Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for the few characters that I have invented to make my story possible. If there are any questions about the story refer to the end of chapter 15 or leave a signed review and I will answer it.

And here is a cookie for everyone else who reviewed and has reviewed. And you guys that just read can have some too because it means so much to me that you spend the time to read it. The cookie better come out too if not you still have crumbs, lol, but thank you all so much.

_____ - *C* - - *O*O* - - *K*I* - - *E* - ---

Also I am so sorry for not posting on time, I lost track of the days with classes starting again soon. Like Kagome after some darkness and tribulations in life I hope that I have found the light as I know we all do after ruff times. So this chapter also has a dedication to everyone who has gone through hell in life or even in one day and has come back renewed, refreshed, and hopefully with a better perspective on things and life in general.

Ch.20 Finding the Light

'There are other problems too that we have yet to resolve.'

Kagome would have nodded realizing that there was something's bothering her still and if she wanted to reconnect her mind and body then these would have to be resolved.

'I don't exactly know why they would send an assassin to kill me.'

'But you remember what he said to us?'

'Yes, I do. But still, why would they think that my death would cause Sesshomaru's death?'

'"Because he cares for us more than we know", At least that is what Miyuki has said.'

'Wait, when did she say that?'

'Just a moment ago.'

'You can hear them still?'

'I am your sub-conscience. I feel and hear everything said when you aren't conscience. I constantly pick up the things that you don't notice as much.'

'So what's happening?'

Her sub-conscience then tried to explain what was heard and what was felt.

'So he was the one who got there first and was taking care of me… of us. But why did he leave?'

'I do not know.'

'So they sent the assassin because they knew my death would bring him, but they didn't expect me to fight back let alone win. I did my job then and protected him.'

'You also worry about Arisugawa and Kumiko.'

Kagome laughed, 'They both deserve happiness and I just want to figure out how to lead them in the right direction.'

'If it is their fate then you know that it will happen. There is nothing you can really do that you haven't done. Just as even I cannot persuade you to go to Sesshomaru and tell him our feelings you cannot persuade her to go to him. You need to let go and let fate guide them now. It is not our decision for what will happen.'

Kagome didn't want to leave it up to fate because even though she believed in it and its ability to guide us to what we need and want, fate had always seemed against her and she didn't want her friend's happiness in the hands of fate. But if it was necessary to accept it so they could go back to their body she would let go of it and allow fate to direct them.

'Is that all?' She asked.

'As long as you remember that Sesshomaru cares for us and we need to let him know that we love him then yes. I believe our body is repaired enough for us to be able to enter it and that our mind is calm enough for it to rejoin fairly simply.'

'I will make it known to him and from there I will allow fate to take over for us too. Will I still hear you when we go back?'

'Probably not, but you need to remember that I am here noticing everything else for you so if you try you can remember what I take in for you.'

'Thank you.'

'We are one in the same yet different. It is my job to take in these things for you and when we go back the mind will meld us together again so there is no one to really thank.'

Kagome smiled, happy to know that her sub-conscience took in so much. She then relaxed waiting for her mind to join with her body again. After some time she could feel something a kin to warm water flowing across her and then a warm embrace as she began to feel her body again.

~*~*~*~

Sesshomaru continued to fight on the battle field alongside his brother and Lord Kazuki.

He had told them and the others about what had happened when he got to their part of the battle field but they had stayed to fight as Kagome's friends took off to go see if she was ok.

Inuyasha would have gone too but he had asked Sesshomaru when he continued onwards, "Are not going to go back to her?"

Sesshomaru had stopped, "Why would I? She is simply my servant and has done her part to make sure that the assassin didn't get to me. She seemed to be healing herself fine, so I don't expect that she will die. Thus there is no point in my being there."

Inuyasha wasn't one that could say he knew his brother very well, but he did know him well enough to know that he was lying to them both with his statement. So he stayed in hopes that him not going would make him want to go back to her.

Lord Kazuki on the other hand was worried about what Sesshomaru would do now that Kagome had been attacked and that he had killed Yukio. He was worried that Sesshomaru may run deep into the fight to find the other leaders and take them on all by himself. So he stayed to keep an eye on him for Kagome's sake.

Sesshomaru took out another demon and then he smelt him, "Naraku."

Inuyasha and Kazuki stopped and looked towards where he had looked. Sure enough, not even twenty yards away stood the hanyou dressed in his baboon pelt with a wicked smile plastered on his face.

Sesshomaru glared at the hanyou who then let out laugh up to the sky and the demons that had been standing between him and Sesshomaru had suddenly moved out of the way of the two opposing youkai.

"So are you going to kill me Lord Sesshomaru? As you did that pathetic Yukio?"

"Yes, but unlike him you will suffer for what you have dared to do to this Sesshomaru."

"Oh and what would that be? Taking your lands? Almost killing you? Killing your pet human child Rin? Or killing Kagome, your new pet?" He said with a smile as Sesshomaru continued to glare.

"It is quite sad that I couldn't have been there. Kagome probably could have been convinced to give up to me and then she would be my pet. Mmm, yes the things I would have made her do for me and done to her. Is that why you have had her company since you went to her? Tell me Sesshomaru, did she taste as good as she looked and smelled?" Naraku asked licking his lips.

Sesshomaru then growled at him, "You will not say another word you filthy hanyou. Do not dare to say either of their names again."

"Whose names? Oh wait do you mean Rin and Kagome? Now I have taken two females out of your life away from you forever, how does it feel Lord Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru then charged at Naraku with Tokijin but the Hanyou jumped into the air then he released his miasma making it difficult for Sesshomaru to see where he had gone. Then he saw something white move and he charged at it but was stopped by Kazuki's sword.

"It is Inuyasha and I. Where has the fiend gone?"

Sesshomaru pulled his sword away and looked around, "I do not know."

Inuyasha then backed up to them, "If we keep or backs to each other he cannot sneak up on us and we will have a better chance of spotting him."

Kazuki nodded but then Sesshomaru saw white again and took off.

"Sesshomaru!" They yelled running after him.

~*~*~*~

She could feel the blood flowing a little from her wounded abdomen but she could also feel her miko powers healing herself. And as she took notice of them the healing increased and the last of the poison she could feel in her system was dissolved away into nothing.

Kagome grabbed her abdomen gasping a bit as she tried to sit up to look around now that she was back in her body.

"Kagome!" She heard from several people at that moment but as she looked around she was surrounded by quite a few people now but she noticed that Sesshomaru was not there. Sango was at her side holding Shippo.

Arisugawa was then at her other side, "You have awakened Kagome. What happened? Kumiko only was able to tell us so much."

Kagome didn't answer as she continued to look around the room. Miroku was attending to a soldier on another bed, Lady Miyuki was dabbing a cloth at Kumiko's head, and Kikyou was mashing herbs for another injured soldier, but still there was no Sesshomaru.

"Where is he?" She asked now looking to Arisugawa.

His eyes grew soft, "He is fighting. He was the one that found you and Kumiko but he left soon after."

All was quiet and then Kagome noticed Miroku lighting the lamps, "Wait, how long was I out?"

Arisugawa chuckled lightly, "Not long considering your initial wounds. The attack was only this morning and it is not getting to be evening."

"Kagome are you awake now?" Kumiko's voice came from the other bed.

Kagome then moved to get off her bed and go to Kumiko's side but Arisugawa stopped her, "You shouldn't be moving much Kagome."

"I am fine. My wound is almost fully repaired. Let me go to her side."

Arisugawa looked down at the small woman before picking her up, "Then I shall carry you to her side. You should not be walking yet."

Kagome rolled her eyes. She didn't see the point in him carrying her maybe five feet to Kumiko. He then sat her down on the edge of the Kumiko's bed and then he sat in the chair next to it and placed his hand on her shoulder, "How are you feeling?"

Kumiko smiled, "Better now that I can see that Lady Kagome is awake and seems to be getting better." Then she flinched in pain as she felt the sharp burning in her shoulder again.

Kagome looked to Kumiko's shoulder, "Did he stab you with the dagger?"

Kumiko nodded as her hand went up to her small wound, "I will be fine though."

"The poison is eating away at your body, it is lucky that more poison didn't go into the wound."

Kagome said as she placed her hand below Kumiko's. Then she made her healing powers stop healing herself and made them move to Kumiko's arm and getting rid of the poison. There wasn't much like she said so it was easy but the hard part was repairing the muscle that the poison had been eating at along with the skin and everything else.

When she moved her hand from Kumiko's arm she closed her eyes and made her powers focus on her own wounds again.

Kumiko then moved her hand from where the wound had been and started to remove the bandage.

"What are you doing?" Arisugawa asked worriedly attempting to stop her.

"No, it's healed now. I feel the poison is gone and…" She pulled the last of the bandage off to reveal blood covered skin but no break, "so is the wound."

Arisugawa looked to Kagome, "Thank you."

Kagome smiled at him as he began to move Kumiko's hair from her face as he looked at her, "See now you are better thanks to Kagome and now we can be happy together."

Kumiko looked confused for a moment, "What do you mean Lord Arisugawa?"

He laughed, "I mean that I promise from this moment on to care for you and be happy with you making sure that you are happy from now on."

Kumiko's eyes then widened in surprise as he bent down to kiss her. Kagome turned away a bit embarrassed for being so close to the two.

"About time, I was wondering when something between those two would finally happen!" Lady Miyuki said from the foot of the bed.

Everyone else laughed as they saw Kumiko blush in embarrassment now and Lord Arisugawa pulled away from her.

Kagome then got up moving slowly from Kumiko's bed before she stopped and placed both hands on her abdomen. Miyuki was about to grab her, worried she was hurt but then a blue light emitted from Kagome's hands and when it was done she was standing before them all looking much better than she had moments before.

Kagome then tightened the white kimono she wore and moved over to where her bag was. She pulled out red Hakama and put them on tying them around her waist before moving to lift the armor.

Arisugawa was standing beside her now though, "What do you plan to do?"

"I am going to end this."

"Are you sure that you should be doing this?"

Kagome smiled sadly, "I am ok now and it is what I must do."

Arisugawa then lifted the armor for her saying, "Then I will go with you. I will not let you go alone. Sesshomaru may just very well kill me over something like that."

Kagome nodded as she took the armor and pulled it over her head. Once on she tied it again and equipped her sword and dagger onto her person.

Sango stood at her side too now ready to go back to the battle field, "I will go with you Kagome."

"No, please stay here and help Miroku. They need someone here. You can help me though by allowing me to use Kilala."

Sango looked hesitantly towards the door of the tent before giving in, "Fine, Kilala go with Kagome. Protect her as you do me."

Kilala mewed and ran over to Kagome's side. Kagome smiled down at Kilala, "let us go outside then so you may transform and we will be off."

Kikyou then moved to Kagome before she left, "Here take my bow and arrows. They are strong and powerful and will help you in what I believe you plan to do."

Kagome grabbed them and asked her, "Do you believe it will work?"

Kikyou nodded, "You are my reincarnation and as such are very powerful. Believe in your powers and yourself and all will work out."

Kagome nodded and then headed for the door. Arisugawa followed Kagome as she walked outside. Then they flew towards the battle field.

Kagome surveyed the ground looking for Sesshomaru but then she noticed that up ahead there was a miasma that looked like Naraku's and many demons and samurai fighting off the soldiers who attempted to get through.

Kagome landed jumping from Kilala's back and pulled out her sword as she approached the mass of soldiers. A few stopped fighting as they noticed the small woman coming their way others started to wonder if they should eat her or take her for themselves as her scent reached their noses.

Kagome stopped and surveyed them, "All those who fight for the Lords of the North, East and West I warn you now to back away from them and fall behind me."

Some looked at her like she was delusional but then they saw Lord Arisugawa behind her and so they did as she said.

Once they backed off and she was confronted by only the faces of many low ranked demons and samurai she continued, "I am the miko Kagome. I am very powerful and lucky for you merciful. If you wish to live another day or at all value your lives you will leave this battle field now. No one will come after you and you will not be remembered when all is done here so there will be no worry."

Some of the soldiers behind her began to protest but Arisugawa lifted his hand to silence them.

Kagome surveyed those in front of her, "Then all of you shall perish? None of you will accept my mercy or the mercy of these lords?"

The suddenly a big demon in the front moved forward with his ax. Kagome held her sword ready. But then the demon bowed and dropped his weapon before leaving. She then heard startled murmurs starting all around her and then she watched as a few other demons and men did the same and others just took off running. When the last of the demons and men ran off Kagome stood there still faced with more than half of the army that was there before.

She then sheathed her sword, "That is all now, none of you will be spared you are aware?"

None of them moved as they stared at her waiting for her to do something she then decided to get it over with, "After I do this send the soldiers after the survivors."

Arisugawa nodded a bit worried about what she was about to do as she pulled out the bow and arrows that Kikyou had given her. Kagome aimed towards the middle of the mass of demons and then lifted the bow so that the arrow once released flew into the sky. A few demons laghed at her believing she had made a mistake but then the arrow came back down in the masses center and a bright light spread from there outwards engulfing her enemies. When the light died down Arisugawa motioned for the army to attack and the demons ran past her clearly surprised at her powers and ability.

~*~Inside the Miasma~*~

Inuyasha and Kazuki stopped as a bright light erupted from their left and stared hopping to see what it was but then it went away with no hint at all. Inuyasha then took off towards where it had come from followed by Kazuki.

Sesshomaru noticed the strong miko energy coming from his side and knew that Kagome must become near. Then he felt and saw her purification powers erupt also making him instantly feel like the tides in the war had turned and also happy to know she was recovering enough to manage that.

Naraku looked down at the battle field where Kagome just killed half of the army that was available to fight to keep the castle and western lands. He growled in anger realizing that the assassin had failed but then he smiled realizing that she could still use her against Sesshomaru. Since Kagome was alive, even if it wasn't now at this battle that was clearly lost as the demons killed off the remains of the defense, he could use her one way or another to kill Sesshomaru.

~*~*~*~

A/N: Again I am sorry this chapter was a bit late. Please continue to read and review.

-Vamp