Chapter Two
A Deal

(A/N: The words in this format are someone's thoughts.)

He sniffed the air. He was close. So close.

Kagome can be saved!

With a growl he picked up speed and entered a clearing. He skidded to a stop, the place was familiar.

The cherry blossoms. The wild red dragons. The array of lilies, poppies, azaleas and white roses. His nose was assaulted by the sweet scent and the bitter memories of the past.

My mother's garden?

He touched a flower's petal, as if it would fade away.

It was real.

His mother's garden was still alive.

And my brother is in it?

He looked around and caught his eye. He was leaning against an oak tree, head slightly tilted forward to look questioningly at his sibling.

A little human child was with him.

She was putting flowers at his feet.

And he looked as if he didn't mind.

"Inuyasha what do you want?" he asked. The little girl stopped and stared at the hanyou with wide eyes.

"There's two Sessie-sama's!" she squealed. Jaken appeared around the corner with the two headed staff. He shrieked at his master's enemy and started to totter around on his two tiny feet.

"Ack! The half breed found it m'lord!"

"Be quiet Jaken," Sesshoumaru commanded. The toad was instantly stilled.

Inuyasha took a moment to catch his breath, watching everyone with a distrusting eye.

"I'm here to make a deal Sesshoumaru," he hissed under his labored breathing. His brother quirked a perfect brow in amusement.

"I don't make deals with breeds brother," he said evenly while turning his eyes from him and carefully examining the girl.

"You may have tetsusiaga," he snarled throwing his cherished blade down. Sesshoumaru looked at the sword, and then back up at him. You couldn't tell if he was interested or not.

"In exchange for what?"

"Heal my friend. Make her live again." He said in an almost deadly whisper. Sesshoumaru smiled darkly at Inuyasha, before reaching for his own sword.

"Which one?"

"The miko. Kagome."

Sesshoumaru's brow quirked again, and he risked a quick glance down at the spot his arm should be.

"Kagome huh? I don't need tetsusiaga, Inuyasha, but instead i'll borrow the girl and you have yourself a deal."

Inuyasha mouth dropped open.

"What need do you have for her?" he asked suspiciously.

Sesshoumaru growled, "I don't explain myself daburu."

"You'll have to this time. What will you do to her?" he snapped.

What's he up to? He thought.

"I'll return her, in the same condition given, after she serves her purpose. No harm shall come to your companion," he answered simply. Inuyasha picked up his prized sword and leaned heavily against the closet tree.

"Fine," he muttered. Sesshoumaru didn't look at him again as he quickly boarded his cloud transport and flew off.

I couldn't save her.

But he can.

I hate him.

But he can do anything to me......

......as long as she's okay.

'So something has happened to the priestess he works so hard to protect. And he came to me.' Sesshoumaru as indeed astounded by his brother. They were enemies. They loathed the other. But yet in times of crisis, he'd come to him.

"So why did I answer?" he asked himself. It was indeed unusual. Though she could be worth it......

'The old seer did say Rin had the markings of a miko. This...Kagome could train her.'

He looked down at his stump of an arm. The regeneration process had been slow. He cursed his decision to help Inuyasha out.

'He should suffer,' he growled to himself.

The village wasn't hard to find, it was the only one drenched in blood. He landed next to the closet hut, were Inuyasha's scent lingered. Two humans ran out to him, an exterminator and a monk. They both brandished their weapons at him, going into fighting stance.

'How amusing. They'd fight me to protect their friend?'

He didn't even look at them as he walked straight to the door. The monk stood directly in front of it.

With less force than he usually used, Sesshoumaru pushed the houshi without breaking stride.

"Where is the girl Kagome?" Sesshoumaru asked an old woman standing in his way. Her eyes were wide.

"Aren't ye Inuyasha's brother Sesshoumaru? What business has ye here?" she asked looking up at him.

He looked past her. She was preparing a body for burial. The girl was beautiful, even in death. Her long ebony hair was sprayed about her, washed clean from the blood once there. She had an innocent face. Pure from the surrounding world. The traditional white furisode showed off her slim body, and only enhanced her appeal.

He pushed past the woman and kneeled beside Kagome. He didn't understand the curiosity. He pulled out tensusiga, and it pulsed and strained to be used on her. Miroku jumped forward, but Keade held his collar. She calmed him with her eyes, as they sat in silence to watch.

With one clean swipe he killed the soul feeders around her. She glowed slightly for a moment before jerking upward with a gasp. Her wide eyes looked around desperately, and finally locked hazily on her savior.

"Get away, Inuyasha!" she howled scrambling to the farthest corner of the hut. Sesshoumaru's interest was sparked yet again.

'She jumps from me in fear? Yet thinks me to be Inuyasha? Is this the same woman he tried giving tetsusiaga for.'

"I am not Inuyasha, priestess" he informed her, standing slowly. Her mind focused, and she looked around. Everybody stared at her as if they were seeing a ghost.

She remembered her dream. She also remembered what went on in the forest. She looked at the silver haired demon before her. She nodded as she finally understood. Sesshoumaru was here, not-. Her mouth fell open.

"Why-"

"You were dead, and I brought you back. You shall pay your debt to me on the moonless night."

Suddenly a bright red stain appearing in front of her furisode, and then on the sleeves. Sesshoumaru cursed and strode quickly over to here. She didn't protest when he ripped open the furisode. He honorably kept his eyes low as he used a single claw to cut his own hand.

Keade looked on astounded as he pressed his hand firmly against the wound. At first, it looked like Kagome would die again, her life blood quickly seeping away. But ever so slowly the wounds stopped bleeding and started to close. Kagome gasped and slumped over a bit.

Sesshoumaru took one last look at the wound before rising and leaving the abode.

Everybody stared at his back disbelieving.

Kagome hesitantly moved from her corner, eyes full of tears.

'The dream had been real?'

"Inuyasha killed me?" she asked Sango. The girl's eyes widened in shock as she dropped to her knees beside Kagome. She reached out and closed the kimono, hoping that Miroku was keeping his eyes in his head. After straightening her the best she could, Sango pulled her into her arms and hugged her hard.

"Kami, Kagome, No! Inuyasha would never hurt you......you......you don't remember what happened?" Sango asked.

Miroku kneeled beside them also, slightly shaking his head at Sango.

"You were attacked, Kagome. Inuyasha somehow got Sesshoumaru to bring you back to-"

"He should've left me dead!" she snapped.

Sesshoumaru had said now she was indebted to him.

"All I am is useful!" she muttered to herself shrugging off both her friends. With wobbling legs she stumbled out of the modest house and to the well, ignoring her indecent appearance, and the urgency for rest.

'I'll be damned if I'll be used ever again!'

(End Chapter)

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If there's any confusion, tell me about it. It was a bit rushed knowing I had neglected this story. So! REVIEW!