Alright, I hope all of you read my author's note, which explained to you why it took me so long to update, and I hope you guys don't hate me anymore. Now, this chapter I planned to make short, but then i got into the whole kid sitaution and yea, just couldn't possibly make it short. It's longer than my other chapters, and I hope it sort of makes up for the long wait. It expresses some emotions from Sesshoumaru, shocker I know, and also builds the bond between Kagome and the kids. Alright so on with the story.

I already replied to you guys, so I hope you reply back!

Bold- change of character or scene

Italic- author's notes

Chapter 10

Lord Sesshoumaru stood before Rin's bed, a blank face worn as usual. But this time, it was different. It wasn't the usual expression of boredom, but someone would dare say, desperation. His eyes were narrowed and full of ice but they held a distracted look.

He could not name the emotion he was feeling, but he wasn't so sure he wanted to find out what it was. Gazing down upon Rin's still form, and deadly white features, his mask threatened to fall.

"My Lord." A squeaky voice called out to him in a cautious way. Sesshoumaru turned slightly, catching a glimpse of the imp in the corner of his eye. Jaken stood behind him, waiting for some sign of anything, anything that could show that his master was still with him.

"What is it?" Sighing with relief, the small green demon coughed and slowly walked until he was beside his lord.

"They are here." Sesshoumaru stiffened slightly. Turning fully to face Jaken, Sesshoumaru nodded in response and turned back towards Rin's form. He could hear Jaken's robes rustling as he made his way back towards the door. The door opened and a small stream of light fell across the floor. Sesshoumaru could make out the shape of two people walking into the room. One was taller than the other, but both shrunk in comparison to him.

"My lord, you called upon us?" The soft voice of Nyoko reached his ears and his face regained its usual expression of boredom. Sesshoumaru waited until Yukiko spoke, but she never did.

"Yes." Sesshoumaru's stern voice demanded respect, and both girls knelt before him. "Jaken, leave."

"Wha- But my Lord, I-" Jaken quickly clamped his mouth shut as he felt his master' aura flare with rage at disobedience. "Yes Lord Sesshoumaru." Jaken quickly walked out the door and shut it.

Silence filled the room as Sesshoumaru turned to glare down at the women's knelt forms. Sniffing the air, he distinctly made out the scent of snow. Both demons possessed the power to control the element of snow, Nyoko being able to control all elements and Yukiko specifically only snow and ice. Though his mind couldn't make out who held the scent that he found in his study.

"Which one of you entered my study without my permission?" Sesshoumaru's calm voice did not fool the two women before him. They knew full well that the eerie calm his voice held was only to mask the intense rage he felt within. Both winced at the sound of it, but neither spoke.

Impatient Sesshoumaru growled, causing Nyoko to speak up. "My Lord, you have forbidden anyone from venturing into your study, and I have no reason to disobey you." Looking up at him, her eyes held a silent plea for him to believe her. Sesshoumaru stared into her eyes, looking for any sign of a lie, but he wasn't sure whether or not to believe her. Turning towards Yukiko, he growled once again.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, I would never go against your orders." Yukiko did not look up at him. He was about to speak out once more, before Nyoko spoke.

"My Lord why are you questioning us?" Nyoko knew it was bold, and probably shouldn't have done it, but she was curious. She hadn't heard the slight growl from Yukiko.

"The scent of snow lingers in my study." Yukiko tenses immediately and mentally kicked herself for not hiding her scent before heading in there. But how was she to know he wouldn't be there? But she could cover it up, no problem.

"Lord, I don't mean to be out of place, but did you check if your windows were closed?' Sesshoumaru growled at Yukiko's question, but he couldn't help himself from thinking if they were or were not. Yukiko bowed her head once more, but she couldn't help but smile knowing she had planted doubt in his mind.

"Yukiko could be right. Winter is upon us my lord, and perhaps the winds brought in the scent of snow." Lord Sesshoumaru looked down upon them, having a look of thoughtfulness. Completely dismissing the fact that his servants had questioned him, he tried to go back in memory and find out if maybe he had overlooked that fact. But that still didn't explain the fact that Tenseiga was missing.

"It is not the scent of snow that concerns me the most. Though I can not be certain that the windows to my study were open, I will bring upon you no punishment, neither of you. However, I have another question to be answered."

Yukiko smirked, bowing her head deeper, allowing her hair to hide it from Sesshoumaru. Nyoko was a fool to try and help her out, idiot wench probably had no idea that she had indeed gone in their master's study. 'Perhaps I should repay her.' Yukiko smiled darkly, yes she would. Nyoko looked up at Lord Sesshoumaru with curiosity in her eyes. She knew her master was looking for very important information, or he wouldn't be asking Yukiko and herself.

"Though I can not explain the scent of snow in my study accurately yet, it was not the only thing I want explanations for." Sesshoumaru looked down at them, reading their body language like a book. Both were tense and he could smell fear and panic. However he wasn't sure whether that was caused by their fear of him or their fear of the situation.

"Something has been taken from my territory. Something very important to me, its value is immeasurable. I can't say whether the scent has anything to do with it but now you must surely understand my reasons for doing this." Lord Sesshoumaru watched as Nyoko's face expressed her shock. Yukiko held her look of innocent shock and curious eyes.

"You believe that either I or Yukiko could have taken whatever it was that was taken?" Nyoko could not hide the tone of disbelief in her voice. She knew she was nothing more than a servant in his eyes, but she thought they had a deeper bond that that of just a servant.

Sesshoumaru heard her voice and his mask almost fell. Ignoring everything inside of him, he nodded and Nyoko face almost fell to the floor. Her eyes watered and her mouth closed tightly shut. Yukiko nearly laughed out loud with enjoyment.

"My Lord, what was taken?" Sesshoumaru turned towards Yukiko. He wasn't sure whether to tell them or not. However that was that only way to find out who took the sword from his study.

"Tenseiga." Simply said, he walked past both of them. Closing the door, he nodded at Jaken to stay put and watch them. Taking the hint, Jaken stayed where he was, glad he wasn't about to be used as a kicking bag.

Walking along the now illuminating hallways, Sesshoumaru's thoughts once again fell upon Rin. Without his sword, he could not bring her back to life. It was the reason he did not feel panicked upon hearing the news of her death. She would never die by his side, he saw to that. But now? What if he was too late? Was their a time limit to Tenseiga? Would it work again on the same person? Could he find it?

Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru cleared his mind. He wouldn't worry with such thoughts. After all, he was Lord of the Western Lands. He had never lost at anything; never had he known the meaning of the word failure, and he wouldn't start now. He would find Tenseiga, revive Rin and wipe the look of grief from Nyoko's face. Once again he would be in peace and he would make sure nothing ever happened to any of them.

He could not understand why he was feeling the way he was. A feeling of despair, as if he was trying to make up for everything he had done wrong that caused this. It was a feeling he didn't like and tried to wave away, but he found that he couldn't ignore it. He couldn't deny it, was it shame that made him want to repair everything even if he knew he could fail?

For the first time in his life he felt the presence of failure near. Not the feeling you get when you actually suffer defeat, but when your close to it. Why did those two make him feel emotions he had dug deep inside him? A Lord should never have any weaknesses, never. Yet here he was risking everything, his reputation, his title, his lands, for a human girl who had already passed, and an element demon he had denied as a mate and degraded to a servant.

Could it be that he was coming out of denial? Denial of having a heart, a human metaphor to an emotion of compassion? Did he posses the will to feel compassion? To express compassion? And to express it towards the very thing he despised for years upon years? Humans? Could he actually be denying the fact that he wasn't as cold and cruel as he thought?

No! He was Lord, and that was final. No 'ifs' of anything! He was only doing this act of whatever you would want to call it for Tenseiga. After all he had to find the sword. No matter what its powers were, it was from his father. And he would not despise his father's memory by denying his inheritance. And when he found it, no doubt it would force him to call Rin's soul back from the underworld. He could do nothing but respond with its commands, after all it was from his father and he felt as if his father was commanding him to do whatever the sword desired. That was his stand on the situation and he would stick to it.

He hadn't noticed that he was walking in no certain direction and had ended up in an abandoned hallway. He hadn't been to this part of the castle in years. He looked around, noticing that the servants hadn't abandoned this wing as he had, for everything was in order and clean. Turning to his right, he ignored the door right in front of him, and instead put his sights on the wall beside it. There a life size painting hung, amazingly towering over Sesshoumaru. Not realizing it, he had knelt to his right knee looking up into the eyes of his father.

Kagome looked down at the 6 little bodies lying around her. They had all fallen asleep as soon as the storm had passed. Though her eyes threatened to close, she stayed awake, watching over them as she had promised. Never had she expected to find children lost and alone the day she returned to her past. She had thought that she would hide from the storm and then return undetected and safe. Now she was responsible for 6 kids and here she was in an already bleak situation.

Feeling Toru stir beside her she brought her mind back from its usual miserable state and thought about what to do next. She should find a village, there she could get them food and perhaps a new home safe from the dangers of the forest. After all, she could not stay here for ever, and she couldn't bring them back to the future no matter how much her heart desired it.

She knew she had promised to never abandon them, but she saw it differently then abandoning them. It wasn't as if she was just going to ditch them in the middle of nowhere. She would find them a home, somewhere where a family could take them in, raise them as their own, and protect them loyally. That was what was best for them, and she knew it.

But she couldn't deny the fact that she had grown attached to them. The twins, Makoto and Naoko were adorable and she couldn't help but see Shippou in the pair, mischievous yet loving. They had same characteristics, with their red-like hair and stunning green eyes. She gazed down upon one of them, Naoko. She knew by their clothes. Naoko wore black pants and a shirt with red and purple dragons blowing flames along his sleeves. Makoto wore the same outfit except his dragons were green and blue.

Kagome's gaze fell down upon the small figure of Toru, in his emerald green outfit, lined with blue trimmings on his sleeves and collar. Though his ensemble wasn't of great design, it was of great quality, meaning him and his sister Hana had to have come from a wealthy family. Like Toru's outfit, Hana's was also of great quality, but it was also of beautiful designs. Her yellow kimono was torn and dirty, but Kagome could still see its bright gold fishes embroidered into the soft material. Hana was shy and timid, but Kagome could see her eyes sparkle with life, and she knew she just needed a push to open up.

Unlike Hana's withdrawn ways, Aiko was outgoing and friendly. Her two pigtails bouncing with her nonstop giggles. Kagome couldn't help but fall for the little girl's charm and found herself most attached to her. It was as if her motherly instincts called out to her most when Aiko was around. She was a bubbly personality with attitude to match. Never rude, but she could defend herself with a fiery determination that rivaled her own.

Akeno however, was another story. He was quiet, reserved and bashful, always blushing whenever Kagome spoke to him. Though he was of young age, he carried himself about with a weight that robbed him of his childhood. Smiling rarely and never looking up into her eyes, Kagome felt her heart go out to him the most. He had gone through something he didn't want to remember, but hopefully, she could help him through it.

"Kagome?" A soft voice called out to her anxiously. Looking around, she saw Makoto, the eldest of the twins, sit up. His eyes held an insecure feeling and Kagome frowned.

"Yea, I'm here." Her voice was reassuring and kind and she saw him ease up. He smiled at her with his full set of teeth and looked around, his eyes purposely away from hers.

"Oh, just checking." He whispered, hoping she wouldn't hear it. Kagome could only look at him, not sure whether to smile or cry.

"I'm glad the storm passed. It was really scary." Makoto looked up at the sky, ashamed at revealing his secret fear of storms.

"Yea, storms kinda scare me to." Kagome smiled as he looked at her with wide eyes. She loved how innocent they were, but no matter whether they remembered their past or not, they had lost a part of them along with their parents. Their innocence was tainted in a way, not exactly pure.

"Are you still afraid of them?" Kagome thought a bit, remembering what they were talking about and answered.

"Not as much, they still make me feel uneasy, but not scared." Makoto sighed and he shoved his legs under him sitting with his legs crossed. His eyes were narrowed and his fingers traced over his chin. "What is it?' Kagome wanted to laugh, but she held the urge.

"Doesn't uneasy mean the same thing as scared?' Kagome could have dropped to the ground but she remained sitting. Blushing fiercely, Kagome giggled and a sheepish smile appeared on her face. Makoto giggled and fell down on Naoko on accident.

"Wha-what, hey!" Naoko shot up, pushing Makoto off him. His eyes were still half shut, and a bit of drool still hung from his mouth. Kagome laughed out loud, causing Naoko to swirl around accidentally stepping on Aiko's hand. She awoke with a cry of pain and looked around with tears in her eyes.

"Naoko! You're gonna pay!" Angrily, Aiko stood up and made to slap Naoko on his head, but he ducked and fell on top of Hana. Hana in turn rolled over crying out in pain, squashing Akeno beneath her. His muffled cries only made Kagome laugh harder at the scene before her.

"What's going on?" Kagome looked down at her lap and saw Toru's small face peek out. Calming down, Kagome smiled won at him.

"Nothing don't worry about it." Toru looked around and saw some on top of others, Aiko with tears in her eyes, and Naoko looking confused. Shrugging he sat up and snuggled into Kagome's arms.

"Kagome, my fingers hurt." Aiko cried out and Kagome bent down slightly and kissed her hand gently. Aiko seemed content and turned to glare at Naoko who in turn avoided her eyes.

"Ok, now that we are all awake and healed, how about we go and find a river to wash up in?" Kagome scooted her way out of her shelter for the night and stretched out as soon as she was certain she wasn't going to smash her head against the rocks. The kids stared at her in her unusual clothing, not being able to figure out if she was human or not. Hana walked up to her and scrunch her eyes in the bright light of the morning sun.

"I saw one when we were walking." Kagome looked down at her and grinned down at her. Hana only looked up at her with happy eyes and turned towards the others. They all looked at her and then at each other. One by one they made their way out of the small cave and stood next to her.

"Then off we go I guess." Kagome turned, and suddenly felt a small hand wrap around her own. Looking down at her side she saw Aiko smile up at her radiantly. Another small tug from her other hand and suddenly Toru appeared at her side too. Hana, Makoto, Naoko, and Akeno smiled and followed her as Kagome made her way into the forest.

"Souta!" A voice rang out inside the entire house, causing Souta to poke his head out of his bedroom door.

"Yea mom?" He replied loudly. He waited, listening to the sounds of paper bags crinkling and then the slam of a door.

"Come and help me." Souta sighed and walked down to the kitchen. He saw that she had hit some sale, because she was carrying about ten bags. Rushing to aid her, she sighed in relief as she put down her three bags. Souta struggled, but succeeded in safely placing all 5 bags he was holding down on the counter.

"What did you buy mom?" Ms. Higurashi turned and smiled.

"Many things that will surely be gone by tomorrow by the way you empty out the kitchen." She playfully teased him, and Souta just mumbled back.

"Yea well it's not just me who pigs out in this house; Kagome eats just as much as me." Souta defended himself, sneaking a bag of cookies behind his back.

"Oh yes where is Kagome? I bought her something." Souta shrugged and began to sneak away but his mother wasn't dumb.

"Put that bag back. I bought those for your sister. If you're hungry you can wait until dinner." Souta growled and reluctantly put the bag back. Turning, he walked out of the kitchen, still grumbling about his lost snack.

"Souta call Kagome for me will you?"

"She's not in her room!"

"Then where is she?"

"I don't know!"

"Don't yell at me!"

"I'm not yelling, I'm just making sure you hear me!"

"I call it yelling!"

"Well I don't!"

"Souta!"

"Sorry mom."

They had walked for almost half an hour, searching for the river Hana had seen. They hadn't even found a pond, and Kagome was beginning to sense their tiredness. Stopping Kagome turned and let go of Toru's and Aiko's hands.

"How about you rest for a bit, and I look around for some fruits?" She could see their eyes grow suspicious and Kagome sighed. "I promise I'll be right back. Just take a little rest, and I'll find something for you to eat, ok?' Smiling for extra reassurance, Kagome hoped they would trust her. Aiko and Toru immediately nodded, and soon Makoto and Naoko followed. Hana and Akeno were more cautious, but they still nodded in approval.

Giving them another smile, Kagome walked into the brush and began searching for anything to eat. Picking at berries here and there, testing if they were ripe or poisonous. Her fingers hurt after a while of being scratched and pricked by thorns and branches. Thinking seriously about just getting whatever she saw first and finding out later what could happen, she crawled under a bush and found herself in front of a small lake.

"Oh thank Kami! If I would have seen another freaking bush, I would have gone crazy!" Kagome stood, wiping at her jeans, which had been torn on many places from crawling and crossing through brush. Fixing her hair, she walked closer to the water. Standing right before the water could touch her, she tested the water with her finger. It was freezing, but the kids had to bear with her because they had to be washed. Turning, she walked back the way she came, praying that she could find it again.

It hadn't been long before she heard the laughter of Aiko and Toru, and followed their voices back to the clearing where she had left them.

"Kagome!" Aiko was the first to see her and came running with her arms spread out. Toru followed, smiling as if it was a game, who could clobber Kagome first? Bracing herself for the impact, she felt a small little force ram into her. Tumbling to the ground, she was squeezed and stepped on and practically ran over to death, but she didn't mind that much.

"Yea, I'm here, but not for long if you keep knocking the air out of me." Giggling Toru and Aiko let go, and Kagome could see the relieved faces of the twins and Hana and Akeno.

"Did you get us anything?" Naoko asked curiosity all over his face. Frowning a little, Kagome nodded no, but then her smile reappeared.

"But I did find a lake. Though it's a little hard path but I'm sure you can all squeeze under the brush better than I can." Giggles resounded throughout the clearing as the Makoto and Naoko erupted in laughter. "What's so funny?" She turned behind her to face the two who were red in the face with tears falling down their cheeks. Frowning, Kagome continued asking them, until she heard the laughter of Aiko and Toru behind her. Turning she saw the smiling faces of Akeno and Hana who were trying very hard not to explode with giggles. "What's the matter with you guys?"

"Kagome…giggles…it's just your pants…giggles…they have a…giggles…hole!" The children burst out with laughter and snorts. Turning a deep shade of red, Kagome tried to see the back of her jeans, but only caused the children to laugh harder. Frustrated Kagome stomped her foot down and glowered at the kids who immediately stopped.

"So you think this is funny, huh?" All the kids faces turned from fright to playfulness as they realized what Kagome was about to do. All over the forest little shrieks and yelps were heard as Kagome chased the kids around trying to catch at least one. Trapping the twins, they yelped out in despair and both giggled and laughed as she held on to them from around their stomachs. Laying them down on the floor she tickled them mercilessly until they had tears streaming down their faces.

"Ok…gasp…"

"We give up…giggle!" Makoto and Naoko cried out and Kagome couldn't help but exclaim at their cuteness.

"Aww that's so kawaii! You finish each other's sentences!" Makoto and Naoko blushed and Kagome let them go. All the kids were laughing at them, mocking them for getting caught. The twins just let a sheepish smile appear on their faces and they bowed their head in shame. Kagome smiled and clapped her hands. "Ok guys, it's time to get moving. We need to get clean and them find a place to stay. So let's get." Kagome waited until the kids took their usual positions, Aiko and Toru clamped on to her hands, and Akeno, Hana, Makoto and Naoko walking right behind her.

Kagome took them down the familiar path down to the lake, cursing and growling every so often about how she wished she was their size. Her body had grown accustomed to her life back home, and she felt so out of shape now that she was back even though she was best in her P.E. classes. Finally reaching the last bush, the one that probably ripped her jeans in the back, Kagome sighed upon seeing the still water.

"It's huge!" Toru exclaimed and Kagome couldn't help but laugh. To him it probably did seem big but the lake wasn't as big as he made it out to be. He started off running towards the water, and Kagome feared the worst, but before she could get to him, Hana reached out her hand and grabbed him by the collar.

"Don't go running off like that! You could get hurt, and then what! Don't ever do that again!" Toru nodded in agreement, muttering a silent apology. Kagome was hurt to hear the desperation in Hana's voice when she yelled at him. She didn't want to be left alone.

"Aiko, hold my hand, come on." Akeno called out to his sister tenderly as he walked towards the edge of the water. Aiko complied and walked along side her brother. Kagome watched as he tested the water with his toes and then get splashed by Aiko who had a mischievous smile on her face. Soon Makoto and Naoko joined in and Toru escaped from his sister long enough to jump into the water splashing everybody. Hana just yelled after him and sighed.

"Aren't you going to join them?" Hana looked up at Kagome who had appeared at her side. Kagome watched as Hana watched the group play. Her eyes held longing but she stayed put.

"I have to watch over my brother." Kagome sighed and sat down, waiting until Hana did the same.

"I have a little brother too. Souta, he acted just like Toru. Always getting himself into trouble, but you could never stay mad at him." Kagome smiled remember the time Souta had broken her favorite porcelain doll, and Souta had begged for her to forgive him. He was only about 6, and Kagome couldn't ignore his little puppy eyes.

"Toru just can't sit still." Hana watched him jumping in the water laughing at anyone who got wet. Aiko was crying and Akeno was trying to console her, splashing Makoto for spraying her in the face.

"He's a kid, he shouldn't have to. I bet you were the same when you were little." Hana stayed quiet for a while, and Kagome thought she wouldn't answer her. But then she saw Hana sigh.

"Mother used to say that I was twice as worse as Toru. I would get into the mud after it rained and just roll around in it. I was a little troublemaker, she would say." Hana's eyes welled up with tears, but Kagome didn't want to see them fall.

"I can't imagine anyone any one worse than Toru. But you are related." Kagome was relieved to see Hana smile. Hana turned to her, with sparkling eyes as if looking for something.

"Yea, now he's my only family." Hana looked at the ground and Kagome watched her struggle not to cry.

"No. You have me now." Kagome wrapped her arms around Hana gently, and stroked her back as she would with Souta whenever he came crying to her. Hana hugged her tightly, as if afraid to let go. "And you also gained a whole other family." Hana hiccupped and looked up. Kagome smiled and turned towards the other 5 kids still playing in the water. Hana looked confused at first but then smiled. She stood up slowly, and began to walk towards them. Halfway down the small hill, she stopped and turned towards Kagome.

"Great now I have 4 younger brothers and sisters." Giggling, Hana ran into the water joining the others in their splashing. Kagome smiled with tears in her eyes. She had a loving family that was still with her, but them, they had lost their parents. Her heart cried out in pain guilty about having left her family for so many days at a time. They worried about her every time she left, not knowing whether she was dead or seriously hurt. Never being able to contact her, they must have been sick with worry.

She remembered the day she came back after her journey was over. Seeing her mother that way was heartbreaking, especially knowing she was that way because of her. Her mother had mourned her, cried for her non stop, and Kagome was in the past as if everything was perfect. How inconsiderate she was. But now she was doing the same thing. She had left without telling anyone. But it wasn't like she had planned it; she didn't know herself that she was going back.

But she had come back, and memories threatened to break her. Tears threatened to fall, carving fresh new paths across her cheeks. Kagome couldn't help but see him everywhere she looked. Her heart jumped at ever rustle, every noise, imagining it was him. The very sound of her name caused her pain. She had left her family, abandoned them, put her own life on the line, and almost failed school, all because of him. And what had he repaid her with? Betrayal. Everything she had given him was thrown back in her face, hitting her dead on.

She still held the scars. Kagome's hand went to her heart as she remembered everything. Naraku's scream, Mirouku's cure, Sango's tears falling over Kohaku, and Inuyasha's disappearance. Her feet pounded against the ground as she ran after him. Tears streaked by, wind slapping her face as she tried to catch up to him. The sudden sound of voices, cries and then more running. That was her last memory of this place. Other than that she just remembered having a few days in the forest, and then realization hit her. That was the day she left without saying anything to anyone.

"Kagome!" Jumping at her name, Kagome looked up to see the Naoko's face looking up at her. He was waving from the edge of the shore, smiling a bright smile. "Come on! The water's great!" Kagome couldn't help but smile, and she waved back.

"I'm coming!" Standing up, Kagome's eyes happened to glance at a small hill just on the other side of the lake. There she spotted the outlines of a hut. Kagome looked back, making sure she saw a real hut. And sure enough, there was the outline of a hut in the top of the hills. Making sure the kids were alright, Kagome walked alongside the lake careful to stay in view of them. Her eyes watched the hills, watching the outlines of the huts become clearer.

Figuring out that the walk to the village would take half a day, if they only made 2 stops, but it wasn't far if she could see it from here. Kagome decided that they would head out that way tomorrow, that way they could get some rest and hopefully not make any stops on their way to the village. Taking off her shoes, Kagome rolled up her jeans and stepped into the shallow part of the lake. The kids all watched her for a minute before going back to their playing. After a while the kids had gotten tired and cold. They hadn't taken off their clothes, so now they had no way of getting dry. Kagome sighed as Aiko whimpered about being cold, and Naoko complained about dirt in his pants.

"Well you guys shouldn't have gone in with your clothes. Now you have to wait until we find a place to stay and I build us a fire." Kagome wanted badly to just cradle them up in her arms, but her motherly instincts kicked in telling her they had to learn. Sighing heavily, she kept them walking until they found a huge tree not far from the lake. "This will do for tonight. Now, Akeno could you help me find some firewood?" He nodded and soon they came back with handfuls of wood.

"Kagome are you sure you can start a fire?" Makoto asked, not wanting to sound mean. Kagome then remembered, she didn't have matches, or supplies, nothing. She didn't know how to start a fire without matches and she wasn't the greatest camper ever. Inuyasha was the one who usually set up everything and all she had to do was light it with the match.

"I'm sure we'll figure it out." Kagome giggled nervously, and she could see that they didn't really believe her. But before she could do anything, Akeno took two sticks and began to rub them together until a spark flew and soon their campfire was ablaze. "Wow! How did you learn to do that?" Akeno smiled at her appraisal and sat down next to her, blowing on the fire.

"My father took me out hunting once. He taught me how to start a fire whenever he caught something." Akeno stared into the fire.

"Daddy was always trying to teach him how to catch the animals, but Akeno always shot the arrow the other direction. He wasn't very good at hunting." Akeno blushed a fiery red.

"Shut up Aiko! It's not like you could do any better." Akeno shot back.

"I would never kill a poor animal." Aiko debated glaring at Akeno. Her older brother just stayed quiet, glaring her down.

"I wasn't very good at archery either." Kagome broke the silence. Akeno looked up at her.

"You used to do archery?" His voice held disbelief and Kagome knew why. She didn't look like being very good at hunting.

"Well I didn't hunt; I used it as a weapon. When I started I was horrible. Inu- No one ever thought I was very good at it." Kagome paused.

"And then?" Aiko's voice popped in.

"Oh, well I never gave up. Even when everyone else put me down, I never stopped trying. And then I started getting the hang of it. After a while I got pretty good at it, and I showed every one that I wasn't completely useless." Kagome's eyes burned with fire, but the kids weren't sure whether it was a reflection or not.

"Well I'll never get better at it. Not now anyways." Akeno's sad tone brought Kagome back.

"Well, how about you try and practice with me." Kagome tried to cheer him up.

"But we don't have any bows." Kagome was shot down pretty quick and while still recovering, Akeno spoke again. "Besides, I never liked it anyways." Akeno looked up at Kagome who was wearing a drooping expression. 'Man, that was a painful no.' Snapping out of it, Kagome looked down at Akeno. She had a feeling that it wasn't because he didn't like archery that he never wanted to do it again.

Lord Sesshoumaru stepped into the large room. Even now, the room still amazed him. Its extraordinary size and incredible décor with a magnificent doorway to the balcony. The bed was in the middle of the room, majestic in size and appearance. Its frame was golden, with posts that went up in a dull spike surrounded with vines of gold threads. The headboard was amazingly simple compared to everything else; it held just a single carving in the middle. The image of two swords crossing each other, each the shape of a fang with the face of an Inu-youkai looming over it as if watching the swords.

The bedspreads were of white silk, and the pillows held the crescent moon mark. Above the bed was a draping curtain that surrounded the whole bed. It was also white, but thick and heavy and it was designed with the shapes of thunder clouds and lightning. It was a sign that meant this was where the Lord slept. His father's scent held the same as a thunderstorm, with the aroma of rain, thunder, lightning, and wind all mixed into a strong and terrifying smell that caused any to tremble. The room held sitting areas with small libraries in each corner of the room. And on each wall of the room, was a painting of ancient Lords that had ruled over these lands for centuries. One day, a wall would hold his painting, but would he be remembered?

His father was known far and wide for his incredible strength and power. However, he was also known for having taken in a human for a second mate. Therefore, Inuyasha was born and that was his father's demise. No matter how hard he tried to hate Inuyasha by blaming him with their father's death, he never could. He would say it, but never actually mean it. Though he did feel resentment towards him, strong enough to borderline hatred, all because he inherited the sword of power. All he got was the sword of mercy, Tenseiga. What he desired more than anything was Tetsusaiga, a sword that could do some real damage if wielded correctly, unlike that idiot Inuyasha who wielded it like a madman.

Possession of the sword would be his legacy, he would be remembered for wielding the greatest sword there was, and will ever be. Sesshoumaru walked over to the bed, and let his hands take hold of the spikes at the end. He had been told by his father himself that someday he would be ruler, Lord of all the Western Lands. But when his father passed, he had refused to sleep in this room, flat out denied it.

His reasons were known to only him, and that's the way it would stay. He didn't want anyone to think differently of him if they found them out. He looked up at the ceiling, breathing in deeply. Only Lords slept in this room, respected and memorable Lords who had passed down from history even centuries after their death. And as much as he hated to even think it, he would never be as great as his father, therefore refused to sleep in his chambers. Only when he grew to be as great or ever greater would he allow himself to sleep in his room.

"Father, I swear it on your memory; someday I will become your rival in power."

So hope you liked it, and it should hopefully clear up a few things, you know about Yukiko and Sesshoumaru...maybe..ok yea anyways, please review, and let me know whether I have some loyal fans, cause its for you guys who I keep this story going for. I hope I haven't lost any of you! Again please review, and just wanted to give a special thanks to demonchik39 who finally emailed me!

Jewel of Four Souls- Your the only one I'm replying to today! YAY! You reviewed all my chapters and all in the same day! I love you! Yea ok enough excitement. Sorry i had to let Rin die, but it's all ok don'y worry, it was for a good cause. Unfortunetly, it won't get happy for a while, cause I have to make Kagome go through lots more and yea but don't worry the end will be happy. Why are you confused? Alright review back please!