Disclaimer: Okay, people. There are 19 other chapters that clearly say that I do not own InuYasha. Get with the program already! Oh, and I don't own the title "Wicked Lovely" either. It's a very good book, but not mine.

Last Time:

Sesshoumaru quickly, though gently, lifted Kagome off the ground. He wouldn't let that happen to her. With all the speed he could muster, he ran to her room.

Only one person saw these events unfold. "That pathetic pup." Mamemitsu whispered. "He truly is his father's son."

CHAPTER 20: COME TOGETHER

Kagome sat at dinner, which was absolutely silent. No one wanted to anger Mamemitsu, so nobody dared to speak.

Except, of course, for Mamemitsu. Not that she made very pleasant conversation, though. It mostly consisted of criticisms of Sesshoumaru's rule. ". . . And another thing." Mamemitsu continued. "What is with this little tolerance policy you have here? You've got a miko and a bunch of the weakest demons I have ever seen. And you dare pretend that you have honor? You dare say you have pride? Ha! I swear, you're almost enough to make a person reconsider whether or not to give birth. You have absolutely no control."

Kagome stood then, intending to leave. She didn't want to hear someone talk about Sesshoumaru like that, especially not someone like her.

Mamemitsu took a drink, then turned back to Sesshoumaru. "In fact, the way you act like your father makes me wish you'd never been born."

SMACK!

Mamemitsu touched her cheek, surprised to find that it was tender, burned, and probably very red. Looking up, she saw an absolutely furious Kagome standing in front of her.

"How dare you." Kagome's voice was steady and low, and yet somehow resounded through the hall. "You're his mother! You're supposed to be supporting him, not trying to drag him into hell!"

"You. . . You dare-" Mamemitsu sputtered.

"Yes, I do." Kagome's eyes burned into Mamemitsu, and she wondered what in the world this girl was. "Do you honestly think yourself worthy to judge Sesshoumaru?"

"I am his mother!" Mamemitsu shouted. "I have every right-"

"Did you hold him when he cried?" Kagome demanded. Mamemitsu remained silent. "Did you bandage his wounds when he fought? Did you teach how to read, how to write? Did you even bother taking the time to find out what he liked, what he hated? Did you teach him how to overcome his fears?" Kagome poked her with her finger. "No. You didn't. He had to learn all that on his own." Kagome laughed dryly. "You have the right? Don't make me laugh. No one does but him. And even if someone did have the right, you certainly would not be that person. You are not his mother. You're just the female who gave birth to him."

Mamemitsu stood then, unleashing the full potency of her aura on Kagome. "You think to challenge me?" She snarled.

"Challenge, no." Kagome said, unleashing her own power. It matched Mamemitsu's evenly, something that had the entire room backing away, minus Sesshoumaru of course. "Just thought I'd point out that you can't pull out the splinter in someone's eye until you remove the sty from your own."

With that she turned her back on Mamemitsu and walked out.

"That. . . That. . . I'll kill her!" Mamemitsu shouted, trying to run after her. Luckily for both sides, Sesshoumaru intervened.

"Losing control over the mere words of a human, Mother?" Sesshoumaru said calmly. "Where is that control you are so proud of?"

Instantly, Mamemitsu froze, returning to her normal façade. "I suggest you watch that bitch of yours very closely, Sesshoumaru." She hissed. "Because you can be sure I will remember this."

With that, she swept out of the room, in the opposite direction of where Kagome was headed.

Sesshoumaru sighed, placing down his teacup. Gotta love family.

Another reason to love Kagome, eh?

Who said anything about love?

Fine. We'll go with like for now.

! Sesshoumaru !

"Can I come out now?" Kagome shouted for the hundredth time that day.

"No." Sesshoumaru answered.

Kagome waited. "How about now?"

"No."

Kagome sighed. "Can I please come out?"

"No."

Kagome smirked. "I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves. I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves. And this is how it goes!"

Sesshoumaru's eye twitched as the miko continued, but he still refused to let her out of her cage. It was a very special cage that he'd dug up from storage just for her: A hanging cage specially designed to hang out his window, with protection charms enough to keep anyone but him away. If only he had put a silencing charm on the stupid cage as well. . .

"Sesshoumaru!" A hand shook him awake. "Sesshoumaru! Are you even listening to a word I said?"

Sesshoumaru looked down at the miko who sat next to him. She sighed as she laid out the papers again. "As I was saying. . .

What are we going to do?

You expect this Sesshoumaru to know?

We could ask her to let us protect her-

We are doing that anyway.

Good point. But we could make it all official like. . . Hey wait a second. You didn't fight me about protecting her from our mother!

Should this Sesshoumaru have put up a fight?

Well, no, but normally you're all "this Sesshoumaru will protect no pathetic human."

She will not be harmed. We have established this already.

"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome shouted. He turned to her with a jolt. "I am not explaining this to you AGAIN!" She growled in frustration, turning on her heels to leave. She opened the door, only to find Yui and Kai standing in her way. "Move it." She ordered.

"Sesshoumaru's orders." Kai said with a smirk. "You don't go anywhere without the two of us."

Kagome growled again. "Get out of my way."

Yui shrugged. "No offense, Kagome-san. But Sesshoumaru-sama is much scarier than you."

Kagome visibly twitched, before smiling sweetly. "Fine then." She shut the door in their faces and headed for the window.

"We are on the second floor, Miko." Sesshoumaru said. "There is no escape."

Kagome turned to him with a glare. "Why are you making me a prisoner? Is this some kind of punishment for mouthing off to your mother?"

Sesshoumaru turned to her, his eyes widening in surprise. She thinks I am mad at her? "Miko, it is not this Sesshoumaru's intention to punish you."

"Then why are you keeping me here like a captive?" Kagome asked. She wasn't trying to whine, or demand. She just wanted to understand. Sometimes, it's like I can see straight to his soul. Other times, I can't even guess at what goes on in him. And yet, I can't imagine him any other way.

"This Sesshoumaru's mother does not do well with insubordination." Sesshoumaru said, carefully wording his response. She cannot know that I. . .

You're worried about her. Tell her that!

"As you are human, and a miko, this only increases the insult." Sesshoumaru continued. "She may decide that you are worth killing. I wish to frustrate her, and therefore will take action to ensure she fails."

It took Kagome a moment or two to sort through it. Then she smiled. "Okay. Thank you for worrying about me, Sesshoumaru." She turned back to the door, missing his look of shock.

How did she. . . Not even worth asking.

"So I can still do everything, I just need Kai or Yui with me, right?" Kagome asked.

Sesshoumaru nodded. "They will be reporting to me of your location."

Kagome nodded. "Okay then. I'm going to Rin's room to work on some things." She bowed mockingly. "Do I have your permission, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Sesshoumaru felt the urge to smile and quickly suppressed it. "Carry on, Miko."

! Yui !

"Good night, Yui!" Kagome shouted, running down the hall to her bedroom.

"Good night, Kagome-san!" Yui answered. She turned to Kai and slumped to the ground. "That was the most exhausting thing I've ever done."

"How many times did she do something Sesshoumaru-sama classified as 'dangerous'?" Kai asked, staring down the hall towards the miko's room.

"I lost count at fifty."

"Seventy-five for me." They looked at one another, and the same idea popped into their heads. Who's going to have to stay up for most of the night?

"Shotty first watch!" Yui shouted.

"I call-" Kai stopped. "What in the heck is 'shotty?'"

"The same thing as calling it." Yui said smugly. "Kagome-san taught it to me."

"No fair!" Kai shouted. "You used confusing lingo!"

"Too bad." Yui said. "Now you're gonna have to take the long shift!" She giggled as Kai grumped. "Poor baby Kai." She continued to giggle as Kai slumped away. She settled into place outside Kagome's door and took out a scroll Kai had leant her. It was a really interesting story called "Wicked Lovely."

Because of this, she failed to notice the approach of the figure at the end of the hall. Mai hissed to herself when she saw it was Yui at guard duty. With a cursory glance around, she retreated back into the shadows.

! Sesshoumaru !

Sesshoumaru lay in his bed, trying, as he had for the past few weeks, to sleep. He growled as he rolled over, knowing exactly why he couldn't sleep. With a sigh, he stood, disappearing out his window. He continued running until he reached the garden directly below Kagome's window.

He'd come here for the past few nights now, and it helped him drift to sleep. She spent enough time in the garden that he scent lingered everywhere. It wasn't unless he really needed sleep, like tonight, when he sat right beneath her window.

It was really all Kagome's fault. Her scent was like opium or heroine. Once you had a good whiff of it, there was no way that you wouldn't come back for more. It was her fault, not his. It wasn't a weakness.

You're absolutely right. . BUT WHAT IS WITH YOUT REASONING!

Be quiet. . . This Sesshoumaru wishes to sleep. . .

For once, Sesshoumaru's inner demon listened. Sesshoumaru took a deep inhale, enjoying the fragrance of her scent. Then he froze and sniffed again. After a moment, he shook his head. He could have sworn he'd smelt Mai. But it was probably a residue from past encounters. She wouldn't dare be near Kagome now.

He sighed and stood again. He needed to head back to his room before he fell asleep. He would have to kill someone if he slept in a garden.

! Mai !

Mai moved down the hallway in a condensed version of her true form. She slowly slithered down the hallway towards Kai, smirking as she crept closer. Kai was preoccupied with a cube Kagome-san had leant him. He growled as he turned it yet again, only to find that he'd undone the progress he started. "Stupid Cube of Rubik's!"

Mai crawled up the side of the wall and dangled above his head. He turned the cube again and smirked as he lined up one side of blue. "Bingo!"

Then Mai surged forward, clasping his neck in her jaws. Her teeth sunk into his neck as he struggled, helping along the poison she released. In a moment, he stopped struggling as the paralysis took affect. With a smirk, Mai returned to her human form. "Never did like you." She said, smiling as she entered Kagome's room.

Kagome woke groggily, getting the feeling that there was something wrong. Youkai permeated her room, putting her on edge. With a low mumble, she sent out a short wave of purifying power. She rolled over and fell back to sleep easily.

Mai moved slowly, testing out the damage from the purifying wave. Did she done that in her sleep? Holy kamis, the girl is powerful. As quickly as she could, she crept closer to Kagome. She managed to make it to the end of her bed before Kagome shot up.

"Who's there!" She called, looking around desperately. Mai froze, not even breathing. "Stupid mushroom zombie dogs! Stay away from my cheddar cheese!" She fell back down and fell silent.

"What in the hell does Sesshoumaru-sama see in you?" Mai muttered. "What in the heck is a zombie? Or for that matter, what's cheddar cheese?" With a sigh, she placed Mamemitsu's sealing charm on Kagome's forehead. After a moment, she picked Kagome up with a smile. "We're going to have fun ripping you apart, human."

! Sesshoumaru !

Something was strange. His beast was rising, and for the first time in years, he was unable to quell it.

Kagome. . . Something's wrong! Find her!

Kagome will come when she is ready. Until then, we have work to do.

Something's wrong. . . Find her!

Kagome can take care of herself.

Find her!

We have work to do. She'll be fine.

Of course, his logic did not work on his more base half. With a scowl, Sesshoumaru finally relented. We're going to find the blasted girl. Are you happy?

Walk faster! In fact, run! She's in trouble!

You have no evidence of this.

Who needs evidence! It's the power of. . . Well. . . Some emotion you're not ready for, so I won't tell you!

Sesshoumaru could almost envision his beast sticking its tongue out at him like a child. With a sigh, he set out towards Kagome's room, absolutely sure she'd give him a lecture on giving a woman the beauty of sleep. But anytime he almost convinced himself to turn around, his beast would start a mantra of Something's wrong!

He rounded the corner of Kagome's hall and froze. Kai lay on the floor, glowing a bright white. He's not moving. . . And his powers are in automatic self defense. . . What happened?

Don't ask me! Ask him!

Sesshoumaru smelt poison in him, and his stomach sank. He added his own anti-venom to Kai's bloodstream, and after a few moments, Kai blinked. "Sesshoumaru-sama. . . What happened?"

"That would be my question." Sesshoumaru said calmly, kneeling beside his friend and bodyguard. "What do you remember?"

Kai looked down at the Rubik's cube in his hand. "I was playing with the Cube of Rubik's that Kagome-san leant to me, and then something fell onto me. It bit me. . ." He shook his head. "I don't remember anything else. I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Sesshoumaru growled. He didn't answer his guard, half-knowing that once he entered Kagome's room, he wouldn't want to forgive Kai. He walked so slowly up to Kagome's door that if it had been anyone else, it would have looked as though he was afraid. He opened the door, stepping in slowly. . .

Kagome was gone. Sesshoumaru whirled, on the edge of panic. He couldn't find her anywhere! He began to snarl, only to be stopped by a sudden sniff. He jumped towards the sound, and quickly looked under the bed. There lay Kagome, hiding within a barrier.

Sesshoumaru let out an audible sigh of relief. "Miko, why are you under the bed?"

"I'm not under the bed." She replied sleepily. "You're being dumb." She rolled over, accidentally whacking her head on the bottom of the bed. "Ow." She groaned. "It's all your fault!"

Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow at Kagome's accusation. "How so, Miko?"

"Cause I said so." Kagome said, wiggling over to the other side of the bed. "I'm supposed to be on the bed. Why'd you move me?"

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes. "Go to sleep, Miko. Something has addled your brain."

He left then, pondering Kagome's strange behavior.

It wouldn't be the first time that day that Kagome acted strange. Like when she forgot how to create a simple barrier when teaching Rin. Or when she brushed off the conversation of the other staff. Or when she started ordering the others around, earning her a lot of hate filled glares. Or when she barked at Rin, and didn't even apologize. Or when she almost stripped in front of him. Or when she started a fight with the palace guards and "forgot" to use her powers.

Something was definitely going on. And he was going to find out what it was. He went to Kagome's door and walked in, not knocking as he normally would.

"Yui, I need-" Kagome called, stepping out of the bathroom. She froze when she saw Sesshoumaru. For a moment, the two of them remained silent, just staring at one another. Then Kagome's face heated in a blush. "HENTAI!" She shouted, ducking back into her bathroom. "Get out!"

With a sigh of relief, Sesshoumaru started to leave. After all, only Kagome woud dare yell at him like that. . . Then he froze as a cold fact slithered into his mind: Kagome had given him an order, and he had felt no compulsion to obey.

What does this mean?

I was hoping you'd know.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Kagome shouted. "Get out!"

Again, though it was definitely an order Kagome would enforce, there was no compulsion to obey. "Miko, try another order, since this one obviously has no effect." Could I really be. . . Free?

"Get out of this room right now!" Kagome shouted, still hiding out in the bathroom.

Again, the curse had no effect. Sesshoumaru smirked. "Miko, get dressed and meet me in my study. You have five minutes."

He left, unsure of how he felt about this latest development. Her orders have no effect. . . I'm really free.

Something's not right here.

Such as. . .

Kai got poisoned. And he is a . . . well, you know what kind of demon he is. Only someone of the royal court could poison him.

True. . .

And Kai gets poisoned while guarding Kagome, and nothing happens to her? She doesn't even mention an attack? There's no spike in her aura throughout the night to indicate a fight? Something smells here.

I suppose that's all true. . . Wait a second. Why would we know if Kagome's power spiked?

Duh. Because I like her aura. It's like her smell. . . Calming, and totally addictive.

Sesshoumaru waited in his office, slowly thinking things through. His demon, while annoying, had some very excellent points. But. . . Damn it all! He wanted to be free, without Kagome having to let him be free!

"Having some trouble thinking there, little one?" Sesshoumaru turned with a growl to the now familiar voice of Amaterasu.

"Why do you show up at the most annoying times?" He demanded. He wanted quiet to think, not some overbearing goddess who didn't know her right from her left-

With a swiftness even Sesshoumaru didn't have, Amaterasu whacked him with her hairpin. "I do so know my right from my left." She said, glaring daggers at him. "And I show up when you're being too stubborn to see the truth."

"So, Oh Mistress of Ever Lasting Wisdom," Sesshoumaru said sarcastically. "What truth am I too stubborn to see this time?"

Mistress of Everlasting Wisdom. . . I could get used to that. Amaterasu shook her head. "I just have one thing to tell you: the curse is still in place."

Sesshoumaru blinked. "What?"

Amaterasu moved closer to his ear, lowering her voice to a whisper. "The curse has not been broken." As Sesshoumaru stared at her, the meaning of her words sinking into his brain, she faded from view.

A knock on the door startled him. "Enter!" He called, watching as Kagome entered the room. Suddenly, with the knowledge he now had, he knew that Kagome had not just had an, as she called it, "off day."

"You wished to see me, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Kagome asked, her voice smooth. It had a tone in it that he'd heard many times over the years: pure lust. His knowledge solidified.

"Sit down." He ordered. Kagome sat. "I have a question for you."

"Ask away, Sesshoumaru-sama." Kagome's lustful tone had only increased, and Sesshoumaru knew for certain he was right.

"Where is the real Kagome?"

Kagome blinked. "Sesshoumaru-sama, what do you-"

"The only time Kagome ever calls me sama is when there is someone in the room who doesn't know of our. . . Situation." Sesshoumaru said. "Now, where is Kagome?"

Kagome shook. "You don't even want to know who I am?" She whispered. "Why I've done this? All you care about is that stupid girl!" Youkai exploded, and Mai revealed herself. "Why can't you see that I'm right in front of you?"

Sesshoumaru stood and walked around his desk slowly. "You are so far beneath my notice, you should consider yourself lucky I don't kill you by accident." He lunged forward, and pinned her against the wall easily. "Now, where is Kagome?"

Mai slumped, tears forming in her eyes as she fought the awful realization that she would probably die that day. "Why don't you ask your mother? It's all her fault." She whispered.

Sesshoumaru rewarded her honesty in the only way his feral beast would allow: allowing her a quick death.

----------------------------------------------------------Author's Rant----------------------------------------------------------

Sesshoumaru: When will this Sesshoumaru be freed from this ridiculous curse?

Obsessive_Goddess: I think that's next chapter, but I could be wrong. I'd have to check. . .

Horse Wolves: Don't give it away! Even I haven't seen the next chapter yet! [pouts] Evil.

Obsessive_Goddess: Oh, you know you like being surprised. Now leave me! I need to write. [all leave] Okay, I will now make a shameless plug-in for my good friend HW. This is for anyone who likes Crescent Moon. My dear, dear friend has written a fanfic called disturbed that is absolute amazingness. You must all hurry to read it. You can find it in my favorites, or look up Raven Kurohoshi. It's really an awesome story, so make sure to read it if you have read Crescent Moon.

Kagome: [reenters] OG! What have we said about shameless plug-ins?

Obsessive_Goddess: um. . . they are fun and entertaining?

Kagome: OG! [lunges and strangles OG]

Sesshoumaru: Miko! Do not deny this SEsshoumaru the chance for his revenge!

Obsessive_Goddess: HW! Help!

Horse Wolves: Hey! Get off of OG!

Sesshoumaru: Now, now, HW. You wouldn't deny this Sesshoumaru, would you?

Horse Wolves: Sesshoumaru. . . have at her!

Obsessive_Goddess: HW!

Horse Wolves: Sorry. He's sexier than you!

----------------------------------------------------------End of Author's Rant----------------------------------------------------------