XIV.

Survivors

Gentler than he was even with Rin, Sesshomaru held Shippou and looked down at his pale and bloodstained face.

You have my scent in you, kit, my blood in your veins. You are mine, now, just like your mother. You cannot die.

His eyes peered through the haze of the setting moon; swiftly, he went back to the overhang of leaf and branch that hid the body of his brother and his soundless mate in shadow. He knelt next to her, and offered his small burden.

Slowly, as though against her own will, her head turned and her eyes focused on the kit. The sight of Shippou drew out her attention; he was the reason for the violence, the reason for the outpouring of the Inu. Her fingers reached out to touch him and then pulled back; she spoke, but her voice came out faint and hoarse.

"He is – he is – he is –"

She could not make the word, could not make her mouth shape the sound of her fear and let it free.

"He is alive, mate, alive. He breathes; I closed his veins, for you."

Sesshomaru took her hands and held them on the boy's chest so she could feel the movement there, the pulse bright under her hands, a thin, speeding thread beneath his breath. His eyes were not on the kit, though, but on her face. He was waiting for a spark, a glint of something warm and living beneath the lightless cold that had descended over her.

"There is more to be done if you want him to live, Kagome."

Some of the limpness cleared from her features, replaced by gratitude that lifted her face from her examination and met his eyes.

"You - closed his veins?"

She repeated his words and he was grateful for even that pale astonishment.

"There was no reason for you to do that."

He accomplished a shrug inside the faintest of smiles.

"No reason but that he is yours – enough yours that you felt his danger, and came to him, so that he was saved from it."

Surprise showed on her face, and then disappeared.

"Saved from it? No, I did not save him. Inuyasha was – Inuyasha was not with him when I came, but I knew….what had happened."

The words were soft and heavy. She swallowed away the thickness and felt the dry burning of her eyes as a betrayal. Why no tears, why? There was a streak of dampness on her left cheek, as if to remind her that they had come and gone, finding themselves unwanted.

"I should bring him back to the village. We are close, or he would not be here. Kaede will help heal him, I...have nothing with me."

Her eyes looked away from him, into the distance beyond the swell of the meadow; she missed the curious pulse of his eyes at her, almost a question.

"I wonder if Sango has stayed, if Miroku is with her..."

As she said the woman's name, as she thought of her, a tickle touched her nose, a moment of strangeness that she shook away. She remembered then, though she had not really forgotten.

"Miroku - Miroku was here! I saw him, I saw -"

Sesshomaru could see in the reflection of her eyes exactly what vision silenced her; the sword, its shape outlined against the sky - the power, yellow lightening, a roar of pain, of betrayal -

"Yes. Yes, Kagome, the Houshi is here. But -"

He hesitated. This was not the best time for this; he could see a faint flicker of hope in her face and did not want to crush it, but she still did not seem to understand how much was different now.

"Take your kit and go to your friend, Kagome, but remember that you are changed. These people; if they were companions, that is one thing - but they are human, and that is to be afraid."

A shadow was hidden in his voice. Kagome swallowed, and accepted Shippou into her arms. Her eyes avoided the blood, Inuyasha's body, and kept to the drawn stillness of Shippou's face, cold with pain. High, swift-moving clouds passed overhead, a flicker of darkening, and this time she did not move away when Sesshomaru stepped close to her and pulled her up onto her feet, began to steer her toward the village. Dull and slow, her thoughts moved over what he had just said.

I was not afraid. Ever. Oh...of this and that enemy - of death...but not of them. Us. Is that what it means…not to be human?

"Do you see him, Kagome? Your friend? He is waiting."

"Yes. I see him. He is looking at me; there is something...in his face. What is it...in his face?"

Her voice was soft and she spoke as if to herself, but Sesshomaru heard her and the richness in her tone, the richness of hope. He could only wonder at it, and keep his silence. It was the time of mourning, not of questions, but he looked down at her and saw grief brooding between her eyes, seated in the lines of her forehead, unfettered at the corners of her mouth.

As they were walking, she was falling deeper and deeper into silence; she would not look up, she would not meet his eyes.

She must not fade!

He felt the thought penetrate him, permeate him, and could not have explained why he felt this so strongly...it was something that just was.

"Tell me about this kit, Kagome. Tell me why you brought him here."

She shook her head slowly. It took so long for her to start speaking he began to wonder if she had any intention of answering him; gradually, the words trickled out.

"I did not bring him – not really. Not too long after I began traveling, searching for jewel shards, Shippou came to...to us."

Sesshomaru watched her eyes, the way they slid back over her shoulder towards his brother's body; carefully, he positioned himself so that she could not see.

"He was trying to steal the shards from me; tricky little thing, he was. His parents had been killed by a pair of demon brothers who used shards of the shikon no tama. He wanted to fight...they taunted him him wearing the pelt of his father, Sesshomaru!"

He let out a little growl at that, a sharply disgusted sound that surprised her. Then again, she had seen him in the shape of the Inu, had seen his father's bones, stood in their great hollow shell, watched the two brothers fight among them. Perhaps Sesshomaru only thought of his own father, and what he might have done to avenge such dishonor.

"That was the first time I almost died - I mean really died. Foxfire protected me, and Shippou - his father's power, the spirit sleeping in the stolen fur. And...after that, Shippou was with...us."

Again, that darting movement of her eyes, but this time she shook herself, stared down at the kit.

"He has been ever since."

A faint, fond smile touched her lips and he saw her press the bloody bundle of Shippou a little closer to her chest.

"And so he is yours now, your kit, your son."

She blinked at him for a moment, and then nodded.

"Yes. Mine, my...son."

Her voice was quieting again, but they were close to the village now and greater concerns were making themselves known to him.

The Houshi was not moving, had not moved; he was standing still, staring at Kagome, and there was something in that stare which Sesshomaru felt could be absolutely disastrous if left alone. It was...fear.

Fear. But not of me - and she still does not know it, still has no idea what it means.

But he saw her look up, and then suddenly there was a fragile, reaching smile on her face, a terrible thing, because if it broke - if it broke -

"Miroku! It - it's me, Miroku...it's Kagome."

At the sound of her voice, Miroku finally hurried forward through shadows into the moonlight, a wide smile curving his lips, turning his cautious expression into a glad face. He was trying to force himself to believe that what he had seen, what he was seeing, was an illusion, a trick of the darkness - never mind how darkness could turn black hair silver, brown eyes to gold - never mind, never mind...

She came back – she came back!

The sheer delirious joy of it, when he had thought her to be far out of reach or even dead - but that had been silly of him, he saw now, because...she had come back. Kagome's words reached out to him again, delicate, worried, warning, but he did not understand the warning, or why it could be – he did not even hear it in her voice. He had already seen, and she did not know that, but he did not really believe, and that was what she was afraid of.

"You should know, Miroku, you should know – "

Already, it was too late for her to tell him anything. He could see her now, in the changing angle of the growing light, against the darkness of the horizon where the moon had fallen. He stopped; he could not breathe, or move, or think. His own denial came crashing over him like a wave, and left only shattered illusions, shattered hop, behind.

Miroku tightened his hands on the smooth wood of his staff. It was instinct; it was his training that moved him, readied him. He could see only a youkai female, but she had Kagome's voice when she called out of the darkness; she had Kagome's power, power that he had seen, that was still tingling on his invisible senses - but the eyes that searched his face were demon eyes. He planted his feet in the wind-ruffled grass with as little movement as possible and spoke with challenge in his voice, but he was confused, his thoughts racing now that they were freed from the stunning force of that first clear moment of sight.

"You are Kagome? You?"

"Miroku…Miroku…"

There was an ache in the Kagome – voice now; he could see the mouth move in the strange-familiar face, the glitter of sharper teeth in a half-smile full of fangs.

"I know you?"

He shook his head, watching the shadows on her face, seeing a tightness that he could attribute only to great grief, sadness upon sadness.

"How could I know you, youkai lady? How could I know you, unless you are Kagome? And how…how can you be Kagome?"

The words came out of him with a hint of laughter in them, as if to say 'how funny, what a good joke'. But the laughter did not reach his eyes; the hint of the sound disappeared into the corners of the night and left him without breath.

Miroku took a step forward, mouth opening again, other words on his tongue – a sword silenced him, laid across his throat with no more warning than a whisper of wind. Once, deeply, quickly, Miroku breathed in, eyes wide. He could not see his attacker, only the blade of the sword as it rose past his eyes, but he still knew who it was.

Sesshomaru! But what – how did -

And then the female spoke.

"Sesshomaru! He is my friend! My friend, Sesshomaru. Please, it isn't his fault! I wouldn't believe me either, please - Sesshomaru - "

Miroku had no doubt left in him, could not have forced it to the surface even if some deep dark cavern of his soul there was a particle hiding. Who but Kagome would have the audacity, the strength, to plead on his behalf in the face of Sesshomaru? Who would have reason?

He swallowed against the pressure of that sword, felt it tense and then relax and fall away. He turned, and his eyes searched the face of his attacker, and he was silent. He had seen it before, that face, so much like his brother's and yet so different – and there was a different expression on Sesshomaru's smooth features now than he had ever seen before. The Daiyoukai looked almost...curious.

He was concerned about Shippou, though - before. And he told me to go, if I wanted to live, so...

"We have not been formally introduced, lord, but I know of you, I have seen you; I have heard many things about you, but it seems that everything is different now."

He took a deep breath, and faced Kagome, left Sesshomaru's deadly presence standing at his back, tingling, not moving, not relaxing its vigilance.

"And I do know you, Kagome; I do. Even if it cannot be. And I'm glad you're back, finally - however changed."

There was no denying the power that he had walked beside for years, no denying the tone of her voice or the yearning of her features. He remembered her suddenly as he had seen her first. A beautiful girl, he had thought, powerful and bearing a dangerous treasure - and look where that moment had brought him!

But it was Sesshomaru who spoke to him, and drew his attention, not Kagome; Sesshomaru, who he remembered only as a shape of danger, in words and face-to-face.

"If you are the friend of my mate, you are in no danger from me."

Miroku could only swallow and breathe his thanks while his thoughts raced and Sesshomaru stepped around him. Sesshomaru touched Kagome's shoulder, held an arm around her and stared across the patch of moonlit grass between the two of them, and him. It gaped like an abyss.

Kagome is youkai. A demon, and she stands beside Sesshomaru, and he calls her mate. Kagome - Kagome is a demon -

He could only think of that one thing, and his grasping thoughts took in the knowledge that the great change which had overtaken his friend was much more than skin deep. He didn't know how he knew; it was a simple truth that impressed itself on him; in his thoughts was the violent glare of purifying power, the echo of an inhuman scream.

Kami-sama! She was fighting Inuyasha, she was fighting him and she...and she...Kagome!

He said the best thing he could possibly say, meeting her eyes beneath the deadliness of Sesshomaru's gaze.

"You were never like the rest of us, Kagome, and if you were afraid that we would not be able to accept this...change, I understand. But you should have known better!"

There was a hint, a tiny blip of anger in his voice, but then he forced a smile and waggled a warning finger at her.

"If you have stayed away because of this, I might not forgive you; I'll brave your new defender to tell you what I think of that!"

Sesshomaru interrupted him, pleased enough to see the faintness of the smile on Kagome's face, but he could hear the flutter of a heartbeat that needed their attention, a moan that was not really a moan because there was not enough breath to give the sound life.

"There will be time for talking later, Houshi. This kit needs care."

Miroku's eyes returned to the revelation of Shippou's small broken shape in Kagome's arms, a bloody curve pale with pain.

"You know the way, Kagome. I will go ahead, and wake Kaede. She will be as glad to see you as Inuyasha– "

He froze. He wanted to slap himself, realizing suddenly that that was the worst thing he could possibly have said. His eyes darted towards the place across the meadow where the battle had happened, and then narrowed suddenly, peered up at Sesshomaru, his only suspect. The truth that had happened beyond his eyes was also beyond his guess.

The sound that diverted his thoughts was a moan, a growl. It came from Kagome and dragged a terrible silence behind it. He turned to look at her, and she held Shippou tightly, very tightly; Sesshomaru, too, was watching her, with a peculiar expression and a sharpness in his eyes. Miroku knew what had happened without asking, and knew also that he still must ask.

Dead. Dead, and nothing any of us could do about it, in the end. Did he know? Did he know, all those nights he sat up alone?

But he shut off his thoughts, took a deep breath.

"What happened, Kagome? I saw the two of you, fighting him – what happened to Inuyasha?"

Her exhalation was so sharp it was a sound; the name itself refreshed the agony, the painful flow.

"Inuyasha…Inuyasha…Inuyasha…Inuyasha…"

The moan became a murmur, and faded. She did not speak, but her eyes found his face and told him everything with their outpouring, with their dimness. Her hands remained tight on Shippou's torn tunic, but they were dark with blood and the fabric showed the prints of her fingers. He looked at her, really looked, and beneath the distraction of her strangeness were the marks of a terrible battle. Even Sesshomaru was bloody, though not nearly as badly as Kagome.

Her arms were dark up to the elbow, as though she had dipped them in a crimson pool – beneath the spread of stain, her robe could have begun as green, or blue, but now it was red, all red. Miroku let out a heavy sigh, and his shoulders sagged.

"So he is lost to us."

His eyes drifted to Sesshomaru's face; he could not restrain his tongue even if there was a chance for pain in is words.

"So, he was right about you, Sesshomaru-dono. He always said that you were death."

For a moment it was the danger that shone out at him from Sesshomaru's eyes, bright and seeking, but it was quick to fade.

"I may be death to many, but not to my brother. He wounded the kit, and Kagome was drawn to the son she had claimed; I could not restrain her. Now, she grieves."

Sesshomaru's voice gathered a softness that still could not weaken the blow of his words.

"She would not step away; she would not let me kill him."

Finally, Miroku understood. A sick feeling in his stomach threatened to choke him, and he could only stare, silenced. Behind his eyelids was the burning of that power, the pink flood of light; in his ears was the terrible, animal scream.

Sesshomaru was suddenly the purposeful one, the one who began to move them towards the village, directing Kagome with his arm around her waist, and a hand on her elbow. Miroku could do nothing but follow at first, and then he recovered himself and ran forward to lead the way for Sesshomaru, down the twisting path that led through the village to Kaede's door.

The old priestess had been sleeping with the lightness of someone who has been wakened in the dark of many nights; her gaze was alert and watchful on the strangeness that had stepped over her threshold. She knew the face of Sesshomaru; nominally, it was the face of her lord, but Kaede was wide-eyed watching the movements of the female who stood beside him. She held Shippou close to her breast; her eyes were hidden by the curtain of her hair and she did not raise her head to meet Kaede's gaze. The old woman saw blood, and was instantly alert.,

"Who have you brought me Miroku, so late at night? What happened to Shippou?"

She had rolled out of bed almost immediately; now her fingers issued order to the young Houshi - build up the fire, get water heating. There were questions in her eye as well, demanding that he begin his explanations at once - right now, right now.

Miroku took a deep breath, as if unsure where to start, and then let it out. His shoulders moved as if trying to shrug, and then collapsed.

"This is Sesshomaru-dono, and she is…Kagome. She is Kagome."

He said it because there was no other way to say it, because it had to be said and Kagome's face was full of silence.

He saw white shock flit across the old woman's face, interrupting the reach of her hands towards the herbs and the linen that were always close by. Steadily, Kaede met Miroku's eyes, saw the confirmation there as he gave her the tiniest nod. The deft movements of her hands resumed themselves, taking out dark-dried leaves, crushing them into a powder that brought a strong scent of musky sweetness into the room.

"I must be honest about my wariness, Sesshomaru-dono, but I will not protest your presence. You have brought our Kagome back to us, no matter how changed she is. We missed her."

Sesshomaru only growled, a long sound that sent a shudder up Kaede's back. He was not amused. A wave, really a mere brush of his youki flowed over her, and suddenly Kaede found herself unable to keep her hands from trembling. She stared at them with a strange feeling of disconnectedness. Her thoughts became simple.

Well, then...

Her eye seemed to drain of color, became a pale almond pucker in a dried-persimmon face.

"So - tell me, what is it you desire of us? You are the youkai brother of Inuyasha, the one who is Lord of the West - I can see it in your face. And - this one – you have brought -"

Her eyes refused to focus on Kagome's face, just...slid over those familiar features tilted in unfamiliar, fear-provoking ways.

"I did not bring her; she is not for you."

"Even so - as I said, she was missed, lord."

"Do you not hear me? She is not for you. She is mine now; she will not, can not stay here."

His eyes flickered like the flames in the hearth, and then receded. Kaede heard him, but did not understand. There was only one person who could ever have made such a claim on the Kagome she remembered; her eyes darted back to Miroku, to the drawn stillness of his features; he shook his head, and Kaede closed her eyes. It was not enough for her.

"You have nothing to say, demon-who-is-Kagome? Have you given yourself up, then?"

Kagome's name came out of her reluctantly, and served to stir the female out of her silent and motionless trance. Her head came up as she stepped forward and knelt, laying Shippou across the cushions beside Kaede, and the strangeness of it captured Kaede's tongue. There was no more woman; those were youkai eyes staring at her, stranger-eyes - and then Kagome spoke, and the sound of her voice dispelled all doubt.

"Don't try to understand it, Kaede, I don't even understand it...but I am his, now. It's best that way."

She could still feel the tug of that endless, infinitely deep wave of calm; it was part of her, part of her words, now. It had risen over her and she had fought it, as they were walking along, until she could not fight it any more - until she had to surrender to it, and its meaning, its presence. It would be with her always - she knew that.

Sesshomaru.

In the privacy of her own thoughts, as her hands worked at the make-shift bandages around Shippou's abdomen, peeling them gently away from his skin, she admitted that for one thing, at least, she was glad.

She would never be alone again; she would never be lonely.

After a moment, her work revealed the deep glitter of Shippou's wounds in the firelight. They looked worse here than they had under moonlight in the meadow; she could see the depth of them, the trauma to his flesh. She had no idea where to start, how to clean or close such a terrible injury; for a moment she looked up and caught Kaede's eyes on her, saw that the old miko was almost as lost as she was. Kitsune or not, without something more from them, Shippou would die.

Sesshomaru spoke then, the only one who knew what to do.

"Is it so hard to think of what you must do, mate? Remember what I told you - what you did for me."

Her eyes focused on the fingers of his restored hand, followed them to his wrist, up his sleeve to his face, wordless. She saw him in her head, on his knees before her, bathing in the flow of redness that had come from the wrist he had slit; she saw the power lifting from the crimson, taking color from it; she heard his voice, words he did not need to repeat. A miko, keeper of the peace - not a murderer.

Sesshomaru nodded once as he saw understanding flood her face.

"Cover his wounds; you know how. Feed him on the richness in your blood."

Kaede and Miroku were silent, until Kagome used her own claws to cut into her flesh, and then held the open, pouring wound over Shippou. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, tried to remember how it had felt. Sesshomaru had been pulling on her, then, on her inner self, her heart, the home of the power. She had to do it herself this time; it was difficult, but gradually she felt the waving threads begin to grow and reach out from her blood. They directed themselves, and, half-dazed, she tightened her fingers in her own wrist a second time as the cut began to close.

Her blood was on Shippou, now, in him; she could see the light, reaching out, almost touching his flesh. It was then that Kaede finally found her voice.

"Kagome! What are you doing, child? You will purify him!"

She almost stopped, almost pulled back at the horror in the old woman's voice, but Sesshomaru came to her rescue, threw words at Kaede like they were stones, arrows. His voice was as hard and as cold as ever; his eyes glittered at Kaede with a faint aura of contempt.

"Silence, miko! I know the origins of your power, the beginnings that you do not know - how your kind came out of the darkness with the sun reflected on a mirror - how you turned healing into death. I know it, and you - you do not, do you? It is all legends to you, all lost in the mist. But you will not turn my Kagome into a creature like you, a creature of a thousand murders. She is more than that; she is the truth."

If he had been anyone else, he would have smiled then, just to disturb her.

"She is truth - look, woman, and see what power that is."

There was silence for a moment; Kaede's face was trembling at the touch of this secret history, at the thoughts which occurred to her, thoughts she wanted nothing to do with.

Because he was right - it was obvious that he was right, obvious from the flicker of light that had been eaten by Shippou's hungry, healing flesh. Watching, she could see the tissues of his tiny body realigning, sealing, reaching for each other.

Time passed; ; no more words were spoken. Finally, Kagome sat back, breathing heavily. The red Inu had risen in her eyes from the strain; she had given of herself until she felt the black edge of unconsciousness approaching. Even now that the light had receded, she could still see pink moving in Shippou's battered flesh, loose ends closing themselves under the influence of her blood, her power. The narrowest, shallowest wound was gaining a translucent cover of skin.

The death-paleness had faded out of Shippou's face, and he looked as if he were only sleeping now, his breathing regular with hardly a hitch of pain. In careful silence, avoiding all the eyes around her, even Miroku's, Kaede began to sponge away the blood that stained him, mixing antiseptic herbs with the warm water.

From the corners of her eyes, she continued to glance at this new Kagome, judging, wondering. When she finally spoke, her words, her question struck like a whip - though it was not her intention.

"Tell me, Kagome - what does Inuyasha say, now that you belong to Sesshomaru-dono?"

Kagome opened her mouth; only silence escaped her.

Kaede only meant to make her think twice; to somehow save her from the dark power of the youkai beside her. She had taken Kagome to her heart like an errant daughter, had been troubled often by the girl's closeness with demons, by her customs - the customs of a foreign age. Kaede had seen feelings sprout and blossom in Kagome, just as she had seen them in her sister, long before - often, she had watched Kagome's face crinkle in just that certain way, that sad smile, and been bruised by it.

She had not thought that Inuyasha was good for her, but at the same time she had not been able to make herself believe that Inuyasha was bad. But this Sesshomaru - he was utterly youkai; she had heard him described as cold, vicious, heartless, damned - he was ravenous for power, this one, he walked a path of conquest and he walked it alone.

Her face hardening, her single eye as unyielding as granite, Kaede put her question again.

"Well, Kagome? What does Inuyasha say?"

Kagome took a breath, deeper and deeper, until she thought her chest would explode. How many times would she have to hear these questions?

It had not even been a full hour; this was the second time the fresh wounds in her heart had been widened. She couldn't think; there were no words; she felt as if opening her mouth would unleash a spray of fire, so hot and liquid was her pain. Redness hollowed her eyes, made the wildness of her guilt visible in her face, and she still could not find the tears that would begin to release her.

She leapt up like an uncoiling spring, and ran through the door.

Miroku exchanged a stricken look with Kaede, and then turned towards Sesshomaru. Silently, he asked for permission; silently, it was given. Sesshomaru watched through the fluttering curtain as Miroku disappeared into the darkness, and then turned back towards the fire and the old woman. His gaze was ferocious.

"He is dead, and she would not let me kill him – she did it, with her own hands, her own power. It hurts her, that she has done this. Understand that, and never mention it again."

If you hurt her, I will kill you.

He did not say the words; they were obvious all the same. Kaede's hands stopped moving, and then started again, but her fingers were trembling and the voice that filtered past the sudden blockage of fear in her throat was not steady. Carefully, she attempted a dangerous test. For a moment, he had spoken as if Kagome's pain was distressing to him in some way.

"I apologize. It was not my intention. Tell me, Sesshomaru-dono - if she is hurt, why don't you go to her? Since she is yours."

He sensed faint curiosity in her question, a layer of resignation collecting like dust in her thoughts, but far more quickly.

"I am pain to her now; that is all."

Sesshomaru turned away from her, moved aside the curtain and stared out through the door. He had no intention of discussing his feelings with this miko, as was obviously her intent; there were other things that required his attention. The darkness had turned that deep, luminous blue which is found only at twilight and in certain dawns.

"When it is fully light, I will return with my brother's body. Those things that are necessary – make them ready."

He left without giving her time to respond.

Outside, he crossed Kagome's scent, and the Houshi's, and paused for a long moment, but he did not turn aside to follow them. His steps were slower but more purposeful as he continued onward – it did not take long for him to come to the stretch of bloodied grass, the scar of stains. A cool wind blew over him, heavy with dampness, and then a mist that became a sprinkle of rain.

A/N: Ah, there we go! This chapter was 9000 words long because I'm a fool...so I cut it in half, and now there shall be two chapters, instead of one! Aren't I just awesome? Let see, reviews! Much thanks to:

Yokou Kumiko: Doubleshot! Woo! Behold, some Miroku! :D

Kouga's Older Woman: Of course he will! But only a little, because he's Sesshomaru! Confident in his own superiority and all that, ha!

Ichisakuraki: Ahh, but I cannot reveal any more of that future, because its...like...the end of the sequel? Ha! I know it sounds ridiculous since this is only chapter 14, but its the TRUTH! And maniacal laughter is better without a reason - so much better.

Selene88Sakura: Woo! Great thanks from me to you! I get all euphoric and giggly when I get really good reviews, so you have to forgive me for being OVEREXCITED every time. HA! Shippou lives! Behold! And I am REALLY HAPPY you like the invisible people! I just could never imagine Sesshomaru with normal servants (except Jaken)...

proud-eleven: Ahh, I knew people would be mad that I killed Inuyasha! In my defense, I say only that I find it very hard to believe most circumstances where Kagome gets shoved with Sesshomaru - really, Inuyasha being dead is one of the only things I've ever been able to think of to get them together. But! I must thank for your appreciation, even if you are sad he's dead...and remember, we'll see Inuyasha again later...and in the sequel! He's just...tragic for a while. :D

Anime Lady PIMP: I know, right? But she's got Sesshomaru, so she will be saved in the end!

ChaoticReverie: Ah! I think you reviewed Ukime, too! Yay! Sesshomaru's ego will survive...I mean, it's probably the largest single thing in the universe, right? Ha! The great secret of Kagome's youkai self is...well...a great secret! But, I will say this: if you read VERY closely, there has already been one significant hint! Mwaha. In...chapter...four? Yes, four! And also...Long Live Kikyou's Death! Selfish is definitely the right word!

: Much thanks! It's so much fun to kill her...

Lunarcat12: I know, I know...it's all surprising and such - but if Inuyasha has to die, I'm sure he'd rather be killed by Kagome and have her cry on him than by Sesshomaru, and then his dead body gets kicked, or something! No clay for Inuyasha, definitely definitely not; in fact...ahh what I want to say here I really can't cause it gives away far too much of the future! But rest assured, anyway - no clay!

caitibug323: The sadness of the ears! Really, that's like...the worst part of Inuyasha dying. They should have given Sesshomaru puppy ears, too, except...he would be a lot less imposing then, wouldn't he? Ha! And Shippou! Yay! He lives! And he will continue to do so! That pelt thing always really pissed me off, too, by the way. Talk about salt in the wound...sheesh.

Angela Page: Ta-da! And no waiting for the next next chapter, cause I already wrote it!

PHEW! Okay, hopefully that's everyone...much thanks again - and onwards! Please Review!

Final Revisions: Complete! :D