Kagome opened her eyes and felt pain radiate through her skull at the brightness that surrounded her. Squeezing them tightly shut, she slapped her hand over them and tried again, a little slower, letting the light filter in between her fingers. When her eyes adjusted she pulled her hand away and stared up into the branches of the Goshinboku. 'That's weird. I wasn't near the Goshinboku today.' Wondering how she gotten there and if InuYasha had brought her, she sat up slowly, brushing her bangs back out of her face and picking leaves off the fire rat robe.

Turning to the left she froze as her heart stuttered in fear. A large white dragon watched her, slivery claws lightly tapping out a rhythm. The long sinuous body and tail covered most of the ground around the tree, the head was wide tapering down to a delicate snout with deep set nostrils and long whiskers. Ridges of bone and spikes rose where one would expect eyebrows to be, and the eyes swirled with a deep blue radiance. Spikes rose in a crested frill surrounding the head and guarding the neck. "Bout time you woke up darling. I've been waiting for you." Kagome gave a startled shriek and scrambled backwards into the trunk of the tree. "Now, now, I'm not going to eat you." The dragon chuckled and a puff of white frost seemed to come from its mouth.

"What… how… who are you?" Kagome reached for InuYasha and found a vast emptiness making her gasp and grab for her chest at the pain.

"Who do you think I am Kagome? Don't be doing that darling, it will only hurt you. You can't reach your mate here." The dragon shifted closer, head coming down beside her, and watched Kagome from a big blue eye.

White dragon, big blue eyes… "Chiyoko? But… you died! Does that mean… oh no!" Kagome's hands flew, one to her abdomen and one to her mouth, as the horror of the thought made her almost sick.

"Stop darling! You are not dead but I needed to speak with you. Takeshi is an accomplished dream walker and drew you here for me." Lips peeled back over fangs like swords and she grinned over her back as her mate shifted.

The large black dragon's head raised behind the white's back and stared down at her making Kagome gape slightly in surprise. The black had the crested frill of spikes as she did but his brow ridges continued down the long line of his nose, scales larger and more pronounced, his snout tapered to a point with close set nostrils and his fangs were so long they passed his lower jaw. Were Chiyoko had skin of tightly packed, tiny scales like a snake, Takeshi's were large diamond shaped plates, hard as steel, with a ridge of boney spines running down his back and along the length of his tail. He lifted a long muscular foreleg, each toe tipped with a curved golden talon as long as Tetsusaiga, and wrapped it over Chiyoko's back. Deep black eyes, swirling with blue, watched her carefully. He was so large, almost double Chiyoko, Kagome wasn't sure how she failed to see him to begin with.

Takeshi had a true-form? "I don't understand." Turning her eyes back to Chiyoko she watched as the youkai pulled herself in and assumed her human shape. She was so tiny! A petite woman with generously rounded curves over a slim build, she had white hair but it was short and spiked all over like an icy crown. Her demon marks matched the startling ice blue eyes, two slashes over each cheek, leading back to her pointed ears, and one around each wrist. She wore a kimono and hakama in white, with deep purple accents, flowers reminiscent of Sesshomaru's graced the edges. How so large a dragon could become so small a woman, Kagome had no idea.

Chiyoko walked swiftly towards her. "I have much to tell you Kagome and only a little time to do it in." Reaching down, she helped the girl stand. "But first…" She pulled her in and hugged her tight. "Thank you so much for what you've done for Sess! I could have kicked him a few decades ago but these last four years and especially this last week… he has made me so very proud!" Her laughter flowed out and the sound, like chiming bells, had Kagome smiling.

"Sess?" She grinned at Chiyoko.

"Ha! Sesshomaru… what a mouthful! He was a puppy when we first met him and had this daunting name. 'Killing perfection' my foot! Sess fit him better." Chiyoko chuckled as Kagome's eyes danced with laughter.

Takeshi's large head came closer and his brow furrowed as he inhaled. "She is one of my line." Chiyoko's head whipped up in surprise. "Yes I'm sure! Think you I can't scent my own bloodline." He harrumphed at her, breath hot against Kagome's skin, and dropped his true-form as well. He strode towards them exactly as Sesshomaru described him. Tall and muscular with long black hair down his back, excessive claw and fang length and the scaled vambraces, he was dressed in a black and gold kimono and hakama under armor in a style similar to her onii-san, with a curved sword hanging from his hip.

Kagome stared at him in confusion. "How do you have a true-form if you're human?" Chiyoko's head whipped back her way. The woman was going to have whiplash if she kept doing that.

"Why would you assume my mate is human Kagome darling?" Fangs glinted as she grinned a wicked youkai smile.

"But… Sesshomaru… he said Takeshi was human, had taken on dragon traits as I've adopted Inu ones." She was very confused and her head hurt as she lifted her hand to brush back the hair that had come forward when Takeshi had breathed on her.

Chiyoko laughed hard, hands on her knees as she gasped for air and Takeshi wasn't much better as his deep roll of laughter followed. Breathing hard, Chiyoko found some control, giggled a bit more and turned back to Kagome. "Let's start at the beginning. Takeshi says you're of his line, you carry dragon blood in you! From your brother maybe?" She looked up into Takeshi's dark eyes. They had never had their own children but Takeshi did have youkai siblings.

Holding out his hand for Kagome's he asked, "May I?" and when she gave him her hand he turned it palm up and pressed his nose against her wrist. Breathing deep his eyes flashed with blue sparks. "Mmm, yes she is of Toru. Welcome little ryuu-mei (dragon niece)! Though you carry but a drop from many generations past, it is enough to be family." He grinned and his long fangs slid over his bottom lip.

Kagome stared at them both in disbelief. "I… what? Dragon?" She sat back down slowly.

Chiyoko sat gracefully beside her. "Yes darling! It makes much sense now. The deep voice, the old one that speaks in your soul, it awakened with your mating. Your Inu is very strong and his youki would have revived your dragon blood. I was wondering why you had two." She patted Kagome's knee and smiled.

"Two what?" Kagome was having a hard time following Chiyoko's rapid thought changes as she rubbed at her forehead, it really was sore. Chiyoko and Takeshi exchanged quick, worried glances over her bowed head.

"You have two sets of instincts, the Dragon of your blood and the Inu of your mating." She held up her hand before Kagome could ask. "You are so very special Kagome! The combination of dragon, inu and the priestess powers you were also born with are unique. Blended, your instincts screamed for those girls today. Do you know why?" Kagome shook her head. "The little one, the fighter who impressed Sess and reminded him of you… she is your ancestor. We think because you are living through your past, your bonding is different, changing. You are becoming the protector of your lineage darling, you and your mate! It is new and special, something they've never seen in a soul bonding before." She giggled at Kagome's awe filled face. "You are living through your past to create your future and we want nothing to interfere with your fall down the well, so the bond has changed you, given you both so much more!"

Kagome shook her head, waving her hands before her, "Wait! What? Protect my lineage, changed the bond, and who is we?" Kami's she was so confused!

"Ok Kagome just breathe for a moment." She glanced worriedly at Takeshi. "Go get him." Takeshi nodded and left. "Kagome, darling, you are so very special." She cupped the young woman's cheek. "So much more than I ever was. You and your mate have such a destiny before you both!" Grinning wide enough to flash her fangs she stroked Kagome's bangs back. "Don't be scared. You two won't even have to try, it will just… happen. Listen to the voices that speak within you and they will lead you in the right direction. Make sure that hard headed mate of yours does the same." Taking Kagome's hands she helped her back to her feet. "Come. There's something you need to see and someone you need to meet. We'll walk and talk and I will answer what I can."

Kagome went with her into the trees, similar but different to InuYasha's forest, she didn't really have a choice as the dragon drew her along. "Where are we? It's InuYasha's forest but…not." She watched an iridescent blue butterfly flit along the path beside them. Flowers bloomed in a rainbow of colors and she could see small animals pacing alongside them deeper in the trees.

Chiyoko linked her arm through Kagome's. "Takeshi created this place for you to walk in between your world and ours. He wanted you to be comfortable so he made it look like your mate's forest… with a few tweaks!" She giggled as a pink bunny hopped across the path.

Kagome grinned, "What is a dream walker?" She'd used that term before in regards to Takeshi.

"A dream walker, darling, is someone who can slip into the dreams of others. They can both watch and participate, changing the course of a bad dream to a good one. Takeshi was the strongest one ever seen." She smiled up at her mate as he stepped out of the forest and joined them on the path. "He is coming?"

Takeshi nodded and stroked his hand over Chiyoko's shoulder causing her kimono to gape slightly and giving Kagome a glimpse of the mark that graced her throat. A pattern of red and orange flames under a black six pointed star but she missed what the kanji said. "Tell your mate that he is becoming an accomplished dream walker. Soon he will be able to travel farther than just your dreams Kagome." Takeshi was impressed at how quickly the ability had developed for InuYasha.

"He did manage to pull me from a nightmare." The memory of Kikyo that she had turned into a prison with her barrier, he'd stepped in to helper her then.

Takeshi chuckled, "He has walked in your dreams on many occasions ryuu-mei."

Kagome stopped and gapped up at him. "He's doing WHAT?"

Chiyoko giggled, "He does the same for you that Takeshi has always done for me. He guards your dreams Kagome, watches over you and on occasion joins you. Have you never noticed that sometimes when you dream of your mate he seems… more… more real, more present, and sometimes, he doesn't know things that he should? That he asks questions he should already have answers to in your dream world?" Laughing, she cupped Kagome's cheek. "He is your shugosha darling, why would he not protect you there too." Linking their arms again she continued down the path.

Takeshi nodded, "If he was not so vigilant we would have spoken with you sooner but even when he sleeps he guards your dreams Kagome." The hanyou hardly left her mind and it had made it exceedingly hard to get through to his niece.

Kagome stayed silent for the moment as she thought about some of the dreams she'd been having. They had seem a little…off but she'd always enjoyed them. She pushed it to the side for now, having still more questions than answers. "So the bond I have with InuYasha… it's different than yours with Takeshi?" She still wasn't really sure what they meant.

"Yes darling! You true mated a Taisho Inu, mixing two powerful blood lines, two sets of instincts older than time and a miko's powers." Chiyoko pulled a little to get the girl to hurry. "The instincts in you will help you to protect those who came before you. You are living in your own past and that can screw up the future if we're not careful. The bandits that took you today… that wasn't supposed to happen. When your instincts rose so beautifully… it was to put the future back in order. Little Aiko would have had her fate changed if the brother's hadn't reached her in time. If she had changed… you'd have changed darling, possibly never making it to your InuYasha the first time."

Kagome could see it, change one small thing and change everything. "So by being here I'm changing my own history but I can keep things on the right track by paying attention to what I can… 'see'. Won't having met InuYasha and Sesshomaru change her path anyways?"

"Sort of and no." Chiyoko sighed, "Timelines are tricky things. Small changes can create big waves, but other small changes can keep a path straight. Aiko wants to be a miko like the great Kagome-sama. You were supposed to be here, fight and defeat Naraku, to inspire her. She sets your family on the path to the Higurashi Shrine. That was already her destiny and it matters little if she has friends who are youkai that she believes are good. Have you never wondered where your mother's gentle understanding of your mate came from? Simply listen when your instincts speak and you will keep everything on track, though they can't see you having to rescue your future very often."

Kagome had often wondered at the acceptance her mother had always showed InuYasha. It had been so easy for her, unlike her Jii-chan. "What about Katsumi? I understand with Jaken, Rin and with my onii-san their wounds were across the soul and I could just 'feel' what they needed, what was right. Katsumi… she was different."

Chiyoko smiled at how smart Kagome was, how perceptive to see the difference. "You're right darling. Katsumi had an obsession, a sickness of the mind if you will. This is where your bond has changed again. You 'see' so much more than I did, you're so much more powerful with InuYasha at your side. You healed what was wrong in her mind Kagome as well as her soul. I could heal a soul scar in a blink if my help was accepted but I couldn't have helped that poor child to release the obsession with your mate. Choosing to become a healer, that is a brilliant idea! We need to keep moving darling." She tugged a little harder on Kagome leading her off the path towards a wall of vines.

"But if I'm supposed to be this pure soul, why do I sometimes want to see vengeance? Like with the bandits today. I wanted Sesshomaru and InuYasha to make them pay." Kagome rubbed at her forehead again, it felt like right before you get a headache when it's just starting to throb.

Chiyoko's laughter tinkled out. "Kagome you are carrying two sets of instincts born of predators! Of course they will on occasion cry out for blood. There is nothing wrong with that, you will just not be able to do the bloodletting. It will make you sick darling to be physically violent for any reason other than protection of yourself or someone else, even then it might hurt a little. That is why we have warriors for mates more often than not." She grinned at Takeshi.

"And the pain and weakness I already experience when I release either reiki or youki, how long will that last?" Sesshomaru hadn't know the answer so maybe Chiyoko would.

"Until your body strengthens enough to not be constantly draining it. You are growing stronger to be a fitting match for you incredibly powerful Inu, your reiki is doing that for you, but it will take time. Until then anytime you do a healing, or release power with strong emotions, you will be tired and your mate will have to rebuild your reiki. Speaking of strong emotions, I still can't believe you pulled Sess's hair!" She smirked and patted Kagome's arm as she blushed.

"Ah… here we are. Look." Brushing the vines away she revealed a reflecting pool and drew Kagome towards it.

Kagome stepped through the curtain of vines into a circular clearing only wide enough to hold the small, crystal clear pool with a foot of blue green grass surrounding it. Willow trees dripped long branches around them, enclosing the clearing in soft green walls made of leaves. Looking up she could see the trees leaned gently inward allowing only a single shaft of sunlight to filter down and sparkle on the water.

"Look deep darling." Chiyoko swept her hand over the water, snowflakes dancing from her fingertips.

Stepping cautiously forward, Kagome looked into the water. She saw her past, the well, Naraku and her friends. InuYasha was there as well, always in the middle of things, the center of her world. Time moved on and she saw her return, their mating, and the wedding. Then the future unfolded before her and she gasped, their pups, their life together, it flashed by in a blaze of colour, five hundred years of time in the beat of her heart until finally it slowed and she watched as they, herself and InuYasha, sat high in the branches of the Goshinboku watching the sad eyed girl make a slow trek to the well house, soon followed my her mother, where she went in but never came out. Only her mama did, crying happy and sad tears.

"Look again darling." Chiyoko waved her hand over the water and it froze, then cracked and thawed, and the scenes played once more. This time it was slower, through the past, their current present, and slowed to unfold over war, blood and death. Battles raged as InuYasha and Sesshomaru fought in the thick of it and as she watched, they fell under the swords of their enemies. Screaming in horror, she collapsed hard to her knees. Kagome cried great gulping sobs, pain tearing through her as she reached for InuYasha desperately trying to find him.

Strong arms wrapped her as she knelt there, a familiar rumbling purr rolling around her and she shuddered in relief, thinking InuYasha had somehow found her but the voice that spoke behind her resonated for a different reason. "Be easy musume (daughter). These are possible futures not definitive." The deep tone was one she'd heard only once but would never forget. As he lifted her from the ground to her feet and turned her in his arms, hands holding her elbows gently, Kagome looked up into the face of Inu no Taisho and stared in awe.

He chuckled at her surprise. "Just as beautiful as I remember musume. My son is blessed indeed to have such a mate." Raising his hand he stroked the tears from her cheek softly with his knuckles. He had seen this girl fight for his son during the battle with Sō'unga and had witness his son rescue her as well. Even then their bond had been incredibly strong. "Thank you Kagome. You have done me a service for which I could never express my gratitude enough. To see Sesshomaru and InuYasha work together, be brothers in more than just name… it was my greatest wish." Wrapped in his fire-rat robe, he study the little woman who was InuYasha's mate. Her gentle spirit, soul so pure, glowed softly within her.

Kagome knew she was staring but this was their father! The youkai before her looked the same as she'd seen before. Armor like InuYasha's over the blue and white kimono, hair in a high tail, marks a slash of blue over his sharp cheek bones. He was a stunning and powerful Inu warrior. "Kami's he looks like you!" She blurted out without thinking and blushed. His laughter rumbled over the small pool, deep and husky like Sesshomaru's.

"I'm glad that pleases you musume." Humor fading, he turned her back to the pool and Chiyoko. "What you have seen are possibilities. Those who ran down Chiyoko and her mate… they will come for you Kagome, for you and InuYasha both. You're light is so pure… it is beyond any we have ever seen. You will do great things little bird, given the opportunity." He stroked his hand down her hair, using Sesshomaru's name for his Imouto to help her be at ease. "Your mate, my son, he has something he must do before the new moon, Sesshomaru must help him and has what he needs. They must work together or what Chiyoko has shown you… it will be your future."

"How do you know all this? You keep saying we, who is we?" Kagome turned to look up at her mate's father. It was so strange to be having this conversation. The Inu before her carried the same presence, the same demonic energy, as both his sons and standing with him, gazing across the reflecting pool, she could almost believe she stood with InuYasha or Sesshomaru the feeling was so similar.

He smiled down at the small woman. "The previous soul bonded pair and some enterprising Kami, Kagome. They look after the new ones, help strengthen and direct their destinies, Chiyoko has been guiding yours for a few years." Her hand had come up and was resting on his vambrace. 'Tactile little thing.' He thought with a chuckle. Setting his hand over hers, he gave it a gentle squeeze. "She and Takeshi watch over you both and look towards your future."

"What do they need to do?" Eyes hardening with determination she spun back to Chiyoko. "And who is coming for us, when?" They needed to prepare.

"I will tell you soon darling, but first you asked how Takeshi could have a true-form if he was human." She held her hand out as he walked towards her, wrapping her tight from behind. "Answer me this Kagome, how do soul bonds form?"

"Myoga said they happen with a perfect pairing, when the souls just… belong together." She wasn't really sure what else it entailed.

Chiyoko smiled softly. "Yes darling, perfect is right. You and your hanyou are perfect together. As am I with mine, as are all the soul bonded pairs." The look of shock on Kagome's face had her tinkling laughter flowing through the air and the hanyou behind her joining in.

"Musume… it is through the hanyou mate that soul bonds form. The pairing must still be with their true-mate and most hanyou, as persecuted as they are, never find theirs. They never reach their full potential. Your soul is so perfect for my son, your gifts so strong before you mated, that your bond is… so much more than we ever expected. The love you have for him Kagome, the love you showed him during your shard hunt, it was what allowed you two to become a new soul bonded pair. It is why you are Tamashi no Chiyu no Hikari, your soul child… so very pure." The great dog general took her hands and pressed them to his heart. "So many things can go wrong before a bonding that ruin the chance, but you two… you never failed, never gave up and never deviated, even when the kami tested your resolve and kept you apart those three years."

Chiyoko walked up and placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder. "This morning when you realized how much you'd hurt him and no we aren't always watching, just when there is a fluctuation because… wow you two are worse than rabbits," She giggled as Kagome blushed. "When you saw his soul, read him so well and apologized, you strengthened your bond even more."

Blushing as she stood between Chiyoko and Inu no Taisho she asked, "Why do soul bonds only form for hanyou?"

"Because darling, hanyou are a blending of the truest form of love. I'm not talking about the unfortunate hanyou that come from…rape, but the ones who come out of the deep love of a human and a youkai. That is why Inu and Izayoi are here helping us watch over you. It was their pure love that created your mate and has allowed for your bond." She laughed softly. "So many things have to go right, be absolutely exact, to get a soul bond to form and you two… heavens Kagome… you two are beyond belief perfect!"

She smiled shyly at the praise and asked, "But why did Sesshomaru think Takeshi was human? And how do you have a true-form if you're hanyou?" Kagome gazed up into the deep dark eyes of the black dragon as her brow furrowed in confusion.

Chiyoko giggled behind her hand, "Sess was a little…" She looked to Inu no Taisho for help.

"He was an unobservant puppy, spending too much time thinking deep thoughts and not paying attention to the world around him. How many times did I have to go find his lost hide in the forest?" He sighed heavily. "It was my fault. Gone on campaign or doing battle somewhere, I didn't realize how hard his early years where. My court… they were cold and unfeeling and he spent too much time alone. Then everything with him changed and it wasn't until after I died that I understood what and why." He thrust his hand over his hair, stroking over his tail and Kagome wanted to smirk at seeing where her mate and his brother had inherited the mannerism.

Chiyoko smiled up at Takeshi, "When he met us that first day, Sess jumped to a conclusion and we let him believe it." Brushing Takeshi's hair back, she tucked it behind the softly rounded human ear and grinned at Kagome when she giggled. "Takeshi changed very little with our mating. Though I was stronger, being a full demon, he already had these," She tapped a claw against his scaled forearm. "And the scales down his spine. You only developed more advanced senses and longer fangs and claws, isn't that right darling?" Her smile, so full of love for her mate when he looked down at her, had a soft violet aura forming around them. "His hanyou heritage was ingrained on his flesh as much as your mate's ears show his. We left Sess to his assumption, hanyou were so persecuted, we didn't need another reason to be hunted. Born of a fire dragon father and human mother, he'd survived three hundred years when I found him." Takeshi's hand came up and caressed her cheek as she leaned her head into his palm. "We'd been mate's for another two hundred when we met Sess and our aura's had blended so perfectly there was no more definitive line between his youki and mine, another reason he assumed my mate was human. We still shared youki, as you two do, but it was for the… pleasure of the act not because he needed it." Chiyoko blushed and ran her hand over Takeshi's heart. "Though I told him everything about what our soul bond brought us, how it worked for me, we didn't tell him everything about us in general."

"Did someone do this for you? Pull you into a dream and answer all your question?" Kagome asked Chiyoko, happy to finally have answers.

"Similar. We had dreams that gave us some answers but only Takeshi has been a strong enough dream walker to pull you here. Because of the crack you took to the skull today it has made things… easier and harder." Easier because InuYasha couldn't guard against Takeshi but harder for what it was doing to InuYasha physically.

Takeshi turned his dark eyes back to Kagome. "When we died we were given a choice by the Kami's. Move on to the next life and be reborn, finding each other again, or stay as we are and watch over the next soul bonded pair, receive new gifts to compliment the ones we already have to help you on your journey when you needed it." Reaching out he caught her fingers with his, lifting her hand so her ring sparkled brightly in the dim light. "It was an easy choice to make ryuu-mei. Stronger than any that came before us, we knew we could help the next soul bonded pair, you and your mate, that much more even though we had to wait for you. When we accepted, I was gifted my true-form by them."

Chiyoko laughed, "He always envied me mine, lovely dragon that I am!" She tugged gently on a length of his hair.

He snorted and a little puff of smoke drifted upwards. "Not at the first meeting little witch. You destroyed my house!" Crossing his arms he glared down at her.

Kagome laughed and touched Chiyoko's arm, "He calls you witch? InuYasha always calls me wench!" Giggling, she grinned and her fangs glinted, "I wish…"

"You wish to know our story Kagome?" Takeshi's eyes sparked with blue lights. "I can make that happen for you if you like. Consider it my gift ryuu-mei."

"How?" Kagome asked, excited at the idea, she really wanted to know how these two met.

Takeshi chuckled at her excitement, the sound deep and gravely. "A dream Kagome. I will send you a dream, just make sure your mate lets me in." Her squeal of happiness had his heart lifting.

Inu no Taisho had been patient but time was running short. "Musume… will you walk with me?" Turning back towards the path she had traveled with Chiyoko he offered her his left arm, stiffening when she burst out laughing. "What is so funny little bird?" Raising a brow as he narrowed his eyes at InuYasha's mate.

Kagome gasped a little, trying to breathe and get control her laughter, and gave a little bow. "Gomen ne Gifu (father-in-law), it is just that I see now where InuYasha and Sesshomaru have inherited their mannerisms. They are so very much like you!" Smiling up into his eyes, she saw the glitter in the gold, and felt her heart stutter in longing for her mate. Kagome placed her fingers softly in the crook of his elbow.

Pleased beyond measure that she would call him gifu, he rumbled a soft purr, and stepped through the vines. She was his son's mate and he was honored to call her musume, to him she was already as much his pup as either of his sons and he had no qualms about using his purr to calm her or show his happiness, both she and InuYasha would use it for their own pups one day. "I wish you could have met Izayoi on your journey here but it was not to be. Takeshi could only bring one and she sent me. Kagome… will you take a message to InuYasha for me and one for Sesshomaru?" He could feel Takeshi and Chiyoko following but not close enough to overhear.

Kagome pulled him to a stop. "Of course I will! But for InuYasha… I can show him so… if you'd like… just speak to me as if I was him and I'll show him the memory." She blushed a little at the offer, unsure if he would want to be that open in front of her. They'd only just met after all.

Astonishment filled his golden eyes and he cupped her cheek. "Kagome… I… you surprise me with your generosity even now. Even after seeing all you've done for InuYasha."

"You've been watching to then? How are you involved in all this?" She waved her hand, trying to encompass more than just their surroundings in her meaning. A sparkly orange butterfly came up and landed on the spike of his pauldron, catching her eye before flitting away.

Stroking her cheek with his thumb he saw the glitter as her eyes began to darken. Her alpha was rising and they were getting short on time. "I too was given a choice upon my death. Izayoi and I chose to stay and be guardians of a sort as well, not of soul bonded pairs but in a similar line. When the need arose to draw you in and teach you what InuYasha would need to do to be able to secure your future I was allowed to help but I have always taken time to watch over my sons. We must hurry musume, time is growing short." He took her hand and pulled her to the side of the path.

Takeshi and Chiyoko hung back and watched as Inu had a moment with his daughter in law. "Will they succeed saiai? Were we failed for you, will they make it?" Chiyoko turned tear filled eyes up to Takeshi's. Cupping her chin he leaned down and rested his forehead against hers.

"I don't know yet my mate, but I believe it, I have hope for them." He kissed her softly and they lost themselves in each other. Time slipped away until they heard Kagome suddenly groan.

Kagome's head gave a hard throb and she groaned, pressing her hand to her forehead. "Why does my head hurt so much?" She had to grab onto Inu's forearm to stay upright as a spear of pain slammed through her mind.

Chiyoko ran for Kagome, they'd waited too long. "We must hurry, your mate won't last much longer. He's holding on by his claws as it is." Gesturing to Inu he scooped Kagome up and took off at run back to the Goshinboku.

When they reached the tree he gently set her against it. "Kagome… tell my sons… I am so very proud of them." Cupping her cheeks he kissed her forehead and stepped away. "InuYasha was correct musume, Izayoi likes you a lot." She had wanted Kagome to know.

Kagome was panting a little, her mate's distress was starting to bubble inside her. "I can… feel… InuYasha." It felt horrible! He was in so much pain and his demon was screaming.

"Hold on Kagome, just breathe! Takeshi wasn't able to find his true-form while we lived, his fire dragon form, he never reached his full potential. InuYasha must find his before his human night or he will not reach his full strength. He must reach it darling!" She gripped Kagome's hands hard.

"But… he's hanyou. How… can he… find his… true-form? He's not… strong… enough." She forced the words out through the pain, grasping at her heart as it tried to pound out of her chest. Chiyoko placed her hand on Kagome's chest and released a stream of what felt like ice across her skin making the pain lessen.

Locking eyes with Kagome, Chiyoko frowned. "That won't hold for long. The night of your wedding darling, what did you see, what did you feel?"

Kagome, panting, thought hard, "He was… so strong… so powerful… eye's solid gold… alpha…"

Grabbing her shoulders Chiyoko squeezed. The girl had to get there herself, she could only lead the way. "What else Kagome? Think darling! What else?"

A flash of memory struck her. "Demon… marks… slash of… purple but not jag…ged… like… Sessho… maru."

"Yes! He was wearing full demon marks! The full moon built him up to his father's power." She glanced at Inu and saw his fangs flash as he grinned in pride. "Before the new moon can drain him, he must find his true-form and Sess can help. He has what InuYasha needs! We couldn't do it for Takeshi, we had no help and missed our opportunity!"

"What…Sess... have?" The pain started returning as the ice across her chest began melting but Kagome stared at Chiyoko. The dragon turned to look at Inu and Kagome's eyes followed. His eyes had gone to the full alpha gold, holding the same promise of death as InuYasha's, and looming larger than before he smiled at her before turning to walk into the forest, stopping to glance back at her over his shoulder before striding into the trees and disappearing. Something was… different about him from her previous vision of their father.

"Remember Kagome." Chiyoko's eyes begged her to understand. "There is only so much I can answer some you have to discover on your own."

"Who's…coming… and when?" Gritting her teeth Kagome pressed on, feeling her alpha rise to help her.

"You've got time, thirty years at least before they come for you. If your mate can find his Inu true-form the battle will be short. If he can't, he'll lose some of his strength and…" She shook her head as Kagome's eyes filled and her tears fell. "They're evil Kagome, worse than Naraku. They want your abilities and think killing you will get it for them. They call themselves Shi no Keshin and sent their followers to capture us but we fought and died. They were unable to 'steal' our strength like they have with others before us. They will learn of you and come for you eventually. Be careful darling!"

Groaning, Kagome collapsed over her knees. InuYasha's anguish had tripled as the ice around her heart melted. "Why… hurt… so much?" Takeshi knelt down beside her.

"He can't find you darling and it's causing his demon to destabilize. He is slowly going insane! One last thing and we'll send you home, I have a gift for you if you will accept it." Leaning forward she whispered in Kagome's ear.

Kagome's eyes widened. "You can… do that?" Chiyoko nodded. "Then yes!" She felt the youki swell and Chiyoko breathed her icy vapour over her as InuYasha's anguish hit her and she screamed. Takeshi touched his fingers to her forehead and everything faded.

Opening her eyes to darkness, she could just make out the soft glow of Tetsusaiga. InuYasha's pain was so great she reached for her mate as he drew her closer. "Inu…" When he squeezed her tighter and didn't answer she tried harder. "Yasha… I can't… breathe." She touched his wet face and realized he'd been crying. He bobbled his hold on her, almost dropping her completely and she stared up into alpha gold eyes swirling with red.

"Ka… Kagome…" He shuddered and slipped his mind against hers. "Where have you been?" His mouth crashed down on hers, cutting off her answer.


A/N: Hope that answers a few questions! R&R as always! And WOW the out pouring of comments yesterday... incredible! Thanks so much!