(A/N: Last chapter was rather sad. This one is too. I really like the title since it has 2 meanings. You'll find out what I mean at the end. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Same old, same old.

Chapter 7: Departing

"Lady Kaede! Lady Kaede!"

No matter how much Toriyasu called her name, the old priestess did not wake, and she never would, not in this world. Aiko and Sakura were hugging the dead woman's arms tightly, hoping she was still alive.

The adults let the children cry for awhile before removing them from the dead woman's body.

"Come on, kids." Souten muttered. "There's nothing we can do."

Toriyasu buried his face into Kaede's chest. "No! No! No!" he wailed.

The young demon had to literally be pried away from her. Once the children were out of the way, Kikyou went to move the body, bringing it back inside the hut. She came back out with tears in her eyes and a look of anger on her face.

"Kikyou?" Kaori said quietly.

The half-demon turned to her. "I'm going after them." She declared.

Kaori closed her eyes. She knew that was coming. "I was afraid you'd say that."

"Kikyou, your father said to stay." Said Rin, wiping from her eyes.

Kikyou clenched her fists together. "I don't care! That bastard, Onigumo, took my mother, wounded my father, and killed Lady Kaede. I'm going after him."

Kaori sighed. "Then I am going with you."

"As am I." Ico said.

"Your parents all told you to stay." Rin repeated.

Ico turned to her. "Forgive us, Aunt Rin, but our parents are not here right now. And this is something we must do. We cannot let Kikyou go after this demon alone."

"And we have as much right to take revenge as her." Kaori added.

Rin sighed sadly, knowing it would be useless. "I know I can't convince you otherwise."

"I can force you to stay." Souten threatened. As a demon, she could very well carry out that threat. She was stronger than all of them, even Kikyou.

"Lady Souten, we have the utmost respect for you," said Ico, "but no, you won't stop us."

Souten growled, but did nothing. Shin snickered and stepped forward. "Well if you guys are going, then I am."

"The hell you are!" Kikyou cried. "I don't need you to find my mother."

Shin smirked "As if you could stop me from going." He said. At the sound of Ayame clearing her throat he added, "Um, if mother allows it."

Ayame crossed her arms, considering it. "I don't know. I don't think I like the idea of you going off to face Onigumo."

"Mother, am I not just as old as father was when he faced Naraku?" Shin pointed out.

Ayame closed her eyes, rubbing her temple. "Shin, I can't deal with this right now."

"They're going to need all the help they can get."

Ayame growled. "Then I will go."

"Mother, I am not a child!" Shin cried. "Give me a chance. If I am to lead our pack, I must be able to handle situations like this."

Ayame growled again. As much as she hated to admit it, Shin had a point. Besides, Sakura was still wailing over Kaede's death; she couldn't leave her daughter now. She sighed in defeat. "Very well. You may go. But you better come back in the same condition you are in now."

Shin nodded. "Understood."

Toriyasu dried his eyes and jumped up. "Well if you're all going, then I-"

"Will wait right here until they return." Souten interrupted.

Toriyasu frowned. "But Mom, they get to go!"

"They are older than you are. You are too young."

Toriyasu dropped to the ground and began kicking and screaming in a tantrum. "It's not fair! It's not fair! I want to go too! You and Daddy were going on adventures and you weren't much older than me!"

Souten's eyes flashed. "Your father and I were on our own with only our traveling companions! Now stop arguing with me!"

Toriyasu began wailing louder, but he got up and ran off crying. Souten sighed. She hadn't wanted to be so hard on the boy, but there was no way she was letting him go of to face Onigumo.

"Then it's just the four of us." Said Ico. "We best be going; sooner rather than later."

As they left the village, Sakura ran up to her mother and hugged her leg. "Mother, they will be alright, won't they?"

Ayame patted her daughter on the head. "Yes dear, they'll be fine."

(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)

Kagome paced back and forth along the 20 feet of space she had. She had walked around the plateau countless times and there was no way she could get down without some help, or at least some climbing equipment.

'Why does all this stuff happen to me?' she wondered. 'And why couldn't Onigumo just die with Naraku and leave us all in peace? Oh no! What if that faceless freak comes back and actually rapes me? No! I am not going to let that happen! That sicko is not touching me! Oh Inuyasha. Please come for me. Can you even come? Are you alright. I saw Onigumo pierce you through the chest.'

Falling to her knees, she screamed at the top of her lungs, "INUYASHA, YOU BETTER BE ALRIGHT OR ELSE YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE!"

"Kagome."

The priestess jumped when her name was spoken. For a brief moment she feared that Onigumo had returned, but then she realized that the voice belonged to a woman.

'Someone who can help me?'

She turned around and jumped back in fright. The ghostly image of a young woman stood behind her.

"Who are you?" she cried.

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Kagome, do yeh not know me? Tis I, Kaede."

Kagome blinked. "Kaede?" She looked the woman up and down. The woman did resemble Kaede, if she were 50-60 years younger that is. "You're Kaede?"

The woman nodded. "Aye. I assume yeh do not recognize me because of my youth." Kagome nodded. "That is because a soul only ages until they reach their prime."

"A soul…" Kagome whispered. Her eyes widened as her mind screamed in denial. "No, that means you're… you're…"

"Dead." Kaede finished. "Aye, I am. I am using the last of my strength in this world to speak to yeh."

Tears appeared in Kagome's eyes. "Oh Kaede, I'm so sorry."

The young Kaede shook her head. "Nay, Kagome, mourn me not. I have lived my life. Now I am able to rest in peace. We will see each other again, but not for a long time. The time for your death is not now. And yeh do not need to worry about Inuyasha. He is well and is on his way to save yeh."

Kagome rubbed her eyes. 'She came here to tell me that?' "Thank you, Kaede."

The dead priestess smiled. "Nay, thank yeh, Kagome. For everything. I must depart now." Her ghostly image turned into a glowing orb of light and began ascending. "I shall miss yeh."

Kagome watched her go, tears pouring down her cheeks. "I'll miss you too."

(A/N: Kaede has moved on and the gang's kids have gone to rescue, though they have quite a bit of catching up to do. By the way, did you get what I meant about the title having 2 meanings? The kids are departing and Kaede is 'departing'. Get it? …Ok, that was a bad joke. I'll update soon.)