Chapter 2: A Rude Awakening
The innocent chirp of many birds sang its way into the quiet interior of the cave, echoing faintly in the darkness. The young woman stirred as the sound filtered through her dream-hazed mind. Her brain registered the soft warmth pressed against her, as it did the steady rise and fall of the pillow beneath her head. 'Tis a dream.' She sighed and snuggled closer then stilled, her eyes snapping open as a strong arm wrapped around her waist. For several seconds, she dared not breath as she stared at the beautiful but deadly face of the demon that had become her village's worst nightmare. That thought brought back a series of memories from the previous day. Kagome blinked as tears welled in her eyes, followed by the hollow aching of her heart. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, attempting to gain control. The nightmare closed in on her as pictures of the horror that wiped out her home, forced their way into her mind. 'What am I to do now?' She opened her eyes and looked again at the demon beside her. She couldn't believe that she was lying there with him, the one who brought so much suffering to her and her people. 'I should hate you.' However, she couldn't find the desired emotion as she continued to study him. 'How can someone so evil be so beautiful?' His overall appearance was breathtaking, with his impressive height and bearing, the well-toned muscular body, all combined with the striking perfection of his face. Her gaze wandered over his regally arched brows, the dark lashes that fanned his pale, unblemished cheeks and continued down to linger on the full, sensual lips. 'No man should look so.' With a sigh, she drew her eyes away and carefully slid out from beneath his arm. She made her way quietly towards the cave's entrance. She could smell the water from a nearby stream and fully intended to make good use of it. The need to distance herself from the disturbing presence drove her quickly from the dark hollow and she jumped the long distance to the forest floor. She landed on the soft grass below, looking back up at the great height to the entrance. 'He certainly chose well.' A frown marred her brow as she realised her thoughts. She did not want to admire this creature. He was her enemy and she had no idea of his feelings towards her. Would he be the deadly aggressor once again, in the light of a new day? The thought nagged at her mind. Though she felt no love for him, she held no desire to continue their fight. The previous day had provided more death than she could deal with in a lifetime. She made her way to the stream, weaving carefully through the trees as she tested the air around her for possible danger. Much to her relief, she reached the cool waters without trouble, nor could she sense any immediate threat. Quickly shedding her clothes, she dived into the soothing waters, shivering in reaction to the cold. After several minutes of washing her body and hair, she walked from the stream and stood on the bank, calling forth a spell that sent a gush of warm wind that dried her instantly. She picked up her clothes from the ground, studying their soiled and bloodied appearance. Within minutes, they were transformed to their original state. With a smile, she stepped into them. She found a large rock nearest to the water and sat down. Fishing through her pocket, she pulled out a comb and started to remove the knots from her hair. As her hands worked, her mind wandered, returning to a time long ago, when it all began.
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"Kagome!"
She turned in the direction of the call, spying her sister further up the mountainside. With a big smile, she scrambled up the rocky terrain until she stood beside the older girl, looking up at her innocently.
Margarai sighed as she knelt beside her. "How many times have we told you Kagome, you cannot run off by yourself? It is too dangerous."
She hung her head in shame, knowing the truth of the girl's words. "I am sorry Margarai. The hills were so beautiful, I could not resist."
She was suddenly scooped into the warmth of her oldest sister's embrace. "I understand sweetheart and I wish it was safe enough for you to explore but we must be sensible. You are still much too little to venture out on your own."
"I know."
She felt her sister's soothing hand on her head and was calmed by the gentle tone of her voice. "Come, the others are looking for you. It is almost time to leave."
The walked in silence for a moment as she wondered where they would head to this time. It seemed that most of her life consisted of them travelling from one place to another.
"Margarai…" she started hesitantly. "Why must we leave again? I like this place."
Her sister's sad expression made her heart weigh heavily. She knew that they all hated the sudden departures they were regularly forced to make.
"It is no longer safe here Kagome."
"Why Margarai? Why is it not safe anymore?"
Her sister suddenly stopped walking, bringing her own progress to a halt. Once again, Margarai was kneeling before her, holding her face gently in her hands.
"I know that there is much you do not understand little one and I realise that this must frustrate you, but you must believe me when I tell you that it is for your own good that you know nothing of it. It would only bring you more danger."
Once again confused, she nodded in acceptance, wondering how old she would have to be to finally learn of the dread, which ruled their lives. They found the others, at which point she was forced to endure a severe lecture. Gaia and Lucien were quite mad at her disappearance. She stood behind Margarai, trying to hide from the face of their anger. After what seemed an age, they were finally on their way. She stayed close to Aiyala, who smiled sympathetically at her sad face and made jokes to lighten the mood. She remembered walking for what seemed like days before they finally came to a small settlement. Clapping with joy, she expressed her desire to stay in the quaint little village. Her hopes were quickly dashed and she was left deflated by the news that they would only stay the evening. Aiyala scooped her into her arms and deposited her onto her back for the remaining trip. They had little problem finding shelter for the evening. The town's folk were greatly concerned for the sisters, travelling alone in such a dangerous place as the East. Many offers were made to them of permanent residence, all politely refused. The next day, as they walked towards the great forests, leaving the town far in the distance, Kagome voiced the question that plagued her since the previous evening.
"Why did we not take the offer of shelter?"
"The threat follows us still Kagome. Were we to stay, we would put all the innocents in danger." Gaia's firm tone brooked no argument.
She nodded sadly, angry again at the unknown menace that trailed at the edges of their lives. 'Why?' she wondered. 'Why is there always danger? Why must we always run instead of finding a place of our own?" She realised that there were many things beyond her understanding but she knew that somehow, she and her sisters were different from those that they encountered on their travels. She could not explain why, but she always felt it. Taking a last look at the little town she had grown quickly fond of, she waved a mental goodbye to yet another place that could have been her home. Her hand was grabbed and gently squeezed and she smiled up at Margarai's look of understanding. This was the sister she loved best. The one who cared for her as a mother does her child. She stayed close by Margarai's side the rest of the day until Aiyala's antics coaxed her from her sadness. By the time they settled in the evening, she was once more in good humour. She laughed at the games Aiyala and Kiri played on one another, while the other girls prepared the evening meal. Later that night as she lay in Margarai's arms, she looked up questioningly at the older girl.
"What is it little one?"
Reassured by her sister's soothing tone, she gave voice to her concerns. "Why have my memories not returned to me Margarai?"
She felt her sister's immediate tension. "You suffered a near fatal injury Kagome. You were lucky to recover from it."
"Do you think that I shall ever remember?"
Her sister held her close as she whispered soothingly. "It is probably best that you not."
Once again she was forced to accept this answer, forced to swallow her frustration.
"I know that this is not easy for you Kagome. We do what we must to keep you safe."
A multitude of questions formed in her young mind. Why was she in danger in the first place? Why would anyone want to hurt her? And what of their parents? No mention was ever made of their plight and though she held no memory of the people who were her mother and father, she missed them greatly. Her home and her past were a mystery that was not hers to reveal and this caused her much anguish. Especially at times when she would observe the interaction between the families they often stayed with. Their nomadic life disturbed her greatly too. She often wished she could stay and make friends with some of the children she met. Giving a small sigh of resignation, she snuggled against her sister's warm side as she sought comfort.
"Where are we going Margarai?"
She felt her sister's smile before her answer came. "That at least I can tell you little one. We are leaving the eastern lands. It is no place for a child such as you. We will find a home in the lands of West."
She felt the happiness rising inside her. "You mean a real home? To stay in forever?"
Her sister's laughter washed over her. She felt as though her heart would burst with happiness. Could she dare hope that this would come to be? She tucked the secret wish deep in her heart, along with the hope that soon, her dream would come true. Deciding not to tempt the fates too much, she quietly accepted her sister's assurance that things would work out for them. She closed her eyes and let the world drift away.
The next couple of months were hard for all of them. The journey proved quite taxing, with many perilous trails. They often encountered dangers in the form of one attack or another. Each time this occurred, she was rushed away by one of her sisters while the others stayed to take care of the problem. However, despite the constant obstacles thrown their way, they managed to make it over the steep mountain that separated the East from the West. Their journey had improved from that point on. The lands had seemed so beautiful, inviting almost in comparison to the harsh terrains and rocky hillsides they had previously travelled. She had no idea how long they journeyed but she knew that it was a considerable length of time. The moon had turned its cycle many times. Then came the day their lives had changed.
She'd wandered off again, not paying much heed to her whereabouts in her fascination of the forest around her. She moved from one plant to another, studying the intricate patterns and colours. Suddenly, a sound from a nearby bush caused her to jump. Her heart beat wildly as she stared at it, frozen to the spot. She wanted to move but her legs would not cooperate. A sudden movement from the bush, accompanied by a much louder sound drove her fear over the edge and with a small scream, she turned and ran back in the direction of her sisters. It took them some time to calm her enough to make sense of her words but eventually, four of her sisters ran off in the direction she indicated. A short time later they returned, carrying a small girl in their arms. As she studied the tiny, battered body, she realised that the child was about eight, the same age as her. Her sisters set about immediately to alleviate the child's suffering. That night, she lay in her blanket, her eyes never leaving the little form that was tucked in beside her, the girl who would become her very first friend.
The next morning they learnt that the girl's name was Narami. Narami told them of the attack, which had separated her from her family. Her mother and father had decided to go to the little village of Saiki to live closer to her father's aged mother. They were only a half-day away from the village when several large beasts came upon them. Her father tried valiantly to ward the creatures off but was no match for their sheer size and force. The last sight she had was of her parents being mauled as she was carried away by one of the large creatures. She had only managed to get free when another creature attacked the one carrying her. She described in detail the great beauty of this new creature. His silver-white hair and angelic features were that of an angel, she told them. After slaying her attacker, the creature had looked at her then turned to leave. In fright, she used the rest of her strength to crawl into a nearby bush and that was where they found her.
Her sisters decided to take the girl to the next village with them, in hopes that it was the one where her grandmother lived. They were greatly relieved to find that it was. It was with sadness and joy that the old one received the news they brought her. She welcomed her grandchild with open arms and invited the sisters to stay the evening. The evening had turned into many nights until the girls were asked to stay permanently.
Everything seemed to settle down nicely from there. She often wondered if it would stay this way but gratefully accepted what was handed to them. Her days were now filled with joy and more friends than she could ever imagine. The next couple of years passed with the swiftness of bliss. She and Narami were inseparable, often found terrorising the locals with their childish antics. They played and talked from the beginning of the day, right into the hours of darkness that heralded the time for sleep. Many threats of separation were made to the pair, who would only giggle and proceed to whisper. She could not remember a time when she felt this happy and prayed each night for it to remain so.
It was not until the coming of their womanly years that the differences started to show. She often wondered in the past, at the comments made of her sisters' ageless appearances. Now however, she could no longer set aside the fact that, for some reason, she and her sisters did not seem to age as all other humans did. She watched Narami's features alter many times over the years, most drastically after the birth of her fourth child. From then on, her friend seemed to slowly wither with each passing year. Before she realised it, Narami's daughter Suvi, was her new friend and they were the ones who were inseparable. She knew the villagers protected their secret. Many in the lands were prosecuted for witchcraft and had they been found, they too would be accused of such crimes. In return for the protection, they served the villagers well. No longer were there deaths from strange diseases, or plagues of insects to devour their crops. The village thrived, even in times where others fell to hardship.
In her mind, life could not be more perfect. However, as with all good things, the peace and contentment was soon to end. The first of the attacks were not of great concern. They did however establish her sisters as the village protectors. She watched in awe as they wielded their weapons against the creatures that ran rampant through the town square. In no time at all, the beasts were dead and the villagers were cheering loudly as relief filled the air. Unfortunately, these attacks became more frequent and soon a new anxiety settled over their haven. It was during one of these attacks that a very surprising incident occurred.
It came four years after Suvi's fifth baby was born. The little child followed her everywhere, much to the amusement of her sisters. Where she went, her giggling tail followed. She didn't mind however, finding the child's company quite refreshing. It was through Kagome that Saraiya learned most of her first lessons. They were out strolling through the fields, collecting herbs for the tonics and balms. She was rather engrossed in the extrication of a certain plant when a strange sensation crept down her spine. The feeling of foreboding that followed had her head up and her eyes scanning the surrounding area for her tiny companion. She breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted Saraiya further down the grassy field. She opened her mouth to call to her but froze in horror as a huge wolf-like creature stepped out from the cover of the forest, not far from the young girl. Anxiety and fear clawed at her chest as she watched it's single-minded progress towards the unsuspecting child. The following moments passed as a blur that she could vaguely remember. As her mind struggled to work, her body went into action. She felt herself move and saw a blur of trees passing her. In the next instant, she had Saraiya in her arms and was rushing through the thick forest. She could hear the heavy steps of the animal in pursuit as well as its angry heaving breaths. With a quick decision that she barely registered, she was up in a tree, delivering the child safely onto a thick branch.
"Ye must stay here Saraiya. Do not make a noise. Do ye understand?"
The small child nodded in fright but sat still. Seeing that her instructions were heeded, she dropped back to the forest floor in time to see the creature appearing from behind the trees. She had no idea what she intended to do, all she knew was that she had to protect Saraiya. The creature paused, eyeing her menacingly before releasing a massive howl and lunging forward. The last thing she remembered was hearing the small, frightened cries of the girl in the tree before a huge light blazed out of nowhere, surrounding them completely.
She woke sometime later to a rather fuzzy head and the sound of hushed whispers nearby. She tried to ignore the haze of her mind and concentrate on what was being said. Unfortunately, her hearing was playing tricks on her and she only managed to catch snatches of the conversation.
"How is this possible? I thought…"
"I do not understand either… were contained… it cannot be broken."
"… there must be some explanation…"
"It matters not… make sure… does not happen… be in danger again."
She cursed her fluctuating senses and finally gave in to the need for sleep. From that time on, she noticed that her sisters watched her closely and began to realise why when she suddenly started displaying certain skills she had no idea she possessed. Her astonishing speed surprised them all. That was when her sisters decided it was time to make her aware of her powers and begin her training. She now understood that she was different to others around her. However, for reasons she couldn't understand, her sisters decided that it was best for her to remain uninformed of her past and the reason why they remained hidden in the tiny peasant village. She grudgingly accepted this, as there was little else to do. She kept herself busy with her training and when she wasn't doing that, she spent most of her time teaching the children. Life continued on as normal, the only difference was that now she too helped against the invading creatures that continued to plague them. They had managed quite fine, until the day of the accusation. The day the Lord of the Youkai's died and his son proclaimed death upon all in their entire village. Their leader had travelled into the youkai lands, in hopes of gaining peace for his people. His journey ended before he reached the castle gates and he was returned to the village, his head removed from his body. From then, the attacks had taken a turn for the worse.
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Kagome sighed as she dragged her thoughts from the past. The strange hollow feeling stayed with her, leaving her empty and devoid of emotion. With a feeling of unreality, she walked back towards the cave, a shiver of apprehension crawling up her spine at the thought of facing her enemy once again. Where would she go? What would happen to her, now that she was all alone? She was too numb to feel the fear that she was sure lurked in her heart. She stopped at the foot of the caves and stared up. Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself off the ground, flying up to the opening in a swift, graceful leap. She landed quietly at the entrance, relieved to see the slumbering form of the silver-haired youkai. She knew an encounter was inevitable. She was glad however that it wouldn't happen just yet. She sat on the nearest stone and once again retrieved the comb from her pocket. Her hair was dry enough to tie back now. As she combed her silky tresses, her eyes wandered back to the beautiful creature that slept nearby. She could tell by his breathing and the rapid movements of his eyes that he was dreaming. She wandered what a creature such as he would dream of.
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He strode briskly through the halls, irritation plainly evident in each step. Reaching the large double doors at the end, he pushed his way through without a pause in his stride. His father turned to face him, a question in his keen glance.
"It is done."
He observed the look of satisfaction that passed over the older youkai's features. "Why do you care what becomes of these humans father? They are of little concern."
"It is not noble to use our powers against those that cannot defend themselves my son, and as the lord of the youkais it is my duty to make sure this law is upheld."
He knew that there was more than his father admitted but he realised that further explanation would not be forthcoming. With a small bow, he turned to take his leave but was halted by his father's voice.
"Who was it son?"
"They were tiger youkai."
Turning his head, he watched his father's eyes narrow and heard the puzzlement in his voice.
"Why? This does not make sense. The tigers have never before attacked a human."
"I agree father. None of it makes sense. The last attack came from the dragons, the youkai most tolerant of the human race. And as before, the lord has no knowledge of the events."
"Do you believe him son?"
He stared solemnly into his father's eyes. "Yes father. He spoke the truth."
His father's nod was his only response and judging from the distant look on the youkai's face, it was all he would receive. He continued on to the door, leaving his father to ponder on the mysteries that surrounded the string of attacks. His mind wondered back to the little child he had found in the clutches of the crazed tiger youkai. He was certain his father would have been angry that he left the child in the wilderness but he had no time for the pitiful creatures. He held no grudge against them, only mild distaste for their weak and pathetic forms. He quickly cleared the child from his mind as he sought out his chambers for a much needed rest. As he lay in his bed, thinking of the day's events, blackness overtook the room, slowly receding to allow the light of the brightly decorated banquet hall. His eyes swept the scene, recognising the day as the one his father took his human mate. He looked carefully at the rows of faces seated at the tables inside the large room. Many barely concealed the animosity they felt as they gazed upon the inferior race they were forced to consort with. An uneasy feeling grew inside him, reminiscent of many days since the announcement was made. 'Why is father doing this?' he asked the same question that plagued his mind for days. His answer came as he looked upon the smitten face of the of the youkai lord. Although it was totally beyond his comprehension, the human wench had managed to somehow ensnare his father's heart. He kept himself in the background that evening, warily awaiting any sign of trouble. He watched in particular, the table that seated his mother's family. Many of the aunts had expressed their disapproval on many occasions to his father and even now sat voicing their thoughts. He sighed again, not blaming them for their anger. It was virtually unheard of for youkai to mate with humans. He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes and mind from the beginning of many problems to come.
His eyes opened and he stared at the heavy oak door of his father's chambers. He turned to look at the proud inu youkai beside him. His mother's brother, Karoku turned impatiently from the door, pinning him with his keen stare.
"You must talk sense into him Sesshoumaru. If he does not attend to the matters of the land soon, all will end in strife."
He sighed wearily, wondering what he could say to the youkai inside that would make a difference. Since the disappearance of his human mate, his father was a shell of his former self, refusing to leave the sanctuary of his room, full of the only memories he had of his missing love. There was no explanation for the disappearance. It seemed that the lady had simply vanished from the lands, with not a trace left behind. Reluctantly, he reached for the door and pushed it open. He hesitated a moment as his eyes adjusted to the dim room before walking in and closing the door firmly behind him.
"Father"
He approached the bed, noting the still figure that lay on top. No response came and he moved to sit on the edge of the soft mattress.
"Father, you must get up. The nobles are stirring and the trouble with the human village is worsening."
For a moment, silence was his only answer. He was about to attempt another plea, when the broken voice cut him off.
"I know not who my enemies are my son."
He sat baffled, puzzling over the meaning of those words. Who would dare defy his father? None he knew had the power to challenge him. Before he could enquire further, his father continued.
"My love is gone, and now they think to take the lands too."
"Who father? Who would do this?"
His father's hand grabbed his, holding it tightly. "You must take care son. Do not trust any, not one."
The apprehension inside him grew. He tried to get answers to the riddle but his father no longer wished to continue the discussion. He resigned himself to this and left the room promptly. As he traversed the hallways, his mind went through a quick succession of thoughts. One thing he knew for certain, it was now up to him to guard the West.
He reached the end of the hall and pulled the door open, stepping through immediately. His footsteps halted as he found himself outside their large mansion, looking upon the burning outer buildings. He squashed his rising panic and fear as he raced towards the royal suites.
'Father!' his mind chanted in rhythm with his wildly beating heart. He passed the slain bodies, crumpled in death and left to bleed inside the hallways. His mind barely registered his many aunts and uncles amongst them. 'What has happened here?' he wondered desperately as he neared his father's room. The smell of blood and death assailed him as he entered. He released a loud howl of anguish when he found the crumpled and lifeless form, lying in a puddle of blood on the floor. A sudden movement to his right caught his attention and he turned in time to see the dark form slipping from the room. Rage pulsed through his veins as he gave chase to the silent assassin. He was astonished by the speed that the creature possessed. After almost losing sight of it, he finally managed to corner it in the dojo. To his sheer astonishment, the black-garbed figure turned to reveal a woman of astonishing beauty. Even from the great distance that separated them, her unearthly charms showed clearly. Recovering quickly from his surprise, he launched his body forward, fully intent on destroying his father's killer. Once again, his body stilled in amazement as the woman suddenly ran forward and disappeared.
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Sesshoumaru's eyes opened suddenly and he looked at the ceiling of the cave. His heartbeat slowed then quickened again as he remembered the carnage of the previous day. He could not believe that it was all gone. Where had that energy come from? His mind went back again to his dream. The night of his father's death had plagued him since. He blamed himself. He should have been there to protect him. Again he felt hatred filling his insides, turning his emotions raw. The face of his father's assassin sat in his mind, tormenting him with her beauty. He rolled on his side and froze as he caught sight of the vision from his dream. Was he still in slumber? The vision looked so real. It suddenly shifted and raised its eyes to him. A slight scent tickled at his nose and brought forth more memories. His mind was numb with shock as realisation hit him. The girl he brought with him from the west was the same one that killed his entire family.
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Kagome felt a trickle of fear run up her spine. The look on his face made her want to take flight. She had listened to his mumbled words during sleep and held her breath when she realised that he was finally awake. She carefully avoided his eyes, staring into the fire with great interest. However, after a lengthy period of silence, her curiosity got the better of her. She slowly raised her eyes to find herself pinned by a stunned gaze. She watched as the shocked look quickly turned to one of hatred. Without any word of warning, he was upon her, throwing her roughly against the wall of the cave. Her instincts kicked in and she dropped gracefully to her feet. She barely had time to prepare herself before he struck again. She stepped quickly to the side and heard the loud smash from his impact with the wall. She darted across the opposite side of the cave, turning quickly to face him.
"Why are ye doing this?"
Although she had expected this reaction, she still couldn't help asking the question. Her answer was a massive roar as he rushed at her again. She somersaulted over his head and barely landed before she felt the sharp sting of his clawed hand on her back, sending her flying across the cave. She flipped herself round quickly, positioning her feet to land against the wall and propelled herself back, directly at him. Once again she repositioned her body so that her feet landed squarely against his chest. She fell to her feet and followed him to where he landed against far wall. As he slumped to the floor, she brought her small dagger from its niche and held it firmly against his throat.
"I do not want to hurt ye. This is senseless. Why do ye attack me now?"
The hatred burned from his glare and pierced her heart. She flinched at the anger in his voice.
"It was you that murdered my family!"
She blinked then stared at him in shocked silence.Unable to find her voice, she opted to shake her head in denial. She jumped as he roared angrily in her face; not realising that she had lowered her knife.
"Do not deny it! I saw you!"
"No!" she finally managed to yell out. "I did not do this!"
Her answer sent him over the edge. He threw her across the room and stood to his feet. Racing forward, he swiped his poison claw at her, missing her by inches. He jumped back, trying to avoid the solid blow of her foot to his chest. He staggered back several meters before he could regain his footing. When he finally stood firm on the floor, he looked around to find that she was gone. Before he could turn his head, another blow to his back sent him crashing face down on the floor.
Kagome pounced immediately but was astounded at the speed of his recovery. In the blink of an eye, he turned and grabbed her quickly descending body, pinning it to the ground beside him. She stilled to the claws that dug into her throat and felt her hand snatched roughly, efficiently removing her knife.
"Please… it was not I that slay yer family. Tis the truth."
His anger escalated further at continued denial. "I saw you, with my own eyes!"
She looked at him helplessly, her eyes begging him to believe. "I do not know what ye saw that day, but I swear to ye that is was not I. I admired your father. He protected the humans. I would never have hurt him… ye have to believe this."
As he stared down into her innocent eyes he suffered an agony of conflicting emotions. She spoke truth, of that he was certain and yet… how could he ignore the evidence that he himself had witnessed. He wanted to rip her throat to shreds and bring an end to the confusion that gripped him but as hard as he tried, he found it impossible to do so. Her innocence hung in the air between them, rendering him incapable of the violence he craved.
"You hide your lies behind your magic, thinking to fool me into believing. I will not!"
"I speak the truth! If I was who ye say, would I not have slain ye while ye slept?"
Her words brought pause to his anger. Once again, he found himself in confusion. He couldn't deny her words and again, he suffered the mental anguish of indecision. He stood to his feet, dragging her up by the throat. He glared at her then shoved her roughly towards the entrance of the cave.
"For that grace, I allow you yours. Get out."
She landed on her feet, her hand on her throat as she stared at him in surprise. "Ye want me to leave?"
"That is what I said. Now get out!"
"But… but ye cannot mean it… Where will I go?"
His anger took dominance once more. "I care not where you go! I want you out of my sight!"
"But… I am… all alone."
Her whispered words stirred an ache in his heart and he growled angrily at his weakness. He would not let her deceive her way into his sympathies. With another threatening roar, he lunged at her, claws extended.
"Get out!"
She jumped backwards a couple of paces but remained inside the cave, looking at him in desperation. "Please…"
He lunged again, this time making contact with her throat. He heard the searing of her flesh as the acrid smell rose to quickly fill the cave. His heart contracted as their eyes locked. Her stricken look brought a strange ache to his chest. She staggered back several paces, her foot coming to the edge of the platform. He watched as she teetered for several seconds, her eyes filled with hurt and bewilderment. As she finally fell backwards, he struggled with the urge to save her. He roared angrily, slashing at the walls of the cave. Small chips of stone flew about as he continuously raked his angry vengeance on the walls surrounding him. There was hardly a surface left unscarred by the time his anger abated. He was left with a dull ache in his chest as he struggled not to think of the girl who just fell to her death.
AN: Well… I seem to be making an awful lot of apologies for my tardiness lately but unfortunately, time has been a scarce commodity. Anyway, the good news is that now, I should be able to provide a couple of chapters quite fast. We can only hope.
My regular message to readers: if you'd like me to let you know when I update, then please leave your email address in your review. To those of you who are already receiving my alerts, you don't have to do this anymore. If you've left your email before and you're not receiving an alert, could you please email me and let me know.
Now, on with the reviews:
Jen: Thanks girl. So glad you liked it and sorry about the long wait.
Teresa: hey girl. Boy it's great to hear from you. Thanks so much for your praise. There's always plenty with you and I appreciate it. I know that I took a slight risk with Sess and these emotions but I figured that even he would feel something. He is rather attached to his precious western lands, after all. And hey girl, let's hope that little dream does come true one day. I certainly wouldn't mind the pay packet. hehe.
fluffychick15: thanks for the review and your patience. I hope this chapter is worth the wait.
Raihu: wow… that would have to be one of the most helpful reviews I've ever had. Thanks for your praise and your very well worded and very constructive criticism. As it happens, I totally agree with you on the repetition thing and I've actually gone back and revised the chapter. No big changes, just some rewording here or there. As to your enquiry about their sudden change of heart toward each other… well, let's just say it had more to do with the shock factor than anything else. There is an underlying attraction but at this stage, it's not a tangible thing. However, as you can see from this chapter, things are very much back to normal. Anyway, I'd love to know what you think.
lost somewhere: thanks for the review. Sincerest apologies on the wait. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
mistress-koishii: wow, thanks. That's a really nice compliment. I apologise profusely for the delay in updating. I hope that you enjoy this chapter and just to let you know that you're on my update list.
Megan: thanks a lot. That's such a compliment. Sorry that you had to wait so long. Hope this chapter is as pleasing.
None: thanks for the review. Deepest apologies on the wait. I'm hoping that the updates will be more regular now.
Sesshoumarugrl: thank you. I'm so glad you like. Sorry about the wait. Hope this chapter pleases you.
Jasmine Fields: Sorry that you didn't fancy my emotion filled Sess. I guess this story might not be up your alley.
Kagomeismine: wow girl, it's great to hear from you. How are things in your front? Can't wait to see what you've done with Untamed Heart. Hey, thanks for the compliment. I definitely have an interesting plot worked out for this one. Some quite unexpected turns of events should keep you all on the edge of your seats. Anyway, I hope so. Well girl, I hope I can catch up with you soon. And good luck with the publishing project. Hope it all works out for you.
AngelMiko69: hey Jami. I've missed you heaps girl. So long since we last spoke. Well… hopefully now that life is much more quiet, I'll get online a little more, though I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. At least I've managed to finally get a chapter out. And yes, I know I'm nuts but… I just couldn't help myself. This story just wouldn't be contained. What can I say?
ptbear: wow, great to hear from you. Thanks for the reviews. You've been with me a long time now and I get quite a thrill out of hearing from you. I'm so glad this one pleased you. I hope I don't disappoint you with chapter 2. Though I think I'll be in a bit of trouble with that ending huh?
Sess-Luver-chan: thank you so much. I hope the second chapter pleases you as much. Sorry bout the wait.
Aurora-Nyte: hey DJ. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I really appreciate it. As it goes with me and my over-active imagination, there will be lots of action in this story. Hey, I really hope I catch up with you soon. I miss our chats.
MissingInAction: hey, that's the way I feel sometimes. hehe. Well… maybe the way I'd like to be is more like. Anyway, thanks for the review. I most definitely intend to finish this story.
Billy: thanks for the review and the recommendation. I quickly checked out enchanted orbs and was most impressed with the little I read. As soon as I get a couple of chapters up for my stories, I'll be heading back there to read it.
Tonomi: hey girl, thanks for your faithful reviews. Yes, those fight scenes… and to think I actually had a slight phobia about them when I first started writing fanfics. hehe.
O-Ren Ishii: thanks for the review. Funny you say that because on fanfiction-net, Sess/Kag is one of the favourite pairings. Anyway, for me it's the only pairing worth writing. Who knows, maybe further down the line… but right now, Sess/Kag is my obsession. Hey, good luck if you decide to post your stories.
Madkizzy: deepest apologies about the long wait. I hope you find this chapter just as pleasing. Thanks for the review.
Shkimomohotanfotan: well now, that's certainly a mouthful. lol. Thanks for the vote and sorry for the wait. Let me know if you like this one too.
Cygnus: hey Cyn! So nice to see you! (sighs) I guess I owe you a couple of emails huh? (cringes) Sorry for being such a bad buddy. Listen… you can beat me up later okay? And I'm glad that you like this story too. (sighs in relief) Got my work cut out for me you say? hmm (watches Cyn pacing back and forth menacingly) Well… I guess I better get on with it then.
mrs sesshy: I'm so glad that you're back girl. I really missed you. And no, the other characters will happen along later. Our main pair will have some time to themselves for a while though. Hope you like what I do with it.
inulove4eva: hey thanks, (blushing) that was such a nice compliment. Sorry I made you wait so long. I hope this chapter is as pleasing as the first.
rainthewolfdemon: hey there girl. Ooh… I see that you're mad with me again. mm, that seems to be a common event. (frowns in thought) Hey, I'll have you know, I'm not the only employing your dear Sesshy. (glares at rain) Yeah, yeah, I know… get on with it.
Kisa: Ooh, cute. I like it. Thanks for the review. I hope you like this chapter too.
catrice: ah catrice… I love it when you get mad at me. (smiles) So… you happy with the update? I'm waiting for the your next reminder. (giggles)
kagome: Wow… I'm touched by your wonderful words. Thank you so much. And I would be honoured if you would write a fic using this idea. You have no idea what a compliment it is to a writer when they inspire someone else to write a story. Yay! You go for it girl. Can't wait to see what you come up with. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. Let me know if you need any help with your story.