Author's Note: This chapter gave me more problems than I expected. In the end, I've broken it in two. I think it works better this way, even if it turned this into more of a filler chapter. Thank you all for all the wonderful reviews, favorites, kudos, and follows!

~*Flame

Disclaimer: InuYasha & Final Act are all owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Viz Media & Madmen Entertainment.

Chapter Nineteen

Landing back down on the ground, I nearly stumbled when my youki cloud dissipated. I didn't even bother to hide it. What was the point? Soon, all would know the proof of my weakness, of my fall from grace. Why bother pretending I was strong when the truth would be revealed to all soon?

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken squeaked before running to me, concern shining in his bulbus yellow eyes. Looking away, I stared at the forest before me. Did it always look so dim? Swallowing hard, I closed my eyes, trying to determine what to tell Jaken. When I was actively trying to get him to leave my side, he stubbornly refused; but I was heir to the West then. Now that I was no one important, would he still follow?

A selfish part of me didn't want to risk it. I've lost so much, even with Mother's training forcing back my emotions, I didn't know if I could handle any more loss. Yet, he would learn of my disgrace soon enough. Keeping him in the dark longer than necessary would only compound that disgrace.

"Jaken," I opened my eyes, staring into the void between the trees, not really seeing what was before me. "The Western Court has seen fit to strip me of my birthright." He gasped, forcing me to close my eyes once more. "I release you as my retainer, as I am no longer the Western Heir."

Silence had my breath catch in my lungs.

Of course, he wouldn't want to continue as my retainer. There was no prestige in serving some random, lowly youkai. Not when he was once a leader in his own right. He could still go back to that, I was certain of it. His old tribe would welcome him back with open arms and he could forget the time spent serving one so far beneath him.

"Sesshoumaru-sama…" Salt mixed in the air as Jaken began crying. Opening my eyes, I took a step closer to the forest, away from everything I had ever known. I didn't have a destination in mind, but I couldn't stay here.

The telltale slap of Jaken's footsteps followed in my wake.

I paused, turning to look down at the imp. A single eyebrow rose as I stared at him, tears streaming down his face. "Sesshoumaru-sama… I don't serve you because you were the Western Heir. I serve you because you're the greatest youkai to walk all the lands." I blinked, almost not understanding his words. "The Western Court is full of fools if they can't see that."

The noose wrapped around my heart loosened a notch. I shouldn't have been so quick to dismiss his loyalty. It is not a mistake I would make again. Turning, I continued walking into the forest. "Come," I ordered, the sound of Jaken's ever present footsteps a soothing balm.

I had no destination in mind, no goals, no motivations. The protection of the West was no longer my responsibility, and it left me bereft of what to do for my future. All I had ever done was to support the West. With that gone, what else was left for me? Even my goals of supreme conquest to further the West's borders were pointless. Until I could forge a new path, I would continue to feel lost.

I refused to ally with any of the other Lords. Just because I wasn't the Western Heir didn't mean I wasn't loyal. I was still a citizen of the West. Mother had made that perfectly clear. Had they thought I would betray them by going to one of our enemies and spilling the secrets of the West out of spite?

The first rays of sunlight flickered through the leaves of the forest. A wave of exhaustion washed over me and, for the first time in recent memory, I gave in to the sensation. Why shouldn't I? I had no responsibilities. If I wanted to rest, there was nothing stopping me. In a matter of moments, I found a thick tree, the base perfect to rest against.

As if knowing what I was thinking, Jaken took a position close to the tree, standing guard. Settling amongst the tree's roots, I let my head fall back before closing my eyes. Perhaps I should see if Jaken had any aspirations he had given up to travel by my side. His unwavering loyalty deserved some kind of reward. With a deep sigh, I felt myself sink into sleep's deep embrace.


I stood at the base of the waterfall in the grotto I had been avoiding like the plague. When I fell asleep, I wasn't trying to come here, but I didn't purposely try to avoid it. After venturing here for so many centuries, it was just natural to connect with the Dream Realm in this location. Even if it no longer held the solace it once did. Now, it just stood for all I lost; for everything that could have been.

Turning from the falls, I moved closer to the treeline, fully intending to leave this cursed place before I was seen. Yet, it was not to be.

"Sesshoumaru?" My ear twitched at the whispered voice, barely loud enough to be heard over the crashing water. Had my hearing not been so fine, I may not have heard it at all. I paused, though I didn't voice any response. After our last few encounters, her bravery calling out to me was commendable.

I should leave. Nothing good would come from speaking with Kagome. I was already raw from the blow delivered by the Western Court and I yearned for the comfort our false friendship once gave me. It would be so easy to fall back into old habits, ignoring the hurt of her betrayal. But then, I really would be a fool. Forcing myself, I took a step closer to the forest.

"Wait, please!" Though still a whisper, her voice held strength. "Why were you working with Naraku?" Snorting, I didn't let her pleas to stop sway me. Even now, she didn't care about why I had suddenly appeared in the grotto after avoiding it for so long. No, she only cared about why I had partnered with an enemy of Inuyasha. Slipping past the trees, I left the grotto and the memories it held behind.

It was unfortunate. There really wasn't any other place like the grotto. I had known this as a child when I first stumbled upon the little paradise. Now, as an adult and searching for a new respite, it was even more obvious. No matter how long I searched, I couldn't find a place that held everything I wanted as the grotto did. Perhaps, much like in the waking world, it was time to stop searching for things that were never meant to be mine.

Pausing in the middle of the dense forest, I looked around. The only reason I needed the Dream Realm in the beginning was for training; then there was Kagome. With the need to prove myself no longer a factor, and Kagome showing her true colors, what need did I have for the Dream Realm now?

Frowning, I felt a tug at my consciousness; something from the waking world pulling me from my slumber. It was odd. Jaken wouldn't allow anything to get so close to me while vulnerable as I was. Either he was the one waking me, or he was in trouble. Either way, my attention was needed, which suited me just fine. It wasn't as though this realm held anything for me any longer.


"Oh, what am I to do? I shouldn't wake Sesshoumaru-sama…" Jaken lamented as I came to my senses. Eyes still closed, I could hear him pacing in front of my once sleeping form. "But… he needs to know…" I called out to him, putting him out of his misery. With a cry, he shuffled closer, bowing in forgiveness for waking me as I opened my eyes.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! We've received word that Rouyakan is searching for you." I have never questioned how Jaken received his information. It was never my place to. He was my retainer, and it was his job to keep me informed of anything that needed my attention. That was before they stripped me of my title. Whatever his network was, it was far more robust that we would need going forward.

Regardless of how he came to the information, I understood his dilemma. As I was no longer Heir to the West, the problems of the Western Citizens were no longer my concern. If Rouyakan needed help, he should go to one of the many Western Watchtowers and seek aid of those sanctioned to grant it. Yet with Rouyakan, it wasn't that simple.

The sacrifice the Guardian of the Forest and those allied with him gave during the Panther War was not fogotten. He was there because of me. I couldn't just abandon him, regardless of my position in the West. I may not be required to respond to his call for aid, but I would not be able look upon my reflection should I refuse. If Mother and the Western Court have issue with the decision, so be it. There wasn't anything else they could take from me.

Standing, I nodded to Jaken. "Lead the way." Pride, unlike anything I had seen before shown in his eyes before he turned to run through the trees. I didn't need his reassurance I had chosen the correct path, but it felt nice regardless. Following in my companions wake, I hoped that whatever Rouyakan needed was something I could provide.