A/N: Everyone wanted to know why Kagome had aged—she really hasn't. Remember that at the beginning of the story she was 19 and then for some reason she became 15 again? Well, now that Sesshomaru is older the well allowed her to go back to her real age—which is why she looks 'older' to Sesshomaru.

(Present)

In the middle of the dark dungeons, the Inuyoukai stood bloody and beaten, yet even when in the magically charged chains that kept him weak and in his humanoid form, body marred by the torture he'd endured silently, Sesshomaru looked just as deadly and elegant as ever.

"I see our little Miko returned from that well of hers." Naraku announced to himself after looking into Kanna's mirror. He was weaker, so weak it was disgusting, but somehow he'd had Kagura trap Sesshomaru in the chains a witch he'd hired had made especially to retain inuyoukai, before he'd lost his powers. "And she returned right in time to meet the friends I sent to her."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed for a split second, yet other than that he didn't show any reaction to the words.

"Her shards were gone as well." The hanyou whispered, speaking to himself. "I wonder-I wonder?"

Sesshomaru was silent. Had the hanyou lost his shards of the Shikon No Tama? How? And where were Kagome's? Was that damned stubborn and problematic ningen okay? Had his bastard brother kept her safe?

"They tore her half open and yet…"

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed and he clenched his fists in anger. He hadn't been there. How in the world had he allowed a filthy little wind demon trap him and make him, the GREAT Sesshomaru of the WEST, useless? How could his mate-no matter how stubborn and irritating she could be-get hurt?

His demon fought within him. Mate hurt. Unworthy protector. Mate hurt. Must—find—mate—must—make—better.

When his demon had recognized the ningen as his mate it'd taken Sesshomaru a LONG time to accept it. He'd tried killing her a couple of times because if she were dead she couldn't be his mate, but he hadn't only been fighting her and his bastard of a brother—he'd been fighting his own demon. Although he and his demon were one, it'd gone against him during those battles, snarling at him for trying to spill the blood of the one whom he was made to cherish and protect.

After a while Sesshomaru decided to change tactics. Instead of trying to kill the ningen he'd taken to following her and observing her in secret. The Taiyoukai had been sure that he'd find so many offensive things about the ningen he'd somehow convince his demon that it'd been wrong—that there was no way a creature as vile and disgusting and beneath him could be destined to be his mate!

The only problem with that plan was that the longer Sesshomaru watched the miko, the longer his demon began convincing him instead of the other way around.

And he'd hated the admiration he'd begun feeling for the miko as she kept her ragtag team together, fought demons, purified shards, took care of her adopted kitsune—kept the Exterminator fromexterminating the hentai houshi, and somehow managed to control Inuyasha both in his hanyou, ningen, and youkai forms.

How could a mere ningen do all of this?

And little by little he'd grown to respect her—hating that she could inspire such a rare feeling within him.

He'd hit record low when, during one of the idiot wolf's visits, Sesshomaru, the great LORD OF THE WESTERN LANDS had felt his first drastic emotion since the rage and hopelessness he'd felt as a pup when his mother (who'd been horribly wounded from an attack by a horde of youkai) had died, tortured, by some humans who'd stumbled across her dying form.

He'd been ordered to hide in the bushes and not to intervene when the smell of ningen stench had reached their noses, but he'd stormed out and tried to help his mother. A mere pup at the time, the many humans beat him to near unconsciousness, and the screams of his dying mother never left his ears. If it hadn't been for his father arriving and rescuing him, Sesshomaru would have died that day as well.

"I hope they didn't kill her," Naraku told Kanna, who looked up at him expressionless as always. "If things are as I think they are, then I will have need for her to be alive."

"What are you planning now Naraku?" Kagura spat out disgusted as she leaned against the wall. "I'd have thought that you would have gotten tired of Inuyasha beating you and ruining your plans time and time again by now."

"I wouldn't be so mouthy with the one who holds your heart, Kagura." Naraku hissed out, lashing out with a tentacle, slapping her so hard she fell to the ground with a cry of pain.

Sesshomaru nearly smirked.

Good. The bitch deserved that for keeping him from his mate.

Mate hurt…should have…must have…mate…need us.

Closing his eyes, Sesshomaru remembered the day he'd accepted that the miko was to be his mate. Years had passed since his struggle with his demon had begun, and he'd sacrificed his pride by allying with his bastard brother to be able to have a reason to be close to the ningen.

His demon had been furious with him for the long wait—and because during those year his mate had developed obvious feelings for his brother-feelings that were returned by the hanyou.

Obviously going up to the ningen and informing her of her status as his mate was out of the question, but that didn't mean that he was going to let any other youkai or hanyou think they could claim her as his-so he'd told her he'd teach her to fight so she wouldn't be such a burden on the team. And while he did want his mate to be able to protect herself if he weren't around, he truly used their training sessions to imprint his scent in hers, scent marking her as his.

"As soon as the miko returns-if she does-I want her brought to me." Naraku ordered Kagura, as the demoness picked herself up from the floor, wiping at the thin trail of blood oozing from her popped lip.

Sesshomaru somehow kept his rage from showing when he heard this. It wouldn't do for Naraku to know his feelings for Kagome. For some reason Naraku nor his minions (nor Inuyasha for that matter) had been able to sense his claim on Kagome, and he preferred to keep it like that for right now.

Must escape…kill hanyou…protect mate.

Closing his eyes, Sesshomaru remembered the odd memory-like dreams he'd been having of Kagome in his past. It didn't make any sense—but the images were what kept him sane while here at the insane hanyou's hands.

( Past)

"Look! Her eyes moved behind the lids again! Papa says that that's the first sign of one regaining consciousness." A hyper, squeakier sounding version of Inuyasha's voice announced with excitement.

"It could also mean she is experiencing lucid dreams, you baka." Sesshomaru sniffed in tired annoyance somewhere to her right. "Stop getting the kit's hopes up. It could be weeks before she regains consciousness."

"Hey! Mother says I'm smart!" Inuyasha exclaimed, clearly insulted by his brother's earlier comment.

"How my father and Izayoi-san could have had you, Inuyasha no baka, is a mystery." His elder brother said in a flat voice.

"I am not a baka!"

"Yes, you are-unfortunately, Otouto. Not only did you have to be a hanyou, but you ended up being a hanyou baka on top of everything. How much more shame can the Western Lands take?"

"MOMMY!" Inuyasha wailed. "ANIKI IS BEING MEAN AGAIN!"

"SHHHHH!" Shippou's voice finally broke in, sounding irritated with both brothers. "My Okasan needs to rest!"

Kirara purred in agreement from where she was curled by Kagome's head on the pillow.

"Gomen." Inuyasha mumbled before perking up once more. "What is that glowy-thingy that surrounds her every morning and burns us if we touch her?"

"That is her miko aura healing her." Sesshomaru answered in a 'do I have to explain EVERYTHING to you?' voice. "We're demon, so when her pure aura comes in contact with us it wants to purify us."

"But Shippou's a youkai as well! Why can he still touch her when she'd glowing?" Inuyasha sounded put out.

"He's her kit, her body recognizes that, as does her aura." Came Sesshomaru's sigh. It was obvious that he'd resigned himself to answering his little brother's many questions. "It will never harm him because he is a part of her."

"Oh." Inuyasha whispered.

Kirara continued to purr, eyes closed, tails twitching slightly.

"We've been here for a week now, why won't okasan wake up?" Shippou sniffed. "I want my okasan!"

"Don't cry." Inuyasha told him. "Only girls and ningen cry."

"Hush Inuyasha." Sesshomaru ordered.

"But Aniki!" Inuyasha exclaimed in surprise. "That's what you tell me whenever I'm going to cry!"

Izayoi stood with her back against the wall, listening in to the conversation going on in Sesshomaru's room.

Ever since Kagome had arrived nearly torn apart a week ago, Shippou and Sesshomaru had taken to spending the days by her side despite the fact that she was unconscious. Inuyasha, who adored his aloof elder brother, stayed with them, and was apparently somewhat jealous of Sesshomaru's treatment of the distraught kitsune.

Then again, the kit had a reason to be so traumatized.

Closing her eyes, Izayoi took in a deep breath, trying to keep back the memory of Kagome's bloody, torn flesh.

Oh miko-sama, why would youkai DO that to you in your time?

Oh, it wasn't that Izayoi didn't understand the hatred youkai had for humans. She did—and only too well.

Hadn't she been victim of that same thing? Hadn't she been murdered when Inuyasha was still a pup by a bat youkai who'd tried throwing herself at Touga and had been viciously turned down? Sometimes Izayoi still had nightmares of the pain of her death, sometimes phantom pains haunted her, and although the bat youkai had been killed by Touga in bloodlust, didn't the night still frighten her to some extent?

The only good thing she could recall was the blissfulness of death.

Yet that hadn't lasted long. Touga had had a witch bring her back to life and match her lifespan with his—for he hadn't been able to survive without her. Izayoi had feared that she'd be a mere copy of who she'd once been—but Touga had saved her soul in a crystal—the crystal she now wore around her neck—and thanks to that she was herself—and not the emotionless creatures those brought back to life were known to be.

Miko-sama…I hope you awaken soon. Your kit needs you-as does Sesshomaru.

(Present)

Inuyasha held his hands to his head as the pain grew. Images rushed through his mind that he couldn't understand. Falling to his knees he whimpered at the agony, wondering if this was the work of Naraku, but if it was—what would he gain by giving him these memories?

Why was he having memories of Kagome? In his past? Why was he remembering—every day bringing a new memory—of his childhood-in the WESTERN LANDS? What sort of whacked up world would have Kagome and Sesshomaru together?

What is Naraku DOING to me?

And where was Kagome? How was she? Why had the well let Kirara and Shippou through, but when Inuyasha himself tried to get through to see how she was it wouldn't let him go through any longer?

Was she—was she dead?

NO! NO! His Kagome couldn't be dead! Not like this-not like Kikyou! He—he hadn't even told her he loved her. That while he wanted to avenge Kikyou's death because he felt guilty-he couldn't live without Kagome-the only woman who'd truly loved him-human-hanyou-youkai.

So filled with pain, the hanyou didn't notice the pink wave that suddenly enveloped the land before disappearing, changing things drastically in their lives.

"Inuyasha-sama, are you feeling well?"

Inuyasha looked up to see Miroku looking at him, worry on his face. "I'm fine." He wasn't fine, but wasn't about to admit that to the houshi. "Feh, I'm great."

The monk raised an eyebrow, obviously not believing him but choosing not to comment on it any further. "When will we be off again, Inuyasha-sama?"

His head was still killing him, so the hanyou didn't notice the suffix to his name. "I want to stay here by the well, I need to be here for when Kagome comes back."

Miroku nodded. "I worry about Kagome-sama as well. She was hurt badly by those youkai." Anger filled his face before he pushed it away. "Why would they have attacked her with such ferocity?"

"For the shards you hentai baka!" Inuyasha growled in irritation. "I'm going to have to tell Sango to stop giving you so many licks with that boomerang of hers. It's leaving you more of an idiot than you were when we first met you!"

"Shards?" Miroku asked, confusion written all over his face. "What shards would Kagome-sama have that'd send those youkai into such a craze?"

Inuyasha's eyes widened. Was the monk playing around or did he really not remember the shards of the Shikon No Tama?

"And, who is Sango?" Miroku asked, causing Inuyasha to nearly fall over.

"Are you insane houshi?" Inuyasha asked. "Sango's the Demon Exterminator whose ass you can't keep your hentai away from? The one you frequently ask to bare your child? The—according to Kagome—love of your life?"

Miroku blushed. "Kagome-sama believes I love this—this—Sango person?"

Inuyasha couldn't believe it. He was absolutely speechless for once in his life.

"Wait—wait-. Sango, now I know why the name sounded so familiar!" The monk exclaimed. "Isn't she the Demon Slayer who tried to exterminate you when we were passing her village?"

"YES!" Inuyasha breathed out a sigh of relief. For a moment he'd thought-.

"Good thing Kagome-sama spoke to her, her little brother and the other village Elders and convinced them that you weren't our kidnapper and that you weren't a crazed youkai to be exterminated." The monk announced thoughtfully before raising an eyebrow at Inuyasha. "Why would she be the love of my life? I only met her briefly once, and she spent the whole time insulting me for being a monk who travels with a demon and letting Kagome-sama travel with you as well." He frowned. "And since when do I ask anyone to bare my children?"

Inuyasha's heart skipped a beat in horror. What the hell was happening?

(Past)

Shippou was confused.

He sat next to his mother's unconscious form, chewing on the cheese sandwich one of the servants had brought to him by Sesshomaru's commands.

The kit didn't understand a lot that was going on, but what he did understand confused him even more. Somehow they were in the past and his okasan had somehow changed some things—like Inuyasha's parents being alive and his living in the Western Lands as the prince, instead of village and village being hurt and degraded by those he came into contact with.

Still as annoying as ever though.

And, for some reason, Sesshomaru, the Lord of the Western lands, wasn't leaving his okasan's side. And while he wasn't the most emotionally adept being, he was drastically different from the Sesshomaru Shippou knew.

And what was this he'd heard being whispered by some maids about his okasan being Sesshomaru's mate?

That had to be a mistake—right?

Sharing a piece of his sandwich with Kirara, the kitsune dared shoot an uneasy glance in the silent inuyoukai's direction. Some demons were known to kill a female's pup to force her into heat and make her ready for mating once more.

Shippou couldn't help but gulp, a hand around his suddenly dry throat.

No, he's just taking care of Okasan. He isn't—he doesn't-no!

For his own peace of mind the tiny fox kitsune kept that broken mantra going on and on in his head. He didn't want to acknowledge the worry in Sesshomaru's normally emotionless face, or the way he tenderly took care of Kagome, or the flash of jealousy in his eyes when he'd realized that Kagome's miko aura accepted Shippou yet whipped out against him.

No, for his own peace of mind, the kit ignored all the signs that pointed to the fact that his okasan was indeed the prospective mate of the intimidating future Lord of the West.

(Present)

Kikyou was worried.

Dressed in her miko garb, she pulled back a strand of white hair. Old age hadn't been playing fair with her lately, and her knees were killing her, but with the helpful grandchildren she had to help her she really didn't have much to complain about—except for the knees of course.

"Ye need to pay more attention!" Kaede, her younger yet not young sister, scolded one of her grandchildren.

Kaede and Kikyou were the mikos of their village, but with their old age they would soon have to give their position to one (or two!) of their granddaughters—the problem was that none of their grandchildren had any promise or talent.

The only good thing was Inuyasha. When she'd met him fifty something odd years ago, the Prince of the Western lands had made her realize that not all with demon blood were evil, and if she was to be truthful, for some years she loved him as a woman loved a man-but the hanyou hadn't returned the feelings, and cryptically told her when she'd spoken of her feelings, that together they'd only hurt the other and that it would be better for them to be friends.

And in time she agreed with him.

How could she have been a miko yet be the mate of one with demon blood? Now it would be allowed, but not in those days!

Yet still, he stuck around, helping the village whenever Kaede and her weren't able to deal with the rogue youkai, hanyou or even with the creatures the sadistic and utterly evil creature calledNaraku sent their way.

Kikyou shivered. She remembered the man he'd once been-the man who'd been burnt and nearly died when the house he'd been stealing from caught afire. Her sister had told her not to help him, that he was a criminal, but Kikyou's heart had gone out to his suffering, never realizing that he might read her actions as something else.

When once healed he'd declared his love for her, she'd suddenly realized what Inuyasha must have felt when she'd declared her love for him. By that time she'd married the village's blacksmith, and let Onigumo know that while she appreciated his feelings, she loved her husband.

She'd never expected him to make a pact with devils because of it-or that if it hadn't been for Inuyasha's near miraculous intervention-that he'd have fooled her husband and herself into killing each other. After Inuyasha saved Neji and herself from the creature that was Naraku and his illusions, the evil hanyou hadn't reappeared in person, yet had sent out his 'puppets' (as Inuyasha and his companion and friend the monk Miroku liked to call them) and his incarnations—his children if you would.

But Naraku had been silent for a while now—and that worried Kikyou. He was planning something—but what?

And then there was Kagome-sama, the miko Kikyou and Kaede secretly hoped would take their place as the guardian of their village. While the younger girl was slightly apprehensive with Kikyou (maybe Inuyasha had told her about how she'd once loved him?) Kikyou took to her as a kindred spirit, and had taken her on as an apprentice of sorts, teaching her all she could, hoping that when her time to join her ancestors came, Kagome would accept her request for her to take her place in the village as resident miko.

The only thing that worried Kikyou was the Lord of the Western lands, Inuyasha's elder brother. While Inuyasha had a sort of reluctant admiration for him, Kikyou didn't trust the inuyoukai—nor did she appreciate the attentions he bestowed on Kagome.

There was obviously some history between Kagome and Sesshomaru, his familiarity with her was too disconcerting. And she allowed such familiarities-returned them-despite the fact that she obviously also had feelings for Inuyasha-feelings the hanyou returned.

And Kikyou wanted Inuyasha happy…

…and she wanted a reliable, worthy miko to guard her beloved village.

So she tried pushing the hanyou and the miko together.

But Kagome, her kit, and her neko companion had disappeared when she'd been attacked by youkai in bloodlust…and Sesshomaru had disappeared as well.

Kikyou frowned.

She bet Sesshomaru had kidnapped Kagome and her son and pet to keep her with him.

Oh, I'm not letting you win this, Sesshomaru! My village needs her! Inuyasha needs her!

"Granny! SAKURA BROKE ANOTHER SACRED ARROW!"

"I DID NOT!"

"DID TOO!"

"DID NOT!"

"DID TOO!

"TAKE THAT BACK MAI!"

"Will ye shut up?" Kaede seemed on the brink of a nervous breakdown—or about to kill the cousins—Kikyou wasn't quite sure which.

The aged miko sighed and turned to try and break up the fight between their granddaughters and end their loud screeches.

(Past)

Touga frowned as he looked over the reports of his kingdom. Usually Sesshomaru would take care of this aspect of running the Western Lands, but his eldest hadn't left his room ever since his mate had been brought back.

And the Lord of the Western lands didn't blame him. He remembered with a shiver of anger and sadness when his Izayoi had been tortured and killed by that disgusting bat youkai. She'd been long taken to the underworld by the time he'd been able to reach her-so Tenseiga had been of no use to him.

He'd only left Izayoi's dead body long enough to find a witch to bring her back. And for years afterwards he'd been so frightened of losing her again he wouldn't travel out of his kingdom, sending Sesshomaru out instead. His son had been quite reluctant to do this, obviously worried that his miko would return while he was away—but thankfully that wasn't the case.

If Kagome-sama had arrived in the condition she was in, and Sesshomaru hadn't been here because of him having sent him out—well—Sesshomaru would have entered into bloodlust and killed his father.

Literally.

His mate's scent reached him and he looked up, smiling when he saw Izayoi in the doorway. "How are they?"

"Other than worried, fine." She whispered, going to sit on his lap, placing her head against his chest. "Her outward injuries are gone—not a scar on any part of her body—but we don't know how she is inside—or if she will regain consciousness." She paused. "And if she does wake up, how will the fight have traumatized her? It took me years to get over-."

"I know." Touga whispered, pulling her protectively close. "But be sure that Sesshomaru will be there for her as I was for you."

"But we were already mates for some years when I was murdered, Touga." Izayoi whispered. "They aren't mated, and she might be so terrified of youkai that she mightn't want to be nearSesshomaru-much less let him do the next step and claim her!"

"Izayoi, I doubt-."

"Touga! You keep forgetting that she's human! She was torn open by youkai teeth and fangs!" Izayoi jumped away from him angrily. "Do you think she'll let him bite her and perform the necessary scratches to her body?"

Touga was silent. It wasn't normal for his mate to lose her temper, and she did have a point. "I will have to speak to Sesshomaru about this."

"Do that. I—if he tries to push something and she rejects him out of fear—Sesshomaru—he—just talk to him Touga. And make him understand."

The inuyoukai nodded, standing. "I will speak to him immediately. If I don't, when she wakes up the inner demon might take over and want to claim her right there—and I don't want Kagome-sama to have to go through that fright."

"Thank you, Touga." Izayoi smiled sadly up at her mate. "And I'm sorry for snapping at you."

Touga placed a kiss on her forehead before going to find his son and have a serious talk with him.

(Present)

Something had just happened.

Frowning, Sesshomaru looked around him in confusion. A pink light had enveloped everyone and changed them slightly. He'd been the only one who hadn't frozen, and he watched in amazement as different things changed subtly.

What was going on?

Why was Kagura now sporting streaks of red in her hair, and smiling up adoring at Naraku?

Why was Kanna's face showing disgust as she watched her sister's expression while watching Naraku?

Something wasn't right.

The light disappeared and the others unfroze.

"—and I want you to speak to that witch about the spell I've ordered her to do for me." Naraku finished the sentence he'd begun before the light froze everyone as if he hadn't been interrupted. He didn't seem the least bit surprised by the fact that his eldest incarnation had suddenly gotten a makeover or that his youngest could now show emotions on her face.

"Of course, Naraku-sama." Kagura sighed dreamily, giving him an adoring smile. "Is there anything else my lord and master wishes for me to do?"

Kanna looked away, disgust deepening on her face.

"And whenever that miko returns, I want you to bring her to me."

Sesshomaru frowned, hadn't Naraku just said that before?

"Which miko?" Kagura asked, jealousy etched in her words. "The one who travels with this one's brother?"

Sesshomaru growled at the disrespect.

"Yes." Naraku nodded. "I have only seen her once or twice, but there is something that intrigues me about that miko."

Kagura pouted yet her words were spoken with utter respect. "As you wish, my master."

Sesshomaru frowned at Naraku's last comment. What game was Naraku playing? He'd been fighting against Inuyasha for years! He'd tried killing Kagome on countless opportunities! Why was he suddenly acting as if he didn't know who she was?

Something was happening…

…and Sesshomaru didn't like it one bit.

TBC