"Gah…I am really starting to get annoyed with Naraku. I wish he'd show his ugly face," Inuyasha huffed.

"Oh calm down Inuyasha. You know, this infant may be the best lead yet. We have been to three different villages so far and all have reported seeing a woman carrying a strange infant. We need to keep going and see what we can come across," Miroku urged.

"Yeah well, since when has Kagra been so caught up in her duties that she failed to watch her back. I say this is way too easy. It's as though she wants us to follow her."

"Inuyasha stop arguing with Miroku. We all know how much you like traps. The bigger the better," Sango muttered.

"Hey guys! She's landed!" Shippo hollered. "There's a village up ahead! Hurry Inuyasha! You can run faster than that!"

"Oh shut up before I eat you for supper! Kagome, hang on." He picked up the pace and followed his friends down the hill, into the next village.

---

---

Come on Inuyasha. Follow me so I can get rid of this stupid infant. I have had it up to here with Naraku and I could care less what happens to this overbearing spoiled brat.

"Kagra."

"Hmm?"

"What are you thinking?"

"Why don't you tell me Hakudoshi?" she spat.

"Ha! Just don't get any ideas. You try anything stupid and your life will end this day."

-----------------------

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"You've been awake for quite sometime priestess yet you chose to stay silent. Why is that? Your mindless babbling never bothered me before." Kikyo just chuckled shaking her head.

"I was just enjoying the scenery. I've had to walk everywhere for quite sometime now and although my soul collectors are more than capable of transporting me, that is not their purpose."

"I see. However, one can't help but wonder whether or not you missed the joy of being carried everywhere."

"By carry you mean…?"

"You know what I mean."

"Is that a slippery way of asking me whether or not I miss being with Inuyasha?"

"I didn't say that."

"I see," she grinned. "So I guess what you are inquiring about is whether or not my traveling with you makes me uncomfortable."

"Something like that." She stood up on his steed and turned to face him, but he frowned. "What are you doing? You could fall and I am in no mood to go and get you. Besides, you see that vivid woman ahead of us. I do not wish for you to be spotted." Kikyo just laughed as she continued to stare the demon down.

"You remind me of him. You two are so alike yet so very different. I will admit that I sometimes miss your other half but after spending the past few days with you I have become somewhat accustomed to you and I wish to continue journeying with you long after I am healed…if that's…alright with you." She looked down towards her feet but Sesshomaru lifted her chin with his hand forcing her to look him in the eye.

"Are you afraid of me priestess?"

"Should I be?"

"Have I ever given you a reason to fear me?"

"No…"

"Then look me in the eye when you speak. It lets me know you're not afraid and I won't even bother to tell you that you have enchanting eyes." Kikyo stared at him for the longest time before a wide grin crossed her face.

"Sesshomaru, did I hear you correctly enough to assume that you just gave me a compliment? Very unlike you."

"Unless you don't know me as well as you think priestess."

"Very well," she laughed. Once again he found himself leaning in for a kiss but a big gust of wind caused Kikyo to slip. He grabbed her just in time enclosing her into a warm embrace. "I…think I'll…"

"Look what we have here." He turned her around slowly steady holding on to her waist. They both stared at the scene below them; Sesshomaru clearly amused. It was Inuyasha and his friends fighting with Kagra. "I think we'll stay back and enjoy the show."

----------------

"Kagra what's the deal with that infant. I know that infant is inside and we want to know why you're protecting it so."

"Oh you nosy monk," Kagra huffed. "That's none of your business. I will tell you this much--this infant is not the seed of Naraku."

"So…so he didn't trick some poor village girl into…"

"He hardly has the time to be engaging in such activities with women."

"Then if it's not his child why is it so important? Why does he have you watching it constantly?" Kagome asked.

"Like I said, that's none of your business."

"Kagra, there's no need to argue with them. I can take care of myself." Inuyasha and the others watched as a small boy made his way past Kagra staring them all down with a smirk on his face. Kagra just stood there horrified.

"Hakudoshi? But…how?"

"Is that the infant?" Kagome asked sliding off Inuyasha's back.

"Smart girl," Hakudoshi said with a smirk. His eyes made their way towards Inuyasha and he laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"You must be Inuyasha."

"Just who the hell are you?" Inuyasha asked.

"I am another one of Naraku's reincarnations. My name is Hakudoshi and I am going to help Naraku gather all the jewel shards and destroy you all."

"Like hell you will," Inuyasha growled. He took out his tetsaiga readying for battle. "Prepare to die you worthless…" Kagra cut him off with her dance of blades, firing them towards them.

"KAGOME…LOOK OUT!" Inuyasha jumped in front of Kagome, blocking the attack but while his back was turned Kagra and Hakudoshi made their escape.

"I SUSPECT YOU'LL BE SEEING US AGAIN SOON INUYASHA."

"COME BACK HERE YOU BASTARD!" Inuyasha shouted but they were long gone. "Dammit!" He turned to Kagome who was now leaning over rubbing her calf. "Let me take a look at it. Oh…you're hurt," he said softly. He scooped her into his arms and stared down at her, a hurt look on his face. "Kagome…I'm so…"

"It's okay Inuyasha. You can't do everything. I'll be fine. It just needs a little peroxide and a bandage. I have all that stuff in my bag." She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.

"You guys, I'm going to see if I can find us a place for the night. Sango, will you accompany me?" Miroku asked.

"Uh…sure. Shippo, Kirara, come with us." The others left them behind giving the two some alone time.

Kikyo watched as Inuyasha helped Kagome bandage her leg. When they were done, they cuddled under a tree watching Sango and Miroku argue. They looked so happy and at peace. A second later, Kagome started playing with Inuyasha's ears making him mad.

"HEY, CUT THAT OUT!" he growled, grabbing her by the arms and pinning her to the ground. Kagome pulled him into a slow, lingering kiss and he responded by running his hands down her sides until he reached her thighs.

---

---

"Priestess? Do you wish to stay or should we be on our way now? It's entirely up to you. Naraku still doesn't know that you're alive and even though I hate my brother, I'm sure he and his friends are capable of keeping you well hidden." Sesshomaru ran his hands up and down her sides. She had started to shake lightly, probably out of frustration…or possibly sadness. "Priestess?" he whispered.

"Uh…no. We should…get going. Inuyasha has his hands full and I'm sure he doesn't need me to complicate things." He can't protect us both…he won't…he's with her now and that's the way it should be.

"You sure?" Kikyo watched as Inuyasha planted kisses on Kagome's neck and she wanted to just die.

"I'm certain. Let's…let's go now please." He was willing to risk his life for her. If I was with him, would he do the same for me? Would he choose her over me?

"Priestess, I do not know what you are thinking but I don't think you should worry too much about them."

"Huh? I don't know…"

"It's written all over your face. That girl could never take your place. Inuyasha is trying to accept the fact that you are gone by burying himself in her, but in my opinion he's doing a poor job of it."

"Why do you say that?"

"I'll tell you when the time is right but for now, we must get going. If we hover too long we might be seen."

---------------------

Inuyasha tried his best to concentrate on Kagome but the look on her face was just too much. He'd stare deeply into her eyes but instead of seeing Kagome, he would see Kikyo. Of course that was to be expected being that she was after all a splitting image of Kikyo, but for some reason it was still just too much to bear. He leaned in once again to plant a kiss on her lips but his nose started to pick up something.

"Inuyasha? Are you ok?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha rolled off of her and stood to his feet.

"No…I smell something."

"Is it a demon?" she asked slightly horrified.

"I…don't know," he lied. "You should join the others. I am gonna go check it out." Inuyasha hurried out of the village, following his nose. He finally came to a dead end just a half a mile out of the village. He dropped to his knees shaking his head. No…it wasn't her. It couldn't have been because she is gone… "Kikyo," he whispered before turning and heading back towards the village.

"It would seem that Inuyasha is still in love with Kikyo," Kagome said thoughtfully. "So why won't Sesshomaru tell his brother she's alive? I personally think he wants Kikyo for himself."

"Who wouldn't? I bet she was a real beauty if she could bring a demon of his caliber to protect her like that," Haku replied.

"You would think so but I think that's selfish. I also don't know how I feel about Inuyasha's treatment of Kagome. He saved her life but all he can think about is Kikyo. Grandma Kaede, what's so special about your sister?"

"Well child I am not entirely sure but you best believe my sister was special. When Onigumo set eyes on her, he was willing to sell his soul just to be with her."

"Now that's what I call a woman," Haku said grinning.

"So Kikyo told you all of this right?" Kagome asked.

"She sure did. Some of it, I witnessed first hand and some of it I managed to get from Sesshomaru himself."

"So…what happened next?" Haku asked eagerly.

"Well…"

That infant…what is the deal? Kikyo sat at Sesshomaru's feet lost in thought. If she was not mistaken the one called Hakudoshi had been the infant beforehand. What is Naraku planning?

"I am also concerned about Hakudoshi. To have transformed into an older child that has just as much knowledge as any of us adults is unbelievable. One can't help but wonder if this infant is more powerful than the master himself."

"Yes…I was also thinking that myself. I just don't know but I have a hunch that the infant is more important than Kagra's letting on…unless she meant for us to see this today."

"What do you mean?"

"Well I am sure she didn't know we were following her but she had to have known that Inuyasha and the others were following her. Under normal circumstances she would have never been trapped like that by your brother and his friends. She's smarter than that."

"So you think she was trying to betray Naraku?"

"It seems that way…I cannot be certain though. She is after all a spawn of Naraku."

"Yes, but I believe that there's a part of her that longs to be free from such a man."

"What makes you think that?"

"It's in her eyes…just like it's in yours."

"But I don't…have a man."

"No…I suppose you don't being that Kagome has your Inuyasha but all the same it doesn't stop you from longing to be free." He sat down beside her as his steed started lowering itself to the ground. Kikyo looked around and saw that they were approaching the village that Kaede lived in.

"Sesshomaru, why are we stopping here?"

"I need to ask the old hag something. There's something that's been troubling me and I need straight answers before we proceed after Naraku."

"Oh…well okay. Well while you are talking with Kaede, I think I'll take a nap. For some reason I am feeling very weak again."

When they landed Kaede came out of her hut and greeted them.

"Well…sister Kikyo and…Sesshomaru? What a…surprise," she chuckled.

"He's been taking good care of me Kaede so do him no harm. Anyway, I need to rest now. Sesshomaru wants to talk to about some things so I'll leave you two to carry on." She bowed her head before entering the hut leaving Sesshomaru behind with her sister.

"Well Lord Sesshomaru, this is quite the surprise. Is something troubling you about my sister?"

"Let's take a walk." Kaede and Sesshomaru walked along the path in silence for a while until Sesshomaru stopped suddenly in his tracks looking up at the sky. "Kaede, you know I'm not usually one for admitting my feelings about certain things but I can't help but to wonder in reguards to your sister."

"Very well. I get the hint and whatever is said will remain between the two of us. Now tell me what's going on."

"Something is happening to Kikyo and me."

"What do you mean?" Kaede asked raising an eyebrow.

"It's not what you think. In fact, I really don't understand some things myself. Kaede, did my younger brother once say that Kikyo only smelled of graveyard soil and ashes?"

"Why yes he did. I have never been able to sense any particular smell on my sister. Then again, she's not around me enough to smell her. The few times I've been in contact with her, I've always sensed a cold auror about her and…" Kaede paused for a minute and scratched her head. "You know, now that I think about it, I did not feel Kikyo's cold presense when she walked by me a while ago."

"That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. You see…something happened the other day when I was with Kikyo and the same thing happened again earlier today. We were in the air on my steed and she slipped. I reached out and grabbed her in order to keep her from falling to her death and I…she didn't smell like ashes nor did she feel cold in any way. Why is that Kaede? Is it at all possible that Kikyo could be brought back to life?"

"Well…I suppose…but…" Kaede remained silent for a moment before Sesshomaru turned to face her.

"But what?"

"Well years ago I heard an old tale but there's really no proof that it could happen."

"Tell me priestess."

"Alright," she sighed. "Well it's really quite simple. The Shikon Jewel has the power to bring my sister back from the dead, soul and all but there's a serious stipulation as with all things. My sister knows this but I think the reason she never told Inuyasha is because he might actually consider it."

"Consider what? And why hasn't she told me about it?" he inquired. Kaede raised her eyebrows at the insistency in his voice.

"Sesshomaru, is there something I should know about you and Kikyo?"

"Just answer the questions priestess. I haven't the time to indulge your wild imagination."

"Fine then," she huffed. "Well in order to bring my sister back with her soul intact, the girl Kagome would have to die. Once the sacred jewel has been activated, both bodies would rise into the air. My sister's soul would leave Kagome's body and enter my sisters causing Kagome to become a soulless shell. She would either die or choose to end up like my sister and live off of other souls. I don't think she'd want to do that."

"I see. But there's another way right?"

"Yes but there's just no way it could ever happen so why should I even bother telling you?"

"Because I didn't come all this way for nothing."

"Well then. If you must know then I'll tell you. You say my sister seems almost human at times. Am I correct to understand this?"

"Yes."

"Alright then. Well the other way for my sister to become a human is based purely on love."

"Love?" he asked frowning.

"Yes…love. You see, if a full fledge demon happens to fall in love with my sister then she will start to lose characteristics of death such as being cold all the time. If by chance she happens to have feelings for the demon as well, then she will be very much alive. She won't have her soul so in order for her to regain it, she and the demon would have to prove their love for one another."

"How?"

"I have no idea. You'll have to figure that part out on your own but I do know this: someone has to die."

"Huh? Why?"

"Sesshomaru you of all people should know by now that nothing is free in this world. In order to receive you must give. A life for a life."

"Who would have to die?"

"I don't know. My guess would be Kagome but like I said earlier, my sister had her reasons for not telling ye. She doesn't have the heart to sacrifice someone else's life for her own, especially since she's not happy about being back here."

"I see." Sesshomaru looked up at the sky again and frowned. "We should get back priestess. Looks like a terrible storm is abrew."

"Right." They walked along in silence until they reached the cabin. When they both entered, they found Kikyo curled up on the floor next to the fireplace. She was sleeping soundly as if she hadn't a care in the world.

"Kaede, do you really think it could work?"

"What?"

"What you just told me about your sister being brought back to life."

"Huh? Are you still on that kick? Look, I already told ye that it's just a folk tale and besides, no demon except ye brother would fall in love with my sister so you best leave well enough alone. You can't help her!" she hissed. Kikyo rolled over in her sleep and started to moan. Sesshomaru quickly rushed to her side, leaning over to make sure she was okay.

"Sessho…maru…"

"I'm right here priestess. Are you alright?"

"I…" she tried to sit up but the pain shot through her body like a knife, forcing her to cry out. She placed a hand over her shoulder and squinted her eyes, forcing the tears back. Kaede took a look at her shoulder and shook her head grimly.

"There's miasma in her body. Her shoulder will never heal properly unless we get the miasma out. Help me with her Sesshomaru." Kaede handed him a wet cloth that had been dabbed in aloe vera to him and watched as he dabbed the cut across her shoulder. Immediately, Kikyo's cut began to heal. He jerked his hand back and watched as Kaede patched her up. She gave Kikyo some herbal tea to drink and it wasn't long before she was fast asleep again. Sesshomaru sat next to Kikyo staring into trancing embers of the fire.

"Sesshomaru? Are you going to sit there all night? You know you don't have to. I can watch my sister while you sleep."

"That won't be necessary priestess. I'll…"

"I saw what happened to my sister's shoulder. It began healing itself when you touched her. That could only mean one thing but are you really willing to take the risk by helping her? I've never known you to care for anyone besides yourself."

"Until now."

AN: I know. I know. It was a cliff hanging ending...or a very bad one but it couldn't be helped. I've been working on it for quite sometime but only on the weekends. It may be a while before your next update so I tried to make this one fairly long. 14 pages I feel is long enough. Gahh...This semester is such a drag:P:P:P:P Anyway, I just wanted you to know that this is still an Inu/Kik fic. It's just that I like Sesshomaru so much that I can't help but to have him all over the place and he's needed. I already had plans for him and he's very important right now. Hope you enjoyed the update and I'll update again when I can.