Luna: FOUR! WEE!

Veron: Um…kaaaaaaaaaay.

Luna: VERON DREW A FANART FOR THE PETAL SCENE WITH KAGOME LAST CHAPTER! SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT I'LL BE HAPPY TO EMAIL IT TO YOU! Also, I'm really sorry I haven't updated in ages. I was taking an unannounced hiatus ;;

Disclaimer: See, if I owned Inuyasha I'd be filthy rich and my name would be known throughout the anime world. That and I'd be Japanese and able to drink and drive (just not at the same time) But I'm not legal as such still a minor, I can't draw, and I'm haven't a drop of Japanese blood in my body. But I CAN write and for that, this plot is mine. But that characters aren't. Duh. Except for Himawari-Sama. Mine!

Chapter 4: Coward, Stage Left
Kagome blinked, she was in that darkness once more. She looked at the ground only to see glimmering pink ripples form from where her feet were placed. The young princess stepped forward, her bare feet silently padding through the blackness.

-You have returned.-

"It's not as if I had a choice," She shot back; her face set in an annoyed expression. But she stood in place, gazing steadily at the growing pink ripples that sparkled enticingly at her feet.

-You know what you must do-

She nodded and took a step back, before running full on at the formation on the ground and jumping into the air, her raven hair caressed by the air as she felt the familiar warmth that surrounded her.

" Yes…I know."


Kikyo watched Kagome's chest rise and fall in the night. Her face set in a peaceful expression reminiscent of Inuyasha's current one. She sighed, fisting her hands with the cloth of her hakama pants. Why was Kagome not reacting so violently to this memory?

The priestess suppressed the urge to flinch as the reason surfaced in her mind.

I'm the cause of her pain in the memories. Because I'm present.

She pushed aside the guilt she felt for such thoughts. Now was not the time for petty emotions.

Something warm was present near her lap, something that was breathing. Blearily she opened her eyes, suddenly irritated by the familiar blurry accent to these experiences. Slowly, she let herself try and decipher her surroundings. It was dark and there were varying shades of brown, which she could deduct was wood. Kagome was in a house of some sort…and there was a tiny figure sleeping not to far from where she sat. Orange was all she could make out from its form before she felt the presence by her lap move.

And start to speak.

'It's him! I know that voice…'

But yet again, she couldn't make out what he was saying to her. But she felt worry and anxiousness rack her form and she wondered why. Her lips moved and she heard her own voice but didn't know what she was saying either.

He replied back to her and she gently blushed in embarrassment and disbelief. Very slowly, she nodded and watched her arms move as she placed the man's head on her lap. Gazing at the odd cloth on her arms, she blinked also amazed by the fact that the skin of her legs was visible underneath the indecently short green blur. Whatever it was anyway.

The person moved, nudging his face closer to her and Kagome felt her face heat up. Indignant at whatever comment he said, she proceeded to scold him, as if trying to find his honesty. But he had fallen asleep and she felt her face regain the familiar flush that had occurred so often lately.

A rumble shook her body, causing her to look up as specks of wood and dust rained upon their heads. Something vast and vile was ripping the roof clear off of the walls; it had eight appendages protruding from its body. Whatever it was, but as she felt her eyes come in contact with the strange beast.

Fear overcame her body and she curled up over the man in her lap and rolled out of the way, only to come in contact with one of the "arms" from the monster.

Her eyes widened in horror.

Kikyo moved back as Kagome snapped awake, her body propelling her to sit upright. Her eyes were wide with fear and disgust as she felt her mouth open and close in silent screams of terror. The hime's chest continued to rise and fall in an unsteady pace, trickles of sweat falling down the sides of her face.

The miko place a firm hand on the young woman's shoulder, commanding her to calm down. She managed to, but not after contemplating why the man was gone. Why was she so sad whenever he was in these "dreams" of hers? Why couldn't she stand it when she awoke?

" Miko-Sama…"

Kikyo's cool gray irises slid over and regarded Kagome's scared expression. Her reincarnation was grasping the material of her futon with white knuckles. Kagome let herself allow an ashamed smile to come across her lips as she gazed up at the priestess.

" I'm sorry for always collapsing on you. I'm sure you have other things to do."

Like sleep for one…

The miko nodded and bowed, standing she strode out of the room. Not once looking back, fearing that if she did this pathetic kinship to her reincarnation would grow. As she left the royal property, she felt the ghostly touch of her shikigami, its scaly skin brushing against her flesh.

She took the gesture as meager comfort and continued on her way, not noticing the being that hid in the shadows of the village, watching her.

" You smelled Kagome-Sama's scent?" Miroku asked, his eyes wide with surprise at the kitsune before him. The young boy nodded as he played with a ball of blue flame in his hands.

" It came from the West."

Sango felt tears burn at the back of her eyes, she almost collapsed with relief, after searching aimlessly for weeks they finally had a clue as to where their beloved friend was. Composing herself the young taijya placed her mask securely over her mouth and nose. Holstering Hiraikotsu over her shoulder, she gave an affirmative nod to the monk beside her.

" Let's go find Kagome-Chan."

Kaede raised a steady hand to stop them, her one visible eye having suspicion laced in its depths. She turned towards Shippo, her face stern.

" Was it faint?"

Shippo bit his lip, concentrating on the night when he had finally felt at peace.

" It was incredibly faint. Unless you concentrated all your power on finding it you would have missed it."

" Then, why did you find it?" Sango asked, as she boarded the broad back of Kirara. Miroku nodded as well, placing his staff over Sango's lap and holding either end securely as he positioned himself behind her.

" I was thinking about her." The young boy answered looking rather bashful as he said so.

The adults smiled softly.

" Even if it was a figment of imagination…it's worth the effort to go in that direction. We haven't even spoke of searching the Western Lands." Miroku murmured remembering exactly why it had been so.

Sango breathed in deeply as she squeezed Kirara's sides with her thighs, causing the cat demon to fly into the sky.

" Houshi-Sama, Sesshomaru is still in power there isn't he?"

The lines of sleepless nights and worry suddenly became prominent on his features as he sighed dejectedly.

" Yes.

…

And that is what is concerning me."

"KIKYO-SAMA!"

The deceased miko raised a brow at the strange sucking sensation that was coming from the hollow of her throat as it tried and failed to find a source of blood. Her eyes narrowing in mild annoyance, she quickly plucked the intrusion away from her false body and regarded it as it shivered between her fingertips.

" Myoga…What is your business with me?"

" Can an old friend not say hello?" The flea asked his newfound fear of the priestess returning as he tried his best to brave her wrath and vast spiritual powers. He was quaking with terror but he had to do this act for the sake of the beautiful young woman whose memories were locked away. A beautiful young woman with large pools of midnight blue and cloudy gray, with pouty pink lips and the most delicious blood ever known to the flea race…

" You never visited for pleasure." Kikyo replied, her gray irises becoming sharp slits on the angular planes of her face as she squeezed his body slightly. Although she left the rest of the sentence hanging in the air.

At least when I was alive.

" I am worried for your safety." He stuttered, his bulging eyes dancing with fright.

The woman closed her eyes and ruefully let her lips curve into a smile. With a slight sound of disbelief, she released the flea from her fingers and let him rest her in her open palm.

You are not worried for my safety. You are worried for hers.

" What is your purpose here Myoga. Answer me." Her emotionless gray depths held no inkling of what she had in mind should he defy her demand. But Myoga although cowardly is not stupid. For idiots have vast knowledge of self-preservation, which is similar to cowardice in its own right. Myoga knew exactly what threat lie in those cold words that fell from the dead human's lips. And had every intention of fearing them and obeying her.

" I have come across in my travels the rumors of Kagome-Sama being held here as a princess. And from the gossip in this village, I have uncovered these facts to be true. But I have a mere question to ask of you. If I may."

Kikyo nodded slightly, her soul stealers gracefully twirling in the air, the glowing balls in their grasp resonating in the dappled light and shadows of the deep forest. A slight breeze blew through the canopies, causing her dark tresses to flick delicately across her pale skin.

" Why do you continue to help Kagome-Sama after her fainting spells? Is there something keeping you here?"

" You said one question."

Myoga chuckled nervously under her scrutinizing gaze, sweat tricking down his bald head. He gave her a apologetic smile and bowed low his skin almost touching her frigid flesh.

" Forgive me, I became hasty."

Her line of sight lingered on the trees to her right, strands of her ebony hair coming loose and caressing her face. Kikyo let her eyelids fall closed as she let her body relax against the base of an older tree. She let out a tiny sigh, the weight of her task and confession pushing down upon her shoulders.

" It is my duty, to protect the Shikon Jewel. As it is my current duty to protect the keeper of the Shikon Jewel. I am merely fulfilling my task."

Opening her eyes, the miko watched the flea demon's face as he let this declaration sink in. He nodded, his arms crossed over his chest. Bowing once more, he thanked her and dashed off into the woods.

Suddenly, Kikyo had never felt so weary in her life as she felt sleep overcome her form, the cold skin of her shikigami dancing across her flesh.

And her eyelids fell closed; looking more at peace then anyone had seen her in years.

Sesshomaru slid the brush gracefully over the scroll before him, the calligraphy looking like smooth outlines of a fine painting. Raising his one arm up, he carefully dipped the tool into the container of black ink. Sweeping the brush over the paper again, his eyes flicked over to the tiny figure leaping through the threshold of the doorway and onto the table.

Landing directly in the pot of ebony liquid.

" Myoga."

Spluttering, the said demon leapt out of the clay mold, covered in the inky concoction. Carefully sidestepping the important document before his master's older half sibling, he leapt upon the windowsill and wrung the ink from his clothes.

Feeling the man's icy glare upon his back, he turned and bowed low. Bringing himself back up, he breathed in deeply.

" Have you heard of where Inuyasha-Sama lies now?"

Silence enveloped the room and Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, intrigue apparent in his amber depths. Placing the pain brush on its pedestal, he drummed his nails only once against the wooden desk subtly alerting the foolish flea of his impatience.

" He is pinned to the Goshinboku once more."

His eyes narrowed further.

" And Kagome-Sama is residing in your lands."

" It is no concern of mine."

Myoga shook his head, scared out of his mind for his own safety instead of Kagome's, but seeing as how if and when his master awoke, he'd be murdered if Kagome were harmed he continued on.

" But it should be, Sesshomaru-Sama. Kagome is now the heir to Himawari-Sama's lineage. He treats her as his own child."

In a blink of an eye, the silver haired demon lord towered over the cowering flea vassal.

Sesshomaru's blood went cold even as his perfected emotionless mask was in place; the wheels in his mind turning as the information sunk in. Without a word, the man turned and briskly took leave of the study, leaving the flea demon to thank the gods for giving him the strength to not die of fright.

Luna: Fin!

Veron: YAY!

Luna: Review Onegai!