Twisted

Last time. Last time! Last time!!! Oh gods! The last time! The last time she could hold him without him getting flustered, the last time she would feel the heat from his body warming her while they flew, the last time she would get to fly, the last time she would be able to rest his head on his shoulder and whisper sweet little nothings in his ear. Her heart was frantic with pain.

"What's wrong, Kagome?"

His voice broke through the cycle of misery going in her mind.

"Hm? Nothing."

"You smack of worry."

Well, being told she stank wasn't exactly romantic, but it was part of his way of expression – a part she would miss. Better put: another part she would miss.

"Oh...well...I guess...I guess I'm still thinking about it."

"The premonition?"

She hated lying to him:

"Yes."

"You're worryin' bout nothing, silly. Sango and Miroku and Shippo will be fine since they're not here, and you're with me."

"I know...and, it's not that...I just...what if something happens while we're away? You're the strongest of all of us..."

"Geez, woman, we can't be in two places at the same time. Now, quit worrying. They're fine. The monk's prob'ly busy pissing Sango off."

"I know...you're right."

His ears twitched and a smirk overtook his features. Now that wasn't something he heard often.

Kagome bunched her hands into his haori, tighter, tighter, until it felt every fibre would be imprinted in her skin.

"Hey, watch it!"

She hadn't realised it would cause some discomfort to him.

"Sorry."

He gently put her down. "What's wrong?"

Her head lowered, her bangs shading her eyes. His hand touched her shoulder and she nearly jumped.

"Kagome…"

"I…I'm…"

She was pulled away before she could finish her sentence. The ground disappeared from under her feet, and dimly she could hear Inuyasha shouting for her.

Something hard dug into her back.

"You have served me well, indeed, little priestess."

Inuyasha followed, cursing his brother all the while.

"Put her down!!!"

Sesshomaru descended, Kagome in tow.

"Inuyasha, it certainly has been a while."

"Not long enough, you b-…"

"Now, now, we'll have none of that." His blade pressed on Kagome's throat. "Come now. You have come such a long journey, you might as well come in." Before them the fortress opened.

Inuyasha drew Tessaiga:

"I don't care if I kill you here, or inside."

Sesshomaru merely nicked Kagome with his sword in reply.

"Let Kagome go!"

"Hmmm…no, I don't think I will." He purred. "She is, after all, very valuable to me."

Inuyasha clenched his grip on the Tessaiga.

"I might just have to keep her. She has been a most faithful servant, haven't you, little priestess?"

Kagome swallowed hard, and willed herself not to cry.

"What?!"

"Tell me, Inuyasha, how does it feel? When you are betrayed by the woman you love...again?"

Kagome just wished she could disappear at Sesshomaru's dispassionate question. Inuyasha flinched.

"She ain't betrayed me...she had a premonition. It led to you...bad luck, s'all."

Sesshomaru smirked.

"Premonition, she told you so?" He turned to Kagome. "I admit you deserve some credit for that concept. It served you well, in the end." She bit her lip to keep herself from crying.

"You...lied?"

She couldn't answer. She couldn't.

"Oh, come now, little brother. You ought to be thanking the girl. At least one of you has a good head on their shoulders."

"What are you on about?"

"You didn't think I didn't notice, did you? Distant I may be, but I am not unobservant."

"Shut up and tell me what you want."

"Now, Inuyasha, that doesn't even make sense. How can I possibly tell you anything if I'm shutting up?"

Inuyasha reddened.

"Just say what you want from me!"

Kagome could see him falling apart even as he continued to word-spar with Sesshomaru. Her heart broke alongside his. She knew of her own innocence, of the circumstances, but the reality was she had lied to, and betrayed, Inuyasha – and hurt him irrevocably in the process.

"A promise."

"What?"

"A promise in exchange for the girl's life. What do you say?" The sense of deja-vu was making Kagome feel sick.

"Fine, anything, whatever." She didn't think she could possibly hurt anymore – his words proved her wrong. He was still thinking of her safety...despite everything that had just happened he still...Tears threatened to overwhelm her but she tried her best to keep them in check.

"Mating. You must mate the demoness I have chosen for you."

"What?"

The surprise, the slimy fingers of dread squeezing his stomach, the raw anger in his eyes – oh, how well she knew them all.

Sesshomaru tugged on her hair slightly to make his point.

"Tomorrow. She will be presented to you. You will be given an hour to make each other's acquaintance. She will be sitting behind a shoji, silent. You, and this is in no way optional, will tell her everything about you. Every single little thing. No exceptions. Before the union the two future consorts must come to each other with no secrets. I wager on her behalf she has none."

Inuyasha was seething.

"What kinda crazy idea is that?! You want me to tell a stranger...stuff...about me?"

It sounded even more ludicrous when he said it.

"That is precisely right. And I will be listening, so I suggest you don't try anything, else I snap the priestess' throat before you even reach the door."

Inuyasha opened his mouth then shut it abruptly. His ears lowered in defeat.

"Fine. I'll mate a demoness I don't know and I'll tell her all about me...just...don't kill Kagome."

If her heart broke anymore she thought she would die. On further consideration, death seemed quite welcoming to her at the present time.

"Oh, come now, Inuyasha. She will make you an acceptable mate."

He nodded mutely.

"You really ought to thank the little priestess for doing this, you know?"

Both of them cringed.

"She may have betrayed you..." He spoke slowly, letting the words drip their poison. "...but, at least she had a clear vision of the future. Clear enough to try and spare you any more pain."

"Thanks Kagome." Inuyasha mocked. "You needn't have bothered. I'm a half-breed. Pain is all I'm meant to feel."

His words cut her already bleeding heart to shreds; tears began falling despite desperate efforts to stop them.

"Now, now, Inuyasha. Do not be so harsh on the girl. After all, she was willing to give up on the man she loved to grant him a happier life."

Inuyasha froze.

"What?"

"She knew that a mating between a human and a youkai...or a hanyou..." He sneered on the last word "...could only lead to tragedy once the human died, and she was willing to sacrifice her happiness for your comfort and longevity."

Inuyasha's face was so white she thought he would faint.

"What did you say?"

"Little brother, you really must pay more attention. I said: the little priestess, for some reason entirely beyond normal logic, loves you; and to such an extent that she would willingly give everything up to ascertain your safety and happiness – even if it doesn't include her."

"You!" He seethed. "You!!!" All the blood returned to his cheeks in a mad swirl; flames sparked in his eyes. "You damn heartless bastard! You told her didn't you?! You..." He reached for the Tessaiga.

"I wouldn't do that, after all, by the time you even get to invoke your little gust of wind, she would already be dead, and we don't want that, do we?" He mocked.

Inuyasha closed his eyes in defeat.

"You had to go and tell something like that to the one human who couldn't be selfish if their life depended on it." He chuckled bitterly. "Good one, Sesshomaru. Good one." He snorted. "Are you happy now at least? Shall I give you Tessaiga on top of that? In fact, you know what, take everything else from me, too...oh, wait...I have nothing else." He shook his head trying to ignore the pungent scent of Kagome's tears. They were all just puppets in an all-too-sick play.

"I don't get it. Why don't you just kill me now? After all, that's what you've wanted since I was born. Just do it. I have nothing else left to do anyway. And if you hurry, you may still have enough time to change your blood soaked clothes before dinner."

"Come now, Inuyasha. You are being entirely too dramatic. I am merely trying to ensure your happiness in the long term. I'm sure your infatuation with this girl will fade."

He was so broken, Kagome realised, that Sesshomaru's words didn't even fluster him.

"Now, Kagome shall stay with me overnight since you must spend the time preparing for your bride tomorrow. Do not fear, she is quite pleasant-looking, and she doesn't much mind half-breeds. It is most rare. The little priestess and I shall take our leave of you presently."

"You can't take her."

"Indeed I can, and I shall. I tire of this argument, Inuyasha. You know very well any opposition may come at the cost of her life."

"But...!"

"We shall dine together..."

"I'd rather starve!" Kagome spat out; Sesshomaru continued unperturbed:

"...then we shall discuss a few matters, after which we will be retiring for the night."

"Fine, just don't do anything to her."

"Most certainly not, as long as you remain co-operative. After all, she has done so much for my little brother."

Both Kagome and Inuyasha gaped at the lack of sarcasm on the words.

"Now, little priestess, let us go to the main house where the feast is prepared. Inuyasha, your food shall be brought here. You must spend the night readying yourself. You do know what it is expected of you at the ceremony, indeed?"

He nodded blankly.

"Very well then."

The room was suddenly too dark, too big, too small and hot and humid. Inuyasha burned and shivered at the same time. He sank to his knees, digging his claws into the tatami.

Kagome...I'm so sorry.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for all the reviews! I'm so happy to know there are still some of you reading and enjoying this story. ^_^