Wow! This is amazing! My Beta, Hitomi1995, is the best! I write a chapter she checks and sends it back to me the next day!! What more can you ask for!

Well here is the next installment of the story! Thanks to those of you who have reviewed and told me you liked it. Your praise is like an energy drink and I'm on a buzz at the moment! Keep writing and reading of course!!

I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters! Feh! That hurt even to say! ;)

Kagome bent down over the fallen toad.

"He's ok! Just exhausted."

Straightening up, she walked to stand in front of Sesshomaru. Lifting a hand she traced her finger over the small frown wrinkle that had formed between his eyes.

"This Sesshomaru is not pleased."

A small smile crept over Kagome's face.

"I can imagine! You do tend to get upset if things don't go the way you planned!"

Dropping her hand, she moved even closer till she could rest her cheek on his chest.

"You need to go...I'll be fine, I mean you should know that best of all...and Rin needs you now more than I do ...but you will be back for me won't you?"

He could feel the slight tremble going through her body and lifted his arms to pull her close. Dropping his head he took a deep breath of her wonderful scent.

"There is nothing that could keep this Sesshomaru away from you know?"

"What do you mean?"

"This Sesshomaru needs to talk and explain a few things when he comes back. For now it must wait."

With a last sigh he let her go, picked up the still unconscious Jaken and sped away.

For a moment Kagome was filled with a sense of foreboding, but it faded as she thought what today would entail.

Turning away from the spot where she had hopefully made a connection with Sesshomaru, she started walking back to camp. She had nearly reached their clearing when she finally realized that she had been feeling a familiar presence close by.

"You can come out now Kikyo!"

The dead Miko stepped out from between the shadows, her soul catchers floating around her like ribbons in the wind. Her eyes reflected a deep concern.

"I was not aware that you had a relationship with the Lord of the West."

It sounded like an accusation.

"Well did you expect me to wait around for something that would never come. Kikyo you must be the most stupid person in the world. Inuyasha is not capable of loving anyone else but you. Kami help me, but I had to learn that the hard way!"

There was a note of bitterness that Kagome tried to squash even as she thought of what had happened.

After she had made her agreement with Sesshomaru that time, he had left shortly after with only one word of explanation.

"the half-breed"

Kagome had watched him leave and wondered if maybe she had done something stupid. But hey what was done was done.

She wasn't sure if she really wanted to see Inuyasha again so soon, but she knew she would go back with him anyway.

He had landed in the clearing and turned to look at her. His expression was blank. No apology. No word of comfort for breaking her heart once again. Nothing.

And that had been worse than anything she could have imagined. It had shattered anything and everything she felt. It left her feeling numb.

He had turned around, so she could get on his back. And she had done it. No words passed between them.

At camp she got down and moved to her sleeping bag. She got in and waited till the others woke up.

It wouldn't be long since it was nearly dawn already. She had spent the night in Sesshomaru's arm. As she lay there, she pushed all thoughts of Inuyasha and his betrayal away. She would much rather think of her night with the demon Lord. He had been kind and gentle. Something she had been told he never could be, but he had proven all that wrong.

As the others started to wake up and the morning sounds of them getting ready filled the clearing she too got up.

She started making breakfast like she always did, but could not bring herself to chatter and smile like always. Inuyasha had taken something precious from her, her ability to feel happy.

The others noticed the lack of cheerfulness coming from Kagome and the silent brooding Inuyasha but wisely said nothing. It would seem like another fight had happened. But then again Kagome's behavior was slightly different. She answered all their questions but that was all.

As they were packing up, Kagome approached Sango.

"Sango could a please travel with you and Kirara."

The request was asked in a voice void of emotions, but the red ringed eyes told Sango all she needed to know. Her sister was hurting badly. Something worse than normal had happened. So she just nodded.

As they climbed on Kirara's back all that was heard from Inuyasha was a "Feh".

So that is how it continued. Over the next weeks and months Kagome slowly recovered her cheerfulness, but there was still a decidedly cold feeling between her and Inuyasha.

All become routine as the search for the splitters and Naraku continued.

He had never apologized and she had put it and him behind her. Their friendship had dissolved as well. Now they were only acquaintances on a mission. The feeling of betrayal never completely faded, until she thought of Sesshomaru.

"Would you like to come back to camp with me?"

Surprise covered Kikyo's face at Kagome's sudden invitation.

"You would not mind me there? I have tried to kill you and the other's numerous times."

"Do you want to fight Naraku for what he did to you?"

"I do!"

"Then that is enough for me!"

With that she continued back to camp, Kikyo falling in beside her. That is how the others saw them.

It was only at that moment that they realized there was something very different about Kagome. She walked with self-confidence. Like a person secure in who they are and in what they can do. Next to her Kikyo faded into the background. That is to say that everyone but Inuyasha noticed this. He only had eyes for Kikyo.

"She has come to fight with us against Naraku."

With that she walked to where the others were. In a flash Inuyasha was with Kikyo.

The others looked to Kagome, but she just shrugged.

"Is everything ready? I want to get this over with!"

Sango just nodded.

"Are you sure about this Kagome. Can we really just trust her?"

"She has as much right as the rest of you to fight Naraku. I think she will be more inclined to now anyway." With that she pointed her head in their direction.

As Sango, Miroku and Shippo turned to look, they saw Kikyo wrapped in Inuyasha's arms. One of her hands cupping his cheek. They quickly turned away, partly in disgust and partly out of respect to Kagome.

"Lets go. They'll catch up when they're done."

With that she started walking away from the clearing and in the direction of where the battle with Naraku was going to take place.

The others quickly fell in behind her. Surprised by the commanding way she handled herself today.

Soon, all that remained to symbolize people had been there was a couple embraced in each other's arms.