A/N: Yes, my lovely readers and subscribers, this is the second half of my new one-shot story. I know that my idea wasn't as original as I have hopped but I do like to think that I've done something worth reading… Please excuse my future typos…

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ETERNITY
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Bells of mayhem, bells of wrath,

Bells of sadness and love

The chilly wind of change and sorrow

Makes everything… burst in color

Not everything was made to last and in this particular piece of legend…everything changes!

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Drums and echoes of muffled cries vibrated through the air as the crowds separated to make way for their special and unique passers. Some held their heads high as others didn't even raise their eyes to face what was once their future. Nothing was like it was supposed to be! Nothing seemed to right that wrong. No one dared to speak their mind as their hearts were torn apart. Cruelty! Injustice!

"No…No…" came a far cry from somewhere as the long row of people marched towards the scaffold, its sinister form dominating everything and everyone.

"Silence woman! Or do you want to join this… creature?" the venomous words of their new king croon from the middle of the marching soldiers as he eyed the people around him.

None dared to raise their voice, though some wanted so very much. They were afraid for their lives as they watched their cursed, yet rightful king smirk, his chin held high, his eye bearing no fear or regret. He had done everything he had hoped to do and no one could take that away from him. Yes, he had been a fool and had doomed his people but something told him that, with his death, new forces will rise.

'They will be alright.' He hummed to himself as his eyes landed on what was once his ward, the girl's teary gaze making his soul growl.

Jerking his head upwards, he gestured towards his execution place, beckoning her to go there, to follow him as he wanted to talk to her. He wanted to assure her that everything was going to be alright, that even with him gone, there was still going to be someone to take care of her. As the thought formed in his mind, his head twisted just a little towards his right, where the sorrowful face of what he had, only recently, started to call his most trusted friend and ally, his gut twisted again. She had been deep in thought for the better part of a week now and nothing seemed to make her snap out of that state. Something told him that the same blasted thing that had clouded his judgment so many months ago had moved to her, making her loose what he had seen good in her.

'And have started to love…' a deep voice, maybe the voice of his heart, rumbled inside of his head, making his eyes widden as he turned his face away, thus missing the long gaze filled with love.

"Come on, my lord!" the creepy, eerie voice of king Naraku crawled up his skin, making him shiver slightly though no one could have suspected that something like this really happened.

"Hn" came his reply, though he needed no push to go forward.

He even suspected that the soldiers around him stalled, trying to keep him away from the death sentence that the narcissistic and self absorbed king had thrown at him. His smirk grew a fraction as his life span shortened with each step. He still had what his father had left for him with his death: the respect and devotion, even the admiration and love of not only his people but of those that had heard of him. He had been a good, though not as merciful with the wrong, king as he could have been. Cold and distant he was once accused to be, yet every living soul that had come to see him perish now wished that he could have continued to be just the same. His life had had a purpose.

"You will always have a meaning to everyone, my king." The sweet voice of his Kagome rose from the murmurs and cries that echoed around him.

Yes, he still and will forever have a purpose in this plain of existence. Closing his eyes slowly as the looming and dreary form of his end appeared before him, Lord Sesshomaru stood even taller than before. He had no fear for what was about to unfold.

A loud mournful sound rose from the crowd as they watched their cursed sire walk up the steps towards his bloody doom, their cry making the current king cringe in his skin. Everyone cried, hiding their faces from the world as they hoped that somehow a miracle may unfold.

None saw the calm expression of the princess. None suspected her plan. None saw what she was about to do. Yet everyone cheered with happiness when she did it.

~before the execution~

"You are cursed, my child!" the grouchy yet worried voice of her caretaker reached her ears as she finally stopped walking in the middle of the room.

She eyed the old woman with careful eyes, as she finally huffed. She had suspected as much. It wasn't in her nature to bear such strong hatred towards anyone, yet she still felt it rise and coil in her heart, suffocating her mind. She was cursed with no way to end it but with blood shed. Or with some miraculous… thing. Kagome walked to the concerned older woman, her hands resting gently on her shoulders.

"I know, granny Kaede… I know and I can not do a single thing about this." Kagome hummed, her eyes clouding with worry for others, not for herself.

Something told her that the cure was close, so very close that she could touch it, yet she didn't know where to look or who to ask. She knew nothing about the origin of the curse or its purpose. Still, a part of her welcomed it with open arms, almost beckoning it to unfold faster. She could feel the monster inside of her, a beast with eyes as red as blood and a mouth with teeth sharp and ready to tear into anyone.

Shaking her head, the mahogany haired princess started pacing her room again, her eyes trained on the ground. Her sire was going to be killed in a day's time and she could do nothing. Or she could, but that meant to let the curse free to rule her body.

'And probably end that creature's life along side his family… I can not do such a thing. I will not!' her mind growled as she clamped her eyes shut, searching desperately for an answer.

And, as if her mind had stretched out of her body, a knock on the door surprised both she and the old woman that watched her with a doubtful gaze. Looking at each other, Kagome's voice called to the one at the door to enter, two familiar faces bowing before her as her eyes widened. The plan she had scratched over so many times unfolded in her mind, her face bright with wonder.

This was it! She had finally found a way to rescue her king, her distant and untouchable love , and get rid of those that had harmed not only her family – of which she knew very little of – but others as well. Her brows disappeared behind her fringe as she stopped, blinking owlishly at the newcomers.

"Princess?" the twin voices made her snap out of her reverie as she smiled at them brightly.

"You are my miracle…" she whispered, her eyes training on her two friends.

Chocolate eyes looked at a black pair just as shocked and then back to her as she started talking. They had come to tell her about their own plan, but the princess had, once again, outsmarted them. Sango and Takumi waited as Kagome explained, her face full of life and hope, their heart swelling knowing that they were a part of the miracle that had, once again, given life to their worried princess.

"You have to keep this a secret and help me as much as possible. You are my only chance! You do understand this, right?" her voice took a pleading tone, something very uncommon to the royal blood, yet not uncommon to her.

She had escaped a family massacre, being kept alive for the soul purpose of helping Naraku and maybe, if Kagura had ever died of some strange illness, she could become his spouse. It was a common knowledge among the palace, though Kagome had always denied it. She could never do such a thing.

"Yes, we do understand, milady, but you have to tell us… Is it in regards to…" Takumi tried to speak, his blood rushing to his face, his heart beat quickening.

"Hush!" Kagome almost yelled, her eyes as big as the plates she sometimes fell in love with, her face a mixture of unsaid feelings.

Sango gulped, Takumi shivered and Kaede smirked, all awaiting what the young princess had to say. They seemed to vibrated in waiting as her luscious mouth opened and secret after secret spilled from it, her lips moving faster and faster as she threw her hands up and pointed out the windows, trying to make everyone present see what she had seen. Time and time again she pointed to the rising scaffold tears prickling her eyes as she suppressed her cries of both anger and grief. Even with the plan she had made in motion, she could still feel the uncertainty, the anxiety crushing her soul.

"We understand, milady!" the three in the room hummed together, bowing slightly as she blinked fast at them, almost missing their exit, her mind lost in thought.

"Child… you should rest. It is enough for now." The raspy voice of the ages old woman made the princess nod, numb all over, her eyes seeing only the sinful face of the one that hold the most special place in her heart.

Brilliant golden eyes, a boyish yet sexy mouth, tall and muscular built, everything about him was beyond words. And she had been captured by all that before she could even prepare her soul against its ruthless attacks. She was such a sucker for beautiful things. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she dragged her body towards her bed, sinking in its plush form and closing her eyes. Oh, how she despised the person she once called father. If only the day would come faster and she could see him die in total misery.

Shaking her head as the thought caught form, Kagome shivered. This was not her. She felt sick for even thinking that way, though she suspected that the said curse that made her so susceptible to anger was a way to let her built up frustrations free, that the curse was actually… well, a blessing. Another shiver racked her body as she drifted off to sleep, the lonely face of someone paler than death appearing in her peripheral vision.

That face… why did it resemble her own so much? Why did it look like hers? Or was it her in truth?

"No no, little lamb. That is far from the truth. My name is Kikyo… the one that will spill your doom. Along side that dreadful creature you call your loved one." Her sickening laugh made the brunette's insides twist with both anger and dread.

What that female was saying, those words were spelling disaster. She really did believe what she was saying and was going to do everything in her power to make her threat come true.

'I won't let you… but you already know that, don't you?!' she half inquired half stated as her vision blurred the image of said enemy growing faint.

A low snicker reached her ears as she opened her eyes, her skin sweaty and her heart pumping in her chest. She somehow knew that, if her plan was going to be a success, then she would have to face that witch to find a way to kill Naraku. Not that she was complaining. Her gut told her that the cure to both her and Sesshomaru's curse lay in her love.

Slumping back on her huge bed Kagome glared at the ceiling. This was definitely going to be a challenge.

~Now~

The loud thump of the drums that signaled the end of ones life made the crowd wail its defeat. No one could no nothing now. They watched in horror as Sesshomaru stood tall with soldiers on his sides, his eyes piercing them. He seemed immovable, untouchable. Yet, like all things, he was still mortal.

The moment the halter touched the skin around his neck like some morbid necklace, they were all reminded that this was no nightmare. He was going to die there, under their eyes. Another far cry echoed in the crowd, but this time, many others fallowed, their heavy sorrow making the guards at the fallen king's sides shiver, their eyes watering involuntary. Why was this happening again? Why didn't anyone do something to stop this?

Sesshomaru searched the crowd at his feet, the crowd before him, for his Rin. Seeing her stained face with bruises all over, his blood ran cold. She was fine just moments ago! Whipping his head to the side towards his captor, his eyes as red as blood, growling, he could see the smirk on Naraku's face.

"A present for you." His lips formed the words, though none heard besides him.

Flexing his muscles, he tugged at the restrains around his wrists and feet, his body leaning forward toward the crown. He tried to crouch to get free but the tough rope that hung around his neck prevented any movement as his air supply shortened. He tried again, his anger rising. The curse that had doomed him since the beginning started to act up as he tugged at the hanging suspended on a high wooden pillar. His markings shone brightly, the air around him running cold, icy even as he growled. None dare to look as he struggled, the pleading gurgles of his adopted daughter going unnoticed by the maddened king. How could he let this low-life live now after he so brutally man-handled his ward? Fury encompassed his heart as Naraku reveled in the sight of him.

Black eyes with specks of red shone with pride and happiness as he watched his people tremble before him. This was so much fun! The sadness, the chaos, the anger… everything made him feel so much alive.

"Hang him!" he gave the final order, his hand rising and then lowering in a definitive manner, his personal groom of ladder, Bankotsu nodding.

It took only one seconds and a hitched sound coming from Sesshomaru for it to be over. He grinned in victory as he watched his enemy struggle to breath, the noose around his neck preventing him to do anything, his built signing his doom.

Sesshomaru felt his lungs burn, his throat feeling like someone had just pierced it with a branded dagger and was playing in the freshly made wound with it. He heard nothing but the frantic beat of his heart and the way his body quivered and jerked. His eyes rose to the sky, but they no longer saw it. Everything was turning black on him as he opened his mouth to call a name, though his mind felt like mush, air no longer reaching it. Long lashes fluttered like birds caught in a cage as he tried to look at the world around him once more. Nothing appeared before him. Nothing stopped the ache around his neck. He was dying and there was nothing that could change that.

"I will not let you!" a definite cry reached his ears, as his heart almost stopped its beating.

The fire around his neck stopped and air invaded his lungs, hitting him with a brute force, retching cough after cough from him. His vision came back, though tears leaked out of the corners of his eyes. Large spots of light flew in his vision, blinding him once more. And through all this, once thing was clear: the soft body belonging to Kagome was holding him. He could feel the careful yet determined fingers caressing his throat making sure that his air paths hadn't taken any serious damage.

"K-Kago-me…" his voice a raspy whisper drew a smile on the first face his eyes managed to catch.

It was beautiful and pure and it was filled with love. And just as that realization hit him, his vision turned black once more and the panicked sounds that surrounded him died down.

Kagome, on the other hand, still holding his limp body, watched, with a sword in her hand, as his men, those that were still loyal and her own personal army, brought before her a small wagon. She urged some men to grab Sesshomaru's body and lay him on the pillows. But before she got on herself, she turned around in a frenzy of lace and bright fabric to glare at the panicked king. She pointed with the same sword she had used to cut the rope that had been chocking her love towards him and then sneered. She was going to kill him if that was the last thing she was going to do. Or, at least, that was her threat.

Jumping in the wagon and taking the reins as Sango, who held the biggest open Kagome had ever seen, knocked down a couple of soldiers that weren't even trying to stop them, Kagome smirked, thanking them through one look as she rushed out of the kingdom, her black tresses whipping behind her. She was finally free.

She could still feel her heart leaving out of her with every beat as she remembered every second of the past minutes. She had been on the edge the moment Sesshomaru had stepped on the platform. Naraku had tried to talk to her, yet she could only fake smiles and laughs as the meaning of his words passed her. Yet, as her king had struggled to free himself, his beautiful yet wild face fascinating her, she had searched the crowd for Takumi and Sango. When their eyes met she only nodded slightly, pointing towards their position, her hand itching to grab the short sword that was hanging on her leg hidden by her puffy dress.

And then it came! A loud wail erupted from somewhere and she had only a second to realize that Sesshomaru's ward had cried out his name struggling to free herself from some unknown soldiers. She saw Takumi going to her and beating the men that were holding her but she had no time to see if they were ok. She ran, grabbing her sword and cutting the thick rope that was hanging around Sesshomaru's throat, jumping in the whole under his feet to catch him.

She had then struggled with the knot that was still keeping him from breathing freely before she made sure that he was still breathing. Her heart had stopped two times that evening. The first when she had seen his body sinking the moment the ground opened under him – thanks to Bankotsu – and the second when she realized that he wasn't breathing. She had reacted out of pure intuition on both occasions.

Gulping down a breath as she rushed the horses towards the deep and dangerous woods that surrounded the city in which the castle lay, Kagome couldn't suppress the blush that rose to her cheeks. She had rescued him by forcing the much needed air into his lungs. She had ki-kissed him!

Her lips tingled at the thought, yet she had no time to dwell on it, as she tugged on the reins making the obedient horses turn left and right, avoiding trees as she went off road. She had to loose the soldiers Naraku was bound to send after her and Sesshomaru. And she had to reach her hideout before night caught them. She feared the night in these woods.

Barely breathing, the young princess took yet another turn, the wagon shaking violently, almost tipping over. She shouted a victorious cry when she managed to keep them on the makeshift road.

She could feel the rush of the wind, the howling sound that it made near her ears, yet she never stopped, even if branches tugged at her form, leaving bloody marks behind.

She turned again and again, barely missing crashing into trees or topping over. The orange glow of a setting sun made her shiver as she realized that she was far away from her destination. This was not good. And to make it worse, the two horses that carried both her and Sesshomaru were about to die on her of exhaustion. Pulling the reins to make them stop, or at least slow down, Kagome peeked back, half of her expecting to see about a dozen of Naraku's blood-thirsty soldiers after her. But there was no one. And the worst part of this? Well not even birds chirped in this part of the woods. Trembling, she let the horses stop, their panting forms with drivel dripping on the ground making her soul cringe, apologetic and she jumped to see if her king was alright.

His sleeping form made her sigh, her own body slumping next to his. She had to take a break now that she was far away from any real threat. But, just as she began to relax, the foliage that surrounded them began to move, footsteps echoing all round her.

Jumping up, her sword in hand, Kagome shook with fright, unable to think straight. There was only one road for people like her: straight to death, nothing more. But, at least, she was going to defend what she considered important. Taking in a shaky breath, the mahogany haired beauty with sapphire eyes stood there, awaiting whatever doom was spying on her from the bushes.

And soon it did came, her bellowing cry drawing another, even more surprised cry from those that rushed towards her. Their feelings were mixed and totally different as they stared at each other, disbelieve coloring her aura.

This wasn't possible. This could never come true. Not even in her dreams. The one that was watching her with unmasked happiness could never be who she suspected. Because that person was dead. Yet…

"Hello, milady Kagome!" the polite tone of the one called Miroku made the princess turn her attention towards him.

Nothing made sense but this was still happening. This was beyond any miracle she could have hoped for. This was…

Laughter erupted from her exhausted form as she slumped on the pillows beneath her next to a mumbling Sesshomaru. She saw Miroku rushing forward fallowed close by her miracle, yet her vision suddenly became blurry as tears stained her face.

Oh, how sweet and rewarding was freedom. And how cruel her destiny had played her. But she was still happy. And as she was helped to get out of the wagon and held close by strong arms, comforting and warm, her joy escalated. Her family wasn't gone. She wasn't the only survivor!

Hugging her own personal miracle to her chest, she cried. She did not hear Sesshomaru steer from his sleep. Nor did she see the happy expression on his normally expressionless face. She didn't see nor hear anything. And he did not want to spoil her joy. So he remained quiet and took the time to get back on his feet.

This was a new beginning. And he knew just where he wanted to make it this time. And with whom!

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A/N: Yes…yes my dear readers…this is not the end… I have yet to finish this story… I do believe that I will make only one more chapter and this little story will be over. It still remains a oneshot… it is just divided… a divided oneshot…

Reviews?