Hello Snowflakes!

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Chapter 39: Tonic

Sesshomaru could feel Kagome's despair roll off her in waves by the second. He was frozen for a moment, quickly thrown off at what was happening before him. His alabaster skin crawled and his mind reeled, thinking of his current circumstances. A dense pressure pushed upon him that made the kitchen seem like it was shrinking. The sight of rapidly escaping tears cascading down Kagome's cheeks caught his eye. Each one carrying a detail of the pain the miko held inside for so long. Seeing the strong guardian of Rin in such a state pulled at his instincts. The scent of salt was strong as he watched her break in front of him.

How long did she hold this weight?

What was so devastating that it had done this to the miko?

What did she know that may have broken her pack in such a way?

Every tear that ran down her rounded cheeks took with it questions that went unanswered in his mind. He would admit that he was uncertain of how to proceed and that gave him reason to pause. Watching her pain…and feeling it physically manifest was uncomfortable. This wasn't his intentions. But he knew most of this was due to the effects of the wine and he damned himself for allowing her to reach such a state. But surely, her miko powers would have healed the effects by now. But that clearly wasn't happening.

Damn.

He did not want this.

He did not want this reaction. He did not want this from her. He wanted anger…fire…what he was so used to seeing from Kagome. The fiery woman that challenged him across the table when they first met. Not this saddened creature that was breaking in front of him. His fingers tightened into fists as his mind worked over the situation like a scientist trying to solve the mysteries of the universe. His instincts grew intolerable of his intelligence and called to his body to respond to the female before him. To see a member of his pack in this way was disgraceful and spoke to his Inu instincts. It reminded him so much of the time he saw Kikyo…lying there in the hospital after suffering her loss. To see two females of his pack…both of such strength and fortitude in a such a saddened way made him…feel.

Feel.

Sesshomaru looked upon Kagome longer but could not see her. The pain in his chest was stifling. Not a pain that one suffered from a blow like that of a sword. But an achy tightening pain that left his organ withering behind his sternum. It felt as if his heart was turning into stone and his lungs were constricting. He felt it. Sesshomaru's eyes widened at the realization. He blinked at the realization and this time focused completely on the female in front of him. Something should be done. He could not watch this happen. He would not watch this happen to her of all people. She needed strength. He knew the best way to obtain it was to garner it from your own being and harness your own power. But for today, he would lend her his own. Sesshomaru gathered his strength and his fortitude about him with his intentions clear and mind made.

His aura swelled and pushed against the might of her own, asserting his dominance and authority. The intent of his actions was clear, and he would not back down and take no for an answer. Her aura lashed at him in defiance, but the stability of her power was distorted and weakened due to its inability to steady. Her pink reiki prickled against his skin warningly, but the threat was void. Her aura seemed torn between serving as a defense against her own ruptured mind than defending herself from the outside force that Sesshomaru presented.

Quickly he was at the miko's side staring down at her as she seemed to huddle in on herself. Her knuckles were white as she gripped his pristine countertops. Streams of sadness poured from her puffy pink eyes and onto her reddened cheeks. Incomprehensible words of the language he knew from his home fell from her lips along with sobs. He picked her up into his arms and held her to his body. The fiery heat radiating through her shirt and the alcohol from her lips blew upon his cheek. Her hands came up immediately to grip his white button up shirt and her tears found a new home in the fine stitching of the luxury cloth.

His thin nose nuzzled the crown of her head and on the inhale, he assessed her demeanor. The complexity of her disposition filled his lungs along with the subtle brush of gentle jasmine in the spring and whatever seasonings and spices from dinner that lingered upon her person. His aura wrapped around her in comfort and his chest sent vibrations forward onto her supple body as a response to her distress. Gone from his mind was the weakness of the human flesh and the spirit. In his arms was that of a woman that needed an alpha; having been lost and without one for so long. Granted he was now in a time where women were serving publicly as many roles, some of those thought to belong to men in the old days. Females in general he found were to be very resilient yet even they couldn't deny that it was reassuring to have at least one male to count on for strength in a time of need.

Sesshomaru felt the heat of her reiki wane until Kagome's aura diminished and the natural heat of her body rubbed against him. The light of the kitchen bounced off her midnight tresses making it shine beautifully. She pressed into him and his hands tightened around her. He couldn't remember when was the last time he held a woman like so. His mind flashed to his dream. His eyes widened having pushed his deepest secret to the back of his mind yet there it was staring at him in the face. The continuing dream that left him some nights covered in sweat and urging to make a claim. His hold on her became like an engulfing blanket of warmth and other things he dared not think of at the time. His eyes darted to her and suddenly her scent, the texture of her smooth skin, the strands of silky hair…all became hyper aware to his senses. He looked down at the woman that had become something different to him. Something invaluable.

Kagome's words became silent. His hold was everything to her in that moment. She could feel his muscles through his shirt shift to accommodate her. Her wails and sobs had ceased as the strong demon became her rock. Her grip upon his shirt and neck loosened so much that her limbs felt more like limp noodles. The tiredness that she felt had gripped her and was unrelenting until she finally acknowledged her truth.

They sat in the company of silence and the churning of the dishwashers. Neither one moved or shifted from the other's embrace. Both was just trapped for a moment in their own thoughts, feelings, and instincts raging wars inside. The air conditioner turned on, blowing cool air down upon their bodies. Its' loud hum filled the silent void between them as they sat there. And then she spoke.

"I-I lost everything." She mumbled with her face pressed against his shirt. Sesshomaru stiffened having heard her once gentle voice come out shaken and deep in tone. His mind now free from his inner thoughts and now focusing on what she was voicing to the world. Maybe even for the first time.

"It-it was just too much." She said closing her eyes feeling the last bit of tears she had left roll down her cheeks as she relived everything again. Her body felt hot and sickly as she shook in his hold. Her breaths came out in gulps as she fought for calm. The cool air did very little to provide comfort despite it blowing upon her from the vent up top. She could hear her own heart pumping and the blood in her veins ran like liquid lava. She couldn't look at him though. The alcohol may have loosened her resolve but her pride was still grasping the edges of her control. "Imagine your father, your mother, and your clan mates…ripped from you one after the other. Some at the same time…dying in horrific ways. Disease. Or washed away by the tide." Her eyes looked about the kitchen but not seeing the utensils or the walls of white. "Imagine finding their blue bodies a few blocks away from the vacation home your sister gifted to them." She mumbled as she pulled away to look at the crying stains in his shirt.

"M-My" She tried before swallowing back the sob that wanted to climb up. "My mother and grandfather died during that tsunami that washed over the coast. Their bodies weren't found until a week later down the street." Her voice came back in a whine as she held onto him for her life. "A-and my friends that I invited into my space…what I thought was a safe space…gone. Destroyed and hidden by water that you didn't see or hear coming until it was too late."

Kagome looked up at him then. Her eyes wide and filled with a haunted look that penetrated her soul. "We are demons and mikos. The strongest they said. B-But we didn't know…we didn't see anything. I still can't wrap my mind around how we didn't sense the warnings or hear anything!" She stated frantically as her hands came up to grip her ears. "Not even screams of other people yelling out to us. We could have been spared. We could have done something. Nobody should have died." She said as she started to cry.

Sesshomaru pulled away to look at her. A mutual understanding came to him as his thoughts and presumptions were verified about the cause of his friend's death. The tsunami that took them may have been an act of Kami but the manner in which they had died was not. Of course everyone thought foul play was involved but there was no proof and no witnesses. So much chaos had happened that day that the whole nation of Japan was in mourning and immediate recovery. But among those that knew the strength of the Yomi's, they all knew something about the whole situation was foul. Hearing the miko's account only served to further prove the point.

Kagome rubbed her cheeks frivolously to wipe away her pain. "I may not be as strong as my sister but I know how to throw a protective barrier!" She stated angrily as she recalled that day that was supposed to be a nice gathering at her new restaurant. "But there was nothing and then…water was everywhere." She explained looking up at him hoping that he would see what she saw. "And I had to hold my best friend's child in my arms listening to her cry until she went mute on a roof top! Their bodies were gone. Nothing found. The cries of other people looking for loved ones or floating injured and wounded…dead." She finished as she shook her head. "I still can hear them sometimes at night. No one should die like that! They should still be here." She finished as she just broke down in his arms again. Her shoulders shaking and her body convulsing.

Sesshomaru sat listening to her recount the past. He remembered the news and the press reporting everywhere on every media outlet of the devastation. He could very well in his mind see Kagome's destroyed restaurant under water, sitting lifelessly and dull. The media covered the miko like vultures as the community went in search of the Yomi's but found nothing. Questions were in abundance but answers were scarce. Divers had gone in search of the Yomi's with no luck of finding anything. Investigators were everywhere in boats, searching for them and other missing people that had vanished from the wave's wrath. Occasionally, they came back with nothing more than melancholy news as they found more of the dead than those alive. He hadn't seen anything like it in all of the years of his long life upon the earth. Those that survived all recounted the same abnormal facts. They heard and sensed nothing even after the earth shook and the wave was upon them.

Sesshomaru's grip upon Kagome tightened as he searched his own account of that time. He had been away to London when he received word of the devastation ravaging his homeland. However, his pack could sense things were amiss and were able to get to safety before the humans realized how grave the situation was. He had returned home and reunited with his pack when he heard about the disappearance of Hoshi and his mate. He didn't believe it until his own father told him it was true. The Yomi's were taken by the tide. Of course they knew this wasn't the case. The two were too powerful to let something as diminutive as a tsunami to take them and even if that was the case they would have sensed it coming long before it reached them. He had gone with his father to search for themselves. He himself did not trust the efforts of the search parties. He found their band of humans and demons to be untrustworthy, weak, and useless. They could barely find the loved ones of others; he certainly didn't trust them into looking for the missing Yomi's. They went out and searched using their own resources. And still they came back empty handed.

"They found nothing." Kagome muttered as she gathered herself again. "I had lost everything that I had." Kagome continued. "Rin was left in my charge shockingly. K-kikyo was so strong and respected." She stated with aggression. "I thought for sure Kikyo would have her. That she would take care of her! She was stronger than I was. But she didn't!" Kagome yelled out as her fist gripped tightly against him. "Kikyo instead fought for me to have her." Kagome closed her eyes as more tears spilled from the corners and down her face. "Kikyo said it was because of a conflict of interest clause. That the court would drag our family if Kikyo had gotten sole custody of Rin. All because of Kikyo's power and connections. Rin had a large inheritance when she would become of age. We would have never gotten her and her horrible money hungry family would have taken everything. They would have treated Rin horribly and abused her estate." Kagome moved back a little and wiped her face having gathered some strength from that statement.

"I was tired, and I didn't even have a chance to get my life together. I-I couldn't even grieve for myself and then I had to take care of Rin too! I had just lost everything and then I had a child to take care of." She admitted. "It was a lot at one time! Kikyo just put my name down. She didn't ask me. But what was I supposed to say? No?" She wiped her face of the last tear that rolled. "I couldn't leave Rin and I would never do that to my baby. How could I leave her to that horrible family of hers? Especially after the way they treated her parents. So, I pushed my pain aside and took care of Rin." She said growing angry. "But I couldn't stay there...surrounded by death and sadness. I-I begged for my sister and brother to come with me. I begged them to leave with me! But no. They wanted to stay and 'rebuild'." She said using her fingers to make air quotation marks. She shifted and slowly Sesshomaru's hold slackened. "Rebuild what?! It was all gone! Nothing and no one was coming back. Daddy wasn't coming back too. Ever!"

Sesshomaru let her go and allowed her to shift off of him. The warmth he felt from before had gone and an emptiness settled where she once sat. He moved to stand straight and watched as she put her hands on her hips. Her anger was present now and it had its clutches deep within her flesh. Her aura swelled again, this time with a bit of an edge to it. His own aura went up in defense. His eyes went to the door, sensing something but it quickly went away.

"Kikyo wanted to save father's legacy and finish her work with the Youkai Council. And look what it did to her! Look at what they did to her! She became this- this monster! A drunk! A public one at that! What am I supposed to say to people! Huh?" She asked looking at Sesshomaru. "Do you know how embarrassing that is? That my gloriously famed sister is now just a big alcoholic that just drinks away the family money while still holding on to the past."

Sesshomaru stayed silent, focusing on the miko in front of him.

"But what hurts is that I needed her. She didn't come with me when I needed her! She chose her duty over me! Over her family! Over me!" Kagome yelled loudly for once feeling the pain in her words echo about the place. She turned sharply to him and pointed a finger at his face. "You want to know so bad about us! Well there you go! We hate each other! She and my brother loathe me for leaving and I hate them for not coming when I needed them!" She yelled as the pitch in her voice grew with each gut-wrenching statement. Her lip quivered as the truth shot her through the heart. Her words bounded off the walls back into her own eardrums and registered inside of her soul.

"Oh my God." She cried again as sadness, grief, embarrassment, guilt, and confusion reclaimed her again. She felt hopeless now as she suddenly just fell to her knees. She had never cried like this. She never told anyone this. Here she was balling her eyes out in front of Sesshomaru no less. But the truth was out there. That she felt…and she felt hate of all things and took blame against the people that she was supposed to love the most.

Sesshomaru didn't know what to say. Her pain was real and he could feel it as if it was fresh…raw even. Never fully explored until she allowed the alcohol to move her barriers. Before him was a woman that was still in mourning and had never been given the time to grieve. He watched her sink onto the floor with an icy gaze. Nothing about this was right or brought him some form of benefit. He knew others would think differently about it. He was cold and many called him heartless on several occasions. So much so that it should be documented in the Guinness Book of World Records. He had slaughtered without thought to feelings or emotions of others. Yet here he was captivated by true sadness for the death that had swept up her world and reverberated into his own.

Without thought, Sesshomaru bent down and picked the woman up and just held her as she cried again. This time she just let it all out and held onto him like he was her life vest. It all made sense now. He put his own pieces together to her story and everything made sense. Why she avoided talking about her sister. Why Kikyo did the same and avoided the past. He thought on this and could clearly see that both were hurting because of lack of grieving time and communication. Both had run away from their problems but he had to admit…Kikyo stopped and came to face her demons. He looked down at Kagome's head while confirming in his mind that Kagome was still running from hers.

'But didn't she know…Kikyo did that to save them from the Council? Kikyo sacrificed herself for Kagome and Rin's wellbeing. Had she not devoted herself to the Council afterwards they would have come after them for the deaths of the Yomi's in some way to appease the community by finding a scapegoat. Then they would have accused them of attempting to use Rin. Why hadn't they spoken yet and gotten all of this out of the way.' Sesshomaru pushed that final question to the side and just held her. His lips touched her black tresses and his hand came up to move her bangs from her wet face. "Foolish woman." He muttered as he listened to her cry. "All things need to heal."

Kagome looked up as tears kept coming. "W-what?"

Sesshomaru finger combed her hair out of the way, looking at her distraught face and feeling his chest tighten. "When demons and even animals are hurt, we find a calm spot and sit still. We allow ourselves to heal and go through the process. We do not move, we do not go onwards until we have completed the healing process." He shook his head as he looked down at her. "Humans are the only species I know that don't heed natural instincts." Or maybe they really didn't have any left…but he kept that to himself knowing that would get her riled up.

She said nothing but just continued to hold onto him and cry. He didn't know how long he had done so. But her weight had increased, and her noises had changed. He shifted her to see her face and then his own gaze softened. She had literally cried herself to sleep. Thinking quickly of what to do, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. Making sure the key was in his right hand, he lifted the woman up in his hold gently. He pushed his aura against her and nuzzled his nose in her hair one last time, promising her time to heal that night and the following day. It was the least that could be done for her valiant efforts and nurturing nature towards Rin.

Sesshomaru walked through the kitchen and out into the dining room making a mental note to return to collect their things and shut down the place before he retired. He walked to the front, back into the elevator from which Kagome came. He moved as close as he could get to the floor buttons and opened one box with the key. He glanced at his restaurant one last time feeling the hairs on the back of his neck raise but unsure of why. He caught the sight then of a little spider crawling its way into the elevator and quickly he killed it. He looked again to see another one leave and scramble away.

'Naraku.' His eyes narrowed at the implications of the little spiders so conveniently crawling around at the late hour of the night around his restaurant. He made a mental note to search for the big spider later. Sesshomaru looked around in the hall one last time unable to shake the idea that they weren't entirely alone but he sensed nothing else. Sesshomaru flared his aura in warning just in case and searched outwards but found nothing. His golden eyes looked back down at the dead spider with a snigger. He put the key back into a single lock and the elevator closed taking him to a place that for the first time would be known by another living being. And a human miko female at that. Or so he thought, as a little spider sat in the far corner of the elevator watching his every move.

Kikyo felt her heart beating through her chest as she held her cell phone tightly in her hand. She closed her eyes and leaned heavily against the supporting wall, tilting her head back with a pained expression on her face. Her concealing aura vanished from around her body, making her presence known. Hot tears welled in her eyes as her sister's shouted words repeated over and over in her head. She looked down at her phone at the missed calls and messages she received from Inuyasha and Izayoi desiring to know where Kagome was at the unreasonably late hour and if she had found out anything. Their fear and worry were felt through their words printed in the text blaring out at her through her screen.

A burning pain lit up her heart at the truth in her sister's words that she finally let spill from her mouth. Kikyo knew that Kagome blamed her for many things, but it had taken her back to hear for what exactly and why. The raw reason Kagome felt the way she felt. Sadness, grief, and anger swelled in her chest despite her mind trying its best to rationalize the conversation she had just overheard between Kagome and Sesshomaru. She knew Kagome felt like this but hearing it finally…was just painful.

Wet hot tears slid down her cheeks and fell onto the screen of her phone as another one of Inuyasha's call was forwarded to her voicemail. She couldn't talk to him right now. She couldn't talk to anyone right now. She could feel the slightly loose confines of her own pain and insecurities unravel at the seams. Her world was spinning, and she couldn't quite get a grasp on her current state of reality.

Suddenly the sound of footsteps approaching caught her attention. She gripped with strained fingers against the wall in the hallway of the first floor of Sesshomaru's building to steady herself while glaring angrily at the one that she knew had planned this. Fierce fiery reiki bubbled within her as she watched the smirking spider demon walk her way with a nonchalant smirk on his face, holding a bottle of wine in the other hand. His black satin suit sat neatly on his frame as if he had just left some lux event. His long black hair was pulled in a ponytail at the nape of his neck leaving his bangs to hand over his forehead.

"Y-you bastard!" She muttered as she shot out a blast of purple reiki energy at the demon. A barrier quickly flew up around the spider, blocking her pitiful attack against him. Fiery purple and black light crackled in the hallway and bounced off the walls peeling paint in some areas and pushing back the furniture that sat neatly along the walls of the hallway. The lights flickered on and off above them.

"Are you trying to attract attention, Kikyo?" Naraku narrowed his own gaze at her but his smirk still stayed upon his face as their clashing powers highlighted his rather gleeful expression for anyone to see. The light and shadows bounced off his features and danced in his eyes. Soon after, the light died down after her attack was absorbed until all that was left was just crackling of black energy bouncing around the hall.

The doorman ran in at the commotion and Naraku turned around quickly holding out his hand and sending a burst of black light at the unsuspecting demon. Immediately, the doorman was struck in the chest and he fell down unconscious to his knees before falling face forward to the marble floor. A dark barrier fell upon them and reached to the doors blocking the entrance and moved down the hallway.

Naraku's red eyes lolled back onto Kikyo's form. He took in her distraught form and angry tears. Her red coat was hanging off her frame and her long black hair fell at all angles around her head. She clearly rushed to get over to Sesshomaru's restaurant by the looks of it. He tilted his head and looked at the black bottle he carried. "In vino veritas." He spoke with a smile and wiggled the bottle for her to see. "It's a very vintage bottle made for a demon's palate and should never be consumed by humans. Poor Kagome." He said as she looked up to the ceiling as if he could see something that she couldn't. "Let's hope those miko powers kick in to combat any alcohol poisoning."

"W-why!" Kikyo yelled, clutching her fists tightly and straightening her pose into that of a battle stance. The heat of her aura filled her body and for a minute her pain and grief had subsided to focus on the demon that set this up. She could feel his aura shifting and turning all around her as if she was inside of him. The walls seemed to beat with a rhythm like a heartbeat. She looked out the nearby windows and she couldn't see much of anything. Nor could she hear anything as well. He had grown a lot stronger since the last time they faced off. She was a bit rebuffed at his nonchalant behavior towards her. Before he took her as a serious threat but now he seemed to be uninterested in any threat she offered to him.

Naraku titled his head to the side. "Come Kikyo. Don't be so naive." He said as he walked over to the side of the hall and sat in one of the chairs. He sat the bottle down next to him and dusted off some imaginary dirt off his crisp pants before continuing. "I can't get what I need done if all my pawns are out of control. But anyway, I didn't expect you to honestly get here so fast. But, once again you amaze me, Kikyo."

Kikyo's rage was consuming. "You can't play with people like this! You may have changed for Marie but you are still a vile despicable demon!" She spat angrily. "I bet if she knew what you were-"

"Watch your tongue, Kikyo. I'm far more powerful than you realize." Naraku glared, his voice dropping an octave. He turned towards her, providing his full attention. "I have one rule and that is for everyone to keep my beloved's name out of their mouths and actions or I will give you something to really grieve about." He warned as his eyes glowed menacingly with his threat clear.

Kikyo tilted her chin up understanding very well as to what he was referring to. Naraku cared not for others and he sure would use any means to get his way. Or at least that who she thought he was. She couldn't fathom how he managed to weasel his way in the heart of Marie. But that was for debate another time. She gritted her teeth torn between heeding his warning and challenging him to the fullest. Her powers bubbled just beneath the surface of her skin. Her stomach felt like a whole container of spiders were released inside, crawling and itching their way towards the top.

Naraku shook his head. "And lets not blame me for the problems you have with that sister of yours. I need you two to play your parts but you two seem to can't get it right without a little push." He sat forward and looked at her. His playful grin coming back to his face making him look very much like the handsome devil that he was always getting referenced to. "Now, all I said to you was to answer when I called." He said walking her through their current dilemma. "You and the others were worried that your sister hadn't returned, called, or texted at such a late hour. I simply called to tell you what I saw and where she was. And you followed my instructions and answered."

"You said something was wrong with Kagome and that I needed to come here right away." Kikyo grunted through gritted teeth at the smirking demon.

"Indeed." He confirmed as he nudged his chin towards the elevators. "I did not lie. Something was very wrong. She drank the wrong kind of demon wine." He said as he looked at the bottle to his side. "I'm sure Sesshomaru meant to give her this one and not the one that just so happens to have a drop of my venom inside to loosen judgement and morals. I put just a tiny drop to go unnoticed by the dog but just enough to work your sister up." He spoke as he shrugged his shoulders. "And you were needed to come here." He confirmed as he tilted his wrist to look at the time on his watch. "But now, you aren't needed anymore. It seems Sesshomaru is taking excellent care of her now."

"Bastard…You can't do this." Kikyo choked out as she glared heatedly at Naraku knowing very well his game. She knew he planned this. "You can't scheme and force people to do things you want."

Naraku sighed growing bored with the conversation. He was never fond of people telling him always what he could and couldn't do based on imaginary moral compasses that they themselves were disillusioned to use. He watched as his little black spider came to him from down the hall. It crawled up the chair he was currently sitting in. He smirked to see the little thing jump on the back of his hand and crawl underneath the cuffs of his shirt and jacket. He then stood up and adjusted his tie with centuries of practice before turning away.

"I can do whatever I want, Kikyo. And besides, let's not inch away from the real plot twist of this night." He said before turning to look at her. His eyes were blazing as he took in the sight of his prey standing before him. "Don't push your anger on me. No…this anger that you have stems from yourself, Kikyo. You can't handle the truth of your sister's words. How she really feels about you. Now you have no choice but to face it. And Kagome had to face herself as well. She needed just a tad bit of liquid venomous courage to do so. Now things can finally move forward." He said before making his way over to the slumped doorman.

Naraku touched his shoulder and squeezed lightly. "You were tired and simply passed out." He spoke to the man before releasing him. His dark aura began to seep back into his body. The lights flickered again above them and a breeze blew in the hallway as everything returned to normal. She could feel people again walking outside and inside the building on its many floors. However, the reiki of her sister and the demonic energy of Sesshomaru was nonexistent as if they had vanished.

"So, what are you going to do now, Kikyo." Naraku stood up and watched as the man began to awaken. His body was engulfed in hues of black and purple smoke. Kikyo watched feeling the blood pumping through her veins as he vanished before her.

"Naraku!" She screamed out but no one answered. The demon on the ground began to come to. Kikyo looked at him for a minute, before walking slowly over to him. She lowered her body to his side and lightly touched him sending calming pulses of healing energy through him. Once she was sure his abilities were taking over, she withdrew her aura. She left a little bit of pain in his chest just to confirm the story Naraku implanted in his mind. Kikyo kept her aura close to her body to seem like just an average human. Her miko powers would no doubt set the demon into defense mode and the last thing she wanted was to attract attention to herself. She touched his arm gently as he hissed and revealed sharp fangs clearly alarmed and disgruntled. "Are you ok, sir?" She asked with a straight face.

"W-what happened?" He asked as he rubbed his chest and head. His disoriented expression stayed upon his face as he glanced at her and his surroundings. He looked at her and saw the tears that stayed upon her face and the way she looked at him.

"I don't know. You did give me quite a scare." She responded, realizing that she needed to cover her tracks. Kikyo wiped her face and finger combed her hair back before reaching for the demon male and helping him up to his feet. "I was just leaving and I saw you stumble inside clutching your chest. Then you fell. You should really go to the hospital. Would you like me to call an ambulance?" She asked.

The demon shook his head and patted her hands. "No-no, I think I'm fine. I will check myself in after I speak to my boss. What's your name, mam?" He asked.

Kikyo froze then. Quickly without thinking much longer she gave him one. "Kagome. Kagome Higurashi." She said before backing away and giving his arm a pat. "You should really go to the hospital now, sir. You aren't well."

"Thank you, thank you." The demon responded, relieved that the human woman was nice to see to his welfare. Such things didn't happen much in the world they lived in. "Thank you, Ms. Kagome. But I'm going to call the Mrs. and then go. Thank you for your kindness."

'If only you knew…' She thought before nodding and walking slowly towards the door. She watched long enough to make sure he was ok and indeed calling his wife before turning towards the exit and getting out of there. Soon as she reached the pavement of the sidewalk, cool air brushed her cheeks and forehead sending a calm soothing balm of relief against her skin. She inhaled deeply and exhaled, looking around into the dark night illuminated by the Iron Lady and her fellow lamp posts and glittery lights all around.

The sound of her phone buzzing in her coat pocket caught her attention and she quickly dug it out to see what she missed. She clutched her forehead and started walking thinking of plausible excuses to cover her lack of communication back to the concerned parties. She quickly began making calls one by one and telling everyone that Kagome was fine and just fell asleep, clearly exhausted. No one questioned the tale and soon she was down to one person left to call.

Kikyo looked at his name light on the screen. All the missed calls and messages staring at her in the face. Inuyasha cared so much for their family…for her sister. She bit her lip knowing what to tell him and what to leave out of the conversation. Her chest hurt a little to tell him the answer to the question she knew he would ask. She thought of lying to him and saying that Kagome was at her place but she knew somehow she would get caught in that lie. Sighing to herself, she stopped in midstride and began dialing his number. It rung once before he answered with a frantic voice.

"Kikyo! Where is she? Is she ok? Are you ok?" Came Inuyasha's rough voice from the other end. Clearly, he was wide awake and waiting to jump into action.

"Yeah." Kikyo said trying to put relief in her voice. She cleared her throat and tried again. "She's just tired and fell asleep is all. She overworked herself finally." She explained and waited to hear what he would say.

"Well where is she? Where are you? I'm coming." He stated gruffly.

"No!" Kikyo cut him off and shook her head at the tone she took. "Inuyasha, she just needs space and to get some sleep. She's safe and she will talk to you when she wakes up. Look…I'm going to call you back later ok. She safe. She's ok. Everyone knows. Get some sleep. Ok. Bye."

"Kik-"

She hung up. Kikyo bit her lip and pushed her phone to forehead feeling tears well up and push to fall. Everything was hitting her at once and she couldn't breathe now. She stopped walking and watched as cars and taxis passed her by. A few late-night pedestrians walked by and stared at her for a minute before putting a little bit more speed in their pace. Kikyo combed her bangs out of her face and glanced around the area before looking down at her phone. Inuyasha's name was on the screen and her phone began to buzz again. She quickly denied his call and sent him to voicemail. With shaking fingers, she turned her phone off and shoved the device back into her pocket.

Kikyo looked around for a taxi and went out to the side to wait for one to come by so she could take it to her therapist office. Her nose began to run and her eyes stung as she fought for calm. Her sister's words, Naraku's threats, and Inuyasha's frantic call danced in her head and cut at her heart. Well what was left of it. She looked down the street growing frustrated when an empty cab did not come by and so she proceeded to walk to the nearest subway station.

She was relieved to see very few patrons had come into the bar that night. Her eyes swept the room and immediately she began making a beeline to the bar per usual. But this time, she felt the need to do damage. Her mind would not slow down and neither did her heart for that matter. She found a nice seat on the far end in hopes that no one would sit next to her. The shadow that cast down over her shoulders from the dark corner she thought would deter anyone from accompanying her.

Kikyo's nail beat against the worn counter as her need for a quick fix grew inside of her. She didn't know why but her nerves were jumbled up inside of her belly. She had many thoughts, but she just couldn't see how this was her problem. She immediately searched the counter and pulled over an empty ashtray while the other hand searched through her wallet for a cigarette and lighter. She went with the motions completely oblivious to the wind rider that studied her from the far corner of the bar.

Kagura knew this behavior very well. She had seen it countless of times in the night when her patrons would come in and sit at her bar hoping that whatever she served up would calm the storm inside. Her red gleaming eyes hovered over the priestess watching her immediately light the cigarette she found and inhale the smoke deeply into her lungs with a loud sigh.

Kagura knew something was wrong. Kikyo had become less of a customer and more of a friend. They would chit-chat at the bar for a few and then leave each other to think calmly in their own space. They were the same in many ways. She found an odd sense of comfort in that knowledge. Some would see them as cold and mysterious women. Women of Lilith's womb from what she had heard once from an ex. Kagura looked down at her bar and frowned at the grain of wood.

They had a lot in common. More than Kikyo probably knew but that would change. The last thing she wanted to do was to see her comrade get caught up in her brother's manipulative web. Naraku had come by several times requesting her aid. She was shocked at first to hear him drop Kikyo's name but knowing who she was and her connections, it made sense why Naraku held interest in her. Well interest in what she could do. She knew Naraku had big plans for the priestess but she didn't know to what extent. She hoped whatever Naraku was planning, that it wouldn't break the woman. Kikyo didn't deserve anymore pain. And if he did cause anymore, no amount of smoking and alcohol would fix the woman.

Kagura pulled one of the bar towels and sprayed the counter as her own thoughts started to wonder. The last few weeks had been fairly odd to say the least. Her brother was in town getting into Tashio business and her own. A dark expression passed over her features at the remembrance of the conversation she had with her older brother. It started with a simple request and then ended with him trying to insert himself into her business regarding the wolf prince. It would seem he had gotten to the demon and scared him off.

Her chest tightened at the consequences of Naraku's actions. Kouga had vanished without a goodbye nor an explanation. Kouga had showed his cowardice by tucking tail and doing exactly what Naraku wanted him to do. To stay away from her. Or perhaps he was finally doing the right thing by being with his intended. By being with the one society had chosen for him. The one that he didn't want and didn't choose.

Kagura closed her eyes and cursed trying to keep herself together. The stinging of her eyes watered a little and she quickly pushed her pain down and focused on the agenda before her. She at one point thought she didn't have a heart but clearly she did because it was breaking. Kagura once prided herself on her ability to come and go as she pleased. To become a man's wildest dream come true and then disappear without attachment. But somehow, Kouga had gotten to her.

Kouga was so prideful, arrogant, and self-assured. He challenged her. Brought excitement into her life. Made her feel so many things that she could hardly keep track. They were both just playing around. And somehow along the way, things got serious. Hearts got involved. Promises were made and then broken. The stark contrast in their lifestyles were now more apparent than ever. At first, neither of them cared until she came along.

Now, she wanted to be free of Kouga. She wanted to forget about all the long conversations, good times, and the raw friendship she had with him. She wanted her body to be rid of his scent and the memories of his body blending into hers. He made her believe that they could be more. He told her often when they were together rather it be in bed or in public that she was what he wanted. But it seemed, this was not to happen. His clan and status would not have it.

Kagura had looked around her scarce bar and then up at the clock. It was exceptionally late which meant her thoughts could run free in private without the looks of others. Her staff had arrived to help with the night crowd, waiting tables, running food from the kitchen, watching over the bar. She once again turned to look at Kikyo as the woman sat on the bar stool and took another long drag from her cigarette. Her other bartender kept pouring the priestess one drink after another. A pain of guilt and sadness weighed on her every time Kikyo tossed back a drink. A few times, Kikyo would talk to herself and called out for more as time ran by. But what began to scare Kagura was the forlorn pained look in her eyes as she stared at the counter top. Kagura knew that something had happened. Something that would set the woman back a few steps.

Kikyo then lit another cigarette having finished the first one. The end of the cancer stick lit up a bright fiery red before dying down when her lips released. The smoke brushed against her nose and tempted her into lighting one herself. It would seem tonight, they all needed a drink and a cigarette. But she wouldn't allow her friend to sink alone like that. Not in her place. Not in her presence.

Kagura thought quickly on what to do. She wouldn't let Kikyo leave her bar in her state. She did not need to be alone tonight. The wind demoness tossed her rag down and reached into her back pocket. She quickly thought of the one person she knew that would help. The message flew from her fingers and onto the screen before she pressed send. Finally, she tucked her phone back into her pocket and proceeded to phase two. Kagura picked up a clean glass and rinsed it again before filling it up with cranberry juice and tossing a small straw in. She also reached passed her bartender and grabbed a water for the hell of it. She walked over to the woman that was lost in her thoughts and placed the drink in front of her. "Here you go." She spoke with a smirk before reaching for her towel again and returned to her task of cleaning the bar.

Kikyo blinked from her thoughts and looked down at the non-alcoholic beverage. The warmth she felt in her body did nothing to chase the chill that corroded her bones. She rolled her eyes and her slim fingers combed her hair back with her other free hand. "I know when the bartended starts getting you water, it's a sign that you have had too much." Kikyo stated as she turned to face the wind demoness. "But I can handle myself." She said as she blew out the smoke she had inhaled. Her fingers charged a light pink color indicating her miko abilities.

Kagura kept cleaning her bar before responding. "Well I'm making that call early. It's a cranberry and vodka…without the vodka." She motioned with her chin towards the drink.

Kikyo chuckled and reached for the small glass while the other flicked the ashes off the end of her cigarette in the ash tray. She knew this was Kagura's way of caring. She had found out about Kikyo's sobriety and slowly over time began watching and putting limits on how many tonics and beers she could have. Now she had gotten downright shameful with just giving her just juice on random nights. Kikyo took a sip from the tart beverage before placing it down on the bar. She glared at the empty glasses next to her as if suddenly realizing her error. "I guess I should be thankful."

Kagura didn't miss a beat as she continued to wipe closer to the edge of the counter. "That drink is still gonna cost you fifty cents. Do I look like I'm running a nonprofit?" She asked cheekily as she looked about and communicated with her staff to handle things while she stepped to the side.

Kikyo laughed and took another drag from her cigarette. "Not at all."

And time ran for a little bit as they talked sharing minor details about the development of their days. Neither one got in too deep but yet a silent understanding was felt between the two. Kikyo listened as Kagura muttered her distrust in wolves and the miko responded with the parallels between them, dogs, and spiders. Kikyo took note of Kagura's darting eyes ever so often towards the door. Clearly waiting for the wolf to run in from the wild. The same could be said about Kagura's observation of Kikyo, who would look down at her phone that was silent. Then the silence came back. Kagura noticed that Kikyo had gotten quiet again. She looked up to see Kikyo's happy expression was slowly fading back into her contemplative stoic state. Kagura knew something was definitely wrong. "What is it, Kikyo?" The wind mistress finally asked having had enough of seeing her pain reflected in the face of her friend.

Kikyo didn't respond. She continued to stare out into space with her cigarette seated loosely between her index and middle finger. Kagura wasn't going to push the conversation. She knew when to take a hint. Like always she moved further down the way when Kikyo's voice rang out. "How did you know?"

"Come again?" Kagura asked as she focused on a particular nasty spot of dried beer.

"H-how did you know, you loved him? Kouga?"

Kagura's breath choked in her throat. Immediately her head spun to the priestess who sat staring openly at her. It was one of the rare times when Kikyo was open and baring her soul. Kagura stood up straight and shared eye contact. No communication passed between them. However, a knew found understanding was shared. Kagura looked at her sharp nails and then her eyes trailed the tattoo sleeve along her right arm.

A smile ghosted on her lips. "I knew…when I felt real freedom for the first time in my life."

Kikyo smiled and looked at her cigarette. The desire to taste the bitterness on her tongue had passed. Quickly she put out the cigarette and reached for her purse. She tapped the bar with her money and stood up. She slid her money to Kagura and watched as the demoness looked at her curiously. "You and I are more alike than you know." She spoke before letting go and reaching for her purse.

Kagura stood confused watching the woman prepare to leave before she yelled out and stopped her. "Kikyo." She watched patiently as the woman adjusted her jacket and turned to face her. "I heard on the wind that the Yomi's were coming into town, possibly in the next two weeks. Naraku's got plans to take down the Utomi's and that involves the Yomi clan. IT's serious. He plans on getting rid of them but that involves your family somehow. Watch your family and your back."

Kikyo stood still for a moment. Her face showed no emotion. No rage, no anger, no confusion, or concern. Just…haunted. Kikyo sighed heavily and ran her fingers through her hair. How she wished for another drink; just for the road. Life was just too real. She looked at her phone one last time before deciding to leave it off. She placed it in her jacket pocket and looked up whenshe froze in place. "What?" She whispered.

Kagura tilted her head but turned to look towards the exit to see standing there looking thrown together was none other than Inuyasha. Kagura turned towards Kikyo and saw her face had changed to that of shock and dare she say embarrassment. Kikyo quickly began tugging on her clothes and fixing her jacket. She grabbed her water and tossed it down quickly as if it was another tonic. Kagura studied her before her eyebrows lifted in realization. Everything was suddenly making sense. There on Kikyo's face was her own reflection. "Oh babe." Kagura whispered with a sad sigh as she turned to watch Inuyasha move with speed towards the miko.

"Thanks for looking out, Kagura. I owe you." With that Kikyo turned around and made her way towards the exit.

How did he know she was there?

What did he want?

He had his answers, why come here?

Kikyo didn't bother to stop as they finally crossed paths in the rather crowded bar. Well that's what it felt like to Kikyo. Immediately, Inuyasha's hands reached out to stop Kikyo. His strong grip grabbed her by her shoulders and his nose went to work deciphering for himself what happened. Kikyo put her hand out against his chest to stop him while keeping her emotions at bay. Everything was just too raw and the last thing she wanted was to be seen.

Before he could say her name, she cut him off. "I told you, she is fine. Go home, Inuyasha!" She spoke with a cold firmness in her voice before attempting to move around him. Her arms came up to brush off his hold but he didn't move. A few guys from the bar took notice and sat forward ready to intervene if things got out of hand.

Inuyasha did not budge and didn't take anyone in that bar as a threat. Instead he held her tighter. He really looked at her with his bright worried golden eyes. Her face looked pained, her breath smelled heavily of alcohol and smoke. And she felt…cold. He had been calling her phone worried sick about her. She didn't sound fine on the phone and the way she stated her response did not sit right with him. But if she said her sister was fine, then he would take her word for it. Kikyo loved her sister rather she realized it or not. And that was something to take into consideration. But he didn't come here for Kagome. She was clearly somewhere fine. Kikyo however, was not.

Kikyo opened her mouth to tell him off again until Inuyasha let her go. His hands came down to rest around her hands. Then he held them gently in his own. Inuyasha's gaze softened as he nodded to Kagura in thanks before looking back to the distraught priestess. "I came to get you, Kikyo." He said with finality. "Let's go home." Was all he said.

Kikyo's eyes widened for a minute before she forcefully pulled her hands away. "I am. To my own home. Right after I get another-"

Before she could finish her statement, Inuyasha had picked her up and turned towards the door. Kikyo gripped him hard as the room spun for a little bit. She realized that the drinks she had was more than she thought and that she had yet to come down all the way from her little high. "Inuyasha, please don't move too fast, ok." Was all she could say as she focused her energy on ridding her body of the toxins that she prescribed herself with.

Inuyasha's ears twitched on top of his head as he looked down at the woman that fit in his hold. He smirked as he watched her cheeks burn pink. Her messy visage gave a different angle to her. Never had he seen her so untidy. Even when she painted, she was still put together. Now her jacket hung off of her. Her hair was everywhere. Her makeup had smudged around her eyes giving her slight racoon look. "Don't worry. I got you, crazy wrench." He muttered before looking back to Kagura who stood with her arms crossed over her chest. He nodded his head again. "I owe you one."

Kagura waved her hand and looked away annoyed. "Hurry up and get out, Inuyasha! You are stopping the flow of traffic and I got a business to run." With that she hurriedly went back to seeing the other patrons at her bar. The wind demoness watched out of the corner of her eye as the half-demon took her friend out of sight. She listened as Kikyo ranted and raved for the guy to put her down so she could walk like a descent human being. Kagura shook her head and looked again at the grain of wood before her. "Canines…" She muttered with a sad sigh knowing that her friend shared in the same unfortunate fate as she did. Loving someone that you can't have.

Don't get too comfortable now!

You know what to do...