Disclaimer: Look at chapters 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, and all the chapters in between. I. DON'T. OWN. INUYASHA.

Last Time:

Mai slumped, tears forming in her eyes as she fought the awful realization that she would probably die that day. "Why don't you ask your mother? It's all her fault." She whispered.

Sesshoumaru rewarded her honesty in the only way his feral beast would allow: allowing her a quick death.

CHAPTER 21: FREEDOM

Kagome sat on the floor, trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey. With a groan, she fell back. A Thanksgiving turkey? Geez I'm bored.

"What is taking that girl so long?" Mamemitsu muttered. "She should have reported in by now."

Maybe she's been caught. Kagome thought with a smile. There's no way she fooled Sesshoumaru, not long term anyway.

Mamemitsu growled. "Great. Now I have a miko to transport. If that girl just lost track of time, and didn't actually mess up, I'm going to murder her myself." She grabbed Kagome by the back of her neck and dragged her to the center of the room, where she'd drawn a circle.

Kagome struggled heroically, but in the end, she was a just a human miko whose powers were bound (again) against a full fledged noble demoness. She was quickly dumped in the center of the room. "Now, be still, or I'll have to punish you later."

You can kiss my butt, you little devil woman! Kagome thought, her look saying it all. Mamemitsu pressed her claws to Kagome's throat. "Don't think I won't kill you girl. Sesshoumaru only needs to see you alive for a second. After that, there's no need for you."

Kagome couldn't help the small shiver of fear she felt. Sesshoumaru. . . Help.

! Sesshoumaru !

Sesshoumaru practically flew to his mother's rooms. She dared to take what belonged to him! She may be Lady of the West, but he was Lord. He was the alpha! She would respect that claim, if nothing else!

He slammed her door open, starting to feel his beast coming lose. "Where is she?"

Mamemitsu looked up from her drawing. "Where is who?"

Sesshoumaru snarled and felt his hackles rising. He forced himself to calm. "I know that you have taken the miko. Return her."

Mamemitsu tapped her chin in thought. "Hmmm. . . Did you mean that annoyingly insubordinate human from yesterday? I had quite forgotten about her."

Sesshoumaru could feel his beast thrusting forward, trying to gain control. He pushed it back down, trying to regain the feeling of ice. "What do you want?" He growled.

Mamemitsu stood. "You know what I want." Mamemitsu said calmly. "Now get out of my rooms. You can tell me when you've made a decision."

Sesshoumaru lunged forward, thinking to force the information from her. But Mamemitsu had predicted this, and easily flipped him over her shoulder. "Do not act like a misbehaving pup, Sesshoumaru." She said, a mocking tone creeping into her voice. "After all, pups will be punished."

Sesshoumaru stood with a growl, trying to find the normal calm he fought with. But the overwhelming need to find and protect Kagome was interfering with his mental process. He lunged forward again, and his mother sidestepped him.

Sesshoumaru crashed into the wall, and slowly stood.

"You know what I want, Sesshoumaru." Mamemitsu called. "And don't think for a moment that you're strong enough to defeat me. With only one arm, you'd be lucky to beat a guardsman." With that she stepped into her transportation circle and disappeared.

Sesshoumaru wanted to kill something, but knew that taking it out on someone would only make matters worse. Kagome would never forgive him. He had to think rationally, even as he wanted to go on a rampage.

Mother had to have sent her somewhere she wouldn't be harmed until I made the agreement. It would also have to be somewhere she thinks I won't think of or won't be able to get into-

KAGOME! Sesshoumaru's inner youkai was going crazy. Find Kagome!

Sesshoumaru couldn't wrestle down his youkai, and his eyes started to bleed. Knock it off. . . We can't. . . you shouldn't. . . we mustn't. . .

KAGOME! Sesshoumaru lost the battle for control as his beast pushed its way forward. In a rush, Sesshoumaru transformed and started running. Though he tried to force his way through, his beasts thoughts were impenetrable. Find Kagome. . . Find Kagome. . . Find Kagome. . . Find Kagome. . .

! Kagome !

Kagome wasn't an idiot. Though she acted very much like an innocent ditz, the reality was that she knew more than she told. So when she arrived where ever it was that Mamemitsu sent her, she played dead. As soon as she touched the ground, she went limp and closed her eyes.

"Weak humans." Someone muttered. "Couldn't ever manage a trip without passing out."

"Better get her to a doctor." Another voice muttered. "Mamemitsu isn't going to be happy if the bait isn't good enough to last."

Kagome felt someone lift her up. "I'll take her up." The first voice called. "How long do we have to put up with her?

"Until Sesshoumaru signs the paperwork making Lady Mamemitsu ruling Lady of the West, instead of just a formality title." The second voice called. "Haven't you heard this three or four hundred times?"

"Yeah, but it's annoying to have to remember."

"Oh, just dump her in a cell already!" Kagome felt herself moving, and heard one last thing before she had to focus on keeping down her lunch.

"Hey, keep her in one of the special cells. Otherwise Sesshoumaru will find her before Lady Mamemitsu kills him."

! Sesshoumaru !

After several hours of struggling, Sesshoumaru finally took control of his own body again. As he did so, his body transformed back into his human form. He sat for a moment, ensuring that his inner demon would not break loose again. Then he opened his eyes.

He realized with a jolt where he was: Kagome's room. Logically, he supposed it made sense. This is where Kagome's scent was strongest, and his inner beast was flipping out over her. So of course it would look for comfort from her scent perfectly logical.

But it almost scared him that his beast went to the point where only Kagome's scent could restore his sanity. It was only supposed to happen when it came to a MATE.

I want Kagome. His inner beast's normal assurance had been reduced to a whimper, so pitiful that Sesshoumaru felt sorry for it.

We will have her returned. But you must let me plan.

I want Kagome. It receded to the back of his mind without even a fight.

Sesshoumaru pushed his emotions off to the side. He couldn't think with them, and certainly was not prepared to deal with the emotions that were springing up in him. He focused on finding a way to make this work without putting Kagome in more danger or let his mother have what she wanted.

He felt something coming, and stood with a growl. If anyone saw him like this, he'd have to kill them. He waited, then stiffened as he recognized the aura. InuYasha. . .

"Kagome! I leave for a few days and I find you-" Sesshoumaru wasn't sure whether to laugh or growl.

"As you can see, little brother, I am not Kagome." Sesshoumaru said coldly.

InuYasha looked around. "Where the hell is she? Her scent's everywhere."

"She is not here." Sesshoumaru said shortly.

"Where is she?" InuYasha demanded. "Stop avoiding the question."

Sesshoumaru bit back a snarl. "I do not know."

InuYasha stared. "You don't know?" He asked slowly.

"That is what I said, InuYasha." Really, he didn't have time to waste in such a stupid conversation. He needed to focus on finding the damned girl.

InuYasha, however, seemed to have made it his job to make him lose his focus. "You idiot!" He crashed through Sesshoumaru, giving him the feel of having ice water pushed through him. "What the hell's going on! Aren't you not supposed to go farther than you can hear her?"

Sesshoumaru growled. "That requirement was changed. I could not leave the miko's hearing range. As this was unacceptable to both parties, she ordered me to disregard the distance requirement."

InuYasha stared at him. "So you have no idea where the hell she is or what's happened to her?"

Sesshoumaru ignored him. Think. . . How to prove the half-breed wrong. . . Wait a second! The distance requirement. What were her exact words? He thought, and after a moment, the conversation played back to him.

Kagome watched Sesshoumaru carefully, and she sobered. "Sesshoumaru, I understand that you have a reputation here that you wish to preserve. I will try to respect that to the best of my ability." She stood. "And while we are in your palace, I order you to be where ever you deem fit, and to ignore distance restriction part of the curse."

". . . and that's why I said we couldn't trust you! But no one wants to listen to me. Even though I'm right!" InuYasha said. Apparently he'd finished his rant.

Sesshoumaru ignored him, knowing that he was waiting for some kind of response. He would get none from Sesshoumaru. Instead, Sesshoumaru focused on doing the one thing he'd never thought he'd do: shorten his movement range.

I want to be within Kagome's sight range.

! Mamemitsu !

Mamemitsu arrived at her palace, a smirk decorating her face. He'll never look here. It's too obvious. Which is why he'll never think of it and therefore makes it perfect. The guards let her in, and in moments she was down in the dungeons where Kagome waited.

She stood in the doorway of the dungeon, smirking at the filth that covered everything. Were it anywhere else, she'd throw a fit. But as it was a dungeon, she loved the filth more than . . . Herself! After a moment, she walked forward, confident that the human girl would be cowering in the muck.

So imagine her surprise when a glob of that muck was suddenly launched at her head. "Hey, old lady! This place is a mess. Too busy conniving to take what is rightfully Sesshoumaru's to actually take some pride in your own house?"

Mamemitsu turned slowly, looking very much like Sesshoumaru that day Kagome had thrown mud at him. "You got muck in my hair!"

"Yup." Kagome called cheerfully. "How very perceptive."

Mamemitsu stared in shock. "Are you mocking me?"

"That's two in a row!" Kagome called. "Give the lady a prize."

Mamemitsu had never had anyone openly mock her. She wasn't really sure what to do. So she forced herself to calm.

"Hey, do you know how much you look like Sesshoumaru?" Kagome called. Get her riled up. . . Number 1, it'll be funny as heck. Number 2, maybe she'll reveal something I can use. "Of course, you're a girl and all. So not like 100%, but still. If you were a guy, you'd be, like his twin."

"Wench, I suggest you shut your mouth." Mamemitsu growled. How does Sesshoumaru put up with her?

"Oh, but that's so boring!" Kagome whined. "Ooh! I know! Let's talk about you! For example: WHY IN THE NAME OF ALL GOOD THINGS AM I HERE?"

Now that was a question Mamemitsu could answer. "To die in front of Sesshoumaru." Mamemitsu answered. Kagome blanched, but let her continue. "I've seen for myself the evidence of his affection. Should you die, it would weaken him enough for me to take control."

Evidence of his affection? "I can honestly say, I have no idea what you're talking about." Kagome said. "Sesshoumaru hired me to help him with the paperwork that he was swamped with and to help Rin with her powers. That's the extent of our relationship."

"Oh really? So, my son didn't lie to you about the koiyoukai in the fish pond?" Mamemitsu asked. "He didn't go under your window for the comfort of your scent? He didn't pick you up and carry you to your bed when you fell asleep in the garden?" Kagome's mind was in a whirl. He did. . . What? "And he didn't go into a full rage and nearly kill me when he found out you were gone and I had something to do with it?"

Kagome shook her head. "I'm sure you misunderstood in every situation. . . And wait a second! You mean that whole story with the criminal eating koiyoukai was a lie!"

Mamemitsu raised an eyebrow. "Criminal eating koiyoukai? How absurd. The koiyoukai in that pond are just perverts, not carnivores."

Kagome growled. "I'm going to kill him! He told me there were man-eating koiyoukai in that pond! I wanted to go swimming!"

Mamemitsu stared at her. I wonder who Sesshoumaru should be more afraid of: us, or that miko.

Don't be absurd. This miko is nothing compared to us.

"Miko, cease your foolishness." Mamemitsu snapped. Kagome ignored her, continuing to rant about Sesshoumaru's lie. "I said, enough!" With the last word, the binding spell on Kagome burned into her, making her bite her lip to keep from crying out. "I will not listen to your foolishness any longer!" Mamemitsu pressed down with her will, and Kagome's power was pulled even tighter. Kagome's face became white. "You will be a perfectly silent hostage. And when Sesshoumaru comes, you'll die like a good little girl. Is that clear?"

Kagome fought to keep her body upright, to not fall beneath Mamemitsu's power. "Go to hell, bitch." She said, her voice deadly calm. And then she fainted.

Mamemitsu smirked. "Pathetic humans." She whispered. "They always give out in the end."

She headed back up to the castle, still secure of her position. Tomorrow, I'll go to Sesshoumaru's again. The stupid pup will not deny me twice.

"Mamemitsu-sama." A voice called to her quietly. Mamemitsu turned to see her housekeeper calling her.

"What is it, dolt?"

"The guards have reported a small white mass heading for the castle." The housekeeper whispered. "Apparently, it looks like Lord Sesshoumaru."

Impossible. Mamemitsu said, her mind going into a panic. I'm not ready for a fight yet! She ran as fast as possible to the wall of her palace, then stopped in shock. It really was Sesshoumaru. How could he have found her?

"Set up a perimeter." Mamemitsu shouted. "Do not let him in!"

Everyone thought it, but no one wanted to say it directly to their lady's face: Since when could anyone stop Sesshoumaru?

That's when Sesshoumaru smashed into the first wall.

! Sesshoumaru !

Sesshoumaru stood shakily, looking around him. Definitely not one of our best ideas.

Sesshoumaru had to agree. He'd lost track of the amount of wall he'd broken through, stairs he'd fallen down, and stairs he'd been dragged up. The amount made him shiver.

"Geez!" InuYasha shouted, drifting in through the ceiling. "What the hell was that? I thought you were going to end up killing yourself."

"Half breed, be silent." Sesshoumaru hissed. "Unless you wish for my mother to find us before the miko is safe."

InuYasha reduced to grumbling, and Sesshoumaru began to look around. He saw now that he was in the dungeon, and grimaced at the thought of Kagome being here. He quickly shook his head. I am not thinking like that. Carefully, he took a whiff, scenting out Kagome easily. He went to her cell. "Miko, what predicament have you gotten yourself into this time?"

Only silence answered him. Sesshoumaru looked into the cell, worried now. "Miko? This Sesshoumaru spoke to you!" Still no answer. "Miko!" He slashed at the cell bars with his poison whip, and they fell apart on contact. Looking in, he found Kagome on the floor, still passed out from Mamemitsu's command.

Sesshoumaru's beast instantly took over. Sesshoumaru thought for sure that Kagome would be killed by him, but his beast surprised him. Instead of transforming, his beast merely took control of his body. He grabbed Kagome gently and pulled her close, enveloping her in its aura. Sesshoumaru was surprised to see that her breathing eased nearly instantly.

Do you actually know what you're doing?

Kagome is struggling against the binding spell. She must be calmed in order to wake up.

"Sesshoumaru!" InuYasha snarled. "What the hell are you doing?" Sesshoumaru's beast turned to glare at InuYasha, and he froze. "You're that worried about her?" He whispered, mostly to himself.

Sesshoumaru's beast chose to ignore him, and instead looked at the binding spell. He growled, as if that would make it disappear. Then he licked it softly, and yelped as the youkai stung his tongue. That hurt!

Gee, I wonder why? Maybe because it's MOTHER'S youkai.

Kagome groaned as her eyelids fluttered. After a moment, she opened her eyes. "Sesshoumaru?" She whispered.

Sesshoumaru's beast refused to return control to Sesshoumaru. Instead, he buried his head in her hair, reveling in her scent. She's safe.

"Sesshoumaru, are you feeling okay?" Kagome asked, feeling her heart pound. She didn't want him to back away, but knew that it wasn't really him that was doing this. It just wasn't a Sesshoumaru move.

"Sesshoumaru!" InuYasha snarled. "She's okay now. So let her go, you stupid beast."

Sesshoumaru's beast growled, pulling her tighter. Kagome relaxed while simultaneously glaring at InuYasha, wanting to allow Sesshoumaru to hold her.

But it wasn't safe.

Pulling together all her resolve, Kagome gently pushed Sesshoumaru off. "Sesshoumaru, what's wrong with you? You're not acting very Sesshoumaru-ish." That's when she saw his blood red eyes. Oh kami. . . His beast is control. "Nice. . . Nice doggy." Kagome said, backing away slowly. "You don't want to eat me. I know you don't like me very much, but I promise, I'm only trying to help! Please don't eat-"

Sesshoumaru's beast lunged forward, hugging her again. He nestled his head back into her hair, growling softly. After a moment, Kagome got it. "You. . . Don't hate me?"

Sesshoumaru's beast shook his head.

"So, Sesshoumaru doesn't like me?" She'd expected as much, but hadn't had the nerve to ask out loud.

Sesshoumaru's beast growled louder and pulled her closer.

Kagome bit her lip nervously. "So, he likes me."

Sesshoumaru nodded.

Kagome smiled. "Then we have a problem." Sesshoumaru's beast pulled away, whining. "Because, I. . . I-"

A clang resounded down to them. "This is the last place we've looked. He has to be here!" Mamemitsu's voice carried down to them easily.

Kagome panicked. "Sesshoumaru, you need to go now."

Sesshoumaru's beast growled, releasing her only to crouch by the entrance. Protect Kagome.

If you want to protect her, then give me control.

Reluctantly, Sesshoumaru's beast relinquished control. Sesshoumaru quickly straightened, assessing the situation in nanoseconds. He shot a glance at Kagome, and saw she was in no condition to fight. The binding spell had been released, but she was still drained from fighting it.

He also knew that his mother and her guards were rushing down as he thought, and would arrive in about a minute. That didn't give him much time to plan.

Mamemitsu was about 30 seconds away when Sesshoumaru felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Kagome standing next to him. "Sesshoumaru, you need to leave."

"This Sesshoumaru runs from no one." He growled.

Kagome growled back. "This is not the time for your arrogant pride! She's after your lands and your title. Saving me will not help you do that, you idiot!"

"This Sesshoumaru has orders from the gods to not allow you to die." Sesshoumaru snarled, trying to focus on the doorway.

Kagome placed herself in front of him. "Then consider this your new order." She hissed. "I order you to return to the Western Palace, and do not save me!"

The order took effect immediately, as Kagome placed all her power behind it. Sesshoumaru stared down at her, for once his face filled with emotion. "Why?" He demanded. He wanted, no he needed, to understand. Why couldn't he protect her? Why wouldn't she let him? Would she really rather die than let a demon help her?

"Because I want you to live." Kagome whispered, as the curse began to pull on him. He was slowly being dragged back, though he put everything he had into staying put. I'll never see him again. I'm going to die here.

Sesshoumaru felt himself going back, knew he was losing ground. But he still fought, determined to protect her. But her next words shocked him so much that he momentarily forgot to fight.

"Because I love you."

! Palace of the Gods !

For the first time in 250 years, the Palace of the Gods was silent. Every god in existence was huddled around the viewing screen that displayed Sesshoumaru and Kagome. The silence seemed never ending.

Finally, Amaterasu spoke. "I believe that most of you have some jobs to do." With a sudden flurry, everyone but Inugami, Amaterasu, and InuTaisho left.

InuTaisho stared at the screen. "You were right, Amaterasu." He whispered. "You were always right."

"I usually am." Amaterasu whispered back, coming to sit beside him. The weak joke died quickly.

"It's too soon." Inugami said softly. "He hasn't come to terms with his own feelings yet."

"That damn pup's going to screw up the only chance he has." InuTaisho said, gazing as his son was dragged away.

Amaterasu looked as well. "Maybe he just needs a little bit more help."

! Sesshoumaru !

He'd arrive nearly twelve hours ago. He'd been found and brought to his bed ten hours ago. He knew they were all worried about him, but he couldn't bring himself to care.

"Because I love you."

He'd heard those words so many times, from so many demons. He'd shrugged them off, never been troubled by them before.

So why did it matter this time?

Even after twelve hours, he didn't have an answer.

"Silly little Maru-chan." Sesshoumaru jolted upright, searching his room for the intruder. Only one woman in the world had dared to call him. . . He shivered at the thought of the name. He layed back down, intending to ignore his over active brain.

"Aren't you the one that taught me that ignoring a problem doesn't help?" Sesshoumaru sat up more slowly this time, and nearly groaned when he saw the ghostly figure at the end of his bed.

"Izayoi." He muttered. It wasn't that he had hated the human woman. He'd considered her beneath his notice until she started calling him "Maru-chan." Then he'd only noticed her to find fault with her. She knew that he didn't approve of her, and only didn't hate her because she was too beneath him. But that didn't stop her from using every means within her power to make him notice her.

"And here I thought you would have forgotten me." A strangely familiar glint in her eyes told him she was amused by him.

That looks like. . . Kagome.

"That, my dear boy, is exactly why I'm here." Izayoi said, smiling gently. "Because of Kagome."

Sesshoumaru lay back down and shut his eyes. "Amaterasu sent you, didn't she?"

Izayoi nodded and came to sit beside him. "You know, I really like Kagome."

"You had a habit of liking everyone." Sesshoumaru growled. "Even those that wanted to smash you into pieces."

Izayoi giggled. "Now Maru-chan. Life is so much more fun if you decide to like everyone." She looked down at him and casually brushed away a lock of hair from his eyes. "But you have yet to ask the correct question."

Sesshoumaru sighed. "Why do you like the miko?"

Izayoi glared at him. "Calling her two different things is just going to cause you problems in the long run."

Sesshoumaru and Izayoi faced each other in a staring contest. Izayoi smirked. "I've got all of eternity. You've got maybe one day before Mamemitsu gets tired of dealing with Kagome's attitude."

Sesshoumaru and Izayoi continued their staring contest until finally, Sesshoumaru sighed. "Why do you like Kagome?"

Izayoi smiled. "Because she's like the rain."

Sesshoumaru lay back down with a groan. "If you are going to be abstract, then leave."

"Do you remember when your father was trying to explain how a person's scent tells a lot about them?" Izayoi asked, playing with his tail as she spoke. "He said that the qualities of a person affect the way the smell." She laughed. "And you said you were surprised that I didn't smell like a skunk, considering that I was as annoying as one."

Sesshoumaru had to smirk. It had been funny to see her sputter about his rudeness.

"Well, I remember what Tai-kun said about the smell of rain." Izayoi said, hopping off the bed. "A person with the rain in their scent somehow manages to wash away all your worries and flaws, and see straight to the shining qualities that you hid inside you." Izayoi walked to the window. "She did that with InuYasha first. He was lost after I died, and he got so many bad habits. She set him back on his path, and now he'll be able to join your father and me in heaven." She turned to him. "Now she's done the same to you. You're no longer the heartless taiyoukai I met 250 years ago."

She started to fade, and so imparted the last bit of wisdom she could. "You've changed Sesshoumaru, for the better. Now, you just need to recognize those changes. Learn to love."

Love? Sesshoumaru thought, once Izayoi was gone. Such a useless emotion. I couldn't possibly feel such a thing. He thought for a moment, then mentally turned to his inner youkai. You have no comment on the subject?

Sure I do. YOU'RE AN IDIOT!

Explain.

I've been trying to get you to see the light for ages! WE! LOVE! HER!

Impossible.

We're calmed by her scent. We always want to protect her. We want her by us all the time. And most importantly, the thought of her dead caused us physical pain. WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED!

It's. . . impossible.

Why are you lying to yourself? You are not that weak!

It is not possible. Sesshoumaru could feel himself shaking. He had walls for a reason. He'd purposely isolated himself from his emotions. It is just not possible.

Then say it, just once. If it's not possible, then it'll have no effect, and we can go on with our merry lives.

Sesshoumaru hesitated. What if it was true? What if all his barriers had been dissolved by a mere human girl?

Scared? How pathetic!

With a growl, Sesshoumaru spoke. "I love Kagome."

At first, nothing happened. Then a sense of rightness filled Sesshoumaru. "Kami, it's true." He whispered. "I love Kagome."

Sesshoumaru glowed white, and a soft voice filled the room. "Sesshoumaru, Son of InuTaisho, Lord of the Western Lands. You have learned your lesson." Amaterasu's voice resounded through the room. "You are free."

---------------------------------------------------------------------Author's Rant---------------------------------------------------------------------

Horse Wolves: It's about time.

Obsessive_Goddess: I like taking my time. The idea of Sesshoumaru meeting Kagome and then falling in love with her in like two seconds is stupid.

Sesshoumaru: The idea of this Sesshoumaru falling in love with the miko at all is stupid.

Kagome: OG, you're so mean! God, you're going to kill me at this rate.

Obsessive_Goddess: [shares conspiritoral look with HW] I'd be careful, Kagome. You might give me ideas.

Horse Wolves: Horrible ideas

Obsessive_Goddess: Ever so evil ideas.

Sesshoumaru: Kill her off! That would solve all our problems.

Obsessive_Goddess: How about this? I kill Kagome, and you let me write another fanfic with you.

Horse Wolves: You can't be serious!

Sesshoumaru: Deal!

Kagome: Don't I get a say in this?

Obsessive_Goddess: Nope.

---------------------------------------------------------------------End of Author's Rant---------------------------------------------------------------------