A strange new Beginning

Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own Inu-Yasha or any of its characters. Any original characters mentioned in this fic belong to me. Please don't use them without my permission.

Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay. My muse has gone missing and I've had some trouble writing this part. Well, please enjoy this chapter. After this they're will only be two more chapters plus an epilogue. Make sure you get your votes in before the epilogue.

"Blah blah"-Speaking aloud

'Blah blah'-Thinking

blah blah-Speaking telepathically or through a bond

Slight OOC warning again.

Votes so far:

Sess/Kag: 23

Inu/Kag: 19

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Ch. 15: Confessions and Confusion

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(Kagome)

She was getting in over her head. Now, instead of only having to deal with Inu-Yasha or occasionally Kouga, she had the youkai lord called Sesshoumaru to contend with as well. She understood now what Inu-Yasha went through with Kikyou. Her hanyou companion as well as his antisocial brother had a special place in her heart, but she could not be with both of them. She would have to choose between them. The very thought of having to hurt either of them was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

What troubles you so? Came the slightly concerned mental voice of the taiyoukai lord.

This link between herself and Sesshoumaru was something to worry about as well. No matter which one she chose the bond would always be there. Kagome realized that she had sunk back into her thoughts when Sesshoumaru's mental voice echoed in her head once more.

Kagome?

Shaking her head slightly to clear her watery eyes Kagome answered the lord. I'm okay, Sesshoumaru. I was just thinking deeply.

His arms came up subconsciously to wrap themselves at he waist while he continued their silent conversation. Well don't do that again. I could feel your mind pulling away from mine and it shook me clear to my soul. Very few things can do that to me and I have no wish to repeat the experience.

Aloud Kagome said, "You're a worry wart. I swear you're worse than Inu-Yasha."

Growling slightly at her for her comparison of him to his younger brother Sesshoumaru said, "I am not."

"Whatever. you let go of me now? I need to go beat the shit out of Kouga for what he did earlier."

Sesshoumaru looked to where his arms still held the miko securely to him then smirked evilly and said, "I think not. I'm rather comfortable where I am at the moment."

Kagome shifted in his arms then said, "I'm warning you..."

"Warn all you wish miko, but I'm not letting you go."

Kagome shifted her stance slightly, grabbed the youkai's wrist, and said, "You asked for it, Fluff-sama!"

She then proceeded to toss the lord over her head and into a grove of trees some distance away from where she was. He got out of the trees a moment later with the most amusing expression on his face. The transference of blood, though accidental, had given her a small amount of his youkai strength as well as giving him immunity to most of her miko gifts. This would be interesting.

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(Sesshoumaru)

'She has my strength! There is no way she could have pulled off that move otherwise. By the look on her face she didn't intend for me to be thrown quite this far.' Sesshoumaru thought as he dusted his clothes off and removed the leaves from his hair.

He looked up to shout something to her and discovered that his brother and her friends were once more gathered around her. Inu-Yasha was too close to her for his comfort and piece of mind. The idiotic hanyou had nearly killed her earlier. Now he hovered over her as if nothing had happened. It was infuriating!

A low, angry growl escaped him before he even realized how angry he was becoming. He needed to find the Tensaiguia. The powerful healing sword would balance him back out. His control over his emotions was tenuous at best and he had no wish to let anyone see him loose his composure.

He knew that he had a bad temper and normally he was able to control it, but with the stressful happenings of the day he doubted he could keep himself in check for long. He was already showing the outward signs of his intense anger as it was. His growling was beginning to rise in volume as he stalked towards his brother. His rage would drive him to violence if he didn't find an outlet soon.

"Sesshoumaru, SIT!"

THUMP! That worked. Now he was much more concerned with getting to his feet and strangling Kagome for her antics. He heard the distinct sound of something being hit with a large mallet then saw a much frazzled Suya come charging out of the forest. (AN: For all you fans out there, SUYA HAS RETURNED!)

He was on his feet instantly. "Suya, I thought I told you to remain at the castle."

"You did sir. I would not have left, but..."

"But?" Sesshoumaru prompted.

"Jakken has taken your kit, milord."

All the color drained from his already pale face. "Rin?"

Before anything else was said a loud scream filled the air followed by the scent of burning scent of wood. Inu-Yasha's forest was on fire.

Everything fell into place as Shippou blurred past yelling, "Don't worry, Rin, help is on the way!" (AN: yes he's met Rin.)

Sesshoumaru barely finished processed the fox kit's words before he heard Kagome say, "Shippou, don't go in there! The forest is on fire!"

The kitsune did not stop, though, and Kagome started to go after him.

She didn't get two steps past the lord before he snagged her by the waist, pulled her against his side, and let out a nearly roared command of, "No you don't!"

Everyone froze at the serious outburst of the normally composed taiyoukai lord. No one had ever heard that near violent tone in his voice before. Trying valiantly to control his severe trembling Sesshoumaru turned the still stunned miko to face him then grabbed her by her upper arms and shook her once.

Barely managing to keep his voice level he said, "Are you insane? That place will be engulfed by the flames in minutes."

Coming out of her stupor Kagome struggled vainly against Sesshoumaru's iron grasp and said, "I don't care!"

Still trying to remain calm he said, "Well I do. I won't let you go in there and possibly get yourself killed."

She thumped her fists against his chest and glared at him then said, "My son is in there!"

That did it. Completely loosing his temper the youkai lord removed one hand from where he was holding on to Kagome to gesture towards the now visibly burning forest and yelled, "So is my daughter!"

Both of them were brought out of their argument by the shouted command of, "ENOUGH!"

He looked over at the now visibly seething fox demon just as the word faded in the air.

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(Suya)

He couldn't believe his lordship would handle the vixen so harshly. It had taken all of his will power not to soundly smack his lord when Sesshoumaru shook the vixen hard enough to rattle her little bones. He hadn't been able to contain his anger any longer when his lordship raised his voice to the vixen. Enough was enough.

Crossing his arms over his chest Suya said, "This quarreling with the vixen is not going to help either of your precious kits."

Sesshoumaru's slight nod told him that he lord was calming down now. Now if only the vixen were so easily dealt with.

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(Sesshoumaru)

He knew that Suya was right. They should be trying to find a way to the kids not quarreling like this. He was about to try redoubling his efforts against the miko, but when he turned to address her she was halfway to the still burning forest.

Cursing himself and her, the taiyoukai lord started forward after Kagome. He knew Inu-Yasha would do the same. Despite their differences, they both wished for the miko's safety. He had nearly caught up with her when he heard the miko speak the dreaded word.

"SIT BOYS!"

THUMP! "ARG!"

THUMP! "Damnit, Kagome!"

Both brothers were flattened to the ground. As he fought the power of the subduing spell Sesshoumaru let his frantic thoughts roam. 'She doesn't want us to stop her! She's insane! That fire will kill her much faster than her fox child! This cannot happen! I...MUST...GET...UP!'

His entire body shook with the enormous effort he was using to fight the spell that bound him. He faintly heard Inu-Yasha's growled curses as he finally pulled himself to his full, imposing height. He could still feel the pressure on his body that told him that he was still under the subduing spell. It took a considerable amount of his youkai strength just remain standing.

'She must be subduing us multiple times to keep the effect this long.' He thought as he turned to his stunned retainer.

"What are you doing, Suya? You should have gone after her."

"Yes, I know, milord, but..."

"But, what?"

"She subdued you, sir."

"I know that, you stupid fox."

The fox youkai visibly flinched at his lord's violent tone. Sesshoumaru shook his head in an attempt to focus his thoughts on the task at hand. He had to remain focused now. Everything dear to him depended on it.

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(Inu-Yasha)

Nothing made sense anymore. Kagome wasn't normally this careless. She knew he would have gone in to save the brats. Instead she subdued him and went in on her own. Stupid wench! He had the protection of his fire rat coat, she had nothing for herself. She'd burn to death before she even got close. He could not, would not, let that happen. They'd gone through too much together. He wasn't going to loose her now.

As soon as he was out of the power of the subduing spell he took off towards the forest. He was so worried about Kagome's safety that he completely forgot about his half brother's presence. He was reminded of this fact as his forward momentum was stopped by a hard kick to his chest. Inu-Yasha slid back several feet before he was able to stop.

"Sesshoumaru! Get out of my way!" His words carried an angry growl with them.

Instead of the attack that he was expecting his brother spoke in an even voice. "I will not stand aside, little brother. Once again you rush forward with no thought to the consequences. For example, if you were to use your nose you would discover that this fire was no natural occurrence."

Inu-Yasha lightly sniffed the air then growled. "Naraku..."

The realization only made him more desperate to reach Kagome. His attempt to go past his brother was once again thwarted by the stoic youkai. It was as if he didn't want Kagome to be saved.

With a renewed bout of strength born of desperation he shoved Sesshoumaru to one side and said, "Damnit, Sesshoumaru! You may not care about Kagome, but-"

WHAM! He never finished as he was forcefully pinned against a tree by his collar. He had hit a nerve. He wrapped one hand at his brother's wrist as he tried to free himself from the death grip that Sesshoumaru had on his throat.

Amber eyes met a pair of eyes that had bled scarlet. Sesshoumaru's voice was anything but calm as he said, "Don't you dare tell me that I don't care about her!"

Inu-Yasha found himself abruptly dropped to the ground as the taiyoukai lord's words registered. His brother's eyes were focused on some far distant point as he got back to his feet. It was as if Sesshoumaru were just now realizing his true feelings on the subject.

He couldn't believe his ears. Had Sesshoumaru, adamant human hater, just professed to have feelings for a human miko? Nothing made sense anymore.

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