Disclaimer: Me no own.
Chapter 14: The Void
Buzzing. That was all she could hear. Loud buzzing as if a thousand bees was in her head making as much noise as they could. Voices came from the buzzing. Kagome could hear them. Loud annoying voices.
"Put her down you bastard!" Came the first.
"..." Silence.
"Damn it did you hear me!?" the first one sounded angry. It was vaguely familiar.
"..." Silence once more.
There was a loud hissing and then a swish of wind as Kagome felt herself pulled backwards. She was being held by someone rather strong. Who ever it was had her in a death grip their chest was soft but firm and a single length of pressure on her back must be the arm.
A downward rush startled her. She was on the ground now wrapped in something warm and fluffy. Grunts and booms shook the earth and made the bees in her head louder. Agitated she opened her eyes and found her vision was white. Confused at first Kagome finally realized she was rapped in Sesshomaru's pelt. Stiffly she pushed the fur out of the way and took in the scenery.
What was left of it that is. Inu-Yasha was holding the Tetsusaiga in front of him while Sesshomaru stood with the Tokijin. After their short pause the two began to fight again. First Inu-Yasha would swing then Sesshomaru would block. Sesshomaru would punch Inu-Yasha and Inu-Yasha would slam into a tree.
In all the hanyou was losing. His elder brother didn't even look hurt other than the few spots of blood that stained his otherwise pristine haori. Paralyzed Kagome wasn't able to stop them. It was annoying to see them at it and not be able to protect either.
Wait a second either? Since when had Sesshomaru become one of the people on her protect list?
The memory of her encounter with the incarnation returned and she exhaled in realization. Inu-Yasha's cries had been in the background of her mind when Rican had controlled her but who's voice had snapped her free? Sesshomaru whispering her name was what did it. That single word from him had awoken her where Inu-Yasha's calls had done nothing for her.
An echo reached into her mind. When Rican had held control she had heard his thoughts as she knew he had heard hers. A void? There was a void in her heart? It was full which was why the incarnation's control was fragile. It hadn't been Inu-Yasha who had filled that void. He had been the one to create it. No the void was filled with another. Someone who was supposed to be her enemy. Someone who had tried to kill her. Someone who had taken her from her friends and keep her against her will. Sesshomaru.
Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes and moistened the pelt she was wrapped in. She had done it again. Had fallen in love with another man that couldn't or wouldn't love her back. He hated humans. That didn't count for Rin. He had said as much almost every time they had met.
His voice though. When he had whispered her name he sounded. What was? Well the best word would be scared. That couldn't be right. His face had been blank. It hadn't held any signs that he was afraid. It was just his voice. Was that it? Had he let a little emotion slip?
"Damn it get away from her!" Inu-Yasha had resumed his verbal threats.
Why couldn't she move? Her body felt fine other than her head nothing else hurt. Wiggling slightly Kagome felt the pelt around her tighten. She wasn't parallelized! Sesshomaru had her bound! The more she tried to get free the more it tightened. Relaxing she found it relaxed. He didn't want her to move. Was it because he was concerned?
Sesshomaru was indeed concerned but it wasn't for the reason Kagome thought. He knew she was fine. Her health wasn't the problem. The problem was shouting at him while holding a very large sword.
The demon lord was seriously contemplating cutting out the boys tongue before he killed him. The miko had woken up he could feel her trying to free herself from his pelt. He couldn't let her do that so every time she moved he tightened it. If she was to get free then the hanyou could take her. Kagome loved his brother and he knew that but if Inu-Yasha was to take her then her heart would be broken again. He did not question what he felt, he didn't know what it was but he wouldn't question it.
"Like I said before hanyou," Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the source of his unwanted distraction. "No one wants you here."
"You can't speak for Kagome," Inu-Yasha snarled. "You're the one who needs to leave. Just unwrap her and go away."
"Do you remember the rules 'Little Brother'?" Sesshomaru smirked, "I do believe I told you that if you wanted the miko back you would have to win her back."
That remark set Kagome into another fit of struggles. She wasn't about to become a prize for who ever won. The pelt tightened but the more it did the more she struggled. It stopped moving when she felt herself barely able to breath. Her limbs were held and she couldn't even move a finger.
Sesshomaru kept the pressure knowing that if he let the girl go now she would purify them both. He wouldn't lose the fight and until the hanyou was dead it would be safer to keep her bound.
"Let me go Sesshomaru!" Kagome managed a strangled cry.
He just ignored her and started to brace himself for another attack. Why was he not letting her move? It wasn't like she was going to run. Was that it! Was he afraid she would leave with Inu-Yasha? A week before she probably would of but now she had Rin, Shippo, Ah-Un, Jaken, and even him. She missed Sango and Miroku but they could come see her. The truth was she didn't want to leave Sesshomaru.
"Stay put miko," Sesshomaru growled coldly.
It would seem that him saying her name was just a slip. She wasn't going to just lay there and take his crap though. Angry Kagome felt a power flood her body that she had never witnessed before. Cold energy that warmed as it spread. It engulfed her body and made her glow. The common miko powers that she held was nothing compared to this. A holiness was surrounding her, not that of a goddess but not far off.
The grip Sesshomaru held was broken free as the heat from her anger scorched the pelt. The brothers were pushed back by the sudden blast of aura and stood stunned. It was all they could do at the sight of the ticked off glowing miko.
Where the power had come from she wasn't sure but it hadn't been there before. That little rock that Kagura had hit her with had shattered upon impact and what ever it was made of had blended with Kagome's body. Had that been what had caused the change? Did it give her some kind of power boost?
The power faded as Kagome's anger did and it left behind two fearful Inu and an agitated miko. Yes even Sesshomaru watched her with a blank expression that hid just the slightest hint of fear.
"Kagome!" Inu-Yasha was the first to recover. It wasn't the first time he had been on the receiving end of the miko's wrath. "Lets go."
Sesshomaru said nothing he just watched the two as if waiting for something. Looking at the brothers Kagome felt her choice was made. The one she chose was┘.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Gritting his teeth Rican pulled the large branch that had lodged itself in his stomach out. The force of the explosion had almost killed him. If it hadn't of been for a last minute shield he would have ended up like Kagura.
The wind witch was gone, her body disintegrating before his very eyes. It was a hollow victory however for he may have lost his one and only chance at beating Naraku.
How could he have not noticed the stone falling out of his pocket? Damn Kagura she had ruined everything. Even if she had died from her own doing she had accomplished what she had set out to do.
The soul stone absorbed evil spirits that have no body that is truly theirs. Kagome's soul was to big for her body to hold so the stone had been repelled but with Kagura's wind backing it there was no where to go but forward. The dark souls that Rican had taken from the undead miko were instantly purified and combined with the girl's own soul to create an even greater spiritual being. If the miko had been strong before she was as close to a goddess that she could get.
Worse still was the fact she was in love with the demon lord. A combination of light and dark between such a dangerous couple could spell the end to everything. Did he love her? If the way he reacted was any indication then he did. What would he do now? Rican knew he couldn't return to Naraku without anything to show.
He would think of something. Until that time came though he would stay low and wait for the right chance to strike.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Shippo and Rin stood in awe at the bright pinkish light that was shining above the forest. They had both felt the surge and couldn't believe the beautiful glow. Jaken was hysterical however for he knew that the glow was holy and his lord was there. What if something had happened!? What if his lord had died!?
Ah-Un was calm for it knew it's master was alive and well. The dragon watched the toad amused at his ranting.
"Master Jaken why are you running in circles?" Rin was curious as to the reason her keeper was wearing a hole in the ground.
Not wanting to tell Rin the reason Jaken settled on telling both children to shut up that it was none of their business as to his reasons. Figuring it was a toad thing the younger two turned back to watch the pretty glow that was starting to fade.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"I'm not going anywhere with you Inu-Yasha!" Kagome yelled her glow starting to come back. "Go back to Kikyo I know you want too!"
"You're crazy!" The hanyou yelled back. "What in the hell are you thinking? You can't stay with him we have to find the shards!"
"I can find them on my own!" Kagome was getting angry again, "You can have Kikyo help you!"
"You're a damn wench!" Inu-Yasha yelled.
It was to both of their surprise that Sesshomaru grabbed Inu-Yasha by the throat at his insult and sent him back against his tree.
"Hold your tongue half breed," The demon lord had only the slightest hint of anger in his voice. "I will not listen to you insulting her."
"Stay out of this," The hanyou replied as he stood up huffing. "Its between me and Kagome."
"Rules Little brother," Sesshomaru stayed between the fuming miko and his brother not intending to move. "You have not yet beat me. Until I am dead she stays."
"Like I said to you before 'big brother' shove your rules," His insult didn't go unnoticed by either the demon or the miko. "We're leaving Kagome!"
A glow shot past Sesshomaru and hit the tree trunk just beside Inu-Yasha's head.
"Kagome?"
The girl stood with her bow drawn. Tears stung her eyes. She wasn't sad. No the tears wasn't ones of sorrow. They were the tears of a pissed off miko with a bow.
"I told you I'm not going anywhere with you Inu-Yasha," Her voice was just as cold as Sesshomaru's if not icier. "You're always making me run all over the place looking for shards. Never once did you ask if I wanted to stop and do anything, never once did you consider I might have needed a break. You run off with Kikyo every chance you got. Did you ever consider how that made me feel?"
Sesshomaru remained silent. He was enjoying his subtle victory and loved his trophy which was the total devastation that was plastered on his brother's face. Inu-Yasha was broken, his fish out of water appearance made the demon lord smirk. He was extremely happy even if he didn't show it, Kagome was standing up for him.
"I'm sorry Kagome," Inu-Yasha tried his best to be sincere but failed miserably. "It should be you to apologize to me though. You turned your back on me."
"I should apologize?" Kagome couldn't believe what he just said. She had stabbed him in the back? He had left so many scars on her that there was no more room to stab. Had he not been the one to run to Kikyo? Had he not been the one to yell at her and call her a stupid wench? He had done it. He had stabbed her in the back to many times and now it was her turn. She deserved better. "Leave before I make you a pin cushion."
Unsure of how to react Inu-Yasha just stared at Kagome. Had she just threatened him? Standing up for Sesshomaru he didn't like but could understand from Kagome who could see the best in anyone but threatening his life wasn't like her. He never knew how far away he had pushed her.
"Kagome please," he tried begging. "Come back where you belong."
"I belong where I am Inu-Yasha. I can't and won't leave now."
Pushing himself from his seat Inu-Yasha began to walk towards Kagome who wouldn't look him in the face. He was stopped by a snarling Sesshomaru who glared down at his brother. It was something that the hanyou never thought he would see. It was backwards. Instead of him Inu-Yasha protecting Kagome from Sesshomaru it was Sesshomaru protecting Kagome from him.
Beaten Inu-Yasha slowly retreated to the forest's edge. Kagome watched him leave, her chest was heavy with regret. Tilting her face to look at the ground she was startled when a warm hand lifted her chin and soft lips pressed against hers. For a moment they just stood there and then it was gone just as fast as it had came. Her face bright red Kagome watched as Sesshomaru walked away from her towards the camp. Had he just kissed her?
"We're leaving," he said calmly as if he hadn't done anything.
With a soft smile Kagome followed him. Maybe she hadn't fallen for someone who couldn't love her back. It would just take a little longer to warm him up.
Reviews:
history-is-not-always-pretty: alright you can have him after i'm done with him (Evil smile) I like the bad boys too.
sessomaruluvskagome: I'm blushing at the praise ;-
Milana-Despana: I haven't decided yet. I like Inu's character actually and only diss him in here because we can't let him distract Kagome can we? He might find luv though.
AlternativeAngel: Sesshy never gives up what is his ;-)
inuyashagirl93: Here's an update!!!
IzayoiTashio18: I know Sesshy is so cute expecially when he's mad. ;-
KagomeMarie: You have no idea how red my face is. I luv reviews like yours.
Sesshomaru is Fluffy Evil: Kagome wasn't sure either. Her feelings for Inu-Yasha were stronge but what she develops for Sesshy is stronger and she doesn't know what to make of it. Just like Sesshy her resolve is set in this chap though.
candycorn87: Rican's mind is working double time to form a new plan!!!
yakunantenshi: Yay!!!! You luved it!
DarkAngelRakell: Too many good reviews are turning me into a tomato ;-
samsoonie: so many good reviews to luv.
I had entertained the idea of ending the story there and making a sequel but I decided not to and just continue this one. The first kiss! I got a review for a lemon but that won't be for a few more chapters. Also if you are the kind of person who like's graphic lemons then this story isn't for you. I found out that my sister and a few younger cousins were reading this so I have to tone the scene's down a little. I'll try my best to come up with a happy medium.