A/N: I know most of the time people don't read these things. Still, I'm sorry for having put off this update for so long. I've been having a lot of class work and everything… Grandma's still sick. Horribly… Alas, this is unimportant in regards to the fic, so here we go

CHAPTER 14:

I put my hand against the barrier that Sesshoumaru had put up to "protect me," scoffing at the thought. I don't like being left behind. I'm an idiot like that. Even when I know I'm useless, I prefer to be with the ones I love when they are in danger. I watched as an enemy army raised a battering ram to my mate's, my love's, home. Archers raised bows, and fire leapt from the top of the wall to meet the idiots who dared stand against Sesshoumaru. Acid was poured on top of the men holding the battering ram. The ram disintegrated, the men screamed so loudly I could hear it through the barrier and from miles away. Left behind where the leaders of the invading army, men who were so foolish as to bring a small army against Sesshoumaru's great one.

No, these were not men. They were males, demons. I looked around me once more. Sesshoumaru had still considered me weak, damaged, when he dropped me off here. I tested the wards once again. He'd ordered me not to break them. He hadn't said anything about bending them. I could leave them in place. I just needed to find a soft spot. Like the middle of an eraser, bendable, but it'll go back. It's just that this ward was a lot larger than an eraser, and the soft spot was a lot smaller.

I needed weapons, I decide. A bow would be the only thing I really needed.

"I'm going to get you for this, Sesshoumaru!" I said to no one in particular. After, I turned my attention to the area near the spring. Someone had brought me clothes. There was a servant here. I simply need demand, and I knew something would happen. "I'm leaving, you know. With or without a weapon. Your lord thinks he can keep me pent up in here, but I won't stand by and watch, risking the loss of the last thing for me."

I felt a small hand on my wrist. "Please don't, Lady."

The nezume-youkai was small. Her eyes were wet, large, and worried, a frown forming between them. Her hair was a dark grey.

"I need to. Can you arm me?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I was ordered not to by the Lord."

"Well, I'm ordering you to."

"I can't do it, Miss."

"Did Sesshoumaru order you not to listen to me?" I asked. I felt offended, slightly.

"…No, ma'am, but…"

"Then take it into account that I am his mate, and you answer to me in his absence. Seriously, don't worry about it, I'll be fine."

The female hesitated before running off to get a small dagger and a bow. The belted quiver fit well at my waist, the designs stitched into it reminded me of Germany. I guess it was true that Sesshoumaru's lands extended beyond those of Japan.

I sighed, preparing myself for my great escape. "This could take a while…" I muttered to myself.

"Ma'am?"

I ignored the girl and walked to the mouth of the cave, placing my hands against the barrier, feeling the energy of it crackle and pulse and push against my palms. It should have felt bad, forceful, and perhaps even painful. I was filled with a feeling of comfort and safety. It became harder to want to get out. I wanted to stay where my love wanted me, where he could protect me, where he could trust that, no matter what, I would be there when he returned, but when I thought of my love, I thought of him, limb torn from limb, his venom drained and fangs pulled, and my heart swelled with anger, devotion, and determination. I would be at his side. I would help him to remain safe, and to keep his home safe.

Afterwards, I would scold him for putting me here. Then I would tell him I loved him.

I pushed slightly against the barrier, probing around gently both physically as well as with my mind, searching it for breaks, bends, tears, or a slight soft spot. I couldn't seem to find one. Sesshoumaru was a rather powerful creature, I had to admit. Powerful enough, perhaps, to actually keep me locked away like this.

"I'm not some princess in an ivory tower. I'm Kagome. I've been called wench, bitch, and whore before. I will get out of here."

I could have sworn that I had only thought it, but the mouse chuckled.

I pushed again. I could feel a dip in the fabric of the barrier. I probed it. Soon, it became a soft spot, then a tiny tear. I pushed more energy through, widening it and slipping first my hand, then my arm up to my shoulder, and then I widened it until I was able to lift first one foot, then the rest of my body through.

I repaired the tear before I tore off into the forest. The skirts of my kimono were getting in the way of my movement. I shouted a bit, bending to cut them off above my knee with the dagger. It was surprisingly sharp and effective. Then I used the dagger to slice slits from the new, ragged hem to my hip. Satisfied, I tucked my dagger into my belt before taking off again.

I ran for about fifteen minutes. Apparently, being Sesshoumaru's mate had aided my stamina. When I was only about a mile from the enemy lines, about to turn more toward the mountains behind the castle, where the enemy was not present, I heard a few troops nearby, scouting. I slowed down and hid my weapons. The dagger went in its sheath under my breast bindings, between my breasts, the bow along my spine, the quiver around my waist with the belt loosened so it was hanging along my thigh hidden by the fabric of my dress. I had just gotten my kimono tied when the first of the scouts saw me and stopped dead in his tracks.

"Hey, lookie here, boys, I believe I just found dinner!" he said. The others filed in behind him.

I raised my chin a bit, lifted my lip in what I hoped was a mimic of Sesshoumaru's disgusted face, and glared down at them.

One of the others, a higher rank by the look of his armor, shook his head. "This, my pets, is a prize. She's that bastard's mate! She'll make great for ransom."

I was tempted to say, "Don't call him a bastard, you morons!" but I figured I might as well use the free ride to a part of their camp. They wouldn't be able to get the message out soon enough, and I'd be closer to wear I needed to be, at least. "Oh, please, no! I wasn't supposed to leave you see!"I tried to look scared. I'd never been the best actress. I was the loudest, not the most subtle.

They bought it. "Oh come off it, sweetheart!" One of the lesser males grabbed me, throwing me over his shoulder. I lightly resisted, but I let him take me.

I waited until we were just entering their camp, not quite there, and not noticed yet.

"You're a lot lighter than expected," the male carrying me muttered.

"Why is that?" I asked, miffed.

"Usually, demon bitches weigh more, because they're large creatures compressed. Not exactly as heavy as their true form, but…" he trailed off.

"Want to be let in on a little secret?" I asked him.

He nodded.

"I'm not a demon bitch. I'm a miko." With that, I blasted as far as I could safely reach with my miko powers without overexerting or exhausting myself. I felt quite a few demons purified, disintegrated, and dead. As soon as I hit the floor, I took off in the opposite direction. I hoped that whatever Sesshoumaru's powers had done to boost me would allow me to reach him before what was left of the army reached me.

I ran toward the back, small gate of the castle. The six guards stared at me. "I'm Sesshoumaru's Lady, for Kami's sake. LET ME IN!" I shouted.

They opened the door. "You should have stayed away, my lady. The Lord will not be pleased."

I rolled my eyes.

"The Lord will probably never be pleased by me, but I'll keep it fun," I smiled.

"Cheeky wench," the head guard muttered.

"What was that?" A deadly voice came from behind him.

The guards scrambled to bow. "N-nothing, my Lord," the guard stuttered.

Sesshoumaru "hn"d and took off, expecting me to follow him. I dropped my eyes and did, staying just about a yard behind him on the right side. We reached his manor and, eventually, our rooms much too quickly for my liking. He stood, looking off the balcony with his back to me.

"Sesshou, let me explain, I-"

"Do you have any idea what you have done? You could have died, Kagome." He was quiet, his voice dangerous.

"But I didn't. I can't be left behind like that, Sesshoumaru! If your brother were alive, he would tell you! When anybody I care for is at risk, I can't stay back! I may get myself into more and more trouble, but I won't stay on the sidelines!"

He wheeled toward me. His eyes were a deep crimson. He tackled me to the bed and tore the remainder of my dress off my shoulders. Then he kissed me, passionately, but more softly than I had expected. I had been scared, but that kiss made me feel relieved and safe, for some reason. He buried his nose into my shoulder, breathing in my scent.

"You scared me," he sighed. "I saw half of their troops disintegrate in a flash of pink, and I automatically began to panic. I used the barriers on my den to try and find you, and you weren't there! I had to use our bond to find you. At first, I couldn't. I thought you were dead, miko."

It was the most I'd ever really heard the guy say. As it stood, I didn't know how to respond.

"I'm alive," I reminded him. "Did I really take out half their army?"

"An exaggeration. More like a quarter of their remaining forces. You exhausted me in the process."

"You?"

"When you are doing something that reckless, my energy will jump up to help you. I became tired in the middle of a war council. They're still going on, but my piece has been spoken."

I could feel his weight against me, but he wasn't trying to crush me, more like trying to keep me there, safe, where he could be reminded of my presence. I leaned up to kiss me. "Don't try to keep me out of things, Fluffy."

Sesshoumaru growled, rolled over, and pulled me against his chest. His arms were iron bars around me. I was pressed uncomfortably against the metal of his breastplate, but luckily not against the spikes. Giving off a slight snarl, he pushed me off and tore the thing off himself, tossing it across the room. I was back on his chest in an instant.

"We will rest, and tomorrow you will stay by my side. Close, mind you."

I sighed.

"Miko, you will not disobey this Sesshoumaru."

My eyes rolled. "Koi, please."

I nodded against his chest. He sighed and began to sleep. "Be thankful you are still healing after the loss of our pups," he said, out of nowhere.

"Why?"

"If you weren't, I wouldn't have stopped at a kiss."

I stared at him for a few seconds, but he'd already began to doze. I leaned back down against his chest and, soon, I joined him in sleep.

A/N: Long time coming, but I believe that this story is, finally, off hold.