Heart Of Glass

Once I had a love and it was a gas
Soon turned out he had a heart of glass
Seemed like the real thing, only to find
Mucho mistrust, love's gone behind
Blondie

The air in the Throne Room was cold and empty, deadly silent. The drop of a pin would echo loudly all the way up to the high cathedral ceiling. The room was bare, only a huge rug covering its vast floor. Stairs on the west side of the room led up to the single gilded chair. The figure that sat in the chair was immobile with anger, his sharp claws digging into the armrests. He practically vibrated with the heat of fury. He closed his eyes, trying to focus on his goal of getting the Tetsusaiga, but nothing could focus him, nothing could make him not want to hunt down his brother and murder him in the most grisly way possible. 'He has Rin.'

After walking into his palace, Kagome dead to the world in his arms, he was greeted by Jaken, who had cowardly come back after not being able to find him. He could tell that the toad was hiding something. It wasn't until after placing Kagome in a spare bedroom that Jaken had come to him and told him that Rin was gone. He gave Sesshoumaru a letter that Inuyasha had written:

'Rin is safe with us, Jaken.'

It had made Sesshoumaru fly into a rage, causing Jaken to flee for his life, only to return shortly afterwards with words of advice, words that fell on deaf ears.

Since then Sesshoumaru had locked himself in his throne room, trying to restrain his anger. 'Soon I will have the Tetsusaiga and I can destroy that stain once and for all.' he thought, trying to soothe himself. He couldn't believe that his brother had the nerve to take something away from him. Rin was his to protect, and Inuyasha taking her was nothing but a blow to his pride, which he vehemently protected.

He decided that soon he would meet with Inuyasha, give him the ultimatum for the sword. 'He's heading for Naraku's castle.' Though Sesshoumaru didn't trust him, he knew that Inuyasha would be smart enough to not go into Naraku's castle with his sword drawn and ready for battle. Especially not with Kagome's life supposedly at stake.

A knock on the door disturbed him. It echoed throughout the room, reaching his demon ears in a deafening roar. His eyes shot open, knowing full well who it was that came knocking. He stayed silent, waiting for Jaken to go away. He had made it very clear that no one was allowed to bother him while he was in the Throne Room, as he was most likely musing over some topic of interest. The knock came again, this time a little quieter, a little more uncertain. He stood and walked the long path over to the door, opening it slowly, menacingly. His eyes caught the form of Jaken, his hand hooked securely to his staff, as if to keep himself from shaking.

"Yes?" he asked, his calm voice belying the anger he felt inside. Jaken cleared his throat.

"The girl…Kagome…she's awake and she demands that you go and speak with her."

"And since when has she been able to make demands upon me?" he asked Jaken, his anger growing when he heard of Kagome's request. He had locked her in a guest room as far away from his own room as possible. He wanted to forget she was there, forget about her kind lips, her soft body fighting to keep him alive. His fury ebbed as he thought about her actions, giving way to a sense of guilt that he had come to know and hate. He nodded to Jaken and made his way to her locked room, mentally preparing himself for the onslaught of words she was sure to produce.

He felt like he was walking towards a great battle, one he wasn't sure he could win.

XoXoXoX

The air was heavy with the scent of blood.

Inuyasha stood in front of the fallen Sango, the Tetsusaiga poised and ready for another attack. A gash ran from his eyebrow to his cheek. Miroku stood next to him, his hand prepared, his fingers caressing the rosary beads as if for support. His glance returned to Sango every few moments. Rin and Shippo were atop Kirara, the cat having orders to run if things got too hectic.

Naraku had surprise attacked them, coming out of seemingly nowhere. His attack was aimed towards Miroku, wanting quickly to get the Wind Tunnel out of the way, but Sango had pushed the monk to the side, taking the blow herself. Her side exploded in a rush of blood and she fell.

"Show yourself, Naraku!" Inuyasha yelled hoarsely, pain causing his throat to clench.

Naraku swayed lightly on his perch, high up in the trees. He loved to watch them all, nervous and at the ready for an attack. He could practically feel the anticipation coming off of them. He sat debating on whether or not to finish them all right there or to wait until his true plan could be carried out. He wanted to fight both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru at the same time, prove to them that he was the superior being. 'But Sesshoumaru has escaped…probably taken the girl back to his own palace…' he felt rage creep into him again at the thought of how his lust had been played upon by Sesshoumaru. 'When I defeat him, I will be sure to make his death painful.' he smiled wickedly at the thought.

"You scared?" Inuyasha mocked from below. Naraku chuckled at how childish the words were. 'Now…how to get Inuyasha back to Sesshoumaru's palace…?' he thought, not wanting to miss the opportunity.

"I don't have your human pet. Sesshoumaru does. And he has escaped me by use of trickery." he called downwards, only faintly amused. He could hear Miroku arguing fiercely with Inuyasha, both of them debating on whether or not this was a trap.

"And why are you telling us this?" Miroku asked, not even trying to hide the suspicion that crawled into his voice.

"Just thought I'd let you know that continuing this way is futile. I'll spare you for the moment. I'll be waiting for you there." was all he would offer before they heard the trees rustling as he departed.

Miroku crouched down next to Sango, relief flooding through him when he felt the pulse in her neck, soft and slow, but still there.

"Inuyasha, we can't go anywhere until she's healed a bit." he said softly, knowing how his friend would take the news.

"Are you crazy? We have to go and get Kagome before Naraku attacks! It's only a three day travel if we go quickly." he yelled. Miroku looked at him, trying to force reason into his head.

"Then leave us. We'll get there when we can." he replied softly. Inuyasha just stared, the impact of the monk's words dawning on him.

"Fine. Stay safe." he said simply, turning around to walk in the direction that they had come in.

"Wait! Take Rin with you!" Miroku yelled at Inuyasha's walking form. He turned and looked angered.

"What?" he asked, his voice low and feral.

"Take her back home, Inuyasha." Miroku was not going to budge on this. Rin smiled and ran over to Inuyasha, grabbing onto his leg and rubbing her face in the soft fabric of his yukata. Inuyasha growled, but it didn't stop her from pawing him. He nodded to Miroku then turned and began the journey backwards with Rin by his side.

XoXoXoX

Kagome had woken amidst sheets of the darkest azure feeling like velvet next to her skin. A sheer blue curtain closed off the bed from the rest of the room. She pushed herself out of the covers and gasped when she saw that she was dressed in a fine lilac kimono. Dark purple flowers twisted their way around the fabric of the collar. She even found that her hair had been cleansed off all of the roadway debris that had been entwined in it.

When she placed her feet upon the cold stone of the floor, the shock of it made her realize what had happened. Her hand reached up to her cheek and she felt a thick bruise spanning the entirety of it. She ran to the only door in the room, trying the handle and hissing in rage when she found that it was locked.

She couldn't believe that he would imprison her. That hurt far worse than the bruise that she had, courtesy of his fist. More than anything though she hated that she had shown him kindness, kissed his lips and told him it was alright…trusted him. And now that trust had been blown away. 'I should have known…why does it hurt so much?' she asked herself. She let her mind think back to the feeling of pure joy she had experienced while wrapped in his arms, watching the sunrise, the electric shivers that ran through her body when he returned her kiss. 'It was just the situation…he doesn't mean anything to me!' she forced herself to believe.

Placing her ear to the door she could hear a tapping, as if someone had a cane and was walking with it. Then she remembered about the toad thing that resided with Sesshoumaru. She beat her fists upon the door and yelled.

"Jaken! Come here!" she screeched. She heard his quick footsteps walking over to her door.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Get Sesshoumaru. Now!" she yelled, forcing as much fury in her voice as she could muster to try and make Jaken bend to her will.

"But…Lord Sesshoumaru does not wish to be disturbed…" he argued, vague fear welling in him at the sound of bitterness in her.

"Do it!" she yelled. She was satisfied when she heard him walk away, sure that he would do as she asked. She turned and placed her back to the door, looking at the grandeur of the room. An ivory desk sat in the corner, seemingly out of place in the blue room. The walls were lined with tapestries depicting soldiers doing great deeds, the fall of an empire, the rise of a new one. Each one more intricate and more beautiful than the last. Small candles sat in an alcove in the wall, giving off warm light. She went and sat in a blue cushioned high-back chair, positioning it so she could face the door.

When she heard the door unlock, every fibre of her being tensed. And when finally he walked into the room she felt her breath catch. His white hair had been washed and brushed so that it shined with the light of the candles. He wore a fresh kimono, the colours more brilliant than the last. He wore no armour, and his kimono drooped slightly open, revealing a pale expanse of his chest. But his eyes were what got to Kagome. The golden orbs were fixed on her, sadness deep within them. It quelled her anger, but only for a moment. She glared at him, unwilling to admit to herself how much her eyes wanted to drop to that exposed chest.

"What did you want?" he asked, his voice cold, as usual, but his eyes betrayed his voice. She thought of her words carefully, not wanting to anger him into harming her again.

"I should have known you would do something like this." she said, making her voice match his in coldness. He walked further into the room, making sure the door closed behind him. He stopped when was in front of her sitting form, the silk of his kimono almost draping onto her knees.

"Yes, you should have known." was his only reply. She shot up quickly, craning her neck to glare at him. He almost shied away from the hurt in her eyes, but he kept himself still and impassable.

"How could you do this to me? I saved your life and this is how you repay me?" she spat. Anger got the better of her and she whipped her hand out, slapping him solidly across the face. Thin crimson lines showed on his cheek from her nails. She had to restrain herself from doing more. He turned his face back to look at her, and Kagome winced, fully expecting a heavy blow to follow shortly.

"I deserved that." he said. Kagome froze in utter shock. She opened her eyes and stared at him, stared at the cuts already beginning to heal. 'I can't believe he admitted he was wrong…' she thought. All of her anger melted away momentarily as she looked into his eyes. She wanted nothing more than to tear down the shields that he had built around himself, she wanted to comfort the hurting person she knew was inside of him, even if he would deny it until the day he died.

When his arms slid around her shoulders and pulled her into an embrace, she felt that she could stay like that forever.

XoXoXoX

"That idiot! He let them go!" Kagura yelled to herself, furious that Naraku finally had his chance to kill Inuyasha and hadn't taken it. She had hidden herself high up in the trees, waiting for the final blow to be dealt, but it never came. After Naraku had disappeared, she had seethed with anger. "He's always talking about killing that damned man, but when he gets the chance he runs away!" she was exasperated, furious that she could never understand his behaviour.

She really wished that Inuyasha would come out victorious. She wanted nothing more than her unwanted master's blood to be spilt.

She stopped walking, a thought freezing her. 'So Inuyasha is going to Sesshoumaru's palace for a final showdown with Naraku? Ha, I wonder what will happen if the hanyou doesn't make it…' she smiled, holding back a laugh.

She fastened her pace, eager to get her try at Inuyasha. She knew that killing him would hurt Naraku's pride, and that she wanted to do more than anything in the world.

She set off to find him, images of his bloody and beaten body flashing through her mind.

XoXoXoX

A/N - Once again, thanks for all of the reviews, they're awesome. Now…review please! Lol.