Chapter Nine :Home Again...

A FEW DAYS LATER, BACK IN KAGOME'S ERA...

"Have you two seen any sign of her?!" Jorn asked angrily...

"Not yet... " Greg said nervously...

"It's like she just vanished into thin air... " Kahn said puzzled, "Sorry Jorn... "

Jorn yelled out angrily and slammed his fists into a near by tree...

"Two and a half weeks she's been gone... Where is she?!" Jorn snarled angrily...

"Her mom and grandpa must have sent her back to that health again after she fell man... " Kahn said nervously...

"Yeah dude, " Greg said calmly, "I'm sure she'll be back soon... "

MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE FEUDAL ERA...

Lord Sesshomaru and his group was still accompanying inuyasha at Kagome's insistence... Jaken and Lord Sesshomaru watched as the miko continued to pace back and forth before Sesshomaru finally let his curiosity get the better of him...

"Miko... " Sesshomaru said in a deep voice, "Why so nervous? "

Kagome gasped and looked at Lord Sesshomaru as if in a daze...

"I... I beg your pardon?! " Kagome stammered...

"My Lord Sesshomaru wishes to know why it is your so nervous all of a sudden... Are you I'll?" Jaken squaked worriedly...

"No... No... Everything's fine... " Kagome said trying to calm down...

"Hn... Your lying... " Sesshomaru said stubbornly, "What is it that has you so worried? "

"Um... Well... Uh... I've been gone a lot longer this time then I ever have before and I'm afraid they'll be mad at me for being gone so long!"Kagome said laughing nervously, "That's all!"

"We aren't as gullible as you may think we are, Lady Kagome... We can smell the scent of fear all over you... " Jaken said wisely...

Kagome sighed tiredly and beckoned for them to follow her... Once she was a safe distance from the others, she began telling Lord Sesshomaru and Master Jaken her tale, shuddering every so often as she relived the nightmare... Lord Sesshomaru seemed his usual stoic mask of calm until she got to the part where Jorn had choked, beaten, and nearly raped her... Kagome gasped and stopped talking when she noticed red seeping into Sesshomaru's eyes...

"Um... Maybe should just hush about it..." Kagome said nervously standing...

"No... You will tell me the rest... " Sesshomaru growled...

"After he beat me, I started feeling very strange... So tired that I couldn't move my body to fight him off... Even though I was so tired that I could barely talk above a whisper, I called out the first person that came to my mind... Koga... " Kagome said drawing a shaky breath, "Jorn became furious and demanded me to tell him who Koga was... When I refused, he began beating me again... If my mother hadn't come home when she did... "

Kagome gasped and began shaking...

"Why did you not simply tell him that you wished for him to leave you alone?!" Jaken squaked loudly.

"He would have hurt my little brother if I refused to stay with him... That's why I have to go back... If I don't go back soon... Souta will... He'll be in danger!" Kagome gasped quietly...

Sesshomaru watched as Kagome's small frame was wracked with sobs before he gently encircled his arms around her...

"You will be safe miko Kagome... I can smell Koga's bloodbond on you... You can rest assured that Koga will go through hell and back to stop you from being in harms way.. " Sesshomaru said smiling...

To say Kagome was shocked to see him show such emotion was beyond any words she could think of at the moment... When Kagome finally her voice once more, she asked him on the subject, choosing her words carefully...

"Lord Sesshomaru? Why is that you got so upset when I told you what happened? " Kagome asked innocently.

"Rin has gotten quite attached to you lady Kagome... Jaken and I have also gotten used to having some nice conversation with you... We consider you a good friend... " Sesshomaru said.

"You've been very kind to my lord and I, lady Kagome, and we quite enjoy when we cross paths with you... Little Rin loves you as well, she's mentioned several times that she looks up to you like an older sister... " Jaken said smiling, "That's why Lord Sesshomaru was so upset by what you told us... "

"Your such a sweet little priestess, Kagome, I don't like anyone trying to harm you... " Sesshomaru growled.

"It's okay... It can't be helped... Destiny is destiny right? Can't do much about it... " Kagome said bitterly...

"You need to tell Koga and inuyasha... " Sesshomaru said stubbornly.

"No!" Kagome gasped in horror, "Are you crazy?! They kill him!"

"And your point is? " Sesshomaru said angrily, "That man deserves to die for causing such injury to you... "

Kagome couldn't believe her ears... Not only did Jaken and Sesshomaru acknowledge her as a friend, but they were visibly upset about what happened to her... Sesshomaru turned then and began walking away...

"Wait! Lord Sesshomaru! Where are you going?! " Kagome called frantically...

"If you do not inform inuyasha and the others of what happened to you soon... Then I will... "Sesshomaru threatened...

Kagome sank to her knees in despair...

'What am I supposed to do now?!" Kagome thought to herself frantically, 'No matter what he tried to do to me, does he really deserve to die?! '

As if Jaken could hear her thoughts, he came over and gently laid a hand on Kagome's knee...

"Lady Kagome... Please do not feel bad... My lord just simply wishes for you to stay safe... We do not have very many people whome we have the honor of calling our friends... " Jaken said smiling, " That is why we wish for you to inform the others... "

"Jaken... I don't agree with killing... No matter what the person did... That's how I was always taught... All life is secred... And my mother always told me that all beings are capable of doing great good, just as all beings are capable of great evil as well... I guess what I'm saying is... In my heart, I'm hoping that he will change... " Kagome said sadly...

"You truly are one of a kind... We really cherish your friendship dearly lady Kagome... " Jaken said smiling...

"Thank you for being so sweet Jaken... " Kagome said smiling.

Before Jaken could realize what she was about to do, Kagome gently picked Jaken up in a bear hug and placed a kiss on his cheek, causing him to blush a deep shade of red... Afterwards, the two walked silently back to camp...

A few days later, they made it back to Keade's village and said they're goodbyes to Kagome...

"You can stay and visit your home as long as you need to Kagome... Just get plenty of rest, OK?" inuyasha asked, concern laced in his voice...

"Thanks but no thanks... " Kagome said bitterly, "I'll only be gone long enough to catch up on my studies... I don't want to be home any longer then I absolutely have to... I'll see you guys when I get back... "

When Kagome jumped through the well and landed in her home time, her heart began frantically beating...

"Well, I'm home again... " Kagome said to herself irritatedly. "I can't wait to go back... "