Kagome, Rin, and Sesshoumaru exit the well inside the Higurashi Shrine, Sesshoumaru's confusing thoughts, and Kagome discovers her Grandfather within the Shrine...

As always, Inuyasha and co belong to Takahashi Rumiko :bows: et al.

Present Day Tokyo, Higurashi Shrine...

Sesshoumaru, with Kagome and Rin cradled in his arms, leaped out of the well, crashing and breaking the barrier that blocked the passage to Kagome's home. Scraps of parchments flew every which way as Sesshoumaru set both Kagome and Rin down upon the wooden floor of the shrine. Kagome looked puzzled at the heavy lid that had blocked their passage.

"Who would do this? It's like - someone didn't want me to come back!" Kagome spoke out loud as she picked up a shredded piece of parchment.

"Grandpa!" Kagome cried out, recognizing her grandfather's writing. "He sealed the well!"

"Kagome, are you all right?" Rin looked up at her 'sister'.

"Rin..." Sesshoumaru interjected. The child came to him silently, knowing that she was not to bother Kagome with such questions.

"Grandpa? Sota! Mama!" Kagome cried out, fear for her family making her voice shake.

Meanwhile, Sesshoumaru gazed at Kagome silently, feeling an odd sense of helplessness. He did not like it, not at all. It did not befit a demon such as he.

She weakens me... Sesshoumaru thought as he continued to watch Kagome.

"Child..." A weak voice came from a darkened corner of the shrine.

"Grandpa!" Kagome ran to where her grandfather was lying down.

"I had hoped that you would not come, Kagome." Ukai Higurashi reached a trembling hand up to his granddaughter Kagome.

"What?" Kagome exclaimed. "Grandpa! How could you SAY that? I need to get you inside the house! Where's Mama? Sota?"

"Slaves of the demons, just as all humans - at least in Japan, if not the world itself."

Sesshoumaru had mixed feelings.

So Onigumo's demons now rule and have put the humans in their place. Good.

Yet Sesshoumaru felt a pang of pity for the old man and for the humans too, pitiful creatures. What had changed within him?

Her.. Sesshoumaru came up behind Kagome as she kneeled by her grandfather's side.She has weakened me and yet...

He gazed down at Kagome and her grandfather, silently unsheathing Tenseiga.

Ukai Higurashi was dying. It was only a matter of time now, and Sesshoumaru could not allow the old man to die - at least not now.

"Kagome..." her grandfather's voice was raspy with effort. "You must - " He then took in Sesshoumaru, who stood over Kagome. "Ah..." He smiled slightly. "It seems that you have captured another - heart."

If Sesshoumaru had shown any emotion at all, it would have been derision. He, Sesshoumaru, had no heart. It was the way of powerful demons.

But - what of Rin?

And what of Kagome?

His gold eyes betrayed nothing of his conflicting thoughts.

They are nothing but temporary amusements... Sesshoumaru tried to tell himself.

And then there had been the forest...he had felt more than a physical urge for Kagome. Sesshoumaru had always felt a sort of pride that he had never wanted nor had the need to bed a human, male or female, like many other demons did. Kagome was different, she had always been, at least to him.

The kiss, the intimacy, his bite, claiming her as his before the sexual joining ever occured.

Anticipation.

He loved her? In her 'changing' from a human to a hanyou -perhaps more - did she sense this? He hoped not, at least now. His 'feelings' were confused. Sesshoumaru knew of the physical pleasure of sex, and he knew of tha arranged marriages between demons and demonesses, marrying for territory, for wealth, for the joining of powerful Houses. 'Love' was a foreign word to any youkai.

Was 'love' a desire to protect, to cherish, to please another? He knew he indulged Rin, and had a feeling of responsibility to her, but it wasn't the same as what he felt for Kagome.

"Grandpa...NO!" Kagome cried out. Sesshoumaru silently watched the old man die...waiting...waiting...ah!

He pulled Kagome away from her grandfather but not without protest.

"No! Sesshoumaru, don't!" Kagome saw him slashTenseiga at her grandfather's prone body. In her aggravated state, Kagome was mistaking Sesshoumaru's action for anger.

"Neechan!" Rin gained Kagome's attention. "Sesshoumaru is saving his life, like he save Rin!"

At that moment, Ukai Higurashi sat up.

Only he wasn't old.

"Grandfather?" Kagome stood there wide-eyed.

"Yes, Kagome?" The young man replied.

'Y-you can't be..." Kagome backed away for a moment.

"But I am, child. I suppose your mother never told you that I started out life as a demon."

"N - no." Kagome stammered. "This - uh..." She was at a loss for words.

"Let us go inside the house. For some reason, demons avoid the house..." Ukai replied. "Come, both of you..." He bowed slightly to Sesshoumaru. "Lord of the Western Lands, I've not seen you since your honored father's death. Do you remember me?"

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Hai, Ukai, Prince of the Eastern Lands..I am - honored."

Kagome didn't know what to think!

Ukai Higarashi smiled at his granddaughter reassuringly.

Kagome smiled back - a little. That smile! That was Grandpa's smile!

"Come. I will explain this - and all that has occurred since the Thief took possesssion of this land..."

Ukai showed the trio in...

Chapter Ten: Ukai's Tale and The Betrothal Beyond Kagome's Memory!