If I owned Inuyasha, I wouldn't share it with anyone but me!

Sango: Isn't that being greedy?

A1969: Sue me, I'm only human.

Chapter twenty: A Hint of An Exchange

XoXoXo

"Come, Sesshoumaru," Takeida said as she held her little son's hand.

"Where are we going, Hahaue?" the pup asked, looking up at his mother with his wide, still innocent, amber eyes as they continued to walk through the wide hallways of the Eastern Palace.

His mother gave him one of her mysterious smiles, a smile that indicated that she was hiding something of extreme importance. "You shall see… do you really want me to ruin the surprise?" she asked in a soft voice.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. They continued walking until they stopped outside a door. Takeida knocked softly on the door as if she were afraid to wake something inside. The door was opened by a kind faced female bear youkai who gave them a smile.

"Hello Lady Takeida," the youkai said with a slight bow. "Lady Shinsuke has been waiting for you…as well as you, young Sesshoumaru," she added to the young pup who cocked his head sideways the way a puppy does.

Takeida and Sesshoumaru walked in. Lady Shinsuke was sitting on her bed; she looked tired yet quite happy. Sesshoumaru saw that she was holding a bundle in her slender arms. "How are you feeling?" Takeida asked as he approached Shinsuke. The Eastern Lady gave her a smile.

"I am quite fine Takeida…and this must be Sesshoumaru! You were only a babe the last time I saw you!" she added when she saw Sesshoumaru standing behind his mother. Takeida gave her son a gentle push toward Shinsuke.

"Go on, Sesshoumaru," his mother said gently. Sesshoumaru hesitated before he approached Lady Shinsuke. The lady smiled at him as he approached her. She showed her the tiny bundle she held which turned out to be a golden haired infant. The infant looked up at him with silver eyes.

She was so tiny yet her cheeks were pinkish in color and she wasn't wrinkled like all newborns. Sesshoumaru blinked at her. The baby laughed at him and pulled a fistful of his hair.

"Hey!" Sesshoumaru said as he tugged his silver hair out of the girl's grasp. The baby laughed at him and so did Shinsuke and Takeida.

"I have a present for the little one," Takeida said as she took a box from the sleeve of her kimono. She opened the box and held out a half circle pendant. She approached Shinsuke and placed the necklace around the baby who immediately began to play with it.

Sesshoumaru looked at the necklace; it was identical to the one he was wearing. "Half circles?" Shinsuke asked Takeida.

"Yes," Takeida said softly. "When West and East unite, then they will be whole."

XoXoXo

Sesshoumaru slowly opened his eyes. Helen was still leaning her head on his shoulder and he-much to his shock-was leaning his head on hers. The youkai lord quickly sat straight. He could see a golden pink tinge on the horizon. He should wake Helen up now. As he looked at her, he scowled as he remembered the dream. It was the first time he had seen her, but he had forgotten that event as the years slowly passed. Sesshoumaru's eyes glanced at her neck; she was wearing that necklace, the one his mother gave to her when she was just an infant.

Helen slowly opened her blue eyes she sat up straight and yawned. "Morning!" she said cheerfully.

He only looked indifferently at her. She shrugged. She was used to his indifference by now. She got up and looked down at him. "Well, aren't you coming? Rin's still probably asleep but she'll wake up soon, I suppose," the young woman said.

"Go ahead," Sesshoumaru said as he glanced past her and at the sun rise.

Helen scowled again, turned on her heel and stormed off. Sesshoumaru absent mindedly fingered the necklace that he wore, the necklace hidden from view by his haori. His mother's words rung again in his head.

When West and East unite, then they will be whole…

Sesshoumaru scowled. No way in hell was that happening.

XoXoXo

Naraku slammed Kagura hard against the wall. "You thought I wouldn't know?" Naraku hissed venomously. "You thought I wouldn't know that you have been seeing Sesshoumaru?"

Kagura squirmed pitifully in her grasp. Behind Naraku, she could see Kanna holding her mirror and beside Kanna stood Kohaku, who was holding an old and elegant box.

"H-how could you possibly k-know?!" Kagura asked.

Naraku narrowed his eyes at her. "I followed you, Kagura. Do not be shocked that Sesshoumaru could not detect my scent…I have gotten rid of it."

"How is that even possible?" Kagura wanted information that she could give to Sesshoumaru. Naraku sensed this and gave her a wicked smirk.

He held Kagura closer to him and then rammed her back against the wall, knocking her out. Kanna saw this but said nothing.

XoXoXo

Rin was still sleeping by the time Sesshoumaru and Helen got back to their camp. Jaken was still asleep and Helen giggled when she noticed that every time he snored, a snot bubble burst.

It wasn't long before Rin and Jaken finally awoke. Once they had started moving again, Jaken glanced suspiciously at Helen. The girl and his lord had not been with them last night, they were somewhere else. Jaken narrowed his eyes at Helen. Not that he hated the girl, her royal blood and kind attitude prevented him from doing that, he was just wondering where Helen and Sesshoumaru had run off to last night.

Helen could feel Jaken's eyes boring into her back and she glanced at the toad from over her shoulder. "Jaken…do you honestly think that my back would break if you keep staring at it? Use that staff you carry if you want to break my back," Helen said with some humor in her voice. Rin, who was walking beside her, holding Ah-Un's reins, laughed.

"I wasn't! I was only wondering about…" the toad began in an awkward voice.

"About what exactly?" Helen asked.

Jaken glanced at Sesshoumaru. The youkai lord was walking a few yards ahead of them. "Well…" Jaken began as he kept his voice beneath a whisper, afraid that Sesshoumaru would hear him. "I was wondering…if…well…"

"Spit it out, Jaken."

"I was wondering if…you could tell me…what you and Lord Sesshoumaru were up to last night," Jaken said in a huff. He glanced at Sesshoumaru. The youkai lord was walking ahead; apparently Jaken's question had escaped his ears.

Helen looked at Jaken and remembered that she had fallen asleep on Sesshoumaru's shoulder. She went a slight tinge of red at that. "Well, we helped out Inuyasha and the others then…" her voice trailed off for a moment. "Then I fell asleep."

"Where exactly? And why didn't you two come back last night?" Helen got what Jaken meant. She went several shades of red.

"Jaken, you fool," she hissed, still blushing. "That's not what I meant!"

"What did Jaken-sama think you did, Helen-san?" Rin asked with all the innocence of a child her age.

Helen went even redder and walked past them; she walked past Sesshoumaru without looking back at him. Sesshoumaru had heard their little conversation and as soon as Helen had walked past him, he glanced at Jaken from over his shoulder and gave him the deadliest death glare, usually reserved for Inuyasha and Naraku, he could muster.

Jaken gulped. "Jaken-sama, what was it about your question that made Sesshoumaru-sama and Helen-san so angry?" the little girl asked innocently.

Jaken only glared at her.

XoXoXo

Naraku was sitting in the room, a hand on his knee. He seemed to be looking blankly at the wall to which he had chained an unconscious Kaggura. If you didn't know any better, you'd say that he was staring at Kagura.

That wasn't the case, however.

He was waiting for something. Kagura's eyes slowly fluttered open and she saw Naraku there. "You bastard," she hissed. "Why haven't you killed me yet?"

The door to the room suddenly slid open and Kohaku walked in, followed by Kanna. Kohaku was holding something in his hands; something red; something that was pulsating…

Naraku's heart! Kagura thought as her eyes widened. " What are you planning to do with that?" Kagura snarled.

Naraku suddenly walked towards her and whispered into her ear, "I will make sure that no one can kill me, Kagura," Naraku said softly as he now stepped away from her.

"But what do you intend to with me?" the wind witch demanded.

Naraku chuckled evilly. "You will serve as an exchange, my dear, sweet, Kagura." Naraku suddenly held out his hand and Kagura's heart slowly appeared on it. The wind witch's eyes widened as she stared at the organ that would free her of Naraku.

"That's…" Kagura's eyes were still widening.

Her heart pulsed in Naraku's hand, a moment later, Kagura felt a powerful pulse in her chest, where her heart should have been. Kagura's eyes widened as she felt a rhythmic beat.

The rhythmic beat of the heart she had longed for.

"You gave…me…my heart?" Kagura asked with disbelief. She strained her hands slightly against the chains that held her wrists; they were starting to hurt.

"Kagura, Kagura," Naraku said silkily. "You think I gave you your heart because I wanted to free you? Don't make me laugh. As I have said, you will serve as an exchange."

"For what?" Kagura demanded, glaring at Naraku.

Naraku smirked at her. "Helen."

XoXoXo

Kagome watched Sango as she leaned her head comfortably on Miroku's shoulder. Since what had happened between them last night, they were…sweet. Miroku hadn't tried to grope Sango the entire day and that alone was quite a record.

They were resting on hill, under the shade of a tree. Inuyasha saw Kagome looking at Miroku and Sango and said, "I know what you're thinking," the hanyou said softly.

Kagome looked at him, her eyes wide. "Y-you do?" the miko asked, blushing. She had been thinking if she and Inuyasha would look cute together, the way Miroku and Sango were.

Inuyasha nodded. "He'll start groping her soon enough."

Kagome stared at him with pure disbelief. And I thought he was thinking what I was thinking! the priestess thought, feeling a bit irked and a whole lot disappointed.

Inuyasha noticed the expression in her eyes and quickly asked, in fear of a sit, "Is anything wrong, Kagome?"

The priestess shook her head and smiled at him. "No, everything's perfectly fine." Her tone suggested that it was not.

"You're lying!" Inuyasha contradicted. "What have I done this time?!"

Kagome looked at him in an annoyed way. "You didn't do anything wrong!" the miko insisted, now officially annoyed.

"I did!" the hanyou persisted now standing up. "What did I do, Kagome?"

"Inuyasha sit," the miko said flatly. Inuyasha crashed to the ground and the sound echoed all around the hill.

Kagome suddenly heard a loud slap from beside them. "Just because we're together doesn't mean you can grope me," Sango said flatly.

XoXoXo

Night had fallen and a crescent moon was seen hanging just above the trees. Sesshoumaru was staring at it. "What is with Sesshoumaru and staring at the moon?" Helen asked out of mere curiosity as Rin sat down next to her, tired and eager to get some sleep.

Jaken, leaning against Ah-Un, shrugged. "It's just a habit, I guess," the imp replied. He suddenly realized that, during all his time with Sesshoumaru, he had never been able to figure out that habit of his.

"You know," Helen continued as she watched Sesshoumaru, who was standing a few yards away from them. "I think it's because he's a dog."

Jaken looked dumbly at her. Helen sighed. "Dogs like howling at the moon, I think…or was it the wolves?" Helen's voice trailed off and Jaken sweat dropped. He suddenly pictured Lord Sesshoumaru howling against the moon, the mental image he drew was so funny and he burst out laughing.

Helen and Rin stared at Jaken with shock in their faces. "What's so funny?" Helen asked.

"What you said! Lord Sesshoumaru…howling at the moon!" Jaken continued laughing so hard that he didn't noticed a booted foot headed right towards him. A moment later, Jaken had zoomed past Helen and Rin, who both ducked, and crashed into a tree.

Sesshoumaru's amber eyes pierced Jaken and the imp began apologizing immediately. Helen giggled softly and Sesshoumaru glanced her way for a moment and then looked away. That girl has certainly managed to addle Jaken's head, Sesshoumaru thought as he walked away from them to return to staring at the moon, to return to thinking.

"I can't sleep Helen-san," the little girl confessed. Helen smiled at her and from her backpack, she took out her violin.

"What's that, Helen-san?" Rin inquired curiously. Helen only smiled at her and played a soft lullaby. The notes flowed softly through her instrument and she could see the delight and wonder in Rin's eyes. Rin continued listening and gradually, her head slumped against Ah-Un. She was now asleep.

Helen didn't stop playing, though. She loved playing her violin. She felt as if she could release all her emotions without anyone knowing. And tonight, she wanted to let go of those emotions. She was confused; she didn't what kind of feelings were coursing through her.

As she looked at Sesshoumaru, gazing at the moon, she suddenly realized what it was.

Her eyes slightly widened and her hand trembled slightly, making the notes waver as she played her violin. I…I'm…she wouldn't admit it to herself.

Sesshoumaru could hear Helen playing that violin of hers. Grudgingly, he had to admit that the music she produced was beautiful. Wasn't that how they had met? The sound of her violin had lured him to her like a magnet. He continued listening and slightly glanced at Helen from over his shoulder. There was a funny look in her eyes, an emotion he could not quite discern…

He heard the young woman sigh and she stood up. He watched as she left the camp and into the forest, he followed her, more out of curiosity than the need to see to it that she was safe. She stopped beside a tree and rested her head against it.

"Sesshoumaru…" she whispered softly. He blinked. How did she know that he was there hiding behind the tree across from her? He stepped out of the shadows and looked at her. Her eyes widened and she went a soft shade of pink. Her shocked expression made him realize that she hadn't known that he was there.

She had only whispered his name and he didn't know why.

Helen looked at him. Did he hear her…?

"W-what are you doing here?" she asked.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Sesshoumaru said, his golden eyes meeting her blue ones.

Helen looked at her feet. She just realized something and standing in front of him only made that realization even more pronounced. Sesshoumaru looked at her. She realized that he was waiting for her to answer him.

"I just…wanted to…clear my head," Helen said softly. She looked up at him. There was that funny emotion in her eyes again, the only emotion that he could not discern, what was it?

Helen glanced over his shoulder and her eyes widened. There was a little girl in white sitting on the tree branch behind Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru quickly spun around. "Kanna," he said softly.

"Eh?" Helen asked.

Kanna jumped to the ground without making a sound. "She is one of Naraku's incarnates," Sesshoumaru said calmly, narrowing his eyes at Kanna. "She is made of nothing and therefore has no scent and aura."

Helen was confused. "If she's made out of nothing then why is she here?" she asked.

Sesshoumaru didn't answer her question. His attention was completely focused on Kanna. In a flash, he took out Ryuko and pointed it at Kanna. The incarnate raised her mirror and Sesshoumaru prepared himself to attack.

But Kanna only continued to hold the mirror in from of her, the glass facing Helen and Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru looked at the mirror. An image slowly came into focus. His eyed widened slightly.

Kagura was chained to a wall, her head slumped forward which meant she was unconscious. Sesshoumaru felt anger towards the only person who could do this to her-Naraku.

As Sesshoumaru continued staring at Kagura, another image came into the mirror. Naraku.

"Sesshoumaru-sama," the hanyou said.

Sesshoumaru glared at Naraku. "You think I wouldn't know?" Naraku asked softly. Looking at him through the mirror only made him look more sinister.

"What do you want?" the youkai lord asked menacingly.

Naraku chuckled silkily. "It's not about what I want, it's about what you want, Sesshoumaru-sama," Naraku said airily.

"You are talking nonsense," said Sesshoumaru.

"Nonsense? Sesshoumaru-sama, don't you know what you want? Here's what I'll do"-his red eyes rested on Helen and the young woman glared at him-"follow Kanna to my castle…then we can talk about Kagura…" the mirror became clouded over and Naraku vanished.

Kanna stood in front of him, waiting. "Well?" Helen asked, looking at him. She was aware that he wanted to save Kagura and that…actually hurt her.

"Follow Kanna, Sesshoumaru," Helen said softly, staring at the ground. Sesshoumaru looked at her. That unreadable emotion was in her eyes again.

Sesshoumaru regarded her for a moment. "What are you waiting for?" Helen said in louder voice. "Go!"

Sesshoumaru was about to follow Kanna but the young incarnate shook her head. "She must come," said Kanna looking at Helen.

Helen gave Kanna a shocked look. "Eh…?" she said. "Why?"

"Naraku wishes it."

Helen looked at Sesshoumaru and Sesshoumaru looked right back at her. He suddenly realized that he didn't want her to come, realized that he didn't want to put her life in jeopardy. "She stays," Sesshoumaru said softly, glaring at Kanna.

He…doesn't want me to come with him…Helen thought.

"She comes." Kanna's voice was oddly blank. But then again, Helen reminded herself, she was made out of nothing.

Sesshoumaru looked at Kanna and he suddenly realized why Naraku wanted Helen to come with him.

Naraku wanted an exchange.

XoXoXo

Well that's the end of the chapter.

Don't be too lazy to press that review button! Otherwise –points to Miroku who is about to open his wind tunnel.

A1969: Don't open it yet, you idiot!

Miroku: sorry.

A1969: and keep your hands away from me!

Sango: Miroku… -slaps Miroku-

Miroku: I didn't even touch her!
Sango: you were about to.