EDITED/REVISED: June 24, 2007

"something" = talking

'something' = Sesshoumaru's dog demon half (note: he speaks in broken English)

Something = Sesshoumaru mentally talking to his dog half

I do not own Inuyasha.

Chapter 9:

Heart's Plea

Kagome only sat there, cradling her former lord as he cried into her shoulder.

"Please," Sesshoumaru whispered in Kagome's ear. "Please…d-don't leave me."

She closed her eyes.

"I…I tried to live without you, but I couldn't. I've already lost my pup. I don't want to lose you too."

And sighed.

"Listen to my heart…it only beats for you…"

"You've chosen him." Sesshoumaru murmured.

"What?"

"Him," he repeated. "You have already chosen that human man."

Kagome nodded. "Yes."

Her former lord's grip on her tightened.

His dog half softly growled in jealousy. 'Mate belong to us.'

It is her choice, he said to his other half.

"My lord," she said. "I have almost forgotten the ways of this world. I've been away long enough to know this. I've grown accustomed to life in the other dimension. I don't think-"

"No. Don't say it."

Kagome sighed. "It is the truth, my lord. I do not want to lie to you."

Sesshoumaru pulled away, hastily wiping his tears on his sleeve before looking at her. "Kagome, give me a month to win you."

"My lord,"

"Kagome, I beg of you." His amber eyes which had dulled to a rusty gold looked so desperate and lost, a very rare emotion to witness from the demon lord.

"Even if I do, nothing will make me change my mind."

Clawed hands gently gripped her shoulders. "These past two years have been a torment. I didn't know if you were safe or how I could comfort you from afar. Just give me a chance and I will prove to you that-"

Kagome shook her head. "You must find another, Lord Sesshoumaru. I can't-"

"There is no other!" he interrupted vehemently. "I admit that there were times when I tried to court another, but none of those females captured my attention like you did."

"It's because you were aware that I am alive." Kagome said. "I know about the mating bond. Your instincts tell you that you are mated and therefore cannot court another. If I am dead to you, then you will be able to find another."

Sesshoumaru's hands tightened a little. He brought her forward so that their foreheads touched. "Kagome, Kagome," he murmured. "You do not understand the mating bond."

"I've been around demons all my life."

"Yet you do not understand how painful it is to be parted from one's mate, how guilt and sorrow will eat at one's heart, how one will not eat or sleep,"

"You let me go."

"Yes. I did. You wanted to go and I let you." Sesshoumaru looked earnestly into her eyes. "Now you are here and I will…I want to hold your heart. I want to be there for you, to be your shoulder to cry on. I want to fight with you. To hold you in my arms. To be the father of our children, our pack. I want to love you, day and night."

Kagome said nothing.

"Please, Kagome," he whispered.

Silence.

"Do you not believe in us?"

Kagome looked away.

"You know me, Kagome. I will never hurt you again. I will make sure no one will hurt you."

He lifted a clawed finger and tilted her chin up. He looked deep into her eyes, willing her to see him, not as a demon lord but as a male whose heart belonged to her and her only.

Her eyes flickered.

Hope rose in his chest. But it didn't last long. Arrows of pain shot through his heart when he saw something he didn't like.

He pulled away. He scooted back a little, avoiding her eyes. He saw something in her eyes that made him uncomfortable. Something that made jealousy and anger heat his heart.

"My lord?" she asked, startled at his sudden retreat.

He was frowning. Tears of frustration and sorrow started to well. This wasn't fair. He never asked for anything in the living world. He was born into nobility and he took his position seriously. He was expected to care and love his people, from which he did unconditionally, despite the rumors of his cold heart. He did everything that his noble life asked of him and had earned the respect of those who knew him, yet he never asked for anything in return.

But now, he wanted Kagome. He yearned for her love. But fate was cruel enough to change her mind by bringing in that…that human. His clawed hands dug into the soil. He never asked for anything, so why is it that he couldn't get the one thing he desired most? "Why are you here, Kagome?" he suddenly asked, his voice hoarse.

"H-huh?"

"Why are you here?" His voice was strained.

"My lord, let's go back. I'm sure their Majesties-"

"Kagome, my heart weakened during our separation and it has broken in two when I find that you have found comfort in another's arms. Please do not shatter it by avoiding my question! I need an answer!"

Kagome stayed silent, searching for an answer.

"Did you miss your friends?"

Silence.

"Did you miss my parents?"

Nothing.

"Did you only come to see Mamoru?"

Kagome looked away.

"I know that you did not want to come see me-"

She looked at him. "My lord-"

"So why are you here?" he asked. "Please, Kagome. My heart is bleeding with your silence."

Kagome gave in. "Priestess Kikyo told me to come see you."

Sesshoumaru scoffed.

"She…She showed me what you've been through and…and…and I felt sorry for you-"

He winced. "Felt sorry for me?"

Kagome realized the meaning of her words and quickly tried to cover it. "L-Lord Sesshoumaru, I didn't mean it that way I just-"

"You pitied me?" he murmured. "Is that all you felt for me?"

Kagome reached out, he flinched. "Please…"

Sesshoumaru's shoulders slumped. The great dog demon lord no longer exuded an authoritative, intimidating air. By that simple gesture, he looked vulnerable like a newborn puppy. It was something totally alien to his nature.

At a loss for words, Kagome didn't know how to deal with this new side of him. She had always seen him as intimidating, cold, and ruthless yet kind and gentle, but never like this, never so defeated. She remembered the times when he sparred with his father: he was always defeated, but never once did he show it to the world. He was so strong and determined, never letting anything bother him.

Finally, he said softly, "I understand now, Kagome. I understand where your heart lies." He stood, brushing the dirt and grass from his clothes. "Since you will not grant me the month to court you, I will call for Priestess Kikyo and send you back…home. To your life without demons. To your…human man. In three days."

Kagome stood. "Lord Sesshoumaru-"

Still avoiding her eyes, he glanced at Mamoru's grave. "I hope that Priestess Kikyo's little sister Kaede will continue to care for our ch – to care for Mamoru. If not, then I will assign someone." He continued to talk, not letting her have a chance to speak. "I promise to try to come every day. No, I will come every day. Since it was your wish for him to be buried here, I will not move his grave near the palace."

Dark clouds started to form.

A raindrop.

Sesshoumaru looked up. "You'd best go back to the palace before it rains." He transferred his thoughts to Ah-Un, calling his loyal dragon mentally.

The two-headed brown dragon flew out of the clouds moments after its master's call. It settled on the ground next to him and greeted its master with low grunts. Then, it turned to Kagome and nudged her playfully.

"Ah-Un, take Kagome back to the palace," he ordered.

Ah-Un positioned itself next to Kagome. One of the heads beckoned to her.

"What about you?" Kagome asked. "Aren't you coming back with me?"

Sesshoumaru turned away and stood over Mamoru's grave.

"Lord Sesshoumaru?"

No answer.

Ah-Un sensed its master's distress and gently pushed Kagome toward its back.

"I'll…I'll see you back at the palace, then."

No reply.

Kagome reluctantly mounted Ah-Un and the dragon took off. She watched as Sesshoumaru's figure became smaller and smaller until the clouds blurred her vision. Once he was out of sight, Kagome mentally hit herself. "Oh Sesshoumaru," she thought.

SKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSK

Stormy clouds wept its sorrow and pity for the dog demon lord.

He had gone through so much, but it meant so little to the one he loves.

"So you're just giving up?" Kikyo asked from behind him.

Sesshoumaru gave a nod.

"Why?" she demanded. "I did not bring her back just so you can give up on her."

"Her heart belongs to another."

"Yet you wanted to woo her to regain her feelings."

"Priestess, Kagome never had feelings for me from the beginning."

"Still, you could have changed her mind. I know you could have. You were so determined."

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "You should have seen her eyes, Priestess. Her eyes did not see me; they saw…Keisuke."

Kikyo walked up to him and turned him around. "And you did not see her eyes when she saw how much you've done for her. How much pain you removed from her to soften the blow of the loss of Mamoru."

He could not meet her eyes as he repeated, "I will not fight for a heart that was never mine to begin with."

"That's just what you both assume." Kikyo said. "Kagome thinks she's in love with Keisuke because he was there when Mamoru lived and died. You think she's in love with Keisuke because you supposedly committed a…a 'crime'."

Angry amber eyes glared at her. "And what else am I supposed to think?" he asked. "That she even had an ounce of feelings for me? I raped her! I hurt her during our first union! It is something that is unheard of and shameful to a male demon!"

"Yet you were willing to put aside that fault to bring her back," Kikyo said. "When I talked to her about returning to you, she didn't seem to remember…that night."

"But I know she does remember," he said softly. "And she's afraid of me. She had experienced something that no virgin recovers from." He paused. "Keisuke did nothing to plant a seed of fear in her. He was every ounce an angel to her while I was but a monster to her."

Kikyo frowned. "You stupid demon,"

Sesshoumaru looked at her, startled.

"You stupid male demon,"

He stared.

"Go to her and talk to her."

"I already pleaded with her to stay. To give me a chance."

"She only said she won't give you a chance. She didn't say that she won't leave." Kikyo reasoned. "Instead, do not ask for a chance, only ask for a friendship."

"Friendship?"

"Yes. Lovers are results of friendships. Tell her you want to start all over again. Reintroduce yourselves. Bring her places. Lay in the fields next to her as you two make out shapes from the clouds. Anything."

"And if she declines?"

"Kagome will not decline."

"Why are you so sure?"

"I know Kagome. I know my little girl."

"You are not her mother."

"But she is like a daughter to me, anyway."

Sesshoumaru stared at Kikyo. After a long moment, he sighed. "Very well," he said.

Kikyo smiled.

"If she declines,"

She opened her mouth to speak.

He raised a hand to stop her. "If she declines," he repeated. "Then you must send her back to the other dimension immediately."

"The Hollow-"

"I am aware of the Hollow within me," he interrupted. "Which is why I ask that you return Kagome to the other dimension if she declines me. I do not think my heart will stand for another attack."

Kikyo shrugged. "If you wish it,"

Sesshoumaru ran a hand through his long hair. "Priestess, why are you so intent on getting Kagome and I back together?"

"Because there will-" She stopped abruptly at the pained look on Sesshoumaru's face. "My lord?

Sesshoumaru clutched his chest. His dog half roared in alarm. "Kagome," he gasped. "My parents,"

Kikyo looked in the direction of the Palace of the Moon. She sensed danger coming from that area and immediately pushed Sesshoumaru. "You must go," she rasped. "Hurry, my lord! Go to the palace!"

Not needing to be told twice, Sesshoumaru leapt into the air, transforming into his dog form. His dog self took over, racing on air over the treetops. His silver-white fur rippled in the wind. "Kagome,"

As he neared the palace, he smelt the very thing he feared: blood.

Thank you so much for reading!

PLEASE REVIEW!