Here is the next installment. I really have not much to say; I am not the type of person to write some trivial thing at the beginning of my stories. I let the story speak for itself. As for the few reviews that I have received, thank you. I know you are requesting some Sango and Mirouku, but I have not decided if their story will be in this. I hate to disappoint some people, but my favs are Inu / Kagome and Sess / Kagura. If anything is put in about the requested couple, it will only be minor in this story.

Standard Disclaimer Applies

Chapter 3

Kagura sat near the fire, looking into the flames. Rin sat near her talking about the gods new what. Kagura did not pay attention, but let the child continue because the voice soothed her.

She had been with this odd pack of Sesshoumaru's for several days now, healing from the wounds she had suffered when she had protected this child from Naraku. Why, she thought again, Why did she protect this child? The child was nothing to her. Yes, in her naiveté, the child was kind to her and did not fear her, but it was no reason to sacrifice her life for the child.

"She has that effect on those she comes in contact with," Sesshoumaru stated as he stood beside Kagura.

Kagura started. She had been so engrossed with her thoughts that she had not even heard him approach. She ignored him.

"Where are you taking me," they heard Jaken whine.

"Don't worry," Rin answered, "I want to show you something."

"What is it," they heard Jaken ask as he followed Rin out of the cave.

"She is not at all subtle," Sesshoumaru said under his breath.

Kagura turned and looked at him, confusion in her eyes. Did he say something… "I don't understand," she said.

Sesshoumaru looked at her. He thought to explain, and then thought better of it. He sat down beside her. He sat looking into the fire a moment. Kagura was about to turn away thinking that he was not going to explain when he moved

He was swift in his movement, not giving her time to prepare herself. She gasped at the startling intimate contact but Sesshoumaru only deepened his kiss. His tongue thrust into her mouth, mapping the contours. His acute hearing picked-up her heartbeat's faster pace and he felt her body yield to his. His own heartbeat drummed in his ears.

Slowly he brought his hand from behind her head and trailed it down her neck, caressing her pulse point at the base. He released her mouth but continued kissing her, trailing down soft kisses across her check, around her ear, then down her neck. His hand trailed further down her shoulder and into her kimono. As his hand enclosed her breast, he gently bit into her neck.

Pain and pleasure mixed within Kagura's body as Sesshoumaru's sharp incisors broke into her skin. He kissed the small wound and then lapped the small amount of blood.

Keeping his hand on her breast, gently squeezing it he brought his mouth back to hers. This time her arms came up and around his neck. As she strengthened her hold quickly, she pulled her body closer to him.

The spell broken, Kagura flinched in sudden pain. Her labored breathing no longer the effect of the intense feelings brought on by the kiss. She concentrated on controlling the pain and did not notice when Sesshoumaru brought his hands to hers, releasing her death grip from around his neck. She groaned as more pain coursed through her arms her body as he brought her arms down.

Sesshoumaru got up, but Kagome did not notice. Her eyes closed, she concentrated wholly on the pain. Soon though, Sesshoumaru returned with a cup. He brought it up to her mouth and out of habit she swallowed the concoction. The tea would help with the pain, she knew from experience; already it was beginning to lesson the pain.

Sesshoumaru reached for her sash and undid it. He examined her wounds again and then rebound them. Although demons healed faster than humans, her wounds were serious enough that it would take even a demon a great deal of time to heal completely. Sesshoumaru had known this so he had no thought of taking this beyond a kiss and marking her.

"Why," she asked as he guided her to lie down. Sesshoumaru said nothing but brought his hand to her neck where he marked her. Some of the feelings that Kagura had felt when he had kissed her returned.

He seemed about to say something but quickly turned towards the entrance. His eyes narrowed and started towards the cave entrance.

Kagura was about to call out when he said, "Stay here, it's not safe out there."

Kagura eyes narrowed as she made to get up, "I can take care of myself."

"I know," he said, and then sprinted out. Kagura did not understand.

"Where are you taking me," Jaken asked again after she had brought him several meters.

She finally let go of him but kept on walking through the forest. "No where, I just thought you would like to join me," Rin responded.

Jaken scurried after her, "What are you up to?"

She finally stopped beside the stream where they drew their water. "They just needed a little time; that's all."

"They…they who? The only two there was Sesshoumaru-sama and that demon wind-witch, Kagura. Why would they need time together? That's ridiculous."

Rin smiled and softly stated simply, "Kagura will be my new 'kaasan."

"What," Jaken asked; he did not hear what she had said, "What did you say?" Rin, however, had stopped paying attention. "Rin, are you listening to me?"

Across the stream she had spotted movement. She waited patiently—the one thing she had learned from Sesshoumaru—for something to happen. It did; from the brush, he emerged.

Kohaku.

They stared at each other; Jaken ran in front of Rin and extended his staff, "What do you want?"

Kohaku continued to stare at Rin. Rin was finally the one to speak, "What…"

"Where is she?" Rin knew whom he was speaking if.

"Why?"

"Naraku wants her back."

"She's free of him." Kohaku's eyes widened slightly. He had not been told this. "She's not going back and I will not tell you where she is."

"She is coming back," Kohaku took out his hitachi. Rin stepped back and Jaken raised his staff ready to spit fire, to provide enough time to distract him.

"Do it, boy, and I will kill you," a dark voice said from behind Rind. She turned and looked up to Sesshoumaru's calm façade. He was very angry, she knew.

Kohaku dropped into a stronger fighting stance. He had a job to do; he always completed all asked of him and his skills. When Naraku did not need him any longer, then he would be released.

"You would not last, boy; you are no match for me."

"Sesshoumaru-sama," Rin began. He looked at her and she knew he was more than just angry. She was worried.

"Jaken, take Rin."

"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru." Jaken grabbed for Rin and began pulling the adolescent from the battlefield. "Come child."

"Sesshoumaru-papa," Rin called out. Sesshoumaru did not acknowledge his ward.

Kohaku was almost surprised that the demon lord, whom Naraku had said cared nothing of humans—even hating his half-human half-brother Inuyasha—was not even fazed that this human child called him 'papa'.

"He is trapped like she was; Naraku controls him. He should be set free."

Sesshoumaru did have a mind to set the boy free. He began to reach for his sword. He paused when he heard a rustle from behind. Rin gasped in shock, "Kagura-mama." Sesshoumaru turned back to see Kagura step into the clearing.

"Kohaku," she said. Kohaku did not miss a beat, he throw the hitachi at her. It wrapped around and she flinched in pain. Sesshoumaru turned back to the boy, his demon red eyes flashing.

"I warned you, boy," he growled, his arm extending to reveal the poisonous claws. Kohaku jumped away, releasing the hitachi from Kagura to defend himself. Kagura fell to her hands and knees in pain; Rin ran to her.

As the battle between Sesshoumaru and Kohaku continued—mainly Kohaku evading Sesshoumaru—, Rin tended to Kagura. "He will kill him," she said.

"I don't understand. Before he didn't bother when he took you and attempted to hurt you. Why…why now?"

"He was given a chance. Now, he had gone too far; he attacked you," Rin explained. Kagura still looked confused.

Finally, Sesshoumaru disarmed Kohaku, but was able to still evade the demon's claws. Sesshoumaru paused in his attacks and looked up to the Saimyoushou that hovered overhead, "You may go back to your master and tell him I will be coming."

Sesshoumaru suddenly attacked Kohaku—he was caught off guard as he also gazed up to the Saimyoushou—and was not fast enough to evade the attack. I'm free, he thought as darkness enveloped him.

Sesshoumaru turned back towards Rin and Kagura—Jaken had gone off to get the demon dragon, Ah-Un—and saw the confusion on Kagura's face and the disappointment on Rin's. He was surprised the girl said nothing and held her tongue. He knew she wanted to tell him again that the boy was the same as Kagura. However, he had done what he had needed to do. He did not like the look.

He heard as the Saimyoushou float down and retrieve the piece of the jewel. He reached for his sword and sliced through the air where the demon bug flew over the body. It evaded the swing and flew off quickly, no doubt to give the master its prize. It mattered not; he was not interested in the jewel. He sheathed the Tenseiga.

Kohaku hovered on consciousness. It was odd, wasn't he dead. He had to be dead. The demon lord had dealt a fatal blow; he knew he had died.

Could Naraku have saved him from death's door again? But no, it could not be. He was to be free in death, he would have died in honorable battle—something he had not been able to be since Naraku trapped him. No, he moaned.

"He's awake," he heard a young girls voice. A young girl? Kohaku felt someone kneel next to him and then something against his mouth. Poured in, he had not choice but to swallow the liquid. He coughed at its bitterness. Soon though, he felt the pain that had been making itself known ebbed to an ache—excruciating bit bearable.

"Better right," the voice said again, "It had to be watered down since your human and it would have done more damage than it would have done good."

Finally, he was able to open his eyes. He was looking into brown eyes. That girl: Rin. Looking around he saw Kagura sitting on the other side of the fire, staring into it. The demon lord stood away off at the cave entrance, watching intently what the girl did. Or maybe I am being watched that I don't attack her again, Kohaku thought, Hardly likely considering the condition I seemed to be in. He closed his eyes

"We are going," he heard Sesshoumaru said.

"But we can't move him," Rin said in rebuttal, "He's not like her." The voice seemed to be dying out.

"Naraku will come," he heard Kagura say. No, he thought as he slipped again into unconsciousness. "Or he will send someone here, someone more powerful."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. "No one can beat Sesshoumaru-sama," Rin said. He walked towards Rin and the sleeping Kohaku and stood over the two. Rin looked up then smiled knowingly. Jumping up and walking to Kagura—whom had stood when Sesshoumaru had walked to the girl—grabbed her hand and begin guiding her out.

A couple of days later, they had made a good distance that Sesshoumaru decided to stop. He turned and looked to Ah-Un—the demon dragon—­, Rin had fallen asleep sometime ago. The boy had woken up a couple of times and was given more medicine. He looked at the leads; Jaken was, of course, almost dead on his feet. Kagura stood beside him, she was stronger, but was wounded so was also exhausted.

"We will rest here," he said. Jaken quickly made camp and Sesshoumaru settled the sleeping Rin and Kohaku. Jaken joined them and was also soon asleep

"Why did you save him," Kagura asked as she settled near the warmth of the fire Jaken had started while Sesshoumaru had settled the adolescents. Sesshoumaru stood over her looking across the fire at the pair he had settled.

"I am going to destroy him," Kagura knew whom Sesshoumaru spoke of, "The boy will provide information."

"Is that why you saved me?"

"No, and it's not the reason I saved him."

"But you just said…"

"You should rest. You will need your strength."

"What I need are answers," Kagura said frustrated.

Sesshoumaru sat beside her and sighed. "He will keep her safe; it will be his debt, then his honor." Kagura didn't understand and was going to ask what he meant. "And I shall keep you safe."

He moved in quickly like the previous time. Kagura felt herself submit to the feeling coursings through her body again. How did this man, this demon, have such an effect on me? Again, she made to wrap her arms around his neck, but Sesshoumaru was not going to let what happen previously happen again; he held her arms at her sides. She tried to get free but he was stronger. She gave in and let him draw her to the ground, never letting his lips part from hers. Deepening his kiss, so she could not protest—not that Kagura had a mind to—Sesshoumaru reach for her obi and begun to untie it.

Having her arms free, Kagura brought them up to his shoulders, running them into his haori. He moaned into his mouth, dipping his tongue into it. Having opened the kimono now, he brought his hand to her breast gently squeezing. Kagura moaned in deep pleasure that caused through her body.

Releasing her mouth, he trailed kisses down her throat and further down. His mouth finally came to her chest and he covered her erect nipple in hot wetness. Kagura's body surged upward, but Sesshoumaru brought his hands to her wrapped abdomen, keeping her from straining her healing body.

He cringed at the thought of what had almost happen to her when she was in her master's control. Bringing his roaring anger under control, he brought his body over Kagura's writhing one. His anger controlled, it immediately transformed into desire, as he had never experienced when his body came in contact with Kagura's.

He brought his mouth back to hers as Kagura moaned deeply, covering the loud sound that might awaken the others. Shedding his pants and opening his kimono, he brought his flesh against Kagura's.

Kagura didn't know what to think. Sesshoumaru kept on bombarding her with feelings she had never thought she could ever feel. She had come to understand some of what had happened several days earlier. Sesshoumaru was claiming her, pure and simple.

But did she want to be claimed. Did she want to gain her freedom to let it go for another type of imprisonment? True, Sesshoumaru had not ordered her to do anything—well, not in so many words. He had also not said that she could not leave. She was not bound—other than the fact he had claimed her as…

Soon all thought had vanished when she felt him come into her. True, she could leave at anytime, but why would she want to.

Sesshoumaru's thoughts were on a similar course. He needed her bound to him and the best way, was to complete this. Not that he thought of this as a means to an end only.

No, this was not a job. Sheer pleasure a washed him as she moved in time together. He brought had his lips to the spot he had marked her and opened the wound again. He lapped at the small amount of blood that dripped down her neck. When her increasing moans had escalated, he brought his mouth over hers to muffle the sound.

The pain of the marking had only cause more pleasure to coarse through her body it seemed. Quickening and deepening, he felt the ultimate ecstasy run through her body. Her quivering body only brought him to the same ecstasy she had felt. Was this the reason that her father had lost all reason when it came to that woman that had birthed that mutt Inuyasha?

Finally regaining some sense, he notices he was still lying on top of Kagura. Mindful of her wounds, which had probably begun noticing that it was becoming painful, he rolled to his side.

Readjusting his kimono over them both—which had remained over them during their coupling—he gathered Kagura against him. Her breathing had returned to a semblance of normal.

"Why," she asked him again, "Why are you doing all of this. You saved me; then rescued him. I don't understand."

He gathered her closer to him, and then loosened his grip mindful of her wounds. She had not resisted—which gave him some hope, "There does not seem to be many whom can understand me. I am okay with that. Rin understands and Jaken (whom I still don't understand how) understands me." He closed his eyes. "You should rest, we will be traveling again."

She suspected that that would be the most she could expect in the way of answers from Sesshoumaru. As she slipped into slumber, her last thought was that they were headed in a familiar direction. If she could trust Sesshoumaru, then that would be a good thing.