Chapter 8: The Castle

SESSHOMARU'S POV

I hadn't slept at all that night…I spent the many hours until the sun came up, thinking about Megan and how she is.

She is still alive, that much I am sure of…

I can sense her within me. She is a part of me, and as long as I can feel that part of me, then I know that she is still alive.

When the sun began to rise, Inuyasha was the first one to stir. We stretched and yawned, looking down at the sleeping Kagome by his side. He stared at her and touched her cheek with his hand until he notice that I was awake.

"Did you sleep at all?" he asked.

I shook my head softly.

"I suppose I wouldn't wither if I were in your position," he said.

"We should keep moving," I said.

Inuyasha nodded and leaned over Kagome, "Kagome, wake up," he whispered.

She sighed and opened her eyes, smiling up at him.

"Are we leaving already?" Shippo said as he stretched.

"Yes," I said and stood up.

I gave Jaken a light kick to wake him up. Leaning over, I picked up Rin softly, so that I wouldn't wake her up.

The others got up as well, and soon we were back on the path that Kagome had come from.

"Do you remember how far it was?" Inuyasha asked.

She nodded, "His castle was beyond the trees for a few miles, so we should be getting close the sooner we reach the edge of the trees."

"Was there any type of barrier that you noticed around the castle?" I asked.

Kagome stopped in her tracks, "Now that I think of it, there wasn't."

She slapped her forehead, "I totally forgot!"

"Forgot what Kagome?" Sango asked.

"Megan and I figured out why we were captured in the first place!" she exclaimed, "Remember when Naraku tried to absorb Sesshomaru? Well, we think that that is what he is trying to do. He kidnapped us to lure you both here so that he could absorb you two into his won body!"

Inuyasha growled, "We are walking right into a trap."

Miroku nodded, "It would not be wise to allow ourselves to be caught in such a trap. I would be best if we just--"

"Just left?" Sango hissed, "Forget it Miroku. We are not leaving Megan in there with Naraku."

Thank you for saying that Sango…I had a bad feeling that I was going to have to rip his heart out for even considering it….

"Then we have to get there faster," Kagome said, "Naraku was really angry when we tried to escape and I can't imagine what he could do if he lost control…"

I tensed and stepped ahead, "I will go ahead seeing as I can travel faster then any of you. Follow me as closely as you can and we will meet up there."

"You don't have to do this alone Sesshomaru," Inuyasha said, "we are here to help you."

"Then help me by letting me get to her faster," I said, not looking at him, "I cannot bear leaving her with him any longer."

Kagome nodded, "He's right Inuyasha. Let him go on ahead, he is strong enough that he can deal with whatever until we get there."

Inuyasha still didn't seem to like the idea, but he gave in anyway.

I turned and handed Rin to Kagome, "Take care of her and Jaken."

Before she could answer, I turned, and with a burst of speed, I headed of in the direction of Naraku's stench.

I had traveled for about five minutes when the demonic aura become so strong that my eyes began to water.

Flying over the castle I landed in the courtyard.

I could smell blood…

Megan's blood.

I ran towards the castle when suddenly I heard a chilling laughter surround me. When I turned back towards the courtyard I came face to face with Naraku.

"Where is she?" I hissed.

Naraku smirked and snapped his fingers. Behind him, Megan appeared on the ground, unmoving. There was a large gash across her shoulder and fresh blood poured from it, soaking the ground.

I pulled out my sword.

"Prepare to die Naraku," I vowed.

"Where is your brother Sesshomaru?" Naraku asked, "Were you not traveling with him?"

I gritted my teeth, "This is between you and I Naraku, leave him be."

Naraku frowned and charged at me. I dodged him easily and swung my sword, sending and energy blast directly at him. It hit him and his lower body was blow apart, the pieces flying all over the place.

Kagome was right. This is exactly what happened last time. If I keep on cutting pieces of him off, then he will eventually try to absorb me.

Naraku stood across from me and smiled, "Your wench was weak, but sharp tongued. Her flesh…it cut so easily Lord Sesshomaru. Her blood, is so sweet. I can see why you would chose her as a mate."

I growled. That sick bastard. How dare he touch her…

Before I could charge at him, there was an explosion and Inuyasha and the others charged into the court yard.

"Inuyasha, so nice of you to join us," Naraku said.

Sango, Miroku and Jaken stood ready for battle while Kagome, Rin and Shippo rushed to Megan.

"Megan!" Rin wailed, "Wake up!"

When Megan didn't move tears burst from her eyes and she buried her head in Shippo's shoulder.

"Shippo, take Rin away," Kagome said softly.

Shippo nodded and led Rin a ways away so she wouldn't see Megan's condition.

"Now that I have the two of you here, my plan is complete," Naraku said to himself, but we all heard it.

"Forget it Naraku, you are not absorbing us into your disgusting body," Inuyasha growled.

Naraku frowned and charged at the two of us.

"Strike to kill Inuyasha," I said.

"Got it," he said.

Together we both rushed Naraku and struck him. Inuyasha used the wind scar while I strengthened it with a hit of my own.

Naraku hesitated at the enormous blast head straight for him. It hit him and he was thrown back.

Inuyasha and I ran up to where he lay on the ground, breathing heavily.

"Sesshomaru!" Kagome yelled, "she's waking up!"

I looked at Inuyasha and he nodded. Turning I rushed to her side and grasped Megan's hand.

"Sess…" she said softly.

"I'm here," I said.

Suddenly Inuyasha let out a yell. When I turned around, Inuyasha was wrapped in one of Naraku's tentacles.

Pointing my two fingers I sent my energy whip at him and cut Inuyasha free.

"Thanks," he said.

Naraku let out a powerful blast of his miasma and I covered Megan protectively.

"Kanna told me about her and the priestess Sesshomaru," Naraku hissed, "I know they are not from this time. They do not belong here. They are merely meddling in affairs that they have no business in. Someday…someday you will lose her to time Sesshomaru."

And with that he disappeared.

Megan quaked in my grasp and I realized that she was crying. I held her closer to me and picked her up.

"Jaken, Rin, come, we are going home," I said softly.

Inuyasha walked up to me, "God bye Sesshomaru."

"Good bye brother," I said.

Picking up Rin and Jaken I floated up to the clouds and headed home.

MEGAN'S POV

Damn that Naraku…

Why did he have to be right?

"I don't belong here," I whispered to myself.

I shifted in the bed and my shoulder gave a painful reminder of why I was in bed in the first place. I had been stuck in bed for the past week because of that nasty demon.

There was a knock on the door and Sesshomaru entered.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as he sat beside me.

"Not bad I guess, my shoulder still hurts though," I said.

He nodded and we sat in silence for a moment.

"I heard what you said," Sesshomaru said quietly.

I bit my lower lip.

"It's not true. Do not listen to him," Sesshomaru grasped my hand, "I love you. And you belong here with me."

A tear fell from my eye.

God, I loved this guy so much…

He leaned over and kissed my tear softly and then my lips.

"What if," I paused, "What if time does come for me? What if one day I wake up back in my own time?"

Sesshomaru pulled me into his lap softly, being careful of my shoulder.

"I would wait for you," he whispered simply in my ear, "I would find you, no matter how long I took."

That got me crying.

………………..LATER…………….

It was just after Sesshomaru went to sleep that I carefully crawled out of bed. My shoulder had begun to heal more quickly since the village priestess came and gave me a potion.

Walking down the halls quietly, I snuck into Rin's room.

She was nestled under the covers, fast asleep.

I sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at her.

I loved this little girl like she was my own child…

When I had seen that she was still alive I knew that she was old enough to know.

I needed to tell her the truth.

I nudged her softly and her eyes fluttered opened.

"Megan?" she whispered.

I nodded and the little girl climbed into my open arms, hugging me.

"I have to talk to you about something Rin," I said.

She rubbed her eyes, "What is it?"

"Do you remember the stories I told you? About the girl from the future?"

She nodded.

"Those weren't just stories Rin, the girl from the future is me," I said softly.

"So you aren't from the west?" Rin asked.

I shook my head, "No I am from the future. Five hundred years into the future actually. And I had to tell you this because…I don't know if I am going to be able to stay here forever."

"You mean that nasty Naraku was telling the truth?"

I nodded, "Kind of. My home is in the future, but I love it here so much. I love Sesshomaru and I love you Rin. I don't want to leave. But if I ever do, I want you t know where I am ok?"

Rin started to cry and she clung to me, "Please stay!"

"I'll try Rin, I'll try."

Little did I know that my days in this paradise were numbered…