Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, nor do I own its characters. I do own the ideas of this story and the characters I have created for this story (i.e. Saphira). Please respect patent laws. Comments and reviews are appreciated.

Chapter 2: Followed

Sesshoumaru growled inwardly as the wind blew in his direction. A familiar yet foreign scent filled his nose. He and Inuyasha were sitting under a tree by a stream.

Inuyasha felt rather then heard Sesshoumaru's growl. It was almost as if, thrity years later, Kagome's ghost had come to haunt him. He had been catching scents of her all afternoon, but that was impossible. She would never come back after what she had witnessed...

The Shikon no Tama had been completed, a whole beautiful jewel. Kagome saw the look on Inuyasha's face. She began to panic, he had said he was going to destroy it.

But he had lied. Even Kagome's love couldn't stop Inuyasha from fulfilling his greatest desire..to become a full-blooded youkai.

Before he realized what he did, he wished for it with all his heart.

Kagome had run for her life. She ran for the well. She could already feel the youkai's power in the air. It was even stronger than that of Sesshoumaru.

She ran blindly, she couldn't see through her tears. He had betrayed her, and she would not return to him.

As soon as she got to the well, she paused, but only for a moment.

"KAGOME!" Came the roar of Inuyasha's voice.

Without a second thought she leapt into the well.

By the time he had reached the well, she had sealed it from the other side. He had no way of going to her...

"Do you even smell it?" Came an annoyed voice pulling Inuyasha from his memories.

"I've been smelling it!" Snapped Inuyasha. "I don't know what it is!"

"Of course you wouldn't," chuckled Sesshoumaru. "You've never had the pleasure of smelling a dragon."

"Wasn't Father killed by a dragon?" Inuyasha asked nervously.

Sesshoumaru eyed Inuyasha's reaction. "You still act like you're part human."

"Once you've experienced something like that," Inuyasha replied calmly, "it is hard to put it behind you."

Sesshoumaru accepted this answer. It had taken his brother years to mature this far. He would try hard not to regress Inuyasha's progress.

"It is a young one," Sesschoumaru said quietly, unconsciously easing his younger brother's fears. "It has been following us since we left the well."

Inuyasha's eyes widened at this. "The smell at the well was Kagome."

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes, "Inuyasha..."

Inuyasha jumped up impatiently, "It is her! You never scented her properly! I know what that smell is!"

Sesshoumaru got up too. "Inuyasha, it is impossible. You said yourself she sealed the well. Why would she come back after thirty years?"

Saphira, who had been watching the scene from across the stream in a tree, decided it was time to show herself. She leapt down by the stream.

Sesshoumaru caught the lightening fast movement and was across the stream in an instant.

"WHO are YOU!" He growled grabbing for her throat.

Saphira grinned and flitted out of his reach. Her laughter floated down through the tree tops.

"Just like the stories, Sesshoumaru," came her soft voice.

Inuyasha stiffened, he had heard that voice before. The voice was almost the same, except this one had a different accent.

Saphira saw the effect her voice had on her mother's lover. It pleased her to upset his balanced life and to bring the memories of her mother to him.

"Kagome?" Came a whisper.

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes. "Fool, did you not see how fast she moved?"

"I'll come down, but only if I have your word that you won't try to hurt me!" Came the voice from the past. Saphira knew she had nothing to fear, but she wouldn't take chances. Her father's death had taught her that.

Inuyasha looked at his brother with pleading eyes.

"Very well," Sesshoumaru said. "My brother thinks you are a ghost from his past. The fool can't smell the dragon in your blood.."

Saphira hopped down and landed neatly in front of Inuyasha, who gasped with surprise. The girl looked nothing like Kagome, but he could see Kagome in her. Her hair was the color of fire, and her eyes were the color of the ocean. Everything in her posture screamed Kagome. Her eyes, although not the right color, were the shape of Kagome's eyes. Her mouth was soft like Kagome's mouth.

"Who are you?" The cold demand drew those jewel eyes to Sesshoumaru. Even he was chilled by the ice in her gaze.

"My name is Saphira," came the soft reply soaking with defiance and indifference.

"Saphira...?" Breathed Inuyasha in a way glad not to be facing Kagome's ghost.

"Yes, Saphira," came her voice. "I believe you knew my mother...?"

Inuyasha looked at her carefully. "There is no way.."

"Oh but there is," Saphira smiled sadly. "My mother may have sealed the well, but it didn't keep me from coming here."

"So, you're the daughter of the miko," stated Sesshoumaru. "Who is your father?"

"Oh, so many questions," Saphira smiled gleefully. "My father was a dragon that fell in love with my mother here..." She spread her hands out indicating the area they were in.

"What is his name?" Inuyasha demanded.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Smiled Saphira.

"Girl..." growled Sesshhoumaru placing his hand on Toukijin.

"Tsk, tsk...you promised," said Saphira wagging a claw at him. "My father is none of your concern."

"Why did you come here?" Asked Inuyasha painfully, he had known Kagome would find her own mate, but a dragon?

"To have fun!" Came the surprising answer.

"What?" Growled Sesshoumaru in surprise.

"Do you have any idea what it's like in the future?" Complained Saphira. "It is so boring, no wars, no adventure, nothing! I'm part dragon! I want adventure! So, I came through the well."

Sesshoumaru grimaced, "So, you've been following us?"

"Yep," came the happy response. "Following around two inuyoukai looked like fun!"

Sesschoumaru thought darkly to himself, 'Just what I need, another whelp following me around.' He glanced at her. 'Or in this case a worm.'