End of Last Chapter:

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.

Chapter Twenty-One of Without Light:

Healing – to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment. To free from evil; cleanse; purify.

"Kagome, don't!" The objection didn't reach the air until the brilliant luminosity had covered them both. The attempt to pause her action was forgotten a moment later as agony cut into the devil and he forgot anything but the misery of the hallowed energy that curled out of the girl and into his form. It was as if he'd been set on fire, the holy light burned through his body as an unforgiving wave of restoration. It sterilized the wound caused by the soul reaper weapon, but that attack was one of the many things lost to the devil's consciousness – imprisoned as it was in the torment.

It seemed to envelope all of time, it certainly washed through him as a flood of divine power that swept him into a sea of suffering. He couldn't scream or thrash, there was no motion or sound that he could make that would ease the pain. Uncertainty was the only other feeling, how long he was trapped was beyond his comprehension.

"Sebastian!"

Who was Sebastian?

A flicker of memories reflected in the strain but was just as quickly washed under the tide.

"Michaelis!"

His name drew his attention...his true name...not the name master's had given him.

"Wake up! That's an order!"

The fever withdrew enough for him to force his eyes open, crimson depths taking a moment to focus on the face of the brunette girl holding onto him. Kagome had been crying...how long was he unconscious? It felt like an eternity, but it couldn't have been more than a minute or two – he could still hear the distant sound of battle as his mind caught up to where he was. She hadn't the faintest idea what she'd done...he wasn't sure himself...but the affliction left by the soul reaper weapon was wiped clean. He would endure.

"Kagome..." He coughed, displeased with his own weakness but then he could hardly predict what he'd be capable of at the moment. He'd not nearly died to a soul reaper attack before now after all – more or less survived one. He pushed himself up to lean on the wall and out of the undignified position being held by his own contract. "...are you all right? I told you to run."

"Thank goodness." Her arms curled around his neck and her body shuddered with sobs as she buried her face in his neck. He set his hands on her back, leaning his head on hers lightly...he could hardly chide her while she was crying in relief at his survival. His body was still alight with pain, but it was withdrawing now that he was conscious again. He felt her body go limp and he sighed as he realized she'd gone unconscious again...risking her health for him.

"Idiot..." He whispered, pulling her closer despite the insult. The battle was dying down now, he could hear it in the distance – feel the pressure of the demon lord's attacks getting fewer as he required less to finish enemies. The soul reapers must be retreating...

Sebastian started to force himself to his feet but couldn't summon the strength, slipping back down along the wall and frowning at his deficiency. He hugged the girl tightly, not wanting to drop her. She'd without a doubt saved his life...clung to him as if her own existence depended on his. Perhaps she thought if he died, then she would as well...

No. He immediately knew that wasn't the answer. It wasn't in her nature to act in such a way just for her own continuity. She'd truly wanted to save him, even if his death would have meant her freedom. He pulled her back slightly, using a free hand to check her forehead. She was slightly warmer than usual, another fever from using her powers he would guess. The delicate girl had risked herself for him...it was a totally foreign concept for the devil.

"Sebastian, I see you survived the attack. Is the girl all right?" Spears asked, his concern reserved for the human. He'd seen her record after all, he knew she was innocent even if he didn't agree with her decision to take on the devil.

"She should be fine with some rest...just overstimulated." Sebastian lied smoothly enough, not wanting to show the soul reaper his current instability. "I take it the assault is over for the time being?"

"Yes." Spears nodded. "I convinced a few to alter sides, most of the rest ran or were killed by the demon lord. We're doing a final check of the grounds for stragglers then will be meeting with him informally if you planned to attend."

"I already expressed my interest in this case." Sebastian retorted. "The soul reaper's shouldn't need me to clean up their messes. Besides, shouldn't the demon lord be sufficient?"

"He certainly lives up to all the rumors about him." Spears agreed, glancing in rooms along their corridor for any soul reapers that could still be hiding on the grounds. "Are you going to just sit there?"

"I have no where else to be." Sebastian retorted, able to at least put off the impression that he was exactly where he wished. "My lady asked me to hold her for a time."

The repulsive expression Spears offered at the comment was exactly what the devil was looking for. Spears leaving him in the hall with a final remark that bit more than the soul reaper could have known. "Then I will leave you to be worthless, as usual."

Sebastian relaxed against the wall again, letting his eyes slide shut. Devil's didn't generally sleep unless it was for entertainment purposes but he was tired. A sign of how much the near death experience had gotten to him. Losing consciousness here was not an option however, he steeled himself and with a grunt of effort managed to get himself to his feet with the girl in his arms. His body was protesting the movement but he ignored that since it was still doing his bidding.

Thankfully it wasn't that far to one of the rooms that had already been checked and there was a sofa inside. He set Kagome on it, before sinking down beside her. His breath came unevenly, and his mind was fuzzy – spinning slightly after the short effort.

"Sebastian..." Her tired voice managed to get him to focus, she was watching him with half-lidded eyes of her own. It was clear she was as exhausted with her efforts as he was. Her hand stroked his face and he settled one of his own over it, an unfamiliar pressure in his chest resulted from the contact. "I'm glad you are okay."

"As am I for you, my lady...but you shouldn't risk yourself for my sake in the future." Sebastian stated seriously, holding her hand where her fingers were stroking his cheek. Originally he'd planned to put her arm back beside her but the sensation wasn't unpleasant...it was difficult to pass up the simple pleasure after the less than delightful experiences.

"Don't say that...I couldn't do anything...you were going to die." Kagome stated, her voice breaking slightly with the last part of her statement, whatever else she was going to add lost to her nerves.

"Shhh." It was becoming more natural to comfort the girl. He shook his head. "I did not die, thanks to you my lady. Please rest now..."

"Stay with me." She whispered, fingers gripping his more tightly.

"Always, my lady." He answered, glad when she passed back into unconsciousness. His mind was less than clear after her gesture of kindness. No doubt the fatigue had something to do with the disorientation, once he rested he would have a better grasp as to what had happened. Laying his head next to her on the couch he let his eyes shut again, he didn't like letting himself give into the weariness but he knew they might lack chances in the coming days and with the effort put into this attack he would require his strength soon enough.

ooooo – ooooo – ooooo – ooooo – ooooo – ooooo – ooooo

"The devil is disinterested in being present for our meeting." Spears remarked as he rejoined Sesshomaru and a handful of demons and soul reapers that had decided to be on this side of the cause. "Are these all the fellows you have to bring?"

"Given the short notice, yes." Sesshomaru replied. He'd found Kagome and the slumbering devil himself after the events. Sesshomaru could only presume if Sebastian was unconscious that the devil had expended far more power in the assault than the demon lord first thought. He left them to rest and put guards near the door of the room they'd taken up. Likely they would like to be present for such a meeting but he left Spears observation where it was. He didn't know or have much reason to trust this soul reaper beyond their tentative truce. Not that he trusted the devil but his tie to Kagome held Sesshomaru's hand against attacking.

"So, it is clear there is some sort of corruption at the head of our organization. I had no idea how far reaching it was, and still am uncertain the level it might reach. Only that I disagree with this breach of the rules and the damage it will do to the balance of the world." Spears remarked. Even if he shared much of the racism of his people, he knew that these actions would do more harm than good. The rules existed for a reason, ignoring them for personal feelings was failing to do one's duty.

"I only know the basics as to the shinigami structure. Though if what you say is true, the problem lies toward the leader of your group. Are you willing to behead them to root out this problem?" Sesshomaru wasn't all that assured as to how far many of the soul reapers would go. Several of them looked uncomfortable at the concept of killing their elders.

"If one does not remove the root of a weed, it only grows back." Spears spoke with the tone of someone that knew from personal experience. This corruption bothered him greatly because he thought they'd routed it over a hundred years before. "It is the shinigami duty to fulfill the balance and do our jobs, not to judge and murder other races no matter our feelings on the matter."

His words seemed to effect his people as well, and they stood more resolved. Sesshomaru noted that Spears himself didn't seem to realize just how much of a leader to the defectors he was. It was something he would need to keep in mind in the future. "A war on heaven then is what we're discussing. It will not be a simple task, and only with this handful our chances are slim. I am an army onto myself but even I cannot fight the number of shinigami held at your organization. That's not touching on the various wards and weapons in place to hold us at bay. As demons we can only get so far into the reaches of your base."

"I believe that is why they are targeting the woman so heavily." Spears spoke, he didn't like expressing these sorts of secrets but this war his 'superiors' were brewing made it impossible to ignore. "A priestess can wipe clean such wards, and cut through most spells with their abilities. This one appears weaker than most but I think they find her to be the truest threat to their actions."

Sesshomaru nodded slightly. People targeting Kagome was nothing new for the demon lord, he had seen his fair share of it in the past. Priestess' with real abilities were rare even then, and it was true that Kagome was far from refined. She had incredible strength, more even than the woman Kikyo but she lacked the training to utilize it properly. They hardly had time to take her down that path, and even less capability while she was tied to the devil and her powers were weakened. Still, if she could gain demons entry to the palace the soul reapers stood little chance. Certainly his people were rare, but there were many that remained with great strength that wouldn't tolerate this breach of etiquette.

Kouga and his pack would sign on, as would Shippou and his brood, there were probably a dozen others of the power to be small armies onto themselves. Such strength was likely why the Shinigami feared the demons so much as to try to commit genocide on them. Still, this was going off the idea that Kagome would help them...

"Presuming the priestess aids us, it will still be a difficult and bloody battle...losing any demons at this point is difficult for our people. We breed little these days." Sesshomaru remarked. "That also does not resolve us of this problem in the future. The current status of the shinigami clearly does not lend to a lack of problems. Things will need to alter to fit the new world, the antiquated system of rule has proven unreliable."

Spears frowned at that, and it was clear they would have a lot to discuss politically – it was going to be a long night...

ooooo – ooooo – ooooo – ooooo – ooooo – ooooo – ooooo

The warmth of her hand and right side was a difference to how Kagome normally woke that she noticed in her groggy wakefulness before she remembered the attack and consequential actions. She popped her eyes open but relaxed after a moment when she realized her devil was next to her.

Seeing him sleep was bizarre, it was the first time she'd seen him unconscious after months together. It made his face softer, offering a deceptively innocent quality. He was holding her right hand and his head was near her waist where he'd passed out next to her. She started to pull her hand away, but paused when he gripped it tighter...the motion was unconscious but she smiled anyway.

She'd nearly lost him...the thought made her heart jump in her chest...the all too clear memory of the black veins extending from his wound. She'd managed to fix him though...she didn't see the veins or any sign of the wound on his chest where the shirt was still open. He was so tired he hadn't even 'made himself presentable' as she imagined him saying. It was a relief to know she'd stopped his death, though she wasn't sure how...at least she didn't feel as horrible as the other times she'd used her powers.

"Maybe when I heal instead of attack it doesn't hurt me as much?" Kagome thought idly, then shook her head, there was little reason to believe anything after one action. She reached up with her left hand to feel her neck – the mark was still there. She hadn't burned it away with her healing energy...she relaxed at the concept. She didn't want to have to go through another mark being put on her – that hadn't exactly been fun. Maybe she'd only removed the other mark with Ceil because it hadn't been her personally involved?

Too many possibilities to really know any one to be true. She shifted her weight, as much as she didn't wish to disturb Sebastian's rest she needed to reach the nearby bathroom. At least she presumed the room nearby with tile would have a toilet. She went to completely pull her arm away from Sebastian and he grabbed her, pulling her close as he woke. Glancing around warily as she blushed at the close contact of being pressed into his chest.

"Sebastian...it's fine...I just have to pee." Kagome stated with embarrassment, knowing she was still blushing. "Are you all right?"

"I'm adjusting." Sebastian's answer wasn't the most faith inspiring but considering death was the alternative she was glad he could reply at all. "I apologize for resting for so long."

"It's fine." Kagome shook her head at the words. "You don't need to do that. If you're not feeling well then you should get more sleep. I wish I didn't wake you."

"You are too kind, my lady." Sebastian remarked, staring at her after he'd done the glance of the room against possible threats. His possessive stare was somehow different than the last time he'd looked at her, but Kagome didn't linger to try and figure out what. She took her feet, glad that he helped her up instead of gripping onto her. He shifted at least to sitting on the couch instead of the floor and she nodded. Walking off to the bathroom, glad for the excuse to escape his attention for a few moments.

Sebastian meanwhile rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms before he sat straighter, realizing for the first time the main reason for his need to rest. Taking off his gloves he stared at his hands, black polish and all, glancing down at his body and then up toward the bathroom door where Kagome had retreated. She never ceased to amaze...

End Chapter

So, lots of clues given but I'm curious if people know what's different about Sebastian? Or if they can predict? I'll explain further next chapter. The reason more isn't happening with the political agenda is because the main focus of the story is always Sebastian/Kagome even with the other plot lines : )

-Aura

P.S. There will be some citrus next chapter. So the rating of the fiction will be rising to M at that time.

To my reviewers:

You guys rock, all the love after my last chapter was great. I felt bad leaving you with such a cliffhanger and so I worked out this chapter as well.

KioshiUshima – LOL yeah, Sesshomaru doesn't really hide his feelings. But a change in the relationship for sure...I can confirm that.

Crazykenz – Heh, while that also would have been amusing, not quite what happened.

1XxKiraXx1 – Always gotta love Sesshomaru kicking some ass...he's sorta win that way.

Kimmico – Kagome has her powers, they're just difficult for her to use. I can see her weilding a scythe but then, she's more the archer. Glad you enjoyed the action!