A/N: Second chapter in 2 days! W00t. Not that it's going to happen like that often. I got this burst of inspiration from KOLU and couldn't wait to put the finished product up. I love this chapter. Some of my favorite characters make an appearance. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or any characters created by the esteemed Rumiko Takahashi. Her genius amazes me.

Kagome reached the top of a sand dune, her sixth for the day, or maybe it was her seventh, heck it could have been her fourth for all she knew. They all looked exactly the same and time had long since ceased to exist for her.

Suddenly the miko tilted her head.

"Well, that's certainly different. . . How did that palace get there?"

It was glorious, tall parapets tapering into graceful points high in the sky. It's gleaming exterior could have been fashioned from pure ivory. No walls shielded it from the world outside, in fact it seemed completely unaffected by the sand and scorching heat; surrounded as it was by pools of clear water, palm trees, flowers, birds, and gorgeous women.

"Wait. . what?"

She did a double take. Yes, there was a woman walking her way. She stood there in a daze as the figure approached, almost reaching the miko before she snapped out of her trance. She still stared openly at the approaching woman, but this time the stare held menace.

Kagome glared at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She was tall, nearly 6 feet from head to toe, and she was radiant. Her form curved in all the right places, flattened in all the right places, and had that perfect balance between femininity and strength. The miko would have growled if she could have, but instead contented herself with glowering in awe. She even had perfect toes. Toes nestled in golden sandals that clasped to the woman's calves with intertwining ribbons. Kagome's gaze traveled up the form to rest on the most startling green eyes she had ever seen, but they weren't completely green, at times, orange fire flashed behind the olive orbs, and they were rimmed with coal. These eyes held passion, knowledge, wisdom, empathy, danger, and safety. Her cheekbones were high set, giving her face a slim, heart shaped appearance.

Olive skin reflected the sun, as it seemed to hold a spotlight over her. Her shoulders and arms were bare, save the golden serpent wrapped around her left bicep, her long neck was also void of cloth, a matching viper draped around it, it's golden head and tail twining around themselves, resting in the hollow of her throat. In his mouth the snake held the single piece of white linen that she wore. It wrapped around her back, leaving it bare to her waist. The garment looped around her frame several times, fastened with a golden clasp in the shape of the sun. The robe ended at different lengths, no higher than her knee, no lower than her calf. A golden tiara of tangled olive branches held her dark hair in a semblance of order. The chocolate silk glowed fire red in the sunlight and the wind from the desert lifted it, and caressed a smooth cheek. The blood red lips parted, and spoke.

"Kagome." Yes, it was that voice. The one that had beckoned her. How she hated that voice. Kagome whimpered, the first sound she had made in weeks, and went to her knees on the burning sand. She pitched forward, her body seeking rest now that she knew she had arrived. She mentally braced herself for the impact of her face hitting the dune, but it never came. Strength wrapped around her, as did a cooling sensation. Water met her lips and she was allowed only a small swallow before she passed out. "I will carry you." was the last thing she heard.

"Where is he! FIND HIM!" Roared the queen, anger radiating from her in waves that threatened to swallow Amaya whole.

"How can you possibly lose someone of his power? I don't care what you have to do, whom you have to bribe or manipulate. He has to have enemies other than myself. Find them! Get me information! How can we exact revenge for the deaths of our race if. We. Can't. Find. Him? Do you even care that their kind slaughtered every one of your fathers? Your king?"

"My Queen, allow me to. ."

"Silence! This is beyond unacceptable. Do not be so arrogant as to suppose that your position is secure. If you fail me you. will. be. replaced. ." It was no empty threat, Amaya knew she would kill her without a second thought.

The heat of rage faded in the silence, to be replaced by a cold, collected fury. It was the ruthlessness that most feared, and all respected. "Failure is the same as treason in my eyes, Captain. . Remember that when you are out there, and remind yourself of that before you come back."

"Yes my Queen."

"Leave me." Spat the enraged demoness.

"Yes, my Queen." Amaya stood slowly, head still bowed, and walked backwards until she was well out of range, then turned and left, defeated. Despite feeling like a failure, she couldn't help but notice that she had managed to escape Sora-sama's wrath rather unscathed. What was she going to tell her force?

The queen watched the retreating figure of her best spy, schooling her features as soon as she disappeared around the corner. A dark form stepped into the light of the flames, the light passing through him without illuminating his features.

"Do you think they suspect anything?" She asked of the moving shadow.

"Amaya may be intelligent, but she cannot read minds Sora, and so far you have managed not to slip up. As long as they all think there is a reason for revenge, you have their allegiance."

"There is a reason for revenge!"

"Yes, but it is not their cause. It is yours." The figure smirked. He knew that she felt no remorse for deceiving her entire race. She was shrewd, but she was also weak. She was so easily played.

Amaya cursed inwardly. Where else was there to look? Nobody was talking. Her networks of spies, ones that she herself had trained, were at a loss. It was as if the enemy simply vanished.

She navigated the tunnels expertly; she could have walked this particular route in her sleep. Coming up on a familiar door, she hesitated. Should she appear sympathetic, understanding? Should she transfer some of the queen's wrath upon them? They weren't your average children, and one could never know how they would react. Whatever she decided to go with, she had to stick with it, the moment she wavered, they would destroy her.

She wrenched the door open and stormed in. Forty pairs of eyes turned to her. Her second in command barked out, "Captain present!" And instantly, like little dogs, all forty tiny bodies snapped to attention, forming 2 lines along the rows of futons in the narrow room. Walking through them she was still formulating her plan, her mind working furiously. Her silence seemed to be doing more for her at the moment, judging by the fact that some of the younger soldiers were fidgeting. Some of these were only 150 years old, appearing to the human eye to be about 9 or 10. But they were the best the army had to offer when it came to silent operations. They were lethal at short distances, and could walk past a nervous cat at 6 feet and not catch it's attention. They were shadows when they needed to be. And now she needed to break them down again, and build them up. . Again. How much longer could they stand this? How much longer could she?

Kagome's eyes fluttered open again just like all the other times, only this time they stayed open, half-lidded against the invading light. It wasn't harsh light, but it resonated off of everything around her. She decided to try moving her head and although it hurt, she was pleased to find that it was no longer excruciating. Kagome looked around the room she was in; rich warm colors of red, gold, bronze and brown enveloping her. Even the luxurious bed she was resting in was wrapped in the colors of red and gold. She was tempted to sit up, but decided to take a mental inventory first, wiggling each body part and noting it's current condition.

Her toes hurt horribly, as did her feet, but she would have been surprised if they hadn't. The blisters were healing, wrapped in strips of cloth, and no longer seeped. Her legs were sore, but not injured. They were simply recovering from weeks of wandering and malnutrition followed by days of non-use. Her back was stiff from lying in the same position for so long, and she stretched it as much as possible without moving too much. Her arms were bandaged much like her feet. She supposed that blisters had formed there as well, from sunburn. Her head pounded mercilessly, but she had had headaches before, and Kagome decided to sit up.

It took more effort than she thought it would and after battling the dizziness and nausea set on by the hammers pounding inside her skull, she was sitting, completely exhausted again. She coughed, her throat so raw she thought for sure there would be blood on her hand, pulling it away to see that there was blood, but evidently it was from her lips. They were so chapped and split that if her tongue were moist enough it would have been too painful to wet them. Suddenly she realized what seemed even more wrong than her surroundings, worse than her physical condition. How could she possibly have forgotten!

"My baby! Where is my baby?" Her womb was whole, yet she remembered giving birth, her stomach flat, though she knew it had been so cumbersome only weeks ago. She began to panic, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She looked around frantically for someone who could help her. She didn't have to wait long. One of the windows, wait no, doors, led to a balcony outside, and suddenly a silhouette appeared. It was the beautiful woman again. The voice. It spoke.

"You are awake."

Kagome only nodded her head, too hoarse to speak. The exotic woman brought her a goblet filled with sparklingly clear water. She stood back watching Kagome as she sipped it gingerly at first, being careful of her sensitive lips.

"Drink it slowly, let it soak into your mouth and throat until they are cool, then swallow. I can't have you sick."

Kagome took her time with the liquid, fighting the urge to down it and ask for more. She looked the woman standing before her square in the eyes.

"Where.. Is.. My.. Baby?" She rasped. "Where is my child? And where is InuYasha? What have you done with them?"

"Calm yourself, I assure you all is well. Your son grows strong; your hanyou, on the other hand, grows impatient. You're entire family is gathered, waiting for your return."

But Kagome was still processing her first words. "My son?" So InuYasha had been right all along. She should have known. "I want to see him." She thought for a moment. "Don't get me wrong I appreciate the help, but I need to go to them now."

"You can't get there from here. . Not like that."

"What do you mean, "like that"? What's wrong with me?" She was, like her hanyou, beginning to grow impatient.

"You are too weak." Seeing the protest forming on the girl's face she raised her hand for silence. "Not in the physical sense Kagome. Your miko powers are not nearly strong enough for the trials to come."

Kagome hissed, getting pissed now. "How do you know about my miko powers? In fact, how is it that you know my name, or anything about my son and husband?" When her questions were met with silence she snapped. "Tell me!" She doubled over, the force of her words sending her into a paroxysm of coughing. Loose hairs fell around her face and shoulders, and she noted for the first time that it was clean. It had been washed, combed, and braided. People never took such care of prisoners, or enemies.

Kagome looked up at the woman with pleading eyes. "Please tell me what is going on." She began to cry. Deep, rasping sobs that shook her frame. Her body had been through so much; had been forced to subdue emotions for the sake of survival. Now she could finally release all the fear, anger, loneliness, and worry. As she did so, she felt her miko powers return to her, as if they too were waiting for her. They comforted her, as did the strange woman embracing her. She felt a small hand rubbing her aching back in circles as her head was pulled to a soft shoulder. Kagome openly accepted and returned the embrace, crying all the harder. They stayed like that until the worst of it had passed.

The kind woman pulled away, smiling encouragingly. She used the pad of one thumb to wipe away the remaining tears on the girl's cheeks. "Now," she spoke softly, "Would you like to get something to eat while I tell you why you are here?"

Kagome sniffed. "I'd rather know your name first."

The woman laughed, Kagome looked so pathetic right then, like a bedraggled kitten. Her maternal instincts were in high gear to say the least. "I completely forgot. My name is Savitri."

"Your wife is improving." The doctor didn't insult anyone by saying it as if he was the only one who could tell. Her fever was receding, her blisters healing, and her body was retaining the fluids they were feeding her. Soon they would be able to decrease the drip rate.

"We still don't have a name or reason for what she was suffering from. I've consulted all the best minds in demon, hanyou, and human medicine." Isamu was honestly quite stumped, and worried. This woman meant so much to him and his people, and he had had to watch her suffer while he stood there completely helpless. His hundreds of years of medical training hadn't been able to help her. He had barely been able to keep her alive. He needed her to live. Everything depended on it.

"If she continues at this rate, her body will be fully healed in a little over a week. However, there is no telling if this will affect her comatose state. She may wake up, she may not."

Izumi voiced the question that she had been afraid to up until this point. "Doctor, do you believe she will wake up?" She saw the professionalism mar his features. "No doctor, not in your medical opinion. . . You yourself, do you believe she will recover fully.?"

InuYasha's ears perked at this, and everyone in the room; Nurse Watanabe, Souta, Sesshoumaru, even Kagome, who's breathing hitched at the question, seemed to be waiting for an answer.

"Ma'am, if anyone can pull through what I've seen this young woman endure, it will be a miracle. But she seems to have a stamina I've not seen in a human before, I believe she will wake up."

Suddenly a dead silence permeated the room. Even Izumi and Souta felt it. The silence changed to a hiss, a sound that emanated from every demon in the room. A pulsation, like the single beat of a heart, shook them all. InuYasha jerked his hand away from Kagome's as though he had been burned. Izumi felt the hairs on her arms and neck stand at attention as the strange yet comforting aura flowed through her. It was almost tangible, like a ripple. And it's center, the 'pebble in the pond' was her daughter.

All eyes turned toward the red skinned woman, waiting to see what would happen next.

There was nothing. No change, no movement. Just a single pulse and the steady rise and fall of the ventilator in chorus with the beep of the heart monitor.

Souta was the first to speak. "What the hell was that?"

Sesshoumaru and InuYasha shared a brief glance before the eldest brother replied. "The miko's powers have returned."

What do you mean returned? What happened to them?" Souta asked, a little too forcefully.

InuYasha placed a hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder. "When Kagome became pregnant, her miko powers, I guess you could say they went to sleep. They became dor-mant." Using the word Kagome had used. "It's too risky to use them when carrying a baby. Since most priestesses never became mothers, there was no telling what the effect would be. But after the baby was born, Kagome's powers should have awoken, helping her to heal."

"Why didn't they InuYasha?" Izumi asked. If only her powers had stirred weeks ago, they could be having this conversation with her daughter instead of about her.

"I don't know mom, but they weren't still sleeping. The entire time Kagome has been in this coma, I wasn't able to sense them at all. As if they were completely gone."

"It is true that her returned powers will enable her to heal more quickly, but what will be done if they begin to pulse any stronger than what we have just seen? We are in the demon wing of a hospital." It was Sesshoumaru's question.

Dr. Isamu nodded his head, "We can't very well have her purifying our patients. We can however, move her to a new room and place barriers around it. This will contain her powers in the room itself, allowing her to use them to heal, without harming anyone else."

"I'll go prepare a room immediately Doctor." The efficient nurse spun on her heel and left the room, already formulating her plan. Isamu has told me how important she is, and how we all need her, but he's holding something back. He always has. But if I am ever going to fully trust him, it has to be now.

The doctor excused himself for a moment and went after her, his long strides closing the distance between them effortlessly. "Emi." He stopped her with his voice and his hands. Isamu pulled her into a room off the main corridor. His blue eyes pierced her red ones with an intensity that still shocked her at times.

"Is something the matter doctor?" She asked of him, looking around the small room for any spectators. Finding the room clear, she looked back into those twin oceans. His gaze faltered, as if he knew she wasn't going to like what he had to say. "Isamu what is it?" She placed a small hand on his arm.

"Emi, after you prepare that room, I don't want you anywhere near this case."

She blinked. . Was she that incompetent? Hadn't they been preparing for this for decades? Since she had known him? "I-I don't understand." There was hurt and confusion in her eyes.

"Let one of the other nurses handle it, or we'll train Kagome's mother in how to care for her, but I don't want you in that room. Not with the powers she is soon to be giving off. Remember what I told you from before. Even the spells won't hold all of it in."

Emi sucked in a breath. She had forgotten that part. She still had a hard time believing all of this. It seemed too much like a legend, or a bedtime story.

"I still want to help you Isamu." Her voice shook. Couldn't he tell? She had wanted to help him since his wife passed away. He was so lost and it was killing her. For the last quarter of a century he had been like a shell. Going through the motions, only occasionally showing her a glimpse of the demon he had been before the loss of his mate.

She knew how beautiful he was, and had waited patiently for him to remember too. And now he was pushing her away from the one thing that kept him going. She knew deep in his heart that as soon as this mission was complete, he could very well give up on life altogether. Had he even thought about a life with her? She couldn't tell. Their friendship had become precious to her, but it wasn't enough. Call her selfish, but she wanted all of him. 'Not yet.' She chided herself, forcing the frustration down, showing him only concern.

She took a chance and wrapped her arms around him, resting her ear on the steady beating of his heart. "I've been listening to you tell stories about this moment for almost thirty years Isamu. And in my heart I've been preparing for it. I've worked with you side by side for so long, and now you're asking me to just drop it. Well I can't, I want to help you in so many ways. Please."

She felt two strong arms envelope her and tighten as he fought the storm of emotions that threatened to break him. She could never understand him, not fully. 'Unless of course, you tell her everything.' He swallowed. He didn't think she was ready for that. Yet he couldn't let anything happen to her.

She dared to make one more plea.

"Please don't push me away."

Sesshoumaru watched the doctor as he left. There was something not right about the whole situation. The nurse had been acting strangely too, and there was something hauntingly familiar about her. Perhaps it was the way she carried herself. Graceful, like Rin. 'You're thinking about her again.' He grunted, catching the attention of everyone in the room.

"I have more important things to do than baby-sit a ningen. I shall return eventually." And with that he left, earning stares from every member of the hospital staff. Especially the females. 'They act as though they have never seen a demon lord before.' He said as much to anyone within earshot, causing those eyes to avert themselves, accompanied by flushed cheeks.

"Actually milord, we haven't. Not for centuries." He stopped short at the familiar voice, laced with sarcasm. A snarl made it past his lips as he recognized the scent of the demoness before him.

"Naraku."

"No! Never Naraku. I've always been Kagura and damn you for never seeing it." Annoyance and bitterness etched itself across the Wind Sorceress' face. He had never seen her as anything but tainted.

"Watch your tongue wench, or lose it." The glare held painful promises. "Where is your mate? Surely you didn't lose his leash." He took a perverse pleasure in goading her. And he knew just what buttons to push.

Her eyes widened in anger as Kouga stepped out from behind her, smirk splashed across the wolf's face. A familiar arm wrapped around her waist in comfort.

"Still as ornery as ever eh, Sesshoumaru? You have to understand that it's been 500 years since that day we were all freed from Naraku. Perhaps we were expecting a warmer welcome."

"You waste my time. State your business."

"We're just here to check on dog-breath and Kagome." He could sense Kagura's apprehension. Even after 500 years, she doubted his ability to care for her, to put Kagome behind him.

"How did you happen to find out that my halfling brother and his wench are here?"

Kagura smiled. "It wasn't that hard to figure out when news reached us of "The Child". Born of a hanyou and a miko. He is completely unique."

Sesshoumaru was taken back by her words. What did she mean "The Child"? As if he were part of a prophecy, or a children's story.

"Sesshoumaru, what's wrong?" The question was posed by Kouga. Word had it that all was not well with Kagome, but he would have never thought to sense anxiety from the demon in front of him.

"Excuse me. I have business to attend to." The demon lord gave them no more than a curt nod before leaving, his form quickly disappearing behind metal doors.

He had to find out everything he could about what was happening. And that meant research. And reunions.

Both demon's stared after Sesshoumaru. "Well he certainly didn't learn any manners in 500 years." Kagura complained.

"500 years for us koi, 2 years for him. Remember the legend? I'm sure he went through the Well."

Kagura sighed, and lead the way to Kagome's room. She wanted to get this visit over with. As much as she owed Kagome, she still didn't want her mate alone in the same room with her. Kouga gladly hung behind a few steps, admiring his wife. The modern era had certainly brought about a few unpleasant changes, but women's attire wasn't one of them. Having just come from the office, Kagura was wearing heels, a black skirt that hugged her form nicely, and a black fitted jacket with several pins holding her hair up in a tight bun that just pleaded for release. His eyes flashed predatorily as he watched Kagura walk away. In the 400 years they had been mates, she had never failed to entice him.

In his eyes, Kagome's innocence couldn't compare to the exotic way Kagura carried herself. He was caught watching her as she turned to find out why he wasn't following her. She held his eyes with hers for a moment before walking back toward him and linking her fingers with his. He leaned in slightly and, in a gesture he knew she found more comforting than any kiss, caught her subtle scent. Smiling and leading the way to the room that promised to be interesting in the least, he felt her fingers tightening around his.

They were stopped just outside the room by a small, attractive nurse. "Excuse me sir, ma'am. May I help you?"

Kouga gave her cursory glance, taking in the name on her I.D. tag. "Yes, Miss. Watanabe, my wife and I are here to see Taisho Kagome."

"I'm very sorry, but there has been a development in her case and no one is allowed to visit her until she has been moved to another room."

"What is her condition please?"

"Once again, I must apologize. Are you family? I am only allowed to divulge such information to a member of her immediate family." Kagura sensed her husband's patience quickly wearing thin.

"When will she be moved?" She asked, laying her free hand on his forearm.

The nurse glanced from demon to demoness, "As soon as it can be prepared, and the sooner the better. A half hour at the most."

"Perhaps you could inform Mr. Taisho-sama that we are here, and show us a seating area where we may wait."

"You know him personally?" The surprise in her voice caught them both off guard. "I'm sorry, but we've had so many 'friends' who turned out to be merely curious strangers, we've had to turn away 30 imposters just today." She began to usher them to a private waiting area.

Kouga smirked. "I always knew InuYasha was a side show freak. OOF!" The sharp elbow in his ribs silenced any more 'helpful comments' the wolf might have.

"Please, if you could have a seat, I will tell Mr. Taisho-sama that you are here. Your names please."

"Tell him its wolf-boy and wind-bag." Remembering the hanyou's 'pet names' from so long ago. At another painful jab he amended. "Or just tell him that Kouga and Kagura are here."

A/N: Yayyy! Two of my absolute favorite characters! Next Chapter there's more of them, and I think we'll get a glimpse into the last few years in the lives of a certain houshi and taijya. Thanks to my sis Moreta Lynx for always stopping whatever she was doing so I can run something by her. She's pretty frickin' sweet!