"You know, Sesshoumaru, I encountered something quite amusing on my way here." His mother finally spoke when they were alone in his study. A reclining chair had been prepared for her, set across from his own cushions. She sunk into it, spreading her furs out beside her and resting her chin in her palm.

"Hn?" He sat cross-legged across from her, not bothering to touch the sake that had been set out for them. Foolish formalities, he had no need of such. He regarded her quirked brow with a chill façade.

"Those brothers, Tatsuya and Ryuunosuke." She toyed with the meidou-seki around her neck.

"And?" dragons, Ryuukotsusei's nephews, no less. He preferred to avoid them when he could, irksome as they were, claiming to be out for revenge for their uncle, when in reality they were only after the Western lands.

"Oh, I told them that I was on my way here, of course." She smirked, waiting for his reaction.

"Tch." Of course she told them. Of course. She couldn't simply hand the title over to him. There had to be a test. She had probably gone to find them, knowing her. He really did not need this.

"How long?" Sesshoumaru suppressed the groan in his voice.

"Oh, they were right behind me, so…" there was the sound of something exploding from outside. "Right about now."

He growled, jumping to his feet and stomping towards the door.

"Be careful, my son! I wouldn't want you to die!" she called after him, the mocking tone all too evident in her voice. "Your father left me no others!"

~xXxXxXx~

Kagura hadn't moved.

The crowd had left, gone back to their daily routines, preparing and such. But Kagura had not moved from her spot on the ground. She couldn't take her eyes off the clenched fists in her lap.

He was angry at her, that much she knew. But why? What had she done to him? Nothing came to mind.

She should leave. She should never have stayed. Whatever she had thought this was, it was pointless. Just as before, there was no point in trying. Sesshoumaru cared for himself, that's it. Emotion was dangerous. She shouldn't have bothered. But what had she thought in the first place? Did she think that anything would have changed? She expected too much. She really should leave.

"Kagura-chaaan." Hotaru whined, bending over to look into the wind witch's face. Kize stood behind her, arms folded across his chest.

She lifted her head to look at them, but just barely. "What?"

The fox backed away with a terrified expression. Kagura just glared at her. "What?"

"Now, now, Kagura, no need to scare the poor girl." Kize chuckled and stepped forward. "Let's not stay on the ground forever, shall we?" he asked, extending a hand to her.

She reached forward to take it. What else would she do? Sit on the floor and sulk? No point in that, either, was-

She couldn't see the hand that had been before her, everything taken over by a gray haze. She brought a hand to her mouth to avoid inhaling the dust and smoke that now filled the court. Kagura stood, trying to ignore the faint ringing in her ears that had been brought on by the explosion. She pulled her fan from the inside of her sleeve, using it to clear the area around her.

"What the hell?"

"Kagura…?" Hotaru was on the ground, curled into her tail. Kize had taken a few steps back, eyes closed, trying to sense whatever it was behind the smoke.

"Tch. Go hide somewhere, or something."

Kize opened his eyes. "Kagura, if you're planning on starting a fight..."

"I'm not the one starting it."

"Doesn't matter."

Kagura rolled her eyes. "What I do is none of your business. Besides, you wouldn't be much help." With a glance at Hotaru, Kagura turned her back to them. "You should take her somewhere."

"Are you going to be alright?" the kitsune's shaking voice asked.

Kagura nodded, "I need someone to take some anger out on." She didn't see Kize take the girl by the arm and lead her away, only knew that they had gone.

Kagura sent out a gust of wind, clearing a good majority of the smoky yard.

"Oi! Sesshoumaru!"

Kagura froze, searching for the source of the voice. With the flick of her wrist and a stronger gust she had cleared the entire area. Revealing two men standing amidst the rubble of what had been the wall and gate.

"Na! Sesshoumaru! We really thought- Ho! What's this?" the one on the left had spotted her, red eyes much like her own traveling up and down her body. A smirk appeared upon his lips as he did, leaning against the long sword he carried. Two grey horns sprouted from his temples and ran the length of his skull. Dark violet hair trailed down his back, obscured by the black scaled armor he wore upon his shoulders and chest. A grey haori underneath, his hakama billowed at the ankles over black boots.

The man beside him paid her no attention, he was dressed much the same, grey armor. The red eyes were the same. But his face was much more composed. Blue slashes cut down across his eyes, while the horns that adorned his head were rounded and a burnt black. He had slicked back his lavender hair across his head, letting the rest fall down his back.

"Na, didn't know Sesshoumaru sent out women to fight his battles." The left one chuckled, still keeping his eyes on her.

"Tch." Surely Sesshoumaru had heard this by now, what was he doing? And why were the guards just standing there? A few had gathered, but did nothing.

"Shut up, Tatsuya." The calm one said, folding his arms across his chest.

"Hmph!" he pouted, leaning further against the sheathed sword. "But I want to have some fun!" his eyes were still on Kagura.

"Whatever. Just cut it out when he decides to show himself."

"Will do!" a grin sprouted on his face as he took the hilt of the sword and raised it above his head. "Na! You look like you can fight, if I beat you can I take you home? Don't worry, I won't injure you too badly."

Kagura tensed, bringing her fan to tap her chin. She glanced at the guards that were only watching. "You're not going to do anything?"

"You must not fight them." One of them said. She grit her teeth. "It is Sesshoumaru-sama's battle."

'And he's not here!'

He wasn't coming for her.

"Looks like you won't be getting any help from them! Na?" Tatsuya lunged at her, swinging the sheathed sword that seemed too large for him. It made him look like a child.

"Tch." 'Too easy.' "Fujin no mai!" she jumped back, watching at the white slices of nothingness spiraled towards him. He didn't try to avoid them, merely kept coming for her, facing the blades head on. 'Is he an idiot?'

But then it all made sense, when not only did he meet the wind blades head on, he cut through them.

"Ne, is that all you've got?" the man cackled, still charging, bright red eyes boring into her.

"Tch! Bastard! Ryuuja no mai!" there was no way he would simply be able to cut through the dozen twisters headed for him. She continued jumping back until she had landed on the castle's wall. She felt Kize's form beside her and ignored it.

Kagura watched as the twisters began to lose their strength, waited to see a crumpled mass of Tatsuya.

Of course she was sourly disappointed as the man only sported a few slices in his attire.

"That wasn't very nice." He said with a pout. "How about I return the favor?" he grabbed the sheath of the sword, pulling it off in what seemed like an exaggerated movement. He held it above his head with a chuckle. "Don't worry, it won't kill you. Just hurt… a lot." The sword began it's descent towards her, beginning to glow a sickly green.

"Tatsuya."

The sword stopped.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is, Aniki, his Lordship Sesshoumaru himself!"

Kagura felt the rage boiling in her as Sesshoumaru came to stand between her and Tatsuya, armor and all. Of course, the dainty mutt had gone to prepare, he couldn't come out without looking the part now could he? While she had been prepared to defend his palace, he had been primping.

"Kagura," she tensed at her name, at the tone he said it with, "stay back."

She snapped.

Leaping from her place, she landed beside him, holding the fan in his direction but not looking at him. "Don't you dare tell me to stand back, this is my fight, I give a damn what you think, you son of a bitch."

She didn't give him time to respond, darting forward, she swung her fan at Tatsuya, who had just been watching with an amused expression. She would be quicker this time, the twisters she let fly would be stronger. Tatsuya was overtaken by them again, invisibly behind the walls of roaring wind. Transforming, she could control them better, keep them alive longer, but she didn't get that far. A wall of electric green light destroyed the twisters and forced her back.

"Damnit, Sesshoumaru!" she screeched, whipping around to face him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

His voice was almost a growl, "This Sesshoumaru told you to stay back. And do not-"

"Na! Don't turn your back!"

The gust she tried to form wasn't quick enough, the sword slicing through it and the fabric of her kimono easily.

Another blast of Bakusaiga sent the man darting back towards his brother. Sesshoumaru came to stand before her while Kagura only stared at the small trail of blood forming on her forearm. "That's it?"

"Wait for it. It's the best." Tatsuya chuckled, leaning against the sword, those red eyes watching.

She furrowed her brow, watching him. Her eyes flicked to the cut when it began to tingle and itch, widened when it escalated into a burning sensation that traveled up her arm and to-

'No!' it was the same pain, a twisting, stabbing, burning pain that reached into her. Her heart. Her heart was being crushed. Choked of life. She was back, back in that dreary room, that dank dungeon. Red eyes, squeezing away at her life.

She fell to her knees, clutching at her chest as she let out a scream.

Sesshoumaru suppressed a snarl as his eyes went over Kagura's crumpled form behind him.

"Tatsuya, undo it."

"Ho, don't like to see your servants in pain?" golden eyes narrowed. "or it seems the woman is a special case, na?" Tatsuya chuckled, "But sorry, can't. She's not going to die, if that's what you're worried about."

Sesshoumaru held Bakusaiga before him, leveling the tip with Tatsuya's head. The dragon sank into a crouch; hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Let's go, dog!" Tatsuya charged him, laughing all the while.

"Do not mock this Sesshoumaru." Sesshoumaru only had to swing Bakusaiga to send another volt of electric energy hurtling towards the man, stronger than the last. There was no time to dodge, even Tatsuya realized and could only stare at the mass as it crashed down on him.

Sesshoumaru remained still, watching the dust and debris settle despite the itch to turn and see to the woman bundled at his heels.

'Of course.' Ryuunosuke had gotten before him in time. Of course.

The brothers stood inside a barrier that still sparked with the attack's energy. Ryuunosuke knelt on the ground, trying to regain his breath.

"New sword, Sesshoumaru?" he slowly stood, Tatsuya behind him held out a hand to help steady the older brother.

Sesshoumaru didn't respond, keeping his eyes steady.

Ryuunosuke nodded and half turned to his brother, still facing the inu-youkai.

"Tatsuya, we're leaving. This fight is pointless now." In a burst of light the elder brother rose up towards the sky, darting off into the distance.

"What? Na! Aniki!" Tatsuya turned back to Sesshoumaru, throwing a glance at Kagura before doing the same as his brother.

Sesshoumaru watched them go, waiting for the streaks of light to disappear before sheathing his sword. He turned to the fallen woman and knelt beside her.

Her was face was pale, and even though her eyes were open she did not look at him. Still holding a fisted hand to her breast. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Kagura."

She winced, her head snapped to look at him finally. Her eyes were wide as if she couldn't see him, as if she didn't know who he was. Sesshoumaru brought his hand to cup her cheek, pulling her up into a sitting position slightly. Finally she blinked several times.

"Sesshoumaru… My heart… my heart… " she repeated it like a chant. "he has my heart!" her voice rasped, alternating between a shriek and a whisper.

He pulled her to his chest, sinking further to the ground. Kagura did not move, letting him position her. He could feel her trembling.

"Kagura…" he kept his voice low, his mouth close to her ear. "You are fine now."

He thought he felt her nod against his chest. "It hurts…"

Sesshoumaru slipped a hand underneath her knees, pulling her closer, he stood and headed back for the deck. But someone was in his way.

"Move."

"I can take her." Kize held out his arms. Kagura seemed oblivious to everything, having buried her face into his fur, her hands still clasped to her chest as she trembled.

A growl rumbled in his chest as he pushed past the man, he was not in the mood for this. For putting another name on his kill list. Sesshoumaru stalked past the servants and the guards and his mother, those that had been watching the fight. Growled and glared and barked at those that tried to stop him or got in his way. Past the buildings, and the demons, and the trees. Til he met the foot of the mountain's jagged peak. Til they were inside his own quarters and he was alone with this injured woman. Til he became everything he said he would never be.

This chapter is longer by like a lot! Woohoohoo! I think it's the longest one actually. :P

Is it bad that I've introduced 3 people in the last two chapters? :/ seems like a lot but that's just kinda how it happened. Oh well.

Ugh. I don't like fight scenes…