Chapter Eight- Caught in the Act

"I-I never said I loved you Sesshoumaru-…" Kagome looked down. She didn't know what to say to him, he loved her yet he had made no action that said so.

"Yes you did. Two years ago after you defeated Yuuichi-…"

"I am different now!" Kagome twirled around to face him. Her violet eyes blared with frustration. "I know better than to put myself through that again. The hate, the disrespect that you showed me, Sesshoumaru I will not be something you can use!" her aura had flared but she still kept it under control. Her voice shook with anger. "I am thankful to you Sesshoumaru. Thank you for saving me and for putting off the conference so that you could look for me and because of my honour I will accept and be your mate once more. But only until the Royals take their leave, after that you must promise to let me go, release me from my payment and your heart."

The words hurt, but he knew she meant it. "What if this Sesshoumaru can't make that promise Kagome." Her name sounded almost too sweet on his tongue. The need to take her into his arms was heavy and persistent.

"Then…-then Kyouko and I must take our leave immediately." Kagome turned around, again facing the land that was once to be called hers.

"Do not leave Kagome, it's just this Sesshoumaru can't promise that his heart will let you be released." without thinking he scooped her up in his arms and held her tightly. Everything seemed so right at that moment, everything but one. She wasn't his and she no longer wanted to be with him for the rest of her life.

"What do I have to do to convince the nobles?" Kagome blushed at the thought of what Gakuto had pointed out. 'Please don't say my virginity, please!'

The thought had crossed his mind time and time again, but he knew she wasn't ready. She was nervous around him already and he really didn't want to make it worse than it already was. "Act as if you're actually glad to see me again. Tell them that you needed to return to your kingdom for the time because you needed to take care of business concerning your newest set of allies and you weren't able to contact me for a long while." The request was so simple Kagome hugged him. She knew that it wasn't what he was going to say, but he has thought of her just like he always had. 'But this time I am ready, and falling in love with him isn't going to happen again.'

The moment was almost too sweet, slowly she raised her head and stared into his golden eyes. So full of love and power, dignity and honour that Kagome was lost in them. Slowly their eyes closed at the weighted feeling that came over their eyelids, their lips touched for a split moment and Kagome jerked back.

"I am sorry Kagome." Sesshoumaru was the one to apologize, but Kagome didn't look angry she jumped at him and covered him in kisses that were full of passion and longing. Both bottled up for the longest two years of her life.

"I won't hear those words leave your lips again mister. They don't belong there." Kagome smiled and kissed him once more on the lips so gently that he wasn't even sure it was happening.

Inuyasha kicked open the door and stared at his brother kissing another woman. "That's a great way to win Kagome's affection back brother. Kissing random whores again are we?"

Kagome broke the kiss and stared at the man she once loved. "You have no reason to be here in lady Kagome's room!"

"You're the one to talk, at least I know the girl-…"

"Inuyasha shut up before she cuts off the tool that you have." Sesshoumaru barked lowly, the power in Kagome's eyes was started to flare.

"What's the matter whore, weren't able to get any action on your previous youki." Inuyasha's mouth kept blabbering away.

"You better watch your step Inuyasha Taisho! At least I don't sleep with people who attempt to kill the lady of this castle."

"What!" Inuyasha gawked awkwardly at the strange yet familiar woman.

"What are you talking about!" Sesshoumaru snapped at Kagome hoping she wasn't lying.

"When I walked into the room, trying to ask him to come to dinner I found him with the demoness Kyo trying to dress herself as quick as she could, I threatened to kill her, but she seems to ignore me." Kagome told the truth, eyes square on Inuyasha.

"You lying wench!" Inuyasha sped towards Kagome, only to have her dodge his attack and laugh. He lunged forward again, stopped by Sesshoumaru.

"Oh Sesshoumaru let me have a little bit of fun." Kagome mocked receiving a smirk from Sesshoumaru and he let Inuyasha take after his mate again. Kagome dodged behind him again and brew her katana that had been placed again at the inside of her thigh. Pressing the katana to her ex-loves throat she smiled. "Had enough Inuyasha, or do you still want proof that I have no fear of killing you."

"Kagome?" he was shocked surprised and delighted that she was feeling better. "Kagome your alright now!" he embraced her, but she flared her miko powers, pushing him back without hurting him.

"If I wanted to be touched by you I would have marked myself as a whore just as Kyo did." Kagome snapped. 'Or is that what he already thinks of me as. A whore.' "I'm going to take a walk in the gardens, Inuyasha tell Kyouko to meet me there."

"I'm not your servant!"

"But you will do as I say and you will do it now!" Kagome barked, her anger flared and Inuyasha stumble back.

"Alright, gosh what's your problem?" Inuyasha moved towards the door, only being able to hear the words 'you are'.

The doors slammed shut while Kagome stood and fumed at the idiotic Hanyou. "Excuse me my lord." Kagome bowed her head, not looking at Sesshoumaru. Kagome turned around and walked into the bathing quarters.

With the doors shut Kagome didn't bother to lock it. 'Kissing random whores again…What's the matter whore, weren't able to get any action on your previous youki.' The words were stuck in Kagome's head. It was exactly right, she had loved Inuyasha, but Inuyasha thought of her only as a replacement and nothing else.

Kagome didn't get undress and go into the water. She walked over to a small corner with a bench along side the wall. Her hand fell onto the steamed wood, sitting on in she found it was humid. Shaking her head she slipped out of her cloths, taking in the warmth for her own.

Lying on the bench was comforting and warm. Her body was totally relaxed. Her power slipped out of her body and the room was enchanted with a babyish blue.

[Kag's dream

Kagome sat on a rock, staring into the night as another star flew into the abyss. Looking on the ground she could see Kyouko resting beside the tree where she had left him. She couldn't sleep. There was no way that she would be able to rest when everything around her was restless. Her powers had grown like that. She could feel the earth when it was uneasy, she could hear the animals when nature was fighting against itself, but tonight not even the crickets made a sound. The air was heavy with tension, like the world was going to end any second and you were just waiting for your last breath.

"Kagome" the words were whispered across the land. Shivers ran up and down Kagome's neck and spine. "K-a-g-o-m-e" the voice said, slower this time.

"What do you want?" Kagome responded in a whisper of her own. She didn't want to wake Kyouko with her voice. Breathing was getting harder as Kagome's breath became shorter and quickly.

"Come with me Kagome." The words whispered again. Hesitation crossed her mind over and over her conscious telling her not to go, but she had to, she was forced to, her body moved without permission.

"Where are we going?" Kagome said, quietly frantic at the force.

"Back to the ground." Kagome missed the meaning but her body still moved. In the shadows she focused on a face, his face looked pale, with a blue tinge. Then it moved towards her in a flash, it's screaming voice echoing through her mind. "I'll kill them all!"

[End of Kagome's dream

Kagome bolted upright screaming. The face still haunting her, realizing she was no longer lying on the bench, but in the water of the bath, Kagome started to thrash, feeling a hand holding her head down. Fear set off her miko powers to the maximum, flashing the room in a bluish power to a bright gold light. A scream came from her mouth though Kagome didn't know what she said. Someone's body hammered into the doors of the bathroom. Kagome could hear the person smashing around in pain and terror, her mind becoming very aware of everything. The heat of the water around her, the strength of the body that held her down, everything spoke to her with hatred, the sound of dying screams echoed into her mind. The world felt like it moved into slow motion. Forcing her eyes open, she calmed herself. Whoever was holding her was feeding off the power she was giving off, she closed off her powers and her mind. The feeling wore off and Kagome fell limp into the water, naked and chilled, falling into a deathly sleep at the sound of someone entering the water at extreme speed.

[Sesshoumaru

Sesshoumaru laid her on his bed, her body still bare and shivering though her body was sweating like crazy. He could barely hear her heart beat and her breath came and went slowly. The feeling of death was mentioned in every heartbeat, but he couldn't leave her. His body had endured several minor burn marks from her intense miko powers, but only one major one that was on the left side of his shoulder. The same place that he broke through the door with.

More shivers coursed through her body as Sesshoumaru thought of the eventful day she had been through. Ever since she came to the castle again everything was going wrong, absolutely everything…

[Kagome's dream

Kagome cried as she found it hard to breathe. In the lake of mirrors everything was dull and dark, nothing like she remembered it. "Gakuto!" Kagome cried, her voice answering her in the quietness. "Please help me." She said, her voice faltering. She could hear her teeth chattering at the intense chill that traveled in her peaceful thoughts.

"And you didn't think I would find this place. You are a fool Kagome, now come on lets be reasonable just leave Sesshoumaru and come with me, he can do nothing for you anymore here." The voice made her stomach turn vilely.

"I love Sesshoumaru." Kagome spoke in defense. Fear gripped her. She could feel it wrapping around her body tightly.

"You don't love him, you just like the power that being with him gives you. You didn't love anyone. Yyou're a monster waiting for the right time to strike." The slick voice mumbled into her ear as her body was bound.

"Your wrong!" Kagome said in horror.

"No you're wrong. Kagome together we can search for power. We can be together and share each other's power and the world can be at our feet."

"I don't want your power, I want my friends back!" Kagome shook her head, thrashing about. 'Gakuto, where are you Gakuto, why did you leave me?'

[End of Kagome's dream

'I love Sesshoumaru' she said those words so freely, like she was dying. What did she mean by losing her friends, this isn't right? This so isn't right she shouldn't be in harm's way. 'I love you Kagome, I won't let you die, I will find out who is doing this to you.'