A/N: sorry for the cliffhanger on the last chap, folks. i was anxious to get that chap out and this chap is kind of an epilogue/filler/prologue for the next chap with some smut, lemon-hinting, and light comedy thrown into the mix. enjoy!
(ALSO: 3k Views! thanks a lot really! *cries waterfalls of joy*)

disclaimer: i don't own InuYasha; my OCs belong to me.

Chapter 40: Burn - Shining Up2 the Sky

Korihime sweatdropped as the imp burned the kitsune's tail with a jet of fire from the staff of two heads; she sighed and stomped her foot onto the imp's head, hearing him yelp a complaint before she ground his face into the ground. "Give it a rest; keep burning Shippo's tail and we're going to eat fried toad with you as the main course." She growled.

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes patiently, looking down at his mate cradled in his arms bridal-style, relieved to see that she was still breathing.

"Lord Sesshomaru, is Getsu-onee going to be okay?" Rin asked innocently, perking his ears.

The aforementioned female stirred, surprising him; her brow twitched before her eyes opened stiffly and she slowly lifted her gaze up to stare through half-opened lids into his gold stare; she cracked a wry smile. "Either you killed that freak or I'm in heaven." She mused.

He blinked before his eyes softened and he chuckled, using his left hand to brush strands of black hair from her forehead. "You're the same as ever, I see." He quipped gently.

"Onee-chan!" Korihime exclaimed in relief at hearing her sister's voice, handing the staff to the kitsune to take a swing at the battered imp, before drawing closer to the two daiyokai with a grin on her face.

Getsu smiled at her, gingerly slipping free of his hold to stand on her own; she sort of stumbled before his left arm shot out and steadied her with a quick grab of her obi, his arm sliding around her waist out of reflex and protection, making her blush slightly before her silver eyes looked at her sister. "I'm glad you're all right, Kori-chan."

"Getsu-onee!" Rin embraced the female daiyokai, making her yelp and then she chuckled, shirking free of his arm's grip to lift the girl into a bear-hug. "Getsu-onee, we were so worried about you! Lord Sesshomaru was even more worried than Kori-onee and me!" She declared, making her ears twitch.

Sesshomaru uttered a snort and looked away out of embarrassment as Korihime blinked.

Getsu smiled and nuzzled the girl's head affectionately, looking up at him and smirking. "Is that right? Aww, you've really turned into such a softie, Sessh-kun." She teased.

"Shut up, you're lucky I saved your neck." Sesshomaru growled, pouting at her.

Korihime and Rin laughed as Getsu giggled.

Getsu let go of the girl to straighten and lean up and kiss his cheek. "Don't be like that," she purred.

"Ugh, all this romantic crap is making me nauseated…" InuYasha grumbled as he stood from checking on Kagome to scowl slightly over at the flustered form of his brother.

Both Getsu and Korihime turned slowly as a dark aura came up behind them; he blinked.

"BAKA-INU!"

FWHAM.

"G-GAH!"

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes again and exhaled, lifting a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. Honestly…

:::::::xXx::::::::

Getsu looked over at the hut and frowned softly, her arms folded in the sleeves of her kimono.

"If you want to go check on them, go on." Sesshomaru declared, perking her ears.

She met his calm gold stare and waved it away aimlessly, smiling sheepishly. "It's alright, Kori's fine without me." She replied.

He nodded a little and watched her trace a clawed finger down the muscles of his left arm, his gold eyes softening at her innocent touch.

"Okay, all done! A scabbard for Bakusaiga," the welder declared as he showed him the newly sheathed Bakusaiga now donning a scabbard that matched both the hilt on the katana and bottom half of the blade.

He took it and unsheathed the blade, admiring it for a moment before sheathing it and slipping it beneath his sash.

She smiled a little at the new sword and sighed, rubbing her neck, her ears twitching as she saw him walk off; she hurried to his side. "Sesshomaru," she began.

"Oi Sesshomaru, wait up!" Her sister barked as she and the girl stepped out from inside the hut.

"Please wait, Lord Sesshomaru; Kohaku still hasn't woken up yet! If we wait a bit longer, I'm sure he'll…" She began.

"Kohaku stays behind." Sesshomaru declared sternly, pausing.

Rin balked. "Huh?"

"You're staying behind as well. You and Korihime."

Korihime's eyes widened sharply. "Nii-san…" She stomped ahead of the girl. "Why me!? I can still fight! I want to fight at your side…!"

"You will stay behind and help the others. I will not risk your life for my sake, Korihime." Sesshomaru interjected, turning a gold eye back at her surprised blue eyes.

"Sesshomaru…" Getsu looked at him in surprise before quieting, realizing that he was doing this for her. He didn't want her to see her sister die at the hands of Magatsuhi: he wanted to protect Korihime.

"B-but I want to go with you, Lord Sesshomaru…!" Rin cried as she made to follow before the imp stopped her in her tracks and berated her for being a brat and nuisance…

"Jaken, you'll be staying behind too." Sesshomaru added calmly without looking back.

"WHAT!?" Jaken blanched, yellow eyes bulging.

Korihime smirked slightly, looking at her sister that looked torn between her packmates and her mate. "Looks like you'll get that honeymoon after all." She mused, trying at a joke.

Getsu blinked and then her eyes softened before she chuckled, stepping away from his side to throw her arms around her sister as they embraced tightly. "Be safe, Kori-chan. You and Rin." She requested gently, squeezing before letting her slip free.

Rin sniffed, looking on the verge of tears; she blinked and stepped away from her sister to move to stoop before the girl on her knees, grasping her shoulders gently. "Getsu-onee," she began quietly.

Getsu smiled gently, her silver eyes kind and warm, the silver eyes that made her out to be more like the girl's mother than her big sister. "We're gonna be alright, okay? But you gotta stay here, Rin; he's only doing this to protect you… That's why he's making you and Kori and Jaken stay behind, to keep you safe and from getting hurt. He doesn't want that for you, love, just as much as I don't want it either. Do you get what I'm saying?" She spoke gently, staring into her big brown eyes that had made her life a lot lighter for the past four years.

Rin nodded quietly, letting her drop her hands from her shoulders before she threw herself into her arms, surprising the she-wolf. "Getsu-onee, please be safe! And please, please take care of Lord Sesshomaru!" She pleaded as she buried her face into the older female's left shoulder.

Sesshomaru looked back at the scene, his gold eyes saddening a little before he reminded himself that this was something he had to do to not only restore his honor but to keep his pack safe.

"I will, Rin. Count on it." Getsu nodded and nuzzled the side of her head gently like her mother used to do when she was a child, squeezing the girl tight before letting her go.

"Getsu, let's go." He ignored the imp wailing and babbling that he wanted to go with him as he clung to his stole, dragging the annoying demon on the ground as he went.

She rolled her eyes at the sight and straightened, looking at her sister; they shared a nod before she smiled and turned to trot after him.

"Oi, Sesshomaru, what's going on?" InuYasha asked behind them, making both daiyokai pause; his gold eyes tightened in understanding. "You're going after Magatsuhi, aren't you?" He guessed.

Sesshomaru glanced back at him and looked away. "Magatsuhi is my prey now." He answered solemnly, dismissing the conversation and continuing to walk.

Getsu paused and turned to look at the hanyou's gold eyes, bowing once before straightening. "Please look after my sisters. Both of them." She requested, glancing at the two girls of her pack before smiling at him, turning to follow her mate until she took off into the air at his side and coincidentally dropping a wailing and distraught imp on the ground as they went.

:::::::eEe::::::::

He wasn't entirely pleased.

They had been tracking Magatsuhi's stink for a little over a week now, ten days if he had to guess, and it was at the insistence of his travelling partner that they take a break.

Of course that break led to spending the night and majority of the next day in a clearing closed off from the rest of a large forest, the majority of the night spent making love and being reminded just how vital they really were to each other, and the majority of the morning spent (at the further insistence of his travelling companion) sparring to remind the latter just how much fun it was to spar with him now that he had his arm back.

Seeing her lithe body twist this way and that as they sparred and sent blow after blow at each other in the dance of battle of course was a turn-on to him, but his quick dodges and rebutting blows wiped away the arousal as quickly as it came.

Now he blocked each kick or punch she aimed at his face or chest, arms crossed across his face to form some sort of defense against her flurry of blows, his gold eyes focusing on the fluid movement of her muscles in her arms and legs, the determined and dead-set expression on her pretty face bringing forth that same arousal he'd felt earlier on in the start of their spar.

He finally saw his opening and dodged her next kick she aimed at his gut, his right foot tripping her in her oncoming charge and making her stumble, losing her footing and momentum in one fell swoop.

She yelped as she fell, her face planting in the green grass of the clearing.

Sesshomaru panted, muscles tingling throughout his lean body and slowly easing as he shook his head softly and lifted a hand to rub the back of his neck, rolling his shoulders to stretch the kinks out.

Getsu spat out dirt, the same dirt leaving smudges on her cheeks and forehead, gingerly lifting herself up on her hands and knees, grumbling curses under her breath at his narrow dodge of her last blow.

He smirked smugly at practically smelling defeat reeking off her petite body, moving closer to plop down on the grass near her. "Don't be sore; you started it, after all." He reminded calmly, holding his legs to keep from letting himself land in the grass back-first.

She blushed and spat out a blade of grass, scowling at the satisfied and smug light in his gold orbs. "Piss off; that was just a fluke that you acted quick on the last round." She growled.

Sesshomaru simply smiled cheekily. "Of course it was." He replied nonchalantly.

Getsu growled again as the blush deepened and flared to that shade of reddish pink he loved most, catching the beads of sweat glistening on his toned arms shown from the sleeveless white kosode he wore beneath his regular clothes, his long silver hair pulled up in a high ponytail; she snorted and rocked to sit on her heels, crossing her arms at her chest. "Must you be so smug?" She grumbled. Gods, talk about déjà vu; this is a repeat of our first spar back home, two hundred years ago! She thought.

He shrugged innocently, his gold eyes briefly abandoning her irritable silver stare to take in the light teal sleeveless kosode she wore beneath her usual kimono top, the collar left open modestly but not so modest to the point where he could see a lone bead of sweat trickle down her collar bone to the cleavage of her small breasts; the sight made the arousal all the more unbearable and made his inner demon purr hungrily in his ears. "Not always, it's just interesting to see you blush." As well as rewarding, he inwardly added with a wide smirk to replace the innocent look on his handsome face.

She blushed a deeper shade of that reddish pink color and growled, reacting in the only way he would imagine she would react: she threw him to the ground, pinning him by his shoulders as she bristled annoyedly and towered over him on her hands and knees. "You cheap perverted…" She squeaked when he lifted a hand to lazily trace his index finger down the path the sweat bead went, tracing his claw over the contours of her left breast.

"You were saying?" He hummed calmly, lifting his free hand to fondle her unattended-to breast, a coy look crossing his face.

Getsu mewled and bit her lip, her fangs drawn, as her inner demon purred and whined, begging to be touched and melt in his ever-capable hands. "D-damn you," she hissed, the hiss being drowned out by a sharp growl when he dragged his claws lightly along the right side of her neck.

Sesshomaru grinned softly in self-satisfaction at making her practically melt, gently guiding her to sit on her knees as he sat up and buried his face into her throat, kissing her skin slowly and biting once or twice. "Temper, princess." He purred.

She moaned softly and raked her claws through his silver hair, digging them in his scalp as his mouth lowered to lick the spot between her left shoulder and side of her neck, tilting her head back. "S-Sesshomaru!" She groaned in need moreso than in pleading for him to stop teasing her.

He smiled and dragged his fangs lightly over the vein in her throat, sending a lone shiver down her spine and making her moan louder. "Hn?"

Getsu pushed him onto his back, pinning him again, her face red from both her arousal and embarrassment at letting him win at their second sparring match they'd had.

Sesshomaru smirked up at her, lifting a hand to gather the locks of ebony at the back of her head and guiding her into a deep kiss that often made her knees weak and sink before him in surrender, rendering his princess to an aroused future mother of his pups.

She growled at first before his tongue slipped inside her mouth and took control of her own tongue, dominating her with hardly any retaliation. Damn it, why is he such a good kisser? She wanted to demand of the heavens above, succumbing to his will albeit reluctantly.

He guided her to sit in his lap as he sat up once having tamed her usually-pouting mouth, practically feeling the heat from her core searing into his legs past the fabric of his hakama, his inner beast's will kicking in as he grinded his erect manhood against her inner thighs, feeling her freeze briefly before she grew accustomed to the feeling and grinded with him.

Getsu blushed more (if that was possible at this point) when feeling his manhood throb against her heated warmth, moaning softly before letting him guide her onto her back, leaning up a little to kiss him hungrily.

Sesshomaru uttered an aroused growl from deep within his chest as he traced his claws along the lighter-toned skin of her outer right thigh, forcing another shiver from his willing mate before she reached to undo his sash at his waist and help him out of his hakama.

Her inner demon all but howled inside her ears when he pushed his hips against hers and made her lips open to take him.

He groaned loudly and tilted his head back before ending the torture he'd caused to both her and himself, making her cry out and moan his name.

Korihime looked up from walking with the kitsune and old priestess.

Both parties looked at her in slight confusion.

"Lady Korihime, is something wrong?" Granny Kaede asked curiously, perking her ears.

A bristle rippled down her spine as she sniffed the air. "Something's coming. Shippo, take Kaede and find Miroku. I've gotta get Rin and Sango." She declared, looking to the kitsune.

Shippo nodded even though his aqua-colored eyes looked worried. "Kori-chan, what about Kagome and InuYasha? Shouldn't we wait for them to come?"

Korihime looked up at the sky again and she shook her head. "We'll have to start without them; I'm sure they'll come soon, okay? Let's go." She replied, taking off at a quick sprint towards the village, her mind flying to the girl and demon slayer still inside the hut. God don't let anything happen to them! She thought, gritting her teeth.

:::::::xXx::::::::

Thunder growled overhead.

Getsu looked up at the dark skies around them and bristled out of reflex, flexing her claws. Why do I have the feeling that we're getting the run-around? She wondered.

A swirling red vortex appeared, forcing both daiyokai to skid to a halt and watch as the effeminate incarnation of Naraku appeared fresh out of the vortex, safely riding one of his large origami cranes. "Well, well, you came all this way chasing Magatsuhi's scent; the great Lord Sesshomaru really does have a keen nose... for a dog." Byakuya of the Dreams mused thoughtfully.

Sesshomaru bristled. "Byakuya of the Dreams," he greeted coldly.

He cocked a brow. "A left arm? I thought you didn't have one… did it grow back?" He teased.

He huffed. "This has nothing to do with you so piss off."

Byakuya scoffed. "I see your manners haven't improved; now Lady Getsuei, I'm shocked that you haven't managed to keep him on a shorter leash with his etiquette." He turned to the silent she-wolf.

Getsu bristled again but other than that said nothing.

"Ah well, I suppose you're both looking for this one, right?" The large face of Magatsuhi appeared behind the incarnation.

"Magatsuhi," she grumbled.

He flew past her at the face, drawing Tensaiga and swinging it at the face; a rip appeared until it disappeared, looking as if he hadn't struck out at all. "It didn't work." He noted.

She shot a look over at the incarnation to see his arms were folded smugly, as if he knew something they didn't… Of course! It clicked. It's not the real Magatsuhi! She thought.

"Sesshomaru it's not real! The face is just an illusion." She declared, perking his ears.

So that explains things, he thought, glancing at her and nodding.

But if that's not the real Magatsuhi, then where…? Her silver orbs widened in horror. "Oh fuck." She hissed, drawing Mangetsuga. "Byakuya, tell me where Magatsuhi is!" She ordered sharply, glaring at the incarnation's cobalt eyes.

"Clever mind, Lady Getsuei! You figured it out. But you're a bit too late, I'm afraid." He snickered; she growled and flashed her fangs in annoyance.

:::::::dDd::::::::

She bristled and bared her teeth instinctively as she held the girl to her chest and held up an ice dagger to defend both her and her charge, her blue eyes glowering into the malevolent face of Magatsuhi, perking up as the boy's eyes opened to reveal lifeless brown orbs, making the bristle lift the fine hairs on the back of her neck and arms. "Magatsuhi!" She hissed.

"Has Magatsuhi taken over his body?" The demon slayer wondered behind her, the monk at her side.

"This boy has within him the last shard of the Shikon Jewel, with it the jewel will at last be completed." The low distorted voice of the evil light declared from Kohaku's mouth.

"Kohaku! Give him back!" His sister demanded.

"Don't worry, I shall give the boy's body back once I'm done with it." Magatsuhi replied coldly.

Damn it, what do I do? I can't hit Magatsuhi's face because he can't be killed by anything of the mortal world, and if I use my powers it'll only hurt Kohaku… and Sango, too! Korihime flashed her teeth. "Fuck." She rumbled.

"He intends to take Kohaku to Naraku with the shard still inside him!" Miroku noted aloud in realization.

Sango gritted her teeth. "I won't let you take him anywhere!"

The evil light huffed before a loud rumbling sounded coming fast to the hut.

"Korihime, take Rin and go!" Sango declared, perking her ears.

"But Sango…" Korihime began, perking up as the walls crashed from behind the hut as several large demons burst through and flew at them; she grunted and sliced at one with her claws, keeping the girl behind her, before the boy drew his sickle out of the corner of her eye and it transformed into a giant scythe-looking blade. "KOHAKU!" She shouted.

::::::oOo:::::::

Getsu glared at him after he sliced open the gourd of sake, dispelling the illusion. So that's where the scent came from, she thought.

"Yes, it's a piece of Magatsuhi's flesh that you cut off; it carries a fraction of the soul that didn't escape in time. But it was more than enough to summon you two mongrels from a great distance; unfortunately, it took you too long to notice. My condolences. But since you're here, I figure 'why not amuse me a while longer'?" Byakuya smirked as a demon horde came forth and surrounded them.

What does he mean by 'my condolences'…? Her silver eyes sharpened. Korihime! She looked at her mate alertly. "Sesshomaru!" She exclaimed as the realization seemed to hit him shortly after hitting her first.

Damn it all, he thought, glaring at the various demons surrounding them, hearing his mate growl as her aura spiked angrily. "Stay your hand, Getsu." He instructed, perking her ears.

She obeyed reluctantly and lowered her katana. "Right."

"You underestimate us, Byakuya; do you honestly believe you could impede us with demons as weak as these?" Sesshomaru drawled.

Byakuya shrugged. "I did gather a thousand of them…" He mused.

"Bakusaiga!" A wide torrent of green-and-yellow energy screamed at the demon horde, destroying them all in one fell swoop.

Getsu yelped slightly when Sesshomaru grabbed her waist in his left arm and spirited away from the scene.

Byakuya deadpanned, a brow twitching in shock and disappointment. "What? …All of them at once?" He muttered.

"Sesshomaru, we've got to hurry; we left Korihime and Rin…" She began once they were miles away from the scene of carnage, holding his arm to her waist as they flew back to the village.

"I know, I was thinking the same. Damn, I should have known it was another wild goose chase. Damn that bastard Byakuya." He replied with a growl in his throat.

Getsu nodded and stroked his cheek. "We both were fooled, it's not you." She assured quietly.

Sesshomaru looked at her and smiled slightly, elated that even when he was angry at himself for something foolish he'd caused or did, Getsu was always there to lift him up. That's just the kind of woman she was.

A/N: if anyone is wondering on the reason why i titled the chap off the song "Burn" by Ellie Goulding is because i got invited to the Bruno Mars concert in Austin this past week, on his "Moonshine Jungle" tour i think... and i all but died when my friend told me Ellie Goulding was the opening act. it was legit and such an epic light show concert i loved it. xD so the chap title is a tribute to that song. Ellie Goulding ftw! xD

anywho, chap 41 is in the works so until then, later! drop a comment or whatever if y'want. thanks~