A/N: A nice semi-long chapter. Hope ya'll like it, I know I do; considering I don't know what I'm doing anymore. xD

The Other Side

Chapter 27

Sesshomaru Sheds Some Light

Inuyasha had not been given any heads up on who they were meeting or even where they were going but he went along with it for the moment. He grumbled to himself letting the others know that he was unhappy.

By the time that they arrived to where ever the hell Kagome was; Inuyasha could only gape at the castle. It didn't take them very long to get here, now that he thought about it.

They were greeted at the front as Inuyasha's eyes widened. Wasn't this woman supposed to have died? What in seven hells was going on? "Kagura?" he whispered to himself in awe then anger. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Kagura paused at the tone then sent a smirk his way. "What seems to be the problem Inuyasha? I assure you I have no clue as to what you are talking about."

"The hell you don't! Why are you alive? I thought you were killed a while back…"

"Ah, yes that. Very good. I was dead but don't worry the details of that for the time being. You're here for Kagome so I won't stand in your way for too long. Follow me, Naraku is with her as we speak," she explained as Inuyasha's eyes widened to their fullest.

"You better not have just said that Naraku is in the room with Kagome…"

"Did I say that?" She waved her hand, dismissing Inuyasha with a shake of her head. Honestly, some people never change. She glanced behind herself to watch as the males followed her with the two children. She turned back to continue down the path that led to Kagome's room with a soft smile on her lips. She stopped at a door, knocked, heard Naraku tell her to come in and walked into the room. She claimed a chair nearest to Naraku as the others stepped in.

"Kagome!" yelled both the kids once they realized who was on the bed. They then proceeded to jump on her, causing her to eep then giggle when they started tickling her. "We've missed you!"

Inuyasha watched them; they were happy. He glanced to his left, noted that Naraku was very much in the room and growled. Kenichi placed a hand on his shoulder though. It was almost like Kenichi knew that he would try and kill him a second time around. Inuyasha settled for glaring at the dark male. Naraku chuckled.

"My, Inuyasha, I have been waiting to meet you again. It sure has been a while," Naraku commented as Kagura coughed to cover her laugh.

"Shut the hell up! What the fuck is going on? Why would Kagome of all people allow herself to come here?" He paused as if a thought occured to him. "You forced her, didn't you!"

"Sit," Kagome quietly said as Naraku laughed, long and hard when the mutt fell. "Inuyasha, you would do well to keep that fat mouth of yours shut."

Inuyasha picked himself up as though he never fell in the first place. "So you're defending the jackass now? Perhaps you don't remember what he did to us two years ago and even before that!"

Kagome placed the children down next to her as she leveled a glare that promised pain. Inuyasha felt himself shrink back and inch himself closer to his brother. "Naraku is different this time around and if you don't shut up; I'll throw you out the window!"

"But, why would you defend him? He's— "

"He's not of an importance right now!" That was true; they were here to get Kagome back.

"Keh."

Kagome rolled on her right side with her back to everyone else. Shippo and Rin were the only ones that could see her face, the sadness behind her eyes. Both of them shared a concerned look with each other. "Perhaps you two would be okay if we tried to talk to Kagome alone?" Kenichi asked, looking over to Naraku and Kagura; they both nodded. That was probably for the best. They left as they said that they would be in the dining room if anyone needed them.

Then it was quiet. "While I am not happy that Naraku is back and whatnot, I'll drop it for now and say, what made you leave?" Inuyasha just had to open his mouth yet again, didn't he?

"Ask your brother."

Kenichi sighed, "Of course, you go ahead and do something you shouldn't. Really Sesshomaru?" His friend barely gave a nod that he heard him. He sighed again. "Alright, I see how it's going to go. Come kiddies, Inuyasha. This is between his lordship and Kagome." He dragged Inuyasha—who protested all the way out of the room, watching as the kids hugged Kagome before listening to follow.

Then it was quiet again, not to mention awkward.

Kagome huffed a large breath of air out, impatiently waiting for Sesshomaru to do something; say anything. Kagome, herself, could go for a while giving the silent treatment but she absolutely hated the silence. "Look, if you're not going to say anything, then could you please leave?" she mumbled out with a slight tremble to her voice. Now was not the time to cry!

"I… apologize for the way I responded," he told her as she gasped softly. He did not just say he was sorry?! She had to have imagined that, right?

"You're sorry?"

"I am."

In all honesty, Kagome was ready to forgive and forget after he said he was sorry but a part of her wanted to make him pay. Pity that side won over her. "What makes you think I'd go back with you just because you said you were sorry? Nothing right now can make me to go back." Now that was harsh...

Sesshomaru knew it was a long shot anyways but it was a start. "What would convince you?"

What would convince her? Kagome paused for a moment, thinking over that question. Perhaps she should've thought this over before a thought popped into her head. "Tell me something about yourself." If she was going to be his intended, she would eventually learn things about him. Why not start now? She smirked to herself and was pleased that she wasn't facing him at this second.

"There was once a time when Inuyasha and I got along."

"Really?" Sesshomaru grinned; good, he finally had her attention. He moved across the room and sat down on the corner of the bed. Kagome turned around to face him. Sesshomaru was pleased with what he was looking at; not that he would ever say that to anyone, not even her. "Well, what happened to cause the rift?"

He didn't say anything for a couple of minutes making Kagome think that he wouldn't say anything at all. "After my father had… passed, Inuyasha was brought back to the castle of the West. Everything was all right for the first two hundred years until the humans started to realize that the demons were becoming too powerful. They started stealing our treasures and told us that this is what humans were meant to do. At this point, Inuyasha knew he was part-human."

Kagome brought her hand to her mouth to stop a gasp. "Oh no…"

"The humans convinced Inuyasha that it was in his nature to do what they had done. He started to demand why he was brought back if he did not fit in; told us that he could not do this anymore and left. From then on, the west hardened and we only stayed close to our kind. Mother lost a son and I lost a brother," he explained as Kagome felt the need to cry. Sesshomaru watched the emotions in her eyes; she felt apologetic for him or for Inuyasha, either way it nerved him.

"But Inuyasha is back, surely you can accept him back in?"

He shook his head slowly. "It is not that simple anymore."

"If there aren't any humans anymore around then why would it matter? Inuyasha is family isn't he? Shouldn't that be the most important part?"

"He left us; he would have to be the one to reinitiate being brought back into the West."

"That doesn't sound that bad…"

"Inuyasha would have to fight for himself, for the right to be called a member of the West."

"But he's apart of your dad's legacy, shouldn't that count for something?"

Sesshomaru decided to drop it there. He wasn't about to fight with her on this. But on one hand, she was right as he begrudgingly admitted to himself. He knew that his mother had welcomed Inuyasha with open arms and he didn't mind that for the moment. It would be something different though if he ever had to go up against the elders. Thankfully, no one as of yet had said anything about Inuyasha or his gang being at the castle. He knew it was only a matter of time though.

Kagome knew she overstepped her questioning when he stopped talking and man, it was just getting good. It was the most she's seen Sesshomaru chat with someone especially with her. She closed her eyes and sighed, not knowing that Sesshomaru was observing her before his voice filled the room. "Where are your markings?" She opened her eyes and blinked then she remembered they disappeared when she left.

"You rejected me, that's why they're not there anymore." She turned her head to the side, not feeling up to look at him.

He let that piece of information sink in as he resisted the urge to sigh. He did, didn't he? "I take back the rejection. I am not used to things like this."

She swallowed hard and he heard her heart speed up at his words. Kagome sat up, resting her hands on her lap while staring at him. She could tell that he was serious. If there was one thing she learned in all her time while living in the feudal era was that if one wanted to understand a person, look into their eyes—it gave them away from what they were feeling.

She could feel the magic around her as she felt her powers approve. There was a second before she was looking not like herself. She felt her ears on her head flatten against her head before she said, "I guess that means you're off the hook for the time being."

He smirked at her as she laughed nervously. "Perhaps now you can say something about yourself? It is only fair," he thought aloud as Kagome gawked. That sly dog; though she agreed, that was only fair.

"Hm, um, what do you want to know?"

"Where do you come from? I have never seen anyone wear cloths such as yours."

Her ears stayed flattened against her head and her tail wrapped around her waist. Sesshomaru guessed it was nerves. "Uh… that might be a bit hard to explain…"

"Try."

Damn him. One word commands made her want to slap him upside his head—course that would get her killed but it was a nice thought. She was felt cornered, she realized; she wasn't fast enough to bypass him even if she tried. She fiddled with her hands, hoping that she could get away from saying anything. Then mentally cursed; she asked him what he wanted to know. She sighed deeply and groaned.

Whether it was now or later, he was bound to know her secret eventually. "Okay, I'm from five-hundred years into the future." Sesshomaru only raised an eyebrow to that; clearly not believing her for a second. Kagome leveled her own stare to him as if to deny the fact. "Wait—maybe it's four-hundred and ninety-five years into the future; I have been here for five years. Hm, is that how it works?"

"And how are you from the… future?"

"You know the Bone Eater's Well near Inuyasha's forest?" At his nod, she continued, "Well, the well is a portal to my home—to my family." She bent her head to look down. "But the day that I saved Rin, I destroyed the ability to go back home; leaving me stuck here in this time. Go me," she ended sarcastically.

He could tell that she wasn't lying, at least he could smell if she was lying which she wasn't. So, she was from the future huh? Interesting. "You now have to wait to see them?"

"I'm not going to live that long," was her immediate response before she paused. She furrowed her brow for a second as if she was remembering something.

"If you are the heart of the West, you do not die so easily."

Kagome playfully glared at him. "Damn it, you're the third person to say that to me!"

"But it is true, is it not?"

"From what Fate and Kagura said, yeah but no one has been able to tell me what it is that I control. Am I supposed to be trained for this or do I have to know this by heart or something? I don't understand and no one is saying anything aside from being shocked that I am just that," she ranted as she heard a soft chuckle. She tried not to gape at the man in front of her.

"My great-great grandfather was give the privilege of having his mate as the heart of the West."

"That means she eventually died, right?"

"Only because it was from an illness that none were able to fight against."

"But was she the heart of the West or the heart of everything?"

Sesshomaru hesitated, eyes flickering as he tried to understand what she was talking about. "And what do you mean the heart of everything?" Ah ha! She knew he wasn't listening in the first place!

Kagome waved her hands around while saying, "I'm not sure. Fate said that I was the heart of not only the West but everything around me. I still don't understand that part." She then thought of something and moved to sit on her knees. Perhaps if she could get him to see what Fate showed her, he'd be more helpful? Or understand more...

She slowly brought her hands up to around his head. He watched her carefully as she placed her fingers on his temples. Kagome took a breath and showed him what happened when she met Fate. All of this lasted mere seconds before she pulled away and waited for him to say something.

"I see. And you can see the gardens?" She nodded to him, unsure where he was going with this. "Have you ever heard of an elemental?" Kagome couldn't help as her eyes went wide; Sesshomaru assumed that she did understand what he was saying. "That is what he meant."

"I-I'm an elemental—what?" she squeaked out.

"He knows of a gift that the Gods gave you. He did not tell nor show you what he knew. You, on the other hand, seemed to understand even if your mind seemed confused."

"You mean my heart knew what he was talking about?"

"Correct," he said, nodding. "If you have the ability to use plants or plants react to you as they have been doing, that is a power that elementals have. If the lands react to you and they respond to your emotions, then that is another part of that power. No one can learn it, you know it by your heart."

"Oh hell…"

"There is a storm going on outside, your emotions are running free and you are afraid, are you not?" She nodded again. "I would like to prove a theory to you. Follow me," he told her and headed for the door, she scrambled after him. Kagome was quiet as she followed him. As they went downstairs, both could hear Inuyasha, unhappy that he was anywhere around Naraku. Kagome smirked at that as she ran into Sesshomaru's back.

"Did you have to stop, your armor almost poked my eye out," she complained, noting that her voice stopped the conversation in the other room. She rubbed her face as the others came into the area where they were. Kagura looked worried that Kagome might have been hurt.

"Go outside," he ordered as Kagura and the males looked at him like he was nuts.

Kagome looked horrified. "In the raging storm, are you mental?!"

"Go." She glared at him. "Trust me." She faltered before looking between the door and Sesshomaru then back to the door.

Inuyasha gawked at his brother. 'Trust me' he says; trust him off a cliff why don't ya?

Kagome hesitated before getting up her courage and walked passed him. She paused at the door then took a deep breath and walked outside, ignoring Inuyasha's question of his brother's sanity.

She strolled a few feet from the door and then whirled around to tell Sesshomaru that he was wrong with whatever his theory was when she noticed something weird. It was pouring and she wasn't getting wet. She looked up to the sky in wonder then to Sesshomaru, who smirked at her; cocky bastard.

Follow your heart and it will lead the rain to stop, a voice from within her, startled her. What? Follow her heart huh? Was it really that easy? Kagome turned her back to her friends and stared at the horizon, closing her eyes. She tilted her head to rest closely to her shoulder as her right leg swung behind her other foot. It was like a dance as her hand came up and aimed to the sky. She didn't notice anything but felt the warmth in her hand; she released it and opened her eyes.

A soft blue hue light shot up into the air and disappeared into the clouds. Slowly but surely, the rain started to stop. A loud clap of thunder was heard before everything came to a halt. Kagome couldn't help but gape. Sesshomaru was right—holy shit! She felt him walk up to her as she turned to him with a wide smile. "Oh my god! You were right!"

"I have yet to be wrong."

"Jackass," she muttered as Inuyasha came up to her looking like he saw a ghost or something. She turned her smile to him.

"So I take it that you and he… made up?" he asked as she glanced at his brother before turning back to him with a nod. "Well, I can safely say the walk back will be interesting."

"Why?"

"Cause when we were walking, no one said anything aside from Shippo and Rin chatting to themselves."

Speaking of the children, the second that Inuyasha mentioned them, they tackled Kagome to the ground. She giggled as they hugged and pressed themselves against her as if she was their one and only.

Inuyasha resisted the urge to smile as Kenichi walked up to him with a grin. "I guess this is where we take our leave since we have—" he paused and glanced to Kagome before saying, "our girl back." That comment gave him two whacks on the head as Naraku and Kagura laughed.

"She is nowhere near your girl," Inuyasha stated with a nod and a growl. Kenichi rubbed his head.

"Hey, a guy can dream okay."

"Well, your dreams better not have anything to do with Kagome. I'll have to kick your ass if they do."

"Good thing I'm not saying anything then."

"You just said everything." Inuyasha pounced as Kenichi yelped.

Kagome watched as Inuyasha tried to hurt Kenichi with a grin on her face as she was helped up by Naraku. She dusted herself off. "I see you're back to yourself when I last saw you." One of her ears rotated to the two that were fighting, noting that Kenichi had perched himself on a tree and Inuyasha for the life of him couldn't figure out why he couldn't reach the male. "You'll come back and visit right?" he asked, getting her attention again.

"Oh of course! Kagura and I always have to tag-team to one up you!"

"Gotta say, that is probably one thing I'm not going to miss."

"Sure, sure."

"Fine, don't believe me."

"I don't," she said, smirking. Naraku threw his arms in the air in frustration. She turned and hugged him; she was pleased when he hugged her back. This caused Inuyasha, who finally gave up on Kenichi and walked back over, to stare at what Kagome was doing. "I will miss you though so no bothering Kagura while I'm away."

He grunted as if he wouldn't do that anyways. It was a favorite pastime. He let her go once he took note that Sesshomaru had settled a glare on him. "Yeah, yeah. Make sure on your way out that you clean up those vines." Kagome saluted him playfully.

"She never managed to do that while she was here?" Kenichi asked, purposely staying away from Inuyasha.

"She started to but then I caught up with her and took her back to the castle since she was so tired," Naraku told as Kenichi barely gave a nod. "Anyways, get off my lands!"

Kagome hugged Kagura real quick before waving and following the males with the children around her legs.

"Those two will kill each other," Naraku said once they were out of hearing. Kagura snorted.

"Nah, Kagome is perfect for someone like Sesshomaru."

"So you say."

"I know what I'm talking about; I'm a girl."

"Is that what they call you?"

"Naraku!"

Reviews are welcomed.