Hey guys, thanks for being patient.

Four days had passed since Kagome last slept and Akin came into the hospital wing. Rin visited normally enough and Kagome had talked with the other healer yet she wished to speak with her hurt friend. She missed his apricot eyes which were cold and yet warm at the same time. Sometimes the miko thought that even Sesshoumaru missed the youkai protector for he came often but then again he was a warrior so that could be saying too much. A loud scream came again, jostling Akin in shaking in what seemed to be fear. Rage decided to sifter through her body as she watched her dear friend in stress.

The damp wash clothe in Kagome's hand went unnoticed as she rose and walked down the hall toward where the moaning still continued. Her face was set and determined as she raced toward the eastern wing. Her thoughts were blank as she moved quietly, as if afraid that they would cause a disturbance from the noise.

The miko followed her ears, not her eyes. The sound became louder and louder until it was an almost desperate cry. What was wrong with this being and why did her protector shake? The miko wanted nothing more than to help this creature, calm Akin and be on her way. Its painful moans and groans continuously stung her ears as she shuffled down the corridors. She felt obligated to care for any creature, no matter what was the after effect. Sometimes that proved the inevitable and at others she would come out happy and healthy. Yes indeed death had almost captured her once or did she really die? Kagome couldn't recall.

Inuyasha had always been angry with her when she so boldly aided others, at the cost of her shards sometimes. Inuyasha, she sometimes thought, didn't care whether she lived or died when it came to the shikon no tama but in truth the miko knew better. Kagome sighed; she wished that he loved her instead of Kikyo. At times it seemed that he did care for her but at others, she didn't know. A tear trickled down her face as a sad smile cloaked her features. Life could be so utterly horrible at moments.

Then as sudden as it was there an image was gone. Shippo and all of her friends had taken a group picture with out Inuyasha once and it turned out that after that they had a wonderful day. The happiest of Kagome's memories were recorded on that day, her seventeenth birthday and she was now nineteen.

Shippo, he was like her little boy. The kit, which lost his father to the thunder brothers, was missed by her very much at this moment. He had always given her great joy whenever he flashed a toothy smile and his green eyes sparkled with happiness.

Sango, she was her sister. Oh how she desired a bathing within the hot springs with her in order to chat about so many happenings. Sango was always there for her and that helped Kagome so often.

Miroku, he was like a brother but yet reminded her of a wise man. He knew so much and under that lecherous mask he was an understanding and all seeing young man. The miko had been aided so many times by the young man. Especially when it came to Inuyasha's foolishness in words and actions.

Kagome cared deeply for all of her friends and missed every goofy or serious characteristic right now. She wished that they were here to help her decide certain things, to speak of certain occurrences or just to make her happy. But this wasn't the case and so she would merely have to deal with it. A groan broke her from her thoughts.

There were two doors to Kagome's side that held a lock over them. That was where the constant noises were coming from. It was silent for a moment but when Kagome touched the lock the beast within screamed as if it were in pain at her tap upon the brass. Demonic energy swirled toward her and Kagome suddenly found herself in Sesshoumaru's arm, against his tail. He skid all the way to the end of the hall. The demon lord slammed her into a wall by her throat. "What had I ordered miko?"

The young woman didn't speak.

"What had I ordered!" Sesshoumaru's voice bellowed down the corridors and this silenced the screaming beast.

"Not to come near the east wing."

"And you disobey me?"

"No. I'm not near it Sesshoumaru I'm in it." His eyes became hard as his grip tightened about her throat.

"You will not come into this wing ever again; do I make my self clear?"

She smiled. "Crystal clear." A growl emanated as he tossed her to the floor.

"Hurry miko and follow." Kagome stayed absolutely still. She could feel his eyes on her, the anger flowing from him like a cloud of smoke. "Did I not call you?"

"I am Kagome not miko demon." Sesshoumaru hissed as he came toward her, the fire within his depths burning her as he came near.

"You impudent female, how dare you speak to I in such a manner."

"I dare Sesshoumaru and I think I'll dare some more you bastard." Just as the demon lord was to strike her across her face he stopped. Poison leaked from his claws.

"You are trying to make me kill you aren't you miko?" Kagome's eyes bulged from their sockets. "Is this deniable miko?" Kagome turned her head away from him, saying nothing. "you have not answered to the negative and so I am of ability to accuse you of trying to rile me up into killing you." She still didn't reply.

The room grew extremely quiet as Sesshoumaru starred at Kagome, waiting for her eyes to fall upon him. "I sometimes want to-to die because maybe then Kikyo would live long for Inuyasha." The demon lord dropped her and began walking away. "To you this is weakness but if I were to kill myself or coax someone into murdering me then I would have guts. I'd be strong in my own way Sesshoumaru."

"Ending your life does not take strength."

"For a human it does. Sesshoumaru demons are basic immortals and live long but a human has a short life span. It's harder for us to just give in; we strive to live forever though we can't." He wasn't walking away any longer, merely listening. "I am one of those human's who refuses to give in but when it comes to another's life and another's happiness I would willingly die." Sesshoumaru's steps could be heard. "That takes strength because when you die for some one, protecting emotionally or physically, your showing you care and that is one of the hardest things to do sometimes."

The demon lord stopped all movement, even breathing. His eyes were slightly wider than usual. His mind whirled as a memory seeped into him, taking all thought

"Sesshoumaru my son one day you shall have some one you're willing to die for. That means that you shall love this person and would want them to be happy and healthy. By doing this you will show them the affection you are so afraid to let be known." Inu-no-Tashio looked down to his son who was now just beginning his teen years.

"What are you talking about; I'm never going to fall in love. That would be foolish and dangerous." The dog demon laughed at the boy.

Kagome, he noticed as he turned, was now looking him in the eyes, her blue orbs swimming in a darkness that he had never noticed. It was pain that he sensed and seen when viewing her form. The hurt was, of course, caused by Inuyasha and his love for Kikyo. Her form shook for a moment as she stood. "I'm strong Sesshoumaru-sama and you know that."

"How strong can a human miko truly be Kagome?" A smile tugged her lips as she reached his side. She glanced up for a moment and mischief settled itself into her eyes.

"As strong as any demon human or half breed, why do you ask when you already know this?" Sesshoumaru smirked.

"Not as foolish as other mortals are you miko?"

Confusion filtered her features. "What do you mean?"

"Ah." He spoke that one word and began walking again.

"Hey I don't get it, what are you saying?"

"Who, Kagome who."

"Who what?"

"When will you realize Kagome that the who I am speaking of has a what which you wish to see?" If she wasn't confused before she was now. "Go to the gates Kagome."

Kagome did as she was told and began moving toward the gates with Sesshoumaru remaining where he was. "She will be happier now." Sesshoumaru hadn't realized that this thought entered his mind as he turned from her retreating form to the door sitting at his side. "Make a show like this again and you will die."

There was whimper from the small room as Sesshoumaru disappeared. Kikyo's form stood down the hall within the shadows. Her brown eyes narrowed as she came to the door once Sesshoumaru was no where in her sensing capabilities. The miko touched the brass lock and the demon within harbored a scream, she could sense that. "Kagome shall take care of you who have been locked away with an unknown purpose. If it is your death or life she will care for I am uncertain but she will be there."

Kikyo's eyes widened as words, not her own, came into her mind. It was a question. "Why take care of me a silly half breed who, Sesshoumaru-sama says, will endanger the world if found by even one person?"

"I do not know completely one without a name. I am sure though, Kagome will not mind you." With that said Kikyo left the east and headed for the gates.

So what do you guys think? I hope it's good.