Thanks for your support everyone- I shall try not to second guess myself so often.

And from this point, things get a little sticky...



Chapter 22: Ultimatum

It was late morning when Sesshoumaru and Kagome returned to the village to retrieve their companions. They found both groups sitting together outside, with the exception of Jaken, who stood off to the side grumbling. Sango was sharpening Hiraikotsu while half-heartedly batting away Miroku's insistent advances. Both were smiling as Sango pretended to be annoyed and Miroku's feigned innocence. Shippou seemed to be working very hard at impressing Rin with his toys.

Catching sight of the couple, both of the children sprang up and ran to Kagome.

Miroku and Sango looked up when they heard Shippou and Rin. "Welcome back, Kagome-chan, Sesshoumaru-sama." Sango greeted.

Sesshoumaru, looking calm and collected, rested one hand confidently against the small of Kagome's back. Miroku's eyes caught the ends of bandages at the collar of Sesshoumaru's haori. "Wild night? What did you do to him, Kagome-sama? And all this time I thought Sango would be the violent one."

Sango rolled her eyes and knocked Miroku in the head with her boomerang.

"Hey!" Kagome exclaimed indignantly. "That's not how it happened! There was just a little incident last night-ouch!" The last remark was prompted by Shippou leaping a little over-zealously onto Kagome's shoulder.

Sesshoumaru, looking mostly disinterested, lifted the kitsune off of Kagome, dropping him casually on the ground again.

Shippou looked up at her wide eyed. "Kagome? Are you ok?"

Kagome winced a little, clutching her neck under her hair. "It's fine. It's just a little sensitive." Kagome moved her hair a little, bringing her marks into view. Two sets of lines arched gracefully upward and around her neck, like a broken necklace. The green color of the poison had faded, the marks now taking on a reddish shade.

Miroku stepped forward cautiously, watching Sesshoumaru's reactions carefully. The demon lord merely watched and allowed the monk to approach. Kagome blushed as Miroku bent down to examine her marks. "Sesshoumaru did this?"

Kagome fumbled, trying to think of a good way to answer him, but thankfully Sango helped her.

"Bond marks, Kagome-chan?" Sango had some knowledge of demon customs, though she had little experience dealing with youkai of the higher class. "I've heard that some kinds of youkai had them, but I've never seen them. Do they hurt?"

Kagome nodded in affirmation as Miroku stepped back. "Now it just feels like a really bad sunburn."

Sesshoumaru frowned. "You should have told me they hurt again." He moved around her and gently cradled her neck as he ran his tongue over her marks. "That is easily remedied." Kagome turned red from embarrassment, but Sesshoumaru didn't seem to care at all who was there. It felt too good for her to even consider asking him to stop.

Sango and Miroku were dumbstruck at the demon lord's sudden display. Sesshoumaru pulled away from her. "My saliva is good at breaking down the poisons," he offered a nonchalant explanation.

"It's the only thing that helps," Kagome said shyly. "Sesshoumaru says it marries us in youkai terms." Though she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed about missing out on the wedding she had imagined when she was little. 'Oh well. Some girls get flowers and white dresses, some get acid burns in front of a circle of homicidal demons.'

"We were going to look for shards today," Kagome said. "I can't sense any for sure, but I can't shake the feeling that they're nearby."

"Fine," Miroku agreed. "We had planned to go out as well today. Sango, Shippou, and I will go in the opposite direction so that we can cover more area. If you do find Naraku, tell us. He has much to pay for, and we want to be there when that price is collected."

Sesshoumaru agreed, eager to finish this business and return home in safety with his new bride.

Kagome, Sesshoumaru, Rin, and Jaken resumed their search to the south. The day was clear and fresh. Even on the best days, future Tokyo never smelled this nice, Kagome reflected.

Sesshoumaru seemed impatient as the day progressed. Kagome could read it in the set of his shoulders, the careful measure of his stride.

All day something had been pulling at the edge of her consciousness. She felt Sesshoumaru look back at her and realized that she had stopped without noticing it. "What is it?"

"Nothing." Kagome frowned and shook her head. "No, not nothing. I just feel weird. I can't explain it."

Sesshoumaru stepped forward and examined her carefully. "Describe it."

"I don't know. I just feel... off. Like something's not quite right, but I can't figure out what it is."

Sesshoumaru gently stroked her lines. "Perhaps you are being adversely effected by this," he said regretfully.

Kagome shook her head. "I don't think that's it." She closed her eyes, concentrating on the feeling. "It feels... intrusive."

As she stood, she detected something else. A very familiar sensation, though it had been a long time since she had felt it now. The intimate call of the Shikon no Tama began to creep into her mind.

Her eyes flashed open. "Sesshoumaru, there's a shard somewhere close."

"Is that what you felt?"

Kagome suddenly began to feel a little dizzy. "No, there's something else."

"What else?"

Kagome only half-heard his question. She could feel the shard more distinctly now; it was on the limits of her range, but she could tell it was almost directly east of them. There was only one. The intrusive presence grew until it roared in her ears. Suddenly her whole head was assailed with a sudden pain. She sagged to her knees.

"Kagome!" Sesshoumaru caught her under her arms. "Kagome, what's wrong? Which way is the shard?"

Kagome twisted out of his hold, landing on her hands and knees, her breath coming in ragged gasps as the pain spread down her body. She heard Sesshoumaru calling her name and tried to answer, but she choked on the words. 'I have to tell him where the shard is,' she thought desperately.

She opened her mouth to speak, but it turned into a scream of pain as she seemed to feel a thousand needles stab into her at once.

"None of that, little miko." Kagome snapped her head up looking for the voice, her head pounding with the sudden movement.

She heard familiar voiceless laughter and realized the voice was in her mind. "I knew you would find the shard for me if I gave you the opportunity."

"Naraku..." She heard herself voice his name as tears squeezed from her clenched eyes. 'Sesshoumaru, please help. Make him leave. Please, make him leave.'

The forest seemed to fade as his face appeared in her vision. "Your foolish mate can't help you now." She couldn't hear Sesshoumaru anymore, only her nemesis. Her hands felt cold all of a sudden. Looking down, she saw her blurry fingers pressed against grey stone. Naraku's clammy repulsive hands reached under her, lifting her slowly.

Kagome threw herself against his grasp, but found his grip too firm. Worse, the movement made her scream in pain.

"I told you that you would never escape, little miko."

Sesshoumaru caught her as she fell, saw her face contort in agony. He was mildly shocked when Kagome thrashed out of his arms to hold herself shakily on her hands and knees. He laid a hand on her shoulder, tried to earn her acknowledgment. "Kagome, listen to me. Where is the shard?"

His concern grew as she seemed unaware of him, her head tossing and arms shaking as she struggled for control.

She rasped, a sharp intake of breath, then screamed as if her soul was being ripped from her. Her arms gave out and she slid to the ground, face falling into the dirt.

"Naraku..." she gasped weakly.

Sesshoumaru went stiff as a wave of rage ran through him. It was all happening again. He had hoped Naraku had abandoned this avenue of attack, but it seemed the connection between his enemy and his mate had not been severed. "Kagome. Now. Listen to me."

The young woman made no sign of having heard him, her eyes moving under her eyelids and her eyebrows scrunching in response to something only she could see.

"Jaken," he said, his voice stony and cold. "Take Rin on the dragon and return to the village as fast as you can. I'll meet you there."

He heard Jaken scuttle to comply, frightened by the edge in his master's voice. Reigning in his rage, he gently scooped Kagome up into his arms. She struggled and screamed again, but he just held her tighter. He tried to rationalize that it wasn't him she was trying to fight, but that failed to appease his anger and pain. Her cries twisted his heart as she tried to push his hands away. He trapped her hands and held her body still.

"Kagome, do as I say. Wake up for me." He softened his voice for her, knowing how it could scare her if she saw him enraged as he was. It was no use, however, she was completely unresponsive.

She flexed and struggled as he held her. She had seemed to be trying to tell him the location of the shard she had sensed, but had not managed to do so before she had fallen unconscious. It had to be nearby... and it couldn't be the wolf if there was only one. He did not smell that young minion of Naraku's. Did that mean this was a shard unclaimed by any of them?

Naraku... he had a hold again on Kagome. The symptoms were the same, and he could only assume that he once again was tormenting her with nightmares and imagined torture. He was prepared for a direct attack, but he could not guard her from this.

She quieted momentarily, and he brushed her long bangs away from her face. Her skin felt overly warm and clammy. She whimpered almost beseechingly at his touch, making his lips curl slightly in frustration. "Kagome," he lowered his head near hers and whispered, almost pleading. "You found your way back last time. Come back to me now."

She gasped, and for a moment he thought she was waking, but she only resumed thrashing. He smoothed her hair as she struggled, at a loss to know what to do. He had no means to break her curse, no immediate comfort for her. The sudden onset of her affliction almost certainly had something to do with the shard she had located. But without her to see for him, he could not even investigate it. He was torn between chasing after the shard and finding a way to care for her.

Kagome's pain hurled him out of indecision. He had to find help to free her from the hanyou. That monk she knew had to know something that could help her. After she was safe, he would enjoy ripping Naraku's head off.

As the day lengthened, the warm afternoon sun found the wolf prince engaged in a similar search. Rumors of his quarry had sent him south ahead of the others, until he had narrowed his hunt to the forest not far from the bone-eating well.

All day, his sixth sense had been tingling, warning him of some impending danger. 'Something is happening...' he thought. He had left his companions far behind again in his pursuit, chasing through the forest at high speeds, searching for some sign of Naraku. The feeling continued to grow until it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

Naraku's scent came as a sudden assault, appearing out of nowhere. No-not Naraku. This was Kagura's scent. He unhesitatingly turned towards it, beginning to slow as he closed the distance. He sighted the wind user, standing alone with her arms crossed, looking quite annoyed. Something seemed a different about her, though. Her youki was stronger.

He slowed to a wary walk as he approached, watching her for movement. "Kagura. How the hell did you get stronger?"

Kagura tossed her head, eying the wolf with contempt and frustration. "The same way you did." She flicked her fan open, the sunlight sparkling off its center.

"A jewel shard? You think that's going to stop me from getting my revenge?"

Kagura went on as if she hadn't heard him. "I can't believe it's come down to this. You still don't get it, do you, wolf?" She was glaring daggers at him.

"What do you mean?" Kouga asked guardedly.

"This is the end for you, and probably for me as well. This time neither of us win. After all my efforts, you all have fallen so neatly into Naraku's every trap. At least I have my enslavement as an excuse."

"You're not making sense, bitch!"

Kagura sneered as the shard in her fan glowed darkly. "Let me spell it out for you. This isn't just some shard. This is the last of them. Your time is up. You didn't honestly think you would be able to keep yours and live, did you?"

"The last...? How did you...?"

"How did I find it?" Kagura scoffed. "I didn't. I just recovered it. There's only one person living who can find the shards now..."

"Kagome..." Kouga's eyes went wide with worry. "What the hell did you do to her!?"

"I think," said Kagura as she drew back her fan, "that the girl should be the least of your worries at this point."

Sesshoumaru returned to the village as the wood's shadows were beginning to lengthen and blur. He noted the taijiya's fire cat outside one of the huts. Ah-Un was also there already, which meant Rin was probably safe. He was inwardly grateful that Kagome's friends had already returned. His sense of urgency grew the longer Kagome fought in his arms, and at this point he would accept nearly any help.

Several heads snapped up in surprise when he abruptly pushed aside the mat in the doorframe and bent to enter. The room seemed to diminish as he walked in.

The monk and taijiya stood and approached him, looking worried.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin and Jaken just arrived. What's wrong?"

He stepped in front of the monk, Kagome held tightly in his arms. "You are a holy man. Help her." It was more a threat than a plea for help.

Miroku was distracted, however, by Kagome's flushed face and rapid breathing. "Lay her down," he said. "There's something malignant clinging to her."

Sesshoumaru reluctantly complied, and Kagome tossed as soon as she was free of his grasp.

Miroku tried to pick up her wrist, but Kagome yanked it away and huddled away from him. Miroku looked up at the demon lord helplessly. "Do you think you could hold her still?"

Wordlessly, he lay his hands on her shoulders, pressing her firmly but gently to lie flat on the floor. He endured Miroku lifting her wrist again, his eyebrows knitting as he felt her pulse.

"Her heartbeat is rapid, and her temperature is far too warm." He raised his eyes to meet Sesshoumaru's. "What happened to her?"

"At first, she said she felt strange. Then she said she felt a shard of the jewel, and this affliction came upon her suddenly."

"A shard? Where?"

Sesshoumaru growled. "I suspect that is what she was trying to tell me before he entered her mind."

"He entered...? You know more than you are telling."

Sesshoumaru swallowed his pride, disgusted that he could not even protect his own mate. "Naraku. He forged a connection to her during the time of her captivity. He has made use of it once before, tormented her in her sleep. He revealed his possession of some object... one that ties them through her blood."

Sesshoumaru paused.

"This time is different. She was awake when he overcame her today. The last time I was able to wake her. Now, my voice does not seem to reach her."

Miroku and Sango looked at him, both of their expressions pained. Sango gracefully reached down, brushing the hair from her friend's eyes. Miroku lowered his eyes, but did not drop Kagome's hand.

"You are preparing to tell me that there is nothing you can do," he said in a dangerous low voice.

Miroku nodded. "I cannot break this curse, especially as long as he controls the object. I don't think there's anything Kaede could do if she were here either. Our best hope for now is that she will be able to throw off the curse herself."

"Her strength is fading," Sesshoumaru hissed in return.

"She is trying to fight... her body is suffering for it." Miroku looked up in sudden realization. "Kagome-sama always kept medicines. They are good at stopping pain and fevers."

Sesshoumaru tossed him a look that clearly spoke 'what are you waiting for?'

"I'll find it!" Shippou sprang in. "I know what Kagome uses!" The kit set to work rummaging in Kagome's big yellow pack, aided by an equally eager Rin. He pulled out a white box marked with a bold red cross. Finding the correct bottle, he made short work of the child proof cap and handed it to Miroku.

After briefly examining the pills in his hand, he looked up at the demon lord. "We have to get her to swallow these."

Sesshoumaru nodded, pulling Kagome up to lean against his body, her head resting on his shoulder while he kept her arms pinned to her torso. He gently lifted her chin to tilt her head before taking the pills from Miroku and pressing them into her mouth. Sango appeared at his side, holding a bottle of water, which he accepted. The taijiya stepped forward to assist Sesshoumaru as he forced Kagome to swallow. Kagome gagged once before relaxing to let the medicine slide down her throat. A reflexive tear trickled down the miko's cheek, and Sesshoumaru apologetically ran the back of his hand down the side of her face.

The others looked on silently as the taiyoukai leaned down to bring his head alongside hers, his hair falling in a silver shield as he whispered unrecognizable words of comfort in her ear.

Sango ran her hand under Kagome's bangs to feel her forehead. "She's cooling. Houshi-sama, perhaps there is something we could do to help her fight?"

Miroku considered. "Sesshoumaru, lie her down." Icy gold eyes flashed at him in response to the order. "Please. I'd like to try."

Sesshoumaru gingerly returned her to the floor, gritting his teeth as Miroku crossed his staff over her shoulders to hold her in place. Miroku closed his eyes, channeling his houriki through the staff and into Kagome. Her eyes flashed open briefly in response, only to resettle slowly, dashing Sesshoumaru's hopes.

Miroku pulled away. "Look..." he whispered. Kagome was glowing softly in her own pinkish light, looking settled for the first time all evening. "I think it worked... at least a little. She's fighting him."

Sesshoumaru smiled minutely, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. His young wife was strong. She would not back down, not to the scavengers of the West, not to that vile hanyou. But that did not mean he wasn't afraid for her.

"You should really leave her here tonight, Sesshoumaru-sama." Sesshoumaru heard the monk only hazily. "Maybe we'll be able to find a way to help her. And she needs to rest bodily if she is to fight spiritually."

Sesshoumaru nodded absently. He seated himself against the wall, lifting Kagome's head to rest on his lap. He felt Rin settle against the wall next to him. A few moments later, the little girl tilted her head drowsily and slid down the wall until she was leaning against Sesshoumaru's arm. Sesshoumaru did not seem to notice, and she was comforted by his strong presence. She had never actually slept against him before. She had always been too intimidated. But he was more than just her guardian now, he was family. He wouldn't let anything happen to her or Kagome, she was sure.

Kagome's friends settled themselves similarly, none of them really expecting much sleep while their friend was in so much danger. If Kagome had been awake, she would have smiled at Miroku hugging Sango snugly around the waist as they both rested close to each other. Perhaps the exertion of time had put things into perspective for the pair.

As the crackle of the tiny fire diminished, Sesshoumaru's eyes were the only that remained open, watching Kagome's face patiently. Every now and then, tremors of burning holy energy would travel from his mate as she tried to fight her nightmares. They had never felt so good.

Miroku sat up suddenly, the first light of dawn seeping around the mat in the door. His eyes met Sesshoumaru's, who was in the same position he had spent the night in.

"You feel it too?" It was then Miroku realized it was the approach of a demon that had woken him. He nodded, carefully gaining his feet.

Sesshoumaru followed suite, resting Kagome gently on the floor. He dared to hope her condition had improved over the night-- at least the frequency of her defensive power bursts had increased.

Sango felt Miroku's warmth leave her and was quickly on her feet as well. Wordlessly, the rest of the hut had stirred and were waking. Sesshoumaru, followed by Miroku, left the hut to stand in the cool morning air. Jaken stood outside-asleep on watch, though that surprised no one.

"Can you smell it?" Miroku asked softly.

Sesshoumaru nodded slightly. "Kagura is close. The scent of death also hangs in the air."

A lone figure broke the tree line, silhouetted by the rising sun. His movements were stiff, but he resolutely kept his course, coming to meet the group. As he approached, it was easy to see that, despite the blade in his belt, he was too short to be full grown.

The group held silent, the sound of the visitor's footsteps and their breathing the only sounds.

"Kohaku..." Sango breathed finally.

The figure stopped about twenty meters away from them and stood silently. His eyes were dull, he did not even seem to see them. Sango began a hesitant step forward, but without warning her brother simply toppled over.

Sango's heart twisted as he tumbled down without giving so much as a gasp. She ran to his side, and was there almost before he hit the ground with an ominous thud. "Kohaku!" She turned him onto his back, his sightless eyes glazed and unblinking. She gasped, put her head in her hands and felt as if she would never move again.

Miroku laid his hand on her shoulder, bending to examine the boy himself. "He's dead," he said sadly. "The shard has been removed from his back."

He glanced back at Sesshoumaru. "His body is cool. He was dead before he left the forest. Kagura must have been manipulating his body." Sango choked on a sob, unable to think beyond her failure.

Sesshoumaru heard a sad whimper behind him and knew Rin was watching. "Rin, go see Kagome." He heard her edge off reluctantly, but his attention did not budge from the three in front of him.

"Is this a message?" Miroku wondered aloud.

"An ultimatum." Sesshoumaru's voice was sure and steady.

Kagome's voice came softly from the door frame, where she was leaning heavily against the post. Attention snapped to her quickly as she stood weakly, tears in her eyes. "Sesshoumaru is right. This is my fault. Naraku has completed the Shikon no Tama."

Ok, I usually never update before I finish the following chapter, but I'm making an exception today because I don't know when I'll be able to update again. Not to mention 23 is shaping up to be really long. So...yeah. Will come back as able.

To tired to write more notes-but of course if I have anything of interest to say about this story's progress, it will be in my bio.

Please Review

-Aiwen



This chapter last updated: Thursday, July 3, 2003