A/N: Here's another chapter… I am gonna try to update more regularly from now on… can't promise anything, but I will give it my best effort.

Chapter 14

Kagome walked slowly towards the captive youkai, savoring the fear on their faces. She stopped in front of them, noticing that none of them would meet her eyes. "Who will be the first to die?"

No one spoke, and the silence dragged on for several seconds. The prisoners stared at the ground, knowing they could not escape their fate. The crowd was hushed, but their combined aura was impatient. The crowd wanted blood. Kagome turned to Sesshomaru, "I will challenge them one by one. They will need weapons." Sesshomaru signaled to one of the generals, who brought forth the confiscated weaponry and set it near the prisoners.

Kagome sliced the bonds of the one named Kenta and stepped back. "Grab your weapon and defend yourself." Her voice rang imperiously throughout the courtyard. The youkai scrambled over to grab his sword, turning to stand ready before her. Kagome's smile chilled the youkai, fear making his adrenaline pump faster. He launched himself at her in a clumsy and foolish rush. Kagome sidestepped his attack, thrusting her sword into his exposed flank. He crumpled to the ground, her swords magic already working through his veins. The crowd cheered for her quick victory, but their restless energy drove Kagome.

The miko proceeded to remove the bonds of both Youta and Tsubasa. She back-stepped quickly as Tsubasa dove for his axe and Youta rushed her with his claws. Kagome held her sword in a defensive stance, standing so that she could see both of the youkai battling her. Youta came at her, but quickly jumped back from the legendary blade in her hands. He began to circle slowly to her right, just as Tsubasa circled left…

She cut them both free! Sesshomaru stood stoically watching the battle in front of him, but his mind swirled with anxiety. As Youta backed away, Sesshomaru knew what the two had planned. Tsubasa and Youta had battled together for decades and defeated many an enemy in their time together. His body tensed as he watched them both lunge at her at once.

Kagome dug her sword into the ground and kneeled. Her aura solidified, becoming a translucent barrier between herself and the tricky youkai. Both youkai hit her barrier and were simultaneously thrown away from her location. She stood and pulled her sword from the ground before a shimmer appeared around her, signaling her use of the reflex spell. Youta was still stunned as she swooped upon him, but threw up a hand in defense of himself. Freezing Death cut through his hand and into his arm. The blade lodged at his elbow, and Kagome watched to look of horror freeze on his face as her sword did its work.

Whirling around, Kagome threw up freezing death to stop the axe aimed at her back. She expanded her aura to knock him back. Before he could react, Kagome was back to her feet and ready for him. She stood motionless and allowed him to get to his feet. The roar of the crowd was in her ears as she waited patiently for his attack. Tsubasa seemed to finally realize he was outmatched, but he had no choice but to fight or die at her hands.

Kagome finally reached her patience's end and walked slowly towards the youkai. He took steps backwards, retreating from the evil smile on her face. Kagome's mind was a sea of blood lust and intense concentration. This was her moment to revenge the wrongs inflicted upon her.

"You are dead!" She cried as she came at him full force. Tsubasa barely got his axe up in time to protect his chest from being pierced. Kagome back-stepped momentarily and came at him again from the side, aiming lower. Her sword cut through the flesh of his calf, severing part of his leg from his body. She twisted her body, pushing off from the ground and stabbed her sword through his chest. He fell to the ground face first as Kagome's blade sheathed itself in his heart.

Kagome ripped her blade from him and let him fall to the ground with his last breath. She stalked over to Hayate, but walked right past him. She lay her own sword on the ground, picking up the unused blade of Youta. She deftly cut through the bindings holding Hayate and signaled him to his weapon. A hush came over the crowd as they saw her blood spattered clothes and face, but what silenced them was the smile on her face. It was a look that none of them had ever seen on the face of a ningen woman. The crowd's tense aura surrounded Kagome and she let loose a chilling laugh, flaring out her aura for the crowd to feel the wrath she felt at her violation and deception by Hayate.

Sesshomaru watched in a kind of trance. He admired the way she wielded her blade and at the reflexes she should not have had as a mortal. He felt her aura rush over him as she was taken with bloodlust. His restless amber eyes followed her every movement across the designated battlefield. Every movement of her lithe body was coordinated and purposeful. The Taiyoukai was impressed with her skill and finesse during battle. When she picked up Youta's sword, he knew Hayate would not die quickly as the others had.

Kagome stepped confidently toward the youkai that had taken her body without her consent. He had stripped her of her powers to do it because he was afraid of her power. She could taste his fear on her tongue as he stood before her trembling. When she was in striking distance, Hayate dropped to the ground in a humble bow, "Mercy, Lady Kagome. Please spare me."

"I will show you only the mercy you showed me." She sliced deeply into his left arm as her rage filled declaration left her lips. She quick stepped backwards and mocked the pitiful youkai on the ground, "Get up and defend yourself like a man."

Hayate jumped to his feet as she came at him again. The clash of their swords rang through the courtyard like a death knell. The crowd was eerily silent as the combatants clashed swords again and again. Kagome dropped to her knees and sliced open his stomach, though the wound was intentionally not a mortal one. The miko rolled sideways to avoid Hayate's counterattack, and quickly sprang to her feet. The battle raged on for several minutes. Kagome slowly bleeding Hayate with shallow wounds. He had not yet landed a single blow on her. She fought like a woman possessed, mesmerizing the onlookers with her ferocity.

Kagome's smile never wavered as she slowly bled Hayate. There was no thought in her mind; she was drunk with bloodlust and the need to avenge herself. The miko struck him with blow after blow, never tiring or showing the slightest sign of fatigue. Though it was her third straight battle, she fought as if the other battles had never transpired.

Hayate lunged at her again only to feel the bite of steel in his collarbone. The pain brought him to his knees and he looked up at Kagome pitifully. Her smile widened, "Die!" She channeled her miko powers at the unsuspecting youkai. His startled look was quickly replaced as he howled in the agony of the holy powers surrounding him. Kagome held just enough of her power back so that he purified slowly. She made sure he felt every ounce of pain that he had caused her. As he dissipated to ash, Kagome turned away and began walking towards the castle.

Sesshomaru stepped into her path, silently bidding her to stop. "I wish to reinstate you as a general of the western lands, Kagome. After finding out the truth of the matter, This Sesshomaru realizes he stripped you of the title in error." His voice was arrogant and imperious and it disgusted Kagome.

"I want nothing from you, Lord Sesshomaru." Sesshomaru was slightly taken aback, but would not dare to cause a scene. He stepped out of her way and let her proceed to the castle.

How could she refuse me in front of the other generals. I admitted that I was wrong, something I have never had to do before and she walks away from me… It matters not, I do not require her services.

He paced his study, fuming with indignation at her barely disguised disrespect. Her tone still rang in his ears; it had a distinct ring of finality to it that he found he did not like. It was his place to call the shots, he was lord of these lands. His ego-driven mind could not fathom that she would not take the opportunity to have her place back at his side.

The door opened, and Sesshomaru looked up to see Katashi and Kasumi. He had not even felt his subordinates' approach. Sesshomaru had been so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he had let down his iron guard. He motioned for the two of them to take a seat, and sat down behind his desk.

"Lord Sesshomaru, my mate and I would like to speak with you concerning the miko." Kasumi spoke first in her soft, feminine soprano.

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, but did not say a word. Katashi knew this to be an invitation to speak, "I have a suspicion that you and the Lady Kagome had a more personal relationship." Katashi left the statement as it was and waited out his Lord's long silence.

"You are correct Katashi, but I fail to see why this has brought you here." That he even responded would have surprised many, but Katashi was the closest thing Sesshomaru had to a friend. They had weathered many battles together, and Sesshomaru had come to rely on Katashi's wisdom.

"Lady Kagome is surely in pain over this whole ordeal. I would be very concerned considering she has been pent up in her room since the battle ended. I tried to speak with her, but she would not answer the door. Lady Kagome is strong woman, and as such is not likely to forgive her wrongful punishment so easily." Kasumi spoke in Katashi's place. She knew a woman's heart better than the males ever would. She felt that Lord Sesshomaru just needed a push in the right direction. He and the Lady Kagome were well suited for one another, even if they could not see it themselves.

Sesshomaru pondered the female youkai's words carefully. He knew that he certainly would be angered and unforgiving, but he had never seen Kagome that way. Although, her earlier battles had shown him another side of the complex miko. She was indeed a strong woman with tremendous power. If he were honest with himself, he knew she had every right to be angry and harsh. He couldn't help but wonder how she had changed from such a naïve girl into such a battle hardened warrior. Though he valued her wisdom and maturity, Kagome had always reminded him of Rin in a way.

Shaking his head at his own musings, he spoke to the youkai sitting across from him, "I will consider your words." His tone dismissed them, but the mated pair shared a conspiratorial look. They had planted the seed, now it was up to their Lord to determine his own path.

Sesshomaru walked through the halls of his palace. He had been in his study for hours, so long that the moon was hung low in the sky, waiting for day to break. He strode down the familiar hall that led to Kagome's bedchamber. When he stopped outside the door, he could not detect her aura within the room. Sesshomaru stepped inside to find the room empty. Kagome's belongings were missing, only some of the kimonos he had had made for her remained.

The Taiyoukai concentrated briefly, but could not find a trace of her miko's aura anywhere in the palace. He knew of only one place that she might go. He strode purposefully out to the garden and formed his demonic cloud to transport him to the village of the old miko, Kaede.

As dawn brighten the horizon, Sesshomaru landed just outside of the village. Though he had been sure he would find her here, he could not find a trace of her scent or her aura. He walked the border of the village, making sure he had not missed some sign of her presence. While he did not find the miko, he did find Inuyasha.

"What are you doing here, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha taunted his older brother.

"I don't have time for you today." Sesshomaru said coldly as he turned away from his half-breed sibling.

"I don't care if you have time for me or not, you arrogant bastard. You will fight me now."

Sesshomaru flicked his wrist, extending his youki whip and sweeping Inuyasha off of his feet. The Taiyoukai reformed his demonic cloud and took off before Inuyasha had a chance to engage him in battle.

"Why are you running away, coward?!?!" Inuyasha screamed at the retreating cloud, waving the Tetsusaiga.

Sesshomaru ignored the ignorant fool, not having time to waste. If she wasn't here, then where could she possibly have gone??

A/N: Hope the double update makes you guys happy!! As Always, Please leave me a review. I would love to know your thoughts!

*Thanks again to my supporters on Dokuga! This one is for you guys!!*