The sixth and final addition to 'The Bound Youkai Series'

Title: Our Everlasting Fate

Author: Kiba/KibaSin

Warning: Language/Violence/Slight Nudity

Summary: Read the battle between the two sides. Read as finally the demoness Kagome is released, and what happens will probably shock you. Wait to find out if Midoriko completes her Game of Fate, or if it all falls apart. Read and find out what happens in the end.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters.

Rating: PG-13/T

Genre: General


She groaned as the light of the sun rose above the trees and caressed the skin of her face. However, she managed to remove its rather annoying presence by burying her face in the chest of the currently purring youkai. Wait, purring? The miko Kagome cracked her eyes open to see the golden eyes of her lover staring down at her, his chest giving off a rumble that sent shivers down her spine. As she gazed up at him with love, however, the inuyoukai moved his face to her neck, pressing his mouth to the marking placed there, before lapping his tongue over it. It sent the most delightful feelings coursing through her, but Sesshoumaru did something rather like a feasting animal after he ran his tongue over the crescent moon like shape. He bit down…

Kagome stiffened when his fangs sank back into his mark, the miko not quite understanding the need he had for her sizzling blood, which coursed down the back of his throat. However, he continued to let out his contented growl, before finally removing his fangs from the marking, his nose rubbing against the bleeding area for a moment. Afterward, though, he bathed it with his tongue once more, healing the double fanged mark easily with his healing saliva. The punchers from his longest canines were the easiest to see, but the blue crescent moon that had formed on the base of her jugular had covered the others. Sesshoumaru, nuzzling his nose against the marking once more, delighted in the feel of his mate against him, needed to know that the female within his arms was his own, and to please his beast bit back into the mark, tasting the blood of their miko—the same blood that had been mixed with his own the night before when he cut open his tongue and mixed together their blood through the marking he'd created.

He still was not sure how the mating had been completed, exactly, but he had to thank whatever strange occurrence had taken place the night before. He'd thought about it long and hard during the night, watching as his little miko mate slept within his arms. He'd came to the conclusion that her miko abilities had completed the bonding when he mixed their blood together, blending their aura, their lifespan, and their powers together as one, instead of having to make the little miko go through a painful ceremony. Even though he did not need much sleep, he'd laid forehead against her neck, drifting into a light sleep with his peaceful feeling of completion, before awakening when her heartbeat began to differ from her dream state, telling him of her awakening.

Giggling a little, Kagome locked her arms around the inuyoukai's neck, the feel of his boa wrapped around them giving her the feeling of being safe and warm. Her hands reached for his silvery hair, running her fingers through the silky locks, amazed still that this creature was to be her mate, no, was her mate! In youkai terms, but what would she tell her mother? The elder miko would surely be angered with her, or perhaps she would merely want her to have a traditional ningen wedding within the village. Would Sesshoumaru want that? Probably not… However, she allowed her mind to leave those thoughts behind, smiling when Sesshoumaru lapped over the marking once again, as if he were afraid it would not be there the next time he checked. She couldn't blame him, she was still a little shaken after the night before, since it was hard for her to just come out and say that they had mated, and that she could never leave his side.

Sesshoumaru tilted his head, looking at the marking from a different angle, before lapping his tongue over it once more. He knew that pleasure was flooding throughout his mate's body, probably bringing her blood to a boil, but he also knew that his beast had been rather rough the night before, and he should allow her to rest before another round in the woods. So, instead of allowing his instincts to take hold of his mind, he held back, nudging her shoulder with his nose, before bathing his mark in his scent, making sure others, even ningen, would know that the little miko beside him belonged to him. Though he could remember long ago telling himself his heart was his own, and no one but him would own it, he allowed her to take ahold of it, allowing her to keep him as her own, so he belonged to her as much as she belonged to him. Everyone would know that, for if they tried to take her from him, they would not only learn of the inuyoukai's possessive nature, but possibly his jealousy, for she was his mate and no one but him had the right to be with her as he was now.

Kagome waited, feeling his claws run down her side, touching her, trying to cover her in his scent as he told her he would probably do once she awakened. She would not stop him, no, for it was simply something that he, as a youkai, was pushed to do by his instincts. Of course, she did smile when he finally lifted his head, his golden eyes staring into her own, a small hint of a smile forming on his perfect lips. Giving a grin, Kagome said, "I love you, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru blinked a moment, before thinking over her words. He knew what they meant, but he had never had anyone who he had ever truly loved before. However, he turned to his mark, touching it for a second, before bringing his nose up to nudge against her chin. Growling, he replied, "Mine. My miko. My mate." His voice was low enough to be a whisper, but when she hugged him tighter around the neck he knew she'd heard him. His words had obviously made her happy, and that made him happy as well. After all, the miko didn't understand when he growled his own love to her, so he'd have to remember to tell her more often than not, for he might lose her as his mother had lost his father so long ago.

Happiness knew no bounds for the little miko in his arms, as tears began forming in her eyes suddenly. She hadn't actually thought he'd reply at all, merely going back to his mark to bathe it more with his tongue, but now it was obvious she was wrong. However, as the tears streaked down her cheeks, she heard Sesshoumaru whimper, obviously wondering what was wrong with her, since she'd wanted to hear the words he'd spoken. His whimpering continued, before she felt his tongue brush over her cheek, cleaning her of her tears, before she smiled at him, causing him to tilt his head to the side as she peeked out at him from under her lashes. Blinking, however, Kagome noticed that he'd tensed, his head up and alert, watching the forest around them like a predator waiting for its meal to come through the bushes.

"Someone is coming," he whispered, staring out into the woods. His eyes hardened when suddenly Kagome's neko friend broke through the tree line, before coming forward, Suni growling a little at him. He watched as the neko-youkai laid down against his mate's back, while she held onto his arms, watching the forest herself. Though she didn't seem to mind the neko-youkai, she tensed when suddenly a woman dressed in, strangely, a black and white miko garb stepped out of the forest.

Listening to her suddenly pounding heart, he heard her whisper, "Mother" before trying to bury herself deeper into his chest. Not that he minded, but as he watched the elder miko closely, he saw that she held nothing against the fact that they were lying together in, well, an embrace that would have told anyone they were not just friends, as she'd told her mother when they'd first met. Of course, the miko had been inside one of the huts, tending to an older ningen male with a broken arm, so he had not actually gotten to see her while Kikyo went inside to hiss about the youkai inside the village. Their mother hadn't seemed to care that much, but had merely told them that in order to keep the village quiet and peaceful they would need to stay in the forest on visits. That was around the time Kikyo had came stomping out of the hut, her aura filled with a deeper hatred for him suddenly, as Kagome finished patching up her friend, Suni, enough to show him back out into the forest, and to whisper where to meet her.

It had been that whisper that led them together. That very whisper that had caused him to spend most of his nights with the little miko, causing his heart to become more entangled within her wicked grip. That little whisper to meet her later that night had caused him to become what he had once thought would be the end of his life; he'd become like his father, a ningen lover. Except, he was Sesshoumaru, no one would dare defy his decision to take a ningen mate, no one would go against his rule when they told them they're Lady of the Western Lands was a ningen. No, for he would kill those who tried to take her from him, he would kill those who tried to take the pup he knew was growing within her womb. He was unlike his father, Touga, for he would not simply go around with another woman once his first pup was grown, like his had, no, for though he might have not wanted to admit it at first… his heart was completely within her grasp. No one else would ever know of his love.

Kagome frowned against the chest of her mate, tears beginning to well in her eyes as she thought of the words her mother might say to her. True, her mother might not have been against the idea of youkai walking the land, but she was positive that she would not like the idea of one of her own daughters' mated to one of the creatures. Even if she wasn't, she was sure that Kikyo would have a few choice words about her choice. Kikyo hated youkai, so it wouldn't surprise her when she allowed her mate to come within the village, Kikyo telling her about how she'd lowered herself in the eyes of others, how she'd defiled her body with the essence of a youkai, how she'd probably lost her miko abilities when she'd allowed the youkai into her body. Kagome gave a small shake of her head, thinking, No, I will not allow Kikyo to say such things about Sesshoumaru. She doesn't know him as I do.

Kagome's mother came forward, standing a few yards away from the couple, her eyes soft as she watched the youkai wrap his arms tighter around the young girl, obviously sensing her sudden downhearted mood. She smiled, however, causing a dark brow to be raised on the youkai's face, the boa, obviously enchanted, tightening its grip when the youkai did. She knew that this Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, was now apart of her family, but she also knew that her smile had probably made the youkai think her mind had suddenly turned to purifying him. No, she would respect her daughter's decision, which was why she merely called out, "Kagome, dearest, you've been gone all morning. I was beginning to get worried. However, I do have one question for you?"

Blinking, Kagome turned her face so she could see her mother, a woman by the name of Sorano. She saw the smile on her face, and though confusion raced through her bones, she knew deep down that her mother approved of her choice. After all, her mother had always told Kikyo and her that they deserved the best, and the best was wherever their hearts chose to lie. "Yes, mother?" she asked, wondering what could be so important that her mother sought her out. True, she must have been worried about her, but what else could she be worried about?

Sorano frowned, before giving a long sigh. She was not sure how she was going to ask this, since she knew of Kikyo's growing hatred. It would not take merely one night for her eldest to accept her youngest. No, but still, she allowed, "Have you seen Kikyo this morning?" to pass from her lips without much thought.

It was not Kagome that answered, though her lips had opened to do so. "Kikyo has not been seen," Sesshoumaru said, pulling Sorano's attention to himself. He knew that Kagome had been ready to answer, but had done so himself since he had better senses than his little mate. He had not sensed Kikyo since the night before, when she'd walked away from them and deeper into the forest. Obviously the elder miko woman had thought that he could not sense her simply because he could not smell her. She was an imbecile to have even allowed such thoughts to pass among her thoughts if that had been her plan. He had thought she'd merely turned tail and went back to the village, but it appeared she had not. He chose to tell Kagome's mother this, and after doing so the woman frowned deeply, her lip being brought between her teeth as she worried it.

Sorano nodded, saying, "I feared as much."

Kagome blinked again, feeling her limps move to place her on her feet. Obviously Sesshoumaru was not modest at all, for he simply stood, moving to where he'd tossed their clothing, pulling on his hakama, before coming to her side. She felt the boa that had been draped over her tighten its hold, clinging to her like a second skin, curling around the sections of her body Sesshoumaru had told her he would never allow another male to see. She felt Sesshoumaru stand behind her, knowing her kimono was in ruins, but the one he'd given her was within his claws, held out so she could take it. She did not, instead wishing to know what her mother was speaking of. "Mother, what is it you fear?" she asked.

"Its reappearance was only an omen. One that I decided to ignore," Sorano sighed, shaking her head. "I did not fear as much as I do now. It is obvious to me now that the omen I decided to ignore has taken her from us, possibly into the hands of the one who is causing most trouble within the lands. After all, even Suni would not approach such a being… and she would not go near Kikyo that day."

Kagome became worried, hugging the boa to her form, glancing briefly to Sesshoumaru for some type of support. However, the youkai was as stoic as ever, merely a slight narrow of his eyes to tell her he was thinking over her mother's words. "Mother…?" she tried once more.

"I fear your sister is now helping a hanyou by the name of Naraku," Sorano sighed. "His name has only recently touched the village ears, but it is said that he had been seen heading this way. They say that he was born from the very pits of Hell, his form taking shape within fire. He is said to bring ill omens' wherever he goes, and to turn the hearts of innocent ones to evil…

"The reappearance of the Shikon no Tama," she whispered. "Its reappearance, I knew I should not have merely overlooked it. Especially since it came from your very body! I knew… I knew, but I did nothing." Sorano glanced up to see the pink, glittering, jewel around her daughter's neck, happy to know that the girl had worn it, instead of merely tossing it to the side in her night of passion. At least one of her daughter's could, and would do as she asked them.

"The Shikon no Tama," Kagome whispered. Her fingers reached up to play with the small, round jewel around her neck, feeling its power caress her fingers lightly. Her mother's worry, though, it upset her, for she had not seen her mother like this in years. Her mate sensed her worry, for his hands were placed upon her shoulders, and though she tensed a little at the feel of his claws, she allowed him to knead the flesh underneath his magical fingertips, turning her tense muscles to mush within his grip. He must have been satisfied, for he began pulling his boa away from her, even though she tried to keep it covering her.

Sesshoumaru smirked, pulling the boa away from her without much trouble, seeing the elder miko blink a little when her daughter suddenly turned bright red, trying to cover her sudden nakedness underneath her hands. Of course, he was amused with her embarrassment, but he quickly situated the kimono draped on his arm into his hands, placing it on her shoulders. His eyes took in her naked breasts as she reached up to grip the first layer of the kimono, quickly pulling it closed around her, when he held out the next layer, knowing that when she was within them all she would look the part of his mate. True, she was lovely in anything, but the red wine colored kimono he'd given her, with the kuro-inu designs on the sleeves, and neck would look lovely on her. Of course, it was the woman that made the kimono lovely, not the fine fabric.

Sorano smiled, seeing her daughter fitted into the last layer of the kimono, its obi being tied by the male at her side. Her daughter looked like someone born of royalty, instead of merely placed into the position suddenly. Still, her smile brightened when the girl placed a soft kiss on the youkai's check, just as Suni decided she wasn't getting the attention she deserved, and placed her head beneath Kagome's hand. Watching as her daughter patted the neko's head, Sorano said, "It seems you have found where your heart truly lies, Kagome. I'm so proud of you, not only for finding a person to love, but also for making the right decisions during your life. I know I have not told you near as many times as I should have, Kagome, but you're one of the greatest gifts the gods have ever given to me."

Seeing the boa wrap itself around Sesshoumaru's leg, Kagome turned to her mother, saying, "Thank you, mother." Her words brought a burning to her chest, one that made her want to continue making her mother happy. After all, it wasn't often that her mother told her such things, whether it was about her life, or the things she did within it. Truly, it made her happy enough to cry once more, but she stopped the tears from coming, merely allowing a bright smile to appear on her lips.

Sorano turned from the couple, knowing they would return to the village when they were ready. However, she cast a glance to the sky, her eyes saddened once again. Though she knew Lord Sesshoumaru would be able to hear her words, she could not stop her from voicing her worry. "Still," she nearly whispered, "I fear even that is not enough to save Kikyo. My eldest daughter has decided her path." She did not voice it, but her mind continued none-the-less, and it makes me happy to know that Kagome will walk a better one. The wind picked up, catching her black hair in its grip, pulling it to the side, as she began to walk. Happier than anyone shall ever know, she finished, tucking a loose strand, having fallen from her braid, behind her ear.

oOo

It was almost time…

Kikyo had road the back of the same doragon-youkai for nearly a week. Naraku road ahead of her, his body lifted by the countless youkai surrounding his body. However, she road quietly, her body turned so both her legs were swung over one side, riding the doragon much like she would have a horse if she were a proper lady. The doragon was a smooth, and easy ride, merely feeling as if it were swimming beneath it, its wriggling body following its current master to the next place he took them to. Of course, she would not say anything, but he had been traveling toward the south for some time now, and she wondered if Naraku had some plan to get the youkai ruling the Southern Lands to help them in their current quest. It was not exactly a young tale, but back when the Western Lands were controlled by another inuyoukai named Touga the panthers ruling the South had tried to take over the West as well, only to be crushed beneath the might of the inuyoukai of the time. Then again, Naraku could merely be getting more allies, not that he needed more, they had an army of over nearly a thousand lesser youkai. Stronger youkai might be needed, though, for she knew her sister could take out more then fifty lesser youkai with a single arrow.

Why though? Why didn't Naraku just attack them and get it over with? She knew that each day his power seemed to increase by just a small fraction. Maybe he doubted his abilities, or perhaps he was merely afraid. Yes, perhaps he wanted a wall of youkai to protect him from her sister's attacks. After all, that was why he wanted her to take Kagome's life, instead of going after it himself. Yes, that was why he wanted her to get rid of her troublesome sister, while he took care of the taiyoukai. Once they were both gone, well, they would see what happened from there. Once she got her hands on the Western Lands they would blossom into something beyond words, into the lands that everyone would wish to live upon.

Naraku allowed his eyes to shift a little, taking in the miko sitting upon his now loyal pet. However, his eyes did not linger for long, soon turning back to the landscape, calling out to any lesser youkai that wished to completely destroy the stronger youkai that caused them to hide. Why else would lesser youkai go under the rule of a hanyou, one who was even starting to think he was crazy, himself? At first he had not paid much attention to it, but now he could hear the voice in the back of his head screaming for him to return to the Eastern Lands and kill the miko Kagome. The voice was not his own, and it seemed to have a hold over him, for he'd nearly turned back and started the war he wished to control. He'd held himself back, though, and many times he'd shoved the voice away, telling it silently that he would not do as it said. No, he was Naraku, and he followed his own plans, and actions.

Still, even he knew that his army was beginning to come together. Soon they would return to the Eastern Lands, and soon he would gain control over the Western Lands. When he killed Kagome, well, he wasn't sure what would happen, but he'd make sure that it was his hand she died upon, for her sister held no such right. No, for though the miko would help him block her sister's attacks, he would destroy her in the end, and take the life of Kagome. Hm, perhaps he could even earn himself a kiss, causing the taiyoukai, Sesshoumaru, to go overboard, as his miasma flooded into the girl's body, causing her to die a slow and painful death. Yes, that was surely set the taiyoukai overboard, and once he transformed, well, he would be easy to kill, for his logical mind would not be in control of his actions. No, the taiyoukai would be a near insane beast searching for his blood, but Sesshoumaru would not get it, for that would mean his own death, and he was not planning to go down that path for a very long time.

Kikyo sighed once more, lifting her hand, hoping to make the sound travel further when she cupped it next to her mouth. She'd remained silent for this long, but she would stay silent no longer. "Naraku, how much longer do you plan to merely travel across the lands?" she yelled, "I hope to get rid of that selfish sister of mine very soon, or I might just turn this doragon around and take her life without you!"

Giving a soft growl she could not hear, Naraku replied, "Do not worry yourself, Kikyo. We shall return within a week or so, give or take a few days." Really, the bitch was beginning to become annoying beyond belief. He was beginning to wonder why he continued to put up with her annoying ass, instead of merely slicing her head from her shoulders and being done with her, once and for all. However, he continued to tell himself that once they had gotten enough support in order to bring the taiyoukai to a tired state, then they would return and once the battle was over, or halfway through, whenever, the elder miko would meet her demise.

Yes, it was almost time. They were almost ready.

oOo

Midoriko continued to watch, her hand still grasped onto the figure of the phoenix, holding it, tapping against it, silently telling the frustrated demoness she'd be released very, very soon. However, she knew the female youkai could not hear her, and was screeching inside the home she'd created from her. The souls had stopped going to her recently, leaving her all alone in her home of darkness, causing the youkai female hatred for her to grow. It was only obvious that it was her that had stopped the only company the demoness got in order to keep her from losing her mind to insanity. However, she needed the demoness Kagome angry enough for the final transformation to take place. She needed their power to be at the very climax, before telling the demoness to once more become one with her miko counterpart. Once she set the demoness's instincts into finding her miko counterpart she would, and then she would have the weapon she needed in order to make sure the Shikon was returned to the gods.

Time flew faster for her than it did for the mortals on Earth. Within a near blink of an eye she released the figure of the phoenix, and watched as suddenly it burst into flames upon her board, the demoness moving away from her prison-like home, floating off her board just a bit. She watched as the figure went in circles, obviously in true form in Nihon. However, her eyes turned to the others, watching as suddenly one of the pieces shattered, the person's soul being released from their body. However, for a moment she was afraid her Game of Fate might be lost, for… for unlike what she had planned, Naraku's hands had managed to get ahold of the piece of the Shikon no Tama within the hands of the miko Kagome.

Standing quite suddenly, Midoriko knew the gods were smirking down at her, obviously thinking she would run far away from the game and hide in a corner or something. However, she would not, and when she saw the pink bow of the miko Kagome brighten, she watched as the dark aura around the demoness strengthened, and she gave her own smirk, looking up at the three gods hovering above her. They were eternal like they should be, and though she hated to admit it, they might have been able to merely receive the Shikon from the hands of a miko, or maybe even a youkai who worshipped them. However, she shook her head, turning her head back to watch the demoness Kagome's piece move swiftly toward the miko Kagome, both of which seemed to be out of control. However, her smirk grew into a grin, and she waited for the battle to be over and done with.

oOo

The sun shined brightly during the mid-afternoon, the people of the village moving far away from her and her youkai lover as they moved by them. Her bow and arrows were situated on her back, but she was so used to them that she barely even realized they were still there. She was no longer in the fine kimono he'd given her, even though he'd said that her miko garb was beneath her now. She'd merely shook her head, telling him that if he didn't like it, then he wouldn't have to wear it, to which he said he'd never be caught dead within such a thing. He hadn't taken well when she'd mumbled, "Men" under her breath. Of course, his punishment hadn't been that bad, actually. In fact, she grinned at the thought of the day before, which was why she suddenly frowned deeply when she saw the most unlikely person standing at the end of the village, people beginning to surround around her. A person that had been missing, causing her mother to want to know where she was going everyday. It was like her mother had thought that when she walked out of the hut they lived in she wasn't coming back.

Jaken stopped at the heels of his lord, looking around to see that stupid miko who'd insulted his lord many moons ago. Of course, he was sure Lord Sesshoumaru would take the miko's head for such words, but he was still getting used to the idea of Lord Sesshoumaru having a ningen mate. Yes, she was… kind, but she was not what he would have thought Lord Sesshoumaru would have wanted in a mate. However, he pulled the Staff of Two Heads out in front of him, balancing it on the ground in case his lord would need him.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, giving a near silent growl when he noticed the miko Kikyo had returned. He knew that Jaken was behind him, but he moved a little closer to Kagome while watching Kikyo talk with some of the villagers. He did not trust the miko, especially when he felt the aura she was giving off. It was dark and hateful, the miko obviously having been with someone she either didn't like, or was putting evil thoughts into her mind. Plus, she smelled horribly. Whoever she had decided to become friends with, well, they needed many bathes before he'd be able to breathe through his nose without feeling like he could taste that horrible stench.

Her heart nearly stopped when her mother was suddenly beside her, the elder woman narrowing her eyes a little. Her mother looked down at her, when she said, "Kikyo."

"It appears so," Sorano replied. "However, I sense an evil aura mixed within her own. She has been near someone she should hate beyond reason from her mere nature, and her thoughts of the current world. Why?" She sighed, "Why is Kikyo doing this to me? Why can't she just live like everyone else?"

Kagome's heart almost broke. However, that's what caused her attention to be on her mother, instead of her elder sister, who had began walking toward them. She didn't notice how her sister's eyes were trained upon her, her eyes cold and unwelcoming, yet a gleam forming within their depths as suddenly their mother waved her hand, causing a barrier to be erected in front of them. That was what brought her attention to Sesshoumaru, since he growled at the feeling of miko energy surrounding him. Knowing he needed her, she placed her hand upon his arm, watching as he turned toward her, before suddenly burying his nose within her hair to calm his nerves.

Kikyo smiled, her very aura cold and unwelcoming to those who could sense it. Even her smile was threatening, her time with Naraku having affected her. However, her current mission was in action, and she needed to get two people of their plan to a place far away from the village, the same place Naraku was currently hiding. Once she managed to get them there… well, the fun would begin. However, for now she lightly touched the barrier her mother had created, knowing that the miko was greater in strength than herself, and without another miko, or possibly a houshi she would not be able to break it. So, she decided on talking to her, "Come now, mother, I'm not here to fight. I merely wish to have a comforting conversation with my sister. If you do not wish for it to be held within the confines of the village, then we could take it out into the forest."

Sorano narrowed her eyes, before saying, "Go back to the hole you decided to crawl out of, Kikyo. It is obvious to me that you have been with a creature of pure evil recently, and I do not wish for your current aura to taint this village. Leave, or be forced to." She knew the villagers were confused, each one of them stepping away from Kikyo suddenly as if she were an ill omen in the sky above them. However, she did not like the feeling her eldest daughter was giving her, and she even felt like she wanted to shiver suddenly in fear. She would not; she would stand tall and fight her eldest if she had to.

Kikyo blinked innocently, before turning to Kagome, watching as the taiyoukai lifted his head to snarl at her. The inuyoukai did not bother her, though, and she merely continued to blink, her eyelids lowering and rising in a quick motion. Another smile, softer than the last one, formed on her lips, as she said, "Surely you would not deny me a small moment of your time, would you, Kagome? You could even bring Sesshoumaru, Suni, and even mother if you wished it. Unless, of course, you're too afraid to enter the forest with your eldest sister…"

"I am not afraid, Kikyo," Kagome hissed, her eyes flashing in anger. No one seemed to notice how only one of her eyes turned a bright pink, while the other turned the color of blood, each of them narrowing in anger at her elder sister. Stepping forward, she felt Sesshoumaru's hand grip her shoulder, before she shrugged it off, saying, "Come now, mate. Surely you're not afraid of a miko. Besides, Sesshoumaru, you could rip her apart if she were to even mouth off, couldn't you? Hm?"

Sesshoumaru glanced down at his miko mate, noticing the way her eyes flashed in anger. He sighed through his nose, before saying, "No, this Sesshoumaru is not afraid of your sister, Kagome. However, if is not wise to go out alone with one who is nearly dripping from the seams with such an evil essence."

"Do not try to mock me, Sesshoumaru," Kikyo hissed, "for I know the way you've tainted Kagome. I bet she can't even use her miko powers now that you're mated, as you call it. No, for if you had mated her, her powers would not have left her body, the gods above denying her of her abilities because of you."

Sorano reached out to grab at Kagome, but her youngest had already moved out of the barrier she'd created. She watched as her daughter's mate went to follow her, her eldest turning on the spot and walking out into the forest. Suni soon followed, the neko-youkai giving off a flash of light before her larger form stood at the end of the village, before she disappeared into the forest behind her master and friend. Sorano allowed her barrier to spread out over the entire village, before turning her eyes toward the ground, tears falling from her eyes for a moment. Something told her something big was going to happen, and within the hour she did hear the sound of battle. Gods above, why did you give Kagome a temperamental problem? Why? You might have caused me to lose both my daughter's, Sorano shook her head, turning away from the forest before she went rushing into it.

She knew, though, that Kikyo was wrong. Kagome's power were still intact, and the young woman would soon show her sister that she was not a force to be reckoned with. True, her youngest might have been the gentler one of the two, but Kagome was also the most worthy to protect the jewel she now held, for unlike Kikyo, Kagome would protect it with her life, forever.

Jaken merely clutched the staff he held, knowing that should Lord Sesshoumaru need him he'd be summoned. Instead he turned to follow the elder miko, knowing that Lord Sesshoumaru would wish for him to protect the mother of his, though he still didn't like the idea, mate. Besides, throughout their time in the village, Sorano, as she was called, was the only one who hadn't hit him. Even when he apologized, Lord Sesshoumaru still let his mate take out her anger on him, beating him into the ground.

Kagome followed Kikyo, her eyes still flashing, knowing from the feeling of silk sliding against her hand that her taiyoukai mate was beside her. She also knew that her neko friend had decided to join in the fun, for her larger form, about twice the size of her smaller form, was moving through the forest beside her, growling in warning to many creatures around them. Her eyes were mainly focused on her sister, though, determined to beat the elder miko at her own game. Kikyo would be in for a big surprise when she blasted her a new one with her still intact powers; yeah, then maybe her sister would see that mikos' could mate with youkai without consequences. After all, she was living proof of that fact.

Sesshoumaru sniffed the air, taking in the horrible scent, knowing that wherever Kikyo was taking them, the evil he sensed would be there as well. Well, whatever threatened his mate would die. Surely that was what was happening here, for Kikyo was obviously working with the, sniff, male hanyou, and since she'd issued the challenge to his mate, then obviously she was leading them away to her comrade. Perhaps she thought she could make a surprise attack, killing them both, and simply going off to taint her body more, since by the smell of her, she wasn't as innocent as she claimed. Perhaps she'd found a lover while she was away, or maybe she thought that by simply bedding a creature with demonic energy would not harm her. To bad it wouldn't.

Kikyo smirked, her eyes hardening even further, as she stepped out into a large field. She knew that her sister gave a small gasp when suddenly a doragon-youkai flew underneath her, lifting her into the air, before flying over to her companion and ally. She grabbed the doragon by the horn, keeping herself steady, before reaching back with her other hand to untie her bow and arrows, her hishu tucked into the top of her haori in case she needed it. However, she was positive she could easily take Kagome out with a few arrows, at least ones with miko energy channeled into them, since Kagome could simply put up a special barrier in order to block another miko's attack, plus, she might hurt the youkai helping them. Even as she thought this, she held onto the blue wriggling body of the flying doragon before it landed next to Naraku, who had his hand in the air, ready to signal to the others when it was time to go forth.

Sesshoumaru growled, smelling the large amount of lesser youkai in the air. Without much thought he stepped in front of Kagome, blocking his mate from them, while searching for their smaller auras in the very tall grass. His eyes widened only a fraction when he came to realize their were hundred upon hundred, most of which were high in the sky. "I believe we've been pulled into a battle, Kagome," he whispered to her, watching as the man next to Kikyo grinned evilly.

Kagome snorted, "You really think so?" Her voice was surprised, yet mocking at the same time as she gazed around his back, knowing full well that she'd have to jump downward very quickly once the battle started. After all, she could not only hear the rustling of the grass, but she could see the head of a red looking doragon, staring right at her head as if it were a chew toy. Well, no youkai was going to get one up on her this day, no, she'd rather resort to killing with her bare hands than allowing one of these weaklings to take her down. Even as these thoughts were going through her head, though, she managed to giggle when Sesshoumaru sent her a warning growl about her sentence.

"Well, well, well," Naraku's dark, menacing tone traveled across the expanse with ease, "what do we have here? The Lord of the Western Lands with his ningen whore, perhaps?" Hearing Sesshoumaru growl once more, he chuckled, before saying, "It's a shame that a man once so high in stature is now staying within a small little village, not even in your own lands, because your ningen mate wishes it. You have fallen from grace, Lord Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru allowed his eyes to bleed a little, saying, "You have already bored this Sesshoumaru with your small speech…" he stopped, trying to get the man to say his name, and it worked when he replied with moments, "Naraku."

Naraku smirked, before saying, "Then why don't we let the fun begin, hm?" However, he watched as quite suddenly Sesshoumaru's miko wench raised her hand to the side, smirking much like he was. He let his hand stayed where it was, his eyes narrowing in wonder about what she was doing. He noticed that Kikyo had notched an arrow into her bow, pointing straight toward them, obviously ready to let it fly should Kagome pull off some type of power they'd never seen her use. After all, Kikyo said that Kagome was always growing in power for some reason.

Sesshoumaru watched as Naraku's smirk faded, and looked back to see Kagome's hand reaching out to the right. His eyebrow rose, even though he was ready for any attack that would come their way, his senses on full alert. His claws were nearly dripping with poison, his whip ready to materialize into the world at his command should he need to protect his mate.

"Perhaps we should, Naraku," Kagome said, a blast of pink light being released from her hand. She felt Sesshoumaru's sudden tension, though she was not touching him, as her purification energy destroyed the doragon hiding near her. She held no ill feelings when the youkai was destroyed, but she touched Sesshoumaru's arm to once again remind him of the test they'd done. Their mating had insured that her holy powers couldn't harm him, but she wasn't sure about Kikyo's as of yet.

The many other lesser youkai became frightened at her small show of power, and suddenly lunged into battle, even though Naraku had not signaled for them to attack. Naraku's eyes narrowed as the lesser youkai rushed through the air, and along the ground around him toward their two victims. He watched as Kikyo suddenly let an arrow fly, the swishing sound of it cutting through the air attracting the attention of the taiyoukai.

Kagome pulled her bow from her back, quickly pulling an arrow from her quiver and against the bowstring. Pulling the string back, she stood her ground, waiting for her opponents to get close enough for her to easily take out most of them before they could move out of the way of its purification stream. She was so focused on the lesser youkai that she never noticed the arrow being sent at her, which was why she was lucky Sesshoumaru had not moved far away from her current position, since it would have struck her in the heart.

Sesshoumaru heard the slicing of the air, looked over toward the arrow, which was heading quickly, and accurately toward Kagome. Looking back, he noticed how his mate was more focused on what she could see, instead of what she could sense. Moving at demonic speed, he moved in front of her, feeling her eyes suddenly move to his back while he grabbed the arrow right out of the air, its wood melting easily in the acid like mist he created. He glared at Kagome's would be murderer, her own sister, before flicking out his whip when the first wave of lesser youkai came upon them. The whip sliced through the first four with ease, as he felt Kagome's wave of holy energy move through the air as she released her first arrow.

With a fierce roar, Suni tackled a youkai to the ground, her metal like claws killing it almost instantly before she went after another one. The lesser youkai were stupid, but fast, moving away from her, but most of the time merely charging at her when she went for them. Without much trouble, Suni brought another youkai's life to an end, before whipping her tail out to slice another straight in half. Her newfound bloodlust nearly subsided when a white-hot pain swarmed into her body through her back, before she whipped her head around, seeing an obviously poisonous type of lesser youkai, though her brain didn't register what type it was before her tail slammed against it, throwing it to the ground before she leapt upon it, tearing its throat out.

Giving a small pant, Suni felt the poison begin moving throughout her body, before she began glowing a light blue in color. On instinct she shook her fur, feeling the poison seep back through her closing wound, before the rest was completely destroyed by her immune system. She shook once more, the new color surrounding her fading with each ripple of her body, before she gave a final shake of her tail, the color seeming to snap into nothingness, before she raced forward, completely healthy once more. She never missed a beat, the end of her tail snapping open, slicing through many of her opponents as she raced by them.

Kikyo gritted her teeth, narrowing her eyes dangerously at Kagome, watching as the younger miko shot another arrow into the air, getting rid of many of the lesser youkai surrounding her. Of course, her taiyoukai mate was close by her, his eyes scanning the area for something, while Naraku merely stood next to her, his eyes watching the battle before him. She reached back, grabbing another arrow, watching as a few of Naraku's strange tentacle like appendages were uncovered from beneath his baboon pelt, and she nearly jumped when one of those appendages shot forward, going to great lengths hitting the taiyoukai in the shoulder, causing him to snap his head toward them. She smirked when she saw the pure hatred inside the powerful youkai's eyes, before pulling her arrow into her bowstring and pulling it back, pointing it straight at her sister once more.

His claws tore through many of the weak youkai surrounding him. Blood splattered into the air, seeming to fall nearly in slow motion as he moved at youkai speed, becoming something like a white blur to those around him. However, it helped to get rid of the outrageous number of youkai attacking them. What could you expect from a cowardly man, though? Not much. Still, he glanced over at Kagome to see her thrust her bow to the side, sending a youkai flying, its body wriggling in the air before being purified completely. Well, at least his mate was all right… for now… He turned from her, slicing through another youkai, before grasping one that would have passed him by the tail, snarling, and ripping it to pieces with ease.

Seeing the taiyoukai preoccupied, Kikyo let her arrow fly. Her face turned into a grin, as she watched many of the lesser youkai move out of the way in order for her arrow to fly straight and true. However, she nearly yelled in anger when Kagome's face turned toward her, her own arrow being sent out, splitting her's in half, before her own barrier was raised in order to keep the energized arrow from coming near her. Still, that wouldn't stop her from trying, and she quickly notched another arrow into her bow, bringing it up, knowing that sooner or later she would get another clean shot.

Kagome reached back, once more pulling one of the fewer arrows she had into her bowstring, before pointing it straight into the air, letting it fly. It was surrounded by holy energy, slicing through the air, purifying any lesser youkai that came near it. However, it soon ran out of power, and came falling back down to earth, but not before it hit a larger looking youkai, who screamed in agony before turning to dust. However, she knew she was quickly running out of arrows, and readied her bow to become a weapon, even though it would only be good if swung. Besides, she always kept her best weapon for last, and she wasn't ready to show that just yet.

Naraku glanced over at the giant neko rushing toward them. It had taken a while for it to get past the many youkai that had surrounded it, but soon enough it was pumping its legs, rushing at them while giving off another fierce roar, which echoed into the air, along with screams, many pain filled cries, growls, snarls, and any other type of noise these creatures could make. However, he knew that even though his comrades numbers were beginning to shrink, the taiyoukai, and his mate were not left unharmed, just like their neko friend, who'd barely escaped being stabbed by one of his tentacles.

Fangs sank into her shoulder, her quiver slipping down her arm, her final four arrows clattering against the ground as she gave a small cry. Her miko energy rose before the strange looking youkai could inject any type of dangerous liquid into her system, just as her eyes began to flash once more. Her power rose above the level she was using, a barrier coming up around her, purifying any youkai that came within five feet of her body. When she knew she was safe, Kagome knelt down to pick up her arrows, right before she heard the swishing sound of another arrow cutting through air as she looked up. Her mouth opened in a gasp, perhaps a shout, before her instincts kicked in and she went to jump forward, the arrow breaking through her barrier since it didn't contain any demonic energy, but even as she moved to place herself out of harms way, her sister's arrow sliced through the tissue of her arm, sinking into the flesh as she hissed in pain.

Sesshoumaru turned, feeling his mate's pain, noticing blood soaking into the white sleeve of her haori, an arrow sticking out of her arm. Snarling, he ripped another youkai to pieces, his eyes bleeding a bit more, his markings becoming a bit more jagged, before he began moving toward his mate. He watched, moving quickly, as Kagome snapped the arrow in half, hoping to pull it from her arm without causing many problems to said appendage. However, before he could reach her, since he knew he'd be able to walk through her barrier, a set of fangs latched onto his neck, blood suddenly flooding out of the large wound and covering his neck in his life's liquid. He was paying more attention to his mate, calling out her name a few times, before another youkai's body wrapped around him, their fangs biting into his back.

"S-Sesshoumaru," Kagome gasped, pulling at the arrow. She glanced at him, before glancing back at her sister, noticing the elder miko searching for more arrows inside her quiver, but finding none. The elder woman gave a small show of anger, and she turned her eyes to Sesshoumaru, watching as the youkai tried to come toward her, his body being slowed, until he fell to his knees, his eyes solely on hers, telling her that he was not beat just yet.

"…Tell me, Sesshoumaru, have you someone to protect…?" flashed through his thoughts as he finally raised his arm to slice through a tail of one of the youkai attached to him. They began to fall, but as he rose back onto his feet, trying to reach his mate once more, his beast halfway in control, thus his mind on nothing else, more of the creatures began pilling upon him. However, his mind turned to the question his father had once asked him, and he closed his eyes, before saying what he should have so long ago, "Yes, father. I do. I do have someone to protect, and I will protect her!"

There was a flash, and time seemed to slow for him quite suddenly. The youkai around him were turned to dust, and for a moment he thought Kagome had come to his side. However, this was not to be, for he was once again standing on the beach where he'd told his father long ago that he had no need to protect someone. Before him stood the once mighty taiyoukai, his hair lifted once more by the winter winds. However, unlike that fateful day, his father was not turned away from him, nor was he wounded. No, his father was in fact smiling toward him, and Sesshoumaru looked around once more, his heart calling out to Kagome, wondering where she was when he gave a small whimper he'd tried to keep within his chest.

"Do not worry so much, my son," Touga said, his form seeming to ripple suddenly, fading a little in the lighting. He merely smiled brighter when his son turned upon him, his beast nearly in full control as he began to snarl at him.

Sesshoumaru bared his fangs, saying, "Don't worry? How dare you tell this Sesshoumaru not to worry when he is no longer able to even sense his mate? Where are we, father? What have you done with Kagome?"

Touga shook his head, before saying, "You have proven yourself worthy, Sesshoumaru."

"Worthy for what?"

Once more his father smiled, before beginning to fade. However, as he felt himself once more fall into his body, he heard the words, "You shall see" inside his mind, before he opened his eyes to find that he was standing where he had been when he'd fallen to his knees. However, he glanced upward, seeing that Kagome had pulled the arrow from her arm, her hand clenching the wound to keep pressure upon it, trying hard to stop the bleeding. His eyes did not linger on her long, for they moved to the item standing upward in the ground before him, and suddenly his eyes widened further than they had before as his hand reached out to grasp the hilt.

Kagome felt like she'd gone blind for a moment, but watched as Sesshoumaru pulled the hilt of the sword suddenly before him. She gasped when it grew in size as it was pulled from its sheath, before he held a giant fang above his head, gazing up at it in amazement.

Naraku glared toward them once more, watching as Sesshoumaru turned toward him, the sword held in one hand out to his side, a smirking forming on the taiyoukai's lips. What was that he held, some type of youkai fang? Whatever it was it gave off strong amounts of demonic energy, and he decided that it was time to join the battle. Without much thought he allowed his tentacles to be revealed from underneath his pelt, before beginning to shoot them out toward the taiyoukai, just as Sesshoumaru swung the sword, a white light coming from it, before he heard the words, "Kaze no Kizu" yelled from the distance.

Tetsusaiga! Finally the sword was within his hands, and he swung it again, watching as a hundred youkai were crushed beneath its power. It seemed to hum in his hand, as he let a grin cross his face, turning to allow his mate to see it. What he saw, however, cause his heart to fall, nearly stopping to beat all together. His lip trembled a little, and his eyes completely went red with rage, before something stranger happened upon the battlefield.

oOo

She screeched once more, her body pulling away from her tree as far as she could, before her rage began to rise beyond levels she'd ever knew. She felt like her mind was being lost to her suddenly, and her eyes flooded with blood, just as she felt her prison quiver and shake, the darkness around her shrinking away, the magic she held sinking into her body, the entire place falling to pieces. She fell to the ground, naked as the day she was born, her eyes glancing up into the normal forest, noticing how many youkai and animals seemed to begin coming forward into the newly found part of the forest. However, she grinned, but her anger was far to great for her to fight what happened, and suddenly she transformed, her giant black tori form rising into the air.

The long features on her head were decorated with different colors, ranging from dark blue, to purple, to black, but never something light in color, except, of course, the few silver colored features. The rest of her body was black, only her second layer of features not glinting like the darkest depths of places unknown to any man. Her long tail features trailed behind her as she soared through the sky in her true form, her musical cry being pulled from her throat, causing many youkai, ningen, and hanyou alike to fall under its spell. However, her anger was still there, and she couldn't help when she felt her body burst into a tornado of flames, just as she flapped her wings to rise higher into the air. After all, she might have been angry, but she wasn't willing to ruin the beauty she had wished to be free within.

Perhaps Midoriko had finally given her, her second chance? Then again, the ancient miko was probably expecting something from her, and she felt her beast turn its attention toward the Eastern Lands, telling her that was where she needed to be. That was where the fun was happening. So, she ignored her thoughts of Midoriko, and her anger for the moment, twisting her body through the air in order to turn her path toward the place her beast was telling her to go to.

oOo

Kikyo whistled for her doragon ride, watching as the blue youkai came to a stop next to her. She wasn't about to let Kagome get away without a major injury. So, she allowed the doragon to lift her into the air, one of her hands gripping the creature's horn, while her other one reached for her hishu, pulling it from her haori, and waiting for the right moment. She heard the sounds of battle around her, but she directed her ride toward her sister, and within moments they were circling above her, but she didn't wait for the youkai to land. No, she simply let go, beginning to fall through the air, her legs tucking in, while her arm stretched over her chest so that she'd be able to strike with enough speed that even a youkai would not be able to dodge.

Kagome felt her presence, her power rising to keep her barrier up, but knowing that since Kikyo was not, and hadn't, given off any type of energy that would harm her that her sister would be able to get through. However, she hoped, and looked up to see her sister falling toward her, her eyes filled with pure hatred. She felt the power given off by the attack Sesshoumaru had unleashed from his current weapon, but her eyes never strayed from her sister, her eyes changing colors as her power rose, and rose, her instincts beginning to kick in, ready for the final strike. Ready to kill her sister, even though they were blood related. She watched as Kikyo tilted herself so that her shoulder would have to twist, which would have been a much more damaging attack, since her spinning would have caused her to be hit time after time.

Kikyo grinned, her energy ready to be released through the hishu she held, but as she neared her target she heard the sound of slicing air, and turned her head just a little to see what was attacking her. After all, she was on Naraku's side, so nothing should be after her, at least not something on his side. She was wrong, however, for what she saw was Naraku's tentacle heading straight for her, and her hold on her hishu tightened a little, before –

Blood splattered onto her face, and upper body as Kagome watched the green, spiked, looking appendage wriggled on the other side of her sister's chest. Though her sister had once been falling at top speed, she was stopped quite suddenly, thus causing the tentacle to slice through her flesh, her body falling from the air and onto the ground, blood quickly flooding from the wound as she saw Kikyo cough. Though at the moment Kikyo was supposed to be her enemy, she saw her hishu fall out of her hand, and rushed to her side, reaching out her hands to comfort her.

- pain filled her completely. It started at her stomach, before it seemed to rip up through her chest, and through her shoulder. It happened so fast that Kikyo really wasn't aware of anything but the shock that came with it. Then, she felt herself hit the ground in the most undignified way. Her grip slackened, her hishu falling from her hand, as she felt the world begin to fade around her. It seemed that the miasma given off by Naraku allowed only a few places within her giant wound to bleed quickly, and in large amounts; it seemed that it had caused the wound to seal most of the way. What Kikyo saw, though, right before her chest heaved and she began coughing up the blood within her lungs, was her sister rushing to her side. Something inside her heart filled with a sudden joy, and she reached her shaking hand up to try and touch her sister, who was gazing down at her with one pink, and one blood red eye, before they were blinked away, her eyes blue once more. "K-K-Kag-o-me…" Kikyo coughed once more, the world finally closing in around her, the great light of Takamagahara filling her soul, even though she'd caused such wrongs. It seemed that in her final moments her soul had been purified, and she was given a chance to be happy within a place she should never have known.

"Kikyo," Kagome whispered, her energy beginning to pop and sizzle around her in the air. She turned back toward Naraku, her eyes flooding over with tears. She couldn't see; she didn't want to think. She'd lost her sister, even though the elder miko had wanted nothing to do with her most of her life, and for that she hated him. However, before she could say anything, she heard him speak, and she was surprised to find that his voice was different, smoother, harder, and more evil. It was a voice she'd heard before, a voice that began to fill her head, telling her they'd be together, that if she handed over the Shikon no Tama that they'd be able to live together without anyone trying to rebel against them.

Her former life… she… she remembered it. She remembered him. She remembered Sai. That was the only thing, along with the Shikon no Tama, that she did remember though, as she lifted her eyes to see Sesshoumaru taking out the last of the lesser youkai, only for a few hundred more to swarm into the area. That was when she'd felt the strong aura, raging, ancient power suddenly move into the area she could feel.

"No one shall have your life but me," Sai hissed, "Kagome. I will not allow such tainted beings to destroy you. No, for that pleasure shall be mine! I shall take your life, each and every time you're reborn. Yes, I shall find pleasure in that, until you tell me where your other half is, where your demon side resides now and here. Should you, I might decide otherwise, but should you not, well, say good bye to your life!" His hanyou form raised the weapon it used, shooting it forward toward the miko woman, only for it to stop suddenly when he felt it. A grin formed on his lips, and he knew the miko was distracted, so he quickly ripped the necklace from around her neck, pulling the Shikon no Tama toward him, noticing how it changed from bright pink, to a shallow purple within his grasp.

Sai began to laugh, his voice changing between his own and Naraku's as he yelled, "You foolish woman! Once again you have given me the Shikon! Once more I shall use its power! However, unlike the last foolish mistake I made, I shall not allow you to have any of it. No, no, for it is MINE!" This was followed by a large amount of chuckling, when he felt her presence, when he felt her move over the field, her large phoenix form leaving a shadow upon the ground.

Suni hissed with rage, her claws racking through another youkai that dared approach her master. After moving away from Naraku, she'd gone back to her master's side, protecting her, but knowing that she would be all right without her should she move away, which was how she ended up a few yards or more away from her. Now, she was ripping through the youkai Sesshoumaru wasn't cutting down while he swung his mighty sword, twisting in circles, and cutting through them with grace only known to warriors of his kind. She paid little attention to this, though, watching as Kagome's body took on a golden form as she swung herself onto her feet, swaying a little bit as she stood.

"Kagome," Sesshoumaru growled, swinging Tetsusaiga once more, its attack being released, taking out a hundred youkai as its legend told. Though he was proud to say he was now holding the weapon, he stepped on the next youkai in his way, moving toward his mate, knowing that something was about to happen. Something big. However, before he get to her completely, he noticed that the giant, screeching, tori high above her was also glowing the same color, and like a bolt of lightning the golden light escaped from their bodies, rushing for one another, a near blinding light sweeping over the field, while a wind seemed to flood out over it as well. When he could see, he pulled down his sleeve, which he'd raised to block the light, noticing a very enchanting creature standing where his mate should be, yet… his senses told him this eternal looking creature was his mate. Surprise flooded through him, as he thought, the tori… it had been Kagome's other half. The other half of her soul, but that must mean… Is-is this her true form?

He was at a good enough angle to see her completely, and what he saw was strange, yet beautiful. Her eyes were glowing, one glowing white with holy energy, the other glowing black with demonic, yet her black eye swam with red looking blood, telling him that one eye seemed to symbolize her miko half, while the other symbolized her youkai half. Her hair was the darkest black he'd ever seen, and much like the home he'd seen the bound demoness living in, it moved as if living, wrapping around everything near it, since it went down to her ankles. Her clothing had changed to that of ancient armor, a type that he was sure would have been worn during the time of the Warrior Miko, Midoriko, yet it glowed with its own power, telling everyone that even the greatest weapon would not be able to pierce it. That, however, was only what he saw from merely scanning her quickly.

Looking closer, he noticed that the other piece of the Shikon glowed brightly around her neck, shining like a beacon, even in the sun. He noticed that when she opened her mouth to speak only one side of her mouth contained fangs, while the other was the combined, yet flat, teeth of a ningen. Only one hand had claws, while the other was glowing with the same white light found inside her one eye. Then, as he walked forward to make sure she was real, to which she smiled at him—a smile that seemed only half of her was truly meaning it, loving him as she had—, he watched as her hair was moved aside, her side, her right side, which was configured of demonic features and energy, containing a very large black wing. He watched, as that same wing flapped, and this new Kagome rose off the ground, her voice filling the area, and it found that it was a combination of both her sweet, caring miko side, and her dark, corrupted youkai side, both of them seeming to be moving out of her mouth from her vocals. When she spoke, it seemed that the world stopped, for it came out in a perfect combination.

Suni shrank to the ground in a crouch, her predator eyes watching this new creature in fear. Her hair rose on her hunches, as she hissed, until finally the voice of her master, along with the voice of a powerful founding woman filled the air. Though her stance relaxing a bit, she watched as the woman confronted the evil creature before them.

"Sai," Kagome called, before also saying, "Naraku. The Shikon no Tama shall not be your plaything. It deserved to be returned to its rightful home, just as the gods wish it. Should you refuse to hand it over, we shall turn you to dust."

Sai hissed, before growling, "We?"

Sesshoumaru stood blinking at the creature his mate had become. Tetsusaiga transformed into its old rusted form in his hand, while everything seemed to stand still while they spoke. However, he was wondering the same thing. With their souls once more together, shouldn't they be one person? Or, perhaps Midoriko had decided to not join their souls just yet.

She gave no nod, she merely seemed to float there, before saying, "We. We are Kagome. We are one. However, our soul is still separated in order to become a perfect combination of both demonic and holy powers. We are here to do Midoriko's bidding, for in this form we can return the Shikon no Tama to its rightful home in Takamagahara, as it should be. However, a mortal soul decided to play with fate, which ended in Midoriko's death, along with the passing of the Shikon through her body. Now, we must right it."

She reached her clawed hand out in front of her, before saying, "Now, hand it over, or die."

Sai laughed in his new insanity, before saying, "I shall never give you the Shikon no Tama! It is mine, and I shall wish upon it! I wish," he raised it above his head, never seeing Kagome's smirk, "that I was powerful enough to defeat any enemy against me, including this Kagome, oh, great, Shikon no Tama!" Nothing happened, however, and he screamed in anger, "What's wrong? Why won't you give me my wish?"

"In order to have such a wish, you would have to be a god. In order to be a god, you must have been born as such." Kagome gave a laugh, which seemed to be filled with both merriment and hatred, "Besides, the Shikon no Tama is not whole. We thought it would have been obvious. Especially since the last time you saw it, it was completely pure, why do you think it was tainted when my miko side held it? Hm? We shall tell you. It is because the Shikon is not whole, for when our soul was split so was the Shikon no Tama, for a piece of Midoriko soul lives within it, and thus she could watch both sides of our split soul."

Sai eyed the piece around her neck, before taking a few steps forward, a mere click of her fingers stopping him. He stood in place, trying to pull himself away from her hold, before growling in anger, wondering why he felt the treads of magic wrapping around him. He looked up at her, noticing her wing flap once, causing her to rise a little higher off the ground, as Sesshoumaru came to stand at her side. She nodded to him, saying something about how he'd become a fine lord, before turning back to him.

"Do you feel the magic washing over you?" only one voice came from her mouth, the one of the demoness Kagome. "It is the same magic I was allowed to use in order to help wandering souls. Souls that could not continue on the path they had chosen suddenly. A path that was dangerous to them. However, now I am allowed to use this magic outside of the prison you placed me within. You, Sai, made me this creature, for it was you who decided to bring her home, instead of merely loving me the way I wanted you to."

Sai growled, "You could not bare children! You're purpose was gone, since you were merely an image before you disappeared, you stupid bitch!"

The beautiful combination of their voices returned once more. "Trivial things," she said, glancing over at Sesshoumaru, "for now we have a true mate. One that shall not do as you did, especially since Midoriko only stopped that process of the demoness's body in order to keep you from destroying our power. Now, when our task is done, we shall bare our mate many children." She smiled, a smirk forming over her sharp fangs, "How does it feel to know another will receive what you could not have that?"

She did not wait for his answer, instead moving forward, her form floating over the ground, her wing flapping once in a while. However, within moments she was before the hanyou form of Naraku, her hand reaching out to take the piece of the Shikon he held. Once it was within her hands she reached up to press it against her own, feeling, and knowing when they fused together into one. With that, she allowed her feet to touch the ground, her miko side showing a little pity for him, before she turned away, walking on the ground.

Sesshoumaru had sheathed Tetsusaiga long ago, having picked up the sheath during battle and placed it within his obi. However, he watched, waiting for this new woman to come to his side. He stepped forward when he saw Sai suddenly move. It seemed that when she'd touched him the magic had faded for both sides were working together, instead of merely one. He growled in warning, when suddenly the remaining youkai turned toward his mate, but she didn't miss a beat, merely walking away.

"You shall die beneath my claws," Sai hissed, lunging forward. His eyes widened, however, when quite suddenly the woman turned, her feet floating off the ground once more. She was very close, but even though he should have been able to rip her to pieces before she could move, she turned, and raised her arm, her fingers clicking once more.

Sesshoumaru watched as large white looking streaks of lightning, which he assumed to be the holy energy of a miko, spread out in all directions from Kagome's body. Her body told him that she was bored of her current game, and he watched as many of her opponents began to scream in pain, others turning to dust before they could utter a sound, while some tried to escape, only for the streaks to follow and destroy them. The funniest to watch as the one that hit Naraku, or Sai, whoever he was, because it surrounded his body, the light traveling up toward the Heavens, while his form was dark within the pure white energy, wriggling, and screaming in pain. Suddenly the screams were cut off, his body seeming to be sliced in half by some unknown force. He nearly stopped her, but Kagome stepped up toward the white light, before turning to smile at him once more, almost as if she were trying to tell him not to worry.

Kagome moved forward, allowing the white light to take her, before glancing up into the Heavens above. She snapped the Shikon no Tama from around her neck, and raised it up in offering, calling out to the gods, as well as Midoriko to accept her gift. She watched as the Shikon glowed a faint blue, before it began to rise from her outstretched hands; things went blank for a few moments, and she stumbled back out of the light, watching as it disappeared. However, once she planted her feet firmly, she turned back to Sesshoumaru, giving him a smile once more, before another light surrounded her form, the words, "Accept my final gift, Kagome; make your mate happy" forming within her mind.

Sesshoumaru moved forward, watching as what smelled like his Kagome stumbled out of the newly formed light. His eyes widened at the inuyoukai female, her black and golden hair tumbling down her back in waves, her blue eyes staring up at him in fright at what was happening. Her scent, the mark on her neck, however, told him that something strange had just happened to his mate, and he pulled the woman still completely in ancient armor against his own armor, feeling her arms wrap around his back. Afterward, he couldn't help looking down into her eyes, noticing how he could see straight into her soul, and though it seemed that her soul was beginning to pull itself back together he could see the corruption, rage, and darkness inside one half, while innocence, kindness, and light filled the other side. It actually caused him to smile, saying, "What has happened Kagome?"

"I-I don't know," Kagome said, pulling her hair out in front of her. "I think I heard Midoriko speaking to me! She said to accept a gift, and to make you happy. I-I really don't know what it meant." She looked down at herself, however, before smiling, "I think I do now, though."

He gave her a confused look, as she said, "I want to make you happy, Sesshoumaru. You deserve to have a full-blooded mate of your own youkai species."

Frowning, Sesshoumaru looked at her closely, before tucking a stray strand of hair behind her now pointed ear. "But, is that truly what you want?" Sesshoumaru asked, touching her striped cheek. Her markings were the same as the demoness Kagome's had been, except he could only faintly see the 'X' marking behind the blue crescent moon.

"I want you happy, Sesshoumaru," Kagome said. "Midoriko must have sensed that, and made my wish true. It does not matter what form I am in, for I'll have you. After all, you set both halves of my soul free, and I thank you for that… no, that's not true."

Sesshoumaru frowned, "You do not thank me, Kagome?"

Kagome smiled, shaking her head, before continuing, "No, I love you for it, Sesshoumaru. Truly, I do."

Giving her a small scowl, Sesshoumaru hugged her form once more, burying his nose in her hair. He knew that though his life had been full of many heart fallen things, he'd finally found what he wanted. A mate, who'd love him, not for his title, his wealth, or his body, but because he was simply Sesshoumaru, and Kagome gave that to him. Plus, it was only an added bonus that he now had Tetsusaiga within his hand, and though it was said to be the Sword to Protect Man, he was sure that with it he would be able to protect Kagome as well. Otherwise, he was positive it would have vanished upon her transformation.

Both halves of Kagome smiled deep within their new body, beginning to pull themselves back together again. However, they knew that should the time come, they would be able to turn back into the eternal creature they'd become when they first came back together, but for now they would live and grow with their mate, for now they would build a family. Still, though one was dark and menacing, while the other was innocent and pure, they would live in harmony, once more becoming one soul, perfect in everyway.

Thanks to Midoriko they were the perfect Ying and Yang. Perfect together as a whole, instead of apart.

oOo

Midoriko smirked up at the three gods circling around her, the Shikon no Tama between her fingertips. She twisted it, watching as it glinted in certain ways, while another miko, much younger than herself, looked down toward Nihon, a smile on her face as she watched the interaction between Kagome and Sesshoumaru. However, her attention was mainly on the jewel within her hand, before she watched as finally Taka-mi-musubi came forward, and as she tossed the Shikon to him, she saw that he was not amused, as she smirked.

Yes, her plan had worked. She's gotten the Shikon back, and she'd been able to piss the gods off by doing so. Of course, it was the wish of the heart she'd granted that pissed them off, but either way she'd finished what she'd started. Now, now she could rest, allowing the pieces on the Game of Fate to live out their lives the way they should. After all, now that the demoness Kagome was gone, a soul couldn't stay on just one path, no, now they could choose many paths, and she only hoped that most souls of the time decided to pick the path that would bring them happiness. Of course, she knew deep down that most of those souls were going to pick the wrong path, but hopefully, just hopefully, in the end they would end up on the path they'd chosen in the first place. After all, she couldn't mess with everyone's life, now could she?


Fin

Kiba:

Ok, I haven't told you any of the Japanese words throughout the story, so I'm going to tell you all of them right now and here. These are all I can think of without going back through it again. Plus, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed; I'm so happy you enjoyed the story, and I've gone back completely and edited the whole thing, though there might still be a few errors still. I'm only human; I can't get all the errors I make.


Ame-no-Minaka-nushi – God of the August Centre of Heaven
(One of the three gods first born in Takamagahara; from legend)

Baka - Idiot, Retard, Imbecile, Etc

Doragon – Dragon

Gami - Toad

Hakama – Pleated skirt-pants

Hanyou – Half Demon

Haori - Sleeved overcoat

Hime - Princess

Hishu – Dagger

Houshi - Monk

Inuyoukai – Dog Demon

Kami-mi-musubi – Divine August God of Growth
(One of the three gods first born in Takamagahara; from legend)

Kaze no Kizu – Wind Scar, Wound of the Wind

Kuro-Inu - Black Dog

Miko – Shrine Maiden, Priestess

Neko - Cat

Nihon – Japan

Ningen – Human

Shikon no Tama – Jewel of Four Souls

Taiyoukai – Demon Lord

Takamagahara – The High Plain of Heaven

Taka-mi-musubi – High August God of Growth
(One of the three gods first born in Takamagahara; from legend)

Tetsusaiga – Iron Pulverizing Fang

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Kiba