Disclaimer: Inuyasha is soooo not mine.

This chapter is dedicated to my best friend Erica. She's a writer and my muse at times. Blessed be, sister! Also, a shout out to my friendl, Monique. She's really something...unique.

Chapter 2

Kagome ran off into the warm spring night. She did not stop until she reached Kaede's village. Thanks to her new demonic abilities, she sped through the Japanese countryside like a silver blur. How sad, she thought. She just might have been able to get used to this, given time.

During her stroll through the dark forest, Kagome decided to put up her scent-masking spell. She didn't want Shippo to know that she was carrying Sesshoumaru's child. She loved Shippo dearly, but he did tend to have a big mouth at times.

She decided that no one should know of her pregnancy. It wouldn't even matter if they DID know. By this time tomorrow, the fetus would be gone...and she would be home.

Reaching the village took less time than she imagined. She slowed down before reaching Inuyasha's Forest and walked the rest of the way. Once in the village, she located her friends and pulled them together for a meeting, just before finally breaking down.

She hadn't known what her jewel hunting companions would think of her appearance, for she had not seen them since Sesshoumaru had abducted her, for she was now a demoness. An inu demoness.

She didn't know how they would react and was slightly afraid of how they would receive her.

But she needn't have been afraid, for they received her with open arms.

Sango and Shippo did their best to help Kagome calm down. She had begun sobbing hysterically and couldn't understand what she was trying to tell them.

Finally, she forced herself to calm down and told them everything that had happened since she had disappeared. She related the conversation between Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru tearfully. Sango sat beside her friend, arm slung around Kagome's slim shoulders. Shippo clung to Kagome's neck, staring up into Kagome's distraught face.

Everyone was stunned. No one could believe that Sesshoumaru, proud taiyoukai that he was, would want to recant a mating. Although he was a pompous ass, he would never do anything to dishonor himself or his family.

"That is very odd," Miroku mused, staring down into his lap. "Youkai don't act the way Sesshoumaru is acting." He looked up, dark blue eyes full of confusion. "You don't think that Sesshoumaru has been kidnapped and another has taken his place, do you?"

Sango shot the houshi a dirty look and Miroku flinched. "What? It IS possible, isn't it? Maybe he's a shape-shifter.." he began hopefully, but trailed off, seeing Sango crack the knuckles on one of her lovely fists.

Kagome sighed. "Don't be ridiculous, Miroku. There's only one youkai I know of that can pull off the Death stare to perfection. Believe me when I say that I have seen it enough in the past couple of months to know that THAT's him."

Sango shook her head and lowered her arm from Kagome's shoulders. "Well, I couldn't guess what he's thinking. Inu youkai are notorious for staying with their mates, no matter how much they may dislike each other." She shrugged and tossed her long black hair over her shoulder. "Possibly it's because he's watched his father and brother fall for ningen females. His hatred for our kind outweighs the youkai mating code in his eyes."

"Oh, so it's NOT personal," Kagome muttered, rolling her eyes. "That makes me feel SO much better..."

Sango ignored her. "Well, however it is, his youkai not going to like you leaving them. Sesshoumaru himself most likely wouldn't care, but his youkai will, and that could get ugly."

"Ye must take the utmost care, Kagome," Kaede added quietly.

Kagome frowned. "You all just don't know. You have no clue what that...that damned inu has put me through!"

"Did he hurt you, Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked in a low voice. He hoped that Sesshoumaru had not lowered himself by laying a hand on this sweet, pure creature.

Kagome looked up at him and shook her head. "No, it was nothing like that. He...he just ignored me for most of the time. And you guys know me...I can't stand being ignored." She let out a growl, surprising everyone in the hut.

She looked sheepish and grinned. "Sorry. Forgot I could do that."

Looking down at her clawed hands, she felt the tears come again, unbidden. "He treated me as though I were a leper. Once when I asked him why he marked me, he told me that it seemed like a good idea at the time." No one said anything and she continued. "He would never be in the same room with me...or rather, he tried not to be."

Her eyes glittered with amusement. "Once, just for fun, I snuck into his study and stared at him for hours. By then, he had stopped talking to me or even looking at me. It pissed him off greatly but it forced him to look me in the eye."

Her eyes filled with sadness. "I knew he was a jerk, but I never thought he would treat me so callously. There's Rin..." she began and sighed. "I mean, it WAS all his fault." She turned away and muttered something that to Sango, sounded suspiciously like 'asshole'.

Kagome glared into Kaede's cooking fire. "But he desires his freedom. If freedom is what he wants, then freedom he shall get," she muttered, a determined glint in her honey colored eyes. Tears sprang forth, but she viciously rubbed them away with an impatient hand.

"What do you propose to do, Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked. His dark blue eyes glittered mischievously.

Kagome looked at her houshi friend. "Simple. I know how to rid myself of Sesshoumaru's mark." Everyone gasped.

"But how can that be?" Sango asked. "He has given you the mating mark. As long as you live, your body, your very soul will be marked as his."

Kagome gave a soft laugh. "I know, Sango-chan. As long as I live..." She stared off into space, a little smile crossing her face.

"But Kagome," Shippo began tentatively, "that means you would have...have to...die!" His huge, emerald green eyes rested on her face. He jumped into Kagome's arms and began to wail.

Kagome, shaken out of her daze, clutched the kitsune cub to her chest and rocked him gently.

"I don't want you to die, Kagome!" he bawled, his huge, pleading eyes turned up to her.

Kagome smiled down into his sweet, little face. "Shippo-chan, I promise that everything will be fine. Ii?"

Sniffling, Shippo nodded and buried his small face against her neck. "Ii."

"Good, now I don't want any of you to worry," she said, kissing the top of his head

Sango spoke up. "Ano...Kagome-chan? How do you plan to...er...die? We wish to help you, of course, but I for one do not wish to harm you in any way. I would never forgive myself," Sango remarked. She wasn't even sure if Kagome's plan would work.

The others nodded agreement. Kagome smiled tenderly at all of them. Such loving, kind, concerned faces of her dearest friends. Kaede, Sango, Miroku, Kirara and Shippo... She loved them all so very much.

"I will tell you later. Sango-chan, Miroku-sama. I want you to accompany me. To my time, I mean. Kaede, my offer includes you as well." Kagome looked hopefully at the older woman.

The old woman shook her head. "Gomen, Kagome, but no. I am the village miko and will be until I die. I cannot abandon the people here."

Kagome nodded her head solemnly. "I understand. I will not force you, but I will miss you very much." She put Shippo down and went over to hug Kaede. "If you should change your mind, please, let me know."

Kaede nodded and Kagome stood up. "Okay, there is much to plan for. Kirara, I need your help."

"What about us?" Shippo asked. He indicated himself and Kirara. "Can't we go with you guys, too?"

Kagome hugged the little kitsune to her. "You'll be with us before you know it," she said cryptically, rubbing her nose against his.

Shippo frowned, but he trusted his Kagome.

Meanwhile, Kirara had jumped to attention.

"Onegai, you must find Kouga-kun. We will need his assistance."

Kirara mewed and dashed outside, transforming into her large, fearsome shape before flying away into the night sky.

Everyone turned to look at Kagome who had resumed her seat in front of the fire. She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapped her lilac striped arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees. The pale lilac-hued crescent moon on her forehead seemed to glow in the firelight.

"What do we do now, Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked quietly, also returning to his spot before the fire. Sango joined him. Shippo was now resting peacefully in Kaede's lap.

Kagome sighed. "We wait. I'll explain everything when Kirara returns with Kouga-kun."

Sango scooted close to Miroku. He grabbed her hand and held it to his chest. She and Miroku had already agreed to accompany Kagome to her time. There was really nothing for either of them here anymore.

Sango's brother Kohaku was already dead. He had died during their last battle against Naraku, before Kagome had been taken by Sesshoumaru. Knowing the end was near, he had begged Kagome to remove the shard, seeing as how she was the only one who could purify it. He and Sango had exchanged tearfully goodbyes before telling Kagome to take it out of his back. She complied and instantly he was dead, collapsing into Sango's arms.

Sango and Kirara hadn't returned to Kaede's village for two weeks. She had taken the body of her little brother back to the village of their birth and buried him next to their father. When she and Kirara returned, everyone had seen how pale and thin she was. Kagome had run to her and Sango, that powerful and strong demon exterminator had collapsed into the miko's arms, sobbing so heartbrokenly that even Miroku was moved to tears.

And now, she would be leaving for another time and possibly another place, leaving everything she had ever known.
"But why Kouga, Kagome-chan? Why do we need him?" Sango asked gently, leaning against the houshi. She was glad Miroku was there. No matter how often he groped her or leered openly and indecently at her, she was thankful he was with her.

Kagome raised her dark golden eyes to Sango. "Because...he's the only youkai next to Shippo and Kirara that we can trust."

Thankfully, the shard hunters did not have long to wait. Only two hours had passed very peacefully by the time Kirara had returned. On her back was a very bewildered okami.

Her rushed over to her. "Kagome? Oi, are you are alright?" Kouga asked tenderly, clasping her small hands in his. This small gesture made her tears flow. How sad, she thought. She was unwanted by two men she loved, but wanted by the one man she didn't.

"Kagome!" Kouga cried softly when he saw her tears. He pulled her to him, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Please...please don't cry. Those damned inus are the cause of your tears, aren't they? Filthy bastards..."

Kagome pulled away slightly and pressed her fingertips to his lips, effectively stopping his speech. "It doesn't matter now, Kouga-kun. I asked you here because I...we...will need your help."

Kouga stepped back and put a hand on the hilt of his unused sword. "I would do anything for you, Kagome," he stated quite firmly.

She couldn't help it. He walked right into that one, she thought.

Kagome grinned wickedly, her small fangs showing. "Anything, Kouga-kun?"

Kouga nodded. "Anything." He stopped nodding and frowned slightly. "Why? What did you have in mind, Kagome? Look, I'll do anything for you, but if it includes kissing or touching those filthy inus, I am drawing the line." Disgust crawled onto his ruggedly handsome face and it squatted there.

"Iie! It's nothing like that," Kagome chuckled, waving her hand at him.

The disgust fled from Kouga's face and he relaxed. "Well, that's okay then."

Kagome looked up at him again, but this time, her face held a solemnity that he had never seen before.

"I need you to take care of Shippo and Kirara for me. For us." She indicated Sango and Miroku.

Kouga was confused. Where could she possibly be going if she was asking him to care for the kit and the slayer's fire neko? So, being the outspoken creature that he was, he voiced his concern out loud. All eyes turned to Kagome, who had resumed her place beside the fire and motioned for the others to do the same. When all were seated once more, she spoke.

"Sango, you asked why we needed Kouga. It's simple. I want him to care for Kirara and Shippo until we are reunited again."

Everyone looked at her in confusion. Miroku on the other hand, had a look of dawning comprehension in his blue eyes. Kagome smiled to herself. That little pervert was smarter than everyone thought him to be.

"Okay, here's the deal. Naraku is coming our way tomorrow. I am going to intercept him, before he reaches Tweedledee and Tweedledumb-ass, who are supposed to be waiting for him in Inuyasha's Forest."

Again came the confused looks and she sighed. "I'm speaking of Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha, respectively." Kagome didn't get the little chuckles of amusement she was hoping for and shook her head.

"Never mind. Anyway, to continue. At the castle of the Ice Prince, I managed to discover that he and Inuyasha were planning to confront Naraku here, in Inuyasha's Forest."

Sango and Kouga broke out into outraged voices.

"Nani? Why weren't we told about it?" Sango cried angrily. "If that hanyou has double-crossed us..." This time, she cracked the knuckles on both hands.

Miroku, sitting beside her and just about to attempt a grope, scooted away ever so slightly. 'Now is not the time, now is not the time,' his brain warned his hand.

Kagome lifted her hands pleadingly. "Please everyone, don't get upset. I found out about in time, didn't I? I told you, I am going take on Naraku myself."

Kouga spoke up. "I don't think so Kagome. It's far too dangerous for you."

Kagome shot him a dangerous look. Kouga winced. Apparently, living with Sesshoumaru had rubbed off on her. He could have sworn he'd seen that glare before from the taiyoukai.

"Why is that, Kouga-kun?" Kagome trilled sweetly. "Is it because I'm a girl?" Her mouth was smiling but her eyes were hard as marbles.

Kouga grimaced. He was in for it now. "I...uh...no. Please, forgive me. I didn't mean to say that...well...uh..." he floundered.

"Hmph. I didn't think so," Kagome countered, slightly mollified.

Miroku, who was now out of Sango's reach should the worst happen, quietly asked Kagome a question. "How will Naraku know when the battle is to begin? Is there a signal or something like that?"

Kagome nodded. "Yes. Inuyasha was planning on using Kirara to send the signal. A flare."

Miroku nodded and Kagome continued. "As to HOW I plan on defeating Naraku, I will send out purifying energy all around me. No doubt Naraku will bring his drones to the party but they too will get fried along with their master. Every demon in sight will be purified." Her voice faltered slightly but she continued. "Kouga, this is where you come in. I want you to get Shippo and Kirara as far away as possible, understand? The moment you leave here with them, you will be their caretaker. Kirara can more or less take care of herself, but Shippo-chan is still a child. Raise him as you would your own cub."

Kouga nodded solemnly. Kagome had placed a burden on his shoulders, but a burden he gladly accepted. He would do anything to shine in her eyes.

He asked," But Kagome, if you are going to purify every demon in the area, what about yourself? Won't you be purified, too?"

"So THAT'S how you plan on dying."

All eyes shot to Miroku, who was gazing at Kagome with something like respect. Kagome gave him a small smile and tilted her head to the side.

"So, you've figured it out, houshi-sama? I had a feeling you would."

Miroku nodded slowly. "Oh, hai. It is a clever plan, Kagome-sama. But what of the Shikon no Tama? What will you do with it?"

"Wait a minute here," Sango broke in, glancing from Kagome to the houshi who had mysteriously moved away from her. "What's going on? Are you saying that that's how you plan on dying, Kagome-chan? You're going to purify yourself?"

"Nani!" Kouga jumped to his feet and Kagome could smell his fear. "Iie, you...you can't"
The scent of his fear and worry for her nearly overpowered her.

"Kouga-kun, don't worry. Please, none of you must worry. The jewel won't allow me to die. Trust me on this. All the time I was at Sesshoumaru's castle wasn't spent in idle contemplation. Also, one reason I plan on fighting Naraku so close to the well is so that when the time comes, Sango and Miroku will be able to rush me home to my time, to escape Sesshoumaru's, and possibly Inuyasha's, wrath. Do not worry about being able to cross over. I promise you, everything will be taken care of."

Miroku nodded with perfect understanding but Sango shook her head. "I don't know Kagome. I'm worried. You might be killed in the battle."

Kagome smiled at her friend. "Oh, but I won't. I have the jewel. The purifying part is going to be tricky, but with the Shikon no Tama, I'll be okay. Not only am I going to kill Naraku, but I am also going to set Sesshoumaru free from this blasted mark."