Believe it or not, i have a perfectly good reason why i haven't posted in what seems like three and a half years. My internet was down on my moms computer and i had dial up before. Well, that was taken away so i had to find other means to get on the internet. $200 bucks later, and here i am, with the internet on my computer, FINALLY...and this time i hav a cable hook up. Now, hopefully you guys dont hate me cuz ...well i really do care about u all '...so plz dont hate me....

here's what u guys have been waiting so long for...

Derenti settled beside Kagome's bed, looking down at the fragile human girl. His long, scaled dragon wings rested tight against his back in aggravation and worry. He snaked his head close, listening for a sign she was really alive. Her heart beat was faint as was her breathing.

Derenti reached to her, placing two powerful claws at each side of her temple, scooting closer so he could do so comfortably. His long tail wrapped around his legs as he sat, breathing deeply. The dragon closed his eyes as he sunk deep within himself, losing himself to the darkness within.

Thoughts drifted across his mind. He noted them before discarding them. He would need to be completely focused. He heard everything and anything around him. This too, he took notice of, before blocking it out of his mind. Soon, he even blocked out the sound of his own breathing. He was in a black void, but still in his own mind.

Completely relaxed and now as focused as he could possibly be, Derenti cast himself out of his own mind. It was like opening his eyes, but everything was blurry. The only thing that stuck out sharp and clear was his own body, the body he was now leaving behind, like an empty shell. All of his surroundings were blurred and fuzzy. If he didn't know this room well, he would not have been able to tell the door from the walls, or a table from a window. His perception of everything was distorted to the point that the only way he knew where the floor was was because of the position of his own body.

It took him a moment to find Kagome. She, like the rest of his surroundings, was blurry, and therefor it was hard to discern its location. He was able to pass through the bed easily, but when he came near to Kagome, he could move no more. Un like his own body, hers still contained its spirit, its soul. His, for the moment, was empty.

He mentally placed a hand on her forehead, while being able to see the blurry appendages still attached to her temples. As if he was being sucked into a tornado, his spirit was sucked into Kagome's body. He didn't fight the force that pulled him, he simply rode with it.

A swirl of color and noise flashed past him before he was dumped into a black room, almost the same as the one he had been in before leaving his body. Unlike his, he could sense he didn't belong here. This was not his body, his soul did not feel wanted and or needed. Derenti knew different.

He had only attempted to enter another's mind once. And as before, this body repelled his soul. He was an alien to this place.

'Kagome!' He mentally called out. Only this mental shout echoed through out the dark, cold, endless space. She was not here. That could only mean she was deeper in her mind. He thrust a mental claw into the blackness around him, seeming to snatch onto something solid. He tugged with all of his will before ripping a white tear into the blackness. He crawled through that tear into the white light beyond.

Once inside, the rip he had created closed behind him. That was a good sign. At least her mind was protecting itself. 'Kagome!' He called once more, hoping he would not have to delve deeper into her mind and soul. He had only gone so far the last time and he dreaded to test his ability now.

Again, his mental voice echoed within the empty space. 'Kagome, can you hear me?' Derenti called out once more, even though he knew he would receive no answer. He reached into the pure white around him, like before, and snagged the air as if it was solid. He had to exert more will power to rip this mental wall open. A dark purple light poured through the rip, bathing him in its eerie glow.

Derenti hesitated. If he remembered correctly, the next level should have been a pale blue, not this dark, haunting purple. Something was definitely wrong. He forced himself through the rip, slipping into the purple light. This tear closed as well, but not as quickly as it should have. He glanced around this purple place, seeking something, anything.

He found a small, flickering white light. It was tiny, no bigger then the tip of his smallest claw. He reached out to touch it, but flinched back in a mental spasm of pain. That would be the mating marks connection to Kagome's soul. It was dying. Derenti recognized it from the last time he had entered another's mind.

But the last time he had seen it, it was more like a sun, not this flickering candle flame. He was unable to touch it, because he was not the creator of the mark. Only Sesshomaru could come here and remove it, if he choose to. The small flickering light was not bright, which meant it was not healthy. The connection had been disrupted, and if allowed to continue this weak, would eventually extinguish.

Derenti looked around once more. If the mating mark's connection only came to this level, it had to mean it was blocked off from the final level. Which would explain why Kagome was locked in her mind. Kagome's soul couldn't feel the mark since it was locked here, so it was reacting as if Sesshomaru was dead. The fact the mark was still flickering meant Sesshomaru was very much alive. Derenti had to find a way to tear through this level and to the one beyond. He was almost afraid to though.

The level beyond would be black, like the first. In the next level, however, Kagome's very soul should reside. He could kill her instantly if he made a tiny mistake. Plus, he had never been to the next level. It was the hardest to get into, the hardest to maintain the link to, and the most dangerous to visit. For all Derenti knew, Kagome's Miko powers would purify him before he could seep fully into that level. Her soul could be too pure for his dragon soul to come in contact with.

He had to try.

Derenti reached out, like he had before, to snag the very fabric of this level. But unlike before, he could grasp nothing. He exerted more will in to it, demanding he be allowed further. Again, nothing happened. It was like he was trying to grab a handful of air. Derenti looked around once more, only seeing the small flickering light of the mark.

He tried to grasp it once more, and as before, flinched back in pain. 'Kagome!' Derenti called, thinking that maybe she could hear him, even if he wasn't in the same level as she was.

'Derenti?' He heard a faint cry, a desperate plea.

'Kagome! Where are you? What's going on?' He cried back with all of his will, hoping upon hope that he was not imagining things.

'I'm trapped, in this black room,' came her extremely faint reply.

A black room? The next level should be limitless, like this one. It shouldn't have any walls. 'A room? Are you sure?' He called back.

'Yes! I....can't feel anything. It's like a cage,' came her voice as if carried by the wind.

A cage? That would explain why the mark couldn't find her, why she couldn't respond to them on the physical level. 'You can't find a way out?' He called though he knew the answer.

'No...' came Kagome's depressed reply.

A million ideas sprang into Derenti's 'mind' at once. 'Kagome, I don't think I can help you now...but...is there anything you can think of to tell me?' Derenti called out, but not as loud as before. This deep link he was maintaining was draining him. If he wasn't careful, he would be trapped here, in this limitless purple space.

'I can't feel Sessho!' Came her desperate, terror filled voice. 'Something has happened to him...I...I think I know what...or who...'

Derenti tried to make sense of what she was saying. Her thoughts were filled with so much anguish and sorrow he could almost see it. 'Kagome, I don't have much time...What can you tell me?'

'The last time I saw Sesshomaru, he was with a Neko Youkai,' was all she offered.

'What did she look like?' Derenti almost didn't have the strength to call out.

'Tight clothes, cinnamon colored hair...' her tired voice drifted off.

'Kagome, I'll find a way to help you...but I must go,' Derenti cried out before using the last of his strength to pull his soul back to his own body, hoping he had not waited too long and it was not too late.

Trey sat with Ventai in the garden, staring at the flowers, but was lost in thought. Ventai sensed his want to be alone, so she didn't speak, just sat next to him and watched the sky. They both jumped in alarm when Tesh, Ventai's female wolf Guardian, came running out into the garden.

She was more heavy set than Trey, and more rugged then he would have thought a female to be. "My lady, come quick!" the Guardian shouted in worry. Ventai was on her feet in a matter of seconds.

"What?" she asked, worry crossing her dragon features.

"It's my Lord...please, hurry!" Before Tesh could even finish the sentence, Ventai's wings had snapped open and she was in the air. Trey stood and motioned that he would follow Tesh.

All three poured into the room. It only took Trey a moment to figure out this wasn't good. Kagome still lay motionless on her bed. Derenti was slumped over, like he had passed out. Ventai rushed to his side, lifting his head in her delicate claws.

"Tesh, get Tsume!" Ventai ordered without looking at the Guardian. Trey went to Kagome, checking to make sure she still had a pulse.

"What happened?" he asked, finding Kagome was indeed alive. He turned to the worried female dragon, squatting beside her.

"He stayed too long." She breathed, glancing at the door. "I can't help him, but Tsume can." As if on cue, the dragon's son rushed in. Trey was taken aback at how much Tsume looked like Sesshomaru. Same build, same height. The only difference was the black hair and the eyes.

Tsume didn't say anything, he simply rushed to his Father's side, placing a hand on his forehead. Trey watched as a red glow emitted from Tsume's hand, seeming to seep into Derenti. Ventai glanced from Tsume to her mate, and back. Her wings rustled in worry as she gripped Derenti. She seemed to be mumbling some guttural words Trey was unable to understand.

He watched as Tsume's breathing stopped, and Derenti's lungs filled with air. Ventai didn't seem concerned with Tsume's lack of breathing, but instead, sighed with relief. Derenti's eyes opened sluggishly, as if he was waking from a deep sleep. Tsume's eyes immediately opened after and he took a deep breath before managing to sit down before he fell down.

"What happened?" Ventai asked, still clutching her mate as if he would slip from her once more.

"I found her...but I was unable to get to her," Derenti sighed wearily.

"What do you mean?" Trey asked, glancing at Kagome's still form. What could keep her from moving? And what could keep a powerful dragon like Derenti away from her?

"Her levels are all messed up. The first two are too easy to get into and the third is impossible to pass..." Derenti mumbled. Trey looked at him as if he had spoken another language.

"What?" Trey blurted, his face scrunching up in confusion.

Ventai smiled sympathetically. "When Derenti enters another's mind, he has to go through layers. Levels, if you will. Doing so puts him deeper into their mind, closer to their soul." After the short explanation, she turned a disapproving look on her mate. "You should not have tried to pass through the third level any ways. It's too dangerous."

Derenti smiled a tired, humorless smile that didn't reveal his fangs. "I saw the mark. It was barely glowing. In fact, it was flickering. I was desperate." He shrugged heavily before he continued. "And her third level, it was dark purple. Not pale blue."

Ventai narrowed her eyes but her son beat her to the question. "Father, are you sure?" Derenti could only shake his head. Trey looked at all three, completely clueless as to what they were talking about.

Ventai waved away Trey's questioning look. "Come, my mate, you must rest. You over taxed yourself." Ventai, Tsume, and Trey all helped the large dragon to stand. Derenti looked at Trey with tired eyes.

"You have to go to Sesshomaru. Find Reshki, Kari, and Roku. Kagome told me of a demoness she last saw with Sesshomaru. Neko Youkai with cinnamon hair and...tight clothes. Something has happened to Sesshomaru and you have to tell them." He grumbled out, looking like he was fighting to stay awake.

"Trey, wait until I am able to put Derenti asleep, then we will see you off." Ventai stated. With that, all three helped Derenti back into his room so he could rest.

Kari walked past dozens of sleeping demons, some she recognized, others she didn't. The moon was high in the sky, flashing pale light where it could penetrate the trees and revealed many sleeping demons. Many slept in various places, others watched her as she passed by. Some bowed as a sign of respect to her as a Guardian, others sneered contemptuously. She ignored them all.

She eventually found what she was looking for. Sesshomaru's tent. Being a Prince, he was afforded certain luxuries. A tent was just that. There was no light inside, which gave the indication he was sleeping. But Kari knew better. Her Lord rarely slept now that Kagome was gone. It was as if he couldn't bring himself to sleep without her presence.

Kari frowned slightly. She knew he tried to make it look like he slept, but she knew him better. She could see it in the way he held himself. Subtle signs that spoke volumes to her. A light breeze played with the feathers on her wings before drifting off through the dark woods. The tent flap before her shook with the small breeze before settling calmly back in place. She reached out, peering into the tent.

He wasn't there. Kari's face betrayed her confusion. Where would he be? A shiver coursed through her body, causing her wings to puff up slightly. Something wasn't right. He hadn't been here since she last saw him in the woods. She sensed she was being watched and turned as Reshki appeared out of the shadows beside her.

"He's not there," he stated, matter-of-fact.

"Where, then?" Kari asked, letting go of the tent flap and fully facing her mate. His normally easy going look was replaced with stone cold seriousness.

"I don't know," was all he said.

Kari's wings fluttered against her back as she glanced around, seeing if any one was looking their way. "This can't be good. We have to find him," Kari whispered softly.

Reshki frowned slightly, crossing his arms. "I've already looked."

"You didn't look hard enough, then." Cut in a malicious voice that sounded like it was trying to be sweet. Both Guardians turned to see Chii, Inutaishou's Guardian, walking towards them. Their eyes widened slightly when they saw Sesshomaru trail a few steps behind. Kari narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Something was wrong with Sesshomaru's eyes. "Now, unless I can do something for either of you, I would like for you to depart."

"We do not follow your orders," Reshki stated stiffly. His whole body seemed to tense.

Chii simply looked over her shoulder, at Sesshomaru. "Leave," came the dead pan order from their Lord.

"But..." Kari began before she was interrupted.

"No 'But'. You heard him," Chii hissed softly, smiling.

"If you need us...We will be around," Kari stated submissively. She could not deny a direct order from Sesshomaru. Reshki shot a scowl at Chii before melting into the shadows. Kari, unable to do so, simply stalked away.

She took a position away from the tent, but still able to see Chii and Sesshomaru.

"Come," Chii ordered, walking into the tent before her. Sesshomaru, of course, followed. Chii flicked on a light, even though she didn't need it. It cast a soft glow in the tent. "Is there anything of importance here?"

"No," came the annoyingly dull response. Chii scanned the tent. A small table, a cot, and a lamp was all that the tent contained. A good of place as any to question him though.

"Sit," she commanded, indicating the cot. Sesshomaru's body stiffly obeyed her order. Chii stood in front of him and crossed her arms. With as tall as Sesshomaru was, she was able to look him in the eye as she stood and he sat. "Now," she purred, grinning. "Where is Kagome?"

There was a moment of silence, for which Chii knew he was fighting her ability, before he answered, "To the North."

"She is with Derenti?" Chii pressed even though she knew the answer.

Again, a moment of silence, before the dry answer came. "Yes."

"Do you plan to betray Inutaishou?" she asked, leaning slightly towards him in eagerness.

"No." came his surprising answer.

"What? What do you mean, 'no'?" Chii frowned at his emotionless face and dead eyes.

"I do not plan to betray him." was all the response she got.

Chii continued to frown at him. She wasn't asking the question the right way. "Have you already plotted against Inutaishou?"

"Yes."

Chii squealed with joy at the answer. She wrapped her arms around his neck, smirking as she asked, "What is the plan?"

"I am to lead the army against Derenti. Then, I am to turn on Inutaishou." was all he said.

Chii scowled at the lack of information. "How?"

"I am to use my sword."

"I mean, how are you to turn?" Chii signed in annoyance.

"I will use my feet."

Chii glared down at him, tempted to smack him. He was under her ability, so he had to reply, but he was taking everything literally. "How are you to turn against Inutaishou?"

"I will draw my sword, and attack his army." Chii narrowed her eyes, receiving the feeling he was laughing at her in his own mind.

"When?"

"When the attack comes."

"What attack?" Chii pressed, thinking she was getting somewhere.

"When Inutaishou attacks Derenti." Chii growled at the answer.

"I know that! I could've figured that much out! I mean, what do you plan to do before you attack?" she hissed in annoyance.

"I plan to draw my weapons." came his dry reply that seemed to mock her. She smacked him. His head was jerked slightly to the side from the blow, but he otherwise remained un affected. Chii grabbed a hold of Sesshomaru's chin with one hand, bringing his eyes to meet hers.

"I know you can hear me, Sesshomaru. You think this is funny, don't you?" Chii hissed before she narrowed her cat eyes. "I want you to know I have you in my power and as soon as your precious little Miko is dead, your life is over. I have but to command it and she will be eliminated." Of course she didn't receive a reply, but she knew he was listening to her. He had no choice.

Chii tilted his face away from her, exposing his flawless neck. "I could always mark you, Sesshomaru. I could take you for my own." she sneered softly, glancing at his dead, golden eyes. "You don't want that, do you? Who knows what that would do to your precious little Miko? Who knows what that would do to you?" She could tell, by the way he slightly tensed, that he was fighting her. Chii leaned in and kissed his neck, then lightly bit him. Not enough to pierce the skin, but enough to show him he couldn't stop her if she chose to do so.

Chii leaned back, bringing his gaze back to hers. She grinned maliciously as she began to loosen the armor on his body. "We are alone, Sesshomaru. You are alone. No one to save the poor Prince, trapped within his own body. Your Miko is alone because of you. If you had not taken her as your mate, she wouldn't be trapped as well. You, Sesshomaru, will be the death of her." Chii pulled the armor from his body, tossing it to the ground. She watched his eyes closely, looking for a sign that he was listening. He wasn't angry enough yet. Chii giggled softly at the thought of all she could do to him, of all she could make him do. And the best part was, no matter how angry he got, he could do nothing about it. She planned to show him that no matter how hard he fought, he was hers.

Chii sat on his lap, wrapping both of her legs around his waist before wrapping her arms around his neck. "Do you have anything to say, Prince?" she sneered, trailing her claws around the back of his neck to the top of his garments neckline.

"Yes." came the response she expected.

"Hmm, and what would that be?" she asked as she trailed a claw down the front of him, stopping at his abs.

"I will kill you." Those words, if spoken by Sesshomaru normally, would have been enough to scare even the strongest of foes. But in the dead pan response of his controlled state, it fell on dead ears.

Chii sighed, feigning impatience. "Sesshomaru, when will you learn, you are mine? You can do nothing about it. Fight it all you want." Chii looked straight in his eyes as she slowly slipped the top half of his clothes off of his chest. She smirked, knowing he was raging within his own mind. "Here, let me show you exactly what I mean." Chii paused, allowing her eyes to travel lustfully over his face. "I command you to kiss me, to kiss me the way you would kiss that miko of yours."

Sesshomaru baulked within his mind. He slammed repeatedly into the black walls that surrounded him. He was not only angry, but actually frightened. He couldn't betray Kagome like that. He couldn't do that to his mate. Those thoughts and more drove him on.

Looking out through his eyes, he could see Chii looking at him, waiting, watching. She knew he was fighting her, she knew he would eventually lose, like he had before. He watched, as if his life was crashing around before him, as one of his hands gripped the back of her neck to pull her closer.

His body was betraying him, betraying his mate. He was losing this fight. How he wanted to crush her wind pipe! He wanted to rip her throat out, to rend her limb from limb. To hurt her, to kill her.

He only needed to tighten his grip in his right hand, and she would choke and die. He only needed control of his right hand.

Sesshomaru howled with rage as Chii was coming closer and closer. Time seemed to slow as his body betrayed him, betrayed his own wishes. 'No!' He growled to himself. He would not. Kagome loved him. He loved Kagome.

She was the only one who seemed to have found something hidden inside of himself, something he didn't even know was there. Kagome had brought out a part of him no one had ever seen. Not even his own mother or father. No one.

Kagome had opened up to him, and he, in return, had opened up to her. He had claimed her not only because his demon blood yearned for her, but because he knew he could not be himself without her. How could he go on without her? Without her touch, her smell, her smiles? She was everything to him, and he would die before he hurt her.

I hope this had made some of you guys happier....plz review too!