Summary: She was given to him, meant as a slave, but he freed her. How was he to know that she would change everything that everyone ever knew?

Aqua eyes rimmed in black snapped open as the small body pressed to his moved closer underneath the blankets due to the cool wind wafting in from the open balcony. The girl-Kagome, she had said her name was-had begun to tell him a story once he explained to her that he could not sleep. Instead of gaping at him, she just smiled softly. Did she even know that he was a monster? No, no she could not know. Oddly enough, he didn't want to be seen as a monster in her eyes.

"Then…how about a story?"

She told him the tale of a Jewel of Power from long ago. Her voice wove him images of the Shard-Hunters as well as of the dark hanyou and his detachments. For hours she spoke, until the lids of her eyes began to flutter, heavy with sleep. She had only started telling him how the dying Wind Witch had made her way to the Shard Hunters. It was then that her words began to slur and she fell asleep against him. After a minute or two of watching her sleep, his own eyes fell closed. Somehow, this girl had cured his insomnia.

He had a peaceful, un-tormented sleep for the first time in nearly forever.

He would have to keep her…

She did not fear him. She was not disgusted by him. His touch did not repulse her, after she had thrown her arms around him; she had remained close by and even in her sleep, had curled up close to his body, seeking warmth.

Shukaku's voice whispered once more in his mind, repeating what had been said earlier and agreeing with him.

Precious.

He stared at her as she slept, her dark hair had escaped from its ribbon and was covering her face, tickling her nose, it seemed. When he reached out his hand, to move the hair away from her face, he paused. Overlaying on her sleeping image, he had seen her covered in blood

The moment the spell tablets had been removed from Kagome's person, several figures in the Makai straightened in shock. Whispers of 'Mama', 'Imouto' and 'Nee-chan' filled the air as jewel-like eyes widened in disbelief and hope that had been forsaken was renewed once more. Pulses quickened and hearts beated faster than they had in centuries.

"Oi! Fluff-butt! Ya felt that?" A barefoot hanyou skidded into the study of his older brother, paying no heed to the vein that was ticking dangerously in his older brother's forehead.

"Yes."

"Then what are ya waiting for!" The hanyou crouched beside him and spoke after his brother had decided to not elaborate on his plans.

"The mortals will attack you on sight. We must first negotiate with them." A sneer graced the flawless face as he continued writing out the letter to one of the human leaders. He had wondered, at first, to whom to write to, and had decided on the Hokage of Konoha. She was one of the more open ningen leaders that ruled the humans in their world.

"Aw come on! They've changed! They're not that bad anymore!" A groan escaped him and he seriously considered banging his head on the marble floor. Why was his brother so anal retentive about everything? Here was Kagome, their beloved little one, free after all this time, and he was worried about getting attacked by humans and negotiating with them? So, of course, he had to open his mouth and set himself up, fearing for his life once more.

"And you would know that how?" The pen was set down and a glare that could have killed one thousand fixed itself upon the hanyou. Unfortunately, after having glared so much at his brother, he had developed a slight resiliency to its lethalness.

"Uh, well, you see-" Ears having been flattened against his skull, he was saved from answering by the group that burst in. He sighed in relief and hid behind a young woman with dark hair and dark eyes who carried a crème colored two tailed cat in her arms. With gleaming crimson eyes, the cat watched him curiosity and meowed while the young woman who carried the cat merely rolled her eyes at the young man was behind her.

A lone figure in the back of the oddly matched group of eight that had entered spoke, gaining the attention of all. Emerald eyes that had been dull with grief for so long brightened once more. His voice, which before had been cold and emotionless, similar to the Daiyoukai who sat behind the desk, was filled with exultant joy and hope. He fair trembled with excitement and happiness.

"Sesshomaru, Mama's free."

Kagome was curled up in the Kazekage's office on a large, silken cushion that was a vibrant sea-green, a book clutched loosely in her right hand. Eyes of a similar color to the cushion watched, fascinated, as her fingers drew patterns on the cool marble floor. Archaic symbols of water, fire, earth and air were drawn onto the ground deftly and unconsciously. He wondered as to where she had learnt such things, for those symbols were rarely seen outside of ancient temples and forgotten scrolls long buried in the dust and ashes of time.

She was an odd creature, all secret smiles and soft touches that lessened the lust of blood and hatred inside of him. When she woke up in the morning, her odd eyes a flickering grey in color; she had smiled unabashedly at him. During the night, she had moved even closer to him and had used his chest as a pillow. He hadn't pushed her off. Nor had he wanted to. Such a strange little creature…so happy because he said that she was to be his friend… The spell tablets had been removed from her body, so why did she not leave during the night?

Shukaku remained silent and content within him, the malicious voice that he had been so accustomed to hear urging him to cause mayhem and destruction had vanished at her presence.

Gaara turned his sight away from her and concentrated on the reports that his brother and his sister had submitted early in the morning. The merchant was a fool whose time would soon be up. The last vestiges of his father's cruelty would be wiped clean.