Want to start out with a thanks to Kaihaku No Iroke. Sorry if I was sounding a little demanding but I was a little discouraged. I just wanted to make sure that people were still reading. Next a warm thanks and welcome back to byakugan-master93. As far as fics go my only favorite author is Striking Falcon. He has written some extremely well received fics. I love his Sesshomaru/Kagome fanfics. I would suggest that you try reading some of them. One think you will like is the use of other people's POV. Alright so this chapter will continue with the conversations in the last. Sorry I am late but I had to go to my Dad's yesterday. Please Review!

CHAPTER XVII

CHOOSNG YOUR PATH

Faustin reached out to grasp a large book as he said ", After the death of the great chieftain, Maleus went on to conquer all of the lands that are now a part of the empire." Kagome decided to interject ", Is nothing else known about their mother?" The lord of the tower blinked slowly before answering ", Like I said, she was from beyond the sea and was very powerful, but nothing else is really known about her." The miko nodded as she thought ', Is that really all there is?'

She was glad when an answer came from her friend ", Unfortunately I also know nothing else about her. I believe that she may be the key to some of the swords' abilities but I have no proof." Healo's thoughts did little to comfort her but Kagome sat up straighter as Faustin said calmly ", Maleus used Yamikura to defeat many of his enemies. At that time many of the wolf tribes and most non inu did not respect his authority. To this day, from memories of the massacre brought about by the cursed sword, not a single tribe of wolves has dared to rebel."

The miko shuddered as she tried to imagine the pain the people must have experienced. Magus asked quietly ", Surely this must have had some negative effect on the Emperor himself." Faustin nodded solemnly and said ", I personally believe that much of the early rebellion in the empire may have been caused by the sword's influence." Healo frowned and said ", But Maleus himself experienced nothing?" Faustin sighed and answered ", There seem to be two possibilities with the sword's malice. Either the bearer will remain strong and the people themselves will suffer, or he will give in to its' dark influence and begin to descend into darkness himself."

Kagome asked carefully ", Does the sword have a reason for trying to absorb more energy, or is it just that it enjoys causing destruction?" The lord of the tower turned to her with a sad expression as he said ", Both. It seeks the dark energy within souls to open some sort of portal. Where it leads is anyone's guess, but at any rate this is not something that we wish to find out. Better to destroy the sword and prevent it from completing whatever design it has." A respectful silence followed this analysis for a few moments.

The Northern Lord straightened and asked firmly ", Is there anyway to limit the swords influence?" Faustin shook his head and said wearily ", If the sword is used to kill it will absorb some of the evil energy within the victim's soul." Healo's eyes flashed as he said ", So it must perform the kill to claim the soul?" Faustin hesitated before answering ", I see what you may be thinking but if you even weild it, the sword will slowly gain energy from the darkness within yourself, and then use that to gain influence over you."

Healo came back immediately ", What if it were discarded before it absorbed enough energy?" Faustin frowned as he answered ", You cannot possibly understand the allure of that sword. Once you possess it you will never desire to be parted from it." The Western Lord asked in a quiet tone ", Is there anyway to destroy the sword?" Faustin seemed to ponder the question before answering ", Yamikura has the power to pierce through any material in the physical or spiritual world. It cannot be destroyed by anything that comes from either of these."

The miko considered the answer as she waited for someone to continue speaking. She wasn't surprised when Inuyasha said confidently ", Well I still think that Healo's right. Find the sword, destroy Naraku, and then worry about this stuff." Faustin's eyes narrowed in annoyance as he said ", It is a foolish path." He paused as he turned back towards Healo with thoughtful eyes ", However, the minister cannot command his prince. I have decided that I cannot hold you here against your will, but I would beg you to find some other way to destroy this demon. Yamikura is too seductively powerful to be wielded safely."

Healo gave an understanding nod but did not break eye contact. Soon Faustin turned away as he said ", The Ellios Mountains are a days march from Maleon, the capital of the empire, but no one but the Western Wolves allow none to enter into them. This is because on the other side of the mountain is the area that was used to house many secret imperial records and the families histories. You may find some clues to the sword there."

Sesshomaru asked with suspicion ", How is it that none have ever found this land if it is held within such a large territory. Those mountains are the longest chain in the empire." Faustin did not hesitate but instead responded ", The wolves keep out all who come there with evil in there hearts. The others are kept within the sanctuary." Healo smiled and said ", I thank you for your aid. Without you and your men, my companions and I would be dead or worse." The lord of the tower smiled weakly and said ", It was my greatest dream to somehow aid the imperial line. I have gained a great deal of wisdom from my solitude, but I had not yet found an opportunity to aid the woe stricken house of Maleus."

The Northern Lord shook his head as he said ", Then you must wait longer. I still have no concrete proof of my claim. Now I am not even a member of one of the families." Faustin shook his head as he responded ", Whether or not you can prove your lineage to me you are the rightful emperor. I am sure that in time you will find enough support to claim the title and restore your ancient house to its' proper place. So I assume that you will help provide troops to protect my people."

Healo did not answer but turned to the Western Lord who said confidently ", It is acceptable. I will instruct my admiral to make a naval camp in your kingdom along with a port so that you may begin construction of your own fleet." The lord of the tower smiled as he said ", That is more than I expected. I am grateful for the aid you will supply. So may I prepare rooms for you?" Kagome felt some slight irritation when Inuyasha said ", No. We need to find that sword so that we can finish Naraku off. We don't have time for that."

The miko was surprised when she saw the others nod in agreement. 'I don't think I could manage to even walk back to the ship,' she thought as she imagined the grueling march. Kagome realized the mistake when Healo turned his piercing blue eyes upon her. For a moment he only stared before saying firmly ", That would be unacceptable." When Inuyasha and the others turned to the Northern Lord with confused looks he explained ", It would be improper for us to deny our friend the right to host us." They seemed to accept the answer as they turned back towards Faustin.

Kagome sighed as she thought sarcastically ', Good save.' Her friend smiled as an answer came to her ", It is one of the responsibility of a demon to care for the needs of his intended. Besides what good would you be to us so exhausted. Plus I have no desire to deal with Inuyasha's reaction to your complaints had we pressed on." The miko huffed as she thought ', Well I would hate to be an inconvenience for you.' The demon lord blinked and responded in an apologetic tone ", It would be no problem for me, but the last thing we need is an irritated miko and hanyou."

Kagome smiled slightly at the apology before another response came ", Besides you become very headstrong when you're irritated. That could be dangerous." The miko didn't know whether to feel touched or irritated at his concern but she thought ', And how would you know that?' Healo smiled secretively as a response came ", I rather enjoy sifting through your memories in my spare time. Far more uplifting than constantly brooding on the troubling past or the uncertain future."

She thought that this was a very kind thing to express but she thought ', Is there anyway to block my thoughts from you?' Kagome looked at her friend who seemed to become more serious as he thought stiffly ", A miko of your power should be able to concentrate enough to block my probes." The miko thought with exasperation ', You know that I haven't been trained.' Healo smiled and the response was bright ", I did notice that you have received some instruction from Lady Kaede."

She was surprised as she thought ', You know her?' The Northern Lord closed his eyes as the response came ", I met her when I learned of Inuyasha's fate. When I came to visit him I left the rod of the Northern Lands there. I came as often as I could, since I had to sneak away from Sesshomaru because I was serving him at the time. She became a kind of friend of mine. I had met her when she was very young. Kaede's village was one of the few within the radius of the Great Forest so it used to be apart of my own territory that I took from Sesshomaru. Kaede's village supported my army by providing supplies and guards for my lands. Whenever I visited I would take care of any bandits or petty demons in the area to help her. The last time I visited was only a few years before you unsealed my brother."

The miko nodded in understanding. She was surprised when a reply came ", One thing that I found very unsettling, when I began looking through your memories, is your belief in your own insignificance. Don't you realize how special and precious you are Kagome? Surely you realize how many see you in this light." Kagome glanced up at him to find a very serious expression on the demon lord's face, but his eyes seemed to soften at the sight of her. The miko sighed as she thought ', What are you? Why can't everyone else think like you?' Her thoughts focused on Inuyasha.

Healo's response was firm ", Be glad that they do not. One can only gain this through great trails and many mistakes. I have yet to completely pay for mine, but I hope that you will begin to see yourself in this light." Kagome did not respond but turned to follow her companions out of the room. Once she was alone she sat in a corner of her room and thought about everything she had seen and heard over the last few days. So many strange experiences and so many different ways of thinking had been exposed to her. She had come to see that none of the brothers were as simple as they seemed. 'How am I ever going to make a choice when there is so much to learn about them,' she thought quietly.

Healo's POV

The wind swept through his dark hair as he watched the silent flight of the moon. He was standing on the very top of the ancient tower as his friends slept through the night. Graceful beams fell down among the sleeping homes and trees of the peaceful kingdom. However, Healo's eyes held no peace but a storm of emotion which he struggled to fight through. 'Is this not a betrayl of Avia? Surely if I was only doing this to aid Kagome there would be no issue, but is that the only reason?' As he watched the sunrise he still had no answer.

Sesshomaru's POV

Within the confines of his room the demon lord pondered over his mate-to-be's actions from the last few days. ' In all things she acted with poise and authority. She is exactly what I desire in a mate. It cannot be helped that my brother's hold feelings for her. In the end emotions will only betray you. Perhaps it is best that I be the one who delivers that blow,' he thought stonily, but his golden eyes flashed once, and showed the uncertainty that lay within.

Inuyasha's POV

The wind tussled the white strands fo the hanyou's hair as he attempted to rest in the arms of a solid tree. However, Inuyasha could never seem to bring himself to sleep. In his dreams he faced an aweful choice that he knew was only a portent of an actual choice he had been holding off. The laws of nature dictated that neither could truly be complete while the other was alive. Eventually he would have to make his choice. No matter who or what stood in his way. He knew what he had to do; even if it meant turning against the brother who had cared for him.

Yay! I think this is the longest chapter so far. The title is talking about how they had to decide what to do about Yamikura and their own choices. Ok so like I said sorry about the lateness. Please let me know what you think. I tried to begin moving back into the internal conflicts in this chapter so let me know how I did. Unfortunately I will be at my Dad's this weekend so the update will be Monday. Next chapter will be the return to the West where they will find a surprise. Hope to hear from all of you. REVIEW!!!