Seshoumaru was by her side in a matter of seconds. She groaned and mumbled something before attempting to open her eyes. She snapped them shut immediately, "M-my head!"

Relieved and wary, the inuyoukai spoke, "It will take some time for the pain to subside."

Hearing hsi voice, she opened her eyes and stared at him. Her gaze was unnerving as if she was seeing someone or something that was no longer there. Seshoumaru stared back, hoping, but his beast shying away from more pain. Those cerulean blue eyes blinked and she murmured, "I know you."

He was silent, and she raised a hand and ran them over his cheek, gently, her eyes filled with wonder, "I remember you but I don't remember everything. Just bits and pieces. You're my Seshou."

The possessive tone she used, made his heart beat faster. However, he did not know what to say to her. This girl was no longer the small child who followed him around the whole day and he was no longer the young boy who showed his affections so easily. They had both changed and yet, her blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears and a part of him which was buried so deep, yearned to hold her and never let her go.

So, he simply stared at her and let her caress his face. She kept tracing the marks lining his cheeks and he let her. He felt contented after such a long time, and yet at the same time, he was troubled.

He was on one knee, one foot supporting him. She cupped his cheek and smiled, a combination of sadness and joy. An embarassed cough snapped them both back to reality and Kagome dropped her hand, and looked at the red faced Inuyasha, who was staring at a tree stubbornly.

"Um, sorry, uh." She tried to stand up, and Seshoumaru held onto her elbow, steadying her. She smiled at him, gratefully. However, as soon as he released her elbow, the world started swimming before her, and she grabbed her head as sparks of pain shot in her head. The inuyoukai grabbed her as she started to fall. Kagome leaned against him, trying to gain a sense of balance.

"What's wrong with me?" Her voice was hoarse now, and she held onto Seshoumaru's arm, trying to get rid of the disorientation.

"You require rest."

"But I-"

Seshoumaru didn't pay any heed to her request and effortlessly laid her down. Kagome's struggles became weaker and weaker as sleep started to take over. As she finally lay, quiet and peaceful, both brother stared at her slumbering form, and Inuyasha whistled softly, "Well, fuck! She's the one."

Seshoumaru turned his head and riased a brow, "Explain."

Inuyasha opened his mouth, but then thought better off it. He didn't want to die by Seshoumaru's hands today. He shook his head, "Nothing. Forget I said anything."

Seshoumaru ignored the his half brother and they both settled in silence to wait.

It was early morning when Kagome awakened. She rubbed her eyes and leaned on her elbows. Her gaze first fell on a lumbering red form and she smiled. Inuyasha was asleep, and he snored. She tucked that piece of information for further use, or blackmail. It was still dark and so she was startled when her gaze met a pair of golden eyes, studying her intently.

"You're awake."

It was a statement.

Kagome nodded and pulled herself into a sitting position. Running a hand through her hair, she frowned. Her hair was filthy. It then occurred to her that her wound wasn't hurting anymore. She leaned down and pulled up her shirt slightly to check. It was gone. There wasn't even a scar. She turned a bewildered gaze at Seshoumaru who was silent.

"I-it's gone. But - "

"My blood," Seshoumaru interjected, "has quite a few healing powers."

Kagome stilled, "You gave me your blood?"

Seshoumaru's gaze did not waver, "You would have died, or worse."

"Oh," Kagome was silent. She kept rubbing her hand on the place from where the jewel had emerged. The silver haired inuyoukai had to force himself not to eye the flesh she was baring. He growled at his beast, trying to force it down. What was wrong with it? As soon as Kagome had recognized him, the beast had started to act strange, prowling and becoming more restless and frustrated.

Kagome's head jerked up at the low growl, and she looked asked, hesitantly, "Is everything all right?"

Seshoumaru grit his teeth, forcing his beast back. Finally, the beast conceded and began to sulk in a corner of his mind, very unhappy. Regaining his selfcontrol, he asked, "What do you remember?"

Kagome looked him in the eye, and replied honestly, "Just bits and pieces. I remember that I was always happy when you were near, and then I have these flashbacks of this pain..."

Seshoumaru snarled, "Higurashi hurt you?!"

Kagome stilled, "What did you say?" She shook her head, "That name...Higurashi...?"

"She was the servant who stole you from me. She was the reason that we were separated."

Kagome looked at her hands, fisting and unfisting them. Her voice was soft, "Kagome Higurashi." When Seshoumaru frowned, unable to understand, she looked up at him, "My mother's name is Higurashi."

"She is not - "

Kagome jumped to her feet, her body trembling, "Do not say that she is not my mother! This...this is acoincidence, that's all..."

She couldn't believe that. She couldn't believe that her whole life was a lie. Then she remembered Souta. Her smile was shaky at best as she pointed out, "I have a brother too. So, Higurashi is my mother! I don't know about your Higurashi but, but.."

Seshoumaru still sat, gazing at her, those golden eyes never wavering, "You would believe that? That this woman, this servant, is your mother?"

"Shut up! Don't call her that! She is not a servant! She is my mother, and I love her!"

Seshoumaru clenched his teeth, "You say you remember me, us, but you don't realize that you do not belong to the place where you came from. You do not have a mother or a father. All you have is me."

The force of those words hit Kagome, and she swayed for a second, unable to comprehend, not wanting to believe what he was saying.

"I – I..." She turned her back on him and made a dash for the trees, wanting to be alone, wanting to process everything."

Seshoumaru made to get up, when he heard Inuyasha's voice, "Let her be."

The inuyoukai turned around with a snarl but paused when he saw the serious look on the hanyou's face, "You just told her she's an orphan, and that everything she knows is a lie. Let her be."

Seshoumaru hesitated. Inuyasha was right, but, "Your opinion was not asked." With that, he took off int he same direction. Inuyasha stared at the spot where his brother had been standing. Finally, he yawned, and settled himself down, "Bastard."

With that thought, he slipped off into slumber.

Kagome was sitting on a log, near a stream, when he saw her. He kept himself hidden in the foliage. She was not crying, but she was disturbed. Her expression was troubled and she kept splashing at the water, continuously.

He watched her, pulling his aura around himself like a cloak. Kagome looked up fr a second, startled and when she saw nothing, she relaxed. Pulling her knees to her, she burried her face in them. She knew that that Seshoumaru was telling the truth, but that meant... She remembered all those birthday parties, Souta playing on his bicycle, Gramp's wierd gifts, his lectures and her mother. Everytime something had gone wrong, her mother would be there for her, bandaging a grazed knee or holding her close and telling her everything would be all right. But right now, she needed her the most, and her mother wasn't there.

A tear slid down her cheek, "Mama..."

Seshoumaru heard the choked whisper and at first anger flowed through him till he controlled it. He could feel her anguish. If she missed Higurashi this much, then that meant she hadn't been mistreated. Higurashi had caref or her, and provided for her.

'That was our right. She took it away from us.'

His beast was angry and yet upset as it smelled the salt of their mate's tears.

'She needs us.'

'She needs to be alone.'

'Why? Because the half breed said so?'

The tone was mocking. Seshoumaru was silent.

'He knows more about humans than I."

The beast grumbled, but settled down. However, it kept a watchful eye on Kagome.

Quite a while passed, and Kagome retained that position, lost in her thoughts. She wanted to see her family, but now that she remembered who she was, or parts of it, she refused to leave Seshoumaru alone. But despite everything, she held onto her one belief. It didn't matter who this Higurashi was. Even if she was pretending to be her mother, Kagome loved her, and she would always love her.

Coming to a decision, she stood up, and turned around. Before, she could take one more steps, an arrow wizzed towards her. Before she could even form a thought, Seshoumaru was in front of her, the arrow held between his forfinger and thumb.

Her head felt light, "W-What?"

The silver haired inuyoukai scanned the area and when he was sure the archer had disappeared, he turned around. Kagome's eyes were wide with shock. Automatically, she grabbed the hand that was holding the arrow and threw the black arrow onto the ground as she franctically scanned his hand, "Are you all right!?"

He wanted to snort at her for thinking that he could be hurt but thought better off it. Besides, he liked being fussed over by her. Not wanting to offend her, he assured her, "It is of no consequence."

Finally satisfied that he was fine, she bent down to pick the arrow, when Seshoumaru's hand clamped over her wrist. Startled, she looked up at him, and he shook his head, "The arrow is poisoned. You're human. You will die."

Kagome froze and allowed him to pull her back up. Craning her neck, she tried to look in the direction where the arrow had come from, "Was someone trying to kill me?"

Seshoumaru nearly snarled, "They would be foolish to attempt it. I will spare no one who tried to harm you."

Kagome hid her smile. His words made her feel safe and protected and unconsciously, she burrowed herself into his side. Startled at first, Seshoumaru then relaxed and felt pleased. "We will return to camp. Inuyasha will have taken care of the intruder."

Kagome nodded and Seshoumaru held her to him and allowed his youkai to form a cloud beneath his feet. She let out a gasp and held onto him, tighter.

Everything would be all right. She knew it.

A.N: I'm sorry for the late update, but with my university and everything, i did not know how to manage my time. Now I wake up at 4 am to write and have a few moments to myself, otherwise, I'm swamped.

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