InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ No Such Thing As Fate ❯ Kuro ( Chapter 11 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

I'm Back!!

Sorry for taking so long to get this next chapter ready. This chapter has not been beta-ed so if anything is wrong please tell me. I've been waiting all month for my beta to get back to me with the freakin chapter but hey things happen and I can't be mad at people when I don't understand whats going on. ANYWAY, this is chapter 11 I believe, on I'm up in the 90's for reviews and Dokuga is quickly catching up. Thank you all for the support.

On to the chapter.

Disclaimer: If I owned Sesshomaru he would probably be afraid of fangirls and pretty pink bows (cackle)

Chapter 11: Wandering: Kuro.

XXXXXXXX

A tired moan made Kagome glance from her bag project to the source of the noise. Rin was finally awake after sleeping off her cold yesterday and most of today. Despite how Rin had complained, she did have a cold and forced herself to rest for fear of having to take an even nastier medicine than the ones Kagome already made her drink.

Shippou sat at Kagome's side working on some math using sticks on the ground. Hearing his new best friend moan immediately caught his attention. He scampered over to her side and looked down at her waiting eagerly for her to open her eyes.

“Rin-chan?”

Rin cracked an eye open and smiled, “Shippou-kun.”

She slurred a bit before a violent yawn interrupted her.

Shippou grinned widely. “Kaa-san she's awake!” He chirped moving aside for his mother to take a seat by the girl.

“Good evening Rin-chan” Kagome said gently. She helped Rin sit up to drink some water.

When Rin seemed satisfied, she sat the cup aside and put a hand to her forehead to check for fever. “Hmm much better than this morning” she hummed placing a wet rag on Rin's forehead. “How are you feeling, are you hurting anywhere?”

Rin shook her head flinging the rag from her forehead. Kagome smiled amused and put the rag back where it belonged.

“I feel fine,” she said with a yawn.

“Well you're going to sleep the rest of the day and I might let you up tomorrow to play for a bit.” Rin sat upright with an eager cry as Kagome moved toward the fire to retrieve Rin's dinner.

“You promise Kagome-san”

Kagome only smiled and passed the food on to Rin. “Eat it all then lay back down,” she said gently. Rin nodded and devoured her meal feverishly. She took a moment to notice Jaken and Ah-Un, wave at them eagerly, and then continue eating. Kagome sat down on the end of Rin's sleeping mat and went back to sewing. Shippou went to sit in her lap. Kagome glanced down at Shippou who smiled innocently up at her. After making sure he hadn't gotten too much dirt on her kimono she went back to work.

“Kagome-san?” Kagome glanced at Rin who was staring at her uncertainly.

“Hmm?”

Rin licked her lips and tossed her stick into the fire. She crawled closer to Kagome and tucked herself into the older girls side.

“Can you tell us a story?” she asked sweetly.

Shippou's head shot up and knocked the bag from her hands. Kagome flinched when the needle drove into her finger. She quickly sat the bag and needle aside and examined her wounded digit. Only a little bead of blood appeared. Kagome shrugged and popped her finger into her mouth.

Kagome glanced down at Shippou who was looking at her wide-eyed. She smiled around the digit in her mouth and ruffled his hair to calm him. Glancing to Rin, she smirked, “What kind of story?”

Rin stared at Kagome a moment silently wondering why she hadn't scolded Shippou like the villagers she remembered. Deeming the matter not as important as a potential story teller in Kagome, Rin smiled and shrugged the thought aside.

“I don't know…one about a princess,” She whispered as if it were a big secret. Kagome pulled Rin's sheets around to cover the little girl's body.

She looked thoughtful glancing between the two kids. Chewing on her lip deep in thought she sat a moment lost in thought before an idea came to her.

“Once upon a time there was a princess named Rin…” Rin squealed and Kagome chuckled. Shippou only rolled his eyes.

XXXXX

Satoshi could only stare at Kuro dazed.

This was the kind of thing you didn't think about when you looked at your leaders. It was something that ruined the image of grandeur and prestige and you suddenly remembered that your leader was simply human; at least in most cases. This was certainly not a normal case, but that didn't help settle his discomfort.

Suddenly, he became all too aware that Kuro was a child before he was a Kami.

Kagome's words, asking him to allow Kuro more freedoms such as playtime with other children, suddenly made so much sense. He cringed when Kuro flung a toy horse across the room with a sobbing moan. He collapsed on the floor rather ungracefully and lay there silently a long time, obviously fighting for coherent thought.

Satoshi licked his dry lips nervously and glanced at the four other men in the room with him. Two of the men were his age, but said to be two of the prodigies of his generation and expected to become the next elders.

Katsuya, Mataru was of a noble clan but one of the youngest sons in his family blessed with many male heirs. He was sent to become a monk because they simply didn't know what to do with him and he had spiritual abilities.

Natsuo, Yuu was another noble's son but was said to have been too blood thirsty for his father to control. To get rid of the smear of shame on their family, they demanded he go to a temple and learn to calm his rage.

While Mataru's prowess was in the spiritual arts and he was known to be wise and hard working, Yuu's shining achievements were in his battle skills as a warrior monk. He was vicious and powerful…a lot like Kagome. However, so far no one could match Kagome in raw spiritual power and her sudden vicious and bloodthirsty tendencies in a battle. Her skill with the written sutra and seals made her something of a prodigy in her own right, even if she didn't know. It was damn near impossible to learn seals, wards, and sutras like she had in seven months along with her other lessons and training. Intense, very insane training at that.

It WAS impossible until they had been introduced to the temples youngest child of purity and elder of sorts, Kagome. Satoshi doubted he would see anybody learn skills like she had ever again in his lifetime, if ever again at all.

The other two men were the elders Taisa and Meru. They had made names for themselves among the spiritual and religious community when they were younger along with Sansa. It was long ago though and few spoke of their deeds anymore, especially among the children who would carry the legends on.

To be in the same room as these people humbled Satoshi.

He was of a peasant family that had been slaughtered during a youkai attack. The day after, a monk had come passing through and had taken him in because he had nothing left.

Despite the different backgrounds they all came from, they all had the same expressions on their faces as they watched Kuro have a tantrum before them. It was frightening to watch a child they worshiped as a god…who was a god, have a mental breakdown. His actions were a reflection of the temples state.

Everyone was afraid. They had received word of what was to happen to their Kami-sama and had fallen into a panic and, even worse, Sagisoto was going to take their god and make him participate in a war. The panicked temple members were more the young trainees than those who would be working to defend the temple should anything happen with Sagisoto.

Kuro pulled himself up off the floor and dry heaved into the pot by his side. He had emptied the contents of his stomach a while ago but he was feeling sick so the dry heaves weren't very strange. He gasped a few moments as tears streamed down his face. When he couldn't anymore and he didn't have the strength to stay upright, he dropped his chin against the pot.

Meru and Taisa bowed their heads. They could hear things the other occupants of the room couldn't.

As if hearing their unspoken questions Meru spoke up.

“Kami-sama has not been able to sleep or eat for days. The images of death he saw tied to visions of lord Sagisoto are a lot of stress,” He said quietly.

“I-I thought it was because of the ceremony to be held tomm- today” Mataru said quietly.

“…He can no longer control the types of visions he sees, he says it has nothing to do with the ceremony but...” Taisa's voice was gravely and pained.

“He just wishes to sleep for a bit without this stress”

“Call Kagome-sama back, he obviously finds some kind of peace when she is here, he deserves even his sleep,” Yuu snapped.

“We tried to convince Kami-sama to let us go out in search of her, but he said no. Kagome-sama has to stay as far away from the temple as possible right now or Kami-sama's plans will fail,” Taisa said bitterly.

Mataru and Yuu tensed in anger.

“This is why a woman should never be allowed to-“

Satoshi stood. “Please do not feel anger at Kagome-sama if she knew, she wouldn't have left. She's a foolish little girl with even more foolish ideas about youkai but her loyalty lies with Kami-sama. If she had known this would happen to Kami-sama, she wouldn't have left no matter what we said,” he said fiercely.

He walked over to Kuro and scooped him up in his arms then went back to his seat. He cradled the boy trying to calm him.

“What are you doing?” Meru demanded his voice tight.

“Kagome-sama told me that he is a child right now, he has the mind and body of a child at this time even if he is a god. Before, I didn't understand but now I do.” Satoshi said quietly pulling a cloth from a nearby bucket and wiping Kuro's face.

“If he is in the body of a thirty year old he has the mind of a thirty year old with the knowledge of a Kami. If he is in the body of an eight year old he had the mind of an eight year old with the knowledge of a Kami,” he explained.

“He is an eight year old no matter his intelligence” he huffed. Silence fell over the group as they thought about Satoshi's explanation.

“Why were we summoned here, surely not to watch our master suffer,” Yuu snarled.

“Kami-sama has chosen you three to be of the pure.”

A tense silence fell over the room.

“What?” Satoshi replied in a tight crisp voice.

“We can't, we're not old enough, we haven't even finished our training!” Mataru cried.

The loud noise made Kuro wail. Mataru curled in on himself in shame glancing at the boy.

“You will do as Kami-sama bids of you,” Taisa said coldly. The three young men stared at the elders apprehensively.

`Ka…e'

Satoshi glanced down at Kuro thoughtfully

`Kagome'

This time everyone glanced at Kuro in question “I can hear him…” Yuu whispered in awe.

`Kagome-sama!' Kuro's voice wailed.

`I want Kagome-sama!' he choked.

XXXXX

Kagome blinked herself awake.

`Kuro-chan…why do I have the sudden urge to talk to him?' she thought lazily. She lifted her arm from around Rin and made the communication orb without a second thought.

`Kuro-chan?'

XXXXX

“What is that?” Mataru whispered eyeing the floating blue orb surrounded in ghostly smoke. It was as if the orb had been aflame and said flames had died to leave wisps of smoke floating from the orbs surface.

`Kuro-chan?' Came a woman's voice.

Kuro immediately quieted down and turned unseeing eyes on the orb.

`Kagome-sama? Kagome-sama where are you?' He reached eagerly and blindly but nothing was there.

After a moment, he seemed to come back to himself and realized how foolish he was acting. He frowned and curled slightly pulling his arms protectively to his chest.

`Kuro-chan are you crying?' Kagome asked confused.

The voice was closer this time. When he realized, Kuro reached out, and when the orb floated close enough he snatched it from the air and held it close to his chest with a satisfied smile.

`Tell me who upset you so much, so I can beat them up Kuro-chan,' came Kagome's playful teasing.

Kuro smiled faintly closing his eyes. `Nothing is wrong…' he responded drowsily.

`You're lying. If it was nothing, my little baka Kuro-chan wouldn't be crying.'

Kuro's cheeks puffed out and reddened. The men in the room raised an eyebrow at his response.

`I'm having bad visions, I can't go to sleep'

`Well, I might have been able to help more if I was there. I told Shippou-kun and Rin-chan, my new little friend, a story tonight. Would you like to hear it too?'

Kuro was silent a long moment as if thinking.

`Yes'

Kagome giggled the sound light and drowsy

`I woke you…I'm sorry.' He whispered tiredly.

`Kuro-chan your having a hard time sleeping and you didn't wake me, I woke up on my own. If you bothered me I would tell you to your face, you know how I am,' she huffed.

`Now hush and listen to the story, then I want you to get some sleep.'

Kuro grumbled a bit but obeyed. Everyone watched as Kuro clutched the orb like a toy and not a minute into the story he drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

A few moments after Kuro had passed out; the orb vanished into thin air as mysteriously as it came.

“She put him to sleep, I don't believe it.” Satoshi whispered.

The elders stood and the younger men present quickly moved to follow. Meru took Kuro in his arms and moved the boy over to his futon that sat on a wooden frame raised a bit off the ground.

Taisa motioned for their little meeting to move over into another room. Stepping through the entrance they all found themselves in Kuro's audience chambers. The room felt hollow and depressing but they had to ignore it as they all took seats. The two elders sat facing their heirs.

“W-Why am I being considered for such an honor. I am nowhere near the level of skill Yuu-sama and Mataru-sama are,” Satoshi asked weakly.

“We do not know, Kami-sama made this decision,” Taisa sighed warily. “We are old; it is time to choose the next leaders for the new generation of monks to follow. As the new leaders we have a mission for all of you.”

All three men sat at attention.

“As you know Elder Sansa died two days ago. It was a peaceful death, a prelude to the chaos that is about to erupt. We are expecting to have problems with lord Sagisoto. When the sun rises in a few hours Kami-sama will perform his duty in the ceremony. He says he just wants to lead our departed leader to the afterlife but this has more meaning then you realize” Meru said gravely.

“Of course if he goes through with the ceremony Lord Sagisoto will not get what he wants, Kuro-sama's ability to see the future. It will be a while before he is able to use his seeing abilities again,” Taisa explained to the three young men who nodded hesitantly. So it was true, their master was making such a large sacrifice for Sansa and the temple's occupants.

`What a kind master we have.' Satoshi thought gravely.

“You cannot let our master be found, for some reason Kami-sama is vehemently against using his abilities for lord Sagisoto, but if he is found before the ceremony then he will have no choice but to do so. After the ceremony, our master's abilities will be out of his reach of a short time at least. At that time we can make better plans and methods to protect ourselves.”

There were nods of understanding.

“Why must he leave, it doesn't make any sense” Yuu grumbled angrily. The two elders shook their heads at his childish behavior.

“The three of you will go and search for Kami-sama and when you find him do not return to the temple until this chaos Sagisoto-sama has induced is gone. One of you, I'm not sure which, will stumble upon Kagome-sama in due time. Please explain to her what is going on. Kami-sama hasn't told us what he expects to happen because he cannot see Kagome-sama future the same way he can see mine or yours.” The three men gasped.

“She is the shikon miko there will always be uncertainty in her future.” Taisa assured quickly.

“That doesn't make us feel better. So this little girl is our hidden hope. Her decisions determine if we can stop Sagisoto or not.” Yuu said with a dangerous edge in his voice. The elders choose not to answer because they simply didn't know what was going on. They had their orders and that was all.

“Forgive us; we don't have any more information on her. Sadly, we do not even know where her home town is.”

Mataru rubbed his temple. “Okay, how are we to search for Kami-sama and this girl who we have never seen before”

“They both give off a light from their souls. It manifest as a bright light from their auras. If you can read auras you can find them. Kagome-sama should be the easiest to find for the time being. Just head for the strongest spiritual energy you can find. Very few people ever reach her power level. It's expected for her powers to grow rapidly during the time you search for Kami-sama. Find Kami-sama first though. When you receive the mark, your own auras will be a little easier to see so please be wary of monks that Sagisoto may be able to convince to help him.”

“Remember we are not the only ones who can sense the Kami so be vigilant. Taisa and I will act as the heads of the temple until we can't any longer or you return. You will leave at dawn, just before the ceremony, and head in different directions. Use whatever resources you have at your disposal to make your mission a success.” The three men bowed low to the elders.

“What of you elders” Mataru asked quietly.

Meru brought a hand up to his mouth to hide his wary smile. “We are brave, our greatest joy is to serve our master, and we are proud to be of use to him now” he smiled kindly.

“Please, you have few precious hours do what you need to. Say goodbye to your students, rest, and prepare for your journey. Encourage them because they will be starting their own journey to safety soon enough”

They bowed again, “We will do Kami-sama's bidding.”

XXXX

Kagome watched Rin and Shippou roll down a hill in the distance in a bored manner. She wasn't in the mood to bounce around all happy like, especially after talking to a very upset Kuro last night.

“Oi whench!” Kagome's eyes narrowed as she looked back at Jaken, her eyes glowing in her rage. Jaken cowered and Ah-Un snorted in their amusement as the toad prostrated himself on the ground, much like what he did to their master to calm the dog lord's ire.

“ I-I mean Kagome-sama.” He choked a bit on the honorific.

“What toad!” she snapped icily. Jaken flinched; Kagome's tone would have done his master proud.

XXXXXX

Kuro blinked owlishly staring off into space absently. The wind played in his hair and the grass tickled his hands. The air was cool and smelled of rain. Kuro shifted a bit feeling the wet grass begin to soak through his sitting mat and wet his clothes. He frowned a bit wondering for the thirtieth time in two months why Kagome loved the outdoors. He hated it!

Kuro picked up the woven wreath Kagome had created for him and put the mix of dead flowers and grass on his lap. He didn't want the water to ruin his favorite present or he would have to kill the water god for the offense. He closed his eyes doing a mental count of his monks. There were only twenty out in the courtyard with him, each standing in a guard position if they weren't helping with the ceremony. Taisa and Meru were, as usual, on either side of him, but today they sat far behind him as was custom for such a ceremony at The Temple of Light.

Before him, laid out elegantly and surrounded by wood, was Sansa's still form. A younger monk, still an elder but not in the manner that Taisa and Meru were, went through the prayer rights and performed the ceremony without mistake. Kuro stared at his lap observing in silence and respect, as he was taught every time he was reborn and would one day be taught again.

This was his responsibility as master and Kami of the temple.

He let his power search out anyone else on the temple grounds but thankfully and sadly, the temple had been evacuated except for one monk he had positioned on the roof for his own purposes. Kuro did not put it past Sagisoto to set the temple aflame and kill all the children who trained here, so they had been secretly moved early this morning before the sun had come up, around the time the temples new leaders had fled.

Now, the temple was empty, cold, and he hated it almost as much as he hated the outdoors.

He lifted his head when he felt the area heat up and the cracking of flames reached his ears. It took less than a second to realize that they had set Sansa's body aflame and his role would begin soon.

Taisa and Meru sat stiffly as one of the monks came forward after another set of prayers were said over the burning body of their elder. This young monk, big and stocky, was a sight to behold, as he got on his knees and bowed with his face to the ground before Kuro's tiny form.

Kuro was still a long moment and everyone stared apprehensively at the young Kami. Everyone had dreaded this moment since Sagisoto's arrival three days ago. He stared at the grass a long moment fiddling with the wreath in his lap absently. After what seemed like forever the two elders saw him give a nod of acknowledgement to the young warrior monk. The monk took a deep breath inhaling the scent of rain and grass, before standing slowly and walking to stand beside Kuro.

Meru cringed and wished he could look away but he could not. As the young monk turned to face the seated Kami, the two elders caught site of the blade strapped on the monks back. The monk shifted nervously before taking a deep breath and steeling himself. He drew his sword and Kuro refused to look at the young man as he sat slumped and accepting.

The tension in the air was tangible and quick to make you ill. The monk drew his sword, newly sharpened and gleaming in the light. Kuro sat a little straighter so there wouldn't have to be a second swing. The monk positioned himself and hesitated. After a long moment, Kuro turned to glare at the young monk.

“Master there has to be another way…please,” the monk murmured as he trembled.

“You imbecile do it!” Taisa roared in a rage. He visibly shook, his face red in rage at the delay.

He looked at Kuro a long moment then lowered the blade.

“Do it, do you want to cause…”

Taisa trailed off as he heard the young Kami's voice in his head,

`You wish me to suffer then?'

Taisa's jaw dropped as a sense of horror swept through his being.

Meru moved faster than Taisa had seen him move in years. He jumped forward and raced to the young monk who stood frozen by the sudden movement. He reached for the sword and shoved the monk out of the way.

“I will spare you master!”

Kuro smiled gently, `Thank you, but it's too late'

Meru swung and before he could even make it through his arch, an arrow caught him in the arm pinning his lowering arm to his rib cage. A second arrow found its way to Meru's neck and the elder dropped to the ground his expression that of grief and shock.

The world around them exploded in battle. Eighteen of the monks jumped into battle with the samurai rushing the grounds. Taisa gave a strangled cry and ran forward as fast as his old body would allow. He picked up Kuro who was glancing around in a bewildered manner. He took a split second to glance at Meru who would die but not before slowly bleed out. Meru was already unconscious and for that, Taisa was thankful; Meru would die in his sleep.

He turned and ran and two younger monks flanked his sides as he ran with Kuro in his arms, the fire burning brightly behind them. The two monks batted away any arrows that would stop them but they couldn't stop them all. A wave of arrows came in and the two monks stopped to deal with the problem while Taisa and Kuro kept going. An arrow broke through and caught Taisa in the leg. He collapsed to the ground. Taisa released Kuro who crawled for his wounded leg as if it were his only goal in life. Kuro put a healing hand to Taisa's bleeding leg and after a few moments, the blood had begun to slow.

The monks returned to their side. Kuro stopped his work and glanced up toward the roof in the distance. Taisa grabbed his arm and dragged him to one of the monks barking orders for them to protect and get Kuro to safety. The monk reached out and Kuro only sent him a blank stare. The monk reached for Kuro to drag the boy into his arms but a loud wet thud echoed around them.

Taisa touched the cut on his cheek that had appeared. While he had been spared an arrow to the head, instead, Kuro lay with an arrow imbedded deeply in his chest.

“M-master” he gasped in disbelief in horror. The Two monks were in similar states of shock. One of their monk guards turned in time to see one of the temple monks on the roof literally a second before he was shot down. His bow and arrows fell to the ground with him as he toppled from the roof sobbing.

Kuro gasped quietly struggling to take in every breath. There was blood on his lips where a broken whimper spilled from. Taisa trembled dragging himself a little closer to the child. He touched the growing red stain on Kuro's chest near the shaft of the arrow.

“Master.” Taisa whispered as he trembled.

`Taisa,' Kuro called reaching up for the elderly man almost eagerly. Taisa leaned in closer and Kuro's hands touched his face gently. He ran his fingers around Taisa's eyelids, lips, then touched his cheeks and finally his forehead. Taisa could have died of misery right then when blood had finally gathered enough to slip from Kuro's mouth and roll harmlessly down the boys pale face. The boy seemed to lose his strength and his arms trembled at the weight of themselves. Taisa took Kuro's hands in his own, tears in his eyes as he rocked frantically on his knees, clearly traumatized by the events that had just taken place.

A hand grabbed Taisa by the back of his neck and he gave a yell as he was snatched away and thrown into the arms of samurai. The soldier that had grabbed Taisa, paused to take in Kuro's form before turning and yelling for a doctor. The doctor rushed over seeming to have been brought just for an instance like this.

Kuro's eyes rolled as he fought for consciousness.

`I'm scared, I'm so scared. Kagome, I'm scared again, what should I do?'

The doctor shook his head as Kuro coughed violently spreading more blood on his face as he tried to stifle the hack. The doctor had concluded his examination and told the samurai of his diagnosis.

Kuro wouldn't make it.

The samurai leading the operation began to scream in a rage and the flick of a sword later the doctors body collapsed beside Kuro who blinked startled.

Taisa struggled as the samurai lifted his sword over Kuro.

Kuro whimpered and sobbed already knowing what was about to happen.

He had been in this situation thousands of times and he knew the outcome, it was always painful and left mental scars to carry over into the next life.

`Kagome …I'm scared but you promised I would see you again. You love me, you wouldn't lie to me. I know it!'

Kuro gasped when a sharp pain tore through his torso. Taisa gave an animalistic howl fighting to get to the young Kami.

`You said it would be okay'

Kuro gave a small smile even as he struggled for breath.

“It's okay to be scared right?”

The samurai jolted hearing the boy speak from the other end of his blade.

There were dark wisps of smoke floating from the boy's skin.

The samurai didn't have time to even turn and run before Kuro's form burst into black smoke that covered everything and clawed its way across the land. Anybody on the temple grounds that wasn't a monk of the temple collapsed in the smoke.

Taisa sat in shock as the samurai collapsed around him clawing at their throats as they struggled to breath. At one point, the smoke became so thick on the temple grounds he couldn't see his own hand in front of him. Even the light from the fire had been stifled.

A heavy silence fell over the area as the smoke hung ominously over the area, like miasma, for almost 20 minutes before it began to clear. Taisa glanced around and blinked numbly at the purple men laying on either side of him, stiff in death.

The smoke took the longest to move away from Kuro but Taisa paid it no mind. He crawled forward and reached into the dark clouds. His hand met the blade.

Moving his hand a little lower, he met with silk robes sticky with blood. The two monks who had struggled to guard Kuro and Taisa, sat in shock watching as their leader removed the blade from Kuro's form and tossed it aside.

Without a sound, he gathered the limp form in his arms, not even unnerved when the smoke followed his movements lazily. He pulled Kuro to his chest and stood slowly, numb to the fact Kuro's head hung off his arm awkwardly. His direction decided he began to walk, hobbling painfully across the grounds. The fire appeared before him suddenly as the black smoke parted to show he was mere inches from the flames.

The clank of armor alerted those alive on the temple grounds to samurai moving though the purple fog. It was no longer a threat and beginning to clear up. These men probably had masks on to filter out the smoke. Taisa shifted the body in his arms.

“They didn't get you master.” He whispered hoarsely before laying Kuro down in the flames that had destroyed Sansa's body. He didn't even bat an eyelash at the burns that appeared on his arms as Kuro vanished into the flames. He stepped away as the fire danced and the burning of his arms finally became too much to bear. He rubbed a hand over the seared flesh.

A noise caught his attention; he turned to the unit of men in samurai armor.

XXXXXX

Satoshi ran a hand across the still burning mark on his forehead. The lingering feeling of Kuro's kiss made him rub at the mark a bit more vigorously; it itched and burned enough to make him want to stop but... He paused his tree hopping and turned back to stare at the temple barely visible from his position in the forest miles away. The yellow roofs gleamed ominously in the distance and he suddenly wished all this trouble had never started in the first place. Kami-sama wouldn't have to sacrifice himself to stay out of Sagisoto's hands.

It was very strange for a Kami to do such a thing. The only time a Kami would sacrifice himself for a soul was when there was a tainted death of one of the Kami's chosen ones, which simply wasn't the case this time. Kami…Kuro's offer just proved how dire the situation was about to become, and he found himself frightened.

He tilted his head curiously seeing thick columns of purple smoke rising from the temple grounds. He tensed before quickly looking away; he couldn't go back he had a mission to take care of.

With a deep sigh he turned and kept going, he had a mission to complete.

XXXXX

A hiss of pain made its way from Kagome's parted lips. The red energy around her hand crackled violently. Her skin burned and she immediately stopped when the pain became too much. Upset and frustrated she stuck her hand and in the river to sooth the burning. It took a long moment, but the burning finally faded. Kagome pulled her hand from the water and looked at the blistering skin that was quickly healing over before her eyes.

“This is not normal for a Miko or Monk,” she murmured aloud flexing her hand experimentally. With a frown, she sat on the bank and tucked her knees to her chest. I have this ball of energy in my stomach area just kinda hovering there; that is my Miko powers…” she bit her lip and held out her hand again. Red sparks began to jump from her skin excitedly and she stared at the sparks that caused her pain.

She shook her head. “That's about as much confirmation as I can get, this is definitely Youki but I'm a Miko. Where is it stored and how do I have both Miko and Youki energy in my body?” She rested her chin in a hand and eyed the body of water before her.

`How the hell do I even have youki in the first place? I'm a Miko, that shouldn't be possible!' Kagome's eyes narrowed.

“I am so sticking my foot up your ass when I see you again Jiji, I told you eating demon food would cause all types of problems.” With a groan she dropped her chin onto her knees and let her hands dangled on her sides limply. Defeated and now sporting a light headache and quickly healing burns, she stared sourly into the water becoming lost in thought.

“Kagome-san!” Rin darted to the young woman crouched by the river, staring at her reflection in the water in a rather depressed manner. Kagome glanced up lethargically and blinked at Rin.

“Hi Rin-chan, where's Shippou-kun.” She asked with a lazy smile. Rin glanced back toward the forest in the direction their camp had been for the last two days.

“Shippou-kun said he wanted to make something.” She shrugged the thought off and shoved a fistful of colorful flowers in Kagome's face. She blushed and gave a bright grin. “I got these for you.” Kagome took the flowers and sniffed them. They were wild flowers and didn't have much of a scent but the action made Rin happy.

“They're lovely Rin-chan,” she whispered. Rin sat down by Kagome.

“I got them in lots of happy colors because you seem sad” Kagome blinked at how perceptive the child was, but then again she had been staring at her own reflection for last half hour lost in thought.

“Thank you Rin-chan” She gave the girl a quick hug.

“Kaa-san!”

Shippou hopped from the forest and ran to her waving something brown at her wildly. He stopped and stuck the item he held in her face. It was a little stick person held together with old brown grass and clothed in fresh green grass. Kagome laughed and Shippou blushed but otherwise smiled proudly. “That's so cute Shippou. It must have taken a lot of work to make.” One of the dolls arms fell off and Shippou's face fell as Rin and Kagome laughed.

Kagome suddenly paused, a frown marring her features. The sudden shift in mood startled the two children who eyed the older woman warily.

“Shippou its time to go, say goodbye to Rin-chan” both children looked up confused as Kagome stood and walked swiftly back to camp. Rin and Shippou glanced at each other before following Kagome.

“Kagome-san what's wrong?” Rin asked a bit fearfully.

“It's time for me to go, your master is returning.” She said quickly stuffing her supplies into her newly completed messenger bag. Jaken and Ah-un watched her, a bit startled by the sudden movements and her announcement. She slung the strap of the bag over her head and let said bag hang on her hip. Diving for the dragon, she grabbed Ah's head and kissed the scaly dragon's muzzle.

“You so cute” she cooed nuzzling the dragon.

Un looked at his other half horrified before head butting his brother out of the way. He wanted attention too. Kagome giggled and kissed Un's muzzle too. She went to Rin and squeezed the little girl.

“I'll miss you Rin-chan but we'll see each other again.” Rin whimpered, tears in her eyes.

“Kagome-san why do you have to leave Sesshomaru-sama won't-“ Kagome set Rin down and Shippou glomped the taller girl knowing it was time to get away fast. Rin stumbled a bit at the force of the hug and collapsed onto her back. Shippou grinned and released her to hop after his mother.

Kagome turned to Jaken, “Learn to talk to me right and you're not half bad Jaken.” The toad snorted and looked away. Kagome turned to leave snatching Shippou up into her arms.

“Damn he sped up, he must have smelled me finally.” She thought aloud shooting up into the trees. She made it to the next tree before she cursed loudly and knew she had to prepare for confrontation. Snatching her monk's staff from her chain, she forced energy into it in time to block Sesshomaru's poison claw. Kagome struggled against Sesshomaru a moment before pushing him away. He back flipped, landing neatly on a close tree branch.

He eyed her a long moment trying to figure out how he recognized her. There was a long pause before he seemed to realize who his opponent was. He made it very clear what he thought of her in two simple words.

“Inuyasha's bitch!” he bit out distastefully. Kagome's eyes narrowed, she sat Shippou down on the tree branch.

“Move to safety Shippou,” she ordered coolly. Shippou nodded scrambling down the tree.

Kagome sighed and twirled her staff absently.

“Sesshomaru-sama” she said with a respectful nod. Sesshomaru seemed to consider her now that he had paused to see her choice of weapon. Kagome tucked her hair behind her ears and Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at the mark on her brow, not that it meant much to him.

Tired of the staring contest he charged again. Kagome jumped back as he tried to take her head off. She smacked his arm aside with her staff and he merely tried again. Kagome yanked a few pre-prepared sutras from her kimono top as she dodged. Saying a quick prayer over the slips of paper, she flung them at the irate youkai lord. Sesshomaru paused in mid attack and Kagome blinked amazed, as he became a blur before reappearing on another branch. The sutra's fluttered to the ground uselessly.

Her hands flew together in prayer and a barrier of pure energy sprung up from her body. Satisfied he wouldn't get through without some serious damage, and assured she would have enough time to dodge should he choose to hit the barrier, she glared at him.

“Sesshomaru-sama I have no ill will against you, but if you keep attacking me I will try to take your other arm before I die,” Kagome said calmly.

Sesshomaru's relaxed expression tightened a bit at the threat. “You presume you can harm this Sesshomaru?” he asked coolly.

“With all due respect Lord Sesshomaru, I may not be well trained but I have learned to control my powers a lot better. I can hurt you and if I'm going to sacrifice my life trying to make sure my kit is well then I PROMISE I will take your good arm,” She replied stiffly.

“Insolent human,” Seshomaru's lip curled in disgust and anger. How dare his brothers human threaten him in such a manner!

“Sesshomaru-sama!”

Sesshomaru didn't acknowledge his human ward as she continued to cry for him. He kept his eyes on Kagome. While he was a strong warrior and a youkai lord, he heard the truth in her words. If she decided to attempt a suicide run, he would likely be hurt. All she had to do was charge him with her energy flaring at full power with the intent to kill. While she probably couldn't take his arm she would incapacitate him for a few days, and he couldn't allow that.

“Sesshomaru-sama don't hurt Kagome-san, she made me all better. Shippou-kun played with me too.”

With fierce eyes, she scowled up at him. “If you hurt Kagome-san I won't talk to Sesshomaru-sama for…for a really long time,” she nodded her head decisively and stared up at the youkai lord stubbornly. Sesshomaru finally glanced at Rin. He didn't believe for a second she would actually refuse to speak to him, it was the fact that she had actually thought to threaten him that got his attention.

Kagome noticed the subtle change in the air around Sesshomaru and noted that he was actually considering Rin's words.

“What do you want here girl, why are you not with your pack” he asked boredly.

Kagome took a moment to frown at the youkai lord.

“I stumbled upon your pack and my son wanted to spend some time with Rin. Believe me, I planned to be long gone before you showed up but Rin fell ill. I haven't been in a pack for almost two years Sesshomaru-sama.” Sesshomaru glanced down at the small group that stared at him apprehensively.

“We are enemy's girl. You obviously haven't matured since you, and my brother's pack went separate ways. Have you always been so foolish as to help the opposition?”

Kagome smiled and gave a sheepish shrug not caring that he had insulted her. She had heard worse from his younger brother.

“My lord do we not have a common enemy to face, why would I make an enemy out of you?”

Sesshomaru's gaze held hers for a long moment as he searched for any hint deceit, but he remained silent so Kagome continued. “Would it not be beneficial for both of us to remain alive? You would not benefit if I died before purifying the jewel and ridding the world of it presence so demons like Naraku don't reappear again. On the other hand, I would not gain anything by killing you as you and Inuyasha are one of the few youkai that would threaten Naraku, provide a challenge, and have the highest possibility of killing him.”

Shippou raised an eyebrow at his mother. Was she really talking down a youkai lord and getting somewhere.

“My lord honestly why would I kill your pack, you and I were never truly enemies, I jumped into the fights with your brother and for that I apologize.” She bowed a bit shooting a gaze to the empty sleeve that should have held his arm. If Sesshomaru noticed her gaze he gave no indication.

Kagome's gaze twinkled, she was getting though to him. At least the elder Inu brother wasn't as thick headed as his younger sibling.

“So you cured Rin's ailments for a price?”

Kagome blinked a few times startled. She frowned in confusion but just as quickly, her frown was gone. Sesshomaru's gaze flickered over her face, as he seemed to realize his mistake in assuming Kagome had done her deeds for a price, but again he said nothing.

“No, I didn't but this is common sense to me my lord. It has become obvious to me that you, Inuyasha, my friends, and I are all need to work together to stop Naraku.”

Sesshomaru gave the faintest curl of his lips that made Kagome cringe. He was going to say something asshole-ish; Inuyasha gave similar smirks when he wanted to be a dick.

“You would work with my brother who chose the undead Miko over you?” Kagome sighed turning her bored stare on the youkai lord. `That actually wasn't too bad' she thought amused

“Forgive me my lord for my bluntness but I really don't have time for that foolishness. I'm here to stop Naraku, he's the most pressing issue and the most deadly, not Kikyou who can't do anything but cling to Inuyasha and beg the idiot to go to hell with her.” Sesshomaru's expression went blank again and Kagome could see he was disappointed she didn't react to the jibe. What was with these male Inu and harassing human girls!

“I see the truth in your words girl.” Kagome gave a barely audible sigh of relief but Sesshomaru caught it if the twitch of his ears were any clue.

“I will let you leave but if you come near what is mine again without my permission consider your life forfeit.”

Kagome could have snorted right then but kept her rude noises to herself. There was no way she was going to completely obey his imposed law but of course, he didn't need know that.

“Thank you Sesshomaru-sama,” she gave a slight bow balanced on her branch like an acrobat.

“By the way your eyes are kind of pink are you feeling well, not enough sleep?” she chirped. A wave of his hand and Kagome jumped from her branch as it burst into splinters.

She let herself drop toward the ground as Sesshomaru spoke.

“That is none of your concern girl, be gone”

Kagome stuck her tongue out at him, childish anger overriding common sense. Sesshomaru's eye twitched and Kagome laughed aloud.

“You will pay for your insults girl, temporary ally or not”

Kagome landed and vanished seconds after grabbing Shippou. “You won't kill me right, I wonder what you will do?” her voice echoed around him.

“How did you learn to move so fast girl?” he asked calmly.

She only giggled and after standing for a moment with no response, Sesshomaru realized she was long gone. “I will need to put you in your place girl,” he growled quietly before jumping down to meet with his group.

It was time to take them home.

XXXXXX

Bye bye Kuro.

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