Well well well, here we have another chapter. and Slipping Away are on hold, so I should be able to get updates out faster. Well, I've mapped out the rest of the story and I like how it's going to turn out. Hopefully you will, too. All pairings are fixed in my mind, and the only triangle is with Sesshou, Naraku, and Kagome. One reviewer said she hoped Kagome gets both.... And she sort of does. They both fall in love with her, anyway. So, what am I going to do about that? Well, you'll just have to wait and see! Ah ha ha ha ha ha! Anyway, enjoy. Oh, and one of you guessed something about Hadori that's correct... Nice job. Anyway, five more chapters to go (including this one), enjoy!

*Disclaimer* insert clever and witty disclaimer here that still gets across the idea that I own nothing

CHAPTER 6: Sunset's Kiss

Why do you hate Inuyasha?

Sesshoumaru froze, and turned to face her slowly, his face hard and cold. he asked, his voice flat and low.

Kagome nearly shivered at his tone, but she was not about to give up now.
You must not have heard me, she said curtly, Why do you hate Inuyasha?

That is none of your concern.

I'm making it my concern... Just tell me... Please.

Sesshoumaru stared at her, shocked by the pain in her voice. Why does this hurt her? he wondered. He was going to tell her, explain it all, for a reason that he could not quite comprehend. Kagome, I don't hate him.

Kagome's eyes widened in suprise. Really? Then why... Do you try to kill him?

Sesshoumaru looked at the ground, his guilt bearing down on him, and yet, suddenly, he realized that it would be good to tell someone this. Acting as if I hate him is my way of continuing to let my anger at his parents live on.

Kagome was quite shocked now. Go on...

Well, I hate them, or at least I used to. My father abandoned my mother for Inuyasha's, and she killed herself over it.

Kagome gasped. Oh my God... I'm, I'm so sorry...

Why is she sorry? Sesshou wondered. But that's not the worst of it. While he was off with her, trying to avoid me because I knew he was angry... We were attacked. I did what I could, but it was not enough... It's my fault... It's their fault... There's was nothing I could do to stop it... She died.

Who died?

My twin sister.

***
Are you lost? Kouga asked. He was sitting beside her on her large feather, flying through the sky, his hands still bound.

Oh, be quiet, Kagura said. And, no, I am NOT lost... I just don't know where I'm going. I mean, I'm still looking for Naraku, sort of. I'm not really sure why.

Do you do everything because he tells you to?

Just about... Why?

Because... That's the way it is. I don't have a choice.

Why's that?

Kagura sighed. Why did she feel her walls melting? She didn't want to tell him this, but if he was going to keep asking... He holds my heart...

Kouga scoffed, and his scent suddenly held anger and sadness. Why the hell's that? How could you love... that?

Kagura laughed alloud. No, no, I don't LOVE him.... He PHYSICALLY holds my heart... I was born from the swirling mass of youkai that is Naraku.

Kouga's eyebrows shot up. Well, that's just about the weirdest thing I've ever heard.

Kagura laughed. You're a strange youkai. So anyway, you're in love with this Kagome girl? Kikyo's reincarnation?

Kouga, for the first time in several days, thought about Kagome. He had completely forgotten about the young miko. She didn't really seem very important right now, and the slightly expectant, nervous although scoffing face of the youkai beside him made him question answering as he would have several days ago. Not really, he decided on. I thought I did, but I'm not really interested anymore.

I see.... So, Kouga? Right?



What would you say if I said you could go? Right now? You can just leave, be free. What would you say?

I would thank you.

Kagura said. Her face showed disappointment. You may go, then. With a wave of her hand, Kouga's bonds dissapated. she said softly.

Kouga stared at his now free hands. He stood up to spring off the feather, and then smirked, causing Kagura's heart to speed up slightly. We'll meet again.

***

Kanna stood on a hill, watching the miamsa castle. It seemed to disappating, melting, slowly but surely, like a lump of frozen butter placed outside in the summer sun. She stood watching, her mind blank, empty, as always. She was nothingness.

Hey! What are you doing? came an unexpected voice at her side.

Kanna turned in mild surprise to see a young youkai girl standing before her. The girl's green hair was short and bobbed, glimmering slightly in the sun. She had large, purple eyes and a wide smile. What's your name? she asked.



I'm Jessui. Want to be friends?





What are you doing here?

Can't you at least use my name?

What are you doing here, Jessui?

I'm just wandering around. I live near here, and well, when I saw you I thought I should come over.



Because you looked lonely, Jessui answered simply, smiling wide, her purple eyes glittering. To Kanna's surprise, if it can be called that, the young youkai grabbed her hand and pulled her along, towards a small wooded area. Come on, you can come play at my house.

Lonely? Play? Kanna was confused, and yet, she realised, it was an emotion. A real emotion. Was she beginning to feel... Was she being released from the confines of her creation? Was she being released from Naraku?

***

Your... Twin sister?! You had a twin sister?!

Yes. Her name was Hyakurin. (ten points to the person who knows what manga that name comes from-and it may not be spelled right) We were always best friends. Always together. And yet, I could not protect her... I wasn't strong enough. And my father wasn't there. That was his fault, and Inuyasha's mother's, and mine...

Sesshou, that WASN'T your fault! And it wasn't Inuyasha's, or his mother's! It seems easy to blame your father, but it wasn't his fault either...

Sesshoumaru looked, surprised at this strange girl before him, this beautiful human girl, incredibly beautiful, in fact, for a human. Her eyes were shining for tears, shed over a family that was not her own.

Sesshoumaru wanted to comfort her, for some reason, and yet he did not know how. Kagome... I did not mean to upset you. Please, do not cry.

I'm sorry. You're the one who has suffered. I'm truly sorry about your sister.

It is alright.

That's just it! It ISN'T alright. You have every right to be sad about it!

Sesshou was shocked. But he wasn't thinking about his sister anymore. He was thinking about this brave girl standing in front of him. Her eyes were shining, her hair was glimmering in the starlight, her lips were slightly parted.

Sesshou wasn't completely aware of what he was doing, but he was leaning closer to her, and he pressed his lips to hers. Kagome gasped in shock and Sesshou took the opportunity to slide his tongue into her mouth. Her taste, her smell, it was consuming him. He leaned closer into her and wrapped his arms around her body.

Kagome was too shocked, at first, to do anything, but then she felt herself melting in his embrace. Suddenly, she pulled sharply away, earning a sharp growl from him, and looked at him in surprise. What just happened? she whispered.

At that precise moment, Naraku walked back into camp.

Kagome felt as though she had been at an amusement park, on several very high rollercoasters, all day.

***

Sango, Miroku, and Shippo were sitting around a small fire outside the hut. Rin was sleeping on the ground beside them.

It's two choices, Sango said finally. One or the other. We either follow the rumor and look for the shard, or split up. Some of us go into the air rip and some of us go in search of Inuyasha.

No one is going into the air rip, said Miroku. Let's pursue that shard. We might as well do something useful. I think it's definitely the best idea. I have a feeling Inuyasha is taking care of Kagome, and that there's no place for us in this conflict. We go after the shard.

What about Rin? Shippo said, worriedly.

Miroku and Sango grinned slightly at each other. She can come with us, Shippo.

Shippo said, excitedly.

Miroku and Sango laughed slightly.

Hey! Hey, what's funny?!

Miroku and Sango just laughed harder.

Miroku said, getting to his feet, You and Rin sleep outside, Sango and I are sleeping inside.

asked Shippo.

Just please, do us a favor, said Sango, smiling seductively at Miroku.

A small lightbulb popped out of Shippo's head as he rolled up in a ball, muttering something about perverted adults.

***
As far as Kagome knew, Naraku and Sesshoumaru were asleep, but she couldn't be sure. She frowned slightly, staring up at the again misty sky. Today she had kissed two youkai, well, to be fair, they had kissed her, and she was still reeling in shock. Naraku and Sesshoumaru... Her enemies, and yet, she could not think of them that way anymore. Sesshoumaru, she had begun to suppose, was okay, but Naraku was evil, right...? She remembered both of their kisses. They had been different, but they had both been exciting in some way. I'm such a player, Kagome thought to herself sadly. I'll just think about Inuyasha... He's probably coming to save me right now...

Suddenly, Kagome looked up to see the sky blotted out by someone leaning over her. She gasped to see Naraku's eyes gleaming. She eeped as he came down on top of her, pushing her hands to the ground and leaning very closer to her face. he whispered.

What... What are you DOING? Kagome whispered.

You're.... in heat... the youkai said, his eyes still gleaming strangely.

Kagome gasped and tried to scream but the youkai's lips had already pressed against her own. It was not like the kiss before. This kiss was deep and demanding, painful and long. In her mind, she cried out for help as Naraku's taught body pushed against her.

Kagome knew she did not have the strength to stop this youkai from doing whatever he wanted with her... She struggled, but it was no use... I... He... He's going to rape me...

Suddenly, he was torn away from her, and Kagome looked up to see him sprawled across the ground, Sesshoumaru's silhouette standing over him. he growled, his eyes filled with a feral anger. Kagome gasped in shock. She had never seen him like this. He was glowing with fury. It is only a very weak youkai who cannot control the impulses of his own body.

Naraku looked up in fury at the white-haired youkai. You think you're a match for me, moon-boy? he sneared, but his voice sounded weak. Sesshoumaru's anger was emanating from his body like a strong cologne.

Do not touch Kagome ever again, Sesshou said, his voice cold and serious.

His anger was boiling to the surface, he could feel it. He had never been so angry in his life. How dare that bastard lay a hand on his Kagome? Or, on Kagome, that is. Either way, Naraku did not deserve to touch something so pure with his soiled hands. Naraku, I will not kill you now because you are leading us out, but the next time you try to pull that with her, you're dead.

Kagome looked at him, and she knew that he meant it. Why was he protecting her like this?

***

It was early morning, and Isota was standing on a large cliff, overlooking a canyon. This is Geramelyn Canyon, he thought, and this is my place. This is where I will take my Kagome from those bastards... I don't want to fight them until I have completely recovered. Once a year, he became weak, almost like a hanyou does every month, but his was different. It was the curse of his family... A strange family, and yet he had not received the family's blessing... Only his bitch of a sister had received the blessing.

Either way, he thought, he would trap Naraku and Sesshoumaru in the canyon's strange rock traps, and then he would take Kagome for his own. She would not come willingly, he knew, but she was powerless against him... Only human... He would use force, and he looked forward to every moment of it... Kagome would be his... He could hardly wait. Everything was layed out. He could not fail.

***
A favor? Hadori asked softly. After all this time... Of course I shall help you, my friend. But... You're dead, aren't you?

Inuyasha was still staring at the beautiful hawk youkai as if under a spell.

Kikyo laughed softly. Yes, I am. But that is alright. I would like you to help my friend. This is Inuyasha.

Hadori's eyes narrowed sharply. Inuyasha?! You're FRIENDS with INUYASHA?!

The spell was broken. he asked. Why are you so shocked?

Isn't he... Isn't he the one who KILLED you?!

Now wait just a minute, Inuyasha said angrily.

It wasn't him, Kikyo said softly.

Hadori asked, blushing a little. Oh, uh, sorry, I just thought.... Sorry about that.

Assuming bitch, Inuyasha muttered.

WHAT was that? she cried angrily.

Kikyo sighed. Stop it you two, we have to get to work!

Hadori muttered. But let's just get this straight. I'm doing this for you, not him.

Inuyasha followed Kikyo into Hadori's house, grumbling about annoying hawk youkai.

***

So it's that way? Kagome asked pleasantly.

The old woman nodded. Yes, but.... She paused. Have you by any chance met anyone named Isota on your journies?

Why, yes, actually. He-

Stay away from him! the woman cried, her gray eyes serious. He is not what he seems. His power is great... And he comes from one of the three families...

Kagome asked. What three families.

I suppose you shall have to find out for yourself.

Kagome walked out of the hut, a little surprised, to where Naraku and Sesshoumaru were waiting. Let's go, she said. That was just weird...


_____________
This chapter was really bad, but I've been really busy. My dad's got a new house, so we were moving out of the appartment. Next chapter will be sooner and better, promise! And, lots of HADORI and INUYASHA next chapter! Yippeeee!