*dramatic gasp* I updated! Why don't we all just hide in our bomb shelters and wait for Armageddon to take our lives?

Don't worry, I didn't lose interest in Shinjite. I was busy working with my other fic that I had a jolting inspiration for, and well, I just couldn't really think straight. I'll try to balance this fic out with my other one, called 'Tsukishidai Clan.' It's more serious than this one, but it's still okay.

Otha stuff: I'm terribly sorry, but this is one of those 'filler chapters.'  Nope, no romance... no action/adventure.... just one of those chappies that explain stuff. (hides behind tree) I know what your thinking!! Seventeen chapters of slow romance development is starting to get annoying, and Nar, Sess and Kag are getting nowhere! I know, I know! I'll try to DEEPEN the love triangle in the next chapter. You can bet on it! GOOD NEWS!! I'm already almost finished with the next chapter, so you can bet on it that I'll be updating again pretty soon!!

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.............I have a question for all you readers:::

.........Who gets to kiss Kagome first? Naraku or Sesshoumaru?

~~~~~~~~~~~

Hitomi's Tortured Soul; Released at Last

~~~~~~~~~~~

***Set me free....***

~

~

Her eyes opened slowly. A voice.......

Unable to sleep, Kagome carefully stepped out of the entrance of the Shrine, now standing in the patio wearing her light blue pajamas and no shoes. She stretched and yawned, admiring the beautiful full moon that was out. Clear yet dazed blue eyes swept through the entire sight of it; the moon was in full view ahead of her, and trees stood at either side of the view. She walked straight and sat down on the top of the gravel staircase.

"You cannot sleep?" asked Sesshoumaru's voice from behind her. Kagome looked up to see him, his face shrouded with mystery. "No," she answered softly, returning her gaze to the bluish moon. "There's a voice calling out to me......" she added hollowly.

Sesshoumaru shot her a quizzical look, wondering if she was half asleep.

Naraku, who had been perched up on a high tree, leapt down quietly, smoothly. "What are you two up to?"

"Hi, Naraku. We're not up to anything. We just couldn't sleep," the female of the three smiled. Sesshoumaru and Naraku sat down, off-handedly, at either side of Kagome. They sat about two meters away from her.

"So, you two," Kagome said conversationally, a small amused note in her voice. "My stock of Pocky and Ramen are diminishing..... I wonder who the culprits are?"

They scowled at her.

"Why are you asking us that?" Naraku asked flatly. "It's nothing of our interest."

The white-haired youkai to her right nodded in agreement. "Why mention such a trivial thing?" Sesshoumaru was never one to thing about past things, yet he could not help but remember what had occurred the night before.

~~flash-back~~

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

He tried to contain the tempting need to smirk.

Ahead of him Naraku walked, with stiff shoulders, the half-conscious Miroku, who was just starting to wake followed suit. A few mumbles and grumbles escaped the hanyou's mouth, apparently he was a bit angry with how he was not able to tell Kagome about that shard he had come across earlier.....

Then Sesshoumaru's wistful golden eyes spotted the young human boy, who was also ahead. His back was turned, but from the heat emitting from his being, Sesshoumaru could easily tell that the young lad was in a blush.

Uncharacteristically, Sesshoumaru decided to break the ever-so-stressful silence that was gnawing at his nerves, a silence he usually would have killed to have. "So, Hanyou, now what are you planning to do?"

The half-demon nearly faltered for a second there. "I will inform it to her later, obviously, moron." His back turned to Sesshoumaru, the evidently cranky Naraku didn't seem to be in a talking mood...

Sesshoumaru smirked at the hanyou's moroseness. Then he glanced straightforward, his eyes glazed with boredom once more.

Meanwhile Naraku reflected angrily on what had just happened. "Stupid girl... stupid females..." he muttered incoherently, unaware that Sesshoumaru could hear his words. 'They're fools to think that I would actually sneak over to that stupid spring just to see them... like that......' Naraku had an instant flashback. Steam, tension, skin....

He glanced briefly at the dazed monk. His eyes narrowed, and he put a little bit more space in between them by fastening his pace. Analogous to Sesshoumaru, Naraku too thought that his perverted thoughts were coming from the influence of the unruly monk.

His inner conscience snickered. (A/N: Yes, Naraku has a conscience... in this story)

|Yeah, that's right... find someone else to blame it all on... you know you liked that..| his inner conscience chided mockingly.

Naraku's face contorted into a scowl. 'Damn... suddenly even my inner conscience is against me...'

~

Soon the males arrived at the Shrine, all in not so positive moods. Well, all except Miroku. He didn't seem to be stressing too much. "Sooooo," he smiled, "That was a rather uncalled for interesting experience. I must say, I was only innocently..."

"Save it," Naraku mumbled as he walked past him and began climbing the rough, paled gray concrete steps, in a sulky mood. A curious black eyebrow raised in Miroku's features. "Someone's not in a very good mood today.."

Sesshoumaru, Kohaku, and Miroku stared after him, Sesshoumaru definitely irked as to why the stupid hanyou was in a cross mood.

~(told from Naraku's point of view.... sorta.)

Not even bothering to spare glances or glares at the three males who he knew were staring at him, Naraku lazed himself past the patio, up the gravel stairs and into the Shrine, for some reason, out of boredom and stress, craving some of that strange yellow food Kagome had served him once. What was it called again? Ramon? Ramin?

Well, he couldn't care less about that right now. He walked with the slothful attire of a cat through the dark cool halls, his eyes dull and bored. Now was the beginning of the search for the sacred yellow stuff that he secretly liked very much... but where was it?

His mind clicked when he remembered. Kagome's yellow backpack!

Sesshoumaru walked absent-mindedly after him, careful not to let Naraku be aware of his presence. After all, he was merely curious to see what the hanyou was up to...

~~

Naraku dug through Kagome's backpack, throwing out a few red boxes that had the title imprinted 'Pocky' on it. He also threw out two plastic things with the words 'GameBoy Advance' embossed on it. He flared in triumph when he finally found the object of his search.

"Isn't that called digging through someone's personal things?" asked a certain youkai from the doorway. Naraku turned his head to glare at the person who ruined his small moment of triumph. "No, it's called digging through a girl's backpack for some....Ramen," Naraku said uncertainly, reading the kanji text on the plastic container.

"Ramen?" Sesshoumaru raised a brow and kneeled down, observing the objects that Naraku has thrown out of Kagome's big yellow backpack.

"And what is this..?" Sesshoumaru picked up a red box that had the Eigo writings on it. (*Eigo-Japanese word for 'English') 'POCKY.' He sniffed it, taking in the sweet aroma. It smelled faintly of Kagome's scent. He shook the box a little bit and found out that there were things inside. Meanwhile, Naraku was busy trying to work out the portable stove that he saw Kagome fiddling around with when she was making Ramen.

And things.... went downhill from there.

~~~~~~~Later..................

Kagome, Sango, and Rin are finished bathing; they are now wearing fresh clothes and are heading back to the shrine. Kagome managed to befriend Shippou and encourage him to live with them, seeing as Shippou lived by himself, and parentless.

"I just remembered!!" Kagome clasped her hands together. "I have some things that you kiddos might like!"

"Really, Okaa-chan?" Rin exclaimed, knowing whatever it was was bound to be interesting. "Ah! Is it the chocolate covered cracker stick thing you once gave Rin?" bubbled Rin, scooting closer to her adoptive mother in anxiousness.

Kagome bent down slightly and winked. "Pocky? Yeah, I still have some of those! Maybe I could give some to Shippo! And also you guys can try out the Ramen! And I also have two 'Game Boy Advance's that I brought to show Kaede, but since you two are here now, I could show you guys too-"

As Kagome chirped on, Shippo whispered to Rin. "What is she talking about?"

"Really cool stuff!" Rin smiled brightly. "Okaa-chan is the wonderful-lest mother ever!"

"....And I have a few games like 'Pokemon Silver' or 'Final Fantasy Tactics' but you might not be interested in that one- oh! I also have Packman-" Kagome paused briefly. "And you guys don't have a clue what I'm talking about," she added, glancing at Sango, Kaede, Rin, and Shippo who were sweatdropping.

"Uhh.... no," Sango smiled jokingly.

"Hmm," Kagome said flatly, then grinned. "You'll find out soon enough~!"

~

~
~

"WHAT ON EARTH?!?!"

"What happened here?"

"Someone.... someone.... oh man, I feel traumatized!!"

"Your room is a mess..." Kaede said with humor.

Kagome fell to her knees, taking in the empty boxes of Pocky, her books scattered around her backpack, and a small fire that was inflamed upon several empty plastic cups of Ramen. The portable stove was tilted to its side and was letting off gasoline, giving her rented room the stench of a gas station. Who could've done this?

"No comment on your room," Shippo muttered. Rin was silent.

"Kiochi's going to be so mad at me," Kagome said with a hollow smile, slightly scaring them. "First I destroy her wall, now there is a bonfire in the middle of the room, and it would be a miracle if the whole Shrine didn't smell like gasoline...."

"We'll help you clean up," Sango offered. Kagome sighed.

~~EndFlash-back*********************************************************************

Kagome sighed, and closed her eyes, leaning backwards with a playful smile. "If I don't catch the culprit, then I'm not gonna bring any more...," another sigh, then, "I swear, they seem to just disappear when I turn my back!"

Okay. The statement before the last statement caused Naraku send a hot glare her direction, while Sesshoumaru tried and actually failed to attempt looking impassive. "Stop playing games if you know who it already is," he said, slightly annoyed.

"Ah, but I don't.." Kagome giggled. "Once someone confesses, I might reconsider not bringing anymore Pocky and Ramen."

"You are annoying," both youkai said in monotone.

"Aw, thank you so much," she said with mock admiration. "That compliment means so much to me! I can actually get to your nerves!"

Sesshoumaru grinned slightly. "So, now that you know who the 'culprits' are, does that mean you will not cease to bring them?"

"What, Pocky and ramen? Maaaybe," Kagome winked at them. "You guys have to promise to at least save some for Rin and Shippo..."

"The fox brat that tried to steal the jewel?" Sesshoumaru queried tactlessly. Now it was Kagome's turn to scowl at him. "His name's Shippo. S-H-I-P-P-O. Shippo. Now say it with me.... Ship..." she paused, earning a puzzled look from each dog demon beside her.

'Was it my imagination..?' Kagome thought looking down at a particular spot that went well into the forest. 'Or did I just see a woman..?'

It was true. Kagome had witnessed a pale woman clothed in many layers of kimonos, with hair that went past her feet a few inches. She was so beautiful.... Apparently, this beautiful woman ran into the darkness, sparkles, unmistakably tears that were caught in the moonlight, flew from her eyes.

"What is bothering you?" Naraku's voice broke her trance. She blinked once, twice, then turned towards her two companions. "Didn't you see her? The pretty lady...."

"You are seeing things. Go to sleep," Sesshoumaru reprimanded.

"Do you still have a fever?" Naraku inquired.

"No, no! I saw her, I know I did!! Why didn't you guys see her?" Kagome argued frantically. She stood up from her sitting position and sprinted down the long flight of gravel staircase, Naraku and Sesshoumaru following curiously after her.

Kagome rushed through the forest on her bare feet attempting to find the lovely maiden she saw. Abruptly, she stopped, her head swiveling from left to right, trying to find where the woman has gone off. 'Is she crazy?! The forests are a dangerous place to be wandering at night,' Kagome mused as she resumed her search. She ran further into the forest, out of blind curiosity and concern for the woman's welfare. 'I hope she's all right...'

The young naïve miko did not stop until a clawed hand wrapped itself around her wrist and pulled her back. Kagome suddenly found herself having eye contact with a slightly pissed-off Sesshoumaru.

"What do you think you are doing?" he hissed. "Do you even know where you've run off to?"

Kagome shook her head, ignoring his scolds. "No.... Sesshoumaru, let me go, I have to find her..."

"Look around you."

Sighing, Kagome cast a brief look at her surroundings to humor Sesshoumaru. Pyreflies.... complete darkness......a spring.... a spring....

A spring?!

"Hey! This is the place we fought off Murasaki," Kagome suddenly snapped. Sesshoumaru almost winced at her sudden exclamation. Naraku walked towards them. He had been taking a look around.

"The woman you seek is not here, girl," he announced, watching warily as Sesshoumaru abruptively let Kagome's wrist go.

"I know I saw her," Kagome urged. "She was wearing a really pretty kimono, and her hair was past her feet- her eyes were some sort of violet color-"

Sesshoumaru tensed. 'That description is so familiar to me...'

"....And she was crying when I saw her," Kagome finished her description.

"Sounds like some sort of sad Empress damsel," Naraku said thoughtfully, before walking up to Kagome. "You are sure you have no fever?" Sesshoumaru and Naraku said at once.

"Yes!!" Kagome said exasperatedly.

"Depression?" Naraku asked.

"Definitely not!"

"Lack of sleep?" Sesshoumaru persisted on, almost in a teasing manner.

"What are you two, my doctors or something?" Kagome quipped angrily. They smirked, amused with her flaring anger.

~

Kagome was about to shoot at them yet another witty remark when the whole clearing in the forest froze over. Really froze over. The pyreflies suddenly stopped in mid-air, and the water stopped flowing. The sounds of crickets were no longer heard. It was as if everything in life had been paused. Suddenly all three of their breaths were coming out in small white puffs, as everything around them froze. The grass also froze over, and the environment was suddenly a silver, blue, gray wonderland.

"What's happening?" Kagome whispered. She rubbed up and down her arms to warm herself up.

"Seems like we have a ghost in our presence," Sesshoumaru answered.

"A ghost.."

"Souls of the dead that have not found peace," Naraku added. "I wonder who this soul belongs to."

They just stood there for a while, waiting for some apparition to show up. Kagome gave a shudder. "Oh man, ghosts give me the creeps.... and to think, five minutes ago, I didn't believe in'em..."

"Who goes there?" a soft, hollow voice rang throughout the forest. Naraku and Sesshoumaru stood quite still, breathing soundlessly and ready to go on defense mode should any danger arise.

"Kagome," Kagome answered unsurely, "Naraku, and Sesshoumaru. We suspected a figure and came here..."

"Sesshoumaru?" the voice asked, the mere tone sending shivers. "Sesshoumaru is here?"

All of a sudden, as if it were never there, the ice-cold atmosphere disappeared. Instead, a kindly yet sad looking woman aparated from thin air, wearing layers of kimonos. The pyreflies resumed floating about, as well as the water in the spring resumed flowing.

Sesshoumaru's breath hitched up in his throat. "It can't be...."

Kagome and Naraku stared at Sesshoumaru curiously as he stepped forth, analyzing the figure some more as if he didn't believe his own eyes.

"You," he said in a toneless voice, yet with the slightest hint of bitterness.

"Pleasant to see you again," she smiled. Sesshoumaru almost bristled with hate as he watched the woman that seemed anything but hostile. Her smiling sad eyes turned to Kagome and Naraku, startling Kagome a little bit. "You are acquainted with Sesshoumaru?" She said informally. Kagome nodded mutely, having lost her voice.

"But you are a human," she continued, frowning. "Now that is strange.. Sesshoumaru dwells with humans.."

"What truly is strange is why you are still here," Sesshoumaru said calmly.

"Oh. About that..... Wouldn't you like to know, my precious step-son?" she said with no sardonic timbre laced with her words.

"You're Hitomi," Kagome finally talked once more. The maiden nodded in confirmation. "Yes, I am."

Kagome stepped forward. "You're sad, aren't you?"

Hitomi smiled once more. She walked closer to Kagome, scrutinizing her. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"I can..... I can feel your pain," Kagome answered uncertainly. "I don't know how, but there's something about your aura that's giving off sadness."

Behind her, Sesshoumaru and Naraku portrayed silent shock. 'Kagome has sensed the aura of an apparition,' Sesshoumaru mused to himself, knowing that Naraku's thinking the same thing. 'Being able to sense the aura of a ghost is not a Miko ability nor youkai nor human... what's the meaning of this?'

"I've heard many stories about you," Kagome went on. "About how you killed Inutaisho. And about how you didn't care about your own flesh-and-blood-son. That's not the truth, is it?" she said a little bit above a whisper.

Hitomi nodded, losing her smile. "That's true. It was not I," she sniffed faintly. She turned her back to them, long, raven hair swishing behind her as she faced the direction of the spring waters. "It was not I who had killed Inutaisho. In fact, I was never took part in any 'assassination' in the first place."

She turned around and looked Kagome straight in the eye. "Come.... see my memories....." her voice rang in Kagome's head as her eyes flashed white and Kagome felt herself disappear mentally. The last thing Kagome saw was the sudden look of concern on Naraku's and Sesshoumaru's faces.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

So long ago.....

"Inu-kun," a 17-year-old Hitomi hollered joyfully, waving her right arm out wide as she carried a basket full of flowers in her left. "Inu-kun, Inu-kun!!!"

Inutaisho chuckled softly at his bubbly friend. "Hitomi?"

"Yes, it's me! I picked many flowers from our special garden to give to Sesshoumaru. Do you think he will like them?"

"Of course. Those exotic flowers are very different from your ordinary everyday ones, are they not?"

Hitomi laughed, sat down next to Inutaisho and socked him playfully in the arm. "No, you're just saying that. Sesshoumaru would never look at me as an equal," she sighed. "Well, I do not know what his problem is. Your son seems to hate me very much."

"He has a natural dislike for all humans," Inutaisho shrugged. "Don't worry, he does not truly despise you personally."

"Well," Hitomi said thoughtfully. "He's been so hostile towards me. What really confuses me is when he told me that I would never be able to take what was rightfully his mother's place. I still don't get what he meant by that."

Inutaisho snickered. 'So my ever so cunning son has found out, has he?'

"Hey, Inu, I have a question," Hitomi said blankly, staring at a magical blue bellflower. "Umm, is it unnatural for a woman to marry at an age above 15? All my friends are married and have children already, yet I..."

"That's foolish thinking," Inutaisho scowled. "There is no limit as to when a human must find a mate-err, husband or wife. Do you –want- to be like those friends of yours?"

"Y-Yes," she answered coyly. "I want to be a normal woman in my life. I'd hate to be alone in the end..."

"You do not need a lover to not be alone," Inutaisho consoled, pulling her close to his side. "I believe in many things that will let me go on in life without love."

"Your logic is wrong, Inu-kun," Hitomi reprimanded.

"Fine, I shall humor you," Inutaisho said teasingly. "Then what, pray tell, is the right logic?"

"The right logic," she said soothingly, playing with his silver strands of silver-white hair. "Is that you cannot go on in life without love (Inutaisho was about to protest, but Hitomi continued) What I mean is that there isn't only one kind of love. One lies in the path of friendship," she paused, thinking, "And there are also many others. Like a father-son love, or a mother-daughter love, and so on."

"Whatever," Inutaisho muttered, leaning backwards slightly. Hitomi glared at him and pushed him a little, making him fall flat on his back. She smiled down at him from her sitting position next to him.

"Anyways, you've had someone you loved at every point of your life," Hitomi said wisely. "Before I was born, you were with Sesshoumaru's mom. And I'm sure you loved her very much."

"Feh-"

"-Let me finish. Then after she died, you had your son Sesshoumaru," Hitomi added. "I'm sure that through your soldierly relationship with each other, you love each other like father and son." She paused, and stood up after looking at the sky.

"Well, Inu-kun, I'm going to go back, to my village I mean," Hitomi waved. "I'll see you around!"

Before she could leave, a hand snaked around her wrist. She turned around, confused, and looked into Inutaisho's bright golden-amber eyes. "Is there something the matter?"

'So spirited...beautiful.......' Inutaisho drowned himself in thought, gazing penetratingly at Hitomi. Her face started to redden. "Is there something on my face???"

Inutaisho smirked and leaned forward. "No," he whispered. Hitomi gasped silently. "Aa, okay. Well, if you would excuse me," she said hastily, trying to pull from his grasp. "Inutaisho....."

He stooped to her level.... and pressed his lips against hers passionately.

~~~~~~~~~

She was sitting inside the Royal Quarters, infront of a wide-open balcony, letting the wind caress her face. Hitomi smiled happily as she looked at her newborn son, a beautiful child with snow-white ears and golden eyes that reminded her of InuTaisho. It had been three years since she had wed to Inutaisho and had become the Lady of the Western Lands, and life was happy and prosperous.

Yet...

Sesshoumaru had been more extremely distant and avoiding than ever. He busied himself with patrolling and hunting to avoid her as well as Inutaisho, and barely showed his face inside the palace. Hitomi did not mind all too much. If Sesshoumaru did not like her, then she would not try to force him to see her. And that was that.

As she stroked her infant's cheek, she hummed a lullaby, and slowly, the quiet baby closed his eyes. "You are beautiful, my dear, dear Inuyasha. Inutaisho told me that I should give you a special herb that will make you into a full demon, but," Hitomi closed her eyes and hugged InuYasha close. "I fear that you will not be as passionate as your father, my son," she pushed a silver-white lock of hair away from his eyes. "I want you to know the joy of being capable of feeling emotions. I wish to see you to grow happy..."

"I'm afraid," a cruel familiar voice echoed through the room. "That you will not see as you wish."

Hitomi spun around, Inuyasha locked inside her arms. "You!! Inutaisho has banned you- what are you doing here?" her voice was shrill and panicked.

"Such a lovely maiden Inutaisho has chosen for his mate," he bowed courteously. "How foolish he is to leave you unprotected."

"Inutaisho will kill you!!" Hitomi snarled. "Leave now! And never return!"

"You are in no position," he muttered quietly. "To banish me." He drew out his infamous sword, then in swift movement, stubbed Hitomi in the stomach. A few pained tears escaped her eyes. "W..why?"

The cold dark-clad figure only stared menacingly at her. Hitomi swallowed the stream of blood that welled up in her throat and placed her hand on Inuyasha's head. 'I must protect him..' with her last ounce of strength, Hitomi pulsed all of her hidden powers into Inuyasha, effectively creating a barrier around him.

The shady antagonist looked non-plussed. In fact, he grinned. "I was expecting you to do that. You do know," he whispered, pulling her head up by her hair after kneeling down on one knee, "That you could have easily killed me with that last shred of power.... yes, it was enough, yet you instead choose save that pitiful child's life. You do know," he added, "That you have successfully ended your own."

Hitomi closed her eyes as he brought down the mighty blade, and the last thing she saw was Inuyasha's wide, horrified golden eyes.

"And now, sweet Hitomi, I shall resurrect your life- but not your soul. You shall be no more than a puppet in my game now," Sephiroth smiled wickedly as Hitomi's body slowly healed, her wounds closed up and her eyes opened, now a hollow, empty shade of purple instead of the passionate fiery violet.

Hitomi's soul cried out repeatedly, but no one seemed to hear or see her. She followed silently as the shell of her being walked out of the room casually..... and into Inutaisho's bedroom... Her eyes filled with horror.

~~~

Kagome opened her eyes and gazed at Hitomi in disbelief. "I...I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Actually, you've done me a favor," Hitomi said with teary eyes. "I feel at peace now that someone knows my sorrow. These ten years have gone by slow and painful and wrongly. All that I ever wanted was someone to know the truth. Thank you. You've saved me, Kagome."

"Eh?" Kagome couldn't help but feel puzzled. "If you wanted someone to know what really happened, so you can be at peace, why didn't you just tell anyone who passes through?"

"It's not that simple," Hitomi's gaze wandered off for some reason.

"But how did I..."

"I know you're curious," Hitomi said in her voice that sounded like melodious wind chimes. "I would tell you, but it'd be too complicated to explain."

The younger female nodded her head mutely. "I understand, I think," Kagome lied. In a soft swish, Hitomi appeared in front of Kagome, standing taller only by about a few inches.

"I'm just glad I got the story out of my system," Hitomi said cheerily. "I feel so clean now, so.... ali..." she trailed off. "Well, I feel wonderful. It was very pleasant meeting you.."

Hitomi turned to Sesshoumaru, who had not a impassive look, but a curiously bemused look on his features. Kagome smiled sheepishly, knowing that both Sesshoumaru and Naraku both had the same thoughts running through their heads, and Naraku so willingly asks out loud: "What just happened here?"

~~~~~

Please review! The more reviews I get, the more inspiration I get for romance-writing!

Sess: Review for the sake of this story..... and our lives.

Naraku: (nods in agreement.) Besides. The Authoress lashes her anger out on us whenever she's not happy.

RPG: (looking extremely blissful while eating stacks of Pocky) I luv Pocky! And Reviews, so keep'em comin!