Sorry for the long wait guys! I've been super stressed out lately so I haven't had the heart to write.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Prince of Tennis or any of its characters.

New Beginnings
[23] The Inner Workings

Ryoma woke up in an unfamiliar room, shooting upwards in the large bed, shouting Kagome's name. He looked around wildly before forcing himself to calm down. He wasn't in the middle of the forest, which meant, after Kagome's... explosion, they must have somehow gotten to safety. He was pretty sure he was either in Atobe or Sesshomaru's mansion, judging from the decorations and interior design of the room. Only idiots with money and nothing to do would have rooms like this.

He got up slowly, looking over himself, mindful of any injuries he may have gotten when Kagome blasted him into a tree. Ryoma frowned, not only did his ribs feel absolutely fine—he distantly remembered them cracking, after all—he didn't even have any scratches on him. Assuming that he was in Sesshomaru's house... he shuddered. Rubbing his hands over his goose bump-covered arms, he hoped that the older demon had kept his tongue well away from his body.

Holding back another shudder, Ryoma opened the door that lead to—what he assumed to be—the hall. Immediately, the scent of food swept over him pleasantly. He followed the scent, knowing that it was going to lead him face to face with Momoshiro wolfing down whatever food was placed in front of him.

He wasn't wrong.

It took Ryoma a full minute of standing in the doorway staring at Momoshiro in disgust before someone finally noticed him.

"Ochibi!" Kikumaru squealed, "You're okay!"

Ryoma narrowed his eyes, taking in the odd group. Although everyone was gathered around the same general area, it was obvious that there was a divide between the two groups. Kagome's circle of friends were all seated on one side of the room while his teammates (and Atobe) were seated on the other side. Inui, however, had isolated himself in a lone corner, huddled and scribbling madly in his notebook. Ryoma had no doubt that Kagome, her adventures, and the existence of demons have been explained to everyone.

The one person that Ryoma wanted to see, however was not there. He frowned. "Where is Kagome?" he asked, ignoring his senpai in favor of Kagome's friends. If anyone knew where his cousin was, it would be them.

"Still resting," Miroku answered helpfully.

Ryoma's frown deepened. "I want to see her."

"Not now," Sesshomaru cut in. "She mustn't be disturbed."

Ryoma narrowed his eyes.

"She has been healed," Sesshomaru said, as if reading Ryoma's mind. "She will be fine, you have nothing to worry about."

Normally, Ryoma would further press the issue but it struck him that what Sesshomaru really meant was that he had healed her, himself. The young tennis prodigy had to hold back another shudder at the thought. He wasn't going to ask Sesshomaru to confirm it, and he was most certainly not going to ask him about his own wounds. Some things, he decided was much better left unknown.

"Feh," Inuyasha grumbled. "Wench would have gotten her head sliced off if the kid hadn't pushed her out of the way."

"Her reflexes have slowed," Sesshomaru said. "That is to be expected. She had been away for a year, after all."

"Speaking of which," his half-brother growled. "Where the hell were you anyway?"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the implication. "I was under the assumption that you could handle a couple of demons. The Shikon's presence has been condensed. I was attempting to find it."

"The Shikon," Inui muttered, catching everyone's attention. He turned towards the demons, glasses glinting in the light. "Also known as the Jewel of Four Souls, correct?" And then, without giving anyone a chance to answer, he continued, "Legend says that the Shikon Jewel is actually a physical personification of a powerful priestess' soul. For a—"

"Right, right," Sasabe—Yukishiro interrupted. Having been Inui's teammate for a number of weeks, he was not unfamiliar with the senior's tendency to ramble. He had, however, thought he had left that behind when he quit the team.

Ryoma raised his eyebrows. "You're still alive," he noticed for the first time. He almost hadn't recognize the demon. His hair appeared darker and his eyes, which Ryoma remembered had always been a light brown, was most definitely red. And glowing. His features have paled too, considerably and almost seemed sickly white but Ryoma was pretty sure that it was the demon's normal complexion.

Yukishiro rolled his eyes at Ryoma's tone. "Unfortunate, isn't it? That priestess of yours made a fool of me, knocked me unconscious and to make matters worst, I woke up just in time to crash into a tree when her powers decided to imitate an active volcano." More than one person winced at the visual. Ryoma, especially; he remembered his own tree.

"You crashed into a tree," Fuji asked, eyes opened. "I'm amazed you got away unscathed."

"Of course not," Yukishiro responded. "My healing abilities surpasses yours by far. And while broken bones take longer to heal, Lord Sesshomaru took care of it, as he did with all your wounds." He looked at everyone pointedly.

Ryoma, in an attempt to get himself comfortable, banged his knee against the coffee table upon hearing Yukishiro's news before falling back onto the sofa with a bounce. He felt a muscle below his eye twitch. Next to him, Tezuka began paling rapidly. Considering the fact that besides, Ryoma, Tezuka was the only other person (in his circle of friends) that knew how Sesshomaru healed, he had a pretty good idea what was going on through the tennis captain's head.

"What?" Oishi exclaimed, shocked. He gave himself and his teammates a look-over. "We were hurt?"

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, mockingly and snorted softly through his nose. "You do not honestly believe that you have the ability to walk away unscathed after being thrown ten feet through the air, do you?"

There was something in his tone that made Oishi feel small and insignificant. Actually, Ryoma was pretty sure Oishi wasn't the only one feeling small and insignificant at the moment. The vice-captain flushed in response. "W-well... I didn't mean—"

"All of you fainted?" Inuyasha exclaimed, snickering in amusement. "Bunch of wusses."

"I'm sorry," Sango deadpanned, "but I must have imagined carrying your unconscious body back."

The half-demon immediately quieted. "I wasn't completely unconscious!" he argued.

I'm going to hurl, Ryoma thought, feeling his head spin. It didn't help that Momoshiro—blissfully unaware—was inhaling the food in front of him. He could actually feel the familiar pressure pressing against the back of his throat. Ryoma hoped that he wouldn't lose the battle against his stomach; he had no desire to ruin Sesshomaru's furniture. He was pretty sure that the demon lord would not spare him—Kagome's cousin or not.

"You... healed us?" Tezuka muttered, looking up at Sesshomaru, his unnaturally pale features matching the demon lord's.

Sesshomaru tilted his head and frowned. While he was not personally familiar with the human, he was sure that Tezuka was not so stupid that he needed to ask for confirmation on something Yukishiro had so explicitly stated only moments ago. It was then that he took notice of Tezuka's pale features. Realization dawned and Sesshomaru turned to look at Kagome's cousin in confirmation.

The young boy looked as if he was about to throw up.

Sesshomaru immediately scowled. "I did not heal you the way you think I did."

The room quieted at the rather odd statement. Inuyasha's head snapped up in confusion. "Huh?"

Ryoma raised his eyebrows.

Blinking a couple of times, it took a moment before Inuyasha understood the situation. He snickered in amusement, biting the insides of his cheeks from full out laughing.

"What's going on?" Miroku whispered.

"The brats think that Sesshomaru licked their wounds."

Everyone froze at once, suddenly very interested.

Sesshomaru scowled even harder, his facial expression darkening to the point that even Yukishiro was shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "To heal by licking one's wounds—as the half-breed so kindly put it—is reserved between pack members only. I would not lower myself to even touch your pitiful human flesh, much less grace it with my saliva."

His tone made it sound as if he believed his saliva was made out of liquid gold. The entire situation would have been rather amusing if the demon didn't look so angry and dangerous. No one dared laugh, except for Inuyasha who was more or less used to Sesshomaru beating him up for various reason. He could handle another broken jaw.

"Trust me," Ryoma grumbled. "No one wants your saliva anywhere near them." He refused to look at Sesshomaru and thought, Except for maybe Kagome.

"Pack," Sango whispered breathlessly, in awe. "Kagome is pack?" She stared up at Sesshomaru, eyes wide with shock.

Sesshomaru eyed Sango but refused to confirm.

"What does that mean?" Miroku whispered.

"Dog demons," explained Sango, recalling information she knew from her previous life, "so rarely allow outsiders to become part of their 'pack'". Packs are usually centered around related family members so if an outsider is accepted, you can bet that they are very, very important to the individual that accepted them."

Miroku's brows furrowed. "It's rare?" he asked. He knew only of two dog demons and Inuyasha and his brother didn't seem to have any trouble accepting outsiders.

"No," Sango said, shaking her head, knowing exactly what Miroku was thinking. "We were never part of Inuyasha's pack. Packs have a very strict social hierarchy so if we were pack, there would have been a definite alpha, beta, and omega and each one of us would have to complete duties expected of us." She watch Miroku nod in understanding. The other humans were staring at her, although not completely understanding what she was talking about, they were obviously still very interested in the topic. "For example, sometimes Kagome would cook, sometimes I will, other times, you." But if we were a pack, it would be one of our duties as members of a pack to be the chef."

"Interesting," Miroku rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

"Now that I think about it," Sango said slowly. "Back then, Sesshomaru's pack probably only consisted of him and Inuyasha. In terms of strength, Sesshomaru would be alpha and Inuyasha beta." Inuyasha snorted at the statement but otherwise did not interrupt. "But since Inuyasha isn't the type to just listen to Sesshomaru, it was probably seen as a challenge to Sesshomaru's position." She rolled her eyes, "No wonder you guys fought so much."

"It wasn't that simple," Inuyasha protested with a low growl, turning his nose up into the air. "Bastard wanted my sword!"

Sango rolled her eyes again.

As interesting as this is," Miroku said smoothly, with a grin that immediately made Sango narrow her eyes in suspicion. "Just exactly when did you start considering Kagome-sama as part of your pack, Lord Sesshomaru?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, forcing Sango to intervene with a hard jab to his sides.

Silent the entire time while the inner workings of his species was being dissected, Sesshomaru followed his brother's lead and turned his face away and his nose up into the air. Sango had to hold back a giggle at the image; like Kagome always said, the two of them were much more alike than either of them dare to admit.

"Keh, that's an interesting thought," Inuyasha said with a lopsided grin. "You and Kagome never had much interaction in the past." He shrugged. "But I don't really care, I stopped questioning things when Kagome's involved a long time ago. She has the weirdest ability to make people do things no one expected." He narrowed his eyes at Yukishiro who rolled his eyes.

Silence. It was clear that Sesshomaru wasn't going to even bother giving them a hint. He certainly was not enjoying the current direction of the conversation.

"So... Kagome's pack," Ryoma said, the unfamiliar term rolling off his tongue hesitantly. "What's her position?" At the rate Kagome's relationship with Sesshomaru was going, Ryoma needed to make sure that Sesshomaru wouldn't do his cousin harm, mentally since it was obvious that the young priestess could handle him physically. Kagome definitely did not deserve to go through another two-timing sort of but not really boyfriend.

Sesshomaru blinked.

"Alpha, obviously," Sango answered immediately. She couldn't imagine Kagome being anything else. Besides, now that she thought about it, for the longest time, Kagome was always the one that both brothers would listen to. She was the one that was never afraid to step between them when a fight broke out, she was the one that was able to stop their infamous brawls. Inuyasha, she knew only listened because he knew that despite her innocent looks and sweet smiles, Kagome was something to be feared. Sango wasn't too familiar with Sesshomaru but she knew for a fact that no matter how fearful Kagome could be, Sesshomaru wouldn't be afraid of her like Inuyasha kind of was. As a full-blooded dog demon, he was synced with his instincts in ways Inuyasha could never be; Sesshomaru would only listen to the young priestess if she held a position equal or greater than his own.

"Wait," Inui cut in. "If Wakagami-sama is considered "alpha" and Higurashi-san is also "alpha", does that mean that they're... mates?" While he didn't know much about dog demons, they seemed to be pretty similar to modern canines.

Silence.

"What the fuck?!" Inuyasha shouted, jumping up from his seat, no longer nonchalant about the conversation. "You're hitting on Kagome? You bastard!"

Sesshomaru reacted immediately. "You foolish half-breed. A single word from a human who didn't know the existence of our kind mere moments ago and you dare—"

"I'll kill you!" Inuyasha screeched, reaching over the couch and pulling out Tessaiga. The fang transformed immediately and Inuyasha fell back into a familiar stance. He wasn't serious about killing his brother. Really. But it's been so long since Inuyasha had last—attempted to kick Sesshomaru's ass. It was like the good-old days again.

"What the hell is wrong with the two of them?" Atobe asked in horror, reeling backwards.

Stupid senpai, Ryoma thought with a glare in Inui's direction. Always asking the stupid questions. He narrowed his eyes when he saw Inui scribbling in his notebook, a mad smile stretching his lips. Ryoma tried again, Stupid senpai, and his stupid pursuit for knowledge.

Sesshomaru cracked his knuckles and lengthened his claws. His clawed hand took on a familiar green glow and Tezuka and Ryoma immediately drew back, attempting to merge with the couch. There was no barrier to stop them from dissolving if the demon's poison were to come too close.

"You think you can touch me?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"I'll kick that sissy ass of yours!" Just watch—"

"What. Do. You. Two. Think. You're. Doing?" A new voice cut in, screeching the last word in anger.

Everyone turned towards the doorway. Kagome stood there, shaking fists clenched to her sides in anger. Ryoma was half pleased and half disgusted to see that Sesshomaru was speaking the truth and she was fully healed. Apparently, Kagome was pack and pack healed each other by giving the other saliva baths. He shuddered.

"Inuyasha, put Tessaiga away and your ass on the couch."

"But—"

"Now!"

Inuyasha huffed and grumbled but obeyed.

Kagome turned flashing eyes towards Sesshomaru who actually had to resist the urge to put some distance between himself and the priestess. When had she learned how to glare like that? "Retract that poison and those claws. Don't think I don't see them."

Raising a thin eyebrow and staring for a moment, Sesshomaru sighed softly through his nose but did as she commanded. Sango grinned. Yep, definitely alpha, she thought. She turned towards Kagome. "Kagome-chan, how are you feeling?" she asked pleasantly.

Kagome eyed the large group for a moment before she turned towards Sango, "Pretty good considering the circumstances." With a yawn, she plopped herself onto an open space on the sofa, next to her cousin.

"You might want to take a shower," Ryoma muttered. Or a hundred. He remembered her blood pooling the ground beneath her; it must have taken a whole lot of saliva to heal a wound large. He shuddered again.

"Hm?" Kagome asked, "What was that?"

Ryoma didn't answer.

Sesshomaru cleared his throat. "Now that you have healed significantly, perhaps we should move onto more important and pressing matters." He glared at Ryoma who shrunk in his seat, making another attempt to merge into it.

"What important matters?"

Sesshomaru raised his eyebrows. "The Shikon Jewel. The demons that attacked you. The returning demonic energy. Why you left Naraku's spawn alive. I could go on..."

Kagome huffed. "I thought we discussed everything at Yukishiro-san's house the other day." She turned towards the demon and nodded in greeting. "Good to see you're alive," she said pleasantly.

He nodded in response. After seeing her display of anger and the immediate obedience of two strong demons, he wisely chose not to mention her throwing him into a tree.

"But the demons attacked you," Miroku pondered. "You would think that since you are to rebalance the world and bring back their kind, they would not make an attempt to kill you."

"Oh," Kagome breathed. "There's that. But Yukishiro-san said that they were the demons trapped in the jewel. The witch is still alive, obviously, and I'm assuming she pulled them out of the jewel to kill me."

Sesshomaru snorted. "She wishes to rid the world of demons and yet still use them to do her bidding. Pathetic."

"Then the Shikon has returned?" Sango asked, gazing up at the demon lord. He was the one that mention its presence condensing, after all.

Sesshomaru shook his head. "No, while its presence can be easily sensed when one is near the mountain, I do not believe that the witch had managed to pull it back completely as of yet."

"According to mythology," Inui interrupted, "The young priestess of legend—which I assume would be Higurashi-san—sacrificed all selfishness and demanded the Shikon Jewel's destruction."

She blushed slightly. Priestess of legend? That's the first time she has ever heard of it. "That's right, except not destruction, exactly. I demanded the Jewel to cease existing. The last time someone tried destroying the jewel, it was reborn into my body. Anyway, I don't know how much they told you but it didn't work in the end. The jewel is still here... sort of. Sometimes we feel it, sometimes we don't. It's like it's in a different dimension or something."

"Hmm... I see..."

"But—"

"Wait," Tezuka interrupted, turning a critical eye in Inui's direction. "I think Inui may have thought of something."

Kagome sat up. "What?"

"Did the Jewel actually disappear?" Inui asked. "When you made your demand, I mean."

"Well," Kagome answered hesitantly. "Yes... I mean, it was in my hand one second and gone the next."

"But since Naraku spawn came from the jewel when the witch decided to wipe demons off the face of the planet, it didn't actually disappear in the first place," Inuyasha added.

"Correct," Sesshomaru agreed. "But then why disappear at the priestess' command in the first place? And since its existence had not been erased, what exactly happened?"

"That doesn't make sense," Sango said. "There's no point for it to disappear if it wasn't going to actually disappear. And besides, Kagome didn't just tell the Shikon to disappear—which could be taken a number of ways—she also told it to "cease your existence" and there is really only one way you can take that."

"It does take wishes rather literally," Miroku agreed.

"I have a theory," Inui said. Immediately, everyone sat up, looking at the senior, curiously.

"Oh, please share," Kagome breathed, "because we have nothing and we've been trying to figure this out forever."

"To confirm, the Jewel of Four Souls is actually a soul. Is this fact true?"

Kagome nodded.

"I see," Inui mumbled. He opened his notebook and began writing.

"Continue," Sesshomaru said, eyeing the green notebook distastefully. "Or I will melt that, your pencil, and the hand attached to it." His eyes flashed dangerously.

Inui's glasses glinted in the light and he swallowed carefully. He had almost forgotten that he was in the presence of... non-humans. With great care, he closed his notebook and placed his pencil down on top of it before pushing it to the side. "According to the Law of Conservation of Energy," he began, "energy cannot be created or destroyed and it has been hypothesized that souls—if they exist—are the strongest of all energies."

"Okay," Kagome nodded. "Never been good at physics, but I'm following so far."

"That makes one of us," Inuyasha grumbled. "He lost me the moment he opened his mouth."

"Silence, half-breed," Sesshomaru hissed with a glare.

Inui blinked and then cleared his throat before continuing. "The Shikon is a soul," he repeated. "But since souls are most likely not physical matter, the Shikon Jewel itself must be the physical personification of a soul. I theorize that perhaps when you demanded the jewel to erase its existence, according the the Law of Conservation, it could not actually do so—so it did the next best thing—"

Kagome sucked in a horrified breath.

"—it erased its physical personification."

Silence.

"That would mean... the jewel itself is gone... but the soul..." Miroku looked around. "The most important part of the Shikon Jewel, Midoriko-sama's soul is all around us."

"Aw man," Kagome groaned softly. "I knew I should have taken my physics final instead of hunting down Naraku."

"That would also explain why a witch was able to pull it back into its physical state," Sesshomaru said, ignoring the young priestess. "As long as someone had the ability and knowledge..." Finally, they were getting somewhere.

"But it must have been hard to hold it in that state so it probably went back into its "soul state" after she made her wish."

They stared at each other silently.

"So..." Sango said softly. "What's the next move?"

Sesshomaru closed his eyes. "We mustn't allow the witch to pull the jewel back into physical state again."

Kagome groaned again. "Does that mean what I think it means?"

"You must find a way to pull the soul back into the physical realm so that it's in your hands," Yukishiro said.

"I knew it."