A/N: Please read: A week after I had written chapter 12, I had gotten bad news from my college. Nothing grades related thank goodness but involving the degree I was going for. Right when I thought that I was about done, as it turns out I was way off. After learning that I got screwed somewhere I was devastated. I basically had to rethink my career and what I wanted to do. So I wasn't into writing for a while. I had to make the painful decision to put my work on Hiatus. Now to be honest I thought I had put it on my profile but I apparently never saved it, so for that I'm sorry. Anyways I'm totally inspired so on with the show.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and if I did I wouldn't be writing worthless fan fiction, I would be eating caviar and ordering my butler Jeeves around. (kidding)

She kept to herself in the corner of Kaede's hut, rolling the only possession Inuyasha had on him, his prayer beads. His clothes were torn and bloody and his sword had mysteriously vanished. Kagome tears had long dried out as she somberly stared at the necklace. She had planned to take them off of him as a surprise for when they finally had all the shards. When they started this journey together, she figured it made its use for when he might act out on anger or when he said something insulting but one thing she would never had to use it for was her own safety. And it wasn't when he was possessed by some unworldly being or when his demon side took over, she knew the real Inuyasha would never hurt her.

She gripped the beads tight as new tears began to form. Now he was gone and she would never see him again. What was she to do now...without him?

Sesshomaru could not believe he was making him do this. 'This goes against everything I stand for'. His beast forced his energy onto him as he dragged his claws into the dirt and tossed the earth behind him. So what if he was dead. He didn't care, why should his beast? They both hated him right? He would feel seething anger right now but his beast would not allow it. His beast was feeling something he didn't know if he ever felt before. Sorrow. When they heard that the miko needed Inuyasha, Rex took it much too hard. Sesshomaru felt that something in him was being torn apart. He could hear his beast whimper and lower his ears down, while also mumbling to himself. "...anything for her...if this will make her happy...then I will...even if...even if..." he soon trailed off.

After finally reaching what he was looking for Sesshomaru dragged the heavy sheet out of the hole he dug, and laid it out in front of him. He stared emotionless for a while. Contemplating exactly why he was doing this, he was suddenly hit with the flash back of earlier that day.

They all felt it was the perfect setting for his funeral. Under the sacred tree where Kagome had freed him from. They had wrapped him in a simple white sheet and carefully placed flower petals as the village men lowered him down. Kaede recited the traditional passage for one who had passed on, and it made the moment more sorrowful. The old priestess allowed each of the people closest to him say their final good-byes.

"May your soul find peace my friend." said Miroku.

"Thank you for always giving your best for us." said Sango not bothering to hold back her sobs.

Sob, "Bye bye Inuyasha." Shippo said while trying to wipe his flowing tears away.

Kagome however remained silent. Even though she had much to say, she just couldn't find the words at the moment. She could only focus on his concealed body as the dirt came on top of him. She kept nibbling on her lips to keep from sobbing to loud, but she looked liked she was about to burst at any minute.

To see her in such a state, did not bode well with the demon lord who watched her from afar. Sesshomaru clenched his fist. Why did she care so much about him? What did he possibly have to offer her that he couldn't? What did she get out of being with his lowly half-brother? He did not own land, he had no title, and his strength was inferior compared to him. And yet... despite all this, she wanted Inuyasha, not him. That fact alone made knots in his stomach. He didn't know what to do about that. He never felt this way before. It was a mixture of anger, disappointment and a hint of...sadness.

Sadness, Sesshomaru did not do sadness. What the hell was wrong with him? Something had to be done, but what should he do about this?

End Flashback

This is the idea 'Rex', as he would like to be called, had come with. Sesshomaru was most displeased with this. His beast insisted relentlessly that this was the only way for his 'master' to be happy. And as much as Sesshomaru wanted to protest, he admitted that he also wanted her to cease crying as well.

He glared at the sheet he pulled out with a reluctant feeling in his chest, apart of him wishes that he could just leave, but...

"Do not think just do it and get it over with." said Rex quietly.

Sesshomaru unsheathed his sword and raised it above him, ready to strike hard. Just then he hears the miko shouting.

"Sesshomaru what are you doing?" she yells in a panicked voice while rushing towards the tree.

Sesshomaru knows that she is misunderstanding the situation, so he ignores her while still keeping his eyes on her. He brings down his sword.

"WAIT!" but the deed was done.

The next thing Kagome knew the white sheet began to glow. It was so bright that she had to shield her eyes. Then it grew dim, and she quickly looked at the sheet then at Sesshomaru. "Why did you do that, he already dead, can't you leave him..." Gasp.

She became startled when the sheet began to move. She took small and cautious steps back as she became frighted to see the body of Inuyasha move. What was happening? She didn't understand at all until...

"Mmmm ..'cough', 'cough'.."

It spoke, ...he spoke...did that mean he was...

"cough, ..wha...cough"

Kagome sank to her knees. "Oh god Inuyasha your.."

She wasted no time unwrapping him from the old dirt sheet and was surprised and overjoyed to see him blinking, breathing and warm.

"..Ka...Kagome?" he said very weakly.

Kagome tears ran down her cheeks and she rushed to hug his head to her chest. "Oh Inuyasha I'm so happy your alive."

A few hours later...

"So... how is he?" asked Miroku while looking at the hut where Inuyasha resisted in.

"It is amazing." said Kaede as she folded a wet cloth. "It be as if he had never died. No loss of blood, no scars, however..."

Sango and Miroku took quick glances at each other before returning their attention to the old miko.

"It be difficult to say, but there is a possibility that there be something missing from him."

Sango cocked an eyebrow. "Missing in what way?"

"I do believe he is missing something...spiritually."

Back in the hut

"Don't strain yourself Inuyasha, just relax and eat your ramen." said Kagome while trying to feed the newly living half-demon, the flavored noodles to his tired mouth.

He slurped his noodles slowly, while trying his best to prop himself up. "Mmm ..can't eat anymore...I don't feel like myself." He gave up on his strength and laid back on the futon. "..and I'm really, really tired." Inuyasha's eyes became heavy fast as he got himself to relax to a lulled sleep. "It's OK Inuyasha have all the rest you want." She told him softly as she stroked his silver hair.

She sat there smiling at him as he swiftly fell asleep. No matter how often she played the scene in her head, she still couldn't believe that he was actually alive. He was cold, was lifeless and he was even buried. It was to her a miracle. To have someone she cared about come back from death, was the most magnificent feeling there was. She would have to thank the heavens that...

But wait..

It wasn't the heavens was it?

"No ..." she said slowly. "...it was …..Sesshomaru."

Just using his name in the context of some heavenly being who saved his brother, whom he hated and had tried to kill before, sounded too strange. That sword, that Tenseiga...so that was its power. To think that someone as cold as Sesshoamru would use such a powerful tool to bring Inuyasha back. But why? Did he actually care about is brother? Perhaps these brotherly feeling were deep down in Sesshomaru this whole time. How...nice of him. Kagome smiled.

"I have to thank him somehow."

It was mid- afternoon as Sesshomaru looked somberly down at the village where Kagome was probably smothering the weak whelp in her divine scent. The whiny pup right now would leer into her beautiful bright blue-gray eyes as she gazed 'lovingly' into his dull ones. The miko probably was snuggling herself onto his damn brothers chest, while the idiot petted her hair, or worse if she was petting his.

"Damn it all!" he said while groaning. Screw what his beast was thinking. His life would so be better without him. He was gonna march down there, pick him up by the neck, tell him to never lay his claws on his woman, and kill him. And this time he was going to stay dead.

He leaped from the heavy tree branch and landed gracefully to the green grass floor. His determination was set, and his claws were ready to kill. Nothing would stop him from getting rid of his brother, along with the feeling of painful heartache. Nothing except the miko that was heading his direction. Sesshomaru, who rarely is caught off guard, could do nothing but stare, as she slowly walked towards him with her hands behind her back and her eyes to the floor. She had a slight flushed look to her face as if she was embarrassed of something.

"Um... hi Sesshomaru." she said meekly, not really looking directly at him.

Sesshomaru continued to stare at her.

"I just wanted to say..." she started while rubbing her right arm. " ...well I honestly can't express how thankful I am to you." she finished with a bright smile that she couldn't hold back.

The corner of Sesshomaru's mouth twitched when he looked at her face. Her smile was so radiant and sincere, that his heart began to beat rapidly. His breathing became slow and a bit staggered. He never knew she could look so beautiful.

Kagome looked to the floor while brushing the hair from her ear. "This whole time ...I never knew you actually cared about your brother to do this... I think.."

He growled loudly to interrupt her. "I do not 'care' about my half-brother."

"Sesshomaru you don't have to hide it anymore. He's family. I mean why else would you.."

"I DID NOT BRING HIM BACK FOR THAT REASON ...I..." Sesshomaru immediately silenced himself realizing that he had to choose his words carefully. But he was not used to this type of talk, so much so that it was difficult to look at her. Should he tell her the real reason?

"...You wanted him... so I gave him to you." His voice curt and low. How he hated the way it sounded . As if it were fact, but it was. What made it worst was that he was practically giving her away. It made him sick to his stomach. The Great Sesshomaru did not give away anything. Why did he do this? Sure he got to see her smile radiantly, but that was not enough. Was he supposed to accept that he could no longer court her, be near her? No, this will not do. Screw what the right thing to do was. She should be his, not that mutt. He was going to let her know that Inuyasha could not keep her, he was.

That was until..

"You mean... you did it ….for me?" She spoke so softly. She was not entirely sure if that was the real reason, but the way he looked, and the way he said it told her other wise. "Sesshomaru I.." she held her hands close to her chest. "..That was very nice of you."

Sesshomaru stared at her, a bit dumbfounded. She looked like as if it was her life he saved. Her hands were clutching her chest and her eyes were watering. Was she going to cry? While he was waiting for her tears, he had been caught off guard when she hugged him. She was hugging him. Arms wrapped around him, squeezing him tight and everything. Oh how she felt so warm, and damn did she smell so good. He didn't know why this was happening, but he and his beast enjoyed every second of it.

"Oh Sesshomaru..." She gushed while nuzzling his chest. "...you have no idea how much this means to me. I'm so thankful for what you've done. I'm .. I'm indebted to you." she backed away from him so that she could rub the tear trails from her eyes. "You're really not a bad guy after all. You 'do' have a heart, I'm so ...happy." she sniffed a bit and gave him another smile.

She was smiling so much that it was starting to have an effect on him. Like it was contagious. So when it happened, he couldn't stop it. He smiled back.

Now it was Kagome's turn to be shocked. She may have seen him smirk before, but not a smile, Rex smiled but not Sesshomaru. His eyes lifted slightly from his raising cheeks which were tinted pink, and lips spread wide. Kagome's face started to feel warm and her mouth parted slightly. Strange, she never realized he could look so good. Sure he was gorgeous, but now he looked...looked...incredible. Kagome caught herself and immediately tried to hide her blush on her face. " We..well I ….gotta be checking up on uuhh... whats his name...Inuyasha! Yeah that's right. He still ...a little... hot, I MEAN sick. Haha I'll.. see you later kay?" She wished so hard that she didn't look as stupid as she sounded right now, it was a shame she didn't know that she sprinted back to the hut with her arms flailing.

'Well 'that' was interesting.' thought the demon lord. The miko seemed amusingly frazzled because of a positive mouth formation. Her eyes wide, cheeks blushed, her mouth open. She practically gawked at him. She also smelled...sweeter. "Well, well seems the miko is not as oblivious as I thought." he said with a smirk. So what if she choose the runt. He had never marked her, so she is fair game. He still had a chance to have her.

This technique, this smiling seemed to work on the woman, it certainly worked on him whenever she did it. Maybe he should do it more often.

The next morning Kagome was surprised to find, not Sesshomaru but Rex sleeping under a tree. "Must have worn himself out." Oh well the better for her, after what happened yesterday, she prefer to see her puppy then the man who saw her embarrass herself. Another good thing was that she could have him help her her carry Inuyasha.

"All right guys, are we set?"

"Where are we going again Kagome?" said Shippo.

Kagome picked through her backpack. "We are going to go see Jinenji. Hes' healed a lot people and demons with his medicine. He might know what's wrong with Inuyasha." Kagome pulled out a fresh water bottle and turned to Sango. "Do we have him ready to go?"

"He is still a bit unsteady, but we have a hold of him." she said while she and Miroku carried Inuyasha who was wrapped in teal thin fleece blanket that Kagome had brought for him. Inuyasha was only mildly aware of his surroundings. He knew he was going somewhere, but did not where or why. Something was wrong with him, and it was the only thing he knew at the moment.

"OK Inuyasha, we are going to go find out if Jinenji can help you OK?" Kagome spoke softly to him.

"Hmm" was all he said, obviously being too tired to say more.

"Kagome it might take a while if we all have to keep up with Kirara." said Sango

Then Kagome said with a smile. "It's alright Sango, now that Sesshomaru turned into Rex, we can all ride him."

Sango eyes widened immediately. "Uhh... I don't know Kagome...Rex is 'your' dog. I don't think he will take to having us on him." she said while eying Rex cautiously.

"Naw he won't mind. He's a good dog." Kagome strode over to Rex who was strangely quiet and still then his usual self. "Rex lower your head, we're going put Inuyasha on your back."

Rex acknowledged her presence by turning his head her way but remained still. While he was ecstatic to have her thank him yesterday, he was also upset the she had chosen the runt for a pet over him. Had he not been a loyal dog? Didn't he follow her every order? Hadn't he always showered her with love? That half-breed runt. He did nothing, but got everything. Even now he got his masters attention and he was practically sleeping. Well then perhaps he should do nothing too. He will be the lazy pup if she so desired. Lets see how she likes it when she has two dead weights.

"Lets go Rex, put your head down." Kagome told him.

Rex turned his head away from her and panted.

Kagome raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong Rex?" Rex's only response was a yawn.

"Come on Rex, be a good boy" Rex instead lifted his giant leg to scratch his giant ear.

Kagome pouted a little. "Are you ignoring me mister?" She said while placing her hands on her hips.

Rex grunted to let her know that is exactly what he was doing.

Kagome stomped her foot in frustration. "Enough Rex. We have to find out what's wrong with Inuyasha, he's very sick." 'Honestly, whats wrong with him today?' But Rex only growled at the name of Inuyasha and shut his eyes to her.

Miroku looked to Kagome who looked like she was having a hard time. "Why is he not listening to you?" Kagome shook her head, still looking at her once obedient puppy. "I have no idea. I mean... maybe a few days ago he seemed uncomfortable when Makoto was around but.. he got over it right?" Kagome wondered if she had answered her own question. Maybe he was still upset that Makoto seemed to horn himself in the group and didn't approve. Kagome rummaged through her yellow bag and took out her book. She flipped through the pages to find the chapter on this particular situation.

"When a new face comes along, dogs tend to act differently. Some dogs will be happy to see a new face and will want to play, others however will think the new face will want to move in on his territory. The dog might become restless and agitated, and it may lead to aggression. Make sure you give your dog attention when it is needed. Let the dog know that you still keep him in regard, and that the new face is not a threat to him or you."

"I see." said Kagome as she closed her book. She walked over to Rex and laid her hand on his giant front paw. "Rex are you worried that Makoto might try to hurt me?"

Rex tilted his head to the side in confusion. "No"

"You do not need to worry about me so much."

"Yes I do."

"You must know that Makoto is only here to help us."

"I am not concerned about that filthy bat. Although the bat needs his wings chewed."

She rubbed his fur gently and said in a soft tone. "Rex you are my most precious pet, and know that no one will take your place."

Rex looked deep into her shinning gray-blue eyes, full of such sincerity and warmth. He could see the truth in those jewels. His tail immediately began to wag. He now knew he hadn't need for such fears. Truly the runt was only that. A runt. He needed looking after much like a weak pup. And his master, being the caring and kind soul she was, felt obligated to watch over him. Yes, he indeed was the better pet. He never should have doubted himself.

Rex happily barked to her, now more than ever to be ready to obey her.

The happy feeling didn't last however. For a strange and unnerving presence made itself known in the distance. Rex sniffed the air. Something foul and wicked and also familiar was close. Rex stood on his legs and kept a sharp eye.

"Whats wrong Rex?" Kagome said knowing he was on high alert for some reason. Then she felt it. A dark aura began to come forward. A gray fog came flying in the sky. But the fog seem to look dense, as if something heavier was inside. It was flying overhead and about to pass them by until they heard a voice shout "STOP IT, IT'S GETTING AWAY!"

"Makoto?" said Kagome seeing him in his bat form from afar chasing the dark entity. "Rex!" she shouted as she pointed to the fog. "Get it!"

Rex leaped into the air and with all the speed he could muster, knocked the gray thing onto the ground. It landed several feet away in the open field where the others were headed towards, reading their weapons. Miroku gently let Inuyasha to lay on the ground, and was about join the girls when he heard Inuyasha struggle. "Inuyasha lay low, we will handle this."

"Wait...its ….its.." he spoke very weakly.

Just then the fog disappeared and all that was left was a figure in a long black robe with a hood covering its face. Without the rest knowing, three soul stealers appeared to give the summoner the souls they had gathered.

Sango held her boomerang tight "Who is it? Is it Kikyo?"

"...NO..." shouted Inuyasha as best as he could. He struggled to get to his feet as he held his hand out. "Its …..not Ki..Kikyo...That thing...it...it...killed...that guy killed Kikyo!" Tears were forming in his eyes as he chocked that last part out.

"What? What guy?" said Kagome

"This is the thing everybody. The very monster we've been looking for." said a bat-shaped Makoto as he flew close to Kagome.

Kagome looked at the killer. This was the 'thing' that was murdering innocent people left and right. The very thing that had eluded them for so long. Now he was here. They had him, and they were not going to let him get away.

Kagome raised her bow and aimed the arrow right at his head. "Show yourself!"

The killer slowly brought his pale hand to the hood and lifted the material backwards revealing his smirking face.

The gang gasped. Knowing who that smirk belonged to.

Kagome spoke in shock "Naraku?"

'Naraku' chuckled deeply at her words. "No.. Seibutsu ..not Naraku." He combed his fingers into his hair. "But I did steal his face."

Seibutsu = Creature (not really creative is it? LoL)

And there you go. Once again sorry about the Hiatus. But my life comes first. By the way, I realize some people were concerned that something awful had happened to me. I thank you deeply for your concern, and for a future note if I should fail to update for about a year or so after my last update, then you can assume the worst because I do not give my password to anybody.

And on one final note You guys make me soooooo happy! I really truly appreciate everyone who reviews. You wanna know something? When I'm down, they always perk me up. I know that I'm not the best writer. There are people on here so good that they could write an epic novel. Its nice to have a little compliant here and there. Thank you, thank you!

Next time: Who is this Seibutsu? What's really wrong with Inuyasha? And is Rex finally coming aboard the mate wagon?

Read, review and enjoy.