Author's note: Inuyasha isn't mine. Also, be prepared for more intense situations than before as the story takes a turn. Consider yourselves warned!

Chapter 15: The Face of Truth

A creamy sherbert sunset was just starting to cool the heat-baked day as Kagome focused on the mission. She was used to riding on Inuyasha back, but she guessed due to the increased speed, the ride was much bumpier. The wind whisked through her silky black hair each time Inuyasha dove into the sky.

Kano had traveled a great distance since he escaped Kaede's village. Kagome lead Inuyasha the entire afternoon in the direction of the fading jewel shard. Kagome nervously pondered Kano's reason for kidnaping Kohaku. It would certainly lure Sango and them to him. Most likely, however, was for the jewel shard in his back.

A growing pain stretched through Kagome's back and hips. She'd been clinging to Inuyasha for hours straight now. It was time for a rest. The jewel shard had slowed down too, Kagome could tell because they were catching up.

"Hey, Inuyasha," Kagome cooed into his ear, "can we stop for a minute, I need to go to the bathroom." At her words, Inuyasha's padding feet came to a skidding halt that landed them smoothly in a hazily lit clearing. He slowly scooted her off his back and she appreciated his sensitivity. Her hips ached. Standing straight up was painful at first, but it felt good to finally stretch everything out again. Kagome sighed in relief. She threw her arms victoriously in the air and yawned.

Inuyasha resigned himself at the base of a tree and closed his eyes. Kagome wandered off to relieve herself before they continued their journey. The fresh air was so nice out in the woods and Kagome stalled behind a bit to enjoy the changing atmospheric colors. Upon returning to the clearing, Kagome was surprised to hear voices.

She emerged into the clearing behind Inuyasha. His hair bristled as she caught his attention. She threw him a puzzled look. He said nothing to her, but stood in front of her with his hand mounted on Tessaiga's hilt.

There on the other side of the clearing, was Sesshomaru. The honey rays of sunlight haloed his head and warmed his otherwise fair appearance. His eyes glinted with an unreadable light. He was alone, staring at them, on the edge of a clearing. It was all very strange to Kagome.

Sesshomaru stepped forward from the shadows, and Kagome was surprised to immediately recognize the spark in his eyes. He was mad. Sesshomaru who rarely showed any sign of emotion was furious. Kagome wasn't very used to his emotions so she guessed the worst. For some reason he was pissed. But why?

"What do you want?" Inuyasha finally broke the tense silence.

"You are surprised to see me?" Sesshomaru's voice was steady and condescending. The slightest hint of amusement hid in his calm face. It was frightening. Kagome knew him well enough to know that this meant trouble, serious trouble. He was dangerously composed. His saffron eyes flamed with a well checked rage, but she saw it.

"What's the occasion? Did I miss your birthday?" Inuyasha eased over a snide remark that was far too cocky for the situation at hand. Kagome shriveled in fear. That was it. She stepped back expecting Sesshomaru to explode on the spot.

Then Sesshomaru did something she'd rarely ever seen him do. He chuckled and a small grin played his lips. But the fire never left his eyes. Kagome felt the hair rise on the back of her neck.

He blinked his beautiful honey eyes very slowly and seemed to be relishing the moment. When he opened them again, they were set on Inuyasha. His focus was staggering.

Kagome took another step back. Inuyasha started to withdraw Tessaiga with a familiar sound of scraping metal. But before he could unleash the mighty dog fang, Sesshomaru appeared right in front of him and slammed it back into its sheath. Then he seized Inuyasha by the neck and lifted him off his feet. Kagome gasped.

"Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha tried to shove a knee into Sesshomaru's side, only to have his leg ripped up into the air next to his face. Inuyasha's eyes widened. His neck released, he swung rapidly about until his head swung to meet his airborne foot. Sesshomaru's talons were lodged in his calf muscle. He held his head upright by latching onto Sesshomaru's arm. Inuyasha looked very much like a red contorted ball.

Kagome had heard boys at school threaten to wrap others into balls made of themselves, but the impossible threat was only a pompous ego-booster. But that was exactly what was happening to Inuyasha. The scary thing was that Sesshomaru could probably do it.

Inuyasha tugged his captured leg out of the poisonous talons with a spatter of blood and tried to kick his other foot into Sesshomaru's face on the way down. Sesshomaru just tipped his head to the side to avoid it.

Inuyasha landed nimbly on the ground, in a stooped position and stood up briskly. He gasped as Tokijin met his neck. His hair wafted back with the force of the blow. But the deadly attack would not decapitate him, for Kagome sent a sacred arrow barely in time. It struck Toukijin right next to Inuyasha's neck. His eyes widened as the pink light fought Sesshomaru's sword. Neither was making ground.

Kagome watched Sesshomaru's eyes shift to her and then back to Inuyasha. Inuyasha dropped back onto the ground and clutched his bleeding neck. The glowing arrow on Toukijin lost it's light and fell noiselessly to the ground.

Inuyasha drew Tessaiga and slashed at Sesshomaru. It was met with Toukijin as Sesshomaru's eyes flared again.

"Filthy half breed," Sesshomaru seethed venomously, "you are not fit to wield the Tessaiga." With a powerful whoosh, Sesshomaru ripped through Inuyasha's chest and split his wrist, expelling Tessaiga from his grip. Tokijin glowed with black blood.

Inuyasha fell onto his back and held his damaged arm. He glared at Sesshomaru. Kagome landed at Inuyasha's side and looked pleadingly up at Sesshomaru.

"Please don't," she whispered. Kagome held onto Inuyasha's shoulders and peered up at the towering demon before them.

"For once you recognize your station," Sesshomaru stared at Inuyasha, "consider yourself lucky to die with such credit."

"Get down!" Inuyasha yelled as Sesshomaru went in for the kill. Kagome yelped as Inuyasha threw himself in front of her to shield her from the blast.

Kagome felt something wet shower her as the blue light diffused. She touched a wet spot on her face to discover blood. She gasped and looked down at Inuyasha's collapsed form. His eyes were distant. He had protected her from the attack, but at great price. Tokijin carved through his flesh from his stomach down to his thigh.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried. Tears welled in her pained eyes. "Why are you doing this?" Kagome let her tears fall freely. "He's your brother–"

"That filth is not my brother," Sesshomaru said in a quiet but acidic voice.

"Half..b-brother" she chocked out. Kagome wrapped her arms about Inuyasha's chest protectively and nuzzled her head against his unconscious one.

Sesshomaru just looked at her with his apathetic gaze. Kagome bit her lip as she felt Inuyasha's blood soaking her clothing. It made her feel so sick. She'd been covered in his blood before, but this time it was so much and so potent.

Kagome peered up through flooded eyes to see the intent in Sesshomaru's eyes solidify. Kagome bowed her head and cringed. Her blood spattered bangs blanketed her eyes. Her skirt was black now and plastered to her thighs. Blood was seeping out and leaking down her legs. Even her sleeves clung to her thin arms. It made her feel horrible.

Sesshomaru drew his sword. Kagome felt his presence in front of her and she threw herself on top of Inuyasha's chest like a shield.

"Please don't!" Kagome flinched as she clutched Inuyasha tightly.

After a long pause, Kagome chanced a dazed look up at him. Sesshomaru had relaxed and let his sword point to the ground. His saffron eyes revealed nothing.

"I love him..." Kagome wept into Inuyasha's blood soaked kimono.

"His love isn't real."

"Maybe not for me..." she smiled sadly. A somber pause followed. The demon lord stood firmly where he was. Kagome could feel her heart breaking.

"Then die in ignorance"

Kagome heard him turn and leave. His footsteps slowly faded away.

Sesshomaru looked blankly back at them, barely turning his head to view them. Kagome slumped over Inuyasha's form and wept quietly. She was radiating with spiritual energy. She should take care of him from there...

Kagome felt along Inuyasha's chest for a pulse. His body was oily with blood and colder than usual. She pushed his stained black wet bangs from his face. Her eyes blurred with more tears and she collapsed onto him crying.

Kagome couldn't say how long she cried over Inuyasha. But the moon was above her when she finally calmed down. She was still inconsolable, but she knew she couldn't stay out there balling the whole night. A part of her insisted he was dead, but another couldn't let go. He had lost so much blood, but his body wasn't stiff or icy. Kagome stood up, but sat down again when she decided she would definitely get lost if she went for help. She buried her face in Inuyasha's chest, carefully avoiding his wounds.

A weak moan made Kagome's breath catch in her throat.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome stared down at him. He coughed and his eye muscles twitched.

"Inuyasha!" her voice nearly cracked, "you're alive. I was so..." She didn't have words and just held onto him. To her surprise he sat up.

"You shouldn't move! That's why I didn't try to get you out of here. You could hurt yourself even more!"

Inuyasha pushed some hair out of her eyes and rubbed something on her forehead. She stared quizzically at him.

"He... he didn't hurt you?" Inuyasha breathed.

"No"

He exhaled relief.

"I'm so sorry Kagome,"

"It's ok, really"

"...for everything"

Kagome's eyes lit up and caught his. The moment held until Kagome let out one last sob and hugged him. He held her close and she expelled the last of her grief.

"Kagome..."

"We can't stay here all night. It's not safe," she said with a remnant of a sniffle.

Inuyasha started to get up. Kagome supported him and somehow they managed to walk together. Kagome collected their weapons and they proceeded through the woods.

"Do you smell any towns or people around here?" Kagome cut in after a minute of walking. Inuyasha considered it and put his nose in the air.

"No"

"Wait! What's that over there?" Kagome pointed at a run down shack only a bit down in the wood. "I bet we can stay there. It looks abandoned." Inuyasha looked up hopefully.

When they reached the shack, it was indeed abandoned. Inuyasha helped make a fire in the center of the room. Kagome was amazed how well he was doing for his condition. She decided to find a stream and some herbs to heal his wounds.

"Don't go, Kagome" Kagome stopped in her tracks. She turned to him.

"Your wounds need herbs to heal faster"

"You already purified them," Inuyasha looked up at her. She blinked.

"I did?" In reply, Inuyasha undid his kimono, and his wounds did appear to be healing rapidly. Kagome sat down next to him and touched one.

"But..."

"Have more faith in your abilities, Kagome," he smiled at her. Her complexion lightened. "Are you hungry?" he asked her.

"Only a little. I can wait till morning"

Inuyasha stood up and headed to the door.

"Hey, where are you going?" she looked at him incredulously.

"You shouldn't let these things go. Trust me..." She gave him an annoyed look.

"Well look who's talking, Twoface"

Inuyasha looked at her a bit confused.

"I don't want you to go" she conceded. He smiled and sat back down on the floor. Inuyasha inspected his wounds and Kagome joined him. He started picking gravel out and cleaning himself off. Kagome's face grew an annoyed look. He was digging in his cut and probably infecting it. "Hey you're making it worse." He seemed concentrated and ignored her. She smacked his hand like a fly. He frowned and started picking at it again. She smacked his hand more forcefully and brushed off some dirt from where he was picking. Instead, he moved onto the particularly nasty incision in his right wrist. Kagome's eyes narrowed to slits. He started licking and gnawing it lightly. "Would you cut it out?" Kagome tackled him, grasping his arms.

"Ay!" Inuyasha protested and they landed on the ground. She pinned his arms so he couldn't disturb his wounds, regardless of the fact that she was kind of sitting on them. He stared up at her indignantly. "Just what are you doing?"

"Healing you." Inuyasha looked at his hands and then back at her. He huffed.

"With a piece of cloth?" he questioned as she revealed her handkerchief and started wiping dried blood off of him.

"And suddenly you're picky?" Kagome dabbed the hanky on her tongue and cleaned off his face and neck. A bit wouldn't come off his cheek and she ambitiously pursued it with the weak tissue.

"Kagome" Inuyasha tried to get her attention, but all he got was persistent eyes zoned in on his cheek. He closed one of his eyes because she was rubbing so hard. "Kagome" he mumbled again, as she firmly massaged his cheek so his lips fumbled about. He swatted her hand, but she persisted. He swatted it away again.

"What!"

"Don't you ever stop?" She frowned and her eyes meandered away from him, then rested on his cheek. A mischievous grin zipped onto her face, but she tried to hide it. Her eyes darted to the corner of the room and Inuyasha suspiciously followed them. Then she viciously rubbed his cheek with the handkerchief again.

Inuyasha looked like he couldn't believe he'd been dooped. His arms shot up and latched onto hers and pulled her down to his face. She smiled shyly at their close proximity.

"I got it," she grinned. He exhaled in exasperation and released her arms. She fell on top of him, but was slow to get up. Kagome bit her lower lip and concentrated. She pulled the hanky up again. There were lots of little spots on his neck here, near where she was.

She leaned in and started quickly rubbing them away. His nose spun to the side and in a second she was nose to nose with Inuyasha. Before Kagome could duck back, their lips brushed in passing. Kagome gasped and Inuyasha looked surprised too. Kagome's face turned red as she started to retreat. The problem was that the hanky she held fast in her hand was under the arm that supported her. With an agonizing slip, Kagome felt her hand give way. With amazing speed, Inuyasha caught her by the arms, but not in time for the fateful kiss.

Kagome felt butterflies erupt inside her stomach. She expected Inuyasha to throw her off of him or do some rash action to cover his embarrassment, but instead, he encircled her in his arms. The pigment of her face managed a deeper hue of red. He was actually kissing her.

Kagome let her worries fade and relaxed. From there everything was like a dream. She felt like a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. His warmth, his embrace, his sweet kiss, it was all so intoxicating. Kagome felt herself slipping away as if to a very deep and relaxing sleep. It was positively delectable. She was no longer aware of her fatigue, no longer aware of hunger, no longer rationally aware of what she was doing, and no longer aware of what he was doing.

Kagome awoke from the instinctive trance because her love had stopped delivering his gentle kisses and near deserted her. She groggily came back to a rational conscious state. She was laying on her back. Her top was ruffled and her midriff exposed to the cold air sweeping gentling into the shack from outside. Her skirt skated just below her hips and her uncovered underwear was disproportionately hugging her hips.

Embarrassment and regret flooded her self conscious temperament. Kagome's hands reclaimed her skirt, hoisted it up to cover her underwear, and hastily adjusted her top. Her mahogany eyes swept the room for Inuyasha only to find him standing in the middle of the hut, but a foot away. His posture was erect and alert, but still his arms slacked at his waist and his head was ever so slightly bowed. He seemed to be staring out at something beyond her.

Kagome barely had time to quirk her brow at him for his odd posture and strange behavior, when just behind her she heard a maniacal throaty growl. Kagome felt all the hairs on her body stand erect. She slowly tilted her head back, dread thundering in her heart, so she was looking right up at the source from below.

There, towering above her was a nearly naked demon, covered merely by scraps of a tattered red kimono . His sinewy bronze flesh was spattered with black blood and lightly dusted with dirt and grit. He had blood red eyes, elongated canines, razor claws, and streaming silver hair. A cruel smile covered his lips. His blue pupils shimmered dangerously.

Inu..ya..sha... Kagome's voice stuck in her throat and refused to utter a whimper. Kagome could have passed out, but couldn't stop staring at him. Finally her eyes jerkily shifted to the Inuyasha in the middle of the room. He was the half demon that she recognized and come to love. Fear welled up inside of her. Was she mad? Was this a dream?

Kagome didn't recognize the whoosh that passed her to be a being until she observed one Inuyasha slashing at the other. Her Inuyasha dodged and fleeted away from the demon form. Kagome got up on unsteady legs and stabilized herself on the wall. She shakily reached down for her arrows and drew one, but tears spilled down her face as she took aim. She was so confused. The demon Inuyasha landed a sweeping claw on the half demon and sent him skidding across the shack.

"Inuyasha?" she squeaked. Both looked at her, but her question could not be answered. Murderous intent crystalized in the demon form's eyes as he looked upon her. His gaze was one of hunger. He slowly approached her with his claws ostentatiously cracking as he neared her. Kagome held her shaky grip on her arrow, but felt an overwhelming pain seizure inside of her. Another tear slipped out. Her head batted back and forth between the two. She kept telling herself he wasn't real, but somehow she couldn't totally shake off her doubt.

"Kagome, fire the arrow! Kagome!" the half demon yelled from the other end of the room, "he's an imposter. I'm Inuyasha."

Kagome's mouth parted in grief as she looked back at the man who looked exactly like her cursed beloved. She pulled back on the arrow and attempted to steady her shaky grip. Her mouth contorted in hesitation.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled in a panic at the approaching death sentence. Kagome felt her eyes stream. She blinked the tears away in a last effort of resolve.

"Sit boy" she weakly commanded and looked expectantly at the half demon. A thud to the floor raised all the dust and cobwebs in the shack.

It only took a second for the dust to settle, but even before it did, Kagome could feel her breath quicken to short shallow breaths. She relaxed her grip on the bow. Her eyes were wide with shock. The half demon slowly pulled himself into a slightly slumped standing position. His hair wasn't ruffled and there was no imprint on the floor before him. He turned his head up to her slowly and just so she could see a sparkle in his eyes.

Kagome felt her bottom lip quiver and her knees falter under her. She barely could stutter disbelief at him. A deep growl snapped her dread-wrought face back to the last cloud of settling dust. Two blood red eyes glowed out at her.

"Aaaahh!" Kagome let out a blood curtailing scream that echoed through her entire being. She felt the sharp talons rip through her soft flesh and mutilate her torso. Her body lurched in the air before smacking the ground in the moonlit entrance. Her weapons landed beside her fallen form. Rose-red blood rained petals of crimson across the entrance way.

Kagome could barely breath. The pain was unbearable. She laid on her side. She clutched her arms protectively around herself. Her legs twitched below her. Blood poured like a small waterfall down her arms, from her chest, and pooled in front of her face. Her blurry vision managed to capture Inuyasha's look of demented pleasure in the reflection off the tainted puddle.

Kagome's eyes dimmed as if clouding with impurity, regret, and hate. Just behind Inuyasha, in the reflection, stood the half demon with his sword drawn as a hunter about to kill. In her last ounces of strength, Kagome heaved her body up on her knees and grasped her bow and one arrow. Tumbling onto her back, she stifled the pain and aimed her arrow with deadly accuracy for her state. The powered arrow struck the Tessaiga, positioned above Inuyasha's head, and banished the arm of its possessor. The half demon recoiled with a silent hiss as Tessaiga bounced lightly on the old wooden floor.

Kagome's emotion-filled eyes hopped over to her Inuyasha's descending form. The claws swung down again for the final blow. Kagome's mouth twisted with deep pain as she silently waited.

Her sight reduced to tunnel vision as she watched Inuyasha's claws aim for her face. Just before the wretched talons met their mark, a beam of pink light shot through the open door. The beam lifted Inuyasha off his feet and slammed him against the back wall with an agonizing growl-like shriek. His body slid to the ground with a smoking pink arrow lodged in his left chest. Tessaiga was pinned beneath him.

The midnight breeze sifted through Kagome's silk black hair and tweaked the ruffled

fringes of her now torn uniform. Her heavy eyes slowly closed and she slipped away into the unconscious.