end only to begin again

‘…’Thoughts
“…” Speaking
*actions/sounds*
Italics - flashbacks
Onna - Woman
Ningen - Human
Youkai - Demon
Youki - Demon energy
Houshi - Monk
Taijiya - Demon Slayer
Kitsune - Fox
Inu - Dog
InuYoukai - Dog Demon
Kaze no Kizu ~ Wind Scar
Nekomata ~ mythical two-tailed monster cat
Neko ~ cat
Hakama - pants
Haori - Shirt


Chapter 17
Give it to me! WHAT?!


The group traveled throughout the day making camp in a small clearing shortly before sunset. Inuyasha had arrived back at the camp as soon as the fire was lit. Kerira and Lasair were rolling around the ground playing. Miroku, Sango and Shippo sat opposite Asiko and Kagome while Inuyasha trudged into the clearing clearly pissed about the new traveling companions.

"What the fuck is she doing here?" yelled an angered Inuyasha at the group while pointing at Kagome.

Sighing Miroku stood to talk to his hanyou friend "She is going in the same direction as we are, possibly to kill the same youkai. We thought it beneficial to have her accompany us. It will be done quicker then we can return to the village."

"Feh, Fine I want to get back to my mate." Inuyasha said before jumping into the tree closest to camp.

'Mate?' Kagome thought sadly, 'He moved on. I cannot believe this shit! Ten years, well seven for me, I waited. I couldn't give up hope and here he's mated! I can't… I have to leave before I start crying!' she thought as tears began to sting her eyes, she suddenly stood "Asiko stay I will return shortly" and with that she took off in a streak of silver.

The group sitting around the fire was surprised by her abrupt departure. Right after Inuyasha said he was mated, the female up and took off. Strange as that may be, it would allow them to question Asiko about her before she returned which was exactly what Miroku wanted.

"Asiko was it?" asked Miroku looking at the youkai now staring in the direction her mistress left.

Turning to answer, "Yes, Houshi-sama?" she replied looking at the monk and taijiya.

"Asiko, please tell us about Lady Kagome," Miroku asked while looking her in the eye.

"There is not much to say really. The previous lord tried to force mate her and she killed him, with a single swipe of her sword. She did not want to become the Lady of the East but I had told her that there would be a war if she did not, so she took her position as ruler. She does not speak about her past or where she had come from. I just know she was taught swordsmanship by a great youkai. She never said his name, she called him, 'the best youkai swordsmen to ever live', but the way she spoke of him made me believe he is no longer alive. I know from experience however short, that she is kind but can be fierce especially when you make an unneeded comment about how she is female and therefore cannot best a male. Someone made that mistake and was humiliated for it. Even though he deserved quite worse for what he had said to Milady." Asiko said looking seriously pissed while she retold the story of the disrespectful male.


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


Miroku listened with mounting interest to the information the lady's vassal gave them. Once her story was completed he excused himself to meditate on the day's events. He soon found a nice tree, a safe distance away and leaned against it in a comfortable meditating position. Closing his eyes and concentrating on easing his mind he began his nightly ritual.

There really wasn't anything too strange, he guessed, but there was nothing that could be used. This Kagome did not seen hostile not even when Inuyasha attacked her. 'I don't know what to think about her, 'I just know there is something strange going on here.' He was confused and that was not something he liked being. He prided himself in his knowledge, 'Being confused does not suit me. There is something familiar about her something I cannot place. I have never seen this youkai before 'but I feel like I have met her before.'

'Could it just be the name similarity to that of an old friend?' he thought to himself trying to figure out this beautiful youkai female. 'She is Inu Youkai, but I do not remember meeting any Inu Youkai females. So where could I know her from? Why is she so familiar? Could it be because her hair color and eye color is that of Inuyasha and his Brother, added with the name of an old friend (Kagome) she reminds me of several people at the same time; Therefore giving the perfect stranger a hint of familiarity. It could be possible but if this is the case what are the odds this is coincidental? What could be gained in this, for what purpose would she do this? There are just too many things wrong; she is the Lady of the East and not a mate. Another thing; why did she run off when Inuyasha said he was mated? Why would she care, could I be reading too much into it? It maybe best to keep a close eye on her while she is in our company and learn as much as I can.' seeming to agree with the last thought he shook his head and came out of his meditative state.

Returning to camp he began to unpack his things and set up the furs for himself and his wife. Sitting on the fur with Sango leaning against his chest, she closed her eyes to enjoy the tender moment.


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


Running through the forest at top speed to get away Kagome made it to the borders of her land and the west. She wanted to get this over with so she could go back to the palace and drown her heart in work.

'This is the best stress reliever yet.' she thought as she tried to scent out the rogue youkai. Once she caught scent of a youkai she headed in it's direction.


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


Walking through the forest within the western lands was a tall silver haired inu youkai and his companions. He traveled with a kappa youkai and a two headed dragon. The wind was blowing the hair of the handsome male as he continued on his trail. Lifting his head slightly he scented the wind that blew again bringing with it the seductive scent of power. By the scent alone, he knew they were not close enough to catch a specific scent of the distinctive youkai it. Intrigued he followed his nose toward that scent.


He was always a curious youkai and this was no different, he decided to track the scent and see whom it could belong to. Impatient he took off in a run toward it; the closer he got to the aura of the youkai he had to stop in shock. Judging by the movement in the youki it was heading his way. The youki was almost if not more potent then his own, he was never one to let a good opportunity pass him by, picking up speed he began his hunt.

It had been too long since he had the pleasure of a challenge, this being would be sure to deliver one.

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

Approaching the western border she caught sight of the unruly youkai tormenting a village on the border of the east and west. Running into the village she stopped behind the rogue, and while his back was still turned she used her poisonous whip laced with her miko powers, she slashed it in the back gaining its attention.

The youkai was about to dine on a villager when a sharp pain along with the stench of burned flesh met its nose and it turned with a snarl while whipping its head around to kill whatever dared to attack him. Missing, it got a good look at the female Inu youkai then something in her hip. "The Shikon!" *GROWL* the youkai said while trying to swipe her with its mighty claws. "Give me the Shikon!" it shouted again while taking a step towards her and swiping again. She jumped out of the way and he missed once again.

Watching the youkai turn around she was ready for it, but when it spoke she was not ready for what it said 'SHIKON! OH FUCK! How did I not remember it is still within me?' she thought to herself as she dodged his attack. 'FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!' she chanted inside her head as she dodged another strike. She had no choice but to finish it quickly before there was a chance to repeat history.

Unsheathing the Tessaiga it transformed in her hand. She held it in front of her looking for an opening to get it over with quick, she found it. Launching into the air sword ready, metal met flesh, and then head met the ground.


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

When he reached the source of the scent he was shocked; a 'female' was the only thing his mind would register. That is until he saw Tessaiga. 'Tessaiga! How!?' he thought as he watched the female wield it expertly. It was then he noticed, 'She is Inu youkai.' he thought while looking at her. He could not see her face yet as she was not facing him. He was going to announce himself when she just took off in a dead run back from which she came.

Before he could think he took off after her assuming that she sensed him and was trying to escape.


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

After she finished off the youkai she knew she had a visitor. The aura also told her it was not someone she wanted to deal with right now so she ran. Running as fast as her legs could take her away from the youkai, she noticed he was following her, hunting her. 'The nerve of men sometimes really!' she thought in outrage while she stopped in a small empty clearing. She knew she could not lead him to the camp it would be too dangerous, so she had to get this over with quick.

She did not have to wait long, out of the forest came a silver blur. Before she knew what happened she was against a tree with his hand around her neck. Flushed in anger, she narrowed her eyes. "Put me down Sesshomaru-Sama, unless you want a war! You are on my Lands!" she stated with barely suppressed anger.

Sesshomaru watched her narrow her eyes and speak. 'This is the new Lady of the East?' he asked himself while putting her back down on her feet. He knew this was not good; you do not attack another Lord or Lady on their lands unless you wanted a war. "Where did you get Tessaiga?" he asked coolly with his mask of indifference in place. On the inside he was not as calm and collected as he sounded he was confused and that was something he did not like.

When her feet touched the ground she stepped around him to put some distance between them. Before she could get far enough away he spoke and she listened. "This is not Inuyasha's sword Sesshomaru-sama" she replied coolly with her own mask in place.


"Lies!" he spat as he stepped forward to intimidate her into telling him how she received such a sword.

"Lies? I think not, you can scent that I am not lying to you." she replied trying to sound as confident and truthful as she could. 'It was not a whole lie, it is not his it is mine.' she thought as she looked into Sesshomaru's eyes while he returned the contact.

He was getting tired of her jumping around the answers he wanted and when she still denied the fact that that is the sword he used speed unknown to ningen kind to grab her neck again.

Seeing this coming she dodged it easily causing a growl from Sesshomaru.

"Who are you?" Sesshomaru asked while he looked upon her with cold eyes.

"My name is Kagome." she simply answered while looking him in the eye.