Enchanted Orbs

Chapter 23

Sesshoumaru looked up from his current conquests when he heard Kagome's piercing scream. He cursed himself for not watching her more closely, but he was defending his kingdom, which was more important, right?

But the feeling of dread that snaked it way through his entire body made him rethink that.

His distraction cost him more of his blood. He felt the flesh over his ribs torn by a passing weapon. His attentions snapped back to the surrounding battle.

Quickly dispatching the surrounding soldiers enclosing him, he sped towards Kagome, praying to whatever was above him that she was alright.

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Aishi heard the scream of Kagome, also. 'Or at least I hope that's her. If that was a male, whatever dignity he had in life is now gone for screaming like a little girl.' He thought with a vicious smirk.

His fiery snout turned to face the direction he heard the scream and saw a miko's shield interrupting the chaos of battle. It stood like a drop of water upon wood, completely out of place yet blending in at the same time adding more chaos to the scene.

Aishi felt the attacks surrounding him become more furious. The soldiers still continued their fruitless attempts to spear, stab, and slice him. The ancient firecat smiled at his assailants.

Nothing could hurt him in this form, even water only turned him into smoke which he could emerge from eventually. It had taken centuries to perfect, but now that he had, these infidels that betrayed his lord, their lord, they would pay with their lives.

Snarling fiercely, he began ripping apart the traitors with teeth and claws made of fire and brimstone, the substance of hell itself.

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Samon was laughing; she could hear him through the barrier. Kagome didn't care.

The war raged around her, but she cared not. Dropping to her knees she covered Shouron's eyes with her hands. His beautiful blue eyes had turned to voids, black holes.

Hands glowing yellow, she restored his eyes and eyelids. The tear-like trails of blood disappeared under her guidance, and there lay her friend.

Shouron, the only one who was nice to her in this damnable place, the only one who befriended her despite her humanity, despite her 'weakness,' was now passing from this world because she hadn't protected him.

She saw the warning signs, only desperate attempt the same attacks twice in a row without some sort of plan behind it. Kagome saw the excitement in Samon's iceberg eyes when Shouron converted his attack, but she didn't react fast enough.

She didn't react at all. 'Its all my fault.'

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Sesshoumaru saw Kagome drop to her knees behind the barrier. Her aura was strong, so he knew she was fine. But he saw Shouron and felt no aura.

'He's dead.' He thought shocked. 'How did he die and Kagome come out unhurt.' Then he heard a malicious laugh; turning towards it he saw Samon.

'That explains it; Samon and Shouron had a feud between them.' The sudden clanging of armor and swords jolted him out of his thoughts.

He dodged the incoming blows and sent several to their deaths with his acid whip. A wall of ice daggers decided to take off his head, but Sesshoumaru saw them and easily evaded.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, have you come to pay your respects?" Samon taunted. "Though I think they'll be wasted. Your death will come soon for, you see, there are still hundreds of my soldiers left, and your side seems to be dwindling."

Sesshoumaru sliced through four soldiers in one swing, and his acid whip lashed out at the cowardly general who was standing behind them.

His face retained his stone-like façade when Samon's chest became water, allowing his whip to splash through. The water took on a greenish hue only to return to Samon's haori when the whip was retrieved.

Even though his face never changed, Samon knew his former lord was surprised. "You like my new trick? I picked it up from Aishi; I've always admired the invincibility of his firecat form, so I adapted it for me. Aren't you proud, my lord." The sarcasm practically dripped from his last statement, and Sesshoumaru growled fiercely.

He was about to charge the arrogant general when Kagome's shield formed around him. He felt himself being pulled backwards and was bewildered when he saw the shield around him merge into the main barrier Kagome was using to protect her and Shouron's body.

Samon screamed in outrage. He wanted to kill Sesshoumaru; he wanted to watch him die painfully slowly for all the years he obeyed him, but now he was beyond reach.

The taiyoukai should have been furious. Kagome had interfered with a battle, but when he snapped his attention to her to let her know this, she wasn't even watching him. Did she even know that her power had protected him? There was no way to tell.

He sighed and walked over to him. This could be the only chance he had to pay his last respects to one of his generals. Sesshoumaru regally walked over to her.

He stood behind her and looked down at Shouron's body. There was no trace of any fatal injury; he appeared to be sleeping peacefully. 'Kagome would have healed him in her last respects.' He thought. But he was still puzzled at the extent of her mourning.

Sesshoumaru grasped at Tenseiga to revive the fallen general. 'With so many enemies still surrounding us, Shouron would be very useful.' He thought momentarily letting the pain of his injuries override his pride.

But his heirloom did not respond. The sword only allowed him power over death when he held compassion for the one fallen. There was no compassion towards his general. Yes, Shouron was a good soldier, a remarkable fighter, but he died fighting. A death Sesshoumaru knew would, in all likelihood, overtake him.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke gently. "Shouron died an honorable death; he will be remembered and praised." It was the most comforting thing he knew to do, the only thing he was willing to do with so many watching just beyond her barrier.

She sniffed and tried to reign in her tears, something the demons around her would see as a weakness. Sesshoumaru watched her attempt to adopt a solemn but stern face. She failed. Her face twisted, and again her tears fell. He was still baffled by her emotions over one to which she had no connection.

As if in answer to his questions, she spoke. It was quiet a secret shared between only them.

"Shouron was my friend, the only one who didn't care about my being human or my unknown power. He was the first in this place to want to know about me, plain, simple Kagome, and I will miss him greatly."

Her sight had never wavered from Shouron's visage. Tears streamed down her face, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. His hand, still on Tenseiga, felt the familiar pulse as the demons chaining his soul appeared before the taiyoukai.

As he was about to draw his sword, Kagome stood. Tears still streaming down her face, she turned a look that held within it the fires of hell at Samon.

When he saw the girl stand, Samon's rage at the loss of the general disappeared and was replaced by a smirk.

"Well, little one, are you done with the corpse, now? If you are, we still have a score to settle." He leered at her. Kagome's fire poured over him and something sparked in his loins. 'Well, maybe I won't kill her. She will be my toy, a spoil of war.' He smirked once again.

He watched in fascination as she began to walk towards him. Slow steady steps took her to him. Kagome approached her barrier and didn't pause her steps; passing through it like a ghost surpassing walls, she kept her pace.

Sesshoumaru shifted his position in the barrier in order to see her movements. Lightning bolts of pink electricity sparked across her skin, and a supernatural wind spurred by her own power, lifted and twirled her hair. She was terrifyingly beautiful in her rage. Sesshoumaru couldn't help his thoughts, but despite her humanity, he wanted her.

The soldiers around her took a step back in anxiety fearing her wrath. Samon stood his ground and licked his lips in anticipation of the beauty coming for him.

"You know, girl, I've changed my mind. I no longer wish your death. I think I could find much more pleasurable tasks for which you could be suited.

Kagome stopped inches from him. His comment glided through her, but didn't affect her. Samon lifted his hand and ran it down the back of her arm.

"Yes, much more pleasurable." He said in a husky voice.

Sesshoumaru seethed from within the barrier. He had tried to break it the moment he heard Samon's first comment, but Kagome's shield held him fast.

"Don't touch me." Kagome said with a calm voice, but inside a torrent of emotions were flooding her being. "You killed a friend of mine in cold blood; for that, you will be the one to die."

Sesshoumaru, hearing her words, turned to Shouron again. The small youkai were still crawling over him like ants. Drawing his sword, he quickly swiped the sword over and through them.

Shouron gasped. Oxygen returning to his body, he looked around confused, but he only saw Sesshoumaru standing over him. His lord was looking at something else.

Following his gaze he saw Kagome.

Before he could totally piece together what was happening, he saw a light erupt from her.

Kagome released a wave of purity from within her body. Flowing out of her like ripples in a pond when disturbed the power consumed and destroyed those around her.

For the first time since Kagome had left him in the shield, Sesshoumaru was glad he was still stuck within, but with that thought he remembered Aishi.

Kagome had sealed his death with her outburst, or so he thought.

Aishi, still clawing through enemy upon enemy, felt the sudden spike in power. The flames on the back of his neck tingled as he and the soldiers he was fighting both turned to see the cause. Aishi's jaw dropped when he saw the waves approaching. He hadn't expected that slip of a girl to hold such power.

He underestimated her and knew he was about to pay for it, but before he would just lie down to die, he searched for his lord. As long as Sesshoumaru was safe, he could die at peace.

He leapt into the sky to get an aerial view; he was still in the waves path, but from here, he could see Sesshoumaru through her barrier. The power emitted from Kagome was being deflected by her shield.

Aishi breathed a sigh of relief and let the wave pass over and through him. He felt pain, but he also felt a peace, a warm.

He closed his eyes to the feeling, and in his head, he saw a picture of the girl. The cause of his certain death, smiled at him. Brilliant blue eyes sparkled at him as she spoke. "Don't worry, I didn't forget about you."

His eyes shot open with her words; an incredulous feeling overtook him as he looked around.

Nothing surrounded him. The piles of bodies were gone, the field empty, and all the bloodstains that scarred the ground were only memories.

The wind picked up and his hair swept across his face. 'Hair?' Aishi looked down to realize that he was no longer in his true form but had been returned to his humanoid shape. Not only had that changed, but now there was a shimmering pink barrier protecting him. 'Was that what saved me? Could she really be strong enough to wipe out an entire army and have the presence of mind to save me? I am not even on good terms with her...amazing.' Awe filled him.

He looked over to the barrier and was surprised to see that Samon was still standing before Kagome.

Samon looked around him in shock. Everyone was gone, 'But they will still die.' He thought determined.

Aishi made his way back to his lord. He hesitated at the main barrier, but proceeded to walk through, the shield around him merging with the larger one to become one as it allowed his passage.

Sesshoumaru was injured in several places; they were injuries that were not fatal, but would need attention soon. Shouron was unharmed in any way. 'Strange.' Aishi thought.

After assessing his comrades, he turned to his newest. He might not adore her, but she was still a companion, and he did respect her now.

She was facing off against Samon who had survived the blast by turning to steam and regenerating himself from the particles of steam that had not been purified by the blast.

'How is she supposed to defeat him?' All of the generals thought as the looked on.

Samon spoke. "That was quite a trick my dear, but as you can see, I'll not be defeated this day. Give up and I'll be gentle when I take you." His voice was lusty and Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed red briefly.

"You will be defeated, and you will fall to me." Kagome promised with a death-like calm.

Waving her hand, a dome shaped barrier was formed around the general. Kagome walked forward and mentally commanded the barrier to shrink around him.

It closed in on him, crushing him slowly until the barrier burned the first layer of skin off. Samon took the pain for a few moments to prove to her she would not win, and then he turned into steam.

Kagome smirked at his predictable actions. Walking forward, she commanded the barrier to close in more. It was now the size of a basketball floating at waist height.

"Now, Samon, you will learn that I, too, learn from past failures just as you taught Shouron."

She held the shield in her hands and funneled her power into the sphere. Kagome felt herself being drained quickly. Her body would not hold out much longer; there was too much stress, too much power coursing through her.

"Emotions." She whispered as she looked back towards the barrier. Shouron was standing there looking back at her. Her eyes widened in shock, and she almost dropped her concentration.

Quickly she closed her eyes and grasped for the thread of focus she almost lost.

Sesshoumaru was watching her intently as she disposed of his betrayer, but where was Rokoshi. He quickly focused and sought out the other traitor, but what he felt sent a shock through him.

Rokoshi was coming, yes, but he was not alone. It seems reinforcements had arrived, and they were just over the hilltop. He looked down at himself and recounted his injuries; Sesshoumaru knew he could still fight, but for how long?

Glancing at his remaining generals, he was grateful that they were unharmed because he was quite sure Kagome wouldn't be able to fight much longer.

Kagome was unaware of the approaching danger; she continued feeding the shield before her more purity. She needed to make sure the only thing within the barrier was pure energy, not a particle of water could survive or Samon could come back.

She felt the energy hit the shield, only a minute amount more could fit. Kagome gave a final push, and a yell tore from her throat as the energy within rammed into the shield and burst through, shattering the containing barrier.

Kagome collapsed on the ground breathing heavily. Sesshoumaru called out to her. "Kagome, can you make it back into the shield?"

She turned and smiled at her lord. He was looking at her intently, and she noticed the bloodstains on his clothing. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and felt the wind hit her face. "We did it." She breathed

"Kagome, are you able to make it back to the shield?" He repeated. It was only a few steps, but he was sure her body was tearing itself apart from the inside with the energy she had suspended.

"I think so." She managed faintly.

She crawled the distance to the shield, and the guys made way for her as she emerged on their side.

Sesshoumaru knelt beside her as she lay down on the ground. Kagome looked up at him with hazy eyes.

"We did it, Sesshoumaru." She said.

He gave her a gentle smile, but did not respond. He couldn't bring himself to tell her what was about to top the hillside.

Kagome was exhausted and was about to let sleep take her when she saw something she never expected to see.

The silver thread of light that she had seen in her dreams appeared connecting the two of them, but now another line had formed.

A fierce light that brought tears to her eyes connected her to him now. It was the color of the burning sun, searing her with its heat but also comforting her with its warmth.

She gasped as more energy flowed into her. It wasn't a huge amount, but she could stand on the own now.

Sesshoumaru forced her back down. "Go to sleep, Kagome. Let down your shield and rest." He said in a calm voice. If it was in him to beg, he would have. Sesshoumaru wished with all that he was that Kagome would not know what was about to transpire.

All of her work was now in vain because, even with the other two generals in top form, he doubted they would survive the incoming attack.

As it was, everyone had been fighting through the night, and all were exhausted.

Kagome gave him a confused look and smiled faintly. "I'm alright now, but I'm hungry can we..." but then she felt it.

Hundreds more were coming; all she had done was in vain.

Her smile faded. "No." She whispered. "It can't be."


OHHH, SO MAD!! I know this was supposed to be up yesterday, and guess what... I tried. 's server is apparently not worth a damn. I tried from 8:00pm to 2:30 am, and a server was "Not Available." So don't give me this "late" crap...I tried. Blame the system, not me! I'll update again soon, hope you liked it!