Chapter 21

His hold was harsh, his claws pinching into her skin yet did not draw blood. His gaze was cold and harsh like frozen rain in a land that only knows snow. He wasn't able to get a word in, though his lips were already moving in a way to show his fangs when laughter bubbled in the air. He turned with a snap, her wrist still in his grasp which he jerked to hide he behind his body. The fur he wore around his shoulders moved and she found it covering her and pushing her against his body.

"Ah, Lord Sesshomaru! We did not expect you to be out here in this brisk air." A husky tone vibrated in the air, a woman from the sound of it, like a stereotypical singer that would smoke in those old-timey American movies, with the red dresses and plunging necklines.

"Hn." Sesshomaru rumbled and she could feel how it moved throughout his body, since at this point she pressed her cheek against his back, her fingers gripping onto his shirt which threatened to come out of his hakama.

"Did any duchess ever tell you that those sounds could win their hearts?" The lady's voice seemed to get closer, and Kagome could feel her powers prick against her fingers with her sudden fear. These people gladly kill humans, would kill me! Sesshomaru didn't make any indication that he could feel her powers or panic against him, but she could feel a gentle wave of his own power lap against her skin.

"Yes, when this Sesshomaru removes their heads from their necks assuming sweet words would get them anything." His voice was cold, the threat as deadly as hypothermia.

"Ah, I did not mean, I just. . ." the woman sounded like she was going to panic, her husky voice going high, then suddenly it went deeper than before. "Here's the deal Lord Sesshomaru; if you tell me where your dearest father is going to exploit next I won't tell anyone about the miko I felt out here earlier." Kagome could almost feel the sly words slip through the air and her coy gaze on Sesshomaru-sama.

"No." Fell from Sesshomaru-sama's lips and she could feel when his muscles bunched and his power filled the air like a deadly poison. She couldn't see what he did, but she did hear the muffled scream from the woman and her hysterical breathing.

"This is what will happen; you will completely silent about this and whatever you thought you felt and This Sesshomaru will let you have your life and your tongue." His voice. . . it was like he was a cat with a mouse in his claws, or a wolf stalking its prey, even though he was neither of those animals.

"I understand Lord Sesshomaru." The woman panted in pain, her voice weak. "I won't talk, unless of course, you tell me—" Sesshomaru moved forward quickly, Kagome pulled with him, her feet pulled off the ground. She could see the barest glimmer when Sesshomaru's hand caressed the woman's jaw before he took her tongue in his hands, his claws slicing through the muscle with ease and barely a sound. "You will say nothing." He whispered, holding her tongue up as her mouth filled with blood, then with a rumbling sound he, he, he made it where her tongue was hanging from her earring.

The woman rushed to get up, fleeing from Lord Sesshomaru with tears running down her face, and what's left on the ground was just splatters of blood along with . . . what was left of her hand? Kagome couldn't help the scream that was bouncing around in her throat. She only wanted to go to the bathroom, yes Viran I can go through the door and go to the left alone, I'll be back in a minute.

Sesshomaru's bloodied hand wrapped around her mouth, his golden eyes no longer cold but like that of a dying sun, bronze dust exploding as it died. His power lapped around her gently, his fur pulling her close. "Shh Kagome, shh, it'll be alright; I'm protecting you." He whispered, his ears twitching down. Protecting! Maiming! Threatening to kill, that wasn't p-p-protecting!

"L-lord Sesshomaru?" Viran's voice shuttered in the air and his face shifted into marble.

"Pack the bags, now." He orders, his hand still over her mouth. He straightens his shoulders more as Viran ran, literally ran to do what he wanted. Kagome closed her eyes but behind her lids all she could see was how the blood was pooling in the mouth, so so red. Red, scarlet, red red red. She's going to choke on it. Kagome shuttered, her own breaths becoming hysterical.

Kagome could barely register the sound of a car door opening or the leather that she was sitting on, but she did feel the tightness of the seatbelt and the sound of it snapping into place. No words could form or go past her trembling lips. Sesshomaru was a blur as he rushed the bodies of Viran and a smaller one that must have been her son into the back seat, the suitcases following. He didn't bother to put on the headlights after he started the car, a high screech sounding as he hit the gas pedal.

"YOU TOOK OUT HER TONGUE! Her her her hand!" Kagome gasped, ignoring Viran's hand wrapping around her shaking one. "Why would you do that?! You couldn't just threaten her and leave it at that?!" The words poured out of her now as trees blurred past.

"I wouldn't have to have done it if you just stayed in the garden!" Sesshomaru snapped, the third person speech broken in the moment. "You stupid human, you have no idea what is going on, all you see is me violent."

"Being violent is punching someone! You took out her tongue! And put it on her earring! And you cut off her hand!" Kagome screamed, her vocal cords straining. Sesshomaru took a deep breath, it shuttered in his chest like leaves in the wind.

"Viran, you and your son will be protecting Kagome's family, take them out of the country. Take them to America, the Hebi cannot find you as quickly there. You know where the stash is." His voice was more under control but his driving was still above speed limits.

"Wait! You cannot just take my family to America!" Kagome's voice broke, her dazed eyes wide.

"Yes, I can! You think I don't know who you are, what your family is. Your protection's breached, corrupted and tainted beyond the Kami's merciful eyes. The Hebi are closing in upon you, ready to take the last of the Light."

"Sesshomaru, I don't understand. The light? The Hebi? Protection?" Kagome closed her eyes again, taking her hand out of Viran's grip to press her shaking fingers against her eyelids.

"Didn't I order you to tell her?" Sesshomaru snapped at Viran, his eyes flashing as he growled.

"I didn't want to scare Lady Kagome," Viran whispered, her son scuffling close to her in the dark.

"Well look at how well that turned out," Sesshomaru sneered, still speeding. "The Hebi is more than the gang that killed your father-"

"Wait, they are the ones that killed my father?" Kagome's head felt dizzy as if she was going to pass out.

"Stay to the point miko-"He grunted as Kagome slumped against the seat. "Viran! Fix her!" Was all Kagome heard as her eyes shuttered shut, the small lights in the distance were growing even smaller?

A/n: Hey look at that! Things are suddenly go out of hand and probably getting more confusing for you but alas you'll know more next chapter! HAHA

P.S. *small voice* I'm sorry that Sesshomaru seems a bit OOC, but it's just his development. And no this is not a tangent.