(Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.)

(A/N: Hope you people like this chapter! The next chapter seems kind of short and I'm hoping to make it longer... shrugs iunno... well enjoy!)

Chapter 23: (I can't think of a chapter name XP)


Kagome's P.O.V

'Let's see… I've got the jewel shards, my backpack, my clothes, my weapons, two daggers I slipped under my bandages (she wrapped some bandages on her arms and hands just for the heck of it), my trench coat, some food and water, and my personal hygiene supplies. I don't think I'm missing anything…' I turned my head to look out the door. A gust of wind whipped the binds of the door just enough for me to see that the sun had a few more hours before setting.

'I have to make it to Sesshoumaru's castle by the day after tomorrow. I better start soon seeing I have no idea where it is… I should have asked where his castle is! Too late now Kags… maybe Totosai will know.'

"Totosai? Would you happen to know the direction of the western castle?"

"Hmm? Oh, it's located southwest from here, past some villages and mountains. There are a few mountains around Sesshoumaru's estate. If you're about a mile from the mountains you should be able to see some rocks jutting out oddly at the top. If you look hard enough, you'll be able to see something that resembles a dog. Just walk south east from the mountain a little and you should be able to see the castle. It might take a few days to get there."

(A/N: if I'm not mistaken I think this would be the 4th day or yea… let's just say 4th… I lost count… and I tried going back but I failed miserably to understand what I meant. Let's just say she has 2 days plus the rest of the evening to get to Sesshoumaru.)

"Thanks for everything Totosai! I'm going to leave now. Bye!"

"Bye Lady Kagome. Have a safe journey."

"Thanks Totosai," I said before turning around and heading out the door. 'Hopefully I'll make it to one of the villages on my way.' I headed to the dense forest that was south of Totosai's hut. Once I figured out which direction to travel, I started to run, hoping to make it to a village before nightfall.

End of Kagome's P.O.V

----- Western Castle-----

Sesshoumaru's P.O.V

I looked out the window in the library. The children were in the gardens again with Jaken chasing around after them. He seems to be wearing what looks to be a pink kimono. I can hear the children run, scream and laugh as Jaken trips over the hem of the kimono. I'm guessing the children were bored so they dressed him up.

After awhile, I made my way back to my desk and continued with my work. I've done about a third of my work. But then, there's another pile of scrolls on my desk waiting for me too look over. I dread to reach that pile. Although it isn't the scripts and treaties I usually have to sign, it is still to my dismay that I have to look through that.

The people under my reign think it's about time I get a mate. My late father and mother had gone through the same thing. Their mating was not out of love but it was an arranged marriage.

My father had stalled for too long and therefore had an arranged marriage with the daughter of one of the lords he ruled over. None of the upper lords, such as I, are allowed to mate with peasants. It is an ancient policy that we are to mate ladies born from a royal family and vice versa.

I was born not long after their marriage. Since I was heir to the western lands, my father neglected my mother seeing that she is of no use and left her in the castle while he roamed free in his lands.

I remember when I was young and I would often see my mother in her chambers crying. When I would address it, she would just brush it off and say nothing is wrong and we would continue our day by playing outside when I finished my lessons.

Mother was depressed. Not long after there was war. My mother died protecting me. Since then, I've known that emotions were weaknesses, and I trained in the dojo after all my lessons. Father didn't even seem to notice that mother was dead or missing. Once in a few months he would return for a few days just to finish some paper work then leave again.

He would barely acknowledge my existence. When I reached demon maturity, I started to roam the lands as well. Years afterwards, I heard from rumours that father had taken another as a mate. Among the rumours I heard that father had taken a human to be his mate.

Why? I asked him once and he says it was love. He never loved me or my mother. But he would love a human, a filthy human. He neglected mother and I, but he spent every moment he can watching out for Iyazoi and gracing her with his presence.

Even when father was dieing, he went to see that woman and her half-breed son. He didn't even acknowledge that mother died and that she died protecting me. He didn't care that I was in danger and he never rushed back to the castle, but at the moment he was dieing of blood lost from the battle with Ryuukossei, he signed his own death by saving the brat and his human mother.

He died for a human who would have died centuries before him due to old age, if not by famine, war and such. But he gave up his life for the two of them. Since then I despised the hanyou and his mother.

But if I were to have to require a mate due to an arranged marriage, would I neglect my mate?

17 years ago, some of the lords and generals, under my reign, had arranged for me to mate with the new born girl of the lord and lady of the southern lands. The arrangement was for me to mate this girl between her 16th and 18th birthday.

By that time the girl should have gone through demon maturity that is if she was alive. She disappeared after her birth along with the lady of the southern lands.

I was actually relieved that she disappeared. I was to mate a girl I have no insight on. She would be a complete stranger to me. Even after 17 years I have not a clue what her name is, let alone appearance.

Father at least knew mother. They may not have had more than a few words together, but he knew who she was. I on the other hand don't. At least I won't have to find out if I would follow in my father's foot steps and disregard my mate.

Now that 17 years have passed, the lords and generals think it's about time I have chosen a mate-to-be. Even if it was part of the contract that I was not to mate until another year has passed. Everyone has figured that they had died so I am to pick someone to mate next year or the minor lords and generals will have to pick for me and arrange the date.

The annual ball is basically an excuse for youkai to meet other lords and ladies so that it may be easier to choose a mate. There have been previous set ups like this for some other lords and ladies. I was just lucky for the pass 17 years because I still had that contract the restricted me from mating another.

Knock knock.

I was brought out of my musing by the annoying sound created by my retainer racking the door. I pinched the bridge of my nose and rubbed my temple. If this is another complaint about the children, I'm going to have a serious headache.

Knock knock

I took three big, deep breaths before I braced myself for his obnoxious voice. (A/N: hey if I were working on piles after piles of paper, listening to Jaken's complaints, for days, I'll think Jaken's voice would sound obnoxious.)

"Come in." The door creaked open and like I predicted, Jaken came in. He bowed and then stood up straight.

"Milord, the lord and princess of the northern lands has made an unexpected visit to your castle. What would you like your humble servant to do?"

"Send them up. Send a servant to bring tea for us."

"Yes, right away milord."

End of P.O.V

-----Inuyasha's Group/Kaede's village-----

"Sango, Miroku, what are ye doing here? Where's Inuyasha and Kikyo?" Kaede, rose from her garden of herbs. She had been tending to her herbs when she was interrupted by the shadows of 2 tall figures. She looked up and was surprised to see Sango and Miroku. Kaede had mostly been expecting the villagers that usually come to her for medical help.

Sango had a far off look, while Miroku seemed troubled. If anything were to trouble the monk into not going off and groping other women, then something serious must have been wrong.

"Sango? Miroku?" The two figures stopped in their tracks seemingly to come out of their thoughts. It was then that they realized that Kaede had been talking to them.

"I apologize, Lady Kaede. We were in deep thought. What was the question again?" Miroku apologized for them and gave a warm smile. Sango snapped out of her thought to only nod in agreement and acknowledge Kaede before drifting off in thought again. Only this time she wasn't staring off into the forest or the sky, but seemed to be staring down at Kaede's herb garden.

"Aye, I was just wondering why you two are back so soon and where Inuyasha and my deceased sister is."

"Inuyasha? He's probably off chasing the dead," Sango's voice was hard and cold at the mention of Inuyasha and Kikyo. Sigh "Sorry about that Kaede. It's just that Kagome…"

"No need to apologize child. I understand. Have you any information about young Kagome?" Kaede motioned them to her hut where they were out of the sun. She went over to a corner to gather a pot, some tea leaves that Kagome had generously brought from her era, and some water that she kept in a pail.

"Lady Kaede, that is one of the reasons that we've come back to the village." Miroku settled down by the pit along with Sango and started to gather some firewood for a fire. Sango took some rocks and lined the pit before Miroku dumped the load of firewood. She took two rocks and started to smash them together to create spark.

After the fire started, and the pot of water was set above the fire, Kaede finally set herself down beside the two of them.

"So I gather ye did not retrieve young Shippo from that demon. I did not expect ye to return so soon just after a few days from departing." When the water boiled, Kaede took the pot of water off the fire and prepared the tea before handing some out to the two.

Miroku took a sip of his tea, savouring the delicious taste and a memory of the young woman who had introduced it to them.

"No, Shippo is with Lady Kagome at the moment. To answer the question that you asked previously, yes, we have found some information about Lady Kagome."

"Aye? How are ye so sure Shippo is with Lady Kagome?"

"That's because it was Kagome who came to get Shippo," Sango was oddly calm and took another sip of her tea while staring blankly into the fire.

"Oh? Last you said a strange demon came to get Shippo." At the mention of the strange demon, a small smile seems to light up on Sango's face, which was also caught by both Miroku and Kaede.

"That was because that demon was Kagome." Sango took a sip of her tea while she let Kaede digest this turn of events before continuing, "that was the reason why I'm so sure."

"Are you positive that it was Lady Kagome?" Kaede said. She knew there was something special about Kagome. It wasn't only the fact that she was able to see and sense the jewel, or that she resembled her deceased sister either, but the fact that she was a demon in disguise seemed a bit… well… strange.

Why would Kagome disguise herself? What would her purpose be in doing something so futile? If it was because she was after the jewel, then wouldn't it have been better if she just off and goes to find it herself. It isn't as if she is obliged to stay in this mismatched group. She could have left anytime. But she didn't so that leads Kaede back to the question, what was her purpose in disguising herself.

"Yes I'm positive that it was Kagome. She may have gotten some new markings and physically changed a bit, but I can definitely recognize it was her. She told me she didn't know that she was a demon until a few days ago, on her 17th birthday, on the day after she saw Inuyasha and Kikyo together. Ironic isn't it? It was supposed to be a happy birthday but she had an unhappy betrayal."

"I'm sure that Lady Kagome is fine. Would you like me to continue with the explanation or would you rather do it?" His gaze shifted from the fire to Sango's face. Both of them saw her shake her head saying that she would continue on her own.

"Kagome told me that she is actually the daughter of the Lord of the southern lands, making her the heir of the southern lands. 17 years ago, Lady Tsuki of the southern lands was attacked and hid at the well, making a trip to her era. She was adopted into the family after her biological mother died the same night but not before she put a concealing spell on Kagome so that she was to appear human for those 17 years. She just recently turned back to her own form and requested from me not to tell Inuyasha or Kikyo. I hope, Lady Kaede, this information does not go beyond the three of us."

"If young lady Kagome wishes that, then I will keep my word that this information will not be heard by any other."

"Thanks Kaede."


(A/N: Oh thanks for your wonderful reviews. I just realized that out of my 500 or so reviews, I think I only got one flame. Well one review that I recognize as a flame but that was somewhere in the earlier chapters. Oh well I was happy after a few more hours when some positive reviews came in. I have no idea why I'm complaining now. I think it's 'cause I have nothing else to do and I'm awfully bored.

Oh but, if you have to flame or anything, can you please refrain from calling me names?

Surprisingly I finished this chapter on the 25th but I didn't feel like updating yet. A reviewer, LadyAkina, suggested that I name the blades. She suggested the wind blade to be named Reioseiga which I don't think is a bad idea but would anyone else want to help me figure out names? I'll post it so that people may choose if it doesn't turn out I'll choose, that is if I update often.

Wind blade name(s):

Reioseiga (by: LadyAkina)

Lightning blade name(s):

(None at the moment but hopefully this slot will be filled)

Do I need to name the bow? Well hopefully someone will help me out here. I really do suck at names. If there are more, tell me which one you like. Oh question, is Iyazoi the name of Inuyasha's mother? Although I might not use it anymore I would want to know for record.

Well this turned out to be the longest author's note that I have written. This is also the longest chapter I've written. Me ish gonna go bye!)