This is for my own entertainment. It's adultier than Tied and I'm having more fun writing it. Chances are, while I will continue to work on Tied, this one will more than likely be my focus. Not because I don't like Tied, but because this one is just more entertaining and holding my interest better.

Blah, blah... not mine... blah blah... blah blah.

Enjoy,

~Kouga's Eternal

Sitting on the side of the well on her side of time, Kagome took a breather after the climb to the top. She didn't know why, but the ladder her mother left there for her to use wasn't there, so she had been trying for over an hour to climb up, and falling back down more times than she cared to admit. She was filthy, covered in bumps, bruises, and bleeding cuts, but she was home finally and that was what mattered. Some time in an actual bath and a good dinner and she would be fixed right up.

Glaring over her shoulder to the bottom of the well, she huffed to herself. Stupid Inuyasha. She had wanted to be home days ago, but noooo... he had to track down one more dead end lead on a shard the opposite direction of the well. Now, instead of being home when she promised, she was three days late and her family was probably going out of their minds with worry because there was absolutely no way to let them know she was still alive.

With a shake of her head, she hopped off the well and picked up her pack. Nevermind now. It was done. All she could do was hope her mother still had hair and her grandpa hadn't broken his leg trying to go after her like he had threatened so many times before when she was later than promised. Shouldering her pack, Kagome slowly ascended the steps, her body still weary from the climb and stiff from sitting.

She was about halfway to the house when the feeling of eyes burning into her skin pulled her attention from the back dark back door towards the shrine steps that led to the street, and what she saw immediately stopped her feet.

Blinking, Kagome turned completely towards the four bodies coming her way, her eyes locked on the one that led the others. She could absolutely not believe what she was seeing. The closer he got, the wider her eyes opened. She tripped over her tongue, almost like the appendage also couldn't believe what was going on.

Dark amber eyes locked on hers, his voice as smooth as it was in the day prior when he threatened her death. "Miko."

A tremor ran her spine and ice filled her veins. Swallowing the lump that formed in her throat, she licked her lips. "Sesshoumaru? You're alive?"

Sesshoumaru came to a stop a few feet from her, looking down his nose at the human, he grudgingly had to admit, he owed his life to. The entirety of the demon race, actually, but he was never one for semantics. He had heard her say, more than once in the past, there were no demons where she came from, and yet, the island was full of them. There were actually more per capita now than there was in the time she traveled to. It would certainly be interesting to see her reaction when she finds that out.

As it stood, there was nothing for her here any longer, and he was there to repay his debt to her.

Keeping his voice even, so as not to cause unnecessary alarm, he spoke again. "You are to come with me."

Kagome looked at the demon before her, then to the backup he had with him. Sesshoumaru wasn't one you said no to, but there was something off about the situation. Sesshoumaru didn't NEED backup. Looking at him a moment longer, she turned at looked back at the unusually dark house, and nodded. "Alright. Just, let me tell my mother I'm home first. I'm late, thanks to your brother, and I'm sure she's worried about me."

Knowing what lied behind the darkened glass, Sesshoumaru crossed his arms. "I very much doubt that, Miko. I am saying this purely out of consideration of your human sensitivities that you do not want to go in there. I warn out of gratitude to you for being the savior of my race, it will be a choice you will live to regret should you go. No one will stop you, but you should consider the fact I never warn anyone of anything. There is nothing for you here any longer."

Kagome actually felt her heart stop at his words before a cold sweat broke out on her skin as the implication of what he was saying snagged her mind. Her eyes closed and her shoulders slouched to the point her backpack slipped and dropped to the ground. Her voice was so quiet it could have easily been taken by the breeze that blew through the shrine. "They're gone? They left?"

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "No, they didn't leave, but they are gone."

"When?"

With a hum of thought, Sesshoumaru clicked his tongue. "Four nights ago. You should also know they did fight, they just didn't win."

Tears breaking her lashes, Kagome once again gulped down a lump and finally returned her eyes to the Western Lord. "How?"

Scratching a claw between his eyes, Sesshoumaru actually let out an audible sigh. "A demon marked for death broke free of his confines. Many fell to his claws before he was captured again. It was determined he was always on his way here, but we have yet determined why. He will not tell anyone what his reasons were, and he's old enough that normal means of gaining information are ineffective. Lord Kouga is currently attempting new means in which to gain the answers."

Despite the situation, Kagome felt a tiny, unnoticeable twinge of happiness to hear Kouga was also alive, but it was so overshadowed by loss and heartache, she didn't notice it. There was also a boiling rage in her gut that caused her holy powers to begin to expand around her in a pink hue as her eyes hardened. "Four days? So, had Inuyasha not demanded I stay longer, I would have been here to see them one last time before they were slaughtered."

Though it was nearly a tangible pain, Sesshoumaru actually came to the defence of the annoyance he called pack. "Had he not done what he did, you could have been killed as well. This is not, however, a place for this discussion. Come."

Turning back to look at her home, Kagome gave life to the thought to go in, but decided not to. Whatever was in there had to be bad if Sesshoumaru told her not to. Bending down, she picked up her pack, blinking at the hand that was extended to her in offer to take it from her by one of the men that was with Sesshoumaru. Handing it to him, Kagome then slowly started to walk beside Sesshoumaru, her eyes on the ground and arms wrapped around her stomach.

If her chosen pace was too slow for him, Sesshoumaru didn't show it. He simply walked beside her through the shrine and down the steps to his waiting car. He played the gentleman and opened the door for her, closing it once she was safely inside. Turning and taking the bag that was held out to him, he looked dead into his general's eyes.

"You know what to do."

The General bowed his head and turned, walking back up the steps. "Yes, My Lord. Destroy the well."