A/N: Ah, late again… Well, all I have to say is that finals suck.

The Broken Miko

Chapter 16: How the Mighty Will Fall

Inuyasha stepped into view in front of Sesshoumaru and the others, as if he melted in from the dark trees. His hair was hanging low over his eyes, leaving his face in shadow except for his smirk. The taiyoukai recognized the hooded expression from the handful of times he had ever faced his brother on truly equal footing. Each time, Inuyasha had suppressed his human blood and transformed into a carnage-seeking monster.

"Have you given up your humanity so easily, little brother?" sneered Sesshoumaru.

"Ah, Sesshoumaru! You've lost your touch," Inuyasha responded, laughing. "Humanity is what brought me back. I am eternally grateful to it. Come on, though, why aren't you welcoming back your brother with joy? We haven't seen each other in so long!"

"Where is Kagome?"

The male hanyou lifted his head, and although there was a certain maniacal look in his eyes, they were not red, nor accompanied by purple stripes. Sesshoumaru felt relieved that he wouldn't be fighting a demon so closely to the children. "Ah, yes… Kagome. She's a sweet girl." A wicked smile spread across his face. "Too bad she didn't have that bloodthirsty streak in her before she turned half-demon. We could have had a lot more fun. I'm rather jealous of my big brother."

Anger swelled inside the taiyoukai's chest and he stepped forward, holding Tokijin tightly in his clawed hand.

"Nuh-uh," warned Inuyasha, shaking his head. "You don't want to hurt her, do you?"

Kikyo emerged from the shadows, holding a knife to the throat of a bound and gagged Kagome. The female hanyou's eyes were narrowed in rage and Sesshoumaru could hear the rumble of her growling. The taiyoukai was distinctly pleased to see her anger was directed towards the undead miko and not him.

"She has spirit, doesn't she?" Inuyasha asked, twirling a chunk of her hair between his fingers. "She's so much more interesting now. The red really compliments her eyes." He sighed and stroked her tresses a few more times as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "It's too bad really, I would have enjoyed our reunion so much more if I was able to keep you. But you're not ready yet."

Kagome tried to say something, but the gag muffled her words.

Inuyasha clicked his tongue. "Do you speak to your mother like that? Really, Kagome, I expected better behavior from you."

"What do you want, Inuyasha?" asked the taiyoukai stiffly, aware that his little brother had the power as long as the dagger was pressed to Kagome's neck. He was not used to being powerless and he decided that he didn't care for it.

Again, the male hanyou began to pet Kagome's hair, trailing his claws along the edges of her crimson dog-ears. "I want her to realize how much I love her. How much I've given up for her." He pressed his nose against her cheek, making her red and black hair mingle with his snowy white strands. "I came back for you, my love."

Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome's eyes slid shut and her body sagged into Kikyo's. She was already losing her will, her confidence to stand up to a creature that had Inuyasha's body, voice and memories, but not his mind. He was disappointed to see the girl give up so easily, but he felt compelled to help her by distracting her tormentor. "You have been brought back in a different way than your undead companion, Inuyasha," commented the dog demon. "You smell of flesh and blood where she smells of clay. How was this done?"

Inuyasha, keeping his forehead pressed against Kagome's temple, moved his yellow eyes to look at his elder brother. "You're trying to distract me. It won't work," he responded, grinning.

The taiyoukai frowned at the uncharacteristic insight his brother seemed to possess now that he had been resurrected, but he tried once again anyway. "I wish to know how it is possible. It is a logical question."

The male hanyou sighed in exasperation and lifted his face from Kagome's. "Like you don't know. Amatsu Mikaboshi has brought me back from the dead. His powers restored my body as it once was."

"How?"

"Kagome's blood, of course." Inuyasha smiled, displaying his long fangs.

"No blood was required in the resurrection of the undead miko," observed Sesshoumaru.

"Are you becoming stupid, big brother, or is it just me? Kikyo is, by your own words, undead. I am alive. Something had to inspire my soul to come back with such force that it could sustain a body as well. What better than my beloved mate's blood?"

Kagome whimpered as Sesshoumaru asked, "Why has your demeanor changed? How are you so callous towards the female who brought you back with her blood?"

He laughed, making Kagome's sensitive ears ring. "How human of you, big brother! Asking about her feelings and mine. You have changed, haven't you? I would have thought you guessed by now. I died as a demon…" He trailed off with a wicked grin.

The pieces slid into place in the inuyoukai's mind. "And you came back to life as a half-demon. The combination has given you everything you wanted. Physical power and increased demon blood without dying. And yet you are insane, as you are in your full-demon state. Not a very good trade, Inuyasha."

The red-robed male shook his head, spreading his arms out and looking up to the sky. "I disagree. I see everything now. The whole world and what will happen when I am unleashed upon it. I am still a half-demon but I have more power than even you could imagine, Sesshoumaru. Amatsu has taken me in and created a great weapon. I could ask for nothing better. He is the one I should have spent four years looking for. I am no longer weak."

The dog demon glance upwards at the sparkling stars, accompanied by a sliver of moon. "Then you no longer become human on the night of the new moon, as you did in your true life."

Kagome made a small squeal of surprise as Inuyasha scowled. "Of course not. No weapon can have such a great weakness as I once had. But I must ask, big brother, if you knew my night of weakness was on the night of the new moon, why didn't you attack us as we searched for the Jewel?" He snickered a bit. "It is a logical question."

"I have known since you were a child, Inuyasha. I protected you during those nights," he replied. "What you don't realize, little brother, is that I will not dishonor my name in battle by striking you when you are weak. There was no purpose to it."

"How noble of you," the hanyou answered with a malevolent expression. "It's a shame we couldn't have been friends. I suppose it will never happen now."

Sesshoumaru kept his eyes on Kagome's face. "I tire of you and your sad excuses for witticisms, Inuyasha. You are not even the same creature anymore, and therefore you have no bearing upon our lives now. Leave us."

"No. I don't think I'm quite done yet."

The taiyoukai snarled, marring his perfect face. "Suit yourself. But don't give me a lackey to speak with. Tell Amatsu to speak to me himself. If he is not so cowardly to hide behind a half-demon and a dead woman."

Inuyasha turned red. "Amatsu Mikaboshi will speak to you when and if he wishes. Considering that you are merely a bug in his grand plan, I doubt he would bestow such an honor upon you, big brother."

"And yet he sends his 'great weapon'?" Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. "I must be a particularly large insect."

The male hanyou grabbed Kagome, holding her to his chest and pressing his mouth against her ear. "Your new boyfriend is overconfident, my love. You and I both know that he's just as evil as anything Naraku sent at us during our quest. And if I turned to Amatsu, he will too." He sent a sharp stare towards Sesshoumaru. "Did I tell you, Kagome? How as I lay dying in my own blood, Kikyo asked me if I wanted to live. She told me that I could see you again, be with you again. And for you… for you, I did it. I joined Amatsu so that he would bring me back as his servant with all these awesome powers. Soon enough, you'll join me."

Kagome began to cry, large tears streaking down her face and soaking into the gag in her mouth.

A growl rose in the taiyoukai's chest as he watched his brother reduce the female hanyou to a nervous wreck. "Kagome, stop crying," he ordered. "He is lying, so that your spirit will be broken once more."

The male hanyou ignored his brother's words and his former mate's tears. "We were so close to being happy, Kagome. And now we have that chance again. I love you. I came back for you, and you're with my brother. Do you have any idea how much that hurts me?" He brushed away the strands of hair sticking to her damp face. "But it's okay. We'll be together again. I promise."

"Cease this immediately, Inuyasha!" snapped the taiyoukai, who was beginning to see red.

Kikyo held up the dagger to Kagome's throat once more. "Stay where you are, you filthy demon," she hissed, speaking for the first time.

Sesshoumaru's gaze focused on the undead woman. He was keenly aware that had it not been for her, Inuyasha and Kagome would have been together long ago and that after his death, there would be no resurrection. In short, she had done everything in her power to make those around her miserable. "I will enjoy it when Kagome slices you apart, miko," he shot back.

The woman of clay gave him a strange look, one of anger mixed with enjoyment. "She will never do it," Kikyo responded with her icy tone. "Soon, she will be one of us, and she will love me as a sister."

"You could never drive her to that," answered the taiyoukai, brushing away that disturbing image from his mind.

The undead miko laughed. It was sharp, cold and painful, like hearing the sound of an animal suffering. "You're right. I can't. But you will. You are the one that will send her to us. And then, Amatsu's power will be complete. Everything that was foretold will come to pass and the world will be in our hands."

It felt as if someone had squeezed the life out of Sesshoumaru's heart. He never cared for mankind, or demons for that matter, but to put all of life into the servitude of Amatsu was not something to look forward to. And to betray Kagome… he could barely think on it. "No, I will not. I have free will."

"And so does she. Kagome will use that free will to come to us. She will join us and receive Amatsu's amazing power."

Recovering a bit, Sesshoumaru lifted his head proudly. "And all this is in a prophecy? You said that it was 'foretold'."

Kikyo smiled and gave him a careful look. "Yes, but you will never get your hands on it. It is a prophecy among the gods. It will happen and there's nothing you can do, Sesshoumaru."

Inuyasha, grinning and devilish, leaned into Kagome one more time. She held an expression of dread and her body was shaking, but she had stopped crying. "Hear that, my dear mate? Once you come back to me, you will be mine in mind," he said as he nuzzled her hair, "and body." His clawed hands brushed down the curve of her ribcage and waist, finally resting upon her hip.

Sesshoumaru snarled, his eyes pulsing into blood red. He couldn't bear to see Inuyasha's hand on Kagome. She was his, no longer his brother's. "Let her go," he growled, barely recognizing his own voice through his anger.

"Fine, we'll leave," huffed the male hanyou. He turned back to Kagome. "Remember. When you come back to us, you'll have everything you ever wished for. And with our power combined, nothing can stand against us. Even a transformed dog demon will seem like flea compared to our power." He tore off her gag in a rough yank and pressed his lips against hers for the briefest second before disappearing into the forest.

As soon as they were gone, Kagome dropped to the ground in a broken heap. Sesshoumaru went to her side, slicing apart the ropes before picking her up with his tail and good arm. Her eyes were wide and she made no noise as he carried her to his stone seat, now cold, and sat down with her in his lap.

The other demons, silent through the entire encounter, and indeed forgotten until now, moved around quietly. Jaken used the old man on the Staff of Heads to restart the fire while Keitaro made sure the children were safe and warm. The children did not speak, only looking towards their surrogate mother and father as they huddled next to Ah-Un.

The warmth of the fire began to seep into Sesshoumaru's clothes and into Kagome's body, as he sat there staring down into her unseeing face. He squeezed her arm gently. "They are gone. I will not allow them to hurt you," he told her.

Kagome blinked a few times and brought her hand up to her lips. "I know," she said in a shaky voice. "It just scared me to death. They caught me and I didn't even fight back. I saw that he didn't have his rosary beads and I could barely move."

"Two against one, especially such as those two, are not good odds for you. It was wise to not fight," he pointed out.

"Are the children alright?" She twisted in his arms, trying to see Rin and Washi.

"We're fine, Mama," the eagle child answered with considerably less enthusiasm than usual.

"I'm so sorry you two had to see all of that."

Rin bit her lip. She had never cared for Inuyasha, because of what Jaken had said about her Sesshoumaru-sama's brother. The male half-demon was the reason her lord only had one arm, and they fought every time they had met. But she knew that her new mother had cared for Inuyasha deeply, so she chose her words carefully. "He's not a good person now, Kagome-san. Don't worry about us. We understand."

The female hanyou nodded and looked up at Sesshoumaru once again. "They didn't try to take Tetsusaiga. Why didn't they? When I saw them, I thought that's why Inuyasha had come. I thought that Tetsusaiga was his goal."

Sesshoumaru stood up and carefully set her on her feet before answering. "I do not presume to know my brother's actions. Perhaps he can no longer use it."

"Or perhaps he's powerful enough not to need it," said Kagome darkly, echoing the taiyoukai's unspoken thoughts.

"Perhaps," he agreed as she stepped away from him. His body immediately ached for her presence and he longed to reach out and pull her back into his embrace. A strange feeling that he may have acted upon, so he was relieved when another distraction prevented it.

"Am I interrupting something?" Kagura's voice filtered down through the trees as her feather transport carried her the ground. She stepped off and gave the somber group a long look. "What happened? And who are you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at Keitaro.

"He's a celestial demon from the Northern Lands," answered Sesshoumaru.

"Yeah, and let's say that I'm not the only visitor they've had tonight," spoke up the winged demon. "It's becoming quite the hub of activity here."

"Keitaro, this is Kagura, a friend of mine. She's helping with the whole situation," Kagome said in a tired voice. She was grateful that the witch no longer smelled of Naraku, otherwise there would be even more questions and suddenly she had no energy. "Keitaro is a scout for the Northern Army. We have had a bit of excitement I guess, like he said."

Kagura walked forward and stopped in front of the girl, who was still pale and damp with a sheen of sweat over her skin. "It was Inuyasha and Kikyo, then?"

Kagome just nodded before throwing her arms around the wind sorceress. She began to sob into her red and white kimono as Kagura stood with an expression of more than slight surprise.

After a few moments, however, the female demon returned the hanyou's embrace. Sympathy spread through her body and the wind sorceress was surprised to find that she accepted it as a completely natural response towards the girl crying on her shoulder. She patted Kagome on the back and looked up at Sesshoumaru. "What happened? You said you would protect her."

"And I have. Neither Inuyasha nor Kikyo harmed her."

Kagura looked down at the mass of red and black tresses spreading across her kimono. Kagome's ears were twitching in frustration and anger and the smell of despair was pungent in the air. The last time they had spoken, Sesshoumaru had given her the sense that he'd rather fall on his sword than see Kagome injured, physically or emotionally. "You call this not harmed?"

Sesshoumaru was beginning to get quite sick of these intrusive questions from visitors to his camp. "What did you come here for, Kagura? It must have been important if you revealed yourself before a stranger and the others."

"Well, I was going to tell you that I found out Inuyasha was alive again. But clearly, you knew that. Other than that, I was going to tell you that people have been disappearing."

Kagome, whose cries had subsided, lifted her head and wiped away the tears. "Who? Humans from the countryside?"

Kagura shook her head. "No. It appears that the lord isn't quite living up to his promises. A few followers displayed their, uh… displeasure about it by ransacking a human town that they weren't supposed to attack yet. The group disappeared almost immediately. No one has heard from them."

The taiyoukai nodded. He expected that this would happen. All tyrants broke their promises. One would think that minions would have learned that by now. "The lord's name is Amatsu Mikaboshi."

Keitaro drew a sharp intake of breath. "So you did know who is behind all this?"

Sesshoumaru gave him a pointed look. "It was under my discretion when to tell you."

Kagura was nodding. "Of course. That makes sense. Some of the promises had been pretty outlandish. I was wondering how the lord would fulfill any of them."

The female hanyou clasped Kagura's hands. "You should get out now. It's too dangerous. We're facing a god and I don't want to lose another friend this year. Please, Kagura. You can stay with us for a bit. Fight him with us if you want."

The wind sorceress felt a rush of sisterly love towards the tear-stained girl in front of her. Six months ago, this would have been appalling, but now, Kagura realized that they were truly friends and sisters. "I have to stay, Kagome. They'd come and find me if I didn't return and that would lead them to you. Besides, one of the dissenters was the demon right above me in the hierarchy," she said, giving them a smug look. "I've been promoted for all my good work."

Kagome shook her head. "No, please! I release you from your debt. Please…"

"Hey, I survived for quite awhile on my own you know. I can take care of myself." The red-lipped demoness smiled and leaned over to whisper in Kagome's ear. "Besides, there are some extremely handsome males in this army. Although this place isn't lacking in that department either." Her red eyes flashed towards both Sesshoumaru and Keitaro.

The female hanyou rolled her eyes and gave a wan smile at Kagura as she stepped back. "Fine. But promise me that you'll be careful."

"I always am."

"And don't get involved with any totally crazy males."

"You do know how to ruin my fun, Kagome."

"Kagura!"

The wind sorceress grinned. "Yes, I know."

Sesshoumaru turned to Kagura. "Inuyasha said that he, together with Kikyo and Kagome, would be a great weapon. Have you learned anything of this?"

The wind sorceress frowned. "No. The only reason I knew of Inuyasha's existence was that he killed one of my superiors for insolence."

"He killed someone for that?" Kagome asked.

"Yes. The demon insulted his half-human blood." Kagura tucked her fan into her sleeve and sat down on the ground beside the fire. "It was rumored that he used great power to do it, but I don't know if I can trust that information. And certainly no one is clamoring to test it out again."

"From what he was saying, I don't think it's just rumor anymore," said Keitaro.

The female hanyou looked at each of the demons in turn, finally fixing her stare upon Sesshoumaru. "And he's after me. Why? Why do they need me specifically for this weapon?"

"That's the question we don't have an answer to, my lady." The celestial demon opened and closed his wings in agitation. "We need that prophecy."

"If it is in the possession of the gods, it will not be easy. Most likely, it is impossible," said Sesshoumaru. "The three of them, Kikyo, Inuyasha and Kagome, create a weapon, but there is no way to know what they can do. Or who they will affect."

"I'll try to get it," Kagura offered.

"Doubtful."

"Be nice, Sesshoumaru," admonished Kagome, before he turned back to the wind sorceress. "On the other hand, Kagura, he's right. You're good, but I doubt you could get past a god."

The demoness shrugged. "I will try."

"You said you would be careful," pled the girl.

"And I will be, Kagome." The red-eyed witch smiled. "Don't worry. At worst I'll have to run away. You know I do that well."

Kagome sighed and sat down beside the children. "Fine. Find us when you're done though. I don't think it would be safe to continue spying after stealing the prophecy. Or even after the attempt. We don't know what Amatsu is capable of and I would like you to be out before he knows what has happened."

"Very well. Will you still be going after him? I will meet you."

The female hanyou scratched behind her crimson ear. "Sesshoumaru will be facing off against Amatsu. I plan to go after Kikyo."

The taiyoukai arched an eyebrow. "It is unlikely they will be in the same place. The undead woman and my brother can communicate telepathically with Amatsu and do not need to meet him for their orders."

"I know that," Kagome whispered. "I told you when we set out that I might not stay with you. I've decided once and for all that I must leave."

Sesshoumaru frowned and looked over at Kagura and Keitaro. "Stay and guard the children while I speak to Kagome alone. We should not be long. Make sure the children rest." He nodded at the female hanyou. "Follow me. We will talk about this ridiculous idea where we will not disturb the children's sleep any further."

Kagura watched as Kagome followed the taiyoukai without a word. "Take as long as you need, Sesshoumaru-sama." She grinned as they disappeared into the woods. 'This has promise to it. Perhaps Kagome will eventually learn that the way to move past her troubles is right in front of her. If she isn't stupid about it, that is,' she thought. 'Good luck, sister.'

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As they wandered deeper into the forest, Kagome's heart dropped. Clearly, Sesshoumaru wasn't planning to keep his voice down during this little confrontation. She watched his silvery hair sway as she followed him into the depth of the thick trees. Even his sage and lavender scent could not settle her stomach, as it mingled with the smell of anger and extreme frustration.

Her hands were still shaking from her encounter with Inuyasha and the departing kiss he gave her still seemed to press upon her lips. The kiss had not been romantic, it had been about power. She sensed his anger in it. If he had had more time, if Sesshoumaru had not been there looking murderous, Inuyasha would have bruised her lips. Perhaps he would have bitten her and given her the mating mark that she lacked during his first life.

Months ago, she would have welcomed the kiss or the mark, not caring if it was done in anger or love. Now, she was confused. She had not wanted that kiss. She didn't want to be held in his arms and she didn't want those whispers of love. It was not Inuyasha. She knew it, and yet did not accept it.

She sighed and studied her clawed hands as she continued to follow the demon lord. Around her, the crickets fell silent and no breeze blew through the trees. 'I still love Inuyasha,' she told herself. 'But I cannot continue to live like this. How many times have I told myself that, though? How many times more before I acknowledge it as truth?'

"We will speak here." Sesshoumaru stopped and turned in a very small patch of clear grass, but did not say anymore.

"Um, okay. So speak."

"You are not leaving."

Kagome sighed and threaded her claws through her hair. "Well, not at the moment, but soon enough I am. Can we please not talk about this? I just want to rest after all that's happened tonight."

"Tonight's events are why you must stay at my side. You have no hope of destroying the undead miko."

"Thanks for the trust in my abilities," she snapped.

"What abilities, Kagome?"

"Oh shut up, Sesshoumaru. Like you have any idea about what I'm going through."

His tail uncurled and fell to the ground, a movement that Kagome was learning meant that he was settling in for a long while. She sighed for the third time in as many minutes. "Enlighten me," he responded.

She put her hands on her hips and began to pace the short distance between the trees. "Oh, let's see. I sent my future mate to his death by taking Tetsusaiga, then I went crazy by turning into a half-demon. Finally, my former future mate comes back and makes lewd comments towards me and believes that I'm involved with his brother."

"That belief is of no…"

"Don't say that his words aren't of any consequence. Because they're of consequence to me. I don't want to be confused anymore, Sesshoumaru, but I also want to make my own decisions." She waved her hand as he opened his mouth to speak. "Don't ask me what that means either. I'm still trying to figure it out myself."

"May I speak now?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Sure. Why not? I'm confused as hell. I shouldn't speak anymore." She buried her face in her hands and leaned against the nearest tree.

"Very well. I shall do all the talking." He stood on the opposite side of the tiny clearing, seven feet away. "You aren't leaving because you will die if you do."

"You said that already."

He narrowed his eyes. "I thought I was the only one talking?"

"Right. Go on."

The dog demon tucked his hair behind his ear. "I believe the best course of action is to face the god, cut off the source of power and then attack the weakened miko and my brother. I do not see why you don't agree to this." He watched as her head drooped. "Unless you don't plan to go after my brother?"

"You plan to kill him."

"He's dead already. This life is not natural. It would be better for him to die."

Heat flowed into her face as her anger rose. "I know that! But you can't ask me to kill the man I love!"

"Then I will do it."

Her fists balled into fists. "Do you think I'll let you?"

Sesshoumaru's anger began to rise as well. "I don't believe you understand, Kagome. He is not of this earth any longer. He should be dead, just as the miko should be dead. You are so willing to send her back from whence she came. Why not your lover as well?"

"He was not my lover! He was going to be my mate!" she yelled. "Don't you dare make me feel like a whore!"

"You are not a whore. You are worse. You are a woman that cannot see beyond what is front of your face."

"You bastard. Just because you think you know what's best for me, doesn't make it right!"

"Do you think that he'll allow you to kill Kikyo and then walk away?" he asked, rage seeping into his words. "He will fight you because that's what he was told to do. In order to survive, you need me. I will let you have your revenge upon the miko, but I will kill my brother. This is the way it was meant to be, from the day he was born."

Kagome scoffed. "Oh, how typical of you! You have some big chip on your shoulder because your dad mated with a human. Don't you think it's been long enough? Two hundred years and you're still bitching about how your daddy chose some human over a demon? I thought kids were supposed to grow up and stop being embarrassed about their parents. You are so immature. I can't believe I didn't see it before! You're worse than Inuyasha ever was! That's why you want to kill him!"

"Amazing deduction, Kagome," sneered the dog demon. "You have figured out that I hate my father's decision and that my brother was an irritation. You are incredibly clever."

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, jackass."

"And idiocy does not suit you." The end of his tail began to twitch. "If you're trying to uncover hidden truths, why don't we talk about your reasons for going after Inuyasha?"

The female hanyou curled her hand around the hilt of Tetsusaiga. "You know that already. I love him."

I love him. The words pained him but he pressed on. "You are lying. You know that that creature was not Inuyasha." He regarded her in scrutiny. "Or do you? Are you so blind, so reliant on your emotions that you believe that you can bring your mate back? He will never be the same. Death changes the soul and it's not meant to return to life. Your hopes are fruitless. Nothing will come of it."

"But I cannot kill him! And I cannot let you kill him either." She lifted her lip, showing her canines. "You will have to murder me as well, if you try."

"You know I will not do that. I will not kill you."

Kagome threw up her hands. "Oh, come on, Sesshoumaru! You can't have everything! Kill me and your brother or kill neither of us."

Sesshoumaru growled. "I am not used to not getting my way, Kagome."

"You should get used to it." She placed her hand across her forehead. It was beginning to ache horribly. "We're talking in circles, Sesshoumaru. I'm leaving to kill Kikyo. I may fail, but then you will have your chance after destroying Amatsu."

The dog demon raised an eyebrow, his emotions settling back into the depths he used kept them locked in. "This isn't about my brother, is it? Or Kikyo. A few days ago you were bent upon going after Amatsu first. Either way, you would get your chance for revenge and you are not an impatient person. You would have waited and you would have come with me, if not for tonight. You know Inuyasha should return to the world of the dead, yet you make excuses that he should not."

Kagome stared at him intently, not blinking and not saying a word.

He walked across the clearing in three steps, stopping in front of her. "Why don't you want to face Amatsu? What is it about him that has you so scared?"

She reflected for a moment on the vision she was given through Inuyasha's kiss. If Sesshoumaru found out about it, she would never be allowed to see the children again. He probably wouldn't even let her into the Western Lands. The thought of leaving him was nerve-wracking, but taking away the possibility of ever seeing him again made Kagome want to cry out in pain. "I am his weapon. The last piece of some sick trinity between myself, Kikyo and Inuyasha. Why shouldn't I want to avoid him?"

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "It's more than that."

"That's my personal business," she replied, crossing her arms and turning her face away.

"I would not call the fate of this world your 'personal business', Kagome. I did not think you were so vain."

"I'm not," she whispered. "It's for the best."

The taiyoukai studied her face, terrified but resolute. She wouldn't tell him what she knew. Not yet. They stood in silence for many long moments as their anger slowly subsided.

"I lied."

Her eyes widened. "You did? About what?"

He stepped away from the hanyou. "I said that I hated my father for mating with a human. I said that my brother was an irritation."

"Didn't you? Isn't he?"

Sesshoumaru thought for a moment. "Well, yes. But not for the reason you believe."

She arched an eyebrow. "For four years you've been lying then. Is that what you're saying?"

"Yes."

Kagome nodded. "Okay. I guess I can forgive that. I mean, we weren't the best of friends, you know? There was no reason you should reveal anything to us."

"It was easier to let you believe that explanation," he agreed. "Not even Inuyasha had an inkling of my true reasons."

"Tell me then. Or do you just want to tease me by bringing this up?"

A ghost of a smile passed over his lips for a brief moment. "No. I will tell you. You do remember me talking of my father's weakness?"

"Many times," she answered.

He closed his eyes, opening them after a few seconds to reveal their glowing golden depths. "My father and Inuyasha were not the only ones in my family who decided to go to the human world."

Kagome frowned deeply. "I don't understand."

"Do you remember the painting in Izo's castle?"

"Of course, your mother was…" Realization dawned upon her face. "Your mother! She fell in love with a human?"

"Such excitement is not necessary," he said haughtily. "If it was love between them, the human male died many years ago. I thought she had died as well, but apparently she did not."

"What happened?"

Sesshoumaru sighed. "The battle that was depicted in the painting was the dog demons' greatest triumph over the humans who threatened our borders and our villages. My father refused to let his army slaughter the humans. One of their officers came to us to negotiate a truce after the human lord died. My father gave him the truce, on condition that his people remove themselves to the other side of Japan. The next morning, the humans were gone and so was my mother."

"She just ran away?"

"Apparently. She left a letter. By leaving, she broke the mating bond and my father was free to choose another mate."

Kagome shrugged. "I suppose I still don't understand, Sesshoumaru. If your mother had died instead and then your father had taken a human mate, would you have hated him and Inuyasha so much?"

"Perhaps not," Sesshoumaru conceeded.

"Then what was different? Besides it being your mother instead of your father at first?"

"I was ten years old. She left her only son, when that was her greatest responsibility. I fault my father as well, for he did not love her and never gave her a reason to stay." He said this with no emotion, his eyes never wavering from her face.

"Do you hate her?"

"No, I hate the human that took her from me."

She leaned back against the tree once more. "I suppose I understand. After all, you were a child. Do you think he seduced her?"

"I think he did more than that," responded the taiyoukai darkly.

Kagome put her hand over her mouth. "Did he… did he rape her?"

"My mother was not fond of humans," he replied. "I found it hard to believe that a human would entice her willingly to leave my father's kingdom. I believe my mother left so that her humiliation would not influence the West. My father however, did not listen to me and refused to follow up on the matter. By the time I was an adult, he had practically erased the incident from his memory and was searching for another mate."

The hanyou's brows knit together. "Humiliation? But she was raped! That's not her fault!"

"I have only given you my conjectures. I have no proof. It is, in fact, possible that she fell in love with the human, although it's not a possibility that I prefer to dwell on. And one fact remains that not even I can explain."

"What's that?"

Sesshoumaru's tail wrapped around his shoulder once more. "The question is, how can a human subdue a fully grown dog demoness?"

Kagome nodded. "Yes, I do see how that would be a problem. Perhaps she was drugged?"

"No. My line is resistant to poison. The only fortunate result of being related to those wretched acid demons like Machi."

"Ah, yes. She is a charming girl, isn't she?" The hanyou tilted her head and turned serious. "I guess all this is why you want to find your mother, huh? You want to find out what really happened?"

The taiyoukai pressed his lips together for a moment. "Yes, and she is, after all, my mother."

"Yes, after all," she agreed. "Sesshoumaru… why did you tell me all of this? I mean, I'm on a 'need to know' basis. Not that I'm complaining, but this didn't sound like something I actually needed to know."

For a moment, he was torn. Could he tell her? Did he know the answer for his own benefit? Either way, the urge to admit that he was following in the footsteps of not one, but both, of his parents rose in his throat. Inuyasha, if he were in his right mind, would have laughed at his elder brother's predicament. He turned away, trying to compose himself.

"Hey! Don't turn your back on me!" protested the hanyou. "I asked you a legitimate question!"

"Kagome… shut up." She was tempting, beautiful and intelligent… but she really gave him some painful headaches very quickly.

"W-what?" she sputtered. "What's with being rude all of a sudden?"

In a flash, Sesshoumaru was before her, with his one hand wrapped around her upper arm, just tight enough to not be painful. "Just… keep your mouth closed for one moment," he snapped.

He pulled her against his body, wrapping his tail around her waist, and before he could consider the consequences, pressed his lips against hers.

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A/N: Once again, I'm sure that you all hate me for leaving it off here – especially after nearly a month of not updating. I really have no excuse… but really… they kissed. Isn't that good enough? Haha.

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