"Welcome back" said Kagura greeting them
"Good Evening" stated Kagome her icy voice back
"You missed out on dinner" stated Inuyasha
"That is alright," said Tamiko
"We were just about to go to bed" said Kikyo
"Yes we will need rest to face Koga tomorrow" said Miroku
"Yes let us rest," said Tamiko sitting down and leaning against a tree along with Inuyasha who jumped in a tree with Kikyo, Shippo and Kirara curled up together as Kagura settled in a tree keeping an eye on Kagome or Tamiko as the others called her.
Miroku laid in the grass under a tree in his usual style, Sango and Tamiko had come to terms that they needed each other in the terms of comfort so Sango just placed her weapons down and crawled into the demoness's arms, Sesshomaru watched with jealousy as Kagome wrapped her arms around Sango possessively.
Miroku still stared with jealousy but not hatred he had come to terms that Sango needed Tamiko's comfort but understood the fact that she did care even if it was in her own way, Sango sighed in content as Tamiko's presence calmed her, so she slept with her even if at first to the others it was strange they didn't seem to care.
As everybody drifted off into blissful slumber Kagome was twisted between emotions she hadn't felt in centuries, she needed to balance death again so she again astral projected from her body and stared at Sesshomaru he was awake but his eyes were closed in concentration, she simply slipped from the valley endlessly wandering through the night killing those who at the moment deserved it she was in to much emotional turmoil to go out and kill just because, so she sat at a small pond staring out at the world through cold unforgiving eyes
'What am I suppose to do?' she asked herself
'Do I love him?' she questioned again
'DAMMIT ALL TO HELL' she screamed in her mind.
Kagome sat there comparing everything to determine if she did love him, after four hours of bashing her mental hand against her head she screamed into the distance
"BLOODY HELL" her powers flaring out lashing at everything within a one mile radius killing everything and anything that got in her black flashing magic destroying everything.
Kagome drained herself of pent up energy then let's her astral body drift back to her physical body watching as Sesshomaru gazed at her when she floated back to her body.
Kagome woke early in the morning like usual; she looked up at the rising sun as the brisk morning air nipped at her lunges
"Sango…" she whispered waking up the sleeping woman
"mmm" she moaned shifting in her sleep
"We need to get up"
"I don't wanna," whispered Sango hugging Tamiko tighter
"Alright I won't make you get up," said Tamiko standing up with Sango in a cradle position.
Sango eeped softly but relaxed as Tamiko began to walk out of the valley
"Kagura" demanded Tamiko waking the wind sorceress
"Yes Mis…Tamiko?" questioned Kagura jumping down from the tree
"Wake Kikyo" she commanded, Kagura nodded and woke the priestess
"We will be bathing," said Tamiko leading the two out of the valley while Sango slept in her arms.
They all entered a the hot spring area
"Wonderful" whispered Kagura not used to the oils, soaps, and scent that smelled this wonderful
"It is a healing spring" stated Kikyo letting the demon know it was a spring of healing.
Kagura and Kikyo stripped themselves of their clothing and entered the healing waters, while Tamiko used her dark powers to rid Sango and herself of clothing and just glided into the waters waking Sango at the sudden warmth
"Awake?" asked Tamiko her icy tone becoming soft but still holding ice
"Yep" chirped Sango crawling out Tamiko's arms.
After the girls bathed they headed back to camp talking like schoolgirls with the exception of Tamiko who simply gave an inclination of her head when talked directly to.
"Welcome back" quirked Shippo when they all returned Miroku was laying unconscious on the ground
"Let me guess" stated Sango
"Yeah he tried to follow you but Inuyasha knocked him unconscious" stated Shippo
"When will he learn?" asked Kikyo
"Never" said Inuyasha staring intently at Tamiko
"Something the matter Inuyasha?" asked Tamiko her icy voice making mental ice chips in every one's mind
"No" he stated and looked away
'Hiding from the truth half breed will get you no where' thought Tamiko inwardly smirking then mentally shaking her head she turned towards Sesshomaru
"You need to get Rin" she stated
"Yes, she will be worried" said Sesshomaru creating his youkai cloud and heading off as the others stared
"He will be back" said Kagura
"Yes let us find Koga" said the now conscious Miroku
"Right" said Inuyasha jumping out of the tree.
The group marched on towards the wolf demons cave
"Kagura you might want to vanish while we get his shards" said Kikyo, Kagura was about to say something but caught the silent demand of Kagome and nodded saying she would
"I will also not make my presence known," said Tamiko causing everybody to look at her
"Why?" asked Sango
"I wish not to explain myself to Koga" stated Tamiko
"Oh" said Kikyo
"Koga's den is near" stated Inuyasha
"Let us take out leave Kagura," said Tamiko falling back into the forest, followed by Kagura.
The others entered the area and were instantly attacked until they realized who it was "Welcome Inuyasha" stated one of the wolves
"We need to speak with Koga" he stated bluntly
"Right away" said the wolf then led them into the caves
"KOGA" yelled the wolf
"What?" came the demand of Koga who walked out with Ayame at his side
"Inuyasha?" he questioned
"We need your jewel shards Koga" stated Kikyo
"Where's my favorite little sister?" asked Koga looking for Kagome
"She's dead Koga" stated Inuyasha pain lacing his voice
"WHAT?" Koga and Ayame roared together
"She was killed last year we don't know how" said Sango trying not to cry
"Why didn't you save her" demanded Ayame rage coursing through her
"We weren't there" said Miroku
"WHY?" yelled Koga
"We didn't know she was here we thought she was in her own time" said Shippo
"She's really gone?" cried Ayame tears falling from her normally hard eyes
"Yes"-said Kikyo
"That's why you're alive" said Koga staring at the priestess
"Yes"-said Kikyo again looking down
"We wish to join you Inuyasha" said Ayame
"WHAT?" yelled Inuyasha
"To kill Naraku and avenge Kagome's death" said Ayame
"But…" said Sango
"We want to join" commanded Koga
"Alright but there's something's you should know" said Kikyo going onto explaining Tamiko, Sesshomaru, and Kagura this of course sent Koga into rage wanting to kill Kagura but stopped as Ayame explained that it was Naraku making her do these things not her free will.
They decided that Koga could keep his shards until the final battle was over then they would take them
"Let us go get the others" said Sango walking out of the cave the others following her
"Tamiko Kagura" she yelled the two demoness's appearing instantly appearing from the shadows
"Koga and Ayame are joining us" said Sango, Kagura let surprise rain on her features before she was calm again
"He understands that you were forced to do what you did" said Miroku walking up the others following close behind. Kagura bowed slightly to the wolves
"I'm sorry for what I did," she stated knowing Tamiko was watching her with cold eyes
"I forgive your act" stated Koga looking at the demoness behind Kagura
"You must be Tamiko?" he asked
"I am" came her icy reply
"They were right when they said you were ice" stated Ayame.
Tamiko ignored their comments and turned towards Kagura nodding slightly Kagura used her fan to create wind slices flying towards Koga who jumped out of the way
"WHAT THE HELL?" he yelled
"I had to test if you were aware" said Kagura
"Really" said Ayame cracking her claws
"Yes if he wasn't prepared for that he wouldn't have a chance against Naraku" stated Kagura
"Why don't you just lead us there?" asked Ayame
"Because I have no memory of the area he is located in" stated Kagura.
Tamiko looked at the other members of the group they all seemed to be watching the three
"We should be moving," said Tamiko drawing all of their attentions towards her, she was already walking out of the area the others quickly following
"A demon is coming" said Kikyo sensing the aura
"It's a weak demon though" said Kagura closing her fan
"Still get ready" said Miroku, a centipede demon was seen coming towards them as Kikyo shot an arrow at it killing it instantly.
So they traveled towards the north Kikyo sensing the jewels presence
"We need rest Inuyasha" said Sango
"Feh" came his infamous reply jumping into a tree signally this was where they were staying
"Set up camp" stated Kikyo.
As camp was being set up a cold aura was sensed entered the valley, it was Sesshomaru with a little HUMAN girl
"TAMIKO- NEECHAN" came the young girls cry as she bolted towards the demoness effectively jumping onto her, Tamiko caught Rin and did a back flip still holding her before landing and looking at the little human girl who she had come to care for over time
"Hello Rin" came her still cold voice
"Sesshomaru-Sama says that Rin is going to travel with Tamiko-neechan," said Rin
"That's right," said Tamiko the group members just staring, Shippo bounded up to the two and looked at the girl
"Rin this is Shippo" introduced Tamiko placing her on the ground
"Hi Shippo" said Rin, the two hit it off quickly and were now playfully wrestling.
Sesshomaru stared at Tamiko who was watching the young ones, her cold eyes slowly turned to look at him locking their gazes fire met ice in a all out battle as electricity sparked through both of them, the others watched this with fascination
"I am leaving for a while," said Tamiko standing and exiting the camp site, Sango quickly stood running after her
"TAMIKO" she called as she finally reached her
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing I just need to think," said Tamiko
"Are you sure?"
"I am positive Sango now go help the others I will be back"
"If you say so," said Sango turning around and running back towards camp.
When Sango got back she silently glared at Sesshomaru saying she was angry with him, he in turned just simply rose a brow wondering what she was so angry with him for
"Dinner" said Ayame who was finished roasting the fish.
Kagome wandered to the same pond she was at the night before staring blankly at the dead surroundings
"I was lucky I didn't unleash all my power or everything would have been killed" she stated to her self-walking through the dead debris she sat at the pond that was still reflecting her image perfectly
"I hate you" she whispered to her reflection smashing the reflection like glass the water rippling in small tidal waves by her sudden and powerful hit.
Kagome hated herself more than anything she was so self disgusted that she took out her dagger and ripped open her kimono slicing deeply into her stomach, chest, any place she could that wouldn't show to the others, she continued until she felt that she had punished herself enough for the moment as she stood she looked at the once again still water satisfied as her cut up figure, blood flowing onto the ground like a waterfall.
Kagome knew that she would have scars because these wounds were self-inflicted so she watched as her blood pooled into the pond tainting its pure water
"I will have many scars" she whispered knowing that because they were self inflicted they would heal like she was a human and that she would feel their pain as if she were human.
She hid the scent of her blood and headed back to camp changing into a different kimono and washing her dagger to hide evidence of what she had done, it was quickly darkening as she walked into the camp of shard hunters they were all asleep with the exception of Sesshomaru who kept his cold eyes on her.
Kagome sat against the tree as Sango crawled into her arms causing her to slightly wince barely enough for no one to notice, except for the watchful demon lord who questioned as Kagome's eyes winced for a split second had he not been fully intent on staring at her he wouldn't have noticed
'Why did she wince in pain?' he asked himself.
The Next day was pretty normal they all traveled towards the north not running into any demons disappointing some of them who were itching for a kill, Kikyo, Sango, Ayame, and Kagura were talking like happy nothings wrong school girls, while Miroku, Koga, and Inuyasha talked about how to kill Naraku, Shippo, Rin, and Kirara played together.
Tamiko and Sesshomaru were silent throughout the day giving nods to the children when they ran up to them showing them what they had found.
They had finally stopped to rest
"Naraku has been pretty quiet lately" said Miroku
"Yes he is probably planning something" said Inuyasha
"I agree we must be prepared" said Ayame, Tamiko knew something was wrong Naraku had been too quiet maybe he had to think of something to do since Kagura was now on their side
'The Prophecy is to take place in one year' she told herself hiding in the shadows of the trees at the others set up camp
"Tamiko?" questioned Ayame walking over to the ice queen; her only sign that Tamiko was listening was a slight inclination of her head
"How did you know Kagome?" came her question
"She was a friend of mine"
"How?"
"She helped me"
"How did she help you?"
"She saved somebody dear to me"
"Oh" said Ayame thankful that she got that much out of her.
Tamiko look at the two children who were currently playing tag Shippo having an advantage causing Rin to pout playfully.
