DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the other characters.

Sorry I took so long to update. I've been practicing driving and had a writer's block. At any rate, here's the next chapter!

Chapter Thirteen: My Knight in Shining Armor

Kagome stared nervously as Sesshomaru began to approach Naraku. She still couldn't believe that Sesshomaru was actually here to save her and not Inuyasha.

'Oh Inuyasha, did you not care about me enough to come?' Kagome thought sadly to herself. 'It's my own fault; I shouldn't have pushed him away. Now he really has changed his mind about how he feels about me.'

"Do not make me repeat myself," Sesshomaru pressed on coldly. "I said release the girl now."

Kagome saw Naraku take a nervous step backwards. Before anyone could blink an eye, Sesshomaru had grabbed Naraku around the neck. Naraku was gasping for breath as he felt Sesshomaru's claws tighten around his neck, strong enough to break through skin. Droplets of blood were dripping as Sesshomaru glared at Naraku.

"Release him," Kagura stated. She had crept up behind Kagome and held a dagger at Kagome's throat. Kagome was shocked at this action but held still, not wanting the dagger to penetrate her skin.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at Kagura and acknowledging the dangerous position that Kagome was in, threw Naraku roughly to the ground. Naraku rubbed his neck and smirked at Sesshomaru.

Kagura still held the dagger at Kagome's throat, but suddenly, Kagome felt her bonds slacken. Kagura had used her other hand to hold a smaller knife to cut through Kagome's ropes. However, the action was unnoticed by both men. Kagome let out a sigh of relief when she realized that Kagura was still on her side. Kagura only had to put up the pretense that she was actually going to harm Kagome.

"Ah Sesshomaru, what does this girl matter to you?" Naraku smirked. "You don't even love her, why would you waste your time to protect her?"

"She belongs to my half-brother and I will protect what belongs to the Taiyoukai family," Sesshomaru stated simply.

Kagome's head sunk at that statement. Here she was, thinking that she had some value as a person, but instead, the Taiyoukai brothers simply treated her as a possession. They only protected her out of their need to protect their belongings, not out of love or care. A few tears began to gather in Kagome's eyes.

Naraku headed over to Kagome. Before anyone could realize it, Kagome grabbed the dagger from Kagura's hand and jumped up to stab Naraku when he was near enough. However, she only managed to stab into his arm before she heard a chuckle.

"So, this little wench thinks that she can catch me off guard," Naraku sneered. Then he turned his glare towards Kagura. "You traitor, I will make sure that you suffer until you draw your last breath."

Naraku calmly pulled the dagger out of his arm and reached out to grab Kagome. Kagome ducked and tripped Naraku. She then ran over to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru leapt forward and used his acid whip on Naraku. Naraku winced as the acid whip came into contact with his skin.

Suddenly, the sound of a roaring engine could be heard from the distance.

'Please don't let me be too late,' Inuyasha prayed.

Kagome looked up in time to see a motorcycle driving towards them. Her heart leaped when she saw that it was Inuyasha, even if he was in his human form and would most likely be no match for Naraku.

Inuyasha saw Kagome stand to the side and he didn't see any injuries on her. He breathed a sigh of relief before he stopped the motorcycle in front of her. He reached out to hug her and was happy that she fell into his embrace.

He noticed that she was shivering, whether from the cold of the night or from fear, but he didn't like it one bit.

"Did he hurt you Kagome?" Inuyasha asked tenderly while rubbing her arms in an attempt to keep her warm.

"No, I'm fine now," Kagome answered quietly. "Sesshomaru came just in time."

Inuyasha's heart sank. He has wanted to be the one to rescue Kagome, but because of his idiocy when he had assumed that Kagome cheated on him, he had been too late. Luckily, she was not injured and only had a few scratches.

Kagome noticed blood on her hands when she hugged Inuyasha. She immediately broke out of his embrace and turned him around. She saw the wound in Inuyasha's back. It had reopened when he was riding on his motorcycle.

"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered, terrified. "Your back. You're bleeding a lot."

"It's alright," Inuyasha winced slightly when Kagome touched the wound on his back. "I've been hurt worse. It hurt even worse when you said you didn't love me."

Kagome looked down guiltily when he made the statement. She didn't doubt that Inuyasha loved her, but she was still afraid. "We'll talk later," Kagome whispered.

Inuyasha only nodded. He was glad to have Kagome back and safe in his arms.

Naraku's cry of pain rang loud and clear, startling Inuyasha and Kagome. Inuyasha glared at Naraku and headed over to where Sesshomaru and Naraku were standing.

"I'll finish him off Sesshomaru," Inuyasha announced quietly. Although he was still human, all he needed to do was borrow Sesshomaru's sword. "I have to kill him for touching what is rightfully mine."

Sesshomaru nodded and handed Tokijin to Inuyasha. Inuyasha raised the sword above his head and was about to deliver the final blow when he felt a slash through is back.

Inuyasha stumbled and turned around to see who his attacker was.

"Well done, Bankotsu," Naraku stated. He slowly stood up. His body was already beginning to heal.

When Inuyasha was not looking, Bankotsu had materialized behind him and slashed his back with the Banryu. Sesshomaru angrily lunged towards Bankotsu, but he managed to dodge Sesshomaru's claws.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed as she ran towards him. But before she could reach him, Bankotsu stepped in front of Inuyasha and slashed her with his halberd.

A deep wound from the shoulder to the waist appeared diagonally on Kagome's body. Blood seeped quickly through her clothes and Kagome fell to the ground. Her breathing became ragged and she knew she was dying.

Time seemed to stop for Inuyasha as he watched her fall.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled. "No! You can't die!"

Inuyasha struggled to get up. But could only crawl over to where Kagome laid on the ground. His wounds were causing him great pain, but he ignored it as he moved over to where Kagome was.

"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered. Inuyasha could barely catch the words that were coming from her mouth. "I'm sorry…I love you. But please….you have to…move on…don't let my death…keep you down."

"No, Kagome," Inuyasha pleaded. "You aren't going to die. We'll get you to a hospital."

"Aww…isn't this sweet," Bankotsu mocked. "That was way too easy Naraku. I thought you said that Inuyasha would be a challenge."

"Attacking him when he is in his human form is a cowardly act," Sesshomaru said slowly, but with a venomous glare at Bankotsu.

"It doesn't matter now does it Sesshomaru," Naraku sneered. His wounds were nearly completely healed. "What matters is who wins in the end. I have achieved what I wanted initially. I've killed Kagome."

"Why?" Inuyasha asked coldly. "Why was it so important for you to kill her? You could've challenged me you coward. Both of you!"

"You really are a stupid hanyou. Were you not aware of her priestess aura? Had she wanted, she could've…well never mind. She's dying slowly now," Naraku muttered.

"You were afraid of Kagome, weren't you?" Sesshomaru asked calmly. "She's not an ordinary priestess, but a very pure one, right? And had she wanted, she could've purified your body and turned you into a heap of bones right?"

Naraku's eyes widened at Sesshomaru's questions. "That's not true! I could've destroyed her if I wanted."

"Not only that, but you didn't kill her immediately, not because you didn't want to, but because you couldn't," Sesshomaru continued, unfazed by Naraku's protests. "An impure demon can not touch her or harm her in any way, isn't that true? That's why you had Bankotsu slash her."

Naraku looked in shock at Sesshomaru.

"Because you dared to hurt Kagome," Inuyasha stated coldly. "I will make you pay for it with your life."

They all looked towards Inuyasha and noticed that his eyes were growing red and purple streaks were appearing on his face. His fangs were growing longer and his claws were extended.

'Inuyasha went from his human form to his demon form?' Sesshomaru thought to himself.

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Sorry for such a long wait and thank you for patiently waiting for me.

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