Bakura's Girl88: I know, I know…soz…it's just that I needed that to be able to explain what's going to happen in the rest of the story.
To all my reviewers: Sorry if this chapter might be slower than others…but I'll soon get to the point.
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Kagome wasn't happy in the palace as she had been in the mansion in the forest. A couple of weeks had convinced her of that. Sure, her room was gorgeous—and her closets were filled with the most beautiful kimonos she had ever seen—but she hardly ever saw Sesshomaru. Of course, she'd seen him during the feast in her honor—where the Lords of the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Lands came to meet Sesshomaru's mate. She had hoped that Sesshomaru would do something romantic—but throughout the whole dinner he'd been tensely polite towards her. That was when she'd realized that he was probably ashamed that his fellow lords (who all had beautiful youkai mates) knew that he had a lowly human as a mate. Kagome had hoped that her status as miko would make her somewhat more acceptable in everyone's eyes—but apparently it hadn't.
During the night he was so loving with her, but during the day he seemed to be someone else. Sometimes Kagome wondered if she'd made the right decision—but the pain she felt at thinking of leaving Sesshomaru told her that she had.
She missed Shippou. Even though she loved Rin, Kagome had a strong bond with the fox kitsune, and she felt sad for having left him. With those thoughts in mind, she walked silently down the hall, listening to Rin as the little girl told her about something funny she'd seen.
…
He stood frozen in his study, looking at the paler version of Kagome as she looked up at him, waiting for his answer. She wanted to go back to the mansion in the forest—with Rin. His mate hadn't even mentioned taking him along—which stung. Sesshomaru had noticed how she seemed to be withering away at his palace, and the thought had kept him up many nights. Sniff. And there was something different about her scent, he just couldn't figure what it was. Hmph. Maybe sometime at the mansion would be good for her.
"You may go."
…
"You know, when I said that you were obsessed with finding the shards—I never thought you'd prove me right." Leaning against a tree, Miroku looked down at his staff. Ever since the marriage he'd been quiet and subdued. It was as if he wasn't the same monk whom they had been traveling with for so long. Everyone—including a reluctant Sango—missed the old Miroku.
"Just a couple of shards more are out there, waiting to be taken." Inuyasha announced, looking at the numerous shards they'd found. "Then we take the ones Naraku has and the Shikon No Tama will be complete."
Miroku just shook his head and walked away, his eyes on the bracelet he now wore. He'd worn it after the wedding night—a gift from 'Aiko-sama'.
Sango sighed with deep regret as she watched him go.
…
"Are you sure?"
"Yes my lord." The minion announced, bowing in front of Naraku. "Our spy has said that they have found almost all of the missing shards." Clearing his throat, the minion knew that this little piece of information would gladden his master's day. "Another spy has confirmed that the miko has left the Palace and is living with the human child in the mansion in the forests. It has come to happen as the prophesy said it would."
Naraku's head jerked to look in horror at the minion. "You mean?"
"Yes my lord."
"And does Sesshomaru--?"
"No my lord. She left before the scent was strong enough to be detected."
An evil smile appeared on Naraku's face. "Well then. Ready the others. We're going to pay the Lady of the Western Lands a little courtesy visit."
…
Ever since she'd read the first letter left by Kagome, she'd been sure that she wouldn't receive more—imagine her surprise when she not only received one from Kagome—but one from Sesshomaru as well! Kaede read Lord Sesshomaru's first, and then smiled, nodding to the messenger, telling him to assure his master that it would be done. The cheetah youkai had rushed off to inform his master. Minutes later Kagome's letter had arrived by a jaguar hanyou riding on one of Lord Sesshomaru's famed clouds, and Kaede's eyes had opened widely as she read the contents.
Hurrying to find Shippou, Kaede (with Sango behind her) told him of Lord Sesshomaru's letter. The lord had been worried about Kagome's pale and fatigued condition and had invited Shippou to live in the palace with them, since he knew that his mate loved the little fox kitsune.
When he heard the news, Shippou's eyes widened in excitement and he jumped up and down. "I'm going to live with Kagome? Really? Really?"
"Yes." Kaede smiled. "Now hurry. You too Sango. The messenger is waiting on us." As she watched the kitsune rush to get his few belongings, Kaede went to do the same with hers. She would go to visit Kagome for some time. It was good that Sango had been feeling sick today, and hadn't gone shard hunting with the men. It would do the woman some good to go with her to visit Kagome. Kaede knew how Sango suffered from Miroku's marriage…and Kaede couldn't help but wonder about his wife. There was something about Aiko that she didn't like.
…
"Where the hell are those women?" Growling, Inuyasha and Miroku looked around the abandoned hut. It was as if Sango, Kaede and Shippou had disappeared into thin air. Sango's sudden illness had been surprising enough—and now this? The hanyou's temper couldn't handle this. "We get four shards and we come home to an empty house?"
Miroku's eyes were filled with worry. He looked around the room. This was the first time that he had shown emotion since the marriage. He looked around the darkened room. "I hope Sango-chan is okay."
Noticing something white, Inuyasha picked it up. It was a hesitantly written note.
We will be gone for some days.
Kaede
He growled. The wenches didn't even say where they had gone to!
"Ouch." Bumping into something, Miroku winced. He narrowed his eyes, seeing three slips of paper falling out of their hiding place. Picking up the first, he unfolded it. "Dear friends. I know that you must be worried about me—but don't be—I'm with Sesshomaru." He suddenly had Inuyasha's complete attention. "I love him and he loves me too. We'll be happy together. My mother gave us her blessing and I hope you do the same. I also hope that you can understand that I did this because I love Sesshomaru. And I'll try coming to visit you as soon as I can. Tell Shippou that I sent him some chocolate. And…and tell Inuyasha hello for me."
Inuyasha's blood began boiling once more. That bitch Kaede had hidden Kagome's letter! He tore the letter out of Miroku's hand and read it silently once more.
Remembering the other two slips of paper in his hands, Miroku unfolded the other. "Kaede of the village by the Bone Eater's well. Salutations. I, Lord Sesshomaru, am sending this to you via my most trusted messenger. My mate, Lady Kagome of the Western Lands, has been feeling lonely of late and I believe that her little friend, the fox kitsune, would make her happier. Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands."
"He just loves to remind people of his title." Inuyasha growled angrily, grabbing the unread piece of paper out of Miroku's hands. His eyes went over the writing and his face paled, his eyes widened in horror. Whining like a wounded dog, he dropped the slip of paper, and ran out of the hut.
In shock at the reaction, Miroku bent and picked up the piece of paper. Unfolding it, he read it aloud for himself. "Kaede. I'm staying temporarily at the mansion in the forest. I'm here with Rin. I think that I have lost favor in Sesshomaru's eyes. I love him so much. Please come. I need you. The messenger will bring you here. Please, Kaede, hurry." Thenext part was written in a different colored ink, as if she had been pondering whether to write this part or wait, and had decided to write it. "I think I'm carrying pups."
…
Sitting silently by the Bone Eater's well Inuyasha felt the pain of losing Kikyou all over again. But this time it was tripled—because he'd felt something stronger for Kagome. And once again, he'd lost her because of his stupidity.
Wiping his face, wet from silent tears, Inuyasha stood. Well, he wasn't going to let his brother do the same. Even though he still believed that Sesshomaru didn't deserve Kagome, Inuyasha wanted Kagome to be happy. She loved Sesshomaru—and she was going to have pups. Sesshomaru would be a father and Inuyasha an uncle. And Inuyasha would be damned before he allowed his brother to make Kagome's life miserable. "I think it's time my brother and I had a good long talk." And with that, he walked back towards the village, his heart lightened now that his hatred had disappeared.
…
Looking down at his bracelet, which was on the same cursed hand, Miroku closed his eyes. Once he'd thought that the Wind Tunnel was his greatest curse—but he now knew better. The monk clenched his fists, trying to get past the torture. Why hadn't he realized what Aiko was right away? He was supposed to be a great exorcist of evil demons for crying out loud! He should have realized the alliance she had with the one he was seeking!
Many minutes passed and Miroku was still sitting in Kaede's darkened hut. Concentrating, he tried his best to take the bracelet off, but he couldn't. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get up and go to look for Sango. He couldn't warn everyone about what he'd overhead. As long as he wore the bracelet, he was under its complete control.
The bracelet glowed an evil red as he tried concentrating, tried fighting it. The evil powerscontrolling this bracelet were mocking him. He wouldn't be able to help his friends. He wouldn't be able to see Sango again. Everyone would die and he'd live the rest of his life as a puppet. I…have…to…keep…trying…
