A/N – GRAH! THANK YOU ALL SO FREAKING MUCH FOR BEING SUCH AWESOME PEOPLE! Shout out to Rocketfist, who knocked me upside the head (it was bound to happen xD) and got me going on this again. Please enjoy! Read and Review, because I really really appreciate it! Inspiration for this chapter goes—strangely—to the game "Darksiders II", and to my little brother, with whom awesome conversations are a continuous event. Thanks again you all! AND PLEASE! Don't hesitate to ask questions or message me! Enjoy! WARNING—GORE IN THIS CHAPTER.

Chapter Fifteen – Turning Pages: Part Two
"Where there is a lock, there is a key."
-Death.

Thunder boomed, echoing through the castle's hallways and vibrating in the aged wood. It roused a drowsy, grumpy Sesshoumaru from slumber, and he rolled over with a low curse, throwing a bare left arm over his eyes. The rumbling thunder sounded again, this time longer and closer. It was late morning, verging on midday.

His sleep-mussed brain took only a moment to realize that it wasn't thunder, but Kagome and the children running to and fro throughout the halls. No wonder Mother disliked humans in the early mornings. Yawning widely, he dressed himself quickly, thoughts absorbed with Kagome's departure. It gave him a semblance of peace that she would be taking Ah-Un with her, but there still remained a festering gap in his chest that clenched strangely whenever he pondered upon what would befall her.

Strategic demon he was, Sesshoumaru had taken precautionary measures to ensure her safe arrival to Edo. If nothing else, he had his pride and honor, and allowing a miko and her adopted kitsune to perish just after leaving his care seemed a waste. Though it is much more than a simple 'waste', for you know that resources are unlimited to you, Sesshoumaru of the West.

Blinking in silent surprise, the comment went untested. His own eyes reflected out from a mirror on the wall, ornately carved with a golden bird on each side. The deep indigo of his crescent moon shone on his brow, a lasting symbol of his mother's familial legacy. His stripes acquired a ragged edge, reaching further around his cheekbones.

I may become silent, but I am never gone.

It has always been thus. What is it you want?

He felt the inner part of himself uncoil within, making his skin itch and his eyes glint. Speaking with his own instincts proved often times extremely circular and pointless. Inhaling, he found the scents of Rin, Kagome, and her kitsune Shippou fluctuating in the air.

There was hesitation that roiled in the beast, and Sesshoumaru leapt upon it. His claws lengthened. Not I, but we…

Its presence faded, and Sesshoumaru watched his eyes return from blood-red to gold. Combing a claw through his messy locks, he padded back and forth in his rooms. It had been long since he had assumed his true form, and the absence was wearing him thin. His skin felt too tight and far too sensitive for his liking, as the silken hakama and haori he wore tingled and rubbed his nerves raw. Were he not meeting with others today, he would not have dressed at all to save himself the discomfort. Then again, however, if that were the case he would have transformed by now.

Seeing as neither walking about in the nude or as a towering canine were probable options, he would have to endure, at least until Kagome left. The shades of red her cheeks would flush. The thought was tempting, to a degree.

Sighing through his nose, he slid Tenseiga and Bakusaiga into his obi and tied his hair in a low knot at the nape of his neck. Today he would spar with Katsumi, and as much as he hated to keep it in such a way, losing his hair was unacceptable. He had kept it long for centuries, and it was as much a part of him as his own skin. He could scarcely remember when his hair was short; it was almost an Inu trait to keep one's hair long, and it was a rare thing to find one with cropped hair like Kenshin. Even Inuyasha kept his hair long, though he did little to care for it.

Stepping out of his room and his mental musings, Sesshoumaru followed the sound of pounding footsteps to an empty hall, with two doors on the left and three on the right. He waited patiently.

Not a moment later, Rin tumbled out from the farthest door on the left, her cheeks red and flushed from exertion. She glanced around, then saw him and ran over, hugging his legs. "Sesshoumaru-sama!"

Allowing a small smile to grace his lips, he placed a tender hand on her head. "Rin."

"We're playing a game Kagome-chan taught us!" She turned her face up at him excitedly. "It's called hide-and-seek! One person counts to ten, and everyone else hides!" She was whispering loudly. "Hurry, come with me!"

She tugged him along and through the door to his right, her tiny hand gripping only two of his fingers. Of course it would be the miko's idea. It is clear to see why she attracts danger so. Taking Rin up in one arm, he lifted them to the rafters above and crouched on a beam.

"Is this sufficient?" He asked, and readjusted her to sit upon the rafters aside him, his mokomoko holding her around her middle.

She was grinning gleefully. "Kagome-chan will never find me up here! Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama!"

Her toothy smile made his chest warm, and his lips turned up slightly. "Hnn." He surveyed the area; it was a small guest room, with a low-set futon against the far wall and a small dresser aside it. Another screen led to a small washing room. Sesshoumaru could sense that Kagome was not using her powers to find the children, but Shippou's nose and ears would find them easily. It was a simple matter to slow his own heartbeat, but Rin could not. He could hear it and feel it on his fingertips, frantically thrumming with her excitement.

Kagome had found Shippou with a delighted laugh, and they were both actively searching for Rin now, ducking in and out of each room in the hallway.

Rin froze when they entered their current room, and Sesshoumaru felt amusement tug the corners of his mouth up. Kagome had regrettably changed out of her kimono, and wore those strange, tight-fitting hakama that she so enjoyed and knee high boots. A light-colored shirt covered her torso, accentuating the supple curves of her body. Her ebony hair swung freely, masking her face from view as she moved about the room. "She's got to be in here somewhere." She slid the shoji screen that led to the wash room aside.

Shippou bounded in a moment later, his eyes immediately going to their hiding spot. Finding himself in an odd mood, Sesshoumaru lifted a single finger to his lips, cautioning the kitsune to remain silent. His eyes widened before he nodded, a playful grin on his face, and made to 'search' the room.

Kagome huffed. "We searched all the other rooms, right?" She put her hands on her hips.

"Yeah, she wasn't there!" Shippou pointed out, busying himself with checking underneath the dresser to hide his grin.

"Oh, good idea Shippou!" Kagome dropped to her knees then, and bent forward to stare underneath the futon. "I don't see her…"

Rin was fighting laughter, a small hand pressed against her mouth and her eyes shining bright.

To say that he wasn't finding a new aspect of her to appreciate would be a blatant lie, he realized, as his eyes swept over her backside and the sweet curve of her waist. He could clearly remember the last time he'd seen a woman nude—but even the memory of bare skin could not compare to the view she was unconsciously granting him now. Some part of him vaguely wondered if her skin would taste like she smelled, and he could feel the beast stir in response.

With a mental shake, Sesshoumaru tore his eyes away from her. She scuffled backwards on the floor, and flopped onto her bottom. "I don't know where she could have gotten to!" She sighed loudly, and tilted her head back to pull her hair away from her face.

Her mouth became a perfect 'o' as she spotted them. Her cheeks flushed pink when she met his gaze, and she quickly averted her eyes; her heartbeat fluttered erratically for a moment.

"You found me!" Rin yelled with laughter, and he lowered them both to the ground. She tackled Kagome, who began to tickle her sides. The kitsune jumped in, his small fingers going for Kagome's neck. Sesshoumaru watched them tangle about on the floor, a gentle peace surrounding him. A curious noise escaped the miko, and her body seized up as she tried to keep herself away from Shippou's hands. It was all in vain, though, because he had found her weak spot—a loud, unfettered laugh escaped her as he tickled her.

"Rin, get her neck!" Shippou said as Kagome twisted around, her body convulsing with uncontrollable laughter. His eyes caught the bare skin of her throat, and he briefly thought of that strange dream, where she was his… The memory of her hips in his grasp caused a strange lurch in his heartbeat.

Sesshoumaru watched with a raised brow, and carefully stored the new information away with a smirk. "Okay! Okay! You win!" She gasped breathlessly between giggles.

The children crowed enthusiastically. A pit of discomfort wormed its way into his stomach. What would Rin do after Kagome and her kitsune left? Perhaps he would visit her in the future, if only to keep Rin happy. You lie.

Silence.

"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome was speaking to him, he realized belatedly. Rin and Shippou had run off, having been called by Kenshin, most likely to guide them to Ah-Un. Her cheeks were red, and her brown eyes made him remember the dreams he'd spend countless hours trying to forget. Her hair was splayed haphazardly across her face, partially covering her eyes.

It irked him.

Raising a hand, he brushed the offending strands away and combed them behind her ear, his claws dragging pleasantly through her soft hair. Her eyes glimmered in the light. Much better.

Only when he saw Kagome's blushing cheeks did he realize what he'd done. Blindly, he fumbled for an excuse, desperate to keep the rising heat from his cheeks.

"I could not see your eyes." He muttered, momentarily fascinated by the sconce on the wall.

Well prepared for an accusation, Sesshoumaru was surprised when he felt a finger jab him in the chest. "Hey, I'm over here, you know." Her voice was light, and her smile lighter. Her heartbeat hammered in her chest, and Sesshoumaru almost forgot his near-embarrassment in place of the apparent effect he had on her.

"Anyway, I was thinking about something." She faltered, and Sesshoumaru's eyes were instantly on hers.

"Well done." He retorted, a small smirk flirting with his lips. He watched her turn a new shade of red.

She spluttered, struggling to find her words. "You—", her voice was an outraged growl, and muttered something unintelligible under her breath. Hands on her hips, she squared him down with her gaze. "Were you going to say goodbye?"

Silence fell between them, and he tilted his head. "I shall see you again." Rin said much the same thing when he they parted, but he had not quite fully grasped the concept. "What is the purpose?"

He noted she was nervous—her scent was spiking and her reiki was almost twitchy with suppressed movement. "I wanted to speak with you before I left. I owe you a debt." She was fierce, her usually smiling lips pursed in a serious line.

His mind recoiled from the notion. "No, you do not."

"Yes, I do." She shot back, unwilling to allow his statement to pass.

Sesshoumaru blinked. "Shall I propose a compromise?" He asked, seeing opportunity raise its head.

"Anything." She affirmed, crossing her arms.

"Hone your skills." He could ensure some of her safety this way. "Without a hand to guide it, a sword is useless."

To his surprise, she bowed slightly at the waist. "I will."

Satisfied, Sesshoumaru placed a hand on her back, and gently pushed her in the direction of the West's entrance. "Come." She had much to learn, but he knew that with time, she would improve.


"Your death was necessary, I'm afraid." A voice whispered regretfully, rasping like the steel of her dagger sliding back into its sheath. A middle-aged woman, dressed in priestess robes, lay sprawled on the floor, her face pale and her body convulsing with every gurgling breath she dragged through her lungs. A hand clutched at her chest, where deep burgundy blood flowed between the bone-white of her fingers.

Red eyes stared down at her, and the woman's voice was as warm as the blood pouring out of her. "I'm making a perfect world, you see. One without the taint of those vile demons every which way I turn." She leaned down and smoothed the dying woman's hair with a small hand. "Your part has been played, my child."

"N-no! You are as evil as any youkai!" The woman coughed, her eyes rolling in her head with horror as she struggled to pull away.

"Silence, ungrateful bitch!" She hissed, and the flat of her palm slapped hard against the woman's cheek.

A final gurgling breath escaped her, and the priestess fell still. Her eyes stared blank and unseeing at the ceiling, forever frozen in the terror of her last moments. Her hand fell to the floor with a hollow thud.

The red eyes tightened in glee. "Your image will serve a greater purpose, miko-sama." She cooed, and gently caressed her cooling cheek.

With a dainty finger, she dipped a long fingernail into the red-black pool of blood on the floor, and then raised it to her smiling lips.


It was a surprisingly early morning for Kagome, which was strange, to say the least. Maybe Kaede's disturbingly chipper mornings were finally having an effect on her. Either way, she ended up packing her things and having the time to take a nice, relaxing soak before Shippou woke. And then there was the matter of getting Shippou to bathe. Kagome shuddered, and missed the days when her little kitsune actually enjoyed baths. Now, it seemed that he did everything he could to amass a fine layer of grime on his skin throughout the day—and then proclaimed said filth was a natural thing.

He was getting to be too smart for his own good, Kagome realized with a roll of her eyes.

After Shippou's bath, she'd stumbled upon Rin in the hallway, and they had commenced an epic game of hide-and-seek. Kagome grinned, remembering that they'd had to confine their radius to the single hallway, reasoning that both she and Shippou would get lost among the winding corridors.

Then there was finding Sesshoumaru holding Rin, crouched on a heavy beam in the rafters like a leopard ready to pounce, and acting like absolutely nothing was strange about it. He had a strange sense of humor, if anything. Kagome snorted mentally. There had been a playful gleam to his eyes, and she couldn't help but remember the previous night, and how his hands had coaxed her heart into hammering.

When his hand had risen to brush the hair from her face, though, her heart practically stopped. It was a heart-wrenching, soft gesture, and Kagome tucked the moment away for safe-keeping. If he was gentle like that all the time, I would be a puddle at his feet now. Then again… The silence kind of makes him who he is, and even though it drives me up a wall, I wouldn't change it. It was Sesshoumaru's almost-shy response to his own behavior that killed her. He hadn't been able to meet her eyes, instead focusing anywhere but her.

Fighting a giggle, she'd teased him, and near choked when he'd teased back. Guess I should have been expecting that. He's less guarded when no one's around.

When they'd spoken about her debt to him, she was surprised when he had refused, and offered compromise instead. She sensed that it was his way of not actually allowing her to pay her debt to him, but in a subtle, Sesshoumaru-like way. Go figure.

Maybe I'll find another way of paying him back, then, since he's obviously going to be complex and not make this easy at all. She thought, an edge of sarcasm riding her words. Still, she'd do what she could.

Walking among the corridors, his hand guiding her, Kagome realized that she would miss him more than she realized. She'd grown accustomed to his silences, and his dry, biting humor. And there were the quieter moments, ones that were so loud in her head that she could hear her own heart beating. She found herself hoping that he would come to visit her.

The sun glared brightly in her eyes as they exited the West's halls. A heavy lead weight of dread settled in her stomach. What if he never came to visit her? What if she died before he even thought about her again? What if—, "Sesshoumaru?"

"Kagome." His response was quick, and his hand eased from her back as they walked. Cold air made her shiver.

"Will you visit?" She turned to face him, staring directly into his curious eyes. It frightened her, that she might never see him again, for a reason unknown to her.

He seemed almost befuddled by her question, and the silence rang in her ears. His eyes inspected her keenly. "I will."

"You promise?" She had no idea what prompted her to be so forward with him, but she'd never been one to skirt around an issue.

"I promise you, Kagome." His voice was low and quiet, and the blaring solemnity in his voice calmed her fears, but made her heart beat faster.

Her arms flung around him, holding him close and burying her nose in his haori. "Good." She murmured into his chest. And like the last time she'd hugged him, his hands carefully held her to him, the heat from his hands melting away the cold that had settled in her bones. She felt a hand sink into her hair, and felt the miniscule sigh that escaped him. His other hand curved around her waist, and a little shock went through her veins when one of his fingers accidentally slid across the bare skin of her hip, her shirt having ridden up slightly. It seemed to pass through him, too, because she felt him freeze momentarily against her.

The memory of being tucked away in his arms flooded her, and the sensation of his bare skin sliding on hers, even from a dream, caused her to shiver again.

He drew away from her with nary a word, and led them further out, and into the stables. "Your colt is returning to health." He said softly, and the rough edge to his voice made her heart jump. He led them down to the third stall.

The little foal whinnied in a high pitch when he spotted her, and stuck his head over the stable door to nose her. "Aww! Aren't you adorable!" She crooned, smoothing the black fur of his muzzle.

Sesshoumaru stayed still, an amused glint in his eyes. "He has shunned all others."

Kagome shot him a glance as she rubbed the horse's nose. "Maybe he just has good taste." She countered, a smile playing on her lips. He really was cute. His leg was still bandaged, but he was standing on it, so Kagome assumed that he was getting better.

"Or perhaps he was wounded in the head." Her jaw dropped, and she glared at him. His eyes were a bright, warm gold.

"You, my friend, are a jerk." She said with a derisive sniff, and then laughed lightly. "Maybe he knows that I found him?" She returned to petting the horse, and grinned when he lipped her hair.

"It is likely." Came his cool response.

"Can I name him?"

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. It seemed this woman drew in strays wherever she went. "He is your charge."

"Really?"

"Yes." He sighed.

"Thank you!" She turned to the horse again, and tousled the soft hair of his mane. "Your name will be…" She hummed and tapped the colt's black head. "Daichi!"

The newly-named horse tossed his head and whinnied, and she kissed his nose.

"Come." Sesshoumaru motioned to the snow dusted fields of his grounds.

She plodded along behind him as they made their way back to the castle. A low roar echoed faintly across the field, making Kagome jump. "What was that?"

Sesshoumaru smirked. "It seems that Kenshin is trying to saddle Ah-Un." The beast was rather fickle about getting saddled, and rather liked to gallop around before being made to wear it.

"I hope he's not like that all the time?" Kagome winced when he roared again, and added, "'Cause I really don't think I could catch a flying dragon. Or a dragon period."

"Hnn."

"Seriously, Sesshoumaru, I can't chase down a dragon. So if he flies away, it's not going to be my fault." She declared, mimicking haughtiness.

He snorted. He knew full well that she wouldn't be able to catch Ah-Un if he decided to leave; but the dragon would never disobey his orders.

The dim light of the hallways caused their shadows to grow longer as Sesshoumaru led them to a large courtyard, where Rin and Shippou were giggling hysterically at Kenshin. The dark-haired inuyoukai was grumbling at Ah-Un, who was dodging him with practiced evasiveness as he tried to saddle the beast.

"Ah-Un, please cease your infantile behavior!" Kenshin growled out.

Kagome laughed, and the dragon trotted around to hide behind her, Ah's head peeking from her shoulder while Un huddled behind her hip.

"Perhaps you should look in a mirror." Sesshoumaru said flatly.

Snorting, Kagome coaxed Ah-Un forward, murmuring to him in soft tones. "Come on, Ah-Un, if you're nice, I'll get you a treat." The dragon perked their heads and immediately trotted toward Kenshin, their tail waving almost as a cat's. Kagome raised a brow, surprised that her plan had worked so easily for once. "Uh. So what kind of treats do dragons like?"

"Rabbits. At least four." She whirled and found him almost smirking.

Of course it's never that easy. "You're serious, aren't you?" She fretted, giving the now-compliant dragon a wary glance. "Sesshoumaru?"

He didn't answer.


Twenty-six and a half minutes later found Kagome re-tying a lace to her boots and fending off a frighteningly hyper Shippou. "Are we really going to fly, mama? How fast does he go? When will we get back? Why does Sesshoumaru-sama even have a dragon? Why does the dragon have two heads?"

Without even missing a beat, Kagome answered promptly, "Yes, I don't know, sometime tomorrow, I have no idea, and just because he can."

Shippou fell silent for a moment.

Sesshoumaru stood a ways off, silently observing them as he guided Ah-Un forward. Rin sat on their back, peppering him with similar questions. "Why does Kagome-sama have to go? When will she visit again? Can we go visit her? Oh, please, please Sesshoumaru-sama, I want to go visit her!"

"Rin." He murmured, and the little girl cut off the next question hanging on her lips. She beamed at him, and crossed her fingers in her lap.

How very odd that I share such a common ground with her. He mused.

High in the sky, the sun glared weakly upon them through thin clouds that promised little warmth. Ah-Un would keep them warm, if nothing else. Rin often used the dragon for heat when they traveled.

"Sesshoumaru! Does Ah-Un know where he's going?" Kagome half-yelled at him from the distance, forgetting that even if she whispered under her breath, he would be able to hear her clearly.

He waited until he had reached the mother and son, and then answered an affirmative. Ah-Un snorted and tossed their heads, eager to be off. Good. It would make their trip all the shorter and she would be within range of safety. Lying is dishonorable. Yet you seem to be accomplishing it much more frequently. That village is more likely to draw attention than to keep her safe. His beast all but snarled in his ear, making his blood run ice cold for half a heartbeat. Beast though he was, he spoke the truth, and that alone caused an unpleasant shudder to spread in his shoulder blades.

Rin hopped from Ah-Un's back and attached herself to Kagome's legs. "Kagome-sama! Promise you'll visit!"

Caught with a pack in her arms, she almost tripped onto the dragon. "Jeez, Rin! Don't worry so much, Sesshoumaru already said he'd come visit."

"Oh. Really?" Rin's large eyes stared up at her. Why did little kids like her have to be so darned cute?

"Yes, Rin." She smiled down at the girl after having secured her pack to Ah-Un, and then ruffled her hair.

With her pack secured, all that was left to do was get on. This seemed a little harder than she'd originally thought. Shippou was already perched upon the saddle, looking expectantly at her. "Come on, mama!"

Somehow the saddle seemed higher. "I'm getting there…" She trailed off, frowning.

Seemingly exasperated, Sesshoumaru sighed, and suddenly his hands were on her waist, effortlessly lifting her onto Ah-Un's back. Biting back a squeak, Kagome let him set her down, missing the warmth of his hands almost as soon as they left her. He'd promised he would visit. I hope he actually will. If not I'll just pester him here! Cheerfully grinning, she put her fears aside and glanced to the side, surprised to see Sesshoumaru staring straight at her, his eyes unreadable and hard.

Did I do something? His fingers reached toward her and soon they were in her hair, at the base of her neck. The tips of his claws pricked her skin gently, but there was something so enthralling about the sensation that Kagome's eyes slid shut. His thumb rubbed back and forth slowly, making her shiver.

His nostrils flared, unaccustomed to the flare of desire that pulsed from her. Her cheeks were flushed, and the black of her lashes fluttered like a bird's wing. Letting his fingers trail along the ridge of her collarbone, he almost didn't stop them from going further downwards.

Her eyes blinked open, warm and almost shy; the latter something Sesshoumaru rarely saw form her. "Be safe."

Kagome nodded, and Sesshoumaru gave Ah-Un's rump a tap. They launched up into the air with a low roar, snorting smoke from their nostrils.

His scent clung to her, now. And that alone would keep many would-be predators away. Not that he hadn't enjoyed the gesture involved, but that was entirely not the point. A bell rang in the distance, the low metallic gonging vibrating deep in his bones. He frowned, and guided Rin inside the West's corridors.


"Kiyoshi-sama! One of the priestesses is dead!" A young woman flung the shoji screen aside, her eyes wide with fear. She quickly whirled and took off, stumbling slightly.

Kiyoshi slowly stood, her grey-streaked-black hair swishing with her graceful movement. With a small cloth, she cleaned the blade of the dagger hidden in her sleeve, relishing in the slick feel of blood. She returned it to its clandestine place among her robes, and then strode quickly out of the room. Her eyes glinted red in the dreary light of the hall.

In the center of a meticulously cleaned complex surrounded by similarly kept buildings lay a vaguely woman-shaped body. The white of her hakama were stained a rusted burgundy, and her innards had been laid bare to the elements. Blood was spattered across the ground in macabre arcs, coinciding with the curved gashes lining her chest and legs. Also across her arms were various bite marks, fangs savagely torn from the flesh. Contrary to the bestial nature of her wounds, her neck had been neatly sliced. Her hair had been jaggedly cut off at the white tie, and the length of brown-black hair lay a few feet from her body. She had been a pitiful girl, barely any spiritual gifts to speak of, and meeker than a dormouse. It was an easy thing to kill her, and it would serve her purposes well.

Kiyoshi inspected the body carefully, eyeing her own handiwork with silent satisfaction. Perfectly done. "A demon has infiltrated the sanctity of our temple."

Soft sobbing could be heard around the complex, and Kiyoshi could hear a woman vomiting not far away. "How was it not sensed?" A middle aged woman asked with thinly veiled rage.

Murmurs of confusion and despair fluttered between the priestesses. "Demons are capable of a great many vile things that even we have not discovered yet." She said gently, pleased that some of the women were already seeking vengeance.

"It is not possible! At the least, you would have sensed it, Kiyoshi-sama. The barriers would have kept it at bay." The woman declared, and she fought a snarl.

"If I had sensed it, we would not be mourning the death of one of our own." The words were hard-edged steel, and caught the attention of many within the complex. She could feel the apprehensive eyes of the women on her, waiting for any sort of guidance. She paused a moment before saying, "This death," She gestured to the mutilated body, "is a reminder of just how deplorable and vicious all youkai are. That it was able to sneak past our defenses without our knowledge is unacceptable." Several women lowered their eyes. "But it is my responsibility, not yours, to assure such things. I have failed you as a high priestess."

Silence rang loud in the plaza. "Once, as priestesses, we would have decimated any threat to our sacred temple. But we have grown decadent—the passing years of peace have made us weak. Once, we would have sought out the threat and eliminated it." Her voice grew louder, and the priestesses lifted puffy reddened eyes to their leader. "Many a century ago, priestesses were feared by youkai; we, the divine protectors of the holy light. I ask you this: what have we become?"

"Shy women that hide behind the shadow of their pasts, using only healing tonics and salves against demon attacks?" Some looked ashamed. "No. We are miko. Youkai should fear us, not the opposite. With this death, we must move forward—we must return to our former glory. We will fight. We will not fade into history as the pitiful women we have come so close to being, and we will rid this world of youkai, as it should be." Kiyoshi felt the effects from her words upon the priestesses—their eyes hardened with determination and fierce hunger.

Yes, perfectly done. Thank you again for your sacrifice, miko-sama.


Flying was surprisingly terrifying for the first five minutes, at least until Shippou told her to stop acting like a baby. She'd huffed at him for that, and promptly gotten over her fear of heights. For the most part.

Ah-Un flew very calmly, despite the speed that they were traveling was faster than she'd ever be able to move. She'd acquired a new respect for Ah-Un then, and consistently scratched their scales. The hours passed by quickly for the most part, but as the sun started to drop, Ah-Un slowed steadily until they eventually landed, just as the sun touched the horizon. "Thank you, Ah-Un. I'll make sure I get you some rabbits when we get to Edo." She said, and gave them both a good scratch underneath their chins.

Shippou had fallen asleep hours before, and it was left to her to make a small meal while the dragon grazed nearby. She wondered if Souta would show this time around. She hoped so—without Inuyasha around, it would be hard to even see if he'd been there. And, she'd have to balance her time between training with Sango extra-hard and learning more and more from Kaede. Even if she couldn't accomplish some of the higher power-level abilities, Kaede was very knowledgeable about most aspects of energy manipulation concerning miko powers. Plus, she really wanted to learn more about youkai, seeing as she apparently knew much less about them than she thought.

Ah-Un lay next to the fire in the cold night air, their belly facing the flames. Shippou was curled in a blanket, only his shock of red hair visible. Smiling to herself, she swathed them both in her reiki. Ah-Un grunted and his tail twitched.

It wasn't long before Kagome curled up next to Ah-Un, quickly falling asleep even as Ah-Un's heads came around to rest upon her lap.

His baritone voice shuddered and rippled in her dreams, rising and falling in speech that she couldn't understand. Another responded, and again she couldn't make out the words, if there were any. Even without comprehending, she could hear the dangerous shift in his tone—dark, cold, and menacing. It sent a twist of discomfort into her gut. The other voice was lilting and high, teasing. It only seemed to enrage Sesshoumaru, for he growled like the daiyoukai he was; the sound made her stomach roll with nerves.

And then his face was in front of her, seemingly wild with panic; such an emotion on his face was so extremely unlike him that Kagome felt herself blink. He was moving past her, searching so quickly about the room that his movements blurred to her eyes. "Where is she?" His voice came out an animalistic snarl.

"Who?"He snapped around to face her, staring intently at her location. "Who, Sesshoumaru?"

With a low roar, Sesshoumaru whirled back around again and ran a clawed hand through his hair in a hasty gesture. "I cannot see you. But I hear you." He murmured, moving about the room. "Rin is missing." He lifted a mattress with his right hand and tossed it against the wall.

The markings on his cheeks were jagged and longer, much like the markings that appeared on Inuyasha's face when he lost control. A distant memory, of Sesshoumaru's true form, passed through her mind. "Betrayal." He growled. His canines were elongated, fangs becoming more and more prominent with each passing moment.

"We can find her, Sesshoumaru." She soothed, wishing she was physically there.

"You do not know that." He paced about the room with predatory grace, his gait loping and drawn taught with tension.

Yes, I do. We can." Kagome reached out toward him, and tried to touch his shoulder, but felt nothing. "Why can't I touch you?"

Sesshoumaru looked at her form, his eyes piercing and heavier than lead. "You are dead, Kagome." He whispered, reaching a tentative hand for her. It passed directly through her chest, leaving a light fluttering sensation behind. He roared and shoved his hands through the walls, leaving gaping holes in their wake. "It is my fault." His claws dug into his palms, drawing deep red blood.

"Sesshoumaru, I'm not dead." She said, but felt his words falling like iron weights in her stomach.

Groaning, his eyes bled red. "I watched the light fade from your eyes, Kagome!" He launched a dresser into the wall with a rough cry and dragged his hands over the same wall, leaving bloodied paths and claw marks behind. A keening howl escaped his throat, and he bowed his head. "And now, Rin."

Kagome shot forward with a scream, frightening Ah-Un in the process. Smoke streamed from his nostrils as Ah glanced warily around while Un nosed Kagome. She clenched the smoothed wood of her bow tightly in her fist.

She was sweating profusely, and her heart refused to calm down, thundering loudly in her ears. Placing a hand in front of her eyes, she touched her own hand and flexed it, then touched the scales of Un's neck. "Just a dream…" She whispered.

Tilting her head back, she blew the breath out of her lungs loudly. "Not real, Sesshoumaru is fine, and so is Rin."

"Everything is fine." She soothed herself. But her nerves still jangled and clanged about, making it impossible to return to sleep even though the sun was barely peeking above the horizon. "Are you okay to fly, Ah-Un?"

The bloodied paths of Sesshoumaru's hands down the walls caused a shudder to clamor down her spine.

In answer, the dragon rose to his feet with a low grunt. Shippou murmured in his sleep, but she gathered him into her arms and leapt atop Ah-Un with no small amount of difficulty. Ah snorted a short column of flame, then turned and nudged her further upon the saddle. "Thanks." She muttered. And now, the two-headed dragon has to help me get on his back. Jeez, I really need to gain a sense of balance.

Hours passed in silence while Shippou slept soundly in her arms. A memory rushed to her, unbidden. Souta was running circles around the Goshinboku, holding Buyo by his forelegs and laughing like a little kid should. She remembered that she'd been chasing him, but she couldn't recall why. All she knew was that it was a good memory, and even though Buyo seemed severely unimpressed with the situation, Souta was there and alive and well. His short black hair caught the bright sun and made her miss the long, hot days of summer, even though it was months away. And it made her miss Souta. Despite being a serious pain in the neck half of the time, he was her little brother, and somehow he always knew what to say.

Smiling softly, she remembered the rare days that she would come home crying. Grime, gore, and death were not things a fifteen year old girl wore well. Souta would leave her be for most of the day, but when night came, he would peek in her room before asking her if she'd be okay. Sniffling, she'd tell him yes, and he would give her one of those begrudging one-armed hugs before nearly tripping out of the room in his haste.

When I see Sesshoumaru next, I'll ask him to smell the paper for me. Maybe he can tell me who's touched it, and that could get me just a little bit closer to where he disappeared off to. The rough stone pendant hung heavy on her throat, and for a moment she wondered if staying in the Feudal Era was the right decision. No. I think, in some strange way, this place has always been where I should be. I never felt like I fit well in the present time, even though I was born there. That feeling only got worse when I started time-traveling here; learning that all of those stories Gramps told were true all along was strange to say the least. Youkai, Gramps? Could have at least mentioned that they would try to eat me every—never mind, I'm pretty sure he mentioned that once or twice, and I was just being… not aware.

Besides, I had a job to do here, and I have the feeling I'm going to need to do something else soon. There's a stillness around everything that makes me uneasy. It almost reminds me of Naraku… But not, at the same time. Especially with Kikyo and Inuyasha gone—I'm sure it has something to do with the red-eyed woman in my vision. I only wish that I could have warned them… I should have said something the moment I saw it. I hope Kikyo knows how to hide herself from Inuyasha's nose. And I hope Inuyasha can't find her. Idiot should have listened to me, but nooo, he had to go and have his man period all over my parade. Oh. Gross. Anyway…

And what about those visions with Sesshoumaru? And the dreams? Come on, how much more cliché can you get? Doesn't make him any less attractive, but still… Not the point, Kagome. Even if it was slightly cliché, it still happened, and there was definitely something more to those moments we've shared. At least, I thought there was. A sharp pang of uneasiness hit her in the gut. Was I just imagining?

For some reason, a part of her desperately hoped not. Something almost alien drew her to him, and while she wasn't sure just what it was, the thought of letting it go frightened her.

Hours passed, and the sun passed the midway mark in the sky, beginning its descent into night. The view from Ah-Un's back really was awe-inspiring—it reminded her of the night before atop the cliff, except without the added mysterious glow of nighttime. During the day the trees looked gnarled, old, and downright creepy in some places. And somehow, it didn't feel the same without the heat of Sesshoumaru's hand easing around her waist to ward off the bitter cold.

Shippou had woken earlier, but spoke little. He was far too preoccupied with pretending to squish trees between his tiny fingers. "Got another one, Mama!"

"How many is that Shippou? Twenty?" She asked, a grin playing with her lips.

"No! Twenty-eight!" He exclaimed proudly.

"Of course, of course!" She called back, laughing.


Youki; she could sense it even from this distance, and knew it was inside the village. And it wasn't Sesshoumaru, or Inuyasha. Kouga didn't have an aura like that, either. What was it doing near Kaede? "Ah-Un, quickly! We need to get to the village as fast as you can!"

Her heart jumped into her throat, and she started to focus her energy, but not to the point where it manifested, lest she injure either Shippou or Ah-Un. "Shippou, do you smell anything in the area?"

The little kitsune perked up, his closing in concentration. "Not really, all I smell is birds. Maybe it's a bird youkai?"

Kagome frowned. The only bird youkai she'd encountered were the birds of paradise youkai, and they weren't pleasant in the least. Ah-Un sped past trees and snow-covered ground, swooping low as they reached the cluster of huts on the village edge. Leaping off the saddle, she sprinted forward to the source of the youki, inside Kaede's hut. Her fingers were white with power.

A demon with golden-brown hair and orange eyes met her glowing fingertips. "Sango, who is he?" She all but growled.

"He's not here to hurt us. He has a letter for you, actually." Sango's clear voice calmed her.

Feeling ashamed, Kagome lowered her hand and shook her head. "I'm sorry about that; I had no idea who you were." Smiling at him, she noticed that he had a very striking face. Thin and sharp, the angles stood out and made his eyes all the more striking. "My name is Kagome, and this is Shippou."

Her little kitsune was ecstatic. "Jeez, mama, you really scared him!" It looked to be true—the man hadn't blinked since she'd entered.

"I am Osamu." He took a scroll out from in his haori, and handed it to her carefully.

Intrigue boiled in her. "The letter I bring, I am told, is from a woman named Kikyo. I shall explain more once you have read it." His voice was a bit higher than she would have expected, but it still held a strange, hollow quality that managed to raise the hairs on her neck.

The white tie that held the scroll together was indeed Kikyo's. "Kikyo?" She touched it gently before sliding it off, feeling something tug at her instincts. The moment was heavy, and Kagome took a deep breath before letting herself read the quickly-scrawled letter, her heart thumping wildly in her chest.

Kagome,

Please forgive me, but under the circumstances, I cannot explain why this demon is facing you right now, only that he needs to be hidden, at all costs. If he were to be found, I fear not only his death, but the death of the demon race. I know it may be hard to believe me on such a matter, considering my unacceptable behavior toward you before this. Over time, other demons will come to you for shelter, but only if you accept my proposal. I implore you.

-Kikyo.

The breath she'd taken left her in a whoosh. She re-read the letter, and then glanced quickly at the demon standing not five feet from her. Her mouth became a hard line. The death of the demon race? Her brain recoiled from the thought. Without youkai, the world would lose balance. She would have never met Inuyasha, or Sesshoumaru, or any of her friends in the Feudal Era. She wondered just how much things would change if they hadn't existed.

Is this what happens in the future? She thought, terrified of the answer. As far as she knew, she'd never sensed a youkai in her time, so either they'd found a way to hide their youki completely, or they had ceased to exist years prior. Shippou leaned forward from her shoulder, trying to make out the words on the paper. Without youkai, I would never have found Shippou. Sesshoumaru would not exist.

Kaede's eye stared keenly at her, sharp with intelligence and curiosity. "What does it say, child?"

Kagome fought the shudder that threatened to pulse through her. Whoever is after this demon wants them all dead. I have to find a way to stop it. "If we don't hide Osamu—and others—from some unknown threat, it will wipe them all out forever."

Miroku frowned, and Sango burst forth, "What? If that happens, we'll surely throw the world out of balance. Demon exterminator or no, I won't stand by and let the world fall to pieces."

Osamu's eyes flicked back and forth, seemingly absorbing the conversation. "Am I to be hidden, then?"

"Aye, but what place could keep youki a secret?" Kaede grumbled, crossing her arms.

"Perhaps underground?" Miroku suggested. "I know that it is much harder to sense an aura when separated by so much earth."

"I don't know of many tunnels that can house more than a few demons." Kagome voiced, a sense of dread welling in her chest.

"It might not provide the right amount of protection we need." Sango said as she moved about the room, looking for something. Kagome almost smiled; she knew that she could rely on these people no matter what, and it gave her strength. She tugged on her hair thoughtfully.

"Kagome, ye have the power to erect a barrier yourself."

"Would it be enough, though?" Kagome fretted. Sango pulled her armor out from a low drawer, and slung it over her shoulder after tying her hair in a high ponytail. Kirara mewed.

The silence drew on for a moment as they thought. Sango bit her cheek. Miroku sighed. Kagome tugged her hair again, and bit her lip. Osamu gave a pointed stare to Kaede, who glared at him so forcefully that he turned away. She huffed.

"I have an idea." Miroku stood with one arm crossed over his chest, and another tapping the side of his forehead.

Osamu's eyes flitted back and forth unnervingly quickly between the four of them, but stayed silent.

"What is it?" She had re-rolled the scroll and tucked it into her pocket.

"Kaede, you've said that Kagome had the power to surpass Midoriko's power, right?"

"Midoriko, the great priestess who created the Jewel of Four Souls?" Osamu clarified, a claw tapping quickly on the aged wood of the hut.

"Aye." Kaede grunted in affirmative. Kagome had yet to catch on to Miroku's train of thought, but the glint in Kaede's eye spoke volumes.

"What about the Cave?"

End of Chapter Fifteen – Turning Pages Pt. 2

A/N—There you are! Much faster than I anticipated! Thank you all so much for sticking with me through this, and I promise to be nicer about updating! Please review! (: Thank you again!