Kaede's Birthday

Sango sighed as she cuddled next to Miroku in their own personal hut. He retaliated by pulling her closer to him. It was morning, and she knew that she needed to be getting up soon. She kissed him temple softly as dull brown eyes opened looking deeply in hers. She smiled softly as he groaned and tried to close his eyes again.

"Hey you, you need to wake up." She said with a smile, and he opened his eyes again. He looked at her pleading, they had been up most of the night. She looked down at him, smiling.

"I want to let you, but you have to help me pick flowers for Kaede. It's her birthday today." Miroku sat up and rubbed his eyes like a little kid. He looked around as Sango walked towards the door. She suddenly grabbed the bamboo mat and grabbed her stomach, wincing painfully. He rushed over to her, trying to ease her back to the mat.

"No, I'm fine." She snapped as she shrugged off Miroku's advice. He looked at her painfully as she walked out the hut slowly, taking her hands of her belly. He hurried to her side, holding his staff so tightly it hurt his hands. Something wasn't right. He knew that, but he needed to see what was going on. As they approached the clearing, Sango tried to bend down but Miroku stopped her. Instead she pointed to the flowers and Miroku picked them. Once they had a beautiful bouqet, she kissed him and hurried back to Kaede's hut. When they walked inside, InuYasha and Kagome where still sleeping. Miroku nodded at the two before he went to awake Kaede and she went to awake Kagome and InuYasha.

Before she could touch her, his hand shot out like lightning and grabbed her hand painfully. She winced and gasped as she tried to pry his hands off of her. He opened his eyes slowly, his golden orbs unfocused. Once they did focus, he immediately let her go and blushed at her questioning glance. He mumbled a sorry before growling lightly, waking Kagome. She looked around and blushed as everyone looked at them, and she tried to move away from InuYasha, but he tightened his grip on her waist.

"No. Stay." He growled, his eyes still sleepy. She looked at him, her face darkening looking at his stubborn expression. She smiled and rubbed his ears, making him growl in ecstasy. But before he could get to into it, he took her hand and pulled it down, giving her a warning glance before she tried to move to no avail.

"InuYasha! I need to grant Kaede a happy birthday!"

"You can talk."

"I know, but that's not all you have to do. Why won't you let me go?"

"Because you're my mate." He grumbled, and she looked at him with shock. He finally realized what he said, and let her go. She got up and walked over to Kaede and gave her a hug, her head spinning. Did he just say what I think he said? She thought as she suggested cookind dinner for her. Kaede happily agreed, and the old woman lookd like she was about to cry. InuYasha got up, mumbled a happy birthday, and walked out. Kagome wanted to follow him, but she thought he wanted to be alone. With a sigh, she played in Kaede's long hair as she tried on the kimono Shippou and her had someone make for her.

Miroku walked over to InuYasha in Goshinboku and leaned on the trunk of the great tree.

"I want to ask you something." He said, loud enough for InuYasha only to hear him. His response was the sound of InuYasha jumping off the tree and leaning against Goshinoku the opposite side of Miroku.

"Keh. Spill it monk."

"Do you know about pregnancies?" It got too quiet for Miroku's liking. After a long silence, he got a exasperated no.

"Hmm. Fine. Never mind. Sorry to bother you." InuYasha snorted as he leaned around the tree to see the monk, who's face was clouded with worry. He silently walked back to the hut at Sango's call. InuYasha watched as Kagome walked out, her tail flittering at one side. Her arms were behind her back, and she looked at the ground as she took Miroku's spot.

"InuYasha…" She started, though she couldn't get the words out.

"Kagome, I um-"

"Did you mean it? What you said?" She cut him off, using all her courage. InuYasha said nothing for a while, and she turned to leave when he answered.

"Ye-yeah." She turned and looked at the tree, her eyes filled with disbelief, happiness, sadness and yet yearning.

"I, but, we're…"

"I know. It's mental." He said with a sigh. She walked around the tree and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"Oh InuYasha." She said. He sighed and covered her arms with his own. He said nothing as he looked at the sun that made the grass shimmer.

"Kagome, I-"

"I know I could never be like Kikyou-" He whirled around and looked at her.

"Kikyou! Kagome, I'm over Kikyou! I told you that before, I'm, I'm not in love with her anymore. Kagome, I-" He stopped. "I love you! There! I said it! I've loved you from the very beginning!" She looked at him with tears welled in her eyes. He threw herself in his chest and cried silently, her tail lashing viciously.

"InuYasha, I... I want to physically become your mate." She said. She felt his heart stop, then start again. He looked down at her.

"You, you do?" She nodded and he smiled. "But we can't, not until Naraku is dead. I can't risk you getting hurt." She nodded in understanding.

"But, I'm not ready to announce it yet. But, I have to mark you, to tell Kouga to back off." She looked at him in confusion. "I have to just bite you, it won't hurt for long." She nodded as he bared his teeth and brought them to her exposed shoulder. She nodded and gasped as his teeth punctured her skin. Wanting to make it quick, he pushed them in deep and brought them out, licking the blood that began trailing. She reached to touch it, but he grabbed her hand and shook his head.

"Well, that was a new feeling." She said, he smiled and hugged her again before Shippou called to them.

"Otoo-san! Okaa-san!" She looked up at InuYasha and smiled with excitement. Her ears flickered and her fangs where bared.

"He called me…He called me.." She couldn't say it. He nodded as Shippou walked up to them. He went to hop on Kagome, but froze looking at her with wide eyes.

"You…you marked her!" He said as a stupid smile crossed his faced. InuYasha nodded and Shippou hopped on his face and hugged him. After ten minutes of trying to pry him off, he announced that Kaede was sleeping. Kagome gave him permission to play with the village kids. Kagome looked at InuYasha again before he had a puzzled look.

"Something's wrong with Sango's pregnancy. I smell pain and panic from her almost every hour. It's not normal." Kagome nodded at InuYasha's concern.

"At first I thought it was just the baby kicking, but it's too frequent. I could take her to the doctor in my time, but there is no records for her. It would be too suspicious." InuYasha growled.

"It's killing the monk to see her like that. He's practically white from staying up and watching her."

"He stays up?"

"Ya. He hasn't gone to sleep for the past three days." Kagome looked at the hut. She wondered why Miroku didn't say anything, didn't ask Sango. Or maybe he did and she lied and said she was fine. But she didn't even realize something was wrong, and she felt guilty. She felt that she wasn't a true friend, and that she was lucky if they even talk to her again. Kagome felt a warm sensation down on her chest and peered into the mirror to see Itachiko smiling warmly.

"Hello there." Kagome said cheerfully. Itachiko giggled and waved at InuYasha.

"Hello. Anything new?" InuYasha gritted his teeth.

"No, but Kagome suddenly turned into full youkai, and I felt another presence nearby, like it wasn't even her that was there. And, the Shikon No Tama was like, panicking, like it didn't want something to get it." Itachiko bit her lip.

"My sister just slaughtered a youkai and took a jewel shard, and I felt her power flare last night. Weird, it all seems to have a connection with each other."

"So," Kagome butt in. "The Shikon No Tama predicts danger? That's why it pulses like it does?"

"Yes, and sice you two are connected, and since she has a jewel shard, you can use the Shikon fragment to locate her. But her power is being well hidden, even for me to locate. It's not impossible to find it, it's just going to be harder than I thought." InuYasha looked at the young lady in the mirror. For some reason, his heart, his soul screamed out to him to talk to her, but he didn't know why. True, she looked very familiar, but he just couldn't pinpoint it. His demon blood erased all his happy memories when he was a child, except for the one's he stored in his human blood, and those were Kagome. But, he just couldn't get it.

"I should be going now, I see I am interrupting something?" She said, referring to the deadly embrace InuYasha had Kagome in. They both blushed and let go quickly.

"Itachiko?" Kagome said. " Is it possible, that when I turn full youkai, that it makes her stronger?" Itachiko nodded.

"And when she gets strong enough, she can defy the laws of living."

"What does that mean?" InuYasha asked before he tried to give himself a headache by figuring it out.

"She will be able to summon people out of the Realm of the Dead. I don't know who, but once she does that, everything will be screwed up and the world will cease to exist." Kagome gasped.

"Why? Onigumo is not dead! So what is her purpose?"

"I do not know. She wants to summon Onigumo back, but she will have to rid him of all his demons, meaning she needs a miko, or maiden like myself. However, I know only two people who are capable of doing something like that, and they have both passed to the other side. Kikyou, and my mother, Hitashi." Kagome pondered about this for a little while, before she had a thought.

"If she summons Kikyou, it won't work, will it? She has one part of her soul, but I own all the others."

"Ah. You must sacrifice a equal soul to gain another. That's how she was here. Once you sacrifice a life, that soul is transferred to the one being summoned. Be careful dear Kagome, as your life may be in danger." Kagome nodded as a bright light shone and Itachiko was once again gone. InuYasha looked hurt and shaken, and she cupped his face with her hand.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine." He looked at her, still uncertain. He didn't want her to get hurt, to possibly die. He just couldn't go one without her. But I'll be there. Only way anything will ever get to think that they can get her, I'll have to be dead. But I'll just raise from the dead and save her if I have to. She won't die on my watch. I love her to much. Kagome smiled at the determined look on his face, replaced with that of anger, then a hint of softness to it. He embraced her again for a long time, before he smelt Sango's pain again.

"Smell that?" He said, peering over her shoulder to look at her hut. Kagome nodded and they zipped over there to see her curled up in the corner in pain. Kagome ran to her side as InuYasha went to find Miroku.

"He's getting more berries and herbs for Kaede…" She said, perspiration running down her face.

"Sango, something's wrong. This shouldn't be happening, not yet." Sango screamed so loud Kagome almost fainted. Her ears where ringing when InuYasha came back with Miroku and Kaede.

"The baby is very restless, I don't understand. I can give her some herbs and study it more if you like." She said, even though she was already doing it. After a while Sango was out cold, and Miroku sat next to her, holding her hand. He seemed hurt, nervous, and worst of all, scared. InuYasha held Kagome who was on the brink of tears.

"She'll be alright." He mumbled, and from the way her ears twitched, he could tell she heard him.

"I don't know. Everything seems to be going wrong." InuYasha opened his mouth to say something, but he sniffed the air and scowled.

"Kouga? What's he-"

"Wait here." Kagome didn't like the sound of that, but she would be able to hear them so she nodded her head. InuYasha walked out the hut to see Kouga standing there with flowers in his hand.

"I came to pay respects to the old woman. She's pretty famous around where I live. I have no intentions on Kagome, she's already marked and taken." Kouga explained before InuYasha could throw insults. He didn't look like he believed it, but he nodded.

"There's something I want to tell you." Kouga said, almost in a whisper. InuYasha signaled for him to continue. " I've heard that there is a new demon that can make a man into a slave if he looks into her eyes. But, she smells of dead."

"I know that much."

"No, not like she's been dead, like she had been sleeping with the dead."

"How do you know?"

"A member of my clan had gone missing for about a month. When he came back, he was totally delirious and wreaked of her. Whatever she was, she is a slut because I couldn't get her own scent picked out of the musk from hundreds of men." InuYasha scowled.

"Who would be as to so nasty to-"

"And, he said she had a plan, but she wouldn't say it. All he was yapping about was she had this orb that picks out a next victim. I don't remember everything he said, but one thing caught my attention." InuYasha's ears perked up. " He said she was not the slightest bit pretty until he looked in her eyes. That's when everything in his head went haywire." InuYasha nodded and moved out the way so Kouga could enter.

"Hey," He said before he walked in. Kouga turned around and looked at him.

"Thanks for the information. It was a really big help." Kouga nodded and smiled.

"Anything for my darling Kagome." He said playfully. InuYasha growled as he walked in, and was greeted by Kaede.

"Well hello Kouga, long time no see." He smiled, handed her the flowers and gave her a kiss on the cheek before sitting down.

"I know and I am so sorry. But I have recently gotten married."

" So you remembered?" Kagome asked.

"Nope. But it was either that or get killed. I'd rather die, but depending on the circumstances…" Kagome laughed.

"So, how are you?" He asked. Kagome smiled.

"I'm fine. You?"

"Fine fine. What happened? It wreaks in here."

Everyone became silent. He stayed for about an hour before leaving.

"I have to make sure they're not killing each other. I'll see ya around guys." He called before a tornado disappeared, letting them know he was gone. Kagome walked out of the hut and headed for Goshinboku. She hopped up in the ever so familiar branch before she closed her eyes, and minutes later fell asleep.


8:88:888:88:8


Naraku chuckled as he stalked through the eerie halls of castle. He made a sharp right before standing in front of a door he came to find himself as everday for about a month.

"Hisaki, it is I, Naraku." He growled as he softly knocked on the door. He heard someone get off of the mattress and trot to the door.

"Naraku? Let him in." She hissed. Naraku swept passed the mind slave and bowed respectively at the foot of her bed as she laid on her stomach facing him, her feet lazily swinging back and forth.

"Hisaki, I have come to inform you the former miko has now been marked. She now belongs to InuYasha." He said with a smirk. Hisaki grinned.

"Really? They are making my plans much easier for me. And here I thought that I would have to trick them to gain the ultimate power from her. Well, I am much grateful…" Hisaki looked up at Naraku. " Tell me, just how much will her power grow once she will be claimed?" She asked softly. Naraku shrugged.

"She will be complete, meaning her powers will increase about tenfold, her full potential. Only then will the Shikon No Tama be any use to you." Naraku said impatiently. Hisaki nodded as she felt heat rushing through her veins. She gasped quietly and laid down resting her head on her wrists. Naraku stood up and bowed once more before turning to walk out. She stopped him abruptly and he turned to look at her.

"Naraku, you have been a great help." She smiled mischieviously. "You shall be rewarded greatly in the end." Naraku walked out and closed the door loudly as he stalked the lonely halls of his castle smiling. I shall be rewarded, and you will be the one to grant me the power of the Shikon No Tama foolish woman.


8:88:888:88:8


Kagome sighed as she dug through her bookbag, searching for something to eat.

"This, Hisaki," She spoke as she felt the warmness on her chest meaning Itachiko was there. " If I turn full youkai, the jewel will become tainted, and that will make her even stronger than if the jewel was purified?" Itachiko nodded.

"Yes, but she plans to sacrifice something, that's the only way for her plan to work. What she's trying to do exactly is still a mystery. All we know somewhat is how she is going to do it." InuYasha snorted as he stared at Kagome as she wagged her tail, biting her lip bloody in concentration. Her ears twitched from time to time, and she stared at her hands that were neatly folded in her lap.

"No problem." InuYasha said out of the blue. "We'll just have to get more information, that's all."

"I guess so." Kagome said sadly. She stood up and walked over to Kaede. She hugged her, and granting her a happy birthday, announced she was going for a walk. She quickly walked out of the hut, leaving Miroku and Sango staring at InuYasha.

"What?"

"Aren't you going to go after her?"

"No. I don't want her following me when I go for a walk."

"I bet you don't."

"What was that monk!" Miroku sighed as Sango clucked her tongue.

"InuYasha. Surely, you sense something is wrong with Kagome. Bear me no grudge, but if I do not know you, I would think that surely you hate Kagome when she is in love with you." InuYasha blanched a little.

"I don't hate her…I just…have nothing to say to her. There is nothing to say to her." Sango heaved a sigh as she crawled over to InuYasha.

"InuYasha, all you have to do is show her you care. You may not be the nicest person in the world, but you are the most considerate, although you tend to try to hide it."

"Aye. Ye have no acting skills whatsoever…" Kaede mumbled under her breath. InuYasha shot her a warning glare as Sango began speaking again.

"Just, go and see what's troubling her." She smiled warmly. "Then everything will be fine." InuYasha nodded and began staring at Sango's stomach as she sat down and her and Miroku began rubbing it happily. He tore his eyes away and stood up, and without a word, darted off following Kagome's scent.

Kagome exhaled deeply as her legs swung over the cliff where InuYasha first talked to Kikyou. She really didn't like this melancholy place, but for some reason she thought she could think here. She heard Itachiko cluck her teeth. She peered down into the mirror, watching as Itachiko tried to fix her clothes.

"You look fine." Kagome giggled. Itachiko sighed once more and nodded, leaving her clothes be.

Kagome didn't understand it. How could they know what she was going to do, but not what. It was making her angry, nervous, and a bit scared. They were missing something important, and she had a feeling that if they didn't figure out what soon, then she will be the one in danger. The Shikon No Tama was frequently pulsing, trying to tell her something, warn her, and Kikyou's message was no help. She truly didn't understand, and she would give anything for just a little help to defeat Hisaki.

Another problem was if they killed Hisaki, Itachiko might die too. True she is no longer in the book of life, but she was never really dead. She was accidently sent to the Realm of the Dead when her sister's soul was tainted. It wasn't meant for her, but she also suffered for her sister's actions. But surely Hisaki knew what she was doing, so why did she do it? They truly loved each other, went to the ends of the world for each other, and for Hisaki to do something as terrible as send her sister to the Realm of the Dead with herself was just wrong.

Kagome sniffed the air and noted InuYasha was coming. She knew he was sent here by someone else's accord, and that saddened her a little. Her claws raked the scar that told youkai that she was his, to back off. Was it all worth it? He's acting like it wasn't even there. Nothing's changed. She thought sadly as she felt his ever so familiar presence behind her. She didn't turn around though, and he stood there looking at her lonely figure.

Why'd she come here? He asked himself as he stared at Kagome's back. The way she sat lonely, and sadly tore at his heart, and he could feel her nervousness. It made his veins pulse, his demon blood beginning to wake. Everything called out to him to comfort her, but he couldn't bring himself to move. His legs and mouth were on their own accord, and his throat became dry, his body cold.

"Ka-Kagome…" He whispered, and her ears moved, though she did not reply. Her tail swayed slowly, and her claws were now raking the grass that sat next to her.

"K-Kagome." He tried again. She didn't answer him once more, and he sighed and continued. "Is something wrong?" He asked softly. She turned around and looked at him, and he could tell she was thinking things over. He sat next to her and draped his arm over her shoulder, pulling her closer to him.

"InuYasha? Something's not right. It's too peaceful." Kagome said as InuYasha put his nose in her hair, inhaling deeply.

"I know, but there's not much we can do. We'll just have to wait for her, unless she's waiting for somebody else." Kagome nodded and exhaled deeply as InuYasha licked the scar in her neck. She dug her claws in the ground and closed her eyes, allowing a soft whine to surface. He smiled and continued his torment, putting more pressure to it as she stiffened.

"Inu-InuYasha." She mumbled, trying to pull away. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, before placing hot kisses around her shoulders and neck. He climbed on top of her, forcing her softly to lay back. He used his legs to pin hers down, making her giggle a little bit. He began kissing and nibbling her again, and she reached and ran her hands through his silvery locks sighing deeply.

"InuYasha, we can't…" She took a sharp breath and tried to squirm. InuYasha put his hands on her hips and instantly she froze like ice. He looked up at her, a grin surfacing. She smiled back sweetly as he began kisses her on her face, coming dangerously close to her lips, but never touching them. They quivered and trembled for the feel of his lips on them, and she whimpered, trying to convince him to stop this torture. He simply smiled and came dangerously close to her mouth, making her whine even louder. Smile even bigger than before, he leaned over and growled soft words into her ears, making her shudder.

"You drive me to the brink of insanity Kagome." He said in a husky voice. Her scent infiltrated his senses, trying to push him over the brink of sanity. His demon blood began boiling when he looked in her eyes, a warring conflict for possession between her emotions shined like the bright sun. He saw passion, desire, love, and happiness. She was everything to him, and he loved her so much. She began running her fingers through his hair, shifting her body so she wasn't quite on her tail. He allowed this gesture and growled as she tried to sit up.

"InuYasha, we-" She gasped as she felt his hand cup her breast. Before she knew what she was doing, and mumbled his name and arched her back up, her womanhood on fire. She burned for him, wanted him with everything she had. He smiled and lifted her shirt up, bringing his mouth to her rosy nipple. She sighed and put her hand on his head, squeezing lightly as his tongue ran over it in circles. Making sure to be even, he used his over hand to caress the other breast, enjoying the little sounds Kagome was making. He didn't know how he came to do this, but he was sure glad he did.

Feeling that she was ready for his touch, his hand traced down her stomach to her thigh, were he lightly scraped her in circles. She smiled and giggled as he used his free hand to slide her underwear off. She raised her hips to help him, and smiled as the panties went flying to the side. He continued to run his claws in light circles, before pulling her skirt up and running them in circles just above her aching sweetness. She moaned softly and raised her hips, pleading him to touch him where she wanted him to most. Feeling that the torture was enough, he reached down and touched her. Smiling as she opened her mouth and closed her eyes, he slowly rubbed her as her hips moved in rhythm to his hand.

Kami…She sighed as pleasure waved over her. She bit her lip bloody as he began to move a little faster, and raised her hips even higher, so much she constantly had to take a rest and bring it back up. She looked at InuYasha when he suddenly stopped, looking at her with satisfaction on his face. He quickly slipped a finger in, chuckling when her head instantly fell back. He leaned over and began suckling on the other nipple silently, as her cries filled the air. He moved his finger slowly, then faster as her hips crashed against his hand. He slipped a second one in, enjoying the whimper she made when he pushed them deep inside her.

He moved faster and faster until he was sure she couldn't take anymore, and she cried out loudly and clamped her legs together, screaming his name as everything went white around her and she had her first climax. He smiled as she trembled and he moved his fingers slightly, making waves of aftershock ripple through her, and she gasped loudly.

"Kagome?"

"Kami InuYasha…" She moaned. He smiled and began trailing kisses on her jaw.

"We don't have to now, if you don't want to. Something just clicked in my mind, and hearing you say my name like that-" Her face suddenly turned red as she tried to move her head to allow him more access.

"Now's not the time. There's to much at stake right now, and if I get pregnant, there's no telling what Naraku will do. But for now, not yet." InuYasha nodded in understanding as he took his fingers out and sniffed them, enjoying her luscious scent. He went to wipe them off, but she quickly grabbed them and put them in her mouth, sucking off her love juices, which aroused him greatly. He whimpered as he felt her hot tongue circle around and through his fingers. Still with them in her mouth, she flipped them over until she was on top of InuYasha. He looked at her in surprise as her hand grazed over his throbbing member.

He raised his hips and whined softly as she repeated the gesture, adding more force each time. She untied his hakama and he raised his hips to help her slide them down and off, freeing his painful wanting. Her eyes widen in surprise, and her jaw was to the floor.

"Oh, my god.." InuYasha blushed slightly and tried to move her as pain shot through him. She refused the gesture though, and placed her hand on him, making him freeze where he was.

"Your just, big." She said as she slowly and softly stroked him. He whined as she caressed him, bringing her hand from base to tip. She still sucked his fingers in rhythm to his hand, and he shuddered under her. She began pumping him harder, enjoying as he moaned louder and louder until it sounded like he was in her ear. He tried desperately to hide it, but he was enjoying it-a lot. Kagome stroked him harder and smiled as he mumbled her name and pushed his hips up to meet her. He closed his eyes and pressed his ears to his forehead as he heard skin hitting skin, sending chills down his spine. He felt her stop, and his eyes snapped open when he felt the heat of her breath.

"Kagome-" He half moaned, half pleaded as her mouth covered him. He growled and through his head back, his eyes rolling at the back of his head as she slowly sucked him. She took in more and more of him until she was at the base, making his cry out very loudly and saying her name in a husky voice. She moved her head quickly and began sucking as he growled and snarled and whined and whimpered. She felt his hand on both sides of her head, moving it up and down slightly the way he wanted it. She smiled and sucked harder, making him grunt loudly.

Bringing her head to the tip, she sucked relentlessly, not showing him any mercy. She reached down and used her hand to pump the base of his member.

"Oh, Kagome…" He panted as he felt himself coming to a finish. She moved her hand and brought her mouth down to the base, feeling him prick at the back of his throat as he tensed up and liquid shot into her mouth. She gagged a little, but swallowed it and removed her mouth from him to look at him. His eyes were glazed over, his mouth still open. She smiled and laid on his chest, using her hand to caress his still needy member. He raised his hips and forced himself to keep quiet.

"I- I wanted to share something like this with you for a long time." She said slowly, avoiding InuYasha's gaze. He smiled.

"Me too Kagome." He whispered softly. She looked at him and pressed her lips to his, kissing him with everything she had, giving her heart to him. He was surprised at first, but he began kissing her back, and his tongue ran over her bottom lip, begging entrance. She opened her mouth slightly and his tongue darted into hers, tasting each other's seed and arousal. Their tongues warred, and feeling it wasn't enough, Kagome moved her hand harder and faster, making him whine and arch against her. She pulled back, still caressing him as he moved her hand.

"We should get back." He said sadly. She reached for her underwear but he stopped her. "After you tell me what you was thinking about." She clucked her tongue and smiled.

" I was trying to figure out how to save them without killing myself." She said with a chuckle. "Because Itachiko had a premature death before she was supposed to die, but something tells me she was going to die anyway, therefore fate just wrote her in the Book of Death. But, I don't think there is any way we can save her. I think she is just going to have to suffer the consequences of sharing a soul with her sister, and for what Hisaki did." InuYasha nodded as he tied his hakama that he slipped on as she was talking. She fixed her clothes also.

"True, but if Hisaki's is tainted, shouldn't Itachiko's be too?"

Kagome shrugged.

"I don't know. If only they hadn't killed Kikyou." She bit her lip and sighed. InuYasha stood up and held out an outstretched hand.

"Let's go home Kagome." He said softly. Smiling she took his hand and waited for him to dart off before she quickly caught up.

"I see your faster now." He noted. She nodded and slapped her chest, wincing a little at the action.

"Yeah, I'm getting stronger now." She said painfully, rubbing her chest. InuYasha smiled as they approached the village gates, and they kept running until they reached Kaede's hut. They walked in silently, and Kagome sat at her bookbag as InuYasha took his usual place in the corner.

"It has been about three hours according to Kagome's 'watch' as she calls it." Kaede said. "InuYasha and Kagome, where have ye been? Ye dare avoid an old woman on her birthday?" She laughed lightly at Kagome's and InuYasha's faces.

"Where's the monk and his wench?" InuYasha changed the subject.

"They went home for the night. Shippou decided to go with them, even though I thought he should have asked you. Myouga visited also, but he said he sniffed you were 'busy', and would be back tonight." InuYasha and Kagome blanched a little bit as their faces became a darker hue.