[Hey guys! Updates are maybe gonna be a little further apart because I have stupid tennis all month. Ugh. But please review and enjoy anyway, and check out my poll while you're at it.]

Her eyes shot open in the darkness. She was still pressed against Sesshomaru's chest, and at first she thought she'd had a nightmare, but then she heard the chaos outside. She shook Sesshomaru gently, and threw a pillow towards Inuyasha. Toga was already awake, getting his armor on silently. The boys and Kagome all dressed quickly, and when they had their armor on, they stepped out of the tent, taking in the chaos around them. Her armored hand found Sesshomaru's, and he gave it a comforting squeeze, and then he was gone, and they were all fighting.

Kagome fought her way carefully through the crowd, and she knew where she was going. Ungai was visible on horseback, letting his army protect him. If she were to look, she would have also seen Sesshomaru, with the same target in mind.

Reaching Ungai, she finally sensed Sesshomaru's aura behind her.

"Sesshomaru-sama! Cover me!"

She saw him nod out of the corner of her eye, and she turned her attention to Ungai.

"You killed my parents, you bastard. I'll kill you for that."

"Oh little one, you are confused. We went there to protect your family. The house was surrounded by demons when we arrived."

"Liar! Those troops were sent to protect my family from you! What is your problem anyway?! I'm happy in the Western Palace!"

"You've been bewitched, child. This is not natural. Humans and demons are not meant to be together."

"But I want to be with Sesshomaru! This has nothing to do with you!"

"It has everything to do with me. As a monk, I cannot allow a defenseless girl to be with such filth."

She didn't waver, "Your entire army is made of demons."

"Y-you can sense auras?"

"That's beside the point. I'm here to kill you!"

"Now now, child. Is that any way to treat your protector?"

Kagome laughed, the sound echoing across the battlefield. In the darkness, she glared at the man illuminated in the firelight.

"Protector? Would my protector kill my parents? Or try to separate me from my friends? Or try to sabotage my engagement? I think not."

"Very well. If it is a fight you want. You." he gestured to an armored man standing at his side, "Fight her."

The man nodded silently, and Kagome gripped the katana in her hand, which she'd almost forgotten about.

She knocked the man down, not wanting to kill him, and placed her blade to his throat.

"Why don't you remove his helmet?" the old monk said, almost teasingly.

Confused, she did as he said.

"No. You didn't."

She met his eyes. Her eyes.

"Sota."

She bit back tears.

"Why?"

"Your engagement has to end. You'll only bring ruin to the Higurashi name if this continues! You have already shown that you can't be forced back. Women don't fight wars Kagome!"

The younger man was practically glowing with fury. Shaking her head, the woman lifted her sword, bringing the hilt down on her brother's head, knocking him out.

She stood again, turning to Ungai.

"Did you think that would work? Did you think you could break me? I died when I was thirteen you bastard!"

She laughed without humor, "I can't be broken. There's nothing you can do to hurt me! Just accept your death like a man."

The old monk laughed, "Oh really?"

And suddenly, her world froze. She watched, petrified, as Sesshomaru suddenly collapsed, twitching and convulsing. She could feel his aura being attacked by an energy like light itself. And then he went still.

She felt the rage build inside her, and she suddenly exploded in a burst of energy, her eyes glowing pink and her hair rising around her as her armor was replaced by priestess garb. All eyes turned her way, the yokai on the battlefield sensing the one thing they had to fear the most. Her energy was so concentrated that even the humans could feel it.

Unnoticed by all, the former Western Lady was laughing, a quiet chuckle.

"I knew it. This one's a keeper."

And suddenly, Ungai's entire demonic army combusted, pink reiki flames eating them away into nothingness, while the entire Western Army watched in amazement, they were disintegrated, their armor falling in heaps of metal. As they vanished, the sun began to rise, illuminating the enraged girl as she purified every last member of Ungai's army. The only humans he had in his army were Sota and himself, and Ungai knew with a startling certainty that he was about to die.

The girl's power faded, and she remained standing, slight shock flickering over her face before rage took its place again. The girl stumbled slightly, and Ungai took his chance to flee. Faster than the eye could see, two very angry Inu yokai appeared beside him, knocking him to the ground.

Irasue and Toga both removed their helmets, and while Toga was too startled to speak, Irasue hissed, "You'll pay for what you did to my son."

They pulled him back, enduring the purification burns he was inflicting on them. They dropped him in front of Kagome, and all remained silent, everyone waiting with bated breath for the final blow of the short-lived war. The girl nodded appreciatively, and drew a dagger from where it was hidden in her clothing, her sword having been thrown away in the explosion of reiki.

"Any last words?"

"Humans and yokai can never have peace! They'll never be able to live together."

"I'll let you in on something, old man. I've been living with demons for the past nine years. I think we'll manage."

And then she dug her blade into the man's chest, right through his heart. The man laughed a spluttering laugh, blood coming from his mouth as he did, and Kagome realized what he was going to do.

"Get back!" she screamed, and she scrambled toward Sesshomaru, placing a barrier around him as fast as she could. As Ungai let out his final breath, a shockwave of reiki spread throughout the battlefield. Kagome winced as it slammed into her barrier, but managed to hold it. The shock wave slowly depleted, and when she was positive that all was well, she dropped it.

Her head spun, and she felt faint, but she steadied herself, moving to take Sesshomaru's hand.

She had been terrified when she hadn't felt his aura, but as she took his hand she felt it thrum weakly in response.

"He's still alive," she said to the rest of the Western House, who had gathered around, "But he's very weak. Ungai was attacking his aura directly, because he knew Sesshomaru is too strong to fight physically. If Ungai hadn't died right then..."

Irasue sighed in relief, as did Toga, while Inuyasha muttered something about not caring either way, though Kagome was sure she saw his eyes glistening for a second.

"I recommend we rest here until Sesshomaru is awake. I'm not sure what traveling will do to him, but it probably won't be-"

She froze as the knife entered her back. Everything went silent as she turned to face her brother.

"Sota. Why?"

"If I can't change the house, I'll simply end it."

The knife, still covered in her own blood, entered his chest, while Kagome's cry of "No!" echoed through the silence. Despite her own injuries, she crawled toward him, kneeling beside him as tears streamed down her face.

The boy lay on the ground, blood dripping slightly from the corner of his mouth, and his sister's tears dripping onto his face, while his eyes stared blankly into the sky, his final breath escaping him as she reached him.

"You can't. I'll heal you! I- Somebody get me some herbs! I can- I can-"

She lost it then, and she held the boy close to her, murmuring, "Only sixteen. So young. You can't."

Everyone watched the scene before them with sad eyes, knowing this would scar the young princess.

"Kagome," Bankotsu finally said, moving beside her, "You need to be treated for those injuries."

"No! I'm staying with him! I can't leave! He'll be sad if I go! He'll cry! He always has nightmares when he sleeps alone, he-"

Koga moved to her other side, and Shippo and Hojo moved to stand behind her.

Carefully, the four started to lead her away, while she screamed and struggled.

"No! I can't leave! He'll have nightmares! Mama wants me to take care of him! She'll punish me if I don't. Mama's coming home soon! I'll get in trouble! Stop! Sota! He'll have nightmares! Let me go!"

"She's delirious. Blood loss," Koga muttered.

"I- I don't wanna sleep. I wanna go play with Sota! Mama's gonna be mad! No..."

The girl trailed off as she fainted from blood loss, and her four friends carried her back to her tent, praying to any kami that was listening for their friend to be okay.

[Wow. That was... a lot more intense than I was planning. But... yeah. This isn't the end! They still have a year until they get married! I'll try to update again soon! I can't just leave such a cliffy! Anyway, please review and check out my poll! Byeee!]