Chapter 17

Sesshomaru jumped swiftly out of the well with Kagome in his arms, landing on the ground beside the well. Kagome in hailed the sweet air deeply, it was much cleaner here then in the future. She could only imagine how horrible her time was for Sesshomaru, being a Youkai and all. As they walked, Kagome slowed her best not to be noticed, and jumped on his back, startling him.

"What are you doing, miko?" he asked, startled, almost losing balance.

She giggled, "Give me a ride back, I like the wind in my hair."

Sesshomaru nodded once and took off in one swift movement. Kagome squinted her eyes, making sure not to get anything in them at the speed they were going. She had the biggest smile across her face, she loved it. Sesshomaru set her down just a little ways from where the others were, he didn't want Inuyasha to smell her all over him like that. So they'd walk from that point on.

Kagome frowned. "Why'd you set me down?"

"That idiotic half-breed would go on a tangent if he were to see us, or smell us that close to each other." he stated, beginning to walk. Kagome walked closely behind him, and sighed. She wanted him to not care about what other people think; to not be sticking to his 'lord of the western land' attitude. It saddened her greatly that he refused to be so close to her around others.

Sesshomaru stopped, Kagome bumping into him; snapping out of the deep thought she was in. She was just about to ask what, but they had arrived back to Inuyasha and the others.

"Welcome back, that was pretty fast." Sango laughed. "I'm surprised Sesshomaru had the patience."

"He managed to get through the well, it's puzzling." Kagome responded. Everyone but Sango's expression changed.

Inuyasha scrunched his nose and looked at Kagome with an upset expression. "He can go through the well?"

Kagome nodded. "It's weird, but that doesn't matter."

"Why would he go through, anyways?" Inuyasha carried out his attempt to find out.

"The miko was merely taking her sweet time, and I wished to stand around no longer." Sesshomaru stated, glancing quickly over to Kagome and back to Inuyasha.

"Yeah, whatever." Inuyasha mumbled, almost inaudible.

Sesshomaru went and sat down by a tree as everyone else went to gather firewood, noticing the sun was going down. He watched as each of them worked to make a fire and get food; but most of all he watched Kagome; analyzed every movement she made. The way she laughed when Shippo dropped the small pieces of wood he was given to carry. Her eyes, so full of life as her friends surrounded her. But there was something, deep. Deep within her eyes, was pain. The more he tried to go deeper, he found more pain. Pain that she set aside, tried to completely hide; wash away, forget. It somehow gave him a feeling in his chest that he wasn't so used to. He felt what she felt, deep behind the happy outer core. He felt her pain, it sliced through his very being as if he were completely weak, as if death were nearing. Her pain must have been unimaginable. He couldn't stand it.

As the sun began to disappear, he could no longer bare it. He stood up gracefully, and swiftly moved toward Kagome. Inuyasha stepped in front of him, a protective look on his face. It pained Sesshomaru once again, which angered him. He was in pain this time because he was being basically told 'you're not allowed to see her'.

Kagome noticed the two staring at each other, she immediately knew that Inuyasha was preventing him from speaking to her. So she walked up behind Inuyasha, and spoke softly. "Sesshomaru, could you help me get more fish from a nearby lake, Shippo's hungry, and I'm sure Inuyasha has done enough of eating Shippo's food."

Inuyasha laughed aloud, "You think this cold hearted idiot is going to help you with something as simple as that?" he joked, stepping aside.

"It is fine, I suppose I will guide you miko. I hardly believe Inuyasha's wench is capable of such things…" he paused, looking into Kagome's eyes. That sparkle of pain, glittering only for a moment. She knew he didn't mean that, right? He simply could not show affection toward a human in front of this half-breed, or anyone else for that matter.

"Alright, let's go." Kagome smiled, sending the pain in her eyes to the deepest corners.

They walked for quite some time, until they came to a stream. Kagome kicked off her shoes and socks, dipping her feet into the water.

"Kagome." Sesshomaru said softly.

"Yes, Sesshomaru?" she asked happily, but apparently not enough to fool him at this point.

"Tell me what pains you so." he demanded.

"What're you talking about?" she laughed.

"Please." he whispered, almost inaudible. He had moved to her side, wrapped his arms around her, so she could just barely hear him; but oh yes, she heard him say it. Please.

Kagome looked into his eyes, and saw pain. The pain from her, had appeared to have effected him. He really loved her, she was glad. "I…" she started, wrapping her arms around him as he had her. She leaned her head on his chest, and continued. "I want you to stop being so full of your lord of the western land pride, and accept how we feel for each other; even if that means to hold me in front of others." she cut into a whisper on the last part, she knew how he didn't want Inuyasha yelling at him for something so senseless. He had claimed the girl to be hers once, even though he hadn't taken her. That sickened Sesshomaru.

"Is that all?" he asked. "Truly that isn't all that must be paining you."

"Everything…" she paused. "He raped me. Don't you think I'm upset?"

"I understand, but is it enough to make your eyes so lifeless?" he became puzzled.

"Sesshomaru, it's because I wanted you to be the only one inside of me." she flushed a deep red, feeling his arms tighten around her. He told himself before, he wouldn't do that to her until they were out of this mess.

"Hn." was all he could manage, not wanting to appear speechless. They stood for a moment, in each others arms. Sesshomaru was drowning himself in her sweet scent. He hardly noticed someone approaching.

"Sesshomaru, let go of her you bastard!" Inuyasha yelled, obviously taking it the wrong way; or trying not to believe what he saw. He immediately unsheathed his Tessaiga (If I spelled it wrong, sorry guys.) and ran at them.

Sesshomaru immediately released one hand from Kagome, and unsheathed his sword. Their swords clashed together, and Sesshomaru's voice rose. "You pathetic half-breed, are you intending to harm us both? Think about your precious miko…" he paused. "Think about Kagome before your intent to destroy me."

Inuyasha stared blankly for a moment. "Kagome. You called her Kagome. You aren't even her friend!" he growled, sheathing his Tessaiga.

Kagome wrapped her arms tightly around Sesshomaru, afraid to lose the feel of his warmth, afraid to be taken from his warmth by Inuyasha.

"Kagome, what the hell are you doing?" Inuyasha demanded, trying to rip her from his damn half-brother.

Sesshomaru growled defensively. A way a Youkai would do as intent to protect his mate. He pulled Kagome from himself, and carefully lead her behind him.

"Attack me, half-breed." he demanded.

Inuyasha was first off, in denial. He heard Sesshomaru's growl, that defensive 'she's mine' growl. He immediately unsheathed his Tessaiga and attacked his brother out of disbelief and anger. On such short time, how could so much happen between such a cold hearted bastard and Kagome? Didn't Kagome love him?

"You're utterly weak." Sesshomaru stated, only requiring to hold his sword with one hand. "You're hurting Kagome's feelings by fighting me, you know." he stated, easily blocking Inuyasha's attacks.

"You bastard…" Inuyasha drifted off, his gaze turning to Kagome. His eyes looked pained, but Kagome couldn't help who she loved. Inuyasha was stuck between her and Kikyo, but Sesshomaru truly loved her back, and no one else. "I'm sorry." Kagome inhaled deeply, after a moment she finally exhaled. "I love Sesshomaru, not you Inuyasha."

The area filled with silence. The stars were rising, and the trees had become still. Not even the sounds of nearby birds remained. Inuyasha couldn't stay in disbelief any longer, the signs had came and he was too selfish to believe it. But after those painful words, he was well aware that Kagome no longer loved him, but his half-brother. It filled him with unwanted rage.

Sesshomaru was in just the same amount of shock as Inuyasha. She said it aloud, to Inuyasha. And the moment she had said it, her friends had came into the distance. They heard what she said, and they all looked blankly at the scene in front of them. Sesshomaru defensive for Kagome, Inuyasha had prepared to attack Sesshomaru once again, and Kagome helplessly had admitted her love for Inuyasha's half brother. Sango was the only one not surprised. She knew it from the beginning, she somehow felt that there was more to Sesshomaru appearing before them over the times than just to test his half brother, or kill him. He was interested in Kagome all that time, but completely unaware of it. He had convinced himself that he was to kill the half-breed.

"Oh, and do you know if he loves you back?" Inuyasha finally responded, after thinking of his perfect response. He knew even if Sesshomaru did, he wouldn't say it with so many people around.

Sesshomaru thought about Kagome's pain, what caused it. He didn't want to be the cause of her pain, but the cause of her joy. The only tears he wanted her to shed were of joy. "Inuyasha. Kagome is mine, I love her. And I admit it is foolish of me to fall into fathers footsteps, but this is how it is."

Inuyasha and Kagome's draws actually dropped. Her friends in the distance, coming closer heard every word of it, and were all in disbelief. Sango was a little surprised Sesshomaru actually said any of that.

Inuyasha was rendered speechless, he had no idea what to say in response. They loved each other, he still had Kikyo but he knew someday he'd have to accept the fact that she was deceased. He ran over everything that had happened in the last ten or so minutes, and turned to his friends, sword in sheath. He ran right passed them, back to where they were camping out; and sat on the highest branch of a nearby tree.

Kagome walked up beside Sesshomaru, and went onto her tippy-toes, wrapping her arms around him as she kissed him. He immediately returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around her perfectly shaped waist. "You are beautiful." he whispered into her ear, once their kiss was broken apart for breath.

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End of that.. Well, I've been busy.

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