"Lord Sesshoumaru, why have you stopped?" The insignificant toad spoke after he turned round to see his master halted in dead step, eyes to the west. The sun had risen, bringing its welcoming morning over the unknown forests and hills. The bright hues of gold and pink splashed over the clouds and rivers reflecting the once, intimidating grounds of land, while the fiery colors of red and orange gleamed over the trees and grasses, refreshing the new morrow with promise.

"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin yawned her remark as she stretched her cramped limbs, relieving them from their uncomfortable positions, sleeping atop Ah Un did not make a suitable bed for a child. Sesshoumaru continued to ignore the concerns of his servant and young ally, he was hearing something odd. A voice was calling to him. The declarence through song could not be heard by the child nor toad servitor, it was inaudible to their ears...but not to Sesshoumaru's . His thoughts churned as the hypnotic singing continued. 'It cannot be...it is not possible. She left me....'

"Lord Sesshoumaru?!" Jaken yelled his remark at the occupied lord, interrupting his thoughts of his previous wife, attempting to gain his attention. Sesshoumaru glanced at the toad youkai , watching his expression alter from concerned to fearing. Sesshoumaru turned his sites to Rin , her smile grew as his eyes met hers, and giving him the assurance he needed to make his decision. "Our course has changed, we're heading west."

"What!? You mean Sesshoumaru is the reason you were captured by Naraku?!" Inuyasha's puzzling statement was heard by all who surrounded him; it was now certain that he had returned to his "old" self. He and Miroku had been released from Jade's weapon of controlence . Kagome had seen her in mid song, laying her eyes on her as she bellowed her harmonic rhythms. She and Sango had made themselves known to her, and she, of course, immediately stopped. They had implied as to why she was singing, only to find that she had been calling for her previous husband. Jade sighed as she prepared to explain her past with Inuyasha's brother and her needing to call him by bringing about her hypnotic weapon.

"Sesshoumaru meant no harm in his actions, he simply did not think them through...Fifty years ago I crossed his path, and we soon became lovers, companions...mates. I had explained my needing to find Naraku and gain possession of the Sacred Jewel, but he did not agree with my intentions. He believed that I would leave him once I fulfilled my quest, and so he took the matter of my journey into his own hands. He secretly came in contact with Naraku shortly after we were married, bargaining with him. He wagered Naraku's safety with our marital alliance, giving him the option to keep hidden for his Western Army. Sesshoumaru gave up his soldiers, his own people to that bastard as long as he kept his whereabouts draped in secrecy, supplying him with an endless amount of scentless spells, ensuring I could not make any notion of his location. This charade went on for years, until ten years ago I left him, we quarreled intently and I walked out on my husband, soon after Naraku came upon me, and I had no thoughts as to where he had been, nor that he had been watching me all that time I was your brother's wife, I was oblivious to his knowing of me. The first night, when I awoke in Naraku's castle, he explained the reason he knew so much of me. How he had bargained with my husband forty years earlier, how he had been meeting in secret with him since those decades to ensure I had no knowledge of him, and how he had viewed sight of me, sight of my husband. He had been watching me for forty years, Sesshoumaru did not know of this, as a result of him masking his scent. He had seen me bathe each evening at sunset, he had seen me make love to my husband, he had seen me sleep at his side...he had seen my weakness; he had seen my love for this man. That is why I knew he was not lying when he explained himself; I knew he was truthful in his explanations. Naraku had used my love for Sesshoumaru against me."

Jade watched as the sun began to slope. Early evening was beginning to set in; nearly the entire sky was bright gold, bringing a worried sigh from her lips. Kagome spotted her staring at the sun, sitting on the grassed hill, the rest of the group had gone to a nearby river to fetch supper, and Kagome had decided to stay with Jade. She believed she needed comfort after she had revealed why she had left them and traveled to Totosai's , and the reason she needed to be restrained, thus giving knowledge as to why she now needed Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha had explained to her that he had come in contact with Sesshoumaru on several occasions, unfortunately their reunions always resulted in altercations, Jade had only smiled when she heard of this. Inuyasha was so much like his brother, stubborn and determined, though hidden from himself and his emotions. Inuyasha had also said that Sesshoumaru was indeed in search for Naraku, making it impossible for her to find him, she would simply have to sit and wait for his answer to her call. Kagome slowly walked to Jade's side, then sat to her left, joining her company.

"Can I ask you something?" Jade turned her head to face the young Miko , realizing she must still have many questions.

"Yes, I do not mind." Kagome sighed in relief at Jade's welcoming remark, not wanting to offend her.

"You say Sesshoumaru was the father of your son, did he know that?" Jade closed her eyes in shame, remembering she would have to reveal this awful truth to her previous husband.

"No, he didn't. We tried to get pregnant for years, but it just never occurred...we thought it would be impossible since my genetic make-up was so tainted by the curse...we were wrong." Kagome began to play a saddened expression as she listened to Jade, giving off a sense of pitty .

Kagome quickly removed her sympathetic emotion and decided to ask simpler, less painful, questions. "Tell me, what do you miss most about being with him?" Jade laughed a little, recalling her past years with her ex-mate.

"I had many good moments with him, but I suppose my greatest was when we were in bed. After I would fill my day with interrogating demon's and harassing youkai servants, I would come back to the grounds and bathe in our hot springs, watch the sun disappear and the stars rebirth. Then I'd travel ten more yards to our home and he'd be in our chambers...waiting for me. We often spent days in bed, never leaving each other, never being pulled away for anyone. When I would be in heat, he'd never want to climb out of bed, never redress, never exit the room; he'd always say 'Whatever is beyond this bed, can wait'."

Kagome smiled as she thought of Jade's love for Sesshoumaru, and perhaps his undying love for her. Jade opened her eyes, realizing she was living in what was the past. "But those nights are over, I only need him for the restraints, that is all." Kagome did not have time to reply to Jade's unorthodox remark, Inuyasha and the others had returned.

"C'mon you guys! We've got dinner!" Shippo's innocent cry of joyous hunger could be heard by both young women, but only one replied.

"Alright Shippo ! we'll be there in a minute!" As Kagome laughed out her answer to the kitsune Jade stood, realizing a familiar scent was emerging from the west.

"He's nearly here." Kagome joined Jade on her feet, knowing she would not be able to smell Sesshoumaru's aroma. Inuyasha ran to Kagome's side, picking up the scent Jade had only seconds earlier.

"He's coming." Inuyasha's remark was heard by the remaining of the group, they soon forgot dinner and waited uncomfortably for Jade's ex-mate.

Sesshoumaru took flight to the sky as his stomach twisted with curiosity. He had ordered Ah Un to follow with Jaken and Rin aboard, knowing he would reach the source of the voice sooner than they. Her scent was thickening, it was inescapable. It had been so long since he had caught that smell, so long since he had tasted it. Suddenly he took stance to the ground, not wanting to catch her in sight from the air; he wanted this meeting to be seen as an equalence . He treaded on rather quickly, keeping his pace hinted with a certain speed. He knew he would have her in reach soon enough. Jade requested her comrades to hold back, she wanted this meeting with Sesshoumaru to be somewhat private, she knew he would be angered once he discovered who she was traveling with. Suddenly he was in sight, the tall, aristocratic lord came to her view. He walked with his hair behind him, his simplistic fur to his right shoulder, and his eyes fixed to her own . She closed her eyes as she began to remember her experiences with this man, how simple she was then. Sesshoumaru caught his gaze with Jade's, his pace quickened as he wished to have her closer, he had to be certain this was her.

Within and instant Sesshoumaru's stance was positioned in front of Jade, his eyes roaming her, still unsure this form of young woman was truly his previous wife. Suddenly his knees began to weaken, his sturdy legs began to buckle, this was far too much...it was her. Jade closed her eyes as she felt the right arm of her ex-mate drape across her waist, realizing his left had been removed. Sesshoumaru had fallen to the grassed ground, kneeling on one knee as he embraced her, as he embraced his wife. For ten minutes Sesshoumaru kneeled, the claws of his only hand pressing the body of his wife into him. His face met the bottom of her chest, digging into the comfort of her touch and scent. Jade stoked the hair from his eyes, consuming her with the soft flesh of his face. Suddenly she took his neck and jaw in her palms and brought his gaze to her own, lifting him from the ground, to his original stance. She closed her eyes as she prepared to speak, not wanting to disturb the moment, but it was urgent. "We have much to discuss, but the moon will be rising soon, I need to be restrained..."

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