NOTE: Inuyasha isn't mine.

Thank you very much for the reviews. I know y'all hate it when I end it in a cliffie but it

makes life so much sweeter, right? *duck*

Don't worry guys, you can even hurl cookies at me! *duck again*

LOL! Love y'all!

Enjoy! ^.^ ~ SMI

GUARDIAN OF SOULS

Previously on A Soul For A Soul:

Muchitsujo saw the miko's eyes hardened as she looked deep into his eyes. "I will grant you your wish."

Muchitsujo was confused.

SHE will grant me my wish?

The sphere began to expand its aura….

Why would she…?

The energy came straight at him.

Oh, shit.

~O~O~O~

"Mother, no!" Shippo called out in agitation from behind Tensaiga's shield. "What is she doing?" Shippo turned to Sesshoumaru. "Is she going to give him the jewel?"

Sesshoumaru remained silent, analyzing the scene transpiring before him. What does she want to do? The demon lord was sure the miko wasn't about to give away the jewel that easily. She had been protecting it with her life, moreover, the miko almost died countless times because of that sphere.

His thoughts were sifting through the words she said, akin to separating the chaff from the grain in his mind. Something about what she said…and what she said….

Words within words…a message within the message…

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed in comprehension...

~O~O~O~

Instinct and Reason were probably telling Muchitsujo to abandon this quest for the Shikon no Tama, that it wasn't too late to tell the miko he changed his mind or anything…but…

"Don't be stupid its so near…I am about to realize what we had been dreaming all of my life…what my family and I had been planning for the longest time. I will have power and it will be mine! I deserve it! I will be its master!"

Therefore with a regretful shake of their heads Instinct and Reason fled and abandoned the demon that was deaf to their pleas.

Come to me… Muchitsujo called out in his mind to the ball of energy…I am yours….

He could see the orb expanding…opening…its depths welcoming him.

~O~O~O~

Muchitsujo was gone.

The sphere enveloped the demon in a mist of light and twinkling sound, he was nowhere to be found.

Shippo and Rin were looking very much confused at what's happening.

Sesshoumaru slid a glace at Kagome and was perplexed at the woman. Why is she crying? Was she crying for Muchitsujo?

The demon lord's attention was suddenly caught by a movement when he saw a ball of energy separate itself from the sphere.

Fascinating….

He could feel its aura. Risking a shot, he let his youki touch the edges of the barrier….

It is…its alive!

As they watched, two orbs of one soul came together like twins reunited from separation; one of its half from the jewel as the other half came from Kagome's body.

Midoriko's soul is complete once again after more than 500 years.

"Kagome, my sister…" It floated before Kagome communing with the woman. It was giving off an aura of happiness.

"Midoriko…" Kagome was crying, her body shaking with her sobs.

"Yes, we meet again, Kagome…" Everyone could hear Midoriko's disembodied voice all over them. "I have much to thank you, my sister…"

"I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry it took such a long time to free you." Kagome tried to smile in spite of her tears.

"Such cannot be helped, sister of my soul. We cannot predict the vagaries of fate. But I never doubted you…I knew I would be freed. It gave me hope." The disembodied voice seemed to smile.

"I will miss you, Midoriko." Kagome reached out with both hands at the soul orb to cradle it in her cupped hands.

"As will I, my sister. But…we shall meet again. Do not fear."

"Yes," The Shikon no Miko nodded with certainty. "we will meet again. Be at peace now, my sister."

"Fare thee well, my sister, the guardian of souls. Live well…. Love well…." With a final glow as if bidding goodbye the soul orb of the warrior miko lifted from Kagome's hands to the heavens.

~O~O~O~

Laughter echoed in the dark. It was pervading…daunting. There were voices as well…and eyes…hundreds of eyes…

Muchitsujo looked around him. "Where am I!" He challenged the dark.

"Where…?"

"You are where you wanted to be…"

"This is your new home now…"

"We have been waiting for you…"

The darkness revealed the hideous faces of his new 'companions.'

"Welcome inside the Shikon no Tama, Muchitsujo…."

~}O{~