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It was dead calm now except for the occasional quiet stealth of nocturnal beast that gave him a rush. He listened fervently and scented the air periodically for any changes, even minor ones. His body tense and his senses on high alert; he had to be extremely careful because of his stubborn companion. Having her here made him wary; she could become his weakness if things went awry.
He almost shook his head frustrated. Lately he could not understand his own mind. Perhaps he had taken leave of his senses, or it was the other way around and his senses had taken leave of him. Either way he was to be blamed; Kagome was singularly the most important person in his life right now. So it made no sense that he would give into her demands so easily. Why did he allow her to convince him to take her with him? It was a foolish decision considering the dangers involved. He clenched his jaw tightly as he realized that his thoughts and actions were not in harmony, and to indulge his shortcomings were unproductive. The decision was made and she was with him. All that mattered now was curtailing the threat at hand and to keep Kagome safe.
Rustling hay and a heavy breath shifted his thoughts. He turned his body quietly away from the barn door so that he could focus on her. For the last twenty minutes since he had bid her goodnight he had diligently kept watched and had thought that she had fallen asleep. As he concentrated on her form, Sesshomaru found Kagome's actions somewhat troubling. She tossed and turned for several more minutes trying to make herself comfortable, but in the end she could not fall asleep.
He was worried. Kagome was uneasy and the scent of danger surrounding them coated his tongue with the unwanted flavor of bile. The tight unsprung knots in his chest spoke of his worry more eloquently than he could put into words and he clenched his fists. Yet, he wasn't fearful for his safety per say; moreover, he was a seasoned warrior where killing and carnage became second nature when necessary. Regardless of that, the assurance wasn't full proof. Kagome would have to conform to his wishes and fight alongside him to survive. But could the priestess withstand the bloodletting that was to come, and could she take a human life just as easily as she could take a marauding demon's? The answers to his questions he could not fathom now; however, Kagome was brave and loyal to a fault which made him all the more uneasy.
He closed his eyes wearily in the dark thinking about tomorrow and how the events would unfold. Would the kami's favor him or would his weakness for Kagome and for allowing her to accompany him when he knew the illicit dangers involved be his undoing? The uneasiness in him lifted to new heights and he frowned.
The situation at hand was a cause for concern. Experience had taught him that even the best laid plan could spiral out of control in an instant if every little detail was not followed and executed properly. And even then there was no guarantee that the events would go accordingly; factoring all the unknowns into the equation was of high probability and not entirely possible.
Protecting her and destroying his enemies could prove to be a difficult task. The woman at his side has demonstrated unconventional ways time and again and would not easily listen to or obey him. He had no currency at the moment to deal with her behavior. He could only hope that when it matters most she would adhere to him. He straightened his back against the wooden walls of the barn while his left hand rested on his crouched knee. A soft sigh left his lips as his mind wandered back to earlier in the day when he had left Kagome for a short time to investigate a matter.
He had scented a presence close by the minute that they'd left the banks of the river and had traversed inland. Pausing, he'd taken shelter in a grove and had waited. He'd been suspicious at first when a young demon male of mixed blood came into view. The boy looked to be about seventeen in human years, large and well muscled dressed in battle regalia riding a white stallion. On further inspection of the boy Sesshomaru recognized the lad's scent. He was the fourth son of one of the few allies that he had left.
The youth had ridden his horse nearest to where he had hid among the trees and had dismounted with nimbleness that was surprising considering how stockily built he was. Sesshomaru noted that the young demon had looked around the area quickly knowing that he wasn't alone any longer. The pulse of power that he'd sent out washed over the boy. Although he had been uneasy he'd remained standing and had kept his composure.
As he'd watched from the sidelines the boy's face was set in stern determination, his features well defined and noble. He undoubtedly resembled a younger version of his father.
sksksk
He'd stepped out from the covers of the trees putting the boy at ease. The young demon bowed to him and he'd acknowledged him with a nod. They'd conversed for awhile about the bandits and had even exchanged information on the gang's activities. Sesshomaru informed the boy of his plans and then had hurriedly left to get back to Kagome.
Kagome's restlessness was bothersome in a way that pulled strongly at his heart. She was fearful though he sensed a strong sense of excitement simmering in her aura. He was pleased; however, the reality was that they needed rest to be alert and to be at their best in the morning. By the looks of things if he did not assist her none of them would get any sleep. Not that he needed much. At best he needed quiet so that he could ease his mind.
He hesitated briefly. Why? Because for a few moments there was quiet and he had mistakenly thought that she had settled down. Kagome turned and sighed deeply. She saw Sesshomaru's dark silhouette in the same position he had been in from they had retired to sleep. She wondered what else was on his mind other than the obvious. She couldn't tell without seeing him clearly. He had kept so quiet throughout her noisy endeavor to fall asleep. Perhaps he was annoyed with her. No, that could not be it. If he was annoyed he would have subtlety let her know one way or another. Or maybe his indifference was his way of showing her to just stop already. Who knows?
Her eyes widened in the dark as his shadowy appearance moved towards her. She moved into a sitting position as he came beside her and sat down.
After a minute sitting side by side he said one word softly. "Sleep."
Kagome shifted her head to Sesshomaru and pointed out. "I have been trying to do so but I just can't seem to fall asleep."
That he was aware of. He was witness to it.
They didn't speak after that. He pulled her roughly up against him and she gasped in surprise. His next action was the opposite of the first. Gently he placed her head on his arm. Kagome adjusted her body, letting her upper half fall into his embrace. He looked down slightly puzzled and saw Kagome smiling up at him. He was about to say something when she raised her head up and kissed him on the lips. He didn't react, her random action had taken him by surprise. Even so, he recieved her warm closed mouth on his briefly, then her lips parted to suckle his own.
Their coupling was soft and sweet in the darkness of the barn. Maybe desperation and fear played its part. They clung to each other, unwilling to let go. When their lovemaking ended, both of them slept.
As the hours passed in slumber, Sesshomaru was awakened by the distant sound of horse's hoofs. When the sound died he reclaimed his spot by the barn door where his vigil continued. After awhile, he merely closed his eyes and rested a bit, never letting his awareness slip. In a few hours time he would wake Kagome and then proceed a half mile up the river before heading into the bushes to where the gang had a house, there he would wait for the signal.
Waking the priestess would not be necessary at all, she had gone to bed early and now stirred awake in the pre-dawn hours. He watched her straining her eyes at the spot where he occupied. It was pitch black and he knew that she could not see him well. He waited, for in a short time her eyes would grow accustomed to the dark, when it did she smiled at him.
She smiled at him once more before she got up and folded the blanket into a neat bundle and placed it inside her bag. She was aware that she needed to be quiet so she walked slowly and silently over to him and then sat down. Their sides touched and his warmth seeped into her. Kagome liked the feeling of being this close to him, she snuggled more closely into his heat. He didn't object, he gently took her hand and placed it on his knee.
In time Kagome's head came to rest comfortably on his lap and he stroked her untidy ebony hair with his claws. Soon she felt a tension in him so heavy that it squeezed the muscles in his leg tightly together, forcing her to remove her head from his leg.
She had a pretty good idea why he had become so tense, but even so she needed to hear it from him. She shifted her head and nervously asked. "What's the matter?"
With his hand still in her hair he replied. "We should depart from here now, before we do I must request that you listen to me carefully and abide by what I say."
She shook her head and made a hard swallow, her mouth suddenly becoming dry with trepidation.
Sesshomaru continued. "Our enemies are close by but we cannot act until the others have given their signal. Stay in the shadows and use your bow to strike down any one that tries to flee, do not engage the enemy in close combat and remember to hide if things get chaotic."
She did not respond to him immediately out of sheer nerves. She had wanted to follow him into the lion's den and now that she was here she was as scared as a rabbit.
"Kagome?"
He called when she seemed to have entered into a trance like state. Her eyebrows rose in surprise as she was momentarily lost in thought; she shook her head and then smiled uneasily at him.
"I will do as you have asked of me, I will not get in your way," she replied softly, trying to reassure him of her sincerity to assuage the glint of doubt reflected in his eyes.
Sesshomaru tried to feel the optimism from her words and a pain pierced him. He hoped that he had not been a fool by letting her come along. He had reinforcements ready but if Kagome escaped his protection by acting wilfully, then it would become difficult for him to aid her in the melee.
She stared into his eyes and knew instinctively what he feared so she tried once more to put him at ease.
"Sesshomaru I promise to comply with your wishes...I?"
She hesitated and he got up, there was no more time for conversation.
She paused a moment longer and then reached for her bag and bow. At the door Sesshomaru turned to her.
"Are you ready Kagome?" He asked.
She nodded and took a deep breath. "I am, let's go."
They walked side by side along the river in the darkness for about half mile before detouring into the bushes. Kagome felt her hands visibly shaking as tension so thick hung in the darkness. Sesshomaru felt her fear and grasped her hand holding it steady. She let out a strangled breath and then continued on.
Within the shadows he felt his accomplices move. He jerked on Kagome's hands and led her between some trees.
"Stay here," he quietly said and gazed at her long. He could not help worrying about her because of the battle that would soon follow.
Kagome looked down and stared at her hands, alarmed by what she had seen in his eyes, he worried for her safety. She closed her eyes as he tilted her chin up to look at him again. She was afraid that she might betray some emotions with her eyes, afraid that she might plead with him not to leave her side.
His eyes left her face briefly as he saw how troubled she was though she tried to be brave in an effort to hide it from him. He sighed softly; it was too late to do anything else now other than to remind her not to act recklessly.
"Remember your promise to me, keep it and don't make me regret having you here."
Her eyes popped open and she gazed at him startled.
"I promise," she said hastily.
He nodded in spite of not being completely assured of the guarantee. As he continued to stare at her lovely face in the dark he was positive of one thing, his feelings for this human woman was like nothing he had ever felt before. Overcome with emotions he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand and then left without saying another word.
She watched as he became one with the darkness and felt as her heart saturated with love for him slumped. Just now she'd felt the tangible force of his love for her heavier than usual though he had not expressed it with words.
The tree that hid her she rested against it for awhile in thought. Today she would prove to him that he could trust her. After her brief musing she knelt by the tree and strung her bow with an arrow, mentally preparing herself to fire at any one running away. Adrenalin pumped through her veins; the nervousness and excitement of the upcoming battle swept through her body, it trembled and she took a deep breath to calm her nerves and waited.
Before long she heard an explosion and then anguished screams echoing in the air. She saw a roaring fire lit up the darkness revealing all of its secrets. The back of a huge house burned and in the chaos and confusion she saw as the occupants ran maddeningly from the flames. Sesshomaru using the weapon of savage surprise to great efficiency gave her a greater understanding of his mind and gained her respect.
She heard the clash of steel on steel, blade on bones and the gut wrenching cries of death and her heartbeat intensified. Smoke wafting into her nostrils burned like sulphur and the echoes of death crippled her mind with fear. The battle directly up ahead was brutal; who wasn't slain dispersed and tried to escape was cut off by demon males on horseback. The few who were lucky enough to break away from them ran right into another trap. She was hiding between the trees. She got up took aim and fired.
Arrow after arrow flew from her hand and she never missed. Some of the bodies fell heavily to the ground while others vanished like smoke. To the right of her she heard a noise and looked. Sesshomaru was engaging a slender looking demon in battle, while the last remaining criminal tried to sneak away.
Her head spun with the warning that she was given as she pondered what to do. Waves of doubts washed over her and she felt faint with anxiety. She couldn't let the bandit escape while Sesshomaru was occupied and she was out of arrows. How was she going to fulfil her duty? She looked in the direction of Sesshomaru one more time and then back at the escaping man and made a quick decision.
The last thing she heard as she turned away to pursue the thug was Sesshomaru asking his opponent. Why? It was a curious question that gave her reason to pause, but sadly there was no more time for thought if she wanted to keep track of the man. She made some movement to the left to keep out of sight and tripped over something, she cried out when she saw that it was the broken body of a man.
There was no joy in death. Kagome felt sickened as she made her way past the corpses. She gritted her teeth at the sight of the horrible waste of life and limb. She looked around thinking regretfully that no purpose could justify such carnage.
Perhaps if she had not seen the lifeless bodies of four young girls strewn along the dirt she might not have taken the situation personally. The bandits got what they deserved. How dare they abduct and rape innocent girls repeatedly and then throw them away like garbage. She looked away from the bodies and silently urged herself on in spite of the nausea, stealthily following the man into the bushes, all she had as a weapon was a small knife that she had carried to peel fruits.
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Sesshomaru circled the red haired female fox demon cautiously; she had been one of his lovers and they had not parted on good terms over twenty years ago.
Hatred filled her up as she prepared to engage Sesshomaru in battle. She noticed how silently he moved and took care to follow his every motion.
"You asked why," she said angrily, and lifted her head to meet his eyes with a tight smile on her lips. "If it comes to it my lord I would prefer to live my life as my own than to conform to society's rules."
He arched a taunting brow as she raised her sword in readiness.
"Be that as it may," he responded sternly, "innocent lives were lost here today and the blame lies at your feet, prepare yourself for retribution."
She laughed aloud and then retorted in scorn. "You dare judge me, a cold cruel bastard such as you!"
He smiled and lifted his weapon to chest height. His very confidence caused her to shiver, but silently she swore not to fail. She would make him pay dearly for destroying her group, for taking her innocence all those years ago and then tossing her aside like a common whore when he was done with her. She would never have guessed that after all this time their final meeting would culminate in not only one act of vengeance but two.
A slight unease made him unsteady, he could not sense Kagome's presence any longer. Moments ago he had felt her aura close by and now he did not know what to think. The other members of his group were busy fending off the remaining bandits and his woman was nowhere in his sight or senses.
She attacked suddenly seeing his obvious distraction. Steel clashed and she felt the reverberation of the blow travelling all the way up her arms. She drew back and parried when he thrust lower. Again she parried as his blade rose near her throat.
She was backing away from him she realized as her blows had no effect on him. Ruthlessly he gave no pause and no mercy attacking her again and again. Her hands shook just to keep him at bay and from directing his sword away from her head and body. Viciously his sword fell again with so much speed and force that she had to dive for cover.
He attacked again just as she found her footing and stood up. His blade descended with his power and might. She could not imagine how he could wield such a large and heavy sword with such speed and grace.
"Surrender!" He commanded.
A wicked smiled played on his lips. Killing her would be easy he thought, but he would not do so now. He needed her alive to weed out the remaining members of the gang. Information he had would suggest that the group's activities spread as far as up north.
"Surrender," she repeated slowly, the word was as bitter as bile in her mouth and she spat out her reply nastily.
"I will never surrender to you again, the last time I submitted myself to you I was left with nothing for my troubles. I am sure a place in hell awaits you!"
"OH!"
His response was soft, and she jerked back with a cry of amazement as his blade cut cleanly and swiftly through her leather armor, slicing open her yukata and flesh. He had not the time to waste. He signalled for one of his comrades to come over with a hand gesture to further apprehend the female. Kagome was missing and he needed to find her now.
Kagome followed the man at a safe distance, dawn was slowly rising and she could see well now. She couldn't wait for Sesshomaru to figure out what had happened and come in search of her. She knew that he would be angry at her because she had promised him not to engage the enemy and was only to assist him in obscurity. She had disobeyed him.
The thought of him being angry at her broke into her consciousness like fire, filling her soul with guilt. Even though she had acted out of necessity to assist him and their cause, wanting to turn back now was as constant as the breeze caressing her face but she would not.
She had to believe that Sesshomaru trusted her enough to see through her somewhat deceptive actions and would soon come to find her. The man moved quicker now through the dense forest and she had to hurry to keep up with him. Up ahead she saw what he aimed for; a horse tethered to a tree and he was about several meters away.
The bandit made quick work in closing the distance between him and escape. He approached the horse and untied the reigns securing the animal. Kagome shook her head from side to side frustratingly while she clasped and unclasped her fists. She had to act quickly because if she let the man mount the horse she would never be able to catch him again.
She decided in that one crucial instant to make a move. He was quite big compared to her but she had the advantage of stealth and would not waste it. She could only pray in earnest that Sesshomaru would come and save her before the tall muscular man killed her.
He was just about to climb on the horse, his feet was already in the stirrup when she launched herself off the ground and landed on his back. She wrapped both legs around his waist and held on for dear life. She jerked his head back and bit into his ear. She did not have the heart to stab and kill the man cold bloodedly with the small knife that she carried, so restraining him was her only option until help arrived.
They struggled against each other in desperation, Kagome screamed in agony as the man reached over his shoulders and grabbed her by the head and flung her body mercilessly to the ground. She lay there immobile breathing hard, the very air wrenched from her lungs. She clenched her eyes tightly closed to ward against the horrible pain to her head and lower back.
A shadow passed over her as the sun began to rise. Slowly she opened her eyes to see clear cinnamon eyes looking down into her muddled blue ones. Recognition passed between them at the same time. She tried to scream for Sesshomaru but a heavy hand covered her mouth and a blow to the side of the head took her consciousness away.