Chapter 2: Haunting Engagements

Warning: This chapter contains mature subject material only intended for mature viewers.

Gentle flashes of light blazed before Kagome's closed eyes, stirring the young priestess from a hazy slumber. She felt cold and disorientated, flashing memories of the battle repeated in a gory cycle. The eerie glint of the moonlight off pools of blood, the over powering stench of disintegrating flesh and bone, the piercing screams and growls of the violent youkai engaged in a clash for survival. She silently begged them to stop, she concentrated on the gentle pulse of her powers, and even after the battle, it slithered beneath her skin waiting to be unleashed. More flashing lights grazed her closed lids, breaking the torrent of violent images. She slowly opened her eyes and was momentarily blinded.

She raised her arm to block the light, as her eyes adjusted she slowly dropped her shaking arm. She gasped at the sight before her; a golden light surrounded her, her body gently remained suspended within the vast night sky. It enveloped her in a gentle embrace, highlighting her figure against the dark horizon carrying her through never ending clusters of vibrant stars. Each star she passed broke into a glimmering dust that settled against her smooth skin, tingling and rejuvenating her sore muscles. It seemed to be flowing something, turning her gaze forward she noticed a spark within the distance. Her heart began to race, the same feeling she had before when she was at the well settled within her, Urgency, desperation, isolation, and most of all fear. The light took shape; it was an amber star falling farther and farther away from her. It illuminated the entire sky; each of its rays that graced her skin sent a pleasurable tremble through her. The thoughts of battle earlier slowly left her as an ache began to build in her chest, that beautiful star raced farther from her, she could not understand the need to coursing through her veins, but she wanted to be alongside it. Closer and closer she seemed to come, there was an urgent desire to capture it, to hold it tightly against her chest. The stifling loneliness of the void started to creep along the edges of her conscience; it seemed to gain speed slowly leaving her behind. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but she cried out.

"Please wait! Don't leave me behind!"

The golden light surrounding her grew, she seemed to gain more speed as she now neared the fleeing nova. stretching her arm out the tips of her fingers grazed the traveling star, and then suddenly it was within her trembling grasp. Growing larger and larger the star began to form the silhouette of a man, deep within her heart as it formed she recognized the broad shoulders, the dignified stance, and above all the wickedly enchanting amber eyes. The figure held her gently, as she tightly grabbed the newly forming folds of his kimono, unwilling to let the specter flee once again. Warmth, desire, happiness, comfort all radiated through her. The form held her tighter as a gentle familiar voice began to ring in her ears.

"Kagggome… Kagome.. kagome …"

Sesshomaru tightened his hold on his half brothers wench, the adrenaline of his battle earlier had not left him. His primal instincts screamed at him to hunt down the remainder of his challengers, to claw, rip their beating hearts out, and bask in the shower of their blood, to dominate his enemies, to soak his skin with their entrails and to his growing aggravation, to ravage the withering onna in his grasp.

The vile ningen clung to him, her power pulsating beneath his fingertips, searing him in a sinfully pleasurable way. His youkai rose to the surface, battling against the rising power she emitted. Her silken strands taunted him, sliding sensuously across the bare skin of his wrist. He nearly lost control when she softy whimpered, tightening her hold upon his chest, pressing her supple breasts closer to him. His pupils dilated as he caught the tantalizing scent of her arousal, it seemed to encompass her unconscious form leaving him no room to evade the musky delicacy.

He narrowed his sight to the small drop of sweat that traveled down the milky length of her neck, slowly creeping under the folds of her kimono. His beast howled against his taunt chains, demanding him to sink his fangs within her collar, to claim her as his prize. His head snapped in the direction of the village, breaking his erotic view of the miko, his nostrils flared against the pressing wind. He slowly began to calm the raging beast within, as the disgusting sent of his half-breed brother evaded his senses. He growled out in rage at the treasonous thoughts his beast compelled upon him, disgusted that he would be tempted by a mere human woman.

The stench of his brother grew stronger as he neared the old well outside his brother's village. The scent of the slayer, monk and fox kit faintly floated to his senses. Slowly as he began his decent into the clearing, he wrapped Kagome within his mokomoko, shielding her from their prying eyes. Inuyasha unsheathed his sword as his companions braced themselves for his arrival. His beast purred against mind.

"Destroy the Half-Breed… cleave his neck in two…"

"Hn. In all due time."

As soon as his foot touched the lush grass of the clearing, the group ran forward to intercept him.

"SESSHOMARU, what the fuck are you doing here? Are you here to take tessaiga?" Inuyasha raised his sword, he then noticing the blood on Sesshomaru's clothing.

Sesshomaru stood still, his face impassive as he located the slayer, ignoring Inuyasha's question he walked toward the shaking woman. Miroku noticing the change in Sesshomaru's attention grasped the beads on his Kazaana, he moved in front of Sango shielding her from his steely gaze.

Growling lowly, crimson began to bleed into Sesshomaru's eyes.

"You monk will remove yourself, I wish to unburden myself of this witch." Miroku looked at Sesshomaru in confusion.

"What the hell are you talking about Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha yelled out, he had a bad feeling settling within his chest, he had returned to find that Kagome's scent was not in the village. He confronted Miroku inside Kaede's hut, he insisted that she was alright waiting for his return at the bone eaters well. They all had been traveling to get her when he scented Sesshomaru in the wind. Coming to the well and finding that Kagome was waiting for him there chilled him to the bone. She may have gone back to her time but all he could scent was the smell of her tears and the lavender scent of her miko powers.

"You imbecile, use the demon noise you were unfortunately graced with."

"What is he talking about Inuyasha?" Sango spoke up from behind Miroku. At that moment, the wind slid across the clearing hitting Inuyasha with a scent he could never forget. He tightened the hold on tessaiga, stepping toward his brother as he bellowed out.

"You Fucking bastard! YOU FUCKING BASTARD, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO KAGOME!"

Sesshomaru lightly smirked at his brother's ire, removing his mokomoko he revealed the "witch" in which he spoke of. The miko slumbered peacefully within his grasp, clinging desperately to his kimono. Sango and Miroku gasped in shock, Shippo called out running up to hold the bottom of Miroku's robes.

"Mama!"

"Kagome!"

"Slayer, come and take the miko."

"Inuyasha just stay there I will get Kagome, okay?"

"Just get her out of that bastards arms Sango."

Slowly walking up to Sesshomaru she reached her trembling arms out to take Kagome from his grasp, he shocked her by gently placing her within her hold. Sango shivered once she had Kagome in her arms, she was lightly glowing the faint pink of her Miko powers, it ticked the small amount of her bare skin that touched her. Bowing slightly Sango began to back away from the intimidating demon lord, before she back away to far Sesshomaru reached out and took Kagome's hand. He gently pried her clenched fingers away from her palm before dropping the slight purple shards into her hands.

"Wait, these vile things are hers." The group looked on, confusing flowing through each as they watched five Shikon Shards fall from his hand, instantly purifying once they touched Kagome.

"I will return once she awakens. There are answers I seek. "

Without giving them time to respond Sesshomaru vanished into the dark forest. Inuyasha's sword fell to the ground as he stared at Kagome, she did not look hurt but small splotches of dried blood on her kimono caused his heart to clench. Sheathing his sword, he walked over to Sango and took Kagome from her arms. He was dying inside, he had left her in what he assumed was a safe place and had almost lost her without ever knowing.

"Common lets get her back to Kaede's and figure out what the hell happened. " not waiting for the others Inuyasha raced back to the old village. The other three looked on as the flash of red and Ebony disappeared. Miroku bent to pick up shippo, cradling the trembling child against his chest; Sango came to his side and turned her hazel gaze onto his blue.

"You couldn't know this was going to happen."

"It won't matter to him Sango, Inuyasha will seek retribution if anything has happened to her."

"Lets hurry back, Kaede will know what to do."

That shining figure full of warmth and gentle arms had instantly withered away in her grasp leaving her in never ending darkness. Her skin began to cool as the dead space of the void surrounded her; the once star light sky vanished as the memories started once more. This time it all began with the unbearable clawing at her soul, pressing both hands against her chest Kagome cried out, the haunting new amber gaze of Inuyasha filled her mind. His words ringing in her ears, flashes of his face came in and out. His rugged boyish smile falling away into a frown, as he turned his somber gaze unto her, his adorable ears rested low against his head.

"Kagome she needs me, Kikyou is calling me."

New tears streamed as the pain intensified.

"Please Inuyasha don't go, don't die.. don't leave me behind again!"

This time a new image flash before her eyes, Inuyasha laying in a pool of his own blood, his amber eyes slowly beginning to gray as his life force slipped away. The haunting gaze of her golem counterpart connected to her own, a sickening smile grazed her undead lips as she ripped out the arrow protruding from Inuyasha's chest and notched its bloody tip in her direction. Laughing lightly, her sickly midnight hair swirled around her body as she released her poisonous arrow aimed for her heart.

All she knew was that she was screaming, her body on fire as her soul burned within her.

"Kagoome… Kaggooommmee…. KAGOME WAKE UP!"

The familiar voice returned but this time with a vengeance, she felt arms embrace her shaking her from her dream.

Suddenly rising quickly Kagome gasped for air, clawing at the arms that embraced her. Her eyes slowly adjusting to the dim fire light of Kaede's hut. Looking up her blue eyes connected with gold. The tears of her dream began anew, blurring her vision. Coughing she clung tightly to Inuyasha as the dream faded from her mind.

"You came back."

"Keh. You know I will always come back."

She trembled within his embrace, the vivid memory of his death haunting her still , ignoring his words she barely whispered out what truly worried her.

"I never know when she will choose to take you from me."

Horrified that Kagome was thinking that about him, he pulled her close. His heart beating fiercely in his chest, he took a deep inhale of her lavender scent. He had returned to Kaede's hut, nearly breaking the entrance in his haste to find the old miko. He had gently laid Kagome down on the bedding before turning to Kaede and demanding she find out what was wrong. As soon as the old miko touched Kagome she began to cry, and then the screaming started. He watched as she looked like she was burning alive, her powers fluctuating as she clawed at her chest dropping the shards into the folds of the sheets. He had rushed to her side, holding her arms down as her powers singed his palms; pulling her into his embrace, he slowly felt her calm and her powers began to recede.

"Kagome you don't have to tell me now, but I need to know what happened between you and Sesshomaru."

She slowly raised her hands to wipe away her tears; she felt a small amount of comfort in his arms. Breathing out slowly she tried to calm her nerves, she was still so disorientated, she ached tremendously, and the recent flare of her powers washed away the healing feeling she had within her dreamscape. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she turned away from his gaze.

"It's alright Inuyasha I'll tell you now."

I should be updating this every week or so. Sorry for the cliffhanger :). Again rate and review and let me know what you think. The Next chapter will be out by the end of the week. ~Lauree