Chapter thirteen

Kagome gazed in amazement at the magical item. As they settled down into the small kitchen, Gramps decided to give lecture on a relic he studied all the legends on.

"The Staff of Courage was said to be created by the first Lord of the West. It possessed part of his youki, but only showed itself to those who were truly worthy. It was how he chose his daughter's mate. The staff is surrounded by mysterious magic. It was said to be how ALL the past lords have found their children's mates. Only the strongest and the bravest were able to mate into the Western Bloodline."

After receiving death glares from both of the time crossed adventurers, he continued with another theory.

"But that is only the first legend. There is another history that disputes that fact however. It was also said that a great magician, one who broke every definable law of magic, created it. It is a similar story to the European's King Arthur's Excalibur."

Sesshoumaru merely sniffed, having no idea what the old fool was babbling about. Kagome on the other hand was star struck.

"That is AWESOME!" She squealed.

Sure, the girl travels back and forth between time, doing what others have only day dreamed about and isn't phased. Throw in something as mystical and well known as Excalibur, and she gets starry eyed.

"Hn. We have the first item. We need to continue this quest and find who has insulted This Sesshoumaru's strength."

"Sesshoumaru, it's late and I'm tired."

She stifled a yawn.

"Then rest, Miko. We will continue this quest tomorrow."

InuYasha and the rest made their way into Midoriko's Cave. The air felt entirely different inside the cave than the last time they had entered. They walked all the way to the end of the cave, to where the Great Lady's statue stood. Behind it, the noticed for the first time, there was another, much smaller tunnel.

"Remember what was said. You mustn't forget yourself. Shippo, I think it's best if you and Kirara stayed behind. There is no telling what could happen and we don't want you in danger." Miroku said to the little kit.

Shippo pouted, but agreed. Kirara mewled her agreement as well.

One by one, the two watched as the adults walked into the secret passage.

From the moment they entered, each being seemed to be separated into their own anxieties and fears.

Sesshoumaru sat in the God Tree, watching all of his surroundings.

Is it really possible that this is what becomes of my time? Can all of the forests and other great beauties be decimated in such a way? And that girl, Kagome. She is more than what she seems. She is more intelligent than she had originally let on.

She is good candidate for mate. We have yet to meet demoness as intelligent, without greed. Her heart pure.

This Sesshoumaru will not mate the miko. She is human. She is merely and enigma. She and Rin possess many of the same traits. The miko does not let race judge who she trusts. She trusts This Sesshoumaru, I have attempted her life multiple times. She is a strange little onna.

She will make a valuable ally. With her knowledge of what will come to pass, she could keep the West prospering through times of hardships. I will accept her onto my council. She will have to prove herself though. She must be able to fend for herself against the ladies of court. For they will surely tear her to shreds, given the chance.

Hn. Perhaps this Sesshoumaru should train her in the art of hand to hand combat. Her skills are definitely lackluster and novice at best. She will need to be prepared. A member of my pack will not be an embarrassment, nor a burden. She will learn.

Sesshoumaru glanced up at the stars and almost let an audible sigh escape.

Here he was, doing absolutely nothing, while his ward and his retainer were probably searching for him with great fervor.

If anything shall happen to Rin, Jaken's life will become notoriously shorter. This Sesshoumaru should start on looking for a new lead. Next is to find the heart.

Sesshoumaru wracked his brain as he tried to come up with some theories on the heart. While he was at it, he also thought of what was said about that staff.

Indeed it is a magical item. For that is the only explanation for what the staff did. It was well concealed looking like another stick. However, it is utter ridiculousness that it could be used to find the Heir's mate. True madness.

He paused in his thinking as he heard a noise coming from Kagome's room.

The miko is reckless. Perhaps disturbed by dreams.

Sesshoumaru made to say that he didn't care one way or the other, but she was pack and he would protect her, even from herself.

Kagome tossed and turned in her sleep. Visions of Toga came to her as he gave her warnings about the dangers she and his eldest were sure to find themselves in. They had no idea what they would be getting in to. This went a lot further than what either had thought before.

This wasn't going to be a simple, collect the items and get a home free pass. There were greater dangers that would lay infront of them and if they did not succeed, everything the knew, past, present and future would take a dramatic turn for the worst.

Kagome woke with a strangled cry coming from her throat. She was soaked in sweat and panted heavily. She turned her head in time to see Sesshoumaru coming through her window.

"Miko, what is preventing your slumber?"

"I think I just had a foretelling dream. And if it comes to pass, Sesshoumaru, we are all in greater danger than we thought before."

And while all this was going on, two different pairs of eyes, in two different times, watched the young lord as he accepted his fate.

One sighed dramatically and the other grinned evilly. Surely all would be going according to plans laid out by another.

There has been so much that has happened in RL. Between working two jobs, going to school and being a full time mom, I haven't even had time for myself. I will start getting more chapters up soon though.