Mrs. Higurashi woke suddenly, the face of her husband still lingering in her mind. Why did she keep having these dreams about him? Was it because she was back in the feudal era? She looked around her and noticed the sun had already risen. She had meant to wake up earlier and continue her search for Kagome. She stood up, and walked out of the cottage she had stayed the night in. She walked on through the village hoping to find Kaede to thank her for her kindness. She finally saw her picking some herbs near the river.

"Kaede-chan.... I mean, Kaede-san? Is that what I should call you now?"

"No one has called me chan in years. You may call me that still if you like. It makes an old woman feel younger, it's flattering even." Mrs. Higurashi cracked a small smile. "What is it you need?"

"Arigato for everything that you have done for me, and Kagome."

"It is nothing Higurashi-san.... dono. You did plenty for Kikyo and I all those years ago."

"That was a long time ago."

"Hai, but you still helped regardless. Besides Kagome has done much for our village, and our land."

Mrs. Higurashi lowered her eyes.

"What is wrong Higurashi-s--dono?"

Mrs. Higurashi drew a circle in the sand with her foot.

"Kaede.... do you, do you remember when I lived here?"

"Hai, a little."

"Do you remember..... Hiroshi?"

"Hai. He was a good man. He used to help Kikyo and I alot. But I remember after you left he was always sad, he never smiled."

"He must have had something to keep him happy here. Another woman maybe?"

"No. He never loved anyone but Higurashi-san."

"But then-"

"Higurashi-s--dono, Hiroshi always loved you and Kagome-dono. I never doubted that. He loved you even in his very dying breaths."

"Were you there when he died?"

"No Higurashi-dono. But Kikyo was, and she told me."

Mrs. Higurashi looked away. If only Kikyo were still alive....

"How did he die?"

Kaede looked over at the tired woman.

"Kikyo didn't tell me. She must have thought I was too young."

"Where do you think Kagome is?" Mrs. Higurashi asked, changing the question.

"Kagome will go where her heart leads her."

"But where is that?"

"Where would you have gone had you been able to come back through the well?"

Mrs. Higurashi thought a moment. She would have headed straight back to Hiroshi.

"I would have looked for my husband."

"Hai. Kagome will do the same."

"But Kagome doesn't have a husband."

"You would have gone looking for Hiroshi-sama, Kagome would go looking for--"

"Inuyasha. I should have known."

"Higurashi-dono, why is it that you have such a problem with Inuyasha?"

Mrs. Higurashi chuckled.

"Why? Because I don't want Kagome to go through the same pain I went through. Because youkai are not to be trusted......"

She paused and there was a moment of silence.

"I just don't want her to get hurt."

Kaede thought a moment, then spoke gently.

"Love is a strange thing Higurashi-dono..... sometimes pain is necessary to find true happiness...... Love is sacrifice and sometimes sacrifice is pain. It hurts, but without it, we can never truly learn to love. I imagine Kagome is off trying to find what most of us only hope to find........"

"But you have to help us!" Sango shouted at Koga.

The young wolf demon crossed his arms and stood there confidently. Sango had enough, and Miroku was tired of arguing too. Shippo had stayed behind on Kirara because Kagome had fallen asleep, so they were trying to convince him on their own.

"Why should I help you? You want me to rescue my enemy. Why would I want to rescue someone trying to steal my woman?" Koga responded casually.

Miroku tried to reason with him.

"Koga, now is not the time for you and Inuyasha's feud to get in the way. Kagome--"

"Is my woman, and she is better off without him."

"But Koga, Kagome is--"

"I don't want to hear it. Where is she anyway?" The young wolf demon looked around him. "Is she here with you?"

"I've been trying to tell you," Miroku said impatiently, "Kagome......" he looked at Koga, "are you even listening?"

Miroku followed Koga's gaze, so did Sango. They watched his eyes widen. Kagome was walking towards them, with a slight limp and carefully supporting her ribs. Koga watched as she came into better focus, and he was able to see the many bruises and cuts that covered her body.

"K... Kagome..... what happened to you?" Koga said in astonishment.

"Like I tried to tell you... Kagome was attacked by the same man that has Inuyasha."

Koga lowered his eyes.

Kagome slowly started to speak.

"Koga, please..... I need your help."

Koga looked at Kagome and then turned and walked away.

"Come back here! Where are you going?" Sango asked him.

"To get the man who did this."

"You realize you will be helping Inuyasha."

Koga gathered together his pack and then answered calmly.

"Kagome asked it of me, so I will do it."

Their journey was long but they continued on. Sango and Miroku took all of them to where they had last seen Inuyasha before he had dissapeared. Kagome came in and out of conciousness. When they reached the cliffside, they all stopped and observed.

"This is the last place you saw him?" Koga asked.

"Hai."

Kagome's heart skipped a beat. This was the last place her husband, the father of her child had been seen. She was close, she knew it. He was on the other side of that cliff, and she was going to get to him. She was going to find him and they would live together forever, raising their family. Koga saw the look of longing, sadness, and determination on Kagome's face.

Why is it Kagome likes this Inuyasha so? What has he got that I don't? Rude mannerisms, and an awful smell..... But she loves him despite that..... Why?

"Koga-sama!" one of his pack yelled, pointing across the cliff. "What is that smoke?"

Everyone looked across the cliff. Smoke was rising in the distance.

"I smell blood." Koga stated.

Kagome gasped in fear.

"Not--" Kagome started, but Koga interuppted.

"No it's not his.... it's human blood."

Kagome felt a bit relieved, although she then felt ashamed. Everyone was silent.

Kagome listened a moment and then heard a noise. Like a song. She listened harder and made out just a few words.

When there is no one near, when you feel lost and afraid

Listen and you will hear, a distant serenade.....

"Kagome! Kagome!" Shippo yelled.

Kagome looked at him.

"Did you hear that?" Kagome asked the others.

"Hear what?"

"The music. The singing.... well not really singing.... the feeling... the words were a feeling... did you hear them?"

"We didn't hear anything Kagome. Are you alright?"

"What do you mean is she alright?" Shippo asked, "Does it LOOK like she is alright to you?"

Kagome looked at the others.

"I'm fine really.... are you sure you didn't hear anything?"

The others nodded.

Kagome sighed.

As they all headed over the cliff Kagome thought, maybe I'm going crazy... what was that noise, and how come I was the only one who heard it?

Inuyasha lay there, cold and in pain, waiting for the little girl to return. When he heard footsteps he tried to sit up to see who was coming. What had that little girl meant when she said she had taken care of Sesshomaru? Is that why he kept her around? Because he owed her? But that wasn't like Sesshomaru....

The footsteps got closer and closer and Inuyasha continued to listen to them. As they became more clear he realized that they were not those of a small person, but those of Sesshomaru. Before he had time to do anything, Sesshomaru was already in the room.

"Hello." Sesshomaru spat, "How are we feeling?"

"Why... are you doing this?"

"Why? Why? You think you have the right to question me?"

"Sesshomaru you b--"

"I don't think you want to insult me, I still have plenty of Youkai that would love to meet you."

"You bastard."

"Was that a challenge?"

"Don't be stupid Sesshomaru. I'm not afraid of you."

"Then what are you afraid of Inuyasha? Could it be perhaps, that your precious human didn't die after all? Could it be that you don't want me to find out? Could it be that she is here and on her way to rescue you?"

Inuyasha didn't want to believe him. Kagome couldn't even walk, besides, her mother would never allow her to come back here......

"Don't you dare touch her! This is between you and me!"

"Is it? I thought you didn't know what this was about Inuyasha. I thought you didn't know why."

"You must have some compassion for humans...." Inuyasha was desperate, "You have compassion for that little girl, even if you are a b--"

"How do you know about Rin? Where is she?"

"How should I know? Why do you care anyway Sesshomaru, I thought you hated humans."

Sesshomaru grabbed Inuyasha by the throat, and stuck his poison claws into his side.

"If you lay one finger on her.... let's just say there are worse things than dying."

With that Sesshomaru walked away, his footsteps slowly fading into the distance. He left Inuyasha writhing in pain, terrified of what might happen to Kagome.

If only I weren't human.... If only I had more strength.... Am I doomed to die here, letting the ones I love remain in danger? Will I never see my child's face? Why is Sesshomaru doing this? Has he sided with Naraku? What would make him sink that low?

The poison started to sink deeper into his human body.

This is it..... I'm going to die...... Goodbye.... Kagome.

Kagome was suddenly alert.

"Something is wrong. We have to hurry." She spoke with terror.

Kagome kept her eyes open for anything she might see.

"Wait!" she said, looking down into a clearing below, "There's someone down there, maybe we can get some information from them."

Sango lowered Kirara down fairly close to the spot Kagome pointed to, but to a place that stilll gave them cover.

Miroku rushed into the clearing. Kagome, against Sango's ushering's, followed him.

What they saw confused all of them. It was not what they expected to see. Kagome walked into the clearing, and saw a little girl, picking different herbs, most likely for a soup of some kind.

"Hello!" the little girl said, "Who are you?"

"I'm Sango, tell me, what are you doing here? There is no village for miles."

The little girl replied.

"I'm picking herbs for a soup. My friend is sick, and he has to get home, so I have to get him better."

"That is sweet of you." Miroku stated.

"Tell me, what is wrong with your friend?" Sango asked.

"Somebody hurt him really bad, at first I was scared of him. But he needs my help."

"Do you know his name?"

"No." Said the little girl matter-of-factly.

"Is he a youkai that has white hair and bad manners?" Shippo asked her.

"No he's human like me, and he had dark hair, and is very nice, he says my eyes sparkle."

"Oh, well, thank you very much anyway. I hope he gets better soon." Sango said kindly.

"Don't worry. I'll take good care of him."

"I'm sure you will." Miroku said.

They started walking away, but Kagome lingered.

"How did you get hurt?" the little girl asked her.

"It's a long story. I shouldn't even be here."

"My friend has a wife that is hurt, and a baby on the way, and he doesn't even know if it's a boy or girl."

This caught Kagome's attention. Her heart was racing.

"Was his wife's name Kagome?" She asked quickly.

The little girl rolled this name over his lips a few times.

"Ka...go...me....Yep. Do you know her?"

Kagome, though it was painful, kneeled and took the little girl's hand.

"This is very important, can you take me to your friend?"

"Yep. Follow me. I'm a good helper."

"I'm sure you are...."

"My name is Rin. My friend says it's a pretty name."

"It is a pretty name."

The little girl paused, then looked up at Kagome.

"What is your name?"

Kagome smiled, then gently whispered in her ear.

"Can you keep a secret?"

The little girl nodded expectantly.

"I am Kagome."

The little girl smiled wide.

"Are you really having a baby?"

"Yes, but don't tell anyone, it's part of the secret. It's going to be a surprise."

Rin nodded and smiled.

Kagome stood up slowly and took the little girls hand again.

"Come on, let's go tell the others we're going to see your friend."

Everyone but Sango and Miroku had gone to a small nearby stream while waiting for Kagome. Miroku sat down on a rock, facing away from Sango.

"That was such a cute little girl." She said.

"Hai, she was cute." Miroku added.

"I want children someday." Sango said, and then immediately turned red as though she had said something she shouldn't have.

Miroku turned when she said this, and noticed the red on her cheeks. In effort to make her feel better, he spoke.

"I'm sure you'll make a wonderful mother someday Sango."

"Really?" She said, looking up at him.

"Hai. You'll make some man very happy someday too." He told her.

"What about you Hoshi-sama? Don't you want a family?"

What a silly question. Of course he does. He's always asking women to bear his children.

"I don't think I'll ever have a family Sango."

Sango looked at him confused.

"Of course you will Hoshi-sama. There are plenty of women who would love to settle down with you."

"Like who?"

"Well um..."

"You see? But that's not the problem."

"Then what is the problem?"

Miroku took his hand and held it up.

"This is the only campanion I'll ever have."

"That's not true Hoshi-sama."

"Sango.... the truth is...."

"Sango! Miroku!" Kagome yelled at them. "Rin knows where Inuyasha is, she's going to take us to him!! Hurry!!"

"Rin?"

"The little girl! Come on!"

As they climbed back onto Kirara, Sango was thinking about what Miroku was trying to say.

What did he mean.... what is the truth? Why is he so depressed and seclusive lately? I wish Kagome could have waited a little longer....

Miroku was wondering if he would have really told Sango the truth.

Should I have told her that I love her, but that my life will not last long enough to matter? Should I have told her that I am dying?

And Kagome was pondering about Inuyasha.

Rin says that Inuyasha was hurt badly by someone. I hope he is okay.

Then someone mentioned the moon the night before, and Kagome became terrified.

The moon? Oh no. Rin said that Inuyasha was human. NO! I completely forgot. How could I overlook that? What had Koga smelled before? Blood. Human blood. And lots of it. What is Inuyasha was dying!?!

All was silent because everyone was focused on their thoughts, and then Kagome heard it again.

.... voices from long ago.... aren't really so far away.....

They'll heal an aching soul... With their distant serenade....

She loooked around at the others. Hadn't they heard that?

She shrugged it off. She must have been hearing things.

Mrs. Higurashi, Kaede, and some of the villagers were out searching for Kagome.

Suddenly Mrs. Higurashi stopped. She was hearing music. The words weren't sung or spoken, but she heard them just the same. Almost as though they were coming from inside her.

When there is no one near, when you feel lost and afraid.....

Listen and you will hear, a distant serenade.....

"Higurashi-sama, are you alright?" One of the villagers asked her.

"Hai." She said quietly.

"Your sure."

She nodded.

"Kaede? Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"The music."

"I hear no music Higurashi-dono."

Mrs. Higurashi nodded, and kept listening as she walked. This is strange..... Why can't the others hear this?

Voices from long ago..... aren't really so far away.....

They'll heal an aching soul..... with their distant serenade......

A/N: Well, I know you all want to kill me, but in my defense, I had carpal tunnel, then my 4 honors classes got difficult and I haven't any time to do anything but homework, and then I got a virus that turned into bronchitis, and they thought I had asthma, and we've been out of town every weekend except this one, which is why I could type today. GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN!! I really wanted to write I did..... It's depressing when you can't write. ToT

Anyway, I'll try to update more but it's pretty hard with school, and it will only get harder because I'm gonna start this Associates program.... oy.... anyway, I will try much harder to update MUCH sooner okay? Promise. Every chance I get.

Anyway, please review for my sanity???

You were right Rennessaince GRRL... that's not much incentive.....

Will you review anyway???

P-L-E-A-S-E????????