Comments: The last chapter brought in so many reviews that I have decided to throw this one out a tad bit sooner than I expected. ^_^ Be happy. Oh, and if you hadn't figured it out, Sango is pregnant, Miroku is married (to Sango…duh), Inuyasha is deranged, and Sesshoumaru is so cool…^_~

Disclaimer: Love him or fear him, he belongs Rumiko Takahashi. ::so sad::

Chapter Six: Confessions

By: taiyoukai_kai

"Be careful." Kagome pleaded and was pleasantly rewarded with a small smile.

"Do you doubt me?"

Kagome smiled softly. "No." she whispered. "I don't."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Good." And turned to face his imbecilic brother. It was time the pup was taught some sorely needed manners.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Inuyasha slowly picked himself up and menacingly growled. How dare that asshole interfere? Inuyasha shook himself and started grinning again. This was his turf. Sesshoumaru had never fought without his youkai powers.

Inuyasha began to laugh. Sesshoumaru, for all his posturing and bluster, was (so to speak) going down.

Sesshoumaru felt his ire rise, and his ears twitched in agitation when Inuyasha's laughter grated against his sensitive eardrums. Making sure that Kagome was safely distanced away and out of danger, he cracked his knuckles.

It seemed that he didn't have his youkai powers, but it didn't matter. He was still Inuyasha's superior in combat, youkai powers or not. Hand to hand combat was just too commom to indulge for pleasure, but if it made Inuyasha bleed, it would have to do.

"The bitch is mine." Inuyasha all but growled. "You have no right to interfere with my affair."

Sesshoumaru clenched his jaw but forced himself to keep his voice light. "You are mistaken. Kagome was never yours." He began to walk, step by gliding step, closer to Inuyasha. "One, Kagome is not a bitch." Sesshoumaru spat out the offending word. "Two, I do have a right. I am your older brother, distasteful as it is for me, and Kagome is not yours." Sesshoumaru matched Inuyasha smirk for smirk.

"You're weeks too late. I had already claimed her."

Inuyasha snarled as Sesshoumaru got dangerously close. "You lie. The stupid wench didn't say anything about you claiming her." Inuyasha's smirk got wider when Sesshoumaru paused in his approach.

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "And she would have said it when? When you were slapping her?" Sesshoumaru suddenly turned sober. "You were always a pitiful fool."

Sesshoumaru's condescending tone, and derisive look of disgust and pity worked together to prod and poke at Inuyasha until he all but screamed in anger.

Perhaps if Inuyasha was his normal hanyou self, he would have reigned in his temper, but be as it may, Inuyasha was in his uncontrollable demon form. He swung wildly and unwisely at Sesshoumaru, but Sesshoumaru had already disappeared.

Sesshoumaru found it thanklessly easy to defeat Inuyasha. Although it was slower than if he had his full youkai power, it was just as satisfying. More so, sine he was venting his anger at Kagome's rough treatment.

His claws scored another hit to Inuyasha's back, causing the latter to grunt in pain. The last time Inuyasha had been full youkai, he had been caught by surprise, but, he thought in satisfaction as he watched blood spray form Inuyasha's wound, he had trained himself so that even if he was caught off guard again, he could handle it. After all, it would not do for the Lord of the Western Lands to be beaten by a measly hanyou, trying to be full youkai. Of all pitiful things to do.

Inuyasha stopped trying to hurt Sesshoumaru and changed tactics. "Why do you bother helping the bitch? She's human." Inuyasha leered. "Or did you forget?"

Sesshoumaru mentally rolled his eyes. It seemed that Inuyasha didn't have such a thing as a lowest level of stupidity. He just kept on dropping. "She is a miko." Sesshoumaru stated. Then his eyes grew colder. "And I have already informed you that Kagome is not a bitch. Kindly refrain from speaking it again."

Inuyasha snorted in disgust. "Che. I'll call her a bitch if I want to. Anyways, what's being a miko gotta------" Inuyasha broke off in mid sentence with a gargle as Sesshoumaru lunged forward, his hands wrapping tightly around Inuyasha's throat.

"I said, refrain from calling her a bitch, or are you too dense to do what's good for you?" Sesshoumaru said softly, his face inches away from Inuyasha's. His momentum carried them backwards several feet. Sesshoumaru continued as if he did not have his hands wrapped around his half brother's neck, ready to snap it like tooth pick.

"She is a miko, one with the power to purify evil and to destroy youkais. To add to that, she is considered one of the most potent one alive, dare you tell me she is just a filthy human?"

Inuyasha snarled, too stupid to listen. (AN: is it me, or does he snarl a lot…)

"Like hell I care. She's just a fucking slut!"

Sesshoumaru sighed, and backhanded Inuyasha with one hand. "Are you even listening?"

Inuyasha blinked, his mouth grimaced in pain. "No."

Sesshoumaru coldly stared down at him until even Inuyasha got nervous. Then he hit him again and again, impassive to the cries of pain wrung out of Inuyasha.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" a cold cry from behind rang out. He slowly smiled, but as he turned, his face was once more a mask of indifference.

Kikyo stood there, a knife to Kagome's throat. "Let Inuyasha go."

Sesshoumaru raised his arm, dangling Inuyasha off the floor by his throat. Kikyo pressed the blade harder against Kagome's throat, and Sesshoumaru dropped him, his eye never leaving Kikyo and Kagome.

"What are you doing here, Sesshoumaru-sama? Why help?" Kikyo asked, tilting Kagome's face up and slowly drawing the blade across the pale expanse of flesh.

Sesshoumaru smiled, not reacting to the blood dripping from Kagome's throat. He patiently waited.

"I asked you a question. Answer me!"

Still, Sesshoumaru smiled, saying nothing.

Kikyo tightened her grip on Kagome's neck and Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome closed her eyes in pain.

"Damn you." Kikyou trembled.

Sesshoumaru finally spoke. "Why are you here?"

He ignored Inuyasha, now a crumpled heap on the floor, and walked closer to the two girls. "Kagome is your reincarnation. This has your soul. How can you be here?" Sesshoumaru still smiled as if he knew something.

"I—I don't have to tell you!" Kikyo snarled. "Stay back or she dies!"

Sesshoumaru did not falter. "And how are you so…passionate?" He cocked his head in mock curiosity. "The Kikyo that I was acquainted with was a cold, calculating bitch, made of dirt and bones." Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome.

"How can Kagome share a soul with you?"

Inuyasha groaned. "Don't call Kikyo…a bitch…" Inuyasha protested, his voice barely audible.

Kikyo cried out, ignoring Inuyasha. "What are you saying?! She stole my soul and destroyed our love!"

Silence followed her declaration. Even Inuyasha stopped groaning.

Then in the silence, a melodic voice quietly spoke, "I remember."

Kikyo stared down at Kagome, who had suddenly spoken, her eyes still closed. She, too, smiled.

She slowly opened her eyes, showing the brilliance of her blue gray eyes. "I remember…"

Sesshoumaru paused in his advance, and nodded. "Good, then do what you must."

Kikyo listened to their exchange and grew increasingly afraid. "What? What are you talking about?" Kikyo backed away as a mist began to set in and Sesshomaru helped Kagome to her feet.

"I remember Inuyasha." She pointed at his still form.

"And I remember you, Kikyo."

"So?" Kikyo shot back.

"So?" Kagome mimicked her. "So, you have made a mistake, Kikyo. Oh, but you aren't Kikyo are you. Who are you?"

The Kikyo-look-alike's eyes widened perceptively. "How…?"

"Sesshoumaru loves no one, least of all you." Kagome smiled again. "And I thought you loved Inuyasha." Her hand was still pointed at him.

Kikyo shook her head. "No, no. It can't be."

Kagome lifted a hand and drew her powers around her. "I banish you, intruder. Flee, lest I destroy her."

Kikyo screamed and tried to run but Inuyasha was there, tearing her apart. He had reverted back to his normal hanyou self.

Kagome leaned against Sesshoumaru, and felt his arms envelope her. His voice whispered against her skin. "Flee, lest you destroy her?" His amusement was evident.

Kagome sighed. "Be quiet." She set her head against his shoulder. "Let's go, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Inuyasha watched as they slowly faded away, and was astonished when, at the last moment, Kagome looked up at him with such forgiveness that it nearly brought him to his knees.

He sighed when they totally disappeared. He had been an idiot, but, he swore to himself, he would make it up to the sweet girl who had given back is sanity and life. Who had bestowed such a blessing in the form of forgiveness upon him.

Kagome. He thought, as he too faded away, leaving the empty darkness behind. Thank you.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Sesshoumaru awoke slowly, feeling weary and tired. He sat up, and noticed that Kagome was still unconscious and that the other tree people were still standing guard.

He quietly stood up and walked out.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Things returned to normal as Kaede told all that were concerned that Kagome was healing.

Sesshoumaru had returned to the village after a week absence and refused to say where he was. H spent the time in the village, watching over Kagome.

It turned out that Sango was pregnant, and the couple could sometimes be seen taking walks or laughing together.

Sesshoumaru sat by Kagome's bedside, watching over her. Three days had gone by since his return and still she did not stir. He sighed. He never realized how much he missed her vitality until it wasn't there for him to enjoy.

He stood quietly up and stared down at her calm face. A small smile touched his lips.

"You were wrong, Kagome." The smile fled as he leaned close to brush a kiss to her forehead.

"I do love someone."

He turned and left.

No one noticed Kagome's eyes flicker.

Argh! Nobody notices anything. Is this the end? Hahaha!! No way! I told you, you are going to hate the ending…BWAHA!! So look for more later!

Still a long ways to go.

Kai