Ok gang, here is the next chapter. I am not sure if anyone is reading this anymore. There should be another chapter up at the end of the week.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, although i did make Kisho.
Chapter 9 Lost
The small group of three made their way through the forest in the direction they last knew it traveled. They had encountered it several times since they first started hunting and they had stopped it from killing for the last three days.
Kisho seemed more upbeat than usual, happily making his way through the forest acting very much like the child he was. Kagome was please to finally see him smile. Though Sesshoumaru didn't act like it she was sure he was happy about it too.
Kagome focused on the events of the last four days. They had followed the shadow youkai, though that didn't seem quite right to fit it, to another near by village but got there to late. The other nights though they had found it just before it killed its victims. It seemed to be slowing down again almost like it was losing power but Kisho was still able to track it as dusk came closer.
Kagome stopped in her tracks, when she felt six shards that were very close. She kicked herself for not noticing sooner.
Sesshoumaru and Kisho both stopped just a head of Kagome. Kisho looked slightly confused as to what had gotten her spooked enough to stop now when it was getting close to dusk. Sesshoumaru how ever knew as soon as she looked up at him what was wrong. He sniffed the air trying to find what was coming for them.
Kagome reached back and notched an arrow before the others to could do any thing. "Shards they are heading this way." But to her surprise they seemed to be more strolling their way. Kagome raise her bow and aimed carefully where she thought it would come. She didn't want to take anymore chances. She didn't care if they were coming at a full on charge or crawling, she was going to stop them.
Needless to say she was shocked when Sesshoumaru put his hand on her bow and lowered her hands down to be more relaxed. "You won't need that." Before Sesshoumaru could finish or any one could blink a small red fur ball leapt from the underbrush and slammed into Kagome with a happy cheer.
"KAGOME!!!!!" Kagome was sitting on the ground hold a very happy Shippou, who was hugging her. "Kagome, I missed you so much, it is just not the same with out you. I am so happy we ran a cross you. Did you miss me?" His words where fast and barely sentences.
"Yes, very much Shippou-chan," Kagome stood as the others of the small group finally made their way through the clearing. Kagome looked at them confused as to way they were all there. She was very happy to see them though and ran up and hugged Sango, and Inuyasha, but paused a second before she hugged Miroku. As she did she remembered she had good reason to not hug the monk, as he reached down and groped her.
There was load scream of Hentai, as three loud growls where heard before Sango bashed Miroku over the head sending him to the forest floor. As soon he was down four voiced muttered something about a lecherous monk, but two male youkai seem to have gone deaf to everything around them, for they were still growling at the monk who was now sitting up. Trying to look the part of the chaste monk.
Kagome almost jumped out of her skin when she saw a black blur go in front of her and tackle Miroku back down to the ground. Kisho had pinned him there and was fully ready to rip his throat out for touching her.
Kagome then noticed that Sesshoumaru was looking like he was about to do the same. She looked into Sesshoumaru's eyes with a silent pleading for him to calm down. Though it didn't seem to work. She decided it would be best if she placed herself in between the her friend and her mate. Then she turned to Kisho, "Let him go Kisho. Miroku was only playing, now stop it and let him up." Her voice was commanding, more commanding than she had ever heard it before.
Kisho glared up at her, "He touched you."
"He does that stuff a lot."
Looking down at his prey he was unsure if he could trust him. Then the name hit him like a rock. It was Miroku, that was what she called him. So this was him, he didn't remember much about what he had looked like till now but he could tell. He quickly jumped off and his cheeks blushed with embarrassment and he backed away, before turning from the group completely. He muttered an apology quickly and stepped so that he was out of site for the moment.
Feeling that the threats of death were past, where Miroku was concerned, she turned to the group. Smiling again, being very pleased that she could see her friends tonight. She didn't think it was wise for them to leave on their own till day break. She had made her mind up.
"Its getting late we might as well camp together." Kagome looked at Inuyasha then to Sesshoumaru who where giving each other death glares. But they both nodded in agreement.
About an hour later the group was sitting around a fire, having found a good clearing for the night, and ate. Miroku sat near Sango afraid to get near Kagome again because of the death glares he was still getting from Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha was content to stand next to Miroku, obviously he was quite upset about having to make camp with his older brother. Kagome sat on his other side with Shippou contently sitting in her lap. Sesshoumaru was next to her with a sleeping Kisho in his arms.
Kagome told them what had been happening and how they where tracking the shadow thing, and her new powers that where developing. She told them about the antics of Rin and Kisho chasing Jaken down, and sometimes beating senseless, which seemed to lighten everyone's mood. She looked at Sesshoumaru a brief second, unsure of how they would react, seeing as they had been wary of him all night, then told them how Sesshoumaru had taken her as a mate.
Miroku, and Sango where shocked but took it as well as could be expected. Neither had expected that their Kagome would have done that but could understand that she had found someone who made her happy. Shippou cried out his disbelief, and glared at the demon lord not quite sure what he should be doing. He wasn't sure if he should growl or cry at him being Kagome's mate. That would mean that he would have to try and get Sesshoumaru to let him stay with Kagome.
Inuyasha how ever didn't take it well, at first he had the same dumbfounded look that the others had. He sat there quiet, and unmoving letting the information sink into his skull.
As he replayed her words in his head something inside him snapped. He quickly turned a look of hurtful confusion into a death glare, just before he lunged at Sesshoumaru, yelling cursing at him, about how he was supposed to keep Kagome safe not have satisfy his own pleasures, and must have had forced her to do so.
Sesshoumaru had been expecting something like this and was ready to move out of the way. Even with Kisho asleep in his arms he managed to dodge with out waking the sleeping child. He was quite annoyed though that Inuyasha would be so brash to attack him while he held his sleeping son. He watched Inuyasha make another lunge at him, but before he made it off the ground he went face first into the ground, care of Kagome.
Inuyasha turn towards her uttering curses. He was half kneeling, half standing when finally looked at her and snapped his mouth shut when he saw her eye glaring at him. He had never seen her so mad. Her aura flared up, as the flame from the fire reflected in her eyes making it seem like they were ablaze. Her hands where balled up in a fist at her sides, and she shook with anger. The scent she was giving off was so strong that it nearly made him pass out when he smelled it.
Everyone noticed how mad she was. Shippou decided it would be better for him to watch from Miroku's shoulder and scampered quickly over to him. Miroku and Sango looked like they where ready to jump into pull Kagome off Inuyasha, even though he deserved this. Kisho was now in a half waken state staring in awe at the seen before him. Even Sesshoumaru took a step away leaving Inuyasha to deal with the wrath of his mate alone. Inuyasha noticed how everyone was leaving him to deal with the mess he made on his own, and he inwardly cursed his stupid ness.
"Listen Inuyasha!" She towered over him now, and the forest seemed to become deadly quite again, as the sound of a slap resounded through the trees. "You made your decision a long time ago about who you wanted. I loved you once but you chose to love Kikyou instead." Her voice was quite loud and ringing in all their ears, never had they seen her so mad.
"I sat here for almost two years, Inuyasha, Two years of my life hoping that you would see the love I had for you." Inuyasha was now standing his head was slightly bowed hiding his face from view. "You never seem to see me for more than a shard detector and Kikyou's replacement. I am not just something you can use like that. I have feelings too. You have pulled my heart through the mud long enough."
"I have made my choice and I am happy to say I am enjoying my life with Sesshoumaru. He sees me for who I am. I can understand you being shocked and maybe a little upset but to attack him while my son was sleeping in his arms is not."
Inuyasha looked up at her when she paused for the first time, the red hand print showed brightly on his face. "I am sorry." He muttered underneath his breath. Everyone held in a breath they we all too shocked to believe that Inuyasha had really apologized. Then they heard him say it again. His eyes softened and his anger was replaced with sadness, and hurt. "I never knew." His voice was low and his words where slow to come to him. "I never knew I hurt you that much, I was to stupid to notice."
Kagome relax a great amount, she looked into his eyes and saw sadness there one she had seen in her own eyes not to long ago. She knew he was hurting now and regretting some degree the choice he had made but that was in the past now and nothing would change that.
"I still love you Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru tensed, feeling his heart in clench, and his blood boil when he heard her say that, "But I love you as friend. I will always care, but I have a new life with Sesshoumaru, Rin, and Kisho now."
Inuyasha crumpled to the ground he felt like he just had his heart ripped out and handed to him. Yet he knew she was right. He knew he made his choice to be with Kikyou, and when everything was done he would go to hell with her. 'It wasn't right for me to drag her along all this time. Maybe she will have the heart to forgive me and still allow me to be a friend to her at least.'
He was shaken out of his thought when she touched him. "I am sorry I hit you Inuyasha, I lost control. I would like it if we could still be friend though is that ok?" He looked up at her and nodded his agreement, just before she hugged him.
The rest of the night went by uneventful. The group talked some more of their adventures. Kisho went over and finally got to talk to the one person he has wanted to talk to all his life. He told Inuyasha of his birth mother in the future, and things they did and the happy times as well as the sad ones. Inuyasha listened intently to him, laughing at the things he told him Miroku did, or past trips he had taken. The boy was an endless stream of words, even though he could see Kisho was getting quite tired, but fighting sleep with every thing he had. He started to rub small circles in his back, forcing the little guy to yawn and pause in his talking, but he still continued, on take longer and longer pauses.
Inuyasha looked down when the boy in his lap had been quite for some time to realize that he had drifted off to sleep and wrapped himself in his fire-rat fur to keep warm. Sesshoumaru smirked at his brother when he looked up with slightly confused eyes wondering exactly what he should do with him.
Sesshoumaru look over at Kagome as she yawned and pulled her close to his chest wrapping his arm around her and the sleeping kitsune cub sleeping in her arms. She had drifted off to sleep, as well as the others, leaving the two brothers staring at each other, in the matter of a few minutes.
Sesshoumaru notice how deeply Kisho was sleeping, and realized he had never seen the boy sleep quite so heavily before. "Leave him there." His voice was barely hearable to youkai ears so he knew he shouldn't be able to wake any of the others, "He seems to like you, and he is resting comfortably right now." Inuyasha nodded in agreement as he leaned his head against the tree glancing down at his nephew curled up in his lap, then finally sleep over came the final members of the group.
Kisho awoke early that morning before the sun started on its journey on the horizon. For the first time in weeks he felt rested, he didn't have nightmares, he wasn't plagued with dreams from his past, he just slept. He felt warm, and completely relaxed a since of completion filled him. He was finally with his whole family that he had heard about, and they weren't all trying to kill each other. He smiled looking up at his uncle seeing that he was still sound asleep save for the twitching of his ears to the noises of the forest.
He didn't move for fear of waking his uncle but he did glance around seeing everyone he ever cared for sleeping in one place. He looked up from their sleeping forms, and his breath caught in his throat, a terror greater than anything he had felt swelled up in him, tears threatened to spill from his sun colored eyes, and his heart started to beat wildly in his chest, so that it was all he could hear.
Watching him where a pair of bright blue eyes, from the trees beyond the camp. There was no fire to make light right now, so he wasn't sure why it hadn't come and attacked. He got the feeling that they were all in danger right now, but others outside the group weren't.
He could help but remember that this thing had not tried to kill this night. Then the idea hit him. He was quite sure it had followed them, he could guess why but it didn't quite make since to him. If they could keep this thing following them, there would be less chances for it to kill innocent people, and he hope that the ones he loved could stay safe as well. That would be what he would have to do, he would have to get everyone to stay together. He felt his uncle starting to stir but did not move his eyes from the youkai until it vanished into the darkness, of the underbrush.
Inuyasha blinked away the sleep in his eyes. He could hear Kisho's heart beating rapidly and smell his terror pouring out of every pore on him. Inuyasha looked around quickly seeing nothing wrong with the group, then look to were Kisho was looking. Seeing nothing he placed his hand on Kisho's should, "What's up kid?"
Kisho about jumped out of his skin when he felt and heard Inuyasha's voice. He looked back at him trying to regain his control on himself, shaking his head. "Nothing." He glanced about and saw the camp was waking up. He had a short amount of time before they would be leaving to figure something out.
After breakfast everyone started packing up and was saying their goodbyes. Kisho nervously kept trying to talk to Kagome to tell her not to have them leave, but it did no good, she wasn't paying attention to him. Finally when they were starting to walk away back to the east, towards Keade's village, he launched himself at Inuyasha and started trying to pulling him back with all his might. Kagome looked curiously from Kisho to Inuyasha, pulling him off saying soothing words, promising that he would see them again.
"NO, They can't leave." He was muttering under his breath, not thinking about the fact that she couldn't hear him. He broke himself free from her grasp on him and launched at Inuyasha's again retreating form. After several time of trying and Kagome pulling him off, and then getting out of her reach Sesshoumaru had enough and was now holding fast to him so he would stop his behavior.
Kisho fought wildly to get out of Sesshoumaru's hold, the low mumble of his father's growl made him realize he was not going to win. He signed defeated, in physically trying to stop them. His mind raced on how to save his family and friends now that the shadow seemed to be following them. He started yelling his protest to the group splitting up earning annoyed looks from every one.
Seeing that he finally had their attention, he started trying to plead with them. He started rambling out his idea and the fact the shadow youkai was following them now and if they split up everyone would be in more danger now they ever were. Everyone sat quiet unsure how to react to the news, they hadn't thought that their brief encounter would cause so much trouble but now it seemed to them it did. After a long talk that lasted till just about noon it was decided that the group would stay together till something else could be figured out. Relieved Kisho finally relaxed, and started pointing them in the direction that the shadow thing vanished into the forest floor.
They had been traveling for over three days, since they grouped together no new deaths or dreams happened; yet the whole group traveled in an uneasy silence. Every one had seen the shadow youkai watching them, and it had left the group uneasy in there travels.
Towards dark the group stumbled a cross a hot spring. After they set up camp nearby Kagome grabbed Sango's arm and took off towards the spring. The two women lowered themselves into the steamy water, feeling the tension and stress melt away.
Sango turned to her friend, "So spill it."
"Uh?" She sat up from the rocky ledge of the spring slightly confused by her friend.
"Between you and Sesshoumaru?" The older girl had a mischievous grin on her face.
"OH… Well… ah… it just kind of happened." She managed to choke out, she didn't really don't how to explain how it happened. She watched the water slip through her figures. "I got to see a whole other side of him turning that month. He can really be kind and caring. He even has a little girl he protects, her name is Rin. You should see them together. He never does anything big but he eye are full of love when he is dealing with her."
Sango watched her friend's face as she spoke of this greatly unseen side of the great Demon lord. " You love him." She merely stated.
Kagome looked up from the water into Sango's dark eyes, and nodded, "More then I thought I could have ever loved someone."
Sango hugged Kagome then pulled back, "I am happy for you then. You really deserve some to be happy with." The older girl stood from the spring and started drying off and was quickly followed by Kagome.
The two headed back to camp, then they heard shouts and the sound of battle. Sango put her hand on Hiraikotsu, and Kagome brought her bow off her shoulder notching an arrow, before they broke out into a dead run.
When they got to camp they saw everyone was engrossed in a large battle with the shadow youkai. Miroku dropped to the ground only seconds after they entered camp. He had the same soulless eyes Sesshoumaru had days before.
Sango ran to the shaking monk cradling him in her arms. Shippou and Kisho stood near the fire with Shippou's fox fire surrounding them as Kisho used his poison claw to fend off anything that attacked them.
Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were attacking the bulk of the youkai with the Tetsusaiga. Both knew that they could not use the Kaze no Kizu for fear that they would hit one of their companions.
Kagome with out a second thought fired her arrow at the youkai knowing that it would hurt it. She watched as the two brothers were thrown clear from the youkai, when her arrow hit. Once it faded from site, she lowered her bow and started running towards the semi-conscious pair as fast as her legs would carry her. She didn't hear Kisho, or Sango's warning as she ran .
Kagome Froze when she felt a mind numbing pain run up her legs, and into her body. She tried to move, to call out but found neither would answer her commands. Then she felt all her senses fade, sending her spiraling into darkness.
Her companions were forced to watch helplessly as Kagome's bow dropped to the ground and her eyes rolled back into her head as she went limp. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha rushed forward to catch her, but where flung back as the youkai's energy engulfed her.
They watched in horror and awe as Kagome unconsciously fought against the youkai. Brilliant flares of pinkish-white light jumped from her semi-standing body. Each flare of energy gave the group hope that she would be able to pull herself out of its grasp. Yet, every time the youkai's energy would become stronger and devour her pure energy. Suddenly the silence was broke with a scream that made everyone's skin crawl and their blood run cold, as large flash of white light engulfed her.
The watched as Kagome's energy was pushed back into her body as she lifted into the air. She hung there as her body convulsed as the final flickers of her miko's energy was defeated. She threw her head back in a silent scream, as the youkai energy around her condensed.
The piecing blue eyes disappeared as Kagome let out a scream that made it seem as if she was being torn apart from the inside out. Her heart was franticly beating against her rib cage. The smell of fear was heavy in the clearing as the others watched her helplessly. Everyone wanted to help her but no one cold get close enough to her to be of any help.
Her hair when from Raven black to being ghost white, in the blink of an eye. A single black line slowly crept across her pale cheeks. Once they appeared her hair started to slowly changing color again to a metallic steel grey, with streaks of midnight blue throughout.
With a final earth shattering scream, Kagome crashed to the ground, and the youkai energy surrounding her vanished. Sesshoumaru sniffed the air around her finding her scent had changed and thus she must be different.
He resisted the urge to run to her side immediately, and stopped the children from doing so. He held two kicking and screaming children, wishing that he could express his feeling as openly as they did, before throwing them to the monk and exterminator stopping their approach to the stirring girl. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru alone had held their distance from her.
"Stay where you are." His voice told none of the worry or anger that he truly felt, "this is not the same girl you know." He glanced at each member of the group his icy glare leaving no room, for questions.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha moved more in front of her and crouched down trying to see her better. A sinister laugh shook through their ears, and made the hairs on their neck stand up. It left the clearing deathly quiet, so that each heart beat seemed like it was a drum beating inside their chest.
"Inu…yasha…" The voice was cold and laced with hate, it made everyone inwardly shutter, and everyone one stepped back except Sesshoumaru.
"You have lost, and I have won." She sneered as she slowly rose to her feet her head down not showing her face. Then it snapped up revealing very youkai features on her face and her body.
Her ears were now pointed. Their where two strips on each cheek one as black as death, and the other a silver color similar to her hair. Her eyes had black that lined them on the top and bottom meeting at the outer edge of her eyes. It looked as if those line turned into vines that had crept over her temples. Her eyes themselves where now a molten silver with piercing blue pupils that glowed in the darkness. On her forehead there was a red glow, which was the symbol for shadow.
He body as well had changed. He now had more defined muscle, as will and new muscle, and curves filling out her body in just the right places. The was a black 'V' that went from the middle of her hand and curved around till the two top sides of the 'V' met just before the bottom of her forearm. Her hand didn't have claws, but looked much more deadly than they had before.
"How stupid could you have been?" She had a that made them enjoy Sesshoumaru icy death glances so much more, "This girl's soul is incomplete. How stupid you where to think that she would have been able to beat me." The voice was not the Kagome they knew. It's tone was darker more sinister, similar to Naruku's. No one found their voice to react to speak to the girl.
"I see, you thought she would," with a snort, as she stepped towards Inuyasha, as he tried to step back.
The hanyou looked reasonably panicked when he found he could move away or any other part of his body. She smirked at him, as she reached into his haori and with drew the bottle of shards Kagome had given him. Everyone watched wide eyed as the shards turned a darker color than they had ever seen, as she put them around her neck.
She looked up from the shards, and began to stalked towards Sesshoumaru. She stood there looking at him for a long minute then she reached up to touch his cheek but froze when he took her hand roughly in his and tossed it aside.
He knew she was trying to do the same thing that she did to Inuyasha but he would not allow her to have that joy.
"Bitch, you will not touch me!" the anger he felt was easily betrayed in his voice.
She smiled up at him with an evil gleam that said she knew something, in her eye. "That is no way to treat you mate Sesshoumaru."
"You are not my mate, wench, you are a parasite using her body, and I will kill you for touching her."
"Careful Sesshoumaru, for if you kill me, you will forfeit both lives that are in this body." She placed a hand almost protectively on her stomach, "You wouldn't want to do that now would you my mate." She was using a tone that was sickeningly sweet.
Sesshoumaru again sniffed the air taking in the smell of the girl who was once Kagome. He could still smell the sweet scent of cherry blossoms and jasmine, but now it was over powered with a much more bitter smell that burned his nose. At the bottom of it all was a faint scent, it smell spicy yet some how was a calming scent that was not Kagome or the youkai that had changed her. He knew then she was telling the truth. He hated himself for not sensing it sooner.
She smirked at him when his eyes grew wide in realization, just before she turned away. "I thought so." She glanced at the rest of the group before she vanished into the night with a trace leaving everyone in a state of utter shock.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, although i did make Kisho.
Chapter 9 Lost
The small group of three made their way through the forest in the direction they last knew it traveled. They had encountered it several times since they first started hunting and they had stopped it from killing for the last three days.
Kisho seemed more upbeat than usual, happily making his way through the forest acting very much like the child he was. Kagome was please to finally see him smile. Though Sesshoumaru didn't act like it she was sure he was happy about it too.
Kagome focused on the events of the last four days. They had followed the shadow youkai, though that didn't seem quite right to fit it, to another near by village but got there to late. The other nights though they had found it just before it killed its victims. It seemed to be slowing down again almost like it was losing power but Kisho was still able to track it as dusk came closer.
Kagome stopped in her tracks, when she felt six shards that were very close. She kicked herself for not noticing sooner.
Sesshoumaru and Kisho both stopped just a head of Kagome. Kisho looked slightly confused as to what had gotten her spooked enough to stop now when it was getting close to dusk. Sesshoumaru how ever knew as soon as she looked up at him what was wrong. He sniffed the air trying to find what was coming for them.
Kagome reached back and notched an arrow before the others to could do any thing. "Shards they are heading this way." But to her surprise they seemed to be more strolling their way. Kagome raise her bow and aimed carefully where she thought it would come. She didn't want to take anymore chances. She didn't care if they were coming at a full on charge or crawling, she was going to stop them.
Needless to say she was shocked when Sesshoumaru put his hand on her bow and lowered her hands down to be more relaxed. "You won't need that." Before Sesshoumaru could finish or any one could blink a small red fur ball leapt from the underbrush and slammed into Kagome with a happy cheer.
"KAGOME!!!!!" Kagome was sitting on the ground hold a very happy Shippou, who was hugging her. "Kagome, I missed you so much, it is just not the same with out you. I am so happy we ran a cross you. Did you miss me?" His words where fast and barely sentences.
"Yes, very much Shippou-chan," Kagome stood as the others of the small group finally made their way through the clearing. Kagome looked at them confused as to way they were all there. She was very happy to see them though and ran up and hugged Sango, and Inuyasha, but paused a second before she hugged Miroku. As she did she remembered she had good reason to not hug the monk, as he reached down and groped her.
There was load scream of Hentai, as three loud growls where heard before Sango bashed Miroku over the head sending him to the forest floor. As soon he was down four voiced muttered something about a lecherous monk, but two male youkai seem to have gone deaf to everything around them, for they were still growling at the monk who was now sitting up. Trying to look the part of the chaste monk.
Kagome almost jumped out of her skin when she saw a black blur go in front of her and tackle Miroku back down to the ground. Kisho had pinned him there and was fully ready to rip his throat out for touching her.
Kagome then noticed that Sesshoumaru was looking like he was about to do the same. She looked into Sesshoumaru's eyes with a silent pleading for him to calm down. Though it didn't seem to work. She decided it would be best if she placed herself in between the her friend and her mate. Then she turned to Kisho, "Let him go Kisho. Miroku was only playing, now stop it and let him up." Her voice was commanding, more commanding than she had ever heard it before.
Kisho glared up at her, "He touched you."
"He does that stuff a lot."
Looking down at his prey he was unsure if he could trust him. Then the name hit him like a rock. It was Miroku, that was what she called him. So this was him, he didn't remember much about what he had looked like till now but he could tell. He quickly jumped off and his cheeks blushed with embarrassment and he backed away, before turning from the group completely. He muttered an apology quickly and stepped so that he was out of site for the moment.
Feeling that the threats of death were past, where Miroku was concerned, she turned to the group. Smiling again, being very pleased that she could see her friends tonight. She didn't think it was wise for them to leave on their own till day break. She had made her mind up.
"Its getting late we might as well camp together." Kagome looked at Inuyasha then to Sesshoumaru who where giving each other death glares. But they both nodded in agreement.
About an hour later the group was sitting around a fire, having found a good clearing for the night, and ate. Miroku sat near Sango afraid to get near Kagome again because of the death glares he was still getting from Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha was content to stand next to Miroku, obviously he was quite upset about having to make camp with his older brother. Kagome sat on his other side with Shippou contently sitting in her lap. Sesshoumaru was next to her with a sleeping Kisho in his arms.
Kagome told them what had been happening and how they where tracking the shadow thing, and her new powers that where developing. She told them about the antics of Rin and Kisho chasing Jaken down, and sometimes beating senseless, which seemed to lighten everyone's mood. She looked at Sesshoumaru a brief second, unsure of how they would react, seeing as they had been wary of him all night, then told them how Sesshoumaru had taken her as a mate.
Miroku, and Sango where shocked but took it as well as could be expected. Neither had expected that their Kagome would have done that but could understand that she had found someone who made her happy. Shippou cried out his disbelief, and glared at the demon lord not quite sure what he should be doing. He wasn't sure if he should growl or cry at him being Kagome's mate. That would mean that he would have to try and get Sesshoumaru to let him stay with Kagome.
Inuyasha how ever didn't take it well, at first he had the same dumbfounded look that the others had. He sat there quiet, and unmoving letting the information sink into his skull.
As he replayed her words in his head something inside him snapped. He quickly turned a look of hurtful confusion into a death glare, just before he lunged at Sesshoumaru, yelling cursing at him, about how he was supposed to keep Kagome safe not have satisfy his own pleasures, and must have had forced her to do so.
Sesshoumaru had been expecting something like this and was ready to move out of the way. Even with Kisho asleep in his arms he managed to dodge with out waking the sleeping child. He was quite annoyed though that Inuyasha would be so brash to attack him while he held his sleeping son. He watched Inuyasha make another lunge at him, but before he made it off the ground he went face first into the ground, care of Kagome.
Inuyasha turn towards her uttering curses. He was half kneeling, half standing when finally looked at her and snapped his mouth shut when he saw her eye glaring at him. He had never seen her so mad. Her aura flared up, as the flame from the fire reflected in her eyes making it seem like they were ablaze. Her hands where balled up in a fist at her sides, and she shook with anger. The scent she was giving off was so strong that it nearly made him pass out when he smelled it.
Everyone noticed how mad she was. Shippou decided it would be better for him to watch from Miroku's shoulder and scampered quickly over to him. Miroku and Sango looked like they where ready to jump into pull Kagome off Inuyasha, even though he deserved this. Kisho was now in a half waken state staring in awe at the seen before him. Even Sesshoumaru took a step away leaving Inuyasha to deal with the wrath of his mate alone. Inuyasha noticed how everyone was leaving him to deal with the mess he made on his own, and he inwardly cursed his stupid ness.
"Listen Inuyasha!" She towered over him now, and the forest seemed to become deadly quite again, as the sound of a slap resounded through the trees. "You made your decision a long time ago about who you wanted. I loved you once but you chose to love Kikyou instead." Her voice was quite loud and ringing in all their ears, never had they seen her so mad.
"I sat here for almost two years, Inuyasha, Two years of my life hoping that you would see the love I had for you." Inuyasha was now standing his head was slightly bowed hiding his face from view. "You never seem to see me for more than a shard detector and Kikyou's replacement. I am not just something you can use like that. I have feelings too. You have pulled my heart through the mud long enough."
"I have made my choice and I am happy to say I am enjoying my life with Sesshoumaru. He sees me for who I am. I can understand you being shocked and maybe a little upset but to attack him while my son was sleeping in his arms is not."
Inuyasha looked up at her when she paused for the first time, the red hand print showed brightly on his face. "I am sorry." He muttered underneath his breath. Everyone held in a breath they we all too shocked to believe that Inuyasha had really apologized. Then they heard him say it again. His eyes softened and his anger was replaced with sadness, and hurt. "I never knew." His voice was low and his words where slow to come to him. "I never knew I hurt you that much, I was to stupid to notice."
Kagome relax a great amount, she looked into his eyes and saw sadness there one she had seen in her own eyes not to long ago. She knew he was hurting now and regretting some degree the choice he had made but that was in the past now and nothing would change that.
"I still love you Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru tensed, feeling his heart in clench, and his blood boil when he heard her say that, "But I love you as friend. I will always care, but I have a new life with Sesshoumaru, Rin, and Kisho now."
Inuyasha crumpled to the ground he felt like he just had his heart ripped out and handed to him. Yet he knew she was right. He knew he made his choice to be with Kikyou, and when everything was done he would go to hell with her. 'It wasn't right for me to drag her along all this time. Maybe she will have the heart to forgive me and still allow me to be a friend to her at least.'
He was shaken out of his thought when she touched him. "I am sorry I hit you Inuyasha, I lost control. I would like it if we could still be friend though is that ok?" He looked up at her and nodded his agreement, just before she hugged him.
The rest of the night went by uneventful. The group talked some more of their adventures. Kisho went over and finally got to talk to the one person he has wanted to talk to all his life. He told Inuyasha of his birth mother in the future, and things they did and the happy times as well as the sad ones. Inuyasha listened intently to him, laughing at the things he told him Miroku did, or past trips he had taken. The boy was an endless stream of words, even though he could see Kisho was getting quite tired, but fighting sleep with every thing he had. He started to rub small circles in his back, forcing the little guy to yawn and pause in his talking, but he still continued, on take longer and longer pauses.
Inuyasha looked down when the boy in his lap had been quite for some time to realize that he had drifted off to sleep and wrapped himself in his fire-rat fur to keep warm. Sesshoumaru smirked at his brother when he looked up with slightly confused eyes wondering exactly what he should do with him.
Sesshoumaru look over at Kagome as she yawned and pulled her close to his chest wrapping his arm around her and the sleeping kitsune cub sleeping in her arms. She had drifted off to sleep, as well as the others, leaving the two brothers staring at each other, in the matter of a few minutes.
Sesshoumaru notice how deeply Kisho was sleeping, and realized he had never seen the boy sleep quite so heavily before. "Leave him there." His voice was barely hearable to youkai ears so he knew he shouldn't be able to wake any of the others, "He seems to like you, and he is resting comfortably right now." Inuyasha nodded in agreement as he leaned his head against the tree glancing down at his nephew curled up in his lap, then finally sleep over came the final members of the group.
Kisho awoke early that morning before the sun started on its journey on the horizon. For the first time in weeks he felt rested, he didn't have nightmares, he wasn't plagued with dreams from his past, he just slept. He felt warm, and completely relaxed a since of completion filled him. He was finally with his whole family that he had heard about, and they weren't all trying to kill each other. He smiled looking up at his uncle seeing that he was still sound asleep save for the twitching of his ears to the noises of the forest.
He didn't move for fear of waking his uncle but he did glance around seeing everyone he ever cared for sleeping in one place. He looked up from their sleeping forms, and his breath caught in his throat, a terror greater than anything he had felt swelled up in him, tears threatened to spill from his sun colored eyes, and his heart started to beat wildly in his chest, so that it was all he could hear.
Watching him where a pair of bright blue eyes, from the trees beyond the camp. There was no fire to make light right now, so he wasn't sure why it hadn't come and attacked. He got the feeling that they were all in danger right now, but others outside the group weren't.
He could help but remember that this thing had not tried to kill this night. Then the idea hit him. He was quite sure it had followed them, he could guess why but it didn't quite make since to him. If they could keep this thing following them, there would be less chances for it to kill innocent people, and he hope that the ones he loved could stay safe as well. That would be what he would have to do, he would have to get everyone to stay together. He felt his uncle starting to stir but did not move his eyes from the youkai until it vanished into the darkness, of the underbrush.
Inuyasha blinked away the sleep in his eyes. He could hear Kisho's heart beating rapidly and smell his terror pouring out of every pore on him. Inuyasha looked around quickly seeing nothing wrong with the group, then look to were Kisho was looking. Seeing nothing he placed his hand on Kisho's should, "What's up kid?"
Kisho about jumped out of his skin when he felt and heard Inuyasha's voice. He looked back at him trying to regain his control on himself, shaking his head. "Nothing." He glanced about and saw the camp was waking up. He had a short amount of time before they would be leaving to figure something out.
After breakfast everyone started packing up and was saying their goodbyes. Kisho nervously kept trying to talk to Kagome to tell her not to have them leave, but it did no good, she wasn't paying attention to him. Finally when they were starting to walk away back to the east, towards Keade's village, he launched himself at Inuyasha and started trying to pulling him back with all his might. Kagome looked curiously from Kisho to Inuyasha, pulling him off saying soothing words, promising that he would see them again.
"NO, They can't leave." He was muttering under his breath, not thinking about the fact that she couldn't hear him. He broke himself free from her grasp on him and launched at Inuyasha's again retreating form. After several time of trying and Kagome pulling him off, and then getting out of her reach Sesshoumaru had enough and was now holding fast to him so he would stop his behavior.
Kisho fought wildly to get out of Sesshoumaru's hold, the low mumble of his father's growl made him realize he was not going to win. He signed defeated, in physically trying to stop them. His mind raced on how to save his family and friends now that the shadow seemed to be following them. He started yelling his protest to the group splitting up earning annoyed looks from every one.
Seeing that he finally had their attention, he started trying to plead with them. He started rambling out his idea and the fact the shadow youkai was following them now and if they split up everyone would be in more danger now they ever were. Everyone sat quiet unsure how to react to the news, they hadn't thought that their brief encounter would cause so much trouble but now it seemed to them it did. After a long talk that lasted till just about noon it was decided that the group would stay together till something else could be figured out. Relieved Kisho finally relaxed, and started pointing them in the direction that the shadow thing vanished into the forest floor.
They had been traveling for over three days, since they grouped together no new deaths or dreams happened; yet the whole group traveled in an uneasy silence. Every one had seen the shadow youkai watching them, and it had left the group uneasy in there travels.
Towards dark the group stumbled a cross a hot spring. After they set up camp nearby Kagome grabbed Sango's arm and took off towards the spring. The two women lowered themselves into the steamy water, feeling the tension and stress melt away.
Sango turned to her friend, "So spill it."
"Uh?" She sat up from the rocky ledge of the spring slightly confused by her friend.
"Between you and Sesshoumaru?" The older girl had a mischievous grin on her face.
"OH… Well… ah… it just kind of happened." She managed to choke out, she didn't really don't how to explain how it happened. She watched the water slip through her figures. "I got to see a whole other side of him turning that month. He can really be kind and caring. He even has a little girl he protects, her name is Rin. You should see them together. He never does anything big but he eye are full of love when he is dealing with her."
Sango watched her friend's face as she spoke of this greatly unseen side of the great Demon lord. " You love him." She merely stated.
Kagome looked up from the water into Sango's dark eyes, and nodded, "More then I thought I could have ever loved someone."
Sango hugged Kagome then pulled back, "I am happy for you then. You really deserve some to be happy with." The older girl stood from the spring and started drying off and was quickly followed by Kagome.
The two headed back to camp, then they heard shouts and the sound of battle. Sango put her hand on Hiraikotsu, and Kagome brought her bow off her shoulder notching an arrow, before they broke out into a dead run.
When they got to camp they saw everyone was engrossed in a large battle with the shadow youkai. Miroku dropped to the ground only seconds after they entered camp. He had the same soulless eyes Sesshoumaru had days before.
Sango ran to the shaking monk cradling him in her arms. Shippou and Kisho stood near the fire with Shippou's fox fire surrounding them as Kisho used his poison claw to fend off anything that attacked them.
Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were attacking the bulk of the youkai with the Tetsusaiga. Both knew that they could not use the Kaze no Kizu for fear that they would hit one of their companions.
Kagome with out a second thought fired her arrow at the youkai knowing that it would hurt it. She watched as the two brothers were thrown clear from the youkai, when her arrow hit. Once it faded from site, she lowered her bow and started running towards the semi-conscious pair as fast as her legs would carry her. She didn't hear Kisho, or Sango's warning as she ran .
Kagome Froze when she felt a mind numbing pain run up her legs, and into her body. She tried to move, to call out but found neither would answer her commands. Then she felt all her senses fade, sending her spiraling into darkness.
Her companions were forced to watch helplessly as Kagome's bow dropped to the ground and her eyes rolled back into her head as she went limp. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha rushed forward to catch her, but where flung back as the youkai's energy engulfed her.
They watched in horror and awe as Kagome unconsciously fought against the youkai. Brilliant flares of pinkish-white light jumped from her semi-standing body. Each flare of energy gave the group hope that she would be able to pull herself out of its grasp. Yet, every time the youkai's energy would become stronger and devour her pure energy. Suddenly the silence was broke with a scream that made everyone's skin crawl and their blood run cold, as large flash of white light engulfed her.
The watched as Kagome's energy was pushed back into her body as she lifted into the air. She hung there as her body convulsed as the final flickers of her miko's energy was defeated. She threw her head back in a silent scream, as the youkai energy around her condensed.
The piecing blue eyes disappeared as Kagome let out a scream that made it seem as if she was being torn apart from the inside out. Her heart was franticly beating against her rib cage. The smell of fear was heavy in the clearing as the others watched her helplessly. Everyone wanted to help her but no one cold get close enough to her to be of any help.
Her hair when from Raven black to being ghost white, in the blink of an eye. A single black line slowly crept across her pale cheeks. Once they appeared her hair started to slowly changing color again to a metallic steel grey, with streaks of midnight blue throughout.
With a final earth shattering scream, Kagome crashed to the ground, and the youkai energy surrounding her vanished. Sesshoumaru sniffed the air around her finding her scent had changed and thus she must be different.
He resisted the urge to run to her side immediately, and stopped the children from doing so. He held two kicking and screaming children, wishing that he could express his feeling as openly as they did, before throwing them to the monk and exterminator stopping their approach to the stirring girl. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru alone had held their distance from her.
"Stay where you are." His voice told none of the worry or anger that he truly felt, "this is not the same girl you know." He glanced at each member of the group his icy glare leaving no room, for questions.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha moved more in front of her and crouched down trying to see her better. A sinister laugh shook through their ears, and made the hairs on their neck stand up. It left the clearing deathly quiet, so that each heart beat seemed like it was a drum beating inside their chest.
"Inu…yasha…" The voice was cold and laced with hate, it made everyone inwardly shutter, and everyone one stepped back except Sesshoumaru.
"You have lost, and I have won." She sneered as she slowly rose to her feet her head down not showing her face. Then it snapped up revealing very youkai features on her face and her body.
Her ears were now pointed. Their where two strips on each cheek one as black as death, and the other a silver color similar to her hair. Her eyes had black that lined them on the top and bottom meeting at the outer edge of her eyes. It looked as if those line turned into vines that had crept over her temples. Her eyes themselves where now a molten silver with piercing blue pupils that glowed in the darkness. On her forehead there was a red glow, which was the symbol for shadow.
He body as well had changed. He now had more defined muscle, as will and new muscle, and curves filling out her body in just the right places. The was a black 'V' that went from the middle of her hand and curved around till the two top sides of the 'V' met just before the bottom of her forearm. Her hand didn't have claws, but looked much more deadly than they had before.
"How stupid could you have been?" She had a that made them enjoy Sesshoumaru icy death glances so much more, "This girl's soul is incomplete. How stupid you where to think that she would have been able to beat me." The voice was not the Kagome they knew. It's tone was darker more sinister, similar to Naruku's. No one found their voice to react to speak to the girl.
"I see, you thought she would," with a snort, as she stepped towards Inuyasha, as he tried to step back.
The hanyou looked reasonably panicked when he found he could move away or any other part of his body. She smirked at him, as she reached into his haori and with drew the bottle of shards Kagome had given him. Everyone watched wide eyed as the shards turned a darker color than they had ever seen, as she put them around her neck.
She looked up from the shards, and began to stalked towards Sesshoumaru. She stood there looking at him for a long minute then she reached up to touch his cheek but froze when he took her hand roughly in his and tossed it aside.
He knew she was trying to do the same thing that she did to Inuyasha but he would not allow her to have that joy.
"Bitch, you will not touch me!" the anger he felt was easily betrayed in his voice.
She smiled up at him with an evil gleam that said she knew something, in her eye. "That is no way to treat you mate Sesshoumaru."
"You are not my mate, wench, you are a parasite using her body, and I will kill you for touching her."
"Careful Sesshoumaru, for if you kill me, you will forfeit both lives that are in this body." She placed a hand almost protectively on her stomach, "You wouldn't want to do that now would you my mate." She was using a tone that was sickeningly sweet.
Sesshoumaru again sniffed the air taking in the smell of the girl who was once Kagome. He could still smell the sweet scent of cherry blossoms and jasmine, but now it was over powered with a much more bitter smell that burned his nose. At the bottom of it all was a faint scent, it smell spicy yet some how was a calming scent that was not Kagome or the youkai that had changed her. He knew then she was telling the truth. He hated himself for not sensing it sooner.
She smirked at him when his eyes grew wide in realization, just before she turned away. "I thought so." She glanced at the rest of the group before she vanished into the night with a trace leaving everyone in a state of utter shock.
