-1"Because you are so much more fun to tease. If it were not me it would be dad. Which by the way, he said to make sure to torture you a little more than usual because he couldn't join me."

"I can not believe spirits are trying to torture this Sesshomaru." Aggravated Sesshomaru sat back in seat closing his eyes trying to gain control and ignore the spirit in his office.

"Believe it, but I will leave you be for now. Next time I might just bring dad with me." With that Inuyasha nonchantly waved and disappeared through the screen door.

Chapter 8

Pranks and Apologies

Kagome and Ai walked down an abandoned hallway with an evil glint in their eyes. The two were looking for a room to take an unconscious Jaken into and leave their punishment for talking so rudely to the two of them after they had left dinner. The new look Jaken was in for would really scare some of the household staff and would bring the house up from their dull lives for a little while. The two worked putting a wig with several various colored ribbons that Rin had left discarded around the castle. Ai took some of Kagome's make up and placed on Jaken's face to give that of a look of a stripper. Lots of eye make-up, thick painted lines of lip stick, and blush painted on the imps face caused the girls to giggle at their work.

Their final touch was the outfit the two came up to throw over Jaken's hakamas. A bluish sundress with pink flowers that belonged to one of Kagome's childhood dolls. The doll was long gone but the dress was still in good shape and the right size. Pleased with the results the girls took at the mirrors from the room and left Jaken on the bed to wake. They in turn went into a neighboring room to wait for the vassal to wake.

To the luck they didn't have to wait too much longer. Out appeared the little imp cursing over falling asleep in weird rooms in the manor. Their luck couldn't be any better then seeing a small female demon cleaning entering the hallway and seeing Lord Jaken's appearance she stood horrified. Letting out one long shrill scream, which made Jaken jump and start to scream at her. Made the two Ladies roll on the floor with laughter. The scene couldn't get any better then what happened next Lord Sesshomaru appeared in the hallway in response to the scream. Hearing the faint laughter coming from one of the rooms Lord Sesshomaru raised one eyebrow looking at Jaken with a funny look unsure how to react.

"Jaken, has Rin been up to her old tricks?"

"No, milord, why do you ask?"

"Jaken, then if it was not Rin then who made you into a sight that stands before the Sesshomaru?"

Looking surprised Jaken ran past the master towards his quarters to get a look at himself. Lord Sesshomaru journeyed down the hallway to find Kagome and Ai rolling on the floor with laughter. He stood watching their disturbing laughter amused. "Maladies', this Sesshomaru asks that you refrain from other disturbing pranks on this Sesshomaru's servants."

"On, sure, Sesshomaru, will do!" Kagome managed to cluck out between peals of laughter.

Right than, a sharp shrill scream went through the castle that caused Kagome and Ai to start laughing all over again. Sesshomaru looked at the two ladies shaking his head as he left the room to return to his paperwork.

Once the two ladies could stand without the peals of laughter erupting between them they left the room. Wondering the hallways looking for the garden entrance to take a view of Rin's garden the ladies spent the morning lost in the mazes of the castle.

Later that afternoon, the two ladies sat talking about their families, their lives, and well, life in general. Kagome stopped got a far away look in her eyes and sighed. Ai noticed the quietness from her new friend. "Kagome, what are you thinking of? You got so quiet all of a sudden?"

Kagome not looking back at Ai stood and walked over to the outside wall where she pulled the shoji screen back to look outside across the garden. "Ai, no matter how much time goes by or how many friends I make I find myself missing Inuyasha. We were together for four years before he died and I carried around the Tetsegia for a year after that. Some times when I pray for his soul I find myself in a state where I could swear he was standing holding me close to him. We didn't really get to mushy or even showed any real display of public affection. Inu was just a little to crude and well, Inuyasha for that. He was my best friend and the person that I found myself loving like no other. I have hole in my heart that he left and I pray to the Kamis that I will find someone to help ease the pain in my heart that was left when he left me. I know he didn't leave me on purpose not like the times he ran off to see Kikyo his first love. No. Matter of fact he saved my life. If it were not for him I would not be here today. But where do I go from here? Should I stay in this time or do I go back to my time?" Looking over to her new friend, "You see I am at a dilemma that I am unsure where to go. I miss my koi and half me is missing. I do not know if I will ever find it again. My old fear of being alone in the world is coming back." Tears started to fall down her cheeks as she sighs sadly looking around the room where she was staying. "What do you think?"

Ai stood going over to Kagome wrapped her arms around her with her own tears falling. "Kagome, I think you should fall your heart. You may feel half of it missing but something tells me that we will met again, and you will feel a lot happier in the future then you do at this moment. From what I hear your Inuyasha was a brave warrior, and though he and Sesshomaru didn't really get along, Sess told me that he was proud of who Inu was and how he died protecting you. I also know where ever you be Sess will find a way to protect you as well for Inu's sake. That's part of what us inus are we are fiercely protective of the rest of our pack. And from what I hear you are as much a part of this pack then any real demon. I will make this promise to you if you decide to go to the future to your time. I will find a way to bring you back to our family. You belong apart of our pack. And I will hurt Sesshomaru if he doesn't let you live with us." Ai's eyes glittered at the last statement.

Kagome looked surprised at Ai, "So I take it you and Sesshomaru are intended? When did this become confirmed?"

Ai grinned, "When we played our prank earlier on poor unsuspecting Jaken." Her laughter filled the air, "the fact that we actually got away with that joke means that he has accepted me into his pack and to be his mate. I suspect it will be a few months before we will mate, but I think that you should be heading home to see that mother of yours soon. I bet she really misses you and could use your company. I know that my mother having all boys except for me is missing me pretty badly. All the fun girl talk is I miss the conversations that I have with my mother the most. I know she will be happy though that I will be mated soon."

Kagome thoughtfully tapped her finger. "I guess your right I will probably stay the rest of the week here and go back to visit with Kaeda, Sango, Shippo, and Miroku for few days before going home and sealing the well for good. I have to seal the well. To protect the Shikon no Tama. Well, if you don't mind I think its time to bathe and then get something to eat. I am starved!"

The two ladies laughed and hugged one last time before parting for the evening.

The rest of the week flew by Ai and Sesshomaru escorted Kagome back to the village in Edo where the rest of her friends were waiting for her return. Before parting Sesshomaru stepped forward and placed a pendant with a crescent moon into Kagome's hands. "Lady Kagome, this Sesshomaru wants you to hold this pendant until we met again. Lady Ai and this Sesshomaru have agreed to allow our family to know of you during the next five hundred years and a week after you return we will send for you. The person that comes for you will hold in their possession this crest so please feel safe in knowing that we are seeking you out. Until the next meeting know you are being protected." Bowing to Kagome the taiyoukia and his Lady left for the western castle.

Kagome stood looking at the locket. She took a deep breathe and opened it, and inside was the pictures of her and Inuyasha. This was the same locket that she had given Inuyasha before Kaguya's castle. She had thought it was lost when the battle ended with Naraku. The new addition of the family crest must have been added for her, and inside also was a lock of silver hair and a lock of black that was similar to hers but not the same. Both tied with a deep red ribbon. Tears flowed to her eyes as she closed the locket and pulled it over her head. She tucked it under shirt and placed a hand over where the pendant landed above her heart.

Turning Kagome started towards the village to spend a couple days with the friends that had been traveling with her. The last time they would be together. And their last parting fastly approaching.