A/N: Okay seriously guys have I done something wrong *cries* On all my other fics (besides "face of a miracle") There are no reviews in sight! Only one review this time which I'm grateful for but if you're a reader of any of my other fics please be kind and leave me one *cries again* I need support loving people.

Reviewer Responses:

Inuyasha_luvs_kagome_forever -- Yay to you too ^_^ Nah, you're not morbid, I was proof-reading this fic and whilst in the process I was going to change what happend to Inuyasha doing that, but it didn't seem very in character, sicne Miroku and Sango were watching and all. Heck he got embarrassed just hugging her lol. ^_^ Gaara fan, eh? He kinda creeps me out a bit, my friend likes him, i'd have to say Kakashi and Sasuke are my favourites lol. Typical ain't I? neways, thanks for reviewing, hope you enjoy!

Please enjoy readers!

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The Door to Sanctuary

Twelve

Kagome looked very pale, and Inuyasha was sure she would be sick any minute. He did not like the idea of splitting up, but he was grateful to Sango for allowing him time with Kagome alone; while she had dragged the others away for explore the temple. Besides she had insisted that if Kazuya could not enter the temple, there must be something here that would help them defeat him, and she had dragged the others away to look for it. Inuyasha felt like being alone with Kagome for some reason, though he guessed it had something to do with the realisation from earlier, or the need to explain his horrible behaviour from earlier. Kagome's breathing shaky as she had been crying so much; the bandages had stopped her bleeding, but Inuyasha guessed she was still shocked about seeing so much of her own blood everywhere. It was then, that a cold shot a shiver up her spine; Inuyasha looked at her worriedly, reaching out for her, and his fingers stroking her arm slightly. Kagome leaned back against him, her head resting on his shoulder.

'I thought Kazuya was going to kill you,' she said hoarsely. 'I don't know how you aren't afraid of him.'

Inuyasha, with his finger under her chin, tilted her head gently, getting her to face him.

'I am afraid of him.' Kagome was hiccupping slightly from the crying, and looked up into his golden eyes with her own hazel, watery ones. 'Sometimes, being brave doesn't mean you're not afraid, it means knowing what's coming after you, but facing it anyway, even though you know it could kill you in one blow...because you're more afraid it'll hurt the one's you care about that anything else.' Kagome nuzzled her face under his chin, her eyes closed. 'In all truthfullness, sometimes you have to be afraid, because it's only when you're faced with losing everything that you give a fight your all.' Inuyasha felt her tears fall down his neck, and he pulled his arms round her as she hiccupped again.

'Kind of ironic, huh? This demon is a fear demon, and you say sometimes you have to be afraid?' Her whimpering returned as she cried again, trying to keep her voice even, 'Well I'm afraid but…I just…' Inuyasha squeezed her tighter as she started shaking. 'I don't want to be brave, or understand, if I have to feel like this!' Her voice was quivering, and overcome with hysteria.

'I'm here, you don't have to understand; I'll do this okay? I promise I'll stop him.'

'Why is he after me?' she asked him.

'I don't know…but whatever it is, he can't have you.'

'When he comes - the mist - he'll - my fear of it will let him take me!'

'But I won't,' he argued reassuringly, 'I won't let you go, I swear!' Kagome pulled away slightly, sitting up on her heels, and looked at him with wide, glassy eyes.

'Promise me…you won't let go of me.' Inuyasha pulled her back down against him, his golden eyes looking dotingly into hers, and caressing the tendrils of hair around her temples with his fingers.

'You need some sleep,' he said, running his hand along her cheek, and pressing her head gently down on his chest; but Kagome looked back up again.

'Promise me,' she insisted.

'I promise.' Kagome rested her head back down, closing her eyes.

'Inuyasha?' she asked hazily.

'Yeah,' he replied softly.

'Why do you think the mist…why does it affect me so?' Inuyasha was silent for a moment, then replied.

'He's after you by the looks of things, I'm guessing he wants it to get to you more…Kagome?' he asked, wondering if she was listening. Inuyasha heard her breathing deepen, and he knew she had fallen asleep. He watched her sleep peacefully for a while, waiting for the others to return.

Inuyasha's eyes shot open suddenly. He guessed he had fallen asleep, lying across his lap, with her head resting on his chest, still fast asleep was Kagome. I must have dozed off, he thought, relaxing back against the wall, breathing in Kagome's scent deeply. But then he remembered. If he had fallen asleep, then he was awoken by something. It could have been part of a dream, he suggested in his mind, but no, he didn't even realise he had fallen asleep; there was no chance he could have had a dream. As he looked at the fire Sango had stoked before her departure, he saw that it was nearly burnt out. I must have been asleep for a long time, he thought, sitting up, causing Kagome to stir on his lap, but she continued sleeping as he slid out from underneath her, and stood up.

If he had slept for that long, and the others still weren't back, that meant something bad in his books. Maybe it was the foreboding calm in the thickness of the dense air that had awakened him, he had no idea. He started to walk away from the fire, only to stop, and turn back to the sleeping Kagome. If I wake her she might get worried about the others, and panic. She needs rest. But I promised I wouldn't let go of her, he argued with himself, as if two voices were voicing his arguments in his head. I promised her…But she is in bad shape, she needs to sleep…But I said I wouldn't leave her…but she's safe here, Kazuya can't get her, she said so herself…But something else could get her, and what if she woke up alone, she'd think something had happened to me, or else be upset that I broke my promise…He sighed, and walked back to her side; about to wake her from her sleep, but stopped for a moment, pausing to gaze at her, before nudging her slightly. 'Kagome…Kagome wake up.' She shifted slightly, but did not awaken. 'Must be really exhausted, don't blame you really.' He smiled, and heaved her up into his arms, walking up the tunnel, as the last of the flames from the fire began to burn out.

He guessed Sango must have lit the torches on the walls, as they were burning with fresh flames. Kagome slept on in his arms, and he was careful not to wake her up, wanting her to stay asleep as long as possible, before she woke up and panicked about the others. He had been walking a while now, but the tunnel didn't seem to change, it carried on straight, in the same direction, the same height and width, with no change about it at all. Don't know why Kazuya can't come in here, it's exactly like the Temple of Lost Souls; he'd feel right at home.

Suddenly, he saw up ahead, the suddenly dark blue firelight silhouetting the shapes of people, he stared into the dimness for a moment, before realising that it was the others. 'Sango, Miroku?' he asked the shapes quietly, not wanting to wake Kagome, nor anything else that may be in the temple.

'Inuyasha?' asked a familiar, male voice.

'Yeah,' the hanyou replied.

'What are you doing here? Where's Kagome?' Inuyasha frowned, and then guessed that it was only down to his keen hanyou sight that he could see through the dark blue light.

'I've got her,' he said, walking swiftly forward, stopping before them, so that now they could see him.

'Well, Inuyasha,' said the monk slyly, making an odd expression on the half-demon's name. 'I knew you wanted to talk with Kagome, but did you have to wear her out that much?'

'Ergh! Sick perverted monk! Is that all you think about?' he yelled, allowing Sango to smack Miroku, as he himself, still holding Kagome he was unfortunately unable to do so. Miroku rubbed the side of his cheek sulkily.

'No, sometimes I think about other stuff.'

'By "sometimes" you mean rarely, or not at all don't you?' asked the kitsune on his shoulder.

'Heh,' muttered Miroku, with a silly grin on his face. Sango rolled her eyes, and stepped forward, holding Rin's hand.

'She's been asking for Kagome,' muttered the demon slayer, so the child could not hear. 'Why didn't you wake her up before bringing her?'

'Well after you guys left she went a little hysterical, she made me promise not to let go of her before going to sleep, and then I fell asleep, woke up and you guys were still gone. I didn't want to leave her, or to have her wake up and worry, so I compromised.'

'Oooh, Inuyasha said a fancy word,' teased Shippo, taking into full advantage that Inuyasha couldn't hit him at the moment.

Kagome shifted in Inuyasha's arms, making him look down at her for a moment, only to see that she was still asleep, her eyes closed, her face peaceful and dreaming.

'We were coming back to get you now, but…' Sango stopped looking oddly at the darkness behind her, where they must have come from.

'What?' he asked.

'We found something…' Miroku answered for her, turning his back, and walking into the darkness with the others following, and Inuyasha taking it that he had to as well. He followed them along the never-ending passage, the light still a dark indigo, so that it was hard to see anything that wasn't right beside them, even for Inuyasha now. Just as his eyes managed to get used to the darkness, he slammed his eyes shut, stopping himself from being blinded by the suddenly dazzling light of the sun. He opened his eyes, squinting, and looked down at Kagome, stirring again in his arms, and he turned her face to his chest slightly, stopping the light from getting into her eyes.

The hanyou heard someone giggling, and looked squinting about to see Rin at his feet, looking up at him.

'What're you looking at?' he asked her. She smiled widely up at him, making him a little uncomfortable.

'I hope I find somebody who cares that much about me,' she said, making Inuyasha blush. He looked fixedly at Kagome, not making eye contact with the little girl.

'Sesshomaru cared about you…' He looked down, and to his horror, silent tears streamed down the girl's face. 'Crap, I'm sorry, don't cry!' She shook her head, wiping her tears away.

'No, its okay, I shouldn't cry…' Inuyasha felt bad now, not only had he made her cry, he had made her feel bad for crying.

'It's okay to cry,' he muttered to her, Sango and the others ahead somewhere, so they couldn't hear.

'Then why don't you?' she asked him. Inuyasha looked down at the girl, then back to Kagome again.

'I cry…'

'When?' she asked, sounding a little too interested.

'Well I…a few times…but, it's okay to cry.'

'Then why do you always tell Kagome-chan not to cry?'

'Because…because when she cries I…it makes me upset when she cries. But when you loose someone it's okay to cry.'

'Well, I shouldn't cry, because I know, Sesshomaru-sama is not dead, he will come back for me, he always does.' Rin walked after Sango, just as happy as she had been before, making Inuyasha feel even more bad for her. Poor kid, she really believes that he is still alive…

Inuyasha walked onwards, nearly bumping into Miroku, as he was still squinting, readjusting to sunlight.

'Why is there sunlight in a cave anyway?' he asked, now fully adjusted to it. Miroku pointed upwards in reply. There was no ceiling to this cavern that led off from the tunnel; the wide sky was spread overhead, painted with the colours of the beginning of the sunset, where there should have been rock and stone. 'You idiots, Kazuya will get us!' shouted Inuyasha, panicking.

'Wait a sec,' said Miroku calmly, picking up a stick from the grassy ground, and slinging it at the sky. It was incinerated within seconds as it hit the invisible, energy barrier overhead; anything that passed through there would be ashes. Inuyasha relaxed again, surprised that Kagome slept on in his arms, clinging to his kimono beside her face, rubbing the fabric softly between her fingers unconciously, making Inuyasha smile before looking back to the others, who all seemed to look away from him immediately as he looked up.

'Okay so we're here, what is it you found?' he looked to where Sango pointed. This was no cavern; it was like some secret garden beyond the dark tunnel. The pink and lavender hued sky was overhead, soft, lush grass was underfoot, flowers grew, a few small trees were scattered, and a clear stream ran through it, flowing from and out of nothing; it was like an illusion. And amidst all of this, was a great, stone door, though Inuyasha frowned; it didn't lead to anywhere, it was just standing in the centre of all, the door closed. 'It's like some weird, haven for the light after all the darkness we've been seeing,' he muttered to the others.

'Only the doorway to it actually,' replied Miroku cleverly, making Inuyasha look at him in confusion.

'Huh?'

'It's the Doorway to Sanctuary,' the monk explained, and Inuyasha walked nervously towards the door.

'Then this would be the Door to Sanctuary, the one Kagome told us she read about.' The others nodded, and they stared pensively at the door for a moment, not speaking a word to one another.

Inuyasha snapped suddenly out of his pensive state, and looked into the peaceful face of the girl in his arms, as she started to awake. She looked up at him, and smiled slightly, before frowning in confusion.

'Inuyasha? Where are we?'

'The others didn't come back, and I said I wouldn't leave you, so I carried you. The others found this.' She looked about, and smiled in turn at each of her friends. Inuyasha set her on her feet, releasing her when she'd stopped swaying slightly, only to look at her in worry as she winced. 'What's wrong?'

'Nothing,' she said, holding her wounded wrists close to her. 'Just…it still hurts.' Inuyasha took her hand softly and led her over to the small stream, after having Sango hint at him to change the bandages with very shrewd gestures; Inuyasha couldn't help but wonder if she really wanted him to do it so he would be alone with Kagome, though put that thought out of his mind, as it kept making him blush. He took the bandages off her wrists carefully, trying not to hurt her as she kept flinching. Inuyasha was surprised the blood did not stain the stream, but it seemed to dissolve, and become part of the crystal clear waters as he washed the bandages. He looked to Kagome, holding her wrists close to her, not wanting Inuyasha to touch them.

'You'd better wash your wounds,' he muttered, feeling responsible for the damage she'd taken, again.

Inuyasha turned back to her a few moments later, the bandages in hand, and wrapping them securely round her wrists, trying to ignore her winces and whimpering.

'What is this place anyway?' she asked him through the squeaks of pain.

'Huh? Oh, Miroku said this was the Doorway to Sanctuary or somethin, the haven before the Door to Sanctuary.' Kagome shot up, Inuyasha shooting up beside her. 'What's the matter?'

'Sanctuary?' she asked in a scared voice, Inuyasha nodded.

'But what's so terrible-'

'The Sages sealed themselves inside the Door to Sanctuary, Kazuya will come here first!'

'But you said he can't come in here?'

'He can't, come in there!' she said, pointing to the tunnel. 'The temple is where we sat earlier; we sealed the spell in keeping him out when you shut the door. But out here he can get us!'

'Why didn't you tell us?'

'No, wait,' she said, calming slightly. 'I remember some more of the runes…umm, we sealed the spell by shutting the door, so we're safe as long as the door-'

'STOP! NO YOU FOOL!' Inuyasha and Kagome turned, hearing a familiar voice, though it was unusually loud, and desperate. Inuyasha watched as Sesshomaru charged towards the door, to where Miroku had started to open it. 'STOP NO! THE SAGES' MAGIC WILL SUMMON HIM HERE!' Sesshomaru ignored the crying Rin at his side, and slammed himself against the door, trying to force it shut…too late.

A radiant black energy blasted through the door, tinted with crackles of indigo and crimson energy, bursting from the door as Sesshomaru tried desperately to close it. But the magic surged, splitting the door in two, and sending Sesshomaru flying into the barrier. Sesshomaru skidded to a halt in mid air, just before the barrier, before collapsing to the ground, nearly unconscious with the force of the magic that had just hit him. Rin ran to his side, tears pouring down her face.

'Sesshomaru-sama! Wake up!'

'I'm sorry!' screamed Miroku, 'I didn't mean to, but it was like, I couldn't help it, it felt like it wasn't me.' The others didn't hear him. The magic shot through the barrier, and it glowed a radiant fuchsia, before shattering.

Before they knew what was happening, piles upon piles of billowing, eerie mist flowed in, smothering the entrance, but not descending even further.

'He's coming!' shouted Kagome, shaking with fear, and burying herself in Inuyasha's chest. Inuyasha snatched her into his arms and skidded to the mouth of the tunnel.

'Sango, guys, in here!' Sango scooped up Kilala, and Shippo and Miroku dashed after her, crouching down at Inuyasha's side, Kagome refusing to look up from his chest. They looked on in horror as a dark shadow fell over a patch of the fog, and they knew who was overhead. Inuyasha's eyes widened as he saw, in the midst of the smothered haven, Rin still with the unconscious Sesshomaru. Inuyasha went to get up, but Kagome dragged him with all her strength to his knees again, tears falling from her eyes.

'No! Don't leave me!'

'Kagome-' he eased as he watched Sesshomaru get wearily to his feet. He stumbled forward, and he thought that, amongst the roaring winds he could hear him arguing with the girl at his side.

Sesshomaru tried to steady himself on his feet, but it wouldn't work, he stumbled slowly forward, sensing the fear demon overhead, and knowing that he would kill him if he caught him.

'Rin, get over there with the others...' he muttered to her, but she stood at his side devotedly. 'Did you hear me? I said go…'

'Sesshomaru-sama? They told me you were dead…' she whimpered, trying not to cry again now she'd stopped.

'Rin, go…' his voice was rising as he tried to walk faster, but he couldn't manage it.

'But I-'

'GO NOW!' he shouted, throwing her to the ground as the ground shook, and the air whistled dangerously, as Kazuya broke through the fog, descending upon them.

Rin scrambled to where the others were and Sango pulled her down behind her, as Kazuya hovered beside Sesshomaru, looking the youkai in the eye dangerously.

'Nice to see you again Sesshomaru, you haven't aged a day,' greeted the fear demon, a little too nicely, his crimson orbs staring into the golden orbs that were Sesshomaru's. 'Last time I saw you, you were dipping into one of the damned worlds to bring forth a spirit to play the role of your hanyou brother's mother, in part of that scheme to get the Tetsusaiga. And here you are fighting at his side, tut tut, a little two faced aren't we?' Sesshomaru was tired, and if he was going to die, he wanted it over with; he couldn't stand Kazuya's calmness. He leapt forward, swiping at the demon with Toukijin. 'Well, that was rude; I would have thought that at least one of your dysfunctional family members would have thought to teach you manners. What's the matter, were they too busy fussing over baby Inuyasha to notice you?' he taunted, rousing a roar of anger from Sesshomaru, and the demon slashed at him viciously with Toukijin.

The fog slowly swallowed up the images of the fighting demons, so that all Inuyasha and the others could see was faint images of them. Kagome finally looked up, but at Inuyasha, as he shifted, going to get to his feet.

'Please Inuyasha, no!' Inuyasha looked into her pleading eyes, stained with tears.

'Kagome, Sesshomaru will die.'

'Please…you promised me…' Inuyasha looked to Sesshomaru once more. Kazuya snatched Toukijin, throwing it across the cave, smacking Sesshomaru across the jaw. The demon slammed into the wall, leaping back to his feet, slashing at Kazuya with the whip that appeared at his clawed fingertips. Kazuya grinned evilly, grabbing the whip as he was slashed at, and yanking it, flinging Sesshomaru against the wall. Inuyasha leapt to his feet, Kagome still clinging to him. 'If you let me go-'

'I won't let him hurt you!'

'You can't stop him if you leave me!'

'He's not after you right now Kagome, let me help.' Kagome looked up at him, her eyes pleading him to stay, but did not say another word. Inuyasha pushed her back down into Sango's arms, and the demon slayer held her back, as Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga, disappearing through the now full barrier of mist.

'INUYASHA!' screamed Kagome, but he did not come back at her call.

Inuyasha leapt forwards, slicing off the unsuspecting Kazuya's arm, and making him release Sesshomaru.

'Oh, the brother is here, aren't you a bold one?' asked Kazuya, his arm materialising back within seconds. 'I'm surprised you left your beloved Kagome's side, after you so sincerely promised her…' Inuyasha's eyes widened.

'What?'

'I've been watching her Inuyasha, haven't you guessed yet…it's her I'm after…' Inuyasha looked worriedly back at where he had left Kagome with the others, it was a trick. Kazuya wanted to draw him away from her. 'I sent the fog after her, I asked the villagers to sacrifice her to me, I sent the wolves after her, I sent the dreams to her, I turned the spirits on you to get to her, but that bitch Kikyo saved her from the pool. Never mind, you saw to it that Kikyo can never save anyone again, didn't, hanyou?' Inuyasha roared, leaping towards him. Tetsusaiga glowed in its transformed state, only to be kicked from his grasp, and landed alongside Toukijin. Kazuya grabbed Inuyasha by the throat, digging his nails into his skin, blood dripping down his chest. Inuyasha coughed as he was choked, only to fall to the ground with a thud as he stuck his claws through the demon's stomach.

Kazuya hovered above him, his wound already healed, and grinned. 'Well, it's been fun Inuyasha, but I'm a bit bored now, I think I'll just take what I came for…' Inuyasha's eyes widened, and he stumbled to his feet.

'I'll never let you take her.'

'You aren't in a position to threaten, HANYOU!' He surged forward, slashing at Inuyasha, and kicking and punching. Inuyasha stumbled as he took nearly every hit. He fell crashing to the ground, blood pouring from his nose and mouth, coughing and spluttering the same red substance as Kazuya stood above him, readying to deal the final blow. Inuyasha got to his feet once more, looking into the demon's eyes. 'You're very strong willed Inuyasha, but I'm afraid that isn't enough to defeat me.' He stopped a moment, trying to make his confidence scare Inuyasha down, but the hanyou stood strong. 'It doesn't do well to be a brave man Inuyasha. Brave men have faced me before, good, pure, brave men; they all died at my feet, after watching me take what they fought for.' Inuyasha laughed hoarsely, spitting a mouthful of blood from his lips.

'And I might die the same, but you won't get what you came for Kazuya. You're running on a low fuel, revenge won't get you far.'

'What?' asked Kazuya, sounding slightly less confident.

'You were made to watch Yuna die, so you get revenge by taking things from other people. That's kind of sad really.' Kazuya sneered, and launched himself with an angry growl at the hanyou, smacking the side of his jaw, and sending him crashing into the wall, collapsing onto the ground, his golden eyes closing as the blood poured from his temple, pooling on the ground beside him.

Kagome sobbed in Sango's arms, the fear that the mist caused overwhelming her, and sending her into hysteria. Sango looked up in terror as the mists began to clear, and Kazuya became visible through the fading vapour. She hugged Kagome tight, as Miroku tensed beside her. Miroku and Sango had ordered Shippo and Kilala to take Rin back up the tunnel, and protect her; the three were the last ones against the demon. Sango held Kagome tight as Miroku drew to his feet, his staff in hand.

'Leave,' he muttered. Kazuya grinned, all of his vampire like teeth glimmering ominously, but he did not move. 'You won't get past me, so get away from us.'

'Funny, I seem to be hearing that a lot to day,' said Kazuya confidently. 'Let me just try a theory out on you, Miroku.' Miroku's eyes widened at the sounding of his name, and the demon leapt forward, snatching the staff from the monk, and whacking him across the head with it, throwing the staff aside as the monk crumpled to the floor. 'Yes, just as I thought, I could get past,' Kazuya muttered to himself, his tone almost amused.

Suddenly, his evil gaze turned to the two women, as Kagome clung to Sango even more, the demon slayer, trying not to tremble as much as the clinging girl.

'Kagome,' she whispered, and Kagome looked up at her. 'When I tell you to, run.' Kagome shook her head, but Sango smiled at her, and stood her up beside her. Sango left Kagome's embrace, and walked towards Kazuya calmly, stopping inches before him. 'NOW!' she screamed, the blade shouting from her armoured sleeve, and into his neck as she punched him. Kagome ran, but not up the tunnel, towards Inuyasha. She had an idea, if only she could get to Inuyasha, or Sesshomaru, they could break the door, and the spell would be undone. She spied Inuyasha, lying in a heap on the ground, his eyes closed.

She dropped at his side, tears pouring from her eyes. She stroked alongside his cheek with her fingers, and he was cold. She threw her head over his, her hair lying over his own, and the blood from his head wounds seeping into her hair and onto her face, but she didn't care. She cried until her throat hurt, and a dark shadow fell over her. Kazuya was there as she looked up, and she sat up, staring him in the face, intertwining her fingers with Inuyasha's.

'Kagome,' he said politely to her, but she sneered, tears till falling down her cheeks.

'Get away from me!' she threatened, anger building inside her.

'Hmph, getting a little of that hanyou's attitude are we?'

'Good, then kill me, like you did him!' she said strongly, getting to her feet. Kazuya smiled evilly, and shook his head.

'No, I have better ideas for you,' he replied, leaning in closer towards her. 'It seems you have blood on you,' he said lightly, running his fingers through the bloodstained ends of her hair that hung limply over her shoulders.

'Get away from me!' she shouted, slapping his hand away. He grabbed a handful of her hair viciously, and forced her face down into the stream beside them. She tried with all her might to push back, and get up, but as she struggled for breath, she could feel herself loosing to the coldness of the shallow waters, and her world went black.

TBC

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A/N: Dun Dun Dun Dun! And the cliffhangers continue. In case anyone would like an explanation for the hysterical and over-exaggerated behaviour of Kagome, it's because Kazuya is a fear demon, and since he's after her specifically, the mist rouses an intense fear that in the presence of Kazuya as well, causes her worst fears to manifest. Get it? So Kagome, as the object of his desires is more vulnerable to that fear than the others, allowing me to make IyxKag fluff ^_^ R&R please, I love the reviews.

Luv Kagome

x chuu x