InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Kagome ❯ Chapter Forty Five ( Chapter 45 )

DISCLAIMER:: InuYasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, Shonen Sunday and Viz. I do not claim any rights to those characters. The original characters in this work are figments of my overactive imagination, and I don't receive any financial compensation for any of it.

 

A/N:: Much appreciation to Mooman_fl and Sacred_Sagittarius for their input and beta work.

You guyz rawk!

 

 

 

Many Thanks:

To Dark_Avenger and the members of the Feudal Association

for awarding Finding Kagome

Second Place

Best Drama Fiction

January '07

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding Kagome

 

 

Chapter 45

 

 

 

 

On the third flight of stairs, Ginta stifled a yawn and rubbed at his temple, grimacing. Evil creatures had infiltrated his skull, and were apparently trapped there, since they were trying to bore out through his eyeballs. The energy of his companion was enviable, could only be explained by the gradual changes the man's body was experiencing after an infusion of youkai blood. Now that his own adrenaline had subsided, it was more energy than he honestly wanted to deal with. He needed sleep. Food, sleep, and time to heal.

 

The drone of Hojo's voice up ahead of him drifted down. His exhausted mind was barely able to grasp the odd word or two, it had become an incessant hum behind his pounding head.. Something about Kagome. Or rather something else about Kagome. The guy was obsessed. Kagome would be fine, Ginta had assured him. Repeatedly. InuYasha was with her, he would make certain she was fine. Then as they reached the final landing, his muddled brain caught something about food.

 

"Food . . ." he muttered in response.

 

"Yeah, I was saying I don't have much in the way of it," Hojo stopped and pressed his fingers on a keypad. "But I think I might be able to rustle us up some breakfast." The man was being repulsively cheerful, all things considered, and Ginta strained against the desire to pound him into the floor.

 

"Food would be good," Ginta grumbled, following him into the door.

 

"Excuse the mess . . ." the engineer immediately hustled around the room gathering, rearranging in an agitated manner. "I've been kind of preoccupied lately."

 

Just a step inside the doorway, Ginta scanned the room. He could smell stale beer, and a moldering sandwich, he thought. The walls were festooned with movie posters, mostly science fiction by the abundance of space craft depicted, and what he could only assume to be schematics for the same. There were at least 3 pairs of shoes abandoned abstractly on the floor, what appeared to be the Sunday paper scattered in haphazard pieces around a low table and all over. Gravitating by instinct toward the comfort of the couch's cushions, he tripped on one of the stray shoes. Managing a save by grabbing an over sized metal bracket in the wall, he successfully knocked over an elongated object that was set against the wall.

 

"Whoa!! Take it easy big guy . . ." Hojo admonished, grabbing for the oblong top piece of the object before it struck the floor. "I worked a long time on that," he gave the thing a cursory examination for damage, then ran to quickly remove the papers from the couch.

 

"What the hell is it?" Ginta squinted away from the overhead light, blocking with his hand. The brightness of the room was lighting the way for renewed efforts by the gremlins in his head. He plopped on the freshly unobstructed seat, leaning back and covering his eyes with his forearm.

 

"Its a model. Kind of my own creation, I used pieces from other kits," Hojo held the elongated model up with pride, examining it. "I think the design is much more realistic, taking in the actual physics of traveling in an atmospheric vacuum."

 

“So it's a . . . toy . . .” Ginta mumbled dragging his hands over his face.

 

“I . . . uh . . .” Hojo stammered looking at his technological wonder. “NO!! It's not a toy!!”

 

“So those plans there,” Ginta pointed to a weathered looking blueprint framed on the wall. “Those are for a real ship?”

 

“What? That?” Hojo smiled with pride, “Nah. That's an authentic replica, a numbered collector's print first released in 1992. The Enterprise 'D'. Beautiful isn't it?” he folded his arms and admired the ghastly thing. “Got it on the Internet!! Hey have you ever seen Star Trek? I mean the really old ones, mid to late 20th century T.V., I have almost all of them,” he motioned to a glass enclosed case in the corner. “Star Wars, too, actually and several movies, Starship Troopers, The Jovian Project, Mars Base Alpha . . .” he ticked them off on fingers.

 

"And you collect that crap for fun?" Ginta broke in, clearly disinterested.

 

"Well . . . yeah . . . sure," Hojo set his treasured model down and dragged his fingers through his increasingly unruly bangs. "More technology comes out of fiction than people think. It's like the writers get the idea, and we tech types work on making it happen,” his chest puffed out with pride, then he raised a finger. “Cell phones, for instance . . .” his enthusiasm accelerated markedly, “not unlike communication devices used in old movies and T.V. Shows, in fact the inventor of the very first flip style cellphone attributed the design to the original Star Trek's communication devices!! And personal computers were . . . wow, don't even get me started on those! Why, did you know . . .”

 

Ginta squeezed his eyes closed against the assault, and considered the long term ramifications of just killing the guy. It would be a mercy killing, he thought. I could just put the idiot out of his misery, right now. He really hadn't intended to get Hojo started on anything, except maybe breakfast. The voice quickly became no more than an irritating buzz in his ears. He was not in the mood to coddle this delusional geek. Maybe they would have done better to grab the Angel after all. She would know how to shut the kid up, and let him get some much needed rest.

 

“ . . . like an exercise, I guess . . . I really want to get on at N.A.S.A after I finish my thesis. Aeronautical and Space design. That's my dream.” Ginta's ears perked, and his mind twitched reactively to the name of the government agency.

 

“That's a federal agency, isn't it?” the youkai asked warily.

 

“Uh . . . yeah, it is.”

 

“Forget it, kid. You'd never survive the physical . . . not now, anyway,” Ginta murmured, adding offhandedly, “You should focus on the private sector, there's more money in space tourism anyway.” Eyes closed, he missed the strange look on the young engineer's face. “Didn't you say something about . . . food?” At that he cocked open one eye and gave the man a meaningful look.

 

“Huh? Oh, yeah! Bacon and eggs ok?” Hojo scratched his head and made way toward his 'efficiency kitchen', not much more than a closet with a stove and refrigerator.

 

“Got any soup?” The youkai mumbled. “I seem to be missing a few teeth.” He tongued the gaps along his molars with distaste.

 

“I'll look,” and he disappeared through the door.

 

The banging of cupboard doors made the youkai wince, and he curled up into ball, his upper arm strategically planted over his exposed ear. The guy could talk, that was for sure. Kouga had picked a perfect mouthpiece, provided they could keep him on topic. He was certain that he would have gone on for at least an hour about stupid spaceship designs if he didn't redirect him. He needed food. Just partially healing from the battering had depleted all of his stored resources. He would be no good to Miranda if he didn't get his strength back.

 

He could only pray that Kouga had exhausted his anger by now, and with the absence of other males around his mate, hopefully mellowed. Ginta conceded that he might very well be a fool, but he still harbored a lingering hope that his leader could be reasoned with. Perhaps Miranda would have more luck in getting through to the stubborn ass than he'd had.

 

“No soup, but scrambled eggs aren't too hard to chew,” Hojo offered from the doorway. “Hey, do you think we should call them? Make sure she's alright?”

 

Call them. The generalization confused the youkai for a moment, his own thoughts having drifted to Miranda. Then he realized that Hojo's concerns had not been about their First Mother, but rather the priestess that he was so obsessed with. For some inexplicable reason, that pissed Ginta off.

 

“Oh, right . . .” Ginta uncurled himself and rose up to glare at his companion. “I can just see it now . . . Mid-swing with Tetsusaiga, InuYasha calls a 'time-out' to answer his stupid cellphone . . . 'Oh hi there, Hojo!! Nah, I'm not too busy, just fighting off a HORDE OF DEMONS . . . So, how you doing?'” He lowered his thumb and pinky from the mock call at his ear to scowl at the fool.

 

“Tetsusaiga?”

 

“Yeah, his sword,” Ginta instructed, rubbing at his forehead. “His really, really BIG sword,” he motioned with his hands, stretching a bit to approximate the size of the hanyou's weapon.

 

“Get out!” Hojo scoffed. “You can't be serious.”

 

“As a heart attack,” Ginta fought against the glare of the lighting to counter Hojo's dismissive amusement. “And he knows how to use it, don't kid yourself. Kagome is going to be fine.”

 

Hojo didn't look convinced, and Ginta slowly shook his head. He wasn't in the mood to argue the point, or go into detailed descriptions of what he had seen the hanyou do with his weapon. More than a weapon, the thing seemed to have a sentience of it's own, the spells and enchantments on it were so powerful.

 

“So . . . when I challenge him . . .” Hojo began to look a little worried. Looking up, Ginta stared blankly at the man. He had to have heard him wrong, he couldn't have actually said that.

 

“When you challenge him . . . Him being InuYasha??” At Hojo's crisp nod he snorted then dropped his head, shaking it. “If I had known that . . . I wouldn't have wasted my time with you. Your already a dead man, might as well just go lay down right now.”

 

“But . . . Kouga says that . . . a point of vulnerability . . . a time when he's weak . . .” Hojo stammered disjointedly as he leaned against the door jam, shoulders slumped.

 

“Kouga says, huh? Did he bother to tell you when that might be?” At the shaking of the young man's head, he pressed on, “If that's the case, then let me ask you this,” Ginta reasoned. “Why is it that Kouga never used this information himself? He announced his claim on Kagome a long time before InuYasha even thought about it . . . so why didn't he ever exploit this so called weakness himself?”

 

Hojo lowered his head and tugged nervously at his left earlobe.

 

“I didn't realize Kouga had ever had designs on her . . .” he muttered, staring at the floor.

 

Ginta watched him speculatively for a short time, an uneasy silence permeated the room. The fool wouldn't stand a chance if he were to follow through with a challenge. And he could scent the confusion and anger that was simmering deep inside of him. Hojo was feeling betrayed. It had become a common theme lately among those who associated with the Ookami prince. The kid was in good company.

 

“Well, who knows what Kouga thinks?” Ginta rubbed at his sore jaw. “I sure as hell don't anymore. I will tell you this. If that girl really is Kagome-neesan, then she won't settle for anyone but InuYasha. The smartest thing you can do is write it off.”

 

“Right,” Hojo agreed sarcastically, glaring at him. “Like I can do that.”

 

“Or . . .” Ginta proposed with a rueful grin, “I can invest in a wreath for your casket . . . But before you take off on your suicide mission, how about some eggs?”

 

Noting that the third time seemed to be the charm, Ginta watched a disillusioned Hojo disappear into the kitchen.

 

 

 

88*88*88**88*88*88

 

 

 

 

 

Kagura's face glowed in the darkened library, as she leaned into a laptop from her seat next to a sleeping miko. Fixing immediately on the curled form, InuYasha made a beeline to her kneeling to inspect her in the half light. He let out a breath of relief that she seemed to be simply sleeping. Pup tucked into one arm, his free hand traced her brow affectionately.

 

The only sounds in the quiet room were the ticking of the clock and a rustle of fabric as Kagura straightened and stretched. Looking up at her mate expectantly, the warmth in his eyes told her all had gone well with the debriefing. It had taken long enough, the sun would be rising soon.

 

“I tried to talk her into going to bed,” Kagura whispered. “But she would have none of it. I had the 'rose room' made up anyway, I figured once she could see that he's still in one piece . . .”

 

“Mm . . . Yasha . . .” Kagome stirred, leaning her face into InuYasha's touch. “Missed you . . .” A hand snaked out from the blanket she was wrapped in and searched for a target to caress. InuYasha grasped it and pressed a kiss into her palm before bringing it to his cheek.

 

“I'm here, now, everything's fine. You're exhausted, though. You need a bed,” he murmured. “First, I got someone here that wants to see you . . .” On cue the Junior whimpered and squirmed against the confines of his arm.

 

Kagome managed to pry an eye open. On seeing the puppy she initially frowned, then gasped as realization struck her fuzzy brain. “Is that?” Immediately awake, she reached out and grasped the pup, pulling him to bury her face in his neck. “It is you! The same one from the store! But how . . . when . . .”

 

“While you were in that shop. The one with all those posters . . . So I did something right?” InuYasha couldn't suppress his lopsided grin. He loved to see her smile. The whole world lit up when Kagome smiled.

 

“He's perfect . . . but . . . I can't have a dog,” her brow furrowed and she stroked his fluffy white coat. “I haven't got anyplace to keep him . . . I don't even have a home right now.”

 

InuYasha's countenance fell. She didn't understand. He had brought her home. They wouldn't be at the compound forever, but it was his home for the time being. So, now it was their home.

 

“Kagome . . . Your home . . . isn't your home with me?”

 

“But. . .” She countered with confusion, “You don't have a home right now, either . . .”

 

“We have discussed this, InuYasha,” Sesshoumaru interrupted sternly. It simply would not do for InuYasha to consider residing anywhere else. “This is your home now. It is your birthright, as much as Tetsusaiga ever has been . . . Miko, am I to understand you that are betrothed to my brother?”

 

“Um . . . well . . .” she stammered, taken aback with the reflectively golden eyes that bored into her. The term had caught her off guard. Betrothed? Did people actually say that anymore? And what was this about a birthright? Hadn't InuYasha said to her that he only had himself to offer? That he hoped that it was enough?

 

Capturing InuYasha's dark eyes, she urgently mouthed the word 'birthright??', but he only shrugged in response. Her eyes danced around, carefully avoiding the youkai while clasping a hand to on the pulsing Sacred Jewel through her shirt. “I. . . I realize we only just met . . .” she ventured a glance at Sesshoumaru, and was unable to decrypt his expression. Taking a deep breath, she plunged on. “I'm sure you aren't too happy with me right now. It was an accident, Mr. Inudono, honestly . . . I had no idea that I could . . .”

 

“Enough,” the quiet command silenced her rambling, her eyes jerked up to meet the Demon's once again and she swallowed. “A simple yes or no will be sufficient.”

 

“Here, Sesshou, sit,” Kagura rose and picked up her laptop. “Don't loom over the child, I have to print a couple of things . . . I'll just use InuYasha's, if you don't mind . . .” she motioned toward the desk, then paused to wait for his consent.

 

“Whatever,” InuYasha muttered dismissively, closely studying the fear and confusion written on Kagome's face. Sesshoumaru had scared the living crap out of her, and she was still afraid of him. Granted, in the past that would have been a good way to stay healthy. But, things had changed. Even he was beginning to trust the jackass, and she would need to as well. But, it would never happen if she was terrified of him. In a flash of irritation he hissed at his brother, “Tell her you meant no harm, damnit!”

 

“Oh, but I did,” Sesshoumaru calmly responded, taking the seat next to her. Kagome choked and hugged the pup closer, one hand still clutching at the Jewel, avoiding the daiyoukai's eyes. “Before I had all of the information, that is. Now I understand the course of events that led to this . . . unfortunate situation.”

 

“There you go with that warped brand of honesty, again!” InuYasha seethed. “Isn't this hard enough for her? She did the best she could.” He wrapped an arm around her protectively, and she buried her face against his neck.

 

“You have not answered my question, miko.” Sesshoumaru prompted, waving InuYasha to silence.

 

“I . . . I can't just . . . move in here . . .” Kagome stammered, pushing away from InuYasha's embrace and shaking her head. “I don't have my . . . my . . . stuff.” Her voice tightened, eyes dancing back and forth between them.

 

“Gah! What stuff, wench?” InuYasha demanded, exasperated. If she wouldn't allow him to comfort her, then the only way to get past her fear was to pick at her. Make her mad and make her forget to be afraid. That was something he knew he could do well.

 

“Oh, right . . . you mean the panties you bought today? Kouga took care of your 'stuff' for you, remember??” He tapped her on the forehead lightly with two fingers, eliciting a blush that morphed into an outraged glare. “You haven't got any stuff!” Kagome began huff wordlessly. Standing in a strategic dismissal, knowing it would piss her off even more, he went over to the stack of boxes muttering, “Pup's hungry, where's . . .”

 

“Only because you wouldn't let me pack!!” Kagome snapped in retort, dropping the barking puppy down to the floor. “'Hurry the fuck up, Kagome!! Get you're ass out here, Kagome!! Leave that shit, Kagome!!'” Her voice had dropped to a deep alto in imitation, “You were being a total jerk!!”

 

“There were demons dropping through the goddamn ceiling, wench!!” He countered, waving in the air. “Who the hell takes time to pack in the middle of an attack?? Only you!!” He turned to lock her with a challenging glare.

 

“DON'T you go there!! Don't you DARE call me a 'stupid bitch' again!!” Kagome was up out of her seat, hands fisted stiffly at her sides.

 

“I only call 'em like I see 'em . . .” he muttered distractedly, digging into the boxes again, watching her from the corner of his eye.

 

“Why you . . . arrogant . . . domineering . . . egotistical . . .” Kagome stammered, ticking off each of his character defects one by one. InuYasha suppressed a grin. At that moment he was really glad he hadn't given her any more detail about the rosary. He was certain she would have used it.

 

Sesshoumaru raised a brow as he witnessed the continued exchange with barely repressed amusement. His eyes lifted to meet those of his Kagura, who's eyes sparkled with mirth. Leave it to his brother to break through the woman's fear by infuriating her. It was almost as if time had stood still for the pair, though he doubted either of them realized it at the moment. The miko's face had begun to redden with apparent fury, which was much more suitable than the pale terror that had been there only moments before. One thing was for certain, it would never be dull with this new addition to the family.

 

“Enough,” the Demon commanded, just loud enough to be heard over the bickering.

 

Remarkably it stopped immediately, which he found most gratifying. “Any of your belongings that remain at Officer Rodriguez's will be sent for, anything else that you require shall be provided. You are remaining here, Miss Higurashi. At least until such a time as the current threat has been neutralized. Is that understood?”

 

“I can't do that. I have obligations, responsibilities. . .” she shook her head. “I can't just . . . disappear. What about . . .”

 

“You would rather be dead?” the daiyoukai rose from his seat, and found guilty satisfaction in the momentary look of horror that flashed across her delicate features. “It is imperative that you remain safe and healthy, Miss Higurashi. I do not wish to have to go hunting for my brother, because he has once again gone missing in his search for you.”

 

“InuYasha?” Kagome's eyes didn't leave the Demon this time. “What's he talking about?”

 

“Asshole,” InuYasha hissed. She didn't remember it all. She didn't remember enough for it to make any kind of sense, yet. Turning to her, he took her hand gently and attempted to explain. “Kagome, I promised you I would find you. We talked about it, remember? I knew you would come back, because you did it once before.”

 

“I did?” she whispered. Her mother had said that Aunt Kagome once said they had been sisters and it hadn't made any sense, really. But her mother had once been a miko, one who knew InuYasha. Kagome's eyes widened slightly, as realization sunk in. “Kikyo . . .” she whispered. “The original guardian of the Shikon no Tama. She was . . .”

 

“You . . . were my first friend. The first woman I ever loved. I never stopped. You've come back to me. Three lifetimes for you, only one for me . . . so far.” He shrugged, his dark eyes begging for her to understand..

 

“But, I'm me. I'm not them. Not really,” she shook her head, her tone pleading. “I wouldn't have done this to you if I was. I . . . couldn't have.” She pulled her hand away, and rubbed her forehead, her other returning to the the increasingly persistent Sacred Jewel through her blouse.

 

“She's overwhelmed,” Kagura interjected, approaching them with her supplies in her hand. “You're expecting her to remember everything, and . . . she doesn't. She needs time InuYasha . . . you need to give it to her.”

 

“Then it is settled. She will stay here and take all the time she needs,” Sesshoumaru announced quietly. “I will call and arrange for her leave, meanwhile she should rest.”

 

“I'll show her to her rooms . . . Kagome?” Kagura held out a hand.

 

“What? No, wait!” InuYasha scowled, reaching for Kagome possessively.“She's staying with me, damnit!”

 

“She's dead on her feet! She needs quiet and rest . . . “ Kagura grabbed a hand.

 

“I need you here, InuYasha. There is much we need to discuss before my departure,” Sesshoumaru added. “Let her rest, I have important work for you to do.”

 

“Departure?? Where the hell are you going?” releasing his hold on her, InuYasha took her hand, while Kagura reached for an arm.

 

Kagome quietly watched what she feared might become a tug-o-war with her person. They had begun talking about her like she suddenly wasn't there. All she could do was gape, because the pulsing sensation of the Shikon had gradually increased since the arrival of the men. from simply present, as it had been with Kagura, to annoying, reaching a level of full on distraction.

 

“Wait . . .” Kagome insisted, pulling from Kagura's grasp. “There's something . . .” her voice drifted off, and she looked questioningly at each of them in turn.

 

“Council session,” Sesshoumaru replied to InuYasha's question, warily watching the miko as he spoke. “The summons arrived while you . . . were . . . out.”

 

InuYasha only half heard the reply, watching Kagome slowly approach Sesshoumaru, clasping what he knew to be the Shikon through her blouse. She stopped not a foot in front of him, and stood there as if in thought. It struck him that she seemed to be listening for something. Slowly her hand moved to the empty sleeve of his brother's sweatshirt, and tugged at it, a strained look of concentration on her face.

 

“Kagura!” Sesshoumaru hissed. “We discussed this . . .”

 

“What?” The demoness replied, defensively raising her hands. “I said nothing! Just as you asked . . .”

 

“Will someone please tell me what the fuck is going on??” InuYasha demanded, glancing back and forth between them. “Kagome??”

 

“Gods . . . How do you live with it?” the miko whispered, her hands raising up to hover over the Demon's shoulders. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened as he watched a sympathetic tear make it's way down her cheek. “It's too much, how did this happen??”

 

“Do not waste your energy on this Sesshoumaru, miko,” he replied more tersely than he intended. Her pity was not something he wanted to deal with. Damn Kagura for choosing now to interfere. Taking a deep breath, he restrained from shoving the woman away. Instead he grasped a shoulder and gently directed her to arm's length. “One grows accustomed to physical losses, it is of no consequence.” Then glancing at his brother, he added, “Consider it Karma for youthful foolishness.”

 

Meeting his brother's meaningful look, InuYasha's mouth gaped. Was that really how he saw losing his arm? Karma for his own foolishness?

 

“I'm not talking about your arm . . .” she sniffed against the tears and tugged at the sleeve, then reached up to touch his cheek and winced. “It's this . . . this darkness. It has to hurt . . .”

 

“Gods . . .” Kagura exhaled. “She can actually see it??”

 

“What the hell are you all going on about??” InuYasha demanded more vehemently. “What do you see, Kagome?? Why the hell are you crying??”

 

“How long has it been like this?” she asked the Demon quietly, ignoring the others.

 

Sesshoumaru allowed himself a sigh of resignation. She saw something, which was more than anyone else had ever been able to do. It had been so long that he fought against the malevolence, it had become second nature to disregard the pain. Her attention brought it to the forefront of his mind, and he struggled to avoid an embarrassing display. Pity or no, she had asked a legitimate question. One he had no specific answer to.

 

“Most of my life, miko,” he responded quietly, truthfully. “Since long before the death of your . . . predecessor, to be frank.”

 

“Then over 50 years . . .” she whispered.

 

“Closer to 500, to be more accurate,” Sesshoumaru corrected her. “I knew the miko . . . on the other side of the well.” Kagome stared blankly into his eyes for a moment, the nodded with understanding.

 

“And you've never sought treatment in all that time?” She ran her hands just inches from his person, as though tracing his aura, reading it. He could swear he felt the touch as keenly as if her hands were on his skin. “That has got to be a record for stubbornness. You are more like your brother than I ever imagined . . .”

 

“I think I resent that,” InuYasha muttered, fisting his hands, eyes never leaving her. Her proximity to his brother was just a little too close for comfort. Her actions just a little too intimate.

 

"I think I am inclined to agree with that sentiment, halfbreed", Sesshoumaru responded. InuYasha shot him a glare in return.

 

“Shhh . . .” Kagura shushed, receiving a glare for her trouble. “Just wait a minute.”

 

“I will not shush!” InuYasha retorted, falling into a full pout. “I don't like being ignored, damnit. Kagome, that's enough of this bullshit! Just get away from him! He's fine!”

 

Kagura placed a hand on InuYasha's arm. “No, InuYasha. He isn't,” she shook her head, her expression grave..

 

“No one knows what 'it' is, miko. You are the first to claim to see it,” Sesshoumaru murmured, frozen where he stood. He ventured a glance at his brother who appeared to be vacillating between irritation and concern. When her hand came up to gently caress his cheek, it took all of his resolve to not draw away from the touch. InuYasha had begun to growl, a feeble sound from his too human throat.

 

“I think . . .” Kagome whispered as she cupped his face in her hands, thumbs tracing the lines of his crests. Not tattoos, as she had believed. These were as natural to the youkai as were his piercing eyes. Was this what it was like for her mother? To actually see the imbalance in the aura of a client? It was as if a poisonous cloud of energy was trying to strangle away his life force. There were points where it was nearly clear, where saffron waves struggled past the indigo. The Shikon pulsed with it's own heartbeat, nearly racing when she traced the darkest areas. His will was strong, this creature. Strong enough to endure something that would have killed a human being in no time at all.

 

“I can help I think . . . but it's so . . . so everywhere,” she tried to suppress the doubt in her voice as her thumbs traced over his brow, then joined together on the mark on his forehead. She had never seen contamination on this level. She only knew that she had to try to do something about it. It wasn't a matter of choice, it was part of her fate. She closed her eyes and opened her heart, willing the corruption to dissipate.

 

Kagura's eyes cast around for the source of the wind that began blowing Sesshoumaru's hair about, her lips parting in quiet awe as she realized it was the power from the miko. She was trying to purify something invasive without harming Sesshoumaru in the process. She had no idea if the miko was powerful enough to actually purify him, but she could certainly make his life miserable if she used energy like had been in that knife she had been clutching when they arrived.

 

Kagome let her mind's eye guide her, clearing away the poisonous fog that seemed to permeate his body, opening the way for the saffron energy of his clear aura to emerge. Layer upon layer seemed to waft away, until suddenly there was a collision. A crackling barrier that resisted her efforts, fought against her energy. Opening her eyes, she gasped at the strength of it, then renewed her concentration attempting to break through.

 

The daiyoukai's eyes widened slightly. Then he took a deep breath. Her touch had sent waves all the way to the soles of his feet. It left lingering shivers along his spine. It was as though layers of a fog were being lifted off his psyche, his mind clearing, his body feeling refreshed in a way he had forgotten possible. Then came the jolt, a clashing of power deep inside, and he grunted. In his preoccupation with the sensations, he almost missed Kagome's collapse. Catching her by the upper arm, his brother was on them in a flash.

 

“Kagome!! What the fuck just happened??” InuYasha demanded glaring up at his brother.“ You never said anything about being sick, asshole!! Kagome!!” He shook her to bring her around.

 

“I . . . couldn't . . .” she murmured, weakly grasping onto InuYasha's arm. “too strong.”

 

Kagura watched her mate simply stare down at the miko. It had been a powerful intervention, yet Kagome believed she had failed. Meeting Sesshoumaru's eyes, she had to believe the miko was wrong. The fine lines that had webbed around his eyes for so long, had vanished. The strained look to his countenance was relaxed. Reaching out to him, he drew her quickly into a strong embrace. If nothing else, then maybe, just maybe, the girl had bought the Taisho some more time.

 

“Next time, take your ass to the healer!” InuYasha rose, drawing Kagome up carry her. “Leave my Kagome the fuck out of it!! She's only human, Jackass!!”

 

“She a remarkable woman, InuYasha.” Kagura broke from Sesshoumaru's hold on her and touched the angry man's shoulder. “Anyone else would have been in a padded room by now, what she just did was nothing short of a miracle. You and I need to talk, later.”

 

InuYasha furrowed his brow, casting a dark glower at his too silent sibling. He had no idea what a padded room was, and he didn't really give a shit. He knew his Kagome was special, no one needed to tell him that, Damn it. But he wouldn't allow her to be abused because of her gift.

 

Nodding to the witch agreement that he would talk to her later, he strode down the hall to the guest rooms, exhausted Kagome cradled in his arms, Junior trailing in his wake.

 

 

 

 

~oo00O00oo~

 

 

 

 

 

“You can't do that!!” Kouga roared through the wrong side of the locked sliding glass door. “This isn't how it works, Miranda!!”

 

“It works just fine for ME!!” she shouted in response, opening the door just enough to toss a bundle of his clothes out. “GO AWAY!!” She waved a handful of lit incense sticks in his general direction before slamming and locking the door again. Kouga sputtered and sneezed most satisfactorily, then covered his nose with his forearm.

 

Miranda vigorously shook a set of windchimes hanging over the stationary side of the door. Kouga looked up from donning his britches with a grimace and she shouted, “Evil BE GONE!!” three times, twirling withershins each time, to undo the evil she had invited into her home. An old incantation, the witches 'do-over' she never really took seriously before. But damned if it didn't seem to be working. She was elated, as she ran through her house trying to remember all the little charms she had collected over the years to ward off evil. If he wouldn't leave on his own, then she would drive him off the old fashioned way.

 

Returning to the kitchen with a box of assorted paraphernalia she had collected, she began sifting through the contents looking for anything to aid in her cause. The bastard had endangered her family with his impatience and greed. It simply could not be allowed to continue. Lighting up the bundle of incense to drive him out of the house had been divine inspiration. She almost wanted to laugh at the expression on his face when she wafted the first dose right up his nose. He'd bolted for the door so fast he'd been no more than a blur, dropping his towel in the process.

 

“Open the damn door, Miranda!” Kouga demanded in a growl deep enough to vibrate the glass. She glanced up at him, to see him tugging at the handle.

 

“No!” she responded firmly. He could break it, she was sure of it. She quickly grabbed another handful of the Nag Champa and lit them. “Selene could have been seriously hurt! Those creeps destroyed the roof of her house! And it's YOUR FAULT!”

 

She had finally reached Selene on her cellphone, en-route to an undisclosed location since her house had been left in a shambles. She knew why it was undisclosed. Her own family didn't trust her anymore, because of the company she kept. Well, no more. She said that the bastards gone through the roof because the headshrinker had actually done some kind of warding spell on the doors. The idea was beyond belief to Miranda. She'd had no idea that he was a practitioner of any kind, yet he had managed to bar the damn doors against them. That was when she realized that if he could do that, then surely she could do the same. And low and behold it was working. At least so far.

 

“Miranda,” the low rumble of his voice reverberated through the room. She looked up again to see him leaning his head on the door. Too close, she prayed he wouldn't crash through the glass before she found some kind of ward. The smoke of the incense was merely irritating to him, not enough to keep him away indefinitely, and her supply would eventually run out. It wasn't doing her sinuses any favors either, truth be told. Digging more frantically into the box, she withdrew an old book she had picked up at flea market several years before. She stared at the tome for several moments, trying to remember why she had decided to buy it. It's appearance was weathered and ancient, the embossed leather cover adorned with a golden pentacle surrounded by odd symbols at each point.

 

“Miranda . . .” Kouga's forehead was pressed against the glass, his vibrant eyes locked on her every move. “ . . .I love you.” He dragged his claws down the glass, his tone clearly one of warning, not yearning. “Please, don't do this.”

 

He had never actually said those words to her before, and the seriousness of his tone infuriated her. He should be begging her forgiveness, not warning her. But this was Kouga. Kouga took what he wanted, and beat the tar out of anything or anyone that got in his way. He'd shown her his true colors, and it was a little too late for him to be making confessions of love.

 

“You don't know what love is!!” She barked back at him, her sneer revealing her fangs. “You said you loved Kagome, too!! And still you ordered her execution!!”

 

“I did no such thing!!” He bellowed. “I don't even KNOW that woman!! All I ordered was for them to bring her to me!! What the hell has gotten into everybody?? First Ginta and his shit, and now you!! I didn't order anyone's execution!! Will you get that through your head??”

 

Trying to ignore him, Miranda set the book on the table and traced her fingers over the pentacle. Opening the cover, she ran a finger down the table of contents. He was trying to get to her, to manipulate her. She didn't understand half of what was written on the yellowed page. She was going to have to do research just to decipher the thing. Glancing up at the demon, she found herself doing what Father Joe, her family's onetime parish priest, had always warned against. She found herself arguing with The Devil.

 

“Admit it Kouga,” she didn't raise her voice this time. She knew he could hear every word as clearly as if she were speaking into his ear. “Love is a thing of convenience for you. You 'love' whomever can give you what you want. Based on what they can do for you.”

 

“Not true!” he barked through the door, rattling it, testing it. “What you do is how I found you, what brought us together. I know where the Shikon is now, and I'm still here. It's you pushing me away, not the other way around!”

 

“So . . . LEAVE!!” she bellowed. He was trying to turn it around on her. She was determined to not falter. Outside the door he couldn't touch her. She was so addicted to him, his touch was her undoing. Yet at the same time she was terrified of his violence.

 

“Someone . . . has to watch out for you,” he pressed a palm to the glass. “It's not safe for you to be alone, Miranda.”

 

“I can watch out for myself! I . . . don't . . . need . . . you!!” her insides twisted with her proclamation. A tiny voice in her head reprimanded her for the lie. Kouga's eyes widened, and he backed away from the door shaking his head.

 

“Fine. Go ahead and play the independent bitch . . .” he took another step back. “I told you the truth the day I claimed you.”

 

“What truth??” she demanded. He'd spouted off so much he'd practically turned her brain to jelly that morning.

 

“The truth is, I . . . need . . . you . . .” and he turned and disappeared so quickly she couldn't tell which direction he had gone.

 

Running to the door, she peered out into the darkness, her heart ramming in her chest. He really had left her. Instead of the relief she had expected, she felt bereft and completely alone. It astounded her that he could not seem to comprehend how he had hurt her by being so impulsive. It astounded her even more that now that he was gone, all she wanted was for him to come back.

 

 

Collapsing onto the floor, she curled herself into a ball and sobbed.

 

 

 

88*88*88*88*88

 

 

 

To be continued . . .

 

 

A/N:: I have an announcement!! You can now visit my livejournal to get review responses, occasional notes and spoilers for upcoming chapters, as well as news about Awards and stories in the works. Just metsukikaraten dot livejournal dot com. Hope to see you there!