A Reason to Stay

"I'm going to get some more water. Could you watch over him for me?"

Kagura nodded slightly to the young miko, watching as the girl made her way out of their shelter into the bright light of the morning. Kagura had slept her first real sleep the previous night, and she found that she rather liked being able to dream…though, she wasn't exactly sure why her new heart decided to give her dreams of the nature they had been. She might have attributed it to something she ate, something that hadn't agreed with her stomach, if, of course, she had eaten anything, which she hadn't.

Scowling slightly, she allowed her sight to drift over to the hanyou. He was still unconscious, though his wounds had healed substantially since the night before. The miko had been changing his bandages, and she seemed to be pleased with the hanyou's healing. She had even smiled slightly as she worked; a soft, warm smile that was still betrayed by the darkness of her eyes and the dark circles surrounding them.

The miko was troubled, and it…worried the witch. She wasn't sure why she would worry for the girl when there was no physical damage to her. Hell, she didn't even know if she really was worried, this sort of thing was still new to her. But she did know that she didn't like seeing the young miko so heavy, seeing the way her movements, while still gentle and cautious as she worked on her beloved hanyou, were slow, almost hesitant as she forced her heavy hands. She had even cried silently a few times, though each time Kagura had made a point of saying something to distract the girl, and every time she would hastily wipe away her tears, turn to Kagura and offer her a bright, but forced, smile and answer her in a light voice of equally false cheer.

She couldn't be sure, but Kagura had a suspicion of what had caused the miko's distress. She had seen the corpse of the dead priestess before they had left the battle grounds, and, though it hadn't been said aloud, she was fairly certain where her new heart had come from. But the heart that beat in her chest now was her own. It had been cleaned of its taint, given new life and new light by the gentle spirit of the priestess Kagome. And Kagura did not intend to have that light, that soothing warmth, that beauty that had been a blessing in the beginnings of her new life be tainted again.

Her heart told her that she wanted to help to young priestess, and to do that, she would have to take responsibility for the fall of the dead one in the eyes of the hanyou that had loved her. It was fear of his wrath and his resentment that the miko shed her tears, Kagura was almost certain of it. It pained the girl to think that Inuyasha would hate her for what she had done, even though she had done it to protect herself as well as him.

"Idiot hanyou," Kagura murmured as she pulled herself to her feet and began making her way over to him.

She stopped when she reached him, looking down on his unconscious form silently. Then, with an exacerbated sigh of frustration, she stepped over him, lowering herself so that her legs were trapping the hanyou's arms at his sides. Wrapping one hand in a restraining position around his throat, she lifted her other to his pointed dog ears. When her fingers fist came in contact with the furry appendage, it twitched slightly. She blinked in surprise, not able to understand why she suddenly felt the urge to…giggle? She didn't giggle, did she? Shaking her head, she took a firm hold of the furry little ear.

It was soft, she realized absently as the downy fur was pressed between her fingers. She gave it a gentle tug, only to have the little ear twitch again in her fingers. She felt it again, the strange and unsettling feeling that was so light that it made her want to giggle. Pulling herself together, not willing to let her new emotions make her into a complete fool, Kagura pinched down hard on Inuyasha's ear, digging her long fingernails into the tender flesh until she was drawing blood.

The hanyou jerked violently in response, releasing a strangled yelp followed by a light whimper. Not liking the way she was compelled to smile at the sound, Kagura gave a hard tug against the hanyou's ear.

"Wake up, hanyou!" she snapped at him in a low hiss of displeasure.

His body jerking again, Kagura held him firm when she realized his movements were bordering on consciousness. Then, suddenly his eyes flew open, the deep amber slightly clouded and distant as he tried to focus. When he finally did, his chest started rattling in a low, angry growl.

"Kagura," he bit out lowly as he jerked his arms to try and free them from where she had him pinned.

"Well you're not dreaming, hanyou," she returned heatedly as she tightened her grip around his throat.

"Dreaming?" the hanyou growled. "Fuck no! This is a goddamned nightmare!" He shifted again, trying to gain leverage against her hold. "Get off of me you fucking bitch!" he snarled as he lifted his upper lip to give Kagura a complete view of his sharp, glinting fangs.

"I don't think so," Kagura replied darkly, tightening her grip around his throat to a nearly suffocating level as she leaned into him, bringing her face so close to his their noses were almost touching. "I've got something to say. So shut your foul mouth you dirty hanyou and listen to me." Narrowing her eyes sharply as his chest rattled again with an angry growl, Kagura pulled against his ear again, smirking in triumph as his growl was cut off abruptly with as slight whine.

"That's better, puppy," she cooed. "Now listen up. You have been under the control of the dark Shikon for over a week. In that time, Naraku was using you in your mindless state against your friends. The miko, Kagome, with the help of Sesshomaru and his annoying bird, managed to retrieve you. And here you are, you ungrateful mutt. So you are not, and I repeat NOT to fly off and say anything that will distress the miko. Her emotions are far too fragile, and the child she carries will not benefit from it."

"The WHAT??!!" He had been doing fine until the damn witch had said something about Kagome. He could only come to one conclusion. The witch had lost her fucking mind! There was no fucking way in hell Kagome, HIS Kagome was pregnant!

Finding new strength in his still injured limbs, Inuyasha managed to push himself up from the ground, rolling over forcefully and trapping the wind witch beneath him. "I don't know what your deal is, witch," he spit out disdainfully. "But I don't listen to any shit being spouted by Naraku's filthy incarnates."

Not bothering to struggle, knowing the hanyou's claws were resting too dangerously against her skin, Kagura glared at him murderously. "You can see for yourself when she gets back. She bears the mark of your own father and carries his pup."

Inuyasha pulled back slightly in shock over the wind witch's words, but his shock was quickly taken over by murderous rage. His right hand balled into a fist, crashing down into the ground only and inch from Kagura's head. "You take that back you sick, twisted bitch!" he growled out as his left hand reached upwards harshly, snaring her throat in his claws and jerking her neck back painfully.

Not able to speak with her throat being held so ruthlessly by the hanyou, Kagura scowled darkly at him before spitting contemptuously in his face. "I do not take orders from filthy hanyous any longer," she chocked out, her entire being filled with absolute fury.

Growling deeply, Inuyasha lowered his face to hers. "So be it, bitch," he snarled at her. "But don't say I didn't give you a chance."

His claws tightened around her throat, pinching off the last of her air supply. Kagura twisted and struggled futilely against his hold, but his grip was too strong and his larger frame had her pinned beneath him.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome's shrill voice from the entrance snapped his attention to her. His grip on the witch lessened marginally, and Kagura breathed deeply her relief. "Let her go!" Kagome ordered as she marched over to the hanyou. "She's not the enemy anymore, so stop trying to bully her!"

"What the fuck, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked in bewilderment as he watched her move to the wind witch's side and began pulling her away from his claws.

Kagome sighed slightly and shook her head before turning to him. "A lot has happened while you were….gone."

"What do you mean 'gone'?" he asked her suspiciously, finally taking a good scenting of her.

The first thing he noticed was that Sesshomaru's scent was all over her. He started to growl. That bastard had no right to be touching Kagome! But the more he took in of her scent, the more he began picking up on another scent as well. It was Inu, definitely, but he had never smelt it before. His growl breaking out from his lips, he reached over to Kagome, snagging her arm and hauling her unceremoniously against him. She released a muffled cry of start, but when he had taking hold of her hair and used it to tip her head to the side to reveal her neck, he heard her quiet sigh of resignation.

"Inuyasha…"

"So the witch was telling the truth." His voice was quiet. Shock and confusion mixed together with hurt and sorrow.

He didn't know what to make of it, but he did know one thing: it hurt. Bad. He knew that Kagome wasn't really his, knew that he had messed things up beyond repair with her; but he couldn't help feeling possessive of her, couldn't help seeing in her what he had once loved in Kikyo. But Kagome wasn't Kikyo. She proved it time and time again. But he could never really love her, not like she deserved. He knew it too, knew that every time he looked at her there would be a part of him that wasn't seeing her for her, but for the woman he loved, the one he had wronged so horribly so long ago, the one he was willing to give up everything for, even now when her life wasn't real, when her heart was filled with hatred.

But Kagome was still his friend. The only real friend he had ever had. He cared for her. Deeply. And however she had ended up in the position she was in, he knew that it didn't really matter. Whatever she had done, whoever she had done it with; none of that mattered. He would still protect her.

But that didn't mean he had to like it! Seriously, his father! What the fuck? Not to mention, how the fuck! 'Damn, girl!' his mind was cringing. 'That's just gross!'

"Please, Inuyasha," Kagome pleaded quietly as she pressed her hands against his chest to gain the leverage to look up at him. "Let me explain."

"Keh!" he huffed loudly as he pushed her away from himself. "There's nothing to explain. Like I give a fuck who you go around spreading your legs for!"

"Dat be enough, Yash."

Shoving Kagome behind him quickly, Inuyasha spun around to face the bird. He was leaning against one of the giant roots spreading down from the tree above, his arms crossed carelessly over his chest. His sharp, angular features were locked, giving him a fierce look. And his eyes, glinting gold that shaded with just a hint of red around the edges, were locked onto him sternly.

"Keh!" Inuyasha huffed angrily as he dropped his stance and reached to the hilt of Tetsusaiga. "And who the fuck are you?"

His eyes narrowing slightly on the boy, Tagwin's lips pressed into a firm line. "I'sa da one dat gonna be teachin' you a lesson on hows to speak around da ladies," he replied smoothly.

"You're more than welcome to try," Inuyasha returned smugly, his hand tensing and flexing against the hilt of his sword. "But I don't want to hear no crying when I lop your ugly wings off."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried as she tugged against his arm. "Stop this!"

"Stay out of this, wench!" he barked as he shook her roughly off his arm.

"Inuyasha."

The hanyou almost cringed when he heard the hard, stern, angry tenor of Sesshomaru break through the small enclosement. Sesshomaru was angry. Very angry. And Inuyasha knew that meant bad news for him. Very bad news. And a lot of blood loss. He almost groaned. He really wasn't feeling up for fighting. That little tussle with the wind witch had almost drained him of his strength. He knew he didn't stand a chance in hell against Sesshomaru right now. Hell, that blasted bird would have likely been able to beat him at the moment.

But that didn't mean he was going to let the bastard think he had the upper hand. Hell no!

"Just one big happy family, ain't we," Inuyasha bit out as he turned his attention to Sesshomaru. "Fuck off, Sesshomaru. You might be able to fool that stupid girl, but you ain't gonna pull one over on me."

His eyes flashing darkly as they hardened on the insolent whelp, Sesshomaru forced himself to not reach for his blade to teach the ignorant pup a lesson he would never forget. "The miko is Lady of our father's house, you despicable half-breed. You will address her with respect fitting her station."

"Fuck you!" Inuyasha spit out angrily. "You think you can just waltz in here and take over like every other fucking thing in your life. Kagome isn't some piece of meat to be handed around in your stupid tribal wars! You can't have her, you mother fucker!"

Inuyasha was about to fully unsheathe Tetsusaiga, prepared to fight for Kagome if need be. There was no way in hell he was going to let the aristocratic bastard get his hands on her, or try to use her like on of his servants. Gods, he didn't even want to think about what sort of cruel and sadistic things that bastard indulged in, let alone what they would mean for his Kagome. The fucker practically smiled every time his claws were ripping through flesh, especially when it was his flesh. Some sort of fucking sadist, or something. He got his kicks out of playing with his own kin like some fucking chew toy for his best.

But before the hanyou would be able to fully brandish his blade at his hated elder brother, Kagura stepped right in his path.

"Get out of the way, witch," he bit out. "Don't think I'll hesitate to take you down too."

"Idiot, hanyou," the wind witch returned with equal fury. "If it wasn't for Sesshomaru you wouldn't be standing here, and neither would the Lady miko. If you're so hell bent on getting yourself killed, you might as well do it on something important, not some idiotic sibling rivalry."

Satisfied that the witch was distracting the hanyou, Sesshomaru turned his attention to Kagome. "Miko, I would speak with you."

"Oh hell no!" Inuyasha roared, pushing his way roughly past Kagura to get a clear path to Sesshomaru again. "I said you ain't getting near her!"

A blazing flash of golden light caught Inuyasha's attention suddenly. Before he could do anything to react to it, it slammed into his hand, exploding painfully, tearing into his barely healed ligaments and severing them once more. His grip on his sword slipped, and finally gave out completely. He stared in horror as Tetsusaiga dropped to the ground at his feet.

Oh yeah, he was fucked.

"Yash, my boy." Tagwin had moved over to him, wrapping a restraining arm around the hanyou's shoulders before he could react to the intrusion. Turning him slightly away from Sesshomaru, he pulled the hanyou away from the confrontation. "Fightin' now ain'ta doin' anyone any good. You'sa listen to ol', Tagwin. He'sa knows."

Looking up to the young priestess and seeing her hesitation as she battled with her decision to calm her friend and to speak with Sesshomaru as he had asked of her, Tagwin offered her a supportive smile. "You'sa get goin', li'll miss. Me and miss witch, we'sa gonna tells Yash here hows she'sa got her new heart."

"Tagwin…" She wanted to tell him no, that it was her responsibility to tell Inuyasha bout what had happened to Kikyo. But there was a part of her that was afraid, that didn't know if she could bear to see his reaction.

Seeing her distress, Tagwin shook his head. "Don'ta be trying to play hero, li'll miss. You'sa made enough sacrifices. Let ol' Tagwin take dis one fors ya."

"Kagome?"

Her breath caught on an anguished sob as she turned her tear-filled eyes to Inuyasha. "I'm sorry," she whispered quietly. And then she turned away, leaving the others to break this horrible news to him.

Kagome had barely made it out of the little shelter before her tears began to fall in earnest. She stumbled her way blindly, not being able to see past the torment laying siege to her. She knew what she had done. She had stolen Inuyasha's love from him. Even though it hadn't been her that had struck the killing blow, it had been by her request that Sesshomaru had taken Kikyo's heart.

She had done it. And he would hate her for it.

She deserved his hatred, she thought. To him, she would seem no better than Naraku for having taken his beloved from him once again. And she couldn't bear it. Inuyasha was her best friend, and it hurt her so much to know how much she had taken from him, and to think that he would never forgive for it.

So lost in her grief, she didn't notice that she wasn't alone. That was, of course, until she found herself colliding with Sesshomaru's chest. Stumbling, confused, as she tried to catch her footing, she lost all composure when she felt his arms wrap around her and pull her closer to him.

She broke down, sobbing brokenly against him. "It's all my fault," she whimpered pathetically. "He's never going to forgive me for what I did."

"Kagome." The soft, smooth tenors of his voice whispered in her ear, causing her to shiver slightly. Her breath caught on a sob, straining against her torment to listen, grasping at anything that could lessen the pain. "You acted only in defense," he told her quietly as one of his hands smoothed down her hair, soothing her, making the heaving of her shoulders calm slightly, though not stopping her tears from flowing down her cheeks. "You protected yourself, your child, as well as Inuyasha. It may take him some time, but he will eventually understand. His protection of you is fierce and single-minded. He will not so easily abandon you. He…cares for you."

Sniffling quietly, Kagome nodded numbly against him. Her tears were waning, but still her heart was heavy. For a moment longer, she allowed herself to be comforted by Sesshomaru's strong embrace, but she knew she couldn't keep burdening him like this. Despite how angry he made her at times, despite the times they had argued or he had hurt her feelings, she knew that all along he had been protecting her, helping her, giving her support even though his hand had been forced into it.

And then there was that incident that she refused to name or even think about because…it was just weird. She knew that Sesshomaru didn't think of her that way. And she could reason that he had some sort of weird instinct thing going on that had made him do what he did, especially considering what he had said before and all about the whole submission thing. But…there was a part of her that couldn't help remembering how it had felt when he kissed her. It was hard, fierce, demanding. It had made her knees weak and her heart skip a beat. But she didn't remember it. No sir. Not her. Didn't happen.

Realizing that her tears had stopped and her reactions to her thoughts were likely ones that should likely not be experienced while being pressed against the hard, sculpted, warm, inviting, chest of one overly beautiful dog demon that could detect every change in her body chemistry, Kagome mumbled a weak apology to him and pulled herself away.

"You…wanted to talk to me?" she asked quietly as she brushed her tears away on the sleeve of her blouse.

Sesshomaru regarded the miko silently for a moment, wondering if his decision hadn't been made a bit too hastily. She seemed so vulnerable, so breakable now. He wasn't sure that he could simply leave her in the care of the foul-mannered half-breed. His treatment of her had never been easy on the girl. Even from the few times he had seen their interactions, he could tell that the hanyou was as crude with the miko as he was with everyone else. He protected her, fought for her relentlessly, put his own life on the line to see her safe; but he did not protect her fragile heart.

But it simply could not be helped. His presence would only infuriate the hanyou, and the more angered the whelp became, the more reckless he became, as well. And besides that, there was only so much he could take of Inuyasha before he was feeling the need to kill something as well. The boy usually brought out the worst in him, always serving as a healthy reminder of why he would never lower himself to such crude, disgusting, uncivilized behavior as the hanyou whelp, and making him curse all over again his father's disgusting affinity towards mortals.

Except for her. She was…unique. Despite her fragility or perhaps it was because of it; because he knew of her strength and her courage, her power and her spirit, her compassion and her kindness. For all the things that made her so strong, so formidable a foe and valued an ally; to know her weaknesses, to be able to hold her against her fears and sooth her when her heart ached became so much more.

She was remarkable. Everything a Lady should be. Everything he could have ever wanted from one.

But she was not his.

He looked away from her, not able to continue looking at those eyes. "I am leaving," he said quietly.

"Leaving? Where?"

"I shall return to my lands to ensure that everything is prepared before the council. Tagwin will remain behind with you to ensure the witch does not cause problems. When you return to the elder miko's village, a contingent of guards assigned for your protection and under the command of Hasaki will be waiting for you. I trust that you will keep Inuyasha in his place."

"But…but you can't go." He wouldn't leave her, would he? Not after all this time, not after everything. He just couldn't.

Slowly, Sesshomaru brought his eyes back to meet hers. The amber surfaces were dulled, refusing to catch the light of the sun. He looked so…tired.

"I can not stay," he told her slowly.

Her mind racing and her heart clenching painfully at the thought of not having him with her anymore, Kagome grasped at the first thing she could think of that would make him stay with her. Just a little while longer, she promised herself. Just until things with Inuyasha had settled down. Just one more day.

"When was the last time you slept?"

Well…that threw him. Sleep? He hadn't even thought of sleeping ever since…He shook his head slightly. "This Sesshomaru does not require sleep as you do, miko. My energy stores are sufficient at the moment."

"Sufficient?" she asked, her lips twisting slightly in disbelief. "So basically, you haven't slept in a long time, right?" Sesshomaru only looked at her blankly, his features impossible to read, but Kagome wasn't deterred. "You know, when Inuyasha is in my time, he always sleeps really well. I think it has something to do with being so far away from everything, all the battles, the troubles, and the stresses of this time. It would be good for you."

"Your concerns, while appreciated, are unnecessary, miko."

"What if…what if it wasn't just for you?" she asked him hopefully, though instantly chastising herself for sounding like a needy little child. "What I mean is; what if the well does something weird again? I…I need to go home. To tell my mother about everything, and to let her know I'm alright. But what if I get sent to some strange time again and there isn't anyone there to help me?"

Lifting an eyebrow curiously as he looked over the miko, Sesshomaru asked, "You would prefer this Sesshomaru accompany you as opposed to Inuyasha?"

Kagome grimaced. "Have you actually ever listened to the way he talks? I don't think the words 'delicate' or 'tact' are in his vocabulary."

"Indeed," Sesshomaru replied slowly.

He knew he shouldn't. He knew that he had many things still left to do in preparation. And he knew that the more time he spent with the miko, the more he would be forced to come to terms with what exactly her presence meant for him. But…looking into the soft blue of her eyes as she pleaded silently with him to do as she asked, seeing the faint glimmer of hope reflecting as the light caught the moistened surfaces…he couldn't deny her request.

Besides, it was high time that the hanyou start taking on some responsibilities if he was ever going to prove himself any use within his ruling. And with Tagwin there to tutor the boy, perhaps the bird could finally bring the whelp into line. His first test….Sesshomaru's lips quirked…That mangy wolf of the southern caves.

"Very well, miko," he informed her. "This Sesshomaru agrees with your proposal."

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Hehe, silly dog, he thought he could get away from her ;P I don't think so!

Well, enough of this. It's past my bedtime. Later all.

Shadow