Rating: PG-13 b/c of death and swears

Show: Inuyasha

Main Character: Kagome, Sesshomaru, and Naraku

Pairing: Kagome/Sesshomaru

aghast/romance

Summary: Kagome has made a vow. How far will she go to finish her mission? She never expected someone to show her that demons have hearts, just like humans. What will she do when she falls in love with one? Pain and grief is part of her world, but what happens when the man or demon of her dreams takes it away? AU. R&R!

A New Way Of Living

Chapter 2

Danger In The Shadows





"I wish to talk to my half-brother, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru stated in an emotionless voice. Inside he felt the strings of his life begin to snap. Trouble was brewing and it could very well ruin his life. Snapping out of his thoughts, he looked at his unmoving brother. Glaring, a rare occasion of expression, Sesshomaru growled. " I meant now." With that he walked out.





Inuyasha looked after his half-brother. Something was wrong. Rarely did anything affect Sesshomaru's composure. Now his brother was actually showing some of his true nature. This had never happened before. What could have happened? Anything that worried Sesshomaru should scare the hell out of him. Looking apologetic at the teacher, he hurried outside.





Kagome looked after the retreating pair. Could they be planning something? Thinking fast she raised her hand. Better safe then sorry. " Miss, may I please use the bathroom?"





Growling slightly at his half-brother's angry scent, Inuyasha walked up. He was surprised to see Sesshomaru's eyes beginning to bleed red. Now he knew something was definitely wrong. Sesshomaru rarely was so careless as to lose his human facade. " What is wrong with you?"





Sesshomaru looked up at hi brother's unconcerned question. After making sure on one was in the halls, he began telling his brother of the woman who was ruining their lives. "It started two years ago when one of our kind kidnaped a young human girl. He taught her how to fight, finding pleasure in her attempts to escape. This isn't odd for our kind, but then one day she showed forbidden powers. She had the power to destroy our race, the powers of a miko.





Around the corner, Kagome slid silently down the wall. Oh, she remembered those times better than anyone. She still shuddered at the feeling of death. She had killed for Kouga and then was forced to kill him. No matter where she went, the memories of then followed to haunt her.





"Do you know who I am?" The boy in front of her asked quietly.

Smiling happily, Kagome resumed drawing on her school notebook. She had been taught earlier than children her age and had advanced into tenth grade. Now she had seen this boy in her class, but wasn't introduced. " No, I don't believe I do."

Kouga looked down at the slightly younger girl. Her long black hair shone in the lights, making him itch to touch it. Unaware of his thoughts, she just looked up at him with those innocent eyes. Something about her , though, drew not only his desires, but the youkia blood in him. It made him hunger for control over her mind, heart, and soul. A small smile crossed his features as he watched the innocent girl walk away. She would be his.







She had been taken from her family that night. Kagome had, when she got back, been different. No longer did she trust everyone and no longer did she believe that some foolish god would protect her from pain and hurt. She had distanced herself from her family, since they simplemindedly worshiped an uncaring god, and was rarely around them. It fact, at the moment she moved out and lived on her own. This was another way for her to protect them and another reminder of him. For it was only by his grace that she could afford such a thing.







"D-do you hate me, so?" Kouga asked as he weakly slumped against the wall holding onto his fatal stomach wound. Kagome looked up from the floor to see something new in his eyes. A light that should not be there since he was now dying at her hands. Guilt poured over her as she looked into those eyes that looked back at her so loving. He couldn't love her...he just couldn't!

"Kagome." She felt his finger caress her cheek and was forced to look at him. " Kagome, I want you to be happy." Kagome shook her head tears falling.

" You...can'! You are a demon. You are suppose to hate me!" She yelled, but was silenced when he grabbed her hand and pressed something in her hand. Looking down she saw a bloodied piece of paper. " W-what is this?"

"This is..." he coughed up blood, his voice getting weaker. " my last gift to you...be happy...for...me." With that he died.





Kagome stood up, snapped out of her thoughts as she heard Sesshomaru stop talking. He had finished his or more exact her tale. Kouga had given her a note, apologizing for ruining her life and a number to a bank account. It seemed he had left her enough money to live without ever working. But now at the moment, she could not follow through with his wishes, she had a person to find, a vow to finish, and a demon to kill.





"You DID that to a person!" Disgust was evident in his younger brother's voice. He didn't understand the need to survive. One human girl could not measure up to it. But if this miko even mentioned the existence of demons with proof, their world basically be over. Humans would come from all over to kill them. In the past they may have had enough power to just kill them, but now with so little of demon blood and so many humans, they would be slaughtered.



Inuyasha felt his brother's hand begin to cut off his air supply as he lifted him into the air. " Do you wish to die? We have spells hiding us from them, the humans, but they will , in time, find us. It won't matter if you are only half demon and share some blood with them, they will kill you. Do you long for a life where they torture you or do you wish to be kept like an animal to be tested? I won't let it happen to me. No matter how soft you are, I will kill her for my...our race's survival." As Inuyasha went flying back from his brother's toss, he was greatly disturbed. A emotion in his brother's eyes, barely noticeable, gave a clue to him what the full demon was going through. He had no doubts that Sesshomaru would kill this 'miko', but he would be plagued with the remembrance of her death. For the great Sesshomaru , known to few, hated killing those who could have been spared.





Sesshomaru left his brother there and walked around the corner. No matter what he would follow through with his words. Then for a moment he froze and sniffed the air. So she was here. The faint smell of human filled the still air along with the smell of sadness. The little miko was coming after him, was she? A sad smile overcame his features as he walked through the hall. For what ever her reasons for being here, the hunt was on.....



....More Coming Soon...





Wandering Gypsy: Okay I know it isn't that great but...it works kind of. Miroku will fall in love again, and Inuyasha may die. Shippou will be in the story...but as before I promise no happy endings. Rin is in here to... Oh, and Miroku will have a happy ending...^_^...see, someone will! Thanks all you who reviewed and I hope you liked this. A special thanks to

Soudesuka-Shurikens, SpAzZ, NIGHTSCREAM, and of course Moonwind for being my first reviewers...and only ones so far *glares at non reviewing readers* anyway more to come. Oh and just incase you didn't notice this all the memories are spaced closer together than what is actually going on since my bold button won't work...*frown* any way review!