It continues….

.x.x.x.

"How exactly could that miko subdue you for protection?" This was asked by Hiei, who had always wondered how someone could subdue someone without being attacked and betrayed. Surely the hanyou wouldn't protect the miko if that were the case.

Inuyasha's face went red and he spat out his trademark 'keh' as he folded his arms into his sleeves and turned his face away.

Shippou laughed again, and he bounced to his feet before tugging Kagome to hers and alternately pushing and pulling her by her arms into the center of their little congregation. He yanked on her sleeve like a child, and whined in a very pitiful voice. "PLeeeease? They are allies now so we can finally get him back for his," he sent the hanyou a sly look and sniffed delicately, "unmannerly behavior in the presence of our guests previously."

"Oi, don't use big words and the puppy eyes at the same time!" Came a rather frantic request from the said hanyou.

Kagome blushed under the attention, and Sesshoumaru chucked as Kouga started to wolf call, encouraging the small miko despite her sudden shyness. Kohaku grinned, his eyes wide and happy as Kagura whistled and Totousai laughed in his aged rasp. Shippou sent up another plead, and with the combined encouragement (even Kikyou gave Kagome a wry encouraging smile despite it being about punishing her mate) of the Highers and pressing curiosity of the new arrivals she relented.

With a sigh she smiled apologetically at Inuyasha. "SHIT!" He cursed before he scrambled to get as close to the ground as possible.

An odd sight in itself until it was explained by the soft "Osuwari" from their miko and the resulting extra gravitational pull that created a rather interesting shaped depression in the ground.

"She subdued him so he would control his foul mouth and rude actions;" rang the dry voice of Sesshoumaru.

There was a complete silence, and then laughter and jeers rang out.

Kuwabara was gaping happily at the spectacle, and the three others were also expressing their surprised joy amongst the laughs and recollection of the Highers. Kagome was sheepishly blushing, her hands covering her mouth as she inched away from the hanyou so she could sit down unhindered.

"Wait!" The tittering faded slightly, so that they could continue their conversation but not interrupt the questions aimed at the more receptive Highers who could answer the questions honestly. "You mean to tell me that Kagome is the odd miko?"

Sesshoumaru smiled, watching the way Kagome flushed in some embarrassment due to her title…odd indeed.

.x.x.x.

A man looked up from his post, watching the strange woman walk with a hum coming from her throat and a smile on her lips. It was a tune he hadn't heard before, and he shifted to better look at the female. He saw no real threat, her eyes were closed and she had no visible weapon; but there were the components for a nasty looking crossbow on her back. The guard growled and jumped down in front of the woman. She seemed happy to hear something other than her on the forest path, but she still didn't open her eyes. The guard growled at the slight and recalled his orders- to bring anyone in who looked remotely threatening.

There was a blur of motion and he was holding her arms behind her back, marching her along the path to his lord's keep. He sweat dropped at the slight stupidity of the human before him, for she went on her way quite gladly, even with a whistle in her hum. He snorted and clenched her wrists tighter, pushing their pace to reach the lord before full sun up, as it would be the time he was free to tend to such…off matters.

They marched straight through the halls, meeting no opposition, and he only hesitated before he entered the grand room, for it held a throne and a war table, and his lord was forever serious when he was in there. As if his lord was not intimidating enough on a walk through the gardens.

"InuTiasho-sama, esteemed leader of this keep, I bring to you a stranger from our inner borders." He bowed low, his eyes widening when the woman smiled and bowed lower than him, her back rigidly straight with the formality of such occasion as this.

He was sent out of the room with a flick of his Lord's wrist, and he closed the door on the faint strains of feminine laughter and some words, "We finally meet Lord Inutaisho, I have been waiting to talk to you of your sons."

But the lord had no sons…

.x.x.x.

As if the flood gates had been opened due to this admission, the four seemed to steel themselves with more questions. "That means that many of you are the original group that fought the evil."

Inuyasha puffed up, and rapidly deflated when Kikyou elbowed him in the gut with a serene smile. "Yes, we fought, and the evil was vanquished." Her eyes gazed at Kagome warmly, and the miko blushed again. Kikyou smiled in response and Kagura laughed from where she was seated.

"Our darling little miko was full of surprises in that battle."

Onigumo was intrigued to note the way the tall redhead named Kuwabara gazed at their Kagome with respect and understanding, and he wondered exactly what had brought that about.

Sesshoumaru broke in before he could question the ningen, but he settled back with the knowledge that they had all the time in the world now. These four were part of them, and despite his gnawing curiosity it could wait.

He sighed…at least he knew how to do that well.

"Our miko ended the battle, and then it was so that she went on a journey to gather information. And she came about the way to create the three worlds and the barriers. To do so she …ah…coerced some paranoid and power hungry spirits to rule reikai with some restrictions on their access to us and ours."

Sesshoumaru smirked at a grumbling Inuyasha, something about pervert and too much trouble…

"So she must have gathered a lot of information from the different races, if she knew the spell for the barrier."

"Most of the information was gifts I believe." Kagome blushed brilliantly and laughed at Kohaku's comment. "She had this save the world complex, and usually whomever she helped would be grateful enough to impart some clan wisdom to her."

"I think she imparted the wisdom and learned as she went." Came the dry remark from Totousai.

.x.x.x

A small girl child looked up from her work, the soil she had been shifting falling through her fingers to the broken ground before her. She wasn't paying attention to the moist brown earth that tickled her skin as it rolled off her hands, and she wasn't even paying attention to the cold that previously had been biting her knees. All her attention was focused on the rustling bushes, where no animal came from.

It was only the wind, whistling and furious and cold, very cold at her cheeks and nose and making her eyes squint in subconscious defense to its message.
She was wary of its message. And she strove to ignore it with all her might. The last words she had with the wind had been of her parent's death, and she would rather have no interaction with such a blunt and rude element.

Still her ears and heart worked in tandem to decipher the words biting at her skin, and though her soul fought against such intrusion her mind formed the words. Wind…woman…wind likes her… pretty lady…powerful… can help…Midoriko sighed and stood, hands brushing off the dirt on her knees, some warmth returning at the friction, and she had half the mind to ignore the wind's sing song words and turn back to the village. The wind's messages were always somewhat garbled on translation, so she could be forgiven for this slight.

But there was a pull on her heart, and her mind in its entire justness strove to follow- so she did.

Down the road from the slayers village, through a forest path carved out of the underbrush by rabbits and then foxes and then wolves…she followed the voice of the wind, wishing it would calm down enough to stop playing with her hair and throwing off her balance. She was a very slight child after all.

The foliage broke so suddenly from its thickness that she stumbled, hands catching her on soft field grass and small little birds twittered in sympathy or jest behind her. She huffed as the wind laughed in a jaunty breeze, and she righted herself as she clapped her hands together to rid them of the extra dust that had been collected due to her fall.

Her eyes looked up when a shadow blocked her light, muscles briefly freezing in her natural reaction she hadn't yet trained out of herself, before she tucked and tumbled away from the possible threat. She only looked up to find an amused woman, eyes closed and hand still outstretched from where she had been reaching to help her up. Her first reaction was to blush at her initial reaction- sure it made her look foolish, and the second was to gape- and she did.

She was sure the woman wouldn't see so she was free to stare with wide eyes and a possibly stupid expression. Hair black like the raven cascaded down from where it was hidden with a painted scarf, and the traveling kimono, while of peasant cut, was made of such a fine material Midoriko supposed she could see the money sewn in with the embroidery. But her face was clean and open, skin a pale cream of the regal tables and eyelashes as black as soot and thick as butterfly's wings. The woman ceased her laughter, features calming and hands and shoulders relaxing as she turned to face Midoriko.

Her eyes remained closed.

"My name is Kagome little one, how goes your day?"

Midoriko stammered out her name, struck by the beauty and power that had made its way into her very heart and was opening it before this woman. The wind that had been still for this little interlude woke, and danced around the woman's form with more joy than Midoriko had felt herself- even when her parents had been alive.

The day went quite like this, but the woman proved more a listener than a talker and settled with the child on the grassy field, a sanctuary from Midoriko's usual life and sacraments. And the child found she talked more than she could ever remember talking.

And that was how her day went, she told of her troubles, how her parents had disappeared, how the slayers village had taken her in to further her miko training, despite that she wanted to be a slayer and not a miko; and the woman had listened and nodded and smiled.

With her eyes closed.

Her parents had died a scant year ago, and the village miko of the slayers proved interested in her possible powers of purity. And she wanted none of it. Midriko trailed off and let herself get lost in her thoughts, wondering exactly how she could tell any other adult this and get her slayer training.

"This one thinks you need to think unorthodox."

She looked up at her in confusion, knowing that the lady would somehow see even though she obviously couldn't. "I don't…"

The lady stood and held out her hand to her, which she took this time. She pulled her up, and led her to the edge of the clearing. Midoriko was surprised that through the trees you could see the edge of the cliff, and then across the cavern was the taijiya village.

What you see is a dream someone had, built by the hands of generations and improved upon because people had the idea to change the way something was- it happened because people think differently. They are unorthodox. This would not be here unless someone had thought so. You are seeing what is there, now you need to see what could be."

And Midoriko looked harder, eyes squinting in thought as she saw the blurring outline of her village, the paths and people blending together and merging. It was as so that her eyes caught the red of the miko's flag blending with the steady pattern of the Slayer's crest.

"Oh!" Came her explanation, wide eyes turning to thank the woman only to find her gone…

It was only a few years later that the first miko accepted her slayer uniform, smiling to herself and blushing faintly at the praises and hollers of her fellow villagers. She felt the wind caress her cheek and play in her hair, the faintly sensitive tattoo of a sakura blossom on her forehead welcoming the cooling breeze on the still tender flesh. "Thank you kind miko…" was carried away on the wind.

.x.x.x.

"But what about her eyes?"

Onigumo shifted, lip faintly lifting in a snarl before he sent a quick glance to the ever bemused miko. He had never quite figured out why she was so sensitive about her sight - or her twisted form of sight – but the spirit hanyou had asked and he wanted to assure himself that she was not offended in the slightest.

And she had covered it up before he could tell really see what she thought…which meant she was uncomfortable. Onigumo paused, unsure if he should scold the tantei or answer. For no one else would dare to answer this question.

It was Kagome who knew it fully and she would never speak of it, and only Onigumo, closest to her family and her as sibling, who could explain this while keeping an eye on her to gauge how much and exactly what he could tell.

So he sighed and tilted his head and drifted into memories. Beside him Kohaku stiffened and he glanced at the miko with some worry and understanding.

And Onigumo tried to explain. "In the final battle there were injuries sustained that no demon or miko could heal." He paused, watching Inuyasha's face cloud over and Kagome look down at the ground. "Our miko sacrificed her sight for our recovery, which is all you need to know."

...x.x.x…

Naraku groaned in his torment, or that it was Onigumo now she didn't know. She didn't really understand his pain, having shifted from miko to soul demon with little shifting to do other than her body- her soul had been long ago crossing between the worlds. She had never really thought of her stalker as something human enough to feel this sort of pain- and now she guessed it was somewhere that the little miko had surpassed her.

The fleeting smile of amusement that fluttered across her aquiline features at the thought distracted her- because she could freely express it.

Another gift from their little miko.

She found that the little woman had been surpassing her for years- ever since her childhood – if the stories she had been hearing were correct on even a miniscule level. And here she was because that little woman had seen fit to grant all involved with the shikon mess a second chance- be it now or in reincarnation. But their Kagome was once again proving her truth.

The uncanny trip the younger woman had taken in time – before the very life she ferried existed – had led to even more questions. Now Kikyou found the answers, and now she wasn't sure she wanted them. Kagome had traveled far with the jewels aid, for she had been told the jewel was like some sort of sentient being, with its own personality and emotions. It had agreed to form the barriers, but that sort of magic needed centuries to learn the lay of the land and gain the feel of its purpose- and the time would be needed to build up its power.

They had all believed that her wish was how she had performed the ceremony to regain Inuyasha's sight.

She had been one of the many surprised when, after the rather unceremonious wishing in the recovering village, there had been a bright flash of light and their Kagome was gone- and a power had been building up around them. And they had all been surprised when she appeared walking from the forest only scant seconds after the brilliant power display- and with every step the power that had been forming seemed to build and grow and solidify into something they could all feel.

She had her eyes closed, but Kikyou took no note of it as she held Inuyasha close to her, reassuring him of her presence in these pressing fluxes of strange power- and wondering exactly what had changed about the miko. She had been busy feeling the changes to her due to this building power- but not suspicious.

Their miko was calmly facing them, her eyes still closed with that peaceful expression before she grinned. Inuyasha had been knocked unconscious by the original power flare, his murmurs telling her that his charred ki channels were still sensitive even after the final battle a scant week ago. His hanyou healing was still trying to work around the miko braces that were holding him together.

The little miko's sudden appearance was explained later. And Kikyou distractedly watched Onigumo battle his conflicting youki as she thought back on those heavy words, words that were made light with a promise and a smile.

Kagome had pleaded with the jewel for knowledge, a sacrifice being demanded for that as the wish was for the turmoil to cease. Kagome had given her eyesight. Kikyou couldn't imagine offering up any of her senses for another, but their miko had done it. She had slowly been losing her sight until she wished, the jewel sending her back in time to the beginning, to set up the power braces that would be released with the wish, the catalyst.

The trip had served its dual purpose, to teach Kagome how to live with her impairment and for her to guide history on its course. It had to happen exactly as it did before even with the new power gathering that would have changed it all.

Kikyou could faintly recall meeting the miko before, now that she had seen who she was at the end of it all. Kaede and she had lost their parents at a young age, and a now familiar woman and her entourage had escorted the sisters to this village and the residing miko…Kagome had escorted her to her destiny.

She looked out the door, finding her hanyou and smiling softly. The jewel had repercussions because of this power that it started. It always had the power to bring forth latent abilities in its carriers- hence the belief that it gave power to the wielder. Now the contact humans were granted long life, something they were latently capable of. The demons were capable of stunts and feats and emotions previously hidden. Kikyou herself was a soul demon, the jewel's power and her death merging so she could ferry and protect the souls that she deemed worthy without being in the service of Reikai- something else Kagome had set up and told them about with a little smirk.

But, as Kikyou looked back at the suffering Onigumo, there were still things that needed to be worked out. The jewel will be in danger, even though Kagome was the only one to know its true whereabouts, and some were still suffering from illness and change.

She stood to leave the hut, watching the strained way Inuyasha regarded the slayer and the small miko before she came up to him and smiled with her hand on his arm.

She supposed their little miko had a few answers she could keep to herself; they had years to unveil them after all.

Thanks to Kagome.

…x.x.x…

There was a muttered comment about their freakish strength, coming from a well meaning Yusuke as he thought of their spar and the possibilities of the adrenaline rush in training.

Inuyasha laughed, hands on his shaking belly as his mate gave a wry smile. "Over the years we've developed ways to store our power and only use it for combat."

He ignored the sharp look sent his way by the new fox, and Shippou snickered and hugged his mate to his side where she blushed and lowered her head with some emotion he wasn't going to bother deciphering. Kohaku shook his head and looked over to Kagome, noting the way her spine was practically liquid and a dreamy half smile was on her lips. Kohaku let out a snort of laughter and watched her blush in response.

He knew that whatever had been going on with Souten was forgiven, and he sighed and kept his eyes on the tantei as the fox's eyes veritably lit up. He yawned as the avatar spoke; "You are the people that stirred up those rumors weren't you?"

Kohaku tilted his head as Onigumo nonchalantly flicked a stray pebble across the ground. "We have no idea what you are talking about."

Kohaku could have sworn, had he not known the retainer personally, that he was actually telling the truth.

The new kitsune didn't seem to believe him either; he smiled slyly. "I had always wondered where the rumors of Hoshi no Tama came from, and that load of drivel about our hair storing our power."

Kuwabara scratched his head.

Shippou came to his rescue, and chuckled as he replied. "Yes we did start that rumor, although it didn't take much. Kitsune do store their weapons in their tails and hair." He grinned unrepentantly at them from under his bangs. "Of course I have to give all credit for the Hoshi no Tama to our darling miko stock."

Kikyou smiled at Kagome, who returned it whole heartedly, sharing a secret that no one really knew. "We did spend years looking after that damned artifact, something good was bound to come of it." The elder spirit woman shrugged still with that smile. "I am sure the kitsune race didn't object to another rumor circulating about their vast power."

Shippou snorted.

Onigumo watched as the two kitsune grinned at their comrades, both new and old, and he smiled as the miko sighed happily and hummed a mirthful note.

Things were coming together quite nicely in another era for the Highers, and Onigumo couldn't help but think it would be that much more satisfying to watch the Highers grow once again- in knowledge and power and people.

And as he watched Jinenji lumber out a laugh, then Totousai and Kirara start a conversation with Kuwabara, and the calm acceptance of Hiei's presence by Kagura's side, the smiling grins of Yusuke and Kouga and Inuyasha as they started arguing about some fight move, the casual competition between Shippou and Kurama – seeing who could produce the most seeds from their hair, and the serene wave of settled emotions that literally bathed the gardens..

"This leaves only one question."

A hush settled around them, like they understood the importance of the question, tha magnitude of its grasp before even truly knowing the inquiry itself. They turned to face the soul hanyou, and he spoke with his hand at his chin and his green eyes intent on their reactions.

"Where exactly is the artifact?"

Kagome broke out laughing, face smiling and hands pushing her off the ground where she spun and clapped her hands.She had the rapt attention of everyone and Onigumo leaned forward with anticipation, wondering if she just might answer the question when it was directly asked. Onigumo had the rather permanent habit of trying to coerce people into giving him answers without really asking the question; and his miko always saw through him.

And as he watched her smile, that same smile she always gave when that happened, he groaned and leaned back. Expecting the same anser she always gave.

"That, dear friends, is a secret for time and one miko." She nodded solemnly, a finger raised to the sky as if she was imparting some ancient wisdom, which it could very well be with her many years. And then she grinned mischeiviously. "And I'll never tell."

"Why you..." Onigumo let out a laugh as Kouga growled playfully and charged the miko, her happy squeal ringing out as she was thrown over his shoulder and spun around. The rest of the Highers joined in, teasing or running after the wolf as he carried the laughing miko through the gardens away from all of them.

Inuyasha let out a particularly amusing shout of 'Stinking wolf! Bring back my miko!' which was replied with a jaunty 'She's mine too!' and Kagome's laughter as she smacked the wolf on the back of his head as other Highers called out their possession of the miko as well.

Onigumo leaned back, watched Kohkau finally give up his pretense with a war call as he went to retrieve their miko and leave his side. And he coudln't help but think that despite all that they ahd been through and all that woudl happen...

He couldn't help but think there could be far worse fates than this.

It didn't hurt matters and that they had all the time in the world…and their miko was smiling.

.x.x.x.

Miroku smiled and rubbed his arm wearily- it was going numb again. He sighed and looked out the village to lady Sango, talking avidly with Kagome now that they had somehow resolved their differences; but then, it was hard to stay away from the bright light that was their miko. Even if you didn't apologize she somehow forgave you anyway, and Miroku sighed and watched his breath crystallize on the air as the two woman walked comfortably in each other's presence.

The sudden feel of Onigumo at his side startled him at first, but he settled and turned his head in enquiry. "You are not going to ask her hand in marriage?"

Another sigh escaped tired lips, and Miroku thought belatedly that he should really find another way to express himself; he was starting to sound like the dying wind. "I could not put her through that, so I will live my life and build beside her."

The demon conglomerate shifted, drawing attention to the small wooden chest that was in his hands before he set it on the floor and seated himself beside it, Miroku followed him into a comfortable position across the chest from Onigumo. At his curious look, and the faint worried recognition, Onigumo spoke; "Inuyasha is very excited with his sight, and his curiosity be damned for it never lets him be. He saw the box, not recognizing it, and decided he wanted to see what other brilliantly visible thing were inside it."

Miroku got an expression of amused disbelief, eyebrow faintly twitching over closed eyes and sheepish smile because that sounded just like their inu hanyou. Ever since his sight had been restored he had been gazing at everything with the intense wonder of a child being gifted at the harvest festival.

Onigumo looked down briefly, his tied back hair falling over his shoulders and shielding his face as he leaned and clicked open the clasp of the wooden chest. Miroku made a half frenzied movement to stop him, his now free but worse right hand landing on the demons own right appendage.

Onigumo paused only briefly, maintaining his lowered head, before he gently moved his hand away and slowly opened the lid.

Blue, shining beads, rustling cloth…

It brought so many memories to him when he looked at it.

Onigumo's voice came out oddly subdued. "How come you desire to keep this?"

Miroku sighed, resettling upon the hard wood and leaning on his shakujou as he regarded their new comrade. He took in a deep breath as he contemplated what words he wanted to use, and only spoke when the demon gave him an openly wounded and curious look. "I wanted a reminder that there are far worse things than dying slowly…" he sent a brief smirk up to the heavens before he turned to the fatally curious demon looking at him with pained eyes. "Better I die from something natural and am glad to live my life somewhat normally; instead of fighting for my life against myself and my convictions with every battle I found myself and my comrades in."

He took a deep breath, stalling Onigumo's interruption with a raised hand before he continued. "Not hat I regret fighting for my beliefs, but it is one thing to be cursed for them and live with that- it is like you are constantly questioning your beliefs in the back of your mind. Should you do what is right and risk your life once again? Is it all really worth it?" He paused and tilted his head back. "And that turmoil is far worse than any I am going through now." He looked briefly away to their miko, eyes softening. "I might even dare to say Kagome-sama will have a far more difficult time than me." He took in a deep breath as he gathered together a smile and made moves to get up. "And so I keep it as a reminder to be thankful for what life I do have- now free of any imposing quest and forced destiny."

He sprang up to leave, but the faint rustle of cloth and faint growl had him turning back to Onigumo- whose head was bowed and fists were clenched in the fabric of his dark hakama. The eyes that turned up to stare at him were both insolent and determined, hitting his very core with the way they somehow reminded him of their little miko. He sent a distracted glance to her, now laughing with Kikyou and Sango, as if the mere thought could have her gasping in shock and running to him. Onigumo kneeled respectfully with his palms flat on the ground as he bowed his head to hide those eyes.

Miroku watched in shocked awe as Onigumo harshly pulled the box to him, a hand trembling as it reached in to grasp the faint reminder of a curse he no longer bore. The glove was straightened out almost reverently, and Onigumo looked up to him with a faint satisfied smirk as he firmly tugged the glove onto his own right hand.

There were no sounds to the monk as his own pulse seemed to defy its path, his heart wouldn't start and his breath froze in his still lungs.

"I too will forever be reminded that there are far worse fates than mine own." And the demon that had caused so much turmoil nodded and stood and left.

And Miroku could only smile faintly and scratch his right hand as some of the feeling flashed into it before leaving once again. The little miko's laughter echoed down the street, telling nothing of her age and harsh travels, and he smiled even more as he turned to watch her run up to him with the village children in some game. She passed him by with a smile in his direction – without opening her eyes – and his body sagged as his eyes softened.

Yes he was thankful.

He turned to face the trailing Taijiya as she glanced between her adopted sister and her blood brother- smiling faintly as he played some game with Kirara and Shippou. Her gaze looked up to catch his, and a faint blush rose on her cheeks as he smiled and thanked the gods once again.

He faintly nodded to some of their allies as they caught his gaze, but he kept his full attention on one thing- one woman at that. She blushed more and looked around for the source of his intent focus, but he kneeled down in front of her and took her hands in his.

Almost…

"My dear lady Sango…" She blushed as he kissed her knuckles and-

Almost….

THERE!

SMACK!

Miroku smiled dazedly as he looked up into the sky from his new position flat on the ground, and he felt the faint thundering vibrations of Sango's angry steps as she stormed away from him.

God yes, there were far worse fates than this.

OWARI

X X X X X X X X

I'm afraid this is the end. So I bid adieu and thank all you people for reviewing and making me feel so darn good about myself!

Happy Spring!

.x.x.x.x.x NOTES!.x.x.x.x.

Sometimes kitsune are depicted guarding a round or pear shaped ball (hoshi no tama or star ball); it is said those who obtain it can force the kitsune to help them; one theory says that the kitsune "reserves" some of its magic in this ball when it shape shifts. Here it is used (I made it so they created this legend- don't sue me, I am altering reality here) to throw off suspicion about the shikon no tama. Ah, the lengths the Highers will go to protect their lovely miko and peace.