Enemy of my Enemy

by Keiko Yuki

They say the enemy of is your friend. But what if the enemy of my enemy is also my enemy? What then? What if your former enemy became your friend or something more? Then he’s more than an ally... right? Rated for violence Ch 6 up!

1. Enemy of my Enemy

Enemy of my enemy...

Summary- they say the enemy of your enemy is your friend, but what if the enemy of my enemy is also my enemy? What then? But what if your former enemy became your friend or something more? Then he's more than an ally... right?

Kagome's POV

The battleground was crimson and black with the blood of many, including mine. I glanced toward my friends, my comrades, and...Him. I didn't know what to call him; I wasn't even comfortable calling him by his name.

We never spoke directly to each other, never anything personal exchanged between the stoic taiyoukai of the west, Inuyasha's half-brother Sesshoumaru and I. He kept his distance, only fighting with us because Naraku had 'done him wrong and needed to die'. We never questioned him, not even Inuyasha.

Inuyasha. Where is he? My love, my pain. Love is supposed to make you feel good right? Then why does this hurt so damn much? Surely it's not love, if it hurts me so!

I can feel the tears coming from my eyes, burning my eye sockets and cheeks. They fell and the tears washed the grime and blood from my face. Arrow after arrow, spell after spell, I fought. I fought with everything I had in me. I was defending my friends, my love, my values, my...

Sesshoumaru, what are you to me? Surely not a friend, ally sounds too formal and unfamiliar. He wasn't even my enemy, Naraku was. He was everyone's enemy, the one who everyone loathed, even his incarnations.

Kagura and Kanna. They're here too, fighting against their master. Not caring anymore about their hearts, which Naraku was too preoccupied as of now to smash into oblivion.

Another arrow. Blood spatters on my clothes, the gore showers around me and yet I don't seem to mind. This is the final battle, the battle between good and the ultimate evil. Today the outcome of this battle will determine the fate of everyone, Youkai and ningen alike.

Another glance, Sango and Miroku are back to back, fighting for their own reasons. Miroku for the cursed hand he had been dealt by Naraku and Sango, vengeance for her family. Kohaku was long-gone, the loss painfully obvious in Sango's facade and the ferocity of her fighting. She used her anger to help her fight longer and harder. Miroku was using his ofuda and staff.

The annoyingly incessant buzzing of the dreaded insects surrounded them and could be heard above the cries of pain from youkai and her friends.

Inuyasha...

Where is Inuyasha? Inuyasha, do you know how much you hurt me? Do you care? But I still love you! Why?!

I look left and right, but its hard. There are youkai everywhere! I can't even see in front of me. I'm standing on the body of a demon that I had slain earlier with the katana that Sesshoumaru gave me.

Sesshoumaru...

How shocked I was when you gave it to me. I'd laugh right now if it were any other situation but this one. My mouth must have been agape and my eyes wide as saucers. You just scoffed when I murmured my thanks and bowed. I didn't even ask you why, though now that I think of it, I probably should have, maybe then I wouldn't be so confused about you.

Where are you Sesshoumaru? The battlefield is so full of carnage and blood in the air mixed with the black miasma of Naraku. Last I saw, you were attacking Naraku head-on. Are you okay? Why can't I see? Another youkai, will the swarm ever die out? I slash at them with my katana, cutting them cleanly. I can see a glimmer of golden flecks ahead of me and a streak of white. That has to be Sesshoumaru. He's the only person who can remain white in a bloodbath...

Katana, the katana you gave me is still clean. It has tasted the blood of many now; it's a good thing that Sango taught me to use it. Have you put a spell on it so that it would stay untainted? I can almost see myself smiling wistfully as I swing it at another youkai. Easily slicing it's head off. I suppose I look like I enjoy killing with this smile on my face.

I can see at last, the droves of youkai have drawn back for some reason. Glancing from side to side I look at the battleground, the grass isn't even visible anymore, although I suppose that if the youkai were to disappear from the ground the blades would no longer be green but crimson.

Inuyasha, there he is! I can see you Inu, your sword is drawn and your left arm is bleeding badly. My heart feels a sudden surge of pain at the sight of you. The state in which you are in is disturbing, I've seen you like this and yet not exactly the same as this.

Your face is set in a death glare, aimed at the most hated person in all of Japan. Naraku.

"Kukukukuku" I can hear his cackle from here. The deep sinister voice that makes me want to hurl right into his lap. My nose is suddenly overpowered by the stench of carnage and blood. My hand flies to my nose in a poor attempt to block the horrid stench from entering my nostrils. If I think this is bad I can't even begin to imagine what Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha are smelling right about now.

Inuyasha's arm is draped over his nose, the fire rat haori blocking most of the powerful scent away from him but I could tell he still smelled it. Sesshoumaru didn't cover his nose, but it was scrunched up a bit and his eyes were more narrow, as if he were dizzy. Honestly, he would endure anything not to show any sign of weakness... He actually looks kinda cute with his face like that...no!

Why did I think that?! Well, it is true but I shouldn't be thinking such things! I shake my head and stare back at Naraku, glaring at him with an intense hatred I'd never felt with anyone else before. There was a time in which I had almost defeated Naraku with my sacred arrow, and now I was going to finish the job. I've grown a lot stronger, I'm not only limited to arrows but I can fight and use a katana. But I will finish this battle with one of my sacred arrows and purify the evil that ravaged Japan for all these years.

I slid my katana back into its sheath then unhooked the bow from my back and notched an arrow. Pure white ki began to swirl around the tip and glowed brightly. I glared at Naraku; he wasn't even worried about the arrow I was charging. He was smiling and laughing! The bastard was laughing at me!

My anger seethed and went into the arrow unknowingly, instead of the pure white and pink arrow it always has been, it turned a fiery red. An angry color to match my mood. This was it; this was when our lives would change. Miroku and Sango can live at peace together, Shippo wouldn't have to live constantly on a battlefield and Inuyasha would finally have his vengeance for Kikyo. I would have the satisfaction of killing the hated beast that caused sorrow wherever he went and maybe have a normal life.

My hate-filled eyes glared at Naraku, burning into him as he remained where he was unafraid and unmoved. He waved his hand, beckoning for me to do my worst and that set me off. The hatred in my heart grew, as did the energy in my sacred arrow.

I called the shards to me, telling them to meld together and live in harmony once more. Shards from everywhere, Kagura's fan and Kanna's mirror came to me, as did some from other directions from somewhere not on the battleground. The pink lights came from all directions but I didn't even bother looking at them like everyone else did.

I stayed watching Naraku; his laughing finally ceased as the jewel shards in his possession tried to break free from his chest. He clutched at his chest and stared at me in shock. "How?" I could hear him mutter as the jewel finally ripped itself from his chest in a black half-moon. The shards in my possession met his halfway, melding together and the pink oozing over the black until it was swallowed and completely purified.

I smiled and held out my hand, calling it to me. The now complete shikon no tama dropped into my hand and I placed it to my side, where it was meant to reside until my death. I could feel the power surrounding me, I felt whole once more. I didn't feel like I was missing some of my soul like I was accustomed to feeling ever since Kikyo took part of my own soul from me. That was when I saw it, a pink ball flying from the edge of the woods into me and a high pitched scream.

I turned to the horrid sound and saw Kikyo staggering out of the line of trees. She was clutching her chest and gaping at me, shock evident in her features. A pain in my heart emerged when Inuyasha dropped his stance to run to her, his crimson blood trailing behind him in red ribbons.

Tears came from my eyes, dripping down my cheeks with much more fervor than before I gave a wail of grief and let the arrow go, putting into it my anger, my sorrow and my hate. It flew true and pierced Naraku through the heart, destroying the incarnations and all of the youkai near him.

Once it hit, the arrow's ki pulsated, obliterating everything in its path. A wave was heading toward where they stood, Kirara growled and scooped up Shippo, Sango and Miroku then flew quickly away. I could faintly hear my kit and friends calling my name as the rings of light moved toward me. But I didn't care anymore, the love of my life had left me for her once again and I couldn't live to watch it any longer. Tears drifted down my cheeks as I watched them together, I can hear every word exchanged, "I'll go with you Kikyo. Wherever you go I will follow."

"No," I muttered, taking a step forward and outstretching my hand toward him. Kikyo looked up at him and smiled a sad smile. She wasn't the Kikyo I had learned to despise, but the Kikyo that Inuyasha had fallen in love with all those fifty years ago.

"Then come with me, and we'll be together forever" and they embraced, swallowed by the halo of purifying energy.

I screamed in agony, dropping to my knees and clutching my heart to my chest. Inuyasha had finally left me completely alone; I had no one else to fill that void within my heart that was supposed to be filled with love. The space that was set-aside for the love of my life and my world. He was gone, and I wanted to go too. But could I face him in the afterlife? Where would I go? I'd drawn blood and felt hatred in its purest sense, where would I be sent?

Where would he be? If I were sent to the same place, would I be doomed to spend eternity watching him be with her instead of I? Could I deal with it? Would I be doomed to be a spirit because of my bitter soul? Why did this have to happen? My heart is breaking, the pink light is slowly coming towards me, and I can feel my hair rising from the static electricity of my ki. I close my eyes, prepared for the death that was going to befall me, I welcomed it.

Is this death?

There is a breeze; I'm warm but cold at the same time. Is this what death is supposed to feel like? It's Is this what its like to be killed by pure energy? If so then the demons I'd killed in the past had it easy...wait. In death you're not supposed to have a body right? Then why can I still feel my fingers..?

I twitched my fingers, I can feel someone watching me and I can feel the wind flowing through my hair. There is a comfortable warmth on my side, like I'm lying next to a furry blanket. I must be at home, and it was all just a dream. I reach for the comforter and try to wrap it around me, only to feel it pull from my grasp. Pull?!

My eyes opened widely, staring into the most beautiful golden eyes ever seen. At first I thought it was Inuyasha, haunting me even in my death, but upon further inspection I found that there were two maroon stripes pulling away from the eyes and a blue crescent moon. Sesshoumaru. For some reason, I was not alarmed in the fact that I was so close to him or him to me. I don't know why, but when he held me I felt safe and protected. Certainly Inuyasha would never hold me this way or this closely.

"Sesshou-" I muttered into his fur pelt and nuzzled into it. I had no idea what I was doing, maybe with death so close to me I'd lost my ability to think clearly. All I knew was I was comfortable right where I was. I had forgotten all about Inuyasha and his dead lover, about Miroku, Sango and Shippo, even Naraku was forgotten. I liked the feel of the fur against my cheek and the warmth that radiated from Sesshoumaru's body.

My eyes drifted closed and I could feel myself falling asleep, falling into the wonderful bliss of unconsciousness and security. The warmth that surrounded and cradled me made me secure enough to sleep that I did...

Sesshou's POV

I watched her sleep in my arms, why did I save her? When I saw her embracing death during that final battle I acted on instinct. Yes, that's it. It was only my natural instincts that led me to do it. Led me to jump to her and carry her away from danger. She was ningen I hated ningen, then why did I save her?

I looked at her for a long time, wondering what I was to do now. We both had wounds, mine were to heal in a matter of days but I was too weak to concentrate on the healing process. Weak... How I despise that word. When I came to my brother to propose our alliance I had had that in mind. Weakness...I knew I couldn't defeat Naraku on my own, I am powerful but not that powerful. I am man enough to admit when I need help, just not aloud to others.

The miko, she was an interesting creature. Even though I had tried to kill her on many occasions she was the only person in their little group that accepted me. The taijiya and monk had been wary of me but remained neutral. My brother, half-brother, never accepted me and we constantly fought with one another. It was always the miko who stopped the fights before either of us could seriously hurt the other.

I don't care for this human, why am I even bothering with her? Why did I save her?

This question is still in my head, I didn't like the girl but I didn't hate her either. It was confusing, I could only remember one time I felt this way and that was with Rin. I had contemplated for days, wondering why I had saved her, of course I told myself it was only to test my sword's abilities but that explanation didn't explain why I kept her around...

I sense movement, I looked down to see the woman-child Kagome shifting, clutching onto my tail and burying her face into it. Instinctively it pulled away and in turn, triggered her wakening. Her blue-gray eyes opened widely and she stared into mine. I had nothing to say so I kept my expressionless gaze concentrating on her own shocked one.

Surprisingly enough, all she did was whisper half of my name and bury her face into my fur and fall back asleep. I could feel my energy draining; I looked back toward the battlefield and the now dissipating energy rings that would surely have destroyed us all. Hard to believe that such a fragile human girl had the power to destroy one of the most powerful beings ever to plague Japan.

My energy completely ran out, making me revert back to my canine form and plummet back toward the ground. My half-closed eyes watched the girl fall; somehow with what little strength I had left I caught her between my teeth and put her on my back just before we hit the ground. From the shock of my battered body colliding with the cold ground I passed out...

Kagome's POV

I was warm, warm and comfortable. I was awake but my eyes refused to open and my body would not move no matter how much I pleaded with it. It was when I had managed to move my arm that I realized just how much pain I was in.

My whole body felt like it was on fire, inside and out. My veins were filled with a raging fire instead of blood. I was in too exhausted a state to scream. For my efforts, I was warranted a strangled cry and that was it.

It suddenly became too hot and the pain was blinding, white flashes of light erupted behind my eyeballs. My head hurt too I realized as I tried to think of the reason for the intense pain I was now being put through. It felt as if a drill was being pounded mercilessly into my skull, cracking it and poking at my brain repeatedly.

With one more strangled cry I managed to weakly push myself away from the warmth I had been engulfed in for what seemed to be forever. The movement sent a new wave of pain throughout my body, forcing me to stop my movements as soon as I was away from the stifling heat. As soon as I was away from it the cold air swept over me, relieving me of some of the pain but only temporarily.

I could feel a slight movement next to me but I could not move to look at the creature that was so close to me. I knew it wasn't a threat. Even with my weakened senses as they were I could tell from somewhere deep in my shattered soul whatever it was meant me no harm.

My eyes wouldn't open, I tried and tried but the more I tried the more the pain overwhelmed me. I felt something shift and the intense heat was completely gone. The creature I had sensed was gone too, replaced by a more familiar ki. I felt movement and heard the rustling of silk next to me as the person stood up.

I heard his groan and automatically figured out who it was that was next to me. It was Sesshoumaru...

Sesshou's POV

When I awoke I felt movement by my side, I was in my dog form and could barely stand and support the massive weight. I lay there and felt the movement I could only suppose was the woman-child I had saved for no apparent reason at all.

She was only going to slow me down, I am the lord of the Western lands after all. I have important businesses that need to be taken care of and a suicidal ningen girl was not something I needed.

I decided to change to my humanoid form lest the girl become afraid of my true form. I didn't think I could've handled the scream that would no doubt arise from her at the sight of me so close to her. I stood as gracefully as I could and glared down at the ningen onna below me.

If she was so desperate to die I should've left her. Something inside me screamed that I was wrong but I ignored it, deeming it to be the work of my conscience who should've been buried in the graveyard, alongside the rest of my emotions.

The girl let out a strangled cry and moved her arm, only to cry out again. I raised an eyebrow and nudged her in the side with the toe of my boot. She screamed out again, it seemed she was in a great deal of pain. I lifted her into my arms and watched her reaction, she squirmed and grimaced. She was in a great deal of pain.

Why am I doing this? I should just leave the pitiful thing in the middle of the forest and go on with my duties. But I knew that that would go against my honor, even the great Lord Sesshoumaru had an honor code.

I knew not how long we were unconscious but apparently it was enough for me to recover from most of my wounds and regain most of my energy. I could fly to my domain and have one of the medical staff take care of her and then I'd kick her out of my castle and let her find her friends on her own. I didn't need another ningen to watch after.

I took flight, though I had to fly low because my ki had not been fully revitalized. My castle was not that far off and I had a little ways to go before my ki totally depleted once again. Why I was doing this I had no idea, maybe it was my sense of honor or I held some respect for the human in my arms. It seemed to me I was questioning myself more often than I should be.

As my home slowly grew larger the weight of the girl seemed to increase and the height of which we were flying was growing lower. I would make it, of that I was certain. But the question was in what condition would I be in once I arrived?

I flew into the garden in the back of my homestead, landing with a hard thud as the cloud diminished before I got to the ground. I landed on my feet, for any of my men to see me in a state such as this was bad, but to see your leader on the ground with a ningen lying before him was even worse!

Upon my arrival the toad youkai Jaken appeared with my ward Rin running behind him. I could hear her shouting my name, though to me it was feint. My senses were diminishing and I could feel myself falling deeper into the whirling abyss of unconsciousness for the second time. With my last moment of awareness I gave the squawking toad my orders...

"See to the ningen."

And all went black for the second time.

Third person POV

Kagome lay on the bed, it was western, which was odd but not to the lady laying in it. She was too occupied with her own problems to even care where she was or what she was lying in.

A youkai kneeled next to her, wiping at her sweat-slicked face and hair. A look of intense concentration was on her pretty features. She watched the reaction as the miko before her flinched at every touch upon her person. Every so often the girl's fingertips would raise static electricity and glow a soft pink, this could only be seen by the youkai tending to her.

"You are in some trouble miko, it seems a long battle is being fought within you. I hope that for your sake if no one else's that you are victorious and not your invader."

The youkai kneeling by her side wetted a cloth and placed it gently upon the woman's brow, trying to keep her fever down. Kagome hadn't awoken in two days and the lord had fully recovered since then.

"Keiseki" called the deep baritone of Sesshoumaru, lord of the Western lands.

The woman, Keiseki, stood up on her haunches and eased herself up in a graceful and practiced manner. She turned towards Sesshoumaru with a schooled look on her face. Her facade was as emotionless as the youkai lord himself and her forest green eyes fixed themselves onto his own golden ones.

Sesshoumaru had not been in to see to the girl himself since their arrival two days ago. When he had fully recovered (which had only been just recently) his assistants immediately swarmed him with reports on the happenings during his absence. The only person who had been in to see to Kagome other than Keiseki was the little girl Rin.

Sesshoumaru broke off the staring contest he was in with Keiseki and looked upon the miko that was lying in his bed, in his castle, with one of his nurses tending to her.

Oh how the mighty hath fallen...

He remembered a time in which he had loathed the entire human race and vowed to slaughter any that dared come within even his shadow. Now as he glanced around, he saw that there was a human onna, a miko no less, and a little human child only next door. As a matter of fact, he could hear her singing in the hallway at that very moment.

How had that changed? When was it that his views on ningen had changed so extremely that he actually boarded a human child and saved, then cared for a human miko? It was all confusing and oddly out of character for him. He lived in a world where the strong thrived and the weak fell, the youkai lived and prospered whilst the weak ningen died out. But slowly and without him realizing it, his views were being bent and twisted by two females and it was sorely endangering his lifestyle.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Keiseki called out to her lord, waiting patiently for his acknowledgement to her question. He had a faraway look in his eyes and she watched with hidden interest as he stared without looking, at the human female that he had brought to his stronghold. It was most definitely a surprise when he had brought Rin to the castle, but when he'd brought Kagome, it was shocking. Sesshoumaru was the kind of person to just bring home random humans and ask that they be taken care of.

"I'm sorry? I wasn't listening." Sesshoumaru replied with the faraway look still in his eyes.

Keiseki's eyes widened slightly but once again reverted back to their normal state. Had the stoic youkai lord, who was always right and never in the wrong, apologized to her? It was impossible, she must have been hearing things, that's what it was. She shook her head, trying to dispel the sudden audacious thought that she had let enter into her mind.

"I said would you like to know her status sir?" Keiseki again waited for his reply. His voice never changed, a deep baritone that would make anyone submit to his desires and demanded obedience.

"Yes" simple and to the point, as usual.

Keiseki took a breath and thought on the girl, recalling all of the information she needed to relay. "Upon examination I have come to the conclusion that there has been a toxin that entered her body. Since she is miko her natural defenses are trying to fight it, but the battle is draining her of her strength. Her senses are heightened and the slightest touch will send her into a spasm of pain causing even more pain from the movements. The only thing that does not hurt her is water, which is being used to keep her fever down."

Keiseki paused, feeling satisfied with her report and diagnosis she let out a breath, waiting for his nod of approval and his departure as usual when Rin was sick. She was surprised when he did not nod but instead asked another question.

"How long will it take for her to recover?" He didn't know what had possessed him to ask, or even to care but the question spilled forth without his consent.

Keiseki draped an arm around her stomach and rested her elbow upon it, tapping a clawed digit on her chin thoughtfully. "That's a good question, it all depends on how strong she is spiritually. It could take days, weeks, or it could take minutes or hours. There's no telling really" she put her arm down and chose to hide it in her other sleeve instead.

"Is there any way to speed up the process?" Another question, he really needed to stop. Otherwise it would seem like he cared about the girl, he just wanted to be rid of her--right?

Again Keiseki was surprised, though this time she decided to focus on her reply rather than the question. "There's one way but I doubt that you would be interested" Keiseki replied in a matter of seconds.

Sesshoumaru raised a delicate brow, "you haven't told me yet."

I'll take that as a 'please tell me what that option is Keiseki' she suppressed the urge to roll her eyes exasperatedly.

"Well, a few drops of blood should be able to do the trick" she replied, slightly interested in his answer.

"Elaborate."

Back to the short statements...

"The blood of someone who has come in contact with the poison might help her fight it."

"Might?"

"Two things could happen." She raised two clawed fingers in the air to demonstrate, "one."

One finger.

"One, she could accept the blood and it will help fight off the toxin quicker" she trailed off as he digested the statement.

He waved an impatient hand, "or."

"Or...." she raised the second finger again. "Two, she could reject the blood and disintegrate it with her miko powers and either keep fighting till she loses energy and die from the poison or overcome it and survive."

She lowered her hand, her statement finished, it was his choice to decide and needless to say she was curious as to what his decision would be.

"How do I go about giving her my blood?"

He really really needed to stop doing this, it was a surprise to him that he chose to help the girl but he decided that it was better for her to recover and leave than to have her dying in his bed. He glanced at his healer, she was standing there with her mouth slightly open and her eyes were quickly drying out from her lack of blinking. If he had emotion he would have laughed....

"Well?" He asked impatiently, wondering whether he should just kill the girl and be gone with the problems she caused.

Keiseki closed her mouth and recovered answering in her usual emotionless voice "just a few drops should do the trick so cut yourself and then cut her, though I should warn you that she is very sensitive and-"

But he had already begun to stride over to the sleeping girl's bedside and using his claw to cut himself on the palm. He bent over her form and quickly sliced open the skin on her arm, the result was a scream of pain and the girl twitching uncontrollably with the painful sensation. Without waiting for her to settle down he pressed his bleeding palm to her arm and willed the blood to flow to her.

She glowed with a dazzling light, fluctuating between pink and white. This went unseen by Sesshoumaru, he lacked the ability to see auras but Keiseki could see it all too well. Sesshoumaru did, however, feel her ki rise.

He broke the contact, looking at his palm to see it healed and the girl's cut closed as well. She no longer twitched and grimaced in pain but lay there with her ki flaring and her fingers twitching every once in a while.

He turned a questioning gaze toward the healer, wondering what was happening. She looked back with an amazed look and said "it worked." She then turned to watch the light show that could only be appreciated by her. She had seen the blood exchange many times, and never had it actually worked. In her experience the patient would cough up the blood and die, but this time it actually worked.

As suddenly as it started it stopped, her ki dropped to normal and the lights died down, settling into her fingers and then totally disappearing. He again looked to Keiseki for an explanation but was only answered with a groan from the miko Higurashi Kagome.

"Where-?" She sat up in the bed and peered around her, all she could remember was white-hot pain and the laughter of Naraku as his miasma swirled through her bloodstream, even in death Naraku was after her. But she could remember who had saved her life, "Sesshoumaru." She turned her head to where he was and gave a soft smile, then a movement caught her attention and she landed on a woman that could only be youkai.

The woman was pretty, with long flowing black hair (darker and sleeker than her own) that was pulled up in an intricate hairstyle. Some of her hair escaped and were used to frame her face and rest upon her back. She had thick lashes that framed emerald eyes beautifully. Under one of her eyes a silver streak ran across her cheek, making her dark complexion stand out. She held herself properly and her wardrobe spoke of riches.

"Are you Sesshoumaru's l...I mean the lady of this house?" Kagome muttered somewhat meekly.

Why wouldn't Sesshoumaru have a wife? He was gorgeous and rich and strong and brave and handsome and...

Her thoughts were thwarted though as the woman the question was aimed at widened her eyes and clutched her heart. She took a step back and her composure diminished before their eyes. She began to stutter and say things in no particular order.

"Lord Sesshoumaru? And I? Together?! Of course not!" At this Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow and shot her a questioning look. Her eyes widened considerably more, "I....I....I mean no I am not worthy of having Sesshoumaru's hand, I mean no I am not. If you would excuse me my lord, I will get some medicine for Lady Kagome and-" without finishing she bolted through the door with a bow.

Kagome cocked her head to the side at the strange response of the beautiful woman from before. She was about to speak when she heard something she thought she'd never hear before. The sound of deep-throated chuckles permeated the air and all went silent except for that one mesmerizing sound. Kagome's eyes softened and she found herself laughing too and when she opened her eyes she saw Sesshoumaru staring at her intently.

He had stopped moments after realizing that the laughter that was meant only to exist within his mind had been formed into actual sound. He had let it slip and that was a big mistake and only blurred the onna's view of him. Which was not what he wanted. When her laughter sounded through the room and he watched as she covered her mouth daintily as she laughed merrily.

She stopped and looked down to her lap then peeled off the covers. She swung her legs off the edge of the bed and proceeded in getting up, she really needed to find her friends and go home. She had thought before that she would be staying in the feudal era with Inuyasha but that didn't happen. Instead, he had chosen Kikyo. Now that her plans were being thwarted she decided to go back to her own time where she belonged. She would not make a wish on the Shikon no Tama, at least not yet. She would be able to visit because the jewel was still intact and everyone would be happy.

Everyone else but her...

The betrayal of Inuyasha ran deep, her worst fears had become reality and she found she could not defend herself against the emotional attack. She needed to recover, but that would take a lot of time. She needed her mother, as childish as that sounds, and she needed her mother's warm hugs and advice. She needed to know that everything was going to be okay.

She stood, a little wobbly but she stood. Sesshoumaru's hand flinched a bit, as if he'd wanted to help her but decided against it. She looked down at her attire and frowned, tears coming to her eyes and she sat down again. On her body was the miko outfit that Kikyo wore, the same white haori and the same red hakama. She wanted to tear them off and burn them. A knife twisted in her chest and another arrow struck her emotions.

It was a game for them wasn't it?! Both she and Inuyasha. They're playing a game, whoever breaks Kagome first is the winner. Well, Kikyo sure as hell was delivering a good blow. She thought bitterly as she fought the tears. I won't let her win so easily. She straightened up and walked to the window, bracing herself on the ledge of it to peer down into a meadow. It was pretty, beautiful even, but it didn't move Kagome. She was cold now, betrayal could do that to a person who wouldn't know better than Sesshoumaru?

She turned to Sesshoumaru (who hadn't moved at all) and gave him a deep bow. "I am grateful for your hospitality and for helping me when I was poisoned. I need to go home so if you would please lead me out of here." She looked him straight in the eye, not the defiant look he usually gets in battle, but a neutral and emotionless gaze, like his own.

He nodded and opened the door, there was Keiseki standing there with a bottle of medicine for Kagome. "Is she fit for travel?" Sesshoumaru asked her immediately.

She paused, her usual facade firmly in place. "I do not recommend it sire. She needs to regain her ki, what if a youkai attacks her while she's traveling? She would not be able to defend herself."

Sesshoumaru nodded, he agreed with her reasoning.

Kagome stepped up next to him. "I will be fine, I have allies close to here that could help me out. I need to go home Sesshoumaru-sama, not just want to. I need to." She walked past him and down the hall, how she knew which hall was right she didn't know but it seemed right to her.

Sesshoumaru appeared in front of her in an instant. "I will not tolerate anyone, ningen or youkai, to turn their back on me!" He growled out dangerously. To his surprise she met his reddening gaze with her calm blue-gray eyes. He stopped being angry suddenly and he felt the urge to shake her, he was so frustrated.

"I'm sorry to offend but I was serious when I said I needed to go home. Will you help me or not?" Her voice was devoid of emotion as were her eyes.

He huffed and turned around then began walking down the corridor. She smiled as she watched him do that. But the smile turned into a frown as the huff that Sesshoumaru had given out sounded like Inuyasha. His silver hair looked almost like his too...Another point for Inuyasha.

Kikyo one, Inuyasha two, Kagome none...

She did not cry this time and followed the demon lord down stairs and across corridors until they ended up in the meadow. A cloud appeared under Sesshoumaru's feet and he levitated about a foot off the ground. She raised an eyebrow at this and he looked away with a frustrated look in his eyes. She knew what he meant and stepped onto the cloud, sitting at his feet Indian style.

She watched as the scenery changed around them, he flew up so high. It was different than riding on Inuyasha's back, this was like being on a plane except able to feel the cool air as it touched your face and whip your hair around.

Then she saw it, Goshinboku. It stood out majestically and they landed in front of the well. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama. For everything..." She fidgeted and twisted her fingers nervously. Thank you didn't seem like enough so she did something that she never thought she'd ever do. She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.

He was in a state of shock and it showed. She giggled and hopped into the well, the blue light swallowing her and making her disappear. She was gone and he was left with an aching feeling in his heart. He knew not from where but there was an empty feeling. He could still feel her warmth and her lips against his cheek. He shook his head and took flight, he had wanted to get rid of her right? Then why is it that now that she was gone, he suddenly wanted her back?

Owari

A/N: Yay, it's done! Throws confetti its done its done!!! I have an idea for a sequel if anyone is interested. Tell me in your review if you want a sequel, if you don't please review anyway...