Chapter Five

"Prepare to fight. Once she succeeds we will have to kill Naraku. He won't be in a human form, nor as a demon. He will be nothing but thousands of discarded demons. They will attack the first thing they see, which will be all of us." They all looked over at Sesshomaru.

"Wow, having Sesshomaru in the group makes things easier. He already can predict what will happen." Stated Miroku grinning. Sesshomaru rose his eyebrow at Miroku who sweat-dropped.

"This isn't the time for jokes monk." Sesshomaru growled.

"For once I agree with my brother." InuYasha added looking over at his brother with a new respect. Sure he had lost Kagome to him but when he thought about it his brother might be able to teach him something or other about the sword. Sesshomaru identified the exchange and gave a nod. They all readied themselves for the demons while Kagome and her father focused on pushing out Naraku, who by the way wasn't going very easily.

"Hold on dad please!" Her eyes began to water as she feared that he might begin to slip. But he squeezed her hands tighter and used as much energy as he could muster.

"Trust in me Kagome." She nodded and continued to chant. Then as she finished with her last sentence both of them could feel this rush of air from below them. It encircled their bodies and tightened its hold on her father. It was as if it were holding him down to the ground but also pulling him up at the same time. He couldn't move at all and Kagome also seemed to be stuck. Something then shot out from behind her father's back. Sort of like a maggot before its transformation. It lay still on the ground. Onigumo collapsed onto his daughter and tried to stand. Sesshomaru came over and lifted them both up. He placed them away from the glob on the ground. Kagome and Onigumo looked at each other and smiled.

"It's good to have you back." She pulled him into a hug.

"Oh my little Kagome, you've grown so." He held onto her. Souta came running over and hugged his father. "Oh and this must be Souta. I only saw you briefly but oh how I've missed you two."

"Kagome, I don't mean to interrupt this family moment but I think that whatever is inside of that thing is going to be making its grand appearance in a few moments." Sesshomaru finally said.

"Right as always. I'll be back dad and then we can catch up." She stood and left her father and brother underneath the tree. This would be the easiest part of the mission. As she had figured it was what Naraku had used to create himself. Naraku was nothing but a tick in the back of her father's head. It did happen as they had guessed. Many demons were left over inside. It was child's play from there. They finished off the demons within half an hour.

Kanna and Kagura had made their grand escape while Kagome was freeing her father. They didn't expect that the two would just hang around. They finally had their freedom. Kagome went to her father and helped him onto his feet. He looked at her with owe, as if she were the most beautiful thing that he'd ever seen. He touched her face as if she weren't real at all.

"Dad it's okay, it's really me. I'm so sorry that it took all of these years to find you."

"What matters is that you are here now. My sweet child, how I have missed your smiling face and your beautiful voice. I tried for so long to break free from him, it seems as though I were frozen for the past fifty years. He wouldn't let me go because he needed my body to leave around in. He chose me because I knew Kikyo for a brief moment. She reminded me of your mother, my Kiki. How I have missed her face and smile." Kagome looked down at her feet. "What is it Kagome?"

"Mom is dead." He looked at her in shock. Before she even realized it his face had a stream of tears running down it. His face looked so sad.

"How?" He whispered.

"She and grandpa went to see Aunt Rose in America and the plane never made it back. It crashed in the ocean half way home. No survivors. I wasn't home at the time; I was here in this time."

"How did you get to this time?"

"Well I was checking out something in the well house one day when I was pulled in. The portal opened because the Shikon Jewel was inside of me, but then I broke it. I then met InuYasha, he over there." She points over to InuYasha who waves. "After that I met Shippo, who's sort of like my son in a way." She looks over at him and he smiles. "Then there was Miroku, he's a monk and a total womanizer." Her father looked at him with warning. "Dad no he hasn't done anything I promise. He likes Sango but she's too stubborn to realize it." Sango blushes. "That's Kohaku over there, he's Sango's brother. There's Rin, she's Sesshomaru's adopted daughter. Over all the way out there is Kikyo and Koga, who haven't quiet made it down here yet." The other's turned to see both Koga and Kikyo running toward them. "And last but not least this guy here is Sesshomaru." Her father looked up at Sesshomaru and Sesshomaru looked down at her demon father. Before he was released he looked human, but since he's been out his true self began to resurface.

"Ah Sesshomaru, I've read many things on you. Only in the books they refer to you as the Lord of the Western Lands, they never actually say your name but I can see it. I've been waiting to meet you."

"Why dad?"

"Well, it is said that he is the key to my family's future. That is why I came to this time in the first place. For some reason he changes the course of history."

"How?"

"In the many books I read they said that a strange woman who traveled along with his half brother would cause a ripple effect in the lands and change all living creatures forever. That this one Lord changes and becomes this honest and caring ruler. The only problem with this is that the girl decided to make a foolish mistake and stay. There by causing a change in our family's past, present and even future. I left to figure out why this girl would ruin our family so. Why she'd stay for one man?" Sesshomaru and Kagome exchanged looks. The group finally caught on.

"So Kagome was that girl then, and if she decided to stay this time then your family couldn't continue?" asked Miroku. "But could possibly make her want to stay in this time?" He grinned over at Sesshomaru. He glared at him.

"It can't be for InuYasha, he already lost that chance." InuYasha glared at Sango. "What it's true, he did."

"Then why oh why Kagome, would you stay?" Her face became beat red.

"Oh hi Kikyo, Koga." They both approached the group.

"Kagome my darling are you okay? Did the mutt hurt you?" He took her hands in his. "Now that Naraku is gone will you run away with me and bare my children."

"Hey that's my line!" Yelled Miroku. Sango kicks him hard in the ass. "Sorry Sango.

Onigumo cleared his throat. Koga looked up at him.

"Hey pal she is my woman." Her father glared.

"Will you please release my daughter this moment?" He said this without changing his voice.

"What's he talking about?" He asked Kagome.

"Um Koga this is my father, Onigumo." He let go of Kagome and began to apologize to her father.

"Koga, you should realize by now that my daughter does not belong to any man and that she is free to choose a suitor on her own. Now if you don't mind I would very much like you to stop placing claims upon her when her own heart lies somewhere else." Koga nodded and headed back for the group. Sesshomaru smirked. Onigumo noticed this and thought it over in his mind. He could already tell that his little girl had grown up and attracted men but only found one to her liking. Only he wasn't exactly someone she could be with at the moment. He belonged to this time and she was to return to hers after they collected the shards. That was the last thing they needed to do before the portal would open once more then Kagome, Onigumo and Souta would return back to their time and continue on with life.

"Sorry sir." Koga muttered.

"So tell me Kagome is there a man in your life?"

"Dad!" she yelled blushing.

"Or is there someone you want but can't have?" She blushed even more. Sesshomaru looked a bit uncomfortable.

"Hey dad what do you say about going back to Kaede's village and resting up?" Good save Kagome.

It took about a day to get to the village. Most of them ran there, anyone who couldn't was with a person who could. Kaede was a bit shocked to see all of them so soon, but she had felt the dramatic decrease in Naraku's energy, up until it vanished completely. Kagome took the time to explain it to her and she accepted it. Onigumo formally apologized for his counterparts actions. He and Kagome spend a few days together away from everyone just talking and catching up with one another. He gave her the ring back. Miroku had given it to him to give to her. He had his own for when they returned.

He took her out one day to the forests to chat. She had placed the ring back on and he noticed more how she looked like her mother.

"Tell me Kagome how is it that you haven't found a suitor yet? You are a lovely woman and would have easily found someone." This topic she had tried to avoid since they were reunited. He knew this as well but since they were alone he felt that it would be alright.

"Dad, I do love someone as you know but it is impossible for him to love. I don't really understand on what day this week that I realized my feelings but he's nothing that I'd expected my first love to be. I sadly thought that InuYasha and I had something, but I knew somewhere in my heart that he wasn't what I wanted. I spend most of the year asking myself if I cared that he loved Kikyo and if I did they why. It wasn't as if he claimed that he loved me at all and I wasn't his nor was he mine. We for a while were interested in one another. I'd get jealous when Koga came around and I'd do the same with Kikyo. It's not a good trait for a girl to have. I feel ashamed for ever feeling jealous. InuYasha and I are nothing but friends."

"It's Lord Sesshomaru isn't it?" She looked up at him.

"Well I do care for him and for some reason I was the first person he talked to in the group over that whole year we joined forces. Maybe it was just the demon instincts but I think I love him."

"Kagome you must ask yourself if you could imagine a world with him would it be the right. Or maybe if you could even live in a world where he didn't exist. That is how you know for sure. Can you wake up in the middle of the night and reach over to find you are alone? Can you walk through your life each day and wonder what else you need that you don't already have and realize that it's something you completely gave up hope on?" She nodded in agreement.

"Can love happen so suddenly?"

"Oh yes. When I met your mother it was love at first sight. The moment my eyes met hers I knew that I'd love her for the rest of my life. You can't find such a thing everyday. I trust this Sesshomaru hello very much. He may be a little ruff around the edges but he has a good heart. He may not wear it so heartily on his sleeve but it's the silence that shows it more."

"He and I spent so long ignoring it and pretending that we were enemies. Actually some of the times we weren't pretending. But when he joined us I felt that maybe there was only a point that one person could go before the evil in their hearts would vanish and leave them exactly how they were before."

"I think you are the reason that his heart has grown. You do what you feel is right, but in the end you'll hurt him. You cannot remain here and he cannot come with us. But since he's a demon much like yourself you both shall live for about two thousand to five thousand years. So in all of that time you two have to capacity to meet again. I'm not saying it will be right away but you can expect he'll be in our time. He has been for the past four hundred years. But I couldn't track him down. He must have had a slight name change. At the time I didn't know his name while I read about him."

"I'm just glad that you're coming back with us. It was horrible not having a father. Mom told us that you had died. But when she died she left a will and a letter explained everything. I was angry for some time but when I thought about it I figured that I should at least deliver mom's dying wishes."

"Which were what?"

"She wanted you to know that she still loved you and that me and Souta should make peace with you once we found you."

"I think you have Kagome. And I also still love that woman." He linked arms with her. "I think you need to make peace with a few other people before we go." She looked at him strangely. "First there is InuYasha who you haven't really discussed any of this with and then Sesshomaru who I'm guessing doesn't really know what you're feeling. It might be best to tell him."

"I could just see it now. I tell him and he laughs in my face. Saying that it would be impossible for him 'The Lord Sesshomaru' to love a human female like me."

"I think you aren't looking at it in a positive way. That could be all he does. I mean any man alive would kill just to have you smile at them. You are so much like your mother when we were young. All the boys wanted her but she chose me. You found something in him that has captured your interest and I think that you should go with it."

"Hey you're supposed to be protecting me from guys."

"But not when it's someone looks at you the way he does."

"There isn't any look. We are just friends."

"Kagome don't try and use the safe card when there's a whole deck in front of you to choose from."

"I guess you're right. Maybe I should just talk to him. Both of them." He led her back to the village and found that the others were ready to start searching for the remaining shards. There were about three to the west, one to the east, two to the north and four in the south. They all decided to split up and search for them. Four search parties of course. Kikyo, Miroku, and Kohaku would be one group. Kagome, InuYasha, and Sesshomaru in another. Kaede, Koga, Rin, and Shippo in another and Souta, Onigumo, Sango and Kirara in the last. Since they needed someone to spot the shards they have Kagome, Kaede, Kikyo and Souta to do so. Kagome's group took the west, Kaede's took the east, Souta's took the north and Kikyo's took the south.

Kagome's POV

Captain's log…just kidding. Well we've been traveling around the west; I could feel the last of our shards near by. Sesshomaru knew this area so well. I trusted him with my life. Maybe that's what dad meant. You trust the ones you love. I look over at him and can feel his unease. InuYasha seems preoccupied with his own thoughts. I sigh and rub my arms. How do you just come out and say 'Hey I'm in love with you.' What will he say? Damn that dad of mine. Now he's got me talking to myself. I growled low in my throat. Both Sesshomaru and InuYasha looked at me. I blushed and crossed my arms. Now I'm growling great what next am I going to start barking like a rabid animal? I hope not. I wonder why no one has spoken since we left. Maybe it's because InuYasha would have rather went with Kikyo and Sesshomaru might want to be protecting Rin. Maybe she should have let them go with the people that they wanted to go with. I could have just gone on my own. Maybe then I wouldn't have to feel like I'm holding them down. I still have my strength and priestess abilities all at the same time. Dad found a way to down play the demon look and still have the power. I couldn't just go back and look like that. People can't handle things they don't understand. I felt it now, much stronger than before. Finally we can finish and return back to the village. I just wonder if anyone else has finished. What I found when we approached the last shard was a young cat demon. Or so I thought. When it realized that we had appeared before it, it had transformed into a huge tiger. It was easy to defeat and we retrieved the shard. But it was getting late and we couldn't travel anymore. We built a fire and camped out for the night. I lay in the grass and watched the moon chase the sun. I couldn't seem to get what my dad was saying out of my head. I looked over at the two brothers and found them actually talking civilly about something. They still seemed to look the same as always but at least they are trying to get along. I'm happy about that. I don't know what I'd do without Souta and I don't think that InuYasha and Sesshomaru should ever be without each other. Although they did spend most of their lives apart. I wonder what they were like as children. I'm sure they got along when they were younger. InuYasha must have looked up to Sesshomaru until something changed that.

"Kagome are you okay, you seem like you're in deep thought. You usually seem carefree and happy." I turned on my side and looked over at InuYasha. He and Sesshomaru were looking at me from their seats at the fireplace. I just stared at them as if I were still thinking. Well I am really. I'd been doing that a lot lately.

"I'm just thinking about that time that we went up again the moth. It seemed that my biggest fear was fear itself. Sad really. I figured it would be something completely idiotic. Like spending the next two thousand years on an island by myself. Or just being alone. But then there's always the latter. I could end up crowded with so many people that I'd suffocate. Then there's the thing that my dad and I talked about just yesterday. I can't seem to grasp his hidden messages and his wisdom. He understands something that I just can't understand. Or maybe it's because I refuse to accept it. I'm currently in my denial stage."

"What are in denial about?" Asked InuYasha. I looked over at them again and then turned back so that I was facing the sky.

"Have you ever looked at the sky and wondered what makes each star so special? Each one eventually dies and then new ones appear. They each have the same light and if they were alone they wouldn't make a difference. But then I think it takes one star and a few billion other to light the sky. So then maybe one star makes a difference." She smiled a little.

"Are you feeling okay? What are you talking about?"

"Oh nothing I'm just being silly that's all. Maybe I'm finally feeling my age."

"You're still young." Said Sesshomaru in monotone. "I don't think that your star will burn out anytime soon so stop worrying so much." InuYasha looked confused.

"Maybe. Don't you worry about the stars though? They live for thousands of years and then die out. It's really sad that something so magnificent could die."

"Time heals all wounds. I think that its best that you look at the fact that time gives the stars the chance to see things that other people dream of. They watch us now and they will watch over you when you leave this time. But over that time you will find that though they have aged their dreams and aspirations are still in tacked. As for the moon, if may lead them into the dawn but it isn't anything but a bright light itself, it lives the same and though it will never die it does grow old and change."

"I guess you're right Sesshomaru. Tempting the fates is inevitable."

"You should never tempt the fates Kagome; otherwise you'll ruin what is to come."

"What's with you two? You're not making any sense." Said InuYasha rubbing his head.

"I guess we aren't. But now I have more to contemplate." I closed my eyes and let the wind pass by me. I started to hum a song that I had written while on one of our journeys. I started to whisper the words to myself. "One more kiss could be the best thing. But one more lie could be the worst. And all these thoughts are never resting. And you're not something I deserve. In my head there's only you now. This world falls on me. In this world there's real and make believe. And this seems real to me. You love me but you don't know who I am. I'm torn between this life I lead and where I stand. And you love me but you don't know who I am. So let me go." I closed my eyes and drifted off still whispering the worlds.

End of POV

Kohaku's POV

I miss her. I can't seem to get the kiss out of my mind. What was I thinking? Did I do it because I'm attracted to her? Or was it because I just wanted to express to her how much I cared for her. I do miss her; does that mean that when we are apart I will always be this way? We have almost finished with our part of the search. Kikyo and Miroku don't speak much. I wonder why. I think it's because we all were split up. I wanted to go with my sister or Rin. I wonder if Rin realizes how I feel about her. She's fifteen and she hasn't really gone out much or been around other humans. I think that's what I like about her.

End of POV

The village would have been much quieter except for the fact that InuYasha was yelling yet again at Shippo while Kagome chased them both around. They were still waiting for Kikyo's group to return. Kagome managed to forge everyone's together; they were just missing the last bit. Four more pieces and then she'd be pushed back to her own time. Miroku had said that it would take a day for the portal to open completely. The well opening once more to allow them back had to take that long. It was messing with something that should not have been tempted in the first place. Kagome looked as if she had just realized that she'd be returning within a day or so. Her adventures would end and she'd return to a world filled with pollution and traffic. To a life that only meant she had to go through college and get a job. She sighed and looked out onto the landscape in front of her. When they returned she had jumped up into a tree and remained there for hours. Something about this world made her wish that she didn't have to leave it. The wind felt right for once, no danger anywhere in sight, except for the minor demons who liked to eat humans and kill other demons for sport. But then there was all of her friends, she loved them dearly and hated the idea that she'd have to leave them. Sango was the first girl that she knew who didn't try setting her up with the popular guy in school just for status, Miroku was like that big brother that completely doesn't understand women but is a total leach. Then there's Shippo who she felt totally and completely maternal to. Kikyo was like that older sister who always seemed too perfect and always got all of your things, but at the end of the day she'd tell you how amazing you were for sticking to life in the first place. InuYasha was like that friend who you knew from kindergarten and you grew with and knew you so well; in fact better than you knew yourself. Then there was Sesshomaru who was like the first guy you'd kiss and never tell anyone because it was so special and magical that you'd want it to always be with you and kept as your little secret. Much like their love, it was a secret and they both lived with that. She closed her eyes and allowed the sun to kiss her face.

Kikyo and the others returned by the end of the day. Kagome put off fusing them so that she could have one last night with everyone. She talked to each of them individually. But left InuYasha and Sesshomaru for last. InuYasha was next. She had each of them meet her in the forest to talk. InuYasha sat down next to her on the grass.

"InuYasha I've been trying to figure all of this out in my head since my father talked with me. Actually way before that. About a year to be honest."

"About what?"

"I know that you must know how I feel about-"

"Yeah I do. At first it hurt but then I thought about it some and realized that I couldn't really make you happy. You and I were always meant to be friends. We have the kind of friendship that requires understanding and forgiveness. You do most of the forgiving and I always put my trust in you. I disappointed you somewhere along our journey and I'm sorry. I should have just stopped being so jealous."

"InuYasha, you and I started out this journey and enemies and became the greatest of friends. When I first met you I just wanted to get away from you. Not because of you being half demon, but because you were really mean. But then I learned that the only reason that you were that way was because you were hurt inside. Kikyo had hurt you but you still loved her. Sort of like you and me. I did love you at one point but you hurt me when you asked if Kikyo could join us. I don't hate her but she was your first love and I was jealous."

"Say Kagome why didn't you ever tell me about that cave you guys got caught in?"

"She told me not to say anything. You see I had heard a girl calling for help. I went inside and found her almost out of breath. I couldn't leave her there to parish because then you'd be sad for her. She kept telling me to leave her but I couldn't. By the end of it we had an unspoken understanding. That is most likely why I could never truly hate her. She and I don't share a common bond but we understand each other to a point about what's most important."

"So what now?"

"This is where I tell you that you are right about my feelings toward him and that I don't plan to allow them to lead me anywhere. You and I aren't going anywhere at this point in time and I know that you and Kikyo can never because she isn't real. Sesshomaru could never return any feelings for me because he doesn't have it in him. I can't do it either because I'm not ready to give my heart away only to have it spit back out in my face. He and I have formed some sort of friendship but I don't feel that he and I have met in the middle with our feelings."

"How do you know unless you try? I've always known you to be a fighter. You never give up even when the odds are against you. That is what I always admired you for. Little things were nothing to you and even the biggest things came easy too. My brother isn't the softest of beasts but he respects you and everyone in the group and though he may not speak out much he understands a lot more than you realize."

"Wow InuYasha that was amazing. You just managed to say some nice things about your brother." He blushed and rubbed his head.

"Yeah well I have my moments. Just don't tell him I said any of that."

"Sure I promise."

"Thanks." They stood and looked at each other. They both smiled and hugged. "You Kagome are the only real friend that I've ever had. You understood me and never judged me unfairly. I will miss your kind heart and friendly nature most." He said into her ear while they remained in their hug.

"I already miss you." She said feeling her eyes start to water. He let go over her and held onto her shoulders.

"You Kagome are one special girl. I'll go and get my brother now." He kissed her forehead and headed for the camp site.

She sat down and wiped my eyes. She lay back in the grass and listened to the grasshoppers sing to each other. She closed my eyes and just listened to them as if she were listening to two people talking. Her kimono flew around her and she could feel her hair moving with the wind. It felt like she was in a place that time didn't exist in.

Sesshomaru sat down next to her and just watched her as she slipped into her world. He still had no idea what he was going to say but for some reason he came to her. She lay there for a while without speaking. She must not have realized he was there. He cleared his throat. She didn't open her eyes but instead patted the grass next to her. He got the hint and laid down next to her.

"Tell me Sesshomaru what is it about you and me that doesn't make any sense at all?"

"If I knew what you meant I might be able to answer the question."

"I thought hard about this and I don't think I can do this. But I know that you've been asking yourself the same questions as I have. Something has shifted in our friendship and I don't understand it. Have you ever felt like you want something but can't grasp it or understand it?"

"Why don't you just take what you want?" He looked over at her but she was focusing on the sky.

"Because the matters of the heart aren't something that you can just take Sesshomaru."

"What does the heart have to do with wanting something?"

"Why do you keep asking that? Why do you question everything I'm saying?"

"Because I want to hear you say whatever it is that you're avoiding." She looked over at him and glared. He smirked but remained looking up.

"Who said that I was avoiding anything?"

"Because you are."

"No I'm not."

"Kagome you and I both know that what you want to say has been on our minds and everyone else's out there by the fire. But maybe you don't understand it yourself. I personally don't and if I keep thinking about it I might drive myself crazy."

"Why?"

"Because I don't understand why I'm feeling like this." She looked at him and found him looking at her. She smiled at him and he smirked. She turned over on her stomach and watched him for a while. He glanced at her once and a while. She lay down on her arms and closed her eyes. She could feel him next to her; just lying there in all of his glory. She wondered why it was so hard to just say those words that he already knew about.

"Sesshomaru…"she whispered softly to him. He didn't respond. "I think that somewhere on this journey I fell in love with you." She could hear his breath stop suddenly. She opened one eye and found that his eyes still closed. He moved his hand to her face touched it softly. She touched his hand and kissed his palm.

"You know my feelings and I refuse to express them." She gave him a nod of understanding. She didn't really expect him to say the word but acknowledge them. She knew already that he loved her but he was not ready to utter the words yet. "Just know that if you were a sin, I'd repeat you each time just to be saved again by you." She blushed. He still refused to open his eyes. This was her chance. She bent down over him and touched his lips with hers. He responded without a thought. His hand that had occupied her face now rested on the back of her head. He pulled her to him and deepened the kiss. He rolled over so that she was below him. He stopped kissing her lips and looked down at her; face only inches from his. "Kagome you will be the death of me one of these days." His voice sounded out of breath. She smiled up at him finally realizing that this was that moment that she wanted to keep for her to remember him by.

They sat there for a while just watching the stars hoping that this moment wouldn't fade away just like each one of the stars above them soon would.

When they returned to the camp site everyone was already asleep or so they thought. The looked at one another once more and kissed once before going to opposite ends of the camp site. The spectators were all silently cheering in their minds as everyone fell asleep.

The day that they returned was indeed a sad day. Kagome and her friends said their good bye and she and her family disappeared into the well, leaving behind the Shikon Jewel and life long companions.


Writer's Note: If you've read this story before then I moved part of chapter four to this chapter because i had a writer's note here. So do not get confused. I at one point and time decided to end this story at this point but found I couldn't let it die like that. So as you will find it continues on for many more chapters. Also after finishing this go to my profile for the sequel.