Kagome stood at the entrance of the palace and watched as Sesshoumaru leapt onto black stallion and led his troops out of the barrier spell into the dark forest of the Western Lands. "Perhaps," Kali suggested, "now would be a good time to tell Rin-chan about Sesshoumaru's absence." Kagome nodded and Kali led her through the palace to a wing that Kagome had never seen before. It's walls where decorated with beautiful murals of dancing girls and acrobats, flowers perfumed the air, and like her own hallway, huge windows looked out onto the spacious gardens. Kali opened a pair of large white doors that led into a massive playroom. Kagome was stunned. Never before had she seen such wonders as the toys in that room, and in the midst of them was a little girl playing with a china doll. The old toad, Jaken, sat in the corner of the room scowling at the girl, who looked up when the doors opened.

"Kali-sama," the little girl said happily as she ran to embrace her, "who's the pretty lady?"

Kagome blushed. "This is Lady Kagome. She is a friend of Lord Sesshoumaru, and she will be staying with us for a while." Rin smiled up at Kagome and hugged her too.

"Where is Sesshie-sama?" Rin asked.

"Um, Rin come see," Kagome started awkwardly taking the little girl in her arms. "Sesshie-sama had to go away for a little while."

"Why, Lady Kagome?"

"Well, some very bad men took away his Northern fort and he has to go get it back," Kagome answered hoping that wouldn't worry the little girl too much.

"Oh, them. They make trouble. But, Sesshie-sama will teach them a lesson," Rin said confidently.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sesshoumaru was gone for days, then weeks, then months, and all the while Kagome waited at the palace, learning each day a little more what it really meant to be "Lady Kagome". In time though, all the servants, save perhaps Jaken, came to love her, because she was a very fair and kind mistress. Rin loved her immediately as a child loves her mother, and Kagome loved her too, although she felt a stab of guilt everything she thought of Shippo, who she had left behind.

No news from Sesshoumaru came for three month, and Kagome began to worry about him. More and more often she found herself wandering to his chambers or fondling the amulet he gave her.

One day she and Rin were playing out in the gardens when she heard a commotion in the distance. She looked toward the noise and saw beyond the barrier spell three people fighting a huge youkai. She gasped. It was Miroku, Sango, and Shippo.

"Kali!" Kagome screamed. "Kali come quickly."

The old woman was at her side in an instant. "Kali, please help them," she said pointing to her friends. "They were my companions before I came here."

Kali nodded gravely. "It will be dangerous child. To open the barrier spell with such a youkai right there, but for you I will try." As quickly as lightening Kali had opened the spell a crack and pulled all three of Kagome's friends through, but to their dismay the large youkai tried to squeeze through too.

Before anyone knew what was happening, Kagome was before them. In a blinding flash of purple light she threw the youkai out of the barrier spell and sealed the spell up again.

"Kagome!" Shippo cried happily as he jumped into her arms. "Kagome, we've been so worried," Sango said as she embraced Kagome.

"Yes," Miroku said with a solemn nod, "we had worried that you had been captured by Sesshoumaru. I sensed his presence when we went to look for you at the well."

"I had kind of," Kagome said softly, "but he's changed in an unusual way. I am not his captive, in fact I have control of his palace while he is at war in the North."

"Perhaps," Kali said, "your companions would like to come in and relax."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Kagome loved having her friends there with her. But, she was a little lonelier, too. Shippo and Rin became close friends and Sango and Miroku had some time to catch up on some, um, unfinished business. Kagome no longer dreamed of Inu-Yasha at night. Her heart pulled her towards an unknown future, and she followed willingly, casting aside her old love for the hanyou.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Late in the night Kagome was awaken by a clamor in the hallway. She sprang out of bed and ran out of her door. Servants ran right and left and she grabbed one who ran close to her. "What is the meaning of this?" she asked groggily. "Do you want to wake up the whole castle.

"Oh, Lady Kagome, forgive me," he stammered. "We did not mean to wake you, but the master has returned."

"Lord Sesshoumaru returned and you didn't wake me?" she asked almost angrily. "Where is he? Is he okay?"

"Oh a thousand apologies, my lady," he said hurriedly. "But the master is very poorly. Very poorly. Doctors have been called. He is in his chambers."

Kagome released him quickly and ran to Sesshoumaru's chambers. She arrived out of breath and fought her way through throngs of servants to get to his door. Kali met her there. "Brace yourself child," she said softly. His injuries are horrible." There were tears in the old woman's eyes as she went off to get more medicine.

Kagome withheld a gasp as she saw him. He was hardly recognizable. His head was bandaged and his eyes were deeply bruised and swollen shut. His nose was turned a sharp angle that told her it had been broken many times. His lips blue and busted several times His sheets and bandages where dark purple with blood. This crescent moon on his forehead was fading slowly.

"Oh, Sesshoumaru," she whispered as she knelt besides him, taking his battered hand delicately in her own.

His eyelids fluttered a little as he tried to open them. "Kagome," he whispered hoarsely.

"I'm here, Sesshoumaru," she said softly in his ear. "Don't talk save your strength."

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," she cried as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Behind her she heard the doctors saying nothing could save him now, except maybe a miracle. Something clicked in Kagome's brain. "Or a sword," she said to herself. "I will be right back, my love. Hold out for me."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Kagome ran to find Kali. She had to have the youkai's help. "Quick," she said when she found her, "Give me the counter for the barrier spell." The old woman hurriedly read Kagome's thoughts and nodded, then said some words in an ancient language Kagome did not understand.

"Take his horse," she said to Kagome. "It runs faster than you can. May the gods be with you."

Kagome found Miroku and Sango and asked them where Inu-Yasha lived, but they knew as little as she did. "Go ask Kaeda, if anyone knows where he is it's her," Miroku suggested. They offered to go with her, but Kagome declined. They were shocked by the speed that she ran from them with. It was almost as though she was a youkai, and not just a powerful miko.

She leapt onto the black war horse that she had seen Sesshoumaru riding and rode fast to the village. Surely the old woman would help her. She was angry and scared, but this time, her eyes didn't cry. She felt a strange energy flow through her as she urged the horse to go even faster. As she rode she felt the force of the jewel grow stronger, but it was leading her to Inu-Yasha forest, rather than the near-lying village. As she grew closer, she pulled the horse to a stop and ran fast toward the jewel. She came to a painful stop as she hit a barrier spell and was thrown to the ground.

"No!" she screamed. "Damn you, you baka!" Gathering her strength she jumped up and rushed toward the barrier spell again. This time a purple light emulated from her and ripped a hole in the barrier spell. Now Kagome saw a little peasant hut and ran inside it. There sleeping in each other's arms on a mat was Kikyou and Inu-Yasha. His hair was jet black and his dog ears were gone, but what concerned Kagome more was the crescent moon that was beginning to form on his forehead.

Kagome kicked him hurt and the sleeping couple awoke with a jump. "Kagome," he stammered. "How did you find us? How did you get in here?"

"You underestimate me," she said coldly. "But, I didn't come hear to chat. Where is your brother's sword?"

"It's there in the corner," he said sleepily. "But," he shouted as she ran toward it, "humans can't touch it."

It did not stop her, she grasped the hilt and though a burst of electricity flooded her, she did not let go. Instead she put the sword's blade to her amulet and immediately the jolts of electricity stopped.

"How did you?" Inu-Yasha started, but Kagome was already out of the door. The barrier spell closed behind her. She jumped back onto the war- horse and rode fast towards the palace. All the way there she prayed she was not too late. She would never forgive herself if he died. Her heartbreak would surely kill her.

In the distance Kagome saw the palace and the many battle-worn war- horses and soldiers lingering in the open courtyard, she paid them no heed though as she leapt off the black horse and raced toward the palace. Once again she fought through crowds of servants, who were now crying. "It is too late, my lady," one said. "The master is gone."

Tears streamed down Kagome's face as she rushed before him. The crescent moon had now disappeared from his forehead entirely and there was a terrible emptiness about his once handsome body now laying lifeless beneath bloody sheets. A fierce power flooded Kagome as she lifted the heavy sword. Closing her eyes she swung the sword about him and a blinding green light shot from the blade. When the light was gone Kagome lay crumbled on the floor by the bed.

A doctor ran to her, and gave a sigh of relieve when he saw that she was still breathing. "Poor child," he said as he lifted her off the ground. "But at least she is not dead." "Nor is he," the other doctor said in amazement. The crowd gasp and they whispered about what kind of mortal girl the master's woman truly was. Kali came forward smiling through her tears when she saw that Sesshoumaru was indeed breathing regularly again and his wounds were rapidly healing.

"Kagome," he whispered as his eyes opened. "Where is Kagome?"

"Here, my lord," the doctor said as he lay Kagome besides the youkai lord. "She is worn out, but she will be fine."

"My dearest," he whispered. As he turned towards her he was suddenly aware of something. His other arm had grown back. He looked down at Kagome, "What powers you possess," he said in awe. "Please leave us," he said to the crowds and they dispersed immediately.

When they had gone he cradled Kagome in his arms, breathing in her sweet aroma. On the bloody battlefield oftentimes the thought of her smiling face was the only thing that sustained him. He had lost the Northern-most part of the Western Lands to a strong rebel youkai army, but he wasn't worried about that then. There would always be another chance to reclaim his land, all that mattered to him then was Kagome and her safety.

After an hour she opened her eyes. "Am I dead?" she whispered.

He hugged her tightly. "No, you are very much alive," he said with a smile. Then he leaned down and kissed her softly on her lips. To his amazement and delight she kissed him back. Passion washed over him. "I know you don't feel the same, Kagome, but I love you more than I have ever loved anyone or anything before," he said tenderly.

"Ah, but you are wrong, my lord," she said with a little laugh. "I love you more than life itself."