Chapter 3

On Guard

Once again, though the city was suppose to be in a state of mourning, everyone temporarily fought their grief to cast looks at Kagome as she walked towards the alter to offer her prayers to give the departed soul safe passage to the Netherplane. It didn't help that Sesshoumaru was by her side the whole time as she performed her holy duty. Not only was Hojo's death probably her fault, but how dare she walk in with the world's most dangerous demon.

Two years had passed since Sesshoumaru forced her to confess her lies, and though it felt good to let it all out she was labeled as an unmentionable. Since Sesshoumaru was always with her she was still a summoner and had to do her job, but that didn't mean her peers had to acknowledge her existence. Backs were turned to her as she passed to collect a candle and murmurs in the background were probably about her and how her summoner garb was a disrespect to Kikyo's memory.

They had every right to treat her this way, was something Sesshoumaru often reminded her. Due to her deceit their world could have been put into danger, and due to the outrageous number of summoners being murdered and their demons disappearing she wasn't in the clear yet. IF it weren't for her deadly partner she'd probably be thrown into prison by this point even though she, like everyone else, had no clue what was happening. The only positive that had come as of late was that since nearby countries were afraid of the recent murders their freedom was safe for now.

"Don't listen to them," Ayame whispered as she took her place in line, "you have an alliance with a powerful demon and they are punishing you when you're the only one who can save us."

Kagome frowned as they walked by a closed casket that held Hojo's mutilated body. Though she wasn't wanted there she and Sesshoumaru had investigated the scene shortly after the murder.

"I smell youkai blood," Sesshoumaru stated after tracking down any clues that would reveal the enemy's whereabouts, "but not death. Somehow these humans are being separated from their demon and killed before the demon is taken elsewhere."

Sesshoumaru shouldn't have cared about the human's current state of affairs, but once again his curiosity had the best of him. Whatever was going on was not the norm, and if it was indeed a youkai doing this than Sesshoumaru could possibly have a challenge ahead of him.

"Don't even say that out loud," Kagome glared at her demon when he mentioned his theory, "it's already bad enough that people want to use me as a scapegoat for everything that is happening, but mention there is a possibility of free youkai running around everyone will go into a frenzy."

The dog youkai shook his head, "Everyone knows that the summoner's demons are disappearing. There is a possibility that they are being executed elsewhere, but if not you humans will have to accept that your Netherplane can no longer protect you from my kind."

"People are saying that it's you whose doing it."

He growled though his gaze still appeared cold and uncaring, "I have decided to spare your race and until you are no longer a factor in my life all I seek is respect. I will not have lies spread about me."

Kagome knew Sesshoumaru's presence had nothing to do with this, because the very first victim was murdered before she even touched Tsubaki's staff. Not to mention since she no longer had possession of that staff she and her demon were always together. She would have noticed if he was sneaking off into the woods to kill powerful summoners and equally powerful demons.

Sesshoumaru had been on his best behavior despite the upper hand he had over the whole human race. After he forced Kagome to apologize to everyone she wronged her didn't do much but quietly follow her and slaughter those who tried to assassinate her.

"Just because you do whatever you can to keep me alive doesn't change my opinion on you," Kagome stated walking through the woods behind him, "I think the same as everyone else. You're a cold monster who plans on murdering us off the second you have your freedom."

"Kagome," he replied.

She rose her eyebrow, "Yes?"

"You seem to think I care about your opinion, when you are mistaken."

She sighed, "Nor does my opinion matter. I'm just the lying little bringer of the end human race I shouldn't get a say in anything."

"No you shouldn't. You're indeed horrible, but you confessed your sins so it doesn't matter anymore. You can't change the past and the future depends on what I decide to do with your world when I break free of you."

"You honestly believe you are all powerful."

"I am."

She crossed her arms, "Why do I even talk to you? You treat me like I'm the worst being in the universe when you killed millions of humans just because you didn't like them."

"I didn't deceive people. My purpose in the universe was made clear and I didn't use any tactics that would be considered dishonorable. It was a different world back then, and though your race is inferior I commit such an act again."

"Why the change in heart?"

He growled.

"Oh sorry. I guess you did have a change of heart....I mean it's half mine after all."

"You," was his answer, "you did something horrible, you admitted and apologized for it, and even though everyone hates you we are still here as we were before. To think I thought lesser youkai and humans were one and the same."

"You're right," Kagome had told Ayame after the funeral, "like Sesshoumaru said...I did what I did, and I cannot take it back. I don't expect anyone to forgive me, but honestly two years of this?"

Ayame nodded. She and the other grand summoners didn't fear the current dangers, because whomever their enemy was they obviously didn't seek confrontation with the strongest demons. Somehow, probably thanks to Kagome's heart, Sesshoumaru, the cold hearted bastard from the history books, was the human's side. He was the perfect weapon to save this world just as Kikyo's demon had been, but instead of this being taken advantage of Kagome was being treated like a leper.

"So Lord Sesshoumaru did you find anything of use around Hojo's body?" Ayame asked still showing respect to the power that was greater than her.

He shook his head as he was glaring at what looked like a sword in a display case in the center of this temple. When he broke Kagome's stolen staff he'd thought he saved himself from being eliminated when he overtook her heart, but instead the pieces had been stolen and fashioned into a sword that would be used on his summoner.

"Steal that sword for me and I might work harder for the answers," Sesshoumaru then stated glaring at it.

Ayame frowned, "We've talked about this Sesshoumaru. You know that I hold no ill will towards you and Kagome is still my best friend, but I can't have any part in preventing your death. It's the destiny of a summoner to be separated from their demon and then have their soul-

"Go to the Netherplane," Kagome interrupted, "yeah we've heard it a million times."

Usually her demon toned out around this point, but the look of interest flashed across his golden orbs.

"Ayame," he began, "this tradition of killing summoners after a certain period of time...is there anyone who hasn't suffered this fate?"

"I bet in the beginning it didn't happen right away, and that's how they found out about the transformation process, but not recently."

"Sesshoumaru," Kagome spoke in a worried tone.

"Be silent," he commanded his human, "I can careless if these religious fools go into a panic. There is a youkai out there killing summoners and doing something unspeakable with their partners. If I was unable to escape from the Netherplane than I doubt anyone else could. The only theory that is left is that somehow a summoner escaped their execution, became a demon, and now they are on the loose."

"Not possible," Sango who'd been quietly waiting to the side interjected.

Sango, like Ayame, still managed to keep her friendship with Kagome despite all the lies. They had always known her grades weren't as good as everyone thought they were, and it was obvious she never wanted to be a summoner. Though unlike Ayame Sango had been keeping her distance. Ayame was a grand summoner, therefore no one questioned her judgment on anything while Sango had to earn her rank. Those who communicated with Kagome too frequently were often treated badly and given no room for advancement.

"It's the only possibility I can come up with," Sesshoumaru stated.

"And it's wrong," she sounded so sure, "before graduation takes place all of our information is taken down in a holy doctrine. After every summoner is executed their information is updated and there is no one in there who has escaped their fate that isn't being watched. Theories like that shouldn't be talked about so lightly, because if it were true than we would be dealing with two demons. The original partner and the former human."

"Can I see this doctrine?"

"It's considered a holy item. We can't let demons touch it."

"You deny that we are slaves by claiming us to be equal, and yet I'm not allowed the same right as you."

"Stop it," Kagome spoke, "Sesshoumaru we can come up with theories all day but it won't help us kill the enemy now will it?"

For once Sesshoumaru agreed with Kagome. No point in wasting all his energy into figuring out the mystery when all the troubles could be solved with a swift movement of his claws. He grew tired of arguing with these stubborn humans.

Even though he'd told Kagome his reign would be a peaceful one when it came to the existence of humans this religious structure would be the first to go. It had improved a little thanks to the art of studying, but it had been the same corrupt system that weakened humans during his time. Midoriko sacrificed her soul to defeat him, and yet there was still a majority of people who believed her to be an evil being, and now Kagome was being treated the same.

"I'm going home," Kagome then sighed, "before someone throws a rock at me."

"So Sesshoumaru can murder them? I doubt it, but yeah Hojo's mom looked pretty upset."

Kagome nodded and bid her friends a farewell before leaving the temple. The elders and family of the deceased had bigger things to worry about than what fashion she showed up in. The purpose of these lavish funerals were to usher the departed soul into the Netherplane, but Hojo wasn't executed in a religious fashion therefore who knew where his soul was located. Maybe it was lost forever now that it was separated from its demon, or perhaps Hojo had received what Kagome had always wanted...freedom.

"Beautiful," she then whispered on the walk home.

It was snowing pretty heavily, but the sight of the white flakes gleaming off of the light from the houses and buildings brought a smile to her face. She breathed hard on purpose to see her breath form before her.

"Stupid," Sesshoumaru added, "currently my mission is to keep you alive and healthy, but it becomes difficult when you're entertained by exposing her body to the elements."

She smiled. Though she'd had her talk with Sesshoumaru not long ago about how horrible they both were she enjoyed moments like this. Two years of debating the beauty of mother nature and she still hadn't lost one.

"It's just frozen water sickening the earth's inhabitants," he stated the same thing he said last year when she played in the snow, "nothing special about it."

"How is that not pretty," she pointed at the trees that were frozen were icicles from a previous ice storm.

"Go stand under it during a strong wind and tell me how 'pretty' it is."

"I'm sure it would be cold and horrible, so you'd be in your element."

Though the whole city was against her Kagome still had refuge at her home with her family. When Sesshoumaru ordered her to tell the truth she thought she would be locked out and homeless, but in the end they'd become closer than before. The second everything was revealed they'd admitted they wronged her in thinking her as a Kikyo replacement by enrolling her into the Summoning Academy. They knew the world out there was being harsh to her so they did everything they could to make home the best place for her.

She smiled again when she noticed that the fire was roaring and dinner was on the stove.

"Pot roast will be ready soon," Kagome's mother announced cheerfully when she heard the door open.

"Awesome mom, but Sesshoumaru can't have any since his a horrible person who sucks all the enjoyment at life."

The inuyoukai narrowed his eyes, "I attempted to eliminate your whole species and that is the worst insult you can come up with?"

"The past is the past," she reminded him, "this is a whole new world, and a whole new chance. Now if you attempt to kill us off this time I might get pissed at you."

After dinner Kagome ran upstairs to remove her sewing kit. Two years had gone by and she was still unable to finish her kimono. Since everyone could care less about what she did and thought her existence undid all the good Kikyo caused so she needed a new wardrobe.

Sesshoumaru sat on her bed because it gave an excellent view outside the window. Too many times religious fanatics had tried to shoot Kagome down from this very window. With all these murders people were more than likely to attack Kagome out of fear and he wasn't about to die over silly rumors.

She hummed lowly as she was working with the final layer of her new outfit, "Sesshoumaru go to sleep."

His response was almost childish, "You're not in charge of me."

She frowned before going back to the machine, "Okay three-year-old have it your way. The temple we were at today has been around for hundreds of years. Did demons really build it?"

He nodded, "Yet I can't touch that book. The golden dragon at the alter is my family's crest. I wasn't alive when it was decided on, so I don't know what it means."

"I'm sewing it into the back of the kimono. It shows the hypocrisy of everything."

"Go to bed," he simply said, "the quicker you sleep the quicker my guard duty is over."

She put her materials aside and walked over, "You never sleep. I know you['re a youkai and all, but still..."

"We share the same lifeline, so by protecting you I am enhancing my chances of survival. I'm not going to put my life in your hands for even a single evening."

"Everyone is scared of you, so they won't attack tonight."

With a swift motion he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into the bed.

"No arguing," he told her.

"I don't feel like sleeping! I'm restless, okay?"

He barked at her, "Now whose acting like a child?"

She glared at him as he brought his claw forward so once again he planned on putting her asleep through the use of his toxins. This ritual had become common on nights such as this and Kagome had become a pro at dodging him. It was a good way to release pent up energy, so there was no complaints.

"Foolish girl," he said before moving quickly and pinning her under him.

That scent again...

Their little game always ended this way, but lately for Kagome it had been becoming awkward. IT was wrong to think of her demon in such a way, but every time his hands brushed against her legs to flip her over, and when he was above her like this her body went on fire. Sesshoumaru could always smell it and when she became aware of this she would blush and have trouble sleeping since she could not be satisfied.

What did other summoners do? She was an adult now, and since her kind was always too busy investigating trouble and working at the temple it was hard to find a meaningful relationship with someone who could sit by and watch as her life would be eliminated in a short few years. If she could just have a one night stand or something with somebody maybe that would make all of this go away, but it was difficult with Sesshoumaru always around.

The scent of her arousal had been becoming quite overwhelming, but before Sesshoumaru never thought about acting on it...until now.

"We have needs Kagome," he finally whispered just throwing it out there for now, "do you want me to make it go away?"

She shook her head in a whisper, "I thought you hated humans, and even though I want it I'm kind of scared."

She was lying. She wanted it.

The question, was...

Did he want it?

She was a human after all, something that had once repulsed him, but now that her heart was beating inside him. It was changing him in small, but yet impacting ways, that changed his goals. Sure Kagome would soon become a demon from his influence, but there seemed to be a cost to this, which would be him losing himself.

What could he do about her though? He couldn't kill her, torturing her would accomplish nothing for her spirit was too strong, but...

"Kagome," he spoke her name before the sound of ripping fabric could be heard as the top of her miko outfit was destroyed, "you have no choice in this matter."

He wasn't about to commit a rape. He could tell from her scent that she was pleased, but saying the words out loud was just impossible. In a way he was doing her a favor by making it so she would have no obligations.

"Sesshoumaru," her words were attempting to lie, to say she didn't want this.

"I have your heart," was his response before he started to nip at her neck, "you're mine."

Her body was a flare as she arched her neck back and tricked his lips into coming in for a kiss. Perhaps this arrangement could work out. Sesshoumaru would take care of what she needed while she just accepted his kindness for right now.

Accepting it didn't mean she would be a bad lover though and not take what she needed for herself.

She took one final glimpse of the falling snow outside the window before sitting up to gain more access to him. Youkai were slaves to summoners and meant to be treated like tame creatures, but summoners weren't suppose to be as dreadful and clumsy as Kagome was when it came to the art. She'd already broken many rules just to bring Sesshoumaru to her, so what was a few more.

"You're mine," Sesshoumaru repeated once more softly in her ear after she removed his pants.

While the demon was taking advantage of the current situation he'd been put in with the human girl the world they lived in was about to sink into more chaos than could ever be imagined.

"She's cooking nicely," a witch laughed in the middle of the dark forest that bordered the capital, "the human soul has a lot of uses."

One of the two women that were working over what looked like a big blob of clay was one of the few who appreciated everything Kagome Higurashi had done. Before the girl disgraced the art of summoning by bringing forth Sesshoumaru it use to be Tsubaki who was haunted down and hated. Now she was forgotten about and able to move around freely to practice her dark arts.

"Especially the lost souls of summoners," Tsubaki chuckled before staring at her mentor, Ursae, with a frown, "It is such a waste though."

The old witch nodded as the lost souls soaked themselves into the clay, "Take away their demons and the departed souls will never find their way to the Netherplane leaving their magical properties for the taking. It is truly genius with many possibilities, but we must do as we've been ordered. No more no less."

This had been distressing the dark mikos a lot lately, because when it came to dark magic such as this it was easy to become greedy. If they could only take advantage of one soul they would probably possess the power needed to overtake the city of Altaria and their foolish religious ways. It wouldn't happen though, because their new master forbade it needing every soul for this useless project.

"What could Naraku be planning?" Tsubaki asked herself, "he has enough power to do as he pleases yet he wants to waste time trying to bring Kikyo back to life."

"Quite odd," Ursae agreed, "it's obvious Lord Naraku has no good intentions for this world, but yet he wants to bring back its savior."

"Kikyo's ashes cannot be replaced so I recommend you two stay concentrated on your work."

"Yes master," they both replied as a man in a baboon pelt entered their makeshift workshop.

"You will be rewarded," Naraku assured them as his crimson eyes traveled over the clay, "you two were able to put a hole in the Netherplane and free me so doing otherwise would be quite selfish of me."

The two witches smiled to themselves as they monitored the fire. It was about time they were given an offer. Not only did they free Naraku's soul, but they kept it hidden and provided it with a body and the ability to absorb others to gain more strength.

"Once Kikyo is returned to me from that cursed Netherplane Sesshoumaru and his summoner shall be our next target," Naraku instructed, "I served under him before Midoriko sent the demons away. He must be disgusted with his human heart, so I doubt he'll refuse when I offer to separate him from all of it."

"Why ask?" Urasue questioned, "just absorb him like you did to the others."

The baboon shook his head, "Sesshoumaru is powerful and the number of youkai here is too few. My body hasn't absorbed enough for me to match his strength. I'll just have to trick him into trusting me and strike when I have the chance."

"And if he refuses to betray the humans?" Tsubaki asked, "I've been watching...though they are hated he obeys their rules almost as though he and that city are in an alliance."

Naraku laughed, "The humans will betray him first so it's nothing to worry about. Just make sure my Kikyo returns to me."

They nodded.

"Do it and I'll grant you the soul of Sesshoumaru's summoner. It should be powerful enough to inflict all the torture you desire."

The two smiled and he knew it would be good entertainment for tomorrow. A reward as great as the one he just offered as not something that could be split. One of them would be dead by the time the sun came up.

"We will finish what we started Kikyo," he whispered when he noticed how nicely the clay was forming.

"Naraku..."

The baboon turned to face a small pale child, who'd been holding a mirror in her small white fingers. As the dark mikos nursed him back to health he'd become quite bored and forced Urasue to collect souls and create him more servants.

Kanna was few out of many that he'd not become bored with yet therefore was still alive.

"The summoner known as Ayame is coming with her demon Kouga," she spoke in an eerie voice, "they've come to investigate the smell."

"Therefore will become the newest additions to my collection," Naraku laughed removing his pelt staring at the experiment, "I'll bring you one more soul before your rebirthing Kikyo."

He stood there momentarily as his body morphed around his skeleton. His eyes became lighter and his face narrower as he quickly transformed into almost a mirror image of Sesshoumaru. He speed off into the forest ready to commit yet another murder.

This one would be different, however, because it would insure that the humans would betray Sesshoumaru and his summoner. Eventually the taiyoukai would tire of it all and take Naraku's offer to free his heart from the human's, and once Sesshoumaru lowered his guard his body would be absorbed and this world would perish.

The fate of everything from this point on would rely on Sesshoumaru's decision. Would he keep things as they are now with a human by his side all the time putting his life in danger, or would he choose to be free resulting in the mass killing of humans all over again.

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AN: Well that's is a good point to stop, and yes before the reviews come in the lemon you want will come next chapter. I've decided this story will be a 5 chapter deal, so the road to the final act needs to be quickened.

This story has been nominated in the action/adventure category on the sess/kag site .com If you nominated this story that I've been working hard on than a million thank you's, and if you are not a member of Dokuga quickly sign up and partake in all stories nominated.