Sorry for the extended wait for this chapter. Grade 12 is ebil with a capital V.

All right people as I've returned to school my brain is once again turned on (This doesn't happen during the summer). In other words I've noticed a mass of spelling mistakes and different problems with my chapters. I'm presently going through them with a much more careful eye then I was before. Why, you ask, was I not careful before? It is because I am lazy.

EuphoricAbandon: (cha, there's supposed to be a space in there…my computer's angry at your name) Thank you for lurving my story. You were the first person to send me the correct answer to my question in chapter 8. Hibernia is indeed modern day Ireland.

I have looked over every ones ideas so far, so thanks everyone for your help. I'm still board with the story.

Chapter 9: But My Heart Beats Free

Dawn found the two trotting across a field. The black charger seemed to dwarf the girl riding him and the mare to his right. However his size did nothing to help the mood of the man riding the white mare.

Kagome rode tall on the bare back of the draft. She could only smirk at Inu-Yasha who was almost a head taller on foot, but a foot shorter on horseback. A sudden chill hit against her back making her shiver. Someone was watching them. Above her a raven cawed; another answered in the distance. Kagome wondered if they were lovers, or mates? It was late in the year so the nestlings would have flown off. A blush crossed porcelain cheeks as she watched the Roman from the corner of a violet eye. "How is the weather down there?"

"Shut up Bitch." Was his the short reply.

"You don't have to be rude because I've got the better horse." The Celt knew she was being purposely annoying. Still it was a way to pass the time in something other then a cold silence. Cold in both ways since he was still angry about last night and she had forgotten her cloak and shawl. Either would have made the ride a little more bearable at the moment since her back was only straight from the chills that kept hitting it.

"I told you to shut up. We have nothing to talk about."

"Oh stones and cow dung Inu-Yasha don't be all tightarsed because you were stupid. Just apologize." Doeskin boots touched Etain's side. His gate lengthened to an extended trot that quickly gained ground ahead of the soldier.

(Inu-Yasha)

The beating gait of his horse did nothing to distract him. Her hips still lifted and descended to a rocking motion that would have any man gripping at the reins with white knuckles. In Rome, women did not ride, and in the case that they might have been forced to, they would be carried in a litter or in a wagon. No woman ever consented to get near a horse let alone on one. Well except for Naraku's woman; Kikyo. She was indeed beautiful, and her resemblance to Kagome was odd. However she was too haughty, and whorish. He couldn't count on two hands the amount of times she'd thrown herself to him at a party.

But Kagome puzzled him. He had always heard that the Brits were… well just about everything she wasn't. She could hunt, and she was pleasant company, could speak two languages fluently from what he knew. She was everything that a Roman man would want to be. But she wasn't Roman or male. So how did she learn all of this? Surely Kaede couldn't have taught her.

The steady up and down motion of her breasts broke his thoughts. His mouth watered at the thought of her taste. He knew her scent already. It was all over the stone basement bedroom. A heady mix of wetness and trees, combined with a scant reminder of cinnamon. What would she smell like covered in sweat?

"Inu-Yasha, hurry up! Jesuit for all this Roman speed that's talked about you sure are slow."

How would her skin feel against his? Her breath on his neck; black hair spilled over her shoulders as she writhed under him. The soldier could feel his groin pulse at such thoughts. But they wouldn't leave his mind. His horses gait did nothing to help either.

"INU-YASHA!"

"Yes?" Innocent eyes watched her. Kagome had stopped a little ahead and was now scowling. Her black charger mimicked her mood with a valiant toss of his black mane.

"You were moaning. I could hear you from up here. Just so you know, its not good when you get aroused by your horse."

Golden eyes narrowed. Violet ones twinkled back at them. 'That bitch! She knew exactly what was going on! How dare she make a fool of me!' Averting his eyes quickly, Inu-Yasha cantered past the other pair. This was turning out to be a worse day then he expected. Kagome screaming a name while wrapped in red sheets flashed through his mind. Biting at his bottom lip, Inu-Yasha wondered if this was how Miroku always felt around women.

(The Crow)

I watched the lady follow him on towards the stone village. We had tried to use our magic's from ever letting her leave the woods, but they could only work for so long. The child who was both Fae and God now left her homeland. The Queen had done this, of that I was sure.

My mother had called to me while I was watching her. She had wanted me to come home, but I could not. Instead I saw the hand of the goddess point me in the direction of the lady. I was to follow her.

(Inu-Yasha)

As the pair entered the village, smoke poured into Inu-Yasha's unhappy nostrils. The smell of animals and sweaty humans covered the area like a blanket. Chickens walked under the feet of Samara making her skitter away. She had never liked birds, especially those on the ground. The prefect noticed that Etain was being cautious too. However Kagome was simply smiling, albeit somewhat nervously.

The ground was muddy and covered in stray wisps of hey. The cobbles that should line the main entrance to the city weren't even there. The road seemed to stick to the horses hooves, Inu-Yasha cringed at the thought of the grooming Samara would need. This place was disgusting. Even the people were covered in dirt and soot.

Taking a glance down to see the actual road, the soldier just about up threw his breakfast. Manure was everywhere. Even the slums of Rome were cleaner then this! The sneer on his face disappeared when he looked to Kagome. She had stopped Etain in the middle of the road while the people watched her. Deep violet eyes were calm as they surveyed the pitiful little town.

She was a beacon to them. Like moths to flame or mosquitoes to skin they surrounded her. Each solemn movement was like a gift. One little girl stuck out a hand; Kagome looked at her, Etain snorted, the girl stepped back. At the same moment both the horse and rider shook their heads before the rider slid gracefully into the muck at her feet.

Inu-Yasha could feel his eyes widen, she was down with them on the ground. Even now he could almost see the light from her smile as she waved the little girl forward.

(Rin)

'The noble lady's smiling at me?' Rin walked cautiously forward again. The noble lady held her arms wide and smirked mischievously. It was that smirk that brought Rin closer.

A crow cawed overhead and the Noble lady looked up sharply. Did she know crow speech? That was impossible, the people had lost the ability to hear the animals long ago. Stepping forward again Rin held out a flower to the lady.

(Kagome)

In her mind, Kagome was trying to figure out what the crow had spoken. She knew it was a warning, a warning about a man in the grey robes. Kagome kept out a wary eye as she accepted the flower from the girl.

The crow cawed again and her charger Reared to the sky. A red bolt of what could only be described as lightning hit the ground just inches away from Kagome. People screamed and ran from the open road. The priestess only blinked as she grabbed the girl, holding the child in her protective embrace. Another shot hit the ground closer to Inu-Yasha as fear gripped at her heart. 'It seems he was here after all.'

Taking a glance towards the Roman, Kagome found that he was already on the ground with his sword drawn. His horse was gone, as was Etain. 'Stupid stallion, running after a mare. Bah Humbug, I'm jealous of a roman horse!'

Clutching the girls tighter, while more reddish orange bolts hit around them, Kagome whispered a word that even Rin had trouble hearing. "Faro."

Black bolts followed the red ones and seemed to eat them from the outside in. More people were screaming. They were running like idiots. 'Get out of my way!'

A black bolt devoured a red one sending giant sparks out. One of these sparks flew off and hit a man in the face, another hitting a girl child across the back. Their screams cut against her skin like a dagger. She could feel the blood from them flowing over her skin and down her arms; it was soaking into her dress. A terrifying face with long black hair and red eyes that watched her soul flickered before her eyes. She felt his hand, calloused and rough around her throat. A third scream, a masculine yell and a cruel laughter brought her back from the memory. It could only be a memory, for her nightmares weren't even that vivid. A violet gaze opened; He stared back.

It had been a grave mistake to come here to find Kaede. She would never have guessed that a druid would come here. Over to her right in a huddled heap was the body of the child. Inu-Yasha was cradling her and whispering in her ear. 'I can only pray that they escape.'

"What did I teach you Kagome?"

Her eyes watered as his foul breath hit her face. Did he not know about hygiene? Even I her own hut he was a pig. The fingers at her throat tightened.

"Pay attention to me you little witch!"

A dagger was for the second time in two days, pressed against her throat. Only this time she was actually fearful. Bowing her head she tried not to cry. It wouldn't be right to cry in front of him. It was his fault that this had happened. No, It was hers. She wasn't strong enough to even beat the Druid. How was she to destroy the Romans when her powers couldn't even touch his? It was time to stop blaming him for everything bad that happened. "Kill me Torrance. If you'd dare to."

Torrance scowled back at her and the dagger was taken away from her neck. The fragile body of a priestess was lifted to her feet. For a man near eighty he was in good health. "Kagome Higurashi you will never be good enough to die. You will live your life in the service of your people, just as you were born to do. You will breathe, eat and die only when I feel it should be."

(Inu-Yasha)

The little girl opened her eyes and smiled. They were so different from Kagome's. Chocolate brown mixed with a molten bronze created a colour all her own. She would have been beautiful and innocent if he hadn't met Kagome. But he had met her.

The girl's eyes enlarge at something behind him. Using the muscles of a trained soldier he spun, blade pointed at the intruder, still holding the girl in his arms. Before him stood Kaede, holding the reins of both Etain and Samara. It was Kaede, as he had never seen her. She was tired, and old, but her eyes twinkled in contempt. "She cannot be saved by mortal hands now. It is up to the goddess to protect her child."

In his mind he whispered a prayer to Hera. In his heart he called a boon from the lady Bonna Dae.

Black tresses fell towards the ground while pale pink lips moved in speech to the sky. The druids eyes widened in horror. The soldier wished her knew what could strike so much fear into a single humans eye. It would be a useful weapon to bring home.

Etain reared up without a sound, but really how could a person not notice the giant whoosh of air caused by him. Both Kaede and the soldier watched the skies. The Raven high above them glinted silver under the sun. The silver dropped like a piece of liquefied cloud and sky.

(Kagome)

She smirked as the Raven cawed high above them. Torrance's eyes widened more then Kagome knew was physically possible. His old gnarled face showed fear in every line and crinkle. "Well grandpa, it seems the ravens don't like you do they?"

Perhaps that was the wrong thing to say since in the next moment her face was thrown into the dirt.

A small tinkle off to the side did nothing to distract her attention from the Arch druid who had moved a few paces away. He was slowly circling her, trying to find weaknesses that he could use against her.

He flicked his hand.

Kagome was paralysed with pain as a scream tore up her throat. Red lightning continued to pummel at her back burning away pieces of her clothing and marring her flesh.

"KAGOME!"

'No. Go away.'

'Inu-Yasha, please go away'

'He'll kill you.'

'He'll use you against me…'

Warm arms encompassed her body. In the distance, Etain was making a horrible racket. His screaming was giving her a headache. Not that she didn't already have one from that idiot who had to be family. Soft breath tickled against her cheek and ear. She knew who it was without opening her eyes. Did she even have the energy to open them? Probably not.

"Kagome… Listen Kagome I'm really sorry about this."

'Damn you Roman… damn you for being caring.'

A faint click and the feeling of metal against her skin in two places caused the Celt to open her eyes and stare in repulsion at the man who stood over her. That better have not been what she thought it was!

(Inu-Yasha)

When the silver bracelet and ring attachment had fallen before them, Inu-Yasha was at a loss for words. It was a beautiful piece of entwining silver that was wrought to look like great branches. Some of them swirled up to point towards what would be the upper forearm, while a chain linked the bracelet to a ring that looked to be of the same design. The roman stepped forward to pick up the piece that came from Hera. Kaede gasped and Etain snorted in what seemed to be disgust. Was it just him or did other people feel that that horse was a little more then a horse?

"Oh my Goddess you dare to propose such to your child."

The Roman turned and narrowed his golden orbs at the priestess. "What is it Kaede?"

"I dare not tell you boy. It was a gift from the goddess for you to give to Kagome. That is all I may say."

After that she had refused to look at him. Inu-Yasha was sure her eyes were watering. But why? Another scream slit through the air into his ears. Red light highlighted all that was in front of him and he knew that she had been hit again.

Her black charger shrieked his anger while the old lady tried to hold his reins. She was strong for an old hag.

It had all happened so quickly. She had said something; the man said something back. Inu-Yasha ran forward while Kaede covered her eyes and wept. The man yelled something but the only thing that the Roman could hear was the whimper coming from her.

It was over in seconds. The bracelet was on her wrist and the ring attached to it was on her middle finger. The piece looked glorious on her hand, like it was made for her.

But it was boy. It was made especially for her.

"What have you done boy!"

The voice was like a trumpet in his head. It was female, of that he was sure, but it seemed to be in his very blood. It was like the howling of dogs on the hunt, or the loudest claps of thunder. It was a voice for no human ears…

"I'll kill you Roman!"

The druid advanced. Inu-Yasha paid no attention. He was to busy trying to bury himself into hell from the look Kagome was giving him. He doubted Hera herself had a glare that ferocious.

"I won't let you kill him!"

Power flared knocking Inu-Yasha away from her. He skidded across the muddy road and just lay there while loud booms and crackles surrounded him. Bolts and flames flew over and around him. One hit his shoulder, Inu-Yasha bit his lip to ease the pain. Metallic blood flowed into his mouth. A male yelling brought his head up to see if the fighting was over.

A bolt sliced through tender flesh. Blood spurted all over her face and ran down her lips. It soaked into the white cotton blouse under her dress. Violet eyes went cold. The druid's body lay in a melted and massacred heap on the stone, where the face would have been was now a bubble of skin sliding of the bone and revealing yellow stained teeth.

"No grandpa, you won't kill him." A gaze that showed a thirst for blood drifted over the body; then turned to the Roman. The earth nearly shook under her feet with each step that brought her closer.

"Grandpa wont kill you for this crime Inu-Yasha, but I will!"

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. Anyone who thinks this is a crappy chapter raise your hand! raises hand I'd better get some support on my view of dislike!

Henceforth if you actually like this chapter I will not allow you to read anymore.

The little voice inside my head: Like you can actually stop them idiot…

I hate that voice, it's always right -.- … Anyway, question of this chapter. What is the use/name of the bracelet that Kagome will now be forced to wear?

No I'm not crazy, yes this is an actual bracelet. Read through again if you forget the description.