InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance At Love ❯ The Ties That Bind ( Chapter 18 )

Disclaimer: Ooooh, I forgot this in the last chapter!! But, if you don't know this by now, there is no helping you. I own NOTHING!! Except the plot...but, who cares about that...lol

~No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity.~

-William Shakespeare

Chapter 18: The Ties That Bind

Mirouku stared at the portrait of the Twins. He stared at the one that Kagome said had eyes like his own and had to admit there was some resemblance. He knew his own eyes were so deep a blue that they looked more purple then blue at all, but there was no denying that the shape of his own eyes were much like the man's in the painting and if he was too be completely honest he would say some of his facial features could be found in both brothers... but, that would be getting too creepy even for him.

"I don't understand," he breathed aloud.

He didn't see how there could be any connection between him and a family of youkai. If the fact that his eyes were like the twin in the picture meant there was a connection.

"It is astounding how someone such as yourself could possibly have any kind of connection with this family," said Sesshoumaru from behind him.

"You would say that," said Kagome with a roll of her eyes. Taking his meaning to having something to do with the fact that Mirouku was a ningen.

"Of course," he looked at her; face; his devoid of any expression. "I have no need to speak thoughts that are not my own."

"There is a truth to that that I can not dispute."

"Why should you," he arched a brow at her, "It is no secret that the Takashi family had very little patience for anything that was not youkai... full youkai."

She gave him a look. Kagome knew he'd added that last part for Inuyasha. She doubted it had escaped the Taiyoukai's notice that Inuyasha had flinched slightly when he'd mentioned the fact that their father had not brought him around there. And it didn't take a rocket scientist to know what the hanyou had decided was the reason for that. She also realized that if the Takashi's didn't like ningen so much there was no way that Lord InuTaisho had ever been on friendly terms with the family; not having a human wife and a hanyou for a son.

"Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" asked Inuyasha irritably.

"I fail to see what your stomach has to do with the subject Inuyasha," replied Sesshoumaru lazily.

"Nothing. Its something Kagome once said to me," said Inuyasha with a frown. "And while I admit I don't rightly know what it means, what you said reminded me of that time. I said something that could have been applied to myself like you'd just done," he shrugged then. "It seemed appropriate."

Both brothers turned to look at Kagome. United.

She fought hard to hold in her laughter. It was hard to deny they were family with the identical looks on their faces.

She had no idea that Inuyasha really listened to her when she yelled at him. But, then considering she'd 'sitted' him right before saying the phrase at the time, if she remembered correctly, then it really was no surprise. What else did he have to do with a mouth full of dirt?

"Doesn't matter," she wheezed as she tried to gain her breath. "The question is; what is the connection between Miroku and the Takashis... if there is one?"

No one spoke for no one had an answer to that.

The quiet was deafening. It was glaringly obvious to any watching that none of them had an answer or the remote possibility of an answer for what was going on.

"So, you've made it inside."

They all turned at the interruption. And sighed at seeing the familiar demon staring back at them.

Kagura looked from one to the other; her eyes lingering on the demon lord the longest.

"Follow me."

Kagome glanced at Sesshoumaru. She hadn't missed the look Kagura had given him and was puzzled about what it meant.

When Sesshoumaru moved to follow the wind demon from the hall they all fell in behind him. Kagome directly so; was frowning at his back.

After they'd walked for a while, completely in silence; each one of them lost in there own thoughts Kagome realized where they were headed. The tower. She wondered why Kagura was leading them there.

As if she could hear Kagome's thoughts Kagura began to speak.

"I am to put you in the tower with the miko. That is where you are to sleep."

"Who sent you?" asked Sesshoumaru quietly.

She blinked at him then darted her gaze to the miko before looking back at him. Then she shrugged as if deciding on something.

"Who else," she answered as she continued to walk in the direction of the tower. She lead them up the stairs and stopped when she came to the room occupied by Kagome.

"The Taijiya will stay here with you," she said turning her eyes to Kagome. "The others will stay in the room directly above."

"Kagura," began Kagome solemnly, "why are we being kept here?"

"Because its what he wants," she responded. She'd already told the miko all she knew if she still did not believe there was nothing she could do about that. 'She will learn the truth soon enough,' she thought to herself.

"You speak of the hanyou," said Sesshoumaru. It was not a question. He knew only Naraku could get the demon to do his bidding. He'd guessed a long time ago that the hanyou held some kind of power over the wind demon and he had a feeling after what Kagome had told them that whatever it was still existed. What he didn't understand was how. 'No matter what she believes, the hanyou is dead.'

Kagura looked at him speculatively. She could sense his blatant disregard for what she knew to be true, but had no words to convince him. She looked over at Inuyasha who stood behind the miko with his arms crossed and a bored expression on his face. Kagura knew he didn't believe her as well. Both brothers was as stubborn as a person could get; neither believing in anything other then their own truths. 'They are more alike then they would ever admit.'

"I assume that between the three of you," she began, ignoring the Taiyoukai's words, as she looked between him, Inuyasha and the houshi, "that you should have no trouble finding your room."

Her words were met with silence from the three of them.

Kagura spread her fan in front of her face as she hid her smirk before turning and taking her leave of their reluctant guests.

"Well," said Kagome with a sigh, "I think we should get some rest and see what tomorrow brings."

"Rest?" question Sango skeptically. "Who could rest in here?"

"There is that," she nodded in reply. "But, what else is there?"

And once again a great silence fell over the five of them.

Sesshoumaru turned to look at Kagome and released a silent breath that coming from any other person but him would have been a sigh. He knew and accepted that he loved her, but what were all these other emotions she built in him. There was no denying he desired her physically, but why was he so protective of her? He knew it was more then just a need to keep her safe, but he didn't understand it. Why was he so reluctant to let her out of his sight? For thats what it was; he didn't want to leave her. Now that he had her back he didn't want her separated from him... not even by a single floor.

He touched a palm to her cheek before he even realized he'd planned on doing it. He locked his eyes with hers and he could see all the emotions running through her before letting his hand drop.

Sesshoumaru swiftly turned around and started up the stairs without a word.

Kagome sucked in her breath at the unexpected move. She watched his retreating form with narrowed eyes and lifted a hand to cover the cheek he'd just touched.

Miroku squeezed Sango's hand silently before following after the Taiyoukai. He also didn't want to leave Sango, but he couldn't deny that she was more than capable of taking care of herself.

"Kagome?" she said looking at the expression of stunned silence on the other woman's face. "Are you alright?"

"Huh?" Kagome turned at the sound of her friend's voice. Seeing the inquiring look on the Taijiya's face she sighed. "I.... ah... yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."

She gave her friends a smile then turned and moved into the room.

Sango and Inuyasha exchanged glances then he turned to go up the steps.

"Feh," he humphed as he stumped up the steps.

Sango could hear him muttering something along the lines of females and their knack for finding trouble that was worse then his own, and smiled faintly to herself.

She followed Kagome into the room.

*****

Kagome was staring at the ceiling. She'd been lying there awake for two hours with nothing to do. She couldn't look out the window because the forest spooked her at night, she didn't feel like walking around the castle; not that she thought she'd get very far before either Inuyasha or Sesshoumaru was after her, and besides.... she was tired. She hadn't been sleeping that great since she arrived at the castle. Only being able to get a couple hours sleep-peaceful sleep-made one very tired after a couple of days.

She also couldn't get her mind off Sesshoumaru. She was glad he was here, but now that he was she worried about their relationship, and the lack there of, even more then she did when he wasn't around.

She sighed once more and turned on her side to face the door.

"Kagome," said Sango from behind. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing," she replied quietly, "Just can't sleep."

"Hmm. I know what you mean. I've been lying here for nearly two hours and have counted a hundred and twelve crack in the ceiling."

"A hundred and fourteen.... and that's after two go arounds."

They giggled lightly at each other.

"Kagome," Sango shifted so she was facing the other girl's back. "Did something happen between you and Sesshoumaru in the woods that night?"

She watched as Kagome's back tensed immediately behind her question. The room was completely quiet and after a moment Sango decided that she wasn't going to answer her. Not that she actually needed one now... Sango could tell from her reaction that something had happened.

Kagome hadn't been expecting the question and had quickly become nervous. Did something happen between her and Sesshoumaru? 'Oh yes!' Much had happened between them. She'd given him apart of her that she had once thought would go to his brother... when she had thought about it, that is. But, now.... after being with him she could not imagine being with anyone else. Even Inuyasha.

"Yes."

Sango was quiet for a moment as she took in the whispered reply.

"Do you regret it?"

"No," she replied with a quiet sigh. And it was true... she didn't regret it.

"Good. For there is no room in life for regrets Kagome. That much I've learned."

"It has changed me in some ways Sango. I want nothing more then to be with him and now that I've been their once I want to be there again."

"Physically?"

"Yes," sighed Kagome as she shifted her position to get more comfortable. "And emotionally and every other way as well. I want it all... with him."

"And you can not?"

Kagome turned to her back once more and observed the ceiling. She wondered whether Sesshoumaru was asleep. Then she remembered whom she was thinking of and knew there was no way he was sleep. For that matter, she doubted Inuyasha or Miroku was sleep either.

"Its not so much that I can't, so much as I'm not sure if he wants me to."

"Hmm. Well I imagine he will make his intention known to you. He does not strike me as a man who deals in assumptions."

"I do not think he is either."

Silence fell between them again.

They remained that way, both looking at the ceiling, for twenty more minutes. Kagome rolled over once more, but this time threw her legs over the side of the bed. She sat up.

"Where are you going?" asked Sango as she turned her head to watch her friend.

Kagome stood up and slipped her shoes on her feet.

"I can't continue to lie here waiting for sleep. I'm just going to walk a bit."

"But-"

"Do not worry Sango," she cut her friend off quickly. " I've done this before. I will be fine."

Samgo sighed in resignation. She knew there was no stopping her once she set her mind on something. She knew how amazingly stubborn Kagome could be.

"Alright."

~*~

Inuyasha stared out at the forest. Cloaked in darkness it looked like an inky black spot surrounded by more shades of dark. He wondered about his father. From what Sesshoumaru had said earlier he gathered that his father was not friends with the Takashis.

He couldn't see how it could have been any different. On one hand you had a powerful Taiyoukai who was married to a human and had two sons; one of them a hanyou. While on the other hand you had another Taiyoukai who was also powerful and held true to the belief that youkai were superior and humans were not worth their time. How could two beings, such as these, become friend??

But, Inuyasha had a feeling his father, Lord InuTaisho, knew Lord Takashi very well.

Inuyasha thought back on his childhood and no matter how he looked at it and in how many ways he could not remember him ever being ashamed of him or not want Inuyasha around. No, that job was for Sesshoumaru.

Though Inuyasha remembered a time, a brief time, when his older brother had not treated him as something worse then dirt.

He folded his arms across his chest, as he liked to do, as he tilted his chin down.

That was how she found him.

***

Kagome had come up to the roof as she followed the taste of sadness in the air. She'd stepped out of her room after changing her mind and deciding to take that walk after all. Maybe she'd get her wish and Sesshoumaru would come after her. 'Wait! Do I want him to come after me?' she asked herself then shuck her head vigorously to rid herself of those disturbing thoughts.

She knew she was in love with the jerk, but she was not walking down the Road of Forever until she knew he was walking with her. And that was that!

She came to a stop when she realized she was on the stairs going up instead of going down like she usually did. Kagome didn't know where the feeling she sensed was coming from, but when she passed the room inhabited by the men she knew it wasn't from them.

Sometimes she thought her miko abilities were more of a 'curse' then a 'gift'. She could sometimes sense the feelings in others.... then sometimes she couldn't. Actually most times she couldn't. It was like the power just decided to kick in and give her jolt when it felt like it. It was really annoying!

Kagome went still when a sudden dizzying feeling went over her. She sucked in her breath audibly and stretched her hand out against the wall to steady herself. She knew who it was! She knew where the feeling was coming from. 'Inuyasha'. Why was he so sad?

Knowing who it was did not make her feel any better, but it did make her take off at a run once the room stopped moving.

When she reached the door that lead to the roof outside she hesitated for a moment, feeling like she was intruding, before she pushed the emotion aside and opened the door.

He was standing directly in front of her near the ledge of the building.

Now that she had him in sight and was so close she could see that he wasn't just sad, but angry, confused and not just a little worried. The feelings were coming off him like waves of gas in the breeze. There was something else too. It felt like... nostalgia?

"Inuyasha?"

Hearing his name Inuyasha lifted his head and spun around quickly. He couldn't believe he was so distracted that he didn't hear her coming... or at least smell her scent. God knows she didn't reek like most humans around did... except Sango now. Well... perhaps 'reek' wasn't the word... but they surely didn't smell like her. 'Just look at Sesshoumaru.'

And with that thought, he immediately remembered why he was up on that roof in the first place. He just wanted to get away for a moment.

Kagome had walked closer as she watched him stare at her, yet she knew he was not seeing her. She stopped in front of him.

"Inuyasha," she said softly. "What's wrong?"

Inuyasha blinked for a moment as if focusing on her then his eyes narrowed.

"Feh!" he spun back around; presenting her with his back. "Nothings wrong with me! What the hell do you want?!"

Kagome sighed and faught down her temper. She moved forward to stand beside him and waited silently. Her arm slightly brushing his as they stood there.

"You know," she heard him begin after a moment. "When I first realized that I was different... you know, not human... and not really a youkai either, the first person I went to was him. I was what you'd call eight or nine years old at the time and he was the first person I thought of who would explain things to me."

She looked at him side ways and their eyes met briefly. She wanted to know what Sesshoumaru had said to him then, for she knew that's whom he was talking about, but she didn't have the guts to ask him.

"I knew he wouldn't be like my mother and cuddle me and tell me everything would be fine or like father and say something equally kind but useless. I knew he'd be honest with me," he continued; looking her in the eyes. "Wanna know what he said?"

She nodded at him but kept quiet.

"I came running to him with tears streaming down my face. He said to me..." he swallowed as his eyes held hers, "he said 'suck it up Inuyasha. Tears will do nothing and will not make anything change'."

Kagome sucked in her breath as her eyes widened in pure open shock. She felt a passing pain for the young boy he once was and a severe flash of anger at the person who could have lessened the boy's pain at the time.

Inuyasha had paused when he saw the emotions flash in the miko's eyes, but remained quiet, as he did not understand the reasons for her reactions.

"Then he looked me straight in the eyes and said 'so what if you are different Inuyasha. Who would want to be like everyone else?'. Then he turned and walked away from me."

Silence fell between them.

She couldn't help having a moment of joy. Sesshoumaru had helped him in his own way.

After a moment she had to ask the question that was bothering her.

"What did you do then?"

Inuyasha turned back to face the forest and for a second she thought he was going to reply at all. Then he began to speak.

"Nothing." He tilted his head to the sky. "See I had learned something that day. I learned that I did want to be like someone else." He turned his gaze to hers once more. "I wanted to be like him."

Kagome felt something like surprise and realization wash over her. She stared as things started to click in her head. Now she understood why he wanted to be a full demon. 'He wanted to be like Sesshoumaru! He never understood that he could not be like that.'

"Funny, I hadn't thought about that in years," he whispered to the wind aloud.

"The Shikon jewel..." she whispered aloud to the wind as she thought.

Inuyasha had no idea what she was talking about. He titled his head sideways as he watched her.

"Did you ever tell him? Did he ever realize?"

"Feh! Why the hell would I do that!!" he exclaimed with a scowl. "Maybe you haven't noticed, but the bastard hates my guts. Not that it matters because the feelings mutual!"

"Inuyasha...."

There was no way in hell he was going to tell Sesshoumaru he'd wanted to be like him. Besides that was when he was a kid and he was no longer a kid so it didn't matter. He saw the look of sadness and compassion written on her face and immediately tensed up.

He shifted his body so he was completely facing her and leaned forward until his face was right in front of hers. Nose to nose.

Inuyasha watched as her eyes shifted back and forth between his as she tilted her head backwards in an effort to lean away from him.

Kagome began to sweat drop as he kept staring into her eyes as if searching for something. She began to squirm when she got the sense that he'd found whatever he was looking for.

He narrowed his eyes on hers.

"You're in love with him, aren't you?"

Kagome's eyes widened in panic, as she returned his stare, when she'd heard his whispered words. It was one thing for her or even Sango to know... but Inuyasha?? 'Oh hell!'.

"I..." she began only to be cut off by his loud yell.

"BITCH! WHAT THE HELL YOU GO AND DO THAT FOR!?!" he huffed as his voice carried through the night. "WHAT ARE YOU, STUPID!"

Now she was pissed. It amazed her how quickly he could blow her temper. There was only one other person who could do that... and who'd have imagined that they were in the same family?

"WELL, THATS A GIVEN! LOOK WHO I FELL IN LOVE WITH FIRST! IF THAT DOESN'T PROVE SOMETHINGS OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH ME NOTHING WILL!" she screamed as she fisted her hands on her hips.

Inuyasha shrunked away from her anger as she leaned in towards him. He wasn't afraid of her, not at all, he just figured that now was a good time to put some distance between himself and her.

"Inuyasha," she sighed; grabbing a strong hold on her temper. "You of all people should know you can't chose who you love."

"Eeh?" he narrowed at her confusedly. "What the hell are you saying, wench?"

Kagome's eyes flashed, but she kept a tight reign on her anger... for now. She'd pay him back for the names.... just as soon as she made her point.

"What I mean is; would you have fallen in love with the one miko who protected the one thing you wanted more then anything?" she waited for him to agree but nothing came so she continued. "No you wouldn't have. Not by choice so don't try to act like you would have."

She saw something flicker in his eyes, but it was gone before she could identify it. Then something the wind demon had said popped into her head.

'He has already let her go.'

Was she right? Had Inuyasha broken things off with Kikyo? And if so, why? Why now. She took a good look at him and took in the solemn look on his face and the shadow cast in his eyes that kept flickering in and out. Something had happened... but what?

"Something's happened... What did you do Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha looked at her sideways. He saw the determined look on her face and quickly started to feel uneasy. She couldn't know.... could she?

"What the hell are you talking about Kagome?" he asked trying to appear calm.

"Don't give me that! What happened with you and Kikyo?!"

His eyes opened in shock. He couldn't believe she knew! How could she know?

"Eeh?" he intoned not knowing what to say.

"INUYASHA!!"

His ears flattened to his head for the second time that night.

"Alright, sheesh! Stop yelling, dammit!!"

Then in as neutral a voice as he could muster he told her what he'd only told Sesshoumaru before then... well not really, but he knew his brother knew the outcome. He didn't look at her while he told her of his last encounter with Kikyo.

Kagome listened quietly as he spoke. Only the sounds of her indrawn breath as a clue she was paying attention. When he finished she just stood there. It was odd. This was what she'd been wanting and waiting for, for longer then she could remember and now that it was here she felt nothing. Well, not nothing, but she didn't feel as she'd expected to feel.

She'd expected to feel ecstatic, elated, but what she felt was a sense of... sadness for him. She knew it wasn't easy learning that sometimes no matter how much you love... its not enough. And even though she'd learned that the hard way from her feelings for him she felt bad that he'd had to learn it the same way.

Knowing all this still didn't make anything all that better. Feelings were a commodity that could make a person the happiest or bring you to your lowest low. Especially feelings like trust, faith, and love. They were a double-edged sword... they could cut either way. It's ironic, she thought, how some of the sweetest qualities in life could turn around and stab a body in the back. And by the time you realized, the damage had already been done.

"I'm sorry Inuyasha," she whispered to him. She didn't know what else to say.

He looked at her and he could see the understanding in her eyes and for some reason it made him feel a little weird. He fidgeted slightly. 'Was this how I made her feel?' he thought to himself.

"Hn. Whatever." He said the only thing he could think of as a response.

Seeing the scowl on his face Kagome felt her temper begin to boil again.

"You know Inuyasha. You make it real hard for people to feel sorry for you!" she said loudly.

"Well, I don't need anybody feeling sorry for me! I can do that on my own!" he yelled back at her. "Like I need your pity!"

"You know that's not what I meant you jerk!" Her voice had gone up a notch.

"Well its what you said," he raised his voice to match hers. Then he stood straight, crossed his arms and lifted his chin and continued arrogantly, "And besides it's not like you care anyway. All you can think about is Sesshoumaru."

She saw red.

"INUYASHA!!!"

His eyes flew wide as he took a cautionary step back. He figured he'd finally pushed her too far and was now a little worried. There was no doubt as to what happened every time he did that.

"What?" he croaked uneasily.

"SIT!!"

He only had a moment to suck in his breath before the excessively used spell smacked him face first into stone. For once Inuyasha wished he were on the ground.

"Ow," he groaned weakly; muffled by the roof's floor. "That hurt."

Kagome sighed deeply and rubbed at her temples. She didn't know why she always let him get to her. After being with the hanyou for as long as she had she knew he usually only lashed out like that when he felt threatened. And knowing that, she tried not to let him piss her off and instead try to find the reason behind his outburst, but she failed this time.

She had to admit though, she did feel better with him face first on the stone floor. Coming to a decision she kneeled down and trained her eyes on the back of his head.

"Inuyasha I'm going to tell you this now, before you say something else to make me want to strangle you instead," she took a deep breath and waited a heartbeat to be sure she had his attention though he gave no sign he was listening. "No matter what I will always love you and I will always be here for you."

Kagome waited another moment as she stood back up to see if he would respond to what she said, but if she knew Inuyasha as well as she think she did (and she did) she knew he wouldn't be saying anything. Slowly she turned around and made her way back to the door she'd come out of only minutes before.

When she reached the door, she stopped and turned back to look at him. She saw that he had pulled himself to a sitting position. He was once again in his favorite pose; indian style on the ground with his eyes closed and a deep frown on his face.

She shucked her head and smiled to herself. It was nice to know some things would never change.

"Hmm," she smiled knowing he was not going to like what she said next. "Perhaps its time you and Sesshoumaru talked."

She saw his head fly up in her direction just before she closed the door behind her.

He watched the door shut behind her in shock and not a small amount of confusion. 'What in God's name does she think I have to talk to that bastard about!' he thought incredulously. He just hoped she wasn't going to suggest such a vile thing to Sesshoumaru. Though he wouldn't mind being a flea on her shoulder at the time just to see the demon lord's face when she did it. He felt a spurt of amusement just thinking about the icy demon's reaction.

Not to mention he now had an answer to his question; she is in love with the bastard. Inuyasha was well aware she didn't really answer his question... but she didn't deny it either, and with Kagome that was all the answer in the world. 'God knows the wench can't lie.'

"Feh!"

***

A lone figure in white had caught the end of the conversation between the miko and the hanyou.

Sesshoumaru wasn't really surprised that she still loved the hanyou even if he didn't understand why she would choose Inuyasha over him.

He was surprised that she actually had to subdue the baka to tell him how she felt. He watched the miko exit the roof before turning his golden gaze back to that of his brother. His eyes narrowed with icy anger that even after what she'd given him she would still pass him over. Sesshoumaru knew the miko was not the type to give herself or words, especially words of power, lightly.

And he also knew she'd never once said she loved him.

He turned to leave, he would deal with the hanyou later... now he would deal with the miko.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the white haired little girl with the mirror also standing a distance away in the shadows. He noted that she seemed to be completely focused on Inuyasha who was still sitting in the same spot Kagome had left him in.

He did not pause as he made his exit quietly his face a blank mask giving nothing away.

Like the fact that he also noted the ever-present mirror in the girls hand was glowing with a bright pale blue light.

****

He had watched from the interior of the mirror from the moment the miko arrived on the roof. He'd thought he'd finally had his chance, but it did not come. He needed them touching! Skin to skin... and sadly they did not touch at all and definitely not skin to skin.

Naraku was angry. He was tired of being confined to the incredibly small, yet vastly huge, perimeters of the mirror. It was frustrating and having the little void demon as the only companion was tedious in the extreme.

There was something else bothering him too. For some reason he was getting the feeling that if he didn't get out of the mirror soon he wouldn't be getting out at all. As if he had a time limit. 'I need that hanyou. There is no one else.'

It also did not escape Naraku's notice that what he thought was between the hanyou and the miko was actually the case between the Taiyoukai and the miko. There was no bloody way he could do the process using the powerful demon lord. Not only was he not compatible, there was also the fact that there was no way in hell he'd ever get the Taiyoukai where he wanted to even try. 'Dammit!' This was looking to be even more difficult then he had planned. Now he had to rethink his plan and he hated having to do that.

His beliefs were erroneous and he knew that that could have been avoided.

And that was what really pissed him off. The witch knew. There was no possible way she didn't notice this before hand. Yet she held this from him!

He conjured the manifestation of a heart into the palm of his ghostly hand as his rage grew to an all new high..

'At least I still have this!' he thought evilly. It was true that in this form he no longer had control of her true heart, but this ghostly apparition got the job done just as well. And as for her true one, well, only he knew the whereabouts of that one.

"Kanna?" he addressed the young demon girl. She was the only one he could rely on it seemed.

The little girl brought the mirror around to face her and lifted it to eye level in response.

"Where is Kagura?"

The little girl's eyes glowed a bright white for a moment.

"She is outside of the castle. On the front grounds," she replied with a touch of vagueness. It was quite obvious the girl could care less either way.

"Hmm, good. Take me there, Kanna. Her disobedience and interference has waylaid me for the last time."

Quietly Kanna turned around and headed for the front lawn and the wind demon who occupied it.

****

Kagome had decided that she still didn't feel like sleeping. So, she decided to finish the walk she had started before she became distracted. She glanced at her watch and saw that even though it seemed like more she'd only been up on the roof for a little more then twenty minutes.

Sometimes even Inuyasha could make twenty minutes seem like an hour.

When Kagome turned into a doorway on her right she immediately sucked in her breath as she felt that strange shimmer go through the air again. 'The castle...'

She watched as the form of a man and a woman took shape before her eyes. The woman wore a beautiful kimono with the familiar colors of purple and orange in the sash around her waist. The man wore a similar out fit in the same colors. Her dark hair was held in a bun with sticks at the back of her head. But the most striking feature on the beautiful female youkai was her eyes. They were an intense emerald green. Beautiful!

Though it was difficult to tell she felt the man was much older then the female.

Kagome looked at the face of the man and took in his arrogant expression and the high-handed look in the ghostly garnet colored depths of his eyes. 'I've seen him before.' She was sure he was in one of the portraits. She narrowed her eyes in thought.

"Takashi Sano..." she breathed aloud as she stared; eyes wide.

****

Thats how Sesshoumaru found her.

He'd followed her scent to a room that he realized was not far from the hall of pictures. He was wondering where she was going when he'd seen her standing still in the doorway of a room that from the looks of it must have been the old Taiyoukai's office.

Sesshoumaru was just about to bring her attention to him when he heard her whispered words.

"Takashi Sano..."

He arched a brow and moved in closer behind her to get a better look at the room. He glanced down at her dark head just in front of him and tilted his head slightly in thought. If he wasn't mistaken, he had a sense that she still had no idea he was behind her.

He watched her as she stared intently in front of her... as if watching something.

'What is she seeing that I am not?'

****

Kagome watched as the scene played out in front of her.

"What is it about him that you hate so much?" asked the woman archly. "That his lands are grander, his coffers heavier... or perhaps that he claims more respect from all then you do, Sano?"

The once Taiyoukai narrowed his eyes menacingly at her. He took an intimidating step closer to her.

Kagome was surprised the woman did not take a step back from the look of anger on the male's face. She watched as the woman, instead, kept talking.

"You know why that is? Its because he has compassion for those lesser then himself and sees that one day those that you call inferior will grow to be greater then us who are youkai. They hold that potential within them. They shall inherit the world... not us."

"Oh and I suppose your 'gift'" he sneered at her, "told you this?"

"Perhaps," she shrugged not rising to his bait. "But, I do not need the sight to know this."

"NO!" he roared. "Ningens shall never hold such power or control. And as for your 'compassion', it has no place in a youkai's, especially a Taiyoukai's, heart."

Kagome frowned at his words and could feel an answering anger within her. Kagome could see that the ghostly woman did not agree, but could tell through the mixture of determination and resignation on her face, that she did not plan on arguing the point further.

Even if she didn't already know that the woman was right about the humans, she still would have been pissed with the man's attitude. He was worse then Sesshoumaru on a bad day... and that was saying a lot.

"Maybe his compassion comes from his human Lady and the hanyou they share," she replied with a non-committal shrug. "It matters not where it comes from. It is still one of the reasons many, of all creatures, respect him."

"A Taiyoukai, or any youkai for that matter, has no business marrying a ningen. That is not their right!"

"AND THAT IS PART OF THE REASON THAT NONE LIKE OR RESPECT YOU!" she shouted; her eyes glowing a fierce green.

"YES THEY DO!!' He sucked in a deep breath and lowered his voice as he narrowed his glowing red eyes, "Look at how they flee when I come. I am Lord of the Eastern Lands. That is a title that commands respect and obedience."

Kagome watched the female's eyes narrow at the hidden meaning in the man's words that were obviously directed at her.

"That is fear; there is a difference." The woman arched an elegant brow at the man as she crossed her arms over her chest. "And you are not Taiyoukai any longer Takashi. That is my husband's place now. And though you still rule through Tomoe, you shall never rule me."

She turned on her heel and began to walk sedately away.

"It is not fear," he called out behind her; blatantly ignoring the rest of what she said.

Kagome watched as the corporeal body of the woman came to a stop a few steps directly in front of her and turned to look over her shoulder. She guessed the woman had been moving towards the door that was behind her.

"You think not?" she nodded with a glint in her eyes. "Fine. Show me two who shows you nothing but respect, and I promise I will show you cloaked fear."

This time the man arched a knowing eyebrow at the woman.

"Of course," she smiled faintly at his audacity; understanding his look. "I do not fear you. I have no need to. You fear my mother too much to be of any threat to me. But neither do I respect you... Father." A shadow feel across her beautiful eyes for a moment befoe she spoke again, "It has been many moons since I have given you that."

The woman turned once again to walk away.

"I will see you and your mother burn in hell for the witch you are," he whispered at her back.

Kagome sucked in her breath as she saw the evil look in the ghostly Taiyoukai's eyes. She took a step back as she felt her skin crawl with the sensation that he was talking to her.

She didn't register the soft object at her back that she bumped into or the arm slipping possessively around her waist. Only the odd sense of feeling safe invaded her.

"As you like Takashi, but you will have to look else where if you are to prove your point to me... for I can be of no service to you there."

Kagome heard the woman say from behind her. She watched as the Taiyoukai's form slowly faded away after a short moment.

And that ended the second vision of the past.

****

Sesshoumaru had no idea what that was all about. He had smelled the rise in her anger and had wondered what was causing it for he was still fairly certain she had no idea he was there. He could smell the shock and confusion in her and was beginning to feel confused himself.

He didn't like it.

And when she stepped back and bumped into him he felt the fleeting sense of fear rise within her and narrowed his eyes to look around the room once more.

Still, all he sensed in the room was her and himself. He slid his arm around her waist and held her back against him. Quickly, he sensed her fear die away.

'Well, it would seem some part of her recognizes me.'

He waited quietly for her to come back to herself.

****

Kagome went over the scene she'd just witnessed once more in her head. She was starting to think that what she was seeing wasn't actually ghost, there was entirely too much color and life in the images for them to be ghost. No. It seemed they were more like a projection... a projection of events that she was beginning to believe actually took place. Like she thought before... they were the castle's memories.

And she was thinking the castle was showing her very specificones. She knew the visions were telling her something.... perhaps something to explain why Miroku was seeing one thing and the rest of them another.

It was as if the Castle was an abstract painting, but instead of them all seeing something different their visions were being made to see the same thing... except Miroku.

She also was getting the feeling that Mirouku was the one who was seeing the painting as it really was.

But even guessing all that, it still didn't explain the other presence she could feel in the castle with them.

Kagome sighed heavily and leaned back against the hard prop at her back... then she went still.

After a moment she smiled to herself and pressed her head back against the familiar chest behind her. 'Sesshoumaru.' There was something in him that called to something within herself and because of it she would know him anywhere.

She rubbed her palm against the clawed hand resting lightly against her abdomen.

"Hello Sesshoumaru," she smiled. "Couldn't sleep?"

He'd sensed the very moment her mind had caught up with her body. He enjoyed the way she relaxed within his arms.

Sesshoumaru knew she must care about him, he didn't think she'd let him hold her, the way he was holding her, if she didn't. 'Could she love me? Me who tried to kill her often in the past?'

Kagome tilted her head sideways so she could look at him. She looked at his beautiful face and wondered for the thousandth time about his and Inuyasha's father. Now she wondered about his mother as well. She knew that the lord Sano Takashi and the woman were speaking about was the long dead Inu-Taiyoukai of the Western Lands. For a fleeting moment she wished she could have met the deceased demon.

She also realized one thing else; Lord InuTaisho and Lord Sano were the farthest thing from friends that two could get without being out-right enemies. And because of this she was certain that when Sesshoumaru said his father knew Sano Takashi very well he meant exactly that. She'd bet they knew each other very well, because she'd doubt that Sano Takashi would let anything about the Taiyoukai he envied and hated so well get by him and she would guess that the Inuyoukai, if he was anything like his sons, would not be able to help but return the favor.

"Sesshoumaru?"

"Yes Kagome," he answered as he leveled his gaze on hers.

"I think something really bad happened in this castle... in this family." She turned in his arm and wrapped her arms around his waist so she could lean into him and borrow some of his strength. "And you want to know what else I think?"

He looked down at her as she lifted her face to look at him. Letting his silence speak for him.

"I think that Miroku is a key figure in some way. And whatever that way is explains why the castle looks as it does to us."

~*~

Fang: You really insist on death don't you?

Duchess: What? Chapter 18 is finished and it has NO cliffy!

Sesshou: Arched a brow at her.

Duchess: What??

Kagome: Um... Duchess-chan... that IS a cliffy...

Duchess: IS NOT! There is no 'dunna-da-daaa' kind of feeling there.

Sango: I don't know what you mean by that, but I KNOW that there (points at comp screen) is a cliffy.

Shippou: Yep! Irs a cliffy Duchess-chan! You're going to be in sooo much trouble when they read it. I sugeest you start on 19 now! (giggles)

Duchess: Its not funny Shippou-chan! I don't like getting death threats! They depress me.... (sigh) Well, I'm not changing it.

Inuyasha: Duh, half wit! You don't have to change it just type more! And what the hell is with that scene with me and Kagome. Like I'd be afraid of that wench!

Kagome: INUYASHA!!

Inuyasha: (sweat drops as he turns to look at the miko) Eeh?

Kagome: SIT! SIT! SIT!!

!!CRASH!!

Duchess: (bends down near the hanyou) You know, Inu-chan. I try not to make you look like a complete idiot all the time, but you always go and ruin it!

Sesshou: That is because you are fighting a battle you can not possibly win. The hanyou IS a baka.

Duchess: (sigh) Okay, everyone hope you enjoyed the chapter... now I'm going to finish ch. 6 of Feud and start ch. 19...