(A/N: I'm so sorry for such a late update! please find it in yourselves to forgive me! LOL... really my excuse is computer screwed up badly and i only got the com fixed a yesterday. o.0; it screwed up for like iunno weeks but we were kinda lazy to get it fixed and anyways its my father who finds people to fix it... and well... he didn't care at the time... o.0 and well... i couldn't write anything and the only way i could really go on the internet is at school for like 5mins and well... i dun't like school coms... so i kinda took a break of typing the story so i don't have like 3 weeks of missed updates... hehe... and well... we rebooted the freakin computer and i lost most of my work! -.-" sigh lifes tough... that'll teach me to keep everything on disks. Anyways... i wrote this today so take pity...-.- enjoy! oh and thanks for all the reveiws! oh and don't forget to review :D)


(Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha. Never did never will.)
Chapter 20: Lords Ryomi and Ritsuku

Kagome walked along the forest trying to even her breathing. She clutched her chest as she slowly trudged along the path. It had apparently taken a lot out of her when she tried her last attempt to free herself of the bindings Naraku gave her.

Kagome's vision started to blur as she collapsed on the ground on all fours. Sweat beaded her brow as she continued to try and even out her breathing. It was becoming exceedingly hard for her to even think straight. Dizziness swept over her and she soon collapsed on the ground but the last thing she saw before she fainted was another figure in black approaching her.


One hour later or so

Kagome slowly opened her eyes to see a cave roof over her pounding head. She slowly sat up as the wet clothe that occupied her forehead fell off. Another wave of dizziness swept over her and she staggered to try and sit up. Slowly she leaned against the cave wall and tried to relax her pounding head.

Slowly she opened her piercing blue, green eyes to see another figure in the shadows watching her intently. When her headache started to subside, she could only guess this was the person who saved her.

"Thank you for saving me," Kagome's voice was hoarse from the lack of water.

"You should be resting." It was defiantly a masculine voice. "May I ask you your name?"

"In exchange for yours." A soft smile was plastered on Kagome's face. "You can know me as Akoya."

"I am Lord Ritsuku, younger brother of Lord Ryomi of the Southern Lands." As he said that he stepped out of the shadows and into her view. What she saw and heard made her gasp. He was her uncle…

Ritsuku had long navy blue hair that reached his waist and was held in a tight low ponytail. He was wearing armour similar to Sesshoumaru's. He was wearing a black with a silver design of the Southern clan's symbol. The symbol on his forehead was red as well as the markings on his arms and face. He had warm green eyes that also spoke of wisdom and power. He was probably about a foot taller than her and had a young face. He was unmistakably a black inu youkai like her.

"I was in the forest looking for Totosai to ask him to forge another sword but he appeared to be busy… oh well. Say… why were you hurt so badly? If you don't mind me asking that is."

"I was in a fight… and I think I used a bit too much energy as a last resort." Kagome lightly chuckled. She felt exceedingly tired but her strength was slowly returning.

It was then she realized Lord Ritsuku staring at her oddly. "You look really familiar… Have I seen you before?"

'Oh shit... I wasn't thinking of introducing myself like this! Er… but if I go home and look for dad… what am I going to do about Shippo? Maybe I'll tell him who I am next time... Opps… I forgot about my mark on my forehead.'

'You should thank me. I hide that jus in case you didn't want to reveal who you are. But its not going to last very long… I think maybe in an hour the spell will disappear.' (A/N: that was Midoriko's soul talking to her from the shikon jewel.)

'Thank you so much! I owe you one.'

"Akoya?"

"Oh sorry, I was just thinking of something? I've never seen you before though… Can you tell me a bit about you and Lord Ryomi?" Ritsuku looked at her questioningly before answering.

"Well my brother was mated but she disappeared. Ryomi barely made it out of that battle with some cat demons at the time she disappeared but I made it there on time before he collapsed. Come to think of it… it was exactly 17 years ago… give or take a few days… sigh Ryomi was a wreck the few following years and I had to take care of the lands those years… They had a daughter too. I've never got the chance to see her though because I was trying to stop some massacres done by the cat demons. Brother loved Lady Tsuki very much and so I believe that's why he didn't mate afterwards. He's turned a bit cold during the years without his mate if you ask me…"

"That's enough Ritsuku." A cold voice came from the entrance of the cave and bounce off the walls making it a threatening echo. He had piercing green eyes that held pain. His heated gaze was directed to his brother Ritsuku.

"Outsiders do not need to know the history of my mate and child. All I know… they both died and I do not need a reminder to my failure to protect them." Pain and anger flashed through his eyes as he looked away ashamed of his failure.

"Brother, it's been years since that happened. I'm sure Tsuki and Kagome wouldn't want you to still mourn for them. They would want you to live happily. I'm sure of it."

'Maybe I should put on my hood before dad sees me. I'm not sure if he'll recognize me. Heck… Totosai thought I was my mother… why not her mate?' Kagome slowly put on her hood and started the stand up. Seeing as none of them were paying her any heed, Kagome dusted off her cloak and gave a polite bow to each of the lords.

"Thanks again for your help Lord Ritsuku. I should be leaving soon. Oh and Lord Ryomi… I'm sorry to hear what happened to your family, but I am certain they wouldn't want you to mourn for them. If both Lady Tsuki and Lady Kagome both knew that you still mourn for them and not live your life happily, I'm sure their souls wouldn't feel too restful. And none of us would want that would we?" Ryomi sifted his gaze to the hooded figure but could only make out a sad smile and sympathy she held in her piercing sea blue, green eyes.

"It was a pleasure to meet you two! And I'm sure we'll see again! Bye!" With that she quickly ran out of the cave and headed back to Totosai's place.