A/N: Dear all, thank you for reading. A special shoutout to those who left the much-appreciated reviews (kagurababy, devi no kaze and two guests). This chapter will be much longer. I'll try to have the next one published this weekend.

Part 2: Green, apart

"This Sesshoumaru has come to ask you to bear my heir."

The fan which had been used to hide Kagura's face fell to the ground. In that moment she told herself she shouldn't have stood under the blazing summer sun for so long. Next time she would carry out Kohaku's training session in a shadier place. Insolation had to be why she was suddenly hallucinating. That was the only way to explain why after so many years Sesshoumaru would seek her out to utter such a surprising thing.

"Will you not give me an answer?"

He expected an answer to his ridiculous question?

Instead of answering, she rounded him and bent over to come observe his backside. Her brazen unexpected action surprised him so much that he did not react when she dared tug Mokomoko-sama to the side to have a better view of his rear.

"No kitsune or tanuki tail. I thought you were Hachi or Shippou playing a trick inspired by Miroku."

That she dared compare him to weak youkai who resorted to tricks and a lecherous monk enraged him. Still, somehow he managed not to let his anger explode. Finally, the sorceress let go of his fur and went back to face him.

She picked up her fan, dusted it, and slipped it back in her sleeve. All efforts to buy time to compose herself before speaking. Still when she spoke it came out as an explosion.

"What the fuck are you thinking? What kind of dumb question is this anyways?"

He remained unpertured by her insults. "Your answer witch."

She rolled her eyes.

"Sorry to disappoint you… but I'm not interested in having your kid. Or any kid for that matter. It would get in the way of my… lifestyle."

Her words were met with silence. Sesshoumaru stared at her long and hard. Not one to back down, she stared right back at him.

"Then we have no more to discuss." He turned on his heels and followed the path taken earlier by Kohaku. He would stop by the village to see Rin before heading back to the West.

"Be well Kagura."

The last words casually thrown over his shoulder broke her.

"Wait that's it?"

The last time they had been face to face she had thought she was dying and he had tried, and failed to save her. Whenever she had indulged in thinking about how their first meeting since her return would go down, never had she imagined this. Neither Sesshoumaru nor she were comfortable with displays of emotions, but she had thought that it would be grander than this. She was also quite annoyed that after dropping such a bombshell he could so easily walk away.

For the past decade they had been dancing around each other. She knew everything he had been up to and imagined he had also kept informed of her comings-and-goings. Still, they had managed to remain well away from each other. It was easier than discussing the nature of their strange bond. The man had refused to help her, and had only come to her aid once he had been witness to her 'death'. After her return she had had no wish to face him, so every time he stepped foot in Musahi, a breeze would warn her and she would make sure to stay well away. She had not been able to prevent their encounter that day as she had promised Kohaku she would help train him. Lies and deception were Naraku's trade, she had sworn to herself she would be as opposite to him as possible, so she strived to remain true and honest. There was also the fact that she was curious to see Sesshoumaru again. She had become stronger in the past years, strong enough to never be held in chains, nor need to ask another for help. Strong enough to explore the strange feelings the infuriating dog had always evoked in her.

Sesshoumaru did not even bother turning around to face her, nor answer her question.

"Asshole!" She spit out angrily at his retreating back.

What had gotten into him suddenly? How dare he ask her to bear his heir and in a such a blunt manner? The man was so hard to figure out.

She plucked a feather from her bun and flew high to hide among the clouds. Contrary as to when she had been living without her heart beating in her chest, she had found that since her return she had more need of food and rest. In the beginning, while she had been getting used to having a body once again, this had proved to be a hardship. Finding a safe place where one could be vulnerable did not come easy. Those were the times when she had spent more time than she would have liked seeking refuge in Inuyasha's village. At least as time went on she found herself needing less and less food and rest. Eventually she hoped that such as centuries old youkai of Sesshoumaru's stature she too would be able to get by without such earthly sustenance. Thinking of that damn dog and their odd encounter intrigued and enraged her. He was just a few miles away in the village, he might try to come upon her for another unexpected chat, and this time she wanted to be the one to surprise him. So, she kept her feather floating around as she closed her eyes for some much-needed rest. To her annoyance that night she dreamt of a silver haired child with crimson eyes.

Sesshoumaru did not come find her during the night, nor the next morning. Kagura was furious with herself for being so disappointed. She had thought that her crush on him had died. She had been given a second chance at life and had decided not to carry on any regrets from when she had lived under Naraku's thumb. She was the mistress of her life and she did as she pleased. How dare Sesshoumaru come in and knock her over? With just a few words he had turned her life upside down, filling her mind with strange ideas. Kagura was in the mood to blow some steam, so she headed to Inuyasha's village. Kohaku was about to get quite the work out today. A quick check on the breeze had told her that Sesshoumaru had gone back to the West. Good riddance.

"Kagura-sama."

A chorus of voices welcomed her as she appeared in the village. A bunch of kids of different height smiled brightly at her. Who would have guessed that one day the former incarnation of Naraku would be deserving of such an outpouring of appreciation? In the past years she had benefitted from such expressions of pure love, but she had yet to get used to it.

She did not hold many memories of her 'death and resurrection'. There had been so much pain as her body dissolved, but the smile on her lips was genuine. Seeing Sesshoumaru had been a balm for her soul. That he tried to spare her from death was the first time in her short life that another had cared for her, and in that moment it meant everything. Tenseiga had not been able to save her from death because she had not been dying. She had just temporarily lost the use of her body. After she had dissolved in the wind in front of Sesshoumaru, most of her consciousness was hazy. She couldn't talk, nor think complete thoughts just fly over the green lands as she built her strength back. Bit by bit, the wind had restored her. It had taken her years to be able to build back her corporeal form, and it had not been easy. The wind had wanted to keep her, but she fought to separate herself from the element at the center of her being. She knew that one day when her time would come, they would be reunited once again.

The one thing she clearly remembered was reappearing in the field of tall green grass and flowers, her body once again whole. It had taken her some time, but after a few months of getting used to her new body and new powers, she had finally dared to go meet with people she once knew. She had not dared approach Sesshoumaru. How to face him after admitting her need for him in what she had then believed were her last moments of life?. She focused her attention away from the annoying dog.

Kohaku. Who knew looking out for the kid would lead to his family and friends welcoming the wind sorceress into the proverbial fold? The boy's sister and brother-in-law, the weird miko, the little kitsune, the freaking fire cat and even the grumpy hanyou, all had tried to make Kagura feel welcome. Of course after they had made certain that all her ties with Naraku were severed and that she posed no threat. Once reassured the ragtag group had welcomed her fully. She had had no need of their hospitality. All she cared about was getting info. Quickly she had been caught up on all she had missed. After getting confirmation of Naraku's demise, and with her heart firmly in her chest she had decided to take her leave and travel through the lands.

Just as she had when she was regenerating, she had used the wind to carry her everywhere. However, no matter how far she went, she always kept coming back to Inuyasha's village. Sure, she cared for Kohaku and watching Rin grow into her own woman was cute, but she could have traveled the world instead of always coming back. Kagome had even suggested she get a home in the village. Kagura had balked at such an idea and not visited again for six months. The miko never made such a nonsensical suggestion again. Truth was even if she enjoyed visiting, Kagura never stayed for too long. She would drop by, spar with Kohaku, learn about plants from Rin, make fun of Inuyasha, drink some of Miroku's cheap sake, but at the end of the day they all had their own life, their own occupations and their own family. She could not stay away for long from the only people who actually knew her, but being around them hurt too. It made her realize how lonely she was. She missed Kanna. Her sister had been a silent, reassuring presence. Always there when needed. Back when they had been prisoners of Naraku she had dreamt of the two of them discovering the wide world together, but unlike her Kanna had not outlived the monstruous hanyou.

In those moments, when she felt so melancholy, the wind sorceress had thought about reaching out to Sesshoumaru. The man had come to offer her comfort when she had most needed it, it had to mean that he too must have felt some form of attraction to her… As much as she wanted to find out, her pride would not let her make the first step. Was that an attempt he had just made with his ludicrous proposal?

"Kagura-sama you just missed Sesshoumaru-sama. He came to visit, but already left." Rin, cut through the wind sorceress's musings. The young woman who was a healer in training and the self-designated caretaker of the village children, was of course following close behind the gaggle of kids. "Children, don't bother our guest. Go get your breakfast or your uncle Kohaku will eat it all."

Sango and Miroku's brood collectively groaned at the idea of their voracious uncle wolfing down all the food before they got to it. In the blink of an eye the merry group raced towards their home. The slayer and her husband had five kids, but Kagura would not be surprised if the human woman did not find herself with child again soon. It seemed as if she and her husband were hell-bent on revitalizing the destroyed demon slayer tribe. Kagura did find impressive that despite having all these kids Sango still trained diligently and often accompanied her younger brother on his demon slaying quest. Maybe having kids was not the end of the road.

"Let me go help get them settled. Otherwise, they won't let Kohaku get the chance to eat. I hope you will stay until this evening, so we have time to catch up." Seeing how the young human blushed red any time she mentioned Kohaku's name Kagura would be willing to bet that Sesshoumaru's former ward would soon have babies of her own to care for.

"Kagura, is that you? Great timing."

Kagome walked towards them. After seeing her wearing her green and white garbs for so long, Kagura still sometimes found it unsettling to see the woman dressed as a miko. She idly wondered what Kikyou would think of seeing her reincarnation live the life that maybe could have been hers had her path never crossed Onigumo's.

Kagome was struggling to carry her growing daughter at her hip. Seeing the dark-haired golden eyed child felt like a kick to the gut. Kagura could not help but wonder. If she had agreed to go with Sesshoumaru's sudden hairbrained idea, is this what their child could look like? The little hanyou excitedly thrust her arms towards her. The wind sorceress took a few steps back lest the baby think she'd be interested in giving into her silent request. She could train kids in combat but holding and snuggling them was something else entirely. No matter how cute they were.

"If you're not busy, would you mind accompanying Inuyasha and Kohaku on an investigation? Sango and I promised the women in the nearby village to go help appease the river spirit threatening their crops. Miroku is taking the kids on a meditation retreat, Shippou went to kitsune training for two weeks and…"

Kagura interrupted her by flicking her fan opened. "Whatever it is, I am sure Inuyasha and Kohaku are more than able to handle it." Besides she had plans today, which involved trying to decipher what the hell was wrong with Seshsoumaru.

"Of course they are, but I thought you might want to help out. Seems like over in the mountain range north of here a youkai has been stealing village women and keeping them prisoner."

With just a few words the strange miko had gotten her attention, damn she was good. In the past years Kagura had earned a bit of a reputation. Life was hard and often made harder by the cruelty of others. Her time being brutalized by Naraku had made it impossible for her not to come to the aid of those experiencing similar pain. Youkai, human or others, she was always willing to dish out her own brand of justice against those who sought to hurt, brutalize or take advantage of those weaker than them. She had an especially soft spot for protecting women.

"Fine. When are we heading out?"

"I really don't see why you wouldn't let me handle this alone. I'm not a kid you know. You all were younger than I am right now when you were going up against Naraku."

Kagura was riding her feather, Kokaku was on Kirara's back and Inuyasha was leading the way, hopping forward. Considering the distance they had to cover, walking had been out of the question.

"Yeah well your sister asked me and I promised we would go as a team so that's that. Now stop complaining and focus, we're almost there."

Inuyasha was grumpier than usual, a direct side effect of being away from Kagome and their daughter. How people could enjoy spending so much time together was baffling to Kagura, but well it worked for them.

Kohaku did not repeat the complaint he had been voicing for the better part of their trip. She was glad for it because she had been about to tell him that the more he whined the more childish he seemed. She knew he was eager to prove himself so as to earn Sesshoumaru's respect and dare ask for Rin's hand in marriage. The wind sorceress was sure that the inu youkai would look favorably upon the match. Everyone could tell the two youngsters were completely smitten with each other. Still, she had decided to help Kohaku by contributing to his training. He was proficient with the use of his kurigasama, a sword and even his sister's hiraikotsu, but he had also decided to master the use of a staff. She was happy to help him.

The three of them stayed silent as they took in the top of the mountain they had now reached. An ominous cloud of youki was permeating the air. Before they could take a step forward, a ball of light materialized in front of them.

On instinct the three of them spread out to surrender the newcomer. No more bickering, things were about to get serious.

The light revealed some sort of hairy hog youkai with long dark green hair, tusks protruding from its mouth and a body covered in armor. The massive sword at his hip made Kagura tense in anticipation. The youkai was here to battle.

"Who dares intrude upon my domain?" He growled angrily, unsheathing his sword.

"Are you the one who's been taking women from the nearby villages?" Inuyasha was not impressed by the flexing muscles of the beast. All he wanted was to get rid of him, free the women and go home to be with his wife and daughter. Despite the many years since Kagome's return, he still had the irrational fear that she may disappear again. Never would he want to go through the pain of being apart from her.

"What is it to you?" The hog barked. "They're just pathetic human women."

Kohaku slipped off Kirara's back, readying the staff strapped to his back. He was eager to try out all the cool moves he had learned from Kagura in real battle. "Kagura-sama, Inuyasha-sama, why don't you go release the prisoners? I will defeat this youkai."

The callous way in which the hog spoke had enraged. The determination burning in the young man's blood was shining in his eyes. In this moment showing himself as worthy of Rin was not the only thing on his mind, he wanted to make his taijiya ancestors proud.

Inuyasha sent Kagura a quick look. She nodded her assent. Kohaku could handle the youkai. She hopped back on her feather and invited the grumpy hanyou to come join her. He may not like it, but Inuyasha knew it would be the fastest way to get to the top of the mountain where they were sure the prisoners must be kept.

"Do you think I will let you off this easily?" The hog launched himself at Kagura's retreating back. She did not even need to flick her fan open. Kohaku had rushed over and used his staff to parry the incoming attack.

She smirked. Looked like their training had helped make him faster. Made sense, the wind moved much faster than a hog ever could. She had every confidence that Kohaku and Kirara would defeat the pig. She might not get the satisfaction of shedding the youkai's blood, but she would enjoy freeing his prisoners. Back when she had been nothing more than Naraku's incarnation, she had dreamt of someone coming to rescue her. In many of these fantasies Sesshoumaru had been the one. Damn dog, ever since their encounter the previous day he kept popping up in her head. This would not do. She had a rescue mission to focus on.

Soon they reached the peak of the mountain. Kagura was glad for it. Even if he was sitting behind her, she could feel Inuyasha's discontent rolling in waves off of him. Next time she'd be glad to let him hop up the mountain if riding her feather was this offending.

"Shit, looks like we're too late." Inuyasha growled angrily. He had not waited for the feather to make a full stop before jumping down to race towards the broken-down wooden dwelling of the beast.

Stepping inside was a living nightmare. Despite the blazing sun, only small rays lit the dark insides of the building. The smell of death was overpowering. Kagura was brought back to another castle taken over by an evil presence. She felt nauseous and lightheaded. It was as if she was transported back to Naraku's dungeon. The place where he would chain her and torture her for hours on end anytime she would fail an assigned mission or be disrespectful. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, but still she pressed her palm to her breast to make sure her racing organ was still in place. She was okay. Naraku was dead. She may not have been the one to give him a killing blow, but she had beaten him by outliving him and living a life where she thought only of her own happiness.

"Over here."

Inuyasha's voice did not have any of its usual bluster. When Kagura joined him, she understood why. Four women were lined up against the wall, their arms stretched over their heads. The hanyou had wanted to break their chains but there would be no helping these women. Their mutilated rotting corpses betrayed the amount of pain and suffering they had been put through.

"They died days ago." The wind sorceress whispered. Seemed as if the youkai had grown tired of his playthings and had slit their throats. Their battered and bruised bodies were lying in a pool of their respective blood.

"Fuck this." Inuyasha barked. Why didn't the villagers tell us sooner? Before we heard about this place, they were already gone."

"I hope Kohaku makes that pig hurt before he finishes him off." Kagura suddenly regretted not staying behind to be the one to end the hog. Blood loss by thousands of shallow cuts would be the only death he deserved.

"We have to give these women a decent burial."

She agreed with Inuyasha's suggestion. They both worked in silence to undo the chains and cover the mangled corpses of the women they had been unable to save. They would have to find a fitting resting place somewhere on the mountain and away from the place where they had been tortured and murdered.

Once the hanyou reached to break the chains of the last woman, he was suddenly tackled by a small body.

The smell of death and decay had been so strong in the room that neither Inuyasha, nor Kagura had even noticed that there was still an alive being. Inuyasha picked up the small body by the collar of his torn and stained kimono and lifted him in the air to have a better look.

The green hair, silver eyes and furry ears on top of his head were a giveaway: it was a hanyou child.

"Is he..." Kagura's shock was so great that she could not voice the question burning her lips.

"Yeah, it's the child of the hog and one the dead woman."

"Fuck!" Kagura was heartbroken. How long had he been hiding here close to his mother's corpse? She dared not even think about the events that must have led to his conception and birth. Those thoughts were too horrifying to even formulate. She got closer to see the kid. "What's this on his forehead?"

"Nothing." Inuyasha used the sleeve of his robe to furiously rub on the child's forehead, but he had not been fast enough. Kagura had had time to catch a glimpse. Reading had been a skill she had been born with, a few good things Naraku had given her, so she had been able to make-out the hateful words that had been traced on the child's forehead in blood: 'cursed child'.

"There is no curse. It's just a baby." Inuyasha clutched the hanyou to his chest, obscuring his view of the gory scene. The child grabbed fistfuls of the red robe and buried his face deep against the warm chest of his savior.

"Take him outside. I hear Kohaku coming. He and I will bury these women."

Inuyasha nodded his head in silence. His eyes were hidden under his bangs, so Kagura could not read his emotions, but she could imagine this scene was giving him horrid flashbacks. From what she had seen during her travels, both humans and youkai were cruel to hanyou. She could count on one hand the number of half-demons she had seen reach adulthood, and one of them was standing in front of her. She could only imagine the kind of pain and suffering Inuyasha had been confronted with following the deaths of his parents. She felt her own heart clench. Clearly what was supposed to be a simple rescue mission had reopened the most painful wounds for both her and Inuyasha.

"Come on, let's go pup."

Inuyasha made sure that the hanyou's view was completely blocked as they walked outside.

In the end Kohaku and Kagura found a large grove of trees a few miles down the mountain's peak and gave the women a proper resting place. Inuyasha had found some fruits and water to feed the child while the former two worked.

The three of them travelled back to the village in silence. No more banter. Their minds were all still stuck on the gory scene they had uncovered and the child they had found.

"Kagura-sama, can we skip training today? I'm gonna go find Rin. I'd promised I'd help her find greens in the forest for dinner tonight."

The wind sorceress nodded her assent. She knew Kohaku had been shaken by the horror and senseless violence they had encountered. He took pride in being a youkai slayer as he wanted to save people. A way for him to atone for the sins he had committed while under Naraku's spell. Despite putting an end to the murderer, Kagura knew the young man would still feel guilty about not saving the women. Hopefully Rin would be able to help him feel better. Kagura herself was enraged and sad, but as always she would keep on hiding her true feelings.

She and Inuyasha walked towards the latter's house. She had not said anything, but she was curious about what would happen to the little hanyou.

"Who's this?" Kagome approached her husband, their daughter walking by her side.

Moroha left her mother's side in favor of her father's knee and extended her chubby arms towards him. He quickly scooped her up in his arms and buried his nose in her dark curls. The giggling toddler raised her head to give her father a kiss on the cheek. He chuckled, the first smile he had cracked since they had left the hog's house of horrors.

"An orphaned hanyou." He finally answered his wife's question.

Intrigued, Kagome leaned forward to get a better look at the green haired child. Upset by her attention, he buried his face impossible deeper into Inuyasha's chest.

"He was a… prisoner of the youkai. He's the only survivor. I couldn't leave him there…"

Ever curious, Moroha reached to try to touch the frightened boy's twitching ears. She was disappointed when that resulted in him trying to get further from her.

"Does he have a name?" Kagome knew her husband was strong, but she also knew their daughter could be a handful, so she plucked the squirming child from her father's arm, allowing Inuyasha to hold the shivering child with both arms. Feeling the embrace, the boy started relaxing, finally turning his face to chance a look at Kagome and Moroha.

Following the miko's question, the hateful name written in blood on the child's forehead flashed through Kagura's mind.

"No. He has no name. We need to find one he deserves." Inuyasha and Kagome silently stared in each other's eyes for a long time, having a silent conversation.

"Well, he needs a bath, new clothes and some food. We have time to find him a name that fits his personality." She took a careful step forward to bring Moroha closer to the boy. "Honey, say hello to your little brother. You know that Mama has a little brother too, uncle Souta, I am sure you will love your brother as much as I love mine."

"Kagome…" Inuyasha's voice sounded particularly raspy. He cleared his throat, but could not so easily conceal the moisture in his eyes.

"You're going to be good to your brother, won't you?"

"Yes." Moroha nodded her head enthusiastically to answer her mother, making the red bow on top of her head bob. This time when she launched herself on the boy he did not evade her. She gently tugged on his ears, earning a mix between a yelp and a giggle from the younger boy.

"Keh! It's probably the first time anyone has actually dared touch his ears." Inuyasha's eyes were still suspiciously wet, but he had managed not to let the tears flow, Kagome however had her arms too full of her child to spare a hand to wipe the tears flowing freely down her face.

Kagura had to look away. This family portrait was too intimate. Despite the tragic scene they had encountered earlier in the day, things would turn out alright. She knew that kid would be taken care of by the loving couple. In the blink of an eye, she shed her corporal form. At least when she was one with the wind no one would be able to see how upset she was.

Seeing the love, understanding and care between Inuyasha, Kagome and their children, or the slayer, the monk and their own kids, well it made Kagura feel as if she was living on another plane, close, but still far apart from the others around her. Those emotions they expressed so freely were things she had never experienced, but after seeing them up close, well she was curious to feel them firsthand. She had wanted to be like the wind, and she had succeeded. She was untethered with no ties to anyone, no family, no friends… and well that got lonely too. Being born to Naraku had robbed her of having a true family, but maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe, just as Kohaku had Rin, Inuyasha had Kagome, she too could have someone to care for and who could care for her in return. She was not one to settle down in a village, but it would be nice to have someone to belong to and someone who belonged to her. Maybe, just maybe Sesshoumaru's ludicrous idea was not so ridiculous after all. Perhaps she should have let him speak more before turning him down.

Either way it was high time they spoke. Too much had been left unsaid between them for too long. Before she knew it, she was flying over green lands, the winds carrying her towards the West.

To be continued…