I DO NOT OWN BLEACH OR INUYASHA

CHAPTER 7

Sara's P.O.V

I was lying down on the ground I was hugging my sword when I was sure that the others where asleep I got up Inuyasha 's eyes flashed open and they met mine I put my finger too my lip to show him to be quite.

"What are you doing," he said it so low that the wind had to carry it to me.

"Taking a midnight stroll," I said he rolled his eyes at my sarcastic tone.

"You do know that I'm going to be right behind you right?" he asked me I nodded and got up.

"But then who would take care of Kagome and the others?" I asked from my last vision I could tell that it would be hard for him to leave her unprotected. He was looking at me clearly fighting with him self.

"I promised that I would be here in the morning I never break my word," I said he looked at me for a while and he did not take his eyes off mine as I walked into the dark forest. I sat down next to the tree that was in mind it had white bark and leaves of green gold, I waited penitently until a few minutes later I felt Ichigo's spiritual pressure he sat down next to me.

"You know that Sean told me something that's been bothering me all day," he said I looked at his tormented brown eyes.

"What was it?" I asked him he looked at me for a long time before he answered.

"He told me to protect you, from pain and loneliness," he said his voice was layered with Sean's I froze in place.

"I see," I said.

"Don't worry about it," he said I looked at him. "I know what's bothering you things happen like that all the time, they where close to me, but at least they are in a better place." He was looking far away towards the sky.

"Uryū told me to tell you that you where one of the only decent Shinigami that he had meet," I said he turned to me and the looked away he.

"Tsk," he said and a grin spread across his face. "Guess he had a soft spot for Shinigami after all,"

"Everyone else said to take care," I said I was stretching the truth but I'm sure that was what they wanted to say. He nodded and I leaned into his shoulder.

"Don't worry about what Sean said he means well but I can't explain it to you, only you know," I said he put an arm around my shoulder I felt him lean his head on my own.

"You know what I think," he said.

"Not really, what do you think, that in its self is a shocker," I said he growled at me.

"I think that you're having a hard time right now, and that you need someone to be there for you, and I think that, that person is going to be me," he said I looked at him and I smiled Ichigo was Ichigo he was going to be my 'shoulder to cry on' that in itself had some sort of relief.

"You're going to be my bitch?" I asked he glared at me.

"What is that suppose to mean?" he asked I laughed.

"My friend my best friend regardless of what happens," I said he looked at me for a while then a wicked grin spread across his face.

"Well if that's the case then yes I'm going to be your bitch," he said I laughed and so did he.

"Let us train so that you can at least be a small challenge to me," I said he frowned.

"That is insulting," he said I pulled him up and pulled out my Zanpaktō he did the same.

"Ready?" I asked but I was asking if he was ready to join me join what I was.

"Ready." He said and I knew that he would always follow to that in when he felt like leaving this moment would be what he saw and he would stay. Our swords clashed together in the moonlight that shone on them.

Rurichiyo's P.O.V

We began to walk towards where we felt Sara's spiritual pressure we came to a clearing and she was leaning against Ichigo laughing. She looked up to where we were coming and Ichigo followed her gaze.

"Hey, Rurichiyo what are you doing up?" he asked us.

"We came to find Sara so that we could train," we said Sara smiled.

"Right I almost forgot Rurichiyo that today we had to train sorry but Ichigo wasn't being very smart," she said Ichigo glared at her.

"That's not my fault if you where a good teacher I wouldn't be losing now would I?" he asked her she frowned at him.

"Shut up and go sleep," she said pushing him away towards the camp he glared at her then walked away. She turned to us.

"Ready?" she asked us we nodded.

"What should we do?" we asked her.

"You know the name of your bow but you need to grow stronger," she said taking out her own bow. "Have you killed a hollow yet?"

"No they wouldn't let us," we answered she nodded.

"You need to but since there are no hollows at hand we're just going to have to deal with demons that they fight in this time," she told us she turned and looked off into the distance we focused ourselves as we felt something come towards us. A monster walked toward us it was tall and brown colored it had yellow eyes and came closer to us we took a step back.

"Don't you dare walk away Rurichiyo face that monster, face it and don't you ever dare walk away," Sara said her golden eyes burning into ours'. We took a deep breath as the demon sniffed the air its eyes falling on us, we strung our bow arrow ready. A spell, of our strength, of mine, of the blinding sun. The words left my lips with a strange haze of power like a blanket to conceal what I, we could do.

"Hawk of the sun, burning fire, streaming light, consume the arrow and show our might," the arrow left our bow with a golden light surrounding it, when it made contact with the demon flames erupted and soon it became nothing but ashes. Life is not something to think little of; we stopped it was a demon but it had breath.

"When you kill or destroy you will always take life in one way or another, which is where a resolve comes into play, it is what keeps you moving keeps you killing in a way," Sara told us. "No one ever said that this was an easy job, saving lives, in more then one way at the end of the day the only person that has been harmed is your self, Shinigami chose this path, Rurichiyo now that you have felt what it is like make a choice you can be Rurichiyo-hime, or you can be you." We said nothing we walked away slowly.

"We need to think but we will make a choice," we said a small wind carried her last words to us but we never really knew if she even said them.

"The easy choice is not always the right choice and the right choice is not always the easy one," her words where coated in pain and apology.

Kagome's P.O.V

I watched as the little girl was surrounded by a golden aura she mumbled something before the arrow hit the demon and was burned to ash. I was about to leave just as the girl did but Sara turned to where I was hiding behind a tree.

"Maybe you should come out, I think that you're a little to old to play hide and seek, besides you're not very good," she said I walked out for behind the tree I could feel the heat in my cheeks.

"I wasn't hiding," I stated.

"No you where observing," she said her tone coated in sarcasm I looked away, boy was she annoying.

"Yes I was observing," I said determined not to let her get the best of me.

"You are an archer after all I can feel it but I think you know it as a priestess," she said leaning against a tree.

"What does that mean?" I asked she looked at me for a while.

"What do you want it to mean?" she asked me I frowned at her since when did answering with a question become acceptable.

"You're the one that said I was something what is that something?" I asked her.

"You're an archer a priestess same thing except you're not at your full potential," she said tying her sword at her side with a purple sash.

"And what is this full potential?" I asked her she looked amused.

"Primary control over an element, thus using that control to increase the power of your arrow that is already fused with your spirit power," she said my head was reeling with all the things she had just managed to push into one sentence. "Anymore questions?"

"Yeah just one more how exactly am I going to do that?" I asked she laughed.

"First figure out the name of your bow, then call out your bow, after that learn control, and finally if you're still up to it learn how to kill," she said I started at her she had the strangest ways of sending out a message.

"Are you going to teach me?" I asked she nodded her head. "When?"

"Now," she said as an arrow cam flying my way brushing my cheek. I looked at her she seemed perfectly in control but she already had an arrow ready.

"Are you crazy?" I asked her jumping out of the way as another arrow cam at me.

"If you ask most people they would say yes, if you asked people I trained they would say no," she said as another shower of arrows cam at me I ran as hard as my legs could carry me out of the way of the. I was going to have to start fighting back I had an arrow ready but she shot one at my bow breaking it.

"That's not your bow, you will never hit anyone with that," she said, she was leaning against the tree again an arrow ready.

"Then with what am I going to fight?" I asked her she nodded her head.

"Good question, here's one for you; do you want to fight?" she asked me I started at her.

"What kind of question is that?" I asked her she frowned at me turning to face me.

"The question that you should answer," she said.

"No it's a bad question," I told her getting up but I had to drop down as she shot the arrow at me.

"There are no bad or good questions, there are only questions," she explained to me as if I where a child who had not seen what the world had to offer.

"I know what is out there I have lived it first hand don't talk to me like that," I growled at her between clenched teeth I didn't even know why that had pissed me off.

"No, you know nothing; you know little how many people have you killed? You know nothing and you never will until you answer the question," she said pointing an arrow at me again. I sat there wondering just exactly what this girl had gone through for her to be able to speak as she did; I didn't want that, I wanted to be normal, but that desire was challenged by another. Who then would fight against that man, who would protect those who needed the protection?

"Not everyone can fight," she said as if she where helping my train thought. No she was right not everyone could fight, but that was not the question at hand the question at hand was; do I want to fight? The answer no. but I had an answer to what she had asked me.

"No I don't want to fight, but that wasn't what you asked me, you should have said, should I fight, or would I fight," I told her getting up. "Then the answer to that question is yes, I would fight."

"Why?" she promoted.

"Because, people need a hero, and because I can fight," I said knowing as the words left my lips they held not one ounce of a lie.

"Good," she said she began to shimmer in blue light. "Cold as ice, isolated by winds, my ice dragon go find her mate." She let the arrow go but as it pierced my chest I felt no pain only the sensation of being shoved to the side into another place. Before me perched on a branch was a nightingale, I recognized the shaped but it was way bigger then a normal one about ten times its normal size. I took a step back as the birds gaze fell on me his eyes where dancing.

Hello Kagome, his voice rang loud and clear in my mind.

Who are you?

I'm part of you,

A part of me?

Yes

His answers where a little strange the world around me changed I was in a green meadow and although it was day time starts in the crystal blue sky where visible. Around me only one tree stood tall and a rich brown and in this branch the nightingale sat. He spread his wings and transformed into bright light; I raised an arm to shield my eyes.

"Welcome, do you know who I am?" he asked.

"No, not really," I said he laughed.

"Do you know what animal I am?" he asked again.

"Of course I do you're a nightingale," I said.

"Very good Kagome I am your bow, I will guide you from now on, listen to me and you will be unstoppable," his voice carried without effort even though a strong warm wind began to blow.

"But why wouldn't I know what type of animal that you are?" I asked.

"Kagome you shock me, didn't she tell you? We are one of a kind in the eyes of our masters, you would have never known I was a nightingale if I were not truly yours," he said I nodded my head. "Are you ready Kagome?" for some reason I knew that he was talking about taking control over him maybe it was just obvious or I had just been paying attention to what Sara said.

"Yes," I said I reached my hand into the light not even sure why and I grasped a bow my body became heavy and I opened my eyes.

"Well done Kagome you passed the first test, go get some sleep tomorrow will not be easy," Sara said she was leaning against the tree.

"Who said that any day was easy?" I asked a smile played across her lips.

"True but some days are longer then others," she said I'd give her that point.

"Since when do we count points?" she asked I frowned I hadn't even know I had said that out loud I must be really tired. "Then go get some sleep but you won't get much." I shook my head I really should go to bed.

"Aren't you coming?" I asked she shook her head and I walked back to Inuyasha and the others.

Inuyahsa's P.O.V

I opened my eyes as footsteps approached, I closed them when I recognized then as the light footsteps of Kagome.

"Inuyasha?' she asked tentatively.

"Yeah," I said leaving my eyes closed.

"Nothing," her voice caught at the end and I opened my eyes.

"What is it Kagome?" I asked her eyes where wide with wonder my eyes flew to the bow she had on it was golden like starts I reached out and placed a finger to it; it was warm alive almost like the Tetsusaiga, she took a step back and my eyes flew to hers'. I froze her chocolate eyes for once where unreadable.

"Forget about it Inuyasha go back to sleep before you wake anyone up," she said lying down her back to me, I took a deep breath to try and calm myself nothing was wrong with Kagome she was fine, she just wasn't telling me something that was all. And that was enough to get me to a point where I had to worry where I had to know what was going on with her. I was going to have to make a low blow to find out what she was hiding.

"Kagome, you… is it that you don't trust me enough to tell me?" I asked looking away from her as she stiffened and turned to face me.

"No, Inuyasha that's not it, it's just that I'm tired that's all, I just realized that I'm not that common and well I had power that I didn't even know that I had, that's all, it's a little strange don't worry about it," she said, it was lovable how easily you could get her to tell you what you wanted.

"What power?" I asked her she held up the bow.

"This is where my power comes from, this bow helps me bring it out," she said gently stroking the bow like I would the Tetsuaiga. I looked at her for a while satisfied that nothing was wrong I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

Toshiro's P.O.V

I watched as she sat down a little far away from where we where; her eyes where half closed but that was enough I had always been contented myself with watching from afar any closer and things just didn't go my way. She turned and her eyes fell on where we where, then she looked away; it was strange; I wanted to go to her like I would have but then right next to me was a reminder and then fear. She got up and laid down her back to me and I watched her. The slow rise and fall of her breath.

Inuyasha's P.O.V

The wind tickled my nose with the sent of fresh blood; my eyes followed to where the girl laid, Kagome stirred and her eyes met mine.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I smell blood," I told her I watched as her eyes widened.

"Where?" she asked her eyes already scanning the area.

"From Sara," I said Kagome got up and I followed her. She was looking at Sara's arm that had bandages wrapped around it, they where drenched with blood. Kagome reached her hand out and in that instant silver flashed in my peripheral vision and a long was suddenly rested against her neck.

"Damn it, why the fuck do you people sneak around for? Not everyone likes a morning visit," she said irritated getting up, removing the sword from Kagome's neck.

"You where bleeding what did you want us to do?" Kagome asked I saw her eyes widen slightly but she composed herself so quickly it could have been my imagination. Sara sighed and got up. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Forget about it, I'm fine," she said walking away.

"No you aren't," I said "Haven't you heard of restrain?" I stalked after her, good god, where all women like this? I really needed to check things over considering how they where turning out. Why the hell did I always get stuck with the aggressive/psychopathic ones?

Kagome's P.O.V

I reached my hand out without thinking to the blood socked bandages; I froze as I felt the brush of cold silver against my neck; but that was not the only reason; a pulse like my own flowed through the sword.

"Damn it, why the fuck do you people sneak around for? Not everyone likes a morning visit," she said her voice was cold as she removed the sword from my neck.

"You where bleeding what did you want us to do?" I asked in the same tone, she sighed and got up my eyes followed her. "Where do you think you're going?" she didn't answer I was still in shock about the sword that I didn't move, it had felt alive, at first it was cold but then it began to radiate heat.

"You should call him back," I jumped at the sound of the voice, so shocked that I actually listened to it.

"Inuyasha, sit," I barely said it but he was already on the floor, it always shocked me how easily he could kill demons and how easily I could have him on the floor. I turned to Toshiro, he was still lying down but his hands where behind his head and he was looking to where Sara had disappeared to.

"Why does she do that?" I asked him he looked at me, his eyes where cold but I saw something he was trying to hide, but I couldn't put a name to it; he sat up.

"She has restrain, the main reason why you're still alive," he said. "Main reason why I'm still alive," but I wasn't sure if he had said that.

"Hey buddy she was bleeding a lot you sure she can leave by herself?" Inuyasha asked, I hadn't even realized that he had gotten up; I was still looking at Toshiro, something flashed in his eyes but I was gone before I could ask about it.

"She'll be fine," he said, nut it sounded forced.

"How do you know?" I asked he looked at me from the corner of his eye.

"Because if she wasn't going to be alright she would have left a long time ago," he said, I wasn't sure if I was imagining things but I could have sworn that his words had a double meaning. Toshiro was suddenly toppling over but he regained himself before he hit the ground.

"Rangiku, what the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked the woman that was clutching to his side.

"But Captain, Renji started it!" she complained pointing to the red haired man that was glaring at her.

"It was your fault Rangiku, you're the one who had to be all cold and ended up sleeping right next to me!" he shouted at her, I would have laughed if not afraid that Toshiro looked like he was about to pop a vein.

"Would you two shut up? Its way too early in the morning to start this," he told them, but I was sure that he wanted to do more then just talk to them. I couldn't help it anymore I started to laugh, three pairs of eyes flashed to me; then they started to laugh, except for Toshiro who looked away, his expression unreadable.

Sara's P.O.V

I was sitting by a river debating wither or not it was safe to stick my hand in, I sighed leaning forward.

Senna is talking with Kisuke Urahara, he is setting up the gigai to take our place, and Kon is outside jumping around.

"I'm sure that she chose you because you can take care of things, I can leave them to you?" he asked her she nodded her head.

"I believe that I can work with them, but how long until she comes back?" Senna asked.

"Who cares I get to use Ichigo's body again, and that's good enough, I just wish Rukia was here," Kon said stepping into the kitchen.


"I'm not sure, however long it takes to finish things up, is that a problem?" he asked seeing Senna's expression.

"It will be I can sit in for small periods of time, but sooner or later the questions start coming, I may be good but I'm far from perfect," she said he smiled.

"Ah, if that's the problem you can always stay here," he said her eyes widened.

"No that would be worse," she said. "I guess I just have to try." He smiled at her again patting her head.

"I knew you would," he said as he walked away.

"That guy is weird," Kon said Senna didn't say anything and just looked around at all the gigai.

I closed my eyes trying to calm myself before I ended up breaking a tree in half.

"Damn it, why the hell did I land in a time period without a phone?" I complained looking down at my arm I frowned I had no way of taking care of that, I pulled a hand through my hair and accidentally pulled out the comb. I picked it up and I few drops of blood fell on it, I sighed I really knew how to take care of a present. I dipped in the water to get the blood off without really putting my injured arm was a major, bitch. A slight glow came from above me I looked up to the outline a woman but I couldn't make out her features.

"Who are you?" I asked, I could tell that she was smiling.

"I am here to help my son, I wouldn't want the woman of his dreams to walk around broken," she said I froze.

"You're Toshiro's mother?" I asked I hardly think that he would have given me the comb without telling me that I would see his mom.

"Toshiro doesn't know, it was my way of giving him one last gift, I gave it to his grandmother to give to him, I only appear to the person that is really meant to be with him, which is why he doesn't know that I am here," she said.

"And why are you here?" I asked.

"To help you, Sara, I want my Toshiro to be happy and as such you have to be safe, I will leave after this, I may come back from time to time but only if it is really necessary," she said.

"How are you going t help me?" I asked thinking about my current situation.

"Heal you Sara, I can give you the power to heal without it affecting you," she said I started at her. "The comb is a way to heal, by willing it with your mind you can heal any wound inflicted upon you." I picked up the comb and looked at the little comb that could be so useful.

"So I just think about it happening and it will?" I asked her she nodded her head.

"You're a fast learner I'm glad that my Toshiro chose you, you're good for him and he's good for you," she said before she disappeared, I hoped that was true, I grabbed the comb and placed it near my wound and closed my eyes. I looked down and saw as a blue light cover the wound and then it just disappeared.

"Well that was useful, would have helped to know that a while back," I, mumbled to myself thinking about all the trips to the emergency room I could have saved. "Shit," I had forgotten about the vision I got up and ran back to camp, we where treading deep waters.

Ichigo's P.O.V

I was going to kill her; I really was, because she hadn't told me how long I had until the visions came true, and I sure as hell didn't want Kon in my body.

"Ichigo what's up you look like you're about to pop a vein or something," Rukia said I looked over at her she had taken the news hard, I composed myself and gave her a reassuring half smile, the best I could give at the moment.

"Nothing to worry about," I told her, yet; anyway she looked at me for a while and then went back to talking with Rangiku who was complaining about Renji harassing her. I closed my eyes to keep myself from hitting them, shit, they should get over it not like they didn't enjoy it, and it was freaking cold yesterday.

"Ichigo, I would say we have about 1 week max," Sara said I jumped as I looked at her amused expression she was leaning on the heels of her feet, crouching down.

"Shit, you shouldn't sneak up on people," I said.

"Ah, Ichigo if you paid attention last night I wouldn't have been able to sneak up on you," she said getting up and walking over to the main group. "Hurry up Ichigo." I got up and followed her.

"Hey, we have about a week to get the remaining pieces of the Hogyoku and then get back," she said.

"How come?" Rangiku asked.

"You can't get it all back in a week, we've been at it almost a year," Kagome said.

"Yes but you're not Shinigami," Sara answered. "Because we have interference back home which involve letting the gigai run lose,"

"You're joking right?" Renji asked.

"I wish I where," she said.

"How do you know?" Yachiru asked I was pretty sure that she had amid to fall of Sara's head but she ended up on the floor.

"Because I have a gift, well actually a few of us have a gift that let us see the future," she said talking to Yachiru but it was meant for everyone to hear, I sighed thinking of the mess she had just gotten us into; I caught Tanya's eyes and knew that she could not have agreed more.

Author's Note: I'm extremely let down, so many people read my story but you don't leave reviews, it makes me sad, the main reason why it took me so long to up date. I'll try but I have other stories that get more reviews then this one does, makes me more willing to focus on those before this one, I hope that at least if you enjoy this because I wouldn't know. Please as a favor to the author leave a review, half the time I don't even know why I write this note, if half the time I'm not sure if you read it. =(