I like this chapter. That's all I'll say.

Miroku changed the subject, for his son's sake. "What about that peculiar reward the villagers gave you?"

"Oh." I remembered shifting through my robes. "I don't think the villagers know that the jewel was destroyed, despite the tale spreading far and wide."

Akane, my intellectual sister, cut in, "That's not surprising that some people would think it might return as it had with Kikyo."

Father nodded at her words but reminded her, "Lady Kagome banished it from existence. Instead of going to the realm of the dead like it had with Kikyou, it returned to the Kami from whence it came."

Finally finding it, I pull out the jewel shard and held it between my index finger and my thumb. Sango's lips thinned pensively. The girls glanced at our parents nervously. Fear crept into their features. Miroku gave a hard look at the glistening shard.

Then, it softened and he offered a weak smile at me, "I don't need Kagome-sama's immense spiritual powers to tell you that that is not sacred jewel shard."

Relieved, I sigh. But I didn't finish. A small growl reverberated through the walls of the hut. To my left, Shippo was on all fours, fangs bared menacingly.

Sesshomaru would not force the daiyoukai to explain his interests. Especially with humans.

There was no need for words between the two as they stood in a clearing facing each other with blank expressions. One needed complete focus to communicate with minds.

Byakko sent him memories of the conditions of the western lands that he'd collected during his travels. The southern lord had been allowed to roam freely but in exchange he was to attend to any tensions that he came across. Sesshomaru had found this as an opportunity to be alongside Rin during her pregnancy. He would not make the same mistake as father.

Flashing before his eyes, a woman flew on her youki across a snowy landscape.

What purpose does this vision serve? He asked.

She is a concern to us all. The information I've gathered suggests she has gained a hold of the remains of several deceased priestesses, collecting the spiritual powers of the dead. I know not what her intent is but no good can come of any demon gathering such items.

And what of the dragons? Any signs?

None. Not a trace of youki or scent.

Anything else?

Byakko revealed a vision of a full moon. As the earth came into view, so did Moriko. Sesshomaru watched as her reiki sent shockwaves across the land. Wait. That wasn't reiki . . . Or youki. It was neither, yet it was both. Her demon heritage was rising from the depths of her soul. Her aura fought to reign it back.

Do you know of this? Byakko asked.

Sesshomaru paused in thought. A few years ago, he came upon the half-demon adolescents who had been enslaved by the four 'war gods' on hijiri island. He had noted that their powers were more dormant than Inuyasha's were when awakened. Moriko wasn't even a half demon. The only way she could even possess the strength of even the average half-demon is because of her heritage from father. The fact that she was even more powerful was a mystery and a concern.

You are to summon me or Inuyasha should this incident repeat.

When Byakko said, or rather, thought nothing in response, Sesshomaru untethered the mental link.

Dread itched up his spine. Byakko, fangs lengthening, growled at the evil aura.

Darkness blackened the sky. Thick tendrils of miasma thrashed about aimlessly. Inuyasha spotted the fox demon rising in the air. The hut beneath him was destroyed. "Shippo!"

Miasma swallowed the red glowing kitsune. Sparks flashed. Inuyasha had one hand out to keep us back and the other drawing tetsusaiga.

"Moriko!" I was pulled away. Mama clasped my hand. I was shocked at the ferocity of her gaze. "We have to get the villagers out."

I made my neck move my head in a slow nodding motion.

Gathered at the edge of the village, we all watched the light show battling among the huts. I heard whimpering. At my feet to my right, a child clung to her mother. A roar cracked between the static of the overflowing demonic aura. Two large white four-legged demons crashed to the ground with a fantastic crunch of flying shingles and planks of wood.

Something sinister rumbled angrily beneath my feet. The ground shook. There were screams and yelps of the villagers trying to steady themselves.

A red light shot to the sky from the village and expanded. A deafening snarl crawled up my spine. Nine tails had erupted from the earth, whipped and slapped wildly, two of which circled the other demons necks. The giant fox demon screeched and tightened its tails on the dog and tiger, who bared their gleaming fangs, snarling in pain.

Blue flames bobbed above the beast. "I HAVE RETURNED! THE NINE-TAIL, HIDEYOSHI!"

Creak. A string was drawn back. The crowd stepped back warily. "Hit the mark!"

With a snap the arrow flew, reiki consuming the arrow completely. "Please don't hurt Shippo." she whispered as I and everyone else watched the shot of holy energy fly towards the village.

The demon turned and swatted it away with a tail. It growled at the slight pain of the burn the arrow inflicted.

The demon curled up in an orb of light, its tails releasing the other demons. Then it vanished.

"Kitsune. Stooping to trickery, how predictable." Sesshomaru grunted.

Moriko and her mother ran to inuyasha. "Where did he go? Can you track him?"

"No. His scent is gone."

"Wh-what about the other two demons?" Moriko asked.

He motioned towards Byakko and myself, "You're looking at 'em."

I sensed her heart begin to beat more rapidly, thundering in my ears. Her intense gaze made put me on edge. Cat . . .

The call made me stiffen. "What . . ."

With my mind, I reached out, probing the area. I watched as sesshomaru leaped over to her. Checking her scent, he finalized, "Impossible."

Jumping to his feet, "What's wrong?! She smells fine to me." Her father grumbled.

Sesshomaru gave him a hard, cold look, "Fool. Do you not recognize father's scent?"

Deep within me, something stirred. It lodged itself onto my soul, as if responding to the brothers. I didn't speak, but I knew the deep voice came from me. "Inuyasha. Sesshomaru. It seems I have returned to this world."

"KYAHHHH!" I back up, scared out of my wits. There's a man in-inside me! "What the hell is this! I don't care who the fuck you are. Explain yourself!"

"Forgive me Moriko-chan, for the intrusion. I did not come here of my own volition."

I stuttered, "WELL. CAN. YOU. LEAVE?!"

"Hmm. I suppose I could try to latch on to Sesshomaru, buuuutttt I'd kinda rather not."

"Keh. I don't blame you. He's pain in the ass on the outside. I don't even wanna know what he's got going on inside his head."

Sesshomaru shot daggers and his brother flinched.

Inu no Taisho chuckled. "At least you didn't have to raise him."

I didn't know what to do at this point. They weren't even talking to me though it seemed like they were. I was dying to find something to say or maybe something to ask grandfather. Heh, I smiled, never had one of those before.

But then, I had a brilliant idea.

"Ne, grandfather?"

"Eh. . ." His response caught me off guard. As I was recovering, he nearly squealed. Not a normal squeal, like a manly one? "I'm a grandpa?! Wait I knew that, just didn't really realize it till now."

I half-smiled, "Um yeah. But uh, since you're here . . . I wanna ask you something."

"Hmm?"

I put a hand to my mouth to be polite even though I know the boys could hear. I watched Sesshomaru under my bangs cautiously, "Are there any embarrassing memories of Sesshomaru?"

His voice boomed, "BUAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAA-"

Sesshy's eyes blazed red with anger. Lightning shot in the distance. I flinched and stood stock still in the presence of such fury.

Don't worry I can tell you all about it in your thoughts later.

I gasped, "You can read my mind?!"

DON'T SAY IT OUT LOUD BAKKA!