A.N. I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.

Soft yellow light slowly began filtering through the cluttered study of the inu taiyoukai, his rage clear as he read through the much too light documents of the archives. Someone has stolen the records! But who dares steal from this Sesshomaru?

The taiyoukai shook his head, rubbing his eyes momentarily. Slowly, he began to leave the room, going to wake his intended so that he could demand answers of her.

Kagome sighed, dressing quickly in a blue kimono with violet streaks here and there akin to Sesshomaru's markings, knowing she would not be able to leave without being "attired properly". As long as I get to spend the day with Kazuma, it's worth it... She smiled lightly, trying to ignore the fact that Lord Hiei being present would give her happiness as well.

"You are up early."

Surprise flashed across her features momentarily as she turned to look at the taiyoukai. I can't believe I didn't sense him! I need to focus. "Indeed, my Lord. Lords Mukuro and Hiei have asked me to be their guide into the local village. They want to purchase a few new garments for the gathering."

He frowned a bit, not pleased with the idea of her being out of range. But he could not refuse them. They were guests, and his social equals. "And will the ningen be there?"

"I believe so... Lord Mukuro seldom travels without him." The miko shrugged, trying to appear as if she did not care either way. At that point she looked at him, seeing the subtle signs of his sleep deprivation, signs only she would see. "My Lord, you don't seem yourself... Allow me to send Yukiko up with breakfast so that you may rest." She didn't wait for a response, beginning to move past him.

A single clawed hand shot out, grabbing her wrist. "Stop being formal with me Kagome. You are my intended." His voice was low, laced with a hint of anger.

Her features became momentarily washed with great sadness, her eyes tearing up at the painful reminder of where she really stood. "Of course Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru released her wrist, letting her move on.

Kuwabara wrung his hands pensively as he waited for Kagome. He knew she had left in time to bathe, but he couldn't help the fear in his heart at the idea of Sesshomaru catching his scent and becoming angry with her. They had, after all, slept in each others arms behind the falls until Hiei had come a half hour before dawn.

"Hn. Stop." The hybrid glared at his ningen companion, the younger male's movements grating on his nerves as much as his thoughts.

Beady brown eyes glared in his direction. "If you find my presence so irritating, why not remain here for the day?" His tone was uncharacteristically sharp, but it was obvious that he was simply a bit insecure. He didn't want to give his friend any opportunity to steal his miko.

Mukuro snorted at their stupidity. "Stop this nonsense. If you want her, you will avoid treating her as Sesshomaru does."

Hiei glared, clearly furious at her implications. He would treat the miko infinitely better than the inu-If he wanted her, which he still refused to admit he did.

The orange haired man frowned at her. "What do you mean Onee-san? I would never do such a thing."

"But you are. You both are. With all this bickering, you both are forgetting to consider what she may wish. You are treating her as a prize to be won, not as a woman with a will of her own." Her voice was hard with reprimand, almost sounding like a parent scolding a child for not sharing.

Each male lapsed into silence after that.

Moments later, Kagome arrived, her manner cheery and a little false as she tried to cover the despair Sesshomaru had inspired in her. "My apologies for keeping you waiting. Shall we go?" Her tone was light.

Kuwabara's lips tugged into a frown at her manner. "Are you alright?" He took a step forward, reaching for her.

And suddenly the miko was jerked back by an onyx blur, better known as Hiei.

Anger filtered through the orange-haired male's features as he glared at his rival. "What-"

"Hn. The taiyoukai will be enraged if he catches your scent clinging too closely." The hybrid's tone was lifeless, but by the way he held Kagome's wrist, he wasn't trying to help the taller male too much.

Sapphire orbs darted back and forth between the two males, worry clouding her vision. Please stop... She bit her lip, tugging her wrist free. "Well, I'm your guide for the day, so let's go." With that said, she gingerly caressed the taller male's cheek before taking her place in the lead.

Twin pools of violet gazed into the seemingly endless expanse of bright blue skies, a perfectly painted smile taking possession of the gentle Lady's face. "It's hard to believe all this time has passed... It seems like only yesterday I was brought here... The fates have been rather kind to me..." Her voice was soft and sweet as she spoke to her son.

A slight smile tugged at Inuyasha's lips as he watched her. "Yeah... Okaa-san?"

"Hm?" Izayoi lazily turned her gaze to him, her smile still bright.

"Why risk it all? I mean, I know why I do. I love Kags as my sister... But you didn't have to get involved. You risk your position." The uncharacteristically thoughtful hanyou's golden irises peered at the woman intently.

"I never told you, did I?" Izayoi put a hand up to halt her son's question, gazing into the sky once more. "Kagome was the one responsible for bringing your otou-san and I together...

"You see, Inutaisho bought me at the slave-trade on impulse. He had no idea how to go about approaching me as more than a servant and dubbed me his assistant... He most likely would have turned me into a bound slave if not for Kagome." Here she paused, looking vaguely sad.

Inuyasha merely watched, knowing she would continue.

She shook her head, clearing her throat. "Because your father's only real experience regarding human women was with Kagome, he quickly went to her for advice. Oh, he'd never admit it! But the eye shows all, and he was terribly hopeless. But Kagome was patient and gave him the best advice she could...

"Even so, at first I was still distrusting. You see, I'd been raised on Mt. Hakurei. While we were not indoctrinated with hate, we were taught that the only youkai or immortal one could trust were the Eastern Trio-You know them as Lords Mukuro and Hiei and the bound slave Kuwabara Kazuma. Anyone else was considered a threat.

"Besides, I was quite bitter in that time. I'd been captured in battle, after losing my husband to Naraku's hordes-We'd been called upon to defend the barrier due to the only living Higurashi Miko's pregnancy.

"I was a cousin, twice removed from the bloodline, my powers deriving more from my father's family-which generations ago had come to Japan from foreign lands where they were driven out for their mystic abilities-and therefore my battle skills were not as sharp as they could have been. My husband was a Buddhist monk, and while his powers were strong, they'd never been able to compare to the Higurashi Miko. It simply wasn't a fair fight to say the least. But we'd been prepared to die for our village, if necessary, our children left to the care of the Higurashi.

"But I'd not been prepared to watch my love die and then be dragged to the slave-trade, my beauty being the only thing that had spared me. I was a woman of twenty then, still lovely and my captors had made certain I knew I would most likely be turned into a whore.

"So, needless to say, Inutaisho's interest merely piqued my ire, and Kagome's assistance in his pursuit caused me to loathe her for a time. She was, in appearance, only fourteen but I thought her a traitor to her birth... Until she spoke to me.

"It was the night of one of many celebrations when she came to me, a full year since I'd arrived. Her kimono was silken and designed to show her loyalty to the West and Sesshomaru specifically. I'd been invited as well, provided with garments just as fine, but I'd refused to go. Your otou-san would not force me, and though I admit I was softening to him a bit, I'd taken immense pleasure in refusing him. But I digress. Kagome came and spoke with me. She told me to be grateful for what I had, not bitter about what I'd lost.

"At first, I'd been angry. I even called her "Sesshomaru's whore" as I recall, accusing her of being a traitor. And then I saw her tears. I stopped. She embraced me, and silently, she seemed to be telling me of her own pain. Finally, she simply told me to open my heart. If I couldn't love him, she was sure Inutaisho would understand. But if I could, she said that I would be lucky to have him.

"I realized, in that moment, how much worse it could be... And how much I did want to go to Inutaisho. I didn't love him, not yet. But I wanted to be near him.

"And the rest, as they say, is history," Izayoi finished, smiling faintly at her son. "If not for Kagome, I would have gone on with hate in my heart, and I never would have fallen for your otou-san, or had you." She hugged him tightly. "I love you, my son. And I love Kagome as my daughter. She gave me my happiness, and I'll do my best to help her with her own."

Chatter filled the bustling streets, youkai and ningen alike moving rapidly throughout the market. It was a pleasantly warm day, the sun shining brightly in the sky. Only the little group comprised of the Eastern Trio and the Higurashi Miko seemed out of place with their leisurely pace and tense energies.

"This is the perfect place to find all the things you might need-The clothing made by that shop over there is very fine, but for you, Lord Mukuro, I'd recommend the little place down the street. They cater to women with a flare for battle. And Lord Hiei, the Inn one street over has a permanent resident who can tend your katana almost as well as Totosai, for a reasonable prize-His wife also does brilliant duplication work with garments-Provide her with a look at your clothing and she can make you an almost exact replica, or even improve upon it. Kazuma, the place over there will outfit you wonderfully, and the owner is a mystic if you desire to chat about energy." Kagome's voice was light, her manner a little scattered as she acted as tour guide, leading the three through the trading post.

Mukuro simply went to the recommended shop, nodding in thanks as she left the group.

"Hn." Hiei frowned to himself. He did not want to leave, but still felt a tug of guilt at desiring to remain near the miko. He can have her for all I care! He glowered at the thought but disappeared to find the Inn.

Kuwabara caught her wrist. "Come with me. Please?" His brown eyes gazed at her imploringly.

The miko let out a sigh, taking her wrist from him gently. "I shall... But you need to keep yourself in check. Many of these people know and like me, therefore they wouldn't betray me. Some however, would gladly run to Sesshomaru if they thought it could get them anything." With that said, she guided him into the little shop.

"Ah, Kagome, you've brought me a customer!" an old woman exclaimed from her post, coming around to get a look at the large male, her honey brown eyes twinkling as she pulled back her wispy gray hair. "Right this way, young man!"

"She is quite the seamstress-How does she maintain her business though? I saw the brand on her arm-She's a slave." Kuwabara's voice was thoughtful as the two walked away from the little shop, clothing purchased.

Kagome smiled softly, looking into the colorful sky as the sun continued to sink below the horizon. "She was. She bargained her freedom with her visions-Very clever."

He nodded, looking around at the no longer bustling streets, the shops closing up. "Why have you been so cold to me Kagome? You've barely spoken, and you've kept your distance all day." His lips tugged downwards into a frown, his eyes skimming over her.

"Kazuma..." Her voice was soft and sad, full of longing. Suddenly her expression changed and she took him by the arm, leading him quickly into the deserted woods, kissing him softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

A low groan passed through the orange haired man's lips as he pulled her closer, his powerful arms coiling around her waist.

Slowly, the miko broke the kiss, staring into his eyes as she caressed his face. "I love you, Kazuma. I don't mean to hurt you." Her sapphire orbs glowed with sadness as she backed out of his grasp. "But I must protect you. Sesshomaru will not be deterred and the only way to break the bond is through a mating bond... Which, as much as I love you, is not possible for you to give me. I will never love any man the way I love you... And I will stand at Sesshomaru's side for all eternity if it means you are safe."

Despair cut through him at her words. "But we love each other! Love makes the impossible, possible! You taught me that Kagome! With every step you take, you show the world that! You live for love, and you do not love him!"

"You are correct... I do not love him. But I love you far too much to allow him to harm you," she finished, her eyes filling with tears as she ran from him, going to find Lord Mukuro, the only neutral party in their group.

Kuwabara stood completely still, his heart aching terribly. Kagome... My wife... You promised...

"Hn. She is correct. Only a mating bond can take her from Sesshomaru." Hiei's voice was cool, but with a tone of decisiveness. "And a mating bond, she shall have."

"So, you can steal her from me instead?" the human moaned bitterly, only slightly comforted that it wouldn't be Sesshomaru.

Hiei's crimson irises bore into his friend's beady brown eyes thoughtfully. "Hn. She will be my mate... And your wife."