A/N: Thank you everyone for reading my story and reviewing. I'm truly touched by every review. Haven't gotten one that says anything bad, so I'm very happy! Now, if you do have something bad to say, just say it in your head, but I do like constructive criticism. Is everything clear and understandable? It obviously is to me because I know what is going on, but it might be different to you guys. I hope that in the end all the pieces do fit together and everything will be solved clearly. So read and enjoy and then review!

Chapter Twenty-Six

The Silver Dagger

Kikyo was pacing back and forth in the front room of her home, waiting for her mother. She had not been able to talk about this to anyone. She wanted to have someone that would be able to understand her and help her. She felt as if she was drowning with all of her emotions going on at once inside her.

What could she do? What should she do? Should she even do anything? Yes, that was one thing that she knew. She had to do something. Kikyo was not the type of person of sit back and let things take its course; she had to be in control.

"Kikyo," Michiko said as she saw her daughter looking blankly ahead of her.

"Mother, I've been waiting for you," Kikyo paused, "It's about Inuyasha."

Michiko felt shivers. Her son, Inuyasha. How could have things gone so wrong? She wanted to shove the memories away from her, but they had been haunting her for nineteen years, and they seem even more alive today. "What about Inuyasha, Kikyo?" Michiko said with all her mustered calmness.

"The other night, I saw him with a servant. They seem to have something between them," every word that came out of her mouth pained her so, "I have already told the queen of this and the girl says that she will end their relationship. But… Inuyasha had even said that he wanted to marry her," at this Kikyo broke down.

"My dear," her mother soothed her. "It's going to be okay. Inuyasha should see how much you love him. He should know that you are the one for him, the only one for him."

Kikyo nodded her head slowly. "That Kagome is nothing. She's just a servant. I don't know what Inuyasha sees in her."

"Do you know that this Kagome girl will end their relationship? If she has the emperor in love with her, would she want to give it up?" Michiko asked quizzically.

Kikyo lightened up. Her mother had thought exactly what she had thought about the issue. "But what can I do?"

"How far will you go for love?" she asked Kikyo darkly.

Her daughter remained silent.

"It is up to you, Kikyo. A mother can only help you with so many things in life, and this is one of the things that I can't really help you with." Michiko studied Kikyo over. She was strong and beautiful. Everything that an emperor would look for in a wife, just not Inuyasha.

&

Suga met them at the front gate to let them in. "Sango, we meet again," he told her brightly as she was getting on of the carriage.

"Thank you, Suga. I don't know how I can ever be able to repay you. You have none so much for our family."

"No, no. Your father and I have been long friends. It is the very least I can do for a friend in trouble," he turned his attention to the other two people that had gotten out of the carriage, "And who are these people?"

"This is Kagome, my friend, and Miroku-"

"Her soon to be husband," Miroku added for her.

Suga chuckled as Sango elbowed him. "Come on in, we have some things to discuss."

Michiko was heading out of the room as Kagome was entering. She looked at the girl and tripped on raised piece of wood on the ground.

"Are you okay?" Kagome asked as she stooped down to help the woman up.

"I'm … fine," Michiko said shaking. She didn't know what got into her today. The moment she saw Kagome, it was as if she had seen a ghost.

"Are you alright, Michiko?" Suga asked, when he noticed her on the ground.

"I'm okay. Who are these people?" she asked her husband almost incredulously.

He told her about Yang and how Sango was going to be staying with them with her friends just until he was released. Michiko only nodded absentmindedly and left.

Kikyo spotted Kagome when her mother had fallen. She couldn't understand what had gotten into her mother to make her trip like that. Her face was pale; it almost seemed like she had seen a ghost. "Kagome…" she hissed, "What do you think doing here- at my house?"

"Kikyo? I… I'm staying here. Your father…" Kagome didn't get the chance to finish her sentence since Kikyo left the room.

"Well, just have a seat now," Suga said wondering about his wife's reactions to his guests, he had not noticed that Kikyo was in the room when they arrived.

"You have a way to get my father out of jail?" Sango asked intently.

He nodded. "Your father and have worked up a plan, but for the judges at the palace to believe us, I need you to go back to your city and retrieve some evidence for us."

"What kind of evidence?" Miroku asked.

"If Ximong is the actually behind it, we suspect that he is also working with Sesshomaru. You have to sneak into his house and find any letters or paperwork between them. You should also try to find some papers indicating how Ximong had ended up with all those bags of rice. Also, the rice that was put into your storage is probably taken away by now. See what it is done with. I'm going to try to see if I can find anything from Sesshomaru here."

Sango gulped, digesting all of the information. "I will get the evidence right away. If I leave now, I'll be able to get there a little past nightfall."

"Yes, we need it as soon as we can. I would like for you to at least to stay for some early dinner though."

"No, I should be on my way," Sango stood up, already to leave.

"I understand."

Sango looked at Miroku and Kagome, waiting for their reaction. "I'm going with you of course. Wherever you may go, I'll be right alongside to protect you." He smiled at her and she just rolled her eyes.

"Sango… I would go… but I think that I still have some unfinished business to attend to. I'm sorry."

"Don't say that, Kagome. You have done more for me than I could have ever asked for. You know what you need to do tonight. Good bye, Suga and thank you so much for everything."

"Travel safe and be careful. I don't want you to get caught or hurt," he told her as he waved good bye.

With that, Sango and Miroku left. Suga turned to Kagome; he really hadn't gotten the chance to know her. "So you are Kagome."

"Yes," she responded.

"You are a true friend to Sango to travel with her and help her through all of this."

"I really wasn't much help, not as much as you have been to her."

"Oh, no," he shook his head, "Well, why don't I have the servants bring out dinner and you can meet my wife and daughter. I think she should be around your age. You might get along."

Kagome smiled weakly. No matter how she wanted to civil around Kikyo, it just would never happen.

&

The four of them sat around the eloquent dinner table. Food was placed in front of them and for awhile they ate in silence until Suga tried to start a conversation.

"Well, Kagome. Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?"

Kagome laid her chopsticks down on her plate. "I came from the same city as Sango, just a bit south of here. I've grown up with… my aunt. She owns a restaurant. It had gone into some trouble this year, but luckily a kind man had helped us out."

"A restaurant?" Michiko asked her. How could this be? Was it just a coincidence? She had to find out.

A little taken aback by the question, Kagome explained. "Yes, we own a small restaurant and there are rooms on the top of the building where we rent out of travelers."

"And you said you live with your aunt? What about your parents?"

Kagome looked at her, wondering why she was asking her such questions and she wasn't sure if she wanted to share with them how her parents had left her, but she saw no other choice. "My parents had left me on the doorstep of Kaede's, my aunt's, restaurant. I grew up thinking that she was real aunt and that my parents had passed away. It was only until recently that I found out the truth."

Michiko's face turned white. "I'm sorry to hear that. I have to excuse myself. I just felt… really sick." She stumbled out of her chair and walked cautiously out of the dining area.

"I'm sorry, Kagome. I don't know why she is acting like this. It's just not like herself." Suga watched his wife nervously.

Yet, Suga did understand. Kagome was left there none another than by his own wife. It pained him to see the princess of China in front of him. How she had suffered all those years. How she had worked and had not had enough money. And he had not done enough to stop his wife from committing such an act.

&

Dinner was soon finished in more awkwardness. Kikyo kept staring daggers at Kagome and Suga tried to suppress his emotions and keep the conversation light.

A servant showed Kagome to her room. Once she was finally alone, she took out the note that Inuyasha to left for her. "Should I go?" she said aloud to the note.

She didn't want to be faced with the question again. Kagome didn't know if she would be strong enough to refuse Inuyasha again. Her heart longed for him- to be with him, to grow old with him. Still, her mind told her otherwise. She couldn't be his wife. She was… just a waitress… a servant. Unfit to be with the emperor.

Kagome sighed at the drawing. She folded it and got up to see him.

&

After asking Suga for a carriage, Kagome left. Kikyo had overheard their conversation and was going to follow Kagome.

She went back to her room to grab a shawl to wrap over her body and then also slid something silver under her clothes. Without thinking too much about what was going to happen, Kikyo rushed out to grab a horse from the stables.

&

"Mother, what do you mean I can't marry Kagome?" Inuyasha nearly yelled at the queen. It was just after his meeting that Myoga had told him that the queen wanted to see him urgently.

"Inuyasha, how could you even think of getting into a relationship with her? She is a servant," the queen responded promptly.

The emperor grabbed at his hair, wanting to pull it out. "What does it matter if she is a servant? She's … everything I could ever ask for in a wife. She has made me see so many things that I didn't before I met her," his tone softened at the thought of describing her.

"You have to listen to me. You can't marry her. It just wouldn't work out," she sounded exasperated.

"I'm marrying her, not you. You can't tell me ho I can or cannot marry. It's my decision!"

"Inuyasha, I am your mother and I do have the right to say who you do and do not get to marry. Understand?" the queen screamed at her son.

"No, I don't. Why would it be wrong? Because she's not royal enough? Is that it?" he stared at his mother long and hard, waiting to see what she would said in return.

The queen took a deep breath. "Yes, I'm sorry to say, but she isn't suited for you."

"So if she was Suga's daughter or Sesshomaru's daughter or any of the officials' daughters, it would be okay? Things shouldn't work this way."

"You can't marry a servant. Her blood… it's wouldn't be right for her to carry the next emperor."

Inuyasha looked at his mother, fuming.

&

Kagome waited at the bridge for Inuyasha. She had gotten there a bit early since the moon was still not out yet. Kikyo got there just a few minutes behind Kagome and was hiding behind a tree.

After some thought, Kikyo decided to make her move. "Kagome!"

Kagome whirled around, looking quite startled. "Kikyo, what are you doing here?"

"I think that's a better question for me to ask you."

"I'm here to see Inuyasha…"

Kikyo slapped her hard. "You whore! You're still trying to see Inuyasha so you two can get back together!"

"Kikyo, just stop," Kagome begged. The side of her face that Kikyo had hit her burned.

"Why should I stop?" She pushed Kagome back. Her anger was getting out of her control. "You twirled Inuyasha around your finger so easy. You want the money, the luxuries. You don't love him. Not even a bit. It's his wealth, that's what you're after."

"It's not!" Kagome yelled and shoved Kikyo back. She had had enough. She wasn't going to let Kikyo push her around anymore. Kagome hadn't even thought of Inuyasha's money. She had known him and loved him before she had even known that he was the emperor China.

"You don't deserve him. You're nothing, you wrench!" Kikyo pushed her to ground.

Kagome was bewildered at her force. She had never even thought that Kikyo would go that far. She tugged on Kagome's hair and sat on top of her.

"Get off of me, Kikyo! That hurts!" Kagome yelled from underneath.

"It's all your fault that I have come to this, Kagome. Inuyasha is mine. He's going to be my husband. I'm going to be the queen." Kikyo laughed hysterically. She pulled out her dagger that she had hid under her close. "My mother had asked me how much I would do of love," she tilted her head and looked at the dagger that she was holding.

Kikyo continued, "I didn't answer her right away, but I have the answer now. I will do anything for love. I will even kill you to get rid of you once and for all so Inuyasha won't ever have to think of you again. I wouldn't have done this if you have stayed at my home, but no. You had to come here- to see Inuyasha again. Sadly… you're not going to be able to see him."

She lifted the dagger high. Her breath was staggered and her heart was racing. She bit her lower lip, ready to stab Kagome.

A/N: Now this is a really evil place to stop, but I'm going to do it. Sorry! Give me your guesses and reviews! What do you want to happen? I haven't written the next chapter, so your input can decide it. The end is now near. Four more chapters is my guess.