I forgot to mention something in my review about the decline in reviews.

Quoting RURIAME: "I find that if I don't review as soon as I finish reading the chapter, I forget. The occasional time I read and then tell myself to review later because I'm tired or snuck in the reading when I actually need to do something else, and that's when I tend to forget."

She literally took my words out of my hands! It is exactly as she describes for me, and it makes me feel really guilty later on, so if I ever forget to review I really want to apologize for it!

I also think that being summer, many people are out and about more, and the younger ones are out of school, so they don't use their computers as much and tend to spend more time in RL and probably enjoying life with friends and doing things like camping or going out to the beach.

For me is the oposite since I live in the desert and Summer is when I hibernate, I can't affor to leave the house when is 104 degrees out there, so I spend more time here.

For those who have little children, they are out of school, so they have more work on them because they have to look out after them all day long and probably either are too busy to read, or do it in between taking care of home and kids and forget to review or don't find the time.

To be honest, I don't know why reviews decline, but at least I speak for myself when I tell you that sometimes you do forget if you think about reviewing later in the day, or if you are in between things like kids all over the house, pets, family and work.

I hope this helps and hope more people will show you the love you deserve!

Hugs:

MidCat

***HOWLS!***

Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!! Kouga!!! Kouga is here!!! This is so awesome!! Kouga! And he STILL likes Kagome! Even better! Nothing like a good dosage of jealousy to stir feelings around!

I am so psyched! This is sooooo cool!! I am grinning like a fool!! From ear to ear!! Finally something happens that does not threaten Kagome and the Baby!!

But KOUGA? Really?? KOUGA? Wow!! That is just too good to be true!

Wow, I am trying to review but I am just so happy and excited that I have to cool down a bit so that I can really think and write!!

What can I say? I am still grinning like crazy while writing this!

I feel for Sesshomaru, he is now really seeing all the pain that the beast and his indiference caused Kagome, his regret will surely be more sincere now that he understands what she has suffered and how she has felt during all this time!

I am wondering if there is something wrong, the fact that he is falling asleep is something that perhaps is telling us that he is becoming weaker?

Their connections seem to be working more towards Sessh than Kagome, it seems that Kagome now sees the pain the beast suffered, but still it does not excuse his behaviour towards her. But at least she knows that the beast didn't act out of hate or just lust, but a sincere pain and love for her! Even when he didn't know how to express it other than physically.

I love this story because nothing is ever predictable in here and just when you think that nothing can surprise you anymore...WHAM! You do something like this!

I am beyond happy, elated, and doing my happy dance! This is so cool!!

OH GOD! A week is going to feel like a month until you next update! I am really, really dying to find out what is going to happen next!

Please, pretty please! for the love of God! You have to update soon!! I don't think I can stand a whole week to find out what happens next!!

I want to know how did Kouga came to the Jewel shard, how did he find Kagome, and how does he see the whole mess! I also want to know if he continues to really see Kagome as "his woman" or is it just his way to talk about Kags every time he sees her!

Does he plan to try and court her, or is he just going to play along to make Sesshy jealous! Does he know about Shippou and what happen to everyone else?

I know I am rambling like a baka in here, but I am just beyond crazy right now!! I want time to rush and read what happens next!! I want to know how Sessh is going to see this new development and how is he going to react to having another youkai in full power around Kagome!

Will the beast inside feel threatened? I have a thousand questions that only you can answer!! So again, PLEASE!! Please update soon!!

Thank you for writing and thank you for sharing! This is one of the BEST chapters ever!!

I am looking forward to your next update and hope I can bribe you into updating soon!!

Hugs:

MidCat

OK, I understand that Sesshoumaru is understanding everything he and his beast put her through and he's feeling a tremendous guilt over it.  His beast is kind of like a human's subconcious, right?  What they call the ID.  So that means that his beast should also be experiencing feelings of guilt and finally understanding what was so confusing to it before as to why she kept rejecting him.  That would only make sense.  Somehow the beast and Kagome are going to have to make peace with each other so Sesshoumaru can completely unlock him in order to be made and feel whole again.  Right now he's only half a person and it can't be good for him physically or mentally.

I know she suffered with what she experienced but sometimes I feel a little impatient with her constantly thinking over a lot of the same stuff like she deliberately doesn't want to let go.  Sometimes all they're thoughts get a little heavy at times.  This story seems to be more of a psychological tale that delves into the mind. 

Well, that explains the moving around! Kouga amuses me so much, this should prove to be interesting, especially since I enjoy your takes on characters.I'm REALLY looking forward to their interactions. I feel like when one thing starts to get cleared up or solved, you bring up something else that I don't really expect at all. Nice turn of events here!

As for the reviews...maybe people are just getting lazy? I find that if I don't review as soon as I finish reading the chapter, I forget. The occasional time I read and then tell myself to review later because I'm tired or snuck in the reading when I actually need to do something else, and that's when I tend to forget. Don't be discouraged, Maddie-dear, your story is still wonderful and complex and satisfying to read :)

Meanie! That cliffie was NOT appreciated, NOT AT ALL.

Um, I for one don't have any issues with this story (besides the absolutely AWFUL fanon beast rubbish, but it is critical to the plot and the story is good, so I'll let it slide lol).

HAHAHAHAHA! AWESOME!!!!! GO KOUGA!

Yes Kouga love him!! Doing a great job please update soon

In hopes that I can maybe give you some insight to your question at the beginning of the chapter, I just wanted to assure you and let you know that your story is no less fabulous than it has been when you first started writing it. Upon that being said, I feel perhaps that the decrease in reviews might be because after the last half dozen chapters or so, your story has slowed significantly in pace and many of us are eager to speed up the transitional aspects of our famous couple. If anything gather more shards and see Kagome finally being able to put a lot of her nightmares to rest.

BUT, I do not feel that the change in storytelling is a necessarily a bad thing, there are a lot of complex emotions, and inner relationship conflicts that need to be wrought out of our pair, and investigated before anything can really come to fruition.  I appreciate the interactions between Sesshoumaru and Kagome as they need to reconnect and establish a partenership, however sometimes I do feel myself wanting to speed up some of the story telling to dive deeper into the emotional conflict that Kagome Sesshoumaru are going through. There are points that I do feel are getting repetitious, but I think those moments are also establishing a solid foundation for future events. Kagome is growing. Sesshoumaru is growing. She is not going to forgive him overnight for the things he did.

Anyways, I hope maybe that was some helpful insight, I do really enjoy your style of writing and always look forward to another chapter of this fic! This most current chapter really took a giant leap in the story's progression, not only getting to Melbourne, but really focusing on Sesshoumaru's growing guilt/feelings for Kagome, and now the arrival of Kouga.

Thank you!

Wow I certainly didn't see THAT coming!  So Kouga's still around and has one shard.  I wonder where the other one went.  I loved the interaction between them in this chapter.  While they were walking around and talking it almost felt...well normal. Two normal people having a normal conversation while out on a walk.  It was refreshing! 

The amazing amount of emotion you bring forth in their little dream scenes is wonderful.  Sesshou is really starting to see everything she went through and I think that she is seeing a bit of what he's feeling too.  At least her dream self is starting to remember and that is going to help her move on.

I wish that he had been there when she woke up it would have been interesting to see her reaction to him laying next to her.  LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE that by the way.  It's such a simple act, laying next to someone.  Yet with these two it's a big step in the right direction, especially for Sesshoumaru. 

It's going to be very amusing to see Kouga and Sesshoumaru interact with one another.  I'm curious to see what will happen if Kouga tries to claim Kagome again and what will Sesshou do. Is he going to relent and allow Kouga to persue her or is he going to defend her because she is his mate and technically he's got feelings for her even if he doesn't realize it yet???  Ack I don't think I can wait another week for the next chapter LoL!!

Now, don't you worry your pretty little head about the decline in reviews.  I've noticed that on a few stories that I'm following so there's nothing wrong with your story.  I wish I had an answer as to why you're not getting as many but I can promise you that I will review till the very end!!!  Exceptional job as always and please please please update soon...wow I'm begging lol that doesn't happen often but I mean it!!!  Best wishes as always***Huggs***

I honestly completely forgot about Kouga. Until ofcourse, he shows up. Lol your story is so refreshing, a good break from everything thats been happening around me thus far, hahahaa. please keep up the wonderful work! 

Yay Kouga!  But I can only imagine the craptacular scene which is about to unfold between a still-strong Kouga and a weakend Sesshoumaru.

Beautiful Chapter :D

Have I told you today that I love you???  LoL seriously this chapter is exactly what I was expecting it to be.  The slow and steady steps are finally building and though there is still a touch of fear and apprehension in both of them they are both learning.  This latest "dream walk" was very interesting to say the least.  I think as they progress further into that "world" they will learn things about eachother that they never knew existed.  There were parts of the old Sesshoumaru in there and parts of the new Sesshoumaru in there too.  He enjoyed her pain yet stopped it before it became too much.  I'm glad that he admited to her that he would like to be part of Kiyoshi's life that in itself says a lot because they both know that, that means he is going to be in Kagome's life too and she seems to be more accepting of that.  Ahh a smile.  You can say so much with a smile that you can't say with words and I'm glad she gave it to him.  I think the hunt for this next shard is going to be quite interesting and I can't wait to see what happens.  I wish I could offer you a better review because this one, I feel, lacks to my normal quality but I must confess that I have been feeling very off lately so my brain is not entirely where it should be.  I will still be eagerly awaiting the next chapter and I must confess again that everytime I get a new alert of my blackberry that one of my favorite stories has been updated I start getting excited hoping it's this one.  LoL.  Best wishes to you as always **Huggs**

Woot!!  Progress!!  She is putting on her big girl pants, which I have to say is going to assist them immensely.  I'm so glad that this epiphany has come about sooner then later. 

The more and more I read of their "connected" world, the more I like it.  There's so much there that seems timeless.  Almost as if it's the past, present AND future!!  I most definitely like this aspect of the story.  It works well with what isn't said and felt when they interact with one another regularly.  There will be more of this "world", yes?  Please oh please! 

Your writing style is continous; no random alterations which is great.  It's getting better too.  I'm not sure if you're treading off the original direction you planned on taking for the story, but it appears to be working just fine (since you mentioned your fear of messing it up).  So enjoyable this is.  Thank you!

What a great chapter! Its so nice to see how little Sesshoumaru and Kagome's progress is moving. When I say 'little' I mean it in a good way! Thank you for this chapter and cant wait to read the next chapter!!! Sorry I couldnt leave a longer post!

I like how Sesshomaru and kagome are having more contact and are getting more close. The only thing that was confusing in this chapter was when Sesshomaru and Kagome were having the connection and this line was said,"She had been like his daughter". Was Sesshomaru referrcing to Rin? Thats the only thing I thought was confusing the rest was cute and touching. I really have high hopes for this fanfic. :3

I like how you are not rushing this, because, I believe the trust has to come first from the both of them. Great job!

...I totally wasn't signed in when I wrote that comment. I must've been too excited and just posted! Haha!

That was AMAZING. After everything they've been through, it's nice to see that Sesshoumaru and Kagome are making progress at a pace that matches their situation, but at the same time not making it go too quickly or prolonging it. This connection thing is really interesting to me and I'm curious to see what will come from it and how what happens in that world will affect them in the real life world. The omagery in that world is just really powerful.

And the whole scene with the baby was just breath-taking. I've never really known anyone who was pregnant so I've never really seen things that could happen, but I could just picture the scene and how Kagome felt about it and then how Seshoumaru felt about her reaction...and it wowed me.

I'm excited for the next chapters!