X-ing

by dark shadowed rose

Kagome always knew her path in life was a strangely twisting one, the fact she always seemed to meet people twice was strange enough. But this was a new twist. One she never ever expected. Ichigo/Kagome M to be safe no real lemons just sex is mentioned and there is a lot of violence. In honor of halloween i decided to start posting. Was supposed to be a one shot, but grew too long.

2. Chapter 2

X-Ing

Disclaimer: I own neither Bleach nor Inuyasha, and all I have to say is I'm obsessed with Ichigo and Kagome pairings.

Chapter Two

8:34 a.m.

Kagome had been told at four in the morning plans had been changed she wouldn't start working today she had to calm her sister in law down. And then after how ever long that took she would spar with one of the guys from yesterday they didn't know which one yet.

Tora walked in, her eyes were red, her belly bigger then the last time she saw her, and she was stalking furiously across the room. Stopping only two feet away she put her hands on her hips and glaring, her heart beating hard and fast, asked: "Why?"

Kagome felt her heart break a little, "Why what?"

"Why everything?!" her voice rose, "Why did they kill my husband?! Why your mother? Why did..." her voice broke. "Why tear them apart?"

Closing her eyes, Kagome hid the red tinted tears and the odd red-violet-blue of her eyes, "Because I saw something I wasn't suppose to."

"WHAT COULD YOU HAVE SEEN THAT WOULD LEAD TO THAT?!"

Kagome could smell the tears, she could hear Tora's heart beating out it's distress, she could even hear the baby's heart beat beating louder feeling it's mother's distress. "I am friends with the wrong person, and I didn't die quietly."

"I died almost silently." she didn't dare think of saying that aloud. "I saw too much, but they didn't know I was alive until yesterday, they did that thinking my friend would be watching trying to make up for failing in protecting me."

Kagome heard the hand coming but let it hit her face. She let her head turn a bit, but the hand barely stung, the smell of tears got stronger.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU WARN US?!" The newest question was seemingly a sob with words.

"Because as far as I knew the people who did this thought I was dead. With me dead why would they go after you?"

Tora tried to stay strong, but very quickly she leaned forward grabbing her in hug, and she just sobbed louder. Kagome guided her to a chair and then tried to sooth Tora while fighting her own sadness and her anger. Aizen was going to die by her hands. He was going to hell.

9:12 p.m.

Kagome sat in her room, she had fought Byakuya for the first time, his style was so very different then the other two the first two rounds he beat her before she had broken down his style enough to beat him. Rukia and Renji hadn't believed their eyes the first time she beat him, but when she did it a second time... she wanted to feel proud but she couldn't everything she felt was negative. She was angry, she hated Aizen, she was sad because her involvement got her family killed, and she was so so lonely.

The knock on her door broke her revery, inhaling she was surprised, it was Ichigo. "Come in."

Ichigo walked in, his shoulders were slumped, and his face looked dead tired. No pun intended. His red-yellow eyes met hers for split second before flickering back to the floor. He sat in the chair in her room, she let the silence hang. She wasn't sure what to say, this wasn't a mood of his she was familiar with.

The minutes dragged on before he broke it, his tone was defeated. "Kagome why did you go out alone? if you had asked I would have taken you out."

Kagome was surprised that was what he asked, she had expected a talking to, anger like she saw the night before, but this melancholy was strange. "Would you have really? You've avoided me when at all possible, you don't talk to me, tell me what's going on. I was under the impression you and the others would just keep me down here in the dark like a pet, a pat on the head, food, a kind word. But you weren't treating me like a person. I know you think I can't handle what's out there but if you would listen if you would give me a chance, I can prove I can."

Ichigo sighed and his head tilted backwards till she couldn't see his eyes. "I suppose I deserve that."

Kagome said nothing her heart hurt, what happened to the times of free flowing conversation? The sharing of thoughts just running through their heads?

"I admit Kagome it's my fault we were ignoring you, I didn't want you exposed. I know Rukia told you Yuzu and my dad died. Karin isn't speaking to me. She was furious I couldn't tell her what happened, what I was into, never mind you know as well as I do I couldn't. I haven't seen her in two years. After you were almost killed for just being seen speaking to me, I didn't want anyone to know you were still around, he hurt you while you were human, what could happen to you because you have a vampire's constitution gives me nightmares. I've found bodies of people on our side that have been captured, I won't say any more but the idea of it being you that was found..."

Kagome inhaled feeling the spike dig deeper in her chest, she loved him, but he hurt her so easily. She realized she was smelling blood, looking sharply at Ichigo she saw the tiny spot on the chair, Ichigo was crying. So it seemed the danger went both ways. She hurt him just as easily. "Ichigo, I understand that you thought you were protecting me, but you need to understand, I have never stood back. I have always fought to the best of my ability, if you're so worried about the trouble I'd find you should have stayed close and been there to help get me out when I was in too deep. I haven't told you things about my past, I'm not ever sure I'll tell you everything ever, some things hurt too much to speak of. But from the day I turned fifteen I knew I was marked for dangerous things. I have been poisoned, stabbed, shot at, bitten, scratched, betrayed, and heart broken. I can handle vampires, hiding things from me will only make it worse."

Kagome inhaled deeply and realized she was smelling more blood. Starting to become worried she was distracted when Ichigo sighed. "Kagome I don't care. I will protect you even if you don't like it. I will do whatever I have too, to keep you safe."

He inhaled again, this time Kagome noticed the rasp. Sitting up she noticed the stain growing on the arm of the chair. Ichigo was bleeding, and not just a little. "Ichigo what have you been doing?"

His head rolled over so he could look at her, she was alarmed to note his eyes were glazed and out of focus. "I told you I won't let anyone hurt you..."

"What have you been doing?"

"I went hunting, four of them thought they could take me. Stupid fuckers. One of them got lucky. Or he had a lucky moment before I dusted the bastard."

"You went alone?" She was alarmed, why had he done that?

"Of course I'm only to be sent out on special missions, in a group. I can't just go out." He sounded bitter and vaguely out of it. Of course as much blood as he was loosing... She needed to get him food. But she was curious... "Why can't you go out alone?"

"I'm so powerful, and so young, there have been concerns that Aizen would overpower me with numbers, and I would give up important information, or... Something. I don't.. I don't know they just want me to fight it their way."

His breathing was getting worse, she stood, "Let me go get you help."

He grabbed her arm on her way past. "No."

"You're seriously injured and need blood."

"Blood, no one else."

"You need..."

Ichigo cut her off, "No one else, just blood they'll kick my ass otherwise."

She gave in, he would heal with enough blood. "Okay." He dropped her arm and she dashed out and got several pints, he would need them. Coming back in to her room she knew the chair would have to go otherwise the others would find out if only because of the smell. Pouring the blood into a cup she helped Ichigo drink, she found herself mildly amazed he'd made it to her room and kept talking he should have passed out, or... died. She didn't like that thought. "Next time you go out take me with you I'll watch your back."

Ichigo finished the cup and looked up at her, his eyes still red-yellow, "No."

"I can fight, and I'll watch your back."

"No."

"Ichigo if you can sneak out so can I."

"Not if I tell everyone you're planning to." He threatened.

"I'll tell them about you." She returned.

"With what proof? You have a history, I don't."

"If you're going to do that I'll just go get Rukia right now." Three things happened at once, Ichigo growled no and yanked her back towards him, she hit his chest. And in that moment the delicious scent she had been ignoring or trying to ignore hit all her senses at once, his firm chest, his smell, the fresh blood on his mouth. She wasn't the only one who lost it either, Ichigo inhaled and she could feel a slight growl rumble in his chest, then he sunk his fangs into her neck.

The sharp pain startled her, but then the bliss that slunk through her veins even more so, but her body relaxed and she sunk into his embrace, feeling boneless she realized her nose had come to rest in the crook of his neck. She couldn't help herself she started kissing his neck, she loved him so damn much. Then she made the mistake of inhaling, instinct attacked, fangs out she bit him. The first taste of his blood sent her soaring. The relaxed limpness left her and she gripped him as tightly as he held her. She knew if one of them were human they would be in pain or dead, but he tasted so sweet. Then he did something she didn't understand, but it hurt and she fell back in his arms; looking up at him she could see her blood smeared about his lips and like all cliché pictures a drop had escaped down his chin, his eyes still gold-yellow-red he blinked down at her. Her own fang marks had left bloody smears on his neck, limp she found she was growing sleepy, like she hadn't since the change, her eyes was drifting closed when she saw something that shown in his hand.

"Sorry Kagome."

Rukia

She had woken at her normal two am wake up time, her night before had been busy, giving her new information to her brother she then had to repeat it half a dozen other times, and then listen to a few arguments about what it meant, before she was dismissed. Showering had been the first thing she did followed by food, then she went to sleep, now at almost three she noticed the strong smell of Ichigo's blood coming from Kagome's room, half formed thoughts of an attack at their base struck, she threw the door open. Eyes flying about the room she found Ichigo laying on Kagome's bed watching her sleep. She noted the chair was soaked with blood and had been what she had smelled.

Looking at him she could see he was thinking hard, he had glared at her for bursting in but then he went back to staring at Kagome's face... Kagome should be up, she wasn't a heavy sleeper, she had good instincts, so why wasn't she up? Or at least reacting to her presence?

Knowing Ichigo she had to ask, "What did you do?"

With a glare he looked back up at her, "Lost control, like an idiot."

She waited a second longer and he went on, "Bite her, the worse part is she bit me back."

She closed her eyes and groaned, "So, what did she say when she realized what you had done?"

Ichigo looked at her, and with a sigh said, "She didn't, I dosed her with nightshade."

"Damn it! Are you stupid or what? She doesn't remember the change, this was her first bite. How will she know how to deal with the after effects?!"

"Why do you think I dosed her?!" Ichigo closed his eyes and heaved a deep breath, hiding that his brown eyes were taking on hints of red and yellow on. "Rukia once I realized I lost control and she was biting me back I panicked, we were in love. And I like to think still love each other, it's gonna be two or three times worse then normal."

Rukia nodded slowly, he was probably right, Kagome would be dealing with feed back from Ichigo, her own experience with feed back from Kagome had been rather stilted, she had realized the girl was awake, she had noticed a few other things. But unlike her connection with Ichigo after the change she hadn't felt a connection to the girl, she thought it was because Ichigo started but didn't finish, but now having watched the girl adjust... she wondered if it wasn't something else.

Kagome

Kagome dreamed of things that made no sense, she had orange hair, she was walking home in the rain with her mother who had hair like hers, she was coming home from a dojo. She knew however she didn't have orange hair, her mother didn't have orange hair, and she had never gone to a dojo and she'd never met anyone named Tatsuki.

Then a girl standing on the edge of the river started to fall and she dashed forward, running as hard as she could trying to grab her, but her hand went right through her. Falling she felt something warm hit her rolling her over, feeling rain hitting her face she opened her eyes and found her beautiful mother laying there covered in blood.

Then the feelings of the rain, the grief building in her chest, the cold touch of despair were falling away, the scene in her head faded to black and just before she woke a deep echoing voice that might have been a man or a woman said: there is always a cost.

Her eyes flew open and she found she was laying on her bed, the lingering scent of Ichigo in the air, on her bed, on her body. The taint of blood was still there, but the memories of last night explained all of that. But the next time she saw Ichigo she was slapping him, how dare he kiss her, well bite her senseless and then knock her her out rather then talk to her about it!

The door opened and Rukia walked in, seeing she was awake Rukia looked surprised before smirking at her, "So how did talking to him go?"

Kagome gritted her teeth, clearly Rukia had a clue about what had happened and thought it was funny. "It went badly. The next time I see him I'm slugging him."

Rukia frowned, "I don't understand what you mean by 'slugging him'?"

"Punching him out."

Rukia laughed at that, "He'd deserve it. He's already left for work, and you have work in an hour and half I didn't think you'd wake for another half an hour at the earliest... But you've proved me wrong again."

Kagome nodded and forced herself up right, her head spun a little, but she was up. Rukia handed her a packet of blood and Kagome dug in, breakfast in bed how nice of Rukia. Rukia sat in the chair, a new chair, not drenched in blood she noted. And seemed nervous.

"What?"

Rukia snorted to herself, "I don't think anyone ever thought to tell you, but feeding on another vampire has side effects, how well you know them, the blood line, their age and yours all effect what happens. The feeding as you found out last night feels heavenly, a lot of old old timers prefer it to... normal... copulation."

Kagome frowned, Rukia was going some where with this and she had drank another vampire's blood before she just hadn't shared what she had seen so... no one knew? But why was blood sharing such a big deal? Other then a vulnerability, an enemy could find things out like she had but... Where was Rukia going with this?

"Most often it's ghost sensations, some times it's surges of emotions, some times you feel what the other person is feeling at the time their feeling it. That one is most common when it's lovers. And rarely it's memories. So if you feel strange today you now know why. So don't freak out or... say anything stupid to Byakuya or Katsumi."

Kagome smirked. "It's me, what are you worried about?"

"That's why I'm worried."

Kagome nodded not having an answer for that and got up to shower and change for work. Rukia had just told her seeing memories were rare but both times she had shared blood with a vampire she had seen something... Going back to the unpleasant implication she wasn't a normal vampire, able to throw orders, see memories, needs more blood.. and more she was sure, there was where she got her sword and the fact the memories she had gotten from Ichigo didn't make sense. His mother had died when he was fifteen of cancer, not as a small child and not murdered before his eyes. Not to mention what was with the girl thing?

And the voice at the end...

What cost?

Shivering she climbed from the shower, drying herself briskly she dropped the towel and quickly put her underwear on, then the hose, then the pale lavender pencil skirt, and the soft silky black bow blouse. Looking in the mirror she was pleased with her appearance. Her blue eyes gleamed under the lights, and her wet hair shone with a gleam, and her cheeks were flushed from breakfast, applying make up with a light hand she declared herself done, she had some time to kill before going in at seven, it was only six.

Now that she knew she had an hour she found herself feeling tired, the nightshade Ichigo had given her hadn't totally worn off yet, she wandered back to her room, she could sit down, she'd eaten, showered, and was dressed a little nap wouldn't hurt. Sitting down in her new chair her eyes fell closed and quickly she found herself dreaming again.

She was in a classroom wearing a gray uniform, people she knew but didn't greeted her, Tatsuki, Chad, Orihime, Ishida, Keigo, Mizuiro. She knew them by name, had met almost all of them when she had gone for the summer job, but this time they seemed much younger, high school age. She had orange hair again.

Class started and then an eerie scream broke the drone of the teacher, Ms. Ochi, her body that she was realizing was Ichigo's dashed off, towards the scream. Determination and a word filling her; 'hollow'.

"Kagome!"

She sat up and realized Rukia was calling her, shaking her head she forced herself to wake up and mentally she locked all of the memories that didn't make sense away, she had job to work on in … Six minutes. "Crap!"

Leaping from the chair she grabbed the metallic pumps Rukia helped her pick and grabbed her bag, and ran from her room. Almost running into Rukia at the end of the hall Rukia moved out of the way and followed her to the door, Kagome waited for Rukia to enter the new first double coded door, done just for her. Up the stairs she ran, stopping at the second door Rukia dialed, while she put her heels on, that done she walked out, hopped the wall and calmly but quickly crossed the grounds to get to the office she would be working in. Stepping through the doors she'd never entered before she walked to the front desk and asked for directions from the guard.

"Name?"

"Kagome Higurashi."

"Twelfth floor, ask for Ms. Arisawa"

Kagome nodded, that name felt like it should mean something to her, walking to the elevator she stared at it before deciding on the stairs, might have been crazy if she were human like the guard especially since she was wearing two and half inch heels but she was a vampire. There were cameras on the doors but none in the stairwell- she wondered why, not. Taking a deep breath and listening she knew the stairwell to be empty, so she ran up the stairs. In seconds like this, while running she realized why Inuyasha had run everywhere when possible, running like this was like flying. It was a total high. Reaching the twelfth floor in about a minute, she knew she could have gone faster but had wanted to make sure she wouldn't damage the stairs, smoothing her hair, fixing her skirt that had ridden up she stepped through the door.

It was a normal office, she could see work spaces and only a few in them, a deep breath told her almost empty and all but a few of the dozen or so people on the floor were vampires at the moment, walking to the front desk she smiled at the woman who looked up at her, the face gave her harsh jolt, she knew this woman. Tatsuki, older but not much, and she took a deep breath and used her ears, a vampire.

A flash of the memories of the school frozen her, but she smiled and yanked her mind back to the present, "Tatsuki?"

The woman frowned before her face cleared, "Hey you were that girl Ichigo brought to that dinner a few years ago."

Kagome nodded, "Yeah, when were you turned?"

Tatsuki frowned, a faint red gleam taking hold in her eyes. "The same time Ichigo's family was attacked, I wasn't related and was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but they didn't totally kill me so I was turned when I said I wanted to fight back."

Kagome ignored the goose bumps trekking up and down her arms. "What happened to everyone else then?"

Tatsuki scowled, "Killed or hidden, that Aizen bastard did his research."

Kagome now was actually frightened, why had she seen the memories of the classroom that didn't make sense? And why was everyone in it dead? What was going on? Was her half premonition right and some how the Kami were planning to use her again? Shaking it off, she nodded and moved on to why she was here, "I was told to ask for Ms. Arisawa."

Tatsuki laughed, "That's me."

Kagome flushed. "Oh. Sorry I didn't remember your last name."

"Hey it's cool if you remembered me it was only because Ichigo talked about me and he would have called me Tatsuki."

Kagome nodded but knew the way Ichigo talked about her and what Tatsuki meant were two different things. Tatsuki stood and grabbed a few files, "So if you're the new aide I'm suppose to teach, here's how it goes; The twelfth floor this one, is all filing, records, plans everything, the people on this floor take calls for files, any phone call for information comes here. The floors below are more call centers a cafeteria, patient out information, and the day to day running. Above is board meetings, offices for anyone who has to handle more the basic paperwork like patient filing and whatever. Kuchiki-sama is top floor, thats where most the time we'll be, we get him anything he needs from down here, take phone calls, messages, do whatever he can't do himself."

Kagome nodded and followed Tatsuki in the elevator. Tatsuki pressed the fifteenth floor button, highest number there was Kagome noted. Then her teacher for the day asked, "Any questions?"

"Other then why they decided why I should do this job? No."

Tatsuki snickered as the doors opened, "I know what you mean I got this job because Ichigo remembered I have a talent for organization, and the fact I am a black belt in two disciplines. I'm kinda the first bodyguard for Kuchiki-sama, Renji does his job but here in the office if they attacked this much of a strong hold, the more people between them and Byakuya the better."

"So am I the same?"

"If it comes down to it and you do it yeah, other wise you're gonna be my legs for errands I can't do or to be ready when I have to go do something."

Kagome nodded her first thoughts having been correct, lots of work not much respect. Then her eyes caught on a large portrait on the wall, her mouth fell open and she gasped, that face... It looked a hell of a lot like Sesshomaru's. Only black short hair... Brown contacts and no stripes or moon... Feeling her chest heaving. She stared as she walked closer, noticing smaller ones with a placard above them saying family legacy she looked at them closely.

Three others sat there, the first was Sesshomaru's human double, no marks, but silver hair tied back in ponytail, and his eyes in the black and white photo could have been yellow or a light brown. The next was color but very old, the colors blurred and faded, silver hair cut much shorter then the first still tied back and his eyes were clearly yellow. A fist clenched in her gut, cold over took her limbs and she almost took no notice of Tatsuki asking her what was wrong louder and louder.

The third was color and for the first time Sesshomaru's hair was black but his eyes were still a telling yellow. Then the current one. Sesshomaru was a vampire and that could only mean she had made them, of course he was much older then vampires, he had been born years and years before as a demon but her wish for demons to appreciate humans more had created monsters.

She fell to the floor, her knees buckling, this, all of this was her fault. It was no wonder she had bought swords from the future and been pulled into this, she had made this, she had done this. Breathing hard the only thing she could think was she needed to see Sesshomaru. Now. Looking up at Tatsuki she ignored the girl's frantic questions, "Take me to Sesshomaru."

Tatsuki frowned, her expression odd, and she stuttered, "I don'ttt knooow... whoo that is."

"Katsumi!"

Tatsuki slowly shook her head back and forth, "I don'ttt knoow whereee."

"Byakuya is in right?" Kagome knew her tone was sharp, desperate even.

Tatsuki nodded, her head jerking like a puppet's, Kagome stood questions filling her, she need to see him to talk to him. She need answers. Kagome strode over to the door and yanked it open finding Byakuya and Renji in there. "Take me to Sesshomaru!"

Byakuya went stiff, Renji looked frightened, while Byakuya stood Renji asked her: "Where did you hear that name?"

His words were stilted, reminding her vaguely of Tatsuki's stutter, Byakuya hadn't said anything yet but his face was thunderous, and his movements jerky. She had given an order... Mother of Vampires, Queen of the Damned, that was her. She may have only been a vampire for close to two months, but she had noticed she didn't fit the mold and now she knew why. "I know that name because I know the man. Now Byakuya take me to him. Quickly."

Byakuya jerked fighting the order, and she didn't blame him, he had no clue what was going on, he at least was loyal to the old dog. But soon her order sunk in enough Byakuya was walking smoothly, over to the far wall that had a door. Probably to a privet bath, but he didn't go to the door he went to the wall, moving the wall sized painting there was a coded door. Byakuya typed it in and the elevator doors opened. Stepping in with him she ignored Tatsuki standing at the far doorway looking lost, Renji went to join them and without remorse she ordered him to stay. He was fighting the order even as the doors closed, they went down two floors and the doors opened onto a small square room, defensible she supposed. Each side of the square had a door, bedroom, bathroom, office and elevator. Or so she guessed.

Byakuya went to the door on the left wall, opening the door he held the door for her, his expression said this was more sarcastic then politeness but she stepped through anyway. Seeing the man sitting on the other side of the desk reading something on his laptop Kagome felt her knees give out, she fell to the floor. Shock freezing her. She knew, but seeing it. She couldn't believe it. She denied it. Sesshomaru wasn't sitting there, on a laptop, she hadn't created Vampires leading to the misery of so so many herself included.

"I said what?!" He looked up and frowned looking at her.

She didn't blame him, she had done some growing up in the last ten years. Besides she hadn't answered him the first three times. She could see him trying to remember why he thought he knew her face, then he inhaled deeply and she figured now he'd know her, having been a dog and all he would have probably learned to recognize her scent. His eyes closed and he took a deeper breath.

Then his eyes snapped open, and shock painted it's self across his face.

He knew her. "Long time no see right Sesshomaru?"

He was up and walked around the desk almost too fast for her to follow, even now. His eyes were glowing a sinister red. "How is that possible?"

Kagome snickered, "I would have thought Inuyasha would have told you."

"The half breed never told me more then you went home!"

Kagome nodded, "Well short answer my home was now, the future. So five hundred and plus years later here I am and here you are. Now tell me how did you become a vampire?!" She ignored the desperate sound in her voice.

He scowled at her and went to ignore her but his voice betrayed him, choking he spluttered and then gasped, "What did you do?"

Kagome laughed, she knew it sounded maniacal, she felt a little crazy, so of course her laugh echoed it. "I made this happen best as I can figure, you have to listen to bloodline and I made you all. I am the mother of vampires."

He scowled, his face angry, and his hand snapped out and grabbed her by the throat, he was falling into old habits she saw. Choking she rasped out, "Put me down!"

It took half a minute but his arm was trembling and he slowly lowered her and she found herself back on her feet, her legs still weak and wanting to give way. Standing she smirked, feeling wildly out of balance, she had made vampires. She had made vampires. "What happened after I wished on the jewel?"

Sesshomaru ground his teeth she could hear it but he gave in, his mouth falling open. "The first day nothing seemed wrong and for the next week I didn't notice anything but the fact there were fewer and fewer base demons. The week after I grew hungrier and hungrier. I noticed my moon and stripes fading, I... noticed being about Rin made it worse so I kept her as far from me as possible. I grew concerned and wondered if other demons were feeling it. Other then my group, Jaken was ill- Ah-Uh was weak as well, I found the half-breed being guarded by the Monk and Demon Slayer. Being in the human village was agony, I took my half brother and went into the forest leaving Rin there. Three days later travelers had the misfortune to cross our path. They died but we soon had a clue of what we were facing. I took to drinking animal's blood twice a day, the bastard followed my example and we split paths, I took Rin again and wandered. Demons everywhere had become human, died, or become like us, I in the early days took to killing those that had gone insane, and offered rules to those willing to listen."

Kagome snorted, in other words he became king of the vampires. He gave them law and order, and was so strong none could best him.

"I took Rin back to the Monk and Demon Slayer and left her there for a few years, when I came back she and... Inuyasha had fallen in love."

Kagome blinked, that was a surprise, Rin and Inuyasha? It fit, he had time to get over her and Kikyo, and by then Rin was a woman who had a thing for silver haired demons.

"I of course forbid it and Rin argued." A wistful look crossed the old dog's face and Kagome couldn't help but return it.

"They married anyway and that was when we discovered the dangers of blood mates, I met other demons that spoke of humans they couldn't resist but when... They were consummating the marriage Inuyasha bit her. He later told me she was almost dead when he understood what he was doing, he also said Rin didn't seem to understand she was dying."

Sesshomaru gave a nasty smirk, "He of course was in a hurry to explain since my hand was around his throat."

Kagome gave him a blank look, pretending she hadn't noticed his fingers squeeze her throat just a little, he had set her down, but not let go, which was okay. At least she knew she could order him to stop before he killed her or something.

Sesshomaru grimaced, seeming annoyed by her waiting for him to go on and ignoring the fact her throat was still in his hand. "Inuyasha said what happened next happened because of something you told him."

Kagome felt a chill walk down her spine, anything Inuyasha did because of something she had mentioned wouldn't go well. She watched Sesshomaru's face, she could tell it had been five hundred years, he had relaxed a lot, his face showed what he thought, at least while talking about the past, she had a feeling his face would grow cold it she asked about more current stuff.

"He said you talked about saving lives in your home because people gave people dying from blood loss more blood. So panicking over Rin he used his claw and slit his wrist and gave his blood to her. Turning her. She was the first turned vampire."

Kagome stayed silent, Rin the first turned vampire. Rin married Inuyasha. Where was Rin and Inuyasha? "What happened to them?"

Sesshomaru, looked at her sadly, "They died world war two."

Kagome nodded, and remembered the names of some of her other demon friends, "What happened to Koga, Shippo, Jinenji and Kirara?"

Sesshomaru frowned, "Koga was killed in Aizen's first attack, all demon children became human, Inuyasha turned Shippo but he died two hundred years later, killed by one of the first vampire hunters. Jinenji was a half demon correct?"

Kagome nodded.

"He probably became human then, most did, Inuyasha was an exception. The demon cat like most of the low level demons that didn't die became a normal animal."

"Sango and Miroku?"

"The demon slayer and the monk?"

Kagome bobbed her head and lifted her hand to shove the hand on her throat away, Sesshomaru let her push his hand away.

"My half brother was going to turn them after they were done having children, but when the monk died fighting a rouge vampire off the demon slayer refused to be turned, she said she wouldn't live forever without him."

Kagome smiled, that was sweet and very Sango, she loved so passionately. Sesshomaru frowned, and his face became something closer to what she remembered, "Now how did you come to be?"

Kagome sighed, "I wished on the jewel, got sent home and started a life for myself, I became a vampire because Ichigo was my boyfriend. Aizen tried to kill me to get to Ichigo and he turned me."

Sesshomaru frowned. His eyes dimming to a dark red-orange, the glow gone, but the red color there showing he was upset by this information. "You can order the vampire population about... but... what would happen if Aizen were to find this out?"

Byakuya spoke up from by the door, "If I may my lord?"

Sesshomaru waved a hand dismissing the politeness, something he wouldn't have done five hundred years ago.

"Odds are good if Aizen should learn of this he would make a play for her. As you have told me so many times being a vampire things aren't always as they seem. He probably would drain her dry hoping her blood would give him more power since we believe he became so strong having fed on elders."

Kagome felt her heart pinch, Koga.

"If he didn't just kill her solely to keep from our hands and her from ordering him about. And if not one of those he probably would keep her about to make her take the chance to order us to surrender. The only answer I can think of is she just became as powerful an asset as you my Lord."

Sesshomaru nodded her head and Kagome suddenly got the feeling a noose had just been dropped over her head. "Wait what? How would Aizen find out, we're in your office the deepest darkest secret of the building. Only you two know! How would he find out?!"

Sesshomaru gave her a disdainful look, "We are at war, if we have spies in his camp then we have them in ours. Besides he has shown an unnerving ability for knowing things no one else should."

Byakuya nodded, "Ichigo has shown he can fight and I worry about him getting bored, he turned her he should be one of her guards. I also suggest Matsumoto, she is strong, and I suspect she and Kagome would get along. The only other one I can think of not already entangled in a job is Kenpachi, but he's a... Stubborn man."

Sesshomaru nodded, but Kagome wasn't happy about this. "No. I don't need a guard, I don't want one!"

Sesshomaru paused to glare at her, "You haven't changed at all Miko! Think! If he were to get his hands on you?! We would be lost! The world forever changed! Would you condemn so many for a selfish wish! Bad enough you started all of this in the first place!"

Kagome felt like he'd struck her in the chest, he might as well have stabbed her in the chest with a sword. She had gotten her mother killed, her brother killed, Ichigo's sister and father and so so so many others through the ages. She was the queen of the damned. She had damned all of them to this. She alone had done this. That running around in her head she caved, "Arrange it, I'll be back tomorrow to work, I need to go lay down."

She turned around and walked to the elevator, she couldn't believe the ground didn't shake beneath her, or she didn't just fall, she felt so shaky. Going back up to the office she found Renji trying to force himself to push the button to go down, he was ghastly white, and Tatsuki was still there looking confused. If there were spies it wasn't Tatsuki and Renji. "Renji you are free, do what you want. Tatsuki I'm going home for the day, I'll be back tomorrow."

She stumbled out of the office past Tatsuki, she grabbed her bag from where she had dropped it and went to the elevator. Going down she felt the knowledge of what she had done, what her actions had lead to. She didn't mean for it turn out like this, she had only wanted people to be happier. Safer. She snickered, safer, oh yeah that worked out great.

She needed to see Ichigo. Now.

Wobbling out the front doors she went to the hospital rather then the other office building though what she had just learned meant the one she lived under was actually a lab and office building rather then just office. Getting to the hospital she walked up to the front desk and stared blankly at the women who was asking her what her symptoms were.

It took her a second but she said, "I'm not here because I'm sick, I need to talk to Doctor Kurosaki."

The woman, a human, stared at her skeptically. "You're ghost white and shaking, you need a doctor honey."

"Look," Kagome snapped, "I just got some bad news and I want to tell him in person rather then over the phone."

"And who are you to him?"

"His girlfriend alright!" Kagome growled, irritated with herself for doubting that answer. He'd bitten her last night, he'd come to her, he still had feelings for her clearly, she just didn't know what they were.

The woman softened, "Sorry, he gets some odd balls. Head to his office he's helping in surgery, I'll tell him your there."

Kagome nodded. And following directions wound up sitting in a small room with a desk and three chairs, the desk covered in papers. Kagome had been there for half an hour and was getting desperately bored. She had stopped shaking, she had calmed herself and now was trying to ignore the strong smells and sounds from outside, she'd heard something about a car crash and from the moans following that she guessed it was a bad one. She was tried of staring at the walls trying to look like she wasn't dying of boredom but she knew she was failing, so she started trying not to read the upside down papers on his desk.

Her eye caught on a sticky note, bright lime green, she had a feeling it was so he'd notice and read it as soon as he got in, there was also a pink and a yellow one. The yellow one mentioned send file to Hazuki, the pink one mentioned a patient asking to see him, the green however... That was strange, it had a phone number on it, and instructions to call tomorrow night at eight or else and in the corner was what looked and smelled like a drop of blood. Holding the note to her face she inhaled deeply. She smelled a vampire but the smell was overlaid by hospital smells, and the blood... smelled something like Ichigo but not.

Then a horrible idea struck her, what if it was Karin's?

She had to know, but she wasn't going to ask him or call the number, she would just be waiting on the phone for him to call it tomorrow. Standing she left, she wasn't going to keep waiting, if he saw her there he would know she read the note, he knew she was too nosy not to. Seeing a different woman at the desk she knew no one would ask if he'd seen her. She had grabbed a bottle of diluted bleach, she cleaned the seats in his office and hoped the smell was strong enough he wouldn't smell her.

Walking home to the second basement she let herself in with the codes that let you in, after her breakout she had been told there was a set of codes to get out and a set of codes to get in, she only got the second. Walking down the stairs she went to her room, she wished she could just sleep a little longer, hide from the facts a moment longer. Opening her door she kicked her shoes off and on the way to her bed she stripped, her shirt first, then her skirt, then the pantyhose, in just her underwear she flung herself face down and just lay there.

Suddenly she was walking down a street, gray uniform told her again this wasn't her memory, two boys, Keigo and Mizuiro walked with her, Keigo was speaking. "You'd think Rukia would care enough to come visit us."

She jolted, images of Rukia wearing a black and white uniform, sword in hand, the word Shinigami coming to mind. Then a man calling out about his bag being stolen about the same time a punk ran past her and her friends. Ichigo, or her body shoved his bag at one of his friends and he took off running, very quickly she caught up and with one punch knocked his teeth out and got the bag back. Walking back she was handing the man, who looked to be in his early twenties, his bag back. She noticed his calm assessing eyes, he didn't seem that worried about it.

That was when she woke up, angry, fearful. It took her a moment but she realized she wasn't feeling it. She was sad, worried, and full of self loathing, and possibly a tiny bit angry it happened to her again, but this frightened rage wasn't hers. Ichigo got the note and probably given the strong reaction the blood was Karin's.

She would be waiting by the phone tomorrow.

Of course if this wasn't that and it was his reaction to her having made vampires she might just go off on a suicide run, killing Aizen and dying was a good life. And she had known for a long time, she didn't want a life without Ichigo. No matter what it cost.

Sitting up she looked at the time, given that it was only eleven thirty she was guessing it was the note. She was hoping it was the note, she was praying it was the note. Getting dressed she left her room, she get some practice in with her swords. She'd need it. She was half down the hall when she noticed, someone, probably a woman judging by the perfume, had stood at her door for a while. She had then walked along the scent trail the woman left, finding the kitchen, which wasn't really a kitchen just a break room with a large fridge full of blood. Opening the door wide she found a busty woman, with light red-blond hair sipping a glass of blood and watching television.

The woman turned as she stepped in, her face broke out in a friendly smile, "Hi I'm Matsumoto Rangiku, and I'm..."

Kagome cut her off with a smirk, "My baby sitter."

Matsumoto raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "As you like."

Kagome noted her unusual light blue eyes, blue eyes were rare enough but blue eyes that light were most often contacts if you saw them on the street. Of course Matsumoto was pale enough she could have been european. Inhaling she tried get a feel for the woman, she smiled brightly, but her eyes were heavy, the weight of years lay in them. She was betting the woman was older then Rukia and her brother. "How old are you?"

The woman almost simpered, "Thats very forward of you, asking a woman her age before you know if she has a boyfriend."

Kagome smirked back, she had met people like this before, aware of their beauty and the power that comes with it. "I suppose it was, but if you have a boy friend he's on the other side, working for Aizen."

Matsumoto set her cup down, and leaned forward a dangerous gleam in her eyes, "What makes you say that?"

"You're sad, I can smell alcohol in that cup mixed with the blood, and you're old, not S-Katsumi's age, but older then Rukia or Byakuya."

The woman smiled, but Kagome realized she had rattled her, Kagome found herself wondering a little if some of her ability to guess the ages of vampires came with being the mother of them. She had been good before, very good, but not this good.

"Can you guess closer then that? Think you can guess within five years?"

Kagome chewed her lip, Byakuya, Renji, and Rukia were turned eighteenth century, born end of the seventeenth but Matsumoto was older. About a hundred years older? "You were born in the 1690s."

The woman grinned, it was harsh smile, and a bit tremulous. "Very close, 1694. Turned 1717."

Kagome nodded, and then frowned, "You have to be European."

"Guilty, my father was the first mate on a ship that went to Japan he worked for one of the few ships allowed to trade with Japan, Dutch East India Company. He was trapped there for two and half years, and learned a lot of language, when he came home for a year my parents had me, and he named me Rangiku. When I was sixteen, he was now captain of his own ship and he took me with him, I ended up married to Matsumoto Hidehisa. He was a low level Daimyo, it was a good marriage for the time, he was kind in his own way, but I only spoke Japanese, I didn't understand most of the customs, I didn't understand how people thought. So I was unhappy."

The woman sighed, her eyes far away, "I think my husband's enemies hired vampires, we were attacked, and everyone there was killed. Even me, I remember it well, but I woke in the arms of a beautiful silver haired man, he turned me. He took care of me for many many years." Her glare turned harsh. "You are correct he left me for Aizen."

Kagome sighed, "Sorry to have pushed but I want to know you other wise... How can I give you my back?"

The woman stared and then snorted, "I guess I understand that. But how is a newborn like you become more important then Sesshomaru... Beside that how did you know his real name?"

Kagome smiled and sat down on a chair across the couch, "That..." Her smile wilted, "That is a really really long story."

12:58 a.m.

Kagome stared at Ichigo, he was sitting on the edge of the bed staring back at her. Her love ran a hand through his hair, Kagome wished for a split second it was she touching his hair, messy as always, but silky to the touch. She wanted to touch him, to ask him about anythings, what he felt for her, why he wasn't yelling, why he wasn't asking questions. But she was afraid, so damn afraid.

He finally broke the silence, "So Byakuya asked me after work if I'd be willing to give two weeks notice at the hospital and become your bodyguard."

Kagome knew he would have asked why she was a priority, she just didn't know what Byakuya would have told him so she didn't know what his answer would have been. "What did you say?"

Her sidestep answer seemed to have infuriated him, he was standing and quickly pacing the room, "I asked him why the hell he would suddenly want a guard for you!" He snicked to himself, "I was all for it from the beginning knowing you! But it's not the beginning... Kagome do you know what he said to me?"

"Nary a clue."

He grimaced. "He said Katsumi said you were now more valuable then him. The lord of our clan. I wondered how that could be. You might be more valuable to me then that old fart, but why were you more valuable now? Hun? Care to tell me?"

Kagome sighed, his anger spoke for itself, he knew. Byakuya told him. She wished for a moment she had stayed in his office, told him the truth face to face herself. But if she wanted to there for him, to help him get his sister back... She couldn't have stayed he would have known she would read what was on his desk. "I was a foolish teenager and wished incorrectly. I made vampires."

Ichigo stared at her all that anger gone, leaving him hollow, seeing his face look so empty it made her hurt. He slowly sunk back down on her bed. "How Kagome? How? Byakuya said something about time travel, and to be honest I don't really care... But why didn't you tell me first?"

It was her turn to swing wildly out of control, pacing she laughed, it was a harsh sound. "Tell you? Tell you what? I spent two years five hundred years in the past? I'd sound crazy! Tell you I made vampires?! I didn't know till today! When I saw Sesshomaru's picture! How would I know I made vampires when the split second after I set the path, I left, came home! Ichigo..."

Kagome felt like collapsing but words hung there, he hadn't mentioned the note, he hadn't asked where Rukia was, not that she knew. She felt like there was thread tying him to her and at the moment that thread was all that held her upright. She found herself creeping forward, almost ready to fall to her knees and crawl, she stopped by his feet and legs hanging off the bed. Staring into his eyes she found the same hurt she felt, the same desperation. They should have said so much.

"I love you."

The words hung in the air and for a half a second she wished she could take them back. But they were true and there were enough words unsaid between that she couldn't have held them back. His eyes searched hers, and she stared back. His body relaxed, his shoulders almost seeming to slump. His hand reached out and slid down her hand that rested on his knee, then his hand crawled up her arm.

His hand gently pulling her forward till her face was just inches from his, his response so soft only her super hearing let her hear him, "I love you too."

Then they were kissing and it was raw and desperate, and fierce. She was tasting blood, his and hers. Clothes were being torn, gentle wasn't going to happen, but that was never something she had wanted in her lover, or wanted in either man she fell in love with.

Later, when it was over, she lay between the sheets her head resting on his chest, his hand slowly running down her spine. She loved him, she loved loving him. Laying there she knew whatever happened she was going to make sure he lived. Aizen wanted him dead and the moment he knew about her he'd want her. Ichigo was sure to be in the way, and she probably would have to shove him out of it. No matter what.

She was carrying an over large kitchen knife, she was fighting, non stop, first the bald man, then men she could just punch out of the way, running and running. She found a strange looking man who seemed to be a friend, the name Ganju seemed to fit with what she could feel her body saying. They grabbed a little guy, Hanataro, fighting free then she, no Ichigo fought Renji. The fight was with the most amazing blade Renji's; it's snake like blade was incredible. Beating him her body, Ichigo's needed healing the two carried her away, to hide and she healed quickly and they were on the move again. Soon she, no Ichigo. Was fighting a crazy man with a torn up blade, he was beating her, killing her and then she was standing again, winning again.

She jolted awake.

It took her a moment to understand she had been seeing something where she was Ichigo, but none of what she was seeing fit. He had none of the scars she had seen and felt on that body in the memory. None. Was that the way it was supposed to have gone?

Fear crept through her body, these were premonitions, of what should have been.

Looking at the clock she realized she was alone in Ichigo's room, and she had an hour to eat, shower, dress and get to the office for work. Matsumoto would be coming with her.

7:55 p.m.

Kagome was waiting, holding the phone in hand, the dial tone echoing in her ears. She couldn't help but hope Ichigo wouldn't call, that she was wrong, that the blood wasn't his sister's. She hoped for his sake, but her gut and her head told her it was a fool's hope. She stared at the clock, three more minutes, she and Matsumoto were home, Renji, Byakuya, Rukia, no one else was suppose to be here but she knew perfectly well how easy it was to go in and out. Ichigo had probably asked for a break and come over for the call then he'd go back to work. Probably.

Breathing heavy, she watched the clock, less then a minute to go now.

She heard someone start dialing on one of the other phones. Holding her breath she listened, she could hear someone take a deep breath and blow it across the phone. If her heart beat she was sure it would be pounding. Then the phone started to ring, once, twice, three times, half way through the forth someone on the other end picked up.

"Perfect timing."

The voice confirmed everything she had thought, she would never ever forget the smug self-assuredness of the voice of the man who had almost killed her. Aizen was on the phone blackmailing Ichigo and he couldn't know she knew. What were Aizen's demands?

"You have better not harmed my sister you sick twisted..."

Aizen cut Ichigo off sounding highly amused, "That's no way to talk business Ichigo-kun."

Ichigo growled into the phone but said nothing.

Kagome found the hairs on her arms standing on end waiting for what the vampire would say next. Aizen was a twisted son-of-a-bitch but he was a cunning one.

The silence hung over the line for a long second before Aizen spoke, seeming to taunt Ichigo; "Aren't you going to ask what I want?"

"What do you want?" Ichigo snapped out.

Kagome felt the blood in her veins freeze in anticipation, this was the moment where she tested Sesshomaru's spy theory.

"I want you and that sweet hot blooded girlfriend of yours to turn yourselves over to me."

Kagome felt her heart sink, she closed her eyes in despair, he knew.

"No deal. Me for my sister it's that simple; a person for another person."

Kagome felt her eyes open in surprise, he either was taking his orders seriously or he meant what he'd said, he loved her enough to put her over his sister's life. Then the slight chuckle came over the line and Kagome felt the claws on her non-phone holding hand break the skin, blood started dripping freely. Aizen had an ace in the hole.

"Ah contrite. That's exactly what I'm doing. You for your sister and your mother for your girlfriend."

Ichigo sounded confused, "My mother's been dead for years."

"Not your birth mother idiot. The girl who turned you."

Kagome felt her knees give out, Ichigo was boxed in. He might be willing to not bring her for Rukia but the guilt would eat him alive, she couldn't not go with that information. But now she knew why she hadn't seen Rukia, and she probably was the only one who would know aside from Ichigo she'd been missing, no one would think that was the case tomorrow. Rukia was in and out so much everyone would think they'd just missed her. But it explained how Aizen had Karin, he'd followed Rukia on a trip to check on her for Ichigo's sake.

Kagome knew her plan even before Aizen gave time and place to met him the next day to make the trade. She was going early and alone. Either she had to order Ichigo to stay or she would just order Aizen to let Rukia and Karin go. If she took her blades, all of them, and gave enough orders she might just be able to kill everyone including Aizen there.

Ichigo's dead silence was kinda of answer all it's own and Aizen thought it was funny, that was when he started with the threats. "Now Ichigo I don't have to tell you what will happen if you don't show up with that little girlfriend of yours, it's the two of you for the two I have. If you show up alone... You just joined them, and you'll be the last to die I promise."

Kagome bit through her lip and found herself on her feet pacing trying to keep from returning his threats with hers. She hadn't tested out if she could give orders over the phone that had to followed. But it was awfully tempting. It was only the thought of failure that stopped her from opening her mouth.

Ichigo spoke in a dead sort of tone, "How do I know you haven't already just killed them?"

Aizen chuckled, and cheer still dripping from his voice he said, "You know what to ask don't you my boy? You bring the girl."

There was a second of silence then scuffling, and Karin's voice came over the line fear and confusion clear. "Onii-chan I don't know what's going on but don't come..."

It sounded like a hand was slapped over her mouth and she tried to bite it. But Aizen spoke up in the background, still sounding far away. "Ichigo, any words of comfort for your sister?"

Ichigo spoke strain clear in his voice. "Karin don't worry about it, it's my problem now. Aizen I want to talk to Rukia."

Aizen chuckled and after a few more long minutes, struggling could be heard but then Kagome could hear Rukia swearing and after a sharp crack and a groan of pain Kagome heard the rustle of the cell phone bring pressed to an ear.

Ichigo spoke sounding torn between anger and helplessness: "Rukia don't worry about what's going to happen, there's nothing you can do. Stop fighting and getting yourself hurt."

There was silence and then Aizen's muffled voice came through, "You don't answer him Rukia-chan and I'm afraid you won't get to stay with his sister."

Rukia spoke reluctantly, sounding absolutely pissed, "Ichigo if you drag Kagome here, into this, I will kill you myself."

Ichigo chuckled and Kagome knew it was so he wouldn't start swearing. The sound of the phone being taken away was clear and then Aizen added something else to the deal that Kagome fighting an evil smirk, no one was counting her as a problem.

"Now Ichigo I hate to add to your problems but the fact is still in place if you tell anyone including that delectable girlfriend of yours what's going on, everyone dies. I want you to bring her here without a clue in her pretty little head of why she's there. I want her to feel betrayed and if you can't do that your sister and master die slowly."

What would he do when she showed up alone herself she wondered.

Whatever he did she would enjoy surprising the two bit asshole. Calling her all those names to rile Ichigo, she was going to cut him into tiny pieces.

Ichigo spoke up his tone icy, "Then where am I and Kagome to meet you?"

"Eight-thirty at Sakura crossing 90435. Come too earlier and you'll miss us and bring anyone other then that hot girlfriend and they'll be dead before you're inside."

The phone clicked dead as Aizen hung up.

Kagome only was mildly surprised when she heard Ichigo give in and start swearing across the building, she just was hoping Matsumoto wouldn't go ask him what was wrong. She hung her phone up and walked back into her room, angry, and afraid she decided to the only way to calm down was to shower. Climbing out Kagome decided she'd need to eat, she wasn't really hungry, but the thirst was always there; as a vampire you could always eat more but she had never practiced gluttony but tonight might be a good time to start, she'd need it for the fight.

Dressing she then wandered to the kitchen, Matsumoto was in there like always, nibbling on a piece of frozen blood. Kagome thought it was gross but Rukia said older ones liked the change in texture.

"Hey Kagome Ichigo's home."

Kagome did her best to look surprised. "Really? I thought he'd be working late."

Matsumoto nodded. "He asked about you, he said he wanted to spar you since he'd heard you were pretty good."

Kagome felt surprised, maybe he was planning on taking her after all. Since this seemed like he was testing her skills, maybe he was testing how well she could fight. She put the blood back in the fridge and found Ichigo in his room."Matsumoto said you wanted to spar?"

He looked up at her and she felt her heart sink, he clearly was crushed under the knowledge that his sister and best friend were being held hostage by his worst enemy. He stood and clearly was trying to act as if nothing was wrong and maybe she only saw his distress because she knew it was there and why. Smirking he said, "I hear you've managed to beat Byakuya he's a challenge for me so I want to see what you can do."

Kagome nodded and went to her room to grab her dog blades, meeting him in the dojo she noted for the first time the type of sword Ichigo used. Everyone seemed to use something different, probably to keep things different so Aizen's men wouldn't expect everyone to fight the same way. Ichigo held a simple Daito with a blood red handle. He would fight with a more classic style she figured. It fit he had done kendo and for all his nonchalant attitude and misfit hair he was something of a traditionalist.

Drawing her blades she dropped the sheath on the floor, walking forward she braced herself and Ichigo gave her a regret tinged grin. "Ready?"

She nodded and he attacked, Rukia had told her one of Ichigo's real strengths was his speed, but he was almost too fast for her vampire eyes to follow. This was strange, she countered and stepped back his strength rocking her further off balance. He was stronger then Byakuya. That was wrong. He had beaten Byakuya but no one talking about speed like this. Ichigo kicked her left arm and she felt the bone break. Slashing she felt the tip of the right sword connect with Ichigo and when he paused for a moment she realized she had slashed his left shoulder open. A broken bone for a deep cut. Both of them were healing.

Sesshomaru and Byakuya had agreed it was possible feeding off her would give a vampire increased strength as feeding of older vampires had given Aizen his strength, but this might be the proof of it. No one save her had seen Ichigo fight since he'd fed off her. And he'd done it three times. Draining her into a coma for her turning, the first time they had vampire sex and then just the night before.

Ichigo blurred back into motion and she counter attacked without thinking, a few bone rattling parries later she lost her right sword and she was fighting him off with just one sword. Ichigo wasn't holding back, and she thought she understood, this was part of his goodbye. He wanted to reassure himself she could survive after he was gone.

It was just like him.

Kagome found her thoughts about his motives were making her angry and she was dealing him more damage. She cut his face, broke his left hand, broke his right foot, and broke his nose. But he wanted to win and was just as desperate as she was. He broke her half healed arm again, he smashed her knee the same time she broke his hand and when she broke his nose she found his sword skimming her side. Then it ended in a tie, her blade pressed to his heart and his resting against her neck.

With a silent agreement they broke apart and sat down to heal, the moment both of them were healed without more blood they started again. This time she dealt first injury, she cut the back of his left arm deeply, but his first wound on her was much more serious, it was an almost crippling injury to her legs, stuck in one place he soon beat her, and she found his body pressed against hers a siren's call she didn't want to ignore. Kissing him she ignored the pain from her wounds and the sound of their swords being dropped, this was their last night together unless there was miracle and both of them knew things like that didn't happen in their lives.

Later after they finished the first round, dressed again, gotten blood and gone to her room again did they speak. Sipping her blood Kagome was surprised when Ichigo got down on one knee in front of her. He made eye contact and started; "Kagome we've known each other through some pretty strange times, and some very quiet times, I know you remember how much my father liked you and you've met both my sisters and I had the chance to meet your family. So I think I can ask without presuming too much. Will you marry me?"

Kagome was shocked, he was asking her to marry him? "Yes. Yes!" Joy bubbled up in and she watched a relived grin break out across his face. Then he was kissing her and they tumbled on to her bed for round two.

It as only after round four and Ichigo had fallen asleep, her other feelings made themselves known. She was angry, helplessly furious. Ichigo was going to leave her behind no doubt condemning himself to a slow and horrific death. And since she was planning on going on her own. Someone was going to die tomorrow there was no doubt about it. She just hoped she could get Aizen first. She should rephrase that, it seemed likely one of the two of them was going to die tomorrow and she was going to do her best to insure it was her. But she also, if her guess was correct, needed to make sure if Aizen tasted her blood it was off the floor after she had been killed. If he had a chance to keep her around to feed on at leisure he would soon become the most powerful vampire on earth.

Plan to order Matsumoto to stay waiting for... maybe that wasn't the right way to say it. She needed Matsumoto to delay him. And if he took his swords with on his way to work he wouldn't come back here for Matsumoto to delay him.

She also was sad, if there was a way to undo the wish she would do it. If she could give Ichigo his planned fate she would, if she could change the fate the demon's suffered she would. Why wasn't she allowed happiness? She sighed, that was a lie. Lying here Ichigo sleeping at her side made her very happy. But it was bittersweet because it wasn't going to last. That was when she realized she was falling asleep.

10:57 a.m.

Kagome found at work she took time to say hello to everyone she had met and become friendly with at work the few days she had been there, Tatsuki thought she was being goofy but Kagome explained it away by telling her Ichigo proposed. The only nerve racking part was when Byakuya stopped and asked if she had heard from Rukia. She had so she told him, she just didn't tell him she heard from Rukia over the phone, from Aizen's cell phone.

It really was a good thing she was so awesome at lying.

7:38 p.m.

Kagomefound her eyes drifting to the face in the mirror that seemed to be hers but didn't fit withher picture of herself. Did her face always look so hard when she was thinking about battle? She ran her check again; dog blades, ninja blades, bracelet, a small dagger. Flat boots, dark leggings, a black long sleeve. She was as ready as can be. She took a deep breath, she had almost emptied the fridge where she got off work early. She took a few more deep breaths, she was going alone for Ichigo, she wasn't going to make him take responsibility for Rukia and his sister.

That did it.

She walked from her room and found Matsumoto sitting in front of the TV. The women looked at her startled by her apparel.

"What's going on? Why are you dressed for battle?"

"Because I need to go rescue Rukia and Karin from Aizen."

Matsumoto was on her feet going for weapons right away.

"Stop." Kagome hated to give the order but this was part of her plan. "You need to find Ichigo before eight and stop him from following me promptly, then gather Renji and every other good fighter you can think of. Ichigo can tell you where I'm meeting Aizen, but this is super important, make sure you stop Ichigo and make him wait for help. Give me fifteen minutes head start. So get Ichigo then call for help. Then follow me and come ready to kill some vampires."

"Kagome..."

She smirked as she walked from the room, this was the craziest thing she had ever done. She had already called a cab to meet her a block over from the hospital. Her blades in a bag she ran to meet the cab and was ready to hop in the moment it pulled up. Giving directions to stop three blocks from the arranged meeting place she paid the driver and ignored his questions about if she really wanted to stop here.

The area was trashy, run down and sure to be a haven for bad guys. She was in the right place. Approaching she picked out men patrolling, checking her cell phone she saw it was already eight ten. Then she dropped it and stomped on it, if she needed a new phone after this she would be delighted to spend the money.

Stopping the first two men she gave her first order. "You both are loyal to me now." For the first time Kagome could feel her will battling for control. Two people were a lot harder to beat then one person. But her will was absolute. Ichigo's sister would be saved. Rukia would be saved. Aizen was going to die. The right one smiled and the other revealed his age when he acknowledged her with a bow. "My lady."

"How many are on guard?"

"Twelve others."

"Is Aizen and the prisoners here yet?"

"Not for another five minutes."

Kagome nodded, "Stand guard like normal, and wait for further directions."

Both saluted and walked on. She ambushed the next group and gave them different orders. To attack the men inside the moment the two prisoners left the warehouse. Soon she had ten of the fourteen guards under her control, and Aizen pulled up with four more men in the car and another dozen in a van following.

All together she counted thirty one men, Aizen pulled a pale Rukia inside and then two men followed with Karin, but Kagome could tell Karin wasn't human any more. Aizen had changed her. For a split second she saw red but the plan settled back in. There was a plan. Aizen was gonna die. Quickly knowing her time was running out she got the last four men, asking the last two the time she found out it was eight twenty nine. Show time.

"What were Aizen's orders concerning me?"

"He ordered us to gag the woman who came with Kurosaki."

Kagome had to give the man props he'd planned to counter her orders by making sure she couldn't give any. But she was ahead of the game because she came by herself. "Okay I'm her gag me but don't tie it tight and get however many are suppose to escort me in and take me in."

She was given a sharp nod and the two men each took one of her sets of swords, then handed her a gag she barely tied it on. Just one twist but tight enough it cut into the sides of her mouth. Two more men jumped down from the roof and each took one of her arms, forcefully; but not roughly they lead her in. Only three of the over head lights were on and Kagome felt a chill of foreboding. Aizen stood dead center of the lights, a silver haired man at his right side and a dark skinned man on his other.

She had forgotten to ask one thing, if there were any other vampires waiting inside. The building was big enough Aizen could have had another hundred men inside and had every single one of them could be hiding. She was a fool. Aizen smirked at her and asked, "The boy?"

The man to her front right spoke, "He wasn't with her."

Aizen looked surprised. "Ho. He sent you on alone? Not a very good boyfriend now is he? But works for me."

Kagome took that moment to spit her gag out, privately relishing the surprised look on his face, she was unsurprised that he snapped out some orders. Seeing ten others coming from the darkness to silence her, she jumped in. "Stop!"

Instantly she had a horrible migraine, there was way more then thirty people in here. She had never given so many an order before. It hurt. There was no way when it got to the fight she would be able to order more then one person at a time to join her. Feeling blood running down her face from her nose, she still smiled seeing everyone of her attackers frozen just the way they were. Looking to two of the frozen men she ordered. "Bring me Rukia and Karin."

Grimaces on their faces, they stiffly marched into the darkness. Kagome ignored her body telling her she had already pushed it, smiling nastily at Aizen she couldn't resisted taunting him because she knew it wouldn't last long. "So Aizen it's funny you think Ichigo would dare send me in alone considering you told him not to tell me anything. Something about wanting to see the look of betrayal on my face."

Realization flashed over his face. "You listened on the phone."

She grinned, "Got in one. For the record leaving a note in a public office is a very bad idea. Now how the hell do you spy on Sesshomaru?"

Aizen grimaced and seemed to be fighting, but he quickly gave in seeming to want to save his strength. "Human office worker drilled a hole most of the way into the wall by his office, then inserted a listening device. It's covered by a filing cabinet."

The two men with Rukia and Karin walked into the light; Rukia was pale but gagged and furious, Karin look pale and wasted. Kagome felt a surge of anger at the thought of what Ichigo would feel the moment he found out his last family member had been changed. Kagome felt she had to say something to express her outrage, "You know Aizen you really are the dirtiest low down lying asshole I have had the displeasure of meeting. I can't wait to see your head roll."

Aizen smirked at her, and she wasn't too surprised by the evil tinged lust in his face, "All the girls say that at first darling."

Kagome knew then and there Aizen had a back up plan and that was when she realized the other vampires she had felt earlier were slowly creeping forward. Aizen probably had a number of them plug their ears and then left the younger ones without to throw her while the older ones could order them back into play. "Karin never listen to another order from Aizen's blood line again."

Kagome could feel the order sinking in and that was when she knew she only had seconds. The shadows sang of anticipation. "Rukia, Karin run for the hospital." Figures sprang from the shadows clearly intending to stop the girls, but Kagome gave another mass order. "LET THEM GO!"

Rukia and Karin ran from the warehouse but Kagome couldn't muster the strength to attack like she had planned, blood was running from her nose and she could hear a strange ringing in her ears, not to mention the double vision. Aizen was laughing, that was when she grabbed each of her swords from the two men slightly behind her and gave her orders to the four of them over the sounds of breaking glass. "Protect me."

She could hear the fighting and sounds of death, but her double vision wasn't going away.

Struggling to her feet she was grabbed by the wrists and forced to kneel, angry with herself she admitted she hadn't thought there would be so many or that it would cost her so much to give those orders. Looking up Aizen was only fifteen feet away, she could see more men now and a number of them were sporting large ear mufflers. Probably the kind from gun ranges. And it looked like she was correct, the ones with earplugs were the elder vampires.

She was ashamed because they didn't even see her as enough of a threat to make her drop her swords, they were controlling her wrists, the pressure stopping short of breaking them. Aizen smirked widely, "Loosing Ichigo's sister is annoying and I regret missing the chance to get rid of miss information, but taking you is enough to put me in good mood. So tell me has Ichigo tasted you aside from the night he turned you?"

Kagome spat at his feet, her vision starting to clear.

Aizen had the nerve to sound delighted, "Does that mean no?"

Kagome said nothing, the strength she had felt yesterday told her it was true her blood would give strength to other vampires and she didn't want Aizen to be worried about Ichigo.

Aizen strolled closer, "I gather my dear giving orders like that is hard?" His voice dripped false sympathy.

Kagome took deep breaths because she knew it was more annoying to men like this if you said nothing, she had seen how ticked Naraku would get fighting Sesshomaru. The silence stretched and Kagome couldn't stop a smirk when she saw the flexing muscles in Aizen's arm as she went on being silent. She was getting to him.

Aizen jerked his head to the man holding her left arm, swiftly she was jerked off her knees and kicked hard in the ribs. Kagome almost stopped the scream when ribs splintered under the assault, but blood was trickling down over her lips as she panted trying to control the pain. Breathing hurt but she had been human for so long and she had learned to depend on her nose. She was just breathing through the pain of punctured lung and broken ribs, they were healing and she did her best to keep smirking.

She only needed to buy so much time.

The fact Aizen hadn't realized that was what she was doing was a sign of how well it was working. Aizen came closer but Kagome realized he didn't want to come too close till he was sure she was too weak to attack. The coward.

"Now Kagome I expect a verbal answer. So..." Aizen suddenly seemed to realize he had over looked something.

"Kagome what is Ichigo doing right now!?"

Kagome felt a shit eating grin break out across her face. It was a good enough answer, Aizen spun and ordered the silver haired man; who he called Gin (who probably was Matsumoto's old flame) to take her to the car. That was as far as it got because that very moment the sound of swords being drawn came from the open doors behind her. Kagome didn't have to turn to know Ichigo and at least from the sounds of it, five others were there.

The guard on her right was surprised by the sound and for a split second loosened his grip on her wrist. That was her chance. Yanking her right hand free and turned and cut across at chest level severing the torso of the man holding her left arm, he reacted enough to break her wrist and despite blinding pain she continued to spin broke wrist not with standing. Her swords in her left hand cut the head off the one foolish enough to let go. She ignored the blood splattering her clothes and body as the bodies collapsed and turned to dust. She took the chance and through the surging mass of Aizen's vampire hoards she saw nine people. Sesshomaru, Ichigo, Matsumoto, Renji, Byakuya, Tatsuki, a bald man she had never met, a tall blood thirty man with longish hair, and what looked like a small child with white hair holding guns that he was using to protect people.

Kagome remembered what Rukia told her about guns she had told her normally they aren't enough to kill vampires because it has to be head shots and unless it was a shotgun often it still didn't do enough damage without multiple shots to keep one down. Rukia had told her flat out normally if guns were used in a vampire fight it was because you didn't want to kill but wound and take prisoners. But she had mentioned one name as an exception; she had also said he was the only vampire turned younger then her, Hitsugaya Toshiro. Kagome knew using guns was easier because no matter his age he would be stronger than a human a vampire with more mass could still beat him in theory. If they could get close enough.

She turned and growled in the first enemy face she saw, "Protect me!" She was hurting, her wrist had been crushed, and her ribs was only starting to be proper bones again. She growled out a few more orders managing to catch Gin, Aizen retreated and allowed his hidden army to march out. There probably were eighty or more. And there were ten of them.

She cradled her broken arm to her chest and started helping her ordered troops kill the ear-muffed, attacking vampires. She killed one, she lost a guard. Using her sword she knocked one's ear-muffs off one and mostly severed his ear but he took the dead one's place. That became her new tactic. The glimpses of the others made things almost look possible. Sesshomaru was in top form he hadn't lost any of his old skill and if anything he seemed better than before. Matsumoto was defensive mostly but she wasn't getting hurt and she was hurting others. The kid had damn good aim and was killing vampires with those machine guns of his. The mad man was cutting a bloody swath through the crowd. Renji and Byakuya were protecting the other's backs. The bald man seemed to be holding his own with his spear and chain combo. And Ichigo was almost as deadly as Sesshomaru, her blood was clearly giving him the upper hand.

The real problem was she was cut off and despite giving orders her guards were dying as fast as she could get orders out. Her back was to the wall, figuratively speaking.

She heard the sound of a body falling behind her and she was turning when the blade pierced her chest, her head flopped back enough she could see Aizen giving her a pissed but victorious smile. She could feel the intense pain of her heart being pierced, it was an ache but a fiery sharp one. He put his mouth to her ear and she found herself focusing more on the smell of his breath then his words. It was a hot stink, smelling of rotting meat and iron.

"I hate to just kill you, but you're a freaking pain in my ass and a risk too big to take."

He twisted the blade and she gasped at the sensation, it was passed the point of pain, it hurt so much she should have fainted, but it also hurt so much she couldn't. Feeling her arms and legs start to feel far away she knew she was in shock. Then she heard Ichigo shouting her name. Feeling like time was moving slowly she turned her eyes to him; he was horrified and angry and she could see the despair in his eyes. A sword through the heart killed vampires and since they were mostly dead or whatever a fatal wound was a fatal wound. No doctor could stop it.

Aizen ripped the blade from her chest and she half heard some of then others calling her name or yelling at Aizen, but she was focused on Ichigo now that she couldn't see him. He sounded so pained. She could hear the fight becoming louder as Ichigo tried to get close to Aizen who was standing next to her. Her eyes, since she was laying face down could only see a few pairs of feet and stained gray cement. But instead of growing darker her vision was staying about the same, she vividly remembered how the world went dark as you died, but it wasn't.

The ache in her chest was fading. Slowly but fading.

Than the voice from her dreams asked, "What would you give to change this?"

The strangely sexless vice seemed to echo in her ears, but from the sounds of battle no one else heard it. She remembered it had told her before there was a price but she wondered what it could be. But she had to answer honestly; "Anything."

The voice answered her but it sounded amused, "Even his life?"

Kagome knew right away who they meant and took anything back, "Anything but that."

The voice was silent, "Your life."

Kagome had a few questions, "How do I know you'll keep your end of things?"

The voice was amused this time, "You'll know."

"You'll save his life?"

"In a manner of speaking."

"How will you do it?" she demanded.

"You'll find out."

"But I'm dying right now right?"

"No."

Kagome didn't quite believe them so she focused on tilting her chin to her chest and lifting herself up enough to check. They were right, the blood hole in her chest was closed and the bruising was fading before her eyes. It was that damned mother of the vampires thing. She'd stake her life on it. Or she had.

"You'll make his life better?" she asked in her head.

The voice was silent having told her all it would, but since she had sat up a little more she could see the bald man had died, the kid was dying turning to ash on a blade. Matsumoto was almost beat as well. Renji was laying on the ground too wounded to fight, Byakuya protecting him. Sesshomaru was covered in blood and his clothes shredded even if no wound lasted for more then a blink. The crazy, blood-thirsty man had half a dozen blades in him and he was slowing. And Ichigo was fighting Aizen only a few feet from her.

Her life for his.

She still wanted to see Aizen dead first.

She staggered to her feet, feeling weak and almost dead. She had lost a lot of blood and by rights that should have killed her. Gripping her dog blades tight, she ignored Ichigo's surprise look when he saw her. Her right wrist healed, she lifted the blades high and she silently moved. Her slash; cutting deep into Aizen's back and spine.

He made an animal sound and spun not caring he was giving Ichigo his back, he seemed to know he was done for. His blade sank into her throat, the suddenness of it surprised her, and before the world started spinning, she saw Ichigo returning the favor. The world spun and she felt like she was dizzy and she hit the ground with a loud thunk and she blinked before realizing she had been so dizzy because she had been beheaded. She could see her own arm holding the swords and the rest of her bloody body. Then the world faded into black, and she couldn't help but hope Ichigo forgave her.

Then just like that she knew herself to be standing in the void of the jewel, the darkness and the horrible voice that was the will of the jewel. Midoriko was fighting, Naraku was asleep and she hadn't made her wish yet. She was still waiting on Inuyasha.

Memories told her she had just died ten years down the road. But that wasn't right she had also just been swallowed by the void Byakuya... the other one made.

"Just look into your heart" The jewel said to her.

Kagome did just that, she didn't know what just happened, the jewel didn't seem to be aware of any change. But Inuyasha was a friend, her first love and not her first wish any more.

"Just wish to see Inuyasha, that's all you have to do."

Kagome felt her body tremble and realized for all her mind was telling her Inuyasha would be here soon, for all she 'knew' it, she was still frightened. The darkness around her was so consuming, and lonely. But she knew with all her frightened, shivering body that was the wrong wish. If wishing for demons to appreciate humans more lead to vampires, wishing to see Inuyasha again would put her in Kikyo's shoes.

"There is no way I'm making a wish till Inuyasha is here."

The jewel laughed but she could see the pulse of power, it was trying to trick her while Inuyasha came. "You foolish girl he's never coming for you."

"I don't believe you! He's going to be here any minute now!" She forced all the defiance she could muster into her voice.

And just like before or now, she wasn't sure Inuyasha flew out of the darkness to stop right next to her. His shocked but relieved face told her for all the time that had passed, or seemed to. Or whatever Ichigo and the vampires were; a dream, a false wish, a different timeline. No time had passed for him.

"Kagome!"

The way he said her name sounded so relieved, she smiled back her trembling stopping. "Inuyasha."

He grabbed her tight and gave her a hug, and she felt sad that part of her mind was telling her she wasn't in love with him any more. She remembered kissing him before, but if she kissed him now it was going to be a good-bye kiss. He could be happier with Rin, no comparisons, no lingering thoughts, a new start.

She looked up at him and he seemed to realize something was different about her.

"Kagome?"

She knew her smile had turned soft and slightly sad. Kagome lifted herself on tip-toe and pressed a kiss to his mouth and pulled away. "Inuyasha, take care of the others and don't wait for me."

He looked shocked and confused, but he was too taken a back to ask any questions.

She turned back to the jewel and said, "I wish for the jewel to disappear forever."

The jewel exploded into fragments that turned to dust and the world faded into the safe glow of traveling through the well. They came out of the well and Inuyasha set her down, still holding her by the waist he asked softly, "Are you sure you don't want me to wait?"

Kagome stepped away and turned back to him, "I'll always love you Inuyasha but you can be happy without me. Find the girl who can always smile and take care of her."

Inuyasha looked a little hurt but he seemed to understand, neither of them would be a perfect fit in the other's world. He leapt back into the well but called back, "You had better do the same Kagome, find someone who can protect your smile."

Standing there in the dark well house Kagome felt horrible confused. What was she going to do? What had even happened?

So just one last chapter... but I do have a good idea for a sequel if anyone is interested.