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I want to say those horrid lines that ruin the rather lovely beginning of all fanfics…the disclaimer shudders.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, that belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. What I own is the plot and the OC's.

Due to recent developments in the manga, I am giving Sesshoumaru two arms.

Chapter eight: A Recital and an Illness

XoXoXo

"Sit!" Kagome's scream echoed throughout the entire Higurashi shrine.

Helen raised an eyebrow at the half-demon who was now lying face-to-face with the ground. "You shouldn't try to drag Kagome out of bed to return to the Feudal Era," Helen said simply. Inuyasha growled. True, the hanyou had tried to drag Kagome from her home-while she was still in her pajamas-earning him a well deserved punishment.

Inuyasha stood up and glared at Kagome. "Well if you didn't take so long…" Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Kagome glared at him and Helen sensed that the miko was about to explode.

"Er…I think I'll go practice my violin rather than watch this," she said quietly as she turned to leave. A moment later-in the house-she heard a violent bang from outside.

Poor Inuyasha, she thought as she shut the door to her room. She sighed and picked up her violin. She still remembered Sesshoumaru's cold demeanor when he said that he was going back to the Feudal Era yesterday. He hated her, she thought.

Her slender fingers positioned themselves on her violin and the music flowed sweetly from her instrument. Her heart beat wildly as she realized that tonight was her violin recital.

XoXoXo

There wasn't many things that Sesshoumaru liked and Helen was basically one of those things. The scent of Sakura blossoms were one little exception. He sat underneath a Sakura in his mother's garden as he watched Rin happily placing flowers on Ah-Un while Jaken grumbled about the need to spare the flowers of Sesshoumaru's mother. Sesshoumaru knew his mother wouldn't mind. She had too much flowers already.

Ah, his mother. His dear hahaue-sama had taken to attacking him with questions about Helen's wellbeing, something which he found absolutely annoying, thus he had taken refuge in his mother's garden.

"There you are," a voice said. Takeida was making her way towards him. He inwardly frowned. At the sight of the daiyoukai, Rin and Jaken bowed respectfully even Ah-Un seemed to bend his front legs a little. Takeida looked at them to acknowledge their presence before Rin and Jaken stood up straight again.

"I have something to tell you," Takeida said. Sesshoumaru stood up and bowed to her.

"What is it?"

"I'm not sure you are going to like it." There was amusement in Takeida's eyes.

She's going to let me go back, Sesshoumaru thought savagely.

"Lord Toshimaru has come back from abroad and is coming here, and I intend to throw a little gathering to welcome him back."

Sesshoumaru's eyebrows rose slightly. Toshimaru was the lord of the North, Sesshoumaru's hated rival and-to Sesshoumaru's greatest dismay-his cousin by his mother's side.

"Why?" Sesshoumaru asked, trying to hide his displeasure.

"Well, I haven't seen my nephew in a long time and I thought a little gathering would be an appropriate way of welcoming him home before he goes back to the Northern Lands."

Sesshoumaru tried not to roll his eyes with great difficulty. Knowing his mother, it would be more than a 'little gathering'. Besides, he disliked his cousin, whom his mother seemed to favor more than him.

"And what does that have to do with me?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"I have invited Lady Shinsuke-"

"Say no more," Sesshoumaru said. He knew his mother was going to make him go after Helen again. He had a sneaking suspicion that Takeida was trying to make him like her.

"I have not yet finished speaking," Takeida said icily. "I will not tolerate disrespect, Sesshoumaru."

"Forgive me, hahoya," he said silently.

His mother stared at him for a moment and-maybe he just imagined it-her expression softened slightly. "Go get her tonight then," the inu demoness said. Sesshoumaru looked at her.

"Tonight?"

"Toshimaru is on his way and I think you can boast about finding yourself a mate, something Toshimaru has not yet accomplished."

With that, she turned and left.

XoXoXo

"M-miroku," Sango's voice was low and faint. Miroku was immediately at her side. This was the first time in days that she had been conscious.

"What is it, Sango?" the monk asked. Kaede and Shippou were not in the hut.

"Wh-where am…I?"

"Lady Kaede's hut. You've been sick for too long, Sango."

Sango stared at the ceiling as memories came rushing back to her.

"Hiraikotsu!"

"Fujin no mai!"

Kagura and Sango dodged each other's attacks. It was strange when Sango-deciding that she should clear her head from the stress of Miroku's womanizing-had run into Kagura who seemed to be looking for her.

"Die! Ryuuja no Mai!" Kagura's tornadoes rushed towards her. Sango felt her body leave the ground and before she passed out…

"Kagura's fan!" Sango suddenly sat up, as if she had suddenly come across something of the greatest importance.

Miroku, who was startled, said, "Sango, you should rest. And…what of Kagura's fan?"

Sango lied down once more. "Her fan…was…different…it was like there was…some sort of poison…" Sango closed her eyes and fell back unconscious.

Miroku stared at her for a moment. He didn't like seeing her this way. The Sango he knew was vibrant and active, not sickly and tired. He mused over the problem which had now just occurred.

Sango had battled Kaggura on her own? Miroku's brows met in the middle. He remembered how he had found her on the ground, which had looked as if a hurricane had blown by. How was he supposed to know that it was Kagura whom she had battled? He thought that she merely had a run-in with a pack of demons.

Poison? What kind? Miroku thought. Shouki perhaps?

He began chewing his lip. If it was indeed Naraku's deadly poison, Kagome should be able to purify it, but he didn't know when Kagome would come back and he didn't know if Sango could take more of the suffering.

Standing up, Miroku looked at Sango once and left the hut.

XoXoXo

A raven haired priestess walked the dense forest. Her white hoari made her look paler than she already was and her soul collectors floated lazily at her side. Kikyou stopped in her tracks. A low growling noise could be heard from the bushes in front of her.

Silently, like a shadow, Kikyou notched an arrow to her bow and pointed it at the bushes. A demon bear suddenly burst from the bushes, its claws swinging madly towards her. Kikyou released her arrow, which sped towards the demon. The arrow made contact and the demon was purified.

A few paces ahead, Kikyou, once more, heard the bushes rustling but could sense no demonic presence.

"Who is there?" the miko called. The bushes rustled and Miroku stepped out.

"Houshi," Kikyou said, acknowledging the monk.

"Kikyou-sama," Miroku said. "I come to ask for your help."

Kikyou looked searchingly at him. "What is it that you need?"

"Sango has bee poisoned, by Naraku's poison, I think…I was hoping if you could…purify the poison."

"Kagome can do it as well as I, why not ask her help?" Kikyou asked.

"Kagome is in her time, with Helen and Inuyasha and-"

"Helen? Who is she?"

"Kagome's cousin," Miroku said hastily. "Will you help Sango?"

Kikyou's eyes bore into his own. "Very well then."

A few minutes later, Kikyou was kneeling beside Sango. Her eyes were narrowed and Miroku felt dread building in the pit of his stomach.

"Miroku!" Shippou bounced in with Kaede following close behind. Seeing Kikyou, surprise immediately registered on their faces.

"Kikyou-oneesama," Kaede said. Kikyou nodded once and returned to Sango. She placed a hand just inches above the taijiya's head. Her hand glowed a faint purple and Sango silently stirred. She opened her eyes just as Kikyou removed her hand.

"Sango's awake!!!" Shippou said happily.

Sango stared around her. She sat up and placed a hand on her forehead.

"Are you alright?" Miroku quickly asked. Sango nodded. "I thought Kagura's poison would kill me."

"It wasn't Kagura's poison," Kikyou said as she rose and when to the doorpost to leave. "It was Naraku's; now it is up to you to find out why he wanted you poisoned." With that, the miko left them.

XoXoXo

Inuyasha climbed out of the well not in the best of spirits. Damn, Kagome, he thought.

With all the 'sits' she had given him, he would be sore for hours.

He scowled as he made his way to Kaede's village. The sun was just setting and he was eager for the soothing fire that Kaede's hut would usually hold.

Inuyasha paused. Sesshoumaru's scent was close by and he wasn't alone, Kagura was with him. Puzzled, Inuyasha decided to follow his nose. A hundred paces from where the well was, Inuyasha-hidden in the trees-was shocked to find Sesshoumaru and Kagura, their arms were wrapped around each other.

Inuyasha's eyes widened at this.

"Please," Kagura was saying. "Don't go back…I don't want you with…with her!"

Inuyasha instantly knew whom Kagura was talking about.

"Go back to Naraku before he finds out that you are missing," Sesshoumaru said. Each was so preoccupied with the other that they didn't even detect Inuyasha's presence.

He heard Kagura sigh audibly. The kaze tsukai took out her feather and flew off.

Sesshoumaru watched her go then turned to leave when Inuyasha stepped out of the trees. "How long has that been going on?" the hanyou demanded.

Sesshoumaru froze then turned to face him. He placed a hand on the hilt of Tokijin and narrowed his eyes menacingly at Inuyasha.

"You know what will happen if Naraku finds out," Inuyasha warned.

"This does not concern you," Sesshoumaru said coldly, turned and left.

Inuyasha mulled things over in his head as he made his way to Kaede's. He was thankful that Helen didn't harbor any sort of affection towards his brother. But still…

Inuyasha made his way into the hut and was surprised to find Sango wide awake and sitting up. "You got better!" the hanyou remarked.

Sango nodded her head. "I was poisoned by Naraku but Kikyou came and purified me," the taijiya explained.

"Kikyou was here?" the hanyou instantly asked. Miroku nodded.

"What puzzles me most," the monk said. "Is that Inuyasha couldn't smell the poison."

"Mayhap, Naraku has improved his shouki," Kaede said softly. "He removed its scent and made it even more deadly. From what Sango says, Kagura's fan didn't touch her, only her tornadoes…If Naraku can do such a thing it only means one thing."

"What would that be, Kaede-baba?" Inuyasha asked.

"Naraku is trying to get rid of his scent to stop Inuyasha and others from finding him," the aged priestess said simply.

Everyone was silent.

"Guess what I saw in the forest earlier?" the hanyou said. Everyone looked at him. "I saw Sesshoumaru and Kagura together."

"So?" Miroku asked.

"I mean-speaking like Kagome-together together," the hanyou said smugly.

Everyone gaped at him. "Are you sure?" Miroku asked.

Inuyasha nodded. "Good thing Helen doesn't love him."

"Who?" Sango asked. Miroku explained to her about Kagome's cousin.

"Why should she, though?" Miroku inquired.

"They're betrothed," Inuyasha said.

Shippou, who was sipping a bowl of soup for dinner, spewed the contents from his mouth in shock. Miroku hadn't known about the unwilling betrothal, so he too was shocked.

"Keh!" Inuyasha said suddenly. "Let them figure out what to do with their problems."

XoXoXo

Helen was nervous. She was standing at the backstage of the auditorium where the recital was going to be held. Kagome, Mrs. Higurashi, Souta and Grandpa had come but that didn't soothe her nerves.

Kagome, who was backstage with her, said in an encouraging tone, "Your going to do fine."

Helen smiled at her. "Thanks."

Kagome stood back a little to admire her cousin. "You look good."

The young violinist wore an apricot colored, halter top dress. The skirt reached just above her ankles so her gold colored sandals were seen. Her hair was tied up in a bun with tendrils hanging freely at the side of her face.

"I'm still nervous," Helen said. She fingered the semi-circle crystal pendant on her neck while she bit her lip. "At least Houjo's not here," she said happily.

"Too bad his mother grounded him," Kagome said thoughtfully. Just then a woman came up to them. "Excuse me, miss?" she said to Helen. "You are next."

"Good luck!" Kagome said. Helen gave her a nervous smile as she climbed up the stage.

XoXoXo

Kagome made her way to her seat just her cousin began her playing. They were sitting at the very back row, but the floor was elevated so that they could see what was going on in front. At first, Helen looked nervous but she soon grew comfortable and the music she produced was sweet and melodic.

As Kagome continued to admire her cousin, a hand tapped her impatiently on the shoulder. Kagome turned to see who and she gasped.

Sesshoumaru raised and eyebrow at her.

"What are you doing here?" the miko hissed

"Hey, Inuyasha no oneesan!" Souta said. Sesshoumaru gazed at Souta for a second before glaring at Kagome again.

"I was requested to bring her back," Sesshoumaru said.

Kagome knew that 'her' meant Helen. "She's busy," the miko said. She pointed in the direction of the stage.

Sesshoumaru looked to the direction she was pointing and saw that his quarry was playing that strange instrument of hers.

She looked pleasant and the music she produced was certainly sweet.

XoXoX

As Helen played her violin, she grew more confident and allowed her music to take control of her. She ran her fingers with grace over the strings of the violin. Her lovely blue eyes scanned the audience for her cousin. Her eyes fell on Sesshoumaru, who was staring at her intently. Seeing him shocked her so that her fingers slipped slightly on the strings; her little slip made the note waver sound high pitched.

People shifted uncomfortably in their seats and Helen gave them all an apologetic smile and resumed her playing.

She continued her playing and managed to finish the piece without further mistakes. Still, that terrible slip had made sure that she wouldn't win. Sighing as the audience clapped, she walked backstage.

Sesshoumaru is going to die, she thought.

She placed her violin on the table and took a sip of water from a bottle.

"You called that music?" a voice asked. Helen turned to find Sesshoumaru behind her.

"I was doing fine until I saw you! And what are you doing here?" she demanded.

"Taking you back with me."

"I don't want to go." He grabbed her arm. "I don't have time for this, wench," he snapped. Helen glared at him. "Listen, you don't like me and I certainly don't like you, so why don't you just leave me alone?" she said.

"You think I enjoy being here, in the midst of disgusting humans?" He sounded colder than he already was. There was something foreboding in his tone that Helen sighed and regarded him intently.

"Fine, I'm going with you. Besides, I hate to hear the name of the person who will win."

XoXoXo

Finished!

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