The Maiden and her Protector
By Kjpanny Kjchristie17
Chapter 96: I should be studying right now.
(This is going to be along chapter)
As he lost sight of Kagome, the beast grew agitated. Seshoumaru tried to reign it in but to no avail. Looking at Inuyasha, he snarled, "Explain yourself, now!"
The hanyou took a step back, suddenly wary of the new mood.
"We were getting reports of a youkai gathering in this area. After you disappeared, the upper families started growing antsy and there was talk of appointing a new leader."
He glanced towards the silent wolf youkai, "Kouga came to citadel saying something about a human prince absorbing youkai in his body. His neighboring tribe was slaughtered so he came for assistance to protect his own tribe. We came to investigate and we found you here. That's pretty much it."
"What human prince?"
Alarm bells had started going on in his head.
"Naraku. There were rumors that he killed his old man. We didn't pay much attention to that 'cause we don't get involved in human affairs. But then he started attacking tribes in our area."
Kouga's words did nothing to sooth the hurning in the pit of his stomach. Something told him that he needed to find Kagome, now.
"I will return."
Offering no more information, he glided smoothly into the same direction the young miko had taken. The others watched him leave and Kouga narrowed his eyes, speculatively, "You don't think..."
Inuyasha shook his head, "He hates humans. He only took my mother in because it was his responsibility. He loathes the entire species."
A small voice piped up, from Inuyasha's shoulder, "I would not be so quick to judge the situation, if I were you, Master Inuyasha."
Inuyasha glanced at his shoulder and sneered, "So, this is where you've been hiding, you damned flea. We were looking for you after the battle. Don't tell me you slunk off to Seshoumaru without telling us."
Myouga denied it, lying boldly, "I simple came to assess the situation here."
"Yeah, right!" Snorted Inuyasha. Pinching the flea between his thumb and forefinger, he shook him, "So, spill it. What's going on between those two?"
From his undignified position, Myouga crossed his arms, and frowned, "I am not really sure but from what I can see, Lord Seshoumaru's beast is quite protective of Miss Kagome."
"So, he does like her, then?" Kouga scowled.
"Well, it's more instinctive than deliberate. I am not certain, and at this stage it is just an assumption but he seems to be in the mating dance."
"The what?" Two twin voices echoed.
"What the hell is that? I've never heard of it." Inuyasha questioned.
"You're not supposed to know. The reason being that it's very rare." He went on to explain, "When your father mated Lord Seshoumaru's mother and then later your mother, he simply fell in love each time and he placed the mating mark. That mating mark can be broken, as proven when he mated your mother as well. However, a mating dance is rare because this it creates a permanent bond. A mere handful of youkai have been able to find their truemates. It's s gift and a curse, because your true mate is not only your strength but also your greatest weakness. If something were to happen to a youkai's truemate, he lose his mind."
"That sounds harsh." Commented Inuyasha. "So, how do you know that Kagome is Seshoumaru's truemate."
Myouga frowned, "I don't. But the signs are all there. Her miko powers don't have a fatal effect on Lord Seshoumaru. It has nothing to do with his being so powerful but the fact that Miss Kagome's powers don't see Lord Seshoumaru as a threat. Even whilst all of you were arguing, her powers had formed a barrier over Lord Seshoumaru. You didn't notice because you two are not yet adept at reading auras. I, however, have mastered the skill in my long age."
"So, what happens now?"
Myouga shrugged, answering Inuyasha's worried question, "It depends. I doubt the two of them are even aware of what is going on."
In the woods, Kagome stomped, angrily. The nerve of him! He could have killed me with that poison whip of his!
Shippou wisely remained silent as his companion fumed and vented in silence.
However, the eery silence of the woods made the hair on his nape prickle. Clutching tighter to Kagome, he whispered her name, "It's too quiet, Kagome. We need to go back."
Kagome stilled. He was right. There not even the sounds of the animals chattering. Then, she felt something or someone watching her. She whirled around but nobody was there. But her miko powers were growing agitated by the second. Something was not right.
Lowering her voice, she murmured, "How far are we from the campsite, Shippou?"
"Not that far."
"When I give the signal, I want you to run. I'll be right behind you."
He looked startled, "What?"
"Just listen to what I say!"
He nodded his head.
Satisfied, Kagome used her miko powers to check their surroundings. A very malicious aura from her right, sent out powerful waves of hatred and greed. Enough that she stumbled for a second. Gathering her power in her center, like Kaede had taught her, she focused it on the entity to her right and unleashed everything.
"NOW, SHIPPOU!"
The kit jumped off her shoulders and ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. Kagome followed on his heels. The thing was right behind him. She could feel him gaining on them.
"Faster, Shippou!"
A slimy tentacle gripped her ankle, she stumbled, falling on her face. Seeing, Shippou falter, she screamed, "Keep running! Get Seshoumaru!"
As she was dragged back, she kept sending blasts of her power towards the creature, but it wouldn't stop. A rough hand grabbed her and turned her around and she stared into a horrifyingly familiar face. Her legs seemed to give way under her and her voice, weak and shaken, "Y-You?"
"Hello Kagome. Long time."
He grabbed her by her front of her robe and dragged her to him, while she struggled in his hold, silent, but wild.
"It's no use, resisting. The fairest of them all." He grabbed a fistful of her hair, "How would the fairest of them all feel like serving at my feet?"
She tried to blast him with her power, but something was sapping at her energy. Horrified, she saw the tentacle that had grabbed her ankle, slithering up her body.
Screaming in disgust, she struggled even more wildly, all the while, crying for Seshoumaru. Where was he? Didn't he say that he'd protect her?
Seshoumaru! Where are you?!
A flash of green and the hold on her broke loose. She didn't realize she had been crying until she was pressed against something white and soft and someone incredibly angry.
"Did I not tell you that the woods were unsafe?" Seshoumaru demanded.
She sniffed, nodding her head, unable to speak. The tears wouldn't stop coming.
Realizing that she was probably frightened out of her wits, his tone lost that sharp edge and he pulled her even closer. The warmth of his embrace offered her a magnitude of comfort. She buried her face in his chest and sobbed.
Angry that she was hurt, his beast was supremely furious that someone had dared to traumatize her. For once, he and the beast agreed on something. This hanyou in front of the had to die.
Naraku watched scornfully. "The girl belongs to me, youkai."
The beast growled at the statement.
"Her place is at my feet, serving me and paying for her crimes." Naraku was completely confident in his newfound power, "She will be whipped two times a day to teach her obedience. She will eat what I feed her and see to my needs." He laughed, "She'll be lower than a slave but she will be mine."
Seshoumaru's eyes bled red. He would never lay a hand on the girl! His body rippled and he let his beast emerge, all the while holding onto Kagome who's small frame had gone stiff with hearing the details of Naraku's plan for her.
The beast gently put Kagome to one side and faced the hanyou. Naraku sneered and his tentacles flew forward in an attempt to impale Seshoumaru. However, the poison from Seshoumaru's mouth disintegrated them before they could touch him.
His opponent smirked and raised his hand. His arm started moving of its own accord as the flesh burst pen to allowed strangely coloured youkai to crawl out.
"He's an abomination."
Kagome's horrified whisper was met with silence as Seshoumaru jumped into the air to elude the demons. Then with a slash of his claw, he ripped them into pieces. However, they kept coming. The beast realized it was facing an entire army of youkai.
It rushed into the fight, trying to eliminate as many as possible meanwhile trying to reach the source of his problems. A brazen yell didn;t halt him int he least as Inuyasha and kouga rushed into the fray.
"Need a hand brother?" Inuyasha smirked as he cut down a huge youkai standing in Seshoumaru's path. The inuyoukai just bared his teeth at his half sibling. Kouga had fury written all over his face, as he cut down a mighty impressive youkai, "This is for my friends, you bastard!"
Naraku watched the battle and his eyes searched for Kagome. Finding her huddled in a corner, he approached her from the shadows.
Meanwhile, Kagome watched the three youkai fight furiously and she found herself getting over her shock and fear. Now that Naraku's tentacle was no longer sucking away her energy, she could help the other, if albeit, only at a distance. Summoning, her powers, she dipped into the core of her powers. Kaede had been teaching her how to tap into her unlimited pool of power before she died. According to Kaede, her body housed an enormous power which seemed to have no limit. If only she had learnt how to manage it.
Trying the method she had been taught, she floored herself and gathered herself till her mind was blank slate. She could feel her power growing inside her, slowly, and steadily. Pleased with herself, she gave a determined smile. She would never fear Naraku. She would not let him conquer her. As her power kept growing, a hand crept over her shoulder, grabbing her hands and putting them behind her back.
Kagomes eyes opened as Naraku murmured, "Now this will never do. We can't have you learning how to use your powers."
Kagome panicked for a second before forcing herself to keep gathering her power. Maybe, just maybe, she could hurt him enough to give the others an edge in the battle.
Naraku's words were an irritated snarl, "Stop it. You've lost."
However, she remained mutinously silent and he pulled her even harder against his body and whispered, "Maybe, I'll have to teach you a lesson in obedience right now." His voice turned mockingly thoughtful, Maybe I should take out your youkai lover. Just slice his head off. I'll put it in my room so that whenever you have to service me, you'll do so, looking at his head."
If had meant to frighten her, or discourage her, he failed tremendously. The very fact that he had just threatened Seshoumaru made Kagome so angry that her miko powers went out of control.
Naraku's eyes widened and he stumbled back. All the youkai stopped to watch as a pink aura crept towards them. Inuyasha yelped and grabbbed Kouga by his shirt, and jumped into a tree. Seshoumaru wasn't that lucky. The wave was almost over him when he saw it. His eyes closed and he felt a tingling delicious burn that forced him to shift back otherwise it would have made for an awkward situation.. Bewildered, he stared at the disintegrated youkai and then towards the source of the power. His eyes went narrow as he glimpsed Naraku standing in front of Kagome. Drawing his sword, he moved, faster than lightening. Just as his sword connected with the hanyou, Kagome's power burned him to ash.
Kagome stared at the pile of ash in front of her and wobbled. Seshoumaru immediately caught her by her waist. Kagome stared up at him and then at the ash.
"He threatened you."
She offered that as an explanation. The beast prowled behind his cage, rumbling with an innate satisfaction. However, Seshoumaru was far from pleased.
"I am to protect you, not you me." He stated, as if the very thought offended him.
Kagome's eyes widened as she repeated, "But he threatened you."
"Nevertheless."
She grew irritated and stomped her foot, "Did you not hear me? He threatened you!"
"You are not to protect me."
Scowling, Kagome put both hands on his chest and pushed. He didn't budge an inch. he just stared down at her with that impassive gaze, "Was that supposed to hurt me?"
Kagome grabbed his robe and in a centuries old instinctive move, pulled him down and bit on his nose. He winced and she let go of him, satisfied, "No, but that did."
With that, he left him to his own devices and went in search of Shippou.
Safe, up in their tree, Inuyasha stared, stunned, "Did Seshoumaru just get disciplined?"
Apparently their hiding spot wasn't safe enough, because there was a flash of green and both of them stumbled from the tree, howling in pain.
A.N: Just 3 more chapters and an epilogue.