Chapter Six,

Fallin' Off the Edge Today

"Why the domain of the western land of course. You are in Lord Sesshomaru's castle."

With that being said Kagura and Kanna left the room, leaving behind a hyperventilating miko. It was true that Sesshomaru had stopped trying to kill InuYasha over a year ago and had even helped out in a few battles but to actually be in his home…Thankfully she had something to distract her from that fact.

Her half of the Shikon no Tama lay around her neck, placed on a delicate necklace made of fine gold. Tentatively, she reached her hand out and touched the broken jewel. A few tears escaped. She just couldn't believe it. InuYasha, Kikyo, Sango, Miroku, Shippo and herself had all been through so much for this stupid little jewel. Wars, genocide, hatred, and death had all been caused by the jewel, and she was sure there would be more to come.

Nervously, she picked up the clothing Kagura had left for her. There was five pieces to it and she honestly didn't know how she felt about wearing it. The first layer could only be describes as a body suit similar to Sango's, only no pieces of armor was attached and it was a blood red. Going over it were the traditional priestess robes that were like the ones Kikyo wore. Reluctantly, she put on the clothes, though not exactly as Kikyo had. She left the haori un-tucked, making it appear similar to that of another miko she had seen. She had to wonder where Sesshomaru got them; he was a demon, a powerful demon lord at that.

Next she slipped on the soft, leather boots that to her amazement fit perfectly. Topping the look off was a red and white, vest like jacket which fell all the way past her knees with a red sash tying it all together. All in all, she wasn't quite sure how she felt about the outfit as a whole and she would've preferred wearing her high school uniform. She had never really liked the priestess garments.

Squashing down any feelings of unease, Kagome hurriedly tied her hair into a loose bun as she stepped out of the room and into the hallway. She didn't want to keep Sesshomaru waiting any longer, though as she did so she had to bite back a groan. There were two directions to choose from and each way looked exactly alike. Even if she knew which way was what, Kagura hadn't told her where Sesshomaru was waiting for her.

"Are you lost Kagome-chan?"

Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin. She hadn't even seen or heard Rin approaching. The young girl hadn't really changed much in the last three years, besides a few subtle differences. She had stopped referring to herself in the third person and had even grown a few good inches, not to mention the faint hint of holy powers that radiated off her person

"I can show you where Sesshomaru-sama is. I know the way."

"Thank you Rin-chan."

"No problem Kagome-chan. I'm happy to help," Rin excitedly spoke as she grabbed Kagome's hand.

Rin spoke nonstop to Kagome as she led her down the many hallways of Sesshomaru's castle. It appeared more like a giant maze to the older girl and she was unsure as to how Rin was able to navigate through it, let alone have enough breath to keep talking as much as she was. Thankfully, Kagome was used to such hyper behavior courtesy of Shippo, although even when he was all hyped up on sugar, he had nothing on Rin.

"I'm glad you're awake Kagome-chan. Kanna-chan's too quiet and Kagura-san kind of scary. And Kohaku-kun hasn't even said anything at all. He just stays in his room all day long," she ranted on.

"Poor Kohaku-kun," Kagome thought solemnly to herself. She'd been able to free him from his physical prison, but not from the one built by his guilt. The only person who was able to free him from himself was Sango.

After what felt like an hour of listening to Rin's chatter as they made their way through the enormous castle, the pair finally stopped at a pair of large, ornate doors.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the doors open. In all the manors and estates she had seen over the last three years, this was the first library she had actually seen in the Feudal Era, and quite possibly the biggest library she had ever seen. There were several scrolls and books, some of which looked like they had come from overseas. The walls were painted in gold, along with most of the bookshelves and closer to the back of the room, there was a fire place with snow white furs placed in front of it. The whole room had an extremely affluent feel to it.

"Miko."

Kagome's attention snapped to the majestic taiyouki. He stood in the middle of the room adorned in his usual attire. She felt her cheeks start to warm in embarrassment, she hadn't even noticed his presence in the room. She had been too caught up in the beauty of the room.

"Thank you Sesshomaru-sama for you hospitality." She bowed respectfully, all the while thinking that was a line she'd never thought she'd ever say.

"You have dealt a great blow to Naraku, miko," Sesshomaru spoke, ignoring her thanks. "You have taken half his strength single handedly. I offer you my allegiance miko and a guarantee that the filthy hanyou's time is up."

"I accept you allegiance Sesshomaru-sama. Teaming up now would be very beneficial to both of us," Kagome replied with poise, her face becoming more serious. Now was not the time to think about old grudges.

"Most of Naraku's power came from the jewel and now that he's gotten so weak, he will begin to panic. Though we shouldn't get too overconfident, we will have to watch our backs now more than ever." Naraku was nefariously cunning and he always had a backup plan and a backup plan for that backup plan.

"Correct. My sources tell me that Naraku has headed south, past your village miko."

"And let that be his final resting place Sesshomaru," she spoke with resolve, her eyes taking on a hard glint as flashes from the last two months played in her mind's eye. Naraku's time was up and she would make sure of that personally.

"That's good to hear, Kagome." Sesshomaru smirked, looking every bit like the predator he was. "We leave first thing in the morning. Your companions are on route to your village now and they'll be there in two days time. We shall meet them there."

"Alright."

It was close to midnight by the time they had finally landed at the base of the Goshinboku. Sesshomaru was already there, waiting for them. No surprise there. Kohaku and Rin landed seconds later on Ah-Un.

Kagome let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. On foot, it would have taken about a week to get back to Keade's village from Sesshomaru's castle, by air it had only been a day and at the cost of her nerves. Sitting on Kagura's fan for a better part of the whole day had been anything but fun. There was no support and it felt as if she could've fallen off at any time. And Kagura and Kanna weren't exactly ideal company.

Sesshomaru had said that InuYasha and the others wouldn't arrive until sunset, which gave her time to go see her family. This had been the longest she had ever stayed in the Feudal Era, and she didn't even want to think about what her family must've thought had happened to her.

"Sesshomaru-sama," Kagome turned to the fearsome demon, "I'll meet you at Keade's before sunrise. There is something I have to do right now."

He replied with a nod of his head. Her business was her own. He expected no explanation from her.

Giving him a small smile, Kagome immediately took off in the opposite direction of the village. It felt awkward to be using her legs after the long feather ride, but she was still able to run at full speed down the familiar path to the Bone Eater's well. She didn't even have to see clearly to tell she was headed in the right direction.

She made it to the well in record time. Without an ounce of hesitation, she jumped into its dark depths where she was greeted by the familiar blue light. Climbing out of the ancient well with a practiced ease, Kagome took a deep breath before opening the doors of the shed.

Everything looked the same for which she was grateful. The house was dark, signifying that everyone was already in bed. Looking towards the familiar site of the Goshinboku, the one she grew up with, she was surprised to see someone standing under it, touching its bark just like she always did when she was thinking of the past or when she was unsure of what to do.

Kagome took a few more steps closer. She could clearly make out the silhouette of her mother. Kagome's heart suddenly clenched.

As if she had sensed her presence, her mother had turned her way. Before she could even have a chance to call out to her, her mother was embracing her and Kagome could feel her teardrops falling onto her haori, soaking it.

Returning the hug, Kagome murmured into her mother's ear, "It's okay mama. I'm still here."

"I'm sorry. I was just afraid that you disappeared for good this time," her mother sobbed.

Kagome was hit with a huge wave of guilt. Her father had just disappeared one day, leaving her mother alone and she had been about to unwittingly follow in his footsteps.

"You know I wouldn't do that to you mama, I promise. I will be back," Kagome swore, slowly breaking their hug to look her mother in the eye.

"O-of course Kagome. Please, tell InuYasha thank you for me, for saving you," She asked, wiping away her tears.

"No mama. InuYasha didn't save me, I-I saved myself," Kagome hollowly replied. Her mother's words had struck a nerve and her own words had caught her off guard. It's not like she was weak anymore. And she hadn't always been the one who needed saving and at times it had been her alone who had saved her friends multiple time before, but it had always been someone else who had saved her. Though not this time.

The poison in Miroku's system had been slowly taking over him and if Kagome hadn't come when she had, it wouldn't have been his wind tunnel or Sango's Hirakotsu that would've done the monk in.

Miroku laid on a futon in Keade's hut, close to the back wall as Kagome hovered over him. There was a fire in the middle of the room, which Keade was tending to. Kohaku sat in one corner with Rin right by him. Kanna sat in the opposite corner, starring out into space. Kagura had taken off over an hour ago to take care of something Sesshomaru had asked of her (more like ordered) whilst he had decided to remain outside.

"How are you feeling Miroku?"

"All the more better now, especially since you have granted this humble monk with your presence Kagome-sama." Miroku smiled innocently up at the priestess from his position on the floor.

Kagome glared at him.

"Just because you're sick doesn't mean I won't knock you into unconsciousness if that hand of yours goes any higher up."

Miroku chuckled nervously as he removed his hand. Huffing indigently, Kagome took a seat besides the lecherous monk.

"I'm so glad you're back Kagome-chan. InuYasha's been rude as ever and Kikyo's so cold, I hate going near her, plus she smells like dirt. And Koga's wolves scare me," Shippo cried, setting himself into a comfortable spot alongside Kagome.

Kagome's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion. Koga and Kikyo?

"What's all been going on since I've been…gone?"

Miroku really didn't want to be the one to tell her, but it was important that she found out now as opposed to later when she met them face to face.

Sighing in resignation, Miroku reluctantly answered her question with a grim look on his face. "Not long after you were kidnapped, InuYasha asked Kikyo to join the group and in retaliation, Sango agreed to let Koga join."

"Please understand Kagome-sama, things haven't been right in your absence. Sango blamed InuYasha for what happened to you and InuYasha shut himself off completely from the rest of us. I fear their friendship may never be the same again."

Kagome blankly nodded her head as she absentmindedly ran her hand though Shippo's hair. She never would've thought that her absence would cause such strife in their apparently once tight knit group.

"What about you Kagome? Do you want to talk about it," asked Miroku.

At once her hand stopped and fell limply to her side. She knew what "it" he was referring to and it was something she'd rather not think about. The first month in Naraku's capture had been pure hell. He had placed some sort of a power limiter on her and by some spike of energy that she didn't know she had, she was able to destroy it. But she had still been weak and the only thing she could muster up was the barrier that protected her from his physical attacks. After that he had resorted to psychological torment that had worked all too well. She never let him see it though, and thankfully he had given up after he believed she wasn't responding to his taunts.

"There's nothing to talk about."

Everyone in the room knew that it was a lie but no one wanted to press her on the subject. She would tell them when she was ready.

"How did you manage to escape Kagome-sama? The-the last time I saw you, you could barely pick you the fruit I bought you," Kohaku shyly inquired.

Miroku too was interested in her answer. By themselves, none of them had been able to face Naraku, let alone on his own turf. But to be able obtain half of the Shikon no Tama itself as well. He knew Kagome had been gradually growing in strength; however that kind of feat was phenomenal.

"I'm not quite sure where the strength came from, but that day, I…I just snapped." She replied before continuing with what she saw as the jewel was once again breaking. It had been plaguing her thoughts among other things and she had to tell them. "And the odd thing was, when the jewel cracked, I saw him. The demon from legends, the demon from the jewel, the one Midoriko fought against."

The news was very daunting.

"Are you sure Kagome-sama? Could it have just been one of Naraku's underlings that you saw?"

"No. I know how it sounds but I'm positive it was him. I, I've felt his presence from the tainted jewel shards before. It was definitely him," was Kagome's somber answer.

It had become a sort of routine for Sango and Chad to take the first watch together and together they sat by the fire, watching each of their groups interact with one another before they would fall into an disconcerting sleep.

"Damn you, you little punk! I swear you better learn some manners before I beat them into you," InuYasha growled warningly, his amber heated gaze locked onto Yusuke's full-of-mirth, brown eyes.

Yusuke smirked. He loved getting under the dog demon's skin.

"Better demons have tried mutt. Besides, like you're really one to talk about having bad manners."

Both boys were now inches apart, each itching to throw the first punch. And like usual, it was Ichigo who put a stop to the escalating tension by grabbing Yusuke by the collar and yanking him back to their side of camp.

Yusuke turned his glare to his cousin.

"You're supposed to be on my side."

"Baka, we're not here to fight and your voice is starting to get on my nerves," Ichigo retorted, cuffing him on the ear for added affect.

"And to think I actually missed your sorry ass," was Yusuke's rejoinder, hating the snickers that were caused by his behalf. In a half hearted effort, he tried to divert the attention, "Why are we even stopping for the night? Aren't we almost to the old hag's village?"

InuYasha shot him another glare.

"Night, morning, it doesn't matter. We'll be there when we get there. It's not like the old woman's gonna have any helpful information for us," InuYasha sourly replied, his treacherous mind wandering back to his missing best friend and the guilt he tried so hard to suppress.

The clearing fell into an awkward stillness at his words.

"And that's where you would be wrong InuYasha," Kagura's sultry voice interrupted the ill at ease silence.

InuYasha, Kikyo, Sango, and Koga were on their feet and in defensive positions as Ichigo and Yusuke looked on with the others in confusion. They didn't know why InuYasha and his group had gone into such frenzy over one woman. She didn't appear to be much of a threat.

"Kagura! I don't give a damn why you're here, but you better take us to Kagome now. Especially if you wish to live," InuYasha warned, brandishing a glinting Tetsaiga.

At Kagome's name, Yusuke and Ichigo stiffened. In seconds they were standing besides InuYasha, glowering at the wind witch.

Her next words surprised them all.

"Well since you asked so nicely, I guess that can be arranged."

"What's your angle Kagura? What does your master want now," Sango wearily asked, cautious of a trap by Naraku.

Kagura's scarlet eyes darkened and her nostrils flared.

"That bastard is my master no more. I am the wind and free as I rightly should be."

"Cut the wind crap witch, just tell us where Kagome is," Yusuke barked.

For the first time, Kagura turned her attention towards Yusuke and Ichigo. She had of course noticed them, but she hadn't really paid them much of a thought. She had never seen them before and Naraku had never mentioned anything of new members tagging along with Kagome's rag-tag group. They were peculiar beings and not all entirely human but not worth her immediate attention.

"Why do you care?"

Yusuke aimed his finger, starting to build up energy.

"Tell us where she is bitch."

Kagura let out a humorless laugh. InuYasha and the others wouldn't let just anybody travel with them, especially someone who would harm the miko.

"Calm down boy. The miko is fine. In fact she's probably tending to the poisoned monk as we speak."

They all took off immediately. Every one of them rushed past her, anxious to see if her words were true or if there was a trap waiting for them at Keade's village. Either way, they had to make sure the others were safe.

Koga was the first to arrive outside of Keade's hut, closely followed by InuYasha, then Ichigo, Sango, and Yusuke right on his heels. Last to arrive were Chad, Kurama, and Kikyo.

Sesshomaru stood right in front of the doorway, preventing anyone from entering. Wisely Koga kept his mouth shut. He knew the taiyouki was not one to trifle with.

The regal dog demon greatly reminded Ichigo of Byakuya and Yusuke of Hiei. The feel of raw power hummed in the air, making the two cousins feel slightly uncomfortable.

"What the hell are you doing here Sesshomaru," InuYasha shouted, ready to attack his older, half-brother.

"SIT!"

InuYasha at once was thrown to the ground. Yusuke and Ichigo could only stand there, frozen in shock. Not because the dog hanyou had suddenly plummeted to the ground, but because of the voice they were still able to recognize despite the time that had passed between them. Moments later, the owner of the voice was in their line of view, stepping out from behind the dog demon's back.

She had grown a few inches, but she was still shorter than the two boys. She wore the traditional miko clothes of this era and strapped to her back was a bow and quiver of arrows and on her side, laid a katana. The weapons looked out of place on their amiable cousin who had always detested violence but wasn't against it when it came to either protecting them or beating sense into them. Her hair had grown longer than it had been, though unlike how she had normally left it down, it was placed in a loose bun. But her eyes, her sky blue eyes looked as they always had.

In all, she still looked like the same girl they had grown up with. Though there was no denying there was something different, something powerful about their cousin and it took them a moment to realize that most of the power hanging in the air was coming from her.

She hadn't spoken a word since she spotted them. Like her cousins she too was rooted to the spot. She really couldn't believe what she was seeing. Ichigo and Yusuke could not be here in the Feuda Era. It, it just couldn't be them. This had to be some sort of illusion. Maybe, maybe these last few days had been one huge illusion and she was actually still in Naraku's capture. It wouldn't surprise her. That bastard was very crafty and demented.

Koga stepped besides Kagome and extended his claws threateningly.

"I knew letting these bastards travel with us was a bad idea. Don't worry, I'll take care of them for you Kagome," Koga pompously boasted.

Before he could even move, Kagome slugged him right in his face, surprising everyone but Yusuke and Ichigo. No matter how many times InuYasha and Koga fought, or even when InuYasha was picking on Shippo, she had never resorted to actual physical violence against those she considered a friend.

"They are not bastards Koga-kun and you will not threaten them again. Do so and you will find out what one of my purification arrows feels like," she warned, shocking her friends even further. The only ones not stunned by her uncharacteristic threats were Yusuke and Ichigo.

"Tch, even after all this time you still stick up for us. We do know how to defend ourselves 'Gome-chan," Yusuke teased, smiling right alongside with Ichigo.

A wide grin broke out on her face and she ran to her cousins, throwing her arms around the both of them. Illusion or not, she savored this moment.

"Ichi-kun, midget, I missed you guys," she chirped. "But how, when…why?"

"Likewise and you owe us some answers yourself," Ichigo replied, breaking the hug.

"Wait, what the hell is going on wench? How the hell do you know them," InuYasha bellowed, grabbing Kagome's shoulder and spinning her around so she could face him.

For a moment, they both froze. They forgot everybody and everything as they looked each other in the eye.

"Ka-Kagome, I'm, I'm…" InuYasha felt his stomach drop. There were so many things he wanted to tell her, beginning with how sorry he was.

"You're, you're really here aren't you? All of you," she timidly spoke, reaching a hand up to gently cup InuYasha's face. Tears were slowly welling up in her eyes.

"Of course. Why wouldn't we be," Yusuke asked a hint of confusion in his voice. Ichigo too was worried. Her whole demeanor had changed and she looked so tired, so beaten. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced with a rather convincing bravado.

Her smile back, she gave InuYasha a hug before moving onto Sango. The older girl had a few tears in her eyes also and she gladly gave her best friend a hug.

"There's someone waiting for you inside the hut, Sango-chan," Kagome told her, positively beaming now.

Eyes widening, Sango rushed inside of Keade's home before another word could be said.

"I'm surprised you managed to escape, reincarnation," Kikyo apathetically spoke, drawing Kagome's attention to the deceased priestess.

"In all honesty, so am I," Kagome countered. She was not willing to let Kikyo get to her.

Her eyes narrowing, Kikyo snidely added, "Hmph. Those robes are unbefitting of you. You have no right to be wearing those."

"But she does," Sesshomaru came to Kagome's defense, astonishing InuYasha and Koga, "I, a lord, gave them to her. She has earned them."

Kagome was puzzled. What was so special about the clothes she was wearing? But before she could question them, Kikyo again spoke.

"A taiyouki, how disgraceful."

Sesshomaru started to growl and everyone tensed. Thankfully the mood was broken by a loud cry of pervert and the all too familiar sound of a slap to the face.

Chuckling, Kagome ushered everyone inside of the hut. It was time for answers.

TBC