Chapter 14

My passing before yours

Sesshomaru sat with his back against a tree, watching as they all did there share preparing a fire and catching up. Kagome seemed happy; seemed. Sesshomaru could see in her eyes a hidden pain and confusion, and it was angering him.

"Sesshomaru!" Kagome called to him, as the sun began to set and their fire was set up. "Sit over here with us!" she motioned for him to sit beside her. She watched as he shook his head, and looked off into the distance.

Kagome skipped over to him, and leaned down beside him. "Oh come on, we don't bite." She pushed him lightly on his shoulder and he looked up from the ground and met her eyes.

"I'd rather sit here." He said simply, gazing into her eyes.

"Okay," she sighed. "If that's how it is; Mr. I'm-too-good-cause-I'm-lord-of-the-western-land." She giggled as he stood up in response and walked over with her to sit around the fire, but a little off to the side.

Sango leaned over to Kagome and smirked, "I see you and Sesshomaru have a little thing for each other?"

Kagome blushed, "I-It's not like that."

"Oh?" Sango leaned back a little, smiling. "How'd you get someone so cold to loosen up?"

The two of them laughed, as everyone else chatted, and Inuyasha came from the forest looking better than he did… earlier. Kagome looked up at him concerned, and he just smiled back.

"Just where have you been?" Kagome groaned.

"Around. It's not like I was running off places." He responded, approaching the group of friends.

"Inuyasha!" she yelled, "SIT BOY!" She crossed her arms, as he landed face first into the ground; then she moved closer to Sesshomaru.

"What the hell did I do?!" he yelled, after he got up.

"You could've told us where you're going." She argued.

"I told you not to worry, Stupid!" he snapped back, and crossed his arms as well, sitting down in front of the fire, stealing the fish Shippo had, soon creating another argument.

Miroku looked up, for he'd been silent the whole time, thinking about strategy. "So, how are we going to defeat Naraku?" he asked, inspecting his hand which still did not have the wind tunnel.

Kagome looked at his hand questionably, for her mind was still indeed clouded by things she couldn't remember, and false memories she couldn't define. "I no longer have my wind tunnel, so I can't be of much help…"

Kagome realized then, a little more about her friend, Miroku. More memories that spiked every moment she was with these people, and more false memories attempting to back it up. She didn't know which to believe. It confused her greatly.

"Sesshomaru." She yawned, lying on his lap. "I'm tired."

Inuyasha just glared daggers at Sesshomaru and clenched his fists, "Careful, Kagome. He'll rip you to shreds if you do things like that!"

Kagome just laughed, curling up against him. Sesshomaru stiffened, realizing his half brother would be ranting about this later. He attempted to pull away from her, but she just wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

Sango yawned as it got darker, and told Kagome it's best that they rest for now, and discuss the matters of Naraku in the morning. Kagome nodded, but was upset; because she remembered how Sesshomaru never laid with her the entire night. He always went off to a tree or something; especially with people around.

Inuyasha was just full of anger; he didn't want Sesshomaru anywhere near Kagome. It pissed him off, why was Kagome nice at all to the bastard? He didn't quite understand why Sesshomaru would even allow the slightest touch from a human.

"Goodnight…" Kagome yawned, falling asleep on Sesshomaru's lap, which made him more uncomfortable with other people around, even if they were going to sleep.

"Goodnight." Everyone but Sesshomaru repeated, lying down. Once everyone had fallen asleep, Sesshomaru whispered in her ear,

"Goodnight." He tangled his fingers through her hair.

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"Kanna," Naraku called; waiting for her to enter. "I need to see inside your mirror." He smirked.

Kanna nodded; as she held up her mirror. "The Miko?" she asked.

"Yes." Naraku leaned in, to see what there was to see.

He saw Kagome; fast asleep, Sesshomaru's fingers in her hair. He saw everyone else fast asleep, besides Sesshomaru. It seemed they had found their friends, which was a slight problem. But he wouldn't have much trouble defeating them; no. It wouldn't be hard, he supposed.

"Kanna; I do not need your mirror for a while. I will give her more time. The longer she stays; the more breaking. I haven't torn her enough to completely rebuild her." He smiled. "Although she may be remembering things little by little; she still hangs onto that jewel shard I had given her." He thought for a moment, and continued. "I will surely erase her memory as often as I please, but I need something." He paused, "Something worthy of breaking her down completely, something to completely crush her soul." He went deep into thought, smiling that horrid smile as he did so. Things were going to get a lot more interesting, and he couldn't wait. It was like a show.

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"Kagome." A voice called, within the black. She looked around, frightened, but determined to find out what was happening around her. "Kagome run! He's going to attack you!" the voice yelled, it was Inuyasha. He leapt from the shadows, in front of her in a defensive stance. She became confused, wondering just what in the hell was going on. She noticed she was flooding with tears, and felt numb. As if the world itself had fallen. She peeked around Inuyasha to see him; to see Sesshomaru. He looked like somebody had seriously pissed him off, because the demon inside of him was roaring for an exit, to take something. "He's going to try to hurt you, run! He won't be able to control himself when he's this pissed!" Inuyasha yelled, preparing to attack.

Kagome woke up, without screaming. She couldn't scream, for she had waked screaming so many times before it was becoming a routine. She put her hands over her mouth, to avoid letting anyone around her hear the sobbing. It seemed that the sun was only just rising, and nobody else was awake.

"Kagome," Sesshomaru called softly from behind her. He had gone off again when she fell asleep on his lap. "What is it you are crying for." He demanded to know.

"A… Dream," she paused remembering it completely. "I get nightmares all the time, don't worry."

"I wasn't worrying I was merely wondering." He said, hiding his concern.

Kagome giggled, as moody as she was all the time she was easily swinging from depression to happiness, especially when it came to being around Sesshomaru. He calmed her within an instant.

"What's so funny?" he asked, unaware that she was laughing at his lie of concern.

"Nothing, I just think it's cute that you're concerned for me." She smiled, standing up. Then she noticed how early it was. The sun was just barely rising; she sighed.

"You should go back to sleep; it is very early." He insisted, knowing that they would be meeting up with Naraku or at the very least one of his incarnations soon.

Kagome groaned; not wanting to go back to sleep. There was so much to figure out, so many clouds to remove from her mind. To find out which memories were false; and which were real. To find out who was really ally, and who was enemy. It was all so confusing for her; to be under control with a jewel shard. Perhaps she would be forced to attack her allies again. Or were they her allies? Nothing made sense to her. But she just decided she would go along with everything that felt right.

"Sesshomaru," Kagome became serious, feeling the need to speak with him. "Could we talk?" she watched as he raised an eyebrow. "In private, I need to speak to you." Her tone grew more serious. She wanted to ask him about the clouds that covered her mind, like thick fog on a road, you don't know where you're driving, but you're certainly able to crash at any time.

He nodded; turning to the forest. They walked for quite some time until Kagome stopped, gathering up what she would say. "I'm confused."

"About?" he asked; looking puzzled about why the miko would have brought him out for the simplest of conversations.

"My mind is clouded; I cannot tell enemy from ally. A voice calls for me to cause destruction, someone giving me false memory." She said; gazing into his eyes. Just being with him, everything became alright. But she still had fear of saying something wrong.

Sesshomaru was puzzled for a moment; unable to say anything, or even remotely think of a response. "Naraku no doubt…" the words must have slipped out of his mouth, for Kagome's eyes widened.

"Naraku?" she repeated dumbly. "The voice says he is my Master. Aren't I to obey master?" Yes. The voice clouded her mind.

"No!" Sesshomaru grabbed her by her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Do not listen to the voice." He demanded her attention, and not to drift off as the voice called to her. Damn that Naraku. He became full of rage; trying his best to control himself.

Kagome bit her lip, pulling at his hand. "You're hurting me!" She calmed down after he had released her; soon followed by him pulling her into an embrace. She felt like she was melting there in her arms; and then the voice struck her again. You love him. She listened to the voice, as the part of her memory that loved and knew Sesshomaru unclouded; But. She almost sighed to hear the word 'but' after hearing that she loved him. Your lifetime will be like a month to him; or possibly a week. Her eyes widened, and she almost burst into a fit of tears.

"Kagome," Sesshomaru said softly, lifting her face with his finger, still embracing her. "What is it that makes you sad so suddenly?" he asked, never letting her leave the embrace that he wanted to last forever.

"What will you do," she paused, turning into a whisper. "When I pass; far earlier than you."

Sesshomaru was rendered speechless. He felt sadness and anger. He had no idea what to say; he was shocked. Never had he thought of the lifespan of hers that was so much shorter than his. Her life would end to him as if it were a month.

Kagome waited; waited for a response. She wanted to know, what he would do when she was gone. Her concentration on her thoughts was broken when he spoke finally; in that caring tone.

"I will not let you pass," he paused. "I will find some way…" he drifted off, still embracing her. "I will not let you pass so much sooner than myself. If it comes to that; I will somehow end myself."

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OKAY, IM GOING TO CALGARY. ENOUGH CLOWNS D;

REVIEWS 3 OR I WONT WRITE, PSHA. ;D