They were bustling around him, but he wasn't really a part of them. As if they were all inside that glowing box at Kagome's place, and he was watching them from a distance – apathetic, almost detached.

She had opened her eyes after three days; had looked at him – he imagined he saw the ghost of a smile appear on her lips. He tried to smile back, but only his tears would answer. She made a small, choking noise. Her heartbeats echoed in his ears like the gasping of a funeral bell. They were wayward, cacophonous like the sounds from an off-beat taiko, gradually rising to a chaotic crescendo. Then he could hear them no more.

"No…!"

His dazed eyes watched Miroku take her wrist, then jab his hand at the side of her neck. The monk shook his head in disbelief and leaned against the wall. Sango started to cry. At the corner of the room Kaede dropped the bowl of miso she had prepared for her patient. Nobody noticed its contents running into the futon. What a performance!

"NO!"

The idiots appeared glued to their positions.

"What the hell are you guys acting like that for?"

He was starting to get angry now. Kagome was suffering so much. Now at last she was at peace. But they…they were acting like she was…He felt the red twinge at the edge of his vision. No, he would not lose control now. Kagome needed him. He gripped the hilt of Tessaiga till his knuckles were white.

The mat lifted in the doorway, Shinta entered the hut.

"Did something happen to Kaasama?"

He watched Sango pull Shinta into a hug. A growl escaped his throat.

"Kaasama has gone to the land of the Kami. From now she'll bless you from the invisible realm."

How dare she? How dare she spread those malicious lies about Kagome?

The boy's eyes were big and blue and compassionate like his mother's, now filled with fear and bewilderment. "Invisible? I won't see Kaasama again?"

"Would you stop your blabbering, woman?" Inuyasha thundered, startled by the menace in his own voice. "Kagome, wake up!" he was clutching her shoulders now, in an impossibly tender grip, "you haven't seen Shinta in three days. Don't you miss him? Don't you miss me? Look you have to come home now, you hear me? The autumn wind is blowing all the leaves inside, your herb patch is dying…we haven't had dinner in three days, Kagome…"

"Houshi-sama, Inuyasha…" the old priestess sounded forlorn, broken.

Miroku rushed to put his arms around Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, get a grip. Please!"

"No…no…"

Sango grasped his hand.

"At least for Shinta's sake. You've got to be strong. You can't break down like this."

"NO…"

Nine years…nine long years gone by listening to her gentle heartbeats. I can't stand the silence. "I just need her heart to start beating again."

"Kaasama…" now the boy had huge tears in his eyes. Look Kagome, look what you have done!

"She will be fine," he hissed, "now be a good boy and sit beside her till I come back."

He had to get away from the monk and the priestess and the taijiya. The lying, conspiring bunch – lamenting, pretending that Kagome would never wake up again. Feeding their lies to his boy. His Kagome was a survivor…they didn't know that! Together, the two of them had faced worse and survived. There was no way she would leave him behind. His place was right beside her.

Tongues of lightning blazed across the sky. Was there no end to the storm? He was running like he never ran before, through the forest, up the mountains, over the vast, arid wastelands. His mind barely registered the scenery he was passing through. All his attention was focussed on finding the one person who held the key to Kagome's life. He would sift the ends of the earth in order to find him.

It is said in times of distress, blood calls to blood. After a night's search, he found his half-brother in a mountain cave, guarded by the latter's two-headed dragon.

"What business do you have with me, half-breed?" Sesshoumaru drawled, sardonic as was his wont.

"I need to borrow the Tenseiga."

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow, "Indeed?"

"It's for Kagome."

It took the taiyoukai a full moment to realize the implication of the sentence. In that time his eyes took in his brother's devastation – the tousled hair, the anguished eyes, the creases on his forehead. He, of course, knew the day would come – the lives of mortals were shorter than a mayfly's, but so soon? With a nod imperceptible to anyone other than his brother, he sped through the sky.

Lord Sesshoumaru did not care for humans in general. But reluctant as he was to admit it, Kagome was family, the mother of his only nephew…the girl who overcame time. In spite of himself, he held a grudging respect for his sister-in-law. This time he knew what he needed to do. Inuyasha relied upon him to perform a miracle and he, the lord of the western realms, the most powerful youkai of his time, would do nothing short of that. Don't let me down, Tenseiga…

He smelled death even before he entered the hut. But as he lifted the hanging mat that modestly covered the doorway to Kaede's hut, he encountered a strange sight. Kagome's body exuded purity, her reiki undiminished even in death. She looked regal, other-worldly – almost like a goddess. Carefully, Sesshoumaru drew the Tenseiga. All he needed to do was to cut down the minions of afterlife, and the miko would survive.

The sword did not pulsate.

Surprised, Sesshoumaru concentrated harder, pouring his will to revive the miko into the blade. He prayed to his father and tried again.

Still, the sword did not pulsate.

This happened with Rin, but that was because I had already revived her once. Tenseiga, please respond!

Inuyasha appeared anxious. "What's the matter, Sesshoumaru? What is taking so long?"

My brother has asked me for something. If I cannot perform, his trust in me will be broken. Come on Tenseiga, lend me your powers, I beg of you.

Again Sesshoumaru manoeuvred the sword, and again it sat quietly in his hand. This cannot be happening! He averted his eyes from his brother's face, knowing his next few words could sever the delicate bond of trust that was budding between the estranged siblings…so this is what failure tastes like? Are you happy, chichi-ue? Finally this Sesshoumaru bows down to the will of destiny.

"I cannot see the minions of the afterlife."

His words fell like a death knell on his brother's heart.