Author's Note: So it has been 5 long years since I updated, and 7 since I started. I have no excuses, other than I felt like I wrote myself into plothole hell, and wasn't sure how to get out. With the release of Yashahime my overwhelming love of the series drove me to re-read my old fanfics, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that this one still held up to my writing standards (cannot say the same for Wouldn't though...). I began rereading notes I had and new ideas began to form, so once again I have decided to jump back into this crazy series and try to finish it. This go around I'm not going to promise steady releases or anything like that, because I will write this when the time and inspiration hit. Due to adulthood my time is exceedingly limited because my job is more demanding than it should be, but I don't want to give up on this story because I am very proud of it. For those of you who are still somehow following this, thank you for staying! If anyone is new to the party welcome! I want to be clear that this will not correspond with Yashahime in any way, but if I find characters or lore bits I enjoy I may include them. Obviously the girls cannot exist in this story because this is still a Sess/Kagome fanfic with some added Inu/Kikyo thrown in there a little bit too. Now that I have rambled, enjoy this new chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or affiliated with Inuyasha, however this particular story is M-I-N-E! :)

Seeking Answers

(Return to the real world)

"What the hell are we just waiting around for!" Inuyasha growled as he paced the tiny hut. The remaining shard hunters sat in front of a large cooking pot, while Kaede stirred the mixture in frustration. After all, that had been the fifth time Inuyasha had asked that question...today.

"Inuyasha we know you are anxious to find Kagome, but we don't know where Naraku has hidden himself and charging blindly will not solve the problem," Miroku patiently recited like a mantra.

"You're not the only one who is worried, you know. We all want to find Kagome," Sango sighed and glanced at Shippo, who was worrying his lip.

"Oh, Kagome," he sniffed pathetically. Inuyasha felt for the kid. After all, he had lost his mother at a young age, too.

With an impatient growl, the irritated hanyou left the hut in search of his nuisance of a brother. Maybe he could blow some steam off on him.

He could smell the fear in the village. Not only was the priestess they all looked to gone, but a powerful daiyokai had taken up residence in their community for the time being. Suffice it to say, Sesshomaru wasn't very welcome.

When Inuyasha finally tracked down his brother, he found the bastard keeping a silent vigil near the well, while his young ward crooned over the flowers she had gathered around the area. As he approached, the young girl looked up and flashed him a gap-toothed smile.

"Inuyasha-sama! Look at all the pretty flowers I found! Do you think they will help cheer everyone up?" she asked hopefully, running over to the big man to show him her bouquet.

"Uhhh...I think Sango will like them...and they definitely couldn't hurt," Inuyasha mumbled under his breathe, as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

Rin beamed up at him, then turned to her protector and asked, "Sesshomaru-sama?"

The silent youkai opened his eyes and nodded at the girl. Rin immediately started bounding toward the village. Sesshomaru then turned toward his sleeping vassal, who was sprawled out next to a tree. "Jakken, go with her," the daiyoukai said firmly, instantly waking the imp up.

"But my lord-"

One look quickly silenced the little demon and had him scrambling to catch up with Rin, as he shrewdly screamed at her to slow down and wait for him.

"...Why do ya let that kid travel with ya anyways?" Inuyasha asked curiously, as he watched the strange duo head toward the village.

"That is none of your concern. What do you want little brother?" Sesshomaru growled impatiently.

Inuyasha's ears automatically flattened, and he pulled back is lips in the semblance of a snarl. "What do I want?! I want to find Kagome, you bastard! And I'm tired of just sitting around while she could be in danger!"

Sesshomaru gave his half-brother a sidelong look, but refused to move from his spot on the ground. "And you have come to tell me this because?"

Inuyasha paused, and his ears cocked at a strange angle as he contemplated why he had told Seashomaru this. "Hell...I dunno...I was hoping you could give me some more answers...since you're the only one who knows where she is..." Inuyasha mumbled.

"...As I said, she is safe," the daiyoukai answered simply, then returned to lounging against the tree.

"Keh! Figured that's all I'd get." Inuyasha studied his brother for a moment. It didn't really make sense why he was sticking around, and near the well of all places...unless?

"Why are you so interested in Kagome all of a sudden?" he asked suspiciously.

That got the daiyoukai's attention. It was barely visible, but after knowing the bastard for at least two centuries, Inuyasha had learned to see the smallest changes in the man's demeanor, and the slight twitch of a perfectly arched brow was definitely a sign that he was irritated. He did not want to be asked that question.

"I care not for the miko. It is the mirror that holds my interest." And there it was - hard, cold denial.

"Like hell I believe that," Inuyasha grumbled. "Something's got you in a rut, and Kagome has the answers."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, but neither confirmed nor denied the accusation.

"I'm warning ya, Sesshomaru. If you lay a finger on her, I'll kill ya."

"...I am not the one you should be worrying about hanyou. It is the mirror that is the problem."

"Did I hear something about a mirror?" A small voice spoke up just as a sharp pain penetrated Inuyasha's neck.

With a slap and a pop, the pint-sized Myoga appeared on Inuyasha's palm. "Oh Myoga, it's you," Inuyasha stated with a bored expression.

"Hai! I couldn't help but overhear my lords' conversation. What is this about Kagome's disappearance and a mirror?"

XXX

"I see…so the young miko is trapped in that mirror. I knew that young whippersnapper's contraptions were going to get people into trouble!" Myoga jumped up and down, to show his frustration.

Sesshomaru studied the flea and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "You know of this mirror?"

"Uh…h-hai, S-Sesshomaru-sama…" Myoga mumbled nervously. "If it is what I believe…then I know what this thing can do…and who made it."

"Well spit it out! Who's the bastard that made the stupid thing?! I'll make sure to give him a good beating for all this crap that's happened to Kagome," Inuyasha growled, more to himself than the flea.

"Ummm…well…you see the thing is…" Myoga stuttered, thinking of how to word his answer carefully.

"Out with it Myoga!" Sesshomaru barked, causing the small demon to jump higher than Inuyasha's head.

"It's not my place to tell you!" Myoga shouted quickly, shaking in terror.

The sound of fingers flexing and the smell of sweet poison filled the air as Sesshomaru slowly rose and stalked toward his father's old vassal. He was not in the mood to put up with Myoga's riddles, and after his annoying talk with his brother, he wanted to skin them both alive on the spot. "Speak clearly, or prepare to be eviscerated."

"WAIT! PLEASEMYLORDYOUNEEDTOTALKTOTOTOSAITOUNDERSTAND!" Myoga spoke in a panic, then quickly jumped in Inuyasha's hair to hide.

"What was that?" asked the confused hanyou, as he glanced up at the spot where the flea hid himself.

"Totosai you say…hmm," Sesshomaru spoke thoughtfully, then re-sheathed his claws.

"Yes," Myoga whimpered pitifully. "He's the one who will tell you what you need to know."

"Hnn, come Inuyasha," the daiyoukai didn't even spare them a glance as he set his sights back on the village.

"Keh, whatever," the hanyou grumbled, following his brother at his own pace.

Other Author Note: I actually had this chapter and part of another written 5 years ago, but for some reason never posted it. I also realized that throughout this story I've been using the word 'taiyokai' instead of 'daiyokai' due to ignorance on my part. I will try to remember to use the correct word from now on. As an aside I want to thank the person who recently left a comment on my AMV of this fanfic. After reading it, I felt so sad that I never finished this and it renewed my want to. So thank you user Mai Amarilla! Your words inspired me to pick this back up!