Itachi couldn't believe it. Lyra had managed to free herself. It was something that had never happened before. No other woman had been able to willingly escape his control.

"But how is this possible?!" he growled, clenching his fists and glaring at her. "I had you!"

Lyra shook her head. "You never had me. I admit that you did manage to get into my head before. And..." She lowered her head a little and clutched onto Sesshomaru's sleeve. "I said some horrible things that I regret. You hurt me, Itachi." Her brows furrowed together in anger before looking at him again. "I was never under your control because I'm stronger than you. This morning when I went out for 'a walk'," she added quotation marks. "I left your barrier and left a signal for Sesshomaru to find me." She turned to Sesshomaru again and smiled. "I knew it would work."

Sesshomaru couldn't help but feel proud of her. Since from when he had first met her to that moment, she hadn't changed. She had grown.

Having known most about Shapeshifters, Miroku was impressed. "Lyra's will must truly be strong to have not succumbed to his power. It is incredible."

"It's amazing," Sango responded with awe.

"All I want to know is how to kill the freak," Inuyasha said.

"Shapeshifters are neither human nor demon," Miroku informed. "They cannot be killed so easily or purified."

"Just great."

Itachi only grew more angered. The fact that Lyra had been able to free herself was one thing. And then to completely fool him into thinking he had won was too much for him.

Itachi yelled, causing her and Sesshomaru to look at him. "How dare you make a fool out of me! You wench!" he growled. "I should have impregnated you when I had the chance."

That was the final straw for Sesshomaru. "Hold your tongue. It's time to face your death," he threatened with an angered glare.

"Is that so?" Itachi smirked. "I'd like to see you try."

That's when Lyra remembered what Itachi had told her. 'There is only one way to kill a Shapeshifter...' He had never completed his explanation. She tried to get him to finish and tell her how to kill a Shapeshifter but he was clearly clever enough not to say anything more. She turned to face Sesshomaru.

"You can't use Tokijin to kill him or else he'll absorb you into his flesh," she warned him. "It won't work."

"She's right," Miroku confirmed. "There's only one way to kill him."

Inuyasha stepped forward and clenched his first. "How?! I'm ready to smack that smug look off his face!"

Jaken jumped up, holding his staff. "Lord Sesshomaru will be able to kill him!"

Itachi was feeling smug and it showed on his expression. They could cut him to pieces, crush him and burn him, but that still wouldn't be enough to end him. Not even Sesshomaru could do it without knowing how.

Itachi began chuckling evilly. "Choose your target."

Suddenly, there was a huge gust of wind. A strong tornado formed around Itachi and instantly pulled Lyra into it. She let out a scream as she got sucked into the twisting winds. Sesshomaru had tried to grab her but was too late. He widened the stance of his feet to grip himself to the ground, the winds blowing back his hair and mokomoko. Kagome and the others shielded their eyes as the winds blew dust in their direction. Sesshomaru scowled angrily and put his hand into the tornado to pull Lyra back out. However, the winds felt like blades against his arm, forcing him back as his skin was left with hundreds of small cuts. Due to his high speed regeneration, the cuts quickly healed. He was about ready to go back in to try again but the tornado had died down.

Left standing in front of him was Lyra, completely unscathed. But next to her stood another Lyra. Both were completely identical right down to their scent. Sesshomaru's eyes widened and gasps of shock could be heard from the others standing behind him. Not even he could tell the difference between them. He didn't know which one was his Lyra and which was the Shapeshifter. The two Lyras looked at each other and both shared the same stunned reaction on their faces.

"What the hell..." one of them said.

"What are you doing?!" the other yelled.

Kagome gasped in horror. "I can't tell who's who!"

Inuyasha blinked. "This is disturbing."

Sesshomaru frowned. 'How am I unable to identify my Lyra? Is that how easy it was for Lyra to be manipulated by him?' Looking at them closely, even the small mannerisms, everything was a carbon copy. Both the Lyras then turned to him.

"I'm the real Lyra, Sesshomaru!"

"No! I am!"

One of them then turned to the other with anger. "Don't you even dare, you freak."

"I'm not the freak. You are!"

"Enough," Sesshomaru spoke with irritation in his voice.

His eyes suddenly turned red as the wind picked up again. Inuyasha knew what was about to happen and got everyone to move back, including Rin and Jaken. His face changed as a muzzle formed, the lined marking on his face turning to a V-shape around the cornered of his mouth. His form zapped up like a beam, darting in all different directions before crashing to the ground. Debris and dust flew everywhere but soon settled. Right before their very eyes, Sesshomaru had transformed into a giant dog.

The true Lyra's eyes widened. She had never seen his true demon form before and it was amazing. The Shapeshifter Lyra's expression also mimicked hers but for a different reason. He wasn't expecting for Sesshomaru to change. They were like fleas compared to his size as they had to crane their necks just to look at him. His eyes had become red with blue irises, and the marks on his body had widened and became more apparent. The stripes on his cheeks had become jagged and changed into a fiercer colour, and his mokomoko wrapped around his body and extended into his tail. The arm Inuyasha had cut off was missing even in that form. Lyra thought it a shame that she couldn't truly appreciate his true form for the time being but they had more pressing matters at hand.

Sesshomaru let out a deep and loud roar, causing everyone to cover their ears as he stepped on the hut, completely destroying it. The true Lyra looked up at him again as he looked back at the two identical Lyras.

"I know what will make you believe me," one of them said before shouting, "Sesshomaru! I love you!"

The other cringed before smirking. "You're wrong." Turning to Sesshomaru again, she yelled. "I love you, Sesshy!"

The Shapeshifter Lyra scowled and looked at her. "What?!"

Sesshomaru knew who the real Lyra was. Instantly, he lowered his head and grabbed the Shapeshifter in his jaws. The Shapeshifter Lyra screamed and tried to open his mouth as half his body was sticking out.

"Let go of me, you dog!"

Even though the Shapeshifter was strong, he wasn't as strong as Sesshomaru's brute strength in his true form. He was ready to completely crush him but that would have done nothing.

Kagome ran over to Lyra and pulled her back, away from Sesshomaru's form. They needed to figure out a way to completely kill the Shapeshifter.

"Are you okay, Lyra?" Kagome asked.

She lowered herself to her knees, not realising how exhausted she was. "I'm fine," she said before catching her breath. "We need to figure out how to kill him. Sesshomaru can't hold him forever!"

Everyone turned to Miroku. "I don't know. But there have been tales and lores that they must be brought back to their true form."

"True form?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yes. Only then can Shapeshifters be killed. They choose not to stay in their true form since that is when they are at their weakest."

"But how do we do that?" Lyra asked him.

Jaken suddenly screamed. "Ahh! That pest is transforming again!"

Everyone turned to see that he had reverted back to the form of Itachi. Even then Sesshomaru was unable to kill him. That meant it wasn't his true form.

"Lyra," Kagome called. "Can't you use your powers somehow? See the answer or something?"

Lyra nodded. "I'll try."

She could hear Sesshomaru's growls as he forced the Shapeshifter to stay in his grasp. Closing her eyes, she tried to concentrate on a way to end the Shapeshifter.

Soon, all she could see in her mind was herself. It was as if she was looking into a mirror. It was a reflection.

"A reflection..." she whispered before opening her eyes again.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Inuyasha asked.

Before she could answer him, she jumped to her feet and ran over to A-Un. The others watched as she found her bag and searched inside. Seconds later, she pulled out a hand held mirror. Again, before anyone could ask, she ran back out towards Sesshomaru and held the mirror up.

"Hey, freak!" she yelled at Itachi. "Time to take a good look at yourself!"

He looked at her and his eyes widened in horror. Physically in front of everyone, he was a human with purple hair and hazel eyes. But his reflection was truly monstrous. Shown back to him was a red skinned goblin-like creature with wrinkled skin. He screamed and held his face as his true form became visible to everyone. They all looked surprised at his true revelation as the Shapeshifter couldn't bear to look at itself.

"Now, Sesshy!" Lyra screamed.

Sesshomaru bit down completely, cutting the Shapeshifter's body in half. Letting go, both halves fell to the ground in front of Lyra but it was still alive. It tried to grab hold of her leg but before it could, Sesshomaru lifted up onto his hind legs before crashing down on it with his front paw. Lyra held her arms over her face to protect her eyes from flying debris but luckily nothing hit her. Jaken almost fainted as he thought Sesshomaru almost crushed Lyra along with the Shapeshifter. The creature was completely destroyed though.

Moving his paw, everyone was able to witness the body had turned to mush before being absorbed into the earth. They all rejoiced that it was finally over.

Lyra allowed the mirror to fall from her hand and to the ground. It had smashed in the process but she didn't care. She couldn't use a mirror that once held the reflection of a monster. It was all over.

She looked up at Sesshomaru who was still in his true form. She felt so tiny compared to him but she could finally take in his majestic form. Sesshomaru let out a low growl as he looked at Lyra with his red eyes. The others feared that Sesshomaru would do something to her in that form but they were soon surprised. Sesshomaru lowered his head to Lyra before she lifted her arms up. Smiling, she kissed his nose and laughed quietly as she stroked the fur around his mouth. He slowly transformed back into his humanoid form and her hands were now holding his face, their noses touching. His head was still lowered to hers as if he was almost bowing.

"I'm so sorry..." she whispered before closing her eyes. "I wish I could take back everything I said to you. I wish I could forget it. All of it."

"Even I could not see the difference. Do not be so harsh on yourself, my beloved." He held her wrist gently, gazing down at her. "I'm simply glad that you are safe."

She smiled and tilted her head slightly to press her lips against his. He too closed his eyes before wrapping his arm around her waist as they shared their much needed kiss. Rin cheered as Kagome and Sango 'awww-ed' with hopeful expressions that someday they would find love like that. Inuyasha huffed and crossed his arms whilst Miroku closed his eyes and moved his hand to touch Sango's butt, earning him a smack on his face. Sesshomaru and Lyra soon parted.

"Let's go from here, please," she requested.

He gave a nod before they both went to the others. Rin ran over to them and Lyra went down to her knees as the little girl ran into her arms. Lyra hugged her tightly before letting go.

"I'm so glad you're safe, Lyra. Here." She pulled out the necklace and handed it to her.

Her face lit up. "You kept it safe for me. Thank you."

Rin nodded. "Lord Sesshomaru found it and knew it was a message from you."

Lyra smiled and put it back on before standing up again. "How did you manage to pass through the barrier?"

"It was a pain to get through," Inuyasha responded. "But Kagome and Miroku figured it out."

"It took us a while but it was easy once we knew," Kagome explained. "My arrows didn't work on their own so Miroku attached one of his seals to it and it destroyed the barrier."

"Wow..." Lyra breathed out, smiling brightly. "Thank you all so much."

"It was nothing," Kagome said before pulling her into a hug and letting go again. "But be careful, okay? The Band of Seven are still around."

Lyra nodded. "You too, Kagome. All of you. Once this is over, I'd like to visit my dad so maybe we can travel back together."

"Of course! I'll see you later!"

Lyra and Rin waved them off until they had disappeared on their own path once more. The whole Itachi ordeal was over and she was finally back with Sesshomaru, Rin and Jaken. But she wondered how long the peace would last considering the Band of Seven were still out there. She had not seen any herself yet but she knew they were a formidable enemy. The last thing she wanted was to go against one of them.

Turning to Sesshomaru, she smiled. "I'm ready to...to..."

All of a sudden, she began to feel dizzy and her vision became blurry. The last thing she saw was Sesshomaru's worried face before she completely blacked out.

***

"Ye worry him far too much, girl. Ye will have to be more careful from now on."

Lyra could hear someone talking away but she couldn't hear anyone else. Slowly, she opened her eyes and found herself in a place she was familiar with.

"Hello..?"

Her voice was cracking and her throat felt sore when she spoke.

"Oh. Ye are awake."

Lyra opened her eyes, blinking a few times to clear her vision. She saw Kaede walking over to her with a cup.

"Sit up."

She did as she was told. Sitting up, she took the cup and slowly sipped the fresh water. It tasted like the best thing in the world at that moment.

"How do ye feel?"

Lyra looked down at the cup in her hands. "I feel fine. Just a little weak I suppose."

"I have never seen anyone worry so much as I have seen that demon worry. Ye will end up giving him a heart attack."

Lyra remembered that Sesshomaru had brought her to Kaede the last time as well. She found it cute that Kaede was the only one he trusted to take care of her.

"Where is Sesshomaru?" Lyra asked.

"I have sent him to get ye some herbs to build ye strength."

Lyra then got the mental image of Sesshomaru doing some gardening and picking herbs. But then she realised that neither Rin nor Jaken were around so he probably took them with him so they could do the picking.

"Herbs for what, may I ask?"

"Ye fainted from lack of sleep and nourishment," she explained. "That is as far as I went to tell him."

Lyra tilted her head slightly. "What do you mean?"

Kaede kneeled beside her. "I thought it best that ye tell him."

"Tell him what?"

"My!" Kaede gasped. "Ye do not know?"

Lyra sighed mentally. "Know what?"

"Ye are carrying a child, my dear."

Lyra's eyes widened. "What?"

"Ye are to be a mother."

"What?"