Disclaimer: R-U-M-I-K-O! T-A-K-A-H-A-S-H-I! Now! What does that spell? RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!!!!!! And she owns the show Inuyasha…Not me…Arigatou.

Love Me as I Am

Chapter 35- On the Other Side

"Dang…where am I?" said Inuyasha as he looked around. He appeared to be in the middle of a forest.

"Ack! I-I'm…see through!"

Then he heard breathing from behind him and he flung around to see who it was.

"K-Kikyo…oh good lord. I'm in Hell."

"Not quite you're not. Your soul has not had time to travel to its destination. It will be a while yet. It seems it is having trouble parting from your body. There is something holding it back."

Inuyasha blinked.

"Say…Kikyo. How come you're not in Heaven…or…Hell….or wherever the heck you're going?"

Kikyo grabbed Inuyasha's hand and pulled him into the air.

"I have chosen to remain as a spirit so that I can watch my child mature.

Inuyasha stared down at the ground, which was about 30 feet below them.

"A second ago you said my soul was having trouble parting with my body…or at least…the other half of my soul. Why is that?" Inuyasha wondered.

Kikyo pointed to the left as Inuyasha turned his head and saw a little dot that looked like the cabin.

Kikyo nodded and let go of this hand, allowing him to fly over alone.

He had almost forgotten how he had died in first place.

"Stupid mind control. I'll have to remind myself later to kill the person that did it to Kagome." Said Inuyasha as he clenched his fist.

"Gah! I can't even do anything like this! Man…this is going to be harder than I thought."

Kagome had lain Inuyasha's body on a futon and cleaned it off for the most part. She hadn't stopped crying though.

'Kagome…'

"Holy crap! This place is a mess…and…what the--It looks like a day care now. Who's the new kid?" Inuyasha pondered aloud as he counted on his fingers.

"S'far as I can remember we only had…two…yeah. Two babies. So what? Did one just suddenly appear out of thin air?"

He sighed.

"I'm confused."

~*~*~

"I'm not too worried now. Suki's true to her word. I know she can do anything she puts her mind to." whispered Kanaye as Trinity sat in his lap holding Asako. She now knew her name because of a small charm necklace she wore around her neck.

"Yes. But it doesn't stop me from having doubts. I mean, what if your father's soul had already…"

"It hasn't. Don't worry. He'll be back."

Kanaye laughed.

"He's too stubborn to die that easily."

Trinity nodded as Kanaye nuzzled her neck gently and she closed her eyes.

~*~*~

An enormous palace came into view.

"I think that's it." Suki alerted.

Yasuo nodded.

"Head down Tobi."

~*~*~

"Lord Sesshomaru. I think someone is here." Said Kunara as she looked out the window, her hands clinging to the gold curtains.

Sesshomaru stood up and walked over, standing behind her.

"It is my niece. I would recognize that face anywhere."

Kunara tilted her head backward to look at him.

"I remember her."

Sesshomaru nodded.

"They're at the door now."

"Jaken. Let them in." he ordered.

The little green toad scurried towards the door and clumsily grabbed the handle, pulling it open.

Suki hesitated then walked in slowly. Yasuo following closely behind her.

Sesshomaru stood tall as the two bowed their heads politely.

"Come." he said turning around and leading them into the den.

A fire crackled as he sat in one of the chairs around the fire. It was unneeded but Suki figured he liked the sound.

"What is the reason for your visit?" Sesshomaru wondered.

Suki took a seat across from him and Yasuo took the one beside her.

"It's my father."

"What about him?"

"He has been killed."

Sesshomaru held his hands in his lap.

"How?"

"I'm not sure. I didn't know until I got home. I was wondering if you'd--"

"If I'd use tenseiga to bring him back to life."

Suki gulped and nodded.

Kunara watched from behind the curtain.

"Tell me. How long has he been dead?"

Suki looked to Yasuo for help.

"About 45 minutes to an hour sir."

Sesshomaru stood up.

"I'm not sure if the oni will still be there. They may have already taken his soul to its destination."

Suki couldn't bear to think about it.

"Onegai (please)…" she pleaded.

"Very well. We must not waste any more time. Kunara! Fetch tenseiga."

Suki's eyes widened as she turned around to see Kunara.

"I-it's you…" she whispered as she watched Kunara run barefoot across the hall to go get tenseiga.

"Lord Sesshomaru…h-how can you allow THAT girl to stay in your home? Do you not know who she is?"

"I know very well who she is. She is the priestess Kikyo's daughter. AND the daughter of the evil hanyou Naraku. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would have known just by how her name is spelled."

"B-but…why?"

"It is not your place to ask such questions of your elders. Rin!"

Rin finished tidying Sesshomaru's bed when she heard her name called.

"Yes Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked, coming out of his room and walking out to him, her forest green kimono flowing at her feet.

"I would like you to watch the palace while I am out. Young Kunara will be here as well."

Rin tucked a ringlet of hair behind her ear and bowed her head.

"Yes Milord." she said, nodding her head.

Kunara came padding into the room, the oversized sword in her hands. With a bit of difficulty she carried it over to Sesshomaru and lifted it about her head, which in itself was a big feat because of its weight.

Rin took Kunara's hand as Yasuo and Suki headed outside. Sesshomaru sheathed Tenseiga and started to follow but stopped and turned back around walking slowly back to Rin.

"Lord Sesshomaru. Did you for--"

She was silence as his hand brushed against her cheek and he claimed her mouth with his.

Kunara squeezed her eyes shut.

'Yuck.'

Without warning Sesshomaru broke the kiss and walked outside, glancing behind his shoulder quickly before Rin was completely out of sight just in time to see her dazed, dumbfounded, and slightly giddy look.

He smiled to himself as he untied Ah and Un, boarded the carriage and flew up.

~*~*~

Rin dropped down to her knees still holding Kunara's hand.

"Are you okay?" Kunara asked.

Rin nodded slowly as if still in a trance. Kunara waved a small hand in front of her face.

"Well if that's what kissing does to you I never wanna kiss anyone ever…" vowed Kunara.

Rin closed her eyes and opened them again.

"I-I'm sorry." she apologized standing up and smoothing her kimono out.

"What do you say I make you something to eat?"

Kunara smiled as Rin led her into the kitchen.