Sesshomaru shook his head in dismay.
On such an important quest as theirs he could not believe how easily distracted from the task this group managed to get
Especially his brother
When the fight had started Sesshomaru has walked away, coming back a few hours later, to find they were still arguing.
The wolf demon, Koga, and his half-wit brother fought like children, their argument being made up of insults and threats.
He looked over at the source of this discourse, who sat off to the side, her expression one of irritation.
What a blind fool Inu Yasha was, not yet realizing that whether or not he won this fight, he had long ago lost what he was fighting for to the fruits of his stupidity.
Kagome looked up now, meeting Sesshomaru's gaze. He held her gaze for a put then turned, finally, leaving them to fight once more
"Sesshomaru?"
He glanced back at the Miko, who now stood not too far off from him with a wry smile on her back
"Sorry" she said quietly "That you have to endure this" Kagome motioned towards the fighting two
"Hn" he turned away from her, walking away, yet he heard her footsteps as she followed behind him. So he leapt into the air, flying above the trees, away from her
He didn't know why he felt the need to escape her. As annoying as he found being followed, he had tolerated much worse from the group as they travelled across Japan.
Sesshomaru set himself down at the base of a cliff, overlooking a great brilliant lake, glistening in the sunlight.
He sensed a family of lesser demons pass by, moving swifter once they spotted him.
Fear. That all he needed and wanted from lesser creatures, or any creature for that matter. Fear breeds respect. Respect for his almighty powers.
Kagome sighed watching him leave, then continued moving forward into the forest.
She didn't know what she had been thinking, following him into the forest. She knew they weren't friends, and they never would be. She and the others were just a means to an end.
As she walked through the trees, watching the birds and small creatures move around she couldn't help but think friends were becoming fewer in this place. What friends did she really have? There was Shippo, who look on her as a mother figure, there was Sango who was like a sister to her and then there was Miroku who…well he was Miroku. Inu Yasha seemed to think he had claim over her and what she did, yet he had spent many nights this past month off with Kikyo. She know longer trusted him, nor did she feel she could rely on him
So that made three. Three friends in this big, demon filled land. Three friends, against all the enemies she had. It barely compared.
Kagome turned suddenly, sensing something and ducked behind a tree. She looked up at the sky as a shadow was cast and a single dark cloud moved overhead. Just one cloud in the otherwise clear blue sky.
It was time to join the others. She felt that it would be safer that way, so she moved out to make her way back, and froze.
The trees had moved. As ridiculous as the idea sounded that was the only thing she could think of as she looked around the unfamiliar area, not knowing which way she should go. She couldn't even hear the yelling from Inu Yasha and Koga anymore
She was lost.
Sesshomaru opened his eyes, becoming aware of a presence behind him.
"Sesshomaru" he head Kagome's voice sigh in relief
His claw dug itself into the cliff beside her head, poison dripped from his nails, down off his wrist
"How dare you follow me" he seethed
Kagome's expression was initially one of surprise, his movements catching her off guard. Yet once she was over the shock her expression became one of calm, instead of the fear he had expected
Sesshomaru brought his other hand up, to her throat, lifting her off the ground and pinning her to the cliff face. He leaned in menacingly, his face now inches from hers
"I don't like being followed"
Kagome pushed against the cliff, her throat pressing against his hand, and connected their lips.
Sesshomaru dropped her in shock, giving her the freedom to wrap herself around him, pulling him farther into the kiss. Her lips moved over his as her hand slowly made its way down to his groin.
He felt a strange defencelessness in this sort of attack, he because dizzy suddenly, his eyes blurring
She released him and stepped back, a strange sort of grin coming over her face. He staggered, confused, before collapsing to the ground in a heap.
Kagome nearly fell off the cliff, failing to see it in the light of the setting sun. Catching her breath over the shock she frowned looking at the lake, she was sure now that this has been the wrong way. Still you never knew, so she crawled closer to the edge looking down over the cliff.
She started, turning to look behind her. Confused she looked back down the cliff. There was her reflection, with Sesshomaru so close behind her, and yet he hadn't been there.
No. She realized. They lake was too far away for that to be her reflection. And yet there she was, standing over a seemingly unconscious Sesshomaru
Crouching low to the ground she watched herself kick Sesshomaru aside while singing a happy tune. She reached up touching her face, then ripped off Kagome's face, revealing a flat blank face that lay beneath the flesh mask.
Kagome gasped in horror then struggled to out of sight quickly as the creature turned. But in her rush the ground beneath her gave way, crumbling down, sending her down the cliff, falling straight towards the faceless monster.
The burst of light blinded Kagome for a moment, despite that fact that it was her own power that flared.
The monster stood there still, unaffected as it looked down at Kagome.
Kagome tried to push herself up, but her ankle gave way, spreading pain up her leg. She cried out, grabbing the broken ankle in pain. Tears gathered in her eyes but then she quickly lunged towards the bow which had fallen not too far off from her
She cried out once more as the creature brought its foot down on her wrist and she gasped in pain. She looked up at her faceless attacker her simply tilted its head in response.
Suddenly it shifted into the form of Inu Yasha and knelt by her. Kagome flinched back away and the creature paused, the face now changing, slowly, into that of Sesshomaru
"Are you alright Miko?" Sesshomaru's voice came, rough but tender.
Kagome's heart leapt but she pushed away "No!" she yelled "You can't fool me." She protested
"Can't I?" the fake Sesshomaru lifted her up in his arms; gently avoid hurting her brother wrist and ankle. A familiar looking hand caressed her cheek as the imposter held her.
Kagome almost allowed herself to relax, her face pressing against the fake's chest, but there was no familiar scent there when she did
"No!" She cried out, pushing herself away, making the imposter drop her. She desperately tried to crawl to the unconscious Sesshomaru's side
"Why not?" The fake moved in front of her lifting her up by the front of her Kimono "Does this for not please you? Of would you prefer it this way" the creature's free hand tore the haori from its body.
Kagome struggled, gasping as her broken ankle hit the side of the cliff, and a few tears fell from her eyes.
The creature leaned in for a kiss but as soon as the lips touched her Kagome acted, biting the bottom lip viciously and ripping it from the creature's face with her teeth
The fake dropped her and Kagome fell to the ground, spitting out the blood and the piece of lip along with it.
An expression of anger crossed the monsters not torn replica of Sesshomaru's face and the monster's foot connected with Kagome's stomach
She cried out and the creature knelt, grabbing her hair and lifting her "I will kill you know" the creature said, black smoke coming from its mouth
"Oh yeah?" she gasped "how will you do that with no guts?" she asked
The creature looked confused then stiffened as Kagome stabbed an arrow into its stomach with her good hand. She used all her strength to pull, cutting open the creature's abdomen.
She was dropped once more as the creature stumbled back, its intestines spilling from its open gut.
Kagome dragged herself painfully over to Sesshomaru, desperately checking to see if he was alright.
She relaxed a little when she left a pulse, though she had no idea what had caused his unconsciousness.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the creature exploded into smoke, leaving the mangled husk of its disguise behind. It shaped itself into a humanoid cloud and came towards her.
Weak and in immense pain Kagome held her hand out and in a last ditch attempt, she drew all of her purifying powers forward.
