GI: Hey, look, I'm alive.  I finally got some reviews (from a stupendymous author!) and decided to update. Hoping them maybe she will. Hmm….. she didn't reviw this one,, so on to the story! :D

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Inner Love

Chapter 11: Love and War

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Kagome looked down in awe at the mass of land below her. It spanned as far as the eye could see in every direction, and made her wonder how Sessho-maru could manage to keep all of the humans and demons populating it in his control. She then wondered if he required sacrifices and such of the sort to keep them under his belt. However, she soon shook this thought as she mentally kicked herself for even considering it.

"You are quiet," Sessho-maru stated, glancing back at her, "Are you not enjoying the ride? If not, we can go elsewhere…"

Kagome fiercely shook her head, "No! I was just thinking, that's all. It's lovely, and I'm happy to be able to see all of it from way up here!"

Sessho-maru frowned, turning forward, "Were you thinking of InuYasha?" he asked thoughtfully, hoping it wouldn't spark her temper.

"InuYasha…?" Kagome repeated thoughtfully, his face returning to her mind. For a moment, she had forgotten entirely about her hanyou protector, "No… I was not."

Silence broke between the pair as they continued along the air, the wind blowing them forward on Sessho-maru's demon cloud. The sun was high in the air and it was becoming extremely hot up so close to the clouds. Finally, Kagome needed to say something as she began to sweat, "Sessho-maru, the sun- it's too hot up here."

He pursed his lips, gradually turning his head to look at her. She had a red, sparkling face that was moist with sweat. He could smell it strongly, "I apologize. We shall lower." His voice was bland, like when he talked to InuYasha, minus the hostility. It made Kagome shiver.

The demon cloud gradually descended until they were close enough to the ground where shapes could be identified as objects. The sun grew less intense, and the relief washed over Kagome quickly. Though she was still warm, it was much better when they neared the ground.

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Shippo gnawed at some cooked fish as InuYasha ripped apart some demon flesh they had cooked. Miroku and Sango, disgusted by the thought of eating much of what they had slain, ate fish as well. They had not mentioned Kagome's name that day so far, hoping to avoid sulking or any outbursts from InuYasha. Finally, when InuYasha had cleaned the demon bone, he spoke, "Well, let's head out. We should find some more jewel shards. We haven't worked for a few days. At this rate, Naraku will beat us to them.

Shippo tossed the fish skeleton aside, wiping his mouth on his sleeve, "InuYasha, you know we can't hunt for jewel shards without Kagome."

He turned his nose up at the fox, "We don't need that wench. We can beat the demons ourselves."

Sango stood up, strapping Hiraikotsu to her back, "Though we may be able to defeat the demons ourselves, we cannot locate the jewel shards without Kagome. We have to wait for her."

InuYasha looked at Sango, trying to keep his temper, "And yet you strap your weapon to your back?"

Her eyes darted from tree to tree, scanning the forest, "A demon is near."

InuYasha searched the air for a scent, yet found nothing, "I don't smell anything. What are you talking about?"

Miroku closed his eyes, "You cannot smell him?"

Sango raised a hand to quiet InuYasha before he spoke. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "His aura is strong. He might be masking his scent. We best be cautious. He could have a jewel shard, and we wouldn't even know it. We should lay low and hope he doesn't find us until Kagome returns."

InuYasha looked away in to the forest, "Damn…" he muttered, feeling helpless once more.

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Sessho-maru stopped the cloud for a moment, "Blood…?" He whispered, looking far off in to the distance. "Kagome, I must take you back to my home. Trouble is afoot."

Kagome clung to his shirt, "No way! I'm going with! Just get me a bow and some arrows! I can help!"

He glanced back for a moment, and then started toward the smell of the blood he could so distinctly pick out. However, he smelled no demon scent, but felt a strong, demonic aura.

They soon arrived to where the blood was originating from only to see a ravaged, blood-spattered village. Dismembered bodies lie scattered everywhere. He landed on the ground and the cloud quickly dissipated beneath his feet. "Kagome, stay here."

As he wandered off to inspect the death scene, Kagome went in the opposite direction, determined to find out what kind of demon did this, "A jewel shard is here…" she muttered to herself, stepping over a leg that was attached to no body. "A demon is near us."

Beside her, a building erupted off of the ground, shattering into pieces of wood and thatching materials as a demon's hand burst up after it.

Kagome screamed, being blown back by the tremendous force of the fulmination. She slammed back through another shack, sliding across the ground, "What on earth was that thing!?"

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InuYasha leapt up as he heard Kagome's shrill scream, "What the hell!? Kagome!" He leapt off into the forest as Miroku, Sango, and Shippo hurried to follow his steps.

"Sessho-maru, you bastard, what are you doing to Kagome!?" He yelled, drawing Tetsusaiga and leaping into the clearing where the village once stood. As soon as he crested the tree-tops he spotted the clawed hand moving quickly toward Kagome in a rapacious manner. "Tetsusaiga!" He held the sword high above his head, bringing it slashing down the middle of the hand. "Kagome! What the hell are you doing out here alone!? Did Sessho-maru abandon you!?"

Seshso-maru stepped out of a shadow cast by the buildings, "On the contrary, little brother. I told her to stay in one place. She wandered off."

InuYasha growled, "You should have kept your eye on her! And what's the big idea of bringing her to a blood-strewn place like this, anyway!"

"I'm not a little kid, InuYasha! I can take care of myself, you jerk!" Kagome screamed, infuriated by the fact that InuYasha still thought she needed to be kept from battle.

InuYasha, however, was un-phased by her screaming and continued yelling. "And what the hell are you wearing!? Did Sessho-maru give you that?"

Kagome had already stopped listening. The jewel shard was nearing them, "InuYasha, you idiot, sit boy!"

As InuYasha slammed to the ground another enormous hand slashed the air where he once stood. Sessho-maru jumped back and out of harm's way, grabbing Kagome and taking her with him. The cloud formed under her and his feet, lifting them away. "No! Sessho-maru! What about InuYasha!? He needs our help! You can't just leave him!"

Sessho-maru looked back at her, "He is none of my concern," he stated simply, the cloud rising higher.

Without a second thought, Kagome jumped from the cloud back down to InuYasha. Sessho-maru looked back down at her as she screamed up at him words he had never heard her say. She was truly angry with him for leaving InuYasha behind. And he had started not to care what she thought anymore. He turned back, continuing on his way back to his estate.

"You idiot!" InuYasha screamed, lunging through the clawed hand wit his sword, upward to catch Kagome. "What the hell are you doing!?"

"Sessho-maru wanted me to leave you here. I couldn't, so I had to jump to get back."

InuYasha landed them both safely on the ground, "Are you alright?" he whispered.

Kagome nodded, a light blush gracing her cheeks.

Miroku and Sango were holding Shippo down to the ground, covering his eyes and mouth so as not to disturb Kagome and InuYasha, also watching them intently.

"Kagome, never leave me again," InuYasha whispered, pulling Kagome tightly to his chest, wishing he could keep her there forever.

Without a hesitation, Kagome answered, "I will never leave you, InuYasha. I love you."

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Kagura wandered through the forest, already lost in her way. She had decided to leave Kanna behind. She needed to be alone. "I have no heart, and therefore no feelings. But somehow I just know what this thought is. His companionship. I… I need Sessho-maru…"

She soon came upon the huge estate that was Sessho-maru's. In fact, he was descending upon the land from atop his demon cloud.

"Kagura, why do you come to my estate? Are you seeking my Tenseiga?"

At this moment, Kagura knew her heart would have shuttered. A blush covered her face, and she cast her gaze away, "N-no, I did not. In fact, I, uh, I came to see you, Sessho-maru-senpai."

Seshso-maru was surprised by the use of –senpai instead of –sama. However, he did not complain, "You came to see me? I do not intend to make a deal with you nor Naraku in any way."

Kagura shook her head, "Sessho-maru-senpai, I came on my own actions. I needed to see you." She stepped closer to him, raising her eyes cautiously to his own, "Sessho-maru… I need to be with you."

He looked down at her, his poise disturbed, and his face was a look of dismay and a slight mix or horror.

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GI: Heh. Pairings have been revealed. O