Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
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"Rin disappeared, my lord."
With that one statement, a howl tore through Sesshoumaru's throat, and the pandemonium that had permeated the room now lay silent. The demon lord turned cruel eyes to the young miko.
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Faster than the eye could follow, Sesshoumaru crushed Kagome's back side against his hard chest, bringing Kagome's arm up with a sickening twist. "Kagome," Sesshoumaru choked out through gritted teeth, "if you value your sorry excuse for an existence you will explain to this Sesshoumaru how it is that YOU are still on this plane of existence when Rin is not?!"
Kagome shuddered, as she once again found herself at the whim of the volatile demon behind her. The power radiating off the being behind her was intense. As it rolled over her slight form in waves, Kagome couldn't help but think of the old adage: Absolute power corrupts. However, in this case, it was being applied to Sesshoumaru. As she contemplated just what corruption would mean at the hands of Sesshoumaru, seductive whispers stole across the miko's mind with new definitions of 'corruption:' Corruption: a delightful act of debauchery to be eagerly sought after; an alluring state of moral depravation; etc. Kagome shivered as images of the demon lord's handsome features passed through her minds eye. If this is corruption, then perhaps I wouldn't mind being corrupted? Her mind questioned suggestively.
Shaking her head to try and clear her mind, inwardly, Kagome berated herself for her wayward thoughts. However, just as she began to focus her attention on the demon lord's question, Sesshoumaru wrenched her arm further behind her back.
Pain shot through Kagome's limb. What the?! Kagome's mind struggled to grasp the reason behind that sudden sensation. Her thoughts crashed back into reality. Silently, Kagome ammended her previous thoughts: I wouldn't mind being corrupted only so long as Sesshoumaru isn't an abusive prick! Finally, Kagome focused her mind on the Sesshoumaru's question as to why Rin had dissappeared. Panting between breaths, Kagome gritted out through clenched teeth: "I—don't—know! I—don't—know! I—don't—AHHHH!" Kagome screamed at last as Sesshoumaru tightened his vise-like grip around her wrist. She could only assume by his actions he was not satisfied with her answer.
Squinting past her tears, Kagome craned her neck to look back at the demon behind her, and she regretted that decision. The dim light of the fire served only to reflect and amplify the dangerous red tint glowing within Sesshoumaru's eyes. The anger that burned there almost blinded the miko. But, it was when she could feel his hardened muscles quivering in suppressed rage that stopped the breath in her throat. Not even Inuyasha or Naraku had such power, she thought as she marveled at his incredible strength. However, even as she praised his power, she cursed its current hold over her.
Carefully watching the scene unfold before her, a sense of apprehension grew within the old woman Kaede. Gathering her strength, Kaede yelled to break the tension.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!"
At Kaede's outburst, Sesshoumaru turned his icy gaze to the older miko. His eyes clearly expressing to the old woman that she had better have a good reason for interrupting his interrogation.
Clearing her throat, Kaede continued in a quieter tone. "Sesshoumaru-sama, there is something maintaining Kagome's presence here."
"What do you mean?" Sesshoumaru asked, his voice controlled, but wary. Until Kaede explained, he refused to relinquish his hold upon the miko. He would keep her in that precarious position until he had some answers.
"I can sense that there is something within this room that is connecting her to this plane. However, I am not sure. I have sensed it ever since you entered into my hut with Kagome earlier this morning. While I do not know what has brought this about, we will have to ask the monk for more information." Turning her gaze to Miroku, she added: "Miroku, tell us what you see."
"Yes, Kaede-sama." Closing his eyes, Miroku exhaled deeply, calming his body for insight meditation. When he reopened his eyes, it was his inner eye that looked upon the room. Instead of a room lit with by a fire's warmth glow, around Miroku stretched a sea of grey mist. He was looking into the spirit world. Against that grey back-drop the ethereal forms of the occupants of the room became clearer. At his side he could see the ghostly outlines of Sango and Kaede wavering beside him; before him, stood the terrible form of the demon lord as he towered over Kagome's slight form. Inwardly Miroku winced at Kagome's arm pinned behind her back at an odd angle. Turning his eyes to Kagome, Miroku searched for the connection about which Kaede spoke. It was then that Miroku saw it.
A blue line, no thicker than his wrist, flowed from the hilt of Sesshoumaru's sword, a steady stream, feeding into and strengthening the miko's spirit. It flowed from Tenseiga straight into Kagome's diaphragm, like some sort of ethereal life line. However, he sensed yet another power. An ominous red in color, this second power crackled and sparked from yet another place at the youkai's side. However, unlike the blue stream that seemed to flow between the two, this power's connection seemed sporadic at best, only connecting with the miko occasionally when one a particularly strong surge of power caused one a spark to connect with the miko's spirit. From this, Miroku surmised that it was the blue power, the one radiated from Tenseiga that had established Kagome's link to the world.
Shocked at his discovery, the young monk's concentration broke; his vision wavered between that of reality and the shadow realm. When Miroku's vision returned completely, he immediately eyed the demon with a wary expression.
"Tenseiga is supplying the connection for Kagome to stay within this world." He began hesitantly, looking to see the demon lord's reaction. He wanted to say that he saw shock and surprise mirrored in Sesshoumaru's face, but it seemed to Miroku that the demon lord received the news with the same grace and poise as he always did.
However, Miroku's assumptions couldn't have been further from the truth. Inside, the demon lord seethed. How many times did I think to bring Rin with me on the search for the miko? His mind raged, with all the fury of a full-blown tempest. If I had just brought her with me… If I had just brought her with me, she would be here just as Kagome is here. At that, all clamor within his mind stilled, at the evidence of that foregone conclusion.
Sesshoumaru dazedly released the miko from her previous bind. Gathering his wits about him as they had been scattered on the four winds, his mind worked furiously. However, as his mind turned over possible solutions, he kept returning to the most immediate course of action. I need to save Rin, NOW. With his mind settled, he turned to pierce each occupant of the room with a cold stare.
"It is with utmost urgency that this Sesshoumaru departs." With that, Sesshoumaru took hold of Kagome's slender waist, and sprinted through the door.
Blinking, the occupants of the room remained dazed for a few moments as Sesshoumaru's sudden departure slowly registered within their minds. Almost as one, Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo raced to squeeze through the door at the same time.
When they reached the village square; however, not a trace of the demon or his companion were to be found. It was as if they had vanished.
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To Kagome, it felt as though in one instance she had been within the hut, and then in the next instance outside.
In the moment it took for the frosty bite of the outside air to fill her lungs, Sesshoumaru had drawn Tenseiga and sliced a seam through thin air. Clutching the miko close to his side, he jumped through the gash into the nebulous fog that awaited on the other side. They had passed through to the shadow realm.
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A.N. Thank you to all my readers. Please practice the 3R's: read, review, and… um recycle. I think it goes something like that anyway.
P.S. Wow, you guys are awesome!! More than 1,000 hits on my story thus far! I was so happy when that day dawned it felt like the first minute of summer vacation, just after the final bell has rung. (Now if only my reviews could reflect the number of hits… hint, hint, hint.) .
