Chapter Eleven

EternalAffliction: You will find out why Sessho-maru sent Inu away, just not really in this chapter… in fact, not for a couple chapters, but all will be answered, rest assured! Kaguya wants…that will have to wait truly till next chapter, though there are hints in this chapter. Thank you for your review! Hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Minako Miharu: wow… you seem to know what you're talking about. Not that I can tell you if you're right or not, both because I wouldn't want to give it away, and then I don't know myself. Thank you for your review, and hope you enjoy chapter eleven!

Kalei: I am sooooooooooooooooo sorry that I didn't update last night. I wasn't home at all, so please forgive me. (bows repeatedly) I am hoping to have Sessho-maru train her Miko powers, as well as her physical strength, so that should be fun. Thanks for taking time to review for me, even if you were at work. Well, I need to get this up, so I will wrap this up, enjoy chapter eleven. (Even if it is a day late…My apologies again)

iNuQTpIe: I'm glad you liked chapter ten. Have fun on vacation, and I await your return!

lil-kag0m3: Shall I tell you before anyone else that you are right? Well, since you've been here since the beginning, I'll give you that little piece of what's to come. When they defeated Naraku, she as well as Kanna were set free, but Kohaku died without the jewel shard Kagome now has. OK? Well, here is chapter eleven, thank you for your review, enjoy.

Inu: I'm glad you love my story. Sorry I can't say if this will be Inu/Kag or not, but please find out with me as I go! Thank you for your review.

stand alone complex: Yay? What are you "yaying" about? Lol, I'm joking, but thank you for the review, enjoy chapter eleven as well.

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns all of the Inu-Yasha characters, but the others are mine.

Author Note: I would like to apologize to all of you who were expecting this chapter last night, I was not home at all to update, so I beg your forgiveness. Please enjoy none the less…

Myst

((Across A Land))

Kagome grinded her teeth together as she paced back and forth in her room. Her fists clenched and unclenched as her mind raced. Damn him! I've been looking for Inu-Yasha for over three years, and when he comes here, Sessho-maru chases him away! She wanted to scream…and then go after Inu-Yasha. But I can't do that…

Her anger melted and she sighed, sitting down under the only window in her room. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her forearms on them. She sighed again as she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall behind her. I have to stay here, because I told Sessho-maru I would… And I need his knowledge… There is no way I could save Inu-Yasha alone…

There was a soft knock on her door. "Kagome-san…?" Came a child's voice. The Miko moaned silently as she turned her head to the side.

"I'm fine, Rin, please leave me."

"It's Mayoka, Kagome-san."

The woman's eyes opened in surprise. "Mayoka?" She called as she moved to her door. The child smiled as the door was opened. "Hokori!" The Neko purred at his master's words. Kagome fell to her knees and wrapped one arm around each of them. Her head rested against the youkai's soft blue fur. "I've missed you…" She whispered only loud enough for him to hear. He rubbed his head against her affectionately.

"Mayoka," the Miko pulled back, her smile fading slightly. "How are you? Has your wound healed yet?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

"Come in; let me see how it's healing." Kagome got to her feet, motioning for her two friends to enter the room.

((Across A Land))

"What do you plan to do, Sessho-maru?" Koga stood straight, his eyes locked with the Inu. Sessho-maru was silent for a second.

"What does that matter to you?" He finally replied.

"Don't try to hide it. I've always held a respect for you, but if you hurt Kagome, I will kill you."

"I have no intention of killing the woman."

"I said hurt her."

"That I cannot promise."

"Then she's coming with me."

"I do not hold her here against her will."

"I never would have thought you a liar."

"There is no reason for you to change your mind now."

There was another stare down, until Koga sighed and shook his head. "Look, Sessho-maru, I don't want to become your enemy."

"Then do not."

"The ouji's head lifted again. "Let me see her at least."

"She should still be in her room." The youkai Lord turned to Rin standing against the wall to his right. "Take Koga to the Miko's room."

"Yes, my Lord." The girl gave a low bow before moving to the door leading to the hall. Koga looked at Sessho-maru another second before nodding his head ever so slightly and following the child out of the Lord's chambers.

((Across A Land))

There was silence in the village square as everyone stared at Kagura. She winced in pain, bending over slightly, clutching her bundle closer to her chest. "So, will you help me or not?" The shadow's voice had become desperate. Sango opened her mouth to answer, but Kagura cut her off. "It found me." She struggle to run forward, trying to put distance between her and the gate.

Sango and Miroku tensed again as another youkai entered their village. It looked almost exactly like Goshinki, only this one was green. Would this one have the same ability to read their minds?

"No, he's not Goshinki." Kagura confirmed.

"Would you like the honor?" Miroku asked, not taking his eyes off of the youkai. A grin tugged at the Taijiya's lips as she tightened her grip on Hiraikotsu.

"Thanks." She jumped up, releasing her bone boomerang. Miroku stood still, watching his Taijiya and around, to make sure nothing crept up behind them.

The youkai was fast and not stupid either. Hiraikotsu only grazed its shoulder before coming back to Sango. She skidded back slightly, staring up at the youkai. So it was fast; she could be smarter. She jumped up again, this time at an angle, right at its head. It moved sideways, but the Taijiya was ready, pulling her boomerang from its spot on her back to slice through the air horizontally from her body. The woman landed on one knee, the youkai's head crashed to the ground a second later, followed closely by its body.

"So, Kagura," Sango started, getting back to her feet as she turned around. "What—" Her words stopped as she saw all four kids, Shippo, and Miroku crouched on the ground around the shadow.

"What happened, Miroku?" The Taijiya asked, moving to his side.

"She just collapsed. If her story is to be believed, she probably is suffering from blood loss." The Houshi lifted the bundled up blanket off of the woman chest and handed it to Kibou. "Bring that with to the hut." Miroku lifted Kagura into his arms, and all but the youngest boy moved toward the shelter.

Kibou went to follow, but the bundle moving stopped him. The boy lowered his eyes as the blanket began to gurgle. "Excuse me, Sensei," his shaking hand moved to uncover part of the cloth.

"Kibou?" The Taijiya asked; she alone turned back. The child moved the cloth, his eyes widening in surprise.

"There's a baby in here." His words stopped everyone, before they slowly turned back.

"What…?" Sango's voice echoed in a whisper.

((Across A Land))

"So you found Koga." Kagome wiped around the healing gashes on Mayoka's chest. The child nodded.

"Yes, I woke up on Hokori. Koga saw us, and called for us to land."

"So you hit it off, that's good." The Miko fell silent, finishing her task of cleaning the girl's wounds that were healing cleanly, much to her hidden relief.

"Thank you, Kagome-san." Mayoka whispered as she buttoned her shirt up again. The woman only smiled slightly in reply. Hokori rubbed up against his master's side and she winced, a quick hiss of pain leaving her lips.

"Easy boy." She tried to smile as she rubbed at his ears.

"What's wrong?" Mayoka tried.

"It's nothing, I'm fine." The Miko shifted uncomfortably, wincing as she held her side.

"You don't look fine, did that youkai hurt you?"

Kagome debated how to answer that. "I'll be alright." She assured, opening her kimono to show the child her side. "See, just a bruise." Mayoka's eyes widened in surprise. A green and yellow bruise ran the complete length of the Miko's ribs.

"What happened?" The girl whispered.

"Training got a little rough." Kagome smiled slightly as she began to close her clothes again. The younger female was quiet as she stared at her hands.

"Why are you training?" Mayoka whispered. "Aren't you strong enough?"

Kagome's eyes softened as she looked at the child, her top still slightly open. "No, I'm afraid I'm not."

"Does it have to do with those scars?" Mayoka ignored her clenching stomach telling her she was pressing her luck. The child carefully lifted he eyes to meet the Miko's. Kagome held her stare.

"Yes." She wasn't going to lie to her.

"Will you tell me?"

"There is nothing to tell." She finished buttoning her top.

"Is it who you're looking for?" The girl pressed.

"Yes."

"There must be a reason."

"He left. I'm trying to find him. That's all there is."

"Why did he leave?"

Kagome was silent for another second. "He made a mistake…" She finally whispered. Her teeth grinded together audibly and her head lowered.

Mayoka blinked once before kneeling up next to the woman, wrapping her in a hug. "I'm sorry…"

The Miko turned her head to the child and wrapped one arm around her. "He chose me…

We were finally together…"