Question, what is everyones preferred length for chapters? Right now we've been dancing around 5k words per chapters but some of these future chapter. Heh. One is over 12k. So I need to find a comfortable reading length.

Disclaimer ~

I own nothing but some old chocolate, a watch list that's way too long, and a love for writing. Also, my new favorite tag is, 'No beta, we die like men!'. Holds true here too. That being said, feel free to point out mistakes so I can fix them.

It seemed as if the whole world stood silent. The demon hound felt his body growing taunt in response to the silence and tension. He was still laying in the lap of the woman who called to his very soul, his body a source of comfort as she gripped his human hair, though his crimson eyes kept a wary watch on the demon in the doorway. Ever since the angel gave him up, Pluto had wanted nothing more than to obey, and be cherished by Sebastian. He wanted a simple touch, and a gentle praise. He was bred for such instincts, to understand his master and adapt his life to be the best servant.

So naturally, he knew about the demon's Doll. He had been aware of her presence since the very beginning. He had discovered how much Sebastian protected and cherished her when he had accidentally stumbled across her sanctuary during his first week in the manor. He had mistaken her for a toy and attempted to play. The broken jaw he suffered from nearly roasting her in his puppy play had been a painful lesson, and the first of many boundaries.

He was considered a simple mongrel at times and his intelligence was below the natural range of his species, but he knew one thing. Sebastian cherished and protected what was his, but his human was special. Something was wrong with her, and he wanted to fix her. Yet, it was Pluto's presence that brought her alive. It was just as Sebastian desired. Now, if only he could figure out why there was so much tension in the air. Did he not do good?

Like glass shattering, the demon and the awakened miko's powers clashed viciously. Kagome's powers were minimal, but powerful after so many decades of being bottled up. Sebastian's own darkness was steadily growing, cloaking the room and trying to gently crush the purity that was causing him harm. The air grew thick, and pregnant, crackling like lightning as an ominous aura draped over them all.

Sebastian was watching his Doll, who had refused to stop her panicking. Her voice was growing hoarse from screaming but she still continued to battle unseen demons while trying to protect the canine in her lap. Sebastian took a step forward, determined to put a stop to her temporary madness but his movement drew her attention. Kagome released another bloodcurdling shriek as her power intensified and focused on the threat he was. Her powers harnessed together and snapped forward, spearing Sebastian through the chest, where his heart rested silently.

With a choked growl Sebastian fell harshly to his knees. Pain radiated through his body, sending his muscles spazzing and his blood pounding. Oxygen filled his aching lungs but was weighted like a stone, only pulling his body further down. His own demonic energy instinctively struck back, fighting against the pure energy and blanketing Kagome in his dark aura.

"You can't take him from me! He's mine!"

"Kagome, stop!" Sebastian commanded but the woman didn't respond, locked in her own nightmares. "Snap out of it."

Pluto found himself nuzzling deeper into Kagome's chest, confused by the chaotic surroundings. Who should he defend? Should he help the demon who was given to, and sworn to obey? Or the human that his demon clearly cherished? If he was loyal to the human doll, would Sebastian reward him for being a good boy?

"I won't let you take him." The miko was no longer screaming, her voice haven given out to a cracking whisper. "I'll be strong this time."

Sebastian pushed back against the pressure growing in his chest, forcing himself back to his feet. The shadows of the room were growing thicker as they inched towards the miko. Kagome whimpered at the sight of the impending darkness, kicking her feet wildly in defense, while trying to melt into the wall behind her. Pluto, catching sight of what was making the broken human so nervous, had started to growl, baring his human teeth at the shadows.

With a wave of his hand, Sebastian sent the shadows forward. Like predators, the darkness pounced. Darkness swallowed the human and demon dog before they had a chance to defend themselves. Whimpers, cries and screams could be heard as the victims struggled for several seconds. Sebastian knew the shadows would not harm his Doll. It was only her mind, and her own fear, that made her scream in terror and pain. Pluto was merely reacting to Kagome's fear, though Sebastian could care less if the dog did get harmed or not.

Finally, silence enveloped the room. The purity of the miko vanished, a clear sign that Kagome was no longer in a position to fight. Like the soft waves of the ocean, the shadows flickered and slowly retreated back to their original positions.

In the corner of the room his Doll had collapsed under the strain of Sebastian's powers. Her eyes were peacefully closed and her breaths were soft but even. Pluto was draped over her lap still but this time he had taken on his natural form. The large white canine was breathing deeply, a faint rumble in his chest with each exhale. His own eyes were closed, with his large head leaning into Kagome's stomach. Kagome had both of her hands tangled deep into Pluto's fur, attempting to clutch him even closer in her sleep.

With wide strides, Sebastian closed the distance between them. His menacing aura caused Pluto's hackles to raise, and the demon dog bared his canines at the approaching demon. Sebastian locked eyes with the canine, his true form slowly seeping forward as his eyes glowed, and his own growl met the challenge. Never before had Pluto displayed so much hostility and rebellion towards Sebastian, and he did not appreciate it.

Pluto kept his stare for only a few seconds, before a whimper left him and his ears pressed flat against his skull. Pluto was confused. He knew Sebastian would never hurt this human but the fury rolling off of him was dangerous to a mortal like she. His very center cried out to defend this woman from any danger, and yet, there was nothing he could do against Sebastian. Pluto pouted at the thought and put his massive head back down in Kagome's lap.

Sebastian kneeled before the pair and started the process of untangling Kagome's fingers from the wild mutt's fur. The calico cat, sensing the absence of the previous energies, gave a plaintive yowl and marched into the room to survey the damage. Ciel was only a few steps behind the cat, his one eyes searching immediately for Kagome while one of his free hands was clamped over his mouth and nose in an attempt to not react to the cat.

"She's more than a doll," Ciel stated simply.

"The mutt might have shattered what was left of her." Sebastian finally got her fingers free and he effortlessly scooped up the thin woman. Pluto gave another whimper and clambered to his massive paws. Sebastian shot the dog a disgusted glare but the beast ignored him, his attention focused solely on Kagome. "Her mind and soul is fragile. The canine might have destroyed what little hope was left."

"For a demon, you are stupid." Ciel's normally soft voice was now brimming with pride and satisfaction. "Your hatred of canines has twisted your view on what has happened. Did you ever stop to consider that when Kagome was in the presence of a white dog, she actually reacted. Her actions were not robotic or trained. Those were pure reactions that came from her own mind and fears. Pluto brought her to life again."

"She attacked me and clung to a mongrel." Disgust could clearly be heard in Sebastian's voice as he spoke of the disgusting mongrel he was forced to train. "She became unstable in the presence of the dog. She was a danger to herself and others, which is why I forbid Pluto near her."

"She needs to accept reality, even if it causes her pain!" Ciel was trying to keep up with the longer strides of his butler but Sebastian was determined to leave the room, and get his Doll back to his own sanctuary.

"That is not your call," never before had Sebastian's voice been so cold. "She belongs to me." Possessive instincts were running high within the demon, forcing him to quicken his steps in an effort to escape the boy behind him. He needed to get away before a command slipped from the lips of his contracted prey.

Pluto cried out as he watched his master and the Doll disappear around the corner of the hall. Mournful sounds escaped his throat as he plopped himself onto his belly in the doorway of the room. He was breathing deeply, letting the fading scents linger in his nose. What did he do wrong?

"It's time for her nightmares to happen with open eyes." Ciel's murmured words followed the retreating monster.

`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·

Sebastian had barely laid his Doll on his bed when she awoke with a vengeance. Nails that had previously been filed and carefully cared for, were now turned into sharp weapons. Feral growls escaped her throat as her dilated pupils flew around the room, glancing at everything and never locking on anything. She tried to fight off Sebastian but her physical strength did not even come close to the power of the demon.

Sebastian held both of her wrists in one hand, and pinned them above her head. His free hand was pressed against her stomach, effectively halting her struggles by pressing her center into the bed below her.

It was the random sparks of her powers that caused Sebastian to hiss in a mix of pleasure and pain. Bolts of purity pierced his own aura, the pink light fading to a dark purple and finally a haunting black as his own darkness corrupted and destroyed her purity. She continued to struggle blindly, relying on her failing powers to defend herself.

With the patience of an immortal being, Sebastian held her in place until she exhausted herself.

Sebastian felt his closed lip smile stretch across his face as his grip slowly loosened. Kagome just laid there, her eyes wide with panic, and her breathing erratic from her struggles. It pleased the hunter inside Sebastian to see that her had subdued his prey, and she would not be escaping him.

Without any warning Kagome threw her head back and screamed as loud as her human lungs were capable of. "Inuyasha!"

'Sometimes, the glass eyes of a doll need to be wiped clean so they can see clearly again.' The haunting words of the Reaper whispered from inside his own mind.

Something within Sebastian twisted tight and snapped. His possessive instincts flared and rage colored his sights. He had been by her side for decades. It was he who bathed and clothed her. It was he who learned what humans ate and how to keep one healthy so she wouldn't starve or grow ill. It was a demon, a creature straight from Hell, who stayed on this rotten plane of existence so the last of his Doll's soul wouldn't be shattered.

It should be his name that she should be shouting out for help and protection. His name should be permanently on the tip of her tongue, ready to summon at the slightest inconvenience. Not the disgusting half-breed canine who died centuries ago because he was too weak to protect her. Sebastian was clearly the better provider. He was stronger. He was smarter. He had provided for her, and may even be experiencing things that defied the nature of his own species.

'It's time for her nightmares to happen with open eyes.' But how do you wake someone from a nightmare that they don't want to leave? How do you force the blind to see, if they crave the darkness? The answer was simple. Her illusion had to be shattered.

With a calmness which contracted his boiling fury, Sebastian brought his gloved fingers to his lips and gave a sharp whistle. He shifted his body so it was positioned between Kagome and the room, just in time for the wooden door to shattered. The stench of canine filled the room as Pluto skidded to a stop by the bed, his large white tail thumping rhythmically on the floor.

Such a horrible, disgusting animal. Cats were always the superior creature. They possessed such beauty, grace and loyalty. They would never roll over for strangers, or obey anyone who scratched under their chins. No, cats had dignity and class. They were perfect, unlike the beast that sat before him, but Sebastian knew that if his plan was to work then he needed to tolerate the mongrel. It was only for a little bit, he reminded himself.

Catching sight of Pluto, Kagome immediately sat up and reached out her thin fingers. Soft white fur caressed her fingertips and a large pink tongue slimed over her open palm. Sebastian made a mental note to thoroughly cleanse her body later to get rid of any traces of the beast. Sebastian watched the reunion with a dead heart, knowing that what he was about to do would hurt her more than any wound he could ever inflict upon her.

"Kagome," she would not respond to his voice. Her attention was solely on the demon canine who seemed in love with her touch. "Doll." It was the name that he gave her that drew her attention. Satisfaction filled his chest for a second before he remembered his mission.

Kagome was still prone on the bed, but her head turned towards him, a blinding smile on her lips. White teeth reflected the light and her eyes were full of life once again. In this simple moment of happiness, she was more beautiful than any demoness or siren that ever existed. "Yasha came back," and that simple sentence plummeted and pierced his unbeating heart. "Thank you. We can be together again."

"No, my Doll." Sebastian spoke softly in a tone reserved only for felines and Kagome. He seated himself by Kagome's side and gathered his frail human in his arms, his arms currently caging her but hopefully, giving her the comfort she would soon need. "Look at him. He is different."

Kagome's smile turned childish and she turned her full attention to Pluto. The dog was still sitting contently in front of his favorite pair, his tail continuously thumping which put a dent in the floor. Sebastian observed as his Doll stroked Pluto's fur, even pausing occasionally to rub the base of his ears. Sebastian did not know what this Inuyasha looked like but he knew that canine demons rarely looked identical. There was always a difference between them. He could only hope that the difference between her dead companion, and this mutt, was not subtle enough to go unnoticed. Otherwise, this plan would crumbled before it even formed.

Seconds ticked by slowly, each one more agonizing than the last. Kagome was rapidly digging her fingers through Pluto's fur, sometimes pulling out strands that fell to the floor. His hopes were slowly deflating when finally his Doll paused, and she moved closer to gaze at Pluto's face. Hesitantly one dainty finger reached out to swipe around Pluto's crimson red eye.

"Not right," Kagome breathed out. "Not red."

Her hesitation was the opportunity that Sebastian had been waiting for. He gently laid his chin on her shoulder, and leaned towards her so their cheeks were touching. One arm was wrapped around her stomach, holding her close to his chest while the other hand laid on her leg, softly stroking her upper thigh.

"Pluto," Sebastian stressed the name of the canine before them, "is not a hanyou."

The world grew still once more, with only Plutos' comforting growls filling the air. Kagome had stopped her stroking, pulling her hand back until there was a breath of room between her fingertips and the soft fur she had been obsessing over just moments before. Sebastian let her have her time, letting her mind process the shock and meaning behind his words.

"Where, then?" Was the soft question she asked. "Yasha always comes. He protects me."

Was her mind capable of processing the same events that lead her to break originally? Was it wise to reopen old wounds that had yet to heal? How could he possibly answer her question without hurting her. In his dead heart, as much as he wanted to rip apart her dreams of denial, he knew it was not the time to make Kagome remember every harsh detail of her past.

"Dead."

There was no screaming. There was no flare of purification powers or physical attacks. There was only silence, as his Doll tried to make sense of the world around her now. She was in denial for so long that he could see that her mind was at war with itself. So many emotions were flickering across her face, never lingering long enough for him to make sense of. Her fingers darted forward in a last hope, and combed the fur of Pluto's forehead and cheek. Whatever she was looking for though, was not there either.

"No markings - too - small." Her whispers were so quiet that even Sebastian's superior hearing could not catch all the words. "Where is Sesshomaru?"

"Gone."

Finally, tears rolled down her cheeks as she collapsed back into Sebastian's chest. His grip on his Doll tightened, as if to hold her physically together himself. Sobs grew stronger, and louder, as her spider-like fingers yanked away from the imposter canine. Instead, they tangled in Sebastian's sleeves, holding herself to him. Sebastian felt his chest rumbling, a strange growl escaping him as he tried to comfort the fragile human and ease his raging thoughts at the same time.

"But I'm still alive. How could the Kami be so evil?"

Her eyes rolled to the back of the head, and her body collapsed as her mind shut down. A sharp snarl sent the demon canine running, his tail tucked between his legs. Handling her as if she was broken glass, Sebastian eased her back until he could softly lay Kagome on the sheets of the large bed. She was so angelic in slumber. Her purity could clearly be seen on her face at this single moment.

Sebastian leaned down and brushed his lips against his Doll's forehead. "I'll put you together again," his lips brushed her soft skin as he made his promise to her.

The pull of the contract tugged the demon away from his Doll and towards his master. Despite the presence of Kagome, and the emotions he potentially felt for her, the contract would always come first. It had been that way for decades, but never before had Sebastian regretted it. At this moment, Sebastian wanted nothing more than to stay by his Doll's side, and wait for her to awaken. With a longing glance back, he abandoned his duties as a protector and returned to being the faithful butler to his master.

Left alone in the room, no one was there to witness the pulse of power that escaped the slumbering miko from the scar on her hip. The power raced across the ground, and continued to travel to sights unknown. It carried the unique touch of purity long thought extinct, and the sharp touch that came only from a miko. Creatures, monsters, and breeds far and wide perked their heads as they felt the power of the Shikon no Tama jewel live again.

`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·

They looked no different, or unique, from those around them. A business, long ago prosperous and powerful, filled to the brim with those who were not human. As a breath of purity washed over the group, some of the younger yokais fell to their knees under the weight of the power. A monstrous growl escaped the leader, his golden eyes sweeping over group but not seeing the source of the power. Long gleaming fangs were revealed as the alpha pulled his lips back in a faux grin.

Besides him, a smaller pair of hands wrapped around one his. He glanced down to see the young girl that had been by his side for centuries. She glanced up with a tired smile, which lightened the shadows beneath her tired eyes.

"She's alive," her quiet voice croaked from disuse.

He didn't bother to respond verbally, instead giving an answering rumble that was distinctly canine. At his tone, several of the lower powered yokai shied away from him.

"Let's bring her home," the daiyokai said to his ward.

`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·

Inside a grim little shop that reeked of death and decay, a mortician paused his dance. One, two, three pulses of pure power washed over him. His grip tightened on his dance partner, as an impossibly wide grin stretched across his face. The bones of his lovely skeleton creaked in protest, her broken jaw hanging open in a look of haunted surprise.

He started to dance once more, swinging his lovely lady around to a tune only he could hear.

"My dear, I'll dance with you at least once."

`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·

Perched on the rooftop of a rundown house was another man that felt the pulse of power. A frown marred his pretty face as he tilted his head to the side, trying to feel more of the unique pulses. He didn't care much for the power he felt. No, he was far more interested in the barely noticeable dark tinged that tainted the edges of the purity, and threatened to consume it.

It was a darkness that very familiar to him. "Sebby?"

`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·

"Sebastian is unusually attached to this soul. She is the last of her kind, and naturally craved by all."

"Craved even by yourself?"

"Craved by all," a monotone voice confirmed. "The power she use to hold is unmeasurable, and it has finally been awoken again. It is why Sebastian guards her so carefully."

"Does he hold her as close as Ciel Phantomhive?"

"Even closer. If forced to choose between the two, I know he would leave the boy behind for the girl."

"I want her then! I want Sebastian's precious girl. Claude, I order you yo bring Kagome Higurashi, alive."

"Yes, Your Highness."

. . . Yahhhh, don't make deals with demons and writers! Sorry everyone, this is way late but in my defense! Work, and Umbrella Academy Season 2. That is all.

'Update' Expectations - Expect an update once or twice a month. Though most of this story is written, I do want to pace myself so I can update my previous writing and get a lot of these plot holes fixed and the plot lined up. However, if a chapter reached 15 reviews, I will do my best to update the next weekend, as a reward for your lovely words!