When everyone was settled at camp: Kagome sitting close to the fire in front of the tree where Sesshomaru sat with Shippo asleep in her lap, Sango and Miroku sat across from the fire watching the three, Rin was sitting with Ah-Uhn and Kirara rolling a ball around for her to chase, and Jaken was handing out the meal before sitting by Rin.

Kagome was having a hard time controlling her emotions. She was happy her friends were here and safe, but she was afraid to tell them all that had occurred and how they may react and act towards her. Sesshomaru, for his part, was watching the three older humans closely, he had to make sure Kagome didn't fall into another memory, and that Sango and Miroku were as trustful as he believed them to be.

"Kagome-chan…" Sango started, "I'm not sure how to start. How to ask about the pain I see in you…"

Kagome flinched at that, Sango and Miroku looked to one another while Sesshomaru frowned.

"Maybe it's best that you start at the last time that you had seen her. I am unsure as to when you left and that may prompt her to fill in the gaps." Sesshomaru told them.

Miroku nodded, "We had left them almost 7 months ago to trail a lead on a jewel shard as well as search for another taijiya village for an antidote that Sango had run out of ages ago. It was InuYasha's idea for the separation of the group. When we left, Kagome was still Kagome. It wasn't until the other village had given us the antidote we were searching for before we found out the shard trail was fake. When we realized that we moved as fast as we could to return. We just ran into InuYasha this morning. He has been trailing you from what we can tell by the distance between your groups."

Sango picked up where Miroku left off, "He had Kikyo with him, Tenseiga had a faint black hue around it and he couldn't touch it at all. He told us that she had run into a stray demon. He told us she lost the jewel shards to it and that it ripped her apart. Shippo was shaking and trying to get into the forest behind him. It's how we figured out the lie. Once we left to get firewood we found Shippo and started our search for Kagome."

Sesshomaru nodded, he had assumed as much. Kagome had silent tears falling from her eyes.

"He lied. About so much." Kagome whispered.

"When this Sesshomaru found the Miko she was in servant's rags and had been torn open by the Wind Scar. She protected this one's ward before the attack came. I am assuming he was hunting her because she wouldn't hand over the shards." Sesshomaru told them.

"That's accurate." Kagome stated before taking a deep and calming breath. "When you guys left Kikyo came. They forced me into the servant's clothing after several beatings and days of starvation. I was supposed to be his breeder since Kikyo isn't alive. He had mated her in front of me several times before they raped me."

At this Miroku had to hold Sango who had broken into tears. Kagome was choked up but she continued forward when Sesshomaru sat next to her.

"They made me see how much I was really worth. Worse than what Inu had done while you were with us still. They made sure I knew what was to be expected of me, and if I disobeyed I was punished. I hadn't bathed in months until Sesshomaru-sama found me and brought me back to life."

Sango looked at Kagome, "But how was he able to? I mean, it was always to protect you.."

Sesshomaru answered this one, "There are theories made, when we are at the castle we may learn more. Until then, this Sesshomaru is unsure."

Kagome looked at him, "Why would we go there? The other demons will know, they can't see, I'm not.. I can't…"

Miroku frowned, "Kags, this wasn't your fault. Even if they know they will hate InuYasha for what happened, not you. You are blameless in all of this. You are the Shikon-no-Miko and as such are in a higher regard than even Sesshomaru. Why do you think I have always called you –sama instead of –nee-chan or –chan?"

It was Kagome's turn to frown as she looked at Sesshomaru, "Is that true?"

He nodded.

'She knows.' His beast told him.

'Barely. Wait. She must heal.' Sesshomaru argued.

'Hn.'

Once his beast had faded back again he looked around.

"If he is near we must move. Even by dark. He will not come near her again, not like this." He told them before standing and holding a hand out to her.

Sango and Miroku nodded before mounting Kirara in her battle form. Rin and Kagome and Jaken got on Ah-Uhn. Sesshomaru led the rest into the sky on his cloud and they headed further west.

"Kagome, you may not believe them now, but you ARE above Sesshomaru-sama in the eyes of Demon Kind. There are many lords, four cardinal, only ONE Shikon-no-Miko." Jaken told her before they all fell silent. Kagome shook her head.

'They lie, everyone lies.'

**Lady Arolen: HA! FOOLED YOU!**

A few hours later they stopped in another clearing. Ah-Uhn and Kirara laid down so their riders could settle against their sides. Jaken woke up during the landing and got to work making a fire. Sesshomaru patrolled and came back to sit near Kagome and Rin and Shippo, who had slid off of Ah-Uhn and promptly passed back out. Sango had put a blanket over the three before sleeping on Kirara.

Miroku eyed the Demon Lord, "She doesn't believe us."

"She will with time, this Sesshomaru is sure." He replied.

"There is more she didn't tell us I think." The Monk mumbled.

"Perhaps, but you must remember, she has been killed and brought back to life less than a day ago. It will take time. To remember, and to speak of all the wrongs put upon her." The Demon Lord stated.

Miroku sighed, "Maybe, I just want to know, she is my sister. I was with them before Sango so I remember the times that were not like this."

"The sword was black you say?" Sesshomaru queried.

"Yes, it was unusual. It didn't feel like anyone I'd met." He answered.

"I wonder if it was the barriers being activated, or residual from whatever allowed him to use the Wind Scar on her." Sesshomaru frowned.

They both fell silent for a while, each lost in their own thoughts before Miroku fell asleep a few hours later.

When dawn approached the Demon Lord was the first to stir. Jaken was second, Miroku and Sango were third. When the two humans awoke, they had already had fish roasting with fruit and rice nearby. Jaken served the two before silently waking the children.

Everyone was as quiet as they could be, all wanted Kagome to get her rest. When she finally woke up, near midday, The kids were playing tag with Sango and Kirara while Miroku watched over them with Ah-Uhn at his side. Jaken was showing something to Sesshomaru who looked at her when she sat up.

"What time is it?" She asked after coming back from her morning duties.

"Near lunch, I will return Sesshomaru-sama." Jaken replied.

Kagome was in a state of panic. She looked fearfully at Sesshomaru before trying to bow.

"Gomen"

"Stop. You do NOT bow to this Sesshomaru, EVER again unless we are in court." He told her sharply.

"I… I don't understand." She stated tears forming in her eyes.

"You are above this Sesshomaru, to bow is to show servitude. You are not this one's servant or slave. You belong to yourself Kagome. You always have. Never bow again." He responded.

"Okaa, he's right. To bow to him is wrong, Lord or not. As your son even I do not have to bow to him." Shippo responded as he approached her.

Everyone watched as she frowned and then sighed. "I still don't understand why you let me sleep until lunch."

"You are weakened by the Hanyo's actions. You needed your rest to heal and get better. We all act according to the needs of the pack, and as Alpha…" Jaken tried to answer upon his return.

"It's his job to see to all needs. I know THAT. But why not put me on Ah-Uhn's saddle to continue forward?" She asked.

"This one did not know how you would respond, given what had happened and how you were yesterday. It was easier and better for all to wait until you woke on your own." Sesshomaru answered her.

Once lunch was had, they started moving by foot again. Rin and Shippo were on either side of Ah-Uhn talking to Kagome who was riding them. Sango and Kirara followed, with Miroku and Jaken in the rear. Sesshomaru of course was in the lead.

For the most part the rest of the day was uneventful. Until they stopped at night in yet another clearing.

"Well well well, what do we have here." A sinister voice asked.

'NO! Not again!'