A/N: Thank you everyone for the folllows, favs, and reviews. I have not had time to reply to them all but I promise I will. This story was very well received on AO3 and I am happy to see that all of you readers on here like it as well.

Enjoy!

"I just don't get why the two of you are all buddy-buddy lately." Inuyasha shot at Kagome. The announcement that Sesshomaru would be working with them to go after Naraku had not gone over well with him.

"We are working towards a common goal. Can't you see that it makes sense for all of us to pool our resources together to end this." Kagome appealed.

"We've all been doing just fine on our own. Sesshomaru's the last guy we need help from." Inuyasha stated crossing his arms.

"Inuyasha, Sesshomaru is a strategist. Naraku is, well, a trickster. We need someone who can possibly predict his next move. Sesshomaru may be able to do that." Kagome said keeping her voice level and her patience on a very short leash.

"Then let him. He does his thing and we do ours, just like we've been doing." Inuyasha replied.

"Ugh! Why are you so stubborn?" Kagome clenched her hands into fists. "Why can't you just suck it up and accept the help?"

"Why are you so adamant about Sesshomaru joining us?" Inuyasha shot back. "Ever since the day I saw the two of you at the well you've been acting funny."

"Sesshomaru helped me after I was hurt. He brought me back to the village, we got to know one another along the way." Kagome said.

"And?"

"And…what?"

"I know there's more to this."

"Inuyasha…I know how you feel about me. I need you to know that I care for you as a friend, a best friend but not as anything else." Kagome managed out. "Sesshomaru and I will be together after Naraku is gone and the jewel shards are taken care of. We want to raise Rin together."

"Seems like you two got to know one another real well." Inuyasha scoffed.

"If you're implying what I think you are, no. We're waiting for that." She huffed somewhat. "Look, I'm sorry but you and I, we just wouldn't work that way. I remind you to much of Kikyo and you can't move on from her if you were with me."

"Right." Inuyasha said softly.

"This doesn't mean that Sesshomaru will be traveling with us, we will just share information and on occasion work together."

"Does he know about this plan?"

"Yes. I just wanted to clear it by you first before we talk to Sango and Miroku about it." Kagome replied. "I need to know that you are alright with this."

"It makes sense but I don't like it. I don't trust Sesshomaru, Kagome. The sudden love for humans makes no sense to me."

"Believe it or not Sesshomaru does like to talk once you can get him talking. Maybe some time he will explain why he has been the way he has been."

"Doubt it." Inuyasha squared his gaze at the ground. "Come on. Let's go tell the others about this plan of yours."

"Thank you Inuyasha." Kagome said. "With any luck we have increased our chances of beating Naraku."

"Guess we won't know until we find out." Inuyasha replied.

Having apprised Sango and Miroku Kagome went to where she knew Sesshomaru to be waiting for her to return with news.

Walking over to where he sat at the base of a tree she reveled in the quiet, peacefulness for a moment before speaking.

"Inuyasha and the others have agreed to an alliance between all of us." Kagome said.

"I find it hard to believe that Inuyasha was complacent." Sesshomaru mused.

"No but he wants this to be over just as much as any of us. It took some talking with him but he came around." Kagome turned her head to him. "I told him about us, what our plans are."

"Hm." A small smirk formed across his lips at her words.

"He said he doesn't trust you, which he has said before. I just think it's because he doesn't know you or at least the better parts of you."

"Inuyasha understands what he has seen, he doesn't always understand it though…idiot that he is."

"When I think back just on what I have witnessed between you both, you never meant him any serious harm did you?"

"My father died protecting him and his mother. If they died unnaturally then it would make his sacrifice mean nothing. By the time I arrived at the compound where Inuyasha was born it was to late, my father had been killed." Sesshomaru explained.

"I found Lady Izayoi and Inuyasha. I couldn't understand what was so special about her or the half-breed bastard she had that had become my fathers undoing."

"To this day I have no idea what possessed me to ensure their safety but I did. I brought Lady Izayoi and Inuyasha to her people."

"You protected them in your fathers place. That is beautiful and a wonderful thing you did Sesshomaru." Kagome sighed out.

"I did more than just that. They were ostracized and made outsiders which made it difficult for Lady Izayoi to provide for Inuyasha or herself so I did, for many years until her death. After some time of traveling with Inuyasha and teaching him how to survive I made it very clear that he was to do so on his own, just as I had. He felt abandoned, not understanding the reasoning behind it."

"I see. That is what created this wedge between you both." Kagome nodded her head as she began to understand their relationship a bit better.

"Yes."

"What about with the Tessaiga? When you went after him for that?" Kagome questioned.

"Once I found out that Inuyasha had been released from the seal he was put under I knew he needed the Tessaiga. If he had had it then maybe he would have stood a better chance at protecting himself."

"And, the trap with his mother? Making that demon look like her?"

"That was Jakens idea, one I found distasteful from the start. Lady Izayoi was always very kind towards me and appreciative, that ruse dishonored her memory greatly." Sesshomaru shook his head and sighed.

"Maybe she would understand, granted it was an underhanded tactic." Kagome met his gaze when he opened his eyes. "Thank you for looking out for him, even if he can't see it for what it is."

Leaning against him she rested her head against his arm just below his armor.

"You're welcome." Sesshomaru said softly gazing down at her.