InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Fate of Our Love ❯ Chapter 4

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The Fate of Our Love
By: Cassial_Darkfox
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any affiliated characters. I do own Kaido and anyone not in the show. Enjoy!!
Rating: Mature for future chapters and possible dream scenes. If you don't like that sort of thing don't read, r & r otherwise.


Chapter 4

The old woman sat huddled behind a bush as she peeked around and watched the youkai before her. She took in his appearance and figured he was one of the youkai who held control over the youkai raiders.

He was wearing white with red at the end of his sleeves and at his shoulder. He was wearing armor and had two swords tied at his waist. Golden eyes, magenta stripes on his cheeks, a tail over his shoulder, and a crescent moon on his forehead completed the look. And it seemed like he was looking for someone or something.

"My Lord."

He turned, "What are you doing out here?"

"We tried to stop Prince Kaido but he got past us. I am sorry my Lord, we failed you." When his lord stayed quiet he continued, "There is a search party looking for his as we speak."

"Call them all back to the palace. I know where he went." He left the soldier standing there until the soldier headed back to the palace as commanded by his lord.

She looked up and watched the soldier leave, "Interesting." The old woman gathered her herbs and returned to her hut. Her eyes adjusted to the dark as she descended the stairs.

Kagome looked up at the old woman, something odd hit her. 'Huh? What was that?'

Inuyasha glared at the old woman, "Where the hell are we?"

"Inuyasha! Be nice!" Kagome glared at him and smiled at the old woman.

"Ye are in the basement of my hut. I had it built some time ago."

Inuyasha cocked his head, "Why do you smell like Sesshoumaru?"

Kagome's attention shot to Inuyasha, 'That's what it was, Sesshoumaru...'

"Sesshoumaru? Who would that be?"

"He looks kinda like me except with a tail and stripes and a moon on his face." Inuyasha pointed to his forehead as he scowled at the old woman.

"Aye, that one. He was out in the forest while I was collecting my herbs. He raced away really fast."

Inuyasha looked at Kagome, "We should go. If Sesshoumaru left fast then something happened and we need to be there."

Kagome nodded, "Yeah." She scooped Shippo up in her arms, "I'd hate to leave so soon but we have to make sure everything is alright."

The old woman nodded, "I understand Lady Miko." She set her herbs down, "Come I will see you all out."

She led them up the stairs and out into the forest surrounding her hut. They stood in front of the hut as Kagome put a spiritual barrier around where the tree was.

"That should keep any youkai from trying to take up residence where the tree thing was."

The old woman bowed, "Thank you so much Lady Miko."

"It was no trouble at all." Kagome got on Inuyasha's back with Shippo in her arms, "Wait I didn't catch your name."

"My name is Saioki."

"Mine is Kagome. It was nice to meet you Saioki."

"Ye as well Lady Kagome."

~*~

When Sesshoumaru arrived at the village he noticed that all the humans, save one, were gone. He went to the center of the village where he felt the one human was and was surprised to find the monk, Miroku, with the fire neko. It was clear to him that a fight had gone on, between the monk and the fire neko, and a youkai he could not identify.

His son's scent was also in the clearing. Sesshoumaru didn't think about what could have happened to his son; instead he went to the monk.

He was alive but had barely any energy left to move.

Sesshoumaru lifted the Tenseiga and swung it down in an arch over the monk and the neko. Though they weren't dead, he could heal them and return their strength to them.

Miroku's eyes shot open and as soon as he saw Sesshoumaru he started to back up.

It was then that Sesshoumaru knew something had happened to his son; it was then that he felt the need to kill something. He would not kill the monk, though every fiber of his being demanded it. "What happened to Kaido?"

The monk's eyes clouded with tears and he stayed silent.

"If you do not answer I will kill you."

"He fought the youkai child and it absorbed his youki. The youkai took him." Miroku looked down, not able to meet the Lord's eyes.

Sesshoumaru clenched his fists and didn't feel it when blood started to run from his hands. The Western Lord walked away from Miroku to ensure that he would not lash out at him. Once he was a safe distance from the monk he let it all go and to his own surprise he did the opposite of what he thought he was going to do.

The Lord of the Western Lands fell to his knees as tears fell from his golden eyes.

This is how Inuyasha and Kagome found him only minutes later. Inuyasha set Kagome down and started towards his brother, but Kagome stopped him.

"No Inuyasha leave him alone."

Inuyasha's ears went back as he stood by and watched his brother cry. He turned to Miroku, "What happened?"

"Kaido came back here after Kirara and I were attacked. The youkai absorbed all of Kaido's youki and left with Kaido."

Tears sprang to Kagome's eyes, "No..."

Sesshoumaru's ears caught her soft utterance and turned to face her. His eyes widened at seeing her. He stood up, "The villagers are no longer in danger, return them to their homes. You are all coming with me to explain why she is back and why the Shikon no Tama has returned in pieces."

Inuyasha made as if he was going to start a fight but Kagome grabbed his arm and held him back. "Come on Inuyasha. You go to the villagers; I'll help Miroku and Kirara."

The hanyou just nodded and walked towards the caves.

Kagome walked to Miroku and Kirara, "Are you two alright?"

Kirara mewled softly, but Miroku was looking down. "How can I expect to be a father and protect my child if I can not even protect someone else's child?"

"Miroku," Kagome tried to look into his eye but he wouldn't let her, "it's not your fault. You couldn't help it, this youkai is strong and if Sesshoumaru's son couldn't fight him how could you hope to? Please try not to let it worry you, we will find Kaido I swear it."

He nodded absently, which left Kagome unconvinced and worried.

Kagome was standing with Miroku when Sango came up and hit him on the head. "How dare you keep me from leaving that cave?!"

"What are you talking about?"

Sango looked up at Kagome and pointed at Miroku, "He put a barrier up at the mouth of the cave preventing me from leaving it! What if you were in trouble?!"

"Not me... It was Kaido." Miroku's eyes remained down-cast.

"What is he talking about?" Sango glanced past Kagome and saw Sesshoumaru standing at the line of tree leading into the forest. "What happened?"

Kagome sighed, "A youkai attacked Miroku, but Kaido came to help him. The youkai absorbed Kaido's youki and left with him. Miroku and Kirara were left here..."

Miroku looked up, "He said something to Kaido that I think he wanted me to tell to Lord Sesshoumaru." His eyes drifted back towards Sesshoumaru and he saw that he had the Lord's attention. "He said, 'Your father fell from grace when he chose his mate and stole her from me. Now your life will fall in the hands of the entire group responsible for the downfall of my brother. I wonder how the news will be received by your father that you have been taken captive?' Kaido passed out after that and he took him."

Kagome gasped, "We only took one serious youkai down... Naraku."

Inuyasha walked up to them having heard their conversation, "Yeah but he didn't have a brother."

"He could be a last incarnation." Sango suggested.

"But if that's the case why would he refer to Naraku as his brother. Besides remember all of Naraku's incarnations hated him and wanted him to die, why would this one come here to get revenge?" Kagome looked down, "It doesn't make sense."

"What about this mate Sesshoumaru stole?" Inuyasha asked. "He could be mad about that even though it happened around ten years ago."

Sango looked over to where Sesshoumaru was standing and she was sure he could hear their entire conversation, "The only one who knows the answer to that is Sesshoumaru and I doubt he'll tell us."

Shippo sat on the ground next to Kirara, "Maybe he was obsessed with the person Sesshoumaru mated and wanted her for himself. He could have taken Kaido as revenge and might want Sesshoumaru to give his mate to the youkai in exchange for Kaido."

Inuyasha shook his head, "That's impossible, Kaido's mother is gone remember?"

"Where do we go from here?" Sango looked around at her friends.

"You all are coming with me to explain several things."

They all turned to face Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha bristled, "You can't make us go anywhere!"

"No,” Miroku stood up, "I am at least going with him, I owe him that much and I will help find Kaido."

Sango nodded, "Me too and you are Kaido's uncle Inuyasha."

"He would have gone even if it wasn't about Kaido." Kagome looked around, "We can't leave the village defenseless though, I want to put up a barrier before we leave."

"Fine, do it now."

She nodded, "Alright."

They all moved to the edge of the forest and Kagome knelt in front of everyone. She drew something in the sand.

It was a circular figure with two intertwined figures, the first a firebird and the second a dragon.

Inuyasha leaned over her shoulder, "What are you doing?"

Kagome sighed, "This represents my power." She pointed at the circle, "This is me as a whole, and the two things in the middle of the circle represent my power. There are two parts to my power and both are required for this." She continued to draw and told them what she was doing, "The star at the center of the two powers is the Shikon no Tama and the petals stand for mortality." Then Kagome placed her hands on the picture and closed her eyes.

Everyone watched as her hands, and then the circle glowed a bright pink mixed with bright green and the power spread from the circle forward. The energy surged up and over the village and came raining down in the form of a dome.

She took her hands off the drawing, "There the village is protected." Kagome opened her eyes and sighed, "We can go now."

Sesshoumaru eyed her, "Are you well enough to travel non-stop? I will not stop if you fall."

"Yeah, that took barely any energy from me. I'll be fine." She smiled, "Besides I think Inuyasha will carry me if something happens."

Inuyasha crossed his arms, "Yeah right you can walk on your own. If you were smart you would have brought your bike!"

Kagome thought back to where she left it, "No I don't think I could have brought it Inuyasha. But you're right I can walk and I'll be fine."

Sango looked back at the village, "Are you sure they'll be alright? With us leaving and Kaede gone they have no one to protect them."

"No, you're wrong. I'll protect them because they gave us a home when ours were gone." Kagome closed her eyes and sent one last surge of power to the barrier; she sent the power she hadn't used in ages.

Sesshoumaru felt the last surge and his spine was racked with tingles at the sheer power of it. He watched her from the corner of his eyes and waited for any sign that she had used too much energy. With slight surprise, he watched as nothing seemed to change, her power stayed the same. 'She's grown stronger since the fight with the hanyou...'

Inuyasha glared at her, "Now if you're done showing off can we get this over with... Unless I'm wrong, which I'm not, but isn't your palace several miles away?" He looked at Sesshoumaru now, still glaring.

"Yes you are correct hanyou. It will take two days at least to get there if we go at the human's pace." He held an air of disgust at having to slow down to the speed of mere humans.

Sango rolled her eyes at the familiar attitude of the Taiyoukai. "Come on, the sooner we leave the sooner you can get over having to travel with us humans again."

Kagome laughed, "Come on Shippo!"

He jumped up into her arms and smiled.

As they walked further away from the village Shippo's voice broke the silence, "So Kagome have I changed any since you left?"

She smiled, "You have Shippo. You're taller, much stronger, and you look much more grown up."

He beamed. "What about everyone else? Like Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, and Sesshoumaru?"

Kagome sighed and looked around, "No nothing has really changed with them Shippo, other than the small things. Sango is pregnant, Miroku being a husband and father, and Inuyasha still being rude when it's uncalled for."

He glared back at her, "What about Sesshoumaru?! He's still king of the ice world! The only thing that changed him is that he has a kid, that's all. He's still an ass."

She glared at him darkly, "See what I mean? You're rude there is no need for it!" Kagome picked up her pace and caught up with Inuyasha, when she stood in front of him she grabbed his haori. "You need to learn some manners Inuyasha. I would have thought you might have in all these years but I guess I was wrong!" Her eyes glowed pink, "SIT!!"

With more force than Inuyasha had ever felt he slammed into the ground. The largest crater he had ever made at her sit command nearly made it to Sesshoumaru who was several feet away.

"Now Inuyasha leave Sesshoumaru alone or I have the feeling that we're gonna wake up one of these mornings to find that you are dead and gone." She smiled sweetly and stepped around him, and they continued on their way.

"Hey don't leave me here!" For some reason the spell had not released Inuyasha yet, he could still feel the full force of the spell. "Why hasn't it stopped yet?!"

Sesshoumaru looked back at Inuyasha then at Kagome, "An explanation?"

She smiled, "Of course my Lord." Kagome looked at Inuyasha and smirked, "The reason you are still stuck to the ground is I have a stronger control over the prayer beads now. I can put more energy into it and make it stronger so you feel much more force and so you can't get up until I let up on the power. I can even go so far as to throw you with the prayer beads."

He sweat dropped, "When the hell did you have the time to discover all of this?!"

Kagome shrugged, "Just something I know I can do."

"Then will you let me up now?"

"As long as you stop being a jerk. We're supposed to help Sesshoumaru and you're trying to pick a fight."

His ears went back, "Fine, I won't pick anymore fights with him."

"Thank you."

The weight on his neck vanished leaving Inuyasha rubbing his sore neck. He jumped up and caught up to them and eyed Kagome uneasily. "Why do you always pick on me? Sesshoumaru was obviously trying to get me to start a fight."

"Inuyasha, I'm not stupid so stop acting like I am. Come on we should be able to get to the next village by sundown so at least we can sleep in doors."

"Are you kidding?!"

She looked at him, "What do you mean Inuyasha?"

"You think Sesshoumaru is going to stay in a human village? He'll make us stay in the woods before he'll stay with humans!" He folded his arms over his chest, "We should just let him camp out and we can stay in the village."

"No we have to stay together. This youkai took Kaido, if he can do that then getting any of us will be a piece of cake." She looked ahead of her where the sun was descending from the sky, "We'll just stay out in the woods."

"So did you get used to being in your bed again? Otherwise you wouldn't choose the dirt over a room with pillows and a blanket."

She turned towards him suddenly, "Are you trying to pick a fight with me now Inuyasha?! Because if you are you will be sorry!!"

He recoiled, "No!" Inuyasha slumped his shoulders and sighed. "I can't help it. You were gone for so long and now you're back when I thought I would never see you again. I guess I'm taking years of anger at you for leaving out on you now that you are back."

"Yeah well that may very well be, but it is no way to get me to stay." She huffed and left him standing.

"You mean you'd leave even if you could stay?"

Kagome stopped and looked back at Inuyasha and everyone else. Her eyes focused on each of them separately, "No I wouldn't be able to leave. I love it here and I love all of you. Everything I have ever loved is here; everything."

An awkward silence followed the group as they traveled on the small deserted road. They past small villages that had less than ten people living in them, most of which were older ones. The small villages hadn't been there when Kagome was coming to the past all those years ago.

"How long have these been here?" Kagome pointed to a village on the other side of a river they were passing by.

Inuyasha looked over the river and shrugged, "We hadn't really left the village since you vanished. There was no reason to leave so your guess is as good as mine."

"These villages were created after a short human war three years ago." Sesshoumaru's silky voice caught everyone's attention.

"A war? What was the war over?"

"Greedy land lords over taxing all of the people on the land. There was a war following the public beheading of ten people who didn't pay their taxes. Families perished, children were killed and displayed outside the land lord's estate, and entire villages were burned to the ground. It ended just a year after it started and youkai had fled the area as a result of the humans."

"Why would youkai run away from humans?" Inuyasha looked at Sesshoumaru in pure curiosity.

Kagome answered before Sesshoumaru could, "Inuyasha guns were brought to Japan. The samurai are becoming irrelevant because guns can be used from a distance and are far more accurate. Youkai weren't prepared for the humans that could injure them from afar. Also the bullets they're using right now in this time period can cause infections because the guns can't fire hard enough to force the bullets all the way through the youkai. And from what I understand of youkai, they aren't immune to all diseases." She looked at Sesshoumaru and saw the inquiring look he gave her.

"You know Kagome if you were ever captured by a youkai and they found out about your knowledge of the future they would do everything in their power to bind you to them." Shippo laughed, but also missed the look of worry that passed over everyone's faces.

"That wouldn't be possible Shippo."

"They couldn't bind you to them? Why not?" Shippo looked at her curiously, "All they would have to do is give you a mating mark, I know it's hard to do but it is possible to be forced into it." His teal eyes took in hers with serious regard.

Kagome couldn't believe how much Shippo had grown. She didn't think about it until now but he looked so much older than she remembered. 'I guess a part of me hoped and thought that nothing would change when I left.' Kagome broke eye contact with him and put her hand up to her shoulder. "Because of this." She pulled the collar of her shirt back and revealed a scar on her neck in the shape of a bite.

His eyes widened, "You mated a youkai?" Shippo's eyes were unwavering, though there was some fear in them. "Who?"

"I really don't want to talk about it. It happened a while ago and I haven't seen him since then." Her eyes shot briefly to Inuyasha to gauge his reaction but his eyes were covered by his bangs. "So it's best to just forget about it."

"I know you don't want to talk about it, but was he from your time?" Sango didn't look at Kagome but looked straight ahead.

"He was in my time..." Kagome felt the faintest of tears spring to her eyes and tried to blink them away.

Miroku saw the tears in her eyes and decided that a change in subject was in order. "Are we going to be staying in a village or in the woods tonight because I am quite sure that I could get us into the best inn."

Kagome smiled, "I don't really care either way but I don't want us splitting up."

He turned to Sesshoumaru, "Then I suppose the decision is yours Lord Sesshoumaru. Which would you prefer?"

He looked at Miroku with cold eyes, "Neither."

Kagome faltered, "You have to choose one Sesshoumaru, we can't split up."

One of his brows rose in question, "We will stay together but not in a human village and not in the woods." He turned off the path and started into the woods.

Inuyasha looked at Kagome and she just shrugged.

"I guess we're following him." Kagome followed Sesshoumaru and everyone else followed her.

"Hey Sesshoumaru where are we going?!"

He glanced back, "You will see little brother."

It wasn't long before they could smell the faint scent of smoke in the air. The sky had darkened so they were unable to see the smoke and where it came from. As they walked along lights started to appear through the tree line.

"Where are we going?" Kagome said it more to herself than to anyone in particular and was surprised when she got an answer.

"We are going somewhere that no human has ever seen." He stopped and faced them, "You must all understand that you can not ever come here without me or my son. Humans are not welcome here and never have been. Don't go anywhere alone; take either Kirara or Shippo with you, or myself." His eyes met Inuyasha's, "They will not bother you, you are my blood. The rest of you take caution not to speak lightly for it may be your last words." He frowned, "And do not start any fights Inuyasha."

"What the hell?! You automatically assume that I'm going to start a fight!"

"Inuyasha! You're trying to right now! Stop!" Kagome glared hard at the hanyou.

Sesshoumaru shook his head and turned back to the trees. He said a quick spell that Kagome didn't catch and the trees vanished.

Before them was a huge village surrounded by a wall that had torches up at the top. There were four youkai up there as well looking down at them. Kagome didn't think they were very happy to see them. One of the youkai jumped down with his sword drawn.

He bowed when he saw Sesshoumaru then stood. "My Lord it is good to see you after all of these years." His eyes flickered to everyone behind Sesshoumaru, "My Lord..."

Sesshoumaru held up his hand, "They will cause no trouble, that I can guarantee."

"Of course my Lord I meant nothing by it."

He nodded, "Come with me I will show you all where we will be staying." Sesshoumaru walked past the youkai as the gates started to open.

"Wait."

Sesshoumaru stopped and turned.

Kagome was standing far behind the others looking uncertainly at Sesshoumaru. "What is this village for?"

A smirk graced his face, "Why do you ask?"

"There is something wrong here... I can feel it."

"These creatures are being trained to be servants. It is for that reason that no human has seen inside these walls." He could feel the disgust pouring off of her in waves.

"And has Kaido seen this before? Did you submit your son to this?"

He closed his eyes, "No, I would never allow my son to see this."

"Then why are you bringing us here?" Kagome shook her head, "I don't want to be in a place like this."

"We are not staying here, but there is something you all must see." He turned away from them and started walking.

~You may follow if you wish, it is your choice.~ His voice invaded her mind.

~Stop that.~ Kagome sighed and figured that there had to be a reason Sesshoumaru had taken them there so she followed after him. Though in the back of her mind there was still a nagging feeling, Kagome trusted Sesshoumaru. 'That might prove just as dangerous.'

"Stay close." Sesshoumaru waited for them to walk in step with him.

Inuyasha looked around as they stepped pass the gates. "You said creatures. What kind of creatures?"

"These beings are abominations. Evil youkai forced into the body of a human child, humans bred with youkai-"

"You bastard!" Inuyasha lunged at Sesshoumaru with his claws ready.

Kagome put a force field up around Sesshoumaru to stop Inuyasha. "Inuyasha calm down he means evil humans like Onigumo." She looked at Sesshoumaru and lowered the shield without a word.

They continued on in silence as Sesshoumaru led them through the village. Everywhere you turned there were cages either occupied or empty. The creatures inside the cages were true monsters, incapable of thought and feeling. When Kagome touched their minds she felt nothing but anger and hate. There was no direction for these feelings, they were just there and were released when there was someone nearby.

Sesshoumaru led them to an area that had none of these creatures in it. There was one cage in the center of the room with chains and wards all over it. Magic seals covered the wards and a ring of mikos stood around the cage.

They stopped short of being able to see what was inside. Sesshoumaru wouldn't let them go any further.

From inside the cage came a short laugh. "Well, well, well. Lord Sesshoumaru I have not seen you in many years. Not since the days of Naraku and that blasted jewel. What brings you to my humble abode?" A gleam of teeth could be seen in the darkness.

He didn't answer.

"Oh still not very talkative are we? Well fine then, I can see when I am not appreciated." Red eyes flashed in the blackness of his cage, "I must say that you have never been so brave as to bring an audience in here for me. I feel loved as I haven't since your mother's days and Taiko's as well."

Though he kept it hidden, Kagome could feel the anger and sadness pouring off of Sesshoumaru in waves.

"You brought your baby brother, how sweet. A monk and youkai exterminator as well? They will do little against me you know that. And a pitiful..."

Sesshoumaru couldn't help smirking at his silence; he underestimated Kagome at first glance then realized his mistake.

"...miko. You are the one, the guardian, the traveler, the lost, the lonely, and the loved."

Kagome looked at the dark cage and felt shivers run through her spine, "What do you mean by that?"

He laughed, "Well the guardian of the Shikon no Tama of course, she who can travel through times, the one who is not sure where she belongs and so is lost, lonely because you think you have lost that which is most important to you, and loved because you have lost nothing only gained from those who love you. Though you don't know it yet."

She had nothing to say at that. It's as if he had read her mind and that disturbed Kagome greatly.

"Why are we here Sesshoumaru? Just so you can creep Kagome out? If so I owe you a pounding." Inuyasha looked at Sesshoumaru with the deepest hate written all over his face.

"Why young Inuyasha I would have thought that you would want to see me. I see why Sesshoumaru brought you all here, I know why. Just as I can name all of your darkest secrets, but I would be here all day just getting past Kagome." Another flash of his teeth.

"Why would I want to meet you? You hold no significance to my life."

"Oh but I do." He stepped forward into the light and smirked, joy visible in his red eyes. "My blood runs through your veins. It was I who slayed your mother as well as Sesshoumaru's. Unfortunately I was unable to corrupt his blood, so I was left with you to taint and I did."

Sango gasped, "You look like Kaido!"

"No don't be fooled, he is simply capable of taking the form of anyone that he has taken blood from." Sesshoumaru looked at him impassively; he could tell the differences between the two.

"What does he mean-"

"Do not ask questions Inuyasha. You are here to see, not to ask." Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed red then back to their brilliant gold.

Kagome dared to step forward one step, "What are you?"

"I am the one that never was, that could have been, and is." He laughed, "Though I doubt that answers your question." His eyes flashed a deep purple then returned to their crimson red. "I am Onigumo's father. He was never a human, he was hanyou. And though through his selfishness by offering up his body to become full youkai he failed in doing so because he lacked one thing."

"And what would that be?"

Sesshoumaru didn't know why he was letting Kagome ask him these questions or why he was answering. 'Maybe something about her intrigues him.'

"He lacked compassion, love, and faith. He was raised a hanyou and was meant to die a hanyou because he could not accept what he was." His eyes shot to Inuyasha, "This is why the Shikon simply turned corrupt in his hands. The Shikon is not meant to be guarded from those who are good, it is meant to be protected from evil. It only brings misfortune to the wicked. My son was, is, of course evil."

Kagome's heart sank, "You say it like he's still alive..."

He laughed, "Oh, no, Naraku is long dead." He smiled when he heard Kagome's sigh. "Don't be so hasty miko. Naraku is dead, but his brother is not."

"You mean you had two psycho sons?!" Inuyasha growled from between his clenched teeth.

"No, of course not. Onigumo was an accident so why would I want another?" He turned his eyes back to Kagome, "When Onigumo absorbed those youkai he split in two though he was unaware of it. The other came back to where his mother lived and remained there. She told the twin about Onigumo on her deathbed and he craves justice for the murder of his brother."

"Murder?! That bastard killed Kikyo, ruined Sango's, Miroku's, and Kagome's lives too! And he wants justice?!"

"You must understand something... He doesn't know everything Naraku did to all of you. He didn't find out about Naraku until after Kikyo had been killed and you sealed to the tree. I was captured by Sesshoumaru here so I never could intervene. I would have stopped my son if I had known what he was going to do."

Kagome almost felt sorry for him, but she had to remind herself that this was the father of Naraku. "Do you know where he is?"

"Interestingly enough, no. But there are instances when I can feel him. However, he hides himself from me because he knows I am held captive by Sesshoumaru." He smiled a seemingly true smile, "I would help but I doubt Sesshoumaru wants me anywhere near any of you without some bars between us. Also a few powerful mikos, though I am quite sure that were I to break out you alone would be able to stop me. I can feel your power... You are far more powerful than Kikyo ever was, Midoriko too."

Miroku looked at Naraku's father in silence. It seemed hard for him to even start to think that someone like Naraku was ever a child, that someone used to rock him to sleep as a baby, and that he was loved by a mother at least. "How do you know all of this if you are locked up in here?"

"Ah, an excellent question indeed." He was silent for a second before he smiled to himself. ~An excellent question monk. I applaud you for being the first to ask.~

Miroku put his hand up to his head and winced. "You are psychic."

"Among other things but yes. The only ones who didn't hear that are Kagome and Sesshoumaru. Kagome could feel it from the second she stepped into this room and Sesshoumaru has known since he was a child." He smirked, "So both of them put up a mental barrier when they entered this place. I can no more see their thoughts than I can escape this place, though I can see all of yours quite plainly."

"Why cares what you can and can't see. We know about you, now can we leave?"

"Inuyasha," He said quietly, "How much does it bother you that Kagome found another love? That she cast aside your love for the love of another?"

His eyes widened, "How do you know about that?"

"I can read thoughts, see feelings, and even look into memories."

Inuyasha's bangs covered his eyes as he quietly said, "Do you know who her youkai lover is?"

Kagome turned back and gaped at Inuyasha. "How dare you?! That is none of your business! Who I love is my business, not yours. I can't believe you are still hung up on that." She turned to Naraku's father, but still spoke to Inuyasha. "You can take comfort in the fact that he doesn't love me anymore. I left him, and he doesn't love me." Her stare turned to a glare, "I found love when I needed it most and I don't regret a thing. I am glad I got the chance to love like I did. To love and be loved in return, for being me not what he thought I could be."

Inuyasha stepped forward with his hand outstretched, "Kagome..."

"Don't bother Inuyasha." She turned with tears in her eyes and ran past all of them.

He tried to follow but Sesshoumaru held him in place. "Sango, check on her and don't leave her alone."

She nodded, "Alright." Sango tossed Inuyasha a fierce glare as she left.

Miroku sighed as Sango rushed away, "Are you sure they'll be alright Lord Sesshoumaru?"

"They will not be left alone long; we will go after them shortly. For now, however, I believe the miko needs sometime with Sango."

"Yeah."

Inuyasha glared up at Sesshoumaru, "You know her name why not use it?!"

"Do not take your anger out on me hanyou. I will not tolerate it."

Miroku gave Inuyasha one of his rare glares, "Why is it that whenever you get around Kagome you always upset her? Why can't you leave her personal life alone? She said she didn't want to talk about this youkai she loved, why can't you respect her wishes?"

"Because I want the chance to love her!"

Miroku punched him in the stomach, "I am sorry Inuyasha but you needed that." He sighed, "You had the chance to love her years ago, when she was young, but you threw away her love for that of a dead miko. You were a fool then and it seems you still are." He walked out leaving Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha alone.

Sesshoumaru let Inuyasha go and without so much as a glance back left.

Inuyasha cast one look back at Naraku's father, and then followed after Sesshoumaru.

~*~