End of last chapter:

"Oh..." Kagome wasn't sure what else to say. Sesshomaru was usually a man of so few words that his explanation left her speechless. Sesshomaru recognizing that she'd sacrificed so much...it was touching on a level she didn't expect. Why couldn't she have found her other demons before she made the deal with Sebastian? It was as if there were gods that had made it their soul purpose to laugh at her existence...she followed Sesshomaru to the library in silence after the revelation that she had people that hadn't forgotten about her – that really appreciated the things she had done.

Chapter Twenty of Without Light:

Horror – an overwhelming and painful feeling caused by something frightfully shocking, terrifying, or revolting; a shuddering fear.

The alley was dark, dirty, the home to criminal elements or addicted victims. The sort of place Sebastian expected he would find other demons and not shinigami. He had to admit it was the perfect place for Spears to have hidden. If his own skill at searching people out wasn't so good he wouldn't have discovered it at all. He could have still been mistaken, but any chance of error was gone when he dodged out of the way of the lawn clippers the man used as a weapon. A gloved hand closed over the haft so he could watch the hateful gaze of the soul reaper.

"I'm not here as an enemy." Sebastian announced, hoping that the attack would pause there – he'd rather not have to beat the individual to get him to listen. "You seemed to know more about whatever corruption took place in your ranks before running off and leaving me to slay your fellows."

"I am not certain I disagree with their plans vermin." William all but spit at him, his loathing for Sebastian's true existence was ever-present. Sebastian never really shared the complete hatred but over the years he'd certainly grown not to favor this particular soul reaper's racism.

"I wouldn't expect you to trust me," Sebastian smirked at the contempt in the soul reapers voice. "However, a war is coming...you know that now as well as I do. There must be others within your ranks that disagree with this mass extinction of races. You will require allies, as will the creatures that the soul reapers would attack."

"So you suggest a truce? With you?" William scoffed immediately.

"Not with me, my involvement is solely based on what is best for my contact." Sebastian admitted before Spears could go too far down the path of worry it involved him personally. "I am here to ask you to work with the Japanese demons, Sesshomaru to be specific."

"The ruler of the Japanese realm..." William recognized the name, his brows perking. He hadn't realized that Sebastian had such high reaching connections. "...why should we work with them? Perhaps they are better than devil's such as yourself, but in the end you are all vermin. What concern would you even have in this subject."

"You should tell him that." Sebastian remarked, amused at the idea. "But in the end you should speak with him. Unless this is the sort of corruption you wish to continue? Certainly you didn't exactly succeed last time you stated you would take care of it on your own and fix your organization. As for my involvement, this is a threat to my contract, you should know that is reason enough."

William grit his teeth at the insult pulling his weapon back in to it's normal length and as much as the serious man hated to admit it – Michaelis was right. He'd thought he'd pushed out this problem over a hundred years ago – if it was still there then outside aid might be the only way they could salvage the organization. He had no idea how deep this corruption went after all...and the demon Sesshomaru was one of the oldest in the world.

"Fine, I'll meet with this leader – all the better that you aren't interested." William retorted, it felt like he might vomit having to go along with the beast – but he had little choice in the matter at this time.

ooooo - - - ooooo - - - ooooo - - - ooooo - - - ooooo - - - ooooo - - - ooooo

Kagome had found herself a book but she wasn't really paying it much mind. Sesshomaru's library was no less impressive than the rest of his massive estate. The ceiling held a large stained glass pattern in the red flower of his family crest, allowing a view of the bright sky above...it hadn't been that long since Sebastian had left her...but she was a bit concerned for him. If his enemy had things that could kill any being when they only had to get one lucky strike...it was a less than comfortable train of thought.

What happened if he died? They hadn't even gone over that. Kagome supposed it would get rid of the contract, that was the most logical option. Would that be so horrible?

She had something to live for again...people that knew her...that appreciated what she'd done. Even if they couldn't fully understand what she'd been through. Kagome shook her head, she wouldn't do that, as tempting as the option was she'd already made this deal. She had to stop considering ways that it might end. She enjoyed Sebastian's company, as it was, he was the only reason she'd survived to this point. She owed him her life.

Sesshomaru was lost in his work, he'd barely glanced at her despite her chancing peeks at him now and again. She wanted to speak to him more but lacked a real topic, and he was so serious she didn't want to waste more of his time. He already was doing more than he had to by watching her while Sebastian was away. Being even more trouble by voicing random topics seemed ungrateful.

She turned her eyes back to the first page of the book she planned to struggle through but didn't get a chance to read the first words before the sound of shattering glass echoed in the library. Her equilibrium off-center a moment after the sound. Kagome tried to keep up with the fact that she'd been moved only a split-second after the break had occurred. She sunk to her knees even as the glass hit the floor. Dizzy and nauseous from the swift relocation Kagome realized Sesshomaru had moved her so quickly her mind hadn't been able to keep up with the speed. Red and white crystal now blanketed the center of the previously comfortable library. From the roof men and women in suits holding a variety of weapons were pouring into the large opening left by the broken window.

Blood sprayed, staining several books and couches from where it fell near the demon lord's feet. A body further crushed the glass beneath it in a sickening series of cracks, more crimson coloring the previously clear glass. The dead were forgotten before they had fallen, a white sword and a long wide blade with a familiar furry hilt blocking other weapons that shot at her.

"You presume to attack me here? You wish to meet that which you have claimed to master quite soon, gods of death." There was a slight sarcasm in Sesshomaru's voice. It was as frigid as the arctic, and even though she wasn't on the receiving end of his words Kagome felt herself shiver. Only a moment after he'd made the remark another body fell, a few seconds after that – a parry or two later – a third joined it's fellows. But he was forced back a step as more of the attackers slammed into his blocking swords.

"Push forward." Kagome heard one of the enemies call. "You need only get in a single strike on the girl."

She grit her teeth, why were they always after her? She didn't understand the constant need for people to come in and ruin her life. She'd sold her soul and should be outside of all of this and they still wouldn't leave her alone. Why didn't she bring a bow? She needed to start carrying one everywhere even if people would look at her funny. She gasped as one of the attackers slipped by the demon lord and came toward her.

Then a weapon came through the attackers chest, turning the tide slightly. For as incredible as Sesshomaru was, even he could be overwhelmed in battle with this many attackers. One of the soul reapers had attacked their own. Spears, she recognized the man as the one that had looked at her movie record or whatever it'd been called. Her eyes widened at him but he only snorted at her surprise and turned against another of his own member.

"Spears...what are you doing?" The attackers paused a moment with uncertainty, she wanted to hear the reply but a pressure on her shoulder snapped her attention upward.

"Kagome." Sebastian's gloved hand was a welcome touch. After her surprise the contact helped calm her where she was growing so agitated. Kagome met the ruby eyes of her unlikely savior and accepted the help to her feet, jumping as he reached out to grab the end of a spear and pull it away from it's course – right toward her chest. She swallowed...there were too many...she could still see more flooding in from the roof...even with added allies, it was clear they were outnumbered.

"Our meeting will have to wait. Both of you. Take her and go." Sesshomaru's voice cut through the din of battle like a hot knife through butter. She could see hints of crimson at the edges of his eyes and knew the demon lord was serious. "I will annihilate them..."

Already she could see the green energy curling around the ivory puzzle pieces of the Bakusaiga, she knew what was coming and nodded to Sebastian. Though the devil had already swept her off her feet, he dashed for one of the halls – wincing when he nearly took a strike to his legs – the weapon was close enough to tatter the fabric of his pants at the ankle. Kagome gripped his shirt tighter at the scare, staring behind them at the army descending on Sesshomaru – they didn't know what was about to hit them. The green light shot even into the hall where it absorbed a couple of the shinigami that had broken off to follow them, and Kagome knew it would be the end of them soon enough. Nothing withstood the decomposition caused by Sesshomaru's acidic powers. Now it only seemed to reach even further than she recalled – it was only Sebastian's incredible momentum that kept them on it's edge.

The other end of the hall was where Spears had run, she could see him battling members of his own group a moment before they turned out of view.

"I need a bow, stop and lets get one." Kagome stated, still unwilling to just leave Sesshomaru to face a whole army. Sooner or later they would get in the strike they needed to harm him greatly or kill him. "We need to go back."

"I cannot do that my lady." Sebastian replied, not slowing his steps. "Your safety comes before all orders and all other agreements in our contract. We've spoken of this."

"Sebastian, I am not safer if Sesshomaru dies here." Kagome retorted, shocked at his immediate refusal when she'd ordered him so rarely to do anything. "We can't just...behind!"

Her argument was cut short as another trio of soul reapers rounded a corner weapons drawn and struck downward at Sebastian's back. She was certain he would be injured but then she and Sebastian were further down the hall, and all that had been caught by the blade was his jacket. She didn't have time to ask him how he'd managed that trick before they continued to assault them. Sebastian was amazing in battle, even without a weapon he managed to disarm the first and steal their weapon. The second he dodged before cutting him down. The third had paused to consider the battlefield but Sebastian didn't hesitate.

He shot at the soul reaper like a bullet, deflecting the blade and slipping behind him so quickly Kagome wasn't certain she'd seen everything that had happened. A feeling proven right when the soul reaper fell dead a moment later. Her protector could certainly hold his own...more than she had originally realized given how quickly he'd dispatched the three coming at them.

Neither of them could have expected the long blade that came through one of the walls and cut into Sebastian's gut. Blooded eyes widened as film poured through the wound, Kagome saw flickering scenes of herself in the pictures but they were short lived and much of the record turned black. She ignored it, more importantly her devil had just been hit with a weapon that would supposedly be able to kill him. Even then when the wall busted and the soul reaper walked toward them Sebastian threw the blade he'd stolen into the attackers chest.

"No!" It was her turn to catch him as he stumbled, and she shook her head at what she was witnessing...blood was running from the side of his mouth. "Sebastian!"

"You...but...your record..." was all the man got out before he fell. Kagome struggled with the weight of Sebastian and leaned on a wall, sliding to the ground. Her eyes stung and were blurry...she had already been taught what a wound from a soul reaper weapon meant.

"My lady, I'm afraid our contract might not reach a conclusion – you should run...there are still many soul reapers here." Sebastian stated, disgusted with his own short sightedness and inability. Certainly he didn't predict another opponent to break in and attack him in such a backhanded manner but it was his mistake to bear. "Run Kagome...it's a matter of time before the wound finishes me off."

"No, no..." She shook her head, hands working quickly to open his shirt and look at the damage herself. The deep stab had wicked black lines running from it, lacing along veins up his chest and down toward his feet. Whatever had harmed Sebastian was certainly doing it's best to unmake him now...

All of her indulgences as to being free of this deal were forgotten in face of it possibly being dissolved. She was frantic, anything that might steal the creature that had saved her was horrifying.

Kagome had no idea what trying to heal the devil would do...but there was little to be lost now...she owed him everything. She couldn't just do nothing!

Kagome pressed her hands over the wound, and Sebastian didn't guess her intent until the light and the burn of his flesh had already started. Crimson eyes widened and he couldn't quite bite out a protest before the illumination covered them both.

End Chapter

Whee? That was a bitch to write up. I hope I did the action pieces justice. Sorry for the long delay, things have been hectic as usual.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Thanks as always for all the lovely words, every time I get reviews it really makes my day.

kimmico – Thanks for all the kind reviews, I appreciated reading them all : )

KioshiUshima – LOL, well Sesshomaru maybe buying Sebastian; he's sorta racist though...

inukag94 – Thank you, I always endeavor to make my crossovers believable. And hopefully someday we'll have some rating raise : )

chibi313 – Sesshomaru is pretty frigid, but that's why we love him.