The Half-Breed's Lady

A/N: I don't own lyrics or Inuyasha. You've heard this about a million times or maybe two depending on how many fanfictions you've read. During the duration from the last posting to this, I started to plot out the story. It was then I decided to incorporate two more pairings. One of the additional pairings will have a bigger role. So they're listed by amount of romance. Although I support Rin with Sesshoumaru, I must say I feel more in love with the below pairing because of the manga and episode 167. Never fear, Rin will appear.

So because of this brainstorming the story will have more depth, drama and length than originally planned. I am very pleased with this and the reviews. Thanks everyone. I also have a flash drive which will enable me to update hopefully on a regular basis by traveling to the local library while I deal with my internet connection at home. I'm also half way down chapter three. This chapter is the longest so far and I don't plan to make them as long as this.

Pairing: Inuyasha x Kagome, Miroku x Sango Sesshoumaru x Kagura and Koga x Ayame

Chapter Two: The Confessions Of A Priestess

The kiss affected him like a lightening bolt. He made an agitated sound in his throat and his entire body became immobilized by the sudden rush of pleasure. Her soft lips were brushing against his in awkward determination. As they both had known there'd be no way in Hell that he would pull away now. His inner battle to stop this had dissolved and with almost shaky hands he groaned in defeat and pulled her closer to him. He loved her, wanted her, with blind adolescent ferocity.

Neither had encountered this agonizing blend of emotion and physical hunger before. The pleasure of being this close, this intimate with nothing holding them back was as electrifying as it was dangerous. And inviting Kagome into something dangerous was something Inuyasha could not allow.

The half-demon tore his lips from hers, buried his face in her shining midnight black veil of hers. "Why'd you do that?"

"Because you're everything to me, because I—"

His heart racing, Inuyasha moved away from her as if he had been burned. "Don't you dare!"

"Dare do what?"

"Say you love me."

"You're so cocky." Kagome rolled her eyes and then that determined look of hers returned with a vengeance. "And what if I do?"

"Because it would never work, you idiot! You'll only get hurt in the end. Besides you have a duty—"

Inuyasha, they both knew, should have learned by now that trying to turn Kagome away from an idea that she had her mind set on, only made her more determined and things only worse.

"We could run away together. We'll go where no one will find us. A place of our own. I'm sure Kikyo will understand."

"A place of our own? Everything isn't as black and white as you think, Kagome."

"Why do you have to be this way? Wasn't it your biggest wish for someone to love you, to really love you?"

"But I didn't mean for you to be that person! I—look I gotta go."

"Wait!" Kagome grabbed his arm and looked at him with glossy brown eyes. "I'm sorry. Please stay. We'll forget this every happened. Please?"

"I'll stay." Inuyasha whispered, glancing away from her. "Tomorrow. Sunrise."

Kagome watched him leave. It was obvious he thought she didn't understand the complexity of their situation, that she made it more complicated by kissing him. But she understood. However Kagome never imagined he would so harshly reject what she was offering.

"But I didn't mean for you to be that person!"

If he hadn't meant for that to be as hurtful as it had been, Kagome wasn't sure. They would just go about their lives as if that moment hadn't happened, as if she hadn't experienced the perfect moment she had always dreamed of, as if her heart hadn't been shattered.

Kagome touched her lips and felt a tear roll down her cheek. And then another. And another.

"Wasn't it your biggest wish for someone to love you, to really love you?"

That was, and still is, his biggest wish. And though deep down he wanted her to be that person, it would only lead to a world of pain and suffering at the hands of people who once respected her.

Inuyasha ran his hands through his hair. He could smell the salty smell of her tears. To his relief, there weren't many. She probably stopped herself, thinking he was still nearby. Which he was.

"We'll forget this ever happened."

In that one sentence Inuyasha had received a taste of the inevitable pain he would one day feel. He had another year, if not less, before those gossiping biddies would start thinking there was something going on between them. It wouldn't be long, perhaps when she became the village's new priestess, when the world around them would open and he would become a danger to her. Or worse, an embarrassment.

Inuyasha knew Kagome would forget this night, chalk it up as a foolish girl antic for a thrill of the forbidden, and all the things she had said. But he, he would remember this day. It was the day he knew he was in love with her, a day he would have to learn to give up wanting something he could not have. A day that caused him both joy and misery.

The half-demon looked up at the sky and cursed underneath his breath. He might end up having to leave a hell of a lot sooner than he thought. The very thought killed him.

The next morning Kikyo found her sister to be behaving rather oddly. She seemed too quiet, almost aloof and distant. Her sister was none of these things unless something was terribly wrong.

But that's what I get. I shouldn't have said anything to him. I'm such an idiot!

Kagome sat at the table gently stroking Buyo with slow strokes. Her eyes were downcast and she was in deep thought. Deep and depressing thoughts.

"Kagome? Are you all right?" Kikyo asked her, her brown eyes held great concern. She gestured for her to sit down then poured some hot green tea beside her that she into one of the two cups.

"I'm fine." Kagome poured some tea into her sister's cup with a wide but rather fake smile. It was too dazzling for anyone to buy, unless they were too clueless to see past it.

In great silence, Kikyo eyed her sibling for the longest of time, as if searching her eyes for answers. As if finding none, she lowered her gaze and accepted defeat.

"Very well."

Kagome grimaced slightly at the look of disbelief she was given but her older sister just sighed. "Really, nothing is wrong. You worry too much."

"If you say so." Kikyo shrugged her shoulders lightly and to many it would seem the discussion was over.

But not quite so for they both knew Kikyo would respect Kagome's need not to speak about it. But somehow Kikyo would find out what was going on one way or another. She always did.

In the time they spent together getting to know one another more than they had the first ten years of Kagome's life; the two had come to form a rather strong bond. The development had been slow because for those first ten years Kikyo had felt bitter towards her sibling, fearing her father would love her less now that he had a new wife and child. Though her father had thought it was silly when Kikyo admitted it in a heated argument, he understood.

Kikyo, despite her feelings before that little talk, couldn't find herself to completely hate her sister. After all, they were flesh and blood, shared the same father. She had been born fragile so there were times she found herself making sure Kagome was safe, a trait she continues still many years after. Whenever questioned about her kind actions, Kikyo would say it just maternity feelings but in truth, deep down, she cared about her. After all, Kagome wasn't the reason behind her father falling in love. She was just the product of that love.

Kagome on the other hand had this feeling Kikyo didn't like her, which at the time had been true for whenever she would follow her sister around, Kikyo would ignored or send her away though politely but not always kindly in her opinion. All Kagome had ever wanted was what most young siblings did and that was for their brother or sister to love them. So she decided that the only way she could achieve her goal was to show interest and exile at the things Kikyo liked to do so that her sister would realize she existed.

In her attempts she couldn't deny not hearing the comparisons between her and Kikyo. It hurt but she had grown a tough cheek for which she often turned to this people who would greet her kindly to the face but then wonder about her sometimes odd behavior, befriending a demon despite training to be a priestess, and constantly doing the unjust by comparing the sisters. What one could do, they criticized the other for not doing. One could easily make friends, the other struggled. One could shoot anything in her past without batting an eyelash, the other couldn't.

Despite their long history, mostly forgotten over the years, their relationship was strong. Many called them "twins," at first glance despite the obvious three year difference. Yet when it came to reading each other it was as if they had a telepathic link between one another.

But to them, they were just Kagome and Kikyo.

The relationship between Inuyasha and Kagome returned to normal as if the kiss that night had never occurred. They acted as if it didn't happen but in the back of their minds they could erase the memory.

Hojo Nokhchii was a priest in training, a kind boy but with a painful past. He came the following morning, two days after that fateful night, to visit Kagome, who was making some herbal tea for some elderly villagers.

If only Inuyasha knew Hojo was right here beside her, he would throw a fit. But she couldn't throw out her friend by the ear even if Inuyasha disapproved. Besides after that failed attempt to kiss her, Hojo didn't try again and Kagome was on her guard. She was happy, however, that not only were they still platonic friends but that she shared her first kiss with the man she really wanted to. In other words, her first kiss had been with Inuyasha.

Hojo was pleased that she allowed him to visit her. After that near kiss, it seemed she was always avoiding him. "I was fishing with Kamahi, the village advisor, and I saw you with Inuyasha today."

Kagome nodded her head and had a wistful smile on her face. "It's possible. Inuyasha and I went to see the sunrise. We do it almost everyday. It's really nice. If only I could capture it on paper."

"Kagome…"The young man shifted his gaze and frowned at her. He seemed suddenly unsettled about something which caused his friend to frown.

"What's wrong? Have you become ill?"

"No…just confused. Tell me, has life become so tedious that you continue to spend your times with the likes of him?"

Kagome looked as if he had stricken her rather than had spoken. "I beg your pardon?"

Instantly, the young man flushed under her glare and began to stutter. "F-Forgive me. I didn't mean to say—"

"I think you should leave."

Hojo was startled by the harshness of her tone despite it remaining rather respectable. "But—"

Kagome didn't look at him anymore and held her chin a little higher. "It has come to a great surprise to me that you felt that way. But then you cannot know everyone."

Now the young man paled at this. He didn't want to lose the admiration in her eyes and her attitude, one of that showed the regal position she held in this village made him almost cower. Was she that infatuated with that creature that she was willing to throw out a friend? Or dare he say it, did she love this abomination? Was she, like some women, fated to be a demon lover? If so, didn't she understand the scandal and the harsh lifestyle she would endure?

"I mean no disrespect." Hojo said quickly but sincerely as his mind thought of many fears. "I just think demons cannot be trusted."

Her chin lowered ever so slightly but not completely, to the young suitor's dismay. "There are humans that cannot be trusted as well."

The young man could barely manage a nod. It was true.

"But despite our blood, demons and humans are just separated by what's on the outside and not what's on the inside. We were, after all, created by the gods and it is our duty to live among each other in the most peaceful of manners. War has brought too much bloodshed already. It's the right thing to do."

Hojo clenched his fists and was clearly struggling with an inner battle. His dread that his fears were becoming a reality only fueled his resentment. "You know my history with them."

"I'm not asking you to love them but I wish you to lose your prejudice and perhaps come with me to a village that is allied with us."

There was clear bitterness in the young man's heart when he spoke. "A village of demons you mean. If only you saw the horrors I did, you wouldn't be there defending them. Believe me."

"That very well maybe so but Inuyasha is not like the others. He's really nice when you get to know him. And he cares about people yet he can be a bit of a jerk but not all the time. I like spending time with him because I feel safe and can be myself."

Hojo looked at her expressions and the glow she had when she spoke of that half-demon. He knew he would be lying if he said he wasn't a bit jealous because he was. How strange, a mortal man jealous of a demon's ability to enchant a woman. Normally it would be for their endless strength. It bothered him nevertheless about what she said. He didn't understand why couldn't she be herself around humans? It just didn't make sense to him.

"You love him, don't you? It's not just a sick obsession anymore."

Kagome was surprised by his accuracy but was angry by his second comment. "I don't see why it's any of your business but I do love him. He's not the monster you're making him out to be."

The young man lowered his gaze, his shoulders slumped as he whispered, "But even so I…I just can't change the way I feel…not even for you, Kagome."

Hojo believed if his family hadn't been so brutally slaughtered by a group of demons, he wouldn't feel this way. He had only one family member left alive, a little sister, and he doubt she still lived. No one could survive in the wilderness for long with hungry animals and demons that often look for easy prey. So he bore this shame of not being able to save his family, this hatred for demons and this sadness that he couldn't change the past.

"Hojo…"

"Yes?" Her friend swallowed and looked back at her, hoping to push aside the tragedy until he was by himself. Yet despite this, it still lingered.

Kagome chose her words rather carefully then. "Have you… Have you been able to cry since that day?"

"Brother!"

The final scream from his little sister's lips ripped through his soul and he nearly fell forward at the pain he felt in his heart. Gathering what little strength he now had, the young man leaned forward feeling the slight gathering of perspiration on his forehead.

"No." Hojo replied no higher than a whisper and he closed his eyes, trying once again to banish the memory. But it remained unyielding.

The young woman startled him by grasped his hands into her own and then gave it a light squeeze. "But it's ok. It's ok to cry, Hojo. Trust me."

Slowly the young man moved away from her and stood up. Why did she have to say that? Why?

"I don't think I can. It's not because I don't want to," He confessed, lowering both his gaze and voice to a whisper. "But I fear I won't be able to stop."

And then without looking back, Hojo walked out of the hut, leaving Kagome and Buyo in complete silence.

"There has been talk going around the village," Kikyo began as she combed through her thick black mane of hair in front of a small mirror.

"Talk? Talk about what?" Kagome was fairly curious about this because her sister wasn't normally into gossip unless it had to do with her priestess' duties. So this had to be good.

"About you…and Inuyasha."

Kagome blinked multiple times as this progressed several times in her mind. Now there was something one didn't hear everyday.

"Me and Inuyasha? What about us? I don't think we do anything to get people talking. Although there was this time I went chasing after him because he stole one of my kimonos because I wouldn't obey his 'majesty'."

"Yes…but now that you're of age and you being alone with a man…" Kikyo's pale cheeks flushed somewhat at the thoughts of what could possibly happen, though she doubted it.

Easily understanding where she was heading, Kagome stared. "I'm going to be a priestess! I'm a virgin, I swear!"

"Shh! The walls are thin, dearest." Kikyo soothed and her sister calmed down a decimeter.

"But it doesn't make any sense!" Kagome muttered. How could people be so stupid?

The older woman gently set down the brush onto her lap and glanced empathetically at her. She understood where her sister was coming from with her defense but it wouldn't do.

"Exactly. You know some of these people are rather traditional. And it doesn't matter to them. You are still a woman, Kagome, and he is still a man. There is never an in-between."

"But Inuyasha and I are just friends." There was a pang of pain in her heart that she just couldn't ignore.

Just friends.

"That maybe so but we cannot ignore society. Until you've grown older, by then those old biddies will find something else to squawk about and will be dead, you'll need a chaperon."

Any other time it would've been quite humorous to hear Kikyo call the overly traditional villagers "old biddies," which they were, but it wasn't time for humor. This was serious. If they thought she was immoral they would never allow her to guard their village or continue the duties her family had been doing for centuries. But how could she give up Inuyasha for a job that she didn't entirely love? Then again she didn't have to give him up but the privacy they shared that they could tell each other anything without prying eyes or ears around.

Kagome balked at the idea at once. This wasn't fair. "A chaperon? I'm fifteen. I'm a woman, not some child. And even then I wondered without a follower."

"Besides everyone knows you're in love with Inuyasha."

"How…who blabbed? Was there a sign on my forehead or a secret handshake that I missed?"

Kikyo laughed at how hysterical her sister had suddenly became, even more about her clear rejection for a chaperon. "I think it's something to do with a sudden softness to you whenever he's around. Your eyes turn a lighter shade of brown and you seem rather giddy."

"I do." Kagome turned to look at her small mirror to examine her face.

"But we must get back to the matter at hand here. I believe Suikotsu and I could alternate turns that way you won't have some stranger that will go back and talk about what you and Inuyasha are doing. We'll keep a respectable distance, of course, giving as much privacy as possible. It's all that we can do…for now."

"Thank you." Kagome was truly thankful it would be those two, the only other people beside Inuyasha and her parents that she could honestly say she trusted with her life.

Standing before her half-sister, Kikyo knelt down and touched gently her shoulders. "I am sorry, Kagome."

"I know." Though it was softly spoken, the other woman heard her as if she had spoken in her normal tone.

Once settled in their futon, the two blew out their own candles and bid each other goodnight. Sleep didn't come all that easy to Kagome for she spent the first restless hour staring up at the ceiling until exhaustion finally won. She was in for either a dreamless sleep or nightmarish.

But we're just friends Kagome sighed for the twentieth time that night.

An hour later a rock came through the flap opening, aligned to hit the young priestess on her shoulder. When she only mumbled in her sleep and looked ready to turn over, yet another rock hit her and then another. Using the faint moonlight, the somewhat cranky young woman looked at the rocks and from the scratch marks on them; she knew who was calling her.

Grabbing a shawl from next to her futon, Kagome slowly crawled out of the hut. She was glad Kikyo was such a heavy sleeper, well when there are no reports of demons. With her sandals on her feet, the young woman progressed near the forest, looking for the caller. It was cold that night but she felt warm at the chance to see her friend again.

Though she cared what the villagers thought but it reflected upon her family, Kagome doubted anyone would be up and about at this hour. So it was relatively safe to explore. With the new precautions, night time would be the only time they'd ever be truly alone. She understood where they were coming from but if they only knew how clearly Inuyasha stated his lack of romantic intentions towards her, those villagers wouldn't be doing much talking now would they?

"Inuyasha? Inuyasha? Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered as she searched for him in the darkness. She lacked the keen eyesight demons and many animals were gifted with.

Suddenly a hand grabbed one of hers and tugged her behind a tree. She barely stifled a gasp, not wanting to alarm anyone, if anything she could defend herself. She was a priestess, one in training but a priestess nevertheless.

"I'm right here." The half-demon whispered back.

Kagome shrieked loudly then covered her mouth. She could just imagine his reaction. Inuyasha was probably covering his ears now, if not unconscious but he wasn't.

"Sorry. Sorry." The priestess apologized from behind her hands.

Pulling her nearer, Inuyasha held her close to his body and he allowed himself one sinful touch of her smooth hair to run through his fingers. He knew his behavior might give mix messages but he hoped his friend knew a romantic relationship would be impossible. But she smelled so good and felt so soft. He cared about her a lot but he couldn't place her in anymore danger.

"I swear you'll be the end of me, wench."

Kagome's breathing hitched at his touch but she didn't draw away. He was making it harder to forget that night. Or maybe he wasn't against the idea of running away as he had first made it sound.

"Inu—what are you doing here…well so late, that is."

The half-demon ignored her tetchy like tone because he knew it was from him calling her "wench," then anything else. "I wanted to talk to you."

"Now?"

"Yeah, now. Got a problem with that?" Despite the somewhat harshness of his tone and the loosening of his grip from her smaller frame, Inuyasha still kept her close.

Kagome peered up at him with a teasing little smile and twinkling brown eyes. "So are we going on a moonlight stroll? My, the villagers will start talking."

Flustered, the half-demon gently shoved her away and grunted. He knew all about the tongue-wagglers. "Humph. I guess something like that. But don't start thinking it's anything romantic or nothing."

Kagome shrugged her shoulders and scoffed in response. "Oh don't worry about it. We all know you don't have a single romantic bone in your entire body."

"Keh. Don't be so sure."

"Oh? So you do?" The teasing little smile was back. Clearly, like most women her age, she developed her skills at flirtatious banter.

"No! Now shut up and come on."

Inuyasha tugged at her arm and was glad for the darkness for otherwise she would've surely seen his telltale blush. The second she climbed onto his back, he took off into the night. Using his keen eye, he moved through the bushes with simple and graceful ease.

A silhouette of a woman waited downwind and watched them disappear into the night's dark blanket then it disappeared in the coming breeze.

All of Japan knew of the legendary demon village, whether through stories or actually seeing it. This village was known for the skills of its people who were said to have no superiors whether demon or human. They were known for their proficiency and cleverness in battle. But everyone was shocked that the village was destroyed by one person whose identity remained a mystery.

However, rather ironically, the very same person was living in that very village among the few survivors. Among them was the daughter of the best slayers, Haku and Ayumi, who was seeking revenge for her people and to find her long lost brother.

The room where Naraku stayed in was fit for a king. Everything here was as modern as could be and the food was not only fresh but tasty. The sinister demon found it rather amusing that they put so much confident in him to find the killer. But of course, he was buying his time until Kagura returned. It was just a bit after dawn so she should be back at anytime. And just when he poured yet another cup of green tea out, the demoness appeared before him.

"And what have you learned?" Naraku had yet to look up from his cup. It was far more interesting than looking at his spy for a single scent could tell him if she were lying.

"You were right," Kagura's lips curved behind her beautifully crafted fan. "They do seem rather close—both of them."

The red eyes of the demon darkened almost as much as the evil smirk he had on his face. He liked this. "Hum. Then they'll regret it, won't they. We might have Kanna join in on the fun."

Kagura hid her fresh scowl. She wanted to prove herself to him, thus being released from her debt but how can she when he wanted that traitorous impassive twit along.

The wind demoness tried to hold onto her anger and said, "I believe—"

"Naraku?" It was a new female's voice. One that held great pride yet respect for said man.

With mortal woman now before the room, the demoness narrowed her eyes. Thanks to her Kagura wouldn't get the chance to discourage Naraku's decision.

"You may enter." Naraku easily silenced Kagura with a quick glare and motioned for the demon slayer to enter.

Nodding, the young woman slid the large door completely open and for a moment she just looked at them. "I was just—am I interrupting something?"

"Yes," Kagura wished to say but she wisely kept her mouth shut. After all, Naraku held her heart in arms reach, literally.

Naraku glanced up at her with this pleasant little smile, a secretive one to be exact. "Why do you ask?"

Sango believed it was rather obvious with Kagura standing by him but she then choose not to sound catty. "I thought—never mind. I was wondering did you happen to find any leads."

Lowering his cup, the demon smiled at her. This one seemed sincere but wasn't. "As a matter of fact I have. It was rather a hard search but Kagura here found him."

Sango swallowed and bit back the bubbling excitement and sense of anticipating that was quickly rising. She didn't want to appear unprofessional especially with the killer still at large. She wanted his name, his location. But most of all, she wanted his head planted firmly on a large pole completely deformed of its original state. Bloody and cruel but justified.

"Did she? How nice." Sango kept her tone in an impassive manner, somewhat mimicking how Kagura spoke.

His not-so-sincere smile blossomed all the more. "The man responsible goes by the name of Inuyasha."

"Inuyasha." The demon slayer replied and a clear look of hatred filled her mournful brown eyes as she looked at the rough drawing of the demon.

This man.

This Inuyasha.

He would die.

Next Time: A Bounty For His Head

Grief-stricken, Sango is determined to seek the murder of her little brother Kohaku. However she has no idea she has been tricked by the actual man. Meanwhile Kagome has been criticized for her arrow performances and when Inuyasha offers to help, she's happy. But her happiness fades when Inuyasha makes a comment about her future and men.

May 5, 2007 Marks The First Revision Of Chapter Two