Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha. I do own a money pit that required 5 gallons of mudding compound and four hours of this evening. I also own the imagination that created this story based on Takahashi Rumiko's characters.

The next two days were busy for the three of them. Jaken had loose ends to tie up, he wasn't returning. Sesshomaru wanted to spend time with his advisor, he had grown to respect the diminutive youkai. Kagome organized her world to make place for an extra person, and spent hours praying at the shrine.

On Wednesday, she met Sesshomaru and Jaken at the Bone-Eater's Well, all three of them were ready to finish this journey.

"Kagome…" Sesshomaru gently grabbed her wrist. "You do understand that I cannot guarantee that he will come back to you. My old self may not be willing, despite the letter. Something may happen in transfer between this time and the demon afterworld; or more likely, between the demon afterworld and this time."

Kagome looked into his golden eyes. "Do you still have Tenseiga?"

"Hai."

"Then even if something bad happens, it would be better to take the chance than to continue to live life as it is."

"You can still go back Kagome." He pulled her closer to his body, giving her a tight hug. "You love him, and you never had time with him. I had many years with Rin. Think about it."

She stared into his eyes, seeing the sadness that lurked behind the new gentler Sesshomaru. "Iie, I cannot. I could not live with myself if I gave up on your happiness selfishly for my own gains."

Sesshomaru slowly released her shoulders and backed away. "And that is why my brother has always loved you." As a shadow crossed over her visage, he continued. "Even over Kikyo."

"But…how do you know?" Kagome could feel the tightness and stinging in her eyes and hoped she wouldn't cry in front of this man.

"My brother explained that he couldn't move on with his life as long as Kikyo's eternal rest had been disturbed. As long as that part of her that was unique to her still walked the earth, he felt guilt and responsibility for making sure she was safe. He had decided long before Naraku was destroyed that you were his future. He was just too stubborn to let you know."

Kagome felt a crushing weight fall from her shoulders. She had never been able to truly resent Kikyo. Kagome hated it when InuYasha did not tell her what they spoke about when he was alone with Kikyo. However, she could not grow to hate the woman that shared part of her soul.

"Okay Sesshomaru, enough about this. How do we send Jaken back to the Sengoku Jidai?"

The next morning, Kagome awoke to rain falling steadily outside her window. "Oh well…that means there won't be many visitors to distract me from my thoughts today." Deciding to stay in bed for a few more minutes, she thought back over the strange events of the previous day.

oooooo

Sesshomaru had handed her two pearls, one white and one pink. He asked her to purify them to ensure the transfers would happen without a trace of evilness being involved. Then he told her to put the pink one in a leather pouch and tie it to Jaken's obi. They all walked down to the entrance to the bone-eater's well, and Kagome removed the spirit seal from the well opening.

In a rare display of kindness, Sesshomaru picked Jaken up and stood him on the edge of the well. "Are you sure you want to go through with this Jaken?"

Jaken smacked him lightly on the head. "Stupid boy, you should know by now that I'm no longer the sniveling servant who followed you around. No one makes me do this. My life is almost over, and shortening a long life to grant happiness to four people I care for, is my gift to myself." He looked at Kagome. "Hand me the jewel child, so I can start on my journey."

Kagome walked up to him and gave him a tight hug before handing him the jewel. "No matter what the results, please know that I honor your sacrifice." Jaken blinked once, nodded, then stepped back into nothingness. Kagome looked into the well, but it was empty. "I don't know if he made it to the Sengoku Jidai, but he is no longer here."

Sesshomaru smiled. "He made it. Let's go. I have work to do." He turned to leave.

"Sesshomaru?" He turned to look at her. "Will your part be dangerous?" He didn't answer. "I see. Is Rin truly here?" Sesshomaru smiled broadly. "Then go to her, I can wait a little longer." Before she could finish the words, Sesshomaru was gone.

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A/N: Thank you for the many wonderful reviews so far! We're past the halfway point.

FYI: According to FanFiction rules, I am upping the rating on this to R with the next chapter because "An R may be assigned due to, among other things, a film's use of language, theme, violence, sex or its portrayal of drug use." I personally have read a LOT of PG-13 on this site that is worse than anything in the following chapters. However, I do not want to be banned, nor do I want to lose this story because the rating was not correct. Use your wisdom judiciously. -TK