InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lost Within ❯ chapter 16-18 ( Chapter 5 )

Lost Within

Chapter 16: Bloody Bones and Weak Emotions

Her heart skipped a beat.

'But how?...' Kagome thought, not hearing her mother's instructions for dinner.

She stared at the floor then to where Sesshoumaru sat, back facing her...clear across the other side of the living room.

Kagome knew her room was thirty feet in length from one side, all the way to the kitchen. And Sesshoumaru wasn't growling or grumbling at her feet, but sitting in the recliner, unharmed and unaffected by the bond.

Kagome was scared.

-

Her head swam and her stomach clenched...Kagome didn't feel very good.

A shaky hand clutched at her stomach, the other bracing her against the doorframe; she felt so incredibly hot! Her skin was burning up with heat and sweat, her body felt as if it were on fire!

Shaking breaths wheezed from Kagome's suddenly dry throat; her body began to shiver and shake convulsively; why was it so freezing?

Kagome's petite form slumped to the ground, she was dimly aware of her mother's questions or the shouts she thought she heard...large blurry white dots marred her vision; every time her eyes fluttered closed all she could see was a blinding white light that burned and stung her sensitive pupils.

She felt herself scream in fear and pain when something abnormally large pushed up and outward from the beneath her suddenly pale flesh; Kagome's hands tore at her clothing, then pulling it tight around herself....'S-So hot....! ....s-s-s-so c-cold....m-make it s-stop!!!!' she screamed, her body twisting and turning.

A bright, white flash blinded the worried members in the Higurashi shrine; shielding their eyes in vain the flash of white soon departed, leaving them all in a stunned silence.

Mrs. Higurashi dropped to the ground, her entire body shaking in fear as she glanced at her unconscious daughter then around the room...shattered glass covered the floors and countertops...if one inspected the house from top to bottom, they would find every piece of glass, be it a lightbulb, dish, jar, or window...was shattered into millions of tiny shards that gleamed in the fading sunlight...

She couldn't will herself to move, think, or even speak; for all she could do was stare in scared wonder at the damage her daughter had caused unknowingly...

Sesshoumaru shook the bits of glass from his hair and glanced about, his eyes scanning around the room; taking stock of the situation, all were alive and well; either in shock or unconscious, he released a small breath, Rin and the kitsune were safe.

His golden eyes landed upon the unusually still form of Kagome, how did she do such a thing? Was but one of the many questions that came to mind; her miko powers had surged forth, spilling out of her body to wash over everyone within the Higurashi Shrine.

Strangely only shattering every piece of glass within the house...

But what had surprised him even more was the miko's power; it had welcomed him, healed him in a sense, or cleansed him if put more correctly...It puzzled Sesshoumaru, a miko's power was to kill youkai, not soothe them; but that wasn't all of the baffling things, another was that Kagome had done nothing to trigger such an act of sheer power.

And that, was what truly bothered him.

Was Kagome's power growing?

She was untrained and had no way to release the powers that lay dormant within her doll-like form. Which could mean only one thing; rare though it was, but it happened in some cases of miko's from the past, they'd chosen to ignore their destinies and refuse the gift...but it never went away...never left the shell, so it could only continue to build, grow in vastness until the vessel could bare no more. For when the vessel could hold it no longer it burst forth, creating great catastrophes...the many deep pits and chasms littered around the world were evidence of that.

And if Sesshoumaru was right...Kagome was heading down the same path, but this was no small, ordinary miko...but one of vastly greater power, and it's girth was much larger than any magnitude he had ever before become witness to.

'No good will come of this...' Sesshoumaru thought as he wrapped his tail around Kagome's limp form, bringing her towards him.

Her head lolled to the side a bit, her hair shimmering in the dim rays of light; he lifted his right hand and traced the soft line of her jaw, dragging his clawed fingers down the slope of her nose where his thumb then caressed Kagome's light pink lips... not really taking stock of her present features...more entranced by the light pink lips that seemed to grow redder with each gentle caress of his thumb...

Throwing caution to the winds Sesshoumaru dipped down to press his lips against her own; surprised and worried at how cold they'd gotten. Retreating back to the apathetic mask he then wrapped his fluffy white tail more securely around her body, warming her up a bit as he made the brief journey up the stairs towards Kagome's bedroom.

*

Cold brown eyes studied the romantic lovers with a bored veil-like appearance of unconcern. She turned her face towards the well, as if expecting to see a shock of silver-white hair and the familiar fire-red haori...

But no such sight greeted her cold eyes.

At least she did not have to do anything...yet. So it seemed; but they moved slower than fish out of water.

A pale hand flew up to massage her throbbing temple; she would have much to do should they move any slower.

With almost an impatient sigh Kikyo, the dark priestess turned from the Higurashi shrine and back towards the well; they would be back in a few days, that, she was sure of.

But of her reincarnations powers, she was not. The power was unpredictable and wild, humoring those who thought to seek it before lashing out with deadly accuracy; it seemed to fancy this Kagome and taiyoukai. But why, she knew not.

*

"Rin is scared Shippou!" Rin whimpered, clutching to the kitsune tightly, her big brown eyes filled with unshed tears.

A strange 'whirrrrrrr'ing sound continued to shout it's anger at the two intruders, leaning forward, glaring at them with one large, glowing, yellow-white eye...

"Don't worry, I'll protect you Rin-chan! Count on Shippou the Brave!" Shippou spoke, his chest puffing out, practically oozing with uncontained pride and confidence.

"H-Hai Shippou-sama-" Rin quivered.

"Stay back you mean old youkai or you'll have to use my fox-fire on you!" Shippou growled, brandishing his little flame of 'death' at the strangely malformed demon.

Shippou then threw the fox-fire at the offending youkai; the fire went out with a squelching sound then topled backward, defeated.

"AHAH!" Shippou proclaimed, jumping onto the dead carcass, his chest swelling with triumphant glory at how swiftly and fearlessly killed the youkai beneath him.

"What are you DOING?" Souta balked as he opened the closet room door in Kagome's room, staring at the two questioningly.

"*I* defeated this nastey youkai before it could harm anyone!" Shippou proclaimed proudly.

0.o` Souta just stared at Rin, then Shippou, and then his brown eyes fell onto...

"WHAT did you do to the vacuum cleaner????" Souta gaped, seeing a big, melted hunk of plastic in the center of the vacuum.

"Wha-? I killed the youkai baka." Shippou stated obviously, "What's a VACK U-mmm cleaner?" He wondered, glancing down at the kill he'd made but moments ago.

Souta smacked his forehead, oi.

"Wha-?" Souta broke off, his previous problems forgotten at the sight of Sesshoumaru carrying Kagome into her room; or more like his tail carrying her...

"You didn't feel it?" Sesshoumaru intoned curiosly, turning briefly to glance at the children before returning back to Kagome.

"Feel what Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin asked, running over to his side, hugging his leg as she leaned forward to glance at Kagome.

They'd been shielded...but by whom?

His gaze turned towards Kagome; it had not been her, for the burst of unrestrained power had been unchanneled and sudden, leaving no one time enough to react. So who had done it?

Had the person known what was to happen?

A growl rose to his lips, how had the person known it would happen? Did he, she, or it intend for this to happen? To wait it out; allowing his Kagome to die before his eyes???

0.0 Sesshoumaru reeled back, his hand flying to his skull, 'his Kagome'? Shaking his head he glanced down at the miko, not surprised by her motionless form save the small, shallow breaths she took.

Golden eyes softened then, the other occupants of the room had swiftly departed, silent as calm wind. His delicately clawed fingers caressed her pale cheek; instantaneously two blue stripes appeared on the side of her face, just beneath his fingertips.

'How...?' Sesshoumaru's thoughts drifted apart, breaking into fragments, crumbling into tiny wisps of sand to disappear into the dark corners of his malicious mind.

He withdrew his hand to further inspect the stripes so similar to his own. They faded away, no longer visible to the human or youkai eye. How very strange that they should appear at his touch then vanish just as easily...unless it had been a fluke.

His curiosity pricked, Sesshoumaru sat himself on the edge of the abnormally soft yet sturdy object that Kagome had called a 'bed'; he then trailed his hands down the side of her face, in reaction the stripes reappeared then faded just as suddenly.

But that was not all that had taken place, for he had been leaning forward enough to inhale her calming, human scent; which had changed slightly, not enough to notice at first sniff, but if one payed attention to the many smells they would be able to detect the very vague smell of female youkai.

How was such a thing possible? A human's body and scent changing to that of a youkai's? With a mere touch? Impossible. He had the misfortune of unintentionally touching skin to skin with a few humans in his time but they had not changed. So why did the miko?

Miko.

The growing power. Was it even possible? One never truly knew the extent to any miko's abilities...but it still left him confused; why was the power reacting to him? Transforming Kagome into a youkai?

-

"HOJO!" Nicca yelled at the smiling boy whom was walking across the street, waving his goodbyes; though what he did not see was the speeding carriage that was swiftly reaching towards him.

Within a flash she had the human male held tightly in her arms as she landed on the top of some tall building Hojo had called a 'Hotel'. Though they were safe from danger she still clutched the befuddled young man against her breast; her heart was raging within her chest.

For once, she was scared, but not for herself.

Nicca didn't like this place, the buildings were too tall and the strange carriages to threatening and too many. She wanted to go home, preferably with Sesshoumaru, but with this new human in her long, immortal life; she was no longer so sure.

Ignoring the suddenly uncomfortable male in her arms she fell into her thoughts. When had she tarted to grow somewhat fond and appreciative of this strange human she now clutched so protectively to her chest?

A small smile graced her lips, when she'd been walking up those unusally perfect steps and spotted that unusual boyish charm she supposed. It had somehow enhanced when Hojo had not only displayed no fear of her, had even complimented her on her skill, and at times too overly oblivious to even notice her anger. But still he had persisted, trying to amuse her with the strange sights he'd thought were works of art and beautiful.

In a way she had begun to care for Hojo...She wondered if he would enjoy spending more time with her...in her own time that is-

'So-' Nicca broke off, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief at the strange sort of irony of the situation; the crystal had mentioned the 'soulbound' mate of hers to whom she was destined, had made a refereance of him being a bit of a pup...'it is strange really...' She trailed off, resting her head upon the young man she had claimed, 'to think that I, Nicca the lover of pain would fall for such a soft whelp of a young man? But how the tables had turned on us!' She thought sharply.

The way of mating was for the males to be dominant and strong, taking care of their mates when needed and beating them into submission at others; but with the two of them, and in her era...she would be the dominant figure, taking care of him.

How odd yet fitting; she herself never wished to be taken care of, but rather having taken care of another.

For once she now had the option and privelage to do so.

'When had she finally given up on her cousin?' Nicca thought suddenly, but the soft yet toned flesh that promised a beautiful body within a few years time lay just beneath the strange garments had swayed Nicca's opinions, 'Sesshoumaru would always be the same, beautiful god of cold cruelty, but he will never posess the youth and flesh of a young, innocent and pure man.' Nicca sighed to herself, finally allowing Hojo's words and questions to drift through her ears.

"Nicca-san? Are you alright? Did you catch something? For Kagome-chan is often ill and-" Hojo was cut off by the intense, bright green eyes that stared at him so...heatedly.

"Come." Nicca purred, nuzzling the startled boy's neck as she drifted into the air, her lithe body pressed rather, intimately against Hojo's.

She could have laughed at the fire red blush that graced that young, innocent face; he would grow up to be handsome, strong, and utterly beautiful, a truly golden man of men.

"H-How?" Hojo whispered in shocked awe, "You can fly Nicca-san! How incredibly wonderful!" Hojo beamed happily, grasping onto Nicca's arms to turn himself, facing the streets below, "I've always wanted to fly like this." Hojo admitted, hi eyes closed, reveling in the sensation of flight.

She grinned. She couldn't help it and was glad her future mate could not see it.

He would fly more than he ever hoped, and as often as she was able, "You will fly Hojo-kun," Nicca breathed into his ear, "For you are mine, now and forever as I am yours for now and forever." Nicca spoke the same words her father had uttered to her mother...

Dragging a single claw along the shoulder of Hojo's clothes she split it open, baring the junction between the neck and shoulder, her eyes glazed over a bit, the familiar primitive need surging within her body.

She clutched Hojo tighter, delighted at the surprised gasp and suddenly still form.

Lowering her mouth she kissed the spot she would mark, then sank her teeth into it; a muffled cry of pain and shock drifted faintly to her ears as she began to drag her tongue over the unusually sweet blood.

He couldn't move, he was shocked; first they were flying and then she'd torn his clothes...and then she-! And then she- she-! She was marking him. Hojo's mind suddenly understood, submitting to the dominant figure, allowing the pain to streak through his youthful body.

But how could he know this? Was it some primitive side to all humans? Why was she-? Her next few words silenced his mind and his mouth, the red blood trickling down his bare shoulder to stain his uniform, the pain no more than a dull, constant throb.

"With this mark, I am given." Nicca murmured against his shivering flesh.

The words were irevokable and permanant; one did not take a mating lightly, let alone spit out the words without care. For behind each word, was a thousand meanings and ten times the responsibility.

-

"Riiiiiiiiiiiin~ is boooooooooorrrrrrred~" Rin spoke, drawing out each word to a rather lengthy extent to further prove her point.

"Well then lets play super nintendo!" Souta offered, ushering the two towards his room.

"What's a Super Ninnn-Ten-Doe?" Shippou pondered as Rin and the tiny kit followed Souta down the hall and into his room...

-

'Too many questions...' Sesshoumaru growled as he pressed the palm of his hand against the side of Kagome's face then trailing through her silken ebony hair. He had done this over a million times, still surprised by the reaction to his touch.

He watched studiously as the blue stripes appeared, her skin paling to creamy white that few youkai could ever obtain, the rise of color in her red lips, and then her blacker-than-black hair...it seemed to change from ebony to streaks of raven blue then back again.

It never ceased to intrigue and amaze him.

A ridiculous idea came to him then, one he quickly squashed, 'It's not like I haven't already...' a part of him reasoned, 'for the sake of study and observation...' it added. Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement with himself. She would never know, and he was curious as to what would happen should his lips touch her own.

Pausing briefly, he then bent downward and gave a chaste kiss upon the now ruby red lips.

Pure, unbridled power surged forth, from both his own lips and Kagome's, meshing together to reside and live against and beneath the young miko's flesh.

He drew back sharply to witness the startling transformation; his eyes widened, the liquid gold growing lighter with each passing second as he looked on with amazement.

Blue stripes appeared on the sides of Kagome's face, her ears grew up and ended in a point, the once ebony hair now streaked with raven blue. Her pale and flawless complexion was startling to say the least as was the delicate, tiny white fangs that poked her bottom lip.

Sesshoumaru's eyes scanned the rest of her form; her scent seemed to blow away as if a gentle breeze dispelled it's once calming, human scent to be replaced with a pure, angelic one of a female youkai. Her pleasing smell aside, her wrists bore two blue stripes near her wrists while her hands had small, yet lethal claws.

With but one kiss, Kagome the human, was now Kagome the youkai...

A vicious growl emerged from his throat as he gripped Kagome by the shoulders, watching dispassionately and albeit somewhat disappointedly as her youkai features faded away to that of her more child-woman, human ones.

He caught himself bending down, refusing to kiss her again. Instead he settled for leaning back, upright to study her. All intentions to drowning in his recent discoveries...

If a touch of flesh could change bits of her into a momentary youkai, and a kiss on the lips for but a few moments longer...what would happen if he were to...?

Chapter 17: Let Us Go Home

With but one kiss, Kagome the human, was now Kagome the youkai...

A vicious growl emerged from his throat as he gripped Kagome by the shoulders, watching dispassionately and albeit somewhat disappointedly as her youkai features faded away to that of her more child-woman, human ones.

He caught himself bending down, refusing to kiss her again. Instead he settled for leaning back, upright to study her. All intentions to drowning in his recent discoveries...

If a touch of flesh could change bits of her into a momentary youkai, and a kiss on the lips for but a few moments longer...what would happen if he were to...?

-

Kagome came to reality with sharp stabs of pain; not just migraines...but body wracking pins and needles. She'd never been hurt this badly before. . .

She turned this way and that, her body retorting in small pains, her body ached; Kagome whimpered as she raised sweat drenched, shaky hands to grip herself.

It was everywhere, it was like a headache with a nonstop, full-body period cramps... She moaned again...

Sesshoumaru's claws dug into the wood arm of the chair he had sat himself in; he could hear the miko's whimpers of pain and discomfort. It was doing strange things to him, making him feel strange; he clenched the solid wood harder as he observed Kagome's body twist and turn fitfully.

He'd never felt this way before, he'd once delighted and allowed a slip of a smile to grace his features at the sight of someone in pain . . . but now . . . now his body felt . . . alien and abnormal to himself; almost as if he himself was growing out of it, his flesh becoming two sizes too small for him . . .

Why was he reacting this way? He was not injured nor was he displeased so there was no logical reason for him to be feeling or reacting this way.

A thin sheen of glistening sweat caught his eye, turning his head ever so slightly he caught sight of Kagome's shaky arms and face covered with perspiration. She looked deathly pale and dark circles marred her now dull grayish eyes.

His golden eyes widened, his body tensing in reaction; a chunk of wood broke in his grasp. He spared himself a glance at his hand, small chips of splintered tinder were now imbedded in his shaking flesh.

Shaking...? Why...?

Sesshoumaru narrowed his golden eyes at the sickly form of Kagome; it is her fault. *She* was making him react and feel this way! He'd be damned if he would allow it to continue!

"Stop this right now!" Sesshoumaru snarled, grasping her shaking wrist within his hand.

It was icy to the touch.

Kagome rubbed her forehead briefly then glanced up at Sesshoumaru, she'd barely caught his words, she was painfully sore all over.

"Stop what...?" Kagome whispered, using the youkai's arm to pull herself to her feet.

His eyes narrowed even further, practically two miniscule slits that glowed a molten gold; his fluffy white tale twitched in anger . . .

"I warned you bitch, stop it. Right. Now." he snarled, wrenching her wrist painfully, forcing the sickly form of Kagome a few steps closer.

She looked up at him again, wondering how she'd suddenly gotten so far across the room, her wrist was throbbing with unusual pain. But the soreness and constant bouts of pain soon drowned out her questions; turning towards the door Kagome shuffled her feet painfully towards the door; maybe mom would give her something to knock her out for a few hours until she stopped feeling like road kill...

"I SAID STOP IT!" Sesshoumaru practically yelled at her, releasing her wrist to toss her onto the bed; he growled low in warning. The alien feelings within him only seemed to intensify, pricking the backs of his eyes with sharp, needle-like stabs.

Sesshoumaru squeezed his eyes shut, his hand flying to rub his eyes. When he withdrew his hand to open his stinging eyes, everything was blurry, and their was something wet on his hand. . . he felt a strange weight grow in the center of his chest, weighing down upon his shoulders with a great, disspiriting feeling he'd never before experienced.

She was doing it again. And *SHE* wasn't stopping! Even after he'd told her to stop!

"Cease this sorcery right now miko!" Sesshoumaru growled, leaning over her fragile form to grip her throat.

His heart was beating frantically, screeching within his breast to be free . . .

"I said stop!" He spoke angrily, his voice cracking mid-sentence.

What in all seven realms was happening to him? What were these damned sensations?! Why wouldn't they stop??? He was a Lord! Things like this did *NOT* happen to him! Did she not know this?! Did she have no respect for rules at all?!?!

"I can't . . . " Kagome coughed, reaching a hand towards her neck, the other clasping around his shoulder.

That's when he noticed it. He . . . was . . . trembling . . . ?

"Hey Sesshoumaru-sama! Sesshoumaru-sa-" Rin broke off, stopping mid-skip to gaze upon the forlorn sight that met her now sad brown eyes.

Shippou soon joined her side, staring up at the two wordlessly. His bright green eyes took in the trembling youkai Lord that carried the most desolate and helpless look in his eyes Shippou'd ever seen; while Kagome lay still and silent beneath him.

"Rin..." Shippou murmured seriously, taking hold of the little girl's arms, steering her towards the door, "We shouldn't be here right now..."

The two children left swiftly and silently, no longer wanting to play at the moment.

-

She admitted the reincarnation was beginning to worry her, for this was only the beginning of what might come should the two not hurry.

Kagome was weak of body, how; the dead priestess knew not. Only that her health was fast failing as her powers grew swiftly; such was not a good sign, and with the lord beginning to experience a multitude of emotions most unpleasant at once; was not the best method to thaw the icy thing that was his heart . . .

Bowing her head down and bringing her hands together in a form of ritualistic prayer; Kikyo's incantations fell from her mouth and into Kagome's mind and body . . .

Hands dropping to her sides then glancing up at a particular window, Kikyo turned from the shrine. This was all she could do for now to keep the reincarnation's heart from failing. Now it was all truly in the fates's hands, and the ones that will influence those around them.

-

Nicca's smile vanished when she set foot upon the strange steps of the Higurashi Shrine. Her cousin was in a grave amount of pain; the very kind she herself knew all too well . . .

"Hojo, stay right her, I shall return shortly." Nicca spoke flatly, streaking up the steps and into the house with amazing speed.

For once she felt pity for the beautiful god she admired, he was shaking and on the verge of sheer desperation and panic. She needed to separate him from the human quickly if he wanted to keep her life and his sanity.

"Sesshoumaru! Cease this idiocy! Back away from the human!" Nicca ordered, taking a challenging step forward.

Sesshoumaru needed to turn to something more familiar for him, something safer than the complex emotions that were threatening to break him. And what the great Lord of the Western Lands was most familiar with; was blood and pain, something she'd for once in her long life, be able to give him.

His head turned jerkily towards Nicca, his golden eyes filled with wildness and emotions he'd yet been able to identify.

"What are you doing here?" Sesshoumaru snapped angrily, rising from the bed to face Nicca.

"Pissing you off cousin, what else does it look like?" Nicca snarled, curving her fingers and lengthening her claws; an act of challenge and defiance.

His lip rose up into a sneer, the returning growl rising in his throat, "You dare...?"

As was his reply to her challenge, a mocking bow was his answer with an obvios smirk on her face.

The challenge was clear, defiance had been made known. Now, was the time to act . . .

Sesshoumaru lunged forth, his own claws lengthened and poised to strike, already filled with his lethal toxins; growls of anger emerged from his throat with promises of pain.

Nicca countered by clawing at his side, shredding the pristine white kimono he constantly adorned.

The scent of blood filled her nostrils, further driving her senses away by the delightfuly scent of spilt lifeblood.

Bringing her bloodied claws to her lips; her tongue darted out to lap at the blood; her senses went wild, her eyes beginning to bleed with a rosy cloud.

The bloodlust was upon her.

Howls of rage imerged from his throat; he ducked low before slashing his claws across Nicca's face, bright red liquid stained his hand. Nicca howled in pain, clutching her shredded face; backing away unconsciously.

Sparing a glance back to the still writhing miko Sesshoumaru made to return to her side; to force her to stop making him feel so strangely torn and weak. He would remove the pain from his heart by removing the bitch from his sights.

Sesshoumaru raised bloodied claws, preparing to strike-

A blood-curdling scream ripped from Kagome's throat as a blinding white flash pierced the air; causing the occupants in the room to shield their eyes in vain.

Power surged forth, pure uncontrolled magic pressed against the walls of the small room; smothering both youkai to near suffication. The magic within the room seemed to thicken until Sesshoumaru could hardly manage a breath let alone move; just being inside such magic was sending shivers down his spine. It's ever-brightening light began to fade, the strange lights surrounding Kagome's form snuffed out like a candles'.

Sesshoumaru lowered the hand, a brief flick of his golden eyes told him Nicca was unconscious . . . and completely healed . . .

Before he could make another move to take the miko's life a growl spilled from his lips as he turned around to glare at the undead flesh of dirt and bones. He took an unconscious step back, his only arm straying towards Kagome in a protective gesture, but a fair warning for others.

Kikyo didn't even acknowledge the clear warning; she knew the youkai before her was capable of destroying the shell she possessed; but not in his current state.

With a dull sigh she raised her hand in a submissive gesture to calm the pink-eyed demon. Her hand was raised no higher than her breast; held outwards, palm facing the youkai lord. Her fingers clung together; each side by side, the pinky and ring finger folded down.

The gesture was lost to many, but the older youkai like Sesshoumaru knew it's meaning.

His eyes narrowed in suspicion, his body coiling like a spring; he waited.

Kikyo closed her eyes to collect her thoughts, it seems she would have to be the one to shatter the silence; she opened her eyes languidly, staring just below the black pupils, precisely at the golden ring surrounding the piercing and loathe-filled, slit-like pupils.

Still holding her hand up Kikyo spoke, "She," the priestess spoke with a small inclination of her head in Kagome's direction, "-is dying."

A growl was her warning.

"You must take her back to our rightful time; and then you must rut with her if you wish to keep the brat's heart beating." Kikyo finished darkly.

Sesshoumaru did not move, the only sign of having heard the dead miko being the very thin sheen of pink glazing over his once pure gold eyes.

"She is also a miko," Kikyo started, she needed to explain it to the emotionally driven youkai lord, "-she has not been able to properly train and use her given powers . . . as you should know . . . the powers of old do not simply fade into nothing with disuse." Kikyo paused to give a meaningful look at the black slits before returning to the safe golden rings.

"They have grown within her, it has no outlet. She will die soon and take many lives with her unless you complete the bond by mating with her." Kikyo gave a small nod to herself, lowering her hand and turning away, "You have little time to decide." was her last parting words as she left the Higurashi's residence to return to her own time.

Sesshoumaru loosened his stance and raised himself up a bit more comfortably once the dead miko had left; he glanced at the now still form of Kagome. So...he needed to lower himself to mate with a female to save her life as well as his own?

What great fuckin' luck he had.

'But then again...' another side of him wagered, 'You can't deny that you haven't thought about doing such a thing before . . .what with all ...the recent . . . t h i n g s . . . that have taken place . . .'

A ghostly grin tugged at his lips.

"RIN!" Sesshoumaru called sharply.

Within a moment, both children dashed into the room, pulling up short of the strangely calm demon lord, "Hai Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin inquired brightly.

"Get your things, we leave now." Sesshoumaru spoke stiffly; turning to grab Kagome around the waist, his tail unwinding to help support her.

"HAI!" Rin chirped in answer, racing down the halls with Shippou to collect their things.

The two youngsters were already balancing on the edge of the well, waiting patiently for the youkai lord to bring Kagome back with them to sengoku jidal.

"Lets waste no more time here," Sesshoumaru growled softly, managing to carry Kagome in his tail while carrying her abnormally large bag in his arm, "The miko's mother will soon wake from her shocked and shaken stupor." he added as the four of them dropped soundlessly down the well.

*

"DAMNIT!" Inuyasha cursed as he tripped over yet another upended tree root.

"WHY THE HELL DO TREES LEAVE THEIR ROOTS THERE ANYWAY?!?!?!?" Inuyasha howled, slashing blindly at anything within reach of his claws.

"Inuyasha-san, i know you are angered by your...illness...but you should at least control your temper...for the villagers sake" Miroku counciled calmly...standing a good twenty feet from the enraged hanyou.

"Illness? ILLNESS?!?! I'M FUCKING BLIND YOU STUPID HOUSHI!" Inuyasha roared, lunging at the source of Miroku's voice; only to smash head first into the monk's staff.

Despite Kikyo's attempted anti-cursing spells and purifying powers; he'd only managed to make out blurry shapes for about a sparse three hours before everything went dark again.

He growled softly from the ground, rubbing his throbbing skull tenderly.

He'd already tried walking around on two legs only to smack into nearly everything and anything, along with tripping over roots, stray rocks, fallen trees, children, woman bent over, tending to their gardens...the list was quite literally endless...

Sniffing the fresh dirt beneath his nose a jumble of scents came to him, quickly singling out a particular smell he frawled on all fours, following the scent.

"Inuyasha....? What are you doing?" Miroku questioned, staring at the hanyou whom was currently sniffing at a spot on the ground intensely before scrambling a few inches ahead to stop again, sniffing even more only to repeat the process once again.

"Kagome," Inuyasha growled, "If I can't see where i'm going I might as well track her," Inuyasha paused, "and if I trip again at least I won't fall very far." he added hastily before scooching up a few more inches.

"Well...good luck Inuyasha-san..." Miroku spoke, turning around, headed back for the village.

A derisive snort was his answer, followed by a series of sneezes and coughing fits.

Miroku stiffled his laughter as best as he could upon glancing at the poor hanyou rubbing vigorously at his nose, coughing and sneezing...

*

"It's good to be back home again!" Shippou commented holding Rin's hand as the two trotted alongside Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru nodded to himself in agreement of Shippou's statement; it was much quieter here, more peaceful, and . . . welcoming. He rolled his eyes then, he'd never once thought he'd ever allowed himself to believe that such a place as this, Inuyasha's Forest, would ever be a welcome sight to his golden eyes.

He summoned enough youki to form a blood-red cloud beneath his and the children's feet, pulling them up into the sky, soaring towards his castle; Sesshoumaru could sense his half-brother scrounging around somewhere on the forest floor, searching for Kagome's scent in his blindness.

Maybe by cripling the upstart pup, then maybe his half-brother would learn something; if the hanyou was lucky then it might mellow him out a bit, make him think before acting on impulse.

He shook his head, Inuyasha's impulsiveness seemed to be the poor idiot's greatest fault...save sheer idiocy and dense-ness concerning females...

Speaking of females...the young woman-child tucked in is tail was already awake, resting, he judged from her lack of movement and reaction to her surroundings.

On a different note...what the corpse had said...he'd need to complete the bond with Kagome soon...to save her life...and others it seems...

Sesshoumaru sighed, since when did he have to play the hero? Wasn't that the mutt's job? To look strong and defiant but completely stupid compared to his loyal lap-dogs and female companion?

Well, Sesshoumaru sniffed, it seems the tables had turned on him once again; he raised his hand to massage his temples; female companion and loyal lap-dogs...?

He snorted.

Well, what did he have in his inventory compared to the hanyou of a half-brother?

Two children, a disgustingly loyal servant, countless servants and gaurdsmen, a huge castle surrounded by a moat that used to have crocodile youkai, until something moved in and ate them....along with anything else that fell in, a dellusionaly insane cousin that wanted to rut with him, a dozen or so other cousins that were plotting against him, an idiotic half-brother, three lords of North, South, and East plotting WITH his cousins against him, and a mouthy miko that he could barely keep his hands off of!

And IF he did complete the bond then he would have to deal with an insane old man armed with an endless supply of sticky pieces of paper, a little monster that still held firm to the belief that HE, Sesshoumaru, was a female, AND the miko's mother whom he never wished to see again!

He should just kill the lot of them right now so they would just leave him alo-!

Sesshoumaru's thoughts were cut off, a constant pulse of heated electricity flooded his body, calming his nerves and coaxing his taut muscles into relaxation. Letting his eyes fall shut he was able to pin down the source of the deliciously calming vibes of heat . . .

They were coming from his tail!

His eyes snapped open, sparing a casual glance behind him, all in the appearance of scanning the surrounding territory; he caught sight of Kagome staring at his tail, as she petted and raked her fingers through the fluffiness of it.

He must have been staring a long time for Kagome's head slowly turned up to meet his eyes, a pink blush gracing her cheeks; but still she did not stop her soothing ministrations.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, playing on intimidation to get some fear into those overly pretty green-blue eyes...

It wasn't working.

"You'll be sleeping in my chambers tonight wench, so don't even think of allowing the children to crawl into your bed." Sesshoumaru blurted suddenly, snapping his head back to the approaching castle.

-

Kagome blinked, stopping all movements abruptly as shock rippled through her, 'WHAT???'

Chapter 18: To Start Anew

Kagome blinked several times, still completely, and utterly dumbfounded, "I'll be what?" She all but squeeked at him.

Sesshoumaru glanced down at the kitsune and Rin, making sure they were asleep, they were children after all and did not need to know of such things that they were currently speaking of...

"I have had a firm belief your hearing was quite normal for a human, so I do not disbelieve that you haven't heard me correctly." Sesshoumaru spoke calmly.

"I...I didn't..." Kagome spoke slowly, as if not quite comprehending her current predicament, "But...you mean sleeping right? As in like before? Just sleeping? Fully clothed, blankety goodness sleeping right???"

Kagome gave a small 'eep!' as she was moved to face the taiyoukai, "Well," he breathed; pressing his hand against the small of her back, pulling her closer to him until Kagome was pressed against the thin material of his white and red kimono,"I suppose sleep will eventually occur," the corners of his lips tugged upwards.

Her eyes went wide in realization at Sesshoumaru's rather...carefully phrased words...and their hidden meaning; panic set in, Kagome began to struggle in vain to be free of Sesshoumaru, heedless of how very far from the ground she currently was...

The furry appendage wrapped around her waste tightened as did the inuyoukai's arm, "It would be unwise to start early," Sesshoumaru spoke through a faintly strained voice, "Especially in front of the children."

As if to emphasis his comment, he pressed his hips against her own.

Kagome stilled instantly, no question about it...she *had* felt a *something* press rather intimately against her. Though only her body had stilled...but not her mind, her first time...was to be with a youkai...not just any youkai...an inu-taiyoukai! Well she didn't believe many girls could boast that their first was with a great taiyoukai...but- she wanted her first time to be with someone who loved her...and someone she loved in return...someone like Inuyasha...

She laid her head against his chest, uncaring if he were to take it as a sign of submission or even find it disgusting; her suddenly shallow breath managed to slip beneath the folds of his kimono to caress his pale physique like that of a phantom lover,

But no...had she ever really love him? Had she? She didn't know what love was, she couldn't define it like some people could, for all she knew, her definition of love could be catergorized as that of 'puppy love' when a young child or teenager had found the first person they'd taken a fancy to, disillusioning themselves into believing it was the legendary emotion known as love.

Sesshoumaru tilted his head slightly, to glance down at the shimmering form of Kagome; she of course, was oblivious to the state of her body and appearance. Being in such close contact with his youki, her own powers were leaking into him, filling his body with a sense of peaceful contentment; her skin was the moonlit paleness it had been earlier, except now, now it shimmered a soft, pale glow...

So who was she to believe such a thing was existing within her breast and that of her lover to be? Lover to be? Kagome nearly laughed, she no longer knew what she was to Sesshoumaru, or what Sesshoumaru was to her; he'd seen her at her best and worst, he had seen everything of her and so little of him.

Why did he wish to steal something of hers that she would've been so willing to give to Inuyasha if he'd just asked it of her? What was his motivation for it? He surely did not love her, what little compassion his isolated heart had left was that which belonged to Rin, with which he cared for dearly; he was a good father figure to her if he ever cared to find out as much.

"Why?" Kagome asked suddenly, why did he want to share flesh with her? Surely he could not- could he?

"Why my bedding with you? It seems you've been quite unaware of what has been happening of late little ningen." Sesshoumaru murmured, almost kindly, "Your miko powers have grown, they have been neglected for quite some time; and thus, have built up to a point where even with proper training; would prove fatal to both you and those around you." he paused enough to draw breath, "And so, your power needs an outlet, with which to exit safely without harming those and yourself in the immediate vicinity; the task has thereby fallen unto me," godz he hated to admit it, even to himself, he sounded like every inch of the arrogant ass he normally was, "- to bed you before time runs out."

"So...why you? And...why sex?" Kagome spoke softly, pinching the bridge of her nose rather painfully, trying everything and anything to prevent the barrage of tears she felt building beneath her clamped eyelids.

"Why, I, Sesshoumaru; surely you would chose me over the hanyou, and the wolf lord in areas concerning sex? At least I would be gentle and undemanding of such a mortal as yourself" Sesshoumaru spoke obviously, "As for why rutting? Simple, it is the safest and swiftest way to relieve the power within your body by taking it into myself then returning it to you through a transformation."

"T-Transformation...?" Kagome sniffled, she really didn't want to sound pathetic or weak, but she couldn't help it, her first time wasn't for love...or anything romantically sweet...it was to save a bunch of people and herself from being killed! How romantic or cherishing could that be? With a death threat looming above your head as a warning should you not do so?

"Yes, your body will become altered from the process, from my calculations...you will become a youkai." Sesshoumaru stated.

He wanted to kick himself, he was only digging himself deeper like his baka brother had. But he could find no words with which to express to her; he knew not how to give comfort or compassion to one or receive it like another! He had not been taught such things! How was he to act when she trembled with sorrow and with a pain he could not heal?

The silence, for once in his long life, was painful.

"I..." Sesshoumaru started, clutching Kagome to him, his body tensing and slackening as he fought for words with which to soothe her, "I-...I will try..." his jaw clenched, he could think of nothing with which would ease her fears and sorrows!

He took a deep breath then started again, "I will try...to be..." Sesshoumaru paused, struggling with the words that now were his enemy, "-to be...as gentle...as I can." he held his breath, waiting for her reply...or anything signaling she had heard him.

Kagome was...stunned into a rather...soothing silence. He would try to be as gentle as a youkai could possibly be with her...she'd never expected him to say such a thing before. Nor had she ever heard the great Sesshoumaru struggle to find words of which with to comfort her with; words of comfort that were beyond his range of comprehension.

But such was not entirely true, he was learning, albeit slowly with Rin, and doubly so with her...but it was a start...it showed he, Sesshoumaru, cared; that enough, was a strange sort of comfort of what was to happen.

Turning her face up to him, she waited a moment or two until he'd gathered up enough courage to tilt his head downward to face her. Pressing her hands upon his sturdy shoulders, Kagome pushed herself upwards, pressing a feather light kiss upon his lips before sinking back down to rest her head back upon his chest,

"Thank you," came the breath of her thanks before silence once again engulfed them.

A feint, pink tinge colored the lord's cheeks; he swallowed, hard.

Upon landing, he handed Kagome over to one of the female servants, then proceeded to take both Rin and the Kitsune to their sleeping quarters; he had informed Kagome he would join her in his room shortly after he'd finished with a few business matters.

-bing! Check please!….-.-