to Bokusenou as everyone else continued in their segmented conversations. With Shippo asleep alongside the children, and Jaken not caring to take a place, there were only two left in the sequence; Sesshomaru and Kagome.

"I should say one of them is lying to me. I'm not sure which though. Kagome, I still don't know what happened in the village. Aimi says that Airi went into the cave with her, and that, at some point near Midoriko's statue she disappeared and she couldn't find her. Airi says that while she went with Aimi to the cave, they got separated near the opening, and when she became scared she decided to leave and go to the meadow because she was scared she would be in trouble. She blamed me, Kagome. She said if I was a nicer mother, she would have come back right away…"

"Oh, Sango. I'm so sorry."

"And I still don't know who to believe…" There were tears in her eyes. No doubt she was frustrated but those tears were from pain, not frustration; a delayed reaction to remembering what Aimi had said about her. The way she covered her mouth with her hand also lent notice to the doubt the comment had sowed within her. Was she a bad mother?

That question was as ridiculous as it was sad. Sango was a wonderful mother. It was a fact, regardless of Kagome's bias. But as much as Kagome felt this, she struggled with the words, and could only comfort Sango by placing a hand on her shoulder. It wasn't much, but Sango nodded her head and wiped her eyes, passing a smile to Kagome afterward.

"It's alright. I'm okay."

"You sure?"

"Yes. Thank you," she finished with a huff, "I wish I knew the truth, though."

Kagome smirked. She had been there before. It wasn't a nice place to be. "I wouldn't worry about it too much. They could be confused, and neither one of them mentioned the woman. I'd let it go, but we'll keep an eye out for them. All of us."

"Thank you, Kagome. That does make me feel better."

Inuyasha returned then, grumbling as he stomped his way back to his seat. While questions flew, it was impossible to receive any substantial information from him. Whatever he had discussed with Bokusenou would remain a secret. The constant bouncing of his leg, however, was a clear display that it had not gone well.

The conversations quickly changed, after his reluctance to share, to one more encompassing of everyone nearby, focused on what awaited for them in the near future. Ideas and guesses were tossed around like spit balls, and when Kagome craned her neck, scanning the area, she was shocked to see Sesshomaru had already gone. Pouting, she slumped her chin into her palms and reserved herself to simply waiting in silence until his return.

The night dragged. One by one, heads fell into dreamless slumbers, and the light of the fire dwindled into small ember glows. She hadn't moved much, only shifting a bit to fill her belly when the time came, but her chin was still in her palms, her elbows to her knees, and her rump on a rock. It was a testament to her growth that she had managed to stay patient for so long. Either that, or it was a testament to her increasing ability to zone out for extended periods of time. Whichever didn't matter, as the result was the same. She was fed up now.

"Grrr. Where the hell is he?" Kagome grumbled to herself in a whisper, "He better not have left to wherever without telling me. Then again, it's not his night to leave…"

She stuck her bottom lip out, exaggerating her pout as she tossed an idea around. She wanted to speak to Bokusenou, to see if he had any more information. But what if Sesshomaru hadn't left and he was still there talking to him? It would be rude to interrupt. Then again, he had been there for way too long. Hmmm. To go, or not to go? That was a question.

Without her noticing, she had begun bouncing her leg in the same manner Inuyasha had done a few hours earlier. She had also begun to grind her teeth. And scratch her elbow even though she didn't have an itch. And - this was ridiculous. She wasn't gonna wait anymore. Stomping her foot down, she stood with her back straight, head held high, and marched out of the camp area without stirring a single soul.

She almost blundered her way into the middle of their conversation, and she would have if she hadn't heard Bokusenou's voice, carrying on in what sounded like a very intense conversation. Redirecting her approach to a more discreet manner, Kagome stood on her toes, looking out for twigs as she stepped through the area, and crouched down behind the cover of a tree with low hanging branches. Through the small spaces between the leaves, she could make out Sesshomaru talking to Bokusenou with his brows slanted into deep frustration. Stilling her breathing, she pressed her finger against the back of her ear, pushing it forward as she attempted to eavesdrop.

"Do not misunderstand my words, Sesshomaru. Of the two situations, you have described to me, I am simply stating that they both stem from the same issue. You carry the burden of torn uncertainty as to whether your actions, in correlation with your developing sentiments, are the correct ones that you should take. Your sword, Bakusaiga, a sword formed from your own being, is now representing that torn uncertainty. If you cannot come to terms with yourself and your new development, your sword will never be mended. It will break from your dissonance and lack of assurance within yourself."

Sesshomaru scoffed. "You speak of this as though it were so easy."

"I am no fool, Sesshomaru. I know very well the difficulties this carries. You forget that I was also a witness to your fathers fall. But in this regard, I will admit that you are more ill-prepared than your father was."

The snap of a twig echoed like a tree splitting in two, and Kagome winced from the sound. She waited, eyes closed, hoping the sound had gone unnoticed and the conversation would continue, but as the silence dragged on, she opened her eyes. They were both looking at her, their faces equally stoic and unreadable. She had been spotted.

"Uh… hi." She waved meekly.

"It seems we have an amateur spy on our hands, Bokusenou," Sesshomaru spoke monotonously, but his amber eyes were sharply focused on her, like two little flames casting their light specifically onto her, "Curious as always."

"It appears so. Come on out, girl. Do not be afraid. Our bark is much worse than our bite."

Woah. An old tree making bad tree puns. I'd say something if my tongue wasn't caught in my throat. Kagome feigned a cough as she stood but her voice remained trap. The walk was reminiscent of walking out onto a stage, but instead of "oohs" and "ahhs" for gloriously adorned fashion, she was being studied, like an experiment ready to be examined.

"Um… good evening?"

"What are you doing here?" Sesshomaru asked, his eyes kind and welcoming but his figure stiff with his head leaning backward, uninviting and asking for space. Kagome obeyed the latter, confused but complacent.

"I wasn't sure if you left or not?" Kagome lifted a brow at him, hoping this would clue him into her confusion about his behavior. If it had, he didn't show it.

"Clearly I have remained."

"R-right…"

"Now, Sesshomaru. Is that any way to treat the one who has captivated you?"

"Captivated?" Kagome grinned, finding herself surprised and pleased that a topic they had discussed was herself, and, apparently, they spoke good things.

"Watch your words." Sesshomaru glared at Bokusenou, but his shoulders had relaxed, and his chin was no longer tilted away. Returning her grin with a light smirk, he made his way to her, and the butterflies stirred in her stomach, herself captivated by that fraction of a smile.

"So then, you are the priestess," Bokusenou said the question as a statement. Sesshomaru lingered in front her, looking at her with an odd glow in his eyes, and she turned away with a blush.

"I suppose."

"Hm. Sesshomaru, would you leave us?"

"Why?" Sesshomaru raised a brow at Bokusenou, his voice, though light, accusatory.

"I'm certain that this woman has been waiting patiently to ask me questions, just as the rest of her comrades have, and I hold a few questions of my own for her. Questions that require your absence, of course."

"Of course." His gaze flicked forward, his lids rising by a hairline before returning to their normal state and then peering down at Kagome. Was… was that his way of rolling his eyes? But that was so… subtle. I barely even caught it! Oh hell no, we're gonna have to work on that. Immediately, she was concocting a plan to persuade him to have her as his teacher with a specialty in how to properly perform the delicate art of rolling one's eyes. She smiled at the prospect, fully engrossed in imaginary images of a probable, but not likely, future, when Sesshomaru wrapped his fingers around her wrist, soft and delicate, as though he were grasping the petals of a flower.

"Try not to gossip too much," He whispered in her ear playfully, and she stifled a giggle as she blushed a deep red.

Ugh. Midoriko groaned, unable to withhold her disgust, and the moment scurried away with her interruption and Sesshomaru's departure. Kagome found herself pouting quite plainly. Bokusenou's laughter called back her attention, and she noticed that even in his moments of merriments, his face did not change much. Yet another sign of the vacancy that existed within him.

"You'll be able to return to him soon enough. I suspect our conversation won't be long unless you decide it to be."

"Me?"

"Who shall propose their questions first?" He asked with a straight smile, and Kagome understood what he meant before. Time would be dependent on her questions.

"You first," She said with a nod towards him, thinking that perhaps she could file down her list a bit while she answered his questions.

"As you wish. Take a seat, if you like. My questions will not be easy."

Kagome gulped louder than intended, but crouched down onto the ground, kneading her fingers in the grass as she sat. "Okay. I'm ready."

"Good. So then, human priestess, tell me. What interests do you have for the Demon Lord? What is Sesshomaru to you?"

Kagome choked. "I'm sorry, what?"

"You heard me well enough."

"Um, alright, but, I mean, that's kind of personal. Why do you want to know?"

"When Sesshomaru's father passed, I took it upon myself to see to his well being in his father's place. Now I have witnessed and have been told of the passing between you two. Sesshomaru has answered my questions, and now it's your turn."

"You asked Sesshomaru, too?"

"Yes. And he was more defensive than you."

Defensive… but he told you anyway, Kagome concluded, remembering the short moment before when Bokusenou had mentioned her as the one who had captivated Sesshomaru. All too quickly, she imagined how the conversation unfolded. Sesshomaru would have warned Bokusenou -that was given- stating he was a crossing a line or something of the like, and after coercion from Bokusenou, who would inform Sesshomaru that he had already seen and knew what was going on, Sesshomaru would relent. "She's… captivated me," he might have said. Her heart skipped a beat.

"I guess…" She began. It was impossible for her to look directly at Bokusenou as she spoke; too nerve-wracking. For a moment, she contemplated leaving. What would he do? He was stuck in place. It wasn't as though his branches could reach down and stop her. The more she thought about it, too, the more she ratiocinated that Bokusenou would be fine letting her leave. It came from his character, exuded from his single layered personality. As vacant as he was, that which did exist was, from what she could tell, compassionate and understanding, most likely built upon all the knowledge he had attained throughout his years.

Contemplating over this, her nerves, to her surprise, had begun to calm. It was promptly becoming reasonable, almost inviting, to share her little secrets with him. She had been so tight lip, even with Sango, that at times it swelled within her like a water balloon waiting to burst. And Bokusenou, with his candid demeanor- a sign of genuineness- had an air of trust around him. I think… No. I want to trust him. At last, she reached a conclusion. There was no reason not to trust Bokusenou. He was Sesshomaru's friend, and one devoted enough to take strong concern over him after his father's passing. She would tell him.

"I like him," She whispered, but it was loud enough for him to still hear, "... a lot."

He chuckled. "I know that much, young one. Tell me why."

"Why?"

"Yes. Why."

She gnawed on her, trying to get her swelling emotions under control to place words onto them. She spoke as it came to her, the outcome a disjointed mess, but she didn't care, and she suspected Bokusenou didn't mind. "I don't have to hide with him. I mean, when I want to cry or complain or shout, I can do that and I'm not afraid of him judging me, and I don't have to ashamed. And he listens to me. I've tried so many times to talk to everyone else about how things were in my time, and none of them cared, but he did, and it was so nice to have someone to really talk to. And it's so easy to talk to him, and then I found out this whole other side to him," at this point, she brushed her hair with both hands, beginning at her forehead and pulling it back as a large smile stretched across her face. Her eyes darted from side to side, flickering to memories spotted on the ground. Memories of him, and all the ways he surprised her. "He's so kind. Kinder than he would ever let on. And brave and protective, and he's serious but he's funny too. It's like he's this great and powerful being, but if you're lucky enough you could see him also being calm, tranquil… methodical. He's smart. I know I don't have to tell you that, but he is. He can see things differently, approach situations in… a hundred different ways, it's amazing. And when I'm with him, it's like, I want to be like that too, but I don't feel pressured to be, and I don't feel ashamed when I don't measure up, because he doesn't look down on me. If I told him that I wanted to fight as well as him, I know he'd start training me and do everything he could to help me, and if I got upset, it wouldn't turn him away because he would know what I ultimately wanted. It's like that with everything else. And he's loyal." This time Kagome's hand rushed to her heart, clasping at her chest tightly till it hurt her skin. "I can see it. With him and Jaken, and Rin, and Ah-Un… and in the way he's so reserved. He won't let anyone he doesn't trust or care for see the other side of him that I get to see. I feel so safe with him. Accepted. Like all these little things that I constantly worry about don't matter. Ugh- I don't know. It's just so hard to explain."

"I believe you've explained it very well."

Kagome looked up, almost forgetting that she had been speaking to a demon tree. She blinked the water of her eyes, yet another thing she hadn't noticed, and saw that Bokusenou was smiling.

"I'm sorry. I guess I got a little carried away."

"Do not apologize. You were sincere, and that is what matters. But still…"

"What?"

"The way you speak of him… are you not a priestess?"

"I am…" Kagome straightened her back, but tilted her head down and narrowed her eyes. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Priestess and demons… they are enemies. It is the natural way of things. Yet you speak of Sesshomaru as though your sentiments for him were completely natural. Do you not find him repulsive?"

"What? No. Absolutely not."

"How odd. For a creature of purity, such as yourself, to be in love with a demon-

"Whoa. Hold on there. I never said that I… you know…" Kagome blushed.

"Did you not?"

"No…"

"Hm." Another straight line smile. "My apologies. I assumed, based on the way you spoke of him."

"I do like him…"

"But not love?"

"I…" Her cheeks were becoming redder. Love. The word was heavy, weighing on her chest like an anvil, and yet her heart was pounding wildly. Excitedly even. Love. But… "It's too soon," Kagome blurted, and she refused to make eye contact.

"Of course. Well then, allow me to rephrase. For a creature of purity to like, care for, and wish to court with a demon, a creature of dark and evil energy, one would think it impossible. At the very least, illogical. How are you not affected by this axiom?"

At last, Midoriko interrupted, an appropriate question.

Kagome huffed out her anger through her nose. "Personally, I don't think it matters." It came out harsher than she intended, her sharp tone a reflection of the annoyance Midoriko had brought out in her. "I'm getting tired of everyone bringing that up."

"It does not matter?"

"No."

"Hm. So, you do not care for Sesshomaru simply because of his power and title, nor do you mind that he is a demon. You are certainly as interesting as Sesshomaru claims you to be, if not more so. That is… a comfort."

"Was that what you were worried about?"

"It was."

"Oh…" Weird.

"Now, what questions do you have for me?"

"Wait, that was it? That's all you're going to ask me?"

"Yes."

Kagome was silent, waiting for him to say more. When no other words spilled from his lips, she threw up her hands, exasperated.

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand. What was the point of that? Why did you want to ask me those questions? I mean, no offense, I get that you're looking out for him, but -What?- do you do that with every girl he's interested in?"

"No. In fact, you are the first he's brought to see me." Kagome's eyes widened at that, but Bokusenou went on without pause. "Of course, given the circumstances you and your group have found yourself in, it is more than understandable as to why he brought you here. Nevertheless, the answer remains that no, I do not usually delve so deeply into Sesshomaru's personal life, but you are a special case."

"A special case? Why?"

"There are certain dangers that will come up should he pursue you. Dangers which he is willing to face. I felt it necessary to see where your emotions lied."

"Is… is it because I'm human?"

"That. And your priestess status."

"I see…" Kagome threaded her fingers together, pursing her lips and furrowing her brow. "What kind of dangers?"

Bokusenou gave a light chuckle. "Nothing that you need to concern yourself with. Sesshomaru is more than capable of handling it, regardless of how long the struggle may last."

"Do you care? That I'm… different?"

"Hardly." He laughed again. "That particular axiom is also lost upon me." He smiled a straight line, but there was a little bit more light this time, and it comforted Kagome. "So then, your questions?"

"Right." Kagome bit her lip. As she sat there, she rummaged over her list and recognized many were connected to the goddess and Amellis. Questions that she suspected he would not know the answers to. Eliminating those left only a few. Enough to count on one hand. She'd be getting back to Sesshomaru quicker than she had anticipated.

"Okay. I have a few. Not a lot."

"What are they?"

"Well, first, do you know anything about Shinigamis'? Specifically about a Shinigami named Ribaiasan? I'd also like to know if you know any way to cure the Jaakuna? Or if they have any weaknesses? And lastly… do you remember how you became a demon?"

She stumbled back to the camp, her legs tired and her eyes heavy. A yawn swelled in her throat, but she exhaled with her teeth clench to avoid making noise. Daybreak was a few short hours away. The time she had spent with Bokusenou, satisfactory. It wasn't perfect, but it was a substantial amount of information.

Ribaiasan, the missing Shinigami who had gone rogue and no longer maintained balanced between life and death.

The man of many ages passed who had created a specialized sutra when he came across someone affected by the stone. Apparently, Miroku had asked the same thing. Oddly enough, Bokusenou knew the man to be one of Miroku's ancestors, and while he didn't know how the sutra was written exactly, he knew of rumors that the man retrieved the information from a rampart. Where that rampart was, however, was up for speculation. Bokusenou's theory was that the rampart would be found somewhere near where the murei stone was made. Just another thing to look for in Aokigahara.

Bokusenou's personal story wasn't particularly informative but interesting nonetheless. A drop of tainted water was all that was needed. A small trickle of Jaki in that drop to touch the root of the tree and, voila. Talking tree come to life. Where that drop came from, no idea.

Everyone who had been asleep when she left was still in their same positions, the subtle sounds of snoring rising in the air. There was one addition, though.

He rested against a tree, his eyes closed while the glow of the moon that streamed through the leaves danced around him. Asleep, Kagome thought. Had she ever seen him asleep before? She didn't think so.

"Priestess. You're staring." She jumped at the sound of his voice. His eyes remained closed, but she was certain he had spoken.

"I thought you were sleeping," she whispered, and he peeked one eye at her.

"Did you enjoy your little talk?"

"It was…" She walked towards him, keeping her eyes to the floor to ensure she didn't trip over any roots in the dark. "Interesting."

She heard a chortle and looked up, only to see a slight smirk on his face. Unfortunately for her, that moment of distraction was enough for a root to latch onto her foot. Kagome fell forward, giving a slight yelp as she did, and she braced for impact by closing her eyes and throwing her hands in front of her. When she felt the warmth of his arms around her, she gave into them willingly, gratefully, and unsurprisingly. It was as though, locked behind her subconscious mind, she knew all along he would catch her.

"You have a horrible habit of tripping at night," he whispered in her ear as he moved his hands to wrap around her waist, "one may wonder if you do it on purpose."

"Heh. If only I was so clever." She leaned back to look into his eyes, his hands still firmly wrapped around her, pressing her body flush against his. It made her feel warm; a relaxing, pulsing warmth that rolled through her body, while also heating up certain parts of her to an uncomfortable point, yearning and aching for more of his touch. "Thank you for catching me."

"Hn." He pulled away from her, slowly, tracing his fingers up her form and down her arms. She was the one who grabbed his hand before he was fully out of her grasp. He raised a brow at her, but rather than blush away as she felt compelled to, she took two steps forward. Wrapping her arms around one of his, she pulled him down to the ground so they sat with him leaning against a tree, and her tucked firmly into his embrace.

"Have you forgotten who surrounds us, priestess, or are you simply being bold?"

"Hmmm. I'ma say… bold. Definitely bold." She smiled as she placed her head against his chest, and began to trace lines along the design of his kimono. His breathing changed as she did this, and she imagined that he was thinking back to the same night that she was. "Would it be weird if I said I missed this?"

"No," he whispered as he trailed circles along her back, sending shivers throughout her body, "though, I am preferring this in comparison."

So he is thinking about that night. She smiled wider, her joy reaching her eyes.

"What has stirred this in you, priestess? Was it something Bokusenou said?"

"Well… kinda, but not really." She tilted her head up, looking him in eyes, the distance short and their noses close to touching. The way his eyes flicked to her lips, to her eyes, to her hair, to her eyes and lips again, studying her, sent her nerves trembling. She wanted deeply to kiss him, and he was coming closer. "It's more, like, what I told him."

"Oh? And what did you tell him?"

She shifted her gaze down momentarily, intertwining her fingers with his hand that had grazed hers. He did not pull away and locked his individual fingers around hers as fervently as she did, and she pressed her body closer to his form.

"I said..." she looked back into his eyes, a sliver of air keeping their lips apart, "that I like you…"

"Hn. As do I."

Hey! Look at that! You made it to the end :)

Was it awful? Please tell me if it was.

I didn't want to separate this out into two chapters as I didn't feel that it had enough contextual weight to qualify. Which probably mean s I need to edit this shiz down. A LOT! But as I've said... that's for later.

Anyway, hopefully, I will see ya'll soon. Please FFR. Byessss!

— Jaakuna: evil skinned; evil one