A lone figure stood shivering in the inky darkness, the shadows cast by the large trees at the end of the meadow they waited upon making things seem more sinister than as if it were day. The pale countenance of a sickle moon shone down sparingly, barely managing to penetrate the depths of the forbidding forest and its lone occupant.

Kagome wrapped her grey, sweater-clad arms tighter about her middle, trying in vane to coax more heat into her freezing body. She had forewent bringing any sort of jacket since it would have caused Akito's suspicions to rise that his charge would need something that heavy to garb herself in if she was just going to the hot spring to bathe. With surprising ease, she had duped her guard with a carefree smile shielding a pensive visage. A mirth-filled laugh and joking manner seemed to have fooled the kitsune into believing that the miko was fine, and there was nothing odd about her requesting her nightly cleansing ritual.

Shivering particularly violently as a frigid breeze snaked across her damp hair and the open pores of her freshly washed form, Kagome grit her teeth to keep them from chattering, praying fervently that whoever it was who wished to meet with her would hurry up and arrive. If there wasn't an arrogant Taiyoukai's life hanging in the balance, she would have said to hell with the entire thing and gone back to the comforting embrace of snuggling in Sesshoumaru's sheets, misleading her psych into the satiation of slumber. As it was, weariness was causing her shoulders to hunch, the nap she had taken earlier not having refreshed her at all. Nightmares and inherent unease made it nearly impossible to rest, the result being unsatisfying snatches of sleep in between restless tossing and turning.

If she looked more haggard than usual, her guard had more tact than to mention it. Besides, for once her illness might prove useful and he no doubt put it down to that being the cause of her appearance.

Shifting from one shoe encased foot to another in impatience, the scrape of the legs of her jeans rubbing together at the motion filling the silence, she scowled at her surroundings, blue-grey eyes searching for any movement to denote that her visitor had shown. The longer she waited, the more she figured it wasn't an assassin that had sent the note to her. After all, they would at least have been more punctual if they were going to kill her, not leave their prey out in the elements where her absence might be noticed.

Grumbling to herself, the miko spat out a few choice curses she had learned from a certain white-haired hanyou. Seriously, if she had known it was going to take this long, she would have chosen to spend more time bathing than the quick frantic washing she had done instead. When not being able to relax fully into the healing ministrations of allowing warm water to ease away stressed muscle, it left her with a decidedly uneasy feeling. That same one you get if someone rushes you out the door before you are certain everything you need for the day is with you, which subsequently, there is always something you did indeed forget.

Coughing behind one half-numbed hand, Kagome cursed her sensitive heart for the thousandth time since trekking out towards the forest. If it wasn't for the damn sentimental thing she wouldn't be in this mess right now.

Of course, that could be said for all of her recent mishaps....

So busy was she on inwardly ranting upon the indignity of being made to squander her night with watching a bunch of scary looking shrubbery, she failed to notice someone else had joined her out there until they spoke, startling her so badly that she automatically placed a hand over her careening heart, eyes wide in alarm and surprise.

"I see that you came," a figure shadowed just inside the perimeter of the trees said in a whispered voice that could not be identified.

Swallowing the lump that had jumped into her throat, Kagome massaged the smooth column lightly, moving the hand from her chest to wrap it securely about her waist, as though gaining comfort from it.

Squinting, she could barely make out the rough outline of someone in a large cloak that easily hid the wearer's form and identity. Not even the wind that blew every so often did more than toss the edges of the dark material about lightly, remaining uncooperative in disclosing who it shrouded.

Frowning, Kagome called out tautly, "I presume you are the one who sent the note?"

It wasn't really a question, and they both knew it.

What could have been an inclination of their head, or just as easily the breeze tossing the hood of the cloak about, was her answer, followed by the same soft wisp of sound this person utilized to converse in.

"You presume correctly, miko."

Becoming a tad frustrated at the lack of tendency to divulge anything but cryptic responses, she crossed her arms defensively over her chest and tilted her chin at a defiant angle. Now that they were together, she was going to get answers, and she was going to acquire them now.

"Who are you, and what do you want?"

The muffled crunch of dead leaves disintegrating under a shifting stance, a short step forward was followed by a subtle hint of tension floating in the air. "Who I am is not important, miko. Likewise, what I want is not in question either. It is what others desire with you which calls us here tonight."

Confused by the odd answer, Kagome let her head slide to the side inquisitively, one raven brow raised. "And just what is that supposed to mean?"

Another step was taken, even more fissures of malcontent scattering with the movement to synchronize with the decaying foliage trampled upon, the miko shivering involuntarily as it flit across her senses.

"Tell me, miko, do you wish to help the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands? Would you aid Lord Sesshoumaru Taisho, even if doing so forfeited your own life?"

This line of questioning was proving very frightening to Kagome, foreshadowing of something far darker than what she had hoped to wander into. True, she had acknowledged the possibility that she might die tonight, but that didn't mean she hadn't held the optimistic view that she was wrong.

Damn, but she seemed to only be right when it was most inconvenient.....

Throwing caution, and whatever dregs of sanity she had left, to the proverbial wind, she stated resolutely, "Yes."

This appeared to satisfy the figure, who once again seemed to nod before taking the last step that kept them just even with the line of imposing woodlands, maybe twelve paces from the human female.

It was unsettling that even though whoever it was had come this close to her, Kagome still could not make out any defining features at all. Everything was a blank impenetrable wall of black and shadow, darkness and foreboding that the longer she gazed into, the more she wished she was somewhere else.

"Then I offer you the chance to do so."

Gasping, Kagome tightened her hold upon her middle, blue-grey orbs wide and searching, despite doing so was pointless. Her whispered, "Explain," was caught easily by the other being, making the miko begin to wonder if it was actually a demon she was talking to.

A pregnant pause filled the space between them before the mysterious being replied, "I can explain, but first you must come with me."

A screaming negative resounded in Kagome's brain immediately at the order, some sixth sense telling her she wouldn't be safe venturing out with this person. She wracked her brain for something to say that would allow her to stall to think of a plausible excuse, the effort wasted, and she knew it.

However, just as she opened her mouth to say something she was sure would sound unconvincing and weak, the white prickle of a demon's aura spiking snaked through her system in a roiling wave that left her breathless and unsteady on her feet. The person in front of her stiffened and retreated a few steps, body taut with a malice reflected in their stance and the dark energy wafting off them.

Coughing from the abrupt lack of oxygen, Kagome half twisted to look behind her, already knowing who would be there. How could she not recognize him when she had spent so much time around him for so many days.

Azure opalescent orbs flashed eerily in the watery darkness on the meadow as the arctic kitsune came to a calm stop a foot or so behind his charge, his gaze going first over her to make sure she was well before narrowing on the subject hidden from clear sight.

"My Lady, I would ask that you return to the castle immediately." There was the razored edge of icicles in his voice, a frigid cold reflected in his usually emotionless eyes that bespoke of the surety of death delivered by the tip of the now ice encrusted blade of his spear.

Despair blossomed within Kagome, panic making her move to stand in front of the fox demon as she subconsciously attempted to shield him from direct view of the other occupant to the palace grounds near the woods. It was futile since his larger lithe frame created a crude outline to the shivering human that was easily discernable. Standing awkwardly, her eyes pleading desperately for him to cooperate, she clenched the hand lying along her middle deeply into the fabric of her shirt.

"Akito." Floundering for a moment, she looked back towards the bristling form of whoever was in the trees, the jaki level now rising between the two, who she was now certain, demons. It was assaulting her senses again, the same nausea and headache taking residence with a ferocity that made her queasy and unsteady on her feet.

"Lady Kagome, as your personal guard, I am ordering you to return to the palace now." There was no room for argument in that frozen tone, no softening to the hard visage that gazed impassively beyond her own to fix with deadly intent upon the other demon. Any reasoning had long since abandoned the kit's indulgence, leaving naught but the skilled predator in its place.

A growing spark of anger was set aflame inside Kagome, the light of it reaching her eyes till they blazed with emotion, her once shaky body now erect and tall with the force of her ire. Damn it, but she had risked too much, gone too far in this little game of mortality to ensure Sesshoumaru's well-being to simply scamper off back to safety at the first sign of opposition. She had set out to finally end this matter, and by Kami it was going to get done one way or another, and even the good intentions of her newest dear friend would not sway her.

"I refuse."

For a moment, his icy eyes trained back on her, not in disbelief she saw, no emotion what so ever reflecting upon the cool surface of his facade. It was unnerving and painful to be the recipient of such a look when she had known the kitsune to never gaze at her with anything save calm lenience accompanied with flashes of tepid warmth.

There was none of those comforting definitions there now.

"This is not a request, Lady." The hand about the pole of his spear tightened in white-knuckled tension, the growing layer of frozen water lining the metal head of the weapon the only indication that he was reacting to her defiance.

Sighing wearily, shoulders slumping a bit as though carrying a heavy burden, she pushed down the butterflies in her stomach so that she could think clearly. The other figure had yet to move from their position, staying perfectly still as though to not draw attention to itself. Not that it did any good, since both she and her guard knew they were present.

"You weren't supposed to be here, Akito." Sighing in resignation, regretful orbs searching his stony face. Sorrow entered her eyes as she realized that she was now pressed into the predicament that she would have to choose between leaving with this unknown youkai or dutifully traipsing back to the Taisho Holding. Dejected, the miko already knew the answer, and it brought her no joy.

A mirthless smirk lifted one side of his chiseled mouth, a fang flashing pearl in the moonlight. "That you would think I would not catch your scent on the wind and decipher its meaning as it moved further away from the hot spring shows how innocent you are, Lady."

Unaccustomed to the biting edge in his tone, she couldn't prevent the flinch as though struck. Keeping her back to the stranger, she stepped towards him to clasp his upper arms in a tight hold, begging him silently to understand.

At the close proximity and contact, Akito was now completely focused on his charge, his peripheral vision remaining on the stoic figure, whose identity was still unknown to him because of the overload the acidic swabs she had used on her skin still filled his nostrils even though it had been disposed of long ago.

However, the aura synchronization could not sway him from his purpose, no matter what enticing means it employed while it tangled about his nerves, twisting through his heart in a stranglehold of devotion and sorrow. He had no desire to decipher what emotions the miko was transferring to him, nor their meaning. When the girl had so foolishly devised a plan to creep away from the safety of his vigil she had forfeited a piece of the trust he had given her within the last few days. Not something irreparable, but painful none-the-less.

Guilt even assaulted him on some level. If he hadn't been so lenient, if he had harkened to his master's words more closely instead of allowing her free reign to do as she pleased in the palace, perhaps then the miko would not assume that this type of indiscretion would be allowed.

Now, reading the earnest expression clearly sprawled upon her pretty features, he knew he had done her no favors.

Pushing away the tantalizing call of the aura synch, Akito straightened to his considerable height till he fairly towered over the diminutive human, pulling away gently till they were no longer in contact with one another.

The hurt that sparked in her jeweled eyes cut at him, making him almost wish to reach out and let her keep touching him. Almost being the key word.

"There is no room for discussion in this, Lady." Glaring towards the intruder still clothed in darkness, he bit out, the cadences in his voice matching that of the frigid wind blowing through the meadow," Step aside, Lady Kagome."

Tears stung her eyes, a lump taking residence deep in her throat that no amount of swallowing dispelled. It broke her already fractured heart that Akito would treat her thus, even if it was warranted and a possibility when taking up this venture. But no amount of inner planning could prepare her for how it would feel to have him freeze himself off from her.

The nausea got worse, but the strength of her will overcame its sickening roil, just as she tamped down on her pain so that she could go through with her decision. This was the path she had chosen, qualms had no place here during the final hour.

Voice croaking and gravelly, she eyed her guard sadly, an unhappy frown pulling down her rosy lips. "I'm sorry, Kito-kun, but I can't do as you say." With that she turned to face the other youkai till her back was to the kitsune's, straight and determined, rigid with purpose.

Suppressing a growl, the arctic demon grit his teeth till his fangs penetrated the inside of his bottom lip, the coppery spiced flavor of his own blood filling his mouth and coating his tongue. Her obstinacy would prove her downfall.

The familiar sound of the 'twang' from an arrow being let loose to fly filtered into his senses, his jaki spinning out of control as he picked up the surprised gasp that left his charge's lips. Stupid! He had been so stupid to become distracted by her enough that he would actually take his eyes off the enemy, foolishly figuring his youkai abilities would prove enough to detect any sinister motions.

Kagome, eyes wide and body still as though a deer caught in headlights, saw the lightning black streak of the projectile coming towards her, the posed elegance of the archer in robes still standing in a firing stance, one of their hands half curled where the feathered end had once sat between nimble fingers, the bow held erect to their body.

Mind racing, she acted on some base instinct, finally able to move so that she could put out a hand straight before her as though to ward off the deadly weapon. Vaguely, she was aware of Akito swiftly leaping forward to attempt to get in front of her, protect her with his body.

Desperately, Kagome felt fear course throughout her system, the jaki throwing off her equilibrium till the hand she proffered was shaking and unsteady. A bright flare of her miko powers came to life inside her, and the miko knew this was the worst possible time for it to make an appearance.

Frantic, she tried to call it back in, but to no avail. The piercing slice of a metal tip entering her flesh, tearing through muscle and tendon, made her cry out sharply as delicate skin gave under the force of the arrow. It threw her back into her guard, the tip sticking into the top right hand corner of his shiny breastplate with a grotesque thud, her hair swinging about wildly, her body following the course till she was facing the kitsune, her other hand reaching out and clasping his left shoulder for support. And it was at that precise moment that she felt her miko powers go out of control.

The jaki Akito was giving off coupled with the pain made her nearly black out, a white hot flare of purifying energy deciding the snow fox was the threat and thus, began burning along his nerve endings.

A scream like that of a tortured animal filled the night as the kit's eyes turned a swirling white, his fangs an outline of pearly sharpness as he tilted his head back, dropping the spear from a numb grip to land useless on the ground.

Kami, she was killing him! Kagome felt tears leak out of her eyes as she realized that what she had meant to protect was being destroyed even as it leant against her. Forgetting about her hand pinned to his front, the arrow shaft protruding morbidly out of the center of her palm and his armor, she used her free hand to push, knowing that any contact was breaking the demon's cell structure down from the inside out.

Heart beating as though it would leave her chest, she slowly garnered the strength to pull her hand up the stick of wood, damaging the wound further as the dull wood became shiny with the thick sheen of her blood. Once reaching the end where three brown feathers sat, she took her shaking hand that had moments before been at his shoulder and placed it around the base. Gritting her teeth as her ministrations made her body break out into a cold sweat from shock, she gave one final twist of her wrist and just managed to break the feathered projectile. Wasting no time, she immediately wrenched her hand cleanly from the shaft, crying out again as a wave of agony tore through her arm.

Upon freeing herself, she promptly collapsed to the ground, her guard following suit as his eyes closed and his lifeless body slumped to the side in a messy heap beside his spear.

Panting, crying, and trying not to throw up, Kagome blinked away tears while cradling her injured hand to her chest, using the other to crawl as best she could away from the kitsune. The miko power was no longer harming him since it had burned itself out almost as quickly as it had sprung to life, but she couldn't bare to see him. She was scared to think that she had actually maybe killed the proud creature.

She managed a paltry few inches before her battered frame gave out so that she lay half on her side upon the freezing grass, her breath labored and wheezing, vision swimming incoherently.

Inside, she was crying, wailing, completely trapped in the despair that her own stupidity may have brought about the demise of someone she loved. It was more than she could stand.

As darkness steadily encroached about her sight till there was not but pinpricks left, she felt the impersonal hold of someone lifting her from the ground, her head falling listlessly over their arm to lay at a painful angle, long hair dragging the leaf spotted floor. The girl's last sight before succumbing to the dark void was that of Akito's non-moving form laying in misshapen abandon, no sign of life present.

*************

"...too much damage...."

"Remove the armor, quickly!"

"Kami, what happened?!"

A variety of voices floated in and out of Akito's sharp ears, his conscious swimming in a murky void of pain and confusion. The instances in which he almost had the strength to open his eyes, perhaps move an appendage to check why he would be incapacitated never held long enough. Just as he would flicker his eyelids, the movement would prove too exhausting and he would once more be plunged into the darkness he so wished to be rid of.

"....is there nothing that can be done for him?"

It was then, when he felt as though he could so easily give up the fight, slip beneath the calming shadows which beckoned so enticingly, that the icy cadences of his master's voice filtered through, demanding an instant response.

Sesshoumaru stared down at his personal guard's injured form, amber chips of ice replacing his irises to reflect and conceal his true emotions. Inwardly, he was raging, snarling with bloodlust since the hour which had gone by since Musashi had come running into the palace, the unconscious kitsune in his arms. Just before the arctic fox had been brought, the Taiyoukai had felt the hair along his arms stand on end, an unknown slither of unease scraping across his nerves that left him feeling uncharacteristically anxious.

The hand lying placidly at his side twitched as he deliberately kept it from fisting, his teeth from grating against one another to keep the growl residing in his throat at bay.

Kagome had been taken. Stolen from his very own castle but a few hundred yards away from him while he sat in his study, sedately sipping tea. Worse still, whoever had done the abduction was so adept that none could catch the perpetrator, not even the wolf prince who had responded instantly and sped after them.

Of course, the apparent course of the assailant was obvious, all but showing a clear path to that of where his uncle's camp was currently set up. True, he had suspected Aion of organizing the assassination attempt, even going so far as to figure that his half brother as well as himself would be targeted in the immediate future.

Never had he envisioned that the sadistic dog demon would set his nefarious sights on a human miko that, to all intents and purposes, posed no threat to him.

How horribly wrong he had been. Sesshoumaru had thought the added security of giving his own personal bodyguard at her disposal would insure her safety, but in the end the ice youkai had not stood a chance.

A flickering of Akito's eyelids drew the Taiyoukai's attention, easily picking up the sound of his breathing increasing as a clear signal that the kitsune was approaching consciousness.

Waving his hand in a command for Inu Yasha, who had till this moment been standing over the half-clad warrior, alternating between pacing quietly to yelling obscenities at the ice fox, to cease, he leaned a bit closer. With a muttered oaf, his sibling stepped back, crossing his arms angerly over his chest while keeping the other demon in view, his white ears twisting every which way in his agitation. Behind him stood the blood covered form of Musashi, a dark frown his only expression, the usual cheerful cougar demon uncommonly somber since first arriving. He was no fool, and knew things as they stood now couldn't get much worse than they were.

After barging into the castle proper, creating chaos in his wake, he had informed Sesshoumaru of what he had come upon in the meadow outside the hot springs, having gone to investigate promptly following the guard's blood-curdling scream. The guard was placed in his quarters on his bed, the crimson liquid lining his shiny black armor transferring to the beige coverlet as it slid in rivulets down the slick surface of the scales. The healer was sent for, Inu Yasha stomping in seconds later, taking one look at the damaged youkai, a dangerous glint coming into his gold eyes as demands for the miko's whereabouts spouted forth.

Kouga's whirlwind appearance had forestalled anything Sesshoumaru might have said, the prince hardly sparing a glance to Akito before silently departing in a gust of wind and azure silk, off to find the missing woman.

Minutes passed as the Taiyoukai himself divested the ice fox of his haori and armor, a grimace flashing over his chiseled lips once when blood had coated his hand when he had removed the breastplate. He had at first assumed it to be the demon's, but the exotic scent of it let him know instantly that it belonged to the human, too pure to hold any semblance of evil in it.

When Akito lay, motionless save for his shallow breathing, bare from the waist up with not a mark on him, the veins in his arms standing out in taught spiderwebs beneath his ivory skin, his multi-colored hair framing his tense features, Sesshoumaru knew things were very bad indeed.

Minutes passed, Inu Yasha continued to rave in bouts of swinging arms and fluctuating tones of his voice, Sesshoumaru's patience grew thinner and thinner, the blood on his fingertips drying unnoticed on his hand, the wind blew frigidly through the window causing the candles to dance chaotically as they tried in vane to stay lit, and the healer did not come.

More minutes went by, Kouga returned, breathing heavily and slick with perspiration, eyes swirling in aquamarine splendor, with the distressing news that he was unable to retrieve the miko or the culprit, their trail having been lost shortly after reaching the border where Aion lay, Inu Yasha had progressed to yelling in the kit's unresponsive face.....

And Cheiro did not come.

The wolf prince's words quickly told why that would be, the truth of which cutting Sesshoumaru deeply in anger and disbelief.

Cheiro could not come, because it was her scent which had blanketed the area where Kagome had been taken.

Sesshoumaru did not know which angered him more, his own blindness to the traitor in his midst, or the fact that the cat had managed to accomplish that which no one else could have because she had the one thing that not many others in the castle possessed.

She had possessed a piece of the Taiyoukai's trust.

Since his unsuccessful return, Kouga had taken residence in the darkest corner of the sparsely furnished room, as though the shadows themselves could grant the wolf the cover he needed to contain his emotions, his jaki level rising and falling as they waited for Akito to awaken, to tell them what he knew so a course of action could be set into play.

A flash of swirling blue, a rustle of silk would be the only movement from him, a striking contradiction to the hanyou's continuous flurry of movement.

A groan flitted out of bloodless lips, the dark lashes of the ice fox finally lifting to reveal opalescent blue eyes, a frown wrinkling the snowflake upon his forehead as he squinted in the poor lighting of his room.

The first thing he could make out with some clarity was the imposing figure of his master standing over him, a heavy aura of malice cloaking the other youkai till it made a shiver snake up his spine, goose bumps appearing on his half-clad form.

Sucking in a breath, Akito tried to move more than his eyes, and found instantly that every inch of his body was in agony, his muscles contracting violently till he feared they would break the bones they coated, a muffled cry leaving his throat.

Screwing his eyes shut, he tried to calm down, panting heavily as he pushed as much of the pain out of his mind as possible before he ended up passing out again. That was not an option right now, not when his master was in this state.

Gulping convulsively, he squinted enough to see the rough blurry outline of his master, a throbbing headache negating the idea of opening the orbs fully. Taking in a shuddering breath, he froze with inhuman stillness upon smelling the scent of his charge's blood, despair making his emotions spiral erratically. It gave him the strength and fortitude to fight through the discomfort, to do something he normally wouldn't do in his right mind.

Sesshoumaru felt the unfamiliar clasp of a clawed hand twine about his striped wrist, the hold much weaker than its possessor would have usually administered. Sparing a fleeting glance to Akito's hand grasping his person, he asked icily, "What happened, Akito?"

Swallowing around the semi-lump in his throat, the kitsune spoke, his voice gravely and coarse after his previous screaming, his throat tingling with the effort.

"My Lord," at this he paused to pant a moment, close his eyes and regain himself before continuing. "Lady Kagome has been taken. We were in the meadow behind the hot spring, the Lady having gone there on her own to meet with someone."

At the mention of the other person, the Taiyoukai's amber eyes narrowed, the only sign on a reaction to what he already knew.

Coughing slightly, Akito grit his teeth and bit out the rest, eyes clouding in a mixture of sorrow, self loathing, and anger.

"I had no idea she wasn't inside bathing. She assured me you had given her specific orders to leave her bed only for certain occasions, visiting the hot spring being one of them. I never thought she would sneak out the back door, or how she would even know when and where to meet with someone." A short pause, a few pants, and he continued his story, the hand clasping his master's wrist growing frailer. "Her scent. I caught her scent on the wind leading away from the building, so I immediately followed to find her standing at the edge of the meadow where the forest starts. Upon arrival I saw another in a cloak, shadowed in the thick dark foliage in a cloak, their scent unrecognizable because of the substance Lady Kagome had used earlier to cover your scent."

Sesshoumaru felt both his brother and the wolf prince tense at the last sentence, both their glares training on his silk clad back with enough ferocity to burn him alive. Un-phased, Kagome's safety, or lack thereof reigning more important in his mind, he urged the arctic fox on, nodding slightly. "Go on. What next, Akito?"

A tortured expression spread across the guard's countenance, his features twisting in uncharacteristic emotion and pain. "I tried, My Lord, I tried to order her back to the castle, to confront whoever this was, but the Lady would not be swayed. When she came to stand before me, plead her case as to why she should be allowed to remain, the assailant took their chance and fired an arrow at us. I tried to step in front of her, take the blow myself, but she somehow managed to evade me and take the mark instead."

A strangled cry left his mouth, his head thrashing back and forth as his hand fell away from his master's wrist to clench in the sheets, his breathing labored and harsh to the ears. "When she was thrown back from the impact I don't what happened. Everything went white, it felt like I was being burned alive slowly from the inside out, and Lady Kagome....she was crying and bleeding and there was nothing I could about it!"

Body shuddering, Akito clenched his eyes shut, for the first time not able to contain anything he was feeling, to hide it behind an indifferent mask as he was wont to do. He had failed. He had failed miserably in the one purpose of his life! His existence was the protection and service to his master, to the Taiyoukai who was so quiet and still next to his bed, gazing at his injured form with nothing but calm acceptance.

For the first time, he understood how Kiro must have felt when his own ward perished, the helplessness, frustration and altogether self disgust in not accomplishing his duty.

Sesshoumaru watched his personal guard fall apart in a way he had never seen the youkai do before. Not even his older brother, the Taisho's top assassin had reacted this badly upon the loss of his own charge. It was understandable considering Kagome happened to be the younger kit's responsibility. One couldn't stay detached when with her, not with her easy going smiles, caring touch and trusting eyes.

The sound of heavy fast footsteps drew the Taiyoukai's attention, a gleam of red announcing Inu Yasha's bristling form seconds before the hanyou leaned down to yell at the fox, gold eyes blazing in rage, hand white-knuckled about the hilt of his sword.

"Where did the arrow hit, ya damn fox?! Where is she hurt at?"

Half growling, Akito bit out between gnashing fangs, "I don't know."

Growling himself, Inu Yasha leaned in closer, the red rough sleeves of his haori draping over the ice fox's sensitive forearm, making it twitch in irritation, Akito bearing his fangs a bit at the aggressive stance of his master's brother.

"How the fuck can you not know?!"

As Akito prepared to all but claw at the hanyou, Inu Yasha was suddenly removed from is view, the rough cadences of the once silent wolf prince slicing through the thick air.

"Back the fuck off him, puppy!" A flutter of red and white was shoved towards Musashi by the door, the hanyou regaining his balance quickly to stand tense and square-shouldered, silhouetted by the light coming through from the hallway.

"Fuck you, wolf!" One clawed finger was jabbed in the direction of the youkai laying prostrate in the tarnished bed. "If the bastard had done his job correctly then Kagome wouldn't be missing and hurt right now!"

An eerie serenity settled like a cloak over the demon prince, his sharp features smoothing out to an icy facade never before witnessed by the half-youkai. His swirling blue-green irises were sharp and icy, like icebergs clashing in razored edges upon one another, slicing with deadly precision upon the hapless. Walking forward calmly till he was but a foot away from the enraged hanyou, his hands and arms limp and relaxed at his sides, he said in a flat terrifying voice, "I am going to tell you this one time puppy, so listen well. Akito did the best he could for what the situation called for. Having never been purified at close range from a miko, I doubt you can securely stand there and say the kitsune didn't do all in his power to protect her. Kagome is missing now, yes, but taking your anger and frustration out on him isn't going to get her back any sooner." Narrowing his eyes dangerously, he arched one raven brow, for the first time looking like what he truly was, the next ruler for the entire Northern region of Japan, a youkai who could and would hold power over a large portion of the deadliest beings alive. "So, Inu Yasha, you are going to calm down, shut your fucking mouth, and lay off Akito or Kami help me, I will silence you once and for all."

A rare fissure of unease slid down the hanyou's spine. He had never seen Kouga act this way, not this controlled anger that was more difficult to deal with than his usual loud spouts of temper. This new wolf standing before him resembled his older brother in a lot ways, none of them nice or good.

"Keh, whatever!" he spat before leaving the room with an angry stride, not even glancing towards his brother or Musashi as he departed. To hell with them! Besides, he now had to think of a way to break the news to everyone else, not particularly relishing the reaction he was going to get from Shippou. He could feel the damn kit's tiny fangs chewing his ears already.

Kouga watched the empty doorway a few moments after the hanyou's departure, the tense line of his shoulders finally relaxing to a weary slope, a defeated sigh leaving his lips as he turned to come up next to Sesshoumaru, who had watched everything in silence.

Staring down at Akito, who had now managed to pass back out, his random movements showing that whatever the kitsune was seeing in his dreams were nothing he desired to take part in, he questioned softly, as though afraid of waking the damaged youkai, "What do we do, Sesshoumaru? I'm out of options myself," a self-depreciating smile graced his lips as he added, "Hell, I couldn't even catch them, whoever it was, so now I'm turning to you."

They locked eyes, both rulers solemn as they regarded one another over the sick guard, taking stock of how much the abduction of one human female affected them.

"First, we find someone who can stabilize Akito, and then...." He looked away as he pulled the sullied comforter up to the arctic kitsune's shoulders from where it had fallen in his thrashing to lay about his hips. "Then we get her back."

Nodding once decisively, Kouga folded his arms across his chest, feet slightly apart. "Whatever it takes."

Mouth thinning to a fine line, his eyes flashing briefly crimson, pupils robin's egg blue for a second before returning back to their usual ebony slits, the bloodied breastplate on the floor beside the bed catching his notice, he whispered, "Whatever it takes."

*************

Kagome came awake with a start, half-sitting up in bed, breathing loudly with a slight wheeze, eyes dancing around her unfamiliar surroundings wildly. As she went to put her hands out to give her the support it would take to leave the bed, a sudden pain lanced through her arms, causing her to cry out before collapsing back into the thick bedding.

Coughing as the sudden sound leaving her parched throat irritated it, she shakily turned over onto her back from where she had fallen to her side, bringing her bandaged quivering appendage into view. There were several candles lit about the room on various dressers, tables and night stands. The off-white ragged picture of a piece of cloth wrapped about her hand met her gaze, the dark red spots on either side letting her know that it was probably still bleeding sluggishly.

Releasing a shuddering breath, she kept her injured hand as still as possible, not wishing to jar it again. Cradling it towards her body, she wriggled into a sitting position on the large bed, for the first time actually looking about the room to notice what was in it.

The bed she was currently in was more opulent than Sesshoumaru's, with a large red silk canopy hanging overhead to drape elegantly down the dark cherrywood posts at each corner. Tucking her mussed hair behind her ear, she slowly took in the sight of intricately hand-carved pieces of furniture, their obvious expense letting her know that whoever's place this was, they were not destitute. Nor did they cater to the Asian trend of spartan is better than flaunting useless wealth. No, this person had money and liked to show it.

It was huge, this bedroom she was in. Two armoires, a low table towards the center with many overly stuffed red pillows that held silvery tassels at their ends. There was a mirror hung directly above the dresser in the opposite wall facing the bed, a luxury that confirmed her belief that whoever she was 'visiting' right now was very well off financially. Not to mention the amount of candles burning in the room.

There were two large windows on one wall to her left, but both were high up enough that she couldn't reach them even if she put furniture beneath them and stretched to her full extent. Besides, with her injured hand she knew she wouldn't have been able to pull herself up anyway.

The grey haze of smoke in the corner caught her attention, for the first time letting her know that their was a large cast iron brazier, its reddish orange hot coals barely visible through the grates in its front. A pot was sitting atop it, much like the one she had used in her own and Sesshoumaru's room that Cheiro had placed there to aid her breathing at night.

Frowning, Kagome carefully slid her legs from beneath the blood red coverlet, happy on some level to see that the only apparel of hers missing was her shoes, which she saw under the night stand next to her bed once she gained her feet.

Walking on slightly unsteady legs across the ornate floor rugs spotting the floor, she kept looking towards the single heavy looking door that sat in its stately frame. She wasn't sure who's place this was, or why she was here, but she was very certain that she didn't wish to meet them just yet. Not until she was more secure with knowing her surroundings that is.

Muscles aching, and joints feeling old and decrepit, she ignored the steady throb from her hand and back. Cramps were nothing compared to having your hand impaled by ancient weaponry without any medical attention of modern medicine getting to it. At this point, she wasn't even sure she would ever be able to use it again.

If she lived long enough for it to heal that is.....

A stab of pain arced through her heart as she replayed Akito's scream in her ears, his torturous crying echoing throughout her mind. Swallowing the tears it incited, the painful prick behind her eyelids, she finished her trek to the pot with its bubbling contents, peering inside, frowning when she saw that it was the same herbs the healer put in the usual mixture. Since her nose was stuffed, she couldn't smell anything, but she did recognize by sight the various leaves, twigs and wisping smoke it always contained. Keeping her hurt hand to her chest, her other hand holding the elbow in a cradle, she moved away to look into the room adjoining the one she was in, affirming her assumption that it was indeed a bathroom.

Coughing, she wished she had some water, though she wasn't positive anything from this foreign place she consumed wouldn't be poisoned, she made her staggering way to the mirror, staring into its wavering depths at her semi-distorted image.

A pale wraithlike creature stared back at her, its ebony hair in disarrayed waves about her shoulders, clothing wrinkled and dirty. Leaning closer, she traced the pinched lines of her features with her eyes, using the meager illumination of the candle beneath it to discern the unrecognizable girl staring back at her.

So consumed was she with analyzing her appearance, she failed to notice the silent slide of the door opening and closing, the approach of the demon coming closer to her.

It wasn't until they spoke that the miko swung around in fright, her blue-grey eyes widening and she stepped backwards to put some space between her and who she assumed to be her new 'host'.

"I'm surprised to see you up so soon, miko."

Kagome tried to control the thrashing of her pulse, clutching her injured hand closer to her body as though to keep it well away from the new youkai. Looking him up and down quickly, she was struck by the resemblance to Sesshoumaru.

This demon had the same silvery white long hair, though his was put into a high ponytail atop his head, an ornate clasp made of gold with the designs of what almost looked like Celtic waves upon its shiny surface. His hair was longer than the Taiyoukai's, reaching in a straight swath down to almost his knees in a pristine river, but his build was the same. Tall and lithe with striped hands tapering into refined fingers with deadly claws at their tips. He was garbed in a dark shade of scarlet, the same color that was so very prevalent in the room she had awoken in, the same black design on his hairpiece displayed again upon his collar and again at the edge of his haori sleeve.

Instead of giving him a washed out appearance, it seemed to make him glow, the amber eyes staring at her with level intelligence and calm resembling melted Italian gold with its transparent reddish tone to it. He wore no armor, no weapons, but with the controlled aura about this youkai she seriously doubted he needed any added implements save himself to vanquish a foe. Especially a sick human woman who had one usable hand as it was.

His arms lay limp and at ease at his sides, the slope of his shoulders relaxed to express how he saw her as no threat, nothing to be on guard about. His silvery bangs moved slightly against his forehead as he turned to glance towards the mirror she had been so engrossed in, the movement causing her to notice the marking on his forehead for the first time.

She noticed that it was the same crescent moon that adorned Sesshoumaru, the one she had wanted to trace so often when with him in repose, watching him sleep quietly beside her in his huge bed. This youkai, however, did not make her want to do any caressing any time soon.

Stepping back again till she could feel the heat of the brazier upon her spine, she asked as forcefully as she could, the quaver in her voice failing miserably to portray a confident young woman, "Who are you? What am I doing here?"

Turning back to regard her steadily, he arched one silvery eyebrow, an action so reminiscent of Sesshoumaru that she felt a pang of longing, wishing it was he she was with right now and not this person.

His voice was nothing like the Taiyoukai's, however. When he spoke next she heard the different nuances, as though each word he spoke was meant to make one tremble in fear with its soft quality. She was disappointed to find that it had the desired response in her.

"I'm surprised my nephews haven't mentioned me." A dark smirk lifted one side of his chiseled lips, a fang barely perceptible with the motion. "I am Lord Aion, brother to the late Queen of the Western Provinces to Lord Inu Taisho." A flash of quicksilver hatred sped through his irises at the mention of Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru's father.

So this was Aion, the relative Sora's father and the youkai Daija said even the reigning Lord of the Southern Provinces refused to deal with. My, but she was fortunate to get an audience with such a ....prestigious youkai. The sarcasm in her thoughts nearly made her want to smirk herself. Almost.

"Why am I here?"

Losing the smirk, he took a step closer to her, knowing she couldn't move now that she had effectively blocked herself in with the cast iron heating instrument. Still, when he stopped he was still a distance enough away from her not to be invading her personal space, but still too close for her comfort.

"That, miko, is a very good question." His amber eyes stared into her own intensely, as though the very force of his will could filter through her mind, take over her senses and bend her to his whims. "It would appear that my loving nephew makes it his hobby to interfere in every aspect of my life, whether it be influencing my traitorous son or any business venture I partake in."

"Sora," a picture of the dark dog demon flashed into her mind, the name falling from her lips causing his eyes to narrow.

" I see you've met him. Pity he hasn't conveniently fallen beneath the blade of an enemy yet."

Appalled, she couldn't prevent her indignant gasp. "He's your son, how could you say such a thing?"

"I assure, the day that whelp left to join the Taisho palace he ceased being any child of mine."

Unused to such blatant hatred for one's own offspring, Kagome could do not but stare at him incredulously. How one could disown their own child was beyond her comprehension, having come from a loving home as she had. But, gazing into the harsh set of Aion's face let her know it was indeed so, the possibility of this demon having ever expressed love and affection not likely.

Waving one hand negligently between them, he relaxed once more, dismissing his son from his mind.

"However, that is not the answer to your question and a subject not open to discussion. Since Sesshoumaru deems fit to thwart me at every turn, I thought it only fair to counter with my own means."

Frowning in confusion, she shifted where she stood, the heat against her back gaining intensity till it was a little past comfortable.

"How could taking me benefit you in any way?" A self derisive smile painted her lips, her eyes slightly sad if she but knew it. "I can tell you right now that Sesshoumaru won't be angry that I am gone. He's probably thanking you right now for doing him a favor."

Thoughtful amber eyes contemplated her a moment before he said in a soft voice, "You underestimate your importance to my nephew, miko."

Inwardly, she doubted what he said. Sure, she had become attached to the youkai, even going so far as to say she cared for him deeply on a different level than she did anyone else in her acquaintance, but that did not mean he felt the same. There were those instances when they were alone that he would show almost caring, treating her with a gentleness she was sure he didn't even realize, but that handful of moments did not a lasting relationship make.

"Then what is it you want to do with me, exactly?"

Again, that same elegant brow arched to be lost partway in his long bangs.

"That has yet to be decided. You are nothing more than a piece on a vast playing field, Kagome."

She started at the use of her name, surprised that he would even know it. "You know my name."

"Of course," came the prompt reply. A condescending smirk tilted his lips once more. "I have my own sources within the Taisho household that keeps me well informed of its master's actions. The abrupt arrival of a miko who dressed in odd clothing speaking with a weird dialect was not hard to gain information on."

Anger darkened her eyes to a stormy blue-grey as it was confirmed what she had begun to suspect.

"It was you, wasn't it? You who set the assassins on Sesshoumaru, tried to kill your own nephew."

"Very good, miko. Yes, it was me. Unfortunately, as seems the trend, my nephew has proven very hard to kill."

Hatred shadowed her features as she stepped forward to demand heatedly, "Why?! Why would you try and kill Sesshoumaru?"

Taking in her show of defiant anger, he took the one step that brought them within a handsbreadth of each other, staring down at her with forked eyebrows and glaring eyes, his body no longer lax.

"Why? Because he doesn't deserve to bare the title of Taiyoukai of the Western Lands! Because any youkai who would harbor affection for a human is not worthy of ruling over other youkai."

Shock rode through her system, making her notice how close they were causing her to retreat a few steps, though this time she noted with alarm that Aion followed her till she almost hit up against the burning hot metal of the brazier.

A shaky exhale left her as trepidation slowly began taking over her senses at their proximity to one another. "You're wrong. Sesshoumaru is a fine sovereign to his people."

Disgust swam in his irises, the dark black pupils of his eyes thinning out to very fine slits. "The opinion of Sesshoumaru's human bitch means nothing to me, miko."

Gulping, she bit out quietly, matching him glare for glare, "Get away from, Lord Aion."

An unpleasant smile flit onto his face as he reached up with one clawed hand towards her face.

Shutting her eyes, Kagome leant back as far as she could, barely avoiding the dangerous metal behind her as she turned her face away. She knew that she couldn't really defend herself right now, and prayed that whatever he was going to do wouldn't be too damaging. Now that she knew who was behind the attempts on Sesshoumaru's life, she wanted to stay around long enough to at least exact revenge for the Taiyoukai. Effectively put a stop to any future machinations on his demise.

Her breathe caught in her throat when she felt the cool touch of his clawed fingers tracing a gentle line down the side of her neck, dipping lightly beneath the soft fabric of her sweater to scrape her collarbone. Alarmed, she made to pull away, the sudden feel of hid hand tightly grabbing her waist through her shirt preventing her from moving. Trapped, she jumped at the warm breath that swept across her ear, the insidious whisper of his voice filtering through her panicked mind.

"Careful, we wouldn't want you to accidentally burn yourself, now would we?"

Trembling, she opened her eyes enough to regard him at the corner of one orb, a cough shaking her frame at having held her breath for a second. The scrape of his nails near her neck was felt again, her heart beating frantically as she wondered what it was he was doing.

The gust of his dark chuckle flit over her face and ear as he began to pull away from her, his fingers near her neck taking something with him. When he was far enough away for her to turn her head, she did so, her eyes widening as she saw in his hand the delicate gold chain with its round disc attached to it dangling between his fingers.

"I believe we should send my dear nephew a little memento. Just to let him know his miko is safe and sound with his cherished uncle." Dark amusement colored his voice, his grin malicious as with one vicious tug he broke the chain from her neck, curling his hand completely around the piece of jewelry till naught but the fractured links of gold showed.

Putting her good hand to her throat, she watched him clutch the container of her family's picture in a white-knuckled grip, the same pressure seeming to have distributed itself to her aching heart. It was the only thing she had to remind herself of her family while she was in this era, and now it would appear that even that was to be taken from her.

Noting her distressed expression, he let go of her waist to take up her injured hand with a speed that left no room for evasion on her part. He cradled the fragile appendage within his tapered fingers, her hand trembled as she tried to pull away. Grinning, he clasped tighter, the pain causing her to still her struggle instantly, gritting her teeth to keep from crying out.

"Don't worry, Kagome. You'll see your trinket again perhaps. Who knows, maybe even Sesshoumaru will be the one to return it to you. But until then," a malicious light entered his amber orbs as he suddenly turned her hand to the palm facing upwards and harshly slapped the locket right in the center of her stab wound.

Crying out, Kagome reflexively struck out with her free hand, giving him a glancing blow on his shoulder, eyes stinging with tears. "You bastard, let go!"

In answer he raised a brow and slowly, watching her the entire time, took her hand and forced it into a fist, stretching the injury even more to gape wide open beneath its cloth covering till it ran freely with blood.

Screaming, Kagome hit him again and again at the one spot she could reach, frantically tugging at her trapped hand, agony skating up her arm as she cried freely now. Gasping, all she could do was repeat the same thing over and over again.

"Stop! Stop it, please! Stop!"

Paying no heed to either her weak blows or her pleading, Aion held her in a punishing grip a few seconds more before releasing her suddenly, the abrupt action causing her to start falling back into the brazier.

With another quick movement, he grabbed her waist to keep her from injuring herself further, watching the sobbing woman dispassionately as he held her in one hand, the blood covered locket in the other.

"Careful miko. I don't think you need any more injuries right now." A significant pause passed between them before he added, "Yet."

Glaring at him with tear-drenched eyes, she wrenched out of his grasp, the youkai stepping back to allow her enough room to step around him towards the bed, keeping him in her line of sight the entire time.

"You bastard, what the hell was that for?!" She was shaking and couldn't seem to stop, the throbbing of her hand almost unbearable.

"Simply insurance, Kagome. I wouldn't want Sesshoumaru to think I was lying and didn't really have you in my possession. With your blood scenting this piece of jewelry, he can't refute that fact."

A choked sob was his answer as he gestured with the hand not holding the necklace towards one of the armoires. "You will find suitable clothing in there. I suggest you change since your apparel is disgustingly in need of cleaning. If you wish to bathe there is a large basin located through that door," again he indicated with his hand the open door adjoining the room. "Food and water will be brought to you twice a day, but your injury is not to be treated in any way until I deem it necessary. However, since I am not completely insensitive, I shall have a sedative given to you every few hours to help you deal with the pain." A mocking smile curved his lips as he began to walk towards the door, his amber eyes training on her once he reached it. "Do try to rest, Kagome. I assure you, you're going to have plenty of time to 'recuperate' here until my nephew arrives."

Anger pushed through her pain enough to make her yell at him harshly, cheeks red and eyes streaming with outraged tears. "He won't come for me! You can torture me all you want, even kill me, but Sesshoumaru won't let you bring him here to slaughter simply because I am here!"

An icy calm overcame his countenance as he replied quietly, one hand on the door, "Oh he will come, miko. He'll come, because I have captured his queen."

So saying, he left as quietly as he had come, the solid slide of a bar being placed to lock the entrance echoing throughout the silent room.

Sniffling, she tottered to the bed, falling onto its soft surface, not caring that her bleeding hand was probably staining the already crimson linen as she cried into her pillow.

She was caught in the possession of a crazed demon. One that was as sadistic as the whispers about the castle spoke. And not only was he hell-bent on killing his own nephew, but he was also delusional enough to think Kagome held enough worth to said Taiyoukai to warrant his own sacrifice.

Queen indeed, she thought in angry exhaustion. All she wanted was to leave this place, say goodbye to feudal Japan and be welcomed into the warm embrace of her mother. But as her mind began to descend towards sleep, the tears slowly stopping to leave salty tracks in their wake, it was a stoic dog demon's facade that filled her mind's eye, cold and unattainable.

And with sinking despair, Kagome felt what small piece of her heart that had been whole fracture and break.

*************