"Dreams may pass and dreams may fade
Nothing I love will stay the same
Nothing ever stays the same"
The Dying Song (The Cruxshadows)


When Pride Blinds

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Stressed
The journey had been long and hard. The cool weather of Makai bit at her skin and reminded her of why she should wear longer sleeves. A sigh escaped her lips and carried to the person next to her. His indigo eyes lit up with laughter as he watched her. A soft chuckled escaped his lips causing Yusuke and Kurama to glance at the two.

"Why the hell are you making such a big deal?" Yusuke finally growled.

They hadn't even traveled for five minutes and Kagome was beginning to fidget. It was driving Yusuke out of his depression and into pure anger. Kuwabara glanced at them and offered Kagome a helpless look. Kagome loudly sighed and rolled her eyes much to Yusuke's annoyance. Hiei stepped out of the portal from behind them and raised an eyebrow. The team leader looked steamed and Hiei was now wondering what could cause his 'team leader' misery.

"It's such a long walk," Kagome groaned as she leaned against Kuronue. He grinned and wrapped his arm around her.

"We took a portal…all we had to do was walk to the door!" Yusuke softly growled.

"She has a point, ten steps is a journey," Kurama seriously agreed.

Kagome chuckled at this and Yusuke rolled his eyes. Kagome saw the castle gates and grinned. She would finally be able to see Sesshoumaru and hopefully Kagura. They stood in front of the gates and the huge wooden doors slowly opened. She could feel the barrier around the entrance to the castle weaken. A figured stepped out of the shadows the gate doors had created. Kagome's face split into a grin as she saw the youkai before her. His emerald eyes sparked with instant recognition as he her.

"Shippo," Kagome whispered.

"Mom," Shippo whispered.

Yusuke's anger diminished the instant he had heard the word mom directed toward Kagome. He looked to the Kitsune and then to Kagome and began to wonder. Yusuke's pupils narrowed as he took in the features of the youkai. He looked to Kagome and Shippo repeatedly before his eyebrow began to twitch. There was no way she could have birthed a full-blooded youkai.

"Mr. Yasuo?" Kuwabara questioned.

"You may call me that in school," Shippo responded with a grin.

"Wait…how could we not sense you?" Yusuke questioned.

"That is my secret," Shippo sang as he pulled Kagome into a hug.

"You've grown so much!" Kagome excitedly said.

"And you've gotten shorter," Shippo joked.

"My little boy has grown in a handsome Kitsune," Kagome sobbed as she pinched his cheek.

"Mom," Shippo pouted as he blushed.

"I missed you so much," Kagome whispered. Shippo softly smiled at her and took her hands in his. He gave them a reassuring squeeze. Kagome's eyes met his and she let a tear fall. Shippo reached up and wiped the tear away from her with his own sad smile.

"I'm so sorry," Shippo whispered as he embraced her in a life-threatening hug.

"You've done nothing wrong," Kagome whispered.

"I never meant what I said…I was angry and young," Shippo whispered as he laid his cheek on the top of her head.

"Oh, I knew that," Kagome said with a smile.

"I never wanted you to remain in Yomi, you were never dead to me," Shippo assured as his grip tightened.

"Shippo, I was hurt by what you said, but I know that you didn't mean it," Kagome firmly said as she pulled from his embrace and kissed his nose.

"Thank you mom," Shippo softly said.

"How could I not forgive my little puffball?" Kagome teased as she pinched his cheek again.

"Please…don't let Souten hear you," Shippo pleaded.

"So...is he the Kitsune from the Tama group?" Yusuke questioned.

"Of course! I am the great Shippo!" He proclaimed with a grin.

"How are you doing Shippo?" Kurama calmly asked.

"Very good and you Youko?" Shippo asked.

"You recognized me?" Kurama asked.

"Of course, we keep tabs on all those involved with the Tama," Shippo assured.

"He's definitely grown," Kuronue voiced.

Shippo turned his eyes to Kuronue and he then gave Kagome a smirk. It seemed that she had really loved him enough to bring him back. Shippo wondered if Kagome knew that she truly loved Kuronue.

"Sesshoumaru is waiting for us," Shippo declared.

Lightening struck the ground before Shippo and he winced. The group raised an eyebrow at this.

"And Souten is waiting," Shippo sighed.

Sesshoumaru reclined in his chair and smiled. He loved the reclining chair; it was the best thing next to the aspirin. Kagura scowled at him from her own chair. Her crimson eyes narrowed as she wondered what he was thinking. Sesshoumaru smiled more often, but it still left you wondering.

"Are you thinking about aspirin?" Kagura ventured. His golden eyes sparkled as he turned to her.

"Of course, what else is worthy of my thoughts?" Sesshoumaru questioned.

"I really don't know," Kagura whispered as she glared at him.

He chuckled and reached out to her. He grasped her thin wrist and pulled her closer to him. The wheels on her chair easily allowed her to be swayed to his side. Kagura raised an eyebrow at this gesture and allowed a seductive smirk to show.

"See...these chairs are great," Sesshoumaru pointed out.

"Sesshoumaru-dono, are you trying to woo me?" Kagura teased.

"Why would this Sesshoumaru have to do what has already been done?" Sesshoumaru questioned with a smirk.

"You're insufferable!" Kagura grumbled as the wind picked up speed and blew into the room.

"But you care for me despite that?" Sesshoumaru questioned as he ran his thumb over her hand.

"I suppose," Kagura grumbled as she raised her nose to the air.

Sesshoumaru laughed despite her attitude. Kagura turned her crimson gaze back to him and softly chuckled. He released her hand and scooted back. Kagura listened to the wheels on his chairs roll against the floor. Her smirk dropped at the loss of contact. Kagura's hand clenched into a fist in an attempt to keep the remaining warmth he had given her. She treasured the moments they had together. The moments they shared were what she stored away in her mind. She always wanted to remember, because she had never had a childhood.

"What is on your mind?" Sesshoumaru questioned.

"Time," Kagura whispered as her eyes traveled to the wooden doors.

The wooden doors opened and Shippo strolled in with a grin. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at the lack of announcement. He sighed, Kitsune were notorious for doing anything against the rules. Shippo pushed open the doors and stepped into the room with a smirk. Sesshoumaru watched as the Kitsune led others into the room. His pupils narrowed when he noticed that bat thief was alive. He sniffed the air and was not surprised to find him flesh and blood. The bat youkai stopped and looked to his right. Kagome stepped into the room and smiled up at him.

'She is still in love,' Sesshoumaru thought as he watched her take his offered arm.

"I announce Urameshi Yusuke, Kuwabara Kazuma, Minamino Suiichi or Youko Kurama, Hiei, Kuronue, and Higurashi Kagome," Shippo said in one breath.

"Hello Sesshoumaru-sama," Kagome greeted with a smile.

"Hello Miko and Thief," Sesshoumaru calmly said as Kagura openly glared at Sesshoumaru.

"I have a name," Kagome growled. Kuronue gripped her arm and she calmed her anger.

"Please, sit down so we can discuss where we stand," Sesshoumaru offered.

Kagome followed Sesshoumaru's gaze to the chairs and she smiled. She took a seat with Kuronue on her right. Shippo sat to her left and smiled at just being near her. Yusuke and Kuwabara sat beside Shippo. Kurama took a seat beside Kuronue and Hiei sat next to Kurama. Hiei pointedly gave them all bored looks since he really didn't want to be here. Kagome turned her gaze to Kagura and smiled at the youkai, she hadn't seen her in what seemed like forever.

"When were you released from the Tama?" Sesshoumaru questioned.

"About a week or more ago," Kagome answered.

Sesshoumaru studied her and noticed something off. His lips turned down at the corners as he tried to figure what it was. Her aura seemed lighter then the last time he had met with her. His pupils narrowed as he searched for the difference.

"I see that you've noticed my predicament," Kagome softly voiced as she smiled at him.

"You are missing something," Sesshoumaru calmly said.

"I am missing two souls," Kagome answered. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed as her explanation.

"You mean to tell me that you let evil escape." Sesshoumaru growled.

"Kagome," Kagura calmly said.

"Yes," Kagome responded as she looked at the woman.

"Who separated you from the souls?" Kagura questioned.

Kagome grinned and made eye contact with Sesshoumaru, "Inuyasha."

"Miroku mentioned that his spirit vanished from Reikai," Shippo confirmed.

"I assume he used the Jewel of Akuma?" Sesshoumaru questioned as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Correct," Kagome sighed.

"What do you know about the Jewel of Akuma?" Yusuke gruffly asked.

"That is not your concern," Sesshoumaru growled.

"Ginta and Hakkaku were to deliver the jewel to a Miko, but they were attacked by a strange woman," Kagura answered as Sesshoumaru glared at her.

"I believe that woman is Yukimura Keiko," Yusuke softly said.

"I know you know who this new enemy is," Kagome whispered as she stared at Sesshoumaru.

"Of course, but I want to see if you can figure it out," Sesshoumaru replied.

"You don't usually play games. Time was one thing that you never wasted, why waste something you can never get back?" Kagome questioned.

"You are the Miko of the Tama, and yet you are weak. You have lost your power and now are helpless," Sesshoumaru coldly said. Kagome's pupils thinned as she glared at him. "What happened to the Miko that controlled her power with her emotions? You are cold…you are but a hollow version of what you were."

"You don't know what I went through!" Kagome growled.

"It doesn't matter because you are alive now," Sesshoumaru reminded.

"I am still powerful," Kagome warned.

"If you were to be separated from your thieves then you would die," Sesshoumaru claimed as Shippo glared at him. Shippo didn't understand the game that he was playing.

"I don't fear death," Kagome claimed.

"I know. You wish to die so you won't have to face these issues. You don't fear death because you welcome it," Sesshoumaru pointed out as her face softened.

"You would welcome death if you were truly immortal," Kagome whispered.

"Stop whimpering and living in what could be or what you want. Being like your incarnation does not fit you. You must live and complete your duties," Sesshoumaru ordered.

"What would you have me do once those duties are done?" Kagome angrily questioned.

"Destroy the Tama for good," Sesshoumaru calmly answered.

"No!" Shippo shouted as he stood up from his seat.

"Silence," Sesshoumaru growled.

"I won't—"

"Shippo…this would be my choice," Kagome softly told him.

"You would do it?" Shippo questioned in disbelief.

"It's not something I want," Kagome assured.

"You don't want it and yet you welcome it?" Shippo questioned in confusion.

"My needs are outweighed by what is right," Kagome voiced.

"But Kouga and I worked so hard in making sure you were brought back," Shippo whispered.

"I know," Kagome whispered.

"I can't stop you…but I willmourn," Shippo assured as he sat back down and looked away from her.

"What is going on?" Kuwabara questioned.

"I need to know why this mystery person brought Inuyasha back, kidnapped Keiko, and killed my family," Kagome firmly demanded.

"You choose not to roll over and die?" Sesshoumaru questioned.

"I need to know this stuff in order to kill Inuyasha," Kagome harshly said. Sesshoumaru smirked at her.

"It was Hakudoushi," Sesshoumaru questioned.

"Impossible, Miroku sucked him into the Kazaana," Kagome dismissed with a cold stare.

"The soul is an amazing thing," Kagura commented.

"If he is the one then he will be killed," Kagome assured.

"But your power is gone," Sesshoumaru commented as her gaze hardened. The blue in her eyes vanished into gray.

"I am still human, my will and need to protect will help me accomplish this," Kagome firmly assured.

"There's that annoying girl I remember," Sesshoumaru commented with a smirk.

"I wasn't annoying," Kagome pouted with a glare.

"Yes you were," Kurama voiced.

"No one asked you," Kagome sang with a friendly smile.

"What will happen when Kagome destroys the Tama?" Hiei questioned.

Everyone turned to face Sesshoumaru at this question. Kagome looked off into space, she really didn't want to tell them the answer. It would only worry Kuronue and she wouldn't have that. Kagome could already feel Kuronue giving her hand a questioning squeeze. She sighed and knew this would only end up in a bad ending. Kagome focused back on the conversation.

"That is not my place to say," Sesshoumaru calmly answered as Kagura scoffed.

"Kagome, what will happen?" Kurama questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"The Tama is my body, it's apart of me as much as I am apart of it," Kagome simply answered.

"Do you think this will work?" A bored feminine voice questioned.

"Of course, this is going to be yummy," an excited voice assured.

"Lust," Pride sighed. "Why can't we just kill her?"

Lust's sapphire eyes turned and met metallic gold eyes. She gave a sultry smile as she twirled her hair around her finger. Her gaze traveled around the room of youkai and landed on Kagome. It was amazing that she could now see the woman that protected them and made them apart of her soul. Pride growled as her eyes narrowed.

"Are you ready to play?" Lust questioned.

"I will separate them all," Pride assured as she vanished.

Shippo finally smiled when he showed Kuronue and Kagome to their room. He had give Hiei and Kurama the same room and paired up Kuwabara and Yusuke in one room. Kuronue glanced around the room with a smirk. Kagome walked passed him and lay down on the bed.

"Kagome," Shippo called out.

"Yes?" She responded.

"Will you meet Souten later on?" Shippo questioned.

"I would love to meet the woman that captured your heart," Kagome voiced with a soft smile.

"Thanks," Shippo whispered before he left the room.

Kuronue sighed and walked over to the bed. He grinned as he noticed that Kagome had her eyes closed. He stood above her and smiled when she didn't open her eyes. He leaned over her so his upper body hovered above her. His hands rested on each side of her head. Kagome could feel the pressure on the bed and smiled much to his delight. He leaned down and nuzzled her neck as he inhaled her scent.

"You smell delicious," Kuronue whispered.

"I guess that's good," Kagome mumbled.

"You look beautiful too," Kuronue assured as he kissed her neck.

"You're too sweet," Kagome sighed as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I know," Kuronue teased.

Kagome's eyes partly opened and she pinched his ear for good measure. He ignored it and lightly nipped at her shoulder. Kagome yelped and growled at the scolding action. She smirked and brushed her lips against his cheek.

"Should we lock the doors?" Kagome whispered.

"No," Kuronue mumbled as he climbed above her.

Kagome sighed as her mouth met his. This time the kiss was soft and slow, but it was still sensual. His tongue softly touched her lips and her eyes closed as she pressed against him. Kuronue moved from her mouth and down to her neck. Kagome chuckled as he softly kissed the skin.

"Vampire bat," Kagome whispered as he nipped at the skin. He was always attacking her neck and she wondered if it had anything to do with being a bat. They were old legends and superstition, but youkai were supposed to be too.

"Kagome," Kuronue whispered.

"Yeah," Kagome softly responded.

"Will you be around when the Tama is destroyed?" Kuronue questioned. Kagome's eyes snapped open at the question. She quickly sat up and pushed him away.

Inuyasha gazed at his brother's castle with a scowl. This had been the second time he had seen the castle. He wondered why his brother never stayed at the castle for long. Inuyasha growled and grabbed the girl with him. He threw her on his back and ran for the castle. A blur of silver with a blur of chestnut was the only thing that could be seen.

"You know your mission?" Inuyasha questioned.

"Yes," Keiko assured.

"I want you to keep Yusuke distracted," Inuyasha reminded.

"I know," Keiko dully answered.

"No hesitations like at the club," Inuyasha growled at her.

Keiko nodded and her eyes gazed the castle. Inuyasha briefly wondered if she was aware that she was a puppet. Did she realize that she was just a tool for their use and Yusuke's suffering?

Author's Note:

It seems like forever since I updated, but it's only been seven days. Sorry if it took so long to update...I have a little side project going with a new fic.
I just realized that all you wonderful reviewers have out reviewed the first part of the story(throws confetti and passes out cookies) This part of the story will also have a total of thirty chapters!
Please review!