Two

…beyond conscience and temptation…

Her knees would have crumbled, if it were not for the firm arm supporting her. She froze with shock.

Stunned eyes dazedly watched his expression, comforted by the concern in his eyes. Only then did her eyes travel down to her chest. Bakusaiga's lethal blade sliced cleanly through flesh, bone and tissue a grisly sight. Too quick to spill blood. She saw her heart, the source to her love and will, still quivering from its previous restless pumping.

She had wondered before of fleshy organ's feats, when alone and melancholy, feeling it hurting. Knowledge told her the heart only pumped blood, but instinct told her it housed her spirit.

She had come to trust instinct.

Rationality told her a well was incapable of bringing her through time.

Reason told her the great demon lord Sesshomaru would never love her.

Senses told her he now meant to kill her.

His face was as usual, void of expression. A cold demeanor to match cold actions. She could vaguely smell the familiar metallic scent of fresh blood in the air, life essence ready to pour forth from her body.

Senses urged her to give in, to doubt.

She felt pain, sharp burning razors lancing through her body. Each moment felt worse than the last.

She didn't doubt.

Instinct told her he loved her, meant to save her, would never betray her.

Her tense body relaxed. Sesshomaru sensed this and drew out an unstained blade from her chest.

His lips miraculously quirked into a small smile, and Kagome smiled a full wattage one back.


Author Note: I hope this relieves a little of the suspense from previous chapter (or increases it ;D). The reference to the heart and Kagome being melancholy is from chapter 6, "Three: broken cycle."

Words: 260

Two: shoulder devil vs. shoulder angel