Disclaimer: All characters from the series Inuyasha that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do not own anything regarding their creation; I have Rumiko Takahashi to thank for that.

Author's Notes: I'm super sorry that this chapter took so long to come out. But after some serious thinking and great suggestions, I've finally settled on the direction this arc will be heading. I'm going to concentrate on both the plot and relationship simultaneously rather than invest completely into one at a time. It's going to be a challenge given how Sesshomaru and Kikyo are, but one that I'm happy to tackle so that we can all get the full picture of what their past was all about. Along with the extent of their relationship, I hope to get across the reason why Sesshomaru chose to become the conqueror of the lands and "accept" Inuyasha. Additionally, I'll be covering why Kikyo chose to erase/suppress the memories she shared with Sesshomaru.

As always, thank you to bubu-chibi-chan for being the betareader and fabelliot, 8579 and yami2703 for your reviews.

fabelliot: Sesshomaru's mother is complicated in my opinion. Her personality is so different from her son's; she's more open but also concurrently very difficult to interpret because you can't really tell if she's being genuine with the emotion she expresses. At least that's what it looks like to me from the one episode she appeared in. There's not much to go on so I can understand why some people may not enjoy her character — That, or it's because she brings along the realization that the Inu no Taisho mated with Izayoi while his spouse is alive and has already given him an heir. Honestly, it doesn't leave the impression of him being faithful, unfortunately. But hey, that just leaves more room for exploring her in-depth during this story.

Yeah, Sesshomaru doesn't remember Kikyo's face — if he did, we wouldn't be getting all the complications in the present, lol — but the fact he tried to commit it into his memory is noteworthy. :D

8579: I'm glad that you supplied your answer to my question; your input helped. As stated above, I will indeed be focusing on both the plot and relationship (yep, can't ignore the latter). Thank you for your support and I hope that you'll continue to enjoy this tale.

yami2703: Yep, their bond is subtle given that they aren't expressive but it's there, slowly taking root in their hearts. Had this arc been from Kikyo's perspective, things may have been a bit more obvious. But since it's Sesshomaru's, we're going to be dealing with a lot of casual dismissals whenever situations relating to the heart come into play. Now, if only Sesshomaru would realize what's happening instead of brushing them off as strange but unimportant sensations. ;P

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(This chapter was betaread by bubu-chibi-chan).

Chapter 27-Kako-hen: Come

Come my way, alone in this darkness

Come close to me now I'll shine some light

I'll be with you, I'll be with you

I'll stay beside you

So come my way

I realized that you were the only precious person in this world

-Come (7th Ending Song)

From his mother's abrupt visit to his father's grand plan, everything became clear for Sesshomaru upon the arrival of the special guests from the east. Even long before the beautiful red junihitoe descended the carriage and touched the lawn with a graceful air, the Inu prince had caught the scent of a delicate fragrance that was heavily mixed with his father's. The noblewoman — who was warmly welcomed by Touga and who Sesshomaru would later learn was the Princess of the East — was immediately recognized as someone of great importance to the Lord of the West. There was no denying that the mingled scent was not due to an accidental touch or two individuals being in close proximity. The great Inu no Taisho's presence permeated the woman's skin in waves, similar to how all youkai were warned that the Inukimi was taken. All of a sudden, those recurring trips to the east made a lot of sense.

'Father has feelings for the mortal woman...?' Sheer disbelief twisted the obvious comprehension into a question that did not require an answer. Sesshomaru did not know what to think about his father taking another mate. It wasn't uncommon for the royalties of the Inu clan to have more than one spouse, given that it would increase the chances of producing a powerful heir. Evolutionary-wise, there was nothing wrong. The Inu clan's bloodline would remain strong, even if it meant the children would most likely grow up fighting over their parents' inheritance. Not that this troubled Sesshomaru, as he had already decided he would claim his legacy through his own strength. Be it someone related to him or some stranger, besting them all was just a part of being the superlative existence that he was destined to be.

There was never the intention to criticize his father's choice, no matter how bizarre it was. He supposed he would never understand what the Inu no Taisho saw in that human princess. From the first glimpse, he had to admit that she possessed a fine appearance that would've made any ordinary woman envious. Her brown eyes were bright like the stars and her waist-length hair was glossy, reminding others of the dark skies. Truly, she was the beauty of the nights. But the Inu no Taisho was not someone who would be captivated solely by the physical shell. There must be something else, something that — as Sesshomaru couldn't fathom it — was most likely illogical.

Regardless, should the woman prove to be nothing more than a spoiled and annoying princess, he could always resort to ignoring her. That was the predicated result; after all, he was quite convinced that exceptions like St. Hijiri, individuals that could hold an intellectual and entertaining conversation with him, were limited to one in several centuries.

So objectively speaking, there was no problem. Yet, he was unable to brush aside the sudden musing that had invaded his mind.

Surely his father hadn't made a terrible mistake. He couldn't... Could he?

In an unprecedented event, the next heir of the West found a sprinkle of doubt manifesting from deep within. He had never really questioned his father's judgment before, not even when their ideology didn't align. But at present, he felt the obligation to take his mother into account. Unconsciously, his eyes drifted in her direction, hoping to decipher any emotion concealed underneath the layer of unreadable composure.

"Oh, is this worry I detect? How endearing. At long last, I can proclaim that my son is no longer the emotionless and dull rock he once was." Being his mother and the vigilant daiyoukai she was, it was only natural that she would notice his discreet looks as they walked toward the throne room together. It was as easy as flipping the pages of an opened book, much to his chagrin.

"Mother, this is hardly the time for your dull jokes," he commented, keeping his voice as flat as possible. "You were not startled when Father made the announcement this morning. You knew this would happen. Yet, you did nothing. I did not think you were the magnanimous type to share."

"I am not, hence why I shan't be divulging my reasons. A woman must have a few secrets. It is the trick that obviates boredom. Else, I would have become senile like those pitiful old men in the council long ago." The Inukimi threw Sesshomaru another knowing but mysterious smirk, immediately prompting a rare surge of annoyance to bubble up inside. His mother was being so flippant even as another woman entered into her spouse's life; did she not feel the urge to reclaim the position that should be hers alone?

"Hmph, so be it." As it wasn't in his nature to inquire any further, he excused himself and took the path in the opposite direction before anyone could say anything. He had already pried more than usual, being far too sentimental than he would've liked. His initial desire to participate in the meeting his father was having with the east's representatives was abandoned in favor of heading to the practice field. Once he had a sword in his hand and was flourishing it, he knew he would be able to eradicate the senseless concern for his mother. That was the last thing the Inukimi wanted, just as it was the last thing he wanted to give.

Aware that his aura might be less docile due to his inner conflict, he quickly pulled it in and masked all traces of his existence. Although he knew that the change in his youki flow would be barely discernable for even the most perceptive individuals, he did not want to risk the low chances of running into someone who could.

"Yes, I believe a manipulator is pulling the strings from the shadows. The attacks and abductions are far too coordinated to be random." As luck would have it, Sesshomaru never got close to his destination before running into one of the minorities who were the subject of his caution. The familiar gravelly voice was barely audible, originating from the corner of the next corridor.

"Do you think there is a certain individual out there who wants the alliance to crumble? Is it a human or a demon?" A male's voice that the Inu prince couldn't recognize whispered as quietly as St. Hijiri had, apparently not wanting to be heard. For a strange but transient moment, the notion that St. Hijiri was conversing with someone unknown in private did not set in well and his features almost betrayed him by revealing the tiniest of all scowls.

Everyone had a few secrets here and there and Sesshomaru usually didn't care enough about other people's businesses to snoop. Something like that was beneath him. Yet, it felt extremely personal when the few individuals he had given his acknowledgment were all exempting him from certain things. It was a pricking reminder that his father didn't think he was fully prepared to inherit his legacy and his mother didn't believe he was relevant enough to be made aware of certain things that could expose her weakness.

"It is too early to say, for even the pettiest of reasons could instigate conflict," said St. Hijiri, the hint of despondent barely distinguishable.

"Will you investigate?" the man asked hopefully.

Sesshomaru did not catch her response because she never verbalized it. But judging from how the man was trying to contain his excitement, he presumed she must have given an affirmative. "Wonderful! Thank you! Our lord did request you to do so discreetly. We don't want to ruin the alliance Izayoi-dono has given us following her union with the Lord of the West. Otherwise, all will be wasted if the demons catch wind of this. We can't give them any ideas."

"Fret not. No one but Lord Touga will be made aware. I shall depart for the east once—!" Since Sesshomaru had concealed his demonic energy, St. Hijiri was caught oblivious when she rammed into his chest after turning the corner. As startled as she must've been, she was quick to catch her step — though that proved to be more detrimental than good as her sandals slipped on the polished floor.

The daiyoukai acted, his movement faster than lightning. His arm slipped around her waist, steadying her foothold. In truth, his action wasn't needed because she would've most likely regained her balance before she could crash onto the floor. For someone of her caliber, her reflexes would've kicked in and she would've grabbed the corner of the wall for support. But he helped her nonetheless, and he could only emphasize it was on an impulse.

"Sesshomaru… I thought you were with your father." St. Hijiri was able to recognize him almost in an instant even with his youki masked. As she took a small step back and lifted her head, he withdrew his arm so casually that it was as though the contact had never happened in the first place. "You must know there is a conference to attend. Why are you here?"

"Convenient for you to inquire. The answer is what I also desire from you," said Sesshomaru coolly, his eyes narrowing by a small margin as he fixed his gaze on the saint's veil. "Why are you here, clandestinely conversing with a man on a matter that you are adamant my father alone shall receive clarity?"

St. Hijiri's sigh was just audible for his acute senses to catch and Sesshomaru made a trivial note that she was being more expressive with her emotions as when they had first met. At the very least, she made her exasperation known through a means that wasn't visual.

"You're prone to eavesdropping as of late," she remarked drily, presumably recalling that time when he had stepped into his mother and her conversation without any prelude.

Even as his expression remained poker-faced, he permitted a slip of annoyance to manifest from his youki, which rose from dormancy with a sudden burst. Nothing in a quantity that could intimidate the woman before him, but more than adequate to get the man who had been quietly standing in the corner to jump out of his skin. The sound of a shaken yelp and the loud clank of his boots hitting the wooden floor prompted Sesshomaru to turn his appraisal towards him.

His golden orbs pierced through the man whose messy dark hair was pulled into a tight knot on the top of his head. Despite being donned in a beautiful brown kimono crafted with silk, Sesshomaru noticed there wasn't anything prominent on the clothing. An indication that while he was someone who served the Imperial family, he was a commoner rather than of nobility. That, and his presence served to generate the conclusion that he was a messenger between the Lord of the East and St. Hijiri.

Yes, he was nothing more than a measly form of distant communication for the saint.

"A-ah." The man quivered in his boots and tried to shrink back as far as possible into the corner. From anyone's perspective, it was apparent there was nothing he wanted more than to melt into the walls and disappear.

"Hmph," the daiyoukai scoffed. The mortal's terror was a common occurrence for him. Seldom did one possess the courage to lock gaze with him for more than a second. Yet, what he wasn't conscious of was that his eyes were even colder than usual, gleaming like an executor's blade hovering just above the man's neck.

"Sesshomaru," St. Hijiri called out, "I would appreciate it if you do not intimidate an envoy of the east for information."

"Not a terrible suggestion." The young prince turned to the saint, his eyebrow lifted in a way that was almost provocative as a faint smirk descended on his fair features. "I know it is a waste of my time prying information from your stubborn lips. Thus, why not have this human enlighten me?"

Today, he was done being the one uninformed — that was what his pride told him.

"E-eh… Ah!" The man turned ghastly pale and his mouth dropped open. His fear shot through the peak of his limitation, so much so that Sesshomaru could smell it radiating from his trembling figure. A little push was all that was needed to get him toppling over the edge, spilling forth the information that was supposed to be a secret.

"You heard me, human. What do you know? Tell me everything and I shall spare your pitiful life." Upon noticing that the man had discreetly taken a shaky step closer toward St. Hijiri, Sesshomaru flexed his claw for an added effect. "This woman cannot be your savior. I can cut you down faster than she can blink."

That should've done it. Any fragments of calm he possessed were chipped away effortlessly and without any mercy. But just when the daiyoukai believed that he would grovel and exchange the details for his pitiful life, the man instead did the unimaginable and bowed his head in a fearful refusal. "I-I won't. My lips are sealed. I won't y-yield to your threats and break my lord's trust! N-no matter what, I won't!"

'To think that this feeble human possesses the courage to defy me. Is it a coincidence or is the woman stimulating such insolence...?' Sesshomaru's eyebrows furrowed, though he was inwardly impressed… for a second or so before the man's knees buckled and he bolted as fast as he could, leaving a gust of wind that ruffled the young daiyoukai's sleeves.

"How unlike you. You're acting quite self-indulgent today," St. Hijiri remarked. The curtain of fabric was doing its job of preventing anyone from seeing her countenance, though it wasn't difficult to imagine that she was wearing a look of utter exasperation.

"The human is exceptionally loyal." Choosing to ignore her comment, Sesshomaru instead voiced his thought with a careful display of nonchalance.

"You sound alarmed. Are you finding it difficult to comprehend the provenance of his perseverance, even as he is subjected to your coercion?"

The genuine curiosity she had was portrayed with a tilt of the head. For an odd fancy, he decided to bless her with an explanation. "Loyalty is rare amongst our kind. We do not trust easily. That is in our nature, our blood. It should take centuries to establish loyalty of the steadfast kind, a time that mortals do not have the luxury of. Yet, that human proves to be an exception."

"Hmm," she hummed softly as she gave his words some serious thought. "Conviction is a peculiar thing. I cannot claim I understand it fully. Although, I do believe that time is not the essence of loyalty. There exist certain individuals, like your father, who are capable of inspiring another's devotion from the initial interaction."

"Father is an enigma," he uttered in quiet admittance, more to himself than anyone else. While the Inu no Taisho was much more open with his thoughts than the Inukimi, there were occasions when Sesshomaru felt he understood the former less. Granted, his maternal parent was the capricious and unpredictable one. Yet, the great Lord of the West could be a harder challenge to make any logical sense out of because he operated with his heart, permitting the feelings of mercy, compassion, and love to fuel his actions.

St. Hijiri went into a contemplative silence. When she spoke seconds later, the topic had shifted in a direction that the daiyoukai hadn't expected. "Mmm, Sesshomaru. Would you be interested in feeling the sensation of being trusted like your father? The question I have eluded prior, I'm willing to answer now so long as it stays between us."

"Why the sudden change of heart?" he asked, his features expressionless.

"Why did you desist in your pursuit of the answer? Are you not curious?" As expected of her, she returned two questions as a bargain. Although if he had to consider, the latter was technically rhetorical considering he had made it apparent that he was in a rare inquisitive mood. How that had happened was a puzzle, though perhaps it was simply because the woman was around. She had the tendency of making him feel more than cold hard logic with her peculiar and distinctive presence.

As if connected by telepathy, they decided to satisfy each other's inquiry around the same time, in a nearly identical fashion of pure indifference.

"I doubt you are one for gossip. My secret is safe with you."

"I doubt you are one to yield. As I've said, it would be a waste of my time to interrogate you."

Oddly enough, Sesshomaru realized that neither did doubt the other, even if their vocabulary implied otherwise. It was the same as how they would probably never say they enjoy each other's company, merely admitting that they didn't dislike it.

"The east is in danger, Sesshomaru. A hoard of demons has been attacking villages, slaughtering the adults, and kidnapping the children. I assume their motive is to decimate the bond between the east and west, yet I fear they may have a far more terrifying motive. I intend to inform your father of this and investigate the truth. No one else here shall be privy to this information. Else the possibility of parties — believing they would benefit — interfering increases. I am certain you are aware of what this entails." St. Hijiri took a deep breath after giving an explanation that was the longest he had ever heard her speak at once. They were individuals who cared little for verbal communication, so the fact that their exchange had involved this many back-and-forths was already surprising.

'She's leaving.' Of all the things that could've entered Sesshomaru's head first, it was the fact that the saint would be gone for an indefinite amount of time, dealing with a problem that did not personally concern her. His eyebrows gathered to draw a semblance of a frown and words slipped through his lips before his rationality could act as a filter.

"I shall accompany you," he uttered, his tone firm and leaving no room for an argument. He noticed her staring in disbelief and honestly, he found her reaction to be fitting. It baffled him as well, that he had demanded to join her on a quest to maintain peace. Not one to take back his words, he made a snort of contempt. "Do not be mistaken, Hijiri. I do not care about humans or the truth behind the attacks. It is you who is different… you are a necessity for the nurture of Bakusaiga. Be grateful, for this is why you shall receive the privilege of safeguard."

"I understand." If the saint had noticed the intentional coolness in his voice, then she did not comment on it and instead nodded once. Much to his unrevealed confusion, she held a bandaged hand towards him, with all fingers curled in except for the pinky. "However, I ask for your assurance. I am aware you have an ill tolerance for humans, as they are wary of you. There will come times when they aggravate you on our journey. If so, can you abstain from taking their lives? Can you assure me that no blood of those in the east will stain your hands?"

Instinctively, Sesshomaru's gaze darted to the arm by his side before traveling to her stretched-out hand. Even though he was aware of her intention, it was not something he had done before. After all, yubikiri — a serious oath that had the potential consequence of losing a finger — was not common amongst his kind. Humans were the ones prone to easing their worries with promises. It would seem that despite everything, even the woman before him was also susceptible to the power of her imagination.

'True. Yet, she is not dominated by it and is self-disciplined with her emotions. How many have you seen capable of such?' The part that was his most inner self countered, somehow eager to defend the woman against his stone-cold judgment.

"So be it." Prompted by a feeling that wasn't his customary disdain, he locked their pinkies to affirm his words. A very childish gesture, he noted, though he supposed he could indulge her this time. But even as he convinced himself that he was only doing this because he was feeling extremely lenient today, he could not deny that he enjoyed the contact. The thin layer of dressings around her hand couldn't hide the softness of her finger, nor could it deter the coolness of her skin that pleasantly tingled his warmer finger as it seeped into him.

They stayed like that a little longer than what he thought was required. Sesshomaru briefly wondered if he was supposed to say or do something. He was quite certain there was a song that went with the gesture, something along the lines of devouring 1000 needles and cutting off the finger should the promise be broken. But naturally, he had no intention of saying it even if he did recall the exact words. As it turned out, neither did she because she slowly unhooked her finger from his. Wisely, he chose not to dwell on why she hadn't done it sooner.

"Come then, let us go inform your father," she said, her gentle tone suggesting that behind the white veil was an alluring smile that could brighten any gloomy day.

Sesshomaru felt the muscles from the corner of his lips twitch, almost carving a pleased smirk onto his fair features.

More Author's Notes: In the next chapter, our two favorite characters are going to be in the east, which is a change of things. Here on out, I intend to get things rolling more, both in the plot and in the relationship. Please let me hear your thoughts thus far; all feedback, criticisms, and questions are welcome.

Until next t— Ah, almost forgot! Just before I go, here're three little trivia about this chapter:

Sesshomaru's description of Izayoi makes some comparison with the night sky; I did this because her name means "the sixteenth night". Branching off topic a little, the name Izayoi always reminds me of the song called "Izayoi Namida" or "Tears of the Sixteenth Night" when translated into English. It doesn't fit this story or the characters exactly but it's a nice song. I sometimes listen to it when I'm writing the chapters (like this one for example).

Notice how Sesshomaru said "so be it" twice in this chapter and the subtle difference in his attitude. He went from being frustrated that his mother would not tell him her secret to "a feeling that was not disdain" (he quotes) after realizing that Kikyo trusted him enough to divulge some confidential information and make a promise together with him.

Initially, I was going to have Sesshomaru and Kikyo seal their promise with a handshake (too bad that a kiss wouldn't have worked in this scenario even if we all wanted it badly), but then bubu-chibi-chan — thankfully — pointed out to me that it was too western. To fit the Japanese culture more, I changed it to a pinky swear. It's a childish gesture nowadays but after a bit of research, I realized that it's actually very deadly in past Japan. Yubikiri— the gesture of locking pinkies literally means "finger cut-off". You definitely don't want to be making light-hearted promises that you can't keep back then, or else… *shivers*.

That's all for now. Until next time!