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A Damaged Soul

Chapter 7

His ears were elfin, his hair was thicker in volume and held a more silky texture. There was the family crescent moon on his forehead, but it was bleeding red. His eyes were amber, not unlike their father's and his cheeks were marked with purple jagged marks.

His brother had finally replaced his human side by revealing his true nature and becoming a full demon on his own.

Seshoumaru stared at his half brother. This was impossible. Yes, the legends had spoken of a powerful half demon who would arise by reverting to a full demon but that was a long time ago. Seshoumaru's eyes narrowed. Or was it?

Rage emitted from Inuyasha's thin frame as he got to his feet.

"Return this Inuyasha's mate!" he snarled.

Inuyasha was lost to all reason and Seshoumaru stepped in front of the miko, protectively.

"The miko is trapped within her mind by Naraku. You cannot help her unless you calm down."

Controlling himself with an obvious effort, Inuyasha stepped forward. However, his eyes darted past his writhing mate towards a distraught Shippou. The child youkai's face was drenched with tears as he kept rubbing his eyes. Rin had her arms around him as she tried to comfort him, her eyes darting from Seshomaru to Kagome.

"Lord Seshomaru will fix everything, Shippou. He will."

Shippou caught Inuyasha's gaze and he abandoned Rin to jump onto his old companion, wailing, "Bring Kagome back, Inuyasha! Make her all right again!"

From the mouths of babes, `Make her all right again.'

If he had the power, he would certainly do so. But right now he could do nothing but watch helplessly. Kagome's cries heightened and white hot searing pain washed over Inuyasha. Tossing Shippou at his brother, Inuyasha's eyes went red and he charged at the barrier which had surrounded Kagome, only to be tossed back. His red tinged gaze met that of his brother's who seemed frustrated as well. "What do I do?"

Seshomaru was silent for a moment as he considered the next course of action. It seemed like there was no other choice. For some reason, he was not happy with this outcome. However, the miko's life was as stake and she was a part of his pack and she was to be protected, so the words came from him, "Bind her to you."

"She does not want me."

"Yes, however, it is either that or let her die. So bind her with your blood. The link with your mind will stabilize her for the time being."

Inuyasha took a step forward. He wanted this. But, he remembered her face. If he forced her into this, she would hate him forever. He watched as she screamed in pain.

He concentrated his youki and then rushed into the barrier, hissing as his skin was nearly burnt off. Not waiting for himself to heal, he bit his tongue and then fastened his mouth to Kagome's. It was a completely non sexual act ad he forced his blood down her throat. Simultaneously, he forced his youki to overwhelm her reiki, subduing it enough so that the link could form.

Her writhing stopped as did her screams but her expression was still pained as she gasped. It took a while for her to completely be still. Then she moaned in pain and slowly opened her eyes, blinking blearily her eyes glazed, murmuring, "It hurts.".

Her eyes met a pair of familiar amber ones and it took her a while to place them with a face.

Inuyasha?

Kagome's eyes flitted around, still confused. `Did he do this to me? Why did Seshomaru let him near me?'

She caught a glimpse of his tormented face and for the first time since Seshomaru had saved revived her, her scent hinted of pure unadulterated fear. Scrambling back, she hit the back of the tree and her reiki started fluctuating.

Her eyes met Seshomaru's impassive ones and the look of betrayal she shot him made him clench his teeth. He had taken away her choice. He was aware of that. And yet.

Her injuries were many and as she tried to get up, she collapsed. When Inuyasha neared to help her, she screamed, "Get away from me! Don't!"

She cowered in fear , raising a hand to her face, trying to block him from her sight as if it would make him disappear. Inuyasha cringed at the fear in her eyes, in her words, in her scent.

He had done this.

His eyes burned, as he crept away like a defeated dog, letting Shippou and Rin rush towards her.

He walked towards the trees and darted away, anythign to get away from her scent.

Seshoumaru watched these proceedings and approached the miko. He was not prepared for Kagome's words, "You should have let me die than done this to me." Her gaze was hateful, pained and broken. "I have his taint all over me. Inside me. I can never get it out now."

"Your life belongs to me, miko. You live because I deem it so."

Her whisper made him reel, "Not for long."

"Jaken."

"Yes, my lord." The toad demon ventured cautiously.

"See to the miko's wounds."

"Yes my lord."

He hurried forward, removing a balm, wrapped in a leaf. The girl flinched, as he applied it to her, but her gaze did not move away from Seshomaru's. She planned to kill herself? Was her hate of his half brother so strong.

It took a while for the balm to take effect and Kagome's eyes closed and she turned her back on Seshomaru to sleep.

However, aside from the children that night, nobody slept, Kagome's word haunting all.

A pair of amber eyes watched her still figure till Seshomaru spoke, "Inuyasha."

He didn't look at his brother, "What?"

"You heard the miko's words."

Inuyasha nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

"Bring your pack here. You will travel with us for now."

Inuyasha took two steps away before turning around and asking the one question that had been haunting him for a few days now, "Why are you doing this? What do you get out of this, Seshomaru?"

His brother turned his back on him, leaving him with his parting words, "My interest in the miko is my business."

AN: CHANGES - 100 % I did not like how easily Kagome forgave Inuyasha. Girl is mad, and hurting. SO, a lot of changes in this chapter.