InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance At Love ❯ Can Hurt Her ( Chapter 17 )

A/N: Here is the next chapter I promised! Hope you like!

And I would like to tell everyone that A Second Chance at Love has been nominated for A Single Spark Award in two categories!! Thank you to those that nominated my story and I really appreciate the love and support!! I love you guys!! Now go finish reading....

~The function of the imagination is not to make strange things settled, so much as to make settled things strange.

-G.K. Chesterton.

Chapter17: Could Hurt Her.

They all stood outside of the barrier as they watched the sky grow darker as the day grew into night. They were a little worried that nothing had come out of the castle. Matter of fact, it didn't look as if anyone was even in the castle.

Yet, Sesshoumaru knew Kagome was here.

He'd sent for Ah-un, who'd arrived a half hour ago. He wanted the two-headed dragon around and available in case he had to send the children back to his home where they would be safe.

He turned his gaze to the children as they sat at the base of a tree playing a hand clapping game that Kagome had taught them. He wondered where she learned all those children's games she taught them from. His childhood had consisted of being tutored and trained in combat. Having fun and playing games was not apart of his everyday life.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Sesshoumru looked down at the small upturned face beside him. He placed his hand lightly on the girl's head in greeting.

"Yes, Rin?"

"Will Kagome-chan be alright?"

"Hmm. Yes, she will be fine."

Rin gave the youkai a thoughtful look as if she had great things on her mind. Then suddenly she gave him a bright smile.

"Okay, Sesshoumaru-sama!"

He watched as the little girl skipped back over to the kitsune. Sesshoumaru looked at Shippou then and saw the haunted look in the young fox-youkai's eyes. He knew the little demon thought of the miko as a mother and he figured that the kitsune must be worried about her a lot.

He figured that was probably why the kitsune has been so quiet lately. Which he'd come to learn was unusual behavior for the younger youkai.

"Someone is coming."

Sesshoumaru looked over towards the taijiya then turned to look in the direction she was looking.

That's when he saw the youkai coming towards them from the castle. Even though it was dark he could tell that it was the wind witch Kagura. She was coming directly towards them. He watched as she lifted her hand, palm forward, and placed it against the barrier; causing a space to open for her to walk through.

They all walked forward so they stood in a sort of triangle with Sesshoumaru at the front. Inuyasha stood to his left, Mirouku to his right, and Sango directly behind him with Shippou on her shoulder and Rin behind her. Jakin had sidled forward to stand beside his master.

"I see you all made it here."

Kagura said with a small smirk to her lips. They all remained quiet as they waited for the demon to say something they wanted to hear.

"Your miko is inside. You are welcome to join her."

"Just like that?" asked Inuyasha in disbelief. "You're just going to let us come inside?"

"Of course," she smiled as she waved her fan in front of her face. "He has been waiting for you."

Sesshoumaru's eyes hardened at her words.

"Who is waiting?"

"Well, Lord Sesshoumaru come inside and find out. It is your choice."

Then she moved forward until she stood only a few inches away from him. She tilted her head back and locked eyes with him. He watched as her eyes glowed a bright crimson for a moment. When her hand came up he arched an eyebrow when he saw the jeweled dagger sitting in her palm.

It was a beautiful weapon. The handle was made of gold and had an intricate design of a maiden standing in the moonlight etched into it. At the base of the handle sat a large dark blue sapphire. The blade was no more then four inches in length and two inches wide. It was silver and he could see it was very sharp. It was made for concealment.

"Take this."

He just stared at her and waited for her to elaborate. She didn't. He arched his eyebrow at her once more, but she still didn't say anything more.

Kagura stood quietly waiting for him to take the dagger from her.

"Kagura," said the houshi suddenly, "Why are you giving Sesshoumaru the dagger?"

She shrugged then gave a small smirk, "Perhaps he will find it useful."

Sesshoumaru could tell there was something she wasn't saying... and wasn't going to say as well.

He gave her one last sharp look before taking the weapon from her hand and slipping it into the wide sleeve of his kimono for safekeeping. Something told him that the weapon did have a purpose and whatever it was the demon couldn't tell him... or just wouldn't.

She gave them all one last look before turning back around and walking the way she came. This time when she went back in the hole she made in the barrier stayed open as if waiting for them.

"Are we going, then?" asked Sango from behind him.

Sesshoumaru didn't know when it had happened, but they all seemed to be looking to him for guidance. Even Inuyasha was grudgingly waiting for his decision. `That's interesting.'

"We are," he replied. "Jakin."

"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?"

"Take Rin and the kitsune back to the castle. Ah-un will carry you there."

"But, Lord Sesshoumaru," whined the little toad. "Why must I go with the little brats?"

Sesshoumaru gazed down at the little green man as the gold in his eyes flashed a warning.

"Jakin. Are you questioning my orders?"

Jakin's heart started to beat faster as his hands grew clammy around his staff.

"Eeep!" he cringed, "Of c-course n-n-not, my lord. I w-w-would never."

"Hm. Go now Jakin."

As Jakin moved away to get Rin and Shippou the kitsune moved from the taijiya's shoulder to Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, I want to stay. I want to help Kagome!" he cried out.

"Shippou, STOP YELLING IN MY EAR!!"

"Ahh!!" he hollered as he jumped away from the hanyou then continued his plea, "But Inuyashaaaa!"

"No, Shippou. It could be dangerous."

"It don't seem dangerous," he pouted.

"Well," he began, but stopped in thought. `Hell' what could he say to that? Its not like it wasn't true... the situation didn't look dangerous. Which, is why he was worried, but how do you explain that to a child. `What the hell am I saying? Since when do I explain anything to Shippou. The little runt!' "You're not going Shippou. Now get over there and get on that two-headed monstrosity so we can go."

"But-"

"SHIPPOU!!" he cut him off.

"Shippou, we have no idea what is in there waiting for us. And since when have you ever known Kagura to be nice for no reason," cut in Mirouku. He saw that Inuyasha's yelling was getting them nowhere and giving him a headache. "She is not to be trusted. And you know the fact of the matter is, if this was all harmless Kagome would be back by now."

Mirouku sighed to himself then as he turned to look at the opening in the barrier-an opening they didn't need- and then at the castle beyond.

"Some things just don't add up," he whispered; more to himself then to the kitsune.

Shippou still didn't understand, but he did know that some stuff was odd to him. Like the barrier, for instance; he knew he could get through it with no trouble at all, which meant it would be even easier for Kagome. So, he did wonder why she was still in there. Which made him think that she might be hurt and needed his help. That was why he wanted to go!

He looked up at the Taiyoukai. No one had noticed it, but the demon lord's scent had changed slightly since he'd started traveling with the rest of the group... and it changed even more after Kagome had given him his arm back. Now, there was something about his scent that reminded him of his father, but only the time when his mother was still alive and a little after her death. It wasn't an unpleasant smell; it just seemed to be something he would not have expected coming from the Taiyoukai for some reason.

Shippou wasn't sure what it was. He remembered that after the Taiyoukai and his Kagome-okaa-san had come back from the woods he'd smelled the way men do when they wanted to do that to a woman. He knew that, because he smelled it on Mirouku-chan often enough... and on Inuyasha as well. But, he didn't want to think of that, because that was usually when that dirt miko was around. `Ick!'

He was glad that at least the Taiyoukai was going if he couldn't. At least he would be looking out for Kagome. He saw how close Sango-chan and the houshi had become and knew the houshi would be protecting her. And even though he hadn't seen Inuyasha run off lately or sensed the walking dead nearby, he still didn't trust Inuyasha to put Kagome first. `After all, Inuyasha always leaves Kagome for Kikyo.'

Shippou moved closer to the Taiyoukai and grabbed a hold of his pants and pulled.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?"

The Taiyoukai looked down at the kitsune and tried not to boot him for pulling on his clothing. He waited silently for the child to say what he had to say to him. `This is a waist of time,' he thought, but did not move away. He knew the runt was important to the miko.

"Will you protect Kagome for me?" he asked with tears swimming in his eyes. "I'm worried she might be hurt. Why else would she not have come out?"

Something in Sesshoumaru's heart lurched. He hadn't thought that Kagome might be hurt... He stared at the tears as the kitsune tried to wipe them away, but his hands weren't fast enough for his eyes. He got that funny feeling in his stomach like he did with Rin whenever she was upset.

He didn't understand it. He thought that the feeling only came from Rin because she belonged to him. Now, he wasn't sure that he wasn't sick. `Perhaps there is something about children that causes this,' he said to himself. Yet, it wasn't a completely unpleasant feeling. Just unwelcome.

"No harm shall come to the miko," his eyes glowed with a dangerous glint. "Someone will die if so."

Shippou saw the unholy glint reflected in the Taiyoukai's eye and felt a moment of pity for whoever hurt Kagome... for he knew she had to be hurt. It was just for a moment though. Whatever they might have done to Kagome, he knew, would not compare to what that look in the youkai lord's eyes promised.

He swallowed and nodded. Maybe that was something he didn't want to see. Shippou quickly made his way over to Rin and sat beside her on the dragon. He patted her hand reassuringly then they both waved as the dragon took to the air.

Jakin sat grumbling something about warriors being made babysitter, or something of the like, behind them.

Sesshoumaru watched until he decided they were far enough away, before he turned and without a word proceeded through the hole in the poor excuse for a force field.

Mirouku, Sango and Inuyasha all exchanged a look before following the Taiyoukai

****

Kagome had tried to sleep, but for some reason she couldn't. She couldn't get the image out of her head of the Twin's ghost. And were they really called ghost, if they were really just pieces of the castle's memory? She wasn't sure.

Another thing that was bothering her was the secret. What was it? And why was it so important to keep it away from there own family? And more importantly, what did they imagine... or maybe not imagine, but know would happen if it did get out?

All these questions kept going around and around in her head and keeping her from getting any kind of sleep. Not that it mattered; how do you sleep in a place that you didn't trust anyone?

Thats why she was, once again, walking around the castle. A castle that was telling her its story... question was: why? And where the hell was Naraku? If what Kagura said was true; shouldn't he have shown himself? She didn't know if Naraku was still alive and behind all this, but she did know something or someone else was in this castle with them. She could feel its power... and whatever it is, it's strong. Very strong. Yet the power didn't feel familiar... and if it was Naraku, it should be familiar.

Kagome turned down another hall as she kept walking aimlessly through the castle. Suddenly she felt a familiar sensation. She could sense someone else in the castle. She stopped, shut her eyes and waited.

Then she felt it again.

With a gasp her eyes flew open in shock as she realized who it was.

`Sesshoumaru...'

She took off at a dead run in his direction.

**Somewhere else in the castle**

"Why'd we have to come through the back?"

Inuyasha gave the monk an irritated look before passing him with a frown.

"Because for everyone else going through the front isn't possible."

"Hm," replied Mirouku. He'd forgotten that little tidbit when they'd followed where Kagura had gone back into the castle.

They had been a little puzzled as to why she was going around back, but when they saw how the entire back of the castle was completely in tack they understood. And as soon as they established that all of them were seeing the same thing they followed Sesshoumaru through the only door they saw that leaded inside.

They all looked around at the room they were occupying. It was a large room lined with plants along both sides of the room and a bunch of tapestries that depicted different sceneries. Along the far wall was another door.

"Amazing. I would never have imagined it to be so nice on the inside," said Sango softly in awe.

"Yes, well I have a feeling that many things are not going to be as they seem here," replied the monk with a surreptitious look at the room. When he noticed Sesshoumaru heading towards the door he gave a slight nod in his direction then fell into step behind the taijiya as she moved to follow the youkai.

"Feh," said Inuyasha with a fold of his arms. So far, there was nothing he could see that was interesting about the place.

Sesshoumaru saw the door that lead further into the castle and moved towards it. He could sense that Kagome was somewhere close.

They walked through the castle passing room after room but not stopping to look around. They followed the Taiyoukai as he continued to move swiftly through the halls saying nothing. They all sensed that he was looking for something...or someone and didn't want to disturb him.

As they moved further down the halls they all gradually began to feel it. A sense of peace flowed through them all; calming them. Behind the Taiyoukai, the three of them exchanged knowing looks. They knew this feeling.

Kagome was near.

**Soomewhere else in the castle/**

Kagome ran faster as she sensed, not only Sesshoumaru's presence, but Mirouku, Sango and Inuyasha too.

She didn't know how they'd come to be there, but was happy they were there with her. But, she worried if they had played right into their enemy's hands.

Kagome ran faster.

**Somewhere close by**

Sesshoumaru could sense that they were getting closer. He wasn't too sure of what was going on, but he knew that whatever it was Kagome had better be okay when he found her.

His eyes glowed bright with anger. Once he saw that she was okay he'd deal with Kagura. She would pay for taking Kagome. No on took what belonged to him. Whether Kagome went willingly mattered not to him.

**Somewhere else even closer**

Kagome slowed down to a walk when she realized she wasn't very far from them. For some reason she felt nervous all of a sudden. She had a feeling that her nervousness had nothing to do with the situation they were in and everything to do with Sesshoumaru.

This would be the first time they spoke or saw each other since he'd left to go check on his lands and she was well aware of the fact that they hadn't spoke about what happened between them. She wondered if he thought about it? If he thought about her?

She wondered if she would have the guts to ask him either.

Then Kagome stopped wondering about anything at all.

Because when she turned the next corner he was in front of her.

"Sesshoumaru..."

**Even closer**

Sesshoumaru moved quickly as he kept all his senses open for anything unwelcome. As he darted his eyes from side to side in a sweep of his surroundings he came to quick halt.

The others stopped as well when they noticed Sesshoumaru had stopped moving and was just standing in one spot looking straight ahead.

"Sesshoumaru," whispered Inuyasha.

Mirouku looked at Sango questioningly. She replied with a shrug as she returned her gaze to the back of the youkai lord. Sango was just happy that Inuyasha had known to use his `indoor voice' instead of yelling the castle down as usual.

Then they all sucked in their breath when they saw the vision in front of them.

"Sesshoumaru...."

They heard the whisper escape the miko's mouth and they didn't know whether to hug her or strangle her. So, they smiled instead.

Sesshoumaru stared at the miko in front of her and took her in from head to toe. Once he determined that she was, indeed, all right he stood and waited to see what her next move would be.

Kagome stared; stunned to see him just standing there in front of her. Part of her felt like she'd conjured him up with how much she'd been thinking about him, while the other part of her just wanted to launch herself into his arms and never move again... or at least not in the foreseeable future.

Kagome blushed prettily at where her thoughts had been going. Then slowly walked forward until she was within inches of the Taiyoukai. She tilted her head back so she could keep eye contact, than gave him a small smile.

"Sesshoumaru."

She had no idea that she'd already said his name once.

Sesshoumaru stared down into the face that had haunted him night and day and faught the urge to pull her close to him. He didn't understand what she was doing to him and wasn't at all sure if he liked it.

Then he didn't think at all, because she had moved and wrapped her arms tight around his waist in a hug. Much like the time when they had stood beside the lake at night many days ago.

Kagome moved back away from him before he could do or say anything. She couldn't believe she'd just wrapped herself around him like that... again.

She blushed even more when her eyes connected with his again. `Beautiful.' She could look at him all day and never get tired of the sight.

"Are you alright?"

Kagome felt a shiver run down her spine at the sound of his voice. She wondered how a voice could have such a strong effect on her. She nodded in reply then a glint came into her eyes.

"Took you long enough to get here."

Sesshoumaru arched a brow at that, but said nothing.

Inuyasha watched the play between Kagome and his brother. He saw the way she looked at Sesshoumaru and couldn't help noting that she had never looked at him in quite the same way before. Inuyasha noticed that Sesshoumaru treated Kagome different from the way he treated anyone else. He also noticed that she had yet, to acknowledge the rest of them.

`Feh! You'd think he was the only one here!' he thought in disgust and scrunched his nose up as he continued to watch them.

Then, as if she could read his mind, Kagome turned to the rest of them and said hello.

"Hey, guys! I apologize if I worried you. It wasn't my intention."

They nodded; none of them wanting to yell at her right then.

"Kagome," said Sango. "Why'd you leave? Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, Sango I'm fine and I'll explain everything that I've been told and learned with you all in just a moment," she said softly to her friend.

Sango nodded slowly and wanted to ask more, but kept quiet.

"Come on. Follow me."

She automatically grabbed Sesshoumaru's hand as she turned and lead them further into the castle.

No one commented on the fact that she'd grabbed the Taiyoukai by the hand and began towing him behind her... not even the Taiyoukai. And no one said anything about the fact that he was letting her.

***

They'd been walking through the castle for fifteen minutes while they followed Kagome through the maze of halls and stairs.

Kagome lead them about as she filled them in on all that she'd been told by Kagura and what she'd learned while she was there that whole day. Inuyasha didn't take too well at the implication that someone wanted to use him for something that was possibly meant to hurt her. Sesshoumaru didn't either. She explained to them about the pain she'd watched the wind demon go through and why she knew that someone else was in this... not to mention the fact that there seemed to be two mysteries going on at once.

"So, you went with her because you believe the Shikon jewel is here?"

"It is here Sango. I ca feel it, sometimes. And I can also sense something is not quite right with it," she said with a haunted look in her eyes. "I think Kagura was right, and it has had something done to it... something I'm not so sure I can fix."

They all knew what that meant for Kagome. All, except Sesshoumaru. He had no idea Kagome needed the jewel to get home, after all he had no idea the miko wasn't from his time.

"It'll be okay Kagome. You'll see," said Sango with a small smile. She had to believe everything would work out for her friend after all Kagome had done for her and her brother.

Sesshoumaru watched the exchange between the two women and wondered what it was all about. He knew the jewel was important for Kagome since she was its guardian, but he didn't think the situation warranted such sadness... not yet, anyway.

"And you believe her about Naraku?" asked Mirouku quietly; thinking it was time for a change of subject. "You think he is alive?"

"THERES NO FUCKING WAY THAT BABBOON IS STILL ALIVE!"

"I know she believes it, but..." replied Kagome as she ignored Inuyasha's outburst, "I don't know. I do know there is something else in this castle. I've felt its pesence. And whatever it is... its very powerful."

They all looked at her gravely. What had they gotten their selves into?

"But the thing is," she continued thoughtfully aloud, "I don't feel any evil vibes in the presence. I feel nothing, nothing at all." Then she stopped and turned her head to look at the youkai beside her. In the entire time they'd been walking and talking she'd never released his hand. "Which worries me more."

"Huh, why?"

"Because Inuyasha," replied the monk when Kagome just kept staring at Sesshoumaru. "With evil you know they are after something. That there is a reason for why they are doing what they are doing; even if the reason makes no sense. But, when you are dealing with something that seems to have no loyalty to good or evil its worse. Because you know that they will do anything, good or bad, to get what they want. What they want is all that matters." He turned to look at Sango; worry in his eyes. "Something like that has no problem with killing or letting you live. It doesn't care."

Inuyasha looked back and forth between Kagome and Mirouku's drawn faces. He was finally starting to understand just how grave the situation was.

"This isn't good," he sighed; speaking to no one and everyone.

"No," whispered Sango. "Its not."

Kagome continued on her way, still holding on to the Taiyoukai at her side, as they all remained silent to gather their own thoughts about what she'd told them. When she reached her destination she stopped. There was something she wanted to show them all, but mainly she wanted Inuyasha to see it.

"Kagome," said Sesshoumaru softly when they came to a halt, "do you know what it is whoever is behind this wants?"

Kagome, looking straight ahead, shuck her head in the negative. "Look."

Sesshoumaru looked up.

He looked around him at the portraits along the walls. Women on his right; men on the left. He moved further into the hall as he looked back and forth between the walls the rest of them following and doing the same.

"The Takashis."

Kagome moved over to him then.

"Yes," she said; having heard what he'd said. "You know them?"

"I know of them. Father knew Sano Takashi very well."

He gestured towards the portrait of a male youkai two spaces away from the twins.

"Were they friends?" she asked as she stared at the dark haired youkai with eyes the color of fresh blood. She figured that the man was the Twins (as she'd come to think of the brothers) grandfather.

"I wouldn't say that."

Kagome nodded then moved over towards Inuyasha as she noticed he'd stopped in front of the portrait of the Twins. This was why she'd brought them there. She stood by him and waited.

"Who are they?" he asked her quietly.

"There names were Shueran and Shonin," she gestured from right to left.

`Something is familiar about that one on the right."

Kagome was relieved. She'd had a feeling that whatever was bothering her about the portrait would effect Inuyasha as well. It was no lie that she spent most of her time in the Sengoku Jidai, so anything she might have seen she expected he would have too.

Maybe together they could figure it out.

Neither heard the others move behind them to view the portrait with them.

"So, you feel it too," she asked quietly. "That feeling that you've seen him somewhere before, but you know this is the first time you are seeing him."

"Its impossible," said Sesshoumaru from behind her. "Shueran Takashi died over a hundred years ago."

"You knew him?" she asked turning to him then.

"No. He produced no interest in me. At least not while he lived. After his death there was speculation over his young widow, but I do not recall why."

"Hmm. That her there." She pointed to the portrait directly behind them.

They all turned to look at the picture of the young woman. They took in her long chestnut brown hair and sparkling green eyes. Their was no doubt that she was lovely. They also took in the fact that she was obviously youkai with her pointed ears and claw-like fingernails and that she was wearing a priestess's kimono.

"She was a miko?" breathed Sango dazedly. "But, she's youkai."

No one said anything as no one could explain it either.

Sesshoumaru felt something pushing at his memory, something to do with the woman, but he couldn't grab hold of it. It was no surprise since the Takashi family had never interested him before. They had been good warriors, but he could remember nothing else about them. Though, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he was forgetting.

He didn't like not knowing.

"Father did not bring Inuyasha around here. There is no way he could have met any of them."

Kagome looked at him with a stunned expression. That was the first time the inu-youkai had spoke of his shared life with Inuyasha without malice in his voice. It was a moment to sit back and enjoy, for she doubted it would happen again anytime soon.

"Doesn't matter," Inuyasha chimed in. He wanted to ask why their Father wouldn't bring him there, but he feared the answer might be `shame' or something to that effect and preferred not to hear it. "It is not him that is bugging me. It's his eyes. I've seen them before.... somewhere."

Kagome looked at him with a frown then turned to look at the picture of the Twins again. She still got the feeling that she'd seen him before when she looked at Shueran Takashi. She decided to try what Inuyasha said and focused on just his eyes.

Kagome sucked in her breath then and took a step back. She bumped into Sesshoumaru then and felt him place his hands at her waist to steady her. At the feel of his touch she immediately felt calmer. She decided to ponder that later as she turned to look at the monk.

She nearly sucked her breath in again when her eyes connected with the violet eyes of Mirouku.

"They're yours..." she breathed in shock.

"Kagome?" he tilted his head at her in confusion. He didn't know what she was getting at.

"Mirouku," she swallowed; eyes glazed in wonder, "they're your eyes."

****

A pair of dark eyes watched the group from the shadows.

Ah, they've come inside. And I see the miko is slowly putting the pieces together. I knew she could do it once she had the monk with her again. But, will she figure it out, I wonder? Will she do it in before it is time to put my plans into action? Doesn't matter.

The full moon will rise in three days. I will leave them to themselves until them. Now, for the witch... I must have her put them in the tower with the miko. Then I will deal with the hanyou.

I will have what I want... or I shall start taking lives.

~*~

Author: Okay, here you all go!! 2 chapters!! I'm sorry it took me so long! I have a sucky computer.. and problems in my family to deal with. Oh, and for those who read on mm.org I'm sorry I haven't updated their, but the damn site wont let me log in!! I've tried everything.... So, until I get in all updates will be on ff.net. I also plan on posting at A Single Spark.

Thank you and the cast shall return in the next chapter... they're a little upset with me (sigh).