Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or his characters, and have no right to it except as a long time fan.

Love Emerging Through Pain

Chapter Three: Briefly to the Present

Pain. That was the first sensation Kagome felt when she drifted to consciousness. Pain in her head, pain in her eyes, and pain in her heart. The former two she knew could be dealt with easily, but the latter was another matter entirely. She wasn't sure it could be done, and honestly she didn't want to do anything about it but end it permanently.

Kagome finally opened her eyes and took in the brightness of the morning, the green of the grass she lay on, and white shine of the silk covered leg in front of her face. She blinked and became aware that she was lying on her back, so she slowly turned her head and faced the golden eyed stare of the demon lord. She stared into his cold eyes wondering how he would react to what she had to say, and then dismissed her curiosity because she frankly didn't give a damn.

"Midoriko visited me in my sleep last night." she said suddenly and watched his eyes narrow ever so slightly. "She agreed with you about not giving Him such control over my life, and she suggested that I stay away from familiar faces and that I should try traveling around to give myself time to heal." she continued and went on to explain that the legendary woman suggested she ask him about where she should go, and informed him about the latest conditions on how the well worked now.

Kagome stared back into the golden eyes that tried to hold her blue orbs captive and wondered what kind of suggestions he would give her, if he gave her any.

"You will travel with this Sesshomaru until you are healed." Sesshomaru said, making it sound like a command not to be refused. "This one will keep you alive while you are healing." He promised solemnly.

The broken miko stared up at the demon lord, not sure what to think. She was hurting and didn't have the will to go on, but two powerful beings now had told her not to let Him have any power over her by giving up on life because of him. She didn't want Him to have any control over her, but just didn't have the will to do anything about it. She didn't care anymore. The only thing she cared about was ending the pain that was consuming her from the inside out.

How will traveling with him help anyway? How will wandering the lands with him help me want to live? He doesn't even like to talk and the silence alone would most likely make me want to end it all. Kagome thought as she gazed blankly into cold golden orbs.

And doesn't he have lordly things to do? Shouldn't he be busy doing that then traveling with me? She wondered idly as the staring contest continued. But do I really care? No I don't. Sesshomaru is a grown male and presumably knows how to handle his business, and what he can and can't do.

"Okay." She stated as she continued to lay in the grass. She thought for a moment to wonder why he had even volunteered his time, but decided that she really didn't care. If he wanted to waste his time helping a broken human girl then that was his business. Who was she to stop him?

"Come." She heard him say after getting to his feet. She sighed tiredly and reluctantly got to her feet. She walked to him and didn't bother reacting as he wrapped his single arm around her once again and formed his youki cloud beneath them before taking off into the sky.

Kagome gazed at the scenery as they sped by. She idly thought about how high up they were and that if she fell the impact should be enough to kill her instantly.

It's worth a try. She thought as she shifted slightly to test his grip on her. It was loose enough for her to move around within the circle of his arm but she would have to move it in order for her to jump. She placed her hands on his arm and pushed it away slightly as she leaned over, hoping that he thought she was trying to get a better view.

It didn't work. He tightened his hold and pulled her against him instantly. Kagome sighed morosely and crossed her arms against her chest and leaned against her demon prison as she stared blankly at the passing landscape.

It wasn't long before they began to descend and land in the clearing housing the bone-eaters well. Her demon companion finally released her and began to move toward the well and she followed.

"This one will be here at this time tomorrow to begin our travels. I trust that is adequate time to prepare yourself." Sesshomaru stated lowly and watched as she nodded carelessly.

Kagome stepped on to the lip of the well and let herself fall into the blue shimmering time slip. Moments later she was deposited into her own time period. She easily climbed the ladder and slowly made her way out of the well house only to come up short at seeing a tall man standing a few feet away from her.

The man had long black hair pulled back into a low ponytail and hazel eyes. He wore black slack pants, black dress shoes, and a sky blue long sleeve button up shirt- a few buttons at the top were undone giving a glimpse of a white shirt underneath.

"Welcome back miko." she heard him say and she blinked, half confused and half not caring about how he knew she was a miko.

"Who are you?" Kagome asked as she watched him walk until he stood just in front of her.

"Have you forgotten me already?" she heard him ask, and watched as his hazel eyes slowly changed into a rich golden color and his black hair turned white.

Kagome's eyes widened. "Sesshomaru." She breathed in shock. "Hn." He answered and her vision blurred before going black.

-oOoOoOo-

Kagome sighed lightly as she returned to the waking word. Her body was somewhat comfortable, laying on soft cushions that- if memory served correctly- were on the couch in her living room while her head lay on something soft yet firm and incredibly warm.

She opened her eyes only to see Sesshomaru looking down at her, golden eyes just as cold as ever but somehow she found it comforting.

"Hi." she said numbly, wondering why he was there but not caring enough to ask.

"Hn,...hello." he said quietly, staring at her with what she could have sworn was more intensity then she had ever seen coming from him.

"Well, clearly I was wrong about there not being any demons around." she said idly as she looked him over, trying to adjust to seeing him in modern clothing. "So, what are you doing here?" she asked but her tone clearly expressing that she didn't really care.

"Making sure you have everything for your trip back. Who better to help you then the one you're going to be spending a great deal of time with." he answered. "Not to mention I did promise to keep you alive while you're healing. That wasn't going to change just because you passed through the well." he added quietly.

"Right." she said carelessly as she sat up and looked around, noting that they were alone. "Is my family home?" she asked as she looked back the modern demon lord.

"Your mother and grandfather are. Your mother is in the kitchen and your grandfather is outside in his shed." Sesshomaru answered calmly and she nodded before getting to her feet and making her way to the kitchen.

"Hi mom." Kagome greeted her mother with a halfhearted smile as she sat at the table. "I'm assuming that Sesshomaru already introduced himself."

"He did. He explained that his appearance was the reason you were unconscious." Mrs. Higurashi said as she took a good look at her daughter. She could tell immediately that something was wrong with her.

Kagome noticed the look her mother was giving her. She wasn't trying to hide her condition but she wasn't willing to talk about it either. Instead she gave her an outline view of what had happened since she was last at home, and what she had decided to do now that the jewel was gone and her heart was broken.

"I'm hoping traveling will help heal my heart, and maybe even broaden my mind." she added in a slightly joking tone.

"Oh dear." Mrs. Higurashi said in dismay. She had had no idea things would turn out this way. She had always had concerns about her daughters feelings for the puppy eared half demon but she had known that there wasn't anything she could do about it. Now her daughter was heart broken and about to travel alone in the wild lands of the past.

"Don't worry mom. I'll be perfectly safe. Sesshomaru's past self will be traveling with me." she tried to reassure her mother. "He's nothing like his younger half-brother. He's honest, has honor, and he's so powerful that nothing would attack him unless they had delusions that they could take him on or if they had no idea who he was.

"How long will you be gone?" Mrs. Higurashi asked sadly.

"I have no idea." she said honestly and went on to explain the dream she had the night before with Midoriko. Telling about the limitations of the well, that He could no longer come through, and whose reincarnation she really was.

Mrs. Higurashi wasn't happy that her daughter could be gone for months or years, but she understood that her daughter was in pain and that this would help her heal. So she told her the only she could. To be safe and to do what she felt she had to do.

Kagome gave her mom a small smile while thinking that her mother definitely would have chosen different words if she had any idea of what she really felt like she had to do. After that she went back into the living room and saw that Sesshomaru hadn't moved an inch since she'd been gone.

"Are you ready to go? We have a lot of shopping to do." Sesshomaru said as he stood up and Kagome shrugged. She didn't care.

Sesshomaru led them out of the house and down the endless shrine stairs and to his parked car. Once they were inside and he was sure she was wearing her seatbelt he drove them to the shopping center.

The first thing he took her to get were yukata and kimono's because that was what his past self was use to seeing and what she was mostly going to have to wear when traveling with him. It was also because he knew exactly what to get since he had already seen her wearing the clothing.

Next he took her to a shop to get weapons. He picked out a matching pair of long daggers, the exact set he had seen her with, with holsters attached to sheaths to attach to legs or arms. He then picked out a bow that was made to look as if it had come out of the feudal era but was stronger with arrows that could be replaced in the past. Lastly, he bought her a black bag big enough to hold all her things but still look as if it could belong in the past.

After all the shopping was done he took her back to the shrine and helped her pack since he knew that she wouldn't care enough to pack properly. Into the bag went all the yukata, kimono- including one that was split on the sides up to her thighs, yoga pants, t-shirts, tank tops, sweat pants, black tights that ended just below her calves, black tight shorts that ended in the middle of her thighs, socks, underwear, notebooks, pens, first aid kit full of medicine, pain pills, and bandages, sandals, and her weapons. He also made sure she added a necessity bag full of personal cleaning supplies and other things she would need that were better in this time then in the past.

"One last thing and then you can relax. Pull out a strand of your hair and infuse your power into it." Sesshomaru instructed and watched her stare blankly at him. "I have a reason for asking you to do this." he assured her and watched as she snatched out a strand and focused her power into it until it glowed a soft pink.

Sesshomaru nodded at her work then proceeded to yank out one of his top fangs. Kagome couldn't help but flinch at the action. It looked more then painful.

"Now wrap it around this." he said as he held out the fang. Kagome took it a bit reluctantly since it still had a bit of blood at the end where it had rested in his gums. Still, she did as instructed and watched as the ends of her strand of hair fused to the fang. She wondered idly how the hair was still glowing and not purifying the fang but didn't care enough to ask.

"Put the fang in a small plastic zip bag and don't open it until you get to Totosai. That way you won't have to worry about answering questions from my past self sooner then necessary." he explained.

Kagome did as told and was soon back in her room with the bag containing the fang in hand.

"Won't he smell you on me and all the things in my bag?" she asked as she slipped the plastic bag into one of the small pockets.

"No. I've been masking my scent since before you came through the well so that my past self doesn't smell himself on you or any of your belongings. I remember that I did not smell myself until you opened that bag in front of Totosai." Sesshomaru explained patiently.

"What's the fang for anyway? And why does my purified hair have to be wrapped around it?" Kagome asked as she settled back on her bed.

"It is for your sword of course." he answered simply. "You need a weapon besides the bow and daggers." he said, remembering quite clearly the first time she had really used it in defense. Not that there had been many times. "The hair with your power in it will allow you to wield the sword and use your power with it. The sooner you get the sword made the sooner you can learn to use it." he explained, hoping that was all he needed to say since he knew that was what they would go do first.

Kagome nodded her head, not even considering asking why she needed a sword, a demon made one at that, and daggers. Although she did consider using said weapons against herself some time in the near future. After all, the pain hadn't gone anywhere and she very much wanted it to end.

-oOoOoOo-

The next day Sesshomaru had her awake good and early. He had apparently stayed the night to watch over her and make sure she didn't hurt herself. She showered and dressed herself in a black long sleeve yukata that ended just below her calves and pulled white socks onto her feet. She ate as much as she could stomach, which wasn't much since she didn't have an appetite, then said her goodbyes to her family.

After slipping on their shoes Sesshomaru walked her to the well house and inside to the well where they stood and looked down into the blackness.

"Does this work?" Kagome asked wearily as she looked up to the tall demon beside her and she could see in his eyes that he knew what she was asking.

"For the most part." Sesshomaru said quietly as he returned her look.

Kagome sighed and looked back to the well, knowing that he would say no more. "Well, here I go." she said as she stepped on the lip of the well.

"See you soon." he said and watched as she jumped in and the blue light engulfed her before they both disappeared. "Hurry back." he whispered before turning and leaving.

Author's Note: I know it's short, but the title does say 'briefly to the present'.