Chapter 29:

Kagome kneeled in the middle of the arena her hands clasped together in her lap and had her eyes closed waiting patiently for her opponent. Each combatant was granted a certain amount of time to prepare with the person they were fighting for. Kagome chose to forgo that opportunity and chose instead to set her strategy in motion. The easiest fight to win is with an opponent who is not focused, there were two ways to throw off her opponent's concentration. The first one is to make them flustered and the second is to make sure they're unprepared.

Entering into the arena without consulting Sesshomaru would accomplish at least one giving her an edge in battle. An edge that may not be needed but nice to have either way considering she was going against a demoness without the use of her powers.

If Koyama wanted to save herself from anymore embarrassment she would enter the arena quickly, unprepared for the fight. If she wanted to be prepared she would be embarrassed about taking so long with her preparations. She would be viewed as weaker and she'd be preoccupied with trying to find out what everyone thought of her that she would leave herself open more often than not.

As predicted the demoness entered the arena shortly after her despite the protests of the other lords, she had taken an extra three minutes to talk with them and with their protests it became clear that their plan wasn't fully flushed out, but the whispers had already started. All Kagome could hear was the shifting of bodies as each person leaned into their neighbours. If she was lucky she'd have both advantages working in her favor. Unprepared and unfocused.

"Rise." Sesshomaru instructed and as the two women rose to their feet he cast a fleeting glance in Kagome's direction as if asking her what she was doing. Kagome on the other hand kept her gaze glued to her opponent and gave no indication of seeing his quick glance, "Bow." They did so, "Part." The three of them took a step away, "Begin."

Koyama circled Kagome while the other woman did not move; she had closed her eyes again listening to the demoness surprisingly clumsy footsteps. At this rate Kagome could probably fight with her eyes closed. Koyama circled in trying to make Kagome react and when that didn't work she attempted to shove the young miko. Her hand passed through air before she felt herself falling and colliding with the hard ground. Kagome was staring down at her with startling blue eyes, which had Koyama scrambling backwards and to her feet.

Kagome inclined her head and Koyama unsheathed her weapon, an abnormally long spear. Kagome inclined her head again, but made no other move. The whispers grew louder and Koyama's eyes darted around as she took in deep breaths. They were talking about her. Her eyes darted to the other demon lords and then back to Kagome.

It was the first clue that things were not going as planned for her, and Kagome bit back a smile as she took a step forward. It was light, soundless. Koyama took a step back. Kagome did smile then, and with a quick movement sent Koyama's spear flying to the other side of the arena. The whispers intensified and a panicked look came into the demoness' eyes as her attempted to run past Kagome to get her weapon. Kagome struck her foot out again sending Koyama to the ground in a spray of dirt. She rolled on to her back and jumped to her feet letting out an enraged growl before pouncing at Kagome who blocked and dodged.

To the audience it looked like Koyama was gaining the upper hand as Kagome was back against a wall, but the miko grabbed on to the slight ledge jutting out and lifted both her legs before sending them into Koyama's face. The demoness was pushed backwards and Kagome rushed again kicking her In the stomach. Again she fell to the ground, and jumped up.

Again and again the demoness was knocked to the floor, until she eventually couldn't get up again. Kagome kneeled beside her with one hand pinning her to the ground, "Submit." The demoness shook her head. "Submit." Kagome growled and the demoness yipped and tried to stand.

"I submit." She said weakly after several other vain attempts to rise. Quickly Kagome back off of the other woman's body and bowed to first Sesshomaru then the other lords and finally the many people who had gathered to watch. Half of the audience cheered the half that liked her. The other half either glared or silently applauded her victory.

Jaken then stepped up beside her, "Lady Kagome has won the first round. The second was to be held on the morrow but the Lady Koyama's wounds need to be tended and her energy has been almost completely spent. The-"

Jaken was cut off by the sudden gasp that went through the crowed Kagome spun around in time to see Koyama's final attempt to kill her which was quickly ended as an acid whip shot through her body.

"Never mind," Jaken said and waddled to stand next to his master. Kagome watched him go before her gaze landed on the other three lords who were conversing as silently as possible, this couldn't be a good thing Kagome thought bitterly before walking to Sesshomaru's side. He nodded once at her which was all the approval she was going to get from him in public, there was a promise to talk later to plan later.

Later was far later then she had been expecting. She had a brief moment to relax and clean herself after the battle before she was dragged outside by the children to play, giving Jaken a well-deserved break, and she played with them until a servant called them all in to freshen up for dinner. Dinner was lacking their alpha as well as the other Lords, which had her nervously biting at her bottom lip until the end of dinner, she barely touched her food.

Once everyone was finished she excused herself to spend some time pacing around her bedroom trying to figure out what kind of meeting had kept Sesshomaru from talking with her. She even momentarily worried that they had made their move without warning and Sesshomaru was lying in a pool of his own blood. That thought sent her collapsing onto her bed until she calmed her breathing and emotions enough to feel the steady hum of his aura in her chest. Killing him now would be stupid she further reasoned and her lord would not go down without a fight. They would clearly hear it and there would be no escape for them, especially from her.

Once she had ceased her worrying she walked calmly to the library her aura brushing across the barrier surrounding Sesshomaru's study. It prevented anyone from entering but the sound barrier had not been placed up. She could still dimly hear their heated argument. The other lords raged and Sesshomaru replied calmly and never saying more than five words. She let her aura pulsate for a moment sending him a message that she hoped he could understand, she was about to leave when she felt his answer crash over her in a wave. She felt everything he wasn't showing on his face. He was impatient, bored, and angry, the list went on for a demon who showed no emotion he sure had a lot of them to bottle up.

Kagome smiled as she heard his muffled attempts at ending the meeting before it carried on through the night, and as she walked away she could hear them ignoring his attempts to get rid of them. She was sure she would be waiting for an hour or more. It would be smarter to just go to bed, and she couldn't exactly place why she had the need to see him tonight. Why she wanted to hear what he wouldn't say in front of any other ears. She didn't understand why it was so special to her. They have only spent a short amount of time together and yet she felt the need to be with him where ever she went. Even when they were separated for a few hours like they had been today she felt an odd sort of loneliness, a sadness that wouldn't leave her alone even though she was laughing and playing and almost completely happy.

They had a special relationship although she didn't exactly know what to call it. He was her friend, and while he was not the first to be called a friend in her life she was sure she was the first real friend he has had. They were friends, pack, but it was different with him then it was with her other friends. It was different between him and her friends as well.

She let out a frustrated sigh as she slumped down in one of the seats opening a book she probably wasn't going to read. She let her mind wander off as her eyes followed along the paths laid out in front of her in a neat handwriting. She focused on neither her thoughts nor the words and just for a few moments left a part of her mind completely open and empty. The emptiness expanded until her eyes closed and the open book fell from her hands.

6.6

Sesshomaru sighed, but it came out more like a strangled growl the other lords had kept him longer then he had wanted and he was sure Kagome had given up and gone to bed. It had all been for a pointless reason, they were still pressuring him to take a mate. Well it wasn't really them it was Kouga who was trying to help him as much as possible. He had even suggested to take Kagome as his mate, she was clearly the best choice and Sesshomaru did not hate her being around. Still he declined and they further pressured him pushing Kagome as his choice, and all because he took a slight pause to think on it. While the idea had its merits he wasn't going to back down to the lords to keep his place as a lord.

He was no fool it was only Kouga who wanted to help them, the other lords would find a way a way to use her against him and instead of them living and being able to find a way of gaining back his thrown they would both be dead. There was no guaranteed safety until the other lords had been dealt with, and so for the miko's safety he declined the exception.

Now he was hurrying towards the library, the usual spot she stayed in when she was waiting for him, and hoped even through his denial of said hope that she was still in there waiting. He doubted she was, and he felt guilty about taking so long and guilty for wanting her to have stayed, more than that he was angry. Very, very angry. Angry at the other lords for keeping him so long, angry that she might not have stayed, angry that she might have stayed there this whole time, but mostly angry at the amount of emotions that were playing havoc on his generally collected mind.

They were harder to keep in control then normal and he had a reasonable guess as to why. Kagome had a bad habit of changing those around her, even for a short period of time. The way she smiled at everyone, took care of everyone, and her complete innocence attracted people and then morphed them into something that they weren't aware they could be. He did have emotions, he did care but most of the time he could control the emotions by shutting them efficiently away for the moment and focusing on what needed to be done. Normally they stayed shut away for a period of time, but that period of time was getting shorter and shorter.

His rage was practically boiling over his mask as he opened the door to the study. Looking for the woman responsible for said angered state, and when his eyes landed on her still form the anger evaporated. Soft waves of her power crashed against the barrier that masked her powers, the two barriers around her hummed in the silent room. Her mouth was parted and her eyes were closed, if she hadn't been sitting up he would have assumed she had fallen asleep.

Slowly he reached out, hesitating as his hand hovered above her arm. He had never interrupted a miko while she was meditating. He didn't know if she was going to attack him, and he briefly wondered why she hadn't placed a barrier around herself. As his slender fingers closed around her small wrist Kagome's eyes fluttered open staring intently at the clawed hand that encircled her wrist. They weren't trying to hurt her, but the barrier should have kept away even Sango with the tiniest of jolts. Her eyes followed the path that was the demons arm until she was staring directly into golden orbs, they were as equally startled and confused. His lips parted to speak and Kagome cleared her throat quickly talking before he had a chance to.

"There was a barrier that should have kept everyone out," Kagome said as she pulled away from Sesshomaru and stretched her muscles. She felt like she hadn't moved in hours which was probably true.

Sesshomaru nodded his head in understanding before he stretched across the pillows next to hers. It was the first time he had been able to actually relax since the Lords had arrived. Kagome stopped stretching and brought her knees up to her chest before smiling in his direction, "Wha-"

A knock at the door interrupted her question and she frowned as Sesshomaru moved to the other side of the room. It was just a servant at the door and he knew it, but he still moved away as if ashamed at being so close to her, and relaxed around her. She watched him pick up a book as he coolly muttered enter, she frowned again letting a small pulse of energy out to let him know she wasn't happy with him, before turning her attention to the servant that was entering. She was a young Neko demon who adored Kagome, not that the miko was aware of it. She bowed to the both of them before kneeling in front of her and presenting her with a letter, Kagome smiled brightly at her and the servant blushed before backing away and bowing again. The servant left and Kagome turned the letter over in her hands before examining the seal at the back. In a quick motion she broke the seal and opened the letter. She stood suddenly and left the room the letter falling forgotten to the floor in her haste.

She raced down to where Rin and Shippo were sleeping, they groggily followed her to Miroku and Sango's rooms. Heading back to the library she stopped at her own room and backed everything she had. When they got back Sesshomaru was dropping the letter into the fire. He looked up and took note of them ready to go. He nodded and moved forward.

He only got two steps before he paused looking towards the wall Kagome followed his lead but she acted instantly wrapping her arms around Shippo and Rin she yelled at Sango and Miroku to run. At the same instant the window and part of the wall smashed inwards. Kagome and the children screamed as the impact sent them flying forward, as they flew through the air Kagome turned the best she good before smacking into the floor.

Pushing the children to their feet she struggled to her own trying to get the breath back into her body. She looked around the room was in ruins she couldn't see Sesshomaru anywhere. The children were staring at her terrified, and Miroku and Sango looked confused.

Kagome stepped forward pushing away the dizziness that threatened to send him toppling to the floor. She braced herself against the wall and felt her head. She was startled to find warm liquid flowing down the side of her head. She must have hit her head against something. She pushed away from the wall and felt a sharp pain in her side, placing her clean hand on the pain she drew back and discovered even more blood. She muttered under her breath as she applied more pressure.

"I don't know where Sesshomaru went," Kagome grunted out stepping towards the four people looking at her. She could hear the dim sounds of chaos all around her. She was sure it was just her head injury that made the surrounding noise seem dull/. She shook her head, "The attack came sooner than we had thought. There was no time to prepare. We need to get out of here as fast and silently as possible; I need to find Jaken or Susuki they'll know a way out. Shippo, Rin, follow Miroku and Sango they'll keep you safe." Kagome turned her attention to the monk and demon slayer, "get to the far end of the gardens as far away from the castle as possible. Find some kind of cover and wait as silently as possible until I, Susuki, or Jaken come and get you."

"What about Sesshomaru-sama," Rin asked sniffling.

"He'll be fine," Kagome grunted as she kneeled in front of the small girl, "But he'll want you to be safe so you need to listen, alright sweetie. Just move as fast and silently as possible and keep safe alright. Now go. Hurry."

Ring rapped a hold of Miroku's hand as Shippo jumped into Sango's arms. Kagome struggled to her feet as she watched them hurry down the hall. She turned away for them and made her way over to the gaping hole in the side of the library. She sucked in a deep breath. Outside the castle was a battle field demon fighting demon, servants scrambling around. There was no sign of Sesshomaru but amidst the darkness and the chaos Kagome could see a dark figure standing on the wall and although she couldn't see his face she knew he was grinning. She knew the man standing calmly watching lives end in painful howls.

A man that was as dark as the night without the light of dying stars, and as cruel as the actions taking place below them. A man that was not a man at all, not a demon, classified only as a half-demon because no one wanted to voice what he truly was. An abomination.

Naraku.

End.