Lima Syndrome (Part 2 of 4)

Kagome

"How long is this gonna go on?"

*WHACK!* I winced slightly at the moderate pain. My body may have already started to become accustomed to this damned poisoned whip. The only thing that really pained me is remembering Naraku leaving me with this annoying daiyoukai, whom also had plans to kill me.

My mind wandered far away from Sesshomaru's countless beatings and back to the times when I laid next to Naraku. Waking up next to him was the best part of the day, and now those days were gone. The last good thing of my youkai life was ript away from me, and there was nothing I could do about it. Absolutely nothing.

"Finally regretting the harm you've done to countless others?"

I looked through my bangs at Sesshomaru, his smug expression angered me beyond what was comfortable.

"I regret nothing. Every heart I've taken and eaten, every youkai and human alike I've slaughtered, and every bath of blood I basked in. Those were rather pleasant times. Perhaps you've expeirinced times like those."

Another whack of his whip across my bleeding thighs. That one hurt.

"Don't compare me to a creature like you. I'm far above you in the food chain"

I smirked. Someone was irritated, I must've hit the right nerve. A thought striked me, it'd be interesting to find out that Sesshomaru and I were just alike in some cases than most. His pride and his ego certainly wouldn't want to admit that, Hmmm...it'd be entertaining to annoy him with the thought.

"Ofcourse. How could I have made that obvious mistake, your a far higher being that I'd ever hope to become in my lifetime. Who could ever throw you off your thrown of empowerment? Certainly not me, and we both know Naraku doesn't stand a chance"

I smiled in satisfaction at the purr of his beast.

"Do not mock me vixen, I tire of your countless jokes" he said angrily.

I laughed in amusement. "My apologies, oh great one"

*Flashback*

"Can you hear it?" he asked.

I shook my head. "What am I suppose to be hearing exactly, Naraku-sama?"

The smirk that always rendered me useless and incompetent appeared and further made me swoon. "Perhaps your too distracted.."

My ears fluttered. I was still shorter than him so everytime I laid on his chest, the top of my fluffy ears were attacked by his warm breath. We laid on his bed (as usual), my head on his chest, and my tails were curled lovingly around my legs.

Naraku was once again trying to teach me something new. The communication between one another's beasts. Youkai that are sired to taiyoukai can telepathically talk amongst eachother and also between their inner instincts. It's similar to what mates can do, but different because the youkai aren't mated and don't have to be.

"You should be able to hear them...concentrate"

My brows furrowed. "Them? You have more than one?"

He nodded. "Unlike most youkai, I'm a mixture of all types to make me what I am today. So naturally, you'll hear more than one beast inside of me"

"What about me?" I asked curiously.

He chuckled and smirked. "You have two, they're both ancient beings. But you don't know how to talk to them, they wish to know their host"

My eyes went wide with new information, all of this was rather exciting. I wonder what my beasts were like. I put my head back on his chest again, one ear fluttering against it's coldness. His heart beat was rather irregular, and didn't beat correctly. I listened intently and eventually heard multiple voices, a village filled with people sounded this way.

"Blood blood! I want blood! Naraku you foolish thing! Why aren't you cutting her down"

"Filthy! Why are you letting this wench lay in your bed?! We should be out slaughtering, get your lazy ass up!"

"Maybe you both should slaughter together, it'd be more interesting that way"

Silence. Why did they stop talking? Then an uproar burst out, making me flinch.

"Together?! TOGETHER?! That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard"

"The most foolish thing I've heard from you Koshiki"

I smiled lightly, my ears lowered against my head. "They don't like me very much."

He hummed and pulled on my ears a little with the tip of his index finger and his thumb. I giggled and swatted his hand away lightly, my ears still tingled with his touch.

"They all have their own opinion yes, but they all still know who their master is. As well as who is in control. I have more power over them than you think"

I hummed and nuzzled into his neck, inhaling his scent. He chuckled lightly and I stopped my nuzzling and looked at him.

"What's funny?" I asked.

"Your beasts. They're quite humorous, you'll speak to them yourself one day"

Inuyasha

The journey back to Kouga's pack was long and harsh. It was a lot easier sixty years ago, back when my only thoughts were to steal the sacred jewel from Kikyo. I traveled alone and I only had to hunt for one, no one had to depend on me and I didn't depend on anyone else either. Now, Kouga had to look to me for survival. His life depended on me and every decision I now made had to be rethought for Kouga's sake.

I was right in my assumption with Kouga's eyesight. Whatever happened between him and Kagome caused him to go blind. Temporarily. Once he fully comes to (because for now he only wakes up for short periods of time and then falls back into unconscienceness), he'll have to take it easy.

Kouga's den and the sound of the rushing waterfall inside finally came into view and I continued to hoist Kouga up onto my shoulders, Ayame immediately went to his side. She glared up at me from underneath her long eyelashes, tch, I hope she didn't expect me to control where he goes and where he doesn't. I did my part already, which was persuay him not to come with us. Now look where he got himself, mangy wolf.

"What the hell happened Inuyasha!" she hissed.

I plugged Tetsaiga into the ground angrily and she jumped slightly. "It's not my fault Ayame! I told him not to come and he didn't listen, if anything he almost got himself killed!"

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Thats exactly the point! I left him in your hands and you brought him back half dead! Why was he even so hell bent on going in the first place, you didn't bribe him did you?"

"No! I would never- look that's not the point. He left in such a rush like that because he knew...well..Miroku and I told him about Kagome. She's..she tried to kill us, and he wanted to save her"

The heartbreak was in her eyes. Her green eyes went dull and lifeless, my ears lowered to my head. This was why I didn't want to tell her anything, but it's not like I had a choice. Kouga and Ayame are mated, she has a right to know why her mate was almost brought back to her in pieces and loss of the loss of his eyesight.

Her hand went to her heart and she clutched her chest painfully. "So...so he would risk his life...to save her?" her eyes welled up with tears. "he would've died..for her? and not his mate?"

She buried her face into her hands and let out a cry of agony. The pain could be heard through her choked and cut off gasps, I almost wanted to comfort her but it wouldn't have been my place. She clutched at the neckalace of moonstones Kouga had collected for her as she cried and did something unspeakable. She tore it off.

"Woah Woah Ayame don't do that!" I protested.

She snarled at me and stood up abruptly. "Why not?! I might as well! He doesn't love me, he loves Kagome! Even if she did try to kill him, she can't do any wrong in his eyes! He'd stop the whole world if he thought that would please her, and he wouldn't bat an eyelash to me. Even if...even if I am pregnant with his pup"

I felt my ears painfully spread apart at the stress and horror of it all. Damn you Kagome, and whatever it is you've become. She's forced my hand to do too many things, and her actions have done more harm than anything for everyone she has once cared about. There's nothing she can do to ever redeem herself, not even if she tried.

"Your..your pregnant with his pup?" I asked hoping I heard wrong.

"Yes!" she yelled at me. She rubbed her plump stomach lovingly, a sad smile gracing her face. "I meant to tell him when he got back, it would've been a surprise..I thought...I thought he would be so happy" she sobbed.

I furrowed my eyebrows in thought. "Kouga would be estatic to know your carrying his pup Ayame. Even if he doesn't feel for you as greatly as you him, he's still protective and loving of his pack, but I highly doubt he doesn't love you"

She sobbed harder. "You don't know that Inuyasha! It's been five years since you guys have last spoken to eachother, so you don't know a damn thing! Don't speak up for him when he's unconscience right now, he's showed just how much he cares about me...and this child, by his actions today" she turned away from me. "...when he comes to...tell him not to bother looking for me"

"Ayame, wait!"

She ran at speeds I couldn't match up with in my condition, plus she has three jewel shards in each leg; something Kouga gave her purposely for her safety. Damnit, I can't just leave Kouga here without anyone he knows deeply around him. Yes, his pack was very close-knitted, but after all these changes he has more newcomers than anything. Ayame was keeping him afloat from all the stress of leadership, and they sure as hell won't listen to a half-inu youkai while Kouga is out of commision. Doesn't matter. Even if his whole pack disbands in his absense, I'll still be here to watch his back and his home. Afterall, that's what lifetime friends do.

*Flashback*

"So your serious...about Ayame?" I asked him.

He nodded with a prideful smile. I didn't show it, but secretly I was thanking the kamis because that meant he no longer had to hassle me about Kagome.

The fire illuminated the sleeping faces of Kagome, Shippou, Miroku, Kilala, and Sango. They were all sleeping comfortably and the scent of Kouga and I combined made passing youkai stay away.

"Are you sure? Because the last time I checked you were bent on pursuing Kagome instead. Why did you change your mind?" I asked to be sure.

At first he gave me a look. A look that said I had hurt his feelings in more ways than one, hopefully I didn't give him the impression that I don't trust him around her. If anything, he protects her when I can't despite me not wanting to admit that.

He put a thoughtful look on his face then. "Ayame is different from Kagome. Less timid, more outgoing than I would like, and I feel like I can be the way I am with her"

This surprised me. "And you can't do that with Kagome?"

His eyes widened. "No no! That's not what I'm saying! It's just, with Kagome I don't know...I feel like I'm intimidated by her. She's a strong girl for a ningen miko and even stronger to tolerate you for over this long period of time"

"It would be the same if you were in my shoes ya mangy wolf!" I said narrowing my eyes at him.

He howled with laughter and grinned at me, I shared a chuckle with him and knew he meant no harm in what he said. He was kidding, partially.

"But seriously, Kagome is totally different from Ayame. In appearance and in personality, Kagome wouldn't need me all the time–she can handle herself a little too well. But Ayame...she depends on me most of the time, it's a good feeling" he smiled up at the sky which was lit with stars.

I gave him a mischievous smirk and he raised his eyebrow in question. "So you like to feel needed? Always wanted to be a hero didn't you?"

He howled with laughter and slapped my back a little too hard. "I guess you could say that. It's a good feeling I assure you, don't you get the same feeling after saving Kagome's life? The feeling that the only person she can depend on is you, and without you...she'd be long gone by now?"

I threw him a curious look. "The feeling is pleasant yeah, but I don't want to belittle Kagome as a person and just assume that she thinks the world of me. I don't see her that way"

"Hmmm...I still don't know yet. I'm confused as well, I may still hold feelings for Kagome but we both know who she really wants to be with. Taking that into consideration, she'll always have a special place to herself here" he striked his chest for the occasion. "I'll mate Ayame, despite my love for Kagome. I gotta move on"

I put my hand on his shoulder, even if it was a low possibility I still wanted to comfort Kouga somehow.

"You never know Kouga. Nothing lasts forever"

I closed my eyes and lifted Kouga's unconscience body. I unknowingly predicted my own fate involving Kagome and I. Nothing lasts forever. I hit it right on the dot.

Sesshomaru

'She's praising us and acknowledging us as the greater being. I say we take her right here and now'

I narrowed my eyes. "This is why I'm the one in control. Your too stupid to know that she's just saying that to get her freedom"

He hissed at me spitefully. 'Don't be so foolish boy! Do you know all the good she'll be able to achieve with her at your will for our western lands?! With her around we can expand and put more at our command'

"I have no interest in expanding the lands, it's too much of a hassle to go around conquering other lands without war, you sound too much like Naraku" I said narrowing my eyes again (I do that a lot with this insufferable beast)

He snorted. "He's not the stupidest youkai alive. His plans of surrounding the lands with his influence without really taking the western is very smart. You'll be out numbered and out played'

It was my turn to snort. "You think I haven't come across that by now? Using his wench purely for revenge was not the fullest of my plans, he's taught her many things, using those against him may at least slow him down for the time being"

'Maybe even killing both in the process. That's very crafty, but your forgetting one thing'

I raised an eyebrow in question.

'She could also be a worthy mate'

My nostrils flared with fury. A mate? A MATE?! How could he even suggest such an incredulous stupid thing?!

'Her blood and ours combined would spawn a set of very powerful offspring, your successors would conquer every land you wish to own'

I growled at him. "You mean a set of monsters! I would never mate with that vixen, never!"

'You may be opposed to it now, but you and I both know it's a good idea and something worth considering'

His voice disappeared from the depths of my mind, the silence was comforting. Hopefully, this will be the last time my beast tries to interfere within my affairs.

-Later that night-

She's asleep. Curled up into a small ball, but her tails never ceased to stop swishing. That gave me the impression that even when asleep, her body was still very well alert. Smart girl. You'd always have to be alert and ready around me.

"Is there a reason your just standing there Sesshomaru?"

I looked up at her. She was still curled into a ball and her back was still facing towards me, her tails continued to swish.

"Do not question my motives vixen"

A small chuckle. "That still wasn't an answer to my question, but whatever, it wasn't that important anyway"

She rolled her body over and looked at me. The chains binding her to the wall clanged together noisily.

"I'm hungry, despite this petite body, I have a rather large appetite" she muttered.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "You get one heart a day, your behavior depends on that"

"Yes yes I know that, but you can't expect me to survive without enough to sustain myself. There would be no fun in torturing me then...don't you think?"

A slight growl erupted from my lips. "You seem fine enough to talk, I surely don't hear the hunger in your voice"

She laughed loudly, a cruel sounding thing. "I've spent many years with Naraku, with me around you must start knowing when its a façade and when it's not"

Something wet and moving quivered in my hand, before I looked down to see what it was I tossed it into her cage. She quickly moved towards it, multiple chains clattered, and whatever it was...once she got her hands on it she tore it in half and devoured each half whole. It was then that I noticed her feral red eyes and prominent cheek bones in her skin, the rags of her hakuma hung off her body in most places. She really was hungry.

She sighed in satisfaction and laid across the floor, her tails swishing back and forth in a frenzy. The once prominent cheek bones became encased with flesh and her legs and thighs back to their full fleshy state, her breast among other things fitted swelly back into the rags of her hakuma. Her body was renewed immediately after she devoured whatever it was I threw in there, which was what exactly?

Blood ,at least the scent of it, coated around my acute nose. My claws dripped with blood and the whole right side of my clothes and armor were stained with it, I had no recollection of where I've been or whom I've possible killed. Did my beast take over?

"Vixen, what is the meaning of this?" I demanded.

She rolled onto her stomach and looked up at me playfully, I narrowed my eyes at her to let her know that this wasn't a game. I have almost perfect memory yet I can't recall the last few hours, and here I am with blood all over me. This had to be her doing.

"The meaning of what? I was hungry, all you did was feed me" she smirked.

I opened up her cage and smacked her twice across her thighs with my poison whip. She screeched lightly and hissed up at me. I grabbed her by her throat and slammed her body across the wall, the chains that binded to the wall groaned in protest and she cried out.

"This wouldn't have happened if you had just answered my question like you were suppose to. Lets try this again, what. Is. The. Meaning. Of. This?"

Her eyes glanced over my figure and stopped mainly at the splotches of blood.

"I don't know exactly what happened when you were out there, but all I can tell you is that you've got wolf's blood on you. All over you to be exact, and that heart you gave me, was broken in more ways than one" she put a thoughtful finger on her chin. "I can't put my finger on it, but the blood smells familiar, perhaps if you'd brought the person to me before killing them I would know that person"

A/N: hey guys 'hint hint' I'm pretty sure you all can figure out who it was that Sesshomaru killed. And in response to one particular comment, yes I've thought it over, the storyline will start to lean towards SesshyKag and I thought a little bit of that would possibly spice up the whole thing. Anyways, I'm not sure where Naraku should stand on all of this so some ideas on him would help tremendously, thanks.