InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sunset Love ❯ Beloved Miko ( Chapter 17 )

A/N - Ok well here's the next installment of Sunset love, I had to give him some valid reasons to worry over so there will some if not a lot of Sess OOCness. I also wanted to answer one reviewer's question on the lifespan of a demon and hope that it answers some questions.

 

I do not know when I'll be able to get the next chapter up so enjoy!

 

Disclaimer - I wish I could say I did own it, but all characters still remain in their true owners possession. But that isn't stopping me from tormenting our favorite pair… :mwahahaha:

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Chapter 17 ~ Beloved Miko

 

Tatsu and Kisho conversed outside Kagome's door, speaking in hushed tones so that they would not disturb the ones inside. Kisho had relieved Tatsu during the night so the dragon youkai could regain some of the energy he had depleted holding onto the young woman only to return as morning brightened the eastern sky.

 

Now they stood talking about the meeting taking place later in the Council Hall. It had eased Tatsu's worry to hear that the room was quiet except for the soft sounds of slumber. He had relayed Sesshomaru's wish to the Northern Lord and was relieved with Kisho had accepted.

 

Kisho had wanted to stay with Kagome but he knew that the Western Lord would take good care of her. He also knew that several of her friends would be taking turns guarding the door to her room as the day wore on. They had already made their demands about it known.

 

Never before had Kisho seen such overwhelming respect for one person before and it touched his heart. He still had his questions for Kagome but the more he saw her kindness reflected in the actions of others the more Kisho began to see a pattern. It started with her old friends and the upper lords, Tatsu and himself included before spiraled out until everyone in the castle was feeling the heart she wore on her sleeve. The girl was even more special then he had at first believed and every time someone, be it youkai or human, approached he would see even more evidence of it.

 

Some of the approaching youkai and humans had not even met the miko yet, but everyone had heard of the young woman who had defeated Ozeki in battle and rescued the lord's brother. Rumors had spread out about her kitsune son, surprising a lot of those gathered. They had heard that Kagome had fallen ill and journeyed to her chambers to see if there was anything they could do. It was a way to meet the miko that was swiftly becoming popular to all within Sesshomaru's castle.

 

Apparently, Kagome had taken the time he had been away to create more friends in the castle and Kisho found it quite intriguing. Everyone who knew anything about her, knew she was a human, yet many of the demons that made their way to her door were the very ones that believed humans to be nothing more then an irritation or cattle. Kisho wondered if it was truly kindness that sent the youkai to seek her out in this state of weakness or if it were some type of morbid curiosity.

 

Kisho was jarred from his thoughts as Ozeki came around the corner. The bear would guard the miko's room while he over saw the war council in Sesshomaru's place.

 

Ozeki had just taken his place when the sounds of marching feet echoed through the hall. The faint clanging of weapons and armor mingled with the sound causing all three youkai to become instantly alert.

 

To their surprise five heavily armed youkai marched toward them and Ozeki easily recognized their leader as the young bull Shuri, the one Kagome had taught a few small lessons to the previous morning. All five soldiers bowed before the three, their heads lowered in respect.

 

“Great Lords,” Shuri's voice broke the silence that had fallen over the corridor, gaining the attention of everyone present. “It has come to our attention that the Lady Miko needs guardians while the lords attend the war council. We, your lowly servants, ask that we be allowed to stand watch over the lady during your absences.”

 

Ozeki snorted and looked toward Tatsu and Kisho for what must be done, he would allow them, as his superiors, to make the decision even if he didn't want the soldiers there.

 

Tatsu and Kisho exchanged knowing looks before Kisho turned back to the waiting soldiers. “You may stand watch with general Ozeki, but be warned if anything befalls either the miko or the Western Lord while they are under your watch it will not go well for any of you.”

 

“We will guard the lord and lady with our lives, M'lord,” Shuri replied only to have the others swear to it as well.

 

Kisho nodded taking in the strangely mixed troop. Shuri was a green soldier, not having yet experienced his first battle but behind him the others were a mix of both new and veterans who had fought long and hard in previous wars. It surprised him that the experienced ones had allowed the upstart to speak for them but it dawned on him that it might have been Shuri who had suggested the strange request in the first place.

 

“Rise and take your positions,” Kisho told them before turning to Tatsu. “Come old friend your advice will be greatly needed this day.”

 

Tatsu nodded knowing with some deep instinct that every word this unlikely bunch uttered had been made with deep conviction. They would guard the room with their lives as they had sworn and Ozeki would bully the group into keeping that word. Tatsu shook his head at the wide reach Kagome seemed to have over everyone and followed Kisho from the hall.

 

Ozeki snorted again and stood in front of the door, his eyes watching as the five soldiers took up different positions around the hall. If one of them so much as sneezed wrong he would be all over them. If they wanted to play at being royal guards then Ozeki was determined to make sure they knew what it entailed.

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Sesshomaru had awoken with the sounds of marching, had heard everything that was said outside the door, and had to resist the urge to smile. All his premonitions concerning Kagome had come true. She had stormed into his castle, turning everything upside down, and caused his ordered life to become utter chaos. It amused Sesshomaru to realize that he really did not mind.

 

He glanced at the small woman who lay shivering against him. He was lying on his side, her back pressed tightly against his body and it felt so right to have her there. It was almost as if it were meant to be, her forever by his side with her brilliant smiles and love of life.

 

Quickly, Sesshomaru banished the thoughts from his mind. It could never happen, even if he wished it too. No one would stand for him to have a human mate and it might be viewed as an inherited weakness from his father.

 

Kagome though, unlike Inuyasha's mother Iyazoi, seemed to have one advantage, she was slowly but surely gaining everyone in the castles heart as easily as she had captured his own. A small glimmer of hope arose at that thought. Maybe in the end it wouldn't matter to anyone in the Western Lands, maybe there was a chance for them if they survived this battle.

 

A frustrated sigh escaped him as memory of where Kagome came from drifted into his thoughts. What if she disappeared again once her task had come to an end? Could he deal with being separated from her again or would it tear him apart if he allowed himself to grow closer to her then he already was? Would he be able to see her in the future time or would her memory slip away as the years rolled by only to be a forgotten myth spoken of around a campfire? Would he even live long enough to see her in that future time?

 

It was no secret that a youkai's lifespan was often believed to be immortal and for the most part Sesshomaru believed it could very well be. He had never heard of a demon dying from old age yet, but there were other ways one of his kind could perish.

 

Death was usually dealt out by either the hand of another or illness. The stronger a demon became the longer he lived and it was only by sheer skill alone that they were granted another day. In his lifetime, Sesshomaru had seen many great youkai fall to a stronger, faster, or smarter opponent because they lacked the skills necessary to defeat their enemy.

 

Illnesses among youkai were very rare, though not unheard of, and when one fell to a sickness it usually happened so quick a healer did not have time to adjust to it. There were a few illnesses though that were nothing more then what the humans referred to as a cold but even this simplest of diseases could turn deadly for some youkai.

 

There were no guarantees in life and Sesshomaru did not know if his life was headed in that direction. Even if he did survive, how would he to know where and when exactly to contact the little miko? Her time was an obscure place somewhere five hundred years into a future that had not yet been written for him.

 

A small whimper broke the Taiyoukai from his thoughts and he felt Kagome's body tense in his arms. Her head began to twist from side to side as though she were telling someone no in a drastic manner. She pressed back into him, as though trying to get away from something and his brows drew together in worry.

 

Instinctively, Sesshomaru tightened his embrace, repeating his earlier words of comfort. His voice seemed to sooth the struggling girl until she once more lay still, a small sigh escaping her pale lips.

 

The futon's bedding was damp from her sweat and Sesshomaru knew that the woman would need to be bathed soon to cleanse the toxins from her delicate skin. The wounds would have to be cleaned as well and bandaged now that her miko powers no longer flared around her.

 

Slowly he eased away from her, careful not to disturb the peaceful sleep Kagome had finally slipped into. Kagome whimpered softly in protest and Sesshomaru reached out to caress her face tenderly, careful of his deadly claws. She settled at his touch and when he drew away she remained silent except for her soft but ragged breathing.

 

Sesshomaru quietly slide her bedroom door open to come face to face with Ozeki. There was a worried look deep in the bear's dark eyes that belied the stone set to his face. The soldiers scattered around the hall lowered their heads in a sign of respect to their lord without leaving their positions. Nothing would get them to move without being commanded to do so.

 

“Send someone to fetch Kikyo and get Jaken to bring a warm bath.” Sesshomaru commanded Ozeki. At the bear's nod, Sesshomaru returned to the room and sat on the bed next to the miko. He listened as two of the soldiers were dispatched on the various tasks he had assigned, his gaze never lifting from the woman's face.

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Iyashii paced back and forth, his face contorted into a mask of fury. He was mad at the world and even more so at himself. If he had not allowed greed to control his thoughts then perhaps he would still have what had truly mattered most to him.

 

Memories of eight years flooded him with guilt and self-loathing. Iyashii had wanted power and knew that as the youngest son of a minor lord he would never be able to have it. That was why he had allowed the strange inu youkai approach him with a plan of conquest.

 

The demon had spoken sweet promises of ruling over many minor lords if only Iyashii helped to defeat the Northern Lord. It was an offer to great to pass up for one that wished power for himself as well. Iyashii had believed it was a way out of the run down keep his father had allowed to become even more unlivable.

 

The first two years were a breeze, carrying out his new master's orders with the effectiveness of any cold-blooded killer. It had been so easy back then, back when the blood flowed from a victim's body and spilled over his claws till the thrill of the hunt coursed through his veins without guilt or fear of being punished.

 

It all chanced when Iyashii met her, the most beautiful silver inu youkai he had seen in his life. Mattaki had been kind, gentle and caring and above all else she had chosen him to be her eternal mate. Her name had meant perfect and to him she had been. Even now her soft amber eyes haunted his dreams so full of the love he had seen in them that last time he saw her.

 

For one year they had lived in perfect bliss, his world filled with the sounds of her laughter and love. Then Mattaki had told him she was with pup and he had tried to end his dealings with the master, but it was not to be. The master's hold was far reaching and no matter how far Iyashii had taken Mattaki it had not been enough.

 

Iyashii remembered every detail of the day he returned to the small hut they had been residing in and found it in shambles. In a rage he had searched everywhere for her only to return empty handed. There had been a messenger waiting for him, one who bore news of his expecting mate.

 

The message had chilled him to the bone. It was clear and simple. Iyashii had to continue serving the master if he ever wished to see his mate alive. So he had, with growing hatred and despair, each passing year becoming harder then the one before.

 

The master had kept Iyashii informed, allowing them to visit under guard on and off in that first year. Mattaki told him of their pup's birth but the master would never allow Iyashii to see the baby. He was only allowed to see the pup as she grew through the magic orbs his master created.

 

Then word reached Iyashii that his mate and child had been murdered by the master's own hand. His reaction had been blinded by grief, fury, and the need for revenge.

 

A word of warning had been swiftly dispatched to his master's enemies and he had rushed headlong into the strong hold where the inu youkai had made his home. Iyashii remembered with clarity how many of the master's men fell to his deadly claws that day.

 

Only when he arrived at the master's shadowed chamber was Iyashii's rampage put to a swift end. The master was standing in the center of the room; Tanaka curled against his left leg. A deadly glare and a snarl was all the master's face held to let Iyashii know that the inu youkai before him would not be beat so easily.

 

The small fight had lasted only a few moments in time yet Iyashii had been quickly subdued. The master had laughed then and shoved a glowing orb into his bleeding face, his daughter illuminated in its orange-red depths.

 

She had been playing in a garden, unaware that someone was watching her and reflected in the background was one of the master's trusted concubines. The woman held a knife within the folds of her kimono sleeves, the hilt showing only enough so that Iyashii got the picture while the child did not see.

 

He had been enslaved that day, the fear of his daughter's life keeping him at the master's beck and call. That had been four years ago and his daughter would be five summers old by now. It broke his heart to think of his pup under that evil creature's rule for all eternity.

 

When he happened upon Kagome he had hope she might be the key in saving the child, the miko's love of all life seemed to win out over all odds. Now she lay in a poison induced state of unconsciousness and may very well die. He held no doubt that it maybe Sora's doing and his rage increased at the thought of the vile demoness killing his only chance of saving his little daughter.

 

He would just have to wait until the young miko's fate was decided before he could go on with his plans. Iyashii was a patient demon and he knew that in the end he would free his daughter even if he had to trade his own life for hers.

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“I cannot believe what I am seeing,” Kikyo told Rin as they carefully bathed Kagome's shivering body. Kikyo had been carefully washing away the yellowish-green crust the poison had dried into over the wounds on the young miko's arm. The substance had hidden the claw marks from sight and had taken some time to clear it from her skin.

 

“What is that Aunt Kikyo?” Rin asked peering over to what the demon miko was staring at. Her brows drew together in a sign of confusion as she looked from the small white scars now visible on her mother's arm to Kikyo and back.

 

“It's these, Kagome should not have healed so quickly while the poison is still in her body,” Kikyo gentle probed the area with a careful claw. She leaned closer examining each scar with the critical eye of any healer.

 

“I do not understand.” Rin said her confusion evident in her soft voice while worry danced in her dark eyes. “Father heals swiftly even with poisons in his body, why would it not be so for mamma?”

 

“Your father is full demon, Rin,” Kikyo patiently explained while trying to come up with some form of answer as to why the wounds were already healed. “Kagome is not, even though she is a strong miko, her powers would not heal her this fast.”

 

“But she healed all of us in the blink of an eye upon her arrival here, would she not be able to do such to herself?” Rin asked resuming her task of carefully washing her mother's long ebony hair.

 

“It is not so easy.” Kikyo replied hesitantly. It was confusing even to a learned miko as to why Kagome could heal so swiftly. “Her magic should have been depleted from the earlier attacks on her life. So much had went into freeing herself and Ozeki from the snake youki and from fighting off the poison once it attacked her body that she should still have deep puncture marks where the claws were embedded in her arm.”

 

Kikyo did not want to be the one to tell Rin that her father was the cause for Kagome's present illness. The teen would take it hard and it might begin to cause Rin to doubt her father in ways a child should never have to doubt their parents.

 

“Her powers should be weakened by all those things combined not strengthened by them. Unless…” Kikyo's voice became thoughtful for a moment before loosing herself into her thoughts.

 

“Unless?” Rin prompted Kikyo to finish the thought aloud.

 

“Hmm?” Kikyo blinked looking back to Rin before clearing her mind. “Oh, I was thinking that perhaps instead of trying to purify the poisons maybe her powers were somehow trying to absorb them.”

 

“What would that do to mamma?” Rin asked her eyes wide with fear and worry. Every since Kagome's condition first became known to the young girl she could not keep from referring to the little miko as her mother and Kikyo doubted very much that anyone would tell her to stop at this point.

 

“It would give her an immunity to most all poisons,” Kikyo said thoughtfully, her hands continuing their task. “She might even gain other powers if her miko ones absorbed them fully.”

 

“You mean she might have something like Father's poisonous whip?” Rin asked with a tinge of excitement in her voice. If her aunt was talking about a possibility of Kagome gaining new powers then there was a high chance of her mother living through the attack.

 

“I cannot say for certain for I have only heard of it happening once and there were special circumstances surrounding the event.” Kikyo thought back to Kagome's wish had turned her into the demon. With out the influence of the Shikon, the demon miko really didn't know what to expect. “We shall have to wait and see if my assumptions are correct.”

 

Rin remained silent as she placed Kagome's strange bottles of shampoo back into the yellow backpack she remembered from her childhood. It brought back so many memories of what to her had been happy times even though some of the adults in that group might argue the point with her.

 

She remembered with clarity how, like Shippo, she would eagerly await Kagome's return from the well, the yellow backpack containing various presents for the children. There had been the wonderfully magical sticks in various colors that Kagome told her were called crayons. Shippo had taught her how to make pictures with them and soon Rin's squeals of delight rang through the clearing.

 

Then there was the sweet candy Shippo called chocolate and had to giggle even now at the small confrontation that had arisen between her father and the small miko over it. Shippo had greedily devoured the long bar but when Kagome had went to give one to Rin, Sesshomaru had stepped in to take it instead, wary of anything from the future.

 

The smile spread as Rin remembered Kagome huffing much the same why she did before sitting her uncle and approaching the demon lord with no fear evident in her deep blue eyes. At first Rin had been afraid for the Kagome but to every one's surprise the young woman had reached up and forced a piece of the candy into the growling lord's mouth.

 

“Just try it!” She had demanded, glaring at Sesshomaru in a way that had the others ready to protect their friend from him. Her look dared him to spit it out and to Rin's delight she watched as her father's eyes grew wide in surprise. He never told her what he thought of the sweet candy but after that Kagome was always certain to bring some back for him as well, much to her uncle's dismay. It wasn't to long after the chocolate incident that Rin began to consider Kagome her mother, after all only her mamma would be able to make her father do something he hadn't wanted to do and get away with her life.

 

At night when it had been time to bath, Kagome made certain that Rin knew how to use the strange thick liquid trapped inside the bottles she had brought with her. The smell of different flowers would scent the air and Rin knew that nothing the miko did would bring her harm.

 

Rin giggled again with the memories and looked affectionately down at the sleeping woman as Kikyo rinsed off the perfumed soaps. Maybe she would get that happy family after all, because even as a child she realized that her father had grown fond of the young miko.

 

“Aunt Kikyo?” Rin asked as the happy memories reflected in the young girls eyes. “Do you think that Father will one day want Mamma to remain here at the castle?”

 

“It is a possibility,” Kikyo replied seeing the look in Rin's eyes. She hoped for both the children's sake and Kagome's that someday Sesshomaru would admit to the feelings the others suspected him of having for the miko.

 

A soft moan interrupted them and they looked at Kagome in surprise and worry. She sat there looking at them, her blue eyes hazy and half closed as though still sleepy. Slowly her mouth worked as if trying to say something and both leaned forward to catch the half heard words.

 

“Where is Sesshomaru,” Kagome asked, her voice so low that even Kikyo had trouble hearing her even with youkai hearing.

 

“I believe Father went to check up on the proceedings in the Council Hall.” Rin gentle explained seeing the worry in her mother's eyes.

 

“What?” Kagome struggled to get up. Her legs felt weak and she fell back a few times before she felt Kikyo's arm wrap around her waist.

 

“What do you think you are doing?” Kikyo demanded as she easily lifted the slender woman from the water. Kagome was leaning on her heavily while she guided her to sit on the futon.

 

“He must not be allowed around that woman alone.” Kagome managed to choke out. She was breathing heavily, her body ached everywhere and Kagome carefully shook her head to clear it. The action only caused a burning pain to rush from her head down along her spine, a soft groan escaping her lips in the process.

 

“Lords Tatsu and Kisho are with him, do not worry.” Kikyo tried to reassure the young woman as she brought a soft silk kimono to help dress Kagome in.

 

“No you don't understand.” Kagome struggled to stand again, her body trembling under the constant assault of the fever that still raged through her system. Her voice was slowly gaining some strength to it to Kikyo's surprise. Even as she watched Kagome seemed to be surrounded by a purplish aura.

 

Kikyo's eyes narrowed slightly trying to discern the reason Kagome's aura was strangely colored and her eyes widened in surprise as she saw a faint blue glow coming from the strange pendant Kagome wore around her neck. The blue was mingling easily with that of the woman's pink miko powers and even as they watched, she seemed to be slowly growing stronger.

 

“Do not understand what Mamma?” Rin asked worriedly, her sad eyes locking on her mother's.

 

“That…that…” Kagome sought to find the word to describe the woman who seemed to hold a spell of Sesshomaru without using foul language in front of Rin. “Female inu youkai has some sort of spell over Sesshomaru and I seem to be the only one to know it.”

 

“Trust them to care for him.” Kikyo tried to reason with her irate friend finally getting the kimono on Kagome while supporting her. “Lord Tatsu knows of your dislike from what you've told him already.”

 

“But I haven't had a chance to tell them about the way Sesshomaru was acting in the garden, when he…” Kagome trailed off as she looked at Rin once more she didn't know if the girl knew or not and if she had her way, the child would never know.

 

“I shall send word to them to be on guard then,” Kikyo said gentle pushing her friend back down on the bed. “You still need to recover your strength before charging off to rescue any of us.”

 

Kagome gave her a small smile even as the worry over Sesshomaru grew stronger. She sighed and lay back only to look up at the two with curiousness. “Where's Ozeki?”

 

“He is guarding the door,” Rin said kneeling beside the futon. “Shall I call for him?”

 

“Ask him to watch over Sesshomaru for me, please.” Kagome asked her voice barely above a whisper as sleepiness started to set in once more. “He'll know what to do.”

 

Kikyo nodded and went to speak with the bear so that it would put her friends mind to ease. When she returned, Kagome had slipped into a deep sleep her body surrounded by the purplish light of the combined auras.

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Ozeki quietly stepped into the Council Hall careful not to disturb the droning of another old general. Swiftly he took up his seat beside Tatsu, and leaned over to whisper his message so only the dragon could hear.

 

A moment later Tatsu nodded and looked toward Sesshomaru. The Taiyoukai was staring at something toward the back of the room, a glazed look to his normally bright eyes. Both Ozeki and Tatsu recognized that look from having watched the miko's reaction to it over the past few days. Red eyes narrowed as he followed his lord's line of sight to where the demoness in question stood. For once she had chosen proper attire, the pale green kimono sweeping the floor around her. A dark green obi had been tied tightly around her slender waist and she seemed only to have eyes for the Western Lord.

 

Ozeki also saw the woman and he had to fight down the urge to growl. He wondered how anything was going to be decided on the upcoming battle if that creature was allowed to continue casting her spell over Sesshomaru. His thoughts were interrupted as Kisho took the floor.

 

“My gentle lords, generals and gathered allies,” The Northern Lord's voice boomed out demanding attention from everyone. Even Sesshomaru snapped back from whatever dream he had been having, his eyes turning to look at his friend.

 

“We have sat here for four days now and yet nothing has been agreed upon.” His deep voice rose and fell until everyone in the room seemed mesmerized by it, giving Ozeki the impression that Kisho knew about the spell effecting Sesshomaru. It was almost as if the older inu youkai was using his voice to over ride whatever it was.

 

“This Kisho proposes that one third of our combined armies be sent to meet this opponent head on, while another one third are dispatched to strategic advantage points around the Western Boundary in case this is a distraction tactic used by our enemies.” Kisho heard a few murmured protests while a course of affirmatives almost drown them out.

 

Kisho had studied Sesshomaru remembering the pup he had watched grow into a proud demon. He was proud of the young lord, as Sesshomaru's father would have been if he were still alive.

 

Sesshomaru had always been one who to be so much like the adults at time, even going so far as to mimic Tatsu's emotionless mask to perfection. They had applauded him, encouraged him and helped him to grow into the great Taiyoukai he was now but even so Kisho felt there was something the young lord still needed. If all the rumors he had heard centering on Sesshomaru and Kagome were true then perhaps she would be able to fill in that blank spot.

 

Maybe that was all the cold youkai needed was a loving mate to bring out the better side of Sesshomaru. He could not imagine Sesshomaru falling for a human female when he kept staring at the attractive young female inu youkai though.

 

Remembering the way Kagome's aura flared angrily whenever she looked at the demoness, Kisho became curious. He had only up till now just took a quick glance between Sesshomaru and Sora then let it drop in favor of what was going on at the meetings. Curious as to why the naturally forgiving woman would act that way, Kisho turned to study the demoness.

 

A cold chill swept down Kisho's spine as he took a long look at the demoness that seemed to entice the normally distant Sesshomaru. He was shocked to see the magic aura around her much the same as he saw it round the kitsune twins when they used their transformation spells.

 

Even as his eyes grew colder, his voice remained on the same level, the same flowing speech that could distract anyone he saw fit to use it against. He watched as the demoness shifted trying to gain back the attention of the Western Lord even as Kisho sought to keep it on him. He wondered if Kagome disliked her for that or if it could be jealousy as the rumors suggested. Either way he decided to keep a close watch on Sesshomaru and the female inu youkai during the meeting.

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Kagome awoke from the dream with a start; it was one of the strangest she had had yet. The fading light of day lazily drifted through her window and she struggled to sit up. She felt an urgency infuse her being, her breath coming in harsh gasps with each wave of pain that shot through her aching body.

 

She had dreamt that Sesshomaru needed her, had called to her in her sleep. His clawed hand reaching out for her was the last thing she remembered before waking up. It had been nothing more than a dream like so many others before it but she could feel her panic rising with each passing second she sat there.

 

A quick glance around the room told her she was alone and it took a few moments for her that there were sounds of weapons scraping against wooden armor just outside of her room. She knew someone was just outside of the sliding door. It was most likely someone set to guard over her while the others were at down in the Council Hall.

 

Still she could not shake the feeling that she was needed and she pushed herself off the bed on shaky legs. Kagome needed to get down there somehow but she managed only to make it two steps before her weak legs gave out from under her and she crashed to the floor.

 

In a flash the door was thrown open and a familiar voice was calling out to her. Gentle clawed hands wrapped around her arms, lifting to her feet and Kagome looked up at the demon that was helping her. It took her a few seconds to recognize the one from the training dojo and she couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief.

 

“You must help me.” She forced her voice to work even though her throat was sore and parched. “I have to get to the Council Hall right away.”

 

“Lady Miko, you should not have gotten from your futon,” Shuri said sweeping the unsteady woman into his arms for fear that she would injure herself again. “The stuffy old lords need you to gain your strength back so you can fight when the time comes.”

 

Kagome gave him a weak smile; he was eagerly looking forward to something she knew would quickly become a nightmare to the young demon. Right now, he wished only to prove his worth to the lords by guarding the well-loved miko.

 

When he went to place her back on the futon, Kagome frowned slightly and clung to him. “It is urgent that I go there, Shuri. They need me.”

 

Shuri gave her a skeptical look but noticing her rising panic he began to take it as a sign that something was truly wrong. He had always been taught that human priests and priestesses had an inborn knack at knowing things that had not yet happened. He sighed deeply and looked down at the woman.

 

“I shall be in great trouble, M'lady if I should take you there.” He tried to explain but it was no good. She would not be swayed. “As you wish M'lady, but I carry you there.”

 

Kagome just nodded trusting this young bull demon as easily as she trusted her other friends. She could see no malice or evil in his aura and his actions spoke of the deepest sense of loyalty to the Western Lord.

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As soon as the sun began to set, the meeting had been dismissed until the following day. The humans were tired and many of the youkai contained a beginning bloodlust that both the Western and Northern lords wished to avoid.

 

Kisho went to speak with Sesshomaru as the others rose to exit the room. From the corner of his eye, he saw Tatsu and Ozeki also approaching from the other side. The others in the room were drifting out but suddenly Sora came into view as a group of humans drifted closer to the door.

 

Her eyes were locked onto the Western Lord's. As Kisho watched Sora seemed to flow through the crowd her movements quick and precise while seductive. There was a sort of forced grace to the demoness that made him wonder what exactly she was up too.

 

Kisho became aware of the glazed look forming again in Sesshomaru's eyes as the demoness got closer and exchanged worried looks with Tatsu and Ozeki. Her movements seemed to some how hypnotize Sesshomaru. When the younger lord stepped around Ozeki who looked like he was growing angrier by the second, Kisho began to worry.

Sesshomaru was not one to allow the thought of pleasure overtake his sense of duty and would have normally ignored the woman until the general had made his report.

 

“Lord Sesshomaru?” Kisho called out only to be given a sort glance that seemed to contain some confusion in it. To the Northern Lord it was almost as if Sesshomaru had not recognized him.

 

Kisho was about step between Sesshomaru and the demoness when the sounds of marching feet came from down the hall. Courses of greetings were heard as the sounds neared and three sets of eyes were trained on the entrance to the door with an air of expectancy.

 

“Sesshomaru,” Kagome called as the bull demon carefully set her on her feet. There was an undercurrent of simmering rage in the soft voice she used, her eyes narrowing on the inu youkai female that was in her opinion far too close to the Western Lord for comfort.

 

Ozeki glared at the bull demon but before he could say anything he was silenced as Kagome's glare settled on him for a split second before once more focusing on Sesshomaru and the demoness. Tatsu had made his way toward Kagome and Ozeki could see he was fully intent on giving the miko his support. He too decided that it would be safer behind Kagome then in the middle of whatever was about to happen and also moved to stand beside her.

 

Kisho, confused as to what was happening, could only watch from the sidelines as Sesshomaru faltered, turning to look in the miko's direction. Once more the confused look drifted across the lord's face and to Kisho's eyes it looked like some sort of magic battle was being waged around his friend.

 

He watched as Kagome's aura flared around her only to strike out toward the demoness. Kisho doubted the miko even knew what she was doing but when Sora hissed in discomfort and turned to glare at Kagome, he knew for certain that the demoness was using some sort of spell against Sesshomaru.

 

Sesshomaru stood as still as stone his clouded eyes drifting from one woman to the other. To those gathered around them, he looked as though he were a lost child trying to find his way home. It angered Kisho that Sesshomaru be subjected to something so terrible. In his mind it was a form of captivity and he would not stand for it. Just as he was about to step in he heard Kagome's voice calling out to Sesshomaru once more and turned back in time to see a strange bluish aura surround her necklace and spread outward to mingle with her own aura turning the pure pink to a slightly purplish one.

 

“Sesshomaru do not go any closer to that creature.” Kagome called again her voice harsh from the illness she had just gone through. She hoped that once more she could stir him out of it if she could bring his temper to the surface.

 

“You dare insult a guest of your lord, pathetic human?” Sora demanded and turned her angry gaze upon Sesshomaru. “Great lord, do you allow all of your servants to act this way toward honored guests?”

 

Ozeki let out a low growl only to be silenced as one of Kagome's small hands wrapped around one of his clawed fingers. He looked down at her with curious disbelief but what he saw stopped the forming question even before it could be voiced.

 

Silently, Sesshomaru took another step toward Sora his face void of anything. Even the normal iciness that ruled in his eyes was gone, replaced by a blank expression. Sora laughed, thinking that she had won this day only to be silenced as the annoying miko's voice once more shattered the sudden silence.

 

“I am not his servant!” Kagome yelled finding that her strength seemed to be returning with surprising force. Her worry for Sesshomaru was growing with every step he took toward that demoness and she knew she had to do something. “And you wench are not an honored guest, but a well used whore.”

 

Sora sputtered, her rage evident in the slightly reddening of her face and neck. “I shall see to it your death is slow and agonizing.”

 

“Stand in line, bitch.” Kagome could take no more and pulled from the bull demon much to the surprise of those around her. Her aura flared outward even more so and everyone present watched as the purplish glow shot outward toward Sora.

 

The demoness was swifter though and easily dodged the purifying blast. A sneer spreading across her anger distorted features. “Careful little miko, kill me and you'll never free your precious lord.”

 

“Ahh,” Kagome cried out in frustration and anger. The others gathering around her as she slumped in defeat. She could never do anything that would harm one of her friends. There had to be another way she could defeat Sora without bringing harm to the Western Lord.

 

A low growling from Kisho and the other's filled the room and Sora took stock of her situations. She decided to leave before anyone could kill her. Blowing a kiss toward Sesshomaru, Sora stepped back into the darkened shadows of the room. In a blink of an eye the demoness was gone.

 

“Search everywhere, I want that demoness captured!” Tatsu roared at the guards who had escorted Kagome sending them scurrying in all directions.

 

Sesshomaru still stood, staring at the place Sora had disappeared as though whatever spell she used on him still lingered in the air. His eyes were still blank and Kagome felt herself shiver as she forced herself to take a step closer to him.

 

Her dream had been a premonition, one that would have ended in tragedy if she had not listened to its buried warning. Slowly she took another one, her hand reaching out for him.

 

“Sesshomaru,” Her voice was soft, each step filled with pain. She was growing weaker each second but she knew she had to awaken him from whatever stupor he'd been placed in before the encroaching darkness claimed her once again.

 

Kisho watched ready to catch the woman should she stumble. He watched in amazement as her aura receded back into her slender body, but the bluish glow from the pendant remained, surrounding her like some sort of protective shield he felt was invisible to the others in the room.

 

The moment her hand came into contact with the Western Lord, a growl ripped from his ivory throat and he grabbed the miko roughly. In a second the others were there trying to separate the two, but Kagome clung tightly to Sesshomaru as though his life depended on it.

 

Everyone there knew that Sesshomaru had not recognized any of them but when he looked at Kagome there was a flicker of recognition mingled with anger. He held her tightly by the upper arms even though the others were trying to force him to let go without hurting either of them.

 

“Sesshomaru, you promised,” Kagome whispered tears filling her eyes as she looked up at him. Everyone heard it but only Kisho saw the blue aura surge through both Kagome and Sesshomaru at her words.

 

The last thing Kagome remembered before the darkness claimed her again was Sesshomaru's lips come crashing down on her own.

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Well there's the next chapter….lol.. boy things are brewing now. Wonder if poor old Sess even knows what he's doing…:Evil laugh:

 

Anyway thanks to all those who've taken the time to read my story, I greatly appreciate the time you've taken to do so. This one is dedicated to all of you.

 

Much love ~ DJ