TITLE: Cursed Twins

AUTHOR: InuYoukaiAki

DISCLAIMER: I do not own InuYasha and Co.

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Author's Note: Here's the next chapter. I hope it didn't take too long. He he...

CHAPTER 7: Double Trouble

Sesshoumaru's eyes began to bleed red as he heard Kagome's scream. He ran faster, the wind whistled past him and the surroundings became a blur as he used his full speed to get to the miko as soon as possible. He did not mind the scratches that the low branches caused.

However, the sight that greeted him in the hot springs somehow calmed him. Kagome was struggling from two demons; she was only wearing a cloth wrapped around her naked body. She was apparently about to dress when the two demons arrived.

"Get your hands off me!" the miko shouted irately. However, the two demons the looked almost alike just sneered.

The two demons were holding her by the wrists. Apparently, they were trying to make her come with them. Both were tall, almost as tall as Sesshoumaru. However, while Sesshoumaru's hair was silver, the two demons' were as black as a moonless night. The demons had almost identical faces. They have the same narrow mouths and long elegant faces. However, while one had narrow green eyes, the other had slightly rounder eyes. Their clothes were of the same cut as Sesshoumaru's but also black with white patterns of snow flakes.

The two demons finally turned towards Sesshoumaru. Their amber eyes met his. They gave identical smirks before one of them spoke.

"Fancy meeting you here, Sesshoumaru," one said cheerfully.

Sesshoumaru looked coldly at the demon who spoke. "Release the miko," he ordered.

"Oh, she belongs to you," the other one said, his face mirroring his regret. He released Kagome's wrist as his twin did the same. His eyes roamed hungrily over Kagome's sleek curvy body. "A shame," he said with a sneer.

The miko's face heated up. Her hands closed into fists on her sides, her head bowed down. Sesshoumaru knew what was coming and decided to amuse himself. Although he must admit, he did not like the way the two demons were looking at the miko. He began to mentally count, wondering how long it would take until the outburst. Experience taught him that the miko would not keep quiet and accept the treatment she was getting from the two demons. It would not take long before she takes matters into her own hand. He inwardly smirked when the miko looked up, her blue eyes blazing with anger. He watched as she lifted her chin up in defiance.

The miko used one hand to clutch the cloth wrapped around her body. It had slipped a notch and had exposed a brief view of the valley between her ample breasts. Her right hand lifted up and slapped the demon who last spoke. Then she turned and did the same to the other one. The loud sound of Kagome's hand coming into contact with the demons' faces reverberated though out the forest.

The looks on the two demons' faces were priceless. They were both stunned, their mouths hanging open as they stared at the seething miko. Sesshoumaru noticed that the miko's hand was glowing pink slightly. So, she had infused her hand with her miko powers. The two demons had a hand print on their cheeks.

"Arrogant demons!" the miko said angrily. Her wet hair cascaded down her back in a riot of black tresses. Her skin glistened with the wet water. And her face was flushed in both her anger and embarrassment. She looked like a goddess as she stood there, glaring at the two demons. "You should be ashamed of yourselves, sneaking up at a defenseless girl like that. Why don't you fight fair and square? Once I am decently dressed, I'll kick your sorry asses!"

The miko's words angered one of the demons. "Watch your mouth," he threatened.

Kagome smirked and tossed her hair. "Or you'll what?" she asked challengingly.

Sesshoumaru saw when the more hot-tempered of the twins began his attack. He didn't expect the demon to take the miko's bait and was unprepared. He swore that the demon would pay if Kagome was harmed in anyway. He ran to where she stood but knew that he would be too late.

The dust began to clear. Sesshoumaru tried to see through it, wondering what he should expect. Knowing the demon, it would not be surprising if Kagome was already bleeding to death. However, Kagome was not an ordinary human. Besides, he could not smell any blood. As that realization sunk in, Sesshoumaru noticed the familiar youki of his father. His eyes narrowed.

When the dust finally cleared, he saw Kagome standing with a smug smile on her lips. The demon who attacked her was on his back a few feet from her, a look of utter disbelief on his face. There was a pink glow around Kagome with sparks of violet youki.

"Oh, sorry," Kagome said in a mock apologetic voice. "Did I hurt you?"

"Why you," the angry demon growled and stood up, preparing to attack again.

"Enough, Kenji," Sesshoumaru said coldly.

Kagome's eyes swiveled back to Sesshoumaru. "Who are these jerks, anyway?" she asked irritably. "How do you know him?" Kagome gestured towards the demon known as Kenji, sprawled on the ground.

"You are in no position to question this Sesshoumaru," he answered coldly. He did not want the two demons to think that the miko could question him.

Sesshoumaru saw the hurt in her eyes before it went blank. He realized that the blank cold look she was wearing now did not suit her. Her back straightened and she tossed her hair back, lifting her chin in defiance. InuTaisho's pendant was then revealed because of her sudden movement. It rested between the valley of her breasts. This caused the attention of the two demons to focus on the said pendant.

The calmer of the two demons stepped closer to Kagome. His hand was outstretched in disbelief as if he could not believe his eyes.

"Do not take another step," Kagome warned, her voice menacing. Her barrier crackled with her power combined with InuTaisho's youki. Gone was the cheerful girl Sesshoumaru had known, replaced by a strong miko who would not hesitate to use her powers. It was as if the woman standing in front of them now was not the same woman a few moments ago. Her narrowed eyes returned Sesshoumaru's icy stare.

"I am sick and tired of arrogant demons presuming that they have a right to tell me what to do. You cannot expect me to follow everything you say. And I do have the right to ask. Don't expect me to do things without seeking some explanation."

She tossed her head and turned her back on them all. She picked up her things and stormed away, leaving two disbelieving youkai and a furious Sesshoumaru.

"Do not turn your back on me," Sesshoumaru said coldly. The miko was over-stepping her boundaries. She had no right talking to him like that.

Kagome stopped in her tracks but did not turn around. "Or you'll what?" she challenged. "You won't give me the shards? Fine, take it. See if I care."

In the blink of an eye, Sesshoumaru was standing before the miko. He had thought that she would be surprised. However, as he looked down on her, he was met by a calm blank gaze. It was as if Kagome no longer cares what he does. He felt something in his chest, knowing that he was the cause of this change. He was about to lift his hand to touch her cheek, to somehow make her forget whatever he has done to cause this change in her, and to bring back the Kagome that he had known. He caught himself, knowing that the two demons were watching them curiously.

She stared back at him. There was nothing he could read in her face but somehow, he knew that he had hurt her. The miko was still the one who broke the eye contact. She looked away and walked around him. He knew she was walking away from them. He didn't move to follow her with his gaze. He remained where he stood, his back facing the direction she had taken.

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Kagome walked away from Sesshoumaru and the two demons who had attacked her. She was hurt by his words. She had thought that they had somehow begun to be friends. How wrong she was. It was stupid of her to assume that. He was a taiyoukai and she was nothing but a weak human in his eyes.

She had made that mistake but never again. She would not let him hurt her again.

She quickly dressed with denim shorts and a sleeveless green top. Kagome knew she needed to calm herself. She brushed her hair and sat down in the middle of a clearing littered with white flowers. She closed her eyes and began to breathe slowly and deeply.

Kagome let her power flow around her, keeping it within five meter from her. Her hair floated around her. As her powers were released, she felt her calm returning to her.

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They had returned to the clearing where they had first decided to land when the three demons felt the overwhelming power being released. Sesshoumaru felt Kagome's power being slowly released. It was faint at first, like a single ray of sunlight from a small crack on the wall. Then it grew in power, making itself known to all youkai around.

Sesshoumaru was surprised of the extent of the miko's power. He knew she was powerful but he did not expect her to be this powerful. He had also felt that she was still holding back, trying to control her power.

He stood up. He could not contain his curiosity any longer. He ran to the direction where the power was coming from. He ended up at a clearing nearby. Kagome sat at the center of the clearing, white flowers were blooming beautifully all around her. The sweet gentle scents of the flower wafted in the air as Kagome glowed a light pink color. This time, her power was not tainted with InuTaisho's youki. It was solely hers.

Her power lifted her long black tresses, causing it to swirl all around her. She was sitting there serenely, unaware of the intensity of the power that she was releasing. Leaves swirled around the huge dome of power that encircled Kagome.

He watched in fascination as she slowly lifted a few inches off the ground.

"Who is this human?" one of the twin demons asked in awe.

Sesshoumaru looked at the two. He had felt them following him but did not mind. It did not matter that they witness this. Any demon around could feel the strong power that Kagome was emanating. He watched as the miko slowly opened her blue orbs. The power immediately retracted back to her body as if it never happened.

Kagome did not take her eyes away from Sesshoumaru as she stood up slowly. She dusted herself and picked her things up.

"Why did you follow me?" she asked coldly.

Sesshoumaru did not have any answer to that question so he just remained silent and stared back at her. He watched as her shoulders relaxed. She shook her head wistfully, her black tresses falling on her shoulders.

"No, don't answer that," she said. "I forgot that I do not have the right to question you, Sesshoumaru-sama."

There was no mocking in her voice. Her head was still held high, just like a queen. Sesshoumaru felt an unexplainable void inside him as he looked at the miko. She was standing mere feet away from him and yet she had become as unapproachable as ever. She was distancing herself from him. The use of the "-sama" was proof of that. The camaraderie they had was gone. He felt that he had lost something important because of that.

She turned and walked passed him to the direction of their campsite.

For the first time in his life, Sesshoumaru did not know what to do. He stayed rooted to the spot. A few minutes had passed before he finally looked at the two demons who were curiously looking at him.

"Keep watch over the miko," Sesshoumaru told the two demons. "Make sure that nothing happens to her."

The two nodded and followed Kagome.

Sesshoumaru sighed in frustration and took to the sky. He needed time to think.

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She felt them even before they got near the campsite. The two demons who had attacked her. This time it was different. The two were subdued. She sat on a log situated opposite the direction they were coming from. She waited for them to arrive.

Kagome did not wait long. The two demons came, looking sheepishly at her. They sat across from her.

The demon who had attacked her earlier cleared his throat. "We are sorry," he began tentatively. "We do not really know what happened but something pulled us to your direction."

Kagome gazed at him intently, making the demon squirm in discomfort. She could see the sincerity in his eyes. She sighed in resignation. "It's all right," she said wearily. Her hand flew to her temples. She was developing a headache. "I seem to have that effect on people... er ... youkai," she said.

"What is your name?" the other demon asked.

"Kagome," she answered with a tremulous smile, her eyes shining with the tears that she was trying not to shed. "And who are you? How are you related to Sesshoumaru-sama?"

The calmer of the two smiled. "I am Yoji and this is my twin, Kenji," he said. "We are Sesshoumaru's cousins."

Kagome looked up at them. They were smiling genuinely at them. "Inuyasha never told me that he had cousins," she murmured, forgetting for a while that the two had sharp hearing and that they will be able to hear her.

"You know Inuyasha?" Yoji asked. His eyes sparkled in excitement.

"Actually, I travel with him," Kagome answered with a smile. "This arrangement I have with Sesshoumaru-sama is only temporary."

Kenji nodded. "So, how is that cousin of ours?" he asked.

Kagome smiled fondly as she remembered Inuyasha. "He is like you," she said. "He's impulsive and hot-tempered."

"I am not impulsive and hot-tempered," Kenji said indignantly.

Kagome felt the headache go away. She felt comfortable with the two demons who looked so much alike. They only differ in the color of their stripes. Kenji had dark blue stripes while Yoji had light blue ones.

"Yeah right," she said and laughed. Yoji joined in her laughter while Kenji sulked, Inuyasha-style, in the corner.

They had talked until Kagome felt her eyes droop. Sesshoumaru still has not returned. She smiled at the two demons. "I'm kinda sleepy already," she said, yawning.

"Go ahead and sleep," Kenji said. "We'll keep watch."

"Thank you," Kagome murmured and settled under the big leafy tree. As soon as her head hit her bag, sleep claimed her.

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It had been near midnight when Sesshoumaru returned to camp. He had run through the forest, feeling the wind whip his face. He let the overhanging branches scratch his exposed skin, healing it almost instantly.

He did not know why the miko affected him this way. She was not the first human he had spent time with. He had spent more time with Rin than with the miko. Her laughing face invaded his thoughts. The image of her dancing in the rain with child-like abandon kept appearing in his mind despite the fact that he was trying to block it.

She confused him so much. How could she be so warm when she is faced with a cold demon like him?

He had thought for hours but the answers eluded him, hiding amongst the branches of the trees. Soon, he got tired and decided to just go back to their campsite to check on the three. He knew that Kenji and Yoji would not let any harm come to Kagome. The pendant assures that.

He had landed on the quiet clearing, instantly alert. Something was not right. His eyes scanned the silhouette around him. Then it hit him. The miko was gone.

Sesshoumaru quickly strode to the two sleeping figures. He first woke Yoji.

"Where is the miko?" he asked quietly.

Kenji looked up at him. "She's sleeping over there," he said, gesturing to the miko's things. Then he shot up when he noticed that Kagome was not where she was supposed to be. He woke Yoji just to receive the same answer.

"I told you two to keep her safe," Sesshoumaru said menacingly.

They were sniffing the air when they felt it. It was a sudden jolt of so much power that they would not miss it. It was coming from a few miles away from them. They all looked at each other and nodded their affirmation.

Without another word, the three inuyoukai flew towards the source of the unimaginable power, knowing that it was coming from Kagome.

There was a bright pink glow that was coming from that same direction. They increased their speed and landed a few paces away from the pink light. They cautiously walked in. For some unusual reason, the miko powers did not harm them.

Sesshoumaru waited until his eyes had been able to adjust. He knew that they were already at the cave where the sphere was kept. Sesshoumaru's eyes glowed a light yellow to be able to see in the dark cave.

Kagome stood by the entrance of a smaller opening inside the cave. Her eyes were closed, her power surrounding her entire body. Then she disappeared inside the cave. And the pink light disappeared with her.

"What just happened?" the twin demons asked in confusion.

End chapter

Author's Note: Hope you like it. I'm thinking if I'll put the prophecy in the next chapter or not. He he he... Just to keep the suspense. But if you give me a very good reason to put the prophecy in chapter 8, I just might do it. (Laughs evilly.)