InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Cross of Blades ❯ She Weeps! ( Chapter 18 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: No, I don’t own it. If I did the series wouldn’t end the way it does. I swear, I think some people live just to frustrate other people. Its not fair. Oh, and don’t forget to read the author’s notes at the bottom.


“Woah Shippou woah,” Kagome said as they walked down the hallway toward the dorms. “Slow down why don’t you? You know I can never understand you when you talk fast. What are you asking me again?”


“Well,” Shippou began, this time slower than before. “I was wondering if you wanted to hang out later on tonight.”


“How late? And what time is it now?”


“Eh...” Shippou glanced at his watch. “It’s 8:20 now. Come on Kagome. You used to love going to the hangout with m-us! Can’t you come?”


“I’m sorry Shippou, but I can’t. I’m totally beat and the last thing I want to do right now is fight the fiends in the training facility. Thanks though.” Shippou sighed in disappointment as she ran toward her room. “Oh well,” he shrugged and made his way down the hallway. “She’s...still tired I guess. I’ll try again tomorrow.”


Kagome rushed into her room, slipped inside, closed the door and slid down it’s surface to the carpet. “Oh man, I can’t believe I just blew Shippou off like that,” Kagome groaned to herself. “Man, I feel so awful. I’ll have to make it up to him tomorrow.”


She pulled herself together, stood up and wiped a tired hand over her face. The irritation and anger she felt building all day was finally surfaced and she growled to herself before stomping to her dresser and snatching things out of the drawers. ‘I just can’t believe him!’ she finally snapped as she slammed one of the drawers closed with a bang! ‘Two weeks and he still hasn’t managed to bring his arrogant....snoody...grrr!’ She huffed in frustration and tossed out a pair of white cotton Garden-issue pyjama pants and a matching tank top with Balamb Garden’s insignia on the front.


Headmaster Leonheart had informed the staff and student body of the missing SeeDs return and somehow managed to complete a thrown together, but well meant, welcome back party for the pair. Sesshoumaru brushed aside the various greetings and well wishes but Kagome practically wallowed in the attention, and enjoyed the party as much as she could while managing to pull the reluctant youkai along behind her.


The party was short lived and the next three days found Kagome filling out what felt to her like miles and miles of paperwork. That didn’t include the 10 hours of debriefing, each spread out over the three days. Sesshoumaru had yet to reappear and it was two weeks later. Kagome, having figured that Sesshoumaru had re-nig’ed on his promise, was more than a little upset to say the least.

‘I mean, he promised,’ she fumed as she angrily flipped on the shower. ‘He promised and he just forgot! Maybe he didn’t forget! Maybe he never meant to remember...’ That thought saddened her and her shoulders slumped in disappointment. “Maybe he didn’t want to remember...” She shed her clothes and stepped into the shower, the steam soothing her nerves as the warm water tried to wash her frustration down the drain. She loved the jasmine scented shower gel and it normally made her feel better but today the magic potion seemed to have lost it’s touch. ‘That jerk,’ Kagome sniffed before mentally shaking herself.


‘What am I talking about?’ Kagome asked herself as she stepped out of the shower and dried herself off. ‘If he doesn’t want to be with me-I mean, be my friend, then fine! I-I’ll just hang out with the others! Get to know Souten and hook her and Shippou together! I was meaning to do that anyway!’ She angrily wrapped a fluffy white towel around herself and gave her hair a quick rubbing with another towel before dropping it into a nearby linen basket.


‘Besides, let Sesshoumaru be a stuck up jerk! His life will just be boring from now on! Boy, don’t I feel sorry for him!’ She flounced out of the bathroom into her bedroom, her eyes closed in finality as she reached toward her bed for her clothes.


“Are you upset about something?”


Kagome shrieked in fright, her blue-green eyes flying open with her right hand fisted into the towel to keep it closed. Her eyes narrowed angrily while Sesshoumaru laughed at her from his seat on her bed. He waited for her to collect herself before holding up her pyjamas and shaking his head. “Really Kagome, such violent thoughts? And about a me? I’m ashamed of you. And here I thought we were friends?”


“You’re not funny you pompous jerk!” Kagome shouted as she threw her bottle of shower gel at him. He caught it easily and set it on her nightstand. “And just how did you get in here anyway?! Don’t you know how to knock?”


“How I managed to gain entry is none of your concern,” Sesshoumaru replied with a casual glance at his claws. “You need not be worried about anyone else being able to.”


“You-you...grrr! You get on my last nerve Sesshoumaru,” Kagome sighed in aggravation. “Just what have you been doing for the past two weeks huh?! You promised and-“


“And I did not forget.” He stood up and approached her, her heated and angry gaze nothing to him as he reached for her hand. He frowned slightly when she jerked away from him and turned her back, her arms folded over her chest and her eyes closed in an attempt to shut him out. “Your anger is unnecessary. I did not come to see you because I could not come to see you. I have been in interrogation.”


“This entire time?” Kagome asked incredulously. He nodded and she gasped in disbelief. “Sesshoumaru, not this entire time?! You’ve been in debriefing for two weeks?!”


“I did not say debriefing now did I?” Sesshoumaru growled irritably. He leaned against the edge of Kagome’s desk and watched as she began to pace around the room.


“Why would they interrogate you?” she asked and barreled on before she could get an answer. “Why didn’t they do the same with me? What did they think you were hiding and-“


“Kagome, would you stop?” Sesshoumaru interrupted with a raised hand. “You’re not going to obtain a single answer if you continue in this manner.”


“Well excuse me,” Kagome snipped angrily. “It’s kinda shocking to hear that your friend’s been interrogated for two straight weeks!”


“I am fine,” Sesshoumaru added as an afterthought. “And it was a necessity.”


“I just don’t get it,” Kagome replied as she leaned against the desk beside him. “Why didn’t they do the same to me?”


“You are thinking that something violent happened. Look at me. Am I injured in any way?”


Kagome gave him what she hoped he would think was a quick glance over. She scrutinized every inch of his 7' even frame and frowned. She couldn’t see anything unusual or disturbing but figured that the worst would be hidden beneath the folds of his SeeD uniform. He smirked at the thought and moved from the desk to stand in front of her.


“Would you like for me to undress?” he asked and grasped the high collar of his uniform jacket. “That way you would be absolute with your search.”


“No, that’s ok,” Kagome said quickly, her head turned and her eyes averted in embarrassment. A light blush stained her cheek and she clutched her towel closer to her body. “If you say you’re fine then you’re fine.”


“Of course.”


“That still doesn’t answer my question,” she said and frowned when she found Sesshoumaru staring at her. “What?”


“Nothing,” Sesshoumaru answered with a shake of her head. “They kept me from sleeping, that is all.”


“Yeah?” Kagome asked, unable to keep the worry and doubt from her voice. Sesshoumaru nodded. “Yes. Now as for why you were treated differently-“


“Yeah, why was that?” Kagome interrupted violently. “I mean, its not like we were in separate places and-“


“You were not treated the same because you are human,” Sesshoumaru finally spit out. “I have certain abilities, thus the Garden staff and SeeD officials felt it necessary to be certain of my truthfulness. They also had to make sure I did not use some sort of influence to convince you to lie.”


“Oh,” Kagome replied thoughtfully, the previous anger and concerned wiped from her face but not her mind. It made her mad to think that a group as civilized as the Garden staff would think to torture someone so hearing that they hadn’t done anything extreme was a sort of comfort. She was plenty pissed about the idea that they thought Sesshoumaru would lie to them, but that was something she felt she would have to get over. “So, what’d you tell them?”


“What did you say to them?” Sesshoumaru repeated curiously. Kagome gave an aggravated sigh, knowing after four months in each other’s company that chivalry was a foreign notion to him and that he fully expected to be answered first.


“I told them about the attack on the Ragnorok and how we tried to fight them off before we evacuated. I told them I was injured and I told them about the Emergency Shelter.”


“That’s a all?”


Kagome nodded. “That’s it. What about you?”


“I said just about the same thing. They asked about the technology in the facility and we spoke of ART-“


“You told them about ART?!” Kagome gasped in shock. “How could you?”


“How could I what?” Sesshoumaru countered cooly. “I have no loyalties to the simulation, nor should you after your last encounter.”


“Yeah well,” Kagome stammered indignantly. “I just thought that, you know-don’t you think that was a bad idea?”


“No, not really.”


“But what if the Garden decides to try to go down there and dissect ART?”


“Then they would be doing this Sesshoumaru a service,” Sesshoumaru remarked dryly. “Kagome, ART is only a computer program. Despite your attachments to him, he can feel no pain nor does he have emotions. He is naught but a tiny green light and a couple of circuits.”


“But...I promised...” Kagome whispered sadly with her head lowered and the fingers of her free hand fisted at her side. Sesshoumaru reached for her fist and gently spread her fingers apart, one by one, until her open palm was facing him.


“You kept that promise,” Sesshoumaru assured her and gently tugged on her hand to get her attention. “If you promised not to say anything then your honor is intact. I, however, promised nothing.”


“So what else did you say?” Kagome snapped and jerked her hand from his grasp. “Did you tell them about me too? Should I expect them to come barreling through the door at any moment and cart me away? Or do I have time to make a break for it first?”

“Now that was unnecessary,” Sesshoumaru growled defensively. He grasped her hand agin and tugged, this time a little rougher than previously, and caught her when she came stumbling toward him. “I told them nothing about you,” he assured her. One hand lightly combed through the damp onyx waves of her hair while the other held her against him by the back of her towel. “So you do not have to worry. I am still trustworthy.”


“Yeah, I know,” Kagome relented with a sigh. “I’m sorry Sesshoumaru.” She rested her head on his chest and was rewarded with his hand, warm and large, gently rubbing between her shoulders. She yawned and clutched the rough material of his jacket, her eyes slipping closed as she relaxed in his arms. Sesshoumaru watched her for a few moments, then rested his chin on the top of her head and stared at the rest of the room. No, he had not told them about Kagome’s special gift but it was more for himself than for her sake.


Kagome’s abilities had their uses, but the girl herself was too fragile for the intent the SeeD organization would have for her if they were to find out. Her summoning ability was an applicable use but her purification would set the world by storm. The human activist that believed youkai were of the devil would attempt to kidnap her or sway her to their side so she would assist in youkai destruction, and the youkai community would demand her put under lock and key for their safety. Her days of freedom would be numbered and there wouldn’t be anything he could have done about it. Kagome’s ability could be used, would be used, but only by himself. His influence would be enough for her to use her skills discretely and without the Garden being any wiser.


Besides, the idea of the tests they would perform on her bothered Sesshoumaru to an unknown degree and the thought of it brought a silent growl rippling through his mind.


Kagome’s small gasp brought him out of his thoughts and he looked down when she leaned back and away from him. “Oh no,” she groaned as she wiped at a damp spot on the front of his uniform. “I’m sorry Sesshoumaru. I messed up your uniform. Hey, let me get a towel and dry that off.” She moved to step back and frowned when he tightened his hold on her, his arms becoming thick bands of steel. He glanced down at her with a heated glare and pressed his lips to hers before Kagome could think to protest. His approach was smoother and softer than last time, with more patience in his intent. Kagome kissed him back self-consciously, her nervousness quickly abashed when he purred in approval.


Sesshoumaru pulled back at her whimper, her need to breathe far outweighing his desire to continue as she struggled to catch her breath. “Why do you do that?” she asked between puffs of air.


“Do what?” he asked, his grave voice gravely and strained as he pressed his forehead to hers and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.


“You know what,” Kagome glared up at him but found that she wasn’t as angry as she thought she was. She liked kissing Sesshoumaru, liked being in touch with that flame that burned so covertly within him and though she would have appreciated an explanation she knew that she wouldn’t mind if he never gave one. “How would you like it if I just walked up to you and did what I wanted to do with parts of you?”


“Is that a promise?”


“Pervert,” she complained goodnaturedly. She surprised him by kissing him back, her approach still shy but well meaning and sweet. Sesshoumaru accepted her kiss readily and encouraged her wholeheartedly. His hand fisted in soft material clinging to her side and through a struggle of wills he refrained his hands from wandering any farther south.


“I’ll never understand you,” Kagome muttered against his shoulder when they finally broke apart. Sesshoumaru chuckled slightly, his fingers continuing to thread through her hair as she snuggled against him.


“Here.” Kagome stepped back and stared at the lump of clothes in his hands, her gaze questioning and confused as he gestured for her to take it. “These belong to you, correct?”


“Um, yeah,” Kagome nodded as she took her forgotten pyjamas.


“Then get dressed.” He turned her around and gave her a playful nudge toward the bathroom.


“Are you going to be here when I come out?” she turned back and asked hopefully. Sesshoumaru nodded and sat down at the foot of her bed. “I will, but only if you hurry. The night is nearly over and there is much we have to ‘discuss’. I do not wish to do so with you dressed as you are.” He smirked when she jerked around and slammed the bathroom door, his youkai hearing unnecessary as she mumbled various curses against his person. He chuckled aloud when she growled in frustration and was more than pleased with himself as he looked forward to the night ahead.


)(


The light pitter-patter of raindrops thumped softly against the glass of Kagome’s window, the sun itself secreted away by dark clouds of cottony gray. The heavy scent of water drifted in from the window’s small opening and the thick dark blue curtains puffed out slightly from the breeze. Kagome lay curled around her oversized pillow, a happy smile on her face as she sighed and snuggled closer to the pillow’s fluffy softness. Her bare feet were tucked underneath the blue patchwork quilt she brought back from the Emergency Shelter and her braided hair was draped over her shoulder to pool on the bed like coiled rope. Sesshoumaru was stretched across the foot of her bed with his head hanging off the side, his silvery hair flowing over the side to stream along the floor. His uniform jacket was draped on the back of Kagome’s desk chair and his shoes were parked neatly underneath it. One of Kagome’s spare blankets was tossed over his chest and the tip of his tail twitched slightly from underneath it. The scent of rain woke them both from their heavy slumber with Sesshoumaru the first to open his eyes.


He watched from his upside down view of the world as Kagome’s feet slid from the bed to the dark carpet. Her heartbeat hovered between the dream and waking world and he knew without looking that her eyes had yet to open. She slid from her bed on feet ill-prepared to catch her and landed with a thump on the floor. The small “ooh!” that escaped her lips was less surprised and more annoyed, giving Sesshoumaru the impression that this was a regular morning ritual while she braced herself on all fours and pushed herself to her feet. She wavered slightly, then held strong (with her eyes still closed) and stumbled toward her bathroom. Kagome pushed the door open and disappeared behind it with a bang that, if Sesshoumaru were still asleep, would have awoken him with a start.


The sound of water came next and continued for more than a few minutes as Sesshoumaru waited. He closed his eyes and yawned as she shuffled around, her steps becoming more stable and sure as the minutes ticked by. He watched her shadow move through the tiny crack at the bottom of the door and relaxed again as sleep slowly began to reclaim him.


His ears twitched when the bathroom door opened, but he never looked up when her weight settled beside him. The scent of water and mint clung slightly to her natural lilac and he remained still as her eyes bore into him.


“Sesshoumaru...” Kagome called softly, her voice slightly deep and relaxed from her rest. “Hey Sesshoumaru, can you hear me?” She reached over to poke him in the side, then thought better of it as she brought her hand back to her lap. Last night had been totally unexpected and, despite it’s intense beginnings, actually settled into a quiet evening between them. They spent the time talking about their pasts, and Kagome discovered lots of things about the soon to be tai that she never expected. Sesshoumaru explained to her the basics of youkai politics and she learned that, unlike human kings and emperors, taiyoukai actually retired after a certain amount of years then became advisors to the new tai. Since youkai lived hundreds of years longer than humans, new tai could afford to wait until their turns to rule. Sesshoumaru’s father had postponed his retirement until Sesshoumaru finished his SeeD career but was set to hand over the western region, and his role of ambassador, to Sesshoumaru at a moment’s notice.


)-(


“It is not something I am particularly looking forward to,” Sesshoumaru told her from his position beside her. “And yet, I know that I have little choice but to accept it.” He grimaced slightly and Kagome laughed, her hand covering her mouth slightly as he frowned at her. “I am glad you find my suffering amusing.”


“I’m sorry,” Kagome breathed through her giggles. “But you really don’t look happy right now. I’ve never seen any emotion cross your face so it’s kinda strange to see so many at one time.” She laughed again when he ‘feh’ed in disapproval. “Ok, I’ll stop,” she finally said when his frowned deepened. “Sesshoumaru, when do you plan to-“


“To quit?” Sesshoumaru finished for her. “To take up where Father left off? I’m not sure.” He thought about it for a moment, his fingertip lightly tracing the lines in the palm of her hand as his brow furrowed slightly. “I believe I’ll take over when something more important comes up. Something that would make me want to give up my life as a SeeD.” He thought about it some more and Kagome watched as a look of finality, of decision, darkened his eyes.


“There would have to be something I wanted to protect and something that I would need the power of tai to do so.”


)-(


Kagome couldn’t help the warm feelings she woke up with when she noticed his aura still in the room. It distracted her so that she didn’t get as angry when she met the familiar floor when she woke up. ‘One of these days I’m going to stop long enough to actually allow my body to wake up,’ she griped to herself as she reconsidered poking the silent youkai. ‘I wonder if he’ll get mad if I do it. Shippou had weird reactions to me poking him. Then again, this is Sesshoumaru. He might not even feel it. I might need to punch him instead.’


“Such violence is not necessary, especially this early in the morning.”


Kagome shrieked and jolted like a startled cat. Sesshoumaru sat up quickly, his hands going to her waist to steady her as he moved his sensitive lower parts out of reach of her knees. She blushed in embarrassment while she calmed down, then angrily swatted his shoulder when he smirked down at her. “You jerk!” she cried as she hit him again. “You could have told someone that you were awake, instead of faking sleep!”

“I cannot imagine how you reasoned I was still asleep with all of the noise you make. How your Shippou stood it when he roomed with you is beyond me.” He caught her hand as she tried to hit him again and pressed his thumb in the center of her palm, his smirk relaxing to a smile while she scowled at him. “What?” he asked innocently.


“You are such a butt,” Kagome grumbled irritably. She settled beside him and fiddled with the edge of his tank top. “I swear, I don’t know why I deal with you.”


“I am entertaining,” Sesshoumaru answered cooly. “And I make your life exciting. You’re life would be boring without me.”


“Yeah right,” Kagome remarked with a smile, remembering when she thought the very same about him a few hours ago. “I need excitement like I need a hole in my head. Um, Sesshoumaru?”


“Why do you do that?”


“Do what?” Kagome asked at his annoyance. “What did I do now?”


“You hesitate before asking me something,” Sesshoumaru answered her with a heavy sigh. “Do not do that. Just tell me what it is and I will see if I feel like doing it.”


“Oh, so that’s how it is huh?” Kagome griped and folded her arms across her chest. “You’re so mean.”


“Yes, so you’ve said. Now what did you wish to ask me?”


“Oh. Right. Well, I was kinda wondering...”


“Yes,” Sesshoumaru urged when she hesitated yet again. “Wondering what?”


“What you were...planning on doing later on today? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” Kagome said quickly as an odd look crossed his face. “I didn’t mean to intru-“


“I am not sure about the rest of the day,” Sesshoumaru interrupted to answer her question. “I considered staying in my room all day, but seeing as how I never made it to my room in the first place...” He smirked when she blushed again, this time turning her head so he couldn’t see. “I might relax for the rest of the day. It is rare for me to receive a day off.”


“Oh.” Sesshoumaru frowned at the disappointment in her voice, her head still turned so he couldn’t see whatever emotion flashed across her features. He sensed that this disappointment had something to do with what he said and it didn’t take an airship engineer to realize that she wanted to hang out with him.


“Well, I could be persuaded out of my intended hibernation,” Sesshoumaru proposed and was quickly rewarded with her smile. “What is it you have in mind?”


“Um...I don’t know.”


‘Typical,’ Sesshoumaru growled to himself as he patiently waited for her to think of something.


“Um...we could hang out here,” Kagome suggested, then frowned and shook her head. “No, now that I think about it that’s not a good idea. People could see you in here and start to wonder. I don’t want people getting the wrong idea about us.”


“What is the wrong idea about us?” Sesshoumaru inquired, curious to know what she thought about their relationship. Kagome’s cheeks turned a faint pink and she looked away again. “We’re just friends you know, but someone else might think something more if they saw you in here. I don’t want you to end up fielding a lot of press because of me.”


“Oh. I see.” Her answer disappointed him slightly, but he couldn’t understand why as Kagome continued to think. ‘We are just friends after all,’ he said to himself as his inner youkai growled at the thought. ‘And yet, I thought she might have felt...differently.’


“Oh, I’ve got it!” Kagome exclaimed suddenly, and successfully jerked Sesshoumaru from his thoughts. “Why don’t we go on a picnic!”


“On a picnic?” Sesshoumaru questioned with a smirk and a shake of his head. “It’s raining out. It would not be a successful picnic.”


“Rain here doesn’t last for too long,” Kagome replied knowingly. “This should be over in an hour or so. I could grab some extra grub from the cafeteria-“


“What joy,” Sesshoumaru growled blandly. “Hot dogs and tuna club sandwiches.”


“Stop that,” Kagome reprimanded and shook her finger at him. “Like I was saying, I could grab some grub and we could go sit in the planes. No one would bother us there.”


“No one but fiends you mean,” Sesshoumaru countered. “And there is the fact that you want to sit in the baking desert after all. Not exactly a comfortable place to have one.”


“Oh all right,” Kagome huffed in aggravation. “I’ll keep thinking.” Sesshoumaru leaned back against the wall behind them as he waited, taking a moment to lightly scratch behind his right ear before her next suggestion.


“You’re going to love this,” she began with a mischievous smirk. “How about we go to Esthar?”


“Esthar?” Sesshoumaru contemplated it, then shook his head. “No. Have you forgotten that most of Esthar is in near ruins now? Not to mention your sudden need for privacy.”


“No, and that’s what makes it such a good idea!” She turned toward him, her blue-green eyes lit in excitement as she laid out her plan. “OK, check this out: We’ll go to Esthar and just talk right? Meanwhile, the people will see us and see not two people but two SeeD officers. They’ll think we’re accessing the damages right-“


“This sounds a bit dishonest,” he admitted. Kagome went quiet a moment, then nodded. “Well now that you put it that way you’re right. OK, we’ll look over a few areas. The main thing is that the people will see us and it’ll make them feel good. They’ll think I’m you’re guide. Think about it Sesshoumaru. They’ll think that I’m just another ensign assigned to guide the captain and future Galbadian ambassador around the city. It’ll make the people feel secure and give us a chance to walk around without being noticed...well, not draw any unwanted attention anyway. Well, what do you think?”


“Hm...This would require us to dress the part,” Sesshoumaru replied as an afterthought. “Are you willing to walk around in your uniform?”


“We wouldn’t have to,” Kagome answered, having previously thought of this problem. “We just have to dress kinda business-like, with your captain bars on your jacket or something. I’ll need my pins and stuff and people will just go with it. Come on Sesshoumaru,” she pleaded as she began to bounce on the bed beside him. “This will be fun! We’ll get to talk, do a little survey of the damage and make a lot of people feel good at the same time. Plus, you’ll impress the world with how responsible you are.” Kagome rolled her eyes as he considered this and before long she had his nod of agreement.


“Yay!” she shouted as she jumped from the bed and danced a jig. “This is going to be so much fun! I can’t wait to show you everything-“


“Everything that is not rubble at this point,” Sesshoumaru reminded her. He instantly felt guilty when Kagome stopped dancing and became somber, tears welling in her eyes as she remembered. “But,” he struggled to counter quickly. “I’m sure we’ll be able to make something of this excursion. When would you like to begin?”


“Whenever you felt like it,” Kagome answered with considerably less enthusiasm. Sesshoumaru grasped her wrist and gently tugged, slowly pulling her to him until she stood between his spread feet. He rubbed his thumb against her wrist and waited until she looked at him to speak.


“I will go to my room and dress. That shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes. However, I know of the female way of spending extra time primping.”


“I do not primp,” Kagome laughed softly. “You know I don’t.”


“I know not what you do,” Sesshoumaru smirked, pleased when the sparkle returned to her eyes. “I will give you an extra three hours to decide what to wear and prepare. Is that agreeable?”


“Yup,” Kagome nodded. “Works for me.”

“Good.” He nudged her back and stood up, his tail shaking slightly behind him as he reached for his shoes and jacket. “I suggest you wear your gunblade as well. I’m sure that will ensure you some attention, since you are the only female specialist in the organization. I doubt anyone will notice me.”


“You sound jealous,” Kagome teased as he fastened the buttons on his jacket. “But then again, you should have known it would happen. I am beautiful you know.” His “I know,” caught her off guard and a furious blush rushed her face and neck before she laughed it off.


“You’d better be here Sesshoumaru,” she told him as he made his way toward her door. “You can’t be late. I mean it.”


Sesshoumaru sighed in suffering and glanced at her clock. “It’s 8:23 now. I will meet you in the garage at 11:30 sharp. This Sesshoumaru is never late. You little gunner, are normally tardy.” Kagome opened her mouth to comment on his ‘little gunner’ obsession when he began to shrink before her eyes. A bright flash of light obscured her view of him before he disappeared completely and Kagome watched as a tiny golden ball of light hovered in the air above her. It twinkled around her head for a few seconds then zipped toward her door and slipped through the sliver of an opening between the door and the threshold.


“So that’s how he got in here,” Kagome mused with a slight chuckle. “That sneak. I’ll make him pay for that.” She set about her task, determined to find something professional and appropriate so she could be ready before Sesshoumaru. She searched her closet and dresser for what she would wear, then tossed everything on her bed before taking a quick shower. She took the time to blow dry her hair straight, using every product and tool Sango left in her top dresser drawer while she struggled to remember exactly what Sango said about how to round brush this and blow dry that. She dressed nearly as quickly and glanced at the clock when she was finished.


“Ha!” Kagome crowed triumphantly. “I knew I would get finished first! It’s 10:03 on the dot!” She laughed in triumph and was crossing the room toward the door when her comphone rang. “Hey, it’s home,” she muttered to herself before picking up the phone.


“Hey Sou-oh, hi Mom,” Kagome corrected herself. She was still a bit uneasy about talking to her parents but their relationship was beginning to gain better, more solid ground as the days wore on. “How’s everything go-wait a minute,” Kagome said as she sat down on her bed.


“Mom, I’m having real trouble understanding you. Why are you crying? Did something happen with Dad? Mom, what’s wrong?” She froze as her mother finally choked out her message, the tears in her eyes and the lump in her throat constricting her words. The little pink phone fell from Kagome’s hands unnoticed, Kagome’s eyes round and empty as her mother’s news echoed in her mind.


)-(


Sesshoumaru stood in front of the mirror in his quarters, a black elastic band spinning lazily around his index finger. He studied himself throughly, his gaze intense as he checked his attire. He wore a plain white dress shirt and a pair of dark jeans with a blue and yellow striped tie hanging untied around his neck. Sesshoumaru felt that this and the pair of dark oxfords on his feet weren’t enough, so he rummaged around his closet until he found a navy blue blazer that was thick enough for how cool the temperature would be on their walk. He checked himself over again as he looped his belt through the loops of his pants, his gaze distant as his fingers methodically worked on.


‘This will suit Kagome’s plans I suppose,’ Sesshoumaru reasoned absently. ‘She is quite the deviser that one. If she is this excited about one little outing then it would promise to become an event should she ever decide to actually apply herself to something devilish.’ He smiled to himself as he remembered the spark in her eyes, the happy little bounce in her step and the amusing little dance she performed for him once he agreed to her ideas. The only part he had not cared for in the past 24 hours was the way she deflated at his callous comment.


‘That was not an experience to be repeated,’ his inner youkai grumbled. ‘You are not as sensitive as you should be toward our female.’


‘She is not our female,’ Sesshoumaru disagreed with a frown. ‘She is a friend and little more. You heard so from her own lips.’


‘That is what she said but I do not believe her. You do not either. The female-‘


‘Kagome,” Sesshoumaru corrected without thinking. ‘Her name is Kagome.’


‘Ahhh, well now,’ his youkai laughed mockingly. ‘You are quick to protect her. When did this develop?’


‘You are being asinine...again,’ Sesshoumaru told his other half. ‘You are the one that considers her ours. So should I not consider her protection to be one of our priorities?’


‘So she is under our protection is she?’ his youkai laughed. ‘The Great and Mighty Taiyoukai has deemed himself the protector of a human has he? This is rich! I do so enjoy it when you remove the stick from your ass.’


‘If only there were some way to turn you off...’ Sesshoumaru mused to himself. He lifted his guncase to his desk and flipped open the lid, the heavy casing knocking against the wall with a thump. He never questioned his decision about Kagome as he fastened his holster to his hip and placed shells in the available sleeves. He was bound and determined to keep Kagome out of harm’s way. The Garden staff and anyone else would be handled as he saw fit. It was himself that he worried about. He would not allow his inner youkai to gain access to her, not with his other half so possessive over the little gunner. Kagome’s power attracted it and her attitude kept it interested. She had stolen his youkai from him and he couldn’t exactly make himself angry with her for it. She had listened to him, truly listened to him last night and he could think of no other way to thank her than to ensure her safety.


‘No one has ever paid such attention to this Sesshoumaru,’ he thought quietly while he sat down at his desk and checked his weapon over. ‘She did not pretend to listen, nor did she laugh at the things I consider embarrassing. She is a true confidant and I...trust her to keep my secrets.’


‘Like the fact that you wanted to be a traveling flutist before you became a SeeD?’


Sesshoumaru growled in frustration, his annoyance cut short as someone began banging on his room door. He sniffed and growled as Inuyasha’s familiar sandalwood wafted underneath his door. He thought to ignore him when the pounding began again, this time louder and more persistent than the first.


“Alright,” he growled as he stood up and crossed his room to the door. “I’m coming. Cease that infernal-“ He threw his door open and frowned as Shippou glared up at him. “What are you doing to my door Makayura?” Sesshoumaru inquired cooly while Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku peered from behind Shippou. “And what is going on?”


“Don’t play stupid Sesshoumaru,” Shippou growled back as he shoved his way past him to his room. Sesshoumaru growled in warning, his restraint barely contained and only because of how unhappy he knew Kagome would be if he were to properly ‘discipline’ her kitsune friend.


“I’ll ask again, but only once more,” Seshoumaru began, the promise of blood and brimstone brimming in his voice as he pinned Shippou with his amber stare. “What are you doing here and what is going on?”


“We were wondering,” Sango finally said while Shippou and Sesshoumaru glared daggers at one another. “Have you seen Kagome lately?”


“And don’t lie about it either!” Shippou heatedly snapped. “I could still catch your scent in her room.”


“I had no intention on lying,” Sesshoumaru replied coldly. “I was there, but it was earlier in the day. As you can see, Kagome is not here. What is the trouble?” Sesshoumaru asked as worry replaced the curious glances on the group’s faces.


“We went to her room and she wasn’t there. It’s a real mess Sesshoumaru,” Inuyasha said as he leaned against Sesshoumaru’s doorway. “You’d have to see it to believe it.”


“Then lead the way,” Sesshoumaru said as he grabbed his wallet from his top dresser drawer. Everyone left the room immediately, Sesshoumaru’s curiosity slowly ebbing away to concern as Shippou fidgeted and growled behind him. The sound and the constant shifting of Shippou’s aura angered the beast in him and once again he found himself restraining his primal self as they came to a stop by Kagome’s door.


“We haven’t changed a thing,” Miroku told Sesshoumaru as he glanced into the room. “Her door was open when we got here and we found everything like it is right now. Shippou took one sniff at the room and took off.”


“We would have tried to slow him down if we had known he was going to disturb you,” Sango replied next. “But he seemed so sure that you knew what happened. Do you know what happened Sesshoumaru?”


Sesshoumaru shook his head, his cool features and steady form beling the unsettled thoughts that crashed together in his mind while he glanced around the room. The small mirror above Kagome’s dresser was shattered, the fractured shards scattered haphazardly and embedded in the carpet. Her comphone lay in two broken halves not to far away and the brush that was used to shatter the mirror had been tossed to the other side of the room. He could still sense Kagome’s panicked tears and guessed that they were the reason for Shippou’s rashness. Sesshoumaru took the time to take a closer look at the room and discovered Kagome’s weapon’s case still leaning against the same corner as that morning. He opened it and frowned as Junsei winked and shone back at him.

“What’s Junsei still doing here?” Sango wondered as Miroku and the others finally noticed. “Kagome wouldn’t leave Junsei behind. What’s going on?”


“Yeah Sesshoumaru,” Shippou barked angrily. “What’s going on? What did you do to Kagome?”


“I will only say this once,” Sesshoumaru finally snarled as he jerked Shippou up by his collar and held him suspended between heaven and earth. “I have nothing to do with this. Should you accuse me again I will make you regret it in spite of what Kagome may think of my decision. Is that clear kitsune?”


“Yeah,” Shippou huffed indignantly. “Yeah, I get you.” He landed on his feet when Sesshoumaru released him, his hand opening without either warning or ceremony before he turned and walked out of the room. “Where are you going now?” Shippou demanded as Sesshoumaru walked down the hallway toward parts unknown.


“I am following her scent,” Sesshoumaru answered as they walked down the dorm entrance hallway toward the main Garden commons. “You would have thought to do this if you had not been on your wild goose chase.”


Inuyasha snickered as he walked past him, with Miroku following suit to see where Sesshoumaru would lead them. Only Sango stayed behind to pat his shoulder in understanding, then she was gone as well. Shippou shrugged and jogged behind the group while he reigned in his emotions. Somehow he had known that Sesshoumaru wouldn’t have a clue as to where Kagome was or what had happened to her but he had to test out every possibility. Something bad had happened to his little sister and he needed to know what so he could help her.


Sesshoumaru led them to the parking lot where Hojo stood near the repair shop key storage. He was shaking his head slightly, a look of slight confusion maring his youthful features as he continued to stare out of the garage at the hot desert beyond.


“Hey Hobo,” Inuyasha barked and grinned when Hojo jumped in fright. “What the hell’s wrong with ya? You look like you’ve seen something weird.”


“I kinda have,” Hojo said, his nerves still a little rattled to mention Inuyasha’s colorful use of his name. “Man, that was strange.”


“Higurashi passed through here recently, correct?” Sesshoumaru interrupted. He was anxious to continue on but Kagome’s scent stopped somewhere in this garage. He had a feeling as to what happened next and he knew that no nose on campus would be able to track her down if he were right.


“Yeah, she came through here about an hour or so ago like a bat out of Hades. She demanded a car and practically jumped me for some keys. She sped off and I haven’t seen her since.”


“Then why are you still staring at the garage door,” Miroku asked. “Have you been in this same position for an hour?”


“Yeah,” Hojo nodded. “I’ve been too afraid to move. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I could have sworn her eyes were...well, not glowing but something like it. It was some kind of ring and she was pissed.”


Anger. It was something neither Sesshoumaru or Shippou picked up on and if Kagome were really as mad as Hojo suggested then the need to find her only intensified. ‘She must not be thinking,’ Sesshoumaru determined as he motioned to Hojo to hand him a set of keys. ‘Things could be bad if she were to lose control.’ He gestured toward the nearest van and waited for Inuyasha and the others, plus Souten who managed to catch up with them at the last second, to settle inside before starting the car and driving toward where he thought Kagome would be.


“Makayura,” Sesshoumaru called to Shippou. “You’re going to have to be of more help than you have been.”


“Just what’s that supposed to mean?” Shippou snapped as he pouted from the last seat in the back. “You act like I don’t want to find Kagome.”

“You are not behaving as such,” Sesshoumaru countered effortlessly. “You are behaving like a spoiled child. Kitsune are known for their problem solving skills. You have the solution to our problem, yet you choose to cry and whine like a three week old pup.”


“What’s he talking about?” Souten wondered out lout. “Have you guys done something?”


“No, it’s Kagome,” Sango said before filling Souten in. Souten nodded in understanding a few minutes later, her gaze sympathetic as she gazed at Shippou from the corner of her eye. “Shippou, he’s right. Don’t you and Kagome have some sort of link or something?”


“It’s a blood bond,” Shippou replied as he held up his arm. “I can tell what she’s feeling but I can’t tell you where she is.”


“But you do know what direction to go in,” Inuyasha replied crossly. “All you have to do is point your arm and you’ve got her. So do it already so we can find her. I haven’t had breakfast yet and Kikyou’s promised me a picnic lunch this afternoon.”


“Heaven forbid we prevent that,” Shippou grumbled irritably but stuck his arm out of his window and concentrated. He felt a strong pull toward the southeastern section of the continent. “Go that way Sesshoumaru,” Shippou said as he pointed the way. Sesshoumaru followed Shippou’s directions without fail and after fifteen or twenty minutes he parked in front of an enormous monument.


“What in the world is this?” Inuyasha wondered as everyone got out of the van. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”


“It’s Tears Point,” Shippou answered in awe and reverence. “Esthar built this place long before the first Sorceress War. The world thought that this was nothing more than a grave for long dead sorceresses back in the earlier days of Esthar’s creation. No one knew what it really was for until 17 years ago when Galbadia raised the Lunatic Pandora from the ocean and used it to cause the Lunar Cry.”


Sango shivered in spite of herself, her eyes briefly closed as she remembered the stories her father told her about the Lunar Cry. Millions of fiends rained down on the world once every 17 years, their descent from the moon to the ground marked by a blood red trail that cut through the darkness of space for days afterward. During this time roadways and any area not protected by cities were overrun with fiend activity. The SeeDs of the area would spend weeks trimming down the monsters to pre-Lunar Cry levels and even then the ones that remained were vicious beyond belief for months to come.


Sango shook herself out of her fear and followed the others into Tear’s Point. The monument itself was a massive circle sectioned into eight separate areas. Each area held rows of fiends imprisoned inside specially treated glass cases. Here in one of the rows hid a small class of students and their teacher, their eyes wide and frightened as Sesshoumaru and the rest of his group urged them to come out.


“What happened?” Inuyasha asked as the first of many students began to cry. The boys in the group struggled to calm the weeping girls but they too were shaken up. A small grunt caught Sesshoumaru’s ear and he wandered away from the others to investigate. He approached the center of Tear’s Point were a group of mammoth statues, each holding on to a lyre of their own with their blank faces staring heavenward. Another grunt was heard, then a flash of light before the others finally joined him.


“What’s going on?” he heard Sango whisper to Miroku. He felt Miroku’s shrug without seeing it, then stepped back with everyone else when an explosion in front of the statues nearly rocked them off their feet. Dust and chunks of concrete flew up instantly and they coughed, wheezed, hacked and waved the dust away to get a clearer view of what was going on. Their jaws dropped one by one, until only Sesshoumaru stood with his composure intact as their missing friend appeared among the rubble. She was standing over something that was still shrouded by debris but the wind soon cleared the way to a better understanding of what was going on.


Kagome straddled a Galbadian soldier, human by the looks of him, with one knee bent so she could step on the unfortunate man’s wrist. Her black mini skirt showed off miles and miles of legs that ended in a pair of black high heeled sandals. The man screamed as the spiked heel of one of her shoes drove itself into the tender flesh of his wrist. She hovered over the man like an enraged archangel, her hair billowing behind her in a black raven’s wing as it lifted away from her face and shoulders. Her left hand was fisted in the soldier’s hair while she held her right hand to his throat.


“What is she doing?” Inuyasha wondered after his initial shock wore off. “How did she manage to beat that guy up without a weapon?”


Sesshoumaru sighed and said nothing, his inner youkai finally settling down as he descended the stairs toward the center court and Kagome. He approached her soundlessly with his aura checked away should she decide to attack him as well. He could tell by her aura that she was close to losing control and he had to restrain her before she had a chance to do so. His tail snaked out slowly, then found purchase around her wrists. He snatched her up and away before she could wonder what happened and it was not long before she found herself dangling in front of Sesshoumaru’s less than happy face.


“Just what do you think you’re doing?” he quietly asked her as he appreciatively eyed the white silk deep-v neck halter top that caressed her upper curves. To his shock she began to fight him, her words little more than screams of outrage and anger as she twisted and jerked in his grasp. Sesshoumaru tightened his tail’s hold on her to keep her from falling and hurting herself while the others moved forward to pull the soldier away.


“Don’t touch him!” Kagome suddenly snarled with the viciousness of a full blooded demon. “He’s mine!”

“Kagome stop this,” Sesshoumaru commanded as she continued to defy him. She screamed her frustration and a small kunai suddenly zipped through the air. It embedded itself in the concrete between the soldier’s legs, taking with it a small rip from the crotch area of the soldier’s pants. Sesshoumaru turned back to his wildcat when she screamed again. Her cry rang in his ears long after she fell silent. Her struggles continued for what felt like hours with Sesshoumaru’s tail taking the brunt of her fury. She attempted to kick him and was rewarded for each effort with a brief shake from Sesshoumaru to warn her against the action.


“What in the hell is wrong with her?” Inuyasha demanded as the others restrained the soldier and sat him as far away from Kagome as possible. Her hair hid most of her face from view but her eyes glowed with promise. She followed the soldier until they took him out of her sight, then continued her fight with Sesshoumaru while he stood by and waited for her to cool down.


“Damn it, can somebody tell us something?!” Inuyasha finally snapped, his patience worn to a fragile thread while the others looked on.


“Um, I may be able to help.”


They turned toward the teacher of the group of students they found on their arrival. She had recovered somewhat from her shock and she stood on unsteady but determined legs. “You’re SeeD, aren’t you?”


“Yes ma’am,” Shippou nodded. “I’m Private Makayura. With me are privates Endo, Saikai, Almasy and our First Captain. The young lady with him is our friend and she’s also a SeeD.”


“Do you normally behave like her?” the teacher wondered as Kagome resorted to biting Sesshoumaru’s tail. She spit out a mouth full of snow white cotton and moved to try it again when he shook her, this time harder than his last attempts. Sesshoumaru hated to admit it, but his tail was the most sensitive part of him and what she was doing was beginning to become uncomfortable. The last straw came when she bit him and that had hurt like all hell. Shippou grinned wickedly at Sesshoumaru’s discomfort and shook his head.


“No ma’am. Normally she doesn’t either. She’s upset about something and we’re here to find out what.”


“Oh, so you’re not here about the kidnaping?”


“Kidnaping?” Inuyasha, Sango, Souten and Miroku shouted at once. “What kidnaping?”


“That’s what I thought you were here for,” the teacher told them before casting a hesitant glance toward Kagome. “That’s what I thought the young lady was here for as well. She came here not long before you and before we had a chance to say anything to her she ran down the steps and pulled that young soldier out of his hiding place among the statues. I must say, she’s given my class quite the scare. More so than the Galbadian brutes that were here earlier.”


“Galbadian soldiers were here too?” Miroku asked as he stepped to the front of the group. “When was this?”


“This morning,” the teacher answered with some surprise in her voice. “They came in quickly, grabbed one of my students and was gone before anyone had a chance to do anything. We called his parents and the Esthar Plains Patrol and were instructed to wait here.”


“But which student was taken?” Inuyasha asked. He never received his answer as the bracing scent of tears cut through the air. They turned and stared at Sesshoumaru, who for once in his life looked completely lost as Kagome went limp in his hold. Her head bowed and from underneath her dark bangs tears dripped down her chin. They splattered one by one on the ground below her though some were caught on the toe of her shoes. He set her down gently, his normally cool eyes warm and genuinely concerned as he glanced up at Sango for help. Kagome sniffed then outright sobbed, her broken hearted cries carrying on the cool afternoon breezes as they caressed her bare shoulders.


Shippou shook as whatever dam blocked her feelings from him broke loose. The inklings of her emotions flooded into him and he found himself floored at the pain, sadness and feelings of failure welled and bubbled forth. “It’s Souta isn’t it?” he whispered. His answer was her sob, this one more broken than the last as she tried to crumple herself into a ball.


“But why Souta?” Sango wondered before kneeling down beside Kagome. She wrapped her arms around Kagome’s shoulders and held her while she cried, her tears and sobs falling way to tiny hiccups and sighs. “He’s just a kid. What’s Deling got to prove by taking a kid?”


“Maybe it’s where the kid’s from,” Miroku speculated. “He might think that maybe if he has a hostage, Esthar will bargain a surrender.”


“But Esthar would sooner let him die than do th-OW!” he yelped when Shippou, Souten and Miroku whopped him upside the head. “What was that for?”


“You are making things worse,” Souten grumbled from behind Shippou. “She’s finally calming down and you want to get her started again.” Sango nodded in agreement, then looked down when Kagome began nudging her. She opened her arms to look down at her, then moved them away when Kagome seemed not to need her support anymore. She kept her gaze to the ground as she sat still, her form quiet and confusing while everyone else waited for the teacher to speak again.


“Souta is in my history class,” she finally said with a hand to her heart. “No wonder she came in the way she did. Everyone knows that Souta’s big sister means the world to him. Its only natural that she would feel the same.”


The others nodded, each well aware in their own way what lengths Kagome would go through to protect her baby brother. They turned back to her when she shifted slightly. She refused to stand, preferring to slowly crawl toward Sesshoumaru. She stopped a couple of inches in front of him and bowed down, her hair shifting around her in a dark curtain when her forehead touched the dirt before his feet.


“I humbly beseech your help Sesshoumaru,” she whispered hoarsely, her hands sliding through the sand to clump together in front of her. “I can’t get him back on my own. I have failed him once.” She sniffed and the tears, hot and fresh, streamed down her face anew. “I cannot risk failing him again. In return I’ll be in your debt for as long as you want.”


Sesshoumaru was stunned, his mind a complete and utter blank as he and the rest of her companions looked down on her. Whether she realized it or not, Kagome had begun a sacred invocation of inu law. Should he refuse her, she would be free to find whatever assistance she could acquire. Should he help her, she would receive the best of his efforts in return for whatever he required of her debt. Either way, she still publicly announced (in her own way) that he was her better. She remained at his feet, her pride and confidence stripped from her as she awaited his answer.


‘This Sesshoumaru regrets telling you of his people’s ways,’ he whispered in her mind as he sent out tendrils of gold to calm her. Kagome’s slight trembles continued but her tears slackened. She knew without a doubt that he would help her and with that thought she slipped into blissful unconsciousness. The others immediately crowded around her, their concern and fright at her behavior putting everyone on edge.


Sesshoumaru took off his jacket and held it toward Sango, his growl at being ignored bringing her attention to his offering as she gently took int from him. She threaded Kagome’s arms through the arms and placed Kagome’s head in her lap. She gently combed through Kagome’s bangs in an effort to comfort her friend, but quickly drew her hands away when Sesshoumaru bent down, picked her up and walked toward the exit with her in his arms.


“Bring the soldier with us,” he called over his shoulder. “There is much I wish to ‘discuss’ with him.”

)-(


The roar of engine filled the air as Sango stepped off the train, the scent of diesel fuel a strange and welcomed homecoming while the men walked toward the train station to arrange for their transferals. Sango smiled softly, her heart lifted considerably at finding her home town without scars or damage from New Galbadia’s occupation. She turned toward Kagome and frowned.


Her friend was seated on one of the many benches surrounding the station. Kagome’s shoulders were slumped and her hair, what wasn’t pulled back in the braid Sango fashioned for her earlier, hung in her face in dark wisps. The sparkle that normally lived in Kagome’s eyes was gone, replaced by a darkness that fueled her depression and kept her away from her friends. She was wearing a strange white outfit today, one that Sesshoumaru explained to be a part of the collection Kagome brought back from her time on the Centra continent.


It fit her well but covered every inch of her skin except for an inch or so at the base of her throat. Sango helped Kagome dress earlier, so she had seen the cotton sheath dress with the blue and yellow trim around the collar. Over it was a sort of hooded wool dress with a deep v neckline that reached her waist. Red, blue and yellow encircled the neckline, hood and sleeves of the garment. A warm pair of stockings and a pair of white boots were last. Sango understood how Kagome went without a coat while everyone else shivered in theirs. Sango patted the back of Kagome’s head soothingly and silently cursed Deling with every fiber of her being. He’d done this to her friend, practically ripping out her soul and leaving this empty shell behind. He’d forced her to give up her pride and everything she worked hard for to beg for help, and in the process reduced herself to little more than dirt underneath Sesshoumaru’s feet.


To Sesshoumaru’s credit, he said nothing on the subject. He hovered over Kagome and was constantly whispering to her when he wasn’t using Sango’s comphone. Sango smiled when she thought of the phone bill Kagome’s parents would receive at the end of the month and knew without asking that Sesshoumaru would take care of that too. She was beginning to see her captain in a new light as he did as he promised, though why in the world Kagome considered the stoic youkai a friend was still beyond her.


“Hey Sango!”


Sango looked up from her musings and waved as Inuyasha, Shippou and Miroku approached her. She blushed when Miroku winked at her then noticed that Sesshoumaru was missing.


“Where’s Sesshoumaru you guys?” she asked as Inuyasha handed her six tickets to Balamb Garden. Headmaster Leonheart had assigned them a two week leave before steering the Garden back to Balamb Island and the clearing it called home. He left them in Esthar so Kagome could spend more time with her family before returning to the Garden and their duties. Deling surprised them all recently by opening Galbadia to the rest of the world. Trains were operating in day’s time instead of the weeks they thought it would take to get the worldwide system up and running. Sesshoumaru deemed it necessary to catch the first train to Timber immediately afterward.


“You know Mr. Do It Himself,” Inuyasha huffed angrily, his irritation for his older brother evident in his voice. “He ran off to do...I don’t know...something!”


“He went to see a contact of his,” Shippou answered after giving Inuyasha a not so gentle shove. “He told us to go ahead and get to the Timber Hotel and wait for him.” Shippou’s gaze softened as he turned to Kagome. She had yet to respond to anything they said and had been this way since they left Esthar. He was starting to believe that they should have left her there but he knew Kagome would have fought them tooth and nail before allowing them to walk out the door without her. He kneeled down in front of her, touched her hand and gazed into eyes that did not see him, whispered into ears that did not hear him, and knew why Sesshoumaru was always so disturbed whenever he talked to her.


“Oh Kagome,” he whispered as he brushed a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. “I’d give anything to get you to be the way you used to be. I miss you so much.” He shivered as a chilly gust of wind blew past him and watched to see if she would respond to it. Her hair blew forward before the strength of the wind jerked her hood over her head but otherwise she never moved, never did more than blink and sigh. Shippou closed his eyes, turned away from the pain in her eyes and looked up at Sango. “Thanks a lot Sango,” he said as he straightened himself to a standing position. “I know you’re taking great care of her.”


“You don’t have to thank me,” Sango said as she caressed the back of Kagome’s head again. “Kagome’s family and I’d do anything for her.”


“I know, it’s just that-“ he stopped when Kagome shuddered, the jerking violent and temporary. She sniffed and looked up, her eyes clear for the first time in weeks as she glared at the area around them.


“Kagome,” Miroku called as he the other stepped forward to check on her. “Kagome, are you alright? What is it? What’s wrong?”


“Kagome, can you hear us?” Sango asked. She yelped in surprise and jumped back when she suddenly stood up and jerked her head toward the center of town. “What is it Kagome? Kagome!” She gasped when Kagome bolted, her footsteps heavy and quick as she dashed across the train station.


“Damn it!” Inuyasha growled as he and the others chased after her. “She comes out of this living death to give us a foot chase?! She’s so much damned trouble!”

“Shut up and run Inuyasha!” Shippou huffed as he followed Kagome’s scent. They followed her down the tracks past the pet shop toward the center of town and the Timber Maniac’s printing shop and stopped as the sound of static cut through the air.


“What’s that?” Sango asked above the noise as she looked into the sky. “What’s making that noise?”


“I don’t know but I bet that’s where Kagome’s going,” Shippou hollered before he and Inuyasha continued running. Sango and Miroku followed close behind. They ran down the street toward the Deling City train station and ran down the stairs beside it, wishing they were youkai so they could jump the stairs like Inuyasha and Shippou. They followed the pair into a nearby bar and ran straight through it into the back alleyway.


“Where are we Sango?” Inuyasha yelled as they continued their sprint.


“We’re getting close to the TV Station,” Sango yelled back, her voice barely audible as the sound of static grew louder. Inuyasha and Shippou stopped suddenly, barely fazed when Miroku and Sango practically slammed on the brakes to keep from running into them, and stood by as Kagome glared up at the enormous panoramic TV screen.


“Kagome!” Shippou yelled over the static. “Kagome what’s wrong?!”


“Hey, somebody call Sesshoumaru,” Inuyasha hollered to Sango and Miroku. “He might be able to help.”


“Right!” Shippou opened his comphone immediately and pressed the single digit number that would put him through to Sesshoumaru and Sango’s comphone. He snapped the phone closed when the static cleared and the TV screen went black, then flickered to life as a press room with blue curtains appeared on the TV screen. A blonde woman dressed in a red suit stepped to the podium.


“Ladies and gentlemen of the world, thank you for your time this Late November afternoon,” she announced as the camera focused on her. “I bring you tidings from the New Galbadia government.” Inuyasha and Shippou snickered at the boos coming from the city’s occupants, their displeasure loud enough to be heard in the farthest corners of the city.


“As I’m sure you’re aware, the trains in New Galbadia have been reinstated, thanks to our life long president, Juromaru Deling-“


Another round of boos and hisses from the crowd.


“And all travel restrictions between New Galbadia and other countries have been lifted. This is just a taste of the wonderful things to come. With this in mind, I would like to introduce our President. President Deling!” The displeasure surged as the woman stepped aside and Deling stepped toward the podium, his smile predatory and his ice blue eyes gleaming as he stared into the camera’s lens.


“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to stop and listen to this important message,” Deling began with a smirk. “I promise not to take up too much of your time, as I’m sure you’re busy doing other things at this time of day.”


“Hey,” Inuyasha whispered urgently. “Since when was Deling a hanyou?”


“Huh?” Shippou asked, then turned toward the TV screen like the others. Deling’s lavender hair and blue eyes were certainly strange, but nothing about it screamed ‘hanyou’ to them. “How can you tell?”


“It’s his aura,” Inuyasha answered. “Can’t you see it? It’s just weird. And, you know, the fangs help too.”


The others nodded in agreement, wondering to themselves how they managed to miss such important details while Kagome continued to glare at the TV screen.


“That being said,” they heard Deling say after he cleared his throat. “I wish to get straight to the point. Rumors have surfaced that the New Galbadian government is responsible for the recent kidnaping of an Esthar citizen. I wish to say that myself and the New Galbadian government are in no way responsible for the incident. I, however, am appalled at the very idea of using an innocent child to gain leverage. That is why, with the help of my trusted captains and officers, have discovered information to the young man’s whereabouts.”


“This is such BS,” Inuyasha growled under his breath. “Like we don’t already know that the bastard has him. Who does he think he’s foolin’?”


“I am willing to share this information with the prince of our fair country, one of the First Captains of the SeeD militia’s organization. If he would agree to meet with me at the Desert Prison on the western desert region of the continent, alone, then I would be more than willing to share this information with him and place him in contact with anyone that may be able to assist the investigation.” Deling stepped off camera without another word and the announcement went off, leaving the citizens of Timber in stunned and disbelieving silence.


“Hey you guys,” Miroku said once the shock wore off. “Who’s the prince of this country? Where are we going to find him?”


“Are you insane?” Shippou grumbled irritably. “We’ve been traveling with him, though he could have the decency to show up right now.”


“Hey Kagome,” Sango suddenly called out. “You shouldn’t do that!” They turned just as Kagome wound back her arm and chucked a brick at the TV screen. They watched as the brick sailed through the air at top speed and prepared themselves to duck the gigantic shards of glass that would follow once the brick made it to it’s destination.


They were shocked when the brick disappeared, vanishing in a flash of light and a puff of smoke before a ‘tisk-tisk’ came from above them. Sesshoumaru calmly floated down to them, never moving from his cross legged position on his miasma as he crumbled the brick into dust.


“That was not a good idea little gunner,” he reprimanded softly as her blazing eyes pierced into him. “We would have had to bail you out of jail had your attempt succeeded and I doubt we have time for such luxuries.” He waited until he was nearly eye level with her before shaking his finger at her in disapproval. “Tisk-tisk.” The others gaped when she bit him, her strike cobra-fast and surprising to even the taiyoukai. They were surprised again when he shivered, his eyes glimmering with mischief as he smirked down at her and purred, “Do that again, except this time a little harder.”


The blush that lit on Kagome’s cheek was instantaneous and she turned away from him with a scowl on her delicate features. “You’re such a pervert.”


“So I’ve been told.” Sesshoumaru stood up as the cloud finished it’s descent and dispelled it with a flick of his hand. “I take it everyone’s seen the broadcast.”


“Um, yeah,” Inuyasha stuttered as he mentally shook himself. “We saw it. What we don’t understand is-“


“What does he want you for?” Shippou interrupted, ignoring Inuyasha’s growl of annoyance. “I mean, wouldn’t he want to speak to the Headmaster, or maybe the President of Esthar.”


“Even Dad makes more sense than you,” Inuyasha began as he re-joined the conversation. “So what does he want you for?”


“Maybe he just wants to be sure that he won’t be arrested,” Miroku offered. “I mean, that’s pretty stupid of you think about it but that might be what he was thinking.”


“He’s lying.”


They glanced at Kagome and nodded in agreement. They were just happy to see her active and moving, not walking about like a mindless zombie. It contrasted so greatly with her naturally bubbly nature that even her anger looked good to those that cared about her.


“We know Kagome. No one has fallen for Deling’s tricks,” Sesshoumaru assured her in the same gentle tone he’d used on her for the past two weeks. “Though he is wrong if he thinks I’m going to just walk into his trap.” He frowned when Sango’s comphone began to ring, the cutesy pop tune already grating on his nerves as he picked it up and walked away from the others. He plugged in a set of earphones and placed them in his ears before saying hello and the group strained their ears to hear his part of the conversation.


“Yes, we’ve seen the announcement.......No sir, I do not.........Of course.......Hold on please.” Sesshoumaru returned and handed Kagome the phone, but not before telling them about the other end of the conversation. “That was Headmaster Leonheart. He has instructed for myself and my team to arrive at the Desert Prison by the end of the week. We are to find our own way into the building and rescue any prisoners that we find, along with Souta Higurashi. We’re to detain Juromaru Deling if possible.”


“Good,” Kagome growled as the others nodded in agreement. “I can’t wait to get my hands on him and rip his head off.”

“You are not going.”


The group stepped back when Kagome rounded on him, all her anger and frustrating bubbling to the surface as she glared at him. “What are you talking about? Of course I’m going!”


“You have been assigned another week’s leave,” Sesshoumaru told her. “You are to board the train to Balamb, then meet with Garden personnel at the train station there. They will personally escort you back to Balamb Garden where you will await our arrival and a new mission.”


“I’m not going back to the Garden!” Kagome shouted angrily. “There’s no way you’re leaving me behind on something as important as this! You promised me Sesshoumar-“


“I promised to return your brother safely,” Sesshoumaru interrupted cooly. “I said nothing about you attending the rescue in person. However...” Here he paused, choosing his words carefully before speaking again. “The decision was not mine to make. The Headmaster insisted.”


Kagome snatched her phone from him without another word, pushed the earpiece into her ear and snapped, “They’re not leaving without me Headmaster.”


“Kagome-“ Headmaster Leonheart started but was cut off before he could even begin.


“I don’t care what you say, they’re not leaving without me!”


“Kagome-“


“He̵ 7;s my brother and my responsiblity!”


“Kagome-“


 220;I’ve already messed up once, I’m not about to do it again. I want to be there to see –“


“ENOUGH!!!!” Headmaster Leonheart snapped into the phone. He waited until he was sure of her silence, then said, “I understand your frustration Kagome, really I do, but you cannot go on this mission.”


“Why no-“


“Because you are a liability,” he snapped again, his nerves frayed from trying to reason with her. “What do you think the chances are of this mission being successful with the emotional state you are in?”


“Are you saying that because I’m a girl I can’t go?!”

“No, I’m saying because you’re the victim’s sister you can’t go!” the headmaster shot back. “You have no idea of how much danger you could put him in. You are in no position to think rationally so you could not be of any help to this mission.”


“But Headmaster-“


“My decision is final,” he said softly. “Return Captain Endo to the line.” Squall waited until Sesshoumaru’s baritone resonated through the phone lines.


“Yes Headmaster?”


“Be sure that Private Higurashi returns to Balamb as soon as possible,” Squall instructed. “Do not leave her behind, do not plan anything in front of her and do not allow her to follow you.”


“Yes Headmaster,” Sesshoumaru affirmed. “However, I do have a request.”


“What is it?” Squall asked tiredly. His fingers pinched the bridge of his nose and he sat back in his chair in an attempt to relax.


“I ask that you consider Higurashi’s request,” came Sesshoumaru from the other end. Squall sighed and said, “I have already had this discussion with Higurashi. She is not to go and that is final. Surely you understand the reasons why.”


“I do, but it has come to my attention that Higurashi may be of more use that we first thought. She is the only one on the team with the negotiation skills needed to ensure the success of this mission. She is also the only one trained and certified to handle an airship’s gun controls.”


“You will be needing an airship?” Squall inquired.


“That was my intention, yes. The only way to arrive in the specified time would be to acquire an airship and fly to the outskirts of the desert. We would be defenseless without her should Deling decide to double-cross us and attempt an in-air battle.”


Squall rested his elbows on his polished wood desk, plunked his head into his hands and sighed. “I see your point Captain. However, I still wish to stick to my first decision.”


“I understand that,” came Sesshoumaru’s even response. “I did not ask for you to change your mind. I merely asked that you consider my point.”


“I will. I will also arrange for an airship to meet with you near the Eastern Academy Station. Good day Captain Endo.” He hung up without another word, a frown marring his features as he rubbed his face with his hands.

“What’s up?”


Squall looked up and groaned as Zell bounced into the room and took a seat in front of him.


“You look like you’re having a rough day.”


“You saw the broadcast,” Squall replied wearily. “You tell me what kind of day I should be having?”


Zell chuckled and laughed harder when Squall scowled at him. “Have you assigned a team then?”


“I have. They will meet with Deling at the assigned location at the desired time.”


“And Private Higurashi?”


Squall sighed yet again. “She wishes to attend.”


“And you said no?”


Squall nodded.”


“For what?”


“Are you serious?” Squall asked, then shook his head at himself. “Of course you are. Since when would you say something so dumb and not be serious?”


“So why can’t she go?” Zell asked. “You never answered my question.”


“She can’t go because she’s unstable,” Squall answered for the second time that day. “She’ll put her teammates and her brother at risk. She won’t be able to think clearly.”


“Do you know that for sure?” Zell wondered aloud. “When you talked to her, did she seem like she wouldn’t be able to handle herself?”


“No actually,” Squall answered and chuckled at his conversation with Kagome. “She seemed plenty mad, but not an emotional wreck. Still-“


“Still nothing,” Zell replied with a flippant wave of his hand. “I can’t believe you of all people told her no anyway. I seem to remember some years ago when a SeeD took it upon himself to carry an injured young lady out of the infirmary and across the old FH tracks by himself.”


“Come on Zell,” Squall began as Zell stood up and began to pace. “That was a long time ago and-“


“He left his entire team behind and just started walking! Can you believe that? By the time they caught up to him he was half way to Esthar! And let’s not even start about the space walk he took to get her back, and the way he stormed into Esthar’s Sorceress Memorial. He nearly got his entire team thrown in priso-“


“ALRIGHT!!!!” Squall hollered suddenly. “Alright, I’ll admit, I did some foolish things back then. But now is a different time.”


“Yeah, it was more dangerous back then,” Zell replied. “All we have now is some nut trying to be president and take over the world. Back then we had a sorceress, a real life, bona fied sorceress and you still went to the wire for her. Why can’t Higurashi do that for her brother? Our headmaster didn’t try to stop you, so why are you trying to stop her?”


Squall opened his mouth to speak, then closed it with a snap and let his head drop to the table. “I really, really hate talking to you sometimes,” came his mumbled reply. Zell grinned and snapped to attention. “It’s my duty sir.”


“Why can’t anyone else see that this is dangerous?” Squall asked aloud. “This feels like a trap to me, but I can’t figure out why or what Deling wants. I don’t like it at all.”


“I’m sure Captain Endo doesn’t either,” Zell thought aloud. “I mean, I’m sure he’s realized that by now. That may be why he wants her with him. Just let her go Squall. It’s not like anything’s gonna happen. Send Captain Endo the supplies and let her go. They’ll need the extra manpower anyway.”


Squall was quiet as he watched Zell leave, the knowing look on the blonde instructor’s face annoying him as he picked up the phone and began to dial.


)-(

How Sesshoumaru managed to convince their headmaster to let her go was still a mystery to her, but Kagome intended to thank the both of them as soon as this mission was over. They received their modified orders just before Kagome boarded the train to Balamb and she couldn’t contain her joy at not being left behind. The Black Dragon awaited them outside the Eastern Academy Station loaded with a change of clothes, food and medicine just in case anyone was injured. Kagome shuddered at the thought then brushed it aside as she walked down the ramp way past the engine room. She gasped when someone or something grasped her arm and jerked her inside, the blaring florescent lights of corridor disappearing to total darkness once the door closed to the room she was now in.


Kagome reared her hand back to fight, her aura blazing angrily at being manhandled, but before she could give the first blow she was picked up by her waist. She felt herself lowered down until she was straddling something and a large hand splayed across her lower back.


“Sesshoumaru?” she called out softly. Her answer was a hand combing through her hair, successfully ruining her braid might I add, and patting her shoulder reassuringly. “What is wrong with you?” she scolded with a soft blow to his shoulder. “You scared me half the death!” She reached up to hit him again, but he caught her hand and held it, his claws gently scratching her wrist and arm.


“Kagome stop,” he whispered back tiredly. “I am in no mood for this.”


“Well you should have thought of that before you started jerking people into dark rooms,” Kagome griped moodily. She did stop her assault on him and tried to look around. “Where are we anyway?” she asked. She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of gears churning, steam being released and a slight whirling. “Are we in the engine room? Why is it so dark in here?”


“I come in here to think sometimes,” she heard Sesshoumaru reply as his arms pulled her closer to him. “The sounds and the darkness are...calming.”


“Sesshoumaru, are you alright?” Kagome asked once she finally realized how tired he sounded. “You don’t sound right. Is there anything I can do?”


“Just sit here,” was his response while his hands caressed her back. She nodded back and placed her head on his shoulder, her arms winding around his body in a gentle embrace. The weight of his head soon settled on hers and for once Sesshoumaru found his thoughts finally settling together as he breathed in her tranquilizing scent. This entire mission set him on edge and for the majority of the week he couldn’t figure out why. His Timber contacts hadn’t a clue as to why Deling would want an Esthar hostage, especially now with the New Galbadian army. The humans on the army were joined by multitudes of rouge youkai and fiends so now the president’s military force could crush any government on the planet without any difficulty.


The passing of time only made things worse for him until finally he sought refuge inside the engine room. He had all intentions of sitting in here by himself until Kagome’s scent wafted through the small barrier he placed on the room. He reached out and pulled her inside before he could stop himself and, though he probably wouldn’t do it again, he didn’t regret her presence as she did her best to comfort him. Her hand came up to cup his cheek, her palm slightly cooler than his skin, and her thumb softly brushed against his cheekbone and markings. She relaxed against him and allowed him to support her meager weight in a show of trust that helped more than he thought possible.


“Are you alright now?” she asked once she felt him relax. “Cause you’re really starting to scare me. What’s the matter anyway?”


“It is...we shall arrive three miles away from the Desert Prison in twenty minutes,” Sesshoumaru replied as strength renewed his voice. “Almasy and Saikai will stay and protect the ship from intruders. Inuyasha and Makayura will come with me.”


“What about me?” Kagome asked warily, though she felt she already knew the answer.


“I want you to stay here.”


“I’m not going to,” Kagome replied calmly. “I’ve already told you that I’m not going to be left behind.”

“This mission does not settle right with me,” he told her. “There is something...wrong with this arrangement.”


“I’m still not staying here,” Kagome told him. “I want to be there for Souta. He’s got to be so afraid by now and I want to make things easier on him if I can.”


“Deling knows we would not believe his story about not having him,” Sesshoumaru said next. “So why would he insist on this charade? Do you not see how odd this is?”


“I do, but you can’t make me stay here Sesshoumaru. I want to be there. I can help remember?”


“I do but...” He paused suddenly, his voice dropping away for just a moment before he continued. “I do not believe I will be able to protect you.”


That one statement, and the uncertainty behind it, touched Kagome to the point of tears. Did she really mean that much to them, to the point where he would rather have a disadvantage in battle than put her at risk? She blinked them back furiously, a happy but watery smile on her lips as she said, “You don’t have to worry about protecting me, ok? I’ll be with you, Shippou and Inuyasha so everything will be fine. Besides, you didn’t promise to protect me. You promised to help Souta.”


She felt him stand up, her legs falling to either side of him before he set her down in the chair they were both sitting in. “I wish you had not invoked that promise,” he whispered as he traced the line of her jaw. “I would have helped you anyway, without your pledge. That is why I do not accept it. You owe me nothing Kagome Higurashi and I would not take anything from you that you were not willing to give.” She heard him step away from her and felt his eyes on her still form before the light from the corridor shone in her face. The engine room lights suddenly flickered on before the door closed and she found herself alone. She stared at the door in shock, the tears she held back finally trickled down her cheeks to fall on the backs of her hands.


“I’ll never, ever understand him,” Kagome mumbled to herself with a hiccup. “Why on earth do I feel this way about him anyway?” She was so confused and she wanted someone to talk to. She stood up and left the room, the feeling of being pulled through a squeegee surprising her as she stepped through the threshold. She heard the tiny tink of Sesshoumaru’s barrier dissipating and sighed.


‘It’s not fair,’ she said as she made her way to the passenger deck where Sango would be waiting. ‘He grates my nerves like no one else, including Inuyasha, but all he has to do is touch me and I...melt. Oh man. I’m a basketcase. Where’s Sango when I-‘


“Three minutes until landing,” the ship’s warning said through the intercom system. “Three minutes until landing. All personnel please fasten your safety belts and be ready for departure.” Kagome sat down in one of the seats embedded in the engine corridor wall and fastened her seatbelt, holding on to the shoulder straps in fright as the ship navigated a safe landing. She shook in her boots, dusted herself off and stood up once the ship’s computer said it was safe to do so, then dried her face with the back of her hand and made her way toward the cargo loading dock.


“Hey, where you been?” Inuyasha called as he and the others stood waiting on her. She waved, her confusion over Sesshoumaru forgotten as she smiled back and tightened Junsei’s holster.

“I’ve been around,” Kagome called back innocently.


“Around where?” Inuyasha inquired curiously.


“None of your business where,” Kagome shot back jovially. “It’s not like you live in my back pocket anyway.”


“And if I may say so,” Miroku said from his place near the cargo bay doors. “What fine back pockets you have Kagome.”


“You pervert!” Sango cried out as she walloped him upside the head. “Can’t you keep your comments to yourself?”


“Oww...”


“Ni t-wit,” Shippou growled disapprovingly. “Well Sesshoumaru, whenever you’re ready.”


Sesshoumaru nodded before handing Kagome a different holster. This one was black instead of her silver one and it matched the black loose pants and knit shirt she was wearing. “Give Almasy your holster and use this one,” he said and cleared his throat. “Almasy, Saikai, you are to stay here and protect the ship until our return. Inuyasha, Makayura and Kagome, you three are to come with me. We will infiltrate the northern section of the Desert Prison and make our way toward the lower floors until we receive some sign of Deling. No one is to attack until I give the command. Kagome,” he glanced at her, whatever emotion he felt in the engine room wiped clean from his eyes. “You are to stay close to us. You are not to run off. If I think you are going to disobey my orders I will have Makayura return you to the ship. Is that understood?”


“Yes sir,” Kagome nodded meekly. “I won’t run off.”


“Good. Are there any questions?”


“Yeah. What do we do if the ship’s attacked?” Miroku asked as he stumbled out of his stupor. Inuyasha groaned as Sango, Kagome and Shippou chuckled behind him.


“That’s so dumb Miroku. You shoot to kill. Jeez Sango I think you hit him too hard.”


“Now that that is over,” Sesshoumaru sighed irritably. “Let us be off.” Sango nodded and lowered the cargo bay ramp. She watched as Sesshoumaru and his team walked off into the night, taking the time to wave back to Kagome before raising the ramp. The four SeeD made their way toward their destination silently, the fiends nor the New Galbadian soldiers none the wiser as they stole across the cooling desert sands.


The prison resembled three gigantic screws, each one connected to the other by three outside corridors. Inuyasha rushed a nearby guard and knocked him out without a fight, then stole his access key and used it to get inside the prison. They walked down a small hallway to a steel door with a small rectangular window . Shippou peered inside and shuddered.


“There’s at least fifteen in all,” he whispered with a slight frown. “Three of them are youkai technicians and they’re heavily armed. The rest are fiends with these weird blinking collars around their necks.”


“That’s how they’re controlling the fiends then,” Inuyasha replied with a nod. “The headmaster’s been wondering that for months now.”


“Then we will have to obtain one of those collars,” Sesshoumaru said as he added it to the mission. Inuyasha snorted and rolled his eyes.


“Yeah well good luck to us,” he said in a huff. “I don’t know how we’re going to even get into the room no less get one of those collars.”


“That I am not worried about,” Sesshoumaru responded cooly. He gestured toward the door and glanced at Kagome. “Whenever you are ready Kagome.”


Kagome nodded and kneeled beside the small crack underneath the door. Inuyasha and Shippou stood by in confusion, while Sesshoumaru merely waited as Kagome pressed the palm of her hand flat against the floor’s cool concrete surface. She closed her eyes and her breathing deepened, her chest rising and lowering slowly as she concentrated. Inuyasha and Shippou jerked as the first of her purifying aura began to form, the hair on the backs of their necks standing on end while the soldiers on the other side of the door remained unaware.


Kagome opened her eyes and stared directly into Sesshoumaru’s, the rims of her blue-green eyes gradually beginning to glow as though to a countdown. Sesshoumaru watched it intently, the green ticking away as her aura spread throughout the room ahead. She closed her eyes and shuddered, pulled her hand off of the floor and shook it before standing. “That was...bad,” she whispered to herself, a far away look starting in her eyes as she stared down at the floor. “That felt so wrong. I’m still cold inside.”


“What the hell was that?!” Inuyasha suddenly exploded, then winced when Sesshoumaru and Shippou hit opposite sides of his head. “What was that for?”


“Are you trying to get us caught hanyou?” Sesshoumaru growled impatiently. He waited until he was sure of Inuyasha’s silence before opening the door. He began his descent down the stairs in front of them, Kagome trailing along quietly behind him while Inuyasha and Shippou followed in disbelief. Where youkai and fiend once stood were now nothing more than piles of gray ash. The door kicked up a wind that stirred them, lifting small gray flakes to blow them around the room. Their footsteps caused more to blow about and Sesshoumaru kicked aside a large pile that blocked their way before stopping to scent the area.


“Deling went this way,” he said as he gestured toward a nearby staircase leading down. He reached down for one of the collars and tied it to his waist.


“What makes you say that?” Shippou asked as Inuyasha and the others followed Sesshoumaru down. “What, are you psychic of something?”

“Something like that, yes,” was his response before Sesshoumaru disappeared. Shippou shrugged and followed before groaning on the last stair. The pathway before them was circular, it and the walls around them made of dull gray steel. An enormous hole gaped in the middle that looked to fall straight to the bottom floor when Shippou peered over it’s edge. Four cells were lined along the pathway with another set of stairs leading down was separated from them by a half wall.


“Well Sesshou-boy,” Inuyasha said as he too looked down the hole and whistled. “What do you think? Sense Souta in any of the rooms?”


“No, I do not,” Sesshoumaru answered and added with a growl, “Refrain from the nicknames and show some respect hanyou.”


“Alright fellas let’s not do this,” Kagome said as she stepped between them. “We’ve got bigger fish to fry, remember?”


“Yeah yeah,” Inuyasha said before turning away from them. “I just asked a question though. Is he on this floor or not?”


“No, again,” Sesshoumaru told him. “I do sense the boy. He is here.”


“How do you know it’s him?” Kagome asked, her eyes hopeful and misty.


“Because,” Sesshoumaru answered her with a pitying smile. “He’s asking for you.”


“Then let’s go then,” Shippou said as he jumped the half wall to the stairs. He stopped when no one else followed him and stared at them expectantly. “What? You heard what Sesshoumaru said? Let’s go find the twirp.”


“There has to be a faster way though,” Inuyasha said and Sesshoumaru for once was in agreement.


“The stairs would take too much time, and the steel would announce our presence.” Sesshoumaru mused to himself for a moment, then frowned. “We need a quieter way. Something Deling nor his guards won’t suspect.”


“Why don’t we just go over the edge?” Inuyasha asked as he leaned over the side. “We could jump from edge to edge down the ramp and save hella time that way.”


“That’s fine with me,” Kagome nodded. “Though I might take a bit more time than you guys.”


“That will not be a problem,” Sesshoumaru replied before glancing at Shippou. “Makayura-“


“Gotcha Sesshoumaru,” Shippou said as he kneeled down in front of Kagome. “Ready to ride Kagome?”

“Yup. Let’s go.” Shippou waited until she was secure, then nodded to Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. He followed the inu youkai down the hole to the next floor, his feet landing with perfect balance before jumping down to the next one.


“When we return to the ship,” Sesshoumaru said to Inuyasha as they fell toward the next floor. “You will not speak a word about Kagome’s ability.”


“Why would I say anything?” Inuyasha hissed back. “And who would I tell that would care?”


“I do not know but you will forget today, whether of your own free will or mine means little to me.”


“Fine, fine,” Inuyasha relented with a huff. “But why haven’t you said the same thing to Shippou?”


“Makayura will think before he opens his mouth. You are...a talker.”


Inuyasha huffed but said nothing else as they made their way further into the prison. They stopped on the eight floor when Sesshoumaru raised his hand, his eyes glittering intently as he glanced around. “That one,” he growled as he pointed toward a nearby cell. “He is there with Deling.”


“Doing what?” Kagome asked and frowned when she didn’t get an answer. “Sesshoumaru, doing-“


“Makayura, you take station near the stairs going down,” Sesshoumaru instructed. “Inuyasha, you head toward the right and the third cell. Kagome, stay behind Makayura for as long as you possibly can. You will most likely need room and time to cast your spells.” They split apart and watched as Sesshoumaru casually leaned beside the first cell door. They waited patiently, Kagome and Shippou back to back, with their weapons drawn.


“So you see child, there really is no reason to be afraid,” they heard Deling say as the cell door slid open. “I have no intentions on harming you. I just wish to-well,” Deling said when he finally noticed Sesshoumaru. “If it isn’t the Western Prince. How are you this evening Sesshoumaru? You are earlier than expected.”


“That is Captain Endo to you Deling,” Sesshoumaru replied dryly. “You know why I’m here.”


“Yes, I know.” Deling sighed dramatically before pulling one of the prisoners out of the cell. “Here is the boy as promised. One of my men found him alone in the desert.”


“Then why is he tied up?” Inuyasha asked from further down the pathway. “If you just rescued him why didn’t you untie him first?”


“Sesshoumaru, I thought we agreed that you would be alone,” Deling said with a disapproving shake of his head. “Surely you’re not afraid of one man...are you?”


“You do not fool this Sesshoumaru,” Sesshoumaru informed him as he stepped away from the wall. “You did not find the boy and you were not planning on seeing me alone.”


“That is true,” Deling replied happily. “GUARDS!!” he suddenly roared and before they realized it they were surrounded by Galbadian soldiers, robot squads and fiends.


“You’re right of course Sesshoumaru,” Deling said as he picked up Souta and backed away from the taiyoukai. “I had no intentions on this being a fair meeting. I don’t want to negotiate peace either. I want what’s mine and I intend to get it.” He glanced around and frowned when he noticed Shippou. “Are you not missing someone Sesshoumaru? Where is the raven-haired beauty you normally keep with you?”


“Her location is not your concern,” Sesshoumaru replied, Shijko unsheathed and ready. Deling seemed to pout a moment before shrugging. “Very well then. Men, do what I pay you for.”


The attack was instantaneous, with the Galbadian troops lunging at the SeeDs all at once. Shippou shoved Kagome toward the stairway before striking out at the first soldier, a Galbadian captain dressed in a red uniform. He punched the unlucky human in the jaw, his smile predatory as he watched the human sink to the ground with a shattered jawbone before he kicked another guard in the ribs.


The sounds of gunblade against gunblade rang out around them as Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha found themselves facing an entire squadron of youkai specialists. The squad was quick and worked together well, but were no match for the Endo brothers as they sliced their ranks in half in a moment’s time. Kagome gasped as gunfire began, the remaining youkai unwilling to become Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha’s next victims.


“There’s got to be something I can do,” Kagome said to herself as she peered over the half wall. For the most part, she only saw humans fighting against Shippou with the youkai and fiends circling around Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. “The humans should be first,” she said as she began to search for something useful to use against them. “I don’t want to hurt them, not in the way I hurt those people in the control room upstairs.” She continued to look until she found what she wanted and was surprised that Sesshoumaru of all people would have it.


“He’ll just have to hand it over then won’t he,” she said as she called fort the GF she chose. The lights flickered above Shippou but he took little notice as his fight intensified. He did stop at the sound of a train’s whistle, the shrill hoot foreign and unexpected as a blinding yellow light shone before him. Shippou stopped, as did everyone else on the pathway, as a demonically designed train suddenly smashed through the wall. Shippou, Inuyash and Sesshoumaru scrambled for cover as the train barreled around the circular pathway before disappearing.


The humans in Galbadian’s employment fell instantly, their faces turning ashen as a sickly green cloud hovered over their heads. The soldiers that could stand up quickly carried the others up the stairs away from the fight. Sesshoumaru glanced at Kagome from his side of the half wall and frowned. “You could have warned someone,” he growled to her. Kagome shrugged. “Sorry.”


“So,” Deling said from the other side of the pathway. The SeeDs were disappointed to find him standing behind a violet barrier unharmed.


“Souta looks like he’s alright too,” Inuyasha said once he was able to see him. “So thank God for small favors.”


“Ahem,” Deling called out in annoyance. “I was saying something!”


“Well say it!” Inuyasha hollered back as he, Shippou and Sesshoumaru stood up and glared at him. “We ain’t got all day ya know!”


“So vulgar,” Deling muttered to himself. “No matter. I see you’ve brought someone else Sesshoumaru. Might it be the dark haired one I asked about earlier?”


Kagome glanced up at Sesshoumaru, then stood up when he gestured for her to do so. She stepped from behind Shippou’s back proudly, Junsei ready in her right hand as she glared at him.


“So it is you!” Deling chirped excitedly. “My, my, you’ve grown! Such a pretty thing now, not that you weren’t a looker before.”


“I want your hostage Deling,” she said calmly, her pulse going a mile a minute as they stared each other down. “I want him now. I suggest you snap to it.”


“You mean this hostage?” Deling said as he turned Souta to look at her. Souta grunted in excitement, the gag in his mouth preventing him from calling out to her before Deling dropped him at his feet. “Don’t you have anything to say to your little brother my dear? I tried my best to make sure he wasn’t injured but you know how those guards of mine can be. I cannot be blamed for a few...bruises.”


“Oh yes you can be,” Kagome growled angrily, her calm and cool facade evaporating as she raised Junsei. “I’ll slice you up, one by one, for every hair missing on his head.”


“I would like to see you try dear,” Deling replied as he glanced at one of the youkai guards behind her. “I believe it would be a treat.”


Kagome spun on her heel before the youkai could take her by surprise, opened her hand and smirked as a Firaga spell exploded from her palm into the youkai’s face. It yowled in rage and agony, it’s hands flying to it’s face as it’s bright orange hair caught fire. The other guards pounced on the group again, with little more conversation than the yowls of the injured and the singing of blade against blade. Kagome kept her eyes on Souta as she hacked her way toward him, her determination never faltering as one guard after another fell at her feet. She was halfway toward him when Deling smiled, his fangs glinting in the light as he pointed to Souta. Kagome watched, her mouth agape in horror as the appendage morphed into a purple tentacle. More ripped out of his back and sides, becoming eight in all as they slithered and squirmed in the damp air.


Kagome suppressed the urge to heave, her vision swimming slightly before giving herself a rough mental shake to regain her composure. “Not now Kagome. Not now,” she hissed at herself as she lopped off the wing of a Thrustaevis, a gigantic bird-like creature with yellow and blue scales and a parrot beak. She could barely think, no less summon any GF, so she chose to cast spells whenever she could. She cast a quick Triple on herself before casting three more Firaga spells. One exploded to life in front of Inuyasha, and he jumped back just in time. The youkai private fighting him was not so lucky. He screamed in agony and took off running, his blue suit inflamed as he tumbled over the side and fell screaming into the hole.


The second and third appeared on Shippou’s right and Sesshoumaru’s left. The youkai on those sides stepped back and away as the spells served as firewalls for her friends. Shippou jumped back and disappeared as a gigantic cactuar fell from the ceiling. It teetered on unstable legs, it’s expression on it’s mustached face comically surprised as it finally tipped over and landed with a hard thoom on the corridor floor. Cactus needles scattered everywhere, successfully spearing Galbadian soldiers and fiends alike as a special shield surrounded Kagome and the others.


“Nice goin’ Shippou!” Inuyasha called out once the GF disappeared. “Man, you called that thing up a lot quicker than last time!”


Kagome smirked as she continued to fight, her attention too widespread to congratulate her teammate. She glanced up and found Deling staring at her, a pleased smile on his face and a plotting look in his icy cerulean eyes while he used his purple tentacles to casually stroke Souta’s hair. One of the suckers on the appendage caught in Souta’s hair and Souta whimpered when it snatched itself free, bringing a few straight black hairs with it.


“Oh dear,” Deling sighed as he held the hair to his face. “Did I do that? Oh well. I suppose you’ll have to punish me for that too.”


Kagome hissed, fury narrowing her eyes as the glowing green ring returned to her peacock blue orbs. She charged fully toward him with Junsei glowing a fierce pink, the razor sharp edge of her blade purified whatever it came in contact with. Gray dust scattered about her like snow and she grinned wickedly at the few remaining feet between herself and the hanyou president.


“I think you’ve gone far enough,” Deling finally said as he waved one of his appendages through the air. “I’ve seen what I wanted to see.” He waved at her again then shot a tentacle across the hole toward Sesshoumaru, who’s back was toward them and didn’t know the danger was coming. Kagome gasped and, without a second thought, dropped Junsei and began running. ‘I’ll never be able to get to him in time,’ she said to herself as she tried to run faster. ‘And he won’t hear me over the roars and growls of the fiends around him. I can’t let him get hurt.’ She took a second more to think, then ran toward the hole and jumped, spreading herself wide as the tentacle careened toward her.


Sesshoumaru turned just as Kagome slammed into him and they both fell heavily to the floor. Sesshoumaru landed on his back painfully, with another blow to his chest from Kagome’s chin as she fell on top of him. The fiends surrounding him stepped away warily, the power surging from Kagome’s still form enough of a warning to the instinct driven monsters. Sesshoumaru growled painfully, opened his eyes and shook away the stars that danced in his vision.


“Kagome,” he muttered as he regained his senses. “What just happened?”


“Heh. Sorry Sesshoumaru,” Kagome laughed weakly as she raised her head. “I didn’t mean to actually run into you.”


“That’s alright,” he assured her, then frowned and looked down when he felt something warm ooze down his sides. “What the hell is th-“


“Thanks Sesshoumaru. Seriously, thank you so much for helping me,” Kagome interrupted him with a sweet smile. “You don’t know how much it means to me. I know you’ll get Souta home safely.”


“Of course we will,” Sesshoumaru assured her while he brushed the hair away from her face. She rewarded him with a smile bright enough to light the world even with the tear that streaked down her cheek.


“If I could do everything over again, I’d tell you how I feel about you,” Kagome whispered, her breathing labored and strained. “I’d tell you that I think of you as more than just a friend, that I care about you more than words could ever say even when you piss me off. If I could do things over again I’d tell you that and you’d just have to deal with it.”


“I would imagine I’m dealing with it now,” Sesshoumaru replied as ignored the weird wiggling on his stomach to answer her smile with his own. “But Kagome, why are you-“


“Just remember Sesshoumaru,” she whispered as another tear followed behind the first. “This wasn’t your fault. You did the best you could and I will never, ever forget it.” She leaned up and kissed him before he could speak, her lips trembling as she gently pressed them to his. Sesshoumaru frowned at their coppery taste, his eyes widening as the scent of Kagome’s blood finally reached his nose.


“Kagome, where are you hu-“


She was jerked away before he could finish, the weird wiggling feeling he had earlier caused by the tentacle end that speared through the hole in her stomach. One last tear fell from her eyes and landed on the edge of the puddle of blood he sat in, her crimson life stream rapidly soaking into his clothes. Deling jumped upwards through the hole in the ceiling and was followed by his numerous fiends and youkai before Kagome disappeared. Sesshoumaru stood quickly and gazed upward, as did Shippou and Inuyasha. They waited for what remained of Kagome’s body to fall through the hole, expecting her blood and tissue to rain down on them like stars in the sky, but it never came. Soon all fell silent around them with little more than Souta’s desperate sobs to keep them company.


Inuyasha sighed brokenly, his voice wavering with emotion as he jumped the distance to Souta and ripped his gag to shreds. He expected the teenager to scream, fight or do something but Souta merely passed out. “Poor kid,” Inuyasha mumbled as he picked up Souta’s dead weight and slung him over his shoulder. “He’s been through a lot lately. Hey Sesshoumaru,” he said as he glanced at his brother. “What....what do we do now?”


But Sesshoumaru never answered, his gaze never leaving the hole as emotions he had long forgotten swirled in his polished golden eyes.


(End Chapter)


Author’s Notes:


SF: Ok people, that was chapter eighteen. Guess what I found out?


Inu-chan: That your brain is really pink cotton candy?


Miroku: That you’re underwear’s made of pink cotton candy?


Sango: Pervert!


WHAM!


Miroku: (from his new hole in the floor) My dear (ow) Sango. You’re aim is as impeccable as always.


Sesshou: Get to the point crossbreed before the slayer kills the monk.


SF: Right. Anyway, I was going through the chapter map for this story and guess what? It’s only got five chapters left!


Inu cast: Yay! (Tango music plays as confetti falls from the rafters)


SF: I know! I’m thrilled about it too. Then I can go on to the other stories, like A Light and Second Chance. I’m sure you guys will be thrilled about that! Um, anyway, Kagome’s white dress and a few of the review responses are below. (Dances into the crowd) It’s good to be back!



Shippou: Now we’re heading back to Esthar to take Souta home to his folks. I swear, every day I hear Kagome’s laugh. Sometimes I look in the mirror and I can see her smiling at me. Why? Why would she give her life for Sesshoumaru?! Of all people, he’s the last one to appreciate such a sacrifice from her. That’s not all we’re having to deal with. Inuyasha’s got problems of his own too so everyone’s grieving...except Sesshoumaru. I’m going to find that heartless bastard and give him a piece of my mind.


Next chapter: Chapter Nineteen: Seraphim


(Kagome’s costume) Yuna: White Mage Dressphere: (www (dot) ffx2 (dot) com (slash) whitemage)


Review responses:


(Due to restraints on my time, all review responses will be to anyone that asked a question other than ‘When are you going to update?’. Rest assured that I totally appreciate every single review and I’m really sorry I can’t respond to every single one of them.)

Lua Haunted: (blush) Wow. Thanks a lot. I’m honored that you like the stories so much. I tried really hard to make the story so those that have never played the game could fully visualize the areas and understand the terminology. I’m sure a lot of the FFVIII vets are mad because I take so much time explaining everything but its for the good of all. Thanks again for reading and I hope you’re having fun!

Jester's Girl: First, because my old computer was repoed. Then a family member needed me. Sorry about that again.


Moonshadowyoukai: There are exactly three more chapters to go until the end. I’m so excited. As for how Kagome ties into the pictures (if she even ties into them) that should come up in the next few chapters. Hey, no guessing the fic! For shame. (Shakes finger) Thanks for the love and here’s to hoping I still have a few more surprises up my sleeve.


Stoictimer: Kikyou is still hanging around but at the moment I don’t need her. I don’t think she’ll appear again until the end of the story. I’m still debating on that one. Hopefully I’ll know before the next chapter begins. Thanks for the appreciation. I appreciate you guys more than you’ll ever know. Thanks for waiting on me. I hope to make it worth it.