Want to start off with the thanks. Thank you Tina-Chan 0 for your review. Thanks to Weeshnah for your kind words about the first chapter. Special thanks to Yasnactic for his return and his compliments. Sorry that I updated before you could get a word in, bya-kugan master93, but I promised to give another chapter. Ok so this chapter is going to go through the rest of the memories that Healo shows Kagome. Remember that I probably won't update till Monday because I am at my dad's this weekend. I may but very unlikely. Review!!!

CHAPTER XVIII

TAKING AN INTEREST

Kagome was surprised to find that in the next area the sky was shining brightly. She looked around for a moment before asking quietly ", Where are we now?" Her demon friend smiled ruefully and replied ", This is when I finally leave the Western Lands. Peace is secured when we finally convince the other lords of our legitimacy. So I decide that we should allow the lands to return to normal. He receives the Western Lands from his father, and I take the Northern Lands."

The miko nodded as she spotted the younger version of her friend who was walking slowly beside his younger half-brother. Kagome moved closer as Sesshomaru spoke ", You should not leave so soon. This whole agreement could be a plot by the lords to separate and destroy us." Healo nodded in admission before answering ", That may be so, but if we don't follow the letter of the treaty then they will declare war on us." The silver hair demon spoke earnestly ", But they might try to turn us against one another."

The older demon's eyes narrowed as he replied ", A traitor does not betray by accident. I do not believe that either of us would betray the other." It was a very difficult statement to contradict without bringing yourself into the question. Sesshomaru was silent for a few moments before saying ", I understand that you must go. Our joint rule is not enough for you."

Kagome was surprised at the anger that entered Healo's eyes when he roughly grabbed his younger brother's arm and shouted ", Indeed. I am not leaving in order to fulfill any ambitions of my own for these never existed, except in your own mind. I will be a wise, gracious sovereign to the Northern Lands. All else is too far for me to see."

Sesshomaru jerked his arm away and said in an accusing tone ", You may say so now, but I remember the pride that came into your eyes when my father told you who you are. How your eyes would light up when he mentioned your name. I remember your comments about me, how you always allowed MY father to marginalize, and even ignore me. Yet that is not the worst part. NO. Not only did you steal my father, but you allowed him to die; no doubt so that this would happen. You could not wait a few decades so you let him be destroyed."

Healo's eyes cooled and filled with sorrow as he asked softly ", You truly believe that? I know that there were times when I should have spoken and didn't speak. But, you cannot say that I ever did anything to purposely harm you. I have always loved you as a brother should. I had the chance, many chances, to distance myself from you and betray you in exchange for recognition of my title. Concerning your father, I tried always to be a proper son, and I will never deny that, but I could not control his feelings for you. Perhaps if you hadn't been since a weak child he would have loved you more willingly."

Sesshomaru snarled ", Weak? I am the epitome of strength!" He was interrupted by his older brother ", Perhaps physically, but you have little or no self-control as this conversation has demonstrated. How could Inutaisho love a child that was so violent and volatile?" The Western Lord's eyes cooled as, Kagome finally saw a bit of his present attitude, said ", Good. If he did not love me then it is only because he knew that I am greater than he. I will rise above him…and you."

Without another word Sesshomaru turned and began to walk into the distance. Healo seemed to awaken and said softly ", Wait! Brother!" His eyes filled with regret as he watched his brother's form disappear into the distance.

Kagome finally spoke as she said ", Why did you react like that?" Her friend sighed as he answered calmly ", Because I knew that there was a small grain of truth in his words. I did act very selfishly when it came to our father. I may not have sought Inutaisho's attention, but I did not shy away from it. I didn't try to redirect it towards my lonely younger brother. So, Sesshomaru at first responded through disobedience hoping to gain his attention, but when he realized that the reason Inutaisho loved me so was because of my talents, he grew jealous."

The demon sighed and spoke more softly ", I was still very upset about my inability to find Inuyasha and his mother. I unfairly blamed Sesshomaru for this just because I came back to rescue him." The miko said kindly ", I understand. So what happened between you two after this?" Healo smiled and said ", We were able to speak cordially to each other after this and even though both of us were too proud to say it; we both knew that we were sorry for our harsh words. Shortly after I found Inuyasha and took him and Lady Izayoi with me into the Northern Lands."

Kagome raised an eye before saying ", I can only imagine how that went with Sesshomaru." Healo laughed with a wide smile and replied ", Obviously he was rather upset with me. At first he tried to convince me to get rid of him. When I adamantly refused he suggested that I hide him so that the other lords wouldn't take offense. I took a third option," he paused and positively beamed when he said ", I personally introduced him to them. It was such a disaster that Sesshomaru threatened to cut our alliance if I ever brought Inuyasha to another diplomatic meeting."

The miko laughed approvingly as she commented ", Yah. He's not a people person." The demon lord replied in a kind tone ", How about you? Do you enjoy the company of others?" Kagome smiled as she answered ", I can usually deal with most people, but I only consider a few to be my friends." Healo smirked and asked softly ", Do you consider me to be your friend?" The miko's eyes widened but the tension was destroyed when her friend laughed at her expression and said ", My. You take people's words far too seriously. Haven't you learned that you have to judge intent by a persons' actions not their words?"

Kagome said quietly ", I think about both. I don't want a friend who will be constantly bad-mouthing me. Sure I also don't want someone who is always stabbing me in the back." Healo's eyes filled with pity as he asked neutrally ", But you fell in love with one who has done both." The miko was shocked at the statement but she responded strongly ", Yes, and I learned from my mistake." The demon continued to regard her solemnly before he said ", There is one more memory you must see."

The miko nodded as her friends eyes glowed one last time. When she blinked she found herself in a large tent. There was a small table in the middle where a slightly younger demon lord sat while reading over what looked like military reports. Healo spoke quietly ", This is only about sixty years ago. I lead a campaign against the Eastern Lord in the hopes of regaining some of my former lands. However, I was so successful that I became greedy and dived deep into other territory. That was not the only reason for the war. Bianen started the war with a small raid that resulted in the death of my mate—"

He paused for a moment before steading himself and continuing ", My grief was unbearable. Our power was undeniable and I soon took back all of my territory besides two-thirds of the land he had taken from Sesshomaru. However, as you will see I faced even more temptations." The miko turned when a servant entered the tent. His hair fluttered as he said firmly ", My lord. I group of bandits have attempted to steal some of our supplies." Healo's answer was crisp ", Have them executed and exposed before the people, to prevent any others from committing the same error."

The demon hesitated before saying ", My lord. The leader of the bandits says that he wishes to make you an offer." The demon lord did not look up from his papers as he said ", I suppose I will hear him." The servant bowed and left the tent, a few moments later he returned with a pale man behind him. Healo finally looked up from his reports as he said in a deadly voice ", Bandit, is it true that you and your…friends…were attempting to steal from your Lord?"

The man was obviously frightened but he replied calmly ", Yes my lord. But I want to make you a deal." Healo laughed in a cold tone, Kagome didn't like it at all, but he answered in an amused tone ", What could you possibly offer me?" The bandit shook as he spoke ", The lands are ringing with the sad tale of your mate's demise. However, I believe that such mourning is foolish. There is word that a powerful object called the Shikon no Tama has the ability to grant any desire. If you spared our lives, I would gladly search for this jewel so that you may revive your fallen mate."

Healo's eyes widened as he regarded the human for a moment before asking softly ", What is your name." The man steadied himself as he answered ", Onigumo." The demon lord narrowed his eyes before replying ", If what you speak of is true it will doubtless be a great temptation to a bandit such as yourself. I will free you if you will first make a sacred oath to me that you will never use the jewel, or allow another to use it, without my word." The bandit said easily enough ", I agree." Healo smiled coldly and replied ", Very well."

Kagome shook her head and asked ", So why didn't he just break his agreement." Her friend smiled ferraly and replied ", Because he could not. A demon's oath is impossible to break. That is why both Inutaisho and Izayoi made me swear to protect Inuyasha." The miko asked in confusion ", But didn't you break the oath here?" Healo sighed and answered ", I did not know that this command would endanger him so I didn't break the oath. However, I suffered pain from the close call that took place. Had he been killed by Kikyo I also would have died."

Kagome nodded and replied ", You don't know how close you've come to dieing then. Does Inuyasha know?" Healo answered ", He does not know that that is the effect of a demon's oath. I did not want him to live life on edge just to protect mine." He glanced around him and said ", Well, that is all that you need to see for now. The rest can more easily, and quickly, told than shown." Kagome sighed and said ", But this is really interesting. Can you do this with other people?" The demon lord regarded her with curiosity ", What do you mean?" The miko smiled and asked ", Can you go into other people's memories."

Healo smiled back and answered ", It must be someone that I have a strong bond to, but yes as long as they allow me in." Kagome's eyes widened as she asked ", Does that mean you know about everything that has happened me?" The demon smiled secretively before he answered ", Why do you think you're so intriguing to me?" The miko pretended to think before answering sarcastically ", I thought it was because of my personality." He smiled at her answer before replying ", True you do have a wonderful personality, but that only served to increase my interest."

Ok people another chapter done. Finally going to get back to the regular story. Going to be a very confusing situation soon. Please review!!!