end only to begin again

‘…’Thoughts
“…” Speaking
*actions/sounds*
Italics and bold - Writings
Italics - flashbacks
Baka - Stupid/Fool
Onna - Woman
Ningen - Human
Youkai - Demon
Youki - Demon energy
Houshi - Monk
Taijiya - Demon Slayer
Kitsune - Fox
Inu - Dog
Ookami - Wolf
InuYoukai - Dog Demon
Kaze no Kizu ~ Wind Scar
Nekomata ~ mythical two-tailed monster cat
Neko ~ cat
Hakama - pants
Haori - Shirt
:: Tessaiga Sword talk::
Gaishou – prostitute, whore, streetwalker
Hijin Kesso - Blades of Blood
Sankon Tesso - Iron Reaver Soul Stealer


Chapter 17
Nice to meet you, I hope.


Inuyasha and the group continued their journey to intercept the strong youki aura before it could head towards any village. Miroku had also noticed that the aura is almost too pure for the aura to belong to a youkai. He found this strange and curious he too wanted to see whom this aura belonged too.

"Inuyasha the aura of the youkai up ahead is aggressive, actually aura holds almost no taint at all." he said while scratching his chin.

Sango too found this strange, 'How could youki aura be so strong where I can feel it too but have so little taint?' she thought while stepping closer to her husband.

Inuyasha could not care less what Miroku had said; he heard him just fine but did not want to hear it, so he ignored him. They soon came upon a good sized clearing; this is where he decided to wait for them.


*~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~*


A few miles away coming towards the clearing walked Kagome, Asiko, and Lasiar. Kagome knew that they were waiting for them; it was only thing that made sense. They were not coming towards or moving away from their location. Kagome was a bit antsy she knew she had to be careful with this little meeting; she couldn't afford to have her journey ruined.

There was only one thing she could do at a time like this, 'Act like a stranger.' she thought forlornly while readying herself for the inevitable reunion that couldn't be called such. 'So close, yet so far…' she thought sadly while walking down the path towards her once companions. A sense of dread filled her she knew how she was suppose to act towards them so they didn't figure her out, she just hoped that they do not push her too far. She would hate to have to fight those she called a family. 'Knowing Inyasha I will have to beat him around some.' she sighed 'I am not looking forward to this. I know if I stray from our path he will just make them follow. He was always persistent like that.' She thought while remembering her hanyou best friend.

Resigning herself she figured it will be best to get this over with as soon as possible. Turning to Asiko, "We may be coming up to some trouble. Stay inside of the tree line and do not interfere no matter what." Kagome said sternly to make sure her vassal understand she meant NO MATTER WHAT!

Asiko nodded and said a "Yes Milady." in a low bow and walked behind Kagome so when the time came she could just hide.

They reached the edged of the forest and Kagome scanned the area for any intrusions. 'No one but them.' she thought as she turned to Asiko. "Ok hide. Keep you senses open in case of trouble. Do not interfere." Kagome said while turning to Lasair "Let's go Lasair I have some people to meet. I want to fly in on them," she said while Lasair transformed into her battle form.

Kagome mounted the neko pated her head softly saying, "Ok let's go!" and Lasair took to flight towards the clearing.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Kerira, and Shippo all waited in the clearing when Inuyasha noticed one of the auras stayed behind. 'Not that it matters the one I am interested in is coming.' he thought as he got into a fighting stance.
Everyone else seeing this followed his lead and got ready for one hell of a fight. 'This is not going to be fun.' they all thought simultaneously while gripping their weapons furiously.

The group had been following carnage all month long but they couldn't find any clues as to who would be the one behind the attacks. They were not gloating or bragging about their success like every other evil being out there. So maybe this person will know something if he was not the one responsible for the problems.

The group stood in wait as they saw the onna-youkai approaching from the sky.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Kagome and Lasair took to the sky she quickly made their way towards the destination. Once Kagome could see the clearing she pointed. "Set down away from them Lasair" Kagome said to her neko trusting the neko to know she meant away from those in the clearing.

Lasair touched ground about 15 feet from the group and Kagome gracefully slid off onto her feet. She stood tall and proud running a hand through her longer silver tresses she stepped forward.

"Who the Hell Are you?" screamed the irate hanyou while withdrawing an untransformed Tessaiga. "What the hell?" he said aloud in bewilderment 'Why won't the sword transform?' the hanyou thought while looking at his father's heirloom.

The others in his group looked at him with worry. The Tessaiga was not transforming, this could be a big problem.

Kagome looked at the Hanyou, "I should be asking you that. Who are you and why are you trespassing on my lands?" said Kagome in a very Sesshomaru like fashion while crossing her hands over her chest. Her stance clearly said I have an attitude so do not mess with me. When she noticed this she quickly changed stances hoping no one noticed. 'Great that's all I need; for them to recognize me because of how I stand. SHIT!' she thought to herself trying to make sure she was not caught in her oh so familiar stance that she would usually take after she sat Inuyasha.

To bad, she was noticed. Miroku had seen the stance a million times. He didn't know anyone else but their dear friend Kagome to stand like that with attitude. When he saw this he was confused, 'This is a youkai in front of him not a ningen onna. So why does she stand like Kagome?' he thought while trying to get a better look at her features so using her question as an excuse to step forward he spoke, "Your lands? We did not know we were trespassing. Might I ask what your name is, and what such a beautiful female like you is doing in the forest alone?"

If Kagome could be herself right now she would have laughed, 'something's never change.' she thought fondly before answering, "I am the Lady of the East. The eastern lands are my domain. What is your business here?" she asked trying to change the subject on the name thing.

Sango stepped forward then she being a taijiya she had to learn who the four cardinal lords were and she knew the lord of the east had no mate. "You are lying the eastern lord has no mate." Sango stated while moving to an aggressive stance.

Kagome gave a nervous laugh, "Lord Taski met his end by my sword. The fool thought to force mate me and paid with his life. I am now the new Lady of the Eastern Lands. Now enough talk who are you and why are you on my lands?" spoke a seemingly impatient Kagome.

Miroku the ever present kiss-ass stepped up and bowed low. "My Apologies Lady. We mean no offense; we traveled through your lands heading west. We were hired by a village to exterminate a rogue youkai in that area. I am the houshi Miroku" he said then turned to towards Sango, "This is the Taijiya Sango. And this rude fellow is Inuyasha." he said pointing at a now fuming hanyou.

Inuyasha stood their fuming. They were ignoring him engaging in light conversation while he brandished his seemingly useless sword. No matter how hard he tried the damn thing will not transform, it was pissing him off. He was about to speak but was cut of before he could even speak.

Kagome looked at them, to the outside world she looked like she could care less who they were, but on the inside she was hoping for a reason to stay with them in their company. Alas she knew it could not be, at least not without them knowing her secret. 'They're going to the same place… right? Wouldn't it be better and faster if we made the trip together?' That way she thought she could be with her friends, however she had to come up with a cover story. She could not very well give them a false name because Asiko would be coming along. So she had to word it perfectly when she announced her name.

When Miroku had finished introducing them she had thought up a plan. Putting it into action she lifted a brow in intrigue, "I have heard of you, the group who defeated Naraku. However you are missing one are you not? I seem to recall tales of a young Miko. What was her name again?" said Kagome while scratching her chin in what seemed to be deep thought, "OH yes, I remember, how could I forget she had the same name as I, Kagome."

Inuyasha's ears twitched when she said Kagome, and his attention was back on her in an instant. Inuyasha was never one to pass up the chance to brag how powerful he was, "Ya we destroyed that vile bastard." he spat with venom. That bastard caused him to lose all the people he loved first Kikyo and then Kagome. He knew Kagome was not dead just back in the future. None the less he still mourned her as if she was dead. She might as well be since he would never see her again. She was 500 years separated from him and even though he was hanyou he doubted he would live that long.

Miroku just stood back adding things to his list of weird things this onna-youkai had in common with their Kagome; and the list kept getting bigger and bigger the more they spoke. First was her stance and now it was the name. 'Strange.' was his only thought before he heard Inuyasha start his bragging as soon as the female allowed enough leeway to do so. He was pulled out of his musings by her voice.

"Well it seems we are heading the same direction. I am on my way to eliminate a troublesome youkai near my border to the Western Lands… Lasair." Kagome said turning to her neko she continued, "Go and get Asiko and return here." The nekomata took to the forest to do as her mistress bid her.
Kagome turned to the group and looked over every one of them assessing the changes the years have made to them. Miroku no longer had that boyish charm and Sango was more filled out. Inuyasha however looked the same. Shippo had grown quiet a bit since the last time she saw him and she thought she was going to cry. 'I have missed so much. My kit growing up, my friends' aging.' she thought sadly as she smelt Asiko and Lasair almost upon them. "As much fun this is I have business to attend to." she said as Asiko and Lasair landed beside her.

Asiko slide off of the neko and bowed to her mistress, "Milady."

Kagome turned slightly to regard her. "We are leaving now Asiko." she said while she turned to walk away.

Inuyasha was still dumbly staring at his sword, 'Why wouldn't it transform?' he asked himself attempting to transform the sword again. His eyes widened in surprised as the fang of his father transformed in his hand. That was when he noticed the Lady getting ready to leave. He remembered her saying she was traveling to kill youkai on the borders of her and his brothers lands, he knew that the youkai she spoke of was the same they were sent to kill. Now Inuyasha was not one to let others take his victory and he was going to let his competition know it, "Oi! You are not going to kill that youkai!" he said while walking hastily toward her.

Kagome heard his outburst and turned to him with a single brow arch. "Is that so? What do you intend to do about it?" she asked amusement clear in her voice.

The tone she used to speak to him only served fuel to the fire. Face reddened in anger as he lifted his weapon over his head to attack, he charged toward her "I will kill you that is what I will do!" Inuyasha spat in rage. He hated when youkai thought he couldn't do something because he was only hanyou. 'I will show her I am not so weak!' he thought as he charged her recklessly.

Kagome sighed, 'Something's never change.' she thought as she turned to Asiko and Lasair, "Lasair, Asiko take to the sky." she said as she watched Asiko and Lasair quickly obey her command. She turned to the charging hanyou.

Inuyasha launched into the air to gain momentum for his attack.

Kagome saw him coming and readied herself. She did not want to kill him and she wouldn't, but that didn't mean she would not protect herself. With that in mind she unsheathed Tessaiga to block his attack.

Sword at ready Inuyasha swung at her only to meet the surprise of his life. His sword transformed back to the rusty katana form. That was when he noticed the sword in her hands was remarkably like his Tessaiga.

Kagome had used his surprise against him and she forced him back with a powerful push.

Jumping away he sputtered, "What!? What did you do to my sword? And why does yours look like my Tessaiga?" he yelled point an accusing finger at her then trying to transform his sword to fight with her but it would not listen.

Sango and Miroku stood shell shocked, 'She has Tessaiga as well!' was the thought they all had in common. They could not believe it, how had they not known that there was another Tessaiga out there? Who was this 'Lady' and where did she come from?

This however was another thing Miroku added to his mental list of weird things about the female. He wanted to learn more about her. 'Why is she so familiar? And why is she not trying to kill Inuyasha for attacking her like anyone else would have? She is just standing their doing nothing with a cocky smile on her face.' Miroku thought while deciding he would figure this female out.

Kagome on the other hand wanted nothing more than to 'sit' Inuyasha. She had not done that in so long she itched to. She knew she could not because the moment she did they would know who she was. So she settled for sending him a cocky smile.

Inuyasha was seething, his sword would not work, and a female was besting him! Now she was smirking at him! 'ARG! She will pay!' he thought before he sheathed his sword and charged her with his claws. He stuck his claws into his palm to collect the blood.

Kagome saw him coming she knew what it meant. She knew what attack was coming so she moved to counter it. Sheathing her sword she readied her poison whip and added some essence of her miko powers to purify his attack.

Inuyasha was nearing her he thought this was going to be easy when he saw her sheath her sword. Taking his bloodied claws he flung them at her screaming, "Hijin Kesso!!" several red blades were sent toward Kagome as she stood there looking bored.

As the attacked neared she flicked her wrist and they dissipated having met their end by her purifying poison whip. Kagome wanted to have fun so she reached a hand up to her mouth and feigned a yawn, "Is that all?" she asked sarcastically.

Miroku, Sango and Shippo saw this with awe written clearly on their face. They saw and felt the purifying powers within the whip and were shocked. Miko youkai were a myth, a legend there were stories but no one alive had seen one for obvious reasons. The powers would didn't mix well but it was obvious that they mixed just fine with this onna-youkai.

"A Miko Youkai?" whispered Sango while staring open mouthed at the Lady breaking the silence that now hung in the clearing.

"How?" was all Inuyasha could manage to say, he didn't expect that. "I don't have time for this shit!" he shouted while trudging away to sulk. He could not get his sword to work and now she is a Miko youkai! 'I may act dumb by I know when to stop fighting.' he thought as he walked away to sulk in private; such a blow to his pride to be beaten by a female so easily who didn't want to fight in the first place.

If Kagome could laugh she would have, that was just too funny. The look on his face was priceless it reminded her of all the times he and Kouga would fight and come to a stalemate. She would never say it out loud but that felt good! All the times he called her weak and she just beat him without even trying, 'His father must have truly been really powerful!' she thought in wonder while her face was still impassive.

Miroku took this chance to step forward seeing as how she was not trying to attack them, "Lady Kagome was it?" he asked while looking at her. He watched her nod in affirmative before he continued, "Well since we are going in the same direction maybe it would be beneficial that we travel together." he suggested not really knowing if she would agree. He looked out the corner of his eyes and saw that Sango was seething, no doubt thinking he was up to his old tricks. He sighed, 'Might as well then if she expects it.' he thought while walking closer to the Lady and taking her hands, "Will you bear my children?"

*SMACK*

Sango whacks him on the top of his head with the Hiraikotsu successfully knocking him out cold. "He will never learn." Shippo's snickers could be heard in the background as Kagome's smirk turned into a smile at the familiar act.

"I will travel with you on four conditions." stated Kagome earning the attention of Sango and Shippo. "1. He does not do that again. 2. He does not ask that of my vassal. 3. No groping me. 4. No groping my vassal." Kagome said watching Sango nod in agreement.

"If he even attempts it he will meet my Hiraikotsu." she said viciously while looking at the monk sprawled out on the ground. 'I can't believe he did it again! Then asking these strangers to join us, he must be going mad!' she thought pissed off that her husband just invited an unknown youkai into the group without so much as discussing it with them first.

"Well if we are to travel together then we had better be going. I have villages to check on as I make my way. I was told of a new evil, a greater threat than that of Naraku. I need to visit the villages on the way to see if they know anything. Lasair" Kagome said while looking at Sango then she looked to the sky when she called her pet.

Lasair heard her call and came obediently, landing besides her. Asiko slid off the Nekomata, "Milady that was amazing!" she said while looking up to Kagome with complete admiration.

Kagome nodded to her vassal in thanks to the compliment then spoke, "Asiko we will be traveling with them until the rogue is destroyed."

Miroku groaned and slowly tried to stand, "Sango my love, I was only joking. You know you are the only onna I love." he said in defense of himself knowing his lady love was still pissed at him. Sango huffed and turned her back on him and crossed her arms over her chest. Miroku turned toward the newcomers, "Will you be traveling with us?" he asked.

"Yes." was her one word reply and he nodded then bowed in respect.

"We should be heading on our way. Inuyasha can catch-up after he is done sulking." said Kagome as she began to walk in the direction they needed to go expecting the others to follow. Soon she heard them following behind her.