Hello everyone! Let me start out by saying, I'm really, really, really, really, really, sorry for my seemingly hiatus. I swear I'm not offing this story, or my "baby" ADLLW, but I've had some major family problems going on for the past few months.

I decided I wanted to try out for Dance Line and Cheerleading at my school, so I had to get a physical. Well, I blacked out at school a week before I decided to try out, so when I told this to my doctor she wanted me to get a chest x-ray, an EKG, and go see a Cardiologist.

Then, in the middle of all that, my grandmother collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital. Kidney failure. She has had Sugar Diabetes since she was a little girl, and so Kidney Failure was really bad for her. Her heart wasn't strong enough to begin with, having suffered two minor strokes and a minor heart attack, so we were all worried. Then she was set on Dialyses five days a week, but as an out-patient.

All of this took place a week after I posted my last chapter and has just currently settled down to a dull roar. My grandmother has been released from 5-day-Dialyses and has just been dropped to either one or two times a week, and is feeling much better.

All my tests came back positive, but I haven't see my Cardiologist yet, so I'm not all-the-way out of the woods, but I'm definitely circling the boundary line. So, again, I'm really sorry for the long hiatus, but I had no time to update.

For all of you that are screaming at your computer for me to just shut up and get on with the story, the reviews are next. But you can always skip them. :-)

Wake-robin: Thank you very much for your review! I'm glad you like my story, and I hope you didn't give up on me because I took so long!

Angels Warmth: Your stuck with my story? LOL! Well, thank you for the review, and I hope you like this chapter.

Robin's Hope: No way, please don't make your reviews shorter. If you want, go ahead and make them longer, you have a lot of ideas about my story, and I would LOVE to hear them. I'm glad you think I've gotten them all IC instead of OOC. because that was one of my big worries. You liked the insight to Kagome's past? I did too, I was shocked I came up with it, but it is a major part of Kagome, so you'll see more unraveling from her. Hopefully in this chapter. I can't believe how long it has taken me to update this story!

If you wouldn't mind, I would love to see that picture that you drew of Kagome in the red dress. The one you said she looked like from my story, that It was like I read your mind? LOL! Don't worry you don't sound like an idiot, wanting to know WHAT Kagome is. You'll find out soon, I promise. Thank you so much for your reviews and your wonderful insight, it amazes me when I read your comments, and I always love them!

Zachire: If you don't have me down on author alert, then I will E-mail you when I post this. To keep you updated, like you asked. Thank you for the review, I'm glad you like my story.

Phalon 22: Sorry it has taken me so long to bring out Chapter 5, I've been bogged. Thank you for the review, and here is the update!

ShortPoet: Mary! Hey, sorry about the long wait. Sesshomaru, a softie? Pssh. He'd never admit it. Well, the reason he has so many humans in his castle will be evident soon, I have an idea with Miroku that Sesshomaru just used him for, and that will reveal itself in this chapter. Also, another clue to what Kagome is will reveal itself, and you should be able to figure it out, if I sew it in well enough. Thanks for all your reviews I love hearing from you! BTW, I've been trying to reach your story, but my mom has computer restrictions, so I'm working on getting around them so I can read your new chapters that you posted and review. I'm practically dying, I want to know whats going on in your fic!

Personwithnoname: Wow, I'd say your name, but it seems like you haven't one. Thank you for the review, hope you like the update.

Vampireluv: I'll take that as you like my story?

Jully123: Thank you for your review. Interesting? I certainly hope so! Thanks again!

Lonelylulaby: Creative name. I like. Here is the update, sorry it took so long. Thank you for the review! I hope you like this chapter!


This story is dedicated to Mary, for all her help with my other stories. Here is as much thanks as I can give to you, girl. And this story, and all my future stories, are dedicated to Nola. My wonderful great-great grandmother who lived to be 95 and all the years I knew her, my memories of her will always be of me sitting in her lap while she told me stories of her childhood.

R.I. P.


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Night Vision

PG-13

Romance/Tragedy/Secretive/Angst

Chapter Three

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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Sadly, the only thing I do own would be the clothes on my back, and even more tragic: I stole them from an old lady.

Sitting in his Lord's chambers made him very uncomfortable. Miroku glanced uneasily at his surroundings. Tall shelves stood among the vast walls, cluttered with books of history and hidden knowledge. A strong, marble desk was sitting in the middle of the room, also cluttered but with entirely different material. Papers were laying askew, some scrawled with Lord Sesshomaru's writing, others in the formal writing of Lords lying in the other lands.

The young mans dark eyes strayed from the desk, to look out the window. Day had given way to allow night to fall, and a full moon hung in the depths. Moonlight filtered through stray clouds, and descended onto the land of Lord Sesshomaru's well kept garden. Flowers were in full bloom, which were, he thought, more than likely planted upon Rin's request.

Miroku let his mind wander. Why, he questioned, did Lord Sesshomaru call him to his chambers? What was his reasoning behind sending Miroku to their new guests burned down house? What, he wondered, was going through his Lord's mind?

Miroku's eyes flickered to the door as Lord Sesshomaru walked in, and the young man quickly stood.

"My Lord," Miroku said quietly.

"Miroku," Sesshomaru acknowledged curtly, and from the blunt use of his name, Miroku wasn't surprised. Sesshomaru's mind was elsewhere. His molten amber eyes flashed, either in recognition or something else, Miroku had no knowledge, but he could clearly tell something was troubling his Lord. Miroku sat as Sesshomaru sat in his own chair.

"What did you find out?" Sesshomaru asked pointedly. He was not a man to be kept waiting, or known to ease into a subject.

Unaffected, Miroku sighed. "I'm not quite sure, my Lord. It seems as if the fire was started by someone on the inside." No affect. "Although, it also seemed to be an accident." Miroku frowned, despite himself, his mind immersed in what he had inspected earlier. "The energy there wasn't evil, but it wasn't exactly pure in its own right."

Feeling the needed to explain, Miroku continued.

"The energy was like...a barrier of sorts. Demons and humans alike place barriers to hide power. Some good, some not. It seemed as if this power or this person that started the fire is pure in their own right but the reasoning for their power isn't. Nor am I completely positive that I know of which I speak," He added quickly. "I'm just reporting to you what I picked up from the site."

"Did you catch any other powers or personas?" Sesshomaru's voice was impassive, uninterested. But Miroku knew that had he been feeling the way his voice and demeanor reflected, then Sesshomaru wouldn't have bothered with asking Miroku to do what he did.

"All in all, there were three. The girl called Kagome, Rin, as of which we expected, but the third was very mysterious. The power I sensed from its presence was faint. Very faint. But my instinct told me that was not true." The young priest took a breath. " I know of which my instinct means little to you, my Lord, but when I survey powers and personas, I've learned to follow and trust them."

Sesshomaru gave the faintest of nods. "Your job is done," Sesshomaru stated matter-of-factly. "But, I may require your priest skills once again in the near future."

Miroku nodded slightly, stood, then bowed. "I am honored to be required of you, Lord Sesshomaru." Miroku left just as quietly as he came, unknowing of the brooding Lord behind him.

What did the priest mean by three personas? Only two people were present that night when he pulled that human woman out of the fire. Rin, and her. While he acted on instinct when he heard Rin's desperate plea to save her friend, he had still analyzed the area for other auras. He was not foolish enough to race blindly into unfamiliar land. He had not found but one aura and that had been the human womans.

The Western Lord stood swiftly, gracefully walking toward the open window. The day was grey and dreary. Clouds covered the sky, killing any hope that the sun would break through this day. A gentle wind blew through and he caught the scent of rain, knowing that a fine mist would start to fall within ten minutes.

Just as his mind was working its way back to the subject at hand, he saw two figures in the corner of his eye and glanced down. Rin dashed through the flowers, Kagome behind her. Rin's happy squeals of delight and Kagome's own laughter wafted through the distance between the garden and his window and he found himself transfixed. Not once had he seen a human more at ease with someone whom they had met only a day before. Both humans were comfortable with each other, but from what they both spoke of to him, they had only met each other a day before dawn this morning.

The rustling of paper had his eyes falling to his desk behind him and he was reminded of the task ahead. Without another glance towards the two humans frolicking in his gardens, he turned and sat at his desk. There was work to be done.

And a mystery to be solved.


Rin collapsed on the cool green grass and seconds later, Kagome was next to her. For a while the quiet day was interrupted by heavy breathing until both girls caught their breath.

Kagome rolled over onto her stomach and propped up on her elbows. The ran a blade of grass between her fingers and looked over at Rin.

"How long have you been with Lord Sesshomaru," Kagome asked quietly, curiously.

The little girl gave a small shrug of her shoulders and grinned. "Rin has been with Fluffy-sama ever since he saved me from wolves that attacked the place where I lived."

A fleeting memory of her friend with sparkling blue eyes and dark black hair passed at the mention of wolves and she shook her head. He wouldn't have had anything to do with it. He didn't kill humans anymore.

"I am sorry," Kagome said sympathetically, guessing that meant her parents were part of the villagers slaughtered.

Rin mocked Kagome's earlier move and rolled to her stomach. She smiled happily at Kagome. "Rin like's having you here, Kagome."

Kagome smiled warmly at the girl. Although it wasn't common, Kagome knew that Rin felt the same connection with her as Kagome did. They laid in comfortable conversation until they felt the wind change.

Kagome felt Rin's glance as a lull in the conversation stayed silent. Rin noted the serious look on Kagome's face and her eyes grew worried.

"Kagome? What is it?"

Hearing the worry in the young child's voice, Kagome smiled reassuringly but didn't take her eyes off the sky. "Rain," She stated simply and Rin cast a glance toward the sky. Sure enough, not even ten seconds later rain fell on them in harsh sheets and they both shot to their feet.

"I'll beat you there!" Rin exclaimed happily and then both girls were off in a race to the castle doors. Both were unknowing of the molten amber eyes that had watched from a west wing window not fifteen minutes before, and were unknowing of the same eyes watching them now.


Damn.

That word resonated through out his mind too many times to count as he walked down the candle lit corridors.

A mystery.

That's all she was. A mystery. It was why he couldn't get her out of his mind. Why she continued to dwell in the chambers of his thoughts, always showing up when he took a turn to delve into his thoughts.

Just as he had forced his mind to believe that's all the human woman was, her laughter rang through the corridors, followed by that scent of hers that was so unlike any other humans. Another voice rang out, one he knew well, and his mood softened somewhat. Rin had worked her way into his heart, without meaning to but fully knowing she had his affection. Her innocence and young, vulnerable demeanor left Sesshomaru's heart strings in tangles until he admitted to himself he cared for the young child. Ever since that show of unabashed kindness when she found him in the forest, her quick ability to love, her fearlessness in coming close to him- it all made him appreciate the human child, and he allowed her to stay. Every once and a while, a small voice would remind him that he cared for the child because of his own loneliness, but he would never admit that. To himself or anyone else. He didn't need anyone or anything, but he enjoyed the child nonetheless. Jaken, on the other hand, was only there because he had been with the Tashio-youkai line for generations.

He caught his child's scent as she rounded the corner at full speed and flew right into his legs. Sesshomaru felt himself admitting something else to himself as he picked Rin up effortlessly. He had come to call her 'his child'. And he knew he meant it.

"Rin, how many times have you been told not to run in the corridors?" Sesshomaru's voice was low enough for only Rin to hear, and she caught the underlying concern in his strict tone. She nodded, a sheepish smile on her face.

"Sorry, Fluffy-sama."

A small smile elicited from the Western Lord. It game easy when he was with Rin. He felt an icy chill through his kimono and noticed that Rin was soaked. Her hair was matted to her face, and her clothes were drenched. But her face was happy and her eyes were vibrant, so he didn't bother saying anything.

"Rin, where'd you go? We better get dry before Lo-," Kagome was abruptly cut off when she rounded the corner and ran into Sesshomaru and Rin. She took a quick step back, a warm flush on her cheeks.

"Excuse me, Lord Sesshomaru. I was just coming to find Rin." Kagome's soft, cool voice was almost hypnotic, and for a split second he felt as if he could fall and still be standing. The feeling was broke, however, when Miroku walked gracefully up to them, announcing dinner would be ready shortly.

"I do not believe we have met?" Miroku grinned at Kagome, and she smiled back warmly.

"I'm Kagome," She said.

"Miroku, at your service." He hesitated, glanced at Rin, then looked back at Kagome. "May I ask you a question, Lady Kagome?"

Unknowing that Sesshomaru knew what Miroku was about to do, her curiosity peaked and she nodded. Miroku leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Just as she was getting over the shock of him asking her to bear his children, she felt his hand wandering on her back side and her face flushed.

Sesshomaru saw it as well, but before he could do anything, Kagome slapped Miroku hard across the face and he fell to the floor with a loud thud. The sound echoed through out the narrow halls and she turned her red face to Sesshomaru. She noted his amused expression and felt a smile tug at her lips.

"Excuse me, Lord Sesshomaru, but I think I am going to get ready for dinner. As you can plainly tell, I am drenched from head to toe and do not think my appearance would bode well in the dinning chambers. Rin would you like to come?"

"Can I go, Fluffy-sama? Please?" Rin turned her chocolate brown eyes pleadingly toward her Lord, and Sesshomaru found it hard to resist the child. As always.

"Go ahead, Rin. Do not run." Sesshomaru barely tightened his hold on the young child in a brief one armed hug that only Rin noticed and then set her on her feet.

"Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru!" Remembering her promise, she took Kagome's out stretched hand and walked down the corridors.

Miroku stood up just as the two girls were turning a corner in the hall and he cast a sheepish grin to Sesshomaru.

"Forgive me, My Lord, I could not contain myself."

Sesshomaru saw a flicker of amusement in Miroku's eyes, but kept his own cool demeanor on. "As long as you do not try that with Rin, I have no desire to wonder who you do it to next." Sesshomaru glanced toward the hall the two girls had walked down, then back at his lecherous priest. "I advise you not to try that on the woman again. Something tells me she won't be as...gentle, next time."


As Rin locked herself in the bathroom to get dried off and changed, Kagome felt her mind wandering. She felt herself being drawn back into old memories and her hands dropped the clothes she was holding and she sank to the bed as images flashed infront of her eyes.

"I am so sorry, baby girl. But it is for the best. You will see in time." Izumi looked up. She was at the church. Currently standing at the bottom of the stone steps. She walked painstakingly slow, up the steps, and opened the red oak doors to the church. Stepping in, she shut the door firmly behind her. Izumi glanced around.

"We must be in the sanctuary, little one."

The room was lightened by a set of three tall candles in each corner of the room, and one candle in the edge of every five pews. She walked to the front, and waved her hand in the air. A manger appeared in the center of the section roped off for the choir and she placed her daughter in it.

The baby stirred and awoke. Her wide, golden swirled eyes stared up at Izumi, and she smiled gently. The little girl yawned, stretching out to her mother. Her tiny fingers struggling for her hair, Izumi leaned forward slightly and the little fingers held onto Izumi's golden locks.

She looked her baby over. Rose colored lips, stormy-midnight eyes swirled with black, and gold tinted black fuzz on her head. Her skin was fair; it was creamy and glowed softly, as if someone had caught a ray of moonlight, and kissed her skin with it.

Izumi looked up sharply.

"Kagome, you can use the bathroom now."

Rin's voice intruded on Kagome's thoughts, and Kagome found herself nodding absently, then passing the child into the bathroom with a soft touch of her hand.She shut the bathroom door with a soft click.

Footsteps.

Someone was approaching. She searched her senses forward and the person coming, she realized, was a priest. Good, someone with a pure soul, she thought. She turned back to her baby, and felt silent tears fall down her cheeks. She reached one slender hand and pulled the little fingers from her hair.

"One day you will understand. You destiny was not to be caught be them and used by him. Your destiny is to protect this world. One day you will understand, little one. Your strength will be immense, your heart will be on fire with passion for life." She hesitated. She didn't choose this life for her daughter, it chose her. And she must follow fate's thread. "Sometimes you will feel as if you have been given to much responsibility, and some day you will feel as if you can not go on any longer." Her voice caught, but she pushed on. "But you can do it. It's in your blood, your heart, and your soul."

The footsteps were closer.

"This is my gift to you."

She gently took her daughters right hand in her left. She placed her right index finger on her daughters wrist and traced a marking all the way around. A light pink shimmer followed her finger and imprinted on the baby's skin. When she was done, the mark faded, and disappeared.

"It will appear when you need it most."

The door knob was turning to allow the priest entrance. Izumi quickly leaned down and kissed her forehead. Her lips shimmered on her child's soft, creamy skin.

"All will be well." She whispered as her body faded into the shadows. "My daughter Kagome."

Kagome's vision cleared and she found herself staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was pale, her eyes dark with recognition.

"How could I have forgotten that name?" She whispered furiously to herself. That name which had caused so much pain and destruction to her mother. The name which was her mothers killer, the name that place their family-line curse. How could she have allowed herself to forget that name, when every day since she had been adopted, she was reminded of him. Of what he had done?

One day she was going to face her mother's murderer, and one day she was going to life this curse that had been a burden sine the day she was born. He was going to pay for what he did. Her voice was harsh and her eyes became cold. That bastard...

"Naraku."

TO BE CONTINUED...