I hit MAJOR writer's block on this chapter, but then Inu-music came to the rescue!! I changed the ending to this chapter because it didn't fit what was going on!
Kaede and her village are visited by an old 'aquaintance', Sesshoumaru and Kagome reveal their love for one another, but Sess-chan does something sneaky. Shippo manages to get Inuyasha riled! Inuyasha is tempted by the Shikon no Tama - uh oh!!
As always, Inuyasha and co belong to Takahashi Rumiko ::bows:: et al
Kaede's Village - Inuyasha's Forest -
Fire. Smoke. Her people running, screaming - she could do nothing about it.
"WHERE IS SHE?" The richly dressed man who came into the village only hours ago pulled Kaede up painfully by her grey hair.
"I DON'T KNOW!!" Kaede shouted. "And even if I DID, I wouldn't tell YOU!!"
"Old bitch!!" the man sneered at her. Suddenly, he smiled.
"You truly don't remember me, old woman?"
"Iye, Iye, Iye! I don't!!"
"I came here fifty years ago - I was by trade, an 'acquirer of goods' you might say."
"A thief." Kaede said flatly.
"Hai. I came to your village - you were but a child then. One night there was a fire in the house I happened to be in. I was very badly burned - not expected to live."
Iye!! It cannot be him!! Kaede thought with horror.
Onigumo!
Inuyasha's Camp:
Sesshoumaru impassively watched as Inuyasha remained kneeling in the same spot where he had the woman he had loved. He walked over to Inuyasha and stood over him.
Inuyasha lifted his head and looked up at Sesshoumaru, his golden eyes filled with anguish.
"I was wondering when you'd be over to kill me, Sesshoumaru. Go ahead! You'll only be doing me a favor."
"Do you think that I, Sesshoumaru, would kill someone as pathetic as you are now?"
Inuyasha leaped up angrily, 'PATHETIC? I just - what would YOU know about it, Sesshoumaru?"
"You know little of me - and of Father, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru showed little emotion.
"Leave me alone." Inuyasha sat back down again."Let me die."
Kagome knelt next to Inuyasha. "Don't say that, please, Inuyasha!"
"I SAID, LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!!" Inuyasha looked up at Kagome's face. "Especially YOU, Kagome."
Kagome gasped and drew back.
Mirouku and Sango caught her as she stumbled.
"It is grief that speaks now." Mirouku spoke gently to Kagome.
"Inuyasha, please..." Sango watched Inuyasha with pity. "I have seen the people I lov-"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!! ALL OF YOU!!" Inuyasha cried out, his golden eyes filled a deep grief.
Sesshoumaru came forward and said tonelessly, "If you are bound to die, Inuyasha, then you no longer have need of - THIS!!
Sesshoumaru spun quickly, grasped the Tetsusaiga and...
...it slid out easily into Sesshoumaru's hand!!
"It is obvious that the sword sees your weakness, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru threw it back at Inuyasha, who caught it quite easily.
"You cold-heated BASTARD!!" The hanyou's eyes narrowed. "I'll show you 'weakness!EEYYYAAAAAAA!!" Inuyasha launched himself at Sesshoumaru, weaponless.
"Inuyasha!!" Sango and Kagome cried out, rushing towards the two.
"STAY OUT OF IT, KAGOME!!" Inuyasha yelled. Sesshoumaru easily knocked Inuyasha to the ground and sank the Tetsusaiga into the ground next to him.
"Useless." Sesshoumaru's face was stony, but Kagome could swear his eyes were - sad. Inuyasha remained on the ground, his eyes closed.
"You are a fool, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru's heart twisted with empathy for Inuyasha, but he would never show it. Inuyasha could not be coddled as he had been when he lost his human mother.
But what if I lost Kagome?
I would survive. She is but a woman, a human woman...
Just as Rin shall be someday. I will see her grow old, and I shall be not much older than I am now. She will die as Kagome will. Father, what posessed to love a human? The pain? The joy?
Suddenly, Sesshoumaru turned and without a word, grabbed Kagome around the waist, and in just moments they were away from the camp, away from - everything.
"How dare - Mmmmfff!!" Kagome was silenced by Sesshoumaru's kiss, which was both suprisingly gentle and sensual at the same time. He then broke away from the kiss, but still held onto her, his eyes contemplative, as he were making a decision.
"I don't understand, Sesshou.." Kagome's resentment towards Sesshoumara was gone - at least for now.
"I wanted to - keep you, aisuru." (beloved) Sesshoumaru's hand gently caressed her cheek.
"You did?" Kagome's eyes were stormy with emotion. "Wait, you called me - you called me..."
"Shhhhhhhh..." Sesshoumaru silenced her with another deep kiss, wrapping his fluffy 'tail' around them both.
Sesshoumaru... Was the only thing Kagome could think of. Tears sprang from her cheeks, her emotions were that strong.
"Aishiteru, Kagome..." Sesshoumaru's emotions - many that he thought he buried came to the surface. No, he would not lose her as Inuyasha had Kikyo!
He would do this.
Do what had been unthinkable, impossible.
He loves me!! Kagome's heart beat quickly, her body, her heart, mind and soul joyfully responding to his touch.
His mouth went down to her neck - the spot, THE spot and gently bit into Kagome's neck. She shivered in delight as sesshoumaru did this.
"Aishiteru, Sesshou, oh...." Kagome sighed, her arms wrapped around him. In
voluntarily, Kagome nipped back at Sesshoumaru's neck, nearly driving him over the brink.
I do not want to take her as if she were nothing but a passing pleasure. No, she is mine. Sesshoumaru nuzzled Kagome's neck with his lips, tasting her blood. His love did the same, unknowingly mixing their blood - a true bonding, a true mating. Youkai generally mated for life. He supposed hanyou like Inuyasha did as well. Perhaps that was why...
"Sesshou?" Kagome diverted him from his thoughts. "Is - something wrong?"
"Iye, aisuru. All is well now." Sesshoumaru and Kagome kissed again.
"Sesshou-chan! Kagome-nichan!! " Rin came through the brush unexpectedly. Sesshoumaru cursed himself inwardly. Is this what love does? Make one unaware?
"Rin!" Kagome said as she pulled away from Sesshoumaru's embrace. She was blushing despite the fact that it was dark.
"Forgive me." Rin bowed slightly, keeping a straight face. She knew what Sesshoumaru-chan and Kagome-nichan were doing! Maybe this would mean that Kagome-nichan would become her okaa-san!!
But for now...
"There's a fire - a big one! I think it's in the village that Kagome-nichan stays! Rin not sure."
"How do you know, Rin?" Kagome asked.
"By the stars, I know how to get to places. Sesshoumaru-chan is teaching me! Come, you can see it from here!!"
Rin led them to a clearing where everyone was already at. Evidently Shippo had alerted the small group to the danger. He even managed to rouse Inuyasha to where the kitsune suffered some lumps from Inuyasha.
"Kaede!!Oh no!!" Kagome broke out into a run, but Sesshoumaru caught her. Already she grows stronger, faster. Sesshoumaru thought with admiration.
"Let me go!! Kagome writhed in Sesshoumaru's grip.
"No. What can you do alone, Kagome?" The youkai lord raised an elegant brow as he let her go.
"He's right, Kagome." Mirouku added. "By the time you got there, it would be too late!"
"Yeah." Shippo said, "Don't do an 'Inuyasha' on us!!"
"OWWW!!OWWW!OWWW!!" Shippo cried out as Inuyasha gave him a few hard knocks on his head.
"Listen, you wall hanging, I heard that crack! Do it again and -"
"He'll live." Sango said under her breath.
"Stop it!" Kagome shouted. "I'M going!You guys want to stay here. Fine."
Sesshoumaru pulled Kagome. "Stubborn little ningen. Rin, we shall go in Ah and Uh."
Rin went to get them while Sango readied Kirara.
Inuyasha had no inclination to help Kaede's village, but an idea struck him as he watched his half-brother and Kagome - The Shikon no Tama! He could use it to bring Kikyou back - truly alive and not made from clay, mud and bones. They would be free to love each other once he destroyed Naraku.
But how? Part of the Shikon was within Kagome, Naraku had the other half. Naruku was simple enough, just kill him.
Kagome was another matter. He would need to think this through and not anyone know.
Once more, Inuyasha wanted the Shikon no Tama. Would history repeat itself?
(A/N: This about the FOURTH time I've to download this chapter, so hopefully you'll see my little rant here. ffnet keeps showing the old chapter!). - Gomen! - Tamysan