Honoring You

By: Star-Gazer20

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, it remains in the hands of its creator, Rumiko Takahashi. I do, however, own my plot and the twisted situations I put her characters in :)

Hello...it's been awhile. Not the longest I've disappeared, but long enough. I hope you all didn't forget about me already!

First things first, I would like to thank all of my reviewers! It's nice to know that someone's reading this. Eventually, maybe I'll do separate responses to each of you. For now, though, I'm only going to focus on mistakes and so forth.

A few cough corrections that you guys were so kind to point out was that "ciao" was spelled wrong….;; I know, I know, I'm horrible at spelling! I can't help it! It's one of my greatest flaws! (Thanks Potatoheaven!) I always assume spellings…

And Yukino, thanks to you! Who would've known…I spelled "Osuwari" wrong…

I did fix these little boo-boos in the last chapter, as well as the "inn" part. I actually almost stopped myself from writing hotel in the beginning, because it didn't seem correct with the time period, but of course, I ignored my muse of intellect as usual! :) I did change that, however.

I also noticed how a few of you commented that the story so far was a little, well, weird. It has a rough start, but it's getting better now that I finally have some decent ideas for it.

Sess and Kag fans: we're not going to see diehard romance between the two for a little while, because I do like to have some character development, as well as some plot development.

I have an overall ending, but let's see if I can focus more on the place where I'm at now, Chapter Two…

Summary: It was a union that not even the fates would have predicted, and when the final battle with Naraku draws closer, the destinies of two people become something that might wreck twice the havoc. Sesshoumaru and Kagome are faced with the ultimate test; how do you stop the end of the world? Sess/Kag

By the way: Italics are usually emphasized words and phrases and thoughts.

IMPORTANT NOTE!! I COULDN'T GET THIS STUPID QUICK EDIT TO WORK WITH ME ON SOME OF THE BOLDING AND ITALICS SO SOME OF THE THOUGHTS WILL BE IN: ' and '
Sorry, abou this, there's only like, four sentences that wouldn't work, but that enough to boil my blood. lol. Have any of you a suggestion of how to work with the Quick Edit? I cna't even get my Title to be underlined or bold...stupid thing!
Honoring You

By: Star-Gazer20

Chapter Two

The stench that was carried in the wind was almost as strong as it had been when he had first ran into the undead woman only moments earlier. The woman that traveled with his brother, Inuyasha, hung over his left shoulder unconscious.

There was a reason he had taken the girl from her bed at the inn, and a reason that he quickly pursued her look-a-like.

As Sesshoumaru sped through the skies, he growled in irritation.

'Where is that rancid corpse? Surely she could not have gotten this far…'

Miroku entered the room that Sango, Kirara, and Kagome were sharing. His sleeve instantly found his nose once more, attempting to rid of the horrible smell the green fog emitted.

Glancing around the small room, Miroku nearly groaned; everyone was out cold, expect for Kagome, as she wasn't even present at all. The shoji wall next to her empty futon had been destroyed.

'I'll have to worry about one thing at a time. Right now, I've got to get the others out of here.'

Miroku squinted to make out Sango's form and rushed over to her. Kirara lay at her side, barely breathing the heavy air.

Miroku noticed that Hiraikotsu had been damaged, the long shaft of an arrow penetrating it though the middle.

'This doesn't look like Kagome's arrow. And she would never attack Sango, so who's is it?'

Miroku plucked the arrow free, and threw it over his shoulder. Working quickly, Miroku swept Kirara and the giant boomerang into his left arm, and pulled an unresponsive Sango up with his right. Slipping her arm around his shoulder to steady her weight, Miroku dashed out the bedroom door and went to go join Inuyasha.

Inuyasha groaned, opening his eyes to find himself on a cold wooden floor, a greenish fog hung unmoving above him.

"What the hell happened…" Rubbing his head, Inuyasha looked around and slowly began to stand, keeping his eyes glued to his surroundings. Noticing that his sword lay on the ground before him, he kicked it closer to with his foot.

'Everything's so quiet...what the hell is going on around here?'

Then, within second, Inuyasha felt something touch his leg. Before he would be coaxed to sleep again, however, he lashed forward, retrieved Tetsusaiga, and spun around to face his opponent.

Inuyasha nearly doubled over in shock; the strange youkai that had made all of this trouble, managed to knock him out cold, and create such a sour odor, was the size of a small child. Its eyes were a nasty yellow and it was covered in a sick, slimly green skin that blended in flawlessly with the fog. Two of it's five limbs it stood upon, another two acted as arms, and the last that came out of it's belly was long and snakelike; what Inuyasha probably saw earlier.

Inuyasha laughed.

"What the hell are you? A garden spite?" The thing, what ever it was, either ignored Inuyasha's racket, or was indifferent to it. It merely smiled wide. Tiny, sharp green teeth appeared as it closed its eyes.

It opened its mouth and screeched.

Miroku had heard the sound halfway across the house, covering his ears, he felt himself beginning to feel weary. Snapping back to reality, Miroku ran through the narrow hallway, until he came to a large rice paper door. Heaving it open as quickly as he could manage, Miroku set Shippou and Kirara just outside of it. Moving to Sango, who lay on the floor behind him, Miroku shook the demon exterminator.

"Sango, wake up!" He whispered almost desperately, "Please, Sango, you need to open your eyes!" Shaking her a couple more times, the young woman began to wake, groggily opening her eyes.

"Houshi-sama?" She questioned, sitting up slowly, "What's going on?" Miroku sighed.

"I'm not entirely sure of that myself, what I do know, is that Lady Kagome is missing and Inuyasha went off chasing the cause of all of this fog…" Standing, Miroku bent over to lend her a hand. Sango eyed it warily and finally took it, allowing herself to stand as well. As she did, Miroku handed her Hiraikotsu.

"I think Inuyasha's in the next room; I heard a noise coming from this direction." Pointing at the open doors, he went through them with Sango following.

The two entered the room, only to find Inuyasha doubled over with his hands pressed into his ears. They ran to their comrade and Miroku nudged him gently, careful not to hurt him if he were in pain.

"Inuyasha," Sango started, in a strong voice she used only when in battle, "What's going on?" Inuyasha looked up at his friends, but didn't uncover his ears.

"It's some sort of youkai that can put its enemy to sleep with the ugly thing that hangs out its stomach. Don't let it touch you."

"Miroku looked slightly confused, moving one of Inuyasha's hands from his ear, Miroku questioned the dog demon, "Then why are you coving your ears?" Inuyasha sent the mock a look and spat.

"Every time the stupid thing opens its mouth, it sends out a horrid screech. Cover you're ears when it-" Just as Inuyasha finished his sentence, the creature, who was hidden for sometime, appeared in front of the group smiling.

It opened its mouth, and screamed.

Once the thing finally stopped shrieking, Inuyasha lowered his hands and tucked then inside his sleeves arrogantly, "I told you morons to cover your ears!"

"Well, we've certainly got ourselves something…" Miroku heard Sango mumble, agitation dripping off her words.

"Well, then, Miss Exterminator, tell us how do we kill this dipshit garden gnome?" Inuyasha barked, growing edgy as he eyed the youkai before them.

"It's not that simple…" Sango started. Miroku looked from the youkai to Sango, and finally spoke.

"Why isn't it coming at us? It's strange, but all it does is sit there…yelling."

"It's called a Himei. It's not surprising, really, that it's not coming towards us. I'm surprised on how it even got here." Inuyasha and Miroku exchanged a look, but readied themselves if the thing did attack.

"Himei tend to be creatures that keep to themselves, they usually live deep in caves, and hate light. This one's a baby, so it probably can't even sense you that well yet. They're blind, but extremely fast. Be on you're guard." Inuyasha let out a "feh" and drew Tetsusaiga.

"Well, if it's that stupid, and that weak, I say we just kill it quickly, before it screeches again." Sango made a move to stop Inuyasha, but it was too late; Inuyasha charged at the Himei before she could even reach him.

"Die!" Lifting his sword into the air, Inuyasha fell back as it hit something large and solid, "Wha-"

"Hiraikotsu!" Sango released the boomerang just in time to stun the giant youkai that blocked Inuyasha's attack. Miroku ran and quickly dragged Inuyasha away from the beast just as it swung a heavy limb down into the floor where he had once been standing.

"Don't you ever listen, Inuyasha!" Sango practically screamed, "Wherever there's a baby there's usually always a mother!" Inuyasha paused, a sudden realization striking him.

"Where's Kagome?" Miroku, dodging the angry mother's arm, backed up into the others slowly.

"Lady Kagome is probably safer then we are. I suggest we discuss this topic later…"

"What happened to her?" Inuyasha yelled, sending a slice into the youkai's massive green leg.

"Look, Inuyasha, when I got to the room, she wasn't with Sango and Kirara. I'm sorry, but can this please wait?" Miroku moved his head away from another limb just before it knocked it clean off his shoulders, "I would like to know that we're all alive; I don't think we'd have much luck retrieving Lady Kagome if we were dead."

The three grabbed there weapons tightly, and readied themselves for the next blow.

"A friendly warning," Sango said, biting her lower lip and pacing herself, "Don't let the Mama open it's mouth."

Kikyo sighed, cupping her palms and lowering them into the stream before her. The water's temperature stung her hands but she ignored it. Bringing the icy water to her lips, she drank the liquid slowly.

She wasn't in the happiest of moods on this night, angry that she hadn't been able to kill the stupid girl who posed as her reincarnation. The only thing that she had been successful in doing was in stealing the Shikon shards from the bitch. Holding up the tiny bottle in which housed the said shards, Kikyo smiled bitterly. As long as she had these, Inuyasha was bound to come to her.

Kikyo sighed once more, driving an impatient hand through her raven locks, attempting to ease herself. She wore an impenitent frown now and thought back on her meeting with the sleeping woman.

The reason she even went after the wench in the first place was to steal the Shikon shards from her. Kikyo hadn't intended on being caught, least of all by Inuyasha's brother. "It's his fault I wasn't able to kill her, he interrupted me…"

"As I come to interrupt you again."

Kikyo turned around, startled by the voice, and slightly annoyed that she hadn't sensed the presence.

"Sesshoumaru."

"I have yet to know what you are called."

"Kikyo." Kikyo paused; had it been wise to give this Taiyoukai her name? She brushed it off, just in time for her dark eyes to fall upon the figure that hung over Sesshoumaru's back.

"Kikyo?" Sesshoumaru questioned, "Is this the name of her as well?" To emphasize his words, he sat the lifeless woman-child he had been carrying on the ground none to lightly. Kikyo sneered.

"Why is she here? As I might add, why are you here?"

"Wench," Sesshoumaru growled, "I have more right than any to be anywhere within my lands." Kikyo turned her back to him and went back to freshening herself up in the stream.

"I am not one you should turn your back upon."

"Leave; as I have no wish to speak with you, regardless of your importance. If you are not important to me, than you are not worth my time." Kikyo closed her eyes and splashed more cold water unto her face.

"Wrong words, wench." Sesshoumaru said calmly. Before Kikyo could blink next, she felt herself being lifted into the air by the back of her neck, "If you are wise, you will tell me the name of that woman-child."

"I d-on't kno-w" Kikyo managed to say, as she struggled under his grip, "I c-are not fo-r h-er, jus-t as lon-g as sh-e die-s."

"Why do you wish her dead so badly?" Sesshoumaru inquired, releasing Kikyo and throwing her into the water beside him. Kikyo took a moment to rub the tender skin around her throat before she looked up at him and snarled.

"Why do you care, it's not your business." Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes.

"I have authority to know the affairs of my people; whether I kill to receive those answers or not." Kikyo stared back at him for a moment. If she was scared, her face did not portray her feelings.

"She is a nuisance to my revenge on Inuyasha. This woman who claims to be my reincarnation will not get in the way of my reprisal. Nothing will."

"Reincarnation." Sesshoumaru confirmed, glancing back at the figure behind him, laying on the ground. Yes, it makes more sense now…that she is with my brother. But what happened to make this Kikyo want such revenge? Enough to make her come back from the dead to achieve it?

Before Sesshoumaru was able to question the undead Miko further, Kagome began to show signs of waking up. Almost frantically, Sesshoumaru turned his head to the skies, leaped upwards, and disappeared.

Kikyo, who turned to look at Sesshoumaru, saw nothing but air where the demon lord had once been standing. Frowning, Kikyo raised herself from the water and shivered as a chilly wind swept past.

"Uh…" Kagome's head hurt, that's all she could really concentrate on at the moment, she felt a little colder too. Kagome sat up fully, and noticed that she was still in her pajamas. She wasn't even in bed, or anywhere near the inn, for that matter.

Instead, she sat in the middle of a field, surrounded by a forest on all sides, and…was that a stream some ways ahead of her? Kagome squinted in the darkness, and saw something walking away from the water. She gasped.

"Kikyo."

Kikyo froze, and slowly turned around, meeting the shocked, blue eyes of Kagome. She hid a sneer and turned around again, continuing into the forest before her.

"Wait! Kikyo! Don't go, please!" Kagome called after the retreating form of Kikyo, and was surprised when the other woman actually stopped. Kagome took this opportunity to find out where she was.

"Where am I? How did I get here? Please, Kikyo, I know we're not on the best of terms…but…"

"Inuyasha's brother brought you here. For what reasons, I am not sure of.

"What? Why would Sesshoumaru bring me here? That doesn't make much sense…" Kagome was utterly bewildered, why the hell would Sesshoumaru, of all people, take her from wherever she was and- "The inn! I've got to back there!"

Kikyo stiffened at the mention of the inn, but remained unfazed, "Why? So Inuyasha can protect you?" Kikyo scoffed, unable to turn around. She stood still and waited for Kagome's response.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome started, almost laughing lightly, "Is that what this is all about?" Kagome, silently wondering if Inuyasha was all right, decided to solve her problems one at a time.

"He protects you to a great extent, if you have not noticed." There was almost a sad, envious tone in Kikyo's voice, "I have never seen him fight so well in battle, as you have been there, besides him."

"No! It's nothing like…that…" Kagome blushed, standing up and walking to where Kikyo stood across the stream from her. Kagome only made it to the shore.

"Then what is it?" Kikyo nearly yelled, turning around to face her reincarnation angrily, "Why are you even here? You don't belong here! Not in this time, not in this story, not with Inuyasha!" Kikyo's shoulder's slumped slightly, and her eyes watered enough for Kagome to step back slightly.

"It's my fault-"

"Everything's your fault! The Shikon shattered by your hand, causing my resurrection and Inuyasha's split feelings-"

"Split…feelings?" Kagome interrupted, "What do you mean?" Asking the last part in barely a whisper, Kagome feared the worst. Kikyo looked at her like she was crazy.

"Can't you tell? Are you that blind? Can't you tell that Inuyasha, he…that he…" for once in the fifty years she harbored her inner conflict with Inuyasha, Kikyo allowed her mask to slip. A single tear, although small, trailed down her cheek until it fell the rest of the way to the ground, "Inuyasha loves you." Kikyo, saying this, stared down at the stream that separated her from Kagome. It seemed as if she was just realizing this herself. Falling unto her knees in the cold liquid, Kikyo stared wide-eyed at her moving reflection.

"Kikyo, I-" Kagome began, unsure of what to do or say. But Kikyo ignored her and went on talking, as if Kagome weren't even present.

"I-I cared for him so much…I it doesn't make sense why he'd forget…and…and…love you." She finished, looking up at Kagome. Kagome only sighed and squatted down to be eye level with Kikyo.

"Kikyo," She started, speaking softly, "He hasn't forgotten."

"How do you know this?" Kikyo asked after a pause, "How can you be as sure?"

"Because I have not forgotten," Kagome explained, "The only way I feel that I can fall in love with him, is because you had loved him first." Kikyo looked at her confused.

"I don't understand…"

"I remember loving him as you." Kagome said simply, as if it were common knowledge. After a few minutes, Kagome stood up and reached her arm towards Kikyo, "Lets not stay in this water any longer, we'll catch cold if we're not careful."

It was a long time before any one of them moved, but Kikyo finally reached her hand up, grasping Kagome's as she stood.

The two sat on the field next to the stream and watched the night. It was another long while before either of them spoke.

"Do you love him, then?" Kikyo finally asked, just as a cool breeze swept passed them. Kagome paused.

"Enough to give my life for him, yes. Enough to support him in the things he does, yes. But to say that I live only for him, to love only him, no, I do not and I could not." Kagome sighed and laid herself on her back.

"Hm." Kikyo responded staring out into the darkness of the surrounding forest.

"But, I guess in some ways, I will always love him somehow. Even if it is not the same way I did when I was you."

"So you believe that we are as one?"

"Just as I believe that I once lived as you, I believe that you still live on through me. As I will live on through the next reincarnation in the lifetime after my own."

"Will you stop loving Inuyasha, then?" Kikyo whispered. She closed her eyes and listened to her heartbeat.

Will I forget about him too? If I really do live on through this girl?

"I know we will not forget. Love like that is never forgotten. But I don't think it's possible to love someone for everyone of your lifetimes." Kagome sighed, taking in a fresh breath of air as she answered Kikyo's thoughts.

"You do not know love very well then, do you?" Kikyo almost seemed like she were teasing Kagome.

"Not yet, but I am still young. You found love in Inuyasha as Kikyo. Now, I will find love as Kagome."

Kikyo smiled, a feature that went unseen to Kagome because of the darkness that surrounded them even though dawn peaked on the horizon. Kikyo turned her head to look at Kagome, "Yes, you will find love were love concerns you. Everyone must wait for such things." Kikyo made a move to leave. "What is your name?"

"…Kagome."

"An honorable name."

Kikyo's figure faded from Kagome's view, and met to blend in with the shadows of the trees and underbrush a distance away from where she still sat. Kagome sighed, unsure of were this left her relationship with Kikyo. It was a fact that the two were nothing close to friends.

And just before now, the two had been enemies pursuing the same goal.

Or so they had thought.

"I guess this means she doesn't want to kill me any longer…" Kagome said, fingering a familiar necklace with a tiny glass bottle at its end. Inside, the Shikon shards shone a bright pink before humming slightly and dimming.

Kagome smiled. Yes, she would find love. Where, she was unsure of, but she had a feeling that maybe it would find her first.

The thing was really just a huge version of its baby with the same nasty yellow eyes, green skin, and five limbs dangling from its body.

Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha were cornered by the demon on one side, and by a wall on the other.

"How do we beat this thing? Now would be a good time to know…" Inuyasha started, somewhat puzzled that the mother Himei wasn't attacking; almost like its baby hadn't. Inuyasha voice his thoughts out loud, "How come the thing isn't attacking?"

"As long as we don't move, it won't either. When it screeches, it uses the sound waves to tell what is threatening it. It uses a silent screech to tell where it's moving. That horrible smell is it's breath. It appears as a fog-like substance. The Himei can't hear you very well if you talk to it, so it doesn't matter if we talk, just don't move."

"Great! How are we supposed to kill it if we can't even move?" Inuyasha grumbled, obviously not in a very good mood, "I'm sick of standing here!" Inuyasha lifted his Tetsusaiga, which he had been resting against the ground, and positioned it in front of him, "Kaze no Kizu!" Once finding the Wound of Wind, Inuyasha released his attack, and sent it fly towards the Himei.

"Inuyasha! No!" Miroku growled uncharacteristically and went to aid Inuyasha. Sango slapped a hand on her forehead and followed after Miroku.

The Himei appeared to be quite angry; lashing it's wounded arms at the trio and slamming its feet into the floor as it ran forward. Most of the inn had been destroyed by this point, save a few wooden beams that still lodged into the ground beneath them. Thanks to Inuyasha, the ceiling collapsed and much of the wooden floorboards were torn in two.

As Sango and Miroku attempted to attack the thing, in any way possible, they had to be careful; the appendage that hung out from the creature's belly was far more deadly then any of its others. Sango made specific mention of this.

"Houshi-sama! Watch out for the limb at the youkai's center." Sango called, as she dodged the said ligament, "If it touches you, you'll be stunned. It'll put you to sleep."

"Is there any way to defeat it?"

"A few ways, but there's only one that'll do the job for sure. There's an area of skin on the back of its neck that's fairly weak. If one of us were able to hit the Himei and break open it's skin there, it wouldn't be able to move."

"It's worth a shot, then. Hey, Inuyasha!" Miroku yelled to Inuyasha, who had been having difficulties of his own with another one of the youkai's arms.

"What?" Inuyasha called, slamming his sword into the green skin of the Himei's arm and dragging it downwards along the length.

"Aim your attacks at the back of its neck!" Inuyasha nodded to Miroku and quickly ran his way to the back of the creature.

"Whatever you say, but this had better work! Kaze no Ki-" Just before Inuyasha was able to finish his attack, the Himei managed to swing around its injured tentacle and hit him square in the chest. Inuyasha flew backwards into wall and slumped over in pain. A gash covered his right arm.

As the monster moved to finish Sango and Miroku, lashing out with it's middle appendage. Miroku moved Sango behind him and readied for the blow.

But it never came.

Miroku and Sango glanced up at their attacker, only to find the youkai motionless. The beast began to open its mouth, but before it was able to screech in protest of something, it's body fell forward in their direction. Miroku grabbed Sango's hand just in time to pull her away with him. The corpse fell only inches from were they stood.

Sango looked up in surprise, searching for the cause of this event. Turning her head slightly, dark chocolate eyes met scarlet ones.

"Kirara?" Sure enough, the neko youkai stood atop the body of the Himei, blood dripping down her chin. Kirara was transformed into her larger form, standing upon the Himei's upper back. Miroku noticed the gapping hole where Kirara had made her attack, and sighed in relief.

"It's a good thing you got here in time, Kirara, and not a moment too late." Kirara purred in ratification and made her way to where Sango was.

"Good work Kirara." Sango said softly, lightly stroking the cat demon's ears. Miroku stood up and went over to Inuyasha but stopped.

"Sango," He said cautiously, "Where did the baby go?"

"Behind you." Miroku spun around and looked at the bloody mess upon the floor.

"What happened to it?" He questioned, noticing the youkai lay dead and unmoving, "Did Kirara…?"

"It killed itself when it felt it's mother die. These things may not look it, but they're very sentimental. Whenever a mother dies, its child is likely to follow. I guess it's just the nature of the baby to attach itself to its mother."

"Well, that certainly makes our job easier." Miroku laughed and walked over to where Inuyasha sat slumped against one of the few pieces of standing walls, "Go check to see if the innkeeper is alive, I'll tend to Inuyasha. Shippou should be right outside where the door to this room used to be."

After Inuyasha's wound was bandaged, Shippou was collected along with Kagome's supplies, and the building debris were checked for any signs of life, the group gave those they found dead a proper burial.

"It's a shame that all of this death and destruction always has to follow us." Sango said, quietly placing some wildflowers she had found nearby onto one of the graves.

"Yeah…" Inuyasha said in one of his rare moments of sympathy, "A lot of people have died recently." Miroku looked over at Inuyasha and gave him a small smile. Continuing his prayers, the others bowed their had slightly as well. It wasn't until Shippou spoke that anyone moved.

"Hey, Inuyasha," The fox cub spoke softly, fearing the worst, "Where's Kagome?"

Everyone went silent, and Miroku gave Sango a weary look.

"Shippou," Miroku said, bending down to match Shippou's height, "We're not really sure. She's most likely well, so don't worry too much, okay?" Everyone paused and waited for Shippou's response. The cub's eyes grew large and watery; he sniffed, and exploded into a ball of hysterics. Miroku slowly backed away, afraid to say anything else.

"Inuyasha! You stupid dog! Why didn't you protect her! Now she's…gone!" Shippou cried, latching himself to Inuyasha's arm. Inuyasha looked away in a moment of arrogance and closed his eyes.

"Shut up, kid. You're disturbing me." Inuyasha growled lightly, shaking the demon off his arm, "How am I supposed to sniff her out if I've got a fox clawing up my arm?" Shippou sniffed loudly but loosened his grip and fell to the ground.

Inuyasha paused and inhaled, searching the wind for any signs of Kagome. Once he found something, he smirked.

"This way. She's not far." Taking off, Inuyasha headed to the east. Kirara took to the skies with Sango, Miroku, and Shippou on her back, flying towards the coming sunrise.

When the group finally found their missing friend, the skies were still fairly dark; a few stars littered the heavens, but began to fade as day quickly approached. Smoke wafted up into the air from the tiny fire beneath it. Around the fire sat six companions, shivering in the chilly morning air.

"What happened to you, Kagome?" Shippou asked, running to sit on her lap, "Everyone woke up and you were missing." Kagome smiled, and thought back to her meeting with Kikyo. Then, Kagome remembered how the Miko told her Sesshoumaru had taken her form the inn, for whatever reasons, and left her with the other woman. Giving Inuyasha a glance, only to find that he was listening intensely, Kagome sighed.

"When I opened my eyes, I found myself here, in this field…alone." It wasn't like her to lie, but she didn't see how the truth would help much either; especially where Inuyasha was involved.

"Alone?" Inuyasha repeated, narrowing his eyes as they searched her face for something; any hint that she may be lying. When he appeared to see none, he sat back slightly, but didn't take his eyes off of her. Kagome swallowed down her uneasiness. Shechose to look at Shippou in her lap instead.

He can probably smell Sesshoumaru and Kikyo on me. I hope he doesn't question me again…

Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha retold of their encounter with the Himei to Kagome as she cuddled Shippou in her lap. Kirara lay several feet from the campfire, watching the flames intensely.

Sango looked especially worried, and she hadn't said much since they had found Kagome in the field, nearly a half an hour earlier.

"Sango," Miroku said gently, the first to notice Sango's silence, "What's wrong?" Everyone turned their attention on the two and awaited Sango's reply.

"I don't understand why a Himei would come all the way down from the mountains to attack a human village. They're known to be a more peaceful demon and rarely let themselves be seen by humans." Sango answered finally.

"Who cares. We didn't find any shards. It was a pointless fight." Inuyasha asked, perplexed at Sango's words. Kagome gave him a look and he shrunk back somewhat.

"Is that all you care about? Shards?" Kagome asked, obviously frustrated at the hanyou.

"Settle down, Inuyasha, this isn't a time to start a fight." Shippou, yawned, attempting to act mature.

"Shut up you-"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome warned. Knowing what she threatening him with, Inuyasha muttered something and sat back, moving the rosary around his neck nervously.

"Sango is right," Miroku started to say, staring into the fire, "It is strange that a creature who hides from humans would come to a human village, of all places. Not to mention, we didn't find any shards."

"Or any evidence that this was ever Naraku's doing." Sango finished, looking up at the Houshi.

"We should wait this one out, and see where it takes us. If anything else happens, we'll gather what facts we can," Miroku said calmly, making move to stand, "Come and help me gather more wood, Inuyasha; we're going to have to build a larger fire if we plan on making breakfast.

"I'm not in the mood."

"Inuyasha…" Kagome raised her voice slightly, "If you want to eat, then you'll help Miroku."

"Feh." Inuyasha grumbled and rose to his feet.

"So glad you see it my way," Miroku happily chirped, and began walking away, "How nice to know you can stop picking fights, and help me pick up wood, instead. You can be almost friendly when you put your mind to it!"

"Why do you always blame it on me! She started it! And I'm not friendly…" Inuyasha's voice faded away as he walked after Miroku.

"You need to learn a thing or two about women, Inuyasha…"

As the two men ventured into the forest, the ladies sat back and watched as the last of the stars faded.

Shippou lay across Kagome's lap now, sleeping silently. Sango bent over to tousle Kirara's fur before she sat up straight and stretched.

"So Kagome, what really happened earlier?" Sango inquired, smiling slightly, "You really had Inuyasha going. He seemed like he wanted pounce on you for some reason. Who were you with?" Kagome laughed nervously and shook her hands out in front of her.

"You've got it all wrong! I woke up here, alone…"

"I hardly believe that." Sango spoke, resting her gaze on Kagome, "Inuyasha can be pretty dumbfounded at times, but when his keen on something, he usually is knows what's up. Especially where his nose is concerned."

"Well, we had better be getting some water to a boil! There's a stream down this way!" Kagome stood quickly, and placed Shippou on the ground behind her. Wrapping him in a blanket she dug out from her yellow backpack, she placed a small kiss on his forehead.

Kagome stopped to grab a few small containers and went to the stream, "You'll have to help me carry all of the water, Sango-chan!"

Sango sighed and lifted herself to her feet. Shaking her head, the demon exterminator said nothing else on the previous matter and went to help her friend.

So, how is it?

This chapter was kind of long, and it didn't turn out the way I had originally wanted it to. Yes, and I know, Sesshoumaru was a little more out of character then usual, with asking all of those questions, and looking into something that he would have normally passed up. Gasp! Sesshoumaru nosey? Lol.

He's going to be slipping in and out of character for awhile, just until I develop him in a way where he can still be himself, but be change somewhat also. Get it? You will, don't worry.

Also, with Kikyo, I wanted to get all of the Kagome-Inuyasha-Kikyo tension out of the way. This story isn't going to concentrate on the love triangle, because Kagome doesn't love Inuyasha that way. That would just add too much extra unwanteds in my plotline.

Naraku's been hiding too, huh? I wonder what this means? (Well, I know, but you'll just have to find out….).

Again, like always, if you have anything you'd like to email me with, you can contact me 24/7 at SpaceCase2 which is a hotmail account. It won't let me put the "At" sign in or anything, so you'll have to go by this, sorry...

The only thing that isn't always available 24/7 is the response service…although I usually check my mailbox daily.

Ciao! .

Star-Gazer20