Sorry, I haven't updated lately.... Just being lazy but Morgan is bugging me so much about it... so here ya go....

Disclaimer: I have a dog.... he's watching me.... I don't like it... he's scary..... eep o.o.... aside form my dog... I don't own much... oh... the dog wants a marshmallow... -grins- he kinda looks like a marshmallow....

Chapter 7: Burning Heart

Kagome raised her arm to her eyes as the morning sun rose over the nearby mountains. Her bare legs were covered in a thin film of warm dew. With a yawn, Kagome sat up and looked around. She was back at the camp. But where was Inuyasha? And what happened to Sesshoumaru?

Sango was leaning against a tree near by. Kilala was seated at her side, purring softly. Kagome looked up into the tree where she found Miroku and Shippo. Kagome scanned the rest of the area, looking for Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru but neither of them were to be found. 'What if Inuyasha never came back?' she thought, 'he could be hurt!'

After a moment of looking around franticly for Inuyasha, Kagome heard a voice coming from the woods. It was too soft to make out the words but she could tell it was that of Sesshoumaru. Kagome stood up and walked in the direction the voice was coming from. When she got to the edge of the forest she stopped. There was another voice coming from the trees. Inuyasha was there too but from the softness of their voices, they weren't arguing! Kagome peered around the tree to see the two of them sitting on opposite branches, facing each other.

"Does she trust you?" Inuyasha said, his bright yellow eyes fixed on his older brother who seamed relaxed and clam as usual.

"How am I supposed to know? I don't think like humans." Sesshoumaru responded as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well, you were the one who was getting all cuddly with her!" Inuyasha protested as he leaned forward on the branch, glaring at his brother.

"Sit boy!" Said Kagome as she walked up behind Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru almost smiled at the power this human had over Inuyasha. The sudden thud when Inuyasha hit the ground woke up Sango and Miroku who weren't too far away.

"Would you stop that!?" Inuyasha yelled as he got to his feet. Sesshoumaru watched silently from the branch overhead as Inuyasha and Kagome yelled at each other.

"Where were you?!" Kagome asked angrily as Inuyasha whined about her disappearance and her being with Sesshoumaru. The two of them continued arguing until Sango and Miroku broke it up. Sesshoumaru jumped easily out of the tree and watched from a lower level in order to get a better view of how these humans and his younger brother interacted. He found it rather interesting that Inuyasha was able to put up with them.

"You were with Kikyo! Weren't you!" Kagome yelled. Inuyasha suddenly stopped arguing, showing Kagome that she was right. "Ugh! I can't leave you alone for even two minuets!"

"So you're my babysitter now?!" Inuyasha yelled, almost jumping into the air as he did. Sesshoumaru almost laughed but managed to cover his mouth before anyone heard him.

"Fine! Go follow Kikyo around! I don't care!"

"Fine!" Inuyasha yelled back at Kagome, "I will!"

"Fine!" Kagome said as she turned her back to Inuyasha who had already turned his back to her. Sango and Miroku rolled their eyes. Sesshoumaru started towards the forest but Inuyasha stopped him before he could get very far.

"Where do you think your going?!" Inuyasha yelled when he saw his brother start to walk away.

"Why is it any matter of yours little brother?" Sesshoumaru responded calmly, his back turned slightly towards Inuyasha and the others.

Inuyasha grumbled under his breath, not answering Sesshoumaru's question. Sesshoumaru shook his head some and walked away again. Kagome watched him leave. She took a quick glance at Inuyasha then ran after Sesshoumaru.

Inuyasha watched Kagome leave as well but he didn't bother following her. 'She's already mad enough at me. I should just stay out of it.' He thought to himself.

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Kagome quickly caught up with Sesshoumaru who was walking in the direction of Jaken and rim whom he had left alone the other night when he had gone after Kagome.

"What are you doing Kagome?" he asked when the young girl caught up to him.

"I'd like to know where you're going. I don't want to hang around Inuyasha any more than I have to now that he's with Kikyo. I don't want to bother him." She replied, trying not to sound too upset.

Sesshoumaru smiled slightly and slowed his pace some, "I'm going to find Jaken and Rin. I left them alone the other night and I want to be sure they are ok. Your welcome to tag along."

Kagome smiled and nodded and they continued in silence, walking side by side.

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"Excellent Sesshoumaru. Now I can kill you both at one time," Naraku laughed as he followed Sesshoumaru and Kagome from a short distance. "Now that Inuyasha isn't around, I'll be able to take them down easily. That half demon is proving to be more of a pest than I thought. Even his older brother will be easier to defeat."

Naraku leaped from tree to tree, getting far out in front of Sesshoumaru and Kagome very quickly. He stopped at the edge of the woods and waited for them. He knew Sesshoumaru would catch onto his scent soon enough. "I won't have to come after him. He'll come after me." Naraku muttered to himself as he waited.

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Sesshoumaru stopped dead in his tracks. Kagome turned around to face him, having continued a short way once he had stopped. "What's wrong?" She asked as she looked at his face which was staring blankly into the thinning forest in front of them.

"Naraku..." He whispered as he took a few steps forward, making sure Kagome was behind him.

Kagome let out a soft gasp. As far as she was concerned, she never wanted to see Naraku again but she also knew that he needed to be killed and Sesshoumaru would have a good chance of killing him. "Let's go..." She said, sounding slightly hesitant.

Sesshoumaru looked at her, his face unchanged, "Are you sure? And I don't want to put you in any danger..."

Kagome nodded, "Yes... I'll have to face him sooner or later and I feel safe with you." She looked up at Sesshoumaru with a smile. Sesshoumaru looked back, his face gaining a slight look of surprise. No one had put their life in his hands before, except for Jaken and Rin of course, but that was different.

Sesshomaru nodded and walked towards the end of the forest, Kagome at his heals. They could see the edge of the forest when Sesshoumaru stopped Kagome and told her to wait. He did want her anywhere near the battle if he could stop her. If she got hurt again... he didn't know if she would make it. She was already pretty banged up. With a sigh, Sesshoumaru exited the forest, finding himself face to face with Naraku.

"I'm so glad you made it Sesshoumaru. I've been expecting you." Naraku said with a smile, his white baboon cloak covering his face.

"Hmm..." Sesshoumaru said softly as he watched Naraku carefully, "Have you come to try and kill me?" He asked, his expression not changing.

Naraku laughed slightly and stood up, his full height matching that of Sesshoumaru, "I've come for the girl. Hand her over and I won't kill you where you stand."

Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed red, "You won't lay a finger on Kagome. Go ahead and kill me because you'll have to, to get to Kagome."

Kagome smiled, 'He's sticking up for me. That's better than Inuyasha would do.' Kagome thought to herself.

Sesshoumaru drew the Tokijin from his belt and held it out in front of Naraku, "Come after me Naraku. I'm waiting."

Naraku smiled and watched Sesshoumaru, not making any move to come after him. Neither Sesshoumaru nor Kagome had ever scene him fight so they had no idea what he was going to do.

Sesshoumaru was getting sick of waiting so he ran quickly at Naraku, his sword at his side. With a slight movement of his sword, the baboon cloak Naraku wore was gone and Naraku was exposed, his long black hair flowing gin the wind, contrasting the long white hair of Sesshoumaru.

With a laugh, Naraku jumped into the air with ease. Sesshoumaru watched for a moment, not wanting to leave Kagome alone on the ground. Naraku came back to the ground, landing behind Sesshoumaru, his eyes looking directly at Kagome.

Sesshoumaru growled as he whirled around. Sesshoumaru placed the point of the Tokijin on Naraku's back. "Make one move towards her and you will die." He said, his voice still as calm as usual.

Naraku laughed, not turning to face Sesshoumaru. He kept his eyes on Kagome who was on her feet and ready to run but not willing to go without Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru was once again getting tired of waiting and Naraku was dangerously close to Kagome. With a quick movement, Sesshoumaru jammed the sword into Naraku's back. For a moment Naraku stopped moving but for some reason, no blood was drawn.

"You do not bleed." Sesshoumaru said softly as he withdrew his sword. "A demon puppet," Sesshoumaru said with a slight laugh, "I should have known. This will make it even easier for me to kill you."

The demon puppet ignored Sesshoumaru and walked towards Kagome. Kagome stepped back slightly but before she could get out of the way, Naraku's demon puppet had it's hand around her throat, her feet dangling in the air.

Sesshoumaru dashed forward and had his sword on Naraku's neck in a matter of seconds, "let her go. Even a demon puppet cannot survive without a head.":

"I....c...can't.... b...breathe..."Kagome coughed as she gripped the hands around her neck. She quickly became dizzy, her face flushed. With a slight gasp, she lost conciseness before Sesshoumaru could free her from Naraku's grasp.

"I said let go!" Sesshoumaru yelled as she pressed the sword into Naraku's neck. Naraku ignored the command again. He continued to hold Kagome's neck. Sesshoumaru could see that Kagome wasn't going to last much longer like this so he quickly pressed the sword into Naraku's neck, separating his head from his body, causing Kagome to drop to the ground and the puppet to become a small wooden doll.

"Kagome..." Sesshoumaru whispered. She hadn't moved from where she was dropped. He rushed over to her, dropping his sword on the way. He knelt down by the young girl, taking her head in his hands. "Kagome... can you hear me?" he asked softly, his face close to hers, in order to makes sure she was breathing.

Kagome remained still, her body limp and pale. "Kagome..." Sesshoumaru whispered again, "Don't leave me... I love you...." He whispered as he leaned forward, placing a light kiss on her lips, slightly calming his burring heart.

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Ok... stop whining! I wrote the chapter . the next one won't be for a little while because I am in the middle of another project and I want to finish that first! So calm down.. but I assure you.. it will be worth the wait ;) ttfn! And R&R!