All things under heaven have a purpose and all things that happen are meant to happen when they do… Please forgive my absence… After all it does make the heart grow fonder… On another note… I tried to stay as true to the manga as I could but… I think it's time I veered off the path. Anyone who has any knowledge about the Inu Yasha Manga storyline would know that the plot is more twisted than a drunk at an open bar. The death of characters and the birth of new ones that are integral to the storyline are a little too complex to try to include in my little fan fiction. Unlike the Inu Yasha series, I would like to end this story in the near future. So there you have it. Don't worry; I won't add any weird characters.

Megami no Hikari

Spoiler warning…

At least I have my freedom…

Kagura's head lolled back against the ancient tree she knelt before only minutes after her encounter with her former master Naraku. In one instant he'd awarded her with life and then the darkness of death. Now the once powerful wind youkai could not trust her knees to support her nor summon enough energy to focus let alone escape. Naraku had left her just as swiftly as he'd appeared and even if he hadn't, she highly doubted that he would have provided her with any solace.

"So it's just me, my heart, and the forest…" Kagura sighed brokenly. She could feel a burning sensation in the back of her throat and her eyes were watering constantly.

It must be the miasma…

"Well… old friend… you'll be the only one to see me off I suppose…" Kagura chuckled softly and weakly patted the gnarled tree that bit uncomfortably into the back of her raven-haired head. She was a sight for sore eyes, slumped in the shadows, her beautiful silken kimono pooled about her, rumpled and sullied with dirt. Her hair was down about her shoulders and bits of twigs protruded from the dark mass at weird angles. Her pale skin somehow appeared much paler than usual and dirt smudges, scratches and bruises stood out in stark relief. Her bright red eyes had dimmed as her life drained from her body and tears coursed unnoticed and unchecked down her cheeks. One of her hands weakly gripped the gaping front of her stained, singed kimono closed. Despite her diminishing strength, she was very aware of her heartbeat beneath her hand.

So this is what it feels like to be alive… This is what it feels like to be free…

Kagura gasped and a thin line of purple miasma dribbled from the corner of her mouth. She didn't bother to wipe it away, after all more would come and what little strength she retained she had no wish to waste on something so futile. "What reasons have I to care about my appearance? I'm about to die in obscurity…"

Not that I had much faith that Naraku would just set me free… That bastard… He gives nothing without fully corrupting it first… But then again he's given me the only thing I ever truly wanted… not the way I wanted it of course… but still… I'll die knowing I had the one thing I risked my life for… I just wish I didn't have to go it alone.

"Not that you aren't excellent company…" Kagura laughed weakly as her fingers grazing the rough bark of her oblivious companion. The sorrow of knowing her own death was so near finally overtook her bitter humorless laughter and changed her chuckles to heart wrenching sobs. "Not like this… I don't want to die… I just wanted to be free…"

Just as Kagura's trembling chin fell against her chest, a strong wind rustled through the trees, distracting the waning youkai from her own sorrows. Her scarlet eyes rose as if to meet the heavens but stopped abruptly as they fell upon bright amber eyes. Time seemed to stop then and there as Lord of the Dog Youkai, Lord Sesshoumaru, came to a silent stop before Kagura. So many thoughts ran through Kagura's mind as stare silently up at the one man she'd ever looked upon with admiration, with hope, and a feeling she'd not been sure of when she had not the possession of her heart. It was a feeling that she never thought she could experience nor had she a need for really. But now it was the only feeling that sustained her when she should have faded to dust.

"You…" She whispered from trembling lips.

Sesshoumaru's face remained a calm mask and his eyes bore no hint of his thoughts as he looked down upon her. Suddenly Kagura became aware of what a sight she must seem to him and she weakly wiped at the smudges on her face and then the dribble of miasma tinted blood at the corner of her mouth. In doing so her bedraggled kimono gaped open, exposing the bruised, tender flesh beneath. Kagura's futile effort to neaten her appearance came to an abrupt end as Sesshoumaru moved his long pale fingers up to his side as if to reach for the hilt of his sword. Since the fatally wounded wind youkai did not have the energy to so much as flinch, she could only watch in wide eyed apprehension and wonder at her fate.

What is he doing?

She had not long to question his purpose as Sesshoumaru swiftly and expertly unsheathed his inherited sword, Tensiega. Kagura's heart leapt in her chest as she came to the realization that this very inu youkai meant to save her.

So you do care for me a little, Sesshoumaru-sama? Kagura could not voice her thoughts due to her own weakness and fear to divulge the secrets of her heart. She could only sit transfixed, lips slightly parted, as the Tenseiga descended upon. A moment passed… and then another… and then there was naught but the sound of the wind rustling through the treetops. A rare frown of confusion marred the brow of the lord of the dogs as he retracted his sword and stared briefly at it in disdain before placing it back in its sheath.

"Tenseiga will be of no service to you…" Sesshoumaru stated baldly as he leveled his sharp amber eyes upon her once again, "It can only bring back those on the brink of death who have a soul."

Kagura fingers weakly pressed to her chest, as she spoke, "It doesn't matter. I got everything I wanted… I have my heart… and…" A smile bloomed on her face even as her body rapidly began to fade into the wind, "I got to see you one more time…"

Sesshoumaru stood expressionless as Kagura became nothing more than wind blown dust. A gentle breeze caressed his face and lifted his heavy silver-white locks from his shoulders.

I know what it feels like to be free now… Free like the wind…

The Lord of the Inu Youkai stood a moment longer staring down at the empty spot where Kagura once rested before turning to join his companions he'd left behind.

"Sesshomaru-sama! Sesshoumaru-sama! You've returned! My Lord, you left so suddenly we had no idea how to find you." Jaken exclaimed as he rose from his seat by the small creek where they set up camp the day before.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin questioned as she looked up from the small fire that she'd been trying to rekindle only moments before.

The white haired youkai remained silent and unfazed by the questioning glances of his companions. Jaken's green skin broke into a sweat as he considered all the ways in which he might have angered his master. Rin tipped her head to the side thoughtfully, poking a small twig into the smoldering remains of her fire once more. Suddenly she stood, leaving her task behind to boldly stand before Sesshoumaru.

"Sesshourmaru-sama?"

"Rin! Do not bother our lord so! Find something to do with your time." Jaken scolded, more than a bit jealous of his small ward's boldness.

If the little girl heard Jaken's tirade, she gave no sign of it as she continued with her scrutiny of her caretaker. His piercing amber eyes were holding her brown ones in intense, unblinking gaze. Many would have cowered in fear from such an intimidating figure but not Rin. Instead, she searched his seemingly cold eyes for a hint of something; a something that she felt was awry.

"I felt Naraku was close by. It made my skin feel prickly and weird…" Rin began.

"Oh Rin, do not bother Lord Sesshoumaru with such trivial nonsense. We all know that Naraku was about… We are tracking him, you little fool." Jaken sighed in annoyance.

"I would stop bothering Sesshoumaru-sama if you would just allow me to finish what I have to say…" Rin responded coldly, pinning Jaken a stare much like his master's, so much alike that the underling shrank back a bit.

Sesshoumaru observed Rin's regal demeanor with some surprise and a tinge of pride though he refused to show it. A hint of something akin to a smile tugged at his mouth before he quickly wiped his expression clean. By this time, Jaken had already recovered from his initial shock and began blustering in anger.

"Now you see here, little missy. I see someone is getting too big for her britches. I see I have to cut you down to size. Such disrespect is intolerable, unheard of, obsce.."

"Jaken…"

"Yes, my lord?" Jaken's voice quavered a bit.

"I grow weary of interruptions…"

"Oh my lord, I am so sorry for her disobedience. I shall see to her right aw…"

"Jaken…"

Sweat formed on toad like youkai's green forehead as Sesshoumaru's amber stare fell upon him, "Y-yes… My Lord?"

"Silence…"

There was no mistaking the command or annoyance in Sesshoumaru's voice. After finally realizing that his very hide was in danger if he tempted the fates one more time, Jaken only nodded jerkily before backing away quietly and very quickly.

Silence once again fell upon the camp as if all of nature sensed his threat and complied with the taiyoukai's command.

"Rin?"

The little girl who barely stood higher than Sesshoumaru's waist met his unwavering gaze once more. She needed no more prompting to continue, "As I said I can feel it when Naraku is near… Only thing is… The wind lady is never that far behind him… and then she usually comes to us. This time she didn't. Did something happen to the wind lady?"

Jaken listened intently to her question; having realized that Rin's statement rang true. He dare not respond for he valued his life too much despite his tendency toward loquaciousness. He watched his lordship pause and then break eye contact with his curious young ward.

"Kagura is no more…" was his only response and then he turned away, "Rin fetch Ahn and Uhn. Jaken pack camp. We leave now."

"Hai…" Rin replied a bit woodenly. Although she traveled a long way with her new protectors, witnessing more than her fair share of bloodshed and death, she could not stem the tide of sadness that swept over her upon hearing that Kagura had met her end. Tears welled in her large brown eyes and she quickly wiped them away. "Warriors don't cry…" Rin chide herself quietly as she went about her task of rousing the two-headed beast known as Ahn and Uhn. The beast was found slumbering contently beneath a tree close to camp.

"Come… we must leave this place Ahn and Uhn. We have to find the monster who hurt the poor Lady of the Wind…" Rin sighed and wiped errantly at twigs and debris on the beast's hide.

"Rin, come."

"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama…" Rin took off in the direction his voice, Ahn and Uhn in tow.

The group broke camp and headed off in the direction of Naraku's last known whereabouts. Somewhere along the way Rin instinctively paused and hopped from Ahn and Uhn back to the ground. Sesshoumaru never broke his stride as he glanced back at his ward. Jaken noticed as well and felt the need to make a comment as usual.

"Rin, what are you up to? Your shenanigans are holding us up, you know." Jaken nagged.

His comments rolled off the little girl's spine as usual, as she picked flowers from the forest floor, quickly accumulating a vibrant bouquet. She then lay them at the foot of a large, gnarled tree with bark that was eaten in places with dark, smoking craters.

Jaken sighed in exasperation before he tried once again to scold Rin, "You're wasting much of our time. Lord Sesshoumaru will leave you here in the forest where he found you."

The little girl spent a moment more staring at her impromptu memorial and then followed after her companions.