-Sesshoumaru's POV-
I walked out of her room locking the door behind me. Leaning against the door and sighing softly, a whimper I could not control escaping my throat and betraying my real emotions. I felt lost; she hated me I just knew she did. And I of course, wasn't helping those matters at all by upsetting her so. I rubbed my eyes to stop the tears that I knew would never fall.
Me, the Lord of the Western Lands, the Taiyoukai Sesshoumaru, upset to the point of tears! Over a human wench no less! It was preposterous. Well, not so preposterous... it was Kagome and she wasn't human, or a wench. She was just... Kagome and she was my best friend.
I rubbed my eyes again, erasing all thoughts of tears as I regained my composure and walked down the hall. Opening my study door, and pausing there for just a moment.
"Jaken."
One word and I heard my faithful, but rather annoying retainer, tottering down the hall on his short legs as fast as he can. Of course tripping and falling on his face just in front of my feet. I mask my look of disgust and amusement and look down my nose at him.
"When Kagome awakens have her brought to my study."
Before the toad had a chance to reply, I closed the door to my office, on his nose it seemed because he squawked and I heard him jumping around for a few minutes before he ran off. Down the hall to monitor Kagome's door I'm sure. I walked to one of my many bookcases as I listened to the footsteps outside my door.
Blocking out all sound, I started to pull down book, after scroll, after book. Searching, seeking a spell to remove what I had done. She'd be furious with me, if she knew and remembered. A faint smile touches my lips, but it is quickly wiped away. I've got work to do.
I lose track of time, and only when I notice my eastern wall painted with the reds, oranges, and yellows of a sun set do I realize how much time had passed. I turn, looking out the windows that make up the western wall of my study. It had been years since I simply sat and watched the sun set. I watch the sun slid down below the horizon, the way my land was painted with the magnificent colors, looking like something out of a child's storybook in its perfection.
Hearing a knock on my door, I turn away from my wall, and look at the door. Pushing down the feeling of hope rising in my stomach that it would be Kagome, but I soon discovered I was to be disappointed.
"Dinner is ready, Milord."
Whose voice it was, I didn't know, nor did I care. It wasn't Jaken with news of Kagome, and it wasn't Kagome coming to speak with me. Who was on the other side of the door didn't matter. I walked to my desk, sitting down heavily in the chair, and opening the draw to my right, the top most drawers.
I reach inside, and pull out two paintings. One messy, the other perfect, I smile at the irony. The perfect picture was I, in my full demon form, though I looked more like a puppy then a dangerous demon dog. Especially when I was licking the cheek of a little girl who stood beside me laughing; the second picture, the messy one was of me and the same little girl on my back. Going for a piggy back ride. This one was signed 'Sesshoumaru'. How strange I would have been so messy as a child, but needed perfection now... the other picture. The perfect one was signed 'Kagome'.
I sigh, and push away my memories placing the pictures back in the drawer and closing it. I stand and walk to my door. I slip into the hallway with little to no sound and walk down the hall for the dining room. Only to find myself pausing at the end of the hall and looking over my shoulder at the door that lead to Kagome's room, with longing in my eyes.
I was being weak; I pushed the longing I felt for the days of my youth away and turned proceeding across the castle to the dining hall.
-Naraku's Castle NPOV-
The Western Lord was pulled into his memories as through Kanna's mirror, Naraku watched with a sadistic and sinister smile playing across his aristocratic features. A predatory gleam shining in his onyx orbs. He watched the great lord whimper like a lost puppy, and his pleasure at seeing the Taiyoukai in pain only increased.
"Kagura," the command cold, and so soft the wind demoness should have never heard it. But she did and in moments she was kneeling by Naraku's side. Her head bowed waiting for his commands.
"Take a thousand demons with you, and cause a small problem in the Western Lands. When Sesshoumaru comes... mock his foolishness and remind him of the priestess' importance," Naraku was smirking with a cold intensity that made Kagura shiver in total terror.
"But Naraku," Kagura then spoke, looking up at her 'Master' with blood stained crimson eyes. "Should I leave after this is said? Or do you wish me to- Ah!"
Having no time to finish speaking, she called out in pain and clutched the fabric over her chest, dropping onto her free hand and panting. Eyes clenched tightly with pain. Pain continued to fill her as Naraku squeezed the pulsing red orb in his hand a second time before releasing it and letting it vanish to who knew where.
"Do not speak unless asked to. Leave after you say this, but leave the lesser demons there to cause him trouble, and slow him down."
With a slight nod, Kagura stood shakily, and stumbled rather clumsily out of the room. Panting and still clutching the fabric over her heart she departed the castle as fast as her feather would take her.
Turning his attention back to the mirror, Kanna still held up for him, a feral grin alight on his face as he watched the tormented Western Lord.
-Sesshoumaru's Castle, Western Lands-
On his way to the dining hall Sesshoumaru paused for a moment. Starting to recall more things about his childhood then he would have liked. Leaning against the wall in a very unlordly fashion he closed his eyes and let his memories remind him of the reasons he sent her away.
His father was fighting Toshihero, the Southern Dragon Lord. He and Kagome watched from the sidelines as the two battle furiously. Then Toshihero was hit, and the faint scream of 'Daddy!' reached the ears of all, seconds before Kagome ran into the middle of the battle.
The two adults look on in pure horror, as Kagome had rushed before Inutaisho's attack. Inutaisho more surprised the horrified, and Toshihero full of terror for his only child, Sesshoumaru on the other hand, did not think he merely acted. Rushing into the battle also, using speed he never knew he had he passed his fathers attack and grabbed Kagome jerking her out of the way.
Toshihero seeing his daughter safe, had the barest of moments to move, and move he did. The two warring demons proceeded to do battle once more, but moved the battle away from the two children. Sesshoumaru cradled Kagome, and looked down at her with worry filled eyes.
"Are you okay, Kago? You have to leave! You can't stay here... it isn't safe," he looked away as though this was difficult to say, then he looked back down at her. "Kagome, I-"
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" The annoying voice of Jaken yelled.
Sesshoumaru pushing off the wall, to stand regal and cold glowering at his retainer as he came around the corner; his brow raised as he waited for the 'Oh-so-important-needs-to-be-screamed-news'.
"Kagura is in the Western Lands Milord! Her and some of Naraku's demons are destroying the Eastern Border!"
Sighing in a very annoyed manner, Sesshoumaru ran from the castle. Forgetting all about his memories and dinner; focusing on the immediate problem of Kagura.
-Eastern Border-
Kagura hated Naraku, hated him with a passion. Her blood just boiled at the thought of him, but she could do anything about that. He held her heart, and has used it against her since the day she was 'born'. She cursed the day she was brought into this world and the day he stole that from her. Crimson eyes were glowing as she remembered Naraku's words.
Below her, a thousand demons ran, surprisingly quick and quiet for all of their stupidity. In the air around her Naraku's Hell Wasps flew. Kagura looked down at the western lands and wanted to be sick. Unable to stop the thought that the lands were beautiful, it disgusted her. The grass the deepest color of green, the forests all welcoming; the land mostly demon free.
They struck quickly, hitting the first village in the Western lands they had come upon.
Kagura was enjoying this, killing off the pathetic humans slowly a smirk on her features. Watching as her wind blades tore them apart, along with the land and their homes. A sick pleasure flowing through her veins as she killed them.
She paused in her massacre when she felt the power of Sesshoumaru approaching. Turning in the direction facing the Western Lords power; glancing around the ruined village she couldn't help but grin. She looked up, and the great demon was before her moments after she did so.
He surveyed the damage, looked at the dead and dieing humans. The blood soaked grass, and destroyed land, and he growled. It was inaudible to many ears but he still growled. Turning furious molten gold orbs up to look Kagura's crimson orbs in the eye.
She knew, as he did, that if they got into a fight. She and him, that she would lose and terribly. The cold, untouchable demon watched her, waiting and not saying a word.
"What's the matter Sesshoumaru? They were only humans," Kagura taunted grinning sadistically.
"Kagura."
She shuttered, the way he said her name promised a punishment worse then death itself. Sesshoumaru remained where he was, waiting for an attack... that would never come.
"It was foolish you know..." Kagura said, looking at her fan, and anywhere but Sesshoumaru's eyes. Trailing her fingers over her fan, careful of her claws, "Leaving such a pure priestess unprotected... all the way back at your castle."
She laughed at the sound of Sesshoumaru's enraged roar. Jumping onto her feather, and blowing him a kiss and winking before flying out of the Western Lands as fast as the winds would take her. Naraku sneered at Kagura's antics through Kanna's mirror. Vanishing seconds later in a swirl of miasma.
Sesshoumaru understood it now. It was a lure, a trap to get him out of the castle, they were after Kagome! He sliced through demon after demon, before finally getting fed up and pulling out his Tokijin and slicing through over half of them in a mighty sweep of his sword. He continued this way until he finally got rid of them all, sheathing the sword and taking off for his castle at a dead run.
Praying to every god he knew, in every language he knew that Kagome would be safe when he returned. Safe and unharmed.
-Sesshoumaru's Castle, Minutes before-
Stirring Kagome began to awaken, lashes kissing her cheeks as her lids fluttered revealing her blue hues. She glanced around the room, noting that she was alone this time and had a chance to better inspect the room. Sitting up she pulled the fluffy white comforter around herself and let her eyes wander.
The floors were stone, but many fluffy rugs lay over the cold stone floors. The bed she was currently sitting on made of red oak, and was lavished with silks and satins. A red oak dresser and chest also decorated the comfortably sized room. The mural of a majestic white dog, and a little girl with a beautiful woman with silver/white hair, and eyes the brightest of gold kept most of her attention on the north wall. The southern wall was made mostly of mirrors, and glass. A door to the left led to the bathroom, it was open and she could see the white marble inside. Another door, the one Sesshoumaru had locked obviously led out into the hall.
Kagome shuttered, and her eyes darted about, the sudden feeling of not being alone making her extremely uneasy.
"Sesshoumaru?" She called out softly, unease written all over her features.
A cold chuckle caused her to shiver in a fear she had never before felt.
"Guess again little priestess..."
Stepping into view, the beautiful but deadly Naraku. He wore a fine blue silk kimono, silver fish sewn into it. His bare feet carrying him silently across the floor; dark black hair falling in waves around his face. Onyx eyes glittering coldly, focused completely on her.
"Naraku," she said with a soft fear filled cry. Listening again to his cold, cruel chuckle. She took a breath to scream, but it came out as a squeak as Naraku was suddenly before her.
"Your savior comes... but he will never reach you in time, little Kagome."
She screamed for Sesshoumaru, before Naraku grabbed her and her world was absorbed into darkness once more.
Hi everyone! Here is Chapter Four! -Trumpets play- Sorry, just glad I finally got it up. I was going to put it up yesterday but it got deleted so I had to retype it all. Anyways enjoy!
Ja matte minna! Oh! And R&R!
