Author's note –

My apologies to everyone for the tardiness of this chapter. I attempted to make it longer to help hold some of you over. : ) Unfortunately, the little work I had done on it before came to a screeching halt recently when I received news that a very old and very good friend of mine was killed in Iraq recently. He was someone I knew in college and had been of overwhelming support to me in my endeavors and through quite a bit of pain, being a kindred spirit. My only regret is that I had lost contact with him for so long, for which I will be eternally sorry. So I will say this, even if it is just a small email, keep in contact with those you love, because you never know when they will be gone and you will be left with the emptiness of regret.

SGT Adam Kennedy, rest in peace my friend, you will be sorely missed. Bravo Rules The Hill.

Chapter 35

Kagome squinted her eyes against the bright golden sunlight as Sesshomaru led her by the hand through the door to the courtyard. As her eyes adjusted, the dark shapes of the courtyard walls became clearer and she could see the nearby guards bowing in deference to their presence while others scurried around the walls and gates, preparing to open them for the odd entourage that awaited outside. A thought struck the little miko and she placed a hand on the demon lord's forearm and watched as the golden eyes slowly slid in her direction and his head turned to give her his full attention.

"Sesshomaru, what if they're the same priests who attacked you?" she asked, biting her lip and gazing up at him with blue pools of worry. A clawed thumb smoothed out her abused lip before brushing her jaw gently and falling back to his side.

"This Sesshomaru has no doubt that it is the very same priests. They wish to add insult to injury by approaching my own home and demanding you be released. Hopefully, they will be more inclined to listen to reason while standing on enemy territory, but that is still to be seen," his eyes glimmered with something that she didn't quite catch before he turned away and faced forward. The small woman swallowed hard and faced forward herself, slowing her breathing and steeling herself for the encounter ahead. She wasn't entirely sure she could forgive them for what they did to the demon lord, but she knew that if things weren't dealt with diplomatically, then things could very possibly get drastically worse. These weren't traveling monks they were dealing with. From the intensity of some of the wounds Sesshomaru returned with, these holy people were powerful beings who were very much in tune with their holy powers and those powers destructive properties.

At Sesshomaru's nod the gates were unlocked and slowly began to slide open. The gates parted filling the silent afternoon air with the sounds of creaking and groaning wood. At first Kagome couldn't see anyone beyond, but as the gates parted further she caught sight of white and red robes of a handful of individuals. When the gates were finally open, a single priestess walked forward into the courtyard flanked by four priests. All wore the traditional robes fitting their stations with one exception; none of them carried staves nor bow and arrow. Every priest present had a fairly ornately decorated sword strapped onto their left hip and the priestess wasn't an exception, though hers was shaped slightly differently with different runes along the hilt. They strode forward in a formation, the priestess leading, two priests on either side, one step behind and two more a few steps behind them making a square with her slightly in front.

The priestess herself was nothing remarkable in appearance, clean black hair was pulled back into the traditional ponytail, her robes were pristine and clean, no tears nor signs of dirt or wear from travel. Her chin was held high and her shoulders squared as she marched into the courtyard, pointedly ignoring every demon present, her eyes trained unwaveringly on Kagome making the poor girl want to squirm, though she resisted the urge, meeting the woman's chocolate gaze with her own cerulean gaze.

Their odd march stopped quite a distance back, not quite in the middle of the courtyard, still quite a bit out of range of any guards as well as the ruling demon and the woman at his side. Silence reigned for quite a few moments while each group sized the other up. The priestess's eyes never left Kagome, but her entourage made sure to take note of every being in the area, including the lord himself which didn't make the lord in question all too happy. The aura radiating off the five holy beings made the guards edgy, out of her peripheral vision Kagome could see them tightening their grips on their polearms or settling nervous hands on the hilts of their swords. To the right she saw Daichi circle around and lean casually on one of the wall supports near the gate while Sho circled to the left, nonchalantly cleaning a dagger before throwing her a grin and winking. Feeling a little better, she lifted her chin a little and stared at the priestess, daring the woman to break the silence. She didn't have long to wait.

"Great priestess," the woman began with a small bow, "I am the priestess Yui of the Holy Chosen (if someone can give me a Japanese translation of that, I'd greatly appreciate it), who have been charged by the Kamis with a holy mission. Tales of your virtuous deeds are well known to me and my brethren and we have traveled here into the land of this powerful enemy because of your plight. Never fear priestess, we are here to see to your safe release and to make sure that you are free once more to continue the holy works…" the woman trailed off at the sight of Kagome shaking her head with a soft smile.

"You have my great thanks," the little miko said with a respectful bow, "however I am no prisoner here. This is my home." The monks blanched slightly, looking from one to the other in confusion and the priestess showed slight surprise playing across her features.

"But my lady," she said in an entreating voice, "surely you cannot be serious! No holy being could co-exist in the same atmosphere as such an evil presence as him," she said gesturing disdainfully to the demon at Kagome's side. "He is known for his ruthlessness and wicked deeds. The list of his murders is miles long and he shows no mercy to those he believes are beneath him," the priestess said with finality, though the subject of her tirade was standing before her as still as a beautiful porcelain statue, only the piercing cold of his gold eyes betraying his fury at being addressed so. Kagome shook her head again.

"No, I think it is you who cannot be serious. How can you as holy people be so blind and judgmental? Just because a being is a demon does not mean they are evil." Talk about racism, she thought. "You obviously know nothing of the demon lord you keep referring to in such bad terms. True, he is the leader of a land of demons, but his rule also protects quite a few human colonies. All of his unspeakable acts you keep bringing up but failing to name can all be chocked up to rumors that would obviously fly around about a taiyoukai. He has led armies into battle, and therefore, of course he has killed, but the same could be said of all of you. You have all killed demons, but you don't see those present here ridiculing you and hating you because you've killed their kind. He has killed just as many demons, perhaps more, than he has killed humans. In fact, only a short while ago, he defended his kingdom, including the ningens within, from the tyrannical rule of a demon lord who insisted on wresting his rule out from under him."

"Priestess, these are not only demons, but powerful and influential demons who kill without a second thought," Kagome felt like rolling her eyes, I don't think she heard a word I said… "They have obviously brainwashed you or have fed you lies that are too much for a pure heart," the little priestess sweat dropped.

"They have done nothing of the sort. In case you have forgotten, all my 'great deeds' that you brought up were done with the help of a hanyou, who happens to be this lord's deceased half-brother, and an orphaned fox demon. Just like humans, there are good and evil ones and the job of holy men and women is to figure out which are which, to take care of those in times of distress and assist when someone is in trouble." Priestess Yui watched her through her monologue and narrowed her eyes at the mention of InuYasha and the group she traveled with.

"By the way, great priestess, the Holy Chosen was wondering, if it's not too bold, how you continue to resist the onslaught of age. The demons you just spoke of fighting with and the evil hanyou you reportedly slain died well over twenty years ago. The tales spoke of a young woman who accomplished these deeds, though you stand before us as a young woman. The math in the tales does not add up, you should be in your late thirties or early forties. No holy spell we have heard of can accomplish this, will you please share your knowledge?" In her peripheral vision Kagome caught Sho and Daichi exchange confused glances and inwardly tensed. Barely audible whispers began to fly around the courtyard. It had been widely spread that Kagome's age had ceased because of her holy powers, now because of this meddling priestess that was blown out of the water. A lump stuck in her throat as her mind raced to come up with a viable solution, though none sprang to mind. How was she to get out of this one?

"I'm sorry, Yui-sama, that's not something I can discuss with you at this time," she said in her most polite tone and feigned what she hoped was an appropriately apologetic look. Something seemed to dawn behind the priestess's chocolate eyes and they narrowed in suspicion before turning sly. Kagome's stomach lurched at the look she saw in those sienna depths before they were dropped in a mocking bow of deference to her.

"Gomen, priestess," she began mockingly, "we have no choice then other than to assume that you have sided with evil and are therefore no longer a holy priestess." She straightened and held out her hand to Kagome, forming a holy rune with her fingers. "By the powers vested in me by the holy order I hence forth denounce you of your powers and your standing as a priestess. You are no longer considered a sister and kindred spirit, you have been made equal to the scum you defend and will therefore be hunted to the ends of the earth and eradicated with the rest of the demon filth, oh user of dark magics!" she cried in a hate filled voice.

Kagome was struck dumb at the declaration that was just made and stared on in horror as things began to move all around her. The four monks had moved forward and surrounded the priestess, their swords brought to bear before them, each facing outward from their corner. Guards all along the wall leapt into action at Daichi's tersely shouted command as clipped chants filled the air. The first guards to reach the square of monks were instantly purified and a shimmering barrier of purple and blue became visible. The monks held their swords before them like a staff; their other hands held in the form of their holy symbol before their faces, chanting loudly and holding what Kagome realized was an impressive barrier all around Yui while she knelt down and began to chant herself. Sesshomaru had moved protectively in front of Kagome when the movement had started and now held his ground, waiting to see what the holy beings before him were attempting to do.

Last minute Kagome recognized the chant of the woman before her and flung herself at Sesshomaru, wrapping her small arms around his waist and throwing up a barrier of her own, shouting a warning to all around to get out of the way fast.

Guards scrambled as the chant completed and the priestess threw out her hands at her target, massive blades of bright yellow light shooting out at them, tearing, cutting and purifying everything they came in contact with. The blades struck Kagome's barrier with a resounding crack and a bright flash of yellow and pink light. Sesshomaru braced his feet against the torrent which sizzled out as quickly as it started with an odd pop sound. The force of the powers colliding and neutralizing one another threw Kagome backwards, despite holding onto Sesshomaru and she landed on her rump behind him, her head spinning and stars swirling through her vision.

When her head finally cleared she saw the priestess across the way in a similar state of shock, having fallen forward on her hands and knees, her eyes like saucers in her head as she regarded the priestess she'd just denounced. Both of them had fallen under the sudden lack of power beneath their spells, the holy powers having completely neutralized one another, leaving nothing left behind but a very uncomfortable holy aura, uncomfortable for the demons that is.

Obviously Yui had not expected her own holy powers to be met with holy of equal power. Demon powers and dark magic are the opposite of holy and therefore create a titanic struggle when they meet. On the other hand, holy powers are like throwing water on water, it doesn't do anything other than neutralize what the other had cast, unless they were working in sync. However, Kagome surmised, judging from the state they both were in, it drains a lot out of the priestess when something like this happens. It's like having the table pulled out from under you when you're leaning on it. The power supporting you, having pulled it forth is suddenly gone and you fall flat on your face, or rear as the case may be. The priestess rose to her feet shakily and pointed a finger at Kagome.

"This is far from over, I will discover what corrupted means you use to maintain your power and I will personally bring you to justice!" the little miko's heart cried out in sadness at that declaration, "Prepare yourselves, filth! Your time will be sooner than you think!" Sesshomaru stepped forward and stared icily at the woman.

"Get off this Sesshomaru's grounds before this Sesshomaru removes your presence from this world completely," he growled out, his voice icy steel. The group backed out the gates, dropping their shield with their movement, keeping their guard trained on the demons surrounding them until they were out of sight.

Sesshomaru glanced around and took in the damage. A trail of broken dirt and rock led up to where he and Kagome had been standing and behind them the steps of the palace had taken some substantial damage and would need to be repaired immediately. A few guards were dead and others would need medical attention. Finally his attention turned to the woman who was still sitting behind him on the ground, one small hand was placed over her heart as if something hurt and she stared with wide eyes still trained on where the group had been standing a few minutes ago. In his mind, he knew the power of that attack and if it hadn't been for her quick and selfless thinking, he would have been badly if not fatally injured. Her eyes finally snapped up to his when he held his clawed hand out to her.

The little miko's mind was a whirl of all sorts of confusing thoughts. What stood out the most to her was the denouncement of her standing as a priestess. What did that mean? Did that mean she should no longer use her holy powers? Does that mean she even could? Would there be repercussions if she did? Then there was her statement of demon extermination. They really did plan on destroying every demon, down to the last woman and child. What did this mean for demons in the future? Is this why there are none in her time? Is this what happens to all of them? Is this why all evidence of demons is gone? Do they destroy everything? Down to the very last monument and book?

Her eyes refocused as Sesshomaru reached down, gently lifted her and placed her on her feet, keeping a steadying arm around her waist. His eyes held concern for her that only she could see and she smiled up at him weakly.

"I'm alright, Sesshomaru-sama, just a little shaken is all," she said quietly and he gave her a barely perceptible nod before leading her inside. The darkness and cool air of the indoors was welcoming to Kagome and she smiled weakly as Akiko/Fubuki rushed up and apologized over and over again for not being there for her lady. Sesshomaru left his miko with her over-protective servant/sword as the little woman was waving off her declarations of her horrible servanthood and headed down the hall to his office.

There was much to be done.

Seating himself behind his desk he pulled several pieces of paper out, holding his sleeve out of the way delicately, and began to pen missives and letters to his subjects and more lengthy ones for his fellow lords. The missives being sent to his commanders were simply outlining the current situation at hand and included orders to avoid all contact with such holy people. If contact was made they were to retreat immediately and inform the taiyoukai himself and if combat was forced they were to retreat to the safety of the palace.

The letters to the lords and lady outlined in detail the conversation that took place in the palace courtyard along with all the threats and announcements of extermination as well as a description of the attack and Kagome's counter. He urged the lords to cut the formalities and come to an agreement over Matsu as new lord of the southern lands and that preparations needed to be sped up. The power of this holy order was unlike anything they had witnessed or fought against before and if they were to survive, things would need to be done quickly.

Calling in a servant, the missives and letters were sealed and sent out. Sesshomaru sat back on his cushion and mulled over what had happened that day, his golden eyes falling unseeingly on the darkening sky outside. He had missed dinner with Kagome. Writing the letters had taken longer than he had anticipated. Leaning forward, he thought to go look for his small miko as he stood, extending his aura. Sensing her to be in the gardens he crossed to the window and looked out. Kagome was sitting quite a distance away on a bench deeper in the gardens with her back to him, Akiko stood nearby… well more hopped from foot to foot obviously in distress, most likely from something the miko had said, though he was too far away to hear their conversation. However, he detected in her aura waves of confusion and sadness drifting up to him, which was unusual for her, so he decided to investigate.

"Oh, Kagome-san! You shouldn't say such things! You know that's not true at all!"

"Kagome! I won't have you thinking this way," Fubuki's voice suddenly interjected from in Akiko's body. "It's nonsense and you know that!"

"For once, I agree with the idiot!" Akiko's voice was back. "It's not healthy!"

"What is not?" Sesshomaru suddenly materialized behind Kagome as he stepped from behind some bushes and came into sight of the two… er, three.

"Sesshomaru-sama!" Akiko exclaimed dropping a low bow, "gomen, I did not see you there," Sesshomaru waved her off.

"Leave us for now, she will call for you later," he said crossing in front of the miko. Akiko bowed low, cast one last worried glace as Kagome before scurrying off and disappearing. Kagome didn't look up from staring at the surface of the pond before her.

"Look at me." Kagome's eyes slowly rose from the pond until they finally met his own as he loomed above her. "What were they speaking of?" Kagome dropped her eyes. "No! Look at me." Finally her eyes came back up and she fought back the tears that threatened to fall.

"It's nothing really… I just… I just can't get… what that priestess said out of my head…" she finished lamely, her eyes entreating him to just let her brood, an entreaty that didn't go unnoticed, but was staunchly ignored.

"What about it?" he questioned and for once Kagome wished that he would just leave her alone. Sesshomaru could feel the discomfort in her aura but pressed on anyways. He knew that leaving something like what bothered her un-dealt with would just be letting it eat at her. The little woman huffed and looked away. "I said, look at me! I will not repeat myself!" he said, his voice dropping to a tone that dared her disobey him. Her eyes shot back up to him, but were filled with anger and hurt this time.

"What does it matter? So what if I'm a little depressed! Do you need to know the reason behind everything?" she snapped and was surprised when she suddenly found him on one knee before her, his face up close to hers and one hand on hers while the other grazed one cheek.

"It matters," he said, just barely above a whisper, "because I wish to know what is bothering you enough to feel it through your aura and hear it in every word." Kagome's heart thumped faster in her chest at his proximity and she felt her resolve melt. A silent tear slipped down her cheek.

"I… she… she denounced my powers," a little hiccup, "she said I'm not a priestess anymore… if I'm not a priestess, then what am I…?" she asked quietly. "What does that mean for my powers…? Can I not use them anymore?" she choked out, a few more tears falling. Clawed fingers gently brushed them away.

"Who made you a priestess?" he asked quietly. Kagome started and stared at him and he stared back coolly, his eyes fathomless pools of golden confidence. Confidence for her.

"Well… I guess Kaede did…" Sesshomaru was already shaking his silver head, the strands floating around him in ethereal beauty, each catching the light of the rising moon and kissing them in silvery blue hues.

"No, not 'who taught you,' did anyone ever say 'today I name you a priestess'?" he asked curiously, tilting his head slightly, a knowing gleam entering his eyes as he regarded her in her confusion.

"Well… no I guess not… but" Sesshomaru placed a finger over her lips before she could continue.

"No one can take away what you earned for yourself just because they name themself your equal," Kagome's eyes stared into his, the large cerulean pools showing dawning comprehension. "Just because Takehiko is a demon of great power does not mean that he has the right to tell me I am not a demon anymore. I am what I am, and you are what you are. Their misguided logic and morals demand they conquer completely those that do not think in similar paths as they do. You are a true priestess in the sense that you do not allow the way someone looks or what people say about them get in your way. You help everyone, no matter their race or status. Your very soul, little miko, is what gives you your power. Do they plan on taking your very soul away? They cannot." Kagome's eyes were overflowing with tears now and she threw her arms around her demon, nestling her head in the crook of his neck and sobbing. Sesshomaru pulled her close and settled her on his knee while she cried.

When the sobs slowed and she began to regain control of herself more questions began to arise in her mind.

"But what does this mean? Does this mean that though we both are blessed with holy powers that we are against each other? They want me dead just like all the demons, what will happen?" Sesshomaru pulled her back and brushed her moist cheeks.

"I really am not sure. I have sent letters to the other lords telling of what has transpired here. A meeting will have to occur to cement Matsu as new lord of the south as well as discuss what's to be done." Kagome nodded ruefully as she rolled things over in her mind.

"The runes on their swords…" Sesshomaru looked at her intently as she mentally formed the words, "they are runes of amplification… at least some of them. They are ones that are similar to those on some sutras to amplify the effect of a spell or a chant, allowing it to be applied to large objects like buildings. Some of the others I didn't recognize, but there were definitely wards against the aura of demons on there, as well as purifying and exorcism runes. They are definitely very serious about hunting demons. The weapons could hardly be used for anything other than demon hunting." Sesshomaru's grip tightened slightly around Kagome and she glanced up at him.

"You say 'amplifying' runes, how much do they amplify the effects?" he asked and Kagome mulled it over in her mind for a moment.

"I would say, judging from their shield and the attack she put forth, it at least doubles the energy output," Sesshomaru resisted the urge to get angry at her for placing herself in danger then when she shielded him.

"Explain to me exactly what happened when the attack hit your shield?" he asked and she blushed slightly.

"Well, I've never fought another holy person before, or rather had them attack me like that. I didn't know what was going to happen, but from the reaction of my shield and her attack, they canceled one another out. Instead of assaulting the shield until it collapsed it completely dissolved it, and it in turn dissolved the attack," she finished.

"And the end result for the casters?" he asked quirking one elegant eyebrow at her.

"Well, it's almost an outpouring of power. Holy powers have to be pulled forth and then leaned upon. When they disappear out from under someone like that, you have to actually consciously stop the flow of power and it's rather exhausting. It's like falling into a pool after leaning on something and having it not there anymore. It almost drowns you, which was why I was so disoriented," she looked up at him and winced at the smoldering look on his face. "Look, you know I didn't know that was gonna happen…" Sesshomaru calmed slightly.

"And it will not happen again either," he said with finality and her head snapped up.

"Hey! Wait…!" she began but he smoothly cut her off.

"No, and that is final. I will not have you risking yourself like that when that is what I have troops for," Kagome's head dropped. "But enough of that, I hear your servant approaching." The little miko stared at him in confusion before Akiko came into sight and fell onto her knees in a deep, face down bow.

"Gomen, Sesshomaru-sama and Kagome-sama for the interruption," she said from her position prostrate on the grass.

"It's alright, Akiko," Kagome began cheerfully.

"What is it," Sesshomaru said coldly and Kagome glared at the demon.

"Totosai-san said to fetch you both, he said he's made a break through," Akiko looked up with excitement and hope showing brightly through her maroon eyes. Kagome jumped up excitedly and dragged Sesshomaru to his feet before clapping and hopping from foot to foot excitedly.

"Oh that's wonderful!" she exclaimed before a large hand was placed on her head holding her still.

"Be still, you bothersome woman," he said curtly, "it is probably nothing, as is usual from him," he said disdainfully and Kagome glared up at him from under his hand, her hands on her hips and gave him her best 'you've been bad' glare.

"None of that, you big oaf!" she said shaking a finger at him and making Akiko go pale before swallowing her giggles. "Totosai deserves more credit than you give him! He fixed Tetusaiga just fine when it broke! Who says he can't fix Fubuki just as good as new?" she said before crossing her arms over her bosom and glared up at him, still underneath his hand.

Gripping her head, he turned her around so she was facing away from him before releasing her head with a small push and slapping her bottom, earning an 'eep' and swallowing his own mirth when she whirled around, gripping her offended bottom with both hands and glaring at him.

"Well, let us get a move on then, we do not wish to miss one single thing, now do we?" he asked, deadpan, but Kagome caught the glint of mirth deep in his amber orbs.

"Oh! You!" she stomped one little foot before turning and dragging Akiko by the arm from the gardens with a stoic youkai in tow.

Totosai turned when the shoji screen slid open and she immediately felt sorry for the poor sword smith. He looked haggard and exhausted from working night and day to find a solution for the broken sword, but she could see the excitement gleaming deep in those oddly bulging eyes.

"I think I may have finally finished my work and am ready to attempt to reattach the sword spirit to the sword," he gestured to the blade lying on a blanket not far away, it was still broken, but the metal looked slightly re-forged and shaped. The smith pulled a few more instruments as well as some incense and some other pieces for the ritual. Setting candles out all around the blanket, he asked if Akiko was ready. Akiko glanced at Kagome and the little miko smiled at her encouragingly before she turned to the smith and nodded. Kagome and Sesshomaru sat down on the opposite side of the room to bear witness and be there if something happened to help.

Totosai gestured to the blanket and Akiko lay down, her head even with the hilt of the sword with the broken blade lying alongside her. The sword smith mixed a few things in a bowl, the whole time making mumbling sounds that almost sounded like chants. After a few moments he lifted the bowl to her lips and instructed her to take a mouthful and hold it. Akiko did as she was told, her cheeks bulging with liquid and her nose scrunching slightly at the taste.

Totosai then took a flat iron for pounding metal on and slid it under the broken part of the blade, still muttering. Each piece was then picked up and placed, broken end first into a blazing hot fire until the tip glowed. Still muttering weirdly, Totosai then placed the pieces together and began to pound them with a hammer. Moments passed in which the air was filled with ringing and sparking metal. Satisfied, he put down the hammer and picked up a bowl of water and sprinkled it on, his chant getting a little louder as the metal sizzled and sparked, the newly joint metal glowing bright red in the dim light of the room. A terse order from him had Akiko swallowing the liquid. A few moments later she curled up slightly around her stomach as a wave of nausea and pain washed over her. A hand on Kagome's leg was the only thing that kept her from getting up and rushing to her friend's side, so she watched on in sad silence as her demon friend writhed slightly on the blanket. Very suddenly her form sifted, her face elongated and grew stripes, her limbs became long and limber and sprouted long claws, fangs poked from her upper lip and she transformed completely to her tiger form. Springing on her suddenly, Totosai grabbed a pair of pliers and gripped one of her fangs. The elixir she had swallowed must have dulled pain because she simply lay there dazed as he extracted one large fang and placed it gently, blood and all over the still glowing break in the sword.

Continuing his mumblings, he began to shape and pound the fang into the sword, placing it over the flames occasionally to get it hot before returning it to his anvil and pounding it some more. The water in the bowl was poured over it occasionally during this process, and from the aura, Kagome surmised it to be holy water. The sword was pounded and shaped and pounded more, run over a grinding wheel, pounded some more, heated more. Akiko lay in kind of a trance state, still in cat form, her paws hanging limply in the air while he worked.

Finally, the sword smith appeared to be satisfied with his level of work and placed the sword down on the anvil once more. Picking up a different hammer than he had been using before, he began to sing something in an ancient language that Kagome didn't understand. Akiko's body flinched before going stiff. Her paws outstretched, the claws brought fully to bear, every sinew in her body pushing up toward the ceiling as if pushing against some unseen force. Totosai began to pound on the break in the sword while he sang; though it appeared to her, he wasn't actually doing anything to the sword, other than touching it and raising the hammer again.

Suddenly, the room began to lighten slightly with a pure white light. Very slowly, a white, filmy essence began to rise from Akiko's body, having no real form other than a whispy whiteness. Achingly slowly it seemed to extract itself from Akiko's essence to float bodiless above her. As Totosai continued to sing and pound, the essence descended just as slowly toward the smith and the sword. Kagome watched in awe as what she realized was Fubuki's immortal soul lowered to hover slightly above the blade, almost consciously taking a similar shape to the object below it. With a final pound and pouring of holy water, the spirit disappeared into the sword through where the break had been. Kagome held her breath as the sword smith began grinding and buffing the sword, bringing back the beautiful, unearthly sheen the blade had once held.

With what almost sounded like a sigh, Akiko's form seemed to melt until the woman lay there once more and Kagome leapt up and knelt by her friend's side. A trickle of blood oozed from the side of Akiko's mouth and Kagome wiped it gently with the sleeve of her kimono before lifting her lip tenderly to peek in at the hole in her teeth where her canine had been. Dabbing at her face lightly one last time, she looked up to see Totosai make his finishing touches on the blade, sharpening the edge to match its usual sharpness and smoothing out the blood grooves to wavy perfection. Achingly slowly he lifted the blade to the light of the forge and inspected it, testing its balance and sharpness, turning it over and over, the blood red reflections dancing eerily along the walls.

Finally his eyes slowly slid off the point of the blade to rest on the nervous miko kneeling by her friend, companion and servant. As if moving through dreamlike water, he turned the sword and held out the hilt to her, his hands holding the blade in reverence to the marksmanship both old and new.

"Now is the moment of truth," he said simply. Kagome's heard leapt into her throat and she thought she was going to suffocate as she reached her hand out slowly, still stuck in that watery dreamlike state. What if it hadn't worked? What if Fubuki returned to the sword only to die there? She would never see him again and her sword would then be like a coffin to her. There would be no way she could ever use it again.

Gulping and taking one last deep breath, her fingers finally closed over the silk-like hilt of the sword.

(MUAHAHAHA! I was going to end it there and leave you all hanging, but since I'm having so much trouble updating on a regular basis I decided that to do that was cruel and unusual. X3 So ON WITH THE STORY!)

Kagome gripped the sword as Totosai released the blade, holding it before her gingerly. Closing her eyes she breathed deeply before settling her thoughts.

…Fubuki …?

…nothing…

Fubuki? she sent her thoughts to the sword a little more insistently.

Still nothing.

Tears began to form under her closed eyelids and her heart felt like it was in a vice, cold tendrils working their way around it, squeezing it to the point that it felt it was going to shatter. Fubuki was her brother, friend and comrade. To lose him was a much bigger blow than she thought she could bear. Tears spilled down her cheeks freely as she brought the sword toward her, gripping the hilt with both hands, settling the blade against her shoulder and holding its length against her chest. Her breath choked out of her in ragged gasps.

FUBUKI! Her mind poured out all her pain, sadness and loss from her heart directly into the sword, the blade virtually humming with the force of her despair. Totosai bowed his head in sadness and defeat and Sesshomaru was suddenly beside her, his arms around her shoulders in support in case she should need it.

….

….

Slowly … something stirred.

A small warm tendril worked its way into Kagome's mind, cool yet comforting and warm feeling at the same time, pushing through the grief that had overtaken her mind. Slowly Kagome's eyes drifted open and she gazed down through watery eyes at the blade, glinting seemingly lifelessly against her shoulder.

Fubuki…? She projected tentatively.

…

…

I was sleeping so peacefully, an achingly familiar voice sounded in her mind, why did you have to be soooo rude and yell at me? The voice sounded so soft and weak, but oh Kami, it was there! It was there! It was truly there!

Kagome hiccupped weirdly as her overwhelming joy flooded through her, washing away all her despair and grief and replacing it with a thankfulness she never knew she could feel. All at once she felt like she was going to burst.

"Fubuki's alive!" she all but shouted, making those with sensitive ears around her wince. "He's alive! He survived! He's weak, but he survived!" The small woman threw her arms wide and tackled the unsuspecting taiyoukai, who caught the slight miko in a hug that he feared might actually strangle him, the sword dangling behind him, still in her tight grip. His mind reminded him not to be jealous, after all, she had almost lost her brother, right? Elegant hands settled at the small of her back to support her as she babbled into his shoulder and hair, something about how she thought she had lost him and that he was the only tie she had to her family left. He rubbed small, comforting circles into her back as she continued to babble.

Totosai wisely pretended not to notice as he brewed a strong tea and gently, though forcefully made the still unconscious neko drink it, first making sure it wasn't too hot so as not to burn her throat. Slowly and groggily, the servant demon began to stir, her eyes cracking a tiny bit before squeezing shut, her hand going to her woozy stomach. Kagome calmed herself enough to notice the slowly stirring neko demon and pounced on the poor slowly recovering woman, babbling so quickly it was difficult for even a sharp mind and ear to pick up her words, pouring out the whole story and reassuring the obviously worried woman that Fubuki was really ok, just really tired.

Akiko's eyes blinked in utter confusion up at the panting miko before looking from Totosai to the taiyoukai. Totosai shrugged and Sesshomaru shook his head.

"Have no fear, young servant, we did not understand a word either," Akiko looked relieved and Kagome glared up at him in annoyance. Once again he was amazed at her resilience. The infuriating woman went from hopeful, to devastated, to hopeful again, to so overjoyed that she seemed drunk all in the matter of a few heartbeats… well, his heartbeats… hers were going a mile a minute.