Kaede helped Kagome inside, where she gave her some sleeping tea so that the girl could rest. Rin and Shippo nestled up with her, feeling her sadness.

Outside, Miroku started a fire, and they all just stared at it. It was over, but it wasn't.

"What is she going to do?" Sango asked no one inperticulare.

Miroku stretched his back. "She may want to stay with Kaede," He said,

"Or she could come with us," Sango stated, looking at Miroku.

"Of course," He said as if she needed to even ask. "But will she?"

"What makes you think she would choose either?" Sesshomaru spoke, making them look at him. They stared for a good moment, almost shocked that he spoke and more shocked that he asked that question.

"She isn't from here; we are all she knows; this is all she knows," Sango told him,

"Do you happen to have a better idea we have not considered?" Miroku asked,

"She will need purpose,"

"Im sure work with Kaede will give her that," Miroku unwrapped the beads from around his hand and looked at his hand again.

"The Miko has no desire to go down that path,"

Sango raised an eyebrow at Sesshomaru's statement.

Miroku tossed the beads into the fire, making Sango gasp. "Miroku, your breads!"

"Ah, ripping off the band-aid, as Kagome would say," The beads were a part of him so long, it would be weird, but he needed to get rid of them, to get rid of that part of his life. Miroku then looked up at Sesshomaru, who still stood. "My previous question still stands,"

"The Miko can make her decision," He stated, looking away.

"Ah, but we must offer up options; we are her friends, and she is not in this alone," Miroku told him.

Kaede walked out.

"Hn," Sesshomaru agreed, but if they thought they were getting anything else out of him, they weren't.

"She is asleep, as are the children,"

She stood near the fire with her hands behind her back.

"We were just talking about what next," Miroku smiled at Kaede,

"Hhmmm," The old woman said worriedly, "It is complicated,"

Sango and Miroku hadn't thought so, and it was clear on their face,

"She is immortal," She reminded them. "An immortal human," She told them,

"We thought she may want to stay with you or possibly go with us," Sango told her,

"She could," Kaede stated, then looked at Sesshomaru. "Will you be leaving, young girl?"

He slid his eyes to her. Leave Rin? Why?

"For what purpose?"

"Do you not think she would benefit from being with her own kind?"

"Because her own kind, as you put it, has done her so well in the past. No Miko."

"Having young girl around may help Kagome," She offered,

"Perhaps instead of making plans for her, you should wait for her to awaken. I am sure the Miko can make her own decisions,"

"We still need to let her know that she has options, that she is not in this alone, as I have stated before," Miroku said again, rubbing his wrist.

Sesshomaru eyed him. He was sure the monk was on to something. For an idiot, he was very perceptive. But unlike them, he had no desire to make plans for her without her. She was a strong-willed woman. Of course, she could go with them; of course, she could stay with Kaede. He was sure Kagome already knew this.

But Kagome needed protection.

"She needs protection," He finally stated,

"Are ye offering?" Kaede asked,

He looked at her. "I already have," He told her.

"Yeah, but im not sure she understood that," Miroku stared at the fire,

Sango looked at Miroku. "In order for him to protect her, she would need to be with him," He knew that look.

Sango looked at Sesshomaru. "Kagome, go with you?"

"Hn."