Chapter 13

Thirteen years later

"Are you ready for this?" Miroku asked, looking at his sister with worry. They sat astride their horses, looking down at the army beneath from the top of a cliff side. Sesshomaru's army. Touga had called on Kagome several days ago, begged her to find a way to end the war so Sesshomaru could come home. Touga was desperate to try and fix things with his son, and Kagome couldn't deny him. She was the reason things between him and Sesshomaru were shattered anyway.

Taking a deep breath, at least as much as her stomach armor would let her, she released it in a sigh. Lifting her head, she shoved aside any feelings she had towards this situation. She had been given a job to do. "I will do this. I will end the war and send Sesshomaru home to his father."

"With you and Miroku, this should be easy. From what I understand, it's just a matter of getting the leader out of hiding. Once he is dead, the war is over." Sango patted Yumi's neck through their armor. Each horse was covered in metal, making them look ferocious. On Calthal and Alastar, they looked damn near demonic with their size and intimidating protection. Each one was different, intricate patterns carved into the metal, feathers and spikes in various locations.

Kagome's armor was fitted over her miko attire, her stomach and chest protected by heavy metal. Kouga and Ayame had seen her off, and both had told her that somehow, she made the armor look sexy. She had rolled her eyes at them. They were doing wonderfully, and after some time, Kagome had been able to become friends with Ayame. Her past with Kouga, didn't bother any of them. They had gotten over it and continued to live in the present. Now she was staring the past in the face again, but this time with a different person.

"Let's get this over with." Kagome grabbed the reins, the feeling still foreign in her hand. She only put gear on Alastar when they were at war. It wasn't very comfortable to him, but it kept him safe. Slowly they made their way down the cliff, heads held high as they approached the army. Everyone stopped to stare at them, and Kagome reached into her armor, pulling out Touga's sigil. "I have been sent by Lord Touga to consult with Lord Sesshomaru about this war. You will let me pass."

The soldiers began to murmur, thousands of people whispering about Kagome, Miroku, and Sango. They parted, letting them through as if they were lords and lady's themselves. When Kagome reached the end of the parted army, she saw Sesshomaru. He was staring at her with wide surprised eyes, and she scowled, wondering what was going through his mind at first glance of her.

"You're alive." Sesshomaru whispered, his voice sounding soft, almost happy to see her. Kagome wasn't sure what to make of it. It had been thirty five years since she had seen him. He looked older, taller, more matured, and more well-built. His body had become battle hardened, thickened with hard muscle because of constant fighting. His eyes almost seemed lighter, as if there wasn't an emotional turmoil inside of him anymore.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Lord Sesshomaru." Kagome stepped off of Alastar, fixing her clothing as she did. The breeze caught in her long sleeves, ruffling as it pushed past. Her hair was tied back into a long braid pulled over her shoulder, her head still turned up into the air. This time, Sesshomaru wouldn't send her away. "Your father sent me. He is ready for this war to be over."

"What can a human like you do?" The woman beside Sesshomaru snapped, hands on her hips as she stared down at Kagome with disdain.

Sesshomaru's face suddenly morphed into fury, and he rounded on the woman, grabbing the woman by the throat. "Yuki. You spoke of her death, told me my father wrote to you. You lied."

"She was fucking that wolf-"

"Enough!" Kagome's voice shot out, projected over the entire army. She could feel everyone's eyes on her and the scene in front of her. She wasn't about to be someone's laughingstock. Her eyes flashed white, a show of her power, and Sesshomaru dropped Yuki to the ground, the woman scrambling away in fear as Kagome released her aura. "I am not just a human. I am so much more."

"You don't age. You will never age." Sesshomaru was breathless, and Kagome couldn't make sense of his reactions. Was he that upset that he would never be free of her?

"Don't worry, Lord Sesshomaru. The moment this war is over, you won't ever see me again." His mouth opened to say something, most likely a scathing insult, so she raised her hand to stop him, pulling back in her aura until she was nothing more than the human they all had thought her to be. "Take me to your tent, Lord Sesshomaru. We must discuss this war at hand."

Sesshomaru swallowed but motioned towards the largest tent in the area. Alastar nudged against Kagome's shoulder, and she looked at him, seeing him eyeing Nakoa. "Go, Alastar, but stay nearby in case I need you." He took off running, both horses whinnying as they danced around each other. "Stay safe, you two." She yelled in cupped hands as they took off running, disappearing behind the trees.

Miroku and Sango dismounted, letting Calthal and Yumi wander off as they pleased. Together, all five of them walked into Sesshomaru's tent, making their way to a table in the corner that had a map and battle plans strewn across it. When they were entered, Kagome noticed Yuki didn't leave. She looked between the snow demon and Sesshomaru but rolled her eyes. "Does she have a reason to be here, or is it just her pretty face?"

"Fuck you. I'm more qualified to be here than you are." Yuki snapped, baring her fangs at Kagome threateningly.

"Yuki. You are dismissed. You are no longer my general." Sesshomaru didn't even spare a glance at the woman, his entire body rigid with anger. "You lied to me, you cannot be trusted. Remove yourself from my tent, or I will force you too."

Yuki looked between Sesshomaru and Kagome, then huffed, leaving the tent in a fury. When she was gone, Kagome looked over the map, running her fingers over the notes Sesshomaru had left. He was detailed and precise. Several locations had been raided, looking for the leader of the enemy, and so far, nothing had come up. They were running out of places to look.

"What are you, Kagome?" Sesshomaru asked, and Kagome looked up at him. There was no hatred in his gaze or his tone, just a light curiosity and a happiness that she had never seen before. It seemed he had matured immensely over the years they had been separated. Sighing, she looked back at the map. It changed nothing.

"It doesn't matter. I'm strong enough to end this war, and that's all that matters. Between me and my brother, we can finish this once and for all." Kagome stood up straight then, realizing she had forgotten introductions. "This is my twin, Miroku, and his wife Sango."

"I have met Miroku." Sesshomaru and Miroku stared each other down, hatred between them. Sesshomaru was the one who looked away first with a nod. Something that surprised Miroku greatly. Kagome had no idea what had happened between them. Sesshomaru took a step towards Kagome, and she stiffened immediately. The last time he got close to her, he attacked her. Her hand came up to the scar on her face, and he backtracked immediately, putting distance between them. His gaze was filled with regret and hurt. She didn't know if she was awake or dreaming anymore but this wasn't the Sesshomaru she knew.

"I won't hurt you, Kagome." Sesshomaru's eyes flicked from her scar to her eyes, then back again. She saw that guilt and regret in his eyes, and it infuriated her. Who was this Sesshomaru? Why was he so different from what she remembered?

"Forgive me if I don't believe you. I still remember how much it hurt when your claws tore through my skin." Sesshomaru flinched as if she had slapped him, and some sort of sick satisfaction slammed into her. She wanted to hurt him as much as he hurt her. "I still remember seeing you fucking that woman in my meadow. I still remember every hateful word that left your lips to hurt me. I still remember how angry and disappointed you were when you realized I was your soul bonded. I remember it all, Sesshomaru. So no, I don't believe that you won't hurt me, because all you have done is make a habit of it."

Sesshomaru bowed his head, hands fisting at his sides. Kagome expected him to lash out, to try and hurt her again, but he didn't. His shoulders slumped suddenly, as if all the energy left his body. When he looked up again, his gaze was in agony. "You are right, Kagome. But I am not the Sesshomaru I was then."

"I will never see anyone else. To me, you will always be the one who hurt me over and over for his own sick gain." Kagome watched the light he held break in his eyes. It was what she had wanted, but as he dropped his gaze again, she didn't feel that pleasure she had a moment ago. She felt guilty. She claimed she would never see anything but the older Sesshomaru, but as she looked at him now, she knew that was a lie. Something had happened, and whatever it was, it changed Sesshomaru completely. She didn't want to see it, to think about it. She wanted to do her job then leave and never come back. "We need a plan."

Sesshomaru looked back up at Kagome, his eyes still dull. With a nod, he slowly walked up to her, keeping his hands where she could see them at all times. He was trying not to scare her again. Pointing at the map, he looked it over, explaining what Kagome had already been able to figure out. "We have raided the entire western border. There are only three places left to gain access to, but the likelihood that he is there is slim to none."

"He could be using that to his advantage. If I wanted to stay hidden, I would stay where the enemy least expected me to be." Miroku found a chair, sitting in it. It was Sesshomaru's chair, the only one in the tent, but he didn't care.

"Staying in one place is dangerous." Sango sat on the ground beside Miroku, her shoulder against his thigh. "If it was me, I would move around. I would go into any area the enemy would have raided."

"We have two options. First, we raid one of the area's that haven't already been. We make a show of leaving it behind when we don't find who we are looking for. However, we would stake out, and wait until the leader shows up. If Sango is right, it wouldn't take long before he made a new place to stay." Kagome pointed to a clear area on the map. "This would be the easiest. It had a cliff side all around it. We could hide there until they show. We would remain unseen."

"There is no guarantee Sango is correct. What is your second option?" Sesshomaru asked, surprised at Kagome's battle ready plans. She knew he could tell this wasn't the first time she had done this, but she didn't give him time to ask questions.

"We offer them a deal. Lure the leader out with something so good they wouldn't be able to refuse. Then when they come to collect, we kill him. It's underhanded, but if it's what it takes, then so be it." Kagome shrugged, ignoring Miroku's laugh.

"You mean I kill them?" Miroku stood up, wrapping an arm around Kagome's shoulder and kissing her temple. "Remember, My Dear Sister, you don't fight. When was the last time you killed anything?"

"I chose peace, Miroku. Is that such a bad thing?" Kagome pushed Miroku off of him, then sighed. "Fine. I don't care who kills him, but it probably won't be me." Kagome bit her lip, refusing to look at Sesshomaru. He probably thought her so weak at that moment, and she didn't want to see it.

"There is nothing wrong with a kind heart." Sesshomaru offered, and Kagome looked up at him with wide eyes, surprised at his response. When she said nothing more, Sesshomaru motioned towards the map again. "For that plan to work, we would need to offer something of great importance. We have nothing of the sort."

"We have me." Kagome felt the air temperature of the entire room drop. All three of them stared at her with angry and disbelieving eyes. She kept her gaze on Sesshomaru only. "I am the Shikon Miko, Sesshomaru. Miroku is my protector. If we offer me, they won't be able to turn it down."

"You wish to be bait?" Sesshomaru shook his head immediately, going to argue.

"I know you don't think much of me, but don't let that cloud your judgement. Despite your hate for me, many people want the Shikon's power for itself. That is why I keep my power hidden. Send Yuki with the offer. She saw a glimpse of my power, she can confirm what we offer." Kagome kept her eyes hard, daring Sesshomaru to go against her.

"You're wrong. I do not hate you. I was not going to argue against your plan because of any negative feelings towards you. I don't want you hurt, Kagome. You may not believe me, but it is the truth." Sesshomaru's hands twitched, like he wanted to touch her, but restrained himself.

"Even if that was true, Miroku would keep me safe. I can also defend myself if I have to. I may not like to fight or kill, but I have done both when left with no choice." Kagome turned to look at her brother, then back towards Sesshomaru. "This plan could work. It could end the war quickly. Touga wants you home, Sesshomaru. He sent me because he misses you." Sesshomaru closed his eyes for a moment, thinking over everything she said, and then reluctantly, he gave a nod. They were one step closer to ending this war.

...

Here it is, the reunion chapter. Sesshomaru is elated to find out Kagome is alive while Kagome is just a bit more than confused by the way he is acting. I mentioned that Kagome was going to get cruel, and by that, I mean with her words. She is going to rip him apart verbally over and over. It takes almost a year before she actually gives him a chance to apologize. From this point on, the roles are reversed, and he is the one that is verbally abused. Kagome has to let go of all the grief he caused, and it will take time.

As far as the challenges, I didn't receive one negative review about them, so I will keep them going. The next challenge will be on Monday like normal. I hope you all enjoyed this reunion chapter, and thanks to my editor for making it readable.