Chapter 7 : There is a chance

After they had cauterized her wound nothing had gone right. The bandages caught aflame as well as her fever, nothing they did help. Her breathes as well as her heart was slowing. Each Lord sent scrolls to their best spell casters threading them to search quickly their text and minds for any cause of these ailments. So far they came up with nothing except one who said she was suffering from the ancient blood rites of the soul calling. But that ancient rite hadn't been performed in so long none knew of a cure.

Near by she sighed as she felt blood rushing throw her veins. Inuyasha and Sango watch wide eyed as pink flushed her skin afterwards her eyes faded from black to brown. Her heart pounded in her chest now, like she had run 5 miles. The soul stealer's faded into the night rushing to join with their true master. One single sound blasted through the still night, a single whoosh of air. Inuyasha caught her before she hit the ground as Sango gasped as she felt Kikyo's forehead.

"She's burning with fever, Sango rushed to get the water. Bathing Kikyo's brow and whispering words for her to recover.

"What the fuck is happening? That bitch should be died by now no human can survive an attack like that. Imma go check that camp see what's the hold up is"

"Okay be careful"

"K'eh, don't let anything happen to Kikyo."

"I won't," he ran off away keeping to the shadows trying to be as quite as possible. Inuyasha climbed to the tallest tree and listened to the goings on in the camp with a frown. 'That little bitch has the nerve to still be alive after all that. Damn it, I am have to kill the bitch myself' he cursed and hid back behind the tree.

A beam a light shot straight down from the clouds breaking through the gloom of the day. It stuck ground and blew everything around it away except the tent in front of it. Everyone gasped and shielded their eyes until the light dead out. The Lady Mother of the West rushed into the tent.

"This Lady knows of a way to save the Shaman."

"My Lady," everyone dipped their heads as she hurried by.

"This is not the time Mother!"

"The time is near for the Shaman to be saved my son."

"Your goddess will not save her mother!"

"This mother has seen my son. Believe in this mother and know the Shaman will be saved," Sesshoumaru stared at his mother for long seconds and took slow breaths. The smell of her burnt flesh still hung in the air almost choking him. He knew her beliefs and wondered, she prayed her own Kami of youkai, and he wondered, would it work, to be blessed by Kami of different cultures.

But his father and the Kami said she is a earth bound goddess, the phoenix Shaman, the first holy woman ever created by the Kami. He could not let her soul be taken; he could not let her end again after so long with out her. But he hesitated.

"This mother will bring the Shamans light back to her son," she gave a brief smile seeing his hesitation.

"This Sesshoumaru will be very displeased if you return without the Shaman," his voice full of ice but his mother felt the warmth beneath. Her servants rushed by her and started to gather Kagome and the silks wrapped around her.

"This mother shall take the Kuro-Inu pup as well"

"I'll go to," Shippo finally spoke up.

"No kit, this is for females only, you are too old now to be involved in such things as these."

"I d-"Sesshoumaru placed his large clawed hand on Shippo's shoulder causing the kit to look up at him. Shippo noticed for the first time how he came to the youkai lords' stomach now. He stepped back and noticed for the first time his tails and raised his hands to his ears as he felt them twitch on top his head. He turned surprised eyes on Sesshoumaru's mother.

"Is it not time for the training of keeping what is yours?" he nodded and walked to Kagome kissed her on her feverish forehead, whispered in her ear and stood back next to Sesshoumaru. Rin and he looked to the other as if talking telepathically and nodded before she turned following the servants carrying their mother. Shippo watched the way she walked head held high, shoulders straight. He too pulled himself to his true height and slowed his breathing, straightening his shoulders. 'Rin is right we represent mama now and we have to act it and learn what we can'

The tent exploded with talking and growling as Sesshoumaru's mother and everyone shot away. Again the gloom of the day took over. The boom of thunder drowned out most the lord's words but Sesshoumaru and Shippo heard enough to know what they were upset about.

"What is the meaning of this Lord Sesshoumaru?"

"What did she mean- back to you?"

"The counsel shall hear about this," the southern Lord growled out before he swept from the tent followed by the eastern lord who wanted Kagome to mate his son. Everyone was glad for once this gathering of the Four Cardinal Lords didn't end in bloodshed. None could fathom why the southern Lord would want to the shaman he already had ten wives and his hatred for other species not his own was known far and wide. Even Sesshoumaru couldn't figure why the monkey Lord would want Kagome. Besides she was his and none would stand in his way. He did not even care what the counsel would say; he had done too much to back down now. None could stand against him in battle.

.

But that was just what the other lords were thinking as well. It would either come down to the Shaman choosing or they would battle for her hand. The Northern Lord faced Sesshoumaru and growled.

"You, why would she even consider you?"

"Why not," Sesshoumaru shrugged and turn to Shippo. Turning his back on Kazuo in essence telling him he was no threat. Kazuo growled and stalked from the tent not liking that Sesshoumaru knew the Miko turned Shaman longer than he did. But he would not give up until he had the Shaman in his grasp, mated and marked as his. Besides he knew the Shaman loved the way he treated her, the way he talked to her. He couldn't have done all he had for nothing.

Inuyasha took off tracking Sesshoumaru's mother for what seemed like hours. He watched from the trees as they stopped and entered a small village on the edge of the Western Lands. Keeping to the shadows he watched as they entered a hut and lite the candles. Nothing much happened that he was interested in anyway as he waited for an open moment. Seeing everyone turning in for the night and Sesshoumaru's mother leaving for parts unknown he moved closer to the hut. Perching on top of the neighboring hut he saw the group working feverishly to save Kagome.

When it seemed as if Sesshoumaru's mother wouldn't be returning he blocked the only entrance and set fire to the hut and neighboring huts before leaping away. He stayed long enough to listen to their screams before taking off.

Unknown to him the eyes that took in his every move before they too disappeared. It was time to inform his lady of the happenings below and their lord would hear of this as well. The time was growing near, the boy Inuyasha would be punished for his actions when that time came.

Inuyasha arrived back at his small camp and took in Kikyo. She was sweating something awful and the smell of death hung around her. The only thing her could see was her heart had calm some and those soul stealer's where gone but he was still worried. That was until she opened her eyes and sat up with Sango's help.

"Worry not Inuyasha no fever will kill me"

"Kikyo," he rushes forward and buried his nose in her hair taking in her scent. She smelled the same but different. Her own smell of nightshade and power like the old her made its way through. And no longer did she smell like dirt and death but she still smelled differently.

"How do you feel?" Sango questioned.

"Better, but we should find shelter for tonight."

"Right," both Sango and Inuyasha spoke before they went about gathering their stuff. With their back turned Kikyo smirked, she had them in the palm of her hand. As they left out Inuyasha carrying Kikyo as she fell back into sleep.

Across the lands Lady Mother bathe Rin as she talked to her in soothing voice telling her about her religion and the goddess she worshiped.

"Tonight is winters first day young one and a most powerful night. We must hurry if we are to save your mother."

"The night of winters first day is when youkai kind was created right?"

"Yes my young one. We purify this night to worship at her feet to grant us her blessing this night."

"Do you really think she will save mama?"

"Have no doubt in your mind young one."

"Okay but why wasn't Shippo allowed to come? He would not have told anyone."

"This worship is for females only little one. How you not noticed only females in this place?"

"Sorry," she blushed. "I didn't notice"

"Be at ease young one and know all will be well. Come now we ready ourselves for the ceremony."

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