Disclaimer: InuYasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi

Prologue

Pink light coursed over the sleeping form wrapped tightly in white silken threads. The season had only begun days before but already the orb that had been wrapped with the sleeping one had grown to almost her size. It lay aside her now, enshrouded in its own pod. Still connected by an umbilical cord attached their hearts, her child took its nourishment from her blood.

The light began as two pinpoints, then took the shape of two spiders that grew until they formed into ghost like shapes that hovered near the pods.

"The child grows well"

"Yes, but does it grow strong?"

"It must, do you not feel inside of her? Look here if you do not know what she is capable of."

The form looked up at the three skulls, now laying exposed where they had fallen against the wall.

"Yes, her 'most prized possessions' but she was weak, like Onigumo and Naraku"

"Yes, yes Atotori and Jinchi too. I know. How were we to know Naraku was smart enough to have the witch curse the clay urn?"

"This woman killed the first mark that was able to produce the child of evil, and then claimed his woman's heart for her talisman and her head as spoils. How do we know she won't kill the second mark? Should he die all of this, millennia of plan will have been for naught."

"Hai, what you say is true but we chose the first mark because his spirit was so much weaker and easier to sway. He had a need for love, and he would have been ours had not the Ookami interfered. The second mark, is so much more powerful, incredibly powerful. Far more so than the Dokueki no Shukun."

"Allowing this woman to the task does not rest well with me, if she fails we will be forced to wait another full millennia before the chance will come again."

"We had no other choice. We are running out of time."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning…the marks heart has begun to thaw."

"Thaw? How in the hell did that happen?"

"He has fallen under the influence of humans, and the bastard hanyou his father spawned before he died."

"The season of Purification will be complete in four moons. When she wakes, this bond must be broken. Create a rift, kill them if you must…but do not let Lord Sesshomaru escape that which has been cast for generations."

-

The Search
Part Four

Beware the
Reunited Inu-Tachi!

Chapter Thirty-Six
Dirty Little Kit Tricks

-

Kagome flopped down on her bed and growled. To say that she was pissed would have been putting it mildly. InuYasha was supposed to have come home with her, but at the last minute he'd remembered that he promised Kuroki he would help her learn how to catch fish out of the stream. It was always something lately, if it wasn't a yokai attack at a neighboring village that interrupted them it was one of the others.

"KEH!" Kagome puffed out in an excellent imitation of InuYasha. "One of the others my foot." It was always Kuroki.

Kagome closed the magazine she was flipping through and threw it against the wall, she loved the sound so much she picked up her back pack and sent that to join it.

Okay, so maybe it was a little silly to be jealous of a little kid. But in the two weeks since InuYasha had back she'd had no time with him alone. Zip. Nada. Ziltch. She would have thought with Sesshomaru gone for a couple weeks he would have wanted to be with her, especially since he knew how sad she had been when he had left. To make matters worse, Miroku and Sango had sent word they would be back for another week. She felt so damn lonely.

Kagome rolled her head on the pillow and looked at the clock. It was almost dinner time and she had told the others she would be back long before then. Kagome felt a sharp pain in her chest. InuYasha hadn't even come looking for her.

She slid off the edge of the bed, picked up her backpack and bounced down the stairs. Kagome yelled a quick goodbye and then ran to the well house, hoping that maybe Sesshomaru and Rin had returned.

She was disappointed when she climbed up the well and there was no one there to greet her, not even Shippo, which was a little strange. She could hear laughter coming from the vicinity of the stream and she knew it was InuYasha and Kuroki. Kagome debated going to let him know she was back.

"Like he'd even care."

She turned away and headed to the village instead.

-

InuYasha had picked up Kagome's scent when she hit the bottom of the well and hoped that she would come and talk to him. He didn't like the way she had left, she seemed mad about something. He didn't understand it, he thought she would be happy that he was going out of his way to be nice to Kuroki.

When InuYasha had first met her in the village all he could see was little Shippo. Shippo had been about that tiny when they had first met him and he had been nothing short of rotten to him. No, he hadn't been HORRID, but, it was little things, like how he had made Shippo beg him to go and rescue Kagome from the thunder brothers. Or when he promised Shippo he wouldn't hit him if he took the seal off the statue, and then broke his promise right away.

To this day whenever Shippo wanted something from InuYasha and he would say agree, Shippo still looked at him as if he was expecting Inuyasha to pull it away from him at the last minute or break his promise first chance he had. He hated getting that look. InuYasha wanted Shippo to trust him and he figured the best way to show that he was trustworthy was to keep his promises. Raising Shippo, and now Kuroki, like their own pups was kind of like training for when they did have their own, and he wanted Kagome to see that he was trying too.

Kagome's scent began to get fainter and he realized she had gone straight to the village.

"InuYasha? What's wrong?" Kuroki looked at him from the rock she was kneeling on.

"Kagome's back. Wonder why she didn't come see us?"

"Oh…she probably went to the village to see if Lord Sesshomaru was back yet. She told Kaede this morning she hoped he'd be back soon so there would be someone around to talk to."

Kuroki looked at InuYasha's shocked expression and tried not to grin.

-

Kagome and Kaede were sorting herbs when the sound of laughing in the sky alerted them to Lord Sesshomaru's return. Knowing that Sesshomaru wouldn't land Ah-un so near the village children she smiled and waited for he and Rin to come into the village.

"Well, you have certainly perked up" Kaede smiled

"It's hard to believe that someone who was such an enemy can become such a good friend."

"Tis, true. However ye know the best friends are usually those that come from the most unlikely of places. InuYasha for example."

"Keh!" Kagome puffed "Inu-who? He doesn't have time for me anymore."

Kaede laughed "I see the monster of jealousy had returned."

"I'm not jealous, at least…not like THAT, not like I use to be with Kikyo. It's just that we haven't had anytime alone together anytime we tried Kuroki showed up and interrupted us."

"And what of Lord Sesshomaru? Does not his constant presence trouble InuYasha?"

Kagome laughed a little "No, InuYasha has no problem telling Sesshomaru where to go. Besides, InuYasha knows how Sesshomaru feels about me and how I feel about him. He said he couldn't smell any attraction between us in that way."

"And do you sense an attraction between InuYasha and Kuroki?"

Kagome laughed "Of course not…though I do think she has a big crush on him and a hero worship thing for him. He's pretty famous, especially in the northern mountains closer to where we defeated Naraku."

"Have you brought this Sesshomaru his chocolate young miko?"

Kagome turned slightly to see Sesshomaru and Rin approaching. She smiled.

"Yeah, with tons of Almonds Fluffmeister"

Kagome got up to scoop Rin up into a big hug, making her squeak.

"Where is Shippo Kagome-Sama?" Rin patted Kagome's cheek, her skin was so pretty and soft, she hoped hers would be like that one day.

"Inside with two huge boxes of crayons, he's saving one for you."

"One for Rin?" Her eyes were huge

"A color book too, with flowers" Rin wiggled to get down and she bowed to Kagome

"Thank you Kagome-sama. Lord Sesshomaru may I go color with Shippo?"

"You may."

Rin ran off, stopping to give Kaede a hug on her way.

Sesshomaru looked at Kagome, turning his head only a little.

"Young Miko."

"Alpha Fluff."

"Chocolate"

"Please"

"You do not have to beg to give it to this Sesshomaru."

Kagome scooped up her backpack and took out a hand full of Hershey's and handed them to Sesshomaru.

"Thank you. Beta is not with you?"

Kagome shook her head.

"he is where?"

"Who cares? I'm going to go start dinner Kaede. I will see you later."

Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow as she walked into the hut, and then looked at Kaede.

"What has InuYasha no baka done now?"

-

Kuroki skipped around inside the hut annoying the older children.

"Kuroki, go outside if you want to do that." Shippo sighed as she bumped into him, ruining a picture.

"Make me."

"I thought you were fishing with InuYasha."

"We came back, and then when he saw Kagome hug Lord Sesshomaru he got all tense and walked off."

"Why would he do that? He knows they're just friends."

Kuroki saw Kagome from the corner of her eye standing just outside the mat preparing to step in.

"He said that he has a hard time really trusting her because he doesn't know what she really does when she goes home and he isn't with her. He said sometimes she even smells funny when she comes back, like she has been doing something naughty."

Kuroki peeked again just in time to see Kagome gasp and back up.

She grinned. Just one more trick, then InuYasha would be hers forever.

-

Kagome stood in the clearing by the well. She couldn't believe her ears. How could InuYasha say such, horrible things about her…and to Kuroki? If he had suspicions why didn't he ask her? Didn't he trust her anymore?

"Young Miko? You surely haven't run away…."

Kagome turned to look at Sesshomaru and he got a look at her face. The teasing comment he had been about to make was forgotten when he saw her tears."

"Kagome…" Kagome threw herself into his chest. "Tell me what's wrong."

"Inu…Inu…Yasha…thi…thinks. Thinks…he he he can't tr …tr…tr…trust…me, and I smell f…f…fu fu…funny."

"He told you that?" Sesshomaru rubbed her back gently.

"N…n…no."

"Who told you such a thing?"

"K…k…u…kuro…ki."

"She told you?"

Kagome shook her head. "I…I…over…heard her tell Ship…po and R…r…in."

"It will be okay. This Sesshomaru will take care of this. Why do you not go to your home and freshen up and then return? Put on something pretty."

Sesshomaru wiped Kagome's cheeks with his sleeve, then kissed her forehead.

Kagome climbed into the well and jumped.

Sesshomaru turned and walked into the forest to find InuYasha.

-

Sesshomaru had just returned to the well when Kagome climbed out.

"Come; let's go to the village miko."

"Wait, Sesshomaru. I want to talk to you first." Kagome took his hand and stood close.

"What is it?"

"I thought a lot while I was gone. And, I don't want to stay here anymore."

"You will be staying in your own time then?"

Kagome reached out to caress Sesshomaru's cheek.

"No, I wish to be with you."

"What do you mean little miko?"

"I want to live with you, be your mate" She stood on her tip toes and gently kissed his lips.

"What of InuYasha? I thought you loved him little miko?"

"He's always off with the kitsune girl."

"This Sesshomaru must have time, you wish me to betray my brother, I must consider this carefully little miko."

"Of course"

"Come, let us go back."

"You go, InuYasha will be suspicious if we come together."

"As you wish."

When Sesshomaru was free of the clearing Kagome looked around her, double checking to be sure nobody was watching.

"Ha! Hahahahahahaha!" With a pop her form transformed back into the tiny kitsune child. And she lay laughing on the ground.

"Too Easy!"

-

The next morning Kagome and Kaede had just begun breakfast when InuYasha slammed into the hut to confront Kagome.

"Bitch!"

"InuYasha?"

"Did you think he wouldn't tell me?!"

"What are you talking about!?"

"I guess I'm just not your type huh? You need someone you can 'talk' to!?"

"What are you getting mad at me for? I'm the one who should be mad.!"

"For what!?"

"Saying you don't trust me and I smell funny!"

Kuroki put her hand over her mouth.

"I never said that!." He yelled

"Liar!"

"You're the liar Bitch! And a traitor too. Sesshomaru told me"

"Told you what?"

"That you threw yourself at him like some kind of…of…slut."

Kagome gasped. She picked up her things and left the hut. InuYasha followed her out. The last thing Kuroki heard her say was that she was leaving and this time she wasn't coming back.

Kuroki tried not to smile and laugh out loud at her victory.

-

"Hey InuYasha" Kuroki asked that night "Want to go fishing tomorrow?"

"No thanks" he just hung onto Tessiaga and stared at the wall, occasionally wiping at his eyes.

"Ummm. Can I lay on your lap and go to sleep?"

"Not now Kuroki, I just want to be alone." He got up and left the hut

"Jeeze, what's his problem?" Kuroki stared at the door mat

"What do you think stupid" Shippo glared at her "Kagome just broke up with him."

"So?" She didn't get it

"So?!" Shippo really wanted to pound her now "You really are stupid aren't you?"

"What do you mean Shit-po?"

"I mean Crap-oki that you don't know a damn thing about love do you?"

She looked at him, clueless.

"Oh man, you are beyond moron. InuYasha is upset because he loves Kagome and now she isn't a part of his life anymore."

"So ? He'll just get someone else."

"It's not that easy dummy. You have no idea of everything InuYasha and Kagome went through to be together."

"Went through?"

"Yeah, a whole bunch of hard stuff, like InuYasha almost died for Kagome a bunch of times, and she almost died for him and got kidnapped by bad yokai for him. Once she was even under a curse and a snake was going to bite her neck off and she would have let it to make sure InuYasha was safe."

"A snake bit her neck off? Gross."

"That aint even half of it Kuroki. You don't just go and find someone else when you lose someone you love. InuYasha loved someone once before and it took him a long time to be able to get over her and he almost never did. We all thought he was going to die and go to hell with her, until something saved him and he found out he could love someone else."

"What saved him?"

"He fell in love with Kagome."

Kuroki felt a sliver of something very unpleasant begin to invade her chest.

The first pangs of guilt.

-

Kuroki was buzzing around outside annoying Shippo, but she stopped just in time to overhear InuYasha and Kaede talking outside.

"Are ye sure this is what ye want to do InuYasha? I've grown accustomed to having ye underfoot?"

"I'm sorry Kaede; there are just too many memories of Kagome here. It hurt's too much to be here, with the well so close and all."

"I understand InuYasha. You do what ye must. Are ye sure you can not patch things up with her?"

"No, she betrayed me; she was going to leave me for Sesshomaru."

"She denies it."

"Sesshomaru has no reason to lie. This just makes Kagome a liar as well as a slut. No, going to castle Inu no Tashio is the right thing to do. Maybe I can start a new life in the Western Lands."

Kuroki panicked. InuYasha was leaving? Forever? She would never see him again! "Oh no! What have I done!"

"Sesshomaru has arranged also that should Kagome return here to have men execute her for betraying our agreement."

What???

"Perfectly within your right's I am afraid" Kaede agreed "You will be posting guards at the well I assume?"

"How else will we catch her? Like Sesshomaru said, no one betrays an Inu and keeps their head."

No! Kuroki was really panicking now! She couldn't let them kill Kagome! She had to tell the truth, but what if Sesshomaru executed her like that elder was going to?

"If only there were some simple explanation, of course there would be punishment, but nothing too severe I would imagine."

"Well, I guess I'll be off. Take care Kaede"

Shit! Shit! Shit! He was leaving! Kagome was gonna die and it was her fault! She …she…had to stop…oh! No!

Kuroki took off at a dead run for the door.

"InuYasha! InuYasha!" She ran up to him and snatched onto his hakema leg, pulling desperately.

"What?"

"I have to tell you something!"

"I'm in a hurry Kuroki…"

"No! You can't go…you cant let them kill Kagome! It was me! I was playing a joke, I made everything up, I saw Kagome by the backdoor and I made up that you said she smelled funny and that she said she wanted someone to talk to and I pretended to be her coming out of the well the other night and kissed Lord Sesshomaru and I ….I….It's all my fault."

"I know." InuYasha looked at Kuroki sadly

"What?"

"We figured it out a couple days ago Kuroki" Kagome was standing against the side of the hut.

"Oh."

"When the YOUNG miko comes through the well there is light, there was none the night you put on your performance for this Sesshomaru."

"Kagome also doesn't smell like Kitsune and crayons, but Sesshomaru told me the bushes did just before he sent Kagome home to freshen up the other night."

"Could I speak with Kuroki alone please?" Kagome asked

"Of course" Sesshomaru nodded "I understand the young miko returned with more chocolate this morning old miko, shall we pillage her back pack?"

"So we shall." Kaede smiled "With Almonds of course"

Kagome sat and sat with her legs to the side and put her hands out for Kuroki to come to her. Kuroki hesitated, and then went onto her lap, surprised when Kagome gave her a big hug, the kind she gave Shippo that made him squeal.

"I'm sorry Kuroki." Kagome started.

"Oi, what are you sorry for?" Kuroki asked, playing with Kagome's hair. She liked Kagome's hair, it was really soft and pretty, and smelled nice too.

"I'm sorry because I think I haven't been as welcoming to you as I could have been. Maybe you thought a little that I like Shippo more than you and play favorites."

"You've known Shippo more, you should love him more."

"Nope…" Kagome shook her head "I've just loved him longer. I've got a lot of love in my heart and I have plenty for a little kit like you too."

"I know a secret; want to know what secret I know Kuroki?"

"What?"

"You have a crush on InuYasha."

Kuroki blushed

Kagome giggled a little "It's okay, before I loved InuYasha; I had a crush on him too. But when we love people, we don't do things to hurt them. Have you thought about how much it would have hurt InuYasha if he had thought what you did was true?"

Kuroki shook her head. When she looked up she had tears on her face.

"I'm sorry Kagome, I didn't know that you let a snake bite off your neck so InuYasha would love you!"

"What?" Kagome smiled

"Shippo told me that a snake bit off your neck and you let it cause it made InuYasha love you…wait…that's not what he said." She sighed "Shit, now I'm fucked up."

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry. I mean Shit, now I'm confused."

Kagome laughed.

"I do remember something Shippo told me."

"What's that?"

"That InuYasha use to be really unhappy until you came and made him happy again"

Kagome smiled, her little Shippo was certainly growing up.

"I'm sorry Kagome. I promise I won't ever do anything like that again." Kuroki hugged Kagome, then backed up and kissed her cheek.

"I forgive you. But he's gonna be tougher." Kagome pointed to where InuYasha sat against the side of the hut.

Kuroki slid off Kagome's lap and scampered over to him.

"InuYasha?"

He glanced at her.

"I came to say I'm sorry."

He nodded

"Are you going to be mad at me a long time?"

"Probably."

"Kagome isn't mad at me anymore. How come you can't be not mad at me?"

"You tried to do something really bad to someone that I love with all my heart. You hurt her, and when things hurt her, they hurt me."

"I understand."

Kuroki walked into the hut and lay down on her mat, crying softly. She had learned a lesson today, harshly.

-

Kagome sat down by InuYasha and rested her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her, then bent his head down and kissed her.

"I'm sorry Kagome; I thought I was doing the right thing by hanging out with her."

"You were. You didn't know what she was up to, neither did I. I'm just glad Sesshomaru figured it out."

"For a minute today, this all felt real, like you had really left me forever. It really hurt."

"InuYasha, I could never leave you."

"You couldn't?"

"No, you know where I live."

InuYasha laughed and pulled her close again, then whispered just before he covered her lips with his.

"I love you Kagome."

"I love you too."

-

Chapter Thirty-Seven Preview

Miroku and Sango return to face Kagome's wrath!

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-Sorry...My announcement has been delayed---promise it will be here next chapter!