Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to Inuyasha. All of it belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Co.

Let Me Fly, Let Me Love

Ch. 12

Lord Sesshomaru, after leaving the clearing, returned his mask of indifference to his face. Now that his time with the miko had, for the time being, come to and end, he had to become his stoic self once again. If one were to look upon him at this moment, all they would see was a cold-hearted demon with no regard to anyone but himself. On the inside, however, he was having a battle with not only his beast, but his emotions as well.

His beast was constantly thinking of ways to persuade him to return to Kagome and finish the kiss she had started. The only down side would be the risk of being slapped or worse…purified. Sesshomaru continued to ignore his beast's futile attempts and concentrated on the different emotions swirling around inside of him. He couldn't, no matter how hard he tried, figure out the new emotion he was feelings. Ever since his mother had passed away, he hadn't shown much emotion outside his castle, and even then only to people he trusted.

He was just about to Ah-Un when an earth shattering scream pierced the afternoon air. His first reaction was to dismiss it as a petty human being attacked by a hungry demon, but as the information settled in that Kagome had gone in that direction, he quickly turned and dashed towards the source of such a horrendous sound.

Sesshomaru was filled with the unfamiliar feeling of fear; it ate away at his insides. Kagome's scent reached his sense of smell and he knew immediately that she was in danger. Her once lavender-rain scent was laced with thick terror. What he couldn't understand was that she had just taken out ten demons single handedly and now she was screaming bloody murder.

His beast continued to beg him to hurry up – the voice thick with anger and worry- to save their intended. It seemed that no matter how fast he ran it just wasn't fast enough. When he burst through the clearing it was all it took for him not to transform.

Kagome was dashing to and fro to avoid the attacks aimed at her by Inuyasha of all people! Her friends were off to the side watching with worried expressions adorning their faces. For a brief moment Sesshomaru tried to place names with their faces but quickly dismissed it and returned to the bob and weave battle taking place.

It appeared as though Kagome was trying her best not to turn towards offense. She was only doing her best to defend herself. Apparently, she hadn't noticed his arrival because when her friends looked up to spot Sesshomaru watching, livid, from the sidelines, they couldn't help but to call out in unison, "Sesshomaru!"

Kagome let out a gasp at hearing the lord's name being screeched, the voices all laced with apprehension and surprise. That brief moment of hesitation caused by the caterwaul gave Inuyasha the perfect leeway to provide Kagome with a nice jab to the gut. With a retching cough, Kagome sputtered and gasped for the air that came rushing out of her lungs at the impact.

Round of "Kagome!" flew across the suddenly frozen arena. There was an itching feeling Kagome just couldn't place. It was coming from where Inuyasha had struck her. There was no pain for a few moments, but when it hit, Kagome's eyes widened with a look of sheer panic. Her hands went down to clutch the clawed hand that was piercing through her now gaping stomach. Her eyes were focused upon Inuyasha's trance-like red ones.

With a parched silence, her gaze drifted from Inuyasha's face down to the pale arm that jutted from her abdomen. She immediately returned back to Inuyasha's face when she heard him let out another one of those bone-chilling cackles. What she saw stunned her beyond compare. Realization slapped her clear across the face; Inuyasha was under a spell, and a powerful one at that.

Kagome hadn't learnt too much on spells or incantations save for the books she had read on them. There was no experience there whatsoever. She could tell, though, that the spell had been cast by a priestess by the small dose of purification power leaking from Inuyasha's aura.

Intense self-loathing coursed through Kagome's veins. Even after all this time, she still didn't have the strength to protect herself from one of her best friends. Hell, it had taken her twice as long as it should have to decipher just what the hell was wrong with Inuyasha in the first place.

All of this spanned over a course of about two minutes total. The silence still pressed on throughout the clearing. No one breathed, no one spoke, no one moved for fear of something catastrophic happening.

Inuyasha gave a sickeningly sarcastic smile and wrenched his hand in a clockwise motion, further ripping the torn flesh of Kagome's body. The pain was hot, searing coals, dry ice, and lighting, hitting her skin all at the same time, consuming her entire being in a vortex of agony. Each one of her nerve endings lit on fire, every muscle froze, and every organ shook with the force of the torturous pain eating away at her very core.

Like a drill pulling away after drilling in a hard metal screw, Inuyasha retreated his hand and laughed – albeit crazily – and stared at Kagome with a prideful smirk. The gasping and coughing returned instantaneously, and Kagome failed to remain standing any longer. Her legs turned to jell-o and she collapsed towards the earth-ridden, arid field.

She was so sure about coming in contact with the ground. When it didn't happen, confusion joined in with all the other emotions raging inside her brain. A rumbling could be heard right behind her. Whoever held her up was the one creating that deep, baritone vibration.

Kagome let out a sob in protest when she felt an arm and something extremely soft lift her up and turn her around. Her face was contorted in overwhelming pain. The gentleness of the one holding her did not ease her distress in any way shape or form. Blood was gushing from the wound and gave no signs of slowing any time soon. If she wasn't provided help soon, Kagome would bleed to death.

Inuyasha watched through his clouded mind as he attacked the one he loved. It was the most excruciating thing he had ever seen. He hated himself for what he'd done. There was no forgiving this; ever. Sesshomaru, with a limp Kagome in his arms, gently lowered the woman to the ground so that he could confront the crazed hanyou himself. He had always known Inuyasha was dull-minded, but to go so far as to harm one of your own pack; that was despicable. Sesshomaru, if he didn't kill the half-breed first, would put him in his place. Permanently.

Sesshomaru made to stand, but a soft, strained voice stopped him short. "Sesshomaru," the voice called weakly.

He knelt down again to hear what the bleeding miko had to say. There was no denying the surprise that she still had the strength to speak. "Kagome?" Sesshomaru breathed.

"Inuyasha…he's…he's under a…spell. Kik…Kikyo," she gasped, blood beginning to drip down her jaw. Sesshomaru used a finger to wipe the red liquid from her Aphrodite face.

Now Sesshomaru understood. No wonder the half-breed seemed out of his mind; it's because he really was. He was brought out of his realization when Kagome spoke again. "I'm so tired Sessh… (cough)…Sesshomaru."

Dread filled Sesshomaru to the brim. His beast was howling and bawling at him to do something. It very nearly broke through its restraints to behead the hated half-brother of his. Kagome's cries were the only thing that prevented him from doing so. Hearing her speak those words, sent raw fear into him. "Don't go to sleep Kagome," –his voice urgent – "Don't you dare go to sleep. Do you hear me?"

She managed to turn her head slightly and give a pain-filled smile. "Hai Sesshomaru. I won't sleep. I prom…" She didn't get to finish. Unconsciousness finally claimed her fully.

"Kagome!" the dog demon whined. With a growl promising death, Sesshomaru let the miko lay gently on the ground before finally giving his full attention to the still spellbound inu. Without so much as a glance, Sesshomaru began barking orders to Sango and Miroku, who, up until now, were watching in both horror and amazement. "Monk! Taijia! Take Ka…the human to some place safe and have her wounds treated. I will handle this disgusting pest."

Sesshomaru hated reverting back to using derogatory terms as his acknowledgment to Kagome, but he needn't reveal too much to her friends as of yet. Both just stood there gaping like idiots. With a frustrated glare, Sesshomaru barked, "NOW!"

Immediately, Miroku and Sango rushed up and placed the gory miko onto Kirara. The two-tailed demon cat gave a worried mew before taking to the skies and heading towards Kaede's village. Miroku and Sango dashed off after the feline while Sesshomaru prepared to force out the control of whoever held Inuyasha captive.

The smell of Kagome's pure, untainted blood permeated the clearing like a fog lingering in on a ship harbor. It was thick and settling, almost like it was embedded into earth for all eternity. Inuyasha's eyes were still as red as before Sesshomaru noted. Drawing Meidou Zangetshuha from its sheath, Sesshomaru knelt down into a fighting position. The battle began.

Several minutes later, Inuyasha lay beneath Sesshomaru struggling to push the cumbersome taiyoukai off of him. Sesshomaru refused to budge from his dominating position. He would not move until the hanyou had returned to normal. When the asinine half-breed refused to submit to his hold, Sesshomaru finally just let his demonic aura incase the two. As he did so, the intensity of the spell became clear.

A deep, menacing growl left Sesshomaru's chest before he gave his aura a hefty push, effectively shattering the spell. Instantaneously, Inuyasha went slack. For a long time neither moved. All that indicated that the other was alive was the small rise and fall of their chests.

About five minutes passed and Inuyasha opened his eye lids to reveal sun-gold irises. He looks so guilty, Sesshomaru thought, a bit apathetic. It was not as if he really cared. His main concern right now was getting back to Kagome.

Sesshomaru, in all his pristine glory, rose from his attack position and waited for Inuyasha to stand. Inuyasha reared himself up to his feet, all the while avoiding Sesshomaru's gaze. Inwardly, Sesshomaru let out a small snort at how absolutely pathetic Inuyasha looked. However, his slightly more compassionate side couldn't help but to understand the type of guilt he must be feeling at the moment. If ever Sesshomaru was to hurt Kagome, he would surely never be able to forgive himself.

"Instead of standing there like a dolt, I suggest you return to your village and check up on Kagome," Sesshomaru said, not realizing the slip of using her name. Apparently, Inuyasha didn't notice it. "I also suggest you beg on your piteous knees for her forgiveness for what you have allowed yourself to succumb to Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's head snapped up, fierce glare in his eyes, "And what would you know?! You have no idea what happened!"

"I know enough to have my statement of your weakness proven. You are weak enough to allow yourself to harm one of your own pack members. That is a shame upon the greatest Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's head drooped in shame. "I know," Inuyasha whispered, "I know. And I want to make it right. I never meant to hurt her. I could see…I could feel what I was doing to her. It killed me to know that it was my hand that was causing her so much pain. I'll never forgive myself for what I've done."

Sesshomaru, a bit shocked at his brother's confession, just nodded his head. "As you should Inuyasha. Now, let us go and check up on Kagome."

"Wait! Why do YOU want to go see her? And since when do you call anyone by their names?" Inuyasha accused.

Mentally slapping himself for his slip, Sesshomaru merely ignored Inuyasha and began his trek towards the ningen village, much to his distaste, but his worries overcame any discomfort he held at the moment. His only concern was Kagome's health.

Deciding to dismiss the argument for now, Inuyasha fell in stride with Sesshomaru grumbling all the way. He would find out just what Sesshomaru was up to even if it killed him.

FINALLY! Another chapter is done. I would like to apologize to everyone who has had to wait several weeks for this update. I've been terribly busy with school work. I've got all honors and AP classes so I'm swamped with work.

The next chapter will be up soon! REVIEW PLEASE!!