bSanctuary/b

Author's Note: Hey it's me again! I'd like to say thank you for those of you who read my story so far and thank you for the reviews! I dunno wats wrong with the italics though… so until I get that fixed, my stories might be a tad bit confusing.

Disclaimer's Note: Hey! No matter how many times I wish I owned InuYasha and co. I don't.

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InuYasha flexed his claws awaiting the on-coming battle between him and his half brother. He fingered the Tetsusaiga, which was hanging sheathed on his left hip. He growled with frustration as his brother's scent and aura was no longer noticeable.

' What is he up to?'

Suddenly, he sniffed the air and felt a very familiar aura.

'Kikyou'

He fled quickly from Sango and Miroku and went off to find the dead miko. Sango was about to protest when Miroku suddenly grabbed her rear.

"HENTAI!"

As InuYasha ran, he heard an incredibly loud slap and shook his head. 'When will that lech ever learn?'

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SesshouMaru slowly followed in pursuit of the woman who had worn his mother's necklace. He knew he could catch up to the three without wasting precious time, but he needed time to think. And for a great youkai lord like SesshouMaru, that was a rare moment.

His mother's emerald pendant necklace hung on one of his poison talons. The emerald glittered as the sun shone down on it. SesshouMaru stopped and gazed into the green stone. For once in a few decades, SesshouMaru smiled.

I " Sesshou… come here. I'd like to give you something" a gentle woman said.

A young SesshouMaru complied. He happily ran towards his elegant mother's room and sat on her soft bed.

"What is it Okasan?" he asked eagerly. " Do I have to share it with anyone?"

The woman laughed and a soft twinkling sound flowed from her mouth, echoing throughout the castle halls. She so loved her son. He was the only thing that was keeping her sane at that moment. Running her long slender hands through her son's long white hair, she nodded.

" You may have to." She said, her violet eyes sadly gazing into her son's amber ones. 'You look so much like your father…'

SesshouMaru pouted and huffed. " As long as it's not that hanyou, I'm fine!"

Yumemaru smiled at her son. " No, its nothing like that at all, kodomoko…" she started. She walked over to her jewelry box and took out a small chain and on it was a roughly cut emerald. " This is a necklace that your grandfather had given to me after my mother died. I would like you to have it, mosuko"

SesshouMaru stared at the necklace and gave his mother a confused look. " I am not a woman! I do not need jewelry…"

Once again, Yumemaru laughed but this time, she clasped it on her son's neck. " Mosuko, this is a mystical emerald. There is only one of its kind in the world and your grandfather, my father gave it to my mother, your grandmother when she was in need of a friend." She said. " They were linked, and my father always knew when my mother was in need of protection or in need of comfort"

SesshouMaru looked at his mother with a sudden feeling of dread. " Okasan?"

Yumemaru hushed him and held him in a tight embrace, letting her emotions free. Surprising SesshouMaru as he felt her tears fall on his cheeks.

" Think of me when you wear this, Mosuko…" she said between hiccups. " And when you find someone special give it to her"

" But… mating is just a way to create an heir… isn't it?" SesshouMaru asked uncertain of what his mother was telling him.

Looking into her eyes, he was surprised to see her shake her head. " kodomoko, I have not the answers to everything. But heed my words… do not let your pride blind you from your heart" /I

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InuYasha quickened his pace and stopped as he finally reached his destination. Kikyou stood before him, with his soul snatchers floating all around her feeding off the souls of those that had recently died. InuYasha shook off the sudden need to empty his stomach and stepped forward, making himself known.

"InuYasha"

The wind carried her voice towards him making chills run down his spine. Kikyou flicked her left wrist which signaled the soul snatchers to leave.

" Kikyou… why do you insist on wandering like this?" InuYasha said, expression obviously pained.

" I swore on my grave that I would take you to hell with me…" Kikyo said, as she look at him, her eyes glinted angrily. " And I will!"

InuYasha could not bear to look away. This was the woman he had loved. The one he was meant to be with. But his heart clenched guiltily as a picture of Kagome's smiling face flashed in his brain.

He stepped away from the dead miko and bowed his head. " I cannot go with you"

Kikyou's step faltered, but she soon regained her strength. " You promised me…" Tears fell and InuYasha grimaced. He always hated it when women cried. " You promised to be with me forever… what has changed?"

Silence fell between the two. Kikyou stepped closer to InuYasha and touched his face, momentarily forgetting her rage.

" I still love you, InuYasha. We could still be together…" she said softly.

For a brief moment, InuYasha felt warmth from the miko as well as love and longing. They were so close together. As Kikyou's arms snaked up his shoulders, he couldn't resist anymore. He placed his arms around her and leaned down to give her a kiss.

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Kagome and Shippou were chatting happily with Kouga right behind them, when another small child ran up towards them.

" Kagome-sama's back!"

She pulled Kagome's arm towards the village and was welcomed heartily. They barely gave notice to the youkai prince behind her.

" Child, it is good to have ye back" Kaede said as she smiled at the girl who was now flushed with embarassment. " Don't be meek now. The village people had been worried ye be dead…"

Kouga cleared his throat and Kaede looked up. " She would never be harmed in my care"

" And who might ye be?" Kaede asked. " Another suitor, I presume?"

Kagome was about to protest when Kouga laughed. " I was one of her suitors…" he said. " But I prefer to think of Kagome-chan as my very good friend"

Kagome was confused and surprised at the same time. 'A friend?' Just before Kouga had left her alone in the woods, he was spouting out poetry and calling InuYasha an idiot for leaving his woman unguarded an now he seemed to have turned over a new leaf.

'This day is getting stranger and stranger'.

" But then again… I would love to be the mate of a very powerful and beautiful woman." Kouga interrupted. " Sadly, I am not the one who holds her heart"

Kaede nodded. Shippou sniffed the air and smiled evilly. " Dog-breath's back!" He was about to go find him when Kouga lifted him up with his tail.

"He has a dead corpse with him"

Kagome's heart clenched painfully. 'Kikyou…'

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Author's Note: I wanted Kikyou to come in sooner or later…

bGlossary:

Mosuko: rough translation of my son

Kodomoko: rough translation for my child

Okasan: mother

Hanyou: half demon (half breed)

Kitsune: fox