Loves Mysteries by opera_ghost

Chapter 1

Disclaimer:

If only,

If only,

The sad opera_ghost cries,

Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha and Co. were mine to buy.

But sadly my 'if onlys' are only just that,

Turning this dedicated writer so blue.

All my life I shall wish to own thee,

But alas, you belong to Rumiko Takahashi

Never to belong to me...

A/N- I deleted this story then re-uploaded it, so the votes this had gotten got erased...so if you could re-vote, I'd be much obliged. All you others, vote and review too!!

Chapter 1

The sky turned black with the teams' anticipation. Two years of training, fighting and pain were all about to determine the outcome of the battle to determine the fates of humans and demons alike. This was the battle that would determine the fate of the world...

Kagome turned to look around at her close companions, who, truth be told, were more like family than anything else. She looked over at Sango, the brave demon exterminator who never failed to surprise her, nor let her down. Then she let her eyes slide over to Miroku, the lecherous "monk" who never failed to leave a pretty maiden untouched by his wondering hand. A small noise alerted her to Shippou, the young fox demon who she had adopted as her son, and was quite proud at how much he had grown over the years; no longer was he the weak, pathetic child he once was, now he stood almost as tall as Kagome herself and had advanced his fighting capabilities greatly. Finally, her gaze rested on Inuyasha, her first friend, confidant, and love. He meant more to her than her life itself, feeling tha she would do anything to protect the dumb hanyou. She mentally cringed as she remembered just hw far she had gone to protect him... As for Naraku, well she felt that if need be, she would sacrifice her own life if only to defeat the evil presence that was nearing their position day by day.

"Kagome! Stop day dreaming and head back to Keade's!"

"Inuyasha no baka! We aren't helpless and defenseless! Get over yourself...and get ready for some company..."

As soon as Kagome had finished, a whirlwind of dust came into the clearing, leaving a hacking Inuyasha and a very close wolf youkai to Kagome.

"Yo!" Kouga said, reaching for Kagome's hands and bringing them up towards his chest, "I have come to join you and stay by your side as your faithful companion, proving myself worthy by relinquishing these to you..."

Kagome looked down in surprise as Kouga dropped his four shards from each limb into her hand. She put them into her small jar, watching the familiar ceremony of the joining of the shards into an almost completed Shikon no Tama. Only five shards seemed to be missing. One still in Kohaku, Sangos's younger brother doomed to be controlled by the evil Naraku, the sole being, no monster, currently racing towards them. The other four were being used by Naraku himself, dangerously increasing his power, enabling him to absorb others power within himself to make him invincible.

Minutes seemed to stretch on forever as Kagome kept her companions informed of his distance until Inuyasha was able to smell him and Miroku able to sense his evil yoki. Satisfied that the evil had stopped nearing them for now, the group relaxed their stances. As they headed to sit down, Kagome thought upon her power and how it had increased more than anyone had dared to imagine. Her attack with her sacred arrows, once thought to be the most powerful, has become, with intense training and meditation, her weakest attack. Her strongest attack, when used right, could purify a hundred demons in one power burst within a mile radius. Strong barriers, masking spells, and 'freeze' spells were now commonly used by the miko, making sneaking up, or away, from demons and certain hanyous, very easy. One talent she had picked up from using these spells, however, was to be able to detect who, also, was hiding themselves from youkai.

Kagome, feeling that familiar tingle on the hairs on the back of her neck, immediately turned around.

"What is it Kagome? Anything wrong?"

"No, Sango...but something will be wrong if Sesshoumaru continues to hide and spy on us."

"Sesshoumaru?!?! What is that bastard doing here?"

"How should I know, Inuyasha? Ask him yourself."

Even before Kagome could finish her sentence, the famed Taiyoukai of the Western Lands unmasked his presence and stepped in front of the inu-gang. Standing as tall and proud as ever, he slowly made his way up to the one person who dared to have the power to sense him...Kagome.

"Good morning Sesshoumaru-sama. May I inquire as to your business with us?"

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow ever so slightly at her formality with him. "There is no need to be so...formal with me, miko. You know very well as to my business you."