{Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, so don't sue me. College has a strict hold on my wallet anyway.}

SF: Yes, this update is rather late. Let me explain why. I worked last night from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. I came in the door, expecting the computer to be free, and my louse of a brother is on it. We started to argue over the computer I pay for, woke my muse, who woke my mother. Moms came out and cussed us both out. I threatened to move, she said she'd save me the trouble and put us both out. Now if she did that, my brother and I would have to move in together. He keeps a lot of his friends around, so I'd just be moving in with him and like eight of his friends. Sesshou would have a fit and kill someone. Needless to say, I shut my mouth and went to bed. Sorry for the late update.

Vengeance

By Striking Falcon

Chapter Seventeen: In Mourning…Or So I Thought

"INUYASHA!!!!!" Kagome cried, reaching the pair too late. Sesshoumaru shoved Inuyasha's body into Kagome's arms and sliced Ryuukossei through. But the damage had been done.

Kagome sobbed, her small frame wrapped around Inuyasha as she called his name. Sesshoumaru stared down at her, a sudden grim awareness coming to play.

"This is your dream, isn't it Lady Kagome," Myouga whispered. Kagome nodded, tears flowing down her face. Sesshoumaru sighed as Kagome came to a realization of her own.

"You can bring him back," she whispered. Sesshoumaru's blank expression crossed his face, and Kagome knew she would have a hard fight on her hands.

"Sesshoumaru, you can bring him back. You brought Rin back." Her eyes pleaded with him, begging him to see it her way.

Sesshoumaru tilted his head slightly. "Why would I do that?"

"Because he's your brother!" she screamed, fresh tears staining her face. Kagome lifted Inuyasha so his head could rest on her shoulder, rocking him back and forth gently like a child. "He saved your ungrateful pelt, you trifling excuse for a demon!"

Sesshoumaru thought for a moment before returning her to his attention. "What if I take the Tetsusaiga and walk away?"

"Then you're a bigger monster than I thought you were and you'll never be the great demon he is."

Sesshoumaru shook his head, his gaze regarding the dissipating crowd below before patting her head and walking past her and up the hill. Kagome cried bitterly, her face buried in Inuyasha's hair, cursing Sesshoumaru with every fiber of her being. A sudden white flash and a hot, sharp pain stopped her cold. Sesshoumaru stood in front of her, a grin spread across his face. The Tenseiga skewered them both, the tip of the blade sticking out her back. Sesshoumaru slid it out slowly, watching her face as he did so. Kagome stared at him in open mouthed horror, on her knees holding Inuyasha's still body. 'Fall back, Kagome, please.' Sesshoumaru chanted in his mind. 'Fall back.' Kagome slumped to the side, then fell backwards, her eyes closed, holding Inuyasha for dear life. Sesshoumaru let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and walked up the crater, passing Sango as he did so. Sango grabbed his arm.

"You saved Inuyasha. Why?"

Sesshoumaru shrugged. "It seems the world is more interesting with Inuyasha in it."

"Then why run Kagome through too?"

Sesshoumaru growled, his golden eyes narrowing into slits. "To remind her who she was talking to."

A groan from Inuyasha captured Sango's attention, and she released Sesshoumaru to rush to his side. Sesshoumaru watched her go before collecting Jakken and leaving the group behind.

*************

Inuyasha rubbed his head against the softness below him, enjoying the feel and the smell of it. He wrapped an arm around the funny shaped pillow soaked in Kagome's scent, and imagined it was her. His other arm moved upwards and found strands of black hair. Inuyasha opened his eyes, staring at Kagome's neck. He blushed before realizing something must be terribly wrong if he were doing this and she wasn't sitting him. He looked into her face and froze on the spot. Kagome's eyes were closed, her lips a pale blue. He braced himself up and tapped her face gently.

"Kagome. Kagome, you stupid girl, wake up."

That's when he realized her heart wasn't beating. He put his finger under her nose. Not breathing either. Inuyasha raised himself further and looked down. A hole was slowly healing in his chest, but wasn't healing in hers. Thinking she got between Ryuukossei and he when he blocked him from Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha did the only thing he could think of. He wrapped his arms around her and held on, pressing his wound with hers. Sango and the others came to a stop beside him, watching him intently.

"Inuyasha what are you-"

"Shhh." he hissed, his eyes closing. He silently prayed to every god, any god who was willing to listen to give him another chance to tell her he loved…

Kagome took in a sharp breath, and Inuyasha left any thought he was having in the dust. Kagome's heart returned to its regular rhythm. Inuyasha waited impatiently for her to open her eyes, reminding himself when she did not to crush her in his embrace and hurt her further.

"Kagome, are you ok?" Kagome nodded, her hand coming up to rub the side of her head. Inuyasha rested his forehead against hers.

"Good. What possessed you to get between us? All that studying and no common sense," he whispered, tapping her on the nose. Kagome blushed, and opened her mouth to say something when she looked down. She gasped and her blush darkened. Inuyasha hooked a finger under her chin.

"What is it Kagome?"

Kagome blushed further still, but she managed to find her voice. "Inuyasha, could you get off me please?"

---------

SF: This chapter is for anyone who actually thought I'd kill off my Inu-kun. You guys should know better.

Inuyasha: I thought she'd kill me for sure.

SF: No, not unless you piss me off. You know I love you, Dog Boy! {::SF hugs Inuyasha:: ::Inuyasha blushes::}

Inuyasha: Get off me!

SF: Fine, fine, but you know you like it! The reviews and the preview are below. Would somebody buy me a t. v. so I can stop half drawing these episodes?

{::Sesshou smiles and walks offstage:: (Wonder what he's planning?)}

Chapter Eighteen: Changes

"Wow, my left eye stopped hurting, but the right is still going strong."

Sango let out a breath before reaching for Kagome's pack. "Look in the mirror."

Kagome tilted her head slightly, then opened the compact. What she saw almost caused her to drop it, shattering the contents into a million pieces.

Responses:

MingLay: Thanks! I could see this as a real episode too! Could you imagine? I'd probably faint on sight or something. Ryuukossiei is the guy Inu's pop died trying to seal, I just didn't know he was a dragon when I wrote this story. I was pissed off at the time at the inu brothers for being so stupid. I mean, it doesn't matter what my brother and I are arguing about, if someone bothers pop, they bother us, you know what I'm saying? I could have clocked them both! Stupid dogs!

Harrys girl228: Thanks for the love and another chapter is coming shortly.

Shandrial: As you can see from above, Inu lives and so does Sesshou.

animegirlll: I'm so sorry to leave you hanging like that! I'm such a cad! It honestly wasn't my fault. FF locked me out, but now here I am in full effect, bringing what you asked for. Inu transformed into a giant dog, if you can believe it. As for being cruel, I know. Sesshou tells me that all the time.

FatBoy: It took me a minute to figure out what the hell you were talking about, and when my sleep-depraved mind finally latched onto the episode you're talking about I went 'Oh'. I'm an airhead, what can you do? Thanks for telling me, I forgot. Let's say we just pretend that didn't happen, shall we?

Sorrow: I'm coming with more soon, I promise!

Kdogg218: I'm coming with another chapter as soon as Sesshou stops leaving his whiskey bottles beside the hard drive.

Ice ColdJade: OH MY GOD!!! {::ducks behind Sesshou::} Don't be mad! I'm too small to be beat up! Sesshou: Beat her anyway. I might decide to help. SF: You're no help. I'm coming with another chapter, just don't hurt me. Sesshou: That's my job. {::SF smacks Sesshou upside the head::}

Sugarhighs:p: Of course Inu makes it! I can't kill him just yet! Oops! Psyche, I'm just playing! I'm not giving the series away that easily!

Strina: Thanks for the review!

Sandy: If you really want me to update you personally when I update, email me at SiOnErChest@aol.com.

VashtheMan(V): I love your name! I love Vash the Stampeede! It's another addition of mine! Thanks for the review!

TiffanyJChong(ff): Thanks for your review! I wish I knew which one you read!

Tenshi no Yami: Woah. Scary! Men are idiots, that I do agree with, but don't worry about Inu-chan. He'll be fine, I promise. Don't cry. If you cry, then I'll cry and we'll have a big mess.

Sailor X: I'm coming as fast as my little wings can carry me!

Yusuke: {::Hands in the air::} Don't shoot! I had good reason. Look for chapter fourteen to see why.