Inuyasha: Goddess of Demons Act

by Jalapeno Writer

Three months have passed since Kagome's return to the village. Hopes of what her and Inuyasha's relationship would entail have fallen flat, and with a new threat surfacing, it is up to the Inu group to save Japan and a newly resurrected Kikyo. With help from an unexpected source, new romance will arise as the group takes on the Goddess of Demons in this epic tail.(sess/kag;inu/kik)

102. Chapter 101: Exiled and Returned

Ello!

Sorry for the delay once again guys. I've been a little discouraged the last month or so and so have been having a hard time finding the motivation to write.

There's one other thing I wanted to discuss and that is I don't know how the next chapters will be issued like, but I won't be going off of my points anymore just cause I'm craming a lot trying to get what should be the full scope of the chapter done. For example, this chapter was actually supposed to be called "Sango and Miroku" as it was supposed to go through the whole entire day, including the trial (you'll see in the chapter) and then some. The length of the chapter is due to me not editing it. When this section was done, it was at forty pages. I don't really like doing it this way anymore because it requires I take a lot of time from posting and that demotivates me quite a bit. So instead, I'm going to post once a week or two weeks, and whatever I got done is what y'all will get. Chapters won't be getting names anymore either, they'll just be getting number counts. Sorry if the structure is a little off from now on because of this. Once it's done, I'll combine the chapters that should be together. This also means I'm going to lose the time-line, so I have no idea how many chapters will be left. Sorry.

With that said, let's move on to Shout outs!

Elvira69: You'd be surprised by how many people feel the same. Hopefully by the end of the story, you'll be content by how Kagome and Kikyo's relationship ends. Thanks!

Estefania: Hola! No te preocupes, voy a seguir. Solamente que hay veces donde me tardo. Lo seinto y muchas gracias!

Veraozao: Thank you!

Beth2421: Ahaha, sorry to leave you hanging! I'm glad you love it and don't worry, you'll get caught up on the green light and the shoulder thing~

regiane zanon: Gracias por los comentarios! Regrese' y voy a terminare' la historia. A veces solo me toma mucho tiempo para teminar un capitulo :(

akuryo: Oooooo akuryo you are on to something I'll tell you that! It is it is. As Amellis will mention, the week until the goddess strikes is almost up...

Jcat007: Thank you! It's sad that it took me so long to get back to an update that I have now have to worry about not getting too hot! I already got a sunburn D:

CraftyKitsune: AWEEE! Thank you! That makes me so happy! Haha, it's okay I've picked really odd names for them lol. But I'm very glad you like their relationship. I find them very cute too. We'll see soon what happens to Miroku and Sango, I'm excited to get there. Thank you so much. Matt continues to improve and has come a long way. Ive shared your words with Matt's family and my brother-in-law, and they were all very appreciative. Thank you!

Cylankale: YESSS! Thank you! It makes me extremely happy to know that I am able to evoke emotions through the story. And I agree. Hinotori is major creep.

Kouga's older woman: We'll see, we'll see :D

Okay! That looks like those are all the reivews. If I missed yours, I'm sorry. Just let me know and I'll add it into the next shout out. Let's move on to the chapter!

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Chapter 101: Exiled and Returned

His claw traced her side as he kissed her sore shoulder where he had marked her. A small moon that matched the one on his forehead now rested where he had poured his Jaki into her. It had hurt her, which he marginally regretted, but he had timed the transition perfectly so the sharp reaction would be heavily masked by pleasure. It was official. With this moon on her shoulder, he had taken her as his mate. He kissed it once more, and smirked as he felt the continuous tremors of her body vibrate against his lips.

"You're trembling, my mate," he said through heavy breaths that matched hers.

Peeking up at him through her lashes, she smiled delightfully. Her hair fanned around, matted down by the same sweat that sheened across her skin. She was flushed, her cheeks rosy pink as she breathed slowly but heavily through partially opened red lips. And she looked at him with those captivating brown with hints of blue eyes, filled with the most contentedness he had ever seen in her. She had never been more beautiful to him.

Holding her gaze, he kissed her shoulder again, passing his tongue lightly to indulge the salty flavor. The slight mew she gave was music to his ears.

"Thank you," she exhaled with a single breath, and he raised a brow at her, curious as to what her appreciation was directed for. "For making it perfect," she answered his wordless question, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Half of the credit belongs to you." He nipped at her skin as she smirked bashfully. Taking in a light, quick breath, she winced, her trembling fingers reaching up to her shoulder where a small bruise was beginning to form. "Did it hurt much?"

Gnawing on her bottom lip, Kagome peeked up at him again. "Not too much. Like I said, you made it perfect."

Her lips called to him, and so he leaned over, kissing her softly. They had assaulted each other with vicious passion just moments before that this delicate embrace soothed the senses into a floaty trance. The kiss ended, and with their breaths still mixing in the short space between them, Kagome's fluttering eyes struggled to remain open.

"Sleep, my mate," He said, watching the minute changes as her lips stretched into a dazzling smile. His intoxication of her grew every second he was with her, and he was marvelled by the slight puffiness of her lips, the rich color that naturally adorned them, and the smooth curves that formed them. Tiny details he had noticed before but stood out to him like the twinkling stars of the night. Captivating, he thought, and was surprised to then see Kagome shake her head. "No?"

"I don't want to sleep yet."

"And why is that?"

"Something tells me the other Lords aren't exactly gonna leave you alone tomorrow. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that you probably won't be here when I wake up."

"Perceptive, though it is not what I wish."

"I know. But I want to spend more time with you before that happens," She murmured, her eyes drawing closed before she forced them open again. As she attempted to roll over to face him, her body still trembling that she almost immediately fell back with exhausted breaths, Sesshomaru took a hold of her, aiding her in her transition. With her head on his chest while he laid on his back, Kagome gnawed on her lower lip before smacking him lightly. He raised a brow at her.

"Is that a game you wish to play, Kagome? Or did your hand merely slip?"

She laughed at his teasing, wrapping a leg around his as she curled into his side. "I'm over here struggling to keep my eyes open, and you still have so much energy. It's cause you're a demon, right?"

"Of course."

"Hmm… it… it doesn't bother you that my… stamina… doesn't match yours?"

He exhaled a silent chuckle through his nose. "At this point, you being human is no surprise to me."

"But if I were like you… I mean, we could… we would…"

"Kagome," he whispered her name, and guided her so that his lips grazed her jaw. "Rest assured… you have satisfied me as no other has."

"Sesshomaru!" she giggled, blushing from the affirmation, and all he could think was how much he loved the look of her as she loomed over him with no fabric to separate them, giggling as he made her blush. If there was a paradise to be found, he had found it in her.

For a moment, with her chin on his chest, they simply stared into each other's eyes, indulging in the silent serenity they gained from the other. Then a flash of curiosity dashed across her eyes, and he smiled, predicting what would follow.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Anything."

"Promise not to laugh?"

"That depends on what the question is."

She smacked him lightly again, and he playfully snapped at the air, the clack of his teeth causing her to squirm as she laughed.

"What is it you wanted to ask?" He inquired, noticing the slight strain that had begun to call from his cheeks; he had been smiling too much, and he didn't care to stop.

"Well… I wanted to know…" She swayed daintily as she picked her words. "Have you ever done it in your 'true form'?"

"I have not."

Kagome blinked rapidly, surprised. "Really? How come?"

"When a demon is in their yokai form, there are risks when participating in such an act."

"What kind of risks?"

"If a demon's jaki is greater than the partner, there is possibility for them to force a mark upon the other. Something that is inexecutable in humanoid form."

"Force a mark?"

"Hn. It was outlawed before my time, but it was once an acceptable practice after a battle. If the victor so wanted, he would take them and force his mark upon them."

"Wait, what exactly do you mean by that? What is marking them?"

Baffled, Sesshomaru was at a loss for words before shaking his head slightly. Impossible. "Kagome, my priestess, my mate. Are you saying you knew the yokai vows but know nothing of the consummation process?"

She blushed again, and once more he was struck with shock. She truly didn't know.

"Impossible."

"Look, Ethreil would only tell me so much, okay! So, what is it? What's the mark- Did you mark me?!"

"Yes," He chuckled, flicking a finger across her shoulder.

"You mean when you bit me?" She sat up quickly, immediately inspecting her shoulder. Cranning her head, she saw the crescent moon and her rapid movements dulled to a delicate touch as she traced the shape.

"What did you think I was doing?"

"You're acting like I could think at all when you did that."

Another short laugh escaped his lips, but an uncertainty crossed his mind. She, after all, wasn't a yokai, and so he was unsure if she could deny the transfer as his kind could. "Tell me what you are thinking," he asked, wishing he could read the subtleties in her eyes as she could read his. A gentle grin flashed across her face.

"I… I love it. I can sense your energy here," she said as she continued to draw her finger over the mark. "It's like having a piece of you with me."

"It is filled with my Jaki," He responded, pleased with her answer. "So I may always know where you are, and so others will know that you are mine as I am yours."

The smile on her face beamed with glee as she admired the moon. "I'm your mate," she whispered, as if it were a song meant to be enjoyed in silence.

Brushing his knuckles along her cheek, he affirmed, "And I am yours."

The light in her eyes danced with delight, and the hint of salt in the air told him that tears had touched her eyes. Ones of joy, he knew, and he was awed by how rapidly her emotions could take her to such a place or how easily she would express them. And yet, there were times he still struggled to read her as her beaming smile faded to a perplexed frown.

"What is it?"

"I don't understand. Why would the victor mark them? Why would they want to force them into a union?"

"You are mistaken. The two are not the same."

"Oh? How so?"

Sesshomaru sighed lightly, placing a hand behind his head as he looked up at the ceiling. Kagome's chin found it's way back to Sesshomaru's chest, and his free hand went to caress her, sliding up and down the length of her spine. "A union, my mate… it is a betrothing promise between two yokai's; a swearing upon one's own Jaki to be binded with their selected mate. Humans carry a similar practice. But just as marriage requires a form of exchangement, be it livestock or jewelry, so too does a yokai union. A marking only signifies a union when Jaki has been shared between the two. While the issue persists amongst binded yokais irregardless, a one-sided marking is purely for manipulation. Typically."

"Oh, I see. So I'm guessing it's the Jaki in the mark that's used to manipulate the other?"

"Hn. You've already seen it used for such purposes from Usamah."

"When he silences ShiShi?"

"Hn."

"So that's why you've never done it in your yokai form then?"

"Hn. While my strength may supersede any other, a wise demon knows to avoid precarious moments where one's guard may be down."

Kagome hummed as she pressed her ear to his chest. I wonder where her thoughts are now, he thought to himself, and then she became silent. Sesshomaru imagined she was gnawing on the side of her lower lip. With her inquisitive nature, he knew another question was to follow.

"Can it be used to control humans?"

His brows rose for only a moment. "I would never do that to you."

"No, I didn't mean you," she said as she turned up to him, placing her hand so her fingers grazed the shell of his ear. "I meant Hinotori."

Sesshomaru was compelled to laugh at himself. Foolish of me to think her thoughts could hold such a possibility. "So trusting of me, are you?"

"Stop teasing me," she giggled. "So, can it? I mean those humans that were following Hinotori… they looked so empty, like they didn't have anything in them."

"Hn. The phoenix demons were notorious for forcing their marks onto others. It is the reason the act was outlawed as they had tried to create an army through such means."

"You're joking! That's insane."

"Their efforts failed, obviously, and as a result their numbers dwindled to pitiful levels. But the law only pertains to other demons. There is nothing against forcing a mark onto humans, though this rarely occurs."

"Because of how demons view humans?"

"Hn."

"That doesn't make any sense," she said with pout. "How can a demon like that deride you for choosing a human mate then? It's hypocritical."

Sesshomaru threaded his fingers through her hair, admiring the sheen of her locks. "Kagome," he spoke softly, "know that the words I say do not reflect my true emotions. But to yokais, my actions are arguably worse than his-

"That's bullshit." Her gaze was stern as she spoke. "His actions are insurmountably worse. Who in the hell would make it so that the rules say otherwise?"

He took a shallow breath through his nose as he recalled what he had done, his gaze rising back to the ceiling as he saw all the ways his past actions had come back to haunt him. "I did."

She never acted the way he judged would be appropriate. Denial, shock, anger, shame. These would be a natural reaction by a human who had just learned that he held a large portion of responsibility for how those around him treated her kind. Instead, she curled more into him, laying flatly on top of him as her eyes danced with sympathy and curiosity.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

Of course, he thought as he caressed her cheek with a gentle grazing of his fingers. She was his mate. The past was bitter to him now, but she would know all. She waited patiently, understandingly, for his agreement or denial.

"My father was the ruler of the western lands before me. He wasn't a Lord but the respect given to him gave him such privileges. But his hold over it always remained with that weakness. The lands were predestined to transfer to me once I reached a certain age, but I did not want them to be simply handed over to me. It was my desire to earn them in battle. When I saw my father and Izayoi… I took the opportunity to my advantage."

Like an eager child ready to hear more, Kagome propped her chin on top of her hands while her ankles played with each other. He smiled, the vivacity of her antics immediately pouring joy into his heart. It almost made his confession easier to swallow.

"I challenged my father to a Baishu Tatakai. He denied it, but what he was unaware of was that the other lords had already taken my side. They were readily prepared to use my father's weakness against him and claim that a general could not deny a Baishu Tatakai at my call…"

"What did you say?"

"Only a coward would deny a Baishu Tatakai, and a coward did not deserve to rule over lands. Let alone a coward with a human at his side. My father, having been cornered, simply chose to surrender his claim rather than fight me. It was not how I wished to attain my title, but it was given to me nonetheless. Once I took my claim… I carried the ruling against my father forward to apply to lords as well."

For a moment, Kagome did not react. She stared blankly, as if he had said words beyond her understanding, and then her eyes widened. Abruptly, she sat up, her fist placed over her heart. "If you told him that, then the other lords are going to think the same if you!"

"And so they do."

"No-no, Sesshomaru. This is so bad! You could lose everything!"

With a smirk on his face, he caressed her cheek. Charmed by her worry, he looked at her with half lidded eyes filled with admiration. My foolish priestess. As if that bothers me anymore. "There is nothing I would not risk to have you by my side."

After a single, slow, breath, Kagome covered her face with her hands, and the smell of salty tears touched his nose. But this reaction was great. A sob escaped her lips. She curled into herself. Sesshomaru sat up, placing an arm around her as he drew concerned.

"Kagome, my mate..."

At the sound of him calling her his mate, another sob escaped her though there was a laugh with it. She shook her head before snuggling against him, her head on his chest. "I'm sorry, I just- I had no- this is so much."

"Kagome, I cannot understand you if you do not speak to me in full sentences."

She laughed again, looking up at him with tears streaking down her face. "I… I guess I never thought I'd actually get this."

He raised a brow, unsure of what she meant, and with another bout of laughter, Kagome kissed him so ravenously they toppled over onto the bed. "This. I'd never imagined I'd have this," she said as she looked down over him. "To have this kind of love… I convinced myself it was just a fantasy. Something unattainable."

She looked deeply into his eyes as she spoke, and they twinkled with the gratitude she was sharing. "I love you, Sesshomaru. And I'm going to do what I can to help you keep what you have worked so hard for, but I'm so thankful. Because I know you value me. And that was something I never thought I'd have."

Her affection had surprised him, and her words had shocked him that much more. He was unsure whether to be rathful towards the hanyou who had undoubtedly stripped her hope of such affection away, or to be relieved that he had somehow brought it back. She, after all, was the one who brought that hope to him in the first place. Never in his wildest dreams did he believe that he could love someone as much as he loved her. Never had he imagined that he would come to understand how his father felt when he had given up everything to be with Izaiyo.

"Are you sure about this, Lord Sesshomaru?"

"Hn. You are relieved of your duties, slayer."

Sango didn't know what to say. He had explained to her very well that it wasn't through any action of her own. It was more consideration than what she expected of the western Lord, but he made it clear that it was a decision made between him and Kagome. Kagome asked him to do this? And he agreed even though it means Inuyasha will take my place? That's going to cause problems, but…

"Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru. I am grateful."

"Hn."

I should tell him, she thought as she bowed, but as the thought crossed her mind she knew it was impossible. As if it wasn't already a predictable rule, their vacant dreams full of whispers were enough. Do or say anything against the goddesses desires, and it is your children who will pay the price. She couldn't tell him or anyone. No one could know today was their last day.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken shouted as he barrelled through the door of Sesshomaru's study.

"What is it, Jaken?"

"The other Lords are on their way, my lord."

"Yes, that was expected. I'm surprised it took them this long."

"But there is more. The leopard, Jiga, has returned!"

The shock seemed to strike Sango greater than Sesshomaru, but there was no denying that slight surprise on his raised brows.

"Slayer, though I doubt it will come to it, I may need your assistance one last time."

"Of course, Lord Sesshomaru," she said, still grateful that he was willing to alleviate her duties. Shortly after, the lords came in with Lord Usamah and a silent Lady ShiShi taking the lead. Sango bowed deeply at their presence.

"Lord Usamah. I hear your vassal has returned," Lord Sesshomaru said as Lord Ethreil and Lady Tsutsuji came in next.

"So he has. He is currently in the healing quarters. I demand the priestess be awoken in order to heal him."

"You demand?" The venom in his words immediately strangled the air in the room. Sango maintained composure but the oppressive nature weighed on her. The hum of Jaki from both Lords caused her to hold her breath, needing to keep as much attention away from her as possible. She gritted her teeth, forcing her focus to remain sharp as she had been trained to do all her younger years. Kami, Kagome. How do you handle being around them so easily?

Lord Usamah glared at Lord Sesshomaru, but the western lord did not bend from his stoic, unmoving stare. Lord Usamah buckled. "He is my vassal!"

"The Baishu Tatakai has not yet passed, Lord Usamah. The only lord here who will make demands is I."

"Brother, come now. The leopard is bleeding out as we speak…" Lord Ethreil became silent as Lord Sesshomaru's intense gaze fell upon him. With Lord Usamah growing more visibly frustrated, Lord Sesshomaru casually leaned back in his seat inspecting the southern lord.

"I don't believe I've seen you this upset before, Lord Usamah."

The lion grinded his teeth with a low growl. "He is my vassal."

"Yes. I'm aware," Lord Sesshomaru said indifferently. He allowed the sharp silence to take it's breath as he contemplated. What he was thinking of, Sango was unaware, but she rightly didn't care enough to ask. Let the lords play their game, she simply wanted to get back to her family. Lord Sesshomaru's gaze flicked to her, and she wondered if she had accidentally said something out loud.

"I will not wake the priestess."

"Lord Sesshomaru! If you do not lend aid-

"I intend to send the other two, but if you continue on with your threat then I will revoke this 'aid'."

Perhaps from surprise, Usamah blinked widely, rolling his jaw with a closed mouth. "... They're not as efficient as the priestess."

"They will get the job done, which is what you desire. Jaken."

"Yes, my lord!"

"Summon Amellis and the other one to the healing chambers. And if Boriyu is unaware of what has transpired, inform him."

"Of course, my lord."

As Jaken left the room, Sango scanned the faces of the lords. It seemed they understood the message as well, as Lord Usamah's expression was spite filled though he said nothing. Boriyu was going to interrogate Jiga. None argued against this matter, aware that nothing would change the process. Sango assumed she was in the clear, ready to take a breath of relief when Lord Hinotori stepped into the room.

His talons clacked on the floor, a sound like teeth falling on tile, and when he stopped his frame covered the exit, preventing anyone from leaving. Sango immediately felt a chill run up her spine. His eyes, from this distance, seemed to lack an iris entirely, giving the sense that he was staring at everyone at the same time. He smirked confidently.

"Having a meeting are we? And no one invited me?"

"Lord Hintori," Lord Usamah said, much more relaxed now. "It does not pertain to the Noburugyaza."

"Hm, yes. I heard your feline is back. You could almost hear his cries from here." Turning to him, Lord Usamah glared at Hinotori. "Hm? Did that upset you?"

"You're in the way, phoenix. Let me pass."

"No. I don't think I will."

"Um…," A voice called from behind Lord Hinotori. With a surprised look on his face, he turned around, leaving just enough room for Kagome to slip through. "Excuse me."

Slithering past him as quickly as she could, Kagome skipped into the room, her lilac and crescent moons Kimono flowing with her movements. The shock that had appeared on Lord Hinotori's face spread to the others, with only Lord Ethreil grinning widely as if he had just been told a grand secret. Lord Sesshomaru stood as Kagome approached him, and he easily slid an arm around her as she found her place by his side. A smile broke on his face as he looked down at her, and Sango was dumbfounded.

It was evident in the way their gazes were glued to each other that the two had swiftly drifted into their own world. Lord Sesshomaru, captivated, drew a claw to her temple, brushing a loose strand that had slipped out of Kagome's half-braid, a style that Sango had never seen her wear before.

"Good morning," he said to her so casually, as if the other lords weren't here at all.

"Good morning," Kagome responded, and Lord Usamah and his mate growled at them. Sango couldn't understand it at first, and she passed a quick glance at the lords, witnessing that the only one who didn't look appalled was Lord Ethreil. Even lady Tsutsuji seemed shocked. When Sango turned back to Kagome and Sesshomaru, she sensed it. It was faint, hidden beneath Kagome's usual aura as well as Lord Sesshomaru's surrounding energy, but she saw it for a split moment. Focusing on reading the jaki in front of her confirmed her suspicion; a portion of Lord Sesshomaru's energy was coming from Kagome. A mark?!

Her mind immediately went to the worst case scenario, conjuring an assumption of Lord Sesshomaru's intentions, believing for a brief moment that he had marked Kagome in order to control her! Sango shut her eyes as soon as the thought finished. No. No, that doesn't make sense. That's not Lord Sesshomaru's way. If that was the case, he'd just find a way to manipulate her. And that is IF he ever found himself in a situation where manipulation would aid him. So if that's not it… then he asked Kagome to be his-

"Are you insane?!"

Their personal world fell back into reality, and Lord Sesshomaru returned to his stoic position with the added protective stance as he kept Kagome close to him. On the other side was Lord Usamah, baffled, and angered. Yet behind him, Lord Hinotori carried a malicious grin.

"This act revokes his title."

"Be quiet, Lord Hinotori."

"I demand a Baishu Tatakai to take his lands."

"I was unaware of how eager you were to die, pheonix."

"Against the four of us, your strength means nothing."

"I told you to be quiet!"

"You don't command this one, lion. The traitor has gone against his own ruling."

"I recall his ruling simply stating that a Baishu Tatakai cannot be denied and that someone in his situation would be considered unfit to rule. Unfit doesn't necessarily mean his title is immediately revoked. It still has to be stripped from him."

"You're grasping at straws, Lady Tsutsuji."

"Straws or not, you missed the underlying point. It should be obvious that Lord Ethreil will not follow with your plan."

"And you, it seems."

"It seems so."

"Lord Usamah! This is clearly against Lord Law! I demand-

"You demand nothing, phoenix!" Lord Usamah roared before taking a moment to breathe through his snarls. His gaze fell squarely on Kagome and she looked at him with pleading eyes. "My stance on this is undecided-

"You can't be serious!"

"You have yet to complete your first Baishu Tatakai. Return to me with your argument once you've done so."

"That's correct. We should be focused on the danger Lord Sesshomaru has made us aware of."

"Tsk. Very well. I claim my readiness now."

"Then the battle will take place 24 hours from now. And the Noburugyaza will remain with the focus on this new threat."

"Buy him as much time you traitors want. He's broken his own ruling. His fate has already been set, regardless of how long you three take to come to that understanding."

With his black, streaked hair fanning out like a row of knives, he quickly stepped out of the room, and Sango breathed for the first time in minutes. Her head swam, but when the phoenix's anger flared, she felt as though she were about to faint. It was as if the smoke of a volcano itself had permeated the air. Looking to Kagome, she saw her sisterly friend taking in her own deep breath while she relaxed her head on Lord Sesshomaru's chest. His gold eyes were focused on her, concerned enough so that he didn't care the way Lord Usamah studied them over, a sneer upon his face.

"Your actions are illogical, Lord Sesshomaru."

"My actions are my own. No other shall dictate them."

"If that is your stance, then I will admit that I lean towards Lord Hinotori's position. This is the same as what your father did."

"My father chose to surrender. This one will not bend so easily."

"Well see. If a Noburugyaza is held and you stand alone, the order will pass." Lord Usamah left without another word, not letting Lord Sesshomaru speak again. Lady Shishi hesitated to follow, eyeing Kagome up and down before coldy placing her attention to Lord Sesshomaru.

"This union doesn't count. The human ensures its incompletion," Lady Shishi said calmly, which was odd given how Sango had come to see her, but she seemed to look at them with pity more than disgust. She left by silently closing the door behind her, and Sango couldn't help but notice how Kagome looked at the space that the lioness had just held. The paleness was unmistakable.

"Seems you're off the hook then, brother."

"Nothing is ever that easy, Ethreil. You should know that by now."

"And you, Lady Tsutsuji?"

"I… I chose to buy you time. I expect you to find a way to terrorize the other lords to accept your decision. For a time. And during that time, I plan to secure my own holdings so that they may not come after me once they are done with you."

"I see."

"As I said last night. You should have waited." Following Lady Shishi's lead, Lady Tsutsuji left quietly, almost as if she floated out of the room. Lord Ethreil shrugged his shoulders, giving his classic grin to the two.

"Don't let them get to you, Lady Kagome. As I've come to learn, very few things pale to what you two have found. If you'll excuse me now, my men and I are going to take a quick run per your request, brother. We'll let you know if we find anything."

"Hn."

Finally, the only ones left were them three, and Sango sighed in relief. That was it. She was done, and she was lucky enough to go through her last stand-in without needing to speak.

"Are you alright?" She overheard Lord Sesshomaru say with great care. Sango smiled at the fact that Kagome had found someone who cared for her so much.

Kagome hummed her response. "Are you?"

It was clear that something Kagome had overheard weighed on her. The straightness of her lips told of a gnawing insecurity, yet Sango couldn't read Lord Sesshomaru's cold gaze.

"Hn." Was his response, and Kagome reached up, gently rubbing his ear between her finger and thumb. He shut his eyes, enjoying the comfort, and Kagome, standing on her tippy toes, brought her lips to his shoulder. With a loud "hawm" she bit him, her lips snarling and her nose flailing while her cheeks turned bright red from her straining efforts. Sango blinked from surprise while Sesshomaru laughed.

Eyes filled with affection and amusement, he cupped her cheeks with his hands, looking deep into her eyes as she smiled up at him. Softly, Kagome mouthed "I love you" and something Sango could not read flashed from Sesshomaru's eyes.

"Slayer, you may leave us."

"Oh, of course." Sango bowed, and she spoke her thanks but it was clearly unheard by the pair as they had been enveloped in their own conversation.

"Here?" Kagome asked with a giggle.

With a hungry, yearning growl coming from his throat, Lord Sesshomaru affirmed, "yes".

Blushing from the embarrassment of overhearing, Sango left the room, only briefly looking back at Kagome who had begun to laugh with the way Lord Sesshomaru nipped at her skin.

She closed the door, recomposing herself and once again finding herself overjoyed for Kagome. There's no mistaking it. Lord Sesshomaru has chosen Kagome for a mate, and she accepted. Her smile brimmed as she hurried her way down the hall. While it wasn't the same on many levels, a union was comparable to marriage. And while a union was seen as something more cold, relating solely to the acquisition of power- even the "heart" in the yokai vows was solely a reference to the organ itself- it was clear that Lord Sesshomaru and Kagome had brought their love into the union. I have to tell Miroku. Kagome and Lord Sesshomaru. I never would have imagined but they seem utterly perfect for each other. A matching yin and yang, complementing each other as they accept their differences.

In the midst of her thoughts, she hadn't noticed Kikyo until the priestess stood before her.

"Good morning, Kikyo."

Kikyo did not respond, looking down the hall where Sango had just left with a blank expression.

"I heard you were to be summoned to the healing quarters."

"So I was."

Another drawn out silence lingered between them. Sango's irritation was beginning to rise.

"I suppose we should go then-

"Tell me, Slayer."

"Yes?"

"Lord Sesshomaru. He's marked my other half, hasn't he." She said the question as though it were a statement.

"He has."

The sides of Kikyo's lips turned up momentarily before quickly returning to her expressionless stare. Sango didn't care for it. A tightness in her gut brewed the suspicion. It was as if she were hiding something, and that smile was a slip up.

"How fortunate," Kikyo said after a moment.

"That's funny. I thought you disliked the idea of Kagome being with a demon since she is a priestess. After all, you seem dead set on ruining whatever you and Inuyasha have left."

Kikyo at last looked at Sango, her eyes cold and vacant. "I do what I must."

"What you must? And what is that?"

Kikyo's gaze went to the floor, downcasted before she forced her attention back to the hall. Whatever secret she's holding is burdensome to her.

"I suspect she's very pleased. She is always quick to give into her emotions."

"Kikyo."

"Yes?"

"What are you hiding?"

Again the smirk appeared swiftly, and then it fell into a somber frown. Kikyo looked at Sango again, and sadness bore into her. "I think you have more things to concern yourself with today."

"Excuse me?" Sango asked, baffled and a little scared. Kikyo turned on her heel and began to walk away.

"You shouldn't waste anymore time," Kikyo said as she walked away.

Ice settled inside Sango. She knows.

"My love, are you sure?"

"Yes, Miroku! She practically told me so."

Miroku sat on a stone bench that looked over the sand garden. Shippo, though carrying dark circles beneath his eyes, was animated to train. Through what Lord Sesshomaru had briefly explained to him yesterday and what Boriyu had elaborated on this morning before being called away with Amellis, this was the perfect location for him to improve on his magic.

At the moment, Aimi was watching and listening adamantly as he repeated what his mentors had said. "Magic is shifting the perception of reality," he said, quoting Lord Sesshomaru. "So I have to practice on that. And Master Boriyu said the best way to do that was to use natural elements that shifted as well. Sand is the easiest since it's the sturdiest. Then snow, which is a little harder cause it melts, and lastly air, which is the hardest cause you can't even see it; you can only feel it."

"How cool!"

"Uh-huh! So ima start with sand, and I'm gonna try to copy Master Boriyu's invisibility trick! But mine's gonna be more like camouflage until I can make my own powder like his."

"Okay! And I'm gonna train to become a priestess!"

"Eh- to become a priestess? How are you gonna do that?"

"Lady Amellis said inside me is a calling, and I'm gonna find it! I don't know how, but if I sit really still like auntie Kagome does when she trains, then maybe I'll find it!"

"Miroku," Sango whispered urgently, calling his attention once again. He had become distracted when he heard Aimi once again proclaiming her desire to become a priestess.

"Yes, forgive me. I'm listening."

"Well, we should tell someone, don't you think?"

"Hmm… I'd certainly like to, but I don't believe we can."

"But if we keep our part a secret, then-

"They will ask questions, Sango. That… That is not something I'm willing to risk."

"But if she knows, doesn't that mean-

"Shhh. We must not let Shippo over hear us."

Sango looked over, witnessing a sporadic Shippo patting out a small fire that he had accidentally caused. But she knew with those ears of his that there was still a high chance of him listening in no matter how quiet they were or how distracted he was.

"Shippo."

"Eh- yeah?"

"Will you watch over Aimi for us? We'll be back soon."

"Sure, but where are you going."

"Nowhere far. Aimi, I expect you to behave well for Shippo."

"Mhmm," Aimi answered, scrunching her nose as she sat with her legs crossed and her eyes closed. It was obvious strands of her hair were scratching her nose, so before they left, Sango walked over and took the ribbons out of her hair. It had been months since she last cut Aimi's and Airi's hair. As predictable as it was, she enjoyed dressing the two in outfits that exemplified their twin relationship. Had enjoyed.

Her fingers ran through Aimi's hair, pulling it back as her tears began to fall. Imagined memories of what her children's lives would be like ran through her mind. They would be together. Kagome would somehow find a way to defeat the goddess and she would take care of them. The twins would grow up strong and with a sibling bond greater than hers and Kohaku. Isas would look like Miroku, but with Kagome's guidance, he'd learn to be respectable. Eventually, the girls would forget what they looked like; what they sounded like. Her and Miroku would be reduced to a faded memory that the girls would hold only as a visionless fact that they had parents who loved them before. Isas… would Isas grow up calling Kagome mommy? A swift cry left Sango's lips as her heart cracked.

"Mommy?" Aimi called, but Sango's vision was so blurry with tears she could barely see what she was doing with Aimi's hair.

"I'm sorry, my sweet girl," she cooed, suppressing her sobs as she quickly did Aimi's hair up in a single ponytail. It was the first time she had changed her child's hairstyle since she first did her's and Airi's pig tails. If Airi was here, Sango would have taken the time to redo her hair as well. "There you go, Aimi. Your hair should leave you alone now."

"Thank you mommy!" She exclaimed, and eagerly returned to her "meditating". Sango hurriedly took Miroku by the hand, leaving the area.

"Sango, my love. What's wrong."

"Will we even get to see them tonight?" She said with a sob, covering her face. Miroku quickly took her into his arms.

"I don't know," he answered honestly. It was a question he had been asking himself.

"What if she doesn't hold her end of the deal then?!"

"We'll ensure she will. If she does not relinquish our children, then we will not go with her. If Kagome's theory is correct, then, without the stone, the goddess needs us to go with her willingly."

"I hate this, Miroku. I hate everything about it. And the fact that Kikyo might be in on it and we can't tell anyone. It's all so wrong!"

"I know, my love."

He held her close, sharing in her despair. A kiss was placed on her head, and with it she felt a shift in the tightness he held her with. Wordlessly, he told her it was best to not think about it, and she could not argue against him. Why, on their last day, should they dwell over a despair they could not change? The logic was right, but for the life of her she couldn't help herself. The despair wouldn't just leave with them. The aftermath of it would remain with those they would leave behind and her mind was preoccupied for them.

"SIT!" Kagome's voice echoed through the garden, followed by a painful grunt from Inuyasha.

"I wonder what it is this time," Miroku said dryly, thinking that this was probably the last time he'd ever get to say those words again.

Sango was equally hollow as she spoke, but she thrived in the surprise that Miroku felt. "Either Inuyasha was upset about Kagome becoming Lord Sesshomaru's mate, or Kagome is upset that he interrupted them while they were in the study. Knowing them two, I'm guessing both are correct."

"L-Lord Sesshomaru's m-m-"

"Did I forget to tell you?" She said cheekily.

"Yes, my love, you forgot to tell me that our descendant is now Lord Sesshomaru's mate. Are you certain?"

"I saw the aura coming from the mark this morning. It's on the elect shoulder."

For a moment Miroku was speechless, gleeful beyond words. "What are we waiting for then?! We must congratulate her!"

Taking a hold of Sango's hand, he hurried them over to where Kagome was, and for the brief time that they ran hand in hand, Sango forgot about the misery of the day.

"I cannot believe you. Yesterday you were actually being supportive, but suddenly today it's all different! Not only did you almost barge in when I know your dog ears would have clued you in on what we were doing, but then you have the gall to tell me that!"

"HEY! I was in a rush. I didn't know Sesshomaru already knew that damn leopard was back. And you didn't have to sit me for telling the truth-

"You're lucky I don't say S-I-T again just for that!"

"But you are just a human!"

"That doesn't mean anything to me, you idiot!"

"Lady Kagome!"

"Hm? Oh, hey you two. Good mornING-" she yelped as Miroku took her into a tight hold. "Woah! I'm guessing you know?"

"Sango just told me." He leaned back, holding her at arms length as he looked her over. He sighed like a father preparing to send his daughter off into marriage. "You look like a different woman now."

"Stop!" Kagome laughed, covering her cheeks with her hands. "You're so embarrassing."

To her surprise, Sango laughed with Kagome, and once again the dread was momentarily lifted. Sango took Kagome's hands, smiling as her thrill swilled within. "You know what it means to be his mate, correct?" She asked, wanting to ensure that Kagome knew the commitment she had sworn herself to. Kagome's smile widened sweetly, her eyes twinkling with delight.

"I do."

Sango embraced her in a deep hug. Her dear friend, sister, descendant had found the one whom she would proudly be with till the end of her days. And while it might not have been Sango's preferred choice a few short months ago, despite the shock, she couldn't imagine Kagome choosing anyone better.

"Keh. You three are celebrating over this like if it's all totally fine."

"Ugh. Here we go again," Kagome groaned, rolling her eyes as she stomped her foot down. "I don't get you! I thought at the very least you were my friend. Why can't you be happy for me?"

"Because this ain't got nothing with you being happy, Kags. The fact is you're a human and he's a demon-

Kagome sneered at Inuyasha while her reiki flared around her, causing the air to sting with purity. She clenched her fists and spoke through her teeth. "You better choose your next words very carefully, Inuyasha, because while the other lords might say shit against our union, I refuse to hear it from my so-called friends."

"Will ya calm down? I'm just.. I don't know." Inuyasha crossed his arms looking down at his feet, remembering a not so distant night. "I don't get it."

"What don't you get, huh? Can your thick skull not get why he asked me to be his mate? Or are you pissed that I said yes? What the hell are you upset about?!"

"I ain't upset that you chose to be his mate over mine, alright!" He shouted, and as soon as the words left, he shut his mouth tight, his eyes wide while his ears burned. The embarrassment was shared with Kagome, noticed by her awkward stare and tinge of blush, while Sango and Miroku took a glance at each other. This was not an opportune time to approach them, and perhaps if they weren't so emotionally wrecked, they would have thought about that. "That's not what I meant."

"It's okay."

"I really didn't mean it that way. I'm just confused about something he told me, that's all."

"It's fine, Inuyasha. Let's just forget about it, okay?"

"Y-yeah." He dug into the ground with his toes, scratching the back of his ear. Sango thought about leaving, and looked to Miroku to see if he was thinking the same. He gave a nod of approval, but before they could drift away, they saw the bat, Tobuyoru, being escorted out of the palace by one of Sesshomaru's remaining guardsmen and Kohaku.

"Ima go look for Ki… oh shit. There he goes." Inuyasha said, his attention being diverted to Tobuyoru as well. "I guess I should go help out, since the prick decided to make me the speaker. Seriously, what the hell was he thinking."

Kagome pressed her lips into a thin line and scrunched up her shoulders, looking down to the side at nothing in particular. "Can… can you tell him sorry for me?"

"Tsk. Sorry? You ain't got nothing to be sorry about, Kags. You did great. I can promise you your ruling is better than anything Sesshomaru had planned. The guy should be grateful he gets to breathe tomorrow."

"He's already lost a wing, and now he has to leave his home."

"And none of that is your fault. He's gonna be just fine anyway. You just stay close to Sango while I'm gone. I'm gonna make sure this has-been actually makes it all the way to the border."

"Uh- Inuyasha," Sango began, a bit confused by the situation. "If you're the new speaker, doesn't that mean you shouldn't go far in case you're summoned?"

"Keh, something tells me that ain't gonna happen today. Besides, I need a break from this place. It's too stiff. Constantly feel like I'm being watched. And we both know you're better at this than I am. Still have no idea what Sesshomaru was thinking switching us. Anyway, I'm out."

"Inuyasha," Kagome called, but he simply waved as he jumped away. "Sorry, Sango. I know Sessh relieved you, but he didn't exactly explain much to Inuyasha."

"That's alright, Kagome. I was hoping to spend time with you today either way." Sango interlocked her arm with Kagome to exemplify the statement.

"Under a personal guard today, Kagome?" Miroku asked, doing his best to refrain from saying 'Lady'. Even Sango was surprised by how natural he managed to make it sound. "Does it have something to do with the bat demon?"

"Hm? No. Sessh is just being protective. He didn't like how some of the Lords reacted this morning."

"Lord Hinotori?"

"Yeah. How'd you know? Well, it's not really too hard to guess when you think about it."

Sango snickered. "Just a bit. But I noticed him smile. He was all too happy to find out you had been marked. It could be explained but it's better to be prepared for the unexpected."

"I swear, you sound just like Sesshomaru some times."

"If that's true, then something tells me that you have been under secret surveillance for awhile. It's what I would do in this situation."

"Okay, I really need you to stop that, it's kinda creepy."

"Sorry," Sango said with another laugh, but she tilted her head to the side as she noticed Kagome begin to chew the inside of her cheek. "What is it?"

"If he already had us being watched, then this visible display is also for another reason then just having me safeguarded, right? Or… is it to try to hide the fact that he's lost more men?"

"It's hard to say, but I don't believe Lord Sesshomaru preoccupies himself much with numbers. The reason why he's so respected, afterall, is due to his resilience and autarchy. So I would say that this is for a show for his enemies."

"You know what, I kinda like the fact that you think like him now. I won't lie, I was feeling really nervous about that. I noticed how few there are now- barely a few dozens- and how stretched thin they are."

"They're the most loyal ones," Sango said, and even she knew that Lord Sesshomaru carried the same thought.

"Is that why Tobuyoru is leaving then?" Miroku then asked, having listened to their conversation but still curious of what he had witnessed.

"Yeah, kind of. After Inuyasha almost barged in- which, by the way, I'm so thankful Sessh managed to keep the door shut just in time. That would have been way too embarrassing- Tobuyoru came in. He had… been waiting for the right moment I guess…" Kagome absentmindedly scratched her cheek, recalling the situation. "He, um… He felt he owed Sesshomaru enough to tell him in person that he wouldn't serve under him anymore, and that he'd accept whatever ruling he gave for his betrayal."

"Did he say why?"

"Heh. As if he even needed to. It's obvious it's because of me."

"I am sorry, Lady- eh- Kagome."

"S'okay. I figured I'd get a lot of that today. Anyway, Sesshomaru didn't bother giving a ruling. He said that, since Tobuyoru's betrayal was an affront to me, that I would decide."

"You chose to exile him?"

"I… didn't want him to die for holding a belief that most demons hold."

"That was very kind of you."

"If you say so. I still feel bad, but I get why Sessh wanted it to be me." She frowned lightly as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "He apologized cause he knew I felt bad, and that was still after I said that I understood. I think he felt guilty for what Tobuyoru said."

"I'd have to see it to believe it," Sango said jokingly, and the smile returned to Kagome's face.

"Well, until he is available again, perhaps you'd like to join us? Aimi would be delighted to have your help in meditation."

"She didn't go to you?"

"Aimi doesn't think Miroku is a 'pure' enough monk to help."

"She is beyond her years." Kagome chortled while Miroku feigned a painful expression. Eagerly, she went with them.

During her time with them, Sango attempted to draw out information on what Kagome's thoughts were on Kikyo. The most she could get out was that Kagome viewed her and Inuyasha as two parts of a whole with some similarity. Her recent observation was how the two seemed to struggle from their inhibiting perceptions; mainly with loneliness. Kikyo, in her eyes, depended on it. Kagome theorized it was a defense mechanism from her unwillingness to open up to people for fear of either them or her getting hurt in some way or another. "I think she believes it's better to avoid those types of emotions, and she'll close herself off to do it. Not to mention the fact that she feels like she needs to do everything herself and is so narcissistic that she's willing to cross way too many lines to get whatever plan she has done."

Clearly Kagome was still upset with her.

Inuyasha, on the other hand, was desperate to avoid being alone. "He's starting to see it in himself but that doesn't stop him from falling back into his old thoughts. That's why they're both different yet the same. Seriously, it's like one step forward, two steps back."

Sango nodded her head at this, but when she pried for information on Kikyo's plan and whether Kagome knew anything about, Kagome simply stated that she knew that there was one and that she wanted to stop it. After a conversation she and Lord Sesshomaru had last night, that was all Kagome wanted to know.

So Lord Sesshomaru knows then? Is that why he agreed to relieve me? But that conclusion didn't last long. If he did know, for Kagome's sake alone, he would have tossed the whole palace upside down to prevent what was coming tonight, Sango was sure of it. It's something else then.

At a bold moment, Sango dared to ask, "Do you think she might be working with her? The goddess I mean."

Kagome was quick to shut that down. "What? No way! I can promise you it's nothing like that. I really do think it's just her false perception. I keep seeing moments where she tries to push forward and open up- better herself- and then she reverts back even colder than before. But working with the goddess? Absolutely not."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Well… the thing is you two weren't there. You didn't see what I saw."

"When you were in the goddess's castle?"

"No. When Kikyo apologized to Amellis for what she had done."

Kagome's fingers went to her hair, still designed in that elegant half-braid, tugging on the loose strands as her brow curved upward. Sango waited patiently for her to elaborate. "I've never… it was like actually seeing her for the first time. I'd never seen her so open. Raw. Her shield was completely down. It was a Kikyo I'm sure Inuyasha had only ever gotten to see. So there's no way she's working with the goddess. Not with how broken she was. Is."

"And you, Kagome?" Sango asked, realizing that she scarcely asked after that first day, and feeling all the more guilty for it.

"Me? I… I don't know. I feel fine, but I wasn't there as long."

"Still, those injuries…"

Kagome shrugged her shoulders. "I've thought about it. Tried to make myself feel the shock that I should. But it's… hollow. Maybe, with everything going on, my brain just doesn't feel safe enough to break down. The fact that I haven't seen Ribaiasan in my dreams lately is messing with my head more than what happened in that pit."

Kagome sighed, leaning back as she raised her head to let the sunlight touch her face, using her arms as support. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"The mark. You know about it- how it works and all that."

"Just the basics. Slayers don't really care why demons join in unions, but it's helpful to know if a demon has a mate. It's easier to tell with demons higher up the hierarchy of course, as they will style their hair purposely to display they aren't alone, unlike common demons who will do it for convenience. Of course you know that."

Kagome blushed with a smirk, her eyes twinkling with delight before she brought her fingers to her hair again. "It was done by the time I woke up. I wish I could have done the same with him, but there ain't no rest for the wicked apparently. Wicked being Hinotori's men who seem to be walking about in secret with no real goal. Ugh. I hate that man."

"You're not the only one. But why did you ask about the mark?"

"Well…" she paused, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "You know how one sided marks are viewed?"

"I sincerely doubt you have to worry about that with Lord Sesshomaru."

"Seriously? His thoughts immediately went there when I asked him about the mark too. Geez. But that's not what I meant. I meant… with the goddess. I wanted to ask Sesshomaru about it but…" Kagome became sullen, her eyes tinged with regret as she pouted. "I know he hates thinking about the short time the goddess had me."

Placing her hand back down on the ground, she played with the sand absentmindedly. Sango couldn't help but notice that the sadness Kagome displayed had nothing to do with what happened to her, and everything to do with how it affected Lord Sesshomaru.

"You love him deeply."

"I do. And he loves me. More than I could even imagine. That's why I don't want to ask him. I don't want him to… imagine… what it was like for me. But I was thinking… those demons in the pit… they seemed so far from sane. Like they were so driven by a maddening hunger. I know a lot of demons don't act much better, but it was just a little different. So, I started thinking… Does the goddess maybe control them with her jaki? Kind of like what she's tried to do before in the slayer village or aokigahara?"

"Could be. I wouldn't put it past her."

"Yeah… yeah…"

"Does that make you sad?"

"It doesn't make you?"

"If I went through what you did, Kagome, I sincerely doubt I'd have enough compassion for anyone involved in the situation."

"Even if it's not their fault?"

Sango wasn't sure how to respond, and so merely shrugged her shoulders. The conversation of Kikyo dropped as Sango wasn't sure how else to approach the subject without divulging her secrets. There's no doubt she knows, yet Kagome is certain she's not working with the goddess. But what other explanation is there?

Before the others noticed, Kagome perked up, turning towards the palace. In an instant, she was on her feet running.

He captured her easily, a single arm around her waist that he steadied her with once she had leapt up into his hold. Amusement was evident upon his face.

"Good afternoon, Lord Sesshomaru," Miroku remarked as Sesshomaru approached, a content Kagome in his hold.

"Monk."

"I've heard you've taken my descendant as your mate."

Kagome immediately bounded out of Sesshomaru's hold, holding her finger out accusingly at Miroku. "Don't you start. Not even jokingly."

"Kagome, I'm hurt. I was merely making conversation."

"Yeah right. I heard it in your voice. I don't want to see any over-protective jeering, you hear me?"

With a disappointed sigh, Miroku bowed his head, and Sesshomaru laughed lightly, calling Kagome back to him. The sound caused both Miroku and Sango to freeze, unsure if what they just heard was real, but there was the evidence upon his face. A smile, slightly more curved up on one side then the other with eyes half lidded as he looked upon his mate. Kagome reciprocated with a smile of her own, and nuzzled the dip in his collarbone, earning her a low, caring rumble as he wrapped his arms around her again.

"Everything okay?" Kagome asked looking up at him through her lashes.

"Hn." Sesshomaru passed his fingers through her bangs, prompting her to take a lock of his hair. "The leopard did not protest."

"I wish you would have let me heal him."

"Kagome…"

"I know, I know. Not until we know if he's telling the truth." Kagome admired the lock in her hand, and grinned softly. Sesshomaru, though subtle, frowned and ran a claw beneath the braid in her hair.

"Later, my mate."

"You're leaving?"

"Hn. We are to investigate the leopard's story."

"We?"

As Kagome peeked around him, Sango's gaze followed. The lions approached silently, but their quick glances spoke of an argument unfinished. Sango stood and bowed, and Miroku, Aimi, and Shippo followed her example. When she sat, so did they, and they mimicked her silence. As was expected of them, they could not speak unless spoken to. Aimi was unaware of much of what was happening but Sango hoped she would be able to infer enough despite her young age.

Kagome hid the majority of herself behind Sesshomaru then, a bright red tint on her skin. It was an odd reaction for Sango to see from her usually overconfident sister. The gaze in Kagome's eyes as she found solace in Lord Sesshomaru's shoes spoke of a panic fueled by sadness and self-doubt.

While it was an assumption, Sango perceived the reaction to be a response to Lord Usamah's status. As the eldest Lord he held the title of judge at this noburugyaza, as wisdom was viewed as the fruit of time amongst demons. A judge was meant to be impartial, but those who acted as such were few and far in between.

A chill ran up Sango's spine as she realized that Lord Usamah stare was piercing through Lord Sesshomaru, focused on the hidden Kagome. That chill subsided, however, as there was no malice in his glare. There was disgust, yes, but more so was curiosity. Sango wondered what the Lion Lord could be thinking. His mate, with her murderous expression, was much easier to read but lacked the spine-shuttering force behind it.

"I want to go with you," Kagome said, and Sango's attention immediately snapped to her. The argumentative counter hung on her tongue as she was acutely aware of those around them. She was grateful when Miroku caught on to Sango's silent thoughts, and whisked Aimi up before she could protest Kagome's decision as well, whispering to her to play the silent game as they sat beside Sango.

"There is nothing more that I want then to have you by my side."

As Lord Sesshomaru spoke, Sango watched Lord Usamah carefully, attempting to judge his thoughts as proficiently as Kagome could do, but without reiki to inform her, it was quite difficult. His gaze narrowed, but it didn't go to Lord Sesshomaru as Sango would expect it to. It lingered on Kagome, despite her being mostly out of his sight. Was it truly such a spectacle though? Sango may have not known much of the history of the lords, but given what she could learn, she had suspected that Lord Usamah was the only one out of the five to have been a Lord during Master Toga's time. Lord Ethreil had come into power a few decades after Lord Sesshomaru. Lady Tsutsuji was indebted to Lord Sesshomaru for her own claim to power. Lord Hinotori was a recent usurper. Surely after Master Toga's scandal, Kagome could not be as much of a fascination.

"But?" Kagome said, once again knowing Lord Sesshomaru's hidden remark where Sango had not suspected one. His shoulders rose and sank subtly with a discontent sigh.

"I require you stay here. Lady Tsutsuji will be here to aid you should something happen."

"Should something happen?"

"Lord Hinotori and the leopard will remain."

"And you're leaving?"

Lord Sesshomaru pinched her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. Already, their faces were painted with a pining that spoke of how much they were already missing each other.

"Had he not mentioned seeing an in'ei, I would not."

Ice filled the pit of Sango's abdomen. The others felt it too. It was easy, in this place filled with its own dangers and security, to forget that the goddess was always lurking. They were all just so desperate to feel some kind of relief that the threat of the demons around them was a welcoming distraction.

"Are you sure?"

"His description was vague, but consistent. I intend to confirm it, and Lord Usamah desires to see the evidence for himself."

With a shallow swallow, Kagome whispered. "Shouldn't I go with you then? If she's there-

"As long as the other Lords are here, one of us must remain."

"Why?"

Lord Sesshomaru smirked. "You are the Lady of these lands now, my mate. While I am away, my men will look to you for direction, and you must ensure the others behave themselves."

Once again, Kagome's face turned red as her eyes widened, but after a moment to recollect herself, she nodded. "I understand. I'll do my best."

"Are we done then?" Lord Usamah asked, his booming voice displaying his annoyance. Lord Sesshomaru glared at him from behind his shoulder before returning his attention to Kagome.

"I do not want you to be alone. Where is Inuyasha?"

Kagome made an audible pop sound as she timidly said, "He left with Kohaku to take Tobuyoru out of your lands."

Anger was immediately apparent upon his features, his gaze flickering towards his parameter. Can he hear them from this distance? Sango wondered.

"It's alright, Sessh. Sango said she's fine covering for Inuyasha till he gets back."

He turned to her for confirmation.

"That's correct. I'm prepared in case you need me."

"Hn." He gave a short nod; his way of saying thanks no doubt. "Jaken will be here shortly to aid you if you need it."

Kagome giggled. "Don't worry so much. Everything will be fine, I've got this." He smiled then, shutting his eyes, and Kagome boldly stood up on her toes to place a kiss on his lips. Without hesitation, Lord Sesshomaru reciprocated despite the southern rulers proximity. It was a shock to Sango. Not so much from Kagome as she had always been more open with her emotions, but from Lord Sesshomaru. While Kagome's habits had certainly rubbed off of them, Sango had grown up in a time where such public displays were viewed negatively. Amongst Lords, this perception was graver still, and that was simply amongst human Lords. Certainly Lord Sesshomaru knows that this may offend Lord Usamah and Lady ShiShi.

In another shocking display, when their lips parted and both smiled at each other, Lord Sesshomaru turned to the lion, a haughty sternness in his voice. "Now we may go."

He did know. And he had just rubbed it in the southern rulers faces.

Lord Usamah stuck up his nose while Lady ShiShi squirmed uncomfortably. "Very well. Let's hurry on then."

"Be careful, okay?" Kagome said to the three of them, evident in the way that she stepped out to the side to address all of them. The discomfort amongst the lions was swiftly stirred with perplexity. Pleased with her actions, Sesshomaru affectionately brushed his knuckles across her cheek. "I mean it. Come back in one piece."

"Hn."

"I'll be waiting," she added bashfully, and Sesshomaru grinned widely.

"Let us go."

The Lords and Lady floated away, with Lord Sesshomaru's gaze lingering on Kagome longer than necessary. Even so, Kagome continued to look at the skies long past the moment where they were no longer visible.

Sango and Miroku both huffed with relief, and Kagome turned on her heels.

"You two okay?" She asked curiously.

She really has no issue being in their presence? Sango laughed breathily, still recovering but impressed by Kagome's endurance. "We're fine, Kagome. You seem like you hardly notice it though."

"Notice what?"

Sango blinked rapidly. "Their Jaki, of course."

"Oh. I don't know." She scratched her cheek as she spoke. "It doesn't really bother me. Actually, whenever I'm with Sessh, I find it comforting."

"So there you are!" Jaken squawked as he approached with Amellis and Boriyu.

There was a bit of teasing as Kagome questioned the imp, asking, despite him clearly hating taking orders from a human, if he would do it anyway. Naturally, in the most prideful manner possible, he blared that he would. What kind of vassal would he be otherwise? Kagome, with humor, responded how he was a good a friend and how Lord Sesshomaru was lucky to have him.

Amellis and Boriyu caught them up on how Jiga was fairing. The leopard had a few broken bones and some deep cuts, much of which was easily healed with the exception of some ribs. His own healing abilities would need to take care of it, though it was believed that a large amount of time would be needed.

"He left when he noticed a shadow," Boriyu explained, crossing his arms as he rested against a tree. "Apparently it could shape shift between different kinds of beasts and left a kind of ashen residue behind."

"An in'ei," Kagome remarked, discouraged. Her worry for Lord Sesshomaru grew now knowing the details Jiga had provided.

"Something the goddess can create, I'm guessing."

Sensing Sango and Miroku's hesitation, Amellis swiftly whispered, "I told him everything."

"Everything?" Sango asked, and Amellis nodded.

"And he's still willing to help us?"

"You are aware I'm standing right here, monk."

"Alright. So you are still willing to help us?"

"I'm rooting for Kagome's plan to work, but yes. I am still willing to help."

"Why?"

"I have my reasons." He shrugged his shoulders, ending the course of questions. In the brief moment of silence, Jaken took the opportunity to inform Kagome of the duties awaiting her. Many demons had left and now only a few remained, but the tasks were ever endless as they were before. It would be her duty to delegate their new tasks.

With a twitching brow, Kagome slouched, and she immediately turned to Sango, pleading for aid through her eyes.

It wasn't what she wanted. To go with Kagome meant leaving her husband and child. Yet she had placed the restraints on herself, and a piece of her naturally wanted to help Kagome nevertheless. "I'd like to finish it quickly."

"You got it! Thank you Sango."

"Of course."

"Would it be alright if I followed? There's something I'd like your help with, Kagome." Amellis asked as Shippo proudly displayed his sand-camouflaged hand to Boriyu who endeared him with praise.

"Sure. Oh, but Sango and I will have to finish first."

"I understand. Lead the way."

The trio went to the study, and Sango was suddenly glad she came. Kagome may not suspect Kikyo, but Amellis perhaps knew more.

"She left after we finished with Jiga."

"She didn't say anything to you?"

Amellis shook her head. "No. Unfortunately, she's become distant. I don't know what she's thinking."

"I was telling Sango I think its her need to do things on her own. Like she thinks she's the only one who can handle making hard decisions or who even should. She wants to carry the burden on her own cause she doesn't want to risk emotional pain."

"Hmm… yes, I'd say I have to agree. I recall witnessing her when Naraku was here, and thinking it was strange how she continued to work alone and risk so much for a plan she developed on her own."

"Exactly. I feel like we're going through the same loop with her again."

"She did die before that part of her could mend. And as soon as she was resurrected, my mother carved into that broken part of her."

"So you don't think she's doing it out of malice or working with the goddess either?"

Amellis took a moment to think it over as they entered the study. Kagome went to her desk, smiling as she passed her fingers over the wood. "He spoils me so much," she murmured to herself, and Jaken barked his agreement, claiming Lord Sesshomaru gave her much more than she deserved.

"Jaken, I suggest you give me whatever it is you want me to get through while I'm still in a good mood and not eager to pound your head over with my reiki covered fists."

The imp shuddered and quickly gathered the scrolls.

"No," Amellis answered at last. "I dont believe she is. The only reason she did what my mother said was because she was powerless. Now that she is in her own body, that is no longer the case. She is no longer desperate. So I believe Kagome is right. Although, I won't lie. The thought had crossed my mind as well once she had disconnected herself from me. I can no longer sense where she is."

"Sounds like a betrayal in the waiting."

"Hm, yes, could be, but of her own volition. It's best to keep an eye on her."

"That's gonna be difficult if she's constantly disappearing."

"I agree."

"EHHH?!" Kagome yelped as Jaken placed two stacks of scrolls, both taller than him, on Kagome's desk. "This much? You're joking!"

"Lord Sesshomaru can finish these tasks in an hour. I expect the same from you."

"Well prepare to be disappointed! There's no way I can do that!"

"I suggest you do what you can. The best of his men may have stayed but that does not mean that they have cast their judgement favorably upon you. It is up to you to change their opinion."

Kagome sat rigidly straight, looking at the piles as if they were a great abyss.

"Kagome?" Sango hummed gently, worried she may begin to cry.

"How am I expected to do that? I don't know anything about this, and I'm supposed to tell them what to do?"

Sango clasped Kagome's shoulder. "I'm here to help. We'll do it together."

Kagome hummed, nodding her head, but she was unconvinced. Sango pitied Kagome. All the confidence in the world to be stubborn against deadly demons or annoying humans, to face death for the sake of another with barely an ounce of fear, to fall in love and commit herself to someone not promised to live for much longer, and she still suffered from the fear of personal failure. For another then, Sango thought, and then taking a scroll, handed it to Kagome.

"You vowed to protect his lands as you do his heart."

Kagome's eyes lit up with the words. The self-doubt was pulled back, and determination was set in her features. She gave a single, sharp nod, and took the scroll. "Okay. Let's do this."

They each took a scroll, unwinding it and began the slow assessment.

"I don't get it," Kagome said after a moment, looking at Jaken. "This letter came from an area no where near the palace."

Jaken frowned. "Word travels quickly. Many Viceroys have also abandoned their positions, leaving the areas unprotected." Bitterly, Jaken shook his head. "Those demons never deserved a place in my Lord's empire if this is how quickly they choose to turn on him."

Kagome pinched the edges of the scroll delicately, staring at the neatly written script intently, before rolling it up. Placing it to the side, she began to glance at each scroll quickly and then placed them at different portions of her desk, some together, some apart. When she finished, she had five different piles.

"Okay. I think I've got it," she said confidently, striding over to the map of japan that hung on the wall. "Jaken."

"Yes?"

"How long would it take a demon to go around the entire perimeter of Sesshomaru's lands?"

"Hmph. If they push themselves, the average demon would need nearly an entire day."

"And if they're above average?"

"My lord is capable of completing the task in the matter of hours."

Kagome laughed. "Not that fast. More like… three of the fastest demons he's got. How long would it take?"

"Hmmm. Half a day. Why do you ask?"

"Okay. That's a little better than an entire day. Hopefully it's enough. I want them to work in shifts. Two running the perimeter at a time, with another waiting to take their turn. So… as soon as one reaches the halfway mark, the other should go. It's still a lot of work for such a small rest time but let them know that this is just for the meantime. As long as Sesshomaru's prominent enemies are congregated here, he's going to want the majority of his men around the palace. Once they're gone, we'll push the majority of them onto the outer areas, concentrating on the south and northern border. Also, I want at least one guardsmen going to check on one of the abandoned areas per hour. If possible, I'd prefer the guardsmen sent to be from the area he'll be inspecting since they'll know more about the area. Not only that, but it'll help quell any anxiety they might have now knowing the areas are not protected."

"Are you sure that's how you want it set up? These are demons we're talking about. They can forgo a rest and many won't have a connection to what was once their home."

"Yes, I'm sure. If they are going to judge me based on my decisions I want them to know that I understand that they do get tired even if it takes them longer and that I'm willing to take their personal history into account. I know these things have low value amongst the perception of most demons, but I want them to know that this is who I am and that despite this I can still make good calls. What do you think, Jaken? Do you think this will work to help fill in the gaps the viceroys left?"

Jaken pondered for a moment with a frown on his face. Kagome's confidence buckled as a result but shortly after, he nodded. "It's not as it was before, but it will satisfy what we need done."

"Great!" Kagome jumped happily.

"I will go and give the order now."

"Okay! Sango and I are gonna finish up the rest. Oh, and… can you give a message to Lady Tsutsuji?"

Jaken eyed her suspiciously but confirmed he could, leading Kagome to tell him her plan. When the noburugyaza was done, Kagome wanted Tsutsuji to take care of the border between the western and central lands. And to do this, she wanted Tsutsuji to act as if she broke the alliance due to Kagome becoming Sesshomaru's mate, while in secret she would still have support from the west as long she didn't betray them. Essentially playing both fronts on the west's behalf.

"You expect me to tell her that?!"

"Yes. But make sure no one else over hears-

"You are insane, human! I will do no such thing!"

"He's right, Kagome. This situation is way to delicate. You should leave it up to Sesshomaru-

"We have to beat her to the punch, and it needs to be from me."

"Why?"

"Because that's the only way to keep her in the alliance. The whole reason why she's yet to try to break away is because she feels indebted to Sesshomaru. But she's not indebted to me and she's worried she'll be overthrown if she keeps her support for him since it would indirectly mean she supports me. But if she pretends to break away while keeping the sense of security, then she'll get the best of both worlds. And if she knows the deal comes from me, then she'll be indebted to the both of us."

Sango was speechless, awed by Kagome's logical breakdown, but Jaken shook his head. "I will not do this without my Lord's approval-

Kagome slammed her foot down, surprising the imp. "I am the Lady of these lands now, am I not?"

"Y-you are, but-

"And that's because Sesshomaru and I are in a union. Which means if you go against me, you go against me. Not only that but I am to direct his men while he's away and that's something he told me so himself. You really want to counter his decision?"

Jaken swallowed multiple times, his face becoming paler as he fought the combating convictions within himself. He looked down right afraid, and seeing this, Kagome sighed.

"Please, Jaken. If Sesshomaru doesn't like it, he can revoke the deal when he gets back. And if he is upset then I'll make sure he knows that I forced you to do it. You won't get in any trouble. Sesshomaru knows how stubborn I can be so it won't surprise him. So… please."

The green color of Jaken's skin slowly returned to normal, and while his worried expression remained, Jaken turned towards the door. "I will do as you ask."

"Thank you!" Kagome shouted just as he closed the door.

"You're being quite bold with your decisions. Are you sure that's what you want to do? You may end up upsetting Lord Sesshomaru quite a bit."

"I'm sure. I want to do what I can to help, and while I might not be doing everything right the only way I can learn is if I try. He'll understand."

"I'm impressed," Amellis said, sitting on the wall-bench where she had been observing and waiting patiently. "You seemed so hesitant before you started, but it seems you've fallen into the role quite naturally."

Kagome giggled, embarrassed. "Thanks, Amellis. That actually makes me feel alot better. I was feeling kinda anxious there." She turned on her heels, taking one pile from her desk and moving it to the side. "That's one down. Four more to go."

"Do you think Jaken gave you less than there actually are? I get the feeling there should be a lot more."

"I'd rather not think about it, thanks!"

They laughed, feeling a sort of high from completion, and then they dove in to finish off the rest.

They eased the areas that they could. The kitchen, having been working overtime in order to appease the needs of the humans in the palace per Sesshomaru's request, was cut down to one member who would focus solely on demons, who neither needed to eat frequently or have their meals cooked. The humans, as they were already used to doing before, would fend for themselves.

Those who were freed were divided out as "aids" from the healing quarters to armory.

The last and only marshall, along with the chamberlains, unfortunately, could only be spared two aids. This was something Kagome was not happy with. To ensure they weren't overworked, she once again chose for them to ignore the current human residents, and asked for the expectation of maintenance to be halved. The part she struggled with the most was how they should approach Sesshomaru's quarters, which were now her quarters as well. With the other lords here, she decided it was best to save face and have the attendance for him stay the same, but to ignore her own items as she, a human, could go through an inexorable amount twice as fast.

The guardsmen designated for the palace were divided out into two rows, lined up like bricks with miles between them. They'd need to stay in a constant movement to ensure the highest amount of security as possible. Luckily Kohaku had already worked out most of the kinks in his report, and at his request to use the mounts left of reserves, Kagome swiftly wrote her approval. It was by far the easiest of the piles.

Lastly, the scholars were the most difficult to work through. They needed more samples of the ash snow. They needed more scouts. They needed approval from Lord Hinotori to enter his lands to search for the goddess there as well as he was the only Lord to deny them thus far. They needed more. Kagome, feeling the restraints of reality, had to deny every single request.

She finished the last response, her handwriting neat and her syntax professional. Sango commented on how well Kagome's responses were, remarking on how lucky she was to come from a time where being literate was a norm. Kagome hadn't thought about it before but concluded she was lucky to have the knowledge that allowed her to do this. It didn't stop the tears from forming.

"Kagome? What's wrong?"

"I… I couldn't give the scholars anything." She said, her tears pooling in her eyes despite her attempt to keep a stern face. She handed Jaken the last scroll, and he bowed wordlessly before scurrying away.

"You can't expect to appease everyone."

"We managed to give something to everyone except the scholars. And they're the ones that are actually looking for the goddess. I… I just." She bowed her head, supporting it with her hands with her elbows on her desk. "I feel like they should be the ones to get everything, but I can't do that because these damned lords can't stop themselves from going at each other's throats!"

Sango placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder. "It's almost over. After the Baishu Tatakai we'll be back on track. The Noburugyaza will be over soon after that and then we can give them whatever they want."

Kagome snickered. "Tsk. Yeah, Unless Hinotori asks for another Baishu Tatakai because Sesshomaru chose me for a mate, when he's over here controlling humans with his jaki." She leaned back, rubbing her eyes and temples. "I hate him so much."

"Excuse me," Amellis said softly, gently stepping towards the desk.

"Oh, sorry that took so long, Amellis-

"No, it's alright. I'm sorry for interrupting but I believe I may have something that will help the scholars."

Kagome immediately perked up. "You do?"

"Yes. As you know, last night I asked Boriyu to help me guess where my mother could be. When I described to him one of the castles I remembered the most, he came to the conclusion that it must be somewhere here." Amellis walked to the map on the wall and reached her hand up. Her fingers touched the northernmost island of japan; the hokkaido region, deep within Lord Hinotori's territory. "Here. Specifically on Mount Asahi."

"What makes him think it's there?" Sango asked, curious as to if it had something to do with Lord Hinotori himself.

"My description. The castle you all found was her most beloved, but she has many others. My memory of these places lack… specificities, but I recall much of this place as it was one she frequented the most after the ocean cliffside location."

"And what you remember, can any of it help us if we find our way inside?"

"Unfortunately, no. I was locked in a room there as well. All I remember was that it was cold almost all year long with thick snow that would fall in through the cracks in the roof, and yet it would tremble at times. And then there was the smell that came and went as it pleased. My mother and the other demons enjoyed it because it reminded them of humans cooking over a fire. Naturally I found it abhorrent, but that's all I can really say. With that alone, Boriyu is almost certain this is where her castle is at as he knows the place quite well from his childhood."

Sango nodded, thinking of some kind of plan that could be formulated with this new information, but coming to a stall. Kagome sighed dejectedly, leaning back in her chair. "Great. The one place we can't go. Like Lord Hinotori will just let us waltz right in."

"That's true. Which is why I plan to sneak in."

Kagome immediately stood up, slamming her hands onto the desk. "No way!"

"But Kagome-

"I can't believe you'd even think of doing such a thing! You barely got away from your mother last time and now you want to go back to her?!"

"It's not like that. I don't feel right having all of you do what you can and I do nothing. This is something that I can do."

"Yeah, sneak into an enemy's territory that already seems to despise us only to then sneak into your mother's castle when we don't even know if she's actually there or not, ALONE."

"Boriyu would be with me."

Kagome scoffed. "I can't believe he'd even agree to let you do that."

"He understands my desires to help-

"It should be somebody else. Somebody who already knows everything. One of us, but not you."

"You, of all people, know you can't do that. You can't willingly go to my mother. This isn't like how it was when she took you, Kagome. There won't be another reason except to seek out my mother, and it doesn't matter the reason why, willingly going to her is all she'll need."

"But…"

"She doesn't need me for the jewel. If any of us should go, it should be me."

"Amellis, if you get captured… the things she'll do…"

"I know. But I don't plan on getting captured."

Kagome shook her head, unconvinced. Sango didn't agree with it either. The plan had too many holes; getting past Lord Hinotori; remaining in his lands unseen; sneaking into the goddess's castle without knowing if she were truly there or not. Lastly… "You can't go."

"Sango-

Amellis went silent as Sango held up her hand. "I won't lie, I don't like the plan. But there's a bigger issue I'm afraid you haven't taken into account. The Noburugyaza. Lord Sesshomaru intends to have you as a key witness. You, a diety, give more leverage to his concerns for the other lords to listen to. And we'll need them to help us fight against her. So until that's done, you can't leave."

Kagome sighed, her eyes giving her thanks to Sango as she relaxed in her chair, while Amellis pursed her lips and pinched her Kimono in her fists. "It's taking too long," she whispered and, shaking her head, stood straighter. "We can't wait much longer."

"As I told Kagome, the noburugyaza is almost over."

"And as she said, you don't know for certain how long it will actually take. Yet I know for certain that our week is almost up. And while we don't know where my mother is at, I can promise you she knows where we are."

Amellis's brows curved downwards, angered. As Kagome rested her chin on her fists, stating that they should wait to decide until Sesshomaru came back, Amellis snapped. "I wasn't asking for your approval! I'm going to do this because we are sitting ducks for her otherwise. And I don't want her to do whatever she's planning to force you all to surrender to her!" Amellis turned on her heels, storming towards the door.

"Amellis, wait," Kagome said, ready to chase after her. As she opened the door, Amellis paused.

"Kagome, I've told you what I am planning and the main reason why. But there's another. One that I wanted you to confirm."

"Uhh," Kagome stammered, stopping mid step. Amellis sighed, slouching as she did which was something neither Sango or Kagome had seen her do before. They had never seen her appear so worn down. It was if the exhaustion that she had felt all her endless years was exposed. Beneath the cloth around her eyes, there seemed to be a rim of purple. Her cheeks, with the way the light hit him, appeared shallow. Her lips were pale, and as her shoulders rose with a breath, they looked too thin.

"You and your friends- you said the farthest north you ever went was Mount Hakurei, correct?"

"I did."

"So you've never been to that region?"

"No, but, Amellis… if you're relying on that to convince yourself that the jewel might be there as well, I have to tell you, it's not the best excuse to risk your life."

"Kagome-

"The farthest I could ever sense a jewel was about a mile, and that was from Koga when he had three. There's plenty of places where it could be located, and the fact that you're sure your mother doesn't have it means it's less likely to be there."

"She can't sense the Shikon Jewel as we do. The yo inside prevents her. The only way she knew of it's progression was by keeping tabs of the demons around it. That means that despite her not having it, it could be there. I would simply need to search around the region."

"I get it, but the fact that no demons have reacted around it means it's going to be in a secluded spot. My point is that if you're trying to convince me that the jewel might be there than I'm going to think it's even more important that we go with you, at the very least."

Amellis sighed again, and then regained her normal posture, the signs of exhautions disappearing as she held herself high- hidden behind her mask. "My intent is to simply find out if my mother is there. In my quick excursion, if I do not sense the jewel in that short time, I will return here. Then we can go together."

"So then you're completely fine abandoning us during the noburugyaza for a maybe?"

Amellis bowed her head. Clasping her fingers together, she turned back around and exited the door without saying another word.

When she was out of sight, Kagome brought her fingers to her face, covering her eyes and she shut them tight. A shaky breath escaped her lips.

"Kagome."

"Sorry, Sango," she sighed, dropping her hands. "I didn't mean for it to take so long."

"It's okay." She walked up beside Kagome, noticing the frown upon her face. "We'll try to convince her to wait again later. Once Lord Sesshomaru is here and with Boriyu as well. As things are now, the plan is too dangerous."

Kagome didn't respond, only nodding her head subtly as her brows knitted together. Sango's mouth opened, preparing to say they would at least convince Amellis to wait one more day, when she recalled that she herself did not have another day. Here was her mind, planning for tomorrow and the day after, and so too was it daunted by its nearing demise.

"Let's go." Kagome mumbled, pulling Sango out of her thoughts.

"You should wait for Jaken in case he has more."

"I finished what he gave me. If he needs more done than he can find me, but I don't want to be in this room anymore."

They stepped out into the bright yet chilly day. Kagome's eyes immediately went up to the sky, looking for a sign of Sesshomaru's return, only to see slowly rolling white clouds. In the distance, they could see Shippo and Aimi, still training in the sand, only Boriyu was now instructing Shippo as he drizzled some sand onto his arm. Beside him was Amellis who, even from this distance, seemed downcasted. Teasing his daughter, Miroku held a long reed which he frequently bent over to tickle either her nose, her neck or her side. Both of them beamed with joy, Sango more than Kagome however as Kagome continued to glance at the sky.

"Are you nervous for him?"

Kagome exhaled a short laugh. "A bit. I feel so stupid for not asking him how long it would take. Oh gosh, listen to me. I sound like I can't go a second without him."

Sango smiled, recalling a time she felt the same about Miroku. "That's how it is at first. It never really goes away. Instead, you learn how to manage it."

"Really," Kagome sighed, bringing a hand to her chest. "Cause I feel like I might go crazy."

"The world has an odd way of constantly pulling and pushing people apart. You can't stop it, so you learn how to deal with it." Sango shrugged her shoulders a bit, and returned her gaze to her family. Aimi was glaring at Miroku who pretended to be in perfect meditation, though the strain in suppressing his smile was clear on his face. The scene called to her. She wanted to be beside them; run to them. In her distraction, she hadn't noticed Boriyu's sudden absence or Jiga's approach.

"Lady Kagome," the leopard said, holding onto his side as he gave a short bow. Though his smile was faint, his long fangs glistened. Sango had only seen one other clouded leopard demon in her life. The speed and agility it possessed, as well as it's ease in hiding itself had frightened her, yet it was those long teeth that struck true terror in her. Her hand laid on the hilt of her sword out of habit.

"Jiga. Should you be out of the healing quarters?" Kagome asked, keeping her nervousness out of her voice.

"Nothing more can be done for me, so I was released. Lord Hinotori and his men are the only ones Lord Sesshomaru can detain justly for how they chose to enter his lands, but if you are worried of what I may do, don't be. My Lord has made it very clear that I should respect you as a true lady of these lands. For now, anyway. I am duty bound to follow his orders."

"Oh, well… I appreciate it."

Jiga gave a short nod of his head, his eyes panning towards their destination. Kagome nervously shifted her weight on her feet.

"Well… um… if you'll excuse me-

"Actually, Lady Kagome. I was hoping to speak with you."

Kagome took a step back in hesitation. "What about?"

Jiga's jaw clenched as he swallowed, taking a small step towards them. Sango braced herself, slightly crouching as she prepared to unsheath her sword. He quickly went back to where he was. "What I saw out there… that shadow… Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't tell me much about it, but he knew what I was speaking about before I finished. I need answers. I was hoping you could help me."

"Why do you want to know?"

Jiga sighed, looking away as he did. "There are few things that have frightened me in my lifetime. But what I saw, what I felt… I need to know why I and my Lord will be risking our lives against this so-called goddess."

Kagome locked and unlocked her fingers, tentatively walking up to Jiga.

"Kagome," Sango hissed.

"It's alright," Kagome responded, careful to not remove her eyes from the clouded leopard. Sango didn't like it, but she relented. Kagome seemed to have a knack for making friends with those who once tried to kill her, so perhaps she could do so again here. "I'm going to heal you. As a sign of good faith to Lord Usamah, got it?"

"Of course. I thank you nonetheless."

Kagome carefully placed her hands on Jiga's side, and he clenched his teeth as she poured her reiki in, forcing the ribs to reform at an unnatural rate. The session was easy; it was over in a matter of seconds.

"There. Better?"

"Yes. Again, I thank you, Lady Kagome."

"Sure. Now let's go ahead and talk."

"If you don't mind, may we perhaps sit over there?" He pointed with a quick nod of his head towards a terrace with a table and a few benches around the edges. Kagome and Sango eyed him skeptically. "There are some things that occurred which I will not like to relay to the masses."

Kagome pursed her lips, and then turned to Sango. "I guess you should go ahead and join Miroku."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"I won't be out of view, plus I can take care of myself pretty well I think. I should do this, as the Lady of these lands. Especially if I want to extend an olive branch to Lord Usamah."

Sango gnawed on the side of her lip, but she yielded with a bow before walking away, never tearing her eyes from Kagome.

As Sango went to sit with her family, Kagome followed Jiga. She kept a long distance from him, and sat on the other side of the table, her back to her friends. Regardless, she knew they could see her, and she kept her powers ready at her palms in case she needed to retaliate. Without asking her, he filled two cups up with water and passed one to her. Not wanting to offend, she accepted the cup, but placed it on the table rather than drink from it. His cinereal eyes, usually dim or vicious, lit with amusement. He brought his own cup to his lips, keeping her gaze locked with his as he drank. If he thinks that's going to calm me down he's kidding himself. Who knows what he put in the water that a demon can take but a human can't.

"If you're truly so worried, then please. Feel free to have one of your human companions take a drink. I will gladly wait."

"And put my friends in danger?"

He snickered. "You think of others often. Very well. I'll have a servant bring us some fresh water so you may feel secure. Now… where is one? There used to be so much more…"

"Wait," Kagome said quickly. She didn't want Jiga to pry on that front. The point of her efforts with Jaken was to give the illusion that they had not lost as many as they had. Once more, she leaned into her reiki, asking it to inform her of his emotions. Once again, she felt almost nothing. Only a small hint of apprehension. That could mean anything, but at least it's not malice. Maybe then… he means it? He did say he would treat me as a proper Lady of the Western Lands under Lord Usamah's orders. If he's like Jaken, then I shouldn't have anything to fear.

Slowly, Kagome brought the cup to her lips and took a small, short sip. She waited for something, anything- a sign of danger- but nothing came. Only the cool refreshing sensation of water flowing down her throat. Setting down the glass, she looked at Jiga, who remained emotionless.

"See? Nothing to fear."

Sighing, Kagome leaned back. "I guess I should say sorry."

"No need. Considering my behavior when we first met, it only makes sense that you be wary of me." His fangs glistened with his smile, and Kagome shivered. Immediately, he pressed his lips into a thin line. Guilt quickly riddled Kagome.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to-

"It's alright. It was my fault-

"No. It was mine. I reacted in a way I shouldn't have. You are a demon and I understand that. You don't have to hide who you are from me."

Jiga's brows furrowed, and he leaned over the table. His grey eyes held hints of yellow. Kagome kept herself still despite feeling like prey beneath his gaze.

"You are an odd human."

"So I've been told."

"Please do not take offense but I do not believe Lord Sesshomaru should have chosen you as his mate. It is… a poor fit."

"No offense taken, but in the end it is our personal decision."

"Is that what you believe?" With a smirk, he leaned back, and Kagome relaxed. Taking a deeper sip of water, she placed the empty cup back on the table and Jiga took it. With great care, he leaned the pitcher over, his hand covering the majority of its mouth to prevent any spills. Handing it back to her, he finished his own cup, and filled it in the same manner. He took a sip while Kagome played with the rim of her cup.

"What did you wish to talk about?"

"The shadow- an in'ei as Lord Sesshomaru called it. What is it?"

"Can't say for sure but it seems like the manifestation of the goddesses Jaki."

"Her Jaki?"

"Yes."

Jiga scratched the side of his lip with his long claw, his gaze far and distance. "And this goddess. Would she happen to be a red head?"

"You saw her?!"

"Faintly. And only when I was on the floor. Her image appeared in the back of my lids along with this horrid sense of someone trying to control me."

"I'm sorry that happened to you."

Her apology caused Jiga's eyes to flick to her, curious but appearing almost a bit wrathful. Yet when she leaned on her reiki, she was once again met with a sense of nothing but the hinting whisper of hesitation.

"I've seen it happen to my friends. When she tries to take control of them… it looks painful."

"It was."

Kagome pressed into her reiki more. This skill was one she wasn't used to using consciously. Yet she felt confident she was doing it correctly despite the sense of void that continued to grow and grow.

"Jiga."

"Hm?"

"What are you up to?"

His eyes flashed momentarily, and for a split second, Kagome felt a spark of something. But it left too quickly for her to determine what it was.

"I don't know what you mean."

"You seem like you're hiding something."

"Hiding? I see. Your reiki, correct?"

"It tends to help me figure out what other people are feeling."

Jiga sighed, nodding his head, and then he scratched at the edge of his lip again. "I suppose I'm closing myself off from remembering."

"Remembering what?"

"What I saw and felt when she…" he fell silent, his eyes becoming glazed over. Kagome gnawed on her lip, feeling guilty for mentioning it. He blinked, and was back in this moment. "It occured to Lord Sesshomaru as well, didn't it. Did he tell you how it was?"

Her throat went dry for a moment, recalling the times Sesshomaru had nearly been taken over; how hard he fought against it; how much it seemed to hurt.

"I'd assume not. The sense of losing control is... indescribable. And yet, as it happened, I could tell that my own power came from her. There is something I can't quite understand. Why would the creator of demons go against her own children? Is that something you can explain to me, Lady Kagome?"

With his elbows at his knees, he looked up at her, his charcoal eyes holding her gaze captive while the streaks of yellow pulled her in; hypnotizing her. She swallowed dryly, her throat as dry as a desert, and she lifted her glass to quench it.

The table was flipped over. Unearthly growls and roars cut through the air; a flurry before her eyes. The stone floor was replaced with grass, her back pressed to a tree. A man in purple crouched in front of her, his back to her as he kept his arms raised. A thin line of a barrier surrounded them, and a shine of colors rayed outward as scales of a large serpent swirled around the terrace. The roars ended. Kagome's eyes stayed locked onto a shattered piece of the table she had just been sitting at. The intricate design was ruined forever. She mourned over it, thinking Oh no. It's been completely destroyed. I'll have to apologize to Sessh for that. As the thought crossed her mind, she realized how ridiculous it was to be concerned over such a small thing when a fight had just broken out in front of her.

"Kagome!" Sango grappled her into a strong hug, shocking Kagome out of her haze. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine," Kagome responded, struggling to recall what had just occurred.

"Oh, your hand!" Sango riffled through her side pack, pulling out her medical supplies while Kagome lifted her hand to inspect it. Glass shards were cut deep into her hand, streams of blood coloring them and flowing down her hand. Only when she saw it did she feel the sharp stinging pain. Her hand quivered as she took in a sharp breath, gripping her wrist with her good hand.

"Hold on and stay still, I'll get the pieces out."

"What the hell happened?" Kagome's voice shook as she spoke.

"I- I don't…" As she took Kagome's hand, Sango briefly glanced at the terrace where Kagome was. Taking it as a hint, Kagome looked at the scene.

A large, qiulong dragon with Ivory antlers and peach, sun reflecting scales with a body-long, lavender dorsal fin, held Jiga down with its two front paws on top of his arms. It's ivory claws dug into his flesh while it hissed down his neck, its long, purple whiskers swaying like waves in a rhythm that matched the deep beat coming from the dragon's throat. In the middle of its scarlet red eyes was a strip of piercing blue.

While the dragon wordlessly threatened Jiga, Boriyu cursed, his shoulder bleeding as he held up a piece of broken glass to his nose before throwing it across the garden. "Dammit! The scent is gone. What did you put in it, Jiga?!"

"Boriyu, you fucking traitor-

"Ow!" Kagome yelped as Sango pulled out another piece of glass.

"Sorry."

"S'okay. Sango… did Jiga try to do something?"

"I… I know as much as you do. One minute, you were having a conversation with him. The next, Boriyu had thrown you across the terrace and began fighting Jiga. Thankfully, Lady Tsutsuji stepped in to end it."

"Lady Tsutsuji?" Kagome looked back at the terrace, the dragon snapping its teeth as Jiga fought against. "That d-dragon is Tsutsuji?!"

As the name left her lips, the dragon's gaze flicked to Kagome. It is her! Holy, she's huge! Kagome gawked, seeing how Tsutsuji's long, serpent body coiled to fit in the area.

"You're calling me a traitor when you have tried to harm my Lord's mate against your own Lord's orders. If either of us is to be deemed a traitor it is yourself."

Jiga snickered with what little air he could muster. "Bold claim without evidence."

Boriyu snarled. "Evidence or not, I have witnesses."

"You think witnesses will be enough for My Lord to condemn me? Tsk. Good luck."

Growling with rage, Boriyu swung a kick into Jiga's jaw, the loud smack causing Kagome to jump just as Sango tore out the last piece. Jiga merely laughed.

A hand touched Kagome's other shoulder, causing another jump despite the gentleness.

"He's here," Amellis said excitedly, clearly hoping to extend the same eagerness to Kagome. Yet Kagome was still in shock, so it wasn't until the orb landed with a loud explosion that she knew whom Amellis was referencing.

As soon as his feet hit the ground, he smelled the metallic sweetness of blood in the air, knowing it to be her's. Sesshomaru rushed to where Kagome was. The monk's barrier pushed him back, the human reacting too slowly to his extreme speed that he barked with impatience while the monk skittered backward. As soon as the barrier left, he was in front of Kagome, holding her bleeding hand.

"Sessh," she said with a relieved whisper. All he could think was how she had been harmed, and so he held her injured hand with both of his. When his lips parted to heal her, however, her good hand cupped his cheek, pulling him back. "It's alright. I'm not injured badly. It'll be easy for me to heal."

Her palm sung with the hum of her power, dancing on his skin. When she did this, he could sense a portion of what she was feeling; warriness. He quickly connected her statement and her sentiments' meaning, and he smirked feeling honored that she would put his desires for keeping his healing abilities a secret over herself. Not too bad then, he thought, and then pressed his forehead against hers. "Are you incapable of staying out of danger for even a moment that I am away?"

She giggled, the sound of it divine to his ears. "You have to admit, you've been away much longer than just a moment."

Sesshomaru sighed. His mate was okay. His everything was okay. She was okay. He glanced at her hand, seeing that it was already healing itself, and kissed her wrist.

"I missed you," Kagome whispered, and the words returned the smile to his face in full force.

"As did I." He doubted she'd ever know how much he missed while he was away. How maddeningly frustrating it was to be so far away from her.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Lord Usamah shouted, breaking their moment together.

"Stay here," Sesshomaru instructed Kagome, but as soon as he stood, so did she. "Kagome-

"I'm your mate. My place is at your side, and that's where I want to be."

Before Sesshomaru could retaliate, preparing to match her stubbornness without fail, Lord Usamah roared.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Release my vassal this instant."

"Absolutely not!" Boriyu interrupted. "The leopard attempted to harm my Lady while my Lord was away. He will be taken to the dungeons until the trail-

"You have no evidence. You will release him now!-

"I think it's a little funny how you keep telling Sesshomaru and Boriyu to release him when it's Lady Tsutsuji that has him pinned down." Kagome snapped back. "You keep acting like she can't make decisions on her own. Keep that up, and the central lands will take offense."

Sesshomaru glanced down at her from the corner of his eye, impressed that in a situation such as this she was still attentive to the fickle alliances amongst them.

"My mate is right, Lord Usamah. While this one has no intent on letting your vassal go, Lady Tsutsuji is the one currently holding him."

"Semantics! Release Jiga or I will have no choice but to view both of you as enemies of the southern lands!"

The dragon shook as if she were rousing itself out of a slumber before turning into a gust of wind, leaves, and petals as Lady Tsutsuji transformed back into her humanoid self. Daintily standing on Jiga's back, she released two strikes of yoki, which anchored his arms to the floor by his wrist.

"Lord Usamah, I understand you're emotional at the moment, but you seem to fail to understand the gravity of the situation. Lord Jiga was seen by both Master Boriyu and myself attempting to poison the priestess. The actions of your vassal alone would force the west to retaliate. Not only that, but it was done during a noburgyaza, a meeting where truce is required by all parties involved. For these reasons, I will not let Jiga go as I will not tarnish my name nor join in a battle for your sake."

"Hearsay. I smell no poison here."

"It seemed to have been activated by his jaki. It left as soon as we caught him-

"And I am to believe you, fox?"

"Enough." Sesshomaru ordered, stepping forward to the leopard with Kagome at his side. He peered down at him and at the shattered glass around them. Poison was it? Activated only by his own Jaki. The damn leopard is clever… "Lord Usamah. I take it you will not stand to have your vassal held in my dungeons as we sort through what has happened."

"If you do so, I will declare war on you."

"Bold of you. Fortunate that at the moment a war with you is not beneficial for myself. Very well. Boriyu, take him to the meeting chamber. We will have the trail now."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Lord Usamah?" Jiga pleaded as the bindings were removed from his wrist. Lord Usamah's nose crinkled on one side as he sneered.

"Do as they say, Jiga. They have no evidence. You will be let go."

The leopard nodded, and willingly went with Boriyu into the palace. The lion turned to Kagome, a snarl upon his lips. "This will not be forgiven."

"Watch your tone with my mate, lion. I will not tolerate disrespect towards her."

"Tsk. Mate." Usamah's glare moved to Sesshomaru as he spoke. "She's a human. This union is hollow."

"Do not test me unless you wish to die. I care little for the rules of the noburugyaza or the ramifications of what would follow. Go to the meeting chamber with your traitorous vassal now or I will rip you apart, ignoble."

Usamah jerked backward, as if the word had physically hurt him, and then he went inside with Shishi following wordlessly, her skin noticeably pale.

Kagome watched them as they left, her friends coming close around her asking what they would do. Sesshomaru grabbed a hold of her hand and whispered into her ear.

"Kagome?"

"Hm?"

"Tell me. Are you alright?"

She turned to him. "Yes. Don't worry. The only thing that happened to me was the broken glass. I didn't drink any of the poison."

He smirked thankfully, and she smiled for his relief. Regardless, whether it was her reiki or her own understanding of him, she could sense a discomfort in him.

"Kagome. I require something from you. Something I believe only you can do."

She blinked, wondering what it was, but knowing the discomfort and wishing to quench it, she nodded. "Whatever you need. I'll do my best."

He passed his claw along her cheek affectionately, his eyes carrying an unspoken apology. Kagome leaned into his soft touch, and drawn in by her acceptance, he placed a kiss on top of her forehead. As always happened whenever she was with him, the troubles that surrounded her suddenly appeared so small, as if they could easily be ignored.

Picking up a shard of glass, Sesshomaru guided them, explaining to Kagome the impossibilities he hoped she could achieve and the repositioning of Sango as speaker of his witnesses. Wherever Inuyasha had gone, he wouldn't be back in time to aid in the trail.

---

Okay! As a reminder, this wasn't originally going to end here, so sorry for leaving a lot of things up the air on this one. Hopefully this portion is completed by the next chapter, but as I said, I'll just be posting whatever I get done so we'll have to see what I've got when we get there.

I'll see y'all soon!

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Bye and Bless!