A/N: Now the characters get to figure out what's going on - and I think I may even let you know who's behind it all. :) AND for those Sesshomaru lovers out there...He'll be showing up shortly. And Rin. And (unfortunately) Jaken.

Chapter Six

Rainbow Valley Retreat Facility

Osaka, Japan

It took several hours aboard a train and a long trip in a limousine but finally the small group of four looked out the window as they came to a large walled and gated estate. A guard at the front gate spoke with the limo driver while the others sat quietly in the back. Kagome sat, eyes closed, with her head lain over on Sango's shoulder and Sango had her arm around her. On her other side Miroku who absently patted her hand in soothing strokes. When he'd first started this task, Sango had given him an evil glare, silently accusing him of trying something perverted, but had finally relaxed when she saw that his intentions this time were pure. Kaede sat across from them, hands clutched her lap, head bowed, eyes closed. Inuyasha was beside her, absently staring out the window. Keiko had finally agreed to stay at the shrine with her son and father in law. She had wanted to go along to look after Kagome, but had finally allowed them to convince her it was safer for everyone if she didn't.

Kagome sighed and opened her eyes, but didn't move from her friend's comfort. Inuyasha's ears swiveled in her direction, but his eyes never left the window. He was tense, she realized. His hands were clenched in his lap and he was grinding his teeth. Why did this bother him so much? He didn't know Kikyo-chan. Was he just angry that he'd gotten drawn into this? Did he regret saving her now?

As the car lurched forward once more, the creaking sound of the electronic gate reaching them, she sat up. Miroku gave her hand one last squeeze and let it go, she offered him a tiny smile of gratitude. Sango's arm slowly fell from her shoulders and she stretched it slightly, exercising her stiff muscles.

The limo stopped again and this time the engine shut off. Moments later the door opened and the driver waited for them to climb out. What they saw in the dying sun was a three story Western styled house of sandstone in the middle of a large track of land. Kaede sighed and climbed out with the others following. Kagome smiled a bit bigger this time. It feels like coming home, kinda. If I can't be in my real home...I want to be here.

Inuyasha, however, only deepened his scowl. I hate this place. Why did we have to come here of all places?

"I worked here over the summer. It's absolutely gorgeous during the summer," Kagome was telling her friends softly. "The grass is green and the trees are thick enough to offer a cool shade by the pond. There's a garden out back. It's the perfect place for people to come to heal."

Kaede was leading them through the door and into the entry way which was decorated in a European style. Miroku and Sango walked slowly behind Kagome, admiring the knick knacks and paintings that donned the shelves and walls of the house as they were led through the hall towards a sitting room and were motioned to sit down. Kaede went to a large oak desk and pulled out a few files which she rifled through.

Tired of the quiet and feeling more and more on edge Inuyasha glared at the old woman. "Get out with it all ready. What's so damned important that you had to drag us all the way out here to tell us? And what's any of this got to do with me? It's not like I knew the woman or anything."

Kagome clenched her fists. "Shut up! Just shut the hell up! No one forced you to come out here and no one is making you stay!" She yelled at the hanyou, launching from her seat on a sofa and towering over where he sat in a chair.

"Kagome..." Sango's quiet voice caught her attention and she whirled on her.

"No, Sango-chan. We have been nice to him through this entire thing. He saved my life and I will be eternally grateful for that, but I won't stand this attitude." She lashed out at Inuyasha again, her grief having taken a turn from sorrow to anger. "Wipe that stupid scowl off your face and sit there nice and quiet and maybe, just maybe, you might find out why Kaede-san asked us to come here." With a frustrated sigh she turned and practically fell back onto her seat on the sofa beside Sango.

Miroku and Sango shared a confused and yet amused glance, the earlier trying to hide a grin as he leaned against the couch arm. They knew Kagome was passionate and had a bit of a temper, but this was a new level.

"Feh, whatever bitch." The hanyou crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes, waiting for the doctor to speak.

Kaede picked up a few papers and then looked at the children. "While Kagome seems to be the main focus at the moment, my sister had reasons to believe that all of you are connected to one another and each of you will eventually face the same danger as Kagome."

"How? Why would we be in danger?" Sango questioned, frowning in confusion.

"And what do you mean we are connected? How would Ms. Ten'nou know anything about us?" Miroku added, motioning to himself and Sango.

Kaede took a photograph from her files and handed it to him. A necklace hung from a blue velvet display mannequin. The pendant was a large pearl that took on a purplish blue light when the camera's flash reflected on it and was suspended by a silver chain. Smaller pearls with less brilliance were suspended sporadically along the chain. Kagome glanced at the photograph and idly fingered the pendant around her neck. The same one pictured.

"The large pearl there is the Shikon no Tama. It is a jewel that has been in existence since about 985 a.d. and has been more recently known as the Shikon Pearl. There are many legends surrounding its existence, of course, but the main one says that the jewel has the ability to grant the wishes of holder. Kagome? Do you mind showing us the trinket that you wear?" She glanced at the girl who obligingly lifted her chin and held the pearl out by the chain, allowing them to get a better look at it. "That is the sacred jewel in the picture. Kagome's family has been in charge of keeping it safe for the past few centuries. Kagome has told you of her past, ne?" When the two nodded - they had seemingly forgotten the sulky hanyou - Kaede continued. "Then I will not burden her by reiterating, but will tell you all that it is believed that it was the Shikon Pearl the man was after when he broke into the Higarashi house that night."

Kagome tucked the pearl back under the neck of her shirt while Inuyasha finally announced his confusion. "I think I missed something. Who was after that thing? Doshite?"

"Someone broke into my house when I was little," Kagome answered stiffly. "They...they killed my otou-chan...that's who she's talking about. We don't know who it was...there was no evidence..."

"Oh." He sat back in the chair again, pacified for the moment, maybe regretting asking his question.

Kaede took the photo back and set it on the desk, picking up another and handing it to Miroku. This time the photo was of a large boomerang, yellowish in color with black stripes around the top and bottom. It stood upright in a large display case. "Four years after the attempted Higarashi robbery, what the officials classified as a youkai, broke into the Osaka Museum and stole an antique weapon called the Haraikotsu." Sango's eyes were wide as they moved from the picture to the doctor. "That's right, Sango, the same Haraikotsu that was created by the taijiya of your ancestry. The weapon was made of youkai bone by a tribe of taijiya around 1001 a.d. and was used to slay many youkai before the practice finally died out and the weapon was simply passed from father to son, or daughter, from generation to generation. Sango's father had it insured and donated it to the Osaka museum where it stayed for many years. When it was stolen in 1990 there was seemingly nothing to direct the police towards the culprit. Nothing that is, except a blurry piece of video from a security camera." She handed them another photograph, a blown up still from a video tape that showed the outline of a human man in the shadows. There was no distinguishable features except for two large red eyes.

Kagome choked and shut her eyes, blocking out the image. Having had his curiosity piqued, Inuyasha stood and went to stand where he could look at the photograph over the other boy's shoulder.

Kaede's expression softened and she reached out a hand to gently pat Kagome's head. "I apologize, Kagome. I realize that it is difficult for you to face the demons of your past." She took the two photos back and laid them face down on the folder. "Kagome's upset is because the youkai that was captured on film is quite possibly the same one that attacked her years ago. Have you begun to understand what I mean when I say that the four of you are connected in this predicament?"

Sango nodded slightly. "So, the youkai that stole my family's heirloom also tried to steal Kagome's...And if he's the same one that planted the bomb in Kagome's car then..."

"Demo, Dr. Ten'nou, what about Inuyasha and myself?"

Kaede nodded and handed them two more pictures. One of a yellowed paper sutra beneath a string of prayer beads, lying on black velvet and encased in glass. The other was of two katanas - large swords that appeared to be far beyond useful in their rusted state and surrounded by white fur just below the hilt.

"What the hell -"

Inuyasha's exclamation was cut off when Kaede raised her hand. "The first is the Kazaana Sutra. It was once used by an evil youkai to curse a young monk with an air void in his right hand. The curse would pass from father to son until it was broken. When it finally was the sutra that had caused the void was wrapped around his hand with the prayer beads. Since then it has been kept by the Takaeuchi family as a reminder of their history, is that not correct, Miroku?"

The young man nodded. "My grandfather gave it to Tokyo's museum, but it was stolen six years ago. Unfortunately they were not able to get a video or any sort of proof as to the culprit behind the theft."

"But it showed the same means of entry. In both thefts the security guards were found dead, pierced by something large and very sharp. The official report is that the same youkai is likely responsible. The unofficial reports speculate that it may be a man known as Onigumo," Kaede informed them, ignoring the impatient frown on Inuyasha's features. "Onigumo was a talented thief in the early seventies. He stole a number of items during his raids, but his express interest was in the Shikon Pearl. The police are cautious of naming him as suspect because he was supposed to have died in a fire in the mid eighties. However, there was no body found in the ruins."

"But what's that got to do with my family?" Inuyasha demanded. "Why do you have a picture of my father's katanas? They've never been touched! No one has ever even attempted to steal them or go near them."

Kaede nodded in agreement. "However, they complete the circle. I believe the only reason Onigumo, or whoever this person is, has never attempted to take the katanas is because he could not find them. Though they were insured there was never a location or a name publicized. Kikyo-nee-chan was only able to find out because of her connections." She swallowed and looked away from them, hands shaking. "When Kikyo-nee-chan was attacked, her records were stolen. This person now knows exactly how to go about finding their location."

Kagome looked from one person to the other and took a deep breath, willing herself to forget recent events for the moment and focus on the stories that Kaede was telling them. "What circle does the katanas complete?"

"There is a legend that when these five items are brought together and the possessor will be granted a god-like quality. He or she will be immortal and more powerful than the strongest youkai. They will be able to control the continents. In the hands of someone like Onigumo such an ability, if the legend was true, would be destructive. In any event they would bring him a tremendous fortune and we already know that he would kill each of you and anyone one else who got in his way to obtaining them."

Their expressions were grim as they digested this information. This Onigumo would be after them. He wanted Kagome's necklace and Inuyasha's katanas and if her friends got in his way, he'd kill them too.

The door opened and caused them to jump, so deep were they in their thoughts. A little girl with black hair pulled into a sloppy pony tail looked around the door at them with wide brown eyes. She looked terrified as she looked to Kaede and then seemed to shrink several inches as she drew herself up, looking guilty.

Kaede sighed. "Is there something you need Rin?" The little girl didn't say a word or make any kind of movement. "Shouldn't you be in the dinning room with the other children?" Still the girl made no answer of any sort and Kaede nodded, turning to the others. "I will be back in a moment." She offered her hand to Rin who took it in her small one. "Come along Rin, lets find Miss Miri and see if she'll sit with you for a while. Does that sound good?" She closed the door behind her, leaving the young adults to themselves.

Kagome sighed. "Gomen ne, guys. You should go back to Tokyo. He's already got your families artifacts and he has no reason to come after you again. If you stay by me you're gonna be in danger."

Sango shook her head. "Don't be silly, Kagome-chan. We wouldn't leave you alone, would we Miroku?"

"Of course not. It's been a hard day for you, Kagome. If what Dr. Ten'nou says is true, then you're going to need someone you can trust to help keep you safe. As your friends it is our duty."

"Feh." Inuyasha rolled his eyes and fell back into his previous seat, crossing his arms once more. "I don't know about you, but I plan on leaving this stupid house as soon as I can get a ride back to the station."

Kagome could feel her anger rising again. "What is your problem? Kaede-san is just trying to help us."

"That old bat's helped me enough as it is." Of course she wasn't really an old bat if he wanted to be perfectly honest. She was only in her forties after all. "I don't need or want any more of her 'help.'"

"What are you talking about? What did Kaede-chan ever do to make you so sour?" Her frustration was evident.

He turned his nose up and looked away from them, scowling. "She made me come back."

"I swear," Kagome muttered and then glared at him. "She made you come back? What's that -" Understanding suddenly clicked and her expression became neutral. "You were...a catatonic patient? When were you here?"

"Yeah, I was a damn vegetable for three fucking years. My stupid ass brother brought me here in 1990 because he didn't want to deal with me. So? Why do you wanna know?"

"In 1990? That's the same year..." She trailed off, thoughtfully. She didn't remember him, but then, if he were just getting there, she wouldn't have seen him. "I was in a catatonic coma too. She brought me out the same year you got here."

"Feh."

"Why are you angry at Kaede-san for bringing you back? Aren't you glad to have a normal life back?"

His glare was cold, but his eyes were filled with the pain she'd recognized the first day she met him Chemistry lab. "No. She should have just let me lay like that till I died. I didn't want to come back. The bitch had no right."

Kagome's expression softened to one filled with compassion. "Oh, Inuyasha-kun..."

He stood up and crossed the room to the door. "I don't want your pity, bitch. If the hag comes back, I'll be outside." With that he walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Glossary

Ne - no?

Hanyou - half youkai/half human

Doshite - Why?

Otou-chan - father

Taijiya - youkai slayer

Youkai - daemon

Demo - but

Katana - sword

Kazaana - wind tunnel/air rip

Nee-chan - elder sister

Gomen ne - I'm sorry

Review Comments

Kirei-Kitsune - I was, for a short time, a 'Kikyo Hater', but then I read this really great one-shot fic and, after having reread some of the interactions between Kikyo/Inuyasha/Kagome, I came to a realization or understanding about her. The fic is called Naishin no Miko by Ruth Woytsek (http/ I decided to use Kikyo in this way was because Kagome wouldn't be her reincarnation and since Kikyo never died as a teenager, she aged as any normal person would then she just kinda developed into a mother figure and friend to Kagome...

Eartha - It's gonna happen soon, I swear! They're fixin' to be thrown into a situation where they have to become dependant upon one another.

Yasha1 - Yeah I know...I keep putting all this tragedy on Kagome. It's not premeditated...it just sort of happens. heheh. If Inuyasha wasn't loud mouthed and rude, he wouldn't be Inuyasha. You will not be disappointed, I promise. This is not gonna be one of those stories where they just instantly fall for each other. giggles