InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance At Love ❯ Revelations and Kidnapping ( Chapter 13 )

Author Note: OH MY GOODNESS!! I can't believe I took so long to put this up!! I am soooo sorry!! I am so ashamed! Forgive me. ;;gives puppy dog eyes;;

Disclaimer: This hurts....

~ Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. ~

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chapter 13: Revelations and Kidnapping

Sesshoumaru stared down at the sleeping miko in his arms. Arms...as in two; plural. He still couldn't believe she'd done it. He couldn't believe how strong her powers were. To be able to restore his arm was a huge thing. He wondered how she did it. The restoring of limbs, regeneration, was not an easy spell to accomplish. Only mikos who had years of training as well as great power could pull it off because it took a lot of power as well as energy. A miko who was not up to the task could easily slip into a coma, or even die, if the spell was not done right. There were also other magical creatures that could do this easily, but sadly none of them lived close enough or in the open enough for him to have found any of them. There was also one other way that he'd heard of before, but he did not know much about it... it also called for a lot of power.

He leaned his head back and gazed up at the heavens. He watched with unseeing eyes as the dark slowly faded into light as he thought things through. Sesshoumaru had come to terms with his one arm. He'd accepted the fact that he had almost a hundred years to wait for the appendage to grow back. It wasn't 'til recently that he started to mourn the loss of his arm... and that was all thanks to the miko and his need to touch her.

Sesshoumaru sighed. There was no denying the fact that she was important to him. She was the first 'friend' he ever had. He also could no longer keep denying to himself that he didn't care for her... more than care. He loved her. It wasn't doing him any good to lie to himself when he knew the truth. That didn't mean he had any plans on telling her. No. While he knew she cared for him, she wouldn't have allowed him too touch her the way he had last night if she didn't, he did not hold any illusions that she loved him.... or even could love him.

Sesshoumaru did not delude himself; he knew she loved that half-breed of a brother of his. He didn't care though; she belonged to him.

She is mine!

He lowered his eyes to the slumbering girl once more. As his eyes roamed her delicate features his mind turned back to last night's event. He never wanted someone as he had wanted her then. Even now he could still feel the pull, that something that always drew him to her. He didn't like it. He also didn't like the fact that when he mated with her it was like nothing he'd ever experienced before... and it wasn't because she was a virgin. The feelings and the sensations that went through him were more intense... more... everything. It was like he'd connected with her. He could feel everything she was feeling... like there souls had touched. He could feel her inside him. It was very disconcerting. He didn't like it. And at the end, when he was coming to his release, for a moment he could truly feel her... her power inside him, and even though he knew she had the power to purify him, and even though he'd thought that was what she was about to do to him, he hadn't cared. For a moment he was just blissfully happy. Happier then he could ever remember being. He'd almost lost his breath with the strength of his release. It had completely baffled him. That he didn't like the most.

"So, that was what they call 'the little death'," he said to himself aloud. He'd never understood that saying before. Now he did.

"You are mine Kagome," he whispered down to the miko. He watched her sigh in her sleep as she wiggled closer to his body seeking his warmth. "You sealed your fate when you restored my arm."

'Liar.'

Sesshoumaru sighed heavily in resignation when he heard the voice. He guessed there was no getting away from himself. 'You.'

'Me!'

'What do you want?'

'You lie to yourself again. You had already decided to keep her before she restored your arm. Didn't we have this talk already?'

Sesshoumaru growled at the voice that had very quickly become an annoying enigma.

'Go away.'

'No. I haven't said what I came here to say.'

'Then say it,' Sesshoumaru responded in a deadly voice. He had lost his patience with the voice.

'Your temper is giving me cause for alarm, Fluffy. Why do I get the feeling that you don't like me around?'

'You are just realizing this? You are not me. I would not take so long to have gathered that.'

'I will ignore that, since I am bent on helping you.'

'I do not need your help.'

'YES YOU DO!!'

Sesshoumaru went utterly still. 'You dare raise your voice to me? Dare to show disrespect? To me?'

'You should know there is not much I will not dare... I am you after all,' he sighs in disgust. 'And once again I repeat myself...'

Sesshoumaru frowned at the obvious truth in that answered statement.

'This is what you came to say? How utterly strange that you would think I would care to hear it.'

'No, that is not it! What I came to say is this: When I told you that a gift was yours fort the taking... I wasn't talking about that.'

'That?'

'Oh, don't play stupid with me. I'm in your mind remember? Not, that I didn't appreciate your interpretation... but it wasn't what I meant.''

'Hmm.' Sesshoumaru sighed again. He still didn't regret last night. 'What did you mean?'

'THAT you must learn on your own. I cannot do everything!'

'Baka'

'I heard that.'

Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow at those words, but said nothing. He listened to the quietness in his head and after a while realized that his inner voice had left. He wondered briefly if anyone else was being tortured by there conscience. He also wondered if consciences can be purged; its not like he needed it.

He turned his gaze back to the girl in his arms. Unconsciously he tightened his arm around her bringing her closer to him as he waited for her to wake up.

He didn't have long to wait.

Kagome shifted and pressed closer to the warmth behind her as she slowly started to wake up. 'Warmth?' For a moment she had no idea where she was or what she was pressed up against... then it hit her. Reality came slamming back with the feeling of cold water being splashed in one's face. The events of last night ran through her mind and she knew exactly who was behind her providing her with warmth. Sesshoumaru.

She figured he must have kept her warm through the rest of the night and was thankful for it since she only had the dress she was wearing the day before to sleep in since all her things were back at the camp.

Kagome remembered voicing her concern to the Taiyoukai after she'd bathed in the river and put her dress back on. Of course, that was after she'd allowed him to turn around and look at her again. He'd merely pulled her to him and wrapped his arms and tail around her. After she'd gotten over her initial shock and nervousness she'd immediately felt much warmer and was asleep in a matter of moments.

Kagome opened her eyes and blinked rapidly to clear her vision as she lightly stroked the fluffy tail that was currently wrapped around her and lying on the ground in front of her.

Images of last night came flooding through her mind as she lay in the protective circle of the youkai's arms. She could remember the kaleidoscope of sensations and emotions that had run through her at the time. She blushed as she thought about the things that he'd done to her. Kagome had always figured she'd wait for marriage before lying with a man and doing what she did with him, but when he'd kissed her she didn't have the heart or the will to deny him. All she knew is that she didn't want to be with anyone else in that way, but him. So what did it matter if she waited for marriage or not? She had no idea if marriage would even come into it. He had not asked her and she was not going to push him; as if she could.

'You are mine,' Kagome could almost feel his breath against her lips again as she remembered the words he had spoke to her last night. She also recalled the giddy feeling that had run through her at hearing those words of possession. She didn't want to belong to anyone else; she was in love with him. Kagome didn't hold any illusions that he meant them in the way that she would like. He didn't love her, but she knew he cared for her in some way... just not how she hoped and wanted. She wondered if that would be enough for her since she was in love with him? 'Could I spend the rest of my life with him when he doesn't love me?'

The thought made her sad and dampened the glow she was wearing from the night before. Kagome sighed heavily. She feared that she wouldn't be able to stay with him without having his love in return, which meant she would be leaving him soon. She felt like crying about that; not to mention she knew he wasn't going to like her leaving him either, just for the sheer fact he believed he owned her now. It didn't help matters that she desperately wanted to belong to him.

Kagome decided to leave that train of thought alone right now and instead think about something less complicated... like the fact that she somehow regenerated his arm last night. She had no idea how she did it, and had a feeling that it was going to cause all manners of problems when they returned to camp and the others. She didn't thing the fact that Sesshoumaru's arm was back was going to go unnoticed... and she had no answers for the questions she knew she was going to get thrown at her.

Kagome was getting a headache just from the thought of the confrontation.

She briefly wondered if Mirouku might be able to shed some light on it, since going back to the village and asking Kaede would be out of the question.

Kagome exhaled lightly and nuzzled her face in his tail before turning on to her back to look up at the Taiyoukai behind her. She knew he was awake, she didn't know how she knew it, but she did.

Sesshoumaru watched her press her face into his tail and felt a light sensation run through his body from the action. He watched her turn onto her back and waited for her brown eyes to connect with his.

He'd been watching her from the moment she'd shifted and pressed her body against his, as she'd slowly come awake. He'd seen the different emotions flit across her very expressive face. He'd seen them all; from the ones he could interpret: confusion, surprise, wonderment, embarrassment, dread, and sadness; to the looks that he didn't understand. But, what worried him were the fear and sadness. He didn't like seeing them in her eyes or on her face.

When their eyes connected he searched hers for the reason for the fear and sadness he saw in them moments ago, but could not see anything.

"Sesshoumaru."

Kagome starred up at the face that haunted her dreams whether she was sleep or awake. 'He really is beautiful,' she thought to herself as she took in the smooth skin, high cheekbones, soft, thin lips and beautiful honey-hued eyes. She watched him arch an eyebrow at her in enquiry

She shifted her eyes back and forth between his for a moment before lowering her own and breaking the connection. There were so many things she wanted to ask him. So many things she wanted reassurance about, but she didn't have the courage to ask him.

"Nothing."

Kagome sat up, rubbed her hand through his tail one last time before releasing it, then gracefully got to her feet. When he was on his feet and towering over her once more she spoke again.

"We should get back to the others. I'm sure Inuyasha is ready to continue on our way."

'Inuyasha. Is that all she thinks about?' he wondered darkly. Sesshoumaru knew that the thought was unfair of him, but he didn't care. Right now, Inuyasha was the farthest thing from his mind, and he rather wanted to keep it that way. He refrained from saying anything though, since he agreed that they did need to get back to the camp. They'd been gone all through the night and he knew the others would have noticed by now. While he could care less about what they might think about them, he knew Kagome did.

He gave a brief nod in agreement then patiently waited for her to precede him out of the clearing and back to the camp.

**Back at the Camp**

Sango had just finished preparing breakfast when she looked up to see Rin and Shippou coming back from playing in the trees nearby. Mirouku was lounging against the base of a thick oak tree waiting for her to finish with breakfast, while she noticed Inuyasha was sitting in the top branches of the very same oak tree in true Inuyasha-form. Sango also noticed that he was facing the direction that they'd found Kagome's barrier in earlier that morning or last night depending on how you looked at it.

She had a feeling that Inuyasha believed that Sesshoumaru was on the other side of the barrier with Kagome... or at least, he strongly suspects that he is. Sango didn't understand why Inuyasha was soo upset though. He was the one who chose the clay miko, so she didn't believe he had the right to be mad at Kagome or the Taiyoukai... at least not using what's happening between them as an excuse to tell

Sango visibly jumped when she heard the soft thump of Inuyasha's as he landednext to her when he leaped down from the top of the tree.

"They're coming."

Sango blinked at his words. 'Who?" she wondered. She figured he wasn't speaking of an enemy since he wasn't trying to pull out Tetsusiaga. Which meant he could only be talking about Kagome and Sesshoumaru.

Sango waited with baited breath as she looked towards the trail her friend had disappeared down yesterday. When she saw her friend coming towards them from the path. Sango squealed in delight as she dashed over to them and gave Kagome a fierce hug.

"KAGOME!!"

She'd been very worried about her friend, and though she didn't believe the Taiyoukai would ever hurt the younger girl she still couldn't help worrying. Ever since she lost her brother she was a little sensitive about the people she cared about being out of her sight for too long.... even if Naraku was dead.

"Sango," giggled Kagome to her friend as she hugged the exterminator in return, "You act as if you haven't seen me in months!"

The older girl pulled back to give her friend a questioning look.

"Months?"

Kagome caught the look of confusion in her friend's eyes as she voiced her concern. She rolled her eyes at herself; she always forgot little details like that.

"Never mind. What are you guys doing?"

Sango continued to give her friend a confused look as she silently mused over the foreign word. She figured it must signify a length of time, but she wasn't sure. She figured she'd ask Kagome about it later and shrugged to herself in dismissal of the subject.

"I made breakfast, while we waited for you two to return."

Kagome nodded at this as she looked around. She gave a nod in greeting to Mirouku as she spotted Shippou eating and smiled at her kitsune.

"SESSHOUMARU-SAMA!!"

Rin squealed at the top of her voice when she spotted her guardian. She immediately jumped to her feet and made a mad dash for the tall youkai's legs.

Sesshoumaru placed a hand on top of her dark head in greeting.

"Rin. I hope I find you well?" he inquired, though he already knew she was fine. He'd already checked her over.

"Oh, yes Sesshoumaru-sama. Rin is fine," she replied as she tipped her head back to look at him before continuing, "Though Jaken-sama has been most sad over Sesshoumaru-sama's absence."

Rin removed one of her hands from around his leg and pointed to a little green toad sitting a ways away from the rest of the group with a dejected look on his face.

At the sound of his master's quiet voice Jaken immediately raised his head in hope. He prayed that it wasn't just his keen imagination. He didn't think he could take much more of being in the company of the stupid hanyou and his ningen friends. Not to mention, if that damn houshi bopped him on his head once more with that staff of his, he was not going to be held accountable for his actions... at least not if his Sesshoumaru-sama was there.

"YAY! You returned, master Sesshoumaru!"

He was just about to launch himself across the campsite at his master when he thought about what he was doing and decided walking was better. 'What am I, a stupid ningen child?'

Sesshoumaru starred down at his retainer calmly and waited to see how long it would take the little toad to put his foot in his mouth. He was not kept waiting long.

"Sesshoumaru-sama where have you been? Do you know what these ningens have done to me?!"

Jaken looked up at his lord and immediately recognized his mistake. You'd think after being the young lord's retainer for so long he would have learned when to shut his mouth. He saw the impassive look on Sesshoumaru's face and tried to rectify his problem, but really had no hope in passifying his master.

"I mean... My Lord... I ..uh, didn't mean to ... ah, t-to question you, because... of course, you don't have... have..." he trailed off as he couldn't find anything sufficient enough to say.

Sesshoumaru stared motionlessly at the inferior creature before him. He refrained from doing harm to his retainer since Rin was still standing too close to him, but he would pay the toad back for his insolence later.

"Jaken take Rin to the river to bathe. Do not dally."

Jaken sighed in relief; he was not sure why he was off the hook, but he was going to take the gift he was given and run with it. He led Rin down the path Kagome and Sesshoumaru had just come from in silence.

Sesshoumaru watched them leave silently as Kagome watched him.

Kagome had observed the interaction between Sesshoumaru and Rin as well as him and his retainer. The first brought a warm smile to her face as she could see the obvious affection he had for the girl-child even though it didn't show at all; the second made her laugh, though she stifled it as not to embarrass the little toad. Why she cared; she had no idea, but she didn't want to laugh at the toad as he coward before the youkai. Besides, Mirouku and Shippou-chan were laughing enough for the both of them.... not to mention Sango's smile.

Kagome smiled at the Taiyoukai when his eyes caught hers.

Sango watched the smile her friend gave the Taiyoukai and even though he didn't give one back, she had a feeling he'd somehow responded to it. She just didn't see it.

"Kagome what happened to you?"

Kagome returned her attention to her friend when she heard her name, but gave her a confused look when she heard the question. She had no idea what Sango meant by that.

"What do you mean?"

"Inuyasha ran into your barrier last night..."

"Oh."

Sango waited a few seconds, but when she realized her friend was not going to elaborate she continued, "Yeah, we heard you scream."

Kagome felt her face turn three shades of red, as her eyes grew wide. She had to fight to keep from turning to look at Sesshoumaru as she remembered exactly why she'd been screaming last night.

Sango watched her friend do a wonderful imitation of a tomato and wondered at her reaction. 'Ooh, theres something here...'

"Why did you scream? Were you hurt?"

"Huh?" she asked dazedly as she tried not too panic. She couldn't believe they'd heard her. Was she that loud? 'Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God...'

"Why did you scream last night?"

"Scream?" she squeaked out. Frantically trying to think of a good excuse...lie. 'Mama always said I was no good at lying. You'd think I'd have gotten better after lying to my friends back home for so long....'

Kagome could feel the blood rushing to her face and was surprised she had any more room up there for any more blood to get in. She saw Sesshoumaru out of the corner of her eye to her right and froze. Was that a gleam she saw in his eyes? She knew he could hear everything Sango was asking. Was that amusement she saw? 'He better not be laughing,' she thought warningly.

She turned her head sharply in his direction to get a better look at his eyes. She realized too late that perhaps looking at him would not be a good idea.

When Kagome saw the assessing look Sango was giving her, she felt her blush returning. Lord, was she going to do this every time he was near her now. It was bad enough she still developed those ever annoying butterflies in her stomach and her heart always seemed to beat just a little faster whenever he came near... now she had to contend with the blushing.

'All I know is, if he laughs I swear to all that's Holy I will castrate him...' Of course, that would be after she woke up from fainting at the sight of seeing him laughing. That would be a shock in itself.

Just then Kagome realized Sango was staring at her expectantly. She had no idea why though... She gave her friend an apologetic look and hoped she'd catch her meaning.

Sango saw the befuddled look on her friends face as well as the unspoken apology. She guessed the younger girl had somehow forgot her question.

"Why did you scream last night? We were all worried."

'Oh, yea...' Kagome's face flushed as she deliberately kept her gaze away from Sesshoumaru's knowing eyes.

"I... uh... I fell in the river..." she trailed off and had the good sense to look sheepishly as though she was embarrassed to admit such a fact. The feelings were so similar to have the statement so far from the truth.

"Oh. That must have been... surprising."

"You don't know the half of it," muttered Kagome under her breath.

"It was a good thing Sesshoumaru went after you then, huh?" she asked though it was not really a question as much as it was a statement.

"Oh, yeah... very good thing." She couldn't help smiling to herself at that. She could not bring herself to regret what happened between them.

"Well at least you are alright now," chimed in a masculine voice.

Both females turned to the houshi and smiled.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"This much I know. Your barrier would not have stayed intact if you were in any danger," he replied with a smile from his position by the tree. "By the way, I had no idea you could make such a barrier."

"Neither did I, but when I wanted to... ah, insure my privacy that is what came out."

"Hmm."

No one said anything for a moment as they all lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. All of them knowing that something wasn't being said. All of them dwelling on there own, personal thoughts, that when Inuyasha voiced his observation Kagome was not prepared for it.

"So, Sesshoumaru. I see you 'acquired' another arm! How'd you pull that off?" sneered Inuyasha nastily. "Pun intended." He was still feeling testy about Sesshoumaru being on the other side of the barrier with Kagome... especially now that his suspicion had been confirmed by their arrival back at the camp together.

Inuyasha could sense something between them that wasn't there before and while he couldn't put his finger on it specifically, he knew it was there. Whatever it was, it was making him hurt inside.... and that he didn't understand. The last time he'd hurt like this he'd just found out that Kikyou was working with Naraku against him. He'd felt betrayed then, he didn't understand what that had to do with now though.

Kagome went utterly still when she heard what Inuyasha said. She'd wondered how long it would take them to notice the Taiyoukai's arm. Though she'd thought Mirouku would be the one to notice first; or even Jaken, the obsessed little toad.

"It looks like a good match too. So, who'd you murder this time, eh? Some poor, unsuspecting Inu-youkai?" Inuyasha continued his rant at his brother, " You asshole! You, have no shame do you!? You're such a bastard!"

Sesshoumaru just watched, impassively, Inuyasha's little outburst. He could care less what the hanyou thought of him. He could never aspire to be as great as he, so why should he give a damn what the baka thought.

"On, the contrary, half-breed, I know perfectly well who my father is... or was," he said in his usually quiet, velvety voice. "Though it pains me every time I am reminded of this fact, it goes without saying that he is the very same man who sired your filthy self."

Kagome immediately sweat dropped. She could see the rest of the group had tensed as well. They knew what reaction the Taiyoukai's words what produce. It was no secret that it was the desired effect. She could see her friends looking at her to stop the budding war... 'But, how the hell am I suppose to do that? And why me??'

A part of her-a very small part-was tempted to let the two youkais fight it out. She was tired of it all; if they wanted to kill each other, who was she to tell them 'no'. Kagome sighed to herself at that thought, she knew she would never allow them to kill each other, though she knew she could save herself a lot of future headaches if she did.

"FILTHY! WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU CALLING FILTHY!?" yelled Inuyasha as he advanced on his brother.

Sesshoumaru's look of boredom did not change as he watched his brother.

Kagome wasn't fooled by that look. She knew the Taiyoukai was enjoying this immensely. She'd bet he'd be salivating at the mouth right now, at the prospect of killing Inuyasha, if it weren't so undignified for him to do so. She had to stop this. Now.

"Inuyasha."

"Were you not paying attention? I did not think my words were so difficult to understand."

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed as he ignored Kagome calling his name. He took another step forward as he put his hand on his Tetsusaiga. He was finally going to rid himself of the Taiyoukai. He'd been in his company far too long these pass months and he could no longer take it. Him being with Kagome behind that barrier was the last straw.

"SESS-" he began only to be cut off by Kagome stepping between him and his prey.

"Its his," Kagome said quietly as she moved between the warring brothers. She had no idea what she was going to do or say when she'd made the move to step between them, but she knew that wasn't it. 'What the hell did I tell him that for?' It was too late now.

Sesshoumaru heard what she said, and was sufficiently stunned, though he hid the reaction well. He didn't think she'd tell them so soon... not until they'd figured out exactly how it happened.

"What?" asked Inuyasha as he stilled. Saying he was confused would be an understatement. He had no idea what she meant, because she couldn't be saying what he'd immediately thought... it wasn't possible. Was it?

Kagome sighed as she noted everyone's eyes and attention were firmly on her now. See, this was why she screwed up the play she was in, in her third grade class, of the story "A Night Before Christmas"; she hated the spotlight. She tried not to wring her fingers as a sign of nervousness as she looked Inuyasha straight in the eyes before she spoke.

"I said, its his."

Inuyasha starred at her for a moment looking back and forth between her eyes. He didn't like what he was hearing. How could the arm be his? He'd cut it off, he should know, it was one of the most memorable moments in his life.

"It can't be," he stated emphatically, still in denial. "What do you mean?"

Kagome saw the flickering emotions pass over his face. From denial, to wonder, to disbelief, to fear, to suspicion... where it stopped.

"What I said, is what I mean," she answered softly. "The arm is his own. Its back."

Inuyasha took this in silently. He figured it must be true from the look on her face. His eyes flitted to the demon towering behind her then back to hers. He had a feeling there was something she wasn't telling him. His suspicion grew.

"How?"

She knew he was going to ask that. Kagome could feel Sesshoumaru's eyes on the back of her head and she knew he was listening intently. Somehow, she had a feeling that whatever she said to Inuyasha's question, would have an effect on the Taiyoukai. She had a feeling that what she said next was very important... she didn't know why, but she had that feeling in her gut.

If Kagome could read minds, she'd know her gut was very right. Sesshoumaru was listening to her every word. He could sense her nervousness as he noted her bald fists at her side. He was wondering whether she would tell her precious Inuyasha the truth... or something else. Would she tell him she was the one who restored his arm? He hoped she would. He did not understand why this was so important to him, but it was.

Kagome licked her lips as she looked at the demon in front of her. She knew he was not going to like what she said next, but she wouldn't lie to him... or for Sesshoumaru. If, that was what the Taiyoukai wanted... she didn't know.

"I did it. I don't know how exactly, but I was the one who restored Sesshoumaru's arm. And, before you ask, no, I don't understand how I did it either."

They starred at one another. Inuyasha couldn't believe she would do that. She was with him when he'd cut off the limb, why would she give it back to him? Did she trust him that much? Care for him that much? Kagome was wondering what was going through Inuyasha's head. She could see the hurt and bewilderment, but she didn't understand it. She knew he hated his brother, but she couldn't imagine that he hadn't figured out by now that she didn't share the same feelings toward the Taiyoukai. He couldn't be that blind! No, he was only that blind when it came to his clay miko.

"Only a blood spell has the power to restore what only time could do. That and mystical animals, but there are none in these parts of the country."

Everyone's head swiveled towards the voice. They all stared at the houshi in different degrees of curiosity and confusion... all, except the Taiyoukai.

Sesshoumaru had heard of the 'Blood Spells' before. He'd never met a miko who had perform one though. He'd heard there was two kinds of 'Blood Spells' and that one form could only be done once. He was surprised the houshi knew about this. He wondered how much Mirouku knew... then again, he was the son of a well-known houshi.

"What do you mean, Mirouku?"

"Blood Spell. What is that?"

Both females asked at once. They were watching him with identical expressions on their faces. Eyes wide.

Mirouku turned away from the group and put out the fire Sango used to make breakfast. He wasn't sure how to tell them what they wanted to know. It wasn't a secret or anything, since most mikos knew about blood spells, but for him to tell someone who had no idea he'd have to explain everything. He was surprised Kaede hadn't at least told Kagome about a blood spell... since it was obvious she didn't teach her how to perform one. If that was so, then that meant Kagome used the other form of blood spell... the form that could only be used once. He sighed to himself as he settled on the ground in the same spot he'd been in when their two missing members had shown up. He didn't want to think about what must have happened between the miko and the Taiyoukai last night. He may have a lecherous mind most of the time, but he didn't want that image in his head... not to mention what he knew the knowledge would do to Inuyasha... even though he knew the hanyou brought it on himself. He would not want to be Inuyasha right now... or for that matter, for the next few days.

Mirouku looked up at his friends and gestured for them all to get comfortable. He watched as they all exchanged curious looks then moved forward to do as he silently asked. Sango moved to sit beside Mirouku, Kagome sat straight across from him, legs folded with Shippou in her lap; he'd claimed the spot the moment she was settled. Rin, who'd just returned with Jaken from the lake freshly cleaned, sat down beside Kagome and leaned her body against the older girl's. Sesshoumaru moved to stand in a spot against a near by tree. He leaned his back against it, arms folded across his chest. Jaken stood beside him. Inuyasha, who was the last to move, folded his legs and sat on Mirouku's right halfway between him and Kagome.

"Alright Mirouku. What's all this about a blood spell?" asked Inuyasha as he folded his arms across his chest; not realizing how much he and Sesshoumaru looked alike in such a pose.

"Well, where to begin..." breathed Mirouku thoughtfully.

"The beginning will do fine Mirouku-chan," said Sango softly.

Kagome nodded in agreement. She really wanted to know what this 'blood spell' was.

"Alright. To save the trouble of a long and drawn out tell... lets just say that many, many ages ago a Mage learned that women held within them a great power. Not all women mind you, only those who held the power to heal within them. These women held the power to change many things. They could do wonderful and terrifying acts. They had the power to change bad blood within a being."

"To purify," cut in Sesshoumaru quietly.

Everyone turned to look in his direction, but he only had eyes for the miko. They watched silently as his and Kagome's eyes met and held... sharing a moment that none of them were apart of, though they were all present.

"Yes," Mirouku breathed and waited for everyone's attention to return to him. He waited for Kagome's eyes to lock with his. "Those women would later be known as Mikos here, but in other worlds they are called by other names. Back then they were known as Mystics. Though these women were very powerful, they were still mortal. They could be killed. So, they were not omnipotent. The problem was that many of the things they could do, youkai could also do as well. It seemed the only difference was that mikos had the power to purify youkai blood... which was not good for youkai who were not...uh, very nice," his eyes glanced briefly on Sesshoumaru. "So, an all out war began, between the Youkais and the Mikos. Many were lost on both sides... more on the miko's side though. Then one day a Mage by the name of Kaeto learned something. Something that would turn the tide in the fight between the demons and the priestesses."

"The Blood spells."

"Yes, the blood spells," he nodded at Sango as his eyes lit on her beautiful face for a moment. "Kaeto learned that the secret to a Miko's hidden power... the ultimate power, lay within their blood. With a spell he found in an old scroll he learned that that secret power could be unleashed if performed correctly by said Miko."

"What did the spell allow a miko to do?" asked Kagome.

"Anything," he said as his eyes locked on hers. "Once a Miko performed this spell she would have the ability to do whatever she wished with the aid of her blood. Just a tiny drop and her need or wish to do or change something and it would happen. Of course, it also depended on how strong of a miko they were and how pure a soul they had. See misconception have always been 'how pure of heart are you', but that is not so, it is 'how pure of soul' are you. You see, the soul governs everything; the heart, the mind, and the body. If you had a pureness of soul then everything else was irrelevant."

"Is that why I have seen some mikos carrying a dagger at their waist?"

"Yes, a miko must always use the same dagger as well as clean it after every spell. Their daggers are very important. If fallen into the wrong hands that miko's life could be in grave danger. This is why many mikos today are not taught the blood spell, what many call a 'blood curse', for once the opening spell is performed their can be no turning back."

"How is it done?"

"WHAT?!" sputtered Inuyasha loudly. "Kagome you can't be thinking of performing that! If you were to lose that dagger... No, you won't do it."

"Inuyasha I didn't say I was going to. I would just like to know how. You never know if I may need it..."

"But, I thought you knew how to already. Isn't that what this is all about? That you did a blood spell to restore Sesshoumaru's arm?" asked Sango in confusion.

Kagome thought about that, but she had no idea. Now that Sango had brought that up, she was confused again too. Was it possible to do a blood spell without performing the 'opening spell', she wondered silently? If so why didn't Mirouku say so? She looked up at her friend; her confusion in her eyes.

"Mirou-" she began to voice her questions only to be cut off by Sesshoumaru's quietly firm voice.

"There are two kinds."

"What?" asked Sango confusedly; her face in a frown. She had no idea what he meant by that. 'Two kinds of what?' She looked at Kagome and saw the same look of befuddlement and felt a small since of relief. At least, she wasn't the only one lost. She didn't have to look at Inuyasha to know he was lost too.

"There are two kinds of blood spells," he clarified; never taking his gaze from Kagome. He could not say more, because he didn't know how the other kind of blood spell worked. All he knew was what the houshi had already told them and he was not about to share his lack of knowledge with the rest of them. So, he decided he'd leave it at that.

"There are two kinds?" asked Kagome quietly, though it wasn't really a question.

"He is right. There are two different kinds of blood spells. The one I told you and another," he waited for Kagome to break eye contact with the Taiyoukai and look at him. He immediately caught her eye wanting to make sure she had, at least, a hint of what he was talking about before he continued, "the other can only be done once. This one is very powerful and a Miko's mind and heart must be one for it to work. It can be done subconsciously. It is only used for healing or something good. It cannot be used to do harm. Many have tried to access this power by force or other means, and it has always ended very badly for the unfortunate person who believed they could do that."

Kagome's face went pale. She didn't completely understand what Mirouku was trying to tell her, but for some reason it didn't sound good. She had the strangest feeling that he knew what her and Sesshoumaru had done last night. She didn't know why she had the feeling, but she did.

'The houshi knows,' he thought to himself. Sesshoumaru had no idea how he found out... actually he had a good idea, since he had a very good idea how the second blood spell is done. He had a feeling it had to do with Kagome's virgin blood and since it was obvious that it had to be the second form of blood spell that Kagome performed, he could see how the houshi had come to the correct conclusion. He could tell the houshi had no intentions of saying anything else in front of the rest of them. He was sure Kagome would corner the houshi later and find out the rest. He'd leave them to it. Besides they needed to be on their way. The castle was another two days journey away... or the spot where Naraku's castle once stood and since they were traveling at a human's speed he figured they should get going.

Sesshoumaru quietly voiced the suggestion they leave.

Kagome immediately jumped on the suggestion; anything to change the subject. After gathering their stuff and cleaning the area they all agreed it was time to leave and left to catch up with the Taiyoukai. He'd walked out of camp in the direction they were headed when he'd made the suggestion. That was fifteen minutes ago.

**Later that day as the Sun was setting**

The day had been fairly quiet. Everyone had been lost in there own thoughts. Inuyasha had disappeared on them twice when Kikyou's soul stealers had come into view. The last time he'd come back visibly upset. Kagome had wondered if their was trouble in Hell, then immediately chastised herself for the mean thought. She'd caught Sesshoumaru watching her a couple of times, though she wasn't sure on a few occasions if he was watching her or Rin, since she was playing the game 'I spy' with the little girl and Shippou. She'd taught it to them when she noticed they were getting bored with all the walking. She figured it was a good way to teach the kids to always keep an eye on their surroundings as well. The game had actually become pretty fun when Sango and Mirouku had joined in the game. It had come to halt though, when Kagome had said 'I spy something fluffy and white' thinking to give the children something easy. While she'd been talking about the clouds in the sky, Rin and Shippou had immediately guessed Sesshoumaru's tail.

When images of Kagome pressing her face into said tail made her cheeks burn something fierce, especially when those gold eyes turned to look at her with one eyebrow cocked up, she'd quickly declared the game was over. Then thoughts about what Mirouku had said had returned and she was once again lost in her own mind.

She'd seen Mirouku and Sango holding hands a few times and had speculated on that as she wondered whether the taijiya had told the houshi how she felt. She decided she'd ask her friend later when they'd realized the sun was going down and found another spot near a heat spring to make camp.

She was glad they only had one more full day of walking before they reached their destination. She had a feeling that after this she was going to find somewhere to put her feet up and stay that way for at least a month.

Sesshoumaru watched her gather her things and head for the heat spring. He'd been watching her all day. He didn't know what to make of her. He was surprised that she'd told them she was the one who restored his arm as well as the fact that she didn't jump on the chance to pretend she knew a blood spell. Though he had to admit, the thought of her doing that wasn't plausible. He couldn't see her 'pretending' anything for anyone. He wondered if, she realized that once the rest of them learned what the second form of a blood spell was, that they'd know exactly what he and her had been doing last night? Part of him wanted them to find out so he could see her reaction, while another part of him was wary at it. And because of this indecision in him, he'd been thinking about it and her all day. It didn't help that he could hear her laughter and smell her scent, not to mention his own scent mixed in with hers, it was driving him mad. He wanted so badly to touch her, but he wasn't sure if his touch would be welcome. She hadn't spoken to him since this morning when he was trying his hardest not to laugh at her discomfort when the taijiya was innocently questioning the miko about them sleeping together.

He didn't know what she was doing to him, but it was starting to make him worry. He hadn't laughed since his okaasan died when he was the equivalent of a three-year old toddler, though he could do the things a five year old could do at that age.

Sesshoumaru watched her lift her hair off her neck to fan the back of it before gracefully letting it fall again. Her moves were so sensuous. It was as if her neck was calling to his lips, his teeth... calling for him to come and mark her as his. It had taken all his will power not to do it this morning when he was watching her, now it was taking more of it. He didn't want to mark her. Well, he did, just not like that. For some reason, he wanted her consent, he wanted her to choose to belong to him. He didn't understand it. Usually when he wanted something, no matter what it was, he just took it. He didn't like what she was doing to him. He had to get away from her... if for just a little while. Maybe he'd start thinking like himself again.

He walked over to Kagome just as she was telling Sango that she'd meet the other at the springs and told her to go on ahead without her. She was turning around to head in the opposite direction when he placed his hand on her shoulder.

He watched her jump a foot as she spun around in her direction.

"SESSHOUMARU!" she screamed. "DON'T DO THAT! MY GOD!"

Kagome placed her hand over her racing heart. Between him and Inuyasha she wasn't going to live to see thirty. Inuyasha had startled her earlier, by just 'appearing' behind her and starting to talk like she knew he was there. If she wasn't so preoccupied she might have heard them both coming, but as it was, she didn't, so she got the scare of her life instead.

Sesshoumaru frowned as his ears twitched from the volume of her scream.

"You are very jumpy. Why?"

"I am not jumpy. You just shouldn't sneak up on people like that. Make some noise next time and stop skulking," she heaved. She knew what she said wasn't true at all, but she'd be damned if she'd tell him that she was startled because she was thinking about him. Nope.

Kagome saw his frown and knew he wasn't buying what she said. She was thankful he didn't pursue the subject.

"Did you want to tell me something? I was on my way to join Sango after I spoke to Mirouku."

As he guessed earlier... she was going to corner the houshi while she had the opportunity.

"Yes. I am going to check on my lands. I shall be back in the morning. Do not leave from this spot until I get here. Though, I expect I will be back before any of you have woken."

"Oh," she responded. He was leaving; was all she could think. "Alright."

He saw the look on her face and wanted so badly to kiss the worry away. He didn't.

"I will be leaving Jaken and Rin here."

Maybe that would ease her mind.

It did. She knew he would not leave the girl and his retainer behind if he had no plans of returning. She smiled brightly at him and moved in to kiss his cheek, but caught herself and straightened before she could make a fool of herself. Her cheeks tinged pink as she bid him goodnight and watched his cloud form beneath his feet and take flight carrying him away from her.

Kagome sighed for a moment as she watched before she remembered that she had a question for Mirouku. She quickly made her way over to him.

"Mirouku. You showed me how to perform the opening spell, now I want you to tell me about the other form of blood spell. The one that can only be done once."

Mirouku looked up at her quietly for a moment and gave her a thoughtful look before he spoke.

"The second spell is called The Spell of the Innocent. It is simply a miko using her virgin blood. This is why it can only be used for good. A miko must give up this power willingly. It would grant the one she bestows it upon something of tangible use that the grantee wants, but cannot claim for themselves for whatever reason as long as the miko's heart and mind is willing to allow it. Some have tried to take this power by force, if you know what I mean, it has always ended very badly."

"Why has it always ended badly?"

"Because not only is said offender trying to take a power that is ultimate in its own right, said offender is also trying to take and innocence that is not theirs to take. It is the gravest offense against a woman and therefore the punishment is not only immediate, but fierce. Suffice to say, the offender does not leave with his life."

"Hmm,"

"Yes, hmm. People should look at life more carefully. Not do such things. Don't they know, no matter what, they cannot get out alive."

Kagome thought about that as she bid him goodbye and went to join Sango at the spring. She was wondering if perhaps she should go on without them. She thought about how Mirouku said that 'you cannot get out alive' and wondered if she should be asking them to do this. The shikon jewel was her responsibility and as he said, death was inevitable, what right did she have to ask them to walk into something blindly? They had no idea what they would find when they reached their destination. All they knew was that they were walking into a trap. Who said they all had to? She was the one who had to get the jewel back to go home... among other reasons.

She was so deep in thought Kagome didn't sense the small body that had jumped down onto the path in front of her blocking her way. For the second time in two nights, she ran into a body.

This time when Kagome fell backwards she hit the ground. She quickly looked up to see who she'd run into and looked into a pair of red eyes.

"Kagura"

Kagura had braced herself for the impact when she realized the miko was too deep in thought to have sensed her presence this time. She watched the other girl get gracefully to her feet and wipe herself off. After Kagome had gathered her things off the ground and stood before her composedly did she finally speak.

"I will not go around the bush with you, for there is not much time. I have come to take you with me. Whether it be by force is up to you."

"Take me with you? Where?"

"To the castle."

"The castle? You mean Naraku's?" she asked and when the other girl nodded she continued, "But, it no longer stands."

"Enough for his purposes."

"What?"

"Miko, I do not have much time. If you want the Shikon jewel back you will come with me. Either, way you are going now."

"You were sent to kidnap me," Kagome said in understanding. "By who?"

"I cannot say right now. What is you're choice? Make it quickly?"

Kagome thought about it. She knew all she had to do was scream and Inuyasha and the rest would come running, not that she needed help with the wind demon. She was sure she could take her since the demon was all by herself apparently, but then she thought about what she was thinking before she was so rudely interrupted... and wondered.

'Maybe this is what I was needing?'

With that thought in mind Kagome made her decision. Perhaps she wouldn't live to regret it.

Kagura saw the miko's brown eyes hardened as she slightly nodded her head at the air.

"You have decided. What is it?"

Kagome sighed and took a step forward closer to the other girl and prayed she wasn't making a big mistake. Though, since Naraku was dead, she really didn't see what she had to worry about. He was the worse demon ever, right?

"Lead the way."

Kagura stared at the miko for a moment wanting to tell her to run away, but pulled out a small feather instead and tossed it on the wind. It immediately grew into a much larger form of itself and carried the two girls away.

Kagome had one thought in her head when she stepped on the feather; there was no going back now.

~*~

A/N: I am soooo sorry, this took me so long to get up. Life came and tapped me on the shoulder and I had to go play in the real world for a lttle while. But, I am back now, and am writing once more... I even have another story in the making, but I wont be putting it up until this one is finnished... maybe, if I can wait that long. Theres about 10 more chapters to this... Once again I am so sorry. Thank you to all those who reviewed and all those who sent me the get-up-off-your-lazy-ass-and-update-emails as well. Some were very creative with their death threats, I must say.... Anyway, I hope you enjoy the latest.