Chapter Four

By: Mirei

A/N: Remember that all thoughts are in italics.

Souta looked out of the window of Kaede's hut and wondered when Kagome would return. He'd been there for about a day or two and he couldn't stand it anymore. The Feudal Era looked like many adventures could occur by just exploring it. But he was to remain in the village. Maybe it was time to stop playing the role of obedient brother and take some action. He Kirara and Shippo were already outside playing in the trees. He told them about his plan and they agreed that it was so boring in the village. He removed his ring and took the two small demons his arms and followed Kagome's scent. He didn't really feel different. But he could run so fast. He knew Kagome would be unhappy about him leaving the village but he had to help her find their dad. He wanted to meet him too. What he didn't understand was why Kagome knew the whole time who their father was and didn't tell him or mom. Or maybe after the letter she found out who he was from the Feudal Era. It must be someone bad because she was bent on keeping it a secret.

He spent almost the whole day running through the forest in search for Kagome and her friends. It took him less time to reach Kagome then it would have taken her to get back to the village.

Kagome looked up from running. She could feel something or someone approaching; something similar. She stopped and looked behind her. The other's stopped too. The first to approach were Shippo and Kirara who ran straight to Kagome and Sango. The group was surprised to see them. Then the person owning the strange new power followed. Kagome gasped as a boy looking just like her brother stepped out. Only something was different about him. His hair was lighter and long, his eyes were deep blue and his marks were much like Sesshomaru's except that they were blue and there were only one on each side of his face. Kagome looked at him as if she were meeting him for the first time. But he took one look at her ran to her.

"Kagome!" he picked her up and swung her around. "I was so worried, I'm glad that we found you!" He then put her down while she stared at him with confusion.

"Souta? Wait you removed your ring, I thought I told you to leave it on!" she started to yell.

"When I was sitting in Kaede's home I kept thinking about mom's letter. Then I remembered how you reacted when you read it. I asked myself why I couldn't go with you and find him. Then I asked myself if it was because you had a personal reason for wanted to handle this." He folded his arms.

"My reasons for leaving you with Kaede were to protect you. You've never known our father and I have, when I was four and now. How do you think you'll react to having to meet him for the first time?"

"I do want to meet him Kagome and I can help."

"I don't know kiddo. I mean you haven't really been in this time too long and I don't want you to get hurt."

"You came to this time when you were only fifteen. I'm sixteen and I don't think that you should treat me like a twelve year old anymore."

"I keep forgetting that you're old enough to make your own decisions. But I just feel that if anything happened to you I won't be able to live with myself. I love you." She pulled him into a hug. "You're all I've got left and I just-"

"I'm sorry Kagome I know that it must not be easy to worry so much. I worry to that something might happen to you. When you did come home I was happy that you were alright. But when you left I'd wait by the well after dinner hoping you'd be home. I couldn't stand the village. If you and I are meant to do something then we should work together." She held him by the shoulders and looked at him. She found herself amazed by the change in him. He finally found his voice and she couldn't have been more proud.

"Okay Souta you can come but you must promise not to do anything irrational." She put her arm around his and pulled him along.

"Deal." He grinned at her and followed with her as the group continued on their journey.

Cough. It could be heard through out the building. He lay on the floor with thousands of his demons. He tried to stand but it was no use. His children gathered around him as he coughed again. Kanna took her mirror in one hand and placed it in front of his feet. She closed her eyes and a shot of light came shooting up from the mirror. Kagura stood back as the light began to change into a shape. Naraku watched with awe as the shape turned into a four year old little girl. He clinched his heart as his human self began to surface. He had asked Kanna to go inside of his human self and figure out exactly why he couldn't control his two different personalities. His human self wanted to love Kikyo and the other side wanted her dead. His wife his children he had given up so long ago still danced around his mind on occasion. His demonic self would suppress the memories and then caused him to lose strength for a few days.

"Naraku, who is this girl? Why does she cause you such great pain?" Kagura finally asked. He turned his gaze to her. She could have flinched at. His eyes were brown and he looked more human than he usually did.

"This is why daughter." He pointed to the little girl in the mirror running toward him with her arms opened; smiling.

"Daughter; you don't have human children." He glared at her when she said this.

"It is possible and she still remains as this image in my human mind. Her mother betrayed me and went to InuYasha. That is why Kikyo must die. She is the likeness of my beloved Kiki and I cannot forgive her for betraying me. My two children were damned from the moment that Kiki gave birth to them. I couldn't have her knowing about them being demon children. But since she was a miko I couldn't hide all of their gifts. Her ancestors were demons and I hid my demon self from her for about twenty years. I found a one way trip through the well and didn't look back. But I was injured and for a while I couldn't tell the difference between this time and my own. I thought that I'd never left because my wife was here. But it wasn't her. Kikyo belonged to InuYasha. I couldn't understand why it was that my Kiki had married me when in another time she was his. My sweet little Kagome loved me and I left her. Kagura's eyes became wide. Kagome! What is he talking about? She is the girl that travels with InuYasha. He must not know much about her if he still reminisces on his daughter, who happens to be that same girl. Naraku noticed the change in her expression.

"So why didn't you return to her then?" this time Kanna was the one to address this question to Naraku.

"I couldn't make it back through the well. I soon found that the Jewel shard might be able to get me back. My children would soon know the truth about their powers as dog demons and they won't know what to do about them." He closed his eyes and tried to picture Kagome in his mind. She must be about twenty or so by now. And young Souta must be at least sixteen or seventeen. He could only see that little girl in his mind and it made him angry that he wouldn't see her all grown up. Kagura seemed a bit shocked when she heard the name of his child. He looked back at her again but her face was back to its same emotionless state. He closed his eyes yet again and fell asleep. Kanna and Kagura left him and went to the surface of their home. Kanna looked at Kagura and gave a nod. Kagura smiled at her sister and left the house to search for InuYasha and his group.

"Stop it InuYasha and leave him alone!" Kagome yelled at InuYasha as he chased around Shippo.

"He started it!" Everyone looked at Kagome as her face became contorted in anger. They knew what was to come next. "SIT BOY!" She yelled and he hit the ground. Shippo ran to her and she held him close. InuYasha glared up from the ground. He jumped up and started yelling.

"Why did you do that for?" She tried to look innocent.

"I don't know what your talking about InuYasha I didn't do anything."

"Yes you did!"

"Now InuYasha I think maybe you've been hallucinating. Maybe you should watch your step instead of tripping all over yourself." She smiled and went back to cooking their meat. The sun had set and the group watched the fight from a safe distance. Sesshomaru seemed mildly amused that even though she was a full fledged demon she still seemed to be the same person. She looked at him for moment. He looked down at his feet as if he hadn't been staring at her. She gave up on InuYasha and started handing out food to everyone. He got over it quickly when she came back to him and gave him a bowl of Romen.

"Thanks Kagome." She gave him a warm smile and sat down between him and Sesshomaru. For once there wasn't a tense silence between the two brothers. InuYasha of course was completely pigging out while Sesshomaru seemed be enjoying his food in a much more mannered way. Her brother sat with Miroku and was in deep conversation. She could hear them but decided not to listen in on them. She placed her empty bowl down and pulled her knees into her chest and just watched the fire dance with the moon light. Sesshomaru listened to her breathing and found that she'd fallen asleep. No one else seemed to have noticed but he did. Everyone else went to bed without saying anything more. Sesshomaru stayed with Kagome and just sat there. InuYasha left, though he knew how much it killed him that his brother unknowingly had her heart even though she didn't declare this to him or anyone. They both seemed be walking blindly into something that they didn't understand.

Kagome stayed in that one position for the rest of the night. Sesshomaru also fell asleep, right next to her. For some reason having each other there made sleep more sound. Sesshomaru, before falling asleep kept thinking about what was going on with him.

Why am I falling for this girl? She is nothing but a human, well not really a human but she was once in the form a human. What has changed? Nothing; because during that whole year of silence I'd been avoiding this conversation with myself and I'd done a good job at it as well. How could I forget how unbelievably kind she was toward me when I joined their odd group. How was it possible that all of these people found each other? There's the pervert monk, the demon slayer, the kitsune, that cat demon, the dead priestess, my half-breed brother and the girl from the future. This can't be natural. All of these people should be trying to kill one another but they seemed to have made a bond over one vital mission and that mission the same as mine. Maybe that's what pushed me to join with them. The simple fact that we all want Naraku dead. This being the third and final time that's he tricked me and found a weakness in me. I knew that eventually she'd be used against me, but I didn't care.

He looks over at Kagome. She's facing him with a smile on her face as she continues to sleep

As for her she might just be an addition to my weakness. That could be a bad thing. I can't allow more torment and destruction to happen around me. Once all of this is over she'll go back to her time and I'll try to get on with my life. Last night will not happen again. I refuse to conform to a love sick puppy. I'm the ruler of the western lands and my title means more to me than one tottery romance with her. Ill not be tricked by her smile or beauty they are things that women use as traps. I, Sesshomaru will not become soft like that fool of a brother of mine or my father. How I refuse to become the image of him. How could such a powerful ruler fall into her trap? My mother was the perfect woman and how he could just get over her within a year and go to that human is beyond me.

Kagome wrinkles her nose. Her hair falls over her shoulders. Small strands fall over her face. Sesshomaru reaches his hand over and moves them from her face and tucks them behind her pointed ear. She smiled in her sleep as his fingers made contact with her ear. InuYasha sat perched in a tree near by and watched this small action. Normally during the day his brother never showed any affection toward her and hardly spoke a word to her, besides small talk. But now was around the time that he'd look at her and admire her. InuYasha knew that Sesshomaru respected Kagome for her strength and loyalty. He had been told this from Sesshomaru's very mouth. His brother thought that Kagome was a strong woman who at the brink of destruction could man down the fort and keep everything calm as a battle would ensue. That she knew exactly what to say in the moment of crisis. Even he didn't notice things like that about her.

The sun took its time rising the next morning. Kagome didn't want to wake but she could still feel someone next to her. She didn't remember ever noticing them before. She didn't mind having them there. Their warmth felt nice and for once the cold didn't bother her as much. She opened one eyes to see Sesshomaru's face pointed towards hers still asleep. She could have gasped but then he'd notice her staring at him. She knew she couldn't sit there and watch him sleep. Why was she watching him sleep? What am I doing? Look at me. I shouldn't be even sitting here. He's Sesshomaru and he must think that whatever happened the other night was a total mistake. I should just accept that. I don't love InuYasha anymore but that doesn't mean I should replace that hole in my heart with Sesshomaru. That wouldn't be fair to him or even me. But I can't deny that he's attractive. I've always thought he was and that part of it can't be ignored.

She stood and dusted herself off. The wind blew past her to the direct of the final battle and her father.

Kagura could feel them close by. It's been a few years since she's encountered the group. This trip wasn't about revenge. She had something else in mind. Since Naraku controlled her heart and could destroy her in a second she took this as her chance to plea with InuYasha and his friends to end Naraku's life. She couldn't do it herself. He only had to blink and she'd be dead. She'd grown accustomed to life and she didn't want it to end for her or her sister Kanna. Kanna wasn't the type to speak out of line but she did mention to Kagura that she wanted freedom. They came up with the idea to make a request to InuYasha to help them.

She was surprised to find that Sesshomaru was in the same area as InuYasha. She could feel two very powerful forces also. She didn't remember ever feeling this kind of power with the group. She landed in front of them all. They seemed ready for her.

The group was finishing packing up until the all looked to the sky. Kagura was headed for them. They hadn't seen her for a while and were surprised by her sudden appearance. Kagome, Sesshomaru, InuYasha and Souta readied themselves. Then they realized that they weren't in any danger. She looked as though she were in a battle in her mind. She landed and bowed.

"What do you want Kagura?" Snapped InuYasha.

"I've come to ask one last time for you to end Naraku's life." Everyone in the group, minus Sesshomaru gasped.

"We plan to do that anyway. But why do you request that we help you?" This time Kagome spoke. Kagura gasped as she looked upon Kagome.

"It's you…" she staggered back. "I knew it was you." Kagura was having a hard time keeping a straight face.

"What are you talking about?" Kagome gave her a confused look.

"You're that girl that Naraku can't forget. He's become weak because of you."

"What do you mean?"

"Naraku can't let go of his human side because it's holding on to you. He doesn't have any idea that you're his child, he only remembers you as the four year old girl. Every time his human self comes out he loses his strength. Now the reason I came out to find you was to see if you'd made it out here. If you hurry you'll find him. I can't kill him, he'd destroy me before I touched him. Kanna is too scared to defy him too so we do as we are told." She climbed onto her feather and started for the sky. Kagome watched as she disappeared into the distance.

"So do you think that if we killed Naraku Kagura would change?"

"I think she has Lady Kagome." chirped Miroku.

"I guess so. I can understand that she wants her freedom and maybe we could look past all of the things she's done and give her a new start."

"Maybe we should take time first to train up a bit."

"Normally I'd agree with that logic Sesshomaru but her warned was more directed toward me. He's weak now and if we killed him now it would all be over."

"Is that how you want this to end?" He stepped forward so that there was only an inch between them.

"Yes I do. The faster it is done the less painful it will be afterward." He glared into her eyes. The group watched on, completely clueless as to what was happening. It seemed that they both came to some silent understanding.

"I guess we both knew that we'd disagree on this." He finally said.

"Maybe in time it won't seem so bad. I do love him but I have to hurt him." She gave him a small smile and he gave a nod in understanding. InuYasha knew what they were saying. He wasn't sure if he should be relieved or completely crest fallen. Sure she wasn't his brother's but she just told him that she did love him, sort of. She didn't seem happy about her decision but knew that she couldn't just take him back with her. He had to experience the changes in time for himself. The easiest way to do that was to deny him what he wanted most. They were quite smart about how they expressed this. None of the other members of the group understood what they were talking about.

"So are we going now to find him or are we going to stand here watching you two stare at each other." Sango finally said. Kagome blushed and nodded her head.

"Let's go before we start burning daylight."

Before they knew it they found his home. It wasn't as large as you expect. But she was the only one who could see it and feel him inside. He'd done well to hide himself inside. InuYasha and the rest of the group looked at her skeptically. She led them up to the barrier and touched its entrance. She knew exactly where it was and so it wasn't that difficult to get inside. Once she opened the barrier it revealed a building and a shrine. Everyone gasped as the energy of Naraku and a few others. Sesshomaru could feel Rin's energy in the shrine, along with someone else's. Kagome could tell that he wanted to jump and run to her and free her. But he knew that Naraku must be taken care of first.

"Kohaku do you think she'll come? I sure hope that Sesshomaru shows up soon." said a fifteen-year-old Rin.

"She doesn't even know that I remember her. I just hope that they come soon too." stated a seventeen-year-old Kohaku. He looked over at her but she seemed to be deep in thought.

"That woman that my father mentioned before we went searching, she is not of this time is she?"

"I've only encountered InuYasha's group a few times but I believe that you are correct."

"She's really pretty. I wonder how they're doing." She looked out the window and gasped. "Kohaku look." She exclaimed pointing to the window. He stood and went beside her. He found exactly what she was pointing to.

"This is great; they're here finally to defeat Naraku. Do you think he's become weak again?" she gave a slight nod in agreement. "So do you think we should try and escape or wait for them to free us?"

"I think we should try at first and if we don't succeed then we can just wait. Either way we're damned." She grabbed onto the door and began to pull on it. She was surprised to find that it opened up so easily. Kohaku took position in front of her. She grabbed onto his arm and allowed him to lead her out. Nothing was outside of the door. He breathed in a sigh of relief when he realized this. But then the realization that Rin's hands were holding onto his forearm finally registered in his mind. His face became as red as her kimono. She gave him a confused look. She didn't really understand why he was acting so strangely. "Kohaku are you alright?"

"Um…hee…actually…" he was cut off by a scream. It was coming from the front of the house. He and Rin ran toward the sound to find that Naraku had awakened. Kagura and Kanna both lay on the ground in front of him. He couldn't really walk but he had enough strength to kill both of them with even blinking. Kanna as usual didn't show any emotions, while Kagura kept screaming and begging for mercy. InuYasha and his group hadn't made it this far yet so they didn't know that Naraku had just awakened. They recently just entered the miasma.

"Oh no Kagura's being beaten Kohaku we have to do something!" He gave her a nod and they both headed for a tree nearby to formulate what to do. He looked at her once more before finally deciding what needed to be done. He took her hand in his and she looked at him with even more confusion then before.

"Rin, I want you to do me a favor okay."

"Sure what is it?"

"I want you to go back inside of the shrine and hide inside of the closet okay."

"But I want to go with you." He smiled at her. She was innocent. He touched her face and moved some of her hair from her face. Tears started to pour from her eyes.

"Rin please don't cry, I promise to come back for you but I really need to help the others. I don't want you to get hurt." She did the only thing she could think of. She grabbed him from around the waist and held onto him. He placed him hand on her head and allow her to cry on him. "I promise." He whispered in her ear. He then did something that shocked her and even him. Before she could react to it he had bent down and captured her lips. She had never kissed anyone before but she didn't seem to mind at the moment. He released her and ran off toward Naraku. She looked at him as he dashed off, touching her lips, still able to feel his pressed against hers. Why did he do that for? She knew what kissing was and knew why people did it but she couldn't get exactly why her friend, Kohaku would choose to do that to her for. Sesshomaru had explained to her that boys and girls kissed to show affection, or love.

Did she care for him? Sure she was his friend and they'd spent a whole year together. Maybe he cared for her as more than a friend? She decided to do as he had asked and return to the shrine.

Kagome's POV

I came to the realization earlier. I couldn't tell the others. When Kagura had said that my father kept resurfacing I realized that it must be because he and Naraku are fighting for control of the one body. Naraku is nothing but a bunch of demons. My father is still inside of him and if I can just get him to surface once and talk to me I can pull him out of Naraku. This will leave Naraku to the guys while I get my father away from the fight. The other's promised to allow me that chance to handle this part on my own but I didn't share my theory with them. I think that Kagura told me this on purpose.

End of POV

When the came onto the scene they found Naraku looming over Kagura and Kanna. They both seemed to be paralyzed by his gaze. Kagome approached but stopped when she saw Kohaku approaching them. He saw them and realized that they were finally there to take care of Naraku. But unfortunately Naraku caught sight of him and took control of him. Rin watched from the window. But when she realized what was happening she burst from the shrine and ran to him. Kohaku was about to attack her when she held onto him by his waist and started to cry.

"No Kohaku don't let him do this to you again!" The others were shocked by Rin's sudden outburst and actions. Sesshomaru's mouth hung open as his child clung to a human boy. That fatherly instinct was started to kick in. But he knew with experience that moments like this weren't the time to act like a barbaric Neanderthal. Kohaku cried out as if he were in pain. As if there was a war raging inside of him. One side trying to regain his sanity and the other was Naraku pulling him. He could feel her in his arms and smell her tears. He could feel himself pulling away from Naraku and then his vision became clear again and he could see Rin still clinging to him. He held onto her and pulled her from the battle that would soon unfold. He knew that protecting Rin was more important to him than battling.

"I told you to stay in the shrine Rin!" He snapped. Sesshomaru glared at him.

"I'm sorry but I saw that he was controlling you again. I got worried." She looked sadly at him. He sighed and led her behind Kagome and her friends. Sango kept watching him as he passed by until he looked up at her a smiled. She gave him a huge grinned as he hid. Kagome couldn't help but smile. She knew exactly what was going on between then and Sesshomaru didn't seem too happy about it. She could have laughed at this but they were facing down Naraku.

"Oh how touching, so what do I owe the pleasure of this visit." They all turned back to Naraku. He grinned at all of them evilly.

"You're dead Naraku!" Yelled InuYasha, always straight to the point isn't him?'

"I don't think so." He lunged for InuYasha, but didn't seem to have the strength to do any damage. InuYasha began to do is cocky laugh. Everyone spread apart and circled Naraku. Suddenly a group of Demons shot out at everyone in the group. Kagome saw this as her chance. While everyone else was in battle with his demons she could go for him. He didn't notice her approaching but once she had him around his arms he did. He seemed shocked that she'd made it to him and disabled him. She bent toward his ear to talk to him.

"Listen to clearly okay, I want you back, please come back." She pleaded.

"Who in the hell are you?" Naraku asked.

"Shut your mouth you idiot that's my child you're addressing!" This time the voice that came from Naraku's mouth was her fathers. She could still recognize it.

"Dad please you need to trust me. I've come for you and I don't want to leave you behind." Naraku's eyes started to change back to a brown color. He looked up at her and smiled warmly.

"What do you want me to do?" His voice was like honey to her ears.

"Just take my hand okay and I'll push out Naraku."

"Sure, honey." She smiled at him. He placed his hands in hers and also placed his trust in her. The others had defeated the demons and were now watching on as Kagome and what they still believed was Naraku sitting. Kagome concentrated on all of her power and forced it onto him. At first he seemed calm, until they both started to glow blue. She began to chant until his eyes became wide. He looked down at her in horror. She had this pleading in her eyes asking him to trust her. He nodded and closed his eyes once more, trying to push out Naraku.

"What is she doing?" Asked Sango to anyone who was listening. She as everyone else were already on the ground looking on.

"She's using an old technique that is supposed to get rid of bad spirits. Sort of like when someone's body is being possessed. It splits the good and bad. I don't understand why she's trying to save him though." Answered Miroku looking at Sango then over his shoulder at Kohaku and Rin who still remained rooted in their spots.

"She couldn't give him up." Stated Sesshomaru watching in amazement. InuYasha looked at Sesshomaru in shock. "She knew when Kagura came that there might be another way to handle this. When Kagura said that he was losing power because of his human side. Kagome must have realized that she could free her father from Naraku."

"Why didn't she say anything?" asked InuYasha looking at Kagome and what seemed to be her father.

"Because she must have been contemplating it while we were enter the barrier. On the one hand she could have just stabbed him in the heart and finished with it. But then she thought that she could kill to birds with one stone. Save her father and kill Naraku all at once." Sesshomaru smirked when he thought of her brilliance. InuYasha's eyes almost fell out of his eyes when he saw the smirk appear on his brother's face.

"So what should we all do?"


Writer's Note: semi-cliffy. Continue to the next chapter, I had to split this up to fill chapter five. Enjoy!!! REVIEW PLEASE!!