Chapter Fifteen-The Terms of Saraku's Return

"So,you two are willing to be friends,and do a joint custody type thing?" Kagome studied the demon brothers,not sure she believed them. She was still mad that Inuyasha had gone off on his own to Sesshoumaru's.

"Yes." Inuyasha repeated,starting to get agitated. "Will you please send for Kouga now?"

"Alright. I will send for him. But don't expect him to be anxious to return her."

"We're not. We're also not expecting her to be anxious to return."

"What do you mean?" Kagome looked up now. "Of course she'll be anxious. She must miss us,Inuyasha."

"I wouldn't be so sure. We saw her in Sesshoumaru's Seeing Glass. She's content." The hanyou looked at Sesshoumaru. "It's going to be up to us to retrieve her. We're the ones she's upset with."

"Of course." His brother nodded slowly. "Rin." He looked down at the girl when she approached him. "I want you to stay here with Kagome and the others. "

"Yes Lord Sesshoumaru." Rin went to stand by Kagome and Miroku who had joined them. "Will you be taking Ah-un with you?"

"No. The less we carry,the better. We might well have to carry Saraku back as it is." He turned to Inuyasha. "It's a day's journey from here to the mountain range. Perhaps we better leave in the morning."

"The morning?! No way. I'm leavin' now. We can get to her by morning,if we don't sleep. I won't have her spending another day with him!"

"Careful how you speak about Kouga around her after this. She seemed to really be attached to him." The leder brother cautioned. "Let us go." Without another word,the brothers headed off towards Kouga's mountains.

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A little later on,Rin was sitting on the same bank she'd met Saraku on,when Shippou walked over to her.

"Dinner's ready.." He studied her silently. "That's if you want some."

"No thanks." Rin stared into the dismal looking water. "I'm sorry."

"For what? You don't have to apologize for not eating..." The young kitsune sat beside her.

"Not that. I'm sorry I took Saraku away from you. I didn't know you were so close to her."

"Oh....Welll, you didn't really. Sesshoumaru did. I miss her,of course,but I was happy that he was taking care of her."

"Saraku never stopped talking about you. She often felt like she was betraying you." Rin looked at him now. "I told her she wasn't."

"Good. 'Cause Kagome says you can have more than one friend. She has a lot back in her time. Do you think Saraku does too? In her time,I mean."

"I don't know anything that stuff. She says her parents were from another time. She was born here." Rin sighed deeply. "My parents were killed by demons too. We have a lot in common,Saraku and I."

"I'm sorry...I just hope Inuyasha can convince her to come back. If what they said is true,they might have a hard time."

"I know Saraku. She'll fight with them both. I think maybe her father was stubborn too."

Shippou shrugged. He was really worried about his friend though. "I think we better head towards camp. It's getting dark. Besides,Chibi's going to sleep,and I want you to meet her."

"Chibi?" Rin looked at him now. "Who's that?"

"Sango and Miroku's daughter. Come on." He led the way back to camp,where they visited with the baby until Kagome suggested they all went to sleep.

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Just as the sun was coming up,Saraku pounced on a fleeing rabbit with her shortened spear. "I got it!"

"See,Daddy? She can get things too. Please can't she be an honorary wolf demon?" Kyoko looked up at Kouga,smiling persuasively. "She'd like that."

"Bring it in,Sara." Kouga called out with a smile,before looking down at his own daughter. "I still don't know,Kyoko. She's got a long time before she can be considered a pack member. Besides,I already told you. I'm waiting to hear from Kagome."

"She won't want to go back to them. All they do is fight over her." Kyoko ran forward. "Good catch,Saraku. Tell Daddy you said you wanted to be in our tribe."

"Well..." Saraku smiled at the little girl,then quickly whirled,hearing a rustling behind her.

"Get back!" In a quick motion,both Saraku and Kyoko were yanked behind Kouga,who narrowed his eyes on the bushes.

"Calm down,Prince. We don't wish to harm anyone." Sesshoumaru emerged with Inuyasha at his side. "We wish to take Saraku home."

"Yeah,so hand her over!" Inuyasha demanded impatiently. Neither seemed to notice that Saraku had fled with Kyoko back to the den.

"As you can plainly tell, she doesn't want to be with either of you." Kouga folded his arms. "Did Kagome send you?"

"Of course she did!" Inuyasha replied.

"We only want to talk to her. We won't force her to go with us if she doesn't want to." Sesshoumaru explained to Kouga. "She is after all,old enough to make her own decisions."

"Very well,but I intend to stay while you talk to her." Kouga told them,before leading them up the cliff to the den. "Achika."

"Yes,Kouga?" His mate came in an instant. She eyed Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru suspiciously. "They're here for Saraku?"

"To talk to her,yes. Will you bring her?"

"Of course." Achika pried the girl from a detailed story of her first kill. "Youn must come and speak to our guests,Saraku." The hanyou woman told her gently.

"Yes,Achika." She went to Kouga,hanging close to him, eyeing the brothers suspiciously.

"Saraku,Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru want to talk to you. I'll be nearby if you should need me."

"Alright,Kouga." The three of them sat down,and she looked from one to the other. "Well?"

"Saraku...Child, we came to bring you home." Sesshoumaru began. "But only if you want to come. We only ask that you hear us first,before you make your final decision."

"We deserve to be heard at least,right?" Inuyasha asked. Damn it to hell...She already looks like she's made decision! Inuyasha scowled inwardly,and looked at Sesshoumaru,then Saraku again. "We're sorry for the way we've been behaving over you,Sara."

"It was wrong for us to try and make you take sides." Sesshoumaru continued. "We've come up with a solution. We've decided we're going to share you."

"Share me? I'm not food." Saraku said softly,picking the grass out of her tunic.

"No,you're not. What I mean is this. You will spend two seasons with Inuyasha and his group,then you will come stay two seasons in the castle with Rin and I."

"That sounds like an inconvience to you both." She replied,surprising herself. "I can't ask you to do it." She stood up now,looking over at Kouga. "I like it here."

The brothers looked at each other,sighing. The Sesshoumaru spoke up again. "Saraku. We are willing to do what it takes to make you happy. You should think of others as well. Like Kagome and Shippou. They both miss you."

"Yes. If you don't come back with us,I'll have to see Kagome pout every day."

Saraku studied them thoughtfully. "Alright. I'll come back with you."

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Kouga asked her now. He came,and squatted to her level. "You don't have to leave if you don't want to."

"I miss them,Kouga. Maybe I can come visit you guys again."

"We will arrange it." Sesshoumaru replied before Kouga could. "It wouldn't even have to be on Inuyasha's time." Even Sesshoumaru knew that Kouga and Inuyasha could never overcome their differences.

"Of course it wouldn't. I know Kagome." Inuyasha stood up now,and looked down at Saraku. "Make sure this is what you truly want."

"It is." She stood up,and looked at Kouga. "Thank you for watching out for me...and the hunting lessons. I'm sure those'll come in handy when I'm older."

"I'm certain they will." Kouga smiled gently. "You will be missed,Sara."

"Missed? Where is she going?" Kyoko came running out of the den. "We're cooking your rabbit,Sara! It smells so good!"

"Well, you enjoy it,Kyoko." She smiled at the girl,reminded so much of herself at that age.

"Aren't you going to eat any?" The princess looked up at her quizzically. "It's your first kill. You get choice selection."

"I'm...leaving,Kyoko." She felt a strange lump in her throat. "I'm going home,to Kagome,and Shippou. Remember I told you about them?"

"But....." Kyoko's face fell,then her lower lip started to tremble. "Y-you can't leave....you said we were sisters.."

"We are." She rolled up her sleeve now,revealing the scar from a ritual the girls had done behind Kouga's back. "We're blood sisters,Kyoko. If you ever need me,and you're out alone,don't hesitate to send for me. I'll come." She hugged the girl fiercely. "I will always come."

"D-don't g-go....."

"I have to." Saraku looked up at Kouga,pleading for his help.

Kouga took his young daughter into his arms. "She'll be back,Kyoko. She has to go home to her own family now." And what a family it is!! The wolf prince thought silently.

"Come on. Let's go home,Kid." Inuyasha put a hand on her shoulder,and without another look at Kouga,the brothers led her back down the cliff again,towards home.

(A/N:Next to last chapter completed! Watch for the conclusion in two weeks!)