Chapter 10

Kikyou

Kagome stood in her room, pulling her tight armor over her shoulders. She hated going against her sister, but she was once again left with no choice. For a hundred years, she had blocked off everything she felt about those two people, and with the sight of one of them, she had lost control.

She hated knowing that she had broken down in front of the lord, but she couldn't help but smile slightly at the way he had helped her. She never thought he would do such a thing, but the cold, ruthless killing perfection had comforted her.

"Miko." Said demon called, knocking slightly on her screen door.

"You can come in." Kagome called, kinda happy he showed up. "I actually need your help for something."

The sound of scraping told Kagome that Sesshomaru was entering. When she saw him, he was dressed in all of his armor, prepared for battle. His cold mask was back in place as his eyes looked over the miko.

"Can you snap up the back of my armor?" Kagome asked, looking over her shoulder at the lord.

Sesshomaru was struggling. They were about to go into battle against a rogue miko and all he could do was stare at the miko's perfect skin. Inwardly shaking his head to clear it of its fog, Sesshomaru stepped forward and hesitantly began to snap up the back.

Unfortunately for him, the snaps began just above her round ass and he had to bite his cheek to keep from groaning out when his hands accidentally touched her soft skin. What he would give to trail his tongue over every part of her. No! I cannot have these thoughts!

"Are you okay, Lord Sesshomaru? You seem really tense." Kagome asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

"This one is fine, Miko. The guards said they spotted a miko who looks much like you a few villages over. They are watching her." Sesshomaru informed, thankful when he latched the last snap in place.

When he stepped back, the miko quickly pulled her hair into a topknot before braiding it. Little did she know just how tempted the lord behind her was to ravish her neck with his tongue. Her long, elegant neck was screaming for him, and he was beginning to lose the battle with himself.

"Are you ready?" Kagome asked, making his eyes snap from her pulse point up to her eyes.

"Indeed." He answered, his voice strained. He needed to get his mind on other things. "Tell me, how were you able to grab my sword?"

"I can't tell you that." Kagome replied, tensing immediately.

"More secrets?" He asked, beginning to get annoyed. One day, he would get her to answer all of his questions.

"I have a lot. Then again, I have lived for a long time, long enough to accumulate plenty." Kagome answered with a sly smile.

"One day, this one will figure out these secrets." Sesshomaru countered, watching as a chuckling Kagome grabbed her bow and sword, placing them in their proper places.

"Come along, Lord Sesshomaru. I wish for your monk to come as well. We will need his holy powers." Kagome started as she made her way from her room, holding the door open for her lord before sliding it shut and following along beside him. "I have kept my secrets since I was a young girl. What makes you think you will be the one to know them?"

"I am a patient being, Kagome, not to mention an expert tactician. Figuring out your secrets keeps me from being bored so I will play your game." The lord replied, noticing his father, Youta, Sango, and Miroku waiting for them at the end of the hall.

"That, Lord Sesshomaru, is why you will never know. I'm not some game you can use to satisfy your curiosity. I am much more than that." Kagome returned, stopping before the group in front of them.

You are much more, Miko, yet you do not even truly realize.

"Let's get going. Kikyou can't be trusted. She is just as cruel as InuYasha, but she also hates demons." Kagome ordered, surprising all of the others. When Sesshomaru began following her out, everyone was even more surprised that he didn't scold her for ordering him.

They were silent for a few minutes before Sango finally spoke up. "Lady Kagome, why is it that Kikyou hates demons but you don't?"

"Well, I don't hate demons because I don't see them as demons. I see them as a living being. To me, it's not humans versus yokai. Kikyou hates everyone, but she especially hates me, so anything I like, she wants to destroy." Kagome answered, walking with her arms behind her back as they traveled to the village.

"You're sisters, yet you hate each other?" Miroku asked, his staff jingling as he walked.

"We're twins." Kagome announced with a smile. "I don't hate her, but I will kill her, simply because she will leave me no choice. I already know she will try to kill me again, and if I wish to survive, she will have to go."

"She has tried to kill you before?" Touga asked, his ears twitching as he listened to everything around them.

"Multiple times. Both her and InuYasha, actually, though InuYasha did more damage than she did." Kagome admitted before tensing. She hadn't meant to say that much, and now she was going to have to fight off question after question.

"Ma? Did InuYasha really…" Youta started, but was unable to finish his sentence.

"It doesn't matter." Kagome replied.

"But–"

"No, Youta, drop it." Kagome demanded, her motherly tone very much present.

Youta wasn't stupid. While his mother normally appeared to be calm and collected, there were times that her fierce motherly side came out, and it was then that you needed to watch out. He really didn't want to be disciplined in front of everyone.

However, if his uncle had raped her like he suggested, he would die by Youta's claws. He didn't care if his mother claimed his death. No one violated her and got away with it. A quick glance to his father showed him that he wasn't alone in his thoughts. He could see the fire in his father's eyes, and he knew he was thinking about how to kill his brother.

"Youta, I want you, Lord Sesshomaru, and Touga to stay out of it when we confront her." Kagome began.

"Miko, I will not sit back and watch you fight." Sesshomaru growled, his eyes glued to the smaller woman.

"Then you will die. Kikyou is strong. Not as strong as me, but still strong. You three are just as powerful, and she most likely can't kill you, but I'd rather not take that chance. I'm sure there will be others for you to fight anyway." Kagome soothed with a shrug of her shoulders.

"We just have to find her first." Sango scoffed, looking around.

Before anyone had a chance to say anything, an arrow appeared out of nowhere and flew towards its target. A loud, sickening thud indicated it had hit its mark.

"Fuck! We found her!" Kagome yelled, rolling on the ground slightly, an arrow sticking out of her shoulder.

"Ma!" Youta yelled, kneeling down beside his mother.

The low sound of a drawstring being released hit everyone's ears as another arrow came flying towards them. A small, pink barrier suddenly surrounded them, turning the arrow to ash. Lord Sesshomaru kneeled down beside the miko as well.

Their eyes met and Kagome knew what he was asking. With a curt nod, she gave him permission, and he quickly ripped the arrow from her shoulder, causing some of her blood to splatter on his face. Kagome bit back a scream before pushing herself to her feet.

"Come out, Kikyou!" She yelled, pulling her own bow from her back even though her arm was screaming.

"Hello, Little Sister." Kikyou said, walking out from behind a tree, her bow drawn and at the ready.

Everyone looked at the woman and was surprised at just how much the two looked alike. There were some differences of course, but not much. Sesshomaru already held a dislike for the woman. It was easy to see that she was the opposite of the miko he was beginning to know. Kikyou was cold and hateful while Kagome was warm and loving.

"Why are you here?" Kagome asked, drawing back her own bow. Although slight, Sesshomaru could see the small tremor in Kagome's arm.

"Did you not miss me?" Kikyou laughed, releasing her bow.

Kagome reacted instantly, releasing her own. The two arrows flew towards each other, meeting in the middle with a loud explosion of reiki. A bright light grew suddenly, causing everyone to close their eyes for a second before it finally subsided.

"I see your power has grown, Kikyou." Kagome stated, quickly grabbing another arrow from her quiver.

"Of course, as have yours. How about we test each other and see who is stronger?" Kikyou teased before dropping her bow to the ground.

A dark pink light began to surround the opposite woman and Kagome's eyes grew wide. Quickly, Kagome ran out of her own barrier, strengthening it as she left. She had to get away from the demons or they would get hurt.

Sesshomaru was panicking, although he would never show it. The moment Kagome ran from her barrier, he tried to go after her but failed. She was holding him inside, along with everybody else. While Kagome continued running until she stood a good distance away, Sesshomaru kept fighting, trying to get out.

It wasn't until a bright pink light began surrounding Kagome that he realized what was happening. This was a battle of reiki to see who was the strongest. If any of the demons in their group stepped out, they would either be purified instantly or they would be in agonizing pain.

As the light continued to grow, it was very obvious which of the sisters would win. Kikyou's reiki, while pink, held a darkness to it. It was easy to see just how tainted she was. On the other hand, Kagome's reiki was some of the purest he had ever seen.

No matter what she had been through, she still held a loving and caring heart. She didn't judge or take out her anger on any who didn't deserve it. She just simply cared for everyone, no matter what. To be able to see just how pure she was left Sesshomaru stunned. He had known she was a gentle and kind creature, but this was unheard of.

The two women's reiki clashed against each other now and the group was mesmerized. Every time the opposing energies slammed into each other, the fine hairs of the group stood on end. The women fighting were now using so much of their energy, their feet were no longer even on the ground.

Kagome's eyes had turned a bright pink. Her hair had been forced from her, and it now whipped around her as her energy shot from her body. Her arms were stretched out at her sides and blood dripped from her wound.

Just before the women could attack again, a red blur flew past them, grabbed a hold of Kikyou, and slammed her to the ground. Instantly, Kikyou's reiki shot back into her body as she looked up at the man standing above her. Somehow InuYasha had escaped the dungeon.

"I told you she was mine." He snarled, picking up Kikyou by the throat and holding her in the air. He glared into her eyes for a long moment before dropping her to the ground.

"Half-breed!" Sesshomaru snarled, trying to keep InuYasha's attention away from Kagome who was slowly pulling in her own reiki.

"Did you really think you could hold me?" InuYasha asked, an evil smirk on his face. "I left you a little present, Brother. I hope you enjoy it."

By now, Kagome had come back to herself and was watching the exchange. She knew she needed to get away from him. She had no way to protect herself. Even now, her knees shook with the effort to keep herself standing. Her little fight had taken more of a toll on her than she had expected. It had been years since she needed to use that much power.

Catching the eye of her lord, she knew he was trying to keep InuYasha distracted so she could get away. She began silently limping away until she was impaled by another arrow, this one in her thigh. Kagome fell to her hands and knees before looking up towards her sister who was approaching her.

"Where are you going, Kagome?" Kikyou asked, her voice shaking from anger and exhaustion. It was easy to tell Kikyou was suffering just as much as Kagome. The only difference was she wasn't even wounded.

"Release the barrier, Miko." Sesshomaru ordered, his hands clenched into fists as he looked at the woman on her knees. He was worried, and he wasn't sure how to feel about it.

"Go ahead, Kagome. Let the demons out so I can kill them all." Kikyou taunted, notching another arrow and pointing it at her sister.

"Go to hell, Kikyou." Kagome rasped, fighting to stay conscious.

"Kikyou, leave her. She will be mine." InuYasha ordered, turning from his half-brother.

"Filth, do not touch her!" Sesshomaru snarled as InuYasha approached Kagome.

InuYasha smirked as he picked up the weakening woman by her throat, holding her high enough that her feet dangled above the ground. The group yelled at the hanyou in horror as he tightened his grip on her throat.

"You are so weak right now, I could take you." InuYasha tormented before slamming his lips against Kagome's.

Two feral snarls could be heard in the clearing as Sesshomaru and Youta threw themselves at Kagome's barrier. They weren't sure just how far InuYasha would go right now and they didn't want to take a chance.

Tears fell from Kagome's eyes, but she couldn't fight. She no longer had the energy to do so, and at this point, she wished she would just lose consciousness. She wasn't far from it, considering how weak she already was and the lack of airflow to her lungs.

InuYasha pulled the woman from his lips, a smile on his face. He dropped Kagome and she landed on the ground with a sickening thud, not moving once. He stared at her for a moment longer before motioning for Kikyou to follow him.

"I don't want you submissive, Kagome. I will come back for you when you can fight against me." InuYasha smirked before the two slowly walked away, not caring about the people behind them.

When they were gone, Kagome finally let down the barrier and she was instantly surrounded. Two strong arms picked her up, and her eyes met worried gold. Sesshomaru looked down at his bundle and he had to admit, for the first time, he felt fear.

"We need to get her to the shiro. Youta, Father, I want you two to go ahead and see what it is that InuYasha has done." Sesshomaru ordered as Sango pulled the arrow from a limp Kagome.

She had passed out the moment she looked up at him and now dangled in his grasp. Youta and Touga nodded towards their lord before running towards the shiro. Sango ripped away some of her kimono sleeve before wrapping it around Kagome's leg tightly.

"Is she going to be okay?" Miroku asked as Sango moved to Kagome's shoulder.

"She is strong." Sesshomaru answered, looking at the woman's face. What he really wanted to do was lick away her wounds, but these were too great for even him to heal.

"We need to get her back." Sango added once she was done looking over the unconscious woman.

"No. This one does not know what InuYasha has done. Until we are certain it is safe, we will wait." Sesshomaru ordered, looking in the direction of his shiro.

"We have to get the bleeding to stop. If you won't take her to the shiro, take her to a village where she can be helped." Sango yelled, not caring if she angered the deadliest man alive.

Sesshomaru looked at the brave woman, death promised in his gaze. After a brief stare down, he finally relented and gave a curt nod. If he wanted to see the miko safe, he needed to get her help. Without another word, he sped off towards the nearest village.

The moment he entered, villagers rushed towards him, trying to see what was going on. They never actually got close to him, his flaring aura would never allow it. Even so, they surrounded him in a wide circle, waiting for his demand.

"I require your best healer. Bring them to me." He growled, hating the way everyone was staring at him.

Murmurs could be heard as others called out a name. Sesshomaru waited patiently as a healer was called. Finally, after what seemed like forever, an older female quickly made her way towards the lord. She ignored his aura and carefully looked over the miko.

"If you would follow me, milord." She said after a moment.

Sesshomaru obliged for the miko's sake. This woman had him doing things he would normally never do. The elder led him to a small hut and held open a screen for him. She motioned for him to set Kagome down on the pallet and he did so.

"Milord, I must ask you to leave. I will have to undress her." The healer started, looking up into the daiyokai's eyes.

"I will not leave the miko. Begin your healing." Sesshomaru replied, turning his back on the two. He would not leave her, but he would show the respect that was due to the woman.

He could hear everything the elder did and made sure she knew. He would not allow more harm to come to the miko. He wasn't sure how long he sat there, but he was surprised when the mat flew open to reveal Youta.

"Sir, you should not be in here!" The elder yelled, startled.

"She's my mother." Youta replied before going to sit beside his father, his back also turned away. They could both hear the older woman mumbling but chose to ignore it.

"What has InuYasha done?" Sesshomaru asked.

"It was a massacre. He killed just about everyone he could get his hands on. Touga stayed behind to direct the one's still alive. It will take some time before the shiro is cleaned." Youta answered before noticing his father's confused gaze. "He tore them to shreds. He scattered pieces of them all over the halls. He even left a few pieces in Ma's room."

"Her room?" Sesshomaru whispered, not liking that the half-breed knew where she slept. He would have to do something about that.

"Yea. He did a number. I'm going to have her move into my room with me." Youta announced. While Sesshomaru knew she would be safe with his son, he didn't like the idea. He wanted to make sure she was as safe as possible, and that could only happen if she was by his side.

"No." Sesshomaru answered, getting a confused look from Youta. "She will stay with this one. You can keep her safe, but by my side, she will also be protected by my title."

"I guess you're right, but what about sleeping arrangements?" Youta asked.

"We are two adults, are we not? We can share a bed and control ourselves. If not, I shall bring in another futon." Sesshomaru answered, his face as stoic as ever. Inside, however, he was wondering if he should just go ahead and bring in the futon. He wasn't sure he could control himself at this point.

"I am done, milord." The elder called, making the two daiyokai turn around.

Kagome was covered by a blanket just above her breasts. Sesshomaru could easily see the bandage on her shoulder and knew she had a matching one on her thigh. He reached out unconsciously and moved a strand of hair from her face.

"She just needs to rest, but she will be fine." The woman said, watching her lord with interest.

"Can she be moved?" Sesshomaru asked, wanting to get her back to the shiro.

"Carefully, but yes. Just keep her wounds clean." She replied.

Sesshomaru carefully wrapped up the miko in the blanket before picking her up in his arms again. He looked down at her as she moaned slightly before snuggling into his chest. He found himself wishing he wasn't wearing any armor. He pushed that thought away and looked to his son who was now holding Kagome's clothing and weapons.

Throwing some money to the elder, Sesshomaru and Youta sped from the hut, not stopping until they reached the shiro. It was a mess. The smell of blood and death was overwhelming as he walked through the halls.

He tried to keep his eyes from looking at the gore that was spread around the walls and floor of his shiro. Even as a demon, the sight was unsettling. InuYasha had to have killed at least fifty servants and guards before spreading them all over the place.

When Sesshomaru reached the doors to his chambers, they opened automatically for him, surprising Youta. Unlike the sliding shoji screens most rooms had, these were all-wood, beautifully carved doors designed for the lord's privacy.

They were also bespelled so they only opened for Sesshomaru. He would have to add Kagome to that spell now that she would be staying in his room. Stepping into his massive chambers, Sesshomaru went straight to the just-as-impressive bed.

It could fit about four Sesshomaru's comfortably, and Youta silently wondered why his father needed all of that space. He watched as Sesshomaru very gently set his mother on the bed before fixing her blankets and making her comfortable.

This would be news for his grandfather. At this point, Youta was starting to believe his parents wouldn't even need a push. They were obviously doing what they needed on their own. With a nod and a small smile, he turned and left his father to watch over his mother. Soon.

-sSs-

I hope you like it! Some action and a tiny bit of fluff.

Shout outs:

Hellokeke313, LotisFlower, LazuriteSix: Thank you all for following my story.

RedDrake323: Thank you for your kind review. I hope this chapter was everything you had hoped.

Kidnapped by a Demon: Thank you for following this story and your review. It was very kind.

DarkAngel865: Thank you for your compliment. I am glad that you get excited to read my chapters. It makes me feel a little bit better about my writing.

Wren210: Thank you for your review and I am glad you can and are still willing to read my story even if there are some aspects that you do not like. I try my best to please everyone and I am glad I can keep you as a reader for this one, and my others. Thank you.

I do not own InuYasha.