Hi sorry it's taken so long to get this up here, apparently my dear friend FMG is worse with computers than I am her second laptop just broke and hasn't had time to fix it I think she said something about stealing her friends computer or trying on a school computer. So she managed to find some way to post it I guess other wise this chapter wouldn't be up. So thank you FMG and the owner of the computer used to post the third chapter.

Anyway here's chapter four and a big thank you goes to all the people who added me to favs and alerts, but especially:

Princess of the western lands: Thanks for the questions i actually enjoyed answering them, and I hoped they helped.

Mousers18: only slightly anonymous reviewer, I'm glad you like it.

xXAngel AlliXx: Thanks for the complement and thanks for reviewing I hope you keep reading.

I hope you all continue to read.

Disclaimer: I don't own the show or the characters, although there are some who have come from my own mind and are offspring of my mind, those I own.

Enjoy chapter 4.

Chapter 4:

Sesshomaru listened intently as Shippo told him everything he could, he left out minor things that would be unimportant or he had no place in telling. His mother trusted him with her secret of living in the future and he would keep her secret from the demon lord until she said otherwise.

"What is the significance of the well?" Sesshomaru asked and Shippo groaned and looked regretfully at the lord.

"I apologize Sesshomaru-sama, but I cannot say. It is Kagome's secret and therefore not my place to say," Shippo bowed his head, he wanted to tell the demon lord as much as possible, he owed the stoic lord his life.

"You would keep it a secret still even at the cost of your life," Shippo looked up now, little fear in his eyes mostly just the determination he recalled the miko having.

"I keep it until my mother releases me," Sesshomaru was unsure of what exactly the kit meant, but he nodded his head.

"Very well," Sesshomaru stood and Shippo followed his every move, "I will not ask you again. We will continue when the others are asleep."

Shippo nodded and ran off to talk to his new found friend; there was finally someone close to his age someone he could play with. He was very happy about the prospect, and it took his mind off of Kagome for a little while.

Sesshomaru watched a little of the interaction between Rin and Shippo, before leaving the clearing and heading toward where his brother was sniffing around. He withdrew his aura when he noticed the dead miko's presence. From what the kit had said, this was the woman Inuyasha had fallen in love with and who had been tricked into pinning him to a tree.

He looked into the clearing and found the two in a loving embrace, his stoic face scowled in disgust humans had a bad enough smell and dead ones were worse. He noticed briefly that his hanyou brother was asking her to accompany him in collecting the shards mentioning that Kagome had gone back to her time.

'Her time?' Sesshomaru thought and turned away as Inuyasha gave the corpse a loving kiss in gratitude. It was disgusting to watch how foolish his brother could be, did he not notice Naraku's spies with the woman? Did he not see that she held no love for him?

Sesshomaru was just stepping into the middle of the field where he had saved Shippo when Inuyasha burst through the trees sniffing; he then turned his face from the sky to glare at Sesshomaru. He smelt blood, Sesshomaru, Naraku, and Shippo.

"What are you doing here?" Inuyasha asked taking a few steps forward as he slowly drew his sword, it didn't transform.

"Hn." Sesshomaru said his attention focused on the sword, thus drawing Inuyasha's attention towards it.

Inuyasha took a moment to forget about his brother, his enemy, and stare at his sword. It always transformed why wouldn't it doing so now when he was face to face with his brother. 'It hasn't always transformed,' a little voice reminded the hanyou and his ears twitched slightly in response as if someone had stated it out loud.

"Perhaps it dislike's being tricked." Sesshomaru said calmly more to understand it himself; it had a welcomed effect on his brother as well.

"What do you mean?" Inuyasha asked his ears twitching a clear indication that he knew exactly what the stoic lord meant. Sesshomaru in turn smirked slightly, he would explain just his once if only to get a rise out of Inuyasha.

"Your sword responded to my presence by the well, thus thought me a danger to the miko that it protects. You drew it and it transformed only for you to destroy the well that connects the miko to you."

Inuyasha was shocked, not by the fact that his sword was in a way angry with him, and not because his brother knew about Kagome's connection to the well, but because his brother had bothered to explain. It was the most trivial thing to actually care about, but it was the only thing that was odd, his sword had gotten mad before, and it would have been only a matter of time before Sesshomaru learned the well's secret. Yet Sesshomaru opening his mouth to explain something instead of walking away was just odd, granted the half-demon did not know of his half-brother's intention.

"Oi, you're not Sesshomaru!" the mentioned demon lord raised an eyebrow in question, and Inuyasha answered subconsciously as he had done when they were on speaking terms, "if you were you wouldn't have bothered to explain anything to me! Sure you got the no emotion thing, and the smart thing, the scent, appearance, and an imitation of his power level, hell even imitations of his sword. The one thing that would have clenched the deal was you just turning and walking away. So for imitating the bastard DIE!"

With that Inuyasha charged, his little outburst had surprised Sesshomaru but he gained enough control to send Inuyasha flying across the small clearing. Three distinct cracks were heard, in the clearing of otherwise dead silence. The first was of Inuyasha's head connecting with a tree, cracking his neck slightly, the second was the tree breaking from the force of the impact , and the last was the sound of Inuyasha's wrist breaking as his weight fell on top of it.

Sesshomaru paused for a moment before walking away; to anyone it would just seem as if he was checking that enough damage had been inflicted. No one would ever see the slight regret flitted across his eyes before the normal cold gold eyes returned. He turned away then erasing his scent so Inuyasha would not follow.

Sesshomaru stepped back into camp and noticed that the occupants, except Shippo, had fallen asleep. The kitsune nodded his head once in greeting as he waited for the demon lord to sit. He waited a moment before getting up and walking toward the older demon, again he waited at the lord's side and sat when Sesshomaru gave a slight nod. No one would ever really know that the cold hearted Sesshomaru was slightly proud of the small child who had been taught a great deal of manners. It was shut away as soon as it appeared, and therefore was as if it never existed.

The kit continued to tell Sesshomaru of his travels, of the reason they hunted Naraku and the jewel. There were a few times when he would mention that Kagome was kidnaped or disappeared and that was all he really knew, he excluded or brushed away the things that involved the lord he already knew what happened there. Soon the lord was caught up to the present, and the kit yawned.

"Sleep." Sesshomaru ordered and the kit laid down where he had been sitting, he watched for a moment and looked up at the sky he often found solace in doing so. He mulled over what the kit had told him, and it was a very interesting tale.

If what the kit was saying could be relied on his mother, the miko Kagome would find a way to return no matter what. If that were the case than the kit would be given back to her, only after the kit had proper training as a demon.

Sesshomaru was brought out of his musings and looked down slightly alarmed, something was touching his fur. The kit had cuddled into it and had fallen into a deeper slumber. Sesshomaru's initial instinct was to toss the kit off, reminding him- painfully if need be- that his person was not to be touched. Something stopped him though and he growled as if asking himself why he was not doing anything.

'Pack . . . pup . . . comfort.'

'You.' Sesshomaru growled only slightly aware that he was showing great signs of disdain for himself as he narrowed his eyes.

'Pup . . . death . . . beta failed . . . comfort . . . pup . . . needs.'

'Yes I know Inuyasha's an incompetent protector, but the kit is not our pup nor pack,' Sesshomaru growled back inside his mind, understanding his beasts broken speech as if it had spoken normally.

'Yasha . . . pack . . . miko . . . pack . . . all pack . . . care . . . need . . . pack . . . alpha.'

'I refuse to see the mutt as pack, therefore they are not pack.'

'YASHA PACK!'

Sesshomaru was taken back slightly, his beast had never seemed that angry before. It was right though and Sesshomaru sighed as he looked back up at the stars. Inuyasha was pack and therefore by all demon laws everyone within the pack was part of his own pack, and as the alpha of the entire pack he had to provide the pup with some measure of comfort.

Only tonight would he allow the kit to stay.

.

Kagome turned yet again on to her right side, she had gone to bed hours ago and she had not slept at all. She was nervous about what would happen in a few hours, her mothered would be saved and Kagome would pay any expense, even the past, her friends, and her quest. The most heart wrenching thing was that she would never she her feudal family again, never hold her Shippo again.

At that moment within the shadows and glinting moonlight Kagome came to understand her mother very well. They never had a bad relationship, but Kagome never knew how much pain her mother has gone through. She understood a little when she realized that Inuyasha would never love her, but that was only a fraction. The pain she was feeling now made her wonder how much it had hurt her mother to watch her go down the well each day with the fear that one day she wouldn't return, and she wondered why her mother let her go.

Kagome was sure that the thing her mother hated most about dying was that she would never be with them again. It was a fact that she would always miss Shippo and somewhere she was sure he would always miss her, but the pain she was feeling only made her sure that what she chose was right. With that Kagome turned to her night stand and lifted her laptop onto her chest, she opened it slowly and pressed the power button. She ducked her head and prepared for the blinding light.

Often times in the past, on sleepless nights like this did she miss this technology the most. It was one of the most delightful distractions. As Kagome typed in her password she contemplated on what she should do, she quickly turned down her diary or typing of any sort there was way too much work involved with typing in the dark.

Her lips curled into a smile as she opened the internet; among her recently closed was the site she wanted. The site that had led her to saving her mother, there was a mystery she wanted solved and it wouldn't affect the past in anyway. She was dying to know what the fur thing on Sesshomaru's shoulder was, it was one of the first things she noticed and it drove her insane whenever he came to bestow death threats.

All demons are different, and all manage their powers differently. Lower youkai don't manage their powers and allow them to run wild with their bloodlust, these demons make up the majority and tend to give the word demon a bad reputation. Slightly more powerful youkais tend to have more of humanity to them, and they keep their flow of power coming out in manageable portions in order not to go mad with power or tire their bodies out. Then there are extremely powerful demons, Tai and Dai youkais. There are few of these demons; four of the most powerful demons ever noted in history were the four lords of feudal Japan.

'Sesshomaru . . .' Kagome breathed the name in her mind, almost as if he would show up at the mere thought of his name, demanding to have her head for thinking of him. Kagome shook away that very odd thought and looked back at the screen.

The most powerful of them was Sesshomaru of the Western lands. These demons manage their power in various ways, Sesshomaru being a prime example. He was often seen with a fur pelt draped across his shoulder; this pelt has a variety of functions. The first function was showing his wealth and class which was not needed for his name was well known and whispered with a large fear of death. The second function was to provide comfort to his pack, the human child that traveled him would often wrap herself in it- it not being attached physically to Sesshomaru proved useful. The last function, and most important to the lord was that it kept his powers under control. The pelt is a manifestation of his powers, and there for connected to him, he can use it in any way he sees fit as a weapon, coat, or blanket. He can feel when someone touches it, and has been said to have saved his life a few times.

Kagome grinned she felt better knowing what it was, originally she had thought it was a tail until she realized that it wasn't attached. Then she had thought that it was a different all together due to its movement, she had never considered it to be a place to store his power. It made sense now since it disappeared into Sesshomaru when he transformed into his true form.

She glanced at the clock; she may as well get up now the rest of the house would be awake in an hour. She stripped the covers from here from her form and walked into the adjoining bathroom which was attached to her mother's room through the other door. The initial spray of water startled her for a moment before she closed her eyes and enjoyed the heat.

She proceeded to get ready and go down stairs and begin breakfast, she had just finished when he grandfather hobbled down the stairs. He paused at the kitchen, watching Kagome prepare everyone's breakfast and his eyes blurred with tears. He had momentarily mistaken Kagome for her mother, and the sight of Kagome taking on her mother's duties had saddened him.

"JIi-chan, will you wake Sota while I help mom down, we're going out today," her grandfather nodded and walked back up the stairs, Kagome a moment behind him.

Breakfast was eaten in silence after Kagome told her mother that they were going out today, had there been a hope of continuing life as normal it was dashed at that moment as everyone ate solemnly. It was obvious how sad her family was, and she refused to let them remain sad hopefully her mother would be alright with her choice.

Kagome helped her mother to the car and drove silently to the coffee shop, where she had decided to meet Susuki. Her mother looked at her curiously as she waved to the other woman and proceeded to follow her out of Tokyo; Kagome answered her mother's look with a smile.

A few minutes later they parked outside of Itoe-sama's home and Kagome helped her mother out of the car, her mother looked around curiously and stared at Kagome questionably. Yet again Kagome said nothing and they were led through the house. Kagome stopped in front of the screen door and helped her mother to sit before kneeling once again.

She looked down at the floor waiting for the youkai to talk first, her mother was still unsure of what was going on. She looked from her daughter to whoever was behind the screen and back again. Silence continued for a little while longer until the demon shifted.

"We are here today because your daughter has sought my help. She has asked me to cure you of your illness," Kagome's mother gasped and looked at her daughter who had not moved, "There are two ways I can do this, the first being to just make it go away. This has the chance that it'll come back, and as I understand from your daughter that isn't what she wants. The second method is to make you a demon, thus freeing and protecting you from all illnesses."

"But. . . I would never die," everyone understood what she meant; she meant she would watch her children die.

"I can give you the option to die whenever you see fit. It would turn you back into a human and this cancer would kill you instantly for it you have outlived your life."

Kagome didn't look up but she could feel her mother's gaze and she silently prayed her mother would except, she couldn't die not now. Not when there was a chance to stay longer, not when she was given a chance out after.

"I agree to have this done," there was weakness and hesitance in her voice, but she knew that her family still needed her.

"Very well. It's simple; I touch your head and transfer some of my energy to you. This will allow you the choice to die you simply expel the demon energy from your body and the cancer will take you. You will be put under an extreme amount of pain as the demon energy kills off the disease and changes your metabolism. This transformation is less painful than actually becoming a demon because your body isn't changing and you are not granted powers.

"As to your payment Kagome-"

"Payment?" all attention was drawn to the frail woman who choked out the question.

"Yes, my services aren't free."

"Kagome," Kagome didn't respond, she just continued to stare at the screen in front of her, "Kagome, answer me."

"Mrs. Higurashi as I understand your daughter spends a lot of time in the past, and as such has adopted some of their manners. I am from farther back than the time she travels and I demand this respect from all who would know how to give it. I would request you direct your questions toward me, so that she does not have to chose between disrespecting me or disrespecting you."

"What do you mean by payment?" Kagome didn't show any signs of relief as her mother's attention turned to the demon."

"I ask for a favor in return for the one I give. Everything comes with a price and all I ask is for her to do whatever I ask," the demon watched the older woman nod and shifted his attention to the young miko, "Kagome."

"Hai?" Kagome asked finally moving at last. Her back was straight and her attention was purely focused on the demon behind the screen.

"I want you to work here as a servant for a year," there was an inaudible gasp from Kagome's mother, but both the demon and Kagome ignored it.

"I agree."

End Chapter.

Okay so I realize that some of it may be filler because it's used to make the chapter longer or content longer there is a point to what I have written here. I had to add the part about her wanting to know what the fluffy thing was, even though I could have technically skipped over it. If you want to know my reasons behind some of the things that seem unnecessary than review or PM me. I don't think it seems unnecessary but not everyone is me, hence this note.

Anyway thanks for reviewing I hope you'll continue to read and I hope to hear from you.

Ta.