AN: I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for their messages/comments on my plans about what to do with TSAM. I've been saving everyone's opinions, good or bad, so I have lots of things to consider while I'm editing TSAM.

And I want to make this clear again. I still haven't decided what I'll do with whatever I edit this into. My one and only goal at the moment is to revise this story. What happens after that, depends on how much I like the final product. But whatever I decide, I will definitely fill you all in on.

Thank you again for your support and comments!

Guest (8/23): Just for you ;)

Gclarke369: Thank you for sticking with me so long! I really appreciate it.

Misscrawford: Don't worry, you get to read the rest of it now!

Bre: I will, I will! Promise.

Misha chan: You'll find out what happened to the two of them in this chapter. Thanks so much!

Guest (8/24) You're about to find out what happened.

YAY: Well, it was really half written at the time. I revised it a bit too and added some more details. But here it is now, in full :)

Kagome Pureheart: Waffles are delicious but not nearly as savory as Sesshomaru ;) Thanks so much for the review! As for your second review...you'll see.

Guest (8/26): Because cliffhangers are my favorite :) Thanks for reviewing!

Animefreak: Of course I ended there. Could you have resisted that cliffhanger if you were me? Thank you! I'll try not to get a big head, but I am flattered. Thank you so much for the review! (It made my favorite review list ;) ).

Inulover: Thank you! I'm really happy you've enjoyed TSAM so far. And since Kagura's pretty much my favorite, I love that you love her too :) So honestly, a lot of the issues you've brought up are some of my own concerns. So what's really driving my desire to revise TSAM is that 1. I've improved a lot in five years, and I'd like to fix some of my earlier plot holes/weird writing. 2. I've never actually revised/re-edited a piece of finished work. 3. I've yet to start and complete a piece of original fiction. So I'm kind of cheating by borrowing TSAM for that, lol. Really, I want to use this as a chance to challenge and stretch myself. That's my main goal right now. Maybe you're right and I can't remove the anime from the world I built around it. In that case, TSAM will stay right here and I'll get started on TFAM. If TSAM comes out freakin' fabulous after I play with it though...then I've got some hard decisions to make. But I'm really not planning on changing major plot lines. Even if they're not called Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, etc, you will still find out what happens to them. So you don't have to worry about that, no matter what happens. Also, I don't expect this to become a habit. So thanks so much for your message and your concerns. I really have saved them, so I can refer to them as I revise TSAM.

Sagura-hime: Hope I didn't take too long putting the chapter up. As it so happens, cyber-cookies are my favorite ;) Thanks for reviewing!

Sarahsmiles1122: Thank you! Sorry you had to wait for them then. I hope you enjoy them anyway!

Guest (9/10): Sorry for the wait! Didn't mean to keep you on the edge of your seat like that. And I get writer's block all the freakin' time. But it's a weird sort of block, it's usually not a plot block, more like 'how am I supposed to write this' block. What kept this chapter back was the fight scene and I hate writing fight scenes, even though I knew exactly what I wanted to happen during it. But I finally got through it, and here we are now. Thanks so much for the review!

Seriously: I'm sorry, the chapter wasn't ready yet. But here it is now!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and I make no money off this story.


November 18: The End

...and remember, sister dears. The bigger he screws up, the more he owes you. Make sure it's expensive.

Kagura's pen paused over the page, hesitating. That line wasn't quite right.

She sat back in her chair, tapping the pen over her chin while she considered her revisions. This latest edition of the Handbook had to be perfect.

Especially since Kagome and Sango had so royally screwed the last one up.

Dipping her pen back in the ink well, she crossed the line out since a certain sexy stubborn-ass demon still refused to give up her white out. She was glad she wasn't working in the actual book. This was all just scrap paper that could be thrown away later.

...don't sweat it, sister dears. The bigger mistakes on his part, equals bigger payout for ours.

Kagura scowled down at the parchment, shoving it away. That line was even worse.

She tossed the pen down, annoyed at all the crumpled pieces of paper littered around. Her notes about the trial: Freakin' brilliant. Everything she had tried since then? Absolute crap. She couldn't use her writing to distract herself from what was going on a few rooms away any more.

So plan B. Forget calories existed for the moment, and then depend on Sesshomaru to help her work them off later.

Now that was a distraction she could get behind.

Getting up from her chair, she tugged at the belt around her waist, trying to loosen it. If she was going to be eating an entire pie, she didn't want her tight clothing to guilt her out of it.

Her attention focused completely on the fridge Sess had built into the wall for her, forcing herself to choose between chocolate pie or cherry pie. Trying to pick favors was much better than wondering if her family was safe. If Naraku had been released yet. Who was broken, bleeding or dead.

...yes, chocolate pie sounded exactly right.

And she had to remember to yell at Sesshomaru hiding her white-out again. She hated trying to work withou-

Blood bloomed across her kimono. Agony ripped through her chest, sending her straight to her knees.

Something hot and metallic welled up her throat, gurgling out. She swayed, her hands clasped tightly over the pain.

Kagura fell to her back, only faintly aware that the strange choking sounds in the room were coming from her.

Her vision dimmed. And then she wasn't aware of much else.


Kagome pitched forward, falling again to her knees. Air blasted, ruffling her hair and pushing hard at her eyes and face. She dropped the sword and cupped her arms over her head as glass darted by, peeking out between her fingers.

The cut ribbons curled in the air, whipping wildly in the sudden wind, their red glow dimming until the two sections completely disappeared.

The mate ties were gone. The connection between Naraku and Kagura...severed.

Kagura was free.

The rest of the ribbons surrounding Naraku faded out of sight.

Elation hit Kagome hard, relief and disbelief close behind. She had to look down at her hands to see she was shaking, her arms cut by stray glass. She had done it. She had done it! There was nothing to worry about now. Naraku could finally be dealt with, and they would all be safe.

And that's when Kagome became aware of the screaming.

Naraku was on his own knees, head dipped back and mouth wide open, wicked fangs on display. Bright red eyes glared at Sesshomaru while he roared, blood pouring out of the ruined mess of his chest. It ran down him in streams, soaking into his clothes and dripping onto the floor.

"You took my mate." Naraku snarled, slowly standing back up. "Now I've taken yours."

Relief was instantly replaced by sick dread. She hadn't been fast enough. Kagura wasn't safe at all. She needed to-

Kagome was jerked hard to the side, her body leaving the floor and the tribunal room disappearing in a blur.

She was dropped roughly to her feet almost instantly, still confused about what had just happened. She swayed, trying to find her balance in her heeled shitkickers. A low, pained whimper echoed, distracting her from studying the tall bookcases that lined the walls, not sure where she was.

Sesshomaru cradled Kagura in his arms on the floor, demonic marks blooming across his face and red bleeding into his eyes. Her kimono was pulled down to her stomach, a lacy blue bra bright against her pale skin.

And soaked in the blood that flowed from the slashes ripped across her chest, the wounds deep and wide.

Naraku's parting gift to Sesshomaru.

Kagome felt frozen, her stomach turning and her breath caught in her throat. Kagura. Her chest didn't move, her body didn't twitch and her mouth didn't moan. She laid as still and as pale as if she were already dead.

And with how Naraku had carved up his own heart, how could she be anything else?

The quiet, heart wrenching moan that filled the room was from Sesshomaru as he adjusted her in his arms.

Kagome swayed, sensation beginning to leave her as shock set in. Had he brought Kagome here to murder her in front of Kagura's corpse?

Sesshomaru bent his head over his mate, his silver hair pooling across her body as he frantically licked at her chest. He didn't seem to notice Kagome at all, his tongue tracing the lines Naraku's claws had left.

He finally glanced up at her, his chin stained red. "What are you waiting for? Heal her!"

Kagome blinked. "...She's still alive?"

Sesshomaru bared his teeth at her, her knees shaking at the snarl on his lips. "Do not dare to suggest otherwise. If you want to live, move."

Cautious hope settled over her hysteria and Kagome didn't waste anymore time, knowing Sesshomaru was deadly serious. She kneeled next to Kagura, trying not to notice how slack her face was, her head tucked into Sesshomaru's neck so it wouldn't flop over. She gently settled her hands over Kagura's stomach.

Her power protested, weak and shaky after all she had put it through during the last day. But it still tunneled down through her fingers and into Kagura's skin, settling gently over the ragged tears in Kagura's heart.

Her head spun and she swayed, weary and sluggish. The caffeine buzz had worn off and she wanted to lay down on Sesshomaru's soft looking tail and go to sleep.

But one glance at Kagura and Sesshomaru kept her hands firmly on her body, biding her power to heal her.

She looked over the damage to Kagura's chest. No one could survive very long like that, not even her great-whatever grandfather.

Silver lining. At least Inuyasha and Sango would have an easier time with Naraku now.


For one brilliant moment Sesshomaru met Naraku's eyes. That icy arrogance that had always set Naraku's teeth on edge...gone.

Utter disbelief filled them instead. Wild confusion. Stark pain.

Naraku might not have gotten all he wanted, but he had fucking won.

Standing only made the blood pour faster from his chest, his ruined heart stuttering under the strain. He wasn't much longer for this world. Soon, he would be reunited with his precious little miko. And she would never get away from him again.

But until then...his lips twisted up in a mocking smile, fangs on display in the way that used to make Midoriko shudder. He was going to play with his prey some more. "Oh, Sesshomaru-"

Sesshomaru blinked, and that brilliant moment faded. Sesshomaru vanished from view, Naraku bracing himself for his enemy's attack.

Sesshomaru's white and red streak flashed by Naraku instead, scooping up Midoriko's descendant and darting away. Disappearing from the room completely.

Naraku roared, tendons popping in his neck, a red haze covering his eyes. "SESSHOMARU! Don't you run from me now!"

...Midoriko. Want Midoriko. Want death...want his death and the deaths of his. Instinct hissed at him. Kill kill kill...

Naraku followed blindly. He launched himself forward, uncaring that his heart was faltering, his vision was fading. He could just barely see blurry shapes and colors, and that would have to be enough for him.

"MIDORIKO!" Her name became his battle cry, his last words. Claws ripped into flesh, hardly hearing the screaming. White was the color of Sesshomaru's hair and clothes and tail. White was his target.

Kill kill kill! For Midoriko, always for Midoriko.

Something landed on Naraku's back, wrenching at his head. He tossed it aside, more focused on the large mass of white he was currently slicing apart. Whatever his hand was buried in had no hair, couldn't be Sesshomaru. He ripped it in half, just because.

Blood ran down him. Each drop felt like a victory.

A blurry white oval hovered in the corner of his sight. His claws slashed, tearing something open. The oval fell back out of sight. Not Sesshomaru either.

Hurry...more...do more...for Midoriko

Crowds of demons pressed up against the walls. With his failing vision, they looked more like gnats, begging to be flattened.

Yessssssssssss. Killkillkillkilllll

"MIDORIKO!" Naraku could hardly hear her name, so he savored the way it burned in his throat as he screamed. The gnats scattered in frantic patterns, swirling across the ground. They practically begged for death, they made it so easy.

Pain bloomed in his gut. It wasn't the agony in his heart, but what could be more painful than losing Midoriko? Naraku glanced down, hardly surprised to see the end of a sword sticking out from his stomach.

Midoriko...I'm coming

He wasn't ready. His enemy still lived. So the torment of losing Kagura would have to be enough.

Blood bubbled up his throat. The sword slid out of his body, twisting along the way. He fell to his knees, his heart giving out a few more stammered beats.

Two blurred figures stood in front of him. He tried to lunge at one, only to find his arms hanging limply at his sides. His heart shuddered, hardly moving now.

The pain started to fade away as one of the figures passed a sword to the other. It probably dripped with his blood, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He thought about long, inky black hair instead and a sweet floral scent.

Naraku closed his eyes, wanting her to be the last thing he saw. Her beloved face bloomed against his eyelids, tender and graceful. He could almost feel her hand on his brow.

"Midoriko." He whispered, needing her name on his lips one last time.

Naraku made sure to smile. She didn't like it when he scowled.


Sango made a clean sweep. Naraku's head bounced across the metal bleachers, his delirious grin frozen on his face.

With no expression, she wiped her sword clean on Naraku's tattered robe, sliding her blade back into its sheath. "Are you alright?"

Was Inuyasha alright with Sango killing his enemy? No. Was he alright with helping Sango break her curse? ...maybe.

Really, what else could he have done? Without Naraku's evil bastard ass getting it on with Midoriko, there would be no Kagome.

"Sure." He answered instead. He wasn't in the mood for a heart-to-heart about his feelings. Maybe after Kag was tucked into his arms and they'd had about two weeks of sleep. "Thanks for the one shot." The blade through Naraku's gut wasn't exactly what he wanted, but he was grateful for at least that.

Sango nodded in acknowledgement, saving them both from embarrassment from remarking on it further. It was done. That's all that mattered now.

The tribunal room was strangely silent. The demons had finally stopped screaming, standing frozen against the walls instead. They seemed scared to move, as if Naraku's head would jump up and bite them.

Kouga braced himself against the bleacher Naraku had tossed him across as he slowly stood up, his arm at a strange angle. He held it against his body, ignoring the blood coating the side of his face. "Fuck it all. Inuyasha and company are good. Anyone got any problems with that?"

Inuyasha scanned the room, looking for his usual opponents.

Ryukotsusei laid sprawled on the ground, one hand clutched around his throat and the other clamped on his face. Broken bits of his mask littered the floor around him, blood seeping from between his fingers. He seemed more worried about hiding his face than stopping the bleeding.

Inuyasha nudged Sango gently. "Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy," he muttered.

She choked back laughter, snorting like that was the funniest joke she had ever heard of.

Ryukotsusei only nodded, his long sleeve managing to cover most of his head. Inuyasha didn't try to look at what had been hidden under his mask. At the moment, he didn't fucking care if Ryukotsusei was scarred, disfigured or just ugly.

So there was one of them. As for Manten...Inuyasha frowned. Where was the annoying big guy?

Hiten staggered into view, pale and shell shocked, a blue bruise coloring his forehead. He seemed unharmed otherwise. "Manten?" He called out. "Manten?!"

He stopped, eyes widening and his legs shaking. "Manten...no. NO!"

Hiten darted under the bleachers, out of Inuyasha's sight. But Inuyasha didn't need to see him to guess what had happened.

Especially since it explained the bloody chunk of skull tossed across the tribunal table, a single tuff of hair still attached.

Inuyasha tried to ignore Hiten's scream, respectfully turning away. He didn't want to embarrass the warrior by acknowledging his wailing.

"So then I'm calling it." Kouga called out. "Inuyasha is innocent. Congratulations. We're all done here. Now, who wants to meet up for group therapy?"

Inuyasha didn't want to take Kouga up on his offer. Kagome's scent was tugging at him, and now that everything was over he needed to find where Sesshomaru had whisked her off to. Once he knew she was safe, he could deal with the rest of this. With his cleared name, his enemy dead, and Hiten's grief in his head.

"Let's go." He muttered to Sango. There wasn't anything here for them anymore.


Sweat coated Kagome. What had been faint swaying had turned into full on trembling. Her entire body was stiff and cramped, her muscles screaming from strain.

She closed her eyes when the light became too bright, her eyesight hazed and dimming into whiteness. Her petals danced behind her eyes, frayed and fragile. They no longer looked healthy, in full-bloom. The strong violet color had faded to a washed out lilac.

Deep down inside where her power lived, the flower was wilted, drooping. Half of its petals were missing. The remaining were reluctant to flutter free of the stem.

And still Kagome forced them down, layering petals over Kagura's wounded heart. She helped it beat, keeping what blood she had left circulating through her body. The petals carefully pulled the ruined vales back together, stitching tears and soothing damage. She held Kagura's life in her hands, and the responsibility made her shake.

She could feel herself growing weaker as she flooded Kagura with strength. But it didn't matter. Even if it cost her every little bit of power she had, she had to save Kagura. She wasn't going to lose her future sister-in-law just because she had been too slow in freeing her from Naraku.

So Kagome gritted her teeth and kept going, well past what she thought she could endure.

Slowly, color rose to Kagura's cheeks. Her heartbeat was steadier, relying less and less on Kagome's help. The wounds on her chest already looked half healed thanks to Sesshomaru's ministrations. If she could just hold out a littttttle longer and make sure her heart was fine, it would be safe to hand over the rest of Kagura's care to a real doctor.

She eased her power over to target completely at the heart. It was hard, delicate work that was exhausting her. She had to keep herself focused on her task, knowing if she eased up on her power, it would protest and refuse to work any further.

Finally, finally, her petals repaired the last of the damage to Kagura's heart. Her power left Kagura's body in rush, nearly slamming back into Kagome. It burrowed close to her own heart, curling in like a wounded pet.

What little remained of it, anyway.

Kagome's hands slipped off Kagura, her arms feeling leaden and dead. "You should still bring her to a doctor. But she'll be fine." She muttered, finally giving in to her urge to slide down onto the floor. She collapsed on her side, panting.

A gentle touch brushed over her forehead, sending shudders to rock her body. "Chickadee?" Kagura's voice was rough and thick, sounding exhausted. "Thank you."

Kagome didn't move or even open her eyes. "S'no problem." Now where the hell was Inuyasha? How could finishing Naraku take this long?

"I owe you a heavy debt." Sesshomaru was grave, more serious than she had ever heard him. "One I will probably never repay."

Oh, she would have so much fun with that once she wasn't on the verge of passing out. Or wondering where Inuyasha was. Inuyasha would love testing his brother's gratitude.

Where was he? Was he expecting her to go meet him? Because she didn't think she could move.

"Sessy Pie?" Kagura was still mumbling. "Love you. My will is hidden with my stash of white out. I want to add bequeathing my clothes to Kagome, and your mourning period has been extended from a century to a millennia. You still aren't allowed to look at another woman ever, ever again."

"Be silent. You have no need of your will right now." Sesshomaru chided. "You are not dying."

"Feels like it." Kagura muttered.

"You are not allowed to die." Sesshomaru ordered, firm and unyielding.

Kagome fluttered her eyes open enough to watch Sesshomaru stroke a tender hand down between Kagura's breasts. His hair hid his face, dipping forward to provide a curtain for him and Kagura.

They fell silent, and Kagome had to assume they were finally taking advantage of the mind meld, Sesshomaru's hand resting carefully over where Kagura would soon show his mark.

"How are you feeling, Kagome?" Kagura's voice still sounded rough, but was a little bit stronger.

Kagome didn't respond, letting that be answer enough.

"You might not want to use your power for awhile then. If you're feeling drained, you need to let yourself build back up." Kagura tried to explain, clearly still weak.

At the moment, Kagome didn't care about her power. Something else on her mind was a lot more important.

"Tribunal?" Kagome grunted the question. Could Inuyasha still be fighting Naraku? She was tempted to meld with him to check, but was terrified to distract him.

Sesshomaru glared at her over Kagura's head, clearly forgetting his gratitude over being interrupted with his mate. "The tribunal can wait." His voice was back to icy, before quickly turning his attention back to Kagura.

"But Inuyasha-"

SLAM

"KAGOME!"

"Was it necessary to break the panic room door, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asked mildly before Kagome was yanked up into a hard chest.

Inuyasha peered anxiously down at her, his face bruised and bloodied and more beautiful then she remembered. "Are you alright?"

"Never better. What 'bout you?" Kagome asked quickly, uncomfortably aware she was slurring her words.

"Alive." He hugged her tight, burying her head in his shoulder. "Fuck, I was worried about you."

Cli-

Inuyasha shook Kagome gently, breaking the connection before it could form. "Not yet, mate."

So clearly he had gotten knocked around a bit. That was the only reason he would refuse to meld with her. "You have to go to a doctor."

He nuzzled the top of her head. "I'll heal. I would rather go home with you."

"Naraku?" Sesshomaru asked crisply.

"Dead." Sango answered for them, her voice grim. She looked a little better than Inuyasha, but not by much. Kagome was happy to see Kirara perched on her shoulder though. "Along with Manten. Ryukotsusei was injured. Inuyasha has been declared innocent."

"That's my Yashie." Kagura praised, her voice strained but proud. "Knew you could do it. So about what happened with Kikyo-"

Sesshomaru abruptly stood up, Kagura carefully cradled in his arms. "You can have this conversation later."

"We need to have it now. I have to leave immediately." Sango interrupted. Her usual polite tone when dealing with Sesshomaru and Kagura was gone. She seemed twitchy, wanting to get to the point.

The change clearly didn't go unnoticed by Sesshomaru, hard eyes studying Sango.

"Where you rushing off to, sister dear?" Kagura asked, ignoring the sudden tension in the room. Or not caring.

Sango took a deep breath. "Kikyo escaped. She took Miroku with her. I can't waste anymore time, I have to go now."

Sesshomaru carefully set Kagura back on the couch, taking his gaze off Sango long enough to ensure Kagura was settled before pinning Sango with his glare. "She lives?" He hissed.

Kagome buried her head closer to Inuyasha, unsure how to help Sango. So it was probably just best she stayed out of the way.

"It was my fault." Sango took responsibility without hesitation. "Kagome and Inuyasha were in the jewel, and I was fighting Kikyo when she struck me with a poison. Miroku bargained with her for the antidote, the jewel, and our lives."

Kagura tried to sit up, quickly settling down when Sesshomaru snapped his attention to her. "And just what did Sucky Mate trade for all that?"

Some of the harshness faded off her face. Guilt took its place. "He accepted the kazaana and left willingly with her."

Kagura gasped, her eyes wide before her face went white, her hand pressing over her healed skin. "He took the kazaana?"

Even Sesshomaru seemed faintly overwhelmed. His eyebrows lifted the slightest bit.

"I didn't know that bastard had it in him." Inuyasha muttered, almost sounding admiring. "He did that to save you?"

"...I should probably stop calling him 'Sucky Mate'," Kagura remarked, not as disappointed as Kagome would have expected.

Sango nodded. "It seems Kikyo's endgame all this time was to raise her dead sister. Miroku swore to help them in exchange for our safety and the jewel."

Kagome glanced around, confused by the sudden strain in the room. "Kazaana?" She croaked. That was definitely something else left out of the handbook.

"It's a curse, mate." Inuyasha said. "Mate ties can't be undone once they're made." He glanced down at her. "Unless you're cutting them, I guess."

"Another new revision to the handbook." Kagura grumbled. "Can I please just have a website that's easier to update?"

"Mate ties cannot be severed, but there is a way for humans to escape from their mate. However, there is also a cost for rejecting a demon's claim." Sesshomaru picked up from Inuyasha, not responding to Kagura for now. "Voiding the mate ties essentially kills the connection. So while there is still a technical bond between the mates, it is dead. Useless. However, all that energy does not just disappear. The defunct mate ties opens up a portal to another plane. Among other...side effects." Sesshomaru added, with a significant look to Sango.

"The kicker is that the portal is powered by the human's own body." Kagura stroked her raw skin, wincing slightly. "It sucks everything up until it's strong enough to pull the cursed through. Where they go, even I don't know. But before that, it gives an entry for...things to come out."

Kagome wasn't sure if she was too tired for this conversation or if they weren't explaining well enough. "Things?"

Kagura shrugged. "Whatever's on the other plane. Usually bad things. Or, if you're desperate enough, souls. With the right spell and the right know-how, you can resurrect a body." She shook her head suddenly. "But Kikyo's too smart to fall for that kind of promise. The last person who knew how to perform that kind of magic died over 500 years ago."

"Kikyo seems to think it can be done. I remember her saying something to Miroku about…" Sango trailed off, trying to remember the exact words. "...knowing someone. Someone with a particular skill?"

Kagura's hand shot out and grabbed Sesshomaru's wrist. "Oh, no," she whispered. "Sesshomaru."

For the first time in their very short acquaintance, there was real, genuine fear on Kagura's face. Not just that, but she had used her mate's full name in a serious, no-joking, awed voice. "What's wrong?" Kagome asked. Had she healed her enough?

"It's time to leave." Sesshomaru said firmly instead. "I will have Jaken arrange to have Inuyasha, Kagome, and her brother taken to the Higurashi residence. I will contact Inuyasha when I have more suitable lodgings available for him. And Sango," He turned his full attention to her. "Jaken will show you to a safehouse where you will have clothing, food, weapons, and technology available to you. I expect you to turn your full attention to finding Kikyo before she can make any further moves. Is this understood?"

Sango only nodded.

"So there's nothing else you need from us?" Inuyasha asked, sounding doubtful. "And what the hell do you mean, 'suitable lodgings'?"

"Space so Kagura can rest. From all of you." Sesshomaru answered, ignoring his other question. "I'll fetch Jaken."

Kagura sighed as Sesshomaru left, her lips twitching. "Good thing you saved my life, chickadee. What would Sesshy Pie have done without me?"

"Killed us all." Inuyasha muttered, drawing Kagome closer.

"Probably." Kagura agreed without blinking. "How you feeling now, Kagome?" She asked again.

"Weak. Drained." Kagome kept her head against Inuyasha's shoulder, soaking in the feel of him. Grateful she was in his arms.

"Definitely lay off the miko power for a while then. Let yourself regroup." Kagura advised quickly. "No evil-miko hunting for you."

A flicker of energy flashed through her, enough that she lifted her head off Inuyasha and looked Sango straight in the eye. "When you do find her, call me."

Kagome hadn't wanted to kill Naraku because he was family. Kikyo did not have that same protection.

Sango nodded once, picking up on her urgency. And with that, exhaustion hit her and her head dropped back down.

"Tired." She whispered, her eyelids starting to flutter.

"Me too, mate." Inuyasha brushed his lips over her forehead. "Soon."

"Jaken will lead you to your respective cars. Kagome's brother is already placed in one." Sesshomaru announced, sweeping back into the room. "The doctor is here now for Kagura. Leave."

If Kagome had the energy, she would have rolled her eyes. Sesshomaru wasn't winning any best brother-in-law of the year awards. Ever.

And she was still confused about what had suddenly changed in the last few minutes that they were practically getting pushed out the door. "But-"

"Leave." Sesshomaru almost snarled.

"Yeah, yeah, we're goin'." Inuyasha mumbled. "See ya, Kagura." Inuyasha hefted Kagome higher in his arms, seemingly easily carrying her along.

Sango walked at their side, face drawn and quiet. It wasn't until they were in the elevator bound for the parking garage that she looked at them. "I apologize for letting Kikyo get away."

"Feh. Just make sure it doesn't happen twice." Inuyasha said back, attention more focused on his mate.

"It won't." Her voice dropped, the cold tone much too similar to Sesshomaru.

"Good. Happy hunting. Call if you need me." Inuyasha frowned, completely serious. "Not Kagome."

Sango nodded once, accepting the new rule. Kagome would have argued if she cared about anything more then checking in with her family and crawling into a warm bed, Inuyasha at her side.

Sango walked out of the elevator when the doors opened without another word, disappearing into a waiting black car.

"You're going to have to explain what all that was about." Kagome muttered.

"Later. Let's take some time before we deal with the next emergency, yeah?" Inuyasha slid her into their own car, carefully settling her into his side.

The window separating the driver from the passengers slid down, Souta's head popping out. His eyes were giant and glassy, clearly still glazed from a sugar high if the chocolate in the corner of his mouth was anything to go by. "Hey Inuyasha! Isn't this cool? They're letting me sit in the front."

Kagome relaxed into Inuyasha, relieved to see her brother safe and well. And still bouncing off the walls. Though after this little adventure, she might need to find him a new therapist. "That's great, Souta. Why don't you go thank the driver?" She loved her little brother and she was happy he was happy, but right now she needed Inuyasha.

"Oh, good idea!" Souta's head popped right back out, the window sliding back into place.

"Are you really alright?" She propped her head against his shoulder, craning her eyes up to stare at him. It seemed unreal that he was really here with her, safe and in one piece.

He squeezed her side. "Never better." His free hand clasped hers, resting them on his thigh. "You know what got me through this?"

Her breath caught in her throat at the way his golden eyes shone down at her, the reassuring weight of his hand. "What?"

Inuyasha's lips turned up into a smirk. "Thinking about that maple syrup I left under the bed."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome snapped, wishing for the first time she could still 'sit' him. "That bottle was open! You can't leave out bottles of maple syrup."

His brows furrowed. "You can't?"

"No! It'll go bad if it's not in a fridge." That syrup had been the good Canadian kind too!

His smirk turned into a scowl. "Well, how was I supposed to know?"

"It says so on the bottle!" Kagome's teeth gnashed together. "If you can help me with my math homework, you should be able to...to…"

The entire day crashed into Kagome. She blinked hard, trying to hold it back. She had been strong so far, she could be strong a little longer.

"Mate?" Inuyasha asked, confused why she had suddenly gone stiff.

...fuck it. She had been strong long enough.

Kagome buried her face into Inuyasha's chest, shoulders shaking and eyes sobbing. "I'm so happy to be fighting with you!" She knew she was wailing. She also knew she didn't care.

This was so normal. So...perfect.

Inuyasha's arms closed hard around her, his fingers tangling in her ponytail. She felt his chin rest on top of her head. "Yeah. I'm happy to fight with you too."

"I don't really care about the maple syrup."

His hand stroked her back. "I know. But I care a whole lot that my plans for a midnight snack have been ruined."

She giggled, the tears finally slowing. "I love you."

"Feh. Love you more, mate." He sighed, sounding put out. "Even if you aren't covered in maple syrup."


Sesshomaru closed the door firmly behind his brother, future sister-in-law, and current assassin. He needed to comfort his mate. He needed to ease his mate's worry and pain.

Mostly, he just needed to be with his mate.

Especially as the worried look hadn't left her face, her eyes still wide and anxious.

She held her hand out to him, and he rushed to take it. "Sess, you don't think..."

Sesshomaru lifted her palm to his mouth, brushing his lips across her fingers. "Do not worry." He made sure it was a command. "I will make sure all is well. Personally, if I have to."

Kagura reached for his other hand, lacing their fingers tightly together. "I know, and I do trust you, it's just..." she trailed off, blinking hard.

Resolve shot through him. His mate would not cry about this again. "Calm yourself, Kagura. I will not allow Kikyo to find Rin before we do."

And he made sure that was a promise.


Don't forget to come back for the epilogue! Halloween is in 3 weeks, and I'm determined to post my last chapter on TSAM's anniversary. Until then, keep checking my tumblr for more information about TSAM, my favorite quotes and scenes, and commentary as we count down to the final chapter.

Thank you all so much for reading and commenting! You don't realize how much I really appreciate it.