In the Beholders Eye

Written By Sarga

May/June 2006

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters, I'm just taking a theme and running with it...

Chapter 29: Immanent Battle

The group traveled solemnly eastward, stopping to eat shortly after the locater pointed sharply to the west. Sesshoumaru had once again returned to his castle.

The silence was heavy.

After a mere half an hour, a streak of light could be seen slightly to the south before the locater once again pointed eastward.

Heading to their new goal had a harsh sense of finality to it. They would be fighting one of the most well renowned fighters known to exist, and they would be fighting to the death. No one held onto the idea that Sesshoumaru would part with the Kasei-Ippin willingly. Even if he did not know what it was he protected, he would be loath to give up something to his brother.

As the evening approached, the group were still not close enough to their goal. Kagome, anxious about Inuyasha's somber silence, wanted to stop early. There was much to be discussed before they went into another life or death battle, too much, she feared, for a single night.

"We should rest for the night," Kagome broke the silence.

As if she had dismantled a 'do not speak' rule, Sango began chatting to the demon child in her arms. It had seemed that Shippo did not like Kagome's new smell and had stayed away from her since she had returned. Miroku left the campsite offered to get some firewood. Sango, having spotted a hot spring nearby, took the demon child with her.

"Do you wanna come along?" Sango offered Kagome.

"No thanks, I'll go later," Kagome replied.

Alone, Kagome and Inuyasha stood near the belongings.

Kagome faced Inuyasha, his distant stare fixed pointedly beyond Kagome's shoulder.

"Look at me, dammit!" Kagome's sharp words drew his gaze instantly to hers. "That's better," she said softly, wrapping her arms about his waist. "I'm worried about this battle, Inuyasha. I know we'll win, but...I'm wondering what it is we'll lose?"

"What do you mean?" Inuyasha's confusion was splayed on his face.

"I mean, if one of us were to get injured...I couldn't live with myself." Kagome buried her head in Inuyasha's neck. "I need to fight this one on my own. I can't have anyone getting hurt because of me," she whispered.

Inuyasha drew back, a look of determination set in his entire being. Grasping her by the shoulders, Inuyasha looked at her hard. "I know you're stronger than me Kagome," Inuyasha surprised Kagome with his declaration. Not wanting to make it harder than it already was for him, Kagome let Inuyasha continue. "I know that. But I don't know that you're stronger than him." He pulled her back into an embrace, resting his chin on her head. "I can't lose you. I love you too damn much."

Kagome closed her eyes, letting the words flow into her, soaking them up like a drug. Pulling her head out from under his, Kagome stood on her tip toes. Mimicking the motions he had made in his human form, she brushed her teeth across his neck, sending a shiver through him.

Drawing back slightly, Inuyasha looked Kagome in the eyes. Both of them held a tinge of red in their eyes, an undeniable passion coursing between them.

Inuyasha drew Kagome to himself in a crushing kiss, the fire that had been ignited between them exploding with raw fury and desperation. Releasing his lips from hers, Inuyasha trailed his lips downward towards her neck, his sharp fangs raking welts across her delicate flesh.

"Take me as your mate," she whispered.

Inuyasha pulled back, a mixture of desire, passion and fear filling his eyes.

"You can't go back on this, Kagome. Inu-youkai mate for life," his voice was small, almost as if he expected her to reject him with this newfound knowledge.

In response Kagome grinned and pushed him back onto another tree. Pinning him by the shoulders, Kagome let her fangs scrape harshly across his neck, hard enough to draw blood.

"Take me before I take you," she teased, whispering in his ear. Not to be outdone, the proud demon scooped her up and jumped into the branches of a sturdy tree.

Miroku returned a short time later to an apparently empty campsite. He quickly built a fire below that mirrored the one above.

- - - - - - - - - -

As she had said to Sango earlier, Kagome did indeed head to the hot spring. She did not, however, go alone. Dunking under water, Kagome let the water seep into her pours. She felt her mate rake a claw down her side as she burst above the water, giggling and sputtering.

"No fair! I couldn't breathe down there!" Kagome splashed Inuyasha playfully. Calming down, the two settled back, Inuyasha sitting behind Kagome, his arms wrapping protectively about hers. Leaning forward, Inuyasha kissed their mating mark, the bite mark that was already starting to heal on her shoulder.

He had not come out unscathed. Her slightly smaller fang marks could be seen on his neck as well. A rarity among dog demons, but not unheard of. It meant something special: equality.

Inuyasha growled low in his throat, more of a purring sound than a hostile one. He felt Kagome relax against him as he leaned his back against a rock. The warm water formed a soothing blanket about the couple, allowing them to revel in each other's company.

"I will have to fight him alone, you know," Kagome said after a time.

"I know." Inuyasha's purring stopped, but he did not move away.

"Can you make sure that no one interrupts?" Kagome asked, twisting around slightly, looking into his heavy lidded eyes. "I don't think that he would dishonour himself by allowing his little green imp to fight with him. I'm more worried that an ally of his will take the opportunity to 'prove' himself," Kagome let her voice trail off and settled back into the recess of Inuyasha's body.

"I'd give my life to protect you Kagome," Inuyasha whispered as he pulled her closer. "I'll do anything to give you back your humanity."

Kagome pulled away. The night was getting late and they had more traveling to do before they met their foe.

"Come on, Mate," Kagome let the word roll off of her tongue. "Let's go get some rest."

End of Chapter

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I couldn't help it! After all of the frustrating time spent in the show and now the angst here for more than 20 chapters...I broke down! They had to be together!

Okay, I'm done...sorry about that...

Review, review, review...

- Sarga