Here is the next chapter in this little story. I hope you are enjoying it. For a while, I have been writing this so I will update quite often. I have other stories—much older than this one—that I would like to get back to so please don't despair when and if I begin slowing this down. Also, I do enjoy any comments you wish to give; it would only help in the creation of this story.

Chapter 1

She could see nothing but black. Could I be dead? No, she hurt too much and if one could feel any pain, then the body was still alive to feel it. She shifted her body, and then stopped when even greater pain assuaged her senses. She moaned.

"She's awake," she heard a little girl's voice. Then she heard footfalls come nearer to her on her makeshift bed. The footfalls stopped and she felt someone stand over her. Slowly, she lifted her eyelids—the only movement that did not seem to cause too much pain. Her eyes met with an unusual sight: a little girl kneeled beside her, smiling at her, and the demon brother of Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, standing over her with his usual calm façade.

"Hello, Kagura-sama," the little girl grinned at her, "Do you remember me, I'm Rin-chan," She looked to Sesshoumaru, and then continued, "And my otousan, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Kagura's eyes snapped to Sesshoumaru's face to see if that little comment made him angry. Really, the nerve of this HUMAN child, calling this demon 'papa'. But there was no emotion, not even anger or annoyance, just calm.

He finally spoke, "I guess that human is not so powerful after all…Ah, she is only human."

Rin looked worried, "But she was powerful enough to help Kagura-sama, right." She looked on the brink of tears, "She has her heart, and that bad man can't hurt her anymore."

Kagura looked at Sesshoumaru again. Could it be true, was she finally free of Naraku? "Yes," he said. Rin grinned enormously full of relief and Kagura sighed then winced as pain racked her body again.

"Inuyasha-sama destroyed him," Rind asked now.

"No, he did not," Sesshoumaru answered as he still stood over Rin and Kagura. "Rin, go into the village nearby, Jaken knows the way and what is needed. He waits for you outside. Go now."

"Yes, sir, Sesshoumaru-sama," She saluted, and then skipped towards the entrance of the cave where they had found shelter.

When she was gone, Sesshoumaru kneeled over Kagura and reached for the animal skin that covered her. Kagura flinched away in distrust, and then promptly flinched in pain.

"You need not worry," Sesshoumaru pulled the cover off her body, "I am only going to attend to your wounds." He pulled her into a sitting position to undress her. He seemed not to react to the exposed flesh. Kagura made no reply for or against his actions, she was in so much pain that she knew that if she opened her mouth, she would scream. At that moment Rin returned, she stopped and stared at Kagura.

"What is it, Rin," he kept on with his ministrations as he queried.

"Jaken says that he does not need me to go with him into the village." Rin stared at Kagura's back as Sesshoumaru peeled the tattered cloth away. "Kagura-sama, the scar on your back, it is gone."

Even through her immense pain, the statement sunk into her mind. She WAS free.

"Rin, tell Jaken to remember the last time her went into a village alone."

"Oh, yes, sir," Rin turned and marched after Jaken.

When she was gone, Sesshoumaru brought his hand to Kagura's back. Trailing it down from neck to waist, he searched for the truth of Rin's statement. Kagura's body quivered with a myriad of feelings, none dealing with pain.

"That human is powerful," he commented reluctantly. "She has released you from your father's shackles." Kagura started, F-father, she faltered on her speech. "Yes, he is, you cannot deny it, for if it was not for him, you would not be." Kagura said nothing, but only sat still as he attended to her wounds. Neither did Sesshoumaru speak further. Soon he was done, wrapping her chest, ribs, wrists, and right angle. He laid her down again gently and then covered her with the animal skin again. He stood and walked to the fire and placed another log into the fire, building it up. He then walked to the cave entrance, staring out into the forest.

Soon she closed her eyes just to block out the world and think of the things she had learned of just moments before. Before long, though—previous to completing any serious thoughts—exhaustion overwhelmed her and she fell into a restorative sleep.

Sesshoumaru knew when she had fallen asleep as her breathing became lighter and easier. He turned around to watch her sleep. She saved Rin from Naraku's attack even at the probable cost of her life—which she previously seemed to value over anything else, including her freedom at times. Did she do it just to spite Naraku or could she really care for anyone else than herself? She had made a comment before on the disgusting ways some of Naraku's demons demolished things and humans—not that he much care what happened to humans.

Then there was Inuyasha and his mate; Sesshoumaru shook his head at the absurdity of a demon (albeit half-demon) taking a human as a mate. However, he was stopped from that train of thought by the realization that he had taken in a human as his ward. He mentally shook his head, back to the topic at hand.

Inuyasha had transformed while holding the Tetsusaiga. As he understood, the Tetsusaiga holds Inuyasha's demon side in, meaning because the Tetsusaiga could slaughter 100 in one swing, there would be no need for Inuyasha to transform to protect himself and risk loosing control.

Yet, he did when his mate was in fatal danger. What was more, it seemed that their powers. Once they realized their true potential, worked with each other's power. This was something he would have to ponder. Also, what was that he had seen in the human's trailing wind?

He was brought out of his reverie when he heard Jaken, as usual, whining about something Rin had done. For what exactly, he could not make out. Not that it of any importance. For Jaken, if he was not complaining about something, he was not happy. Neither he nor Rin paid much attention to Jaken's whining. Sesshoumaru smiled inwardly (Sesshoumaru would never show that he was smiling to anyone, though Rin always seemed to know when he was), and turned and walked back into the cave to prepare the water for the medicine to treat Kagura…

At Kaede's home village, Mirouku, Sango, Shippou, and Kirara sat around Kaede's hut fire. "Thou is not kidding," Kaede said in amazement.

"No, Inuyasha did transform into his demon form while he still held the Tetsusaiga," Mirouku confirmed.

"What could it mean," Shippou asked.

"Could Inuyasha's demon side be too much for the Tetsusaiga to handle now," Sango queried.

"No," Kouga broke into the conversation. He sat at the doorway of the hut more out than in, refusing to enter the dwelling, "It has nothing to do with that. He can control his transformations now; he has control of all his powers."

"But why," Shippou shouted in frustration.

"Kagome," was Kouga's simple answer.

"That explains it," said Mirouku.

"Explains what," Shippou asked.

"You mean…" Sango trailed off.

"Yes," Mirouku confirmed.

"Mean what," Shippou tried again.

"That would explain that little scene earlier with Kikyo," Kaede mentioned what had happened when they had arrived back from the battle with Naraku.

They had just gotten in from the battle. Kagome, now awake, was still in Inuyasha's arms; she still seemed to be exhausted.

They had just walked through the Shinto pillars that marked the entrance to Kaede's village, when Inuyasha stopped and turned. The rest of the group had not notice this and had continued on. When they did notice Inuyasha was no longer with them a few yards later, they also stopped and turned. The reason was astounding.

Kikyo stood a few feet away and she stared at the couple. Inuyasha gently put Kagome on her feet, but held her against him else she fall to the ground. "Inuyasha," Kikyo spoke first.

"Kikyo," Inuyasha said. Kagome looked up into his face. There was love in his eyes but it was different now, like someone looking fondly at a picture of their first love and basking in the past memories.

"I am glad," Kikyo said to the couple, "I have come to give a blessing…and to give you both these." She held out her hand.

"Where did you get those?"

"They were given to me, Inuyasha, to give to you and your chosen…"

Kagome looked again at the objects in Kikyo's outstretched hand. One was a golden filigree ring. It looked delicate and fragile, like thin golden threads interweaved together. In the center, surrounded delicately, was a single pearl. It was beautiful. The other was a wrist gauntlet. It looked plain, s simple gold gauntlet that was in any way too gaudy for a man to wear. Upon closer examination, however, one could make out the same intricate entwining design of the ring embossed into it. Near its base center there was also a pearl of the same quality as the ring.

"You have decided, Inuyasha," it was a statement. "They wish for you to have these now. If you permit me, I shall preside over the ceremony."

"Ceremony?"

"Do you accept, Inuyasha?"

"It would seem that I have," Inuyasha turned to Kagome, "If you accept, Kagome, we will be together…forever."

Kagome looked into Inuyasha's eyes and knew her answer immediately. "Yes"

Inuyasha approached a few steps, taking Kagome with him. He reached out and retrieved the delicate ring. "Give me your hand."

Kagome stretched out her arm, giving Inuyasha her hand. He began to place it onto her fourth finger, then stopped and looked into her eyes questioningly once last time. Kagome gave no protest and he slipped it into position. Kagome looked at Kikyo's hand and reached for the gauntlet. As she lifted it up she looked at Inuyasha. He held out his left arm. Kagome looked at the gauntlet. There seemed to be no hinge or seam, not did it seem to fit around his hand. In a flash of insight, though, she finally placed it against his wrist. In a flash of light, it was wrapped on his wrist. He turned his hand over, palm up, and Kagome saw the pearl rested right at his pulse point. She placed her left hand over his gauntlet over the two pearls that shimmered.

Suddenly, there was a hand over the two jewels. Inuyasha and Kagome looked up at Kikyo, who had moved right up to them. "Now, I bless…" Closing her eyes, she began to chant. Warmth spread through Kagome and Inuyasha. They also closed their eyes and let the feeling wash over them. When Kikyo lifted her hand a single thread connected the two pearls; it flickered and then seemed to vanish.

When Inuyasha and Kagome finally opened their eyes, Kikyo was already walking off into the surrounding forest. Inuyasha watched for a moment, but turned away to speak to Kagome, "I think that you should rest in your own time."

Kagome startled and looked at Inuyasha with disappointment evident in her eyes. He still can't forget about Kikyo, even after…

Inuyasha had not seen the look on Kagome's face. "Kagome and I are going to her time. When she has rested, we will return." Kagome was not listening. "Even though, Naraku was badly wounded, there are still his demon incarnations. You all should have not trouble and be able to handle those. We won't be gone long."

With that said, Inuyasha picked up Kagome in his arms and ran off towards the Bone Eater's Well.

"Ye see now," Kaede said.

"Yes, it is clear," Mirouku said.

"What's clear," Shippou screamed.

They all sighed, but Sango finally spoke up, "You will understand when you're older.