Wow! Another update! Quick, ne? I am extremely inspired at the moment and I just can't wait to post everything that I'm coming up with! Sorry, I know many people haven't even had time to read the last chapter yet, but hey, posting too quick is better than posting too slow, right? Anyway, here's the next chap!

Disclaimer: Still not mine! The new character mentioned in this chap is also not mine, she belongs to Cruel Shiva (who also happens to be my sister).

Chapter 19: Enter Miroku

Kagome looked around herself and saw a large garden. It was very beautiful, and very familiar. She remembered it as one of the gardens surrounding Sesshomaru's castle. What am I doing here? How did I get here? She turned in all directions, trying to find something to help her remember what had happened. But there was nothing to help her, just grass, flowers and trees.

She was alone, even Shippo and Kiseki were not with her. Well, if I'm at Sesshomaru's castle, then maybe I can ask him what's going on... She lowered the shields that Sesshomaru had taught her to make, and reached for his mind. It was difficult, it felt like he was very far away, and perhaps sleeping. She tried harder and connected with him.

Suddenly, a very annoyed looking Sesshomaru was standing in front of her. Kagome jumped, but Sesshomaru didn't seem to think that anything was strange about him just popping out of thin air. He just glared at her, as if it was her fault that he was there.

What is it that you brought me here for? He thought at her with a half concealed snarl. I certainly hope it is worth my time, since I will be coming to see you in three very short days.

Kagome was confused, couldn't he see that they were in his garden, and not in the urufu den? She started to say something to him, but he cut her off.

Yes, I can see where your dream has brought us, though I have no idea why you chose this place. Kagome started, but he continued. If you don't put at least a thin shield up, you project everything into my mind... He said with a sigh.

Kagome quickly put up a thin shield, blushing slightly. This is a dream? It feels so real!

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at her. This is most definitely a dream. I do not usually appear out of the air at the request of humans.

Kagome ignored his sarcasm. She was embarrassed that she hadn't noticed that everything was too perfect to be real. Then she realized what she was dreaming about. This memory of this garden was not from this time, it was from her last time here. If she was right, then she really didn't want Sesshomaru to stay here to see what she knew was coming. I'm very sorry to have disturbed your sleep Sesshomaru-sama. I promise not to intrude again.

The look on his face was one that she had raraely seen, amusement, and not in an "I get to kill Inuyasha" way. So, we are to be formal now, are we Kagome-san? Very well, if there is nothing more, I will be returning to my sleep. With that, he disappeared, leaving Kagome alone in the garden.

She thought about his remark for a moment. It suddenly dawned on her that she had been either very rude, or very intimate with Sesshomaru when speaking with him. It had never even occured to her, because he had given her permission to drop all formalities with him the last time. She blushed at what he must have thought of her, and was very grateful to still be alive.

She only had a few seconds to think on this before her dream continued itself, showing her a memory that had happened just over a year ago for her.

From the doors leading into the house came Sesshomaru and herself. She was seventeen at the time. It was very strange to watch herself speaking to Sesshomaru from across the garden. As the two figures approached her, however, she was drawn into the 'body' of her memory self.

Sesshomaru looked devestated, although most people looking at him would never guess. Whatever she had said to him, he had not answered and he was moving away from her to the farthest corner of the garden. She followed him past the roses and the forget-me-nots, shielding them from the view of anyone in the castle.

He stopped and sat down, gesturing for her to sit with him. "Why?" He asked. She had no answer for him now, just as she had no answer for him then. "Why isn't she back yet?" His voice broke and a single tear ran down his cheek. Kagome remembered who he was asking about now. Kyt.

Kagome felt sadness and anger for him. He had finally found someone to love, and someone who loved him back, and then she was gone. Kagome wasn't sure where the girl had gone, and if Sesshomaru knew, he hadn't told anyone.

As her memory self tried to comfort Sesshomaru, she thought about Kyt. Would she show up again? What would happen if she did? What would happen if she didn't? It was all so confusing. She didn't even notice when Sesshomaru started to softly cry on her memory self's shoulder, until she heard herself saying: "I'll be here for you, as long as you need me to be."

Kagome knew that this was the moment, the moment that she had started to see him as more than a friend. The moment he had found the haven he needed in her. At the time, she had only wanted to help Sesshomaru, but looking back now she wondered if it had been the right thing to do.

What if Kyt had returned? I would have felt horrible! I basically used his grief over her leaving to put myself in her place! Kagome's mand was numb with guilt. The fact that Kyt had not returned was no consolation to her. I love him, I don't want to lose him! But what will I do if Kyt does show up? Kagome's thoughts chased each other through her head. Finally she realized something though. If she shows up this time, she won't remember last time either, will she? Maybe she will never love Sesshomaru, and he will never love her!

Kagome was happy with this thought, until she realized how selfish it was. If that's the case, then wonderful, but if it's not... she had a terrible time voicing her next thought, even to herself ...then I will respect whatever decision Sesshomaru makes.

With that thought, the dream broke, and Kagome drifted into a peaceful sleep where she forgot all about Kyt and her memory of the garden.

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Inuyasha and Kaede were halfway back to the village by now. Inuyasha had finally noticed the absence of Kagome and Shippo, and had asked Kaede where they were. Kaede told him about the two urufu who had come to claim Kagome, and how Shippo had gone with them. Inuyasha nearly exploded when he heard that.

"What do you mean you let some wimpy woves take her? How do you know that they were even telling the truth?" Inuyasha yelled at her.

Kaede remained calm. "They said that she had been given into Kouga's care. Is that not the name that was given you by your brother?"

Inuyasha snarled at that. "Half-brother." He did not reject what Kaede had said however.

They kept moving in silence until they reached the village, three days later. The only time they spoke was when they stopped for a break, and that was only to express a wish to stop, and to say that they should move on.

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The monk looked at the Shikon no Kakera in his hands. There had been many lesser demons after him, trying to take them from him, but never that demon of demons who had cursed his family. He stuck the shards in his pocket and moved on to the next village. I wonder if there will be any beautiful women in this village? The way this is going, I'm going to need an heir soon...

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Kagome awoke three days after her dream. Sesshomaru was going to come visit today. Kagome had explained about Sesshomaru to Shippo as well as she could, and he was eager to meet Inuyasha's older brother. Kagome fussed around her cavern. Kiseki followed her around the room, copying some of her actions. This caused great amusement to Kagome, even though it made more of a mess for her to clean up.

Kiseki now looked to be about two years old. She was walking and talking already, although her words didn't always make sense to Kagome. Shippo told her that Kiseki was speaking a mixture of the kitsune language and a language he didn't recognize. Kagome was convinced that this other language was "baby-talk", until Sutaa laughed at something that Kiseki said. Sutaa explained that the other language was the urufu language. Kagome was curious to know how her kit had picked up these two languages.

Sutaa explained to her that kitsune were born knowing their own language, just as every demon was born knowing the language of its ancestry. Kiseki had picked up the urufu language because she was fostered by an urufu. Sutaa said that this was natural, and that Kagome shouldn't worry about it. Kagome asked if Kiseki would just 'know' Japanese because it was her native language. Sutaa said she wouldn't be surprised at all if this was the case.

So Kiseki happily talked in all three languages, only one of which Kagome could understand, fluently and often all together at once. Kagome sighed as she scooped the kit up and righted the water jug, which no longer held water, on the table. Then she handed Kiseki to Shippo, who was very obediently sitting on the futon. Then she cleaned up the water that was now all over the floor. She was so obsorbed in cleaning up, that she didn't notice a familiar presence coming toward her.

"Kagome-san?" Kagome turned to see Kouga standing in the entry-way to her cavern.

"Hai, Kouga-sama?" She asked, hoping that Sesshomaru hadn't arrived yet. She swept

her senses through the den, but couldn't feel Sesshomaru's presence.

"Would you like someone to take care of Kiseki-chan and Shippo-kun while you get ready for Sesshomaru-sama's visit?" He looked her over pointedly, and she realized that what she was wearing (a simple kimono) was well enough to work in, but definitely not proper for meeting a lord in, especially one of THE four demon lords. She blushed a little. "Thank-you Kouga-sama. If someone wouldn't mind taking them while I get dressed, that would be wonderful."

Kouga nodded and gestured for the two children to come with him. He picked them both up when they got to him and started to walk away. He stopped for a second, "Just so you don't worry, Ayame-sama and I will be taking care of them for you. We will bring them back in two hours. Sesshomaru-sama should be arriving very soon after that, I think." With that, he walked away down the hall, back toward the common area at the front of the den.

Kagome looked around the room and sighed. It was a little messy, but it would do. Then she went over to the closet that had all of her clothing in it. She pulled out a beautiful deep green kimono with white stags on it. The obi was pure white, and she pulled out slippers of the same deep green as the kimono. These had all been gifts from Sesshomaru for her to use while she was here.

She put on the kimono, thankful that this wasn't the first time that she had had to tie an obi herself, then turned to the mirror. It truly was a beautiful kimono, but she looked wrong in it. It looked to regal. I know what's wrong!

Kagome walked over to the small box that held some pins and clips for her hair that the servants in Sesshomaru's castle had insisted that she take with her. She was very thankful that they had. She pulled out her brush and made sure her hair was free of knots, then she styled her hair into an elaborate looking style that really took very little effort, just a couple of the jewelled chopsticks that had been given to her and a few jewelled pins. She walked back over to the mirror, looked at herself, frowned, carefully pulled a few strands out of the pins and chopsticks, checked to make sure it still looked right, then smiled at the end result of her work. Even she thought she looked nice.

Within fifteen minutes of her finishing her hair, Kouga and Ayame came to her doorway with the two children. They had found suitable clothing for the two kits, though Shippo looked resentful at being made to wear formal attire. Kouga and Ayame smiled at her, but approving of her choice of kimono, and Ayame asked her how she had done her hair. Kagome told her that she would explain it some other time. Ayame gove her a look that said she was going to hold Kagome to that promise.

Both of the wolf demons' ears pricked at a sound coming from the main cavern and looked in that direction, but Kagome already knew who was there, she could feel Sesshomaru's aura. All of them made their way toward the main cavern to greet the Lord of the West.

Kouga and Ayame went forward first to greet Sesshomaru.

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Inuyasha was still moping when they arrived back in the village. He immediately went and sat in the branches of the Goshinboku and refused to come down. Kaede felt very sorry for him, but she knew that Inuyasha had to get through his grief on his own.

Kaede was thinking about the depressed hanyou when she heard a commotion at the entrance to the village. She thought for a moment that Inuyasha had gone insane in his grief and was terrorizing the villagers, but then she noticed that the shouts were those of happines and welcome, not those of death and destruction.

The old priestess straightened from the work she had been doing in the herb garden and walked toward the villages entrance to see what the commotion was all about. When she arrived, there were so many people that she couldn't see what everyone was so excited about. Very quickly people started to realize that she was there, and made a path for her to the center of the throng. When she got there, she saw a young monk talking to some of the more comely women of the village. He looked over at her as she approached and bowed to her in deep respect. She gave him a small bow in return.

"What brings ye to our village, houshi-sama?" Kaede asked him.

He smiled. "I am wandering the world, trying to rid the world of evil demons, miko." He replied.

Kaede noticed a movement near one of the women to his left. "Mind your manners while ye are here, houshi-sama. We have no need of exorcism here, but we would be glad to give you food and a roof to sleep under for the night."

The monk blushed and pulled his hand back to his side at her remark about manners. "My thanks, miko. My name is Miroku."

Kaede smiled at Miroku. Not a typical Buddhist monk, this one... of course, he is very young. "I am called Kaede. Please, follow me Miroku-sama, I will take you to one of the batchelor's houses where you can get some food." She walked off with Miroku following her.

When they were far away from the rest of the villagers, Miroku spoke up. "Kaede-sama, I mean no disrespect, but are you sure that you are not in need of some help in an exorcism? I sensed a strong demonic aura just outside the village."

Kaede glanced at the monk. "What you sensed, houshi-sama, was a hanyou named Inuyasha. He is under control of another miko who has been residing in this village up until two weeks ago. He is not quite harmless, but neither is he a threat. Pay him no mind."

Miroku looked sceptical, but he said nothing. They continued on to one of the bachelor's houses.

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She climbed out of the river. She was so weak. But she was alive. She had come to her senses while floating in the water, and now she just wanted revenge on the one who had caused her sorrow and death, Naraku.

I am sorry Inuyasha, I should have trusted you. The thoughts I saw through that girl, Kagome's, mind showed me that you still love me. I know that you did not betray me. We will meet again soon.

Kikyo walked up the shore and called to some soul skimming demons that were nearby. They came to her call, brought to her by her power. They will sustain me until I can regain the rest of my soul, or I can get my revenge on naraku and return to death satisfied.

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Kagome watched as Kouga and Ayame greeted Sesshomaru. It was highly formal, and Kagome was glad for hours of history classes that had detailed ancient japanese culture. When they had finished the traditional phrases, Kagome stepped forward with the two children. Seh bowed deeply and murmured "Sesshomaru-sama", Shippo attempted to do the same at her side. Kiseki, however, walked straight up to Sesshomaru and held her arms up and out to him, obviously asking to be picked up. Kiseki was also saying something, over and over again, but it was in one of the languages that Kagome didn't understand.

Sesshomaru looked down at the child standing at his feet. The expression on his face never changed, but Kagome could faintly sense a tiny bit of amusement radiating from him. He bowed to them, slightly more deeply than was neccesary, and picked up Kiseki at the same time. When he straightened, Kiseki was happily talking to him, using all three languages. All Kagome understood was "fun" and "again"

A voice entered Kagome's thoughts. She has grown quite quickly. She should be sprouting her first tail before you leave here. That is highly unusual. She must be very powerful. A slight frown was on Sesshomaru's face as he looked at the kit in his arms. Then he looked at Kagome. By the way, what is she saying?

Kagome had a hard time keeping her face straight. I really have no more idea what she is saying than you do, Sesshomaru-sama. Apparently most of it is in kitsune or urufu.

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, but walked past them and down to Kagome's cavern so they could get out of the crowd that was forming in the main cavern. Kagome and Shippo followed him.

When they were in the room that Kagome had been given, Sesshomaru walked over to one of the cushions on the floor, the one he had used last time he had come to visit. Kagome and Shippo went and sat on the futon.

Sesshomaru looked up from the kit in his arms to Shippo."You are this one's brother?" He asked. Shippo nodded, very wide-eyed. Sesshomaru nodded to himself. "What is your name?"

Shippo looked like he was going to pop from the excitement of having a Lord interested in him. "My name is Shippo, Sesshomaru-sama." He said, lowering his eyes.

Kagome couldn't help but compare this Shippo to the kit she had raised for three years. If he had been the Shippo she had known, he would have been anything but subdued. In fact, he probably would have been either bouncing around in excitement, or being very rude to Sesshomaru.

"I see that you are well taken care of, Kagome-san. Kiseki should be weaned in about four more days, and she will probably sprout her first tail in two." Sesshomaru was looking at her now.

Shippo seemed to have found his voice. "Really? She'll get her first tail that quickly? I didn't get mine until I was a year old!"

Kagome looked at the surprised kit sitting beside her. Kagome had thought that Kiseki getting her first tail this early was a bit strange, but she had thought that it was only early by about a week, maybe a month at most. To find out that it was early by nearly a year made her wonder just how powerful Kiseki was.

Kiseki took that moment to reach up toward Sesshomaru's face with her tiny hands. Sesshomaru looked down at the kit. He couldn't remember ever holding a child this small. Izayoi had been nervous when Inuyasha was a baby. She thought that Sesshomaru might hurt Inuyasha by accident. His mate had died before giving birth to their first child. It still made him sad to think of that child.

Kiseki started speaking to him, clutching at his tail. He had no idea what she was saying, as none of it was in japanese. Kagome had moved slightly when Kiseki grabbed his tail, but had resettled herself when she saw that he was not trying to remove the kit's fingers from his fur.

Shippo squirmed next to Kagome, obviously wanting to ask a question, but not sure if he should. Finally, he got up near Kagome's ear and whispered: "why does Kiseki keep calling Sesshomaru-sama papa?"

Kagome jumped when she heard that. Then she just stared at Shippo. "That's what she's saying?" Kagome asked, her voice barely audible, even to Shippo.

The kitsune nodded as he listened to Kiseki chatter on. She wasn't saying much of interest, just random words now. But when she had walked up to Sesshomaru in the entry cavern, she had called him papa, and now when she grabbed his tail she called him papa again.

Sesshomaru pretended not to hear their whispered conversation. So, this kit had taken to him? That was not good. She was tied to Kagome, and she was human. Though she is a very useful human. Having her around would make life much easier. I could just take her back to the castle... but a promised that stupid hanyou that she would be returned. Why do I make so many promises?

Kagome noticed that Sesshomaru was deep in thought, even though she couldn't hear those thoughts any longer. I wonder what he's thinking about...

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Sesshomaru only stayed for a few more hours, saying that he would return for them in four days. Kagome almost wished that he would come back in two days to be there when Kiseki gained her first tail. She had no idea what to expect, and she desperately wanted him to be with her when it happened.

As if he had read her mind, which she knew he hadn't, he turned back to her, now holding Kiseki in one arm, and holding Shippos hand in her free hand, and said: "If I am able, I will return in two days to witness Kiseki come into her power."

Kagome smiled and thanked him, then he left.

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Inuyasha decided that sulking was getting him nowhere. Kikyo had already been dead, and she had just been bones and dirt animated by magic this time. It hadn't really been her. He jumped out of the tree and ran into the village, startling a few people as he ran past. one woman even went so far as to scream at his passing.

Feh. I haven't attacked this village in a long time. The way they're shouting, you'd think I did it on a daily basis. He thought, as he made his way toward Kaede's hut. He was stopped short by a young monk standing in his way.

"Who are you, and what do you think you're doing blocking my way?" Inuyasha demanded of the monk.

The monk glared at him. "My name is Miroku and I am a Buddhist monk who has given his life to the destruction of demons such as yourself."

Inuyasha laughed. "You? You're going to stop me? That's the funniest thing I've heard all day! Thanks for the laugh. Now move out of the way, I need to talk to Kaede."

The monk didn't move. "What is your business with the miko Kaede?"

Inuyasha stared at the monk, Miroku. Is this guy stupid, or does he just have a death wish?

Miroku, meanwhile, was trying to decide the best way to kill the demon in front of him. It didn't seem like he was going to just leave peacefully.

Both of them were saved from killing each other by Kaede coming out of her hut and seeing the two of them staring at each other. "Houshi-sama, I see that ye have met Inuyasha. Inuyasha, this is Miroku-sama, a Buddhist monk passing through here on his way to destroying dangerous demons. He has no quarrel with you."

Miroku stared at Inuyasha. So this is Inuyasha? He seems very powerful for a hanyou. He's very powerful for a full demon!

Inuyasha looked Miroku up and down, said "feh" and stalked past the monk. No quarrel with me, right. He's the one who started it!

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Well... that's it! Chapter's done! YATTA!! For those of you who haven't yet, Check out my new one-shot called The Twelve Days of Christmas- Inuyasha Style. It's fun, and very much in season! Anyway, because I put this chapter up so quickly, I only had one review for the last chapter. So here's the response:

Coldnight09: glad you liked it! And yes, Kiseki has her true name now! (she had that name before I ever gave her the name Kiseki. It will be important in this story) talk to you later!

Okay everyone, review please! I love reviews, and I love my reviewers! Reviewers are the best people in the world! glomps all reviewers Ja for now!