A/N: I just finished reading a story called Bishies Without Shirts, and I'm surprised that it got less reviews than I did. The story is really long and funny as hell. But I can't really say anything on account of I didn't review either. But it really is a good story. Anywho, I updated my other story and this one on the same day.

~ * ~ Chapter Seventeen: Here comes the Hench-woman ~ * ~

Kagome's neck and back hurt really badly. She was sleeping in Sesshoumaru's lap, but he was so tense. It was really hard to relax in the hard muscles. 'He was probably being alert, waiting for her to come.' He hadn't been there when she woke up.

She knew she shouldn't worry about him, but she couldn't help it. 'I gotta take a bath.' Getting clothes out of her sack; which consisted of blue miko garb, she headed over to the Hot Springs. Kagome looked at her surroundings and was a little surprised to see Sesshoumaru soaking in the water.

She started to run to him, but something was wrong. He was covered in blood, and his eyes were closed. Kagome sprinted towards him, not bothering to take her clothes off. While shaking his chest, she noticed that the blood wasn't his.

"What?"

She sighed a huge breath of relief. "Don't ever do that again. I thought you were hurt."

He couldn't help but chuckle, "I went out hunting. It was a bore." He told her about his hunting trip while she took off her clothes. Kagome washed all the blood off of his body and settled her head against his chest.

"What's wrong. You've been quiet ever since we left my time." Sesshoumaru sighed and placed an open-mouth kiss on her hair, "It's mating season dear." A silent 'oh' was the only answer he got from her.

They stood there in that position for a long time. They didn't know, because they were in their own worlds, that Inuyasha was watching. More specifically he was watching Kagome.

'He stole her. He took her away. The only thing I ever really wanted that bad in my long life.'

He wanted them both. But knowing that it was either one or the other, he chose the person that was there first.

But what he didn't know was that Kikyou forced him into making love to her. She knew exactly what she was doing that day. The more he thought about it, the more he began to wonder about Kikyou. 'Does she really love me, like Kagome did?'

He knew the love, understanding, trust, and acceptance between them was gone. Almost like his friendship between Sango and Miroku was gone.

' I really did change. She changed me. Not like Kagome did. Kagome turned me into a better person. Does she still love me? Probably not, she has my brother. It's obvious he loves her. The way he's always look at her and the way he worries. Almost like I did. Taking my place.'

* But you replaced Kagome with a dead person*

He inwardly cringed and left the two alone.

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Sesshoumaru could smell something. Something he didn't like. "Put your clothes on." Kagome obeyed, and turned around when Sesshoumaru dressed himself. "Wait. I recognize that smell. It's Kagura."

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Everyone else was already there. Once Kagome and Sesshoumaru arrived she started to talk, "Naraku wants your company at his domain. I suggest you don't disagree." She called upon the wind and left.

"Well Kagome, it would happen sooner or later. So let's go." Kagome jumped on his back and he wrapped his tail around her.

"Hey wait a minute buddy. What if it's a trap? You're not gonna get MY Kagome killed!"

Inuyasha let the sentence slip without knowing it. Sesshoumaru wrapped his tail around her tighter and leapt into the air.

(A/N: I don't really know if it's a tail. But in a recent fanfic I read, the author found out that it's a fur thing he carries around. It was too late for me to change it. By the time I'm posting this, I don't remember the story or the author. )

Miroku and Sango followed with Kirara, leaving Inuyasha and Kikyou alone. He mumbled a hesitant apology. They followed after the others in an agonizing silence.