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Inuyasha had been dreaming about Kagome and Kikyo before he woke in a cold, sticky sweat. In the dream, both of them had appeared before him, they were floating in the air wearing white silk kimonos.

They looked at him coldly and pointed to each other, saying the same thing over and over again.

"You must choose."

At first, he chose Kagome, he didn't know why. She was the first one to pop into his head. Every time he chose her, the world around him would go black and the white auras of the women would appear again. The dream would repeat itself, over and over again no matter who he ended up choosing.

The women's chanting would get louder and louder until eventually he dropped to his knees and sobbed Kikyo's name. This time, instead of repeating the scenario, she and Kagome turned to face each other. The two women were holding bows with sacred arrows knocked and pulled back.

He wanted to stop them but his body would not respond, he couldn't even speak. He tried to scream at them but no sound came, he only felt the vibrations in his throat. Inuyasha watched in horror as the women released their arrows, hitting the other in the stomach. Their white robes slowly turned pink then red and after a few moments blood was dripping from their feet. He closed his eyes and willed his arms up to cover his face and hide his tears. The hanyou could feel the warm blood touch his feet and slip under his toes. The harsh smell of iron made him look up from his sleeve to breathe.

The two women were wrapped around his body, Kikyo at his chest and Kagome at his waist. They were pulling at his clothes and kissing any bare skin they could find. He could feel the blood of the women he loved dripping down his body and soaking through his clothes. Inuyasha looked forward into the darkness, trying to make himself wake up when a light came into view. It was a purple light with an amber and white halo but he woke up just as the figure started to come into view. The pain of his claws digging into his chest had brought him out of his nightmare and he was grateful.

His wife was cuddled against him, her arm and leg draped over his body. He could feel the sweat sliding across his skin and he recoiled at the thought of their blood dripping down his body. The moon shone clear through their open window, lighting up the room in pale light. It made the sweat on his skin glisten.

Careful not to wake Kikyo, he slipped from beside her and made his way outside into the cool night air. From what he could tell, there was still a few hours before dawn, enough time for him to think about the dream he had. Nothing was making sense to him, why had they shot the other? Why in the stomach? The more he thought the more his head hurt. The wind blew slightly, drying his sweaty skin while giving him a slight chill.

"Maybe it's just a dream. I'm stressed, that's got to be it."

He slipped back inside and took a moment to gaze down at his wife. She looked so beautiful when she slept, she looked at peace. She wore a long robe that hugged all of her curves in the right places. He loved how she looked, always had.

The thought back to just over fifty years ago when she pinned him to the tree. When he woke up and his heart skipped a beat because he thought Kagome was Kikyo, but he was also full of anger for the betrayal he thought she planned against him. He brushed the ebony hair from her cheek and shoulder, taking a minute to admire her.

"Maybe I only loved her because she shared a soul with Kikyo…"

His words were lost in the darkness as the clouds covered the moon. After a few moments of fighting his tears, he laid down next to her and drifted back off to sleep.

Sesshomaru watched himself around Kagome ever since their heated kiss two weeks ago. He cursed himself, never in all his years had he lost control like that. He didn't even remember her pushing him away. The thought of what he could have done to her plagued his mind constantly, and he hated himself for it.

Kagome stayed close to him but she kept a distance between them, almost like they were walking with a wall separating them. Every day he struggled to lift just one brick off that wall, hoping she would relax again.

He took this time to observe her, everything about her intrigued him. How she moved, how she talked. Even when she would brush her hair or wash her face when they would stop to rest. He also began to admire her. She was strong and very stubborn.

AhUn had been summoned to carry her, as well as her things but she refused to ride, especially if he was walking. Kagome only rode the two-headed demon in the late evening, when her feet nearly gave out. He insisted that flying would knock off a couple of weeks' worth of travel but she was adamant on visiting every village. If there was just one person she could help or one person that could point her in the direction of her quest then it was okay to walk.

The extra time did allow him to think on their current agenda as well as their current enemy. Kikyo and Inuyasha would be no problem for him but he genuinely had no idea just how strong his mother was. She was, without a doubt, Kagome's real threat.

"My Lord, are you okay…?" Kagome, who had lingered behind ran up and gently pulled on his sleeve.

"Why do you ask?" Her worry surprised him, as well as her close proximity.

"You look lost in thought, even your aura feels different."

He did not reply to her. Was this girl really learning him so fast? They had only been together a short while and yet she could read him so easily? He couldn't even tell if she wanted to run from him or hold him, much less if she had things on her mind.

"My Lor-."

He waved her off, cutting her words.

"Kagome, would you call me by my name?" His voice was quiet and deep. She gulped, a slight blush crossing her cheeks. She had only ever called his name without honorifics in the heat of the moment. This… this was personal. He wanted to hear his name when they were alone.

"Lord…"

He waved his hand again. "My name." He slowed his pace, eventually coming to a stop but she took a few steps ahead of him.

"Sesshomaru…"

It was the quietest thing he had ever heard in his life. She added such sweet emphasis on his name, making him smile.

"I wish for you to call me by name when we are together. When we are around people and other demons I wish for you to be formal."

She realized he wanted her to be comfortable around him, and the best place to start was his name. Kagome also knew how important it was to respect him in company, especially demons. If a human were to call him freely, it would cause other demons to challenge him. She knew it was also something women would do for him… and their relationship. She had seen her mother do it before her father passed away. In private she would call her husband sweet names but in public, she would respectfully say his name.

She walked beside him, taking in his scent. Even though she was human, his smell was very easy to pick up. The smell of blood was explainable, but the cherry blossoms were what confused her. She had not once seen a blooming tree the entire time here but he smelled like he kept a whole bushel up his sleeve. Kagome inhaled, catching his attention.

"Do I stink? I often catch you smelling me." He had stopped to look at her but she didn't realize until she was a few steps ahead of him.

"You don't stink… you actually smell nice." She turned to him with her hands folded behind her back. The blush on her face was brighter now and she wouldn't make eye contact.

"You smell just like fresh cherry blossoms. The smell is so strong like you have freshly plucked petals on your person, but I've never seen a tree in bloom."

He thought in silence, it was a rather unimportant thing but it was clearly bothering her. Sesshomaru reached into his sleeve and procured a small pink drawstring bag.

"I believe this is what you smell." He closed the few steps between them, bringing her close to him with a pull to her hip.

"Open your hands."

She watched as he pulled open the bag, pouring several porous amber stones into her palms. Upon inspection, she could tell they were perfectly preserved cherry blossom buds. Each unopened except for one. She held it up to the sun, admiring the simplicity of it.

"It's alive!" She could see the flower opening fully as the sun's rays touched it.

"How is it possible My Lo… I mean Sesshomaru?"

He held open the bag and she gently dropped them one by one back inside.

"' They will live, so long as I live,' That is what an old demon said to me when he gave me these flowers. That was many centuries ago when I was younger and still lived in the castle with my family."

Kagome paled. "With your family?" She took a step back. "But, we're going to your castle…" Her heart sped up, all kinds of things were going through her head.

He tucked the bag back in his sleeve, sensing the panic radiating of off her he smiled.

"No one lives in my castle but Jaken and my servants. My mother lives in the family castle."

She clasped her hands over her heart and have a heavy sigh. "Forgive me, I let my imagination get the best of me."

He stepped closer to her, so close she could feel his breath on the top of her head. "I know you still don't fully trust me." He cupped her face, making her look up at him.

"I'd never betray you. I owe my life to you. My loyalty is stronger than that of Inuyasha."He leaned down and kissed her forehead, drawing a small 'eep' from Kagome. He gave her a slight smile and continued walking forward. "We will be arriving at camp in a few hours, if we continue we should make it before sundown."

She nodded and sprinted to walk beside him, AhUh at their backs. She looked around as they walked, it was midday and the sun beat down on her. She was sweating, though not as much. Sesshomaru had bought her an arrangement of kimonos and miko garbs. They were all thin and perfect for traveling.

She opted for a traditional red and white miko garb that was lightweight and wasn't too long. Her hair was slightly pinned back out of her face and she still wore a small bandage on the right side, covering the healing wound. She thought back to what Sesshomaru had said to her earlier that day.

"Even before you cut your hair, I don't think you resembled Kikyo. Your auras were the same long ago but that was all she shared with you."

Kagome smiled at his words. It felt good to be her own person, not the shadow of a dead woman.

She let her mind wander the entire time they walked. She thought of him, herself, Inuyasha and Kikyo. She thought of Sango and her children as well as Shippo and Rin. Kagome silently wished she could've spent some time with them before they left but it wasn't meant to be.

She huffed and held her hand to her face, trying to hide a tear. She really was afraid of what would happen to her. She knew he could protect her, but what if. Shyly, she placed her hand in his and he squeezed, sensing her unease and sadness. After a while, their fingers were laced together in a hold no demon nor human could break.

"Kagome, we will rest here."

She looked up from her daze to see a large lake, it was almost like it came from thin air. The water was tinted blue and green with lilies everywhere and in every size. In the middle of the lake was a large tree, even larger than Goshinboku.

He pulled his hand from hers and adjusted his armor. "Come here."

She closed in on him and he picked her up bridal style. "Hold on to me, we have to cross the barrier."

She didn't have time to ask any questions so she just held on to his armor and closed her eyes. They glided over the water with AhUh right behind them. She felt a small 'pop' against her miko aura and a change in atmosphere. Kagome waited until she felt his feet hit the ground to open her eyes.

The area had exploded with trees of every warm color imaginable. Yellow, red, orange, brown. There were so many shades she couldn't even name them. Even the large tree had changed its color.

"Sesshomaru, this is magnificent."

He sat her down and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Follow me. I will introduce you."

She followed him closely but it was hard with all the rocks sticking out of the ground. Kagome took a second to examine them and upon inspection, they weren't rocks at all, they were amber fossils. The same amber that encased the flowers Sesshomaru kept in his sleeve.

She reached out to touch the stone when Sesshomaru called out to her.

"Kagome, we are in a demon's home. You don't touch what you don't know." She gulped and looked back down at the fossil. Inside was a water nymph, its hand outward like it was aiming to touch something as well. Kagome shot up and ran over to Sesshomaru, tangling her fingers in his sleeve. Her heart was going a million miles an hour.

"Don't be afraid. You are safe here, safer than anywhere in the world." His hand was on her back now, guiding her as they walked up a stone path to a cabin. It was a very small cabin, made of old logs and a clay shingled roof. There was an extension to the side, a dark brick building with a small smokestack. Black, thick smoke was billowing out and disappearing on the other side of the barrier.

The closer they got, the more she noticed the sound of a hammer hitting metal.

"A friend of the family. You could say he's a blacksmith that deals in specialty weapons. Much like the jewelsmith Hosenki or the weaponsmith Totosai."

Sesshomaru's tone had changed, she knew this would be a formal meeting among two demons.

Kagome watched as Sesshomaru knocked on the door. His face was stern and his jaw was tight. He looked almost… nervous. Footsteps and muffled grumbling could be heard on the other side of the door. Sesshomaru instinctively put his arm in from of her, nudging her to stand behind him. She did so but continued to peak around his arm, hoping to see who would open the door.

She heard a padlock click and the door swung open.

"What? I'm busy."

She was met with a very tall, elflike demon. He was just a few inches shorter than Sesshomaru and sported short black hair. The man was covered in black and orange dust like he's been slaving away for a million years at this forge. His eyes were of the same orange amber that she saw all around this place. His face was slender, unscarred with a pink oval on his forehead. He wore a sleeveless shirt and a smithing apron over that with brown shorts. His feet were bare and dirty. She eyed him, noticing little amber stones embedded in his arms and the tops of his hands. Even his legs had the stoned protruding out.

He also looked very young, even younger than Sesshomaru looked.

"Anba Jueki. It is a pleasure to meet you again." Sesshomaru straightened up and puffed his chest out a bit. Was he… posturing?

"What do you need, son of Taisho?"

Sesshomaru momentarily ignored his request and motioned to Kagome.

"This is the famous amber smith, he is the one who gave me the stones."

She slipped from behind him and bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Anba."

The demon huffed. "That Master Anba to you. Priestess or not, you should know your place." Kagome kept her bow.

"Forgive me, Master Anba."

She leaned up and watched as he raked his eyes over her. He was obviously displeased that a human had been brought before him. All she could do was bite her cheek, there was no way she would disrespect Sesshomaru by taunting the man.

"Boy, bringing a human is one thing. But Inuyasha's bride? Why do you have such a girl in your company?" Kagome flinched at his words but Sesshomaru's arm at her back let her know he would defend her.

"Master Anba. The priestess is traveling with me to Father's castle. She has liberated herself from my selfish half breed brother and is on a mission. Though human, I would ask you to respect her presence."

The demon stuck a metal pick in his mouth and placed his hands on his hips with a huff. "What do you want Lord Sesshomaru? Why have you come?"

"Anba, I'm here for the package my father left for me." The smith gave him a clueless look.

"What on earth are you referring to?"