Author's note: ^ ^ Help, it's almost finisheeeeeeeeeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CHAPTER 22 MY LIFE FOR YOU Her only thought was run. Anna was hurt because the betrayal of Inuyasha and who she considered friends. Naturally, they thought they had acted well, but they hadn't a single idea about the pain they had caused to her. Anna set her teeth, running with her eyes closed. Her heart.it made her feel pain in all her body. Only smelling Sesshoumaru's scent, after all those weeks of distance, of torpor, had hit her deep inside, destroying with one shot the dam. Her feeling had flowed another time from her heart in an uncontrolled tide. Anna made a suffocated cry, hearing that the youkai was gaining ground. It was been ever more fast than her.and more strong.and more evil. "Please, somebody, kill me!- she thought, deranged, while her throat was closed by her tears- I don't want to feel this pain anymore! Why can't I live feeling nothing?!" "Anna!" Sesshoumaru cried. His voice hit her like one hundred swords. Anna avoided Sesshoumaru's hands, outstretched to her, and cried in pain. "Leave me alone!" she said, trying to run more fast. She didn't care about her lungs in flame. She didn't care about her tired legs. She could stand everything, if only that damned heart would stop to hurt.stop to beat so fast. In that moment, Sesshoumaru clutched a sleeve of her kimono. Anna's run was stopped and the girl was dragged behind and forced to turn. "Let me go!" Anna screamed, with her head bowed and her eyes closed. She felt Sesshoumaru's hands take her arms. God, his hands.The desperation, the sadness Anna had inside were untenable. His presence.so near, by the hell, but also so far from her. "Why do you torment me? Why do you want me dead inside? You leave me nothing, you hurt me!" she thought. Every heartbeat was another wave of pain. "No, don't touch me! You're hurting me, don't touch me!" Anna cried, moving furiously in his arms like a wild cat. "Anna, stop it." Sesshoumaru said, almost sweet. Anna felt his hands tremble lightly, like if Sesshoumaru was afraid to really hurt her.like the night he had said she was dead for him. "Why Inuyasha has done this to me?!- Anna cried, trying to free herself with her eyes still closed- All them! Why do you hurt me? Why do you always hurt me?! Go away! Please, go away!" "I can't.- Sesshoumaru said- Simply, I can't." Anna stopped to fight, upset, tired. She stood unmoving inside Sesshoumaru's arms, silent like a doll. "Don't ask me this, Anna.- Sesshoumaru whispered- I've searched you everywhere, and Inuyasha has helped me. He has done this for me.and for you too." Anna didn't reply, neither move. Sesshoumaru's hands trembled again, but the youkai pressed his lips, recovering his self-control. Did she hate him so much? All, all of her pushed him away.why? Now he had found her.he only wanted she would smiled at him again. But she didn't even look at him. Her eyes were focused on the ground. "Look at me, Anna.- he said, with low voice- I must to talk with you." Again, she didn't move. Sesshoumaru's heart wrung. He can't stood this! He had thought innumerable times about their meeting, about the words he would to say when he'd see her again. He had thought night and day about the changing of her face, while he'd calmed down her anger, bringing her back to his side.and nothing would divide them after this. But this lack of reactions.Sesshoumaru wasn't ever been ignored. He didn't know what to do. "Anna." he called her again, uncertain. She was there, so near, but also so distant. Her pale face was so beautiful, in spite of lines of pain and sorrow were over it. Her eyes were hidden by her lowered eyelids.by her long and black eyelashes. Sesshoumaru's soul trembled because what he felt. "How.how I've missed you." he thought. "Anna.look at me." he whispered again, moving an hand to her face and caressing lightly her cheek. Finally she started to move. She trembled slightly at Sesshoumaru's touch, then raised up her head.Sesshoumaru suffocated an exclamation of pain when Anna bit his hand with violence. He left her go and made a step behind, so Anna could claw his face and jump away. "DON'T TOUCH ME!!!" Anna cried, squeezing her fists and looking at Sesshoumaru in anger. Sesshoumaru didn't care about the blood that was flowing from his hand and face, but paled in front of the hartred and the pain inside Anna's eyes, finally focused on him. And Anna paled her too, unprepared to the effect the sight of his face could have over her crumbling armour around her heart. Sesshoumaru saw Anna's face became so suffering that he tore apart. "It's all my fault." Sesshoumaru murmured, while Anna closed her eyes, near to break in two because the pain she felt. "No! It's too much, I can't stand it!- the youkai said to himself- It's like the time I've lost my mother.and my only friend.and then my father." Immediately, the rational part of Sesshoumaru tried to active the only defense it knew, and that it had always used successfully. A blanket of coldness came down over Sesshoumaru's heart, extinguishing the feeling that was moving him so deeply. But the coldness disappeared again when he saw the tears running over Anna's face. "Why? I don't deserve this!- the girl said, covering her face with her hands and drying her tears angrily- Why have you made your apparition inside my life?!" Sesshoumaru didn't reply. Anna shook her head, frustrated, closing again her eyes. Sesshoumaru's face.his handsomeness didn't stop to enchant her, not even with that trace of blood she had made. But he seemed so changed, his coldness so fragile, ready to break in pieces with one single deed that Anna couldn't stand the sight. Why was he returned to upset her life? Why was he there, again, looking at her with those amber eyes that took away her will of fight.her will to hurt him like he deserved? "I'd prefer to die that night.- Anna said, sighing- Or be a true youkai. If only I'd lost my human soul, now my heart would be of ice. I'd not feel this pain." She clasped her hand over her chest, crying. "I wouldn't feel anything.exactly like you. I'd prefer to die!" she cried, her voice broken because the tears. Sesshoumaru run to Anna and hugged her, making her froze in surprise. "Don't say it.nevermore." Sesshoumaru whispered, looking right in her eyes and closing her mouth with a gentle hand. "Your heart.all of you is beautiful.but the ice isn't the right way to conserve it." Sesshoumaru murmured, and his intense look made Anna lost herself inside the pain of those amber eyes. Sesshoumaru took away his hand from those lips, that trembled under his palm, and caressed a cheek wet with tears. Sesshoumaru's face darkened. "I curse that night, too, because it's the cause of all this.- he said, with a cold voice- If only I'd never met you, I'd never live all this. All this humiliations, all this thoughts." Anna tried to withdraw, but Sesshoumaru didn't leave her go. "This pain I feel inside." the youkai ended. Anna turned her head. She wanted to hear him, she wanted to suffer again, more, and more, and more again. Sesshoumaru left her go and made a step behind. Anna shivered when she lost the contact with him, but she made a step behind, too, hugging herself. "You can hate me or curse me, like your eyes and your deeds tell me.- Sesshoumaru said- But I can't. It's my impossibility to hate you, to treat you as all the others, that has pushed me to do and say things.that I didn't think." Anna couldn't restrain herself and looked at him. She wanted to stop his talk. Every word made her pain more deep. At the same time, she wanted desperately hear what he wanted to say. "I've hurt you. It's the thing I can do better, and I've reached the top with you. I wanted to know what there was behind the door of your heart, but instead of search the key, I've broke it down.- Sesshoumaru said, then he made a strange smile- My brother said to me: " When you find something precious, you destroy it." and I laughed at him. But, maybe, my brother is less stupid than he seems, because now, that you are here, in front of me, I understand how near I was to destroy you. And I'm still near." Sesshoumaru looked at her and his face became of stone. "You've hurt me, Anna, even if you don't believe me. Whatever will happen from now on, you'll be the only one that's been able to hurt so deeply the great Sesshoumaru." Sesshoumaru said. "How much do you think I care?!- Anna attacked him, fighting her confusion and a fool hope- It's not this the way I wanted to use for reach your heart!" "You've destroyed my armour. I'd only have to hate you." Sesshoumaru whispered, corrugating his forehead. Anna made another step behind, squeezing her fists. "But I can't." Anna stopped, astonished, and looked at Sesshoumaru. The kindness, the tension she could read over his face made her stand unmoving. Why, why had he still so much power over her?! Why couldn't she stand the sight of him.so hurt? Why?! "Do.Do I still love him?" Anna asked to herself, her heartbeat almost stopped, while the answer appeared clearly inside her soul. "Listen, Anna, because I don't repeat myself.- Sesshoumaru said, making a step ahead- In every case, I'll never give up, and I'm able to use all the eternity if I desire something. This is my word, and you know that it's the truth." Anna stood in silence. The tension was untenable, while Sesshoumaru, for the first time in his life, searched enough guts to finish what he had started. This was the reason he didn't see the puzzled and then horrified expression of Anna's face. "Anna, I." "Sesshoumaru, watch out!" Anna cried, moving like a lighten. Sesshoumaru felt Anna's hands hit his chest and push him away. Then his world exploded. *** Inuyasha saw them arrive from everywhere. "Damn." he said, while Kagome clutched his kariginu, worried. "Inuyasha." Kagome said. "It's the Big Family.- Inuyasha said, without low his guard- I'm afraid we have to stop for a while." Inuyasha stopped and Kagome stood behind him. Inuyasha put one hand over Tetsusaiga's hilt. The inu-youkais had started to converge around him. "Kagome, don't talk and don't react.- Inuyasha whispered- They're more dangerous than they seem." Kagome looked at Inuyasha. He was nervous, but he showed only dignity while he waited the inu-youkais. Inuyasha had told to Kagome that the Big Family was liable for the flight of Inuyasha and his mother from the Palace. Kagome knew what hartred Inuyasha felt for the inu-youkais that were surrounding him. It was their fault if he had lived so bad. It was their fault if his mother, after a poor life, without the chance to live with humans because his hanyou son, fell ill and then died. Inuyasha's pain was hers, now. Kagome put one hand over his shoulder. She didn't want to be protect. She wanted to say to Inuyasha that she was always there, at his side. He seemed to understand, because gave her a brief smile. The inu-youkais, twenty, more or less, surrounded them, closing them inside their distant and cold auras. "Inuyasha! Kagome-sama!" Inuyasha and the old youkai in front of him turned to the voice. "Stay out." he said, with a cold voice, to his friends that were arrived. Kirara stopped outside the circle of the inu-youkais. Sango and Miroku accepted the order of their friend, but stood there tensed and ready to fight. "Son of Inuken, you are still alive." the old youkai said. At those words, the other stopped their steps. "It seems so." Inuyasha said, dry. The youkai looked at Kagome, that faced his look without any trace of fear. "But, as your father did, you've chosen a human.- the youkai went on, making a face- Luckily, Inuken had another heir." "This isn't your business." Inuyasha said, coldly, squeezing his sword's hilt. "What do you want?" "Revenge." the youkai declared, turning his eyes in the direction Sesshoumaru and Anna were disappeared. "She had broken our law." "Feh! Your law is as idiot as you.- Inuyasha said, sarcastic- Don't disturb them." "You're became too much arrogant, dirty hanyou!" said one of the younger, spitting on the ground. Inuyasha turned to him with a smile that made shiver Kagome and the others. "I don't stand insults from a youkai that has a blood ten times less powerful than Inuken's blood." Inuyasha said, freeing for an instant his youkai's aura. Feeling his power, all the inu-youkais showed a bit of nervousness. "You are.a youkai." the older said, stunned. "Now my blood is pure.- Inuyasha said- But I don't deny my human heart. And also because this, I'll not let you stop what Anna has started." Inuyasha unsheathed Tetsusaiga. Its huge blade interposed itself through Inuyasha and the youkai. "I don't know what are you talking about, but we haven't time to waste with you.- he said- Carry us to her. We'll forget this Sesshoumaru's error, because he's the only one that can lead us to the battle, but we don't want to stay here more than the necessary." "I think they're afraid of Inuyasha." Shippou murmured, talking into Miroku's ear. He hid himself behind the monk when an inu-youkai turned, giving him a killer glance. "Shut up, damned kitsune.- he growled- We are inside the lands of the Lord of East. This area is full of his damned messenger." "The Lord of East?" Inuyasha asked. Suddenly, he remembered the beetle youkai that had tried to convince his to enjoy the cause of the Lord of East.to enjoy with someone that desired above all extinguish Inuken's blood. He remembered Anna's tales about how even human warriors and monks were against his brother. "What do you mean?" "His humans patrol this frontier. This zone isn't safe, for us." the old youkai said. Kagome looked away with a sudden deed. "Inuyasha.- called him, nervous- Someone.someone is near to use spiritual powers! I fell it clearly!" "Powers.chikuso!- Inuyasha growled- Sesshoumaru and Anna!" "In that direction, Inuyasha!" Miroku said, pointing more distant. "Kirara, go!" Sango cried, and the cat demon passed with one jump over the crowd of inu-youkais. "So, this is the reason you've wasted time with me.- Inuyasha said, setting his teeth- Damn! I don't let someone hurt them! Especially, not now!" Inuyasha hugged Kagome and jumped away, following Kirara. "Stop him." the old youkai said, making a deed. "Don't dare to obstruct me!" Inuyasha said, hitting with his swords the two youkais that tried to stop him. Inuyasha and the others run away. "Do we have to follow them?" asked one of the inu-youkais. "Not now.- the elderly- This could be a good chance to put into effect our revenge without move a single finger.and in the same time, that spot in our noble kind could be rubbed away." The inu-youkais nodded and stood in silence, waiting. *** "We have to arrive in time!" Inuyasha thought, running with his friends behind him, that had lost a bit of ground. Through the trees, he finally saw the figures of Anna and Sesshoumaru. The two was on their feet and looked at each other. Anna had her face wet with tears. "Sesshoumaru, watch." Inuyasha started, feeling clearly the presence of nearly ten humans all around. He couldn't end the phrase. It was evident that Sesshoumaru was too much caught inside the discussion with Anna, because he seemed not notice the humans, but Anna had understood.too late. Inuyasha saw her face became frightened. "Sesshoumaru, watch out!" the girl cried, throwing herself against the youkai. "Oh, no!" Kagome cried. From the bushes, came out seven arrows full of spiritual power, that pointed without doubt to the Youkai's Prince. "Sesshoumaru! Anna!" Inuyasha cried, while Miroku, arrived in that moment, and Kagome, tried to concentrate their powers to neutralize the arrows. "There's not enough time." Inuyasha thought, feverish. Hit by Anna, Sesshoumaru lost his balance and started to fall. Anna turned suddenly and expelled from her body almost all her energy, trying to corrupt the arrows, making them become normal weapons. A big explosion of blue light came out from Anna's body. Maybe because this, maybe because Miroku and Kagome had concentrated their powers enough, the arrows that entered inside the light broke in pieces. One.two.four.five. Inuyasha didn't see well through all that light. He saw with difficulty that the sixth arrows had became dust at few centimeters from Anna's head. Then, the light turned off. Inuyasha's sight became clear. Sesshoumaru hit the ground. Anna stood where she was.with an holy arrow that came out from her chest. "No." Inuyasha whispered. A big explosion broke the arrow in pieces.and in the same way, destroyed Anna's chest. The girl fell on the ground and stood unmoving under the horrified eyes of everybody. All this, in not more than ten seconds.