Here's chapter 9 after almost three months! I'm so sorry but my flight back from Disney, Orlando, Florida was delayed due to heavy snow storms resulting in over THREE feet of snow back home in ONE night! I came back only for more the rest of the week. I haven't been able to update also because my older sister has been hogging the computer since her laptop isn't working properly. I promise this chapter will have at least 10, 000 words to make up for it! ^^ and also as a warning to my readers there's um … lime? I guess that's what you would call it in this chapter because nothing's too, too graphic for the rating, in my opinion, so enjoy!

Dreading Heart

Sango's pov

My mind was in quite a bit of disarray and I knew not how to begin this … talk … this tale of destruction. I want to tell Kagome everything, I really do … but it isn't exactly easy to tell her that they are watching me … that they want my blood … my death. But the fact that it took them what over five months to find me indicated that my change in name and gender threw them off my trail greatly. There was nothing I could do more … they probably anticipated my name would be different but more than likely they had not thought I would be willing to call myself the opposite gender to hide from them.

I sighed wearily as I thought back to the letter … the note, or whatever it is known as, from them. I didn't know how to explain this to Kagome … any of it … when everything goes well they say there is a storm waiting at the other end of the road … and I finally reached this road it seems. I looked up to see Kagome's head was bowed down and that her small, frail shoulders were shaking … there is … no turning back now, no other choice and it appeared that for me … this may be the end … for Kagome too … if I'm not careful. That Fushicho Faction, I knew, would stop at nothing to get to me … and I knew they were more than willing to play dirty to get what they want. That was something I still didn't understand in the least and I dreaded much not knowing the lengths they would go … but I know this much is true … I know without a doubt … I cannot live a life without … her.

I reread the contents of the letter again as I went to sit down on the armchair but before started I noticed movement in the corner of my eye. I looked up from the letter to see Kagome walk over to me hesitantly, she would take a few steps before stopping and hesitating, and I smiled at the adorable expression on her face. I made a gesture for her to come over and she smiled at me brilliantly in response. When she came to be in front of me I sat her on my lap, to which she blushed adorably, and made herself comfortable. I smiled wider and gave her a gentle soft kiss on the cheek … I couldn't resist and went for her mouth this time but just gently pressed our lips together this time. She gave me a hard kiss in return and not being able to resist my lover I also intensified our kiss … it became a very hot open mouthed kiss instead and heated with passion.

I knew nothing of what they planned for me and I knew not what they were after either or why they sought after me so. There was nothing I could think of … no reason for them to go to this extent just to try and capture me a straggler and survivor. There had to be some reason behind it … some kind of reason for them to go so far for someone who knew and still knows nothing of them and … nothing to offer them either from my standpoint anyways.

I lost concentration as I felt things heat up more between the two of us and I couldn't care about my thoughts anymore as my emotions took control of my body. I felt Kagome's hand seeking out my sensitive areas and I could feel my entire body burn against her gentle touch as she pushed against my center. Her warm hand made me shudder more than anything and I moaned endlessly as she kept her pace but I knew my body wanted more because of the way I felt my hips thrust against her hand. I only then realized we were actually on a bed because my arms were bent and I was leaning all of my weight against them as I gained speed. I did not care how I got to be in a bed and without clothes … all I needed to know and all I did know was Kagome's hand … feels so damn good where it is and that she is making passionate love to me.

I lost control and I knew I had reached my peak and as I climaxed I was screaming her name without any reservations whatsoever and it felt good … really good. I finally came back down from my climax and I felt arms wrap around me as I settled back down into the bed. I could tell my eyes were still slightly glazed as I looked around for my surroundings for the first time. I could see a light blue cover and knew instinctively that it is Kagome's room, and bed, that I am occupying. I felt a relaxed Kagome's head move slightly to give me a kiss on my sweaty chest and before either of us knew Kagome's lips were wrapped around my breast yet again.

I sighed and pushed her down only to get a confused reaction from her, which made me giggle because it was adorable of course. Her eyebrows were furrowed in confusion and her eyes, more adorably, looked up to me in a manner that reminded me of a little puppy. I couldn't hold in the slight laughter that left my lips at such an endearing expression from her face and I felt her shift the tiniest bit in movement as she attempted to face away from me. Quite futilely because when she did so I calmed myself down before turning her face, by the chin, back to me and smiling at her before saying in a raspy lust-filled voice, "who said we were done with our little … love making session? I just wanted to take control and let loose a little with you." I said wickedly as I began to attack her breast with ardent vigor.

I knew without having to ask or look in a mirror that my expression was more than likely very wolfish at the moment … but then again who wouldn't with such a goddess in their presence ... naked. This beauty could make any man drool like no tomorrow … but this Venus is mine alone to take … to make love to her as I please, with her permission too of course. It goes without saying that I love her more than my life and soul and with all of my heart. I had already given her all of the aforementioned parts of me. My body, mere flesh, is not just for our pleasure but it was merely a way for us to express our love for each other earnestly … therefore it is also hers to do with as she would please. I never deny her any pleasure as long as it would never harm her in any way … I would willing give her anything for this one love … for the love of once in a lifetime I heard of so often. I never dreamed it would be nearly this satisfying and beautiful, nor as beautiful as my gorgeous little lover.

I could think of no happier moment than when in the gentle warmth of Kagome and her protective little arms wrapped around me softly. Nothing could be better than this … laughing, playing, breathing … with her here right by my side … something I would never wish to change. Nothing in the world would ever be convincing enough to persuade me away from my angel … my love.

I could feel Kagome tightening around my fingers as I thrust into her one last time and she clamped around my fingers preventing me from withdrawing them, not that I actually wanted to take them out of her warm core. When I felt she had come back and her tight center seemed to loosen enough I pulled my fingers out and made sure she could hear me slurp my fingers loudly with her essence from our love making session. I could hear her breathing go out of control again listening to the teasing noises I made with the aftermath of her coming. I bent down as an after thought and licked her clean and I felt her suddenly thrust her hips against my tongue and I smirked in response. "You're still up for a third round even though I just finished cleaning you up? My goodness, I think someone seems to be a tiny bit horny today … hmm … I wonder if I should help out with that or not." I said cynically as I heard Kagome whine for me to stop teasing her.

Without another word or any warning I thrust my tongue into her hard and I heard her cry out my name in pleasure as I lapped at her hard. My unrelenting tongue brought her to the edge of another climax just minutes after I started … I don't care much for short love making sessions so I pulled out of her and I heard a protesting whine at the same time a moan came out when I replaced my tongue with my own center. I rubbed myself against her firmly and felt myself twitch at the contact … her tantalizing scent and sounds made me rub against her even harder and I could feel pressure building in me. I felt her hips thrust against me and I felt myself slam against her in response and this pattern continued until I couldn't take it anymore and we both came. I felt her come first and the pure sound of her pleasure, lust filled voice brought me over the edge with her.

I collapsed on her as I finally allowed my spent body to rest a little against my Kagome. An equally tired Kagome smiled at me, the sexy kind of after-sex smile she always had, or sometimes when she had just woken up she would adorn that kind of smile for me. She knew it turned me on so … I guess in a way it could be her way of signaling to me she wants that kind of attention. In a way it could also be said that she was always in the mood then … not that I am one to talk since I know I'm always in the mood for Kagome whether I am dead tired or not. What can I say I'm horny for Kagome?

Sleep finally overcame me as it was already one in the morning I was understandably tired and glad for the weekend coming so quickly. My last thought before sleep overtook my exhausted form was "god you are beautiful Kagome … I love you so much." I smiled softly in my sleep as I felt a gentle, soft hand squeeze my waist with a slightly tightened grip.

Kagome's pov

I could tell I was being just a little bit greedier than I usually am, how else would I say it, about love making with Sango but … it isn't my fault Sango's fingers, hands, and … that tongue of hers are so addicting and talented. After going for a third round I finally found myself enveloped by her warm and tired body, unable to go for anymore no doubt. I smiled … I didn't understand my sudden craving for this particular activity all of a sudden but it was well worth the satisfying feeling of being loved by her … by my lover … by my Sango.

I could tell my body was drained from the act of loving her and her in turn loving me but … I just didn't feel sleepy in the least for some reason … and I felt like I wanted more. I sighed a little and noticed that my fingers grip around her waist had tightened slightly, subconsciously. I felt a smile tug at my lips hearing her whisper words like that and seeing the content look on Sango's sleeping face and how she smiled when she felt my grasp tightening around her middle. Sango was just such a lovable darling and I felt as though my love for her, though already strong, keeps growing everyday nonstop. For my sake and hers I hope that it will continue and never end like some others … my friends who had been so in love fell out of it so easily … I don't want this compassionate feeling, emotion, of love to ever slip away like that.

I knew I would fall asleep eventually but I just wanted to watch her stunning, relaxed form sleeping for as long as possible before sleep could claim me. I moved one arm so that my hand was stroking her cheek slowly and the other hand was caressing her side, I felt my cheeks warm at the thoughts running through my head the way it was. I felt her shift a little and then her head was lowered to the point her face was mere inches away from mine … tantalizingly close but not touching in the least. I wondered for a moment if she was actually awake but pretending to sleep and using these pretenses to tease me mercilessly this way. I took pause in my thoughts just to listen to her breathing … it was even and slow … the way it should be when one is sleeping. I sighed and I stretched myself a little feeling a yawn coming on and I knew my body was complaining for the sleep I hadn't been allowing it. I finally relaxed with the warmth of Sango's naked body intertwined with mine and the steady rhythm of her breathing was the last straw, sleep overtook me easily.

I woke up to the feeling of a strange weight that was … not heavy but not light either but at the same time made me feel … an intense desire for that kind of loving. I opened my eyes slowly, still sleepy and tired after the endless love making last night, to see a sight I had not thought would ever exist so beautifully. I forgot how to breathe as I took in Sango's face hovering above mine the slightest bit … the expression on her face could be described in many words; beautiful, sexy, alluring. I just longed to make love to the childish smirk she was showing me … it didn't help that she had, at some time in the night, moved entirely so her sex was rubbing against mine as she lay on top of me. I could feel myself heat up everywhere at the sensation and thoughts it brought with it to my mind … not so innocent thoughts of touching her and being touched.

I felt her move a bit and shuddered at the feeling of her sex moving against me harder as her position on me shifted slightly. I couldn't hold back the moan that tiny action caused and I felt Sango move yet again, perhaps due to my not so quiet moan. I felt her move yet again but this time it was merely a part of her, her head, moving and her eyes clenched a little before one eye opened a crack to take a peep through the darkness into the light of day. The look on her face told me she realized our position and how compromising it is … and I could see that she, too, felt the same excitement I did upon waking up to the discover my lover's body pressed against mine in not so innocent ways despite how it truly was innocent in that we were unaware and asleep.

I quickly glanced at my clock to see that it was only just turning ten in the morning and I felt a smirk forming at the corners of my lips at the thought … we can squeeze in another round before breakfast. My smirk was devilish all right … very hungry for her flesh I flipped our positions so I was now sitting on her, with my sex pressed against hers, and I leaned down to see her face mirrored my own lust filled one. And the loving from last night continued.

I had thought that taking a shower together might preserve some time and money but I don't think after the continued consecutive love making rounds in there did anything to help. By the time I got out of the shower it was already 11:22 a.m. and I had to hurry if I wanted any lunch.

Now that I was completely dressed I walked down to the kitchen to cook something nice for lunch, and most likely dinner, for both of us. I noticed how quiet Sango had become so suddenly and I wondered if maybe it was bothering her now by chance. "Sango!" I called out to her the way I normally would in the bedroom, or at least it sounded that way to me for some odd reason. She looked up sharply and I could have sworn I heard her neck snap from the sheer speed she had used to move her neck in that moment, though she showed no sign of pain or discomfort for it.

She looked at me with slightly dazed eyes and I wasn't sure what it was from only that she was still thinking about something. I wondered if she had heard me or if I had spoken in the first place with her expression was a mixture of longing desire and dreading. I had just finished cooking as well now but I hadn't a clue what to do with Sango spacing out like that. I put the pan on a cool part of the stove before going to her to see what had happened for her to space out like this so much. I sat myself down on her lap comfortably before pressing a soft, chaste kiss to her delectable lips. It seemed there were five things in this world I would never be able to get enough of 1) Sango's talented and beautiful body, in more ways than one if you know what I'm saying *wink, wink*, 2) Sango's amazing love making skills, 3) Sango's addicting scent, 4) Sango's gentle and warm embrace, and lastly 5) Sango's kind-hearted soul.

There are many things in this world I love but nothing more than my beloved Sango and Sango is the only one who had ever made me feel this way … this passionate. I never truly was living until she came into my life those many months ago, long gone but those days seem like yesterday with her. I know I'm emotional and sentimental but being in love like this … everything seems so much more beautiful even if love is corny or clichéd it just makes life worth living … even for a moment longer than I would have wanted before meeting her.

Ever since the day I met her I have had no regrets but one … not meeting her sooner in life … if not that then it would be not loving her and confessing sooner to reach this road of happiness. Even then this regret is very minimal compared to any other major regret I've experienced in my life before meeting her and … falling in love. I never imagined that in my life I would have ever fallen in love so happily like this nor that the person I would fall in love with would be someone like Sango; a woman, amazing and talented and so loving and warm. This warmth was something I had never experienced even around my family and their love for me; this is something new … stronger than any warmth and love they had ever given me. For this love Sango has given me is much more … this warmth was not just love but she has also willingly given me and put her heart, body, and soul into this love.

I noticed that she had gone into her own world yet again and left me behind to wonder what thoughts plagued her mind so much that she would forget … me in that I was someone she could confide in. I sighed before taking a deep breath and walked until I stood behind her and hugged her from behind to try and be her pillar of strength and warmth during this unforgiving time. There was not much I could do to help her in terms of fighting if it came down to it, even though she has been privately teaching me martial arts in the park she never taught me anything she deemed to dangerous or difficult. Sometimes I felt it was … stifling but in the end I knew and would always know that she is just looking out for my best interest and it is out of love she is teaching me anything at all.

I felt her turn to look at me and smiled seeing the look on her face. It was one of a kind to say the least because she somehow manages to smile in a way that is sexy but cute … too adorable for words but so alluring at the same time. Seeing that smile made me want to melt from overload cuteness but at the same time I also wanted to eat her … in many places inappropriate outside the bedroom. I couldn't resist the bait sitting before me … I ducked down and kissed her neck and I heard her sharp intake of breath as my tongue darted out to play too. I pulled away all too soon for Sango's liking from the disapproving hiss I heard, more like a whine than anything else, but it was getting late and we needed to eat the lunch I cooked before it got to be too cold and I said as much. "Sango we need to eat lunch before it gets cold ok?" I said it gently, more so than I had wanted to sound.

With a nod we were both sitting at the breakfast table for lunch and things seemed relatively normal for that moment. I knew she wanted to tell me what was worrying her so but she didn't know how to bring it up and that she had tried to the night before when I … distracted her from it. I was about to put the dishes in the sink for washing when Sango beat me to it by grabbing my plate quickly before I could even stand up. I blinked as I heard her voice saying, "don't even think about washing the dishes when you are the one who cooked the delicious meal … almost as delectable as you …" she mumbled the last part and had I not been listening carefully I would have never caught it.

I felt my face burn with the meaning behind those words knowing fully well what she meant saying that. I knew full exactly which part of me she meant was delectable … or should I say which part of me was especially so for her hot tongue and mouth. I felt something drip from my nose a little … I put a hand up to my nose as it started to trickle even more quickly, almost alarmingly fast, to find … blood?! Quite a bit confused by it, momentarily, I looked up to see Sango had finished washing the dishes already and had just finished wiping her hands dry on a ready towel when she looked up to smile at me. It was approximately one second before about ten different emotions flashed through her face, which at anytime would be amusing to me which was true now. At first she was smiling happily before that emotion became surprise, then worry, before fear took place, and in its' wake confusion, before a panic stricken look overcame her and she took action.

She ran past me and came back a split second later she returned with a tissue box in hand and a tissue in the other and before I knew it a tissue had been pushed into my nose gently and those gentle hands were wiping the blood off of me. "Kagome … what happened? Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself? Are you drinking enough water?" Question after question came out of her mouth in her concern, not quite giving me a chance to answer her questions. She finally settled down slightly as she took pause to actually breathe and took a steadying breath before finally allowing me to answer.

I couldn't help the brilliant face splitting smile creeping on my face because of how absolutely adorable my love was being right now. If she couldn't help but worry this much over a little blood then I wondered how I would be treated if I had a bruise or a broken bone. "Slow down Sango!" I couldn't hold back the laugh that came out full throttle at the absolute adorableness of this situation. "I didn't hurt myself and I'm not dehydrated in the least … it's just …" I didn't want to tell her it was because of her … or rather the comment she most likely did not mean for me to hear. I felt her squeeze my hand encouragingly and saw a smile on her face, still kneeling in front of me, she continued to clean the blood from my hand, having nothing else to wipe it away with before the tissues. I took a deep breath before continuing "it's just … well I heard the last part of your … comment even though I'm guessing you hadn't intended for me to hear it … I kind of … had naughty thoughts because of … *ahem* what it means and well … my nose started bleeding." There was a long pause before I continued on in a sort of ramble, "so yeah nothing to worry about Sango …" that's when I heard it. Sango had burst into laughter unexpectedly and quite odd, I must say, considering her previous actions just moments ago.

"Is that all … haha … it was … haha … Kagome?" she asked me in between bursts of her mirth and laughter. Apparently it is amusing when I have a nosebleed for having naughty thoughts because of my lover who said the naughty thing to begin with. I wasn't actually mad because I also found it amusing but I decided I wanted to tease my lover back for laughing at me as hard as she was. I nodded in a way that was my best attempt at being arrogant and humphed too just to add a little to the affect. Sango's peals of laughter stopped altogether at the appearance of my "upset" manner and she immediately apologized to me. "I'm sorry my Kagome. Please don't be upset with me. I meant no harm in it, it just seemed amusing to me … so please don't hate me … don't be upset Kagome. A smile suits you better … even though your scowling pout is just as adorable." She had mumbled that last part too and that was what cracked up my angry façade for her words were too adorable! She probably hadn't meant for me to hear this one either but as it would appear she couldn't hold in her thoughts so easily.

I forced my laughter to stop as I responded to her worried words "I wasn't mad at all … I actually find it amusing as well it's just … too fun to tease you and … do you really … think I'm … that adorable Sango?" I asked the last part hesitantly despite the fact that we had been dating a little over three months by now, I can't believe it's been that long not only because we've known each other for just over five months but also being in a relationship is new for me. I have never dated anyone else in my life before Sango due to … my active life purifying evil demons and spirits … I have nothing else to go by whether things were going well or not but … the way we are around each other … I can say honestly that we are more than happy. Sango is always the cutest most adorable thing ever and she makes me laugh and smile so easily and … no matter that we had been dating for a while my heart hasn't stopped beating madly around her yet … a good thing I think.

Sango's cheeks were aflame with embarrassment having been caught saying one extremely suggestive thing and the other an embarrassing confession for her. Even though I felt myself close to cracking up again when I saw Sango's face, bright red but serious, "so what if I find you to be utterly and completely adorable? You are the epitome of cute, kind, and generous and you're gorgeous … you're just … everything I never imagined could be so right in my life. I … I'd never imagined myself in a relationship before to be honest … but when I saw you for the first time I knew … I was attracted to you because you were so kind. You were so beautiful … your eyes … were so mesmerizing to me and I couldn't believe my eyes or ears when you first spoke … your gentle voice gave me shivers and everything about you just … excited me whether it was just us sitting near each other and watching a movie or … something else just as innocent I couldn't draw my eyes away from you even if I had wanted to … needed to desperately for some reason. Nothing could take my attention away from you … you captured me in so many ways without any intention to do so … you did so subconsciously you made me fall for you completely … and you have completed my once empty heart somehow. You always had good intentions but I know my falling in love you with you and loving you from the bottom of my heart was not something you had aimed for but it happened anyways."

Sango took pause to breathe again after her long speech and she seemed to be deep in thought thinking something. I've had this planned out for Kagome's birthday for so long … but should I give it to her now? Her birthday is only less than a week away, five days to be exact … during the week before Christmas this year. School started July 17th of this year so … it's been just a little over five months since we first met that fateful day. I heard Sango sigh and I had to admit that it was very amusing watching Sango's face as she thought so deeply she forgot about her surroundings. She would shake or nod her head to whatever it is she's thinking about and I found it to be very entertaining and adorable of her.

It would appear that the both of us had forgotten about my nose blood over the past few minutes but it had stopped bleeding already, from what I can see. I pulled out the tissue to see an extremely dyed blood red mess left after its' wake. Understandably so of course when I stood to throw it away I felt a slight dizziness from the amount of blood loss in my head area and before I could sway for more than a second secure arms wrapped around me to help steady me. I smiled appreciatively as I held onto her strong arms and she helped stand me up slowly and I tried to support myself. In succeeding I grabbed the multiple bloodied tissues left on the table on top of a few single ones to keep the blood from getting on the table. To show her my appreciation I gave her a peck on the cheek and a tight hug before letting go but before I could she pulled me back into the embrace, not wanting to let go for some reason.

"Um … Sango? Is something wrong?" I wondered why it got to this point suddenly … the point where Sango would cry in my arms and not let go of me, holding me this tightly. And then I abruptly remembered our problems with … those people … and I felt an impulsive hate develop in me for anyone who would dare hurt my Sango like this. Hurt her so terribly and cause her such intense pain and sorrow to cause the first traces of tears to come from those evergreen eyes I love so much … she don't deserve whatever they have up their sleeves. It made me livid with rage that these people would dare make my love cry this way when she has done no wrong. Everything she has ever told me about her past has led me to the conclusion that she has a beautiful and pure soul … one that should never be tortured so in this way. The audacity of it all, the way they just bust through her village and killed everyone mercilessly … so cruelly without so much as batting an eyelash whenever it was a child, a baby, a woman they were murdering. None of that mattered … nor weighed anything in their conscience in the least they way the were left to die slowly if they didn't die immediately.

"I-I …" Sango couldn't force her voice to say the words she'd been trying to tell me since seeing that note. I held her tightly, trying to give her the same warmth and love to ease her pain in any way I could possibly and I felt her hold on me only tighten, in a gentle way somehow without hurting me. I whispered soft words of comfort to her and it seemed to soothe her if only a little bit and for that I am glad. I would be the happiest woman on earth if only Sango were happy and had no troubles such as this in her life. My anger towards those … bastards only grew the more I thought of what they had done to her and how much heartrending sorrow they had caused her already and what heartbreak the future may hold for her due to these … people, if they could be called that. Cruel and heartless these people must be to be able to murder so many without any guilty conscience or a second thought before slaughtering them.

I wanted to do nothing more than comfort my love in any way I could so I looked into her eyes and smiled encouragingly as I waited for her to say something. When nothing came I went back to whispering whatever I could promise her without breaking any of them under any circumstances. I promised her I would never voluntarily leave her, that I would love her with all my heart … forever, that I would never stop loving her, that I would do anything to protect her and anything else I knew without fail I could keep and say as truth. As frustrating as it was for me to realize I wouldn't be able to do more than this for her I was content in knowing I could at least comfort her in some way. I knew that what I had been taught in martial arts would come to no avail should I try to fight back with them, if that were the case having to fight them anyways. All of my efforts would amount to absolutely nothing … but then … now of all times I remember my miko powers! I could do many wondrous things with them as long as it pertains to fighting evil, demons or not, or helping others out in some way … I could do that for her!

Sango's pov

I replayed every other word in my head and knowing the meaning behind them so clearly scared me and I dreaded the moment they would leave me another message. But hearing that soothing voice and seeing the love in her eyes eased this pain a little and the burden building on my shoulders were lifted seeing how much she loved me. I held back the urge to cry as best I could but all so futilely as I shook in her arms as a child would and how I clung onto her was no better. I felt no shame though wanting to hold my beloved while I still had the chance was nothing but heaven to me … Kagome is my haven and strength when I have no where else to turn to … no one else to turn to.

I took a deep breath and steadied my nerves as best I could before telling her what the contents of the letter consisted of. By the time I finished I could tell she was feeling an extremely disconcerted emotion and probably the same dreading I had been feeling since I read the entirety of the letter. The letter told of many things … the reason why they wanted my village dead so badly was the threat we posed as a village of trained and highly "assassins" in a sense. I saw my village as more of a village of martial artists and our called duty was more for protection of those who would hire us more than anything else in all honesty. My village could be seen as a rich village since we had no real need for money other than the times someone would have to go out to buy food when crops weren't as prosperous during the seasons. I couldn't say my village was absolutely clean from all sins … such as killing because there had been cases where such a measure was necessary not that anyone actually wanted to or even liked to kill. There was an incident where I had been on an assignment for the protection of the CEO's daughter of a company, they were being targeted but specifically this girl to get to the CEO, had asked for my team and me to be in the shadows to protect should she be in any danger. Things had gone horribly for the attempted assassin … my good friend had to kill him … no other choice and he pitied the soul despite what he was ready to do to that girl.

I only understood the connection after reading the letter and seeing all the words of hate and anger aimed towards me now for being sole survivor of those who had been involved "witnesses" as well as the sole survivor of my village by stroke of luck. They lost a lot of good men to us despite the fact that everyone had been unprepared for a surprise attack that day … not knowing that a gruesome slaughter would take place that very day. I had also noticed that numerous unfamiliar bodies were scattered about the battlefield that had once been home to me. Though I knew nothing could be done … whether there was any difference in me being there or not I still wanted to help fight the good fight if not for anything else … for my family and for the village I loved so.

It was then I felt a warm gentle pull me into a tender embrace and a soothing voice whispered in my ear. At first I couldn't understand what Kagome was saying until I finally realized she was telling me something … her plan to fight back should they do something and I really liked the plan … except for the fact that she would be a part of it in actually fighting. Then again why would I want her to fight if there would always be a chance for her to get hurt? I sighed knowing that I couldn't argue against her either because I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I wouldn't be able to dissuade her either because she did have a slight "advantage" over me. I know she knows what my one single weakness is … her cuteness … something I would never be able to stand up against because I also know she knows that I'm so in love with her I would never stand a chance against her tears and cuteness. Not only that but her plan was sound and the best bet I had to survive this … not only that but also the safest plan involving Kagome.

Kagome's voice was barely audible above the roaring sounds in my head … the worried thoughts that wouldn't stop haunting me in the eerie feelings they gave off. I wanted to stop them … the sounds and images wouldn't stop coming … images of bloody bodies from fights, shouting and screaming in distant bursts. Soft lips brushed against mine and I came out of it when I felt a tongue rub against my lips for permission to enter, which I granted easily, subconsciously, and my mind was back in order again. All of my attention was now on the warm tongue rubbing against my own causing shivers to run down my spine as the intensity of the kiss increased even more. I moaned as Kagome slurped my tongue and continued to play with it and finally pulled away to breathe but not for long because she dove in again after another quick breath of air.

Everything was so hot I could practically see my breath as I panted hard after parting again only to be interrupted by … the doorbell. I felt my eyebrow twitch slightly in response and I heaved a sigh as I looked at Kagome in question, "should I get that?" And Kagome's response? She pulled me into yet another hot kiss but whoever was at the door was being persistent and rang again and much to my dismay I went to answer the door. I yanked the door open and seeing Kouga and Inuyasha there I shouted "what!?" much to their surprise and shock and I felt slight guilt and amusement at the same time seeing their reaction. "I'm sorry but I was in the middle of something so … hearing the doorbell ring so suddenly and … interrupting irritates me. So what is it?" I said in a rushed breath with a slight pause in between.

"Well geez. Sorry for interrupting your love life but we came with some news for you guys … sort of news anyways." Inuyasha responded. I sighed in annoyance, barely audible, nodded my head and moved aside to allow them in just as Kagome walked into the living room area, her cheeks no longer flushed with desire but upon closer inspection I could see a very slight pink tint in them. I just hoped they wouldn't see or notice it and I hoped the sigh, if they caught it, would be taken as exasperation for them referring to Kagome as my girlfriend yet again. It appeared I was correct in that assumption the way Kouga looked at me and quickly made a motion for his eyebrows to go up and down suggestively but only served to make me laugh at how ridiculous he looked in doing so.

He growled at me a little in response only causing Kagome and Inuyasha to look on in confusion at what had transpired between us. Inuyasha's face was that of, elegantly, raised brows while Kagome's head was tilted to the side in confusion and her eyebrows furrowed with a slight frown, jealousy maybe my dear Kagome. As I continued to laugh Kouga's angry façade broke and he broke into laughter as well and Kagome unexpectedly stood up from her seat on the couch and pulled me by the arm to sit down on the armchair before firmly sitting herself on my lap, as if to claim me as her territory. I felt my cheeks tint at the cuteness overload from the way Kagome defiantly crossed her arms in a pout to they way she glared at Kouga and humphed as well. I started to laugh again as she was unrelenting in her glare and jealousy but it was all to my amusement apparently when she turned on me for laughing so hard.

Without even thinking about it I felt Kagome pull me down into a hard passionate kiss to which without a second thought I responded to in kind. I then realized there was cat calling in the background coming from Kouga as I pulled back a little to look at them with slightly dazed eyes. "I … um … Kagome …" I never got finish because each pause was Kagome interrupting me with her hot demanding lips and tongue but my embarrassment overpowered my desire in the end. "Kagome," I pulled back completely and saw the obvious lust in her eyes, "there's other people here … we can finish this later." I whispered the last part in her ears and apparently she had forgotten about Kouga and Inuyasha completely when she was kissing me, making out is what she told me it's called, and her ears showed it with how red they became immediately. She mumbled in short an apology to Kouga and Inuyasha with my help interpreting her barely audible words due to her embarrassment and unwillingness to crawl out of the crook of my neck much to Kouga and Inuyasha's amusement as well as mine. They diplomatically accepted.

Our laughter died down a little as Kouga and Inuyasha became serious and I felt a nervous tension in the air, though I was unsure whether it was due to something about them or … perhaps me. I became nervous as they continued to stay silent and the mute seriousness in their demeanor did nothing to appease this feeling … of dreading. It seems that dreading is a word I've come to like a lot since I had been using it describe my emotions since that letter as well as Kagome's feelings as well and now Kouga and Inuyasha too. I disliked this kind of silence so I started, "well … what exactly did you two come over here to tell us … it seems that it may be serious with you two looking like the dead." In truth they were both very pale, Inuyasha more so and Kouga being tan obviously paler than normal.

The first movement I saw was Kouga taking a deep breath before looking up his face had become even more serious than before, if possible, and slight dreading. There was much to be said I knew for a fact that this would be a long chat rather than our, usually, entertaining talks when we would hang out for fun. It was even more apparent as he began to speak how serious this really was, "you guys remember the last time we hung out after school?" he paused to let us affirm with a nod. "Well … right after we parted ways … some creeps confronted us on our way home … they told us to stay away from you if we know what's good for us. Inuyasha was unusually calm in this situation, much to my surprise, but when he told them "No way in hell," they laughed and tried to attack us. Stupid on their part because they only had four men to us demons so we easily beat them to bloody pulps but what happened next is what has us on edge. Right after we knocked down the ringleader … they all … just disappeared and a puff of smoke was left behind in their wake … and on the ground we found … a … a letter. All it said was … "now that you see what we can do you'd better listen to us for in not doing so is unwise of you … if you want to keep your lives you just stay away because no matter where you run we'll find you – Fushicho."

There was silence again until Inuyasha spoke this time, "and there's more to it … whenever I got home the day after I noticed something weird. I had left something I was writing in my notebook on my desk open with some notes and stuff the night before but when I went into my room … it wasn't on my desk anymore. I was freaking out because these notes are on a presentation my class is doing so I went all over my room to look for it but I couldn't find it anywhere! When I found it … it was taped to my door … and a page was taped so that when I found it I could read what they wrote on a clean side … it said "remember the note we gave you? Well here's a second warning to stay away from your "precious" friend Kaoru. Remember this well and no harm will come to you, your friends, or your family. This is your last warning." What made me freak out this time was … the ink they used to write in had dripped down the pages … it was red ink … and it looked like it was actually … bloodand it smelled like it too!

I could see how shook up about this they both were because Inuyasha's hand shook and his voice as he spoke quivered and wavered at times. Kouga wasn't much better off but he was probably safer than Inuyasha because of his full blood while Inuyasha was only half demon and from experience I knew that he was vulnerable once every month but he also had a night that he would be strongest and would take on the powers of a full blood. I knew because of the aura I sensed from his demonic side from all of the demonology I learned in my village I could easily tell how strong demons were and classify them all in the same second. I could also sense when their time of vulnerability would come up if they are half demons and when they would be strongest each month. It was always a very useful skill for me whenever I needed to confront a demon knowing exactly how strong it was and all.

I could tell Inuyasha's 'time of the month' was coming up soon because his demon aura was already weakening where he sat. I suspected Kouga could also sense this the way his eyes kept flicking over to Inuyasha's still form frequently and I knew for a fact that Kagome could with her powers as a trained miko. I was curious as to how powerful her miko powers were because I knew she was more than strong being able to protect herself as young as fourteen with a sustained barrier but not to what extent her powers were, especially after all the training she must have gone through after such a discovery. There was much to be done and little time for planning but what Kagome had come up with seemed to have included an extra three parties beforehand and I wondered then if maybe Kagome somehow knew that Kouga, Inuyasha, and Sesshoumaru would be involved in some way. Though I am very much in love with Kagome she scared me sometimes with how she seemed to carry the powers of foresight as well piled up with everything else she's good at.

And then all of a sudden it occurred for me to ask Inuyasha something I hadn't thought of until now. I wasn't sure if I should ask at all or not but it was worth a shot and it wouldn't hurt anybody to ask anyways. "Hey um … Inuyasha …," I waited a moment before I saw him nod for me to continue, "does your brother, Sesshoumaru, know about any of the stuff that's been happening? Anything at all?" From the reaction I saw I knew he hadn't been expecting this question at all but before he could even take a breath to answer the doorbell rang yet again. I twitched a little as I stood up, gently setting Kagome down on the ground, and made to open the door when it opened on it's own to reveal … Sesshoumaru? Truly he didn't open it for he was just as shocked, no one was standing by the door nor was Sesshoumaru's hand on the doorknob. I shuddered not knowing how this happened.

Sesshoumaru started off in an eerie voice, "I don't know what happened. I just rang the doorbell and the door started opening of its own accord so I don't know how it happened either." He paused briefly to see that Kouga and Inuyasha, I just noticed how close they were very close to each other, and then saw Kagome standing next to me. I took note that he seemed surprised to see both Kouga and Inuyasha here with me already and I held back a laugh seeing a certain light of amusement in his eyes as he also seemed to notice their closeness to each other. His eyes came back to me and I saw, this time to my dismay, that he could distinguish and connect the dots, and strings, that Kagome and I had gotten together somehow. People, friends, finding out about my relationship with Kagome without my saying anything was starting to really irritate and annoy me at this point, regardless of how good of friends they are.

As much as I disliked it I also knew it brought me a little bit of relief not having to say a word about it whenever they gave me a look like 'congratulations and good luck'. I also found it very amusing to see the looks of disappointment girls would shoot my way knowing who Kagome is and what she is to me. It was a much needed reprieve from the crazy behavior before I admitted to all of them, in a passionate display of love, that I was truly taken by a girl I love very much, from the bottom of my heart. I shook those thoughts from my head before nodding for Sesshoumaru to come in and I nodded towards a spot not too far away from where Kouga and Inuyasha sat, perhaps they are unaware with how close they are sitting to each other.

As Sesshoumaru came into the house I felt something odd in my body … like an alert of some kind go off in my head and I knew something was up but then it was gone just like that. Sesshoumaru closed the door behind him and locked it and I felt a strange presence near me but I knew it was neither Sesshoumaru nor the pair sitting on the couch. I felt like something, no someone was watching my every move, as well as anyone else in this room, in an eerie concealed way. I didn't like this feeling at all but I chose to ignore it since no other warning had gone off in my mind and I just decided on sitting down and relaxing with a comfortable Kagome on my lap. She had yet again buried her face in the crook of my neck, probably just to get comfortable, as I turned my attention to Sesshoumaru and I could see that he, too, was more serious than usual.

Knowing another long serious chat was coming up I decided to try and relax a little and get comfortable in my chair. I leaned back and laid my chin on top of Kagome's head and I heard a slightly muffled sigh of content come from her and I smiled in response. I looked up to see that both Inuyasha and Kouga had softened expressions on their faces and it seemed like Sesshoumaru also wore a similar look on his face as well. I suppose they think of us as a cute couple from they way they are looking at us now and how they guessed almost immediately that we are a couple now doesn't seem like such a surprise anymore. And the more I thought about it the more I realized it was actually very obvious and translucent that Kagome and I are in love and it shouldn't come as a surprise to me anymore.

So many unspoken hardships were still to come before Sesshoumaru even said anything I knew there was a big chance of it being about what had just been spoken of moments before he arrived. If the way he looked so serious gave an indication as to what he wanted to talk about and that we were talking about it before his arrival as well as the other two being here … I believe this is fate's way of pointing me in the right direction and telling me that they were part of it too. Things just kept getting more and more complex as the day passed ever so slowly seconds seeming to last for hours and my frustration grew as well as my anxiety about what had yet come to pass. My fate and destiny are things I'd never had to think about before this happened … before everything I ever new was shattered right before my very eyes. It all seemed very palpable in the beginning that I would live a life like any other person lived before me. My life would've been very simplistic in many ways but … no way I would trade my love for Kagome to go back to the way things used to be.

"Well I think it's about time I tell you why I came here today and judging by my brother's face he's already told you some of what happened to him recently. There is much that needs to be said and I don't want to take up all of you time this afternoon so I will try to be consistent and keep it short but to the point." He paused momentarily in thought it seemed as to how best get things out in as short a time as possible. "Something strange happened a few days ago, I'm sure he told you, and stranger things still after that initial incident and I wanted to find out what my dear little brother had been hiding for these past few days so I snooped a bit. And I did find out quite a secret, one I must say he hid exceptionally well for someone with a big mouth like his." He paused again only this time to laugh at his brother's indignant response to such a 'claim' that had absolutely no merit whatsoever. Being quite the comical situation I joined in Kouga's laughter and so did Kagome with Sesshoumaru letting loose his strong urge to laugh at his brother's expense yet again.

Inuyasha, no longer able to hold this indignation, yelled out in embarrassment, "shut up and get to your freaking point Sesshoumaru! We're not here to laugh at me we're here to talk so get on with it you big jerk face of a brother!" This only fuelled our laughter even further much to his horror and he decided on just sitting there with his arms crossed, waiting for us to calm down. Though his cheeks were red in embarrassment and mock anger there was a slight turn in corners of his mouth that suggested a smile he was trying so hard to hold back. All laughter ceased soon enough once the fun was over and once again we had to face this serious situation, all laughter and amusement gone from our faces. We got ready to talk about what was weighing on all of our minds, Sesshoumaru's unusual behavior aside, we looked at each other seriously and our thoughts in sync.

As promised this chapter made it well past my 10,000 mark and I hope you guys really enjoy reading it! It took me a while but I made it! Enjoy and tune in for the next chapter!

姫宮 光る