A/N: Thanks to reviewers!! Good questions, too. You definitely need someone standing over your shoulder saying things like, "No, you can't put that there. How will you explain it? You can't put that man at the scene of the crime, you already said he was out of town." I find myself going "Whoops. Can't do that. Already wrote it a different way." LoL I will do my very best to answer these questions and more in upocoming chapters. So, until then...thanks again! Read, review, enjoy!

xoxoxo
Col'Sha

Sesshomaru sat quietly at the table. His head ached. He was slowly realizing that he wasn't crazy. And it was more frightening than when he thought he was. He no longer dared to sleep so his body managed to steal a couple of hours every few days when he collapsed with exhaustion. He knew he should probably tell her. She probably had no idea what she was now a part of.

"I can't believe I'm entertaining the idea that this could be real." He said aloud. "And that I'm now talking to myself like a real crazy person." He stood up and began to pace the small kitchen.

He had gotten rid of everything, all of his notes, all of his tapes. Anything that would have proven he was crazy. Anything that could have proven that he did not belong here. He had tucked those memories into a safe little compartment in his mind and went on with his life. So many crazy people do that, he told himself. You take the crazy and just tuck it away where no one can find it and you try to be normal. He had forgotten the possibility that somewhere, some time, he could have been so much more than he was now. He could have been powerful, regal, important, better than human. But his delusions had almost cost him everything. He had flunked quite a few classes, pissed off a few professors and set himself back more than a full year in school. He doubted he could ever again concentrate on a thesis and his degree seemed like a mirage in the distance. But he was struggling through and he couldn't let himself get distracted by these impossibilities again.

"And what am I supposed to do? Show up on her doorstep? 'Hi, I know you can't stand the sight of me, but I have some important information about your dreams. They're real!' Yeah, she'll be dialing 911 before I can say another word. 'Here he is, slap the cuffs on!'" Sess ran his fingers through his hair nervously.

Unbeknownst to him, it began so much the same as it had for Kagome. The dreams came first. But Sess had shielded himself from intimate relationships for years and had no web of support around him as Kagome had. Sess told no one of his dreams, even as they began to interfere with his studies. He began to take notes and put together a rather intricate story of a world that didn't seem to exist, but was too well constructed to be the mere work of an overworked, dreaming mind. He became obsessed and lost himself in this fantasy world. Wanting to delve deeper he finally asked a fellow intern to hypnotize him.

He was not lucky enough to have a therapist shielding him from the realities of his sessions. His buddy simply tossed him the tape after the session and commented on Sesshomaru's imaginative subconscious.

"I wonder where you got all this from?" his friend had asked him nonchalantly after listening to the tape of his first session. Sess nodded mutely. He was at a loss for words as he rewound the end of the tape to listen for a third time.

Click.

"What do you see, Sesshomaru?"

"There's blood everywhere," his voice on the tape shook. "It's dripping from the trees and puddled in the grass."

"Where is the blood coming from?" the voice inquired.

"And it's all over my sword."

Silence.

"Your sword?" the voice asked incredulously.

"I killed them."

"Who did you kill?"

"All of them."

Click.

Kagome was washing dishes and feeling more and more agitated. She hadn't had a moment alone since she returned from Dr. Myouga's office. Miroku was home when she arrived and they set about making dinner and talking about the day. He was home for the night and she couldn't really sneak off to listen to it while he was home. She didn't really want Miroku to know she had stolen her session tape, either. He was worried enough about her, she didn't want him to know she had stooped to thievery. She smiled for a moment. She was always such a good girl. She couldn't remember the last time she had stolen anything.

She was questioning whether or not she really wanted to know what was on the tape. Kagome had had several hours so far to toss it around in her head. The doctor felt it was important, but he didn't want to share any of it with her yet. Should she just trust his judgment and wait? She was curious and a little scared at the same time. In a way she was glad she didn't have to make the decision tonight. She would just wait until tomorrow. Kagome remembered how she felt with her hand on the tape in her car. Part of her wanted to listen right away but she was afraid of what she might hear, so she decided against listening while driving. For a fleeting moment she thought of Pandora's box and wondered what she would be letting out when she listened to it.

Click

"All of them."

Click

"Why didn't you push me harder?" Sess spat at his calm friend. "Who did I kill?"

"You heard me, I asked you twice. I wasn't going to push it any more than that in your first session, man. We can try it again, but I think we should quit for today. I'll come back tomorrow." His friend looked at him sideways. "Get some sleep, man. You look like shit."

Sess growled at him as he left the small kitchen and he heard the front door swing shut. Sess practically leapt from his chair and paced the room, his shaking fingers lighting a cigarette and he breathed in the smoke deeply as he shut his eyes.

I never killed anybody. I never killed anybody!

But this was proof. There was blood on his sword. He never drew the beautiful sword that dangled from his waist in his dreams. He felt safe that it was there, but he never once drew it. Before today, that is.

Kagome was hurled to the ground like a useless toy and she felt her head hit the earth with a crack that threatened to send her into the darkness again.

"YOU! You're probably in on this too, you demon bastard! Did you lead Naraku to us so you could finally see me dead and have the Tessaiga for yourself?"

"Fool. I do not require any help from this hanyou to kill you. I am quite capable of doing it myself."

Kagome lifted her stunned head from the damp grass and saw Inu Yasha clashing swords with none other than Sesshomaru. Had she heard correctly, was Sesshomaru part of Naraku's plan? She knew he hated Inu Yasha, but she still felt as thought there was a bond of some sort between the brothers. At least an honor that would ensure Sesshomaru killed Inu Yasha himself. Kagome couldn't believe Sesshomaru was in league with Naraku. Sesshomaru always seemed to be a free agent, so to speak. He was the only demon she had seen who held no interest in the Shikon shards. He was definitely an enigma.

Kagome shuddered and tried to focus her eyes again. Naraku had backed away from the brothers, amused by the family feud playing out before him. Inu Yasha was distracted now, and a fight with Sesshomaru was the last thing they needed. Naraku seemed quite pleased with this turn of events and chuckled evilly.

"Who will protect you now, little miko?" he barely whispered. A long tentacle came from behind her and brushed her cheek while another one ensnared her hands and raised them over her head, slightly lifting her from the ground. She gasped in surprise at his speed and opened her mouth to scream for Inu Yasha as a third tentacle slithered between her teeth and effectively gagged her. She remained silent as she struggled and squirmed to free herself.

She whipped her head as far around as her sinuous bonds would allow and she saw Inu Yasha dodge a lightning fast attack from Sesshomaru. Behind them Sango and Miroku were upon Kirara fighting dozens and dozens of youkai. They seemed to come from thin air, all summoned by Naraku to keep the demon exterminator and monk entertained while he entertained himself with Kagome.

"Hehehe..." Sesshomaru showing up was just an added bonus. Naraku was surprised to see him. The Taiyoukai moved with great speed, Naraku did not sense or smell him until he was almost on top of them. He would keep Inu Yasha quite busy. Naraku rubbed his hands with anticipation. He would have all the time he needed with the human girl.

He turned his attention to his prize, certain that he would not be interrupted for some time. "Where is the shard, Miko?"

Kagome stared daggers at Naraku. She made no attempt to speak through her gag. She closed her eyes and turned her head as far away from her evil captor as she could.

"Now, now." Naraku commented. "That isn't very cooperative. You will experience so much more pain if you are not cooperative."

He felt her stiffen, but she did not open her eyes or turn to him. He could smell her fear, though she was quite good at hiding it.

He slipped another tentacle around Kagome's feet and tightened his grip around her wrists, suspending her in midair and uncomfortably stretching her thin form to its full length. She gasped as Naraku smirked at getting her attention. "Yes, I could rip you in half. And I could either do it quickly or terribly slow. Which would you prefer?"

Kagome swallowed hard. She wouldn't give in. She had the final shard, and she was the only thing standing between Naraku and the completed Shikon no Tama. She was not about to let all her hard work collecting the shards go to waste by handing the jewel to the most corrupt demon on earth. She felt her muscles pull as he tightened his grip on her body again. She closed her eyes and mentally prepared herself for the worst. At least they wouldn't die in vain. Even if he ripped her apart, he'd never think to look for the shard where she'd hidden it.

"WENCH! I grow tired of your games. For the last time, where is my shard?"

Naraku began to shake her violently. He released the tentacle from around her mouth and she gave into her terror and screamed for Inu Yasha quickly before Naraku once again covered her mouth and stopped her from alerting her friends. "Inu Yasha...I'm here. Inu Yasha, hurry!"

"Inu Yasha, eh?"

Kagome opened her eyes expecting to be shaken again before being ripped apart, but instead found herself wrapped haphazardly in her sheets looking up at a decidedly confused and irritated Miroku.

"Hmm." Kagome said, waking her mind up before attempting to speak.

"Hmm, indeed." Miroku replied.