Gomenasai Minna! Please don't be mad at me. I have a fairly good explaination... no internet. I'm going to die! I have to get ready for college next year and my parents don't want me to have any more distrations... CHIKUSO! So once in a while I can get on the internet without them knowing... which would be like.. once in a LONG while! Again, gomen! I hope that someone will still read this. Please review even if it sucks!

Disclaimer: Do you have to keep on torturing me like this?

Chapter Five: The First Signs of Change

Sesshomaru sat at a large desk hidden under piles and piles of parchment, books, and other assortments. His chin rested on his laced fingers. He wore a very pensive expression.

'We've wasted too much time in leisure. Mouryoumaru must die before he has a chance to gain any more power.'

Flashback

Kagura sat on a flowerbed dying as Naraku's shouki spread throughout her body and slowly deteriorated it from the inside out. She smiled because she could finally feel the slow yet steady beat of her heart.

'Where will I go from here? I can go anywhere. I am free.' Kagura looked up into the sky with longing. 'Damn it. My body won't move. It's so quiet. There is no one. So this is where it ends. I'm all alone. This is… the freedom I was longing for.'

Kagura heard something in front of her. She gasped, "Sessho..maru." He had a slight look of pity?

"I came after following Naraku's scent." Kagura smiled.

"Heh, you'll be disappointed. Naraku isn't here." Kagura lowered her head.

"… I knew that it was you." Kagura's eyes widened. Her bangs shadowed over her eyes.

"I see…" 'You knew… and so you came?' Sesshomaru continued to stare at her without his usual cold indifferent expression.

'…Tenseiga is unable to save her.' "Are you going..?"

"Yeah, it's fine." Kagura looked up to meet his eyes. She smiled at him contently. 'In the end… I was with you.' Inu-taichi arrived to see Kagura disappear into the wind. Sesshomaru turned to leave, but Inuyasha stopped him.

"Hold it, Sesshomaru!" Sesshomaru stared back out of the corner of his eye. "Did Kagura… Was she suffering?"

Sesshomaru looked up at the drifting wind carrying a single feather. He continued to walk away from the Inu-taichi. "She was smiling."

Scene Change

Totousai told Sesshomaru that Tenseiga has called out to him. Sesshomaru remembered what Mouryoumaru said in battle.

"She came to a clear generous decision. But in the end, she died a miserable death. And do, this means that she has truly died in vain because not one of you here will be able to fufill Kagura's final wish will you."

'Whether or not her death was in vain is for me to decide.'

End Flashback

"Ah… I feel so much better. A nice bath can cure just about anything." Kagome walked back down to her room humming to herself. When she reached her room, she didn't feel as cheerful as she thought she was before. Kagome shut the screen door behind her and rested against it. She looked out her open window and saw that it was night. With a heavy sigh, she lifted herself up and put away her bathing supplies. Just being in the room seemed to make her feel gloomy. She kept thinking about the past events that had taken place. Memories choked her and made her feel constrained that she couldn't stay confined in the room any longer. Her mind stayed focused on one thing and it didn't go away no matter how hard she tried to think about something else. Every thought made her experience a sharp pain in her heart that exhausted her. 'I need to go for a walk.' She decided wistfully. Kagome walked out of the room wearing the exact same thing she had carried to the bathing area.

As soon as she had walked outside, a streak of light flashed across the dark purple sky. Kagome inwardly cursed herself for her misfortune, but decided to take her walk anyway. 'When I start feeling rain, I'll go back.' She thought. Each step she took led her further away from the bright lights that surrounded the castle. Fifteen minutes had passed without a drop of rain. Only the occasional flash of light followed by a low rumble signified the presence of the oncoming storm. Kagome stopped and yawned with her hand over her mouth. She stretched arms out above her then placed them behind her back. When a warm breeze blew, the soft rustle of leaves caught her attention. She walked in the direction of the woods and stood near the edge. With a quick glance at the sky, she entered the forest just far enough so that she remained within eyesight of the lights, but deep enough into the forest so that she could enjoy the tranquility of nature. She took precaution by using her senses to scan the area for any youki traces, but she found nothing that posed a threat. With a childish smile, she found a large tree trunk, climbed it, and found a comfortable seat. Kagome listened to the birds chirping and the insects buzzing. She loved the fresh air that calmed her nerves. Just as she felt like her day was not such a disaster, the first drops cool of rain woke her from her serene state. 'Rain isn't so bad.' She was thankful that she at least had some moment of peace.

"Okay, okay, I get the message." Another bead of liquid landed on her hand. "I'm going." Kagome pushed herself off the branch and stood on one of the pipe like roots of the tree. She was about to jump to the ground when she notice a brief flash of white. She quickly turned her head to the direction of the fleeting image, and almost lost her balance in the process. A sudden roar of thunder startled Kagome and made her loose her footing on the tree. Then, all went black.

'Itai' Kagome felt wet. She moved her fingers to experience a throbbing sensation in her back. "Owww…" she whispered to herself while she gradually moved her entire body. The rain soaked her body mercilessly making it harder for Kagome to get up. She grabbed the nearest thing and pushed herself to her feet. She then looked in the direction of the castle and found it hard to see the lights. 'I wonder if anyone notices that I'm gone.' She gave a little whine. 'Like if that block of ice cares if I'm there or not.'

Kagome turned to leave, but she heard something behind her. It sounded like someone was crying. She warily walked around the tree and poked her head out from behind. She did not see anything in front of her so she disregarded the sound and thought that it was her imagination. Kagome turned to leave again when she heard the crying again. Again, she looked behind the tree and found no one, but the crying continued. Then it hit her, she looked down and she perceived a small child at the base of the tree completely soaked.

"Haha-ue," The child cried.

"Ano…" The child jumped up and exposed his fangs?

"Get away from me!" The child frantically looked left and right and then at Kagome.

"Matte," Kagome said as soothingly as she could. "I won't hurt you. I promise."

"Liar!" The child started moving back slowly.

"Look, I'm a ningen. I have no weapons." Kagome put her hand up and smiled. The child moved a little bit closer and started to sniff the air. "I'm here to help you. Where do you live? Why are you out here all alone?"

When the boy moved closer, Kagome was dumbfounded. "Inu…yasha?" she said with disbelief.

"How do you know who I am?" The boy stopped where he was.

'Are you telling me that this is Inuyasha? But he is just a kid. Am I dreaming? Is this some sort of trick?' "Are you really Inuyasha?" Kagome looked at the boy. He had the same eye color, same hairstyle, and same kimono. 'Did Inuyasha have a kid with the same name?'

"Yes." The hanyou decided that the girl looked nice.

"Is your father named Inuyasha?" The boy looked confused.

"No." 'What a relief,' Kagome thought. "Can you take me home?"

'Ahh… might as well play along with it.' "Of course, come on." Kagome extended her hand and the boy took it.

Kagome started walking with the little Inuyasha. By then, the rain was lessening so she could see the light through the trees. Kagome wanted to ask the hanyou more questions, but stopped when she heard him cough. He looked tired and sad so Kagome chose to carry him the rest of the way. When they reached the edge of the forest, little Inuyasha had fallen asleep on her chest. He clung onto her clothes and twitched his ears once in a while. Kagome couldn't help but smile. When they reached they reached the entrance to the castle, the rain had completely stopped. Kagome woke the sleeping boy with a gentle pat. He rubbed his eyes with his small fingers and jumped to the floor. He thanked Kagome. Kagome tried to stop him, but he vanished. The images around her dimmed out.

To Inuyasha

"Kagome." Inuyasha woke with a startle. He looked outside the one room hut. It was still dark and raining. Inside, the fire still burned, and everyone slept. He took a deep breath and rested his head against the wall. He started to think about his dream. Sometimes he relived this memory on rainy nights. He was lost after following his brother into the forest because it was his first time wandering into those woods. It had taken him the entire day to get out and, by that time, the sun had already set and the storm had moved in. He had felt cold, alone, and abandoned. His brother hadn't even bothered to come back for him. But this time it was different. 'Why was Kagome there?' He thought and then slightly smiled, 'Because you are always there by my side.' He thought of her smiling face calling his name and went back to sleep.

When Inuyasha's breathing started to even out, Kikyou opened her eyes. She raised her head and gave him an angry glare. Kikyou stood up and summoned her shinidamachuu.

To Sesshomaru

Sesshomaru stood up and walked to his large window. With one graceful movement, he landed on the ground and headed for the forest. He preferred being outside opposed to staying in a room full of papers. When he approached the woods, he sensed the presence of the young miko and hid his youki. For some reason, it irritated him that she was out this late and alone. He followed her scent and found her smiling on a branch. She seemed content and, for once, endurable to be around. 'If only she would remain this silent when in my presence.' Sesshomaru thought indifferently. For no reason at all, he chose to watch her from a distance. With his acute hearing, he heard her hum a steady tune. The sound was pleasant, for a ningen. He observed her like this for several minutes until stray drops of rain fell from the accumulating clouds.

"Okay, okay, I get the message." He heard her say. "I'm going." 'Amusing, she talks to herself.' He decided to continue roaming the forest and passed her with youkai speed. Sesshomaru was halfway around the castle when he smelled faint drops of blood. It came from the direction that he left. He scanned the area for any youkai besides himself and his own, but did not sense any. He dismissed the scent and continued to move through the trees. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. A full force of rain poured down soaking his hair. He turned around and thought one thing, 'Miko'.

By the time he reached her, she was unconscious at the base of the tree. The rain had entirely soaked her body and clothes. He quickly lifted her and headed for her room. He would not be held responsible if she became ill. Not that he cared for her well being. He just reasoned that it would greatly inconvenience him, consume precious time, and create unnecessary work.

It took a short amount of time for him to reach his castle. He entered from a hidden location to avoid any contact. Sesshomaru ordered a few servants to change her wet clothes, make her futon, and leave a towel when they were done. He then closed off that hall and would not allow anyone to enter unless there was an emergency. Sesshomaru watched the miko for half an hour making sure that no one disturbed her. Her breathing seemed to be normal so he concluded that she was not sick. Soundlessly he blew out the lights in her room and left no sign that anyone had been in the room with her.

The taiyoukai turned to leave, but the movement of the girl prevented him from exiting. The youkai stepped closer and examined the girl. The miko slept discomforted. She tossed her head to one side and beads of sweat formed on her countenance. Now, her powers seemed to be rising exponentially. She began to glow, but Sesshomaru didn't move back. He continued to stare at her unable to determine if she was unwell or not. Was he worried for the miko? He assured himself with the thought that he was only irritated because he could not determine the situation. He had always taught himself to analyze a situation and determine the possibilities, strategize his plan, and execute therefore taking action when needed. The situation just irritated him because, for once, he did not know what to do.

To Kagome

Pitch black surrounded her. A single spotlight lighted the area where she stood. She looked around and found nothing but a vast darkness. With a sigh, the girl from the future squatted down and held herself. Then, she felt something close her. When she looked up, she saw her friends in a hut sleeping. She followed the scenery and the darkness disappeared. The burning fire warmed her skin making her want to sit down next to her friends and go to sleep. Kagome walked to Shippou brushed some of his hair with her fingers. She missed him so much. A smile formed on her lips when she looked over her slumbering friends. Next, she approached Inuyasha and gently touched his adorable inu ears. She rubbed them gently with her thumbs just as she had done when they first met. 'Soft,' she thought and giggled to herself. Her fingers traced down his face and halted near his lips. With a single finger, she moved them across his lips so tenderly that she barely touched them.

"Was I in your mind Inuyasha?" Kagome placed an affectionate kiss on his forehead. Then, she lowered herself to level their faces. She moved closer leaving a centimeter of space between them.

"Is this a dream? If you can sense me, open your eyes." She shifted closer and closed her eyes. She left a delicate kiss that lasted a fraction of a second.

"You don't belong here." A stern feminine voice spoke. Kagome rapidly rose making sure that she stood in front of the resting hanyou.

"What are you doing here Kikyou?" Kagome said in a stern voice.

"You don't belong next to him. He is mine." Kikyou responded with an intense glare that sent shivers down Kagome's spine.

"You're wrong. This is my mind so I suggest that you should leave." Kagome had no intention of letting the dead miko get to her, especially in her own mind. She wanted to show Kikyou that she couldn't and wouldn't be pushed around by the lights of her.

"You share a strong connection with him, don't you?" Kikyou's eyes narrowed. She stepped closer and tried to intimidate the girl before her.

"What do you want Kikyou?" Kagome started feeling a sort of tingle in her body, and it wasn't good. Kikyou was up to something.

"I am here to tell you that Inuyasha will no longer be of this world. He has willingly chosen to follow me to hell rather than stay with you. I understand that you have a strong "friendship" with him, but that is as far as it goes. You have changed him, something I would have done had Naraku not deceived us. We will rightfully have what was stolen from us fifty years ago." Kikyou continued to step closer as the scene around them started to fade away.

"I won't let him die. I know that he loves you, but can't you do something from him. You never accepted him as a hanyou so the least that you could do is allow him to live. You always demand these things from him, so do this one thing for him. LIVE with him. Give life a chance." One word caught Kikyou by surprise, live. Kikyou hardened her eyes to prevent her reincarnation from seeing any difference.

"You can't stop me." Kikyou smirked. Kagome's breathing became hard.

"GET OUT!" Kagome screamed. Images of the first time Kikyou had tried to take Inuyasha to hell flooded her mind. She experienced the pain that she felt when they had first kissed, but she held back her tears. "OUT!"

Kagome radiated a blue light that engulfed everything around her. She closed her eyes shut while focusing her power and anger on the dead clay figure that threatened to enter her mind once again. 'I'm not you Kikyou. I am my own person. You don't know who I am!' Kagome's anger rose fueling her powers. When she could no longer feel the miko's presence, Kagome opened her eyes. She turned her head to the right and discovered a pair of golden eyes gazing at her apathetically. There was no light in the room, but she could still see the silvery-white hair of the inu youkai. Tears formed to outline her eyelids and stopped near the corner. Kagome pushed herself up and encircled her arms around the taiyoukai's neck. She spoke through sobs.

"Don't go." Her action startled the youkai. She placed her head on his chest and sought the comfort of his beating heart. Sesshomaru slightly tilted his head and focused his attention on the girl that clung to him like a lost child.

"I am not Inuyasha." His words came out more spiteful than intended, but he knew that she only saw glimpses of his dimwitted half-brother in him. He put his hand on her shoulder with the intent of removing them from himself.

"I know." Kagome said quietly but immediately. For the second time, the callous taiyoukai was caught off guard by two simple words. Though his eyes maintained their impassive pose, Sesshomaru's arm absentmindedly dropped to his side.

Me: Chotto chotto. Don't go away now. Please reveiw. Oh... one question? How does one obtain a muse?