"Naraku is causing havoc," Hatsui stated.

"When isn't he?" the beta muttered.

"This is different. He's just killing for sport now."

"He's provoking us," Sumire growled.

"I thought the evacuations were concluded?" Akiko asked.

"Most," Aisu answered. "But as was stated in our talks with our allies some refuse to leave their homes. But then there are those that have been slow escaping for various reasons."

"Sickly and elderly?"

"And those with young children," Tatara added glumly.

Akiko was sick to her stomach at the thought. She should be out there helping, feeling completely useless here as time went on. And the week was ticking by slowly. Lady Sanjou was carrying through with her promise of sending troops to the Western estate. They were hidden among the gardens to stay out of sight from wandering eyes of the enemy that could attempt to spy on them. Even if all weren't completely hidden one would merely speculate that their leader was visiting the household and they were standing guard.

"It's nearly time," Tobi commented. He could read the reincarnation like an open book, understanding her internal struggle. "Do not do anything rash. Keep your head or it could risk everything."

"I know... But this week feels like it will never come to an end."

"It will come sooner than you think and then you will be wishing it hadn't."

"We will go to the boarder," Hatsui spoke up. "Keep an eye out for those still trying to escape and offer an much help as we can."

"We need to make sure everything is secure," Aisu spoke up. "Otherwise someone not welcomed will sneak in." All nodded in agreement that a plan needed to be devised to be sure that didn't happen.

Sesshomaru wandered through his halls, just wanting to clear his mind after looking over Intel from their spies and updating his maps. Lady Sanjou had not only sent her forces to his doorstep in the cover of night, but also allowed him the use of her birds to carry information between the households. Lord Orochi had mobilized an attack on the Tanukis Clan, but was easily pushed back when the enemy realized they could not get close to the lord or lady to deliver a poisonous blow. They were thankful they had all increased security within the compounds and the number of deaths that came out of the battle were low. And there was also the fact that the Southern Lady had yet to arrive to give way to her stay within the compound. The end of the week couldn't come fast enough for him to put an end to all of this.

The lord didn't have a clear destination in mind, but found himself inside the library. He wasn't looking for information and the demon wasn't even sure if he was looking for light reading. He merely came so no one could bother him for just a little while. Sesshomaru's thoughts had always been centered towards the impending war and Naraku and he couldn't remember the last time those two issues were not a part of his daily thoughts. But he was looking forward to be rid of it all when there was a noise further inside the room. He wasn't alone.

Quietly walking towards the area where the noise came from the demon couldn't pick up on a scent. At first there was concern that something had broken in, but as the temperature began to drop the closer he became, Sesshomaru knew whom it was he was dealing with. Turning the corner at the far end looking through the scrolls stood Akiko. Whatever she was reading had fully engrossed the young woman, not realizing that she had an admirer.

The reincarnation had found the gem of all scrolls. Documentation of events that happened so long ago those in her era could no longer read because they had been destroyed from age. In school professors could only go on speculation from what little texts and painting they had time and time again. It was everything she had hoped for and more to find, having come across it on a whim and not even thinking of how long she had been there. History that had been long forgotten had excitement building up within her with every character she read. Which is why Akiko became startled when fingers began to caress her hair on one side, causing her head to snap up in surprise. Sesshomaru stood at her side, openly staring as it caused her cheeks to tint pink in color. "How long have you been here?" he questioned.

"I'm not sure," she answered honestly. The pack had left for patrol a long while ago after their discussion in the dungeons.

"You are cooling half of the library."

"Oh..." And the young woman reigned in her aura allowing her scent to come back. "I was training with Tobi earlier to tap into my demonic aura." He could tell seeing as how her hair was still damp in areas from when she bathed to be rid of the sweat.

The demon enjoyed her scent, glad that the beta wasn't present as he bent down to bury his nose into her hair and inhaled deeply. Akiko's heartbeat increased, something that did not go unnoticed by the lord, asking, "What are you reading?"

"The Kamakura period," she breathed, trying to keep a steady voice. "In my era there are gaps in that timeline." He hummed in thought. "Why are you here?"

"I was looking for a distraction for a few hours. It was a pleasant surprise to find you here."

"Sessho–"

His lips were suddenly covering hers, surprising the reincarnation for how swift it was and having to use the shelves to stabilize herself. But the demon also helped with that, hand now gripping the back of Akiko's outfit to hold them closer as their lips moved against each other in a way she didn't know how to describe. This was different from the last few kisses they had shared in the past as the young woman wrapped an arm around his neck, while the other still held the scroll, careful not to damage it. Finally pulling away they both were breathing heavily, the young woman noticing he was trying to hold himself back, or more so the demon inside of him.

"What was that for?" she breathed out. "Not that I'm complaining..."

"I have answers to your questions," he answered. And Akiko couldn't help but wonder what he was about to say. "I do not care what other clans think of my actions. I do not care if they find out what we have been doing behind closed doors. I do not care if my mark is left on you if you choose to accept it. I would not be embarrassed uniting the lands beyond it being for a political reason. If I were concerned about that I would have accepted Ralin's proposal. My actions towards you were never just brash decisions; acting on my actions towards you has been on my mind for a while. And yes, I know the implications of what could happen if this continues. What could it could mean if we decided to mate. And I do not care."

Akiko's eyes slightly widened at that. "You don't mean that."

"But I do."

"This is completely against what you have always believed in."

"Things change. I would not think this way towards anyone else. But now there is something you need to think about going forward and being involved with a demon." Akiko was all ears. "Being intimate with a demon is different than with a mortal."

"Well I guess I wouldn't know then how it would feel any other way, since no man has ever taken an interest in me in my era." Thumb caressing the demon's cheek, she added, "I am not afraid to be involved with a demon or I would have run out that door months ago. And I have my own reasons for always turning down Lord Kira's offers to be betrothed to his son. And don't think I didn't notice your reaction when he brought it up at the meeting." A low growl vibrated in his chest at the memory causing her to smirk as the demon kissed her in a possessive manner.

"Lord Sesshomaru," a voice came from the door to the library. Unwillingly the two pulled apart, the lord irritated that they had been interrupted. "You have a response from Lady Sanjou."

"One moment," he called out. And looking at the young woman she could see the red tinting his pupils now.

"Go," she whispered. "It sounds important." Kissing his cheek the two pulled apart as the lord left Akiko to continue her reading, missing the smile on her face as he went.

Kagome sighed, rubbing her eyes tiredly. There was an ache in her back being hunched over the old scrolls she had been reading for hours, straightening a bit and feeling her spine crack from the released tension. At least she wasn't alone, looking to the far side of the room, but finding Inuyasha had fallen asleep with a book in his lap. Head shaking the older teen didn't have the heart to wake him knowing that it would be hard to come by upon returning to the Feudal Era. With a yawn, she wondered if they should call it a night glancing over the waiting scrolls still sitting on the shelves covered in dust. They would be here for a week at least if they were lucky. There were some documents that only grandpa was allowed to handle with care. There was a fear from their old age they would crack and fall apart that had to wait for the daytime as the lantern in their storage room flickered beside her.

"Kagome?" The voice had her turning towards the door to see the old man standing at the entrance with a lantern of his own, a blanket draped over his shoulders from the cool nights air. She too was wrapped on one, sitting on a cushion on the hard wood floor and she gave him a tired smile. "Why haven't you gone to bed?"

"There's a lot to read, Grandpa... and I lost track of time," she answered quietly. Seeing that the half-demon was asleep he walked silently inside to find just how many texts they had managed to go through since dinner. Now it was nearing three in the morning and his granddaughter looked exhausted as he offered her a warm cup of tea.

"You have time. You should get some rest."

"We don't know how much time we have though... It could happen any day now. I know that Akiko will be meeting with the other households by now and... And I don't know what we're going to do. I had to find a way to help end this all. Akiko is counting on me to find a solution. She can't be here to help me, but I'm so afraid we won't find an answer to any of this. And if we don't win..."

"You are afraid that this time she could die." With wide eyes her head snapped in the old man's direction. Maybe she had heard wrong or the older man had not said the right thing, but he looked at her with a slightly guilty expression before adding, "I know what happened in the Western Lands a few months ago."

"How?" she croaked. Kagome had only found out a few days ago and Grandpa couldn't travel to the past like them. Shuffling through the room, he reached into a deep shelf and pushed the back a piece of wood out of the way to pull free a bound book that was wrapped in cloth for protection.

"I discovered this during one of my spring cleanings. For decades, it served as a guide towards the noble households in the north, ending at the fall of Queen Aisu's reign to the Western Clans. However, events have been added."

"Added?"

He nodded, holding it out for her to see as Kagome began to flip through the pages. "The information that had been present after the war talked about the hardships of the northern villages, but then Akiko's name began to pop up. At first, she was referred to as the reincarnation that was meant to inherent the throne and I kept my eye on it for some time. And every time you come back to the present with an update on Akiko it matches up."

"It was really bad," Kagome whispered. "She almost didn't make it. Tobi is hiding her with the rest of the pack to be sure no harm comes to her. Naraku can't know she survived." He nodded in understanding. "We're going to join the battle... when the time comes. If you know so much about what she's been up to...?"

"I understand what is coming. And I can't help but worry."

"Me too... If we defeat Naraku though we can probably save this era so nothing is altered."

"You are both in capable hands when it comes to friends. You have reliable allies, unlike Naraku. Unity is better than tyranny."

"But darkness is still dangerous."

"Of course, but it has it's weaknesses as well. Otherwise, you wouldn't have a use as a priestess."

That was true, but Kagome was still uneasy without a plan to reclaim the jewel. "What am I missing, Grandpa? Why can't I find anything useful?"

"The Shikon Jewel is a mystery in itself. I can tell you that most of the scrolls in this shrine do not have a lot of information on it, and what is spelled out is repetitive." Again, he was looking through the artifacts with his lantern before finding what he needed and pulled it free. "This is the most I have to offer. And then there are the stories that have been passed down for generations in our family."

"And what do they say?"

"The Shikon can be destroyed with the correct wish. But none know what that wish is. Otherwise, it would have vanished by now." Kagome sighed at that, rolling open the scroll to read over the texts. "There are ways to seal it from evil."

And the older teen's eyes widened upon seeing the inscriptions she desired. "I found it," she breathed. "I found a seal!"

Inuyasha snorted upon awaking so suddenly from the outburst, looking around to see what the fuss was about. The old man spoke up though, adding, "I warn you, Kagome, seals can only last so long unless they are maintained. Sounga is proof of that."

"And they will be this time... once I find a place to hide it."

"The wish is more of a guarantee."

"But we don't know what it is. And only one can be granted. If the wrong thing is said... that's the end and we could be back to where we are now. I can use it as a last option if we're desperate and pray I say the right words."

"I'm sure it will come to you. It always does."

"What is it?" the half-demon questioned. "What did you find?"

"Answers. We should leave for the Feudal Era in the morning." He nodded in agreement.

"Kagome," her grandfather spoke up. "There is something else I want to warn you about."

"What?" she asked. They could see the seriousness on the older man's face and that caused her to worry.

"Your story, what all of you have gone through, what is about to happen... this is very similar to what happened between Midoriko and Magatsuhi." The two hadn't heard those names for years, remembering how they had managed to come across the bodies of both forces in a secluded cave. Their fight for the jewel had killed the both of them in the end and trapped their forms in stone for years to come. As a warning to the jewel's influence over others, good and evil. "The jewel is alive, and knows the intentions Naraku and you have since it is in both of your possessions. It will continue to pit the two of you against each other to maintain its existence. What happened between Kikyo and Inuyasha all those years ago is proof enough too. Do not fall for its tricks and do what is necessary for the good of Japan."

"You don't have anything to worry about, Grandpa," she reassured. "We know what to do." And she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for the help. I'm going to get some rest."

"Leave everything here," the man said. "I will sort it in the morning."

Nodding, Kagome and Inuyasha retreated inside the home, leaving him alone as a sigh escaped him. "I truly hope you are careful." And his eyes landed on the book that held all the information he needed on Akiko. "All of you."