Sesshomaru and Naomi, who was the head healer in the palace, were walking all day. Only to stop to eat or drink. Naomi knew that they were half-way there of the two-day journey. Sesshomaru halted in his steps. He suddenly felt vibe of sadness. He wondered why. He wanted in all of his being to return to Kagome to soothe her, but he knew instictively that he must moved forward.

"Milord, is something the matter?"

"It was nothing. We'll camp here for tonight. Go gather firewood."

"Yes, milord."

She left to gather the wood for the fire.

Three hours later, Sesshomaru, who has his mokomoko behind his back, was sitting up against the tree. He had one leg bent and his arm on top of his knee with his eyes closed mediating. Naomi was tending to the fire and adding more firewood to the fire so it could last a long while. Then she laid down on her pelt resting, yet fully aware of her surroundings.

Suddenly, Sesshomaru snapped his eyes opened. He stood up and ready himself in a offensive stance. Naomi took noticed of her lord's movements.

"Milord, is something coming?"

"Silence."

They looked into the northern direction of the darken forest. Sesshomaru stared into the trees because he sensed a dark, yet pure presence.

"As the ruler of these lands, I command you to show yourself or die."

Then the presence came into the moonlight.

"Ah, you must be Lord Sesshomaru."

"Who are you?"

"Oh, how rude of me. My name is Gina. I am your head healer's sister. It has been awhile, hasn't it, Naomi?"

"Yes, it has been too long, sister."

Sesshomaru looked at her with mistrustful eyes. Gina appeared as a mysterious person with her black hooded-cloak over her black kimono. She could have been camouflage within the dark forest due to her attire.

"How did you know that we were coming for you, miko-youkai?"

"Milord, I see that you are suspicious of me. Not that I blame you. I had been waiting for you for about a day and a half now. I am like your sister. I received visions from the Kami through my dreams. I was told to come to meet you half way of your journey. My guess is to shorten the trip."

"Do you know why we wanted to fetch you, miko-youkai?"

"No, I am afraid not. I will find out as soon as we get there."

"Hn."

Afterwards, Sesshomaru settled back into previous space as Gina and Naomi started to catch up with each other lives. Sesshomaru ignored them, of course, not a bet interested with their lives. He just want to return home as quickly as he can, so that he could be with his mate.

It was late in the evening when Sesshomaru, Gina, and Naomi returned to the palace. Jaken squaked in the library, which startled Kagome, but then she took a moment to project her aura to sense any other aurae. She quickly ran to the outside of the main palace entrance, that was where she'd seen him just walking through the North Gate of the estate. She couldn't wait any longer. She ran up to Sesshomaru and then she glomped him, which almost knocked him over, but he caught her and regain his balance. The sisters were giggling how the yet to be Lady of the Western Lands reacted. It was endearing.

Kagome said as she kissed him after each word, "I missed you so much."

Sesshomaru chuckled. "I missed you, too, omae."

Then came Shippo with Rin ran towards them. They both hug his legs. Soon after Jaken squaked and yelled at the pups for abandoning their studies. He really didn't notice that Lord Sesshomaru was there until he kicked him. He landed face first on the main entrance doors.

Rin and Shippo said in unison, "Welcome home, father!"

As they entered into the front foyer, Sesshomaru ordered a servant to escort the miko-youkai to the guest wing, where all guests stay. He also told the servant to also escort her to Inuhime's bedchambers within an hour.

In the Inuhime's rooms, Sesshomaru, Kagome, Myouga, Totosai, and Inukimi were waiting in Inuhime's sitting room to wait until Gina, the miko-youkai, got through giving her exam. Gina's talents were a little different than Inuhime's abilities. She had to touch an item or object that she could get a vision from it. She'd seen the scare on Inuhime's stomach. She found that it was odd for her to have a scare or anyone else for that matter. She'd felt a taint of darkness and had to touch it. Suddenly a recognition instantly came to her in flashes. Gina had to open you eyes and took a deep breathe. In those recognitions, they were disturbing and very frightening. She also saw the one who was responsible of Inuhime's mysterious condition and for every tragedy in the past few years. Then she had a premonition of what will come in the near future. She saw the carnage on the battlefield and Inuhime dead. It seemed so real that she could smell the stench of death. She felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She put a index finger up underneathe her eyes then wipe them away of each side of her face. She sniffed. Now she had to tell her family of her findings. She took a few deep breathes and walked into the sitting room.

The family looked up at her face. The youkai who could smell salt and the humans who looked at her knew that whatever her findings were wasn't very good. A sudden dread filled in the air. It was full of oppression. Inukimi broke the silence.

"Tell us, Gina, what's going on with Inuhime?"

Gina thought for a minute before answering the Lady's question.

"I have really bad news and maybe a little good news."

"Tell us the bad news, first."

Gina sighed and said, "The bad news is: that will be bloodshed ahead; also that Inuhime will die from this. However the little good news is that they are premonitions, which means they will happen in the near future, but it doesn't mean that it's set in stone. The point is that future can change if we all make the right choices. That was regarding Inuhime, but the future war will be inevitable. No matter what we'll do. It will happen one way or another. Also I felt a tainted place among Inuhime's scare on her stomach. I believe I know how Lady Inuhime came to be in this condition. She'd been suffering under a slow, but fatal curse. It was initiate through her blood. Perhaps when she was injured last time was the time that the enemy had collected the sample of her blood to use. Thus causing her unfortunate condition upon her."

Sesshomaru asked, "Is there a way to counter this curse?"

Gina shook her head. "No, I'm afraid not, milord, unless she'll find a purpose in her life, then I am afraid that her death will be inevitable."

"Wait a minute. Are you telling us that unless Inuhime finds a will to live then she'll survive, if not then she'll die," asked Kagome.

"Yes, that's exactly what I am saying, but she has to be the one to live. NO ONE but her could find that reason. I am sorry, milord and miladies. I wish that I had better news to tell you. If I may, I need to speak to Lady Kagome in private, please. It's of the upmost importance."

"Very well. Come," Sesshomaru said as he addressed everyone, but Gina and Kagome before they left the sitting room.

Once Gina knew that everyone is out of earshot and began speaking.

"Lady Kagome, this is of the upmost importance. You and your mate must strengthen your bond in the coming days. I am not saying that you have to spend every hour of the hour of the day. In other words, you must spend at least more half of the day to strenghen it within a weeks time, that's how long it takes for your bond to complete. Afterwards, you should be able to communicate telepathy. You should also know you mate's emotions. Your connections are unbreakable; not even time or death could break such a bond. It's the most intimate way anyone would have when a couple's bond is strengthen and completed. It would even be better during that time if you would to conceive your first pup together. Do you understand, milady?"

"Yes...yes, I understand perfectly."

"Good. Well if you could think on any questions, I'll be at the healer's quarters. Good day, milady."

"Good day."

Gina left Kagome behind with her thoughts in Inuhime's sitting room.

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari