Disclaimer—only own the characters I create. Not Inuyasha or any of the others upon which this story is based.

It seems that sometimes chapters aren't in the pull down menu even though they've been uploaded. If you go to the menu bar and change the number of the chapter there, it should work. Of course I guess this advice will only work after you read this chapter LOL.

Thanks for the feedback Taijiya!

"Child!" Jaken's voice was like a screech in Sesshomaru's sensitive ears, although he was in another castle wing all together. "There is nothing wrong with this food!"

Jaken could care less if Rin ate. But he knew that Sesshomaru cared.

Stupid human child….

"It's not as pretty as Amarra's." Rin mumbled.

"Why should food have to be pretty? It just has to stop you from being hungry."

Before Amarra came, Rin gladly ate whatever Jaken found. Now Rin was even more spoiled.

Stupid human woman for spoiling the stupid human child.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin jumped down from the chair, in a second she was wrapped around his leg. "Good evening!"

"Stupid girl! Let him go!" Jaken did his best to pull Rin from Sesshomaru. Yet Sesshomaru just kept walking, causing Rin to giggle at the "game" she had begun.

"Did you have a nice journey?" Rin asked Sesshomaru.

"He was only away for one day, girl."

One long day without his master Sesshomaru…being stuck here with that damn Rin. Jaken wondered where Sesshomaru went too, but unlike Rin he would never have had the courage to ask.

"Let go."

Rin dropped herself from Sesshomaru's leg at his command. She looked up at him disappearing with her sad brown eyes.

"I am well, Rin" he answered without looking.

Rin smiled, clapping her hands and jumping up from the floor. She ran into her dining area, Jaken following at her heels.

Sesshomaru disappeared inside of his chamber. That scent…

Her scent…

He unsheathed his bloodied Tokijin, inspecting it.

It had been a long time since he made so many killings. It had been a satisfactory way to spend the day.

But now that night was falling, and her scent seemed to be everywhere, he needed…something else.

When Rin was sleeping, he would send Jaken to call for one of his mistresses and have her brought here for the rest of the night.

Whoever Jaken brought would be surprised to be called for. Though he now and again, yet very rarely, had paid a visit to one of them, ever since Amarra lived in the manor, Sesshomaru never asked for someone else to be brought here.

He told himself it was because he didn't want to confuse Rin by having more females coming in and out of their home.

Sometimes, though, he wondered if that was the true reason.

Or whether he just felt those women only deserved to be in the shadows when Amarra was here.

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Flashback

Sesshomaru listened, peaking into his parent's bedroom, tears filling his eyes, as his mother growled at his father, for daring to bring some "human whore" to their home. His father quieted her with a slap, stating this woman was more than a "human whore", that he loved her, and that she was carrying a "pup".

He was going to have a sibling? But Sesshomaru knew that this was no reason for joy.

He felt a sort of pride as his mother stared at her husband, reaching out and returning his slap with one of her own. "You are a disgrace!" she hissed. "We will be back when they are gone…"

His father's eyes grew, "You are not taking my son…"

"I am leaving. I will not have you disrespecting me in my own home. As long as she is here, I will not be here. As for our son", she emphasized, "He is old enough to decide where he wants to be. Where do you wish to be?!"

Sesshomaru gasped, realizing his mother knew that he was here all along. His parents looked at him, two pairs of golden eyes, staring.

His father's full of some sort of emotion, his mother's strong…

And Sesshomaru cursed himself for the tears in his eyes. While his father was strong in battle…obviously he had these…feelings that were getting in the way.

Sesshomaru decided there that he wanted to be like his mother.

In charge, in control.

His mother left the room, and Sesshomaru dropped his eyes from his father's. Without a word, he dried his own tears and followed his mother out of the room.

It was months before they returned. His father's "human whore" had had the pup, named him Inuyasha, and moved them into a village "nearby". Far enough that it would take time for the human to get there, but near enough for their father to get there if need-be.

Sesshomaru's mother didn't speak of the woman, or the half-breed the entire time she and Sesshomaru were gone. And she didn't speak of them upon their return.

His parents remained together…dying side by side in battle just a couple of human years later.

Obviously, his mother had forgiven his father. And his father, while loving the human, obviously still loved his mate as well.

But to Sesshomaru, his mother didn't get the respect that she deserved from his father.

His father had the nerve to bring one of his lovers to their home. Had the nerve to have a child with that lover.

Had the nerve to love that lover.

Sesshomaru was not so forgiving. And he always remembered.

The least his father could have done was keep her in the shadows where she belonged.

Flashback End

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Miroku suddenly stopped. "Demonic aura."

Sango couldn't help but roll her eyes as she looked at the village ahead. Well, at least they would yet again have a village to stay in for the falling night. "Of course there…" she stopped speaking as Inuyasha placed his hand on her shoulder stopping her words as he concentrated.

"Coming that way" he looked at Miroku, not really asking, but agreeing.

Miroku nodded

Sango, Shippo and Kirara readied themselves

And Amarra thanked heavens for something to do. She was itching for a fight….

So her shoulders sunk as Miroku added,

"I think it will be awhile before it gets here."

Inuyasha agreed. "Guess we gotta wait."

"Well…." Miroku stretched with a smile. "I think we need to inform the villagers that a demon is headed their way, but we will be glad to stop it…" and with a hum he started towards it.

"Why is he so happy?" Amarra wondered aloud.

"Because he is the most un-monk-like monk there is." Sango couldn't help but answer.

"But he does get us nice food and a warm place to sleep." Shippo chimed in defense.

At least today would not be a total waste. They had only been traveling for one day, and if that demon headed here had at least one shard, then Inuyasha would have proved to himself that him and his new group still would be able to get their tasks done. Even without Kagome.

Inuyasha took up the rear as he always did when they headed towards a village. It usually took Miroku and Kagome to convince villagers that Inuyasha should be allowed to stay there.

Inuyasha assumed Sango would take up that slack and help Miroku as she had last night.…and he thanked her silently as he watched as Shippo's tail switched from his perch on her shoulder.

She had been taking up a lot of Kagome's responsibilities. Mothering Shippo….

Conversing with Inuyasha….

Inuyasha wouldn't say it, but of all of his friends,

Though he appreciated Miroku

And even having Shippo around.

Already, it was Sango who Inuyasha was most glad was still with him on this journey.

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Kikyo did not even bother to ready her bow and arrow. She also didn't turn around as she asked, "Which incarnation are you?"

"Kanna." Kanna answered in her soft voice.

Kikyo faced her now. "What do you want?"

Kanna held up her mirror and with an annoyed sigh, Kikyo looked into it. "Inuyasha" she noted, her voice flat…

Her heart racing as his handsome…no…beautiful…form moved slowly in front of her eyes

"What is the point of this Kagura…"

Damn it. Why did this priestess always know when she was near. Kagura flew down from the sky. "Don't you notice something different about him?"

Aside from that missing Kagome not being attached to his hip any longer? Kikyo thanked the heavens silently.

"He seems to be missing…something." Kagura waited.

Kikyo stared at her, not answering. And then in a second she turned and walked away.

Kagura told Naraku it was a waste of time. Kikyo could care less about Inuyasha.

Kagura produced her feather, and she and Kanna flew away.

Kikyo continued her stroll.

His enchanted beads were gone.

Someone had removed them. Thankfully. Kikyo never understood what right Kagome had to 'sit' Inuyasha in order to keep him in control. It seemed so…petty.

Kaede, maybe?

Did Kagome return, only to remove them herself, and then leave once more?

Though these questions ran through her mind, Kikyo did not really need the answers to them.

There was just one question that really mattered.

Did something change?

She lifted her hand to the sky, and one of her soul collectors landed. "Go" she whispered, and watched as it led others off.

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Inuyasha growled, the sound so low in his throat, that it actually reminded Amarra of Sesshomaru, and she had to stop her body from reacting.

Though it worked yesterday, today it seemed that Sango and Miroku weren't as convincing as Kagome and Miroku .

"Then fuck them! I can't stay, then let them protect themselves!" he began walking again…but stopped as he noticed only Amarra was following. Inuyasha turned, and started at the rest of them.

"We do not have that luxury." Miroku answered honestly.

"What?!"

"Inuyasha…" Sango moved closer. "What if it has a shard? We cannot pass up this opportunity just because the people here are…ignorant. We'll all just stay nearby…"

"Why should we have to stay nearby?" Shippo answered. "They said the rest of us could stay."

Shippo was always allowed in…because he was so young…so…cute.

Even as a child, Inuyasha didn't have that luxury. Guess he wasn't cute enough….Inuyasha turned his back on everyone.

"Does that sound fair to you?" Sango looked at Shippo.

"No…" Shippo admitted as Miroku's eyes glared at him as well.

"He is gone anyway."

"What?" Miroku glanced as Amarra spoke.

Amarra turned her attention to the rest of them. "Though it is not fair" even she agreed with the other adults Shippo noted, "the hanyou…"

"Inuyasha…" All three of them attempted to correct her.

"…made the decision on his own, and ran off that way somewhere. " And with that she headed back to the village. Shippo jumped from Sango's shoulder to hers to get away from the angry gaze from Sango and Miroku.

"We might as well go, then." Miroku relented.

"And have him think we abandoned him?" Sango shook his head. "I'm going to find him…" she stopped speaking as Miroku touched her arm.

"He did not go far; he will want to be here in case there is a shard coming this way. I suggest you leave him be. He is not Shippo, he does not always need to be watched. And sometimes one just wants to be alone."

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Damn…bastards….

Inuyasha ran faster, his anger growing by the second. His pain growing by the nano-second.

And he would be forced to save them all probably.

Unlike Shippo, even as a young pup, Inuyasha had never felt accepted by humans.

Except for a select few…

Suddenly Inuyasha came to a stop. "Kikyo…" he breathed as her soul collectors circled above him. One of them took off, and Inuyasha immediately started to follow.

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"We can't leave him alone now! He will close off if we leave him alone!" Sango's voice actually raised.

Miroku lowered his gaze from Sango's intense stare. So passionate Sango was.

And about Inuyasha?

They were becoming so close it seemed.

Though Miroku always kept the thought to himself, part of him thought that though Inuyasha's feelings for Kagome were real, that they never had a chance to develop without the literal ghost of Kikyo there. Kagome was Kikyo's reincarnation. And while Kagome was a person in her own right…the fact was that Kagome was Kikyo's reincarnation. Miroku wouldn't have been surprised if that wasn't what originally drew Kagome and Inuyasha towards each other.

And Miroku understood why Inuyasha could not just stop loving one to love the other.

Sango was…just Sango.

Sango understood what it was like to lose someone to trickery and death, to Naraku, the way the way that Inuyasha lost Kikyo.

Sango could accept Kikyo in a way Kagome never could…and would have been unfair for her to be asked to.

And if Inuyasha and Sango ever were to be together, or Inuyasha and anyone who was not so closely tied to Kikyo, Miroku knew his friend had the strength of character to stay with her. Had the kind of heart to be with her only.

So while normally Miroku would be jealous, he knew even Inuyasha would be a better suitor for Sango than he.

"Miroku?" Amarra's voice reached his ears and though he kept his hand on Sango's arm, he turned his head to look at Amarra.

That was the only reason, right?

"Are you and Sango coming?" Shippo asked the next question.

Miroku looked at Sango again. "We do not know what it is like to be him. Don't we owe him the respect of leaving him to his own mind when he is rudely reminded that not everyone is as good, open-minded and as lovely you…"

Sango's face grew red as Miroku's hand groped her familiarly.

Amarra winced slightly, Shippo shaking his head as Sango slapped Miroku across his face. Then with a huff, she walked towards the village.

Miroku smiled to himself, rubbing his cheek. He would have to find a less painful way to distract Sango.

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Sesshomaru stared up blankly as the nude demon on top of him pushed her long blue hair from her face. She bent down to kiss him, but Sesshomaru moved his face out of the way.

"I suggest you finish before I do. Because then you leave."

The demon stopped, her red eyes glowing at his rejection, yet she continued moving on top of him as Sesshomaru allowed the natural physical pleasure to cause him to shut his eyes.

Lucky for her, she finished before him, because true to his word, Sesshomaru made her leave not just the room but also his castle.

At least Amarra's scent was not here anymore.

That put his mind a bit more at ease. It was easier for his mind to accept she didn't need to be here.

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"I was not sure you would come." Kikyo looked down from the tree branch.

Inuyasha looked up at her. "Kikyo…" he breathed once more.

Kikyo had to stop her eyes from shutting as her name came from Inuyasha's lips.

"How could you not be sure I would come, Kikyo."

Kikyo wanted to stop him from saying her name. Beg him not to say her name. It made her want to believe… that she really did matter in Inuyasha's heart.

"I always come, Kikyo."

No…she refused to allow herself to get caught up…refused. She needed to stick to the matter at hand. "Something is different." she noted, her collectors lowering her to the ground to be in front of Inuyasha.

Inuyasha dropped his eyes from hers as he admitted, "Kagome has left for good."

Kikyo did not answer. Her alleged reason for calling Inuyasha here was now answered. Kagome was not coming back this time. And while that thought filled her with a joy…in part…

A part of her ached for Inuyasha.

Why should she ache for Inuyasha? Did he ache for her all of those times he ran off with Kagome and left Kikyo alone? Refused to go with Kikyo to hell so he could stay here for that damned pitiful reincarnation of her?

That familiar bitterness filled Kikyo, thankfully. It would stop her from feeling so close to…"Inuyasha."

Inuyasha looked up as Kikyo called him, and as their eyes locked, Kikyo knew….there was more, wasn't there?

Was Kagome the only cause of his pain? No. There seemed to be something…more…

"Something else bothers you?" she couldn't help but ask.

His eyes grew slightly, as hers seemed…warmer towards him somehow. He ventured closer. "You still care."

Too close…Kikyo stepped back. "No." she lied. "But when you are bothered, Naraku gains the upper hand" she rationalized. "And Naraku is aware" she warned. "That you are missing her."

Missing…right now…once more Inuyasha moved closer, and this time it was Kikyo who's eyes grew slightly.

He gave a damn about Kagome…about Naraku.

Kikyo was here…and he could…

Kikyo gasped as Inuyasha pulled her to him. He wrapped his arms around her, waiting for her to struggle…waiting for her to freeze.

She always struggled. Always froze.

Then she would relent momentarily and they would hold each other. And he would allow himself to think that she accepted that he truly did love her still.

Only for her to pull away, calling him a fool…ripping a hole in his heart all over again.

Yet, this time, Kikyo did not struggle.

She did not have the strength this time. Her love for Inuyasha was too strong to resist him right now.

She cursed herself…she did not want to love him so much.

She cursed herself again for lying…she needed to love him this much.

No…she couldn't let herself….if she trusted them, she would make mistakes. She trusted them in life and wound up without him. So she tried to will herself to believe, to remind herself why Inuyasha came, why he was here, by saying aloud, "You only came because Kagome is not here."

"Kagome never stopped me from coming."

"Yes, I know, she is such a wonderful…" Kikyo had to stop the words from spitting out…

"She never…could…stop me from coming to you. That is why she left."

Kikyo's eyes closed….her body was so warm as it always was when Inuyasha held her…and for the first time she knew how real it was.

They still were.

And as she slowly wrapped her arms around him, Inuyasha closed his eyes, the rest of the world not mattering.

He felt that acceptance.

And when she pulled away this time, her eyes remained…loving….as she looked at him

And it did not hurt as badly as he watched Kikyo's soul collectors wrap around her.

Inuyasha stared into the sky as silently she disappeared.

Kikyo did still care.

Of this much, Inuyasha was now sure.

They couldn't be together…at least not yet…maybe even never…

But knowing Kikyo still cared for him was enough for Inuyasha right now.