As a treat...here's another chapter!
"What do you think they're plotting?"
Sesshomaru stopped nuzzling Kagome's naked shoulder and thought for a minute. "Something, but I know not what."
Kagome smiled, happy that without explanation he had known who she was talking about. "Was it really wise to let them stay here?"
Sesshomaru scooted up in bed and rested his head on Kagome's. "Do you question me?"
Kagome turned over so that she was on her back and Sesshomaru above her. "Never."
"Have you not heard the anecdote, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer'?"
"Do we really consider them enemies? What are they? Two humans, a dead woman, a half-demon, and a child? Do we really fear them enough to label them enemy?"
Sesshomaru marveled at his mate's intelligence (which was unusual in this era of dumb-witted, un-schooled women). "We do not fear, we are cautious."
"We will watch them, wait for them to make their move?" Kagome asked, slowly moving her hand back and forth on Sesshomaru's back. She restrained a laugh when he arched a little and let out a small purr.
"Yes, but be careful...in times like these, even former friends cannot be trusted."
Sesshomaru settled down on top of Kagome. He nipped at her mark and blew lightly on her already heated flesh there.
"Again? We just fini-..."
"Yes."
It was three days later that the Inu-gang made their move...but it was not the aggressive one that Sesshomaru and Kagome had anticipated. With Rin back and Jaken taking care of the house, the days were left to Kagome and Sesshomaru to bond and "get to know one another better"...or so Jaken said. In reality those three days were a test of skills, a war if you will. Kagome tested Sesshomaru on a number of things, and Sesshomaru her the same. Neither let the other know this of course, but by the end of those three days they were both satisfied that the other wasn't feeble, of mind or body.
On the third day, like all the evening prior, the entire group was having dinner. Rin and Shippo were chatting away at one end of the table, and a slightly tense atmosphere reigned the other end.
"The soup!" Jaken announced as he started to spoon out a fragrant gumbo like concoction. There were other servants here, but for some odd reason Jaken trusted only his hands to do the lord's bidding.
Kagome smiled at the toadish man and received a glower in response. She found it amusing and grinned bigger, but her mate growling got her attention. He and Inuyasha were actually both growling at each other.
"So you're just going to let people die while you stay here safe? That's no lord! That's you being too lazy to protect your people from Naraku!"
"You dare to imply that I am an unfit ruler!" Sesshomaru barked back.
Kagome rested her hand on her mate's thigh and sought to calm him. It worked, with Sesshomaru settling back into his chair and letting Kagome take over the conversation/argument. "We are not safe here, but we are trying to protect our people. We must be fully-strengthed and ready for battle before we go into battle. What did going off half-cocked with no battle plan every other week after Naraku get us Inuyasha? For two years, nothing. We're doing this differently this time."
"And what about the people that are dying?"
"They will be avenged...but for now they're on their own," Kagome stated matter-of-factly.
"Kag-...how can you...this is-..."
"Shut up, Inuyasha. We have other things to speak of...I have a proposal for you Kagome," Kikyo started, "that has everything to do with everything you just said."
Kagome nodded and gestured for her to go on. Underneath the table, her mate's hand gripped her's in warning, telling her to be wary of traps.
"As you know, I am animated with a part of your soul. I am willing to die again, and give it back."
"What's the catch?" Kagome asked, suddenly wary of this new want to die.
"No catch. I want to stop Naraku once and for all."
Kagome smiled. "Okay." She rose from her chair and walked around the table. Then, laying her hands on Kikyo's head, she sucked the part of her soul from the clay body. IT would have been beautiful had it not been so scary. Kikyo had just fed on soul from her soul collectors, so as Kagome ripped the soul away, these were released and wreaked havoc in the room.
As with powerful feats of miko magic, a sudden wind whipped around the room, and drew everyone from their chairs. With the souls released and the wind, the room was in shreds in seconds. Sesshomaru grabbed Rin and Shippo and threw them from the room and danger and turned to stare at his mate. She was concentrating on Kikyo with her eyes narrowed to slits and a purple light enveloping her hands. Kikyo was screaming silently, her hands covering Kagome's, but the light in her eyes was already fading.
As suddenly as it began, it was over. Kagome dropped her hands and the winds stopped and the souls left. Kikyo was gone, and her "head" slammed into the table with a thunk before dissolving to ash. Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku stared at Kagome in horror, but Sesshomaru just stared. Something was wrong.
"Kagome?"
She turned to him. "That bitch." Kagome started to fall but Sesshomaru had her in his arms before she hit the floor.
"Kagome? What's wrong?"
"Trick..." Kagome could barely fight the darkness surrounding her, "...still here...still here..."
"Kagome! Wake up! I am your mate! I order you!" It was useless, she was...asleep? Sesshomaru shook her but no response.
Sesshomaru lifted Kagome and swiftly ran through the castle to their room. He lay her on their bed and called for Jaken. "Go find a healer...NOW!" He screamed when the smaller demon hesitated.
Then, fury in his entire body, Sesshomaru sought out Inuyasha. He found him where he had left him, still in shock of what had happened.
"What did you do!"
Inuyasha turned to his brother and shook his head. "I had nothing to do with this. She said that she just wanted to help. I had no idea she was going to do anything."
Sesshomaru picked Inuyasha up by the scruff of his neck and shook him. "My mate is in danger. You will tell me everything."
"Yeah. Everything," Inuyasha assured the furious Sesshomaru. He had never seen his brother so upset, and for sure never wanted to again. But Inuyasha had never wanted to hurt Kagome. He would never hurt someone he loved so.
It was dark where she was...but there was a light in the distance and it was that the Kagome walked toward. She didn't know if she was in a cave or just a hollow building but echoes where everywhere. Every couple of seconds she would hear something that didn't belong, a crunch or footstep out of sync with her's.
As Kagome stepped closer, the light grew less bright. At first Kagome thought it was going out, but then she realized that someone was now blocking it.
"Who's there?"
"You're here."
"Okay, that was a stupid answer."
"No answer is stupid."
"Even stupider."
"Shut up."
"No...you."
Kikyo stepped out of the shadows and sighed. "You do not listen."
"Why are you in my head?"
"So you recognize the place?"
"Of course...it's mine."
"Soon it will be mine."
"What you talking about Willis?"
"Willis?"
"Never mind."
Kikyo smiled and gestured to the surrounding darkness. "I'm using my bit of soul to corrupt and steal your body. I will truly be alive again."
"Bet? You ain't gonna do nothing."
"You will resist?" Kikyo asked smiling.
"You bet."
Kikyo pulled a long sword from behind her back. "Then let us battle...for the domain of your body."
Kagome concentrated and formed a similar sword in her own hand. "It's on."
Here's to the few reviewers who got to me before I put up this chapter...a scant half day after I put up fourteen...
Nekoyasha101: It's okay...I usually write these chapters on a buzz (you choose what kind)...so I've been there, man! It's okay!
hermonine: Yeah, you always catch me pretty quickly...
Yue-Tsukino: Haha...another newby...
royal blueKistune: Well...it is said that all men are really dogs...which is why I think dogs are man's best friend and diamonds are a girl's...
SesshiesPersonalPriestess: Happy now?
Kogasgirl142: I'm trying to write a lemon in...but I'm not good at writing them...so...
There you go! Another chapter...and as a side note...this is the beginning of a subplot with Kagome/Kikyo so this might go one for a while...picture...a judgement...a trial...an argument for whether or not Kagome is really ready or right for all that power...