A.N. Hey guys! Hope you enjoy the new chapter! I don't own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.
Empty sapphire irises stared into the mirror, despair gripping the miko's heart. Just a little longer... Once Naraku has been destroyed, you won't have to see him... You won't have to keep torturing yourself.
A soft tapping at the door was the only warning before the inu taiyoukai entered, golden orbs appraising her carefully. "You look to be a proper Lady tonight... Just one more thing." His claws snatched up a silver tiara, one he'd had made for her when he'd decided she would be his-His mate, his Lady, his princess from those fairy tales she'd so loved reading his otouto.
Kagome merely sat still as he placed it on her head, her eyes downcast. "No matter how long you imprison me, I'll never be yours. I do not love you Sesshomaru. I will remain by your side as your servant, never your mate." Her voice was soft, her mood dark.
His eyes narrowed at her. "You would do well to reconsider. I am your only chance Kagome. You are mine. You will remain mine. And one day, you will be my mate." With this declared, he took her by the arm and stood her in front of him, his eyes drinking up the vision of beauty she provided, thirstily. Her kimono suited her perfectly, the color of her eyes with a great white inu on the front, silver trim on the sleeves.
She turned away from the mirror, hating how he looked at her. Part of her pitied him for his lack of understanding in love, but part of her simply couldn't stand it.
Gentle claws ran along her jaw line, coming to grip her chin firmly. Gold met blue, a look of intense emotion within the golden pools. "I don't do this to harm you Kagome. You are my intended. If I did not believe myself to be more than competent to care for you, I would find you a suitable mate. You do not truly grasp what I have to offer yet." He kissed her cheek, leading her out of the room.
Crimson depths peered into beady brown eyes, looking for confirmation. "We approach her tonight, as planned."
The orange-haired man nodded in agreement, despite the lack of question. "Of course... The choice lies with her ultimately and... Can we really share her? I love her, Hiei. I have through torture, through time... If this were not the only way, I'd never dream of it."
"Hn. I will make her my mate, only to sever the bond between her and the inu. She will be yours." The words left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he knew that was how it was supposed to be. He didn't deserve her. Besides, he had no use for a mate anyway.
Kuwabara frowned a bit, knowing too well that he could not keep her to himself. Hiei would waver. But... Kagome would be with him. "Kagome has a heart big enough for both of us... As long as we don't fight."
"Well if it isn't my favorite miko!"
Kagome whirled around, sapphire meeting electric blue. "Kouga-kun... You look well." Her lips pulled into a genuine smile as he brought her hand to his lips.
Fangs skimmed her palm teasingly before he let her hand go, wary of the inu taiyoukai. He knew that she didn't love him, and that she'd never be his. But he knew that he could make her smile for him. "You look beautiful, as always. Though I think you would be better complimented by a different kimono."
Her smile faltered a bit, nodding faintly. "How have you been?" She allowed him to take her hand, walking in step beside him. She could feel Sesshomaru's gaze burning into her back, but knew he'd let her go. It would be regarded as terribly impolite for a host to deny an equal such a small thing as a walk with a servant-Despite her advanced status.
"My otou-san left things in good shape for me... The territory is fine, though Naraku's servant took down some of my men." His voice was calm and even, his claws trailing over her wrist soothingly.
A shiver ran through the miko, the old slave mark burning slightly at the other youkai's touch. "I asked you how you were." She gently pulled her hand out of his, turning to look at him as they escaped out onto the deserted courtyard.
Kouga sighed, cupping her face in his hands. "Only you Kagome, only you..." He kissed her lips lightly, looking away. "It is hard. But I will be alright."
"Tread lightly Kouga," the miko warned, backing out of his hold. "You must keep yourself in check."
He stiffened, looking at her in shock as she turned away from him. "What has he done to you? I'll kill him, Kagome, I swear it! Tell me what he did to you!" The ookami's voice had become a low snarl, his claws wrapping around her forearms and yanking her to him so that he could see her eyes. He was furious-Kagome was going cold.
"Stop it Kouga!" She jerked out of his hold, tears glimmering in her eyes. "Don't you get it? I can't let anyone outside of the Western family close! He'll kill them! He'll kill anyone who threatens his claim. I don't love him, but I must stay by his side. I won't have yours or any other's blood on my hands."
Pain glowed from within him as he looked at her. But he knew she was right. "Kagome... I would rather see you dead than dead inside... Think on it. You are a warrior... And a warrior does not accept defeat." The words were dark and left despair in his heart. But it was the truth.
"Leave her, baka Ookami."
Two pairs of eyes turned to see the dark Eastern Lord, Kuwabara beside him.
Dark brown eyes peered into Kagome's blue, worry clear. Kagome... Do not listen to him, Kagome. Never.
Shock rippled through the canine, his eyes darting between the two males and the miko. He saw something there. It pained him to know it wasn't him but... "You know where to find me." He took her hand, kissing her palm before exiting swiftly.
Kagome bit her lip, feeling awkward. "I must be getting back." She began to back away, only to be caught, quicker than the eye could see, in Hiei's arms.
"You will remain, Miko." The hybrid's voice was demanding as he moved close to capture more of her scent. He wanted her. But he would control himself.
Kuwabara stepped forward, trailing his fingers over her jaw. "Kagome... We can be together. If you become Hiei's mate."
Within the palace, Sesshomaru was now getting tense. Kouga had returned, but where was his miko? "Mukuro, where is your slave?" His voice was cold and demanding. He could not allow her to be out of sight at a time such as this.
Mukuro eyed the taiyoukai in apprehension. I hope they wrap things up soon. "I believe he is mingling with the other bound slaves." Her eyes met his, a look passing between them. They each cared very much for the ones bound to them, though in a decidedly opposite way. She saw Kazuma as her family. He saw Kagome as his.
He frowned, not liking the answer. He needed to find her. Now.
Across the room, Izayoi began whispered instructions to intercept Sesshomaru to her son.
Shock permeated Kagome's system as she looked up into her long-time love's eyes. "W-What? What on Earth are you saying?"
"Hn. You know what he is saying. Now decide. Be my mate, his wife... Or Sesshomaru's eternal slave." Hiei's tone was harsh, not coddling in the least. Part of him wished to be gentle, but he knew he could not afford it.
Kuwabara took her hands, guiding her to him. "Kagome... I love you... And he'll never say it, but Hiei cares for you too." The orange-haired man eyed his friend thoughtfully. "I know it isn't what we thought it would be, under that tree so long ago. But love... Love is what made those promises, and as long as we still love, it can't be wrong." His gaze turned back to her meaningfully as he pressed his lips to hers. His hands rested on her hips, massaging them gently.
Hiei frowned, not liking the sight, yet he knew this was as it should be. He had not waited for her for centuries... Kuwabara had.
Passion exploded within the miko's heart, her arms wrapping around his neck as she kissed him deeply. "Kazuma..." She gazed at him with longing, slowly turning to stretch her hand out to Hiei, wanting him to come closer.
Cold golden orbs glared at warm pools of amber as the hanyou prattled on, trying to convince him to spar with him. "Inuyasha, I will humiliate you in the morning. Now let me be." He honestly didn't care what the boy had to say-He cared about Kagome.
Desparation blossomed within the hanyou's heart. He couldn't let him see Kagome. His okaa-san had made it clear the sort of danger there was in this. "Come on Lord Fluff, I want to see what you're made of."
Suddenly, it became clear to him. The boy knew something. He was stalling. "If you were not my blood, I would kill you on the spot for such insolence." With that he disappeared to the courtyard... And saw red.
Crimson eyes fell to her hand, longing to take it. But he felt the inevitable discovery, bringing up his sword as the taiyoukai attacked.
Sapphire eyes went wide as the blades met with a clang. No... They're going to die because of me... "No!" She raised her hands, blasting Sesshomaru back with a burst of purification. "Leave them Sesshomaru. I won't allow this bloodshed."
Kuwabara instantly stepped forward, only to be pushed back by Hiei.
"This is a battle for youkai. You would only serve to damage Mukuro." He stepped in front of the miko, glaring hard at the inu. "I claim her."
Rage flooded the inu, his eyes the color of blood. "You would be whore to the forbidden, before mate to me? No one can have you then!" His voice boomed through the palace, bringing witnesses instantly.
"I would die before becoming yours!" Kagome stepped around Hiei, coming face to face with him, her eyes blazing with a normally consealed inner fire. "I do not love you, I do not desire you, I... I can barely stand to look at you! You stole my life from me!"
Slap The sound of flesh tearing from her cheek echoed.
Hiei started forward, ready to kill the inu, only to be held by Kuwabara. "Let go."
Kuwabara shook his head, looking at Kagome intently. "Just watch her Hiei... Just watch."
A look of pure shock filtered over her features briefly. He'd slapped her. He'd slapped her the way he had all those years ago. Reiki, pure and powerful gathered around her own hand, and before she knew what she was doing, she struck him twice as hard.
And now Sesshomaru was the one is shock. She struck him. She struck him. In front of everyone.
"I do not belong to you Sesshomaru." With that, she moved between her two males, letting herself be taken to safety.
Violet eyes stared into cold gold, pity in them. "I told you to let her go Sesshomaru. Now you have disgraced yourself, and your title." The former Lady's voice was soft, but painfully honest. She raised her hand to his face, healing the purification partially with a glimmer of emerald light. "Not as good as a miko... But sufficient. It will leave a scar though."
Claws shot out, wrapping around her wrist. "You knew."
"Oh, Sesshomaru... Have you learned nothing?" She pulled herself free, cupping his face in her gentle hands, gazing into his eyes. "I knew nothing Sesshomaru! The downfall of almost every Seer is hubris! We see only possibilities! That is what your okaa-san has never understood... We are guardians of chance, not fate. But I knew what damage her interference had done. I knew what the likely course of events would be if you kept her.
"If you'd kept her, she would have grown to hate you. That is the only certainty in my visions. And it would have corrupted her. And it would have corrupted you. You would have succumbed to hatred and lust... And you would have sent her running to eternal darkness. And left this world defenseless. All possibilities were similar, in that they lead to her hatred and... Death. Those were the possibilities displayed to me.
"I gambled Sesshomaru. For once, I let my visions guide me completely. I advised, and then, I interfered. I repaired what damage was done, to the best of my ability. But I take no pleasure in it." Her fingers began to comb through his hair soothingly. She loved him as her son. If nothing else, she needed him to understand that what she had done was not because she felt anything less for him.
"Izayoi... What do I do now?" His voice was soft, desperate. It was the voice of a man who had lost his way completely. One who was seeking help for the first time.
She sighed, perfectly painted lips pressing to his forehead. "You do what you've always done. You forge ahead. You become a leader. And you do it for yourself this time."