Inuyasha almost smiled as he watched her walk, away from where he knew Onigumo stood at that damned window he always stared out of. But he shook his head of the emotion, and try as hard as he might he couldn't help but let that glazed look overcome his eyes when he knew that Kagome had once again stuck up for what she believed to be right and just. So he couldn't help it.

She would be scandalized to hear him say it, but he knew that he was one of those things that she had sacrificed for; oh, he knew that she had sacrificed for the good of all, but he knew…. He was one that she had sacrificed much for. He was one of hers; which made her theirs.

In fact, when he thought about it, they were all one of hers. It didn't matter that Inuyasha was one of them and everything he owned was shared by all, they were all hers anyway. He was sure that any of the Highers could trace their history and find their miko in it somewhere- Because he was sure that their miko wouldn't have let any of them feel as alone as she must have, it just wasn't her way of doing things. He allowed the smile to emerge as he heard Kagome giggle at something as she placed an open palm against the cool stone wall and start humming a song to no one. He thought it sounded a little like Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries….

He watched as she guided herself along, only stopping briefly at corners and pausing to think (with that little scrunch of her eyebrows she got when she had to actually think) instead of rely on her instincts before she started off again. He made a soft sound of understanding as he watched her disappear from his view, and shook his head.

Kagome had endless amounts of spirit energy, she needn't be conserving it now, but he guessed some fears were too deeply rooted. And after her experience just yesterday, he guessed that she was just being a little paranoid, and rightly so for her.

Kagome needed her energy to cover her inanimate surroundings; that was how she did it, he knew. This had been discussed thoroughly and often when they had found out the whole truth about Kagome's separate journey and the actual gravity of her situation.

Her sight was only souls and spirits and power, the inanimate objects of the world held no such aura, and she spread her own aura before her to gauge her way. When she expended too much of her energy – usually when she was training too much and helping others for too long a time – her power flickered out in one simple rush. It wasn't that she ran out of the power – oh no, Kagome's soul was seemingly endless in suplly, and that was where miko derived their power – it was that Kagome couldn't use too much power without putting too much strain on her body. No matter how much control she used, the constant pressure forced on her mind and body was intense at all times and it was either let her power flicker out or let her body crumble.

She had explained how she learned this long ago…just before she lost her power that first time… He shook his head in aggravation as he remembered one very long night and an explanation that he couldn't quite grasp and scrolls and the smell of ink…

The two dark haired woman shifted in place beside him, and he watched with wonder and awe that they were beside him, talking animatedly - if in hushed voices - and he could see them talking and interacting and enjoying each other's presence.

The older woman with far straighter hair looked up and smiled gently at him, the corners of her eyes crinkling up slightly to her more subdued grin compared to the light bringing smile that the younger lady showered them with. He knew that they were amused at his reactions, and he couldn't help the blush and smile that graced his face in response to their emotion.

He knew. They weren't laughing at him, oh no, they were inviting him to laugh with him at his circumstance- to share in joy and merrymaking.

He smiled in return and couldn't help but note absently the entrance of Miroku and the fresh smell of new ink. He was too focused on his girls, well his girl and his best friend. Kikyou looked up to him and smiled, showing him a set of strong white teeth before her head turned and presented her profile to him.

Onigumo was enthusiastically – as far as Inuyasha could see – perusing scrolls and every once and a while soft sounds of amazement or other such emotion as something would light his eyes. It was an amazing change.

He didn't understand all of it, having only woken up just this morning- and everything was different. EVERYTHING, Was, different. The magical backlash of the events had left him reeling, and he could still feel the steady and insistent thrum he knew felt like her magic. But he was competent enough to urge what little sense he had regained to take stock of their situation.

Onigumo was feverously going through scrolls, the paper and wood smell burning Inuyasha's now sensitive nose, and he had the feeling that he would have to get used to that smell even before his senses returned to normal and the pain dulled. Miroku was eagerly and anxiously peering over the other hanyous shoulder and Inuyasha noted the unease that seemed to underlay both their actions. It had nothing to do with who they were by, and it had everything to do with problems they had discovered due to some scrolls Inuyasha could swear he had never seen or heard of before.

A quiet Sango spoke up from beside him, previously pensive and brooding with Kirara, the soft sound of her voice startled him from his thoughts- which must have shown clearly on his face for her to answer his questions so simply. "We ran into some problems, but Kagome has some scrolls." There as something there, in the way she said that, that told Inuyasha to be silent because there was so much more behind those words than what was considered normal.

So he waited.

The female Taijiya took a deep calming breath, a more telling action than any; it told the silver-haired hanyou that she herself wasn't quite so certain of her own reaction to whatever had been revealed. She may be a little unnerved by the situation that had presented itself- and she wanted him to understand her misgivings and maybe take her side.

"It seems Kagome went on an adventure." Her tone was crisp and cool, and Inuyasha had his newly revived sight catch Kagome flinch at the reproving note that rung harshly in it. Sango sighed before she continued: "She did manage to accumulate knowledge we needed and solve her dilemma in the process."

Ah.

Sango was feeling useless.

Inuyasha could understand that. But as he glanced around the hut and saw all the allies and friends they had accumulated – their family – and heard the others that were part of that group as well as they went about their daily business outside he couldn't help but wonder if they had all at one point felt that.

But still…Kagome had a penchant for getting into trouble.

Kikyou spoke up with a worried look at the downtrodden Kagome. "Our miko-chan found scrolls detailing the origins of curses, and it seems Houshi-sama has some trouble coming his way." She paused and glanced worriedly, not at Miroku but at Sango. "It would appear that someone can not be cursed unless there is a basis for the curse- like a sin or physical weakness." Miroku growled - not as threateningly as some Inuyasha knew but threateningly enough for a human - and violently grabbed another scroll and opened it as he furiously started to peruse its contents.

A noncommittal sound came from Nar-…Onigumo, and Inuyasha caught himself getting dizzy trying to understand- until his girl spotted his confusion and came forward. Her straight her brushed against his arm as she settled herself down, and she leaned against his side contently as she sighed with the same emotion. "It seems our Kagome has been very busy."

Kagome blushed and looked away, her eyes squinting shut tightly before they eased and she folded herself into a meditative stance.

Kikyou continued: "Naraku was only able to curse Miroku's family – it would seem – because he already had a genetic disease that would eventually take their life anyway; it was what the curse had to work with and why it took such a shape. Kagome, on her journey, searched for scrolls that may be of use to us, and she discovered a wealth of information that will aid us undoubtedly."

"But she found nothing to solve Miroku's problem yet." Came the sour and dejected voice of Sango, and Inuyasha figured he could understand her feeling useless and bitter over the whole situation – she loved the monk – but he bristled at the tone and the way it implied Kagome's inadequacy…even if he had many a time before expounded on Kagome's weakness' as well.

"Do calm yourself, Lady Sango," the entreaty from Miroku came out relaxed and soft- and Inuyasha heard the strain underneath. "Kagome-sama has done a marvelous job. We can ensure our safety and our future with all the information she has gathered, and she has solved her dilemma as well, surely there is nothing to scold her for."

Perversely - Inuyasha realized with a strange sense of enlightenment - that was doing nothing to sooth the irate demon slayer. "She told us monk, that she hasn't quite solved her problem."

This was how it was with the group, everyday it was a new set of allies amongst each other- but the usual playful and teasing note of the argument was not present. Onigumo spoke up from his seated position, never once looking up from his perusal of scroll. "It is still a start, Taijiya, and you should relax yourself as the monk said." He only paused to reach for a blank sheet of papyri and the ink brush before he continued: "Kagome-sama has done a fine job, and what little she hasn't accomplished we can help her with." He sent s sharp glance at the slayer- made all the more threatening by the fact that he hadn't looked up before and the red of his eyes was startling and ominous. "So help us read through the scrolls slayer- instead of moping and bemoaning fate and circumstance."

Sango blushed hotly but followed his demand, and the hut retained the stilted silence of friends who weren't quite on the best of terms and longed to be but couldn't apologize for some reason or another. Inuyasha shifted uneasily.

Sango sighed, conceding defeat. "Kagome figured how to work around her handicap, except she has confessed that she has a slight problem sometimes when her powers cease to work for her and she goes completely blind."

It was a start at an apology, but it only sounded to Kagome as recrimination and Inuyasha watched as she blushed and rose to leave the hut. The door covering swished in the air slightly as her footsteps faded and the hut once again fell into strained silence with a tense Sango furiously searching the kanji on her scroll.

Kikyou and Kaede shared a glance but before they could communicate further Sesshoumaru waked into the hut looking back out into the village- the direction their miko had left. "Kagome-sama is troubled."

Kikyou and Miroku nodded sagely before the monk spore up. "She feels useless." Sango startled with a heavy blush and regretful look before she too left the hut, the opposite direction of their miko. "Kagome can not aid us with the scrolls- and despite the fact that she was the one to bring us this knowledge she can not search through them with her lack of sight."

Onigumo glanced up sharply at the monk, his eyes flashing with anger and hate. Not at Miroku, but at the situation he found himself in. Inuyasha had the uneasy feeling that Onigumo was more protective of the miko then even he had been- and that was saying a lot.

Miroku continued, seeming not to notice the irate and scholarly hanyou clenching a fist. "Kagome has described to me her journey, and I must say that Kagome has once gain proved her knowledge and right to protect the jewel, as she has come up with the perfect solution to our problem."

Sesshoumaru threw one curious look again to the direction Kagome had gone before he resumed his position to listen as Miroku continued. "From what I understand Kagome-sama has decided to separate our world into three, one for the demons humans and spirits each. With the depths of heel remaining for all those irreversibly tainted." Onigumo shifted but otherwise gave no comment. "She used the jewels recovery as a catalyst for the power braces she had been gradually setting up in her travels, and just now you might feel the hum of power as it is slowly building the barrier between what will come to be known as the three worlds."

Sesshoumaru muttered something. Onigumo gave him a curious a wry smirk. "You of all should know hat our miko has ways around things- she has spent too long with a con-artist." Miroku cast about an innocent expression before he chuckled in defeat.

"Kagome-sama has procured treaties and agreements with who will become the reikai rulers, those that will govern all three worlds even with ningen ignorance- securing our lands and power and ensuring that Kagome will never be without us in her life again."

Inuyasha was left with much to think about, so he steadied himself and nodded before he stood to find their miko. She always happened to calm him…

It was in the forest he found her, laughing and talking with a more relaxed Sango as the slayer helped Kagome feel the grain of a piece of wood. It would appear that Sango had taken to helping Kagome around her blindness, and that all was once again well in the world.

Let's hope it would remain that way.

Inuyasha took in a deep breath and continued to walk the halls of the manse, taking his time and trying to at least give the semblance that he hadn't gone searching for their miko first thing. She always felt rather overwhelmed with everyone around her after all…

So when he turned a corner and found himself staring into the surprised but still pleasant face of their miko purely by accident, needless to say he was quite unsettled.

"Inuyasha…are you well?"

He shook his head as he realized his silence meant impending doom for Kagome, and smiled although she wouldn't see. "You always know it's me."

Her smile lit up the hall and she giggled attentively. "You do have a rather unique soul." Inuyasha felt the blush highlight his cheeks and was glad for once that Kagome was blind to some degree- then he caught himself and felt ashamed for thinking such. His pride was of no importance compared to her sacrifice, and he should remember that this sacrifice was intended for him and him alone.

He should never find himself ashamed of himself or his actions in front of their miko, and he felt so now because he had thought something completely uncharitable about one who exemplified compassion in one smile. So instead he hooked her arm around his and started to lead her through the manse halls, noting her relief as she let her power ease back into her and relied on him to be her eyes.

He flushed, with pride this time, at the fact that she was so trusting of him, but had to tone his emotion down because he knew he was just one of hers.

He searched out with his energy, looking for the one she would most appreciate now that she had clued him into her state. She was feeling vulnerable and unsure; as she knew something wasn't right in her worlds.

Onigumo had dredged up memories of her years- years amongst her many years.

Through these flashbacks Kagome was thrown into a time where she was alone and sometimes weak and that was the way it made her feel in the present. But she loved her family here; don't get him wrong, it was just sometimes that she wished things would have been completed differently, that so many things didn't have to change.

So he sighed and searched for the little hybrid.

Hiei was a little annoying spitfire who still didn't respect the Highers even with their considerable age, but he was powerful and strong- and he had become this way alone.

Kagome had found her pillar of strength in the human world, Inuyasha should just be glad it wasn't some weak human who would freak and judge her and hurt her. He growled at the very thought of it and extended his senses further along the castle.

It didn't take long for them to find Hiei- as the little demon had the uncanny ability to make himself available only when Kagome needed him or he needed something. So Inuyasha grumbled out a sigh- more out of playful ire than true irritation- and handed him the miko from his arm. Hiei carefully guided the miko to a window seated in the direct sun and proceeded to ignore the silver haired hanyou who remained silent and only turned to leave.

Inuyasha knew that Kagome would be well taken care of by the short little hybrid- Hiei was one of the few even Onigumo had to grudgingly admit was adept enough to care for their miko.

Inuyasha sighed as he glanced back to see Kagome simply start to smile at nothing- save for the mere presence of one forbidden child and the calming influence his tainted youki seemed to have on her senses.

He shook his head as he continued walking, nodding distractedly at the courtiers and servants he passed and searching for his mate. He had never understood Kagome's ability to withstand and enjoy chaotic youki, even his mate couldn't and she wasn't quite a miko anymore.

But Inuyasha guessed it had something to do with Onigumo, because Kagome had been the one to sooth his chaotic mass of youki, and he surmised that it was just her natural reaction to feel needed by someone and soothed by controversy living in controlled harmony. And if anyone could be controlled harmony it was Hiei, his youki clashed more violently than even Onigumo's had before Kagome had secured it.

Inuyasha shrugged before his face lit up as he spotted his mate, Kikyou turned to look at him with her smile and he pushed the thoughts away. Kagome may feel the uneasy through of shifting politics or plotting evil, but they had each other to rely on and they would get through it.

Whatever it was.

Kikyou smiled up at him and snuggled into his side under his arm, and he took a deep breath of her fragrance – night dew and lilies – before he smiled in return and hugged her closer. They were together- and that was how they stood strong.

No matter what came their way.

.x.X.x.

Well, I had debated actually putting Kag's pov in, but you got Inu's instead, and some history, and a hint to her blindness! Woot! Can you solve it? Ooohhh challenge! Muahahahah!

Okay, I believe that a priestess can purify anything if it has a taint to it- basically anything except for children I guess, because everyone has done something wrong in their life, it is how we learn.

Onigumo is actually in the form of the prince's body he took, since Kagome wouldn't dare change anyone from what they are because that's how she wants them to be (just themselves), and Onigumo would have to go through a lot of trouble to obtain another body as beautiful (read: vain), and as we saw with the cavern and the demon fight that lasted a veeery looooong time (when kikyou was kind of knocked unconscious and Naraku held her to him while he was nakie! Lol). Ahem, yeah. I am thinking that I am keeping the deaths of the inu-tachi a secret for now (even if some are secret from myself (-.-U)) so I won't tell you how they died…yet.

Anyway about Inuyasha being purified to a human, yeah, I believe Kagome could do that. But like I said before, Kagome wouldn't want people to change. If you noticed that all Kagome does when she recruits her shard hunting friends is ask them to join, not ask them to change. Inuyasha is still a gruff hanyou, Shippou is still a tricky little kitsune cub, Miroku is still a perverted monk, and Sango is still a fierce and unladylike taijiya. So Inuyasha is still hanyou, and PROUD OF IT! WOOT! GO Kagome!

Ahem, I also feel that if you purified anyone of taint they would turn out different than they were before. Because when a person is tainted (and I don't mean possessed) it means they have had guilt and sorrow and pain- they've learned a lesson. If you erase the taint from someone, erase all the pain and suffering, and then what good is the lesson?

To Kogas-mate, don't be sorry for asking questions! I love answering questions about my story and some of the plot in my head, it makes me feel special. Actually it means that I feel people are actually interested in my story enough to indulge their curiosity. In other words; it encourages me to write! YEAH! Go inspiration!

Yeah okay done now, sorry for the overly long author's note (blame Kogas-mate! lol). But I hope you enjoyed the chapter! And the mystery will be slowly revealed more and more…so much easier to give details further into the story. Yeah. Please keep on reading, I swear I have it all thought out and it actually doesn't crumble into the superficial plotless bad fanfic in the obscurity void of doom…yeah.

PS: I need an opinion; should I post as soon as I write something and just reload it when I finish to my quota (of at least 3,000 words a chapter) or should I continue taking my sweet time in posting? Well?