…...

Seventeen

When they arrived to the party Kagome was a bit wide eyed she felt she was over dressed it took place in a large stadium the carriage went through the opening turning to join the other arrivals. The crowd was full of people cheering. Inside there was a large opening in the ground with railings for those to look over from where they arrived. Down in the hole there was mix of small caverns and various holes chunks of rock were made to make for easy landing. Kaguya looked at Kagome as she stared down her kimono did actually split down the sides easily enough but it was long enough that she wasn't sure she could land. Inutaisho said that it was perfect for this and explained on the ride over that this was the first party. A harmless fight in the hole the one who made it out was the best for that round there was a bit of water to soften a fall if it happened.

She swallowed the lump in her throat she wasn't scared she'd welcome the distraction but she was seeing from the pain she wasn't bleeding so she was sure that she was just feeling a little sensitive it wasn't like she was regularly hit to get used to it. That was how it worked with most demons as strange as it was eventually the same thing didn't hurt. She took a breath only looking up as the other nudged her, the top of hers was closed though Kaguya would have been better off coming naked the way hers hung off of her while it was split open.

"Ready for a sparring match?"

She frowned seeing double of her for a moment.

"I suppose."

"Good."

She turned around knowing something was wrong, Kagura shouldn't have been able to sneak up on her she pushed her though. The crowd cheered as it was time to start. It wasn't too hard to twist and land as closely to safe as possible though her side throbbed she took a breath looking up as Kaguya landed imps flew down with crystals attached that gave the audience a view of what was happeneing. Tsubaki joined her with Kikyo close behind. A demon called that it was time for the fight to start and they should pick teams, it appeared that she was on her own against three.

Sara only wanted to watch she didn't care how it made her look she couldn't stand a fight with them even if it was just sparring.

Sesshomaru frowned from his place, though he'd jump in to get her if they were too much he didn't think they would be but at the same time he knew not to underestimate those around him. His father made sure he thought before he acted. Naraku frowned none of the other ladies meant to show their strengths. There was more to them than it appeared.

"The teams have been chosen it's up to the newcomer to give us a real show and as an added bonus a barrier to stop anyone from interfereing."

Sesshomaru's gaze widened as she looked at his parents.

"You said she'd be fine."

"She will be, it's just an extra test I don't believe she could really best you, we'll see her skills." Inukimi said.

"Are you crazy? They'll think they are meant to kill her to get free." Inutaisho snapped.

"I will see for myself that she belongs, and if she does this won't be an issue."

"It's no big deal."

Naraku grit his teeth as her mother stopped next to them.

"My daughter can handle herself just fine, I appreciate your concern as a future spouse but do give her some credit she could fight before you she'll fight now."

Sesshomaru frowned but in the end he knew she was right, his beast didn't approve he didn't trust the others. Even though Kikyo wasn't truly a demon she used her spiritual powers to keep up and she could be underhanded. There was more to this, a chance to celebrate the women of the realm, it was already spreading that the deal was sealed how things were going to go so now the main idea was fun and for demons the more brutal the more fun.

He couldn't shake the nerve he felt he didn't know what was wrong but he knew something was off.

"Ladies if things get out of hand we have demons prepared that can get through the barrier to get you out just call there is no shame. You're lucky it's not a fight to the death, cheer them on people!"

Kagome took a breath.

"My you look a bit pale Ka-go-me." Tsubaki teased.

She smirked.

"I'm just worried about how easily I could kill one of you." some part her some part her demon speaking.

They laughed.

"Yeah good luck with that."

"Keep it dirty ladies!"

Kagome moved to jump out of the way as Tsubaki attacked she rubbed her head she knew there were three but seeing double was messing with her. She sighed thinking of what could have happened she wouldn't use her sword she wasn't supposed to kill them. She jumped down as she was hit with an arrow it was a practice it melted after she slipped.

She swallowed the lump in her throat as colors blended together, she panted heavily as her head ached, throbbing all the harder as she was tossed into a wall like a rag doll, Sesshomaru moved to stop it almost forgetting the barrier. It crackled to life he couldn't get past it without her calling for help or the match ending. They were determined to this...'fair' he grit his teeth he didn't understand what was wrong but he knew something was off she didn't even look to be awake anymore.

Abi grit her teeth in irritation.

It wasn't even a fair fight at this point as her tyes changed she growled, the crowd ate it up, her ears rang. her fangs grew as her eyes went wide she took a hit to the face. Then the stomach just barely able to block the various hits. Her mind started to tune out the sound from the crowd she saw Kaguya's claws. Kikyo kept to the back with her arrows but the other took turns hitting from the front to back she wasn't sure if they were really fast or if her brain slowed down.

"Dammit Kagome fight them back!" Abi hissed.

Kagome stumbled falling off the support into the water barely rolling out of the way as Kaguya dropped next to her.

"Oh you were so confident before little girl." she moved to pull out a knife they were meant to go in without weapons it should have been harmless in that way.

There was a flaw with the barrier, Kagome wouldn't call out and without her attacking the others they weren't going to say anything. Kikyo was there on Kaguya's side, she didn't really care for the outcome but Kaguya begged her to be supportive. She wasn't truly an alpha that is she had a place she was elected as she'd been the previous alpha's lover and without children there was no one else. Some looked down on her even more since Sesshomaru picked Kagome over her she never felt threatened by the softhearted Sara this was new to her and she'd make sure she never felt inadequate again.

"Kagome if you don't want to fight just call out you have nothing to prove!" Naraku called.

She didn't think she was proving anything her side ached she felt she had an idea of what happened her throat felt swollen she couldn't have called out if she wanted.

Something about an upset with her lack of hand to hand skills.

There were cries for the others, Tsubaki being the favorite.

Then a scream.

Not of fright.

Someone called her name, she looked up seeing her mother though her attention was brought back to Kaguya.

"Something's wrong..."

She grabbed Kaguya's wrist as she lunged forward grabbing Tsubaki by her throat her gaze changed. Abi gasped as she looked down. Her forearms sprout solid black feathers as her shoes were ripped from her talons forming her gaze was blue as her hair flew around her she let out a noise of triumph.

"Get out of there before she kills you!" Abi warned she didn't even care for them but if something was wrong and she mentally checked out this was no longer a spar...no entertainment. At least for her Kagome didn't fight like that.

She hissed hearing the boos at her words, it did nothing for Sesshomaru's nerves as the panic set in, she hissed head butting the other as she stumbled back Kagome let her go. Kaguya backed away as she let out a growl she was defending herself as her body shut down she slammed her captive into the stone repeatedly hearing the crack she stepped forward. Kikyo grabbed an imp to rescue the other calling out her wings she shot after them only missing by a bit as she stopped to steady herself on a rock emptying the contents of her stomach as the wound finally ripped open the white of her kimono stained. The barrier was open she head a noise...that is she felt felt too dazed to make out words Naraku grabbed her before she fell off her perch.

His gaze widened feeling the the fever setting in he scooped her up the bastards got their show his demon clawed he was ready to rip into Kaguya but it would have to wait.

This time.

…...

Abi was livid the diseas was well known and it didn't spread through the air, though no one had resurfaced who knew how she got it. That prevented her from healing as she should have, leaving her weak, until she snapped that is. Sesshomaru and Naraku offered the blood she needed, her body rejected the blood that wasn't hers it took the infection with it at least that was how it was intended to work it took time to work.

As her fever broke the healer was able to leave the room at least, they didn't join her just watched over her feeling agitated. She hid so well if she hadn't they might have caught it sooner, though it was lucky enough they found out right at the beginning. She groaned breathing slowly as the door was thrown open they didn't even look away.

"Toran you're a bit late."

She stared at Kagome as she arrived Abi went off though Shuran was between them it was enough hearing she was sick too.

"The barrier took a bit longer to break through than we thought...it was an accident my sister didn't mean to spread the sickness to her! She'd never hurt our Lady on purpose!"

They looked up.

"Your sister did this..?"

"We don't know how."

"What the fuck were you doing?"

"I can't tell you I have orders."

"Yeah well if you can't prove it wasn't on purpose your sister will be executed from your admission, Abi's on a rampage you know she'll do it." Naraku snapped.

She grit her teeth.

"We were supposed to rescue someone, he was sick, my sister came to get blood..oh."

"What?" Naraku started.

"Usually we can move through barriers when we need to." she said, only after shutting the door behind her she spoke lowly.

"But?"

"But there was an extra layer we had to tear through, her claws were the best she cleaned up before she left but it must not have been enough.."

"Must not have." Abi said from behind the door.

"I suppose I should let Kagome decide on punishment but she's always soft with you, your sister will be sent to my husband he'll decide what to do with her. She's been a problem from the start."

Toran wanted to argue but she knew one push was enough to change that, and get the execution that she knew well enough would have been on her way.

"Yes...whatever you say."

Abi scoffed storming out.

"For the future don't freely live her side had one of you been here to stop her this wouldn't have happened. You're getting off lucky since she will recover, I hope who you want to rescue is worth the trouble." Naraku said lowly.

"I don't know but my Lady loves to help others she would think so." she bowed before moving to leave.

For now they wouldn't be sleeping or leaving her side.

….

(Had a lot of ideas eventually had to settle on one, stay tuned.)