A/N: Hey there!! Sorry 4 the delay, I've been busy with school and it also seemed like my last chapter wasn't so good since practically no one reviewed it… ::sight:: well then no matter I'll finish this story even if people don't review cuz I love it and I think I've done a great work (GO ME!! Hehe)

Here's chapter 23!!

PS: Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter I really appreciate it!

WP

Between Lust and Love

Chapter 23: To trust or not to trust.

"Kikyou-sama I have returned." called the dark figure with green bright eyes landing on a tree branch where her mistress was resting. The miko who was leaning her back against a tree trunk opened her eyes and smiled pleased.

"What information do you have for me?" she inquired in a cold voice.

"Only that they are heading in the wrong direction and they are three: the lord of the Western Lands, a ninja kid and of course the one expected…"

"Kagome…" the miko whispered closing her eyes with anger "They're heading in the wrong direction you say?" she asked opening her eyes and looking intently at her bow resting by her side. "Yes." the figure responded while the miko frowned ordering "Take them to me." The figure shook in the branch crying out in disbelief "But Kikyou-sama isn't it best if we keep them away from you?" 'So I can kill them myself without your intrusion…' it added in it's head while waiting for the priestess to answer. "You know very well what my true goal is, Ayame." At the mention of her name the wolf demon landed on the ground and paced towards the resting Kikyou "I know you want her dead Kikyou-sama! But I also want to fight her!" Kikyou glared at her in indignation.

"You will have your revenge ones I take away her soul isn't that enough for you? Do you wish to see her die or do you want me to kill you for interfering in my plans? " she asked trying to see if the wolf-demon would still defy her will. The youkai lowered her head in defeat and Kikyou added "Now go and tell them to come here." The demon bowed slightly before nodding "Hai Kikyou-sama." And with that Ayame jumped into the trees trying to catch up with the group.

'I won't let her kill Kagome… I'll avenge Kouga's death even if it means disobeying Kikyou's orders.' she thought smirking.

The group was arriving to the edge of the forest a waterfall was near, Sesshoumaru could smell the fresh smell of water and the hear the sound of the waterfall. Kohaku stopped and said "We'll rest here for a minute I need to send a message to my sister." Kagome looked at him in question "How are you going to do that?" and before he had to answer he took a small cage from his pack, inside was a white dove. "Oh now I get it." remarked Kagome caressing the little birds head with her finger, Kohaku smiled at her companion's childish behavior "It's name is Yuka." Kagome smiled "Well hello Yuka." The bird chirped and then Kohaku asked "Do you want me to send word to Rin-sama?"

Kagome looked up to him and smiled brightly "Could you do that?" the kid nod lending a small piece of paper to Kagome she started writing how much she missed and her and that they would be back soon, she signed and handed the paper to Sesshoumaru so he would sign as well.

"She will be pleased." he declared giving back the little piece of paper to her mate while she nodded happily. Kohaku took it and started walking towards the waterfall "I'll just go to the top so I can show Yuka the way to the palace, I won't take long!" he started climbing and after a few moment he was out of sight behind the waterfall.

Kagome turned to her mate "Well I guess it's only you and me now."

"Do you intend to complain?" he asked arrogantly.

"Maybe. If you keep that arrogant behavior of yours…" she said taking his hand in hers, tangling their fingers.

"Your actions speak for themselves, love." he remarked circling her waist with his other arm and closing the distance between their faces.

She giggled "Yours too." And she kissed him with passion, he traveled her back roaming her whole body like she was gold and he was a impoverished man, he had wanted her from the very first day she stepped into his palace, and after all they had been through he had still not taken her whole, that desperate him. She started to moan in his mouth which made him start to build up the desire he had for so long kept inside of him.

Elegance. Coolness. Control. Indifference. Those were the words that described him, and he wanted to make sure they would stay like that.

But… whenever he was around her, that strong barrierhe had so carefully designed around his feeling-heart was down to rumbles in an instant. She had that effect on him, and he loved it. He started to push her neck towards him deepening the kiss and running his tongue along hers. She moaned again and fought back, with one hand on his kimono and the other tangled in his silky silver hair.

But then Kagome's eyes snapped open, in a swift movement she caught a kunai (ninja weapon, like small knife) that was about to hit Sesshoumaru's neck, she twisted around her mate alerted suddenly stood by her.

"Who are you?! And why can't I feel your youki?" he yelled enraged. In the shadow someone giggled "That is thanks to Kikyou-sama's spell…" . Kagome narrowed her eyes "Kikyou? Where is she?" and then noticed something on the other side of the river glitter with the sun light.

"There." she declared charging towards the light.

"Kagome. Matte!" (Wait!) her mater screamed following after her.

She ran to the glittering thing, it was hanging on a tree branch, she jumped towards it and noticed it was only a kunai nailed on the tree. 'Shit!' she thought 'It's a trap!' but before she could land again on the ground she felt someone kicking her from behind, she fell to the ground her face full of dirt and she cursed "Damn…" the attacker landed in front of her. As Kagome looked up she noticed an intense pair of green eyes watching her with anger and it's face was cover with a fur.

"Who are…. you?" she asked trying to get up, but the intruder pushed her head back to the floor with her foot.

"Kagome!" exclaimed Sesshoumaru charging at the enemy. It moved fast and the only thing Sesshoumaru's claws could tore was the fur over it's face revealing it's true identity. Pulling herself up to her feet Kagome murmured "Ayame…??" the wolf growled at her "That's right! Didn't expect it now, did you?" Sesshoumaru did a perfect display of anger as his fangs showed form his mouth.

"Forgive me my Lord, but I have business with this… lady." she said sarcastically smirking at Kagome who was now on her feet and ready to fight "And what business is that?" she spat back trying to sound as ironic as she could. "You owe me…" the wolf whispered as she launched at her target "You owe me your life!" she cried out trusting kicks that Sesshoumaru caught easily, she jumped back onto the tree.

"And maybe even more!!" she snarled attacking again but this time Kagome jumped at her as well, they fought with fists, each and every single one blocked.

"You owe me the most precious thing in your life!" Ayame cried out punching Kagome in the stomach but she resisted and kicked Ayame hard on her side "What are you talking about?!" they jumped apart from each other, Ayame made a fist of anger and tears started racing down her cheeks.

"You…killed him…" she whispered crackling her fangs together. Kagome stayed silent so as to listen to her.

"You killed the only thing that was precious to me. You killed the only man I would ever love!" she growled as she launched at Kagome again this time she had pulled her katana out, Kagome tried to dodge every single blow, Sesshoumaru then intervened. He was about to attack Ayame and tear her body into shreds when suddenly a purple hue formed around Ayame making her impossible to move, she seemed like a gold fish trapped.

"What the hell is this?!" she cried out in anger as she start to punch and kick the barrier separating her from her target. Kagome gasped at the familiar hue, it seemed like hers but she knew she wasn't controlling it, then Sesshoumaru broke in "What is this?" Kagome then recognized the energy emanating from the barrier it was from a miko. "It's miko-ki…" she whispered, her mate looked at her and asked "Where is it coming from?" Kagome concentrated on her surrounding trying to find the source of the energy, but Ayame's cries disrupted her from her task.

"Damn you Kikyou!!! Let me out!!" this made Sesshoumaru's eyebrow stir and Kagome to gasp, then before they could say anything the bubble circling Ayame became smaller.

"What's happening?!" she screamed in horror as she noticed that the bubble was shrinking with her inside. Then a dark voice rang in the forest alerting the demons:

"Ayame, I trusted you, and you betrayed me."

Ayame eyes widen at the recognition of the voice "Kikyou!" she exclaimed. Kagome and Sesshoumaru narrowed their eyes around the place trying to find where the voice was coming from but it seemed useless, no presence could be sensed in the surroundings. Then, something caught Kagome's attention, a strange yet familiar energy was coming out of Ayame's necklace.

"Ayame, your necklace is the one controlling the barrier, destroy it!" as in a cue Ayame tore the necklace from her neck and crushed it in her hand, making the barrier disappear in an instance. She sighed out of relief before feeling something in her chest, a pain… she grabbed her chest trying to breath.

Then the voice spoke once again "Fool…" Ayame cried out of pain and fell on the ground wincing in pain and breathing hard.

"Ayame!" Kagome cried out, but she couldn't move, some strange force unable her to do so.

Ayame screamed and howled out of pain and then the voice finally declared "You underestimated me my wolf-demon… I am not just a mere human, and now… for your betrayal, you shall pay…" Ayame clenched her chest and cried once again, Kagome stared in horror and Sesshoumaru only scanned the area to see if the so-told Kikyou would be nor far from their position, still the speel also unable him to move from his spot.

The voice finished saying "Die." Ayame cried out in pain one last time, and finally fell on the ground whispering "Forgive me, love….Kouga…" and with that she closed her eyes letting dead take her away from the pain. Kagome finally could move and fell on her knees with an horrified expression, Sesshoumaru automatically rushed to her side calling her name "Kagome! Are you alright?" she muttered a yes and then hugged her love tightly seeking his warmth and comfort. But the moment didn't last long for yet again came the voice.

"Kagome, if you wish to confront me, go to the meadow east from here. I'll be waiting."

Kagome sighed when she sensed the voice had finally gone. Sesshoumaru helped her to get up whispering with a concerned voice "Are you alright my love?" she looked at him and smiled faintly, he frowned "Do not do that, it's disturbing." she giggled finally smiling truly to her mate. She then again looked at Ayame's body and saddlysaid "We should bury her." Knowing what had happen last time he argue with her against burying advisers he could only nod. After they were finished with prayers they began walking to the waterfall where they had made Kohaku wait.

"Hey what happen I've been waiting for you!" exclaimed Kohaku running to the couple.

"We got involved in a fight with one of the miko's allies, we now know her exact location, we need to head east form here." the young taiji nodded and took his bag and went on the head of the group "Let's go then."

They started walking but Kagome then said "Listen Kohaku, I won't let you kill Kikyou." This made the young man stop in his track but he didn't care to look at her.

"I know you want your revenge… but…" recalling the past event she had compared the taiji's situation to Ayame's and found them alike, she continued "That won't bring them back."

"I know that, Kagome-sama, and you know it as well." he replied in a dark tone.

"Then is it really necessary?" he stayed silent. Kagome continued "Because ifit isthen you should consider it again." At that the boy turned around to look at Kagome's teary eyes "I was once a slave, and before I met Sesshoumaru my life was a complete chaos. But, when I got my freedom back I never thought about having revenge over the persons that had made my life a leaving hell! I never did that because… somehow I knew it wasn't right!" she cried and the boy gasped. Sesshoumaru stood there, ready to pull her mate into his embrace but she continued.

"When I got my memory back I remembered how my mother and my father loved me and how hard they fought to protect my life and happiness! And even though they were killed, I never considered living to avenge their death. You know why?" he shook his head slightly, she started walking towards him and hugged him "Because my mother once told me that I needed to live, to live and search for happiness. And now I have, I have found happiness and love. But you… you still can avoid loosing that happiness." He stayed there and Kagome finally started crying.

Sesshoumaru took a hold of his mate and hugged her tightly against him, she glanced at Kohaku and said "Don't become a murderer in order to honor your beloved once… your sister would be ashamed of you." This made Kohaku skip, before lowering his eyes and turning around quickly he started walking once again.

A/N: YEY THIS CHAPTER IS O-V-E-R!! Sorry again for the delay, next chapter THE fight against Kikyou so don't miss it!! Thanks for the reviews!! Buh bye!!

WP