A/N: Here is the newest installation of As Your World Falls Down. I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has been keeping up with this story and those of you who have reviewed. Thank you all, you keep me writing and I wouldn't have it any other way. Also at the end of the last chapter Jaken was supposed to say lord not king but I have rectified that in the beginning here, so enjoy and as always please read and review.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or anything from Inuyasha. But I can't help wishing ^-^.

Ch. 10 Figuring out the Pieces

Jaken approached the one who would give him his answers and bowed low to the ground, "Oh mighty lord I ask of you how a mortal human miko can become immortal?"

After minutes of silence a voice filled the area, "It is possible but it will take time to verify that the method will work."

"Thank you oh wise one, this may save the lives of my lord and the lady."

The tree demon Bokusenou then answered, "We cannot be sure of that just yet until it has come to pass."

Jaken nodded accepting that he might unknowingly fail his lord but he wanted to still try because if he didn't it would be an even greater failure on his part.

"Jaken you were aware that Inutaisho also came to me for this answer correct?"

"Inutaisho … no I didn't know that. I have not been with my lord long enough."

"Hmm, well he did so that he could save Inuyasha's human mother before she was really in danger. I never found out after if he gathered the items to save her or not because he never came back and the next I had heard was he was slain and the human was still human."

Jaken nodded.

"You understand then that this will be difficult to accomplish and even more so for you?"

"I understand this."

"It may be better if Sesshomaru did this since it is for him."

"My lord does not know yet what I am doing and this is to make it easier to make a decision since I am worried he would be unhappy otherwise and make the wrong one."

"And what of the miko? Does she want this?"

"Again I do not know but I rather have the answer for them if it comes to pass that this is necessary."

Bokusenou closed his eyes for a moment and Jaken was worried the tree demon wouldn't help him until he spoke again, "Sesshomaru is lucky to have a vassal as devoted and loyal as you Jaken."

"So you will tell me what has to be done?"

"Yes, but this will take time."

"How long will it take me?"

"Until the next new moon at least."

"Then I have three weeks."

"It could take less time or more time though depending on how you travel and how successful you are."

"What must I do first?"

Bokusenou then opened his eyes and started to explain the first step in the process.

~*~*~*~

Sesshomaru didn't waste any time in getting back to the eastern castle. He arrived way before Koga and upon arrival he went straight to his current chamber throwing open the doors. Arisugawa and Kazuki had sensed him approaching and had gone to meet him but when he past them they both could see the anger that was clearly portrayed in his features.

"I wonder what has happened to make him like this." Arisugawa said as he heard the

"Where is that miko? Was he not bringing her back with him?" Kazuki asked.

Arisugawa turned back to the other lord, "I don't know. Perhaps she is with that wolf demon that was here before. Do you think that that upset him to this extent?"

Kazuki pondered the possibility that the miko could have caused Sesshomaru to be so angry but he decided there was not a clear enough explanation to assume that she was the reason.

"I do not see how that could be possible."

Arisugawa nodded and the two lords continued down the hall away from the angry dog demon lord. As they walked they wondered separately on what the cause for his sudden anger could be.

'She is more to him than some miko who has agreed to help him. I know it, but Kumiko didn't suggest that their relationship was much more. Possibly there was something she left out, I should speak with her again and see.'

'There is something else going on here that no one is telling me about. This miko…she is different somehow from just some normal priestess. Perhaps his brother would know more and be able to tell me something.'

The two lords stopped simultaneously and faced one another about to speak.

"…"

"Yes lord Kazuki?"

"Oh, well I was going to say that maybe we should go our separate ways now since there is no hope of talking to Lord Sesshomaru anytime soon. I believe we should try again at noon when we have all gathered again to discuss what the best plan of attack would be."

"Yes I agree. Well I shall see you then Lord Kazuki."

They nodded to one another respectfully and went their separate ways. Arisugawa turned around and went back towards where they had come from as Kazuki continued towards the other guest rooms. It didn't take him long to find the scent that was similar to that of Sesshomaru's for him to figure that he had found Inuyasha. He knocked on the door and it opened as his fist hit.

"And who are you?"

Kazuki chuckled, "Pup you have the same temper as your father but you would not remember me. I am Lord Kazuki of the north."

"Feh! I could care less about my old man. Is that all you're here for?"

"No I have come to ask you of what you know about your brother's miko?"

"What Kagome? She would be mad if she heard you saying that she was his."

"So who does she belong to then? Who was she with before him if you know her so well?"

Kikyou then came over to the door and both men stopped for a second and looked to her.

'She looks like Kagome. I wonder if they are related.'

Inuyasha turned back to Kazuki, "She traveled with me before that before my mate was able to join me and she was no longer needed."

Kikyou cleared her throat and stepped in front of Inuyasha, "You see Kagome is my reincarnation and before I was brought back she had helped Inuyasha but since I have returned she has decided that she would be able to do more if she assisted Lord Sesshomaru."

"And what of before she met Inuyasha?"

"She didn't have as much to worry about and had a normal life." Inuyasha said repeating what he had heard Kagome say before in the past before retreating back into the room.

Kazuki nodded accepting his answer and started to turn to walk away.

"You should ask her friends if you wish to know more about her Lord Kazuki." Kikyou said motioning to door adjacent to their own.

He nodded again thanking her as she went back into the room and he went to knock on the other door.

Miroku answered with a smile on his face but Kazuki couldn't help noticing the red hand print on the monk's cheek.

"Yes my lord, how can we help you?"

"I wish to inquire about the miko Kagome. I have been told that you are her friends and…"

But he was interrupted by a small voice from behind the monk, "Mama? What's wrong? Where is she?"

Kazuki tried to unnoticeably look behind the monk to see where the voice came from but then a woman came to his side and motioned for him to enter the room.

"If you wish to know more of her I think it is best discussed inside. Oh and please forgive the monk. He has taken a few too many blows to the head." Sango said motioning towards said monk.

Once he entered the room he noticed a kit sitting on the table with a cup of tea and two other cups next to him that he assumed belonged to the woman and the monk.

The monk sat down next to the kit as Sango motioned for Kazuki to sit, "Would you like some tea Lord…"

"Kazuki of the north and yes I would certainly appreciate it. May I ask what your names are?"

The monk smiled again offered his hand, "My name is Miroku."

He shook the monks hand and thanked the woman as she poured him a cup.

"My name is Sango and I am the demon exterminator in the group just so that you know and this little boy is Shippo."

Shippo looked up, "Why do you want to know about mama? Is she ok?"

Kazuki nodded, "Yes she is so there is nothing for you to worry about little one."

Sango then asked, "So why are you asking us about Kagome?"

"I am just curious about the young woman. She is exceptionally strong and I feel that there is more to her than what I have been told."

"And what is that?"

Kazuki then told them what he knew and proceeded to ask them about the little miko.

~*~*~*~

Arisugawa was looking everywhere for Kumiko but he couldn't find her anywhere. He looked in the kitchens and in the servants quarters but she wasn't there. He was walking outside to look in the gardens when he heard laughing. He walked towards the noise to hear two voices conversing quietly not too far from him.

"Koga! You're horrible, how could you do that to Hakkaku and Ginta?"

A males laughter could be heard before an answer, "I told them that if I didn't come back to go on without me, I didn't tell them I was going to do something dangerous that I wouldn't come back from. It was their fault for assuming that's what I meant."

Kagome giggled, "Well it is funny how when you got back they were arguing over who could lead and thought your spirit had come back to settle it."

The male chuckled again, "Ya. Well I'm lucky you weren't there for any of that. I wouldn't have had you worry about me or be fought over like my leadership was."

"Ya right! You're such a kidder Koga! Like any one would fight for me."

It got quiet and Arisugawa thought to himself, 'Oh I can see quite a fight over you Kagome.'

"Kagome I'm not kidding, I would fight for you with everything I have! You're my woman after all, and there are plenty of other men too who would do the same. I mean until recently I had to fight Inuyasha all the time for you remember?"

Kagome laughed half heartedly, "Ya… I remember."

"What's wrong?"

Arisugawa couldn't help wanting to finish listening but a gust of wind blew past him and he knew that the wolf would smell him now so he got up and walked forward.

"Lady Kagome! There you are, we were wondering when you would grace us all with your presence again."

Kagome smiled as she stood and bowed, "I am sorry to have worried you Lord Arisugawa and anyone else. This is my friend Koga of the southern wolf tribes."

Arisugawa looked at him and waited for him to bow but he didn't. He dismissed it and turned to Kagome.

"You know Lord Sesshomaru has been here for awhile now that he and I were getting quite worried about you. I told him not to take his eyes off you and that must have been the first time since you've been here that he did."

Kagome blushed and Koga was a bit agitated with that and the way this lord talked to her.

"For a cat you seem to have a soft tongue talking about Sesshomaru like he was some sort of good guy."

Arisugawa smiled, "I can see that with the declining courage of the Southern Lord that his people are also suffering a decline of sorts. You are very ignorant to think that speaking to a lord as myself like this is appropriate."

"I don't recognize any of you old demons as my lord in anyway so there is no need for me to censure myself."

Arisugawa laughed and reached his hand to Kagome, "We should return to the castle so that you can bath and dress before lunch. Also your friends arrived earlier and there is a kit here who has been practically begging for you."

"Oh Shippo! I can't believe I forgot, oh I will make a horrible mother."

"Oh I very much doubt that my dear. I promise you will be a superb mother, we can ask Lord Sesshomaru what he thinks if you doubt me."

And with that they walked back to the castle leaving Koga to fume.

~*~*~*~

After she was finished bathing Kagome walked towards her room in a clean plain white kimono to pick a better one to wear for the day. When she opened the door though, she could hear soft breathing coming from the bed. Realizing that it must be Sesshomaru she quietly shut the door behind her and proceeded to find a kimono so she could leave before she disturbed him.

She riffled through the closet to find a kimono that she hadn't worn and she settled on a light lavender colored kimono with white cherry blossoms on branches decorating it. It was perfect and very beautiful and she figured she could wear her hair braided and tied with her silk purple scarf she had bought the last time she was home.

She then looked around the room for her bag but she didn't see it on the floor or in the closet. Then she remembered that she had sat it on the bed last so she got up and went to look. To her dismay the bag was there but it was being held hostage by the very person she didn't want to bother.

'Wow don't I have the best luck?'

As if Sesshomaru could read her thoughts he moved even closer to the bag making it nearly impossible to retrieve it.

'Well I can live without the scarf but my brush is in there too. Maybe I can unzip it with him holding it like that.'

She then gently crawled onto the bed slowly getting closer to her target. When she was just a breath away Sesshomaru moved again but this time he revealed more of the bag. Sensing victory Kagome reached over to grab the whole thing when he rolled back to his previous position encasing her in his arms.

Kagome froze, 'Great! How did this happen?'

She now tried to figure out how to save herself and just get out of the room all together when she heard something that sounded something like purring except coming from Sesshomaru.

'Is…is that him?'

She moved slightly to look up at the cold demon lord to notice that his features were more relaxed and that he seemed to almost be smiling in his sleep.

'I wonder what he's dreaming about.' Kagome wondered as she decided that she would just lay there until he moved again but that wouldn't happen anytime soon. Only one thought passed her mind before she gave in to sleep as she waited.

'I wonder if he is always this warm and smells so good or is that only when he sleeps too.'

~*~*~*~

A/N: Ok I'm sorry. I did it again with the late update. I just couldn't stop writing this one over and over to make sure it was right. I should have quit when it was 11:55 so that it would still be Thursday but I didn't, but I still hope you enjoyed this chapter. The one's after this will be jumping a little since it's a lot of strategy and training and stuff that I don't want to write so I'll do a couple with that stuff and we will get to the big battle! And as for our favorite miko and demon lord we will have to see what becomes of them especially since it seems that Jaken has taken their happiness upon himself. Well till next time please review!