Thawing Her Heart

Disclaimer I do not own them but man it sure is fun when I think about the circles I race them in!


Chapter 24 A Questionable Battle

Sesshomaru stopped and looked around where he stood, things were too quiet. He had expected droves of lower youkai to rush them as soon as they made it to the inner courtyard, but as of yet none had appeared. When they reached the palace they were surprised by what they saw, only the pale Kanna awaited them. As they made their way closer they could see a flash of light emitted from the mirror in the girls arms, and what they saw froze them. It was Kagome, nude and tied to a cross, next to her were the children.

Kouga was the first to speak, “What is going on here? Naraku come out and face us you coward!” All eyes pinned themselves to the pale figure that walked through the door. “I thought we would have a little fun eh Sesshomaru?” Naraku chuckled at a seemingly private joke, “If you can either kill your opponent or wake him from the spell I have placed upon him then you will have your ‘family’ back. If you fail to do so then you and the young ones shall die.”

Inuyasha in yet another surprising show of his continuing maturity stepped forward. “What’s the catch Naraku? You never plan anything unless it is of some benefit to you?” Naraku just smiled at him before disappearing behind the screen as another pale figure made it’s way to the courtyard. Sesshomaru could not peel his eyes from his uncle’s form, he looked the same as he had when he vanished from the battlefield decades before. The only difference was in his eyes, they were almost soulless when they finally trained themselves on him.


Inuyasha stepped forward but his brother held up his hand, “I will handle this you and the others see if you can’t find where he is keeping them. I am counting on you little brother.” Inuyasha felt his heart fill with love for his aniiki as he nodded his head once and motioned for Kouga to join him. Turning to face Ayame, Sango, and Miroku he directed them towards the other side of the castle. When he turned back around he saw the fire in Kouga’s eyes as he spoke. “By Kami he will not get away with this! To make her appear so vulnerable, he better pray that we get to him before your brother…if I know him I know there will not be anything left over for us after that display.” Inuyasha could only shake his head in agreement. When he had seen Kagome, Rin, and Shippo tied as they were he had seen red. When he noticed that she had been nude his blood had nearly boiled in his veins. Kouga was right, if Sesshomaru got to Naraku before they did then they would be lucky if they could calm him down.


Kagome was lost, she couldn’t tell where she was or how she had gotten there. The last she remembered were the silver eyes that were as almost as empty as Kohaku’s the first time they had encountered him. Hearing a voice she spun around and came face to face with her inner self once more. “You must awaken my dear, your powers have been asleep for far too long. The only way you are going to be able to kill him is if you let go of the fear you are harboring inside. I remember that fear, the fear of losing everything you held dear, if you continue to hold to it you will. You are your children’s only hope, you know that you are the only one who is able to defeat that bastard. Please do not let him win in this time as well.” Kagome watched as the image before her faded, she felt like she was floating. Suddenly her eyes snapped open and she became aware of her surroundings. She was tied to something, and she was naked! She felt the anger swell inside when she saw Rin and Shippo were also tied. The anger only grew when she saw the blood that ran down Shippo’s legs. She knew it came from his back, she had watched as they whipped him, powerless to stop it. She would not be powerless any more! Hearing soft footfalls she turned to see Naraku making his way to where she was displayed. Suddenly she felt something inside of her snap, a rage that started in her very soul before she could feel it moving outward. Naraku stopped before her and she watched as his look of smug satisfaction was replaced with one of utter and complete shock as her youkai power began flowing from her in great waves. She felt more than saw the bindings keeping her in place fall away as she floated towards the ground. She watched with rage filled orbs as Naraku once again chose the cowards way and fled, turning she made her way to Shippo and released him as well. When she had him cradled in her arms she could feel the pure energy of her miko reach out and heal his wounds. When she was sure he would be okay and that he only slept she made her way to Rin, tears formed when she saw the ugly bruises that marred the pretty little girls features. She would make Naraku pay for harming her children, he would come to see her rage was a force to be reckoned with. Kneeling down she once again took Shippo into her arms, cradling both children she made her way towards where she felt her loves aura swirling in battle.


Sesshomaru was holding his own but barely, he was trying to find a way to defeat his uncle without actually hurting him. His uncle was still a formidable foe after all this time. While he was under Naraku’s magic he seemed weaker, as if he was only fighting at half his strength. It was when he was pondering moving behind and knocking Tasuki unconscious that he heard the words that made him see red. “ You do know I have tasted your woman... she was as sweet as honey and soft as silk. Just the smell of her is enough to make you want bury yourself in her warmth.” As the last of these words reached his ears he felt his control fall away as his beast took over the battle. All he could think of was his mate. She was his! How dare anyone touch her! Not even recognizing the smell of his own blood kin he transformed and let his inner rage take over. Inuyasha watched as his aniiki slowly became the giant Inu he remembered from long ago and while his brother looked magnificent he knew that Sesshomaru would regret taking the life of their uncle. Rushing towards where his uncle stood he was afraid he would not be fast enough. In that moment he watched his brother disarm and send Tasuki flying as if he weighed no more than a feather did on the wind. He then watched in horror as his brother’s muzzle of razor sharp teeth began it’s descent towards Tasuki.

Kagome spotted her love moving in for the kill and felt her blood race faster through her veins. Not even stopping to think if she would make it she raced towards where the golden haired Inu had fallen. All she could think was that if she allowed this to happen Sesshomaru would never forgive himself. Placing the children near the trees she turned and ran flinging her form across that of Tasuki before her love could grasp him in his jaws.

Sesshomaru in the middle of his blood rage took in the scent of sakura and roses, in reaction his beast pulled back from the maneuver which would have left his uncle nothing but a bloody pulp. Looking down he saw her, her thin pale form protecting not only his uncle but also himself from his own anger. In that instant he was able to able to let go of the rage that had gripped his heart and mind. Once he was in humanoid form he could feel the shame that came over him at his actions.

Removing his Haori he placed it over her trembling form and was almost humbled by the relief and love shining in the unusually colored depths of her orbs. She had kept him from committing an act that he would have hated himself for, and in turn it made him love her all the more. Quickly he drew her to her feet and embraced her to him tightly. “Koi I was so worried for you…” Gently she shushed him and smiled “ I know as I have also missed you, but another reunion is altogether in order wouldn’t you say?” He looked up in shock then as he watched his uncles eyes return to the warm glittering silver jewels he remembered from his youth. His love had returned him to them, he could not believe the power this woman contained in such a small form. With a single act she could give peace back to one who hadn’t known such in over fifty years. Not just himself but his uncle and his family as well, Tasuki could finally see that his children had carried on his legacy with the same love, compassion, and understanding he had.


Tasuki looked around him as if a fog had been lifted from his mind, and in truth one had. He could remember his soul crying out as his eyes watched his hands commit unspeakable acts under the influence of Naraku. The bastard had become puppet master to him since the war over fifty years ago. When he had been wounded and fallen Naraku had snuck in and taken him from the battlefield with no one the wiser. He had been too weak from wounds and loss of blood to fight off the blood spell which had been put on him. He had almost been destroyed by his nephew, his heart sunk as his actions towards the woman who had saved him came back. He felt even worse when he realized he had taunted his own nephew with what he had done. Looking up into the golden eyes that reminded him so much of his aniiki’s he let the tears flow as he spoke. “ Sesshomaru…. gomen, gomen, I have committed unspeakable acts. I could never make amends for the pain I have caused you and the young woman with you..” His voice broke as he bowed his head letting the tears flow freely.

Kagome looked down at the golden head and felt sympathy run through her, kneeling down she placed one claw tipped finger under his jaw and lifted his head. She smiled then, “You must never blame yourself for what Naraku has caused, he is one not many could fight and win. I do promise he will pay for his numerous crimes and soon, but first let us get to know one another and allow your nephews to reacquaint themselves with an uncle that has been sorely missed. Believe me when I say you have nothing to fear ever again with me in your family, I will make sure that all I care for are safe. I bear you no ill will and would like for you to come visit us with your family.” He smiled in return at her and could not fathom how one so gentle as the soul in front of him could harden to steel when she spoke of destroying the foul hanyou, how ever he had no doubts in her abilities when he witnessed the strong flash of steel when it flickered through the depths of her eyes.


Whew! That chapter took alot out of me! I hope you enjoy it!