Passion-a strong feeling about a subject or person, usually of intense desire and attraction.

"Why are you here?" Sesshomaru asked his father, not wanting to waste any more time.

His father turned to him. "I have come to help defeat Naraku; he has grown and is becoming far too dangerous,"

"You don't think we know that!" Inuyasha spat out. His father turned to him and gave him a hard look. "Be thankful, Inuyasha," That's all he said. Lord Inu Tashio turned back to his eldest son; he found a small human child hiding behind his cold son's leg. This, to Lord Inu Tashio, was a great improvement, but the upcoming battle would be too much for young children.

"Why are we still standing here then? Let's go," Inuyasha yapped; as always, he wanted to get the show on the road, and he wasn't in any mood to address the demon in the room. "We shall Inuyasha, but first, the young children shall return to the village."

"With Kaede?" Kagome asked,

"Yes,"

"But I don't want to go!" Shippo cried, hugging onto Kagome's leg. "It will hurt her more, young one, if you were hurt," Inu Tashio said to the little fox. Shippo looked up at Kagome. "He is right, Shippo," Kagome said, giving him a loving look. Shippo let her go and shook his head. "OK, Kagome."

Inu Tashio looked back at Sesshomaru. "The human child as well," He said, looking down at Rin. Sesshomaru felt Rin hold onto him tight.

"You will be joining us, Sesshomaru; it will not be safe for the child, or do you wish to take her into battle?"

Sesshomaru looked down at Rin; she was giving him that 'I don't want to leave look.'

But he gave her a look that she read. She sighed and grabbed Ah-Un and began to walk back to the village with Shippo and Master Jaken. Sesshomaru did not want to join their group, but his father had the last word. Sesshomaru was no longer the strongest.

"Can we go now!" Inuyasha huffed.

"Does everyone have everything they need? We will not come back in till Naraku is defeated." Lord Inu Tashio said as he looked around the group. Kagome bit her lip; she had packed a lot because the last time she went home, Inuyasha told her to pack well because they were going far and not coming back for anything. Kagome sighed, and everyone agreed that they were ready to go.

Kagome walked in the back of the group. Sesshomaru was in front, Inuyasha Miroku and Sango were in the middle, and Lord Inu Tashio walked next to Kagome. They all walked in silence till Lord Inu Tashio decided it was late and they should make camp. Inuyasha got the firewood, Sango and Kagome began to make dinner, and Miroku eyed Sango's behind. Lord Inu Tashio watched as the girls prepared their human food. Sesshomaru sat off from everyone and was looking out into the woods. Inuyasha was bringing more firewood when he dropped them. His father and Sesshomaru turn to look at him. Inuyasha looked off, and everyone followed his line of sight: soul collectors. Inuyasha looked back at everyone before running and giving no excuse. "Pathetic half-breed," Sesshomaru sneered under his breath.

"That woman is not long for this world," Lord Inu Tashio said, coming near his eldest son.

"Indeed," Sesshomaru agreed. Kagome sighed and poked at the firewood.

"Monk," Miroku lifted his head and moved his hand quickly; it was almost touching Sango's butt.

"Yes, my Lord," He said, looking at him. "A word," Lord Inu Tashio requested. Miroku made his way over. "Tell me, monk, what is the name of the dead woman Inuyasha seeks?"

"That would be Lady Kikyo."

"Kikyo, she was once the holder of the jewel, was she not? The great Lord asked of him.

"Yes, in till her death," Miroku stated with a respectful tone. Lord Inu Tashio then looked past Miroku to Kagome.

"She pins her heart on him, does she not?" He asked, knowing the answer. By now, Sesshomaru was looking at the girl as well; he knew that answer as well.

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Miroku said, digging his staff into the ground below him.

"Yet, his heart does not long for her?" Inu Tashio asked.

"Well, it's complicated." Miroku began but was cut off,

"The half-breed is foolish; he claims he cares for one Miko and then runs to another, pathetic," Sesshomaru said, turning away from both men.

"Hmm," Was all his father said as he looked at the soul collectors in the sky.

That night, when Inuyasha came back, everyone was asleep, well, not everyone. Sango and Miroku slept near the fire, but what caught Inuyasha's eye was Kagome. She was sleeping near a rock, and on the rock was his father. His father sat on the rock and was looking out as if protecting her. Sesshomaru was somewhere close by in the woods. Inuyasha came close to Kagome and his father but did not say anything and just lay down on the ground and looked at the stars.

"I will not let you harm her."

Inuyasha heard his father's words. He shot up. "What are you talking about, old man!" Inuyasha yelled, pointing at his father. His father's eyes turned cold. "Do you love her?" He asked his young son. Inuyasha blushed. "What?"

"Do you love her, this girl here?" He asked again, looking down at Kagome.

"I, what, what business is it of yours? All of a sudden, you want to play the father card like you care!" Inuyasha snapped. This man might be his father, but what did this have to do with anything? "And the dead one? What of her Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha turned around. "I made a promise, is all," He huffed, damn his father.

"Then you shall keep your promise." Inuyasha turned around quickly. "I made I promise to both!"

"Then tell me, Inuyasha, what will you do when you have to choose, and believe me, son, you will have to choose; in life and death, you will always have to choose." He did, and they would.

"You're just like Sesshomaru," Inuyasha snapped.

"Inuyasha, your promise to these women are one and the same; it would be like me promising both you and your brother the same sword,"

They sat in silence. "That is something you can not do, Inuyasha; I understand things happened, but in the end, the woman you promised first has returned, and you can not keep the promise you made to this Miko till you deal with the promise you made your other Miko."

"But the promise I made to Kikyo is to be with her!" Inuyasha said with haste.

"Then so be it."

Lord Inu Tashio saw the passion in his youngest son's eyes. He was glad his son loved hard, but he was young and half-human; it was hard. He was also glad to see him trying to keep his promises. He watched as his young son ran off in anger and felt his oldest come close.

"So, the half-breed chose the dead Miko?" Sesshomaru asked

"It was a choice he made a long time ago, my son,"

"Indeed,"

"His desire was always with Kikyo; Kagome was just the bandage on his heart," His father added.

Lord Inu Tahio looked down at Kagome, and he knew just from feeling her aura that she was full of life, love, and passion. She was a devoted person, and the traits she carried were those of a Lord's mate.