A/N: Hello, everyone! I'm writing this all in one go and then passing out for several hours, but I'm hoping that means I'll be waking up to oodles and noodles of reviews. I'd really be so so happy. I put a LOT into this chapter. The regular time and effort, of course, but this chapter is really dense. And I did that for you guys, especially anyone who has been with me and TFL from the very beginning. My writing style has matured over the years and the direction of this story has evolved so much - anyone notice how theres a plot point eluded to in the summary that has literally not been addressed once yet? To the point, I really tried to pull together many loose ends I left hanging around and give this story much more depth. There are also some canon elements in here I hope you real, die hards can spot. I did switch I would recommend rereading at least the last 5 chapters or the whole story if you're up to it. Trust me when I tell you you might miss a thing or two without the refresher, I wrote the story and I had to read it all again my self (and take notes lol)

Chapter 20:

The room was full of all manner of people, meandering about making small talk, dancing, and the like. As is commonplace of celebration, the noise was plentiful: cheering and laughter, the occasional shouts of indignation from a slighted female, breaking glass, music. The slurry of sounds was confusing, but jovial - it was clear that everyone was enjoying themselves.

Well…almost everyone.

It was bad enough that he had been wrong. He was just barely even admitting that fact to himself, and he'd certainly never say it out loud. He didn't have to either, and neither did anyone else. He could see it in the eyes of the soldiers he had prepped and marched to the coastline for the invasion, he could see it in the faces of the members of court. He could see it in his father's eyes the moment he had returned - the news having reached the older man from the mouth of a messenger even before he had returned to his family home.

He had failed. The proposal, to train and dispatch their land's greatest warriors to respond to the impending Mongol threat, had been his. It had been hard to gain any traction with his father or his council on the matter; they preferred to stick their heads into the sand. That was the way it had always been in the neko kingdom. Even the reigning panther lord would rather use the stealth of his nature to avoid battle. But Kirei had insisted, arguing passionately and fastidiously about his plan to confront the Mongol army at their shores and attack. It had merit for the entire southern lands. It would have undoubtedly been a tremendous battle, and to have won it would have been an everlasting symbol of their strength. Not to mention that they would've been securing the safety of the entirety of Japan.

More than that, though, Kirei intended to use this opportunity to show his father that he had the makings of a great lord. That he had no reason to continue prolonging his exit from the position and move to his council chair - finally freeing up his cardinal seat for his heir.

But things had gone so wrong.

Bodies of hundreds of youkai were already littered among the lapping waves he sought to make his frontier. He and his men stood in silence observing the ghastly sight, the soothing sound of the ocean sounding wrong accompanying such an ugly image. And of course there was the smell. From the stench wafting off of the corpses, it was obvious that they were a few days late. Over that smell too, adding to the olfactory nightmare, was the smell of dog. It had dispersed some, but was still unmistakable.

Touga, lord of the west, had stolen his victory.

All of that had been more than enough punishment. The gazes…the embarrassment.

But this?

'I've decided I will be naming your brother as my heir tonight.'

This was just not right.

'You lose again, little brother.'

The dark haired man stood stock still, and if one paid close enough attention they would see that he shook almost imperceptibly with anger as the words echoed around in his head. He wasn't the younger…just because he was shorter did not give the sniveling whelp the right to call him that. But he couldn't even speak to voice his the haughty younger man entertain from his newly claimed throne, his shoulders lifting and falling with his boisterous guffaws. He had taken everything from him.

It had started small. Toys and trinkets when they were still both but babes, and Kirei gave them - always sure to appease his brother. Indeed, he had noticed early on that after his brother's birth it wouldn't be a matter of sharing. What the brown haired toddler got, he got for keeps: toys, food, his parents' affection. After the death of their mother, father had stopped even pretending that he cared for the two boys the same, but still Kirei had been confident in his birthright and altogether unconcerned.

"Ne, Oji-san,"

The tetchy, spurned man tore his eyes from the terrible scene before him only to settle on another. His red haired niece smiled at him, her eyes closing and crinkling in the corners in a true expression of her joy.

Her joy of his embarrassment.

She would have potentially fooled another. Though introduced to court a few seasons ago, she still maintained her childish appearance. With twin blossoms adorning her shining hair and always smelling of fresh, sweet flowers, her devious nature was overlooked; it was the same for the rest of her siblings as well. But he could always see through the whole lot of them. Just now he could see how her chin trembled slightly, and she almost seemed to be holding her breath for a moment to collect herself. The cheeky brat was just barely not laughing in his face.

"You should be be more happy for Otou-san."

She had the nerve to chide him.

"After all, he isn't going to make you leave, you know. I heard he's even going to start tutoring my cousin to help him be a great warrior."

She giggled this time, foregoing her stifling now as she decided this was all just too funny.

"Yosuke-kun certainly looks happy about that. Learn something from him and be gracious."

"Come, Shun-chan, stop teasing uncle."

With another laugh. the red head bounced away from him; she ascended the short steps to the throne platform, stopping beside her sisters who stood proud by their father. The oldest, Toran, flicked a lock of her teal hair over her shoulder. She didn't even try to cover the smug look on her face. He rolled his eyes at her disrespect before allowing them to rove the stand. His other red haired niece bickered with her sister about the somewhat matching color of their robes. His fat nephew sat obediently at his brother's feet, throwing small stones at unawares guests. The usurper's children were almost as awful as he was.

It was the sight of his son standing by his brother's side that hurt him the most. The boy looked enamored with whatever drivel was falling from his uncle's lips and he couldn't stand it. When his child laughed with his brother it was like a hand was squeezing the air out from his lungs.

This was all wrong, it was WRONG. All of this was supposed to be his. His blood boiled in his veins as he continued to watch the revolting scene.

He was going to make things right.

XXXXX

Damn that mangy, dog!

Again…Again!!…

Kirei tugged his hair out maniacally, so deep in his episode that he didn't feel the stinging pain radiating from his scalp. How could he not have seen it before? His brother had played his part sure, but his actions were nothing compared to that stupid mutt. Besides…

He was dead now anyway. Everyone was.

He wailed, draping himself dramatically over the cold throne. The sounds of mourning echoed around the empty space in a haunting way. Gone, gone, gone, gone. Everything he knew was gone.

The throne was his, that was true, but he didn't want it anymore.

His boy. His sweet Yosuke. Damn that boy, following behind his brother in his venture for power. Damn his brother; blinded by his greed he was the one who allowed his only son to follow him on his endeavors. To hell with his nieces and nephew, they were allowed to do as they pleased when it came to their father - and a small part of him was glad they had perished with him -, but not his son. Damn him, not his Yosuke!

The silence reigned in the room again as his woeful cries had stopped, but they soon gave way to an even eerier sound. Peels of loud laughter started ricocheting from wall to wall, the normal expression of joy filling the space with an air of dread.

Foiled again, he had been foiled again. That dog had ruined him again.

He hadn't given him his proper dues the first time around, choosing instead to affix his anger on what was right in front of him. His brother had served as a wonderful channel for that rage, but now - with the weight of the extermination of his entire family resting on him -, Kirei could see that he had been after the wrong person. Sticking his nose where it didn't belong, that dog had destroyed him, twice.

But he had the power now. moving to sit correctly in the throne he flared his youki about the room. Torches sprang to life obediently as he continued cackling into the open air. This seat would certainly have him seeing a lot of the "Great Taisho," and he fully intended to use his audiences well. No mere show of force, no. That was right up that cur's alley. No. He was going to be quiet. He was going to be stealthy. He was going to do whatever he could with whatever he had left to bring the Western lord to his knees to repay him in kind for EVERYTHING.

He was going to make things right.

XXXXX

He started with the woman. He had approached her a little over a year before, noticing her brewing away from all the guests at this frivolous function, and so he had followed her.

"The Lady of these lands surely shouldn't be out here in the cold."

Coming to stand beside the silver haired beauty, he fully took in her form.

"Especially not in such delicate condition."

The maiden had scoffed at him, not even sparing a glance sideways in his direction.

"But I am not the lady, as I'm sure you've heard. Merely Hatsu, a brood mare for his highness."

Kirei did not miss the bite to her words; Kami, the woman was even more scornful than he had anticipated. He pretended to be apologetic for a moment for touching a sore wound, managing to slip in a few of his own thoughts about the hosting daiyoukai - that was when he finally got her attention. After that, the pregnant woman was easy to charm. The more their conversation flowed, the more she lit up; it was almost as if insults to her child's father were like a sweet ambrosia to her, and of course he was more than happy to oblige. He continued to correspond with her covertly while he worked through his vindictive plot, not knowing for certain if she would be necessary but wanting to keep her in his back pocket just in case. And if nothing else, her letters complaining about her infant son in the passing months were certainly amusing.

He found out in the spring that he had been right to maintain her "friendship". Standing, almost suffocating, before the great dragon.

He was going to make things right.

XXXXX

Stupid wench! Returning that boy as if she had any idea what was at stake here. Like she had just been dropped in from the heavens to come to the aid of the stupid dog lord. Well, she certainly had no idea who she was trifling with. And what nerve! He hadn't encountered sass like hers since Shunran, and out of all his nieces she was surely the one he missed the least. To hell with all the back-talkers of the world, and good riddance. Before he lopped her little, holy head from her shoulders and licked her blood from his claws, he would let her know that it was her mouth that got her in the most trouble. So pretty too, it could've been put to much better use-

Then he saw her. A small little thing exiting a room not too far ahead of him. He could tell she was inu from her scent, and normally that alone would dictate he keep his distance, but something else shrouded her that made him take a second look. The miko! This little maid reeked of her; small traces of her reiki even hummed across her skin and clothing, it was so obvious they spent lots of time together.

"Girl."

She turned to look his way, and he plastered on a big smile. It wasn't really even all that disingenuous, he was becoming more pleased with her presence every second. She looked similar to the miko, he noted. He only really had to focus hard to create the illusion on the eyes, splicing the holy woman's bottomless blue depths where this young woman's were a deep, fear-filled brown.

"Yes, sir?"

She squeaked. 'Hmm…' he supposed, noting that he'd definitely need to ignore her voice if he wanted the image to stick. Hers was nothing like the miko's.

"What is your name?"

She removed one hand from beneath her stack of towels, brushing a loose tendril of her hair behind her pointed ear while lowering her gaze to the floor.

"Maoshi, my lord. Do you require assistance?"

He didn't really hear what she had said all too clearly, the sound of his beast rattling in its cage drowning her out. But did he really need to? He supposed, anyway, that what he was hearing made this decision much easier on him. Sure, he wanted the miko, but now that the animal was provoked, he would need to be sated. Simple. The little maid had a cute little mouth too. She would do, for now.

He was going to make things right.

XXXXX

Kagome raced through the empty halls of the shiro that seemed exceptionally long on this night. After leaving the boys, she had run straight from her room to the dojo. She had grabbed up a bow and full quiver still going full tilt, and was back out the door as quick as she came. Well, almost. She had tripped on her way out, taking a moment then to pause and curse non-athletic footwear. Kicking off her useless zōri and reminding herself that she'd have a good laugh about this later, she picked herself up and started running again.

Would she ever make it out of this damn building?

So far, her chances were looking slim. Her direction was impaired due to it being night, and she had trouble finding her way around in the day! For all she knew she was running the same hallways three and four times over.

A loud crash shook the entire structure and threw her to the ground again, and this time she cursed cursed, wondering actually for a second if the string of expletives she used even existed yet. That couldn't be a good sign.

"Get it together, Kagome."

She whispered, standing to her feet once more. Focusing, she took a few deep breaths and slowed her heart rate. She needed to collect herself, she needed to help. She needed to find her way outside, help exterminate this…this…the hell if she knew!

She needed to get back to her boys.

Now, she looked around, hoping something would clue her in to her location in this labyrinth of a building. A screen had been knocked from its mount, exposing just a sliver of the dark room on the other side and letting in a small breeze.

There was a way out!

Shoving the sliding door out of the way with a smack, she charged in without thought.

XXXXX

A/N 2.0: Thinking of what you're gonna write in that review? No worries, ponder it while you read this author's note. Nothing more irritating than autocorrect continually changing "miko" to"mike" behind my back. For future projects, let it be known that I'm looking for a beta! Just someone to make sure Kagome stays Kagome, and all Mikes stay out of the feudal era forever. :) Also I've sorta kinda maybe slightly decided that 2 chapters isn't quite enough to resolve this baby. So you're stuck with me a little while longer lol. The next one will actually be out by the end of this month, that's a promise! Hope you enjoyed.