AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ok sorry this is late. Plot bunnies abandoned me, I went on vacation, then had writer's block. I just really didn't know how to start or end this chapter. Anyways thanks to Magentapanther for favoriting my little story.

As always I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA... But I do own Sakura.

She had awoken, like so many nights before, mere hours after falling asleep. She had dressed, grabbed the sai, and practically ran to the training field. It had been almost a month and the images were still fresh in her mind. The screams of her loved ones still bellowed in her ears, waking her from slumber. As a result she hardly slept or ate. Instead, her days and nights were spent running through the kata she had learned in her youth. Which is what she was doing now, the sun threatening to rise. Sakura stopped to watch it.

I should go back inside. Maybe I'll be able to eat something.

But she didn't move. Her body rooted to the spot.

"Thought I'd find you here."

Inuyasha had found her.

"Couldn't sleep again?"

She said nothing as sheathed her sai and started to walk back to her rooms.

That was another thing that had occurred since the cave, or more accurately, not occurred. She hadn't spoken since then. Not that everyone hadn't tried to get her to talk, they had; its just that she still wasn't ready yet.

He grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"You need to talk to someone."

She pulled her arm out of his grasp and marched away. He didn't follow. She only stopped once she got to her rooms. Closing the door she leaned against the frame, she looked about her room. It was similar to that of her eldest brothers; simple furnishings just more feminine and using pastel pinks, blues and creams while his was more deep reds, and dark blues with touches of golds. She pushed herself from the frame, and started towards the connected springs, stripping along the way. She settled onto the spring and closed her eyes, allowing her strained muscles to ease. Within moments she was asleep.

Sesshomaru had stood on the balcony watching her for hours. She obviously knew what she was doing, and was a master at it. He knew she wasn't sleeping nor did she eat at meal time. He knew her body wouldn't last much longer if she didn't eat or sleep. He could see the lagging in her limbs and her failing step as she ran though kata this morning.

"She still not sleeping?"

Inuyasha had walked up behind him.

"No. She's still not talkin' either. Kagome tried to talk to her last night about us and our travels with the Shikon Jewel. Got no response from her. She can't continue like this."

Sesshomaru turned away from the balcony. He had a plan. He would force Sakura to eat and sleep. He was Alpha, she was bound to obey his commands.

"Come."

Inuyasha followed him to Sakura's rooms. Pausing momentarily at the door, they heard a faint gurgling noise coming from inside. The siblings glanced at one another before pulling open the door and rushing to the spring.

Sakura was being held down in the water by a man. He was kneeling over her, knees braced on either side of her ribs; hands around her throat. Her hands were around his wrists in an attempt to pry them off. Just as they were about to intervene, Sakura threw her legs up and wrapped her ankles around his neck and pulled with all her remaining strength. The man split in half, crumbling into clay. Sakura came up coughing and sputtering, trying to draw breath and retreated to the far side of the spring, climbing out.

"What -cough cough- was -cough- that thing-cough-?"

Inuyasha reached her first.

"No clue. Are you ok?"

He knelled next to her, wrapping a towel around her shoulders. She had her hand wrapped around her throat and was still coughing. She nodded, then winced at the pain the movement caused.

"It was a golom."

Sesshomaru had joined his siblings on the floor. He grabbed Sakura's chin with one hand and her wrist with the other, he forced her to bare her abused flesh, earning a second pain-filled hiss at the movement. He could see the black and purple bruise forming on his sister's alabaster skin.

"Tell me what happened."

Her coughing having subsided, she told him keeping her sentences short and to the point.

"I fell asleep in the bath. I didn't hear him come in, nor did I smell him. I woke up when he wrapped his hands around my throat and drug me under. You saw the rest."

He released her, turning to pull a large piece of clay from the spring. He called for Isao, the head of security for the palace. He arrived moments later. He glanced about the room, taking in Sakura, still naked and wet lying on the floor and Inuyasha, trying to get the towel to cover his sister more, though it barely covered anything. He executed a quick bow.

"Yes my lords?"

Sesshomaru tossed the clay into Isao's chest.

"Find the maker of this golom. Then destroy them."

"Yes my lord."

He made another bow and left. Sesshomaru turned back to his sister.

"You will stay by my side until the matter is resolved. You will eat properly, and you will sleep in my rooms. You are not to go out of doors alone. If you feel the need to train, you will spar with either myself or Inuyasha."

"Why?"

Sesshomaru didn't reply to her question, but left to give instructions to the housekeeping staff.

He felt it when his golom was destroyed. The last image it shared was her face contorted in pain beneath a watery haze. He needed a new plan. He needed the woman.

A wicked smile graced his lips as a plan formed in his mind.

After being dressed and moved into Sesshomaru's rooms, she was escorted to the dinning hall by Inuyasha and Kagome. Sakura was tired of hearing about her sister in laws adventures, but she was too polite to say so. She knew Kagome was only trying to cheer her up by talking about her family and how she came to be in this era. It made her think of her little brothers and how she will never see them or her newly discovered family again.

Oh I wish she'd stop talking about that well... Wait, well? What well?

"Kagome."

"Yeah?"

"Can you explain that bit about the well again? I don't think I fully understand what happened."

"Honestly neither do I. All I know is that on my 15th birthday Mistress Centipede pulled me down the old well at the shrine and I wound up in this era."

"So the well is a time portal?"

"Basically, yeah. But it doesn't work anymore."

"Why not?"

"Don't know. I mean after we defeated Naraku, Inuyahsa and I were forced back to my time and then Inuyahsa was pushed back here. For three years the well didn't work, then it decided to work one final time and I was able to come back. During those three years both of us tried to get back, I even broke my ankle trying to get back."

"So you never were able to control it?"

"Nope."

"I'd like to see the well."

"Hell no! Sesshomaru said that you were not to leave."

Inuyasha finally joined the conversation.

"Actually he said I couldn't leave with out you or him to escort me."

"Keh. It doesn't matter. I'm not taking you and he's not gonna either. So don't even think of asking him."

"We'll see about that."

Sesshomaru walked into the dinning room, sat down and signaled the start of the meal. Everyone ate in silence.

At the end of the meal, of which Sakura was forced to eat everything Sesshomaru put on her plate, they left for his study.

She didn't know if she would be able to reopen the well, but she was willing to try. And before she could try, she needed to learn more about the abilities she possesses.

After skimming though the books and scrolls that were in Sesshomaru's study, Sakura determined that there must not be any material on her abilities or even half Kami, half human children existing. So she decided that she should try to dig up her mother's memories, hoping that they would be able to give her some insight. She found a secluded corner and sat in the lotus position, palms turned upwards on her knees, closed her eyes, and started her breathing exercise that would lead her into a deep meditation.

Sesshomaru had watched as she went though the materials on each shelf only to settle into a corner and meditate.

She is looking for something. But what?

He, briefly, entertained the thought to ask her but decided against it. He had too much work to clear from his desk and his sister was safe, that was what mattered.

She was in the field again. Only this time there was no memories playing out her past. She sighed. She had hoped her mother's memories would guide her, but to end up here, it was not where nor what she wanted. She plopped don to the grass with another sigh, grabbed some nearby wild flowers and began a crown.

"You used to do that when you were younger and were nervous or angered."

Sakura stooped her movements twisting around and came face to face with her mom.

"Mom...?"

"Yes, dear."

"Are you real?"

Her mother laughed softly, her voice calming her frayed nerves and granting her reassurance.

"Yes. I'm real. Though I'm more of an echo of a memory, but real none the less. I see Toga showed you the vision."

Still in shock Sakura responded.

"Well It wasn't Toga, exactly. It was his clone. But yes, I did see."

"And?"

"And I have no fucking clue how to stop it! Why did you bring me into this world if I can't save them? Did I only find them just to loose them? And what about the boys? Will I ever see them again?"

"Calm down child. Yes, you are meant to save them. Your brothers and the rest of the yorki and humans that love and support them. You will see the boys again too."

"How?"

Sakura whined and tears started to prick at her eyes.. She felt so lost.

"It's here in your mind. All the power you need to go see the boys, and save your brothers is here. Search your memories; not mine, yours. You will find the answer there."

"I still don't understand."

"I taught you many things, all of which you will need here and now."

Sakura started thinking of all the lessons her mom gave her or drug her to. Then one particular memory came into focus. She was 7 and was sitting on her mom's lap. She was telling her a story...

**Memory starts**

"Once upon a time long, long ago, there was a beautiful young girl. She was smart, kind, and had a heart full of love. She loved her family very, very much. But a sadness would soon darken her world, for her parents died. Her mom left her a bracelet that she always wore. The bracelet had a magical ability that would only activate once she wore it. So lost in her grief she didn't notice that when she put it on she had been transported to the far distant past. She was found by two young men, who as it turned out were her brothers. AS she traveled with them she discovered a prophecy. One that spelled the death of her new-found siblings. But she would not let it come to pass. She pulled her strength and was able to send them to safety. However the power that she used was more than her body could hold. It left her so weak she died."

"Mommy that's sad!"

"I'm not done yet, dear.

Now, while the girls body gave up her spirit did not. In fact, her spirit went to where she had sent her siblings and it stood guard over them. Watched and protected them form harm."

"Well that's a little better. But why did the girl have to die?"

"It was the only way that her magic could work. To save a loved one from death, an alternate life must be offered. Its how the world keeps balance."

Sakura looked down in thought. She didn't like the idea of the brave girl dying. But she understood the lesson her mom was trying to teach her. In fact it was the girls death which made her brave. She was willing to risk her life to save her family.

"I understand, Mommy. I'm gonna go find Daddy, he should be home by now."

Sakura wiggled off her mother's lap and headed for the door.

"Just a moment, dear."

Sakura turned bat towards her mom. Obediently waiting for her mom to continue.

"If you ever need a refresher on any lesson, I have them all down in these journals. Take care to remember that."

Her mom had swiveled the chair to place her hand on the leather bound books behind her.

"Yes Mommy, I'll remember."

Her mom smiled at her and motioned her to leave.

**End Memory**

"That solves my 'save the family' problem, but what about seeing the boys?"

Sakura turned back to her mother, who smiled again, knowing her daughter remembered the story.

"You have the power. Force it to your will."

And with that her mother faded away.

I can force the well to work? Hmm... That's an interesting idea...

With that thought she pulled herself from her meditation only to find Her brother's and Kagome staring at her. She quirked her eyebrow, in a very Sesshomaru-like fashion, at them.

"God's Damn-it! Stop doing that! You look too much like that asshole when you do that."

Inuyasha was clearly in good mood.

"Welcome back, we were getting worried about you."

Kagome's soft voice flowed with concern and relief. Sakura started to get up from the floor. She was hungry, tired, and wanted a bath.

She moved to go fix each of those issues when the smell of food stopped her as much as the threatening growl from Sesshomaru did. Turning, she glared at her brother. She did not want to put up with the Alpha, nor did she wish to challenge him. She lowered her gaze and it settled on the plate heaped with food. Her stomach growled.

"Eat."

That singular word from Sesshomaru was filled with a command she could not ignore. Not just from her stomach, but her basic Inu instincts. So she once again, plopped down on the floor, this time by her brother's side, and began scarfing down the food.

Seeing that she was eating Sesshomaru turned once again to Inuyasha ans Kagome.

"So she was interested in the well?"

"Yeah, she wants to go to it."

"Hello I'm right here!"

Sakura had a mouth full of food and was staring right at the hanyo.

"Why do you want to go there?"

Sesshomaru's voice was full of authority. Sakura swallowed what was in her mouth and licked her lips.

"I want to see if I can cross back. I miss my brothers."

"But the well is sealed. It won't open again until 15 years after I'm born."

"I'm aware of that, Kagome. But I think I can force it to work, just once, for a round trip. I need to see them. Mom's bracelet took me away so suddenly, I never had the chance to tell them bye. I need that closure. You must understand."

Kagome looked down into her lap. Thinking back to after the battle, the well sending her and Inuyasha back to their respective times. How she mourned the loss of him for 3 years before the well reopened again. She looked back into Sakura's pleading eyes. She understood.

"Sesshomaru, I think we should let her go. I don't know what I would have done if the well still hadn't refused to let be back that last time. I'd probably still be sad over losing Inuyasha and the rest of my friends."

"Do you not morn for your birth family now?"

"Yes, but I had been saying goodbye to them for years. Ever since I first fell down the well and every time afterward. I could have died at any point in our adventures so I made sure to tell them goodbye and that I loved them."

Sesshomaru sat thinking about how the little miko made sense. He saw how upset Sakura had gotten in the cave when she talked about her younger brothers. And from the conversation him and his brother were having before Sakura had come out of her trance, Kagome's time didn't have any demons. But that did not mean that it was completely safe. After a few moments consideration, he decided. He focused his gaze on his sister.

"We will escort you to the well."

Sakura visibly brightened.

"But you will also make it so that Inuyasha, or myself can go with you."

Kagome frowned.

"What about me? I'd like to go see my family again."

"Can she come with us?"

Sakura looked hopeful. This would be a great mating gift to her new sister-in-law.

"Very well."

The girls cheered, causing the boy's to wince at the sound.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: So Sesshomaru is allowing Sakura to go home, along with Kagome and either himself or Inuyasha... And our baddie is plotting...