Deep within the western lands, Sesshōmaru stood guard over his little pack. He seldom indulged his need for sleep when outside the den, and the relatively close proximity to the village Inuyasha called home made him that much more alert. The grove they now rested in was not what he would have chosen, but Rin was recovering from illness and could not travel further today. He was reclined against an ancient tree, right leg bent and his wrist resting casually upon it, his pelt pooled beside him, his ward tucked within.

The forest was alive with the creatures of the night; he tipped his head back, inhaled deeply, eyes drifting to half-mast, automatically cataloging the various scents. The loamy soil of disturbed earth, the sweet smell of sap from the tree above him, the must-and-brimstone scent of the dragonet curled up beside the now dying fire, and the more delicate scent of lavender and cedar of his ward, interlaced the flowers she so often adorned herself with.

His sensitive hearing picked up the sound of a kitsune vixen and her kits as they tumbled through the underbrush just beyond the little grove he and his little pack rested. An owl on near silent wings just barely disturbed the air is it hunted for its dinner.

The nagging feeling remained. Sharp eyes scanned the area, lips pulled back revealing sharper fangs. A muffled thump was immediately followed by a small cry; two of the kits tumbled into the grove in their play. Rin stirred at the sound. With a frown he let loose a warning, the subsonic growl finally getting their attention. A silver brow cocked as they froze, locking eyes with the predator beyond. He had no intention to hurt them of course. Kits were much like pups in their enthusiasm for play. But Rin was only just now recovering from a common human illness, and he would not have anything disturb her much needed rest. The vixen burst through the trees, her red fur bristling, and fangs bared to defend her offspring.

He looked back calmly, the two of them at a standstill. She was still wary but after several long moments she inclined her head in recognition of who he was. He blinked slowly as she turned away before dropping his own as Rin made a small sound of discomfort. He heard rather than saw the young vixen urge her kits back into the safety of the trees, presumably to her den.

Something was still amiss.

Rin raised her head from where she was curled up beside him, big brown eyes blinking sleepily. She opened her mouth presumably to speak but was overcome by a coughing fit. In a rare display of affection, he dropped his hand onto her back, sweeping up and down in a soothing manner as she recovered.

"Lord Sesshōmaru? Is everything alright?"

"Go back to sleep, Rin," he murmured, sharp claws gently combing through her wild mane of hair. "You are safe."

"I know," she mumbled through a wide yawn, tilting her little face up to look at him drowsily, lips tipped up in her characteristic sweet smile. "You're here."

As she snuggled deeper into the thick pelt, he brushed his fingers over her cheek. She hummed happily as her breathing steadied and deepened as she was pulled back once more into sleep.

There in the darkness broken only by the weak starlight above, there was no one to witness his lips tip into the smallest of smiles as he looked down at the tiny human he had taken as his ward. She had been wholly unexpected and at the time of her revival simply a curiosity. But even he the fierce lord of the west, the Inu no Taisho of the House of the Moon, known far and wide for his icy demeanor had succumbed to her charms. Her vivacious personality was complimented by her gentle heart and wide eyed innocence and before he knew it she had wormed his way into the deepest part of the heart he had long thought dead, dancing into his life as the pup he had resigned himself to never having.

It had been a very real concern of his that his people would reject her presence in the den due to her humanity. But he need not have worried; very few were immune to her charms and she had not only been accepted but unanimously welcomed. Rin's whims were usually indulged by most, not to the point of spoiling her, and she was mostly well behaved by youkai standards, far to wild and rambunctious for humans. But he saw no need to clip her wings. He always left the choice to stay or go firmly with her, but he was confident she would never feel the need to leave. At her tender age, she would be influenced by youkai customs and way of life – already she behaved more like a pup than a human child – leaving it unlikely she could ever adjust to living amongst her own kind having grown up with the freedom he'd made sure she had.

Ever since that fateful day in the forest, she had been his to protect, and he did it savagely. So, when that wretched false half breed had the audacity to kidnap her, he had signed his death warrant, whether he knew it or not. No matter the threat, big or small or imagined, he would protect his pup.

His musing was interrupted by Ah-Uhn. Their heads came up almost as one at the same time the nagging feeling from before returned. On reflex, Sesshōmaru settled his hand on Rin's back as he scanned his environment. All was still peaceful, undisturbed by anything unusual. Ah-Uhn heaved themselves up with a groan, all four reptilian eyes focused eastward and up into the heavens.

In a fluid movement, the daiyoukai stood, taking care not to disturb the little nest, neatly stepping around the snoring toad who insisted on following him around to stand beside them. Uhn's eyes slid to his master and dipped his muzzle before once more returning to his vigil.

Ah-Uhn had always been unusual. Sesshōmaru clearly remembered when his father had brought the dragonet home. He'd found them abandoned in a rocky crag on the northern borders of their lands, his father had explained, thin and vulnerable, clearly having been abandoned. The females were vicious in the defense of their offspring until they were self-sufficient before driving them from the nest. Ah-Uhn was far to small to fend for themselves. Indeed, upon further investigating, Toga had found the remote nest far above and deduced they had been driven out most likely due to their perceived deformity. Dragons were vain, proud creatures, with no tolerance for imperfections. It took only the offering of food that coaxed them to follow him home.

His father had intended to gift him with the little dragonet, to give him something to care for. Sesshōmaru had long been aware of his sire's concern of their people's opinion of the young lordling's stoic personality and as such had thought the public display of his caring for them would soften their views of his heir.

It had worked. Even though he himself did not change his ways, the perception of their people did as intended. And as the brothers grew so too did their abilities. Oh, there was the usual electric attacks and flight; but the unusual brothers took it a step further by having a keen sense of intuition – an ability that had at several times proven most useful in regard to danger.

If Ah-Uhn were disturbed by something, Sesshōmaru knew to pay attention.

Something shifted. The dragonet tossed their heads and trundled over to Sesshōmaru's still sleeping pup, Ah fixing his master with a look. With a firm order to guard Rin, the dragonet stumped over to curl around the pelt. Uhn blinked sleepily, his great head tilted to monitor his tiny charge as Ah remained alert and on guard.

The nagging feeling took him to the outskirts of Inuyasha's village. His lip curled at the foul stench that went with locations habited by humans, livestock, unwashed bodies, the standing water of the rice paddies. All of which assaulted his nose in an unpleasant cacophony. Disgusting, but not out of the ordinary.

And then the wind shifted, bringing with it a scent that was hauntingly familiar.

He slipped into the trees a silent specter, following the young miko - for once dressed modestly in the robes of her station - who had so foolishly left the relative safety of the village below, without so much as a weapon. Her stride was even, aura relaxed, not in any sort of hurry as she followed a well-worn path before changing course. He took to the trees so as to avoid discovery, easily keeping pace with the distracted priestess. A good thing. There were youkai within this forest that would love nothing more to make a meal of her; it was only his presence that stayed them, none willing to risk the certain death that would follow should they interrupt his hunt.

Silently he leaped into the boughs of the largest tree. Inuyasha's scent was strong here, no more than a few hours old, but prevalent enough to indicate he spent quite a bit of time here. A curious thing, Sesshōmaru thought idly. One would assume the half-breed would wish to avoid the place of his imprisonment.

She climbed the tree's roots with ease to settle before the great trunk to rest her head against the wood. A familiar pink glow emanated from her skin to combine with the foreign aura of the tree of ages. She stayed still for quite some time. He kept his own aura tight to remain undetected.

Finally, their strange communion came to an end. Kagome stretched and dropped off the protruding roots presumably to return to the village. Sesshōmaru made a move to follow, only to fix eyes on an unwelcome intruder.

Sesshōmaru had routinely kept tabs on his unwanted half-brother and as such was familiar with his unwise choice in a mate. Inuyasha's choice to abandon his goal of becoming a full demon (a course that would only end in his destruction) in favor of becoming fully human to appease her was shameful. So, when the half-breed had met his fate at the end of an enchanted arrow, he had felt no sympathy. A harsh lesson but one that would be learned from.

Except, he hadn't.

Inuyasha had become quite attached to Kagome shortly after she had freed him. Alarmingly so. Whe deceased miko had been returned and trapped in a shell of clay and ash, he had been pleased that Inuyasha's affections had shifted from the living, breathing reincarnation of the abomination that was his former lover.

Except, they didn't.

The fool dithered between the two, chasing after the undead and asserting a claim over the living, denying all three peace with his inability to make a choice.

Thrice Sesshōmaru had crossed paths with the woman-turned-golem. Twice in random happenstance and once to banish her from his lands. All three instances she had been accompanied by her ghostly servants, the Shinidamachū; identical to the one that had slithered before Kagome, twisting, and curling until it had her attention, leading her into the clearing beyond.

Sesshōmaru followed, head tilted as he listened to the ensuing conversation between the two miko.

"Let me give you some advice: you are not strong enough to fight the whims of fate. Accept your lot in life with dignity. You are weak, an imitation, a child playing at being a hero. Do not think you can ever rise above your station," the undead one said coldly. His eyes narrowed at its arrogance. If she only knew…

"That's where you and I differ, Kikyo," Kagome snapped back. "You settled. I'm not going to let the idea of fate and destiny shackle me. You have to take what you want if you want it bad enough – and I'll fight even if it kills me. Maybe I'm just stubborn like Inuyasha says. But at the end of the day, I refuse to give up and have someone dictate my life. It's my life. And no one can take that away from me."

Well said, he thought approvingly. She was not the Kagome he remembered, but the familiar fire of her spirit was the foundation of what he knew she would become.

A slick, oily feeling rushed over him, the foul energy of dark magic gathering strength around the golem accompanied by a loud humming from the well. Its ancient magic twisted against the foreign foul invader, pulsing wildly in its struggle for dominance. Seconds before Kagome fell through the time slip the magic of the well snapped in a chaotic vortex of power before being smothered by a spell the undead one began to carve within the wood.

A shout came from beyond the clearing. Sesshōmaru paid it no mind as the one called Kikyo was carried away by her servants. He wasted no time in darting to the well, leaping up onto the lip of it to peer down into its depths. It was as it has always been. Dry and empty save for a wooden ladder with no hint as to its true capabilities.

Inuyasha burst into the clearing closely followed by his ragtag pack.

"Oi, what the fuck are you doin' here, you icy bastard?"

Sesshōmaru didn't even spare him the courtesy of a glance. Curiosity roused, he stepped off the edgeto drop into the dark shaft, knees bending slightly to absorb the impact. It looked precisely as a dry well should. He pulsed his aura, searching. There was not a single hint of magic remaining. It was as if it had never been.

He jumped and landed several feet away from the assembled party. The slayer stood in a ready stance, holding her weapon at the ready with an easy grace that came with experience. At her side her fire cat companion had shifted into her larger size. Flames licked at her paws but did not burn the grass beneath. She had angled herself in a way to protect the slayer's flank, but also to the small, trembling kit who was just barely managing to put on a brave face as he held what looked to be a child's top in his paws. Wide green eyes met flat gold; the kit yipped and dropped his gaze and bared his neck on instinct, stepping underneath the fire cat who shielded him.

Inuyasha planted himself firmly between his pack and Sesshōmaru. As he should; he did not know if it was instinct that drove the half breed to take the place of alpha, but it was irrelevant. Tessaiga thrummed in its wielder's grip, vibrating in anticipation of the battle to come. An old pang of rage bloomed in his chest at the sight of his birthright wielded by one so unworthy.

The half-breed was a nuisance and at present not worth his time. Instead, he focused on the second male who knelt before the well. It was foolish to have his back turned to an enemy – or perhaps it was faith in his companions that allowed him to direct his attention to other matters? He did have power of his own. Sesshōmaru could sense the spiritual power within him from his training as a monk, but he also had the curious curse of a wind tunnel within his right palm. A formidable weapon if unstable. As it were the monk was inspecting the fresh damage to the wood, lips silently, fingertips just barely grazing over the spell.

"- you just going to fucking stand there? What the hell are you doing here?! If you did something to Kikyo I'll -"

"Inuyasha," the monk called. He was ignored.

"- you stupid bastard. You just don't fucking get it? This is my territory – "

"Inuyasha – "

"– acting all high and mighty with that icicle shoved up your ass –"

"Inuyasha."

"What?" he snarled, not taking his eyes off his half-brother.

"You need to see this." The monk's tone was strained.

"I'm kinda busy here, Miroku!"

Sesshōmaru resisted the urge to roll his eyes. The stain of his house was denser than a stone.

"You would be wise to heed the monk, half-breed," he said with zero inflection.

"And why should I do that, huh?" Inuyasha scoffed, readjusting his grip on his sword. "Knowing you it's gonna be some kind of trick."

"Unlikely," interjected the monk. "Unless your brother has somehow managed to develop an affinity for holy power."

"Half-brother," they answered in unison. Icy gold clashed with molten amber with equal loathing.

"Anyway," Miroku said was a long-suffering sigh, "There is a spell here, one that can only be cast by someone with holy powers. Sesshōmaru-sama for all his formidable power does not have the capability to do so."

"Doesn't mean he couldn't've forced some poor bastard to do it."

Miroku gave his friend an exasperated look.

"What?" Inuyasha asked defensively. "He's evil enough to do it!"

"Perhaps we should ask him as to why he's here," the slayer offered, coming forward to stand beside the monk, leaning forward to examine the carving herself. The fire cat followed, picking the kit up by his collar to carry him with.

"What the fuck, Sango? You're supposed to me on my side!"

"And we are, Inuyasha. But don't you even want to find out why he's here?"

Inuyasha growled. After a few moments of deliberation, he glared at the stoic demon. "Keh. You lay a claw on them and I swear I will shove Tessaiga so far up your ass, you'll be spitting ice chips from that icicle you've got up there. Got it?" He did not sheath his sword, but he did retreat to stand guard by his pack.

All eyes turned to look at the still kneeling monk. His hand passed over the scarred wood, his lips moving silently, brows furrowed in deep concentration.

"The spell here is extremely complex. The foundations of it are very similar to ones I have seen during my training, but they weren't commonly used."

"And why is that?" Sango asked.

"Do you see this here?" He tapped at a string of curious-looking symbols. "The sort of spell that uses these symbols is incredibly elaborate. It is not something that is taught to novices. Years of study would be required to understand the nuances that go into it, not counting the mental and physical training."

"We get it, bouzo, it's powerful," Inuyasha snapped. "But what the fuck does it do and why is it on the well? And what's it have to do with Kikyo and Kagome?"

A dark brow twitched in irritation. "I am getting to that. The spell is incomplete as if they were interrupted. You were here before we arrived. Did you see who was here, Sesshōmaru-sama?"

Sesshōmaru considered the monk. He wore his calm mask well, with only the subtle tightening around his eyes and the deep furrow of his brow being the only outward signs of his worry. The youkai lord was not unaware of the nature of the well – it was how Kagome was able to traverse between the eras. Whatever the nature of the spell was it had the monk deeply concerned for the wellbeing of their missing packmate.

He flicked his gaze to the aged structure. What was done was done. Fate had been set in motion and there would be nothing that they could do to stop it.

"There was a confrontation between the undead priestess and your packmate," he answered with a bored tone.

Inuyasha swore violently, startling the already terrified kit. Sango pulled him into her lap to soothe him. Miroku's grip tightened on his staff, knuckles white.

"What sort of confrontation?"

"Your miko was not injured." They all let out a collective sigh. "The abomination pushed her into the well and inscribed the spell. It was interrupted by the half-breed's bellowing and fled."

"Oi, Kikyo's not an abomination – "

"I see. This is… worrisome."

Sango reached out a hand to squeeze the monk's shoulder, his own hand coming up to cover her own. He took a deep breath to steady himself.

"The spell carved in the wood is a combination of an exorcism and sealing. These symbols here," he traced his finger over the grooves, "they are meant to leech any sort of power from the target. They're used as a last resort for the worst cases. These ones here, they're designed to seal the target, like the one that was used to seal Inuyasha. But because it wasn't finished, it's left the spell unstable."

"Unstable? How unstable?"

"Do you see this ofuda here?" He pointed to it. "It appears Kikyo attempted to patch it with this ofuda but by doing so she's disrupted the structure of the spell that much more."

"So, what do we do to fix it?" Inuyasha demanded.

Miroku bowed his head, bangs obscuring his eyes, shoulders visibly trembling.

"Nothing."

Inuyasha exploded.

"What the fuck do you mean nothing?! You're the expert on this bullshit! Kagome's on the other side of the well!"

Miroku pulled away from Sango and dropped to sit on the well, his expression grave. He clasped his hands before him, head still bowed. Shippou climbed up beside him to peer into the well his tail twitching.

"What I am saying, Inuyasha is the spell has absorbed all the magic in the well. The passage between time is gone, Inuyasha, and cannot be brought back. And – " His voice failed him.

"And what, monk?"

"The spell did more than absorb the powers of the well. It's fractured the passage between time."

Sango gasped. "You don't mean…"

"The chances of Kagome having returned home to her time are slim. Either she's ended up in another time altogether, or she has become trapped between times."

Inuyasha lunged, yanking Miroku up by the collar of his robes, shoving his face to close, snapping his fangs. The usual gold flickered with red as purple markings began to bleed onto his skin. Sango grabbed on his haori but the near-feral half-demon shook her off with ease.

"You're going to find a way, monk," he snarled. "I don't give a flying fuck how, but we're not fucking abandoning Kagome."

"Do you really think I want this?" He snapped back. "If there was a way I would find it. But this isn't something that can be fixed."

"No. You're wrong. She can't be gone!"

"She is and will remain so, half-breed." All eyes snapped to the bored-looking demon lord they had clearly forgotten was there.

"No one fucking asked your opinion –"

"However," he continued over Inuyasha's ranting. "She is not trapped."

The group stilled. "And how would you know that Sesshōmaru-sama?" Sango asked carefully.

"Because I remember her."

A/N: And next time, back to our regularly scheduled programming!