Disclaimer: Inuyasha characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Other characters are property of Kidoairaku.

Rating: PG-13: for possible language and just in case

Summary: [Sess/Kag] What if Sesshoumaru was the one that met Kagome on the other side of the well?

Genre: Romance/Drama

Sesshoumaru

Chapter Two

Inuyasha relentlessly forced his strength on the Tetsusaiga, inching his way closer to his despised half-brother's throat. Sesshoumaru's hands dripped blood from the pressure of holding the blade. He could feel his strength slowly fleeing him. This is so shameful...losing to a hanyou. Kagome watched, horrified, that beings could kill so heartlessly.

"Stop," she said softly, tears beginning to form in her blue-gray eyes.

The hanyou paid no heed, baring his fangs in disgust at Sesshoumaru's attempt to ward off his inevitable death.

"STOP!" Kagome shouted, pushing herself to stand.

Still, Inuyasha remained oblivious to her desperate pleas. Now, the Tetsusaiga hovered mere centimeters away from the fatal blow. Kagome, tears streaming down her cheeks, pointed a hand in his direction, palm facing towards him.

"I said STOP!" she screeched, a shining blue light emanating from her hand.

Air rushed towards Inuyasha, the mere impact sending him slamming into a tree. He slid to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Bitch," he panted, blacking out from the blow.

"Call me what you want," Kagome said breathlessly, dropping her arm to her side.

The blade that he had been yielding lay flung to the side, transforming back into a rusted katana. Kagome knelt next to Sesshoumaru, eyes quickly scanning over him for injuries other than the one in his stomach. He lay sprawled on the forest floor, the lush green grasses cushioning him like a mattress. Breathing heavily, he narrowed his eyes at the bold girl.

"Why did you do that?" he asked, pain stinging through his hands from touching the fang.

"Because you have done nothing wrong. Therefore, do not deserve death." She answered matter-of-factly.

She found that his armor had broken at the spot where he had been hit. Dark red blood poured from the wound, staining his pristine white clothing.

"Take off your armor," she commanded, tearing the bottom of her skirt.

It was a good thing the skirt was pleated, otherwise, it wouldn't have been long enough to wrap around his waist. Of course, she would have to wrap it around several times and Sesshoumaru seemed to have more than enough clothing to cover that. She impatiently tore off both of her sleeves as well as his.

"What are you doing, wench?" Sesshoumaru demanded, wincing from the pain of his wounds.

"Helping you," she said simply, throwing off the armor he had so obediently already taken off. (cough)

"I don't need a human wench's help," he stated less than kindly.

"I don't care if you don't need it, because you're getting it," Kagome shot back, tearing off the top of his kimono.

Wincing at the sight, she decided to get him to clean it up before she actually did bandage it. She looked thoughtful for a moment before walking over to the pond with one of her sleeves. Sesshoumaru watched curiously, sitting up against a tree, as the human girl drenched the sleeve and wrung it out, walking back over to him. Though she gently cleansed the wound, it still stung. Sesshoumaru was tempted to throw her off of him a couple times but strongly and stiffly restrained the urge. Her touch, though it disgusted him to think so, was amazingly soothing for that of a human's. Many humans, he knew, would run and cower from him, yet this young, human girl stood boldly in front of him even after finding out he was a youkai. He also knew that humans desired his death but were too afraid to try to deal it to him on their own. Yet, this girl sought to help him. Perhaps she is new to this land… He mused over the idea in his head. That would be the best explanation for her ignorance of youkai, saying that they were only legends.

Sesshoumaru watched as she deftly wound the bandages around his stomach. Her blue-gray eyes shone with compassion and sympathy. For me??? The thought confused him. No one could show such emotions for youkai…yet Inuyasha had his miko bitch. Perhaps there were others like her…like this girl. But Inuyasha was hanyou. There was a possibility for humans to like him; he was part of their race…in a way. He shook himself out of his thoughts, mentally reprimanding himself for thinking so deeply of this human wench.

"Do you have any idea who I am?" Sesshoumaru demanded, his golden eyes boring into hers.

"Yes…quite a good idea, I think," she said. Emotionless…direct…demanding…arrogant…beauti ful…ACK NO!

Blushing slightly, she resumed her work, still winding the cloth around his stomach. They stayed in silence for a while as she tore her other sleeve into long bandages. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, again circling his waist with the cloth.

Confusion showed plainly in the Western Demon Lord-to-be's eyes, otherwise hidden by his indifferent expression. "For what, may I ask?"

The blush returned, turning her cheeks a rosy color. "Umm…I walked in on you while you were…bathing," she said uncomfortably.

"I care not," he said simply, boredom now surfacing, dulling his brilliant eyes.

Kagome huffed impatiently, finishing off his bandages. "I'm sure you don't care about anything," she said wryly, turning to leave.

Something in Sesshoumaru made him want to call out to her, to apologize. Yet, the words would not come, as he was too stubborn to do anything that he deemed below him. He glanced over his hands, seeing that the deep cuts embedded in them before were now gone, leaving no trace behind over the flawless creamy white skin. The wound in his stomach, however, would take at least an hour to heal completely. I should have killed the human wench the instant I laid eyes on her. Mentally, he kicked himself for hurting himself in such an avoidable way. Standing, he slid the top of his kimono on again and adorned his armor. Once finished, he walked over to the limp sprawled figure resting against a tree trunk, otherwise known as Inuyasha.

"So, brother," he said dryly, glaring at the shameful hanyou, "We both have let a human woman get the best of us, eh?"

Inuyasha, whom had recovered from his fainting spell, glared back in return. "Heh," he laughed mockingly, "I should have been awake to see it all."

Sesshoumaru gave a look of disdain before leaping off into the night air. "I'll see you again sometime, brother," he said as he floated effortlessly through the air, "To discuss the matters of our father…"

That settled, he turned his back on his brother and glided away, sending a stark contrast through the blue velvet night sky with his shocking white clothing. Inuyasha groaned, rubbing his back painfully.

"Dumb bitch," he cursed silently, rising to stand.

"Inuyasha," a quiet voice called from the trees, its effect cold and chilling to the air around them.

"Kikyou?" Inuyasha questioned, unsure of the source of the voice.

"Did you kill him?" Kikyou asked, striding gracefully from the cover of the dark trees.

She adorned her traditional miko garb, and she carried with her, as always, her bow and a quiver of arrows. Her eyes were a sheet of ice blue, piercing, cold, and domineering. Long, black hair flowed down to her waist, tied back with a ribbon. Her looks were, if not beautiful, untouchable. It was as if she was above everything, in a class all her own. She was, if you could compare, like a goddess, and at that, a cold one.

"No," Inuyasha said dejectedly, stiffening from her piercing gaze.

"Why not?" she asked, gliding over to him.

"I"

A piercing shriek shook the still night air, making Inuyasha hold his ears in agony. Kikyou turned icily towards the sound, a bored look coming over her features.

"It's that girl whom you just met," she said monotonously.

Inuyasha didn't wait an instant more, lunging into a run towards the girl's awkward scent.

"Inuyasha!" Kikyou called, freezing him in his tracks.

"What is it, Kikyou?!" he responded angrily, glaring at the miko.

"Why do you wish to help her if she just hurt you?" she asked, curiosity overriding her senses.

Inuyasha gave no answer, turning and running again towards the girl. Kikyou stared after him, her eyes empty and emotionless. I feel it…that girl does not belong of this world. She and I are one and the same…she must be taken care of… Fingering the Shikon no Tama around her neck, she, too, went after the girl.

Kagome screamed as the centipede thing from the well bit into her side. She could feel deep fangs sinking into her flesh as she was tossed effortlessly into the air. I knew I should have stayed in that clearing with that youkai. Flying through the air like a rag, something caught her eye. A small, pink spherical object floated near her hand, glowing brilliantly as it flew through the air with her. What is that? She moaned as she hit the ground, sitting up and rubbing her back. The glowing orb floated in front of her face, its soft pink light seeming to dance as Kagome stared at it. A voice seemed to speak to her from the jewel. It was light and musical, soothing and gentle. Yet, at the same time, it was commanding and serious.

"You are the one," it whispered to her. "You are the only one who may possess the Shikon no Tama."

"I am…" Kagome said, confused.

The jewel floated down to her neck, light forming like a chain around it. She could feel the chain of light faintly, resting like water around her neck.

"Protect it," the voice said softly, fading away. "Protect me…protect us."

The words seemed to carve themselves in the slate of Kagome's mind. Though, they made no sense, she knew she had to protect this 'so-called' Shikon no Tama at all costs. She could feel the warmth of the jewel against her collar, fueling her with strength and courage. The centipede woman was approaching quickly, jaws extended to reveal a mouth of overly large fangs.

"Give it to me!" it screeched, lunging toward her.

Kagome froze, unable to move. A red blur passed her, and the next thing she knew, parts of the strange creature lay strewn across the clearing. Blinking, she looked around. There, standing above her, was the boy from earlier, the hanyou.

"Umm," she stammered, pushing herself to stand, "Thanks."

"Feh," he replied, turning his back on her and walking away.

Kagome glared at his back and then quickly walked after him.

"Hey," she said sternly, moving in front of him.

"What?" he demanded, his golden eyes flashing dangerously.

He caught sight of the jewel around her neck. Blinking, he squinted at it. It's the Shikon…but…Kikyou has one, too…are there two of them?

"Why did you do that?" she asked firmly, arms crossed.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he said sarcastically, "I didn't know you wanted to die."

"I didn't say that," she shot back.

"Inuyasha," Kikyou called, appearing next to him.

"Kikyou!" he exclaimed, startled.

"Who's this girl?" she asked, her voice thick with disdain.

"I don't know," he said.

"Oh really?" she asked. "Then why did you save her? I have not known you to rescue for charity."

"Feh," he replied, leaping off into a nearby tree.

"Good," Kikyou said, smiling icily, "Then you won't mind if I kill her."

Kagome gasped as Kikyou raised her an arrow with her bow, pointing directly at Kagome. Kagome noticed, too, that a jewel glittered from Kikyou's neck.

"What?" she said dumbly, backing away. "I don't even know you."

"But I know," Kikyou said monotonously, "that you will be the end of me."

The arrow flew straight for Kagome, gliding effortlessly through the air. It seemed to turn into a comet, pink light streaking behind it. Before Kagome knew it, she had been hit and was pinned to a tree. She felt no pain, although she could not move. The arrow was embedded in her shoulder. Kagome tried to move her arm to the arrow, yet she had no control over her limbs. She was completely frozen against the tree.

"Only that who cares not for the Shikon no Tama may free you," Kikyou said coldly, harshly.

Kagome's lips twisted into a snarl. "What have I done to you?" she spat, her eyes turning from a soft blue to an electric ice.

"You and I are one and the same," Kikyou said simply, walking towards her. "I would not exist long if you were to walk this Earth freely."

"Selfish bitch," Kagome retorted.

"You have thrown everything off balance, stranger," Kikyou reasoned, ignoring Inuyasha's presence at her shoulder.

"My name is Kagome," she said mockingly.

"Fine, Kagome," Kikyou said dryly, "With your presence here, we have two Shikon no Tamas and two of the same soul. It is not meant to be that way."

Kagome could feel her eyelids drooping slightly. It was as if sleep was weighing down on her magically.

"You will sleep…unharmed…until one who cares not for the Shikon comes to free you. It must be a male, full youkai," Kikyou said, smirking. "Your chances of ever seeing daylight again are now fully diminished to virtually none."

Everything she said was feeding into Kagome's mind, though Kagome, herself, did not know it. To her, it seemed everything was leaving, turning into a silent, peaceful blackness.

"When you wake, you will be bound to that youkai, so that you two are never more than thirty feet apart," Kikyou continued, still smirking. "Goodnight, dear reincarnate."

From that point on, Kagome could see no more. Her eyes closed, blanketing her in a drowsy slumber. One voice remained with her, speaking softly to her, giving her strength.

"Kagome," the voice from the Shikon called, "No harm will come to you…you will live again…we will guarantee your survival above hers…"

Inuyasha watched in awe as the rebellious girl grew limp, and her eyes closed slowly. His hand reached out towards her, but he pulled back when it a searing hot pain ran up his arm.

"You cannot go near her, Inuyasha," Kikyou said, still wearing her smirk. "You are not full demon…and you do hold desires for the Shikon."

Inuyasha looked at the miko in surprise. Kikyou…ever since she was brought back to life…she's been…so…cruel. Looking at the girl, called Kagome, again, he sighed, leaping up into a nearby tree. She's right, though. There's virtually no one, man or youkai, who does not desire the Shikon for their own purposes.

-kidoairaku