Sneaking out of the palace wasn't as difficult as Kagome anticipated. Once she secured Rin to her front and her pack to her back, she maneuvered out of the nursery.
It was difficult to move at first. She wasn't used to the extra weight, especially after stuffing extra blankets in her bag for Rin but they needed to be prepared. Kagome didn't want to risk the baby catching a cold.
As quietly as possible, she tiptoed along the hallway and down the stairs. Not a single attendant was visible, though Kagome did pause on the second floor when she heard Jaken squawking about Lord Sesshomaru's dinner not being prepared correctly. She waited in an empty chamber until the imp had gone by. Then, Kagome hurried out to the courtyard.
The stone steps were steep, forcing her to take them one at a time and much slower than she would have liked. As she moved, the sky darkened until there was only the moon for light. By the time Kagome reached the gate, she was convinced someone had noticed her absence.
That wasn't her only problem.
When she slipped through the gatehouse, she found nothing on the other side. The palace had no roads leading up to it. All that Kagome could see was the mountain's drop off. She gulped and backed away from the edge.
This isn't good, Kagome thought, trying to figure out a way down.
She kept checking over her shoulder, waiting for Sesshomaru to burst through the side of the palace in his true form. She expected a great white dog to come snarling forth, his blood-red eyes trained on her. So when a cold nose pressed against her neck, Kagome jumped.
"A-Un!" The dragon's other head came around to nuzzle her. "Hey," she smiled nervously while greeting the demon. "Can you help us get out of here?"
The beast peered over her head, looking for his master. Kagome held her breath. It was a lot to assume the dragon would side with her. They'd only just met and given the size of the yard, Sesshomaru appeared to keep him comfortable.
A-Un nudged her shoulder, directing her toward the stables. Kagome walked with the dragon to a large stall where his saddle and bridle were hung.
It took her several attempts to slide the double-headed halter on. A-Un remained still, allowing Kagome to fasten the leather around his heads. After that, the saddle was a piece of cake.
Kagome hadn't planned on escaping with the dragon but flying was her only option. She'd make sure to send him back to Sesshomaru once she met up with her friends. The sooner she reunited with her group, the better.
She held tight to the reins with both hands and then they were off.
Sesshomaru stared into the fireplace. He did not require the warmth of the dancing flames but his attendants had lit it regardless. His thoughts drifted like the flickering light to the miko's defiance.
He should have chastised her for speaking out of turn. She could not be permitted to act unseemly. Her purpose was defined as were his expectations. Sesshomaru did not understand why she found fault with his demands. He had been quite clear.
The woman was troublesome. Sesshomaru considered finding another to raise the child, someone who would be compliant. Then he thought of how Rin had cooed and how at ease she was with the miko. He would not be able to find someone who the infant bonded with the way she had with the miko.
Sesshomaru did not allow his mind to linger on the miko's abilities. She was female. A level of maternal instinct was to be expected. There was no reason for it to affect him.
He decided to give the woman space. Perhaps with time, she would come to accept her place in the palace and she would not act so rashly. Distance would ensure he did not get swept up in her feminine grace. Sesshomaru scoffed.
As if a human could tempt him.
Movement outside caught his attention. A moment later, he heard cries coming from the corridor. "Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru!"
Grimacing, he rose from his seat to receive his vassal.
"What is it, Jaken?"
"Lord Sesshomaru," the imp began, hunched over as he attempted to catch his breath. "The humans are gone."
His eyes bled red.
The miko had evaded punishment before; this time there would be no pardon.
Kagome watched the scenery as they flew over the forest. Rin had fallen asleep as soon as they mounted A-Un. The constant motion of flight soothed her but Kagome was unable to rest. Every rumble of thunder in the distance or cracking branch beneath them made her think Sesshomaru was coming.
She sent a nervous glance over her shoulder, half-expecting to see him bearing down on them. There was nothing but the velvety dark sky and the pale glow of the moon.
Kagome sighed. If anyone should feel guilty, it's him, she thought petulantly. He's the one with no manners.
Regardless of how calloused he'd been, Kagome felt bad about sneaking out. She should have refused his offer when he asked instead of leaving under the cover of night like a coward.
She'd go back, once the jewel was restored and she'd graduated high school and...
And by that time Rin wouldn't even recognize her, let alone need her.
Kagome struggled to swallow around the lump forming in her throat. She couldn't leave the little girl. Kagome had promised to find Rin a home and, in a way, she had. It wasn't in the traditional sense, of course, but Sesshomaru had given her a room. He was working towards understanding Rin so he could provide for her. Wasn't that worth something?
She chewed on her lower lip. Her hostility toward Sesshomaru was not entirely his fault. He had been rude but, if Kagome was being honest with herself, the majority of her rage had been aimed at Inuyasha. It was unfair of her to take it out on his older brother. For reasons Kagome did not understand, Sesshomaru had chosen to protect Rin. He did not deserve her displaced anger.
His remarks had made her realize something. She'd been quick to argue with Sesshomaru and stand her ground but when it came to his brother, Kagome always let things slide. With the exception of a few well-timed 'Sit' commands, she rarely fought with Inuyasha. His behavior was just as bad as Sesshomaru's. Why did she let him treat her that way?
A tear slid down her cheek. Kagome absently brushed it away, wishing she could brush aside her emotions just as easily.
What she felt for Inuyasha— she thought it was love but after what happened with Kouga she wasn't so sure. How could she give her heart to someone who had no qualms about stomping all over her feelings? That wasn't what true love was.
True love meant respecting each other, having open communication, and trust. Kagome didn't have that with Inuyasha and— what was worse —she didn't think she ever would.
Inuyasha couldn't love her when he was still hung up on Kikyo. And he was. Kagome knew he was. She also knew that waiting for him would slowly tear her apart. Maybe it was time to move on.
Hojo was sweet. Yuka, Ayumi, and Eri all agreed that he was interested. He was handsome, but Kagome felt nothing when he approached her— other than a wave of sheer embarrassment from whatever malady her grandfather claimed she had.
Kouga was attractive and confidence was not an issue for him. He had no issue with speaking his mind and he seemed to think she was something special. Kagome smiled, remembering how intense his blue eyes were. He was enthusiastic, albeit a little misguided.
Of course, there was Rin's village to consider. Kagome didn't think she could forget that. How could she raise Rin knowing that one day she would have to tell the little girl how her parents had died? How could she expect Rin to understand?
No, Kagome shook her head. A relationship with Kouga was as doomed as one with Inuyasha. The only thing she needed from the wolf prince was friendship.
A strange sound came over the treetops. Kagome scanned through the night sky just as A-Un jerked away from a dark cloud. Only it wasn't a cloud at all. It was a horde of bees.
Naraku's insects!
Kagome cradled Rin close and made herself as small as possible against A-Un's body. She wanted to avoid any confrontations with the demon until she was reunited with her friends.
Sango's battle cry caught her attention. Kagome peered over A-Un's neck to see a flash of red. A moment later, Inuyasha leaped up, drawing Tetsusaiga against a bear demon. Kagome gasped, seeing her friends converge on the beast. He had a shard in his forehead.
"Inuyasha!" she cried on instinct.
He turned in the direction of her voice. He wasn't the only one. All of her friends looked up, spotting her atop the flying dragon and Rin woke. She let out a wail, fussy at having been startled awake.
A-Un took this as a sign to land.
"Watch out!" Miroku called.
Kagome hunched over, protecting Rin as the swarm of insects dove dangerously close to her. A-Un snapped at a couple but they all managed to avoid him.
"Leave her alone," Inuyasha shouted, swinging Tetsusaiga. He managed to chop a few in half and the others didn't linger.
They approached the bear demon, intending to end the battle. Seeing this, the beast ran, but the insects were faster. They swarmed around him until his massive body crumbled to the ground with a loud thud. One hornet moved to his forehead, plucked the fragment free, and flew off.
"Hurry! He's getting away!" Inuyasha yelled.
"Let's wait for Kagome," Miroku suggested, winding his beads around his hand.
"Kagome!" Shippo cried, bouncing over to her as A-Un landed.
"Kagome, where have you been?" Sango asked, joining the kitsune as Kagome dismounted.
"We were worried. Lady Kaede told us—."
"That you went with that bastard," Inuyasha finished for Miroku. He stood, glaring at her with Tetsusaiga slung over his shoulder.
"Well," Kagome began, straightening up so they could see Rin. "I did."
"A baby?" Sango questioned, peering into the sling.
The boys all stared at her, wide-eyed and confused.
"What the hell?" Inuyasha snarled. "Whose kid is that?"
"Her name is Rin and I'm going to take care of her," Kagome told him.
"But Kagome," Sango began gently, "what about the jewel?"
"I'll still go with you guys to hunt Naraku and the jewel shards but I promised Sesshomaru that I would help him raise her," she explained.
"Sesshomaru?" Miroku cast a wary glance at Inuyasha before returning his gaze to Kagome. "I was under the impression he didn't like humans."
"Me too. Guess I was wrong," Kagome replied. She glanced down, relieved to see Rin had fallen asleep once more.
"No, you're an idiot," Inuyasha snarled. "The only thing he likes is power and you know how he's going to get it? By stealing my sword."
"What does a baby have to do with your sword?" Sango asked skeptically.
"He's tricking Kagome into helping him raise some brat so she'll turn against us. Don't you guys get it? If he has Kagome, he can join the hunt for the jewel shards. He won't need to steal Tetsusaiga; he'll be powerful enough on his own."
"Inuyasha, it's not like that," Kagome sighed.
"No? Then what's it like?"
"Stop yelling. You're going to wake Rin," she scolded.
"Rin? Who the hell is Rin?"
"The baby," Miroku, Sango, and Shippo chorused.
"Well, leave it. If he wants her, he'll find her," Inuyasha grumbled. "We have to hurry if we want to track down Naraku."
"I'm not leaving her," Kagome snapped.
"Well, you ain't keeping her"
"Yes, I am."
"Kagome, you can't shoot a bow and arrow with a kid tied to your chest. You—."
Before he could finish, she nocked an arrow and let it fly. It hit the ground directly between Inuyasha's feet. He gaped at her.
Shippo laughed and crawled up to Kagome's shoulder to get a better look. "So you're keeping her?"
"Yep."
"Now that we've settled that, shall we continue on?" Miroku said.
The group headed in the direction of the flying insects. None of her friends bothered to check if Inuyasha was following them or not. They were all too busy asking her about Rin.
Sesshomaru locked onto the miko's scent and followed it northeast. Along the way, he picked up hints of the half-breed and his allies. The inu-daiyokai's mood darkened. If the girl thought she could hide with them, she was mistaken. He would cut them all down merely to prove a point.
He had left the palace in a furious rage. Jaken had been a trembling mess. Sesshomaru had chosen to leave him in charge. He could keep an eye out for A-Un in case the dragon returned before the miko.
She was near. Sesshomaru could taste the floral notes of her scent. There was a spike of acid, hinting that she was displeased. His brow furrowed. Had she not meant to meet up with her comrades?
As he drew closer to their position, his nostrils flared.
Naraku.
A growl escaped him. The one person he loathed more than his half-brother was the manipulative hanyo masquerading as a demon. If Sesshomaru cornered the puppet master, he would have revenge for the spider's attempt to use him as a pawn. He did not take orders from anyone, least of all a mongrel like Naraku.
"Stop!"
Her scream pierced the night air. Instantly, Sesshomaru tensed. He surged forward. A large castle came into view and the miko with it. As anticipated, she was surrounded by her friends and the dragon was at her back. His golden eyes narrowed when he spotted the wolves.
Their leader was attacking Inuyasha— the cause of the spike in the miko's scent. Sesshomaru assumed she would have run to his half-brother to provide aid but she stood with his companion. That was when he saw the infant nestled on the dragon's back. Suddenly, the girl's choice was clear.
And so was his.
Sesshomaru lowered himself to the earth. Amidst the clouds of dust and yelling combatants, his arrival was barely noticed. The half-breed was busy dodging attacks from the wolf. The demon slayer and the monk were battling off the wolves and the kitsune was hiding. The only one who saw him was the miko. Her blue eyes were wide, partially in astonishment and partially in fear. He did not have the time to analyze her response.
Suddenly, a clawed fist launched itself in his direction. He had allowed himself to be distracted for one second too long. Sesshomaru leaped away, avoiding the wolf's strike. He could feel the energy pouring off of the demon's arm. The signature was a familiar one. He was being controlled by Naraku.
"Outta my way," Inuyasha snarled at him.
Sesshomaru simply stepped aside. This was not his fight. For now, his prerogative was to secure the miko and the child. He would deal with Naraku later.
He approached the girl, who was aiming her arrow between Inuyasha and the wolf. She did not appear to see him, too focused on her task.
"Come," Sesshomaru ordered.
She glanced up at him. "We can't leave them."
"This is not our fight," he told her.
"You promised you'd help us fight Naraku!"
"You gave me your word as well," Sesshomaru reminded her.
Some of the fire left her eyes. "I won't abandon them."
"That is your choice," he said, gathering the child in his arm. "Home," he commanded the dragon.
Both heads peered at him, their gaze flickering momentarily to the miko who had gone back to aiming for the fight. The dragon gave a snort of protest but moved toward the castle gates. Sesshomaru looked at the girl. Her hands were shaking but her aura was a vivid pink. She would not be swayed.
"Kouga, stop! It's not Inuyasha's fault!"
"Don't protect him, Kagome. He's not worth it."
Sesshomaru turned away from the commotion. He felt the impact of his half-brother's body as much as he heard it. The wolf's false shard had increased his power. Like his opponent, he had shown no restraint or finesse. He attacked without pause. Nothing the miko said would deter him.
"Kouga, please. Inuyasha didn't kill your friends."
"Save your breath, Kagome. He won't listen to reason," Inuyasha snapped.
Sesshomaru heard her cry out. A second later, the ground quaked. The fight would be over shortly. He continued on his way.
The miko was foolish. Naraku had managed to ensnare both the half-breed and the wolf by aggravating their pride. By the time the spider was done with them, neither would be alive. Without them to distract her, she would return to him. Sesshomaru would have his caregiver. One way or another.
Fresh blood coated the air. He stilled. Perhaps the battle was already won. He glanced over his shoulder. His brother lay motionless in a crater while the miko tried in vain to revive him. He strolled up behind her. She was defenseless, having cast her bow aside to help Inuyasha. If the wolf tried to take her, there would be no way for her to resist him.
Sesshomaru's inner beast growled possessively, Ours.
His vision blurred, red leaking into his view of the situation. That's when he noticed a second figure sauntering toward the girl. It was a woman. Her alluring appearance was yet another manipulation of Naraku's, because beyond her pretty facade was the stench of the puppetmaster.
His inner beast snarled and gnashed his teeth violently. He would not permit the spider to take what was his.
Placing his hand on Tenseiga, Sesshomaru marched toward the threat.
The wolf attacked his new assailant the same way he had Inuyasha. It was a novice move, though, truthfully, Sesshomaru had not anticipated anything better. The wolf was young and naive. He held power but no knowledge of how to wield it. His attempt yielded nothing. The woman merely flipped her fan and he froze.
Sesshomaru watched as the sorceress cut through the wolf by commanding the wind. He scowled. The woman was more dangerous than he expected. He shifted closer to grab the miko when she suddenly stood and fired an arrow at the wind witch.
"The next one goes through your heart," the girl declared.
Red eyes gleamed with amusement. The sorceress laughed. "You're not a very good shot, are you?"
He saw her wrist flick. Before her blades of wind could hit the miko, he was there. Tenseiga pulsed with energy, deflecting the blow easily.
"S-Sesshomaru?" she gasped, stunned.
"Stay here," he instructed, sheathing the blade.
"I had her, you bastard," the half-breed croaked, struggling to stand.
"Do not be foolish, Inuyasha. Your arrogance nearly cost the girl her life," Sesshomaru chided.
"I don't see you helping—."
He silenced his brother's retort by evading another blow from the sorceress. "Where is Naraku?" Sesshomaru inquired.
She smirked. "You two seem to know each other? Father and son?" Sesshomaru growled. "Brothers, then," she corrected herself. "I'm Kagura. It's a pleasure, though I am sad to say, it will be a short one." She twirled her fan once more, sending rings of wind ripping across the ground toward him.
Sesshomaru dodged. She spun around, creating a vortex. The wind curled and drilled down upon him, puncturing the earth and everything else beneath it. He weaved between the pillars of the castle, avoiding each hit.
To his right, the miko was dragging the wolf into the crater with her. His beast raged. Ours. Sesshomaru snapped his light whip, tangling the weapon around Kagura's fan. The wind witch glared at him. She attempted to yank it free of his hold but he was quicker. With a single pull, Sesshomaru tossed the fan across the courtyard.
"If you won't play nice with me, I won't play nice with you," she said in a menacing tone.
Kagura moved her hands in a circular motion, commanding the fan to return to her hands. Sesshomaru prepared for her attack but she struck at the crater. Inuyasha, the wolf, and the miko went sprawling to opposite ends of the courtyard.
"Which one is worth saving?" she asked with a sinister grin.
Sesshomaru remained still. Any movement he made had to be calculated. Kagura was waiting for him to choose so she could intercept him. If he went for the miko, she would surely kill the girl.
"Well, who will it be?" she promoted.
"You."
Both he and Kagura gazed at the miko. She had her bow raised. The wind witch laughed. An arrow zipped past her face, close enough to cut her cheek. The laughter stopped. So did the wind.
"You! " Kagura spat. "You neutralized my powers." The miko did not back down from the sorceress's glare. "You'll pay for that, little girl."
"Don't count on it," Inuyasha said, swinging Tetsusaiga.
The blade unleashed a level of power Sesshomaru had never seen before. It tore through the surrounding area much like Kagura's wind, cutting into the sorceress
Her crimson eyes went wide. Hastily, she plucked a feather from her hair and commanded the wind to carry her away.
Sesshomaru moved to follow her when a hand grabbed onto his arm. "Hey." He found the miko standing there, covered in dirt and wearing a smile. "Thanks for coming back for me."
"I did not come for you," he lied.
"Still, we couldn't have held her off without you. Thanks."
"This does not change your actions," Sesshomaru told her.
"I know. I owe you an apology. I shouldn't have taken off with A-Un and Rin like that. Would it help if I said I'm sorry?" she asked.
"No."
Her face fell. "Oh, okay. Well, can I say goodbye to Rin?"
"Why?"
"I want to see her before you take her back to the palace," the girl explained.
"You are coming with us, miko," Sesshomaru stated. "Those were the terms of our agreement."
Her eyes lit up. "You mean, we're good?"
"We had an arrangement," he clarified.
"Right," she said with a nod. The miko turned to join her friends, then quickly spun around and hugged his arm. "Thanks, Sesshomaru."
When he tore his eyes away from her, Sesshomaru saw gold and blue glares focused on him. His brother wasn't the only one vying for the miko's attention. The wolf prince wanted the girl too.
Ours, his inner beast echoed.
Sesshomaru pushed his instincts down. He would not be ruled by anything— not even his own emotions.