Sanctuary

Author's Note: Hey all! I'm back, sorry about the delay, I had… still have a bad case of writer's block. It always seems to come during the last chapters… I don't really know how to end a story… *sigh* v_v

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Naraku could hardly believe his luck. The one chosen to keep the Shikon no Tama, was not informed of whom she was to become.

'Thus makes my part all the easier' he thought.

" I was… Midoriko?" Kagome asked, her brain not functioning properly after hearing the name 'Midoriko' and the word 'chosen' in the same sentence.

" No, dear child… you are the gift from her to me… to finally become powerful," Naraku said breathlessly.

Kagome blinked numerous times and tried to make herself comfortable, regardless of the chains that held her against the damp wall.

" Just how do I fit into this?" Kagome asked, playing innocent. 'The more I know of his plan, the more I can think of some way to stop it!'

Naraku, believing he had already won, smiled gleefully and began to tell Kagome of his plans. Once he pieces the jewel together, he would 'train' her to be accustomed to the powers that she held inside her. He would then make his 'wish' to have its limitless powers.

' Disgusting, greedy…' Kagome babbled mentally as he began to gloat of how powerful he will become.

" And… what if you were stopped?" Kagome asked.

Silence filled the chamber and Kagome felt a horrendous chill run down her spine. Naraku's aura had just gotten more hate-filled than ever.

" I will NOT be stopped!" he roared angrily, his eyes turning red with fury.

Kagome steeled herself for the blow that she expected was to come. But, nothing happened. She opened her eyes and found herself alone.

'SesshouMaru, please come soon…' she thought. ' I don't think I'm strong enough to hold on much longer'

Kagome was being bombarded with Naraku's miasma as soon as she had regained consciousness. She knew it was a ploy for Naraku to break her, make her drop her guard and allow him to have full access to her powers.

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SesshouMaru sat patiently, waiting for Lord Komashiro to arrive. He knew Naraku was a powerful enemy and he would need all the help he could get.

Suddenly, he heard a sudden plea for him to come soon. He gritted his teeth, drawing blood as his fangs punctured the skin of his lips.

"What? What is it?" InuYasha asked.

" It's the link!" Mariko exclaimed gleefully.

They had forgotten about the link that mates had. SesshouMaru cursed at himself for being so stupid. He could find her through the link.

" Quiet!" SesshouMaru said.

' Kagome?'

There was nothing. He clenched his fists and tried again. Then, there was a faint voice calling back. The link between mates were strong, and if he had to try twice only to get a small reception from her… wherever she was had to be fused with strong powers.

' Sesshou?'

'koi, how are you faring?' he asked, feeling a lump in his throat.

SesshouMaru would have laughed at how the youkai was making him feel, but he didn't. He knew that he cared. He loved Kagome, and would do anything to get her back.

' He's- he's not here for the moment… but… I'm so tired… '

'Kagome!'

Sesshoumaru couldn't wait any longer. He stood up and faced InuYasha, his expression serious and angry.

" I cannot wait any longer. Houshi, you and the exterminator wait for Lord Komashiro's troops. Okasan, you stay here with the kits," SesshouMaru began, facing them as he calmly gave them their orders. " Kouga, InuYasha, we're leaving for the North-West."

" Why there?" Kouga asked.

" There is a tiny piece of land that is neither the property of Lord Komashiro's nor mine. It is owned by a ningen. I have my suspicions that Naraku has possessed the ningen and taken over the property," SesshouMaru said, walking quickly towards the entrance of his castle.

" SesshouMaru-sama! SesshouMaru-sama! What of me?" Jaken croaked, running for his master.

" Stay with Okasan, keep her and the kits safe," he replied tonelessly. " If anything is to happen to us, return to the North-Western lands."

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Kagome hoped they would arrive soon. She hadn't spent more than three hours or so awake, but she felt as if she had been tortured mercilessly for days. Her body throbbed in pain as she shifted her weight. As she closed her eyes, she felt Naraku's miasma doubling their efforts to keep her conscious.

Without warning, a white light erupted and Kagome was left standing in a field of beautiful flowers. Standing in the middle of the field was Midoriko herself.

" Kagome, I had planned your last lesson would turn out differently. Sadly, you have to learn to control the power inside you before Naraku tries to," the older woman said. " A great battle will ensue… and I'm afraid there will be some casualties…"

Kagome looked at her curiously and lowered her head. " Will… will I survive through this battle?"

Midoriko nodded and Kagome sighed. " Yes, although, SesshouMaru…"

Kagome paled and shook her head in denial. Midoriko tried to calm her down, but the tears would not stop flowing. Her body was glowing a bright blue, and she began to levitate. Her body started to transform into a great black dog.

Midoriko smiled. " Kagome, you did it!"

Kagome suddenly felt lightheaded. She sat on her hind legs and laid her head on her front paws. As her sorrow diminished slightly, she returned back to her ningen-like form.

" I did what?" she asked sadly.

" The last lesson… to free yourself…" Midoriko said sadly. " Now you are ready-"

"Can I save him?" Kagome asked, her voice hoarse.

" That… is up to you."

" H-how was I chosen?" Kagome asked slowly.

" Very carefully," Midoriko joked. " You were the one, Kagome. Do not doubt or ask why."

She nodded and thanked Midoriko before she willed herself to wake up.

Kagome opened her eyes and looked around the dungeon. She knew what she needed to do. Using the powers she had just become comfortable with, she broke free of the chains and barely even felt the miasma around her.

The shield she had made for herself had begun purifying the miasma as she walked through the halls. She needed to find the shards. She would not see SesshouMaru die.

'SesshouMaru… please be careful'

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Naraku cursed as he ran towards the dungeons. He had felt SesshouMaru and InuYasha coming from the West. He would not just hand his precious 'gift' when he was so close to getting what he wanted.

' Broken in or not, I need her to tap into the Shikon!'

He growled as he opened the chamber doors, to find an empty dungeon. Looking around, he noticed the aura trailing down the hallway.

" The Shikon!"

He flew towards his chambers to find nothing misplaced. Grinning, he took the shards and placed them in his robes. Surely, Kagome was still in the vicinity.

He was unaware of Kagome hiding in the shadows of his chamber, sending him a powerful illusion. She clutched the Shikon shards in her hands and waited until Naraku was gone. Powerful as she may be, she did not know the limits of her powers. Naraku was strong, and she had no clue if she could defeat him by herself… in his territory.

As he left, she searched for a window. Looking out, she saw SesshouMaru's dog form in the horizon.

" Though you could fool the great Naraku?!"

Kagome gasped as she felt Naraku's aura clasping her by the throat. She felt herself being lifted and losing oxygen. She glowed a faint blue and surprised Naraku by purifying the aura and freeing herself.

" Impressive," Naraku said, his eyes full of lust. " I would not have thought of you otherwise."

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Author's Note: Its almost over! Its almost over! Nooooo! T-T oh well…