The elder priestess Kaede was deep in her state of meditation,When all a sudden the door to her hut was ripped down. Gasping in shock she forced herself up to her feet and grabbed her bow. Once her vision became less of a blur she was both angry and then horrified by what she was seeing.

Inuyasha stood in the doorway huffing and in his arms cradled up to his chest was young Kagome who looked to be in pretty bad shape.

She sat her bow and arrows back up against the wall and slowly walked over to the anxious half demon who also wasn't quite himself.

"Tell me what happened? " She said

" It's hard to explain" Inuyasha said between pants.

" Then use ye brain half wit, what's trouble is young Kagome in that you need to rip down my flap? Obviously it must be urgent" she said gathering blankets and hides to lay down by the fire. " Start talkin' Inuyasha otherwise I'm gonna be clueless of ye situation"

Inuyasha laid Kagome down on the soft furs and blankets below. She winced but eventually her breathin' evened out. He sighed out in relief.

" Do you want me to start at the beginning?, cause that may take awhile and quiet frankly I don't know if Kagome can hold off that long. OR, do I start with why she's laying down on the floor barely able to gasp her breath and is squirming in pain?..."

The arrogance of the young never cease to amaze her... She huffed " start with the basics then imbecile" she replied

" Have it your way " he looked down at kagome's rigid form. Then narrowed his eyes. " I had a run in with Koga and things got out of control, it's spring and for us have 'canine' demon's it's also mating season" he felt his cheeks tint up a bit but he cleared his throat and continued. " Koga came whirling in like the idiot that he is and tried forcing Kagome to be his mate. She refused and it made him feral. He acted out on it until I came and tried to stop it. But in the mist of trying to do the right thing all I could think about was the fear and panic set in Kagome's eyes, it infuriated me I become lost and things got worse from there"

Kaede took a warm wet cloth and damped kagome's head and face. She looked up at Inuyasha asking him to continue

" I challenged him. And because I did that he did the only thing he new that would set me off. He bite Kagome." He felt guilty

" Does that not mean they are mated then? " The elder asked confused

Inuyasha shook his head disgusted with what he was about to say. "a bite mark is only beginning they don't become complete bondage mates unless... unless they actually mate" the vile imagery that burned into his brain made him wanna vomit.

*Kagome was his, the only one she'd ever be aloud to touch remotely in any way shape or form intimately was him. Only he could take her...only he could plant his seed into her womb.* The thought of Koga taking his mate had him cringing. His knuckles were balled up so tight that he was surprised the skin didn't rip. He felt the demonic energy stir again and felt the blood pulsate through his veins. He closed his eyes and bite the inside of his cheek.

Kaede witnessed this odd behavior and eventually understood. " And what of ye Inuyasha?. Where do you come in between all of this? "

He opened his eyes and looked deeply into the elders gaze. He sighed and shook his head. " I...I wanted to claim Kagome. I wanted her to ...to be fully mine in every way humanly or half humanly possible. And I...I wanted to do it the RIGHT way! but with mating season here just being too close to her is enough to make me lose my composure. She wasn't aware that me trying to distance myself was to keep her safe...she felt ignored and still harborted the idealism that I still haven't moved on from my past with Kikyo...I mislead her into thinking I had no other intentions or feelings other then companionship. I FAILED HER. Because of my male ego she ended up bitten. "

Kagome whinnied in her sleep and old lady Kaede cooed " now now child, it's alright"

She reached over and carefully expected kagome's hand and the look of complet horror overrid her face. " Is this were he bite her? " She asked

Inuyasha nodded eyes blistering with hatred

" This is not good, this venom or in better words poison is laced with black magic..."

He jumped up and put both hands on Kaede's shoulders trying his best not to break her frail bones " CAN-YOU-SAVE-HER?"

She looked down at Kagome and then back up at the frantic half-demon unsure of what to say or even what she could do

" I do not know Inuyasha, this poison is something I'm unfamiliar with, and to top it off it's laced with black magic that I've never experienced...I don't know what to tell ye cause I myself am lost "

She watched his hopes just completely eliminate from his eyes that were bled through with specks of red and gold. She sighed out praying to any god's that would listen to give her strength. His face fell and his grip loosened, he shook his head denying it. There had to be a way to stop the poison from spreading... there just had to be. He stumbled back until his back hit the wall, then he slid down. His stomach felt sour but his heart felt enraged.

Kaede slowly walked up to him, and reached out a hand to place it on his shoulder. " DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE ME INUYASHA, just because I am unsure of this black magic doesn't mean I ain't gonna try to do with what abilities I have" he thanked her and watched as she walked around gathering herbs and citrus and healing notes.

He decided to stand up even though his body still shook. Not from exhaustion mind you, from fear that as soon as he walks out that door she's gonna be gone. He went to her hunched over, his heart hammered in his chest. He bent down to place a feather like kiss on her cheek. When he rose his head he could've sworn she gave him a small yet unsure smile. His throat tightened and he stood holding back what little water gathered in his eyes he could. Kaede watched as he walked towards the door " were are ye going?"

He didn't glance back, " I have UNFINISHED business to take care of"

He looked back at Kagome at war with himself. His mind telling him to go beat the lowlife that hurt his mate his heart begging him to stay. He glanced back once more at Kagome. " Keep her safe Kaede! keep her breathing, keep her heart pumping cause when I get back, I want her aware of everything I say. I want her to hear the words she's been waiting for...so please keep her safe "

" I'll do my best" she replied

He nodded and ran out the door, a stray tear trickling down his cheek. * Forgive me kagome*

The sands of time

be ticking

And the air around

it thickens

Breathe a breath for me

breathe a breath for me,

And keep on livin'