Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, lost him in a poker bout, but I got his brother in a trade for Kagome and Kikyou ^_~ Some dude named Naraku had a fancy for the pair. [shrugs] His loss. ^_^ The songs lyrics I merely inserted because at the time it was my inspiration. It is NOT mine, I borrowed it from Spike (Cowboy Bebop).

A/N: Many thanks for the reviews, they make me feel all warm and fuzzy, no wait, that's just Fluffy's tail ^_^ Seriously, thanks a bunch. In this chapter I will, or rather Seshoumaru will be explaining a few things about what is transpiring in this insane merry-go-round of a story I have going on. Hope I don't disappoint, and thank you so much once again! -AC

Words That We Couldn't Say

We couldn't say them
Now we just pray them
Words that we couldn't say

Funny ain't it
games people play
scratch it, paint it
one in the same

We couldn't find them
we tried to hide them
Words that we couldn't say

It hurts don't it
Fools on parade
taint it, own it
chase it away

We couldn't make them
we had to break them
Words that we couldn't say

Sometimes baby
We make mistakes
Dark and hazy
Prices we pay

I sit here on my shelf
Talking to myself
Words that we couldn't say

Someday maybe
We'll make it right
Until that day
Long endless nights

We couldn't say them
Now we just pray them
Words that we couldn't say..

~Cowboy Bebop end theme~

She had so many questions for him, but where could she possibly start? The beginning she supposed, but the real question was, would he give her the answers she so craved?

"Umm, Sesshoumaru?

"Yes."

"Are you up to a little talking?"

"I feel the questions that plague that mind of yours has no patience at the moment for my well being."

"Sorry, but I have to know something. I feel there is something missing, something I should see but don't..."

"I know all about your.. feelings. You expressed them quite clearly before I came here."

Ok, now she was confused. Before he came here? She and Inuyasha had fortunately stayed clear of him for the past few months now. Ever since he had acquired his new sword, it was as if the Tetsusaiga was of no more consequence to him. Then again Sesshoumaru was not someone to take lightly. Was this some ploy to get the Fang from Inuyasha now?

"What do you mean?"

Now she was just getting annoyed.

"What are you talking about? Lets make one thing clear whoever you are, the Sesshoumaru I know is as cruel as his name implies, you, you can't be him- something about you.. isn't right"

"Always the insightful one."

"You're toying with me."

"Yes."

"Why do I have the feeling you're not going to answer anything I ask you?"

"You once told me to let my feelings guide me."

She gave up! He was dancing around her curiosity and ENJOYING it! There was no mistake, this HAD to be him, but the mean streak she knew him to have seemed almost non existent- almost. There was a glow to his eyes. The mark of a predator? Or something else..

"I cannot answer questions I have no answer to."

"Fine, then let me ask you this, where'd the mark on your forehead go?"

He had almost forgotten that he had somehow been transported back to this era. How long had it been? Four hundred, Five hundred? He only wished he could forget. It had been nearly five hundred and four years. The Kagome he had come to know knew of the experiments, and the horrific mutilations many youkai, including himself, had to endure at the hands of a lone man.. no.. devil, whose name from his lips would never be uttered.

"To answer that I must start from the beginning, and I don't believe you and this past have the luxury of time on your side."

"Ok, for future reference, if you're not going to answer me, then just say no, k?"

The snide tone in her voice was not lost on him. It was just like old times. Only his Kagome..

"So like him.."

"What are you talking about?"

*sigh* "This will take awhile you realize?"

"All we have is time."

"Yes.. time."

Inuyasha was practicing a restraint he knew he did not possess. He was actually wanting to know what the bastard had to say, but oh how he always hated his brothers annoying need to play with everything he came across. He saw now that Sesshoumaru had yet to grow out of it. He to was sensing something out of place here. Something.. something..

'NOW I SEE!'

~Meanwhile~

Kikyou had heard most of what was being said, and was intrigued by the little dropped hints of a future she had yet to experience; did not want to experience, yet knew that it was an option locked away from her- for now. Her programming was demanding the half demons life, but she suppressed this urge with a new program she herself had designed while the devils back was turned. The imp may hold her life in its snaky tendrils, but she would never let him have her mind. It was designed as a sort of breaker, so that if at anytime she was sent to do the work Naraku did not feel like dirtying himself with, she could temporarily block out the 'kill' instinct. It would only work for a short time, but as long as her target was out of sight before the breaker tripped, her programming was tricked into believing it had not seen its initial target and reboot itself, allowing her to have even more time to toy with the mechanics of her wiring. It had only one fault. If while rebooting she was sighted, she would be vulnerable to attack. This was of no consequence to her, but Naraku enjoyed 'fixing' her when brought back to the labs.

'He is not of this time, or rather he has already lived this era and was somehow brought back. Naraku will be.. intrigued. IF I decide to tell him.'

That would mean Naraku's scheme was succeeding, but so far she saw no real changes. Naraku would be pleased to know that she had found his 'experiment ' though. He was known to escape from the labs every now and then. Usually he was in a crazed half transformed state, but now, now he looked so in control. The last time she had seen this 'control' was when she was rebuilt the fourth time, how long had it been? Almost fifteen years now?

'How did you escape? Chew off the other arm? No, you dare not try that again. You were never the same the day Naraku 'fixed' you to. You needed to eat after all, and oh, how I still remember, you ate.. every-last-bite.'

She decided that she would leave this for another time. Her goal was not Naraku's new 'toy', but the half breed. She would need to return soon, her time was limited in this era. Unexplained energy loss would occur causing her to malfunction. At least that is how Naraku put it. She would see images of people she had never before seen, or at least she could not remember them. He was always 'improving' her, as he liked to say, and sometimes she would see images of things he put there purposely. She simply erased them, it revolted her to think that anyone, or thing, would perform those acts with him. Quite pathetic from one with so much genius, even more pathetic was his constant need to dominate those 'prettier' than himself, as he liked to put it..

"Another time Inuyasha, another time..."

~Back at the clearing~

"Now I see what's missing!"

"Inuyasha?"

"So tell us brother, where IS it, hmm?"

Inuyasha felt the anger centered around him by both Kagome and his brother, but he refused to back down from this one. The sneer on his face only added to the fire, but he would not back down.

"Inuyasha! What is the matter with you?! Can't you give it a rest for once?!"

"Are you blind and stupid girl!"

Doing to her as she had done to him only several hours ago, he grabbed her by the chin and forced her to see what had him ready to burst with giddiness.

"Oh my..."

The triumphant smile was lost as a hand rose up and effortlessly wiped it off his face.

"Kagome.. I"

"How can you be so cruel."

When had those eyes grown so cold? Why was she defending him. He didn't understand, this was his, no, their enemy. Why? Fine. If the bitch wanted a stray poodle, then let her eat it! He left this time, and did not stop at the tree.

"..."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"..."

"Do not worry yourself over something that has been lost to me for so long."

It had been gone from him so long he had almost forgotten- almost. How many years had it been now? He didn't think about it, unless he was forced to see. All that mattered was finishing the quest, if only he could remember..

"How did it... How.."

She couldn't bring herself to ask, but she felt that it was a clue for things to come.

"Naraku is a much bigger fiend then you yourself realize."

"..."

"You will not defeat him, at least not in the way you wish to defeat him. Once the jewel was completely formed it- changed. Times- changed, you disappeared for many years after that day. I watched as my brother- changed as well. When you came back to him you did not remember.. anything. I never understood why the portal between both times was reopened, but I.. soon found out. What I found even stranger is that your companions disappeared as well, as if it hadn't occurred at all. Perhaps the effects of the jewels transformation changed this, it did not concern me- at the time, so I did not bother checking into it. Unfortunately the consequences for half breeds who came in contact with the jewel was not lenient. Inuyasha turned into a recluse of his former self. When you returned it was if a light was switched on and the darkness was soon lifted from him. I had looked to his needs during this period. I still ask myself why, but at the time it was out of humorous curiosity."

"How can you find that sort of thing funny?"

"Do you wish to learn or are you going to continue with your incessant prattle?"

"Sorry.."

It always amused him how she would fidget when being talked down upon in this manner. He was not annoyed, more amused than anything, and he didn't mind the interruption, it allowed his mind to avoid what had to come.

A/N: Guess what? *evil grin* I am a malicious little twit with a day off tomorrow ^_~ That is my excuse for this evil cliffhanger and unanswered questions, but I bet you come back for more eh? MUAHAHAHAHAH!!!