Kagome stepped around Inuyasha to face the disguised woman. "Um, I'm Kago-"
"Who the hell are you?" Inuyasha asked, cutting Kagome off before she could reveal her identity. Did she have no fucking self-preservation? This woman could be here to hurt her and she just...fucking hell.
The woman looked unaffected by his outburst. "Could we perhaps move a little further from the top of the steps? I just have some questions," she said, ignoring his question.
"That's fine." Kagome gestured for the woman to follow, leaving Inuyasha standing there staring after them, mouth opening and closing in silent protest.
Yeah, they needed to have a chat about her safety, and soon.
He followed the two women, keeping a close eye on their visitor. He didn't sense any yoki and he thought she maybe had reiki but if she did, it was pulled in close and hidden. Or weak. They stopped when their position could no longer be seen from the street.
"I'm sorry if this all seems suspicious but I took a risk in coming here." The woman removed her sunglasses and her...hair? It was a wig and it was hiding long black hair, shiny and pin-straight, underneath. It fell down her back and around her shoulders once it was no longer constrained. "My name is Kikyo. I'm assuming your Kagome," she said, nodding towards the woman she was seeking.
"Um, yes, that would be me," Kagome said, a hint of nervousness finally creeping into her scent.
Good, maybe she wasn't so fucking stupid after all.
"May I inquire who your friend is? I have some personal and...sensitive information to share with you."
Inuyasha growled, low and threatening. "I'm not leaving so you may as well spit it out." He looked at Kagome, silently daring her to object. She glared back and rolled her eyes.
"It's fine, he's a close friend."
Kikyo eyed Inuyasha one more time then turned all her attention to Kagome. "Alright then. I am here to talk about your spiritual abilities."
Kagome's shoulders slumped and she shook her head. "I don't have any kind of power. Sorry."
"I'm aware," Kikyo said. "I should start from the beginning. First, I am, or rather I was a doctor. Specifically, I was an ob-gyn but I left the field and do mostly research now. I practiced for 25 years before retiring almost five years ago. I was-"
"Bullshit," Inuyasha interrupted. "You can't be more than 25 years old. Maybe 30 if I'm being generous."
She turned her attention towards him again. "I assure you, I am well over 60."
"How?" Kagome asked, eyes wide but not disbelieving.
Inuyasha's skin prickled under the sudden rush of reiki the woman unleashed. It didn't burn him like he would expect but that didn't stop him from jumping back out of reflex.
"The fuck, lady? You trying to purify me?" He looked to Kagome and saw her body swaying, eyes screwed shut. He was at her side in an instant, steadying her. "Hey, you alright?"
She opened her eyes slowly and took a few deep breaths. "That was...a lot. Why…?" She trailed off and looked at Kikyo. "How did that even affect me? I don't…"
Inuyasha spun to face Kikyo, ready to tell her the fuck off. "Bitch," he snarled but a gentle touch of Kagome's hand on his shoulder stopped his potential tirade. She stepped around him and gave him a pleading look before facing Kikyo.
"So it's true then?" Kagome asked. "It really does extend your life if it's strong enough."
"It does. That's not why I'm here though." She nodded at Inuyasha. "Sorry about your friend, it wouldn't have purified him, even if he were full yokai instead of a hanyo."
Inuyasha growled at the observation. He was liking this woman less by the second.
"Given that you are hanyo," Kikyo said, turning her gaze on him, "have you not sensed anything from her?"
He was about to answer in the negative but something gave him pause. He had sensed things from Kagome but always brushed them off as nothing. It was never more than a vague feeling, a slight prickle or gentle caress against his yoki, but it was something. And they never had been able to figure out how she worked the lift with no spiritual powers. Was it possible?
"How would she not know after all this time? It's a little late for her powers to manifest at this point."
"Her powers have been sealed since the day she was born. And before you ask, I know because I'm the one who sealed her."
"What the fuck?!"
"Wha-" Kagome fainted.
What's that light?
She was cold, floating, surrounded by darkness save for a single point of light in the distance. It was so quiet she could hear every beat of her heart and every rasp of her breath. Her body shuddered, protesting the lack of warmth, encouraging her to move.
The pink glow around the light resonated with her, pulsing in time with her heartbeats. Kagome urged herself towards it, moving slowly forward. When she was closer, she reached out, her fingers coming in contact with some kind of barrier that materialized at her touch. It sent a jolt of energy down her arm and she was pushed back deeper into the nothingness, away from the light and the promise of warmth.
"Kagome! Hey, Kagome!"
She was weightless, eyelids glued shut, hearing muffled, but that voice…
"C'mon Kagome, open your eyes."
I'm trying...it's cold and I'm so tired. Inuyasha…
She could feel...an arm cradling her, a hand squeezing her shoulder. The gentle brush of fingers against her cheek made her skin tingle. Eyes, she needed to open her eyes.
"Kagome."
Inuyasha.
Her eyelids fluttered open and he was there, hand cupping her cheek, eyes intense with worry. He pulled her closer and she gratefully accepted the heat of his body.
"I'm ok," she managed to say despite the cottony feel in her mouth. "What happened?"
"You fainted," Inuyasha said while he helped her sit up.
She took a second to look around, orienting herself. It was well past sunset, the few stars allowed to exist by the city lights shining in the sky. Her body trembled in the cool night air and she pressed further against Inuyasha to chase away the chill. They were still in the same spot and the woman, Kikyo, was kneeling on her other side, studying her. She gave Kagome an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you'd react quite so...powerfully," Kikyo said, pulling a bottle from her bag. "Here, drink this."
Inuyasha growled and tried to reach for the bottle but Kikyo maneuvered around his hand so kagome could take it. The bottle was clear, dark blue liquid sloshing inside.
"It's just vitamin water, I promise. It always helps me when I overdo it with my powers. I make it myself but if your friend wants to give it a sniff to confirm it's safe, I won't be offended."
Kagome removed the cap and smelled the contents. It smelled like a sports drink so she took a sip, tasting blueberries and something bitter but not unpleasant. She ignored Inuyasha's attempts to sniff the liquid, taking a few larger gulps. It helped more than she expected and she was able to start focusing on what led to her fainting spell.
"Her powers have been sealed since the day she was born. And before you ask, I know because I'm the one who sealed her."
Oh, right...that. How the hell was she supposed to process that bit of information? "So, uh...spiritual powers?" she asked, looking at Kikyo.
"Yes, spiritual powers. I know you must have a lot of questions and I intend to answer all of them, in time. A lot of things happened before you were even born that will be relevant. You're going to need to know everything to understand your current situation."
Inuyasha, who had remained uncharacteristically silent so far, snorted. "Guess it's just one of those kinds of days. Get on with it then, we don't have all fucking night."
Kagome elbowed him in the side. "Inuyasha, be nice."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "'Inuyasha, be nice.' That's what you sound like."
"I do not! Why are you such an-"
"Inuyasha? As in Takahashi Inuyasha, son of Takahashi Toga?" Kikyo interpreted their back and forth.
"How the fuck do you know that?" Inuyasha jumped up, pulling Kagome with him and shoving her behind his back. His lip curled in a snarl and he kept his arm out to prevent her from getting around him to face Kikyo. "I suggest you start talking."
Standing and taking a step back, Kikyo put her hands up defensively. "I'm not here to harm anyone and I certainly had no idea I would be meeting someone like you tonight."
'Someone like me?" Inuyasha's growl was back, a constant threatening rumble.
"I mean no insult. I've studied your father's research extensively so I recognized your name. I'm sorry if I startled you."
"Startled is an understatement," Kagome mumbled, still trying to push her way past the wall of hanyo.
"Would you just stay behind me, woman? We really need to talk about your complete lack of self-preservation. You're gonna be the fucking death of me."
Kagome ducked her head under Inuyasha's held-out arm so she could at least see Kikyo. "Sorry, he's a little overprotective. I really would like to talk with you."
"It's quite alright. I'd heard inu yokai and hanyo were protective of their significant others and he's definitely no exception."
"She's not-"
"I'm not-"
Kikyo gave them both a flat look. "Of course. Don't know how I made that mistake."
Inuyasha's face was bright red and Kagome was sure hers was too. Momentarily distracted by Kikyo's assumption, Kagome finally managed to duck around her roadblock to face the woman piling information onto their already overloaded night.
"Look, can you just tell us what's going on? This is getting ridiculous and it's getting late." Kagome batted Inuaysha's hands away and ignored his grumbling about staying behind him.
"Well, my original intent in coming here was to discuss your sealed reiki. As I said, I'm the one who sealed you and now I'd like to remedy that."
"Remedy how?"
"By unsealing your powers and helping you train. You felt it, didn't you? When I unleashed my reiki, yours responded, however faint it may have been at the moment."
She remembered her vision while passed out, the wall of energy that kept her from the pure light in the distance. "I think I saw it when I fainted."
Kikyo nodded, her eyes lighting up as Kagome described the light and the tingling that ran up her arm. "The wall is one of many layers of seals placed on your reiki. I'll have to remove them slowly to let you adjust to your increasing power. You are...exceptionally strong."
Her, strong? Question upon question piled up in Kagome's mind, making her head spin. Is that why she was sealed? Did someone think her powers were too much? Did mama know? Had her grandfather known? She glanced at Inuyasha for support but he looked like he was having his own internal struggle. Maybe he was worried about being purified. She couldn't read the look on his face but it didn't look promising.
"Why?" was all she could manage to ask. Let someone whose life wasn't being turned upside down at the moment figure out which 'why' to answer.
"We're going to have to save the questions for another time. I'm going to give you my phone number so we can discuss where to go from here. I can't be seen entering or leaving the shrine but I'll make it work."
She handed Kagome a card with nothing written on it but her number. Kagome remained silent, wanting this to be over so she could sit down and think for a damn minute while also wanting the woman to stay and explain everything.
"I will expect your call. The sooner the better." She shot Inuyasha a knowing look when she said that. "It is advisable that you keep this to yourself. There are people who would take advantage and possibly try to harm you if they knew. Stay safe, Kagome."
"Wait, that's it? Just, 'hey, I sealed your powers, here's my number, bye.'"
"You'll need time to think, I'm sure. I will come back as soon as you call me, I promise. My assistant can handle things while I'm training you."
"Is this really all necessary?" Kagome asked.
"Yes. When I say you're exceptionally powerful, I mean it." Kikyo sighed. "I should show you…" She approached Kagome slowly, like one would approach a frightened animal. Inuyasha's growl made it clear why she decided to take the cautious approach. "I'm not going to hurt her. I just want her to see."
She placed her middle and pointer fingers on Kagome's forehead. "I'm going to show you the center of your power, unhindered by barriers." She looked at Inuyasha. "You may want to stand behind her in case it's too much."
His growl never ceased, but he complied with her suggestion. "You do anything to hurt her and I'm not letting you leave here in one piece."
"Good, once her powers are unsealed, you're going to need that attitude."
Kagome watched the interaction, a chill sweeping down her spine at Kikyo's words. Maybe she didn't want her powers unsealed after all.
"Close your eyes, Kagome. Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," she said and closed her eyes.
She was not ready. The rush of power was accompanied by a brilliant flash of light. She could feel her reiki crackling along her skin, flowing through her veins, jumping between her spread fingers. She thought she heard someone shouting her name but it was hard to hear over the roar of her power.
Then it was gone, leaving her gasping for breath. When she opened her eyes, Kikyo was pushing herself up off the ground and Inuyasha was grabbing her shoulders trying to get her attention.
"Kagome! Hey, you with me?"
"Shit! That couldn't all be...me." She looked over at Kikyo. "Did I hurt you?" she asked, still a little breathless. "Maybe he should have stood behind you instead."
"I'm fine. I should have prepared myself better. You see now what I mean: you have immense amounts of reiki waiting to be unleashed."
Kagome swayed, suddenly feeling unsteady. She would have fallen if not for Inuyasha putting a hand on her back and letting her lean into him. "Is it possible to leave it sealed? It felt like...like it wanted out. Does that make sense?"
"Yes and yes. I can strengthen the barriers already in place and they would hold indefinitely but your power isn't going to like it. It's already pushing its boundaries, trying to manifest and find cracks to escape through. Give yourself a few days to think but don't wait too long. I have to go now but I'll be back as soon as I receive your call. Until then."
"One more thing," Inuyasha growled. "You tell nobody about me, got it? Not a fucking soul."
"I'm well aware of your past and, if it makes you feel any better, I never believed any of the official stories. Your secret is safe with me." Kikyo donned her disguise and slung her bag back over her shoulder. She took one more look at them and sighed. "You two meeting can't be a coincidence. Be careful, please. And..." She hesitated, like she was unsure if she should continue. "Watch out for the spiders." She bowed and made a hasty exit, leaving Kagome and Inuyasha staring after her.
"Spiders? What the fuck?" Inuyasha turned to Kagome. "She was suspicious as hell and you're too damn trusting."
"Maybe I am but I wasn't this time. Did my grandfather ever tell you the specifics of our barrier?"
"Nope, never asked. What does that have to do with anything?" A sudden breeze blew Kagome's hair back off her face, the cool rush of air leaving her shivering. Inuyasha took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, his hands lingering a little longer than necessary. "You're gonna get sick out here."
She slid her arms into the sleeves, snuggling into the warmth of the jacket and breathing in the smell of Inuyasha that surrounded her. "Just being cold won't make me sick. Besides, you're here to protect me from the breeze so I'll be fine."
"Keh, don't know how you survived before you met me."
"Pure luck, I'm sure. Really though, you don't have to worry when we're here. Our barrier is old, powerful, and very specific. Nobody that intends to harm any member of our family can pass through. My grandfather said it took decades to perfect and it's one of the most complicated shrine barriers in existence." She realized she would be able to add her power to the barrier pretty soon and the thought made her oddly happy.
She looked at Inuyasha when he didn't say anything. He was looking away from her, his shoulders slumped. "Is that why you were so quick to trust me? Because of the barrier..." Why did he sound so disappointed? Did he really think she only trusted him because of the barrier? And after telling his story, how could he possibly doubt her?
"Not at all. Just talking to you, getting to know you, that was enough for me to trust you," she tried to reassure him. Moving before she could lose her nerve, she stepped in front of him and slipped her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry for what you had to go through today. I know it wasn't easy for you but I...I'm proud of you for being able to open up."
For a second, he froze against her. His breath hitched, the sound of his heartbeat thundering in her ear. Then his arms came up around her shoulders and he pulled her in tight against his chest. His body relaxed and he let out a breath that ruffled her bangs. "After what you just found out, you're trying to comfort me? Dammit women, do you ever think of yourself?" He sighed and let one hand trail lazily up and down her back. "But...I couldn't have gotten through it without you. Thank you, Kagome."
A few too-fast heartbeats later, they pulled apart. Kagome wanted so much more than these little moments with him. He made her feel safe and warm and...happy. It was dangerous territory and if she ventured any further no amount of complications or poor circumstances would stop her from trying to turn their relationship into a relationship.
She was too tired to let those thoughts go any further at the moment. "We should probably both head to bed." Together, preferably but she pushed that thought aside. "Sleep sounds nice after this shit-show of a day."
"Yeah, especially after that little display of power from that bitch." He glared in the direction Kikyo had left, his lip curling and exposing a fang.
"Inuyasha," she warned.
"What?"
"Be nice. She wasn't a bitch and you shouldn't call people that anyway."
He turned his glare on her but his face softened as soon as their eyes met. "If she's really the one who sealed your powers, then she deserves to be called much worse."
"We don't even know why she did it. Maybe there's a good reason," she argued.
"I fucking doubt it."
"I'm not debating this with you right now. This day had been long enough," she said, spinning away from him to hide her suddenly flaring anger. Her chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. She took a few shallow breaths but it felt like her lungs were being squeezed. "Inu...yash-" Something in her snapped and a small burst of power knocked her back, her vision going dark.
"The hell, woman? What happened? Are you alright?" Inuyasha's worried voice brought her back to herself. His strong hands were gripping her shoulders and his chest was pressed against her back, warming her entire body.
She leaned into him, finding comfort in the way they fit together. "It feels like my reiki is a sleeping bear and we just spent the last hour poking it."
"Guess I shouldn't piss you off anymore then." His arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her even tighter against him.
She was very aware of him, of everywhere their bodies touched. Tilting her head back, she met his concerned golden eyes. Maybe it was the fatigue, her day catching up with her, but she swore she saw something in his expression...something that made it impossible to look away. There was a second, no more than a heartbeat, where she could have stepped out of his hold, breaking whatever spell he'd cast over her.
"Kagome." She could feel the vibration in his chest against her back.
The soothing rumble of her name, the look in his eyes, the solid warmth of his chest, and the way his arms tightened around her stole the last of her rational thought. There wasn't a decision to make anymore and she let herself turn in his arms, let her hands come up and rest on his chest, and let her body lean into him.
He could have stopped her at any point but he seemed to be under a similar trance. When she turned, his hands migrated to her back to pull her closer. His eyes only left hers briefly to flick down to her lips, a silent question.
She already knew her answer.
His breath fanned against her face as he leaned closer, pausing briefly. She fisted her hands in his shirt and closed the scant distance between them, pressing her lips to his. He didn't hesitate to return the pressure and her heart leapt, pulse racing at the feel of him.
It was unlike any kiss she'd experienced before. With Hojo, it always felt quick and almost clinical; lean in, make contact, pull back, go about your day. But this...Inuyasha's mouth moved against hers in the most delicious way, a gentle and firm caress. His lips were warm and soft and a little dry. She wanted more.
He made a sound somewhere between a whimper and a sigh when she parted her lips and let her tongue shyly seek entrance to his mouth. That was all it took to deepen the kiss, their tongues meeting in a slow dance, wrapping around each other, exploring. One of his hands found its way into her hair to tilt her head, giving them both better access. It sent a tingling sensation through Kagome's entire body and she let out the smallest of moans.
Then his mouth was gone along with the rest of his body, leaving her slightly disoriented. When she opened her eyes, he was nowhere to be found.
What. The. Fuck.
"Inuyasha?" she called, knowing he'd hear if he was still anywhere nearby. She couldn't keep the disappointment from her voice, her body shuddering slightly. Blinking her eyes when she felt the sting of forming tears, she tried to call out to him one more time.
When she got no response, she sighed and started trudging towards the house. Maybe kissing him was a mistake, no matter how amazing she felt in the moment. Tears rolled down her cheeks despite her efforts to hold them back; the rejection fucking hurt. It was fine if he didn't want her but to let her kiss him...no, screw that. He leaned in first, dammit.
She let her mind go blank, pushed the pain away so she could concentrate on getting through the house without anyone realizing she was an emotional mess. Why was she so upset? It was just a kiss. She wasn't supposed to get involved with him anyway. Complications, baggage, history...
She made it to her bedroom and collapsed on her bed, the entire pile of bullshit that was her day pulling her down. Too exhausted to do anything else, she lay there, still wrapped in Inuyasha's jacket, and let herself cry a little more before slipping into a restless sleep.
Above her bedroom window, Inuyasha sat, cradling his bleeding and broken hand. He was going to have a hell of a time explaining the broken and bloodied section of concrete the next time someone went to the well. He had intended to retreat to his underground haven and try very hard to push thoughts of Kagome's lips pressed against his out of his mind. Instead, he stood outside the well house and punched the ground over and over until his skin split and his knuckles shattered.
His hands would heal; his relationship with Kagome probably wouldn't.
He still wasn't sure how he stayed away when she called his name, her voice shaking. The desire to run back, take her in his arms, and resume kissing her was terrifyingly overwhelming. Then her tears had started and with them came the self-loathing. He was an absolute piece of shit.
But he couldn't leave her. Perched on the roof above her window, he listened to her cry herself to sleep. Only when her breathing and heart rate calmed enough to let him know she was in a deep sleep did he finally let himself escape. He made it to the well in a few leaps, stopping to contemplate the proof of his anger. He didn't have the energy to deal with it so he resolved to clean it up in the morning.
Tomorrow he would have to talk to her. The route he took with their conversation was still up in the air. Would he lie and tell her he regretted the kiss, that it was a mistake in the heat of the moment? Or would he stick closer to the truth and tell her that he didn't regret the kiss but he just didn't feel that way about her? Maybe then she wouldn't hate him and she may even forgive him. He needed to be able to protect her, especially after tonight, so he wanted to at least be on her good side.
Then there was the option to just lay the complete truth on her and hope for the best. He could tell her about the fire that lit in his veins the moment their lips touched; the way her body pressed against his felt like two puzzle pieces sliding into place; the way her taste and scent invaded his senses, making it feel like she was the only thing that existed in the world; the way her little moan made his skin tingle from his ears all the way to his toes.
He could picture her face lighting up as he confessed his growing feelings for her followed shortly by her disappointment when he told her they couldn't pursue those feelings. He was wanted for murder. He didn't have a family, a job, money, or anything else to offer her. He could protect her, keep her family safe, and continue to hide. That was his life and he refused to burden her any further with his shit.
She'd probably argue with him and insist that she'd be fine. He wouldn't last long if she pushed back; he wanted her too much. He couldn't completely crush her heart though because he still needed to be near her. Just the thought of causing her that much pain made his blood boil.
Option number two it was, then.
"You picked a good night to meet; it was a busy day at the shrine."
"So I have been informed." Sesshomaru stood with his back to the room, watching the small city spread out below him through the large windows. They were 50 floors up, their building dwarfing most of the others around them.
"We should meet here more often. The commute is certainly worth it." Koga kicked his feet up on the table in front of the black leather couch he was lounging on. The elegant office was his favorite place to meet.
The large room had high ceilings, recessed lighting, tall windows, and the most comfortable chairs he'd ever sat in. The full bar in the corner was just a bonus.
"Show some respect, mongrel." Jaken scowled at him from across the room.
"Hey, watch your fucking mouth, you green piece of shit." Why'd he have to bring the damn toad? He hated the damn toad.
Ignoring them both, Sesshomaru took a seat at the large conference table, waiting for the other two to join him. There were three folders, one for each of them, set out on the table. Jaken took his place at the table first, followed shortly by a grumbling Koga. They all opened their folders but Koga was the only one who needed to go through the contents.
The other two waited, one patiently the other not so much, as Koga brought himself up to date with Sesshomaru's information. He had his own information to share, some of it still coming in as they sat there.
Finally, Koga looked up. "I still don't think he's innocent. Just because there are some inconsistencies in the reports doesn't mean he didn't shoot your father."
"I would agree, were they the only factor. In 50 years, I haven't heard a single decent motive behind my father's death if it were truly my brother who pulled the trigger. Jealousy and money only make sense to those who focus on surface-level details."
"Money is always a good motive. He's a very rich hanyo if he clears his name," Koga pointed out.
"We have discussed this. My father was generous with his money and Inuyasha wanted for nothing. It is not a solid motive. And there is the matter of those with you that day. You read the missing persons reports?"
"Yeah. I fell out of touch with all those guys after that incident. I don't like working with guys who fail at an important job." All three of the men Koga worked with that day disappeared within a year after the murder. It was suspicious but still not enough to change his mind.
"It could be argued that you also failed that day. The attack on your car was minor compared to the attack on my father's."
Koga slammed his hands down on the table. "Only because my team failed. They held me the fuck up!"
Sesshomaru ignored the outburst. "The real question is who would have enough power to alter evidence and reports to such an extent that it took almost 50 years to start to uncover the truth."
"Hell if I know. Your brother certainly doesn't have that kind of power. Hey, why'd you bring the toad, anyway?"
"It doesn't concern you," Jaken said, waving his hands around in an attempt to appear intimidating.
"Jaken."
"Yes, my lord?"
Koga suppressed a snort at 'my lord.' Stupid toad was always a damn kiss-ass.
"Tell him why you are here."
"Of course. Um, why am I here, Lord Sesshomaru?"
"Comic relief," Koga said, giving Jaken a smug look. "You were probably just here to annoy me. Mission fucking accomplished, by the way." Koga's phone rang, interrupting whatever retort the toad was going to come up with. "Gotta take this. It's my guys at the shrine."
Sesshomaru could hear the entire conversation since Koga didn't bother to excuse himself before taking the call. It seemed things were getting more interesting.
"I'm assuming you heard all that," Koga said when he hung up. He was barely suppressing the urge to hightail it straight to the shrine and just force himself past the damn barrier.
Busy day, indeed. "We wait to make a move. I want more information."
"What the fuck more do you need?! He's there, on fucking display." Koga was growling and snarling. They were so damn close. He had his guys on double duty ever since that woman called claiming she had information and it paid off. He'd been practically foaming at the mouth when he made the connection between the caller, Sango, and the Higurashi woman. Now they had a positive sighting of the bastard in the open, no concealment charm, ears and silver hair unmistakable.
"Have none of your people been able to enter the shrine grounds?" Sesshomaru asked, his calm never wavering.
"No," Koga said, barely containing his rage. "That damn barrier is something else."
"Then we wait and watch. When he leaves the shrine grounds, we take him, alive and unharmed until we know more."
"Alive, fine. Unharmed? I can't make any fucking promises."
