CHAPTER SEVEN

(Miyako's POV)

It's been about a week since I thanked Sesshōmaru for finding that hot spring. Nothing has really changed in our quirky little group; we still go on everyday trying to track Naruko. Unfortunately, and fortunately, we haven't run into Kagome's group. Unfortunately, because I haven't seen them in a while and I still need to explain all that barrier crap and I was kidnapped by Inuyasha's "evil" half-brother. Fortunately, because they would be asking questions and Sesshōmaru has yet to figure out I'm even a demon. I'd like that little surprise to not be ruined. As we keep walking down the dirt path my ears twitch as I hear something or someone approaching. However, I can't stop because that would be extremely suspicious. I glance at Sesshōmaru out of the corner of my eye and notice him slightly tense up and then subtlety shift his weight to prepare for an attack. His nose is far better than mine, so I can only assume he knows what lies ahead. Rin is skipping ahead of us and I'm just about to call out when Sesshōmaru cuts me off with a terse "Rin" causing the small girl to twirl towards us and stand behind Sesshōmaru. Jaken is looking around cautiously like something will viciously attack him.

Suddenly, much quicker than my ears anticipated, I notice with great horror just who was approaching. Kōga. I almost let out a sigh of frustration. This guy will have me blowing my cover! I can't be revealing my demonic form when I have so much more to learn about Sesshōmaru!

Kōga, realizing there's others around, stops a few feet away. His eyes glance over everyone in the group and I can see the stars in his eyes when they land on me. I groan internally, knowing this can only end one way. Badly. A smirk crawls onto his lips and he dashes over to me grabbing my waist and hauling me into his arms proclaiming "My woman! I'm so glad to find you again! Already putting up a small fight? You sure know how much I love a spitfire." I flail about trying to get him to loosen his grip without giving myself away. I slam my fists into his back, trying to maintain a human appearance, but don't realize how hard I actually hit him. "Oomph" he groans when my second fist comes down. "That's one hell of a hit ya got, woman!" He says, and I can just see the steam coming from his nose in excitement.

Abruptly, the air around us gets noticeably colder. I sweat drop knowing what's coming. Sesshōmaru is in front of Kōga almost immediately, "Release the woman." He demands in a deep rumble. I can't see what's going on, but I sure can feel the glare pinning down Kōga. Of course, Kōga, being Kōga, didn't feel the danger he was in. That if he didn't release me, Sesshōmaru would kill him. So, being the only person thinking logically in this group, I stepped up and tried to diffuse the situation. "Kōga, I heard Kagome was in some trouble and Inuyasha was doing a poor job of guarding her. You should release me and find her, last I heard she was going South." I whispered, of course I knew the two demons could hear me with ease, but it really was just a trick to be let go. It seemed to work as I could feel Kōga almost vibrate with excitement, before he sets me down carefully, his hand brushing, not so innocently, near my bum, causing a deep growl to come from Sesshōmaru.

Kōga grabs both of my hands as he stares at me, a beat later he promises, "I will be back for you, but for now my other woman needs me." Before I can blink, he's gone in the same whirlwind he arrived in. I chance a glance at Sesshōmaru, only to see his eyes switching between his regular liquid gold and his demonic red and blue.

Sesshōmaru looks at me as his eyes settle back to the molten gold that does weird things to my insides. I go to speak but he just spins away and continues walking down the path. Rin, Jaken, and I follow behind him and I can feel a small tug in my chest. I bring a hand up and rub my chest hoping to dull the pain. I know what that pain is, my parents explained it many times when I was younger. Once your mate accepts you, you'll feel fragments of their emotions, if they start to push you away after accepting you then it's like splitting your heart and soul in two. I always freaked out when I heard that but then I was transported to the future, thinking I'd never even find my destined mate. 'Yet, here I was, mated to my best friend's son of all people' I snorted to myself. Fate is a tricky thing, that's for sure.

—

It was hours later when we stopped to make camp. Jaken and Rin had gone to collect wood for a fire as I set up the small camp. I was all too aware of the painful, awkward, silence that was settling over the encampment. The only people left were Sesshōmaru and myself. I could feel his eyes follow my figure as I flitted around the camp setting out a sleeping bag for Rin and pulling a knife out to flay whatever would be our dinner of the night. "You're interesting. You did not panic when that wolf came and grabbed you." Sesshōmaru finally broke the silence, sneering the word wolf. I nearly sighed when I realized his voice was too husky, too deep, for him to have his inner beast caged away.

I turned to face him, only for him to already be in front of me, causing me to rear back, almost tripping if it weren't for his large hand settling on my waist. Shocks traveled through my body, starting where his hand was. My breath caught in my throat as I tried to blink the haze away. I couldn't think straight. My sane mind was battling with my hormones, my instincts. Sesshōmaru's face had a smirk settled over it, most likely from knowing how my body was reacting to him. The whites of his eyes were now a deep red and the irises a bright blue, causing me to shiver, but not out fear. He leans his head down toward my neck, but before reaching his destination, his head snaps in the direction of a powerful yōkai pulse. He wraps his arm around my waist before jumping into the air.

We disappear in a ball of light, arriving at a bloody scene. I inhale and look around, Inuyasha caused this destruction but his scent is the same when he lost control. When we spot him, he's about to kill human bandits. Then he senses us and whips in our direction, eyes bloodthirsty. Sesshōmaru moves me behind him, "Hmm, a monster who only knows to fight."

Sesshōmaru and Inuyasha stare each other down, Inuyasha's low feral growls are the only thing that's heard. "Come at me, Inuyasha. I'll test you to see how strong you are when you transform." I glare at Sesshōmaru's back, not wanting to be stuck in the middle of a battle. Inuyasha glares and releases a loud snarl before rushing towards us. In one fluid motion Sesshōmaru moves me behind him more and draws his sword. It holds off Inuyasha only for a moment before Inuyasha rears his fist back and punches the blade away. I can feel my heart rate nearing frantic levels as unease settles in my bones. While Inuyasha manages to punch the blade away, he still received a deep wound to his hand and arm. "Huh… pointless!" Sesshōmaru taunts, making me glare at the back of his perfect head. Inuyasha growls and rushes forward again.

Sesshōmaru jumps on the offensive and moves the fighting away from me, I glance around and walk over to Kagome, Miroku, Shippō, Kirara, and Sango. Horror is painted on their features as they watch the two brothers battle. "Kagome." I say quietly to get her attention off the demons.

Her head snaps in my direction as tears gather in her eyes, "Miyako!" she cries as she flings herself at me, contacting a low 'oomph'. Everyone else turns to look as well and run over to circle me.

I smile at her, "It's been a while."

As she pulls away, her eyes frantically search over my figure, "What happened? Did he hurt you? Are you okay?"

A low chuckle leaves my chest, as if such a young demon could hurt me, mate or not. "I am fine. Honest. Do not forget." I say as I extend my claw on my pointer finger and poke her forehead. Shippō is staring at me with a knowing look in his eyes.

"I'm glad you're okay, Miyako. When Sesshōmaru suddenly grabbed you…" She trails off, looking away from me and back to the fight. "Can you do anything?" She asks.

I observe the fight, noticing Inuyasha slowly getting the upper hand, I glance at Kagome, "The only thing that will stop Inuyasha now is that sword in your hands."

Sesshōmaru seems to understand Inuyasha's state before muttering, "Pathetic, I understand fully now." before knocking Inuyasha to the ground unconscious. Kagome rushes forward and throws herself between the brothers, "Please! Stop!" She screams as she leans over Inuyasha's bloody body.

Sesshōmaru just stares at the pair before stating, "He finally stopped moving." He walks over to them as tears gather in Kagome's eyes.

"Stay away, Stupid!" She yells at Sesshōmaru. Geez, this girl has no awareness for her own life.

"Watch out!" Sango says as her, Miroku, Shippō, and Kirara rush over to the three. I walk behind them at a slower pace.

Sesshōmaru stares at Kagome and Inuyasha before his eyes glance over to me, and too quick for a human to notice, does a quick sweep over my body to make sure I didn't receive any injuries. His eyes come up and rest on my own before he turns his attention back to the pair in front of him, "If you want him to stop, use Tetsusaiga to undo the transformation."

Kagome gasps and looks over at me, I nod my head in agreement. "If he revives as is, he will try to fight again. If he does that, it will result in his death." I tell her. Sesshōmaru glances back over to me with surprise flickering in his gold eyes.

Miroku, Sango, and Shippō rush over and stand in front of Sesshōmaru, trying to guard Kagome and the unconscious Inuyasha. I walk over but stand closer to Sesshōmaru. Miroku glares at Sesshōmaru, before saying, "You had the chance to kill Inuyasha earlier, but you only threw him off with the sword. Why did you stop there? You despise Inuyasha!" Miroku chuckles sarcastically, "I can't believe you suddenly found brotherly love."

I wince, knowing Sesshōmaru would not spare Miroku for such insulting words. Hell, I would strike him down for such things. Sesshōmaru's eyes harden into a glare, "I will kill him, in time." He states. Why does Sesshōmaru want to hate Inuyasha so much? Sesshōmaru continues, "But now, when he doesn't even know himself? There's no point in killing him." He turns towards me and walks over.

I hear Sango give a small protest as Sesshōmaru wraps an arm around my waist, causing me to let out a small gasp. Seeing Sesshōmaru battle earlier really brought out my instincts to accept him even more than before. Whether Sesshōmaru knew it or not, he was showing off to prove he could protect his mate and my hormones were going crazy. As Sesshōmaru jumps into the air I hear my name screamed out by Kagome, Miroku, and Sango. I glance down, the last thing I see is Shippō with understanding in his eyes before Sesshōmaru and I are a ball of light.