Eyes slowly blinked open as the horizon crested over the Wests mountain scape. The view upon Ah and Uns back alight with vibrant oranges and yellows. The dull ache in her numb heart throbbed as she took in the view, her long black tresses blowing in the wind, her riding partner hunched against her, still resting as the beast flew with their precious cargo.

The large castle stood out from the mountain scape as they neared the forests, and the castle eerily quiet as the sun rose over the mountains. Soldiers stood guard across the gates as servants went about their chores silently. Ah and Un landed in the courtyard with a loud thud. The beast was too exhausted to land with much tact. Kagome slid off their back before Rin herself dismounted. Many eyes watched them as Rin led her into the palace. Her vibrant blues took in the traditional home.

"Where is Milord?" The demoness Rin spoke too paused in her duties to give Rin a solemn look, her eyes downcast as she pointed in a direction. Kagome was unsure how Rin knew where to go as the demoness never spoke. She only knew where Sesshomaru was because his weak Aura was coming from the direction the woman pointed in. Not that Rin knew this.

Her silent footsteps along the wood was the only noise in the silent Palace. Her heart clenched painfully causing her to draw her fisted hand up to it. Protectively covering her heart. His aura called for another. She could feel it pulling and grasping at strings of an aura that was no longer there. She felt the lump in her throat as she fought with her own inner turmoil.

Slowly her hand protecting her heart lowered to her flat stomach, the pricking sensation of tears a familiar sting as her eyes welled. She knew the pain, maybe a little differently but she knew it well. Her soul too, would never be complete as it once was.

A sliding door was opened before her as she took in the room she now found herself in. The scent of sandalwood tingled her nose as her nostrils flared to take in more of the tantalizing scent. She wondered if an incense had been burned. It was not until Rin and her were upon Sesshomaru sitting beside an open door, his blank gaze staring out into his gardens. Unseeing as his mind searched elsewhere. He held his typical seated pose though he no longer had his armor upon his person. Upon closer inspection he was but a shell of himself. His cheekbones became more prominent as his cheeks hollowed from lack of nutrition. His clawed hand thin and boney, his posture unmoving as a statue. As they approached the sandalwood scent became stronger, noting it was his scent she was drawn to. Curious, she never could smell him like this before.

She watched silently as Rin walked up to her Lord, grabbing a blanket along the way before covering his legs with the warmth it could provide. Though Kagome understood that the warmth would never come. Slowly she too walked to the once stoic Lord of the West. Not surprised when he did not even glance her way. His nostrils didn't even pick up her scent; his mind was already so far gone. Before her mind could even think of it her hand was reaching out to comfort Rin. Her broken blue eyes looked to tear filled brown.

"Allow me to look after him. You have a family you should tend to. I will call for you if there are any changes, good or bad." Rin has a small whine, much of the same sound when one holds back their heart break. Giving her a small hug the young woman left. A sob could be heard through the screen door with which she left from.

Knowing nothing she would say or do would bring the attention of the Lord back she decided she could be rather bold with his person. Hoping maybe the presence of another would get him somewhere. Taking the blanket from his lap she crawled between his slightly parted legs. Her back leaning against his chest. Her arms tucked in herself as her knees drew to her chest. She pulled the blanket back over them both before she allowed her own sobs to rack over her body.

She was unsure how long she cried. She was even more unsure when she had fallen asleep, what she did know upon waking was that her throat was hoarse and dry. Her eyes are puffy and tear swollen. And the weight across her lap was not hers. Blinky a few times as her blurry vision cleared she took in the striped wrist that was now resting against her stomach. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. The air ghosting the hand across her, claws flexing in reaction to the sudden sensation.

A small smile touched her lips but never made it to her eyes as Kagome slowly rested her own hand upon his. She felt and watched as their fingers entangled with each other. Closing her tired eyes once more she slept peacefully for the first time in years.

The quiet pang of rain against the wood roof drew her back to wakefulness. The hand entangled with hers colder than before. Looking about her surroundings she realized they were still very much in the open doorway. The sleet barely stayed away with the small overhang the roof provided. Looking up she could see that Sesshomaru was still staring at the gardens, his gaze devoid of any sign of life, his mind completely elsewhere. Rising from her place she kept her hand entwined with his. They will catch a cold if they continue to sit there. Tugging him up she was surprised when his body naturally rose for her. Him towering over her a few feet, though his eyes still lingered on the garden before them.

She tugged him a bit to try leaving towards the door. His body, an unmovable pillar of shattered dreams. Her voice was hoarse as she whispered to him in hopes of his demonic hearing picking it up.

"Please." It cracked as she held back tears. His gaze finally turned to hers. The once wildfire amber gaze now a saturated muted tone of once was. She gave one more rug to their connected hands. His gaze fell to them, finally taking notice before his eyes returned to an unseeing void once more. Pulling him a bit she was relieved when he began following her.

Upon stepping from Sesshomaru's room she quickly found a servant to lead them to the natural hot spring. It was outdoors but still held a roof with a wood wall. Looked to have a fire pit close by to change beside or dry clothing, as well as a few benches. The beaches had a small tray of soaps, and drying cloth's. Slowly she began to undress, not surprised at all when he didn't follow suit. Turning to him fully, not caring about her nudity as she knew he wouldn't look at her in any way, she began to undress him. His gaze never met her own as he looked at the waters beside them.

Once they were both fully nude to each other his gaze finally met her own. They never moved from her own eyes as she pulled him to the spring. He followed her without a sound. Both relaxing into the warm waters. She kept him close as she found his presence made the pain less. She wondered if her presence helped with his pain at all. Closing her own eyes, she allowed the tears to fall once more. Jumping slightly, eyes widening as her heart raced from the sound of the painful roar that erupted from the Lord before her. Shaking hands wrapped themselves behind his back. Her chest pressed against his as she held him. His roar continued as he let out his pain and sorrow. His clawed hands making its way around her, his nose finding her neck as she felt the warmth of his pain run down.

They sat like that for as long as their bodies allowed in the steaming waters. As the darkness of night began to settle her stomach growled. Pulling him from the pool the two dressed silently before she requested food to his rooms. Both walking back in sleeping attire, she sat beside the low table in his room. The demon Lord himself seated himself beside her. His gaze staring to the wall opposite him. The life drained from him the longer they waited for the meal. She was unsure if him bathing with her was a good sign, if he had been doing basic functions such as that or if it was a step in the positive direction. Setting that thought aside as warm meat and rice greeted her nose. Not surprised to see the Lord not once make a move towards his own meal. Letting the tears fall silently she ate her meal.

Rising herself she went to the bedroll laid upon a pallet, she wrapped the warm furs around her body, her gaze never left his hollowed out being as he himself continued his blank stare into the wall. That is how she fell asleep that night.