Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha or any of the other characters that may be used throughout the duration of the fan-fiction. Be advised this is a world created for the sole purpose of entertainment and would expect you to respect my work of fantasy as you would have me respect yours. This is rated mature for further chapters that may be controversial in subject matter. Please do not report me as you have been warned.

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Your Lady Fractured Moonlight

Summary: Sesshomaru has lived centuries without the one thing he desires the most only to have her return with no memory of him or the life they had known. Can he accept her as he had once or will everything be lost to time once more? Will she love the beast within the man as she once had in a time lost to her? Will they learn to love or will their love vanish as though it had never been? Read and discover the untold story between Sesshomaru and Kagome and you might discover a love that can span the centuries!

-oOo-

Moonlight's Embrace

Chapter 18

Darkness permeated the tiny space like none other. It filled every crevice, stealing the light as it went about its way. She couldn't remember what had brought them here, to this forgotten place. She remembered feeling safe, secure and then blackness. Her memory greyed as she tried to recall her last moments before waking on the stone floor in chains.

She remembered walking beside him, heading back to Miwako and to her lady. All while wondering if Sesshomaru would one day bring Kagome back to her native land. When his movements suddenly stilled and blurred against the forest as he spun on his heals to face her. His eyes swimming with a hesitation she had not expected, nor could she have predicted, leading to complete confusion for as long as a hundredth of a second until she saw a small lecherous smirk creep into the corner of his lips. The hesitation she saw fading away in that instant.

She remembered feeling the soft tickle of butterfly's as they invaded her stomach, fluttering as they went about their merry way. She didn't like it. Here she was a trained warrior, born to serve her mistress, to deal death to those who would kill her if given the chance and yet the butterfly's persisted. How could a man affect her to this degree? How could a man or yokai rather dull her scenes, making her want nothing but him?

Her breath came in soft wisps against his lips before he moved swiftly toughing his lips to hers. It was a feather like touch, barely enough to be considered a proper kiss when suddenly the centuries that had been denied them broke the damn. His lips burned hard and firm against her own as his body melded against hers, somewhat surprised that she was allowing him the intimate contact. She felt his arousal but that wasn't as surprising to her as the degree of tenderness was.

A single hand slid under her collar heading towards the back of her neck while his other loosened her obi, leaving no question as to his intentions. He paused then meeting her eyes seeking what she recognised as permission to do what he wanted with her. A permission in which she didn't hesitate to give as her lips crushed against hers with a fervour he had not expected but didn't waste his time debating its meaning. She knew there was a lot left unsaid between them but right then at that moment all thoughts of talk and words left her.

Demanding fingers undid the ties that bound their clothing to their bodies revealing the parts of them that only the other was permitted to see and for the first time in centuries they relished in the touch the other had to give. They relished in the feel of cool night air and the feel of hot fingers and the contrast between the two.

He wasn't controlled by Katsurou anymore and despite what he had thought when they met again, she had not taken another to her bed. He was her one and only, she would have no other. And if this kiss and present situation was any indication of how he felt towards her, neither would he.

His fingers drew downward nearing her abdomen and towards her outer thigh before lifting her up by her rear ever so slightly to place her delicately against the forest floor, drawing a slight gasp from her lips at the change in position. His eye met hers, watching the smooth contours of her face for any sign that would tell him to stop. When none was found he claimed her lips again suddenly stilling.

In that moment the bliss of their reunion was stolen from them. Yokai were converging on their location from all corners of the forests. Turning to her then the look of desperation that crossed his features forced to her to retie her obi in great haste as he pulled up his hakama, tying it roughly, leaving his haori undone. Such a dishevelled sight they must've been with their appearances allotting for not much speculation.

The mass of yokai surrounded them nearly instantaneously after they stood in a mass of seven maybe eight similarly dressed solders. Their markings and colouring not revealing much about their breed nor their status. Their scents were also little help leaving them with nothing but the knowledge that these were Katsurou's men. They must've been, she remembered thinking for the possessiveness that suddenly displayed itself in Ayumu's features. Even as Ayumu moved to shield her from those whose eyes bled red for their blood she remembered the sound of clashing blades but then the rest was blurred into blackness transporting her here.

Her eyes searched him out, through the dark, finding him not that far off in the same position she was in only he was motionless. His hands were chained high above his head like hers were but with him there was an added chain that wrapped around his neck connecting to the stone wall behind him. She noticed then, much to her dismay, that his haori and other garments were shredded beyond repair. Hanging about him as if trying to shield the wounds he had received defending her. The same wound that still bled onto the stone floor at their feet. It wasn't that he hadn't been wounded before but it was the amount of blood that stained the floor beneath him that worried her along with the paleness of his skin.

"Ayumu," she called into the darkened cell only to have her words return to her. "Ayumu!" she called again knowing she wouldn't receive an answer but despite her best effort her desperation still made its way into her voice. Her only solace came with the knowledge that whatever had created such a wound had successfully knocked him out cold…and at least that meant that he couldn't feel pain and that for now was enough.

Sesshomaru didn't remember when he had fallen asleep, but the morning sun was more than enough to rouse him from its charm. Taking a quick glance around his surroundings he found that Kagome had wrapped her small body around his in a complicated manner. So much so that he doubted he could move an inch much less a centimetre without waking her and that he was afraid wouldn't do. Sighing deeply his eyes slid closed just as the memories that had assaulted him in the night found him again in the dawn.

"Kagome I love you, I always have."

He had said moments before he had kissed her, his lips firm begging for a forgiveness he could not ask for and for a moment she had been a willing participant. But he noticed all to suddenly that her lips began to quiver against his as her small hands came up to push against his chest, forcing their lips to part and her distress to reach him broken waves.

He was then forced to watch his own pain as it reflected back to him with the same intense tortured expression as her heart broke for more than the pain that danced throughout him. Forcing him to watch helplessly as her heart began to crack visibly moving to shatter underneath her fingertips. She remembered their child. She remembered the life that had been created that day in the cave, the very life that had been taken before it's time. He felt her anguish for it was his own as he watched the tears that began to slide down her own cheeks. He felt her aura flare with the same anguish as she relived that day as if it had just moments before.

He felt for her. His heart broke for her in fact it was still breaking for her. He had to face the grief of a parent outliving a child for centuries now while she had to relive it as if it had just occurred and for a second time. He wasn't sure if the situation had been reversed, if he could live through that same torturous day again.

"The blame is mine." She whispered drawing his attention back towards her.

"No." he insisted when her body shook looking at him with that lost expression that made him which he could steel his heart behind a wall of ice.

"I didn't sense it before it attacked," she spoke softly, her voice personifying her fractured heart strings, thick tears streaming down her cheeks. "I had felt a sense of foreboding all day but I forced my instincts down…….we were playing a game in the garden……when the ground shook. I sensed it then and I told him to run……I told him that I didn't care if you told him that he was to protect me….." she said her anger mixing with pain as she remembered the scene that had taken place so long ago.

She had tried to convince Sesshomaru to stay, to reject the councils summons but had failed miserably. She knew that he was bound equally to his land as he was to her but still she couldn't shake the feeling she had woken up with just mere hours prior. He had tried to reassure her that he would return safe and sound, placing an intimate kiss upon her lips when the disgusted sound coming from between them drew their combined attention. She watched him as his sole focus became the child that barely made it to her waist in height but was quickly catching up to him.

She remembered the genuine smile that had adorned his now stony features as he bent low ruffling the abundance of silver hair that adorned his head, She heard a sound of annoyance come from the boy and a laugh issue from her mate. It was a sight that even now Kagome never thought she would see.

"Kane," he addressed. "Now while I am away-"

"I am to protect mother at all costs." He stated clearly annoyed that he was forced to repeat the very words he had heard his father repeat a million and one times before. Watching the smile that touched his face before another grunt of annoyance issued from the boy when his father ruffled his hair again. Didn't he get it that he didn't like it when he did that?

Had it been any other time Kagome would've laughed at the expression that had danced upon the boys face but any joy she could've found in such a memory was overshadowed by the fact that he had died. And that his death was on her hands.

"I told him to run inside…" her hands trembling as she looked at them. "…I told him to wait there until I came to tell him it was safe," her voice broke in that moment forcing her to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat. "I didn't sense him……I didn't sense you………I didn't feel anything until it was too late. He was dead and I couldn't do anything……..I couldn't even heal the wound he had received…….he was just gone." Her body shivered as a new barrage of tears hit her form. "One moment Kane was here…..and the next……he was…..GOOONNNNEEEEE!" she shrieked when Sesshomaru couldn't stand the distance she had placed between them. His arms wrapped around her securing her to him in such a way that not a single breath escaped his notice. She shook as she cried and he soon found himself doing the same. The tears he thought had ended began anew as they both remembered Kane finding what little comfort could be found in this moonlit embrace.

Neither were aware however of the silent gathering within the darkened forest. Nor were they aware of the sorrow that was easily felt and shared between them.

Sango had wanted to run to her the moment she had watched Kagome fall to her knees, and then again the very instant she had heard the gut wrenching scream as her sister was forced to relive something far beyond the realm of pain. Tears slid down her cheeks in a soundless stream as she turned into the monk's embrace.

Miroku had sensed Kagome's aura spike drastically as she tore herself away from Sesshomaru's embrace, falling backwards, just as plainly as he saw the look of complete and utter devastation that now adorned her once peaceful face. It was clear, at least to him at least, that she was remembering a loss…..and quite a big one at that. But just who had been lost he couldn't say?

Inuyasha's angered curiosity had subsided the moment they had come upon them. The scent of sorrow left little untouched by its sour stench it coated everything. From Sesshomaru to Kagome, from the trees to the very air…..everything was being contaminated by sorrow in its purest form. Leaving him to wonder just who could've touched both his brother and Kagome to such an extent that both appeared to morn the loss equally?

However, as he shifted his gaze towards Kage his questions stilled within his throat. She was silent, motionless, watching them just as he had been with a look that stilled his blood. Pain. Confusion. Anger. And blame all revealed itself in the animalistic nature of her face. But it was more than that he realised. It reflected within how she held herself, as she too shouldered some of the blame of a life gone before it's time. But why?

'I think you all should leave.' She stated within their minds with a voice that broke their already broken hearts further. She felt Inuyasha's protest stir in the air and thought to still such a notion but found she had not the heart to so. It was true that the half-demon had little to no recollection of the child's existence. That he had scarcely been around the boy as a youngster himself but, through all this she reasoned the boy was related to him. And that she was reluctant to admit gave the hanyo, who had already lost so much, another loss to mourn. 'The kit will surely wake without Kagome near him.'

Her statement had been one of truth and with so much sorrow in the air he doubted the boy could sleep through it even with his tendency to sleep like the dead, but as the others turned away from the scene several feet away from them he remained. His eyes fixed on Kage. The sorrow poured off of her almost to the same degree as Sesshomaru or Kagome. Her silver eyes were cold and down cast brimming with almost unnoticeable tears.

'Please Inuyasha,' she pleaded turning to stare at him, and when she did he really wished she hadn't. He wasn't a coward by any means, but having to deal with so much sorrow was reminding of his own painful memories and Kage's look wasn't helping. She even tried to soften the look with a slight smile that he knew she didn't feel.

"Fine." He grumbled callously. "Just promise me one thing," his voice trying to hold onto its usual edge watching her arc a nearly invisible raven brow. "Just don't smile when you're not happy. It can't fool me." He admitted before reluctantly chasing after the others. Leaving Kage to watch over her lord and lady as they felt their loss knowing there was nothing she could do to mend their fractured souls.

All too soon though the hollow sound of footsteps echoed off of the stone walls leading to a large clicking sound as the stone door to their cell slid open. Light suddenly spilled forth from the hallway forcing her eyes to shield themselves a moment or two waiting to adjust to the sudden change. When they opened again she took in the black silhouette of a woman.

"I demand that you release us immediately." It was only then after she had spoken that he had made himself known, stepping around the woman and into the once darkened cell, his feet sounding hollow on the stone floor with each step echoing off of the walls and back towards her sensitive ears causing her to wince involuntarily. This seemed to give him a sort of pleasure that was sickening.

"Now, now," he taunted. "You are in no position to make demands, Hana." She knew he had seen her eyes widen slightly before they sent him the most defiant glare she was able to muster. His deep throaty chuckle sent waves of sound crashing into her eardrums, hovering behind her eyes. 'Damn it.' She wanted to curse as the severity of the situation began to sink into her still fogged up recollections.

"Who are you?" she asked her voice lacking the demanding quality she was hoping for but gasping in shock all the same as he stepped closer still revealing his dark blood coloured eyes that reflected the madness within. Now there was no debating the rumour from the reality. No this was real. The feeling of his clawed fingers drawing along her jaw line, her skin crawling beneath his fingertips….this was all real.

"Don't you dare tough her," a viscous growl broke through to her forcing her to recognise the voice. The sound of chains rattled as he moved to fight against them speaking with slurred words as his consciousness was gaining.

"Ayumu." She sighed with relief.

"How touching." The yokai toyed watching as his irises began to darken and focus on him. Smiling he turned his attention back towards her continuing to move his fingers downward to run along her collarbone.

This caused the caged wolf to howl viciously thrashing against the chains that held him to the wall causing little stone particles to fly every which way as he did so. "NARKAU, GET YOU'RE HANDS OFF OF HER!" he howled in rage knowing there was little to nothing he could do to stop him from doing what he wanted and the thought sickened him.

Authour's Note: Okay so this is a kind of dark chapter as Kagome's forced to remember little Kane, I really felt for her pain and I admit it I got a little teary eyed more than once while writting it and I appologise if it brings tears to your eyes too. I did several different write ups for this particular chapter and this one felt more right for the story then the others did. And for those of you who were thinking that I had forgotten about Ayumu and Hana, wrong I haven't, I just had to figure out a way to thicken the plot and dun dun dun figure a unique enterance for Naraku's Charachter. I'm sorry that his entrance into this story creates more questions for you but I can't say much about it other than that you have to continue reading this story in oder to get it!

Oh and thank you for posting your many questions so that way my story can answer them as the story continues and as always tell me what you're thinking,

Your Lady Fractured Moonlight