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The whispering had stopped, but Kagome could now hear footsteps. She struggled to turn her head, and when she did she saw feet. Not just any feet; feet she knew very well. After all they had been hers for her whole previous life. She heard Sesshoumaru try to struggle, but with just one word uttered from her previous voice the struggles ceased. "What is the meaning of this," he demanded?

Kikiyo leaned down so that she was in Kagome's line of sight. "Why don't you explain it to him," she asked?

Suddenly it became clear to Kagome, and the realization made her blood run cold. "Subjugation necklaces," she whispered, but judging by the growl that Sesshoumaru let out he had heard her.

Chapter 21

Kagome had a fleeting feeling of regret. She had never realized that she had made Inuyasha feel so helpless all of the times that she had set him. All stray thought were chased from her head though when she heard another set of footsteps. "You have them both secure," Naraku asked?

"Of course, they can not escape," Kikiyo replied.

Upon Naraku's arrival Sesshoumaru had doubled his efforts to overcome the magic holding him to the ground, but to no avail. "Now, now, Sesshoumaru," Naraku mocked. "Trying to fight this will do you no good. Kikiyo erect a barrier." Kagome could feel it when the barrier went up. Now they were helpless and trapped within a barrier with these two monsters. She could sense that people were beginning to gather outside the barrier, but she could tell that the barrier was strong. They would not be able to break through.

"What do you want," Sesshoumaru demanded?

"That is simple," Naraku replied. "I want to destroy both of you, and I know just how to do it." He began to walk closer to Kagome and Sesshoumaru let out a primal snarl.

"Stay away from my intended, "he commanded.

"Sorry, but I am afraid that I can't," Naraku laughed. "You see Sesshoumaru you have finally revealed a weakness. All that I have to do to destroy you is take her." With that said he knelt beside Kagome. "She really is lovely. That makes what I am about to do all the more enjoyable."

"What are you going to do," Kagome asked in a whisper? She could hear Sesshoumaru's continued attempts at getting up, but anytime that he was able to move too much kikyo would subdue him again. She almost didn't want the answer to her question; because no matter the answer she was at the mercy of the mad man.

"I am going to mate you," Naraku replied. "I will destroy both you and Sesshoumaru and enjoy myself while I am doing it."

Kagome could not help herself. Tears started to trickle down her face, but she promised herself that no matter what she would not scream. She would not give him that. Suddenly she heard a noise that gave her hope. She had heard it enough that she would recognize it anywhere. It was the undeniable sound of Inuyasha's sword hacking it's way through the barrier that kikiyo had constructed.

"Damn him," Naraku roared. "What is he doing here?"

"I told you that I had been able to receive no word of his where abouts," kikiyo said.

"No matter," Naraku muttered. "Just keep them subdued. We will just have to leave this incomplete." With that said he grabbed Kagome roughly by the hair and sank his elongated fangs into the juncture of her neck and shoulder. Suddenly Kagome felt as if she were on fire. The crescent on her head felt as though it were burning into her skull. She couldn't help it; despite her previous promise she screamed. Her screaming stopped as she heard Inuyasha finally burst through.

"Get the hell away from her," he yelled.

Naraku had already begun to lift himself and Kikyo into the air as he answered. "I shall return for her. Until then you two brothers please take good care of my mate. She is after all the Lady of the North."

After another few seconds Sesshoumaru was able to get himself off the ground. He rushed to Kagome's side, but his half breed brother had her in his arms. "Unhand my future mate," he ordered.

"Well your welcome asshole," Inuyasha retorted. "Oh and by the way it looks like she isn't going to be your mate." Inuyasha gently turned Kagome's head so that Sesshoumaru could see the star that had taken the place of the moon on her brow.

"Why is she unconscious," Sesshoumaru asked.

"My guess is that realizing that she was mated to an even bigger bastard than you was just too much for her," Inuyasha snapped.

Sesshoumaru lifted Kagome from Inuyasha's arms and turned towards the castle. "Hey where are you taking her," Inuyasha demanded?

"Into our rooms," Sesshoumaru replied. "I am sure that when she wakes she will not want to be around all of these people." He paused once more as he was passing Lord Yuki "war has just been declared."

"You have my full support, and my humblest apologies," Yuki replied with his head bowed.

Sesshoumaru simply nodded his approval as he continued his way to his chambers. Inuyasha followed him. He knew he hadn't been invited to do so; but frankly he didn't care. He had not been quick enough to save Kagome, but he would be damned if he ever let anything happen to her again. Inuyasha was slightly surprised that Sesshoumaru did not try to argue that he was not allowed into the room. He was even more surprised when he saw how gently Sesshoumaru laid Kagome down; even pausing to tenderly brush her hair out of her face. He then watched amused as Sesshoumaru began to pace occasionally grabbing the necklace and receiving a nasty shock that Inuyasha knew well. "Will you stop it," Inuyasha finally asked? "Wearing a hole in the floor isn't going to help anything. And you can forget getting that damn thing off. Only the priestess who put it on can remove it."

"That is not an option," Sesshoumaru hissed at him. "We will simply find another priestess to do so."

"Can't do it," Inuyasha informed him. "Kikyo is powerful. Any priestess who tried would be killed in the process."

"That is not my concern," Sesshoumaru began, but stopped as he saw Kagome begin to stir.

She slowly opened her eyes and started to get out of the bed. The brothers only watched until they realized that she was going towards the mirror. Sesshoumaru was quick to step in her path. "That is not necessary," he told her.

She made a move to continue as she said "yes it is."

Sesshoumaru started to argue, but Inuyasha intervened "let her see."

Sesshoumaru stepped out of her way and watched as she looked into the mirror. Keeping her face as emotionless as it had been since she woke up she traced the star that was now upon her head. She turned to them both and said in a cold voice "I would like for all three of us to return to the west immediately."

Sesshoumaru began to take his pure energy form and Kagome did the same also taking Inuyasha with her. They were there within minutes and Sesshoumaru could not miss his brother's loud protests. "A little warning next time would be nice," Inuyasha shouted.

"I said immediately," Kagome stated "I will see you both in Sesshoumaru's chambers."

With that she turned and left them both no choice but to follow her. Sesshoumaru was alarmed by her sudden change in demeanor, but perhaps he shouldn't be. He had after all failed her. He had claimed her as his and vowed to protect her, yet he had been able to do nothing but watch as she was forced into wearing the mark of another. When they arrived in his chambers she motioned for them both to be seated, and without a word she began to call upon her powers, but these were not demonic powers. "You are still a priestess," Inuyasha stammered, but he received no reply. The force around her glowed a light purple and caused enough turbulence in the air to make her hair begin to dance wildly about her. They force was strong enough to pick her up off the ground. She closed her eyes and when she opened them they were both stunned. Her eyes no longer mirrored their own. They were now a blue as brilliant as the sky on the first day of spring. When her feet touched the ground she walked over to Sesshoumaru.

"You may need this in your quest to destroy Naraku," she said as her powers began to envelope him. They were warm and comforting; like a lovers embrace. When the feeling subsided he was surprised to see that he now had both arms. He flexed his new claws and looked at her, but it appeared that she was not through. She had begun to murmur something that neither he nor Inuyasha could understand. Before either of them had a chance to realize what she was doing she glanced at both of them and said "I am sorry." That said she used her demonic speed to grab both her own and Sesshoumaru's necklace. A violent swirling of dark energy began swirling so thickly that for a moment they could not see her. When they were able to see her again she was falling to the ground with both necklaces grasped in her hands. They watched in horror as she lay lifelessly lay there.