People, you wanted me to update, so here it is! Sorry for the delay…I'm actually working on other fics! A lot of other fics, actually…so, on with the chapter! I don't like this one, so bear with me. It'll get better! Especially when tragedy strikes…again! Woo-hoo! I love tragedies!

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, and I don't own YES, but I own one of their CD's! Hehe, I'm listening to it now! –does a happy dance-

"Master Jaken! Hurry up!" Rin called, running excitedly down the corridor.

"Slow down, child! Why the rush?" Jaken panted, waddling after her.

"Lord Sesshomaru said I could play with Ah-Un in the forest today." She waited impatiently at the door for him, spinning in circles.

"That's nice, Rin, but why do I have to come?" he asked, catching his breath. It was getting really difficult for him to keep up with the energetic young girl.

"In case that nasty demon finds us, that's why!" Grinning excitedly, and not at all worried that any demon might find them, she skipped outside, Jaken once again struggling to match her pace. Laughing, she decided to be nice, and slowed down for him.

They passed through the flowered courtyard, where they saw Sesshomaru and Kagome. The two of them were walking along the winding path, deep in conversation about something. They were under one of the trees when Kagome yelped something about a spider and tried to back up, only to trip and fall.

Sesshomaru looked at her, laughing. (A/N: Never thought it would happen!) "You're afraid of spiders?"

"It's not funny!" she snapped, her face flushed from embarrassment. He helped her back to her feet, and they continued on down the path, still holding hands.

Jaken watched them, gawking. "I knew it was a bad idea to let her stay," he grumbled. "Look what she's done to Lord Sesshomaru! He isn't himself at all."

"But Master Jaken," Rin said. "Don't you want him to be happy?" She then proceeded to drag him off to find Ah-Un. Jaken was at a loss for words. Of course he wanted Lord Sesshomaru to be happy. But what had happened to his hatred of humans? And where had his cold and stoic manner gone? He had changed, and…and Jaken realized he was afraid of those changes.

Back in the courtyard, Sesshomaru and Kagome were sitting on a bench, watching the twin-headed dragon fly away with his passengers. "There's something I've been wondering about," Kagome said. "You pass it off as indifference, but I know better now. Why are you afraid to show your feelings?" He stiffened and did not answer. "I know you probably don't want anyone to know, but, maybe you could tell me?"

Sesshomaru wanted to tell her, which surprised him, as he'd always guarded it as his darkest secret. And he knew, somehow, that he could trust Kagome, and that she'd understand what he had gone through. And maybe, by talking about it, he could overcome that barrier within himself which he was now finding in his way. It would be hard, probably the hardest thing he'd ever done, but he'd try.

"My mother," he began…

Cruel fate struck that evening, just after Rin and Jaken had returned from their excursion. Rin was telling Sesshomaru and Kagome an exaggerated version of what had happened when she'd stumbled upon a snake, and Jaken had scared it away. That's when it happened. Kagome suddenly gasped, doubling over in pain. Sesshomaru's heart filled with fear as he saw the raw terror in her beautiful brown eyes. "Inu...Yasha…and Ki…kyo," she gasped, wrapping her arms around herself. "They…they've com…pleted…the jew…" She lost consciousness then, falling. Sesshomaru caught her and quickly carried her inside the castle to her room, Rin and Jaken following behind. Laying her on the bed, he swept out again, instructing the girl and demon to watch over her. He would find the two responsible for this. They were causing Kagome so much pain. He wouldn't let them do this. She was going to live, and he'd kill Kikyo and his younger brother to stop them. They were close enough for him to pick up their scents…but just barely. He would make them pay for trying to take Kagome away from him…

"Kikyo," InuYasha said warningly. He was picking up a familiar scent, and he didn't like it.

"What is it, my love?" the priestess asked, keeping her gaze on the jewel glowing brightly in her hand.

"Sesshomaru's nearby," he growled, tensing. It was always a bad omen when his older brother showed up.

"What reason has he to interrupt? We are near his lands, so it is logical that he'd be around somewhere." She said soothingly. Then, a moment later, "Damn! We aren't close enough to her yet. We have to move on, and quickly now. She has to know something's wrong now."

"Alright, but I don't like it," InuYasha said slowly. "What the hell is she doing so far into Sesshomaru's territory anyway?"

Just then, a whip of light snapped toward them, hitting the jewel and flinging it into the air. The whip was retracted, only to be followed as a white blur shot out of the surrounding woodland and snatched the jewel out of the air. "I though you didn't desire the jewel," Kikyo hissed evilly. She was panicking on the inside; without that jewel, her plans would fall apart. She needed to get it back.

"Sesshomaru looked from her, to InuYasha, who was looking around, confused, like a lost puppy, then back to Kikyo. His eyes narrowed as he said coldly, "You are the one who deserves to die." With that he was gone, running into the distance as fast as his legs would take him.

Kagome awoke, feeling horrible. Her entire body ached, and she felt weary, deep down in her soul. Forcing herself to open her eyes, she found she was lying on her bed in her room, which was lit by a lantern in the corner by the door. She groaned, trying to sit up. That's when she felt it. Something round and smooth was tucked inside her hand. Abandoning her attempt to sit, she slowly turned her head to look at it. And there it was, the Shikon Jewel, which had been nothing but a curse to her.

"How do you feel?"

She looked up to see Sesshomaru sitting beside her, genuine concern written all over his face. "Honestly, I feel worse than the last time," she whispered.

"The last time?"

"When Kikyo was resurrected. But I'll be fine. I just need to rest." After a moment of silence, she whispered, so softly that Sesshomaru could barely hear it, "Thank you for saving me again."

"I was afraid of losing you," he whispered in return. It was obvious that it had been hard for him to admit, and it made Kagome smile.

But that smile faded. "I want to see InuYasha," she said gravely. "I need to tell him something, when he's away from Kikyo."

"Of course," Sesshomaru agreed quietly, grasping her hand in his. "As long as I am there to protect you."

"Okay," Kagome said, eyes drooping closed. "But I don't need any protection from him." Sleep overcame her then, and Sesshomaru allowed himself a relieved smile. The woman he loved would live.

Another short chapter, but, oh well. The next one is funny. Well, at least to people who have the same sense of humor as I do. And then comes the pickle! There's always a pickle with me, lol. And decisions must be made! But I won't tell you by whom…well, actually, everybody has to make decisions, so…oh well. Just review, and stay tuned for the next chapter!