InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Angel ❯ Terrifying Vision ( Chapter 55 )

Chapter Fifty-Five:

Terrifying vision

April

InuTaisho sighed and rubbed his eyes. Closing the scroll he had been reading, he sat back in his chair. He had been going over each and every document that had been stored in the library archives in the last two decades. Since he was Co-Lord of the Western lands and may very well end up becoming the sole Lord of the Western lands he wanted to reacquaint himself with his lands, and familiarize himself with any new changes that had occurred in absence.

So far, his son had done a superb job in managing the lands. The western lands was the most prosperous of the other territories however, there were some….discrepancies that he was suspicious of.

There were deaths not properly explained. Deaths of women, their illnesses unknown. That would not have been so significant had their not be such a large sum of women as well as the age factor. These were young women between the ages of seventeen and thirty three; humans and youkai alike.

Their deaths had not been investigated thoroughly enough for his liking. What was even more alarming was that one of the Elders had taken a personal hand in organizing the investigations.

Elder Torao.

What need would one of the Elders have to oversee simple investigations of female deaths?

The answer was none.

There was not one reason for Elder Torao to have anything to do with the investigations at all. His instincts were on high alert. Something was not right. He knew it.

He stood up from the desk, scooping up the scroll as he did so and left the library. He would keep these scrolls and look at them carefully later. Before he confronted Torao about his involvement, he needed to find proof of wrong doings. Though it was uncommon for an Elder to oversee such investigations, it was not unlawful. If he confronted him about it before he had any evidence, Torao may try and cover his tracks.

Nay, he had to investigate Torao quietly and extremely discreetly.

Torao was very good at hiding his dirty deeds, if he got even a slight hint that InuTaisho was investigating him, he would go through and clean up every single piece of incriminating evidence.

InuTaisho headed to his room in the west wing. He had taken up this room because his old bedroom was occupied by his son and his pregnant mate. Though it was not his bedroom, he was comfortable enough in it; however he could not help but miss his old room. That room held so many memories for him. It was the place where he and Izaoi had spent many a steamy night together, wrapped in each others arms. Who would not want their room back considering the memories attached to it?

He hated to admit that he wanted it back; it seemed….selfish in some way.

Tossing the scroll on the bed, he walked to double glass doors leading out to the balcony. Flinging the doors open he ran his hand over his face.

He did not understand these feelings. He did not want to understand them.

Even though he and Sesshomaru were Co-Lords he noticed that it was Sesshomaru that went to the hearings of disputes between villagers, it was Sesshomaru who the people looked to and to be perfectly honest, it irritated him at times.

Reaching out he grabbed the short stone wall tightly.

He closed his eyes. He should not feel this way.

He understood that he had been presumed dead and because of that, his son had taken his place as Lord of the Western lands as was proper, and he was proud of his son for doing such a great job, but to him, only a day had passed since he had last been Lord, not a century. To him, in his mind, in his heart; he was still the Western Lord and it killed him that he felt this way and yet he could not change his feelings.

He opened his eyes and looked over at the rolling hills and green pastures of the western lands.

It had changed and yet, remained the same. Looking out at the beautiful land he felt his heart clench. These lands were his heart and soul. When he had taken over at the tender age of seventy-eight he had put everything he was into the land.

This land was apart of him.

He could not help but want his life back.

He clenched his fists. He had to stop these….feelings. They were selfish, selfish thoughts.

He paced away from the balcony, ducking back into his room. He stood there, silent for a moment, before walking to the door. He could not stop himself, nor would he lie to himself. He wanted to his lands back; he wanted to be Lord of the Western lands once more. He sighed. But if being a Co-Lord was the closes he could get to it then it would have to be enough for now.

Besides, he and his son were nearly the perfect team. Sesshomaru seemed content with staying in his study to review paper work, while InuTaisho had been out visiting the different villages. It would have been perfect, if not for the fact that even though they had to work closely together Sesshomaru had still managed to keep him at a distance.

Though he still called InuTaisho 'father', when he spoke, he spoke as though he were speaking to a stranger he had never met before.

It was heartbreaking to say the least.

Pushing those thoughts away, he walked outside to find InuYasha lazing about on the lawn. InuTaisho's eyebrows drew down. Walking over to his pup, he grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him up off the ground.

"Hey!" InuYasha yelled as his feet dangled a few inches off the ground, "Put me down old man!"

"Why have you not joined the military as commanded?" InuTaisho asked.

InuYasha turned his face away from his father.

"I told ya that sort of thing ain't for someone like me," he said angrily.

"How would you know unless you try?" InuTaisho asked.

InuYasha growled.

"I know where I fit in and where I don't,"

InuTaisho sighed and let his son down.

"Son, you are at the age where you have to figure out what you are going to do with your life. Do you honestly wish to stay here as you are, doing nothing everyday or do you want to do something with your life? At least in the military you would be doing something noble and honorable. The only reason I have even approached you about this is because I want to see you do something with your life,"

"And what life would that be?" InuYasha asked angrily, "In case you haven't notice I'm a hanyou, a half-breed. What the hell kind of life can I make for myself? Hanyous are not exactly socially accepted."

InuTaisho's eyes softened. Reaching out, he ruffled his son's hair.

"So you're going to give up and laze about the rest of your life instead of making them accept you?"

InuYasha crossed his arms, his frown deepening. How in the hell was he supposed to get anyone to accept him? He was a hanyou; he was not someone that would ever be accepted in society. Why couldn't his father understand that and leave him the hell alone?

"You can only be a victim if you allow yourself to be," InuTaisho said.

"I ain't a victim," InuYasha growled.

"Then do not play the part of one. Get up and do something with your life,"

InuYasha sighed.

"Yeah, yeah," he said as he began to walk away.

InuTaisho watched as he disappeared into the forest bordering the gardens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miroku sat silently, his brow twitching in irritation.

"And Lord Sesshomaru wants the entire interior of the castle to be decorated in the colors of the west considering the fact that this is now part of the Western lands," Jaken said loudly.

Miroku rubbed his eyes.

Why in the holy hell had Lord Sesshomaru saw fit to leave this irritating toad behind? He supposed it was Sesshomaru's way of having eyes and ears located in the castle, but shit, did those eyes and ears need to belong to that little imp?

"Did you hear me you worthless human? These decorations need to be seen too immediately!"

Miroku cut his eyes at the little green thing. Jaken took a nervous step back at the look.

"Stupid human," Jaken muttered.

Miroku stood, violet eye blazing. Jaken took off, running out of the room before Miroku could give him his lumps. He had suffered more than enough punishment at the hands of that particular human in the past few weeks.

Miroku sighed as the door slammed closed behind him. That damn toad had given him a headache with his constant jabbering. He turned back to the documents he had been going over before the interruption. He reread the report given to him by one of the soldiers.

The words scrawled across the scroll worried him.

Two hundred and fifty deaths had occurred in the past two days, each one unexplained. Three villages had been totally annihilated, leaving behind bodies whose face were twisted and frozen in an expression of horror.

It had to be the work of Vishious.

There was no other explanation for the deaths. Even though they had the sword now, they would have to wait until Kagome gave birth in order to use it. But if this was truly the work of Vishious, then they could no longer wait.

Something had to be done.

And then there was Rykotsu, he could not be over looked. Both he and Vishious were out on the loose.

But what could they do? They had no idea where to find either one of them. Not from a lack of trying either. He rubbed his eyes. This was becoming increasingly difficult and worrisome.

They had no leads, no way to find Vishious or Ehvil and dying villagers.

He stood and walked towards the door.

There was no point in sitting here and looking over those documents. Staring at them would not bring him any closer to a solution.

Miroku walked down the stairs, down the hall and out the double doors leading outside.

"What's wrong?" Sango asked as she approached him, Kirara cuddled in her arms.

"That damn toad," Miroku said with a sigh.

Sango smiled sympathetically. Poor man. She could understand his feelings. She too had had more than enough of the little imp, but Miroku had to deal with the thing on a daily bases. Sango was lucky enough not to have to come into contact with him more than a few times a week.

Walking up to him, she gently placed her lips against his own. Reaching out, Miroku wrapped an arm around her waist, deepening the kiss. Sango closed her eyes, leaning into the kiss, her mind swimming.

She had never thought it could be this way with Miroku.

He was so sweet, so caring. They had gotten so close over the last few years, and every time she was with him, she knew she was loved and protected. His embrace was always warm and welcoming. His smile gentle and loving. His touch the softest of caresses. He was everything she had ever wanted in a man.

Sango pulled back, a blush on her face. She looked into those soft violet eyes. The emotion in them stirred her own heart.

"How is the investigation going?" she asked.

He sighed again.

"Not well. The cause of death for the villager is still unknown, but from what has been written in the reports, it seems as though the soul was taken right from the body, however there is no way to prove that such a thing occurred,"

"That's….disturbing. Do you know who is behind the deaths? Is it the remaining Evil Six members?"

"Most likely but we can not jump to conclusions just yet. We have to know for sure,"

"Until we can confirm it, what will do?"

"I want to go and investigate personally. Maybe I can find a clue as to what is going on,"

"Fine, I'll go with you,"

Miroku shook his head.

"I need you to stay here and keep things under control,"

"Miroku-"

Reaching out, Miroku placed a finger against her lips to silence any refusals. He had known she would want to go with him, however, there was no way he would allow her to go out into Kami knows what sort of danger. Whatever it was that was killing off the villagers seemed even more dangerous than the deceased members of the Evil Six.

And then there was the possibility that whatever was killing the villager was completely separate from the Evil Six. If that were the case, he could end up being attacked by both the Evil Six and this new evil.

He did not want Sango in such a situation.

"I need you to contact Lord Sesshomaru and Lord InuTaisho and inform them of the situation as well as explain to them why I am leaving to investigate," he said removing his finger from her lips, "Until I return, I am turning over my power of advisor to you,"

Sango opened her mouth.

"Sango," he said placing his finger to her lips once more, "I can not trust anyone else to do this for me. With Kagome gone, Rykotsu turned traitorous and the danger lurking beyond the castle walls I can trust no one else. Please, Sango. I need your help,"

Sango removed his hand and looked up into his violet eyes, her brown eyes shimmering with concern.

Kirara meowed, jumping from her arms and scurrying off. Sango sighed.

"Okay, but only if you take some soldiers with you,"

Miroku opened his mouth. This time, Sango placed her finger over his mouth, a stern look on her face.

"It is not up for debate. Either take some guards with you or take me with you," she said.

Miroku sighed. Sango would have her way no matter what. Taking her fingers, he kissed them, bringing a heated blush to her cheeks.

"Alright, I will take a small group along with me," he said.

Sango sighed in relief, closing her eyes.

"Now, on to more important business,"

Sango opened her eyes, looking up at him questioningly. Her blush engulfed her face as his hand caressed her rear end.

"How about a quickie before I leave," Miroku said with a lecherous look in his eyes.

Sango reared back and smacked him across the face. Miroku was seeing stars as he fell to the ground. Moving to stand over him, Sango placed her hands on her hips, glaring down at the perverted male.

"Is that all you think about?" she exclaimed.

Miroku sat up on his elbow, his left hand reaching up to hold his stinging cheek.

"But Sango dearest, what else am I to think about during the day when the pleasure only comes at night?"

Sango shushed him furiously, looking around to see if anyone had heard. Of course no one had, there was no one around at the moment.

"Do you want the whole castle to find out?" Sango hissed.

Miroku blinked.

He wondered if he should tell her that the whole castle already knew, the servants and peasants alike had only been discreet enough to not let Sango know that they knew what went on at night between the two. Things did not stay secret around the castle for long. Many a maid had come into his room or Sango's to clean. Seeing the two in bed they would quietly sneak out trying not to wake either person, but were unaware that Miroku had not been sleeping.

Looking at her red face and shifting eyes he decided against telling her. If he did tell her then she may decide to end their affair.

Nay, he would keep it to himself for now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With her eyes closed, Kagura let the smooth notes drifted over her ears. The sound was soothing and comforting, the softest of melodies. It made her feel relaxed; completely and utterly at ease. Her relaxed mind could not help but wander to Ensei.

She smiled a bit. He had sent her another letter, as well as an acceptance letter for the May Day celebration. He would be here in a matter of days. Having memorized the letter, she reread it in the comfort of her mind.

Dear Kagura,

As I write this letter, my heart aches to see your beautiful face. This time away from you feels like an eternity. Every lonely day, every lonely hour, every lonely second is filled with thoughts of you and only you. I can only hope you feel the same way about me, or that you think of me occasionally at the least.

Even if you do not I prefer to imagine that you do. It gives me comfort, eases the ache in my heart.

I have accepted the invitation to the May Day celebration, though I do not usually receive such invitations. I am glad that I received it this year. It will bring me closer to you. I leave in two days time.

I look forward to the moment I can once again place my arms around you.

With Love,

Ensei.

She could not help but be nervous about seeing him again. Somehow, after making her decision to carry out Vishious' orders, she feared he would know; that he would take one look at her and know the truth about her. She knew not if those were her feelings or if Vishious had implanted them in order to insure her compliance.

If he had, he had not needed to; she had already made her decision. She would not lose Ensei. She would do whatever she had to do to keep him safe and alive.

But….

A memory of Kagome finding her in the forest, broken and bruised, her concerned cinnamon eyes, her kind touch.

Kagura opened her eyes and look over at the dark haired woman playing the erhu. It was almost too painful to look at her, knowing what dark thoughts lurked in her heart. Was this really the right decision?

She looked down at Kagome's extended belly. Over the weeks it had began to grow and expand. At one point Kagome had let Kagura listen to the many heart beats inside her womb.

That day, if Kagura could have, she would have cried. Instead she had excused herself abruptly and hurried upstairs, shutting away the world for hours. But even in the confines of her room she had not felt any relief; instead the guilt had beat at her like an angry fist.

She looked away as the last note drifted from the instrument, and silence once more settled. The three women had o gone out into the garden for tea and Kagome's erhu lessons. They sat at a round white table sipping tea and eating different pastries.

"Very good Kagome," Shusui said clapping her hands together, "That was perfect,"

"Not quite," Kagome said with a slight smile, "I did not play the song as you did, Shusui,"

Shusui shook her head.

"That is not a bad thing Kagome. Even though you did not play as I did, you still created beautiful music. Having your own touch to a song can only enhance the sound,"

"Hmm," Kagome murmured doubtfully.

Shusui smiled, reaching out to touch the younger woman's hand.

"Trust me, Kagome, it is for the best, it will help you learn. You can take any song and enhance it with your own touch, your own flare, your own uniqueness and make it your own,"

Kagome pondered that.

Adding a flare to a song, huh? She could see how that could be fun; however, she could not help but want to create her own song. She wanted a song made by her to call her own.

"Alright Shusui," she said as she turned to Kagura.

She was staring off into the distance again, a painfully sad look on her face. She had been doing that quite often. Kagome was beginning to worry. She had approached her often, trying over and over to get her to tell her what was wrong; but Kagura was such a closed off person. She would say it was nothing or switch the subject.

What was going on? What was she so sad about? And what could she do to stop it?

Kagura had already suffered so much in her lifetime; Kagome did not want her to suffer anymore. She inwardly sighed. She would trade her ability to see the future for the ability to see into another person's heart.

Putting on a smile, she reached out across the table and touched her hand. Kagura turned startled eyes on to her. Kagome was surprised at the look in them. There was some emotion blazing in those crimson eyes, some emotion she could not put a name to.

Pushing the thoughts away, she focused on Kagura.

"What's wrong Kagura?" she asked.

"Wrong?" Kagura asked, a bit confused.

"You've been staring off into the distance for a while, I was wondering what, if anything, was wrong," Kagome said with a soft, coaxing smile.

Kagura looked off to the side, as if she could not look her in the eyes.

"No, nothing is wrong," Kagura answered softly.

Kagome and Shusui shared a concerned look. It sure looked like more than nothing.

Kagome sighed.

She would wait a while longer for her to tell her the truth. Kagura was her friend, and she wanted to help in any way she could, even if she could do nothing, she wanted to at least share the burden.

Kagome squeezed Kagura's hand softly. Kagura turned sad eyes back to Kagome.

"I'm here when you're ready," Kagome said.

Shusui nodded.

"We both are,"

Kagura stared at them both, her eyes trying to say what her lips would not. Not knowing what to say, she nodded dumbly, overwhelmed with emotion. If only they knew what was bothering her, would they still treat her this way? Would she still be able to call these two women friends?

She highly doubted it; and knowing that hurt all the more.

"Have you finished everything for the May Day celebration?" she asked Kagome, hoping to change the subject.

Kagome paused a moment before smiling as Kagura looked back at her with a leveled look. Fine, they would change the topic.

"Almost," she responded.

"Almost? What's left to do?"

"I forgot to get the permission for the games and tournaments from Sesshomaru," she said.

"Do you think he will refuse?"

"No, I don't think he will but there is no telling with him. He's been a bit…moody since the decision for there to be Co-Lords, and having to work so close with his father has done nothing to make his mood any better,"

"So you noticed as well?" Shusui asked.

Kagome nodded.

"How did you know?" she asked.

"Oh please," Shusui said with a huff, "He may be able to hide behind that indifferent facade from those that are not familiar with him on a personal level, but I helped raise that pup and I know him inside and out,"

Kagome giggled. It was hard to think of Sesshomaru as anything other than the glowering, tall, broad shouldered opposing male that he was now, let alone as a pup. It was damn near impossible for her to believe.

"I'd better go and take care of that now," Kagome said standing.

Shusui stood to help her up. Kagome put out a hand.

"Oh come now Shusui, I'm not that big yet. I've just barely begun to show. Wait until then," Kagome said with a laugh.

Shusui smiled and took her seat once more. The two women watched as she disappeared back inside the castle.

"She loves you, you realize that, ne?" Shusui asked Kagura as the doors of the castle close behind Kagome.

Kagura looked down at her cup of tea. It had gotten cold.

"Yes…I know,"

They sat in silence a moment. She knew Kagome loved her as a friend, she just wished that love did not mean so much to her, but it did. Kami did it ever. She had never been loved before, was not even sure what it was exactly, but she knew that she had it from Kagome.

It was such a painful thing….this…love.

"She worries for you…..I worry for you as well. Kagura, we know that some thing is wrong. We will not force you to say what it is but I want you to know that we are here for you. You need only take that first step," Shusui said as she stood and walked away.

"I know," she said softly, closing her eyes, "But I can't,"

A malevolent energy snaked up her body, engulfing her body, freezing the very air in her lungs. It was stronger than it had ever been, even before Vishious had been released from his prison. He was getting stronger. That was the only explanation. The poison had worn off and his power was beginning to return.

'Of course you can't, Kagura,' Vishious said in her mind.

Kagura squeezed her eyes shut in disgust as she quickly cleared her mind of any and every private thought she had in her mind. She became as blank as a puppet. She could feel Vishious' surprise at the sudden change.

Kagura did not require much sleep, and in the quiet, lonely nights she would meditate all through the night, clearing her mind and letting it stay clear for hours at a time. She applied those meditating skills now.

'Will you not let me deeper into your mind, my dear creation?' he asked in amusement.

Kagura did not respond, concentrating only on keeping her mind clear. She could not let him know that she had doubts about carrying out his order.

Vishious chuckled.

'Do not forget Kagura, if you disobey me I will put an end to the wretched life of that wolf and I will make you watch me do it,'

Still Kagura stood her ground of silence, trying not to let him see how his words affected her. She would not give him the satisfaction.

Vishious laughed in her mind, the evil sound reverberating through her mind. She let go of a breath she had not known she had been holding when he disappeared from her mind.

She clenched her fists in frustrated anger and hopeless despair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kagome walked silently through the castle, her hand on her belly, searching for Sesshomaru. He was hiding his energy again. She had come to realize he did so when he was avoiding his father, and since they had to work together, that was too often. She sighed. She could still sense him a bit, which was most likely due to the mating mark on her neck, but the connection was barely there.

As she rounded a corner she sensed a different energy; similar, but not quite the same as Sesshomaru's. InuTaisho walked towards her, a ready smile on his face upon seeing her.

She smiled as well as she walked towards him. She opened her mouth to welcome him, but strangely, no words came out. She stopped, her eyes widening in surprise as InuTaisho began to disappear in the hall, his body becoming transparent before completely disappearing.

The air around her felt charged and everything suddenly went dark. Kagome looked around in confused fear as a scent touched her nose. It was the scent of something burning.

Within the blink of an eye the scenery had changed. No longer was she in the halls of the Western castle, but in a village. The village was burning at an unusually fast rate, the heat from the fire seemingly ten times more intense than normal fire. She could feel it on her own skin and feared it would scorch her. Villagers screamed all around her, running away from something.

Her heartbeat increasing at the unknown danger, Kagome ran in the opposite direction, trying to see what it was the villagers feared.

As she ran, something atop a roof moved, its body seeming to be stiff. She could tell from a distance that the thing was not human. It walked to the edge of the roof, crouching down. As the villagers ran pass it, trying to escape, Kagome saw the being tense up, preparing for attack.

Kagome ran as fast as her legs and large belly would allow her.

"NO! Don't!" she screamed at the beast.

Her words went unheard; in a burst of speed, the being leapt from the roof and onto a terrified villager. The young woman screamed as the thing grabbed both sides of her face and pulled her up high off her feet, a strange rumbling coming from its chest.

The woman sat limp, her limbs paralyzed in fear as she looking into the eyes of the beast. Kagome stopped running, frozen by the look on the woman's face. She had never seen such fear on the face of another person in all her life. The scent of urine reached her nose. Brown eyes looked down at the feet of the woman.

Urine dripped down her legs. Eyes wide, Kagome looked back up at the woman who gazed at the being holding her in complete terror.

What was that thing?

Once more the energy around her felt charged and dry. A dark purple light began to glow from the being's hands.

Kagome felt a chill go up her spine as the being spoke three words.

"We are hungry,"

The woman in his hands opened her mouth as if to scream. Kagome took a step back as the being opened its mouth as well, its jaw dropping to chest level. From the woman's mouth, a white, smoky wisp of energy emerged and was sucked into the beings mouth.

"Her soul," Kagome whispered in shock.

As the soul was pulled from the woman, her skin turned dark, blackening; her flesh wrinkling and paling. Kagome watched in horror as he drained the woman of her life force.

When at last the woman's soul was gone, it tossed the body without a care. Kagome could not take her eyes from the shriveled, blackened body on the ground. The scent of rotted flesh reached her nose. Kagome turned and retched, spewing forth the tea and pastries she had eaten earlier.

The stench was worse than the smell of death.

Her eyes watered as her stomach roiled and she threatened to vomit again.

She had to get a grip on herself. This was a vision, and if she didn't pay attention to it she could possibly miss something important.

Bringing up the sleeve of her kimono, she covered her mouth and nose and forced herself to search for the being. She did not have to search hard. It was walking towards her. Her eyes widened.

"That's not possible….." she said stepping back.

She recognized that face.

It was one of the members of the Evil Six. The one called himself Ahgony. His face…it was the same face.

But how could it be?

Ahgony had been killed! She was sure of it! Sesshomaru had slain him with his own hand! Unless…

Kagome looked into Ahgony's eyes just as the woman had done. Kagome gasped, her body frozen. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Every though that came to her mind stayed no more than a second before vanishing once more.

His eyes.

They were…

"We are hungry," it said reaching out to her.

Kagome closed her eyes tight, terror as she had never known before gripping her entire body. She felt it coming closer, felt its aura, felt the bottomless pit of hunger for souls and she did the only thing she could do. She screamed.

"Sesshomaru!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sesshomaru sat as his study, his amber eyes narrowed in concentration as he read the report from Jaken. He was glad to have gotten rid of the imp. Before leaving, he had given him instruction to watch the castle and keep him updated with weekly reports of anything and everything going on in or out of the castle. So far there had been nothing for the toad to report.

The castle and land were being run efficiently and smoothly by the advisor, Miroku. He had to admit that Miroku knew what to report and was well organized for a human. He had been receiving more detailed and relevant reports from him every one to two weeks.

The reports from the advisor was about ten scrolls long and contained important information such as finances, conflict between inhabitants, and any other note worthy changes occurring in the former Northern lands. So far there had been many note worthy incidents that would require complete and thorough investigation:

The mysterious and gruesome deaths that had been occurring in all three territories.

So far, neither the Southern, Eastern or Western lands had been able to come up with a single lead as to whom or what was behind the killings.

Sesshomaru suspected it was the handy work of Vishious; however there was no evidence to support or rule out that suspicion.

Turning his thoughts back to Jaken's report, he began to read. It was not long before his sliver brow twitched in irritation.

Two sentences deep into the report and he was already annoyed by the toad's letter.

Everything is going well, my Lord, although the villagers seemed to be in an uproar over Lord InuTaisho returning to the Western lands. Many of them are supports of Lord InuTaisho! Such, ungrateful little wretches! How dare they throw you over for Lord InuTaisho!

You are their Lord! No one is greater than Lord Sesshomaru!

The nerve of those fools!

Do not worry my Lord! I will silence these traitorous thoughts and whispers!

Not in the mood for Jaken's rambling, he put the letter aside and picked up another scroll. This was one of the many scrolls sent to him from Miroku, one of which was labeled 'urgent'.

Picking up the scroll her opened it. Before he could read one word, a scream pierced the air.

He recognized the scream.

Kagome.

Tossing the scroll away he bolted from his seat, his protective instincts kicking into overtime as he tracked down her location, fear tightening his belly. If she were hurt in any way….

At the thought his claws sharpened, his eyes tenting red, his markings turning jagged and illuminated.

As he neared, he felt his father's energy as well. He was with Kagome. That did much to ease the fear in his gut. Though he despised his father with his entire being he knew that if Kagome was with him, he would protect her until Sesshomaru arrived.

He stormed into the hall, his eyes frantically searching out Kagome among the group of people. A crowd of nosy servants and soldiers had gathered at the sound of her shirking. Pushing his way through the sea of people, he finally saw her.

She sat huddled against a wall, her eyes wide with terror, tears running down her face, her chest moving up and down rapidly. InuTaisho was crouched down next to her, gently shaking her.

"What is it, Kagome?" he asked anxiously, "Kagome?"

Sesshomaru wasted no time. The crowd hushed their whispers of concern, as he approached the woman. Sesshomaru barely noticed his father stepping out of the way. Dropping onto a knee in front of her, he reached out for her, one hand cupping her wet chin, looking her over for any signs of physical trauma to her body. Seeing none, he looked back into her eyes.

They were blank, as if she were not all there; in a sort of trance. Frozen in terror. He had seen that look before, thought the fear had not been in them at that time.

She was having a vision.

With that revelation, the tension in his body released. His claws dulled and the red in his eyes evaporated. Reaching out, he wiped away a tear.

"Kagome," he said softly, "You are having a vision and nothing more. Nothing can harm you,"

Sesshomaru ignored the hushed whispers around him. The servants had not known of her ability to see things in the future.

Kagome continued to stare blankly back at him, her fear still radiating from her body. What sort of horror had she seen?

"Kagome," he called again, this time giving her a small shake.

That seemed to jar her. She blinked once…twice before she finally saw him.

"You were having a vision," he said to her.

She said nothing a moment. To his surprise, her beautiful brown eyes began to water all over again and she threw herself into his chest. Her whole body shaking in fear. Sesshomaru could do nothing but wrap his arms around her trembling body, as her fingers curled into the silken robes of his kimono in a death grip.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Laters!

~Sessakag