I know I mentioned this in the early chapters but I would like to give a reminder. Some triggers warnings can be found through this story and they will increase in the future chapters. These include but are not limited too : Implied rape, loss of child(ren)/sibling, past attempts at suicide and other dark matters. If you are unsure it will pop up, ask in a review or PM and I can always respond to you and let you know. I personally think I am still in the 'T' section of rating but if you think I'm crossing the line, just let me know. I find it hard to judge at times.

I want to take a moment and take everyone for helping me reach 150+ reviews! This made my whole week and I could never thank any of you enough. It means a lot to me and I'm becoming a better writer because of you all. Just remember, an author is nothing without her loyal reviewers. You are as important as I am, if not more so.

Disclaimer ~

Alas, I am lonely and own nothing. The Inuyasha and Kuroshitsuji crew belong to their own creators, who are not me.

Slap!

Several pairs of eyes blinked in surprise at the sound of flesh impacting on flesh. Most were in shock, unsure if they really did just see Kagome slap a grim reaper. All but Sebastian, who was smirking at the display. The demon had read legends and stories about the temper of the Shikon Miko but he had never seen it himself. He knew only his passive Doll and the skittish woman that had emerged from the doll's shell afterwards. He had feared that her blood filled past and self-exile had crushed the flame within but he now saw that it still rested there, an ember struggling to live amongst the ash.

The fire was clear to see by the sharp gleam in her blue eyes and the downward twist her lips had taken. Her weak body was tense in anger and her untrained purification powers sparked along her scarred skin. The air around her crackled with her emotional powers and sent shivers down the spines of all the nearby demons.

Combined with the natural beauty of her midnight locks, the silver blemishes against cream skin and her jewel eyes, she was a sight. She was the personification of a demon's forbidden treasure. Beautiful and desired by so many of his kind but her holy soul could easily kill them. Still, the thrill and threat of death only added to the craving that many experienced when around her. Not many things could kill a demon and it was always an exhilarating experience to dance with the small things that could end them.

She was in short, delicious.

"How dare you," Kagome growled out viciously. It was a trait that she had picked up from the many demons that plagued her life and for a human, it was very impressive. "Who are you to judge me?"

Incandescent green eyes framed with fake eyelashes glared at her while a sharp toothed grin stretched unnaturally across his face. Briefly, Kagome wondered if extra large, creepy smiles were a trait all grim reapers were required to carry. "Darling, I wouldn't raise another hand against me unless you're willing to have a cat fight."

More raw purification power raced along Kagome's raised arm and pooled in her palm. It was tainting the very air with its power and forced the weaker, triplet demons to take a step back. Sebastian had subtly moved himself to stand behind his Doll, wrapping an arm around her waist in an unbreakable grip, ready to restrain the woman if needed. As much as the grim reaper annoyed him, he was now a pawn in his young master's game and they could not afford to kill him . . . yet. Maybe destroying the nuisance would be how they celebrated the end of their game?

Kagome stood stiffly in front of Grell, both feminine figures staring each other down in a way that only scorned women could accomplish. Tension filled the air around them as Kagome clenched her fist and Grell's hand inched towards the handle of his Death Scythe. In the background, Finny was standing confused behind the triplets while Canterbury, Timber and Thompson watched the confrontation and exchanged whispers.

"I am loyal to Sebastian," Kagome replied angrily.

"He won't be yours forever," Grell leaned back to run a manicured hand through his long red locks. "Bassy's heart and body will soon belong to me." A tremble raced down the spine of the demon behind Kagome but she wasn't sure if it was suppressed rage or disgust at the words. Maybe both?

Kagome watched as the reaper gave Sebastian a truly adoring look and blew an air kiss towards him. Kagome was pressed so closely to Sebastian's chest that she could clearly feel another shudder race down his back and she heard the disgusted sound that came from the back of his throat. Kagone suddenly found herself pressing her lips tightly together in an effort to keep her giggle locked away. Love must be truly blind, the young woman mused.

"I hate to end this," Sebastian didn't truly sound apologetic, "but the young master wished to speak to Kagome . . . privately."

"But what shall I do then?" Grell whined in a high-pitch voice. "I am a grim reaper, not a maid for the household."

"You are telling me that you can not find a way to amuse yourself while I am gone?" The dark timber in Sebastian's voice carried a silent threat and his demonic energy increased, causing his shadow behind him to flicker and ooze like a live animal.

"Erm, I'm sure I can find something to do to waste the time away." Grell's mumbled quietly as he put his hands, and death scythe, behind him like a child being scolded. His mood changed rapidly and everyone watched as excitement suddenly filled him and his eyes lit up as he bounced in place. "Do you still have that hunk of a beast around?"

Kagome was not the only one confused this time. Finny was frowning in intense concentration and the triplet's were whispering faster, a sign that they were unsure what was going on too. Sebastian sighed, one gloved hand reaching up to rub the bridge of his nose. "Where is Pluto?" Sebastian questioned Finny. "I thought I said to not let that thing out of your sight."

Finny raised his hands up in surrender as he stammered his explanation. "He attacked Lady Kagome," Kagome protested at the word attack but she was ignored, "so I tossed a stick into the maze to keep him busy. It's not the first time I've done this and it makes him happy to race around like that."

The narrowed eye glare Finny received from Sebastian made it clear that that was not the right answer to give. "And when he starts burning down the foliage because he is fed up with that contraption?"

"Pluto is a good boy!" Finny protested. "He would never burn down the maze." In the distance a loud bark could be heard as if in agreement.

"Don't worry, Bassy!" Grell's eyes were now shining brightly and his large, too sharp grin was back. "I'll keep Pluto busy. When I'm done, he won't have any energy left."

Without another word, the grim reaper took off running towards the maze. Three unnatural bounds later and Grell disappeared into the depths of the maze. Kagome tilted her head to the side, unsure how to process the last few minutes. Did that all truly happened or if it was a hallucination by her broken mind?

"Did you just let him leave to molest Pluto?" Kagome asked in disbelief.

"The mongrel will survive," was Sebastian's answer.

"That's so horrible!" Kagome tried to wiggle out Sebastian's grasp but the arm around her waist was unmovable. "You can't just let that mad man hurt him!"

"Trust me," Sebastian growled soothingly into her ear, "I'm more worried about Pluto harming him. Demon dogs don't just follow any master and I doubt that Grell will be able to control Pluto long enough to get his desires."

Kagome didn't realize that while they were talking, Sebastian had managed to coax her into walking forward. They were already half-way across the garden and approaching the doors of the manor quickly. Once Sebastian deemed that they were at a safe enough distance from any potential threats, he scooped the small woman into his arms.

"Deep breath," he commanded at the same time.

Kagome inhaled, more because of the shock of her feet suddenly leaving the ground than the command. As her lungs filled to the brim with air, the world around her blurred. The life giving oxygen that once surrounded her was gone and shapes and colors blur together into a new world around her. Green, brown, blue and black streaked into one new shade, stealing the air and leaving her lungs burning from lack of oxygen.

As quickly as the burn in her lungs began, it was gone. Kagome was left gasping in her demon's arms, unused to the speed Sebastian traveled at. He was leagues faster than Inuyasha and would have left Kouga in the dust even if the wolf yokai had the jewel shards in his legs. Gently Sebastian put Kagome back on her feet, keeping his hands on her waist so she wouldn't lose her balance.

They stood outside of a closed, double door bedroom. The doors were made of mahogany wood and had a symbol of an empty spider web dominating across both wooden panels. The design was memorizing but the barren look of the web caused goosebumps to sprout across her arms. Before Kagome could process anything else, she found a gloved hand covering her mouth and a powerful demon pressed against her back, leaving no room for air between their bodies.

"Before we disturb the young master, there is something we should fix." Kagome looked over her shoulder, her eyes wide with surprise. Being held so tightly by a powerful demon would scare a more rational woman but Kagome trusted Sebastian. She recognize the tenseness of his shoulder, the way his body molded to her and the dark color that danced in his eyes. This hold was one that many male yokais used to establish dominance. Falling back on the instincts that kept her alive inside Naruka's care and Kouga's tribe, Kagome fell limp and let Sebastian manipulate her body.

His free hand started to roam her dress and skin, covering every inch of her that he could reach. He lingered longer on certain areas, pressing his hand harder as if proving something to her. Several strokes along her open palm, a hard brush against both of her hips and even gentle skims against her face. Kagome stayed still through it all, recognizing what Sebastian was doing. All the places that another male had touched was being covered in his own scent. Her nerves stayed steady through the whole process but when Sebastian's hand reached up to her chest, Kagome remembered Alois cuddling into her and where the boy's scent might lay.

With an embarrassed squeak, Kagome tried to wiggle her way free. Sebastian paused, letting the woman struggle uselessly against him as he debated if he should continue or not. She had no trouble with his touches before and only started to struggle when his hand planned on straying into indecent territory. Perhaps it was just her human sensibilities making themselves known? Kagome felt his grip tightened and he harshly nipped at her exposed neck, trying to submit her.

Her fear was instantaneous as her broken mind chose to forget that it was Sebastian behind her. The sting of fangs against such a sensitive area, the unbreakable hold he held her in and the spider web glaring back at her were the only things she could focus on. In her mind, her beloved demon was replaced with another male with pale skin, black hair and red eyes. Naraku. She instantly froze and she unknowingly sent back her own sting of pain, her power racing against her skin and blistering Sebastian's lips, which were just brushing her skin.

Sebastian's grip loosened and he reeled back to avoid anymore harm. Kagome took her chance and shrugged herself out of his grip. Before Sebastian could grab her once more, she found herself pushing the double doors open and escaping into the room. Away from his possessive grip and the pain of his canines, Kagome took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm her racing heart.

It was not Naraku. I am safe. Sebastian is safe. I am free. Again and again those words cycled through her head as she felt herself calming down. It felt like eternity but only seconds had passed since Kagome entered the room.

The click! of the door locking behind her caused her to jump but she kept the panic from rising by turning her attention to the area around her in an effort to ground herself in the present instead of slipping into the past. In the room there was only a tiny closest, one much smaller than her own, and a massive bed covered in midnight blue silk sheets. The rest of the room was barren except for the small boy resting in the center of the mattress. This is much different than the wolves' cave and more elegant than the prison she was held in before so it helped to calm her fears.

Ciel was sitting up against the large pillows that littered the bed, his chin resting over his interlocked fingers as he surveyed Kagome. He was covered in only a thin sleeping shirt with the blankets laying over his lower half. His hair was tousled and he wore a medical bandage over his right eye instead of his usual eye patch. Bruises of all shapes and sizes covered his face and what little of his hands and arms that Kagome could see.

"What happened to you!" Kagome gasped, forgetting her fears once she sighted the injured boy.

Ciel narrowed his cold eyes, wondering if he should ask the same question to the frightened woman in front of him. The dark blue irises that could bring shivers down a full grown man's back grew slightly gentle at the sight of the distraught miko. He didn't even get a chance to say a word before Kagome was by his side and running her medically expert fingers over his bruises.

"It is a risk when you check the King and the Queen is nearby." Ciel's answered dismissively.

Her touch faltered as her temper from earlier returned. She glanced over her shoulder to look at Sebastian, torn between anger and desperation. "What is this game that everyone keeps speaking of?" Kagome demanded.

Before her demon could respond, Ciel cut smoothly in. "That is actually the reason I have summoned you. I wish to explain what has happened since you've been gone."

`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·

Sebastian stood still, watching his Doll as his young master explained the game they had entered. He paid very little attention to what was being said and instead let his mind wander over the incident that had sent his Doll scurrying away from him. He had thought he was being gentle with her, rubbing his scent into her clothes and skin but when she had started to struggle, he had only wanted her to be compliant as she was before. Instead the technique that had subdued many females before had spiced her scent with fear and sent her away from him.

Sebastian did not understand. He had not sensed fear on her when he had held her tightly to him. He did not see fear in her eyes as his hands intimately traced her curves or when she was laying in his arms, dependent on him alone for a brief second as he traveled with her. So why did the nip steal such a reaction from her?

Ciel calmly explained each piece, the demonic deal he used to make sure Alois plays fair, and Kagome's part in it. The pretty little prize that two demons were willing to destroy both households for. For almost an hour, Ciel talked to the young woman, calmly answering her questions when she voiced them.

"Why do you not think of Sebastian as the Queen? He is the most powerful person besides yourself." Kagome tried to ignore the brooding glare that she could feel digging into her back. Sebastian did not like the thought of labeling himself as a female even if it was a powerful figure.

"That is true but I think a bishop suits him more," Ciel shrugged. "A Queen is often targeted first because of her seemingly limitless moves and I have no need for Sebastian to be taken out so quickly."

"But the bishop? Isn't he a religious piece?"

"You should really research the pieces more. The bishop was included on the board because it was a important individual who had the power of the church behind him. The influence of the church could decide the way a war started and ended. Bishops were not such holy people though. It was rumored that bishops were two-faced, manipulative beings who changed the outcome to suit the church's needs. That is why the bishop can only move diagonally, to show their serpent-like thoughts."

Her emotions fluctuated the whole hour. Confusion, anger, despair and fear battled across her beautiful features as time passed by. Sebastian had a hard time keeping his distance. So many dark emotions tainted her expression and aura, causing the jewel inside of her to try and purify such darkness but to no avail. Purity raced after such damaging emotions, only for those sinful emotions to return and chase after the purity. The very air tasted of her conflicting soul and Sebastian wanted nothing more than to hide her away from everyone and sample her slowly.

"Is it true?" Her whisper soft voice hooked his attention, unaware how much time had slipped by while he was busy with his fantasies. He watched her cautiously, his face and eyes revealing nothing to her. Water filled eyes stared back at him and his sharp sight traced the trembles that raced along her body like the quivering of a butterfly's wing. Despite her tearful eyes, Kagome did not have the scent of sadness, only righteous anger. "Did you gamble me like a simple possession?"

"The young master commanded it."

Tiny, frail hands clenched together to create two fists and the aura around her now crackled with power. "Did you argue with him?" Stunned silence came from both males at her words. Ciel was surprised at the mere thought of Sebastian arguing back with him. It was never done before and with the contract, no matter how weak it currently is, the boy was sure that it was simply impossible. Sebastian would never admit it but his shock came from the reminder. It had never crossed his mind to fight the young master's idea. It was nearly second nature to follow along with what his contracted prey wanted as it was the quickest and easiest way to get the meal he was after. After so many centuries of doing things the lazy way, it had slipped Sebastian's mind that he could have suggested something else. He could have found a route that didn't involve endangering Kagome's life. "Did you actually fight for me or do I not mean that much to you?"

Sebastian pursed his lips, the only sign of his displeasure. He refused to show weakness in front of a human child. He had his reasons but he would not grovel to the woman like the human males did. He was a demon! He would talk to her later, in the privacy of her room, away from prying, arrogant eyes. He would make her understand later and only his Doll would be allowed to see past his emotionless mask.

"What am I to you?" Kagome whispered out. "Am I just another meal? Or a toy that you have grown frond of?"

How could she think so lowly of herself? Fifty years he had cared for her. He had learned human habits that he would never use again just for her. Despite her deep slumber, there was nothing stopping him from ripping her unwilling soul from her body and feasting but he didn't! Sebastian even had a deep suspicion that he was starting to develop human emotions that were unnatural to a demon because of her.

"You are my Doll," was his solemn answer.

It might have been the wrong answer judging by the hurt expression that crossed her face and the tears that now fell. "Sebastian," his name was spat out of her mouth as if it had a disgusting taste, "leave my sight. Just . . . leave."

Sebastian didn't move a muscle. He frowned at the harsh command, so full of misery and fury but despite the power of her emotions, they held no control over him. She did not have the contract mark upon her scarred flesh so her words were just that, words. It was the tiny smirk on Ciel's lips though that caused him to glare at the nearest wall. It didn't take much to understand what was about to happen.

"Sebastian, you should not ignore the orders from the Lady of the Manor." A small hand reached up to tap his medical eye patch to emphasize his next words. "This is an order : Obey her."

"Doll," he hurried to soothe her temper, now aware of the power she held over him.

"I said, leave!" A blast of pure energy shot out at her words and filled the air.

His body reacted to the instincts deep inside him. The pure energy was flooding the room faster than he could stop it and since he could not fight the threat, he hurried to retreat. He was moving before he had a chance to argue and in the next second, he found himself standing in the hallway, out of sight of Ciel and Kagome. Even from this distance, Sebastian could still feel her energy running free in the air, not yet evaporated from her small outburst. It ate away at his fake human appearance, revealing his fangs and claws in a shower of black feathers.

He was not alone for long. The taste and feel of such holiness attracted the demons like a carcass would bring scavengers. Even those that did not have an interest in Kagome, like the maid Hannah and the triplets that served the Trancy household, found themselves standing in the same hallway, inhaling deeply like it was their last day of existence. Claude stood by Sebastian's side, a self satisfied smirk on his face, with Hannah standing behind the male duo and the triplets an even further distance back. Their sharp hearing picked up the sound of energetic barking as Pluto prowled the outside of the manor.

The disgusting smell of the spider's desire started to taint the room and Sebastian had to resist the urge to shove the other demon into the closest wall. A true fight between two male demons could flatten the land around them for miles and endanger the lives of all those around, including his precious Doll. The time for one of them to die was not right yet. Demons were nothing if not patient predators and right now the spider and the raven were content to circle each other and search for weaknesses.

"She still belongs to me," Sebastian gave a quiet warning.

Claude's smirk was still in place and his lips pulled back more to reveal thin spider-like pinschers resting where human canines normally sat. "Can you honestly claim that when your mark does not scar her and her body does not hold your scent inside?"

"Yes," was the hissed reply.

"A female's heart is a picky thing." Hannah's submissive voice interrupted them. Two pairs of glowing crimson eyes turned to glare at her but her gaze was on the floor in an effort to not anger them anymore. "Without your presence by her side, who is to say that your place in her heart is permanent?"

"She is loyal to me," Sebastian harshly repeated the words she had said herself.

"Agony into pleasure, tears to crystals and a worm into a dove. That's what makes a Trancy butler." Claude reached up a finger to push his glasses back up. "If anyone can change her, it will be me."

A shudder ran through the house as Sebastian slammed Claude into the nearest wall. Paint and drywall rained down upon the two snarling males. Black claws had ripped through the white fabric of Sebastian's gloves were pressed to Claude's throat, just short of drawing blood. Two pairs of fangs were bared and both had glowing crimson eyes that showed how beastly demons could really be. Growls that resembled thunder filled the hallway and echoed through the manor.

"Touch her and I will kill you slowly." Sebastian darkly vowed.

"Is that a threat? Or a promise?" Claude taunted.

"Butler do not lie Mr. Faustus," The grip around Claude's throat tightened at Sebastian's words. Blood welled up from the puncture marks and flowed down his pale throat to stain his white shirt collar. "and I am one hell of a butler."

(Long Author's Note but I as I tend to be paranoid, I just want to point some things out.)

Don't hate me! This had to be done. For the story to continue to the ending I have planned, I need Kagome to interact with Claude and Alois. Sadly, past rough drafts of this (and future) chapters kept getting block because Sebastian would not let his Doll go so freely. He is not gone from this story and I am not pairing Kagome with anyone else. Have a little trust in me and I promise to pay it back.

People who often experience massive trauma find themselves with 'triggers'. These triggers can be anything, from an experience to a sight or sound. Triggers affect people differently, from self-doubt to flashbacks or even reacting on harmful emotions. Sometimes one thing can cause a trigger or it may take a series of events. It was planned from the beginning that Kagome would have triggers as nobody could escape what she went through without having some scars, both physical and mental.

Also, as I was raised off of the game of chess, I have heard and been told many rumors about the game. Rumors vary from the purpose of the game, to the stories of each piece. I have yet to find two stories that are exactly alike. The stories/characterizations I use in this story should not be taken seriously as I am unsure if it is true or not. I am simply having some fun to make sure everything matches.

Don't forget to leave behind a review! Your words, no matter how small, are dear to my heart and are often the motivation of how fast I type and get the next chapter done. More reviews means more chapters. (Not to mention that it makes me smile like a fool when I watch the review count and the view count climb higher by the day).

Some questions to dwell on as you wait for the next chapter. Can Ciel connect to Kagome? How far will Alois' push to keep Kagome? Will the spider wiggle closer without Sebastian there to stop him? How long will Ciel's contract hold before being devoured by Kagome's purity? Can Alois be saved from his own contract? Can a holy figure have an evil familiar?