Here's chapter 10 without delay. I'm also going to apologize but I became legitimately sick these past two days, since yesterday the 3rd. Well this is going to be the longest chapter yet so hold on tight my good loyal readers and reviewers I love you all for sticking with me! I have to apologize but my mother has taken the computer wire away for a week now and it's been so hard finding opportunities to sneak on and write but I at least got to about 4,000 words before I couldn't find anymore opportunities^^! I'm SO sorry! Enjoy!

Dying Wills

Sango's pov

Dead silence reigned once again and the seriousness of the situation was finally being taken into account. I sat stalk still as I awaited the next words Sesshoumaru would finally utter and break the silence with, the deafening silence I could not stand to hear anymore. Sesshoumaru took a barely perceptible breath of air before his soft voice filled the void of quiet, "these people … I'd heard of them before and I know what they do and how they do it. It's not a pleasant thing to hear what they've done, finding out was hard enough but our father's connections really came through this time. They are known for committing the worst crimes on the face of this planet and yet no one can say that they know for sure what they've done … with proof of witnesses because no one has ever survived long enough to tell of their horrors. That is but one person who happened to be a powerful demon they could not kill … he was the only survivor to ever witness their wickedness. This person is … our father Inuyasha … the only one who ever came out of their sick games alive, more than intact, was our all powerful father."

There was another pause only this time it seemed Sesshoumaru was just letting us digest the recent discovery. Discovering a secret so powerful and potent helped me realize there was much for me to uncover yet in this mystery unsolved for years. I knew in this moment that what I was about to learn, to hear, would have a great impact in my life more so than discovering my villages murder. The devastation they caused in my village made me shiver a little just trying to imagine Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's father being that he was able to survive them and whatever torture they might have put him through. I felt the hairs on my neck stand up on end and I knew without a shadow of doubt that their father was a very powerful and revered demon, and I suspected they weren't able to dent him much if he escaped their grasp.

"Inuyasha, as you already know, our father is a very powerful demon amongst demon … a king if you will right?" Sesshoumaru waited for the slight nod Inuyasha gave as agreement to his statement. "Well when our father was … kidnapped for lack of better word, he was merely a 12 year old boy of a demon, fresh meat if you will, and he came out with barely a dent. That's just part of what was amazing about this … phenomena that occurred, he was also able to clear out about half of their forces whenever he came to because they never expected that he would be a demon capable of such power. He scared them because what they had initially done to capture him was they drugged him with the most powerful narcotics they could come up with before dragging him to their lair. When he came to he rammed through their steel doors and started the hunt for them as they tried their best to hide from him. In the end our father ended up killing the forces sent to try and destroy him before he destroyed them and reached the head of everyone, I don't know how many of them there are I just know that there's more than one person running this operation." He took pause after his long winded explanation and I could feel a bigger headache coming on because I knew this wasn't the worst, yet, to come from his mouth.

I sighed deeply knowing this would be a long night, a very long night indeed, and then I had to wonder where everyone would be sleeping since it was already this late at night. As I pondered these thoughts it seemed that Kagome had the same idea because she voiced her thoughts softly. "Um … it is very late right now so I was wondering where everyone might be sleeping … or what sleeping arrangement might we make? Well that is assuming you guys would want to stay over since it is this late … but then again you guys are demons so you could make it home if you wanted to as well." She looked expectantly at each present in the face for a few seconds before moving onto the next person and seeing them all looking thoughtful, appearing to give this a thought. Inuyasha seemed to make his decision quickly for he smacked a closed fist onto his other hand almost immediately before nodding in a comical way that made it seem like he had been contemplating a decision that would dictate the rest of his life and coming to a decision after days thinking on it.

"I think we should all go home and get some rest in our dorms, or house in my brother's case, and then come back in the morning nice and refreshed yes?" Inuyasha spoke with a smile on his face despite how tense and serious the situation we discussed was. I felt the heavy weight of stress lessen its grip on me and I could only smile at him genuinely as well as Kagome. I gave our intertwined hands a light squeeze to show my appreciation of her suggestion and she smiled at me and squeezed back. It that that slight action did not go unnoticed by our audience of three and Inuyasha pointed out as much in a not so discreet whisper to Kouga. "Hey Kouga did you see that! They so totally can't hide it well at all can they! I bet if we weren't here they would do more than just hold hands and give light squeezes like that!" Inuyasha whispered loudly, shouted more than whispered really, and Kouga's face turned beet red from Inuyasha's embarrassing statement and Sesshoumaru was a mix of embarrassment, amusement, and annoyance as well as one other thing I couldn't identify.

"Well then I shall resume with what I know tomorrow and I expect that it will take several hours to complete the tale. There is much I have yet to reveal and most of it will be very gruesome as well so … shall we all meet up again around noon since tomorrow is Sunday?" Sesshoumaru waited a moment for us to nod our agreement and Inuyasha grumbled more about being up 'that early', before he continued on, "well now that we've all agreed I shall take my leave." He stood up from his seat gracefully before nodding his head in good to us and turning to his brother and Kouga briefly to do the same and left with graceful steps. Kouga and Inuyasha both stood up in unison before giving an audible good night to us and smiled widely before leaving, so carefree a manner it did not seem like we had just been discussing gruesome murderer's and the massacres they'd committed.

Standing up to walk them out I was stopped by the soft, gentle hand of Kagome who gave me a look that said she had more she wanted to discuss. I smiled wordlessly at her in a way to say I wanted to do something quickly and she smiled in understanding in response. I went to the door to lock it as was something that came into habit after what happened in my village. I had been so paranoid after that that I could not help but always feel the need to look over my shoulder constantly even when I sensed no immediate danger to myself. I felt my shoulders sag yet again with the weight of the horrific knowledge I carried in my mind and in my heart everyday. Those relaxed, blithe days of just training to my heart's content or sparring with the occasional extermination missions are things of the past and now all that's left is the worry. My first instinct was to run, to hide from all these sudden troubles and now it's just to protect Kagome that I'm living at all. What if I just run away from her to save her all these worries, these unnecessary troubles that I brought into her life without meaning to? I knew without a shadow of doubt that it would be more painful than losing my entire family was that day, more than any agonizing wound buried deep in my heart. Losing her because of my own weakness would hurt more than anything I'd ever experience.

Looking up from where I stood Kagome gave me a beckoning smile and held a hand out to me in a way that made my heart lurching and throbbing hopelessly. I felt despair take over me as each step I took brought me closer and closer to the person who had captured my once tightly locked up and guarded heart. The one who made it beat so hard and fast I thought it would break through my ribcage and show her how she made me so weak with her love for me. There was so much I would do for this woman, for my love, but I don't think running away to protect her is something I would ever be strong enough to do, willing to do ever. I finally took one last step toward her before I took hold of her hand and pulled her forward into my embrace, something I could not live a day without. She stiffened in surprise before relaxing in my embrace and holding me just as tightly in return murmuring sweet and soothing words into my ear, perhaps sensing my unease. She seemed to have a knack for that no matter how hard I tried to hide my feelings behind a vacant expression she could just see through it somehow and that about her amazed me.

"Did I make it better at least a little bit Sango? I hate to see you in so much pain while trying to shoulder it all by yourself … without telling me how you're feeling. I … I don't quite understand what it is but for some reason … I keep getting the feeling that you're thinking about doing something ridiculous to try and protect me … something drastic that would make me terribly sad." She sighed and stopped there and continued to rest her head in the crook of my neck gently running her forehead against the skin of my neck. One of the things I loved most about Kagome was how she was constantly touching me in some way, I just loved it whether it was just a hand joined with mine or laying on my lap with her face buried in my stomach. Kagome just loved contact in some form with me and the more comfortable she became with me the bolder her contact became, something I didn't mind at all I thought it to be adorable after all. "You … you would never ever … leave me all alone would you Sango? Even if it was to protect me … would you?" Her voice quivered very slightly but just that bit was enough to make me feel foolish for thinking of doing anything that would hurt Kagome just to protect her. How could I think of doing anything so … utterly idiotic to her for what may be temporary relief from them?

"I … I am sorry Kagome!" I shouted feeling my heart throb painfully at the foolish, rash thoughts that had crossed my mind only mere moments before because of my frantic state. I couldn't believe my stupidity and I was sorely tempted to just slap myself as hard as I could to clear out any other similar thoughts to those that would damage not only Kagome but me as well. "Kagome I … I only meant well but I … how could I ever even think of leaving you to protect you from those … monsters but in the end only hurting you as a result? I-I … I just wanted to shelter you from those fiends but I would merely hurt you worse in the process with such a betrayal Kagome … forgive me?" I rushed and Kagome merely closed my mouth before I could continue on and when we parted she kept on each time I attempted to speak again her mouth closed on mine in a tender and passionate kiss.

I finally understood that she wasn't going to stop until I gave in to her and so I let her see that I had finally calmed down somewhat. She looked up into my eyes seriously, her eyes strong and bold, showing a serious side of her that was hardly ever present. I felt my heart beat strongly but much calmer compared to the wild beating earlier and I just took hold of her hand and placed it as close to my heart as it would ever be. I relished in the warmth of she gave off and placed my forehead against hers, eyes closed for a moment before I opened them to peer at her. She looked slightly dazed possibly from the way I was looking at her and she allowed herself a moment to relish in this tender moment before she looked at me seriously once again, determination dominating her features. I felt so amazed by this creature, my love, so perfect she could not possibly be human but flawed in her perfection in my eyes for there was no perfect human. Kagome was as close to perfect as any person could ever get to perfection, in my world Kagome is nearly morally perfect and she strived to always be the best person she could. There was nothing about this woman I couldn't love, nothing I didn't treasure and cherish with all my heart, and absolutely nothing I could hate, I adore every aspect of her.

"Sango … I want you to know that … even if you did want to … leave me to protect me … it is not something I would hold against you … it would just … just tear me apart to be away from you. Sango it wouldn't just be me either … I know as much as it would tear me apart it would break you too because you … you and I are soul mates I believe, from the moment we met I felt there was some strange connection between us and I know that you and I were meant to be together. We just meld together so perfectly, our personalities, the way we view the world, how easily we fell in love, and the immediate attraction we felt towards each other … it just makes sense seeing how we clicked. There are many more things I could say but I will save that for some other day but do you see what I mean Sango, about how we felt even in the beginning?" Kagome paused for my confirmation. I nodded my head sub-consciously smiling at the heartwarming words pouring from her mouth like sweet, sweet honey. She smiled back at me in return and leaned in for a brief kiss showing her overflowing feelings of love for me.

I could only hold onto her hand even tighter at that and I felt relief in that Kagome was such a sweetheart, my sweetheart, my angel. We stood for several moments, just holding hands as our foreheads met in a tender and gentle manner. Tender moments like this made my heart beat strongly with love and joy; these moments made me realize even more how much in love I truly was. I could only wish for more moments like this in the future, a future with the love of my life after all this chaos is over … if it ends that way. Kagome's soft voice beckoned me, "shall we go to bed now Sango-chan? It is very late now and we must finish listening to Sesshoumaru's tale, it might help us a little you know?" I nodded softly against her and I could feel her smile in response causing a small smile to form on my lips. "Shall we sleep in my bed tonight? Or would you like to use your barely used room now?" I could hear the teasing lilt in her voice and I wanted to pinch her cheeks for a moment but I decided to refrain from doing so.

I thought it over for a moment and decided to go with Kagome's room since I'd been sleeping in Kagome's bed for a while now … also her room was like a sanctuary for me now. I would feel odd sleeping in room again even if Kagome were there, in my arms next, to me it would feel too strange for me. Her warmth was so soothing but I knew I needed to brush my teeth first and then change myself before I could jump in bed with Kagome. "I'll sleep with you in your room Kagome … it would be too strange for me to sleep in my own bed all of a sudden even if you were next to me … in my arms Kagome. It seems I'm addicted to all aspects of you love." I smiled at my words feeling like I had just smooth talked her into that one the way I said it didn't help either. What has Kagome done to me? "What have you done to me Kagome? To make me love you so much I couldn't spare a moment without you without feeling utter agony? Without suffering such heartrending sorrow without out you by my side and in my arms it hurts me too much. What have you done to steal my heart from me … to make me love you so much I couldn't sleep if I didn't think of you?" My words made Kagome's face flush with happiness and I felt delight at saying such things to her. "You make me want you so much … need you so much more than anything in this world." I whispered this last part into her ear so softly I had to strain to hear myself even but I could see her ears turn red.

She inhaled a breath sharply at hearing me speak in such a way to her and I could feel her entire body heat up. She exhaled her breath very slowly, maybe to calm herself, before she took in another breath of air and spoke in a trembling voice, "we should be heading to bed now Sango-chan." I only just realized now that this was the second time she had addressed me as such and it made me wonder where it came from. It could be that she started addressing me in such a way as a pet name for me because in private I often referred to her as 'love'. I liked the sound of it on her tongue the honey dripping from her voice was heaven to my ears, almost as much as when she screams my name in pleasure. "I'm … I will go ready myself for bed now Sango-chan." With that she abruptly left the curves of my arm and headed for the bathroom before I could even so much as respond. I stood there alone for a moment before it finally registered in my head that she had left me standing there by myself and I ran after her.

Kagome stood in front of the mirror and sink of the bathroom poised to brush her teeth, toothbrush in hand right in front of her mouth while her eyes were on me at the doorway. I had a smirk on my face as I walked the short distance between us and took her toothbrush from her hand and set it down on an empty cup on the sink. Kagome looked at me with confused eyes, perhaps pondering what I could be doing when she was just about to brush her teeth before bed. I said nothing as she continued to look into my eyes, blank aside from the still present smirk on my face. I leaned down so swiftly she didn't catch my movement until our lips were pressed together. She was startled to say the least but she did not resist me and responded to my kiss, closing her eyes slowly as I gently parted her lips to allow my tongue in. She moaned softly into the kiss, mewling at times, as we continued I pressed my tongue against hers harder as we continued. I felt myself heat up around my center as my need for her grew ever stronger and without my noticing my hand had gone from her hands to around her waist.

Just as abruptly as I started this I ended it knowing she would be frustrated with me for exciting her only to pull away as I did. I smirked at her growling at me in response to me pulling away from our heated kiss and she looked at me so aggressively my throat dried considerably at the sight, at the want in her eyes. She pulled me down and crushed our lips together before plunging her tongue into my slightly parted mouth. I never felt so turned on in my life, Kagome being aggressive in our relationship had to be the most alluring thing I'd ever seen and felt in my life! Before I could process anything in my mind she stopped and put her hands down causing a hiss to come from my mouth in disappointment. I wanted to know her reason for stopping and I felt the question about to pour forth from my mouth when I noticed the evil smile on her lips when she looked me right in the eyes. What could possibly be so funny at a moment like this really? She even started laughing at the expression of confusion that must have been plastered on my face and I felt very startled and out of my element.

There was something not right about the way her eyes looked … they way she was laughing was maniacal and not her at all either. What is this … this evil presence that just smothers me so and makes this room feel so small and crowded so suddenly? The tension in the room was peculiar and startling to say the least and it just came seemingly out of nowhere. No way was this my Kagome acting so strangely but just as suddenly as she started she stopped laughing and fell into my abruptly. I knew without a doubt that this person … being, whatever it is, is not my Kagome and that something, or someone, had to have done something to her. I had no clue as to what might be going on anymore … ever since that letter two days ago … everything had gone to madness. Things were crumbling right in my hands without any warning and I wished it all would just … stop … go away … disappear so I could live my life in peace with Kagome again.

I continued to hold onto Kagome as I felt tears brim my eyes, ready to fall at any moments notice. I felt such an intense frustration not being able to just sit down and relax anymore because of those evil, evil men who refused to leave me alone. They just won't allow me any bit of sanity and continue to taunt me for God knows what! My tears were now falling freely, trickling down my face and onto Kagome's as well and I wiped them away angrily, swiftly in contempt. There is nothing I hate more than allowing myself to cry in front of another soul, whether sleeping or awake. The tears continued to trickle down my face, flowing like an unending river, and I could do no more to stop the flow that just wouldn't slow. Just as they started to fall faster Kagome stirred in my arms, at some point I had sunken to the floor in despair, and she blinked her eyes before opening them slowly.

She panicked upon seeing my anguished expression and sat up so quickly she ended up smacking me right in the face with her forehead. I felt a sharp, stinging pain in my flare up in my nose and more tears piled on due to the extreme pain from that unwanted meeting of our faces. This stinging sensation at least woke me from my crying stupor a little and I felt very grateful to Kagome for that. "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry Sango are you ok? You were crying so I panicked and then … oh it probably hurts a lot doesn't it?" I nodded very slightly feeling it throb miserably and I squeezed my eyes shut helplessly and fruitlessly trying to lessen the pain in any slight way possible, not that it did any good anyway. "Wait right here I'll go grab some ice! Oh I'm so, so, so, so sorry Sango-chan! Please forgive me!" And she was off like a hurricane and a series of thuds could be heard in her wake, probably her not turning fast enough and bumping into various things. I sighed in resignation and carefully maneuvered myself so that I was crouching enough to sit myself down tenderly on the bathtub's edge. My head was swimming in pain and I felt as if the room was out of control … or maybe it is just my movement that is out of whack?

Only what seemed like mere moments later Kagome was standing in front of me tilting my chin up and easing an ice pack onto my nose with such care I felt like a fallen child nursing a bleeding wound. I almost laughed at how she could make me feel so many things as easily as this with such small actions. I leaned my head back without thinking and felt myself sink a bit and unbalance myself with such an action and I automatically grabbed onto something near me: Kagome's arm. The next moment I fell into the tub with Kagome following in my wake as I dragged her with me unintentionally. What felt like seconds later Kagome was lying on top of me and my head was very uncomfortable at the odd angle I landed in. I held Kagome up a little to ease the uncomfortable pressure on my head and neck and Kagome pushed herself up further carefully. I sighed in relief when I finally managed to sit up and crack my neck and get all of the cricks out of it and I heard a muffled giggle. I looked up to see Kagome's hand covering her mouth and her shoulders were quivering slightly in repressed laughter.

The sight of Kagome laughing at me made me want to … bully her in retaliation somehow, tease her mercilessly. I smiled evilly for a moment before furrowing my brows in a way that made me look upset with her as I stood up and started for the door. Before I could take any more than two steps Kagome's hand shot out and took hold of mine in a desperate grip. "I didn't mean to laugh, please don't be upset with me Sango!" I felt myself ready to crack up again but I held it in and took up an upset again before turning around to face her. Kagome's face was heartbroken and I felt myself become saddened to see such an expression on her face. My heart seemed to quiver in my chest and how it throbbed and ached at such a heartrending sight caused by my own joke. I grabbed my chest because of such an intense pain and I wasn't sure if it was due to Kagome's expression anymore or something else but it brought me to my knees in pain.

"Ah …" I gasped the pain continued to grow more unbearable as I kneeled and grasped my heart with both hands. "K-Kagome … it, it … ah it hurts so much and I … don't know why … ah it, it's throbbing so much!" I managed to gasp this out but barely and I felt as if my very own life force was being drained out of me as I grew weaker and weaker. I was no longer kneeling down, my head lay on Kagome's shoulder and a hand on the floor were the only reasons I was still upright at all. Kagome was panicking trying to see what was wrong with me by checking my heartbeat with her hand on the left side of my chest. I could scarcely breathe and then it all just stopped as suddenly as it had started and I gasped harshly one last time before I began to breathe normally. I looked up into her worried face and gently stroked her cheek with my hand weakly, "it's okay Kagome … it seems to be over … whatever that was it's okay now." My other hand was on top of hers, holding her hand firmly over top of my heart, I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Are … you sure you're okay now? You scared me Sango! What is happening to you Sango?" Tears kept streaming from the wells of her blue eyes and the hand stroking her cheek wiped the tears away instead now. I realized there had to be some connection between how Kagome was acting moments before my heart started throbbing so painfully just seconds ago. More than it pained me to feel it I realized that something about the two events, one right after another, had to have some connection. I nodded so feebly still regaining my strength as she continued to fuss over me, not that I could blame her really. If it had been Kagome who was in this condition instead I would more than likely be fussing ten times as much as she is right now. I closed my eyes in tiredness and pain since it seemed to be taking it's time to subside though the effects were no longer there, the painful clenching and throbbing, it still hurt. It felt like someone had just grabbed my heart in a grip so tight in enclosed fists and squeezed with all their might in the hopes that I might die.

I contemplated about peculiarity of these two events as a whole and pondered what could possibly be the correlation of these two seeming unrelated things? I tried to sit up by myself, holding my weight with my hands but moments later I just collapsed back down into Kagome's lap. "Kagome … do you remember what happened earlier? You know how you were in the bathroom earlier to get ready for bed and then I followed you there and then we started kissing?" I paused and waited for her affirmation and surely she did give me a nod, and a light blush colored her cheeks. "Well do you remember anything after that at all?" I uttered these words softly, scarcely daring to for fear of what the dreaded answer would be. I saw much to my dismay that I was correct in thinking that she would shake her head no in response to my question, affirming my fears. Someone else had to have taken control of her mind and body for her not even to remember what happened earlier after she let me go. This answer hurt me more than I wanted to admit or even think about because I knew of only one group of people who would want to do such a thing to either of us. Kagome's body was taken over only for a few moments and then making it feel as if my heart had been squeezed by a cold grasping hand, nearly killing me before letting me go.

My sorrow increased as each moment passed and I tried once again to sit up by myself and succeeded more this time. I sat with my back against the bathtub edge but I saw the disappointment that flashed in Kagome's eyes very briefly and I went back into her arms. "I only fear the worse Kagome … being that you cannot even remember what occurred earlier … it is my fear that perhaps they have something capable of taking control of others mind and body. Not just that either but also inducing severe pains in the heart capable of killing … like the intense pains I felt earlier … I fear it may have been them who did that." I felt utterly helpless once I was sure that this is truly what happened and the look on Kagome's face was one of devastation and forlorn. I could not remember a time I was more scared than I was right now in face of an evil I could not see compared to the demons I'd fought face to face. This was something I didn't understand at all … a horror so unfathomable to me; someone who had faced the worst of demons without batting an eyelash even. I wanted to cry, to shout out in fury and frustration because there was more yet I had to hear about these horrid "people" without hearts and surely souls as black as a night without the moon as a guide.

"Did that … really happen for sure Sango? Truly?" Kagome spoke breathlessly, as if she was still in utter shock and disbelief, in much the same way I had been thinking these thoughts. She trembled against me where I lay against her, a head on her shoulder and arms wrapped around her waist, and a whimper fell through her lips. I felt my arms tighten around her as she continued to tremble even worse than earlier, whatever thoughts were haunting her had to be similar to my own earlier. I sat up and crawled my way over to the bathtub and again Kagome had a heartrending expression on her face, but I had yet to let her go, and I tugged on her shirt until she sat on my lap. I could only nod my head against Kagome, my head now rest on her head softly instead having adjusted to my new position. "Sango … why do they have to hunt you …? Why do they need you dead so much? I can't stand the thought of them and all of the evil they could do to you … but I don't even know what for!" Her voice was barely a whisper but it grew louder until she very nearly screamed that last part, she sounded so scared. There was one thought that kept running through my mind … different from the thought of leaving her for her safety but still just as painful.

I sighed into her soft, silky hair and murmured softly just above a whisper, "why don't I just … give up … for your sake and maybe everyone else's? It would solve any all-" Kagome cut me off swiftly and effectively with a kiss. She just pressed her lips against mine in an innocent kiss and did nothing more, continuing in the kiss as she looked at me intently. I felt a stray tear fall from my right eye and the other was still brimming with tears ready to fall. "How can you love me so much Kagome? What did I do to deserve you and your love in this life?" I held her even closer to me, tightly almost as though if I let go she would disappear right before my eyes. My world, broken and torn in half by those demonic humans, was still okay as long as I still had Kagome's love. There was too much I needed to do before I could just give up in the way I had thought of earlier, I know now that no matter what I do there was thing I needed to ensure; Kagome's safety. I would not give this up without giving a fight for our peace and Kagome's safety even if I had to die to make it happen.

Cliffy

I'm so sorry for doing this but I'm cutting it off here because of time constraint! My godsister is coming up for my sister's graduation so I will feel bad for not updating even longer due to the fact that she is staying here for FOUR days! I cannot deny my excitement however this is also something to keep everybody on edge until my next update about a week or so from now for sure since summer is coming upon us soon!^^ Also as a side note my birthday was yesterday on the 1st!^^ This is just part one and about 6000 words or so and part II will also be the same approximate length! Please forgive me for this inconvenience!

姫宮 光る

Himemiya Hikaru