Whispered Dreams by Youkai Yume

Meet Me Half-Way

[A/N]

Yume: Mmmm...I should be updating "Blessed Curse..." But I just can't find myself doing that.

CF: As usual, RECAP!

Previously, Sesshomaru's second attempt at reviving Kagome failed and in the midst of renewed friendships, another one is questioned when Inuyasha confronts Kagome about Sesshomaru. It seems that their friendship ended before it could deepen, but is it really the last of Inuyasha? And were they really alone in their little argument? Meanwhile, Naraku has a conversation with Sesshomaru concerning the legend of the Princess and the Shikon no Tama. He's beginning to suspect a lot more from Naraku, not to mention...could the princess of legend be connected to Kagome?

~*~

Whispered Dreams

By: Youkai Yume

Chapter 14: Meet Me Half-Way

When you're in love...you're supposed to trust him with all of your heart, right? You're supposed to believe that he has no other eyes except for you, and that no one else could ever fill that void in his heart except for yourself. So when he tells you that he's going for a walk, you expect him to do exactly just that--a walk. There shouldn't be any suspicions or insecurities that he might be doing otherwise.

And you shouldn't feel jealous or envious when he's around other women, right? Because deep down, you know he doesn't see that special something in them like he sees in you. And you shouldn't feel hurt or angry--at him or at her when they're together, because...if your love was truly pure and eternal, then it wouldn't matter.

Yet...Kikyo felt all of these feelings and more as she stood in the shadows, watching with narrowed brown eyes at the scene before her. There, in the moonlight stood the silver-haired hanyou that she had grown so close to. But he wasn't alone. No, Inuyasha stood bathed beneath starlight with a girl--or at least at first glance to be a girl.

The day prior Kikyo remembered seeing him return to Ookami village at sunset. His face was fixed in that of a scowl and she could tell by his flashing amber eyes that he was in a rather sour mood. Which, in a way, surprised her because usually after one of his walks, he came back quite happy and was even--dare she say it? Courteous to her and smiled more often.

At first, she thought it was a good thing that he was in a much more amiable mood, seeing as their relationship was a little unstable due to her urges for him to become stronger and best Sesshomaru. She couldn't help it...she truly couldn't stand the demon lord for humiliating her in such a way, and she hated him even more for speaking of Inuyasha as if he were dirt. Kikyo hated being condescended to.

But after a while, for all his good mood was worth, he wasn't around as often to share it with her.

"Patrolling a bit, I'll be back," he'd say. Or... "I need to hunt--I'm hungry...I'm going for a walk, don't worry about me, 'kay?...I just need some time alone..." The list of his excuses went on and on. Eventually, Inuyasha stopped telling her altogether and just left whenever he felt like it. Usually, he returned in the morning.

The tree where Inuyasha usually used as his sleeping perch had remained bare for some time now, Kikyo noted with a tinge of sorrow. Suspicions rose soon after that, and it was inevitable that the thought of the hanyou meeting a secret lover did not escape the miko's mind. But she had always waved the notion aside quickly. Surely Inuyasha wouldn't do THAT. He was loyal to a fault, and the priestess refused to believe that the half-demon found someone that he valued above her. Still, she wondered why it was that yesterday, he was brooding and stayed for the first time in many nights in his tree.

He spoke not a word to her of why he glowered that way, and Kikyo was only left with her confusion once more. The next morning, he left without a word, leaping into the direction in which she usually saw him disappear to. This time however, she had no intention of waiting for him until he returned. This time, she followed him--if only to prove that her suspicions were wrong and put herself at ease.

Imagine her reaction when she took it upon herself to follow him that morning--to see just exactly where it was that he went that made him glow with such a warmth, yet made him sneer with such bitterness--a bitterness that spoke of betrayal and wounded emotions.

The priestess remembered seething with anger when she saw the hanyou with her. She couldn't understand why, especially when she had no real inkling of what their relationship was. The girl could have been merely a friend, an acquaintance, or even just someone he happened to meet while passing by.

But when they began to speak on such familiar terms, the scowl returned to her face. Just who was this girl?! She couldn't hear what they were talking about, and it frustrated her to no ends. Well, whatever it was, she had never seen Inuyasha so...EMOTIONAL before! It surprised her at how readily his amber eyes flickered with such fervor, every single one of his thoughts and feelings reflecting off of his depths.

She became even more jealous at this. In that one second that she sat spying on them, she felt more emotion from Inuyasha than she ever did in all of the time that she knew him. The hanyou always kept up his guard, no matter what. Kikyo had been no exception. So...why was this girl?

Kikyo reasoned for a second that perhaps she was a witch or demon of some sort that placed a spell over Inuyasha. But she couldn't sense any demonic aura coming from the girl at all. She sighed. Definitely not a youkai she could just kill, dammit.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she realized that she was able to catch little snippets of their conversation. Their voices were raising, getting louder and louder...until eventually she heard every breath that came out of their mouths.

"He...He came last night!"

"Feh, yeah! For his own convenience! He treats you like some kimono that he can just pick up from the closet whenever he's ready to wear. He doesn't see you as a friend, Kagome!"

"SHUT UP!"

"You're wrong about him. That's NOT how he sees me..." Ah, it seems they're in some sort of disagreement, she thought with a smirk. At least they're arguing and not whispering some sort of endearment...

"So, just how does he see you?"

Jus who was it that they were talking about? Kikyo had never considered herself a busybody before, but she was very intrigued now. The mysterious girl said nothing, however. Her eyes flickered over to where Inuyasha stood, and her hopes rose within her. He seemed REALLY angry. Perhaps she didn't have to come between them after all. With the way things were going, it seems like they'd end it for her.

"Forget this," Inuyasha spat. "It was stupid of me to try to get you to understand. No matter what I say." Kikyo sighed in relief. Good, he was going to leave this all behind and return to her. Then..."It's obvious," he continued, and in the most regretful and saddened voice she had ever heard, "...that you care more for him, than you do for me."

And that was all it took to make her realize... Kikyo bit back a gasp as she gaped with wide eyes at Inuyasha, who disappeared with soundless agility into the woods, leaving the girl he had been speaking to stunned as well. Inuyasha...never sounded so vulnerable; never sounded so hurt and JEALOUS. Over who, she still didn't know. In that moment, Kikyo thought he had never cared for anyone as much as he cared for this girl.

The fact that they had an argument only a few moments prior no longer brought her comfort. The fact that they had been arguing over the fact that he was jealous, made her realize that he cared enough about her to feel he needed to vie for her affections. He had never been jealous at other males for fawning over her before and she did have a few admirers.

She scowled, a bitterness rising within her. Her brown orbs snapped back to the girl who did not move from the spot. To her astonishment, the girl began to weep. Kikyo had half the mind to come up to the girl and slap her for stealing Inuyasha away from her--to cheat on him (is what she assumed from the snippet of their argument) and then CRY over it like a stupid child.

In fact, the miko was about to do just that when the girl's form suddenly flickered like candlelight in a darkened room and faded completely. The only sign that there had been a girl at all was the echoing cry that resonated throughout the forest.

Kikyo stood from her hiding place.

'Ah, so she isn't a demon. She is...'

"She is a spirit from the beyond," Kikyo thought aloud, eyes narrowing. So that's why she couldn't sense any demonic aura about her. The miko's eyes looked over to the shrine that she hadn't really noticed was there before. It was burnt, in very poor condition, and looked like it was going to collapse any moment now.

It was uninhabitable to any mortal, but perfect for a ghost to haunt. "And this is the place that she is bound to." Well, she might not be a witch, Kikyo rationalized, but spirits still have the ability to cast spells and enchantments sometimes. It wasn't rare for her to find an entity not of the living that tried to seduce mortals to join it in its' solitude of death. It wasn't rare at all. The dead usually longed for company, something to make it seem less lonely.

'And this ghost is doing just that to Inuyasha,' the priestess frowned. She gave one last weary glance at the burnt shrine before turning to leave. It seemed so dark in the sunlight, the charred walls and soot-covered steps a drastic contrast to the bright surroundings. Kikyo began to walk away, tucking the memory of this place safely in her mind. For surely, she would return again.

"Don't worry, Inuyasha. I shall free you from her bewitchment." It's been a long time since she performed an exorcism.

~*~

After the seeing the other demon lords off, Sesshomaru spent the majority of his day pondering over what Naraku said. He knew he had heard something remarkably similar to it before but just couldn't surface the memory to recall from where. All that ran through his mind was the part about the mortal hime that disappeared along with the jewel of legend.

If he calculated correctly, the demon lord was pretty sure the story originated around the time Kagome claimed to have died. Though, admittedly, it was a long time ago, so he wasn't quite sure himself. He doubted even Kagome remembered the exact date of her death now. Time wasn't a factor to demons and spirits like them. Now he only wished he had stored Kagome's tale somewhere safer in his mind.

He knew it shouldn't bother him so much. After all, hadn't he said to Naraku himself that it was nothing more than a wives' tale? The Taiyoukai couldn't shake it off, but it seemed suspicious... Especially since Naraku seemed to have taken such an interest. It shouldn't have surprised him though. The dark lord seemed to have a thirst for power, and naturally the Shikon no Tama wouldn't escape his knowledge. He wasn't sure, but Sesshomaru felt that Kagome was connected in some odd way. And that wasn't good, particularly because if she was, then Naraku might have some interest in her.

And the demon lord definitely wanted Naraku to stay away from Kagome.

Sesshomaru paced the library, perusing book after book on old legends and myths. None of them seemed to hold any documentary of the Shikon no Tama. Well, not any consistent ones anyway. All of them varied. Some said that it was destroyed during a war, others stated that a pure wish was made and it ceased to exist now. Another went as far as to claim that it took on the form of a human created by the four souls inside of the jewel.

He rubbed his temples, sighing lightly as he snapped yet another book shut. "Nothing," he muttered, taking a seat at his desk. Sesshomaru gazed lazily out his window, eyes settling on the sun that began to set, creating golden streaks across vibrant pink skies. The demon lord was growing rather impatient waiting for night to fall.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" A squeaky voice called from the door followed by a hollow knock. "Your dinner is ready milord." Jaken said, peeking his head in as he opened the shoji screen slightly.

"Take it away. I am not hungry tonight," he answered crisply. The toad frowned at this.

"But milord, you've been in this room all day! And you haven't eaten anything either. Surely Sesshomaru-sama would appreciate some--"

"I have gone without food and rest far longer than this, Jaken," Sesshomaru interjected coldly, giving him a look that said 'Are you questioning my strength?'

"O-Of course, Sesshomaru-sama," he bowed, head hung low. "I didn't mean to offend milord. But, perhaps a bit of tea???" He added, hopeful to please. The demon lord paused for a moment, golden eyes returning to the painted sky that was created by the setting sun.

"Fine, tea then. But make it quick, I shall be leaving shortly."

"R-Right away!"

He could hear Jaken scuttle down the hallway, and was even sure for a split second that the toad was humming in glee of being able to be of service. Turning to the documents and books littered around his library floor, Sesshomaru began to pick them up and place them back on the shelves.

It wasn't until his afternoon tea arrived that he realized he should just leave it to the servants to clean up.

~*~

Splsh. Splsh. Splsh. That one only skipped three times before sinking. Scrunching his nose a bit, the hanyou picked up another stone from the bank. His clawed hands fingered it for a second before the flick of his wrist sent it sailing into the lake water.

Splsh. Splsh. Splsh. Splsh. Splsh. Five skips this time...better, but not quite. Almost automatically Inuyasha bent down to pick up another stone to toss across the surface of the lake. His amber eyes followed each one as it danced on the water. Four times, three, and five again. Dammit. Not good enough...

Flashback

"Watch and learn, runt. This is how it's done," his cold voice bit at the child's ears and he tried not to wince at the tone of his brother's words. He watched with intense amber eyes as the demon prince took a stone in his hand, inspecting it slightly before throwing it into the water, the curve of his arm graceful and his movements were fluid, effortless, flawless.

And he counted how many times the stone flew across the surface of the lake. One. Two. Three...he watched as it went almost to the middle of the lake, and the hanyou child swore it skipped a total of seven or eight times before sinking to the murky bottom. His mouth was open with silent wonder, and he glanced expectantly back at his elder brother, who only gave an icy stare in return.

In his hand, Inuyasha noticed that he had another smooth stone. He blinked when his brother extended it to him, waiting with a bored expression for him to take it. The hanyou huffed indignantly, a smirk on his lips as he all but snatched the stone out of his brother's hand.

Holding tightly to the stone, the child turned to the lake.

"I bet I can beat that!" Inuyasha boasted, rolling up the sleeves to his red kimono.

"Don't boast unless you've won," the elder of the two said sternly, golden eyes focused on the lake as well.

"I'll show you," the younger grumbled before winding up his arm. He tried to mimic what the demon prince did earlier, trying to match the form, the grace, the fluidity and effortlessness of his movements...but it came out quite awkward.

The stone left his hands and skipped nonetheless. He counted with baited breath at the stone's progress. One. Two. Three... There were no more splashes to be heard. It ended at three. A scowl crept up to his face and he dared not look at his brother. He didn't want to see that emotionless face, those cold eyes that only looked at him as if he expected the failure.

A silence filled the air before he finally heard the familiar stoic voice speaking to him.

"That was quite good," the demon prince finally commented. Inuyasha's head snapped up suddenly, amber eyes wide as it gazed upon the elder youkai's face. Did he hear right? Did his 'I'm so much better than you are' half-brother just praise him? He would have smiled cockily then, if it hadn't been for the next words that brought his self-esteem crashing down. "But not good enough."

End Flashback

"DAMMIT!" He growled, throwing the rock in his fist so hard that all it did was splash loudly into the water. "But not good enough." Those words had always echoed in his mind for as long as he could remember. He had never been good enough. Never. Not for the demon race, not for the human race, and definitely not for Sesshomaru.

Inuyasha thought he had gotten used to it by now. After all, this was Sesshomaru here. His level of expectancy was so high, that you could hand him whatever it is that he wanted on a silver platter and he'd still reject it because the platter wasn't gold.

Still, the hanyou had always wanted to prove his older brother wrong. That he could be just as good, if not better, and dammit! He WAS good enough!

'All my life I was living in his shadow,' Inuyasha sighed, taking a seat on the bank and just staring at the now calm lake. He had thought for sure that he escaped it when he left the Western Domain, and felt even more confident in his ability when his father left him the better fang as an inheritance. HIM. Not Sesshomaru.

In that one moment, the hanyou felt like he was far better than Sesshomaru ever could be. That he had finally become his brother's equal. He should have known. He would never be better than the demon lord. After all, SHE had confirmed it for him.

Inuyasha had never been one to care very much about what others would think. He thought he had outgrown that childish want to be accepted unconditionally, because let's face it. A hanyou is a hanyou.

When he had stumbled upon the ghost of a girl, he had no idea that he would ever feel so...content. There was something sincere and genuine about Kagome's smile, the warmth that seems to wrap around you when you're in her presence. It was if when she looks at you, you know that all of her attention is solely on you, and you couldn't help but feel that everything she did, she did it for you.

Admittedly he hadn't known Kagome for very long, but he knew without a doubt, that she was the first, and the only one who accepted him wholly for who he was, something that not even Kikyo could do. She didn't see the hybrid of demon and human blood in him. With her eyes of haunting sapphire, she saw past his rough exterior and saw him as Inuyasha.

But somehow, that made it hurt even more. His mind wandered to the argument they had the other night.

"You don't know him like I do," He muttered to himself, though the words seemed unconvincing now. If Kagome really was the kind of person who could look past the mask that anyone wore, including his own, then she could no doubt see through Sesshomaru's as well.

Inuyasha growled, turning away from the lake to stomp back to the village. He wanted to punch something; preferably his brother's face. He wanted to call Kagome a liar, to have all of her words drown out of his ears. But he couldn't, because Kagome wasn't a liar.

Kagome didn't see the real Sesshomaru like he did. Not the cruel part of him anyway. But she HAD seen the real Sesshomaru. The part that Inuyasha didn't see. The kind that made her smile wistfully, blush slightly, and protect with a fiery passion that was unparalleled to any other in her quiet, soft-spoken ways.

She saw both the real Sesshomaru, and the real Inuyasha. And in the end she still chose Sesshomaru over him. Inuyasha couldn't blame it on his demon blood now, so what was left for him to blame? Did this mean that Sesshomaru is a better person--a better FRIEND to Kagome than he was? Just what was their relationship anyway?

WHY in the seven hells did this bother him so much?

"You're acting like a spoiled child, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru's distant voice broke into his thoughts--a voice from his childhood. Yes, he was a spoiled child. A spoiled, selfish child. He was deeply jealous of his elder brother in a way that he had never felt before. It ran deeper than anything he had ever experienced Sesshomaru, and it burned in his veins like wild fire.

He wanted Kagome to be HIS friend, value HIM over Sesshomaru, wait for HIM on starlit nights and smile only for HIM. The half-demon couldn't understand why the ghost of a girl meant so much to him, why he suddenly felt so possessive over someone who wasn't even living. It was unusual for him to get so easily attached to someone. But then...Kagome wasn't just any ordinary person.

She was the first person he ever cared about, besides Kikyo.

"Heh," Inuyasha scoffed a bit, amber eyes softening as he came to a sudden realization. He knew now why his brother never spoke of Kagome, why she was his deepest secret. Sesshomaru didn't want to share her, wanted her all to himself. Just as he inexplicably didn't want to.

For all of the times Sesshomaru complained about him getting everything he wanted, he possessed something far more precious. Inuyasha didn't know why he would ever worry about sharing Kagome. Apparently she didn't want to be shared.

He was always better. Always. God he hated Sesshomaru. The bastard didn't even have to be present to ruin his day.

The hanyou also hated to admit it, but he couldn't hate Kagome either. 'Sesshomaru's been going into the woods late at night for as long as I remember,' Inuyasha thought. That meant that he knew Kagome for a very long time now. Recalling the bitter argument between himself and Kagome, he remembered that she stated that she knew Sesshomaru before he was born. That must mean their friendship went back much further than he thought.

And now that he had cooled off a bit, Inuyasha admitted with a scowl, that it wasn't a surprise Kagome took his brother's side. She had known him longer. What right did he have to come in between them?

"Gah..." He grumbled, scratching his unkempt silver hair roughly. He actually wanted to train with Tetsusaiga now. Where was Kikyo when he WANTED her to nag at him? Speaking of which...

When Inuyasha arrived at the village, he noticed that it was missing the presence of a certain priestess. He vaguely wondered where she was, and was about to shrug it off to go to his favorite tree and maybe brood a little bit more. Either that or find something to eat. He had been so upset with the day's events that he practically forgot all about food.

He was about to go back to the lake to catch some fish for the evening when a familiar scent caught his nose. Inuyasha turned in the direction it was coming from, and relaxed when he saw her approaching. Kikyo wore a solemn look on her face, though her brown eyes remained the same guarded, emotionless color. He expected them to soften a bit upon meeting him, but to his bemusement they didn't.

Kikyo seemed to be lost in her own thoughts, gaze transfixed on the air before her. She didn't even wave or smile at Inuyasha. When she was finally close enough to be face to face with him, she didn't even stop to give him a nod of acknowledgement. The miko merely continued her steady pace across the fields.

Inuyasha was mildly hurt by her sudden cold behavior.

"Hey, Kikyo," He greeted cautiously, arms crossed. "Where did you go?" He asked to her retreating back.

"...I could ask the same of you," She finally answered, stopping to speak but refusing to turn to meet his gaze.

"I went out," Inuyasha answered quickly. A little too quickly to sound suspicion-free.

"So did I."

He nearly winced at the harsh tone that she used. 'Whoa, she's in a bad mood,' the hanyou mused. As if sensing his distress, Kikyo turned around with a slightly apologetic look on her face. She smiled, albeit a rather strained and fake smile, but it was an attempt nonetheless.

"Forgive me. I had a very trying day," She said, trying to sound friendlier. She didn't want him to know that she knew of his secret 'friend.'

"That's too bad, I actually wanted to train today," he commented, relieved that she wasn't going to point an arrow at his chest, though Kikyo still emitted a sort of subtle anger at him.

"Sorry, I can't today. I need to start my preparations."

"Preparations for what?"

"...An exorcism."

"Ah. Well, a miko's gotta do what a miko's gotta do," Inuyasha nodded, setting off in a different direction to return to his earlier brooding. Things seemed to really suck for him today. He couldn't even take his mind off of Kagome and Sesshomaru. He might as well get some time to himself...

Kikyo watched from the corner of her eye as the hanyou walked solemnly in the opposite direction. A frown played on her thin lips. Closing her eyes, the priestess took a silent bow in almost an apology.

"Yes. A miko must do what she must."

~*~

Her feet dangled over the tree's large branch, limply swaying now and then. Kagome let out a soft sigh, the weight inside her chest feeling oddly heavier than before. She took a glance at the sakura petals that showered the fields with an ethereal pink glow. Somehow, the blossoms that had brought her so much happiness the other day didn't look as pretty tonight.

The transparent form of the ghost flickered from the tree's branch, disappearing for a split second before reappearing at the base of the tree.

'I've never felt so rotten in my entire life...well, afterlife,' Kagome thought, biting her lower lip. Images of her unexpected meeting with Inuyasha earlier that day swam in her head, and it by no means brought her comfort.

It had come as a shock when she found out about his discovery about her and Sesshomaru. The hanyou had been so angry. She had never intended for it to be this way. She had just been so happy that she finally got to meet Inuyasha, the little hanyou child that she heard about from Sesshomaru.

She knew that they never had a good relationship, but she had always hoped that they got along at least. Now, it seemed as if they HATED each other. Kagome felt an aching in her chest when she recalled the harsh words exchanged between herself and Inuyasha. 'He hates me now too, I just know it.'

"I suppose it's better this way..." Kagome sighed. Even though Inuyasha didn't ask her directly, he was giving her a choice between himself and Sesshomaru. And although Kagome was quite fond of Inuyasha, Sesshomaru would always, ALWAYS come first. Even if it was true what the hanyou said about him. Even if he was a bloodthirsty murderer that did cruel things she couldn't possibly imagine. 'He's still Sesshomaru. My Sesshomaru.'

She shook her head. Since when did the Taiyoukai belong to her? Kagome blushed lightly at the thought and pushed it out of her mind. Still, it didn't make her feel better over the situation. She felt extremely guilty, as if she had betrayed Inuyasha in some way. After all, he was only worried about her. It was clear to her that not only did he say those things out of jealousy, but he said them because he genuinely cared about her.

"Wahhh!" Kagome groaned, floating back and forth of the front of her shrine, chewing tentatively on a fingernail out of nervous habit. "When did things get so complicated?"

"What got so complicated?" A small voice interrupted her thoughts and Kagome turned around abruptly to face a very happy Rin.

"Rin-chan!" Kagome's unhappy face vanished momentarily as she kneeled down to greet the child, a sincere smile on her face. "Long time no see!"

"Mmm!" Rin nodded. "Sesshomaru-sama said it was okay for Rin to visit Kagome-neesan today! Look! Rin wanted to show Kagome Rin's new yukata!" she whirled around for the older girl to see, obviously very proud of her pink and green dress with koi fish decorated all over the fabric.

"You look adorable," she said gently, "Did Sesshomaru give it to you?"

"Hai!"

Kagome bit her lip in anticipation, her sapphire eyes twinkling with some unknown emotion at the mere mention of the demon lord. "Where is he? Or did Sesshomaru only send you to come tonight?" She hoped he wasn't in one of those moods where he'd just escort the Rin to visit and then leave. Yet, at the same time her stomach lurched with a nervousness she didn't know at the idea of seeing the demon lord after the meeting she had with Inuyasha.

"Sesshomaru-SAMA," The little girl corrected. "And no, Sesshomaru-sama is here," she pointed behind her to where the demon lord was standing with his hand resting on a tree. His form blended quite well with the shadows and only his intense golden eyes stared back at her with intensity.

"Oh!" Kagome gasped, blushing a bit, though she didn't know why. Why didn't she notice him there before?

"Kagome," he greeted her with a soft voice, a small smile playing on his lips. "Konbanwa."

"Konbanwa, Sesshomaru," she answered rather shyly, so much so that he raised his eyes at her. Kagome smiled at him, yet it was a bit strained and almost forced. And there was something else...something he could quite place but he knew he didn't like it at all. Sesshomaru noticed it at once. He frowned.

"Is something wrong?"

"Hmm? Oh no, I was just thinking about stuff," she said lamely. "But I should be asking you how your day was. You said that the other lords were going to leave today, right?" Kagome asked, changing the subject.

"Hai," Sesshomaru nodded, frowning further at her evasiveness but decided to drop it.

"Kagome! Kagome!" Rin piped, interrupting their conversation. "Guess what?"

The older girl turned to her, smiling at her enthusiasm. "What?"

"I made a new friend yesterday!" she grinned proudly, cheeks flushed.

"Oh! That's wonderful!" and truly it was, she was hoping the little girl found a new friend to play with. "Who is it?"

"His name is Shippo-chan," Rin said. "Shippo has really red hair, and a cute fluffy tail! Rin likes to play with it."

"Tail?" Kagome cocked her head to the side, a bit confused.

"The kitsune child was the son of one of Kurogane, one of the demon lords," Sesshomaru explained, looking at Kagome intently. "He took the boy with him to the conference."

Kagome pictured a little fox demon child in her mind with fiery red hair and a fluffy tail. She vaguely wondered if it was as fluffy as Sesshomaru's. "...Kawaii..." She muttered to herself, giggling, but then stopped herself when she thought what Sesshomaru would think if she called HIM kawaii.

"He's not some innocent kid, Kagome." STOP IT. Kagome shook her head, trying to rid herself of Inuyasha's voice. "He's a killer, a DEMON that doesn't think twice about killing women and children!" Just STOP IT!

Both the demon lord and the girl looked curiously at the ghost, who blinked at them in a dazed fashion. It wasn't until Rin began to run in and out of Kagome's transparent form (to get her attention or purely out of amusement) that she snapped back into reality.

"Gomen, I guess I zoned out again, didn't I?"

"Kagome-neesan is so funny!" Rin squealed, about to run through Kagome again before Sesshomaru stopped her. Rin pouted in disappointment before going over to Kagome and ushering her to play. Of course, she quickly agreed. She followed the little girl numbly to the field behind the shrine, her mind still seemingly somewhere else. Sesshomaru observed her from behind.

'She is troubled by something,' he mused. The demon lord watched them from afar. Well, mainly watching Kagome. They were playing a game of hide and seek, and Kagome was supposed to hide. It was very one-sided though, as the ghost of a girl didn't seem to be much into the game and thus her hiding spots were poor. Rin didn't notice though. She just fancied herself a genius for finding the older girl so quickly.

Once in a while, she would sneak glances to where he sat under the sakura tree, but then she would quickly look away. Normally, he would think it endearing, but this time... It wasn't as if she looked at him and blushed prettily out of embarrassment. No, she looked away as if she were...dare he say it--AFRAID of him. Sesshomaru winced at the word. The thought of Kagome being fearful of him was a painful jab to his conscience.

Was it something he said? Was she still a little bit angry at him for leaving her lonely for so long? What? She was avoiding his gaze. Not once did she smile a truly genuine smile tonight, and she tried her best to be invisible to him. And he couldn't stand it. He racked his brain over and over again, thinking of times when he had unintentionally wronged her.

But she had always forgiven him... is that it? All those times, did he finally wear her patience thin? But she seemed to be just fine with him this morning...what then? Sesshomaru, Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, did not consider himself one of those that overreacted, if reacted at all to these kinds of things. He wasn't going to start now, especially if it turned out to be nothing. He calmed down, and tossed away all these thoughts.

Tentatively, he looked up once more to see Kagome staring back at him. As soon as their eyes locked she turned away once more, but then snuck another sideways glance. He mentally sighed. 'She'll tell me when she's ready,' Sesshomaru thought. He had to give her a little more faith than that. It was his Kagome after all.

He just hoped that whatever it was, it wasn't enough to hate him. With the contrived formality that they seem to be having this evening, the demon lord supposed he wouldn't be able to ask her about the legend of the Shikon no Tama and the hime like he wanted to. He was a bit disappointed really. The thought had been eating away at him all day, and now it seems not only will he not get his question answered, but he received another question that will eat him even worse than the first.

"Sesshomaru?"

The Taiyoukai looked up at the sound of her melodic voice. She stood before him, hands wrung in front of her and head hung in apology. A few feet from her, Rin had begun to pick flowers on her own. Sesshomaru's attention was fully on the ghost now.

"Gomenasai," Kagome said softly, coming down to kneel in front of him. Golden eyes searched sapphire ones, and what he saw shocked him a bit. He saw guilt, and, as he had dreaded, fear reflecting in her orbs.

"For what?" He managed to choke out.

"For being a bit distant to you tonight." When the demon lord didn't answer, she knew that he had noticed her shift in behavior to him. "I have a lot on my mind and I...I'm just a bit confused, that's all."

Confused? Over what? The ghost flickered somewhat, her form glowing one second, and seemingly fading the next. It was a sign that she was greatly nervous. Was she hiding something from him? The fact that he wasn't answering her at all made the girl even more nervous. He waited for her to continue.

"Remember when you asked me if something was wrong? And I said that nothing?" She asked, twiddling her thumbs a bit. He nodded. "Well, I lied." Kagome stated lamely. Sesshomaru stared back at her stoically. Ah, so she was going to tell him sooner than he thought.

"Yes, I know," he said coolly, peering at her. She looked up in surprise, gasping. He was sort of amused at her shock. "Honestly, Kagome-chan. How long have we known each other? I can read you like an open book."

"But that's why I'm apologizing! I've never lied to you before, and this is the first time!" she sounded like a child who just swiped candy, he noted. He wondered what it was that was so important that she had to lie to him in the first place. She continued. "And yes, we have known each other for a long time. And yes, you CAN read me like an open book, you know me inside and out.

"But..." Kagome hung her head again, retreating to herself like she did earlier and avoided all eye contact.

"He's a killer...I don't know what lies he's been feeding you, but you don't know him like I do!...He is not some innocent kid, Kagome!"

"I don't know you like you know me." Her voice was oddly quiet, laced with a deep sadness that he couldn't place. Needless to say, the demon lord was very confused now. What brought on this all of a sudden? Strange...

"Kagome," he started gently, leaning closer to her. "Is that what has been bothering you?" he almost chuckled. "What do you want to know about me?" He prodded. Whatever she wanted to know...he just wanted her to stop looking at him those fearful eyes.

She turned to him, looking as if the words were choking in her throat.

"A DEMON that doesn't think twice about killing women and children!" STOP IT. She didn't want to believe... "You don't know him like I do..."

But Inuyasha was right; she didn't know anything about him outside of his visits to the shrine. How could she know? "He's a heartless bastard!"

He is NOT heartless...

"Maybe not around you..."

STOP!

"I know more than anyone."

"Please..." Kagome whispered, looking the demon lord straight in the eye. "Please tell me it isn't true." Her sapphire depths bore into Sesshomaru in such a way that he felt a small tremor go up his spine. They pleaded with him for something...and he knew whatever it was, he was going to dread it.

"What isn't true?" He asked cautiously.

"...that you're a killer?"

The words came out so unexpectedly, so cold and quick that it rendered the demon lord speechless. He swore his heart stopped for a split second. Golden eyes widened in surprise. Out of all things he expected her to say...what brought about this?

"That you're a killer?" her question echoed in his mind. What was he supposed to say to that? His mouth parted to form words, but none came out. Kagome stared determinedly back at him, sapphire gaze searching his emotionless eyes.

He closed his mouth, closing his eyes and slipped back on his usual mask. "Kagome, why are you asking such things?" Sesshomaru said rather casually. It was probably the wrong thing to say, for her cheeks suddenly flushed and she stood up; fists clenched.

"Because I have a right to know!" Kagome shouted, aura flaring in anger. It wasn't until she had said it that she gasped in horror that she said it. She took one step back and clapped a hand over her mouth.

Sesshomaru was once again, at a loss of words. He had never seen her so aggressive, and towards him no less. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something move. Rin was still there, looking up from her spot when she realized they were having some sort of argument. The demon lord stood up; still not letting his features show any sort of emotion.

"Rin, go home now," he commanded.

"Aw! But Rin wants to stay here with Kagome a little longer!"

"Rin," his voice lowered dangerously, warning the child not to defy his wishes. Rin knew not to push it, and complied. Quickly, she stood up, causing all of the flowers in her lap to fall and walked into the woods, a scowl on her face.

Sesshomaru stared after her to make sure that she didn't decide to hide somewhere and overhear their conversations as he found out she liked to do.

"It's dangerous to let a child walk alone in the forest at night," Kagome commented in quiet tone, her eyes on the ground.

"Ah and Un are not far from here," Sesshoaru stated calmly, glad that he had the two-headed dragon follow just in case. "It will take Rin back safely." He turned back to the matter at hand, golden eyes probing Kagome, trying to read through her. She still refused to look his way.

"Kagome," he called to her gently, pleading with her in his own way to look at him. She did, sapphire eyes stubborn and defiant. A fiery blue that had never stopped mesmerizing him, yet at the same time evoke such anticipation.

"Well, is it?" She asked once more. "That you've really murdered and tortured countless lives? Even if they're innocent? Even if they're women and children?" Kagome's voice was surprisingly steady and calm, yet her stormy orbs told a different story. "Are you really as heartless as they say?"

"Kagome," Sesshomaru's tone hinted with a bit of pleading, as if to ask her to stop this at once. Why now, of all times...? "Who says these things?"

"Onegai," she stepped closer to him, ignoring what he said altogether. "Tell me it isn't true!" What reflected in her eyes surprised the demon lord. Even though she seemed like she was accusing him of these crimes, he could tell that she truly didn't believe them. That she DIDN'T WANT to believe them.

He knew right then and there that he could lie. Say "No, it's not true," and she wouldn't doubt him for a second. That was what he wanted, right? He always wanted to be, in his sweet Kagome's eyes, the perfect person that she so idolized him to be. Free of bloodstained hands and free of corruption. But for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to. He couldn't lie to her...

Sesshomaru had hoped this conversation would never come up between the two of them. He had always been very careful to wash his hands from the blood before coming to meet her, showing her only the tender, affectionate side of himself reserved only for her and no one else. If the Taiyoukai had it his way, she would never know about his other self. The one that was indeed, all the things she had said earlier.

The ruthless demon lord that was knee-high in underground dealings, destroyed countless villages, slaughtered hundreds on the battlefield, even murdered women and children when he had to. Of course he always felt so very low whenever he did. Even if...at the moment, when he had his sword pointed at their throats or his claws wrapped around their frail necks, he told himself it had to be done. For the greater good of the Western Lands. For the battle. It had to be done. It was his duty as the Lord of the West.

But it didn't change the fact that he killed them. And now, as he looked into Kagome's sad eyes, he finally felt the weight of all the lives he had made suffer so begin to take its' toll on him. For the first time, he felt guilty. Not only because it was wrong, but because it saddened Kagome. He had made her look like that. Again.

But how could he say it to her? How could he possibly toll her that it was true, that he was in every sense of the word... 'heartless?'

Kagome waited patiently for his answer, hoping against hope that what he would say would prove all of these horrid thoughts wrong. But when Sesshomaru met her gaze, with golden eyes that shone with a regret and sadness beyond anything she had ever seen, she knew that answer would not come.

And she cried.

"Why, Sesshomaru? Why?" Kagome whimpered, tears streaming down her face. The demon lord watched, helpless to wipe away her tears as they fell.

'She wouldn't want you to touch her anyway,' a mental voice said cruelly in his head, and he was sure it was right. His best friend was probably disgusted with him right now.

"I...am sorry," the demon lord began, his voice quiet and rueful. "But you have to understand, Kagome. As Demon Lord of the Western Lands, there are many things that I cannot avoid. Certain aspects that come with the title that keep my hands from being clean," Sesshomaru explained, words laced with sadness that made her gaze at him intently through blurred vision.

"All of the things I did...for power, for land, for wealth...for salvation, for security, for preservation...My hands have been sullied to the point of permanent black that will not fade even when the water washes it away." He stared at Kagome, who could only listen to him with a melancholy expression.

"Kagome..." He took a step towards her, and to his relief, she didn't back away. "Please understand. I am not proud of what I have done."

"Then, why did you do those things, Sessho-kun?" Kagome asked, confused. "There must've been another way. Why do you have to kill? I thought you, more than anyone would know that life is precious!"

"I do know," he said sadly, "God, I DO know...But it is something that is inevitable. If I didn't, no matter how much I didn't want to, what would the other lords think? How will I be able to save face?"

"So you kill them? You cheat them out of house and home?" She interjected, "Just so they'll fear you?!" She couldn't believe what she was hearing! "How many more must die so that you can save face?!"

Sesshomaru mentally winced at her words. He could almost feel the spite in her words. Almost as if...she hated him for it. But almost at once, he found a little bit of anger well up inside of him as well. How dare she lecture him on how to be a demon lord! She has no idea how difficult it was, how his guilt ate at him, just because he knew she would look the other way had she known. She had no idea whatsoever.

"Do not speak as if you didn't have some sort of inkling as to what I am capable of," he threw back coldly. "I am a youkai. A Taiyoukai at that. You knew from the very beginning that I told you I was successor to my father's title that my hands would not be pure."

She froze at this. Kagome couldn't find words to answer...because she knew he was right. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew that Sesshomaru had to grow up and take his place as demon lord. That he would eventually be entangled in webs of lies, deceit, of blood and death. She knew. But she didn't want to accept it. She always wanted him to be the Sesshomaru she knew as a child. The one whose eyes shone with innocence and tenderness that only she could see.

The truth of the matter was...she didn't want to see it. But now...she had no choice. And she didn't know what to make of it--of HIM. So she said nothing.

"I...had hoped you would never have to know."

Kagome felt hurt at this, for some reason. "Why? Aren't we close enough, Sesshomaru? Don't you trust me enough? Why didn't you just tell me? I...I would have come to accept it. Why did you have to lie to me all these years, Sesshomaru? That's what hurts me the most, Sessho. It's the fact that you didn't have enough faith in me to tell me."

"I WAS TRYING TO PROTECT YOU!" He shouted, unable to bear her words anymore, and was surprised with himself. It had been, in fact, the first time he had ever raised his voice to her... He calmed himself, looking away from her sapphire eyes. He couldn't stand to let her see the guilt on his face, the shame that he possessed.

Kagome was in total confusion now. 'Protect me???'

"From what?"

"From me..." He almost whispered, still refusing to meet her gaze.

"..."

"This Sesshomaru...is afraid," the demon lord admitted, and it must have taken a lot, for Kagome knew for a fact that he would never admit to being afraid of anything. "I was afraid that if you knew...you would fear me, hate me, reject me. I couldn't stand the thought of you seeing me as only a murderer, to look at me like I'm some sort of...monster." He went on, his voice no longer holding up barriers.

"How could someone as pure as yourself stand to be with someone as corrupt as me? I am everything that you said--a killer, a heartless Taiyoukai--a DEMON." Sesshomaru lifted his eyes so that sapphire met with gold, each one trying to read the emotions that reflected in their irises. "I was afraid that I'd lose you." And that...was the complete and undeniable truth.

He watched with baited breath as she continued to stare at him, with pity, empathy, or understanding he could no longer tell. It was if a great burden had been lifted from him. Yet at the same time, he felt his heart grow heavier. All those years he spent gaining her trust, building their friendship, learning her love...would it all be gone when dawn came?

"I didn't want you to see me like this: this ugly, unforgivable face. I wanted you to always to see me as nothing less but perfect. But now that you have..." he sighed, his lips set in a rueful frown. "Will you still stay with me? Would you hate me?"

Still, nothing but silence. The demon lord thought, with sorrow, that it was indeed, all over. She couldn't stand death, yet here he was, the epitome of the killing perfection. Everything that Kagome stood against. It was all over, she'd turn and leave for sure. But Kagome did no such thing. Her stormy sapphire eyes softened to a soothing ocean blue, and tears began to fall down her face once more.

"You baka..." Kagome choked, floating to him with arms outstretched as if to embrace him. "Never..." her transparent arms encircled him, enveloping him in an impossible hug. Yet, he reveled in it anyway, wishing that he could return the embrace, but his hands stayed limply at his sides. He could hear her whisper over and over again, the word "baka," and "never."

She could never hate him. He felt like crying, but refrained. Demons do not cry. Kagome pulled away, wiping her tears with her kimono and smiling bitterly. "You said you wanted me to see you as nothing less than perfect. Well, guess what? No one is perfect, not even you. And we shouldn't really try. It's foolish."

"Are you implying that I am foolish?"

"Not foolish, just normal," Kagome clarified. "Because I'm foolish too."

Sesshomaru looked at her with, confused. She sighed, blinking away the remainder of her tears as she averted her eyes to the sakura blossoms falling one by one. "You see, I wanted everything to be perfect too. Deep down, I sort of knew that you've done those things, but I didn't want to believe it. I always wanted things to be just as they were before; perfect.

"I'm just angry because you didn't tell me, that you would have such little faith that I would run away. But I suppose that's sort of my fault too. I must've given you reason to be afraid of telling me. I'm sorry, the way I blew up back there, I guess you were right."

"You're not...bothered by it?" He asked, amazed at her willing forgiveness. Inside, his stomach was practically doing somersaults because he was so happy that Kagome still cared for him.

"...I still don't think it's okay to take lives like that. No matter what the cause. It makes me sad to know that you've taken lives before, when you know how I've felt about death. But, I'm not being very fair, am I? In this day and age, where wars and feuds rage constantly, I guess it's unavoidable. It was selfish of me to want you to be untainted from that world."

"No," Sesshomaru interjected, standing beside her. The wind picked up, causing his silver tresses to dance in the evening air, mingling with Kagome's transparent ebony locks. "We were both selfish. I wanted YOU to be untainted from that world."

Kagome turned to him, her tears virtually gone now, and all that remained was a small smile. He only smiled back, though somewhat apologetically. "Why don't we meet each other half-way?" Kagome suggested. He nodded.

"I shall try not to do such dirty dealings or take lives any more."

"Only as a last resort," Kagome sighed, still hating the idea of him having to do any of those things at all. 'It can't be helped. I should've expected that he would be involved in things like this.' Sesshomaru was a powerful youkai, and now that she thought about it, there hadn't been an influential political figure that didn't get into power without some sort of underground association. Kagome was sure now that if she had really thought about it, her father probably was too.

'Was I always this ignorant?'

"Kagome?" Sesshomaru started.

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry I ever thought that you would leave me. I suppose that's another fear we both share."

Kagome nodded.

"But I must know...you said that you heard these things about me."

Now she gulped.

"Who did you hear it from?" He asked calmly, but she knew that beneath that cool façade he was going to hurt that specific someone. 'Oh, if he only knew...'

"Y-You know, around..." she lied. "There are travelers that pass through here sometimes, and I here their stories, you know. Your name comes up once in a while, that's all, and it made me worry."

He could sense that she wasn't telling the whole truth. Narrowing his eyes, he decided to take her word for it. After all, it was the least he could do. Traveling stories...his reputation sure has preceded him.

Somewhere in the Taiyoukai's mind, a light went off. 'Story...' He had completely forgotten about Naraku's story that he had heard in the morning. It was the sole reason he came to Kagome tonight, but in light of a new topic, he supposed it had slipped his mind.

Kagome sensed his distress, and tilted her head to the side. "Sesshomaru?"

"It will be dawn in a couple of hours," he noted. She stared in the direction he was, which was the horizon in which the sun would rise.

"Yeah..."

"I am sorry, this has been one of our less enjoyable meetings."

She shifted uncomfortably. 'My fault...'

"I was hoping to ask you something before I left."

"What?"

Sesshomaru averted his eyes from the pink sky, his expression suddenly serious and all relief and happiness that had filled him earlier disappeared quickly. "Do you know about the Shikon no Tama?"

END CHAPTER

~*~

[A/N]

Yume: I know...it hardly makes up for the long wait.

CF: But look! It's long!

Yume: Still not enough...

CF: (hangs head in shame) Yeah, I know.

Yume: That's it for this chapter! THANKS FOR ALL WHO REVIEWED! You don't know how grateful I am to still have fans despite my lack of updates. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! No flames please.

NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:

The fact that she really is the princess in the Shikon no Tama legend isn't what bothers him. It's Kagome's recollection about her death, and that is that the last thing she saw before dying: a man clad in a baboon pelt. Meanwhile, Inuyasha decides to come back to Kagome and make amends. But the ghost of the girl, upon seeing him, begins to feel torn between protecting her new friend, or staying loyal to her best friend. And it seems Kikyo is really beginning to get serious about getting rid of Kagome, and when she gets offered help from a mysterious masked stranger, will she take the chance?