Hey guys! Chapter 10 is finally finished!

Anyway, I have great news… I'M MEETING GREG AYRES! My friends and I will be going to a convention in GA in a month and I'm going nuts! So, my mind's been a bit loopy as of late.

And my stupidity knows no bounds. I just saw the 3rd IY movie, so I am now saying that Inuyasha's mother's name, which was Reinna in past chapters, will now be Izayoi, and their father was still killed the same way, only a few years later.

Anyway, on with the story, and thanx for the reviews! Keep 'em coming!

Chapter 10

'Ah Crap. I know that Rojin told me that his room was at the end of the hall, but he never mentioned which end,' Kagome thought as she paced in front of her door. "Hmm. I guess I'll try this way first," she mumbled as she turned and began walking toward the left end of the corridor.

Once she reached the end, she knocked and slowly entered.

"Um, Uncle? Are, you in here?"

"Rojin's room is at the other end of the hallway, My Lady," answered a familiarly smooth voice. Right then, the younger Kitsune sibling entered the girl's line of vision.

"OH! I'm soo sorry. Akira," she cried, bowing deeply. "I shouldn't have just barged in here like I did."

"Do not fret, Lady, though may I be of any help to you?"

She paused to consider it. "Actually, maybe you can help me. What would happen if, oh, I don't know, a demon of Sesshoumaru's caliber were to lose once of his senses?"

"It would depend on which he lost."

"Let's just say, his sight, for example."

"Well, I suppose the demon in question's other senses would compensate for the loss." He then added, after a bit of thought, "Though, it could prove to be quite problematic during battle."

"Why do you say that?" Kagome asked.

"If he were in unfamiliar territory, he would be unable to observe his surroundings. Also, there are certain demons who have the ability to completely mask their presence, though there is a flaw to the skill."

"Which is?"

"There is a visual trail that is inadvertently left behind. Without sight, the demon wouldn't realize that the enemy were there until it was too late." He again paused. "Has Lord Sesshoumaru's illness now affected his sight?"

"You knew?"

He nodded. "I suspected. I was ordered to watch over the human child. That order would have never been handed down if My Lord was able to do so himself. He is extremely protective of Rin."

"I see," she said as she took a seat on the floor and let the new information sink in. While pondering, Kagome began looking around the fox's room, suddenly distracted by the multitude of weapons adorning the walls of the modest-sized space.

"Akira?"

"Yes, My Lady?"

"Kagome. No lady, just plain old Kagome."

"My apologies, Kagome."

"Why did you decide to become an assassin? And why for Sesshoumaru, for that matter?"

He joined the girl on the floor. "Our fathers grew up together, and when InuTaisho inherited the Western Lands as his own, my father entered his employ as a most trusted advisor. When Mother died suddenly, Kira and I moved in here.

Sister had already agreed to serve as Lord Sesshoumaru's personal servant while I trained in a skill that I had always been particularly good at: marksmanship."

"When did you first meet Sesshoumaru?"

"Shortly before the death of the Lady of the House. Kira spent much, if not all, of her time entertaining him with stories and games, and they soon became close friends. I, however, wished to serve to the absolute best of my abilities, so I left the house and secluded myself for quite a considerable amount of time in order to train."

"And what happened when you returned to the castle?"

He quieted a moment before continuing. "I returned to utter chaos."

"What do you mean?"

"The Lady had only just been killed and the Young Lord was not taking it well, as I came to learn."

flashback

"Brother! You're back!" Kira screamed, hugging her younger brother.

"How have you been, Sister?"

"I've been well. And you?"

"I am fine, as well." He paused to put his belongings on the floor of the room that Kira had prepared for his return. "And how is Lord Taisho?"

The smile adorning the young demoness' gentle face disappeared as she sat down, taking his much larger hand in hers. "Brother, do you remember the mikos that InuTaisho banished?"

"I do. The ones who attacked the Young Lord, correct?"

She nodded. "They attacked the castle on the last new moon while the Lord was away." Averting her gaze and tightening her grip, Kira continued. "While protecting Sesshoumaru and me, Lady Narai was killed."

The siblings sat together in silent mourning until Akira finally spoke. "How is Sesshoumaru?"

"Well, that's the thing."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Follow me, Brother."

The pair walked through the hallways toward the Royal Wing, until they stopped, having reached the chambers of the Western Heir. Kira opened the door and entered, her brother following suite.

The sight was and eerie one indeed. The young demon was lying in bed, his usually vibrant golden eyes vacant and unseeing. His mother's favorite kimono was being hugged tightly to his chest.

"He's been like that ever since. He won't respond to anything, not even his father."

"Where is the Lord?"

"After the attack, InuTaisho annihilated those witches and is currently hunting down the survivors."

Akira's senses picked up on something coming nearing the room. "He has returned."

Moments later, the door opened, revealing the child's father.

"My Lord," the two said, bowing deeply.

He nodded his head in return. "I see that you have returned, Akira. I am just sorry that it could not have been under better circumstances."

The Lord of the West walked up to his son's bedside and sat down, placing the pup's head in his lap. The demon then began gently stroking his slightly disheveled silver mane.

"There are only three left. My vengeance can wait. The remainder of my family is what is important now."

"I only wish that I had arrived sooner. Maybe thing could have been different."

"No, Akira. There would have been just one more dead. There were few survivors, which brings me to an offer. Akira, I would like for you to be Sesshoumaru's personal guard."

The Kitsune blinked and narrowed his jade eyes, trying to figure out if his master were lying. "M-My Lord?"

"I want only those who I trust completely near my son. That means you, your sister and father, and Rojin. He is far too young to know true betrayal, though I am sure that he feels it right now, even in his current state." He paused before speaking again. "The proof is in his eyes."

The siblings looked to see what their Lord meant. They watched as a lone tear slid down the pup's unresponsive face.

"We will be by his side, always," they answered, never averting their gazes.

"Always," Kira whispered.

" (hic)That's the, saddest (sniff)story I've ever (hichic)heard," she whined, tears streaming down her cheeks. "No wonder he hates me. I'd hate me, too, if I were him!"

"He doesn't hate you, Kagome," a voice stated from the doorway. "If he did, you can guarantee that you would be dead, either by his hand, or by my brother's."

"But he's tries to kill me and my friends a dozen or so times."

"Tried, and failed," Kira stated as she entered Akira's room and sat down, right in his lap. "Does Sesshoumaru seem like the type that would fail to kill his target?"

"Well, no, but-"

"The same goes for Inuyasha. He never truly meant to kill you guys."

"Um, Kira?"

"Yes, Brother?"

"Do you have to sit on my lap?"

"Why yes. Yes, I do."

"Just why are you so chipper, all of a sudden?" Kagome wondered.

"Yes, Sister, and why do you smell so strongly of Inuyasha?" Akira added.

"She's blushing, too."

Panicking, the demoness began rambling. "Oh! I, um, we left, and he…then I… then we…then he…nothing."

"I suppose we'll drop it for now," Kagome conceded, laughing at Kira's deep sigh of relief.

"Kagome, shouldn't you go and see Rojin? I believe that I have kept you here for long enough," Akira reminded.

She jumped to her feet. "Ohmigod! I completely forgot! I'll see you guys later!" She ran out of the room at break-neck speed, but re-entered and added, "You're telling me everything later." With that, she left again.

Akira then turned toward his only sister. "And you're telling me everything right now."

The panicked expression returned as she whined, "Do I have to?"

"I'll bet my life that she's chatting merrily with Akira right now," Sesshoumaru thought as he rose to his feet and began pacing, startling Rin at the movement.

"Lord Sesshoumaru?" she asked.

"That blasted human." He turned toward Rin. "Open the door, Rin, and see if the miko is-" The scent of the girl running past his room cut his order short.

"Sorry Sesshoumaru! I went the wrong way!" she yelled through the door as she rushed past.

'At least she had the decency to apologize.'

"Rin, take me to Rojin."

"Okay."

Grabbing his hand, the eight-year-old opened the door and pulled the Demon Lord behind her, as she had a penchant to do whenever given the opportunity.

"Sis, wait!" she yelled as she saw Kagome reach for the door handle.

"Hey Rin," she said just before she looked up to see the Taiyoukai being led by the girl. "Sesshoumaru! Um, what are you doing?"

"Making sure that you don't get lost." He smirked. "Again."

She straightened and placed her hands on her hips. "Well, excuse me. I was told that his room was at the end of the hallway, but in case you hadn't noticed, there are two ends!"

"As a miko, shouldn't you be able to discern between Kitsune and Inuyoukai?"

She hmphed and grumbled under her breath, "I'm still in training, Buddy. I'm working on it."

"Can I help you three?" asked a voice from behind the door, which opened to reveal Rojin.

"Uncle, Lord Sesshoumaru's eyes are still broken and we hoped that you could fix them now," Rin explained.

"Not quite yet, Child," the elder demon professed, smiling gently.

"Do you have any leads?" Kagome questioned.

"No, but not for lack of trying, as you can see."

Books and scrolls were indeed strewn throughout the room, all pertaining to curses and enchantments.

"Why is this curse so friggin' difficult to pin down?" she asked.

"I have been asking myself that very same question. Aside from the blindness, the symptoms are odd and the attacks erratic."

Nodding, Kagome's attention was pulled toward a pile of four texts and a couple of scrolls sitting on the floor by Sesshoumaru's feet.

"Uncle, would it be okay for me to borrow these?" she asked as she gathered them in her arms.

"I see no harm in it, I suppose."

"Thank you. I promise that I'll return them."

As she left, Rojin said, "Quite a smart girl, that one."

"For a human, I suppose," came the reply as he, too, left the room.

When he and Rin reached her room, he opened the door and entered, catching the girl by surprise.

"What was that about?"

"W-what was what about?" she stuttered.

"The books and scrolls."

"Oh. Those."

"Well?"

Kagome turned to Rin. "Shippo should be back in the room. I'm sure he'd love to see you."

"Can I, Lord Sesshoumaru?" He nodded and she ran out the door.

Kagome then took his hand and led him to a nearby chair, then opted to sit on the bed.

"They called to me."

His eyes narrowed in both suspicion and confusion. "Called?"

"Yeah. They just, drew my attention. Maybe it was my powers. I mean, they've done it before."

"Before?"

"It was how I knew that you were suffocating, and where you were."

"I see." 'So, that's how she knew. Interesting.' To the miko, he asked, "Has anything like this happened before?"

"No, not really." She stopped to think. "Well, sometimes I-how do I say this? Sometimes I dream of things that haven't happened yet."

"Second sight."

"You know of it?"

"My father had the Gift."

"Hey," she said quietly, changing the subject. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

"You can ask, though you may not get an answer."

"How did I know that you were going to say that?"

"Are you going to ask, or not?"

"I've been wondering. What was your father like?"

"What?"

"What was he like? I've always wondered about it. I've asked Inuyasha and Myouga, but they just change the subject."

"Why do you want to know about him?"

"Dunno. We've got time, and I've always been curious." She paused. "Pleeeease?"

He sighed before getting comfortable. "Our father was a brave and noble ruler who had few enemies and an incomparable amount of allies. He was also a caring husband and father, who, no matter how much work he had, time was always made."

She smiled softly. "You really loved him, huh?"

He glared in her direction. "Of course I did. I'm not completely heartless, contrary to popular belief."

She rubbed the back of her neck and laughed nervously. "Heh, heh. Yeah. Sorry about that. Anyway, how did he, um…"

"Takemaru of Setsuna."

Kagome leaned forward a bit. "Who was he?"

"A human who coveted Inuyasha's mother. She was slain by his hand, yet Father resurrected her with Tenseiga."

"I thought that Tenseiga and Tetsusaiga were forged just for you two. So he also used them? Including Tetsusaiga?"

"Tetsusaiga was made from his fang, therefore he was able to wield it efficiently."

"That makes perfect sense. So how did you learn to use the Wind Scar?"

"Observing as he used it."

"One more question."

"Ask."

"How was a human able to defeat your father? He was a Great Demon, right?"

"He already suffered life threatening injuries at the hands of Ryuukoutsei. I believe you have heard of him."

She nodded slowly as images of Inuyasha's life-or-death battle to lessen the burden of Tetsusaiga's increased weight ran through her head.

"Yeah, I remember him. Not really all that easy to forget, huh? Especially with Naraku's interference."

It was then that Sesshoumaru remembered the girl's self-elected duty of gathering the shards of the Shikon no Tama.

"I now have a few questions of my own, Miko."

"Shoot."

"Why do you feel the necessity to gather the shards of the Shikon no Tama?"

"The question caught the teenager off guard. "Well, um, you see, I was the one who broke it, so I should be the one to fix it. Add to that, the fact that I have the ability to sense the shards, it made sense."

"Is that why you fight Naraku? Out of duty?"

"No, it's not. He has committed horrible atrocities against those I hold dear to my heart. It would be cataclysmic if he were able to get his hands on all of the shards."

"I see."

"You seem to be the only demon that doesn't want the jewel. Why not?"

"I have no need for false power, like that of Naraku or the wolf."

She cocked her head in confusion. "False power?"

Sesshoumaru shifted a bit before explaining. "Take the wolf. If he were to lose either of the fragments in his legs, his power would greatly decrease, correct?" She nodded, urging him on. "He depends almost entirely on his speed and leg strength in battle, so he would be at a severe disadvantage should something happen."

"Okay, and?"

"I do not rely on anything other my own power. I work to grow stronger." He paused. "I will admit that the half-breed chose the right path in making himself stronger and not relying on the shards." Quietly, he added, "Father would have agreed."

Having heard what he said, Kagome smiled. "I agree completely."

The Inuyoukai suddenly rose to his feet, startling her.

"It seems that we shall be dining shortly." That said, he walked toward the door. He had just opened it and began to leave when Kagome's voice halted him.

"Sesshoumaru?"

"Hmm."

"Thank you for telling me about your father. I feel honored that you chose to speak with me."

After a moment, he nodded his head in her direction and left, his mind screaming.

'What the hell am I doing?'

Opening up.

'But why? I'm not exactly prone to opening up to humans, you know.'

She asked, and you answered. She is a trustworthy ally.

'I trust no one.'

Maybe she's here to help you start.